Thursday, February 28, 2013

Don't Be Shackled By Your Health: Break Free™

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It’s hard to believe it’s National Heart Month again.

 I’m joined by Taylor, who you may recall from our popular YouTube video “Shrink and Move: Small Steps That Lead To Big Rewards”.


http://healthywage.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/shrink-and-move-small-steps-that-lead-to-big-rewards/

Taylor has many reasons to monitor his health closely. He has a family history of cardiovascular disease and he has Type 1 diabetes.
This year Taylor wants to remind people that…”KNOWING YOUR NUMBERS” is the first step towards empowering yourself to reach and maintain your optimal health. You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge (remember Dr. Phil)? Choose to be the driver of your health—that’s freedom!

We all have important health related numbers to monitor and use as data points for our wellbeing. They include your weight, cholesterol, Blood Glucose / HbA1C levels (if you have diabetes).

Taylor uses a really simple mix to manage and motivate himself towards a healthier and fuller lifestyle:

  • technology,
  •  his doctor’s input, and
  • his own inner “barometer.”

Prior to truly accepting and managing his condition, Taylor often found himself in a state of turmoil—he didn’t know how to live life as a diabetic with a heart that could be a ticking time bomb. He became literally imprisoned, by his disease.
With the help and guidance of his doctors and family he decided to break free and take back control of his life.

Through education, information and “knowing his numbers” Taylor learned that there was another, more liberating way to live with his conditions. It’s no longer the “I have to be perfect” mentality with regards to his health related goals (and other things too). Through that understanding he no longer feels guilty, frustrated, or that he’s being a “bad” person when he decides to reward himself with a special treat.
Taylor knows that striving to be perfect is the perfect set up for self-sabotage and self-loathing. He also knows the kind of stress that kind of thinking can put on ourselves, all of which is the opposite of mind/body wellness.

Believe it or not, he saysTaylor did it—so can you!

Go out and get the support you need to take yourself out of those self- imposed shackles.

Don’t you deserve one get of jail free card in this game of life?

A special thank you to Taylor for sharing his health journey and wisdom with us.  “it’s a lot simpler and much more enjoyable to learn about and accept your particular health situation, and ultimately get out and get after a better way of living with it”.




Ellen Resnick, LCSW is a psychotherapist in private practice in San Francisco and Redwood City, California. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and incorporates the use of mindfulness into the treatment of depression, anxiety, and emotional overeating. She runs a holistic weight loss program called Center for Thoughtful Weight Loss, http://www.thoughtfulweightloss.com. You can email Ellen at ellenresnick@gmail.com.

Friday, February 1, 2013

It’s My Party and I’ll Eat Well If I Plan To…™

Super Bowl is a special day for many people, but for me, it’s even more special this year for two big reasons—I’m from San Francisco and it’s my birthday.

Whether you’re a Niners or Ravens fan, it’s bound to be a great day. Hey, just the unique brother coach duel between John and Jim Harbaugh is bound to be a show in and of itself.

I’ve been thinking about ways to enjoy the day without waking up regretting it on Monday.

What moves will you make to party responsibly? This is what I’m thinking…

•Start with an intention.

•What do you want the scale to say on Monday?

•Be honest – are you the kind of person who can splurge “just this once” without falling off the wagon or regretting your choices?

•Make the day more about enjoying time with family and friends and less about pizza, nachos, chicken wings and beer.

•If you are going to drink, alternate beer with water.

•Get a good workout in before the game.

•Use half time to get some stretching in. You can still watch Beyonce perform (or is that lip sync as rumored)?

Here’s a link with some more great strategies for eating healthier, yet delicious snack alternatives during the Super Bowl (note—this is not just for people with diabetes—it’s great suggestions and delicious alternatives for all of us):

http://www.diabeteseducator.org/export/sites/aade/_resources/pdf/general/AADE_Game_Day.pdf

Here’s a link to the Top Websites for Healthy Super Bowl Sunday Low-Calorie Snack Alternatives:

http://voices.yahoo.com/top-websites-healthy-super-bowl-snack-recipes-7642978.html

So, remember this: the average person consumes 4200 calories on Super Bowl Sunday. It’s the 2nd biggest food consumption day, second only to Thanksgiving. You can be different and still have a great time…

Huddle up, call your plays in advance, march to the goal line and you’ll score just like your favorite NFL team!!

About Ellen N. Resnick, LCSW (Psychotherapist)
Ellen is a psychotherapist in private practice in San Francisco and Redwood City, California. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and incorporates the use of mindfulness into the treatment of depression, anxiety, and emotional overeating. She runs a holistic weight loss program called Center for Thoughtful Weight Loss, http://www.thoughtfulweightloss.com Ellen is also a skilled couples’ therapist. Ellen’s interest in behavior change grew out of her work with people with diabetes in 1990 at California Pacific Medical Center. Ellen is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the department of psychiatry at UCSF where she worked from 1995-2003 specializing in women’s mental health issues and brief treatment. She ran the Cognitive Behavioral therapy group program for women with depression. Ellen continues to supervise psychiatry residents at UCSF. She lectures extensively in the Bay Area. You can email Ellen at ellen@thoughtfulweightloss.com and follow her on Twitter at @thoughtfullellen. Watch Ellen demonstrate CBT for permanent weight loss on her YouTube channel,Ellenresnick’s channel.
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