Archive for December, 2009

The Only New Year’s Resolution Worth Making

Published on December 15, 2009 in General. 0 Comments

I love that look people get when you hit on a topic that “lights them up.” Do you know the look I’m talking about? It’s the look they have when they talk about something they’re passionate about doing, seeing or creating. When you have a conversation around this topic with these people, it seems as if they “come alive” with enthusiasm, energy and excitement. When they talk about IT (their new business idea, a new product they’ve found, a new direction, perspective or outlook) they simply glow, their entire demeanor changes and their enthusiasm is simply infectious. So this leads me to a question I have for you.

What lights YOU up? What makes the time fly and your spirit soar? What is it that you’re passionate about that no one needs to motivate you to do because the desire for it comes easy? What is it that would be considered your unique gift, strength, talent or calling? Are you a great baker, do you have a green thumb, are you an incredible organizer, a compassionate friend, a fantastic listener? What do you do that others seem to struggle with and for you it comes easy?

There’s something you are uniquely qualified to do (yes YOU!) It’s your specific gift that’s waiting to be unleashed and shared with others. Do you know what it is and are you sharing it?

While everyone has a gift to share, over the past nearly 20 years coaching hundreds of women, I’ve seen time and time again how those gifts are often buried under layers and layers of fear, doubt and insecurity. For some, the thought of pursuing a passion, new direction or dream is nothing less than terrifying. They instantly think about what others will think or say, how they’ll be perceived, what will happen if it doesn’t work.  They bring up all of the other excuses like “I’m too old” or “I’m too busy”. They don’t trust that they can their ideas are worth of time, energy and effort.  They don’t trust themselves to stay with it long enough to bring those ideas to fruition.

Others are focused on surviving versus thriving and their greatest goal may be nothing more than getting through another hectic day. For this group, it may be easier to sleepwalk through life rather than “rock the boat” by questioning the choices they make, the quality of the relationships they have and to be honest with themselves to determine if the lifestyles they’re living are satisfying, fulfilling and meaningful to them.

This year is quickly winding down and a New Year will soon begin. The opportunity it presents is equivalent to the Ultimate Monday (you know, the day where the new eating and exercise plan usually begins?)

Sure you can enter another year without a plan, strategy, or goals, but you know what the definition of insanity is, right? It’s doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result! What would it look like for you if 2010 was the year you finally started pursuing that dream, getting your body back into shape, exercising regularly, taking the time to do what it takes to improve your relationships with those you love?

What if 2010 was the year you stepped into your greatness-recognizing how magnificent you are and doing something with your talents? What if you took that idea for a product or service and turned it into a business? What if you finally decided to say “no” to the things that zap you of your time and energy, leaving you more time to say “yes” to the things that bring you joy?

You see, there’s nothing more exciting than pursuing your passion and living your dream. Giving up all excuses as to why you can’t (trust me, I’ve heard them ALL) and realizing that the only person ever really stopping you is…you.

So if you’re ready, I’d love to help! Let’s talk (either by phone or in person if you live close by in NY) and discuss how you can make 2010 your best year yet! Since I’m practicing what I preach, 2010 will be a big year for me to build my speaking career but I’m still privately coaching a handful of motivated and dedicated clients.

Will you be one of them? If so, click here to find out more about what we’d cover in our sessions and choose the one that works best for you.

Do you want to get started with a one time session to create a personalized game plan for health/fitness/wellness success? Would you rather have a long-term coaching relationship? Would 3, 6 or 12 months do the job?

I’m looking forward to working with you and inspiring you to become your personal best. Are you ready? (That was a trick question-of course you are!) Click here and get started now.

**As my holiday coaching gift to you: if you sign up for any coaching package from now until December 31st, I’ll give you a complimentary session. That’s an extra hour with me…FREE! (You can also use that bonus session as a amazing gift to someone else who wants to get their Mojo back!)

‘Tis the Season to…gain weight?

Published on December 3, 2009 in General. 1 Comment

With the holidays upon us, one of the ways many of us will be celebrating is by indulging in the high fat/high calorie foods that seem to define the season.

Big dinners, cocktail parties, cookie exchanges, candy canes, chocolate, celebratory lunches and happy hours fill our days and nights during the final weeks of the year. Many of these foods signify that the holidays are here and, of course, we’ll want to indulge in all of the special foods and sweet treats that surround us. For some, certain foods bring us right back to the comfortable place where we originally feasted on them. For others, it’s simply an excuse to put our healthy eating aside until the New Year.

If this is your game plan, you may just enter the New Year with the “gift” of an extra few pounds by the New Year. Since larger clothes are probably not on your wish list, how can you enjoy the holiday season guilt free?

One way is by pre-planning your holiday eating. You’ve heard the saying “If you fail to plan then plan to fail.” That’s certainly the case when it comes to holiday indulging. There is a way to include those special foods and treats in your holiday eating as long as you have a strategy. Since you may be headed to a few holiday parties, here’s a game plan you can use.

Let’s say you’re headed for a cocktail party. First of all, you never want to arrive hungry. Over hungry means overeating so a small snack before you go can ensure that your judgment stays in tact and you’ll make better decisions once confronted with all of the holiday goodies. For example, an apple or container of yogurt (both around 100 calories) can spare you from overindulging in thousands of calories of hors d’oeuvres.

The next strategy for a cocktail party involves drinking. Pre plan the number of drinks you’ll have and stick to it. These are liquid calories which go down quickly and easily so choose wisely. For hard liquor, keep it to a drink or two, alternating with glasses of water. For wine, use the same idea or switch to wine spritzers to cut the calories in half. There’s also the option to drink seltzer, which looks like a “real” drink so no one will question you, if that’s a concern. Finally, try envisioning each drink as a chocolate milkshake. Pictured this way, you may want to reconsider having more than one!

The next strategy involves keeping your hands busy. You can hold your drink in one hand and have a plate of vegetables in the other. You also may want to try the “clutch trick,” purposely bringing a clutch bag as opposed to one with a strap. This ties up the hand that could be grabbing unhealthy appetizers! Of course, you may want to enjoy some of those appetizers so if that’s your plan, limit yourself to a few of the most delicious looking ones and enjoy them thoroughly. Give yourself permission to savor them so that each bite isn’t eaten with a side of guilt. Also, when you’ve given yourself permission to eat a set amount (let’s say three or four), you’re much less likely to binge later on because you feel good about keeping with your plan.

If the party involves a sit down meal, only eat what’s special for that holiday. For example, let’s say for Christmas dinner there’s a delicious looking stuffing on the table that you want to try along with other types of breads and rolls. Since a rolls are something you have on any regular night out, skip them to allow for a taste of that special stuffing. By having what’s unique for the holiday, you’ll feel a part of it without “stuffing” yourself!

Finally, if you’ve overdone it, apply the three to one rule. That means, for every one thing you’ve overindulged in, make the next three choices healthier and better balanced. For example, a meal that’s over the top needs to be balanced with three moderate meals. A food choice that’s high in calories and fat can be balanced with three more healthful options.

With a plan, you can enjoy the holidays without the “leftovers” on your belly, hips and thighs. By putting some strategies into place now, you can have a New Year’s Resolution that’s different from the millions of other women who will be making a pledge to lose the excess weight that they collected over the holiday season!




View Debi Silber, MS, RD, WHC





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