Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!

7 Common Factors of Successful Weight Management

By Michelle Chichester

You're working hard to lose the weight and get in shape. You bought P90X®, ChaLEAN Extreme®, Slim in 6®, Hip Hop Abs®, or fill in the blank. For some people, the results they've worked so hard for slowly disappear as bad habits return. Some wonder how "those thin people" can stay that way all the time.


In 1993, the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) was founded to study the behaviors of "successful losers." Those studied lost an average of 72 pounds, with a minimum weight loss of 30 pounds, and were able to keep the weight off for at least 5 years. Looking at various studies on obesity, the researchers found 7 common factors among those who were successful in maintaining their weight loss.

Eating a low-calorie, low-fat diet. Those studied ate an average of 1,385 calories per day (plus or minus 557), with an average of 26.6 percent coming from fat. Although 26.6 percent from fat may seem high to you, it is lower than the typical American's diet, which consists of simple carbs and ready-to-eat, low-cost processed food. Also, the researchers found that fast food visits were limited to less than ONE per month (step away from the fries!).

Participating in a high level of physical activity. Those studied burned an average of over 2,600 calories per day. This calorie burn came from doing normal, everyday physical activity, including a lot of walking. In fact, over 75 percent of the participants included walking as a form of exercise, with 48 percent of the total participants adding walking to other forms of exercise. Think it can't be done? The next time you go somewhere, try parking a little farther away and walking, take the stairs instead of the elevator, get off the bus or subway one stop sooner, or walk the dog around the block the next time you want to reach for a snack. It's a great way to get in a little more exercise time.

Limiting TV viewing. I heard something great the other day. Someone said that they had always made excuses about not having enough time to exercise. Yet, they always fit in 3 hours of TV viewing every night. Instead of plopping down in front of the TV at night, try to find other things to do. Why not take this time to pop in your favorite exercise DVD? Take a walk with your kids, read a book, or take a class. Not only will it get you moving, it also stimulates your brain in a way that TV viewing can't. It can also kill that urge for mindless snacking while watching TV.

Eating breakfast. Those studied rarely skipped breakfast. After "fasting" all night, your body actually needs the energy that a healthy breakfast can provide. Eating breakfast makes you less likely to grab that pastry in the kitchen at work or run out for fast food at lunchtime. It also keeps your metabolism going, so that your body doesn't shift into the "protect and conserve all fat" mode.

Maintaining dietary consistency. To the successful weight losers (or winners!), "diet" is not a bad word. They are always consistent with how many calories they are eating. There is no "cheat" day or falling off of the wagon during holidays or vacations.

Maintaining a high level of dietary restraint. This goes along with factor #5. Those who are successful at weight loss are always conscious about the types of foods that go in their mouths. When you are trying to maintain your hard-deserved weight loss, be conscious of the types of foods you are eating. One hundred calories of your favorite candy treat are not the same as 100 calories of a protein shake. But, if you "mess up," don't beat yourself up. Those who are successful at keeping the weight off jump right back in where they left off, which leads us to the last common factor . . .

Frequent self-weighing. Seventy-five percent of those looked at by the NWCR weighed themselves at least once a week, with almost half (44 percent) weighing in every day. This allowed them to keep track of any weight gain (or loss) and to address it before it became a "big" problem. Also included in this self-monitoring behavior was the continued counting of calories and fat grams. This continued "reinforcement" goes a long way toward keeping you on track for a slimmer today and healthier tomorrow.

Sources: Butryn, M.L., et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007; 15:3091–3096.; Catenacci, V.A., et al. Obesity. 2008; 16:153–161.; Gorin, A.A., et al. International Journal of Obesity. 2004; 28:278–281.; Klem, M.L., et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1997; 66:239–246.; Klem M.L., et al. Health Psychology. 1998; 17:336–345.; Phelan, S., et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007; 15:2470–2477.; Wyatt, H.R., et al. Obesity Research. 2002;10:78–82.

Laura's Christmas Breakfast Casserole

Prep Time: 20 Min Cook Time:1 Hr 30 Min Ready In: 9 Hrs 50 Min

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients:
1 pound ground turkey sausage
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups eggbeaters or 4 eggs, beaten
2 cups fat free milk
6 slices wheat bread, toasted and cut into cubes
8 ounces mild 2% Cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions:
Crumble sausage into a medium skillet. Cook over medium heat until evenly brown; drain. In a medium bowl, mix together mustard powder, salt, eggs and milk. Add the sausage, bread cubes, and cheese, and stir to coat evenly. Pour into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 8 hours, or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Cover, and bake 45 to 60 minutes. Uncover, and reduce temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until set.

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Beachbody Opportunity Webinar

Come listen to a Team Beachbody Opportunity Presentation. Do it from the comfort of your home with no obligation and no pressure.

When: Thursday, the 17th at 8:30pm EST.

Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/131550419

Grape Smoothie

Here's another GREAT way to incorporate fruit into your day....

2 cups seedless red grapes
1 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1 cup 2% reduced fat free milk
3 tablespoons honey

Combine all ingredients into blender. Cover and blend until smooth.

Serves 3

Nutritional facts per serving: 180 calories, 2g fat, 7g protein, 38g carbohydrates, 0g fiber, 85mg sodium

Meet Coach Pharmicist Joe!

Joe is a 34 year old pharmacist and says that he is in the best shape of his life thanks to Beachbody and his use of P90X. In the beginning, he was very skeptical but stuck with it. After 3 rounds of P90X, Joe feels that he has come a very long way in his fitness journey. Because he wants to do more and reach another goal, Joe is going to start INSANITY in January. This time though, Joe plans on following the nutrition guide to a "T". That was one of the things he did not do when using P90X. With a proper meal plan and the INSANITY workout, Joe will be on his way to achieving his next goal. Want to learn more about Joe and read about his P90X journey, or have Joe coach you? Visit his website here.