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Archive for November, 2008

New Year’s Resolutions Revisited

Dietitians are not fond of January. Yes, we get a lot of business this time of the year, but it’s not a pretty picture. For so many of our clients “the most wonderful time of the year” is followed by a period of misery and regret. Again, the holiday celebrations have left their mark – mostly around the waistline – and it can be hard to muster enough resolve to take up the battle of the bulge once more. Frankly, we spend a great deal of time and effort to talk people out of giving up for good.

We all know that failure is a part of life and, to a certain extent, we are willing to accept that. Of course, we prefer to think of ourselves as successes. It’s important for us to know that we are making progress in one way or another. Especially my generation has been brought up to believe that there are always bigger and better things in store for us and that our best days are still ahead.

I am no exception. Throughout my life, I never questioned the importance of achievement. I’ve always considered myself as a disciplined, goal-oriented person, someone who was able to roll up her sleeves and do whatever it takes to get the job done. As a wife, a mother, a homemaker, a professional and an entrepreneur, I tried my best to do what was expected of me – by others, but more so by myself. I was even known for organizing my aspirations by drawing up flow charts, listing short-, middle- and long-term goals as well as strategies to implement their realization. Life can be planned! Or so I thought. Read more »

Is There a Right Way to Diet?

Dear Timi,
My friend and I have an ongoing argument over the right way to diet. We both are trying to lose weight but have different opinions about the best approach. I favor the old fashion way by cutting back on food, especially junk food and snacks. My friend insists that she can eat as often and, within reason, as much as she wants, as long as she avoids food that is high in fat, sugar and carbs. Is she right?

Dear Reader,
No, she’s not – although the answer is more complicated. People have been arguing over the most efficient way to lose weight since – well, since weight has become an issue. There’s no shortage of “revolutionary” diet solutions out there, all promising you quick and lasting results. They differ mostly in their focus on particular components in your diet – such as carbohydrates, protein and fat. Are some better than others? Probably. But their success also depends on other factors. The consensus among dietitians is that controlled calorie intake is the most important issue. If you have a tendency to overindulge in certain foods, it doesn’t really matter whether they are low-fat or even fat-free. If you want to lose weight, you must keep track of your calorie intake – period. Of course, high-fat foods are also highly caloric, while low-fat foods may contain fewer calories. But that doesn’t mean that less fat equals automatically less calories. And there are no food items – not even the non-fat kind – that have zero calories.

In my opinion, the most effective diets are the ones that fit you the best. By that I mean diets that match your personality and your lifestyle. The more a diet plan demands of you, the less likely you will stick with it over time – unless you’re one of those overachievers who love pain and punishment. My advice is to stay with the approach you’ve taken, as long as it works for you. However, do make sure that you don’t deprive your body of the nutrients it really needs. When you cut back on food intake, it is especially important that you maintain a high level of nutritional quality of the food you do eat.

As for your friend, I would say, let her find out for herself what’s right for her. The only thing that really matters is that you both get what you want.

Dear Reader – November 2008

Timi Gustafson, R.D. Those who have been reading my newspaper column for a while know that I feel passionate about travel. I’ve had “itchy feet” for as long as I can remember and I’m not done yet by any means. My most recent trip to India was an eye-opener for me, not only in terms of discovery and exploration of a place I had never seen before, but also in terms of how to travel the right way.

As with most people who enjoy travel, there is a downside for me as well. Preparing and planning for a long journey can cause plenty of stress by itself. There is a comfort level that only one’s own home can provide and being without it for weeks is not to everyone’s taste.

That is why I made a conscious decision to keep things as simple as possible this time. Especially traveling in India makes it easy to travel light. The weather is warm in most parts of the country and there is no need for a sophisticated wardrobe, even when you stay in high-end places.

I also made sure that I would not exhaust myself by overloading my itinerary (see the main article for greater details). Instead, my focus was directed towards all things comfortable and pleasant: Great food, serene surroundings, leasurely activities and, most importantly, fantastic spa treatments. India has a long tradition of spa treatment techniques that dates back for thousands of years. I could not get enough of those. And guess what? I came back relaxed and refreshed like never before. Now, that’s the way to travel!
Go to Newsletter of November 2008…

A Season to Slow Down

In principle, I guess, one can get addicted to anything. I’m not just talking about drugs, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine or food. People can develop addictions to other people, their work, shopping, television or the Internet. The latter seem especially prone to cause addictive behavior. In this past year, the media outlets of every kind have been selling us “the news” like junk food, thereby creating yet another addiction. “News junkies suffer from withdrawal symptoms after the election,” I read the other day in the paper. I wonder why?

Certain addictions are hard to avoid in our culture where more is always considered better. We take it for granted to think of progress exclusively in terms of “growth.” So we find ourselves in a never-ending chase of things that supposedly make our lives more comfortable and more exciting. We live in larger homes, drive bigger and faster cars and surround ourselves with more possessions than any generation before us – and yet, there remains this nagging feeling that we don’t have enough to be content. Read more »