Unleash your skinny girl and free yourself from a lifetime of dieting

March 15, 4:50 PMColumbia Fitness ExaminerStephanie Gibson

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The title of this article comes from a new book, Naturally Thin  by Bethany Frankel.  If you watch the Real Housewives series on Bravo, she is one of the New York City housewives, and unbeknownst to many, she is also a natural food chef.  She did a piece on the Today Show  this week that was very enlightening.  She's not a diet guru or exercise fanatic (like me, right?), she is simply promoting a life of balance.  She even compares it to a bank account. I really relate to this because I do the same thing almost subconsciously every day.  I try to explain the concept to clients as well, but I'm not sure I do the job as well as Ms. Frankel.

The idea behind this line of thinking is balance and moderation in your diet and choices you make.  There are no "bad foods" or "off limit foods".  You like the foods you like.  You can eat the foods you like.  You can enjoy the foods you like.  You just can't binge on them.  She uses a party as an example.  They may have a few of the party foods you adore.  You can indulge in those foods no matter what their nutritional content is as long as you taste them and not binge on them.  Taste them.  Acknowledge them. Don't gorge on them.  The rule here is, "Check yourself before you wreck yourself".  I believe in the fitness circles we call this portion control.

She also instructs us to balance the big picture.  Had a piece of cake for dessert last night?  Balance it out by keeping your calories a bit lower today.  This is the "bank account " that she refers to.  So, if you dig deep into that account for a pair of Prada shoes, you don't buy the Louie Vitton purse as well.  Big steak dinner tonight?  Maybe a salad and grilled chicken tomorrow night. 

Judging by Ms. Frankel's figure, it looks like this approach works well.  We all need to exercise for our health.  We all need to eat healthy foods for our health.  However, her approach to healthy eating in the real world would suit many people that would give up on the diet and nutrition thing because it just doesn't suit their taste and lifestyle.  I think it is a great thing that would work for a large number of people that otherwise would not be able to stick to a strict diet plan.  Throw in a little exercise and I'd be a happy fitness fanatic, I mean trainer. 

I really learned something from her ideas.  I may "borrow" some of her philosophy for some of my clients who find the diet part of their program too difficult to adhere to.  Feel free to comment or ask questions!  I usually post a couple of those questions every week to share with my readers.  Besides, I love to hear from you!

**Try my online training for 24/7 support, custom workouts and all the tools you need to lose weight and shape up on a budget $$$$.  Go to www.trainerforce.net/stayfit1on1.**

Question and Answer of the Day:

I need to lose weight.  I know I need to eat better and that's o.k.,  but I absolutely hate to exercise.  I don't feel comfortable in a gym with other people around and I don't have any clue what I'm supposed to do with all that equipment.  Is there any way I can get some kind of exercise that doesn't involve the gym and doesn't involve a lot of sweat and jumping around?  I need something easy!

Wow!  You really don't like to exercise, do you?!  I find that hard to imagine, but there are many people out there that feel the same way.  I have a simple exercise for you.  It's easily accessible, cost effective, can be done almost anywhere, requires no special equipment, is adaptable to fit almost all fitness levels and can easily fit into a schedule.  It's walking!  Do it inside on the treadmill or mall.  Go outside.  Walk alone or with a buddy.  Walk at home or at work.  Walk morning or evening.  Walk any way that works for you and makes it more bearable.

Start with any time you know you can easily do.  Increase your walking time little by little until you can do 30 minutes at the least.  30 mins.-1hour is the recommended duration for those trying to lose weight.  Walk in some form or another most days of the week.  Combined with a sensible diet, you'll lose weight and get healthier by strengthening your heart and lungs and reducing your risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol.  Good luck!  Make it enjoyable and workable for you.

Simple Healthy Recipe of the Day:

This is a lo-fat version of pasta with a creamy Alfredo sauce!  You will need:

Whole grain (or blend) pasta like fettuccine or penne

2 cans fat free evaporated milk

2 pkgs. of Alfredo sauce mix (I use Knorr).

Shrimp, imitation crab. lobster or whatever seafood you may like (or none).  Use about a pound or so.

Boil pasta according to directions.

Following directions on back of sauce packages, mix milk and mix together.

Microwave on high 10 mins. at a time until thick.  Stir often.  If you use the stove top method, stir continuously!  It will easily scorch.

Mix pasta, sauce and cooked seafood.  Sprinkle with grated Parmesan.  Serve with mixed green salad.  If you serve bread, make it whole grain.  I love flaxseed bread.

My kids love this.  That's saying something.....they are my toughest critics.