Food Is Your Friend

Too many people - in particular women - think that food is their enemy. Well, it's not, it's your food.

People who have good diets are healthier physiclaly and mentally.

People who skimp on their food and starve themselves to maintain an artifically thin appearance damage their health - and usually aren't very happy people, as they're too stressed about wondering if they've gained a couple of ounces.

As I always tell my clients, this is the fault of the media - advertisements on buses, in magazines, in malls, as well as on TV, not to mention the way women are portrayed in TV shows and movies - all of them drumming it in to women - and men - that women are no more than eye candy and that they must be skinny.

(It's an interesting contrast to watch British TV and American TV - not the period dramas but modern shows. The women in British TV look like real people - they live in apartments that they can afford, instead of apartments that are incredibly luxurious, and women on British TV wear little makup. Case in point, the Prime Suspect mystery series starring Helen Mirren. Contrast her appearance to that of Calleigh in CSI: Miami - Mirren's character looks much more realistic.)

Having a healthy attitude about food and weight is more than half the battle in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Indeed, I'd say it's probably 90% of the process. As long as you know - and believe deep down - that gaining an extra pound one day is not the end of the world, and something that must be starved away the very next day - the happier and healthier you will be. (Lose that pound over the course of two weeks. ; ) )

And, again, remember that since you're going to be doing some body sculpting, you may gain weight before you lose it, because muscle weighs more than fat. But muscle also looks better than fat, so don't be afraid of those muscles! You're not going to bulk up to look like a female Arnold Schwarzennegger unless you weight train 3 hours a day and consume a lot of muscle-building supplements - and that's not what you want. Normal weight training and a sensible eating plan will enable you to get that sculpted look.

And since muscles also burn calories faster than fat, you'll be able to add a portion or two to your meals without harm. You can't gorge, of course, but a small portion of this or that - no problem.