Motivation can be found intrinsically or extrinsically. Intrinsic motivation is gained in performing an act without any tangible rewards. In other words, intrinsic motivation is engaging in an activity for its own sake. “Extrinsic motivation is defined as engaging in an activity to obtain an outcome that is separable from
Did you know that 95% of non-surgical weight loss attempts fail? How is that possible? There are countless diet options out there, from Paleo to Weight Watchers, to Jenny Craig, to Ideal Protein—just to name a few. There are millions of gyms in the United States where you can burn
Why is it so difficult to give up certain foods? The origins of your relationship with food go back a long way. If your life was a film and we viewed some highlights of it frame by frame, we would see all kinds of situations where you and food were
Have you ever experienced a distinct smell that reminded you of a special memory? Something you haven’t thought of in years suddenly floods your mind, and for a millisecond, it’s as if you are there? For me, it’s the beach. Just the smell of salty water can bring about a
Who has time to be mindful? You might think you already have enough chatter in your head around your eating but, mindful eating is an effective tool for anyone who has battled their weight with chronic dieting. Most diets teach that your appetite and feelings surrounding food are irrelevant to
The weight loss surgery (WLS) journey is a very exciting one. Prior to surgery, many patients are extremely happy about the start to their new life. I have heard patients even use their surgery date as their new birthdate! WLS can be life-changing. After surgery, many patients enjoy life in
“I’ll start going to the gym when I lose weight.” This statement, as absurd as it may sound, is one I hear frequently as a group fitness instructor. Unbeknownst to many of the individuals who utter it, there is often a much more complex set of feelings hiding behind this
First, I want to wish you “Congratulations!” on your journey so far. Whether you are six months, two years or ten years out from your surgery, you made a life-changing decision, and that takes guts. Good for you! Looking back at the last few weeks, months or even years, have
Anxiety is common among those with weight and eating-related struggles. In many ways, anxiety can be productive. We feel anxious when we are thinking about something future-oriented and in some cases that can lead to actions that protect us from facing harm down the road. However, many people experience anxiety,
Facing Weight Regain: I had weight loss surgery over eight years ago. For those of you that are curious, I had RNY Gastric Bypass in February of 2008. And for those of you that are further curious, yes, I’ve regained. It’s not uncommon for a WLS patient to have “bounce
