Too Big To Strap In: Northfield Mum Lost 10 STONE After Aircraft Seatbelt Shame

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Mum-of-two Aimee Diri was travelling to Portugal in July 2012 when she discovered at 20 stone 2lbs, she was too big to strap in

A shamed slimmer who vowed to lose weight after suffering the humiliation of needing a seatbelt extension on a plane, has shed a sensational 10 stone.

Mum-of-two Aimee Diri was travelling to Portugal in July 2012 when she discovered at 20 stone 2lbs, she was too big to strap in.

The embarrassing episode kick-started Aimee’s dramtic weight loss, which saw her shed half her body weight.

Now the 36-year-old is a svelte 10 stone, and has been named Slimmer of the year at her local Slimming World group.

“I vowed to myself that I would never go on holiday again that size,” said Aimee from Northfield. “I was really embarrassed. It felt horrible.

“It was the first time I felt self-conscious. When we arrived I didn’t want to be round the pool, and I couldn’t get in the fairground rides with the kids.

“It was definitely the trigger.”

Six months later Aimee and husband Manuel booked their summer holiday, and determined to lose weight, Aimee signed up to Slimming World in January 2013 a size 26.

“I wanted to lose six stone by the time I went on holiday in the July.

“There was no way I was going away again feeling so bad.”

Waitress Aimee would soon have to change her eating habits. A constant grazer, she admits she would skip dinner, and instead snack on crisps, biscuits, chocolate and other junk all evening.

“I look back and cringe at what I used to eat.

“I was a secret-eater really, and used to eat a lot when I had put the kids to bed and was on my own.”

Aimee, mum to Isabella, six and Luca, three, joined her local group run by Paula Hooper at the Quarry Sports and Social Club.

She started on a new healthy eating plan, ditching the naughty snacks, and switching to home-cooked meals and lots of fruits and vegetables.

The super-slimmer lost her target six stone for her summer holiday, and set her sights on losing even more.

And this summer Aimee finally reached her goal of 10 stone, and even strutted her stuff in a bikini on holiday.

“I have lost a whole one of me – it’s crazy,” said Aimee. “When I look back at my old self, I wish that someone had told me.

“It’s all about the confidence- that is what Slimming World gives you- the confidence and the support to know you can do it.”

Paula Hooper, who runs the Northfield group, says: “I’m so proud of Aimee, Not only does she look fabulous, she’s improved her health and is bursting with energy.

“She’s a huge inspiration to everyone in our group and I hope she inspires other women in Northfield to change their lives in the same way.”

The Northfield Slimming World group is held every Tuesday at 5.30 and 7.30 at Quarry Sports and Social Club.

To join or find out more call Paula on 07900 997303.

Typical menu before

Breakfast: Four pieces of toast

Lunch: Sandwich, crisps and chocolate

Dinner: Sandwich

Snacks: Coca Cola, biscuits, crisps, chocolate

After

Breakfast: Fruit and yoghurt

Lunch: Chicken pasta salad

Dinner: Slimming World recipe home-made dinner

Snacks: Cereal bars, banana or apple.

Source:- http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/lost-10-stone-after-aircraft-7735985

Why Diets Fail: 7 Things You Should Know (Part 1)

The research is clear -- diet programs don't work! Professor Steven Hawks of Brigham Young University says, "You would be hard-pressed to review the dietary literature and conclude that you can give people a set of dietary guidelines or restrictions that they will be able to follow in the long term and manage their weight successfully." Dr. Glenn A. Gaesser, in his groundbreaking book Big Fat Lies: The Truth About Your Weight and Your Health concluded that 90 percent of dieters regain all the weight they lose. [1]

Similarly, Professor Traci Mann of UCLA, after conducting a comprehensive analysis of 31 diet studies, concluded that most dieters would have been better off never dieting at all since the majority of them gained all their weight back and more. [2]

Through my research and work with clients, I have learned seven essential insights about people who pursue a weight loss goal. In this three-part series, I discuss those insights and begin answering the question no doubt on many of your minds: What to do instead of diet?

#1: People who try to lose weight often suffer from intense inner and outer criticism.

This is crucial because most people diet in order to feel better about themselves, which almost always means relieving themselves from such criticism. However, dieting in order to reduce self-criticism often fails because the root of the criticism is often deeper and independent of a person's body size or eating habits. Even though the criticism they are most aware of is about their bodies, the fundamental critical attitude almost always shows up in different ways and will resurface with a different focus.

For example, many women disavow their power in the world and in their relationships; in essence, they have learned to be fearful of or antagonistic towards expressing the full measure of their capacities. When this happens, they not only end up criticizing themselves for getting hurt too easily or expressing themselves too strongly, but they also tend to be more critical of their bodies as well. The power they don't use in their outer lives turns against them on the inside! As a result, their inner criticism will not go away by trying to lose weight; it will only go away when the power that fuels it gets used as it is meant to -- in their relationships and in service of their deepest ambitions.

What to do instead of diet? Carefully take account of all the things you criticize yourself about each day. How long have you had this critical attitude? Where did it come from? Think of the first time you were ever criticized. Imagine that you really didn't deserve that criticism. How would you have liked to be treated? What would you say to that person if you could have?

#2: People naturally resist shame and self-hatred, and also subconsciously resist and undermine diets that flow from this motivation.

Another reason not to "listen to" or heed inner criticism about our bodies is that it is invariably mean-spirited, ignorant, and void of wisdom or spiritual perspectives. Thus, it is often far healthier to reject such criticism than accept it and act upon it. In fact, taking a stand against this criticism is an act of power and self-love that not only helps relieve the inner-criticism but can also make it easier to lose weight.

However, people are rarely aware of the fact that it is this very self-love that leads them to resist following through with the diet programs they put themselves on. This is so counter-intuitive to the dieter who wants to lose weight that they will likely even resist what I am saying here and think, "I diet because I care about myself and fail to follow through because of my inadequacy."

I worked with a woman recently who suffered long and hard to lose weight. Some months she did better than others; some years she did better than others. One day she said to me, "I just want to like myself regardless of my weight." Those were some of the sweetest words I ever heard her utter. "What do you like about yourself?" I asked. The time ticked by in silence while we waited. (I am sure some part of her had been waiting far longer.) After a bit I decided to help her by beginning, "I like the purity of your words and desire; I like your simplicity. I like your humanity. I like your spirit. I like how I feel being with you when you talk like this." We both smiled, teary-eyed.

What to do instead of diet? Stop criticizing and shaming yourself for not sticking to your diet plan. Have it out with your critic! Make your critic's words explicit -- say them clearly and out loud and then fight back as intelligently, fiercely, and clearly as you can. This exercise will support your self-love by building a more empowered self. Going further, make a list of other plans, activities, and people you would like to say "no" to and begin practicing immediately.

For example, I once worked with a student of mine on her struggles with diet and body image, in front of her classmates in a psychology course. It was a close-knit group and she felt supported by the other women in the class who also struggled with weight loss. Her name was Sandra and she hated her body and had tried to lose weight for years, failing over and over. Like many women she criticized the way she looked. She was embarrassed to go out, wear certain clothes, order certain foods, or approach men to whom she felt attracted. I modeled the inner criticism she had expressed to me earlier, by saying, "You are fat; you should stay at home, ought to be embarrassed of yourself, and certainly shouldn't think you are worthy of having a partner you are attracted to!" At first she looked wounded and deflated, but when I encouraged her to respond, to fight back, she began to stand up straighter and smile. Just thinking about resisting her inner-criticism make her feel better in addition to the other women in the class who felt similar to Sandra. I asked Sandra where else she was going along with a program or person when she really didn't want to? She said it happened at work and sometimes with her children. Her "homework" was to say "no" to these people more often.

References:

[1] Glenn A. Gaesser, Big Fat Lies: The Truth About Your Weight and Your Health (Carlsbad, CA: Gürze Books, 2002 [1996]), 77.

[2] Traci Mann, A. Janet Tomiyama, Erika Westling, Ann-Marie Lew, Barbra Samuels, and Jason Chatman, "Medicare's search for effective obesity treatments: Diets are not the answer," American Psychologist, 62, no. 3 (2007): 220-233.

This article is by David Bedrick and you can read it here:- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-bedrick/why-diets-dont-work_b_3705083.html

Dieting Not Working? Blame The Diet And Become A Survivor

Snack Girl is one of those people who simply hates diets. Her favorite quote is from Garfield, "Diet is DIE with a T."

My reason is that all that counting of calories, leads me to want to eat everything in sight. I feel the restriction and then I start to feel hungry all the time!

On the other hand, I have learned a ton from diet books and programs about healthy eating and the number of calories in some of my favorite foods. For example, 260 calories in a doughnut was a REAL wake up call not to inhale them at a moment's notice.

A reader told me about a book that had helped her with her diet failures - "The Diet Survivor's Handbook: 60 Lessons in Eating, Acceptance and Self-Care" by Judith Matz, LCSW and Ellen Frankel, LCSW (see below and Diet Survivors).

I found this book to be very inspiring and helped me to define why dieting does not work for me. Judith Matz, LCSW, director of The Chicago Center for Overcoming Overeating, and co-author of the book was kind enough to take the time for an interview:

Snack Girl: Why is dieting hazardous to your health?

Judith Matz: Unfortunately, about 95% of people who go on diets will gain back the weight – and about one-third to two-thirds of people will end up heavier than before the diet. So, diets often make you fatter!

It may surprise you to know that weight cycling – also known as yo-yo dieting – actually puts you at greater risk of health issues, including heart problems and type-2 diabetes. Since most people go on more than one diet, this is a real concern.

Dieting also leads to depression, lower self-esteem and shame. While it always feels great when you’re in the weight loss phase of the diet/binge cycle, when the weight returns, your emotional state plummets.

Snack Girl: What is "attuned eating" and how can we achieve it?

Judith Matz: Attuned eating simply means eating according to your body’s natural, physical cues for hunger and satiation. We’re born knowing how to eat this way! Attuned eating guides you in deciding when, what and how much to eat, and teaches you to trust your own body’s internal wisdom.

When to eat:

To reconnect with your internal signals you need to identify physical hunger – which should feel like an empty or gnawing sensation in your stomach.

Attuned eaters honor their hunger by waiting for the cue of physical hunger to tell them when to eat. They also make sure that they don’t ignore their hunger and become ravenous, which sets you up for overeating.

What to eat:

Next, ask yourself what you’re hungry for – what would not only taste good, but also feel just right in your body. If you’re used to following a lot of rules about what to eat, this can take some practice! If you’re having trouble, try asking yourself some questions: Do I want something hot or cold? Spicy or bland? Chewy or crunchy? Protein, carbohydrate of fat?

Let go of the notion that foods are “good” and “bad” because when you try to ignore your craving to eat some pizza, for example, and instead stick to a salad, there’s a good chance you’ll overeat later to make up for not getting what you really wanted (and what would really satisfy you.)

Instead, keep a wide variety of foods around - including foods that nourish you and meet your nutritional needs - and then pick the food that truly satisfies you.

How much to eat:

If there was a signal of physical hunger to tell you when to start eating, then there will be a signal of fullness to tell you that it’s time to stop. The key is to pay attention by being mindful of how your body feels.

You may find that getting rid of distractions while you’re eating helps you pay better attention to when you’re getting full. You may also want to think about how you’ll feel 15 or 20 minutes after you stop eating – and how you want to feel. It’s always easier to stop when the food(s) you’re eating truly satisfy you!

What to expect:

If you want to become an attuned eater, start by collecting these experiences whenever you can. Don’t let yourself turn attuned eating into another diet where the new rule is that you can only eat when you’re hungry – becoming an attuned eater is a journey that takes time and practice!

Snack Girl: I think many of us equate thin with healthy. What is your theory regarding "healthy at any weight"?

Judith Matz: The simple truth is that there are people who are thin and healthy and people who are thin and unhealthy, just as there are people who are fat and unhealthy and people who are fat and healthy!

There’s no doubt that thinness is usually equated with health – despite the existence of over 40 research studies that show people in the overweight category for BMI (body mass index) actually live the longest - and this is unfortunate because people spend so much time, energy and money on weight loss plans and programs that don’t really work long-term.

In the meantime, they may not learn or implement other practices that lead to better health, such as fitness, attuned eating, good sleep habits, and meditation. While weight loss may be a side effect of cultivating these practices, you’ll become healthier regardless of whether you lose weight!

Snack Girl: When you struggled with weight issues, did you have an "aha!" moment that you could share with us?

Judith Matz: After many years of trying to lose weight by restricting “fattening” foods, I spent a summer in Boston where I was worked as a waitress at a well-known (and delicious!) seafood restaurant - I also tasted Steve’s oreo-cookie ice cream for the first time.

I didn’t have a scale or mirror and was so tired of dieting that I decided to take the summer off from my obsessive worries about eating.

When I moved back to Chicago at the end of the summer, I discovered that I had returned to what was a natural weight for me. My “aha” moment was the realization that the deprivation caused by dieting actually triggered me to overeat!

At that moment I made myself a promise: if I ever wanted to eat something and thought I shouldn’t because it was “bad,” I would go ahead and have it to remind myself that no foods are off limit.

It’s been about 30 years since that moment, and I have had a relaxed, peaceful and satisfying relationship with food (and my body) ever since.

Snack Girl: What is your favorite snack?

Judith Matz: As an attuned eater, my “favorite” snack depends on what would be the best match for my hunger at a particular moment! Favorites include: a banana, Dove chocolates with a glass of milk, hummus with carrots, a mini-meal from last night’s leftovers, such as an enchilada or piece of lasagna, and a bowl of soup.

Thanks, Judith! Love those snacks and the advice on our relationship to food.

Source:- http://www.snack-girl.com/snack/diet-failure-advice/

14 Foods Nutritionists Never Eat

Some are in line with what you would expect—but others are pretty shocking.

Many nutritionists will tell you that they're big advocates of the "all foods fit" approach to healthy eating—the idea that even things like cookies, cakes, and candies have a place (albeit in moderation) in an overall healthy diet. That said, there are still foods that they personally wouldn't touch with a 10-foot-stick. Granted, they may be ones that you love and simply couldn't eliminate from your diet altogether—and that's OK. 

Still, it's pretty fascinating to get a glimpse into the eating habits of people are who paid to help others eat nutritionally for a living. So we asked several nutritionists to share the foods that they would never, ever eat. Here's what they had to say: