How Weight Loss May Help You Feel Sexier and More Confident

Recently on Huffington Post a discussion arose in regards to whether or not fat is sexy. Does Western culture put weight first before real sex appeal? A study by Duke University shows that women with weight issues tend to stray from sex because of their lack of self confidence and the bad feelings that they harbor for their bodies. This lack of sex-confidence has created a phenomena within the female Western culture, a reflection of their innermost workings and lack of feelings in regards to themselves.

The answers to these common occurrences in American women's lives comes from some unthought of places, including early childhood sexual abuse, a strong libido that has been suppressed in a marriage creating feelings of guilt and dysfunction, self-hate and body loathing, and even lack of desire for ones partner. 

 

These deep seeded feelings have been known to bring up a series of hidden emotions that never become resolved, instead women tend to stuff their feelings with a safe alternative 'food'. This creates a vicious cycle of abuse on all levels. She eats to stuff her feelings deep down inside to avoid her truth and whomever the feelings are aimed at, in return the weight accumulates, the feelings grow and the relationship slowly dies.

5 steps explaining how weight loss may help you feel sexier and more confident:

1. Boosts Self-Esteem

Losing weight often leads to feeling better about your body image. As you see progress, your confidence naturally increases, which can positively impact how you see yourself sexually.

2. Increases Energy Levels

Weight loss is usually accompanied by improved fitness and stamina, which can lead to more energy and enthusiasm—both in daily life and the bedroom.

3. Improves Mood and Mental Health

Exercise and healthier habits release endorphins, reduce stress, and help combat anxiety or depression, all of which play a big role in feeling sexy and confident.

4. Enhances Body Awareness

As you engage in healthier habits, you become more in tune with your body—learning what makes you feel good, both physically and emotionally.

5. Encourages Positive Feedback

Friends, partners, or even your own reflection may offer encouragement or compliments, reinforcing your self-worth and enhancing your sexual self-image.

Where's the answer?

Many of these issues are ones that need assistance in getting through, i.e. therapist, counselor, someone trustworthy that will not violate the trust bestowed. Generally therapists and counselors are the best for this, as they are schooled in the manners in helping another work through these sensitive subjects and they are professionally trustworthy, therefore you do not have to worry about your sister telling your husband your true feelings etc. The professionals are separate from your lives and are able to provide invaluable answers to your lives worst woes. So if this is you:

"Obesity is associated with lack of enjoyment of sexual activity, lack of sexual desire, difficulties with sexual performance, and avoidance of sexual encounters. Sexual quality of life is most impaired for women."

If this is you, then I hope that you are able to find your truth and become empowered as a woman without the hang-ups of yesterday. Because life is short, do it today!

For more information on weight loss and sex visit: Huffington Post
To find a counselor or therapist in your area visit: PsychologyToday.com

One of my favorites books. The Complete Guide to Metabolic Confusion Diet: For Women over 40 & 50,Boost Metabolism, Burn Fat, Balance Hormones, and Menopause Weight Loss Hacks! Bonus Fitness Plan & 28-Day Meal Plan Paperback – April 16, 2025

by Triya Redberg (Author)

Pay Attention!

Pay Attention!
Eating. We do it every day; three, four, five times a day or more. We have eaten food since birth, and there are some good and bad feelings associated with eating. It is easy to become numb while eating, which is why some of us eat extra. It is also convenient and acceptable on some levels to try to and eat your feelings away. Today ask yourself how are you feeling? Pay attention to your feelings before, during and after you eat.

Source: Pinterest

Common feelings include:
    Hunger
    Anger
    Loneliness
    Tired

Also known as HALT.  It is easy to get swallowed up by your emotions especially strong emotions like anger, loneliness, self-loathing and even exhaustion. Food is safe for many people, as it is not illegal and no one regulates your personal daily intake, except you. Unlike alcohol you can't stop eating food, it is everywhere and you need it to survive. So that's where moderation and healthy behaviors come in, and don't forget pleasure. Enjoying the sweet taste of a strawberry because you want it and not because you emotionally need can be satisfying and life changing for the body and the soul.
 

Pure Garcinia Cambogia Extract - Super Powerful Fat Burner And Appetite Suppressant

Things will begin to change when you begin to change your daily actions and habits. Sometimes this happens overnight and sometimes it will take awhile. Life is great and it is here for your enjoyment if you take the reins and move forward into a life of greatness and joy. Begin by acknowledging and writing down your feelings throughout the day and while you eat. If these feelings are too much for you to handle and work through, search out a competent professional to help you, because your life is worth it!

Loose Weight and Eat What You Want

Is it possible to loose weight and eat what you like?  Sometimes it feels like loosing weight means starving yourself from you favorite goodies. Although sometimes this may be true, it is also relative that maintaining a balanced diet that includes foods that you like will keep you happier and healthier for a longer period of time. Therefore stopping the up and down scenario, starvation, binge, self loathing, etc.

Here are  a few healthy suggestions for maintaining your balance:

PHOTO: Balance with my Edit

• Try a lot of wonderful healthy food, with a little of what you like.
• The time when healthy food tasted bad is long gone. Healthy food has the capacity to taste great! It is just a matter of finding the right source for your healthy recipes. I personally worked with the P90x menu and tweaked it where I found it necessary. 

Other great resources include:

• Cooking Light Magazine
• Prevention Magazine
• Taste of Home Recipe Makeovers
• Fitness Magazine
• Weight Watchers
• Food Network Healthy Eating
• Eating Well Magazine

The key here is to enjoy while you supplement your body with what it needs to prosper.

Ten Great Snacks That Will Tide You Over!

Morning or mid-day depending on the intensity of my workouts I get hungry. And I need to fuel up on a good snack. If I try to ignore the hunger and convince myself that food isn't important or I need to loose some extra pounds so a little starvation will not hurt me, then really I am just hurting myself. Because as soon as I am around food I will gorge my hunger, and usually with the wrong food.  A Chef  by Trade, I acknowledge that food is important and should be enjoyed. And this can be done by planning ahead. Here are ten easy snacks to choose from, pick and choose the time of day to enjoy them.  My current daytime work atmosphere consists of a standard office job, with no facilities to cook. Just a refrigerator and a small microwave. So here it goes, some creative inspiration to fuel your healthy appetite:

1. Celery and nut butter, or for a low-fat option try low or no-fat cream cheese. Spice up your cream cheese flavor with some fresh herbs (parsley, basil, thyme, or all of them). Very simple preparation includes, 8oz of no fat or low fat cream cheese, a hand full of rinsed and dried herbs, a pinch of salt and 1 tablespoon of skim milk or water. Sun-dried tomatoes are also a great addition, low-fat and high vitamins.
2. Baked chips and salsa. Don't let yourself eat the whole bag, so before you start eating portion  yourself and do not go back for seconds.
3. Raw veggies and hummus. My favorites are carrots, cukes, cherry tomatoes and apples for a savory and sweet flavor.
4. Medium sized bran muffin, if you are having a sweet tooth drizzle a little warm honey on the top.
5. Greek yogurt (plain and non-fat). Trader Joe's makes a great Greek yogurt. There handy small sizzled portions do well and are usually pretty low in sugar.
6. Low-fat popcorn.
7. Raw veggies, baked chix and a handful of pasta. Top it with 2 tsp of dressing (Caesar or Balsamic Vinaigrette make a great addition).
8. High-protein, low-sugar smoothie. Find yourself a good all inclusive protein powder. I use a brand put out by Nutri-Shop a local business in OC, CA.  1/3 frozen banana, 1/2 tsp Spirilina, ice and fill it up with non-fat milk. Blend and drink.
9. Low-Non Fat Cottage Cheese with a spoonful of jam.
10. Turkey/Cheese Roll. Ditch the bread and go for the good stuff. Roll up one slice of cheese and a few slices of turkey, add a bit of mayo to the middle.

Eat up and enjoy your food while you delight in the greatness of health.

How Oprah Motivated Me To Loose Weight

Motivation is a funny thing. When it's there you feel pumped and empowered, when it's not, guilt and negativity may begin to set in. I remember when I was overweight and attempting to find the motivation to loose weight, quite frankly I recall feeling dumpy and depressed because the motivation wasn't there.



Lack of motivation can leave you with feelings of guilt, which can lead to emotional eating.  What most of us crave is healthy weight loss, overall health and balance.

Recently I overheard a story on Oprah about a man that was having the same sort of challenge. The man  began by taking baby steps to improve. He first observed his inner challenges and found that he was put off and overwhelmed when he though of the big picture of loosing weight. 

• the commitment and effort
• what he might be missing out on
• the before and after workout preparation
• the new food choices

Image courtesy of Oprah

He was discouraged however he found a solution. By just getting dressed for the work out and committing himself to nothing else, he actually starting working out. His solution:

1. He got dressed in his workout gear
2. He sat in the workout area
3. He stayed there for 15 minutes
4. He repeated this for a few days, each day taking it one step farther
5. Days passed, he began moving around the space
6. He turned on workout videos
7. He began to feel better

As things progressed he realized that when he wasn't trying to think himself out of it or blow it up to be this huge thing in his head, he actually liked working out. He wanted to do it because it felt good during and after.

I can remember after I had my second baby I could barely walk down the road not to mention do jumping jacks . I was desperate to improve and move into a new resolution for myself that included health and positivity.

Do what you need to to improve yourself. Because you are so worth it. This is it, today is what we have to accomplish our greatness. As Tony from Beach Body's P90X says "Bring it!" Kudos to you Tony for helping so many people achieve those baby step goals!

Done With The Holiday's? Detox Fast!

The holidays are almost over, but if you are like me I feel as though I have taken in a bit more than I needed and not my normal style of "healthy" eating, than check out his easy and fun detox!

Here are some tips for detoxing after the holiday's:

1)Breakfast:
Coffee, tea (non-fat creamer) no sugar, or xylitol if you need the sweetness.
1 cup of non-fat greek yogurt/ with 1/2 cup fruit
Honey or fruit jam for sweetener.

2) Snack:
Water, and veggies. Make it easy for yourself and keep a container of veggies  (carrots, celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, snap-peas etc.) cut up and easy to access when your belly starts to growl. If you are still hungry a glass of non-fat milk or try hemp milk for a fun change (available at Trader Joe's).

3) Lunch:
Steam some veggies, for some extra flavor add a tsp. of soy sauce or/and sesame oil. Shredded baked chicken breast, is a great all day high protein filler. Mix them all together for a healthy and appetizing lunch.

4) Dinner:

It's been a long day and you have eaten light all day, and you are a little more energetic because of the cleansing food choices, so you continue your positive food choices with a large salad. Have fun with it, think about what you want to eat. Remember the best salad you have ever had and make it. My favorite salad is from a nice Italian restaurant we would frequent for family events. The owner was always present at the front door and would take each woman with a smile to their seats and find some way to make them smile or laugh. Maybe it was the atmosphere or the food or both.

But the salad consisted of large chunks of fresh Romaine lettuce, with big fat square of feta (reduced fat or fat-free can be substituted) and big gorgeous gourmet olives, with ripe red Roma tomatoes cut long ways in 1/3's and finely topped with a tangy House dressing. None I am sure was on my detox diet today, however there are always substitutions that can be made.

• Feta- Substituted with Fat-Free or Low-Fat Feta
• House Dressing- Substituted with Olive Oil and Vinegar or Non-Fat or Fat-Free Dressing
• Don't forget protein, chicken, tuna with lemon juice, or sliced up turkey.
• Protein is a great way to keep that full feeling and your blood sugar even.

Dessert:

I will admit I like a sweet flavor after dinner, and fruit is a great way to achieve this. It seems you can do just about anything with it. Marinate it, grill it, bake it. Try some frozen fruit with a drizzle of honey and non-fat milk. Or throw it in a the blender for a mock-milkshake.

Remember: Eat what you love and love what you eat, just do it healthy!

Effortless Strategies to Quickly Lose Holiday Weight: Discover New Tips for 2024

The holidays can be a rough time for many. Holiday gatherings, relatives, negativity, stress, unorganized people and food everywhere. For some, this can be a recipe for disaster. Making it an emotional eating episode and family battle all in one.

Photo: Holiday Family Cake

Shedding those extra pounds gained during the festive season requires a blend of disciplined eating and strategic exercise. Start by cleansing your diet of high-sugar and high-fat holiday leftovers, and incorporate whole, nutrient-rich foods like lean proteins, whole grains, and plenty of greens. Implementing an intermittent fasting regimen can also accelerate weight loss by reducing your eating window and increasing fat burn. 

Additionally, engage in a mix of cardio and strength training exercises to boost metabolism and build lean muscle. This approach not only helps in losing weight quickly but also enhances your overall physical health, setting a strong foundation for maintaining a healthy weight.

Mental resilience is key to successful weight loss and maintaining it over time. Cultivate a mindset that views weight loss as a journey rather than a quick fix. This perspective helps manage expectations and fosters patience, which is crucial when progress seems slow. 

Regular meditation or mindfulness practices can greatly aid in maintaining focus and motivation, keeping you mentally strong against cravings or setbacks. Moreover, setting clear, achievable goals can provide a sense of accomplishment that boosts your mental strength, making you not just physically fit but also resilient and confident in your ability to control your health outcomes.

Here are six actionable tips to kickstart your post-holiday weight loss and build mental strength:

• Eliminate Processed Foods: Remove sugary and fatty foods from your diet to avoid empty calories.
• Incorporate High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): Boost your metabolism quickly by including HIIT in your workout routines.
• Practice Mindful Eating: Pay attention to what you eat, savor each bite, and stop when you feel full.
• Set Realistic Goals: Define achievable weight loss targets to stay motivated and track your progress.
• Develop a Morning Routine: Start your day with meditation or yoga to strengthen your mental focus and clarity.
• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to support digestion and metabolism, aiding in faster weight loss.

Don't fret, it is important to find your center and peace and step back from the food. If you are tempted and eat too many cookies because Aunt Betsy gave you a hard time about your life and was quite frankly a busybody, then just make a choice to MOVE ON.

Photo: Omaha Steaks Classic Surf & Turf Favorites

By choosing to move forward, you are also choosing to move into something better, something progressive, and something that will make you happy. Separate yourself from their unhealthy behavior and habits and begin to make new healthy habits for yourself today!

The post-holiday season often leaves many of us looking for quick ways to shed the extra pounds gained from festive indulgences. To kickstart rapid weight loss, focus on cleansing your diet by eliminating processed foods and sugars which are main contributors to weight gain. 

Embrace a diet rich in whole, nutrient-dense foods such as lean proteins, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and vegetables that boost metabolism and encourage fat burning. Integrate interval training into your workout routine; short bursts of intense exercise followed by brief recovery periods can enhance your metabolic rate significantly more than steady-state cardio. This method not only maximizes calorie burn during the session but also keeps your metabolism elevated for hours afterward.

Photo: Grumpy Butcher Steaks and Chops in Treasure Gift Box

Alongside physical health, maintaining a strong mental state is crucial in achieving and sustaining weight loss goals. Start by setting clear, achievable goals that encourage a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to continue. Mindfulness and meditation can be powerful tools for mental strength, helping to maintain focus and ward off the emotional eating often triggered by stress or fatigue. 

Regularly practicing these techniques can enhance your awareness of hunger cues and cravings, helping you make conscious eating choices. Developing a resilient mindset involves regular self-reflection, which can empower you to overcome setbacks and build a healthier, more positive relationship.

Above: Paula Deen's Cookware (See blog on how Paula Deen got healthy and lost 40 lbs).

Photo: Fathers Day Gift Basket, 12 Gourmet Biscotti

Think Thin Today

Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork.  ~English Proverb

In today's world it is easy to run from one place to the next, work to home, kids, school work and so much more. Days advance into weeks and weeks into years, and bad eating and lifestyle habits add the pounds. 

When a person (male or female) uses food as an emotional crutch in their lives, its like operating a car with only half of the engine running. Life is great and wonderful and feeling can be dealt with in other ways that eating them away. 

Eating is an accepted outlet, unlike drinking and drugs. It is not viewed in a negative judgmental way by most, but instead people tend not notice if you are 12-30 even 40lbs over weight. And even though media shoves thin down our throats to the point of unhealthy habits in both sexes, today can be different.

Today can be your change. It may not happen quickly, but if you continue on the path of improvement things will change! With an open mind and an open heart your life is waiting for you. 


Your life you were truly meant to live! Healthy, free of the extra weight, and emotional baggage, excepting of your situations today and choosing to move forward to something better.


 I see you right now with the strength and discipline to move forward into something better for yourself and begin to develop the greatness that is already within you!