Independence from Food

In the U.S., it’s Independence Day! Is today the day you will declare your independence from using food in any way that does not serve your body well?

Create Some Fireworks in Your Life!

Create Some Fireworks in Your Life!

In our food-driven society, we use food for a myriad of reasons that have nothing to do with hunger or physical need.

Just a few of the very common food excuses:
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Lady Gaga Inspires Weight Loss?

No, I’m not talking about her skimpy outfits or the skinny half-naked dancers flanking her live shows.

Lady Gaga is the most famous woman in music/culture right now, and I don’t think it’s because of her music (although it’s quite good) – it’s because of her message. Music is only part of her life played out as performance art.

Her deeper message to her “little monsters” (her fans) is screw everyone if they don’t like you, be who you are, because, no matter what that might be, that’s perfect.

Lady Gaga at the 2011 Grammy Awards

Lady Gaga at the 2011 Grammy Awards

What’s the connection to weight loss? Listen to (more…)

Paying Attention to Human Limits (movie “Limitless”)

The new movie “Limitless”, starring Bradley Cooper as a blocked writer seeking a pharmaceutical boost to meet a publisher’s deadline, inspired this post.

The movie is built around several cliches, including the one known as “blocked writer syndrome” (I’m always incredulous when I hear “blocked writers with publishers’ deadlines”, since I have 3 books ready for publication right here on my desk, can always meet a deadline, am a self-starter and finisher (because I can coach myself out of any hesitancy), and have no contract yet) — but its bigger themes include “power is seductive” and “today’s world lacks humanity.”

limitless

Another cliche caught my attention though. It’s the “quick fix.” Our growing cultural belief that we can “fast forward” (more…)

Elizabeth Taylor, RIP

The news that Elizabeth Taylor died today feels doubly sad. For me, it is tinged with massive regret and disappointment.

It is possible no greater beauty has every graced earth. She was gifted not only with that beauty but also with talent, courage, sensitivity, intelligence and empathy.

You might say Elizabeth Taylor had it all.

ETaylor2
ETaylor

With this amazing battalion of gifts, huge personal power would seem inevitable. But Elizabeth Taylor never achieved her potential.

Her addictions stopped her.
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Rotating Addictions/Carrie Fisher

The first of the year always brings energy to weight loss. The gyms get busier. Stores stock diet products and push them in our face. Advertising proliferates.

Now comes the news that Jenny Craig has a new spokeswoman, Carrie Fisher.

This news really hit me hard. It made me very sad.

carriefisher

I wasn’t sad because we’ve got yet another famous face attempting to glamourize temporary weight loss. I wasn’t sad because we are once again NOT TALKING about sustainable change. I wasn’t even sad because we have to watch another public “slim down” and rebound.

The fact that our society spends untold amounts of energy circling the real reasons for our addictive behavior and instead plays bullshit games with destructive dieting is always sad to me.

I was really affected by this because I think Carrie Fisher is a remarkably talented woman. (more…)