Before I break it down for you, I want to teach you a skill I use to maintain my good habits. I call it FPV, which sounds like an acronym for a newly discovered sexually transmitted disease, but it’s short for Food Planning and Visualization, a helpful tool to use on your journey to fatlessness (yes, I have spellchecker). Now that so many restaurants have their menus online, FPV has become even easier. Think I’m off my rocker? I don’t have a rocker just yet, so hear me out. The human mind is incredibly powerful. Successful people visualize their success before it happens. Take professional golfers. Did you know that the really great ones (or maybe all of them) plan out every stroke in their head before they ever swing the club? They visualize their swing, what the ball will do after it makes contact with the club, what path it will take, and exactly where it will land on the fairway or green.

In much the same way, I visualize what I’m going to eat. I plan it out beforehand. I do this several times a day. It has become habit for me. At night, I might review in my head what I ate that day and realize I went a little over the top, so I visualize what I will eat the next day. I make a plan. If I have a restaurant meal on my schedule, I picture items I know the place serves or check its website for a sneak preview of the menu. I believe planning and visualizing is an important exercise that can help you in your quest to lose and maintain weight. It may not be for everybody, but it works for me and has been an easy and effortless habit to develop. (excerpt from The Denim Diet.)

For those of you in major cities like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Washington, DC, and South Florida, you’re in luck! Menupages.com has you covered. Check out this stylie new website for menus in your area.

To make legs appear slimmer: Use self tanner/bronzer for pale legs. If you weren’t blessed with naturally tan or dark skin, adding a bit of color to your legs when wearing shorts, skirts, or dresses works like magic to slim and even tone your legs. Bronzer also hides spider veins and other unsightly blemishes. To get a safe, natural looking tan without sun exposure, use Lavera Sunless Tan - Self Tanning Lotion, which contains organic soy extracts, organic jojoba oil, calendula, aloe vera and rose water.

To combat the muffin top: DL 1961 Jeans with 4-way stretch, bootcut “Milano” Jeans. These are my new favorites! No muffin top and they literally hold everything in from every direction. The super dark indigo shade makes them dressy enough to wear to almost any occasion. Wash inside out to prevent fading and air dry to prevent shrinkage.

To eradicate back fat: All you need is the SPANX Bra-llelujah Wireless Front Closure Bra. It’s not exactly the sexiest-looking undergarment, but you won’t have ANYTHING oozing out the sides of your bra strap ANYWHERE. Buy one in black and one in nude and you’ll be set for any garment — even a t-shirt!

To minimize your tummy: This Alternative Women’s Eco Heather Short Sleeve Hoodie is the perfect substitute for a regular t-shirt which can often make even the slimmest person seem like they have a little belly fat. It comes in a wide array of colors and has built-in tummy minimizers. The front pocket adds a thin second layer of fabric and the wide waistband camouflages the tummy area like nothing else. This company also practices environmentally-friendly manufacturing methods.

To elongate your silhouette. It’s flip-flop season and believe it or not, the right color of flip-flop can create the longest, most flattering silhouette. Match the flip-flop to the shade of your skin, not your outfit — the neutral color will go with everything! Colors like black, red, and bright pink make your legs appear shorter and stockier. My favorite flip-flops are made in Brazil by Havaianas. They are a little pricier than your average flip-flop, but are so comfortable; you can wear them all day.

JEANS:

Levi Eco Skinny Boot Jeans – Pure Air, Style #15548, $69.50 – Made from 100% organic and recycled cotton, grown without synthetic chemicals or pesticides. Materials are carefully hand-selected to sustain a healthier environment — pure down to the natural, plant-based indigo dye.

TOP(s):

Alternative Stevie Wrap, $25.00 and Alternative Scoopneck T-shirt, $17.00 – Simple, comfortable and designed to be the go-to choice for eco-conscious styles.

SANDALS:

Rocket Dog, “Women’s Planetpup Wedge,” $54.99 – These shoes are made up of a mix of recycled, biodegradable and natural materials.

HANDBAG:

Matt and Nat, “Everest,” $195.00 – Vegan canvas bag with environmental consciousness in mind.

NECKLACE:

Kumvana Gomani Ice Cream Tri Necklace, $40.00 – 3 strands of necklace are handcrafted from recycled ice cream containers from Sweden.

$176.00 Hudson “Dakota Wash” Triangle Flap Pocket Bootcut Stretch — Fits most body types, especially helpful if your backside could use some enhancing.

$172.00 True Religion, “Becky” Bootcut Stretch Jeans — The quintessential “LA” trendy, yet flattering, designer denim.

$158.00 DL 1961 Milano (1185) in Harbor, 4-Way Stretch — The 4-way stretch is nothing short of a miracle. These are my go-to pair.

$69.50 Levi Eco Skinny Boot Jeans in Dusk, Style #15548 — Flattering, eco-friendly, and you can’t beat the price.

$69.50 The Gap, “Essential” Jeans — Basic, fits most body types, good everyday pair of jeans without looking like mom jeans.

I talk a bunch about food and how to tweak your diet to finally and forever get rid of those unwanted pounds, but in addition to dietary changes like watching portions, consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables, eating whole grains, limiting sweets, drinking plenty of water, and getting some exercise, maybe what you also need is an attitude adjustment! Nothing major — Just a few minor adjustments. I’ve been where some of you are and what I’m about to share with you has worked flawlessly for me with very little effort. And the best part? The weight has stayed off for the past 23 years.

ADJUSTMENT #1: Rethink food.

Channel the thoughts of a newborn baby for a second. They’re not thinking about what tastes good or even looks good, they’re thinking fuel and we give them premium fuel that will promote the best health possible. Take the same excellent care of yourself and only put the best possible fuel in your body. When I’m hungry, I don’t think about what sounds delicious or what would taste amazing; I think about what would quickly satiate me and optimally fuel my body, and I make sure I have plenty of things on hand that will do the job. I call this “purposeful eating” because everything I put into my body, I eat on purpose.

ADJUSTMENT #2: Start anywhere.

It all comes down to habits. Positive things we do repeatedly can add up to real measurable results. Rather than get frustrated and focus on those pounds of weight you want to lose, start somewhere, anywhere. When you have a big task ahead and don’t know where to begin, start with the most obvious thing or whatever pops into your mind first. Once you do, you’ll be under way. You choose what habit you’d like to begin with. Maybe, starting tomorrow, you’ll take a half-hour walk in the morning or maybe you’ll eat only a small bowl of berries for dessert after dinner. Think about how good you feel that you took better care of your body, and imagine what you might add to your efforts the following day or the day after that. One small habit at a time. Once you get rolling, you’ll feel an unstoppable amount of momentum, confidence, and accomplishment, and the rest will be history.

ADJUSTMENT #3: Think baby steps and not big picture.

It’s one step in the right direction at a time. Try not to obsess over those ten pounds or your final weight objective. If it takes a little while to reach your ideal, healthy weight, then that’s what it takes. You are not in a fat-burning race. There is no quick fix, and when you don’t take the time to lose weight with habits you can sustain over the long run, the weight will inevitably return. Celebrate the modest progress you achieve every day by eating well, drinking plenty of water, getting much-needed exercise, and changing your habits so today’s extra weight will one day be history and not a part of your future. When my sister lost considerable weight over a nine-month period, she didn’t think about how many pounds she was losing per week. In fact, she didn’t set any weight-loss goals at all. She changed her habits, one baby step at a time, and how she looked at food and saw it as a new, lifelong way of healthy living.

ADJUSTMENT #4: Participate in life.

Happy, fulfilled people are simply more successful. Back when I was overweight, I thought I was fat and ugly and not deserving of friends or social activities. I was going to live a full and rich life only after I reached my ideal, healthy body weight. I realize now how silly that was. So you have some weight to lose. If you are feeling anything remotely like I once did and you’re waiting to live your life until after you achieve your weight-loss goals, stop. This is your life. Get out there and share your triumphs and difficulties with anyone and everyone. People want to know you. Maybe there’s someone in your life who is just dying to have someone to commiserate with, walk with, eat with, have tea with, and get to know. Likely, there are many co-workers, friends, family members, and acquaintances who would love to share some good times with you. Have some fun, and join in on the action, no matter where you are in your weight-loss efforts. This increased happiness and fulfillment will, believe it or not, help you in your weight loss efforts.

ADJUSTMENT #5: Dress for success.

There is no need to hide in oversized clothing because you’ve got some weight to lose. Wear clothes that fit you. Oversized, elastic-wasted clothing actually adds weight and sends a loud and clear message not only to yourself, but to the world, that you’re in hiding. Get rid of those sweatpants and go buy yourself a pair of jeans that are just the right size for you. Don’t spend a lot of money because they won’t fit you for very long. If it were me, I’d splurge and buy a second pair in the size you realistically want to be, can be, and will be before you know it. Try that second pair on once a week and relish in that week-by-week, they are getting looser and looser. Believe wholeheartedly in your success and watch it unfold.

Who is up for an attitude adjustment?

In a recent article in the Washington Times, Dr. Kessler explains that, “Our brains start encoding everything about the hyperpalatable food - say a chocolate-chip cookie - so that the next time we see or think about a chocolate-chip cookie, we almost can hear the crinkle of the cellophane wrap, feel the crunch of the first bite between our teeth and taste the intense explosion of chocolate, fat and sugar. The experience of the chocolate-chip cookie becomes multisensory. Multisensory and almost impossible to resist, the thought of the cookie raises dopamine levels in the brain, which sends waves of anticipation through the body.”

So how do we avoid something like an overly-processed, packaged, strategically-engineered chocolate chip cookie in the first place? You can start by changing the way you think about a chocolate chip cookie. Visualize what it should look like, taste like, and feel like to eat it? I’m serious. Redefine what food bliss means to you. I didn’t know about all this blisspoint stuff when I wrote my book, but coincidentally, I discuss food bliss in my book — in a chapter appropriately titled, Food Bliss! To me, food bliss occurs every single time I take a bite of something, without exception, because I only eat foods that meet my criteria for healthy eating.

My chocolate chip cookie isn’t quite as sweet, gooey, or smooth in texture as your average store-bought cookie, but mine doesn’t make me fat because I can stop at just one as it’s not perfectly-engineered to prompt addictive behavior while I’m eating it. Because of my cookie’s wholesome ingredients, it also doesn’t drain my energy or contribute negatively to my health. I can trust my cookie because I made it - or someone I know and trust did. Wanna find out for yourself?

Here’s my chocolate chip cookie recipe (adapted from my sister Kelly’s energy bars, which are in the recipe section of my book):

NOTE: you can make these into cookies or bars…I’m lazy and bars are quicker and easier to prepare. Use local, certified organic ingredients if possible.

1 one-fourth cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 teaspoon expeller-pressed organic canola oil

one-fourth cup toasted wheat germ

one-fourth cup whole wheat flour

one-fourth cup flaxseed meal

one-fourth cup amber agave nectar or raw honey

1 large egg white

2 tablespoons plain nonfat yogurt

2 teaspoons unsulphured dark molasses

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

one-half teaspoon sea salt

one-third cup dark chocolate chips

one-fourth cup raisins and/or chopped dried apples or apricots (optional)

one-fourth cup sunflower seeds (optional)

Preheat the oven to 300°F. Brush an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan with canola oil. combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Combine wet ingredients in a separate, smaller bowl. Pour wet mixture into dry mixture until thoroughly combined. Spread the mixture in the prepared pan and press down firmly and evenly using an oiled rubber spatula. Bake in the center of the oven for 18 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove from the oven, let cool completely, and cut into bars to serve.

Make these sometime and let me know if these tasty treats hit your blisspoint.

Did you know?

- A mere cup of fresh strawberries will see to it that your daily requirement of Vitamin C is effectively met. In fact, they contain more vitamin C in them than many citrus fruits. When ripe, these berries are also rich in flavanoids.

-The two most abundant flavanoids present in strawberries are quercetin and kaempferol. Recent research done in strawberries suggests that this flavanoid duo has the potential to prevent the “bad” (LDL) cholesterol from oxidizing. Thus the arterial walls are saved from disruption. No wonder, strawberries are treasured even from the ancient days for its unique medicinal value.

-Strawberries are rich in ellargic acid. This acid is actually common to all the other cousin berries such as raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, grapes, cherries, walnuts, pecans and Brazil nuts. Ellargic acid is found to perform the scavenging role of eliminating the harmful cancer-causing chemicals after binding them together. It also effectively brings down the binding of carcinogens to DNA. This ultimately leads to reduced risk of cancer in cultured human cells that are exposed to carcinogens.

-Strawberries are high in fiber, folate and potassium. Strawberries are a natural means of reducing the risk of coronary ailments. They also play a positive role in regulating the blood pressure level.

-One cup of fresh strawberries supplies our body with protein and carbohydrate. It also contains iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium.

Information provided by www.magazine.ayurvediccure.com

It’s also farmers’ market season. Go to eatwellguide.org and enter your zip code to find the freshest, tastiest, and healthiest food vendors in your area.

San Diego Living: June 15, 2009

1) FPV–Food Planning and Visualization Most of us eat out a couple of times a week. One of the biggest reasons it’s hard to be successful when you’re trying to lose weight is not knowing how to eat out at restaurants without overeating.  There’s a trick to doing this successfully that I call FPV-which stands for Food Planning and Visualization. You plan in advance what you are going to eat and you visualize yourself doing just that. Successful people visualize their success before it happens, whether it’s perfecting a golf swing, delivering a great presentation, or not succumbing to food temptation. Now that so many restaurants have their menus online, FPV has become even easier.  Go to the restaurant’s website and select exactly what you are going to order when you get there.  Picture yourself saying, “I am going to have the grilled chicken breast salad lightly dressed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.” See yourself eating it and enjoying it and not going home feeling overly-stuffed and needing to lie down on the couch wondering, “Why did I do that?” Make a plan and you are far more likely to execute it perfectly.

2) Embrace Dieting Failures and Move Forward With Baby Steps. Every woman I know who has tried to lose weight has been unsuccessful at one time or another in her attempt, whether it was a daily setback or less frequent eating mishaps. I know many dieters get this idea in their head that when they’ve blown it, like say they ate a 200 calorie chocolate chip cookie, they figure well, I’ve gone and ruined my diet for today and I may as well really blow it and eat a few more cookies or maybe a half a pint of ice cream. Can you imagine what would happen to the shape of our financial health if we had that same attitude when we’re out shopping for clothes? Just like you really can’t afford a 200 calorie cookie, you splurge on a pair of $200 jeans and then figure you’ve blown it now so you may as well buy a $200 pair of shoes and a $400 handbag? No, we cut our losses, vow to stick to the budget next time, maybe put a few more hours in at the office and get back on track. Same goes with your diet. So you ate a cookie, forgive yourself, let it go, vow to be better the rest of the day, and move on.  Successful weight loss is all about the baby steps…a lot of little baby steps in the right direction adds up to steady and permanent weight loss. But the opposite is also true so don’t beat yourself up over one cookie – that only makes matters worse…just get back on track.

3) Have The Big O: An Organic-ism that is! Put your money where your mouth is.  Organic food costs more and you’re worth it.  A study through The Organic Center (http://organic-center.org/) recently proved that organic food is, on average, 25 percent more nutritious, so you’re definitely getting more for your money and any good chef will tell you it also tastes better. Organic food also takes a lot of the guesswork out of reading labels. The USDA does not allow nasty, fat-making ingredients like high fructose corn syrup and partionally hydrogenated oils (aka, trans fats) in certified organic food. Instead of being a member of the Clean Your Plate Club, drop your membership effective immediately and join the Clean Eaters Club where eating local and seasonal food that has been minimally processed is all the rage and for good reason. Go to eatwellguide.org to locate farmers’ markets, food co-ops, restaurants, and bakeries that provide local, sustainable, and organic food in your zip code.

4) Eat Well With Others Understand where friends, family, and favorite food enablers our coming from. Recognize that your plateful may look slightly different than your children’s or your spouse’s or your roommate’s.  You may even get hassled a bit or questioned by your loved ones. Prepare yourself for comments and concerns from family members and well-meaning food enablers who want to tell you how “you’re missing out” and “limiting yourself”. Some may try to guilt you into eating something that you shouldn’t by saying it’s your favorite and they made it (or bought it) especially for you.  Be gracious, and politely but firmly decline.  Your best defense is not to be defensive – you’ll get hassled more!  Be indifferent.  Indifference is a powerful tool.  Do what dogs do – quietly tilt your head in a semi-puzzled, but trusting look and go back to what you were doing.

5) Jeans vs. Junk Food: Be A Master of Your Denim. Every time you want to eat junk food, ask yourself…what is more important, the momentary pleasure of eating this, or fitting into that dream pair of jeans? I say, Behind every successful dieter is a supportive pair of jeans! Buy the size you are realistically going to fit into when you’ve shed your unwanted pounds and keep them visible in your bathroom, or hanging at the front of your closet and try them on once a week.  This is such an excellent motivator and one that has worked for me for over two decades. And here’s what you do if you’re home and you’re being summoned into the kitchen by a bag of potato chips, go try on that pair of jeans! That’ll stop you dead in your tracks – especially if you notice your jeans are actually feeling a little looser. Such good motivation!

 

On June 17th, I will be the guest speaker at an event for The Link for Women in Portland, Oregon. It’s going to be a special night of fun, food, and fashion and I would love for all you Portland Women to attend and participate in what’s going to be a lively discussion! Big Brothers Big Sisters will be on-hand to collect donations of new or gently worn jeans. Those who donate will get a one-time discount of 30% on a new pair jeans courtesy of Nolita in the Pearl District. This whopping discount is a unique offer and is only available to those that attend this event. 30% off a pair of designer jeans is HUGE! Katy from Nolita will be on-hand to talk jeans and will also have many pairs available for sale if you can’t wait to visit her fabulous store. True Religion, one of Nolita’s vendors is sponsoring the event.

We’ll be learning all about my 16 simple habits to create the healthy body that all those fad diets promised, but could only deliver temporarely. My easy guidance will change things around for the rest of your life. I don’t work exceptionally hard at this — trust me, if I can do it, anybody can! 

The Link for Women is a group of 2000+ fabulous Portland women (there is also a branch in Seattle) that offers outstanding networking. Everytime I’ve attended an event, I’ve made numerous contacts that lead to some new amazing opportunity…as well as friendship!

Please come join us! 

Here are the Details: 

Cost: Includes tapas and no-host cocktails) 

Pre-Paid Members $30/ Non-Members $45 (By NOON, day of event) 
At the Door Members $35/ Non-Members $50 

Click HERE to register.

Agenda 
5:30 - 6:30 Tapas, cocktails and linking 
6:30 - 8:00 Conversation and Q & A 
8:00 - 8:30 A final cocktail/more linking 

Location 
bridgeport brewpub + bakery
1313 NW Marshall Street
Portland, OR 97209
503.241.7179
Parking available at the Safeway Building. 
Entrance is on 14th between Lovejoy and Marshall.
http://www.bridgeportbrew.com

Denise Cerreta from One World

The mission statement for the “pay as you want” One World restaurant in Salt Lake City, Utah is: 

* We are dedicated to eliminating world hunger.

* We are dedicated to serving organic unprocessed food.

* We are dedicated to feeding and including all members of our community.

* We are dedicated to eliminating waste in the food industry.

* We believe that we can trust our customers to be inspired, honest and fair in their exchange of money and/or work for the fresh, gourmet, organic food we prepare both mindfully and in a heartfelt way each day.

* We will keep believing…

Here’s the deal — taken directly from the One World website:

“The concept began when owner Denise Cerreta in mid 2003 had an epiphany to serve organic food, let people choose their own portions and let them price those portions themselves.  Since then, she’s gained local, national and world-wide notoriety for her pay as you go prices, seasonal no menu organic cuisine, living wages, minimal food waste and healthy meals that are within everyone’s reach.

By encouraging people to savor the meal, Ms. Cerreta is attempting to help people see the value of food as more than a mere consumable but rather, as a glue and a catalyst for healthy people, relationships and communities.  Customers are able to seat themselves in a relaxed atmosphere that is condusive to conversation; opposite to the usual public dining experience of isolation.  Because our customers choose their own prices, their portions tend to be more mindful and reflect that they will actually want to eat, with the result being little or no food waste.  We’ve realized that this makes more food available and we expect this will make the concept exportable and adoptable worldwide.  
  
Philosophy meets business through her desire to pay her workers a living wage, as well provide volunteer options for those who would prefer a “hand up” rather than a hand out.  For every hour someone gives to our foundation, they can receive a voucher for a full meal, and children under 8 can eat with a parent on the same vouncher.  Plus, there is always a complimentary staple dish that everyone can eat regardless of means.  Denise and the staff knew the model was successful on the day that there were several people eating, all of whom had volunteered earlier in the week and had redeemed their vouchers.  But all were eating anonymously and with dignity.   

One World Everybody Eats wants to see a community kitchen in every city in the world, but our focus for this has changed.  We began with a short list of U.S. cities, but soon found people were contacting us about how to follow our lead much faster than we could ever establish kitchens ourselves.” 

To learn more about this model or inquire about starting a One World restaurant in your city, click here to download a handy guide.