How far would you go?

I am getting married in less than a month. So naturally, I stumble across the latest pre-wedding fad diet or bridal boot camp in an article here and there, but usually I just skip over it and continue on to the fun articles about flowers and dresses and pretty things. But I will never forget the wedding related weight loss article I read yesterday - and not for a good reason.

Recently, I found my new favorite bridal blog called Bitchless Bride. On the train back from NYC yesterday, I decided to catch up on a little Bitchless Bride reading and found their latest post which cited an absolutely disturbing article via the New York Times about brides using nasogastric tubes as a tool to lose weight before the big day. Really? REALLY?! Yes. You read me right.

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This is an all-time low. The doctors who perform these should be ashamed, and the people who decide to take this route should think long and hard about whether they should seek professional psychiatric care for their notions about dieting.

Read the article. A nasogastric tube is a medical tool used for people who cannot consume adequate calories and nutrition orally due to illness or surgery. These feedings are called Enteral Tube feedings. They are calculated by a Registered Dietitian in a hospital setting for people who are too ill to feed themselves orally: think late stage Cancer, Liver Failure, Crohns Disease to name a few. They are not to be used as a weight loss tool under any circumstance.

Listen up, Girls, and listen close! Your weddings and future important events are not about how much weight you lose or how small size of a dress you can purchase. They are about enjoying an exciting time with those you love and cherish most. Sure, you want to look and feel your best. So start eating a healthy, balanced diet (visit http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ to learn about how you can do that or email one of us and we can talk about your nutrition counseling options) and start being physically active. It's that simple. That's the formula. There is no way around it. Eat right. Exercise. And if you want an extra boost, see an RD who will counsel you on how to best do those things (rather than stick a nasogastric tube down your throat).

Savor the time and don't waste it counting calories or you will seriously regret it. Normally, I try to take a less aggressive approach to my Guiltless writing, but I mean business on this one! Life is short. But it's up to you to make it sweet too.

You are radiant. You are soulful and beautiful. You are the pulse of the Earth. And no nasogastric tube or crazy diet restriction is responsible for that. Think about it.

Restart

I like to think of Monday's as a Restart.

No matter what happened over the weekend, no matter what you ate, drank, did or felt, Monday is like a fresh start.

Where we can change our outlook, change our feelings and make our life a little bit better.

You can start today by saying I'm sorry, or I have no regrets, and accept where you are, right here, right now, as the sun rises over a new day.

What are you going to do today to Restart your life??

What do you think?

We spend a lot of time thinking about how others perceive us. "Am I wearing the right thing?"... "Did I say the right thing" ... "Do they like me?"..."What will people think of this decision?" The energy and time spent on worrying about what other people will think of your choices is precious and might be better directed toward making sure the decisions you make are right for you.

Have you ever made a decision based on what someone else thinks? Most likely, the answer is "yes." After all, we're only human. For example, imagine your friend asks you to go out for some night time shopping and dinner b/c it's been too long since you've seen each other. However, you have been burning the candle at both ends lately and feel exhausted. What do you do? There is no right answer. But there is a right approach.

This type of simple decision has the potential to send you into a whirlwind of thought. "If I say that I need to go home and just relax, when will I see my friend next? Will she be hurt if I say no? Will I regret my decision?" The energy spent on worrying isn't worth it.

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Listening to your body, understanding what would be best for you and your health, and making a decision based on those things is the approach that will leave you feeling happy - whatever that decision may be. Maybe a night out is exactly what you need to feel refreshed. Or maybe you really need the be on the couch at home. Chances are, whatever decision you make, no one's feelings will be hurt b/c when you do what's best for you, those who care about you would have made the same choice for you.

The example above is just one of many situations like this that we commonly encounter. Life is too short to neglect yourself. Of course, there comes a time and place for sacrifice, because that's just part of having relationships. We should all think we before we speak or act in order to make sure we're expressing ourselves clearly. But sometimes, an overly-analytical mind can backfire. So here's a little Guiltless challenge: Think a little less before you speak or act this week, because chances are, your gut instincts are the right ones. Just a little food for thought! Be well and enjoy the day.

Make Peace and Help Others

Until you make peace with who you are, you’ll never be content with what you have. ~Doris Mortman

Much like the ladies at Stylelist we are also allergic to statements like "I'm fat" "I hate my _____"

So we would love it if you would go over to their blog post, and tell them one thing you LOVE about yourself. And for every favor you do for yourself, by shouting this love out to the world, they will donate $1 to Girls Inc-a fantastic organization that helps young girls grow up a healthy self-esteem as they encourage girls to be strong, smart and bold. It's really a win-win.

Guest Post: Love Thyself with Rest

Sleep is often not at the top of most peoples' priority lists. But maybe it should be. Edwina Clark, MS, RD, LDN explains why sleep is so important for your health. In turn, when you give yourself the time you need to rest, you health will improve and therefore your relationship with your body will improve. We all deserve a few more hours of shut eye!

Love Thyself with Rest

By: Edwina Clark, MS, RD, LDN

This is probably not the first time somebody has told you to get eight hours shut-eye. For generations, parents have been instilling the importance of rest in their children, only to see their efforts crumble as their kids enter into their sleep-deprived college years. From there, it continues. In fact, for most young women and men sleep-deprivation has become the norm. Longer hours, an increasingly competitive workforce and fewer bodies doing the work, mean that the bags under our eyes are darker than ever before. But at what price?

Turns out that your parents were onto something when they forced you into bed at 8:30pm. Poor sleep initiates a whole cascade of reactions that throw your body into a state of chaos. For example, inadequate sleep disrupts hunger and appetite hormones and creates an internal perception of inadequate energy. As a result, chips, cookies, candy and other junk creep onto the menu and sleep deprived children and adults are more likely to be overweight and obese.

Furthermore, skimping on the shut-eye is associated with a laundry list of health problems including increased risk of accident or injury; impaired cognitive function; elevated risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes; reduced sex drive; and depression. If you think you’re one of those people that can survive on a measly couple of hours, guess again. Sleep can impair your judgment, particularly about sleep!

So how much sleep do you need for health and happiness? Adults need 7-9 hours a night, while growing kids need a little more. If you’re a princess-and-the-pea type of sleeper, set yourself up for success with a cool, dark room, clean sheets and a regular sleeping routine. Keep computers, televisions and other electronics out of the bedroom, and wind down with some light reading material (US Weekly anyone?). There’s no better day than today to break the habit and hit the hay half an hour earlier. Your bright future starts in the bedroom!

Want to hear more from Edwina? Follow her on Twitter at @EdwinaTheRD.

Social Media & Body Image

We've discussed how traditional media can impact our body images negatively. But what about social media? I recently read an article about how Facebook may be contributing to insecurity and body image disorders. Just like any other social setting, the social media world can put pressure on us to strive for "perfection" and maybe even more so. Here is a quote from the article:

“Facebook is making it easier for people to spend more time and energy criticizing their own bodies and wishing they looked like someone else,” Dr. Harry Brandt, director of the Sheppard Pratt center, said in a statement. “In this age of modern technology and constant access to smartphones and the Internet, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to remove themselves from images and other triggers that promote negative body image, low self-esteem and may ultimately contribute to eating disorders.”

The article also states, "Facebook appears to be fueling a 'camera ready' mentality among the general public."

Have you felt these types of changes in yourself?

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It's time that we stop focusing so much on what we think is wrong with our bodies. Stop for a moment and ask yourself how long it's been since you have gone a day without having a negative body thought or heard someone else vocalize unhappiness with their own appearance? This type of negativity is a waste of precious energy. Life is too short to waste time hating on the only body you'll ever have. Appreciate it, treat it right, and let it carry you through the gift of life with grace and gratitude.

What are your thoughts about social media and body image? Here at Guiltless, we use social media as a way to promote self-love and appreciation, but the article discussed in this post explains how social media can also be used to promote self-hurt. How can we make sure that we're not poisoning our minds with negative thoughts about ourselves? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/04/2729178/facebook-may-hurt-body-image-contribute.html#storylink=cpy"

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/04/2729178/facebook-may-hurt-body-image-contribute.html#storylink=cpy

Love your life

Gina sent me this quote and I absolutely love it.

The more time you spend loving the life you've created so far,
the more empowered you'll be to create a life you love.
--Martha Beck

No one's life is perfect. But we can accept and love the life we currently have to make moves to create the life we will continue to love. Much like with our relationship with our bodies and with food, acceptance of the current moment gives us the power to move forward in the direction you would like to see.

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When we love life, it loves us back.

Happy Monday! May it be Guiltless!