YWM2014: Mindful Eating: Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat

My head happens to be in the video here. LOL.

I. love. this. speaker.

Give it a listen.

Health is Not Measured in Pounds

The OAC is coming to Boston!

Via OAC - 

The OAC is proud to announce that we are debuting a NEW pilot Your Weight Matters Local Events program with YWMLocal - Boston 2014! In less than a month, we will bring the Your Weight Matters message to Boston and the local surrounding community. 

• We invite you to join us in Boston for this groundbreaking FREE educational event at the Westin Boston Waterfront on November 2, 2014, from 11:30 am – 4:00 pm.

The OAC welcomes our members and their family members, friends and colleagues from all throughout the northeast to this opportunity to experience a local OAC Event! We have secured an amazing line-up of topics and presenters who are ready to arm attendees with knowledge to get you started or back on your journey to improved weight and health. To view the educational topics presented, along with the speakers, please  CLICK HERE.

As part of our commitment to bringing our OAC members the best education and right tools for improving your weight and health, we are proudly producing this first YWMLocal Event, and hope to continue spreading the Your Weight Matters message with YWMLocal Events in other communities across the Nation. This is your chance as a valued OAC Member to connect with the OAC and your fellow OAC members in-person!

Any individual who wishes to benefit from this evidence-based education is welcome to attend, so pleaseshare the news with any family or friends you know in the Boston area! For all OAC members and ANYONE wishing to attend this great FREE event in Boston on November 2, please register now by CLICKING HERE!

#YWM2014 - Do not miss a thing!

I am off to Orlando for the Obesity Action Coalition #YWM2014 event!

It's a three-peat for me.  

Here's some pertinent information from the OAC that you need to check out the LIVE-STREAM starting Friday -- 

It’s hard to believe that the Convention is practically here already – this time tomorrow we’ll be getting into the full swing of things, with record-breaking numbers of attendees. It’s fantastic to see more attendees coming from all kinds of places, including Costa Rica, Saudia Arabia and Canada! We know that although many of you are joining us for YWM2014 beginning tomorrow, some are unable to join-in for the 2014 Convention. We are live-streaming TWO valuable sessions from our educational program this year, and we encourage you to tune-in to watch! 

Vision is Vital: Challenging Falsely Acquired Thoughts

Friday, September 26, from 11:15 am – 12:00 pm

Featuring Merrill Littleberry, LCSW, LCDC, CCM, CI-CPT, is all about deciphering between the truths of others that can cloud our ability to see our own reality. Holding onto the things that weigh us down can create debilitating physical FAT and emotional Falsely Acquired Thoughts (F.A.T.) Change the brain, change the body, and find out how to fight F.A.T. for real. View this educational live-stream on Friday morning by CLICKING HERE!

Get up! Non-exercise Activity Thermogenesis - the N.E.A.T. Energy of Life

Saturday, September 27, from 9:15 am – 9:55 am

Everything that we do throughout the day uses up our metabolic energy. James A. Levine, MD, PhD, explains all the components of your daily energy expense, or N.E.A.T., and the science of how you can make this energy loss part of your strategy to improve health. View this educational live-stream on Saturday morning by  CLICKING HERE!

365 days

Post by Melting Mama.

Simple Weight Loss Tips

Via CNN -  Simple Weight Loss Tips -

Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietitian and nutritionist for the Chicago Cubs, is trying to change the meaning of the phrase, "Treat yo'self."

Most people treat themselves by indulging in a gallon of ice cream or by lounging around the house, watching TV. Blatner wants "treat yourself" to mean exactly the opposite. Her definition is designed to give you more energy, help you lose weight and keep your body healthy.

"It's preplanning your grocery list. It's being in the grocery store and buying foods that nourish your body. It's eating mindfully," she told the audience at the Obesity Action Coalition's annual Your Weight Matters convention. "Those are really good things that when you do them, it's treating yourself right."

In other words, you deserve to feel good and look good, Blatner says. So putting in five or 10 minutes to plan your meals for the upcoming week or spending 30 minutes at the gym is the ultimate act of self-love.

"There's no bigger gesture in this world that says, 'You know what, Dawn? You matter.'" Follow these 10 tips to "treat yourself" to a healthier, slimmer body:

These three items ensure you're not sneaking snacks from the refrigerator late at night or gulping down 1,000 calories in your car from a fast food joint. And having them probably means you're consuming more nutrients than a bag of potato chips would offer -- unless you're one of those weird people who puts potato chips on a plate.

"It's my answer to eating mindfully," Blatner says.

Eating mindfully, research shows, helps people pay closer attention to the enjoyment of eating and to feelings of fullness. Studies suggest people who eat mindfully consume fewer calories at meals, no matter how much is on their plate.

2. Willpower is a mental muscle. Exercise it.

Every time you put food in your mouth, you should have three things, Blatner says: a table, a plate and a chair.

Willpower is a limited resource, psychologist Sean Connolly of San Antonio says, but we all have it. The trick is in knowing how to use it efficiently.

"People list lack of willpower as the No. 1 reason holding them back from improving their lives in some way," says Connolly, who works regularly with bariatric patients. "Willpower is not a gene. It's a tool that we all have that we have to learn to use, develop and manage."

Like any muscle, your willpower gets tired. So you have to plan, Connolly says, and know what you will do in situations that offer a healthy choice and an unhealthy choice. You also have to be prepared for emergencies, such as at the end of a long work day, when your willpower is exhausted and the drive thru window beckons.

Willpower also needs to be replenished daily. The best way to do this? Get enough sleep.

3. Be realistic.

Let's be honest, most of us want to lose a lot of weight. And when we don't -- when we drop 5 or 10 and then hit a wall -- we get discouraged and jump back on the fried food wagon.

One of the biggest obstacles to losing weight is unrealistic expectations, says psychologist Gary Foster, director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University.

"The less you weigh, the less you need to eat and the more you need to move (to lose weight)," Foster says. "And that's not fair."

It's nice to aim high, but successful losers drop an average of 8.4% of their body weight. If you weigh in at 200, that's about 16 pounds. And losing those 16 pounds improves your health dramatically.

In other words, hoping to weigh what you did in high school will derail your plan before it starts.

"Life changes, and that's not an apology or a cop out. It's a realistic assessment," Foster says. "What else in your life is the same at 45 as it was at 20?"

4. Find better friends.

It's known as the "socialization effect." Cigarette smokers hang out with other cigarette smokers. Drinkers hang out with other drinks. And overweight people hang out with other overweight people, says Dr. Robert Kushner of Chicago.

"What do you do if you're hanging out with a group of people who are overweight?" he asks. You pick a restaurant. You go out for burgers and a beer. "You're probably not talking about going rollerblading."

We tend to pick up the habits of those we hang out with the most. So find some friends with healthy habits, and you'll become healthier yourself.

5. Do a cart check.

You know the MyPlate diagram -- the one that shows how your plate should be split into fruits, grains, vegetables and proteins? Your cart should look the same, Blatner says. When you think you're finished shopping, do a quick eye check to make sure it's filled with about 25% protein, 25% whole grains and 50% produce.

"Choice is the enemy of weight loss," Blatner says. She recommends planning out two healthy breakfasts, two healthy lunches, two healthy snacks and two healthy dinners for the week. Buy the ingredients you need for each and then rotate them throughout the week.

This gives you enough choice that you won't get bored but not enough choice that you're overwhelmed and end up looking for the nearest vending machine.

6. Do not eat in response to that thing.

You're at the movies. It's your cousin's bachelorette party. Your son is at the top of his graduating class. It's a ball game -- and what's a ball game without a hot dog? If you want to lose weight, avoid eating in response to "that thing," Foster says.

Plan what you're going to eat at these special -- or not so special -- occasions so you don't have to rely on your willpower. And only eat when you're hungry. There will be more food at the next thing.

7. Tell yourself: "I have the right to be thin."

Self-sabotage is a real problem in weight loss, Connolly says. A lot of times his clients say they want something and then go out of their way to make sure it doesn't happen.

It's not a lack of desire or motivation. "Something holds us back," he says.

We have to learn to validate ourselves, Connolly says, because we'll never get everything we need from other people. Tell yourself daily that you deserve to be healthy. You deserve to look and feel good. Then believe it.

8. Set S.M.A.R.T. goals.

If you haven't heard this acronym before, memorize it now. Any goal you set should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely, says Eliza Kingsford, psychotherapist and director of clinical services for Wellspring. If it meets these qualities, you'll be much more likely to achieve it.

For instance, "I'm going to be more active" is a goal. "I will walk for 30 minutes every day for the next month" is a S.M.A.R.T. goal.

It's specific in that you know how much activity you're going to do. It's measurable -- did you walk today or not?

It's attainable and realistic; everyone can find 30 minutes in their day, and walking doesn't require a lot of equipment or special training. And it's timely because you'll be able to see at the end of the month if you hit your goal.

9. Stand up.

Most of us now spend eight hours a day sitting at our desks at work, and two to three hours sitting at home. That kind of sedentary lifestyle is nearly impossible to counteract, Dr. Holly Lofton of New York says, even if you hit the gym for two hours a day (and who does that?).

She suggests wearing a step counter that will keep you aware of the movement -- or lack of movement -- you're making throughout the day. Try standing up at your desk while on a conference call, or walking to a colleague's desk instead of e-mailing him. Take the stairs. Park farther away. Everything counts!

10. Life will never be stress-free. Learn to cope.

Scientists disagree about whether stress itself produces a physical change in your body that can lead to significant weight gain. But we all know the effect a stressful day can have on our willpower.

The problem, Kushner says, is that there never will be a long period in your life without stress. And if we cope with everyday stress by indulging in brownies and vodka, the weight will continue to pile on.

"Life happens. It's not so much stress that causes weight gain, it's the coping, the push back," he says.

The key is to learn positive coping skills. If work is stressing you out, take a 10-minute walk instead of hitting up the cookie tray in the breakroom. Take a yoga class at the end of a long week. Use deep breaths to get through a phone call with your mother.

And treat yourself to a stress-less day. 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/04/health/easy-weight-loss-tips/index.html?hpt=he_t3

Smashing records, that's what we do.

This is totally a press release from the OAC because James writes them so fancy!

3-7-0.

Just wait until next year, guys.

-Beth

OBESITY ACTION COALITION’S 2^ND ANNUAL YOUR WEIGHT MATTERS NATIONAL CONVENTION BREAKS ATTENDANCE RECORDS AND EDUCATES AND INVIGORATES MORE THAN 370 INDIVIDUALS SEEKING EVIDENCE-BASED WEIGHT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Tampa, Fla. â€“ More than 370 individuals from 32 states throughout the nation attended the Obesity Action Coalition’s 2^nd Annual Your Weight Matters National Convention, Rise to the Challenge, in Phoenix earlier this month. Education, advocacy and support, the core principles of the OAC’s mission, were fully represented during this year’s Convention, tagged “YWM2013” across social media.

The hundreds in attendance were treated to three days of evidence-based information on a variety of topics, such as food addiction, weight bias, self-perception and many more. Led by thought-leaders in the healthcare field, each educational session was presented by one of 37 distinguished experts dedicated to helping individuals gain a better understanding of how their weight impacts their health. In addition to the world-class education, YWM2013 offered attendees a busy Exhibit Hall with 30 exhibitors all showcasing products and services geared toward those affected by excess weight and obesity.

“The education at this year’s Convention was truly unbelievable. As a speaker, I was able to see first-hand how this Convention changed lives. It brought individuals to a new level of awareness. It broke down topics that are often avoided; however, frequently questioned by those affected by the disease of obesity. What makes Convention so special is that it creates a safe and welcoming environment that is free from judgment. In doing so, it allows individuals to feel comfortable and absorb all that Convention has to offer. Being a part of YWM2013 was simply an amazing experience,” said Robert Kushner, MD, Convention Program Agenda Co-Chair.

The OAC is thankful for all those who volunteered their time in both planning YWM2013 and helping onsite. Countless hours were dedicated to ensuring all attendees received an experience like nothing else out there in the way of education and support.

“Last year’s Inaugural Convention in Dallas was amazing. Being in my home state of Texas, it felt surreal to see so many individuals all in one place wanting to learn more about their weight. I honestly thought it was going to be difficult to top the Inaugural Convention; however, YWM2013 did just that – and more. YWM2013 connected people, and when I say ‘connected,’ I am not just talking about attendee-to-attendee. It gave us, the OAC Board of Directors, staff and others, the opportunity to engage with the attendees, learn more about them and their needs, and most of all – help them rise to their own personal challenges,” said Lloyd Stegemann, MD, FASMBS, Convention Program Agenda Co-Chair.

The tremendous success of YWM2013 would not have been possible without the generous support of this year’s sponsors. The OAC would like to thank the 2013 National Sponsors for their generous support: Platinum – Eisai; Gold – Allergan and Vivus, Inc.; Silver – Covidien; Bronze – AmeriWell Bariatrics, Bari Life Bariatric Supplements, Bariatric Advantage, Celebrate Vitamins, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, and Geisinger.

The OAC is excited to announce that the 3^rd Annual Your Weight Matters National Convention will take place in Orlando, Fla., at the Renaissance Orlando at Sea World, September 25-28, 2014. Information on next year’s Convention will be located at www.YWMConvention.com. 

The OAC is a National nonprofit charity dedicated to helping individuals affected by obesity. The OAC was formed to bring together individuals struggling with weight issues and provide educational resources and advocacy tools.

Understanding and Managing Food #Addiction (and SUGAR!) Livestream Video Via Obesity Action Coalition (OAC)

• Absolutely worth the watch if you like good brain food.

• Dr. Nicole Avena is a research neuroscientist and expert in the fields of nutrition, diet and addiction. She received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Psychology from Princeton University, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular biology at The Rockefeller University in New York City. She has published over 50 scholarly journal articles, as well as several book chapters and a book, on topics related to food, addiction, obesity and eating disorders. She also edited the book, Animal Models of Eating Disorders (2012) and has a popular book of food and addiction coming out in 2014 (Ten Speed Press). Her research achievements have been honored by awards from several groups including the New York Academy of Sciences, the American Psychological Association, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Eating Disorders Association. She also maintains a blog, Food Junkie, with Psychology Today.

• http://www.facebook.com/DrNicoleAvena

#YWM2013 Photoshow

• Photos from #YWM2013
• Your Weight Matters Convention 
• Costume Party Beach Movie Theme - hence MM in shark, uh, mess
• Team Bariatric Bad Girls 
• #BBGC Raises Nearly SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS for the Walk From Obesity National Event for the SECOND YEAR in a ROW! GO TEAM BBGC! 
• Two years of National Walks = $14,000!
• Thanks to everyone who donated - you're all eligible for prizes!
• See you in September 2014 in ORLANDO, FLORIDA!

 

Again, Because We Can.

 

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Save. The. Date.

Bariatric Advantage Ultra Multi Formula with Iron

Save. The. Date.

Via OAC -

"The OAC thanks all those who attended and participated in YWM2013, making it an incredibly successful and motivating event. We extend our gratitude to this year's sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and all those who helped make the Convention possible. We are proud to announce the 2014 date and location and hope that you will mark your calendars to join us for YWM2014!"

• September 25 - 28, 2014 - Orlando, Florida

Watch for my next posts for photos, recaps, and more.  Because.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."  - Margaret Mead

Watch #YWM2013 Livestream!

2013 OAC Convention E-news Alert!

Not in Phoenix at #YWM2013?

You can watch the live stream!

Check it out!

• 2013 OAC Convention E-news Alert!

Make it stop.

Please make me stop doing this. Want to know how?

Hey, don't judge, I don't see you trying.

Make a donation of ANY size to the Walk From Obesity!  We are SO close to goal, please help?  All donations are eligible for prizes from OAC via me.  Thanks!

 

15 days - are you?

Will you help Team MMBBGC reach the goal for the Walk From Obesity?

If you are one of the above donations - thank you very much!  Your name is entered to win a prize!  If you are walking with us - see you there!

Because I am that tired and I could not post from Portland --

I was unable to keep a WIFI connection long enough to get a blog post out while in Portland for the fitbloggin conference, so beware the blog-onslaught!

First up, a video blog post from Eggface and I because this is what happens when we get together at blog conferences -- we're goofy.

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Ending TOMORROW - Nominations are open! #OAC #YWM2013

Via OAC -  Nominations END tomorrow!

We are proud to open the nomination process for the OAC’s 2013 Annual Awards that will be presented on Saturday evening, August 17, at the 2^nd Annual Your Weight Matters National Convention in Phoenix, AZ.

Last year, the OAC unveiled its Annual Awards Program as a way to honor outstanding OAC members and volunteers for their tireless efforts to advance the cause of obesity and help individuals affected through education, advocacy and support. Our members truly drive the successes of the OAC, and we are excited to celebrate the individuals that have made a direct impact in furthering the goals and mission of the OAC.

During this year’s awards ceremony held in conjunction with the 2013 National Convention in Phoenix, we will present seven awards in key areas of focus for the OAC. A complete list of the awards to be presented may be found to the right. Of the seven awards, four are open to the membership to submit nominations. The remaining award recipients will be selected by the Annual Awards Program Review Committee.

If you know someone who is deserving of one or more of the OAC’s awards, we encourage you to submit a nomination using the below links. Self-nominations are also welcomed and accepted.

 

Supporting the #WalkFromObesity for the OAC and ASMBS Foundation with the #BBGC

Deadline to Submit Your Nomination: Friday, July 19

 

Candidates for the below awards are nominated by the OAC membership and will be submitted for final review by the OAC Annual Awards Program Review Committee. Self-nominations are accepted. The description, qualifications and criteria for review are available once you click the link provided for the respective award. 

 

#YWM2012 Awards Night with Michelle Vicari

 

• The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, July 19. 

We hope you submit a nomination for the OAC’s Annual Awards and invite you to join us in Phoenix for the presentation. Here are the details of this year’s Awards Ceremony:

Saturday, August 17
7:00 pm – Arizona Grand Ballroom – Conference Center at Arizona Grand

Arizona Grand Resort & Spa
8000 South Arizona Grand
Phoenix, AZ 85044
Plated Sit-down Dinner

Tickets to the 2^nd Annual OAC Awards Dinner are included in Full Convention Registration and can also be purchased separately. To learn more about registering for the Convention and this event, please visit the official Convention Web site at www.YWMConvention.com.

• To view the recipients of the 2012 OAC Annual Awards, please CLICK HERE.

#YWM2013 OMG CNN

Via Obesity Action Coalition -

We are proud to announce that the OAC has secured prominent National media coverage and local outlets confirmed to attend this year's ground-breaking event in Phoenix. 

CNN, one of our nation's most long-standing media outlets, has officially confirmed their attendance this year and will join us in Phoenix to provide National coverage of the event. We are honored to have CNN attend this year and showcase the tremendous strides that are being taken to provide the needed education to individuals concerned about weight and health. This is also a unique opportunity to show a major news outlet like CNN a different side to the obesity epidemic, and our hope is that their experience at this year's Convention will foster a broader understanding of the complexities of the issue.

This year, we will also be joined by the local Fox affiliate, which will provide coverage of the event to Phoenix-area residents. Spreading awareness about the cause in local communities is a crucial component and we are excited to expose the local affiliate to our important messages and community.

• I was part of the Inaugural Your Weight Matters National Convention last year and felt the energy and enthusiasm of more than 275 attendees! Join me this year to learn about all things related to weight and health – August 15-18 in Phoenix, AZ. 
• For more information, visit www.YWMConvention.com.

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#YWM2013 Convention Contest!

#YWM2013 #walkfromobesity #gooddoesgood

Check this out, there are only two teams signed up to "Walk From Obesity" during the #YWM2013 event.

It is the #BBGC and the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) Board Of Directors. 

*stifled giggles*

Where are you?  

 

Please JOIN us to Walk?

If you can't make it, please consider a very small donation to make a very big difference.  

We've received one donation so far!  Thank you!  And the #BBGC donated $1000.00!  Help us help!

http://walkfromobesity.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=5562

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Win An All-Expenses Paid Trip To #YWM2013 - JOIN US!

Win An All-Expenses Paid Trip To #YWM2013 - JOIN US!

From the OAC -

YOU ARE INVITED to join us for the 2nd Annual Your Weight Matters National Convention, taking place this year in Phoenix, AZ, August 15 – 18 at the beautiful Arizona Grand Resort & Spa!

“Rise to the Challenge” with the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) in Phoenix, where you can learn from the country’s leading experts and arm yourself with the knowledge to better manage your weight and your health!

The Your Weight Matters National Convention is the largest National meeting dedicated to providing evidence-based strategies for individuals impacted by excess weight and obesity, proudly brought to you OAC. As a National non-profit organization, the OAC is dedicated to helping the millions of Americans impacted by excess weight and obesity through education, advocacy and support.

The OAC’s National Convention is a 3-day educational event designed to bring together all individuals who struggle or are concerned with weight-related issues. The entire weekend is dedicated to presenting a comprehensive agenda, comprised of diverse topics that are designed to help any individual who has ever had a concern about their weight. We bring-in the country’s leading experts on weight and health and give you the RIGHT tools to be successful in your lifelong journey with weight.

Would you join us?   Please do.  

• Learn more here!
• Register now!

The OAC invites you to “Rise to the Challenge” and have the opportunity to win an all-expenses paid trip to the 2013 Convention in Phoenix.

Caesar demands - asks...

• If you refer 10 or more registrants to the 2013 Your Weight Matters National Convention, you will be entered-in to a Grand Prize drawing for an all-expenses paid trip to the Convention! The individual whose name is drawn will receive airfare, three-nights hotel stay and a Full Event Registration. Participants must recruit a minimum of 10 registrants to be eligible to enter the raffle for the Grand Prize.  

• All individuals who refer at least one registrant will be entered-in to a Runner-up drawing for a complimentary Full Convention Registration and a free OAC Membership (or renewal). You will receive one entry into the Runner-up drawing for each registrant who indicates that you referred them to Convention.  

• SO DO IT ALREADY.   Here is the form -  Download Convention_Recruitment_Contest_2013

• GET ENTERED!  GET THERE.  We want to see you!  

(If you have not watched this - DO - embed the words inside your brain - that little dance - can you?  Would you?)

Have you already registered for #YWM2013?  (GO YOU!)  

• If you HAVE?  

• Please please please shoot the OAC a quick email to [email protected] and provide the name of the individual that recruited you to attend.  Because, they get a shot at winning the trip - and that's super-helpful.  The more the better.  

• Spread the love.  And see you at #YWM2013!  

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Hold up, wait a minute! Ends tonight!

• http://www.ywmconvention.com/register-now/

 

#YWM2013 Early-Bird Contest Announced!