Marcia's Blog is a lifestyle change and dieting blog written by a beloved and respected nutritionist/weight loss counselor/lecturer Marcia Bodenstein. She has helped thousands of kosher consumers achieve and maintain weight loss.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Start Fresh



Good morning and happy Father's Day! I am back to reality - vacation is over and it was REALLY tough to come back. It was a dream trip. Now there's real life.
I hope everyone had a beautiful Shevuos (I did), and I understand it was hotter in New York than it was in Israel (a preview of summer, which is quickly approaching).
This period between Shevuos and the summer is something I call "transition time" - school year coming to an end, summer plans being made, weather changes, and so many weddings to attend (I hope that's true for you too). Transitions can be tricky - I always need to watch for "hunger" during these times. As far as simchas - never never go there hungry! If you plan to eat the meal, be prepared. Eat a salad, a fruit, some yogurt, maybe some soup before you leave so that you can go to the simcha comfortably satisfied. It is so important to be able to make intelligent decisions about food - and we can only do that if we are not binging or starving. If you go too hungry, the smorgasbord is not a safe environment - it's hardly safe even when you are NOT really hungry. Think about "Marcia's rule of smorgasbord" - your handbag in one hand and a drink (water or seltzer) in the other, and then socialize, socialize, socialize and dance the night away. If you are going to the simcha to eat - STAY HOME!! Think about what you are really doing there - sharing in the happiness of the occasion. Overeating is just not part of that mix, right?
Imaof6 - I am so happy for you that you are planning the trip. I would love to see you visit our Start Fresh office in Boro Park - 1323 46th Street. You are so right - snacks for the airplane is a MUST! I found popcorn (Start Fresh, of course), fruit, and an occasional Start Fresh Biscotti invaluable on the flight. Dont forget the WATER - hydration is so important when flying such a long distance - any distance really. Also, try to walk around on the plane if you can.
In Israel - rely on the luscious fruits and veggies - they are SO DELICIOUS! As far as the yogurt is concerned, Dannon is just fine. The sugar is lactose - milk sugar - and it will appear on any dairy product. Just check to make sure there is no added sugar- such as cane juice or fructose. If you see sugar free, fat free yogurt (not ice cream, yogurt with live active cultures) go for it!
Wishing you all a great week...

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Marcia - I needed to read this before the weekend. I had a Simcha this weekend and the only good thing I can say for myself is that I jumped right back on the program today. But I will remember your smorgasbord rule for the future.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, I am going to NY first for a wedding. But we do not have shmorgasbords on the West Coast.So I am going for both the wedding & the shmorgasbord.
Luckily I am married to a man who eats vegetables & fruit at shmorgasbords...:)
I used to think he was nuts! He is thinner than most of my friends husbands...hes only gained bout 5lbs since we've been married...but then again hehasnt hadany kids...
I did great on my Florida trip except for the dessert for graduation dinner.
I still lost my Shavuos weight,so I was happy...
We'll see bout NY..plan on shopping with my daughter. Would love to introduce her to this program.....