It would be nearly impossible to find even one woman in our Sixty and Me community who hasn’t at some point disliked her body or called herself fat. This criticism and self-loathing is the direct result of a continuous deluge of impossible images of perfection put forth by the fashion and dieting industries. It has been a part of our history, going as far back as 400BC in Ancient Egypt.  With access to many forms of media, including audio and video broadcast, print, and a multitude of social media platforms, it’s hard to escape messages about weight loss and dieting. Despite all thi ..read more

If you struggle with your weight, you may have labeled yourself as “good” or “bad” based on the food you eat or your weight. That’s your inner critic talking! You might say things like: I was SO bad this week. I ate a ton of cookies. I was really bad this week, I’m up a couple pounds. I was so good this week, all I ate was vegetables. I was good this week, I lost a pound. It might seem like no big deal to talk like this about yourself, but the truth is that judging yourself as good or bad based on the food you eat, or the number on the scale, can sabotage your weight loss efforts. Your Thou ..read more

Emotional eating, the act of consuming food in response to emotional triggers rather than physical hunger, is influenced by various psychological factors. Understanding these factors is crucial for unraveling the complex relationship between emotions and eating behavior. Emotional eating usually develops gradually, influenced by a variety of emotional and psychological factors. It often begins as a seemingly innocent response to occasional emotional discomfort or stress. At first, it may provide a temporary sense of relief or distraction from negative emotions. For instance, after a particula ..read more

As a registered dietitian, I can tell you that menu planning can be helpful for weight loss. You probably know it’s something you “should” do, but for some reason you just can’t. You might find yourself saying things like: It’s too hard. It takes up too much time. I hate menu planning. It feels too much like a diet. I’m too tired to think about what to eat. I probably won’t succeed so why bother? Truth is, you could have the best diet or nutrition plan ever, but if you don’t have the beliefs to back it up you won’t lose the weight. Here’s why… Our Beliefs Dictate About 90-95% of Our Behavio ..read more

Embarking on a weight loss journey is a common New Year’s resolution, but for those grappling with emotional eating, the path is laden with unique challenges. This article delves into the complexities of setting weight loss resolutions for emotional eaters. We will explore the dynamic relationship between emotional eating and New Year’s weight loss resolutions, aiming to shed light on ways to approach this issue with a blend of fun and compassion. The Challenge of Emotional Eating when Resolving to Lose Weight Emotional eating is a coping mechanism where individuals turn to food in response t ..read more

I was a roly-poly kid, a squishy teen, and a squashier young adult (ages 18 to 36). Like most of us, I’ve yo-yo’d through a bazillion diets and a million more workouts with the likes of Jane Fonda; Lilias, Yoga and You; and Jazzercise, but I never created a permeant loss for myself. Never even came close. But guess what? (You might want to sit down.) The world has moved on from ye diets of old. We’re in a new year – inside a young century – and we know a lot more about how to lose weight. And stay tuned, because there’s exciting news on the forever-loss front as well. Quick Backstory Even whe ..read more

Gaining and losing weight has been a battle for me from my earliest memories. I inherited my maternal grandparents’ genes, Polish through and through. Their stocky builds ensure a strong legacy of survival. My grandfather was a baker, not like we see now on Cake Wars and other “fluffy” baking shows. He worked 12-hour days, starting at 2 a.m., and lifted 50-pound sacks of flour, sugar, and dry milk. Schlepped pounds and pounds of butter, nuts, and chocolate. Back-breaking work, mixing ingredients, pouring batter into molds, leaning over to roll out and decorate cookies. My grandmother was alwa ..read more

Emotional eating is a complex behavior that often stems from underlying emotional, psychological, and environmental factors. It develops gradually, influenced by a variety of factors. Understanding the root causes of emotional eating is crucial in addressing this issue, unraveling its origins, and developing effective strategies to break free from its grip. In this article, we will explore some common root causes of emotional eating, focusing on the psychological, environmental, and physiological factors involved, and shedding light on the deep-seated triggers that drive this eating behavior ..read more

If you’re like so many of the women I work with, you struggle with negative self-talk when it comes to your body. Perhaps you call yourself fat, gross, disgusting… or even worse names. And sadly, most of the women share that they’ve been saying mean things about themselves from a very young age. Where Does All of This Negative Self-Talk and Harsh Judgment Come from? Much of it comes from comparing ourselves to others we see on various media sources. But many of us also learned this from parents, family members, coaches, healthcare providers, partners, and society in general. It’s everywhere ..read more

Fifty years into the obesity epidemic, people are quick to blame excessive weight on laziness. Well, I hate to dispel what would be a convenient explanation (although one that blames the individuals suffering with it), but obesity is not caused by laziness. Here’s what’s really going on. A Look at the Data First, take a look at what is happening to us as a country: Now, ask yourself if people these days are truly any lazier than people were in the 1960s.The answer is no. In fact, researchers describe a more frenetic pace of life and more intentional physical workouts to combat obesity among ..read more