A New Way to End Your Diet War

OK..... I know what you are thinking"'another diet book" but stop! It's not just another diet book. This book is about transformation..... about making a shift that can change your life in many areas. How do I know? Because this book has been instrumental in helping me overcome my lifelong war with my body and food. Discovering this book was a huge turning point for me on my journey to health and vitality. My weight loss to date is 50 pounds and counting. I have a ways to go but it has never been easier and this book is been a huge help to me. I read from it almost every day just to remind myself of where I am.

According to Martha Beck, life coach and monthly columnist for O, The Oprah Magazine there are "science-based thought and behavior strategies that will enable you to stay on a healthy eating program forever."

In her book The Four Day Win: End Your Diet War and Achieve Thinner Peace she says, "Everyone knows how to lose weight; eat less, move more. But though they know what to do millions of dieters don't do what they know. Why not? Because they don't understand the brain-body dynamics of weight loss. Now, cutting edge research has revealed that millions of overweight dieters are programming themselves to get fatter. These unlucky individuals are following typical weight-loss programs and are being trained to become thinner versions of themselves, like caterpillars becoming thinner caterpillars. In The Four-Day Win, Harvard-trained Martha Beck, PhD, reverses this trend and teaches dieters to get lean from the brain outward. Instead of becoming thinner caterpillars, those who follow "The Four-Day" Win will metamorphose into butterflies, with entirely new bodies.... for good."

Other books by Martha Beck:

Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live

Steering by Starlight: The Science and Magic of Finding Your Destiny 

Fitness for Older Adults

As baby boomers are reaching retirement, more and more, they are looking for ways to get fit. Older adults across the country are increasing their physical activity in new ways. According to Physical Activity and Health, A Report of the Surgeon General, "Older adults can obtain significant health benefits with a moderate amount of physical activity." Benefits include reducing risk of heart disease, improving stamina and muscle strength, and a lowering the chance of falling and fracturing bones. Additionally, physical activity can result in improvements in mood and a sense of well-being. Senior living communities are leading the way, offering an array of exercise and health programs that encourage residents to enhance their physical fitness.

One group of luxury retirement communities across the country offers fitness programs for all levels. From aquacise classes to tai chi, residents of Classic Residence by Hyatt communities are encouraged to engage in physical activity.

With the influx of new exercise and diet recommendations, older adults are taking advantage of new services and educational opportunities. Many residents have shown great interest in tai chi, a martial arts form that enhances balance and body awareness through slow and precise body movements. Tai chi significantly reduces the risk of falls among older adults by nearly 50 percent, according to a study reported in the Journal of American Medical Association by the National Institute on Aging.

"Members of the group have noted several health benefits: increased muscular strength, improved balance, better memory, more manageable hypertension control, and a general feeling of well-being," said resident Beatrice Rose, M.D., M.P.H.

A personalized, three-day-a-week resistance training program helped resident Fred Donnelly to lower his body fat composition from 21 to 10 percent in one year. "The fitness program has enabled me to maintain my weight and my good health," Donnelly noted.

Diet is another essential aspect of overall health. For many older adults, food just isn't as enjoyable as it once was. The usual methods of enhancing flavors, such as adding salt and butter, are off limits for those on restricted diets.

To offer residents great-tasting and healthy food, the luxury retirement company has partnered with Dr. Susan Schiffman from the Taste and Smell Lab at Duke University to develop a natural way to enhance the flavor of food. The result is a breakthrough in cooking technique, Classically Pleasing Cuisine®, which uses all-natural ingredients to enhance food's aroma, flavor and tenderness with no added salt.

With a combination of good exercise, healthy eating habits and routine health screenings, older adults are minimizing their risk for illness and improving their overall health. This new generation of aging baby boomers wants the better quality of life that fitness brings.