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JustLoseItwithBerta
Volume 1
Issue 14
04-08-2010
Dear ,
Welcome!
It's been another
great week and I can't wait to tell you all about the many things I
learned. First of all, thank you to everyone who made my first
Teleseminar last night such a
great
success! I had close
to 100 callers and such great feedback, that I want to give anyone who
missed the call one more chance to get the free information.
Here is the link to hear what I taught on the audio: downloadable link
If you prefer, you can also access the recording by telephone, by calling 1-213-289-0503 and entering the code: 208039
At
the end of my call I offered a new Get Started Losing Weight, NOW!
tele-class that will enable you to get a solid head start on your summer
goal weight. I discounted the class substantially - but just until
Friday night at midnight - so I hope you will be able to listen by then
and see if this is the time for you to Get Started Losing Weight, NOW!
Either
way, I thank you all for your
outpouring of support and I look forward to continuing with you on your
journey in many future teleseminars!
This week, like many before, has been a week of shared stories and
common issues. I found myself repeating some very basic concepts again
and again, and was reminded that we all need a gentle reminder,
periodically, about what works and what doesn't. It comes as no surprise
to me, and probably not to you, either, that our biggest obstacle of
all, is, quite honestly, ourselves. So please join me on my blog by
clicking on www.justloseit.com/blog
to find out how you can recommit to Commitment! It's a gift you
give yourself,` and it doesn't cost a penny! Accept your gift and start
losing weight, now!
Tea Time with Berta: 
Our society has very distorted ideas around the process of
weight loss, and what it really entails. Most people believe that in a
successful week, there is weight loss; in an unsuccessful week, there is no weight
loss; and in a tragic week, there is weight gain. This thinking demonstrates a
misunderstanding of how the normal person navigates through the process.
Let me explain.
Sometimes a new client comes to me eager to begin. She is confidently
clutching her crisp new journal; with pen in hand, she is ready to get down to
business. She believes she is ready to start her first day of losing weight,
again. Somehow, she just knows this will
be IT. She feels it in her bones. She
knows that all of her years of dieting have led her to this moment; she has
learned and grown (usually horizontally) and is finally ready! Other times, a new client arrives at my door
quaking in fear after her annual physical. She has received irrefutable proof
that her body is finally beginning to break down. She is forced to admit that
she is feeling the burden of the extra weight on her joints, her lungs and
heart; the test results don't lie, and it is affecting her thyroid, blood
sugars, cholesterol, and blood pressure; and she cannot deny the unhappiness,
depression, and apathy she is feeling.
No matter what the motivation, the client knows that she is
finally ready. And so she starts off gung-ho, knowing the routine, and eager to
embrace the meal plan just as she has done a million times in the past. She
expects success. I, actually, do not. I
have no expectations that first week, at all.
She might go down, or she might even go up. Do you know what? I don't care! I mean I care, but I
don't. This is why. I know all about it. I know all about the
journey that she has begun, and begun, and begun again; and I know this one
will be different for her. I know that if she hangs in there and commits to
herself, this time it will be completely different. However, all I want that first week is an
opportunity for us to get to know one another. If she is to succeed, she must learn to
trust me and believe that I know how to address her issues with her weight,
with food, and most importantly, with herself.
So, let's say for fun that you are that woman, and you just
completed your first awesome week on my plan. You listened to everything I
said, you followed my instructions, and it worked. Well that's great, right? That's the way it's supposed to work: I tell
you what to do, you listen to me and your weight drops off. Wonderful! So, week after week, one to three pounds come
off, and the world is a glorious place! You come in, we chat and laugh about
your joyful existence, you hop on the scale, and you're down your usual two
pounds. Yeah for you! Eventually, you
begin to wonder why you need to come to me. You've got it down, right? Piece of
cake! Well, as I have said before, you're strong until you're not. And then it happens, as it almost always
will.
I'm not being pessimistic. On the contrary! I know how this
goes and can anticipate the next stage.
Up until now, you have believed a lie: the lie that the miracle had
finally occurred. The lie that allowed you to believe that this time you were
getting what you deserved and all of the stars had aligned for you. The lie
that said it's your turn, at last. After
years of being ignored, you believed the god's had finally decided to smile
down upon you and make the weight drop miraculously. So, the week that you fall
on your face and experience the first bump in the road, you will really need me
because you will experience this as a vicious betrayal. What happened to the stars? The gods? The miracle you so deserve? Well, let's let
go of the lie. There were no miracles, no celestial intervention. You lost weight the first month because you stayed on course. You didn't lose during weeks five and six because your tripped. However, you will lose again, and it won't be a miracle! It will
be through your choice to honor yourself and align your own deepest desires,
and I will be there after your best week yet to show you how! Sounds crazy,
right?
Try to understand that the weeks or months that came first,
when you were rocking it, were really pretty easy. You were thinking you were
finally getting lucky! However, now you're on your face, and I'm here to tell
you that this fall is inevitable and desirable.
Weight loss is sometimes hard! If it were always easy, we would all be
thin! So, now you need me, again! To be
honest, you needed me the whole time, but you just didn't need me as much as
now. While you're on your face and ready
to give up once again, I am going to tell you that this is the week I've been
waiting for. Your journey is following
the typical process of weight loss. Like
most others, you lost consistently and went down eight to ten pounds the first
month. Then you started the second month, and you didn't lose anything the first
week. The second week you went up two pounds.
You became weary, angry and depressed because It is not happening, yet
again! You feel that you can't do It this time, either! And, you can't take It
anymore!
Here is the thing: the first month you listened to me and
lost weight, but you didn't learn anything.
Then, life got in the way, and you tripped. This is a great event because now we can get
started working together to understand what happened and why you tripped over
it. Only then can we find a way around the issue that has been an issue for
your whole life, perhaps. Only then will
you be able to avoid it, or stop it, when it happens again. You will gain insight and wisdom because I
will help you name the issue and look at it in the light.
The point is that this time you will go on. You will not quit. You will learn an important lesson that will
make it clear that it's not all about the food. It's what weight loss looks
like. It's not a straight shot down. You will go down most of the time, but you
will often go up. In the end, you will
be further down than up because you will be much wiser and stronger. And that's why what you think is your worst
week is really a great week, the week of the crucial "aha!" moment. Just hang in there and anticipate those weeks
and know that I will get you through them until you're ready to go it
alone!
Did you know...
What is veganism, anyway?
And, does vegetarianism allow any meat?
Did you know that the labels used to describe different diets confuse
many people? Since there are so many "isms," I thought I would clear up some of
the confusion by briefly explaining what foods are consumed by those who
subscribe to certain lifestyles. My
purpose is to educate, not to judge!
Lacto-ovo
vegetarianism includes animal products such eggs, milk, and honey.
Lacto vegetarianism includes milk, but not
eggs.
Ovo vegetarianism includes
eggs, but not milk.
Veganism forbids
all animal flesh and animal products. Vegans do not consume milk, honey, eggs,
or any product of animal labor.
Raw veganism includes
only fresh and uncooked fruit, nuts, seeds, and vegetables.
Fruitarianism allows only fruit,
nuts, seeds, and other plant matter that can be gathered without harming the
plant.
Su
vegetarianism (practiced by Buddhists) excludes all animal products as well as
vegetables in the allium family, e.g., onion, garlic, scallions, leeks, and shallots.
Strict vegetarianism forbids products that might use
animal ingredients not included in their labels or which use animal products in
their manufacturing, e.g., cheeses that use animal rennet
(enzymes from animal stomach lining), gelatin
(from animal skin, bones, and connective tissue), some sugars that are whitened with bone char,
e.g., cane
sugar, but not beet sugar), and alcohol
clarified with gelatin or crushed shellfish
and sturgeon.
Semi-vegetarianism includes vegetarian foods, but
occasional exceptions are made for fish, poultry, and red meat. These diets are
often a stepping stone used to begin reducing the amount of animal flesh
consumed, and as a way of transitioning to a vegetarian diet or for health,
environmental, or other reasons. The term "semi-vegetarian" is
contested by most vegetarian groups, which state that vegetarians must exclude
all animal flesh. Many individuals describe themselves as
"vegetarian" while practicing a semi-vegetarian diet.
Some semi-vegetarian
diets:
Flexatarianism allows occasional exceptions, such as red meat.
Pescetarianism includes fish, and sometimes other seafood.
Pollotaranism includes poultry.
Macrobiotic diets consist mostly whole grains and beans. Not all
macrobiotic diets are vegetarian, as some include fish.
Do you have to be any one of these to lose weight? The answer is "NO!"
Does my plan require you to follow one of these diets? "NO!"
Am I any one of the "isms" described above? I do not define myself by the food I consume,
but none of the "isms" describe the way I eat.
Will I judge you in a positive or negative way if you define
yourself by one of these labels? NO! I
don't judge anyone; I accept everyone.
Will I occasionally support cleaner choices like organic
food, darker vegetables, and less meat?
YES! Why? Simply put, they are healthier for you. In a future article, I
will explain why, and you can make your own choice.
If you are a vegetarian or a vegan do you lose weight
automatically because of the types of foods you eat? NO! I know many vegetarians and vegans who
are overweight! I will explain why this
is so in my next e-zine.
*Definitions courtesy of Wikipedia
My favorite things to eat!
Escarole, Garlic, and Cannellini
Bean Soup
Those of you who know me, also know that this tops the list
of my favorite things to eat. It's
the perfect meal, and I hope you enjoy it!
What you will need:
2 cups cannellini
beans (white kidney beans) - You can use canned beans if you like, just
drain and rinse them after opening. Or, feel
free to soak the dry beans overnight. The next day, bring them to a boil in a
small pot of water, then turn down the heat and simmer until soft. Set beans
aside.
2 heads of escarole -
shredded with a heavy knife
10 large cloves of
garlic - peeled and chopped coarsely.
1/4 cup extra virgin
olive oil
1 teaspoon red pepper
flakes to the warmed virgin olive oil with the garlic.
1/8 cup tamari
1 tsp. sea salt
(if you must)
Black pepper to
taste
Gently heat olive oil and red pepper flakes in a large soup
pot.
Add garlic and sauté gently until softened, but not
browned.
Add the shredded escarole and enough water to barely cover
it. Bring to a simmer and cook 30
minutes.
Now add the cooked cannellini, tamari, sea salt and black
pepper to the soup pot. Simmer for a few minutes and serve!
Bon Appetite!
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