Yoga and Weight Loss

The debate over yoga and weight loss persists today with “fitness experts” often arguing that yoga doesn’t burn enough calories to be considered “exercise” and yoga practitioners adamantly testifying to its benefits.

YogaReach

As a veteran of long-term sustained weight loss and a yoga devotee for eight years, here’s my perspective on yoga for weight loss.

There are many different types of yoga, all requiring different energy (calorie) quotients and physical capability. Some yogas (vinyasa and flow types) require students to move quite a lot throughout a yoga class; others increase demand through heat (Bikram, Forrest); and some are quite gentle and slow (yin, restorative).
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Traveling from Compulsion to Choice

It’s almost Valentine’s Day and look at what’s on my desk!

ChristmasTruffles

These are beautiful truffles from a party I gave right before Christmas. I used them as decorations at each place setting at the table.

So why are they sitting on my desk? Well, they are there because they were left over.

Now, there was a day when a leftover chocolate of any kind had NO SHELF LIFE within a 50-yard radius of Pat Barone!

With complete embarrassment, I admit I was that guest at the wedding (more…)

A Generous Heart Stopped

It’s rare that we meet someone who is truly giving in this world. And so sad when the world loses such a person.

Today, I learned that a colleague of mine, a pioneer ADD coach, passed away. His name was Ken Zaretzky and he was truly a champion of coaching and coaches. He was a beautiful, open, painfully honest, caring man who loved to see coaches succeed. I first met him in one of my coach training courses, and he truly delighted in my success as a coach and businesswoman.

He would call me and say, “I just wanted you to know I heard you’re doing great things for your clients.” I never knew where he heard that (this was long before social media) but I was so touched he wanted me to hear good things.

He had this habit of giving money to people. (more…)

SQUUUEEEAAAKKKK! What’s that sound?

I popped in to the crowded grocery store today. There weren’t many carts but one stood all alone near the cart corral… just for me! I zoomed through the store because I don’t like to spend a lot of time there… I had a list and knew exactly what I needed to buy.

Whole turkey breast … check
Brown rice pasta … check
Organic milk … check
100% whole wheat bread … check
Bottled water … uggggg

I lugged a 24-bottle case to the cart and popped it in and took off.

ShoppingCart

All of a sudden…

SQUUUEEEAAAKKKKK!

The most awful screech rang through the store. I tried repositioning the water to no avail. I just needed a few more items and it was a long way to the unused carts, so I decided to live with the sound. No wonder no one had wanted that cart!

“Oh, my god, I couldn’t keep on shopping with that noise,” one woman said.
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How Change Happens

I’m just back from a conference focused on scientific studies about change where I heard a repetitive chant: “People Don’t Change.”

I’ll acknowledge there are studies that show most patients who encounter life threatening conditions return to old behaviors that caused the problem in the first place. Hence, the red meat seduces the heart patient. Nicotine lures the smoker. Permanent weight loss is rare as weight comes back to the dieter.

SilhouettesBeach

I know some people don’t care to change, or it is too threatening to them to do so. Yes, living without food as a soother, friend or emotional barrier can be scarier than death.

I fit that picture once.
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