by patbarone
The news that Elizabeth Taylor died today feels doubly sad. For me, it is tinged with massive regret and disappointment.
It is possible no greater beauty has every graced earth. She was gifted not only with that beauty but also with talent, courage, sensitivity, intelligence and empathy.
You might say Elizabeth Taylor had it all.
With this amazing battalion of gifts, huge personal power would seem inevitable. But Elizabeth Taylor never achieved her potential.
Her addictions stopped her.
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by patbarone
One year ago, I celebrated 10 years of sustained weight loss after losing 74 lbs. Even though permanent weight loss is measured at 5 years, and I had passed that milestone years before, I had not let the magnitude of what I had accomplished seep in.
When I set out to achieve permanent weight loss, I knew only 1% of people who lose more than 20 lbs. achieve it. Once I lost those 74 lbs. and started “the countdown”, I created a sort of tunnel vision.
Celebrate
Then, at a celebration last year, I was surprised at the emotion that hit me as I spoke to the group of well-wishers, friends and clients.
Claiming something is powerful. (more…)
by patbarone
I just loved this story about the tiniest member of our family, Nadia. She’s three and you might remember her from this post:
“Nadia, Monuments that Matter”
Nadia’s mom recently reported on facebook that, after reading a bedtime book with Nadia, she told her daughter, “Goodnight. I love you.”
Nadia replied: (more…)
by patbarone
Having traveled my own quite complicated journey out of body hatred and losing over 70 lbs permanently, I’ve come to believe every body is different and unique, though we’re led by society/culture to believe their is a “standard.” I’ve had the experience of coaching hundreds of women towards their own unique “optimal” weight, and discovered we all lose weight at different rates (and, yes, in different places!).
Loving and appreciating our own distinctiveness isn’t the easy road in our society, but it can be done.
I once had a client lose weight at a rate of a pound a month, and be upset (more…)
by patbarone
One of the very few advantages of having my long history with the diet world is that I can see the patterns perpetuated by the diet industry.
For instance, my first diet was Atkins but not the recent round of that high protein diet. I was on the original diet when I was 10 years old! (Looking back, I was not overweight but my mother was, and she put all of us on a diet to keep her company.)
I’ve lived through various rounds of low fat, high fiber, low calorie, high protein and high carb diets. Tried them all, and felt the impact as they all failed, time after time.
So, what’s next in diet world?
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by patbarone
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.
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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by patbarone
It’s almost Valentine’s Day and look at what’s on my desk!
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…)
by patbarone
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…)
by patbarone
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.
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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by patbarone
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.
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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