Author Archives: kaynmarj

The internet is full of quick fixes and glib promises. In fact, when I told my friend that I wanted to write this blog, she warned me not to. “People don’t want to hear about methods that take months and years to accomplish”, she said, “they want quick, easy, painless.” Learning to reach a healthyContinue reading “Three Easy Steps? Get Real”

Having tried and failed many times to manage our weight, we intimately understand how failure feels. Weight management becomes a moral goal, and any lapse in adherence to the behavioral standard we set for ourselves becomes a moral failing—a blot on our character. Let’s unpack this idea. Karen and I lost a substantial amount ofContinue reading “Weight Management is a Game of Strategy, Not a Religion”

Why is it that 80 percent of the time people gain back all of the weight they dieted off? Just like a rubber band, when you are pulled very strongly in one direction, you will explode in the opposite direction. Dieting requires a lot of restriction. It’s a constant pressure keg. One slip-up or deviationContinue reading “Ditch the Deprivation”

My (Karen’s) immediate family lives in Central New York, and the weather is never predictable.  The last day of May can be hot and humid, or chilly and damp…or anything in between. Memorial Day 2021, it was perfect. Our daughter and her family came for a cookout.  They brought chairs, My husband John lit theContinue reading “Don’t Forget the Veggies”

You can maintain, and the longer you do, the easier it gets. Today we were out for breakfast and the waitress brought us an enormous one! A huge omelet, a ridiculous pile of home fries, and a big ol’ bagel with cream cheese. There was a time, about four years ago, when I could haveContinue reading “Six Superpowers for Weight Management”

I know, I know. We all grew up believing that women are not useful or happy once their childbearing years are in the rearview mirror. Our culture harps on the negatives of aging for women: the graying hair, the fading beauty, the expanding waistlines, new sags and wrinkles– at 66, those are all too familiarContinue reading “Life Begins After Menopause”

Woke up this first day of 2021, 6 pounds over my desired weight. It has been a tough year. No need to do anything but eat right and exercise until everything had to shut down. Now Marjorie and I are thinking carefully about what happened to cause some weight gain and then take steps toContinue reading “New Year, New Hope”

Easy, satisfying, and loaded with nutrition and fiber. 7 cans of any beans, drained and rinsed chop one mild onion combine in a covered bowl or storage container…at least 14 cups size add 1 cup vinegar, your choice add 1/4 cup good olive oil salt and pepper to taste best after a day in refrigeratorContinue reading “Every Bean Salad”

In March of 2017, Marjorie had lost 20 pounds and was trying to break through a plateau while faithfully following Weight Watchers. Karen came to visit, promising that following Marjorie’s food plan would be just fine for her and her husband. They did not want to set her back. Karen had given up on losingContinue reading “A Tale of Two Sisters”

Have you noticed the scale inch up since the shut-down in March? We have. Extra time in front of the television means more snacks and less physical activity. Less activity and fewer things to do mean more time to think about food. Gyms being closed means that we need to find new routines for maintainingContinue reading “Combating the “Covid 15””