“Hit your personal weight-loss goals—all while eating the foods you love and living the way you want.”

“Lose weight now – ask me how!”

“Personalized program specifically for you!”

“Proven weight loss, powered by science.”

OK.
It’s that season again. It’s the New Year, that time of the year when folks who have just spent the last 6 weeks, let’s say, indulging, are feeling a might contrite.
Maybe their scale, or their clothes, or their mirrors, or all 3, are telling them it’s time to get things back under control. Time to drop a few pounds, get a little more fit, only 5 more months til bathing suit weather. Except if you live in Florida or L.A., in which case that could be next week.

No need to thank me for that little reminder. De nada.

I’m not putting the idea of a New Year’s resolution down. Just last year, your’s truly, after buying a new scale (don’t ask me why) & realizing that I had joined the ranks of the COVID 15, though mine was more like 20 plus lbs, jumped on the resolution train and got back to a more attractive number, not to mention a healthier & happier number.

Why? Because I wanted to. More than I wanted the stuff I was eating & drinking that got me the extra lbs in the first place. My choice. Your choice is your business…

…but I digress.

What I want to talk about today is that corporate America knows you are out there.
Like lions around the watering hole, they know it’s the right time & place to offer you all of the benefits you see above, plus many more invitations to take advantage of the incredible, one time opportunity they are, through the kindness of their hearts, for a limited time only, making available to you.
Think about those episodes of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom”. With Marlin Perkins & Jim. (If you’re under 45, just skip that sentence.)

I’m not saying that they are all scams.
Not all of them.
What I am saying that you need to do your homework before plunking down your hard earned money. A couple basic rules;

• If they are telling you it’s “easy, fun, you won’t even know you’re on a weight management program” (they don’t call then diets. That’s a scary word).
  Friends, in case you’re not a regular here, I started out my weight management journey at 265 lbs. I’ve gotten down to around 180lbs and maintained that for around 35 years. As part of that, I occasionally have to diet ( I’m not afraid to call it that, cause that’s what it is). I’ve never found it to be easy or fun. I’m always aware that I’m on a weight management program. So are those around me. I’m grouchy, I’m irritable. I mean even more than usual. If someone really had a “fun, easy way to lose weight” for real? They would make the profits from Viagra look like chump change.

• Your friend tells you that they tried “blah-blah” program and it’s just the best way to get fit, lose weight, and “she’ll / he’ll like to too” (don’t get me started on that). Take that with a grain of salt, or maybe a teaspoon. Different people react differently to different programs. Do your homework. Honestly, you should do the same kind of background work you would do if you were buying a car. Or a house. It’s your body, people. This is serious business. If you’ve got a good relationship with your doctor, run it by them.
  
• Be careful of the “Extremists”.
  Living on Lemon juice, Maple syrup & capsaicin?
  Eliminating an entire class of macronutrients?
  Cleansing & Fasting?
  Again, I’m not saying it’s all bad. But please, be careful and do your research.

Here’s where I indulge my “older uncle” gene and give some unsolicited advice. Want a weight management plan?
Give the beer / wine / booze a rest.
Get 5-7 servings of fruits and veg.
Try to minimize the simple carbs, especially late at night.
Drink water. Lots of water.
It’s not crazy fun, but it’s also not forever. Maybe try January. See if it works for you. See if it resets your taste for those things that we love, but maybe could do with a little less of.

OK.
So ends the lecture.
Next week I promise I’ll post something goofy, funny or motivational.
You know, like I do most weeks.
Babies cuddling with puppies, something like that. But until then…
Talk Later!
Bob