Perfection promises joy but brings exhaustion. Find freedom in choosing “good enough.”

Exercise is often used as a way to lose weight or shape the body, to enhance our sense of self-worth, or simply because we think we should. It's not fun, and we don't think it is supposed to be. You may think you are lazy or have a character flaw, and need to force yourself to get to the gym. But what if you have actually become "exercise resistant?"

For those confident enough to bring food into your home, a “full fridge” embodies much more than the foods inside. Let’s reach inside and discover what’s in a “full fridge.”

Heading into the New Year, weight loss and get fit advertisements are everywhere. But what if this year, instead of making resolutions to lose weight, you decided to set your intentions to take care of yourself differently? To give yourself more of what you really need?

We began our careers putting people on diets, as we were taught to do. It did not take long to realize that there was no magic in food restriction. In fact, it became painfully obvious that dieting is fraught with failure, heartache, and deprivation. Simply put, we learned that diets cause problems. To find out how, simply read on.

Do you feel driven to be physically active? You may feel in total control of what you are doing and others probably envy your "dedication," but deep down you don't really have a choice, you must exercise. It is as if you are addicted to exercise. And you are probably fine with this, even if it interferes with your life.

Do you try to change your eating, and then feel like a failure when you don’t succeed beyond the initial enthusiasm? If you make plans about your food and eating that are actually out of reach, those plans will eventually become a source of frustration.

You've read that sugar is bad so you decide to avoid it. And, to avoid sugar, you have to be on the watch for it. You have to notice it, pay attention to it, so that you can avoid it. And then what happens?

It can difficult to quit eating when full at first; however, the accompanying negative self-talk only makes it much more difficult. 

Most people blame themselves when lost weight is regained, a practice weight loss programs encourage. When you realize it is not your fault, you may be better able to move on to more successful ways of managing food and weight.

Who doesn't want to feel better? Isn't that why we monitor our food and manipulate our weight? How many times have I heard a client say they they don't like themselves and will be happy when they reach that certain weight.

In January, I wrote about the importance of connection. But disconnection is also necessary for creating a healthy, happy life, and to be able to successfully manage food and weight. Check out these real life tips on how to disconnect.