Detoxed, Just Like Gwyneth

I did it, detoxed from Cozumel. I rid my gut of 24-hour free range Chez Whiz smothered fried tortillas and purged my liver of all-you-can-drink margaritas. Using Gwyneth Paltrow’s detox diet as a guide, I explored the health food store, learned a few good recipes (and the horrors of “pro-greens”), and dropped a few pounds. My tummy is flat. Kinda. And yet, the miracle detox failed to deliver the desired results. I did not grow eight inches of leg. I’m still brunette. Not hanging out with Robert Downey Jr. In short, I’m no Gwyneth. After reading about Paltrow’s bone disease, I couldn’t be happier.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m late for a date with a Frito pie.

Give Yourself the Gifts of Creativity and Weight Loss

I’m intrigued by a new book by Julia Cameron, The Writing Diet.

Cameron wrote the very first writing book I ever read, so I’m a little partial. Her latest book takes all the advice she gives about writing and applies it to weight loss.

Before you dismiss it out of hand (so to speak) let me tell you a little about her writing books. They’re not really about writing. They’re about being creative. And it turns out that tapping into your creativity – whether that’s painting, writing, or cooking – is difficult if not impossible if you’re running away from all the stuff you don’t want to think about for one reason or another.

Cameron’s advice includes exercise, food journaling, and morning pages, which are stream-of-consciousness diary entries record early in the day. This is the meat of the creativity boosting advice. The first step is to spill your brain onto the page without judgment.

Apparently over the past 25 years of teaching writers and other creative types that as they uncovered their creative selves they often achieved a physical transformation. Cameron claims that creativity can block overeating. I think she’s right. And I know that using food to comfort feelings can lead health problems way beyond unnecessary weight gain.

The Writing Diet may or may not work for you, but one thing is sure – getting in touch with your creativity this time of year is the very best gift you can give yourself!

Calculate Your Happy Weight

Self magazine had an article this month about attaining your happy weight. Although you may beat yourself up about not looking just right, the happy weight is supposed to be where we feel reasonably good and can maintain it fairly easily. They even had a cool calculator. I tried it out and for me, it was pretty accurate. I’d like to be a little less than my result, but I feel okay there and it’s easy to maintain (once I’m there…). Try it and let me know what you think.

1. Multiply your height in inches by itself.
2. Multiply #1 by .031.
3. Multiply #2 by .95 if you’re small framed, 1.05 if large framed.
4. Add 1 pound if a parent or sibling is obese.
5. Add 2 pounds for every decade you are over age 20.
6. Add 5 pounds if you’ve had any children.
7. Subtract 1 pound if you exercise once a week, 2 for 3 times, 3 for five or more.
8. Add 4 pounds if you used to smoke a lot and have quit.
9. Add 1 pound if you allow yourself a treat now and then.

PS – New fave: sprayable Caesar salad dressing!