"During one of my treks through Afghanistan, we lost our corkscrew. We were compelled to live on food and water for several days."
-- Winston Churchill

Best Time to Start a Diet?

Q. When's the best time to get started on my "get in shape" plan?

A. Now. Why wait? The sooner you start, the sooner you are wearing the clothes you want to wear. It doesn't matter how much you have to lose, or how long it might take. It only matters whether you get started. The sooner you start, the sooner you are feeling great, looking great and wondering why you waited so long.

The point really is, there are always excuses and reasons to put it off, yet, isn't that what you've been doing all these years? Waiting for just the right moment, the right time. "Oh, I can't start now," really means, "I'll never get to eat what I want again so I have to wait for the right time," and that's simply not true. Learn the One More Bite approach and you'll be able to learn to eat what you love and still lose all the weight you want or need to lose.

I'm living, breathing proof. I lose 80 pounds over 18 years ago, and I eat sweets often; chocolate, cake, cookies, pies, etc. I don't eat a lot at a time, but I could now and then, if I wanted. I don't go crazy because I don't have to. When you know you can have what you want, and you learn how much it takes to be satisfied (a big piece of cake, not a little sliver), then it works.

This isn't an instant fix program. It takes time, it takes effort and it takes a willingness to explore the possibility that you can reach the weight goals you say you want.

Above all, it's fun. Some of my clients have said, "I can't believe it's so easy," and "this really works!" Read what my client have said.

Remember once you step on the path to better health, it's not a lapse or a failure to step off. You just step right back on.

Featured in Diet Success Secrets

Angela Levy has put together an e-book called Diet Success Secrets with contributions from such esteemed authors as Greg Landry, Tom Venuto, Doreen Virtue and yup, Kathryn Martyn, yours truly!

She's also including a Diet Success Plan and 8 separate bonuses, so check it out. Visit DietSuccessSecrets.com for all the details.

Customize the New USDA Food Pyramid

The USDA has released their latest "Food Pyramid" and while they are making an effort, they've missed the mark by a long shot. Finally they aren't pretending we all need the same calories and nutrients, but that's where the "smarts" in this outfit ends.

The suggested calorie level seems okay, but the foods leave a bit to be desired. For instance, for my age and activity level, they recommend the following:

Grains, 7 ounces (dry or cooked?)
Vegetables, 3 cups
Fruits, 2 cups
Milk, 3 cups (uh, wha...? What about other dairy?)
Meat & Beans, 6 ounces (Shouldn't milk be in this category?)

Holy cats! They recommend six teaspoons of oil a day! What kind of goofball suggestion is that? In the 1965 "Mazola Oil Diet" booklet they recommend five teaspoons of oil plus two tablespoons margarine a day for their 1500 calorie a day plan. That makes sense because selling Mazola Oil was the whole point. What's up with the USDA though? Oil and Milk seems to be the big push this time around.

My suggestion is eat more grains, vegetables and fruits; and don't go out of your way to add extra oil (don't worry you'll be getting plenty anyway). There will never be a list or plan that works for everyone but the USDA Pyramid gives you a basic guideline for a starting point.

Read my entire review of the USDA's 2005 Food Pyramid...

Hike Off Extra Pounds

Spring has sprung and summer's just around the corner (course if you're in Australia, it's another story), but now's a great time to put on those walking shoes and get outdoors! Hiking is fun for the whole family, and other than some shoes and maybe a walking stick, you won't go broke on equipment. My husband wants to hike Pike's Peak; nothing like setting a high goal.

Visit American Hiking and Hiking & Back Packing

I have a wonderful book called Portland Hill Walks, Twenty Explorations in Parks and Neighborhoods which is all about my local area, Portland, Oregon. You may find something for your town too. Portland is a city to be explored on foot including Forest Park, at 5,000-acre it is the largest forested city park in the country, with more than 70 miles of interconnecting trails for runners, hikers, and bicyclists.

Portland Hill Walks

Cooking Advice for Kitchen Disasters

Ever have a cooking disaster and there's no mom to help? Next time try "Rent-a-Mom." Betty Crocker has nutritionists and home economists standing by with fast fixes for many cooking mistakes, including burnt cookies, 888-275-2388, 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM EST (Eastern Standard Time)

Cooking Disaster Stories: I love to read about cooking, and stories about cooking disasters top the list. I've had a few mishaps of my own that had me laughing out loud when I recalled them.

Guess the Food

Health & Wellness Website Spotter

The Vegetarian Bodybuilder: Great place for ideas on how to build a magnificent physique, and get plenty of protein without eating meat.

Supplement News: My Experience with Hoodia

Hoodia News: I've been trying various types of Hoodia for a couple of months now and I've had interesting results. First, there were plenty of times when it seemed as if I was even more hungry than usual, but I figured it was something else going on. Maybe just a mental weirdness from wanting to have no appetite; I really don't know.

What I did instead of eating like crazy was study my hunger. I decided to see what would happen if I just let it ride, now and then. After a couple of weeks of taking the Hoodia regularly, now I'm noticing my appetite overall is absolutely reduced. I'm simply not as hungry when I eat, and I'm satisfied with far less food. I used to walk up and down the aisles at the store thinking of what I wanted to eat, and now I'm finding I almost have to just decide to get something, even though I'm not necessarily hungry.

I've been pleased overall and plan to continue using Hoodia. You may have similar results, but if a runaway appetite is a concern, try Hoodia and see if it works for you. With all herbs, often what is on the label is a beginning point. I typically will take more than is recommended. Because Hoodia is not cheap, I'd recommend starting with the suggested amount, for at least three days, then add a bit more if you're not noticing a result. Herbs also can take a few days (or longer) to work. That's the difference between an herbal and a drug. A drug is going to force its way into your system and alter things. An herb works with your system, and affects change.

Recipe Corner: Homemade Jerky

Yes, Virginia. You can make jerky right in your kitchen at home. You don't even need a food dehydrator, although they can be nice. Whether you like beef, salmon, chicken or otherwise jerky is one of the all time best hiking, camping, and survival foods going. It's simply good, compact nutrition.

About three pounds of meat turn into one pound of jerky which explains why it seems so high priced. It also explains why you need to exercise moderation. Multiply the amount you eat by three to approximate it's equivalent before it was dried. In other words, eating an entire pound of jerky means you just ate three pounds of meat! I wouldn't suggest that unless your goal is to gain weight.

To make jerky, start with three pounds of meat. Cut into strips. Marinate, then slow cook until dried. Excellent.

If you don't want to make it yourself visit World Kitchens.net. They suggest you get a few friends together and split a package, which is a great idea, plus they offer free shipping charge.

Lots of Jerky Recipes

Oriental Jerky Recipe

Banana's Gone Monkey, Granola MRP Food Bar Recipe

Wacky and Weird Recipes:

Two-Ingredient Muffins

1. 2 Cups vanilla ice cream, softened (set on counter until softened)
2. 2 Cups white, self rising flour

Beat the ice cream smoothly together with the flour, and spoon into greased muffin tins.

Bake at 425 degrees until firmly raised (about 20 minutes). Serve right out of the oven.

From Steamboat Adventures, Recipes & Stories of Early-Day Settlers

Got any odd or unusual recipes? Fun but odd stuff you ate as a kid. We ate sugar sandwiches: White bread, with a nice slather of butter, then brown sugar. Oh, yeah! That was yummy stuff.

If you have anything odd you used to eat (or still do), send it in and let's start a list!

Help me! I can't Stop Gorging on Sweets

Q. I can't seem to keep from gorging on sweets. Its like I cant seem to control myself. It doesn't help that I can't seem to continuously work out. What should I do?

A. I'd first work on the belief that you can't stop gorging on sweets because that belief all by itself can keep you stuck. Have you learned to use EFT? It's so easy to learn, and so helpful with this type of thing.

"Even though I can't stop gorging on sweets, I deeply and completely accept myself."

"Even though I can't seem to control myself, I deeply and completely accept myself."

"Even though I can't seem to continuously work out, I deeply and completely accept myself."

All of these are separate and distinct beliefs and none are helpful. Using EFT you'd address each issue, head-on, and use the tapping points while stating your belief. This effectively can reduce the belief - I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's true. If it were not true I wouldn't have added EFT to my toolkit because I have plenty of other things I've used and developed over the years that are also very good. Once you've reduced the intensity with which you believe the above to be true, then you'll find it so much easier to move forward with other ideas and plans for a healthier lifestyle.

Learn EFT Basics for Weight Loss absolutely free

Stevia: Alternative Sweeteners Report

As promised, I've compiled a list of alternative sweeteners, including my favorite, Stevia. Many of these sweeteners are turning up in products and home cooks are just starting to discover how they can shave calories, and carbs from the recipes they know and love. My list of low carb and sugar substitutes includes sources as well as links to articles about these various sweeteners.

I've used drops of Stevia in water and find it to be an effective appetite suppressant, though I couldn't say why. It does not give the usual response to sweeteners, which in my case is a desire for more sweet, but instead seems to satisfy the sugar cravings.

My Resources on Stevia and other Alternative Sweeteners

One More Bite's Weight Loss Article Index

Sometimes it just takes a little nudge or the right words at the right time. Maybe working with a private weight loss coaching is right for you, right now.

Whether the 8-week Ending Emotional Eating course or the course plus personal coaching is what you need, you can get started at any time, so why not right now?

Give Your Diet the One-Two Punch

Most people fail at dieting because they expect to be perfect. I don't know about you, but perfect is a pretty tough goal.

With a two-day-on, one-day-off approach you've always got an "off" day just around the corner. Sometimes the discipline to follow-through just takes the knowledge that you only need endure a bit of discomfort for a short while, not forever.

For "on" days you aren't going to be depriving yourself or drastically reducing your intake, just making some small changes. For instance, say you usually starve all day and eat all night. With this plan you would go ahead and eat a bit more during the day (a big part of why the evening eating happens is depriving yourself of nourishment all day). Have some food early in the day, a small sandwich or some soup perhaps for lunch, a snack or two of fruit or cut-up vegetables, etc., and a reasonable dinner.

Then, if you're craving pizza or cake or cookies, and you know you've eaten enough food, it's only a matter of knowing you can wait a day or two for your "Off" day. "Tomorrow, I can have that, but for tonight, I'm going to stick to my plan," and then you do.

The next "Off" day, if you still want pizza, go ahead and have pizza. The idea is to learn that cravings are not going to kill you, and you can endure some discomfort to make the changes you want to make. It makes sense that your body will be uncomfortable when you try to change a habit. There is nothing quite so satisfying as waking up that first morning after successfully staving off the cravings the night before.

... complete article: "Giving Your Diet the One-Two Punch

Food Trivia:

In 1658, Paris police raided a monastery and sent twelve monks to jail for eating meat and drinking wine during Lent.

But, I have to wonder, how did the police know?

Health & Wellness Web Site Spotter

Combating Childhood Obesity

Max's Magical Delivery: Fit for Kids is a fun, interactive DVD targeted to children ages 5-9 and their families. The DVD offers suggestions to:

• Try to eat five fruits and vegetables a day.
• Get away from the TV and computer screens and move around.
• Find fun ways to be physically active inside and outside.

There is a separate section for parents on small, achievable steps they can take to encourage these healthy habits in their children and themselves. Get Max's Magical Delivery DVD at no cost -- enter the publication number AHRQ 04-0088-DVD.

If you've taken seminars, read books, bought gadgets, and tried everything to lose the weight, but still nothing works, the answer may be discovering and resolving the emotional issues that have kept you stuck, until now.

The One More Bite 8-Week Ending Emotional Eating Workshop and/or private sessions may be the answer. Is now is the right time for you to end your obstacles to weight loss success? If yes, why not get started.

More Info or To Register

Body Wraps: Nearly Instant Weight Reduction?

A headline caught my eye: "Lose 11 pounds in two hours!" I couldn't resist. It turned out to be body wraps.

You can have a body wrap done at a salon for 75 dollars or more, and if you're a do-it-yourselfer, you can get the supplies and do it at home. Many people try it first in a salon, then move to doing it at home, because the costs are so much less. Actors are raving about body wraps, especially when they need to drop a size for a photo shoot or special occasion. Easier and more effective than the traditional fad weight losing diet.

All you need are the supplies such as gauze wraps, roasting pan to heat the wraps, herbs, etc. for the special effects, towels, etc., and most importantly the instructions for how to wrap yourself up like a mummy. A friend to help would probably be a plus too. The theory is you tightly wrap the gauze, then stand around for 45 minutes or more until you step out a size or two smaller.

If you've ever would a string around your finger and left it for a few minutes, you've seen the concept in action. Once you finally extricate your finger from its tomb it will have visibly shrunk.

Recipes for Do-it-Yourself Body Wraps

People Are Talking About One More Bite Weight Loss

"Just a note to say how glad I am to have found your web site. Just yesterday I first learned about NLP and started doing searches with Google to find out more. I have an eating problem and wanted to find some articles and information about specific NLP techniques to give me ideas about how I can change my self through insightful decisions and self-communication.

"You are the only "site" that actually gives away information and helpful hints. I can see that you also do workshops and personal coaching, but your website is not just a big "come on" advertisement; you care enough to give of yourself through your well-written and insightful articles.

"My thanks to you. I can only imagine that people who find your site and read all your information and articles, will actually be MORE inclined to call you and contract for your services. Therefore, I can only imagine that you are actually a very successful and fulfilled person. You are compassionate. I'm book marking your web page for further study." -- R. From Montana

Fun Food Facts to Know and Tell

Eating an apple before each meal can help you lose some weight, even with no other changes, so can eating a cup of broth soup before meals (miso is especially good).

Sniffing Your Way Thin

Can Certain Scents Reduce Appetite?

Does sniffing peppermint green apple, or banana help reduce your appetite? What about lime or vanilla? A few years ago I recall trying this with pen-like devices which when you loosened the cap, had a scent of banana or green apple. The idea was to sniff them when you were getting hungry for instant appetite reduction. It sounds a bit silly, but who knows?

I was intrigued by this idea for using scents to reduce appetite, so I sought out a source so I could try it myself. I finally located green apple and banana (peppermint is easy to find), and they arrived today. I'll let you know what happens next month.

If you've taken seminars, read books, bought gadgets, and tried everything to lose the weight, but still nothing works, the answer may be discovering and resolving the negative emotional issues that have kept you stuck, until now.

The One More Bite 8-Week Ending Emotional Eating Workshop and/or private sessions may be the answer.

Is this the right time for you to end your obstacles to weight loss success? If yes, get started today.

Projects & Idea Files

I'm busy formulating a new product which I think has great potential for those who have trouble with nighttime snacking. With this product you'd eat your usual daily fare but at whatever time you choose, say 8 PM, you apply a bit of this product. Then, if you have cravings, you'd add a round or more of EFT for a one-two punch on the cravings. Together with the mystery product, you could effectively end this habit in a very short amount of time. Stay tuned for more on this exciting project.

Yours in good eating,
Kathryn Martyn, M.NLP