vital signs HEALTHY WEIGHT
Are you holding onto an old pair of skinny jeans in the hopes of one day fitting back into them? If so, you’re not alone, says Leslie Van Romer, D.C., author of the new book Getting Into Your Pants (Advantage Media Group, 2008). “We all have a pair somewhere in our memory or buried in our closet.”
The first step to getting back into those pants, she says, is being honest with ourselves and overcoming our “big buts”—the excuses that sabotage our weight-loss efforts. Here, she tells how to prevent three of the biggest “buts” from coming between you and your pants.
There’s good news if you’re
trying to lose weight, especially
around your middle: By adding
whole-grain foods to a low-cal
diet, you’ll lose both body fat
❚ Yeah, but I get no support. It’s time to be your own best friend, says Romer. “Listen to your inner voice about the best foods: fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.”
and waist circumference. In a
study conducted at Pennsylvania
State University, people who
❚ Yeah, but a little bit won’t kill me. Sure, one piece of pizza or one
bag of cookies won’t kill you—at least
not right away, says Romer. “But, if
you fill up with fresh fruits, vegetables
and grains, those ‘ones’ will drop
away, along with the extra pounds
on your hips, thighs, arms and
stomach, adding years to your life.”
incorporated whole grains such
as oatmeal and brown rice into
their weight-loss programs
had a greater reduction in
percentage of body fat in the
abdominal region than those
who continued to consume
❚ Yeah, but I don’t like to feel different. You’ve got to be different to make a difference, says Romer. “That very difference can give you lots of fun along the way—especially getting into those pants.”
refined-grain foods, such as
white bread and white rice.
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