Changing Your Life One Pound at a Time: Ways to Beat Holiday Season Weight Gain
- Due West Magazine, by Madeline Kallio

With Christmas just around the corner, the invitations to parties keep coming and we have an opportunity to sample scrumptious foods that are especially made with loving care for this season and loaded with calories.  There is a feeling of reckless abandon in the air and the thought that we can taste it all and, in January, when we have had our fill of Christmas and Christmas goodies, we will set about to lose all we gained and a little more! Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way; our taste buds remember the exquisite taste of chocolate, whipped cream, pastries, rich gravy and holiday breads. Those who have the willpower to do a crash diet and lose the extra pounds in January will surely want a reward at the end; and the cycle continues.

The problem of weight gain is centuries old and the solution can never be “across the board” since it involves each person individually. However, in our Western society, the availability and affordability of food of all kinds, and the number of activities that we can do without moving are great contributors to putting on extra pounds and causing health problems. With our extensive medical facilities, we often do not think of those health problems. We are caught up in “in-your-face” advertising campaigns for fast foods and surrounded by a plethora of fast-food establishments which often provide a regular diet, rather than a treat from time to time. The stress of work, family, financial and emotional problems is often soothed with “comfort food” which seldom is a healthy choice. If transportation is available, we do not choose to walk. Most of us do not have the willpower to undertake a fitness program on our own, so, if we don’t feel we can afford the time or money, we just don’t do it. We are so consumed with our daily rituals that we don’t want to have to work it out on our own; we want to be told what to do and how to do it.

Roslyn Franken, who is a Certified Coach and Private Weight Loss Counselor with a Masters degree in Human Systems Intervention, realized that most popular weight loss programs and diets were simply too restrictive, unbalanced and difficult to maintain long term. The only way one could deal with weight loss and control on a permanent basis would be for that person to understand what a balanced day would be and take possession of their own program. Changes would, for most people, come slowly because it is necessary to change mental attitudes and come to terms with that change, so one of the first lessons is to learn patience. Since it is considered selfish to think of oneself, each person who wants to live a healthy lifestyle must learn to be a little bit selfish. She focuses on the “appreciative approach” where the individual learns to appreciate the small changes and victories in this battle. Instead of criticizing for what has not changed, she encourages for what has; and, if nothing has changed, or the person has backslid, she looks to help resolve the issues that have caused this and to help the person move on. The reward is that life becomes better and a healthy lifestyle promotes weight loss. It is essential for the individual to have support available until there have been sufficient positive results; and, even after, the help line is always there. Roslyn points out that, although she promotes Canada’s Food Guide and healthy eating, she is not a dietitian or a nutritionist, but that she deals mainly with behaviour modification. Exercise of any kind that is more than the person is doing is a step in the right direction.

Roslyn seriously looked at the problem of weight loss when she became 35 pounds overweight, was not happy with herself and knew that she could feel better. Having survived cancer, she took everything she had learned in her schooling–theory, understanding of people and health issues–and changed her own life by “doing it for me”. This experience prompted her to want to help others since she was now living what she wanted to preach. Her motto became: “Eat better to feel better to live better”. After spending time with the individual to establish healthy eating habits, healthy living habits and exercise programs, she speaks regularly with her clients over the telephone and is at the end of a hot line for support or advice. Developing a total approach to healthy living allows individuals to gain control over destructive eating habits, minimizes health risks due to overweight, relieves lower back and joint pain, reduces menopausal symptoms, increases energy and a sense of well-being, enhances self-image, and improves the quality of life. Her recently-published book, The A List, 9 Guiding Principles for Healthy Eating and Positive Living, has become the cornerstone for her philosophy, and will be the core of her courses through the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board, as well as her private consultations.

Many other organizations also promote weight loss. Although most of them do not support the overall mental change such as Roslyn has developed, they focus on certain of the elements of lifestyle, dietary habits, exercise and support. Depending on the attitudes and interests of each individual, any program can be successful if the person undertakes it with a desire to succeed. Costs vary according to the level of support provided.  

The saying, “Inside every fat person is a thin person trying to get out” is true of many people in our society where the choice of foods and lifestyle are ours alone to make. Each person has a set of “eating brakes” and the decision when to apply them, as well as resolving to get up off the couch and sprint around the block. We are our own worst enemies in the fight to control obesity and fight related diseases and to improve our images. Perhaps with a little help from those who care, we can start on that road to healthy living.   

 For more on her book, check out www.roslynfranken.com.

Contact information to schedule interviews with Roslyn

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