Amy Culver - The Queen Of Lean

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Don't let 'food pusher' get you


Keep holiday meals healthful


Make a food plan for the holidays


Exercise during busy season


Make a plan to incorporate treats


Start planning for healthy holidays


Make the Valley your playground


Packing your lunch is a healthy habit


Comments and suggestions from readers


Slow cooker is dieter's best friend


Tips for finding the right counselor


Help someone with food addiction


Don't give up on losing weight


Healthy meals can be easy on budget


Give technology a good workout


Keep close eye on portion size


Weight loss by the numbers


Sudden job loss could improve lifestyle


Get fit now to have a better life later


Handle cravings in a sensible fashion


Excess fat can hinder medical diagnoses


Losing weight calls for a meal plan


Weight gain's underlying issues


Little changes = big weight loss


Be patient, scales will catch up


New Year is right time to make plan for healthy lifestyle

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Don't let 'food pusher' get you

For someone who is trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, temptations are everywhere you look.  Unfortunately, simply "not looking" won't always keep those goodies away.  There always seems to be at least one "food pusher" around.  This is the person that has to make sure you have a big helping of whatever they spent all day making.  It might be someone at work, or it might be a relative.  You don't want to hurt their feelings, but you also don't want to have to work off all those calories in that homemade baklava!

What should you do when faced with this dilemma?  Be straightforward with the person.  Tell them you are watching what you eat and just can't afford the calories right now.  If you have a health issue such as high blood pressure or diabetes, you can mention that.  You can even blame your doctor:  "Oh, I'd love to, but I have to see the doctor next week, and I really need to keep my numbers in check."  I prefer this option because it creates accountability and sets a precedent.

Other options include take the food and don't eat it, take it home to someone else, throw it out, or take only a small portion. 

If you are faced with the situation in which you feel obligated to have a large helping because your boss (or your aunt) made it especially for you, you'll have to make allowances for it afterward.  Work in some extra cardio time and cut back a bit on other meals.  One helping of a high-calorie dish is not enough to completely derail your food plan.

One final thought:  should you recognize yourself as a food pusher, please be kind to those who are struggling with their weight.