A couple of months ago (June), Spa Week and Jillian Michaels (celebrity fitness expert), partnered to give one winner a wellness retreat at the famous Golden Door Spa in Escondido, CA.

Because of the success of this last effort another opportunity is being presented and I hope you’ll consider taking action as this health-focused giveaway can be life changing in so many ways.  For instance, obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one third of adults are obese.  Resources such as fitness centers, nutritionists and personal trainers are key to conquering this growing epidemic, however  aren’t always an affordable option.   And that is why Spa Week has partnered with Joy Bauer,  the TODAY show’s resident nutritionist and diet expert, to kick-start a new, healthy lifestyle for one deserving winner by entering the Fast Track to Health Giveaway.

“Millions of people tune in to watch Joy Bauer on the Today show and The Biggest Loser to get inspired and motivate their own fitness goals, so it is extremely rewarding to host such a life-changing giveaway on SpaWeek.com,” said Spa Week Media Group CEO and President Cheryl Reid.

Take Action:
Now through September 11th, visitors to SpaWeek.com can enter for a chance to win a seven day, six night stay for two at The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge in Malibu, CA to delve into the rigorous fitness and weight loss regime.    This powerful weight-loss journey offers  daily fitness and exercise activities, healthy low calorie meals, relaxing spa services, educational lectures and a private cooking class with the resort’s on-site executive chef.   One important key to sustaining weight loss and continuing on the path of wellness will be to stay on track upon returning home, so the winner will also receive a take-home package including Joy’s bestselling book, Food Cures, a personalized nutritional plan designed by Joy, and $175 in SpaWeek Gift Cards.

Good luck!

Resources:
SpaWeek
Biggest Loser Resort

Photo credit: Biggest Loser Resort, Malibu, CA

Mind Over Fat Matters:: Conquering Psychological Barriers to Weight Management

The original review is included below so this is more of a refresher of the original tips Dr. Rodriguez shared for adding fitness to your day despite the warmer temperatures.  Whether you’re already engaged in a consistent fitness routine or looking for more ways to add movement to your day, these tips may motivate you to take more steps toward a healthier lifestyle.

Back to Basics.
According to Dr.  Rodriquez, “going back to step one and establishing realistic expectations and obtainable workouts is key.  Not only does having a solid understanding of how exercise effects weight loss empower you to make better decisions, you’ll also see better (and faster) results.  A solid understanding of how to exercise properly goes a long way in getting your desired results.  The objective is to move at a pace that gets your heart rate up where you experience heavy breathing, but not to the point of pain.  As always, exercise should be enjoyable or you’ll never be able to make it part of your daily routine!”

Take advantage of the great outdoors.
“Summer is the perfect time to make exercise a part of your daily routine,” says Rodriguez.  “For one thing, the weather is warm, so outdoor exercise is much more fun – especially in the milder mornings and evenings.  Also, the days are longer and sunnier, giving you more time to enjoy Mother Nature.  Remember, there is no better fat burner than an active lifestyle.”

Find a way to  fit fitness in.
“Think about it this way,” suggests Rodriguez.  “If you had a doctor’s appointment, you would make sure nothing interfered with that time.  Your exercise time should be given the same priority.  If anyone asks to see you during your exercise time, decline and reschedule.  Creating healthy habits only increases your chance of slimming down.”

More from Mindful Adventures:
So what are some activities you like to do during the summer?  Tennis, swimming, hiking, kayaking, perhaps yoga on the beach or by a lake may be of interest.  Make a list of what you like to do and get started, change it up and take that first step if it’s been a while.  Schedule time each day to focus on your health – plan your healthy menu, include activity and enjoy relaxation.  As we all  know, there’s no time like the present.  Forget about what you didn’t do yesterday and what you might do tomorrow, it all starts with now!

Mind Over Fat Matters:: Conquering Psychological Barriers to Weight Management

In The Happy Body you’ll see detailed step-by-step photographs, charts and formulas with written instructions.  The book is beautifully illustrated and also offers a spiritual component.  The Gregoreks believe that as people perform the exercises on a daily basis, their lives develop a rhythm that helps them become calmer, more meditative, more relaxed and more mindful.

This is one of six of those tips I mentioned earlier and I’ll continue to present more in the days ahead.   Set achievable goals and each step will take you closer.

1. Change your idea about it.
Stop thinking about exercise as a way to burn calories and counteract overeating.  You will never lose weight through exercise.  Start thinking of exercise as a way to combat aging.  With this vision, you can learn to exercise properly.  Start by measuring your current flexibility, strength, speed, body type, and posture.  Now you can set meaningful exercise goals.

As with any exercise or weight loss program, check with your doctor if you have specific questions about your personal needs and goals.

Lavinia Rodriguez, PH.D.

Dr. Lavinia Rodriguez is a clinical psychologist, an expert in weight management and the author of Mind Over Fat Matters: Conquering Psychological Barriers to Weight Management. She has a lot of helpful information to offer anyone looking to make healthy changes and it all starts with our brain.  Mind Over Fat Matters is full of great insight, starting with Chapter 1 -  Friend or Foe: The Psychology of Your Brain and it continues to offer useful information with short chapters, tidbits and notes so you can also use the book as ‘your journal’ to success.   Lao Tzu said it best, “The Journey of a Thousand Miles begins with a Single Step!”   My goal is to give you another tool to take that step.  Baby steps!  That’s what we’re talking about here.

Take a few minutes and listen to my interview with Dr. Rodriguez.   Timely information and helpful insight to get you started or move you along on your personal journey.

Podcast interview with Dr. Lavinia Rodriguez

And, getting back to summer, Dr. Rodriguez offers some tips on why now is the perfect time to start pursuing your summer weight loss goals and I’ve included a couple below, however the larger nugget here is the amazing interview I recently had with Dr. Rodriguez about her book and also about life management.  I invite you to listen to our podcast using the link above or below.

The Interview with Dr. Rodriguez

Summer Tips from Dr. Lavinia Rodriguez

1.Take Advantage of the Great Outdoors:  “Summer is the perfect time to really make exercise a part of your daily routine,” Rodriguez points out.  “For one thing, the weather is warm, so outdoor exercise is much more fun – especially in the milder mornings and evenings.  Also, the days are longer and sunnier, so you’re probably in a better mood than you would be in the depths of winter.  Lastly, there’s a much smaller chance that you’ll be knocked out of commission by a sore throat or runny nose.  Remember, there is no better fat burner than an active lifestyle!”

2. Lose Weight Like you Brush Your Teeth:  “Losing weight ought to be like brushing your teeth,” she explains.  “You don’t get preoccupied by what the toothpaste and floss are actually doing to your teeth.  You just trust that if you perform healthy behaviors, you’ll get the desired results.  It’s the same with losing weight – if you focus on the behaviors of eating well and being active, the body will take care of the rest.”