Exciting news of National Television Personalities coming to Your Diet Designer! They were on The Today Show yesterday morning, The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America and numerous magazines including Real Simple! And now they will be Guest Blogging in my Weight Management Program that starts next week! Jenny and Brigette, …the ladies from SqueezeItIn.com ! Love what they are doing and had the awesome opportunity to guest blog for them back in October for Breast Cancer Awareness. Check them out on Facebook or at http://www.squeezeitin.com/  Hope you have plans to join us – one more day to sign up for the program by emailing me at nikki@yourdietdesigner.com

During times of change, support is essential.  Who has your back?   Of the favorite people in your life, who are the ones that support you as you move towards your optimal self.  Any life change involves significant commitment from you.  A group of supporters rallying you on significantly increases your odds of success. 

So take the time….make your list.  Tell these people what they mean to you and ask if they will support you through your changes.  Don’t be afraid to tell them exactly what you need from them.

Life is filled with choices.  Choose people you can count on to build you up, have fun and help move you in the right direction.  Get the encouragers on your team as you move forward.

Increase your odds of success, by getting your encouragers to join you in my healthy lifestyle challenge.  More info at http://yourdietdesigner.com/are-you-up-for-the-weight-loss-challenge/  Time for signing up is ending soon!

As a nutrition professional, I receive many promotional items in the mail wanting me to support their products.  My most recent being a publication from a prominent cereal company with 13 pages on the Benefits of Cereal. On the first page, it states “cereal is one of the healthiest breakfast choices you can make.  Ready-to-eat cereal has fewer calories than almost any other common breakfast option.”

To this I say, ”Really?  There can be 13 pages of why cereal is the best thing?”  I beg to differ.  This company heavily advertises its cereal as the one to choose if trying to lower your cholesterol and has recently taken some heat for their advertising related to this.  As some of you know, most of my last 10 years has been dedicated to researching and fighting heart disease with nutrition.  Through this time, I have been working against these excellent marketing people, trying to tell the public that their cereal is not the best choice to lower their risk of heart disease.  And let me tell you that’s a challenge.  After requesting further research and documentation on their studies,  3 cups of their cereal daily (wow that’s a lot) has the potential to lower cholesterol slightly for a few people.  However what about those people who have the tendency to have more belly fat, higher triglycerides and are at risk for, or already have diabetes?  Definitely not the best choice for them.  And we know that heart disease isn’t just about cholesterol, we need to remember inflammation plays a part also.  Most cereals do nothing to lower inflammation and may actually be promoting it.

As for me and my family, we are not eating cereal for breakfast.   Give me a couple eggs, some natural peanut butter or a protein shake anyday.  They can keep their lil’ O’s – no 13 pages is going to convince me otherwise.

Research continues to confirm that excess weight increases your risk of breast cancer and other diseases.  Are you carrying more around than you would like?  Do you have the dreaded ring around the middle?  I may just have the answer for you, if you are up to the challenge.

As some of you know…I have been on this dedicated journey of self-improvement the last 7 weeks.  I’ve buckled down and turned into a faithful exerciser - a huge step for me!  I had the diet part nailed, with 80-90% of the time eating healthy and allowing the other 10% for treats.  However, I felt I needed to do more – which is where my exercise came in. 

Now, at the 7th week of my 12 week journey to better health, the path has been marked with ups and downs, where some of life’s obligations got me off track.  Typical of the real world.  

Your chance to join me in a 12 week Weight Management/Healthy Lifestyle course is right now.  An opportunity to get professional coaching and benefit from my experience with people attempting to do the same thing – improve their health.  All this while offering the weekly message we all need to keep us focused and encouraged.   

Your cost:  None to you, my initial group.

You may choose throughout the program to order products that I have found to be most helpful on this journey.  Some of which has led to my success in bringing me from 5′9″ and 159 pounds to a lean 142 pounds, taking 8 inches total from my waist and hips and bringing me from the average size 10/12 to a size 6/8! No weight loss drugs or miracle supplements promising to make this easier – just healthy ideas for good results.

I want you to realize the same success I have had.  You are worth it – sometimes it just takes time to realize it.  Remember, this isn’t easy.  It involves a significant commitment and the willingness to work through and make the changes suggested.   But it is much easier if you have someone to lean on or a group of friends to take the challenge with you.

Start Date: Early May

To get yourself or a group of your friends involved in this challenge, send me an email at nikki@yourdietdesigner.com.  Can’t wait to see what the next few months will be about for all of us!

Spring is here, which leads to summers of shorts and tank tops.  I won’t even mention the other traditional pool outfits that can bring a girl to tears.  So let’s get a jump on it.  Lower your risk of disease, improve your health and feel good!  Join me, Your Diet Designer, as we take control and face this head on.  All genders welcome.  This isn’t just about fighting breast cancer, it’s about taking charge of your life!