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Beliefnet is the place for everything Thanksgiving.  We have recipes, turkey recipes, stuffing recipes, crafts, prayers, inspiration, videos, e-cards - everything!  This American holiday is a special one, filled with family, friends, food, and gratitude.

Here are a few wonderful Thanksgiving treats for you and your family:

A Comprehensive "Thanksgiving 2009" guide, with all the trimmings.

A Gallery of Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

Not Necessarily Healthy, but Beloved Thanksgiving Recipes

A Vegetarian Thanksgiving

Some Multifaith Prayers for Thanksgiving


I wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, filled with love, happiness and thanks.

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THIS IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER FOR MY UPCOMING RETREAT, "THE DIVINE EXPERIENCE" AT KRIPALU IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.  PLEASE JOIN ME FOR A PRAYERFUL, RESTFUL WEEKEND.  Kripalu is a natural, whole-life spiritual resort with homemade foods, massage, aroma and Ayruveda therapies, meditation, yoga, entertainment - a total indulgence for the body, mind and heart.

This is a high-protein, low fat, no sugar recipe for a smoothie drink that will knock your socks off!  It's a great meal replacer, as it packs a bunch of nutrients and vitamins in it, naturally and makes you feel quite full.  It's also for those of us who have sweet-tooths (sugar addiction by any other name would taste as sweet?).

Dr. Norris Chumley's Dream Smoothie

1 cup (8 oz.) non-fat milk, or natural (no sugar) fruit juice
1 scoop ( 2 tablespoons) protein powder (preferably whey, with no added sugar)
4 ice cubes
1 banana (or other fresh fruit of your choice - try strawberries, or papaya, or mango)

put all ingredients together in a blender, and mix at medium speed for about 1 minute (be sure to put the lid on before you press the start button!)

Would love to hear YOUR ideas for smoothies, too.  Please comment below.

Please tell all your friends about this daily blog - send them an email of this recipe.  Click the "email" button below.

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These are the last few days to sign up for my "Experiencing the Divine" retreat at fabulous, beautiful, relaxing Kripalu Center in western Massachusetts.  I'd love you to join me for a deeply spiritual weekend together.

Mark C. Taylor, noted philosopher, scholar, professor of religion and Chair of the Columbia University Department of Religion, has published a glowing, often super-real and sometimes surreal collection of essays on the human condition.  "Field Notes From Elsewhere: Reflections on Dying and Living" from Columbia University Press is a must read.

Writing in an alternating dyad of daylight and nighttime entries, Taylor gives us 365 short essays that take us on a roller coaster of imminent demise and cheated time.  We're hurled about, shifted, dropped from high ledges, scooped up resurrected, then tossed again into the abyss.  What do we learn upon our return?  What the hell do we do when the ride is over?  Or is it ever really over?

The amount of detail, thought, and personal life story here is remarkable, and not something you've ever seen the likes of before.  Fasten your seatbelt, the ride begins with Taylor at the top of his career falling ill, saying goodbye to his wife on an ordinary day. Ordinary, but not so well. Taylor had felt ill, dizzy, and not himself all weekend but that morning he had to go to work, some 150 miles away. His wife had already driven halfway back home when she got an alarming call - Taylor was on his way to an emergency room.  Taken too ill to make his own entry that morning, she writes, "When we returned to the ICU, we were not prepared for what we saw: tubes, electrodes, and wires connected to Mark to monitors that registered a steady flow of numbers...In a few minutes the doctor who had accompanied us from the ER came in to talk with us, 'May I speak with you alone? ...Your husband is very, very sick.  He is in septic shock, and his vital organs are in danger of shutting down...'  We asked some questions because we are all used to a world in which information gives power, comfort, and control.  Finally I summoned the courage to ask the question I had been dreading, 'but he is going to be OK, isn't he?"  No, he wasn't simply going to be OK.  His life would never again be the same.

Surviving that episode, but not ever fully recovered, the kinds of life threatening illnesses he's gone through one never quite recovers from, as Taylor points out.  To recover is to return to the same person that one was in the first place.  Taylor finds himself in the category of survivor, yet reinvents the term into an entirely new reality.  He fully lives the fragile existence between finitude and infinitude that is our predicament.  We cannot escape death, yet we cannot fully live without embracing it; we cannot not live if we choose to live and that brings us to a mystery which is never fully solved. Taylor firmly, resolutely, chooses life.

He grows ideas. He plants gardens. He harvests concepts and post-modern, existential seeds of being and its first cousin, non-being. "What we most long for is elemental.  Earth, Air, Fire, Water.  The elemental is the original, the first principle, the ground of whatever is whatever is not.   It is the underlying substance without which nothing can be.  As such, the elemental is that from which everything emerges and to which all eventually returns."  He is, we are, that dirt he digs.  That we dig.

Taylor writes about splitting his time between city and country.  For 35 years he has lived in western Massachusetts, high on a hill, in the middle of forest and small-town intellectual life as a professor at Williams.  Now, with his appointment at Columbia University, he divides his time between the wilds of nature and the chaos and culture of New York City.  He finds the two both similar and starkly different.  Always one to embrace technology, be it shovel, pick-ax or trowel - computer, cell phone or matrixed network, Taylor seems to be at home anywhere.  He's rooted in past; planted in present; futuristically comfortable.

"Though steel and glass remain, the arcades have become digital, and the commodities virtual.  In the city, place is transformed into the space of anonymous flows.  When technologies shift first from steel and steam to electricity and then to information networks, currents are redirected and the rate of change speeds up.  Mobility, fluidity, and speed intersect to effect repeated displacements in which everything becomes ephemeral and nothing remains stable or solid.  In this world, faster is always better and speed becomes an end in itself.  For those circulating in these currents, there is never time to pause and ask, 'Faster and faster but for the sake of what?'"

The tension between life and death, the speed and uncertainty of "last" times is ever-looming throughout Taylor's essays.  The last lesson, the last visit to a relative, the last moment of lovemaking, the last laugh, the last goodbye of a son or daughter is forever on the cusp, unbeknown to us until it's happened. Then it's the past.  We scramble for meaning, and to learn something applicable to our own living and eventual demise. Taylor talks about his mother's strokes and ultimate cerebral hemorrhage that ended her up in a hospital with life support.  He gave her a kiss, feeling the warmth and perspiration on her forehead, thinking of what the neurologist had said shortly before this last good bye, "her brain just exploded."  By now that must be a family metaphor in the Taylor family of teachers, writers and professors.

Taylor reminisces: "Ever the teacher, in death my mother had a final lesson for me: every moment is the last moment or, in terms I would later read elsewhere, the last time returns eternally.  This awareness need not weigh us down, rather, it can lift us up by helping us to realize the infinite value of what is always passing away."

Recovering from, or rather surviving his struggle with septic shock and a constant life-threatening severe diabetes, while co-teaching "What is Life?" a course on philosophy and biology with a friend from the science department, Taylor received news of a biopsy.  It was positive for cancer.   "Nothing, absolutely nothing prepares you for the words, 'I'm sorry, you have cancer.'"  Taylor, the philosopher draws a distinction between recovery and survival, the latter moves you into a new sphere; a dance between what was old and never before possible, into a valuation of life's fragility. "For survivors the acceptance of life's fragility can actually be liberating.  If the future everyone dreads has already arrived, there is no longer any reason for it to hold us in its grip.  Once you realize that the end is near, even when it seems distant, time unexpectedly slows down.  There is no longer any need to rush because whatever you think must be done quickly doesn't really matter."  Not quite joy or happiness, for sure, and never anywhere near a painter of rosy scenarios, Taylor still manages to embrace the intimate relationships formed among cancer patients in waiting rooms and chemo suites.

Now in remission, Taylor makes the point that as a survivor, he is never fully "cured," there is always some scar or remnant from the original trauma or repair.  His serious case of incurable but now manageable diabetes is an example.  Taylor's pancreas does not manufacture insulin, so he is hooked up to a computerized insulin pump that has a tube embedded in his leg.  Still partially manually operated, he dreams of the day that it will be fully automated, in effect transforming him into both human and cyber-being, monitored by a net connection. "The mechanical and digital devices that now function as my pancreas are, in other words, nodes in this worldwide web, and my body has become a prosthesis of a prosthesis... We become both metamind and metabody--cells in an intelligent global organism whose lifeblood is information.  The networks that sustain life are the current embodiment of what once was named the divine Logos.  In today's divine economy, to be is to be connected and to pull the plug is to die."  Here is an elegant example of Taylor's stark and complex humanity: a mix of philosopher, metaphysician, and medical theologian.

A lot of this book I honestly find to be quite difficult yet satisfying in a strange and unexpected way.  This is no lightweight read.  Filled with haunting memories of those gone, chased with bitter pills of our limitations and eventual demise, there are glimmers of hope and happiness to be found.  Taylor is aware of the challenges he's placed in front of the reader.  "Happy eras, we are told, are the blank pages of history, and so it would seem - of books.  Perhaps it is because it takes more courage to write about happiness than unhappiness."  He points us to his favorite joyous writer, Nietzsche who is himself in a desperate mode.  "Intense unhappiness becomes bearable by imagining that things might be otherwise elsewhere.  The writer must write this elsewhere to get through the night and the darker the night, the better the writing."

It is in this "elsewhere," as the title leads, this vivid point of real and unreal playing together, where, or rather elsewhere, that Mark C. Taylor both uncomfortably and comfortably resides.  


Order it from Columbia University Press - here.

Q: I wonder that God doesn't have enough to do without hearing about my weight problem. So many crises, so much death and turmoil in the world, so many real problems to deal with. How can I possibly ask for help for something I have done to myself?

A: First of all, I could never for a second presume to speak for God. But I also would never set my own limits on what is important to God or diminish the awesome gift of my life to say or think that I am not important enough (as a child of God) to ask Him for help. I agree with you - I caused my overweight problems. I own them, and acknowledge I "did it to myself." It was an innocent self-abuse, though. I couldn't stop myself from overeating and being sedentary. I honestly didn't have the power to help myself.

Most importantly, the biggest mistake I made was to rely on something material for my sense of self, and satisfaction. I cheated myself by believing that food was my safety and salvation from the pain of living. Put it in one way - I worshipped food as a graven, false image, instead of God. I put desserts and second-helpings in the way of my connection to my Creator. Isn't that a real problem? It sure was to me. I was near death; I was in a major crisis. I was dying. I was eating and smoking myself to death. I was committing slow suicide.

Was I not important to God? Did He not want to save a life, and bring one lost soul to His side? God did save me. I did ask for help in desperation, and got infinite grace and peace in abundance. Was I wrong to do it? I leave that to God to decide. But now I sure want to honor the gift of life I have been given - I do it by helping others, and continuing to look to God for everything in my life. And God continues to help me, and others, in amazing graceful generosity - no matter how big or small the problem - God is here, right now and ready. Just ask.

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Want to Know God?  Let's ask for help together at my next retreat, "The Divine Experience" at Kripalu in western Massachussets.  Sign up today, spaces are limited.

Be careful of how much fruit juice you drink. It has a lot of calories in it. A serving size (USDA Food Pyramid) is only a 1/2 cup.

Fruit juice is concentrated and powerful. An 8 oz. glass of apple juice may contain about 10 apples-worth of juice. 8 ounces of orange juice could be the equivalent of 6 oranges. You wouldn't eat that many in one sitting, would you?

Many fruit juices are loaded with sugar, too, especially naturally bitter juices like cranberry or grapefruit. Those need added sugar to be palatable. Beware of any juice labeled "drink" (they contain hardly any real juice at all), or "cocktail" (that means it's full of sugar). While it's better to actually eat the real fruit, some fruit juice is OK, and good for you. Certainly better than soda.

This is a really special treat: full of vegetables, but no fat, with intense delicious flavor.  It requires no advance preparation, no soaking of beans overnight, and takes about 5 minutes to put together.  Hard to beat this soup on...

Beliefnet's Holly Rossi (Fresh Living) has just written a new gallery of ideas and great photos.  It's called 21 Simple Ways to Be Healthy.  This is a good list, of easy, simple, free ways to either get healthy or stay...

While on a car trip the other day, we stopped at a gas station and my friend went into the adjacent convenience store and bought a small bag of nuts and yogurt-covered raisins.  It looked really good.  I wanted some...

For years I thought it took will power to make major changes in my life, such as getting healthy, finding a job or losing weight.  In the middle of doing it, though, and falling flat on my face a bunch...

Last week, I wrote about a radio station losing a lawsuit over their water drinking contest.  A lot of you were very interested in how much water to drink, and to make sure there's no danger in too much water. ...

Meet Helene, a woman who has lost 50 pounds and kept it off over 23 years. See if you can relate to her words..."I was out on my own the first time (in my early 20's) and started to meet...

Remember how you felt the last time you ate a lot of sugary foods? You probably got a quick burst of energy, and then it let you down, way down. Maybe you felt "hung over" later with a headache. Maybe...

I can't believe how great this hot (or cold) drink is!  Sweet, tasty, no calories, no caffeine, and helps me curb hunger and lose weight.Ever been at a bar and heard someone say to the bartender, "make it a double?" ...

I'm always encouraging everyone to drink a lot of water.  Water is important and when you're losing weight, it's essential.  Is it possible to drink too much water?  Yes.We heard the news that a jury awarded $16.5 million dollars in...

We know why we're fat: too much food in general, especially fats and sugar-laden food.  Now, "This is Why You're Fat" is a book and website of a collection of recipes and photos of really crazy fatty, sugary food.  This...

What if doing something you dread could really be fun and pleasurable?  What would happen if you did not have a lot of fear, anxiety and trepidation?If you simply don't believe the old mental programming that losing weight, becoming healthier,...

Today, All Saint's Day, I'm thankful for the wind, today. I love how it blows life into everything - especially me! I love how the wind moves the clouds, and the leaves on the trees, and how the birds ride...

We know Halloween comes every year on October 31, and it's Hallowe'en - short for All Hallow's Eve.  Halloween is actually an old Pagan feast, a Celtic New Year called Samhain, or "summer's end."  What is it all about, other...

Halloween is about food and candy, I always believed.  Halloween recipes for treats like Halloween scary body parts and Halloween frightening bugs, spiders and goblins are a lot of fun.  Would you serve vegetables?  Would you give fruit like apples...

Yesterday I wrote about added sugar, and the shock of how much sugar is in everything.  Consider this today: what if you ate only candy? What if you only ate foods with sugar in them, like candy bars, donuts, pastries...

Yesterday, I just felt run-down, scratchy throat, and some sniffles.  It was after a week of really hard work and deadlines, and I had stayed up too late the two previous nights.  I'm not feeling myself today, either.  Time to...

A lot of people believe in affirming. I believe in using whatever works to lose weight and get healthy. Have you ever tried verbally affirming? Check it out. Try saying one of these lines to yourself: "I am God's creation,...

Are Fruit Loops a "Smart Choice?"  Even though they are 40% sugar?  It says they are a smart choice on the label!  It says they are "whole grain," too.What about Cocoa Puffs?  Are they a smart choice?  Yes, according to...

You may be interested in a blog about loss:  the sad loss of a beloved family member, and a positive loss: weight loss.  It was written by Holly Lebowitz Rossi. The blog is Fresh Living, my Beliefnet sister blog about...

The trend with little kids these days is to make "play dates." This is when the parents arrange for the their children to get together and have a good time. I'd like to suggest that adults do it, too. Why...

These days, our lives are so busy and the demands of mere existence are staggering. It's easy to be busy all day, every day, working yourself to the bone, and at the end of the day be tired -- really,...

Please tell me what you'd like me to talk and write about that is most helpful to you.  This is not only a blog, it's a community of those of us who love God (or Higher Power, Spirit, et al)...

Here's what I'm serving to some dear friends tonight for supper, a lasagna big in flavor but small in calories and fat.  It's a meatless recipe, using root vegetables from the garden; kind of the last of this year's harvest. ...

Here's a way to eat less by actually eating (and drinking) more. Before your meal or snack, drink a large, 16oz glass of water, and eat a little fruit or vegetables. Drinking water is so good for you, in so...

Look around you, Spirit is everywhere. Big and powerful, tiny and invisible all at the same time, in harmony. See God in simple, little things: a dog's tail wagging, a cat purring just because you're near. A leaf falling from...

Please take time to be silent every day, if only for a few minutes. This will help you immeasurably in your program for wellness of body, mind, and soul. Find a quiet place, and just sit and close your eyes....

Congratulations, Mala, for really "getting it."  She commented on my Weight Loss Truths posting recently.  That's why I picked her for our Tip of the Week:"Not only did you not put on your weight overnight, it is more difficult to...

Your body may be telling you that you need specific nutrients. Maybe you feel run down, and feel you need a hamburger (protein). Or perhaps the need for some quick energy from carbohydrates after a game of volleyball or tennis...

Now that the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine is being delivered, many of us are asking if we should take it or not.  There are so many conflicting reports; it's hard to decide.  I thought I'd gather some information for you,...

New York City has required restaurants to post calories on menu choices for the last year or so.  Do these calorie postings change eating habits?  A new study from researchers at New York University and Yale in low-income neighborhoods where...

How are you doing with food?  Are you eating healthy foods, in moderate or small amounts?  Or is your eating out-of-control, are you fast and furiously stuffing as much food into your mouth as possible?If you're feeling empty and constantly...

Another question from a reader: Do you think diet sodas are linked to overeating? Yes. Great question. Speaking again from my experience, and working with people for many years, I think diet sodas are a disaster for several reasons....

A question from a reader: What do you do if small portions don't fill you up?I recommend eating six small meals throughout the day: one serving (USDA Food Guide Pyramid size) of grains, protein (meat or dairy), and a fruit...

What do I think of "The Biggest Loser" TV series?  I think it's terrible and cruel, and merely entertainment, not a program that overweight people should do.  In its 8 seasons on the air, I have always found it to...

Today is my birthday (Sept. 30) and here's a brand-new video recipe for a very low-fat, low calorie yogurt fruit snack.  It was a lot of fun to make, and I hope it's helpful to you. Just to recap (in...

If you're a regular reader you're aware of my quest to eat more salads.  I will admit, I have not been in love with them, until now.  I've come up with a bunch of new ideas for bunches of lettuce. ...

I was in New York City the other day, riding the subway, and saw one of these new ads: "Are You Pouring on the Pounds?"  Take a look at the ad: it's striking.  That soda becomes gooey-globs of fat in...

Why do you think they call it "junk food?" Because it's garbage! I think it should only be called junk. Leave off the "food." (Because it isn't.) Sodas are made of sugar water and chemical flavorings. I like to call...

A great way to understand what's going on in your life, in your habits and actions, thoughts and needs, is to write about it.Keep a journal or diary. Write what you're thinking and doing. Talk on paper about what and...

ABC television is running a new series on the Ten Commandments, on "ABC News Nightline" click here to check it out online here.  You probably know or remember, the 10 Commandments are the guides to living given by God to...

Acai Berries and Colon CleanserFrom time-to-time, I like to answer questions from readers.  I cannot answer every question, of course, but sometimes I think it's important to address topics that are of interest to lots of people.Here's one that was...

How to lose weight, weight loss tips, diets, fat loss programs - the world is filled with them.  It's pretty amazing to me that people continue to look for some new, magical formula or solution.  It's amazing to me that...

There's a United Nations initiative for peace: on Monday September 21, a suggested moment at noon (EST) they're calling "A Million Minutes for Peace."  The idea is for as many people around the world to gather together for silence or...

Do you feel like you just can't lose weight, no matter how hard you try? Do you feel like you've tried everything? Are you on the brink of giving up? I can't blame you. Losing weight seems really hard, if...

I recommend signing up for a recreation class, and faithfully attending it.  It's like going to a party!  You can quickly make some friends, and move, and stretch and feel good.  It important to find the right group, though, where...

That's the word the gatekeeper used at my gym the other day, as she let me in.  "Enjoy" she said, and my first thought was not nearly as positive.  My old negative thinking is still  buried so deeply; I was...

Did Patrick Swayze "lose" his battle with pancreatic cancer?  Many news reports said so, as they were reporting his death.  I believe he won.In his movie, "Ghost," the key moment of the whole film, at the end, was his saying...

I just made up a really delicious drink.  I find this one deeply satisfying, especially on a hot day.  In my quest to drink more water and hydrate, with my smattering of knowledge of Ayurveda remedies to add lemon to...

Unsure if you need to lose weight? Don't pay attention to most of those insurance company charts - they're designed to make the premiums higher. Don't compare yourself to fashion magazines or TV shows - they're the smallest percentage of...

Gosh, we've had a lot of comments and traffic from that blog I wrote the other day on healthcare, Obama healthcare reform, and on America's health care system.  I'm so glad people are voicing their opinion here!  I'm sad that...

I was impressed.  He got specific.  He was tough, yet stayed in the middle, offering to work together with both sides. President Obama's health care speech was another step in the right direction towards reform of a system that is...

Get yourself a "Beliefnet Spiritual Weight Loss Buddy." Find a friend or person who is following the "Joy of Weight Loss Plan" or some other healthy diet and do it with them (or share yours).Post a comment below, and ask...

Whenever you're about to binge, look around, there's usually someone bigger than you nearby to remind you of your priorities. I hate to say it, but given the epidemic obesity crisis in America, and in many parts of the world,...

I find the best way to move on and recover from low self-esteem, is to get moving. Wrap yourself around a project.  Get work done.  Distract yourself.If you feel that you're worthless, try doing something that can show yourself as...

It's really important to stay with a daily routine of structured eating.  Knowing how much to eat of each food group, for you, in order to either lose weight or maintain your weight is vital.Sometimes, though, you may be tempted...

When I became a vegetarian long ago in my teens, I had the mistaken assumption that by eating only vegetables and "health food," I'd be eating fewer calories, and of course, lose weight!  Boy was I wrong!Just because one changes...

Remember that great feeling right after a really healthy meal?  That sense you get of having had food that's so good, and good for you?  It comes from eating really healthy food in appropriate quantities, and really appreciating God's great...

I was interested in what Mary wrote here about the Food Lovers Fat Loss weight loss program, commenting about my Food Lovers Fat Loss System Review.  She seems to think that we don't need to buy any program, just observe...

I'm pretty happy that they've taken the "F" out of KFC.  Now it should be KGC, for Kentucky Grilled Chicken.  The massive chain has begun grilling instead of frying everything.  Be careful, though, there's still lots of fat, sugar and...

Here's a really fast, easy, and delicious way to make an entrée:Use salsa as a sauce (that's what the word "salsa" means to begin with)!Buy an inexpensive jar of tomato salsa (mild, medium or hot) and spoon it over grilled,...

This is a really different, delicious, and healthy dessert.  It's a spectacular finish to a barbecue grilled dinner of any sort - as it goes well with any grilled meat or vegetable.  It's my own original creation, and I've never...

This is an easy and very tasty low-fat and healthy dish that will leave you very satisfied.  You can grill, bake or boil the chicken.  Serves 3-4.  Add a half cup of brown or wild rice on the side, if...

If I go just a few days without exercising or moving, I don't feel good!  I feel very tired, sluggish, and in need of long naps.It used to be when I was obese just getting up and taking a few...

Didn't do so well on your food plan yesterday? Today's a new day. Couldn't find time to be active, go outside, play, or have fun yesterday? Today's a new day. Make sure to take good care of yourself today, because...

Really? That's what an article in the New Your Times by Gina Kolata from 2007 stated.  I found this article the other day, and thought you might like to see it.   Not to be pessimistic; no, rather to be optimistic...

What if there was a way to have your pie and eat it too?  This no sugar, no fat, easy and simple recipe is what you've been looking for!  A one-cup serving is around the equivalent of a serving of...

Thanks to all who have been commenting.  It's so fun and full-filling to read what you write!  Your comments make me happy, even the tough ones.  So PLEASE keep them coming.  Also, tell your friends about this amazing, growing online...

When we're disconnected from God (or Spirit, or Higher Power), we're on our own. We have to handle everything ourselves. We often worry a lot, because we're not sure of what will come, and unsure of how to handle what...

Another entry in the "you may want to know" category: following a Mediterranean Diet and daily exercise may reduce later risks of developing Alzheimer's Disease.  Vegetables, Fruit, Fish, Whole Grains, beans - little or no red meat and poultry -...

Significant pesticide residues were found on fruits and vegetables in a recent study conducted by the Chicago Tribune and the USDA.Perhaps as many as 1/3 of our produce in America contains lots of residual pesticides!  Here's a list of them,...

When planning your day, make sure to keep it simple. Don't try to do too many things, eat too much, or forget to include some joyful activity. Remember your "Joy of Weight Loss" food plan. Pick foods that you will...

How would your life be different if you were able to lose 10, 20, 50 or 100 pounds?  I'm sure you've thought about that a lot, but I believe it's a good idea to "keep it fresh" as they say...

Last night our son Jack, master barbecue chef in his own right, tried an experiment. It turned out to be really delicious. Chicken parts-thighs, drumsticks, breasts, etc. 1 lemon, juiced and squeezed on the chickenDry spice rub: cayenne pepper, turmeric,...

What is the main thought that keeps running through your mind?  Is it positive and helpful?  You know you can change it if you need to. God gives us the power of free will and free thinking. If you think: ...

Do you ever feel anxious or depressed? If so, how do you help yourself feel better? If you're like I once was, you may eat to feel better. I used to douse my troubles in food. Some people use alcohol...

I really like what FouFou wrote in her comment this week, in response to my "Fat and What is Behind it" article.Here it is:"Physical, emotional and spiritual is the guide to us those who are seeking to loose weight. I...

Before you eat, ask yourself, "How truly hungry am I?" Then put your hunger on a scale from 1 to 5.  This can help you become conscious of the link between your mind, body, and your eating habits.Five is super...

It just plain hurts to watch "More to Love," the new TV series about plus-sized contestants.  I think I figured it out, though, it's because the show's a macrocosm of all that went wrong with America.It's largely (pardon the pun)...

Sounds great, huh?  Rush Limbaugh recommends it; he experienced some quick weight loss himself, 90 pounds in less than 6 months.Limbaugh's weight loss success he attributes to Florida's Quick Weight Loss Centers.  According to Limbaugh, their programs combine low-calorie dieting,...

What amazing comments we're enjoying lately.  I'm so moved, impressed and grateful!  Thank you for really "being there" for each other.I could write about two dozen blogs today, sharing some really amazing comments, but alas, space and time don't allow. ...

I want to assure you that it is possible to change, and make your life the best it can be with spiritual help and committed action. ALL IT TAKES IS THE DESIRE TO CHANGE, FOLLOWED BY ACTION. That combination is...

Sometimes, getting an energy boost during the day is necessary. A lot of people look to a snack or drink to give it to them. Sugar, or carbohydrates give only short bursts of energy, and then there's a downward, draining...

OK, what's so bad about you? Are you really that worthless? Are you really so fat and ugly? Do you really deserve the harsh judgment and low self-esteem you throw on yourself? Is your life really that difficult? Or are...

Here's a query for your day, today... What is overeating and being overweight giving you? Please think about this, in a very insightful, deep way, and share your feelings. Post them on a comment below, then come back in a...

Did you see the premiere of Fox's new reality dating show, "More To Love?"  What did YOU think of it?First off, I want to get this right out on the table, I work for Fox because it's Fox/News Corp. that...

How can I stop myself from eating when I'm not hungry? It's often hard to realize you may be eating for reasons besides a nutritional need! You may be simply just eating out of habit, boredom, or to distract from...

I just want to take a moment to say that I care about you.  Sure, it's true, I may not know you directly, or even by name.  I care about you, though, dear reader.That's why I write this daily message.I...

I have some ideas for those of you who say they have tried everything to lose weight and get healthier.  Here are two:First, check with your doctor to make sure you're totally OK, and don't have some underlying health condition...

I've picked Anna's comment to feature this week.  If only there were more people like her, who realize that there's a lot of personal work necessary along with weight-loss surgery.  I also wish there were more people who have enjoyed...

I hear this frequently: a loved one (child, relative, friend) has an obesity problem, and they want to help.  Here's what I suggest in such difficult situations.-- Realize that you have no direct control over them.-- Pick the best moment...

I saw an ABC news piece on how Safeway, the supermarket chain, is encouraging employees to eat more healthy food, exercise and watch their weight.  They save them money on insurance by reducing the amount contributed by employees to pay...

Let me ask you: are your overeating habits and pleasure more important than your life?It really comes down to that life or death question.Is the brownie ice-cream sundae dessert, and regular daily desserts worth a heart attack or stroke because...

Weight Loss Pill: a Magic Bullet?   There's a new pill announced, called Contrave, that claims to help obese patients over the difficulties of losing weight.   A combination of two older drugs, Wellbutrin, an anti-depressant, and Naltrexone, used...

What's your family genetic history? We all have good genes, and not-so-good genes. It's best to be informed and aware, so that you can make choices to have the best, longest life possible. Knowing your genetic tendencies allows you to...

Taking good care of yourself can give you some really good feelings. When you eat well and move, you plug yourself into life. That means the joy of learning, experiencing new things, getting enough rest, playing, sharing with friends and...

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A prominent digestive system surgeon I know recently confided in me, "we hate doing gastric bypass surgeries, but our hospital makes us do them because they're a profit center."  I asked him why his surgical team hated them.  His explanation...

Are you extremely concerned with your eating - perhaps too much?  If you starve yourself, or follow extremely limited calorie consumption, or binge and then make yourself vomit, or compulsively overeat, it's time to get help.Eating disorders are very real,...

At night, when you're struggling to not binge, go outside and look up at the stars. Gaze for a long time. Think about how far away they are. So big, so vast and expansive is our cosmos. How beautiful.  Think...

The act of eating is a deeply spiritual and sacred experience. When you put food into your body, you are giving yourself life energy. You are taking something that was once living (animals and plants who have given their lives...

This is outrageous, and blows my mind!  A new Burger King 7" burger.  Their new ad campaign which is blatantly sexual (just like many advertisements) is even worse.Beliefnet's Editor-In-Chief, Steven Waldman wrote about it the other day, take a look.In...

A regular reader asks, How do I surrender my weight problems to God? Simple - just ask for help. Try something like this: Say a silent prayer to God, who lives inside you and is a part of you,...

Even though there's been so much coverage of Michael Jackson's tragic and early death, I am still interested in him.  I always loved his music and entertainment, and probably always will, yet there will be nothing more from him now,...

In New York City, we see the amount of calories posted on all menu items in restaurants.  How about 1,440 calories for the Quesidilla Burger at Applebee's?   Or would you like 1,570 calories in the guise of the Fried...

My favorite comment this week is by Pam."I met J5 and spoke with them briefly when Michael was around 11/12. I was impressed with how soft spoken and well mannered they all were. Although I did not care for the...

Have you ever believed that turkey makes you sleepy? Or that if you drop something and pick it up within 5 seconds there are little bacteria gathered?  Or my favorite, going outside when it's cold can give you a cold?There's...

There I was at the vacation hotel breakfast bar with the crowd of morbidly obese Americans.  I was having breakfast with them, embarrassed, doing my best to eat very slowly and having a very small amount of food.It was hard...

I was totally shocked at a hotel breakfast bar last weekend.  More than half the customers were morbidly obese, and having plate-after-plate of food.  One couple who could barely fit into their seats was particularly sad: the man had four...

Coming up soon in the US is our Independence Day, otherwise known as the 4th of July.  I know that there are lots of readers in other countries, who also celebrate Independence Day at various times, for various independences and...

Are you a "Food Lover?" Me too.  But I'm not a big fan of the "Food Lovers Fat Loss System" which I wrote about not too long ago.I'm concerned because the website for it is only about sales and supplements,...

Some people do well in gyms and health clubs, but most of my clients and readers do not.  Most people I know who have zealously joined gyms have gone for a few days and then stopped, wasting tons of money,...

Florence Serecka wrote a very inspiring comment awhile back, commenting on my blog, "Lose Weight with God."  It stuck with me, and stayed with me for a month now, and I want to share it with you.  I wanted to...

I understand how it feels when you're not at your best. Perhaps you feel flawed, unworthy, or hopeless. Maybe you feel sick, drained of energy, listless, or depressed. Or is it that you just feel so fat and ugly, and...

A lot of readers have been asking why the lost weight comes back, despite diligent efforts.  While I cannot answer everybody's specific problems, and it would be inappropriate for me to do that, I do often try to generally address...

One of the simplest ways to save money on food is to eliminate impulse buying of foods you don't need or aren't good for you.  The way to only buy what you need is to take a little time to...

A way to quickly save money is to immediately end the bottled water habit.  This will help with the budget, and also help save the earth - it's a totally "green" way to go.Plastic bottles are expensive.  Eliminating a daily...

Here's another idea to add to this month's collection of ideas and ways to save and lose weight at the same time.  Today I want to suggest a healthy cooking party!Invite a few friends over, say 3 or 4, and...

Sonya A. said it all, "For the majority of my life I "chose" to imprison myself with food, low self-esteem and weight issues, it was not until recently with a much renewed connection to All Mighty God that I am...

At any moment, it's easy to be tempted to fall back into old overeating habits. Try some brand new habits instead.   Instead of more expensive meats, junk food, snacks and prepared or packaged foods, eat more vegetables and fruits.If you...

The way I lost weight (160 pounds) and kept it off (over 16 years now) was to learn to eat ordinary food (not diet food), in smaller quantities. I also learned to be sure to combine protein, grains, and either...

A way to save a lot of money and lose weight, is to buy generic, or store-name foods.  Often, the same manufacturer or packager makes all the food, but puts different labels on it.  Same products, different labels.You are not...

Preparing and cooking your own food can save lots of money, and it's better for your health, too.Avoiding fast food restaurants will save cash and calories.  Limiting your purchase of prepared, frozen, and packaged meals also cuts a lot in...

If you want to lose weight, eat healthier food and use your body.  Don't bother buying expensive vitamins or "appetite suppressants," or magic weight loss pills or formulas - I don't think they work.  Some are harmful.  Read what I...

This is strange, but true.  The more you eat, the more you want, the more you end-up eating!Why do you think they call them "appetizers?"  Extra food sparks your appetite.  They make you have an increased "appetite" or make you...

Not long ago I wrote about how to "Lose Weight with God."  It's my favorite topic! God, that is, not just weight loss!   Here's the article: click here.Marie wrote an absolutely beautiful comment awhile back,"I have battled weight all my...

If you always need or want something more than what you have, or worry or obsess about food and dieting--consider giving to others, and less about yourself.  Take the monetary and financial aspects out of the picture. Here are some...

Having trouble staying with a healthy food plan? Tempted by foods you want to binge on? Losing control over snack foods or desserts? Get away from them. Don't buy them, and you'll save a lot of money. Don't stock them...

This recipe for yummy bean dip is a real find!  I think you'll love it, at least I do and so do my family and friends.  It's so easy, it's amazing, it's also incredibly easy on the pocketbook.1 can black...

Here's a quick tip to eat less, save calories and save money.  Use meat just for flavoring.Many cultures and cuisines feature meat in very small quantities.  This is particularly true of Asian foods.  Consisting of mostly vegetables and a little...

Yes, it is possible to eat out at a restaurant and save money (and calories too).  The trick is to only order one thing - an entree.Skip the appetizer; they are often expensive, too big, and have lots of calories.Skip...

Eating more whole grains and bran helps you feel more full from less food and less money.  Baking your own bran muffins is a great example.  It doesn't take long, it's easy, and gives your digestive system a helpful, healthy...

Awhile back I wrote about cutting portion sizes as a way to save, and a way to lose weight without dieting.  It's a method that really works!  All you do is have half the size portion of what you would...

Instead of always needing or wanting something, or worrying or obsessing about food and dieting--concentrate on giving gifts to others. Here are some ideas for "getting outside of yourself."  --  Give someone an hour of your time.--  Help a friend...

I frequently write about my recommendation for eating 3 meals and 3 snacks per day. If you have a little, you're less hungry, and that can save money and calories.  In other words, instead of the classic 3 (big) meals...

Yes, it's great to want to be as pure and healthy as possible by buying and eating organic foods.  But if you're trying to lose weight and save money and like me, I can't really afford to go organic.My wife...

Do you really save money buying food and supplies in large quantities?  The answer is yes.  There is a difference in places to buy food in bulk, though, so do your homework.  Basically, when it comes to savings there are...

Many of my clients have told me that they go to fast food restaurants fairly often.  One person I am working with says she goes everyday after work and has a couple of burgers (make that 4).  She also told...

I have a surprise for YOU!  This entire month, I will be offering you ways to save money and lose weight at the same time.  I'll offer new recipes for cooking healthy, low-cost meals and snacks; ideas for filling yourself...

Melinda wrote awhile back, "I keep a daily log of my food intake & activities. I love doing this because I get to see EXACTLY what I am eating. It also forces me to THINK - BEFORE I eat (which...

Take the time to get together with people who are spiritual. It's called "fellowship" and it's really valuable and wonderful. There's nothing like a spiritual community where you can feel instantly understood and appreciated for what you believe in and...

Hey, there's a lot of buzz about eating out at restaurants, fat loss and weight loss.  I think that's pretty ridiculous.  It's really hard to lose weight eating a lot of sugar and fat at fast food restaurants!  Food lovers,...

You can probably imagine, I get a lot of questions.  I love it that people ask, although I cannot answer every one of them.  This one gets to the point, and a lot of people ask it on a...

My friend's dad, Bernie, taught me his trick for having dessert (but not really). He has one little tiny piece of high quality chocolate every day, in the evening. Just a sliver. He lets it melt slowly on his tongue,...

Two reader's comments struck me this morning as being on-target. One about mysteries of self-abuse, the other about the power of spiritual practice.  Not a direct problem and answer counterpoint, but somehow, these relate.  I hope they will for you,...

Here is a great sugar-free and lower-fat pie treat that's easy to make, with exotic sweet fruit and no artificial sweetener.  The fruit is so sweet you don't need additional sugar. You can use a frozen piecrust, or make one...

This week I wrote a lot about workouts, that dirty word "exercise," and the motivation to just get up and do it.  It starts with the mind, and the body follows along.   This is the link to my original article,...

What's your family genetic history? We all have good genes, and not-so-good genes. It's best to be informed and aware, so that you can make choices to have the best, longest life possible. Knowing your genetic tendencies allows you to...

The "few little bites" you eat while cooking or preparing for lunch or dinner, may actually be the equivalent of a whole meal.  Tastes of dishes being cooked can also add up.  Be careful!A couple handfuls of crackers and 5...

Put your thoughts about moving your body aside, and get up and do it.  Don't think about it.  Don't think about finding the time, the time is now.  Don't think about how hard it will be, just simply move.  Don't...

The asparagus is sprouting!  The plants my wife planted a few years ago are now delivering delicious sprigs of tasty asparagus.  This is what they look like in our garden.You have to hurry with asparagus: pick them just a day...

How do you lose weight with God?  Simple, just ask Him for help.  A lot of readers have asked me to write more about this.  Funny, that's what I've written about the most in the last 9 years!  I fear...

Lucy asks: How often should I weigh myself on your program? My advice is that you weigh yourself once a month, on the same morning every month, before you've eaten anything, and preferably without clothes and after voiding. Keep...

Are you making sure to be active every day? I don't mean vigorous exercise (although that's great if you're in a regular habit you've built up to)...I mean at least walking for a minimum of 10 minutes per day. Start...

Comparing yourself to others can backfire.  Be sure to appreciate the good things about yourself, and acknowledge your hardships and efforts, too.  This is an important point.  I'm glad that an anonymous poster commented about this, this week, in response...

Are your weight problems affecting your relationship with God? If you look to food for comfort and satisfaction, instead of God, you may be missing an opportunity. If you are isolated, lonely inside your house, avoiding an active and engaged...

I am thinking about my mother a lot recently.  She meant so much to me in so many ways. Yes, Mother's Day and all -- the Hallmark Card-invented day to sell instant greeting cards.  More than that, much more, I...

If you haven't seen or heard about Connie Culp, the lady who is the recipient of one of the first face transplants, you may want to.  She has been through so many traumas, pain, and humiliation - yet sought help...

If you have not heard, Hydroxycut, a popular weight loss drug, has been recalled by the FDA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  Stop taking them if you have been.Here's part of what the FDA press release said last week,...

I have found that losing weight, maintaining it, and staying healthy is about what you do everyday, day-in, day-out.  It's the routine of health that gives you the best health you can get.If you have huge meals every day, you...

I wrote about bacon the other day, a recipe for a lower-fat method of cooking by baking it on a rack.  Lots of folks responded, and I'm so happy about that.One reader, Joe, blasted me: "hey doctor norris, how can...

Last night I wanted to eat a bunch of ice cream. I wanted to binge, to tell you the truth. I wanted to feed my boredom and my old sugar habit. I had thought about it over and over again,...

Think about what holds you back. Is it fear? Worry? Think about the fears that bother you on nights you can't sleep - or days you're feeling anxious. What are you afraid of? Is it real? Is the fear necessary?...

There's an interesting article about cheap beef, with recipes by Jane Sigal, in the New York Times, take a look here.You may not have heard of beef chuck deckle, or beef chuck seven-bone steak; I haven't. But this article makes...

Did you see the article on apples from the other day?  Take a look here.   Here are some further ideas, from our fellow readers and posters!  Please add your favorie apple recipe to our collection.  Remember, "An apple a day...

As nighttime eating is a difficult problem for me and many of our readers, I have some suggestions.  A lot of experts say just "don't eat at night," or "never eat after 8pm," but a lot of folks just have...

Here's a way to have your bacon and eat it too!  Today, I offer you a method of cooking bacon that has less fat, and therefore less calories per serving.  It's baked instead of fried.  It's very easy, too.  Bacon,...

I just joined the ranks of those who Twitter. www.twitter.com    drnorrischumley (my Twitter nickname).Sign up for my latest weight loss and wellbeing news, my personal (insider) comments, and lots of prayers and praises.I'd love to have you as a...

Here's a really easy and simple way to make vegetables satisfying and delicious.  The secret is not oil or butter, as it is in a lot of recipes, but flavored vinegar, herbs and spices.  It only takes a few minutes...

This week, salads are hot!  Here are some variations of the recipe for salad I wrote last week, from folks who commented.  To see my original recipe for salad, click here. Please add your ideas and recipes for more variations,...

A Q&A Day!At our kid's school the typical menu is fried chicken, French fries (or some other potato) and sometimes salad. Peanut butter and jelly is available every day. Dessert is served every day. The kids are not allowed to...

Do you remember that old expression, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away?" It's true, you know! Eating fruit every day gives you vitamins, minerals and fiber - all good for your body - muscles, organs, and digestion. It...

I've discovered this great little take out place, not so far from where we live.  They have only one item on the menu - baked falafel sandwiches in whole wheat pita bread.  You can then help yourself to vegetable "toppings"...

This week brought lots of deep and insightful comments, particularly from last week's article, "What I learned from Easter and Passover."  Please take a look and add your comment to it.So many people opened up and shared their pain, heartache...

I'll admit it, I am just not that big a fan of salads!  I know they are so healthy for me, and my whole body loves them, I just don't really find them tasty.  Often, they leave me a little...

Please tell your friends about our online conversation about fasting, and fasting every other day.  Email them the URL, please, if they are thinking of fasting.  Please add your experiences and opinions, too, to the comments below.I would like to...

The next time you are about to overeat, just stop. Stop and remind yourself that you're about to overeat--something that you really do not want to do. Be conscious. That's the first step in stopping the problem right in its...

Here's an idea to try in the kitchen. Vegetable pizza. Get some bread dough (from a mix, pop-out can, a home-made dough recipe, or use a bread machine on the dough cycle). Spread it out on a lightly greased cookie...

There's a lot of talk these days about eating less, calorie restriction and fasting.  Not just because of Lent, but finding easy, or easier ways to have less food so that weight loss and weight maintenance can at last be...

What makes you happy?  Is it losing weight and keeping it off?  Having a lot of money, lots of cool stuff, and living a rich life?  Is it that happiness depends on being famous or well-known?  None of the above...

Be careful when weaning yourself from one habit that you don't pick up another. It's a natural tendency, especially for those of us who tend to use food to fill emotional gaps. Just because you may not be eating so...

Very interesting news... there are three recent articles in the New England Journal of Medicine that report brown fat, or brown adipose tissue, something that burns energy faster than regular "adult fat" was originally thought to be only in newborns. ...

Here's a delicious, nutritious, low calorie, easy and inexpensive drink that fills you up and gives you a good boost of energy.  Think of it for breakfast, or any meal, or for a snack, especially a nighttime nightcap (if you...

I'd love to know if you meditate or practice silence every day.  Please post a comment below, and tell me and our readers about how you're solving stress through silence and meditation.If you are an emotional overeater, or if you...

I've had a few thoughts about what to do with nighttime eating problems since I wrote about it awhile back.  Click here to take a look at the previous article. Putting emotional causes aside and focusing only on physical aspects,...

Here's a very interesting article in the New york Times, from an advertising point-of-view about a new product being introduced soon.  It's a low-calorie version of Vitaminwater, called Vitaminwater10.What do you think?  Post a comment below.I think you should just...

Please add your thoughts and feel free to confide your problems in last week's posting, "Confidentially Relived,"  I really appreciate what you wrote.  We are all in this life together, and the Internet is a great way for us to...

Overeating is a form of self anesthesia. What we're trying to do is find other non-destructive methods to feel better. Here are some other, less self-destructive ideas for managing the pain and difficulties of living: Try moving. Flexing your...

Q: I thought that we are supposed to eat when we are hungry and stop when full. Is it is OK to go all day long without eating? What if you don't get a hunger pang all day? A: Everyone...

You need to eat less than you were eating in order to lose weight. But don't diet! The idea is to eat moderately, from all five food groups (including a small amount of fats and sugars). Eat three small meals...

Oh my, yesterday I just did not want to go to the 4th of a 6-week yoga intensive class.  I'd had a big lunch with a business client, and truthfully, a couple of glasses of wine.  I felt too full. ...

Again this week, you all have really been terrifically interested and involved, posting some excellent comments.  I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.  Here is one from Chris, who discovered that what she thought was a little...

Here's a question from a regular reader, Can I safely lose weight fast? A:  No, you cannot lose weight quickly and maintain your health. 2-3 pounds per week is the most anyone should lose, according to most doctors and researchers....

It's vitally important to drink enough water throughout the day, to insure your health and weight management. Drink at least three large (12 oz.) glasses a day, and preferably six. This can be in the form of tap water, bottled...

Very interesting article by Tara Parker-Pope in the New York Times about home cooking and how the person who is the cook at home determines the nutrition in meals, take a look here.  Lots more people are cooking at home...

I highly recommend that you confide in someone today.  Telling someone your problems can really help you feel relief, and also get a fresh perspective.  Please tell us your problems, anonymously if you like, by posting below.  We are in...

Forgive me, but I'm just so happy that a childhood favorite of mine is coming back into popularity.  The whoopie pie, a chocolate (or pumpkin!) set of soft cookies with frosting in the center, purportedly from Pennsylvania, the Amish, and/or...

Did you know that by making one small change over time, there can be big results?  You can apply this rule to weight loss.  I know, I do it all the time.  I've suggested this to many of my clients,...

Today let's do a Question and Answer, which I like to do from time-to-time.  If you have a question for me post it in a comment. Occasionally I will answer general questions as best I can, especially ones that most...

It's an old adage, but it's true. Time heals all. There's no problem that won't get better with passing time, and some care and attention. Give your problems time, especially when it comes to losing weight. You did not develop...

I've been fasting, and thinking about fasting for many years.  I have been writing about it, and there are lots of great comments, take a look here. Seems a lot of us are very interested in fasting.For almost a decade...

What do you believe when it comes to God?  Do you belong to or attend a church, synagogue or temple -- if so, which one?  Please post a comment below right now and tell us.  Let's do our own little...

This has been a wonderful week, although difficult in many ways, wonderful here as so many people are in our community, and posting really inspiring, encouraging words.  Two of the most commented upon had to do with troubled times, fear,...

Now that money is tight, many people are spending less money on everything, including food.  Eating out in restaurants, and buying take-out food is no longer affordable for many of us.  At the same time we're working harder and time...

Every morning I begin my day with some coffee and the news.  I've done this for decades.  It is my morning wake-up routine, and I am used to it. What's really news is that I am starting to see that...

This past week has been a very active one on this website, and I for one am impressed and inspired.  There have been quite a few comments posted, especially in response to my articles on Scales, Fasting, and the major...

For many Christians, this is a time of great awareness, a time in the year called Lent, a preparation for Easter.  It's the annual time to be aware of our beliefs and faith, to love the many gifts that God,...

Thinking about the recent study on most diets being basically equally effective; read what I wrote about it here, these are my simple thoughts:When it comes to food, eating less is more. If you're trying to reduce your weight consistently...

This morning I was all flustered because I had to pay bills.  Gosh, those expenses are high!  It's an exercise in stretching, moving money from one place to another, shuffling, leaping and moving forward.  Kind of like dancing: you stretch,...

I've been saying this for years, no matter how you do it, lowering carbohydrates and increasing protein, lowering fats and preferably non-saturated ones, eating less of anything is now clinically proven for weight loss.  There is a recent and major...

This morning I jumped on our bathroom scales, as I do every month.  I like to check to see what I weigh, to keep my 160-pound weight maintenance on track.I only weigh myself once a month, because I know that...

This comment from Dino just reached out and grabbed my attention:For me, the big change in my thinking came one day. I realized I was a creation of God; made in God's image. What I had been doing was trashing...

Have you, too, been the victim of weight loss quackery? Have you tried "miracle diets" and "magic bullet" quick-fix products or schemes? Did you buy any of those "revolutionary" exercise machines or appliances from TV infomercials? Did you buy any...

Sometimes everyone needs a little break. Perhaps you need to take a day off or do something different with your weekend. Recharge yourself; do something invigorating, restorative, or restful. Take an afternoon to go to a history museum and check...

Alas, the meal is done.  I've reached my limit and it is time to stop eating.Pity it is.  A sad moment that I dreaded would come with each bite, but I ignored the inevitable in favor of flavor.Now it is...

The other day was a big birthday for a cherished family member.  I asked what gift he wanted and the reply was "make me a German Chocolate Cake!"  Knowing how delicious they are, and a favorite of mine since I...

Thank you's to everyone who read this blog regularly, and big thank you's to those who posted this week.A lot of people ask me questions; too many for me to answer here although I will from time-to-time if it seems...

So you slipped off your food plan, and had a few ice-cream sundaes, or a bag of chips or cookies. I know you regretted it! Use this episode and learn from it. Study how you felt afterward:Did you feel stuffed,...

A lot of folks commented recently here about what's working and what is not in their lives, in order to be their healthiest.  Lori wrote, "At reaching 60 you can imagine I've tried every diet out there over the years. The...

A tip of the hat to all of you who visited and commented in this blog this last week on several subjects: New Year's Resolutions, being with God, exercise and going to the gym, and Janice and my first online...

I'm finding Janice Taylor and my online blog conversation very, very revealing!  Janice and I have gone in just four little days from hunger for weight loss, brownies, to diets, carbohydrates, to grandmothers and mothers, to hungry, starving people that...

There are really no coincidences in life, God has everything planned, I've been told, and sometimes it seems true, like today.This morning I was reading Janice Taylor's contribution to our online conversation and there was an ad on her blog...

I think you will love this:  Janice Taylor and I are beginning an online, blog conversation.  This is the beginning.  We will talk back and forth between our Beliefnet blogs from time-to-time.  Our conversations will be about specific themes and...

Hello.  This is Day 30 of my 30 Tips to start your New Year.  Of course, it's only a beginning!  You don't need the beginning of a new year to make resolutions to be healthy and happy.  I suggest you...

Do you forget from Who and where everything in life comes from?  It comes from God.  Do you forget the good things you have, and about the good things that you are?  You are very worthy of some recognition, being...

There's a new study that came out about calorie restriction and improved memory recently in the National Academy of Sciences, take a look. This is a small study, only 50 men and women, all over 50, for only three months. ...

Just as we humans are made up of a lot of different parts, our digestive system is too.  If we don't use every part of ourselves, we short-change ourselves from experiences and opportunities.  Just like in digestion if we don't...

Yesterday I wrote about cutting your portion in half immediately when served at restaurants and taking it home.  Eat the remaining half very slowly, and enjoy every bite, along with the atmosphere and your companion's company.  Then take the other...

A lot of people are looking at life dramas these days.  President Obama wants "no drama,"  and Mary K. Blige says "No More Dramas" in her song by the same title.Are you in the middle of a drama?  Is life...

I know from working with many weight loss clients, individually and in groups, helping with diet, nutrition, exercise, emotions and spiritual practices - that a lot of overweight and obesity problems are greatly relieved through relationships.  If you're happy and...

I know it's sooooo 80's, but do you remember those exercise videos you used to workout in front of the TV with?  Jane Fonda? Richard Simmons? Dancercize?Why not get them out, dust them off, and give them a spin again? ...

Here's my tip for your day today, to help you lose that weight. If you have cereal for breakfast, have only 1 cup.  You could also add some fresh fruit, and a half a cup of no-fat milk, too, if...

I just want to say THANK YOU for those of you who reached out, posted your feelings and needs, and for those who responded.We're a truly remarkable, caring, and loving group.  I'm honored to be a part of this wonderful...

There's something about a hot cup of tea after dinner, a couple of hours before bed, to help you feel full.  Just be sure it doesn't have caffeine to keep you awake, and not have it later than 2 hours...

This country was founded on the principle that we are "One Nation, Under God, Indivisible."  To me that means we work together and celebrate each other, our individuality, independence, and interdependence.There's a really cool, new initiative a lot of us...

If you're into health food, and alternative and holistic foods you've probably heard of Stevia extract, Stevia rebaudiana, a sweetener that comes from South America and used by the Guarani Indians in Paraguay for a long time.  It has no...

It's simple: go for the complex carbohydrate, not the simple one!  Some carbs are actually healthy, contrary to some popular fad high-protein/low carb diets.  The point is to choose one that is healthy; one that offers some nutrition and not...

With economic woes so present in the world over the last year, and several years, there are a lot of us worried about money.As someone who believes that obesity and overweight are symptoms of some deeper underlying problems, financial problems...

Got a sweet tooth?  Crave something sweet, especially for nighttime eating, but don't want a lot of calories or fat?  Are you a carbohydrate craver?  Want to lose weight -- I've got an idea for you.  Try unsweetened applesauce for...

This was a great week for comments!   Yeah and yippee for all of us!  Please keep reading, returning daily, and posting.  THANKS.So many of us wrote comments on Breakfast, a post from a few weeks ago, that I thought it...

Have you ever thought that the excess weight you're carrying may be due to something very heavy that's weighing on you?  It's not just the fat.Have you ever really, truly, told someone about your true feelings and needs when they...

After years of dieting, failures, crash or fad weight loss plans, deprivation, you name it, I did it, I discovered that I need to continually feed myself and never allow myself to get hungry or ravenous.I learned to eat every...

When I lost the last of my 160 pounds, I liked to say, "I danced it off."  It's true!  I had enrolled in a hospital program for overweight people, a behavior modification technique oriented class.  Part of it was a...

Here's a very powerful technique: it's about connecting with and praising God, and thinking of Him with everything you do and eat.It's simple - just keep God in mind.  When you wake up in the morning, your first thought or...

Confide your problems and worries to a clergy member or trusted friend.  You've probably heard the adage, "it's not just what you're eating, it's what's eating you."Are you letting the weight of your body become an emotional weight on your...

In my Joy of Weight Loss: An Easy Guide to Fitness book, and in my work with clients and workshop participants I always begin with making a journal of what's eaten, along with physical activities, time, place and emotions.Journals or...

If you do nothing else for a New Year's resolution, call your physician or health care provider and schedule a complete, annual checkup.  Be assured you're OK.Resolutions are in general very hard to keep, but without your health you won't...

In my Joy of Weight Loss program, either self-guided or with me, I recommend that people eat every 2-3 hours.  Keeping yourself fed and nourished, in balance, is important so that you will never, ever find yourself ravenous and need...

I want to encourage you to begin a regular "physical re-creation" schedule.  The hardest part is getting going.  Hopefully, you've had a recent and complete checkup with your medical doctor, before beginning any activity or making changes to your diet...

Lose weight, feel better and enjoy The Dr. Norris Chumley Satisfied Life in this simple stress-free plan.  No dieting, no intense exercises, no New Year's Resolutions, no Sassy Water (!) just Common Sense and good health.Happy New Year!  I'm most...

Making a New Year's Resolution to lose weight, diet, exercise, save money, etc., again? I encourage you to just be sensible and moderate this year, and perhaps not go on a crash New Year's Diet or radical new program.  Simple...

There's a new fad for this New Years, and for Common New Years Resolutions -- of course, there's a new diet fad every New Year.  I'm skeptical.It's called "Sassy Water," a part of a new book titled "Flat Belly Diet."The...

It is deep winter and it has been very cold up north.  There is lots of snow on the ground; ice on the roads and sidewalks make moving treacherous.  The trees are bare.  The birds are searching non-stop for scarce...

Sugar and sugar addiction is a big topic with me, and I know it is with a lot of our readers, too, going by the number of comments and page views we've received.Of course, the amounts of food I overate...

If you overate yesterday, I have some suggestions.Appreciate: Say thanks to God for your life, and for your family and beloved friends.Have enough: Appreciate what you have, the gifts you gave and ones you received. Be enough:  Know that you...

I continue to be completely delighted with our community and all the really great comments.  Many thanks!  We are soooo cool and connected!This week, my hat tips to Bobbie, for the comment written in last week's "Comment of the Week." ...

There is only so much you can do well. You may want to be perfect, or do everything in the whole wide world, but alas--there are limits. Since there are only 24 hours in a day, don't try to do...

A friend has been singing the praises of detoxing and cleansing for the better part of a year.  He even gave me his old vegetable and fruit juicer, along with a list of supplements he swears by. Every time I...

There's been a lot of interest in my articles on nighttime eating, and many people have written comments about it I thought I'd take a moment to get back to the subject.I love the suggestions that several of you made: ...

Instead of a big lunch or dinner, have only one sandwich or small plate of food. Then use the extra time to get full from something else -- like being in nature or having a good conversation with friends. Or...

Science finally caught up with what I've suspected for years: sugar is definitely, conclusively addictive, and causes permanent brain changes.  It has the same negative effect on the brain as heroin or cocaine!At the annual American College of Neuropsychopharmacology meeting...

Announcing my new endeavor.  Each week on Monday I'll pick the COMMENT OF THE WEEK from the previous week.The weekly most insightful, experiential, authentic posting by you, our readers!This is a badge of honor, a place of distinction for helping...

I am really "fed-up" with being only thought of as a "consumer!"Here we are with years of world financial problems that we're trying to solve, years of massive "consumer" spending and over-spending, debt and mortgage crises, foreclosures, people losing jobs...

Here's a delicious sandwich. Take a yellow squash, a zucchini, a carrot, a green or yellow pepper, some onion and mushrooms. Cut them in long, narrow strips. Now get a skillet, put in 1 tablespoon olive oil, and a vegetable...

Go out bird watching today. See how many birds you can find, and make a list. Listen to their sweet songs. Hear how many different sounds the birds make, and see if you can identify the bird with her song....

The only successful method for losing weight is to start new healthy habits and keep them going, not just quickly drop a bunch of poundage on a crash diet. This is not new information!  I'm sure you know this.  What's...

We've been discussing the problem of nighttime eating, and NES (Nighttime Eating Syndrome) several times in the last couple of weeks here.  It seems a lot of us experience this. I read and really appreciate your comments. It's good to...

It snowed last night, so this morning the kids and I went sledding down our hill.  I rousted them out of bed, so we could go out before it melted.Once out the door and gathering and dragging the sleds up...

Here's how to make a hamburger that is lower in fat, but high in flavor.  Please watch!...

Just a quick post, with a question and a comment.  How are you feeling a few days after the holiday?  Please make me and all our readers very happy, and post a comment below, and let us all know we're...

Feeling a little down after the Thanksgiving holiday?  Turkey's done, family and friends gone away, back at work, back to the same old grind?Go outside, move and breathe.I think that using your body, being physical and getting the blood and...

Turns out, our family already has plenty.  We don't need much more for the holidays.  So why spend a lot of money and buy more "stuff?"  I think we should spend less money, use what we have, be less "materially...

Another reader's inquiry.What do you do if small portions don't fill you up?I recommend eating six small meals throughout the day: one serving (USDA Food Guide Pyramid size) of grains, protein (meat or dairy), and a fruit or vegetable. This...

Another question from a reader.What do I do if I pass by a bakery and I am triggered to compulsively overeat? I am so glad you asked this, as the other day I was driving past one of those "thrift...

Should I follow a "low-carb" diet, or should I do "low-fat?" Ultimately, the decision is up to you and your doctor, and between you and God--in partnership. I personally believe in eating a little of everything in moderation: a lot...

Here's my "after Thanksgiving" list of how to get through the day and the weekend, and keep that warm glowing love and appreciation of relatives and friends.1.    Hold your temper.  Don't let anybody bother you or upset your equilibrium.2.    If...

Let's talk turkey!I cannot begin to count the Thanksgiving meals I've eaten or cooked that were about turkey that was either all dried-out white meat, or overly fatty thighs or legs.  May be that's why we only roasted turkey on...

This week, I will be writing about several aspects of the celebration of Thanksgiving. From recipes, to prayers, family and relative survival tips, and things to do: this week is all about counting our blessings together, and celebrating the abundance...

Here's a question from a regular reader:How do I get in the habit of writing down everything I eat? I have tried, but I end up tossing the notebook down after 2-3 days. It seems like such a chore even...

This morning, on the bus, I overheard another man saying he'd been sick, in the hospital, and he was really, really glad to be back. His friend smiled and said, "Yup! God woke me up this morning too!" God wakes...

If you find yourself ravenous, go fibrous.  Eating foods with a lot of fiber in them, along with plenty of water, can give your stomach a delightful feeling of fullness.  Often, we seek out high fat and high-calorie foods that...

It is so cold now where we live.  Yet, I am warm with summer memories.My friend, the talented Bowie Snodgrass sent me some pictures of her New York City Harlem rooftop garden.  I visited her and her wonderful husband George...

My message the other day was about eating too much at night, inspired by B. who wrote me an email.  I was impressed by her making small changes, like not bingeing at night, and walking - nothing else.  Because of...

Here's a start-of-the-week wake up call.Ask yourself, how bad are things?  How much do I need to cut back: spend less, eat less, save more, take time to do things well, be good to myself?  The list can go on...

Here's a recipe that's so fast and so healthy.  It's become one of my favorite dishes.  You may add some cooked chicken pieces, or shrimp, or beef slices, as you like.  This recipe serves two, or is good for leftovers. ...

Here's a quick discussion starter for you:What's your favorite fast food restaurant, and what do you like to order?Yes, I believe in fast food once in a rare while (don't forget there is nothing forbidden on my Joy of Weight...

Yes, I know I need to exercise, but I hate to exercise!I do, however, love to move because it makes me feel so good.  It's become a daily habit; a discipline, just like flossing and brushing my teeth.I feel good...

We are all so happy that you are reading my new blog!  Thank you.  Thank you, too, for the many comments you're writing.  Please write more.As you are aware, I write about a lot of topics related to life in...

Are you one of the millions of people taking medications to lower cholesterol, such as statins (Lipitor, Crestor, Pravachol, Crestor, et al)?  If not, you may want to speak with your physician about taking one, even if your cholesterol levels...

From time to time, I'll share a prayer I pray with you, to help you through your day.  This one is about facing the realities of what needs to be done, not only to make a living, but also to...

What's some easy limit that you could experiment with today?  Try one, only one limitation, and see what happens.If you are used to having seconds after your first helping of something, skip it.  Just say to yourself, "I'm satisfied with...

Congratulations are in store for all of us this morning.  We're alive and well today, even thriving, and there's work to be done!This is the morning of hope's survival.  We are ripe with the possibility of real change.  Love is...

Welcome.  You've come to the right place.  Let me assure you that you are valuable, and that everything in your life is just fine - although things may not appear to be so fine right now.  As a matter of...

BEFORE - at 400 poundsPeople said I was the nicest, happiest guy they knew when I was 18 years old and 400 pounds.  Inside, though, I was terribly unhappy.  I felt completely unsatisfied, and no amount of food filled me...

After decades of being told such things like "reach for the stars," "you can do anything," and "you can have it all!" from an all-pervasive consumer advertising-driven culture, perhaps it's time to rethink those ideas.  A lot of us are...

Not that I advocate anything approaching "diet" food, or specially-altered recipes in order to lose or maintain one's weight.  I do, however, highly recommend making and eating simple, highly flavorful, highly healthy food.  This is an example of an entrée...