My experience is that you can’t have long term success without addressing them both. "You can only have long term success when you address all aspects of weight loss." I started out on this weight loss journey disenchanted with diets when I discovered a program called Thin From Within with Marna Goldstein, that deals with changing the way we think about food and our bodies. I was so excited to begin this program and sign up right away. Over time I began to change my mind around how I ate food and how I viewed my body. I also noticed that I was much more aware and in touch with my body and what it liked and didn’t like. Slowly, without exercising, or changing anything in my diet, I began to see results! I was so excited because food and eating was no longer a fight for me. I lost the self defeating dialogue that used to accompany every ice cream or piece of pizza. I could finally eat the foods I love and love myself for eating just that. "I lost the self defeating dialogue that used to accompanyevery ice cream or piece of pizza." As I began slimming down I noticed the food that I craved began to change and I started eating more and more healthy. As well, I started to move my body everyday. I still eat all the great food I love and don’t limit what I can and cannot eat; however, I now choose to eat things that I know my body loves in order to operate optimally. However, after much progress psychologically, I noticed that my body still didn’t respond as I thought it should. I was listening to my body but I found that I was often hungry throughout the day. Thus, I started looking at the physical aspect of my weight loss. What I found was astonishing. "I was listening to my body but I found that I was often hungry throughout the day." It was amazing to find how the physical, chemical messages that the body sends to the brain, and vice versa, could affect our success at losing weight. The most important hormones I learned about were insulin (which most of us know a little about) and leptin, which is a newly discovered hormone. As Dr. Mehmet Oz writes in his book, “You On a Diet,” Leptin has two major roles in helping us lose weight. The first is to tell the body, “I’m full. Stop eating!” and the second is ‘burn fat.’ This may seem contradictory, however, most people who are overweight have too much of this hormone, Leptin, and therefore their bodies drown out the signals! It would be like sitting at a loud disco, with music blaring, it is difficult to hear what your friends are saying. But when you turn down the 'music' the brain can hear the body's signals. This made so much sense to me, because although I was listening to my body, I was hungry many times throughout the day. I was Leptin Resistant! Once I stabilized my hormones I was a lot less hungry throughout the day. Therefore I ate less without ever feeling hungry. "My intention for this program is to give you a practical solution that includes both the physical and psychological aspect of losing weight." By combining the psychological aspect while supporting our physical body I created a program that can change your life, for good. Both these aspects are important because we need to relearn to listen and be in touch with our body so we stop overriding our body’s signals. "This is not a quick fix…if you are looking to lose weight for a short while then slowly, or quickly gain it all back this program is not for you." My intention is not to merely help anyone lose weight; I want to help you transform your body and ultimately your life. I believe you are all here for a reason. Maybe you have been asking for a solution that will finally work and end the cycle of losing and gaining the same 20,30 50 pounds over and over again. Maybe you having been looking for a way to help, support, and role model healthy eating and healthy being with your children and family. It may seem a little bold to have a goal to change your life just by losing weight. And I would agree. If I were to put you a diet you may lose weight but chances are your life wouldn’t change much. However, when we look to transform our body by changing our beliefs and habits then truly amazing things happen. I know this because that is what happened and continues to happen for me. No matter why you are here – You are all here for a reason. To take the next step. To feel good about your body and ultimately your life because if you don’t feel good about your body, it reflects in many ways on your life. "LiveThin is not a diet and has no limitations." The Mind-Body connection is undeniably real and powerful! We must address both areas when we are looking to transform our bodies forever!