Released on = December 10, 2005, 8:20 pm

Press Release Author = Barbara L Holtzman

Industry = Consumer Services

Press Release Summary = Conscious Eating Conscious Living, A Non-Diet approach for
finding your natural body weight without dieting. Barbara Holtzman, MSW,LICSW has
taught this approach to thousands and this non-diet approach has proven effective
and appeals to those who struggle with food and body issues and to those would like
to to get off the Diet-Binge Yo-Yo?

Press Release Body = The Conscious Eating, Conscious Living Approach:

Many of us struggle with food issues and are stuck in a pattern of habitual or
emotional eating. We know that diets don't work. We may even know why we eat
compulsively, yet we can't seem to break the cycle. Conscious Eating, Conscious
Living; Making Peace with Food & your Body is a loving, holistic approach for anyone
who would like to get off the diet/binge yo-yo , develop a healthier, more intuitive
relationship with food and their bodies, and find their natural body weight without
dieting. This psychoeducational and experiential program was developed by a
psychotherapist and lifestyle coach to overcome her own cycle of dieting and binge
eating.

Why diets don't work:

Diets do work - temporarily. But statistics indicate that 95% of people regain the
weight they have lost through dieting. I believe this is due to diets being
restrictive and outer-dictated instead of inner-directed, and because diets don\'t
deal with the emotional factors underlying eating issues. More importantly, diets
confirm our belief that we are not OK as we are. If we focus our unhappiness on our
bodily \"flaws\" - including our weight if it doesn\'t meet the current cultural
standard - we may use dieting as a way to feel better about ourselves. Unfortunately
we only feel good about ourselves when the numbers or the scale go down. When they
don\'t, we are plunged into self-loathing.

A diet mentality says there are good and bad foods defined by their calories, fat,
or sugar content. Therefore, we are \"bad\" if we\'ve eaten any of these foods and we
either berate ourselves for this slip of willpower or try to make up for it by
exercising or restricting ourselves the next day. In this mindset the purpose of
exercise is to lose weight. Period.

A conscious, intuitive relationship with food tells us that we deserve to enjoy
eating without guilt. We eat exactly what we want, enjoy it fully, and stop when we
are satisfied knowing that we can have it again whenever we want it. We exercise not
primarily to lose weight but because it makes us feel better physically, emotionally
and mentally.

\"Conscious eating, conscious living" is about learning to live intentionally, from
the inside out, with awareness and acceptance of our experiences and of ourselves.
If we are overweight, excess weight will melt as a result of taking very good care
of our bodies and our emotions.

Barbara L. Holtzman, MSW, LICSW, is a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and lifestyle
coach in Providence and Wakefield RI. A former binge eater herself, she is author of
Conscious Eating, Conscious Living; A Practical Guide to Making Peace with Food &
Your Body." She offers workshops and is a frequent speaker on college campuses,
hospitals women's expos, and wellness centers and has been featured on local radio
and television and in newspaper and magazine articles.

Further information is available at www.consciouseatingconsciousliving.com. or by
phone at (401) 789-0777 or barbaraholtzman@consciouseatinconsciousliving.com.


Web Site = http://www.consciouseatingconsciousliving.com

Contact Details = Barbara L Holtzman, MSW. LICSW