Author Archives: Chef Denise

Like millions of other Americans, I too am making a resolution to lose weight this year. I have spent the last 4 years cooking for people on a diet and somehow managed to gain 30 pounds in the process! It is the classic “cobbler’s son” tale. While I know all of the things I’m supposed to do, and can provide others with delicious, healthy meals so that they can lose weight, I have not taken care of myself. Examining my routine, I can easily see a few bad habits I’ve acquired. These are my opportunities to make changes. Opportunities to take what I’ve learned by helping others lose weight, and from working with different nutritionists and trainers, and applying that knowledge to a program that I feel I can actually do and be successful at.

Here’s a peek at how some obstacles to good nutrition have wedged their way into my day-to-day life and the bad habits I’ve developed in an effort to deal w/ them:

A typical Monday has me arriving at work at 3:30 am, too early to eat. Because we are very busy, before I know it, it is 9:30—I grab a handful of nuts. At 11:00 I’m actually starving and ask my husband to make me a yogurt & granola. However, the pace of work in the kitchen doesn’t let up, so it takes me 3 hours of bites on the run to finish my snack. Around 3:30 pm, after the clients’ meals are all finished and the employees have left, I have another snack (probably something quick that’s loaded w/carbs and little or no protein). Then I get home around 6:30 pm and usually go out to dinner. Who wants to cook after a 15-hour day? In fact, I’m probably having some wine w/that dinner because, hey, after a Monday like this, I deserve it! I come home pooped and unwind with a good book before falling asleep.

So, while I am eating 4 times a day, which is good, I don’t eat my first meal until I’ve been up for 6 hrs! Then in about the same span of time, I consume 3 more meals. Not so good. OK, so where am I going to take the opportunity to make some needed changes?

Opportunity #1: Eat breakfast daily within 1 hour of waking.

Opportunity #2: Eat low-fat meals/snacks that are balanced w/ protein & healthy carbs every 3 to 4 hours. Total calories: 1,300 -1,400/day.

Although I strongly believe that running around the kitchen for 10 to 12 hours a day should count as exercise, my scale and mirror tell me that it somehow does not. This troubling fact appears to present yet another opportunity:

Opportunity #3: Exercise at least 15 minutes per day and walk 1 hour 2 to 3 times per week.

Unfortunately, it’s also true that wine doesn’t count as a fruit. So, you guessed it . . .

Opportunity #4: Cut out the weekday wine.

OK, I’m a woman, so I’m not going to tell you what I weigh right now, but by capitalizing on the opportunities above, I intend to lose the 30 lbs. of extra weight I’ve put on in the last 4 years by June 1st. So, if you are resolved to lose it too, visit my blog for great recipes and updates with helpful dieting tips.