Valerie Orsoni2013-06-20T02:10:39-04:00Valerie Orsonihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/index.php?author=valerie-orsoniCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Valerie OrsoniGood old fashioned elbow grease.Countdown to Look Hot in Your LBDtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.11132112011-11-30T18:15:13-05:002012-01-30T05:12:02-05:00Valerie Orsonihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-orsoni/
This year, I've selected the crème de la crème of my healthy living tips to give you the red carpet glow without sweating it out at the gym. Follow these golden rules for the next month, and you're bound to look and feel your best when it's party time!
Downsize to keep your eye on the prize! Buy that coveted LBD in one size smaller than your current size, and hang it up in your bathroom or bedroom, for you to see every day. Keeping it visually present will help keep your goal in sight and your motivation high!
Burn off the bulge. Do it like the French and squeeze in 30 minutes of walking on an empty stomach every day. Walking on empty draws energy from the body's sugar stores, thus burning fat from targeted trouble zones and accentuating your assets! *This fitness secret has been supported in several studies.
Glow in your LBD! Start your day with this phytochemical-rich morning detox: Juice one apple, a handful of spinach, one celery stalk, four strawberries, one carrot, and one slice of fresh ginger. You'll get a fresh dewy complexion, plus boost your love factor with the ginger's aphrodisiac virtues!
Get the Pippa Butt Lift! Stand up straight and bend your knees slightly. Keeping your abs tight and your back straight (no arching), tilt your hips forward while contracting your glutes for a strong one-second squeeze. Finish the move by pulling your hips back. You can do this exercise while brushing your teeth! We spend an average of six minutes a day brushing our teeth -- that's 42 minutes per week of butt squeezes, the equivalent of a booty class at the gym without the sweat!
Snack smart. Eat pure protein first (vegetable protein such as hummus or animal protein like fish) -- before your carbs -- so that your body gets what it needs instead of storing your meal as fat. On the go? Keep a supply of turkey jerky in your handbag for when hunger hits. Protein-rich and satisfying, chewing jerky will give your brain the time it needs to register you're full before you indulge in anything else!
Boost your bust Keep your breasts perky with just one minute of chest presses a day: Starting with your arms at chest level, squeeze your palms together in a push and release motion, continuously moving your arms up as you squeeze, until they're high above your head. Do 100 reps to help firm the supporting tissue around the breasts and sculpt your bosom to its sexiest.
Drink before you dine. Feeling peckish? Drink a venti hot tea first, and then check five minutes later if you are still truly hungry. Since your stomach is about the size of a venti beverage, chances are you won't feel hungry anymore (unless it is authentic hunger pangs).
Use the stairs to strut your stuff! Get killer thighs -- even in your heels! Take the stairs whenever the opportunity arises, and when you do, take them two at a time. Double steps increase the load on your quadriceps and glutes, effortlessly toning up your thighs and butt for the big day.
Get the iconic Audrey Hepburn Breakfast at Tiffany's look. Go for a 100 percent raw breakfast to rock the dress that rocked the nation: ten sprouted almonds (soaked in water overnight) plus one pink grapefruit plus one banana plus berries to satisfy.
Yes, the LBD countdown is on! But don't let the time pressure drive you to another tempting fad diet: those solutions will get you in the dress -- but for one night only -- with the pounds creeping right back on after the ball drops.
Instead, follow my proven slim-down secrets, so that when you slip into your little black dress, you can take pleasure in the knowledge that you'll be looking this hot all year long.]]>The French Soda Tax, a Fizzling Measuretag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.9467942011-09-06T09:55:50-04:002011-11-06T05:12:02-05:00Valerie Orsonihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-orsoni/But is this really effective?
With annual costs accounting for 2% of health expenditure in France -- that is 4 billion Euros -- obesity-related diseases are rapidly increasing on French territory as well as worldwide. The rise of obesity is mainly related to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle and the expansion of malbouffe or in English, "bad food," with the government -- unable to reverse this alarming tendency -- attempting to at least slow it down somewhat.
Between educating the masses and punition, the chosen solutions are always criticized by one side or the other, like this recent measure included in the debt reduction plan published last week: The famous tax on sodas and other drinks containing added sugar, beginning January 1st, 2012.
A drop of water in an ocean of debts
The Prime Minister, François Fillon, justifies his proposal by relying on the World Health Organization figures which indicate that "obesity, which reached 8.5% in 1997, is now close to 15%" -- a progression of more than 70% in 12 years.
The 120 million Euros which this measure should generate for the French Health Fund represents a drop of water in an ocean of debts, and will not cause any behavioral changes in society, since its impact will be only one cent per can (going from 0.79 Euros to approximately 0.80 Euros). Even our current Minister of Health, Xavier Bertrand, in 2008 discussions on a proposed nutritional tax (at the time Minister of Labor) clearly stated: "This will increase prices; I am not sure this will change behaviors."
Thus, what this tax will really achieve: Reassure the financial markets, make consumers believe that their health matters to the government, and bring back a meager few million Euros. But will the consumer, instead of succumbing to sugary beverages and thus con-su-me (and pay more tax), opt for water? Certainly an idealistic dream, and one which should improve the population's health, according to François Fillon and Nora Bera, Secretary of State for Health. But in all seriousness, how can the government tax sweetened drinks in the hopes of generating more revenues, while at the same time anticipating that consumers buy less of these unhealthy products? Unless one is schizophrenic, this plan simply holds no ground.
Aspartame: more dangerous than sugary beverages
Nevertheless, if one explores this measure yet further, one can well speculate that consumers who want to save a few cents per week will, as an alternative, opt for sodas sweetened with aspartame, an artificial sweetener more and more criticized by health professionals, to the point where the European Union has advanced its examination of this food adjuvant to 2012.
If, at the time of this examination, the risks related to the consumption of the aspartame are revealed, proven, and accepted once and for all, the French government will have passed a tax measure on a product leading to obesity (an element on which not all health specialists are in agreement) in favor of a product with known side effects that can be detrimental to public health.
For the 120 million Euros reported, how much money will have to be spent to cover the health costs of consumers suffering from diseases related to the consumption of aspartame? What's more, according to an independent 10-year study by Katherine Appelton, researcher at Queen's University Belfast, the consumption of an aspartame sweetened drink before a meal increases the caloric value of the food by 150 calories (because of an insulin reaction due to the aspartame). [Sic]
A tax which does not take into account the global problem of malbouffe or unhealthy food
This tax, outside the general context of the fight against obesity, will not have any impact on the consumption of sweetened products. It demonizes food in an illogical way, stigmatizing a single food product while ignoring entire categories of junk food: chips, fatty cakes, imbalanced frozen meals, pizza, fries, etc. It is astonishing that Matignon concentrates only on sweetened drinks, branding them like cigarettes or alcohol, without taking the time to create a holistic program that addresses all aspects of healthy dietary habits.
For this reason the Food Producers National Association (Association Nationale des Industries Alimentaires, ANIA) reacted hard last Thursday to this tax, which they consider scandalous (inevitably): "To tax certain foodstuffs on the basis of arguments regarding public health, while at the same time these products are authorized on the market is purely and simply illogical and scandalous".
Implementable solutions which go beyond a simple tax
To fundamentally tackle the problem of national debt via the health of French citizens, it is important that the government launch a genuine reform initiative for advertizing sweetened and fatty products, menus offered in cafeterias, children's nutritional education (not sponsored by the food industry) and school fitness programs, as well as, paradoxically, reduce the VAT on fruits and vegetables -- to date at 19% -- whereas the fast-food industry, comprised of hamburgers, fried foods, and sweetened drinks is taxed only at 5.5%.
Indeed, a rebalancing of the taxes, with 5.5% on healthy produce (fresh fruit and vegetables, natural products), and 19% on nonessential foods (cakes, sodas, candies, etc.) could be a logically acceptable solution by all since the total effect on the shopper's bank account would be null. Lastly, rather than to impose a regressive tax that is not equitable and impacts only the wallet of modest household, why not impose rules on the food industry like a reduction in the fat and sugar content of food products, following what was successfully achieved for trans fatty-acids?
]]>Too Much Calorie Info Will Fatten America Uptag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8452842011-04-06T11:24:43-04:002011-06-06T05:12:01-04:00Valerie Orsonihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-orsoni/FDA's proposal for a formal regulation to impose calorie counts in chain restaurants with 20 locations or more (think your favorite fast-food joint), along with bakeries, grocery stores, convenience stores and coffee chains.
If you live in New York, you may have already become accustomed to seeing how many calories there are in your morning muffin at Starbucks or in your "Slim" sandwich at Pret a Manger, as this state was ahead of its time and has imposed calorie counts since 2008.
What triggered the FDA to make such a broad decision as this one which is likely to impact a slew of eating joints? (An estimated 280,000 out of the 600,000 existing across the USA could require calorie counts on their menus!)
The answer: rampant obesity and the fact that we eat 33 percent of our meals outside the home. Though the FDA's decision seems like a smart counteraction at first glance; if we examine similar proposals made in the past, unfortunately, it doesn't hold much promise.
Has obesity been reduced since complex food labels with calorie and nutrient counts have been imposed on the majority of the foods we buy? Not at all -- as you can read in a Feb 2011 study, published by the International Journal of Obesity: "Child and adolescent fast-food choice and the influence of calorie labeling: a natural experiment" led to the following conclusion, "We found no statistically significant differences in calories purchased before and after labeling"
We can thus conclude that food calorie labeling does not impact children and adolescents' behavior.
Now with the new FDA rules, we might assume that adults will be more permeable to this type of information and will hence modify their behavior. Or will they? Because in truth, the problem is not when we eat at cafes and restaurants, but rather when we eat in places where food should not be an option: gas stations as well as movie theaters are exempt, along with airplanes, bowling alleys and other industries whose primary business is not to sell food, according to the FDA.
Interestingly enough, movie theaters were initially included in this new regulation but they lobbied hard to be exempt -- and won. Well, it seems that lobbies have been able to extirpate themselves from this embarrassing regulation. So, a movie-goer still won't know how many calories there are in a large tub of popcorn with melted butter (hint: depending on how much butter is used, a jumbo pack can contain up to 600 calories) or a large ice-cream (can exceed 500 calories), and in the same vein we'll remain in the dark as to the calorie count of snacks ordered on board a flight, in the three slices of pizza downed while bowling, or the snack bar on hand while filling up the gas tank. And this is precisely where unnecessary calories are eaten:all throughout the day.
Since, based on the International Journal of Obesity, it does not seem that we can modify the eating behavior of a nation by educating it with food labels (however frightening they may be), should the government simply take a more drastic stance and prevent non-eating places from selling food? After all, do we really need to be able to buy food at the gas station? When I was a kid we never ate at the movies. Do we need to eat at a baseball game? What has happened to our society that we need to eat every time we sit down?
I can already hear voices of those who assert free choice and the belief that government should not regulate. But it seems that things have really gotten out of hand, and the accessibility of food in unlikely places (I even found a vending machine at a funeral home not long ago!) has generated new habits in society's eating patterns, making snacking at a gas station while inhaling the fumes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons totally acceptable, almost normal.
Going back to our roots -- eating at meal times, together, with wholesome, hearty food -- seems daunting to some and almost impossible to the vast majority. Is it really? It only appears so because of the billions spent on marketing those new "nutritional" conventions on TV, making us believe we need to eat as many calories as a lumberjack, and propagating nutrition myths: morning snacks are essential, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, don't go for your 2-mile jog without an energy bar, don't take your kids to the park without their little crackers or they might starve, etc. Indeed, we have been brainwashed into thinking that we truly need to eat throughout the day to be healthy (five small meals a day, anybody?).
This is the root of the problem. Whether we see food labels with calorie counts (with sometimes meaningless ranges mind you, like: "calorie range: 310-980") will not impact our behavior.
Not seeing the food will.
]]>Schifoodphrenic Nationtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8269132011-02-25T11:54:15-05:002011-05-25T18:35:25-04:00Valerie Orsonihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-orsoni/
In 2010, not deterred by two shocking documentaries, "Food Inc." and "SuperSize Me," and though one might have thought some sort of collective consciousness had been aroused, the Seven-Eleven chain launched its Double Big Gulp, which, at 64 fl.oz holds about twice the amount of fluid than the average adult human stomach.
A Double Big Gulp regular soda brings the equivalent of 800 empty calories (a whopping 59 teaspoons of sugar!). This is 30 percent of the daily recommended caloric consumption for an average male adult. All doctors agree that such an influx of sugar on a regular basis could most likely lead to a diabetic condition.
Replacing regular sodas with the artificially sweetened kind is not better. Indeed, more and more research is pointing at the potential dangers some artificial sweeteners represent. Potential dangers aside, independent studies have shown beyond reasonable doubt that even diet sodas do contribute to weight gain, with their "sweet" message sent to the brain leading to overeating and overstoring of excess calories in the form of fat (Purdue University study -- Behavioral Neuroscience, Vol. 122, No. 1, February 2008).
Physiologically this large drink will also contribute to some health issues, distending the stomach to twice its regular size. What's more, your stomach can process liquids at a rate of approx. 200-400 ml an hour according to research done by Shils et al. in 1994 (Enteral feeding, in Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 8th ed, ME Shils et al (eds). Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger, 1994, pp 1417-1429). This rate mostly depends on what else is in your stomach at the time of digestion as an empty stomach will digest the liquid fastest. Hence, the absolute quickest you could "process" the Double Big Gulp -- assuming you begin on a completely empty stomach -- would be approximately 4.75 hours.
The problem is, that while First Lady Michele Obama is fighting hard on the obesity front -- educating kids and adults alike, sending out messages about the healthy impact portion control can have on our current and future lives, promoting a lifestyle with more vegetables and less processed foods -- consumers are receiving contradictory messages from their environment, which is simply leading us to a state of national schizophrenia, or schifoodphrenia.
Indeed, how can an educated consumer who knows very well that "too much of anything is not a good thing" behave rationally, when even their favorite brand like Starbucks, consumed by so many celebs whom the average person likes to emulate, starts offering the famous Trenta: The latest über drink in the race to the largest, the biggest, the richest drink, at 972 ml or 31 oz (larger than the average capacity of the human stomach by 10 percent). With the Trenta, even the unsweetened version of an ice tea lemonade will still bring 230 empty calories, leading to a weight gain of 2 pounds of fat every month, assuming the consumer drinks one Trenta unsweetened lemonade per day.
The situation on the food front is even more worrisome. How can teenagers follow the lead of the First Lady when one of the most viral videos on YouTube these days features a bulky host baking a 45,000 (yes, 45,000) calorie dish with French fries, fried cheese sticks, cheese, sour cream, alcohol, chili, ham - all of this in a trough lined with bacon! How can we expect our youth to make the right choices when TV networks produce shows like "Man vs. Food," which has met quite a success with this category of viewers who share the latest insane episodes on their Facebook pages and spend evenings watching and re-watching this show?
In the case where parents become aware and make attempts at educating their children, what can they do when Pizza Hut launches a "cheese-filled-crust" pizza, that adds 238 calories per slice and a whopping 30 percent more saturated fat; when to attract more consumers national fast-food chains become so creative as to produce chili burger, lasagna pizza, French fries sandwiches, etc., hereby creating a generation of kids who can't discern between what's tasty and what is not, their only triggers to determine whether a dish is good being low price, fat/sugar or salt content?
There is no panacea to this national illness. However, if we look at initiatives that other states and countries have put in place to tackle their own rampant obesity problems, we can definitely find enough baby-step solutions, which, one day at a time, can make our country a healthier place:
Ban on unhealthy foods and snacks during cartoon times on TV (France)
Pay a village's inhabitants to eat its 5-veggie serving a day (Italy)
Ban the sale of junk foods in elementary and middle school (California)
Encourage the planting of gardens in pre-schools and kindergartens (across the States, Greece)
Ban toys in fast-food meals (California)
Ban fast-food joints near schools so as to encourage eating the healthy alternatives offered by the school (UK)
Offer organic, tasty vegan options at schools (California and New York are leading the pack)
Use consumer advocates to put pressure on fast food chains to stop selling their in-humane sized portions (McDonalds stopped its Supersize menu after the documentary SuperSize Me)
Let's unite. Together we can change the way we eat, one bite (or gulp) at a time.
]]>Weight Loss: 8 Signs That Your New Diet Might Be Dangerous (PHOTOS)tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.7887822010-12-08T13:42:00-05:002011-05-25T18:15:22-04:00Valerie Orsonihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-orsoni/
To gain one pound of fat, the body needs to ingest 3,500 extra calories; conversely, to lose one pound of fat, the body needs to burn 3,500 calories.
AND
The average Thanksgiving dinner is 3,000 calories.
SO
In order to avoid gaining even one pound over Thanksgiving, plan to burn an extra 3,000 calories over the course of the four-day weekend.
To burn those extra calories, try my Nine-Step, Four-Day Program for a Guilt-Free Thanksgiving:
1) Start each day with a freshly squeezed lemon in room temperature water to help balance the body's pH level, while enhancing the liver's detoxification abilities.
Follow this with a cup of green tea, helpful for its "filling" effect (80 percent of the time, that feeling of hunger is actually thirst).
Its high antioxidant content also helps to maintain healthy and glowing skin.
2) After these morning beverages, go for a 30-minute walk on an empty stomach to burn 150 calories. (Four walks x four days = 600 calories burned from that indulgent Turkey dinner!)
3) Enjoy a healthy breakfast of raw food with lots of vitamins and fiber to help support the immune system:
10 raw almonds
1 banana
1 mandarin orange
A few red grapes (with seeds if possible as their oil is very good for you)
4) Exercise or explore your surroundings with friends and family: You can burn calories simply by going for a walk in the woods or around the block.
This is especially easy on Black Friday when you might be going out to shop - that's a marathon in more ways than one!
The key is to move, move, move for at least for one hour. (300 calories are burned if you are walking at an easy pace x four days = another 1,200 calories burned... Just 1,200 to go!)
5) For lunch, start your meal with a pure protein. Starting with a piece of chicken or fish reassures your brain and body that it's getting what it needs most (versus starting your meal with white bread or candy, which may lead the body to think it won't be receiving protein and cause it to immediately store the sugar as fat, also called glycogene reserves, in response).
Meal suggestion: Pair grilled fish with calcium-loaded baby spinach salad and a small roasted potato. Finish with a little something sweet (like three small squares of chocolate) to keep in the holiday spirit without driving the scale north.
6) Take advantage of this time off work to enjoy a power nap and help your body digest and replenish its energy stores.
7) Make sure you have an afternoon snack to keep your metabolism fired up: Try five raw walnuts and one apple, or walk to the coffee shop for a 10-calorie Chai (that's a venti tea with one tea bag of Tazo Chai and one shot of soy milk, sweetened with Splenda) and a small biscotti.
8) For dinner, consider a soup. Soup can fill up your stomach and reduce your appetite by at least 35 percent.
Apply this to the Thanksgiving meal as well -- even if you add a bit of sour cream to a tasty bowl of pumpkin soup, it can still be a healthy way to start your meal and could potentially bring the 3,000 calorie-average down to 2,000.
On the other evenings, follow your soup dinner with a few whole wheat crackers and some hummus or babaganoush, and finish with a soy yogurt and maybe another few squares of chocolate.
9) Remember that daily tasks such as cooking dinner and doing the dishes by hand count as exercise too. (75 calories over 30 minutes x four days = 300 calories burned).
If you are surrounded by kids, play hide and seek. (One hour of an activity like this will burn 250 calories x four days = another 1,000 calories gone!)
By allowing Thursday's celebratory meal to be indulgent while maintaining a healthy eating and exercise program throughout the rest of the weekend, you can enjoy the holiday as it was intended. ]]>How to Succeed in a Macho Worldtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.7797192010-11-05T16:49:29-04:002011-05-25T18:10:25-04:00Valerie Orsonihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-orsoni/
But three thousand years ago, the vast majority of humanity abandoned goddesses for gods as our ancestors settled and developed agriculture, marking the end of direct female domination. Or perhaps not? Thanks to their formidable inner-strength and unflinching determination, women soon began to develop their own talents in order to get what they desired, be it a husband, a child, wealth, a house, and more.
Women intrinsically knew that achieving a goal was far more important than the path one takes to reach it.
Women understood that they should never let men feel they have lost face or have been manipulated.
Women inherently recognized that men need to believe they are responsible for their success in order to fully enjoy it. And women have always been aware that confrontation is not the way to victory (ultimately).
So how do these realizations translate in our world today? How does the modern woman thrive in today's macho business environment?
There are several ways to succeed. They might all be combined, or they can exist individually, making it fairly easy in the end to succeed in a macho world!
MyPrivateCoach/LeBootCamp conducted a survey where we asked 256 people (50/50 men to women ratio) if they agreed or disagreed to 6 specific statements, and the results are exciting! Indeed, the vast majority of women think they need to behave like men in order to be successful, whereas most men believe that what makes a woman successful is, in fact, her femininity!
Before sharing the results with you, I'd like to share how one of our participants, Rebecca, summed up the fine line that women tread when doing business in a macho world:
"If women are strong, they are ball busters, and if they show any weakness or softness, they are little girls trying to play in a man's world."
(1) Use feminine attributes (Men: 90% - Women: 25%)
Interestingly enough (and should I say, as expected), men and women are absolutely not in agreement on this statement. Little girls' education gives us some undeniable advantages to compete in a dominantly male group or company: better communication skills, better empathy with colleagues and clients, and most importantly, better cooperation and better understanding of the modus operandi of our workmates. We also have a physical way of expressing our femininity, which men believe we try to hide more often than we should.
This is even truer since the start of lawsuits against sexual harassment. However, businessmen are begging us: be yourself! You can dress professionally and in all your femininity without being provocative. Be a woman and be proud of it (keep in mind though, that a little pinch of perceived vulnerability won't hurt either). However, I do notice that many female executives and CEOs (still too rare) in the software, legal, banking and high-tech industries, wear rather conservative suits (usually pants) and short haircuts... something to think about! Is this the reason for their success? Or are they trying to avoid despising comments like: "I know how she climbed the ladder -- short skirt and sexy attitude."
(2) Talk about facts, not feelings (Men: 95% - Women: 30%)
Again, it all goes back to our childhood games, and women tend to give more weight to non-tangible elements than facts in a business relationship. While this attitude can be a great sales closing tool, more often than not, it will hamper our efforts in the day-to-day corporate world. Strive at not letting your emotions take over facts. Do not take things personally. When you foresee your feelings may prevent you from considering facts in a clear manner, or negotiating successfully, sit back, relax and reformulate your thoughts and ideas in a logical and rational way. Rather than saying: "I like this idea," try to (think, and) say: "This idea will work because of XYZ logical or marketing reason that we know about this audience." This works wonders in a male/female business relationship. If we look at what men and women think about this statement, we see an enormous gap! Almost all men agree that facts matter! Women don't seem to realize how much of a showstopper the "facts vs. emotions paradigm" is.
(3) Don't imitate male machismo (Men: 76% - Women: 20%)
Thriving in a high-profile executive job requires a "genetic" mutation: the development of thick skin (Men: 54% - Women: 89%) typical to men, to prevent direct attacks from hurting while still remaining soft so as not to hurt the male ego. The most effective female business leaders I have met don't try to imitate male machismo. They use some "feminine" attributes such as greater attention to interpersonal interaction, and a degree of approachability in order to lower people's defensiveness. But underlying this soft approach they remain focused on the bottom-line goals, express self-confidence, and succeed in achieving those goals without having the men around them feel that they have been manipulated or lost face. What's more, imitating is irritating. And, though men are not people readers in general, they can see through a bad imitation almost instantaneously.
(4) Be a warrior (Men: 25% - Women: 75%)
Let's not deny it: not giving in to male machismo does not mean we should be subdued to everything! Being a warrior, or developing a survivor's spirit helps a woman be more successful -- NO question about it. The only problem is that we are not wired to accurately identify rivals. We are not wired to be warriors; we have to work on becoming one. If you develop into a warrior yourself, think like a man and play his game. Since women have this great ability to adapt to nearly any situation, this should not be too tough. Paradoxically, this attitude will help you mingle better in situations where you are the only woman. But once you've found your place, remember to shift to a more feminine (and more efficient) attitude. (5) Treat men as equal (Men: 60% - Women: 76%)
Stop thinking he is man, I am woman, there must be some difference. By brainwashing ourselves into thinking about differences, we focus on the wrong element and hinder our ability to succeed. Let's stop thinking about differences; when conducting business, let's believe in one species: Homo sapiens.
(6) Recognize when the game is over (Men: 82% - Women: 13%)
Harking on the past and broaching former incidents when in the heat of an argument, is a typically female habit. This attitude is particularly detrimental to our business success in a dominant male world. What happened five years ago, is over; no need to bring it to the (business) table anymore. I know it is a hard one; we are wired to react this way... but aren't we also wired to be extremely adaptive? ;-) Keep in mind that this wiring happens when we are very young. Little boys are taught to play war-oriented games and sports, which have a clear end. In contrast, little girls play with dolls and kitchen sets -- activities that have no real clear-cut ending; play that is more of a process rather than a timed game. The poll result for this one was very interesting, indicating that women do not consider this attitude as a showstopper when it comes to their success in the corporate world.
I bet that you have found yourself using (whether consciously or not) one or more of these key factors to success in a macho world, and likely discovered that it was not THAT easy or THAT straightforward.
Recapturing the former woman's glory, not to mention its social, religious and political power, is considered difficult, if not unattainable. But is it necessary? I don't subscribe to this point of view. In fact, I don't support allegation about gender struggle in general, as I have never believed that businessmen and businesswomen were doomed to be at odds.
The old dichotomy of black/white, man/woman, power/submission is long gone. In 2010, the "businesswoman homo sapien" species has evolved and is now a patent pending complex mix of 10% man, 2% warrior, 88% woman. I will leave the last words to one of the male participants in the survey, who is definitely not macho:
"The best way to succeed in a macho world is to make up your own rules, rather than compete with the macho element. The bottom line is that the macho thing may look formidable, but it's really not an effective business strategy; (in my opinion) it lacks subtlety..."
]]>Is a Strawberry Healthier Than a Twinkie?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.7689792010-10-20T12:21:43-04:002011-05-25T18:05:23-04:00Valerie Orsonihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-orsoni/
Typically, we're told that more than 7 or 8 ingredients is a red flag: stay away from that food product.
Processed cookies fall into this category, lining up an impressive list of bizarre ingredients from rock powder to weird flavors. Simple logic will lead you to conclude that this is not good for your health.
To push this logic further, I went ahead and looked for the matter that makes a simple strawberry. You will be impressed by the very long list of compounds found in this healthy fruit: flavors, sulfur compounds, acids, and more.
Ever wonder why a strawberry tastes like a strawberry and not like a banana?
The difference lies in all that Mother Nature put in this fruit. Prepare to be shocked by the long list...frightening, isn't it?!
*From Zabetakis I., Holden M.A.,, (1997), Strawberry Flavour: Analysis and Biosynthesis, J Sci Food Agric Vol.74, pp421-434
There you go, the list of ingredients on your Oreo Cookie box is not even that frightening :).
Of course, this is a satirical article intended to prove just how much nutrition labels really ought to make a difference to our food choices. Indeed, it's not because an ingredient list is long that the food is unhealthy, and by the same token, a short list doesn't deem a food product nutritious.
And of course, keep in mind that a twinkie -- though not the epitome of healthy food -- has never killed anyone.
]]>Counter Your School's Lunch Counter With Healthy Optionstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.7539832010-10-07T16:47:50-04:002011-05-25T17:55:20-04:00Valerie Orsonihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-orsoni/
Currently, the #1 meal that schools served to students is chicken strips and fries, which is full of fat, often saturated, and sometimes even contains transfatty acids that have been proven detrimental to the healthy growth of young brains.
For those of us pushing for healthier options, there's a long fight ahead with school districts and principals that will likely take years to achieve results. In the meantime, parents can take their own steps to counterbalance the school's noon meal by arming their kids with healthy breakfasts, yummy snacks and light but nutritious dinners. Bottom line, the card can be stacked for health, as one meal lacking proper nutrition a day during the school week won't wreak havoc with a child's health if the other meals they are eating are totally healthy.
Here's a few tips:
1) Obviously, most children won't choose to stuff themselves with salads and fresh fruits at the cafeteria, making it even more important they start off right off with a nutritious breakfast. Replace all sugary cereals, which lead to the famous 10:00 a.m. fatigue, with toasted whole-grain gluten free-bread (kids love the corn-based version!) Serve with a tablespoon of peanut or almond butter, sliced apple and a freshly squeezed orange juice, and they'll be properly prepared to start their day.
2) Unless their breakfast is very early, children usually don't need to snack mid-morning. This habit has been imposed on them by parents who never had a snack themselves at this time in the day! If they really push for a snack, then go for 2 small whole wheat cookies with a handful dried fruits, especially the kind with no sulfur dioxide or added sugar or vegetable oil. As long as they're not allergic to nuts, instead of the cookies try 10 raw almonds or walnuts and mix in dried fruits. Trust me, they'll love it!
3) Although they love the taste, children don't need to drink sodas or sugary drinks. But be warned, your entire effort can cause a kid mutiny if you try to change everything all at once. Instead, do it one step at a time and try switching them over to Splenda- or, even better, Stevia-sweetened soda. Then hold this soda-drinking habit to be addressed later down the road when they're eating better and enjoying the benefits to healthier nutrition.
4) If you are sending your child to school with a packed lunch, make sure you steer clear from pre-packaged meals, which are loaded with fat and sugar. Very few of them are healthy. How can you determine their nutritional value? Check the labels and look at the saturated fat (ideally this should be close to 0 grams) as well as sugars (which should be under 20 grams for the entire box). Recently, a few healthier prepackaged options have come out, but they will cost you twice as much than if you simply prepare a quick lunchbox in the morning. You can include a home-made wrap or tortilla with salmon or ham, a few slices of tomatoes and a tablespoon of soyonnaise so that kids get the taste but not the calories or the saturated fat of regular mayo. Add to that a soy yogurt (you don't even have to tell them about the switch) and a box of seasonal berries or apple if it is more affordable and readily available.
5) If you do not provide their lunchboxes yourself, then educate your kids about nutrition to help them make the right choices. Still, despite our efforts they may still reach for an unhealthy option, but you will at least be able to balance this out with their snack and dinner. An easy afternoon snack when they get home is a banana, for instance -- a smart choice which replenishes their potassium levels after running during recess and exercising in PE (and of course I'm hoping their school still offers PE!) Another would be a little something that sounds like a treat to them, like a piece of chocolate, a small baby croissant, etc. This will help them stay away from the fridge and the cupboards until dinner time.
6) Showing your kids how healthy can also be delicious will train them well for later in life. I have a fourteen year old teenager whom I like to involve with the family cooking. This ensures that he understands what we cook, how we eat, and how we can create yummy dishes in minutes. For example, show them how to make a type of soup they like and once its done, jazz it up with a tablespoon of sour cream -- that's ok, go ahead! It will make them feel satisfied and won't add too many calories or saturated fat. Follow this with grilled fish, a veggie patty (you can even have soyonnaise with it, if desired), some sautéed veggies and a huge fruit salad with a scoop of sorbet.
There you go, you've got a healthy day!]]>Ramadan: 5 Ways to Break Your Fast and Not Your Scaletag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.6880682010-08-21T15:20:01-04:002011-11-17T09:02:45-05:00Valerie Orsonihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-orsoni/
Indeed, though Ramadan observers traditionally refrain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, statistics show that more often than not, participants pack in a whopping 10 to 20 lbs during this 30-day period!
So from where do those excess pounds sneak up on us?
Here's how it works: not eating or drinking all day naturally weakens our system, which means we don't exercise -- a state of being which is not problematic, as an equilibrium is still maintained. However, at the end of the day, of course, we catch up on our lack of food, and often more than make up for it by eating extra, hence, the extra weight. It's a simple equation: weight gain is dependent on how many calories you eat per day vs. how many calories you expend!
Have no fear, the solution is not to run a marathon every day of Ramadan! In fact, I urge fasters not to exercise heavily at all. A slow-paced walk is okay, but nothing more intense. The key to avoiding weight gain during Ramadan lies in how you eat when the sun goes down. So follow my tried-and-tested tips for a truly successful holiday:
1.Break your fast with freshly squeezed lemon juice in room temperature water. This will aid your immune system and help eliminate toxin build-up that naturally occurs when you are more sedentary. Don't eat just yet -- go for a cup of green tea next -- without sugar, of course. If you need a bit of sweetener, add Stevia!
2. Start your meal with pure protein, such as fish or chicken; if you are vegan, opt for tofu, lentils or hummus (chickpeas). Why? Physiologically, your body is constantly protecting your two major organs: your brain and your heart. In order to function properly, your brain needs healthy fat, and your heart needs protein. If your body receives carbohydrates first, a "message" about a potential lack of fat and protein is sent to your digestive system, and you will store more "fat" for use later. Hence, the easiest way to prevent weight gain and to promote weight loss is to start your meal with pure protein, or foods which have a low impact on your blood sugar levels.
3. After your protein starter, enjoy the rest of your nutritionally-balanced meal, mindfully. Take it SLOW, and remember portion control. Socialize in between bites in order to give your brain the time it needs to gauge your true hunger; if you listen to your body, you'll be surprised to discover that you are satisfied long before you thought you'd be. Don't gorge yourself until midnight!
4. A sweet treat for dessert is okay, but don't go overboard; choose one, and savor each bite.
5. Drink more than usual before going to bed, and if you are up before sunrise, hydrate again. This helps eliminate toxins from your body and will facilitate your fast during the day!
Make this Ramadan a true success for both your soul and body!
]]>Weight Management: How to Handle Summer Weight Gain Trapstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.6819632010-08-17T11:30:00-04:002011-11-17T09:02:45-05:00Valerie Orsonihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-orsoni/
Avoid these common end-of-summer weight gain traps with ease:
Labor Day Picnics and Barbecues: Long picnics and barbecues that start in the middle of the afternoon are a uniquely American experience and with Labor Day around the corner they are sure to be on the horizon. Unfortunately, 3 p.m. isn't the ideal time to eat. Let's examine your schedule in this case: you eat breakfast, then you eat lunch, and you then hit this afternoon picnic where you start eating again without even being hungry. Elect to start your cookout at noon or 7 p.m. -- and not in the middle of the afternoon -- you will save yourself thousands of extra calories.
If you are eating ribs, limit the amount of barbecue sauce (loaded with sugar) and have just one large rib or three small ones. You don't need to put butter on your corn; even better, try eating it completely raw -- your taste buds will be pleasantly surprised by its sweet natural taste, and your body by its low Glycemic Index!
Trips to the beach: Next time you head to the beach remember that you DO NOT need to bring along lots of food for a short trip. Go to the beach on empty and just enjoy the sand and the sea! If you do plan on having a picnic, keep it simple: fresh tomato salad (homemade, yes you can do it), whole wheat bread, a few slices of low-fat cheese, some fruit ... and yes, a treat or two is okay, but no need to go overboard!
Summer drinking: Everyone enjoys relaxing in the sun with a nice glass of wine or a good beer. For those of you trying to "act French" with the wine, remember that French women might not get fat simply because they don't drink wine during the day -- they'll rather opt for a glass of Perrier Lemon. So ditch the wine and the beer and go for a calorie-free drink!
Traveling in cars/planes/trains to and from vacation spots: Boredom often hits during travel time, leading to unnecessary snacking, without a true need to eat. Rule #1: don't take snacks on the road. There are plenty of places (unless you are crossing a desert, of course) where you can purchase food on the way if hunger hits. Rule #2: Always take plenty of water with you; staying hydrated is key, and it's also a great way to quiet "false" hunger feelings.
Dining out: Eat lightly on the day before you plan to party; opt for cold soups such as gazpacho, and avoid rich foods. Take a snack before heading out to dinner: a hard-boiled egg is the best approach. Don't arrive completely starving! This will limit your urge to overindulge in those heavenly looking finger food appetizers.
Still afraid of walking out of August 2010 with another three pounds on your hips? There's no need to fear. Let's make the rest of your summer break a true weight loss ally, and have you looking thinner, healthier, fitter and simply more gorgeous than ever before!
]]>The BBQ That's Good for You: This July 4th, Claim Independence From Unhealthy Grilling!tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.6320582010-07-02T10:10:10-04:002011-05-25T16:55:19-04:00Valerie Orsonihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-orsoni/
In the tradition of the French giving gifts to America to celebrate its freedom (remember The Statue of Liberty?), I give you my tips to free yourself from unnecessary barbecue worries and unhealthy barbecue habits - right in time for the Fourth of July holiday.
Choosing a Barbecue
There are several types of barbecues, and I recommend you use either a wood or coal fire barbecue or an electric barbecue. It's best to avoid gas barbecues, as the heat used to cook the food is produced by the combustion of either propane or butane. Since studies have not ruled out that food can absorb the residue produced by the combustion of these gases, it's best to stay away from this particular method.
As long as certain safety measures are taken, barbecuing is not dangerous to your health, and is not carcinogenic. The key is to avoid overcooking food so that the hydrocarbons (resulting from the combustion of wood and the resulting smoke) do not penetrate what you ultimately will put in your body! To cook food thoroughly without charring it, place the grill at least 10 centimeters above the coals, as studies have shown that hydrocarbons are non-existent in food cooked this far away from the heat. Plus, the less fat that drips onto the coals, the less the food is likely to contain hydrocarbons. (Remember: Grease + fire = smoke and flames!)
How Much is Too Much?
If these guidelines are followed, it is okay to have barbecued food one to two times a week. However, even though the ingestion of toxic substances is nonexistent when no gas is used, it is still advisable not to barbecue too often since minerals and antioxidants are destroyed when food is exposed to very high heat. For this reason, I like to grill meat, fish and shellfish, but not vegetables, as I don't want them to lose all their nutrients.
The Benefits of Barbecue
The advantage of the barbecue is that any fat in the food being cooked melts and drips off because of the high temperature of the grill. This is great, because it means you can allow yourself to splurge a little and eat meats which are a bit fattier, like lamb. Of course, that doesn't mean you should overindulge - continue to avoid very fatty foods like bacon and sausage.
Barbecue season is still a bit scary for those looking to lose weight or keep it off. A big factor is the accompaniments to a barbecued meal, including condiments like mayonnaise and heavy sauces like barbecue sauce and Béarnaise. Bread is also to blame - since the rolls found on the buffet are usually those made with white flour and boast a high glycemic index. Other potential pitfalls are the chips, beer, wine, mayonnaise-based salads and ice cream that are often served at cookouts and other summer picnics.
So what can you do to keep barbecue from wreaking havoc on your weight?
• Be imaginative! Vary your protein by trying different types of meat, fish and shellfish. Even though skewers of chicken, beef and lamb are most common, why not try "fish kebabs" - salmon, cod, hake and shrimp will work just as well!
• To keep meat and fish juicy with no added fat, remember to cook in parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• For the accompaniments go for raw salads, on their own, or mixed with a little brown rice or whole-wheat pasta.
• If you must have your burger on a bun, opt for whole wheat
• Fresh fruit salad is a yummy - and refreshing - dessert that is much lighter than ice cream and equally satisfying!
Happy barbecuing and bon appétit!
]]>The Vampire Diettag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.6238452010-06-24T14:32:50-04:002011-05-25T16:50:20-04:00Valerie Orsonihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-orsoni/Eclipse, Twilight's third film installment just around the corner, you may be tempted to sink your teeth into Hollywood's newest weight loss sensation: The Vampire Diet.
Though celebs, would-be stars and other "one-natured" folks know that reducing caloric intake while increasing energy expenditure is the only way to lose weight, we all still hold out hope that some magic formula will deliver a dream body overnight. So what's this craze that comes on the heels of the start of the new season of HBO's hit series True Blood all about? Well, thankfully, it is NOT about downing pints of blood -- real or synthetic. Instead, it is an offshoot of the well-known Color Diet, which mandates that only one color food be eaten -- in this case, red!
The Vampire Diet calls for its followers to eat only red foods at each meal. Fruits are easy to come by with almost all berries making the cut, as well as watermelon and cherries. Vegetables are harder to find in the red hues, as the majority of veggies are green. The only ones that are truly vamp-acceptable are red peppers and tomatoes (though they actually belong to the fruit family, of course!).
When it comes to snacks, however, it gets a little more difficult. There is virtually nothing nutritious to munch on outside of fruit -- what many of us would call a blessing and a curse -- have you ever seen a red cookie that's not loaded with dyes and other chemicals? Cherry sorbet may make the cut, but keep an eye out for the sugar, as many sorbets are loaded with it!
Sadly, fish, eggs, nuts, legumes and other fiber-loaded foods are generally out of reach.
Red meat, preferably uncooked (to supposedly preserve the nutrients) is a big component of this diet. And, you guessed it, blood sausages are more than acceptable!
My take on the Vampire Diet? It won't live eternally, which is a good thing since it is a highly unbalanced approach.
If you were to follow this dietary direction for more than a few days, it could lead straight into vitamin deficiency (E, D, C, B, among others), a loss of key nutrients (zinc, potassium, etc.) and a dangerously low level of fiber intake -- not enough veggies on your plate will also keep the body from flushing out the byproducts of digestion, as well as the toxins produced by such an unbalanced diet. Constipation that results in bloating is almost sure to become a problem. too, which is another negative to this approach -- especially now that we're in bathing suit season and a flat tummy is in order.
But, if you are truly obsessed with all things Vampire, you're in luck. It is possible to go on a balanced version of the Vampire Diet. Here's how:
Add berries at each meal and allow yourself a piece of red meat twice a week -- but no more. A blood sausage per week is a great source of iron, so go for it if you dare. A tomato salad every night or a nice serving of gazpacho will fit the bill. You will need to add fiber -- loaded foods like legumes, quinoa (you can find a red variety of quinoa to stick to your red themed diet), or cucumber and parsley salads to balance out your nutrient intake.
To start your day, how about a bloody boost of a different type? Juice one blood orange plus six strawberries and a handful of blueberries and add with coconut water for the electrolyte effect.
A final note: The vampires are following one important rule no matter what their weight-loss or maintenance strategy: They stay pale! Follow suit and avoid sun damage and skin cancer by staying away from the sun's harmful rays.
Have a bloody good summer!
]]>The Baby Food Diet ... Is It a Viable Plan for Adults or Merely Kids' Stuff?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.5934712010-05-28T12:00:03-04:002011-11-17T09:02:45-05:00Valerie Orsonihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-orsoni/
So, you can imagine the response of most to the eating plan with which she has recently been linked. Called the blend -- or "Baby Food" -- diet, it relies mainly on pureed foods. The idea is that only pure foods blend well -- think about pureeing the majority of "bad" foods -- pizza, burritos and barbecue ribs. (Insert collective "ugh" here).
Is the Baby Food Diet the last frontier for A-listers who have tried it all? Is it healthy? Is this trend a craze or here to stay?
Let's look at the positives: The Baby Food Diet consists of lots of veggies, lean meat and lots of water to flush it out, so it is healthy in that regard.
But, where's the catch?
First, how long can one live like this? I'm French, and I can tell you joie de vivre is what it is all about. So does this mean that I'm okay with a few extra pounds? Au Contraire! But, I realize, in the long run -- a few pounds up, a few pounds down -- 'it all comes out in the wash' (one of my favorite American sayings!). But, back to joy ... there doesn't seem to be much joy in eating mush all the time!
Here are some other thoughts for those who might consider regressing to an infant's way of eating:
(1) Social Life: Turning to a puree-based form of nourishment is not a light decision for those who enjoy the company of other, non-pureeing people. Ever been invited to a puree barbecue party? And do you really want to bring a Cuisinart to that buzzed-about restaurant your friends are dying to try?
(2) Family life: Chances are that your family will not enjoy this new menu, unless they are all no older than one year! Unlike simply watching portions, or trading high fat foods for lower fat versions, you will either need to cook a completely separate meal for others in your home or trade your teens in for infants. (I am joking, here, this is not a real option.)
(3) Mood: Boredom is likely to hit the Baby Food Dieter after the initial weight loss that typically occurs at the start of each new "crash" diet. To succeed over the long haul, the dieter will have to resort to a high level of motivation and be comfortable with self-deprivation to stay the course. Mood swings are likely to hit as more and more energy is spent to stay on the "right" track.
(4) Nutrition: Such a diet is not dangerous if followed for up to three days. However, it can be after more than 72 hours as it lacks essential nutrients, healthy fats, Omega 3s, and indispensable vitamins like Vitamin C, which are destroyed with the heat necessary to properly puree food.
(5) Physiology: We need to chew our food. The act of chewing helps us quickly release and assimilate the molecules of nutrients from the food. Keeping food in our mouths longer while chewing also helps the tongue recognize the food's flavors. Once the flavor is recognized by the tongue, a message is sent to the brain, which in turn sends a message to the digestive system so that the right digestive juices can be released.
(6) General Health: There is a very low caloric intake associated with this diet. Such a pronounced reduction of calories leads to a rapid, and often, drastic weight loss where muscle mass will be hit first. Don't take this first step to a life of yo-yo dieting!
In view of the six points I just listed you've probably surmised that I'm advocating just ditching the Baby Food Diet? Well, not exactly ...
The Baby Food Diet can easily be adapted to make it a healthy, socially-sustainable program by:
(1) Only partaking in pureed meals for up to three days once every few months.
(2) While on a pureed program, opting for a breakfast of 10 soaked Brazil nuts (great source of brain-friendly selenium) + 1 banana + 1 fresh fruit puree
(2) Starting all your subsequent meals with a broth-based soup which will curb your appetite by at least 25%. This is what Aniston's nemesis, Angelina Jolie, reportedly does when she needs to get in shape quickly.
(3) And, as with any eating program, make sure you change your recipes often to avoid boredom and stay on the wagon.
Bottom Line: Only purees, every meal, every day? That's a diet to avoid in its strict form!
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