Not Losing Weight--HELP!

Dear Charlotte,

I have been suffering from weight problems all my life. I go on these huge diets, but don’t seem to lose weight… or if I do lose weight, it comes right back on. I have been trying to research this (I have read just about every diet book out there!) and have been reading recently that by restricting my food intake I am really slowing my metabolism—making it harder to lose weight. Is this true? Am I really going about this the wrong way?

Cheryl S.

Dear Cheryl ,

Hi – first off… diets don’t work. And starvation diets especially don’t work! If you deny your body the calories it needs to function, your metabolism will slow. Your body will start slowing down do that it conserves what it does have. The trick is to keep your energy level consistent with a steady intake of calories. This will keep you moving and potentially burning those calories. Eat smaller meals when you are hungry, and eat what you are hungry for. If you listen to your body, it will tell you what no book can. Your body knows the kinds of foods it needs and how much to eat.

Life-long weight problems are always symptomatic of a larger issue and I think this is something worth investigating--I really want to help you.

Please give me a call at 800.496.7710—or email me at charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com, and we can figure out what the root cause is, as well as develop a plan that will give you success you are seeking.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Become The Real You will instruct you on how to listen to your own body. How to eat whatever you want to achieve and maintain your perfect body weight! No more diets, no drugs, no counting calories. It’s simple...and it works!

Upcoming Wedding--Need to Lose Weight!

Dear Charlotte,

I'm getting married soon and I need to lose weight quickly! I have been exercising for weeks and can't even lose 1 pound. What am I doing wrong?

Michelle C.

Dear Michelle,

I highly recommend losing weight slowly and correctly. If you go on a “crash” diet, you will just yo-yo back—maybe even before the ceremony. This is a stressful time, and you need to be at your best, and that means eating properly and getting plenty of rest. In terms of your diet, try and eat several small and nutritious meals throughout the day. These small meals will keep you going and stop you from snacking—and you will feel better too. It is also important to keep a food journal. Track what you eat and how you feel. Remember to eat only when you are hungry and don’t over-eat. When you are full—stop.

You may find by just doing this you will start to shed pounds, but I guarantee you, that if you follow these simple steps you will begin to feel better about yourself and your body.

Congratulations on the upcoming wedding and feel free to give me a call at 800.496.7710—or email me at charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Become The Real You will instruct you on how to listen to your own body. How to eat whatever you want to achieve and maintain your perfect body weight! No more diets, no drugs, no counting calories. It’s simple...and it works!

What is My Ideal Weight?

Dear Charlotte,

I am a 33 year old woman who is about 5’5” tall. How much should I weigh for my height?

Maggie M.

Dear Maggie,

There is no ideal or specific weight that you should be for your height. There are standards and measurements, but these do not take into account you—and all that that means.

What really matters is how you feel at the weight you are. Focus on fueling your body with food that makes you feel healthy and contented. Think about whether you are hungry before you eat, and how you feel after you eat. Don’t worry about the scale—the number will be right when you are ready to have a healthy relationship with food.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Become The Real You will instruct you on how to listen to your own body. How to eat whatever you want to achieve and maintain your perfect body weight! No more diets, no drugs, no counting calories. It’s simple...and it works!

Addicted to Food

Dear Charlotte,

I have been addicted to food all my life. Food became my comforter, and has been a long time. Now, because of the weight I can hardly walk, and my muscles and joints ache. Yet even though I am in pain and can hardly breathe and I am more addicted to food than ever. I can no longer work and the doctor’s I have see just tell me I need to eat less and exercise—which I know, and yet this is the hardest thing to do. Is there any help for me?

Janice, South Carolina

Dear Janice,

You are clearly suffering from emotional eating—which is such a deeply engrained habit that it can be hard to break—but it can be done. The first step is to work through the reasons you use food to comfort you. You will have to be willing to open yourself up, but the rewards are remarkable, Please give me a call so that we can get started together as soon as possible.

My number is 800.496.7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com, and we can discuss your situation and take the next steps.

You may visit my website at http://www.secretsofslimpeople.com.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Become The Real You will instruct you on how to listen to your own body. How to eat whatever you want to achieve and maintain your perfect body weight! No more diets, no drugs, no counting calories. It’s simple...and it works!

Become The Real You is a process is for anyone who:
--Is tired of yo-yo dieting
--Wants to return to their natural shape
--Wants to come to peace with food and their body
--Wants to lose weight permanently
--Wants freedom from food obsession
Contact Charlotte today to learn more at 800.496.7710.

Weight Loss: Hitting a Plateau

Dear Charlotte,

I started walking 2 miles a day and limiting my calorie intake to about 1500 a day. After a month, I had lost about 8 pounds and I felt great. Then during the next two weeks I upped my walking to 4-5 miles a day and same calorie intake. But nothing has changed. I weigh the same and all my measurements are the same. What is the problem? What am I missing?

Amanda S.

Dear Amanda,

Congratulations on your recent weight loss. My initial feeling is that perhaps the calorie intake is too low for you though. Your body may need more calories – and energy to run optimally and by restricting yourself, even with the extra exercise, you may be suffering from a lowered metabolism.

This is just a guess, based on the little you have told me, but it is something to consider. I would ask: “are you hungry?” and “how does your body feel?” Addition more, healthy meals may not only fuel your additional exercise, but aid your metabolism and help you lose that weight.

I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you if you are interested in discussing a coaching relationship. I have many clients like you that have come to an block in their weight loss goals and this happens for a variety of reasons that you may not even be aware of.

Please call me at 800.496.7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com, and we can discuss your situation and take the next steps.

You may visit my website at http://www.secretsofslimpeople.com.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Become The Real You will instruct you on how to listen to your own body. How to eat whatever you want to achieve and maintain your perfect body weight! No more diets, no drugs, no counting calories. It’s simple...and it works!

Losing that last 5 pounds

Dear Charlotte,

I have been trying to lose “that last” 5 pounds for a while now. I know I need to cut down on junk food and exercise more, which I have been doing but can't seem to lose it. I am clearly doing something wrong. Can you tell me how many calories I should be eating, or help me with a meal-plan?

Cathy M.

Dear Cathy,

My first question would be “why do you think you need to lose 5 lbs?” Too often I think we get caught up in the number. Do you feel good? Are you eating when you are hungry? I cannot help you with a meal plan, or the amount of calories you should be eating. These are very superficial things. You need to think about why you eat, and the best way to do this is to start a food journal.

Log not only what you eat and when, but how you feel before and after. Are you eating when you are hungry? Are you contented when you are done, or are you over-full? When you start to realize why you eat, and start listening to your body, you will lose that “last 5 pounds” if your body is meant to lose them.

Please call me at 800.496.7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com, and we can discuss what roadblocks you have to achieving your goals.

You may visit my website at http://www.secretsofslimpeople.com.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Become The Real You will instruct you on how to listen to your own body. How to eat whatever you want to achieve and maintain your perfect body weight! No more diets, no drugs, no counting calories. It’s simple...and it works!

"I still look pregnant!"

Dear Charlotte,

I had a baby a while ago and it still looks like I'm pregnant. What should I do first to lose this belly fat? I also want to know what should I eat and how many times a day I should eat.

Tonya, S.

Dear Tonya,

it can take over a year for you to lose “the belly” after a baby, and it gets harder after each one—but it isn’t impossible. I suspect that if we looked at your eating habits, exercise and the amount or sleep you get, we would find out a lot about why you are not able to lose this weight. Having a baby puts a lot of stress on a couple and we often compensate by eating—whenever and whatever, without much regard for what we really want or need.

I recommend eating several smaller meals throughout the day when you feel hungry. Do not over-eat. Make sure to get as much rest as you can, and spend time getting exercise too...even if that is walking around the neighborhood with the baby.

Please call me at 800.496.7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com, and we can put together a plan for you to work towards your goals.

You may visit my website at http://www.secretsofslimpeople.com.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Become The Real You will instruct you on how to listen to your own body. How to eat whatever you want to achieve and maintain your perfect body weight! No more diets, no drugs, no counting calories. It’s simple...and it works!
.

Yo Yo Dieting

Dear Charlotte,

I am 29 yrs old and I have been yo yo dieting a lot. It usually happens because I work a lot and go to school and also have 2 small children. I will often eat off schedule and miss my work outs. I weigh 135 (I am 5'5”) but it always seems to stop there. My goal is to not lose too much weight, but to tone and eat healthy. I am just not happy with how I look, but I always find a reason not to eat right and exercise when I should.

Samantha R.

Dear Samantha,

Yo-yo dieting is all-too-common and more proof that diets don’t work. You need to stop trying to focus on a particular diet and listen to your body. Do you eat when you are hungry? How does the food make you feel? Answering these questions will be the first step for you in making a life-long change. If you are yo-yo dieting, you are probably not losing “fat” but water and muscle-mass…which is why you find that you are not as toned as you would like. If you continue to get regular exercise, and eat when your body tells you it is hungry (and stop when you are full), you will have a healthier relationship with food, and a healthier body to show for it.

Start by creating a food journal and write down everything you eat for a week—including how you feel before and after you eat.

I look forward to talking to you more about this and perhaps doing some one-on-one coaching over the phone to get you to your goal.

Please call me at 800.496.7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com. You may visit my website at http://www.secretsofslimpeople.com.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Become The Real You will instruct you on how to listen to your own body. How to eat whatever you want to achieve and maintain your perfect body weight! No more diets, no drugs, no counting calories. It’s simple...and it works!

Quitting smoking and weight gain

Dear Charlotte,

I have been trying to quit smoking for the last 5 years. In fact, I have quit several times, but I always start up again, and one of the reasons is because when I am not smoking I feel hungrier, eat more and then gain weight. What can I do so that I can quit smoking, but not put on a bunch of weight?

Sally

Dear Sally,

Many people transfer the addiction of smoking to eating. Eating for emotional reasons. What I teach is not a weight loss program. It is not the weight that is your problem. It is what is eating you. When you learn to make peace with food and accept yourself as you are right now, that is when you will melt down to your ideal weight. I’d love to help you strategize stopping smoking Sally.

Please call me at 800.496.7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com.
You may visit my website at http://www.secretsofslimpeople.com/.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Traveling, restaurants and eating right

Dear Charlotte,

I travel a lot for work and so I spend a lot of time in airports, restaurants and going from time zone to time zone. What advice would you have for a person like me?

Judy

Dear Judy,

I know it seems hard when we travel. However, it doesn’t have to be. I would recommend always having foods you love with you at all times. If you checked in my purse at any time, you would find almonds, fig bars, wasabi peas, peanut butter crackers, etc. If you have foods you like, you will not be tempted to eat something you really don’t necessarily want.

I love eating in restaurants and remember you can eat whatever your body wants when you are physically hungry. It all goes back to checking in with your body. The same applies to the different time zones, check in with your body and get the needed rest. You have to learn what “tired” feels like in your body and what your body needs.

Many times we are eating when we really need rest. Call me to talk further at 800.496.7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com. You may visit my website at www.secretsofslimpeople.com.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Become The Real You will instruct you on how to listen to your own body.
Learn how to eat whatever you want to achieve and maintain your perfect body weight! No more diets, no drugs, no counting calories. It’s simple...and it works!

Become The Real You is a process is for anyone who:
--Is tired of yo-yo dieting
--Wants to return to their natural shape
--Wants to come to peace with food and their body
--Wants to lose weight permanently
--Wants freedom from food obsession

Contact Charlotte today to learn more at 800.496.7710.

Eating together...Losing weight together?

Dear Charlotte,

My husband and I are both considered “obese” and have been for some time. We know that part of our problems are that we eat together—so if my husband is hungry, I eat, even if I am not and vice versa. And we have tried every diet from grapefruit to Adkins and nothing has worked. In your coaching program, is it possible to work with two people at once? We believe that in order to be successful, we will have to be on the same program together.

Jennifer and Jack

Dear Jennifer and Jack,

Absolutely you can do the program together. I have worked with many couples. You are able to support and encourage each other and understand. You will both learn that you eat when you are hungry and not when the other person is hungry. There is also a way to pace yourself so that you may enjoy meals together. However there will be times that perhaps you will say to your husband “Jack, I’m just not hungry right now, but I’d love to have a glass of tea and talk to you while you eat”.

Please call me for more information 800.496.7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com. You may visit my website at www.secretsofslimpeople.com. I look forward to hearing from you and being able to help you, as a couple, achieve your weight goals.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

I want Ice Cream! Is it OK?

Hi Charlotte!

This all sounds very interesting, but how do I know my body is asking for the right things? If I think it wants ice cream, should I give it ice cream? Won’t I gain weight?

Wendy

Dear Wendy,

The answer to your question is no actually. If you have been in deprivation for many years, your fear and judgment about the ice cream will make you gain weight. The goal is to make peace with food. It’s just ice cream. When your body is physically hungry it generally does not want just ice cream. It will want other foods. However you have to give yourself permission to have the ice cream. If you do that, the obsession vanishes. Please talk to me about this, I understand how scary that can be.

Please contact me at 800.496.7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com. You may visit my website at www.secretsofslimpeople.com.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Seeking More Information, Seminars?

Dear Charlotte,


Can you tell me a little more about your program? Do you have any upcoming seminars in the Charlotte, NC area or is there a book that I can read?

Phil -- Charlotte, NC

Dear Phil,

Please check out my website at www.secretsofslimpeople.com for my upcoming lectures. My weight loss program is individually customized for everyone and is not for everyone. I’d be happy to speak with you, I’d love to hear your story. A book will be forthcoming and as soon as I have information available, I will be sure to post it here.

Please contact me at 800.496.7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com. You may visit my website at www.secretsofslimpeople.com.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Become The Real You will instruct you on how to listen to your own body.
Learn how to eat whatever you want to achieve and maintain your perfect body weight! No more diets, no drugs, no counting calories. It’s simple...and it works!

Become The Real You is a process is for anyone who:
--Is tired of yo-yo dieting
--Wants to return to their natural shape
--Wants to come to peace with food and their body
--Wants to lose weight permanently
--Wants freedom from food obsession

Contact Charlotte today to learn more at 800.496.7710.

Emotional Eating

Dear Charlotte,

I know that eating is something that I do whenever I feel sad or depressed, or even anxious. I understand waiting to eat until I “feel” hungry, but I feel like I “need” to eat to feel better. How can I get past this dependence?

Alana D.

Dear Alana,

Many people use food like a thermostat. You get too happy you eat, you get too sad, you eat. You use food to keep you at an even emotional level. It is different almost every time you use food to cope with emotions. Emotional eating is caused by anxiety. I teach my clients to identify the hunger they are feeding. There are five hungers: spiritual, mental, social, physical, emotional. Then once we know the true hunger, I help them identify solutions to implement instead of eating.

I’d love to give you some examples and talk with you further if you would like to contact me at 800 496 7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com. You may visit my website at www.secretsofslimpeople.com.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Become The Real You will instruct you on how to listen to your own body. How to eat whatever you want to achieve and maintain your perfect body weight! No more diets, no drugs, no counting calories. It’s simple...and it works!

Become The Real You is a process is for anyone who:
--Is tired of yo-yo dieting
--Wants to return to their natural shape
--Wants to come to peace with food and their body
--Wants to lose weight permanently
--Wants freedom from food obsession

Contact Charlotte today to learn more at 800.496.7710.

Depressed about Eating

Dear Charlotte,

I have a food question that I hope you can help me with... Why do I sometimes feel depressed about eating when I should be happy about it? There are times that I feel dread before I eat and even worse after I eat. I want to feel good about food and the way I enjoy it as if it were a gift instead of a vice.

Lawrence

Dear Lawrence,

I so understand what you are saying. We would have to look at what the “dread” is about to find the real answer to this question. Have you dieted many times before and then when you eat you hate yourself for eating and so therefore the dread comes up? Are you afraid to eat, afraid of gaining weight or afraid of being hungry? What is the story you are telling yourself. I would really like to explore this with you further. Eating is a gift and a pleasurable one. When you eat when you are physically hungry food tastes so wonderful. Let’s talk.

Call me at please contact me at 800 496 7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

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Life-long Weight Problems

Dear Charlotte,

My weight has been an issue all of my adult life. I cannot tell you what it is like to feel physical hunger? If this is not something I recognize, how will I know?

George K.

Well George, it is different for everyone. You have to start learning to listen to your own body and see what it is for you. When you are truly hungry, your hunger will scream at you. I can tell you what hunger is not:

--It’s breakfast time – time to eat
--It’s noon, must go eat
--Everyone is eating, must eat
--I’m not going to get to eat for several hours, better eat now
--It’s TV time, let’s eat

Many people eat by the clock or when everybody else is eating. Hunger is a real sensation. It is a real physical sensation. If my clients tell me they don’t know if they are hungry, I tell them they are not. Too often we feed ourselves out of habit, or to fulfill another need. You would not sit there are say “I don’t know if I have to go to the bathroom” would you? If you don’t know what it feels like to be hungry, wait until you do…that will be the time to eat.

My very best wishes George, please don’t hesitate to call me at please contact me at 800 496 7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com. You may visit my website at http://www.secretsofslimpeople.com/

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Become The Real You will instruct you on how to listen to your own body. How to eat whatever you want to achieve and maintain your perfect body weight! No more diets, no drugs, no counting calories. It’s simple...and it works!

Become The Real You is a process is for anyone who:
--Is tired of yo-yo dieting
--Wants to return to their natural shape
--Wants to come to peace with food and their body
--Wants to lose weight permanently
--Wants freedom from food obsession

Contact Charlotte today to learn more at 800.496.7710.

Eat when you are hungry - Eat what you want!

Dear Charlotte,

I have read your blog and website and I am very interested in learning more, but what about nutrition, shouldn’t I eat my veggies and fruits?

Sally W.

Dear Sally,

Absolutely you should eat your fruits and veggies if you want them. You should also eat cupcakes and bread and butter if you want them, when you are physically hungry.

They did a study where they took very young children and told them they could eat whatever they wanted to eat for two weeks. For the first two days they ate cracker jacks. That was all they wanted. Then you know what happened, they started craving what you and I would consider pretty healthy balanced meals. Their body knew what it wanted.

If you listen to your body when you are hungry, it does not usually want sugar and processed foods, it wants real foods. You also listen to how your body feels when you eat certain foods, “If I eat pancakes, and I give myself permission to eat them. After I eat them I feel sluggish, bloated and almost have to take a nap.” Notice how your body feels after you eat certain foods. It will tell you, and has been trying to tell you. Once you learn how to listen to what your body is saying it wants and needs, you will find that not only are your eating what you want—when you want—but also that your diet will be balanced.

Best of luck, and if you are interested in speaking with me one on one, please contact me at 800.496.7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com. You may visit my website at www.secretsofslimpeople.com.

Charlotte Smith
Eating Consultant and Life Coach

Become The Real You will instruct you on how to listen to your own body. How to eat whatever you want to achieve and maintain your perfect body weight! No more diets, no drugs, no counting calories. It’s simple...and it works!

Become The Real You is a process is for anyone who:
--Is tired of yo-yo dieting
--Wants to return to their natural shape
--Wants to come to peace with food and their body
--Wants to lose weight permanently
--Wants freedom from food obsession

Contact Charlotte today to learn more at 800.496.7710.

Charlotte's Program: Too Good to be True?

Dear Charlotte:
I have been reading about your system and it sounds too good to be true. You are saying I can eat whatever I want and lose weight? I have tried a hundred different diets, and they all restrict something, and then I end up cheating. I have been overweight most of my life and I really need to make a change. Can you help?
-Susie M.

Dear Susie,
Susie, my program is not a weight loss program. It’s not about the weight. I teach people to make peace with food. When you do that you will melt down to your ideal weight. What’s good and true Susie is that you can eat whatever you want when you are physically hungry and stop at satisfaction and your body will melt down to whatever it’s ideal weight is. Your body knows what size it wants to be just like it knows what height and shoe size you are. Your body knows what size it wants to be to function optimally. You have to learn to listen to it.

We’ve been eating from the neck up, listening to our minds, letting other people (medical experts), diet experts tell us what we should and shouldn’t eat. Your body knows exactly what it wants to eat, when and how much. You just have to tune in to it. This is what I do for my clients: teach them how to listen to their bodies so that they learn to control when they eat. If this is something that you are interested in, I would be happy to talk to you, please contact me at 800.496.7710 or email charlotte@secretsofslimpeople.com. You may visit my website at www.secretsofslimpeople.com.

Become The Real You will instruct you on how to listen to your own body. How to eat whatever you want to achieve and maintain your perfect body weight! No more diets, no drugs, no counting calories. It’s simple...and it works!

Become The Real You is a process is for anyone who:
--Is tired of yo-yo dieting
--Wants to return to their natural shape
--Wants to come to peace with food and their body
--Wants to lose weight permanently
--Wants freedom from food obsession

Contact Charlotte today to learn more at 800.496.7710.