This is what I know about making your life matter. — It’s still strange to me that I’m a person who’s had cancer. Like many people, my unspoken belief about life was that it would go on and on. Cancer was something that happens to other people. It’s a singular shock when the news becomes your own. One that for better…

How do you have sugar without bingeing, deal-making, or battling cravings? Read on. — Use these strategies to safeguard your mental and physical health. Sugar consumption is slippery. That’s by design. The modern world is filled with sugar. It’s in nearly everything and offered everywhere you turn. It’s so ubiquitous that it seems to have altered our collective palates. You might now be accustomed to having sugar in your food without knowing it.

Here are mine. I promise they have little value. — It’s nearly impossible to talk about weight loss without showing before and after photos (look, it worked!). Except, here’s the thing, I think they’re kind of bullshit. I’ve felt pressure to display mine and resisted thus far. Almost a year into the launch of my company, I’m ready to say…

If you’re stuck between the apps and steady weight gain, read on. — The method is the reason (and a trap). Is your experience that the weight comes back as soon as the app is put away? It’s an ugly cycle with long-term repercussions. Know that you’re not alone. Estimates are that 90% regain and a dropout rate of up to 80% is common. …

I love my work but it means confronting a lot of eye-rolling blather. — Let’s dive in. Calorie-deficit. Ok, that’s two. The problem with this one is that it assumes you’re tracking your calories. Not only is this a completely joyless approach to eating, but there’s also no evidence the practice creates stable weight loss. That’s right. The thing that nearly everyone turns to at…

A restaurateur turned health coach explains. — Here’s why you don’t order the healthy thing, drink more alcohol than you intended, and end up getting dessert. It comes down to two things. 1. The restaurant is tasked with extracting as many sales as possible. Think about your seat as income-producing real estate. You’re renting a spot, most likely at prime time (most restaurants are open for a few hours but make all their money in a 2–3 hour window). …

The more you cook, the better you’ll look and feel. — Making mistakes is part of learning but here are a few you can avoid. Dull knives! I’m putting this one at the top because it’s just that important. Working with dull knives is dangerous and unpleasant. Real food requires a bit of prep, it’s completely worth it to have a sharp knife at the ready. Local kitchen stores often provide this service (or, here’s…

And, why that’s the biggest factor in weight gain, not your faulty body. — Modern food by any standard is hardly even food anymore, so how can this be true? We live in a fiber-free, nutrient-barren food system. Most people now think of food as a product made by a company rather than a collection of ingredients. You Aren’t Struggling With Your Weight It’s the food itself.medium.com If it doesn’t show up wrapped in plastic and ready to be consumed, it’s disregarded as sustenance. Or worse, dismissed as ‘bird food’.