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The term "Yo-Yo Dieting" was coined by Dr. Kelly Brownell at
Yale
University
in reference to the cyclical up-down motion of a yo-yo with regards to body weight. The dieter is initially successful in the pursuit of weight loss but is unsuccessful in maintaining the loss for the long-term. The dieter then seeks to lose the regained weight, and the cycle begins again.
I am no stranger to the phenomenon. At 13, prior to my Bar Mitzvah, I lost 23 pounds in 21 days to fit into my suit. I gained 40 pounds within the following two weeks.
On August 20th, we moved to
New York City
. I lived adjacent to
Lincoln
Center
having come from
South
Beach
’s Lincoln Road. On September 19th, we moved back toward Lincoln Road. In the course of the past month, I have lost 18.6 pounds and gained what feels like a second PhD in life experience. This is no “Yo-Yo” diet… I imagine I will be successful in maintaining the loss of my savings for at least the foreseable future. The South Beach Diet is more palatable to me in the end – more financially and emotionally affordable.
New York
afforded a view of the
Hudson
through the ABC parking lot.
Miami Beach
affords resort amenities and an easier way of life.
That is the thing about diets. Different diets work best for different people. Different cities, too, I suppose.
"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" is a song from the Elton John album Honky Chateau. It is based on Bernie Taupin's experience in New York City after hearing a gun go off near his hotel window during his first visit to the city. The lyrics are as follows:
“And now I know…
Spanish Harlem are not just pretty words to say,
I thought I knew…
But now I know that rose trees never grow in
New York City
”
Everything and every experience in life has a frame, including one’s body. I frame myself in size 31 jeans now. This frame looks great on my wall of skin.
The bottom line is that we’ve all done the Yo-Yo diet in one form or another. This doesn’t signal failure, it signals an effort made with the hope of success. Rose trees grow wherever they are planted if we nurture their growth.
P.S. I have been back in
South
Beach
for 2 weeks, and haven’t gained back a pound! And that’s how I lost the dreaded “Dissertation Weight”!!!
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Janet Podleski is one half of the sister act that wrote the bestselling cookbooks, Looneyspoons, Crazy Plates and their latest, Eat, Shrink & Be Merry! Janet and her sister, Greta, are also monthly columnists for Canada's number-one magazine, Reader's Digest, and were voted into Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2000. The sisters and their inspirational, self-publishing success story have been featured on dozens of national TV programs such as The Today Show, CNN, Canada A.M. and QVC, as well as on hundreds of radio shows, and in magazines and newspapers across North America. In addition to a B.A. in Psychology, she has also earned a degree as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. 
Brenda J. Ponichtera is a registered dietitian and author of several award-winning cookbooks, all designed to prove that "healthful eating doesn't have to take a lot of time in the kitchen."
Calorie Bargain: Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt
Calorie Bargain: Green Mountain Gringo Mild Salsa
