The Lifestyle Fitness Program: A Six Part Plan So Every Mom Can Look, Feel and Live Her Best
Author: Debi Silber, MS, RD
Author Interview
SuperKids Nutrition spoke with author Debi Silber about good nutrition, fitness and overall wellness for moms. As a mother of four, Debi’s passion is to help moms find the balance in their lives between caring for themselves and caring for others. Debi is a firm believer that moms are the number one example for their children and her book The Lifestyle Fitness Program: A Six Part Plan So Every Mom Can Look, Feel and Live Her Best gives moms the tools they need to make the little “tweaks” in their lives that will add up to major positive changes overall.
Quick Review: The Lifestyle Fitness Program addresses six important areas:
- Nutritional Fitness
- Physical Fitness
- Emotional Fitness
- Stress Control Fitness
- Relationship Fitness
- Spiritual Fitness
Each area has a simple-yet-effective program moms can work through at their own pace, in the order of their choosing. With weekly mini-goals and online support, Debi makes changes in these areas realistic and doable.
What are three things you regularly do to help manage your time so you can prepare healthy foods for you and your family?
Preplan — if you fail to plan, then plan to fail! (I didn’t make up this quote but love it and use it often!)
Let go of unrealistic expectations — It’s just not possible to do it all, and do it all well. If healthy eating is important, take the time to shop for healthier foods and prepare healthier meals and let something less important go.
Keep it simple — Who says you need to prepare a five course gourmet meal for dinner each night? I have a rule that I’ll prepare anything with “5 ingredients or less!” I’ll also have “breakfast for dinner” nights and other ideas to keep it simple but healthy. Here are some of our favorite easy weeknight dinners!
When working with clients what motivates them to continue following healthy new food and fitness habits?
The only thing that maintains motivation is knowing why you want to change. Whether you’re trying to lose weight, become fit, manage your stress, enhance your relationships, improve your emotional outlook or explore your spiritual side, if the motivation isn’t something deeply personal, it just won’t last. Discovering what personally motivates you is what gives you the strength to stay on track, or get back on track if you’ve fallen off.
Why is the book an excellent resource for improving the health of a client and her family?
I believe that a mom is the greatest influence in her children’s lives. They watch, learn and copy many of the things she does (good and not so good). That’s why when it comes to improving the overall health of the family, it’s important to strengthen it at the roots, not at the leaves. A healthy, happy, family begins with a healthy, happy, mom.
What would be your advice to someone who is resistant to changing old habits?
I offer information, encouragement, inspiration and support as each mom chooses the best/easiest/most effective options she can easily incorporate into her lifestyle. Gradually, she will change old, destructive habits into new, healthy habits because they make sense to her. As a result, her confidence grows. She’s motivated to continue because she understands she has the power to change whatever it is about her lifestyle that she doesn’t like. Eventually, a series of new, healthy habits are firmly and solidly in place.
Many pregnant women and new moms visit our site. What does The Lifestyle Fitness Program offer to them?
The book and program is designed to be “mom friendly.” Studies have shown that what moms need most are short, manageable goals, support from other moms (through message boards) and a realistic role model they can relate to. The book is based on this theory.
What do you believe are the major causes of weight gain in moms?
Moms often gain weight because they’ve completely neglected their own self care. They often only take care of themselves last after everyone else is taken care of. In an effort to get everything done, moms also cut corners by eating fast, easy, convenient foods – often loaded with fat/sugar/calories. They also give up time needed for exercise.
I believe that the better a mom feels, the better she is for everyone. If she feels unfit, overweight, overwhelmed and unhappy she’s just not going to have much to give to others. This is also the message she may be sending to her kids. Ask any mom what her greatest wish for her children is and she’ll tell you, “I want them healthy and happy.” Well, if mom’s their greatest role model, the best way to ensure she gets that message across is by “walking the walk and talking the talk!” There simply is no greater way to teach than by example.
What sets your book apart from others? Since there is not one key method to successful healthy eating, weight loss and weight management, does it include an approach which considers each individual’s uniqueness?
The Lifestyle Fitness Program: A Six Part Plan So Every Mom Can Look, Feel and Live Her Best addresses each mom’s uniqueness by the way it’s structured. The six sections in the book are based on the issues I’ve found moms struggle with most. The areas are: nutrition, fitness, stress control, emotional health, relationships and spirituality. It doesn’t have to be read in the order that it’s written.
The mom is encouraged to focus on her unique struggles. She can start with the chapter (each is no more than a few pages) that touches on what she wants to work on the most. For example, a mom who struggles with weight loss can begin with the nutrition section and the chapter on emotional eating. At the end of each short chapter there’s a mini goal to work on for the week. Once she reaches that mini goal, she’s encouraged to email me for support and feedback if needed. The book is designed to be as unique and individual as
the mom reading it.
For those interested, readers can find a different message board for each area of “The Lifestyle Fitness Program” on www.TheMojoCoach.com. Moms can offer each other support while working on the same issues within each board.
Many moms want to live healthful lives, but are limited by time constraints and busy schedules. What is one tip you can give now to busy moms?
One tip I’d give moms right away is to lose the idea of “finding time” for fitness, changing eating behaviors, etc. As a busy mom, you’ll never “find the time.” You must “make the time” by making your health/ wellness more of a priority and putting yourself on your ever growing “to-do” list! A realistic goal for busy moms is to set a mini goal each week. Drastic change is temporary at best; it’s small changes over time that will ensure success. As new habits are formed, moms are encouraged to reinforce the habit they worked on from the week before as they take on another short mini goal. Receiving support and encouragement along the way helps build confidence, as well.
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Debi Silber is a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s Degree in Nutrition, a Personal Trainer, Whole Health Coach, Lifestyle Expert
— just for moms, speaker, author and busy mom of four The Lifestyle Fitness Program: A Six Part Plan So Every Mom Can Look, Feel and Live Her Best . Debi’s branded The Mojo Coach™ because for nearly 20 years, she’s inspired and empowered unfit, overweight and overwhelmed moms to “get their mojo back” through gradual lifestyle change. Through her book, products, coaching and unique Charity Program, Debi can motivate any mom to find the balance between motherhood and womanhood…because it doesn’t have to be a choice. www.TheMojoCoach.com
