Q: Hello Ms. Balland. Welcome. Would you mind introducing yourself?
A: Hi, My name is Kathy Balland, and I am the author of the book Lose the Diet: Transform your body your body by connecting with your soul. I am trained as a mind-body wellness practitioner, and I’m clinically certified in hypnotherapy. I have studied nutrition for weight management, addiction and stress management. Currently, I’m promoting my book and doing seminars that explain how people can tap into their own inner power for success.
A: You’re currently on virtual tour with your book Lose the Diet: Transform Your Body by Connecting with Your Soul. Can you tell us briefly about the book?
A: The book explains why dieting does not work, and provides tools and information so that people can achieve permanent weight management and be healthy and happy.
Q: What prompted you to start writing this book?
A: I wrote the book because obesity has become a crisis in the US. More than one third of US adults—over 72 million people in addition to 16% of US children are obese. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, since 1980 obesity rates for adults have doubled and rates for children have tripled. And obesity has led to other health issues. Even though we know everything there is to know about calories, carbs, fats, proteins, and how much we “should” weigh, the problem keeps getting worse. I wanted to talk about why that is, and what we can do about it.
Q: Why do you think don’t diets work?
A: First of all, diets are impossible to maintain, and therefore cause the Yo-Yo affect of weight loss followed by weight gain, which is more detrimental to the body than simply remaining obese. (The weight loss followed by weight gain is actually more stressful to the body than staying overweight.)
Here is why dieting causes the yo-yo effect:
At the physical level, when we stop eating the body creates a genesis enzyme that “sticks” the fat together, making it more difficult to release the fat into the bloodstream so that it can be used as energy. (The body does this because it is trying to conserve energy due to the lack of food.) This is why it is important to eat regularly to keep the metabolism going.
At the mental level, we are really being driven by the subconscious mind which is 88 percent of our mind. The subconscious is where our habits and emotions are, and those emotions really drive the binge-eating. But also, the subconscious mind does not process negatives. So if you tell yourself “I’m not going to eat that” the subconscious hears “I am going to eat that” so the more you try to deprive yourself, the more you are going to crave it. And even though you may not consciously want something, the subconscious will want it—and it will win every time.
This is why it is important to let go of the diets and deprivation, and simply get in touch with the emotions, stress, lack of sleep, or whatever it is that is actually driving the binge-eating. When we learn to let go of the diet pills, diet food and fad diets (the not-so-quick fixes) and get in touch with ourselves, then we can find the real answers. Lose the Diet shows you how.
Q: Do you think people can lose weight without dealing with the emotional components of obesity and weight loss?
A: No. As I mentioned, the subconscious is where our habits and emotions are. It is also where our imagination is, and as Einstein said: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” So we can actually tap into our own imagination to release those emotions that are driving the binge-eating. It’s like removing the weed from the roots, rather than simply trimming it, because it will only come back again if we don’t deal with the emotions. This is actually a good thing, because in the end you will feel better—mentally, physically, and emotionally. It’s all tied together.
Q: What factors do you think led us to a world where so many of us lack a proper mind-body connection?
A: I think our fast-paced, stressed-out society has led us to where we are today. As a result, people end up treating the stress with food – such as sugar, which leads to a sweets addiction and a vicious cycle that can be hard to get out of. Fast food has often replaced the more healthy food of the past, and it is more processed with sugar and other additives.
All of the stress and fast living has left many people feeling disconnected from themselves, and their own wants and needs. They can also feel lonely and disconnected from other people, and that loneliness can result in over-eating to fill the emotional emptiness. But the food does not fill the void, so they have to find other ways to fill it. And again, they will feel happier and healthier when they do.
Q: Can you suggest three things people can start doing today that will help them reconnect?
A: If you go to the Lose the Diet Web site resources page at: you will find a Balance Chart, Affirmation Steps and a Self-Guided meditation. These are tools that can help you to get started. Also if you sign up on the website you will receive a free half hour audio guided meditation with my voice, music and nature sounds, which will allow you to de-stress and start re-connecting within, and it will help you to learn how to use the self-guided meditation. You will also receive a free book excerpt when you sign up.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I have been doing allot of book promotion to get the word out, and I have several foreign publishers that are interested in publishing Lose the Diet in their country. I am also speaking on the radio, and doing seminars such as the Ultimate Women’s Getaway in Scottsdale, Arizona in October.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share?
A: If you have not seen it, check out the book trailer at DietFreeMovie.com. (To enlarge the video, simply click on the box that pops up in the lower right corner of the picture.) It gives you a short video of my message.
Q: Where can people find you on the internet?
A: Besides my website, I am on Twitter, also, you will find me on Facebook.
Q: Thank you very much for your time, Ms. Balland.
A: Thank you for having me!