I have recently returned from a trip to the deep South of the United States, visiting Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. I know America gets bad press these days but I am a big fan. However, they really love food,  portion sizes are massive and fast food outlets are everywhere.

It’s funny how our lives have changed and how years ago people used to hunt to live and survive. This obviously involved blood, sweat and tears. These days, especially in the states people hunt in their cars and there is drive-in everything, drive-in fast food, drive-in pharmacies, drive-in banks, drive-in supermarkets. In fact people don’t really have to move these days because if you don’t go out hunting in your car someone will bring everything to you.

I couldn’t believe how many overweight people I saw, people of all ages and backgrounds. It’s such a big problem and I am sure we are catching up with our American cousins as us Brits’ waist lines are ever expanding.

In fact, in the plane on the way home I read in a recent survey that almost three-quarters of Britons believe they are overweight and have vowed to start a health campaign in the New Year. This got me wondering as to just how many of these vows will result in success.

Despite almost 70 percent of Britons saying they want to get healthy, experts said other evidence into people's behaviour suggests that repeated warnings about the dangers of obesity is falling on deaf ears.

Perhaps this is highlighted by McDonalds who recently revealed it had recorded growth rates close to their peak of the 1980s -- with 88 million visits to its outlets in the UK last month alone!

It is estimated that obesity causes 9,000 premature deaths each year in England and costs the NHS about one billion pounds annually.

A recent government study predicted that half the population could be obese within 25 years and Colin Waine, chairman of the National Obesity Forum charity, said the country's obesity crisis was "quite dire".

While it appears people want to tackle obesity, evidence such as the sales figures revealed by McDonalds, paints a markedly different picture.

The government is desperate to do something about this situation and in October, they unveiled a strategy where parents of severely overweight children may be sent letters warning them of the health dangers involved.

Do you think this will make any difference? I am not sure but I know that my weight loss programme is making a difference to many people.

The following is from Sue one of our many success stories:

"I am now 4 stone lighter, and have made the most incredible lifestyle changes since joining back in June"

If you want to see the progress people are making then have a look at our blog and check out our updated video of some of our amazing case studies.

Special Offer:

Take care, and if you want to sign up before Christmas we have a special offer. You can sign up for a 50% discount. Just go to petecohen.tv and use the promo word xmas.

Well January 2008 is well and truly here. How goes it in your world?

Have you set any new resolutions yet? Add them to the comments if you have!

A while back, I set out my mini-guide for a great year, which included making a commitment to look after yourself, making yourself a priority, and having loads of fun. With that commitment in mind, I encourage you to put together a wish list of all the things you would like to achieve this year.  Something amazing happens when we write down what we want.  I remember about ten years ago, I was at a workshop and we were asked to write down all the goals we wanted to achieve. I wrote down:

Now the strange thing is that I didn't really think about this list very often until a few years ago, when I was clearing out some of my possessions.   Amongst them, I found the book that I had written this list in and, to my amazement,  nearly everything I had written down as a goal had come true.

Let me tell you about a study by Yale University on goal setting that was carried out in the 1950's. The researchers surveyed those who graduated in 1953 to determine how many of them had specific, written goals for their future - only 3% of them had. Twenty years later, the researchers surveyed the surviving members of the original group and found that the 3% who'd set goals had accumulated more personal financial wealth than the other 97% of the class combined! Whilst goal setting and happiness are not all about money, this anecdote shows how powerful we can be when we set our mind to something.

The Challenge

This can work for any kind of goal, no matter how small it may seem. So I challenge you to get a piece of paper and write 'The sky is the limit' at the top of it: then take five minutes to write down a list of all the goals you want to achieve.  Whatever they are, just get them down on paper and then put it away somewhere safe. You can look at it every now and again but, as you can see from my story, you'll probably forget about it after a while: but it doesn't matter. Your focus will be set on those goals and, before you know it, they will become reality.

One small action

Some people feel intimidated by their own desires and, if they've experienced failure in the past, they might even feel anxious that they can't achieve them. If you're one of those people who feels worried or scared about your goal, just take a small step towards it. Do one thing - no matter what it is - that gets you that little bit nearer to what you want.  By taking even the smallest action, you will build momentum and confidence in yourself and, before you know it, you'll be on a roll.

Let's work together - as I hope to provide you with inspiration and tips over the next year to help you achieve your hopes, dreams, goals and ambitions. 

At this time of year we are still trying to stick to our new years resolutions and maintain our enthusiasm for our health and fitness regime. What drives some of us is the sight of our naked form as we catch glimpse of ourselves in the bathroom mirror. What do you see when you look in the mirror?

Do you like what you see?

Why not?

How you look at yourself has a dramatic effect on your life. What do you say to yourself when you look in the mirror? My guess is that you focus on what you do not like, and the overall effect is that you are not happy with what you see. If you don’t like your body, it weakens your self-concept. It makes you feel inadequate, and not worthwhile. Perhaps it is not worth bothering to lose weight after all?

Being able to help yourself lose weight is not about being positive or negative in your way of thinking; it's about being yourself. There's nothing wrong with being imperfect; it's part of what it means to be a human being.

Happy New Year to you all!

This time is always a bit of strain for so many people.  To me, it's always been a bit of an anti-climax. I can remember festive periods gone by when everything seemed to slow down, people had fun and enjoyed some rest and some time with friends and family. It was a time where many people had a chance to reflect and think about the year ahead. This seems to be almost impossible today because of the crazy pace of life we live. There are so many pressures in this commercial world we live in.  I couldn't believe, on Christmas Eve, reading a newspaper advert for a sale in a big store that was starting on Christmas day on-line. What's going on?

In the past, I've gone away at this time of year and had a quiet time escaping the parties and spending some quiet time with close friends. I always take time to think about the year ahead and focus on what's important.

"What's Going On" is a song by Marvin Gaye, it's about the difficulties and hardships people face in this sometimes mad, bad and crazy world. One of the lines in the song is "there's got to be another way"

So let me ask you, "What's going on in your life?" and "How do you feel about your life?" These might seem like deep questions but what I am encouraging you to do is to reflect and ponder about your life and what's important to you. Check out my mini-guide to a great 2008 because there is another way:

• Smile and laugh often
• Invest in your close relationships and spend time with the people who care about you and love you
• Get plenty of fresh air and use your body for what it is designed to do, which is MOVE
• Eat plenty of fresh food
• Get plenty of rest and relaxation
• Have as much fun as possible and do what you love to do more of the time

What about you? Have you got anything that you think would be fundamental to making your '08 Great? I look forward to your comments...

Take care,
Pete

Happy New Year everyone!

Well, it's the last day of 07... so it's a great moment to spend some time thinking about how you want to spend 2008.
Here's a few websites for Inspiration...

My 50 things to do in my lifetime
UK site, similar to 43 Things. Has a good list of suggestions and ideas for goals.

43 Things
Another great site where users can share goals, discover what's important, and make it happen.

We Are What We Do
A new movement inspiring people to use their everyday actions to change the world.

My Weight Loss Program (petecohen.tv)
Last chance to join-up for £49.95. Price increases tomorrow to £59.95

Hi there to you all and I hope you have had a good Christmas and are looking forward to 2008.

This is the time of year when many of us think about New Year resolutions. The common-most being to lose weight and get fit.

If this is one of your goals and if you haven't already checked out www.petecohen.tv, then have a look. It's a unique 21 day programme designed to help you develop the powerful and positive habits that will not only help you lose weight, but give you the tools you need to keep the weight off.

It's a great time to take a free trial and join up as the price is going up on Jan 1st.

Have a look at what some of the people who have been following the programme for the past few months have said:

"In 21 days I've lost a couple of pounds and a some inches, but, more importantly, I've learnt more about myself, particularly that I can do things differently. New habits are forming and I am nurturing them..."

"...I am relaxed and discovering new pleasures. I deeply dislike diets. I like to eat. I have never ate with such pleasure. I learnt to eat slowly and this made all the difference. I also love freedom. In this sense, I am much more free. I decide what I will eat instead of eating without choice.."

New Year's Goals

I recommend that if you do want to break a habit this year or achieve a goal or goals then your first port of call would be to write down anything you want to achieve.

"Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination."
Fitzhugh Dodson

When we truly focus on something, we are much more likely to achieve it  - whether it's gaining a job, buying a house, acquiring a qualification or having a harmonious relationship. By sending a message of desire to our brain, we start to make pictures of what we want and, in turn, we begin to take action in order to make it happen. Similar to a builder having an idea of what a project will look like when it's complete or a hairdresser knowing what style they want to create before they start cutting, we can all design the future we want - and then set out to obtain it.

If your goals are about things that you need in your life and will benefit you and others, you'll feel happy when you achieve them. But if you set goals just because you think you should, or to please other people, you may not feel that special even when you do achieve what you set out to do. It's important to ask yourself "What's in it for me?" and "What will happen if I don't manage to do this?"

I really hope you have a good New Year's and and even better 2008!

Hi there and let me start by wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas! - It's nearly upon us!
 
"You don't know how lucky you are!" was a regular put-down directed by my parents at me as I was growing up.  It was a critical remark used particularly when I wanted something new, or was bored with what I was doing. Once it had passed my parents' lips, the line had been drawn and I knew a lecture would soon follow on the subject of how much we had, compared to how little they had in the earlier part of their lives.  My parents were right, their generation had grown up during the war, with the real fear of air raids and the restricted diet and lifestyle  associated with rationing.  And the hardships suffered by their parents was greater still.

With many more lifestyle choices, a higher standard of living and more disposable income, we have never had it so good and yet greater numbers are suffering serious emotional distress. It is reported that, in Britain, almost a quarter of us suffer from depression or anxiety and a further quarter are on the verge of such distress.

Just as the experiences of my childhood proved, I was becoming increasingly confused between my needs and wants.

According to Oliver James in his book "Affluenza", two-thirds of Britons believe that they cannot afford everything they really need. Even when earnings increase, the perceived disparity remains, and the potential for anxiety and depression amplify.

For many people living in the western world, they feel like a hamster on a wheel, never having enough time, never having enough money and waiting for the promotion or windfall which will help them get on to the next step of the ladder. For almost all, the utopian ideal of a work life balance remains just a dream. I remember Christmas many years ago when it was quiet and peaceful, everyone seemed to slow down and take a few days off. Today, so many of us frantically work right up to Christmas Day, only to then stop for just one day and then pick up the pace again on Boxing Day.

So how about this Christmas, you take the time to focus on your needs and maybe fit in some YOU time.

Set yourself a challenge to enjoy the festive period and to have as much fun as possible with your friends and family.

In my next couple of posts, I'll be offering you some top tips on how to achieve any New Year's resolutions you may make.

Take care,
Pete