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American Morning
Secrets of 'Balancers'
Aired January 07, 2004 - 05:58 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We know that many of you have made New Year's resolutions to get healthy or to lose weight. Well, we have some help for you now from some people who are healthier than ever. "Cooking Light" magazine calls them balancers.
Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta has some of their secrets.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Research shows that popular programs like the Atkins Diet or the South Beach Diet do help you take off a few pounds, but barely half the balancers have ever tried a formal diet. Their strategy? Change just a little at a time.
ELLEN CARROLL, "COOKING LIGHT" MAGAZINE: The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. You start with small steps or small bites, and after repeated behaviors, these things become habit and sooner or later you've eaten a whole elephant.
GUPTA: A sense of humor doesn't hurt. And the balancers have other secrets that may surprise you. Healthy living does take dedication.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think you have to be really committed to doing it. You have to make sure that you're going to do it no matter what and it's in your book and you have a designated time to do it, because if it's not scheduled, you're going to find something else that's going to distract you and you're not going to do it.
GUPTA: But it's not a life of sacrifice. There is a reason this group is called the balancers. Eighty-two percent say they designate time to relax. And 59 percent take time to nurture their spiritual side, nearly double the unhealthy group. The balancers eat mostly healthy foods, but...
CARROLL: The balancers really don't feel guilty if they have a slice of cheesecake or any other indulgent food. They really understand the message of variety, moderation and balance, and they simply eat healthier the rest of the day or the rest of the week, and they exercise more to make up for it.
GUPTA: In other words, those new year's resolutions don't really have to hurt after all.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Really, they don't.
Catch part three of the fitness series on "Anderson Cooper 360." It's called Slim Chance. It comes your way tonight at 7:00 Eastern.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 7, 2004 - 05:58 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We know that many of you have made New Year's resolutions to get healthy or to lose weight. Well, we have some help for you now from some people who are healthier than ever. "Cooking Light" magazine calls them balancers.
Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta has some of their secrets.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Research shows that popular programs like the Atkins Diet or the South Beach Diet do help you take off a few pounds, but barely half the balancers have ever tried a formal diet. Their strategy? Change just a little at a time.
ELLEN CARROLL, "COOKING LIGHT" MAGAZINE: The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. You start with small steps or small bites, and after repeated behaviors, these things become habit and sooner or later you've eaten a whole elephant.
GUPTA: A sense of humor doesn't hurt. And the balancers have other secrets that may surprise you. Healthy living does take dedication.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think you have to be really committed to doing it. You have to make sure that you're going to do it no matter what and it's in your book and you have a designated time to do it, because if it's not scheduled, you're going to find something else that's going to distract you and you're not going to do it.
GUPTA: But it's not a life of sacrifice. There is a reason this group is called the balancers. Eighty-two percent say they designate time to relax. And 59 percent take time to nurture their spiritual side, nearly double the unhealthy group. The balancers eat mostly healthy foods, but...
CARROLL: The balancers really don't feel guilty if they have a slice of cheesecake or any other indulgent food. They really understand the message of variety, moderation and balance, and they simply eat healthier the rest of the day or the rest of the week, and they exercise more to make up for it.
GUPTA: In other words, those new year's resolutions don't really have to hurt after all.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Really, they don't.
Catch part three of the fitness series on "Anderson Cooper 360." It's called Slim Chance. It comes your way tonight at 7:00 Eastern.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
