LiveWorld Transcripts

HealthShop presents

Judy Molnar
Author of “You Don’t Have to be Thin to Win"

January 27, 2000

Judy Molnar, author of “You Don’t Have to be Thin to Win,” chats about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and her experience in Hawaii’s Ironman competion.

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Healthshop: Welcome to healthshop.com's second live chat event. Our guest today is Judy Molnar, author of "You Don't Have to Be Thin to Win,” and the official coach of "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" Chub Club. Judy is here to answer your questions about nutrition, exercise and getting into shape - it's all about eating less, moving more and enjoying a richer, fuller and more active life. How are you this evening Judy?

Judy Molnar: Doing awesome, can't wait to chat with you all tonight!

Wesley: What first got you interested in a healthier lifestyle?

Judy Molnar: Definitely I needed to make some changes in my life that had nothing to do with the diet or losing weight, necessarily, but getting healthier. And a visit to the doctor gave me a good kick in the butt, when diagnosed as morbidly obese.

Spart10-21: What does your current diet consist of?

Judy Molnar: I pretty much follow the basic guidelines of the Food Pyramid. I try to make sure that I eat a breakfast, lunch, dinner, and usually a snack midmorning and mid afternoon. For example, this morning I had a bowl of cereal, started off also with a grapefruit, and a couple of pieces of toast. And, oh yeah, I'll treat myself later tonight to some Peanut M&Ms.

Greathealth: I happen to enjoy my morning cereal. Are they fattening since they're high in carbs?

Judy Molnar: Good question! You really have to read the labels. Check the fat grams. And really try to find a cereal with a high level of fiber in it. Be cautious of the high, sugary cereals, and definitely watch out for some granola cereals - although they might tout themselves as healthy, sometimes they have a lot of fat in them. And I always try to top my cereal off with 2 percent or skim milk, which will cut down on the fat too.

Polidor: How did you manage to overcome the craving for food?

Judy Molnar: Slowly! I started an inchworm approach. Rather than trying to get rid of high fat, sugary foods right away, I took it a little at a time, kind of like one donut at a time, I used to joke, because sometimes my breakfast would be about 5 donuts before lunch, Rather than completely cut them all out, one day it would be four, and slowly I would cut them all out. But it took months! One thing I learned was there were no "bad" foods, only learning moderation and portions.

Barbara: What is your favorite breakfast cereal?

Judy Molnar: I like Smart Start and Fiber One. Sometimes I even mix them.

Cellulite: I've been a bit overweight and indulging a bit, is it bad to now turn the other direction so suddenly. Could I have done some bad damage that makes extreme exercise now dangerous?

Judy Molnar: Well, you definitely have to come back slowly. The theory of "no pain no gain" is gone. You have to take a look back at what got you a bit overweight and started to indulge a bit, and then figure out some small steps you can take right now. Any time you jump into an exercise routine too fast, too quickly, from the couch, you run the risk of hurting yourself and getting frustrated. I found it was easier to start with small goals, maybe a walk around the block, go walk three to four times a week, ten minutes, and then build up. Sure, it is slow, but it makes a difference in your comeback when you have kind of fallen off the wagon.

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