Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent but with great inner drive, go much further than people with vastly superior talent. Sophia Loren, Actress

When I was 25, I weighed 315 pounds and had failed on every diet in the book. I remember feeling almost hopeless and kept wondering how I was going to drag my heavy body around another day. Clearly, popular diets werent the answer for me. Thats when I made the life-changing decision to begin exercising and I have never looked back. Today I cant imagine my life without fitness. But sometimes its hard to get moving. Here are five tips to get you off of the couch: Believe You are entitled to look and feel better what better time to invest in yourself than now? When you take care of yourself, it is much easier to take care of those who depend on you. Moving will help you have a positive attitude about life. That can help you become motivated to make it a part of your daily routine. Take a group fitness class, hire that personal trainer, try yoga or Pilates and incorporate meditation and relaxation. Go to a day spa. All will help you to connect with yourself. Relax A fitness program not only helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol and strengthens and tones muscles, studies show stress and depression can be improved with exercise. Aerobic activity releases endorphins, which make you feel great. Achieve One of the problems people encounter when starting a fitness program is having unrealistic goals. This also happens to dieters. We somehow think we can run a marathon before we walk a mile. Be persistent and things will happen. A good workout will instantly make you feel better, but results take at least a month or so of being steadfast and focused. A good way to achieve fitness goals is to write them down. Connect You will need to have support to make real changes. Find a class with an instructor who will be there to get you through your first workout without judgment. Find a group that will uplift you and make you feel valued as you work toward your goals. Hire a trainer who will take the time to identify your needs and goals and help you achieve them. Persevere Along your journey you will encounter many obstacles that might make you think it is time to give up. It is part of change. It is how you manage your roadblocks that will get you going. When it comes to exercising, it is important you have a clear understanding of how important this is for your life. In the end, arent you worth it? Debra

Just dont give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I dont think you can go wrong. Ella Fitzgerald, Singer

“Dear Debra. You seem to be a dream come true. After going to your website I knew this was what I was looking for. Your personality came right through. It was wonderful chatting with you recently. I am so scared and so exhilarated at the same time. You are truly so inspiring. Your message was very loud and clear, because you spoke from your heart as only someone can when they have experienced obesity. You said, “Dig deep inside yourself and you can become the you, you want to be”. Inspiring words. So easily said. But those giant sized words take great action. I am ready! Just hearing you talk about the virtues of fruits and vegetables. And the goodness of moving even for a simple 15 minutes. It sounded like heaven – or was it hell? How many times have I been at this point in a diet program? At the start, standing on the top of a mountain and stretching for the stars, or at least a new slimmer body. There were all those hopes, dreams and promises pinned on the Atkins low carbohydrate diet and the famed Scarsdale diet, Jennie Craig, Weight Watchers, or the diet pills, injections and the famous Oprah liquid diet. My soul is crying for fairness and stamina. I’m chanting over and over again, “I will do this for me, this time and I will get to the finish line, and this time life will cooperate”. It is no wonder I am SCARED. After my husband decided to reside at a different address, my life changed again and I ate my way into oblivion. My mom and sister were concerned, so they made me see a surgeon about a by-pass procedure or a rubber band. I prayed day and night for an alternative knowing I did not want to do this but I was at the end of my rope. There was no place else to go. It was my last resort. I could no longer live and carry all this ugly fat around anymore. My obesity put my health in danger. Sometime in July my husband and I reached a settlement and after a year of indecisions, my attitude seemed to revert back to the place were I was safe and secure. In a cocoon of positivity that brought me the success I enjoy in helping my clients feel as beautiful as they look. My passion returned. I felt rejuvenated. I needed to be in that place badly. Then, call it divine intervention, Debbie Nigro walked into the salon and the sun shone brighter that day because hope was on the horizon. She offers an alternative to surgery; her name is Debra Mazda. That was a few weeks ago and after our initial meeting at the taping last week, I am exhilarated. Armed with a new food plan and the “Mazda Method” this truly is the first day of the rest of my new slimmer life. My mantra is simple. I will be my perfect weight. Elle (New York) ———— Debra, it was such a wonderful serendipity to meet you yesterday! I feel as though a major connection occurred between my soul and my body. I have always loved working out, but felt that I’d never be good enough until I looked like a size 3 with NO CURVES! I woke up sore this morning- and it made my day!!! That’s how I know I did more than I usually do! I so want to take your classes, but it’s hard to come from S.Jersey in the evenings, and I am usually at my nursing job until 10 pm and my art job before then. So, thanks again for yesterday. Seldom in life do people take the time to thank others for anything; you really gave my soul a major boost; and I thought I was happy already!!!! Hope your day is as awesome as you! Lyn (New Jersey) ———— “Hi Debra. Thanks for being so cordial and welcoming today. I really had a great time. If this is how fun you are to a complete stranger, I can’t imagine how fun it is when people REALLY get to know you all. I’ll be there next Saturday for sure! Kate (Philadelphia) ———— I just wanted to thank you for all your help and support that you giving me through this whole expreience.I never in a million years thought that i will be able to do the broard street run.But with your dedication to your group i was able to do it and finish. So I just want to thank you for all your support. Just taking your classes has help me a whole bunch in my daily life struggles.I feel so good,and relieved. So if there is anybody out there who think they can’t do it come out to Debra Mazda class and you will believe that all things are possible. Ronsheba (Philadelphia) ———— Debra, I saw you at the end of the run this morning-(I was on the bike) I should have said more—it was great you were there coaching and motivating along getting your people through to the end. BRAVO!! I attended classes with you when you had a studio (2nd floor) on 8th Street below Washington Ave. ( 15–20 years ago?) You were an awesome motivator then and I see you’re still at it. Molly (Philadelphia) ———— Dear Debra, I was inspired and impressed by your story. As an obesity researcher and clinician helping patients to lose weight, your leadership to overweight women who want to be fit is a great story to motivate all of us. All the best. Adam Gilden Tsai, MD University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine ———— I just wanted to email you and say thank you first of all for the wonderful dinner we had last night. I also wanted to thank you most importantly for giving me this opportunity to do something that I have always wanted to do and never knew where to begin. You have showed me where to begin and opened a door for me which I never thought would be opened. I love you for this. I can not wait for tomorrow even though I am scared to death I know this will be a great success. Rosina (Philadelphia) ———— Thank you for answering my question about the difference between the new DVD and your original one. I can’t tell you how much you have changed my life. Until your first DVD there wasn’t anything available that I could keep up with and see results. I’ve been on Nutrisystem for a few months and between that program and your work-out, I’m losing weight and seeing changes in my body that I never thought possible. I’m physically stronger and getting more fit each week. There is a population out there that needs you and doesn’t know about you. It would be great if you could create more publicity for yourself, if you can handle it. I’m sure you’re very busy with all the attention you’ve been getting but we need more Debra!!! Robin (Philadelphia)

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. Sally Berger, Businesswoman

Who doesnt love an ice cold soda on a hot day? Whether its got sugar, high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners, we love our soft drinks. Its the beverage of choice for Americans with more than 15 billion gallons consumed per year. There has been a lot of data released recently on just how bad they are for us. Yale Universitys Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity has released the results of a study showing clearly that soft drinks are associated with increased caloric intake, higher body weight, a decrease in calcium and other nutrients, and increased risk of Type II diabetes. Were not exactly shocked to learn that soda isnt good for us. Most women I know who are trying to make healthy choices have at least switched to the so-called diet sodas. I have to admit to enjoying a diet ginger ale once in a while. But I want to encourage all of us to look at how much diet soda were consuming especially during this scorching hot weather. Lets look at some of the facts about diet soda. First of all, even though it is calorie free its got no nutritional content; Fake coloring, fake sweetener and water. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio found that the more diet sodas a person drinks, the more weight they were likely to gain. Why does this happen? One theory is that when we drink low calorie beverages we feel entitled to eat more food. Other research is looking at the way artificial sweeteners affect our blood sugar. Some scientists believe that drinking diet soda flavored with artificial sweeteners more than likely increases cravings for sugar flavored sweets and other carbs. I would suggest considering herbal, caffeine free iced tea without sweetener of any kind with a slice of orange or lime to give it a really thirst quenching taste. Tea also has anti-oxidants to boost the immune system. Try a fruit smoothie by mixing strawberries or any other tasty summer fruit with ice cubes in a blender. Youll get an amazing frozen concoction that does have calories but also many nutrients your body needs. So by all means stay hydrated during this steamy weather but drink lots of water and try to keep the diet soda consumption to a minimum. Debra Related topics: Healthy Eating, Diet Soda, Nutrition, Body Image, Plus Size, Womens Health, Womens Self Esteem, Plus Size Fitness, Starting a Fitness Program, Overweight Exercise, Larger Women Working Out, Active at Any Size

Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun. Mary Lou Cook, Environmentalist, Educator