New Year and Time for a NEW YOU!!!

Being overweight greatly increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, sleep disorders, autoimmune disease and the list goes on and on. It also makes it harder to heal the body post sickness or post surgery. And of course the lifestyle that accompanies obesity certainly is not a healing one. A lack of activity and poor nutrition will certainly lead to inflammation and the above mentioned problems. In the U.S. there are more obese, yet malnourished, people than anywhere else in the world.

So what better time than the new year to set a goal to change? Out with the old and in with the new! We all make New Year’s resolutions and some we keep and some fall by the wayside but when it comes to getting healthy and losing weight it’s a goal we should be motivated to stick to. There’s no better time than the present to realize the value in adopting a lifestyle that could literally reconstruct your body and have you feeling and looking better than you ever have! Imagine that, feeling better than you ever have in your entire life or even looking younger than you did 10 years ago. It’s hard to believe that it’s even possible, but it is and you have the power to make it happen. Following a few simple rules can get you there. That doesn’t mean you have to be a super disciplined person in every way but you do need to learn what helps and hurts the body so you can make healthy substitutions for your normally un-heathy choices. I encourage everyone in this New Year to be willing to learn all you can regarding your own health and nutritional needs.

It also doesn’t mean you have to become a marathon runner or hit the gym two hours daily but a few hours of moderate activity weekly can transform your body, not just physically but internally as well. According to The Center For Disease Control just 10 minutes a day walking up and down stairs is all it takes to help you shed as much as 10 pounds or more.

When deciding to lose weight and make positive changes for your body, don’t feel sorry for yourself by focusing on the things you can’t have or can’t do now, but rather get pleasure and motivation from the positive changes that will inevitably begin to take place. If you focus too much on what you can’t do, studies have found that chances are you won’t do them at all. Instead, focus on your goals and how you will look and feel upon accomplishing these goals. Let them empower you. The thoughts we think have a powerful effect on the mind and body.

The mentality used to be that in order to lose weight all fat must be avoided in the diet. This idea was huge in the 80’s and 90’s and actually hurt a lot of people, especially women. One of the biggest reasons is due to the fact that fat is needed for normal hormone production and hormonal balance. We need fat! Getting the right fat in your body is actually so good for you and a great way to speed up fat burning. For example, substituting a sugary snack for a handful of almonds or other nut has been shown to help you lose weight compared to those who rarely eat nuts in their diet. And for years we were told to avoid nuts altogether.

Also, another food that received bad press for years was the egg. There are wonderful properties of the precious egg that aid in actually dissolving fat in the arteries and around the waistline. The lecithin in the bright yellow yolk dissolves fat while the choline in the yolk dispels it from the body. And the white of the egg is a great source of protein as well. That’s why some call it the incredible edible egg. The wonderful egg received such a bad rap for so many years but due to more modern research we now know that eggs are a beneficial food that aids in improving cholesterol and weight loss. When scrambling or frying your eggs use the essential beneficial fatty acids found in coconut oil (lauric acid and caprylic acid) to jump-start your weight loss. These acids actually support the thyroid gland which is a primary metabolic regulator, therefore helping you burn more calories, ultimately helping you shed pounds.

Butter as well which is high in the essential fatty acid CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) is a good fat for the body and well known for aiding in weight loss. It’s hard to believe because for years we were told how butter was so bad, therefore everyone turned to margarine which is why heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. A double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled study, published in the December 2000 issue of the Journal of Nutrition found that CLA reduces fat and preserves muscle tissue. According to the research an average reduction of six pounds of body fat was found in the group that took CLA, compared to the placebo group. Studies have also found that CLA improves and strengthens the immune system. Research has found that approximately 3.4 grams of CLA per day is needed to obtain beneficial effects of CLA on body fat.

Upon setting a goal to lose weight think, “Eat more but less!” A little contradiction I know but what that means is eat more veggies, fruits, healthy meats, nuts and less sugary empty carbohydrates and grains. Give up the fatty cheeses and sodas and fried foods. When you’re eating healthy foods you can eat more abundantly without concern. Use more spices and seasonings and less artificial additives. Eat more of the good and less of the bad. It’s that simple.

Also, start watching your portion control. Sometimes our eyes are bigger than our stomachs, but studies have found we tend to eat what’s in front of us even though we would feel just as full on less. When ordering at restaurants order the smaller portion or plan on taking a quarter home and concentrate on chewing slowly. The more you chew your food, the more nutrients are absorbed by your body. It takes an average of 20 minutes for the body to feel a sense of satisfaction so the slower you eat the less you will eat.

In the quest for a healthy body and permanent weight loss it’s important to realize and accept certain emotional and behavioral tendencies we have towards food and our body. First we have to accept the body that we were given and decide to get it as healthy as we can. The average size of women in the U.S. is size 12, which in the 1950’s was considered beautiful. However, the usual size 12 today is not as healthy as a size 12 in former years due to our ever changing food supply. Regardless though of a persons size or body shape, it’s most important to be the healthiest you can be. By making some simple changes and losing those unnecessary pounds we actually improve our quality of life and increase our relative age. One of the greatest benefits of getting on the right track is when you strive to have your body healthy and strong you will soon find a more positive body image of yourself emerge.

If you find that you’re an emotional eater then you must find ways, other than eating to express love, fight boredom and tackle stress. Pick up hobbies and activities that will take up your time in other ways. Find creative ways to avoid temptations around the house and ask that family help you.

There is no better time than the New Year to get your health back! Its time for a New Year and a New You!!!

Here are your New Years Prescriptions

1. Get started on the Weight Loss Protocol to help manage your weight and get a healthy start for this year.
2. Get your blood work done NOW and In June of this year to make sure you don’t have any vital nutritional deficiencies that are leading you toward a disease process or health challenge
3. Take your Foundational Four Supplements including a Whole Food Multi, Cod Liver Oil, Digestive enzymes, and Probiotics. These are the supplements that we just don’t get in our food supply anymore.
4. GET MOVING! Come up with a new exercise plan for 30 minutes per day 5-6 days per week doing something you enjoy.
5. Drink half your bodyweight in ounces of pure, non chlorinated water daily. (150 lb person = 75 oz of water)