Carb Crazed

Low Carb diets have become as popular as apple pie (although apple pie wouldn’t be allowed!). Everywhere you go the message is “low carb, decrease your carbs, or no carbs”. Unfortunately this message oversimplifies many of the healthy eating habits that nutrition experts have been teaching. The truth is, there are no quick fixes or easy answers when it comes to healthy eating, and one size never fits all.

The idea that carbohydrates are bad or unhealthy is a misunderstood message that has taken over our thoughts on good nutrition. Low carbohydrate promoters push the theory that carbohydrates are to blame for the nation’s obesity problems. The truth is overeating and general lack of exercise are mostly to blame for the obesity epidemic. Think about it this way, if the theory was true that carbohydrates cause weight gain then every person including famous athletes who eat carbs regularly would be obese. It just doesn’t add up.

The Truth About Carbs:

Proponents of low carb diets claim that when carbs raise blood sugar and insulin levels, the process can make our bodies store fat more readily. This is true, but did you know that all carbs are not created equal?

There are different kinds of carbohydrates: simple and complex as well as low glycemic and high glycemic. This is where most people fail to understand better carbohydrate choices. There are no bad food choices just those foods that should be eaten daily and those that should be eaten once in awhile.

Fruits and Vegetables:

While it is true that fruits and vegetables are made up primarily of carbohydrates, the majority of them have a low glycemic index (glycemic Index is a measure of how quickly a food increases the blood sugar). This is because fruits and vegetables contain fiber which naturally keeps blood sugars level. Fruits and vegetables are also the most important food groups in our fight against chronic diseases. They are loaded in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals which act like our own personal arsenal against chronic diseases. In fact, the American Institute for Cancer Research has compiled over 4000 studies and has concluded that eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day can decrease our cancer risk by 20%. Eliminating fruits and vegetables from your diet can lead to potentially serious health problems such as heart disease and cancer.

Whole Grains- The Important Difference:

Both whole grains and refined grains (sugar, white bread, pasta, etc) are high in carbohydrate but whole grains, found in foods like oats, barley, brown rice and whole wheat breads and cereals, contain all parts of the plant kernel thus keeping their important fiber content intact. Refined grains are stripped of these nutritious components during the milling process. Yes, it is true that eating large amounts of refined carbohydrates on a daily basis can drive sugar levels up quickly. However, the fiber in whole grains slows the rise in blood sugar and therefore the insulin response.

In fact, eating small amounts of whole, complex carbohydrates throughout the day can keep blood sugars at a more even level preventing insulin rises and weight gain. Research shows that people whose diets are high in whole grains and fiber decrease their risk of diabetes, certain cancers, and heart disease.

Portion Control:

The flip side of the coin is that most people consume extremely large portion sizes of carbohydrates, eating more refined carbohydrates than the healthy complex carbohydrates, which can lead to weight gain. The answer, however, is not to give up all carbohydrates. It is not all or nothing as we learned from the low fat craze. We need to learn how to balance our diets to provide enough energy and nutrients that we get from all of our food groups throughout the day. By removing all carbohydrates from your diet you are setting yourself up for potential health problems not to mention bad breath (side effect of ketosis), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and low energy levels.

Very low carbohydrate diets would not be of concern to health professionals and nutrition experts if they weren’t so significantly low in important nutrients and so high in saturated fats. Recent studies have found that low carbohydrate diets are deficient in as many as 19 vitamins and minerals and as many as 11 micronutrients. According to Dr. Bruce Ames, a professor of molecular and cell biology at the University of California, Berkley; vitamin and mineral deficiencies such as these can lead to DNA damage that can cause you to age prematurely and could lead to cancer and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. There is further evidence that these diets can lead to other diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. It is important to remember that these diets were developed for weight loss and not healthy eating guidelines.

Bottom Line:

Choose small amounts (˝ cup to 1 cup) of whole grains with each meal. Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the day and you will be able to manage your weight and your health at the same time! People who have achieved lifelong weight loss have done so by making lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet and increasing their daily activity, not by following fad diets.

Most importantly, don’t depend on fad diets to give you nutrition advice. They generally look at a small piece of the puzzle instead of looking at the whole picture. There is no need to increase your health risk to lose weight. Choose to eat a balanced diet and increase your activity so you can lose weight and maintain optimal health at the same time.

Why Does the Weight Come Back?

Before many Australians recently, a devastating story unfolded on a popular current affairs program.

We watched with compassion as the fattest man in Australia told of his most recent, serious attempt to lose weight. Approximately 12 months earlier and weighing close to 300 kilos, he under went surgery and had his stomach stapled.

I doubt there would have been one person watching not moved by this man’s depression and plight. Despite undergoing the surgery, today he could barely get through each day, both physically and mentally. He shared with us his sense of hopelessness and wanting to end it all.

It was not only his size that was causing his depression. He had to deal with a heart broken by disappointment.

You see, the stomach stapling had been a success.

He soon lost well over 50 kilos post operation and he and his family rejoiced. But then the unthinkable happened.

The weight came back. Today he weighs well over 300 kilos – more than before the stomach stapling.

This is an extreme case, but nonetheless raises a question that so many people continue to battle with.

After a diet, why does the weight come back so quickly?

To answer this we need to understand how much energy a body requires. For each pound you weigh, each day you need 12 calories to maintain your body weight. If you weigh 120 pounds you will need 120 x 12 calories, that is, 1440 calories per day to maintain that body weight. If you eat or drink more calories than your body requires, the excess energy is stored as fat. It takes 3,600 excess calories to make one pound of fat.

In this example, if your typical daily calorific intake is 2000 calories, in around 30 days you would put on between 4-5 pounds of fat!

Let’s say, you then decide to go on a restrictive diet and halve your calorific consumption to 1,000 calories per day. You stay on this diet for around a month and lose 10 pounds and now weigh 110 pounds. You feel fantastic about losing the weight but can’t keep up such a restrictive regime because you are irritable and have no energy.

So you go off your diet and go back to your usual routine of 2,000 calories a day. Remember you are lighter now and your body requires less energy to maintain its new weight. You would now require 110 x 12, that is, 1320 calories per day.

In this instance, by consuming 2000 calories daily, because you are lighter than before, you would put the weight back on in just 24-25 days!

If you want to keep the weight off you must develop a consistent change in eating habits to ensure you do not consume more than your body requires. You cannot continue to eat the same quantities and/or combinations of foods that caused you to be overweight in the first place. This will require developing an understanding of the nutritional content of food and raising your body’s metabolism through increased muscle mass and exercise.

Getting Through the Holidays Without Gaining Weight

Now that the holiday season is here, holiday foods and meals take center stage. And this is as it should be. Food is a terrific celebration of friendships, of family and of love. These celebrations do not have to lead you to unhealthy eating habits. With a little advance planning, you can really enjoy your food and the holidays. Remember that the mental attitude you bring to the table is as important as what’s on the table.

1. Plan Ahead. Without thinking about what is likely to be served, the best intentions fall by the wayside faster than you can shake a drumstick. If you absolutely cannot pass up the cornbread or cinnamon buns warm from the oven or Aunt Fay’s amazing apple cake, then you need to decide what and how much you will eat so someone does not have to roll you out. If you’re going to eat the apple cake that’s fine, but remember to eat fewer quiche and pastry puff appetizers when you arrive and to pace yourself throughout the meal.

2. Strategize. So if you’re not eating puff pastry appetizers, what are you going to eat? If you’re going to someone’s house for the holidays or if it’s in your home, serve something that is good to eat like a salad, lots of vegetables and maybe shrimp cocktails and take larger portions of those and smaller portions of the rest of the meal. Eat your vegetables first. They’ll fill you up, leaving less room for the more calorie-packed stuffing, mashed potatoes and pie.

3. Relationships first, food second. Yes, the holidays have wonderful foods – everywhere. But the reason you’re gathered together with relatives and friends, rather than eating alone is to be in contact with people. Focus on the people and what you’re doing instead of strategizing how to get those last potato puffs before Aunt Harriet does. Let Aunt Harriet have it. Besides, if her mouth is full, it will keep her from gossiping and give you the opportunity to connect with people you care about.

4. Eat small meals throughout the day. Do not make the mistake many people do of eating virtually nothing during the day to “save” extra calories for the big meal. You’ll end up hungry and eat things you don’t particularly like. Eat high-fiber mini meals for breakfast and lunch with snack (think whole fruit) in between to prevent an all-out binge.

5. Slow down. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to register fullness. Put down your fork and talk to your neighbor.

6. Water, Water, Water. We often eat, when we are really thirsty. Drink water before, during and after the meal so you are well hydrated.

7. “Let’s toast the Holidays!” Although it is important to drink liquids, alcohol dehydrates you, acts as an aperitif and loosens your resolve to eat healthfully. Calories really add up – and not just from the alcohol. Studies show that when we drink, we eat almost 20% more than our teetotaling friends. For an easy option, consider a wine spritzer or save the first toast for when the turkey is served, and sip four ounces instead of the usual eight.

8. Go for a walk. Instead of watching football on the couch all afternoon – eating the chips and dips during time outs – why don’t you gather everyone for a long walk? Taking a 45-minute walk could use up almost 250 calories. This is a wonderful holiday tradition you could start. If nothing else, you’re not home eating the leftovers.

9. Talk kindly to yourself. Banish the mantra, “I always gain weight over the holidays.” Instead say to yourself, “I am giving myself the gift of health. I can eat and enjoy any food I want in moderation.” Or as diet Dr. Gullo says, “Thin tastes better.”

10. Enjoy the season of celebration. Remember the holidays are about coming from a place of gratitude. Now especially this year, we have a lot to be grateful for. Treat yourself well with friends, with loved ones and yes, with foods.

Top 10 Diet Tips From Diet Winners

Use these tips to turbo charge your weight loss program.

Take it one pound at a time:

Don’t get overwhelmed by how much weight you need to lose. Just take baby steps in the right direction and you’ll be amazed at your progress when you look back. You didn’t gain your weight overnight, so it will take time to lose it all.

Weekly weigh in:

Only measure your results and weigh yourself once a week to give your body time to make adjustments.

Share your journey:

Find a friend to lose weight with and become each other’s coach. Check in several times a week to help each other stay on track.

The scale is not the final word:

Don’t get discouraged when your progress seems to be slow according to your bathroom scale. Instead, measure your results with a tape measure-it will give you much more reliable and encouraging feedback.

Shop when you’re full:

Only shop for food when you are not hungry to avoid buying foods you may regret later.

Set reachable goals:

If you know you need to get more exercise, begin with a manageable goal of, say, walking 10 minutes a day that you know you can achieve. Then build your self-esteem by achieving the small goals you set yourself.

Celebrate your success:

Each time you lose 5 pounds, acknowledge your achievement by giving yourself a little gift.

Out of sight, out of temptation:

Clear unhealthy foods from your refrigerator and shelves to keep temptation at bay. This also means clearing out the handbag, brief case and glove compartment in your car.

Add extra steps:

When you go about your daily routine add extra steps. Use the stairs instead of the elevator, part at the far end of the supermarket car park, and get rid of the TV remote control. Make little changes to add extra steps and these will quickly add up to support your goals.

Seek help if you need it:

If you need help to keep on track, then get it. If you have tried unsuccessfully over and over to lose weight, then you may need someone to help you. A weight loss coach can significantly increase the rate at which you lose weight and teach you how to stabilize at your goal weight.

Weight Loss Diets with Negative Calorie Foods

Negative calorie foods are said to use more calories to digest than the calorie content of the foods themselves, resulting in a negative calorie balance. It is therefore natural to consider a diet containing these foods for weight loss.

A diet is a combination of a balanced selection of foods designed for medical or nutritional reasons. A good diet should include all major food groups. The weight loss diets (with or without negative calorie foods) are made to reduce body fat and weight. Some of the popular weight loss diets are: Atkin’s diet, cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet, Hollywood diet, negative calorie foods diet, Pritikin diet, the South beach diet and the zone diet.

Most of the weight loss diets promote to eat a particular food group and restrict other food groups. Such diets may show temporary results. If you follow these restricted diets for a long time, you may develop some health problems at later stage as these diets do not contain all the necessary nutrients needed for your body.

The secret to losing weight is to eat and drink the right kind of foods until you are satisfied. Skipping of meals is not the answer for weight loss, it can rather deteriorate your health. A healthy weight loss diet plan should include vegetables, fruits, grains, lentils and beans in your diet. Following is a sample daily diet plan that is good for keeping healthy weight and good health, irrespective of whether you follow a diet plan with negative calorie foods or not.

- Skim milk and skim yogurt.
- Salads or boiled vegetables or vegetable soup as starter.
- Whole-wheat bread/tortila, whole grain cereal and rice.
- Whole grains like kidney beans, chick peas and lentils.
- Lightly cooked green vegetables.
- Any dessert with minimum sugar.
- Lean variety of meat (it is better to avoid).
- The dinner should be light. If you had bread for lunch then have rice for dinner.

Include as much negative calorie foods as possible in the above diet plan. If you are meat eater, choose from a lean variety and restrict to one serving in a day.

A diet with negative calorie foods as main ingredients can include foods that are loaded with carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and dietary fibers necessary for keeping you fit. The diet with negative calorie foods can be tailored for fast or gradual weight loss. The fast weight loss diet that can lower the weight up to two pounds per day, is not recommended for long term. The gradual weight loss diet can reduce one pound in a week and can be followed until desired weight is achieved. The diet can be made according to ones needs. The negative calorie foods will not give you much benefit if you are eating foods loaded with fats and sugars. If you eat a serving of potato fries, don’t think that you can reduce the calories gained from fries by simply eating some negative calorie celery.

To Diet or not to Diet, That Should Be The Question!

Diet information is everywhere. In advertisements, on TV, in magazines; the bookstores are crammed with books on many different diet options – The South Beach Diet, The Atkins Diet, Weight Watchers, The Cabbage Soup Diet. The message is ‘you should think about your weight’. If you aren’t already thinking about dieting, you will be before long.

Most of the clients that come to see me want to lose weight. They have typically tried out a few diet options, but still haven’t achieved what they are looking for.The big question is what are they looking for?

It all starts off with that glance in the mirror. What we see staring back at us is often an image we don’t like or at least we don’t rave about. The instant reaction too often can be – ‘I need to go on a diet’.

You don’t like the package, so you need to alter it in some way. But the truth is that often it is the ‘packaging’ that is distorting the picture – distorting our image of ourselves and not you (the package).

Consider this: Everything about you is perfect as it is, and has a purpose. Your shape, your height, your size, your hair colour, your eye colour, the shape of your features, and the size of your knees – they all combine to create you. Having a negative personal image can lead to weight gain or weight loss. Most eating disorders occur as a result of a negative body image.

Your packaging – or your style and your way of dress – has a huge impact on your personal image – how you see yourself, how much you like the way you look and …how large or small you look.

Just imagine how you feel when you are presented with a gift that is packaged with the fanciest ribbon, shiniest paper and with care and attention. In fact, it almost doesn’t matter what is inside the package! It is the same for you, your packaging has an impact on yourself – how you feel about yourself, your confidence levels, and how others treat you.

So before you go on a diet, please consider the following:

Are you wearing clothes that don’t fit you?

Squeezing into an item of clothing is just plain unflattering and although you think you can stay in denial of your true size, every other person that passes you in the street will notice that you are squeezing in. You will only draw more attention which can make you feel more sensitive about how you look.

More importantly wearing clothes that are bigger than you or too small for you will make you look bigger.

Tips

Go through your wardrobe and clear out all items that don’t fit you. Be ruthless! You don’t have to throw them away. But putting them in another area – like the top shelf – so they are out of visibility will ensure you a) don’t wear them and b) you don’t reinforce your negative concerns each time you wear them!

Cut out the size tags. This will take your mind off what size you are wearing, and hopefully you will forget all together and start enjoying what you wear And of course buy clothes that fit! You think that’s just common sense? Well it is one of the biggest wardrobe mistakes that people can make! Are you wearing clothes that suit your body shape?

Wearing the wrong shape clothes can add pounds. A square shaped t-shirt in structured cotton will cut off any curves you have, either roll up to expose your stomach or make your torso look like a square box. Oh no! However that is what we can mistakenly go for. The same goes for a pair of jeans – a key item in all our wardrobes. They are often cut to fit a squarer body shape.

Tips

Jeans for a curved hipline – drop the waistline but ensure you have a larger waistband, and/or no back pockets. Also, opt for jeans with stretch. This will follow your natural contours better. For men: go for jeans with a pleat around the waistband to accommodate a softer belly line.

Jeans for a narrow hipline – most jeans look a dream on you, but ensure you opt for structure. Stretch could make you look like you have puppy fat. T-shirts for a curve – use softer fabrics with drape and soft stretch that have a curve in the cut. Avoid front pockets, too high a neckline, square short sleeves. Instead, feminine touches – flowers, soft textures and chiffon, depending on your style. For men: go for softer fabrics.

T-shirts for angles – use structured fabrics, stripes and lines, boyish cuts, and heavier stretch. You can do pockets and sheer looks.

Are you investing in yourself?

If you are having concerns about your weight then you may have put a stop on your wardrobe spending ‘until you lose weight’. This is just plain unfair on yourself. It can only lead to you feeling more miserable if you are living in three outfits and haven’t got anything you feel really good in. You may feel it will force you to take your diet wishes seriously, but again is dieting what you need, or what anyone needs for that matter?

Tips

Go out now and buy yourself something that you feel really good in, that suits you, that is perhaps an extravagance and that looks slightly sexy or suave. Regardless of whether you have been starving your wardrobe. This doesn’t require emptying your wallet. The action in itself, spending some quality time for you to value yourself, will improve your spirits. For women: Go out and buy some new make-up. A fresh gloss for the lips – natural or bright – whatever is your preference, and a shimmer or rouge for the cheeks. Invest in good mascara and some colour or base for the eyes. For men: invest in a new shampoo, a facial lotion and an upgrade your shaving system.

Consider this: You don’t need to lose weight. But you do want to be healthy and have a positive self-image. If you achieve the latter, your own appearance and weight will find its natural way.

Being healthy is mostly achieved by finding balance. Balance between the stress in your life and the peace you have; a balance between your nutrients and your addictions; a balance between being active and being passive. You also want to be well.

With the amount of toxins we have in our foods and environment and the amount of pressure we have living in the Noughties, your health is very important. Dieting can be unhealthy. What is healthy is loving yourself for how you are, appreciating that as you age your body will change, and that a healthy self-image is far more important than whether you can fit into a size 2. In fact, that is quite dangerous.

Dieting can be a quick fix – you see some results so you feel like you have dealt with the problem. But if you are not happy with your own personal image, then weight loss or not, you will shortly be back in front of that mirror complaining about how you look again.

Are Fruits Making You FAT?

I want to make this perfectly clear, fruits are healthy and they are good for you. They are loaded with vitamins, fiber, and minerals. Fruits have also been shown to fight against cancer. However, when we are talking about weight loss we need to take a closer look at fruits.

It is pretty obvious to everyone that when you want to lose weight you watch your sugar intact, right? Well, there is a reason why fruits are called, “nature’s candy”.

Fruits are loaded with sugar, fructose to be exact. This why athletes use them during endurance for energy, and why people suffering from hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, use them to raise there blood sugar when needed.

That is where one of the problems is. Fruits are carbohydrates. Never eat a carbohydrate by itself. This is basically all sugar. When you eat a carbohydrate by itself there is a sudden increase in sugar in the body. This causes the body to release insulin. However, the body releases too much insulin because it thinks more sugar is coming.

The insulin basically grabs the sugar/carbohydrate and stores it to fat for use at some other time. Since your body released too much insulin there is not enough sugar to support the brain function. That is why you feel tired or sluggish. So you’re fatter and dumber. So, if you are going to eat a carbohydrate, eat some protein with it, it will slow the release of the sugar.

You need realize that a glass of orange juice is just about the same as a glass of soda.

Introduing Supplements to Your Body & Improving Your Diet – A Guide of What to Expect

Part 1:

A “better nutritional program” means the introduction of foods and supplements of a higher quality, such as (Mexican Wild) Yam, (mono)saccharides, Phytochemicals or/& Food Form Vitamins, in place of lower quality supplements. The closer the food comes to the natural state in which it occurs, or the closer it comes to its raw, uncooked form, the higher its quality. All the enzymes are found intact when foods are left in this condition and all the protein-containing amino acids are left in their finest form. The minerals, vitamins, trace elements, carbohydrates and “life force” are still present. When these are ingested, the body can reproduce healthy tissue. Think about it: your cells are made from what you eat – so food does effect your health.

If you are really interested in a better nutritional program; omitting highly toxic substances such as coffee, caffeinated teas, chocolate, tobacco, salt, and highly preserved and processed foods like sugar, white flour and chemical additives; will give you some definitely desirable results. Basically omit anything that comes in a bag, box, jar, or can. The higher quality of food that you eat, the faster you will reap the benefits in health, energy, and clarity of thinking. Assimilating and properly digesting higher quality foods enables the body to discard lower grade materials and tissues to make room for the superior materials which it uses to make new and healthier tissue. If we would stop interfering with the normal process of the body by overloading it with lower quality substances, it would function more freely to improve its health. That is always its aim and the plan of nature and adaptation. By observing the self-curing nature of colds, fevers, cuts, swellings, injuries, & etc. it is obvious that the body is always attempting to heal and repair itself except when we interfere with the process.

Part: 2 REMOVING THE TOXINS

When we first begin to omit the lower grade foods and instead introduce superior substances (which may supply nutrients our body can use to make the building blocks that we have been deficient in) and also when we suddenly reduce or stop using toxic foods, etc. we may experience headaches and or a letdown. This is because the body is discarding toxins which have been removed from the tissues and transported through the bloodstream during its bodily rounds. Before these noxious agents reach their final destination for elimination, these irritants register in our consciousness as discomforts. These toxins may also cause our liver and kidneys to work harder to process years of accumulated wastes out of our system in a short time. But if we don’t go through this process at some time, the accumulation will continue and our health will decline until something drastic occurs. The energy letdown may be due to the slower action of the heart, resulting from a resting phase. The resting phase follows the stimulation of the more rapid heart action which has been forced upon the body by certain toxins in our foods. Also fatigue may appear from energy being shifted from the live cycle to the heal and repair cycle. The discomfort will usually vanish within several days, and we will then feel stronger due to the repair which follows. Then this process may repeat again and again until our bodily systems are clean and rebuilt.

One reason people fail with their new nutritional program is that they lack understanding of how the body works. They are misled to believe that they felt better with their old habits and diet before they changed. They fail because they do not give the body a chance to adjust and complete its phase of cleansing and recuperative action. If they would wait a little while longer they would begin to feel better than before they started. The body’s power has been increased, but since this increased energy is used to discharge poisons via skin, sinus, lung, eyes, ears, the mind misinterprets it as some weakness. Any weakness which is felt here is not true weakness, but merely a gathering of the forces for the rebuilding of the more important internal parts. Here it is essential for us to stop wasting energy and to rest and sleep more. It is important to have patience and faith and just wait it out, realizing that the years of improper diet are the only reason for our discomfort and that the body is receiving a blessing during this crucial phase. After a short time, we will get increased strength which will far exceed what we felt before we began the new program. Be consistent in your use of a nutritional program so the body can develop a steady process of repair without interuptions. As one continues on the improved nutrition and gradually raises the food quality, interesting enough symptoms begin to appear in the first phase called catabolism. Here, the body begins a process called “retracing”. The cellular intelligence immediately starts getting rid of the toxic buildup throughout the body, ridding the liver and gall bladder of excess bile by sending it to the intestine to trigger the process of elimination, removing the “sludge” out of the arteries, veins and capillaries, cleaning up deposits in the joints, ridding the body of effects from irritating food preservatives, aspirins, sleeping pills and drugs along with other masses of excess fat which have made life so burdensome for us for so long. This may manifest itself in loose stools or constipation overload. Extra fiber is essential to keep the ‘sewer line’ removing toxins.

Part 3: NEXT PHASES – FORMING NEW TISSUES AND INCREASING ENERGY

The second phase is called stabilization. During this phase, the amount of waste material being discarded daily is equal to the amount of tissue which is being formed and replaced by the newer, more vital and nutritious food. This occurs after the excess obstructing material in the tissues has been removed. This stage is followed by a third phase which is called anabolism. Due to the improved assimilation, new tissues are now being formed faster and are more durable and do not break down easily. The body’s need for more food is decreased; therefore we are able to maintain our weight and increased energies with less food. With the use of live concentrared food supplements and herbs many people are able to maintain optimum energy and health with only two meals a day. As the body progressively increases in efficiency and decreases in tissue breakdown under exercise, so do we gradually need less and less food to maintain life.

Part 4: HOW MUCH?

The higher the percentage of raw or live food one lives on, the slower the rate of tissue deterioration. A healthy body requires a gradual, carefully worked out entry into this stage, where one is able to live on a higher percent of raw food. For some people, it is important that they start with a very small quantity of each nutrient, such as 1/2 tablet once or twice a day in the beginning. This will enable the body to adjust to having such a high quality substance in it, without too fast of a cleansing effect. Most people are able to start with higher amounts. However, some people may be holding medicine, drugs and highly toxic matter, or viruses in their tissues due to their past diet, and upon the introduction of nutrients like these to the body, its natural response is to start a cleansing and cell rebuilding program. It is best, therefore, to start by using a fiber product and 8-10 glasses of pure spring water away from supplements to help dilute the poisons and carry them away rapidly. This should help to minimize the uncomfortableness of detoxing.

Part 5: DEALING WITH THE SYMPTOMS

You may be eating perfectly with regard to quantity, quality and observing all of the correct rules, and still undesirable symptoms may occur. Those who have eaten better foods in the past and have not abused their bodies with overeating, will have detoxing ranging from almost nothing at all or very mild, to symptoms which may be uncomfortable. Those who have eaten quantities of candy, ice cream, processed foods, etc. and have poisoned themselves more, might experience more symptoms if their liver, kidneys or other important eliminating organs have been weakened. When they have been renovated to the point of fair working order, they will no longer produce symptoms so noticeable. Even though you may be one of the ones who followed all of the rules of proper nutrition, you must realize that it is almost impossible not to take in a certain amount of toxins and heavy metals with the very air that you breathe and water that you drink. The symptoms will vary according to the materials being discarded, the condition of the organs involved in the elimination, and the amount of energy you have available. The more you rest and sleep when symptoms are present, the milder they are and the more quickly they are completed. Be happy that you are having symptoms! Realize deeply that your body is becoming younger and healthier every day because you are throwing off more and more wastes which would have eventually brought rapid aging and much suffering. Those who have the worst symptoms-reactions and stick with the dietary improvements until their successful termination, are thus avoiding some of the worst conditions which would eventually have developed, had they continued their careless eating habits. Remember it is very rare that anyone would be allergic to top quality food supplements. The effects are usually due to a healing crisis and not because the product makes you sick or allergic. The key is to find those few rare manufacturers who not only claim to have no junk on their label; but who really use only pure products of high quality. Remember, though many people may have some good experiences within days or weeks, some people may not become aware of benefits for a few months. Often things may be going on inside our bodies that are beneficial though we do not notice them. Be aware that if you continue to put toxic foods into your body while using food supplements, the body may be strong enough to just keep detoxing each new poison as you put it in. So for optimal health, try to discontinue dead toxic foods. Eventually as the cleansing work is done we may get noticeable benefits too.

So plan on making a 3-4 month comittement to steady & consistent use of a pharmaceutical-grade nutritional supplements. Take them 3 times a day so you can notice the benefits. Also realize there may be other factors impairing your renewal – not addressed by the items you are using. You may wish to consult a nutritionist or natural physician for other products to provide needed factors to allow your body to continue to progress. The mysteries of the body, the ‘operations of nature’, the vital forces working in ‘nature’ and the Cosmos are far beyond what our minds are prepared to understand at present. Even the greatest physicians and scientists, marveled in awe and humility at the wonders of ‘nature’. Let us give ourselves a chance to experience what it means to be really healthy and fully alive, and to feel the joy of living by aligning ourselves to God’s (nature’s) laws as intended for us, by the eating of natural foods and supplements. This indeed is a prime prerequisite in our physical, & mental well-being.

How Do I Begin A Fat Loss Plan?… Let Me Count The Ways!

Most people are unsure about how to begin a fat loss program. They have many questions about food choices, meal composition and exercise.

Getting yourself in good physical condition will require willpower and dedication and the desire to get results. It is not easy to lose body fat. It took a long time to accumulate the fat and it will take just as long to remove it.

Remember that you should aim to lose 1.5 to 2 lbs. per week. Lose any faster and you are probably losing water and muscle. Losing muscle is detrimental to any fat loss program because it is muscle that burns calories. THE MORE MUSCLE YOU HAVE THE MORE CALORIES YOUR BODY REQUIRES!

If you lose fat slowly while learning to adopt a healthy lifestyle, you are more likely to keep the weight off. And, if you ever falter, you’ll know exactly how to get back to your goal weight without returning to your old ways.

Here is how to start a good eating program.

1. Increase your water intake. If you are exercising, try to drink at least 100 oz. to 128 oz. per day.

2. Limit yourself to two drinks per week. Alcohol slows your metabolism and decreases your body’s ability to burn fat by as much at 40%. Empty calories!

3. Decrease significantly or completely eliminate sugar from your diet. If you are a dessert person, treat yourself once a week to something sweet. This includes soda. If you are a soda drinker, switch to diet and only have two cans per day…Splenda sweetened preferred!

4. Eat 5 small meals per day. This is the most important factor in losing fat. Eating smaller more frequent meals will speed up your metabolism and prevent your body from going into starvation mode. Each meal should be approximately 3 hours apart.

5. Try to eat a serving of vegetables with 3 of your 5 meals. Vegetables are water rich (so is fruit) and have plenty of vitamins and fiber. They are filling and of course they are good for you.

6. Do not eat 3 hours before bedtime. The evening is when you are least active and your metabolism slows in preparation for sleep. You risk storing late-night calories as fat. IF you are absolutely starving at night, have a few pieces of fat free turkey breast to fight the hunger.

7. Do not skip breakfast. This is the meal that will govern your day. Eat a basic breakfast of carbohydrates, protein and fat to set up your metabolism for the day and to provide fuel for your daily activities. Remember, if you don’t feed yourself a small wholesome meal in the morning, your body will draw on your muscle tissue as a source of energy, putting you in a slump and in muscle deficit. This means your body will eat your muscle to fuel your activities and your body fat will grow.

8. To lose fat you must put yourself into calorie deficit. This means you will have to eat less than you have been eating. Try to eat 500 calories less per day than you have been eating or reduce your calorie intake by 250 calories and add enough exercise to burn 250 calories. (Example: 35 minutes on a treadmill at 4% incline at 3.5mph.)

9. Lower your starchy carbohydrate intake, increase your protein intake and be careful how much fat you eat. Some fat is necessary. Try not to eat more than 20% of your daily calories from fat. Starchy carbs are potatoes, rice, beans, bread, pasta, oatmeal, etc. Replace these carbohydrates with fibrous carbs, such as green veggies. The best way to slowly lower your carb intake is to stop eating starchy carbs after 3pm so that your last two meals of the day do not contain starchy carbs.

10. Get 8 hours sleep per night. Sleep, rest and relaxation are of prime importance. It’s during periods of sound sleep that our bodies recuperate and build muscle tissue. Lack of sleep encourages the production of the hormone Cortisol. High levels of Cortisol have been shown to promote fat storage.

My fat loss and fitness plan “Every Body Loses” will give you the tools you need to begin a healthy weight loss program. The style of eating and exercising outlined in my book is one that you can follow for life without feeling deprived. If you’re serious about losing fat and getting fit go to www.aim4nutrition.com and get started TODAY!

At The Dinner Table

It was very hard having an overweight child. Wherever we were, people just stared. I often wondered if she saw what I saw. I wish I could have protected my 8 year old, Jeanine, from the eyes of this world. I wish I could have shielded her from those stares. We never really talked much about it. It was simply too painful. It is almost as if as long as we didn’t talk about it, it was not real. She pretended not to notice but I knew she saw how people reacted to her. She was a smart, perceptive child. From a very early age, she always saw things that I did not even notice. There was that time on a trip to Washington, D.C. she asked me, “Mom, why are there so many homeless people in our nation’s capital?”

I blame myself for her weight problems. We were a generally obese family and we did not practice the best eating habits. We hardly ever exercised. Even our dog was fat. From the beginning, I rewarded her with junk food for everything from getting a good grade at school to being a good girl and doing as she was told. I would wave cookies in front of her so that she would stop crying. By 3 years old, she had started manipulating me instead of the other way around!

I had no idea how much I was really conditioning her to reward herself with food as she got older. It was as if she walked through life feeling she deserved something simply for doing what she was supposed to do. I felt so helpless that it had gotten this far out of control. As she got older and spent more time away from home because of school, I simply could not watch her all the time as she rewarded herself with candy bars and ice cream for no reason at all. And she could get all of this stuff at school too! It was easily accessible to her. She stayed away from anything green unless it was artificially colored. One day at school, Jeanine complained of being dizzy. She experienced short dizzy spells a couple of days following that.

She was unusually tired much of the time. She would snap at her young brother-an infant! She was never this way towards him. We didn’t consider any of these things symptoms of something. We just thought Jeanine’s body was going through changes until one day when she almost fainted in P.E. class.

That very afternoon, the physician diagnosed her with Type one diabetes. AlThough I wished she did not have to suffer by getting pricked with needles and having to go to the doctor so often, her condition has gotten our entire family involved in eating right. After all, we all eat at the same dinner table. We cut out juices, soda and sugary carbs, which do a real number on blood sugar levels.

Now our 4-person household has lost over one hundred pounds in 6 months. Even our 3-year old shed several pounds! It is a miracle because we do not eat half as much and yet we do not feel hungry like we used to. Jeanine is fitting into smaller and smaller clothes and is a lot more active in extracurricular activities at school. And she no longer sits on the sidelines in gym class. She’s even going to be on the intramural volleyball team next year! The most ironic thing is that Jeanine may have diabetes, but she’s the healthiest that she has ever been in her entire life!