Fight Fat The Right Way & What’s New With The Weight Loss Challengers

The first year I was in college, like so many, I gained the “Freshman 15”.  By my sophomore year I gained another 25 pounds.  Friends and family made comments to encourage me to lose the weight but it was when I couldn’t fit into the largest pair of jeans at a store that I started to do something about it.  When I got married in 1985 I had lost 25 pounds.  It wasn’t until after the birth of my first daughter, Hannah, in 1987 that I finally got down to a healthy weight.  Then in 1999 I was in the hospital on an IV to stop the Multiple Sclerosis episode that was wrecking havoc on my body and I gained 55 pounds as a side effect of the medication in the IV.  Oh, I was right back to feeling totally “fat”.  It took me a few years to regain my healthy body weight.  I’m sure most of us have had a love-hate relationship with fat; whether it is either losing it or wishing it was somewhere else on our body.

 Here are the ways to Lose Fat: The Right Way

·         Curb Sugar Cravings with Natural Sweeteners- Next time a sugar craving calls, reach for XyloSweet or Stevia.  Unlike cane and refined sugar, xylitol is derived from foods like corn, strawberries, and plums.  The sweetener Stevia comes from the leaves of a plant in the sunflower family.  Both have low glycemic indexes so they won’t spike your blood sugar level and prime you for a “crash” later.

       Don’t Lose Too Much Too Soon – Crash dieting leads to loose skin and the possibility of releasing toxins into the body that have been stored in fat cells leading to fatigue and not feeling well.  Think about how long it took to gain the weight and use that timeline in your process to lose the weight.  You will make a long-term change for a living a life at a healthy weight.  Remember:  Slow and steady wins the race!

·         Lose Fat And Fight Flabby Skin – Retain elastic skin by adding strength training into your workout because it creates muscle tone.  Lean muscle helps prevent the skin from getting saggy.

·         What To Eat – Not only will you prevent illness and have a glowing complexion but the fiber found in fruits and vegetables help you feel full without a lot of calories.  Fiber rich and lean protein foods allow you to feel fuller for longer and prevent weight gain without sacrificing energy.

·         Moves To Do – Mix together cardio and strength training moves over the course of an hour like a circuit training routine.  Moving quickly from one move to the next keeps your heart up so you burn calories and fat.  Strength training cranks up your metabolism for a sexy, lean silhouette.

Renee is one of our challengers losing weight at a healthy and right way. 

Meet Our Newest Weight Loss Challenger:  Brendan – Lost 11.2 pounds in 1 month

Brendan, a 6’3”- 28 year old young man, began the Weight Loss Challenge on March 7, 2012.  Brendan as a football player in high school was in good physical shape then.  A couple of years ago he tried a fasting diet and lost 80 pounds but those pounds returned.  With a loss of 11.2 pounds, Brendan has more energy and is able to return to the gym, which will only increase his results.  Brendan has noticed an improvement in his skin since taking all the supplements in the program.  He says “my skin is softer, better and not as greasy.”  We can’t wait for his next results.  Way to go Brendan!!!

Update on Weight Challenger:  Joey

Joey has had to face some challenges with his heavy work schedule, causing extra stress but his weight loss continues.  Joey has lost another 5.8 pounds for a total loss of 18.8 pounds.  Despite the obstacles life has thrown in Joey’s way, he continues to stick to the program. Awesome job, Joey!!!

Why Do We Gain Weight As We Age?

Helping people get back to a healthy body weight and maintain it gives me a lot of satisfaction since as we age it seems harder and harder to do.  Maintaining a healthy body weight is critical to fighting age and disease.  Staying trim has the bonus of making us feel good about ourselves because our organs are working well so we feel good and the bottom line…our skinny jeans fit.  So, why do we gain weight as we age even when we exercise and eat right?

Female Hormones:

Our bodies change as we age and a visible difference seen in women is the way fat is stored and used.  “Growth hormones moderate where excess energy is stored.  In our youth, when there is excess sugar, these hormones dictate that the energy be stored in the muscle as glycogen (to be used later as energy). However, in the aging body, excess energy is usually stored in the fat cells due to changes in hormones and hormone production.

Changes in estrogen receptors in the hypothalamus, a sign of menopause, means it can be harder to lose weight. In turn there is a greater burden on women to eat a healthy diet and exercise more to help their metabolism make up for the loss of estrogen, which helped regulate weight gain and appetite. Interestingly, fat cells produce estrogen, along with other hormones and proteins. But estrogen produced in fat cells will not help regulate obesity and metabolism. Instead, estrogen that accompanies weight gain, especially in abdominal fat, puts women at a higher risk for breast cancer, because estrogen stimulates cell growth. That growth can include cancer cells, making the spread of the disease even more dangerous. See targeted solutions for your estrogen levels here.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/281155-estrogen-weight-loss/#ixzz1sEmqafee

Slowed-Down Metabolism:

The rate at which our body uses up energy from food starts to decelerate as we get older causing more fat to be stored than when we were young. The body also starts to produce cortisol, a stress-related hormone that has a direct effect on fat storage.  When we are stressed, cortisol affects fat storage and weight because it becomes more concentrated.  PLUS, the enzyme that is responsible for turning inactive cortisol into an active hormone lives in the fat tissue causing more fat to be accumulated and the cells to actually grow in size!  This is why it is so important to maintain your muscle mass as you age because the more you have the more efficient your metabolism is.  Incorporate strength training, Pilates, yoga and aerobic exercises to best build muscle and a better metabolism.  Drink green tea to speed up your metabolism! Don't like green tea but want the benefits? Check out a supplement that is the same as SEVEN cups of tea with no caffeine!  My weight management program includes a supplement that is a unique dietary supplement to help you stay calm and relaxed through a proprietary blend of ingredients shown to promote healthy cortisol levels.  Of course, a person can take this supplement alone for its benefits of calmness and healthy cortisol levels.

Question:  When you need to lose some weight to feel better or fit into your clothes, what works for you?

Health Tip:  5 Sneaky Energy Suckers by Women's Health (Elianna Osborn)

1. Dehydration 

Next time you start feeling mentally sluggish or feeling foggy light headed, instead of thinking you are hungry try downing a glass or two of water.

2. Cell Phones

Checking your cell phone before going to bed amps up brain activity making it harder to doze off

plus the artificial blue light  coming from your electronics can suppress the sleep hormone melatonin  20% of people are awakened by a cell,text at least a few times a week.  Power down well before bed. 

3. Medication 

Many medications have energy-sapping side effects. Chief among them are antidepressants and certain beta-blockers used to prevent migraines or treat high blood pressure if you feel more lethargic than usual see your Doctor they have other drugs that can be taken before going to bed.

4. Over-training

While working out zaps the stress hormone Cortisol, prolonged sweat sessions -like running 30 minutes at a steady rate can actually rev up cortisol production.   Combine your exercise with strength training and free weights with help keep cortisol in check.

5. Low Iron

The mineral shuttles oxygen around your body and removes waste from your cells. If you're not getting around 18 milligrams a day, your body struggles to function properly and you can feel worn out if you feel sluggish, ask your doctor for a simple blood test  to see if you need to be taking a supplement.

A New Year, A “Nu” You

Happy New Year!!!! Have you written any resolutions for the New Year? Several of my friends are committing to losing weight through improved diets and adding exercise this year. Personally, I am back on track with my pre-holiday diet consisting of small meals and snacks of veggies, a handful of nuts and fresh fruit 5 or 6 times a day. Every night I drink 2 tablespoons of unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar. Combined with 3 to 4 days of fairly strenuous weights and conditioning exercise, this system has worked really well for me. I lost 13 pounds before the holidays following this regimen. Now, I never stopped drinking my apple cider at night but my meals became irregular in size and time. Snacks were gone all together or consisted of holiday cookies and yummy, high calorie, holiday snacks. I expected my skinny jeans to get a little tighter. But, what I did not expect was to feel so tired between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Now, I only gained about 5 pounds and I was still mourning the loss of my grandmother, but I felt about 20 years older!!!! That just goes to show how diet directly affects physical energy.

Here is an interesting fact I got on Monday, January 2nd, from a local gym: “60-percent of all new health club memberships come in January and February and as many as 50 people joined one local gym on January 2nd”. How many of these new members remain throughout the year? About 50-percent of them continue their journey to better health through exercise or at least they think they will so they don’t cancel their membership. Gyms get their money whether people go or not so my advice is find an accountability partner. For me, I have to schedule an appointment to exercise with someone. It ensures I make it to the gym even when I might be tired. I’m always glad because I feel better afterwards.

Health Tip: Steroids: Side Effects Not Worth It!
Often referred to colloquially as just “steroids”, Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones similar to the male hormone testosterone. While there are many types of anabolic steroids – each with their own effects – anabolic steroids generally stimulate muscle growth and tissue regeneration, and amongst their many uses they can be used to build size, strength, and explosive power. However, used improperly they can also carry a number of harmful short and long-term side effects. Two common steroids used to gain muscle strength and reduce body fat are Dianabol and Winstrol. See below for a list of their individual side effects.

Dianabol Side Effects
Strain On Liver
As a 17-aa steroid, Dianabol can cause liver damage if high doses are taken over an extended period of time.
Gynecomastia
Because Dianabol converts quite easily into Estrogen, another potential side effect of the drug is the condition known as Gynecomastia. Gynecomastia is when males develop mammary glands and grow female breasts due to various reasons related to hormonal imbalances.
Fluid Retention
Also related to Dianabol’s tendency to convert to estrogen is the Dianabol side effect of increased fluid retention as well as fat storage.
Winstrol Side Effects
Liver Toxicity
Like Dbol, Winstrol is a 17aa compound, which allows it to be taken orally, but also renders it toxic to the liver. Winstrol is quite hepatoxic, thus it’s extremely important to limit its use and avoid abuse.
Negative Effects On Cholesterol Levels
Tests have shown that Winstrol may have results on Cholesterol that are less than desirable, including lowering HDL (good) cholesterol while increasing LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Effects On Joints and Connective Tissue
Winstrol has been said to cause joints to feel less lubricated, likely due to its negative effect on fluid retention
This is just a small list of the negative side effects from only (2) of the anabolic steroids available. It certainly makes it understandable as to why professional sports ban their usage. These listed side effects make me wonder about other drugs used to enhance physical performance and/or physical appearance. Stick to reducing the number of caloric intake and make them the most nutritious calories you possible can for the sake of your health and beauty.

10 Days Until Christmas –Really

Here we are 10 days until Christmas!  Should be super exciting, right?  Well, I am a little freaked out because I haven’t finished my shopping and I am thinking about all the wrapping I will need to do once the shopping is complete!  On top of that in the back of my mind, I have all these cookies and sweet treats I’d like to make.  Oh, and lets not forget about the holiday cards yet to be sent and the customer appreciation gifts I need to mail once I receive what I have ordered to give my customers.  Maybe everyone would rather have New Year’s cards and gifts?  Here is my answer to that:

If you think you can’t then you will be like all the ordinary reindeer and you won’t be able to fly! Believe in the impossible.
~Unknown
Ok, after reading that quote I just took a long, deep breath.  Did you?  Sometimes I make big lists of things for myself to do because I think it will make the holidays SO special for my children, their significant others, my spouse, family members, friends that stop by…pretty much the entire county I live in…just in case.  Every year I hope for world peace.  This year I will hope for inner “holiday” peace for myself.  I think this is a great idea because my inner peace will pass through me to everyone I come in contact with during the holidays.

Health Tip:  Gift Yourself!

Give yourself a gift this year by reminding yourself that all the holiday magic is in your heart.  If you are too busy with details you cannot hear your heart.  Take some time to evaluate what is really important on your holiday list of things to do.  Scratch out the ones that would be nice but not necessary.  By simplifying your list you leave room in your brain to hear your heart.  You and your loved ones will enjoy a more meaningful and enjoyable holiday.  Peace be with you!

Thanksgiving & Relief of Family Stress

Happy Thanksgiving Week and I know all I can think about is food, wine, friends and family. My children are excited to see relatives as they arrive at our home to share in the traditional meal my sister and I prepare according to the traditions created by our great grandparents and grandparents. We all are thankful we have each other and our health. Who better than siblings, parents, and other close relatives can reminisce with us about our childhoods, or remember pieces of ourselves we’ve forgotten?

This year will be bittersweet. My brother, sister, her family and my family celebrate being together in good health we will be sad at celebrating without our grandmother, our family anchor. Sadness will hang over our table since many other family members will not be in attendance for the first time in years due to post mortem drama.

My great grandparents and grandparents always created magical holidays with music, decorations, games, movies, food and love for us kids despite what was happening in their lives and despite any disagreements any family members might be having, which was usually the case.
Emotional stress can be as harmful as poor eating habits. Below are some tips to help reduce the stress of family during your holiday season. After all, this is a time to rejoice not stress!

Health Tip: Effective Communication: Reduce Stress at The Holidays
1. Listen Carefully –While it might be difficult, try really listening to what is being said without interruption, without being defensive, and without thinking about what you are going to say next. Just hear them and reflect back what they are saying so they know you’ve heard. Then you’ll understand them better and they’ll be more willing to listen to you.
2. Respond to Criticism with Empathy – Its important to listen for the other’s pain and respond with empathy for their feelings. Also, look for what’s true in what they’re saying: that can be valuable information for you.
3. Own What’s Yours – Realize that personal responsibility is a strength, not a weakness. Effective communication involves admitting when you are wrong. If you both share some responsibility in a conflict, look for and admit to what’s yours. It diffuses the situation, sets a good example, and shows maturity. It often inspires the other person to respond in kind, leading you both closer to mutual understanding and a solution
For more on improving relationships using effective communications skills to reduce holiday family stress visit: here.

NS International convention – How many of us have….Friends?

Friends…How many of us have…Friends?

Considering the busy lives we all lead and all the roles we play in one day…mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, neighbor, aunt, uncle, cousin, neighbor, employee, employer, volunteer. The bottom line is we all have full schedules. Who are the real friends that support us as we motor through our busy days with their generosity of heart and their positive energy? I am lucky. My best friend is my sister. She supports me through and through. I meet a lot of people during my work week but not all of them become “friends”. To me a friend is a special person that touches my heart because they share a common belief that is dear to me and are not overly, uselessly dramatic. Through them I gain energy, wisdom and inspiration.

Recently, I was fortunate to meet new friends at the NS International Convention in Salt Lake City from South Africa and Japan. I have lived in the Middle East and traveled extensively but these people touched my heart because they were so sincere about themselves and about their life goals. How many people do you meet that you would consider authentic? Once again I was impressed by the caliber of people drawn to the NS business. Anyway, they were all lovely to chat with and I truly hope to see them again. The three I met from Johanessburg, South Africa were beyond delightful in their honesty and amount of heart. I gave them my goal of coming to visit them in October 2012. Elenia told me it is a good time for game! Well, I’m in for a trip to South Africa!

Health Tip: Overcome Daily Stress
Dissolve 2 cups of Epsom Salt into a tub of water as hot as you can tolerate and soak your body for 20 minutes. This will soak away tiredness and soreness, help soothe away stress and help to detoxify your body. The magnesium sulfate of Epsom Salt draws out the cellular toxins generated with exercise as well as the normal cellular waste created as our bodies do their daily work metabolizing food, combating environmental toxins, handling emotional stress and just simply creating new cells.