For successful weight loss, don’t forget to include sleep and stress relief into your plan

For successful weight loss, don’t forget to include sleep and stress relief into your plan

by | Nov 11, 2011 | Areas of Weight Loss Resistance, Natural Weight Loss, Sleep and Weight Loss, Stress and Weight Loss, Underlying Metabolic Imbalances, Weight Loss

The LIFE study, a large 2-phase weight loss study, has found some interesting connections from the completed phase one. In phase one, study participants take part in counseling, 500 calorie reduction diet based on the DASH diet and 180 min of exercise a week.

60% of the participants were successful in phase one; meaning they lost at least 10 pounds and met the 180 min of weekly exercise requirement. They also attended 73% of their counseling sessions on average. When researchers looked at the differences between the successful group of participants and the unsuccessful group, they came up with 2 areas that differentiated them – stress and sleep.

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How to Lose Weight Without Dieting

How to Lose Weight Without Dieting

by | Oct 17, 2011 | Areas of Weight Loss Resistance, Natural Weight Loss, Weight Loss

When you think of losing weight, you think of dieting. And when you think of dieting, I’m guessing you think of restriction – of eating less and putting more time towards doing things you’d rather not do (like exercising). It doesn’t have to be that way. Instead, when you think of weight loss, you should think of small sustainable changes. And here are a few that you can implement today.

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For successful weight loss, don’t forget to include sleep and stress relief into your plan

Do You Have a Sugar Addiction: Part 3

by | Oct 3, 2011 | Areas of Weight Loss Resistance, Food Allergies, Gut Dysbiosis, Natural Weight Loss, Neurotransmitter Imbalances, Underlying Metabolic Imbalances, Weight Loss

So, I think we can all agree that at least eating less sugar would be better for all of us. But what about those of us that can’t simply eat less?

If sugar is addictive, what how are you supposed to overcome you addiction to something that you need to survive? Dr. Mark Hymen has some suggestions:

  • Eat regular, balanced meals to balance your blood sugar and reduce cravings.
  • Eliminate sugar and artificial sweeteners. If you want to end cravings, you must reset the brain.
  • Determine if you have any underlying food allergies or intolerances. We often crave foods that we are allergic to.
  • Get more sleep. Lack of sleep intensifies cravings.
  • Talk to a doctor about supplements. There are many supplements that act as natural appetite suppressants and can reduce cravings or modulate dopamine receptor function to regulate appetite.

It is also possible to re-train your brian. You can actually re-wire your brain to eliminate you sugar addiction and even start craving healthier foods. And it only takes 30 days! Read this blog post for more details.

Miss Part 1 or Part 2 of the sugar series? Here they are:

Do You Have a Sugar Addiction: Part 1

Do You Have a Sugar Addiction: Part 2

For successful weight loss, don’t forget to include sleep and stress relief into your plan

Judi’s Optimal Body Balance Story

by | Sep 9, 2011 | Areas of Weight Loss Resistance, Gut Dysbiosis, Natural Weight Loss

Congratulations Judi! We can’t wait to see you reach your goal!

Judi before Optimal Body Balance...

Judi 40 pounds lighter!

If we’re looking at weight loss; I’m halfway to my goal. I lost about 40 pounds working with Sheila at OBB (and 34 inches!). I have another 60 to go.
But, if we’re looking at attitude shifts, I’m 100% there!  I finally ‘get it’!
I thought I knew how to lose weight. I’ve certainly done it enough times over the past 40 years. But I didn’t know the relationships formed between food and my body.
It isn’t just eat less, move more.  As a wise woman once said; our body is not a bank account where you need to spend more than you put into it, rather it’s a chemistry  lab.
My body reacts very differently to different nutrients.   I knew little about gut dysbiosis and food sensitivities, but wanted to see what  I was ‘sensitive’ to.   I took a blood test for food sensitivities in April 2011.
I’ve ALWAYS had sore joints, kneeling was impossible and I took MSM and chondratin daily.  My food sensitivity test said to cut out cane sugar. Well guess what? My joints don’t hurt if I stay away from white sugar.  It’s no big loss, I can still enjoy dates, maple syrup and honey.
The test also pointed out a strong reaction to onions. I LOVE onions, truly.  But now that I don’t eat them, I noticed my sinuses clear up and throat clearing is not an issue anymore. I do indulge in scallions and shallots sometimes.  The final food on my sensitivity list was peanuts. I have no idea how they affected me. I still haven’t eaten them to find out.
My huge take away from this program is that I’ve learned to listen to the cues and signals provided by my body.  For example, I no longer need my prescription omeprazole for heartburn. If I eat too much bread, I feel the heartburn coming back. If my joints start hurting, I review my food intake for the past couple of days to see where I might have slipped up.
Thank you Sheila for helping me learn how to eat to live. I don’t count calories, which was a major departure for me. In fact, for at least a month, I was stealth tracking my calories, even though Sheila said it wasn’t necessary.
But now  I focus on the balanced plate and continue to enjoy four meals a day. Six days a week, I have a delicious fruit smoothie for breakfast. (Sunday is a veggie omelet.) The late afternoon meal is a lifesaver to get me through to supper.
I hope to reach my goal weight by next August (2012) and will reward myself with a long weekend in New York City with family and friends.
-Judi