Thank You For Visiting Our Blog, FEEL BETTER AND LIVE LONGER!

The purpose of our blog is to share what we have learned about nutrition, weight loss, fitness, and health, in order to help you find ways to feel better and live longer. It is amazing how much our diet and lifestyle affect our health and well-being.

Did you know that you can reduce your risk and even prevent many diseases and health conditions simply by making some changes to your diet? Check back often for valuable tips and information.

HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT & KEEP IT OFF:

For the first time in my life I have found weight loss success. During my adult life I have tried dozens and dozens of so-called "diets" and none of them worked over the long-haul. Oh, I was able to lose weight with some of them, but once I went off of the "diet" I quickly gained back all of my weight (plus some).

I have finally learned that losing weight has to be a lifestyle change, not a temporary fix. Crash diets and all the other crazy diets will not only cause you to fail, they are harmful to your health. To lose weight and keep it off you must NOT go on a "diet." What? Why? Because we all consider a "diet" a temporary thing. For example, how many times have you said, "Oh, I will go on this low-fat diet until I lose 20 pounds." Okay, what happens after you lose the 20 pounds? Or you simply give up? You go back to your old habits and gain that 20 pounds back.

The only way you will ever be successful at losing weight, with the added benefit of improving your health, is to make healthy changes that you can live with for the rest of your life. Period. Not for a week, a month or 3 months, but for life. For me, my initial goal was to lower my cholesterol level. I had to have a blood test for my insurance coverage and my cholesterol level had to be lower than the previous year's levels or I would have to pay a much higher premium. Well, that was a pretty good incentive for me make some positive changes.

I sat down and figured out what I needed to do. I knew I had to change the way I ate and I knew I had to exercise in some form or other every day. So, I made a list and I stuck to it. It was difficult at first. To make matters worse, I am a compulsive eater. However, as the days went by, it became much easier because my body stopped craving sweets and processed foods. For the first time in my life, I was never tempted to binge because I never felt deprived.

Use the list below and make whatever changes you need to make in order for it to work for you. FYI, my cholesterol level dropped 65 points after 7 weeks, and my triglycerides dropped 70 points! Another benefit that I hadn't planned on was that after being an insomniac since my teen-age years, I now sleep like a baby every night!

MY LIST FOR WEIGHT LOSS SUCESS:

1. Avoid "white" Foods & Processed Foods. These foods have no nutritional value and are "empty" calories. Sweets, anything made with white flour,and anything that comes in a package with a long list of ingredients. Always read the food labels. Stay away from those long lists of ingredients. The longer the list, the more chemicals and additives are present. These are extremely toxic to your body.

2. Drink Lots of Water. Water keeps your body's organs hydrated and flushes out unhealthy toxins. It helps to fill you up and reduces your urge to over-eat.

3. Eat a Healthy Breakfast. Instead of coffee and donuts, try fruit, yogurt, grains like oatmeal or whole grain toast, and lean protein. NEVER skip breakfast. By eating a large, healthy meal when you get up in the morning, your metabolism will "rev up" and you will not be hungry by mid-morning. If you skip breakfast, your body will go into starvation mode and store calories in your body as FAT, yes FAT! So do yourself a big favor and eat breakfast.

4. Reduce Your Stress Level. So many of us live with too much stress. Stress lowers your immune system, making it easier to get sick. It also makes us lethargic, tired, and depressed. There are a lot of simple things you can do and a lot of ways to feel better about yourself and your life. Take a long, hot bath, read a book, listen to music, get a massage. Do something nice for yourself. Giving yourself something to look forward to is a tremendous mental incentive.

5. Move! Oh my gosh! There are so many ways to incorporate movement into your day, even at work. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Get up every hour and walk around your floor, your hallway or your desk. Park your car in the farthest space from where you need to be. Walk or bike to work. Skate, dance, golf, jump rope, clean house, play tag. The best exercise you can do is to walk. Try to take a walk every day! The more you move, the more your metabolism will be your friend. (I walk 3 miles every day whether it is raining, snowing or freezing.)

The Liver Herb

9:35 AM    No comments

The second largest organ in the human body is the liver. The liver is constantly cleansing the body to protect it from toxins. This detoxification  keeps your liver at optimal health. If you have been trying to lose weight but it has been difficult, it might be because your liver is not as healthy as it should be.


Research shows that one of the keys to overcoming difficult weight loss is to rejuvenate the liver’s detoxification and body cleansing function. The liver’s health is vitally important for our body’s health, not only as the body’s filter but for the many other crucial functions it provides.

FUNCTIONS OF THE LIVER

  • Controls cholesterol and triglycerides

  • Creates bile specifically to break down dietary fats.

  • Helps balance blood ph.

  • Produces necessary hormones and enzymes for processing and metabolism.

  • Stores vitamins, minerals and sugars.

  • Works as a blood bank, storing extra blood for emergencies

  • The only organ that has the ability to regenerate itself.

  • Utilizes, metabolizes, and eliminates excess hormones.
THE LIVER HERB

Milk thistle has been used medicinally for over 2,000 years, most commonly for the treatment of liver and gallbladder disorders. It is actually referred to as 'the liver herb' because it protects liver cells from chemical damage and increases the secretion and flow of bile from the liver and gall bladder.

The plant contains the natural chemical substance Silymarin. Silymarin acts an antioxidant, improves liver function, stimulates regeneration of damaged liver cells, and protects the kidneys. Milk thistle also helps inflammatory bowel disorders, adrenal disorders, and weakened immune systems.

Milk thistle is a powerful natural liver protector. It not only protects each cell of the liver from incoming toxins but it encourages the liver to cleanse itself of damaging substances like alcohol, drugs, medications, mercury and heavy metals, and pesticides.

If you are being challenged by trying to lose weight try taking a milk thistle supplement. It will not only help detoxify your liver, it improves the overall health of your liver and your immune system. It has also been shown to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the growth of certain cancer cells.

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