Don't Die Dieting

DIET - many individuals just cringe thinking of the word. The association of decreased energy from lower calorie consumption and possible feelings of starvation make one jitter in their skin. Yet, they know that it is an important step in decreasing their weight. Oh, but the agony. What if they are asked over to a friends house and they offer an enticing slice of double chocolate cheesecake? What if I go to a restaurant and just really want to try a new dish? Why do the first three letters in diet have to spell "DIE"?

Worst of all, so many individuals start a new diet and lose a few pounds and then rapidly gain the weight back or even more. How in the world could this happen when they were so focused on success and had actually stuck to the plan?

Plain and simple, dieting is tough - that is, if you make it that way. The following are reasons why dieting can be difficult:

• No nutritional content
• Insufficient change of lifestyle
• High cortisol levels
• Toxicity

For many people that want to lose weight, they are not ready to commit to power-packed, energizing foods. A healthy body that functions well on output, must have healthy input. A healthy "input" diet consists of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains with minimal or no consumption of processed foods. These nutritious foods allow the body to obtain needed nutrients and to function at optimal levels. The body needs nutrients to function properly - if the nutrients are not present, biochemical reactions stop or slow down. When the nutrients are not consumed, the body will feel hungry.

A "new" body needs a lifestyle change. Not the "I will try this for a while and see if I like it" kind of change. The truth is, no one will ever like dieting. It is difficult to get the body to lose weight, but it becomes easier when nutritious foods permanently replace the processed and modified foods. For example, if one desires to lose weight and is eating a diet of potato chips and donuts, they can attempt a "fad" diet and lose 10-50 pounds. But, what benefit is it when they revert to eating potato chips and donuts once again? A lifestyle of healthy eating will, over time, cause the body to shed the excess that it does not need.

In response to stress, the body releases a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is necessary to responding to stress as it keeps the blood sugar up. Cortisol, when released from the adrenal glands, turns any body tissue into available sugars for energy consumption. Long-term, the body is actually "eating itself alive". As this process would not be beneficial to the body, it determines to store additional fat that can be readily used for energy and not destroy the vital functional organs. The characteristic of imbalanced cortisol levels is the "spare-tire" around the waist. Those that have lost 3 pounds and then gained 5 pounds, lost 4 pounds and then gained back 3 pounds, etc. are at the mercy of cortisol. When the weight begins to come off of the midsection, the body responds by holding on to more fat as the "emergency reserve" is being stolen by the dieting process.

Last, toxic accumulations cause accumulations of fat. Anything toxic becomes less toxic when it is diluted - "the solution to pollution is dilution." Thus, if the body is toxic due to a high exposure to artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, pharmaceuticals, cigarettes, etc., the body will attempt to dilute the toxicity with fat; fats are simple cells that are easily replacable and can easily take the place of other important body cells that need to function elsewhere.

Clinical Practice:

In my practice, there are many that come to me wanting to lose weight - many having numerous failures in dieting in the past. The first step I take is to ensure that all factors in the body are in place to lose weight. If the body is suffering from adrenal fatigue, thyroid distress, or poor digestion, then proper weight loss will never take place. Thus, the underlying health conditions are treated so that the body is prepared to lose weight with more energy, improved metabolism, and a digestive tract that efficiently absorbs nutrients and effectively eliminates wastes.

Numerous people have successfully lost weight simply by supplementing their improved lifestyle diet with NutriWest's Pro-Cortisol Balance, Iodine Rescue, #14 LB-CLN, or Total Trim. Respectively, these products balance cortisol levels, support the proper functions of the thyroid, detoxify the digestive tract, and stimulate proper fat mobilization and metabolism.

Challenge:

If losing weight has been difficult for you, find a practitioner in your area that understands the true mechanisms that need to be in place before dieting can occur. Ensure that the adrenals are working properly, that they thyroid is manufacturing metabolic hormones, that the digestive tract is working effectively, and that all other factors are in play to make your lifestyle change a new you!