Secrets to losing weight and looking great.

Our new weight loss program can do exactly that for you. GUARANTEED!Wouldn’t it be great to look and feel the way you want? Wouldn’t it be great to feel light, lean and strong? That is exactly what you will get with our new weight loss program. It’s a 3-month program that includes everything you need to accomplish these goals. It’s also unique from your standard weight loss program. First, when you are done, you will have all the tools you need for lifelong success. That is a major disadvantage with other programs. When you’re done, you’re on your own. Not with us, you’ll have all you need for long-term success.

Secondly, we have teamed up with a local doctor and developed a blood test that is included with our program. This blood test looks at markers for cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders and hormonal imbalances. We use the results to help shape . . . → Read More: Secrets to losing weight and looking great.

Why exercise is good!

Exercise is good. Inflammation in the body is bad! – it’s significantly related to a whole host of cardiovascular diseases.The most frequently measured biomarker of inflammation in the body is C-reactive protein (CRP). High levels of CRP indicate high levels of inflammation. Essential fatty acids (Omega 3′s, for example) are known to reduce inflammation – so eat some fresh, Wild Salmon today . Other foods known to reduce inflammation are fresh fruits and vegetables, like berries, grapes, celery and avocadoes (there are more but that’s a quick list). Green tea has some anti-inflammatory characteristics too. Fitness has been shown to be inversely related to CRP, the more fit you are the less CRP in your bloodstream. What hasn’t been very well understood, however, is the mechanism that’s in play. For example, if you are highly fit and have low CRP levels, is that because you are fit or are the . . . → Read More: Why exercise is good!

What's the best way to lose weight?

So glad you asked!There are many ways to effectively lose weight, some better than others. But for most of us, at least according to this study, your plan should have some accountability. The study compared formal weight loss programs (diet and exercise only) to those that had a meeting/group component included, which they referred to as dietary counseling. Weekly meetings helped participants understand what their bodies were going through, how to deal with setbacks and learning to live a new lifestyle. Those in the counseling group lost 10-15 pounds and kept it off for approximately 1 year, significantly greater weight loss and long-term success than diet and exercise alone. Now I know what you are thinking, only 10-15 pounds? I want/need to lose 25, 50 pounds or more. That’s not the point. The point is they lost weight and kept it off for a year. If you need to lose more . . . → Read More: What's the best way to lose weight?

Why do they do this?

“Scientists in Indiana are reporting progress toward development of low glycemic and slowly digestible starch, a form of starch that would be less apt to cause the spike in blood sugar – and perhaps sharp hunger pangs – that many individuals experience after eating bread, baked goods, and other high-carbohydrate foods.”

The rest of the summary can be read here.

My only question is why?

I can understand the need for people to consume healthier foods – particularly than those listed in the quote above. But what if we just ate less of that food and more fruits and vegetables, healthier meats and drank more water? What if we just ate grains as they grow in the field?

Look in your pantry. Foods in plastic bags and carboard boxes are loaded with things that used to be good, healthy foods. Take enriched white flour for example. Out in the field, its a perfectly healthy . . . → Read More: Why do they do this?

Is your testosterone low?

A recent study presented at the Endocrine Society Annual meeting suggested that males over 50 with low testosterone had a 33% greater risk of all-cause mortality than those who had higher levels of testerone. Low testosterone was identified as the lower-limit found in healthy young males.The study followed 800 men for 18 years on average, a large sample size for a very long period of time. The low testosterone group had the following characteristics:

higher levels of inflammation markers, which contribute to several forms of cardiovascular disease
larger waist measurement (greater than 40 inches)
metabolic syndrome – low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood sugars and hypertension.

Over the 18-year period, men in the low-testosterone group had a 33% greater risk from all-cause mortality than the normal / high testosterone group. This is a stout finding given the characteristics of the study, indicating that even if problems exist in methodology the results are likely . . . → Read More: Is your testosterone low?

Answering this research question

Reading this summary, I felt an urge to blurt out: “No blank, Sherlock!” A recent study published in JAMA, a leading pillar of medical research dissemination, compared low GI diets with low-fat diets on insulin secretion in high insulin secreters. On the surface, this appears to be a legitimate research question. Insulin is related to glucose metabolism and given the current state of obesity and type II diabetes in America, this might be something we should know. However, most people in the medical fields should intuitively know this. The glycemic index of any food indicates the level it raises blood sugar when consumed. The higher the glycemic index, the higher the blood sugar response. For example, twinkies rate rather high on the glycemic index. Consume two or three of them and your blood sugar will spike. At least for a while. In response, your body will release (secrete) insulin to bring . . . → Read More: Answering this research question

The fallacy of "fat-burning" zones and low-intensity exercise

Press Release 1: Walking not enough for significant exercise benefits.Press Release 2: “No time to exercise” is no excuse, study shows.

By most publications, walking is the most popular form of physical activity. And why not? It’s easy to incorporate walking into your daily routine. You can make a concerted effort to take the stairs rather than the elevator, walk down the hall to speak with a colleague rather than emailing or phoning them, or even take a quick 10 minute walk on your lunch hour.

For the longest time, many health-related organizations trumpeted the healthy effects of walking on cardiovascular disease, chronic disease, mental disorders and weight control. In fact, Shape Up America has dedicated a large part of their mission to their 10,000 steps a day program. The main message of this program (and others like it) is to accumulate 10,000 steps (about 5 miles) each day and your health will . . . → Read More: The fallacy of "fat-burning" zones and low-intensity exercise