AFTER THE CLEANSE

There is no doubt that weight loss is a difficult area to deal with, and very frustrating at times. This is mainly because there are so many different factors that inhibit your bodies ability to burn fat, and most people are not aware of the importance of these areas. We have already learned the importance of cleansing but what’s next? Let’s look at an overview of the areas that need to be considered when formulating a weight loss plan.

• Our bodies are very intelligent, if we do anything drastic to effect our metabolism, the body will counter that action with another resistant action, and we will not gain the advantage we wanted. An example of this is if you drastically cut calories from say 2000 calories a day, to 900 calories a day, at first you may loose weight, but then your body adjusts to the low calorie intake and will slow down the metabolism, and weight loss will come to a standstill. This is called metabolic adaptation.
• The key is to make consistent small changes, in several areas at once. Nothing Drastic!
• We need to understand the different factors effecting metabolism, recognize our weak points, and change and support each of these areas at one time. Lets look at these areas:

Diet

Exercise

Toxicity (digestion and elimination)

Stress and cortisol

Blood sugar balance

Metabolism, thyroid function and norepinephrine

Serotonin levels (emotional issues)

Estrogen dominance (female hormonal balance)

Diet:

There are many different diets out there and most all of them help produce weight loss as they all in one manner or another restrict calorie intake. They are however, hard to follow for long periods of time and often imbalanced and unhealthy long term. The key is to learn to eat healthy, natural foods, understand your body type and the foods that agree with it, and learn to make good choices in both quantity and quality.

Dr. Shawn Talbott author of The Cortisol Connection Diet uses an easy system for balancing your food intake:

Good quality vs./ poor quality - A whole apple is better than applesauce, and apple sauce is better than apple juice. So the apple is the best choice, applesauce is moderate, and apple juice is the poorest choice. A whole grain dense food is better than a white flour fiber-less food.

Proteins balance blood sugar and hunger. A whole grain bagel is good, but add a hard boiled egg to provide protein and it is even better.

Finish with Fat - A little added “good fat” slows the rise in blood sugar after a meal. This controls appetite and enhances weight loss. Good fats: a pat of butter, a tablespoon of olive oil, a handful of nuts, or a slice of cheese.

Fill up with Fiber - Fiber slows the absorption of the sugar into the digestive tract, and helps you stay fuller longer. Whole foods contain more fiber than processed foods. Make good choices.

Portion Control:

Fruits and veggies - Choose a portion that roughly matches the size of your whole hand including your fingers.

Starches - Breads, cereal, pasta, choose a portion that roughly matches the size of your closed fist.

Proteins - Choose a protein portion that roughly matches the size of the palm of your hand, without the fingers.

Fat - Make an O.K. sign with your thumb and index finger, choose a portion of fat(like butter) about the size of the hole formed by your two fingers.

Plan your meal times:

Dr. Talbott recommends timing meals so that you do not go too long between meals and snacks, this way you are never hungry, and your blood sugar remains stable.

Example: 7 A.M. Snack

9 A.M. Breakfast (at work)

Noon Snack plus exercise if you can fit it in

2 P.M. Lunch

5 P.M. Snack (on the way home from work)

7 P.M. Dinner

Snacks: A snack consists of one appropriately sized serving from the fruit/veggie group plus a serving of fat. Apple with cheese slice, celery sticks plus peanut butter. Veggies plus dip.

To Buy Dr. Talbott’s Book, click here