This Man Lost 260 Pounds!

November 7, 2012 No Comments

This man’s story is amazing.

When you REALLY want to be a writer, you read from the best; you study their writing style, sentence structure, undertone, and grammar usage.

When you REALLY want to be a singer, you train with the best voice coaches, listen to the best singers, and learn from their singing style, use their techniques, and develop your talent using proven methods.

When you REALLY want to be a professional basketball player, you watch the best perform, you spend your spare time doing extra basketball drills taught by the best, you look up to those you admire who have what you want, you take the best principles from the most successful coaches.

Do you see where I’m going with this?

When you REALLY want to lose weight, it makes no sense to listen to people who haven’t been able to sustain it, people who have maybe lost weight, but only to get a cancer diagnosis due to unsafe methods, theories that are completely unrealistic, methods that are completely dangerous, or people who only isolate weight loss down to diet & exercise…there is MUCH more to the picture. You should never have to sacrifice your mental and physical health to lose weight!! I have NEVER understood that!

If you REALLY want to lose weight the right way, look to those who have had incredible success…and with that, I bring you Jon Gabriel.

I RARELY advocate for any weight loss program because usually…well, they are dumb, dangerous, and detrimental to your health. Jon Gabriel, creator of The Gabriel Method, is completely set apart from any diet, cleanse, or weight loss protocol you have ever experienced.

His strategies for effective weight loss address the core of the majority of weight loss issues. It is a DIET-FREE weight loss approach that teaches you how to achieve the body of your dreams through LOVING life, healing your deepest pains, and eating what you want!

It’s REVOLUTIONARY, really!

What I LOVE is that Jon LIVED one of the most unlikely weight loss journey’s out there! He weight 400 pounds and now has a six pack…and with NO extra skin!

You’ll learn in Jon’s story, he worked with some of the world’s TOP nutritional experts and tried everything from the Macrobiotic diet to working directly with Dr. Atkins on the Atkins Diet protocol. He was never successful in his attempt to lose weight through restricting foods, changing his diet, and exercising vigorously. He is LIVING PROOF that there is MUCH more to the weight loss journey then diet & exercise.

After Jon continued to fail time and time again, he hit a breaking point where he knew there was something he was missing. At that moment something clicked in his mind for the first time. He realized that his body WANTED TO BE FAT.

He took the next years studying the human body and learning what turns on our “FAT Programs”. He studied why some people are naturally thin and others gain 5 pounds from eating a saltine cracker. He studied hormones, digestion, the liver..all important aspects to safe and effective weight loss. If your body subconsciously wants to be fat…you’ll struggle every second of the way to lose just a pound. Through his research, Jon learned how to effectively and relatively quickly achieve the body of his dreams while enjoying every moment! Intrigued? You should be!

If you want to learn more about Jon Gabriel’s story, book, & program, CLICK HERE & Watch his video below!!

Have a beautiful Wednesday everyone! Remember, even though today is the day after the election and many hearts have been broken, CHOOSE to continue to fight the good fight. LOVE others, PRAY for our president, country, & government, LAUGH as often as possible, LIVE PASSIONATELY for what you believe in, and USE YOUR CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS in life! It is a complete WASTE of time to live any other way.

XOXO,

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

Ephesians 6:12-13

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Weight Loss Wednesday- Are Sugar-Free Sweeteners Making You FAT?

October 31, 2012 3 Comments

You heard me right…artificial sweeteners, marketed for their “weight loss” effects, are actually causing various dangerous physiological effects that may cause you to GAIN weight over time. The weight gain isn’t the worst part either! Below I have listed the top sweeteners and their potential side effects.

1. Aspartame (AminoSweet, Nutrasweet, Equal, Spoonful, Benevia, NatraTaste)

(In nearly ALL chewing gum, diet sodas, diet products, sugar-free juices, sugar-free candies, desserts)

Neurotoxin. First, know that aspartame is able to cross the blood brain barrier which is designed to protect us from harmful substances- but not this sneaky little killer. Aspartame contains an amino acid called phenylalanine, which when isolated is a neurotoxin. An increase in this amino acid causes an influx into the brain where it is easily absorbed and over stimulates the brain cells and causes an increase in free radicals, ultimately causing holes in the brain. AKA…it KILLS OUR CELLS!! HELLOOO!!! When is our world going to wake up and realize that aspartame KILLS US?! It’s so sad how many of our loved ones don´t realize this and are daily damaging themselves. With our cultural pressures to fit into a size ¨zero¨, diet coke and sugar-free products are flying off the shelves and what’s scarier is how young this is starting. Here is a list of 92 official reported side effects of Aspartame.

Cancer & Tumor Causing. Aspartame (L-Aspartyl-L-Phenylalanine Methyl Ester) is made up of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine, and bound together with methanol (Methanol is Wood alcohol). The wood alcohol (methanol) is widely distributed throughout the body including brain, muscle, fat and nervous tissue. These break down to formaldehyde (used for embalming DEAD PEOPLE and known to cause cancer), formic acid (a venom in ant stings) and DKP (known to cause brain tumors). ”Drinking even one diet cola a day can cause formaldehyde buildup in cells, so that the amount of the toxin increases daily,” Dr. Blaylock writes in Health and Nutrition Secrets.

Heart arrhythmia’s, damage, and death. Unfortunately, this is a personal issue for me, as my sweet grandmother was the victim of aspartame poisoning which caused her to have heart damage and now a permanent heart arrhythmia. This is nothing to mess around with or even consume every now and then. The slogan ¨Everything in moderation¨does NOT apply here. A group of doctors did an alarming study on the effects of aspartame on young athletes and they were troubled with the fact that aspartame has not been further studied in sudden death of young athletes, when it is obviously a cause for heart damage, arrhythmia’s, and in some cases death.

Weight GAIN.– The main reason aspartame and artificial sweeteners sell so much is because the population is beginning to become aware that if they avoid sugar, they will lose weight. This is TRUE…when you cut out sugar. Period. BUT when you add in artificial sweeteners, they are actually proven to stimulate hunger causing you to consume even more calories and leave you less satisfied. They also have detrimental effects on your hormones, causing stubborn belly fat. Not to mention, aspartame damages the pancreas, leading to ineffective digestion, bloating, blood sugar irregularities, and possible diabetes.

Sources:

http://www.safefood.org.nz/aspartaddict.html

http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/aspartame.htm

http://www.naturalnews.com/aspartame.html

http://aspartame.mercola.com/

2. Saccharin (Sweet n´Low; Sugar Twin)

Saccharin, was discovered in 1879 when Constantin Fahlberg, a Johns Hopkins University scientist working on coal-tar derivatives, noticed a substance on his hands and arms that tasted sweet. THAT is where Saccharin came from…need I say more?

Cancer Causing. Specifically bladder cancer. All the tests done in the Saccharin saga have shown that this sweetener causes cancer in lab animals and most likely in humans as well. Here is a formal article about the carcinogenicity of Saccharin.
Fatal to growing babies in the womb. Watch out preggo mamas! This sweetener (along with all of the others listed here) has been proven to be very dangerous to your developing baby.
Weight Gain. Studies have shown that Saccharine & other artificial sweeteners lower the metabolism & body temperature causing difficulties burning calories & fat.

3. Splenda (sucralose, asculfame k)

How many times have we heard that Splenda is healthier and much better than the other artificial sweeteners because it comes from sugar? It is marketed as natural even by the FDA who supported sucralose in their press release stating, ¨…it is made from sugar.¨- an assertation disputed by the Sugar Association who is suing Splenda´s Manufacturer. The truth is that Sucralose was discovered in 1976 by scientists looking for a new PESTICIDE! It is made of a sucrose — except that three of the hydroxyl groups in the molecule have been replaced by three chlorine atoms. SO, this is Chlorinated Sugar…you might as well pour a bunch of sugar into a swimming pool and go drink it.

More similar to a PESTICIDE than a sugar molecule. This is how it was discovered and independent researchers agree that the bonds holding the molecule together is a chlorocarbon, the same as pesticides, and not as similar to a salt or sugar like many believe. This carries with it all of the toxic and detrimental effects pesticides have on our bodies, including but not limited to disrupting our endocrine system (hormones, thyroid, adrenals, menstrual cycles), increasing risk of autism, birth defects, asthma, neurological defects, digestive disorders, cancer, tumors, and the list goes on and on…

No Calories because it is NOT a food…it is a chemical. When it reaches the gut, and is broken down, our bodies do not recognize it as a food, so it does not absorb it in the small intestine to be eliminated. Thus, it can be recirculated throughout the body causing more problems systemically. It causes our liver to work extra hard in attempts to break it down and filter it out, and who knows what kind of damage it is doing on all of our other organs. Point being, it is not making us more healthy or strengthening our bodies to fight against disease, but burdening our systems with more chemicals.

We are the guinea pigs in a trial run for Splenda/Sucralose. – The largest test done on Splenda was on a group of 128 people only lasting 3 months. What happens when one uses sucralose for 5-10-12 months?? Nobody knows… and now it is specifically marketed to elementary schools and kids! We are feeding this mysterious chemical to our kids when there is nothing but inconclusive studies on its safety.

Officially Reported Side Effects: migraines (major migraine trigger), skin rashes/flushing, panic-like agitation, dizziness and numbness, diarrhea, swelling, muscle aches, headaches, intestinal cramping, bladder issues, and stomach pain.

Sources:

http://www.womentowomen.com/healthyweight/splenda.aspx

http://www.splendaexposed.com/

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/02/26/artificial-sweeteners-once-again-linked-to-weight-gain.aspx

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/06/20/absurd-new-ways-splenda-is-deceiving-you.aspx

4. High Fructose Corn Syrup

OBESITY. This sweetener will give you a gut like no other! Princeton University research shows that rats fed a solution of water and half the amount of high fructose corn syrup present in a soda gained MUCH more weight than rats fed a solution of water and table sugar the full amount present in a soda. In the 40 years since the introduction of high-fructose corn syrup as a cost-effective sweetener in the American diet, rates of obesity in the U.S. have skyrocketed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Metabolic Syndrome or syndrome X. In a long-term study, the rats who were fed high fructose corn syrup all alarmingly showed traits portraying metabolic syndrome that many Americans deal with in our society. ¨Symptoms including abnormal weight gain, significant increases in circulating triglycerides and augmented fat deposition, especially visceral fat around the belly. Male rats in particular ballooned in size: Animals with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained 48 percent more weight than those eating a normal diet. In humans, this would be equivalent to a 200-pound man gaining 96 pounds.¨

“Some people have claimed that high-fructose corn syrup is no different from other sweeteners when it comes to weight gain and obesity, but our results make it clear that this just isn’t true, at least under the conditions of our tests,” said psychology professor Bart Hoebel, who specializes in the neuroscience of appetite, weight and sugar addiction. “When rats are drinking high-fructose corn syrup at levels well below those in soda pop, they’re becoming obese — every single one, across the board. Even when rats are fed a high-fat diet, you don’t see this; they don’t all gain extra weight.”

Genetically Modified! Corn is one of the top genetically modified foods. So, High Fructose Corn Syrup is in fact, one of the top genetically modified, highly processed toxic foods that is floating around everywhere. It is super cheap for food companies to use, so why would they want to lose more money on higher quality products right? Click HERE for more in-depth information on GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) foods and their harmful even deadly effects.

Sources:

http://www.anticancerbook.com/post/scientific-evidence-on-the-dangers-of-high-fructose-corn-syrup–promoting-cancer-cell-growth-and-obesity.html

http://search.mercola.com/search/pages/Results.aspx?k=high%20fructose%20corn%20syrup

What Do I Use, Then?

STEVIA is my #1 choice of sweetener. It has zero calories, zero sugar, and is extremely beneficial to our bodies…IF you get a good source. The absolute best stevia on the market that I’ve found is the Sunrider stevia. My experiences with this stevia have been unreal!

What are the Benefits of High Quality Stevia?

Naturally has 0 calories & 0 sugar
Feeds the pancreas to stabilize blood sugar levels! This benefits diabetics as well as those struggling with hypoglycemia.
Feeds the pancreas to optimally secrete digestive enzymes to improve digestion.
Through promoting stabilized blood sugar levels, hormone balance is improved as well.
Ideal for those struggling with candida or other yeast overgrowth in the body as it does not feed bad bacteria, but instead works to kill it with it’s anti-fungal & anti-parasitic properties!
Acts as a general tonic to increase energy, vitality, and mental clarity.
Has been shown to fight against cavities and tooth decay.
Can be used on the skin to promote healing in a number of cases including cuts, scrapes, burns, pimples, boils, cancer spots, eczema, cold sores, and dermatitis.
Naturally: anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-yeast, anti-??? pretty much everything bad I have found.
Has been shown to promote normalized blood pressure

Coconut or Palm Sugar is my second favorite and I use it mostly in cooking as stevia tends to lose it’s sweetness with cooking and baking. This type of sugar has a very low glycemic index so it doesn’t spike blood sugar levels very much when consumed, and it is filled with nutrients!

Non GMO Xylitol would be my third choice. I love that it has zero sugars, so it’s safe for diabetics, and when it comes from a good source (either corn or birch tree), it is a great alternative to use in baking. The only down side is that some people are more sensitive to xylitol and too much can cause gas or have a laxative effect.

Raw Honey is another great option! It has several benefits to our health.

There you have it! What are you putting in your tea today? What foods are you eating today? Be conscious about the foods going into your body. If you’re on a weight loss journey, your best bet is to experiment with these natural sweeteners and get off the junk. Get off white sugar and get off these toxic chemical sweeteners. You will be SO thankful you did!

Have a great Wednesday!

“A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.”

Proverbs 17:22

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Wednesday Weight Loss- Benefits of Lemon Water

October 10, 2012 9 Comments

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!

I hope your week is going well! Today is Weight Loss Wednesday! Every Wednesday, I’ll be giving you a tip on weight loss that will be easy to implement. Today’s is very simple. Check out my video below!

10 Benefits to drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning…

1. It helps alkalize the body

I will be expanding soon on the importance of maintaining a healthy pH in the body, but for now all you need to know is that lemon water helps your body get where it needs to. Research shows that those with a more alkaline pH have a much easier time with healthy weight loss. It is also CRITICAL that you know this very important fact: NO CANCER CELL CAN SURVIVE IN AN ALKALINE ENVIRONMENT, BUT EVERY CANCER CELL THRIVES IN AN ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT. That is powerful knowledge!

2. It hydrates the body

Hydration is essential for health and weight loss. 70% of our bodies are composed of water. That’s a lot! What do you think is going to happen if you don’t drink enough water…your body is going to begin to deteriorate. Makes you think twice before starting off your day with a huge cup of coffee huh? You can go for a significant amount of time without food, but without water, we would die after approximately 72 hours according to research. Many people will lose weight just by hydrating their body alone. When you are dehydrated, your body goes into starvation mode and begins to hold on to every ounce of water it gets just in case it won’t see any for a long time again. But, if you drink it regularly, your body knows it’s safe to let go of extra water weight. Of course many factors play into this, but hydration is KEY to health & weight loss.

3. Kick starts the digestive system

Lemon has been known for hundreds of years to help with digestive issues and constipation. Water as well is wonderful for digestion. Many times dehydration is the culprit behind constipation or acid reflux. Water and lemon together have a synergistic action on the digestive tract as it gently stimulates peristalsis (the wavelike movement throughout the digestive tract that pushes foods through), lubricates the colon to move waste through, and bulks up waste to push it out of the body. Lemons are also full of minerals that help to relax the digestive tract and loosen stored toxins along the colon wall.

4. It’s good for your lymphatic system

Your lymphatic system consists of your lymph nodes (those little nodules you feel in your neck that swell up when you get sick- they are found all throughout your body and act as mini filters to screen out the toxins in the body) and your lymph fluid. Warm water is one of the best things you can do to cleanse the lymphatic system. Lymph stagnation is a major cause of abdominal bloating and water retention. There are many different processes that play a role in lymphatic stagnation and abdominal bloating, but doing this simple tip can be a huge help!

5. Antioxidant morning boost with high levels of vitamin c

Lemons have a good amount of bioavailable vitamin C and antioxidants to boost the immune system and fight off viruses, colds, & the flu. Vitamin C also helps the absorption of calcium which research has shown to significantly aid in weight loss.

6. Strengthens and cleans the liver

Water is responsible for the fluid content of the blood. The liver is the organ that filters the blood, so blood viscosity plays a big role in how hard the liver will have to work. So, not drinking enough water will cause the blood to become thicker and more difficult for the liver to filter. According to Dr. Alexander F. Beddoe in Biological Ionization in Human Nutrition, the liver can make more enzymes out of fresh lemon juice than any other food. Lemons have a wonderful stimulative action on the liver to release toxins and improve a congested liver.

7. Ignites the Metabolism

Both lemon and water help rev up the metabolism. Adding cayenne pepper will be an even stronger metabolism booster and fat burner!

8. Blood purifier

A great trait of lemons is that they help purify the blood. They help improve liver function which is the liver filter and in turn improves the quality of our blood. If you add in Fortune Delight, you will get twice the benefit! Fortune Delight has shown to oxygenate and purify the blood as well.

9. Lowers sugar absorption

“It has been studied that even a little lemon can help you lower the absorption of sugars from the food you eat simply because of its high acidic content. You can go one step further and eat some lemon peels along with the juice, this acts like a double whammy on weight gain, because the pectin present in the peels helps in weight loss by becoming a gel forming substance in your stomach which reduces the sugar absorption from the food you eat.:- Read more here…

10. Acts as a gentle, natural diuretic

The mixture of warm water and lemon works excellent to remove excess fluid from the body. There are some theories that it improves adrenal function. The adrenal glands regulate a hormone called aldosterone that is key in fluid retention. It also helps release toxins from the body. When we have toxin overload in our tissues, it causes fluid retention. Drinking this simple concoction can help deflate the fluff in multiple ways. Woohoo!

* For more info on the Sunrider foods and Fortune Delight check out my Sunrider info page!

Here are some resources for you to check out…

http://www.quantumbalancing.com/news/lemon%20water.htm

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4769/Why-You-Should-Drink-Warm-Water-Lemon.html

http://www.liversupport.com/wordpress/2010/11/love-your-liver-with-lemon-water/

http://www.energiseforlife.com/wordpress/2006/02/10/lemon-water-alkalising-superstar/

In my new program, “THE EMPOWERED WOMAN”, we will dive into the biggest weight loss myths and the some key foundational elements to make weight loss easy and effective!