HELPFUL TIPS FOR PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS & REACHING YOUR IDEAL WEIGHT! (PART 4 OF 4) - EAT THE BEST FOODS FOR HEALTH & WELLNESS

HELPFUL TIPS FOR PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS & REACHING YOUR IDEAL WEIGHT! (PART 4 OF 4) - EAT THE BEST FOODS FOR HEALTH & WELLNESS!

Over the past month, my Weekly Blog posts were dedicated to the major health issues resulting from following a poor diet, using food for emotional purposes, and lacking proper physical exercise. Last week, we began exploring dietary suggestions that can help us attain our natural weight and bring us back to health. Today, we will examine the changes in our diet and our eating habits that will keep moving us towards our healthy weight objectives! 

By following a few simple tips and implementing minor changes in your nutritional intake, you will soon find yourself effortlessly moving toward your permanent health & wellness objectives and reach your natural weight.

1. Stay away from processed food! If you're unsure what processed foods are, follow a simple rule; 'Anything that comes in a package and has more than 1 ingredient is essentially processed.' Remember that processed foods  essentially means 'dead' food, i.e. food that has no nutritional value to your body, that is 'empty' calories! To be nutritional, food needs to provide your body with the essential vitamins, minerals, and enzymes it needs to survive and thrive.

2. Buy your grains, legumes (rice, oats, barley, beans, lentils, etc.), nuts, and seeds in bulk, if you can. They will be fresher and you will lessen the risk of them having been processed or contaminated in some manner. 

3. Always favor Whole foods! For instance, for all your grains' needs, choose the WHOLE/ BROWN option! That means pick brown rice, whole wheat pasta, hole grain bread, etc, rather than their nutrient-stripped derivative. Stay away from white flour, rice, pasta, etc. Again, those are 'empty calorie' foods that build a compact ball of dough that sits undigested in your stomach and go on to block your colon. Remember, deprived of their husks which acts as roughage to help the process of digestion and elimination (peristalsis), the denatured foods that you eat are no longer filled with vitamins and nutritious qualities and prevent the healthy regular movement of your bowels.

4. Pick the 'No Sugar Added' over 'Sugar Free' alternative in all foods. The first option either has no sugar or uses a healthy alternative to sugar such as natural fruit juices or extracts* or completely natural sweeteners such as Stevia (*which is not the best but a better option for sure). The latter usually contains highly questionable products such as artificial sweeteners that have been linked to some types of cancers. When choosing whole grains breads, tomato sauce, or cereals, pay extra attention as there are currently only about 1 or 2 brands that do not ad any sugar or sugar replacement (such as high fructose syrup or other sugar alternatives) to their original ingredients. They do exist and are a much healthier alternative, so be sure to look for them.

5. Choose Organic over conventional foods, whenever you can. Some foods are more susceptible to collect and retain the pesticides and insecticides used in traditional agriculture than others. Following is a high level list of such foods which you should absolutely eat organic; Baby Food, Strawberries, Rice, Green and Red Bell Peppers, Milk, Corn, Bananas, Green Beans, Apples, Cherries, Celery,  Apricots, Peaches, Grapes, Soybeans, Potatoes, Raisins, and Cucumbers. If you really can't buy these organic foods, make sure to peel the skin off of them and to wash them thoroughly - possibly with an organic fruit & vegetable wash product, thereby removing as much of the pesticides and insecticides residues as possible. 

6. Prefer 'Natural' to fully conventional foods. In no way does 'natural' mean 'organic'. It might be better than conventional altogether as it excludes GMO's (Genetically Modified Organisms) but it can still be grown using highly undesirable pesticides and insecticides. So only use it as a 'second choice'.

7. Keep to a Raw diet as much as you can, only cooking grains that are just too hard to digest or cannot be easily eaten sprouted. Raw means 'Alive', and since the purpose of eating is to bring Life into the body, that makes for a much more effective process to provide you with optimum nutrition and vitality!  Don't cook what doesn't need to be cooked! You may be used to cooking everything and enjoying that taste of 'cooked' foods right now, but once you switch to raw food, you'll soon notice how much tastier food becomes and how much energy you actually get out of your food! That's real nutrition! Pace yourself when making the switch so that your body's digestive system builds back up and your taste buds get acquainted to new tastes and flavors.

8. Steam, grill or bake! If you are going to eat cooked food, choose one of those 3 healthier alternatives. Also, never cook vegetables for more than a few minutes as heat alters the natural 'chemical' structure of any element, and that is also true with food! As you might have noticed before, when you cook vegetables for more than a few minutes, they soon lose their vibrant colors and therefore their vitamins and minerals!  

9. When boiling food, use a healthy water source (see below) and keep the 'juice' as a refreshing and vitamin-packed drink!

10. Do not use a Microwave to cook or heat up your food! If you are currently using a microwave, you are actually depriving your food of all nutritional value. Think about the level of heat required to get something that usually takes 1h to cook to do it in less than 5-10 minutes. If you are willing to compromise for the sake of convenience, that's fine but just remember that you are just filling up on empty calories when eating microwaved food and that you should therefore add a reliable liquid vitamins & minerals supplement to your daily diet in order to make up for that loss.

 11. Stay away from fried foods as much as possible! Not only has it been cooked and therefore stripped of its nutritional value (vitamins and minerals) but if it's soaking in 'fat', it's not going to be healthy for you liver and your belly (where most of the fat storage occurs), let alone your arteries and your heart. Instead of frying your food, select one of the cooking methods described above. And If you really can't resist fried food, try using just a tablespoon of sesame oil and adding a little water for stir-fries and the likes. Using a little Tamari (a healthier alternative to soy sauce) or Amino Acids (Raw Coconut or Bragg) to which you add a little water also gives a great taste and texture to food cooked in a frying pan. The best oil for heat use remains Extra Virgin Olive Oil (cold-pressed) and Canola Oil.

12. Discontinue the use of salad dressings and oils in your salads wherever you can. Look at oil in a new light; imagine how many sunflower seeds you need to make a whole bottle of sunflower oil and ask yourself if you could actually consume that many seeds without feeling physically sick. Great alternatives to dressings and oils - which afford myriads of health-giving properties of their own, include: crushed avocado, grated mango, apple, or lemon, all kinds of seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, flax, etc.)  If you absolutely need to use oil, favor pure extra virgin olive oil or canola - both of which are rich in monounsaturated fats, the kind that help reduce “unhealthy” LDL cholesterol and boost “healthy” HDL cholesterol.

13. Stay away from Dairy products, if you can help it. Without entering into the controversial debate about milk and dairy and why its over-consumption can be detrimental to your health, it is worth noting that a large number of people are lactose intolerant (and some don't even know it.) Bloating and weight gain have long been associated with the consumption of dairy.  It also has a high level of fat which doesn't help your arteries (heart disease) and causes the formation of mucus in the body, which is associated not only with colds and the likes but with many of the less desirable modern diseases such as cancer. (For more on that, read Dr. T. Colin Campbell's Best Seller, 'The China Study') But If you really feel the need for that morning coffee 'enema', lose the milk!  There are so many healthy alternatives to milk nowadays that you are bound to find your pick. Most of these now come naturally fortified with Vitamins B12 and D as well as Calcium (so that you don't miss out on the good 'things' your body needs to remain strong and healthy). Almond, Rice, and Hemp are amongst the healthiest and best choices, and have the extra advantage of tasting naturally sweet without any added sugar. 

14. Switch to more Alkaline choices for your beverages! Sodas and mineral water are very acidic to the body. Most recently, doctors have even started warning people against using Spring water which minerals contribute to blockages in the arteries. In order to remain healthy, it is important that the body's PH level remains slightly alkaline rather than acidic. Our modern diet tend to make our body acidic, a state in which dis-ease can develop and thrive. Therefore using alkaline beverages such as Kangen water or green tea in place of soft drinks and regular water is a smart move.  Kangen water is known to be the most alkaline water of all and to be highly oxygenated, bringing a large supply of fresh oxygen to the whole body through all-day hydration. Further, Kangen water is renowned for its antioxidant properties which helps prevent and fight cancer.

15. Introduce 'fat-cutting' foods into your daily diet. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (a teaspoon in 8 oz of water, 3 times a day), Papaya, Pineapple, and Grapefruit are all known for their enzymatic content or/ and 'fat-burning' properties. They will break down existing fat storage and prevent more from taking place. DaIly consumption of the first is greatly advised, especially since it also aids fight arthritis and pains and aches in the bones and joints. Small amounts of the one of the others will help greatly with digestion and to break down fat. All around, these are miracle foods to help fight fat! Of course, there are always more but these are great and cheap too!

16. Consider fasting from time to time! Fasting doesn't have to be all the way, i.e. no food! This kind of fast can actually be detrimental to the body if you are not ready for it.  Start slowly based on your current diet and health condition and build it up. If you have a really poor diet or know your body to be highly 'toxic' don't go all the way since you might be causing more harm than good. Whatever you do, drink lots of water all throughout!  Fasting for you could just be cutting out all greasy and processed foods and switching to healthier foods such as fruits and vegetables for a few days. It could also consist in going on a mono-diet, eating one one food at a time for a few days (healthy that is!). If you are a little healthier, it would be having fresh juices and smoothies only for a week or more. And if you are a hardcore and experienced faster, you could go on a 'water' only fast, though I would not recommend this type of fast but rather using a blue-green algae (such as E3LIve) in your water in order to continue to bring a non-invasive yet optimal nutrition to your cells while ripping the benefits of fasting.

17. At this point, providing you with a list of the healthiest foods to eat is beyond the scope of this Weekly Blog post as it requires a separate post of its own (which we'll cover next week). However if you follow the 'live food only' rule, you'll be eating the healthiest food and feeling great all the time. Until next week, 'eat as much fresh, unprocessed foods as possible; that means, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables (the green leafy kinds are packed with vitamins and antioxidants) and freshly sprouted legumes (beans, lentils) and seeds. Miso soup and sea vegetables (algae) should be integrated into any diet to make it most complete and healthful!  And keep drinking the most healthful beverages you can find (Kangen water, E3Live, Green Tea, Raw Coconut Water should be top on your list!)

For more on how to effect permanent changes in your life or ways to achieve permanent weight loss and gravitate towards your ideal weight, consider our Holistic Cleansing Programs which cater to all dimensions of your being. Visit us at www.thesouthbeachdetox.com and www.letloverule.us.

Next week tune in for our weekly "Health & Wellness" blog post covering the final addition to our Special on 'Food/ Lifestyle for Healthy Weight Management'. This last article will feature all the great foods that should be incorporated into our daily diet in order to balance both body and mind, keep healthy, and attain permanent weight loss objectives (or simply achieve our 'ideal' weight). 

HEALTHY FOOD AND NUTRITION FOR PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS, HEALTH AND VITALITY! REACH YOUR IDEAL WEIGHT NOW!

HELPFUL TIPS FOR PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS & REACHING YOUR IDEAL WEIGHT! (PART 3 OF 4)

My last two Weekly Blog posts emphasized the major health issues resulting from following a poor diet, using food for emotional purposes, and lacking proper physical exercise. Last week, we explored ways in which we can combat obesity and overweight through an intelligent and balanced physical exercise program.. Today, we will take a look at some minor changes we can introduce into our diet and our eating habits in order to move towards a healthier/ 'ideal*' weight and maintain it! (*as defined last week; one that allows your body and mind to function optimally so you may achieve your highest potential in life.)

By following a few simple tips and implementing minor changes in your nutritional intake, you will soon find yourself effortlessly moving toward your natural weight.

1. Don't skip breakfast, or any other meal for that matter. All scientific studies agree on the fact that skipping meals starves your system and lands itself to overeating later in the day, and most particularly at dinner time, which is the time when we should eat the least!  You need brain power and physical strength to function all day long and therefore you should eat a healthy and balanced breakfast and lunch. Skipping meals often sounds like an attractive option because it may help you lose some weight in the short term but it will run havoc in your body in the long run and even have you pack on some extra pounds once you break your diet and return to your regular meals as your body will have switched itself into automatic storage mode.

2. Avoid late eating. End the day with a small and easily digestible meal. Liquid foods (soups, fresh juices), fresh fruits and vegetables are a great option to satisfy your senses while leaving you feeling light and at ease. Ideally, try to eat at least 4 hours before going to bed. Also, If you can try, strive to take your last meal around 6pm. You can always have a light snack after if you need to. Keep in mind that once the sun goes down, we begin a new cycle where nature no longer supports the digestive process through solar energy. That's why it's never a good idea to eat heavy foods at night! One of the most recent findings on weight gain is that late dinning and snacking is responsible for most of it!

3. Eat small(er) meals. Our ancestors had PHYSICAL needs that required them to eat large meals. They worked hard in physically demanding occupations. Eating healthful portions provided them with the necessary energy to complete their tasks and replenish their bodies. Nowadays, most of the jobs we carry out are done sitting at a desk for hours at a time only using our brain power. Our dietary needs are therefore much different. Still, somehow we have failed to adapt to these new circumstances and our food intake has become completely disconnected from our physiological needs. Further, when eating is not completely dictated by social conventions, it is primarily performed for emotional reasons in an effort to try and fill the emptiness we feel inside and to avoid 'feeling' our real emotions rather than to fuel our bodies and brain. 

4. Reduce your food intake slowly. It is completely unrealistic to expect someone who is used to eating large portions of food to stop eating in this manner from one day to the next. The most effective method to switch to smaller meals is to slowly and progressively reduce your food intake. If you cut your food consumption by 5-10% a day, you will begin the process of gradually shrinking down your stomach to its original (healthy) size. This represents taking out about 1 teaspoon of food from each and every meal; which is very easily done. In this manner, you will have reduced your food intake by 35-70% within a week. This case scenario only applies if you are eating large portions. So it you eat in reasonable proportion, don't change anything. If you are unsure about what a large portion might look like, picture the 'normal' size of a stomach (not overstretched by over eating) which should be about the size of your fist. So, next time you prepare a meal, make sure that it can more or less fit in your fist; and if it doesn't, start cutting your food intake as described above until it does. This method works really well and feels very easy on both the body and the mind.

5. Don't eat till you're too full. Whenever possible, try and stop eating right before that last uncomfortable bite! The rule here is simple, 'if you feel uncomfortably full, you've eaten too much!' So, eat slowly and mindfully, enjoying every single bite until you are satisfied and appeased, not saturated. Yogic studies have demonstrated that for optimum functioning and nutrition the stomach should be filled with 1/3 of air, 1/3 of water, and 1/3 of food. Following that principle will keep your digestive system extremely healthy, let you enjoy boundless energy, and delay the aging process significantly.

6. Practice Conscious Eating as an extension of Conscious Living. So, be sure to savor every bite you take when eating. Remember that you are nourishing your body, not your mind. Food should not be used to fill a sense of emptiness we may carry within, or to bury problems and stress factors under 'layers'. Be present in your eating in the same way that you are in your daily life. By doing one thing at a time and making the connection between this presence of spirit in your action and the physical and mental well-being you experience as a result, you will gain a much deeper experience of your own life. 

7. Chew your food really well. Nutrition experts recommend chewing each bite of food up to 50 times (whenever possible) until the food becomes almost liquid and easily washes out of your mouth into your throat. The rationale for this is that using the enzymes present in your saliva optimally helps to break down and pre-digest the  food you eat. This in turn makes it easier for the rest of your digestive system to finish the vital absorption and elimination processes that follow. 

8. Stick to healthy snacks! If you feel the need to eat outside of mealtimes - which may happen from time to time, and will most likely happen when you first start curbing your appetite and reducing your food intake to shrink your stomach back to its normal size, consider eating a few smaller meals throughout the day or adding 1-2 healthy snacks in between meals. Good examples of healthy snacks include fruits such as apples, kiwis, or bananas - which are very filling yet not extremely calorific, vegetables such as raw carrots, broccoli, or celery, etc. If you need something more 'substantial' such as nuts, stick to a handful and favor fresh* nuts such as almonds. (*In order to rehydrate nuts and make them more easily digestible, simply let them sit in pure water for about 8 hours. Then rinse them and store them in a glass container in your fridge. Enjoy the delicious taste of fresh nuts for days without feeling full or packing up some extra pounds!) 

9. Consuming Superfoods such as delicious tasting blue green algae (E3Live) is yet another even healthier option if you get hungry in between meals. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, this kind of natural food is regarded as especially beneficial because of its superior nutrient profile and health-protecting qualities. E3Live also boosts your metabolism, removes waste material from your body and helps your body burn calories faster. Because it comes in liquid form, it is easily digested and absorbed by the body, thereby instantly delivering optimum nutrition to your cells. Again, remember that it is your cells you are feeding, not your mind!  

10. Other great choices of natural hunger suppressants in liquid form that are filled with health-giving properties include raw coconut water and green tea. Nothing is more refreshing, boosting and revitalizing in the hot summer months (iced green tea)! They also help with digestion and elimination.

11. Think of air, or more specifically oxygen, as food. Now that we've established that food is not necessarily what we think it to be, we can bridge the gap between what we call eating empty calories and feeding our body at the cellular level through nutritious foods too. Oxygenating your body forms an essential part of nourishment and to keeping healthy and having boundless energy. By practicing specific breathing techniques regularly, or simply applying conscious breathing throughout the day, we are able to bring the maximum amount of oxygen to our cells and optimize the removal of waste materials (such as carbon dioxide) within the body.

12. Eat according to your region, climate and season. After shifting from eating habits that primary revolved around emotional contentment to actual physical nourishment that involve smaller volume and conscious eating, it is a time to bring a new factor into consideration when selecting what items should be included in your diet or not. Nutritional needs vary according to our region, climate and the specific season we are in. In the summer time, you will have noticed that you feel less hungry and that you crave lighter and more 'watery' foods such as fresh fruits and summer veggies that keep you 'cool'. Conversely in the winter, you will find yourself drawn to heavier, heartier, and more filling foods that stick to your bones and provide you with the extra heat, energy and fat your body needs to maintain its normal temperature. Continually eating foods that don't match the needs created by your immediate external environment will bring your body and mind out of balance. For instance, If you live in a tropical climate and eat too many 'fatty' foods, you will soon pack on all the extra fat your body doesn't need and start feeling sluggish. Macrobiotic principles clearly expound on the reasons why it is important to mostly eat food that grows in your region. The outside environment produces what we need naturally and so it is important to eat the food that grows where we live so  that we can remain physically, and thereby also mentally, balanced. That's essentially what plants and foods that grow in nature around us do; they balance the external environment, restoring the balance between the Yin and the Yang in every living thing.

The list of nutritional tips for permanent weight management provided above is to be continued. So, tune in next week  for our weekly "Health & Wellness" blog post covering Part 2/2 of Food/ Lifestyle for Healthy Weight Management. We will provide you with all the necessary information on great foods to incorporate into your diet to balance both body and mind, keep healthy and attain your permanent weight loss objectives or simply achieve your 'ideal' weight. 

For more on how to effect permanent changes in your life or ways to achieve permanent weight loss and gravitate towards your ideal weight, consider our Holistic Cleansing Programs which cater to all dimensions of your being. Visit us at www.thesouthbeachdetox.com and www.letloverule.us.

PHYSICAL EXERCISE FOR PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS AND IDEAL WEIGHT

HELPFUL TIPS FOR PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS & REACHING YOUR IDEAL WEIGHT! (PART 2 OF 3)

Two weeks ago our Weekly Blog Post highlighted the major health issues resulting from following a poor diet, using food for emotional purposes, and lacking proper physical exercise. We looked at the growing phenomenon of obesity (overweight) from a mental/ spiritual perspective and analyzed the elements required to attain Permanent Weight Loss from that stand-point. Today, we will explore the physical dimension - specifically exercise,  and identify the most successful strategy for attaining your 'ideal' weight, i.e. one that allows your body and mind to function optimally so you may achieve your highest potential in life.

Following are a few tips on minor changes you can implement in your exercise routine and lifestyle in order to attain those objectives.

1. Start your day with some form of physical exercise. This will increase your metabolism substantially for a better assimilation and elimination of all foods consumed during the day.

2. Include some form of cardiovascular activity into your daily routine. Running is often hard on the bones and joints so you may want to consider other sports such as swimming, power-walking, power yoga (a physically challenging form of yoga), and many others. Getting the blood pumping in your system is essential not only to boost your metabolism but also to maintain a healthy cardiac muscle. Of course, check with your doctor first for any contra-indications related to your current state of health before you start any new exercise regime. 

3. It is a known fact that muscles burn a lot more calories than other cell tissues, especially fat! A pound of muscle can burn anywhere from 30-100 extra calories a day. (That's mainly because muscle tissues need more for repair.) Therefore, the more muscles you build, the more calories you will burn, especially right after working out. While the aim is not for you to build muscles beyond what is both healthy or  sensible for your body, strength training remains incredibly important for losing fat and keeping your body strong and healthy. Power yoga is a form of strength training. In the 15 months since I replaced my regular body building practice with power yoga, I have built more strength and muscles than ever before, and without compromising on my flexibility or making myself more susceptible to injury.

4. Unlike any other form of exercise, the regular practice of yoga - especially when breathing techniques are rigorously applied throughout the sequence, does not only strengthen your muscles but also stretches and fully oxygenates every single muscle in the body. Flowing forms of yoga such as Power Vinyasa target the cardiovascular system but also deeply massage the internal organs, something that is not addressed in other traditional sportive disciplines.

5. Every single scientific study has proven that sports is one the greatest remedies against depression. The release of endorphins in your blood stream gives you a feeling of exhilaration- unmatched by anything except sexual or spiritual enlightenment (for those who have been able to get a taste of good sex or blissful meditation), and immediately uplifts your mood. Since most of our 'modern' eating is emotional in nature, sports is a great way of combatting unhealthy eating habits such as snacking. 

6. As mentioned above, when you enhance your spirit, you won't be as likely to reach out for the pound-packing comfort food. This is even more true with the practice of yoga which not only uplifts your mood but also brings awareness to the root causes for all habits and conditioned responses we usually operate under. Having shed some light on the reasons for any unhappiness or dissatisfaction in your life and having learnt the immense value of acceptance and compassion towards yourself, you will be able to shift your behavior towards a healthier lifestyle.

7. Try to practice some form of physical exercise every single day. Can you imagine not using your brain/ mind for an entire day? (That might actually be a blessing in disguise!) In the old days, most people used to get the necessary exercise for their body through their labor/ work every day, and that's what kept them healthy and strong. Nowadays, we spend most of our day sitting in the same position for hours at a time in a poorly oxygenated and artificially-lighted environment. Our bodies need to move in order to remain healthy and strong. Without healthy bodies, we cannot live the long and enjoyable life we are all entitled to. Bring balance to both your mental and physical side by exercising everyday, even if that means just taking a 20 minute meditative walk a day. That makes all the difference!

8. Breathe deeply all day long, not just when you exercise. Breathing deeply enables the optimum oxygenation of your entire body. This is essential to keeping your body alkaline - a desired state in which disease cannot develop and thrive. Breathing deeply also burns more calories. Adopting a simple yoga practice or learning more advanced breathing techniques will teach you how to optimize your breathing and thereby combat stress and maintain a heightened level of health and wellbeing.

For more on how to effect permanent changes in your life or ways to achieve permanent weight loss and gravitate towards your ideal weight, consider our Holistic Cleansing Programs which cater to all dimensions of your being. Visit us at www.thesouthbeachdetox.com and www.letloverule.us.

To find out more on the physical dimension of permanent weight loss and gravitating towards your ideal weight, tune in next Monday for our weekly "Health & Wellness" blog post covering Food/ Lifestyle for Healthy Weight Management.

HELPFUL TIPS FOR PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS & REACHING YOUR IDEAL WEIGHT

HELPFUL TIPS FOR PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS & REACHING YOUR IDEAL WEIGHT

With the increase in consumption of processed food and the decrease in physical activity, it is no surprise that 64% of the United States adult population is considered either overweight or obese. Recent medical research has shown that our modern diet and sedentary lifestyle alone are enough to pack on an extra 2 pounds a year, that's 10 pounds per decade, and those statistics don't include the more disastrous consequences of overeating. That said, the solution is in the problem itself - as it always is, and therefore weight issues are not a plight to be endured without fix! In order to revert this unhealthy trend, the first step to take is to change perspective. Rather than look for miracle cures which only treat symptoms, we must investigate root causes and treat the problem at the source, namely here diet and lifestyle. Here are a few tips that cover these two aspects and will help you avoid the painful consequences of yo-yo dieting, achieve permanent weight loss, and more importantly reach and maintain your ideal weight. I have grouped the tips into categories that reflect the various dimensions your weight is attached to, starting with the ones which, contrary to appearances, are key to permanent weight loss. Today, I'll cover the Mental and Spiritual aspects.

MENTAL/ SPIRITUAL

1. Forget all the 'stories' you may have heard about perfect weight and height-to-weight ratio, and embrace the fact that no one person is born like another. Therefore, there is no other Ideal Weight but the weight you attain through a healthy and balanced diet and lifestyle. Understand that bodily changes such as hormonal variations can affect this weight temporarily or permanently as is often the case with women but also men.

2. Having left the misleading land of 'perfect weight' fantasy, embrace the moment and the most useful skill of Acceptance. This doesn't mean that if you are overweight, you should give up on the desire to lose weight but simply that you accept your current condition and understand that you have the power to change your circumstances through personal growth and evolution.

3. Alongside the cultivation of Acceptance, begin to exercise Patience so that you may enjoy the journey you have begun rather than become frustrated and obsessed with getting to the destination.

4. Through the process of Introspection, begin to reflect on the reasons why you may have an 'unhealthy' diet or/ and lifestyle. Meditation and journaling are easy way to shed light on your eating habits and their potential negative consequences on your vitality and health. By applying the concept of presence and bringing full awareness to the process of eating during meals, you can identify your behavior in relation to food and over time you empower yourself to change that.

5. Define clear Objectives relating to your weight and what you are trying to achieve. Rather than focusing on losing weight to comply with societal standards or rigid expectations you may have set for yourself, define objectives of health, vitality, energy that extra pounds may be getting in the way of.

6. Understand that all habits are the direct result of deep conditioning and that these deeply ingrained patterns can only changed through new behaviors. Experimenting with the 'unknown' - no matter how scary that may seem, is the only way to a permanent shift and freedom from the old, rigid routine. By doing so, you'll be building new synapses and firing patterns within your brain and welcome positive changes brought about by mental 'De-conditioning'.

7. Shift your Perspective and Beliefs on food! Think of Food as Nutrition - i.e. enzymes, vitamins and minerals, not emotional filling. This kind of food is what sustains the physical body and lets you enjoy physical health and vitality. Nutrition takes place at the cellular level and brings you to a place of complete physical/ physiological balance. When your body is balanced, so is your mind and you can experience its long-lasting consequences. 

8. Through introspection, you will have identified the dissatisfactions or unfulfilled needs you may be trying to suppress through eating. Use the insight you have gained through meditation, journalling, and other enlightening practices to shift to Healthier and more Effective Activities that will respond to your Real Needs. The easiest way to do this is to ask yourself, 'What do I really need?" So, every time you run to food to fill a need, pause for a second. Acknowledge your Feelings (fear, disappointment, boredom, loneliness, etc.) and ask yourself what you could do -rather than eat, to truly answer to your need!

9. The first few times, this will require a lot of Will Power. Change is inescapable though, so you might as well embrace it with all your might. Be like the fish, flow through the river of life. Be Strong, Focus and Intent on the permanent changes you have defined for yourself through your objectives. It may not happen overnight, but in time it will happen! By the way, yoga is by far the most effective way of growing Will power, but we can talk about that in greater detail another time.

10. Remember that all dimensions of our being are intricately interrelated. Matter begins with vibrations, and thoughts are vibrations! So,Think Positive and Forget Judgments! Be the Change in your life, rather than getting stuck in the role of the helpless victim!

For more on how to effect permanent changes in your life or to achieve permanent weight loss and gravitate towards your ideal weight, consider our Holistic Cleansing Programs which cater to all dimensions of your being. Visit us at www.thesouthbeachdetox.com.

Find out more on the physical dimension of weight loss: Physical Exercise/ Lifestyle for Weight Management in our daily "Health & Wellness" blog posts.

Food & Nutrition: 'Foods that naturally detox the body'

Food & Nutrition: 'Foods that naturally detox the body' 

Health Food & Natural Medicine Author, Feb, 2011

Read below to find out more about the many foods available to help naturally detox the body.  These foods are a great addition to supplement a full body cleanse, before, after, and sometimes even in the middle of it.

Foods to detox the body

As toxicity becomes a growing concern within our society so does the need for detox. With newer, stronger chemicals in the air, water, drugs, medications and foods the risk for exposure is much greater than it was in the past. Other factors such as lifestyle also lead to the risk of exposure to pollutants, irritants and toxins. Food plays a major role in the body’s ability to eliminate toxins and chemicals. The body requires essential nutrients through food, supplements or vitamins to maintain metabolic balance. However, a poor diet that consists of foods with additives, flavor enhancers, food coloring, artificial preservatives, and refined and processed foods can compromise the body’s ability to eliminate unnecessary chemicals. Fresh and organically grown foods help to cleanse and detoxify the body. Food that is rich in fiber, high in water content and full of vitamins and minerals all help to eliminate impurities. Detoxifying foods stimulate excretion of toxic chemicals and replace them with nutrients that the body needs to restore health. When you have digestive problems, constipation, a distended stomach or sluggish elimination, look at your diet and replace fast food, soda and empty calorie snacks with these detoxifying foods.

1. Water- Water naturally flushes out chemicals, toxins and impurities from the body through sweat, breathing and urination. By adding an extra quart of water to your daily water intake you can quickly cleanse your system of ingested irritants.

2. Fruit- Fresh fruit is full of water, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. Fruits are easily digested and are high in nutrient content. Fruits can be eaten fresh, dried, frozen or juiced. Fruits high liquid content helps to wash out toxins. The list of fruits that can be consumed include apples, pears, oranges, grapefruit, bananas, raisins, pineapple, mango, kiwi fruit, raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, melon, sultanas, nectarines and peaches.

3. Lemon- Lemons have a wonderful detoxifying effect on the body. Adding lemon to your water can help to stimulate digestive enzymes. Also drinking hot water with lemon squeezed into it can aid in liver cleansing. Plus lemon is filled with vitamin C and antioxidants, which help to flush toxins such as free radicals from the body.

4. Leafy Green Vegetables- Eating raw vegetables is excellent for your health and can aid in detoxification, and also add a boost to detoxification through chlorophyll. Leafy green vegetables such as blue green algae, barley, wheatgrass, kale, spinach, spirulina, psyllium, cabbage, parsley, cilantro, watercress, alfalfa, chard, and arugula all contain chlorophyll, which help to rid the body of environmental toxins. Chlorophyll is a plant based compound that can flush out smog, heavy metals, herbicides, cleaning products and pesticides from the liver. These greens have a diuretic effect on the body, which causes toxins to be expelled through excretion. Leafy greens are most often used in salads, which are full of fiber and contain fewer calories, which help to flush the system of toxins.

5. Raw Vegetables- Eating raw vegetables helps to naturally cleanse the stomach, intestines and bowels. Raw vegetables also purge the liver of toxins. Vegetables are full of vitamins that are essential for health. Sulphur and glutathione are naturally occurring in many raw vegetables and help to cleanse the liver of toxic chemicals. Good detox vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, beets, radishes, onions, artichokes, seaweed, Brussels sprouts, asparagus and many more.

6. Broccoli- Broccoli is a great detoxifying vegetable as it helps to stimulate digestive enzymes, which encourages weight loss during detox. Broccoli sprouts are more effective than their full-grown counterpart however; they are rich in antioxidants, which encourages waste clearing from the body.

7. Garlic-Garlic is a great choice for any detoxification. In addition to being a blood cleanser, garlic is a natural antibiotic. It can reduce blood fat as well as lower blood pressure. Garlic stimulates cleansing of the liver and helps flush the body of toxic chemicals and impurities. Garlic can be added to food dishes or can be taken as a supplement to avoid the smell.

8. Green Tea- Green tea helps flush out toxins from the body. Green tea is full of antioxidants and boosts the metabolism. Green tea contains catechins, which speeds up liver function.

9. Seeds & Nuts- Seeds and nuts are a great way to detox the body. They are easily digested and aid and protect the liver in cleansing toxins. Seeds and nuts that are good for detoxing include flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, walnuts, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, Siberian cedar nuts, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Remember to eat unsalted nuts during detox, because salt can impede the detoxification process.

10. Beans- Beans are a major source of protein and fiber. Legumes are easily digestible and should be part of any detox program. Beans cleanse the stomach of residual toxins and help the body get rid of unwanted impurities. Include kidney beans, pinto beans, garbanzo, soybeans, and mung beans are all great for detoxification.

11. Omega-3 Oils- Foods rich in omega-3s are not only healthy for you but also help to detox the system. Hemp, avocado, olive oils, and flax seed oil are all food sources of omega-3s. When consumed they lubricate the walls of the stomach and intestines which allows toxins to flush out through the bodies natural elimination systems.

12. Figs & Prunes- Figs are high in fiber and contain calcium and essential nutrients for the body. One to two figs a day can help to improve elimination. Prunes help to cleanse the digestive tract. Prunes are high in fiber content but also contain a natural laxative that helps elimination and stops constipation. Prunes can be consumed as a dried fruit or as prune juice.

For more information from this author who graduated with a BA in exercise science and has worked in the medical field since, with a focus in alternative medicine, check out his health website at http://www.universalhealthinfo.com/Detoxifying_Foods.html.

Food & Nutrition: 'Healthful Resolutions: Adopting the Anti-Inflammatory Diet'

Food & Nutrition: 'Healthful Resolutions: Adopting the Anti-Inflammatory Diet' 

Dr. Weil's Weekend Tip, January 30, 2011

Chronic inflammation has been identified as factor in the development of fatal degenerative diseases and Alzheimer's. Because diet is a major contributor to chronic inflammation, adopting a healthful diet can help prevent and counteract the risks associated with inflammation. For more, read below.

The anti-inflammatory diet isn't a weight-loss program (although you can lose weight on it) or a temporary eating plan. It is intended to counteract chronic inflammation, now known to play a central role in the development of heart disease, many cancers and Alzheimer's disease. Poor diet is perhaps the main contributor to chronic inflammation. The anti-inflammatory diet can help you correct

that: it points the way to food choices that can help you remain optimally healthy. Use my Anti- Inflammatory Food Pyramid - print it out and post it on the fridge. Along with influencing inflammation, the diet will give you steady energy and provide all the vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and dietary fiber you need.

Eating Anti-Inflammatory, Made Simple

The Need For Detox: 'Could it Really Be True: Only Four Days to a Healthier, Lighter, Happier You without Surgery, Harmful Drugs or Deprivation?'

Could it Really Be True: Only Four Days to a Healthier, Lighter, Happier You without Surgery, Harmful Drugs or Deprivation?

The revolutionary South Beach Detox ®, a four-day program of Yoga, Meditation and nutrient-rich, all natural supplements, brings proven weight loss, peace of mind and flexibility to people of all ages and all walks of life.

Miami, FL (November, 18, 2010) – With the plethora of dieting products and programs out there, it’s not surprising that most people would be distrustful of any program that claims to bring weight loss, improved health and peace of mind in four short days.  But that’s exactly what the revolutionary South Beach Detox® does.

The South Beach Detox® is a ground-breaking program that combines the benefits of Yoga and Meditation with the amazing health benefits of E3Live® products, a combination of super digestive Enzymes, superior Probiotics and nutrient-rich Greens put together to support this highly innovative detox program.  And if that wasn’t enough, participants are guided one-on-one by locally renowned Yoga Master and owner of Miami Yogashala, Fred Busch, and Alessandrina Lerner, director of The South Beach DetoxÒ programs at Miami Yogashala.

Busch and Lerner have been coaching individuals through The South Beach DetoxÒ in the U.S., South America, and Europe for almost a year and are now preparing for the imminent launch of the virtual South Beach DetoxÒ, a home-based version of the detox program which combines the same powerful elements but can be done in the comfort of the client’s home and for only half the price, making this high-end detox extremely attractive to all in a time of limited budgets!

Benefits of The South Beach Detox ® include increased energy, weight loss, strengthening of the immune system, regular bowel movements, mental clarity and, last but not least, personal transformation.  Users also report a better understanding of nutrition and thus a better relationship with food.  Roxanne, a business woman in Fort Lauderdale, reports, “The South Beach Detox ® program has changed the way I think about food…  The products used in the detox are fabulous, in terms of the way they make me feel, like how much stronger I feel when I take them.”

E3Live® has been touted by health professionals and users alike.  Dr. Baxter Montgomery of the Houston Cardiac Association uses E3LiveÒ in his disease reversal program specifically with cardiac disease and diabetes, and describes his own use of E3LiveÒ in the following terms, “Within a few days of starting to drink E3Live® our team noticed a leap in our stamina during workouts, an incredible boost in mental clarity and focus and a decrease in appetite.”

The benefits of Yoga and Meditation have been proven across the world for thousands of years now and the benefits of E3Live® have been confirmed by medical and health experts across the country.  By combining both of these and having your own personal “coach” to help guide you, a brand new start to a healthier, more peaceful and happier you is just four days away!

For more information visit: http://www.miamiyoga.com/detox.html. or

http://www.southbeachyoga.com/detox.html

Any statements and claims related to the South Beach Detox® and E3Live® have not been evaluated by the Food Drug Administration or any other federal health agencies.

About Miami Yogashala

Miami Yogashala, located in Miami Beach, is a holistic Yoga studio directed by renowned yogi Fred Busch.  Miami Yogashala offers over 40 classes per week as well as Teacher Training Certification courses and the highly celebrated South Beach Detox® program.  In an effort to bring Yoga and its benefits to inner city youth, Miami Yogashala will also be embarking on efforts to teach Yoga in public schools and train youth to teach Yoga to their peers.  More information about Miami Yogashala and its next Teacher Certification course which begins on September 11, 2010 can be found at www.miamiyoga.com

 
Contacts
Alessandrina Lerner, Director of “The South Beach Detox”, Miami Yogashala
(786) 308-9552
aleslerner@hotmail.com

Tips for Detox: Detox Your Mind, Detox Your Body

Detox Your Mind, Detox Your Body

When it comes to learning how to detox your body, one of the most common mistakes it seems people make is forgetting to take their whole body into account.  We are all integrated and holistic beings with a physical body, emotional body, mental body and spiritual energy.  If any one or a combination of these aspects of “us” is out of balance or storing ‘toxins’ in various forms, then it affects the rest of the aspects of us.

So, for the sake of this article, let’s assume that you are wanting to do a body detox and lose some weight or cleanse your colon or what ever you have in mind for your physical cleansing aspect.  If you only focused on that one aspect of your detox, you would not get nearly the results you had hoped for.  For example, what people find is that when they are trying to lose weight with a detox diet, if there are other factors that are inhibiting their cleanse, the weight will not come off.  Then, what happens is you will end up blaming the supplements or the diet itself, when the real problem might be that you are not addressing other core toxic issues in one of these other aspects mentioned.

Addressing Your Mental Detox

Toxic emotional and mental thoughts are also a problem.

A big part of what keeps our bodies holding onto all sorts of toxins is that energetically we don’t know how to release them.  Your body is only the physical structure that is a manifestation or symbol of your emotional, mental and spiritual self.  What you are holding in those other areas will show up in your physical body.  So, in order to really do a thorough body cleanse, you will need to address these issues at some point.  It doesn’t have to mean a bunch of sessions with a therapist or counselor to address your past.  It may involve this if you think that this is an area you could use help with, but it need not.

The whole point is that you are one symbiotic and holistic body.  There are other factors at work than just your diet as a reason why you are accumulating toxins in your cells and tissues.  If your body is functioning at its optimum level, then much of this toxic debris and waste will be naturally flushed through your body’s natural elimination means.  This happens through your breathing (your lungs are a big source of toxic elimination), your sweat by way of exercise and through body elimination processes (urine and stools).  The only reason that your body may be more sluggish in eliminating a build-up of toxins in your colon is because one or all of these aspects of the body detox are not being fully addressed.

Tips for Detox: Do Detox Diets Really Work?

Do Detox Diets Really Work?

Have you heard of the Atkins Diet? Or the South Beach Diet?  How about the Zone?  You’ve likely heard of these because they all have sold millions of books and make the authors and their publishers that much in profits as well.  Many people are looking for confirmation as to which diet is easy and effective. Virtually every diet will help you lose some weight.  But they all have a major flaw – the snap back.  Sometimes it’s more severe than others.  With a detox diet, you can almost eliminate this possibility.  You see, a detox diet is more of a way to get rid of a build up of toxins in your body.  Detox diets (they can be varied in style) are especially focused as colon cleansing in nature.  As goes your colon, so goes your body detoxification according to the experts in this area.

Tips for Detox: So, You're Thinking About A Body Detox Are You?

Detox Your Body Without The Yo-Yo Effect

It is a very common phenomenon. You can avoid it by choosing to eat a more vegetable based diet as a routine.

That previously mentioned flaw to diets, the snap-back effect – it’s a common problem for many people not only trying to lose weight but even those learning how to detox.  You’ve probably experienced it yourself if you are looking to lose weight with your detox.  The smart way to detox your body is to go about it like any pursuit that is worthwhile, commit to it.  Some detox diets are only for a brief 2-3 day period.  We’d call this more of a quick fast or fasting cleanse, but you’ll see it as a detox in places too.  Most sources will recommend at least a 10 day time period to plan for your detox program.  This is ample time to allow your body to go through its natural process of elimination, followed by further cleansing and more elimination.  Combined with the suggested fruits, vegetables, supplementation to support your cleanse and adequate hydration and you will be in good shape.  Great shape even, in no time!  As you learn how to detox this way, you’ll be much better about your body’s ability to be more alive, vibrant and full of life.

So, rather than trying to be the hare and finish a brief episode of colon cleansing and then race on to your next diet, give yourself some time to be the turtle and ultimately win for your health.