Lose that Excess Weight and Add Years to Your Life

Eating poorly and carrying excess weight increases your risk of many serious illnesses and diseases and shortens your lifespan robbing you of many vibrant healthy years. It lowers the quality of your life, physically, mentally and emotionally.

But, diets are not the long-term answer. In fact, it has been proven over and over that 95% of all diets fail. Diets simply entice us with promises of quick, easy weight loss. Because diets in general are so restrictive, all they do is set you up for failure from the start. Many are so low in caloric intake that you won’t have energy to continue with them for more than a few weeks.

It is far better to develop a healthy eating plan – one that you can follow for the rest of your life than to pin your hopes on a short term diet than will never provide long-term results.

Another problem with “diets” is that although they most often produce quick weight loss at the outset, they cause serious issues with your metabolism (your body’s engine) and cause it to slow to a crawl. How in the heck do you plan on burning calories and taking weight off if your “weight-loss engine” is crawling?

You need to understand that when you skip a meal or go on a crash diet your metabolism slows to conserve your energy. Your body will also feel threatened after a few days and then the “brakes go on” because your body is fooled into believing it is starving and must go into survival mode. It fights to conserve your fat stores and the weight loss you experience is likely due to the elimination of water.

The result is you must eat less and less in order to keep losing weight. Not a healthy situation physically or mentally. You’ll eventually become discouraged and give up and fall back into your old eating habits.

In truth, you do not need to sign up for a commercial diet program (designed for temporary use), purchase special foods or dietary supplements. Neither do you need to use diet pills in order to succeed with weight loss. The very best thing you can do for yourself is to start eating healthy right now and continue to do so for the rest of your life.

The journey to weight loss and better health and longevity is not a “one big event.” It is made up of hundreds of small steps, each one contributing something towards your success. Every healthy meal you enjoy or workout you perform is like a deposit into your health account. All these accumulated deposits add up to a healthy balance that continues to grow.

One step at a time…meal by meal and workout by workout is the way to go. Simply begin replacing your not-so-good habits and not-so-good food with better habits and better food.

The reality is, weight-loss has to be a long-term solution for it to work. There is no short-term solution.

One of the first things you need to do when beginning a weight loss journey is to detoxify your body. Toxins can damage your organs, glands and cause increased inflammation in your body. They are also behind many headaches and generally make you feel “unwell.” But the worst thing of all is that they cause weight gain…the exact opposite of what you are trying to achieve.

The formula for dieting success is simple:

Eat plenty of fresh natural whole foods provided by Mother Nature herself. Avoid any processed or refined sugary foods and try to drink plenty of clean water daily – skip the fruit juices and soda.

  • Adopt a proper exercise program that contains mostly strength training exercises in order to increase your “metabolic fitness.”
  • Eat clean. This means you minimize the amount of ingested foods that contain toxins such as preservatives, pesticides (always wash your fresh produce), antibiotics, and heavy metals (such as mercury found in some species of fish).
  • Choose unprocessed organic fruits and veggies along with grass fed organic meats when possible.

Baseline diet fundamentals

You  must find ways to implement these eight factors:

  1. Start the journey strong and continue strong.
  1. Burn more fuel (calories) than you consume.
  1. Eat ‘clean’ at least 80 percent of the time.
  1. Eat 5-7 small meals each day every 2-3 hours.
  1. Make the time to prepare those meals the night before.
  1. Take food with you wherever you go so there is no excuse for not eating the right thing.
  1. Eat quality protein at each of your meals.
  1. Create meals containing 300 – 400 calories.

When you have these fundamentals firmly in place in your life at least 80 percent of the time you will not have an excess body fat problem. It will be long gone! Your health will improve as well as your quality of life. 

All my products address a whole body approach that supports both the body and the mind. If you are serious about achieving a truly healthy lifestyle, one of youth and vitality – “Reclaim Your Longevity” was created for you.

It will absolutely help you in every area of your life to stay as young, healthy and vibrant as possible, squeezing every ounce of life out of every minute of your life!

Counting Calories Can Be Dangerous to Your Health and Longevity

countingxcaloriesxdoesxnotxwork2

Understanding what good nutrition means and putting focus on that is imperative to anyone’s dieting success. How you diet now will effect how long you live and how vital you live out those years.

Introducing and adopting dangerous diets now only trims off valuable years of your life later.

Those who adopt a calorie counting approach to dieting, or worse, a diet plan that requires them to eat any number of prepackaged type processed snacks and meals, undermines any effort at weight loss and whatever weight is lost will be short lived.

Focusing on a diet that places your attention primarily on counting calories is not only dangerous to your health, it is a temporary solution not a permanent one.

As soon as you come off this type of restricting “diet,” all the weight you worked so hard to take off is regained simply because you never learned how to “eat” properly in the first place.

Not only will the weight come back easily, but this type of “dieting” deprives the body of important nutrients and opens the door to disease and accelerated aging.

In order to maintain the weight loss you’re working so hard to obtain, it’s your daily eating habits that must shift. After all, counting calories for the rest of your life – every single day is just not practical.

This extreme approach eventually leads to abandoning all weight loss efforts. The whole counting calories idea gets ditched as well as any hopes of permanent weight loss. Defeat has set in.

The reality is, learning healthy eating habits or strategies is what it takes to move your health forward into the future. Not counting calories.

Your goal when dieting is to look and feel more attractive. However, counting calories achieves the opposite effect. You may feel slimmer for a short while, but you won’t necessarily look better.

In the end, adopting this type of diet results in both your health and appearance suffering.

 

Nutrient Dense Foods are Key

cancerxfightingOn the other hand, when you focus on getting the proper nutrients and choose anti-aging, healthy nutritious foods on a daily basis, your body receives the proper mix of nutrients that work together to control hunger and your calorie intake basically controls itself. 

By eating properly and getting the correct balance of nutrients, you’ll enjoy constant energy levels throughout the day. And, the best thing of all is, your hunger will only kick in when it’s time to eat.

You won’t suffer with energy highs and lows, so you’ll be far more capable of controlling what foods you choose to put into your body rather than reaching for the most convenient item when energy levels plummet.

Proteins and healthy fats along with fiber control hunger while processed simple carbohydrates actually stroke hunger.

Dieting is never good if it damages your health in the end and that’s exactly what counting calories will do.

And, the dangers go beyond that. Focusing intensely on counting calories in complete absence of awareness of the role that good nutrition plays also sets you up for a high risk of developing a dangerous eating disorder as well.

Those with eating disorders have a distorted mindset around food and no longer recognize food as nutritious fuel for the body.

Their distorted view has them seeing something that is going to cause them to gain excess body fat. Anorexics refuse to eat the necessary food they need to sustain life while those with bulimia starve themselves for hours and then binge eat all kinds of unhealthy foods. Both of these roads lead to slow starvation and if not reversed eventually death.

Although these are extreme cases, when you lose sight of the fact that food provides nutrients to your body and you must have them to sustain life you put yourself at risk for these kinds of issues to surface.

Losing touch with the fact that you must eat to stay healthy causes eating to turn over to a complete emotional activity.

Relying too heavily on counting calories and not focusing on eating nutrient dense foods only harms any progress you are trying to make. It damages your metabolism and your health, opens the door to dangerous diseases and speeds up the aging process. Not a part of anyone’s weight loss goals.

The challenges that arise in your senior years can be anticipated and planned for right now. Making smart decisions now about nutrition – those that contribute to your ultimate goal of healthy longevity is key.

All my products address a whole body approach that supports both the body and the mind. If you are serious about achieving a truly healthy lifestyle, one of youth and vitality – “Reclaim Your Longevity” was created for you.

It will absolutely help you in every area of your life to stay as young, healthy and vibrant as possible, squeezing every ounce of life out of every minute of your life!

It’s a good thing!

 

True Wealth is Defined by Health

healthiswealth3

Wealth without health is useless. You need health in order to successfully make use of the any greatness you’ve achieved. That means being mobile physically and sharp mentally long into your senior years.

Let’s face it, it’s hard to travel, discover or explore the world when confined to a wheel chair or bed ridden – no matter how much money you have in the bank. Without mobility, simple pleasures like playing with your grand-kids become a major challenge. Without clarity of mind, you won’t be able to think clearly. You may consider yourself financially rich but you won’t have a wealthy life.

The reality is, without good health everything in life is diminished.

Research by Dr. Dean Ornish and team from the University of California, San Francisco revealed that “a program of healthy eating, exercise and stress reduction can not only reverse some diseases – it may actually slow down the aging process at the genetic level.”

It’s all comes down to lifestyle and daily habits…ones that contribute to health or subtract from it.

 

Positive Lifestyle Habits for the Body

healthy_body

Adequate sleep – most people have no idea how important a good night’s sleep is to their ongoing health levels. A solid 7-8 hours’ sleep for most people is adequate, but if needed grab a short nap during the day to revive yourself.

Challenging physical activity – lean, strong muscle tissue is the key to keeping hormones balanced and humming effectively, avoiding disease and keeping the skeletal system strong.

Dark leafy vegetables – diet should include generous amounts of these nutrient dense foods along with fresh fruits, healthy fats, quality proteins and whole grains.

Deep breathing and stretching – keeps joints flexible and the body oxygenated.

Water – at least 8 glasses of fresh water as pure as we can get it should be the minimum adding more when working out. Water is what makes all the systems within our bodies work. Dehydration is a silent but damaging killer.

Focus on healthy fats – and elimination of unhealthy ones along with processed sugars and processed and preservative laden foods.

Elimination of damaging habits – smoking is destructive to the body and muddles the mind.

Positive Lifestyle Habits for the Mind

motivation

Cognitive training – cognitive skills are key to optimal mental health. Cognitive training in the way of memory, reasoning or speed of processing exercises creates a winning combination. Remember, the brain is a muscle and like any other muscle in the body. It must be used if it is to stay sharp. Incorporate activities that challenge the thinking process. Exercise also comes into play. Those who exercise weekly maintain their cognitive functions better than those who don’t.

Additionally, you can also start a new hobby that will stimulate your thinking process or learn a new language. How about writing your memoir?

Social interaction – We are by nature, social creatures. Maintaining close-knit human bonds also helps to preserve cognitive functions later in life. Take on a part-time job or volunteer someplace. You’ll not only fill your “social requirement” but your heart will feel good too. Maintaining strong family ties is another important factor that contributes positively to our longevity.

The challenges that arise in your senior years can be anticipated and planned for by making smart decisions now – those that contribute to your ultimate goal of healthy longevity.

All my products support a whole body approach that supports both the body and the mind. If you are serious about achieving a truly healthy lifestyle, one of youth and vitality – “Reclaim Your Longevity” was created for you.

It will absolutely help you in every area of your life to stay as young, healthy and vibrant as possible.

Consistency is Key to Health and Fitness Success

Consistency2

As the year progresses, we have an opportunity to reflect and examine any health and fitness goals we set earlier in the year.

Let’s face it, making resolutions and setting goals for the months ahead is admirable and a component to success.

However, making plans and resolutions is the easy part.

Following through and keeping them is the difficult part. After initial good intentions fall by the wayside and the old habits begin kicking back in, the real challenge begins.

Most of us look to a fitness regimen as a major life-altering event that is going to take lots of time and require big changes. We can easily visualize the results we want. But before you know it, we have promised ourselves a trip to the gym at 5.30 am 4 mornings a week.

Nothing like putting a little pressure on ourselves!

Unfortunately, this type of thinking can be really daunting. When we place this sort of pressure on ourselves we simply freeze-up and become powerless to act. What sounded like an exciting idea gets abandoned and trashed before we even start.

 

Start Small and Be Consistent

There is a resolution that works for everyone that you can keep and get fantastic results from. Does that sound appealing? It’s called “start small and be consistent.” It simply means you’ll be focused on adopting a permanent small change in your lifestyle. Not too daunting right?

Rather than making lots of big, sweeping changes at once, this method makes small tweaks a little at a time.  Rather than saying I am going to the gym 4 times a week starting this week – just make of goal of going once.

After a few weeks or months of achieving that goal, add another session. After those two sessions are firmly embedded in your routine, try for a third session. If that doesn’t fit, just take it back to two sessions. You will still get fantastic results with two weekly sessions especially if you put a little effort into them.

It’s hard to believe the results you’ll achieve with just one session per week for life. It would actually give you far better results than on-off, stop-start attempts like many people seem to do.

It defies logic that these same people do not see something small but consistent yielding fantastic results long term. They do not see this as progress so they keep on with the crash and burn mentality.  

On off, start stop anything in life rarely works.  Consistency, however small, DOES work.

It’s keeping up with your new healthier choices that will get you the results you are looking for. This means increasing your all over body strength, losing that excess body fat that has been hanging around for ages,  lowering your cholesterol, blood pressure or blood sugar, increasing energy and stamina or reducing your risk of disease.

It Takes Patience and Perseverance

This lifestyle change thing is not a new concept. But what may be new to you is how you should approach it so it can work for you.

Lifestyle changes that really work to improve health are small gradual changes.

The results you are experiencing did not happen overnight.  And guess what? It doesn’t end overnight either.

The commitment to take control and be in the driver’s seat is often sparked by a special occasion or event. But you don’t need to wait for these occasions to pop up in order to make small lifestyle changes. They should and can be an ongoing renewable resolution. They should be as gradual as the change in the seasons so any changes you do make are changes you can actually live with.

The goal of improving health and fitness will always be an ongoing journey. Make it one that is an enjoyable journey every step along the way.

If you start by making your “small but consistent” changes, keeping it simple and easy, odds are very good that it will be resolutions and changes you will actually keep.

Small things (done consistently) will have a way bigger impact than big things only done for a few days or weeks. Change your LIFE, not just your week!

If you are serious about achieving a truly healthy lifestyle, one of youth and vitality check out: “Reclaim Your Longevity.” All my products offer a whole body approach –  one that supports both the body and the mind.

It will absolutely help you in every area of your life to stay as young, healthy and vibrant as possible.

Mighty Warriors – Chia and Flax Seeds…

flaxandchiaseeds

There are two little seeds that can offer you incredible benefits – everything from unbelievable good health to high energy, effortless weight loss and longevity.

Often called “Ancient Super Foods of The Future” these tiny but might warriors are Flaxseed and Chia seed.

 

Flax seeds

Flax seeds are being tagged as the new wonder food by many because they carry one of the biggest nutrient payloads on the planet.

Similar to grains (although not a grain itself) the vitamin and mineral profiles are similar. But when it comes to fiber, antioxidants and those importantOmega-3 acids, flaxseed is a clear winner.

First cultivated in Babylon as early as 3,000 BC., it was mandatory for all subjects in King Charlemagne’s court to consume it because he believed in the health benefits so much and now 13 centuries later science and research is making him look like a genius.

Containing all sorts of healthy components, flax seed owes its healthy reputation primarily to three ingredients:

Rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids: These are the good fats…the ones that offer heart-healthy effects. Flax seed offers about 1.8 grams of plant omega-3s per tablespoon. Omega-3 fatty acids are key players in the war against inflammation in our bodies.

Phytochemicals and antioxidants: Flax seed is perhaps our best source of lignans containing 75-800 times more than other plant foods. Lignans convert in our intestines to substances that tent to balance female hormones and there is even evidence that lignans may promote fertility, reduce menopausal symptoms, offer anti-cancer properties and help prevent diabetes.

Fiber: Fiber in the diet helps to stabilize blood sugar which in turn promotes proper functioning of the intestines and you would be hard pressed to find a food higher in fiber (both soluble and insoluble) than flaxseed. This fiber is mainly responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effects of flax.

An added benefit that flaxseed offers is that it is very low in carbohydrates which makes it ideal for those who wish to limit their intake of sugars and starches. The combination of high fiber with healthy fat makes it a great solution for weight loss and maintenance.

It’s important to note that flax seed needs to be ground in order to make their nutrients available otherwise they simply pass through the body undigested.

Because flax seed helps to keep people feeling satisfied, those wishing to lose excess body fat find this wonder seed a key to ultimately sticking to a healthy eating plan without being derailed by demanding food cravings.

 

Chia Seed

The second little wonder seed is Chia seed. Similar to flax, chia seed is loaded with protein, is an excellent source of fiber, full of antioxidants, loaded with vitamins and minerals and a great source of B vitamins including folic acid and the richest known plant source of omega-3 essential fatty acids offering more omega-3 than Atlantic salmon.

Chia seeds offer important anti-aging properties and fight free radicals by neutralizing the free radicals that cause premature aging and by flushing out age-accelerating toxins. They help you regain youthful exuberance and skin elasticity, they enhance hair, skin and nails, lubricates joints, reduces inflammation and muscle soreness.

Gram for gram Chia seeds offer the highest source of protein bar none. All it takes is one or two tablespoons daily to improve nutrition.

Chia seed is definitely the most nutritious seed available anywhere; it is one of the best health-building super foods or nutritional supplements around. Unlike flax seed, Chia seeds to not have to be ground but can be enjoyed right out of the bag or you can add them to salads or cereals or nearly anything else.

Pair this chia seed with flax seed for a double punch of super-power and super-nutrition. This power duo promotes health in everyone who takes it.

It’s time you became smart and knowledgeable about your diet and know what contributes to your health and longevity and what doesn’t.  Check out the newest addition to my anti-aging library of help…“Reclaim Your Longevity.”

Foods that Contribute to Longevity…

foodssResearch has shown that there are cultures and small groups of people around the globe who enjoy lives that extend far beyond the average. Many, such as those that live in San Blas off the coast of Panama experience less heart disease and less high blood pressure.

What’s their secret?

Diet. Evidence is proving that certain foods can play a role in life extension. A healthy diet does in fact contribute to health and longevity. In reverse, a poor diet will steal away your health and your years.

There is no one single “wonder food”…rather it is a variety of healthy foods that are key.

 

Healthy Life-Extending Foods

Here’s a short list of some of the healthiest and “live extending” foods you can eat.

Salmon: This superfood is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids have been proven to decrease the risk of abnormal heartbeats and reduce blood pressure. They also help to slow the growth of artery-clogging fat deposits. In addition to these physical benefits, omega-3s fatty acids are considered brain food. Salmon is particularly rich source.

Yogurt: Offering probiotics. Similar to the friendly bacteria already living in your gut, probiotics help you digest and absorb nutrients from the foods you eat. They support your immune system and protect you against disease. Effective in preventing certain types of cancer, they are used to treat other health conditions such as urinary tract infections.

Sweet Potatoes: These colorful, sweet tasting gourds pack a powerful nutrient punch and should be included in every diet. Packed with vitamins such as vitamin B6 and vitamin A – important for vision, bone health, cell growth, cell maintenance and even reproduction. Offering 4 times the U.S. recommended allowance for beta-carotene, they also offer a healthy punch of fiber when enjoyed with the skin on,

Blueberries: Rank at the top of the list for disease-fighting foods. In addition to the healthy dose of vitamins and minerals offered, they are loaded with antioxidants. These warriors are powerful enough to reduce the risk of certain cancers, stroke, heart disease and age related brains diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. They also help to decrease inflammation while guarding your cells from damaging free radicals.

Dark chocolate: This does not include the overly processed sugar laden types of chocolate you might find on your grocery shelves. It is the higher grade dark-chocolate that offers antioxidants called flavonoids. Favonoids help support your heart and blood vessels. Keep in mind that calories and fat come along with the package, so treat yourself gingerly without over doing it.

 

Don’t Forget the Greens!

Kale: Rich with vitamin K, essential for blood clotting, this superfood also contains lutein. This nutrient reduces the risk of cataracts and other eye disorders. Kale even trumps spinach with triple the amount of vitamin K!

 

Leafy Greens/green veggies: Kale isn’t the only leafy green contributing to extended years. These healthy, nutrient dense super-foods should be the cornerstone of all healthy eating plans. They are packed with an assortment of vitamins, minerals and protein. As nature’s most alkaline foods, they are readily available to us. Swiss chard, broccoli, collards, herbs and spinach are all great choices. They not only help to prevent disease but have proven effective in reversing some major health issues.

Genetics can predispose us to different diseases. However, we do have a certain amount of control when it comes to our health. Our dietary choices are among the most influential factors. These choices effect how we age, how long we live and the quality of the years in between.

It’s time you became smart and knowledgeable about your diet and know what helps and what doesn’t and I can help. Check out the newest addition to my anti-aging library…“Reclaim Your Longevity.”

Fabulous Fiber for Gut Health…

fiber1

Dietary fiber, although not a nutrient, is important for the optimal functioning of our bodies.

Along with micro and macro nutrients, fiber needs to be an essential part of our daily diets.

Dietary fiber (roughage) is the edible part of a plant (fiber only comes from plant based foods) that is not digested or absorbed before reaching the large intestine. [Read more…]

Chronic Disease Cuts Life Short…

heartXattackAccording to a 50 year study, disease cuts many lives short. For the most part, three big ones – heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke are preventable diseases yet these three diseases alone cut many lives short by decades.

The really sad thing is, these diseases as well as other diseases can easily be prevented by adopting simple healthy lifestyle habits. [Read more…]

Own Your Health and Fitness with Priority Status

priorities1

The priorities we place on everyday tasks and activities and the values we associate with each one of them is determined by the programs running in our minds…our “mind software.”

For better or worse, truth is, our deep-seated food and exercise related values and priorities effectively run our lives.

Engaging in regular, proper exercise (strength training), and enjoying quality live foods (non-processed) are two behaviors that are vital to losing weight, keeping it off and maintaining and enjoying better health for years to come.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF VALUE

With this in mind, the first thing we must address if we want to shift our lives towards stellar health and fitness is to examine how much value and priority we have placed on these two important behaviors.

If our bodies become overweight or unhealthy the likely cause is that we have not placed enough value on lifestyle behaviors (our eating and exercise habits) that would otherwise keep us fit and healthy and these low priorities reflect in our actions or lack thereof.

 

Truth is, if you hope to live a long productive life and dance into your nineties you are going to have to place high priorities and high values on what you eat now and how much exercise you get now in order to stay strong well into the future.

 

Nearly 90 percent of the work required to shift your life towards stellar health and fitness is done on the inside first, however, it doesn’t stop there…you must follow through with physical action…they work hand-in-hand to get the job done.

When we make a conscious effort to increase our health values, the ideas of healthier eating and regular proper exercise automatically move up a few notches in our value system and our beliefs and perceptions begin to shift.

Additionally, the better care we take of ourselves the higher our motivation levels climb as well until one day they become unstoppable.

Once your mind is aligned with your goals and your beliefs and perceptions are working with you…not against you then “follow through” with action becomes much easier to perform.

 

It doesn’t matter what sort of beliefs you may or may not have about your after-life. The only thing that matters is what you are actively doing to enjoy the life you are in.

 

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

You are either actively participating in helping yourself to achieve health and fitness or you are contributing to its neglect.

Let’s get real. Deep down you already know that eating a balanced diet of high quality whole foods, drinking the freshest, cleanest water you can find and engaging in regular challenging exercise is the key to stellar health, preventing disease and dancing into your nineties.

So, what are you waiting for? It doesn’t matter if you’ve never made health a priority in your life before. Don’t look back…focus in the now and do it today. Refuse to settle for less…know that your perceptions and beliefs are dictating your value system and your priorities and they in turn are dictating how you direct your life.

It all begins with you. No one can place health and fitness at the top of your priority list but you. You must own your health and fitness in your mind first and when you do, your actions and your life will automatically reflect this.

Soon you’ll be doing it effortlessly and getting healthier by the day.

If you are serious about achieving a truly healthy lifestyle that will take care of you long into your senior years visit “Reclaim Your Longevity” .

Everything you need to live a long healthy life…dancing well into your senior years is included in this program that is geared towards helping you to find the “fountain of youth.”

Table Tactics to Help You Succeed with your Fat Loss and Diet…

veggiesThere are many tactics and ideas that will help us prime our bodies for dieting success.

Let’s explore a handful of ideas and tips that are simple but empowering and can be incorporated right at the dinner table:

Adjust your meal frequency: If you currently follow a strict diet protocol of “three square” meals daily, it’s time to expand your horizons and move towards a higher meal frequency. [Read more…]

Copyright © 2014 · Reclaim Your Longevity · Site Map · About · Contact · Privacy · Disclaimer · Terms Of Service