Think Meat Will Help You Lose Weight? Maybe You Should Think Again!


This is the part 2 promised from my last post and is from Kim Klaver's blog (and my personal hero). As I mentioned before, Kim and Dr. Heidi ( I have met them both in my quest for better health and they are the real thing) are my amazing in their knowledge of nutrition and what works and does not work to lose weight and stay healthy. They bypass all the hoopla and commercialism and give you the truth.

Now not to get into my own personal thoughts too much (well it is my blog so maybe just a little) I would like to say that I completely oppose (find them the worst of the worst) factory farms which is where most commercial burgers and meats come from (remember I am a vegetarian). On a humane note, the animals are treated horribly (and horribly is a nice way to put it as I have seen videos that still make me cry when I think of them) and on a health note as you will see you are not doing your body any benefit by eating it. Kim gives you a healthier alternative for you carnivores.


Warning: These Meats are fattening.
by Kim Klaver

Most folks think meat is good if you want to lose weight. (90% - 208 - of 228 respondents said so on our recent survey.)

But alas...

Big Fat Surprise #3:
Most meat is fattening.
Meats are not created equal.
Nor are chickens, turkeys, fish, eggs and dairy.

We compare two burgers: An industrial burger and a grassfed burger.

They may look the same, but one is fattening and the other is reducing. Yes, assume you are eating either one WITHOUT the BUN.
An industrial burger is fattening.
Its grassfed counterpart is reducing.
Here's why the industrial burger is fattening. It has:
  • An abnormal amount of total and saturated fat: 4 to 6 times more total fat and twice as much saturated fat as grassfed.
  • Hardly any omega 3 fats – the type of fat that burns fat, like salmon has. Omega 3 naturally present in cow fat plummets in the feedlot – the longer the cow is in the feedlot, the lower the omega 3 content.
  • Excessive amounts of omega 6 fats – the fats found in corn oil that are correlated with obesity and diabetes.
  • High level of toxins: growth hormone, antibiotics, pesticides and genetically modified organisms. (Toxins are fattening. See Fat Surprise #4, coming soon.)
  • In industrial feedlots cows sleep in deep piles of manure – a source of bacteria that may end up in our hamburgers. They are fed synthetic nitrogen, chicken litter, blood and fat products of other slaughtered cattle, along with as much corn as they can stand. Cows naturally eat grass, not corn. Corn messes up their digestive systems, causing all kinds of disease requiring antibiotics and other medication – which end up in our steaks and burgers. "A growing body of research suggests that many problems associated with eating beef are really problems with corn-fed beef ." (Pollan 2008, p.75)
On the other hand, grassfed meats come from cows that eat grass – food they’re made to eat and digest. They stay healthy, and develop ideal amounts of total fats and the essential omega 3 and 6 fats. Grassfed meats are a boon to folks who don’t like fish, because they provide the omega 3s that we prize in fish.
There are similar differences in the weight loss effects of industrial versus pastured chickens and turkeys, and farmed versus wild fish. I often tell my students that when they eat farmed fish, they might as well be eating a feedlot cow.
Other products from grassfed and industrial animals are also wildly different in the nutrition they offer.
Milk, butter and cream from grassfed cows can help burn fat and build muscle. They contain CLA, a type of fat that causes that to happen. (see Tom, 1977 in Robinson, p 20). Grassfed milk has 5 times more CLA than industrial milk.
Bottom line, meat lovers; meat shunners.
Industrial animal farming has spawned an industrial food syndrome epidemic – folks who are obese, diabetic, and prone to heart disease, cancer, asthma and arthritis.
The reaction against cruelty to animals and dangers to human health from industrial food has given vegetarianism new life. Even Michael Pollan who started out as an omnivore, advises us on the cover of his newest book:

“Eat food, not too much, mostly plants”.

But we need not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Instead, we say:

“Eat food, low carb, grassfed and wild.” And of course, eat real fat.

Great advice! Dr. Heidi has an extreme regime weight loss program that gives results and is highly affordable while keeping you healthy. Please see my last post for more information or email me!

Could This Be Why You Are Not Losing Weight????

For those of you who read my blog on a regular basis you know that I have in my life tried just about every eating plan and diet out there as being thin and maintaining a healthy weight is extremely important to me. I have learned the most from Dr. Heidi and Kim Klaver who have taught me how to be thin and healthy. I wanted to share this latest post Kim wrote as I found it extremely interesting and hope you do too! Check out Kim at
Inside Whole Food Nation
.

By Kim Klaver

I'll assume that you are health-conscious - you do not eat at McDonald's regularly, and know that pizza, chips, sodas and candy are fattening.
Plus you may have a hard time fitting in exercise. If that's you...

Big Fat Surprise #1: A balanced diet keeps you fat.
If you thought a balanced diet seems like the best way to lose weight you're not alone. 160 of the 225 folks taking our survey last week - 72% - said TRUE to question 9: Eat a balanced diet to lose.


But it's not so. Not for most people, anyway. Quick definition of a balanced diet:
According to the latest U.S. government Pyramid, balanced diets include 5 food groups:
1) grains
2) vegetables
3) fruits
4) milk and dairy products
5) meat, beans, fish and nuts
Plus fats and oils.
But if you eat all these things each day, that may explain why you are not losing.
To trigger the fat burning mechanism, you need an imbalanced diet. For a while. Just like a plane that takes off needs imbalanced power to get off the ground and get airborne - then levels off its jet power after it reaches cruising altitude.
What in a balanced diet is keeping you fat?

Ready?

Big Fat Surprise #2: Fruits, veggies and grains
may block the weight loss trigger.
Granted fruits are better than eating sweets like ice cream and cakes. Fruits are good sources of vitamins and minerals. But they're not necessary for weight loss. They block the fat burning mechanism for most folks. But that's not all...

Veggies also block the fat burning trigger for most of us. Especially the starchy stuff.

And grains, including brown rice, beans, pasta and breads, all block fat burning.

[Meats, including animal fat, can be good for weight loss - but not all meats are created equal. (The Meat Report, coming tomorrow.)]
Proof of these anti-establishment findings:

(1) Look around. Note the size of many people who say they eat right or do balanced diets;
(2) Clinical studies of the last 150 years, kept hidden (see below);
(3) Readers of this blog who did a new imbalanced weight loss program over last 6 months (see below).

(2) Clinical studies undertaken by physicians with their own patients over the last 150 years show that balanced diets gum up the weight loss mechanism
.
  • A “balanced” diet – one-third fruits and vegetables, two-thirds animal protein and fat – had a dismal 2% success rate. An imbalanced diet – just meats, eggs, fish, and fowl – had a 50% success rate.
  • The absence of fruits and vegetables in a year-long imbalanced diet showed: NO vitamin deficiencies, NO evidence of kidney damage or diminished function, and NO mineral deficiencies despite the diet containing only ¼ of the calcium usually contained in mixed diets. Gingivitis (inflammation of gums) was cleared up.
  • Most of the 17,000 patients, who did a diet of fatty meat 3 times a day and were allowed only a little raw fruit or a potato, lost 2-3 lbs a week.
  • The patients who ate 700-800 calories of fat in their diet, had no urge for “forbidden” food (sweets, grains).
These are just some of the research results reported by the acclaimed Gary Taubes in his 600-page seminal survey of 150 years of clinical research - starting in 1863. It is persuasive evidence that balanced diets may interfere with weight loss. Fruits, vegetables, brown rice, other grains, and beans, despite their nutritional content, are not good weight loss foods. And their absence, for certain periods of time, does not cause ill health.

(3) Readers of this blog who tried the ER Fat Burn last summer wrote emails like this before they signed up for the program:
“I eat lots of fruits and veggies, and I don’t overeat. But I’ve been carrying these 15-20 lbs for years. What am I doing wrong?”
- Wanda Chin, July 2008

“I’ve done all kinds of diets for years, from Weight Watchers to Atkins. But I’m still fat... and desperate.”
- Carol Raynor, July 2008

“I’ve worked hard to prepare healthy balanced meals for my family for 10 years, but each year I gain more weight. I finally hired a clothing consultant.”
- Susan Stuhr, July 2008

“For 7 years I’ve been drinking two shakes a day and a ton of supplements. They worked for a while, but now I’m heavier than when I was 9 months pregnant...”
- Suzanne, Sep 2008

“I’ve been on low carb for 15 years. I control my blood sugar carefully with insulin. But I’m still 25 pounds shy of what I should weigh. What else is there to do?”
- Al Frech, Sep 2008

“I shop at Whole Foods and even did raw food for two years...”
- Donna McCrossen, Sep 2008
These folks were NOT fast food junkies. They didn’t drink soda pop or diet sodas everyday and were not chocolate or cookie addicts. They were health conscious AND weight conscious... But they kept right on gaining year after year.

So they signed up for the Extreme Regime Fat Burn Formula.

Here's what happened...

Wanda: lost her 17 lbs and kept it off.

Carol (Desperate Deb): Lost 34 lbs. Watch her 4 minute vid here.

Suzanne: Despite her low thyroid, lost 10 lbs. Watch her 3 minute vid here

Al (Diabetic Dan): Lost 20 lbs and cut his daily insulin in half. His wife Kathleen also lost 22 lbs. (Watch Al's 4 min vid here

Donna: lost her 10 lbs and kept it off.

And many more...

Nobody was ever hungry.

The January Extreme Regime Fat Burn Formula will be open Monday, Jan 26, starting at NOON PST and 3PM EST.
If you are looking to lose weight and nothing has worked, and if you don't take advantage of this option, how big will you be 12 months from now? Or 3 years from now?

What if the Extreme Regime Fat Burn program is the magic formula for you, like it's been for many other readers here?

I highly recommend anything by Dr. Heidi and Kim so check it out if it is up your alley!

Burn Fat With These Healthy Foods-Eat and Lose Weight!


I love to eat but do not like to gain weight so any foods that are going to help me lose or maintain weight are an absolute plus. The list below is a great resource as I religiously drink green tea, eat string cheese and nuts and really find that I am able to maintain my weight and feel full. Hope these help you out!

Super Foods To Rev Up Your Metabolism

**Tofu-is a good source of leucine-a friendly protein that helps you stay thin. Dietary leucine in tofu is an amino acid linked to maintaining muscle mass and reducing body fat during weight loss. I think that the extra firm tofu is the best so if you are new to tofu I would give this a shot first..

**Green Tea-has caffeine and catechins (plant nutrients) that might help raise your metabolic rate by up to 3.5 percent. So studies indicate that green tea may give you an increased metabolism, a positive effect on blood sugar and insulin regulation, and possibly the inhibiting of certain enzymes which are required for the processing of carbohydrates and fats. It is recommended to sip 32 ounces a day. I love green tea with a little Stevia-cold or hot!

**Lean Meats-are rich in protein, which takes more energy to digest than carbs or fats. Protein makes you feel satisfied too. (I'm a vegetarian but I refuse to be biased).

**Whole-Grain Cereal-complex carbs in the morning are a great way to fuel your body for the day ahead. I find that these also keep you fuller longer so you aren't apt to snack on unhealthy alternatives.

**Coffee-Caffeine speeds up your metabolism making it easier for us to burn more calories --- even while at rest, and coffee gives you more energy for a tougher workout that lasts longer, making it possible to burn more calories (if you exercise that is-I am still working on getting the exercise in).

**Low-Fat Dairy-it is packed with protein and helps build muscle and banish fat. Please keep in mind that due to all the bovine growth hormone in our dairy products I am not a big proponent of dairy unless it is organic and then I say proceed with some caution. Did you know that U.S. milk is banned in Europe because of the bgh hormone? Another scary food thought.

**Nuts-packed with protein and fiber, a handful (or entire jar a day in my case) at snack time keeps your body full. Anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis knows that my number one diet secret is NUTS. I love them and it is the only way I can stay thin. Long live nuts!
ref for this article from my mysteriously appearing Good Housekeeping April 2008.

Tired Of Being Tired? Try These Tips To Get A Good Night's Sleep

I have never been much of a heavy sleeper but as sleep is imperative to leading a happy and healthy life as well as aiding in weight loss I really do try to focus on actually getting a decent amount of it. I wish I could nap during the day, in the car or on a plane but never have been able to. If you are like me and have even the remotest difficulty sleeping then here are some tips that just may help you out.

Get Some Sleep With These Tips

-Slip on some socks. This instant warm-up widens blood vessels and allows your body to transfer heat from its core the extremities, colling you slightly. This induces sleep, according to Dr. Phyllis Zee, director of sleep disorders at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

-Stick to a schedule. Those who follow regular daily routine report fewer sleep problems than those with more unpredictable lifestyles, according to a study from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Recurring time cues-such as a regular bed time-will synchronise your body rhythms.

-Walk more or head out to the gym for a nice workout. This will help control stress as well as a good night’s sleep.

-Turn off the lights. Any light will signal the brain to wake up, “blue light” from your mobile phone or your clock’s digital display is the worst!

-Avoid caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant and will keep you awake at night. Try to avoid any caffeine for at least 6-8 hours before bedtime.

- Try not eat before going to bed. Give yourself at least 2 hours from when you eat to when you sleep. This way digestion can start and not interrupt you getting some rest.

-Turn on a fan-okay, this is my own personal way of falling asleep. I have a fan and turn it on at night. I cannot, absolutely cannot sleep with a fan (we even took a small one on vacation).The noise relaxes me and helps me to fall asleep. For some reason if I do not have a fan I will hear every creak and noise in the house and then my imagination runs wild and so on and so on!

These are just a few tips that I found to be interesting and helpful and of course it is no wonder that I do not get a good nights sleep since the only thing on here that I adhere to is the exercise tip. I suppose I should give some of these a try but I am such a creature of habit.

ref-Daily mail U.K.

Oh My! Look What Has Been Done! A New Health Nut Wannabee Mom-OOOOLALA!

For those of you who stop by on a regular basis, you will notice that my blog has a new look. I wish that I could say that I did this but all the credit goes to Ana of www.chica-pumuckl-designs.blogspot.com . I started reading her blog about her and her two cute cats and then I noticed how much I liked her layout and artistic look (I have a hard time with drawing even stick people so trust me when I say that I was not the artistic or design type and needed to hand this to someone with talent). I began to notice a couple other blogs that I read on a regular basis had fantastic new looks and they were designed by Ana so I thought of how much I would love something new. I thought that I would not be able to afford a revamp but what she charges feels like robbery compared to what I received-very affordable!!! Thank you so much Ana! I love my new blog design and thank you Chica and Pumuckl for giving your mom the time to design for me. I recommend any of you looking for something new or a revamp to contact Ana or just take a look at all the neat things that she can do!!
www.chica-pumuckl.blogspot.com.

P.S. Happy Martin Luther King day! What a great and courageous man who truly inspires my belief of how the power and vision of one can influence many and make a difference.

P.S.S. Congratulations to Barack Obama on your historical and exciting inauguration on Tuesday (I just know he is reading this blog and will be so excited to be congratulated here. I think my invitation to the inauguration must have got lost in the mail).

Two Secrets To Weight Loss That May Surprise You!


For some reason this week I have the appetite of a herd of elephants. Really, it is just horrible so I am employing a couple of my favorite if not unusual weight loss tips that are helping me a bit. Thought I would throw them out there for you to see if maybe they might help you too!!


Pinching Away Those Cravings-Literally

Looking for an ancient Chinese secret to help you fight those cravings? Try pinching your nostrils or earlobes for 10 seconds and those cravings will pass (I tried this and it worked for me-but don’t pinch too hard ). Apparently the nostrils and earlobes are acupressure points that help to suppress cravings.

AND

Eat a pit a pat of butter. No kidding! It may not sound delicious but it works as an appetite suppressant. I have a spoonful and it makes me feel full. Actually, I kind of like the taste although the texture is kind of funky.


Give these a try and let me know what you think. So far so good for me!

p.s. I am still working on my vitamix 5200 post. It is the best machine on the planet and I am actually becoming a healthy cook!

p.s.s. I am so far behind so I am sorry to everyone but will catch up soon I hope with commenting.

Snap Out Of Your Slump With These Healthy Foods

Do you ever feel in a bit of a slump and need something to give you a boost to help snap you out of your mental misery? No need to mope around like a miserable misanthrope feeling blue-here are some great food choices to help boost your mood and get you back in high spirits or at least perk you up a bit.

**Try Some Dessert
- Yes! You read that right, try some dessert! Sugar soothes us when we're feeling stressed out ( I know that to be true and will take full advantage). But before you binge on a pan of brownies, cookies and candy, know that a little sugar may soothe you, but too much will wreak havoc with your blood sugar. So, as always moderation is the key here.

**Beans -Like most legumes, beans are rich in iron. If you're low on iron like many active people are--you can be tired and have trouble sleeping, which as we all know can make you cranky, cranky, cranky. Beans are great thrown in salads, over white rice, in a tortilla with salsa, in chili and soups.

**Bananas-Stress and the lack of magnesium are so closely related that it is a good idea for those who lead an active life to add foods rich in magnesium, such as bananas to their diet. Increasing the intake of magnesium reduces anxiety and makes for better sleeping.

**Oranges-Two glasses of fresh orange juice are enough to help say goodbye to some nervousness, bad moods and depression; lack of vitamin C, can make you irritable and cranky.

**Chocolate-Hurrah! Hurrah! Now I know it cannot get any better than this! Some experts believe that like many other foods sweet and rich in carbohydrates, chocolate can have a soothing effect; others, however, consider that the caffeine and other substances contained in chocolate could act as stimulants. I don't care why, I am just so glad to hear it! Ahem, moderation here though, again.

**Spinach and Lentils-Both Lentils and spinach are full of folate, a B vitamin that you need to make the serotonin that makes you feel good. Folate is strong enough to ease clinical depression, say researchers and low levels of folate have been linked to depression. A cup of cooked lentils provides 90% of the recommended daily allowance of folic acid-so try some lentil soup and be happy and healthy. Also, you could add frozen spinach and make a low-fat spinach dip, have a nice spinach salad or use on sandwiches instead of lettuce.

**Walnuts- Are a great source of omega 3 fatty acids-a type of fat that's needed for brain cells and mood-lifting . Also been shown to relieve mild depression. I love to eat walnuts as a snack but they are also delicious on salads.**Salmon-Salmon is also rich in omega fatty acids and canned Salmon with bones contains vitamin D which has been linked to possibly increasing our levels of serotonin- one of the key neurotransmitters influencing our mood.

A couple other remedies that I have found lift my spirits are physical exercise-take a walk or go to the gym and having an animal companion. My cat Jaap cozies up to me and all is right with the world.

I am going to start having more walnuts, oranges and bananas for snacks and incorporate spinach and lentils into my diet. Don't worry, I already have the desserts and chocolate covered. To feeling better!

Sorry Everyone My Computer Has Been Down-Entrecard and Commentors I am back!

I wanted to let all of you wonderful readers, those who comment and loyal entrecard droppers know that I have had horrible, awful, tantrum throwing computer problems for the last 3 days. I am finally back on but cannot get back to my normal blog addict self until late tomorrow as I work all day. If you will just stick with me I promise to be back to my entrecard dropping, commenting and posting then. Thanks to all of you who kept coming around even when I was not. I think this has also made me realize what a blog/entrecard junkie I really am-I have been in h_ll without my computer and probably need a bloggers addict rehab quick. Whew so glad to have my fix again!

Me Oh My, Does Your Cold Sore Make You Want To Cry? Natural Solutions & Foods That Can Help Ease Your Pain!

My cold sore is killing me today (I always get one in the winter) so I thought that I would write about natural ways and foods that can help with this. Maybe you are one of those lucky people that doesn’t get cold sores but if you are like me and you have one each year, here are a few things you can do to help avoid them and shorten their vacation on your mouth.

Foods To Avoid With Cold Sores-Foods high in arginine


Milk
Nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts
Dark Chocolate
Flax, sesame and most other seeds
Shell type seafood
Oranges, grapes and other fruits and berries-
Caffeine

Basically cutting back on foods that are high in arginine can shorten the healing time of the fever blisters. Adding B12 and folic acid into your diet can also help shorten the healing time.

Foods That May Help With Cold Sores-Foods rich in lysine

Chicken
Eggs
Beef
Apples
Papaya
Beets
Cheeses and Yogurts

A couple easy home remedies that I found at www.oohoi.com are:

-With clean hands, moisten your fingers and press them into common salt. Apply to the fever blister for 30 seconds or so. Just as gargling warm salt water can help a sore throat and canker sores, placing salt on fever blisters may reduce healing time.

-Apply ice to the sore. When applied for ten minutes approximately every hour, this solution may prevent the cold sore from developing any further. Other substances that you can apply which may help are witch hazel and spirit of camphor.

I think that I am going to give this a try as my cold sore is making me miserable!! I will let you know how it turns out.

Why You Just Might Want An Apple A Day-Rev Up Your Health

You know the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” well it is more true than you may think. I love apples so I decided to dedicate this post to the delicious apple (not enough to name my daughters after it like Gwyneth Paltrow but still I really like them). Just look what an apple can do for you…..

Benefits Of Apples

Stave off Alzheimer’s disease- Apples contain quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that protects brain cells from degeneration in rats- and may do the same in humans. Be sure to eat the skin since it’s rich in disease-fighting compounds according to Chang Lee a researcher at the University of Cornell.

Prevents High Blood Pressure- It has been shown that adults who eat apples are 37 percent less likely to have hypertension, according to a recent food database analysis.

Protects against colon cancer- According to new research out of Germany, when the natural fiber in apples ferments in the colon, it produces chemicals that help fight the formation of cancer cells. Phytonutrients in the skin of apples inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells by 43%!

May Inhibit Ageing-Apples can prevent wrinkles and promote hair growth due to the compound procyanidin B-2 found in apple. (Granny smith and Red Delicious apple varieties are particularly good for this as they fortify collagen and elastin).

Can Improve Lung Function /Reduce Risk of Respiratory Diseases-Antioxidants in apples can counter the oxygen’s damaging effects on the body as well as the flavonoids such as catechins are beneficial .

May Help Prevent Alzheimers- New research suggests that the phytonutrient quercin may help in preventing Alzheimers and Parkinsonism.

A couple things to keep in mind with apples is that the Red Delicious apple is probably the healthiest as it contains more antioxidants than the seven other apple varieties.

If you can afford to go organic then it is your safest choice so that you do not get all the pesticides and preservatives.

How you eat an apple is also important-especially when eating them with the skin on. Each bite of apple needs to be chewed until it is practically mush so that the digestive enzymes can do their work of extracting the nutritional components. Biting off large chunks of apples and swallowing them practically whole will put too much stress on your stomach as it tries to break the large pieces down.

So with all these benefits why don’t you go out and enjoy an apple! I know I am!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!


I just wanted to wish each and everyone of you a Happy New Year!!! I have enjoyed meeting so many wonderful blog friends in 2008 and am sure 2009 will continue on in an even better fashion. Thank you all for stopping by, commenting and writing your great blogs!!! May 2009 bring you much happiness, peace and joy!

Heidi

Fat, Fat I Ain't Down With That! Easy Tips To Revive Your Metabolism!

 I get a little lazy in winter since generally the swimsuit is many months away however this year I am determined to not let the holidays an...