Weight Loss and Juice Detoxification

I have been reading a couple of books and visiting a couple of web sites at the urging of my acupuncturist. I am learning all kinds of information on the power of juice fasting and how it can help those of us who are trying to lose weight.

Many believe they can benefit from juicing by:

-- cleaning out the built up toxins in the blood
-- restoring proper function to various organs throughout the body
-- gaining energy and mental clarity
-- cleaning out the bowel thoroughly
-- improving the quality of nutrients going in to the body

All of this will assist you in losing weight by dramatically cleaning out the junk that has been in a holding pattern in your bowels for some time. It will also help you function better mentally as well as internally.

From what I understand, it is best to drink primarily vegetable juice and minimize the sugary fruit juice content. I just did this for a few days and I was shocked at how much it helped me think clearly, feel energized and lose weight. I mixed all juice with equal amounts of water and made sure to take something like Smooth Move -- a tea that facilitates bowel elimination everyday (the key to success and weight loss).

What I experienced was well worth not eating solid food for a few days. I plan to do this one day a week for quite some time to continue to improve my weight loss as well as my energy level.

Trials and Tribulations of Losing Weight!

Did I mention that losing weight seems to be so difficult??? On one hand, if I just put a little effort into it and live by a few rules consistently, the weight flies off. On the other hand, if I live with reckless abandon (like I always do), I struggle with every pound and sometimes gain weight!!

I am just at a loss (or I wish I was)! We are firmly into 80 degree days and I should be uncovering rather than covering up to hide flab. The other thing I have noticed is that I don't seem to care that a little flab shows. What's up with that? It is as if I have too much going on, in part, to care what someone else sees. This is so dangerous.

The other observation I have made is that I realize now that losing weight is a life long path for me regardless of what I weigh. When I was about 30 pounds lighter, I thought I had beat the weight loss game. But what I didn't realize is that you have to make it your plan for life. It will always be on your mind. It makes sense, why would I think things would change instantly after 35 years????

Weight Loss and Sugar

I believe I finally have wrapped my head around the impact of sugar on your weight loss efforts. I recently got a whole bunch of my favorite Fannie May chocolates from Chicago. Eating so much sugar has left me with the following thoughts on weight loss:

- of course, it makes me very sluggish -- that day and the next
- eating sugar makes me crave more sugar which is no good for weight loss
- eating sugar quickly bumps up the number of calories you consume
- I have MS and consuming sugar greatly decreases my abilities the following day
- eating sugar will not help you lose weight!!!

I keep going back to concentrating on eating lots of veggies, protein and fruit. It is okay if you get sugar from fruit as it is loaded with vitamins.

Stop sabbotaging your weight loss and quit eating sugar!

Losing Weight...Keep On, Keeping On!

Wow - losing weight is a hard task! Surprising, isn't it?

Toward the middle of last week, I was sailing through -- eating lots of veggies, not too many sweets and overall controlling my food. Then I got the idea that I might be able to enjoy things a bit and still stay on track with weight loss.

So I ate some chocolate.

As you can imagine, things got out of control for 3+ days. Wow. When I weighed on the scale this morning, I weighed 1.5 pounds more than last week. I am astounded that things can get out of control so quickly. Weight loss requires constant refocus and constant attention.

I will have to do this for the rest of my life.

I will have to concentrate and think about what I eat and my weight the rest of my life. This is just eye opening because I have this perception that once I lose weight, I won't have to think anything to do with weight loss for the rest of my life. So, if I am going to have to think about it, I may as well think of happy thoughts. I am reminded again...

Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!

Coconut Oil is a Different Kind of Fat and a Great Weight Loss Tool!

I don't think I fully understood how coconut oil works -- okay, it seemed like a fairy tale that this could really be a good fat and help me lose weight. Here's the scoop:

Many oils that we eat (most, in fact) are quickly stored in the body as fat (making weight loss more difficult). They are composed of Long Chain Triglycerides. There has been research done from a couple of sources to indicate that coconut oil acts different in the body. It actually promotes weight loss.

It is composed of Medium Chain Triglycerides which make it significantly different -- which greatly impacts weight loss. Here is how coconut oil is different:

- it revs up metabolism
- it makes you feel fuller, longer
- it is easily digested (which is great for people who have trouble digesting fat)
- it has a bonus of lauric acid and caprylic acid which has some wonderful health benefits (antiviral and antifungal properties plus support immune function)

Since you need to add healthy fats to your diet why not add coconut oil which helps you lose weight? I am not saying eat a whole jar of coconut oil. I am just saying that use a fat that actually has great health benefits and assists you in weight loss!

New Year - New Me

Every year I resolved to get fit and lose weight. Every year, I still need to do it. Every year, my resolve (and resolutions) go by the way side. This alone, is enough to cause me to give up on my weight loss!

I heard two very powerful things recently:
1) If you make resolutions (most everyone has weight loss related resolutions), you will get closer to your goals (even if you don't achieve them) than if you had not made the resolution at all.
2) Before the new year, I saw a Valerie Bertinelli commercial for Jenny Craig. Valerie stated that this would be the first year weight loss would not be one of her New Year's resolution. I thought this was really powerful. What would your resolutions be if weight loss was already done?

So, in keeping with the goal to "git her done," this will be the last year that weight loss will be a resolution for me. Never again will my weight be so out of control. With my new found free time (after I actually lose the weight), I will have so much time and energy that I will devote more to the real needs of the world.

Starting tomorrow, I am going to journal my successes, failures and desires!

UltraMetabolism and Weight Loss

I am reading this great new book called Ultra Metabolism (it is not really that new)! I had lunch with a friend of mine last week and she was raving about this book and what an impact it had on her weight loss efforts so I had to go get it.

I have to admit, I am very interested in what the author has to say. Here are a couple of weight loss highlights on what I have read so far (or at least my interpretation):

- weight loss is not one size fits all -- what works for one doesn't necessarily work for all
- doctors all know this information (the weight loss info presented in books) but what they practice is about 15+ years behind the research
- only 2%-6% of all diets are successful for people, most people gain 5lb when they go on a diet
- you have to have a life plan for weight loss instead of looking at it as a temporary plan to achieve a short-term goal (therefore you ought to be cautious of short-term weight loss programs or those that won't have long-term effects)

I love this book and can't wait to educate myself some more (and share with you, of course)!