The Diet and Supplement World of Illusions

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.

illusionsWelcome to my world. I have been deeply immersed in the diet, lifestyle, supplement and fitness industry for many years.

I develop nutritional products and have programs designed to go with them. I write articles on health and fitness and have also written books on these subjects. I teach weekly nutrition classes and corporate wellness programs. I am writing this blog from a unique perspective, as an industry insider. My intention is to give you additional knowledge so your next choice regarding diets, supplements and diet and fitness programs is the last one. I want your results to be lasting and permanent.

This blog is going to get some people very angry with me and that’s fine because the truth sometimes hurts. This blog certainly does not apply to everyone though. There are many very dedicated people with great plans, programs and products that have your best interest in mind. They want you to succeed. With that said, there are also those that don’t have the experience or education required to lead you and educate you on a path that will lead to permanent health gains and weight loss. Most of the time their interest is in your pocket book not your waist or health.  Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference.

Every year as I gain additional experience in the health and wellness business the illusions of the diet, fitness and supplement business become much more transparent to me. Frankly, many of the players in this industry know some of you are desperate for change and they also know you want the quickest fix possible. They use this knowledge and then frame their marketing around your triggers, your weakness, to suck you into that quick fix, the quick weight loss, the small waist etc. They prey on you. You are vulnerable because you lack the knowledge to make a crucial judgment about what they are marketing, saying and selling. It’s not your fault, its just a fact.

I can speak from experience because many years ago I too was once in the pond with you looking for that next hook to reel me out poor health and obesity. I tried every promise that came my way. I wanted to be healthy but most importantly I wanted to lose the weight that had held me prisoner of my own body for over 2 decades. I didn’t have a life and I wanted one. I was like many that needed to believe in the next great promise. The promises of a pill, a drink, wraps and creams, shots with hormones from a horse, diets that restrict this and that, and hours of different exercises. I really believed the next great thing was going to be IT! IT become years of frustration.

This is the news you don’t want hear. There is no magic pill, potion, shot, diet or program that will give you permanent healthy results without addressing your lifestyle behavior. None, nada, not one! You see, it has to do with how you are living. How you are living encompasses what you eat 80% of the time, your activity level 80% of the time, your stress level 80% of the time, your rest and relaxation 80% of the time and your exposure to toxic chemicals 80% of the time.

Let’s get something very clear, nutritional products if they are high quality ones, plans and programs if they are from qualified sources can super charge your health when provided with the necessary education to live a health lifestyle. However, if they don’t include a blueprint for changing your current daily routines (lifestyle) into healthy ones your results will be short lived.

You Cannot Supplement Your Way Out of an Unhealthy Diet and Lifestyle!

Here is what you need to know.

Is the product, program or plan designed as part of an ongoing healthy routine you can incorporate in your life and do forever comfortably? If not, it’s not going to deliver long lasting results. Sure you may lose some weight but only 5% of people keep it off with this approach.

If there are big promises of quick weight loss please don’t take the bait.  For the weight to stay off it needs to come off slowly, no more than 2 pounds per week as an average.

A healthy weight loss product should always have a plan or program to educate you on what a healthy lifestyle is. Not just instructions on how to take the product. Most nutritional products are just that, products with instructions for using it. Some products may offer plans but are the plans part of a lifestyle or are they something you do for a few weeks or months and then terminate?

The plan or program must provide a road map to get you from where you are today to sustaining a healthy and robust lifestyle. Does the person giving you the details of the product, plan or program have the education and background to be qualified to guide you and educate you? Don’t be afraid to ask questions of those wanting to sell you products, plan or programs for weight loss, health and fitness. Take charge you are the customer. Don’t settle for inferior products or information from unqualified sources.

In my opinion, I would not consume products that contain any of the following ingredients:

  • artificial sweeteners (sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame potassium also know as acesulfame k, saccharine, neotame)
  • high fructose corn syrup
  • fructose (if consumed to much, fructose can cause a problem with insulin metabolism),
  • soy (most soy in the US is a GMO crop)
  • food colorings or dyes
  • preservatives
  • corn starch
  • maltodextrin derived from corn
  • cyancobalamin (look for product using methylcobalamin) Research has shown that methylcobalamin remains in the body for a longer period of time and at higher levels than cyanocobalamin, which means that your body is supplied with vitamin B12 for longer if you use methylcobalamin than if you use cyanocobalamin. Methylcobalamin may well also improve visual accommodation, but there is no evidence to suggest that the cyano- compound has the same effect) Methylcobalamin is in the form your body can use. Cyanocobalamin must be converted into methylcobalamin first by the body before it can be used. Cyan means that the cobalamin (B12) is attached to a group of cyanide molecules.
  • Dl-alpha tocopherol (artificial form of Vitamin E) look for a product that provides mixed tocopherols and d-alpha tocopherol succinate (the natural form of Vitamin E)
  • Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol)  look for products that contains Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) studies indicate that ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) is much less potent and has a shorter duration of action than Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)

I would look for nutritional products that are whole food based. (organic if possible)

These products are made from foods (you see listed foods like spinach, carrots, apples, beets, kale, broccoli etc) and that also have additional added nutrients such as additional vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, adaptogens, probiotics and enzymes. The body absorbs nutrients from foods much better than from any other source.

If you want to opt-out of the Illusions of the Diet and Supplement World and have permanent health results;

Understand there is no product that alone is going to set you free and keep you healthy without you making a lifestyle shift forever. It’s all about living a healthy lifestyle. Incorporate a lifestyle change with a great nutritional product and you may supercharge your health and wellness and even continue to improve, forever.

Your nutritional products should be made from real foods. Your diet should be from real foods you can prepare at home.  Drive through restaurants, processed foods and refined foods are lacking adequate nutrition required to build a healthy and fit body. Manage your stress and move more. It’s really that simple. Remember the 80% I referred to earlier? Focus on living a healthy lifestyle 80% of the time and you will begin to build a healthy body.

Nothing is ever going to replace a healthy diet and lifestyle. This is the most important part of your health; nothing is more influential to your health.

If you have a NutriBullet or similar device to make great smoothies you have a big advantage on those that don’t. Make smoothies everyday with lots of different brightly colored foods of every color palette. These foods will flood your body with health building and body nurturing nutrients.

I wish you the very best in health and wellness,

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

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The contents of this blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.

Published by Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.

In 2006, Wally was a morbidly obese man who weighed over 450 pounds and had many health problems. By improving his nutrition and adopting holistic healthy living principles, Wally was able to lose more than 220 pounds. By adopting these natural holistic principles he reversed many health problems including diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, lymphedema, arthritis and sleep apnea. Today, Wally is a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Certified Nutritional and Wellness Consultant and is the owner of Wellness With Wally, a Nutrition and Health Coaching Service. Wally is actively involved in local and national health promotion efforts. In addition, he works with community organizations and corporations as a speaker and educator. Wally’s Achievements • Author of over 300 articles on diet, nutrition, weight loss, sports nutrition and healthy living principles. • Regular contributor to local and national magazines and health related blog sites. • Author of “Maximize Your Life, Renew Your Mind, Body, and Spirit.” • Creator of the 12-week health and wellness course, “Unlock Your Health Potential,” which has been taught at local companies over the past 4 years. • Wally has given over 250 presentations regarding health, fitness, wellness and nutrition. • Wally has been a featured guest on NPR, CBS and Fox News stations. As well as being invited to provide expert health opinions on various radio programs. • Wally has been instrumental in the development and implementation of Health and Wellness programs for companies including a Fortune 500 company. Additionally, Wally provides a variety of class formats (ranging from thirty minute to one-hour classes to full 12-week courses) for businesses that are looking for ways to encourage their employees to adopt healthier lifestyles. Improved employee health and wellness has a positive impact on employee attendance, work efficiency, quality of work, lower health care cost and overall associate happiness thus increasing a companies overall bottom line.

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