Tag: obesity

Are You Shackled to the System?

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.1 Comment

Medical $We have just celebrated the Forth of July remembering and honoring our forefathers and the courage and sacrifices they gave to make America a free nation. Today, I hopefully will entice YOU AND ALL AMERICANS to fight for your independence from the bondage of disease and illness that is at an all time high in our country.

Most of you are shackled to a system that is designed to make your sick. I know it’s very hard to believe, but you are.  If you want your Health Independence keep reading. The richest man in the world cannot buy this freedom for himself or anyone else. You must choose it and earn it.

This article may stir the pot a little but the truth is, well, the truth. I simply tell it like it is.

If you are eating the Standard American Diet, the odds are great your health is going to suffer. At some point you will become enslaved to the system — yes the processed food, medical and drug system. It is designed to take your money and keep you dependent on the system.

Without wellness (a state of optimal health) what freedom does your body give you to enjoy the privilege of being an American? Can you hike for 4 miles? Could you walk to the top of the Empire State building? Could you play and walk 18 holes of golf? How about ride a bicycle for 20 miles? Or the most joyous of all, play baseball, soccer or basketball with your children or grandchildren without feeling like you are going to die? To me this is freedom. If you can’t, you are a spectator sitting on the sidelines watching because most likely you are shackled to the couch or chair by your diet and lifestyle. You are in the system!

I am not writing this article to take a shot at those who work in the medical field. I have many friends who are nurses, doctors, dietitians, physical therapists and other clinicians who really care about your health.  I respect their field of work and respect them. This is totally about America’s system. Many have left their fields to pursue their crafts in the traditional way, which is the natural way, and I applaud them for the courage to take a stand on their beliefs.

In 2006 I began a quest for independence from morbid obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, sleep apnea, urticaria, rosacea, fatigue and lymphedema. I was like most Americans — addicted to America’s engineered foods, which enslaved me to the system. I was given prescriptions and told to come back in the next three months for more tests and prescriptions. This had been going on for years and it wasn’t anything new because all of my friends and family were in the same system. It’s what every American expects, right, as we get older we expect our quality of life to suffer and we will need medications for almost everything. At some point we will become invalids and need to occupy a nursing home or an assisted living facility. If we are very fortunate we will have the luxury of casting the burden on our children to take care of us. It’s the American way and that’s exactly what the system wants you to believe. They are banking on it! America’s system is the only one I know of that makes more money as you get sicker. There is no financial incentive for the system to make you healthier. I was never told I could opt out the system and how.

How did it get this way?

Designed Addiction
Designed Addiction

Our government subsidizes processed and refined (engineered foods) unhealthy foods making them very cheap for Americans to buy. Our government provides little to no subsidies for healthy foods. These engineered foods are designed to be addicting and unhealthy. Shocking isn’t it? Food companies actually hire neuroscientists who use test subjects to see which blend of food chemicals will cause an addictive like response in your brain. It’s called the bliss point. If you check the ingredient list for some of these foods and compare them to the same foods by the same manufacturers in other countries like the UK, the ingredient list is much different. How is it different? The UK ingredient list doesn’t have 99% of the toxic and unhealthy ingredients in the food you buy in America.  Which means, if they can make the same food in the UK without the toxic ingredients, then they could, if they chose to, make it much healthier for Americans. The questions is, why are they doing that to us? It’s the system my American friends.

These engineered foods are nutrient bankrupt contain toxic, illness promoting ingredients. Since our bodies need nutrition to function and heal, over time, we begin to feel the effects of slowly loosing our health. You visit your doctor and he say’s “great news we have a medication that will help you manage that condition.” Pay attention – the doctor isn’t referring to reversing the condition or eliminating the problem – he is focusing on diminishing the SYMPTOMS. As time goes by you develop more conditions and need more medications. In a few years, you develop more serious health conditions. Now you need even more medications, periodic scans and tests. The really sad shocker is that some of the bad side effects of the earlier medications may have caused the new illnesses to develop.

Healthy food may have been cheap but now you are stuck in the system paying for medical bills, medications and health insurance.  In reality, the cheap food is super expensive. It just doesn’t have a warning posted saying “eat now and pay the real cost later.”

OPT OUT of the System

You have the opportunity to opt out of this system. Yes, you can really! The great news is you don’t need to be shackled by the system any longer.

How do you opt out? It’s a very complicated situation but the solution is very simple! . Stop buying the engineered foods full of chemicals and start buying the natural foods made by Mother Nature and get physically active. The more nutrition you feed your body and the fewer toxic chemicals you eat, the healthier your body will become.  I am living proof, as are millions of other Americans who have earned and won their health independence back.

America’s Standard Diet is the unhealthiest diet on our planet and is a major cause of disease and illness in our great nation. It has enslaved more than 70% of America’s population through illness and disease forcing you to spend your hard earned money on unnecessary drugs and medical visits. It also takes a large portion of your tax dollars to pay for the medical care of the underprivileged because they are also poor nutritionally.

Please start planning on your exit from the system. Sadly, the system won’t miss you because new babies are being born everyday that are already in the system.

I am very happy to see some media outlets also telling the real story about your food choices and your health. Read this article from CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/07/health/western-diet-health/index.html

Please join me in this wellness revolution and have real food for your next meal and move more. If you do, and continue choosing real foods, you will be free of the system in no time!

I wish you the very best in health and wellness,

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Vive

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.

 

Bliss point

 

The Diet and Supplement World of Illusions

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.Leave a comment

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.

WebND

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.

Busting That New Years Resolution

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.Leave a comment
Live it! Don't Make it a Resolution
Live it! Don’t Make it a Resolution

It’s that time of year again, yes, New Years Resolutions. If you are like most Americans you will be repeating some of the same resolutions as last year.

It’s time to self assess, why do you need to repeat your resolution again? What stopped you from achieving  your goal?

If your resolution is health related, its time to stop repeating it.

About 95% of Americans have weight loss or better health as one of their health goals. I am sure that’s not surprising to you.

Almost everyone has some form of health improvement on their list. Losing weight tops the list, shocking right? Why?  Because almost 70% of Americans are overweight. Additionally, more than 50% of Americans are suffering from a preventable chronic health condition.

If you are not motivated enough and serious enough about your goal the chances of achieving your goal are slim.

It’s seems around the beginning of March something happens. The wellness warrior becomes the wellness whiner.  I notice that the gym has fewer people, the number of people attending my class get smaller and clients and friends begin to avoid me because they don’t want me to know they are off of the new plan.  I am glad they feel a sense of accountability to someone. I promise it doesn’t have to be this way.

stick to itThis year as part of your New Years Resolution make this declaration“ I am sticking to the goals I have set, I will not quit”.  If it’s important enough to have it as a goal, its important enough to finish it? Really, doesn’t this make sense? Why put all of this effort into your goals for two or three months and then give up.

I am going to tell you how to keep your weight loss goal going forever. I want you to have what I have. I want you to lose all the extra weight you have gained and keep it off forever.

Most goals are never reached because the goal is not important enough, the goal is unrealistic and there was not enough planning.

The Formula for Success, Reaching Your Health Resolutions

Forget the word “DIET”. Remember the new phrase “LIFE STYLE CHANGE”.

1)  Set your date to begin your change, begin the change.

  • Circle your date on the calendar.
  • Develop positive affirmations to affirm your future success. Place them in your house, car and office. Don’t just read them, you must say them.
  • Do a pantry makeover! Get rid of bad foods in your house. Buy healthy foods for meals and snacks. Get rid of the white bread, white rice, cookies, crackers, pastries and cereals. Put some real food in the house.
  • If possible, enroll in a nutrition program like my Fat to Fit 12 week program.

2)  Tell your friends and family what you are doing. This sets up a level of accountability for you. Ask your friends to support you or even join you in this new lifestyle.

3)  Be realistic about your diet and weight loss goals. Set goals for weight loss in 10 pound increments. The first goal is 10 pounds, the second is 10 pounds. Do you get it? This makes the goal very achievable and builds confidence.

4)  Calories. If you eat healthy 80% of the time you do not need to count calories. However, this means the majority of your diet is going to be real foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and seeds. If most of your diet is coming from a box or package or made for you at a restaurant you are not eating healthy. The amount of chemicals, fats and sugars in these foods will cause your body to store fat even if you exercise like crazy! However, the only time you need to be aware of calories is to never eat less than 1200 calories per day.  Eating less than 1200 calories per day consistently, will cause your metabolism to stall, you will not lose weight and it can cause hormonal imbalances.

5)  Understand that to lose weight you must exercise.  If you have not exercised in a long time start slowly and consult with your doctor. If you can only walk for 10 minutes, then walk for 10 minutes and work your way up to at least 1 hour.  You can even break up the walking and exercising into 20 or 30-minute sections and do them multiple times per day. This actually keeps your metabolism burning fat at a higher rate for more hours in the day.  This translates to faster weight loss.

6)  Never deprive yourself of any food. If you must have that brownie eat just 1 and be happy. The next time you eat, it should be healthy. If you eat healthy 80% of the time it will allow you to indulge or splurge 20% of the time. This will keep you happy and help you lose weight by not binging.

7)  Never beat yourself up for having an unscheduled indulgence. Look at it as a treat because you have done so well. The next time you eat, make healthy choices.

8)  Eat a lot of plant foods like vegetables, fruits, lentils, beans and nuts and seeds. Most plant foods are very low in calories and very high in nutrient content. Plant foods also have a plenty of fiber, which is satiating and filling. However, limit your fruits to 3 servings per day. They have a lot of sugar in the form of fructose that can interfere with your weight loss if you eat to much. The best fruits for you are berries, apples, peaches, pears and plums.

9) Every week increase your servings of vegetables. You should set your goal for 7 to 9 servings of vegetables daily, 3 servings of fruits, 3 servings of whole grains (only those listed below), 2 ounces of nuts and seeds, 1 cup of beans or lentils. If eating animal foods in place of beans or lentils you can have 4 ounces of free range organic poultry or 6 ounces of wild caught cold water fish (the best are salmon, cod, halibut, Alaskan whiting, trout, steel head and sardines). Try to buy organic when possible.

10)  Limit your grains to whole grains and then even limit those to no more than 4 servings per day. Grains cause cravings and can raise blood sugar levels. The grains being grown today are not the same as they were 100 or more years ago. They have been hybridized to a point that most are highly inflammatory. The best grains to eat are real wild rice or black rice, steel cut oats, buckwheat (it’s not related to wheat) and quinoa. As with all foods choose organic when you can.

Grains that have been ground into a flour are no better for us than table sugar. Think of flour from grains as table sugar. Flour and sugar are a starch and have the same blood sugar effect. Use almond flour and coconut flour in place of grain flours. They have a much lower blood sugar impact and are actually anti-inflammatory!

11) Make sure you drink plenty of water. Water is necessary to breakdown fat and create cellular energy. The general rule is to consume ½ your weight in fluid ounces of water per day.  If you weight 150 pounds you would need 75 ounces of fluid per day. If you exercise, are ill or sweat a lot you may need more fluid.

There are two items I use everyday that make this easy for me. First is a product called Vive (rhymes with give) it is a whole food drink mix that I use twice per day. It is the best tasting shake mix out there and is highly nutritious. The next is my NutriBullet blender. Vive is formulated to make the nutrients easier to absorb from the blended foods. Vive makes great smoothies. One of my favorite meal replacement smoothie recipes is:strawberry spinach smoothie

  • 8 ounces unsweetened almond milk
  • 4 ounces spring water
  • 2 scoops Vive Energy Spice
  • 1 large handful organic spinach or broccoli florets
  • 1 cup strawberries or blueberries
  • handful (about 1/4 cup) raw pumpkin seeds or walnuts
  • 1/2 tsp Ceylon cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (you may like less if you are heat sensitive)
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder

I want you to have great success and I do not want weight loss to be on your list next year. So, please start planning, get excited about the new body you are going to have, the new health you are going to enjoy, the new clothes you get to buy!

It’s simple; plan, execute, do it, lose it, and keep it off by continuing to live a lifestyle of wellness and health.

Healthy Wishes for a new year!

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

The contents of this blog is 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.

Breaking the Diet Syndrome!

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.Leave a comment
Stop Dieting
Stop Dieting 

It’s amazing how fast the New Year approaches each year and each year a little faster as we age. With the coming of the New Year, at least 70% of Americans are thinking about their New Years Resolutions, one of which will be to lose weight or get in better shape. This is the typical mindset that the diet industry depends on for its yearly financial windfall!

Nothing about obesity has improved in the past 3 decades. America is still the fattest and sickest of all modern industrialized nations. It’s getting worse. According to the CDC, obesity has increased by 13% since 2010.

Even with all of the awareness and education being provided. Stop! Oops, my mistake, very little education about the cause of obesity and how to reverse it is happening from the mainstream medical community! There are plenty of people talking about the epidemic of obesity and it’s related diseases and illness such as heart disease and diabetes. However, few are providing education that will make a long-term difference.

Please don’t misunderstand; there are a number of great Doctors dedicating their time to educating the public. Most of them do not get the support of the traditional medical community in their efforts.  They put themselves at risk to teach you how to be healthy without the need for drugs! Thank you Dr. Hyman, Dr. Fuhrman, Dr. Mercola, Dr. Greger and Dr. Katz and many others for your dedication to educating the public about living healthy lifestyles.

According to the CDC an Increase of 13% in Obesity since 2010.
According to the CDC an Increase of 13% in Obesity since 2010.

There are a gazillion diets and diet programs on the Internet hoping to snare you for hundreds and maybe even thousands of dollars. Some of these programs are very expensive. Sadly, most of them teach you little about keeping the weight off or how to prevent weight gain in the first place. They count on you becoming a repeat customer.

To prevent and reverse obesity takes knowledge not a diet.

It’s seems around the beginning of March something happens. The wellness warrior becomes the wellness whiner.  I notice that the gym has fewer people, my classes get thinner and clients and friends begin to avoid me because they don’t want me to know they are off of the new plan.  I am glad they feel a sense of accountability to someone.

This year make part of your New Years Resolution resolve “ I am sticking to the goals I have set”.  Really, doesn’t this make sense? Why put all of this effort into your goals for two or three months and then give up.

I am going to tell you how to keep your weight loss goal going forever. I want you to have what I have. I want you to lose all the extra weight you have gained and keep it off forever.

Most goals are never reached because the goal is not important enough, the goal is unrealistic and there was not enough planning.

1)  Set your date to begin your change. Get rid of bad foods in your house. Buy healthy foods for meals and snacks.

2)  Tell your friends and family what you are doing. This sets up a level of accountability for you. Ask your friends to urge you or even join you in this new lifestyle.

3)  Be realistic about your diet and weight loss goals. Set goals for weight loss in 10 pound increments. The first goals is 10 pounds, the second is 10 pounds. Do you get it? This makes the goal very achievable and builds confidence.

4) Lean to read food labels and the ingredient list on foods you buy. Be very particular about what you put in your body.  Healthy foods have very few ingredients. Avoid foods with added sugars, hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, artificial sweeteners and food colorings.

5) You must understand your energy requirements. If you eat to many calories or under consume your calories you will not lose weight.  Try to eat 500 to 1000 calories less than you actually need. However never eat less than 1200 calories per day. Eating less than 1200 calories per day on a consistent basis will lower your metabolic engine greatly resulting in weight gain. I highly recommend using an online food journal system. They help you monitor your calorie, sugar, carbohydrate, fat and protein intake every day. People that keep food journals keep the weight off. I recommend these online food journal systems, www.myfitnesspal.com  Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. www.nutritiondata.com.  There are many others that are also very easy to use.

6)  Understand that to lose weight you must exercise.  If you have not exercised in a long time start slowly and consult with your doctor. If you can only walk for 10 minutes, then walk for 10 minutes and work your way up to at least 1 hour.  You can even break up the walking and exercising into 20 or 30-minute sections and do them multiple times per day. This actually keeps your metabolism burning fat at a higher rate for more hours in the day.  This translates to faster weight loss.

7)  Never deprive yourself of any food. If you must have that brownie eat just 1 and be happy. The next time you eat, it should be healthy. If you eat healthy 80% of the time it will allow you to indulge or splurge 20% of the time. This will keep you happy and help you lose weight by not binging.

8)  Never beat yourself up for having an unscheduled indulgence. Look at it as a treat because you have done so well. The next time you eat make healthy choices. Turn a cheat into a treat!

8)  Eat a lot of plant foods like vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts and seeds. Make your plate at least 80% plant based! Most plant foods are very low in calories and very high in nutrient content. They also have a lot of fiber, which is satiating and filling. However limit your fruits to 2 servings per day. They have a lot of sugar in the form of fructose that can interfere with your weight loss. Avoid refined and processed foods. They are full of unhealthy ingredients, low in nutrition and very high in calories.

9)  Avoid grains or Limit your grains to whole grains and then even limit those to no more than 2 to 4 servings per day. Grains cause cravings and can raise blood sugar levels. The best are wild rice, amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa, and oats. The grains you see today are not like the grains from 100 or more years ago. They have been hybridized to a highly inflammatory species of plants. Check out Dr. David Perlmutter’s book “Brain Grain”.

10) Make sure you drink plenty of water. Water is necessary to breakdown fat and create cellular energy. The general rule is to consume ½ your weight in fluid ounces of water per day.  If you weigh 150 pounds you would need 75 ounces of fluid per day. If you exercise, are ill or sweat a lot you may need more fluid.

There are two items I use everyday that make this easy for me. First is a product called Vive (rhymes with liv) it is a whole food drink mix that I use twice per day. It is the best tasting shake mix out there and is highly nutritious. The next is my NutriBullet blender. It is engineered to make the nutrients easier to absorb from the blended foods. It makes great smoothies when using the Vive shake mix.

If you want to have great success and do not want weight loss to be on next years list, start planning now. Get excited about the new body you are going to have, the new health you are going to enjoy, the new clothes you get to buy!

It’s simple; plan, execute, do it, lose it, and keep it off by continuing to live a lifestyle of wellness and health.

Healthy Wishes for a new year!

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Viveshake

The contents of this blog is 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.

 

 

 

I Ignored the Elephant in the Room, Please Don’t!

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.Leave a comment
This Doesn't Have to Happen But Can If You Ignore It!
This Doesn’t Have to Happen But Can If You Ignore It!

This article doesn’t apply to every over weight person.  But it might be just for you.

When I was at my heaviest weight, 450+ pounds I knew I was fat, that was obvious but I kept telling myself I am not really that big, I carry my weight well.  No one has said anything to me about my weight other than my doctor occasionally suggesting gastric bypass surgery but no other remedies. My friends still like me! Sure my knees and ankles hurt and I have trouble finding chairs to sit in but that was normal for me. Going from overweight to obese to super obese was normal for me as much as I hated it.  Over time the weight increased slowly without me noticing what was really happening, or was I just ignoring the elephant in the room. I guess I just learned to adjust my life around it instead of confronting it.

And them boom! My doctor hit me with the “D” word one day! I was now diabetic. I can’t tell you what a shock that was to me. I really thought I can stay this large and live to 90. The reality in my world was fantasy not fact or anywhere close to real. In fairness he did tell me at some point I would become diabetic but I chose to not believe him. Why should I? He hasn’t seemed concerned about my weight and other than high blood pressure and arthritis I wasn’t dying. I had ignored the elephant in the room for years. Now the elephant was looking me straight in the face and was demanding my attention.  OK, I thought, so what I have diabetes, millions do. (more denial) He prescribed the medication told me how to take it. I had the prescription filled and went home with the intentions of taking the medication………until I read the side effects! Wow, that woke me up from a deep obese hibernation.  The last symptom and most compelling of phrases hit me. It said so innocently “MAY CAUSE DEATH”! How is death a symptom? Death is finality, the end, the exit of breathing and smiling and laughing and life! The elephant in the room was raising his trunk and sounding a loud roar of warning. If the pills didn’t kill me my current condition would. I kept ignoring him for years and now I had to deal with him.

Any time we talk about weight challenges it can be difficult because we as overweight people can be easily embarrassed. It’s very personal. There is a stigma attached to our situation. However, let’s face it, no one grows up aspiring to be overweight or obese.  I certainly never intended to be this heavy and kept trying to pretend it didn’t matter if I was so heavy. But to my health and quality of life and those that loved and cared about me it did matter.

Stop ignoring the elephant in the room. He will eventually get your attention if you don’t. Acknowledge his presence then do something to get him out of the room.

Begin by taking a good long look at yourself in a full length mirror while absolutely butt naked (southern term). Take it all in and say today this is me. Accept this is you, today. If you need to cry, shout, fuss and get on your pity pot for about 10 minutes. Then get pissed off and angry that you allowed this to happen. No one else did it to you, you did it through choices you made.

Now, what isn’t your fault is a lack of healthy dietary and lifestyle knowledge. I had no clue how to eat healthy or live healthy. I was depending on my doctors to give me the knowledge to prevent or fix my situation. They didn’t have it.  If something isn’t working it’s our responsibility to seek out the knowledge to fix it or improve it.

How to get ride of the elephant!

  • Acknowledge him
  • Educate your self about healthy foods and food to avoid.  This blog is a great place to get this knowledge!
  • Fill your days with an abundance of highly nutritious foods, herbs and spices!
  • Stay active everyday by exercising and enjoying physical activities like walking, swimming and cycling.

My elephant was over 200 pounds of fat, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, arthritis, etc.. and today he is gone!

Your NutriBullet, your juicer, your healthy diet and your legs are your ticket to a healthy body, mind and spirit.

Eat healthy, keep moving, make people laugh, be of service when possible, be grateful for everything and your elephant will become a picture of health!

I have gone from fat to fit and you can to!!

I conquered Paris Mountain!
I conquered Paris Mountain!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Vive

@WallyBishopCNC

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. Before exercising get your doctors approval.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Ride to Remember! Cycling 256 miles in 3 Days

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.Leave a comment
The Finish Line!! 100 miles on Day 3 and 256 miles in 3 days!!
The Finish Line!! 100 miles on Day 3 and 256 miles in 3 days!!

The word grateful really doesn’t begin to express how I feel most days now. I have been blessed to have overcome the bondage of obesity and its health problems like diabetes, arthritis and sleep apnea and from being paralyzed for a few months to a life of health and fitness.  It is not often you get the opportunity to get a do over in life or as golfers say “take a Mulligan”! God has given me two and everyday when I wake up he gets my praise and thanks for giving me the courage and strength to fight through these two beast’s.

Losing weight is about acceptance of what caused the issue, (you are not moving enough and eating the wrong foods) dietary and lifestyle knowledge, planning and patience with yourself. Overcoming paralysis is all about having the drive, heart and courage to overcome and move again.  It’s hard to have patience when your legs and hands no longer work.  In both cases you have a choice, do nothing and accept what is happening or change your situation. I was tired of being 450 pounds and I beat that beast!  Then, four years ago I was struck with Guillian Barre Syndrome a form of paralysis.  It took me a year to be able to exercise vigorously again.

There was a period in my life when I really didn’t want to live anymore. I couldn’t get the weight off and couldn’t see that I had a greater purpose waiting once I got through these life challenges. That was over eight years ago and now I just rode a bicycle over 250 miles in 3 days!! I never could have dreamed I would have accomplished this a few years ago.

Special thanks to Lewis McWhite my Vive Team Partner and Jason Leslie my trainer.

This was a special event from a personal perspective,

A Ride to Remember is a ride across South Carolina to raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimer’s Association of South Carolina. Even though this was a cycling event with over 220 cyclist, it was a very special Ride to Remember for me! The three days were fun, yet at times difficult, at times wet and sweaty. We visited small towns all across South Carolina and got to meet and enjoy local residents.

And yes, with this many miles and this many cyclist all types of issues arise. A multitude of flat tires, crashes, broken bikes but never broken spirits. All types of bikes from very expensive to not so expensive, tandem’s (2 people on a bike), vintage bike’s (older bikes) and a bike that looked like a large-scale version of a soap box derby car! If it had 2 wheels and a seat you might have seen it.

Doing an event like this has a feeling of camaraderie and you get this feeling in your gut that you are about to do something special. For some cyclist riding this distance is not a challenge but for many it is their first time doing this kind of distance for 3 days in a row and completing it is very special.  I made many new friends some of which may last a life time. But this journey was special and gave me much more!

You can do anything if you are willing to put in the effort and dedication required to earn it. Most things worth having can’t be bought, they must be earned. Just like respect, integrity, honor, reputation etc… they are earned. Your age doesn’t matter, your gender, race or religion doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is if you are willing to earn it.

Never in a million years……More coming!

 

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Vive

@WallyBishopCNC

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.

 

 

Love Your Heart So It Can Love Even More!

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.Leave a comment

Heart in handsThe lifestyle you live has the biggest impact on your heart health. Even if heart disease runs in your family you can trump those genetics by adopting a heart healthy lifestyle!

First know that cholesterol is not the enemy, your body actually makes 800 to 1500 mgs of cholesterol daily! Your hearts enemies are foods that cause systemic inflammation in your arteries forcing cholesterol to be used to patch and repair vascular sores. These foods are prevalent in the American diet.

What you are about to read should make you run in your kitchen and fire up a salad, smoothie or Vive. Did you know that a plant-based diet has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of and even reverse heart and cardiovascular disease?  You can listen to Dr. Dean Ornish and some of his patients at this link. http://www.youtube.com/user/DrDeanOrnish

Many factors can affect our heart health. Our diet (excessive simple sugars), stress, and other lifestyle factors like smoking and the amount of physical activity we get play a huge role in heart health.

In about a day your heart beats 100,000 times pumping around 2000 gallons of blood to 100 trillion cells through 60 thousand miles of blood vessels.  Every time I  think of that it amazes me!

The heart is not just an organ, it is also a muscle.  The heart requires a lot of energy and quality nutrition to keep it healthy.  Your heart is a very unique organ and unlike other organs and muscles, it does not become fatigued. It only stops when oxygen is no longer available.

Exercise increases the hearts fitness so it can deliver more oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Develop a good exercise program after approval from your doctor!

Because of the great energy requirements put on the heart, nutrition is very important.  Vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, enzymes and antioxidants are super important for heart health.

  • Plant based foods provide a bounty of nutrients and antioxidants the body needs for great heart health.
  • Studies show Nuts and seeds consumed daily reduce the risk for heart disease. They are anti-inflammatory and a good source of Vitamin E, which, is very important for cell membrane health and is also an antioxidant.
  • Omega 3’s from Salmon, sardines, ground flax seed and walnuts reduce inflammation and keep blood platelets from sticking, reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease
  • Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables reduce inflammation and protect the heart from free radical damage.  The greater the volume of oxygen is needed in a cell to make energy, the higher the potential for free radical damage.  The heart is a big air and fluid pump.  So antioxidants are even more important for the heart muscle.
  • Magnesium is very important for heart health because it helps blood vessels relax, potentially reducing blood pressure, which, if high, can damage the heart.
  • B Vitamins are critical for preparing foods for the conversion to energy.
  • B12, Folate and B6 are critical to reduce the protein homocysteine from accumulating in our tissues. Homocysteine causes cellular damage to the heart and blood vessels and heavily associated with heart disease.
  • Iron, B12, Vitamin C and Folate are important to make healthy red blood cells and blood vessels.
  • Vitamin E from food and Co-Q10 from foods are important heart protectors.

 

Some of the best foods for heart health are:

  • Nuts and seeds (walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pecans)
  • Avocado
  • Dark chocolate
  • Leafy greens (spinach, kale, collards, mustard greens, turnip greens)
  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Bananas
  • Bell peppers
  • Hot peppers
  • Tomatoes
  • Beans (pinto, garbanzo, black)
  • Lentils
  • Pomegranate
  • Blueberries
  • Goji Berries
  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Salmon
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Amaranth
  • Buckwheat
  • Oats
  • Quinoa
  • Wild rice

Heart Health Destroyers

Sadly the American diet is the perfect diet if you want poor heart health. It is rich in sodium, sugar and bad fats and low in nutrient rich foods like vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds and whole grains, which promote health.

If you love your heart it would be best to avoid or limit these foods in your diet. These foods are health destroyers!

  • Foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol (meats, processed meats, eggs, cows milk and cheese)
  • Processed meats
  • Foods high in sodium
  • Foods high in sugars particularly added sugars such as (refined sugar, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, confectioners sugar, brown sugar etc..)
  • Fried foods
  • Flour based foods (includes breading on fried foods, cookies, crackers, cereals, pastries, breads, pasta) Flour can turn to blood sugar as quickly as table sugar.
  • Excess sugar is a powerful risk factor in your diet because it creates inflammation and sores in your arteries, which forces your body to use cholesterol to repair them. This makes arteries stiffer creating more sores or tears requiring more cholesterol.  It’s a vicious cycle that accelerates heart and vascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Other Heart Health Factors

  • Stress is a killer! It creates hormonal changes that raise blood pressure, cause obesity and eventually damage your heart.
  • A lack of exercise let’s muscles atrophy, becoming weaker. Your heart and blood vessels are muscles and need exercise to be in top health.
  • A lack of sleep creates systemic stress putting additional stress on your heart.
  • Cigarettes destroy your blood vessels and lungs. Both are critical for your heart to be healthy.
  • Limit alcohol to no more than 3 drinks per week.

Summary

Having 2 smoothies a day filled with every color of vegetable and fruit, nuts and seeds is going to get you on the right track for great heart health.

  • Have Vive twice per day to make sure you are getting the heart healthy nutrients you need.You can add Vive to smoothies and make them even better!
  • Avoid added sugars; the healthiest sweeteners are stevia and raw honey.
  • Reduce your intake of animal fats
  • Make your diet mostly vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts and seeds and limited low glycemic whole grains
  • Exercise daily
  • De-stress by exercising, enjoying friends and laughing!
  • Reduce your salt intake to 1300 mgs per day to reduce blood pressure.
  • Drink plenty of clean water
  • Get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep nightly

Happy healthy eating!

Wally Bishop C.N.C

Vive Developer

Sources

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/78/3/544S.long

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11832674

http://www.youtube.com/user/DrDeanOrnish

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.

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Sugar! the Poison We Can’t Resist!

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.2 Comments

Sweet Poison

I am not sure why we Americans don’t see it. Sugar is the biggest threat to our health but we keep consuming it is excessive amounts. Plus, food manufacturers love it because it makes you eat more and more and more of their sugary foods.  We American’s simply can’t resist it! Doctors love it because it’s a guarantee most of you will be seeing them in the near future .

It’s Poison, also, Sugar makes us fatter.  When you eat refined sugar, if you don’t quickly use it as energy, insulin turns it into fat! It’s addictive,  accelerates aging, reduces immune function, impairs mental and neurological function, can destroy your brain, heart and organs, creates systemic inflammation, gives some people a buzz and destroys bodies. Does this sound healthy??

Not all sugar is bad. Sugar from plants foods like carrots, beets, strawberries and bananas can be good for us if they are eaten in their whole form. Healthy sugars are important because our brain and central nervous system rely totally on sugar or glycogen (stored sugar in the body) for their energy. Our muscles love sugar or glycogen to produce energy for high energy needs.  Fruit juice is very high in sugar so even though nutritious it is too high in sugar, eat the whole fruit.

People get addicted to sugar. They love the taste and the quick energy it releases. However they can’t see the pervasive damage being done to their blood vessels, brain, heart and other organs.

This may shock you, but I believe sugar and sugar like foods (processed flour products) are probably the biggest cause of all illness and disease. It creates so much stress on the body, lowers the immune system, wrecks havoc on the hormonal system and creates systemic inflammation. The harm being caused is wide-spread and long-lasting.

Sugar has made its way into almost every food stuff man is processing and refining. Sugar is added to bacon. luncheon meats, mayonnaise, peanut butter, dried fruit, fruit juices, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, prepared foods, cereal, granola, cookies, flavored milk, soft drinks, coffee drinks and hundreds if not thousands of other foods. Milk has about 3 teaspoons of sugar per 8 ounce glass.

The purpose of the added sugar is to make you eat more of the food it is in. It’s all about money. If you keep buying it, the food manufacturers will keep selling it. Stop buying it and they will begin to make healthier foods.

Your best defense is learning to read food labels and being able to find all the different names of sugar. When reading the food label pay special attention to the serving size and the grams of sugar per serving. Try to limit the amount of sugar you consume to 6 grams or less per serving. Look for foods that have 3 or more grams of fiber per serving.

Sugars Many Names

When reading the food ingredient list on the food label look out for these names. I would also include agave nectar as a sugar to avoid. It is higher in fructose that HFCS and is a processed sugar.

  1. Barley malt
  2. Beet sugar
  3. Brown sugar
  4. Buttered syrup
  5. Cane juice crystals
  6. Cane sugar
  7. Caramel
  8. Corn syrup
  9. Corn syrup solids
  10. Confectioner’s sugar
  11. Carob syrup
  12. Castor sugar
  13. Date sugar
  14. Demerara sugar
  15. Dextran
  16. Dextrose
  17. Diastatic malt
  18. Diatase
  19. Ethyl maltol
  20. Fructose
  21. Fruit juice
  22. Fruit juice concentrate
  23. Galactose
  24. Glucose
  25. Glucose solids
  26. Golden sugar
  27. Golden syrup
  28. Grape sugar
  29. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
  30. Honey
  31. Icing sugar
  32. Invert sugar
  33. Lactose
  34. Maltodextrin
  35. Maltose
  36. Malt syrup
  37. Maple syrup
  38. Molasses
  39. Muscovado sugar
  40. Panocha
  41. Raw sugar
  42. Refiner’s syrup
  43. Rice syrup
  44. Sorbitol
  45. Sorghum syrup
  46. Sucrose
  47. Sugar
  48. Treacle
  49. Turbinado sugar
  50. Yellow sugar

Flour Based Products

Flour (ground up grains) turns to blood sugar as rapidly as does white table sugar! Most breads, cereals, cookies, crackers and pastries have a high glycemic value. They raise blood sugar rapidly. Not all grain based products have higher glycemic load values. Whole Grains when eaten in their natural form release sugars slowly.  Steel cut oats have a lower glycemic load value that rolled oats.  Enriched and refined flours have little fiber allowing the starch to turn to blood sugar rapidly. Even whole grain breads can cause a quick release of blood sugar because part of the bodies digestive process has already been performed.  To my knowledge the lowest glycemic bread is Ezekiel Bread.

Use Natural Sweeteners like stevia and raw honey. They offer health benefits and do not impact blood sugar levels as severely as refined sugars do.

In summary, to reduce your risk of developing a sugar related disease or adverse health condition avoid or limit simple carbohydrates by eating more vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains (limit to 4 servings per day). Stay away from non natural sweeteners like Splenda and aspartame. Use natural sweeteners, however, learn to enjoy foods that are less sweet. Break that sugar addiction, kick it to the curb and enjoy life. I recommend stevia or raw honey as the healthiest sweeteners.

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

The contents of this blog is 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.

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Should You Count Calories, Yes or No?

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.1 Comment
The American Diet is Rich In Calories!
The American Diet is Rich In Calories!

Maybe, maybe not! There are differing opinions on the subject and truthfully there is no wrong or right answer.  The answer is subject to what works best for the person needing or wanting to lose weight.

I will say this however; it is very hard to become overweight or obese if 80% to 90% of your diet is healthy and vegetable based. Nutrient dense foods do not cause weight problems.  All the overweight and obese people I know did not get overweight eating healthy. No, they were all on the Standard American Diet (SAD) menu and didn’t move much.  Unfortunately, the overweight and obese don’t eat healthy.

If you need to lose say 15 to 20 pounds or do not have a weight problem then calorie counting probably isn’t an issue. So, if that is you, there is no need to count calories.  You should eat a wide variety of very healthy foods.  I say eat every color available every day as much as your wish!

However, if you need to lose 30 pounds or more, then I believe counting calories is a must, at least until you have established a healthy dietary and lifestyle foundation.

I see a lot of people with weight and obesity issues and there are some common things they share.  For the sake of this discussion, when I say overweight I am talking about people that need to lose a minimum of 30 pounds.

Every overweight or obese person I have counseled in the past seven years had the following traits;

  • They had no clue how many calories they should be eating or were eating.
  • They over consumed or under consume calories.  (yes, too few calories and your metabolism will stall preventing weight loss)
  • They had sedentary lifestyles.
  • They ate from the SAD menu.
  • They tried dieting multiple times with no permanent success.
  • They wanted a quick fix or a solution without having to change much in their life.

All of these points drastically affect the way we burn calories.  If you don’t know how many calories you actually should be eating you will never take charge of losing the weight.  Calories from nutrient poor foods equal substantial weight gain.

The mind-set of the obese or overweight person must change. For them every diet approach has been a failure for one reason. It was not a healthy approach they could center their life on forever.  They must accept that this isn’t about dieting or even their weight, it’s about living a healthy lifestyle.

They must erase bad habits that have been ingrained in them for years and teach them new approaches that can become ingrained healthy habits over time.  Once they have a good grasp of what a healthy diet and lifestyle is and they are living it comfortably, then calories aren’t so much of a concern.

And I know, some people say it stresses them to count calories.  However,

for them knowing their calorie budget may be a big part of the solution.

Focus on living a very healthy lifestyle and in most cases the weight issues will take care of themselves. (this does not account for medical conditions, see your doctor)

Just my opinion.

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

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.

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Diet and Get Fatter! Part I

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.5 Comments
Think About It
Think About It

Yes, its sound’s like I have flipped out. Some one call the shrink for Wally!

Not so fast, I promise you it’s the truth. Do you know of anyone that is 30 pounds or more overweight and has only been on one diet? I haven’t.

I wish I could convince everyone that dieting is not the answer.  Most people just will not listen and they fail. I hope like crazy you listen to me.

Maybe you have gone about the weight problem the wrong way!! The term diet really means the foods you consume. However we also use the word “diet” to mean a temporary change to our present eating pattern or dietary routines to lose weight or improve our health. Then we go back to our old dietary ways.

Does it make logical sense to make a change in your diet and then once your goal is reached return to the dietary routine that cause the weight gain or health issue in the first place? NO of course not, but people do it. And they do it over and over and over. I did, until I discovered that dieting was really why I was failing.  I would diet and lose 50 pounds. Then I would return to my past way of eating and gain 70 pounds, lose 70 and then gain 90 pounds. Does this sound like it works? This type of approach is harmful and filled with failure. I must confess I was a Yo-Yo dieter.

If you are trying to lose weight, like most people, you are probably going about in all the wrong ways. Most people get so stressed about the commitment to losing weight, the stress alone sabotages the plan. You will most likely choose a plan or approach that either gets results very quick because you want to get it over and go back to your old diet right? Or you pick the diet that requires little change because you just can’t fathom getting ride of some of your foods or exercising! right?

You deprive yourselves of good flavors and starve yourselves to the point of quitting and a few months or a year later you start over.

And by the way, I would always use the excuse that my metabolism was the reason I couldn’t lose weight. That’s simply not true. It’s not an excuse! It may make losing weight slower to begin with but healthy living will turn that metabolism way up! I know, I used that excuse and it simply is false (except for a very small number of those with thyroid disease, even then it can be improved greatly). Now my metabolism is running like a Corvette instead of a Yugo.

The rest of the story tomorrow!

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Vive

The contents of this blog is 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.