Tag: overweight

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.

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.

 

 

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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Want to lose Over 100 Pounds? This is how I lost over 200!

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.7 Comments

Jump on the Wellness Train with me!!

I have lost over 200 pounds and have maintained my current weight for the past 10 years. If you need to lose 20 pounds or 200 pounds this formula worked for me and others. Success requires a desire for change, a little planning, preparation and being consistent. Diets do not work. You need to be able to adopt a lifestyle that gives you flexibility and you can be happy with forever.

If you are starting a diet or making changes to your lifestyle, always consult with your doctor before beginning the new routine.

Rules of safe weight loss and weight management.

1.) Never eat less than 1200 calories per day unless you are under the supervision of a qualified health professional.

2.) The minimum goal should be a calorie deficit of 500 calories per day. This should create 1 pound of fat loss per week. Never aim to lose more than 2 pounds per week.

3.) Eat 6 times per day, 3 snacks and 3 meals.

4.) Crowd out the unhealthy foods in your life by eating the healthy nutritious ones first.  If you add 2 servings of fruits and 3 or more servings of veggies to your daily diet routine, you are not going to have room for the unhealthy foods. In addition, it will gradually get rid of your cravings. Do not start out trying to eat like me. Start by adding more vegetables and healthy foods to your daily routine. Eventually the bad foods will disappear if you make the choice to follow this guide.

5.) Know your energy requirements. If you get rid of the majority of processed and refined foods in your diet you do not need to to worry about counting calories. However if you are still consuming processed foods then it is important to not consume more than you burn. This is critical!

6.) Exercise at least 6 days per week.  I highly recommend multiple exercise per day. Example: if your goal is 1 hour daily, you can split the 1 hour into two 30 minute sessions. This will keep you metabolism elevated causing greater fat burn for a longer period in the day. This facilitates faster and greater weight loss. Do different types of exercise: interval, aerobic and strength training. If you are just beginning an exercise program, consult with an exercise professional to insure your safety. Do not think that you can lose weight and then keep it off with out exercising. It will not happen. Plus the whole idea of losing weight is to improve your health.  Exercise partnered  with a nutritious dietary routine builds health

7.) Drink at least 1/2 your weight in ounces of water per day. If you weight 200 lbs, you need at least 100 ounces of water per day. Water is required in the metabolic pathway to burn fat and to create energy.  A 2% drop in body hydration can cause up to a 30% drop in available energy.

8.) Get plenty of rest and relaxation. A lack of sleep and mismanaged stress will stop weight loss and even cause weight gain. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sound sleep per night. Practice stress reducing methods, get into a great book, get a massage, listen to soft music etc….  Turn your problems over to God.

9.) Make vegetative foods the majority of your food choices. They are low in calories, they alkaline the body, they cleanse the body, they help control blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels and they offer a wide array of nutrients that promote health.

10.) Limit your intake of simple carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates promote cravings by causing blood sugar spikes.  Eat lower glycemic foods. This does not mean you should eat a high protein diet. Select complex carbohydrates. Your brain and central nervous system (CNS) only burn glucose (sugar) for fuel. The average person needs 100 to 125 grams of carbohydrates to fuel the brain and CNS. Sugar, glucose and glycogen (stored glucose) are normally made from dietary carbohydrates. However up to 57% of protein can be converted to blood sugar when needed.

11.) Quit smoking, limit the intake of caffeine and alcohol and watch your salt intake.

12.) Do not weigh yourself more than once every 2 weeks. The best time to weigh is first thing in the morning upon waking and after you go to the bathroom.  Weigh the same time each day.  Your weight is just a by-product of  your particular lifestyle. Change your lifestyle and your weight will change.

13) Never deprive yourself of any food. If you want it, eat it. Just don’t go crazy and eat the whole container of Oreo’s.  When this happens, give your self credit for having the will power to control the amount you ate.  At the next snack or meal time exercise control and make healthy selections.

14.) Keep a food journal.

My Diet Selections

I am a flexitarian. That means I eat a vegetarian diet. However, I occasionally feel a need for animal protein. I typically go 1 to 2 weeks before I have that craving for salmon or chicken.  I do not eat red meat, pork or dairy.  Studies show a primarily vegetarian diet promotes better health by reducing the risk of major diseases and health conditions.

At least 75% of my diet is raw vegetables. Raw vegetables provide a wide array of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants and phytonutrients. When vegetables are cooked some of the vitamins are destroyed and all the enzymes are killed. However you do need some cooked vegetables. Leafy green vegetables contain a compound called oxalic acid. Oxalic acid binds with some minerals and interferes with their absorption. Cooking neutralizes most of the oxalic acid allowing more mineral absorption. Carrots provide more bio-available beta carotene when cooked. Tomatoes give more lycopene when cooked. A good ratio is 75% raw and 25% cooked.

If I eat out, I make wise selections and ask for variations on the menu. Most restaurants will be happy to make changes for you. For example; when ordering a salad, ask them to leave off the honey or sugar glazed pecans and dried fruit, save a couple of hundred calories, order the dressing on the side and dip your fork in the dressing before picking up the bite, you will use less dressing this way.

Calories

Understanding your calorie requirements is critical to weight loss and weight management.  Read this blog to better understand your energy budget. As you lose weight you will need to adjust your calorie intake.

Understanding How Much of What to Eat

Vegetables; you can eat these in unlimited amounts, aim for at least 5 servings daily. Eat raw, steamed, grilled, sautéed or broiled. Do not fry

Serving sizes; Cooked vegetables 1/2 cup, Chopped, raw vegetables 1/2 cup, Raw, leafy vegetables 1 cup, Vegetable juice 3/4 cup

Root Vegetables (for potatoes and yams the total should not exceed 2 servings total combined per week)

Fish & Seafood 1 serving 3 times per week.  Prepare by grilling, baking and broiling. Do not fry.

Serving size is 4 ounces

Fruits 3 servings per day and only low sugar fruits (berries, green apples, peaches pears and plums), a serving is 1 medium fruit and ½ cup juice. Dried fruit is coated with sugar so avoid it. Avoid fruit juices, they are also very high in sugar content.

Low Fat Dairy I do not recommend dairy products. If you must have them, goat or sheep is a better choice. I use almond breeze sugar free almond milk and rice cheeses.

Eggs, hen If you have high cholesterol limit to 1 per week otherwise 1 per day is ok. Eggs should be poached, scrambled or boiled, not fried. Select free range, organic eggs.

Beans & Legumes; eat what you want, just do not go over your daily calorie limit

Serving size is 1 cup cooked

Poultry & Lean Meats – limit to 4 ounces per serving, 3 times per week. 4 ounces is about the size of a deck of cards. I do not recommend eating red meats or pork, however, if you do, limit your intake to 1 serving per week.  Prepare by grilling, baking or broiling. Do not fry.

Nuts & Seeds Limit to 1 to 2 ounces per day due to high calorie content. Studies show people who consume 1 oz. of nuts daily lose weight and keep it off. In addition, they may cut their risk of heart disease by up to 45%. Nuts  and nut butters are very healthy for us.

Grains Limit to 2 servings per day. Grains raise blood sugar and insulin levels quickly creating cravings and weight gain. Serving sizes;  I don’t recommend eating bread except only occasionally and the only bread I recommend is Ezekiel Bread. However it does contain gluten.

  • Bread 1 slice
  • Tortilla, roll, or muffin 1
  • Bagel, English muffin or hamburger bun ½
  • Brown rice, pasta, oatmeal, cooked cereal, 1/2 cup
  • Ready-to-eat cereal 1 ounce (flakes or round)
  • Pancake, waffle 1 (4″ diameter)

Grain choices; all of these are gluten free Go grain free if you can!

Salad Dressings

I use olive oil and balsamic vinegar; Good Seasons Balsamic with olive oil or Good Seasons Greek Vinaigrette; Serving Size 2 Tablespoons, serve on side of plate, dip fork into dressing, then into bite of salad.

Butter

I use and recommend Smart Balance Lite Original with Flax. It’s 50 calories per serving, 1.5 grams of saturated fat and zero cholesterol and taste like butter.

Spices & Herbs; herbs are naturally very high in antioxidant power

Dark Chocolate; I eat dark chocolate every day. Only 100% dark raw chocolate is recommended. Limit to 1.5 ounces per day. Dark Chocolate has the highest antioxidant value of any food.

Natural Sweeteners; Serving Size 1 Tablespoon

Use these sparingly if diabetic;

Use as needed

  • Stevia; this is my choice of sweetener. Truvia is the best commercial choice.
  • Monk fruit is another of my favorites. Other
  • Green tea Cold Brew your own for more antioxidant power.

Moderation is the key in your diet. If you want something, eat it but try to limit the amount.  Consistency is the other very important factor.  If you eat healthy 80% of the time, you will give your body  the opportunity to build health.  We are what we eat. Eat junk and have a junk body, eat healthy and have a healthy body!

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.

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Frustrated With Your Weight Loss? Try These Tips!

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

Do you dread getting on the scale?  It will become the enemy when you visit it too often. Your weight is not the problem. Your problem is a diet and lifestyle that promotes weight gain. Change the behavior and the weight will change.  Quit weighing every day and only weigh once every two weeks. What you eat or do for one day reflects little on any part of your health. What you do consistently for weeks and months is what effects your health and weight loss  Your weight can shift multiple pounds from one day to the next, weighing everyday is not a good way to measure your weight loss success. Eventually it is going to show no loss or weight gain and you will be disappointed, frustrated and question your ability to lose the weight.

At some point in your weight loss journey you will hit a wall and the weight loss you have been enjoying stops.  This happens to anyone that diets.  So why does this happen you ask?  There are several reasons, lets explore them. Dieting; diets do not work. If you want permanent weight loss, change your life style and dietary habits forever. If you don’t, you will go back to the old behavior that made you fat.

  1. Skipping meals.  When you skip meals it leads to overeating later due to increased hunger. In addition it can cause craving due to a drop in blood sugar levels. Aim for 3 snacks and 3 meals per day.  DO NOT SKIP BREAKFAST!
  2. Lack of enough sound sleep.  Most people never realize how important to your overall health including weight loss.  With out adequate sleep your hormonal system is out of balance, you are under stress and releasing fat building hormones.  Your need 7 to 8 hours of sound sleep every night.
  3. Lack of water.  Without enough water (body fluids) your metabolism is lowered and you do not burn as many calories. You just can’t make as much energy without the water.
  4. Doing the same exercise routine. You body will figure out how to do your routine very efficiently and you will burn fewer calories.  Change your routine and include strength training and interval training.  Keep your body guessing.
  5. Eating the same foods every day. This is very common. Many of us like certain foods and we like the same ones for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The problem is again our body gets to comfortable because it now has learned how many calories and what nutrients to expect.  Vary your calories from day to day.  If your calorie budget is 2000 calories shoot for 1800 one day, 2200 one day, 2000 one day and even 1600 one day. The important part is averaging 2000 calories over several days.  One day at 2400 calories is not going to effect your weight however a week of 2400 calorie days will.
  6. Under consuming calories. Everyone thinks that if you eat less you will lose more weight. Wrong!  For most people if you consume less than 1200 calories per day your body is going to think it is starving. As a result it will lower your metabolism drastically and will even want to turn what you eat into fat for later energy when there is no food available.   You must eat enough to cover your Basil Metabolic Rate (BMR).
  7. Nutrient deficiency.  You should complement your diet with super nutrition. Even eating health is not enough with today’s foods. Your body can’t make energy, build muscle, make enzymes, red blood cells,  hemoglobin etc… without an abundance of nutrients.  Your mitochondria ( cellular power plants) are highly dependent on nutrients to burn carbohydrates and stored fats.
  8. Consuming too many calories.  Everyone has a calorie budget. If you exceed it consistently you will gain weight. It is important to know yours.  Eat 500 calories less per day that your burn and you will lose 1 pound per week of  hydrolyzed fat.  Never attempt to lose more than 2 pounds per week.  Eat less calories ( however not to few) and exercise more to increase your weight loss rate.
  9. Forgetting to adjust calorie intake when weight is being lost.  As the pounds come off you have to adjust your calorie intake.  If you continue eating the same calories that you did 20 pounds ago the weight loss is going to stop.
  10. Stress!  Stress releases hormones that build abdominal fat.  Find ways to add relaxation into your life. Make life fun!
  11. Lack of exercise. Everyone needs to exercise.  Exercise not only burns fat, it also detoxes the body, forces the body to repair itself and make more energy producing compounds and tissues. If you are morbidly obese you may lose weight for a while without exercising. However at some point the weight loss will stop if you do not include some form of exercise.
  12. Lack of real commitment. Are you so tired of being over weight that absolutely nothing is going to stop you. If you aren’t willing to tell your friends or even ask them to support you in your efforts then I question if you are really committed to your weight loss.  It is important to let friends and family know so they can help reinforce good behavior and not tempt you will fattening foods. Your friends will want to help and not sabotage your efforts.

Hopefully these suggestions will help you get over the hump when you hit the weight loss wall.  Change your foods regularly, change your calories daily and vary your exercise routine.  In some cases, if you have exercised regularly, you may need a week off.  If you have given your body a break you may want to increase your intensity to jump-start the metabolic engine again.

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.

Related Articles

Obesity, You Can Beat It

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.2 Comments
obesity-epidemic rates 2004
obesity-epidemic rates 2004

I was once a morbidly obese person.  Thank you God, the bonds of my obesity were literally eaten and walked off.  If you are obese or overweight, I am urging you to take a step today to change your life.  If you don’t, I can promise you that it will shorten your life by years.  Sure 15 or 20 extra pounds  isn’t going to impact your health as much as 100 pounds of extra fat will. However, that extra 20 pounds will, if you are consuming a nutrient poor diet and not getting enough exercise.

This week, I watched Losing it with Jillian Michaels. I try to watch it every week as well as the biggest loser when it is on. I am cheering hard for their success.  Jillian’s show gets down to the dynamics of family life and the effect obesity has on everyone; spouses, children, aunts and uncles, even neighbors and friends.  I will tell you, playing with my grand children is the greatest reward I could receive.  Before the weight loss I could only sit and watch them play.  People that know me will tell you I am not the type of person to sit and watch. My weight loss has given me my life back.  Obesity is a type of imprisonment within your own body.  I f you are overweight or obese, I want to empower you with the knowledge to lose all the weight you want to lose and be healthy!

Do you know what the number one killer in America is? How about lifestyle choices which include diet and activity . This includes heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure.

If you are overweight I want you to know that you can lose that weight and keep it off. I know you are shaking your head saying I have tried and tried and tried again and I lose some weight and then life bucks me off the diet and I gain it back. I went though those thoughts too and tried a lot of diets. I literally dieted my way to almost 450 pounds. I have walked in your shoes and I have succeeded at losing over 200 pounds and kept it off.  I must tell you, I enjoy eating today more that ever.

Please listen to me, believe me,  you can lose the extra weight you are carrying. A lot of my clients use the same excuses I did.  I blamed my genes, my ex-wife,  my schedule, stress from work even bad luck.  Genetics only go so far. Science has shown repeatedly  that our lifestyle choices can trump genetics a majority of the time.  We all have people, schedules and jobs that stress us. There are no acceptable excuses to neglect our health.

There is no shortcut or pill for weight loss.  If there was, I would have found it.  Surgery should always be the last option. You will have to make huge sacrifices once you have your stomach stabled or banded. The answer is to discovery why you have gained the weight and then to correct it.  You must learn how to eat and live a healthy lifestyle.

How to get started, read this document and understand that just reading a manual or word document isn’t the answer. We must tailor the information in this document for your unique situation. I promise, you will not be hungry or deprived any foods.

It requires a warriors attitude! You must declare war on your fat! You must make slow gradual changes and understand it takes time. We want you to lose no more than 2 pounds per week.

If you want my help just ask .

Healthy Wishes

Wally’s Daily Dose