Tag: weight loss

What Can a Healthy Lifestyle and Diet Do for You?

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC1 Comment

Veggies in a blender

Has your health been going down instead of up? Do you want to change it? Hopefully you want better health with a higher quality of life.  I see people everyday that want better health but just are not willing to make the change.  Having better health is not difficult it. It requires you to make a few changes.

As we go through life we hit health challenges of all sorts. For some it is specific disease and illness like heart disease and cancer. For others is it obesity and obesity related health issues such a diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even arthritis. Or for some it may be hormonal, thyroid and anxiety related issues.

With this being said, a few common threads

1) we are all prone to genetic health tendencies both good and bad

2) we have all been exposed to thousands of pounds of excito-toxins (external toxins in our environment)

3) as we have grown up most us have eaten body polluters not as much body cleansers (hopefully all of us have now switched to body cleansers)

4) most Americans are nutrient bankrupt leaving the body with no materials to heal, repair or even function adequately.

When you add these 4 points together you create a recipe for really bad health!

So how do we fix these issues?  A diet very rich in veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, and very limited select grains.

What science has proven. A diet rich in a variety of colorful foods provides the body with:Family on bicycle

  • DNA repairing potential,
  • a higher number of cancer killing cells,
  • slower aging
  • a higher functioning immune system,
  • a reduction in chronic inflammation,
  • support for normal blood sugar levels ,
  • support for healthier blood fat levels,
  • a substantial reduction if heart disease
  • a reduction in stomach, intestinal and colon cancer
  • flexible and healthier blood vessels
  • healthier brain function
  • better bone health
  • enhanced liver function (better detoxify ability)
  • better eye sight potential
  • weight loss
  • more energy
  • Reduction in stroke

To maximize your health include every color of the food rainbow every day in your meals and your smoothies!! For example; I make a large smoothie with coconut water, carrots, avocado, chard, broccoli, red bell pepper, cucumber, cantaloupe, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cayenne, rice bran, blue berries, dark cherries, and a splash of Braggs apple cedar vinegar and sweetened with raw honey and stevia. This is a powerful rejuvenating smoothie!!  You can divide this in half for two blasts if needed, half of the ingredients in one blast and the other half in the next blast.

Its even more powerful with Vive Energy Spice mixed in!!

If you want better health eat real foods, move more, relax more often and drink plenty of pure water, it can’t be simpler.

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

 

Diet and Get Fatter! Part II

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHCLeave a comment
The Transformation Formula!
The Transformation Formula!

If I don’t diet how do I lose the weight? You are going to do this by taking the focus off of the weight and put it on your lifestyle.

Really, and this may sound way out there, your weight or obesity is not about your weight or obesity!! It is only a symptom of unhealthy living. Just like most diabetes, high cholesterol, arthritis, and other health issues, they are typically symptoms of unhealthy living.

So, how do you fix this? Today, make a solid commitment to change your health. Once you have a firm unrelenting commitment then you simply begin to make healthy choices and move more. The only plan you need to make is a commitment to making healthier choices in your life.  I emphasize firm commitment because many people make a commitment but once they get past the honeymoon phase (about 2 weeks) their commitment begins to waver and then it fades away like a setting sun only to be seen again next year.  This means you are going to dedicate time to learning what is healthy living and what is death promoting. Knowledge is power. Tomorrow, put the tips below in place and start living your life to it’s fullest again.

  • Stop dieting
  • Begin to add healthy foods to each meal. Every day add a veggie or fruit until you are eating at least 7 servings of veggies and 3 servings of fruits per day. This will leave less room for the unhealthy foods on your plate.
  • Most people get overweight because they over or under consume calories. If you eat a healthy diet you seldom have to worry about calories.  If you are a lady aim for 1500 to 1800 calories per day. Males should aim for 1800 to 2200 calories per day.  Never, ever eat less than 1200 calories per day unless under the supervision of a qualified health professional.
  • It takes some planning to make sure you have healthy foods at home and at work. Remove all the tempting bad foods!
  • Eat 6 times per day in smaller quantities. This helps stabilize blood sugar which will cut cravings.
  • Healthy living means at least 80% of the time you are going to eat healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans and whole grains.
  • You don’t have to deprive yourself of anything, it’s about moderation. The other 20% of the time you can indulge in some of your other not so healthy favorites as a treat or reward.
  • Vegetables and fruits offer most of their health benefits when eaten raw.
  • If you are a meat eater then you would also include wild caught cold-water fish, free-range eggs and poultry.
  • The more plant foods that are in your diet the healthier you will be and the better your opportunity for weight loss and health success.
  • The more colorful the foods the more antioxidant and nutrient benefits they can give.
  • Drink plenty of pure water. The general rule is to drink 1/2 your body’s weight in fluid ounces of water.  If you weight 200 pounds then you need 100 ounces of total fluid intake.
  • Exercise at least 6 days a week. Start slowly and work up to it. See your doctor to get their approval before exercising
  • Fire up that NutriBullet at least twice a day and fill it with a wide assortment of real living foods. Even use it to replace a meal and snacks. Add Vive to it for a super nutrition explosion.

Summary

Stop dieting, eat healthier 80% of the time, eat 5 to 6 times per day, move more, eat enough but not too few calories, drink plenty of water,

Living foods create life and dead foods speed up disease, illness and death. I pick life-giving foods every day, will you?

Healthy blessings
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.

Related articles

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, Natures Wonder Food!!

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC9 Comments
Natures Wonder Food
Natures Wonder Food

The old saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away” has some truth to it. Apples have powerful health promoting properties that are supercharged when the apples are turned into apple cider vinegar.

Raw apple cider vinegar (ACV) is one of the oldest foods used for its medicinal properties. Most ACV you by in your grocery story is going to be pasteurized. The pasteurization process destroys many of the beneficial health properties of raw ACV. Raw ACV is cloudy and at the bottom you can still see the mother which is the dark, cloudy gelatinous substance formed from naturally occurring pectin and apple residues. The mother is the most nutritious part so shake the ACV well before pouring.

ACV not only adds flavor to dishes but also offers a multitude of health benefits.  Apple cider vinegar has many vital minerals and trace elements such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, chlorine, sodium, sulfur, copper, iron, silicon and fluorine that are vital for a healthy body.

Raw ACV is made by fermenting apples into cider and them fermenting the cider into vinegar.  I love adding ACV to my smoothies and to my greens. It adds just enough tart with a little sweet to put a little zing in the taste!

Are all ACV’s the same? NO!!!

The best apple cider vinegar is made from cold-pressed, organically grown whole apples which has the “mother of vinegar,” and is not pasteurized. I recommend Bragg’s Raw Apple Cider Vinegar available at any health food store or in the health food section of your everyday grocery store.

What are the health benefits? ACV may;

  • Reduce sinus infections and sore throats
  • Alkaline the body
  • Improve stomach acid levels providing more complete digestion and absorption of nutrients
  • Destroy bad fungi and bacteria in our digestive system due to its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties
  • Blunt the rise of blood sugar if taken with the meal
  • Balance high cholesterol
  • Improve skin conditions such as acne
  • Protect against food poisoning
  • Fight allergies in both humans and animals
  • Prevent muscle fatigue after exercise
  • Strengthen the immune system
  • Increase stamina
  • Increase metabolism which promotes weight loss
  • Improve digestion and cure constipation
  • Alleviate symptoms of arthritis
  • Prevents bladder stones and urinary tract infections
  • Reduces the pain from gall stones
  • Dissolve uric acid formation around joints improving gout symptoms

Other Benefits

When used as part of a hot vinegar pack, apple cider vinegar has tremendous pain-relieving qualities. Hot vinegar packs ease the pain of gall stone attacks, kidney stones, intestinal cramping and colic, menstrual cramps and pelvic pain. It involves applying a heated mixture of apple cider vinegar and water to the area of pain, typically the pelvis or abdomen. Talk to your health professional about how to do this and when it is indicated.
Apple cider vinegar can be added to soaked grains and legumes  to reduce phytic acid. Phytic acid is found in grains and legumes and inhibits the absorption of essential nutrients, such as magnesium, iron, and calcium. So the next time you make rice or bulgar wheat, consider soaking it overnight with  water and apple cider vinegar to maximize your nutrient intake!

I drink raw ACV everyday in a mixture of pure raw honey, organic aloe vera juice and pure organic cranberry juice. I also add it my smoothies and love that tart taste it provides.

If you want to maximize your health potential make raw apple cider vinegar a part of your daily diet.

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

Vive! The Difference Maker in Nutritional Health!

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC2 Comments
Vive! Nutrition Made Simple
Vive! Nutrition Made Simple

Over three years ago when I decided to formulate a product like Vive!, I had many criteria that had to be met for the project to get beyond the discussion stage.  I was determined to develop a product that delivered, what I believe are, the most important  seven key areas of nutrition required for vibrant health.

My strict requirements included:

  • Vive! had to have the highest quality ingredients available (many supplement manufacturers use inferior ingredients that are not absorbed very well, if at all)
  • Must be adequate as a meal replacement
  • Vive! had to be whole food based
  • Vive! had to fulfill a wide range of nutritional requirements. (Vitamins, minerals, enzymes, essential fatty acids, fiber, heart healthy fats, antioxidants, prebiotics and probiotics)
  • Vive! had to have an almost perfect ratio of carbohydrates, fats and proteins (to make sure nutrients were absorbed quickly and the body could use them.)
  • Must be a low sugar product
  • Must have no preservatives
  • Must have a good source of healthy fiber
  • Must have high quality, absorbable protein
  • Vive! must be one product that meets most nutritional requirements for most people. (I was tired of having to take many different products to get the nutrition I needed)
  • It had to be in a delivery format that was easy and enjoyable. (I wanted to look forward to taking Vive! so it had to taste good and be very simple to use.)
  • It had to be affordable. (There is a delicate balance of quality and nutritional goals and keeping a product affordable for everyone)

It took over 3 years and 3 versions formulating the perfect product.   Today, Vive! is available in two delicious flavors that meet all of our goals and delivers  life changing nutritional benefits to our customers.

What really sets Vive! apart from the competition is our quality.

Many supplement manufacturers use cheaper and less absorbable ingredients. They do this because the high quality nutrients cost more.

A few examples of our quality commitment:

  • Vitamin C comes in multiple forms in foods. Most supplements give you only ascorbic acid, which is synthetic Vitamin C, and only one form of it. Vive! provides  Vitamin C from food, insuring you get all types of Vitamin C.  Nature gives us multiple types of Vitamin C so don’t you think our bodies need all types?
  • The Vitamin B12 we use in Vive! is Hydroxocobalamin and Methylcobalamin which is the form your body prefers for Vitamin B12. Most supplement manufacturers use the synthetic version of B12, cynocobalamine, which is poorly absorbed and also very cheap. It actually has a cyanide molecule attached to it. Who wants that?
  • In Vive! we give you all eight forms of Vitamin E. Most supplements only give you one form of synthetic Vitamin E. This is a big difference because studies show that taking the isolated synthetic version of Vitamin E can potentially cause heart problems. No studies show any adverse health issues with naturally occurring Vitamin E.

In Vive! we use a base of foods that are real super foods –  foods that are abundant with nutrition. Your body absorbs nutrition from food better than in an isolated or synthetic form.  These foods provide thousands of health promoting compounds and nutrients. They are rich in cell protecting antioxidants like Co-Q-10, alpha lipoic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, anthocyanins, carotenoids, flavonoids, and rich in enzyme compounds like gamma oryzanol (builds muscle), Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH). SOD and GSH are the most powerful protectors inside each of your cells. They are the cells defenders!

To really give Vive! that extra nutritional punch and weight loss potential, we added green coffee bean extract (which studies have shown to increase fat loss), banana leaf extract (to support healthy blood sugar levels), and the herb coleus forskohli (to support healthy fat loss).

Vive! can also be used in so many different nutritional roles. Vive! is anti-inflammatory, is healthy for our digestive system, is great for building muscle, and improves sports performance and recovery. Vive! is great for weight loss because it controls hunger, feeds the body very important nutrients needed to burn fat, and helps support healthy blood sugar levels. Vive! is also great for children and parents with busy schedules that need their nutrition in a hurry.

In literally 2 minutes you can mix Vive!, drink in all of your nutritional needs before leaving for school or work, and live your day knowing that your body is well fed!

Vive! It’s as easy as 1-2-3!  Shake It – Drink It – Live It!

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Vive! Developer

President & CEO

WebND

This product has not been evaluated by the FDA and it is not intended as a treatment, diagnosis or cure for any illness or disease. 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

The Biggest Loser Methods, Right or Wrong?

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC2 Comments

biggestloser-300x0First let me say I have nothing but the highest respect for the contestants, trainers and staff on the Biggest Loser. They work very hard.

I am a Nutritional Consultant and weight loss is my specialty. I once weighed close to 440 pounds. It seems every time, before the next season of The Biggest Loser comes on I get a little nervous and anxious.  I know what its like to lose 200+ pounds and keep it off. But I did it over 2.5 years. I exercised everyday for 2.5 years and haven’t stopped yet. I get nervous for the contestants because they have no clue what they have signed up for in this show. Yes, you can see how hard they work out but that is an edited one or two-hour show. That doesn’t cover the 6 hours of exercise they do every day. It’s a lot different when you are working out with the trainers in that gym.  The pain or deprivation becomes very real. I just hope in the end they get it off and keep it off! I am shouting and pulling for them with all I have.

Certainly they have the best of everything. Personal trainers dedicated to them 24/7, on call medical staff, physical exams all during the program, a nutritionist to guide their diets daily. So I should be very happy for them and the awareness the Biggest Loser brings to America right? And I am thrilled for the contestants and the attention being brought to the weight issues in America, I have issues with the program. So what is wrong with the program?

My Issues with The Biggest Loser

This puts enormous stress from public scrutiny on the contestants. Did they lose the weight and are they going to keep it off? Where ever they go their behavior will forever be watched.

I do not agree with putting children through this type of show. The stress is too much. They should be taught how to live healthy from parents and their school systems who have been trained by qualified health professionals.

Its an unhealthy way to lose weight.

The show is helping the contestants and others lose weight but send the wrong message with it. The weight loss is too quick. The person watching from home can’t lose weight this way. If they try those methods they are going to possible cause bodily harm or set themselves up for a big failure making it even more difficult to lose weight in the future. The average person at home now wants to lose 40 pounds the first month. I see the effects of the show in my practice. The overweight and obese expect Biggest Loser results at home, which is impossible.

It’s a very difficult transition for the contestant from the ranch to their home environment. It is going to be difficult to keep up that weight loss once they leave the Biggest Loser campus. The show is providing some level of support once they are home but is it enough? It has to be a huge adjustment going from a life dedicated to working out with personal trainers, nutritionist and medical staff on call and all you worry about is losing enough weight to stay on the show.  This is enormous pressure. They lose all of those resources.

What happens to the person that badly needs to lose the weight once they are kicked off. Is there support at home to tech them how to lose the weight safely and in a healthy way?

Losing weight is about nutrition, diet and lifestyle knowledge.  A person should never try to lose more than ten (10) pounds per month. A lifestyle change is what it takes. A lifestyle last forever a diet is temporary.

My Tips

Just my opinion.

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

Wally’s Transformation – The Real Story

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHCLeave a comment

I am often asked about my story. How did I accomplish so much weight loss and do it without any surgery or medication?  My life change is a miracle for not only me, but for many others who now benefit from the blessings that were given to me.

This is how my miracle happened.

WallyFatIn the fall of 2005 I weighed somewhere in the range of 450+ pounds.  For nearly two decades, I “yo-yo” dieted my way from a 230 pound athlete to an obese, unhealthy person. You might be wondering how this could have happened.  I, too, wondered every time I looked into the mirror.  And, I kept hoping that the reflection I saw was not me.  Each and every time I started a diet, I would lose some weight, but, it always returned and carried an added penalty of ten or more pounds.  It got to the point that I realized dieting was going to kill me.  I knew that I didn’t want to be obese or even overweight any longer, and I prayed daily to God, asking him to deliver me from the prison of physical bondage.

A few years earlier my wife developed Fibromyalgia.  It developed into a severe case and she was unable to work.  It tortured me to see this normally energetic, hard working, life-loving person suffering so much, yet, there was nothing I could do to help her.  I felt totally hopeless.  She was seeing three different doctors, was taking seven different medications, and continued to grow more ill.   I prayed relentlessly for a solution to her Fibromyalgia during the fall of 2006.
Miraculously, two things happened simultaneously.  First, in early November of 2006, I was diagnosed with diabetes and prescribed medication.  After reading the warning that included a disclaimer, “may cause death”, I was adamant that I was not going to take it.

Truthfully, I never thought I would get diabetes.  Through the years, my doctor had warned me that at my weight, it was only a matter of when, not if.  The diagnosis really scared me.  I literally didn’t eat for three days.  I already had high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and severe arthritis, skin conditions, lymphedema and rosacea.  Adding diabetes to the list of illnesses was unbearable.

At the same time, I began seeing a guy on TV selling a colon cleanse.  Ironically, every time I turned on the TV there he was.  On Saturday mornings I would get in my truck or car and I would hear the same guy doing an infomercial on the radio.  “OK God,” I thought, “I get the message loud and clear.  My wife needs a colon cleanse”.  I decided that if that is what she needed, I was going to get the very best product available.  I did my research, talked with several providers and finally, I found a product that sounded just right.  I called and spoke with a very sweet lady named Rena.  After explaining the details of my wife’s ailments, Rena didn’t want to sell me the cleanse.  She felt it might be too intense.  Instead, Rena recommended a different product to boost my wife’s nutrition, and she explained it was not only a better option to begin with – the product was lower cost, as well.  When’s the last time you had someone undersell you?  It felt right, so I placed the order and was excited!  I just knew this was going to help my wife feel better.  I wanted to surprise my wife, and didn’t tell her about my research or the order.  When the package arrived on Friday, I explained the “surprise”.  Oh, was she surprised… however, not in a good way.  She was dead set against trying it.   She had already determined that this was her life and she was tired of all of the previous failures.  You see, we had tried many different treatments (all medical) and none had worked at all.  She commented, “What makes you think something natural can help me when medicine and doctors can’t?”  I didn’t see that coming, and my answer that I had prayed and God led me to this product, wasn’t sufficient.   She didn’t “buy” my explanation one bit.  However, all weekend a little voice kept telling me to take the new nutritional product.  On Monday I started taking it as directed.

By the end of the first week I noticed I felt better.  By the end of the second week my cravings were going away.  (I actually discovered this by accident.  In my office I had a drawer that I kept my stash of snacks.  On Friday, I had to get in the drawer for something else, and I was shocked that all of my honey buns and Snicker bars were still there.  I honestly hadn’t realized I hadn’t eaten one snack all week!)  That was a real revelation.  I couldn’t help but wonder what was happening to me.  The following week, my energy level really increased, so much so, that I just had to go for a walk.  The first walk I had taken in years!  Though only about one hundred yards, it was terribly painful and difficult.  I had developed severe arthritis in my left knee and ankle.  However, I was very determined to get my life back.  I was beginning to see a ray of light and some hope, and I was not going to let hope slip away.  Later that afternoon I walked again, and I repeated it every day, increasing the distance gradually, with each walk.   Within two weeks I went from being able to walk only 100 yards to walking 1 mile!!!  Within one month my diabetes dropped to almost normal levels.  During this time my taste began to change.  My desire for the “bad foods” was diminishing.  Additionally, I had an incredibly strong desire to learn all I could about nutrition and natural health, which I am certain God instilled within me. I began to read and study every book and article I could get my hands on.  Within three months I was back at night school, studying and learning nutrition.

During the early days, my diet began to change to a more plant based diet with a lot less sugar, breads and fatty meats.  I continued walking several times every day. Thankfully, I had a very understanding manager who encouraged me to walk while working, since I was always available by phone!  I gradually worked my way up to walking six to eight miles daily.  In fact, during the first 18 months, the only exercise I did was walking.  The weight was melting off and my health was improving dramatically.

What I now know, and what I want you to clearly know and understand through my experience, is that while I had been over-feeding myself, I was starving nutritionally.  The combination of nutrition starvation and a high intake of refined sugars and breads caused the cravings that I could not control.  The intake of a good nutritional product combined with a nutritious diet gave me the nutrition my body desperately required, and served as the catalyst that my body needed to change.  I continued to take that product for a while and then began adding other supplements to it to boost my nutrition even more.  My wife noticed the positive changes going on, and soon joined me on the quest for a healthier lifestyle.  I’m delighted to tell you that within the next year she was 90% better.  Nutrition works!

You might believe that my doctor was very happy for my discovery, right?  Not quite. For years he always pushed gastric bypass surgery.  He never once recommended changing my diet or nutrition as an alternative approach.  I was so excited about the changes in my health, and I couldn’t wait to tell him about my discovery.  He was not impressed.  His comment was, “Well, you are walking more so that’s why you are losing weight.”  (While that was true, I couldn’t have walked before because of my aches and pains.)  He added, “Your diabetes is better because of the medication.” I replied, “No, Doctor, I never took the medication.” My doctor continued, “Well, then it’s because you changed your diet.” I explained, “Yes, because the nutrition helped reduce my cravings.” Still a doubting Thomas, the doctor stated, “Nutrition isn’t going to help you, it won’t hurt you, but, it doesn’t help anything.”  He couldn’t have been more wrong.

I explained to my doctor that I wasn’t going to change one aspect of my new lifestyle.  He shrugged, and wrote me a prescription for blood pressure medication and another for my rosacea.  Over the next year my need for blood pressure medications went away.  I have a yearly physical to make sure I am staying healthy.

As of this writing, I have no adverse health issues.  I am not taking any medications.  I have lost almost 220 pounds of fat and gained about 20 pounds of muscle.  I exercise everyday but Sunday.  Exercise is a critical part of being healthy.  My body is now able to perform just about any task I ask of it.

 

My routine is simple.

I eat healthy 90% of the time and I indulge 10% of the time, meaning, I can eat anything I want.  I have two healthy smoothies every day, a couple of healthy snacks and one healthy meal.  And, I exercise at least 1 hour six days per week. Now I bicycle for 6 to 10 hours and 120 to 150 miles every week! What a turn around in health!!

WallyThinA concept is born.  I had to make the transition easier for others.

All during this time, I was not satisfied with having to take so many different nutritional products.  Not only was it confusing and time consuming, I believed that there had to be a better way to get the nutrition our bodies needed.  Today it is impossible through diet alone to get all of the nutrition we need, because our foods do not have the nutrition they had 50 years ago.  Everyone needs extra supplementation.  My concept had to include only one or two products, and they must be very easy to take.  I believed that if I could change my lifestyle, then I could help others alter theirs, as well.   I could overcome a major reason most American are so unhealthy, because of nutrient starvation.

After completing my education and receiving my certification, I began helping other people make changes to their diet and lifestyle, but I continually ran into a major obstacle.  Nutrition supplementation was confusing and difficult. Everyone that is changing from the Standard American Diet (SAD) is nutrient bankrupt and requires supplementation to overcome their nutrient deficiency. We must increase a body’s nutrient stores to control cravings and improve adverse conditions.  The nutrients make changing one’s diet much easier. Our tastes begin to change when our body’s nutritional stores begin reaching levels of adequacy in the body.  Raising nutrient stores in the body allows people to have better control over their food choices.

Over the years I have completed extensive research, and tried hundreds of different nutritional products, and not one of them fulfilled my goals.  Some were close nutritionally, but either didn’t taste good or were confusing to take, or a combination of both undesirable factors.

I began in earnest to make my nutritional dream product a reality.  This was a major undertaking, but I knew it could be done. It took three years of development to accomplish, but we did it.  Two important goals of the product were to fulfill very strict and demanding nutritional objectives, and be pleasing to the palate.  Our goals were difficult to accomplish, since traditionally, these goals have been on the opposite ends of possibilities.  It’s very difficult to make a product that is incredibly nutritious taste good, in fact, it’s  nearly impossible. I have to admit I wasn’t sure it could be done. There are many viable products on the market, but they tend to fall into one of two categories:   very nutritious and taste bad, or taste great and offer limited nutrition. We spent six months alone just perfecting the texture and taste. I knew if it didn’t taste great and the texture didn’t feel right, people would not take it.
Introducing Vive!  Weight Loss and Health as Easy as 1-2-3

Today our new nutritional product Vive! is not only incredibly nutritious, but is enjoyable to drink.  It provides the essential areas of nutrition your body needs.  Vive! provides vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, enzymes, fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, protein, carbohydrates and antioxidants. Vive! has just about the perfect ratio of carbohydrates, fats and proteins to facilitate better absorption of the nutrients. We turned Vive! into a drink mix that is so versatile you can make it a drink, a shake, a pudding and ice cream, too! And as importantly, it is the best tasting nutritional drink you are going to find, guaranteed.

Vive! can be used as a meal or snack replacement and is perfect for weight loss.  It’s great for moms, athletes, kids, and senior citizens.  Truly, Vive! is for anyone wanting the best in nutrition and optimal health.

Vive! is simple.  No more pills, capsules or spoons of supplements, just two shakes a day, with one healthy meal and several healthy snacks, and you will be on your way to a healthier life.
Vive for Life
Shake It, Drink It, Live It!

http://www.viveshake.com

Healthy Wishes
Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

www.wallybishop.com

Lose the Weight Forever, New Years Resolution!

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC8 Comments

new years resolutionsIt’s that time of year again. Time for all of us to make New Years Resolutions. Almost everyone has some form of health improvement on the list. Losing weight tops the list because almost 70% of Americans are overweight. Next might be adopting a healthy lifestyle so you can lose weight, keep it off and improve your health. One result I can promise you is; If you are not motivated enough and serious enough about your goal the chances of achieving it 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, 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 “ 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)  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. You can use our daily calorie calculator to help you understand how many calories a day you need to eat.

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 bingeing.

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, beans and nuts and seeds. Most 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.

9)  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.

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 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.

I want you to have great success and I do not want weight loss to not be on next years list unless you’re continuing on the journey. 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 healthy.

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.

Related articles

Exercise, Lighten Up and Get Fit

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC2 Comments
Family Having Fun Exercising!

Everyone that needs to lose weight wants to do it the easiest and fastest way. I certainly wanted that as I started my weight loss journey. I sought out every possible means to get rid of the fat other than changing my lifestyle.

Where does exercise fit into weight loss? Well, exercise provides many health benefits beyond weight loss but today lets just talk weight loss and exercise.

My clients vary in nutrition and weight loss knowledge when they first come to see me, which is to be expected. Most think they can exercise two or three times per week and lose weight, it’s not going to happen unless you have been completely sedentary and obese. If you are obese and sedentary any exercise at this point is going to pick your metabolism up and burn more calories. So, if you are not overeating and moving, an obese person may lose weight while exercise two or three times per week.

However, the average overweight or obese person needs activity at least 5 days per week to pump their metabolism up. If they were exercising more and eating healthier they wouldn’t need to lose the weight! I promise, if you exercise for a minimum of 60 minutes per day, 5 days every week and eat within your calorie budget YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT!  You see, while really healthy foods provide the nutrition needed to turn fat into energy, the exercise is the fire to consume the fat. It takes both to maximize the fat lose. If you are just beginning to exercise take it slow and get your doctors approval before starting any exercise program.

Exercise tips

  • If you want to lose weight you need to exercise for a minimum of 1 hour at least 5 days per week. You might be able to do it with less exercise time but the approach I recommend will maximize your weight loss. You may hear that you can do high intensity or interval exercise for 20 minutes 3 times per week and lose weight. If you are moderately overweight and in good physical health, yes it can work. However, once you get down to the last 30 pounds and you have exercised for a while and are fit, then high intensity-interval (anaerobic) training along with aerobic and muscle-building exercise is needed to remove the remaining, unnecessary fat.
  • Exercising multiple times per day is very beneficial.   Three 20 minute walks will keep your metabolism going longer than walking for one hour.
  • Vary your exercise intensity. If walking, take 30 seconds and walk at a faster pace, then walk at your normal pace for a few minutes, then repeat throughout the walk. This also applies to any exercise type such as bicycling or running. You can also increase your intensity by selecting routes that have hills for you to walk, run or bike on.
  • Do different types of exercise at different times. Our body adapts to our routines very quickly and will become very efficient. Keep your body guessing by doing your exercise at different times or do a different type of exercise.
  • To maximize your weight loss you need to engage in aerobic, anaerobic and muscle-building and toning exercises.
  • Many people are turning to cross fit exercise programs. Cross fit includes a variety of exercises that promote a broader range of fitness and reduce the risk of injury from exercise.

My favorite exercise is bicycling. You can make bicycling as intense or as leisurely as you want. It is the perfect exercise (my opinion) because it is very low impact on the joints, can provide aerobic, anaerobic and strength training all in one session. It can be done every day.  And it is fun with friends and family!

Exercise can be so fun that you can over do it. Pace yourself, drink adequate fluids with electrolytes and get plenty of rest in between exercise activities.

All exercise is good exercise. Do different exercises and make them fun and enjoyable.

Healthy Wishes for  Lighter and Healthier Body

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Nutritionist

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

Weight Loss, Why Is It So Difficult?

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC5 Comments
Lose Weight and Build Health at the Same Time!!

This question has been asked and will continue to be asked for ever, I think.  So, how do we honestly answer such a broad question. Let’s face the facts, not many people lose a significant amount of weight and keep it off.

The weight loss market is a multi-billion dollar industry and although there are many people and companies developing great products and methods that really care about helping us get the weight off and keep it off many more just want your hard-earned money. But, this is a much more complex situation than the products and systems available to us and if we use them or not.

Everyone wants the magic pill or solution so they do not have to change their diet or lifestyle. Sorry, it just isn’t going to happen. Even people who undergo gastric bypass will sometimes gain it back because they have not fixed the problem causing the weight gain.  Change is a result from an action you do. You must make changes.

The Truth

Losing weight is the easy part, yes it is. Your weight is controlled by the number of calories you consume over time. You can lose weight eating cheese burgers as long as you do not over consume calories. However cheese burgers will not be a healthy way to lose weight. If you eat more than you body burns (needs) then the excess calories will turn to fat. However there are many parts of the equation that can throw the wrench in the mix. The realty is much different!

Energy Balance

Most people do not know how many calories their body requires.  There is formula, however, I highly suggest your read my earlier blog about calories and energy balance. Click here.  How can you manage your calories if you do not know how many you need?

Behavior

Here is where part of the complexity comes in, your body’s calorie needs can be very low if you are eating a nutrient poor diet, not moving (exercising) enough, have been yo-yo dieting and have been under consuming calories.  Also, certain medications and illnesses can cause a drop in your metabolism that will make it more difficult to lose weight.  These illness and need for medications are most often caused by poor diet and a lack of exercise and sometimes genetics. However genetics can be overcome most of the time. By having a low-calorie need for your metabolism the foods you eat turn to fat stores when you eat more than you need.

Stress

Stress is a big hormonal disruptor and increases the bodies output of cortisol and ghrelin. These build waist and hip fat and drive your appetite to eat more. You must find ways to lower your stress. Exercise is a great way to reduce stress. Other examples are Ti Chi, Yoga, walking, bicycling and swimming. Get outside and get some fresh air.

Sabotage by Food Manufacturers and regulatory agencies

Hopefully you know that when I say food manufacturing, the FOOD I am discussing is processed or refined. That is what food manufacturing does. You end up with a food like product that may have only a little real food and little if any nutritional and health benefit and foods that may be in their natural form like white rice but has lost most of its nutritional content.  Most food manufacturers are more concerned with profits than your health. It’s obvious, they will use any FDA approved ingredient in the food manufacturing process regardless of what non-biased health experts say about the health impact of the ingredient.  Refined and processed foods are a major cause of illness in our country. Just remember the longer a foods shelf life, the shorter it can make your life.

Sugar

Sugar is the evil food. It is addicting, seductive, taste great and causes complete havoc to your hormonal, neurological and immune systems. If you don’t avoid and limit simple and refined sugar out of your diet it will slowly bring about disease and ultimately death.  Sugar comes in many forms and names, beware the food manufacturers like to hide it.

All of the conditions or situations I just mentioned cause things to happen in your body that make it more difficult to lose weight. They are all stressors on the body creating chronic inflammation which causes hormonal imbalances.   These specific  hormonal imbalances cause cravings, a drop in metabolism and a build up of fat around the middle of our body. This situation becomes a self-perpetuating condition. The fat build up of fat around the midsection disrupts hunger regulation by interfering with three primary hormones that help us regulate the need to eat. These hormones are ghrelin (increases appetite), leptin (signals the brain the body does not need food, its satisfied) and insulin which controls blood sugar levels. To much insulin circulating and your hunger increases.  If you do not burn sugar (glucose) for energy the body has to store it as fat.

If we add these together we get a formula that keeps people from keeping weight off forever.  People do not balance calories, they eat unhealthy foods, the do not manage their stress, they eat way too much sugar, they do not move or exercise enough.

What is the solution?

If you will integrate as many of these keys of health into your life, you will not only lose weight, you will gain in health. And you can keep both forever because this isn’t a diet, it’s a lifestyle.

Of utmost importance is developing a passion for a better and healthier life. The passion will get you through the difficult times.

10 Keys to Wellness

  1. Eat from Mother Nature as often as possible, avoiding refined and processed foods and simple sugars. Your diet should be primarily vegetables then fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds and sprouted grains. Raw vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds are even healthier.  Beans must be cooked.
  2. Reduce and learn to manage stress. Stress is the biggest influence to our health.
  3. Eliminate or limit the intake of animal foods (they are very acidic to the body).
  4. Avoid stimulants such as caffeine as much as possible. They are body stressors.
  5. Avoid or limit your alcohol intake.
  6. Avoid cigarettes and second hand smoke.
  7. Stay hydrated; drink plenty of fresh pure water daily.
  8. Get adequate time outside. Sunshine provides the best source of Vitamin D. Even when under cloud cover the ultraviolet rays penetrate and nourish our bodies. Always remember more is not always better. Just 15 to 20 minutes under the daylight sky 3 times per week will provide a lot of Vitamin D.
  9. Our body requires activity to be healthy. Exercise is vitally important.
  10.  Balance your life with spiritual and societal involvement.

Four Principles of Wellness

  1. 1.     Nutrition is king, king, king! Nutrition is 300 to 400% more important than exercise is to your state of wellness.  You can’t handle stress or get the benefits of exercise without great nutrition.
  2. 2.     Stress is a killer and will undermine all attempts to reach a state of MAXIMUM LIFE.
  3. 3.     Physical activity is critical to reach a place of wellness. You cannot have a MAXIMUM LIFE without exercise in some form.
  4. 4.     Spiritual and social fulfillment is critical for a state of wellness, happiness and having a MAXIMUM LIFE.

Be passionate about your health and do not let anyone undermine your success.

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.

Intermittent Fasting, What Is It and Are There Benefits?

Wallace Bishop BC-FNC, BC-HHP, INHC2 Comments
Results of a LeanGains protocol Intermittent Fasting Practitioner.

Have you heard of Intermittent Fasting?

Well, Intermittent Fasting (IF) is becoming increasingly popular.  It is a method for loosing fat and building muscle. Most people practicing IF are really into fitness and a very lean look, however you can also use If to accelerate fat loss and start faster muscle growth for the average person.

I see IF mentioned often in other health blogs.  Popular health professionals like Dr. Mercola are praising the practice for its health benefits. People have been fasting for religious and medical reasons and for natural health benefits. It is not my goal to give you a dissertation on everything about IF, there are plenty of sources providing that info. I want to bring it to your attention, give you the expert sources and give you enough information to see if it something that you feel may help you.

I do not think IF is for everyone. If you are obese I do not recommend starting with IF. I recommend a different protocol until you have learned how to eat a healthy diet, manage calories and are able to exercise self-control, then it might be for you. There are medical conditions in which care must be given to food and nutrient intake. If you have existing health issues, consult with your Doctor to make sure it is OK for your health to practice IF .

There are several different versions of IF. IF is going without food for an extended period beyond the normal time between meals. IF does not include going without water or electrolytes. Water and electrolytes are very important to stay properly hydrated. IF is typically abstaining from food for 12 to 36 hours.  Optimally, the fast is 16 hours. It just depends on the program you decide to use and the health gains you are looking for.

One practitioners description that I think is very easy to understand

“Remember the goal with IF is not about eating nothing (or as people would say “starving yourself” ) to lose weight. It is about just taking a short break in eating to elicit natural hormonal and evolutionary genetic responses at the cellular level for better health (and weight loss does happen in the process). You will still eat that day and you are not doing this every day.”

Potential Benefits of IF

  • Weight loss
  • Accelerated fat loss
  • Muscle growth
  • HGH stimulation
  • Reduced cravings and hunger
  • Improved hormonal balance
  • Improved blood sugar balance
  • Improved cholesterol balance
  • Increased energy
  • Reduced inflammation
  • Reduced free radical damage (oxidation damage)
  • Reduction in risk of inflammatory and age related disease and illness.

Calorie Restriction vs IF

Studies with animals have shown that calories restriction of 25% or more can extend life by a decade or more. However there are negative side effects that can come from this much of a restriction everyday.  Calories contain nutrients which are important for health.  Consistent calorie restriction can result in muscle loss, fatigue, poor mental focus, hormone imbalances and lots of hunger.

IF is not about calories restriction as much as it is about the avoidance of food intake over longer periods of a 24 hour cycle. Eat in an 8 hour window and fast for 16 hours. The IF periods cause the body to make metabolic changes that bring positive benefits.

Nutrition

Nutrition intake is very important for any dietary routine. With IF it is even more important for positive results. You should really limit the intake of empty calories during the practice of IF. Empty calories mean the food is calorie rich but offers very little nutritional value. All refined and processed foods are considered empty calorie foods. Your diet should consist of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans and limited whole grains. For meat eaters you should have lean free range meats such as turkey breast and chicken breast and wild caught fish.

Exercise

Exercise is very important for weight loss, fat loss and overall health. You can exercise during IF. In fact the leading experts have specific exercise protocols for maximizing the benefits of IF.

Expert Resources

There are several experts on the subject with supporting websites and even books.  So if you decide to give IF a try there is a lot of support available from many sources.

The best resources for IF

LeanGains– Martin Berkhan it seems is the developer of IF. Many people have used his system and tweaked it to make their own system.

Brad Pilon – author of Eat Stop Eat

Andy Morgan

The IF Life

In Summary

IF can benefit anyone from a fitness freak that is into body building or a mom just wanting to get her bathing suit body back. It takes discipline, but not as much as you think. Once you do it for a few days the body adjust and IF naturally helps control hunger. My experience with IF although short has been positive. I feel energetic, lighter and muscle is building quicker.

Happy Health Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

FaceBook Fan Page

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