Advanced Protein Peptide Technology Turns Off the Fat Switch!

5 foods to avoid that you thought were healthy!

2011-05-31T11:43:00.000+10:00

5 Foods You Must Avoid

By Kevin DiDonato MS, CSCS, CES

Buying local, fresh foods from Farmers' markets, organic farms, or from your local grocer can go a long way for your budget and your health. However, not everyone can benefit or wants to shop healthy. Here are the top five foods to avoid or minimize in your diet for a longer, healthier life and a leaner waistline, followed by the top five foods that will give you amazing health benefits.

Food #1 Low-fat Foods

Food labeling can be very deceptive when it comes to food geared for weight loss. Low-fat foods are one of the products to be careful about. Just because the food says "low fat," does not mean the food is low calorie. Be sure to check the label and see how many calories are typically in the product. Most people associate low-fat foods with lower calories, so they tend to eat more. Do not be fooled by this deceptive labeling technique.

Food #2 Sugar-Free Foods

Sugar-free foods are geared to people with diabetes or at risk for developing diabetes. Sugar-free foods have low calories and no sugar.
However, look at the label under sugars, and you will see something interesting. Sugar-free foods tend to have sugar alcohols, which is an ingredient designed to give it sweetness. Most of the time, sugar alcohol is made from sugar products, which can lead to increased calories. Sugar alcohols carry between 1.5 and 4 calories per gram. Not only do you get extra calories, but you also can get cramping, bloating, and other gastrointestinal problems if you ingest too much.

Food #3 Commercial Smoothies

Normally, smoothies are associated with healthy eating. They have skim milk, fruit, and yogurt, so they are considered a great, healthy food. Some commercial smoothies, however, have many hidden calories from extra sugar.  Some smoothies are also made with ice cream, so you end up ballooning sugar, fat, and calorie content. Most of the time, the fruit in smoothies is blended up into fruit juice, or fruit juice is added.   This eliminates the fiber that is found in the skin of most fruits. My advice: Make your smoothies at home, and leave the commercial smoothies on the shelf.

Food #4 Commercial Yogurts

Yogurt, again, has been considered a natural health product containing calcium, probiotics, and other products that have been shown to be beneficial to our health. Look at the label again, and you might see something surprising.   When looking at the label, some of the first few ingredients in yogurt are different forms of sugar. All this extra sugar can lead to weight gain and stubborn, hard-to-lose body fat. So again, read the label and see exactly what is in the product before you choose the yogurt of choice.

Food #5 Sugary energy drinks including items with added vitamins and minerals

Energy drinks have been advertised as giving you that extra pick-me-up during the day, and a way to increase the intensity of your workouts. Energy drinks can contain high amounts of caffeine and sugar, which gives you that initial pick-me-up, but you end up crashing hard later. Also, some drinks that have added vitamins and minerals, can have loads of sugar as well. So stop and think before you drink and choose something lower in calories and sugar, maybe something like coffee or tea.

Source: Mike Geary
Certified Nutrition Specialist
Certified Personal Trainer
TruthAboutAbs.com

Too much Omega 6, not enough Omega 3 and what to do about it!

2009-12-02T22:47:00.001+11:00

Hi there,

Here is our latest look at another dietary trend that may be contributing to you hitting a 'fat loss plateau'.

Is too much of a good thing preventing you from shedding fat? Omega 6 essential fatty acids are an interesting group of fats because on one hand they are good for you, but on the other hand, too much can be bad for you. Unlike Omega 3 essential fatty acids, you can go overboard on Omega 6. An important point to remember, however, is that you always want to maintain the right balance of Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids.

Interestingly, nutritionists are now finding that imbalances of these essential fatty acids negate their healthful benefits! Most people obtain an excess of Omega 6 in their diets at the expense of Omega 3 fatty acids. For most people, getting more Omega 6 in their diet is not an issue. In fact, most people need to cut back on Omega 6 and increase their Omega 3 intake. The average western diet provides more than 10 times the proper amount of Omega-6. Most of us are getting too much of a good thing!

There seems to be some debate on what is the perfect balance of these essential fatty acids. Some researchers and nutritionists suggest that the perfect ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 is 1:4 (one Omega 3 to four Omega 6). Udo Erasmus, Ph.D., the world expert on oils in nutrition, says that in his practice working with people, the ratio that gives the best results consistently comes from oils blended to be richer in Omega 3 (but not too rich) than Omega 6. Some experts even suggest a ratio of between 1:1 and 4:1 as being optimal. What are we getting?

Most Western diets range between 10 and 20 to 1 in favor of Omega 6! This excess amount of Omega 6 is not good for your health and can cause a variety of health problems such as increased water retention, raised blood pressure and raised blood clotting and may also contribute to obesity. This dietary imbalance may explain the rise of such diseases as asthma, coronary heart disease, many forms of cancer, autoimmunity and neurodegenerative diseases, all of which are believed to stem from inflammation in the body. The imbalance between Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids may also contribute to depression, dyslexia, hyperactivity and even a tendency toward violence.

Food sources of omega 6:

Flax seed oil, Flax seed meal Flax seeds, Hemp seed oil, Hemp seeds, Grape seed Oil, Pumpkin seeds, Pumpkin oil, Sesame oil, Walnut oil, Pine nuts, Pistachio nuts, Sunflower seeds (raw), Olive oil, Olives, Borage oil, Evening primrose oil, Black currant seed oil, Chestnut oil, Wheatgerm oil, Corn, safflower, sunflower, soybean and cottonseed oils are also sources of linoleic acid, but are refined and may be nutrient-deficient as sold in stores.

Many margarines, salad dressings and mayonnaise are made from these Omega-6 rich oils. Also, many processed foods contain these and similar oils. Check the labels.

Chicken contains because of what they mostly fed. Beef will loaded with Omega 6 if they are fed on corn as opposed to grass (ask your butcher).

In general you can cut down on Omega-6 levels by reducing consumption of processed and fast foods and polyunsaturated vegetable oils (corn, sunflower, safflower, soy, and cottonseed, for example). At home, use extra virgin olive oil for cooking and in salad dressings. Eat more oily fish or take fish oil supplements, walnuts, flax seeds, and omega-3 fortified eggs. Your body and mind will thank you.

In summary there are two ways to go, especially if you are working through your latest ‘fat loss plateau’….

Firstly do a little audit on what you are eating that may be adding to your Omega 6 intake and secondly significantly increase your Omega 3 intake.

Given the potential toxic state of most fish we eat it is not wise to eat too much fish so you are left with finding a good, clean Omega 3 fish oil supplement. Take care with the cheapies in the supermarket and health food stores as these may have come from fish farms or SE Asian waters and can be mercury toxic. You will see that the clean ‘distilled and purified’ fish oils out there can be very expensive but we now have some good news… you are able to order Omega 3 at a rice that will pleasantly surprise you.

Cheers for now,

Lenny and Lorraine Eagles

10 Simple things to help you release more unwanted fat!

2009-11-04T11:02:00.003+11:00

We though it timely to put together a summary of all the 'fat loss' tips we have covered as well as couple on new things still be elaborated in coming newsletters. As you will see this is an unfolding journey for all of us. The best thing about many of these 'tips' is that they cost little or nothing to apply to your life. Any feedback is much appreciated....

Eat more low GI foods and moderate the high GI foods some of which are very nutritious but need to be small portions. Eating more raw, unprocessed and fresh foods helps as well.

Have protein for breakfast, eggs are great along with a good quality meal replacement shake. This will also help you cut some calories from your daily intake without having your body go into starvation or famine mode where you stop burning fat!

Do some moderate exercise each day, not aerobics or cardio workouts! Walking 30 minutes a day is a great start. If you want to workout focus on resistance training and muscle strengthening exercises. There are many things you can do at home.

Drink enough clean water. Do not think that being thirsty is the best indicator of dehydration. A minimum of 8 glasses a day, say 2 litres is a good start. Yes you will ‘leak’ a bit to begin but the body adjusts! It is worth looking around for a good water filtration system that enhances the water quality while it filters. Nikken has a good filtration system. You also help the environment by using less plastic water bottles.

Think about some ‘intelligent supplementation’. We tend to be over-weight and under-nourished consuming calories without nutrients. The depletion of nutrients in our foods over the last 50 years has been huge. Intellegent supplementation provides the essential missing nutrients in a ‘real food form’. At the very least you need glyconutrients for cell to cell communication, a synergistic blend of anti-oxidants that have been tested for serum ORAC, bio-available (food form) vitamins and minerals and enough clean Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids (fish oil).

The fish oil will also help correct the massive imbalance most people have because we consume way to much Omega 6 EFA (oil from nuts and grains). Some experts recommend a ratio of 1:4 of Omega 3 to Omega 6. Most western diets reach 1:10 up to 1:20 and this has serious consequences for fat loss.

Test and balance your body pH. Your saliva pH needs to be close to 7.4. Get some body pH testing strips to see where your body is now (most people are acidic). Then start drinking a juiced lemon or lime in water twice a day. Remember acid bodies hold on to fat.

Avoid all artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame often disguised as phenylalanine or labeled as ‘951’ in Australia. Best to avoid all products labeled as ‘no sugar’ or ‘diet’. If you want a safe sweetener get some Xylitol or Stevia.

Aim to release fat rather than lose weight. Beware of the ‘quick fix’ diet &/or exercise regime where the weight loss is 50% fat and 50% muscle! Advanced Protein Peptide technology is a natural food that supports the metabolism of fat and inhibits the body making more fat while retaining lean mass – muscles.

Most people do not get enough magnesium as it has been stripped out of most our foods. One or two magnesium tablets a day will help lots of things in your body. Some people need even more to help their bodies take up calcium and burn fat.

Does this common substance make you fat?

2009-10-14T17:41:00.004+11:00

After our last couple of posts on the importance of body pH we though it timely to have another look at the artifical sweetners that are so widely used today and promoted as being 'healthy'.

In just this last I received two separate pieces of information concerning the problems with artifical sweetners.

While both sources are US based our 'food products' in Australia are almost identical....I hope this helps...

I wanted to talk about artificial sweeteners today because I've noticed that there's a lot of confusion and misconceptions revolving around these non-caloric sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners and the huge list of products sweetened with them are marketed to you relentlessly as "healthy foods" or "healthier" than sugar or corn syrup sweetened products. But are they really?

Just to clarify, some of the most popular artificial sweeteners on the market today are:
Splenda (sucralose)
Aspartame (phenylalanine, labeled as ‘951’ in Australia)
Saccharine
Acesulfame Potassium (aka - acesulfame K)

These artificial sweeteners are used in abundance in almost every "diet" drink, "lite" yogurts, puddings, and ice creams, most "low-carb" products, and almost all "reduced-sugar" products. Heck, even most protein powders are loaded with artificial sweeteners too (just look on the ingredients and you'll usually see one or more of them...

Splenda is probably one of the worst offenders of claiming to be "healthy" as they say that it's made from real sugar. Don't be fooled! It's still an artificial substance. What they don't tell you is that Splenda is actually a chemically modified substance where chlorine is added to the chemical structure, making it more similar to a chlorinated pesticide than something we should be eating or drinking.

The truth is that artificial sweeteners are not even close to being healthy, and as you'll discover in a minute, can easily be just as bad for you, if not worse, than sugar or corn syrup. Most people think that they are doing something good for themselves by choosing the "diet" drinks or "lite" yogurts compared to the sugar-laden versions, but the problem is that you're exposing yourself to a whole new set of problems with the artificially sweetened drinks and foods.

I know you're probably frustrated by all of the contradicting messages you hear each day about which foods are good for you and which are bad. I'm sure just today you probably saw some clever ad or commercial somewhere screaming health benefits for a food product that is loaded with artificial sweeteners. Don't worry.

Just stick with me and I'll get past the marketing hype for you and decipher the truth. I'll also give you some ideas for great alternatives to artificial sweeteners as well as alternatives to sugar or corn syrup sweeteners.

The fact is, artificial sweeteners vs. sugar or corn syrup is really just a battle between two evils. Which evil is worse?

I'm sure you already know the problems with sugar or high fructose corn syrup sweetened products. The excess empty calories, blood sugar spike, and resulting insulin surge this creates in your body not only promotes fat gain, but also stimulates your appetite further, making things even worse.

On the other hand, artificial sweeteners save you calories, but there's growing evidence that they can increase your appetite for sweets and other carbohydrates causing you to eat more later in the day anyway. Therefore, you don't really save any calories at all. Also, studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can stimulate high insulin levels in your body too, which again can promote fat storage.

All of the 4 artificial sweeteners listed above are nasty chemicals that the human body is simply not meant to ingest. However, most of us are ingesting a whole lot of these chemicals on a daily basis. Aside from the problems I touched on so far, other health issues that have been related to artificial sweeteners in scientific studies as well as observations are:

some have been linked to potential cancer risks
negative effects on the liver, kidneys, and other organs
stimulating cravings
gastrointestinal problems
developmental problems in children and fetuses
headaches and too many more issues to list

Now some of the above potential health problems are definitely not proven as fact in studies. However, some of them have been shown in animal studies given high doses. Regardless of the fact that any real health problems for actual human use are not proven yet, I don't know about you, but I'd rather protect myself and steer clear of these possibly dangerous artificial chemicals.

Of course, despite all of the health issues potentially associated with artificial sweeteners, the companies that sell the products will continue to claim that they are fully safe and they have studies that prove that they are safe. The bottom line is that the body was not designed to deal with foreign substances like artificial sweeteners. Take my word on that one.

So what are your options for alternatives? Well, your best alternatives for sugar or corn syrup are either raw honey, organic maple syrup, or even a little-known high antioxidant syrup called sorghum syrup (common in the southern US). Even though these alternatives still have the same amount of calories as sugar or corn syrup... honey, organic maple syrup, and sorghum syrup actually provide some nutrients and antioxidants, so it's not just empty calories. Empty calories stimulate your appetite more because your body is lacking nutrients.

(Source - Mike Geary Fitness/Lifestyle Coach, Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Certified Nutrition Specialist http://truthaboutabs.com)

Now you're probably thinking that you'd like to still save on calories but avoid the nasty artificial sweeteners. Good news... You can with Xylitol!

Although xylitol looks and tastes exactly like sugar that is where the similarity ends. Xylitol is really sugar's mirror image. While sugar wreaks havoc on the body, xylitol heals and repairs. It has also been shown to build immunity, protect against chronic degenerative diseases and exhibits anti-aging benefits.

Xylitol is considered a five carbon sugar, which means it is an antimicrobial, preventing the growth of bacteria. This unique structure appears to be unfavorable in the metabolism of several pathogenic bacteria, weakening their ability to proliferate and adhere, resulting in reduced acid fermentation.

While sugar is acid-forming, xylitol is alkaline enhancing. All other forms of sugar, including sorbitol, another popular alternative sweetener, are six carbon sugars, which feed dangerous bacteria and fungi.

Xylitol is completely natural and absolutely safe for human consumption. In fact the average person consumes 2 to 4 grams of xylitol a day in fruits and vegetables. The World Health Organization has given xylitol their highest rating for a food additive, deemed safe for all individuals from infancy to old age. It is currently approved by government bodies in over 50 countries worldwide.

Xylitol is as sweet as table sugar, yet its initial utilization on the human body requires virtually no insulin. Its glycemic index is 7% that of common table sugar (glycemic index: xylitol = 7, glucose - 100). Compared with sugar, xylitol causes a much smaller increase in serum insulin and blood glucose levels with no hypoglycemic "rebound". This is why it is suitable for use by diabetics.

Xylitol also has 40% fewer calories and 75% fewer carbohydrates than sugar and is slowly absorbed and metabolized, resulting in very negligible changes in insulin. About one third of xylitol that is consumed is absorbed by the liver. The other two-thirds travel to the intestinal tract, where it is broken down by the gut bacteria in to short-chain fatty acids. As xylitol is utilized slowly and incompletely in the human body, this also accounts for its reduced caloric value. (2.3kcal/g: FDA value).

The reduced calorie and antibacterial qualities of xylitol make it suitable for several applications in diet, medicine and dentistry. All such uses are easily administered, completely natural and present only minimal negative side effects when overindulged (laxative effects).

Xylitol looks, feels and tastes like sugar and unlike other natural sweetener alternatives, leaves no unpleasant aftertaste. It is available in many forms. In its crystalline form, it can replace sugar in cooking, baking or as a sweetener for beverages. It is also used in gums and mints.

XYLITOL AND HEALTH
Xylitol is proven to have both superior nutritional benefits, as well as several anti-bacterial properties. These qualities offer exceptional health benefits for diabetics, children with chronic ear infections, sinusitis patients, and even individuals suffering from asthma and allergies.

Studies show that when administered to children in chewing gum or syrup, xylitol produces a reduced rate of otitis media (middle ear infection) and a lower nasopharyngeal carriage rate and pneumococci. When administered as a nasal lavage, xylitol has been shown to interfere with the capability of bacteria to adhere to tissues of the middle ear, throat and sinuses.

How you body pH (acidity) affects releasing fat!

2009-10-11T10:39:00.002+11:00

The missing weight loss management key for many people is the pH factor. Since blood pH is so critical to life, the body protects the blood at all costs. The typical diet consists of foods that when digested create acid that is put into the blood. The body has to neutralize this acid or risk major problems. Fat is one of the primary buffers used by the body to help deal with acid. When the body cannot neutralize acid, it stores it in fat cells.

When attempting to lose fat, we typically cut calories. But, if our system remains acidic, then instead of burning fat, which would release more acid into the system, the body burns muscle instead. Identify those foods that are creating excess acid in the system and also provide foods that are alkaline. This combination can help you to raise your body pH, thereby creating an environment for health.

A lifestyle of health is paramount to weight-management and health. This includes: sensible eating, moderate and consistent exercise, sufficient water consumption, and a good nutritional program.

The pH Factor

"pH" or "potential for hydrogen" is the measure used to determine whether something is an acid or alkaline. It is measured on a scale from 0 - 14, with 6.8 - 7.0 being considered neutral. Anything below 6.8 is considered acid, and anything above 7.4 is considered alkaline. The pH of the blood is just over 7.3. If blood pH is altered, major problems, including death, are imminent. Therefore, the body has multiple buffers in place to make sure the blood pH remains constant.

The primary buffers the body uses are: sodium, calcium, and body fat. When acid is present in the blood, the body looks to neutralize it with an alkaline substance. The primary neutralizing agent is sodium, then calcium. The body actually takes calcium from the bones in order to neutralize blood acid. If it cannot be easily neutralized, then the body stores the acid in the fat cells. That creates a major weight loss management problem.

Let's look at how this all works. Like any machine, our body needs fuel in order operate. Unfortunately, the fuel or food that most people use is not what the body needs or desires. In order to operate at peak efficiency, the body needs the proper food. The typical diet is high in food with little to no food value.

The problem goes much deeper than just lower efficiency. Like any machine, the fuel that we burn creates exhaust or by-products, sometimes called ash. In the body, our food is burned as fuel on the cellular level. The blood is the vehicle used to carry the food to the cell, and is also used to carry the waste or exhaust away from the cell to be eliminated.

When raw fruits and vegetables are consumed, the body breaks it down and sends it to the cells for fuel. The cell burns the fuel and the exhaust is an alkaline ash. When food from the typical diet is burned as fuel, the exhaust created is an acid ash. That acid is then carried in the blood. Since blood pH is so critical to life, the body protects the blood at all costs. The body has to neutralize this acid or risk major problems.

Our goal then is to reduce the amount of food that creates an acidic ash and increase the foods that create an alkaline ash.

Acid in the body acts very much like acid outside the body. It creates waste. It ages the skin, degenerates tissues, and causes major problems. Additionally, most health concerns are created by an over abundance of acid in the system. Reducing acid in the system is critical to long-term health.

Many people love to drink a can of softdrink. If you look on the label, you will discover that a can of softdrink primarily contains acid. The pH of a soda is around 2.3. That is highly toxic. The body has to scramble to neutralize that acid in the system. It uses sodium, calcium from the bones or teeth, or anything else it has to in order to neutralize the acid.

Can we suggest slight change in some of the foods that you normally would eat? We understand that most people will not eliminate all the bad food from their diet, so instead of eliminating it, we are going to suggest a strategy of reduction.

Water

Most people are dehydrated and it may not show up as being thirsty! Drinking sufficient amounts of good water is critical to your success. Pure water is the only thing that counts toward your daily intake..

Exercise

Building lean muscle, burning additional calories, and improving overall health are just some of the benefits of consistent exercise. That may include: walking, jogging, riding a bike, playing with your kids or grandkids, or other activities like, chasing your spouse around the house, that will raise your heart rate. Make it something you enjoy. Just commit to it.

Extremes

In life, balance is to be desired. When anything is done to excess, we are in danger of getting out of balance. Usually it is not one piece of cake, or one softdrink that does us in. It is when softdrinks, cakes, and other acid-producing foods are consumed in excess that we create problems. You need to identify the things we are doing in excess in our food consumption, and make some extreme choices on how to bring those into balance.

Remember a very simple and inexpensive change is twice a day to juice a lemon or lime in water.... and measure your body pH.

Which pH Zone Is YOUR Body In?

2009-09-25T11:19:00.002+10:00

Here is a very simple way to help get your body from being acidic into alkaline…simply juice a fresh lemon or lime into glass of water twice a day.

The Importance of Acid and Alkaline Balance for Health

When we were born and in our younger years our body was naturally in an alkaline state. In its natural, healthy state, our body is slightly alkaline - the opposite of acidic. In fact, our blood and cells depend on remaining in this slightly alkaline state for our very survival. For example, to produce energy from the food we eat, a healthy cell requires abundant oxygen-an alkalinizing element. A healthy cell also contains alkaline minerals like potassium.

Virtually all degenerative diseases including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, kidney and gall stones, and tooth decay are associated with excess acidity in the body. While the body has a homeostatic mechanism that maintains a constant pH 7.4 in the blood, this mechanism works by depositing and withdrawing acid and alkaline minerals from other locations including the bones, soft tissues, body fluids and saliva. Therefore, the pH of these other tissues can fluctuate greatly. The pH of saliva offers a window through which you can see the overall pH balance in your body.

Cancer cannot exist in a strong alkaline environment, at pH 8 the cancer cells die. All forms of arthritis are associated with excess acidity. Acid in the body dissolves both teeth and bones. Whatever health situation you are faced with, you can monitor your progress toward a proper acid/alkaline balance by testing your saliva pH. (see http://www.budwigcenter.com/acid-ph-dangers.php )

If you have access to saliva / urine pH testing then here is a guide to where you need to get your pH to. You can ask at your chemist or health food shop for saliva / urine testing strips or go on ebay.

Which pH Zone Is YOUR Body In?

Your body is ALKALINE by design. The fluids that make up 70% of your body MUST remain alkaline for you to experience optimal health.

Your body is ACIDIC by function. Every metabolic process that your body undergoes produces acid. Your body is always seeking to maintain proper pH Balance - the balance between acid and alkaline.

The VERY ACIDIC pH Zone™: 4.5 - 5.75
This "danger zone" is NOT where you want your pH to be. If you're in this pH Zone™, you MUST take serious steps to correct this acidity. If your pH is in this range, your body is 50 to 100 times too acidic! An internal terrain like this is poison to your cells.

The ACIDIC pH Zone™: 6.0 - 6.5
In this "caution" zone, your body is 5 to 10 times too acidic. Making alterations to your diet and supplementing these diet changes with alkalizing elements will help to bring your pH back up to The OPTIMAL pH Zone.

The OPTIMAL pH Zone™ : 6.75 - 7.25
If your pH Composite Reading™ is in this zone, congratulations! Keep up the good work by maintaining an alkalizing lifestyle.

Remember - simply juice a fresh lemon or lime into glass of water twice a day.

A more alkaline diet may also assist in shedding excess fat but that is another post.

7 Ways to Break a Weight Loss / Fat Loss Plateau

2009-06-20T15:54:00.006+10:00

If you've ever tried to lose fat for any sustained period of time - you may have hit a plateau! Almost everyone reaches a weight loss plateau at some point. You have changed nothing, but suddenly the fat no longer disappears!!!

The human body is incredibly adaptive, and will do its level best to maintain equilibrium (homeostasis). The reason is that the human body works hard to keep energy intake and output in balance. In other words, your body does not like to lose weight (not a revelation, huh?).

The plateau effect has to be the biggest motivation-killer there is. Unfortunately many popular diet books are strangely quiet on the issue -- I guess the concept doesn't sell well.

After your initial weight loss, your progress will slow down and eventually stop even though your exercise and food intake is consistent. The bottom line is that the very efforts you make to burn more calories may eventually slow it down.

The best single word of advice is to make a change. Don't make the mistake of doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result (Ben Franklin's definition of insanity).

What changes can you make?

Problem 1. Lowering your calories too much
Fact: It takes calories to burn calories. When you decrease your food intake, your body simply lowers its metabolic rate in response. This still allows the body to function properly, but ultimately your body requires fewer calories which creates hunger and prevents you from losing fat.

Solution: Keep your calories slightly below your maintenance calories so that your energy and metabolism remain high. A deficit greater than 500-700 calories makes it much more difficult to maintain your lean body mass.

Another variation is Zig-zagging, or calorie cycling is the process of varying daily calorie intake, while maintaining the same weekly intake. Instead of consuming (for example) precisely 1800 calories each day - you can mix it up. Eat 1500 calories one day, and 2100 calories the next. This can be as simple as halving then doubling a portion size, or adding a post-workout shake into the plan. Just keep your body guessing.

Problem 2. Loss of lean body mass
Fact: Muscle burns fat and losing muscle means burning fewer calories. Lean body mass uses five times the calories as fat mass so, if you lose it, your metabolism drops and your weight loss stops.

Solution: Make sure your exercise program is combined with a fully nourished body. You can accomplish this with a diet that creates a safe calorie deficit along with some type of multivitamin to help with any nutrient deficiencies. This is where Mannatech’s Optimal Health Products work so well at providing the essential, missing nutrients your body needs.

Problem 3. Weight loss
What? But you thought that's what you wanted! However, what you may have forgotten is that when you weigh less, it takes less calories to move your body. A loss of any amount of weight will lead to a reduced energy requirement.

Solution: Make sure you start (or continue) a weight training program to help increase lean body mass, which can help compensate for the loss of calories. Working your muscles will help to strengthen bone tissue, increase lean mass, and ultimately boost metabolic rate. Remember it is not about weight loss but rather improving your fat to lean mass ratio.

Problem 4. The 'Adaptation' Phase Ends
Fact: When you start a new exercise program, your body responds because it is required to make numerous changes to adjust to different workloads. So, your muscles are rebuilding themselves and this consumes all kinds of calories. But, at some point your body will stop adapting to the new workload and, as a result, you burn less calories for the same activities.

Solution:Don't let your body get used to the exercise. Maintain your body's adaptation period by changing the intensity, duration, frequency and/or the mode of exercise and include interval training if necessary. So you go walking a lot? Then try jogging, or swimming, or cycling -- anything that will change the way your body is working.

Problem 5: Exercise Efficiency
Fact: The more you do something, the better you get at it. As your body becomes better at performing your exercises, it can actually use fewer calories during the exercise. Think of it this way: trained athletes often use fewer calories than untrained athletes with similar body types and workouts. So, if this describes where you are, consider yourself a trained athlete and read on!

Solution:
The solution to this is the same as for Problem 4; don't get used to the exercise. Concentrate on more dramatic changes such as trying brand new activities. For example, if you use the treadmill for two weeks, switch to something different like the rowing machine or the bike. Don't forget to make changes in your weight training routine as well!

Problem 6: Over-training
Fact: Just like not eating enough can lower the amount calories you burn, so can over-training. When you exercise too much, there is a point of diminishing returns when an increase in exercise energy expenditure is negated by an equal decrease in non-exercise energy expenditure. In other words, when you increase your exercise intensity, your body responds by decreasing the amount of calories you burn during the rest of your day.

Solution:
Take time to recover. If you reach exercise burnout, this is a great time to take a break for a few days, or try something gentle like yoga or a stretching routine. After you've rested, get back to exercise but lighten up your original routine and increase your intensity only as necessary.

7. Enhanced Physical Condition
Fact: As you get into better shape, your body is more efficient and it costs fewer calories to operate. Improved health means a lower resting metabolic rate and fewer calories are burned during normal daily activities. Part of this is because your cardio-pulmonary system is more efficient now and you have a lower resting heart rate.

Solution:Congratulations! You're officially in shape and healthy. Focus on that and feel good about yourself. Concentrate on changing your routine as described in Solution 5.

If after however many weeks the fat simply stops coming off, do not let yourself get frustrated or disappointed even if you feel like you were doing everything ‘right’. Some of us seem to have more adaptive bodies than others. Every person is unique, and we must learn how our individual body responds - and how to work with that. I trust some of these points may be helpful.

Looking for SAFER sweetener, try XYLITOL

2009-06-20T14:37:00.004+10:00

XYLITOL - THE SAFER SWEETENER

As you read this short aricle you may be encouraged to restock your 'sugar' supply.... check out the Australian Xylitol Website linked below.

WHAT IS XYLITOL?

Xylitol is a sweet, crystalline carbohydrate discovered in the late 1800's by German and Finnish chemists. It occurs in wood, woody plants and in virtually all fruit products. Xylitol is also produced in the human body as a normal metabolic intermediary.

By the 1960's Xylitol was being used in Germany, Switzerland, the Soviet Union and Japan as a preferred sweetener in diabetic’s diets and as an energy source for infusion therapy in patients with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Since then, many other countries have been producing xylitol for uses in their domestic markets - and with remarkable health benefits. It has been relatively unknown in USA and Australia until recently, primarily because cheaper supplies if cane sugar made the more expensive xylitol less economically viable.

Although xylitol looks and tastes exactly like sugar that is where the similarity ends. Xylitol is really sugar's mirror image. While sugar wreaks havoc on the body, xylitol heals and repairs. It has also been shown to build immunity, protect against chronic degenerative diseases and exhibits anti-aging benefits.

Xylitol is considered a five carbon sugar, which means it is an antimicrobial, preventing the growth of bacteria. This unique structure appears to be unfavorable in the metabolism of several pathogenic bacteria, weakening their ability to proliferate and adhere, resulting in reduced acid fermentation.

While sugar is acid-forming, xylitol is alkaline enhancing. All other forms of sugar, including sorbitol, another popular alternative sweetener, are six carbon sugars, which feed dangerous bacteria and fungi.

Xylitol is completely natural and absolutely safe for human consumption. In fact the average person consumes 2 to 4 grams of xylitol a day in fruits and vegetables. The World Health Organization has given xylitol their highest rating for a food additive, deemed safe for all individuals from infancy to old age. It is currently approved by government bodies in over 50 countries worldwide.

Xylitol is as sweet as table sugar, yet its initial utilization on the human body requires virtually no insulin. Its glycemic index is 7% that of common table sugar (glycemic index: xylitol = 7, glucose - 100). Compared with sugar, xylitol causes a much smaller increase in serum insulin and blood glucose levels with no hypoglycemic "rebound". This is why it is suitable for use by diabetics.

Xylitol also has 40% fewer calories and 75% fewer carbohydrates than sugar and is slowly absorbed and metabolized, resulting in very negligible changes in insulin. About one third of xylitol that is consumed is absorbed by the liver. The other two-thirds travel to the intestinal tract, where it is broken down by the gut bacteria in to short-chain fatty acids. As xylitol is utilized slowly and incompletely in the human body, this also accounts for its reduced caloric value. (2.3kcal/g: FDA value).

The reduced calorie and antibacterial qualities of xylitol make it suitable for several applications in diet, medicine and dentistry. All such uses are easily administered, completely natural and present only minimal negative side effects when overindulged (laxative effects).

Xylitol looks, feels and tastes like sugar and unlike other natural sweetener alternatives, leaves no unpleasant aftertaste. It is available in many forms. In its crystalline form, it can replace sugar in cooking, baking or as a sweetener for beverages. It is also used in gums and mints. .

XYLITOL AND HEALTH

Xylitol is proven to have both superior nutritional benefits, as well as several anti-bacterial properties. These qualities offer exceptional health benefits for diabetics, children with chronic ear infections, sinusitis patients, and even individuals suffering from asthma and allergies. .

Studies show that when administered to children in chewing gum or syrup, xylitol produces a reduced rate of otitis media (middle ear infection) and a lower nasopharyngeal carriage rate and pneumococci. When administered as a nasal lavage, xylitol has been shown to interfere with the capability of bacteria to adhere to tissues of the middle ear, throat and sinuses.

THE SAFER SWEETENER

Increased sugar consumption has bedeviled Western cultures with more and more health problems, many of which are putting enormous strain on health care systems. Finally, there is an answer to our collective prayers for something truly healthy that can satisfy our sweet tooth. Over 1,500 scientific studies have found that the more you use xylitol, the more you can eliminate sugar cravings, reduce insulin levels and alkalize your body. It is a great aid on the way to good health and long life.

4 Ways to Eat For a Healthy Metabolism

2009-06-05T20:49:00.005+10:00

Some foods are better than others for helping you stay in shape? But are there foods and eating habits that are must-haves for a healthy metabolism?

Many people think of metabolism as the rate at which our bodies burn calories. If you've got a slow metabolism you tend to gain weight easily whereas a fast metabolism keeps you lean. But metabolism encompasses much more. It represents all the chemical reactions in your body.

To make sense of how they work together to keep in or out of shape think of eating for your metabolism as having four components; energy burning, appetite regulation, hormonal balance and nutritional optimisation. Looking after each component is vital for achieving your best shape and physical performance.

1. Eat to maximise energy burningThis first component relates to calorie burning, so the key questions here are whether certain foods and eating patterns can burn more calories.Of the macronutrients, protein has the highest Thermic Effect of Feeding (TEF) when compared to fat, carbohydrate and alcohol. TEF describes the energy cost of digesting and absorbing food. It takes more energy to break down protein. Aim for a minimum of 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight and a maximum of 2 grams per kilogram. Remember Osolean, two scoops twice day, provides 40% of your Daily protein requirement.

What about specific foods? Research on chilli reveals the active ingredient capsciasin can stimulate metabolic rate but is only likely to do so at levels that are unpalatable to all but the hardiest chilli lovers.

Green tea contains antioxidants called catechins which are thought to kick metabolic rate up by about 70 calories a day when consumed is sufficient quantities. Around four to five strong cups of green tea each day is a minimum.

When it comes to eating habits and meal timing, it's the total amount of food that you consume in 24 hours that matters. Around 15 percent of our resting energy expenditure is accounted for by TEF. If you eat more, this figure increases. If you eat less, as is the case with dieting then the TEF percentage will drop a little. Crash dieting will cause a further drop in your total metabolic rate as your body attempts to conserve energy.

As long as you keep your total daily calorie and macronutrient balance the same, diets of three or six meals will have the same affect on daily TEF. Remember Advanced Protein Peptide Technology, two scoops twice day will accelerate the rate at which body metabolises fat cells.

2. Eat to re-wire your appetite. Appetite is the next component of your metabolism. In recent years, scientists have started to untangle the complex ball of biological reactions that make up appetite chemistry.The theory part of appetite regulation says you should eat when you are hungry and not eat when you aren't.

In practice it's a challenge because many of us have had our appetites hotwired to overeat from a young age. Eating for your metabolism means recruiting your natural appetite chemicals to work for you automatically. For example, the gut hormone cholecystikinin (CCK) is released 10 to 20 minutes after you start eating and sends a message to your brain that you are being nourished.
Slowing you eating rate at meals gives CCK a chance to do its job.

Remember Advanced protein peptide technology, two scoops twice day 20 minutes before eating will help trigger the release of CCK.

Skipping meals plays havoc with ghrelin and can drive you to overeat at your next feeding session.While researchers continue to study dozens of gut and brain-based appetite chemicals, almost all the journal articles highlight the importance of re-wiring your appetite chemistry. This is done by eating regularly (at least three meals a day) and carefully listening to your appetite chemicals to know when you need to eat and stop eating.

Foods that contain protein, especially meat, fish, chicken and other animal protein sources tend to suppress appetite the most. Low-glycemic index (GI) carbohydrate foods like oats, pasta, legumes and some wholegrain breads are better at making you feel fuller for longer than more processed high-GI foods like white bread, rice and sugary treats.

3. Eat to balance your hormonesThe major metabolic hormone is insulin, which regulates the storage of blood glucose as muscle and liver glycogen. Eating the right amount of food, particularly low-GI carbohydrates spread over meals and snacks keeps insulin leveled and functioning properly. Overeating and subsequent body fat gain interferes with insulin function causing insulin resistance and additional weight gain. When weight gain results in obesity, growth hormone levels often fall and the spiral of metabolic dysfunction can spin out of control.

Eating for healthy hormone metabolism also means consuming enough of the mineral iodine. Iodine is necessary for your thyroid to secrete the thyroid hormones that maintain your metabolic rate. Including seafood two to three times a week, plus meat, eggs and a multivitamin in your diet plan will help you get the iodine you need. Seaweed products can also give your iodine levels a boost as can brazil and hazelnuts.

Other hormones may be more susceptible to non-dietary influences. Cortisol, which is known as the stress hormone can trigger food cravings by stimulating the hunger chemical neuropeptide-Y in the brain. Managing stress therefore has a direct benefit on metabolic fitness.

Remember advanced protein peptide technolotgy, two scoops twice day, inhibits the enzymes that tell your body to store fat.4. Eat to optimise your nutritionThe fourth way to eat for your metabolism is to aim for nutritional optimisation. This is the nutritional equivalent of financial superannuation. Your investment now ensures a metabolic payoff in the future. Dairy foods are a good example. A growing body of research suggests an adequate intake of say at least two serves a day, is required to promote healthy body fat levels. It may be the calcium, something else in dairy or a combination that seems to enhance fat burning.

Remember advanced protein peptide technolotgy, two scoops twice day, provides a massive 450gm of food form Calcium. Omega-3 fish oils have a similar story. It's thought that a generous intake from fish or fish oil capsules helps positively regulate fat burning. One study found a 1.6 kg greater reduction in body fat in a group that took 6 fish oil capsules ( 6 x 1000mg capsules, each containing 300mg fish oils) each day over 16 weeks compared to the group who took the non-fish oil placebo. Experts are still sketchy on the mechanism, but it has something to do with the incorporation of the long-chain fatty acids into cellular membranes.

The metabolic and weight management cases for eating a nutrient-rich diet are growing and has lead to one academic coining the terms `malnutritive obesity' or `malnubesity'. This refers to the development of obesity triggered by nutrient deficiencies or imbalances. Even a higher protein intake will be sub-optimal if the level of protein pushes other nutrient-rich foods out of your diet.

Look after your metabolism four waysThis article has built a case to eat for your metabolism in four ways. Firstly, avoid crash dieting and use protein to boost metabolic rate. Then keep your appetite chemicals working with rather than against you. Eating to balance insulin, ensuring enough iodine and managing stress are next. Finally, hedge your metabolic bets by eating from all the food groups and demanding nutrient-rich food at every meal.

Advanced protein peptide technolotgy will help you to turn off the fat switch for life by improving your lean mass to fat ratio.
The diet that keeps you in shape should focus on more than calorie counting and metabolic rate. Eating for your metabolism four ways is the key to automatic lifetime results.
Based on an article by Matt O'Neill ( BSpSc, MSc(Nut&Diet), APD, AN, Nutritionist )

10 RULES TO LOW GLYCEMIC EATING

2009-04-29T13:58:00.004+10:00

1. Whenever possible, eat foods that are in their natural state. (Note: this rule does not apple to meats and other foods that are dangerous to eat raw)

In this rule, reference is made to a food like carrots. What is the natural state of a carrot? Raw. When carrots are eaten raw, they are safe and natural – the way they were designed to be eaten. Raw carrots also fit the second rule – to each foods that are harder to digest. Carrots also fit the rule since they are high in fibre.

Raw carrots have an index number of 35 (low glycemic) but cooked carrots (not in their natural state) have an index of 65 (moderately-glycemic).

2. Eat foods that are harder to digest.

The harder a food is to digest, the lower-glycemic it usually is and the longer it takes to convert to sugars. This longer process minimizing the amount of food converting to fat. For example, cooked carrots are very easy to digest so their index is much higher than raw carrots.

3. Eat foods high in fibre.

Fibre ranges from hard to digest to impossible to digest. Impossible to digest is actually good for humans. It not only helps with a feeling of fullness but also helps clean our colons – which is essential for good health. The higher in fibre, typically the more absorbent it is for fats. The slower the digestive process is for a specific food, generally the lower the glycemic index will be for that food.

4. Do not use artificial sweeteners.

There is preliminary evidence that artificial sweeteners may in fact slow the fat-burning process by confusing the normal chemical signals to the brain. These signals are normally associated with sweet tastes. There is also an increasing body of evidence that indicates some artificial sweeteners may have harmful effects on the body.

5. Do not eat fried foods.

Fried foods stress the pancreas, which is never advisable regardless of your weight, health or weight-management goals. One of the many benefits of low-glycemic eating is keeping the pancreas healthy.

6. Avoid white foods.

There are, of course, exceptions to every rule if you look hard enough. In general, however, white foods tend to be high-glycemic. White potatoes are the highest (85-98) on the glycaemic index. They are a starchy complex and those starches convert to glucose rapidly. Additionally, they are easy to digest (Rule 2) and contain very little fibre (Rule 3).

7. Drink sufficient water.

Water is the essence of life itself. Most people complain about having to drink water but you simply cannot maintain proper balance without it. Water is vital for cleansing your body, maintaining proper hormonal balance (extremely important in weight management) and vitally important for fat transport. The most recent recommendation we have seen is 0.3 litres per 1 kg body weight.

8. Time your food intake.

It is very important to your overall health – but particularly important to achieving a lean body – to keep your blood sugar balanced. Skipping meals may save kilojoules but will eventually backfire since your body will perceive a state or starvation and reduce the rate at which you convert stored fats.

Snacking is fine with the right foods. Snacking helps keep your blood sugar balanced and this in turn helps control appetite and maximise your ability to convert stored fat to energy. It would be ideal if we could get everyone to snack on only fresh fruits or vegetables that are low glycaemic, such as peaches or celery. But this isn’t always convenient so here is one practical and tasty suggestion: a dozen almonds in their natural state eaten every two hours between meals should help the average person to maintain a reasonable level of blood sugar.

9. Do not mix fad diet principles with low-glycaemic eating.

Some fad diets give quick, temporary results that make for good marketing but result in bad health over the long term.

10. Make the commitment to be healthy.

Last rule on the list but certainly not least. In fact, this rule is vitally important. A person needs to change their behavior in order to have a healthy and fit body.

For the most update information and research on glycemic indexing of foods go to http://www.glycemicindex.com/

The advanced protein peptide technology program suggests you eat a low glycemic diet. Lorraine found a really helpful little book by Professor Jennie Brand-Miller written for Aust.,/NZ.. a great shoppers guide and a good aid for everyone starting. You get it from your local bookshop…

Why Is Exercise Important for Fat Loss?

2009-04-29T13:19:00.006+10:00

Exercise is frequently divided into two categories, both of which burn calories:
Aerobic exercise, also called cardiovascular exercise or simply "cardio," causes you to breathe harder and increases your heart rate. Activities such as running and swimming when performed on a regular basis improve both your respiratory capacity (lungs) and your circulatory system (heart and blood vessels). Great for getting the blood moving.

Strength building, also called resistance training, increases the proportion of muscle on your body. Examples include weight lifting with free weights and using a machine with variable resistance. Muscle is a metabolically active tissue and the more muscular you are the higher your metabolism will be. This means that you will burn more calories even at rest. We refer to this as your basal metabolic rate.

Just as a car runs on petrol, our bodies run on the glucose circulating in our bloodstream. When we exercise enough to use up the supply of glucose in our blood, hormones are released that instruct our fat cells to release fat into our bloodstream. The fat goes to the muscles that need it for fuel and we end up with less fat on our bodies.

The health benefits of regular exercise are significant and include reduced risk for heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and diabetes. Even just walking on a regular basis is of great value. Exercise also helps to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, which can be brought on by dieting itself, and can lead to overeating.

People who exercise on a regular basis not only lose fat more effectively, but are more successful at keeping it off. And the significance of regular exercise goes beyond the physical benefits. Regular exercise produces a mental attitude of self-care and self-esteem that bolsters confidence and the desire to continue to improve.

Do not rely exclusively on exercise to lose fat. How many have you heard someone say after they eat a Chocolate Bar, “ I will work it off later when I exercise.” What if I told you to work off a Chocolate bar of say 271 cals is the equivalent of doing the step master machine vigorously for almost an hour!

So always remember to eat healthy foods as well so you are not required to be an exercise addict. Excess sugar can also have many other negative health consequences besides adding unneeded calories to your diet.

Understanding Glycaemic Load - An introduction to low – glycaemic eating

2009-01-14T16:23:00.005+11:00

Glycaemic indexing (GI) is now somewhat familiar in Australia and New Zealand. Sydney University has done a lot of groundbreaking research, for details including a full list of GI’s for foods go to http://www.glycemicindex.com/ .

However the reference to glycaemic load (GL) is something few people understand.

In order to understand GL, first we must define GI. Every food that contains any carbohydrates can be measured for both its GI and GL. Foods without carbohydrates – such as meat, fish and poultry, are still 0 for both GI and GL and are therefore not listed in any of the materials.

Measuring GI is simple. Normally subjects consume 50 grams of a given food with some level of carbohydrate, then their blood sugar is taken at two or four hours (or both) after eating. Each person tested will have some variance in the response of sugar and insulin to that food but an average is calculated for the total test group. The baseline for measuring the index is either glucose (blood sugar) or white bread. GI indicates how much a food raises blood sugar.

Why we deposit new fat on our bodies and why we stop converting stored fat into energy is a hormonal process directly tied to GI and GL. If your blood sugar rises too high due to the GL of your foods, the hormonal process that converts stored fat to energy will shut off.

Depending on the individual, it may stay shut off for many hours no matter what else you do. Thus, high-glycaemic food or overabundance of low-glycaemic food that exceeds the load amount you just ate becomes new stored fat on your body. Older stored fat stays where it is. Regardless of fat content, high-glycaemic load turn off the fat-burning process. Therefore, no matter what you eat, it becomes fat.

Glycaemic load is the load or stress on your pancreas from the volume of carbohydrate in specific foods. An example is raw carrots, you would eventually load so much carbohydrate by volume that this low-glycaemic food would create a high glycaemic load.

White potatoes are another example. They a very carbohydrate dense and have almost no fibre to offset the carbohydrates. Thus, no matter what amount you eat or how you prepare them, they will be high-glycaemic and have a high glycaemic load.

The GI of a food times the amount of carbohydrate equals the GL.

Eating too much of a good thing can be bad and, as you can see, GL is very important to your health.

Fads, Fashion and Flashy Diets

2008-12-29T11:20:00.013+11:00

From the 1930's to now we have been watching 'calories', eating 'low-fat' and 'low carb' diets and yet today we are one of the fattest nations on the planet and our children are known internationally as the fattest kids on earth!

With so many products claiming to help you to be healthier or give you a better body, how do you know which ones are the best for you....... improve your lean muscle mass to fat ratio, the real indicator of health.

Did you know that fat stores toxins and synthetic chemicals and at least 20 health conditions are linked to stored body fat.

This is the reason why you should let your tape measure do the talking and toss your scales. Lean healthy bodies can gain kilos/lbs while losing cms/inches because muscle weighs more than fat.

So what is this all about?

This is about dropping dress sizes, tightening your bely another notch or getting into that pair of jeans or swim suit your have not worn for years.

This is about working with the physiology of your body.

This is about understanding how your body works and working with it to keep slim, trim and in shape.

How targeted fat loss supports anti-aging - Ten Biomarkers of Vitality

2008-12-20T10:32:00.011+11:00

OBESITY is a huge problem around the globe.. the 'FAT BOMB' is exploding and is only going to get worse as 'Health Care Systems' collapse under the flood.

Being overweight or obese may increase the risk of many health conditions.

Let your tape measure do the talking and throw away the bathroom scales!

Waist circumference is increasingly supplanting body mass index as the preferred indicator of obesity-related cardiovascular risk, both in research studies and clinical practice, Robert H. Eckel. M.D., said at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association.

"Many people believe we have been overfocusing on body mass index.... I think the database worldwide is suggesting waist circumference is a better measure of risk than weight itself or BMI," said Dr. Eckel, who is AHA president-elect as well as professor of medicine at the University of Colorado, Denver.

A healthy waist measurement (reflecting low coronary risk) is below 37 inches/94 cm for men and 32 inches/ 80 cm for women

The greatest health risks are associated with waist measurements greater than 40 inches/102 cm for men and 35 inches/88 cm for women.

When you look at the 10 Biomarkers for Vitality (sometimes called Anti-aging) you will see the critical need for reducing body fat relative to lean muscle mass. This will raise the Base Metabolic Rate, increase Aerobic capacity, bring both blood sugar, the cholesterol – HDL ratio and blood pressure back toward normal range

1.Muscle mass

2.Strength

3.Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

4.Body fat percentage

5.Aerobic capacity

6.Blood sugar within normal range*

7.Cholesterol-HDL ratio within normal range

8.Blood pressure within normal range

9.Bone density within normal range

10.Ability to regulate internal temperature

Improving our diets, increased physical activity; including an exercise program, are all important, but frequently for many people it’s not enough to turn off the fat switch....

Anything that a person can do to target fat loss will have a positive impact on most of the 10 biomarkers of vitality. It's not about how many pounds/kilos you lose - it's about how much fat you lose and how much lean muscle you keep.

The problem with most traditional weight loss programs, whether they are diet pills, herbal diet supplements, low-fat diets, low carb diets or detox and fasting along with exercise regimes is that quite often 50% of the weight loss is fat and 50% is muscle… not good in the long run when you revert to ‘normal living’ and the fat returns but not the muscle!

A specially formulated whey protein blend can help you lose fat without sacrificing muscle mass. Through advanced peptide technology, a patented process, specific parts of whey protein, called peptides, are extracted and concentrated to provide an effective level of “fat-loss” peptides.

These peptides are blended with calcium-rich minerals from whey and an essential glyconutrient called N-acetylneuraminic acid. This synergistic blend switches your metabolism from an anabolic to catabolic, reduces angiotension and targets fat-loss, not lean-loss.....

Targeted Fat Loss and your Basal Metabolic Rate

2008-12-13T19:49:00.008+11:00

The importance of altering your fat to lean muscle ratio and therby raising your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) with targeted fat loss.

For a dietary supplement to be effective you must understand how your body works to be able to target fat loss while retaining muscle. One key to targeted fat loss is understanding the role of your base metabolic rate, Basal Metabolic Rate contrasted to your Body Mass Index (BMI). As you lose fat but keep the muscle, your BMR will increase! This is an obvious benefit because as your metabolism increases, your body will burn fat and calories more efficiently and quickly. This highlights the difference between your BMR and your BMI and is a key in the battle to turn off the fat switch.

Your basal metabolic rate is the daily energy your body burns (calories) to maintain its basic functions - temperature, digestion and metabolic functions.

Here is a good example that shows how important it is to understand just how our bodies work:

Take two individuals who both weigh 220lbs and are similar heights (and therefore similar BMI's). One individual is a body builder who is 95% lean and 5% fat. This individual requires 2422 calories to maintain their their BMR. Contrast this to the other individual who leads a sedentary lifestyle and who is 70% lean and 30% fat. This individual only requires 1882 to maintain their BMR. There is a BMR difference of 540 calories. This means it takes less calories for the individual with the lower BMR to accumulate fat which only adds to their problem of excess fat to lean mass. Simply measuring your BMI without taking into account your BMR can be fatal in the long-run.

Obesity is the abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat. The basic cause of obesity is consuming more calories than your body uses, resulting in a surplus of calories, which your body then has to store. Improving our diets, increased physical activity; including an exercise program, are all important, but frequently for many people its not enough. This is where an understanding of BMR so important.

So it’s not about losing pounds, its about losing fat! When you are trying to lose weight you want to lose fat, you do not want to lose muscle. Sometimes muscle is lost during a weight loss program and this is not healthy. Quite often the weight lost is 50% fat, 50% muscle and of course when the diet and /or exercise is stopped guess what comes back! You want to keep all of the muscle and lose the fat. Its not about how many pounds you lose - its about how much fat you lose and how much lean muscle you keep.

This may help to explain why the diet pills that work to boost metabolism do nothing to solve the problem in the long-run and the low-fat or low carb regimes provide no lasting correction to the ratio of fat to lean. In other words the BMR is not changed so the underlying cause is not addressed.

I trust that this gives you some keys as you explore the myriad of weight-loss programs out there and may help to explain why someone can feel reasonably healthy and yet still be carrying excess body fat.

The greatest health risks are associated with waist measurements greater than 40 inches/102 cm for men and 35 inches/88 cm for women.

By now you might be asking the question - what can be done to address this underlying cause of obesity. Without a doubt there is an important role for good dietary supplements given the highly nutrient deficient foods we are mostly eating (not mention the fast-foods and processed foods that surround us).

And yes a moderate exercise program make sense, like walking for 1/2 hour five days a week. So too we should be eating more low GI foods and as much fresh and raw fruit and vegies as is reasonable (without becoming a rabbit). You also need to be drinking enough clean water each day to help your body detox ( 6-8 glasses or 0.3 litres per 1 kg body weight).

Our research and most recent experience has led us to a synergistic blend of peptides that can switch your metabolism from an anabolic to catabolic, reduce angiotension and target fat-loss, not lean-loss.