Showing posts with label quality sleep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quality sleep. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Safe, rapid weight loss

Dr. Wayne Scott Andersen provides a blueprint for safe, rapid weight loss in his book Dr. A's Habits of Health.

He gives seven signs that suggest you maybe using carbohydrates to get energy rather than burning fat.

  • eating refined, processed foods and drinks 
  • trouble concentrating and staying focused 
  • skipping meals 
  • struggling with cravings and low blood sugar 
  • irritability if meals are missed or delayed 
  • difficulty staying asleep 

A large meal before bed keeps your body from burning fat and keeps you awake. By eating a small amount of food more often during the day, you lose weight and  control hunger. You  reduce blood insulin and lower total cholesterol levels as well as reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol.  Eating smaller meals more often depresses glucose levels and increase bile acid secretion to help in digestion.  You also reduce serum uric acid levels that may be a factor in coronary heart disease. You feel comfortable rather than having fluctuations in fullness.

Dr. A shows you how to exercise.  Exercise is important but exercise alone won't help you lose weight. The amount of work to burn off calories is enormous. For example, you'd have to run 33.8 pounds to burn just one pound.

He suggests you need to change the foods in your home. Eliminate certain foods in your refrigerator including dairy products and mayonnaise. Get rid of processed meats and bacon, sugary sodas and beer and wine. Don't eat high calorie foods with fat and sugar like peanut butter, jellies and salad dressings.

Instead of processed foods, use brown rice, canola or olive oil, natural, non-flavored oatmeal, whole grain, high-fiber breads, walnuts and beans. Add variety with spices and herbs. Keep track of what you eat in a journal.

Dr. A uses a low-glycemic, portion-controlled approach to support optimal health and reduce weight. Dr. Andersen recommends a color-coded shopping system. He uses a color code to help you choose acceptable carbohydrates, proper fats, and proteins. Increasing the amount of raw vegetables is a key to weight loss. Dark green foods are lowest glycemic and are the best foods for weight loss and optimal health. Red foods should be avoided.

He teaches how to sleep better and reduce toxins in the body and home. He also suggests the NEAT system which makes small motions a part of our regular life patterns. For example, simply moving from sitting to standing can substantially increase energy consumption.




Monday, December 31, 2012

Health-Based New Year's Resolutions Work Better with Sleep

As the New Year approaches, Americans are ready to make their resolutions for a healthier, happier, more prosperous 2013. Statistically speaking, nearly half of the country will make a New Year's Resolution. Losing weight tops the list of most common resolutions, but a more general "stay fit and healthy" is the fifth most popular goal people set for January 1.

With health and weight-related goals, much of the focus falls on food and exercise. Maintaining a balanced diet and exercising regularly are essential to reducing body fat, improving organ function, and boosting overall health. However, getting enough quality sleep can help improve health and weight loss efforts.

Research has shown that people who get the proper amount of sleep each night (typically eight hours for an adult) have an easier time sticking to an exercise regimen and making healthier food choices. Better sleep has also been linked to better mental health and, for children, better behavior in school.

"Barriers to sleep include lifestyle choices, caffeine consumption, and even the bed itself," says Mark Wells of Sleep City and Sleepcity.com.