Wheat and Belly Fat?  Insulin Resistance?

Many of us are constantly struggling with the battle of the bulge and can’t just seem to get the weight off.  We are not alone, as over 1/3 of the US population is obese.  What many of us don’t realize is that a common “staple” of our diet may be the culprit.  Remember the food pyramid of old, with bread, pasta, and other grains at the top?  We now know that due to hybridization of wheat is increasing wheat consumption and adding to the obesity epidemic.  You see modern wheat, which is different from the wheat of yester years of let’s say 50 years ago.  Our modern wheat doesn’t even begin to resemble the wheat of our ancestors.  Wheat has been hybridized which means it has been cross-bred with other grains and species so it has a higher yield and contains less nutrients and more carbohydrates.  GMO sound familiar to you?  Well, since this has happened to wheat the cause and effect are in the starch and gluten and made it highly addictive.

Starch that is worse than table sugar!  Wow!  The carbohydrate found in wheat I about 75% amylopectin A which has been called a “super carb” as it has the ability to increase the blood sugar faster than other carbs.  The molecular structure of amylopectin is to be more easily digested than other more complex starches.  And because of the genetic modification, digestibility can raise blood sugar faster than a candy bar!  Forget the sugar pill just carry some wheat bread!

In this study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, participants were given a diet of 70% amylase or 70% amylopectin.  Those on the amylopectin diet had higher glucose and insulin responses after a meal.  Chronic elevations lead to belly fat.  So, due to its high amylopectin content, (due to GMO), wheat causes not only excess weight gain, belly fat, but a whole myriad of other health issues.  Have you also heard of the “super gluten”?  Gluten has actually been doubled in hybridized wheat.  Gluten triggers inflammation.  Inflammation triggers weight gain, diabetes, autoimmune disease, and multiple chronic diseases.  Gluten can actually damage the gut lining.  You know the term “leaky gut”.

Don’t think you addicted?  Wheat digested into short proteins call exorphins which act similarly to endorphins, the neurotransmitters released during exercise or the “runners high”, bind to and stimulate morphine receptors in the brain, making them just as addictive as any other drug.  See, when we eat gluten, it soothes the soul, makes that calm sensation.  This is turn causes us to look for more of this food during “STRESSFUL TIMES”!  Which leads to overeating and it just goes downhill from there.  Weight gain and next obesity.  Join me is adopting a gluten free whole food lifestyle.  Your body, mind and spirit will thank you!  To your health!

Dr. Oz Speaks at USANA on Health!

Dr. Oz–you know that name! The famous doctor was one of the medical experts who spoke at the 2012 USANA Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. I’d like to share some of his important presentation points with you–and some tips from my files for turning Dr. Oz’s advice into a plan that works for you, for a lifetime. He spoke on several topics to include weight loss, weight management, menopause, migraines and diabetes.  He is a brilliant man!

1) Waist Management begins today.
Dr. Oz recommends a simple test that speaks volumes about your general health. Stand straight, and ask someone to measure your abdomen. The measuring tape should start from your side, in the narrow area between the bottom of the ribs and the hip bone. Keeping the tape level, wrap it around your abdomen. Take a breath in, breathe out, and then look at the measurement. (This is not a “suck in your tummy” exercise!) Now double that circumference. Is the resulting number less than your height in inches?

If it’s less, then you’re probably in a healthy range.  Is it more? You might have risk factors for obesity, including belly fat, which can predict other health-related problems. Even insulin resistance might be setting in.  Many interventions can help move you out of this risk group.
Successful Waist Management is about finding a personalized fuel mix–the key being “personalized.” It’s a confusing world of information out there. There’s no one-size-fits-all plan. It’s important to find a combination of exercise, food, and stress-busting choices that work for each individual. Lifestyle changes that really fit can be easy to do yet reap huge rewards. I have a free health assessment at www.changingonelife.usana.com

2) Knock off the junk!
Dr. Oz pointed out that each sugary drink you consume adds at least 100 calories. Those soft drinks combine for a weight gain of 11 pounds per person, per year. That’s on top of the extra weight many of us carry from other unhealthy choices. Did you know that it can take up to 10 years before the doctors can determine that you are now type II diabetic?

Dropping 100 calories can dramatically upshift your condition, so replace a single daily soft drink with pure water. Not tap water, distilled water but pure water.  You’ve done it! Good. Simple changes are the best way to pursue a healthy outcome now, and, better yet, maintain wellness for the long term.  Small baby steps work best instead of major changes that become overwhelming and unmanageable.

3) Stay on top of your Lifetime Curve.
Picture an upside-down U. This “Lifetime Curve” represents your wellness and happiness. Through your teenage years, you’re moving up the left side, ascending as you learn and grow. When you begin to round the peak, you’re in your prime. At the top of the curve is the ideal time to safeguard and continue to improve your health. Beware of rounding the curve to the right side. That’s where you risk aging too rapidly by settling for a lifestyle and expectations that are less than optimal. Dr. Oz’s advice: Stay on top of the curve. 

If you’re at the top of the curve–generally, your 20s and 30s–make a plan to stay there, enjoying the health and good life that’s your birthright. Spoiler alert: Moving laterally to the right rather than rounding down toward the bottom takes life-affirming, bold moves. You’ll have to fight the temptation to let down your guard. But what if you’re older and want to regain the vitality and wellbeing of younger years? You can. It’s never too late to improve!  You can reverse type II diabetes, sail through menopause and stop those m

I get questions all the time from people all the time, asking how in the world I feed my family of 3 (plus a few extras) on an average of $100 per week. And NO, we don’t eat Top Ramen (disgusting); I’m a gourmet cook or learning to be!

I learned this with Dani Johnson in her War of Debt program.  Now, if you’re not in debt, that’s great and I’m really proud of you! But don’t tune me out here.   If your debt free then WooHoo!  This is about living a financially independent life. The money you save can be used for investments, savings, and vacations, paying down debt or any number of other things.

One place where people spend the most money is on food. Yes, food is essential. You cannot avoid having to buy food (unless, of course, you grow everything yourself). This is part of life. You really have to look at how much you’re spending and what you’re spending that money on.  Remember that grocery stores are a marketing ploy and they lure you to the sales.

1. Eat out of your pantry. The very first place you can save money on your grocery bill is actually not at the grocery store – it’s in your own kitchen! If you have food in your pantry, refrigerator, or freezer (and for a lot of people, in your second freezer), you do not need to be at the grocery store!  Use what is in your kitchen first. You may need to get creative here, and create some new meals with the ingredients you have. You’ll be surprised by what you can come up with! Some of my family’s favorite meals have come out of this.  Really, my guys were like this is pretty good what is it?  I shop for food once a week now and then we eat all of that food and sometimes run out.

1. Plan ahead. Planning ahead saves you time and money. If you do not have a strategic plan in place to keep you on track, you are setting yourself up for failure. If you do not plan ahead, you will be controlled by your cravings. Your brain shuts off and your body tells you what it wants.  The marketing of the store and sales will call your name and you spend 2 to 3 times more than you can afford.  Instead of setting yourself up for failure, make a list and stick to it! When you make a plan each week, you will save yourself from making those extra trips to the store for one or two items (which always turns into buying 5-6 or 20 extra things you didn’t even need).  This really works so place your list on the frig and add when you run out of the staples.  Be a good stewart of your money with simple planning.  It will save you time and money, and you will be healthier as a result of making smarter choices ahead of time!  It will seem foreign at first then the family will look to the menu to see what’s for dinner!

1. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store. Believe it or not, everything you need at the grocery store is around the perimeter. I want you to go to your grocery store, and think about what is along the edges. Look at the processed foods and where they are located.  At the perimeter, fresh produce, meat, cheese, eggs. You may have to step into the middle aisles to get bread or a few other things, but go grab those few things and get outta there!  The middle is where you find the boxed, canned, and pre-packaged foods, chips, sodas, ice cream, alcohol, etc. Those things are expensive, and they are not good for you, anyway!  We are talking healthy foods here on a budget and it can be done!

So today I want to challenge you, I want you to use these strategies this week, and let me know what happens. I learned I was spending over $750 a month or more on food.  Ouch!  After using this system I spend on average $100-125 per week.  It can be done!  To your health!

Time Management is all about relieving stress!  We face time stress when we have too much to do, when we don’t have enough time for the important things, when we fail to do what we hoped because we ran out of time, when we are late, and when we hurt other’s feelings with no time for them.  We get up stressed in the morning because our day already has defeated us before we ever begin.  We already know the only outcome is failure.  On those days, we also make it worse by picking a fight with a family member, being crabby, fussing, screaming, and becoming negative.  This adds more stress and takes more time during the day because we certainly didn’t schedule in the time it takes to be grouchy and at odds with others.  At night, we go to bed seeing in our minds the huge list of what we really needed or wanted to do that didn’t get touched!  Yes, usually on that list are the things necessary for hitting our goals and working towards our freedom.

As you are working on your schedule, consider the following.  I am not a big fan of time blocks now that I am not working in a J.O.B.  With that said I can also see the importance of using time blocks for short periods of time and to get things accomplished.

Schedule In the critical.  Everything you allow IN must be a priority or a matter of high importance!  There is a competition for the hours in your schedule so think protectively over your time.

God

Showering/Brushing Teeth

Spouse and Children

Sleep

Meals

Exercise

USANA or Your business or JOB

Schedule OUT the time wasters. The minute you identify a time waster, eliminate it as quickly as possible. Nothing is worse than a time waster sucking your energy out!

Conflict (What a huge waste of time and energy! This is of the enemy so pray on this if consistent)

Unnecessary computer or TV time (a little goes a long way) ( Add up how many hours you waste)

Game playing on phone or technology devices (Add up hours each day then week)

Gossip

Clubs & groups that have nothing to do with your Purpose or Goals (unless you joined them to enlarge your network or increase your influence or to explore new things to add to your life or family.)

Over – sleeping or Under – sleeping

“Hanging out” habit (the habit of doing nothing for hours with others or by yourself)

Delegation – Whenever possible, team up on chores, management, administrative, errands, etc.  Spend time with your spouse, family, friends, or team and design a plan that will allow everyone to use synergy to dig out extra hours for building a Live Free life. This can also be a family building time exercise.

Multi-Task – Look at the times during your day where multi-tasking would be possible and valuable.  If you are working at a J.O.B. and you have a lunch 30 minutes or 60 minutes, this is a perfect opportunity for multi-tasking.  You can take a Nutrimeal shake (USANA) to work and make calls while you sit outside in the sun and have your lunch.  It’s a power lunch full of energy, fresh air, and sunshine.  And it gives you the time to set up appointments, answer questions, train your team, or even do a Consultation.  Maybe you need this time to talk with your spouse everyday for connection in the marriage.

Make it Count – Enjoy and be “in the moment”!  Do NOT think about the millions of other things you should be doing or where you should be at that time.  If it was important enough to find a place in your schedule, then it’s important enough for your undivided attention.  This is huge for say date night or family time.  Be present and make it count for the other person/people to know how important this is.