The 30 Day Challenge

So What is all the Buzz about a 30 Day Challenge?

And why should you join?

 

Our Team is hosting a 30 day challenge…read below to see how you can join our team…. And win! We recently had a small group gathered and between nine of us….we totaled 369 lbs lost! That is better than some of the Biggest Loser results! Move over Jillian….we have a program that anyone can do, and not feel tortured or deprived! Though I do encourage exercise, it isn't necessary to lose weight, nor is it necessary to join our challenge. There is no diet… no starving… no feeling deprived. In fact… if you get started now, I will encourage you to go ahead and join all the holiday hoopla parties. You will have such great success that partaking in moderation will be easy, and you'll still lose the unwanted pounds!

This system is so simple… so easy! No crazy dieting… no feeling deprived…no feeling hungry! Read some of the testimonials…of Real Results others have gotten!

Call 478-508-2678 for more info on how you can get started!

 

So what does the Challenge consist of?

30 Days – commit to 30 days of consistent use so you will get the BEST results possible

A Deluxe Zija Weight Management System

Comes with 30 Day Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee! You have nothing to lose but the unwanted pounds!

Includes:

1 Case of Smart Mix
1 Case of XM+ Mix
1 XM/AM Blister Pack
1 XM/PM Blister Pack
1 Box of Premium Tea
5 XM/PM Trial Packs
5 XM/AM Trial Packs
1 Shaker Bottle
1 Business Kit

Retail value –over $500 -Your Cost $330 (includes shipping and handling)

A Free Consultation to help Set You up for Success

Each Challenge consists of a minimum of 10 Contestants – Max of 19 so you have a Great Chance to Win!

Contestant who loses the most lbs in 30 days will WIN!

You could win another FULL Deluxe System (retail value over $500!) or $250 CASH.

 

    

Triple Your Investment. in Less than a Month

Need some help from my bean counter friends in Zija. I want to make sure I am not missing something.

With our current promotion one could:

Invest $660 for a package valued at over $800.

Find two more investors at $660.

Earn $200 in FOB. $100 in EBB = $300

Earn $75 TC.

Earn at least $250 in extra bonus for RA.

So....that would be $625 in earnings.

Help those people find their two investors and you find a couple more.

Earn an additional - $50 in SBBs, $300 in in FOB & EBB, $225 in TC, and $500 more for RA to bronze, with the potential to earn even more if you repeat that process again and get to gold!

SO...they could turn $660 into $625 + $1075 = $1700 in just a few weeks...

not even counting selling samples - is that right??? Math is not my strong point so I may be missing something....

If this were duplicated on a weekly basis the earnings would exponentially grow. A person could easily make $4k in their first month with this promo! We only have this week to prepare the soil by upgrading... and four weeks to create unstoppable momentum!

Water – Make Wise Choices

If anyone had told me ten years ago that I would spend $2.50 for a quart of water (do the math… that is $10 per gallon!!!) I would have laughed. Now, I shake my head in wonder at how many people do just that. People will not spend three measly dollars per day on providing their bodies with the best nutrition on the planet, but they will buy WATER that is virtually free at the conservative cost of $5 per gallon. I was appalled when I did research to get up to date figures for my recent class. 60 MILLION plastic water bottles per day are tossed into the trash in the United States. Stop and think about that for a minute. Do a little simple math 60,000,000 x 365 = 21,900,000,000 or to write that out 21 BILLION, 9 HUNDRED MILLION bottles per year. Is that not insane?!!!!

I could camp out on the detriment to our environment that the bottle water industry has caused, but that isn't the purpose of this post. My goal is to help educate folks so they will drink the proper amount of water to hydrate themselves, and to help them make wise choices in choosing their water sources. Hopefully the opening paragraph is a clue that bottle water would not be the wisest choice, but if that isn't enough there is much more evidence to incriminate. There really aren't any redeemable qualities to offset the many detriments to drinking bottled water. First we addressed exorbitant expense, and environmental cost. Now let's look at the price we are paying with our health.

Plastics are full of toxins. No one will even attempt to deny that. Those toxins leach from the bottle into the water we drink. No one will deny that either. The arguments are all around how much leaches, and how much is "safe." I will leave the experts to nit-pick over nano-particles, and I will save myself hundreds of dollars per year by drinking tap water which has tested just as clean or cleaner than bottled water.

But, wait! Tap water from a city municipal source is full of chlorine, and often is "enriched" with fluoride – neither of which are good for you. If you don't believe me, have a look at this.The simple solution is to find a good filter, not to pick up a couple of cases of bottled water every week. While I was doing my research I ran across this site, and felt like it was worth sharing this comparison chart.

Once you choose your water filter and have a clean source of water, find yourself a BPA free water bottle, or even better drink out of glass or stainless steel. Then measure out the optimum amount your body needs so that you can better gauge if you are drinking enough. The simplest formula to use is to take your body weight and divide it in half. That number is the number of ounces of good clean purified water you should be drinking each day. If you are also consuming caffeine you should compensate by drinking more water. (Caffeine is a diuretic and will dehydrate instead of hydrate you.)

Adding a lemon wedge or two will add in some flavor, without negating the benefits of drinking water. Don't use the flavored water packets or additives. All the ones I have seen are full of artificial sweeteners and colors. If you aren't sure why those are bad… go back a few posts and read The Fatal Five.

Is Exercise Really Necessary to Lose Weight?

Answering this question will probably upset some of my fitness fanatic friends, but I have to be honest. An exercise program is not necessary to lose weight. It is a question many people ask simply because they are at a place in their health where exercise isn't an option, or it feels like torture. I have to confess that I lost my weight before I started an exercise program. I didn't just lose a few pounds either…. I lost 54lbs BEFORE I started exercising. It was not until I had lots of flabby skin to tone up that I made myself find the time to fit exercise into my schedule. Using our weight management program which helps to balance the metabolism was all that my body needed to shed the fat.

I say this not to upset the exercise gurus who read this, but to encourage people who aren't to the place in their journey that they are ready to implement exercise. I can also offer encouragement by saying that all my clients who started out in that position, now enjoy pain free exercise and have found a way to fit it into their busy lives. Now to appease my gym rat friends a little more – even though exercise isn't necessary for your weight loss program, it *is* necessary for your fitness program. Most of us who have weight loss as a goal would also have 'being more healthy' as our 'why' for setting that goal. So, you aren't off the hook!

You can NOT be healthy without some form of physical activities which include aerobic and anaerobic routines. We might think we are healthy because we are at our ideal weight, but unless you are physically exerting yourself, your heart and lungs will be weak. You must get your heart rate up higher than normal in order to 'exercise' your cardiovascular system. Most of us are familiar with aerobic exercise, but I thought including the following description would be helpful in understanding the differences in aerobic and anaerobic so you can incorporate both in your program.

"The term "anaerobic" means "without air" or "without oxygen." Anaerobic exercise uses muscles at high intensity and a high rate of work for a short period of time. Anaerobic exercise helps us increase our muscle strength and stay ready for quick bursts of speed. Think of short and fast when you think of anaerobic exercise.

Examples of anaerobic exercise include heavy weight lifting, sprinting, or any rapid burst of hard exercise. These anaerobic exercises cannot last long because oxygen is not used for energy and a by-product, called lactic acid, is produced.

Lactic Acid contributes to muscle fatigue and must be burned up by the body during a recovery period before another anaerobic bout of exercise can be attempted. The recovery period also allows the muscles to use oxygen to replenish the energy used during the high intensity exercise.

Aerobic exercise, on the other hand, includes lower intensity activities performed for longer periods of time. Activities like walking, jogging, swimming, and cycling require a great deal of oxygen to make the energy needed for prolonged exercise.

Both aerobic and anaerobic exercises are needed for the development of physical fitness. Check with your healthcare provider before you start an exercise program. Choose activities that you enjoy, and that are readily accessible." – taken from the University of Iowa's website.

Many people think that if they are walking 3-5 times a week that should be enough. Even though that is better than no exercise, it is doubtful that it will facilitate weight loss, and it is definitely not enough to support good cardiovascular health. Zumba is the latest craze, and is lots of fun. I am a social exerciser so finding classes at the local gym was what it took for me to "take the plunge." I really like Body Pump too because it includes enough weights to double as aerobic exercise and weight training. R.I.P.P.E.D. is probably my favorite thus far, but is not the best class for beginners because of its intensity. Whether you get to the gym for a fun class, or order a DVD so you can get all sweaty and stinky in the privacy of your own home, find something to do to get your heart rate up, your lungs working at full capacity, and your muscles moving enough to at least feel it the next day. Find something to do that you enjoy, or you won't stick with it. And just like dieting… exercising is NOT going to work for you if you have a short term attitude about it. It needs to be a lifestyle change.

Even though exercise is not necessary to lose weight, it is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. As the Nike slogan goes…. "Just Do It!" Do it for your figure, but most importantly, do it for your health!

Why Low Fat is Bad

As I was selecting a package of cream cheese at the store yesterday, I picked up a package of fat free cream cheese by mistake. When I read the ingredients, I was appalled. (Not that I would have purchased it, but I have become a habitual label reader.) Among other non-natural ingredients was Titanium (for color.) I will save a discussion on artificially coloring our foods for another day, but I had to mention this, because I was already prepared to talk about the benefits of having enough (good) fat in your diet.

We have bought the lie that fat is bad, and it needs to be only 10% of our daily intake…. And yet those people who adhere to the low fat, low calorie mentality are the ones who struggle with their weight… and often end up with diabetes or "metabolic syndrome." Our metabolisms were not designed to eat the "foods" we eat today. The syndrome we have is a syndrome of unhealthy eating, and misinformation. One large piece of misinformation that we have bought "hook, line, and sinker" is the notion that fats are bad for you and cause you to have high cholesterol. It is true that some fats are bad, but we have gone beyond throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Avoiding all fats is a contributing factor to the overall poor health in our nation. Our bodies NEED fat. In fact, each of the trillions of cells in our body must have fat in order to function properly. The fancy term we use for these fats that are integral to the outer structure of each cell is "lipid." Lipids, combined with certain plant based carbohydrates, send important messages to the immune system. Without enough fats in our diets, our body struggles to communicate properly…. And the end result is more frequent illnesses, cancers, and auto-immune conditions.

Our bodies need fat. Some of us even need as much as 30% fat on a daily basis. And yet, we are bombarded with slick marketing that tells us to avoid fat, but not fattening foods… just substitute low fat, and all of a sudden ice cream no longer needs to be eaten in moderation. In the first place, the dairy products in the store are bad for you, period, regardless of whether they are made from skim milk, or whole milk. Cow milk creates an acidic environment in the body. What you buy at the store has been pasteurized (killed) and homogenized (molecularly changed.) When you kill the enzymes, you facilitate "lactose intolerance." In the raw version, you would get the enzyme lactase, which is necessary to digest lactose. Our bodies don't make lactase. So the end result is NO ONE drinking pasteurized milk is able to process lactose unless they are consuming a live enzyme supplement. You'll even find special milk that has lactase added back in. Intrinsically, there is something wrong with this picture… but you will find it throughout the grocery store. We kill the food and then "enrich" it with supplemental vitamins and such that were originally there in the first place. But now I am off on a tangent… I'll save further discussion for another blog post.

Don't read what I am saying to mean that it is okay to eat any kind of fat! Fried foods should still be avoided. Hydrogenated oils (aka trans fats) should not be a part of anyone's diet who wants to stay healthy. Oh, and by the way, even if it says 0 trans fats, still read the label. If the serving has less than a gram, they can legally say "0 trans fats." Hydrogenated oils are found in many breads, most crackers, margarine, Crisco, and most anything processed that contains flour. Why? It is cheaper. And what detriment is it to us to consume it? Hydrogenated oil, like homogenized milk, is molecularly changed. In the case of milk, the fat is bound to the other molecules so the cream doesn't separate. In the case of hydrogenated oils, it is molecularly changed so that something that was originally liquid becomes solid. And then we wonder why we have hardening of our arteries, and fatty deposits all throughout our cardiovascular system. But all fats arent bad. Saturated fats are good for you, and are an important part of a balanced diet. Examples of foods containing good fats are: almonds, flax seed (freshly ground), butter (in moderation), walnuts, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, & olive oil (cold processed), cheeses, sour cream, eggs (yolk too)….in other words – naturally occurring fats. We won't lump meat fats into that list because naturally raised meat is naturally low fat!

How this relates to people being overweight could be considered theoretical… or just common sense applied. It is a known fact that our bodies respond to food differently when we are in "starvation mode." When we don't eat enough, our body goes into reserve and holds on to calories it would otherwise burn, hibernation, if you will. When we starve our bodies of fats, something similar happens. If you aren't getting enough good fats in your diet, your body won't turn loose of its stored fat, and instead you will begin to burn muscle for energy.

It is also important to know how our bodies react when we are out of balance in the foods we eat. Hopefully I can explain this in a way that is easy to understand. Our bodies produce insulin to offset the rise in sugar that gets dumped into the bloodstream when we are digesting foods. When we eat lots of carbs without a balance of fats and proteins, we overwork our pancreas trying to produce enough insulin to bring the blood sugar down to an acceptable level. This is where the "glycemic index" becomes important to consider. Though I don't subscribe to the plan on this website I like their glycemic list better than others I have seen. It is important to know that you can choose your portions wisely and still not totally give up the high glycemic foods you love. However, when all we eat are high glycemic foods, the end result is bound to be diabetes. Our undernourished cells eventually become insulin resistant (poor communication) and our overworked pancreas eventually gives out, and even "Type II" Diabetics become insulin dependent. The other thing that happens is the digestive system takes the easiest route in order to divert all the body's energy to lower the blood sugar. That "route" is to store everything as fat! We encourage this viscous cycle by eating processed carbs and avoiding fats and proteins. So… the skinny on fats is: If you don't eat enough, it might make you fat!

 

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Allergies - What Can You Do?

In some areas there are still pollen clouds in the air, and yellow dust coats every horizontal exterior surface. We also discussed the respiratory system on Blogtalk Radio this week, and talked about allergies and asthma. With this in mind, it seems appropriate to address allergies here too. This is the time of year when everyone is wondering what the best seasonal allergy treatment is. Find relief from a seasonal/pollen allergy IS possible! And it doesn’t have to consist of over the counter drugs to mask the symtoms until the pollen clears the air either.

Not all allergies are seasonal however. Many people suffer from various food allergies, dust and mold allergies, and even allergies to certain types of animals. It is important to note that all allergies have the same basic root cause, and all allergies can be improved naturally. That is not to say there are natural allergy cures. The word ‘cure’ has become a forbidden word in the natural world. According to the FDA food can’t cure anything. Maybe a better term would be spontaneous recovery? In this case what happens with natural allergy treatments is you restore the body’s ability to handle the offending allergens properly.

First it would help to understand the basic premise: in the simplest terms, allergies are caused by improper communication within the body. When the immune system identifies foreign objects its job is to isolate and eliminate. Allergies are the result of an immune system gone awry. It attacks, but never shuts down, resulting in extreme inflammation. The standard medical treatment is to address the symptom, and not the cause. One simple way to alleviate the problem is to avoid the allergen. Of course, sometimes that is easier said than done. Another typical treatment is to take antihistamines. Our body normally produces histamines, but when allergies develop, the histamine production goes into overdrive. Using antihistamines will grant relief, but it won’t eliminate the problem. Sometimes, when allergies are severe, the protocol will include steroids. Allergies also contribute to asthma, which can be life threatening. Medications have their place, are often necessary, and are great for relieving allergy symptoms; but they will never help your body to overcome allergies.

So, what is a ‘natural treatment’ for allergies? Proper nutrition is the key… along with adequate rest and moderate exercise. Stress is a major offender in all areas of health, and allergies are no exception. There are many, many people who are finding that their seasonal allergy symptoms completely disappear when they incorporate good, quality nutrition and live a healthy lifestyle. It sounds very simplistic, and in all honesty, it is. The biggest challenge is finding real nutrition in the denatured foods we eat. The answer is to supplement with a high quality supplement which includes vitamins & minerals, amino acids, omega fats, and antioxidants.

If you are looking to learn how to treat pollen or seasonal allergies naturally, the best remedy available is a clean diet with proper nutrition. Don’t be surprised if implementing this helps your other allergies too. Regardless of whether they are food allergies, pet allergies, or pollen allergies, the solution is the same. Give your body what it needs so that it can correct the communication breakdown, and your allergies symptoms will vanish faster than the pollen does!

So, I guess I got the cart before the horse. In my rush to publish an article related to the digestive system, and the radio talk show, I failed to introduce the Better Health series. I actually started writing these articles last year, but didn't publish very many of them before I put the project on hold. This time, I will follow through and cover different areas from A to Z.

The goal of this series is to explore some of the many health conditions that people suffer from today, and look at causes and solutions. You will never find me using the words “treat, cure, or mitigate” because those are words that are basically trademarked solely for the use of pharmaceutical companies. It is a sad fact, but in reality, drugs don't “treat, cure, or mitigate” either. The vast majority (95%) simply mask symptoms. The other 5 percent (antibiotics fall into this category) often fail to accomplish their purpose simply because they have been so overused. We now have what the medical community calls “super bugs” that have mutated and adapted to render antibiotics a useless defense.

We pray for cures, when in fact, the answers are right before our eyes. The causes of all disease trace back to three primary factors – toxic overload, nutritional deficiencies, and parasites. You might also see some references to viruses and bacteria, but the body could defend itself against these if it weren't for those three root causes. It is important to not discount the importance of adequate pure clean water, good restful sleep, and exercise. Those are three simple additions to anyone's regime that will improve overall health. However, many people find themselves in a state of health that prevents them from getting proper rest and exercise.

The easiest route to take becomes the one so many people walk down. First one drug to mask the symptom, then another to bring down the blood pressure, then another for cholesterol...and next thing you know, there is another drug for pain relief, one to help you sleep, and one for acid reflux. And lastly, you'll find that weight gain occurs and many times with that comes diabetes. Adding in an anti-depressant will almost inevitably happen somewhere along the way. I have a saying... “Drugs are like Lays Potato Chips. You can't just take one.” Once you start, one gets stacked on top of the other, to remedy the side effect the first one caused. At some point, people will either get fed up, or die from the combination of the original problem and the toxic overload caused by the multiple prescriptions. I am writing these articles to benefit the people that are in the “fed up” category.

So then the question becomes....where to start? Even though the answer to that question is best targeted to each individual, there are some generic guidelines to follow. First of all, don't expect results over night. Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, nor did your body get in the shape it is in overnight. It won't recover overnight either! How quickly you get your body back to optimal health will directly correlate to how committed you are to making changes. If you goal is to eliminate medications, you need to have a sit down with your doctor (or more likely PA) and tell him/her that you are making lifestyle changes and would like to come up with a plan to eliminate prescriptions as your health improves. Find out which drugs you can eliminate at your own discretion. Pain meds and indigestion meds often fall into this category. Get a base line on your blood pressure and blood work so that you can re-evaluate at reasonable intervals. If your focus is on reducing blood pressure prescriptions, keep a log. Then start making simple changes. Baby steps are much more effective than a massive overhaul. Small changes stick; major changes cause revolts. You can bring your family along on the health journey with you if the adjustments are gradual.

There are 5 major offenders that need to be removed from the diet. Some will argue that there are others, and I would agree. However, even just removing these 5 from the diet are a challenge many can't tackle. It is next to impossible to eliminate them all, so focusing on a few of the worst ones is better than being overwhelmed and quitting before you get started. Typically I suggest people just start with one at a time, and then progressively eliminate them all. Tackle the easiest one first. Success breeds success. You will be much more likely to continue down the path to better health if you find it easy to walk down.

Next week we explore what those five offensive foods are….so stay tuned! Feel free to comment with your ‘guesses’. Anyone (who has never heard me speak) that can list off all five, will win a Skinny Mini – 4 day trial pack!

ABCs of Better Health – Acid Reflux

I will be writing a series of articles on various health challenges that can be addressed naturally. Emilio and I are talking about the different systems of the body on Blogtalk Radio on Mondays at 2pm. This week we discussed the digestive system, and how it affects our overall health, as well as ways to ensure that your digestive system is functioning optimally. This week's blog will briefly address acid reflux and the simplest way to overcome it naturally. Millions of Americans suffer from Acid Reflux and most of them turn to acid reducing drugs for help. Unfortunately they don't realize that masking the symptoms creates even worse problems.

Acid reflux is rooted in the deficiency of enzymes in our current food supply. Enzymes are necessary for proper food digestion, just as stomach acids are required. When enzymes aren't present, our bodies try to compensate by increasing acid production. The result: too much acid, and incredible discomfort. Following the typical allopathic method of treating the symptom without addressing the problem will indeed make one feel better, but in the long run it can also result in much worse problems such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, leaky gut, and even colon cancer. It is not uncommon for the 'end result' of continued medical treatment to be removal of portions of the colon!

A more common sense approach would be to determine WHY the stomach is producing too much acid. Almost always, adding good quality enzymes and improving the diet will alleviate the problem. It is also prudent to use some form of a colon cleanse to rid the body of all the undigested foods that clog up the intestines and lead to other illnesses. Much of what we consume today is toxic in some way. Very few of us eat a totally raw, organic diet...and unless we do, it is important to be proactive in supporting our digestive health.

Whether we suffer from acid reflux or not, it is prudent to do a cleanse at least yearly. There are several good enzyme products on the market, and a plethora of colon cleanses (some more detrimental than beneficial.) Care should be taken that you get a good quality product, else you won't get good results. It is not a good idea to use colon cleanse type products long term, nor should they be used as a method for weight loss. They WILL greatly enhance a weight loss program, but if they are being used AS a weight loss program, they are too harsh. One of my favorites is the "Master Cleanse" – mainly because it involves using simple ingredients you can find at the grocery store, and it isn't harsh. Even things that are healthy for us, if used improperly can be harmful. Don't confuse "detox" or "digestive support" types of products with "colon cleanse". The Miracle Tea is designed to support the digestive system and detox organs (such as the liver and kidneys) and is gentle enough to be used through the duration of the weight management program. It is also a good addition to include once or twice a week regardless of whether you are trying to lose weight or not. Enzymes and probiotics can be use daily as they are simply rebuilding the digestive environment we have destroyed with poor eating habits and excessive use of antibiotics. Many people find that when they use the Smart Mix they no longer need to supplement with enzymes. Since it is never heated during processing and hasn't been denatured in any way, it is still enzymatically alive.

Including raw foods in the diet on a daily basis will also go a long way towards restoring proper digestion. Be sure to eat seasonal fruits and vegetables, and include a wide variety. Your best bet is to buy them from a local grower if you aren't able to grow your own. Next best would be to purchase from the local Farmer's Market, but buying them at the grocery store is better than getting a fruit cup with your Big Mac. Not to downplay the benefit of trading fruit for fries, but your commitment to change needs to be bigger than that! Make it your goal to eat something raw with each meal for a week, and see if you can turn that into a habit. Your colon will thank you!

My goal in writing the ABC's of Better Health is to help people seek out natural solutions before turning to drugs for answers. There are cases which are more difficult to 'solve' but I am convinced that natural answers can be found, and it is very rare that drugs are necessary...especially on a long term basis.

Quick Easy Weight Loss, Part 2

There are several mental triggers that sabotage healthy quick weight loss. Some cravings come from addictions, and others come from our body's need for nutrition, and still others are set off when we put ourselves on a "diet" that denies us the things we love most. If there was a way to overcome cravings, it would be much easier to lose weight. Let's look at some things that you can do to help.

A very simple way to help stave off cravings is to ensure you are drinking enough water. Many times when we think we are hungry, we are really just thirsty. Try it! Next time you think you are hungry or get the munchies, drink 12-16oz of water and wait ten minutes. Another neat trick is to brush your teeth. Sometimes it is a lingering taste that will trigger or tastebuds and cause us to want to eat.

Sadly, we have evolved to a point where our "food" doesn't provide us with adequate nutrition anymore, and our brain is in a constant state of signaling that it needs more nutrition, which in turn sets off a series of events which cause us to feel hungry. One easy way to overcome nutritional cravings is to provide our bodies with all the nutrition they need. I think we can all agree that we can't get what we need from our grocery store. For years the only way to get everything we needed was to take 4 or 5 different supplements, typically resulting in at least 2 hands full of pills. Now, with Zija's revolutionary proprietary Moringa product, we can have all that and then some. It not only includes all your vitamins and minerals, it includes all the necessary amino acids, the omega fats in a perfect balance, 36 anti-inflammatories, and 46 antioxidants. No other botanical even comes close to being as nutrient dense as Moringa, and Zija International has harnessed that nutritional power by painstakingly preserving it in its natural state, and utilizing all the beneficial parts of the tree. The end product contains a blend of the leaf, the seed, and the fruit. It is never heated, is still enzymatically alive, and is not denatured in any way. Most people find that they are not as hungry, and lose their sweet and salty cravings.

Probably the most frustrating and overwhelming cravings we have are the emotional ones. We eat when we are stressed. We eat when we are 'hormonal'. We eat when we are sad. We eat when we are mad. And for many, it seems as if this is the biggest challenge – overcoming the urge to eat every time our mood changes. One of the biggest hurdles to jump is the battle that goes on in the brain when these urges hit. Zija's Weight Management system addresses this with the XM3 "Body In Balance" capsule. By strategically including Dutch cocoa, and other healthy, natural, ingredients, the capsule arrests emotional cravings, helps us not be as hungry, and makes us feel full faster. As one client said, "It frees you from bondage to food." I call it coaching in a capsule because it allows people to easily push away from the table, and effortlessly walk away from the foods that used to taunt them. Self control is simple when you have the XM3 capsule on your side. To add the icing to the proverbial cake, you don't feel like you are denying yourself the things you love, so they don't tempt you like they would if they were not on the "diet menu". To top it off, you'll also experience targeted fat loss because it helps to trigger leptin production which in turn helps the body burn fat.

Using these two components of the system will help you to overcome your cravings and have healthy, quick, and easy weight loss. In another blog I will talk about the Miracle Tea, and the importance of detoxing while shedding fat.

 

Zija's XM3 Weight Mangement is:

A system

that doesn't restrict you…

that retrains your brain to want more healthy food….

that empowers you to be able to walk away without overeating…

that gives you victory in the battle of the bulge by burning fat.

 

Is it Possible to Lose Weight Safely and Quickly?

Is it Possible to Lose Weight Safely and Quickly? (Part 1)

Up until recently, my answer to that question would have been a resounding no. The typical diet designed for rapid weight loss is quite unhealthy. With most programs, losing more than 1-2% of your weight per week simply means you are sacrificing muscle as well as fat. So, even though you might lose weight fast, it really hasn't improved the BMI or your health.

There are more than a handful of fad diets that can help you lose it, but how many of them will help you keep it off? The percentage of people who use a diet to lose weight and keep it off long term is very small. Diets don't work; only lifestyle changes do.

Lifestyle changes not only take time, they are hard to make. Habits die hard; addictive foods proliferate the modern diet. Combine those two simple undeniable truths, and you'll know why people go to such drastic measures to lose weight. They range the gamut from cabbage diets to gastric by-pass surgery. Others turn to diet pills that promise rapid easy weight loss like Alli. A person has to be desperate to take something that warns of side effects like these!. (Please click the link and go read, especially if you are considering using Alli or any other fat blocking product!) Gastric by-pass surgery is not all it is purported to be either. "According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in October, 2005, the rates of death from gastric bypass surgery are far higher than previously disclosed. The study of over 16,000 patients found that, among 35 to 44-year-olds, more than 5 percent of men and nearly 3 percent of women were dead within a year, and slightly higher rates were seen in patients 45 to 54. Among patients 65 to 74, nearly 13 percent of men and about 6 percent of women died. In patients 75 and older, half of the men and 40 percent of the women died. With about 170,000 gastric bypass surgeries occurring each year in the United States, as many as 4,500 to 9,000 patients may die as a result of this surgery annually. This is more than double previous estimates." If you'd like to read the whole article you can find it here. Not only do many die from gastric bypass, the after effects are irreversible. People will subject themselves to horrid side effects, risk their lives, and make life altering decisions to lose weight. Why? Is it because people don't have enough self control to make lifestyle changes? Is it because they try all the fad diets, and don't lose weight? Is it because they want instant results without any effort? Or is it because they get to a point where they don't think there is any other way?

What if there was a natural way to retrain the brain and overcome the challenge of willpower? A way to overcome addictions to carbs and sweets without having to completely give them up, or deny yourself the things you love? The main challenge most people have is portion control. When they turn to Weight Watchers or other low calorie diets, they find the pounds come off very slowly, and many of them give up before they meet their goals. Or, maybe they are among those who are motivated by accountability and they actually lose the weight. How many of them actually keep it off? People who lose weight dieting typically gain the weight back, and then some.

Check in for part two, and find out how you can make simple lifestyle changes that will help you shed the fat, and keep it off forever.

 

How Healthy is America?

I think we can all agree that our health care system is broken. In the year 2000 (the last published scorecard from the WHO), the US was ranked 37^th in Health Care Performance. A quick look around the web (or in the local doctor's office) and it is easy to see that hasn't improved in the past 10 years. There is a huge national buzz about needing change, but no real change has been suggested, just government funding for more of the same. Will it help? Of course! But that really isn't the question to ask. We should be asking who will it help?

 

If you haven't watched the Town of Allopath video yet, you should. Until the problem is exposed, not many people will look for a real solution. We as a generation have grown up doing things the way we do them just because it has always been done that way. We are so far removed from Plato & Aristotle that asking the question "why" doesn't occur to us. "Why?" Because we have been taught not to question. It Is Because It Is ...that's why! We find ourselves in the era of improvement, not discovery. Without common sense questions, this is a scary place to be. "Why?" Because when we improve upon a method that is already faulty...all we get is faultier.

 

The model of allopathy is a case in point. It is a system of treating symptoms, not looking for causes. In a most simplistic sense, it appears reasonable. In order to expose the flaw, let's create a hypothetical example. When you have a headache a plausible solution would be to take a Tylenol, right? So....what if you have reoccurring headaches? Doesn't it make sense to try and figure out what is causing the headaches? At some point you might come to the conclusion that it is time to see a doctor to determine the problem. In most cases that requires a battery of tests which are designed to discover the cause. So far, this model seems like a good method. But what happens if there isn't a blatant explanation like a tumor? Or what happens if during the examination it is discovered that you have high blood pressure which is 'causing' the headaches? The doctor writes a prescription for a blood pressure med, and pats you on the back telling you it will get better. You are also told that you'll be taking this med for the rest of your life. On occasion you might get some instructions to exercise more and lose a few pounds along with a print out of one of the "low diets" (low fat, low carb, or low calorie). Oh, and don't forget to schedule your next appointment so you can get your prescription renewed.

 

There are actually a few allopathic doctors that have a little training in nutrition, but not many. In med school, the education is focused on pharmacology and diagnosis. In this case the 'diagnosis' was high blood pressure. But the real "why" was never uncovered. High blood pressure is a symptom. You might say, "But the doctor told me it was because I am overweight." Being overweight can contribute to high blood pressure, but it isn't the cause, otherwise everyone who is overweight would have high blood pressure. There are lots of skinny people that have high blood pressure. Even many doctors who consider themselves holistic in their approach, will treat allopathically with herbs instead of drugs. Though this is a better approach, it still only addresses the symptom most of the time.

 

It is my opinion that the best method is to apply common sense in a truly holistic way, much the same way that James Lind approached scurvy. A good first question to ask is "What is missing?" In the case of the Navy it was fresh fruits and vegetables. Deeper digging uncovered that citrus fruits we key. In the world of wellness, we do see this approach more broadly used. We even see it to a small degree in the development of the RDA. Here is a great article to read.

 

As we progress we are learning more about what nutrients are vital for good health. In recent years we have learned more about the importance of Omega fats, even though they aren't on the RDA list. Antioxidants have taken the front row as the baby boomers start to feel their age, because there is convincing research that antioxidants are essential to slow the aging process. We are learning more about macronutrients, and micronutrients. We are also learning that supplementing isn't good enough. We must use good supplements. Just because it says it has it all, A-Z, doesn't mean we will absorb it all.

 

For some people, even when they make changes to include everything necessary to promote good health, there are residual effects of prior bad choices. Toxin buildup needs to be addressed, and often parasites play a key role in preventing a wellness approach from working optimally. Sadly, we live in a world where people prefer to take a pill than to put forth the effort to take care of themselves properly.

 

Other influencing factors are the ever present drug reps promoting the latest and greatest pharmaceuticals on the market. Our society has evolved into a "fast food nation" that demands instant gratification. Logic isn't taught anymore, so we think more in terms of the here and now, than pondering the cause-effect relationship which forces one to ask the question, "What will be the long term result of following this protocol?" Common sense allopathy is an oxymoron. There must be a paradigm shift if we are going to make the changes necessary to improve our health score card which is inherently connected to the treatment model being used.

 

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8 days of Smart Mix

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Why Diets Don’t Work

Why is it that we are still seeing the epidemic rise is obesity with so many diets to choose from? Is it because all those people just don't care that they are overweight? I don't think so! Billions of dollars are being spent in the weight loss arena, and yet people aren't getting lasting results. Why? Personally, I think it is because people have been sold a lie. Diets don't work - period! Only life style changes can give permanent results, and most folks are so caught up in the eating culture of today, that they aren't willing to make the necessary commitments to garner the results they desire. My biggest challenge as a coach is not to help people lose weight, but to help them retrain their brain so that they can maintain it even after our coaching sessions are over.

We live in a fast-food nation. We expect instant gratification in all areas of life. Few people embrace the idea that it took years to get to where they are, and there is no magic that will give them back their high school figure overnight. Many people jump from one fad diet to another thinking that *this* will be the magic one that will be quick and easy. There is no way that I could cover all the different fad diets because there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of them. I will address a few of the main ones being promoted and what makes them ineffective and unhealthy.

Low Cal

At the top of the list is one that has been around for quite some time. Scientifically it can be supported that the key to success is to simply eat less calories, and move more. From a common sense standpoint it seems like a valid hypothesis. If you can burn more calories than you are consuming, you have to lose weight. While this is true, there are many people who have a "thrifty gene" that kicks in when calories are reduced. Designed to help you survive during a famine, the "thrifty gene" can sabotage your efforts if you are using this method to lose weight. If you are one of those people who have a hard time losing weight no matter what you do, you have probably been blessed with this survival mechanism. Your metabolism will adjust itself to maintain on the caloric intake provided, even if it is less than what is recommended to lose weight. I find it interesting that about 85% of the people who find themselves in this boat have an O blood type. I happen to fall into this category myself so I know your frustration if you can relate to the description above.

Even for those people who *do* lose weight on a low-cal diet, it is not sustainable long term, especially using the pre-packaged, pre-measured, "convenient" snacks and meals that are popular with this diet plan. It also is important to mention that most of these products use artificial sweeteners to lower the calories, and I have already addressed that in a previous blog. Studies show that artificial sweeteners often cause weight gain not to mention that they are neurotoxins. Reducing calories also poses a health risk. Our food is so nutrient depleted that, unless you have a food like Smart Mix in your daily regime, you will quickly find your health failing from lack of basic nutrition. Even those people who stick with a low-cal diet until they reach their goal weight rarely have long term success because it is difficult to maintain it as a lifestyle change. The biggest problem with any diet is the mindset that accompanies them. Diets are designed to get you to your goal, but they don't retrain the brain to help you think like a thin person. The end result – people return to their old habits… and often end up gaining back more than they initially lost.

Low Carb

One of the most popular in this category is the Atkins diet. Our bodies require certain carbohydrates to function properly. A low carb diet will also eventually lead to health challenges, and for most it isn't sustainable… and neither is the weight loss achieved with this method. Once you return to eating a healthy amount of carbohydrates, you will pack back on the pounds. Many of these plans allow the dieter an unlimited amount of proteins and fats, which are difficult for the body to digest, and overload the filter organs. The premise behind the low carb model is that you cause your body to go into ketosis which will induce fat burning. While I would wholeheartedly agree that it is healthy to limit the amount of processed carbs, it is important to not eliminate all carbohydrates from the diet. Fruits and vegetables are the foundation of a healthy diet, with proteins and fats providing the pillars for wellness. Most people will admit that they don't even feel well when the majority of their sustenance comes from proteins. A healthier alternative would be to choose a "slow carb" lifestyle where high glycemic foods are avoided, but complex carbohydrates are still an integral part of the daily menu. Even though it is true that a greater majority will achieve "success" with the low carb diet method, I don't personally know anyone who has adopted a low carb lifestyle and maintained weight loss long term. In fact, I commonly hear from people who readily admit that they were able to lose weight easily with this method, but they gained it back as quickly as they lost it. Diets don't work. Only lifestyle changes do… and in order to make lifestyle changes, you have to find a program that you can live with and one that will help you maintain your health. Overloading your plate with proteins and fats while eliminating almost all carbohydrates is unhealthy. I always tell my clients, "Ask yourself if you are eating in a way that you can live with for the rest of your life." If you aren't, whatever results you get won't be lifetime results.

Low Fat

Diets that fall into this category are the biggest hoax of them all. We have been told for the past 40 years or so that fats are causing us to be fat; fats are causing heart disease, fats are bad for us. We have heard it so much that it will probably be hard for you to change your mindset. There is a great book called, "Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill" that I would highly recommend if you aren't convinced by this short synopsis. If you haven't read my recent blog post on sugar, you might be surprised by what Dr. Lustig reveals in the lecture he recently presented. He supports the notion that fats aren't the cause of obesity or the prevalent health challenges we are facing as a nation. Just like carbohydrates, our bodies need fats. Each of our cells is coated with structures that are formed with proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. These structures form the cellular alphabet that allows our cells to communicate with each other. Without an adequate supply of proteins, fats, and certain plant based carbohydrates our immune system won't function properly.

From a health standpoint, the elimination of all the good fats from our diets has wreaked havoc. About 60% of our brain is composed of fat! Getting an adequate amount of good fat in the diet is extremely important for proper brain function. The low fat diets limit the good fats as well as the bad. Some of the popular diet aids on the market tout that they flush all the fat you consume and advertise this as a benefit. We should absolutely eliminate the bad fats. Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils should never pass our lips, but unless you want to sacrifice your immune system and proper brain function I strongly recommend avoiding a low fat diet.

What Does Work?

It should be obvious that low fat diets (like low cal diets, and low carb diets) don't work. If they did, we wouldn't be one of the fattest nations on the planet. There is a low-fat or no-fat version of everything… and yet, we are still fat. If your goal is to lose weight AND be healthy, then don't opt for a diet of any variety. Choose to make lifestyle changes. Learn what foods are bad for you and avoid them. Learn what foods are good for you and consume them. Supporting a lifestyle change with a system like the XM3 Weight Management System is not only acceptable, but it is prudent. It supports the body's natural functions and helps you establish routines that will improve your quality of life – and help you live longer. As a weight management coach, I can honestly say you won't find a healthier, quicker way to achieve your weight loss goals.

A Win/Win/Win Fundraiser

Bear with me as I meander down the cyber pathway and reflect. It is amazing how life has changed over the past 20 years. When I look back, I can't even recall what life was like before the era of cell phones, and the shrinking of the world. Actually, I do remember hauling around a big, heavy black bag with a "car phone" in it! Today not only is our technology "smaller" where we can carry both our computer and our phone in the palm of our hand, but our world has shrunk too. Think about it – how many friends do you have as a result of cyber connections, and irrelevant to distance? Not only is it a quick jaunt by plane to visit our long distance friends IRL (in real life), but we can also connect and share their lives in a very real way through social media such as facebook, and the wonderful world of skype. As I ponder the shrinking of the world, I also muse about how we can expand our world through the same outlets.

It was through facebook that I met my friend Heidi, and from a link in my newsfeed that I learned of her desire to adopt a special needs child. As I read through her blog I tried to think of what I could do to help. With 13 children, and nine still living at home, I often joke that all my assets are breathing. As I mulled over different fund raising options I came up with the idea to not only help Heidi, and ultimately the little boy they are adopting, but also the folks who want to help them.

 

Now bear with me again, as I do some "mind wondering". Cut me some slack. I am not ADD… just overwhelmed with compassion, and a little overtired. As a wellness consultant and weight loss coach, I am always looking for ways I can help people. How can I marry my desire to assist with the fundraising efforts, and my concern to help people with their health? What if I open up my doors to all those who are already, to some degree, attached to the idea of helping add a brother to the McFarland clan? I get to help more people and Heidi at the same time.

My heart is heavy for the people who are caught up in the pharmaceutical web, entrapped by the side effects of symptom masking drugs. Once in the trap most are forced to add more to counteract the side effects of the first prescription that is designed to be a maintenance drug instead of correct the problem. The challenge becomes balancing helping people with not overstepping my bounds and making recommendations that would be considered "treating" a condition. Trust me when I say that most health challenges are a combination of nutritional deficiencies and toxic overload. It isn't that difficult to address nutritional deficiencies, and it is amazing how the body comes into balance, and health is restored when you do!

As a weight management coach, my job in one sense is easier, but challenging all the same. Ultimately the only people I can help, are the ones that not only WANT help, but the ones that are READY for help. If you find yourself at your "tipping point" and are looking for alternatives, I would like to volunteer my coaching services… and will donate 100% of the proceeds to the McFarland fund. In addition to that, any orders placed from here will have all the proceeds directed to the McFarlands. If you want to learn more about some of the benefits you can expect read this, even if you don't read anything else. This is truly a win/win/win situation. AND I win too because I am helping my friend Heidi, helping bring their little boy home, and helping you to get your life back. I know what it is like to have debilitating health challenges, and I know what it is like to wish there were no mirrors in the house. If you want to love the way you feel and love the way you look, I can help you. In fact, I guarantee it! If you aren't satisfied with my coaching services, or with the improvements you experience when you get started on the best nutrition on the planet…you get your money back (keep in mind that Heidi will also have to give up the proceeds) – no questions asked!

Water, Just How Important Is It?

Recently a friend asked me my opinion about a water filtration system. As a wellness consultant, the topic of water comes up quite often. Since the second half of the radio show this week was concerning oral hygiene I chose water as the topic this week.

Without oxygen, we can only live for a few minutes. Without water, life is only sustainable for a few days. Food, on the other hand, is something we can live without for a few weeks. In that context, water is the second most important component to life, and yet we often neglect to focus on our need to stay properly hydrated. For many, it is simply ignorance. We don't know what we don't know. Most people think they know based on what they have been told. Sadly, we have been taught incorrect information in many areas for the past 30-40 years. Water consumption happens to be one of those misconceptions.

Everybody knows we should be drinking eight 8 oz glasses of water a day, right? What if I told you that was way off base for most people? Somehow, it was determined that we could arbitrarily drink a standard amount, regardless of our weight or body composition. Somehow, we've been led to believe that a person weighing 50 pounds needs to consume the same amount of water as a person weighing 300 pounds. Let's bring common sense into the picture for a moment before I share with you the "formula" for determining how much water you need.

Our bodies are at least 75% water. Is 75% of 50 even remotely close to 75% of 300? Would it stand to reason that maybe our generic rule isn't really applicable in the real world? The simple formula to use is to drink .5 ounces for every pound of body weight. For example, a 200lb person should drink 100 ounces of water per day. It is important to understand that we are talking about WATER here, and not liquids. Drinks containing caffeine will actually dehydrate instead of rehydrate, so if you are a caffeine consumer, you will need to add to your calculations. I suggest that you not only drink half your body weight (times ounces) but also match your other liquid consumption ounce for ounce. In other words, if you drink 12 ounces of coffee per day, and another 20 ounces of tea, you need to add another 32 ounces of water to the formula above. For our hypothetical person above, that would mean 132 ounces, or just a little over a gallon per day.

Most people say, "Wow, that's a lot of water! How can I ever drink that much?!" Amazingly, it really isn't that difficult! It helps to have a way to pre-measure, or measure as you go. Get yourself a BPA free water bottle and calculate how many you'll have to drink to meet your quota for the day. Some people like to pre-measure their water into a pitcher and keep it in the refrigerator. Another way to be sure you get your water in is to play games with yourself. Make yourself drink so much before each meal, and pour up a glass every time you think you are hungry. Interestingly, most people will find that they weren't really hungry at all. Our signals have gotten so mixed up that we often mistake thirst for hunger. Keep your water bottle with you at all times, and sip on water throughout the day.

It is important to note that the KIND of water you consume is just as important as consuming it. Not all water is safe. Not all water bottles are good for you. As you begin to transition to healthier living, you need to transition away from mindlessly making choices without considering whether or not those choices will affect your health. We have been using plastics for years without questioning their safety. It has only been recently that there have been studies conducted to see if plastics are a part of the overlying problem with chronic conditions and illnesses. If you visit plastics.org you will be sure to find numerous articles claiming that safety has been established. However, you can also find research that indicates otherwise. BPA has become a buzz word in health circles. Marketing trends are following by labeling plastic containers as BPA free. Don't be fooled into thinking that "BPA free" is synonymous with "safe" though. When you move away from the hard plastics containing BPA you enter the realm of soft plastics that are laden with other alarming chemicals that have been linked to a myriad of problems, including estrogen imbalance, and hormone linked cancers. My container of choice would be glass, with stainless steel coming in second. If you have to use a plastic bottle, purchase a BPA free hard plastic bottle that you can fill from the tap and reuse. If you want some reference articles to consider you can read about BPA here, and what Consumer Reports has to say in this article. For more info on the softer plastics check this out.

Other reasons not to use bottled water would be cost (conservatively $7 per gallon) and pollution. Think of how many millions of water bottles litter the landfills! A simple way to do our part would be to use the money we would spend on bottle water and invest in a good water filtration system that will remove the chlorine and the fluoride from our drinking water. Even if you don't have a lot of money to put towards a filter, you could at the very least by a faucet filter that will remove some of the toxins. Most all of them remove chlorine. If you want to spend a little money for a top of the line filtration system you can buy a carafe from here that is inexpensive, and yet produces some of the purest water available. Reverse osmosis systems are good at removing a high percentage of contaminants from water, but they also deplete the minerals. Water filtration systems that create Hunza, clustered, ionized water are best, but also the most expensive. Distilled water should not be used regularly because there is evidence that it is so stripped of minerals that will actually cause the minerals to be depleted from your body. It is safe to use during a fast or cleanse, but not recommended as a constant water supply. Again, remember – do the best with what you have. Doing something is better than doing nothing!