To be successful
at Healthy Weight Loss:
one word, attitude!

Healthy weight loss is something we all strive for, but what really happens when you eat less and exercise more? 90% of the people that decide to lose weight this way gain the weight back. Appetite, metabolism and mood are controlled by the messenger chemicals in the body.

When you cut back on calories, your body cells will go into starvation mode which reduces metabolism (burning calories) and conserves the body's energy.

You won't feel like exercising when your metabolism and energy level is low.

Your mood will change because you are feeling deprived and then you will want to look for foods that will make you feel better and give you energy (comfort food like carbohydrates which are full of sugar).

When the food is available, other chemical messengers are released to stimulate the appetite and store fat (for energy) to prepare for starvation.Then you are in the feast and famine cycle.

Also, fat acts like a gland, secreting its own chemical messengers like the hormone leptin. Leptin is supposed to increase your metabolism and reduce your appetite.

However, this action of leptin is blocked by inflammation. Inflammation is common today because of the chemicals in food, water and the air. The inflammation in the intestines causes fluid retention and fat in the abdominal area. It's easy to have 5-15 pounds of excess water stored in the tissues of the body.

How do we do that? Eating quality foods that are whole, natural, unprocessed, and nutrient rich. We are consuming too much refined and processed foods which makes us overweight and sick,

They are deficient in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other phytonutrients that our body gets from food and supplements. We will still feel hungry and look for the nutrients that our bodies need.

Examples of refined and processed foods:

* Refined sugars

* Sucrose

* High fructose corn syrup

* Fructose

* White flour

* Polished rice

* Processed vegetable oils

* Margarine and shortening

You can work towards healthy weight loss by taking these foods out and replacing with quality foods that give your body the nutrition that it needs and you don't feel hungry or have cravings.

When you start eating more of the quality food, your body will start craving for the good foods instead of the refined and processed foods. If you focus on the food you should not be eating, you will not succeed.

To be successful: have a positive attitude. Bad habits come from being unhappy.

You'll fail at healthy weight loss by beating yourself up emotionally and mentally. Strive for pleasurable experiences like loving relationships, laughter, enjoyable activities, time spent in nature (this one has always helped me a lot).

Having a great emotional attitude causes the body to send out the chemical messages to:

1. Reduce inflammation

2. Enhance immunity

3. Promote healing

4. Improve metabolism

These all enhance health and well being and you'll live a longer and healthier life.

This has been scientifically documented so don't be hard on yourself!

> Walking

> Gardening

> Swimming

> Dancing

> Reading

> Take a relaxing bath

> Get a massage

> Be with friends

Love what you do.

Be gentle with yourself and enjoy your food. Eat slowly and chew it thoroughly (you will know when you are full and eat less, feel more satisfied) take breaks with some deep breaths (your food will not digest properly if you feel uptight or stressed). Notice the color, aroma, texture and taste. Relax and healthy weight loss will come to you naturally and easy!

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