We are Moving!....What to eat?

If you know me personally, you would know that my family and I move quite often.  In fact, we are moving...again...from the Mississippi Delta back to the beautiful Gulf Coast where my husband has worked his tail off to get a coaching and teaching job with the state. 

One of the hardest things to do is to remember to eat healthy and drink water with all the chaos going on.  I have a nudist 3 year old constantly giving the 12 and 13 year old complete hell while the dog is barking, boxes flying, 5 televisions blaring all at the same time, and everyone talking as loud as they can.

Then I am asked, "Mom, what's for dinner".  Really??! 

When we moved from the Coast to the Delta last year, I found myself eating whatever I could grab, when I could grab it....and those little pounds started packing back on, despite my He-man moving skills.  This time, though, I have found a love for large-pot meals and slow-cooker recipes.  These babies will feed my family of 5 for at least two nights.  Plus, we are trying to devour the veggies and fruits before our final move next week to keep the packing down. 

It is nice to not have all the canned food (high in sodium and mercury) and processed foods to have to worry about packing since I stopped buying those years ago.  My plan of attack for the move is bottled water and my HNC Protein drink mixes and bottled water.

Although life gets crazy, you always have to have an attack plan to stay on top of your healthy lifestyle... did I also mention that whole wheat, flax seed muffins are a great travel snack?  I plan on making a bunch of these babies before next Wednesday.




I am an independent contractor for Metabolic Direct and Metabolic Research Center.  This information is not intended to treat or heal any diseases and are listed as supplements only.  Customers and / or potential clients are encouraged to complete a health screen information sheet with a MRC Direct Coach prior to purchasing the product and to consult with their physician prior to starting any new supplements or weight loss programs.

What's Eating You? The Fat Edition...and not PHAT

Fats are good for you...fats are bad for you...

Sound familiar?  We have all seen the headlines that saturated fat is good, then it's bad, then it's good, then it's bad again.  As a consumer, what are you to do?  I have a glimpse of hope for you.  It is all about moderation!  Surprise!  Just like everything, too much of a good thing is bad for you!  The sun is a great, natural source of vitamin D, but stay out there too long, and you will get burnt (possibly increasing your chances of skin cancer).  Another example is vitamin overdose.  Yes, vitamins are great for you, but eat a whole bottle of the Flinstone's gummies (or whatever brand or kind you prefer) and see how quickly you end up in the ER....hmmmm kind of like "Sun poisoning" (overdose of Vitamin D).

 Everybody's body is different, and no two people are the same.  Saturated fats will have a negative effect on your body over time...especially if you do not make healthy food choices.  Heard of cholesterol?  You have?  Well then, just so you know, Cholesterol is Saturated Fat's cousin.  If you have a cholesterol problem, then you certainly have a fat problem.

According to the Mayo Clinic, "Research about the possible harms and benefits of dietary fat is always evolving.  Anda growing body of research suggest that when it comes to dietary fat, you should focus on eating healthy fats and avoiding unhealthy fats.  Simply stated, fat is made up of varying amounts of fatty acids.  It's the type and amount of fatty acid found in food that determines the effect of the fat on your health".

The Healthy Part of Fat

Monounsaturated Fats:  Improves blood cholesterol levels, benefit insulin levels and blood sugar
Polyunsaturated Fats:  Plant based - improves blood cholesterol levels and may also decrease risk of Type
                                   2 diabetes
Omega-3 Fatty Acids:  Heart healthy - fish, flax seed - lower blood pressure levels.



A No Fat Diet?

A not so good idea.  You see, while watching your fat intake is a good idea...and even a better idea...."your body needs some fat - the healthy fats- to function normally.  If you try to avoid all fat, you risk getting insufficient amounts of fat soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids.  You may wind up eating too many processed foods touted as low-fat or fat free" (I am screaming HUGE sodium intake here) "...rather than healthier and naturally lower fat foods...enjoy healthy fats in moderation" (www.mayoclinic.com).

I want to note that even the healthy fats have calories.  So, make sure that you consume these healthy fats as a substitute to other fatty foods...not in addition to them!

The most recent "health" topic that hit social media yesterday was the Kind company and it's "healthy" nutrition bars. This is the main reason I am writing this article.  I am in no way slamming the Kind company...it is non-GMO, whole grains, and healthy goodies.  What makes these the spotlight of the argument is the saturated and transfats that are in it...possibly from what is holding all those pieces together. 

According to the FDA, for an item to listed or marketed as "healthy" it cannot contain more than 1 gram of saturated fats per serving.  Now with that being said, we are going to do a comparison between a Snickers bar and the Kind Bar in question.  I am using the information provided by www.NPR.org.

A Snickers Bar has about 250 calories per serving and 4.5 grams saturated fat
A Kind Bar (Fruit & Nut Almond & Coconut) has 190 calories per serving and over 1.5 grams of saturated fat.

I do not condone the company unethically marketing their bars as healthy, but if you knew how the food works in your body, you may look at it differently.

If I had a Snickers or other candy bar or "health" bar loaded with chocolate and white grains, those sugars are burned first by your body.  If it's not burned, it is then stored to fat.

Now, when I eat a wholesome, nutritious bar (nuts for protein, whole grains, no added sugars) my body will start out breaking these items down.  Because they are more complex, it will take longer for your body to break it down and use it...thereby increasing your metabolism.

In my own opinion, I would rather go with the non-candy bar option as my body can actually use all of the ingredients I am putting into my body for the good, rather than the sugar.

Metabolic Research Center knows all about your body and physiology.  They have taken the guess work out of choosing fats, counting calories, and counting carbs.  You are given a menu with a TON of options to choose from...ALL HEALTHY FATS, ALL LOW CARB, ALL HIGH IN NUTRIENTS, AND ALL BOUGHT AT YOUR LOCAL GROCER! 

Contact me for more info about Metabolic Research Center!
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I am an independent contractor for Metabolic Direct and Metabolic Research Center.  This information is not intended to treat or heal any diseases and are listed as supplements only.  Customers and / or potential clients are encouraged to complete a health screen information sheet with a MRC Direct Coach prior to purchasing the product and to consult with their physician prior to starting any new supplements or weight loss programs.


References:
www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/04/15/399851645/nut-so-fast-kind-bars
www.mayoclinic.com

What's Eating You? Thyroid Edition

Hormones, Hormones, Hormones.  My favorite visual moment about hormones is from an old television show, The State.  About 4-6 people are dressed in pink and blue morphsuites...as the hormones rage, the "hormones" start dancing quickly.  It's quite comical.  If you are not familiar with it, Netflix carries the show.  But other than the normal sexual hormones, your other hormones can have quite a negative impact on your weight loss goals.

Between babies 1 & 2 I tried losing weight...Atkins was the best one, but I got tired of counting carbs and fiber...plus have you ever had to eat the diabetic candy with maltitol (stool softener...basically) as a sweetener during a hurricane with no running toilet water...another story for another day.


Having exposed my thyroid to a decade of radiology exposure due to work (and never having heard of a thyroid shield), I decided to drop $600 at the local clinic for a full hormone panel to be run to see what was causing me from dropping the weight.

What is the Thyroid?


The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland that I like to call The Metabloizer.  The thyroid is responsible for controlling the speed of your metabolism...which helps the body use energy.  When this gland is out of whack, your whole system can be thrown for a loop.

One of the symptoms of a whacky thyroid is weight gain or loss.  Now, when I was about 10 years younger, I gained some weight...I was throwing back pizza, burgers, and coffee left and right...I obviously could not blame my thyroid on that one lol.  The most common thyroid disorder that contributes to weight gain is hypothyroidism (the release of low levels of thyroid hormones). 

Hypothyroidism can cause a slower heart rate, increased blood pressure, the sensation of a pounding heart, and other heart palpitations (www.webmd.com).  A few other symptoms include being tired, sluggish, and depressed.  Hypothyroidism can cause anxiety, problems sleeping, restlessness, irritability, hair loss, affect body temperature regulation,  dry skin, numbness in hands, constipation, and abnormal menstrual cycles.

Women of menopause age should not confuse menopause and thyroid disorder.  A simple blood test can confirm the diagnosis.

Untreated hypothyroidism "can raise cholesterol levels and make you more likely to have a stroke or heart attack" (www.webmd.com).  Loss of consciousness and an extreme drop in body temperature have been reported in some severe cases of hypothyroidism. 

Obviously it is clear that a small gland can impact so much of your body...physically and mentally.  I wish I would have known about Metabolic Research Center and their MyLab options 4 years ago.  Yes, I spent $600 for a full hormone panel...MRC offers their hormone panels for $199.  Currently the lab contract is with Quest Labs and MRC utilizes Nationally Certified physicians for interpretation as needed if you choose not to send your lab results to your doctor.  As a MRC client, you are automatically enrolled in MyLabs. 

Metabolic Research Center also has several supplements to help aid in the health of your thyroid. 
One of the most popular is the Iodine supplements.

According to www.emetabolic.com:

Super Iodine Plus (60 Count) 

Iodine is a trace mineral that is quintessential for many biological processes including production of thyroid hormones, healthy thyroid function and metabolism.
Iodine's primary role is to keep the thyroid gland healthy by maintaining a sufficient supply of thyroxine; a crucial hormone that is needed throughout the body.
Thyroxine (which is one of the thyroid hormones), controls proper biochemical metabolism which greatly influences weight loss, energy production and body temperature. Healthy thyroid function supports the adrenal glands, reproduction, nerve and muscle function, cellular oxygen use, the health of hair, skin and bones as well as the breakdown of fats and proteins.


It’s a popular misconception that, as long as your salt is of the ‘iodized’ variety, all your worries about adequate iodine intake are over.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The amount of iodine in today’s iodized salt is incredibly tiny, designed to be just enough o prevent the actual disease state of goiter (a once-prevalent problem in many areas of the U.S.). however, such an amount in no way begins to take advantage of the huge benefits that can come from higher iodine doses.
Iodine is the primary component of the thyroid hormones, which are the top metabolic regulators of the entire body (not just the thyroid).  This includes all the body’s  glandular systems, but even affects such diverse areas as the skin, the hair, and even breast tissue. Plus, when the body is permitted to luxuriating a constant supply of iodine, the entire body can enjoy a higher  metabolic rate, a vital concept not only for weight loss, but also for energy levels, mood, sleep, and even the immune system.
However, a higher intake of iodine may not be the entire answer if it isn’t adequately transported to the cells that desperately need it.  Our Super Iodine Plus also includes both selenium, and riboflavin (vitamin B-2), which are important co-factors in proper utilizations of this vital nutrient.

Benefits include:

• Weight loss
• Increase metabolism
• Healthy thyroid gland
• Energy
• Normal body temperature
• Nerve function
• Healthy muscle function
• Breakdown of fats
• Healthy hair
• Normal sleep patterns Healthy Skin
• Heavy metal detoxification
• Improves mood
• Supports mental development
• Supports endocrine system

If you would like more information on the Super Iodine tablets contact me!
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References:
http://www.webmd.com/women/guide/understanding-thyroid-problems-basics

I am an independent contractor for Metabolic Direct and Metabolic Research Center.  This information is not intended to treat or heal any diseases and are listed as supplements only.  Customers and / or potential clients are encouraged to complete a health screen information sheet with a MRC Direct Coach prior to purchasing the product and to consult with their physician prior to starting any new supplements or weight loss programs.

What's Eating You? Stress Edition

Money, job, kids, extra-curricular activities, road rage, family...all sources of stress.  No matter your situation, every body is faced with some sort of stress.  I personally suffer from an undo amount of stress...job hunting, paying bills, world violence and the economy.

Besides weight gain, stress can also affect other parts of your body. According to the APA (American Psychological Association), "When the body is stressed, muscles tense up.  Muscle tension is almost a reflex reaction to stress- the body's way of guarding against injury and pain".  I remember my masseuse asking me about what is causing my stress as he could feel it during my "relaxing" massage. I have also suffered from tension headaches, migraines, and muscle stiffness...all due to chronic stress.

Stress can also affect your respiratory system by causing you to breathe harder.  Think asthma attacks, hyperventilation, etc.

Acute stress causes "an increase in heart rate and stronger contractions of the heart muscle, with the stress hormones - adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol - acting as messengers for these effects" (APA). Chronic stress can lead to hypertension, heart attack or stroke.  This is very serious especially if you have a family history of these illnesses.  The APA also states, "Repeated acute stress and persistent chronic stress may also contribute to inflammation in the circulatory system (coronary arteries), and this is one pathway that is thought to tie stress to heart attack.  It also appears that how a person responds to stress can affect cholesetrol levels".

The APA also links stress issues to the male and female reproductive systems, liver, and GI.

For many people, stress can mean facing each day hungry--and adding weight gain to their list of worries.  I admit that I am an emotional eater.  I never would have recognized this if it wasn't for Metabolic Research Center requiring me to keep a food journal.

"While the immediate...response to acute stress can be a temporary loss of appetite, more and more we are coming to recognize that for some people, chronic stress can be tied to an increase in appetite -- and stress-induced weight gain," says Elissa Epel, PhD, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at the University at San Fransisco.

 She also says the problem "lies within our neuro-endocrine system--a brain-to-body connection that harkens back to evolutionary times and which helped our distant ancestors to survive.  Though today the source of the stress is more likely to be an unpaid bill than a saber-toothed tiger, this system still activates a series of hormones whenever we feel threatened."  Think Fight or Flight syndrome.  Cortisol and adrenaline are released from our adrenal glands.  Adrenaline, for a short time, decreases our appetite, but the cortisol's job is to help us replenish our body after the stress has passed, and it hangs around a lot longer causing your appetite to increase and drive you to eat more.

According to www.WebMD.com, "Since your neuro-endocrine system doesn't know you didn't fight or flee,it still respondsto stress with the hormonal signal to replenish nutritional stores -- which may make you feel hungry".  This cannot only lead to weight gain, "but also the tendency to store what is called visceral fat around the midsection.  These fat cells that lie deep within the abdomen have been linked to an increase in both diabetes and heart disease (www.webmd.com)".

And what is the fuel our body uses in "fight or flight"?  Sugar!  This is the primary reason we crave carbohydrates when stressed...think "comfort foods"...mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, etc.

So what can be done to decrease the stress?  I'm not suggesting staying medicated on anti-anxiety medications or taking up yoga/meditation...which are great therapeutic hobbies...I do both, but with three kids (one being a soon to be 3 year old) I don't always have the time.  I also despise taking medications that "dope" you.

I have always suffered from the "muffin top", especially after birthing 2 children...plus stress.  When I started my metabolic program with Metabolic Research Center, I was started on Corti-trim.  Both are certified all natural and certified organic products...every ingredient is from a root, flower, or other naturally grown substance...and I can read all of them lol. 

Corti-trim is the product of my dreams.  The stress issue and its effects on your body has become big enough that considerable research (and historic evidence) is available showing the efficacy of certain vitamins, minerals, and particularly herbs in down-regulating the stress response and the overproduction of cortisol. Corti-trim helps burn off that abdominal fat, maximize weight loss, and regulate blood sugar levels (not to mention helping nourish and heal those stressed adrenal glands!).
Metabolic Research Center has put together a three-phased proprietary blend of herbs to meet that end, and then added the best-known vitamins and minerals to assist getting that job done.

When taken with MRC-6 (powerful, multifaceted weight loss supplement to break down fat, increase production of thyroid hormones, suppress appetite, support digestion, and aid in the removal of fatty tissue...all at once) and a healthy diet, your body will thank you tremendously, and you will thank yourself for committing to not only your current health, but your future health as well.

You can visit www.emetabolic.com store for more information and ingredient information if you are interested.  If you would like to get started you can either contact me at any time (underwoodamanda6@gmail.com) for a free consultation and product recommendations for your individual needs or use the coach code (AUnderwood) at checkout so you don't get tele-marketed.

Always check with your doctor before starting any supplements to make sure they do not interfere with any current medications or medical conditions.


References:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/can-stress-cause-weight-gain?page=2
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-body.aspx