10 Sensible Habits for Abundant Health!

“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13)

We are commanded to honor God with our bodies and let’s face it, no one desires to fail on another “diet.” But every time we get exasperated, wanting to quit, the devil taunts: I said you couldn’t do it! You’ll never be successful.

Don’t believe it! The Lord knows you are more powerful than Satan so tap into God’s power! (1 John 4:4)

To ensure weight loss success, establish your defenses against the devil’s lies. Conquer that mountain top of discouragement! Here’s how:

1. Winners know who they are.  Accept your need for self acceptance. You are unique, revel in that. Build your worth around your love for God, others, your family and personality. Real beauty comes from within. (1 Samuel 16:7) Either rid your life of toxic relationships or be an encourager.

2. Become conscious of how you react to food. Are you really hungry or just provoked by a feeling? Do you eat healthy foods or do you bring tempting junk into your home? Do you eat quickly or dine leisurely with friends and family?  It takes 20 minutes for your brain to know your tummy is full, so relax and enjoy your food.

3.  Build a support system for accountability/encouragement. God declared, “It’s not good for man to be alone.”  Your friends and family care if you’re unhealthy. Don’t allow them to be enablers.

4. Successful people are committed to reaching goals. They don’t allow set-backs to deter them. Sometimes you’ll be ten steps forward and then four steps back, but remember, you’re still going forward! As a Christian, is there anything that would entice you to return to a decadent lifestyle? Hope not! Realize that God doesn’t expect perfection from you, only obedience –  so don’t expect it from yourself.

5.  Successful people develop strategies. They have created strategies to overcome temptations before they arise. Outside influences shouldn’t control them. They know honoring God is more important than  establishing a fattening, unhealthy food as their idol.

6. They find pleasure in other actions besides eating! Develop a hobby, write, paint, exercise, read a favorite novel, garden, learn a new skill. It’s not selfish to find satisfaction in a well-rounded lifestyle! Food then won’t be the highlight of your life.

7.  Motivated people use visualization skills.  Try visualizing yourself covered in lard or yellow fat. Visualize eating raw chicken skin, mmm . . . or bacon grease coursing throughout your veins.  Not very attractive. Think of your heart as a separate entity, faithfully working day and night to keep you alive. Your heart deserves better!

8.  Winners are confident people! Aren’t you drawn to confident leaders? Just think how mentally strong you become, because no one else can lose your weight but you!! If you can lose weight you can do anything, so walk like a winner!

9. Winners become educated. They understand why they eat and know where temptations are. They control their daily fat intake and rarely eat junk food – which like sugar, greatly ages the body. They exercise because it’s beneficial and FUN. They’ve learned physiology and what an intricate machine God created!

10. Feeling great is their everyday routine. Healthy people smile more, enjoying life! Being healthy improves one’s looks, energy level, longevity, self-esteem and is a testimony to how God gloriously rules in our lives.

Walk with God’s Strength, it’s something winners strive for.

 “For it is written, You must be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)

Aren’t We All God’s Needlepoint Project?

A dear friend worked on a needlepoint project for weeks. I once walked in while she was laboring over her design. It was turned upside down. From where I stood, it looked a total mess. All those patchwork colors were joined in scrambled directions. What in the world was she working on? It looked incredibly complicated and discouraging.

Then she turned it over. The top side displayed a beautiful young child in a meadow amidst colorful flowers. Who knew??? It was so lovely and intricate, revealing a life lesson to me not to judge a piece of work until it’s finished! To her it was worth the effort.

How very much like a needlepoint project is God’s intricate work in us!

Years ago, I worked for a faith-based, drug recovery center.  The women who arrived at the facility were beaten down by life – shattered into pieces. Life’s choices hadn’t been good to them.

Sometimes their drug addiction began as a cry for attention. For some, it was to cover painful emotional attachments to family challenges, boyfriend or peer pressure situations. Others to dull the pain of loneliness, self-esteem issues or friends urging them to join into the “thrill” of drugs and alcoholism.

Unbelievably and regretfully, several had begun their dangerous meth or drug habit merely to lose weight. Now they were addicted. What a half-truth Satan proclaims when he tells a young woman that she will lose weight, gain beauty and popularity through drugs. Weight loss? Of course – through malnutrition and early death!

The half-truths of this world mislead many, just as it has since Adam and Eve. (“Surely you will not die . . .  ” Genesis 3:4) And any drug which artificially jumpstarts one’s metabolism will hang on to every pound after the “goal” is reached as an act of survival.

Losing weight through manipulating drugs  WILL. NOT. WORK! Please do not even think of attempting a drug (diet pills) to lose weight if you’re a Christian. It not only hurts your heart, but God’s as well. You are God’s holy temple and drugs change your biochemistry and brain function!

Today many of these lovely women (but sadly not all) conquered the satanic bonds that anchored them to this world’s view of beauty. True beauty comes from within.

Those women placing their trust in Christ are now firmly anchored to His Truth of Salvation instead of drugs as Christ proclaimed each one was worth the sacrifice He endured for them. They are now children of the One True King!

“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

A luring idol has a powerful tug of the heart. But the Word of God is stronger! I pray that the intricately woven Word of God will be able to assist you in resisting the ever present, powerful enticement towards a degrading lifestyle of weight loss pills and other diet fallacies.

If our life is God’s tapestry, it is unclear even to us how His work will turn out until our lives are completed. God’s prick of the needle can be painful as He works on us. And sometimes God needs to modify His creation by reworking the pattern if we go astray. (Genesis 50:20) His Patience and His Timing is perfect in His workmanship of us.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

Don’t Be Misled by Mythical “Pie in the Sky” Diet Plans

Even after being diagnosed with high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, heart disease or other health complication, some still pursue destructive diet plans. Why? They’re chasing after rainbows!

Warning: There are many harmful diet plans advertised today that can tempt the Christian to do physical harm to their bodily temple. Oh, how Satan rejoices in a Christian’s weakness when he fails to comprehend basic biblical physiological truths!

Certain diet options are simply dangerous!!! Don’t be stubborn and seek speedy weight loss because you’d be choosing the wrong solution.  There’s no quick path to healthy weight loss!

Remember these basic practical truths.  God wants His best for us! He placed Adam in a Garden – not in a desert, mountaintop or by a beach. Why? Because everything we need to sustain optimum health can be found in a Garden.

Our destination is our choice, choose abundant vitality as one of them.

“I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but not everything is constructive.”  (1 Corinthians 10:23)

• Any food is fine in moderation. Although I would urge you not to consume foods with artificial ingredientts, chemicals, preservatives and dyes, there is no such thing as a good or bad food. Food’s only nutrients meant to create energy on a daily basis.

 

• Eat for nutrients. How’s your energy level lately? Our bodies are designed to run like a machine. We wouldn’t place sludge in our car’s gas tank so we shouldn’t place unhealthy junk in our personal machine.

Just as God created our body with different functions, one nutrient cannot accomplish everything in the body. Every nutrient works together to create optimum health and we need a variety to sustain a healthier lifestyle.

“But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. (1 Corinthians 12:18-20)

• A good diet plan is a life-long one. “Oh my gosh Ellie, you mean I have to eat like this every day????” to which I reply, “Oh my, you mean I have to brush my teeth every day??” Do you wash your face, brush your hair, go through a morning ritual every day? Eating right should become as second nature as any other daily routine.

 

• Counting calories and measuring portions is important at the beginning because it gives you a sense of portion size. But to do this for the rest of your life is as discouraging as walking across the continental USA. Some have – but few people have that much discipline.

It’s easier and smarer to learn to “eyeball” portions after measuring amounts onto a bowl or plate and eventually recognizing sizing. Constantly counting? One becomes discouraged counting fat grams, calories, weighing and measuring every item. This practice is quickly discarded when frustration sets in.

 

• Some fad diets actually do work for some people. They’re also abusive. I think someone won the $1 billion mega-lottery too. Will you be lucky?  Years ago, before I became a nutritionist, I had friends who developed health complications from fad diets. Please don’t play Russian roulette with your body!

• Consume a sensible diet – such as the Mediterranean, DASH or Vegetairan plans with their balanced variety of complex carbohydrates, lean proteins and healthy fats. And enjoy a small dessert once in a while! Life’s too short not to enjoy God’s healthy bounty!

 

What It Takes To Be A Champion

Have you ever gotten tired of winning? No? Didn’t think so.

Tom Brady is an incredible athlete. In 2003, I debated several opinionated men who argued Peyton Manning was the better Quarterback. I respectfully disagreed. Praise God, time has proven me right.

Please don’t put others down because it makes you look more important. You can never build yourself up by putting others down.

How did Tom Brady defy the odds to become the G.O.A.T? An inauspicious beginning, he was the 199th draft pick in the 6th round! That didn’t exactly assert upcoming greatness.

Granted, TB wasn’t a top-drafted NFL recruit but he never whined about it. No excuses! He wanted to prove what he believed. “If you want something badly enough, you’ll work your hardest to achieve it.

Discipline is key to appreciating greatness and there’s always a price to pay to reach it.

Tom Brady began incorporating strict discipline into his life, determined to become his best self. Dedication to greatness is what we all should strive for. Just ask my inspirational friend and follower, Steve, who’s legally blind but runs and climbs mountains. Just like Brady, he wanted to prove something to himself! He did.

TB is the epitomy of a dedicated athlete. He recognizes change always starts from within. He follows the strictest diet, which even I, as a nutritionist probably couldn’t adhere to. He knows nutrient-dense foods produces mental acuteness which helped him out of challenging situations.

Tom Brady has all the qualities it takes to succeed. He’s thinks things through, before he acts. As should you. Talk yourself into success. TB not only wants victory, he wants it for the right reasons. He realizes football is only a God-given gift for a limited time. Being a QB is only what he does – not who he is – a genuinely caring individual.

He works as a team player. Have you noticed how TB directs the football to different receivers? He threw to Gronkowski to get him to the all-time SB touchdown QB/receiver combo record. He knew Evans was nearing a running record several weeks ago, so he helped Evans quickly obtain it. He thought Antonio Brown was worth redemption and mentors him. Similary, in your own life be an encourager, let others shine! It’s not all about US!

Tom Brady knows the value of fitness! Exercise creates muscle which burns fat which acts as the body’s furnace. To create muscle means talking oneself off the couch and move when you’d rather sit lazily watching a movie. TB practices an all-round exercise program which includes a stretching, limbering routine. Do the same! Start out small and get better over time by talking yourself into success.

Tom Brady’s an example of that mental outlook. I only pray he realizes that football will not get someone into Heaven, (although I firmly believe, we’ll be playing or watching sports, creating works of art, theater, music – not sitting on clouds being bored for eternity.) Heaven is Amazing!!!

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:14)

Of course TB has bad games, but he shakes it off and plans a way to overcome future obstacles. So should we- learn from our mistakes. Everyone endures challenges in life. I had an extremely horrific childhood but I don’t live in the past!  Make your life matter, because we matter to God!

Through it all, remain humble. Glory fades, champions are mostly forgotten but the Word of the Lord is Forever –  Amen.

 

God’s Amazing pH Design!

Ever wonder how intricately God created us? Consider the pH scale. Okay, I can hear you grumbling now . . .  Great! Back to school. I promise I’ll make it understandable.

Visualize a vertical line numbered from 1-14.

 

Water is right smack in the middle, considered neutral at 7.0. Anything above 7.0 is an alkaline item and anything below is acidic. Stomach acid is between 2.0 – 3.0. It must be that acidic in order to aid digestion processeses.

Balance is the key! Keeping your pH between 7.3 – 7.45 is considered ideal. Remember your body is 55-70% water and the pH of water is neutral at 7.0. Alkaline foods consist primarily of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Exactly how God intended us to originally eat.

Meats, dairy, sugary items, caffeine, sodas, alcohol and foods which have preservatives or been processed are acidic products.

Now you’re telling me, “But that’s how my family eats!”  Bingo, that’s the stereotypical American diet and we consume too many acidic foods today!  Asian countries do not eat this way.  Their daily diet consists of vegetables, rice and very little meat. Asian countries also have less cancer. At least that held true until the fast food industry arrived and with it, the inconvenient truth of additional weight gain and additional health challenges.

An alkaline diet is primarily vegetarian. If you consume five times more fruits, vegetables and whole grains than meat, (approximately 6 ounces daily) you are giving nutrient-dense options a fighting chance to keep you healthy.

Nearly all who suffer from disease are acidic. The simple act of living causes natural stress. Stress creates an acidic environment. When you are ill or under stress, your body is forced to borrow minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium from your bones or vital organs to neutralize the acid and remove it safely from your system.

These same minerals regulate your heart function! Prolonged stress can cause acute diseases, so take steps to relax: music, massage, Bible meditation.

Although the verdict’s still out on whether an alkaline diet prevents cancer, it does make biological sense. By consuming water and eating fruits and vegetables, the body maintains a healthier pH and therefore in most cases people fight off chronic diseases and cancers.

I highly endorse lemon juice, distilled water and apple cider vinegar.

I know what you’re thinking . . . “but lemon is so sour, how can it not be acidic?” True – lemons, limes, grapefruit begin as an acidic element but transform into an alkaline product as it metabolizes.  Isn’t God amazing?!  And some think this just “happened by chance.”

The principle to remember is to eat balanced meals.  A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and whole grains and plenty of water will strengthen your immune system.  Too many processed foods, caffeine, dairy, white sugar, meats and white flour products will destroy our godly temple. Change your family’s diet and leave a legacy of health to future generations.

If you don’t believe me, perhpas you’ll trust the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who proclaim drinking lemon water reduces one’s appetite.

Here’s Why It Works:

When your body’s pH is alkaline, it’s not as hungry! Again. lemon converts into an alkaline food.

Important: Soft drinks and any artificial sweeteners, create an acidic environment. Is it worth the risk?  And now you’re hungrier because insulin levels rise because your body is expecting additional food. This defeats the purpose of sugar-free chemicals, doesn’t it?

What an awesome bodily machine God created.  And some believe these intricacies evolved by chance!

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever”  (Psalm 73:26)

Who’s Pulling Your Strings?

An entire month has gone by since you’ve made that New Year Resolution to lose weight! I’m sure you started out determined – but have you failed once again? Discouraged? Wondering why?

There are always mental, physiological and/or spiritual connections. Who’s pulling your strings?  You are the only one who can decide which outcome to choose.

“But I have no willpower!”     

So you think that, do you? Don’t be a puppet (or marionette) – think for yourselves.

That same willpower which prevents you from telling your boss, mother-in-law or that rude sales clerk what you really think of him or her, is the same willpower you should tap into to prevent yourself from losing control. Any decision has good and bad consequences involved.

Who controls your mind? It should be the Lord! “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

Become a better decision maker. Think logically! Only three things that happen in any situation:

1. The event itself
2. Self-talk 
3. Your reaction

Here’s an example:

Your husband just called and suggested going out to dinner tonight. Sounds better than the boring grilled chicken you were thinking of preparing. You’re tempted. So what do you do?

1. The phone call was the event. You’re faced with decisions – stick to your weight-loss plan or give in?
2. Next, you’ll go through a little back and forth self-talk:  Well, I’d hate to disappoint my husband. I’ve been so good, maybe I could just give in this once. But I’m sooooo on track to fit into that gorgeous dress for our daughter’s wedding. But do I really want to chance it won’t fit? So tempting
3. Finally the reaction: Whatever you choose to do, you own. It was your decision, no one else’s.  No one else lives within your brain!

Willpower becomes a matter of personal integrity – choosing to do the right thing when no one else is watching. You already know what you should do, so talk yourself into success.

Here’s another tip to build willpower. Tap into your visualization skills. Imagine fattening food smeared all over your body. Now imagine walking into your daughter’s wedding, looking like that!

Which is more important, a cherished, lifetime memory or momentary pleasure? Which would make you feel more positive and special every day?  That’s precisely your goal; a lifelong commitment of feeling special because you are!

Create productive thoughts throughout the day to strengthen you. Tell yourself, “I am a strong, competent person because I am a child of a very important King.”

You were bought with a price by our Lord Jesus Christ. Did Jesus have to die for our out- of-control eating habits; for the sake of an entire Pepperidge Farm cake which you ate in one sitting? Well, actually yes.

Sin is sin! Jesus died for ALL sins, even for creating idols out of food. Gluttony is sin. It doesn’t matter if it is fattening fast-food, chocolate, pretzels, or health food. If it becomes your god, it’s an idol.

“But I can’t help myself!” Seriously? You can accomplish anything if you want it enough! Pray for wisdom and strength.

Think ahead and strategize. Write ideas down. Develop practical ways to overcome temptation. Make alternative choices so you’re prepared when you are tempted. Be proactive! Resolve not be brought down by a piece of cake! God made you stronger than food! Memorize Philippians 4:13. God is stronger than your food cravings!

 

Staying Healthy Even Thru Tough Times

Most will agree, we went thru stressful times this past year. Have you found you’ve gained weight? Found yourself eating to cover emotional issues? You’re not alone. But ask why you’re reaching for food. Are you even hungry or simply reacting to challenges?

If you are having a stressful morning, it’s easy to reach for the donuts in the break room. Angry? Those pretzels are therapeutically crunchy!!! Lonely? Reach for the calming chemical phenylethylamine found in chocolate.

Food is our comfort drug when we are feeling emotional. You experience stress as a nurse, when you can’t do anything for that sweet child in the ICU, as an overworked teacher, when that popular teenager calls you a derogatory word and others laugh, or as a social worker, wishing you could do more for struggling families. It hurts when we don’t see a way out!

Self-medicating with food makes the pain go away, even for a short time. It changes our chemical make-up, providing pleasure, relaxing us. That’s a hard habit to give up. If you are a kind person watching injustice in today’s world, stress hits especially hard. You might even question God and wonder why He allows such things to happen?

God cares! It breaks His heart when He sees suffering. But, as He has since Adam, allowed us free choice. We can obey, become apathetic or self-destruct. God would never force us do something beyond free will.

I understand this.  As much as I wanted my patients to become healthier, they had to want it more than I wanted it for them! I watched as they victoriously chose a more healthier lifestyle . . . or destruction. It was  frustrating to watch sometimes but it had to be their choice. Change starts from within the individual.

As God watches, it’s the same for Him. He wants us to choose what is best but in His love. He did not create puppets. God will not force us to do what we don’t want to do. Actions have consequences and choosing to consume chemically-laden, processed foods will ultimately react in physiologically destructive results. 

In the beginning God gave us whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds for food. In modern times, man began developing foods that included additives, preservatives and chemicals for a longer shelf life.

You probably realize already that food, being a bunch of chemicals, can become addictive. It is as addictive as smoking, drugs or alcohol addiction because it changes our brain neurotransmitters and bodily chemistry.

Regarding diets, my personal health philosophy is based on 1 Corinthians 10:23 “”I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but not everything is constructive.”

Any food is fine in moderations but certain foods containing preservatives and chemicals aren’t constructive because they create an unhealthy acidic pH.

Some believe food addiction is even worse than drugs, alcohol and smoking because we cannot get away from food – it’s there at least three times a day, staring us in the face. It’s in the vending machines, on television, even along the road you travel on. 

As a nutritional counselor I gave my patients the tools for recovery, then had to stand by to see if they would take hold of them to use them for their own good. Faith is trusting, even when we don’t understand why.

“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9: 9,10 (NIV)

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Sheep, Crazy Diets and Discernment

Be Cautious, Don’t Follow Like Sheep!

Look at sheep. Those soft, cute, cuddly, adorable animals are so cute – but unfortunately they are as dumb as rocks too. They will robotically and blindly follow each other without thinking for themselves. They will even follow the leading sheep over a cliff to their death. Isaiah 53:6 “We all, like sheep, have gone astray . . .”

Sadly, some who pursue foolish quick weight-loss quests follow blindly as well. They become sheep, plunging over a deathly diet cliff!

“If you only follow me, you’ll see equally incredible results!!!” states some well-known, super celebrity regarding their special diet product’s claims.

Sure you will. Do you have a personal chef, professional trainer, stylist and a million dollar contract which is the incentive they have? Didn’t think so – but gosh wouldn’t that be nice?

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

Even though I dutifully research, evaluate and base my information on psychological and physiological truths, it is necessary that you evaluate my suggestions too. Question anything that you might find uncertain.

Diet pills, artificial stimulants, liquid shakes, boxed-food diets, fat-free, carb-free, excessive protein, all unsafe weight loss plans proclaim instant gratificaton.   And People Still Fall For Them.

More and more I observe Christians following blindly down a treacherous path proclaimed by some spiritual leader, health guru or politician without examining the evidence and using common sense. Never fail to test the spirit who proclaims the absolute! What’s in it for them?  My ‘radical’ approach endorses eating for nutrients, exercising more, knowing the mental reasons you’re eating and the body’s physiology.

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,” (2 Timothy 4:3)

Those who proclaim easy, instant weight-loss success are false teachers! Please intelligently research any new dietary plan claim.

Any legitimate nutritionist/diet counselor would never endorse products containing Fen-phen, Clenbuterol or Dinitrophenol which cause dangerous side affects such as hypertension, palpitations, muscle tremors (remember, the heart is a muscle) which could lead to death.

When a diet proclaims: “studies show that more doctors recommend this diet program above any other” be skeptical. Do not be misled by “Studies show . . .” Diligently research to uncover who conducted the study for that claim. In my research, sometimes the only one endorsing the program is the one who has a monetary stake in its success. And those doctors might be veterinarians or dentists.

Truth is, we live in an instant gratification society. Eat less, exercise more, is simply too slow for some who are searching for that instant ’magic’ pill. Before endorsing any program or person, you must ask yourself, What’s in for them? Do they have my best interests at heart or only invested money and blind devotion to a cause? 

Test those propagating a health fad with the same scrutiny you would a spiritual advisor or politician!

Ask pertinent questions:

• “Will this improve my health?” Health is always more important than weight loss!
• “Is it rejecting God’s basic truth regarding physiological science?” It’s impossible to lose 10 lbs. of fat in a week.
• “Could this hurt my bodily temple with high-risk chemicals?” Eat with intelligence, not emotions

I caution you to not become a sheep, following a false leader blindly or you too will be led astray!

Cabbage Soup and Other Crazy Diets

Research states Americans spent $72 billion on diets in 2019!

“Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.” (Hebrews13:9)

Does anyone remember when Oprah Winfrey, to prove a point on her popular television show in the 1990s, set up a totally fictitious diet center in a mall?

That ‘diet’ consisted of eating only hot dogs and ice cream.  How silly, who’d believe that?   Well . . .  actually . . . over forty people signed up in three days! It proved that people will fall for anything and we must be wary of diet scams.

The question one has to ask is, why???  Surely they couldn’t believe that consuming sodium-filled, nitrate-laden, saturated fat, processed meat and 11 grams of saturated dairy fat per 1/2 cup, would produce a fit body?

Anything’s fine in moderation and isn’t health more important than weight loss?

Nutritional education, physiology, overcoming challenges and establishing lifelong strategies are certainly more conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Still, many search for a quick fix, even at the expense of their health.

The “Lose A Pound a Day Diet!”

Exposing the false claims of diet gurus who profess that one can lose a “pound a day” by simply trying this or that fad, is challenging.

Many plans have emerged over the years so let’s discuss several that have endured:

The Cabbage Soup Diet

Popular throughout the 1980s and ’90s, it is still used by many today as a magic formula.  “You can lose 10 lbs. in 10 days!!” bold headlines claim.  Wow, if it was only that easy. Sadly this claim isn’t realistic.

Although cabbage soup contains essential nutrients, you will not lose 10 pounds of FAT in ten days. You will lose mostly water weight.

I know it’s complicated but please stay with me here.

• 3,500 calories equal one pound of fat. A person would need to create a deficit of 500 calories per day to lose one pound of fat per week. (7 days x 500 =3,500 calories)
• Losing 1,000 calories per day would equal 7,000 calories per week which only amounts to two pounds.
• Let’s say you are a 180 pound male and moderately active. Your usual daily intake is 2,500 calories per day. Even if you cut out all food for ten days – starving yourself, 10 days x 2500 calories = 25,000 calories.  That only equals 7 pounds and your body would not only lose fat, but muscle, brain and water.
• If you reduce your diet to a starvation level of 800 to 1,000 calories per day – one dctor actually put me on this! – you would lose vital nutrients. Then your hypothalamus, (being the brain’s thermostat) would either nag you constantly to consume the nutrients you lack or it would think you were starving. It would then slow your metabolism to virtually nothing in order to protect you. This would defeat the purpose of weight loss.

The Grapefruit, Lemon and Apple Cider Vinegar Diets

I lump all these together because these diets are meant to burn fat with acidic producing properties which theoretically enhances metabolism. All contain nutrients which are physiologically beneficial and are excellent foods by themselves. 

What it does is produce alkaline properites

Although lemons, grapefruit and vinegar taste acidic, these foods biochemically metabolize into alkaline properties in your system. An alkaline pH curbs your appetite and in that way is beneficial. It is certainly not wrong to consume any of these on a daily basis, but it is not a magic bullet.

Excerpt form my book,  “Life’s Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese” (Nutritional and Life Lessons God Teaches Us)

Coming Soon: More Crazy Diet Plans

Staying Young-At-Heart Forever

As the Bible professes, real beauty comes from within!

Proverbs 31:30 ” Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Focusing on eating nutrients, not calories, you’ll think more clearly, look healthier and feel younger! Whether you are an athlete, businessman, fashion model or housewife, you should strive to be your best for God’s glory as a believer!

There are natural enemies who hope to distract from that goal. Junk food produces free radicals.

Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that destroy healthy cells by causing premature oxidation and aging. Free radicals steal oxygen from the healthy cells! To fight free radicals, we continually need to eat as many antioxidants as possible.

Need proof? The next time you eat an apple, slice off two small pieces.  Let one sit there for a while and on the other piece, sprinkle some lemon juice over it. You’ll see the first begin to brown, an example of free radicals, while the second one stays fresh. It’s the lemon juice that does the trick, it’s an anti-oxidant.   So are Beta carotene, vitamins A, E, C, selenium, quercetin, coenzyme Q10, lycopene and other “50-cent” words.

Long ago, women drank a glass of water with lemon each morning. It got rid of toxins and their skin glowed. That would be a great morning routine to start again since we tend to ingest so much junk and processed foods these days.

What do women usually complain about most?  Age and wrinkles right? We spend a small fortune on face creams when if we only ate better, we’d save a lot of money.

Avoiding Wrinkles:

Scientists conducted a study of elderly people living in Greece, Australia and Sweden and found those whose diets included high amounts of fruits, vegetables and legumes had fewer wrinkles. (I’d add salmon or other fatty fish to that list.) In contrast those countries (USA anyone?) who consumed a diet high in meat, dairy, sugar and butter were linked to more wrinkled skin. It makes sense because the harder your body must work to sustain its systems through clogged pathways, the more worn out it becomes.

As we age, the body loses its ability to absorb nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract. We tire easily, can’t think clearly, feel sluggish and our skin looks haggard. This usually is due to a build up of toxins in the body.  We need to flush out our system so we can absorb nutrients again.

Try consuming cleansing foods with a high water and nutrient content.  Green leafy vegetables, kale, green teas, alfalfa, asparagus, fruits, etc.  If you have a juicer, try juicing for a few days. This detoxified the liver, allowing it to metabolize fat.

Caffeine is a natural diuretic and although fine in moderation, will deplete water from the skin. So definitely cut down consumption.

Salt pulls water from the cells and makes us look older, more tired and places bags under our eyes. Hydrate with water!

Vitamin C, zinc and copper foods restore elastin and build collagen in your skin. Good news, dark chocolate contains copper . . . but so does broccoli.  Consume vitamins E and C together to repair sun damage. Alfalfa, brown rice, soybeans and green leafy vegetables contain silica which is beneficial for collagen formation as well. Eat lots of dark fruit such as blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries.  Packed with vitamin C, it builds and restores collagen found in the skin.

I guarantee you’ll feel energetic and so much healthier eating for nutrients! You’ll become a New Creation – beautiful inside and out! 2 Cor. 5:17.