Ten thousand years ago our ancestors roamed the planet looking for food; they hunted animals and gathered a variety of foods such as veggies, fruits, nuts and berries -all a great source of vitamins, antioxidants, essential trace elements and calories for energy. However back then there was not enough food. The people that survived ate when food was available, and tended to over eat. This allowed them to endure the lean times such as cold hard winters. Historically, however, it is hard to find depictions of people who are overweight.

SOMETHING HAS CHANGED! Today obesity is replacing starvation as a leading health crisis.

The lack of nutritional diversification and balance, combined with an increase in sedentary lifestyles, are directly responsible for the obesity epidemic.

DIETS ARE BORING AND DON’T WORK: DIVERSIFY THE FOODS YOU EAT!

A healthy body requires an assortment of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, essential fats such as Omega-3’s and amino acids. These are essential to build muscle and maintain normal bodily functions, particularly when you are trying to lose weight.

Avoid Processed Foods – Even “Diet” Foods

Many of us are overweight because we eat an abundance of ‘processed foods’. By processed foods I am referring to anything that is made in a manufacturing plant or not prepared from scratch by a person. We choose processed foods because they are convenient, inexpensive and taste good, but they also are laced with high glycemic carbohydrates and sodium that tend to make us hungrier and crave more and more.

When foods are processed, ‘refining’ them removes essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and many trace elements. The food industry then fortifies the ‘food’ in an attempt to replenish what they’ve extracted. They fail to replace many of the micronutrients so natural diversification in our diet is hindered. Diversification and balance in addition to the ingestion of natural variations of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, essential fats such as Omega-3 and amino acids are essential for health and normal development.

Processed foods are also high in hidden fats which further contribute to weight gain. As we accumulate body fat, we increase the likelihood of developing insulin resistance which, not only stimulates our appetites, but also impairs our body’s ability to burn fat and increases our risk for developing heart disease and diabetes.

“Help! I Want to Lose Weight, But I’m Bored with my Diet!”

Firstly, DIETS DON’T WORK; fundamental shifts in how you live are key! Patients often complain they are bored with the foods on their weight loss plan, that there are not enough choices. After reviewing what they are eating, it is evident that people tend to choose the same things over and over even though their nutritional diet plan had lots of options.

Bottom line: if you repeatedly eat the same things, you will eventually want a change and you’ll deviate from your weight loss plan. When it comes to food, we go for what’s convenient. Unlike our ancestors who worked hard to get food, today a snack is usually a few steps or a phone call away. When we are short on time, stressed, angry and/or bored we go for something convenient and that tastes good. The key is to mix things up and diversify what we eat; this takes planning and changing behavior. Change is difficult and represents our biggest challenge. This is what must be accomplished, however, in order to lose weight AND KEEP IT OFF. Understand what the foods actually are and how they truly affect you, diversify what you eat, plan and You’ve Got to Live It!^TM

Our weight loss program teaches the consequences – addictive, hormonal, metabolic and psychological – of eating certain foods and how to eat in a way that promotes health.

Do you have a friend or a loved one that we can help lose weight and get healthy? Please tell them about your experience at CardioMender, MD or direct them to our website. We are happy to meet with them and if they choose not to join our weight loss program, there will be no charge. If they do, you will receive a $25 credit towards your future purchases of products and services.

Remember – to lose the weight – YOU’VE GOT TO LIVE IT!^TM

Barry Schiff, M.D.
July 31, 2013
Lose Weight. Change Your Diet and Eating Habits.

Change your life with the help of CardioMender, MD Weight Loss Specialists’ medically supervised weight loss program. Our customized medically supervised weight loss program will set you and keep you on the path to a healthier life.