Expert: Tonja Wells - 4/9/2008

Question
I have been on Weight Watchers for some time now and am currently having a lot of problems with my back and not able to exercise like I used too.  I really struggle with my post baby belly and am looking for anything to help me on my journey.  I am really trying to eat well but it doesn't seem to be helping that area.  Any suggestions?

Answer
I would be sure I was doing some streaches every day to help the back.

Back issues can often relate to being to acid and the kidneys so I would be sure to drink plenty of water, do some Mineral Chi tonic to pH balance the body and help with cravings as well. I would also take KB-C to help with the back pain and any acid issue.  
A 1/2 of cup of water warmed on the stove with 1/2 organic lemon in the water can also aid this.

If stress is an issue the belly can be due to cortisol levels.  Blood work would determine that.  To balance cortisol levels, high or low due to stress, Eluthero can be very effective.

Weight watchers is good but does not go far enough. Microwaved foods are a no-no as 97% of the nutrition is gone after microwaving so it leaves the mind hungry.

See my weight loss tips below.

To order any of these products or learn more you can go to
www.yourherbalhealthsolutions.com


This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose and treat diseases.  If you have any health problems consult a health practitioner before embarking on any course of treatment


TAKE THE WEIGHT LOSS QUIZ



What is the cause of your weight problem? Take the quiz to find out!

1. Body Clue:
a. Crave sweets, breads, and pasta
b. Crave salt (pretzels, cheese or chips)
c. Crave pickles and deep fried food
d. Crave creamy, spicy, hot foods



2. Body Clue:
a. Depression or hopeless
b. Worry or anxiety
c. Easily angered, moody
d. Moodiness or irritable at cycles



3. Body Clue:
a. Feel better on fruits and berries
b. Need coffee or stimulants to wake up
c. Fatty foods cause a tight feeling over right lower stomach or rib cage
d. Menstruation causes constipation



4. Body Clue:
a. Brittle nails with vertical (up and down) ridges
b. Brittle nails with no ridges
c. Pain/tightness in right shoulder area
d. Pain in right or left lower back area



5. Body Clue:
a. Weight more evenly distributed
b. Larger abdomen, skinnier legs and arms
c. Protruding abdomen (pot belly)
d. Lower thighs and hip fat (saddle bags)



6. Body Clue:
a. Dry skin and hair
b. Swollen ankles, socks leave creases on ankles
c. Bloating after eating
d. Hair loss at menstrual cycle



7. Body Clue:
a. Big or thick ankles
b. Round face
c. Finger joints get swollen or painful upon getting up in the morning
d. Hot flashes or history of bad menstruation



8. Body Clue:
a. Loss of hair at outer eyebrows
b. Facial hair (women)
c. Hot or swollen feet
d. Menstrual cyclic brain fog



9. Body Clue:
a. Internal body is always cold
b. Pain and inflammation
c. Headaches or head feels heavy in the morning
d. Excessive menstrual bleeding



10. Body Clue:
a. Puffiness around eyes
b. Unusual feeling of "out of breath" while climbing stairs
c. Brown spots on skin
d. Low sex drive



11. Body Clue:
a. Excessive skin sagging
b. Water retention yet feels dehydrated
c. Wake up 1-2 hours before alarm clock
d. Weight gain around menstrual period



12. Body Clue:
a. Tires easily even with exercise
b. Wakes up in the middle of the night
c. Deep crease down center of tongue
d. Waist and upper body is smaller than lower body (hips and thighs)?



13. Body Clue:
a. Thicker tongue
b. Larger breasts
c. Cracks in the corners of the mouth
d. Smaller breasts



14. Body Clue:
a. Cold hands and feet
b. Need nap around 3:00 in the afternoon
c. Not a morning person, but a night person
d. History of ovarian cysts



1. Count up how many in each category: A=Thyroid, B=Adrenal, C=Liver, D=Ovary

Total Thyroid ______________


Products that may be helpful include: Thyroid Support,  Energ-V, TS II with Hops, Herbal Trace Mineral, Thyroid Activator,



Total Adrenal ______________
Products that may be helpful include:, Adrenal Support, Licorice Root, Mineral Chi Tonic, HY-A



Total Liver ______________
Products that may be helpful include: Milk Thistle, Milk Thistle Combination, Liver Cleanse, LIV-J, Enviro Detox,



Total Ovary ______________
Products that may be helpful include: Master Gland, FCS II, Female Comfort with Don Quai, C-X, Pro-G-Yam Cream



This will give you the main area that's causing your weight gain. It is possible to have multiple things wrong but there will always be a primary.

All herbal programs are enhanced greatly by taking Proactazyme Plus, Mineral Chi Tonic and Bifidophilus Flora Force to provide the much needed enzymes to help break down food better, eliminate toxins better, and repair tissue.

By Richard Lund








~~~~~~~~~~~

WEIGHT LOSS TIPS



You must respect the fact that your eating and exercise habits have a direct effect on your health and appearance.  When you have the skills and knowledge needed to change your attitude toward food and exercise, it will lead to lifelong weight management and good health


1.         Water – drink one half your weight in ounces of pure water each day. It is best to drink 4 ounces of water every 1\2 hour between 9-5. It is essential to drink pure water. Nature's Sunshine has a Reverse Osmosis water purification system. If you want to come by and taste the difference just give me a call. This type of water purification system filters out drugs and medications from your water as well.



2.         Don’t drink diet drinks, use aspartame, Splenda or olestra.  Aspartame promotes sweet cravings and olestera depletes the body of antioxidants. Try NSP's Stevia or Xylitol instead.  



3.         Never eat fat free. Fat free foods are high in sugar. Be sure to use essential fatty acids. Fat burns fat.  This is crucial to your health and to your bodies’ metabolisms.  Butter, olive oil and flaxseed oil, Omega 3’s, nuts, avocados, ocean fish and olives are wonderful sources of good fats. NSP's Omega's 3's are mercury free.  Remember good fats burn fat.



4.         Fiber is essential.  Colon cleansing is important to pull toxins out of the body. Fiber helps the bowels move.  Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber.



NSP has 4 bulk fibers

1.  Everybody's Fiber - This is the mildest formula. Great for irritable bowel

2.   LOCLO –  the next mildest – has veggies, fruit and fiber. This stands for lowering Cholesterol

3.  Natures Three – middle – psyllium with apple pectin and oat bran. Best for cholesterol levels.

4.   Psyllium Hulls – most course, hibiscus, and licorice, which work as flavoring agents

Fiber comes from plant foods (fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes) and in two forms, soluble and insoluble, each of which provides health benefits. Soluble fibers such as gum and pectin dissolve partially in water, whereas insoluble fibers (cellulose, hemicellulose and lingnin) do not.

How Does Fiber Work?

Some types of fiber work by bulking up waste, helping it to move through your system faster (this is how it helps with constipation and eliminating waste). Other types of fiber are "sticky" and may help keep cholesterol levels in check by removing bile acids that digest fat, and may regulate blood sugar by coating the lining of your intestines and delaying the emptying of your stomach. This may slow your body's absorption of sugar and reduce the amount of necessary insulin. Other fibers may help with weight loss because they fill up the stomach, making you feel full but adding no extra calories. Both soluble and insoluble fiber are undigested. They are therefore not absorbed into the bloodstream. Instead of being used for energy, fiber is excreted from our bodies. Soluble fiber forms a gel when mixed with liquid, while insoluble fiber does not. Insoluble fiber passes through our intestines largely intact.

Functions of Insoluble Fiber

move bulk through the intestines
control and balance the pH (acidity) in the intestines
Benefits of Insoluble Fiber

promote regular bowel movement and prevent constipation
remove toxic waste through colon in less time
help prevent colon cancer by keeping an optimal pH in intestines to prevent microbes from producing cancerous substances
Insoluble Fiber

Barley
Couscous
Brown rice
Bulgur
Whole-grain breakfast cereals
Wheat bran
Seeds
Whole grains
Whole wheat breads
Vegetables:
Carrots
Cucumbers
Zucchini
Celery


Functions of Soluble Fiber

bind with fats
prolong stomach emptying time so that sugar is released and absorbed more slowly
Benefits of Soluble Fiber

lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) therefore reducing the risk of heart disease
regulate blood sugar for people with diabetes
Soluble Fiber

Apples
Oranges
Pears
Peaches
Grapes
Prunes
Blueberries
Strawberries
Seeds and Nuts
Oat bran
Dried beans
Oatmeal
Barley
Rye
Vegetables


Tips for Creating a High-Fiber Diet

·         Eat fewer processed foods and more fresh ones.

·         Eat high-fiber cereal (one with bran or fiber in the name, not highly processed varieties), or add some unprocessed wheat bran to yogurt.

·         Snack on fruits and raw vegetables.

·         Add ground flax seeds and other seeds to smoothies.

·         Use bran products as toppings for casseroles, meat loaf, veggies and more.

·         Eat whole-grain breads or sprouted grains and substitute whole-grain flour for white flour.

·         Add beans to soups, salads and chili.

·         Eat whole fruits (including the skin and membranes) instead of drinking fruit juice.

·         Use brown rice and whole-grain pasta instead of white rice and pasta.

Fiber

Specifically sprouted grains and Ezekiel bread

Ezekiel cereal

Beneficial grains for blood types

Organic Apples

Brown rice





Fiber is essential for diabetes issues, heart health, colon health & lowering cholesterol



5.         Food enzymes are essential to break down the foods you eat. They aid digestion and help elimination.  My favorite choice is NSP's Proactazyme Plus.  This is a plant source enzyme which works well for most people.



6.         Get rid of white carbohydrates.  These include breads, pasta, rice, and potatoes.  High glycemic foods spike your blood sugar and store as fat. Carbohydrates = weight gain.  Go off white carbohydrates for 3 to 7 days.



7.         Exercise correctly and consistently for your blood type.  Cardiovascular exercise is important 3-4 times a week for at least 30 minutes to burn fat.  When you exercise your body produces fat burning enzymes and when you don’t exercise your body produces fat storing enzymes.  You choose which you one you want.



8.         Manage your stress – you can’t lose weight if you are under stress.  This promotes an acid body. Eluthero helps balance cortisol levels, whether high or low and NSP's Nature's Cortisol Formula helps with high cortisol levels.



9.         Strengthen the thyroid.  Herbs like Thyroid Support, Thyroid Activator, kelp, black walnut, Irish moss plant and 7-Keto are a quality choice.



10.     Eat 6 small meals a day consisting of 200-300 calories. Eating breakfast is necessary to jump-start your metabolism.  Smaller meals equal less stress on the digestive system. Good quality low glycemic snacks keep your metabolism in high gear.



11.      pH balancing is essential.  Your pH should be 6.0 urine and 6.5 salvia upon rising and urine should rise to 7.0 by the end of the day.  You must have a balanced pH to uptake iodine which feeds the thyroid.



12.     Eat right for your blood type.  In order to achieve weight loss with the blood type plan, eat 100% beneficial foods for two to six weeks (no more than six weeks).  You want to begin including neutral foods until you are doing a balanced profile. Your age and health issues will determine the percent of neutral and avoids you should do.



BLOOD TYPE INFORMATION

Weight Loss for "O's"
1.        Type Os thrive on intense physical exercise and a high protein diet.  

2.        They do not thrive as well on diary products and grains.

3.        Weight loss will be noticed initially when you being to restrict your consumption's of grains, breads, legumes and beans.

4.        The leading cause of weigh gain for type Os is the gluten found in wheat germ and wheat products by gluten lectins inhibiting your insulin metabolism and interfering with the efficient use of caloric fuel.  

5.        Type Os have a tendency to have low levels of thyroid hormone, called hyperthyroidism, due to low production of iodine.  



Foods that encourage weight gain:  

grains wheat gluten, corn, kidney beans, navy beans, lentils, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and mustard greens.  



Foods that encourage weight loss: kelp, sea vegetables, seafood, iodized sea salt, liver, red meat, kale, spinach and broccoli.



Blood type A   
1.          Type As thrive on a vegetarian diet.

2.          They do not thrive as well on red meat and dairy foods as they can make you sluggish over time. Eat only 2-3 times a week.

3.        The leading cause of weigh gain for type A is a poorly digested dairy that inhibits your insulin metabolism and interferes with the efficient use of caloric fuel. This leads to obesity, heart disease and diabetes.  

4.        The ingesting of overly processed and refined foods stress type A's system showing up symptomatically as weight gain, fluid retention, muscle loss and fatigue.

5.        You need to eat, organic food as close to its natural state whenever possible.



Food that encourage weigh gain:

meat, dairy foods, kidney beans, lima beans, wheat if over eaten.



Food that encourage weight loss:

vegetables, pineapple (which increases caloric utilization and intestinal mobility, soy foods (metabolize quickly) and vegetable oils) aids digestion and prevents fluid retention. Vegetarian plus fresh seafood, soy products, fruit, nuts and Ezekiel bread.



Weight Loss Factors B:

1.        Type B's thrive on a balance of physical exercise and mental creativity.

2.        They thrive as well on meat, dairy products and grains.

3.        Green vegetables, metabolic aids and licorice tea helps counteract a drop in your blood sugar.

4.        Weight lose will be noticed initially when you begin to restrict your consumption of corn, wheat, peanuts, sesame seeds and lentils. These result in fatigue, fluid retention and hypoglycemia.

5.        The leading cause of weight gain for type B's is a tendency towards grazing all day. It interferes with the body’s natural hunger signals.

6.        Type B's who are overweight should avoid wheat. They react to gluten found in wheat germ and whole wheat products like O blood types. The gluten lecithin adds to the problem caused by the other metabolism slowing foods.  This food then gets stored as fat.

7.        Many Type B's have a severe drop in blood sugar after eating a meal of their offending foods.




Foods that encourage weight loss:

Green vegetables, meat, eggs, low fat dairy products, liver and Licorice root.

Foods that encourage weight gain:

wheat, chicken, corn, lentils, buckwheat, sesame seed and peanuts.



WEIGHT LOSS FOR AB’s

1.        Restrict your consumption of meat, eating small amounts and supplement with vegetables and tofu.

2.        Insulin reactions with kidney or lima beans, corn, buckwheat, or sesame like type B’s

3.        The type A side will make your friendly to lentils and peanuts.

4.        Work with herbs for hypoglycemia.

5.        Avoid wheat which tends to make your muscles tissue more acid.

6.        AB’s utilize calories more efficiently when tissue is somewhat alkaline.



Foods that encourage weigh loss:

Mixed diet in moderation, seafood, dairy, tofu, legumes, vegetables, fruit, lamb eggs, oats, spelt, pineapple, green vegetables.



Foods that encourage weigh gain:

Chicken, pork, red meat, corn, lima and kidney beans, buckwheat,  wheat, bananas, seeds.



13.     Don’t eat after 7:00 at night.  Your body begins cleansing in the evening.  Eating late in the evening causes the body to work harder.  You are also able to burn off those calories better if you stop eating earlier in the evening.  



14.     Avoid foods, which contain estrogen's. Estrogen stores in fat.  This is especially important as we enter menopause. Try to eat hormone free and as many organics as possible



15.     Cut out sugar.



16.     Quit eating microwave foods.



17.     Love your liver with chickweed, SF Formula and Lecithin A cup of fresh squeezed organic lemon water in the morning is also beneficial.



18.     Keep a journal of what you eat.



19.     Seek out emotional and spiritual support.



20.    See yourself thin.





~~~~~~~~~~~~

5 TIPS TO CONTROLLING YOUR CRAVINGS




TIP #1 Exercise regularly

TIP #2 Eat regular meals to control your blood sugar levels and to help avoid intense cravings. (Eat a little something every 3 hours)

TIP #3 Drink water

TIP #4Talk to yourself.

TIP #5Indulge. We always want more of what we can't have. Allow yourself to a treat once or twice a week.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


IDENTIFY YOUR RESISTANCE FACTOR

1.  Are you a carbohydrate craver? Do you like pasta, bread, pastries, crave sweets or starchy foods?  Do you feel tired or lack energy and often try to boost your energy levels with food or beverages?

Then work with NSP's Carbo Grabbers

2.  Is your metabolism low?  Do you have a hard time maintaining your desired weigh as you have gotten older?

Then work with NSP's Metabomax to boost metabolism.

3.  Are you a Fat Addict?  Do you eat out more than two times a week? Do you enjoy sauces, gravies, rich condiments like may and salad dressing? Do you eat junk food and prefer fast food or desserts over vegetables and fruits?

Then try NSP's Fat Grabbers



4.  Do you want to eat all the time?  Do you snack or nibble all day?  Do you feel hungry when you eat less and find it hard to say "NO"? Do you eat everything on your plate and find it hard to diet?



Then try NSP's Hoodia



5.  Do you Stress eat.  Is your life high stress?  Do you cheat where sleep is concerned? Do you eat more when you are stressed, eat on the run or eat foods you don't enjoy because you have to much going on?



Then try Eluthero.

This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose and treat diseases.  If you have any health problems consult a health practitioner before embarking on any course of treatment

To order these products or learn more go to
www.yourherbalhealthsoltutions.com