| Awaken the gatekeepers of America for an | | | | and assimilation of nutrition as you commit to a |
| enemy has risen against our great country. This | | | | healthy eating plan. |
| villain dwells in the compromise and unbelief of its | | | | Our spirit is much like the colon, it becomes toxic |
| citizens. The weapon this foe uses against our | | | | with a buildup of un-forgiveness, past failures, |
| nation its forges from the lust and desires within | | | | disappoint and hidden pain. If left untreated this |
| its people. This enemy advances in the sleep and | | | | spiritual toxicity spreads like a poison to our |
| slumber of its prey. This invader spreads like | | | | physical body. So how does this effect are |
| locust claiming an estimated 35% of all American's | | | | weight? If there is a heaviness on our heart, it will |
| as its victims. As we unmask this assassin we | | | | lead to a heaviness on our body. Think of your |
| find its identity is obesity, and yes America it has | | | | spirit as a tree and your body is the fruit on the |
| compromised your heart, clouded your mind and | | | | tree. The condition of the fruit, reflects the health |
| weakened your body. | | | | of the tree, it will be hard to become physically |
| In former President Clinton closing address at the | | | | healthy if you remain spiritually sick. So many |
| winter Governors meeting in February of 2006 he | | | | times I have asked overweight clients who have |
| urged America's governors to take an active role | | | | a personal relationship with God this question. Did |
| in the fight against childhood obesity. President | | | | you ask for God's help? Too many times the |
| Clinton was quoted in saying, "nine million children | | | | response is, no I didn't think to ask. The bible |
| and adolescents are overweight and have a 70% | | | | says. "You have not, because you have ask not". |
| chance of becoming overweight or obese adults." | | | | True spiritual cleansing comes when we humble |
| He went on to say, "we must act now to | | | | ourselves before God ask for His forgiveness and |
| reverse this deadly trend. If we do not, this could | | | | God's strength within us to forgive ourselves. To |
| be the first generation that will have a shorter life | | | | ask for divine help in keeping the door of our past |
| span than its parents." Hospital costs related to | | | | closed and build within us the faith that with God |
| child and adolescent obesity have risen 300% | | | | all things are possible. |
| over the last 20 years going from $ 35 million to | | | | In a holistic weight loss program the solution is |
| $ 127 million in 1999. In 2004 a study released by | | | | more than losing weight , but to heal the body |
| Emory University showed obesity accounted for | | | | naturally in the process. To due it right you must |
| 27% of the growth in health care spending. | | | | stay within the natural hormonal design of the |
| Clinton, sited Health Affairs published study which | | | | body, not go against it. You say, I don't need to |
| estimates that The United States will spend over | | | | be healed I only need to lose weight. My response |
| 4 trillion dollars on health care by 2015. Obesity is | | | | would be if your 30 or more pounds overweight |
| an enemy that not only threatens our health and | | | | all the affects of IRS, or Metabolic Syndrome are |
| life expectancy, but is bankrupting our country in | | | | in place they may just be silent now. That is the |
| the process. The importance in the rise in | | | | most dangerous enemy of them all pain that is |
| childhood obesity, is it speaks against the scientific | | | | silent. Scientists have known for years overweight |
| community's position that obesity is determined | | | | and obese individuals are the highest risk group to |
| by a genetic code that must be discovered. If this | | | | develop type 2 diabetes, what they now know is |
| were true, why would it now being showing up in | | | | the biological cause, insulin resistance is found in |
| the children over the last two decades? | | | | both. |
| Another health enemy related to obesity | | | | To lose weight and keep it off you must manage |
| attacking America and its children is IRS, no not | | | | your blood sugar. Not just fasting blood sugar |
| the folks from Washington, but Insulin Resistance | | | | doctors test for, but blood sugar levels 1-2 hour |
| Syndrome or Metabolic Syndrome. Both obesity | | | | after eating a meal. To speed up weight loss, you |
| and IRS are growing at epidemic pace and if you | | | | need to slow down blood sugar. After a meal |
| tract their history they are mirroring one another. | | | | blood sugar levels rise and the pancreas produces |
| Why would this be? Answer, because the same | | | | insulin, which delivers glucose or blood sugar to the |
| lifestyle factors that cause them are found in | | | | muscle cells. As blood sugar levels drop, insulin |
| both. Again, look to what's happening to the | | | | levels drop and the pancreas produces the |
| children, it was unheard of for a child to have IRS | | | | hormone glucagon and nutrients stored in the fat |
| or Type II diabetes, or first known as adult-onset | | | | cells are released to the blood and used for |
| diabetes, which science has quickly renamed. In | | | | energy. The management of this blood sugar rise |
| the last 20 years childhood and adolescent Type | | | | and drop is important. If blood sugar levels go to |
| II diabetes has increased at rates experts | | | | high insulin feeds the muscle cells and deposits |
| describe as epidemic. If this were genetic only in | | | | excess sugar into fat cells. If insulin levels go too |
| origin why would it be showing up in the last two | | | | low, the muscle cells are being under fed. A slow |
| decades. | | | | rise in blood sugar provides good nutrition to the |
| In April of 2006 a team of scientists from Boston | | | | muscles and a slow drop allows glucagon to take |
| University School of Medicine (BUSM) announced | | | | from the fat cells. So why do we become insulin |
| they have identified a genetic variant, present in | | | | resistant? Though we could be genetically |
| ten percent of individuals studied connected with | | | | pre-deposed, it's lifestyle that brings on it's |
| elevated risk of obesity found in both European | | | | effects. Insulin resistance occurs when some of |
| and African ancestry. Researchers using families | | | | receptors on the muscle cell membranes stop |
| from the well known Framingham Heart study | | | | accepting insulin to deliver glucose into the cell. |
| discovered through genetic analysis a common | | | | Think of it as the receptors are doors to the cell |
| variant near the INSIG2 gene | | | | and insulin is the key that unlocks the door and |
| (Insulin-Induced-Gene2). The study found | | | | allows the glucose to enter into the cell. Insulin |
| individuals who possessed this gene were 10% | | | | resistance causes some of these doors to remain |
| likely to be overweight or obese. The risk is | | | | closed, and the blood sugar has no place to go, |
| reported to be found in both adults and children. | | | | but to remain in the blood or be set out to the |
| Hidden in the report is the most important part of | | | | fat cells. |
| the discovery. Michael Christman, PhD., professor | | | | Here's where proper nutrition and exercise can |
| and Chairman of Board of Genetic's at BUSM said, | | | | prevent or reverse insulin resistance. Eating at |
| "the obesity variant is ancient and most likely | | | | least 4 meals daily, spaced about 4 hours apart, |
| arose prior to human migration out of Africa. In | | | | consisting of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, |
| most cases a pre-deposing genetic signature as | | | | which are low glycemic (turn to sugar slowly) and |
| the one found in this study may also require a | | | | high in fiber, along with good quality proteins and |
| specific environment to show it's effect." In other | | | | fats cause blood sugar levels to rise slowly. With a |
| words it takes lifestyle (poor nutrition and lack of | | | | slow rise in blood sugar insulin is produce in lesser |
| exercise) or other environmental causes to bring | | | | amounts but more continually. This allows the |
| on it effect. | | | | receptors that still work to receive the nutrition |
| In a study reported in the New England Journal of | | | | into the cell. Conditioned muscles through exercise |
| Medicine in March of 2006, authors of the study | | | | also allow the receptors to receive better than |
| believe that present obesity rates will reduce | | | | de-conditioned muscles. Once nutrition and |
| American's life expectancy, reversing a 200 year | | | | exercise is in place, I've found that trace minerals |
| trend. Co-author of the study Dr. David Ludwig of | | | | like chromium and vanadium help receptors from |
| Children's Hospital in Boston was quoted saying, | | | | resisting insulin. There are many herbals that can |
| "we lack any clear vision as a nation for solving | | | | be effective with insulin resistance, but my three |
| the obesity epidemic." | | | | favorites are bilberry, turmeric and green tea. I |
| Anyone would be deceived if they said they have | | | | like these because they also have wide ranging |
| all the answers regarding the cause and solution | | | | benefits with overall health and well being. |
| to obesity. In a scientific environment which is | | | | Now that you understand what causes insulin |
| hungry for knowledge, and a media atmosphere | | | | resistance and weight gain the question becomes, |
| quick to release headline news, poor wisdom has | | | | how do you lose the weight and keep it off? The |
| been used in releasing its findings to the public. | | | | answer won't be found in most diets or weight |
| This has created weight loss as big business in our | | | | loss programs. They underfed the body too |
| country, full of half truths and broken promises, | | | | aggressively and there is a loss of lean tissue |
| which at best try to treat and few heal us of this | | | | (muscle) and disrupt balance in metabolism. To do |
| growing problem. The bible warns us of a time | | | | it right, the weight lost must be fat, without the |
| when, "They will gather round them a great | | | | loss of muscle tissue and keeping balance in the |
| number of teachers to say what their etching | | | | metabolism. You must maintain a balance between |
| ears want to hear they will turn away from the | | | | anabolic and catabolic metabolism. In simple terms |
| truth and turn to myths." There could be no | | | | anabolic means building up or repairing of tissue |
| greater truth than in our battle with obesity. | | | | and catabolic refers to breaking down of tissue. |
| America is beyond needing to lose weight, it | | | | This is the most common reason why most diets |
| needs to be healed. Obesity in our country is | | | | fail, the body becomes trapped in the catabolic |
| beyond the help of short term diet concepts, or | | | | phase. |
| magical weight loss supplements, which relieve us | | | | The secret to losing fat without losing muscle |
| of the responsibility of lifestyle reform. We must | | | | starts with not being too aggressive or extreme |
| stop trying to treat the symptoms of obesity, | | | | with your reduction of carbohydrates. You need |
| but get to the real root of the problem. Our | | | | carbohydrate management, not carbohydrate |
| lifestyles no longer support the hormonal design of | | | | elimination. I've found by reducing carbohydrates |
| our bodies, we our fighting against thousands of | | | | by 20% of daily needs and within 48 hours |
| years of hormonal evolution, and that's a battle | | | | replenishing the glycogen in the muscle by eating |
| we can not win. The Obesity Association of | | | | 100% of daily carbohydrate requirements, allows |
| America on it's website list obesity as a complex | | | | for fat loss, without muscle loss. In essence you |
| disease, which is caused by poor diet, lack of | | | | have two fat burning days, then a recovery day. |
| exercise activity, genetic or heredity influenced, | | | | By doing this you'll have the best of both worlds. |
| stress, cultural and sleep deprivation. The only one | | | | You will experience fat loss that averages |
| that is outside our control, the genes our parents | | | | between 1-2 pounds weekly, while muscles are |
| handed down to us. The solution should be clear, | | | | being well fed. |
| focus on what is within our control and become | | | | As mentioned earlier both good nutrition and |
| responsible to control it. The answer, LIFESTYLE, | | | | exercise keep us from becoming insulin resistant. |
| LIFESTYLE and more LIFESTYLE. | | | | Though it's beyond the reach of this article to |
| The scope of this article is not to provide every | | | | explain what we should do for exercise, most |
| answer to obesity, but to open a door of | | | | experts would agree we should consistently |
| understanding that the healing of this disease lies | | | | exercise 3-5 times weekly for at least 30 |
| within us. We must learn how to activate our | | | | minutes. It is also important to know when to |
| bodies natural ability to heal itself. To tap into this | | | | exercise as it relates to eating. Exercise more |
| healing power, first you must see that as human | | | | aggressively on days where muscle are receiving |
| being we are complex in design and made up of | | | | more carbohydrates for fuel and less |
| spirit, mind and body. If there is a problem in one | | | | aggressively, or taking day off from exercise |
| area it will effect the others as well. If you believe | | | | when receiving less carbohydrate. One of the |
| this to be true then you are ready to win this | | | | most difficult thoughts for exercisers to accept is |
| battle with obesity. As a nutritionist, herbalist and | | | | most of the results from exercise come when |
| healing minister, I believe the only permanent | | | | we are not exercising. They come after we |
| answer to losing weight and becoming healthier in | | | | exercise and in direct response to how the |
| the process is holistic, one that will involve the | | | | muscles receive nutrition after exercise. The best |
| guidance of the spirit, acceptance of the mind, will | | | | time to exercise is 1.5 - 2 hours after eating when |
| and emotions, and the discipline of the body to | | | | blood sugar levels and insulin levels are slowly |
| carry it out. If you are overweight you must not | | | | declining. Timing your exercise to this blood sugar |
| be deceived in believing this is just a physical | | | | decline allows the muscles to receive from the fat |
| problem, but beliefs, or better yet fears now | | | | cells more effectively. It is important to never |
| support this problem and a free will which chooses | | | | exercise without having at least one meal left in |
| to maintain it. I remind you, our focus is not just | | | | your day so that muscles can recuperate from |
| losing weight, but to be healed in the process. | | | | exercise. |
| The first step in Holistic weight loss is to bring | | | | A holistic way of eating is more than maintaining a |
| cleansing to the whole body, here again I'm not | | | | certain size, food is our natural medicine it |
| speaking of only the physical body, but to the | | | | provides health, or can restore it. Each meal |
| spirit as well. In my nutritional practice most | | | | should have a balanced macro-nutrition (30% |
| overweight patients I see have a diet that | | | | protein, 50% high fiber, low glycemic |
| consists too high in refined carbohydrates and | | | | carbohydrates and 20% fat), and provide |
| saturated fats and much too low in fiber. Many | | | | essential micro-nutrients (vitamins, minerals, |
| who are overweight suffer from constipation or | | | | enzymes and phytochemicals) found in whole |
| irritable bowel syndrome which is a sign of a toxic | | | | grain fruits and vegetables. We must look beyond |
| or unclean colon, due to impacted fecal matter. | | | | eating to prevent physical or emotional hunger, |
| Most natural healers believe that 90% of all | | | | but to a higher purpose to heal our bodies, or |
| disease is directly or indirectly caused by an | | | | better yet to prevent diseases from forming. |
| unclean or unhealthy colon. As mucus develops of | | | | In closing if you desire the external weight loss of |
| the walls of the large intestine to protect against | | | | tomorrow, you must commit to the internal |
| toxins entering into the blood stream, it also | | | | change of heart today. It takes more than |
| prevents nutrition from metabolized food from | | | | knowing what to do, you must develop beliefs |
| entering the blood robbing the body of vital | | | | which keep you doing what you know. You must |
| energy for life. If you suffer from the | | | | mature to a place where the spirit, mind and body |
| complications of a unhealthy colon a good | | | | are in agreement. To defeat this enemy within it |
| detoxification program, will not only target the | | | | will take a spirit that is pure, a mind that is clear |
| colon, but the liver, kidneys and blood and | | | | and a body that is obedient. |
| lymphatic system, this will allow better absorption | | | | |