Vegan? Here’s how you can stop losing weight

herbalife veganBeing vegan has its pros and cons, one of which is that you will most likely lose weight once you begin the vegan way of living. This is great news if you want to lose weight, but what if you are already skinny?

Since you are not eating animal fats on a vegan diet, your body is unlikely to pick up weight and you will lose fat

If you are already thin, you need to take steps to ensure that you remain at a healthy weight. I will cover how you do that later. I would like to first encourage you to ensure that you do take in enough protein in your diet.

Protein contains the building blocks that your body needs to function properly

Your muscles need protein in order to function correctly. Most people look to meat, chicken and fish for their protein requirements.

As a follower of the vegan diet, you need to source protein from other sources. Pulses, whole grains, lentils, beans, tofu, seeds and nuts are great sources of protein and are especially important if you are vegan. You also need to eat pumpkin, hemp, flax and sunflower seeds in order to get the right amount of good fats in your diet.

As mentioned previously, if you are already thin, the vegan diet will make you lose even more weight. You should therefore use Herbalife’s Free From  shake 2-3 times a day in order to avoid losing too much weight. The product contains no animal fats and is rich in protein. It tastes delicious in soy milk and a number of other beverages.

Please make sure that you get your fill of complex carbohydrates. This will ensure that you have enough energy throughout the day to complete your daily tasks and enjoy life to the full.

Should You Follow a Gluten Free Diet?

gluten free

Gluten Free diets have become very popular lately and people everywhere are going GF. In this post you will learn what GF is and how to determine whether you should follow a gluten free diet. If you are intolerant, it goes without saying. Of course there are benefits to going GF even if you are not gluten intolerant.

Before rushing out to buy all the expensive gluten-free food products that you can lay your hands on, it might be an idea to establish whether you are indeed gluten intolerant.

This reminds me of an incident years ago when I believed that I was suffering from recurrent flu. I took all the normal remedies for flu, yet found no respite from the symptoms. Long story short, after consulting with a doctor, the diagnosis was rhinitis. You see, rhinitis has many of the same symptoms as flu, so be careful with any self-diagnosis that you make. I wasted a bucket full of money on unnecessary flu alleviating medication, instead of just boosting my immune system naturally

Food manufacturers have jumped on the gluten-free bandwagon and use fear to motivate you to buy their wares. While gluten intolerance is a problem for some people, not everyone who suffers some of the symptoms is truly gluten intolerant.

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in rye, oats, barley and wheat. If you are on a gluten-free diet, you will not be able to eat pizza, cereal, pasta and bread. Gluten is also found in certain packaged foods as it thickens the ingredients in that food.

Test the waters before making a self-diagnosis of gluten intolerance

To test your gluten tolerance, you should cut out sugar, processed and fried foods alternately from your diet for 1-2 weeks. If you feel better, then this is what was causing your symptoms – not the gluten. If, however, you still have symptoms, then in all probability, you need to start a gluten-free diet.

Some of the symptoms of gluten intolerance include fatigue, vomiting, unexplained weight loss, iron deficiency anemia for no reason, fatty stools and diarrhea and abdominal pain and or bloating. You may also experience itchy skin, numbness and tingling in your extremities, anxiety and depression, osteoporosis, joint pains and headaches.  However, many of these symptoms can also be ascribed to several other conditions.

All of these symptoms make it challenging to pin down a firm diagnosis of celiac disease as they are present in many medical conditions. The other problem is that many of these symptoms can indicate candida or yeast infection. Obtain certainty regarding your diagnosis by having a blood test or a biopsy of your intestine. If you are not ready for these tests, then begin with a wheat allergy test to see whether you need gluten-free food.

Gluten Free Take Away

If you want to give gluten free a go, consider using a gluten free meal replacement first and see if that improves your symptoms. You can use it even if you simply want to cut back on gluten,  but don’t have the time, money or inclination to buy or cook gluten free from scratch.  The gluten you’ll be missing over 2 meals a day will add up to a significant saving over time and your body will thank you. Find out more about gluten free meal replacements here.

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to add your comment regarding gluten-free foods, symptoms and ideas.

Headaches: How to prevent them in one simple step

headachesHeadaches are  most unpleasant, but I am sure you know that already. They are caused by a number of factors, including not enough sleep, stress, illness, exposure to certain toxins and even eating the wrong types of food.

Proper diagnosis is necessary to attend to a chronic headache, but there is good news.

Dietary changes can help to alleviate the rather troublesome symptoms of a headache. Here are some tips:

Try to figure out which foods trigger headaches for you

The list of foods which trigger headaches is exhaustive to say the least, however, there are some firm favorites that you can identify easily.

  • Ice cream
  • alcohol
  • sulfates
  • nitrates
  • nuts
  • mature cheese
  • cured meats
  • Aspartame
  • wine and
  • chocolate

These are the most well known culprits for causing headaches. Sadly, these foods are also most people’s favorites. At the very least, you should cut back drastically on these types of food.

Caffeine is not only found in coffee and tea. It is also found in cola drinks, chocolate and a number of medications such as Actifed, Excedrin and Anacin. So if you have identified caffeine as a cause for your headaches, be mindful to avoid all caffeine containing substances. Rather drink juices and herbal teas that are free from caffeine.

Common headaches are a frequent occurrence for many people

But when it pulses and throbs and causes nausea and vomiting, that is when you need to become concerned. Many of these headaches are treated symptomatically with prescription medication, which brings about temporary relief. The secret is to make some changes that bring about long lasting relief.

Studies have shown that omega 3-fatty acids are helpful in avoiding migraine headaches

This is because fish oil contains eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Both substances reduce the onset of coronary artery disease by interfering with the build-up of atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries. Fish oil is also responsible for reducing blood pressure in hypertensive people.

The body cannot produce these compounds, so you will need to  take fish-oil supplements

Research was conducted by the National Headache Foundation at the University of Cincinnati involving 15 subjects. Some of these people were given placebos and some were given fish oil supplementation.

Fifteen weeks later, it was found that 9 participants experienced fewer migraine headaches than before. Furthermore, the intensity of the migraines was much less severe than before the study took place.

The symptoms were up to 50 percent less intense. This makes a strong case for eating more fish and taking a quality fish supplement, such as Herbalifeline. (Ask us to send you a free information poster – click here)

Here’s Dr. Luigi with a quick introduction on Herbalifeline.

 

It is recommended that you consume about 1.6 grams of omega-3 fatty acids each day. Please do not confuse cod-liver oil with fish oil as they are not one and the same thing. Cod-liver oil has a high concentration of vitamin A and too much of this vitamin can lead to toxicity.

Depression is caused by happy meals

fast food depressionI love fast food as much (or even more) than most people. Most of us understand that fast food makes us fat, but are you aware of the fact that it can lead to depression?

Research on  9,000 people determined that fast food is not good for mental health

Pizzas, hot dogs and hamburgers are not only nutritionally void, but they also tend to make people more miserable, if not depressed. The study revealed that more than 50% of the subjects were depressed after eating this type of food.

Most people who frequently eat  fast food are more likely than their peers to:

  • smoke,
  • live sedentary lives
  • work more than 45 hours a week

and are unmarried.

Nearly 500 of the subjects in the research group of close to nine thousand were diagnosed with clinical depression and needed to be prescribed anti-depressants. None of the subjects used in the trial had any obesity-related diseases, nor were they are on a particularly high or low-calorie diet.

Another researcher made the claim that commercially baked foods can also cause depression.Even small amounts of baked breads, pastries, biscuits and cakes can lead to depression. While more studies are necessary to validate this finding, it is well known that baked foods have other serious implications on health, including obesity.

Not only do fast food junkies have to contend with increased risk of stroke, obesity and diabetes, they now have to struggle with depression and possible suicidal ideation. The problem is even further exacerbated when they start taking anti-depressants.

Ironically, these medications lead to further depression and even suicide

The package inserts of anti-depressants clearly list around 70 different side effects. Some of them have a hundred or more dangerous side effects. Suicide is a prominent side effect associated with taking these drugs.

It is difficult to determine whether the depression or the fast food is to blame

Obese people certainly have a predisposition to depression, however it is unclear whether the bad food choices are causing the depression.

There is certainly a correlation between fast food and depression

Obese people often use food and fast food in particular as an escape from some issue. This is why it is wise to address that issue and embark on a weight-management program simultaneously. This two-pronged approach will help to get back into shape, and the new-found self-esteem will go a long way towards becoming a happier and depression-free person.

Why you should respect obese people

obeseThis post has been rolling around in my head for a few weeks now, but I have not really had the guts to write it. (Not sure I have it now either, but let’s see how it goes!)

I say we should all respect obese people

If you are blessed with skinny genes –  pun fully intended ;-) – you might disagree. Many skinny people say obese people don’t have self-control and discipline. Be that as it may, understanding the troubles us fatties have to endure will show you just how tough a person has to be to live the more well-rounded life.

They said I was obese… ?

In my relatively short adult life, one could say that I have been prone to a yo-yo dieting lifestyle and bad dietary habits. It didn’t help that my husband is a fast food fiend who believes that carbohydrates are more important than oxygen. (Read more about why he is wrong and I am right – as always) My downfall which led to my current state of heftiness, was the fact that I used to exercise a lot and eating a LOT of food (particularly for a girl) – and then I stopped exercising and I stopped taking Herbalife.  Taking on a more sedentary job didn’t help. Comfort food, cakes and chocolates have been my closest friend and my worst enemy. I packed on 37 kgs over the last 10 years.

What it feels like to be obese

The first time I realized that I was getting fat, was when I took my kids to the doctor for a check-up. The elderly doctor told me that I need to start minding my diet. He said I was mortally obese andI was mortified.  How could he?

  • Later on I started getting headaches, nausea and a range of other symptoms. People said it’s because I am overweight and I got angry. I know better…
  • So I went through a battery of tests: diabetes, thyroid, you name it. I even had a referral to go for a brain scan for the headaches. There had to be a medical reason for the weight gain
  • Over the years it became increasingly difficult to find clothes to wear. I refused to “let myself go” more by buying clothes above a certain size. This meant that I couldn’t often go out and when I had to, I was always very uncomfortable and grumpy.
  • A short walk would cause my legs to be excruciatingly painful. My chest would hurt and all of this would make me incredibly grumpy. The kids no longer wanted to go on  walks with me.
  • Even bathing became an ordeal.  Large hips and thighs limited my maneuverability and lying back was more of a requirement than a relaxing option.
  • I needed naps at lunchtime every day without fail and bedtime became earlier as time went by and I became more grumpy as it was hard to lug myself around all day.

All the while I have been begging Wade to diet with me. We tried a soup diet, which was a nightmare. My plan to convince him that dieting is good was completely ruined by this experience. He wanted more rice, pasta, bread and potatoes, which meant that I gained more weight. Let’s face it – it’s a mission to cook veggies for yourself while the family eats nice foods. I didn’t think there was a way to eat what you love and still lose weight. That’s when one day he brought home Herbalife. It was the one program he could stick to, because:

  • He could still eat all the foods he likes
  • It doesn’t taste like soup or salad
  • The results were guaranteed
  • The products are good, safe and promote good health

What it feels to lose weight

Since I started losing weight, I have come to a few important realizations:

  • Yes, it was my fault that I became obese – I had no discipline.
  • Yes, my health problems were caused by my obesity and not a mystery illness.
  • Yes, I can get my good health back – it has started!

I have also realized that it takes work to lose the weight. It cannot happen overnight. After all, it took me 10 years of yo-yo dieting to get here. It took a tremendous amount of emotional and physical pain to realize that it is time to do something about about the obesity. Even when the decision was made, it still took effort to find a safe and healthy way to lose the weight. It’s easy to pop an appetite suppressant – it’s quite different to change your life with a new lifestyle program and eating plan. It is one thing to take some diet pills and losing weight quickly (without any regard for your health and the fact that the faster you lose, the faster you gain it back). Learning to make healthier choices and adapting your attitude to food to help maintain your goal weight is quite different. That is why everyone should respect previously obese people who have made the decision to do what it takes to lose weight.  Most importantly, if you are obese you need to respect yourself and love yourself enough to do what it takes to become healthier and happier.

What are your biggest obstacles to weight loss? Have you lost a lot of weight before?  What kind of results did you experience? Share with us!

PS:  Herbalife helped me remove all these problems. Request a free brochure:

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