Super-Immunity for Kids

Some of the contents of today's blog comes from a book by Leo Galland, MD. When I was studying to become a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, his book gave me a lot of insight into feeding little children a healthy diet.

As parents, we know that a healthy diet is important for our children's growth. But our children are bombarded by media messages daily that encourage them to eat for entertainment, not nourishment. And food manufacturers spend large amounts of money trying to convince us that processed foods contain healthy ingredients. They use labelling with colorful pictures and healthy-sounding words to lure you and your children to their packages on the shelf.

What's a parent to do? How do parents keep up with the times, but still feed their children healthy foods? And how important is it (really) that children eat natural foods? After all, the fast food companies tell us every day that they offer us the components of a well-balanced diet...

Ages One to Five: The Super-Nourished Toddler

There is one basic principle to remember when your toddler says no to food: You control what she eats, and she controls how much she eats. This means that it isn't productive to tell a toddler that she won't get cookies unless she finishes everything on her plate. It may be tempting to say this when she refuses to eat her carrots but, if you give way to the temptation, the end result will be that she will think cookies are one of the most important things in life, while eating carrots is pure punishment.

Here are two possible ways to deal with this situation:
1) You decide what's on the menu. Your toddler is entitled to everything on the menu. If she doesn't eat her carrots, she will still get her cookie (they aren't tied to one another). This way you won't set up a war over carrots and, next time you serve carrots, she may give them another chance.
2) Make desserts as nutritious as possible so that, when your toddler eats them, she is eating much more than refined sugar and non-essential fat.

These years may be the last time you will have almost complete control over your child's diet. Contrary to popular belief, well-nourished toddlers do not crave sweets, and will normally not stuff themselves with candy or ice-cream. A palate that's been formed on low-salt, low fat cooking will find most manufactured foods too salty and too greasy.

...more to come later...

Purge That Fridge

Now that you've taken care of the pantry, it's time to visit the fridge. This is another place where poor choices abound, and you'll need to completely re-think what you have in the house, if you are serious about losing weight, getting healthy, and preventing disease.

Here are some wise words from Dr. Weil, foremost expert on healthy aging:

Get rid of:
Whole or two-percent-fat dairy products, creamers with artificial additives or sugars, regular margarines or spreads that contain “partially hydrogenated oil,” yogurt with added sugary fruit or artificial sweeteners, and American or processed cheeses, “cheese food” and cream cheese.

Replace with:
Organic, hormone-free skim or one-percent-fat milk, organic soy, almond, rice or oat beverages (look for organic soy products that do not contain the thickening agent carrageenan, and that are calcium-fortified), low-fat, organic yogurt (plain or a lower sugar vanilla - add your own organically grown fruit), and small amounts of natural, hard cheeses or varieties of soft cheese that are naturally lower in fat.

The following summarizes some of the specifics of a diet intended to prevent inappropriate inflammation, reduce the risk of age-related diseases, and promote optimum health at any age.

• Aim for variety.
• Include as much fresh food as possible.
• Minimize your consumption of processed foods and fast food.
• Eat an abundance of fruits and vegetables.

For those of you who requested a copy of The Pantry Purge chapter from my book, Get Your Body Back, I'm terribly sorry for the delay. We had a computer melt-down and are still waiting for the retreival of our Word files, which have been promised to us by later this week. I promise to send the chapter to you, as soon as I can.

Meanwhile, other thoughts on purging the pantry...watch out for culprit foods at office functions and various gatherings. If you don't have the foods at home, and wouldn't buy them for your pantry or fridge, why would you eat them when they're free. In other words, once you make the commitment to yourself tht you are going to put only healthy, wholesome, nutrient-rich foods in your body, extend that promise to all eating, including away from home.

More on that on my next blog...

Is Your Doctor Dangerous To Your Health?

We are taught as children to trust the doctor, to suffer the pain of procedures like shots and giving blood samples, because it's good for us. How difficult it is to become adults, only to discover that our doctor isn't always right, doesn't always know best, and sometimes is downright incompetent.

If you want a taste of reporting that really questions the wisdom of most of the medical profession today, start to read www.mercola.com and learn. I became acquainted with Dr. Mercola's site a few years ago when I first started studying natural nutrition. One of my favorite aspects of his work is when he goes into local grocery stores and exposes harmful and deceitful advertising on package labels. He's intelligent and factual, and believes that we should listen to our bodies, and not to food manufacturers and doctors, who are often paid to pass out information and prescriptions by the drug companies themselves.

So today, MSN news reports on a study that was conducted on medication errors in hospitals, sometimes resulting in death. A non-profit organization reviewed not just a few medication errors, but 11,000 of them, reported by 500 hospitals. Next time you place yourself or your children in the hospital for surgery, be prepared...here's an excerpt from the story:

TUESDAY, March 6 (HealthDay News) -- Medication errors that occur during the course of a surgical procedure are three times more likely to harm a patient than errors committed during other types of hospital care, a new report shows.

Some 5 percent of such errors resulted in harm, said Diane Cousins, vice president of the department of Healthcare Quality and Information at the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), which conducted the survey. The nonprofit group sets safety standards for pharmaceutical care that are used worldwide.

The report analyzed 11,000 errors reported by 500 hospitals between 1998 and 2005. This is the largest known analysis of medical errors related to surgery, according to the USP.
Overall, there were about 500 harmful errors, including four fatalities, one of which involved a child.

Errors were most common in the operating room and were most likely to affect children. Almost 13 percent of pediatric errors resulted in harm, proportionately higher than any other group studied.

If you want to read the whole story, go to http://health.msn.com/guides/surgery/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100157359&GT1=9145

In her book, Pathology and Nutrition, author Liliana Stadler Mitrea states, "For us to be healthy and become more and more balanced, as individuals and as a society, we need to know more about what causes imbalances and ultimately, disease.

Does that mean we can all become Nutritionists? Of course not. I don't need to learn how to do a tune-up on my car. We can only be expert in so many areas...I take my car to an expert. So in the area of nutrition and understanding imbalances and disease, I recommend you speak to a professional holistic nutritionist. We study the effect on the body of food, emotions, environment, age, and much more.

Be an expert in the areas that really excite you...as they say, do what you love and the money will follow. A holistic nutritionist should be able to pass along enough information, when you need it, to give you the basic foundation of good health. Sometimes lifestyle adjustments are needed to move toward optimum health but the intervention will be based on natural solutions. They involve listening to your body and providing it with what it asks for, and protecting your body against what harms it.

Am I saying that all doctors are bad? Of course not. But blind faith may not be the right course of action when it comes to seeking out a doctor's advice. Ask around. Look for a doctor that believes in a holistic approach. If your doctor doesn't know much about nutritional options (many don't), he/she should be willing to refer you to someone who is an expert in that area, to complement everything your doctor is suggesting.

After all, who is responsible for our medical care? As always, we are responsible for ALL of the decisions that we make for ourselves. Choose your practitioners wisely.

I will carefully and thoughtfully answer any questions you may have about your nutrition and the effect it has on your body. Please e-mail your questions to billiesinclair@mybodywise.org

Purge that Pantry

Most pantries hold a confusing mix of healthy and unhealthy food items, but cleaning out the questionable ones and replacing them with better choices isn’t really all that difficult.

1. Toss out any cereals and breads that are refined, pre-sweetened or made with white flour, and replace them with organic, high-fiber cereals, organic and natural instant varieties of hot cereals, and whole-grain breads.
2. Replace instant soups (which can be very high in sodium), rice or noodle mixes (often high in sodium and undesirable fats) and instant drink mixes (such as iced tea, instant coffee and sugary hot chocolate mixes), with whole grains, dried beans, peas and lentils, and high quality green, white or oolong and herbal teas.
3. Add some spices - an important part of the anti-inflammatory kitchen and diet. Herbs are best when used fresh, but dried herbs, such as basil, sage, thyme, and rosemary, can keep their healthful characteristics and aroma very well.

Instant everything - that's a common marketing ploy in today's fast-paced world. You are told that you don't have time to cook and you say, "Hey they're right - I don't have time to cook" and you buy what the big companies tell you to buy.

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know I advocate a return to the kitchen. Of course, we're all busy but saving time in the kitchen can cost you in other ways. The body is capable of adjusting to almost anything, for a while. But is it fair to ask so much of your body on a daily basis, and give back so little? You can't do that to your car. Ignore the maintenance of your car and it will sputter and croak when you need it the most - same goes for your body. And then you'll be scrambling.

Of course, I'll be there to pick up the pieces but, do we really have to go there? Remember, forewarned is forearmed. You have the chance to change your bad habits now, stop listening to the words of big-business, whose only intention is to fatten their wallet, before your body starts to rebel and break down.

If you won't believe that white sugar and flour can hurt you, that cans, bottles, and boxes of everything cause your body enormous amounts of stress, then I can't help. Are restaurants any better? Of course not - their job is to get you coming back for more, so portions get larger and ingredients get tastier...but have you ever asked what's really in those creamy sauces and those tasty desserts? I dare you to ask and be prepared for vague answers, if any at all.

Next time you're at your favorite fast-food chain, ask for the Nutritional Information sheet. These sheets are supposed to be readily available for the customers but usually, they're hidden away and the staff bring them out only on request. You'll be shocked at the calorie content, and even more shocked at the ingredient list, of most of your favorites. How long are you going to keep feeding your body garbage, and in excess amounts?

Some people need to learn everything the hard way. I just hope that, when your body breaks down, you'll finally listen. If you'd rather listen now, I commend you. If you're willing to take your car in for routine maintenance, give your body the same regard. Don't wait for the breakdown, start now to clean up your pantry, and put healthy food choices in your home. It may take a little time to learn new habits, to cook a little extra at dinner so you have your lunch for the next day. I have a whole chapter on the Pantry Purge in my book, which I will happily send you by e-mail for free.

For a copy of the chapter on the Pantry Purge, send me an e-mail at billiesinclair@mybodywise.org and let's get started on cleaning up your kitchen and your body, before it's too late!

Billie

Helping Teens Make Better Food Choices

So today, let's cover the topic of what teens are eating and how to help them make better choices.

Peer pressure is a real challenge for people who want to eat well, no matter what age. The office baseball team spends 90 minutes on the field and 90 minutes in the pub afterwards. It's someone's birthday and you're expected to join the festivities, eating and drinking late into the night. You've done well with your eating all week and, because it's Friday, some kind work-mate decides to treat everyone to a big box of Tim Horton's. How do you stick with good choices in the face of all this tempation, from well-meaning friends and associates?

If you think it's tough as an adult, imagine the difficulty that teens have with good eating. All of their friends are eating their meals at Wendy's, Burger King, MacDonald's and Pizza Hut. No one eats in the cafeteria and, if they did, the food's not much better there. And today, vending machines are standard fare in many high school hallways. Add to this the onslaught of TV commercials, telling your kids that stuff in a box contains vitamins and minerals, and everything they need to grow up healthy and strong.

What's a parent to do? Concentrate on the meals you can control - breakfast, supper, and (sometimes) after-school snacks. And give them some basic supplements for nutritional insurance.

Your teen needs a moderate amount of protein, a lot of fiber and minerals, and very little fat, sugar and salt. Many recent studies have linked fats to cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and arthritis. A diet high in salt contributes to hypertension and strokes. Sugar supplies calories without nutrients and contributes to obesity and several vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Your teen needs a variey of nutritious foods: fish, poultry, lean meats, eggs, fresh and dried fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, vegetables, and grains (rice, corn, oats, wheat, etc). At home, avoid serving high fat foods, sugar, and phosphates (found in preservatives and soft drinks).

In the Get Your Body Back program, we talk about your pantry. If it's not there, you can't eat it, so make sure your teen only has healthy choices in the pantry. Today we'll focus on breakfast. Here are some healthy suggestions and recipes that teens can make when they're in a rush (which is almost always):

Teen Healthy Breakfast Solutions

1. Fruit salad or cut-up fruit on a plate
2. Low-fat cheddar or monterey jack cheese on whole grain toast
3. Homemade Granola
4. Sesame Waffles (teens like gadgets; buy a waffle iron and supply the pre-mix)
5. Pancakes
6. Protein Shakes

Homemade Granola
(makes 7 cups)
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup oat bran
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup flaxseed
1/2 cup shelled sunflower or pumpkin seeds
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup frozen apple juice concentrate
1/4 cup flaxseed or sunflower oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups raisins
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly oil two cookie sheets. Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Mix the wet ingredients together in a small bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring together until wet is evenly distributed. Spread the mixture on the cookie sheets. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. When slightly golden brown, remove from oven, pour back into large bowl, and stir in raisins and coconut. Allow to cool completely and store in an airtight container. Keep in the fridge. Serve with almond or rice milk, which comes in flavors or plain.

Sesame Waffles

This batter is best when made the night before.

1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup soy flour
1 tsp baking soda
3 tbsp sesame seeds
2 eggs (free range, if available)
1 tbsp oil
1 cup buttermilk
3 tbsp water

The night before: In a large bowl, sift together flours and baking soda. Add sesame seeds. In the blender, mix eggs, oil, buttermilk, and water. Add this liquid to the dry ingredients, stirring with a few strokes until just mixed. It's better with a few lumps.

In the morning: Turn on and lightly oil waffle iron. Turn on your oven too. When hot, pour on 1/2 cup of batter per waffle. Each waffle takes about 4 minutes to cook to a golden brown. Keep waffles warm by placing on a baking sheet in the oven (on warm) while the rest of the waffles cook. Don't stack the waffles in the oven so they'll stay crispy. Top waffles with sugar-free applesauce or jam, or mash up some fruit, like bananas and peaches.

Pancakes
(Batter can be prepared the night before)

Premix (can be mixed and kept in the fridge until pancake time):
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup soy flour
2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk or plain yogurt
3/4 cup water
2 tbsp sunflower oil

In a large bowl, stir together flours and baking soda until combined. Add blueberries and mix until berries are coated with flour mixture. In a medium bowl, beat eggs and add buttermilk (or yogurt), water and oil; blend thoroughly. Add liquid mixture to the dry mixture, stirring until combined (don't overstir; a few lumps is better).

Heat a large frying pan and oil lightly. Pour 1/4 cup batter in the pan for each pancake. When bubbles appear on pancake surface, edges look dry and pancake is lightly brown, flip pancake. Cook about 2 minutes more. You may need to add a bit of oil between the pancakes.

Top pancakes with sugar-free applesauce or jam, or mash up some fruit, like bananas, peaches, and add more blueberries.

Protein Shakes

When your teens are rushing to school and won't take the time to sit down for breakfast, the protein shake is the ideal nutritious quick breakfast. And I don't mean the Slim-Fast or Nestle's kind, which are full of artificial sweeteners (that's a topic for another blog!). If you can, I recommend you try the Body Wise Meal Replacement Shake powders, which come in Va Va Vanilla and Oh So Chocolate flavors. They are available for purchase online at www.billiesinclair.bodywise.com and can be shipped (no-charge for shipping) anywhere in the US or Canada. Why do I recommend this brand from San Diego, over the store-bought varieties?

Many reasons:
They have 9 different proteins (some fast proteins, some slow proteins)
They have 22 amino acids
They have only 4.5 g fat
They have only 5 g carbs
They have 20 g protein
They have lots of vitamins and minerals
They are sweetened without sugar or artificial sweeteners
THEY TASTE GREAT and I've tried LOTS of protein shakes!

My teens love this quick breakfast idea:

1/2 cup of frozen peach or mango or pineapple
1/4 cup of frozen strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or raspberries
filtered water
2 scoops of Va Va Vanilla shake powder

In the blender, put in frozen fruit first. Add water to the 1 1/2 c mark (more will be too runny). Blend on high until well mixed. Turn down to low, add the protein powder. Mix for another 30 second on low. Pour and enjoy. Can be put into a thermos and taken on the road. Just make sure the container is thoroughly washed at school and brought home clean for tomorrow!

This shake is also great for your younger children, particularly if you don't believe in drinking milk. It can be poured over granola or on oatmeal. Share the above quantity with 2 or 3 younger children or, if you only have one child, share it between the two of you!

Well, I hope those suggestions help you get your teens off to a good start in the morning. In a future blog, I'll cover after-school snack ideas.

Bon appetit! Live long and healthy, and prosper! Billie

Where to start?

Hi Folks...welcome back to my blog, as it was on hiatus for the month of February. The trip to California was awesome. It's a yearly venture to meet with health professionals from across North America. We discuss the health challenges that our clients and patients are facing back at home. We share ideas about the things that have worked in our practices, from a nutritional perspective.

Yesterday's nutrition news said that, by the time your children are in Grade 9, most of them aren't eating breakfast, don't know the meaning of the word vegetable, and ingest most of their food from Burger King, Pizza Hut, and MacDonalds. And, unless they're into organized sports, they aren't getting any exercise.

Today's nutrition news said that, while the World Health Organization (WHO) predicted a rising incidence of diabetes worlwide, we are actually surpassing their estimates. Since 1995, there has been a 69% increase in the prevalence of known diabetes. Their prediction was a 39% increase. By 2030, there is expected to be a 6.4% prevalence among adults worldwide, which is an increase of another 39% over the numbers since 1995.

So where to start? Does anyone out there really think that the way we all eat has nothing to do with our overall health? Excuse me while I get the sand out of my ears - that happens every time I stick my head in the sand...

Enough said for today...the month of March will be dedicated to talking about what sickness really means. Let's look at what we're doing to our bodies every time we take a bite.

February Special!

During the month of February, I am offering new clients a unique opportunity.

Get a free 25-minute "Unleash your Fat-Burning Potential" one-on-one coaching session with Billie Sinclair.

In this powerful telephone session, you will leave with:

* Written positive outcomes for your Body Transformation,
* A new awareness of what is making it difficult for you to lose weight and keep it off (it might not be what you think), and
* A "next-step" action plan for moving into your next phase of energy, weight-loss, and optimum health.

This offer is available to only the first 10 people who respond to this blog.

This session is normally $197 but, as a special offer to my blog readers, I'm making it available for free to the next 10 people only!

As I will be in California for part of February, I have only 10 spaces open for these sessions all month and, once they are gone, they're gone!

Send me an e-mail at getyourbodyback@hotmail.com . I look forward to speaking with you. I just know that I can help you Get Your Body Back! Billie

New Year - New You!

Almost 40 years ago, Dr. Royal Lee, perhaps the world's greatest nutritionist said, "One of the biggest tragedies of human civilization is the precedence of chemical therapy over nutrition. It's a substitution of artificial therapy over natural, of poisons over food, in which we are feeding people poisons (drugs), trying to correct the reactions of starvation."

What was the good doctor trying to say? Fast forward 40 years to 2007 and ask yourself if almost every ailment of the human condition doesn't have a prescription or over-the-counter solution being rammed down our collective throats. Very little mention is ever made of the causes of these ailments, nor the prevention of them.

Think of this for a moment. The immune system of the human body is remarkably sophisticated. It makes the most advanced computer software in the world look like a child's toy. Any idea how this magnificent system can malfunction?

Germs or microbes flourish as scavengers at the site of disease. Enlightened understanding is that they are not the cause of the disease, any more than flies and maggots cause garbage. Flies, maggots, and rats do not cause garbage but rather feed on it, so the germ theory of medicine can be related to the "rat theory of garbage."

That is, if germs cause disease, then rats must cause garbage. Show me a town that's full of rats and I'll show you a town that's full of garbage, a town with a sanitation problem, guaranteed.

How do antibiotics cause the human body to lose immunity?

Antibiotics in our bodies can't tell the cops from the robbers. With no discretion, they kill friendly as well as harmful bacteria. Yet the vast majority of bacteria in our systems is helpful, actually working for us, like the microflora in our intestines. Thus, when the system is flooded with antibiotics, it doesn't work. A false sense of temporary resistance is acquired by the body.

Antibiotics can also weaken our immune system by creating certain B-vitamin deficiencies. Antibiotics kill the friendly bacteria that manufacture vitamin B12 in the gut.

Where is the logic behind depressing our immune system to fight an infection artificially?

Bacteria and viruses, which are cell scavengers, aren't in the system because they have nothing else to do. They're there because there is malnourished, unhealthy, devitalized, enzyme-depleted, diseased, and necrotic tissue, and unprocessed metabolic waste. Functioning as nature's biological sanitation department, bacteria and viruses must break down and eliminate the sick tissue to prevent further poisoning of the body. If you stop their action, you allow the body's continuous poisoning by the decaying tissue.

Disease is not the presence of something evil, but rather the lack of the presence of something essential.

The body uses vitamins and minerals as a means of increasing the success of the immune response. The best way to help the immune system is to first cleanse the tissues and then fortify the body with natural, whole complex nutrients. How do you do this? By eating a wholesome, natural diet, and leaving the boxes, bags, cans, and jars on the supermarket shelf where they belong (not in your stomach).

As the New Year arrives, many of us are contemplating what we want 2007 to look like. If this is your year to Get Your Body Back, then you have come to the right place.

I have been in the slimming business for over 20 years. It took me a while to realize that one-on-one consultation brings almost 100% success. I am a Certified Coach and Holistic Nutritionist, and my passion is personal development. The Wellness Wheel has six components: Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Social, Spiritual, and Financial. I specialize in the Physical component because I believe that, by getting our body under control, we unleash a personal power that we can then use to achieve whatever we want, in every area of our lives!

For more information or a private no-obligation consultation, e-mail me at getyourbodyback@hotmail.com. I truly look forward to supporting you to make this your best year ever! Billie

Does Smoking Really Kill?

Can we fight disease when we are not causing health?

This is the question we must ask ourselves when the United States Surgeon General's July 1988 report states that two-thirds of all deaths in the US are related to diet.

Between 1965 and 1986, the percentage of adult cigarette smokers dropped 35 percent, from 40 percent to 26.5 percent. However, the cancer death rate continued to climb. This is more than interesting because smoking is blamed by medicine as the major cause of cancer.

While we may not question the strong case linking lung cancer to smoking, related factors exist.

Before 1930, there was an abundance of long-term heavy smokers, and lung cancer was a very rare disease. Why was lung cancer so rare in the 1920's with a higher percentage of adult male smokers than today. Could it be that it was before the age of toxic agri-chemicals, depleted soils, and junk foods?

Can we suppose that artificial fertilization, ever-increasing and under-regulated amounts of highly toxic insecticides like DDT, chlordane, toxaphene, and lindane, and dangerous compounds called organophosphorous compounds, sprayed on tobacco fields, might have a role to play?

The act of smoking vaporizes these residues as they are inhaled into the smoker's lungs. Add to this a new generation of humans exposed to severe air pollution of lead, chlorinated napthalene, and other waste products of combustion, industry poisons, increased radiation, junk food, and general deficiency. And smoking may just be the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

In other words, smoking may just be the longest nail in the coffin lid, but not enough to hold it down alone.

The cancer rate has continued to climb despite a significant reduction in alcohol consumption.

The cancer rate has continued to climb despite significantly increased spending on health care and legal drugs.

Heart disease is still the Number One killer, and half of all men die from it.

While the use of antibiotics has increased at a mind-boggling rate, the death rate attributed to septicemia (the presence of bacterial toxins in the blood) has soared.

Death rates from pneumonia have also soared.

More money, more doctors, more research, more surgery, more disease, more death.

All your immune system is trying to do is to get rid of the bacteria that is building up too high. When the body is too toxic and weak, there is too much pollution in the system. Waste has built up in the intestines, liver, kidneys, spleen, and lymph glands, and generally in the blood and tissues. The bowels get very sluggish.

The body wants to generate heat and the thyroid's not able to do it.

Enter the common cold or flu. What does the flu do? It's a turbulent detoxification reaction of the body. Every symptom of a cold or the flu is a symptom of detoxification.

High fevers burn waste and bacteria. The pores open for profuse sweating. The bowels dump via diarrhea. The chills generate internal heat. Vomiting is the process of coughing up and getting rid of respiratory mucus. All cleansing actions.

This is the way that the body can violently and quickly get rid of the unprocessed metabolic waste in the system. The waste is a smorgasbord of bacteria.

And what are we told to do, by TV and billboard advertising, and well-meaning loved ones? We start taking all kinds of anti-histamine cold pills and drugs, to try and stop the body's correct clean-up response because we misunderstand what's going on.

Let's return to the early 1920's, when an epidemic of coronary heart attacks began in this country. It soon became clear that, as vitamins and other nutrients were being discovered, some protective factors in our food supply were being stripped out.

So can we continue to blame smoking and ignore the fact that we are eating a diet of highly processed chemicals and nutritionless components?

Is there even a chance that we can return to more sane practices, as I said in my last blog, return to the kitchen, and heaven forbid, maybe return to the garden, be it in the back yard or on the apartment patio? That's where REAL organic, non-chemical produce has a chance to live.

Take back control, folks. We are pawns, being played by big business.

If we want optimum health, yes, quitting smoking is a necessity. But so is eating a real, healthy, and nutritious diet, with minimal processing, and maximum vitamin and mineral content.

I'd like to remind you that I write this blog in order to support people to live healthy, robust, productive, and consequently happy lives. I can help you lose your first 20 pounds of Body Fat in 90 days in a healthy manner, and set you on a path where you can regain control of your entire future.

If you'd like more information on the Get Your Body Back 10 Step Program, that has successfully worked for many others, send me an e-mail at getyourbodyback@hotmail.com and receive a free, no-obligation consultation.

"Those who think they have no time for healthy eating will sooner or later have to find time for illness..." Edward Stanley 1826 - 1893

To your superior health and longevity...Billie

Dirty Secrets of the Food Processing Industry

I recently got my hands on the transcripts of a talk that was delivered at the Annual Conference of Consumer Health of Canada a few years ago. If you read this blog on a regular basis, you already have some sense of how I feel about the food industry. In fact, I often put up a notice on the door of my office that says, "The food industry makes poison taste good. Which poisons are you consuming today?"

Today, I'm going to take the liberty of sharing some excerpts of this talk with you. If you want the complete transcript, I would be happy to fax it to you. Just send me an e-mail at getyourbodyback@hotmail.com with your fax number included.

Now, for a long time, my clients have heard me say, "Don't even get me started on the food industry..." Well, finding this 8-page transcript definitely "got me started!" all over again. I hope it does the same to you and gets you questioning many of the food choices you make for yourself and your family members. Notes from the talk will be italicized.

While traditional food processing enhances or increases the nutrient value of our foods, in modern times we have abandoned those practices in favor of factory and industrial processing, which actually destroys the nutrients in food and makes our food more difficult to digest.

Furthermore, industrial processing depends upon products that have a negative impact on our health, such as white sugar, white flour, processed and hydrogenated oils, additives, and synthetic vitamins.

Let's talk about breakfast cereals. In experiments conducted on commercial extrusion cereals, rats fed on vitamins, water, and all the puffed wheat they wanted died within two weeks. And they didn't die of malnutrition, as you might be thinking. Autopsy revealed dysfunction of the pancreas, liver, and kidneys, and degeneration of the nerves of the spine, all signs of insulin shock. In fact, the rats that got nothing but water and vitamins lived longer, at about two months!

In another experiment conducted with corn flakes, rats fed the box only became lethargic and eventually died of malnutrition. However, rats fed corn flakes and water developed schizophrenic behaviour, threw fits, bit each other and finally went into convulsions, and died before the rats that were eating the box! (This experiment was originally designed as a joke but the results, which were never published, were far from funny).

What to do? Go back to old fashioned porridge, not the packaged flavoured kind but the kind you actually have to cook in the morning...

Let's talk about milk. From an article in the LA Times, we will save the part about the treatment of milking cows for another blog.

The pasteurization process deforms and denatures proteins, whose role includes protection against pathogens, enhancement of the immune system, and is the carrier system for nutrients. When we drink pasteurized milk, our body mounts an immune response instead of deriving instant nourishment. Much is written about the benefits of full-fat milk from pasture-fed cows, which is not pastuerized, processed, or homogenized. Do your own research, starting with www.realmilk.com.

Another supposed healthy choice is orange juice. Did you know that new orange juice processing plants are completely automated and can process up to 1800 tonnes of oranges per day? Do you think they do this by cutting oranges in half and carefully squeezing out the juice? Of course not. They process the whole orange. Oranges are a very heavily sprayed crop and these sprays are cholinesterase inhibitors, which are real neurotoxins. When they put the oranges in the vats and squeeze them, all of those pesticides go right into the juice.

Protect yourself from pesticides and juice a few oranges yourself in the morning.

Next, before the advent of processed food, we made our broths for soups, sauces, and gravies from bones and the good drippings from our cooked meat. Processed soup bases and sauces contain artificial meat-like flavours because it's too expensive for the industry to make real broth.

In 1947, General Foods chemists predicted that almost all natural flavours would soon be chemically synthesized in the laboratory. Following the Second World War, food companies discovered MSG, which the Japanese had invented in 1908. When the industry learned how to make the flavor of meat in the lab using inexpensive proteins from grains and legumes, the door was opened to a flood of new products including bullion cubes, dehydrated soup mixes, sauce mixes, TV dinners, and condiments with a meat-flavoured base.

In fact, the food industry as we know it could not exist without MSG and other artificial meat flavours to make secret sauces and spice mixtures that beguile the consumer into eating bland and tasteless foods. The sauces in processed foods are basically MSG, water, thickeners and emulsifiers, and some caramel coloring. Your tongue is tricked into thinking that it's getting something nutritious when it is getting nothing at all except some very toxic substances. Look on your labels for hydrolyzed protein, aspartame, and MSG, the three most toxic additives in our food supply. But beware, the industry avoids putting MSG on labels and they don't have to, if the mix is less than 50% MSG. And the industry has known about health problems associated with MSG since they began studying it closely in 1957.

Well, eight pages is a long transcript and I think you've read enough for one day! Stay tuned when the next blog will reveal truths about fats and oils, including margarine, vegetable oils, trans fats, and artificial bacon.

For now, please get back into the kitchen. A little time invested in natural food preparation is a fantastic investment in the health and longevity of your family.

P.S. I'm currently looking for articles on the pet food processing industry as well. I believe that most of what is put into most pet foods is waste and garbage, unconsumable by humans and foisted upon our innocent, unsuspecting pets (by innocent, unsuspecting pet owners). Shortly after the purchase of my chihuahua, I went looking for research on pet health and decided to feed my little guy ONLY raw, real food for his dinner. Yes, the preparation takes a little more time than opening a bag or a can but it costs only pennies per day and I'm happy to spend about 30 cents and 10 minutes to see him happy and excited, the picture of perfect health!

To your health and longevity, Billie

Count-Down to the Executive Challenge

Well, faithful readers, it feels like it took a long time to arrive but finally, December 1st is upon us. It's time to count down to the Executive Challenge.

We begin the 90 day Ten Step Program on January 1st, just in time for some serious soul-searching and a renewed commitment to being the best you can be.

Do you have big plans for yourself in 2007? I certainly hope you do because these are some of the most exciting days in the history of mankind.

Did you know that today, in Vancouver, BC, the world's largest aircraft landed at our International Airport?! It is the world's largest passenger aircraft. The Airbus A-380 is the aircraft equivalent of the double decker bus with passenger space on two levels the entire length of the plane. It's in Vancouver on the last leg of what's called technical route proving before it heads back to Toulouse, France. And Vancouver is the only North American stop for the aircraft that's expected to be in service by the end of next year. Is that exciting or what?!

If you haven't given 2007 too much thought yet, now's the time to do so.

In just 31 days, you'll be saying goodbye to 2006. I hope you had an excellent year but I hope you have a stellar year planned for yourself in 2007. There is so much excitement in the air, excitement about achieving your goals and creating the future of your dreams.

Did you watch Larry King Live when he had Jack Canfield, Bob Proctor, Joe Vitale, James Ray, and others on his show? The show was all about how we can create a dramatic and phenomenal life, full of abundance, just with our thoughts. In fact, we are creating our life right now, with every thought that we think.

How many times have you heard it said, "As a man thinketh, so is he." Or perhaps, "What you focus on, expands." These words are no longer up for debate, as leaders and scientists are now coming together in understanding about the power of the mind.

I invite you to step up to the plate. Make a commitment to yourself and have 2007 be the year that you give up weight as an issue in your life permanently. You'll see that, once you lose those first 20 pounds, your perception of yourself will change dramatically. And you'll do it without starving, without diet pills and without stuff in a can. You'll do it while you eat and enjoy real food, move your body the way it was meant to be moved, and think yourself to the best that life has to offer.

All in a format that you'll want to adopt as a way of life. Let us help you find the freedom you've been looking for.

If you didn't catch Larry King, click on this link for transcripts of the show on CNN. It could dramatically change your life...

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0611/16/lkl.01.html

Come join us and see for yourself...I just know that you can Get Your Body Back...Billie

The Benefits of a Starter Salad

In a recent blog about longevity, I mentioned that eating fewer calories can contribute to a longer lifespan. So how do we eat fewer calories, yet not feel food-deprived? The answer is to eat more of the foods that are high in nutrition, and low in calories...welcome...your favorite salad ingredients.

From the latest Pritikin newsletter:

In new research presented at the North American Association for the Study of Obesity conference in October in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, scientists at Penn State University found that volunteers who ate a big salad before eating a main course of cheese tortellini ate 107 fewer calories overall than volunteers who didn’t have a first-course salad.

One important caveat: Stick to low-calorie dressings and skip high-fat, high-calorie ingredients like cheese, bacon, and croutons. When the volunteers ate salads full of calorie-dense dressings and condiments, they ended up eating more calories – even more than volunteers who were told to skip salads and go straight for the tortellini.

The good news: The subjects rated the salads equally satisfying, and didn’t notice the difference between the full-fat dressings and the lower-fat ones, most likely because the taste of low-fat varieties has greatly improved lately, says lead researcher Barbara Rolls.

The seven-week study looked at six salads that differed in fat, size, and calories. For the 42 volunteers involved, the salads that were the most effective at reducing overall calorie consumption had the following characteristics:

1. Low in fat (just 14% of calories from fat).

2. Big in size: Three cups of low-fat salad were much better at curtailing tortellini consumption than 1½ cups.

3. Low in calories: The salads low in calories and high in fresh, low-calorie veggies like romaine lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and celery did the best job at cutting overall calories for the meal. These salads (all three cups worth) added up to a mere 100 calories. The salads with cheese, full-fat dressings, and bacon bits quadrupled the calorie count – to 400 calories.

So, next time you're in the grocery store, load up on fresh, low-calorie veggies for your fridge. I believe in packing your lunch every day if your job allows. Take your veggies with you to the office every day and eat them at the beginning of your lunch. A longer life awaits you!

Preventing Self-Sabotage

We've all done it. Our program is going along very nicely and we lose focus for one reason or another...oh no, it looks like self-sabotage!

What causes us to sabotage our weight-loss efforts? Don't we know better? How can we prevent ourselves from behaviours that we'll later regret?

As in most situations that involve change, we are best prepared by understanding ourselves and telling the truth. Let's examine some likely scenarios...after all, fore-warned is fore-armed. Here are some sage words from Susan Mendelsohn, a licensed psychologist who works with a variety of addictions and specializes in managing eating disorders.

1. 
   Old habits are more comfortable. Even though those old behaviors are nonproductive, they actually feel more comfortable to us for the mere reason that we know what to expect. Heading into uncharted territory may feel uncomfortable for us. Basically, the more you travel the same path, the more difficult it becomes to change directions. Only by breaking out of old routines can you make exciting new discoveries. You may soon discover that those old habits are not as comforting as you once thought.
   
2. Change is tough. Change takes time to plan for and is certainly not easy. But, sometimes the things that are most difficult are those that have the greatest payoff. Change requires need, desire, information, self-efficacy and movement. It takes patience, discipline, perseverance, self-discipline, responsibility and sacrifice. Without change there can be no breakthroughs! Let’s work together and break through those barriers.
   Throughout history, the greatest achievements have come only after countless failures. There would be no phones, computers or electricity if certain individuals had just given up! Imagine what our world would be like if we all gave up!
   
3. Immediate gratification. If you are an individual who wants immediate results, then you will probably never give yourself the chance to be the healthiest or most content you can be later on. People tend to sabotage their new and healthy habits, because they are not seeing the fruits of their labor immediately. If you want to live a healthy lifestyle, it takes time for your mind and body to become regulated. Give your mind and body the courtesy and the time they need to adjust and you’ll reap the benefits of a lifetime of wellness.
   
4. Fear of the unknown. Many folks fear what hasn’t even occurred yet. Why? Most likely, it is an irrational idea that change may lead to other problematic issues. But how in the world would you ever know if you haven’t experienced those changes? Fear can result in preventing us from the experience of a whole new life! Cross the bridge of fear if and when the circumstances call for it. Don’t fret about what cannot be controlled.
   
5. Strong emotions. Your emotions may have a stronger hold on you than you ever imagined. Yes, both positive (the feeling-good feelings) and negative (the feeling-bad feelings) emotions can cause you to sabotage your efforts in a single moment. Emotional highs and lows are both culprits in sabotaging efforts, especially with weight management. When we feel “high,” we feel invincible and simply forget that we have to remain conscious in the choices we make. For instance, let’s say you just got a promotion. What is the first thing you do? Many folks say, “Let’s go celebrate.” Celebration is more than understandable and deserved, but how is it that we celebrate? Usually, we celebrate with a nice expensive dinner out on the town and other potentially harmful substances (alcohol, drugs, etc). Hence, we make a decision, either unconsciously or consciously that, “I deserve to pig out” or “get drunk,” because I have earned the right. At that moment, our “feeling good” emotions have taken over and may leave us with a mess to clean up later. On the other hand, those negative emotions, or the “feeling bad” ones, can wreak havoc on our achievements as well. Most of us do not enjoy feeling down, and many of us turn to food (or other substances) as an escape from those issues and feelings that we choose not to deal with. Yes, this is a choice we make.
   
6. Obstacles! Yes, roadblocks are inevitable! Unpleasant and unexpected situations arise from time to time. So what? Should you use them as an excuse to quit your efforts at becoming healthy? I think not! If you think of barriers as a challenge rather than a threat, it is more probable that you will persist. Continuous effort will break down the barriers and conquer seemingly immoveable mountains! Don’t judge yourself as bad or worthless if you have a setback. Basically, stop judging yourself at all. Survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature. The fittest are those that have the ability to adapt to rapidly changing conditions and endure difficult situations. Don’t get discouraged by a temporary defeat. You can do anything you want to if you stick to your plan long enough. Each step, whether it brings success or failure, supplies you with new understanding and enriches your journey.
   
7. Excuses. Just another reason that we tend to sabotage our efforts. Too many of us are used to thinking and acting like children. By this, I mean we have grown accustomed to blaming others for our misery. It is time to act like an adult by taking responsibility for your own actions. Once you can take responsibility, it is up to you to push on. If you look for external reinforcement, you are giving power to those around you. Once you give up that power, you are doomed to accept others’ expectations of how you should look, how you should act, how you should feel, etc. This is a sure-fire way of sabotaging your efforts at anything you attempt to accomplish!

What do you do when adversity hits home? Will you complain, blame or act? Will you panic or persist? Will you find excuses to quit or give up, or will you look for reasons to push forward?

The job of a Wellness Coach is to support you to follow through on your plans. Your coach provides a committed listener, someone who actually cares whether you do what you say you're going to do. It's called "accountability." When you're accountable to someone, it doesn't mean that you've given up your power. Quite the contrary, it means that you've told yourself that failure is not an option and you've reached out to get the support you need to accomplish your goals, whatever they may be.

Body Transformation, as I've said before, requires major amounts of consistency. Current research says that even one bad (high fat, low nutrition) meal can have a negative effect on your body, when you're trying to make positive changes. Doing some physical activity now and then will not change your metabolism or burn your extra body fat.

Once we set up your program, which is based on your goals and your lifestyle, we work together to keep you on the path from where you are now to where you want to go.

The Executive Challenge will be launching soon. Wouldn't you like to lose 20 pounds in 90 days, starting on January 1st. Will weight-loss be one of your New Year's Resolutions? Once you've lost the first 20 pounds, you'll realize that you can do anything you set your mind to! Your other goals will suddenly seem VERY attainable. And isn't that what we all want? The magic of goal-getting!

Sign up now to join the Executive Challenge. Space is limited to 15 participants. We've received many inquiries and our panel is busy reviewing them. If you've already expressed an interest, you'll be hearing from us soon. If not, go to executivechallenge@hotmail.com and let us know that you are committed to losing 20 pounds in 90 days. Your success story will be featured in an upcoming book on the subject of Body Transformation.

I just know that you can Get Your Body Back...Billie

Cold Weather Brings Immune System Challenges

Do we catch colds from our loved ones or do our compromised immune systems fail us when there's a season change and a drastic change in the weather?

In 1999, I was singing my heart out with the Vancouver Soul Gospel Choir. I sing lead alto, and I have always had a love for Gospel music, especially the hand-clapping, toe-tapping variety that Checo Tohomaso leads so well.

One month before our Christmas Concert, I got a cold. Colds used to hit me in the chest first and, as it got worse and worse, I began to lose my voice. Within a few days, I had full-blown laryngitis; I didn't have a voice at all.

Sadly, I attended the concert as a spectator, yearning to sing along with my alto section but, relegated to the pews, I sang along only in my mind.

By New Years, my voice had returned and I was happy to put that cold behind me. The weeks went by with the typical Vancouver winter, damp and dreary, with the odd tease of brilliant sunshine to remind me why I moved from the Prairies to the West Coast.

But in February of 2000, another cold threatened. I did everything I could think of to stave it off (Vitamin C, Echinacea, zinc lozenges, etc) but, not only did it return with a vengeance, it took my voice with it once again. I was furious at the Universe. As the days turned into three weeks, I became a man-on-a-mission. I was after a solution to ramp-up my immune system.

We have some local natural health publications here and I came upon a tiny ad in Shared Vision magazine, promising great health results. I was desperate but not stupid and, thinking I'd heard it all before, I called the number to query the guy about his claims.

In fact, he shared the story of his wife, who had suffered from a weakened liver and he said she had recovered her health enough to be put on the transplant list. They felt that she had done so with the help of a supplement line from San Diego called Bodywise.

As I've said, I was highly skeptical but I was young and adventurous so, rather than take his word for it, I called San Diego. People I spoke to there backed up everything my new friend in Langley had said. A plane trip was in order, to see for myself what this company could afford me.

During my trip, my admiration of this company and their people and products grew and grew. I visited the lab, and spoke with the company President, who had owned the pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing plant since the late 50's. They gave regular tours of the facility and I was able to participate in a chat with the scientists. Also, I was able to talk to many people who claimed that they had recovered their health with the help of this wonderful company and their nutraceuticals.

So, with some hesitation, I became involved, first as a customer and, later on, as a distributor, intent on spreading the good word to the folks of British Columbia and beyond.

It is now coming to the close of 2006 and I can say, unequivocally, that I have not had a cold or a flu since that last bout of laryngitis so many years ago. I am in the fourth year at my current job, where I work with a non-profit society, helping unemployed women get into the work force. You can ask our Executive Director...I have never had a sick day. I would like to invite you to follow me and find your own path to wellness.

No one knows your body like you do and every one is so different.

When colds, the flu and other pesky illnesses lurk on every bus, phone and banister, it's wise to try to bolster your immune system with nutrients that'll help you to stave off sickness.To keep your body in top working order, aim for the basics of a healthy diet. Consume plenty of fruits and vegetables, and opt for whole grains over refined ones to provide the most vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals -- disease-fighting compounds from plant foods.

There are also certain nutrients that provide a sound foundation. As a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, I suggest taking nutritional supplements at the recommended daily intake level. Keep an eye out for the following food sources of nutrients, while you use supplements in the areas where you feel you have a shortfall.

Here are some final thoughts from www.homemakers.com on strengthening your immune system.

1. Protein - People often look for lesser-known nutrients or supplements while paying little attention to protein intakes. But adequate protein -- at least 46 grams per day -- provides a foundation for essential components of the immune system, including white blood cells and antibodies. Go for moderate portions of protein-rich options such as fish, lean meats and poultry, eggs, soy foods, legumes and nuts.

2. Iron - It's a mineral that young women are often lacking, but dietary shortfalls can occur at any age. Red meat, eggs, legumes, dark leafy greens and whole- grain products supply dietary iron. But to boost absorption of iron from plant sources, it's recommended that you consume a vitamin C-rich food at the same meal.

3. Selenium - This important player in immune function is needed only in small amounts. Brazil nuts, meat, fish and poultry all supply this mineral.

4. Zinc - Too little or too much of this mineral can lead to a compromised immune system because zinc is significantly involved in immune-system development and reactivity. Meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, legumes, whole grains and milk are all chock-full of zinc. While earlier studies found inconsistent results, the latest on zinc gluconate lozenges shows that they seem to shorten the duration and severity of symptoms of the common cold when administered within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.

5. Vitamin A - One of the roles of vitamin A in the immune system is to maintain healthy mucous membranes, which provide protective barriers throughout the body to help fight off infection by blocking the viruses or bacteria from entering the blood stream. Sources include meat and plant foods rich in the orange pigment beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A in the body. Carrots, squash and pumpkin are just a few beta-carotene-rich options.

6. Vitamin C - A vitamin with anti-inflammatory effects, Vitamin C helps the immune system by decreasing inflammation. This in turn results in fewer symptoms of pain, such as a sore throat, and also helps maintain healthy mucous membranes. Berries, melon, citrus fruits and tomatoes are a few examples of fruits and vegetables that fit the bill. There is a long-held belief that vitamin C can prevent colds, but research doesn't back it up. Supplements may lessen the symptoms and shorten the duration. Large amounts over time are linked to an increased risk of kidney stones, and for some, the acidic content of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid as it is called on food ingredient labels, can cause gastrointestinal upsets.

7. Vitamin E - Also an integral part of a healthy immune system, this vitamin has received some bad press as of late. Keep your intake of Vitamin E supplements moderate and consume foods rich in vitamin E, such as vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, avocados and margarine. Remember to keep your consumption of all fats, including oils, to a minimum.

8. Omega-3 fatty acids (EFAs) - For those with overactive immune systems, which includes those with autoimmune diseases as well as allergies, scientists have been investigating a number of foods and nutrients that may calm the immune system. Omega-3 fatty acids have been at the centre of much of this research. This group of unsaturated fats, found in foods including cold water fish such as salmon, trout and herring, and nuts and seeds such as walnuts, may have potential as anti-inflammatory compounds that may calm overactive immune systems. Researchers are still trying to determine which of these fatty acids have the most potent effects.

The fact that being obese is linked to a host of illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and certain cancers comes as no surprise to most women. But its connection to impaired immune-system function is not well known. While achieving and maintaining a healthy weight improves immune system performance, yo-yo dieting, in which a significant amount of weight is lost and regained, can do the opposite.

For information on the supplements I've used to strengthen my immune system and keep me healthy and sick-day-free, e-mail me at getyourbodyback@hotmail.com and I'll be happy to answer your questions and share my results with you.

I just know that you can Get Your Body Back - Billie

Massive Amounts of Consistency

Good Morning, all of you with Weight Loss Goals and Dreams.

As the holiday season ramps up, I suggest you set some goals for your party-participation.

There's just no way we want to be walking into January 1st together, another 5-7 pounds behind the 8-ball.

On December 1st, we begin the planning phase of the Executive Challenge. Why are we planning? Why don't we just jump right in?

Because human nature says that change is difficult; that we resist change; some of us even hate changes that we know we have to make or that we know will be good for us.

December 1st is when we start focusing on the destination, not on the journey. There's your first pre-2007 goal right there. Join the Executive Challenge and get started on the path to Optimum Health.

The Executive Challenge is an opportunity for you to drop the excuses and cut the crap. We're not talking therapy here; if you need a therapist, I support you in getting one right now. The Challenge is about working with your mind and your body in a whole new way. Do I care why you've gained weight? Of course. But do I care more about how you're going to get it off and keep it off? You bet I do!

And am I going to try and prevent you from welcoming the New Year with additional baggage, in the form of a few extra pounds of blubber? I most definitely am!

Remember, the food industry IS AGAINST YOU! They simply want you to eat more and more of whatever they produce.

The beverage industry IS AGAINST YOU! There is very little that's good for you that comes out of a can or a bottle.

Even the exercise industry IS AGAINST YOU! They couldn't give a crap if you actually USE the machines and the gym memberships you buy - they only care that you spend your heard-earned money on their products and fatten their bank accounts!

In the words of Ralph Calzadilla, Fitness Pro, "As always, your ultimate success in achieving your goals is based on effective exercise (weight training and cardio), following a great nutrition plan and massive amounts of consistency. The formula never changes."

Signing up for the Executive Challenge will put the formula into your hands.

Send me an e-mail about getting on board at executivechallenge@hotmail.com . I just know that you can Get Your Body Back...Billie

November is Prevent Diabetes Month

For this post, I am borrowing from the Canadian Diabetes Association. Did you know that November was Prevent Diabetes Month?

Let's not take this stuff lightly. My son is just turning 20, slender, and handsome, and was recently diagnosed as pre-diabetic. Like most young people, his favorite food group has always been SUGAR. Now he has finally decided to listen to his body, change his diet and add some physical activity to his life.

Here is a 30-point message from their website or go visit www.getserious.ca for a personal look at whether you are a candidate for developing diabetes in your lifetime.

BETTER YOUR ODDS
Top 30 Tips for Managing Diabetes and Preventing Type 2

1. Get off to a winning start with the ‘Better Your Odds’ Action Plan at www.getserious.ca. Even if you don’t have diabetes, the action plan can cut your risk of heart disease.

2. Manage your blood glucose levels: an A1C of 7% or below is recommended. Keep levels in check with a healthy meal plan, active lifestyle, and – in some cases – medication.

3. Talk to your health team about using a blood glucose meter.

4. Ask your local Canadian Diabetes Association if your province or territory subsidizes the cost of blood glucose monitoring supplies.

5. You may have pre-diabetes, if your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not at the diabetes diagnosis level. Good health management can cut heart disease risk and avoid or delay type 2 diabetes.

6. Manage your cholesterol levels. Follow the new lipid (blood fats) guidelines. LDL cholesterol target is 2.0 mmol/L or lower and the new total cholesterol/HDL target is less than 4.0.

7. Have blood lipids measured when first diagnosed with diabetes, and then every 1 to 3 years – or more often. Lifestyle management is important to managing levels, but medications may also be prescribed.

8. Keep your cholesterol in check - watch what’s on your plate. Use spices and herbs to boost flavour without fat. For dips or sauce, use salsa instead of gravy or cream-based sauces.

9. Even if you don’t have diabetes, cut your cardiovascular risk by keeping tabs on lipid levels and by following good lifestyle practices.

10. Are you overweight? A weight loss of just 5 to 10% can improve your lipid profile. Reduce your risks with regular exercise and a well-balanced meal plan.

11. Manage your blood pressure. Aim to be at or below 130/80. Good lifestyle management plays a key role. In addition to exercise and healthy meal plan recommendations with lots of vegetables and fruit, you may also be advised to limit salt and alcohol.

12. Don’t rely on lifestyle changes alone to manage blood pressure. Medication is also a common ‘must’ to reduce and maintain healthy levels.

13. Even if you don’t have diabetes, keeping blood pressure under control is important for overall health, and reduces cardiovascular risk.

14. If you smoke, start a program to quit. If you have diabetes and smoke, you are three times more likely to die of heart disease or stroke than people without diabetes.

15. Eat breakfast. You’re less likely to over-eat or indulge in fatty snacks later in the day.
…/2

- 2 -

16. Manage your weight. Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight will help you control blood glucose, blood fats, and blood pressure – and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

17. If you have diabetes, ask your doctor to refer you to a registered dietitian

18. Eat your way to health with an energy-restricted, well-balanced meal plan that’s high in fibre and low in dietary cholesterol, saturated fats, trans fatty acids, and refined carbohydrates.

19. Pile more veggies onto your plate. Vegetables are high in nutrients but low in calories.

20. Just for today…skip the donut with your coffee; drink water instead of pop; walk around the block at lunchtime.

21. Find it hard to get enough fruit? Add it to your main meals. Try sliced peach or mango with pork and chicken; toss grapes or berries into salads; or make a fruit salsa to go with a spicy menu.

22. Try frozen fruits and berries as a refreshing dessert. Or start your meal with a chilled fruit soup.

23. Up your fibre intake by enjoying an orange instead of orange juice; add kidney beans to salads and pastas; choose whole wheat bread over white – and toss a handful of frozen peas into pasta dishes, stir-fries and casseroles.

24. Go nuts! Add them to salads or grain dishes; toss some in with stir-fries.

25. Check out the healthy and tasty recipes at getserious.ca. Order a cookbook from the Canadian Diabetes Association. They’re chockfull of great ideas on how to eat well.

26. Have an annual check up with your doctor, even if you feel fine, especially if you are 40 or older. Many conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure, often have no symptoms.

27. Whether or not you have diabetes, almost everyone will benefit from regular physical activity. Be creative about integrating physical activity into your life. Instead of going for a coffee with a friend, take a walk together. Instead of watching a video with your kids, take the gang to the skating rink.

28. Don’t try to change your whole lifestyle in one go. Pick one new healthy habit a week. Ease into the exercise groove. Start with 5 minutes today, and add 5 minutes a day.

29. Check out your cardiovascular age. You may be older – or younger – than you think! Enter your personal information in the quiz available at www.getserious.ca to learn your cardiovascular age, along with valuable facts like the number of years that smoking adds to your age.

Get serious about diabetes management and prevention – today. Type 2 diabetes can be avoided or delayed with good health management and a healthy lifestyle.

I just know that you can Get Your Body Back...Billie

The Physical Component of the Wellness Wheel

Let's talk about Heart Health today...

Heart disease is still our nation's number one disease killer - in spite of decades of low cholesterol diets - in spite of an abundance of drugs and surgical procedures. Atherosclerosis has reached epidemic proportions.

From The National Post, October 25, 2006

"North America is in the midst of a heart failure epidemic that will only get worse because of ageing Baby Boomers and more people surviving heart attacks with damaged hearts. This is what 3500 delegates were told at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress held in Vancouver this week.

Dr. Malcolm Arnold, a London, Ont., cardiologist who heads a national task force on newly released diagnosis and treatment guidelines, said in an interview that an estimated 400,000 Canadians have heart failure and about 25% of them go to the hospital each year with abnormal heart function symptoms. These range from lightheadedness, breathlessness and fatigue, to swollen legs and feet.

Heart failure is the most common diagnosis in people over age 65, and hospitalizations (13 days, on average) because of it are projected to double in the next 20 years. Heart failure is said to be the only type of serious heart disease that has steadily increased over the fast five to ten years.

To help stem the increase in hospitalizations, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society is asking family doctors to bone up on their heart failure knowledge so they don't waste any time getting patients diagnosed and treated while they wait the weeks to months it takes to get a patient an appointment with a heart specialist."

One of my favorite quotes:
"Those who think they have no time for healthy eating will sooner or later have to find time for illness..." by a British Earl who lived until 1893 (I can give you more specifics, if you care to ask!).

I would go one step further and say that we need to make time for healthy living and eating, and physical activity NOW.

I've been reading a book by David Rowland, PhD, the founder of the Edison Institute of Nutrition and former publisher of Health Naturally Magazine. He writes that the human body was very cleverly designed to be self-repairing and that we live in a body that has incredible, innate healing wisdom.

I've been impressed by the concept of restoring heart health by natural means. Dr Rowland's program can reverse atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries, arterial blockages) without surgery.

Here I give you Dr. Rowland's suggestions for the Nutritional Bypass program that consists of:

1. Reducing one's exposure to harmful factors,
2. Increasing one's intake of those foods that have a protective effect, and
3. Taking specific supplements that can help the body remove arterial plaque.

These are Dr. Rowland's guidelines:

• Stop smoking.
• Exercise regularly.
• Eat fish twice weekly.
• Increase dietary fibre by consuming 100% whole grains, vegetables, nuts, seeds or legumes at each meal. Use fresh, raw fruit for snacks.
• Drink at least 8 large glasses of purified water daily.
• Reduce intake of polyunsaturated oils. Use butter, olive oil or peanut oil.
• Restrict consumption of concentrated sugars of all kinds (sucrose, glucose, fructose, white sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, maple syrup, honey, molasses, etc).
• Eliminate caffeine. Use herbal teas, coffee substitutes, pure water, fruit juices or decaffeinated beverages.
• Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.
• Avoid processed meats.
• Reduce exposure to radiation, x-rays, exhaust fumes and other suspect inhalant chemicals.
• Strengthen the immune system by taking specific supplements, which give the body the raw materials it needs to heal itself.

Don't wait until heart disease finds you in the doctor's office. I recommend you implement the first 11 points by systematically changing your dietary and activity habits.

For the 12th point, I recommend you consider a supplement I discovered almost ten years ago, produced by a company near San Diego, CA called Body Wise International:

Cardio Wise is a superior formula with targeted nutrients that have been shown to support cardiac health. It has a unique balance of anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals to maintain heart health. It contains an expert blend of modern science and traditional botanicals to support heart health.

The nutrients in Cardio Wise were specially selected for their known benefits in supporting heart health. The formula is rich in important B vitamins - niacin, folic acid, and vitamin B12, known to be integral to heart health functioning.

Cardio Wise is an excellent source of antioxidants that are known to support heart health: vitamin C, vitamin E, and Pycnogenol (R) are all excellent sources of antioxidants.

Amino acids, the building blocks of protein, work together. A number of them have special properties and may be taken in supplement form. Cardio Wise contains Taurine, L-Cysteine and Carnitine, amino acids that are known for their heart-supporting properties.

Hawthorn berries and garlic are traditional herbs that have been shown to support healthy heart functioning.

The product contains no yeast, no egg, no gluten, no dairy, no artificial coloring, no flavoring, and no preservatives. I can supply you with their 17-point manufacturing criteria, which comes with every product. Free shipping is available anywhere in North America.

Remember, you own your body. You can take control of it. You can direct the course of your own health without having to trust blindly in anyone else to do it for you. You have the ability to prevent and reverse serious health problems, to improve the quality, and perhaps even the length of your life, as so many others have done already. The choice is yours.

For more information on this and other health-promoting ideas and products, please e-mail me at getyourbodyback@hotmail.com and I will respond within 24 hours. And don't forget about the Executive Challenge. We've had lots of inquiries and the respondents will be contacted in the next few weeks to see if they meet the criteria to become one of the 15 case studies for our book. To express your interest in The Challenge, which will begin with the preparation phase on December 1st, e-mail me at executivechallenge@hotmail.com.

I just know that you can Get Your Body Back...Billie

The Wellness Wheel

Wellness means different things to different people but we know that wellness, with all its various components, is important for everyone.

What is a working definition of Wellness?

It encompasses the active, lifelong process of educating ourselves and making life choices that will lead to optimal health and a more successful and balanced existence.

Wellness is multi-dimensional and is based on the premise that our minds, bodies, spirits, and our sense of community, are all important and interrelated.

The Wellness Wheel offers an integrated overview of human life. It encourages the development of a harmonious balance of life components that result in overall well-being.

The six components of the Wellness Wheel are: Physical, Emotional, Occupational, Social, Intellectual, and Spiritual.

When we focus an inordinate amount of time on one area, and neglect other areas, our lives are out of balance. For example, this can often happen with the Occupational area. Some people spend so much time at their jobs, that they have little time for anything else. The other areas of their life suffer.

If you're a new business owner, perhaps you have to invest this time in the start-up phase. But, if it's been a few years and you still don't "have a life", it's time to re-evaluate your business game-plan. Other areas of your life may be suffering from neglect. And you are suffering along with them.

As the Dalai Lama once said, "I believe both external things and internal development are important, and must be developed side by side so as to achieve a good balance between them. "

The next six postings will each cover a component of the Wellness Wheel. As a Wellness Coach, I strongly believe that, in order to be truly happy with our lives, we must strive for success in all of these areas.

If you would like a transcript of the Dalai Lama's recent talk in Vancouver, BC, please e-mail me at bsinclaircoaching@hotmail.com and I will be happy to send it to you in an attached Word document.

As always, I just know that you can Get Your Body Back...and achieve a life of balance!

Yours, in wisdom and health, Billie

Measuring Your Success

We all know that being overweight increases our risks associated with many illnesses and conditions. To name a few:

Heart disease and stroke
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Cancer
Gallbladder disease and gallstones
Osteoarthritis
Gout
Breathing problems, such as sleep apnea and asthma

But how do we measure our degree of risk?

Today, obesity is commonly measured by using a mathematical formula called the Body Mass Index.

BMI is determined by dividing your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared and then multiplying by 705. For example, a woman who is 5'6" and weighs 190 would have a BMI of 31.

That sounds complicated, right?

(This calculation is based on the formula example from: The Calorie Council www.caloriecouncil.org)

How do you use this information in your real life? Fortunately, there is a more simple way to get this calculation.

To calculate your BMI, go to www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi and input your height and weight. This online calculator will give you your results immediately.

• An individual is considered underweight if their BMI is less than 18.5.
• BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered a "normal" measurement.
• Individuals who fall into the BMI range of 25 to 34.9 begin having some health risk concerns.
• Specifically those who have a waist size of more than 40 inches for men, or 35 inches for women, have a higher risk for obesity-related health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
• BMI of 30 or more qualifies an individual as obese.
• BMI over 40 indicates that a person is morbidly obese.

I'll use myself as a guinea pig here. We all have weight fluctuations, preferably minimal ones. When my weight is around 130, my BMI is 24.9. Considered on the high-end of Normal.

If my weight should fluctuate to 135, my BMI is 25.5, and I cross the line to Overweight on the BMI scale (over 25).

So I know that it's in my best interest to keep my weight around 130 or lower, for the sake of my health and longevity. This is a good measure for me to work with, compared to a weight scale, which doesn't give me enough of a picture of my overall risks.

Go to the BMI calculator now and enter your current numbers to get your current reading. Then keep entering a lower weight until your reading comes out in the Normal range, which is 18.5-24.9. This will give you a reading to set your healthy weight-goals by.

These results are based on your height and general frame. A smaller-framed person may prefer to be on the lower end of Normal, while a larger-framed person may prefer to be on the higher-end of Normal.

Play with the numbers. Then consider joining the Executive Challenge and let my team of experts help you lose 20 pounds in 90 days. Have your success story profiled in our new book. For more information, e-mail us at executivechallenge@hotmail.com. We're looking for 15 case studies and there are only a few spots left...

The important thing is to be aware of your risks, and following your BMI is a great way to measure your progress. I just know that you can Get Your Body Back...

Why Nutritional Supplements?

In 2002, Harvard researchers Robert Fletcher and Kathleen Fairfield convinced the conservative Journal of the American Medical Association to rewrite its policy guidelines on the use of vitamin supplements, based on a landmark review of 38 years of scientific evidence. In two reports, the authors concluded that the current North American diet -- while sufficient to prevent vitamin deficiency diseases, such as scurvy -- is inadequate to support optimal health.

They concluded that given today's diet, daily supplementation with a multiple vitamin “is a prudent preventive measure against chronic disease.”

The case is very strong for taking the necessary nutritional supplementation; the body requires 17 vitamins and vitamin-like substances, a diverse group of plant-based antioxidants, and at least 14 trace elements and minerals.

Like the four basic nutrients (water, carbohydrates, protein, and fats), vitamins and minerals are essential to life. They are often referred to as micronutrients simply because they are needed in relatively small amounts compared with the four basic nutrients.

When beginning a Body Transformation program, it's important to get the proper balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats, along with all the essential nutrients that the body needs for optimum functioning. Many of today's popular fad diets and meal replacements are designed for quick weight loss, without long-term maintenance and optimum health in mind.

Resist the urge to cut out whole food groups (carbs, for example), restrict calories (how little can I eat and still function?), or consume one main food (vegetable soup or bananas, anyone?)...

The Get Your Body Back program offers a proven system for losing 20 pounds in 90 days, plus the ability to either maintain that fat loss, or to continue losing the next 20 pounds.

You can say goodbye to fads, diet pills and yo-yo dieting forever, once you've gained the knowledge and the experience to work with your body, and give it what it needs for optimum health and an energetic life.

Imagine feeling that good! I know you can Get Your Body Back!