WEIGHT (Excess) MANAGEMENT (Obesity)

Surprising facts:

	Calorie controlled diets don’t work in the long-term (click here to see why)
	Eating too little will cause some people to put on weight
	Many overweight people need to address other health problems before they are able to lose weight.  Read on.

Read on, because before effective and long-lasting weight loss can be achieved, it is necessary to find the reason why you are overweight.  We’re all different, and the information below will help you decide the strategy which will work best for you.

Which of the following might be causing your excess weight?

(click on the blue links below for information and questionnaires)

	Leptin hormone imbalance
	Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
	Hyperinsulinism (high levels of insulin, also called Syndrome X)
	Hypoglycaemia (blood sugar imbalance)
	Food intolerance or sensitivity
	Candida albicans overgrowth
	Stress – Tired Adrenals
	Use of contraceptive pill or oestrogen dominance
	Lack of nutrients (needed to make thyroid hormones, muscle, energy, etc.)
	Toxicity/constipation
	Loss of lean muscle tissue
	Lack of, or wrong kind of exercise
	Lack of oxygen, poor breathing
	Excessive dietary sugar and carbohydrate foods/drinks
	Comfort eating

The most common of these reasons may well be Syndrome X, so make sure you have a look at that link.

It is quite possible that you will need to address a combination of the above.  For example, you may need to address Candida Albicans overgrowth and a food intolerance or two, whilst following the programme for Syndrome X.  You may find it helpful to consult a qualified nutrition consultant.

Stress – Tired Adrenals

Blood glucose levels are closely associated with correct functioning of the adrenal glands (which sit on top of your kidneys).  The adrenal glands release adrenalin (epinephrine) as a result of stress or caffeine intake.  This adrenalin flow then triggers the release of glycogen from the liver into the blood stream.  The glycogen is converted to glucose, or blood sugar.  This is designed to give us instant energy in the face of danger.  Stress and caffeine instigate this, so you can see that both long-term stress and caffeine are fattening for some people!

Sluggish or tired adrenals (caused by underactive thyroid, stress, caffeine, food sensitivity, etc) secrete less of the hormone cortisol, whose function is to help the liver turn blood glucose into stored glycogen.  If excess glucose is not turned into glycogen, it can easily be turned into fat instead, so tired adrenal glands can cause you to gain weight.

Reduce stress levels – exercise and yoga can be very helpful, as can allowing enough time for sleep, relaxing baths by candlelight, etc.  Eliminate stimulents such as caffeine and sugar from the diet.

Oxygen

A lack of oxygen can result in various problems such as fatigue, the inability to concentrate, poor repair of damaged cells and the inability to fight off infection and degenerative diseases, such as cancer and heart disease – the leading cause of death today.  Many researchers believe that the increased discomfort experienced by those suffering from arthritis before a storm or in more damp climates may result from a reduced amount of oxygen in the air at those times.  Oxygen is required to complete the digestive process and deal with metabolic wastes.  All infections reduce oxygen reserves, as does improper breathing and adding fluoride to water or toothpaste.  Specifically for weight loss, everyone knows that a fire requires oxygen in order to burn – we need to provide sufficient oxygen to keep our internal fire burning too.

So get that exercise where your heart beat is raised for 20-30 minutes, several times per week (check with your doctor first and ideally get some extra advice in a gym if possible).

Oxygen supplements can also be taken.  Aerobic Oxygen

Dietary Guidelines

Contra-indication: The dietary suggestions below may not be suitable for people with kidney disease.  Read the recommended books for more information and consult with your medical practitioner.

This will depend somewhat on what is causing your excess weight.  However, general guidelines might be as follows:

Print out a copy of the Glycaemic Index and continually consult it to avoid the high-numbered foods in the left hand column.  This will go some way to reducing insulin in the body and reduce carbohydrate cravings.  If you have investigated Syndrome X you will see that temporarily you may need to be even more strict.  This seems impossible to many people, but once you try it you’ll realize it’s much easier than you thought it would be, and the carbohydrate cravings and hunger will stop for almost everyone within a few days.

Don’t be frightened of oils and some fats.  You need good oils for efficient metabolism.  Especially fish oils from mackerel, herring, sardine, salmon, pilchards, etc.  They won’t make you fat, but will help you lose weight.

Omega 3 oils from flaxseed and walnuts can also be very helpful, though fish oil is even better.

Eat three small meals per day, consisting of some kind of protein (fish, chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, eggs, tofu) and a little fat (yes fat! – but avoid fried food and cheap nasty vegetable/nut oils from the supermarket).  Add some salad or low-carbohydrate vegetable (e.g. spinach, broccoli or cauliflower).  If you add fat in the form of unrefined walnut oil or flax seed oil, or half a dozen walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, or macadamia nuts it will satisfy you for longer. 

If you find it difficult to eat protein with each meal, why not try a protein drink with your meal (or instead of), e.g. Whey to Go).

The more overweight you are, the more important it will be to eliminate entirely all starchy vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and parsnips, as well  as all grains such as wheat, rye, oats, rice, etc.  (So all bread, cakes, biscuits, pasta, etc.).  This will seem impossible for many people, but if you are very overweight and follow the diet for Syndrome X you will be surprised how effective, easy and enjoyable it actually is.  You won’t be hungry after the first couple of days, when the carbohydrate cravings stop, and you can eat all kinds of delicious things that many of you will not have allowed yourselves to eat for many years.

Don’t be taken in by the food manufacturers.  Their ‘low-fat’ products (e.g. low-fat cheese, and skimmed milk, and low-fat mayonnaise) are much higher in carbohydrates (sugar) which in many people will put on far more weight than the fat itself.

Eliminate all coffee and all sugar.  Watch the carbohydrate counts on labels.

Important: On this kind of diet you will need to take some linseeds with water every day to ensure the bowels work properly.  Linuset Gold is a very good brand.  You may also wish to take some psyllium husks in water which provides good fibre.

Drink 2 litres of clean water per day.   Always carry a little bottle with you wherever you go.

Consider the nutritional supplements mentioned for Syndrome X, as well as some anti-fungals for yeast overgrowth, if necessary.