Weight Loss Dr Bristol CT

Lose Weight - Will Power

2010-10-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

What is will power? It's your ability to control yourself in such a fashion, that you give up a temporary pleasure in order to gain a benefit or prevent a loss. Each one of us has varying degrees of will power for different things and will power varies between individuals as well.

The key to creating a strong will power with regards to losing weight is to have a BIG WHY! If you're why is big, you can accomplish anything. What do I mean by that? What's more motivating, losing weight to fit into a dress for a Christmas party, or losing weight to increase your lifespan and watch your children grow up?

Whatever it is for you (it may be the dress at the Christmas party), you need to make that your daily focus and think about it at any moment of weakness.

Good Luck

Dr Spitz
Chiropractor - Bristol CT

The Purpose of Food

2010-07-08T06:38:00.000-07:00

This seems very basic. You may be saying to yourself, "I know the purpose of food, how ridiculous!" Of course when we really think about it, most of us truly know the purpose of food. But, sadly, many of us eat 'unconsciously' most of the time.

Why do we need to eat?:

Provide energy
Growth and repair of our body
Nourishment
Sustain life

Why do many of us eat?:

Enjoyment
Depression
Hunger
Socialize
Boredom
and the list goes on...

If you're struggling with being overweight, chances are that many times, you are not only not really eating food (nourishing food), but you are eating for the wrong reasons. Now, that's not to say, that eating shouldn't be enjoyable (of course it should) and that we shouldn't eat when we are hungry (of course we should). However, we really need to look at what we're eating and are we eating because of boredom or some other reason that will sabotage our goal of losing weight.

Why do I say not really eating food? Because, much of the food we can buy at the grocery store (most of the middle aisles) are man-made, processed and many times 'imitation' food. This is not only NOT nourishing, but also is harmful to our bodies in many ways. These foods contain, harmful chemicals such as: MSG, food dyes, high fructose corn syrup and a myriad of other chemicals that would require a PhD in biochemistry to understand. It's ridiculous!

What is essential in Food?:

Essential Amino Acids
Essential Fatty Acids
Enzymes
Vitamins
Minerals
Trace Minerals
and many other co-factors

The bottom line is, we usually know when we're eating something it's either too processed or not really good for us. We just need to sharpen our awareness to what we're eating so that when we eat we are eating consciously.

If you are ready to commit to losing weight and getting healthier, give my office a call at: 860-583-4346.

Daily Affirmations

2010-07-01T13:18:00.000-07:00

Many people sabotage themselves with negative self talk. I recently gave a patient a list of 'affirmations' to say on a daily basis. I thought this would be good to share with anyone struggling with doubt and negative self talk.

SAY THESE AFFIRMATIONS EVERY MORNING AND EVERY NIGHT BEFORE BEDTIME.

I am NOT a quitter
I have amazing will power
I do NOT quit.
I am very goal oriented
I am wise
I am strong
If I fall, I get right back up.
I can’t fail if I DO what I KNOW.
I have no addictions
I CHOOSE what I eat

Carry these with you. In a moment of weakness, where you think you might get off track. Read them to yourself.

Good luck.

Dr Spitz

Why Diets Don't Work

2010-06-12T08:44:00.000-07:00

Most diets are 'gimmicky' and don't really address the cause of the weight gain. Usually, diets involve counting calories or eating only one type of food, and basically, not eating the way our bodies were designed to eat.

The missing element in most diets is education. I know, that if you understand why are bodies need certain types of food, and you understand the cause of weight gain, then losing weight will be much easier.

I have found that most of my patients do not have problems with will power, in fact, in the past I've been surprised by the incredible will power exhibited by my patients. They've taught me that losing weight is NOT a problem with will power, but rather with education. When you understand how fat is burned and how fat is stored you are more likely to follow a plan that will help you achieve health and normalize your weight.

By understanding how hormones control metabolism you can have them work for you instead of against you. If you have a stubborn metabolism and you've been having trouble losing weight, then this knowledge can really help. Begin by taking the Body Type Quiz. Once you know your body type; Adrenal, Ovary, Thyroid or Liver, you can effectively lose weight by implementing a fat-burning protocol based on your body type.

To begin properly, you'll need to start with a Liver Detox. There is an important protocol to follow. It's important to have supervision and have everything explained properly. For this reason, I recommend doing this only under supervision of a health care professional that truly understands how to lose weight based on body type. For those folks that live in or near Connecticut, an appointment can be made to visit with me at my Bristol office. We can set up a 12 week, 24 week or one year program. For those individuals that live too far away, I am available by phone consultation. You can call 860-583-4346 for more information.

3 Fat Storing Hormones - Why it May Be Hard to Lose Weight

2010-05-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

Now that we've reviewed the fat-burning hormones it's important for you to understand the fat-storing hormones that is making losing weight more difficult. Obviously, as the name implies, fat-storing hormones help your body store fat. You may be asking yourself, why would my body want to do that? Remember, fat is stored, like money in the bank; fat is an energy reserve that is used when there is less food energy coming into your body than energy being spent.

When you have circulating blood sugar your body doesn't need to burn fat. Sugar is used as fuel. That leads us to the first of the 3 fat-storing hormones, insulin.

Insulin- is made by the pancreas and used to lower blood sugar after meals. Insulin helps the cells absorb sugar as fuel. It will convert any excess sugar (can that be you?) to body fat and cholesterol. The bottom line is that sugar will trigger insulin and in the presence of insulin you will not be able to burn fat appropriately.
Estrogen- this is a bigger problem for women, but men do have estrogen receptors, although in much lower numbers (about 1000x less). Estrogen is responsible for female characteristics, menstrual cycle, etc. It provides a fat layer around the woman's body, especially the outer thighs and hip area.
Cortisol- is an important hormone secreted by the adrenal glands. The adrenals are activated by any kind of emotional or physical stress. Interestingly, cortisol is an anti-inflammatory and also releases sugar from the liver and muscles into the blood for instant fuel during times of stress. This then raises insulin levels. Cortisol is 'classified' as a fat-burner but has indirect fat-storing effects because it turns muscle protein into sugar which then causes insulin to store the excess sugar as fat in the mid-section.

Fat-Burning Hormones and Fat-Storing Hormones PART 2

2010-05-09T06:59:00.000-07:00

As I've been discussing, unless your hormones are functioning properly it will be difficult, if not impossible, to lose weight. In fact, over time as toxins from the environment accumulates in your body, the receptors that are supposed to receive hormones get 'plugged' reducing their effectiveness.

There are some foods that will increase fat-making hormones and others that decrease it. These foods will be a valuable tool as you learn how to lose weight without counting calories. Even if you don't need to lose weight, these foods are important to improve overall health. Following Part 3, I'll explain all about these important foods.

Fat-Burning Hormones
In part 1, I reviewed the first of the 6 Fat-Burning hormones. Here are the next 3.

Adrenaline- made in the adrenal glands, it has many important functions as it prepares your body for a stressful situation. It increases metabolism, heart rate and blood pressure. Is the most important hormone that releases fat from fat cells. Exercise triggers adrenaline.
Thyroid Hormones- also known as T3 and T4, made in the Thyroid. T3 and T4 control the speed of your metabolism.
Testosterone- many people don't realize that women need testosterone too. In fact, testosterone is not only made in the testicles, but it is made in the adrenal glands AND the ovaries too. Testosterone is involved in giving you lean muscle and sex drive. It is stimulated by exercise.

Next, I will review the 3 fat-storing hormones so that you get the full picture of how these 9 hormones play a role in regulating proper weight and health.

Fat-Burning and Fat-Storing Hormones - PART 1

2010-05-05T14:47:00.000-07:00

As humans, we have six fat-burning hormones and 3 fat-storing hormones. OK, I know you're thinking..."so, what's the problem then". The problem is this. If ANY of the fat-storing hormones are activated, you won't lose weight. If you're having trouble losing weight, or you're just not feeling well, the problem may be with certain hormones.

You have to heal your glands and hormones to keep the weight off. But, unless you know what to do, you're going to find it difficult. There are environmental hormones and chemicals that can 'mimic' your hormones and disrupt proper hormone function. Sadly, you are exposed to these environmental toxins on a daily basis. The meats that you eat are most likely grain-fed animals that have been given hormones. Chemical pesticides and insecticides can also act like hormones in our bodies. In fact, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has named these chemicals endocrine disruptors. One thing you can do is to eat only organic grass fed beef and other organic meats, poultry, fruits and vegetables.

Besides the toxins mentioned, hormones are also blocked by certain foods and exercise. There are certain hormone triggers you want to avoid and others you want to utilize to help you burn fat. By the way, the ultimate purpose in all of this is to BE HEALTHIER and feel better, not just lose weight.

What are the Fat-Burning Hormones?

Growth Hormone- made in the pituitary, GH is a fat-burning and lean-muscle-building hormone. Growth hormone regulates fuel for your body between meals. It is active during the night while you sleep.
Insulin-like Growth Factor- made in the liver, IGF is triggered by growth hormone and when the stomach is empty. IGF helps give the body fuel between meals by releasing sugar and fats that have been stored.
Glucagon- has an opposing action of insulin and helps control blood sugar in between meals by using fat reseves of the body. It is stimulated by intense exercise and dietary protein. However, too much protein in the diet can raise insulin and negate the effects of glucagon.

In Part 2 we will give an overview of the last 3 fat-burning hormones and discuss some things you can do that will prevent these important hormones from being blocked from working properly.

If at any time you wish to make an appointment to see me for a personal consultation to discuss your health or weight issues, please call 1-860-583-4346.

Diets Don't Work

2010-05-01T06:24:00.000-07:00

How many diets have you tried? You've lost weight on many of them, only to put the weight back on when the struggle to count calories, or eat only meat, or stand on your head while eating a banana failed to produce the desired result.

The problem is that we were not designed genetically to diet. Everything about us promotes the urge to hunt, find, capture and graze for food. How could we possibly compete with that. Now, throw in the fact that during times of stress (anyone have stress), our bodies are designed to crave sugar and fats. How can we possibly drive past that donut store when we're stressed to the max?

So, since counting calories doesn't make sense and I'm pretty sure most of us are fairly stressed most of the time; what do we do? We go back to genetics. We rely on using knowledge to eat a diet and create a lifestyle that is congruent with our genes.

By eating the way you were designed, you body will burn fat when it is supposed to, you will not feel hungry, AND you will have more energy. Wow, what a concept. In a future segment, I'll discuss the four body types and review some symptoms of each, so you can begin to determine your body type and start the journey to better health and well-being.

Get Healthy Lose the Weight - The Basics

2010-04-30T06:10:00.000-07:00

I'm going to discuss basics here. I want to give you advice, the same advice I give to many of my weight loss patients. I've been practicing for 28 years and I see the same patterns over and over again: people jump into a diet, stay with it enthusiastically for a few weeks, don't see results, and then drop out. Hopefully, a light bulb is going to go off in your head that says, wow, I'm empowered to get healthy and subsequently, lose the weight.

Sadly, most people are fueling their bodies with sugar and don't get to burn up the fat fuel that is stored in their bodies. Hopefully you're asking yourself, why?

What you don't want right now is another diet. I'm not going to suggest that you "go on a diet". Diets don't work. (I'll write about that in another entry) What I am going to suggest, is that you change your lifestyle, educate yourself, learn your body type (more on that later too), and eat (without counting calories) what your body was designed to eat.

The reason weight loss has been hard for you is that the diets you've been on, are designed (not on purpose) to fail. You've been attacking your weight problem from the wrong angle. Reducing calories is a failure waiting to happen. You need to know what controls metabolism and then learn how to boost your metabolism so that you literally are burning fat while you sleep.

The answer lies in chemical messengers in our bodies called hormones. In a future entry, I'll review the six fat-burning hormones and the three fat-making hormones. But for now, rest assured you will not be allowed to be hungry, cut calories or skip a meal. That simply doesn't work.