IT CAN BE DONE – Let us help you!

The type of diet that you select actually has less to do with your actual weight loss than adhering to the plan you have chosen.  This is a “duh” statement.  Everyone knows this.  You don’t have to go to medical school to understand this.  However, it is so much easier said than done…right?  Well I have been there personally.  Those of you who know me personally and professionally know that I used to be significantly overweight.  I was once over 230 pounds and XL shirt and wore a size 38 waist.  Now I am 175 pounds,  M shirt and a size 30 waist.  This didn’t happen overnight.  It took determination and control…control over my eating habits and the emotional issues that were linked with my food intake.

To help break free of this roller coaster of a viscous cycle AskDrSkip is offering some effective ways to overcome common diet pitfalls so you will meet and keep your goals and not only look great but be healthy.

Don’t forget…You are in control!! Take Charge!
While diet and exercise are paramount in the paradigm, it’s not just about the food specifically.  It’s also about feeling like you can control your cravings, body and subsequently your life.  Many of us (and I was one of those people) tend to use food as a reward and/or a way to feel better when we are dealing with a stressful situation or time in our lives.  One main problem is that we end up feeling worse later because then our clothes don’t fit – and we spiral down emotionally.  Then the cycle continues.  You are control of what you put in your mouth.  Take control. The best way to handle this issue is to keep a food diary.  This will help you not only see where you are getting those extra calories and what you can cut out – it will make you think twice before unconsciously popping food into your mouth without thinking.  Ask yourself, “do I really want/need this?”   At AskDrSkip, our weight loss patients are required to maintain an up-to-date food diary and follow a strict caloric recommendation based on individualized parameters.  However, without this requirement being met the program and weight loss will not be effective.  Habits and the emotional connection to food must be changed.

Create a support Network!
Surround yourself with people who are willing to help you meet your goals.  All of us have “bad influences” who tell us we look fine just the way we are because they love us.  There is no bending on this one…You must surround yourself with people who respect your goals.  They must support you and be willing to be your advocate.  It may be important that you see a life coach or the like.  My office addresses the physical, neurotransmitter and wellness aspects of weight loss.  We work very closely with a life coach that oversees the emotional aspect – which is a critical piece to losing weight, maintain it and regaining health.  There are also many wonderful support groups like Overeaters Anonymous.  Having a friend or co-worker to get on-board the health train with you to lose weight is a fantastic idea.  For me personally, having someone there with me was paramount and one of the reasons that I was able to overcome some difficult hurdles in regards to weight loss.  You can keep each other accountable for your food choices and exercise schedule.

Set a goal and stick to it! NO EXCUSES!
Set your goal and keep it.  Excuses are a dime a dozen.  Create a plan and then a strategy to meet and reach your goals.  We at AskDrSkip are here to oversee this aspect.  Let us take the guess work out of this aspect for you.  Be specific with your goals, we will come up with a time frame for your weight loss, your goal weight as well as what to eat, calorie intake, etc.  Please remember that you must be willing and ready to undertake the weight loss program. We can only do so much – you have to put forth the effort and commitment.  Without that, your weight loss goals are destined to fail.  The road at times can be difficult in regards to losing weight but the weight can be lost and it is very rewarding!  Hang in there – we are here for you!!  YOU CAN DO IT!!  We will help you reach your goals.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew…No pun intended!
Increasing you fruit and vegetable intake and cut out all junk food is a must in the overall grand scheme of losing weight and keeping it off.   That being said…Please don’t try to go cold turkey.  We will help you set smaller, obtainable goals.  This is one of the main reasons that we have you come in for a weekly visit (not just to weigh you, but also to help educate you on your healthy new lifestyle).  We have done you a great dis-service if after you have lost all of your weight and you have reached you goals and you go right back to your old habits.  The key to our program is education.  By the time you have reached your goals you will have the knowledge and tools to maintain your svelte new figure.  One of the things that we, at the clinic will assist you with is your food choices.  For example, depending on your specific needs, we require that you drastically reduce your intake of refined carbohydrates and processed foods and increase your vegetable intake.  Not only is this of benefit to your health it is also assisting in the weight loss and increasing your metabolism.  The addition of fruits and veggies to your diet can be done very easily with the addition of an amazing product called Nanogreens.  It is available through AskDrSkip.com.  I have used and tried many green drinks over the years and I have personally taken out all of the guess work for you.  This is an amazing product and by far the best tasting green drink I have found.

Plan your meals ahead of time!
One of the biggest issues that we see is that when you get hungry you lose all self control and your food choices are unhealthy.  Plan ahead.  With a small amount a preparation you will be able to stay on the right path and continue/maintain your weight loss.  First and foremost – NEVER GO TO THE GROCERY STORE HUNGRY!  This is the biggest mistake…everything will look so good to you and you will be more inclined to purchase the “naughty” foods.  Please…I implore you…keep healthy options on hand, and be resolved to pass on dessert or alcohol (or in my case…cookies).  Staying on course now will help you look and feel better later… I assure you!   Good choices to have on hand are fresh fruits, veggies, dry roasted nuts – almonds, walnuts, etc., as well as, organic/preservative free beef/turkey jerky, protein bars and the like.  Please be cautious and read labels…you must steer clear of high carbs and sugar.  This can be done.  Be patient.  We are here if you have any questions and to help you stay the course.

Hold yourself accountable!
So you slipped up and ate half a box of cookies – who hasn’t?  I know I have.  I would be lying if I tried to tell you otherwise.  You-know-who would strike me down and those who know me would laugh themselves silly because they know what a cookie freak I am. So…now what??  When you slip up and it happens…confess it to someone!  This will help you to get it off your chest keeps you honest. Admit you made a mistake and move forward…do not let this defeat you.  Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day.  It took many years for you to get where you are and we are not in a race.  When you lose weight the healthy way you have more assurances your metabolism has been healed and you will keep the weight off.

Don’t feel bad!
Like I said above if you have fallen off the wagon, don’t expend energy feeling bad about it.  That will tend to keep you unmotivated and shift your attention from your goals.  The feelings of guilt can make you depressed, which can possibly make you turn to those comfort foods.  Instead, acknowledge you made a mistake, dust yourself off and get back on that proverbial horse.  This is about being empowered and shifting your perception about weight, life and situations.  Please try and see the positive lesson learned in every situation in your life.  If you look at it from that point of view – every situation – even those we typically view as negative can actually be a blessing.

It’s not about dieting, but making lifestyle changes!
I hate the word “diet”.  I use it because it is more or less a catch phrase.  When I say diet, what I am actually referring to here is the manner in which we eat.  That is one of the issues that we work with in my office. By making better choices, you are going to lose weight and be healthier.  Being in the complementary and alternative medical field for so many years – I want both.  Keeping the goals you set for yourself is the cornerstone for achieving what you want in all aspects and areas of your life.  By improving your health you will be energized, your confidence increases exponentially and you will exude that to others. You will be able to pay it forward and, in my opinion, that is a very good thing to do for both yourself and humanity as a whole.  Health and self-confidence are worth more than all the cakes and pies in the world.

An amazing team of scientists, physicians, nutritionists, and pharmacists joined together to formulate an amazing product called Nanogreens. This product is extraordinary. I came across this several years ago at an Anti-Aging convention. It was serendipitous because not only is this a very high quality supplement with a tremendous amount of research and clinical use backing it…it also takes great for a green drink. Let’s not forget the most important fact – it is by far one of the best products I have found with such substantial health benefits!

I am sure that many of you that have tried green drinks in the past and will agree that most of them taste terrible. I have become accustom to the taste of green drinks over the years because I do them for their health benefits and not the taste. All of you who know me usually don’t believe me when I say that “it doesn’t taste that bad” and truthfully, this…doesn’t taste that bad. The team at BioPharma did a great job of creating a product that tastes great.

Nanogreens is a little green blessing in disguise because it actually tastes great. It has been formulated to synergistically mix well with the protein powder from the same company called NanoPro. By mixing the Nanogreens and Nanopro together it creates a powerhouse of protein and greens for a morning meal.

My morning ritual is my “Terramin Dirt Drink” (its clay actually…I have  coined it the “Dirt Drink”) around 5:30 in the morning. It should always be taken on an empty stomach. Take it in the evening before bed if it’s easier for you. Around 6:15am I take my NanoPro and NanoGreens mixed together.

This usually holds me over for about 2 hours…then I have to eat. This is a good thing because you are stimulating your metabolism and it is very helpful in weight loss and maintaining your current weight…not to mention the benefits to your digestion, liver and health and energy in general. If you are looking to lose weight please do not subscribe to the skipping meals and not eating club. This is not the answer – I assure you. For healthy, safe and effective weight loss protocols and techniques, please contact me directly. Let’s start with getting a picture of your Neurotransmitters!

Nanogreens is truly a quantum leap in the science of nutrition. Most of us do not eat a diet with the correct amounts of vitamins, mineral, proteins, etc.

Nanogreens and NanoPro allows you a simple and effective way to remedy this problem.

Please don’t misunderstand me here…I am not giving you a free ticket to eat garbage foods the remainder of the day just because you are having the Nanogreens for breakfast. You must still make better food choices and commit to a consistent exercise regime for lasting health and prevention of disease.

I have been recently lecturing to massage students on the subject of Anatomy and Physiology and teaching them about the importance of nutrition and bone health – doing things now like taking care of your bones, health, getting proper nutrition and exercise are much more effective at starving off disease than trying to treat something when you have a problem.

Nanogreens is a super greens food that supplements your diet with up to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables.

Scientists and doctors agree that dark greens, brightly colored fruits and vegetables are not only rich in vitamins and minerals, but phytonutrients. Ongoing nutritional research has demonstrated that optimizing phytonutrient intake by eating 7 to 13 servings a day may:

• naturally increase your energy
• reduce appetite, improve metabolism, assists with weight loss
• restore regular elimination and assist digestion
• reduce inflammation, relieve stiff and achy joints and muscles
• lower risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke
• inhibit hardening of the arteries
• protect your vision from age related vision loss
• maintain strong bones
• support immune function and increase resistance to infections
• reduce allergy symptoms without drowsiness
• improve mental acuity and protect mind and memory
• detoxify toxic metals and chemicals
• help slow aging of the skin and dulling of the hair

Americans need to eat at least 50% more vegetables, 150% more fruit, 250% more orange and 350% more green vegetables every day says the USDA in a recent report. That’s around 7-13 servings daily.

That is an incredible amount and even now most people do not even eat the recommended daily minimums!  What can be done about this??

We make no medical disease claims for these or any of the products; however, I do want you to have the confidence that NanoGreens, when taken as directed, will help supplement your diet with a powerhouse of minerals, nutrients and whole foods.

NanoGreens is formulated to be taken once-daily. It is an easy to mix drink that has only 50 calories. It is loaded with all the healthy vegetables and it is by far the best tasting and most effective “green drink” that I have ever found. It is easy to use and easy to take. It works great in filtered, optimized water and patient compliance has almost never been a problem.

My patients use to complain considerably about previous green drinks that I have recommended – some wouldn’t even finish them because they didn’t like them. This has never been a problem with the Nanogreens.

The Extraordinary Ingredients

Greens Blend (Barley Grass Juice Powder, Spirulina, Chlorella (Japanese soft shell)

Phyto-Nutrient Blend (Blueberry, Green Tea Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Cranberry, Raspberry, Tart Cherry, Pine Bark Extract, Broccoli, Tomato, Carrot, Spinach, Kale, Brussels Sprout, Bilberry, Elderberry, Pomegranate, Blackberry) Fruit & Vegetable Blend (Apple, Carrot, Mango, Sweet Potato, Lemon, Parsley, Peach, Kale, Broccoli, Spinach, Leek*, Beet , Cranberry), Atlantic Kelp Powder, Artichoke Extract, Quinoa Sprout, Lemon Peel Powder, Cabbage (Japanese, fermented),Enzymes (plant-based-Alpha Amylase, Bromelain, Cellulase, Galactosidase, Glucoamylase, Hemicellulase, Lipase, Papain, Protease), Marigold Extract, Milk Thistle, Cinnamon Extract , Cinnamon Bark Powder, Green Tea, White Tea (decaffeinated), Aloe Vera Powder Extract, Acerola Cherry Powder

NanoGreen10 is manufactured in an Organic and FDA approved facility.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. NanoGreens10® is not intended for the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of any disease.

There are so many issues that we could discuss here – so I will try to stay focused and on track.

If you haven’t already seen the movie – Food, Inc. Please do so immediately. It is worth your health, time and money.  My point here in directing you to see that is so you will understand all the implications that food has on our health – all the way back to where the food comes from before it goes from your hand to your mouth.

Chemicals, pesticides, dyes and additives are all, for the most part, unnatural and unhealthy for your body and immune system.  Understandably, there is a need for some of these things, but the point that I must make here is that everything has a risk to benefit ratio.  This includes all forms of medicine – is the risk of doing X worth the benefit.  There is always this choice when taking any prescription, doing any surgery or procedure and even with any supplement or food that you put into your mouth.

I have often said that the most important thing you can do for your health is eat a healthy diet loaded with clean, organic “whole-foods”.  This means grass fed beef, free-range eggs, no processed foods, fruits, vegetables.  Minimal complex carbohydrates and sugar…you know what I am talking about here – cakes, cookies, pies, breads – just to name a few.

Another aspect that is diet related is to rotate your foods. This is very important – you can research on the internet and you will find a plethora of information about food sensitivities and allergies.  We tend to be creatures of habit and constantly and continuously consume 30-40 of the same foods 80% or more of the time.

Over the course of our lives of doing this, we often have issues internally because our bodies need variety.  It is the spice of life.  Keep it interesting. Many doctors advocate what is known as the rotation diet. This can be useful when trying to determine what you may be sensitive or allergic to, but it is also beneficial in that it will allow your body to rest and relax between days of consuming something you are sensitive to.

I have said many times the most common food sensitivities are wheat, gluten, eggs, dairy and corn.  A specialized test can be run from a company such as ImmunoLabs in Florida to give you information about exactly what you should and should not consume for your health and well being.

Eating foods that are toxic and laden with chemicals, high in fat, sugar and refined carbohydrates have been linked to many issues including, but not limited to, diabetes, weight gain, cardiovascular issues, attention deficient, hyperactivity, difficulty with concentration, digestive disorders (constipation, diarrhea, IBS), insomnia and anxiety. This test will definitively rule out for you what is causing the issues.  Removing these foods for 4-6 months with rotating in high quality foods will give your body a chance to heal.  Most often, these foods can be reintroduced into the diet after your system has had a chance to heal with little to no issues of the symptoms recurring.

A problem of epic proportions in this country is constipation. This first and foremost is a dietary related issue – such as not getting enough fiber, eating garbage food, lack of exercise and dehydration.  A question that I constantly ask all of my clients, friends and family is how their bowels are.  Most people think that every day is quite normal to have a bowel movement. This I assure you is not!  Once per day is the minimum to maintain health.  It is so important that we keep all of our organs of detoxification – clean and functioning at optimal capacity.  This includes our liver, colon, skin, kidneys and emotional well being.  If our colon is backed up, it is not uncommon for the bacteria that are present in our colon within the stool, to be reabsorbed into our bloodstreams.  This process is known as auto-intoxification, which means that we are doing something that is causing the toxins to be re-introduced.

If you are having issues with constipation, please check out our recommendations BEYOND FIBER (a great blend of fiber and nutrients – good for colon and heart health),

BIONUE (a fantastic source of high quality healthy-bacteria for your intestinal track, also known as probiotics)

TERRAMIN (mineral supplement that detoxifies the gastrointestinal track)

OXYPOWDER (by far the best product used to help move the bowels without it actually being a laxative.  This is better than any natural or conventional product I have seen.  It is not a stimulant and should cause no cramping.  For the cost and benefit investment – it is truly a blessing for those who suffer from constipation.

For those of you that suffer from  diarrhea – please don’t hesitate to contact us as there is lots that can be done for you as well…most of it the same just with a slightly different slant. There is a fantastic remedy from China called Curing Pills. It works for any digestive issue but is exceptional for diarrhea and irritable bowel.

We see commercials all the time for these wonderful new drugs that are being used to treat things like heartburn, GERD and acid reflux. In the commercial is a person looking longingly at a double meat, double cheese, and double bread greasy hamburger – thinking if I didn’t get heartburn from that I could eat it.  WELL…How about we don’t eat what is causing us this heartburn instead.  Our poor bodies are literally talking to us (screaming actually) with symptoms and we ignore it.  Try using common sense and not eat those foods in the first place.  If you notice, most of the people in the commercial are usually overweight, which is a major part of the bigger picture.

Now that I have ranted about everything so far except for what this article was intended…its time to discuss digestion and a fantastic product called Assist and Assist-Dairy and Protein.

This product helps us to digest proteins from animal sources (fish, eggs and meat) and it will increase our digestive process which will help us to achieve and maintain optimal wellness. It is also helpful for digestion of dairy, nuts, seeds and legumes (if you have issues with digestion be sure you soak your beans and legumes before you cook them).

These enzymes are beneficial to take with food to not only “assist” with digestion, but also assilimation of the nutrients from the food that you are eating.

The ingredient HCl (also known as hydrochloric acid) is a primary player in the digestion of your foods. The products used to treat acid reflux are an excess of acid production. This is most often not the case, but rather too little production of stomach acid causing these problems.  If you have low stomach acid you will have issues digesting proteins and your system will eventually become depleted of its mineral stores.  When your blood is too acidic, it starts to steal minerals from wherever it can get them in your body (this is a great reason to have TERRAMIN on hand, and take daily for general colon health as well as re-mineralization of your body). Having minerals leached from your body in this manner can also lead to disorders such as osteoporosis.

Donna Gate’s on her website www.bodyecology.com the makers of the products – ASSIST and ASSIST Dairy and Protein list symptoms caused by low stomach as:

Bloating, Belching & Flatulence
Heartburn
Digestive Disorders (constipation, diarrhea and acid reflux)
Acne
Fungal Overgrowth & Candida
Food Sensitivities

Assist is virtually the same product as Assist Dairy and Protein.  Assist is a more generalized product than the formula intended for protein and dairy.

Please contact me if you will like to discuss your digestive issues in more detail. There are so many beneficial products that can be used to help assist with this common issue that plague so many of us. Drink lots of water, eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies…and for goodness sake – sit down and relax when you eat.

IT CAN BE DONE – Let us help you!

The type of diet that you select actually has less to do with your actual weight loss than adhering to the plan you have chosen.  This is a “duh” statement.  Everyone knows this.  You don’t have to go to medical school to understand this.  However, it is so much easier said than done…right?  Well I have been there personally.  Those of you who know me personally and professionally know that I used to be significantly overweight.  I was once 230 pounds and XL shirt and wore a size 38 waist.  Now I am 175 pounds, M shirt and a size 30 waist.  This didn’t happen overnight.  It took determination and control…over my eating habits and the emotional issues that were linked with my food intake.

To help break free of this roller coaster of a viscous cycle AskDrSkip is offering some effective ways to overcome common diet pitfalls so you will meet and keep your goals and not only look great but be healthy.

Don’t forget…You are in control!! Take Charge!
While diet and exercise are paramount in the paradigm, it’s not just about the food specifically.  It’s also about feeling like you can control your cravings, body and subsequently your life.  Many of us (and I was one of those people) tend to use food as a reward and/or a way to feel better when we are dealing with a stressful situation or time in our lives.  One main problem is that we end up feeling worse later because then our clothes don’t fit – and we spiral down emotionally.  Then the cycle continues.  You are control of what you put in your mouth.  Take control. The best way to handle this issue is to keep a food diary.  This will help you not only see where you are getting those extra calories and what you can cut out – it will make you think twice before unconsciously popping food into your mouth without thinking.  Ask yourself, “do I really want/need this?”.   At AskDrSkip, our weight loss patients are required to maintain an up-to-date food diary and follow a strict caloric recommendation based on individualized parameters.  However, without this requirement being met the program and weight loss will be much less effective.  Habits and the emotional connection to food must be changed.

Create a support Network!
Surround yourself with people who are willing to help you meet your goals.  All of us have “bad influences” who tell us we look fine just the way we are because they love us.  There is no bending on this one…You must surround yourself with people who respect your goals.  They must support you and be willing to be your advocate.  It may be important that you see a life coach or the like.  My office addresses the physical, neurotransmitter and wellness aspects of weight loss.  We work very closely with a life coach that oversees the emotional aspect – which is a critical piece to losing weight, maintain it and regaining health.  There are also many wonderful support groups like Over Eaters Anonymous.  Having a friend or co-worker to get on-board the health train with you to lose weight is a fantastic idea.  For me personally, having someone there with me was paramount and one of the reasons that I was able to overcome some difficult hurdles in regards to weight loss.  You can keep each other accountable for your food choices and exercise schedule.

Set a goal and stick to it! NO EXCUSES!
Set your goal and keep it.  Excuses are a dime a dozen.  Create a plan and then a strategy to meet and reach your goals.  We at AskDrSkip  are here to oversee this aspect.  Let us take the guess work out of this aspect for you.  Be specific with your goals, we will come up with a time frame for your weight loss, your goal weight as well as what to eat, calorie intake, etc.  Please remember that you must be willing and ready to undertake the weight loss program. We can only do so much – you have to put forth the effort and commitment.  Without that, your weight loss goals are destined to fail.  The road at times can be difficult in regards to losing weight but the weight can be lost and it is very rewarding!  Hang in there – we are here for you!!  YOU CAN DO IT!!  We will help you reach your goals.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew…No pun intended!
Increasing you fruit and vegetable intake and cut out all junk food is a must in the overall grand scheme of losing weight and keeping it off.   That being said…Please don’t try to go cold turkey.  We will help you set smaller, obtainable goals.  This is one of the main reasons that we have you come in for a weekly visit (not just to weigh you, but also to help educate you on your healthy new lifestyle).  We have done you a great dis-service if after you have lost all of your weight and you have reached your goals and you go right back to your old habits.  Education is key with our program.  By the time you have reached your goals you will have the knowledge and tools to maintain your svelte new figure.  One of the things that we, at the clinic will assist you with are your food choices.  For example, depending on your specific needs, we require that you drastically reduce your intake of refined carbohydrates and processed foods and increase your vegetable intake.  Not only is this of benefit to your health it is also assisting in the weight loss and increasing your metabolism.  The addition of fruits and veggies to your diet can be done very easily with the addition of an amazing product called Nanogreens. It is available through AskDrSkip.com.  I have used and tried many green drinks over the years and I have personally taken out all of the guess work for you.  This is an amazing product and by far the best tasting green drink I have found.

Plan your meals ahead of time!
One of the biggest issues that we see is that when you get hungry you lose all self control and your food choices are unhealthy.  Plan ahead.  With a small amount a preparation you will be able to stay on the right part and continue/maintain your weight loss.  First and foremost – NEVER GO TO THE GROCERY STORE HUNGRY!  This is the biggest mistake…everything will look so good to you and you will be more inclined to purchase the “naughty” foods.  Please…I implore you…keep healthy options on hand, and be resolved to pass on dessert or alcohol (or in my case…cookies).  Staying on course now will help you look and feel better later… I assure you!   Good choices to have on hand are fresh fruits, veggies, dry roasted nuts – almonds, walnuts, etc., as well as, organic/preservative free beef/turkey jerky, protein bars and the like.  Please be cautious and read labels…you must steer clear of high carbs and sugar.  This can be done.  Be patient.  We are here if you have any questions and to help you stay the course.

Hold yourself accountable!
So you slipped up and ate half a box of cookies – who hasn’t?  I know I have.  I would be lying if I tried to tell you otherwise.  You-know-who would strike me down and those who know me would laugh themselves silly because they know what a cookie freak I am. So…now what??  When you slip up and it happens…confess it to someone!  This will help you to get it off your chest keeps you honest. Admit you made a mistake and move forward…do not let this defeat you.  Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day.  It took many years for you to get where you are and we are not in a race.  When you lose weight the healthy way you have more assurances your metabolism has been healed and you will keep the weight off.

Don’t feel bad!
Like I said above if you have fallen off the wagon, don’t expend energy feeling bad about it.  That will tend to keep you unmotivated and shift your attention from your goals.  The feelings of guilt can make you depressed, which can possibly make you turn to those comfort foods.  Instead, acknowledge you made a mistake, dust yourself off and get back on that proverbial horse.  This is about being empowered and shifting your perception about weight, life and situations.  Please try and see the positive lesson learned in every situation in your life.  If you look at it from that point of view – every situation – even those we typically view as negative are actually a blessing.

It’s not about dieting, but making lifestyle changes!
I hate the word diet.  I use it because it is more or less a catch phrase.  When I say diet, what I am actually referring to here is the manner in which we eat.  That is one of the issues that we work with in my office. By making better choices, you are going to lose weight and be healthier.  Being in the complementary and alternative medical field for so many years – I want both.  Keeping the goals you set for yourself is the cornerstone for achieving what you want in all aspects and areas your life.  By improving your health you be energized, your confidence increases exponentially and you will exude that to others. You will be able to pay it forward and, in my opinion, that is a very good thing to do for both yourself and humanity as a whole.  Health and self-confidence are worth more than all the cakes and pies in the world.

REVOXIL I don’t know about you…but that picture just makes me sick.  I worked with a veterinarian for many years.  It was there that I realized parasites totally creeped me out.  We routinely checked for them in animals.  For some reason it seems to be lost in the conventional medical community.  Common sense dictates that if its a problem in animals and we have animals then just that thread of thought along would tell us to at least be aware that it could be a problem!

Chances are that you probably have them.  For the most part they are no big deal.  There are so many things within our system that we can handle without any issues.  However, many things can cause anyone of them to go out of balance.  These can include bacteria, virus, yeast and fungus.  Our systems are in a delicate balance and there are things that we do daily without realizing it that can cause them to be imbalanced – then something like the parasites can actually become problematic.

Parasites are gross little bugs that sustain off us, their “host”.  They set up shop in our bodies and become very comfortable and complacent and don’t want to leave. They can be very difficult to get rid of – so please be patient as it will take time.  One of the main symptoms of parasites is fatigue.  This is due to the fact that they place a tremendous amount of stress on the body and are actually consuming and causing the body to expend tremendous amount of energy to try and combat those pesky little critters.

If you are looking for a cleanse, a parasite cleanse in a great place to start.  Parasites can cause a whole “host” (no pun intended) of symptoms.

• Anemia
• Respiratory & Breathing Issues
• Headaches & Migraines
• Skin Issues such as Eczema
• Liver and Gallbladder Issues
• Fatigue
• Weight Gain or Weight Loss
• Yeast Infections and Candida
• The Whole Array of Digestive Issues – bloating, constipation and diarrhea

The product that I recommend for folks to use to get parasite issues under control is called Revoxil. What an amazing product! It contains all the ingredients that are so effective at returning the system to homeostasis (balance) from a parasitic perspective without the difficulty of having to swallow nasty tasting herbs. This product is a highly absorbable and extremely utilizable gel capsule that is incredibly easy to swallow.

Be sure to take it with a bit of food.  It is not uncommon for you to “taste” garlic due to the high concentrations present in the capsules.  However, rest assured that it is working.

The nutritional support in Revoxil will help your rid your body of disease and fatigue causing parasites with a proprietary blend of black walnut hull, wormwood, garlic, clove seed and catechu seed from Healthwalk.

Donna Gate’s of Body Ecology (www.bodyecology.com) has some staggering statistics on her site about parasite…I have included the main one’s below…

If you thought parasites were only in undeveloped countries, you may be surprised to find out how common they are in the U.S., for example:

• According to the Centers for Disease Control, Trichomonas, a sexually transmitted disease, is the most common parasitic infection in the U.S. accounting for 7.4 million new cases annually. ¹
• More than 60 million people in the U.S. are infected by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which causes the disease toxoplasmosis and can be symptomless, cause flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph gland or organ damage.²

1 Trichomonas Infection. Centers for Disease Control.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/trichomonas/default.htm

2 Toxoplasmosis. Centers for Disease Control.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/factsht_toxoplasmosis.htm#what

Please be advised that the general consensus on implementing a parasite eradication program but be a commitment of 4-6 months. Then 1-2 months per year there after to maintain good health. It is not uncommon for parasites to be reintroduced to the system. Even in the U.S. parasites are everywhere. We can even get them from our pets.

The recommended dosing from the manufacturer for Revoxil is one (1) capsule three (3) times per day for thirty (30) days.  After thirty (30) days take one (1) capsule daily for ninety (90) days. Then take a hiatus from the Revoxil.  This is an aggressive anti-parasite program.   It is not recommend to begin such a protocol without assistance from a healthcare practitioner who is well versed in these holitic, non-invasive methods of wellness. Click here now to setup a consultation with Dr. Skip to guide you through this process.

Please keep in mind that once you begin a protocol of this nature it is very common for the adage “you may get worse before you get better” to hold true.  If you start to feel sick or worsening of your current symptoms, decrease the dosage to your level of tolerance and then slowly work back to the originial dose.  This is just another example of why you should have someone working with you on your path to health and wellness.

Be Well!

Dr. Skip

Our best defense for our health this day-and-age is a healthy immune system.

* Dietary supplements are required by law to list the following disclaimer: This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Click here and lease be sure to read the entire disclaimer page.

When you see this movie – not if, but when…you will really understand the tag from the Hungry for Change website when it says…”You’ll never look at dinner the same way again.”  Because you will NEVER, and I mean never. look at food the same way again.  Not fruit, not vegetables and especially not meat.

I have never been a proponent of pork – please watch this movie and you will see why.  The way these animals are treated is appaling and unacceptable.  The only way to make a difference in either the food industry or medical industry is for the public to stand up and SCREAM for change.  I do, of course, mean to scream in a peaceful way.

You need to clearly understand why it is important to consume meat that is from a cow that has been fed a NON-CORN diet.  Yes…a non-corn diet. This is totally opposite to what 99% of the coventional cows consume.  Cows by nature should be fed grass.  The difference in the quality of the meat from a health perspective is paramount.

Cows and chickens (conventional ones) are kept from sunlight, are cramped and overcrowed, and unfortunately end up wallowing in their own feces.  Often, several inches of it.  One of the statistics from the movie – noted that a diet of grass feed to corn feed cows for a period of 5 (five) days reduced the harmful e-coli bacteria by 80%.  This is substantial – especially due to the fact that the cows (as well as the chickens) are given a pleothera of antibiotics.

These antibititcs are passed into the finish product that we eat.  It is no wonder why antibiotic resistance is becoming a real problem.  We are consuming many antibiotics as many of us consume beef and poultry from these sources.  While there are what appears to be a large variety and selection in the grocery store – it is noteworthy that there is actually a handful of companies that actually own all the different brands – basically the same thing in a different package with a different name.

Another important factor to consider is th fact that 70% of the food in your local grocery store contains food that is genetically engineered (GMO).  While the basic tenets behind why food is modified genetically, the health implications from these changes that man has made are truly unnatural to what mother nature intended.  I am a pretty smart guy, but I would not pretend to think that I could conceivably do something better than what nature has been doing for millions of years just fine on its own.   It is important to note here as well that we should be eating fruits and vegetables that are ”in-season”.  This has become very difficult as we can find pretty much all fruits and all vegetables any time of year.  Again – mother nature intended us to eat seasonally – which is why under normal circumstance food is grown seasonally.

The main ingredient in these GMO foods is corn.  I am constantly  teaching people to remove corn from their diets. Corn is one of the most highly sensitive foods to many if not most people. causing implications to their health on some level.  It is very hard to remove corn from the diet as it is in just about everything that is packaged and processed – even if it doesn’t actually state “corn” on the label.

Other things to minimize, if not remove completely from the diet are dairy and milk products, wheat, gluten and soybeans, just to name a couple of the biggies.  If you are not going to remove them entirely please at the very least rotate them in and out of the diet and do not consume any more than every third to fourth day.  Everyday that we continue to consume foods that we are sensitive to – it is very much like we a putting a low dose poison in our system…over a short term our delicate system can handle it.  After many years of it wearing us down chronic degenerative diseases begin to show up.

Please eat a diet higher in protein.  Minimize, if not eliminate, refined (complex) carbs from the diet.  Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables along with servings of clean, organic, free range, growth hormone-free, antibiotic-free meat, poultry and eggs.

Directly from the Hungry for Change website, the get involved section…these are some simple things that you can do to “get involved” and help to make some simple changes in the food system…

Learn more about these issues and how you can take action on Takepart.com

1. Stop drinking sodas and other sweetened beverages.
2. You can lose 25 lbs in a year by replacing one 20 oz soda a day with a no calorie beverage (preferably water).  Eat at home instead of eating out.
3. Children consume almost twice (1.8 times) as many calories when eating food prepared outside the home. Support the passage of laws requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information on menus and menu boards.
4. Half of the leading chain restaurants provide no nutritional information to their customers. Tell schools to stop selling sodas, junk food, and sports drinks.
5. Over the last two decades, rates of obesity have tripled in children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years. Meatless Mondays—Go without meat one day a week.
6. An estimated 70% of all antibiotics used in the United States are given to farm animals.  Buy organic or sustainable food with little or no pesticides.
7. According to the EPA, over 1 billion pounds of pesticides are used each year in the U.S.Protect family farms; visit your local farmer’s market.
8. Farmer’s markets allow farmers to keep 80 to 90 cents of each dollar spent by the consumer.  Make a point to know where your food comes from—READ LABELS.
9. The average meal travels 1500 miles from the farm to your dinner plate. Tell Congress that food safety is important to you.
10. Each year, contaminated food causes millions of illnesses and thousands of deaths in the U.S.  Demand job protections for farm workers and food processors, ensuring fair wages and other protections.
11. Poverty among farm workers is more than twice that of all wage and salary employees.

Remember the old adage from our Grandparents and Great Grandparents…You are what you eat.  That was so true then and probably more so now.  If you eat unhealthy, you are going to be unhealthy.  The idea that food is medicine is actually a power notion.  When you consume healthy foods…you will be healthly.  Please see this movie and make changes in the world, the country, your state and town both for your health and for the environment.

There is a wide gamut of symptoms that can be indicative of imbalances and deficiencies to your hormonal system. There is a quick document that you can print out and answer the questions and get a determination if delving more deeply into the issue is warranted. If so, a simple, non invasive saliva test can be run to make determinations as to exactly where the imbalance stems.

With the results from your questionnaire and your saliva results we can formulate a wellness balance to help assist your body to get back into balance.

The questionnaire was designed by the international hormone therapy expert, Thierry Hertoghe. I recommend him and his research highly and have been following him for many years. He lectures frequently with the American Academy for Anti-Aging Medicine.

Hormone Assessment – Print out and answer the questions. If your results show that you have an imbalance please contact us for a consultation. Click here for the self assessment: Hormone Questionaire

 The benefits of exercise don’t stop when you leave the gym.  Studies have shown that after 30 minutes of exercise you continue to burn calories throughout the day at a faster rate than normal because exercise speeds up your resting metabolic rate.

What this means for you is that you not only burn those pesky extra calories during the exercise, you will be burning them while you are resting too! So please get out there and sweat – a brisk walk 3-5 times per week is a safe and great place to start.  It is very effective for weight loss and cardiovascular health.

Please don’t be misled into thinking that you have to get on the treadmill and pound it out at 100 miles per hour. This is much more damaging to your system than helpful.  Exercise for your health and wellbeing.  It truly is that important – Make the time!

It’s not as easy as just exercise more and eat less…

I wish it were that simple! That being said…losing weight doesn’t have to be all that hard either. There are many simple things that you can do that will make a huge impact on your weight.

Exercise is beneficial and if you are not…then start now. It doesn’t need to be high intensity 7 days a week. I would recommend that you do something to make yourself sweat every day. I am extremely pleased if you will commit to a brisk walk for 30 minutes 5 times per week, preferably after meals. This will help your metabolism and digestion as well as assist with weight loss – and general health and wellness. There is an old Chinese proverb about walking after eating and living to 100. This is such good advice. From a naturopathic perspective, digestive health is paramount.

My goal here is to show you ways that you can modify your lifestyle and dietary habits – adding things in some places, removing from others. As much as I like the benefits psychologically of losing weight quickly at the onset of a “diet” I can assure you in the long run you will be healthier, fit and happier if you chose to lose weight the right way. When you do it this way you not only lose the weight and heal the metabolism, you have also created new habits that will help you maintain the weight you so heartily wanted to lose. Stick with it! It can and will happen. If you need additional help with losing weight then contact us at the Surefire Clinic and we will be pleased to help you formulate an individualize program just for you and your specific biochemical needs.

Start your day off right. EAT BREAKFAST!!

Make it protein please…not carbs and sugar.

If you don’t eat breakfast, you’re putting your fat-burning metabolism in time-out. It takes calories to digest calories, so eating will assist in cranking up your metabolism.

Perfect breakfasts: organic sliced deli meats are a great choice, any veggies (that aren’t starchy) will work. A few eggs with some organic turkey bacon can be great too. Please try to plan ahead as waiting until you are hungry is too late…you are more likely to lose inhibitions and eat naughty food when you wait too long to eat.

Snack during the day!

Eating between meals will continue to rev your metabolism. I want you to keep snacks on hand at all times. Dry roasted nuts, organic chemical free beef/turkey jerky is a great pick me up. A tablespoon of nut butter – try them all till you find one you like.

Why snack you ask? Because if breakfast beefs up your metabolism, then snacks keep those metabolic fires burning between meals and throughout the day. Planning your snacks in advance keeps you from making poor food choices.

Additional ideas can be gluten-free pretzels, a slice of hormone free cheese, or a yummy piece of fruit such as a peach, plum, orange or pear.

FIBER, FIBER, FIBER!!!

Most of us do not get enough of this. It’s no wonder why bowel issues, such as constipation, are such an issue. Fiber-rich foods are just about the only thing you can have in unlimited quantities. They contain much less calories and make you feel full. You should consume around 25 grams of fiber daily. Many folks typically only consume around 12 grams in a day. Nutritionally and healthfully…this just isn’t enough.

Fiber sources can be from consuming at least three servings of vegetables and two fruit portions per day. Adding beans to salads and soups is another great option. I recommend an amazing green drink called Nanogreens…It is available on our site. It contains all of the greens that most people just don’t get enough of each day. It is a very easy way to get them into your diet in a quick drink and as far as green drinks are concerned – this one is pretty tasty. Choose whole-grain breads rather than those made with refined-white flour. In fact, please look for and only purchase flour that does not contain bromide. King Arthur makes great flour that doesn’t contain the harmful additive of bromide. If you are a cereal eater, than please chose the highest-fiber cereal that tastes great and doesn’t contain an overload of sugar. Select almond, oat or rice milk over cow’s milk. Remember: You get more calcium from dark leafy green vegetables than from milk.

FAT, FAT, FAT!!!

Most recently everyone seems savvy towards the health benefits of unsaturated fats! Those found in fish, nuts, avocados and olive oil. Coconut and Palm oils are also great choices. If you are doing anything on high heat please look into using Ghee.

With low-fat diets people tend to replace the fat with carbs. This is no good. Carbohydrates and anything that converts into sugar will provoke a rise in insulin, not to mention that just a small amount of sugar will suppress the immune system. More insulin equals more hunger…hence the recommendations for higher protein in your diets. I am not advocating Dr. Adkins here, just higher protein and less carbs. You digest carbs much faster than fat, and this will also lead to more hunger.

Fat has neither of these issues. Your body digests it slowly, and it doesn’t cause an insulin spike. By adding a small amount of the “good” fats to your meals will actually accelerate your weight loss. Fat gives you the feeling of satiety which is why we recommend certain products that contain these fats that makes you feel more satisfied after a meal.

Be cautious, as too much of a good thing can have a detrimental effect. My Great Grandfather always said “Everything in moderation”. Too much fat will make you fat. Fat has way more calories than protein or carbohydrates.

Add some nuts and olive oil to your salads. This sounds weird, but you can drizzle some melted coconut butter on your salad. Also, put some avocado on a turkey-breast sandwich – I would make it by using the turkey as the bread. A spoonful of any of the nut butters in the morning is also a great way to add these in as well. When dining out, never pass up a chance for a nicely prepared piece of tilapia, sea bass, salmon, herring, tuna, or mackerel. Be cautious of eating too much fish too often because some of these fish can contain high levels of toxic metals.

WATER, WATER, WATER!!!

Juices even those that contain 100% juice are usually loaded with sugar and even worse are the juices that contain HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP. Please minizime and elimate the consumption of carbonated beverages – cola-type products as they are the worst culprits in this arena. These drinks can hit you with a tremendous amount of calories from even just a small 16-ounce beverage.

Hydration is paramount from a health perspective. At Surefire Clinic we all consume filtered water that has been charged on the hydromag. These are available on our site. Water contains no calories and it will hydrate you. Diet soft drinks are to be avoided at all costs. They are loaded with many ingredients that I wouldn’t even use to feed my plants with let alone use or recommend them for human consumption. Please see the article on artificial sweeteners. Herbal teas and coconut water are acceptable. The Bragg’s apple cider vinegar drink is a great beverage that balances your pH, quenches your thirst and is a phenomenal overall health tonic.

86 the alcoholic beverages as well. Alcohol will help you quickly pack on the pounds in more ways than we realize as well as make it extremely difficult for you to lose them!

Alcohol contains loads of calories. Alcohol is very dehydrating. Coffee is dehydrating. Light beer has 100 calories. Drinks with creams and sugary juices and colas…loaded with calories. Alcohol will help you store fat – this is something we don’t want at all when we are trying to get you healthy and to lose weight. Your body views alcohol as a poison and it does everything it can to cleanse it out as quickly as possible. Your liver will stop processing all other calories until it has removed all the alcohol. In a nutshell, anything else you consume during the drinking and cleanings process is likely to end up being stored as fat, exactly what we don’t want! So nix the alcohol.

Did you know that alcohol lowers testosterone? With increased amounts of abdominal fat, testosterone levels quickly decrease. This can wreck havoc on a man’s physiology, not to mention a woman’s. Low levels of testosterone will make it much harder your body to burn fat.

Sleep is essential for weight loss as well as overall health and wellness. Your body produces its biggest surge of a growth hormone, a chemical that signals your body to use fat for energy while you are sleeping. The less growth hormone you release, the more fat you will accumulate.

Green tea & Oolong tea -boost your metabolism. I use and recommend Oolong tea in our practice, as it is a fantastic addition to a weight loss protocol. If green tea sounds strange to you, don’t turn your nose up at it until you have given it a fair shot. There are many different brands. I love the one from Good Earth with Jasmine and green tea. I have been an avid green tea drinker for many years and I just stumbled across this one the other day. If you must have it sweet – and this is really a habit for both weight loss and health that you should really implement you may add a small amount of agave nectar, raw honey or stevia. There are also many brands of stevia on the market. Some have a bitter aftertaste some do not. Trial and error until you find the one that you like. Personally I like “Now Brands” stevia in packets. It dissolves easily in ice tea as well as hot tea and to me it doesn’t have a strange aftertaste.

MEAT, MEAT, MEAT!!!

Its lunchtime…and you are out and about on your lunch hour. Salad or burger? Decisions…decisions?!?! At first, you may think that the salad is the best choice nutritionally. And why wouldn’t it be the better choice? It’s full of leafy veggies, lettuces and it looks way healthier than the cooked hamburger. However, in actuality the burger is probably the better choice. My recommendation would be to 86 the bun, add grilled onions and mushrooms and maybe even a piece of cheese (any cheese except American – that isn’t cheese it’s chemicals and garbage wrapped in plastic – avoid it at all costs). A side of veggies or a salad with oil and vinegar or low calorie Italian dressing if you feel that won’t fill you up.

The salad will have fewer calories if you limit what you put on it. Once you start adding things like turkey, ham, cheese and dressing, however, you could be looking at more than 700 calories for a small serving. A ‘quarter-pound’ burger contains around 400 calories. The burger will certainly give you that feeling of satiety – that sensation of feeling full and satisfied, and the meat is rich in zinc, an important mineral which has been shown to help raise testosterone levels.

MODERATION, MODERATION, MODERATION

You can eat anything and lose or maintain weight, as long as you don’t eat too much of anything. So it’s not necessarily about depriving yourself of anything…just remember like my Great Grandfather says…”Everything in moderation”. That statement has always made such an impact on me. Please remember this when you are on the road to health and weight loss.

Portion control should also be a top priority. In Ayurveda (the ancient medicine from India) you should stop eating when your stomach is just over half way full. Look for individual serving of things like frozen dinners – your local grocery store is probably carrying more organic, wholesome choices than you realize. We live in Texas and have been very pleased with the selection that our local grocer, Tom Thumb has. They have their own line of organic choices called ‘Organics’. Amy’s brand makes great frozen individual serving sized portions…so you buy one serving, eat one serving, and you’re done. Please steer clear of large portion restaurants or take a friend and split the meal – healthier and cheaper!

Be sure to eat lots of vegetables. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables, if possible. Secondarily choose frozen and then as a last resort select canned. I usually prefer them to be frozen as most companies flash freeze them thus locking in a many nutrients as possible and the shelf life is longer than fresh.

Please don’t forget to exercise. Sweat, move your body, move your lymphatic system and boost your immune system. If we can be of help to you for your weight loss needs please schedule an appointment with us. We take the guesswork out of losing weight. We are not about diets we are about lifestyle changes that lead to health and long lasting weight loss.