Lighten Up

Yes, that’s right- sleep can help you lose weight. Sounds crazy, but does it really sound that crazy? It doesn’t take a scientist to tell me I crave donuts at 3pm when I didn’t sleep as well the night before. Now scientists are saying it, too. Sleep helps you lose weight.

After the age of 30, you may have started to notice a few differences in your body, a few wrinkles here, a little more weight there, and of course energy starts to dwindle.

Collagen. You’ve heard about it for your skin, your hair, your nails…but weight loss? We’ve heard all gimmicks : eat this, don't eat that,  fat burners, fat blockers, appetite suppressants…and now collagen? To lose weight?  Yes… and its no gimmick...its science! 

Maybe you’ve heard of collagen for your skin and hair…maybe as an ingredient in shampoos and face creams, but did you know that collagen supplements have a wealth of other benefits? This amino acid is actually the most abundant protein in your body, and is used by virtually every part from your head to toes; however collagen production drops off as we age. Adding supplemental collagen back into your body could help with the following:

You may be suffering from Candida Albicans overgrowth- also known as "excess yeast." An overproduction of yeast in the body can block the absorption and effectiveness of any weight loss or dietary supplement. To see a list of common signs of too much yeast in the body, click here. However, there is a simple way to test yourself by taking the Candida Saliva Test (or Yeast Test). 

Here's an odd question - is it possible that a dietary supplement like collagen can help you get a better job? Or even a promotion?

Maybe you’ve heard of collagen for your skin and hair…maybe as an ingredient in shampoos and face creams, but did you know that collagen supplements have a wealth of other benefits? This amino acid is actually the most abundant protein in your body, and is used by virtually every part from your head to toes; however collagen production drops off as we age. Adding supplemental collagen back into your body could help with the following:

We all love to get outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather, but if you suffer from joint pain, you may be a little more hesitant to take that afternoon stroll or take the kids to the park. It can really be disappointing and debilitating. Here are a few things you can do to prevent and alleviate some of the pain and discomfort:

If you have asked yourself, “why am I gaining weight?” lately, you are not alone. If you feel like you are gaining weight for no reason, you know you haven’t really changed your diet or workout routine, and it seems the scale numbers won’t stop creeping up, then this is for you.

Maybe you got on the scale and were shocked at the number. Maybe you just noticed that your clothes are getting a little tight.  Maybe you have known for a while that you have been gaining weight, but you just don’t know why.

The American Heart Association recommends 30 grams of sugar per day for women and 45 grams per day for men. The truth, unfortunately, is that the average American likely consumes close to 100 grams of sugar per day, which can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, depression, headaches, and fatigue. Below are 4 signs that you may be addicted to sugar.

All-natural remedies like Apple Cider Vinegar are the rave these days. Most people would rather try something natural than resort to a medication or drastic change in diet to look and feel better; and with so many success stories out there, why not see why everyone is talking about it?

If you are reading this while snowed in – congratulations! You get a day off of work! A day stuck in the house can be lots of fun and/or relaxing, but it can also wreck your diet. Here are 9 DOs to help you NOT gain weight today, and 2 DON’Ts.

Every January millions of people across the globe decide to mentally beat themselves up over things they did, said or ate the previous year. This form of ritual masochism is more commonly known as making a New Year’s Resolution. And no…just because I’m making fun of it does NOT mean that I’ve been above it all these years. I’ve done the “exercise more” resolution…the “eat less” resolution…the “lose weight” resolution. Heck, I’ve even done the “no more resolutions, resolution.” This year, though, I’m officially done. I’m taking a cue from an old friend from college and picking a single word for the year. “My” word for the year. This process is based on My One Word (http://myoneword.org/), but I went a slightly different path. I chose one on my own – from my heart. My word this year is “better.” It’s not perfect. It’s not great. It’s not even good. It’s better. I want to be a better wife…a better daughter…a better person. I want do better with my eating habits…better with getting more exercise. That feels – well – BETTER to me than a scary resolution that I’m likely to break within the first week of the year. Less guilt involved. I just want to do better this year, and that’s all any of us can really do. So instead of beating yourself up this year over how much you ate during the holidays and VOWING to eat only salads and fish, how about picking a single word to encompass what you want to accomplish this year. Believe me – WAY better than a resolution.

Everyone is always looking for that quick fix to drop 5 or 10 pounds overnight. Let’s just say patience doesn’t come easy, and so many try the latest crash diet in hopes of speeding up the weight loss process. Unfortunately, most of those plans are neither safe nor effective. For healthy, lasting weight loss you’ll want to stick with the tried and true methods. In a pinch, however, you can LOOK thinner with these easy tips.

1. Don’t eat bread, pasta, and dairy for 24 hours. They are not only filling, but eating just a serving or two can cause belly bloat.
2. Take a candida yeast ridding supplement. Excess yeast is a common cause of belly bloat so taking a supplement like Candida Complex will help your body eliminate the overgrowth and bloat.
3. Stand up straight and roll your shoulders back. Bad posture can make you look bigger than you really are.
4. Take a B-6 supplement. It is a natural diuretic that also helps your body metabolize food and convert it to energy.
5. Avoid sugar free gum. Chewing gum causes you to swallow air and artificial sweeteners can make you retain water causing bloat.
6. Drink lots of water. It sounds counterproductive, but your body will not hold onto water when it has plenty of it, and it also helps to keep your digestive system flowing smoothly.
7. Get a spray tan. You can even ask them to add some extra to the outside of arms and legs to create a more narrow look.

Is it possible to cheat on your diet and still see healthy results? Not only is it possible, but some experts think it’s necessary. If you’re on a severely restrictive diet, all you tend to think about is food – whatever your favorite food is. You may dream of ice cream, swoon over pizza or crave a burger; and if you let your desires get out of hand you might find yourself binging on everything in sight. Take care of the issue before you give up on your healthy eating completely.

Some people even think it’s best to satisfy that craving with a similar food. So if you’re craving ice cream, you have a bowl of frozen yogurt – even though you don’t particularly like frozen yogurt. That means it’s okay while you’re eating it…it’s cold…kind of creamy…it’s okay, but it’s just not ice cream. That means when you finish – you guessed it - you still want ice cream. Your best bet is to just eat a small portion of really good, high quality ice cream once in a while. Notice I didn’t say every day…once in a while. And, be sure to watch your caloric intake a few days before and after. (One splurge at a time, please.) The key is to satisfy the craving…the actual craving…then move on. You weren’t craving yogurt; you were craving ice cream.

One other thing to remember is to watch your portion sizes – always. Whether you’re eating a salad or a brownie, portion size matters. Permission to splurge on occasion doesn’t give you permission to eat an entire large, delivery pizza by yourself or a gallon of ice cream, for that matter. One scoop of ice cream or 2 pieces of pizza or a small order of fries…that’s a splurge. Enjoy it…savor it…then get back to normal, healthy eating. Your body will thank you for it.