Is Giving Up Gluten the Key to Weight Loss?

CautionlHave you been swept up in the first-of-the-year battle to lose weight?

Perhaps this has been a year-long struggle for you, but post holidays you’re not only 10 pounds heavier – you’re also bloated and still suffering from indigestion, due to all your holiday indulgences.

Given this common scenario, it’s no surprise that come January 1, a lot of people jump on the weight loss bandwagon.

The media will tell you that weight gain is all about calories and exercise and I’m here to tell you that just isn’t true.

The thing is, I’d like to see you actually lose weight this year!

And also banish those tummy troubles (instead of just talking about it).

Are you up for that?

If you’ve recently vowed that this is the year you’ll finally lose those extra pounds – welcome on board!

However, if you’ve also been told that the only sure-fire way to lose weight is to stop eating gluten, let me break this down for you.

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3 Surprising Things In Your Home That Are Making You Fat – Part II

Gal Toiletries SmallIs your skin cream making you fat?

I pose that question partly in jest but the truth is, yes it can!

In a nutshell, it has to do with chemicals in your environment,  that are considered “obesogenic”.

And it has nothing to do with food! (You can read Part I of this article here.)

To recap, remember we have three pathways to consider:

  • Ingestion
  • Absorption
  • Inhalation

I covered Ingestion in Part I, and you can read that article here.

This week, I’ll explore the remaining two pathways – Absorption and Inhalation – plus I’ll leave you with a few tips you can incorporate right away.

So let’s dive in!

 

ABSORPTION – Toiletries & Cosmetics

Chemicals like BPA and PFOA (which I covered in Part I) aren’t just limited to food containers and cookware.

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3 Surprising Things In Your Home That Are Making You Fat

A pair of female feet standing on a bathroom scale

A pair of female feet standing on a bathroom scale

Let me guess.

You’re probably thinking that only food can make you fat.

It all has to do with eating too much, right?

Along with not getting enough exercise.

What if I told that isn’t the whole story?

What if I told you that losing weight has more to do with WHAT you’re eating, rather than how much?

And what if food wasn’t the only culprit?

Surprise, surprise!

It turns out that many of the chemicals hidden in the household products you’re using every single day – actually have the ability to add to your waistline.

How is that even possible?

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Celiac Disease & Gluten-Sensitivity – Should You Be Tested?

CautionlDo you regularly experience any of these symptoms?

  • Digestive Complaints
  • Cramps, Bloating or Gas
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Headaches or Migraines
  • Sinus Congestion
  • Joint Pain
  • Rash or Itching
  • Insomnia
  • Chemical Sensitivity
  • Memory Loss
  • Osteoporosis
  • Weight Gain
  • Mood Swings

Perhaps you know others who do?

While this list is by no means comprehensive, the thing to note is that NONE of these symptoms are NORMAL!

It’s also why it’s critically important to take a closer look at what you’re eating – and to know whether you have Celiac Disease – or non-celiac Gluten sensitivity.

While food sensitivities would also be great to test for, you want to rule out gluten first and foremost.

Here’s why:

Gluten-Related Disorders are known to be the cause behind almost every disease, or symptom within the human body – neurological disorders, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, – especially anything related to your thyroid – plus common age-related diseases such as osteoporosis.

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Is Detox A 4-Letter Word?

Bathroom ScaleWe’re just a few days into the New Year, and hardly a day goes by that I don’t come across an email or Facebook post advocating a full body Detox or Cleanse.

The general idea is to undo the damage from all the holiday indulgence.

(I even offer an Extreme Kitchen Makeover – not quite the same thing, but a detox just the same.)

So, what’s the point of a Detox, anyway?

Is this just some “new agey” thing?

Why would the human body even need to detox? And what exactly are you detoxing from?

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5 Healthy Habits for Optimal Sleep

Baby AsleepMy clients are sometimes surprised to hear that I place so much emphasis on a good night’s sleep.

They wonder what sleep has to do with their food sensitivities and digestive health.

And that’s a great question!

When you think about the purpose of sleep, the primary role is to rest and repair – so that your body can function optimally come morning.

If you consistently go to bed too late, or wake up early, or your sleep is interrupted – your body can’t fully restore itself.

So you end up feeling sluggish and hungrier than usual, and start making poor food choices because your blood sugar is out of whack, and it’s all because you didn’t get enough sleep.

And yes – you might also gain weight!

(With a tendency to hang on to those extra pounds, no matter how hard you try to lose them).

Of course, nothing exists in a vacuum, and developing healthy sleep habits is just one part of an overall healthy lifestyle.

So pick one habit from the list below, and let’s get started!

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Does Your Kitchen Need A Makeover?

fried eggDoes this sound like you?

You’ve recently eliminated all gluten from your diet, and you’re feeling so much better.

You want that great feeling to last – well, forever.

A clean, healthy diet is certainly the easiest and quickest way to support your health.

So, kudos to you for coming this far!

What you may not realize is that there are other ways your kitchen could be undermining your best efforts.

Yes, this goes beyond food and what you might be eating on a daily basis.

Here’s another way of looking at it.

There are actually three different ways that foreign substances enter our bodies:

  • We ingest them
  • We breathe them
  • We accumulate them on our skin

 So, why should you be concerned?

Well, if you’re dealing with any health issues whatsoever – in addition to your food sensitivities – then this is definitely something you want to consider.

For example:

  • Weight Gain
  • Behavioral problems in children
  • Anxiety or Depression

Truth be told, there are numerous household and environmental chemicals that we’re exposed to every day.

(If you’ve already downloaded your copy of the HEALTHY AGING TOOLKIT, you’re already a step ahead – good for you!)

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