Two health matters to address right now

Back in the 90’s we were told to eat more carbs, fat was bad, and meat would harm you. So, I would drive through McDonalds with my girls and get their happy meals and I would order a hamburger without the patty. Yes, you heard that right – I thought it would be better to eat the white bun, lettuce, pickles, ketchup and mustard and no meat. Call me crazy!

My workouts weren’t much better. I lived at the gym for hours. I remember my husband telling me that I wasn’t going to be able to spend three hours at the gym every day for the rest of my life and I asked why not?

And then I was eating every two hours and I remember feeling so shaky and would eat more thinking I was keeping my blood sugar levels stable. Total insanity!

When you know better, you do better. Wow have I changed from the 90’s and so thankful I know better.
How are you feeling physically? I’ve had lots of conversations with women who are so exhausted trying to get rid of their belly fat. One woman told me that she could eat air and still gain weight. Have you felt that way?

Today I want to give you two health matters to really think about. A possible broken metabolism and under eating.
If you have belly fat that you cannot get rid of the first thing to think about is a broken metabolism.
When I was in my 20’s and living in Evansville IN I would workout in the mornings with a girl named Tammy. I loved working out with her because she was so intense, fast and furious with her workouts. She gave me energy. She always wore layers of clothing so she would sweat a lot. At the end of our workouts, we would sit in the sauna or hot tub and talk. After many months of working out she opened up to me. As a teen she was anorexic and had slowed her metabolism down so much that in order to maintain her current weight she could only consume 750 calories a day.

Tammy is an extreme case of a broken metabolism but I fear you could have one if you are under a lot of stress and under eating.
A broken metabolism starts with stress. So, what could be stressing your body?

• Over-exercising
• Under-eating
• Not enough sleep
• Mold exposure
• Toxins in your environment
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Negative thinking

I know you all have stress in your lives. But how do you deal with the stress? That could be the first reason you cannot get your belly fat off. If you have chronic stress, your body will go into survival mode and hold onto weight. The good news is that everything can be undone – but it takes time.

The first step to allowing your stress to release belly fat is to give your body time to make the transition. How often have you said “I need to drop 5 pounds by this weekend.” You can’t come from a place of self-loathing and desperation and expect to drop fat.

In the FASTer Way to Fat Loss, we come from a place of love and acceptance. We give ourselves grace. The motto is Progress not Perfection. This is a long- term plan, not a quick fix. It’s a lifestyle to adapt and live. It is food freedom.

The second health matter to address is when you eat, what you eat and how much you eat.
My subject line said “Hunger = Younger.” I love this saying. But I’m not talking about starving the body, I’m talking about eating the right food, at the right time for the right reason.

Four years ago, when I was introduced to the FASTer Way to Fat Loss I learned about Intermittent Fasting. It is not a diet but a lifestyle. I remember when I started the program I not only lost fat but my sleep improved and my girlfriends were telling me how much my complexion improved. Thus, the equation HUNGER = YOUNGER.
Intermittent Fasting is a feeding schedule. In the FASTer Way we follow a 16:8 protocol. Each day I fast for 16 hours and eat for 8. The majority of my 16 hours occurs while I sleep. I simply skip breakfast and break my fast at 11:00 and eat until 7:00pm and start all over again.

Sometimes when we wake up in the morning we think we are hungry but in fact we are dehydrated. FYI – dehydration causes weight gain and anxiety as well. If you would stop and take a deep breathe, then drink water, you find you are not really ready to eat. Our eating has become habitual.
My mission in life is to help women feel more confident. Having a healthy strong body full of energy allows you to show up for your family and friends living a long, happy, vibrant life.

It would be an honor to walk you through this journey. I’m starting a new round on Monday. I would love to hear from you and learn your struggles. Together you can walk into Memorial Day feeling alive and new – just like spring.