Checked Your BMI Lately? Studies Link High BMI With More Cancer Risk

 Nutrition, weight loss  No Responses »
Aug 292012
 

Are you at a healthy weight?  I am sure many of us are asking ourselves that when so much is being said about the dangers of obesity.

I just recently returned from my company’s yearly convention where one of the featured speakers was  Jacqui McCoy, the young woman featured on Extreme Make Over Weight Loss Edition several months ago.  It was amazing to see her transformation ~ she actually was able to lose 200 pounds!   She actually  became the biggest weight loss by percentage in weight loss television history at above 58% lost.  Although our particular weight loss products were not a part of her program, she did use the supplements and found them extremely helpful.   As you can see from the picture on the left, she truly did transform her body.

The most serious epidemic in the United States is definitely obesity, a term referring to  having considerably more weight than what is considered healthy for your height.  Using your weight and your height to calculate a number called body mass index (BMI) determines this.  Typically an adult with a BMI greater than 30 is considered to be obese.

Since the subject of weight loss was one of the main focuses of this convention, we were all asked to check our BMI while we were there.  I enthusiastically went to the “weighing station”,  feeling assured that I would easily fall into the “Normal” category of the BMI index.  I was shocked to find that my weight put me right on the edge, at my height and weight, of Obese, one point away from Overweight!  In order to get to Normal my weight would need to be no more than 144 pounds.  (Normal at 5’4″ is between 114# and 144#).

This information really impacted my thinking about my health.  As I said in last week’s post, my decision to take charge of my health 19 years ago has helped me to reach 69, prescription-free.  Now I seem to have joined the ranks of those with unhealthy weight, which adds to my risk of developing future health problems.

Just this week  a new study from trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute of women with stage I, II and III breast cancer emerged, stating that among women who have been treated for breast cancer, heavier women are more likely to have their disease come back AND more likely to die of cancer.  Apparently certain hormones that are linked to body weight may also fuel tumor growth in the most common form of the disease, known as estrogen-receptor-positive cancer.

My concerns really grew when I read that Dr. Joseph Sparano, associate chairman of medical oncology at the Montefiore Einstein Center of Cancer Care in the Bronx, New York, stated, “Obesity seemed to carry a higher risk of breast cancer recurrence and death – even in women who were healthy at the time that they were diagnosed, and despite the fact that they received the best available chemotherapy and hormone therapy.”

This study found that despite optimal treatment, including chemotherapy and hormonal therapy, the increased body mass index — which usually corresponds to the body’s fat content — significantly increased women’s risk of cancer recurrence and death. Additionally, the more obese the patient is, the more likely they are to have breast recurrence and death from this cancer.

So what will I do with this new information?  I felt like I was sent back in time, 19 years ago, when my health was diminishing at 50.  I am so glad that I made the decision I did and my journey of health began.  Now I am being faced with another HUGE decision….My weight and high BMI score.  That is why I have made the decision to lose the necessary pounds to reach that optimal BMI and to do it before my 70th birthday!

I will be keeping track each week on my Facebook page.  Drop by and check on my “transformation!”  If you are interested in the clinically tested products I will be using for this weight loss journey, feel free to contact me.  The program includes Leucine, a muscle-building amino acid found in protein rich foods.   There are nine essential amino acids that cannot be manufactured by the body and must be obtained from our diet.  The phrase “Powered by Leucine” as used with this  weight loss program is trademarked by our company.   It  is a proprietary formula that helps you “keep the muscle you have, burn the fat you don’t need and lose inches you don’t want”. When you lose muscle, which we don’t want to do, your metabolism drops. So, you see why Leucine is so important.

Exercise, of course, is a big part of my program.  Each morning my daughter and I plan to go the YMCA to walk the track and use the weight machines.  It’s a great way to start the day.

I have several others who will be joining me on this “transformation journey” and we are going to be connecting each Monday evening 8:00 pm (EST) – 8:15 pm just to let each other know our challenges and triumphs!  If you would like to join us, here is the link to the meet-up room, Conference call #: 218-862-6114 Access Code: 063678.  These calls will begin on Monday, September 10th and continue weekly.

The choices we make every day lay a critical role in shaping our future health ~ scientific research confirms that losing weight, eating healthfully, smart supplementation, and minimizing exposure to toxic chemicals in the home can help reduce the risk of future health problems.  I look forward to celebrating many years to come, enjoying my grandchildren and great grandchildren!  Won’t you join me?

 

 

 

My Life Changing Decisions

 Nutrition, weight loss  No Responses »
Aug 162012
 

About 19 years ago I found myself unable to hold down my job, simply because of debilitating pain from my fingertips up to my shoulders.  Not knowing exactly what was wrong, I went to the rheumatologist  and was told that because rheumatoid arthritis was in our family, it was inevitable that I, too, would no doubt have this.

I had seen my sister, only three years older than myself, grow weaker and weaker from the drugs given to her for her rheumatoid arthritis.  I knew I did not want to go down this path.

Fortunately, at this time of my life, I was introduced to a line of nutritional products that helped me to avoid the same path that my sister took.  I made the decision at that time to commit to healthier living and not look back.

Today, 19 years later, I am in great health and prescription free.  I wake up each morning so grateful for my energy and lack of any pain.  I am just about to turn 70 and realize I have another life changing decision to make regarding my health.

I realize I do not want to go into my 70′s, 80′s and 90′s carrying extra weight so I am committing myself to losing 40 pounds before my 70th birthday which is February 26th, 2013.  I joined the YMCA yesterday and will be beginning to exercise each morning (5:30 am!) with my daughter as well as follow a special program that provides leucine (in the shakes and snack bars)  that helps to burn the fat but keep the muscle.

I now know that although genetic risk factors are known for all the chronic degenerative diseases, studies have shown that these illnesses are linked for the most part to lifestyle factors such as exercise, smoking and nutrition.  Most of us lead rather sedentary lives and need fewer calories.  Unfortunately with our soils low in key minerals and depleted, our fast foods certainly depleted, and our consumption of fresh green vegetables declining, we have become overfed and undernourished.

Not wanting to become a statistic of what has been coined “globalbesity”, I am committing to a new transformation ~ Not only creating a healthier BMI ~ Body mass index  is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women (Go to this link to find out what yours is) but also entering my 70′s weighing 40 pounds lighter.

I would love to have some buddies along the way.  Will you join me?

 

Sugar Blues

 Dangers of Sugar, Nutrition  No Responses »
Jul 192012
 

What is it about summertime and ice cream?  They seem to go together like bread and butter.  Even though I am aware of the calories, the fat, the lack of nutrition ~ I still am drawn to it.

We all know that sugar is well hidden in packaged foods, even our pasta sauces. Eating on the run, consuming sweets when we are stressed or sad, driving to the store late at night to satisfy a craving. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, chronic sugar indulgence can lead to serious health complications as we all know.

Watching the video below, CNN:  Is Sugar Toxic?,  really made me think about my own relationship with sugar.   It definitely made me want to break the sugar habit.

One fact which has greatly influenced my decision to eat less sugar is the fact that to burn off the average number of sugar-related calories consumed in a month, I would have to walk 52 miles! Hmmmm ~ just realizing that is NOT a possibility for me is spurring me on to stop the madness! A past post I wrote about the health problems (including AGING!!) created by too much  sugar also reinforced this.

I have found that by beginning my day with a shake that has at least 24 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber is a great way for me to keep me from getting those “sugar blues” and “blahs”! In the afternoon when I am feeling less energetic,  I drink an energy tea made  from white, red and Matcha green tea sweetened with pomegrante. It really satisfies my sweet tooth as well, without added sugar.  I have also found fruit to be extremely more satisfying when I have not consumed sugary foods. Instead of the added sugars overwhelming my taste buds, the naturally sweet flavor of the fruit comes alive.

I do hope you take the time to watch the video.  It really does make one sit up and think more about the dangers and pitfalls of too much sugar in our lives today.

Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, claims that what’s at stake in our eating choices is not only our own and our children’s health, but the health of the environment that sustains life on earth.  He calls the things disguised as food in our supermarkets and fast-food restaurants as “edible food-like substances (EFLS for short) and warns us:

  •  not to eat anything our great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food
  •  not to eat anything with more than five ingredients or better yet, with ingredients you don’t recognize or can’t pronounce, and
  •  not to eat anything containing high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS ).   

Following those 3 rules will certainly keep me away from sugar and maybe even that ice cream!

Packing on the Pounds in America

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Jul 112011
 

According to USA Today, July 7, 2011, the percentage of obese adults increased in 16 states over the past year and did not decline in any state. In addition, the number of adults who say they do not do any physical activity increased in 14 states this past year.

Worse yet, because this report, based on state-by-state obesity data from CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) in which people self-report their height and weight, the assumption that people tend to under report their weight really causes the percentage of people who are obese to be probably higher than the statistics indicate.

For myself now living in the South, I was dismayed to see that our part of the country was  hit hardest by obesity because of high rates of poverty, and a traditional diet that is unhealthy, according to Jeff Levi, executive director of the Trust for America’s Health, a non-profit group that prepared the report along with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  Nine of the 10 states with the highest obesity rates are in the South according to this report.

A person is considered obese if they are roughly 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight.  Just losing 10 pounds, according to Brad Lamm, founder of Change Institute and author of Just 10 lbs, Easy Steps to Weighing What You Want (Finally), believes that keeping your focus on losing those critical first 10 pounds can begin a new dialogue with yourself about food and about who you are, why you’re here, and what you’re going to contribute to others going forward, thus beginning a new chapter that will help you begin to love yourself differently, especially through the way you feed and nourish your most precious of possessions:  YOU!  He describes his book as a “spiritual diet book.”

Studies at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have shown that obese men and women who set a more modest goal of losing just 5 to 10% of their body weight are more likely to succeed than those who set more extreme goals.  Studies also have shown that individuals losing just 5 to 7% of their body weight can reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by 58%!  Others experience significant reductions in blood pressure and fewer subsequent diagnoses of high blood pressure than those who did not lose weight, a huge factor in our present health care crisis with relation to obesity.

Imagining not carrying around a 10# bag of potatoes on your tummy can be a great visual!  I researched a product that had scientists testing a proprietary formula enhanced with leucine, a muscle-building amino acid found in protein-rich foods.  This leucine-enhanced nutrition program was shown to help retain 100% of lean muscle mass allowing people in the program to lose fat, weight, and inches while retaining their lean muscle.  Ask me about the special incentive now going on with this program.  I love these products.

There is no disagreement in the scientific community that higher body fat levels increase your risk for cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke), many cancers, diabetes, and multiple other medical problems.  One of the ways to assess whether we are at a healthy weight is using our BMI (body mass index) as a guide.  According to the latest scientific literature, healthy body fat levels should be 10 to 20% for men and 15 to 30% for women.  Health risks climb steadily as our body fat rises ~ it’s that simple.  Here is the formula to find your BMI:

  1. Multiply your weight in pounds by 0.45.
  2. Multiply your height in inches by 0.025.  Then square this number.
  3. Take your answer from step 1 and divide by your answer from step 2.  This is your BMI.
  • A BMI of less than 18.5 may contribute to health problems in some people such as heart irregularities, depression and other emotional distress; and anemia (some research suggests that it can be as low as 17 and you may still be healthy).
  • A BMI of 18.5-22.9 is a good range for most people.  If you fall within this zone and eat sensibly, your weight should not cause any health problems.
  • A BMI of 23-24.9 is considered a healthy range, although there are small increased risks for chronic disease versus the 18.5-23 category.
  • A BMI of 25-27 is considered a Caution Zone.  Watch your weight.  It could lead to health problems for some peope.  Even though it is still considered an “acceptable” range for most people, there are definite increased health risks in this zone.
  • A BMI greater than 27 ~ research shows that the higher your BMI goes above 27, the more you risk developing high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and certain cancers.   Low self-esteem and depression may also result from a high BMI.
  • Some Big Exceptions ~ The BMI is designed for adults aged twenty to sixty-five years ~ those whose body size and composition is fairly stable.  It does not apply to babies, children, adolescents, pregnant or nursing women, senior citizens, very muscular people, and endurance athletes such as runners  (The Okinawa Program, Bradley J. Willcox, MD, D. Craig Willcox, Ph.D & Makoto Suzuki, M.D.)

Most of us want to slim down, eat healthier foods, and even take the pledge to lose just 10 pounds. With obesity now proving to be the great epidemic of our time with 61% of Americans falling into the obese category and health costs well above $100 billion a year, it is time to for some action.

Taking charge of our own health and body by following the above suggestions  is a great beginning.  So what are the secrets of health and longevity?

  1. Losing those first 10 pounds
  2. Paying attention to our BMI,  and getting those numbers down is our own personal responsibility and has been shown to make a huge difference
  3. Lifestyle factors such as eating more of  a healthy plant-based diet with occasional fish
  4. Regular physical activity  can help us minimize our risk for heart disease, breast, ovarian, prostate, and colon cancers, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease
  5. I also believe that enjoying strong social and community support is essential
  6. I  have chosen to eliminate as much processed foods as possible, including making sure sugar (preferably cane) is on the fifth (or later) item on the ingredient list of any of those particular foods ~ the further down the list is better
  7. Choosing  meal replacements that are high in protein, low in calories, gluten free and low on the glycemic index, particularly when I travel or want to begin the morning with a healthy shake has been a big help for me.   (My favorite thing to do is create my “green” shake made in my VitaMix with kale, meal replacement, frozen organic fruit and pure water).

What are some of the things that help you maintain a healthy weight? I would love your comments about this important subject.


 

 

“CINCH Changed My Life”

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Feb 042010
 

Matt is a wonderful young man whose life literally changed when his grandmother shared the Shaklee CINCH program with him.  I wanted to share this testimony with everyone as it really shows how making a commitment to healthy living can make such a difference.  He is now happily married and both he and Emily are growing a successful Shaklee business sharing CINCH with everyone they meet.

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