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Want to build a strong lean body but you’re tired and overweight?Life changes take planning and persistence. The good news? Body composition may be 75% diet and only 25% exercise. Let’s eat heartily with fewer carbs.
Tired and Overweight – The Plan for a Strong Lean Body
- Reduce Carb Calories
- Fix Insulin Reisistance
- Balance Estrogen Dominance
- Improve fat-burning metabolism with correct exercise movements
- Check Thyroid and Adrenal Hormones
Reduce Carbs to Lose Weight
A high-carb diet is the most common cause of weight gain. Reducing carbs is the fastest and most permanent way to build a leaner body.
Pasta, bread, rice, beans, juice, potatoes, dessert, candy, sodas, chips and cookies have more carbohydrate calories than we can use for today’s energy. We store those extra calories as fat. That’s how we survive during famine and crisis.
Human diets were historically low in carb calories
- Humans didn’t eat grains, sugars or high fructose corn syrup or sodas
- We were hunters and gatherers until early farming 13,000 years ago.
- As meat from hunting became more scarce, calories from starch became more common.
- Paleo/Primal diet advocates say humans were born to be “fat burners” but have become “sugar burners”.
- Eating excess short-term carb calories raises our weight, triglycerides and glucose.
Become a fat burner
Become a “fat burner” by eating vegetables, proteins and healthy fats, with only small portions of starchy foods.
Weight will improve as the body burns fat for fuel. As a clinician since 1985 I have seen this many times in Consults.
My DVD “The Diet For Human Beings” explains this.
Where does body fat come from?
This article and Primal Diet – Modern Health Podcast explains!
Fix Insulin Resistance
- If you have eaten high carb for a long time and now have pre-diabetes, high triglycerides (over 125) and belly weight gain, you are Insulin Resistant. This is called Metabolic Syndrome.
- Doctors sometimes prescribe Metformin for this but seldom give all the other advice needed
- Along with diet, take Systemic Formulas SYNULIN faithfully for at least 3 months. This helps restore the cells’ ability to USE Glucose again so your body doesn’t just STORE it as fat.
- This article on Insulin-Resistant weight gain will help you!
- Base the diet on proteins, cooked vegetables and healthy fats (butter, ghee, coconut oil, avocado oil). Add small servings of potato or yam. Avoid grains and sugars! The fats satisfy hunger and slow digestion without exotic medication.
Balance Estrogen Dominance and Low Progesterone
If you’re tired and overweight, you probably have more Estrogen than Progesterone.
Estrogen Dominance can begin in our 20’s or 30’s and last a lifetime. Low Progesterone affects fat metabolism, insulin and blood sugar, and therefore weight and energy.
Control excess estrogen
- Estrogen is a growth hormone and maintains fat tissue. (Think pregnancy!) Cows are fed growth hormone for this reason. Eat grass-fed, pasture-raised meats and poultry.
- Buy organic body care products to reduce chemicals that cause estrogen disruption. The Environmental Working Group can help you.
- Eliminate pesticides from food and home. The worst food offenders are “The Dirty Dozen“. Pesticides, herbicides and fungicides inhibit proper estrogen detox/recycling.
- Avoid soy. It’s a potent endocrine disruptor.
- Take good antioxidant and liver support like these in my online store
- Run a Female Hormone Profile with a Salivary Hormone Test. I run this test with all my Clients.
- Avoid birth control hormones and estrogen medications where possible.
Increase Progesterone
There are many herbs that increase Progesterone levels naturally. Chaste Tree (Vitex) is one. Systemic Formulas FPMS can be used to build Progesterone and improve the balance of Estrogen to Progesterone once you bring Estrogen under control. DO NOT take FPMS if taking birth control pills or other hormone therapy.
The goal is having a strong burst of Progesterone during the second half of your menstrual cycle if you have one. If post-menopause, to keep Estrogen and Progesterone in a balanced ratio.
Salivary Hormone Tests
Saliva tests for FREE Estrogens and FREE Progesterone rather than Total or Bound Hormones found in blood testing. The vast majority of tests I have run show the need for Progesterone.
Non-Prescription Progesterone
I use simple, non-prescription Bioidentical Progesterone. One type vaginal and one for the gums. Mucosal hormones are more fully absorbed than Progesterone pills or creams.
Exercise to Burn Fat
1). Super Slow Training or Isometric Exercises work well if you’re new to exercise. Ben Greenfield describes these on our 2014 podcast and on his website. Or, enjoy my podcast with Mark Sisson on this topic. These are not hard workouts and will begin to get you in shape.
2). Increase metabolism with light aerobic motion before eating. Yoga, gentle calisthenics, walking the dog, and lifting light weights will get your blood flowing and the fat burning. You haven’t eaten yet, so the body burns fat to give you the energy. HINT: swing your arms fully when walking.
3). When stronger, begin lifting weights, power-walking or Water-Robics for greater aerobic power.
4) HIIT is high-intensity interval training – short bursts of intense effort. Anaerobic builds muscle which burns fat. Warm up first!
Check your Thyroid
- The Thyroid plays a key role in metabolism. Ask your doctor to run FREE T4 and FREE T3 and Hashimoto’s Antibody labs.
- This article has more.
Supplements to Help Weight Loss
1). This Hormone Multi Pack has Ga – Adrenal, Gf – Thyroid and TMI Thyroid Metabolism + Iodine. These help with energy and can boost a slow Thyroid and fatigued Adrenals. Do not take Gf or TMI if on Thyroid medication.
2).Systemic Formulas Synulin for several months (2 to 4 daily) helps restore cell sensitivity to Insulin and Glucose.
3). Orthobiotic brand OrthoBiotic is a premium Probiotic. Studies show the correct balance of bacteria in the gut helps weight management by improving Insulin Sensitivity.
4). The Anti-Fungal Multi Pack can reduce Candida from overeating carbohydrates. Candida is associated with weight gain, fatigue, menstrual irregularities and much more.
5). Get more sleep to help weight loss. Pharma Gaba at bedtime will help.
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MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: I am not a licensed medical doctor and cannot advise you on medical matters. However, by studying my website you may be better able to communicate with your wellness provider. If you need medical assistance, please seek support from a qualified physician. Click here to read my full disclaimer.
AFFILIATE LINKS: There are affiliate links in some of my articles, which means I may get a small commission if you decide to purchase something after clicking on the links. I only recommend products I trust or have used so I know you'll be in good hands.
About Beverly
In practice since 1985.
Beverly Meyer is a Board-Certified Clinical Nutritionist who has been in practice since 1985. Her Primal Diet – Modern Health podcast has published over 200 episodes since 2010. In 2012 she founded The Center For Life, which is the largest natural health center in San Antonio, with 11 doctors and practitioners. Her Diet and Health Center San Antonio is also the longest serving health and wellness center in the area. Beverly has an MBA in Finance and BA in Economics, has owned and managed several businesses, including a franchising company and a large kitchen goods store.
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