How Poor Sleep Affects Your Mind and Body

Dieting requires more than healthy eating. You must have the right mindset and be physically healthy in order to maintain the necessary lifestyle to lose weight. When we lack sleep, these are two areas significantly affected. Commonly, the ability to function properly goes down the drain. Your memory can suffer, reaction time decreases and our ability to regulate emotions becomes difficult. In addition, sleep helps regulate our body temperature, and releases essential hormones. The lack of sleep affects the production of these hormones, which can lead to premature wrinkling and sagging skin, as well as feeling colder than usual. Our immune system is also compromised, resulting in an increased risk of infection or disease. Finally, our appetite can go into overdrive. Our ability to determine if we are satiated is affected, causing us to eat more and gain weight.

How Poor Sleep Can Affect Your Diet

Unfortunately, all of these side effects take a toll on our ability to properly maintain a healthy diet or meet weight loss goals. When we are tired, we often mistake our discomfort for hunger, leading us to eat too much or unnecessarily. This makes portion control difficult and cravings hard to control. Impulse can become particularly hard to overcome. It can also deal a harsh blow to our metabolism. Too little sleep can cause a spike in cortisol, a hormone that signals our body to conserve energy. Therefore, our body will reduce its normal use of whatever fat is available, and preserve it. Similarly, our body also becomes less sensitive to insulin, which turns sugars, starches, and other foods into energy. Unable to process fats effectively, or body will also store the incoming fats in excess.

How to Get a Good Night’s Rest

While at times it may not seem likely, getting a good night’s rest is not impossible. Specific conditions can make it difficult, but several lifestyle measures can help you get back on track. To prevent the previously mentioned side effects, try to follow these steps on how to sleep better:

1- Follow your natural sleep-wake cycle – By following your body’s natural circadian rhythm, you will sleep a similar number of hours each night, so that you consistently wake up feeling refreshed and energized. To help, avoid sleeping in, even on the weekend. Similarly, do not go to bed too early, or you may wake up in the middle of the night. If you are struggling during the day and must nap, do not sleep for more than 20 minutes.

2- Be cautious of your exposure to light – A naturally occurring hormone, melatonin, is controlled by light exposure and regulates our sleep-wake cycle. When it is dark, your brain secretes more melatonin. To stay awake for adequate hours, expose yourself to direct sunlight, especially in the morning. At night, use soft lights and do not use devices within one to two hours of your bedtime.

3- Exercise regularly – Regular exercise for just 10 minutes a day can drastically improve your sleep. The more vigorous, the better the benefits. However, you should not exercise too late into the evening, or it may have a re-energizing effect.

4- Eat well – How you eat overall is important, but especially leading up to your bedtime. Do not consume caffeine, alcohol or sugary drinks that may interfere with your energy levels. Drinking too many liquids may also make you have to urinate frequently during the night. Spicy or heavy meals can cause heartburn or indigestion, and make staying asleep difficult.

5- Wind down before bed – Many people work themselves into a fit when they can not fall asleep. Instead of making sleep a goal, try to calm your mind down. Do this by limiting your activity levels before bed, and staying off of stimulating technology. For additional help, try learning to meditate, with the help of the app Headspace.

  At Solutions Weight Loss, we understand that there is more to weight loss than a diet. With our licensed and friendly medical staff, you will have the encouragement and guidance necessary to help you reach your goals.Contact us today to schedule an appointment, and get started on your path to a healthier lifestyle.

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You have heard it time and time again: drink more water.

Yet the message has never completely stuck. In 2013, it was estimated that nearly 75% of the population was functioning in a chronic state of dehydration. As water makes up about 60 percent of our body weight, it is a principal element for our health and survival. Learn why we need to drink water, the recommended daily amount, and the plethora of benefits this relatively simple habit delivers to our body.

Benefits of Drinking Water

On average, the Mayo Clinic recommends that men drink about 15.5 cups daily. Women should consume 11.5 cups daily. Since we often ingest some water through other foods and drinks, becoming seriously dehydrated is difficult. However, without regularly taking in the entire suggested amount, you may experience a number of mild side effects. These can include dizziness, fatigue, confusion and dark-colored or frequent urination. Likely to subside if you consume the adequate amount of water, if these symptoms persist or you can not keep fluids down, you should see your primary physician.

When you do consume the appropriate amount of fluids, you are likely to be surprised by just how good you feel. Water is essential for organ, muscle and tissue function, as well as the lubrication of joints. It regulates your temperature, and helps rid your body of waste and toxins – through urination, perspiration and bowel movements. Even more impressive, water can have anti-aging effects. By keeping our body properly hydrated, our skin improves, reducing the appearance of fine lines and decreasing the occurrence of blemishes.

It is important to note that it is possible for one to become overhydrated. This rare but dangerous condition, called hyponatremia, is due to low blood sodium concentration caused by consuming too much water. Be sure to adjust your intake based on your lifestyle, current health and activities. If you are breastfeeding or exercising, the body requires additional fluids. When you are sick or in a hot environment, you will need more water than usual, due to the extra amount being displaced,

Types of Water

Although the Mayo Clinic has found that regular water is good enough for most people, several variations are available.

Here are two commonly available types of water, as well as the pros and cons of consuming them.

Alkaline water – Alkaline water refers to the pH level, which is higher than that of normal water, typically of 8 or 9. This is believed to help neutralize the acid in your body, which some claim can assist with anti-aging, colon-cleansing, immune system health, weight loss and more. None of these have been backed by scientific research, although too much alkalinity does have known side effects, and can lead to metabolic alkalosis.

Distilled water – When all of the natural minerals in water have been removed, a pure from of water remains. Achieved through a process called reverse osmosis, this is a demineralized water. In some locations, distilled water can be healthier than tap, depending on the level of impurities in the municipal water supply. However distilled water can absorb materials from anything it touches, sometimes including plastic containers.

How to Make Drinking Water a Habit

While forming any new habit can be difficult, there are several steps you can take to assist your newfound motivation. Installing a home water filter will provide high-quality water. Several varieties are available – such as faucet-installed, countertop and pitcher models. Or consider home delivery of spring water or distilled water.

Also, take the time to find out how you enjoy drinking water. Some people prefer using a water bottle, or a straw, for a variety of reasons. No matter how you get the water down, what works for you is what is right. If you need a little extra help, you can set a reminder on your phone. The free Daily Water – Drink Reminder app is available on the App Store, while similar apps for Android devices are available for free on Google Play. After a few weeks of strict reminders, reaching for the water bottle should become second nature.

Keeping well-hydrated is part of a healthy lifestyle that includes reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. Solutions Weight Loss offers a program to fit the unique needs of each patient. Our team of licensed and friendly medical staff gives you the encouragement and guidance to help you stay on track or get back on track until you reach your goals. Contact us today to get started on your weight loss journey!

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What is the Flexitarian Diet?

The term flexitarian came from the combination of two words, flexible and vegetarian. The diet encompasses both of these concepts, wherein followers consume a large quantity of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while still enjoying the occasional animal product. Overall, a follower’s goals should be to actively decrease their consumption of meat.

Founder Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN, suggests that beginner participants should initially eat meat no more than five days a week. In total, you should have no more than 26 ounces combined during these days. Remember, as mentioned in our blog post about the Zone Diet, use the hand-eye method. A serving close to the size and thickness of your palm is around 4 ounces.

As you continue, this weekly allowance will decrease to three or four days of meals featuring meat. Do not exceed more than 18 ounces of meat a week during this advanced stage. Finally, as an expert, you will consume meat only two days a week, with a maximum of 9 ounces total. It is recommended that you proceed at your own pace, so that you may adjust to less quantities of meat, and new eating habits.

Approved Flexitarian Diet Items

What can you look forward to on this diet? Use the following list of approved foods to create your own Flexitarian Diet meal plan. If you have difficulty compiling your own, you can find Flexitarian Diet recipes online.

Whole grains: Quinoa, teff, farro, buckwheat

Healthy fats: Almonds, chia seeds, walnuts, cashews, peanut butter, avocados, olives, coconut, flaxseeds, pistachios

Fruits: Berries, grapes, cherries, oranges and apples

Vegetables: Bell peppers, peas, corn, sweet potato, green beans, carrots, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, greens

Proteins: Soybeans, tofu, tempeh, legumes, lentils

Plant-based alternatives: Unsweetened almond, coconut, hemp and soy milk

Herbs, spices and seasonings: Basil, oregano, mint, thyme, cumin, turmeric, ginger

Condiments: Reduced-sodium soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, salsa, mustard, nutritional yeast, ketchup without added sugar

Beverages: Water, some tea and coffee

Benefits of the Flexitarian Diet

For participants, following the comparatively simple Flexitarian food pyramid, is well worth the benefits. Largely plant-based diets have shown to improve heart health significantly, reducing a person’s risk of heart disease by 32%. This is likely to the increased intake of fiber and healthy fats, which reduce blood pressure and increase good cholesterol. For these same reasons, it may also help prevent or manage diabetes and decrease your risk of cancer.

Outside of your health, the Flexitarian Diet presents benefits for the environment as well. Studies have shown that the reduction of meat consumption will help sustain natural resources, as well as decrease greenhouse gas emissions. In turn, this will allow land to be used to feed humans, rather than the animals that feed us. So, not only can you feel better physically, but you will know you are contributing to something larger.

At Solutions Weight Loss, our team puts the “woo-hoo” back into weight loss. With the proper encouragement and support, you will discover that weight loss does not have to be a struggle. Contact us today to learn more about our program, and the success of our patients.  

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What is the Atkins diet?

Now called the Atkins 20®, the original Atkins diet was introduced in 1972 by cardiologist Robert Atkins. The goal of Atkins is to learn your specific carbohydrate intake, and replace the amount of carbs that would cause you to gain weight with protein and healthy fats. With the increase of these ‘good’ foods, you will naturally feel fuller, leading to a reduction in appetite. Although highly recommended for weight loss, participants can also expect improved blood sugar, triglycerides, and (good) HDL cholesterol. Unlike most diets, it does not limit the amount of food you can eat ‒ only which types.

The four phases

The Atkins diet has four phases, created to jumpstart weight loss and introduce food restrictions.

• Induction – Limit the intake of carbohydrates to under 20 grams a day. Consume foods high in protein, high in (healthy) fats, and vegetables that are low-carb.
  Balancing – Begin adding more nuts and low-carb vegetables into your diet. Small amounts of fruit may also be reintroduced.
• Fine-tuning – Once your goal weight is reached, begin adding more carbs until weight loss slows.
  
• Maintenance – You can enjoy as many carbs as you can, without gaining weight. This will vary per individual.

These phases are optional, and some people choose to skip or remain in certain phases. For example, many people remain in the induction phase, which is considered a ketogenic diet. Others will skip the induction phase, and start by introducing healthier nuts, fruits and low-carb vegetables. As long as the dietary guidelines are followed, the phases can be ignored all together, if one chooses.

Foods to avoid

Finding approved Atkins recipes online is easy, with thousands on the Atkins website alone. To help you stay on track, plan your week out in advance, or try meal prepping. Remember to avoid the following foods, and research replacements if you find yourself stuck:

• Grains – This includes wheat, rye, rice, barley and spelt.
• Sugar – Some natural sugars are fine, but any added sugars are a no-no. For example, soft drinks, cake, candy, fruit juices and more.
• Vegetable oils – Soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil and canola oil. Instead, try olive oil, grapeseed oil or coconut oil.

The following foods should only be avoided during the induction phase of the diet, and can be enjoyed in limited quantities thereafter:

• Starches – Potatoes or sweet potatoes.
• Legumes – Chickpeas, beets, beans, lentils and more.
• High-carb fruits and vegetables – Bananas, apples, pears and grapes are just a few high-carb fruits to avoid. Vegetables include starchy vegetables, such as carrots, corn, turnips and more.

How it is different

Upon learning about the Atkins diet, many people notice that it has a number of similarities to the ketogenic diet. In fact, the induction phase of Atkins is ketosis. The primary difference between the two is that during the Keto diet, you remain in ketosis throughout the entirety of the diet. This includes not only restricting carbs, but hitting protein and fat intake goals. On Atkins, you will gradually re-introduce a healthy amount of carbs. For many followers, this makes it more practical and sustainable in the long run. With the ketogenic diet, you have to restart the entire diet over with one mishap ‒ a very discouraging setback. While both of these are effective and healthy diets, one or the other is often preferred based on a person’s eating habits.

At Solutions Weight Loss, we have a dietary solution to fit the unique needs of each one of our patients. Our team of licensed and friendly medical staff gives you the encouragement and guidance to help you stay on track or get back on track until you reach your goals. Contact us today, to get started on your weight loss journey!

The post The Staying Power of the Atkins Diet first appeared on Solutions Weight Loss.

What is the Zone Diet?

First published in 1995, the Zone Diet was created 30 years ago by biochemist Dr. Barry Sears. Originally developed to prevent early death from heart attacks, it is said to balance hormones and reduce inflammation – which Sears proposes are a factor in weight gain, illness and aging. By keeping your hormones balanced, or “in the zone,” your metabolism will work more efficiently. Dieters are said to lose between 1 to 1.5 pounds of fat a week. To achieve these results, followers eat a ratio of 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein and 30% fat.

Zone Diet Blocks

The Zone Diet can be followed using one of two methods, both of which are equally effective. Beginner – or first-time dieters – may prefer to start with the hand-eye method before progressing to the Zone food blocks. Each is based around a “zone-friendly” plate, with portions from the three major nutrient groups: fat, protein and carbs. First, divide your plate into thirds and fill it as follows:

• One-third of your plate should consist of lean protein, close to the size and thickness of your palm.
• Two-thirds of your plate will be carbs, preferably with a low glycemic index ‒ to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
• A small portion of monounsaturated fats.

The hand-eye method is a simplified version that does not require calorie-counting. By using your palm size and eyes, you can estimate a correct portion size. Your five fingers are a reminder to eat five times a day, and to never go without eating for more than five hours. For example, each meal may consist of the recommended carbs and protein, with a snack of healthy fats in between.

Once you have mastered the hand-eye method, or if you prefer calorie counting, the Zone block method will help you precisely balance every meal. Adult males are recommended around 1,500 calories daily, and adult women 1,200. A Zone block is made up of one of each nutrient block:

• Protein block: 7 grams
• Carb block: 9 grams
• Fat block: 1.5 grams (or 3 grams for a fat-free protein)

The number of zone blocks you consume in a day varies by your weight, height, waist and hip measurements. On average, an adult male will consume 14 Zone blocks a day, while a woman will consume 11. As an example, a typical meal will likely consist of three to five Zone blocks, but a snack will only be one.

Approved Zone Diet Food List:

Lean Protein – Skinless chicken or turkey, fish or shellfish, beef, pork, lamb, egg whites, tofu or soy, cheese, milk or yogurt.
Carbohydrates – Mainly vegetables, some grains and a little fruit – such as peppers, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, squash, oatmeal, quinoa, couscous, cranberries, guavas, citrus and more.
Fat – Nuts, chia seeds, or natural peanut butter, avocados, oils and tahini.

Foods You Should Avoid:

Unlike most other diets, there are no foods that are banned in the Zone diet. However, the following should be avoided, as they increase inflammation:

High-sugar fruits and vegetables – This group can include bananas, pineapple, raisins, cranberries, peas, potatoes and corn.
Processed foods – From soda, to cereal and bread – this group includes items that are processed, refined or contain added sugars. Other items include pasta, bagels, muffins, cookies, cakes and candy.
Coffee and tea – Acceptable from time-to-time; however, a minimum of eight eight-ounce glasses of water should be consumed daily.

Pros and Cons of The Zone Diet

The Zone Diet is lax, with its own share of pros and cons. It is a long-term diet meant to improve your overall health, rather than stop once a goal is met. For this reason, it is important that you choose a method you are able to maintain. While calories do count, you are not required to count them, unless you choose to do so. When dining out, Zone-friendly plates are easily found. However, you will likely have to plan to take some home. If you prefer eating in, an abundance of recipes and meal plans are available online. And most importantly, you will never go hungry or find yourself bored. Despite being portioned, these meals will keep you full and allow for delicious dining.

At Solutions Weight Loss, we encourage all of our patients to seek a lifestyle change, rather than a temporary diet. Not only will you see long-lasting results, but you will feel them! Dr. Newsome, and our team, can help you achieve your weight loss goals and maintain a healthier life. Everyone is different and deserves personalized recommendations and individualized attention. Contact us today!

The post Get in The Zone – With the Zone Diet first appeared on Solutions Weight Loss.

Developed by co-founders Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig in 2009, Whole30 is designed to change the way you eat and feel in 30 days. The website describes the program as “… a short-term nutrition reset, designed to help you put an end to unhealthy cravings and habits, restore a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract, and balance your immune system.”

While that sounds like a pretty tall order, Whole30 achieves all of this and more by explicitly targeting the individual’s emotional and habitual relationship with food. The program revolves around breaking unhealthy behavioral patterns, putting a full-stop to stress-related comfort eating, and reducing carbohydrate and sugar cravings. Many people on the Whole30 program report having achieved food freedom within the 30-day period.

The purpose is to understand how your body responds to some foods. You eliminate these foods completely and then gradually reinstate them after 30 days. If you think these foods still work well for you, fine, and in case you find something that helps your body feel good, that’s even better!

The foods on the Whole30 program

Whole30 doesn’t ask you to leave your favorite foods forever. You are only asked to abstain from eating some foods and beverages for 30 days, and then slowly reinstate them. As mentioned earlier, the aim is to understand how your body responds to some foods.

Here is a partial list of permitted foods:

• Vegetables – Eat as many as you want.
• Fruits –Allowed in moderation, due to limits on sugar intake.
• Seafood – Allowed, including shellfish.
• Unprocessed meats – Make sure they don’t contain added sugar or preservatives.
• Eggs – No limit.
• Nuts and seeds – Allowed, except for peanuts (which is a legume, rather than a tree nut).
• Coffee – Allowed, but only without milk products or sugar.
• Oils and ghee – Olive and coconut oil are allowed, as well as ghee (clarified butter).

Following is a partial list of foods to avoid during the 30-day program:

• Dairy products – Includes cheese, butter (except for ghee), yogurt, cow’s milk, kefir and cream (sour or otherwise).
• Legumes – No members of this family, including soy (soy sauce, tofu, edamame or miso), peas, chickpeas, peanuts and lentils.
• Grains – Includes wheat, corn, quinoa, sprouted grains, millet, rye, bulgur, buckwheat, amaranth and sorghum.
• Alcohol – Abstain completely during the 30-day period, including using alcohol for cooking. Vanilla extract is also on the forbidden list.
• Added sugar in all forms – including artificial sweetener – This includes sugar in natural forms, such as maple or agave syrup. Check the label when shopping, as many items include some type or amount of sugar.
• Junk food – Almost needless to say. No baked goods, snack foods, ice cream, etc.
• MSG, sulfites and carrageenan – Common additives in processed foods. Carrageenan is a common additive in natural foods, and has been implicated in digestive system conditions.

The Whole30 community and forum

As mentioned earlier, Whole30 provides plenty of support and encouragement for those following the program. The Whole30 Forum is designed to help navigate the Whole30 program, ask questions and seek advice from the program’s experts. Those who have been through the program can share their success stories and provide motivation for others.  

From features, updates and news from the Whole30 team to rules, regulations, recipes and books, you have everything on the Whole30 Forum that you wish to know and ask. There is something for everyone on the Forum – how to follow Whole30 with a medical condition, Whole30 for athletes and Whole30 while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Interacting with others sharing the Whole30 experience creates a community feeling, which greatly helps boost motivation. The Whole30 Community is like a close-knit family where you can get answers to questions, as well as track your meals, progress and results – and even share your recipes and success stories.

If the Whole30 program has had a positive effect on your life, you can become a certified Whole30 coach and help others by offering your resources and services to your local community.

We at Solutions Weight Loss encourage everyone to follow a healthy lifestyle by whatever means achieves the best result for each individual. If you’ve tried other programs and diets but feel that a medically supervised weight loss program may be what you need to achieve long-term results, contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. William E. Newsome and learn about your options.

The post The Whole30® Program – What You Need To Know first appeared on Solutions Weight Loss.

Statistics aren’t always boring. There are many statistics about hypertension (high blood pressure) and obesity – and all are (or should be) alarming. Both are major health problems in the United States, and the subject of intense medical research. Increased awareness of the link between obesity and hypertension is leading to new campaigns to educate people to lead healthier lives. While some of the more sobering statistics follow, the optimistic message is that it is possible to take ownership of your health and get the help and motivation you need to reduce – or eliminate – your risk.

The Grim Statistics on Obesity & Hypertension

According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three adults has high blood pressure, a leading cause of stroke. Approximately 30 percent of hypertension cases may be attributable to obesity, and the figure may be as high as 60 percent in men under age 45. People who are overweight are more likely to have high blood pressure, high levels of blood fats and high LDL (bad cholesterol), which are all risk factors for heart disease and stroke. These disturbing statistics are courtesy of The State of Obesity, a project of the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Our March, 2018 blog post, Obesity and Heart Disease: How to Lose Weight and Keep Your Heart Healthy, focused on the link between these conditions, and a balanced approach to achieving a healthy weight. The Obesity Action Collation (OAC) includes a study by Jaymee Delaney, MD, which states that people with obesity are more likely to have hypertension. There are 58 to 65 million U.S. adults who have hypertension, which is the most common reason for office visits of non-pregnant adults to their physicians and for the use of prescription drugs.

Dr. Delaney also notes, “… anti-hypertension medications should be started if hypertension is diagnosed. But, with weight loss, a significant fall in blood pressure may permit a decrease in the number of medications taken or decrease the amount of medication taken. Prevention would be better than any drug.”

One example Dr. Delaney mentions is the DASH diet, which was the subject of our April, 2018 blog post. This popular diet was initially developed for people who want to take control of their hypertension. But the diet soon gained traction among dieters, who found it helped them lose weight more effectively.

Need More Help? Try The 10 Day BP Challenge

The DASH diet is one of the more high-profile programs that encourage people to be proactive in preventing or reversing hypertension. But another program with the same goal is gaining an enthusiastic following: the 10 Day BP Challenge.

The challenge originates with the BP Owl website – an online resource of articles on diet, exercise, relaxation and other non-medication ways to manage hypertension. The 10 Day BP Challenge is an app you can download to access a step-by-step program designed to help reduce high blood pressure through diet and lifestyle changes, monitored regularly over a 10-day period via the app. There is a free trial period, after which users must pay to continue the program.

BP Owl also has a social media presence, with Facebook and Twitter pages for sharing advice, tips and inspiration for following a healthy lifestyle.

The emphasis on lifestyle is key to reducing blood pressure or keeping it within normal range. So what’s considered normal and high blood pressure? Physicians use the following:

Normal blood pressure: systolic (top number) equal to or less than 120 mmHg and diastolic (lower number) equal to or less than 80 mmHg

Pre-hypertension: systolic 120-139 mmHg or diastolic 80-89 mmHg

Hypertension:
Stage 1: systolic 140-159 mmHg or diastolic 90-99 mmHg
Stage 2: systolic greater than or equal to 160 mmHg or diastolic greater than or equal 100  mmHg

While the 10 Day BP Challenge and DASH diet can be helpful programs, you may still want to consider other options. Our experienced physicians at Solutions Weight Loss are here to provide you with an individual, medically supervised plan to help you meet your goals. We also apply advanced weight loss treatments and protocols that are not available over the counter. We welcome you to schedule a consultation to discuss the best program for you.

The post Obesity and Hypertension: Breaking the Deadly Link first appeared on Solutions Weight Loss.