Category Archives: weight

Is a scale a good measurement of health?

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A scale measures weight, not health. What does body weight actually tell us? It is no more than a number that tends to do more mental damage than good. When body weight is measured it cannot be broken down into what is what - i.e. water, blood, organs, muscle, fat, bones, bacteria, food, and fecal matter. How can a scale provide true measurements of water content, cell count, muscle to fat ratio, bone density, intestinal bacteria ratio and weight, digested vs undigested food, and, essentially, metabolic rate (thyroid regulation)? It can’t!

Furthermore, body weight can fluctuate so easily due to meals (size, type, frequency, nutritional value), elimination patterns (going regularly or constipated), metabolic rate (how efficient a meal is used for energy and the body’s hormonal response), water intake (depletion or retention), exercise routines, movement frequency, life stressors, and sleep patterns.

So, a scale cannot measure what’s going on the inside and it cannot provide insight into one’s lifestyle pros or cons. Yet, there are plenty of people out there that live and die over their daily to weekly weight measurements thinking that it is a true progression of health. It’s understandable that body weight gives a sense of progress and allows for goals to be established, but come on – there’s gotta be a better, more telling way!

  • How about measuring how good we feel on the inside?
  • How about measuring how happy we are compared to how sad we may be? And why!
  • How about taking note of our food, hydration, and elimination patterns, and putting it all into perspective as to what helps or hinders?
  • How about observing our energy levels throughout the day regarding our activities, meals, and sleeping patterns?
  • How about recording a lifestyle journal for a desired length of time to truly gain perspective of what works and doesn’t work for YOU?

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Define: Calories

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A Calorie is Measured Unit of Energy 

Fat provides 9 units of energy while Protein and Carbohydrates each provide 4 units of energy. Keeping that in mind let’s take a gander at the USDA’s daily requirements for caloric intake: 2,000 calories per day. Alright, so if I want to follow a 2,000 calorie diet then what do I eat? I can eat 50 Twizzlers at 160 calories per 4 pieces to get my 2,000-calorie goal. This breaks down to 6.3 grams of Fat, 450 grams of Carbohydrates, and 12.5 grams of Protein. See where my extreme example is going here?

No two Calories or alike

The body does not digest or use calories in the same manner. Do you think the body uses the same energy to digest 100 calories of Carbohydrates than it does 100 calories of Fat? Of course not! Not only that, but there are so many different variations of Fats, Proteins, Carbohydrates, Vitamins, and Minerals that must be considered when dissecting how the body uses 100 calories.

Calories in =/= Calories out

Your body burns about 50-70% of its daily calories generating energy, heat, and that thing we call life. 5-15% more are burned just for digestion. Ok, so let’s take that from the top and say your body burns 85% of its calories just to keep the lights on. That leaves only 15% left to exercise, be social, stress out, or to sit on the computer all day. Cutting calories to lose weight can actually make a person gain unwanted weight because the restriction deprives the body of necessary energy to maintain homeostasis. When the body is deficient in calories (energy), it will turns to muscle for energy (after all of its stored sugar is used up (this takes about 3-4 weeks, which is why low-carb diets “work” and then hit a big old wall). Remember that muscle weighs more than fat, and those who are losing weight on calorie-deficient diets are mainly losing muscle mass and their body is replacing that muscle with fat because fat storage is its go-to in survival mode. So, it’s very possible that all of these people that are dieting and losing weight are actually getting fatter (“fat” doesn’t always mean bigger). In order to run efficiently the body needs an excess caloric intake compared to what it is burning on a daily basis. Don’t ignore your body when it tells you to eat.

The result of eating a low-calorie diet is simple: Adaptation

The body will adapt to the lower volume of foods by slowing down its metabolism, (which sends the thyroid into S.O.S.), it will eat itself, and it will cut corners so it can get by. Often these corners come out as unintentional weight loss, unintentional weight gain, an emotional roller coaster, easily susceptible to stress, mental fogginess, digestive issues, dis-eases, disorders, low libido/sex drive, vitamin deficiencies, poor gum/dental health, dysbiosis, candida overgrowth/yeast infections, or a person might be a straight up asshole (I’m serious – ever get cranky the longer you go hungry?). By this point calories or food intake are rarely the problem – it’s a lack of responsibility for oneself and an inability to see the self-sabotage.

In conclusion

  • Count your nutrients, not your calories.
  • Eat a lot of calories.
  • Eat a lot of good calories – nutrient-dense calories.
  • Take responsibility for yourself and how you treat your body.
  • Be grateful for your life, provide it accordingly, and it will return the same.

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The Secret to Life: How to Lose Weight, Gain Muscle, and Get Healthy Now!

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The Secret to Life! How to Lose Weight, Gain Muscle, and Get Healthy now!

Here it is! The answer everyone is looking for: How to Get Healthy and Stay Healthy in three easy steps!

Sound too good to be true? It’s not!

No hype.
No bull.
No marketing campaign.
No diet or detox miracle.
You don’t have to take any pills.
You don’t have to take any drugs.
You don’t have to starve yourself for weeks.
You don’t have to go from one diet craze to the next.
You don’t have to drink protein shake after protein shake.
You don’t have to weigh your food or weigh yourself every day.
You don’t have to run miles upon miles and do sit up after sit up.

Want to know how the heck you can get healthy starting right now?

L. F. B.

  • Love yourself.
  • Forgive yourself.
  • Be happy with yourself.

L. F. B.

Why do we become sick in the first place?
Why do we become sad?
Why do we eat too much?
Why do we not eat enough?
Why do we go from diet to diet?
Why do we go from exercise to exercise?
Why do we burn the wick at both ends?
Why do we believe that a fit body means a healthy body?
Why, now more than ever, is the United States becoming so unhealthy despite all of the diets, studies, and supplements available that apparently promote health?
Why, no matter what we do, can we not seem to get healthy?

  • Health comes when we take responsibility for our lives, our choices, and how we experience life.
  • Health comes when we are aware of why we may be unhealthy.
  • Health comes when we understand what it means to be healthy by questioning everything and listening to hour body.
  • Health comes when we have respect for ourselves, our body, and the food that we choose to become part of our body – our life.
  • Health comes when we balance our life’s wants and needs.
  • Health comes when we let down our ego and open up our heart.
  • Health comes when we provide a healthy external environment to reflect our internal environment.
  • Health comes when we do not place unrealistic expectations upon ourselves, others, or our experiences.
  • Health comes when we forgive our past so we can be present in the now and work towards hour future.
  • Health comes when we stop self-sabotaging.
  • Health comes when we are not ashamed of who we are on the outside because we accept ourselves on the inside.
  • Health comes when we accept who we are, and how we came to be.
  • Health comes when we do not compare ourselves to others.
  • Health comes when we understand that we are doing our very best in every moment and that no moment is ever wrong nor a mistake.
  • Health comes when you Love yourself.
  • Health comes when you Forgive yourself.
  • Health comes when you Be happy with yourself.

L. F. B.

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Inflammation: Grains, Nuts, Seeds, & Omega 6 Fats

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I bet you can guess that this post will tell you that some of your favorite foods/snacks are unhealthy. To an extent, yes… but my main point is to give you some perspective as to why these health foods aren’t so healthy after all…

Let’s start with Phytic Acid… one unhealthy property of Grains, Nuts, and Seeds. P.A. is a natural outer coating, which protects the nut and the germ/bran portion of a grain. This layer exists to ward off passer-by animals to avoid consumption because it will certainly cause digestive issues, thus allowing the plant to fully thrive/grow. What kind of digestive issues? Malabsorption (causing nutrient deficiency) and inflammation (food intolerance, food allergy, bloating, cramps, gas, fatigue, etc.). When consumed, the acid can actually bind to certain trace minerals such as Calcium, Iron, Potassium, or Magnesium and prevent the digest system from absorbing these (and other) nutrients. So, while you may be eating a healthy food, the digestive system actually cannot break down nor absorb any of the food’s healthy properties. Soaking (8-12 hours) or Sprouting (3-4 days) Grains, Nuts, and Seeds prior to consumption can help release most of the Phytic Acid, but trace amounts may still remain.

Gluten is another malabsorption and inflammatory property, and it is found only in Grains (with the exceptions of Corn and Rice). Gluten is a Wheat Protein. The body’s digestive organs are lined with a protective mucosa layer. This layer prevents bacteria, fungus, parasites, and you-name-it from entering the body and wreaking havoc. Gluten yields antibody properties that can break down this mucosa layer and penetrate the body’s immune system. Gluten can actually create holes in the intestines and undigested food can pass freely into the bloodstream (called Leaky Gut Syndrome) – holy immune system freak out, Batman! Gluten and its anti-digestive properties can be attributed to many health and mental diseases found all over this country (and world). It makes sense because the American diet is FULL of Gluten-based foods: Bread, Pizza, Flour, Beer, Oatmeal, Cereal, Snacks and the list goes on! Now, I believe that everyone has a Gluten Sensitivity, it just depends on how sensitive a person is and how long they can tolerate its intake before health problems become prominent (a person can even have issues and not even be aware of those issues because they don’t know any different).

Omega -6 Fats, also known as Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs), are also prevalent in American diet with their presence in Grains, Nuts, Seeds, Above Ground Vegetables, and Beans (we’ll stick to Grains, Nuts, and Seeds for now). According to most Doctors, Hospital Journals, and the U.S. Government, Omega -6′s are healthy and anti-inflammatory. I call Bullshit! Why? Because a Omega -6′s molecular structure is highly unstable and are rapidly oxidized (rancid/spoil) at moderate temperatures and at moderate pressures – not only in cooking, heating, or food processing, but also in the heat and pressure of a 98 degree human digestive system. Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids are called Poly-’s because they have more than one double bond (extra flimsy). Monounsaturated Fatty Acids have one double bond (flimsy) and Saturated Fatty Acids yield no bonds (strong like bull!). If these Omega -6 Fats aren’t damaged prior to consumption from food processing, packaging, and transportation, they can certainly be damaged, turn rancid, and cause inflammation when consumed. Now, different Grains have different amounts of Poly’s, as well as different Nuts and different Seeds so it’s a matter of choosing a less-inflammatory one over the other, but is it really worth it in the end if they still cause inflammation to some degree?

We covered how Grains contain THREE anti-digestive/inflammatory properties, while Nuts and Seeds contain TWO anti-digestive properties. These properties can encourage acne, eczema, rash, attention deficit disorder, chronic fatigue, brain fog, dehydration, constipation, weight gain, weight loss, erectile dysfunction, lack of libido, bipolar, mood swings, estrogen dominance (stress, emotional imbalance), dysbiosis, candida overgrowth, chronic infections, low immune system response, thyroid dysfunction, insulin-resistance, sugar sensitivity, dairy intolerance, food allergy, poor sleeping patterns, and you get the point. 

  • Grains to avoid: Wheat, Rye, Barley, Spelt, Quinoa, Millet, Buckwheat, Sorghum, Corn (take note that most alcohol is derived from grains/contain gluten)
  • Grains that are Ok: Rice, Gluten-free (still contains some gluten)
  • Nuts to avoid: Cashew (toxic properties), Walnut
  • Nuts that are Ok: [Soaked, Raw, Sprouted] Almond, Peanut, Brazil Nut, Macadamia Nut, Hazelnut, Chestnut, Pecan
  • Seeds to avoid: Flaxseed [Oil], Linseed [Oil], Hempseed [Oil], Cottonseed [Oil], Chia Seed, Sesame Seed [Oil]
  • Seeds that are Ok: [Soaked, Raw, Sprouted] Sunflower Seed, Pumpkin Seed

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Emotional Weight Loss and Weight Gain

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Have you ever considered that your emotions are causing you to gain weight or lose weight? It doesn’t necessarily mean that you eat your emotions away, but what about those who just have a little weight to lose and no matter what they do it just won’t budge? What about those who constantly lose weight but are never happy with the outcome? We cannot trick our bodies into losing or gaining weight when we do not address the cause of our problem – weight is merely a symptom of the bigger issue.

The body gains or loses weight in times of stress and imbalance. It is often that we put our bodies through a great deal of physical stress through diet, exercise, work, school, expectations, but do we ever address our emotional and spiritual stress? The physical body is just a vessel for the spiritual body to carry out its tasks, its dreams, its destiny. We often dismiss that we are soul’s living in a body “on-loan” because our egos, our belief systems, our inner children, or our fears have a hard time accepting that concept. It is ok to be conflicted and take time for that to truly land. When we neglect our emotions, our bodies suffer. And we only see the damage done to our physical body because that is all we’re taught as children and adults. The physical body is what we perceive our reality to be because we can see, touch, taste, smell, and hear it – but what about our thoughts and our emotions? They’re “real” even though we cannot sense them, so why can’t the spiritual body be “real”? We cause ourselves so much physical pain, trauma, stress, and imbalance all for the sake of happiness but nothing will “get better” until we address the cause of the problem – our dis-eased spiritual body and an emotional blockages.

So what could cause this spiritual unhappiness and emotional blockage? Living in the past is one, but it goes deeper than that. How we experienced the past is the kicker. “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” It is our own responsibility to take the perspective of others and use it for how we see fit. We are the ONLY ones that are responsible for how we perceive a situation and how we react to it. I can get called an asshole and either dish it back and be on the same level or address the situation with perception and truly grow/learn. I don’t have to be emotionally hurt by that experience, but it can easier for me to feel shame, to believe what others say and project onto me than to stand up and be strong. It’s called comfort in chaos.

The truth is that words do hurt and some of us latch onto them and bury them so to never experience that hurt ever again. I am using words as an example but this situation can be transposed for other experiences, too – how our we experience our family’s expectations, wants, and needs; how we experience a part of ourselves that we felt ashamed; how we experience getting bad grades and feeling like we disappointed others (when we really disappointed ourselves). We all react differently. For the matter of this post, people can have a weight cause and effect. It can mean that we actually store out emotions within our body, that we eat or drink or smoke our feelings away, that we try to kill off that part by sacrificing ourselves, and so on. We are setting ourselves up for much more pain and suffering later in life by not addressing the hurt – or having the perspective of why it hurt and how to deal with it – in the first place.

We often learn this from our parents and friends – or our experience of our parents and friends. It’s ok. We just need to maintain the perspective that our reality is how we perceive it and what we make it. Anything is possible as long as you accept yourself for who you are – not who you’re not, not who others want you to be, not who you think you should be, not who you will be, but for who you are right now… riiiiiight now… rt nw… RIGHT NOW! We only have the present moment to live within. We cannot live in the past – we can only learn from our past selves. We cannot live in the future because it is unpredictable. We can only be who we are now. Those who are not happy with themselves now must address why, how they got here, and the pain that they have buried to allow an unhappiness to grow.

By addressing our emotional and spiritual bodies, it allows us to be comfortable with our vessels (our bodies). We won’t feel the need to strictly diet, to exercise ourselves into the ground, to binge eat, to binge drink, to smoke, to get high, to eat processed junk food thinking it all makes us happy (but unhappy at the end of the day) because our physical bodies will follow suit of our spirit’s happiness.

From a fitness perspective: A good diet and tailored exercise program are a part of the journey, but again, they’re treating symptoms and not the cause.

An appreciation and acceptance of oneself – one’s spirit, one’s emotions, and one’s physical body – will always lead to a betterment of how we view and treat ourselves.

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