I am not entirely sure where the idea originated that fat people are jolly. To be honest, I assume that it stemmed from Jolly Old Saint Nick. It turns out those extra pounds do more than just put your health at risk. Excess weight we all know can clog and strangle our organs while doing a number on our immune system. Most people overlook the damage excess weight can have on our hormones. By now, I am sure you know that your hormones play a critical role in ALL aspects of your health and wellness. When these hormones get kicked out of balance our health and mood are sure to pay the price. Our health and our moods are directly influenced by one another. That means when one goes down the other follows right behind it.
Two For The Price Of One
Have you ever noticed how when we are sad we tend to get sick right in the midst of everything else? The reality is that our mindset and mood act as a precursor to what our health is likely to become. Hormonal changes can lead to an increase in stress related hormones designed to make us store fat. Stress hormones also destroy our sleep cycles which actually make us crave high calorie (often low nutrient) foods. All of this leads us even further down the rabbit whole and creating an even more difficult cycle to break. The best way to break the cycle is by approaching the heart of the issue from a number of ways. I incorporate six key elements: nutrition, supplements, sleep, exercise, hormones, and of course mindset in my approach. All of these keys will help you shed the excess weight and enjoy every moment you have.
More Powerful Than You Know
Your mind is by far the most powerful tool you have at your disposal. It can literally make or break your chances of success in ANYTHING that you do. Stress is easily one of the most common causes of weight gain. With everything that has been going on in the world as of late it is easy to see just how damaging stress can be on our bodies. From weakening our immune systems to forcing our body to hold onto unwanted excess weight. Getting into the proper mindset for success is critical to ensure you take and keep the weight off. While there are a number of things you can do to naturally help reduce your stress levels and get your mind in the right place. I like to focus on options that are going to offer you multiple benefits.
Common Stumbling Blocks
Whatever is going on inside your mind has a tendency to affect us all in different ways. However, sleep deprivation seems to be a common theme. Sleep deprivation is one of the leading causes of hormonal imbalance, right next to stress levels. Due to the fact that these two issues are designed to help regulate a string of hormones that can activate even more hormones. When we lose sleep our Cortisol levels (Stress) go up which in turn activates even more hormones to become out of balance. Then our Ghrelin and Leptin levels go off which makes us ravenous and crave high calorie foods. After our energy levels take a hit our mood follows suit with a drop in Dopamine, Serotonin, and Oxytocin. This makes us more susceptible to pain by lowering our Endorphin levels. Not to mention its effects on our immunity levels.
Don’t Be Glum Chum
People who have lost weight and experts who have performed in-depth research on weight loss will tell you that losing weight is more than just a change in diet and an increase in daily activity. Happiness has a lot to do with what is reflected on a weight scale. Two hormones that are most commonly associated with our happiness level are: Dopamine and Serotonin. Dopamine is triggered by short-term stimulants and provides more of a pleasure than true happiness. It also provides more of a physical response and acts on the physical body. Serotonin, on the other hand, is triggered by long-term stimulants and it’s focus on providing a sense of contentment. Unlike Dopamine, Serotonin has more of an effect on the brain resulting in a complete state of bliss. Both hormones are required to achieve a more balanced state of happiness. Which are processed in your gut!
“There is no question that you need willpower and mental fortitude to make and sustain the necessary changes for weight loss.”
-Dr. Dee
Your Mood Matters
But, you also need a strong, healthy emotional state. Losing weight is inherently emotional and deeply personal, and it is imperative that you do not sabotage your goals. Certain things simply will not help, such as harboring guilt about not losing enough or striving to lose a certain amount according to a timeline. Setting unrealistic goals, such as the edited photos of models, is also incredibly damaging to a weight loss journey. All of these act to drain us of our confidence and refill us with negativity.
You are your harshest critic
Don’t forget that you can control how you see your body, and it is important to see your body as unique in its needs and in its definition of healthy. Diet plans and specific exercise plans are not meant to embrace your unique body, and if we cannot accept our bodies for the shapes they are and the strengths they possess, the best diet plans will never work. The desire to lose weight should not be superficial; it should come from within. That is when you can truly put your entire self on the line. There is no wrong reason, but that reason should be something bigger than wanting to look like a model. Is it so you can play with your kids? So you can love your partner more or enjoy your life more? Be more active, or so you can finally toss out some emotional baggage?
Overcome Your Fears
Fear and uncertainty can often make us seek comfort and distraction in food. We need to accept that it is okay to be uncomfortable at times; everything is temporary. Our fear should lead us to take positive actions rather than into panic mode. A popular adage is that every crisis that comes in our lives tends to have a hidden opportunity. That opportunity can lead to growth and experience that could change our life.
“It is also important to seek positive support and advice. Having support strengthens our willpower and provides a positive energy towards our goals.”
-Dr. Dee
Get Your Head In The Game
Brainstorm with friends or a doctor, or ask about the experience of other people, so that you know what to expect, and how to handle setbacks. Significant changes in lifestyle need as much encouragement and confidence as possible in order to be sustainable. We tend to think that weight loss will fix the anxieties and problems we face in life; in many cases, those problems will still be there even after the weight is gone. If it is happiness and peace that you are looking for, you won’t find it on a scale or weight loss machine. Learn to tie your happiness to factors that mean more to your life than just weight. Then those changes you make in your body will be permanent, healthy results of a happy life.
Pumpkin Whoopi Pies
Gluten Free Vegan, Serves 18
- 2 Cups Packed Splenda Brown Sugar
- 1 ¾ Cup Coconut Oil Raw
- 2 Cups Coconut Flour
- 1 Cup Almond Flour
- ½ Cup Vanilla Cashew Yogurt
- 1 ½ Cups Solid Packed Pumpkin Puree
- ½ tsp Ground Ginger
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
- ½ Tbsp Ground Cloves
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 2 Tbsp Coconut Milk Full Fat
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 2 tsp Pure Vanilla
- 1 ½ Tbsp Ground Cinnamon
- 2 Cups Stevia Monk Fruit Sugar
- 3 tbsp Aquafaba
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Pre-treat baking sheets with non-stick option of your choice (I love my Silicone mats). In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of oil and brown sugar. Mix in the pumpkin and yogurt stirring until combined. Add in the flour, salt, baking powder, soda, 1 tsp vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Stir until all ingredients are combined. Spoon out dough onto the baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cookies cool on sheet for 5 minutes prior to transferring them to a wire cooling rack. While cookies are baking combine ingredients for filling. Beat Aquafaba, milk, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1 cup sugar. Mix well and beat in remaining coconut oil and sugar. Beat filling until light and fluffy. To make filling more firm you can add cream of tartar or a little cornstarch. Once cookies are cool fill and make into sandwiches. Enjoy!
Need A Hand?
A happy and healthy life is closer than you may think. Our health is something that we all have to deal with daily, and when we don’t feel our best, it shows. If you are tired of just making it through your day then you NEED to start investing in your health today! You are not alone on this journey. If you ever need any help I am always here to do just that. Even if it is something as small as just acting as a sounding board. Do you have any questions or concerns I can help you with? Feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] or you can even book a one-on-one call with me. Be sure to subscribe to gain access to tons of free goodies and check back daily for more great recipes and information!