January 2016 is here and for many individuals that creates the common resolution to lose weight, get in shape, tone up, or simply be healthy. Many people try to lose weight, but are quickly discouraged in their own strategy to decrease body fat or to keep their weight loss goals in focus. If you want to successfully lose and keep off your unwanted weight, you must take a holistic approach.
There are many aspects to healthy weight loss. The first step involves cleansing and detoxifying your body. This is both a mental and physical process. Logically you probably know what you should do, but don’t do it. This is not because you are lazy, stupid, or don’t want to lose weight. Your mind works based on emotions and beliefs that you may be completely unaware of. These beliefs influence certain patterns and routines and stop you from losing weight. Without the guidance of a caring support team, your conscious, logical brain cannot overcome those deeply imbedded subconscious patterns that keep you in “the fat mode.”
The physical part of detoxification helps your body to heal by eliminating years of toxic build up that you are literally carrying around in your cells. Toxins can come from many places including your personal care and household products as well as from the food you eat. Once you begin to reduce the toxin overload, then the level of inflammation in your body will also be reduced. Toxins are generally stored within our fat or adipose tissue. Decreasing your daily toxin exposure will help you in your weight loss by increasing your metabolism, digestion, and overall energy levels. A detox program including Epsom salt baths, colonics, massage, infrared sauna, etc can help your body eliminate the toxic buildup in your fat cells.
In order to properly lose weight you must also get the water balance in your body corrected. The rule of thumb is to drink half your bodyweight in ounces every day. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, drink 75 ounces of water per day. Drinking enough water helps your body’s metabolism to function at an optimal level. Another often missed aspect of losing weight successfully is to address your breathing patterns. Proper breath patterns alone can help you to lose up to 5+ pounds. Learn to relax and take in proper breaths so that you can decrease cortisol and release toxins.
Proper nutrition is also a key to permanent weight loss. You do not have to endlessly count calories. The best thing to do is to eat the right types of food for you that help get rid of unwanted fat. Each person has unique needs and it is important that you find what works best for you. Everyone should decrease sugar or simple carbohydrate intake-pastas, breads, juices, desserts, crackers, etc. However with the right mindset and beliefs you can create new, healthier habits (this is why the mind set must be addressed first).
Proper hormone balancing is critical for being able to lose weight. An imbalance in your thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, etc will make weight loss very difficult. The goal with proper hormone balancing is to take the least amount of bio identical hormones that you require in order to mentally and physically feel your best while boosting your metabolism naturally.
Everyone knows that to lose weight it is important to move your body. The key is to start with what you will do, not what you should do. Get a buddy to hold you accountable in a positive way. It does not matter what you do or how long you do it, as long as you start somewhere and make progress.
By addressing all of these aspects you will have lifelong success in maintaining your healthy body and weight.