Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Master Your Metabolism

Recently I started reading this book called: Master Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels. Jillian is one of the trainers on the reality show Biggest Loser. Battling with hormone issues since I was 15 years old, talking to doctors, taking medications and so on.....at 35 years old I do not feel like I have gotten anywhere. Tired of having my weight fluctuate, my mood swing, experiencing things women in menopause experience since my teenage years had me seeking for more answers. This book seems to have the answers I have been searching for for so many years.

Little did I know that your metabolism is controlled by your hormones. Did you know that? I never knew that. I just thought it was something we were born with or that was genetic. Genetics can play a part in your metabolism however, what we eat is what really controls it. I am going to share with you some tid bits of the book. However, I highly recommend reading it for yourself. Jillian was always chubby as a child, her parents using food as comfort is what kept her in that state. Turning to coffee, skipping meals. counting calories, and working out at the gym 2 hours A DAY as an adult then seeing herself aging in her twenties, made her research everything she writes in this book. Of course she was skinny, but she was also beating up her body. Being thin is not that hard nor should it be. And, this is why she wrote this book. She now only exercises 5 hours a week which is nothing like what she used to.

Tips from Jillian:
1. Stay away from artificial sweeteners
2. Stay away from Soy products
3. Eat only Organic foods (pesticides and other chemicals can make our hormones go into meltdown mode, raise Cortisol in woman and keep our cells from reproducing properly.
4. Go easy on the Starchy Veggies (potatoes, corn, peas)
5. Stay away from: juice, soda, iced teas, lemonade and, specialty coffee drinks and stick with WATER
6. Stay away from FAT FREE FOOD (fat is healthy for us and most fat free food contains more sugar!)
7. Eat a handful of nuts a day (Purchase the shelled ones if you know you will over eat them. Keeping them in the shell takes longer to open and eat which will keep you from eating too many.)
8. Eat slowly
9. Eat more colorful fruits and veggies
10. Eat more dark green-leafy veggies
11. Eat berries and whole grains
12. Include more detoxers in your diet: garlic, onions, leeks, chives, shallots and scallions
13. Limit yourself to one to two cups of coffee per day
14. Eat the skins of apples, plums, and other edible fruit skins. Sometimes the best source of vitamins is actually in the skins!
15. Eat your fiber, daily
16. The worst candy to eat.....Licorice. Stay away from it....period.
17. EAT BREAKFAST
18. Do not skip meals!
19. Healthiest meat.....chicken.


To find out why she lists the above, you must read the book for yourself. She goes into the reasons for everything. Her knowledge is unbelievable. She knows what each food and chemical does to ones body, hormones and metabolism. These tips above are only a few of what she has in her book. I hope they help you start your way to a healthier you and for your children. Now that I know what I am putting in my kids mouths, I am definitely going to be more aware of what they eat.

Jenny and I went for an hour and a half walk last night, went to Giant and purchased the Organic Ice Cream Sandwiches. I have to say....they ROCK! And, all those chemicals that are put into the processed foods were not in there!! From now on I am walking down the organic isle before heading anywhere else in the grocery store.

I am thankful for:
Organic food
ice cream sandwiches
long walks with Jenny
the nice weather
my new book
a healthier lifestyle
my health
my children's health
my friends
my store
new customers
Hellertown Farmers Market
fruit
veggies
a great day today
a great night tonight!