For years you have heard trainers, doctors and athletes talking about the elusive “fat-burning” zone.  It is always referred to as the ideal place you want to be when you are doing your aerobic workout.  Unfortunately you may only spend 20-60 minutes in this ‘zone’ depending on how long your aerobic workout is.

The ‘fat-burning’ zone is literally the time your body is burning calories from the breakdown of stored body fat. You have to remember your metabolism burns calories from the breakdown of either fats, carbohydrates or proteins.  The key to successfully losing weight and keeping it off is to stay in your ‘fat-burning’ zone as much as possible throughout the day.

FYI...Don't forget my current blog is moving...to www.DrLensBlog.com. you will have to go there and sign up to keep getting this great information.  Hope you continue to follow my posts.
Dr. Len

Those who struggle with fatigue, weight gain, cravings, mood swings or hormonal issues are usually burning more of their calories from the break down of carbs and lean muscle (protein), instead of stored body fats.  To overcome those problems you need to make sure you are staying in your fat-burning zone for more than an hour a day.

You may think as you are reading this article that you are in your fat burning zone, but as I discussed in “To Burn or Not to Burn – Fat is the Question,” how long ago did you last eat?  What did you eat AND drink? Was it processed, refined, fast food? Did you skip your last meal?  These are the typically questions that let us know if you are keeping your blood sugar stable.  The reason this is important is because if your blood sugar is constantly going up and down all day it takes you out of your fat burning zone and hinders weight loss.   

How about the ‘stress’ in your life?  Are you over-working your adrenal glands, which are responsible for making cortisol and adrenaline, your primary stress hormones?  This is important because cortisol and adrenaline trigger your metabolism to burn carbs and protein, more so than fats!

Think about it – are you constantly pumping out more cortisol and adrenaline because of all the stress in your life, which is signaling your metabolism to burn up all the carbs and lean muscle you have?  If so that is why the theory of calories in versus out does not always solve the weight loss dilemma. 

Worse yet you could have already exhausted and depleted your adrenal glands, which is referred as “adrenal fatigue and exhaustion.”  This only makes things worse on your metabolism, but it also throws off your hormones and neurotransmitter (chemical brain messengers). 

Let’s not forget exercise and the fact that the biggest workout mistake I always see is people doing an aerobic workout at too high of an intensity.  This completely takes them out of their ‘fat-burning’ zone for that magical 20-60 minutes.  But it also throws more ‘physical’ stress into the equation and causes your adrenal glands to pump out more cortisol and adrenaline. Can you see how that cycle can continue?

The assumption that the all mighty ‘fat-burning’ zone is only relevant while you workout is only partially true.  It’s so much more important to stay in your ‘fat-burning’ zone for most of the day if you are struggling with fatigue, weight gain, cravings, mood swings or hormonal issues.  To check and see if you are staying in your fat burning zone, use the “online health quizzes” to Test our Metabolism and Take the Stress Test.  You may be surprised, but it could also open up your eyes as to why you have hit a plateau and haven’t succeeding in your dieting and weight loss efforts.

        

Have you ever wondered or asked why these three major problems all seem to show up together?  Or did you even know that these three problems usually come as a group?

The reason for that is quite simple and obvious when you think about it.  The problem is that your metabolism is burning the wrong fuel!  Simply put your body burns calories from on of three areas.  It burns calories by breaking down either protein, carbs or fats.  That’s the only way the human body can generate energy.

The over-lapping problem is that most people who struggle with these and other issues are that instead of regularly burning fats throughout the day, or 24/7.  They are typically burning calories from the break down of carbohydrates and lean muscle, instead of stored body fats.  If that’s the case or if that’s you…you will never overcome those issues until you get your metabolism functioning properly or the way it is supposed to.

The human body, your metabolism is more efficient when it burns fats for energy.  In fact you will generate two-and-a-half times more energy when you burn a gram of fat versus a gram of protein or carb.  Those who struggle with fatigue, weight gain, cravings, moods swings, etc…are usually burning calories from carbs and proteins, which means they are not generating as much energy for themselves as they could. 

If they were burning stored body fats throughout the day…they will be producing more energy for themselves…which is huge when you think about the number of people complaining of chronic fatigue and lack of energy. 

The fact that their metabolism is consistently burning carbs and lean muscles means you are also going to have a hard time losing weight…even if you cut calories, workout or gamble on any other new fad weight loss diets.  The fact that you are burning through all your carbs and proteins means your blood sugar is always going up and down.  This further throws off your metabolism and contributes to cravings and mood swings.

The key is in trigger your metabolism to work in your favor…or more precisely get it to work the way it is designed. What have you done to throw it all out of balance? Is your diet the problem?  What about exercise?  How about stress and adrenal fatigue and exhaustion, which is that new piece of the whole weight loss, fatigue puzzle that is finally getting mentioned as a huge culprit?

Whatever the reason you have to get it back to normal, which is what I talk about in “To Burn or Not to Burn – Fat is the Question.”  The thought or assumption that has been taught and preached for years is that all you have to do is cut your calories and you will lose weight isn’t completely accurate.  There are too many people out there who have done that with little or no results and are looking for answers. 

Weight loss isn’t a simple math equation of how many calories in minus how many calories burned.  You can burn 300 extra calories a day on a treadmill…but if your body didn’t burn those calories from stored body fat…you aren’t going to make much progress.

The first step is to check and see if your metabolism is the problem.  Use the ‘online health quizzes’ to Test Your Metabolism and Test to see if Stress or Adrenal Exhaustion are the problem.  Once you know where the problem is coming from…you can start addressing the root of your problem. 

If you need more help, I encourage you to sign up for my New Blog (this blog will be ending soon...so I hope you will keep up and connect with my new blog) and newsletter to keep you up to date and what your next step will be.  If stress and your adrenals are the problem…begin supporting them with a good adrenal support formula.  If keeping your blood sugar stable or digestion is an issue…grab some digestive enzymes or health bars that I recommend.  You will be pleased with the results…especially if you use it along with my ARS Healthy Steps Program.

        

There are a couple of important things you need to do when doing a good cleanse.  It doesn’t matter if you are doing a whole body cleanse, liver or colon cleanse, or yeast, parasite, candida cleanse.

 

The two most important things you need to do are drink lots of water, preferably clean water and have your bowels move at least once of not twice a day.  Water is needed to keep things moving, so anywhere between 8-16 glasses of water during a cleanse is great.  “the solution…to pollution…is dilution”  FYI…all that water will help keep your bowels moving and reduce those constipation problems.

 

Regarding your bowels and keeping them moving this is where all the raw fruits and veggies come in.  If that and all the water isn’t keeping you regular add the Aloe Lax Supreme… it is a great natural laxative-like product doesn’t give you any of those other problems you get when using cascara segrada or senna.  If you are not already using a good fiber product, which I think almost everyone should be using. I would recommend the Ultra Fiber Powder.  What I like about it is that it is a hypo-allergenic fiber that doesn’t have any psyllium, which tends to irritate and bloat some people.  Plus it taste pretty good.

 

The goal of the detox is to get everything cleaned out and scrubbed real good, like the annual cleaning for your stove and oven.  If it is a whole body cleanse, this all the raw fruits and veggies are great.  If you are doing a yeast, parasite, candida cleanse…you probably want to stay away from the raw fruits for the first couple of weeks.  This is because those little “bad” bacteria as they are often called…thrive on sugar and it doesn’t matter if the sugar comes in the form of a cookie or an apple.  It is sugar and that is what feeds these bad guys.  Will talk more about the specifics on a candida cleanse or you can find out more on my website.

 

That being said, you can see a liver, colon cleanse is a bit different than a yeast, parasite, candida cleanse.  Depending on the health issues will determine which one to approach first. 

 

The key to both types of cleanse is getting everything moving out of your body and making sure your body is strong enough to handle a cleanse.  So many people tell me they often feel worse on a cleanse.  The major reason for that is there adrenal glands are exhausted and fatigued.  This is critical because those adrenal glands support your immune system.  If your immune system is weakened and you start uprooting all those toxins inside you…that is another hit on your already weakened immune system, which makes your feel rotten.

 

Before I ever start a cleanse with anyone I always support and strengthen their adrenal glands with a good adrenal support formula for a few weeks.  This almost guarantees you that you won’t have those ugly, negative feelings that often come with a detox. 

 

Remember the more fruits and veggies you get in your body throughout the day…the more your body can do its own natural cleanse itself.  This is why I love all the green drinks!  They give you those nutrients found in your fruits and veggies, so if you are not using a green drink, I highly recommend you start taking one.  You will get more nutrients and antioxidant ‘punch’ in any of those green drinks than you will find in your daily multivitamin.  Regarding the detox products I like, there are two cleanse I like using, one comes in the form of a meal replacement drink…the other in capsule form.  They both work great and you can find them on my Recommended Products page.

 

Lastly don’t fall into the thinking that you have to do a cleanse for a solid week or month to make it worthwhile.  That is not true.  It’s all about doing more of the good things than the bad.  Is there a difference if you only wipe down your stove once a month versus giving it a quick wipe every day?  Yes there is, so even if you can only go a few days on the cleanse…you are taking steps in the right direction and I am a big fan of making sure we are at least taking some positive steps.

 

Don’t forget I am going to be moving/merging this blog with my new one so if you haven’t already signed up for the new blog…I can only encourage you to.  When you do you will get a FREE copy of The 10 Biggest Exercise Mistakes.

        

It’s the start of the New Year and the one thing that I like to talk about right now is cleansing and detoxifying your body of all the ‘gunk’ that has built up over the year or the last time you did a good cleanse. I usually do a good cleanse twice a year….for me I like doing one after the Super Bowl and again after the 4th of July.

Think of a good cleanse like flushing out your radiator, oil filter of your car, or changing your air filter in your house. ... << MORE >>

It’s a new year and I hope everyone is ready to stay or get healthy and fit.   It has been a while since I last wrote and I want to apologize for that, but there has been lots of reasons for that, which I won't get into, but It's a new year there are a lot of new things happening that we should all be excited about.

The first thing I need to share with many of you in case you haven’t heard is that I will no longer be working with NatraTech or providing the ...

<< MORE >>

A new study coming out in the December issue of Pediatric came out stating the food allergies are on the rise for children. It says that more children are having difficulty with allergies, but they are not quite sure why. They speculate it could be a result of simply doing a better job of tracking the number of kids with allergies.

One problem I have with the study is that they only want to look at allergies as being full blown, immediate reaction types of allergies from a pickle or whatever food they suspect. Traditional medicine completely wants to avoid the other category of allergies that contributes too many other health ailments including fatigue, indigestion, fibromyalgia, joint pain, hormonal imbalances, etc…that are classified as "delayed onset hypersensitivity."

This type of allergy does not cause an immediate response. It doesn’t make your nose or eyes water, eyes itch, create hives or effect your breathing. Delayed onset hypersensitivity or hidden food allergies as they are often called in the field on natural medicine are more difficult to identify simply for the fact that the reaction from the possible offending food may not occur for another 24-72 hours. This is why individuals and doctors have a hard time…they are looking for immediate reaction and don’t realize that the sneezing, itching, watery eyes could have possibly come from something they ate a couple of days ago. This is also why it is classified as "delayed onset."

The second reason why it is hard to identify these potential hidden food allergies is because the reactions are not as pronounced. Instead of hives and watery eyes, the offending food slowly weakens the immune system, which leaves you susceptible to any allergen, bacteria, virus or pathogen that is trying to survive and wreak havoc on your body. It’s a slow gradual weakening of your immune system. It the continue drop in the pocket, that will eventually fill up. This is why so many of my patients tell me, "but doc, why am I getting allergies now, I haven’t had a problem before?

You don’t wear your tires out when you first purchase them. It takes 40,000 miles before they wear out. Some of use because of our poor or aggressive driving techniques will wear the tires out in only 20,000 miles. The same applies to individuals who don’t take as good of care of themselves and continue to keep doing things that work against your immune system. Maybe it took 30, 40 or even 60 years before you wore your immune system down so much that it can’t successfully protect itself from all the air-borne allergens along with all the bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that are trying to invade and infect your body.

Mainstream medicine doesn’t look or suspect ‘hidden’ food allergens. This is why so many of my patients start feeling better when we start eliminating the offending foods. The foods we avoid and stay away from for the next 2-3 weeks are dairy, (milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, soups and sauces made with dairy, etc.) wheat, corn and soy commonly found in breads, bagels, cereals, cookies, pastas, noodles, etc, as well as, coffee and artificial sweeteners.

It’s important to take ALL of these foods out of your diet for the next 2-3 weeks and allow your digestive and immune system to settle down. If you keep ingesting an offending food once or twice a day, (if it’s dairy…do you have cereal for breakfast, cheese on your salad or sandwich for lunch and eat some ice cream as a late night snack?) your body will constantly be fighting that minor assault. This irritates and inflames your digestive system and starts a whole cascade of immune response that includes histamine and antibodies reacting.

You want to stop that whole cascade of events and let your immune system calm down. Let those circulating histamines and antibodies dwindle down and see how you feel after a few weeks. This elimination process can be more difficult for some, which is why I like the the natural health bars. They are low glycemic and hypo allergenic. They have No dairy, wheat, corn or soy and are sweetened with agave. They have no artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohol or trans fats. Give them a try, I think you will be very pleased to find out a health bar can actually taste good.

Most people usually start feeling better when they takes those offending foods out, but some people may feel worse for the first week. As the body begins to recover and not have to spend energy and resources from its immune system, the body becomes healthier. All we did was simply quit offending our immune system. Many will ask do I have to stay away from that food the rest of my life! Which I like to say, "you feel better when you don’t eat those food, but you want to eat them anyway…does that make sense? To which they usually say I get your point. However, I tell them as long as they don’t eat those offending foods every day they should be able to eat those foods occasionally or every few days. The problem is that most people eat one or all of those offending foods a few times a day, which overwhelms your body’s immune system. When you eat an offending food, give your body 4-5 days to recover from the irritation that food caused.

Use the STEPS Program to help you track and hold yourself accountable to what you feed your body each day. It’s simple and easy to incorporate and a great way to hold yourself accountable to how you feed your body, mind and spirit. Bottom line, if you are struggling with allergies, fatigue, digestive problems, joint pain, fibromyalgia, acne, etc…it could be a result of some hidden food allergies. You are going to have to make some changes. If you keep eating what you have been eating you are going to keep feeling the way you have. Again this is where the STEPS Program can help you.

        

 

This past weekend I was visiting some friends and as were playing with his son’s video game I saw a Star Wars Poster that had many slogans from the original three movies, but there was one slogan that caught my eye. It said, "if it smells bad on the outside – it’s worse on the inside." I wish I could recall when that line was said, but be that as it may. The phrase has lots of meaning, especially when you are talking about how well your digestive system is functioning. Remember you are only as healthy as the weakest functioning system of your body.

One of the first questions I ask patients when they come to me complaining of fatigue, indigestion, arthritis, allergies, mood swings and the list goes on is how well is your digestive system functioning? Many patients will tell me fine, but as I dig a little deeper the question gets more specific. When you have a bowel movement or let out gas…would you rate the smell as mild, kind of stinky or open the windows?

If it is pretty stinky it is an obvious sign that your digestive system is not functioning properly. More importantly, as the Star Wars quote goes, if it smells that bad on the outside…can you imagine how bad it smells on the inside? Don’t get me wrong, I am not expecting the smell of lilac when you go to the bathroom, but if you are stinking up the house there is a problem.

That smell that is festering inside of you - is a result of food not being properly digested. The food is rotting, fermenting and putrefying inside your small and large intestine, which I hate saying is stinking up the insides of you. This leads to poor absorption and utilization of all the nutrients in your food and supplements. It’s not what you eat, but rather what your body absorbs and eliminates.

If you are struggling with bloating, gas, heartburn, reflux, GERD, constipation or other irritable bowel problems there is a good chance you are not absorbing all the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants or essential fatty acids in your food. This than begs the question, how do you expect to strengthen and nourish your body if you are only absorbing a small percentage of all the vitamins and supplements you are swallowing? How do you expect your metabolism to produce energy if it can’t extract the B vitamins? How do you expect your liver to cleans and detoxify if it can’t utilize all the nutrients you swallowed because of digestive issues? How do you expect to overcome all the inflammation and joint pain – when you’re gut is responsible for a lot of that inflammation?

Clean up the Gut

The human body is a lot like a chain, which is only as strong as its weakest link. The human body is linked together by all the systems and organs and is only as healthy as the weakest functioning system! If you are struggling with PMS, Hot Flashes, Fatigue, Arthritis, Eczema, Allergies, etc. and are taking some supplement for it and haven’t gotten the results you have been looking for, maybe there is another piece of the puzzle you need to address first.

I see this all too often, people come to me complaining or giving up on natural supplements because they didn’t get the results they were looking for. All too often they are hoping for that magic formula that is going to heal or fix whatever specific malady they are looking for, without checking or addressing the basics. This is why you need to dig a little deeper and see if something has been overlooked, specifically digestive function. If you’ve been struggling with various health issues that haven’t cleared up as you would hope, I encourage you to address the basics first. This helps you address the cause or root of your problem, which may be poor digestive function.

Use the "online health quizzes" to see if your digestive system is holding you back. Check to see if those terrible smells no one knows about is at the root of your problem. If digestion is a problem I would first add a good digestive enzyme that also contains hydrochloric acid, like a good  digestive enzyme. I would also follow the suggestions for Food Combining and also investigate this commonly overlooked problem of possible Hidden Food Allergies and Sensitivities. They are called Hidden, because every one of my patients who says they don’t have food allergies…turns out they have some type of sensitivity that they weren’t aware of.

If you address the basics fundamental things first, you would be amazed how much better your health could possibly be. It’s so easy to look for the menopause, arthritis, allergy formula without taking a look at our digestive system. Digestion is one phase of the ARS Healthy Steps Program, which is a step-by-step program designed to restore normal function back to the body. When you restore function – you restore health. Too many people are in ill-health because their digestive system is the problem!

        

There is nothing better than having someone verbally "pat you on the back." It doesn’t matter what the pat on the back is for…we just know that it makes you feel good, lifts you up and boosts your spirit. It would be great if we all had someone give us a verbal ‘pat on the back’ every day, unfortunately that’s not the case.

Some of you may go all day, week or even all month before someone gives you that verbal "pat on the back," which is unfortunate, because many of us need those little words of encouragement. Those simple words of a job well done, you are doing great, or I knew you could do it…not only makes you feel better on a mental level. It also triggers various endorphins and other chemical brain messengers that have a positive effect on our overall health and well being.

This is why it is important to get a pat on the back each and every day, even if you have to do it yourself. You may not have a personal coach or trainer or awesome spouse to verbally stroke you each day, which is why you need to get in the habit of doing it yourself. You don’t have to do a whole lot but simple positive affirmations and internal positive dialogue can go a long way. As far back as biblical times we learned that "a man is as a man thinketh." Those positive affirmations and thoughts that you feed yourself and feed off of will direct your attitude and outlook, which has a great bearing on your level of health, wealth and happiness.

First Thing in the Morning

Think about it when you wake up in the morning. What is the first thing you mentally tell yourself, what words do you begin to reinforce into your mind? Do you think about how tough the day is going to be? Do you start thinking about this meeting you have or the fact that you don’t want to go to work or school this morning? What words do you start filling your conscious mind with when you wake up? What words do you continue to reaffirm to yourself throughout the day? Have you ever taken a conscious look to examine what you feed your conscious mind?

Whatever words you fill your mind with are a result of what you have feed it in the past. It is a lot like health. If you eat a lot of unhealthy foods – you are probably not going to be the healthiest person. If you feed your conscious and subconscious mind with lots of doubt, worry, fear…lots of negativity. Your outlook and attitude will be shaped by those negative thoughts you feed your mind.

If you keep telling yourself you’re never going to be able to stop smoking, loss weight, get a raise, make more money or find a healthy relationship…you never will! You are literally creating your own self fulfilling prophesy. I don’t think Tiger Woods or LeBron James ever tell themselves that they aren’t going to win. So why do we want to tell ourselves that we can’t succeed in whatever arena we are talking about?

Habits are Habits

It’s all about habits and attitudes.  To use health as an example we can all draw from, we all understand the concept that a healthier diet will often produce a healthier person. "You are what you eat, you are what you feed your body." The question is what thoughts are you feeding your conscious and subconscious mind? Are you verbally patting yourself on the back on a daily basis to improve or change your attitude and outlook?

To refer back to health again, a diary is a helpful tool to keep track and hold yourself accountable to how you feed your body. You can do the same thing with some journaling shortcuts I have used for my clients and patients to track and hold yourself accountable to how you feed your conscious and subconscious mind.

It’s called The STEPS Program, which in simple terms is a diary of journaling shortcuts, which allows you to track how well you are feeding your body, mind and spirit. And instead of writing a page of notes on how your day went, you simply shade-in the corresponding footstep to your action.

 

The STEPS are an acronym for;

Sleep…..Think..…Eat…..Physical…&…Spirit

Since we are talking about positive affirmations and thought, we are talking about thoughts and what we THINK. If you gave yourself positive affirmations, some good internal dialogue that day and reminded yourself of how great the day is going to be, how life is getting better, how thinner or healthier you are becoming. Whatever words of affirmation you gave yourself that day, if you did a good job at it shade-in the "T"



It takes less than two minutes, which is why the STEPS program is a fantastic journaling shortcut. Use it as a simple way to track how well you are feeding your conscious and subconscious mind. It’s the easiest way to see how well you are feeding your mind on a regular basis. It is the best journaling shortcut I have ever seen. It’s quick, simple and very practical. Best of all - the physical act of shading-in those footsteps activates both your "visual" and "kinesthetic" learning centers. There is no other journaling, accountability or person growth program that does that!

The name of the game is to make sure you are getting those verbal pats on the back on a regular basis. It doesn’t matter if you or someone else gives you a pat on the back, just remember those pats on the back will help create your attitude and outlook, which will have a direct impact on your life and circumstances. Just like eating healthy or unhealthy foods – you have to know if you are filling your mind with positive or negative thoughts. The goal is to make those positive thoughts automatic, this is what the "Five STEPS Program can do for you. Give it a 30 day try and see if you don’t notice a difference. The one thing it will do is help you evaluate how well you are feeding your body, mind and spirit.

        

Another new study just came out saying what we have known for the longest time. The study published in the Lancet talks about how diabetes can be reduced and eliminated with proper diet and exercise. The study showed how diet and exercise works better than the most popular diabetes drug. Unfortunately most people don’t get that message clearly from their health care provider.

With over 24 million people diagnosed with diabetes and another 57 million people struggling with excessively high blood sugar…an epidemic is coming along with all the other complications that come from diabetes including heart disease, blindness and loss of sensation in our hands and feet.

To simply tell someone to lose weight and get some exercise is like telling someone to be happy. Weight loss can be achieved by cutting out all those sugary foods and drinks that so many people unknowingly eat. Keep in mind you don’t have to eat sweets to cause your blood sugar to skyrocket. That is probably the biggest mistake I see from all my patients who are struggling with their weight and blood sugar…is that they think, they haven’t eaten any sweets so they are doing good.

It’s not so much the sweets and desserts we are talking about. What really causes problems for so many people is their choices of processed, refined foods made with white flour and white sugar. You can find these processed foods in pizza, hamburgers, sandwiches, pancakes, bagels, cookies and pastas which are the favorite fast food choices of the masses.

If we could get people away from all these processed white flours and white sugars that are staples in so many of our foods we would be able to better control or limit how high our blood sugar soars. This is important because the more your blood sugar skyrockets up and down throughout the day the more insulin your produce, which triggers your body to store fats. That’s what contributes to the weight gain.

When we keep our blood sugar stable by eating foods made in their most natural form, it is much easier to keep our weight, cravings and moods under control. When our blood sugar is up and down all day, it takes us out of our fat burning mode. It’s not so much a matter of low carbs…it is Slow Carbs.

Fruits and veggies are loaded with carbohydrates and are needed to keep our metabolism functioning properly. So don’t throw out the baby with the bath water and think that all carbs are bad for you. You just need to make sure you are eating the right ones and stay away from as much of the processed carbs as possible.

One more thing – add some stress into your life…and see how much more it causes your blood sugar to fall and rise. All the cortisol and adrenaline your body makes in response to stress also effects your blood sugar and can throw off a lot of the benefits of a good diet. So make sure you are watching or measuring your stress hormones to see if that is another contributing factor to your weight, diabetes, cravings, mood swings and energy levels. The simple first step is to take the Stress Test and see if that is part of the problem. You should also Test Your Metabolism to make sure you are keeping your blood sugar stable.  If you want to get more accurate with concrete testing you can do the 24 Hour Saliva Test to accurately measure how stress is impacting your life.

If you want more information and what steps you should be taking, send me an e-mail at info@drlenlopez.co and I'll send you my special report on Stress and how it connects to diabetes and many other health problems.

        

If you were watching professional football this past weekend you saw a lot of promotion for breast cancer awareness. Players were wearing pink shoes, hats, armbands and various other paraphernalia associated with breast cancer.

I think awareness is huge in fighting this and any other cancer, autoimmune or degenerative diseases that are plaguing our nation. The only problem I have with this and many of the other ‘awareness’ campaign’s out there are they spend too little time, effort or money with the root of the problem. Most of the donations are spent on various cures and medications, which is great when you first look at it.

Unfortunately research has and continues to show the biggest cause of cancer is a result of stress, diet and environmental influences. It has been reported in the most prestigious journals that over 75% of cancer can be prevented if you get regular exercise, eat a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Get a good night sleep, an adequate amount of sunshine and most importantly manage your stress.

These awareness campaigns should focus more on prevention – instead of spending so much donated money on studies and drugs that address a smaller portion of the problems.  Cancer isn't something you wake up with one morning, it is gorwing inside you and often times it takes 20-30 years before it reaches detectable levels.  Many of us know what causes these problems, but there isn’t a lot of money to be made by telling someone to eat more oranges and apples and less fast food and junk food. The amount of money spent on unhealthy food is one thing and I don’t have a problem with capitalism. The problem I have is when we hear ‘fat cats’ in Washington talking about wanting to help the growing health epidemics of obesity, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, etc….and nothing is being done to educate and inform the public.

There are lots of financial subsidies going to the farmers, manufacturer and producers of a lot of the foods that are making us obese and unhealthy. Look at how much it costs to buy your favorite fast food burger, fries and soft drink? Why is everything we spend money on going up, yet these guys can still pump out this fast food for the same price as it has the last couple of decades. It has to be the extra help from all the subsidies they are getting.

If we really wanted to make a difference in our health care, we would be subsidizing the cost of or growing apples, bananas, pecans and all the other healthy foods we know are better for our overall health. When that will happen…I don’t know but that would be the first step in the right direction to help anyone fighting any health problem.

It was Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine who said over 2,400 years ago, "let food be your medicine and let medicine be your food." What he knew then as we know now is that some foods can have healing, healthy benefits…while other foods have negative destructive effects on your health. The question I always have my patients answer is, which foods do you eat more of? Do you eat more healthy foods or do you choose to eat more of the unhealthy foods and wonder why your energy, weight, cravings, moods, sleep or heart isn’t functioning properly.  It's a choice we all have to make.

That being said, I will be doing a FREE teleseminar later this week and you are invited to join us. If you want more information send us an e-mail and we will send you all the information about this upcoming Free seminar that will answer a lot of your health questions and help you make smarter choices, because when it is your health…you need to be asking the right questions!

I also want to thank you guys for being some of the first ones to start using The Work Horse.  The reviews we are getting are great...thank you!

        

Dear Valued Readers,

On Thursday evening, October 8th, 8:00 PM (CST) I'm going to hold an
"Invitation Only" teleconference entitled, "How To Achieve Greater Energy,
and Lose Pounds and Inches at the same time."

I'll shoot all of the call-in details over to you in the next day or two
but for now. Get this on your calendar!

On that teleconference I'll be sharing the Missing Piece of the Puzzle
and secrets to gaining more energy and consistent weight-loss.  And how to
tell if you are staying in your Fat Burning Zone 24/7.

You've got to be on that call!

Losing weight and gaining more energy is easier than you think.

I'll take less than 60 minutes to clear up the mis-information that is out
there and separate the hype from the facts.

Be sure to have your paper and pencil handy and get ready to learn the
"missing piece of the puzzle."

I look forward to being with you next Thursday!

Sincerely,

Dr. Len Lopez

        

A new study is coming out of John Hopkins Hospital showing that exercise or physical activity is important in helping critical ill patients.  The study shows how the school of thought, which is bed rest for critical ill patients, may not be the best treatment plan.

The study basically shows how those who simply began walking, while still in the hospital helped their recovery.  We are not talking about lacing up our tennis shows and going for a jog.  We are simply speaking about getting out of bed and begin to move our body…for as little as 10-25 steps to begin with.

It’s great to hear about this study, which has been done before, but the simple reality of moving our body, getting our blood pumping helps our body flush-out many of the toxins that merely sit and stagnate in our blood stream and lymphatic system, which can be thought of as the cleansing center of our bloodstream. 

As we move our body and cause our muscles to contract it pushes our blood through the natural cleansing process of our lymphatic’s, liver, kidneys and skin, which helps filter out all the metabolic by-products and toxins that build up and cause further problems to our health.

The same applies to us when we are feeling a bit sick.  We need to move our body, pump our blood, flush out our lymphatic system to help overcome our ailment.  I am not talking about doing any type of regimented workout.  I am only suggesting that instead of sitting around watching reruns of Seinfeld…we get outside and go for an easy walk. 

I know many of you who read my blog, and also are regular exercisers have told me that when they finally go out and workout they feel like they kick the infection.  Again, I am not saying if you have a cold or flu to go out and do a strenuous workout, but if you simply get your body temperature up and get your blood pumping…this may be the little help your natural, innate immune system needs to help get the upper hand on the infection. 

Simply walking in place and swinging your arms may be the most exercise you get in the day if you are feeling lousy from an infection…which may be enough to help speed up the recovery process.  So even if you are feeling bad – get your body moving.  Do something to move that stagnate blood.  Don’t forget you also need to get your vitamin D, which means you need to get some sunshine.  You probably also need to support your adrenal glands with Adrenal Fuel to help support your immune system, and lastly stay away from processed, refined, junk food when you are under the weather.

If you are looking for a simple workout that you can do at home when you are ill or healthy you can follow the “Super Seven Workout.”  Don’t forget The Work Horse is coming!!!

        

There is a new study showing that the majority of people with type 2 Diabetes are not changing their diet.  They are not regulating their blood sugar with their diet.  They are eating too many of the wrong foods and not enough fruits and vegetable.  What was astonishing to the researcher was that he thought these people would be more educated and more motivated to eat the right foods, but that simply isn’t the case.

I won’t comment on the lack of motivation, but the lack of education, in my opinion could be coming from the people who profit on selling medications than those who profit by selling fruits and vegetables.  Overcoming diabetes begins by controlling your blood sugar levels with the foods and drinks you put in your body. 
  
In my opinion traditional medicine doesn’t emphasis diet and exercise and that it can be controlled by changing those two factors, along with controlling stress.  Type 2 diabetes is the inability of your body to control all the sugar (carbohydrates, glucose) in your body.  Many have thought that it is simply not making enough insulin, which takes the sugar out of your blood and puts it into your cells for energy. 

The fact is, if you eat a diet loaded with refined white flour and sugar it (processed, refined, fast foods) causes your blood sugar to skyrocket up and causes a NEED for more insulin than normal.  The continual demand for more insulin can literally becomes exhausting to your pancreas.

To lessen the spike of your blood sugar and lessen the demand on your pancrease. 

• Eat more whole grains.
• Stay Away from as much processed, refined foods as possible.
• Make sure you have protein and good fats with each meal.
• Don’t SKIP meals.

These simple steps will help reduce how much insulin your pancreas needs to produce, which will make it easier for your body to handle your blood sugar levels on their own, without the need of medications.  The continual spikes and rapid falls of your blood sugar is what makes diabetes difficult to control.

Keep in mind Insulin isn’t a bad thing, I don’t think the Good Lord made a bad hormone, but if your body is making too much it triggers all kinds of other problems.  If it can’t make enough because you are forcing it to make so much more than normal...it will trigger a host of other problems.

FYI....If you can’t keep your blood sugar stable you will always struggle with fatigue, weight gain, cravings, mood swings, PMS, hormonal imbalances, hot flashes, ADD and the list goes on...

Exercise to the Rescue...
The reason exercise is so critical for the diabetic patient is simple.  Exercise causes your cells to be more receptive to insulin and makes it easier for your body to remove the sugar (carbohydrates, glucose) out of your blood stream and into the cell.  The best time to eat a meal that may have more than the normal amount of carbohydrates is after your workout, when your cells are more receptive.

The Stress Connection...
The reason stress has to be looked is very simple to understand.  Stress does the exact opposite to what exercise does.  It makes your cells resistant to insulin, which triggers a need for more insulin.  This causes a vicious cycle because all that additional insulin will cause your blood sugar to drop very quickly.  This is where the adrenal glands, and the production of cortisol and adrenaline come into play.

When your blood sugar drops and you don’t eat....your adrenal glands will produce cortisol and adrenaline to raise or stabilize your blood sugar.  This is a normal response!  What isn’t normal is depending on your adrenal glands to always stabilize your blood sugar and act as a backup, because you ate the wrong foods.

If you keep forcing your adrenal glands to manage your blood sugar you can quickly begin to deplete and exhaust your adrenal glands, which sets off another cascade of problems.  What eventually happens is that your adrenals become fatigued or unable to meet the demands you are placing on them and this sets up a huge domino effect of health challenges.
 
FYI....you can never balance your hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) and overcome hot flashes, night sweats, PMS, loss of libido or infertility if your adrenal glands are exhausted.

Test Yourself...
If blood sugar has been a problem it could also be throwing off your metabolism.  Test your blood sugar and metabolism to see if that is contributing to fatigue, weight gain and cravings. I would recommend using our “Online Health Quizzes” to see if that is part of your problems.  I would also take our “Stress Test” to see if stress is contributing to your problems.

Let me also suggest if you are looking for a healthy snack or meal replacement that will help you control your blood sugar...try our NatraLean Health bars.  They are without a doubt the best tasting health bar.  Similar products are nothing more than a glorified candy bar with additional protein.  If stress could be part of your problem, I would recommend a bottle of Adrenal Fuel to help re-nourish those exhausted adrenal glands.  Don’t forget the benefits of exercise, you might want to consider something like The Work Horse to help you in that arena.

        

There is a new study out saying that it is better to eat foods rich with antioxidants than if you take an antioxidant capsule, specifically if you are dealing with Metabolic Syndrome, diabetes or heart disease.

I have to say, this sounds like another one of those “dah” studies, because the big benefit you get when you eat more fruits and vegetables is that you eat LESS processed, refined foods, which are void of most antioxidants.  Not only that, you also get the fiber that comes with the fruit and veggies, which helps in so many other ways.  So to imply that it is a waste of time and money to take an antioxidant is simply absurd.

I am a big believer that we get most of our nutrients from the foods we eat.  Unfortunately a lot of people are not eating enough fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds to keep themselves healthy.  This is why we recommend supplementation.
But don’t simply think you have to swallow a pill and your good.

A good supplement plan is basically an insurance plan for yourself, because research dose confirm that those who use supplements such as; multivitamins, fiber, fish oils, probiotics, digestive enzymes and adrenal support on top of a good antioxidant…have overall better health.  But don’t put all your hope on your vitamins.  You still have to eat sensibly, get regular exercise, sunshine, sleep and learn how to deal with stress if you want to stay healthy or overcome some health issues.

If you want to learn what "7 Supplements We Should All be Taking" I encourage you to read this article.

Don't forget that September is when many of us also start a new workout program.  If you haven't had a chance to check out The Work Horse...and how to add shape and tone to your upper body in less than 10 minutes...now is the time and take advantage of the SPECIAL DISCOUNTS

        

This morning I started jogging again after a two weeks hiatus from my ankle injury, which occurred from running in the grass as I like to do.  But what I want to bring to your attention if you run or walk in your neighborhood is that the slope of the road can put stress on your ankles, knees and hips.  This morning I saw a neighbor running in the street, close to the curb, against traffic, which is recommended for your safety.

If you don’t know or haven’t paid attention, but most roads are sloped.  The highest point is in the center of the street and it slopes downward to the curb.  I am sure this is for drainage, but the point is if you constantly run against traffic, on the left-hand side of the road…you are running along a slope.  Meaning your left foot hits the ground on the outside of your foot and rolls inward, but because you are running on a slope your left foot doesn’t roll flat.  It rolls a few degrees short of horizontal. 

On the other hand, or should I say foot, your right foot hits the ground, on the outside edge and rolls inwards…but here your right foot rolls a few degrees past horizontal.  

In essence your left foot is not going through its full range of motion.  Yet your right foot is extending past its normal range of motion.

What’s happening is that your feet are not in balance, they don’t have the same range of motion, which could trickle upward and be the reason behind your knee, hip or low back pain.  It’s easy to understand how our tires can get out of balance and the problems it causes, so I think it is important to recognize a possible source of your potential knee, hip or back pain.

What to do…

I know when I walk or run in the neighborhood, I usually like to run in the middle of the road.  FYI…I like to run before the sun gets up…so the roads aren’t that crowded.  But I also like to start my run on one side of the road, and finish up on the other side.  I do this to allow my feet to get equal ‘flexion’ or ‘range of motion’ when my foot strikes the ground.  I think if you always walk/run on the same side of the road or curb you could be setting yourself up for potential problems.  

Be careful, I don’t want anyone to get hit by a car either, just keep in mind that if you always run or walk along the same slope from the same direction…one foot will develop a greater range of motion than the other.

If you walk or run on the grass you are typically not going to need to worry about this, but be aware that many people like to run along the sidewalk which may put you at a slope.  Just be careful and try to stay as balanced as possible.  Most importantly, keep up the running or jogging.  I think aerobic training is very helpful.

Don’t forget about the strength training for the upper body.  If you haven’t check out my new fitness product called The Work Horse, I encourage you to.  It is truly the best piece of fitness equipment to allows both women and men to do pull-ups at home and get a complete upper body workout.

        

I want to thank everyone for being so patient.  I know I have been asking for a while about the fitness product that a lot of you saw me using in "To Burn or Not to Burn - Fat is the Question."
 
I'm glad to say, it is finally coming.....and I call it The Work HorseTM...

          

It's a new piece of exercise equipment that allows you to get a complete upper body workout...in less than ten minutes.

It's always been known that the two best exercise to train your upper body are push-ups and pull-ups.

Unfortunately, most women can't do pull-ups and most men who have gained 20 or more pounds can't do pull-ups either...

But now with The Work Horse you can 'off-load' 30% of your bodyweight and everyone can do pull-ups.

• Push-ups target your chest, shoulders and triceps...
• Pull-ups train your back, biceps and forearms...

I encourage you to go check it out and if you are wanting to add shape and tone to your upper body...you need to be doing these two core movements....and see who else is recommend The Work Horse. 

Don't just do push-ups and only work half of the muscle of your upper body!  Get a complete upper body workout with The Work Horse.

Take advantage of our Advance Order Discount and SAVE over $32.00....Plus get a FREE copy of "5 STEPS Closer..."

Add The Work Horse to your aerobic, boot camp or body sculpting class to add that upper body strength you have been looking for.

        

There's a new study out showing how your spiritual outlook or the negative feeling you have about your spiritual walk can affect your health.  This is another study that confirms our spiritual beliefs can have a huge impact on our health.  It also looked at how negative feelings or feelings of how God had let you down impacted your physical walk.

The study was publsihed in the Journal of Palliative Medicine and further confirms how our SPIRIT and the feeling we have towards our Spirit can affect us.  I believe it can affect us more than simply in our health.  The Spiritual connection we have plays a role in our relationships, career and overall happiness.  I know I always like to encourage my patients to examine their spiritual walk.

Often times I am told the same thing they tell me about their physical health.  They just don't have time to spend on it.  Simply put, they don't carve out enough or any time in their day to develop those spiritual muscles.  This takes us back to the STEPS Program that I developed for my patients and clients to use.

It is the only accountability and movtivational journaling system that helps you tap into your Visual and Kinesthetic learning centers.  The STEPSProgram simply helps you change or create those habits and attitudes that have shown to have a postive overall affect on our health, wealth and happiness.  I encourage you to use the journal for a few weeks and follow the simply principles that it teaches.  It takes less than two minutes a day...but it helps you see the areas of your life that are in need of help.

What's great about the STEPS Program is that as you shade-in the footsteps for your actions, you are literally anchoring those behaviors that we want to improve or change.

        

What is good health?  For that matter what is good fitness?  Many people like to think that they are the same thing. Unfortunately they aren’t!

I have worked with many fit individuals who possess the physique that many of us covet, but these same people have some health issues that make you question their overall health. 

There is not a clear definition for someone being fit, but being fit could be classified as:

• Being able to run a couple of miles.
• Posses less than 15% body fat for a male, and less than 25% for a female.
• They can do 10 pushup, or press their body weight.
• They can do 10 pullups for a male and possibly a couple for a female.
• They have flexibility and can touch their toes.
• They can hold their breath for a minute.

However, the definition for someone’s level of overall health may ask a few additional questions.  Good health is more than not having to say you have a disease or health problem. 

• Many people/patients complain of fatigue…even my fit patients.  Does that mean they have a caffeine deficiency?  I don’t think so, but could you truly classify someone as healthy if they are always tired?  Why isn’t their metabolism functioning well enough to produce enough energy throughout the day?

• How about someone who complains about constant digestive problems such as bloating, gas, indigestion, heartburn, reflux or any other irritable bowel problem.  Would they be classified as healthy if they are always having to swallow an antacid, acid blocker or medication to help with their digestive problems? I don’t think so!

• What about the person who complains of constant headaches, and the need to always take some over-the-counter medication or something stronger.  Could we call that person healthy?  I wouldn’t and have known many fit athletes who are swallowing aspirins on a regular basis. 

• Let’s not forget the person who wakes up every morning and takes something for allergies, joint pain, PMS, hot flashes, night sweats, ADD, constipation or diarrhea.  Can we truly say that these people are healthy just because they haven't been diagnosed with a problem?

The point is we can’t assume that exercising is going to fix the problems.  I am a big fan of exercise and believe we should all exercise on a regular basis.  What I want to emphasis is that don’t let your workout or your need for exercising overshadow the need for addressing those other problems that could be holding back the progress you are hoping to gain from your workout.

Exercise is truly a double edge sword.  It can be mentally stress reducing, but depending on the intensity of the workout can be an additional stress you place on the body.  If the intensity of the workout is moderate to high – it is stress producing, whereas if the workout is low to moderate intensity it may be more stress reducing. 

The amount of stress we place on our body could be causing some of our health issues, and is another factor that needs to me addressed besides diet and exercise.  More people are complaining about all the stress they are under today, so it is a good idea to check and see if stress could be affecting your overall health.  The over-or-under production of  cortisol and adrenaline by your adrenal glands can definitely hinder your overall health   Take the online health quizzes to see if stress, digestion, elimination or hormonal imbalances are contributing to your overall health and keeping you from being both physically fit and in good health.

        

There is a new study that just came out talking about how our emotions can help us deal with stress, depression and overall happiness. It is basically saying that we need to appreciate our positive happy moments in a day and that the more we do that the more internal happiness we find, the better we are able to handle stress and those down and depressive times in our life.

We have to remember that the thoughts we feed our mind, both consciously and subconsciously are like the foods we feed our body. Negative thoughts have a destructive effect on our health, mood, outlook and overall happiness. It weakens you, it weakens your immune system and makes it harder for you to deal with everyday stress…which makes you less fun to be around.

The same applies to foods that are considered destructive to your overall health such as; processed white flour, sugar and refined foods. The more you put those foods in your body the weaker your overall health becomes.

We are all a product of what we feed ourselves, both emotionally and physically. The study points out that we all want to be happy, unfortunately many of us focus too much on the negative and don’t appreciate the positive. So often we get caught up worrying about yesterday and tomorrow – that we forget to appreciate today and what is going on right now.

The study didn’t go into how all these physical changes or improvements come about, simply by thinking positive. All they were able to say is that it happens. I believe the reason these positive changes occur to our overall health is the simple fact that when you are in a state of joy – your body produces various hormones, endorphins and neurotransmitter (brain messengers) that have a positive, healing effect. When you focus on the gloom and doom ahead, your body produces various stress hormones and endorphins that have a more destructive effect on the body. This is why it is recommended to laugh more when you are sick….you produce various brain messengers that are healing.

Many patients have a hard time changing their thought habits, just as they do – changing their eating habits. This is why I always recommend the Five STEPS Program to help them change or create those habits and attitudes that are holding them back. It’s really simple and all you do is shade-in the footstep for the action you performed each day.  Each step stands for;


If you found yourself nourishing your conscious thoughts in a positive way – shade in that footstep, if you didn’t do anything…leave the footstep blank.



By the end of the week you will see how many steps you took in a week. This helps hold you accountable to your actions, and help you start creating those habits and attitudes of health and happiness.

As the study showed, it is those little steps we take each day that molds who we are! I encourage everyone who may be struggling with their health, level of happiness, or overall outlook on life to take a look and see how you are nourishing your body, mind and spirit. If it needs a little or major overall haul, give the STEPS Program a chance. It is the only accountability and self-help program that activates your visual and kinesthetic learning centers to help you make those changes you are looking for.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_86727.html

        

There’s a new study talking about the increasing number of people suffering from Celiac disease, which is routinely classified as an allergic reaction or inflammatory response to gluten. Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley and rye….which is contributing to the bloating, gassy, indigestion like symptoms they get when they eat those foods.

For a long time mainstream medicine didn’t want to recognize that all those digestive problems were attributed to our diet, but the evidence has become so overwhelming. They still want to place the blame on "too much acid" as the problem, but it simply isn’t the case, when you look at how the human body functions.

When you are under stress and in that "fight or flight" mode your digestive functions are inhibited or slowed down. This happens because you can’t have both your "fight or flight" mode and "resting/digesting" mode working at the same time. So if you are always in that stress (eating on the run, in a hurry, in the car, etc…) mode, your digestive system is unable to make the necessary digestive enzymes or hydrochloric acid (HCL) which is critical in digesting protein. Therefore the thought that all those digestive problems are a result of "too much acid" are ridicules, it’s simply the fact that your digestive system isn’t running efficiently.

A lot of the bloating, indigestion, reflux and heartburn people get are a result of food sensitivities that are brought about by eating gluten, dairy, corn, soy and coffee. They are the biggest offenders and one of the reasons we started making the NatraLean health bars, which don’t contain any of those potential food allergens. But what the study didn’t say or talk about was WHY!

Why is there an increase in the number of people suffering from celiac disease? This is where researches and clinicians like myself separate, because researches make money by doing more research. Whereas doctors and other clinicians like myself make a living by helping people overcome their health complaint. And as I see it the number one reason why there is an increase in Celiac, as well as, an increase in the number of people suffering from digestive problems are a result of stress and diet.

Stress not only inhibits your digestive system from functioning properly, but all the cortisol your adrenal glands are producing are slowing eroding the intestinal lining of your digestive tract. This makes your digestive system that much more sensitive to food sensitivity and allergens…which promotes the digestive problems. Add the fact that more people are eating more processed, refined foods today than they did a couple of generations before us.

It is the perfect storm for ill health or as I like to call it Dys-Function and that "vicious cycle" so often seen as the reason behind so many health problems and why our first goal in helping anyone overcome their health problems is to "Restore Normal Function." If stress is part of the problem, add Adrenal Fuel….to repair those exhausted and fatigued adrenal glands. If digestive problems are part of the problem…restore normal digestive function. If it is elimination…address that problem….and on and on it goes. Once you start restoring normal function…you can start restoring your health!