A few months ago (March 2005), the American Diabetes Association
announced the findings of the comprehensive Diabetes Prevention
Program. The DPP was conducted at over 25 medical centers
nationwide and involved thousands of participants who
volunteered to have their habits monitored and to follow dietary
and exercise recommendations. All participants had been
diagnosed with ‘pre-diabetes’, a condition where the blood sugar
levels are higher than normal, but not yet in diabetic ranges.
Untreated, more than half of those people diagnosed with
pre-diabetes will develop full-blown type 2 diabetes within a
decade.

For the study, the participants were divided into two groups.
One half were given dietary recommendations. The other half got
the same dietary recommendations, plus the recommendation to
exercise at least 30 minutes daily, five times a week.

The results? Those who included daily exercise in their routines
and followed the diet recommendations cut their risk of
developing diabetes by 58%. The reason? Those who made the
recommended changes in their lifestyle lost ‘a moderate amount’
of weight. Even more important, researchers found something that
they didn’t expect. Those in the treatment group had a
substantial chance of reducing their blood sugar level to
normal, something that had been assumed was impossible.

Apparently, losing weight not only prevents a worsening of
diabetes, it reverses the damage that obesity causes to the
cells that produce insulin.

How much weight loss does it take to have an effect on the
progression of diabetes? The key is in the definition of ‘a
moderate weight loss’ - 5-7% of your body weight. In other
words, depending on your boy weight, a loss of as little as 7-10
pounds can make a difference!

The recommendations suggested by the American Diabetes Society
for a healthy diet to prevent diabetes is an ideal diet for
steady, gradual weight loss - the kind of weight loss that stays
lost. The diet includes the following suggested daily diet
allowances:

* Grain - 6-11 servings per day (Bread, Cereal, Rice, Pasta) *
Vegetables - 3-5 servings per day * Fruits - 2-4 servings per
day * Milk - 2-3 servings per day * Meat - 4-6 ounces per day
(Meat, eggs, fish, dried beans, nuts and peanut butter) * Fats,
Sweets, Alcohol - Occasional treats

(Recommendations for portions are based on gender and activity
level. For instance, a sedentary 40 year old woman needs fewer
portions than an active 25-year-old woman.)

Look familiar? It’s also the dietary recommendation for the
Heart Healthy diet from the American Heart Association, and the
recommendations from the USDA’s new MyPyramid. The results just
keep coming in, but the message is clear: losing weight,
maintaining a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet can help
prevent most major health problems. Why wait till you’re
diagnosed? Start today - and it may never happen.

Copyright 2005 Frank Smoot

Did you know that a tragic 96% of America’s weight loss
efforts end in failure?

Even worse, we gain back a heartbreaking 95% of the pounds
we do manage to lose! It’s enough to make you crazy!

But is it enough to make you take another look at what
you’ve been doing?

If you’re a Christian with a history of struggling and
failing at weight loss, it’s because you’re trying to do
things the world’s way instead of God’s way.

The world’s ways don’t work! Not for life, and not for
weight loss, either.

I’m Dr. Frank B. Smoot, MA, DD, Christian fitness & weight
loss coach. I’d like to share with you a few things I’ve
discovered in my years of helping hundreds of real people
become weight loss success stories.

I found out a while back that people were eager to
incorporate their Christian beliefs into their weight loss
/ fitness programs. And when they did, their success rate
shot up dramatically.

If you aren’t getting the kind of results you’d like from
your weight loss programs, here are five possible reasons
why:

Mistake #1 - Going To The World For Your Solution - The
Bible is full of warnings not to look to the world for our
answers, including: .Do not deceive yourselves…the
wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. (1
Corinthians 3:18)

When you consider that an astonishing 19 out of 20 weight
loss attempts fail, you can see that the $47 billion Weight
Loss / Fitness Industry reflects how ineffective the
world’s ways really are. God has a much better plan!

Mistake #2 - Trying To Solve A Non-Physical Problem With
Physical Methods - Simply growing up in the world exposes
you to an avalanche of misinformation, half-truths, and
outright lies about every subject — includes health-care
and fitness.

The world tells us that diet and exercise are the keys to
weight loss success. Yet Jesus gives a very different
perspective: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth
a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this
defileth a man. (Matthew 15:11)

Would it surprise you to know a major new clinical weight
loss study recently discovered that the real, root cause of
obesity isn’t what goes on your plate, but what goes on
between your ears?

Mistake #3 - Living In Fear Instead Of Faith - Living in
fear is the opposite of living in faith. You can’t do both
at the same time. But fear has many faces, including doubt,
worry, and anxiety. All of these create stress, which for
3/4 of Americans leads to compensatory eating — which
leads in turn to — yep — obesity.

Mistake #4 - Not Honoring Your Body - It’s amazing how many
Christians consider their physical bodies mere shells,
and place all their emphasis on spiritual development.
Where do they get the idea that it’s OK to neglect their
bodies? That’s certainly not what God tells us:

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy
Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not
your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Mistake #5 - Now Understanding Why — Or How — To Fix Your
Toxic Thinking - As I noted a minute ago, the real key to
weight loss success is in your mind — in your own beliefs.
While the researchers just discovered this, it should be
old news for Christians:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans
12:2)

Now let me add a 6th mistake that sums up the first five:

Not Trusting That He Who Made You Knows What’s Best For You

What will it take to get us pointed away from the world and
toward the Word? As the Christmas carol O Holy Night
says, Long lay the world in sin and error pining?

You don’t need to do that any more! Therefore come out
from them and be separate, says the Lord. (Corinthians
6:17)

May you cast the scales from your eyes and discover God’s
timeless truth. I guarantee it will change your waistline
– and your life!

Peace be with you,

Dr. Frank

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to lose weight? To
finally start to feel good about yourself and look good?
You aren’t alone, as millions of Americans are looking for
that ‘perfect weight loss program’. Here are a 7 steps you
can start today and see results very quickly. No fads, just
facts maam :o)

Current statistics reveal that 75% of Americans are
overweight and 40% are

obese. For those who desire to lose weight and obtain
optimal health, sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to
figure out where to start. From the Atkins Diet to the
South Beach Diet; from the low fat to low carb diets, there
are numerous weight-loss plans to choose from. In addition,
given conflicting information as to what works best, it can
be difficult deciding what to do.

For those who have tried many diet plans with no success,
it becomes more difficult and frustrating. Many people
forget that a diet might work wonders for

their friend but won’t work well for them…not because the
diet is bad, but because each body reacts differently.
However, there is a way to lose weight that is easy, fast,
and doesn’t involve deprivation or calorie counting.

Before the weight loss tips are discussed, it’s important
to address some background information about body genetics
and why weight loss can be difficult.

Before anyone starts a diet, it is important to note that
each person has a different body build. Some people are
short and stout while others are tall and thin. Some have
big hips and shoulders, and others are short and very
muscular.

Genetics can determine body shape and a person’s natural
build just as it does eye color, hair color, skin color,
and so on. The good news is that genetics do not determine
whether or not one will be fat, but will determine one’s
body shape. This means that not every woman can expect to
be tall and thin like a Hollywood actress or supermodel
such as Tyra Banks. Not every man can expect to be defined
and muscular like The Rock. The goal, really, is to be at a
comfortable weight for one’s body shape and to feel good
about it.

So, why are people overweight? Here are 11 of the most
common reasons:

1. Slow metabolism: People who are overweight have a hard
time burning off food.

As a result, the fat is stored.

2. Emotional eating: Those who struggle with weight often
eat when stressed or when other emotional upheavals are
happening in their life.

3. Hormonal imbalances.

4. Eating portions that are too large.

5. Eating lots of diet food (that is low fat,low carb,
and sugar free foods).

6. Build up of toxins in the body.

7. Eating late: Late-night eating can cause food to convert
to fat more easily.

8. High susceptibility to growth hormones: These hormones
are given to animals to help them grow faster and larger,
so meat and dairy have residual growth hormones. In humans,
these hormones can result in increased fat storage.

9. Not eating breakfast.

10. Numerous diets: Going from diet to diet has a negative
impact on the metabolism and causes weight loss to be much
more difficult.

11. Food ingredients: The reasons why are amazing and
beyond the scope of this article.

Simple Tips for Easy Weight Loss:

Now that there is a better understanding of body genetics
and why people have a tendency to be overweight, here are
the tips for fast, easy weight loss.

Tip #1: Drink water upon arising: First thing in the
morning, drink eight ounces of distilled water, bottled
water, or filtered water (not tap water).

Tip #2: Eat a big breakfast: This should be done 45 minutes
after getting up in the morning. Suggested organic foods to
choose from (they must be organic) are apples, bananas, rye
bread with no sugar, plain yogurt, tuna, lamb, tomatoes,
carrots, peppers, raw honey, wild smoked salmon, and so on.

Tip #3: Drink distilled water throughout the day: Eight
glasses is recommended

Tip #4: Walk non-stop one hour each day: This doesn’t have
to be power walking; just walk at your own pace. Walking
outdoors is best.

Tip #5: Stop eating after 6:00 PM: This is hard for some
people, but do the best you can.

Tip #6: Do a candida cleanse: Candida is yeast overgrowth
in the colon that can cause all kinds of health problems.
Check online for Candida Cleanse or go to your local
health food store.

Tip #7: Do a colon cleanse: This cleanse cleans out the
digestive system, which is clogged and sluggish in many
overweight people. Once again, check online or go to your
local health food store.

More and more Americans are becoming overweight. Extra
weight can result in many health issues and negatively
impact one’s emotional state and self-esteem.

However, for those struggling with this problem, there is
hope. You can lose it and keep it off. Now that you have a
understanding of body genetics and why you might be
overweight, take action today! Commit to trying at least a
few of the steps.