September is ‘National Cholesterol Education Month’

High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. High blood cholesterol affects over 102 mil Americans over 20yrs old (CDC). It can be prevented by healthy eating & exercise.

What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your body and many foods. Your body needs cholesterol to function normally and makes all that you need. Too much cholesterol can build up in your arteries. After a while, these deposits narrow your arteries, putting you at risk for heart disease and stroke. Cholesterol in foods mainly comes from animals.

Types
• LDL ("bad") cholesterol - low density lipoprotein
• HDL ("good") cholesterol - high density lipoprotein

Lipoproteins are combinations of lipids (fats) and proteins. They are the form in which lipids are transported in the blood.

LDL ("bad") cholesterol - LDL is the major carrier of cholesterol in the blood. LDL cholesterol is called "bad" cholesterol, because elevated LDL cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. LDL lipoprotein deposits cholesterol on the artery walls, causing the formation of a hard, thick substance called cholesterol plaque. Over time, cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and narrowing of the arteries (coronary heart disease). Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death in the United States, accounting for about 600,000 deaths annually. Narrowing of the arteries can also lead to brain damage from stroke. In addition to smoking and blood pressure, blood cholesterol is a major controllable risk factor for coronary heart disease.

Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by what you eat but also by how quickly your body makes LDL ("bad") cholesterol and disposes of it. In fact, your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, and it is not necessary to take in any additional cholesterol from the foods you eat.

HDL ("good") cholesterol - HDL transports cholesterol from the tissues of the body to the liver so it can be gotten rid of in the bile. HDL cholesterol is therefore considered the "good" cholesterol. The higher the HDL cholesterol level, the lower the risk of coronary artery disease.

Determining factors
Many factors help determine whether your LDL-cholesterol level is high or low. The following factors are the most important:

Heredity. Your genes influence how high your LDL ("bad") cholesterol is by affecting how fast LDL is made and removed from the blood. One specific form of inherited high cholesterol that affects 1 in 500 people is familial hypercholesterolemia, which often leads to early heart disease. But even if you do not have a specific genetic form of high cholesterol, genes play a role in influencing your LDL-cholesterol level.

What you eat. Two main nutrients in the foods you eat make your LDL ("bad") cholesterol level go up: saturated fat, a type of fat found mostly in foods that come from animals; and cholesterol, which comes only from animal products. Saturated fat raises your LDL-cholesterol level more than anything else in the diet. Eating too much saturated fat and cholesterol is the main reason for high levels of cholesterol and a high rate of heart attacks in the United States. Reducing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol you eat is a very important step in reducing your blood cholesterol levels. For more, please visit the Nutrition Center.

Weight. Excess weight tends to increase your LDL ("bad") cholesterol level. If you are overweight and have a high LDL-cholesterol level, losing weight may help you lower it. Weight loss also helps to lower triglycerides and raise HDL ("good") cholesterol levels.

Physical activity/exercise. Regular physical activity may lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol and raise HDL ("good") cholesterol levels.

Age and sex. Before the age of menopause, women usually have total cholesterol levels that are lower than those of men the same age. As women and men get older, their blood cholesterol levels rise until about 60 to 65 years of age. After the age of about 50, women often have higher total cholesterol levels than men of the same age.

Alcohol. Alcohol intake increases HDL ("good") cholesterol but does not lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Doctors don't know for certain whether alcohol also reduces the risk of heart disease. Drinking too much alcohol can damage the liver and heart muscle, lead to high blood pressure, and raise triglycerides. Because of the risks, alcoholic beverages should not be used as a way to prevent heart disease.

Stress. Stress over the long term has been shown in several studies to raise blood cholesterol levels. One way that stress may do this is by affecting your habits. For example, when some people are under stress, they console themselves by eating fatty foods. The saturated fat and cholesterol in these foods contribute to higher levels of blood cholesterol

How often should you have your cholesterol checked?
The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommends that adults aged 20 years or older have their cholesterol checked every 5 years.

Additional resources
• http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/CholestrolATH_UCM_001089_SubHomePage.jsp
• http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/cholmonth/
• http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=14638

An invitation from Naked Health...

Fish or meat for your health?

A study evaluated the health and eating habits of close to 15,000 people age 65 and older from countries around the world, including Peru, China, India, Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. And the people who ate fish often -- nearly every day -- were about 20 percent less likely to be diagnosed with dementia compared with the folks who never ate fish. Also, eating one to two 6-ounce servings of omega-3-rich fish each week reduces your risk of dying from heart disease by 36 percent; may protect against Alzheimer's disease; and your all-cause mortality rate drops by 17 percent. Researchers suspect that the inflammation-fighting omega-3 fatty acids in fish produce the benefit.
If you don't care much about your brain: meat. In the study, the more meat people ate (think beef, chicken, and pork) the higher their risk of dementia.

Concerned about mercury in your fish?
Unfortunately, most fish contain some mercury, thanks to industrial processing. But the less time fish spend simply living in a mercury-laden environment or eating other fish containing mercury, the lower the contamination levels will be. So for low-mercury fish, we're talking small fish that don't eat many other fish (or fish meal) and don't have a long life span. Here are five good choices:
1. Salmon (wild): 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids per 2 ounces of fish;* 0.014 parts per million mercury concentration
2. Herring: 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids per 1 ounce of fish;* 0.044 parts per million mercury concentration
3. Sardines: 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids per 2-3 ounces of fish;* 0.016 parts per million mercury concentration
4. Trout (freshwater): 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids per 3-4 ounces of fish;* 0.072 parts per million mercury concentration
5. Pollock: 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids per 6.5 ounces of fish;* 0.041 parts per million mercury concentration
*Oil content varies widely, depending on species, season, environment, diet, and packing and cooking methods.

Here's the list of fish to avoid:
• King mackerel: 0.73 parts per million mercury concentration
• Shark: 0.99 parts per million mercury concentration
• Swordfish: 0.98 parts per million mercury concentration
• Tilefish (Gulf of Mexico): 1.45 parts per million mercury concentration
So where does the tuna fall? Pretty close to the middle of the road, actually, with mercury concentration ranging from 0.12 to 0.69 parts per million, depending on what kind of tuna you eat. And you'll need to eat anywhere from 3.5-12 ounces to get 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids, depending on how you take your tuna: Fresh tuna has the most and canned chunk light tuna has the least. But chunk light tuna also has the least mercury.

A fish-oil supplement is a surefire way to get the omega-3 fatty acids you want and need. But talk to your doctor first. Fish-oil supplements, or too much, are dangerous for certain people.

Ref:- Dietary fish and meat intake and dementia in Latin America, China, and India: a 10/66 Dementia Research Group population-based study. Albanese, E., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2009 Aug;90(2):392-400.
Fish intake, contaminants, and human health: evaluating the risks and the benefits. Mozaffarian, D., Rimm, E. B., Journal of the American Medical Association 2006 Oct 18;296(15):1885-1899.
Fish consumption, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular disease. Kris-Etherton, P. M., Harris, W. S., Appel, L. J., American Heart Association. Nutrition Committee. Circulation 2002 Nov 19;106(21):2747-2757.

Wanna curb late night snacking?

So there I am at night in-front if my computer. I’m tired, but want to carry on and get more stuff done. The more tired I get my body wants energy to keep it awake; it’s then that those cravings creep in…hmmm for something salty! So in efforts to be ‘good’ I go for a bag of 100 cal popcorn. Bad habit I’ve gotten into. Why bad? Because it’s late at night – I’m not hungry - I only want it because I’m tired. And because it’s becoming a little too regular, and this is pure carbs. Carbs are your body’s quick source of energy;- so if all I’m doing is going to sleep then my body won’t have chance to burn them off and so will store that excess energy supply …as fat! Remember that snacks can add up, and its only takes 500 cals of unused cals a day to add on 1lb/week. This can easily add up to 4/5lbs in a month and so on.
It’s that mindless eating, the strong late night cravings, when our discipline is low. It’s all OK if you know how much your body needs. It’s knowing that difference – knowing your body. For me…I either need to stop or find a better alternative.
How do I break that habit? Either decide to just go to bed. Or by having some basic knowledge about carbs/fat/cals etc and knowing that this late night snack is – carb-wise - more than my entire breakfast, or equivalent to a healthy lunch/dinner for me. THIS is the wake-up call I need to stop.
In addition, often such late night eating can lead to bloating/gas during the night. Also, it can mean we’re not hungry for breakfast and that may lead some of us to skip that meal…BAD IDEA!!
So if you have to give into that craving – try small portions of exactly what you crave. Or try healthier options such as peanut butter and apple slices, veggies & hummus dip, low fat cheese slices, cup of broth…or maybe a cup of iced water – as hunger often hides thirst. Even a diet soda can give your taste buds that flavor they’re seeking.
Try and switch your brain onto something else..what you're working on, a TV programme, what your plans are tomorrow or at the weekend. often just waiting 10mins can lessen the urge.

What food cravings do you give into late at night? And have you found ways to make them healthier or stop?

Ask me!

Hello
So - what is it YOU want to know about what you are, or not, eating? What could you do to be healthier?
You may also like to know that other tips & info is available on;

- FACEBOOK 'like' page - http://bit.ly/9b9DLn or http://www.Facebook.com/NakedHealthGrp
- TWITTER - @nakedhealthgrp
- WEBSITE - http://www.nakedhealthgrp.com

Please join me on this great journey to being your best and feeling alive!

Dawn

Healthy eating whilst travelling/on vacation

We can have all the best intentions to eat healthy whilst on the move/travelling/ vacationing, but they can so easily fall to the wayside through lack of availability or temptation in the moment. Here are a few tips that may help. A little bit of planning can save you many empty calories/bad fats & carbs/sodium/chemicals/money that still leave you feeling hungry or sluggish!
Flying - go online and see what food outlets are available at your airport/gate etc. Also find out what meals are available onboard – even if not served you can often purchase them onboard. Depending on time of day you are flying you can pack a couple of hard boiled eggs and an apple for a snack/breakfast….a chicken salad for lunch/dinner or a healthy sandwich. Maybe a bag of nuts/healthier cookies/chocolate/protein bars etc. Not only will these be healthier but often save you a lot of money.
As you know drink lots of water, and avoid alcohol (dehydrating). If flying long distances try and walk/move/exercise when you arrive – and/or get some sunlight – all good to invigorate you and not lead to your body craving food as a substitute for energy.
Hotel - call ahead and find out of there is a fridge in the room. This way you know you can stock up for a healthy breakfast/snacks. Find out if breakfast is included and what it is.
On the road - you can make a packed lunch/snacks in a mini cooler….or at least your favorite diet sodas/sparkling water, and maybe some protein bars. If not, when you stop - think protein (chicken/eggs) and not fried…and salad/veges/wholewheat bread.
Travelling companions – It is a known fact that if we eat with others we tend to eat more. And women who are not used to eating every meal in the company of men – may well overeat. Same with drinks – alcohol…try and pace with yourself and stick to your healthier options and not get swayed by others.
Maybe think again! We often have the thought that ‘Hey I’m on vacation …so I’ll be good again when I get back home.’ But just think on this for a moment – what if you could have a relaxing break/vacation and return home refreshed and a few pounds lighter without even trying?!! Often when we are away from home we are more distracted, we move more…walk around…do other activities….= all good calorie burning stuff! And if you just keep to a normal eating plan – without the added numerous ice creams/alcoholic drinks/foods or even just size of portions you wouldn’t normally eat…you will be surprised when you return how good you feel and look. That’ll be worth its weight in gold for those tough moments of saying ‘no’. Remember nothing tastes as good as thin feels! And it feels pretty lousy to return home and face an even larger uphill weight struggle that when you left!

A little foresight can keep you healthy and on track with your eating/weight loss plan!

Rev your natural fat burn by 30%!

Are you eating too many white carbs? White bread, white flour, white rice, grits, pasta, corn tortillas, pretzels, crackers? Then you may not be getting enough fiber. Fiber can rev your natural fat burn by 30%! You need to go for whole grain foods and get at least 25g/day.
Whole grains can also reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers, The vitamins, minerals & fiber have great health benefits, including the control of Diabetes.
White carbs/refined grains have been milled to remove the bran and germ layer, leaving just the endosperm. The grain is stripped of most of its iron content, fiber, and B vitamins (thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, and folate). This process improves the shelf life and gives products a finer texture. Manufacturers later "enrich" products by adding synthetic B vitamins and iron back into their products but in lesser quantities. Fiber is not added as part of the enrichment process.
"Wheat flour" is not necessarily a whole grain. Many baked goods are colored brown, often with molasses, and made to look like whole grain. Try to purchase bread that has the words "whole wheat flour" on the label and in the ingredients. If a serving provides more than 3 grams of fiber it most likely contains whole grains.
Examples of whole grains are: whole wheat, whole oats, whole grain corn, popcorn, wild rice, whole rye, whole grain barley, buckwheat, quinoa, millet, & bulgur.

Want more energy, better moods, more stamina? How about answers to your problems…?

Then let’s get movin’! Who’s groaning and saying to themselves ‘oh that!’? I know it’s difficult to find/make the time and effort to exercise…but the benefits for your mind, body and soul must shift it up in your list of priorities! It positively ignites and powers everything, and, therefore, the rest of your day – how you are, your mood and spirit, how much you get done, and how people respond to you.
It can easily be just moving – 10mins walking – taking the stairs – getting a stationary bike trainer – a skipping rope/hoop or a step you step up and down on whilst on the phone/watching TV. It doesn’t have to be all at once – little movements throughout the day add up. Just 30mins a day – split throughout the day - has been shown to reduce the risk of premature death by half!! AND if you increase your body temperature by just 1% it increases your metabolism by 14%!
Walking and running have been shown not increase appetite. Using Google maps you can plan a route by distance for walking/cycling, or use http://www.walkjogrun.net/; or count your steps/calories http://walking.about.com/library/cal/uccalc3.htm
Get your heart pumping the blood around your body; get more oxygen deep into your lungs; and help your digestion. Breaking out a sweat helps your body eliminate toxins. The beneficial ripple effects to your health are irreplaceable! (incl. depression, diabetes, heart disease, lung/uterine/colon cancer)
Escape into exercise and a funny thing can happen with your brain. It’ll often pour out answers you’ve been seeking, give you new ideas, write out emails /documents for you – without you even trying – it’s great! So what you think is time away from your work/life duties actually ends up being the best brainstorm and energizer for yourself. You come back invigorated – ready to address those challenges with energy and a more positive frame of mind.
Let alone all that, if you exercise outside there is no replacement for fresh air and sunlight (Vit D – which a lot of us are lacking in). You can simple take in nature – i.e., on the trails - the abundance of greenery, the smell of wild flowers, beautiful birds, even families of turtles. With the summer here make it a family affair – walking, on bikes, throwing a ball. Make it a nature trail / adventure tour...even a good old game of ‘eye-spy’! Get your children started how you want them to go on.
And at the end of the day – you’ll zzz..sleep better.
So, make moving/exercise a ‘must’ instead of a ‘maybe’ and boost the quality of your life. In the words of Nike – ‘Just do it!’

Can you give up one unhealthy food?

Being creatures of habit change is hard – especially when it comes to our favorite food/drink. But small changes can have a huge impact on your healthy.
Try this: Pick one item in your kitchen that you know is not so healthy for you…high in cals, unhealthy fats, highly processed etc, that you really know you shouldn’t be eating, and do not buy it/replace it when you next go shopping. Think of something healthier you already have or can buy to replace it. It won’t necessarily be easy, but get though those few minutes and just do it. Focus on the replacement item. If you miss it too much a shop will always be selling it! And hopefully even the extra effort then will put you off.

Try it and let me know what happens……

When you were little..were you ever told to….

..sit or stand up straight? I was… at meal time when eating with my family– along with a sharp poke in my ribs. Don’t know what was worse for my digestion – slumping or the sudden jolt to sit-up straight! As a little girl I also remember taking horse-riding lessons, and my instructor teaching me about ‘deportment’, or posture, on a horse. You’ve probably seen the old movie with the girls walking with plates on their heads; and the ‘act as if a string is pulling you up from your head’.

It turns out that there is a lot to be said for posture – for standing or sitting upright – for gentle pushing our shoulders back and relaxing them down, for standing tall. You will appear slimmer – you will look better, your clothes will hang better on you. You will feel better, your breathing will improve, prevent you putting pressure on your internal organs, and you will look and be more confident and people will react better to you.

Do the words – ‘head up – shoulders back - breathe in’ sound familiar? Try it – it feels good!

Do you have anecdotes/memories from childhood that actually make sense for our health and well-being?

Have YOU had all your check-ups?

This week is Women’s National Health Week! Every woman is being encouraged to get informed about all her CHECK-UP’S she should be having. So I have compiled a list here as guidance. Start all listed in the years suggested; continue, and add on the others, as you age.

20’s - Start having your Blood Pressure checked - every 2yrs
- Start having your Cholesterol checked –(LDL, HDL, triglycerides)- every 5yrs
- PAP – annually
30’s - If you have 3 consecutive clear PAP’s – can start to have them every 3yrs
- Mole check – annually
- Tetanus – every 10yrs
35 - Thyroid - every 2yrs
40’s - Mammogram – every 1-2yrs (controversial I know)
- Eyes for glaucoma – every 2uyrs
45 - Diabetes – every 3yrs
50’s - Mammogram annually
- Colonoscopy – every 10yrs
- Hearing
60’s - Eye health
- Flu vaccine annually
- Pneumonia
65 - Osteoporosis – every 3yrs

If in doubt call your Doctor and ask, and/or, take this list with your on your next visit. If anyone wants to embellish on this please feel free and share here. Let’s all get more informed! Prevention is key!

Have you had a ‘ah-ha’ moment?

I always dread buying shorts and jeans – I suppose because the fit has to be just right to accentuate and ‘de-accentuate’ all the right bits in all the right places! So to go for a quick walk today I grabbed pair of old black denim shorts, as my cloth ones had gone all baggy around the butt from sitting in them..very attractive look!!! As I was walking I became aware of the waistband around my waist (those ‘out of date’ high-rise ones) under my t-shirt, and thought… Waistbands are a good gentle reminder or benchmark for each of us to how we are doing weight wise…are we gaining/losing? It took me back to my ‘ah-ha’ moment, before I lost weight, 9yrs ago…

It was just another day in my favorite pair of old baggy jeans. I sat down …and… oh my god! My jeans were so tight around my waist that it was painful, and my stomach was bursting over in a roll over the top! Nice visual hey? I was there – believe me – I saw it and felt it! That was the moment for me when I knew something had to give in my lifestyle and eating pattern …before my jeans did!

A lot of us have had those ‘ah-ha’ moments – did you? What was it and what happened?

Think Global – Act Local! You CAN make a difference…(with an addendum – useful reminder!)

I went to buy dessert for an event and was surprised by my findings. The ingredients were few in number, pronounceable, recognizable, and no additives, preservatives, chemicals etc. How great to have foods in shops that are made out of simple natural ingredients.
- Large Gingerbread cake – 16oz – sugar, molasses, soy bean oil, eggs, flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, $5.99
- Oh, and a free giant chocolate chip cookie - flour, unsalted butter, sugar, light brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking soda, chocolate chips
I have to shout out to Marvelous Market in the DC metro area http://www.marvelousmarket.com/locations. Support local and all natural foods! Make a stand with what you buy. It WILL make a difference!
THE ADDENDUM!
Hmmm – so the operative word is ‘free’!.Free food is usually not healthy food. So ‘that’ cookie- the free one – well yes it made it into my house and my cookie jar (full of very plain cookies) = bad move, especially for someone with a sweet tooth! So when I got the sweet munchies today I decided to eat the chocolate chips out of the cookie. That’s sort of my way of treating myself, and not eating the whole thing. Well - the chocolate chips were so entwined with the cookie dough that it was more just chunks of cookie I was eating. Throughout the day it kept beckoning me. After dinner I returned again to THAT COOKIE (just because it was there!). OMG! It was all gone – I had eaten that giant cookie in one day!! I couldn’t believe it!
So, it was a good reminder that, if you are going to treat yourself – cut/break off a portion. By breaking anything into bits and nibbling away, you will be surprised (or shocked!) how much you end up eating! The other reminder is if this happens and you feel really bad about it – hey its done – just move on and maybe say ‘no’ to the next treat that comes along. It’s about balance!

The significance of French Fries

So after a great day out at the Gold Cup in The Plains, VA I am nibbling into the odd French fry from my friends plate…and she jokes saying ’Hey shall I take a photo of you eating French fries for Naked Health!!’ I wish she had!

This encompasses my whole message:- there isn’t a list of ‘forbidden’ foods. As long as your main core food-plan is healthy, you are conscious of what you are eating, and don’t gorge out or regularly indulge in such foods - then enjoy the choice of the culinary smorgasbord that life offers and the temptations you’ll come across. As the old wives tale goes ‘a little bit of what you fancy does you good!’. Deprive yourself and you’ll probably crave it more, end up eating lots of other things to try and satisfy that taste, and then go and get the thing you wanted in the first place! Its real life, and that’s why you need the ‘food mindset’ for life …and for living!

What shall I have to drink?

As summertime approaches – BBQ’s, outdoor events etc, how can we sip away(alcohol) and not pile on the calories? So here are a few suggestions. Decide what you’re in the mood for – wine, beer, liquor? If wine - maybe add soda water/seltzer/diet sprite..even couple of ice cubes; if beer - choose the low cal/lite ones; with liquor it’s your mixers that are the main culprit – avoid fruit juices/sugared sodas – choose soda water/mix with a little juice for flavor/add slices of fruit. If you must have a sugared mixer fill your glass up with lots of ice so your have less, and let the ice melt a little. Try and stick to clear liquors.
Alternate an alcoholic drink with low cal non-alcoholic one/water. Try not to drink through a straw – you’ll drink it in no time! Always good too – before you go/as soon as you get there - drink a glass of water; often we guzzle an alcoholic drink because we’re thirsty – not so good it of goes straight to your head! Maybe sip more slowly, taste it...and enjoy!
Any other ideas out there for sharing?

Sick of the word ‘diet’?

If you go on Twitter /TweetDeck and put in a column for ‘dieting’ – there are tweets every few seconds on how people are dieting, or not, or can’t face it, or it’s not working, or they don’t know how to start. STOP!!!

Dieting to many now means deprivation, constant cravings and hunger, a limited list of foods!

Any success begins with the mind. There needs to be a shift in your ‘mindset’ about food. Learning how food can fuel your body, lessen your risk of illness and disease, give you more energy, reduced cravings and hunger, clearer skin, better sleep, better healing...and improved attitude and moods! This will give you the freedom again to enjoy food – all foods, and to eat, eat often and eat volume!

Whatever you call it – it can’t be short-term change;- its got to be a sustainable food plan for life! Literally!

***What are you doing to get a healthy eating plan for life?***

You may be interested in my published article ‘Food - Is it Fueling Or Failing You?’ http://EzineArticles.com/?id=3977223

Are you 'skinny fat'?

Did anyone see the Today Show this morning? It revisited a woman who they called ‘Skinny Fat’. She was normal weight and size yet her BMI (Body Mass index) – was 27%. This meant that the amount of fat inside her body was putting her at risk to the obesity related illnesses, ie metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, inflammation of her organs. To be healthy she needed to get her BMI under 25%. She made small changes that had a huge impact:- changed her diet – whole grains, more veges, moved more(not outrageous exercise). In 8 weeks she dropped to 22% and felt so much better – more core strength, energized, more stamina…more healthy!
This is my point exactly for ‘Naked in the Mirror’ – rethinking what you eat and getting real with yourself so that you can live your best life! Do you know your BMI? Mine is 18. Any doctors, gym etc will do it for you free…just ask.

So how’z about you?

So tell me about you. What do you do to assess yourself…your weight…your shape etc? What works for you..or what frustrates you? What have you heard that works for others?
What about the food you eat: - How would you rate your knowledge? What percentage of your food do you think is fueling you? What percentage failing you? How can you tell? How are your energy levels, your sleep, your skin, your moods? Do you get colds/flu often, or other ailments? And what about cravings? Are they bad? Can you control them?
Let’s get it all out there – then we can begin to address these things and change them!

Why 'Naked In the Mirror'?

Every morning when I get up, I turn sideways in front of the mirror and assess my stomach; how is it today? How am I doing overall? This is my quick assessment or check-in for me. My stomach is where I first notice any slight change in weight. Like most, my weight fluctuates over time for a multitude of reasons. But there was a time when I put on a lot of weight. I mean, lets face it – we’re all human and most of us love to eat. Food is a wonderful thing. And there are temptations everywhere. But, after much research, I now have the 'food mindset' for life, enabling me to be the healthiest and slimmest I have ever been! This is what I want to share.
Being naked in the mirror is not that comfortable for many of us. But this is about being honest with yourself, being aware - really aware - of what your are eating, whether it is fueling or failing you, and waking up to your real health!