The Neuro-Science Of Losing The Weight You Hate |
by: John Assaraf |
| Are you one of the 90 million Americans who are currently on a diet? Do you lose weight only to gain every ounce of it back? Well you're not alone. The national center for health statistics suggests that over 64 % of Americans are overweight and that figure is growing every year. There are currently over 300 books on dieting and over 16,000 variations of diets from which to choose. People spend over $40 billion a year on every magic potion or pill that they think will help them lose the weight they hate. Unfortunately, 95% gain back all the weight only to once again look for the next hot new diet. John Assaraf, one of the world's leading optimum performance experts, suggests we look at the cause of this epidemic instead of relying on diets and temporary weight loss tricks. "People don't understand how their brain functions and therefore gain all the weight they lose 99% of the time," said John Assaraf. "To diet using will power and exercise is absolutely the worst way to take off the weight you hate, if you want to keep it off for good." Will power is a very short-term solution for weight loss since it is controlled by the conscious mind. The latest scientific research shows that the non-conscious, conditioned side of your personality controls five sixths of your behavior and therefore your long-term results. This means that 83% of the time you are acting automatically at a non conscious level and explains why you regain all your weight back. For permanent weight loss, you must re- train the 5/6th your brain if you really want to keep it off. AMYGDALA A recent discovery has to do with your amygdala. This part of your brain doesn't like change and will release neuro-transmitters anytime you try to change something in your life like your weight. It picks up any deviation from your normal weight and basically causes you to revert back to your old patterns of thoughts and behaviors. It works exactly like the thermostat in your home that automatically picks up any change in room temperature and then automatically corrects it. This explains why people on diets often go on eating binges even while they are on their diet. Through the years we become conditioned to a certain internal "weight set point" Once this is done we don't have to think about the day-to-day food intake and activities we need to do to maintain our internal image. This is exactly how we form our habits. Once any habit is ingrained in our brain we function automatically without thought to maintain that internal image. If you don't like your current weight, you must break your old patterns and old conditioning at the non-conscious level or face the pain of the yoyo syndrome. Your internal mental system operates exactly like the mechanism that keeps airplanes, missiles or boats on course once they have set their coordinates into the system. The outer body is only an expression of the internal image. If you want to see permanent changes on the outside, you must re-train the mental image on the inside first. The most recent research suggests that it takes about 30 days of everyday mental training to "re-train" the brain if you want long lasting and permanent weight loss. By doing a few simple visualization exercises seeing yourself at your perfect weight, you start to recondition your internal image and you begin to erase the old image. The more you do this the faster you'll see results. The good news is that you can't get a brain hernia if you overdo it. POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS Another simple technique you can use is a written positive affirmation. For example, declare: I now weigh xxxx. My body fat is xxxxx. I feel and look great I am at my ideal and perfect weight now If you repeat reading this and really seeing it on the screen of your mind for at least 30 days, you'll have a far superior chance of keeping to your ideal weight. You can also cut out photos of the body type you like and paste your picture to it and review it as frequently as possible. The reason for using present tense affirmations is simple. The non-conscious side of your brain does not know the difference between an actual event and a lie or an imagined one and, it also does not understand the future. Once it is conditioned through repetition and real life or imagined experiences, it will immediately make the outside match up with the internal image. -- You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated - send to: John@TheStreetKid.com About the Author John Assaraf |
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The humble soybean boasts some extraordinary benefits. This nutritional powerhouse has stayed under wraps for too long. Apart from being the only vegetable protein with all 20 amino acids essential for our health and well being, the humble soybean has many other virtues...including an excellent foundation for fast, safe weight loss program.
According to Dr David Heber in "The LA Shape Diet" women who are on a weight loss program, need about 100 grams of protein per day to fight against hunger and to build their best personal lean muscle shape whilst still losing weight. Without the appropriate level of proteins in a low calorie diet, people and women in particular, risk losing 1 pound of muscle for every 4 pounds of weight lost!
Dr Heber recommends soy-protein shakes or soy-protein fruit smoothies as a safe and healthy way to achieve fast and permanent weight loss. Apart from the wonderful health advantages of soy, this a safe protein source without the unwanted cholesterol and saturated fats that accompany animal protein sources and sabotage low calorie weight loss programs.
Read on to discover some other wonderful benefits of this incredible this food source.
1. Soy contains health enhancing isoflavones. Isoflavones are compounds found only in plants which have strong antioxidant properties. These compounds repair, and help prevent damage to cells caused by pollution, sunlight, and normal body processes. Free radicals can easily cause harm to the immune system, whose cells divide often. They may also be responsible for some of the changes of aging.
2. Reduce risk of heart disease. Soy's protein and isoflavones lower LDL cholesterol and decrease blood clotting, which reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. In one study, people who drank a "milk shake" containing 25g of soy protein for nine weeks experienced, on average, a 5% reduction in LDL cholesterol. And people with the highest LDL levels experienced a 11% drop. (For each 10% to 15% drop in the LDL level, the risk of a heart attack decreases 20% to 25%).
3. Protection against cancer. Soy's soluble fiber protects the body from many digestive related cancers, such as colon and rectal cancer. While its isoflavones may protect the body from many hormone related cancers, like breast, endometrial (uterine) and prostate cancer. Isoflavones act against cancer cells in a way similar to many common cancer-treating drugs.
4. Counter the effects of endometriosis. The isoflavones in soy products may help to offset the action of the body's natural estrogen, which is often responsible for instigating the monthly pain, heavy bleeding and other symptoms of endometriosis.
5. Protect against prostate problems. Eating soy products may protect against enlargement of the male prostate gland. The size of the prostate gland tends to increase with age, causing various types of urinary difficulties, including frequent nighttime awakenings.
6. Guard against osteoporosis. Soy's protein enhances the body's ability to retain and better absorb calcium in the bones, while its isoflavones slow bone loss and inhibit bone breakdown, which helps prevent osteoporosis. There is evidence to suggest that isoflavones may also assist in creating new bone.
7. Control symptoms of menopause and perimenopause. Soy's isoflavones help the body regulate estrogen when this hormone is declining or fluctuating, which helps alleviate many menopausal and PMS symptoms. Research has shown that soy isoflavones can reduce menopausal hot flushes in women.
8. Help control diabetic conditions and kidney disease. Soy's protein and soluble fiber help regulate glucose levels and kidney filtration, which helps control diabetic conditions and kidney disease.
What an incredible little bean! With such profound health benefits how can you overlook this wonderful food source? If you haven't yet noticed, gone are the days when the only way soy products came were in strange tasting meat substitutes. You can now access a wide range of soy products and use soy in a variety of ways to suit any taste palate.