As a naturopathic doctor and nutritionist by trade, I am, at the core, always striving to get patients to realize how important lifestyle choices are in their long term health.  The wealth of information available to the consumer is overwhelming to say the least, and nothing is more at the forefront than the arena of weight loss/management.  With an obesity rate of over 20% in 49 states (Colorado - from where I write this very entry-is slightly under), its seems education is continueing to fail the average population from improving their health.

It's obvious that our fast food, stressed out, sleep deprived, and addicted population can not sustain this for long without serious consequences.  Diabetes is fastly taking over the number one cause of death in the United States and it is in every case (some exeptions) completely avoidable by what we put in our mouth and what we do with our bodies.

Health is about a lifetime plan, and one that will not only influence your genetics, but the genetics of your generations to come. (Read more about this- Epigenetics of Nutrition).  Fortunately in my profession I tend to meet people that have made the shift to a healthier way of thinking and they want help in making the next step.  It's all about coaching and creating a plan that is a lifestyle, not a diet, a fad, or a quick fix.  Motivation and endurance are required for making significant changes, and I believe this, on top of not having the correct coaching, is the reason many people are not able to finish- there are no quick fixes in weight loss and lifestyle improvement- it's a paced run, not a sprint. 

Recently in my practice I have been implementing a program ( Evolve ) that I was introduced to by my trainer, Nathan Detracy from Bellevue, WA.  My story ( ) began with realizing I myself needed a coach to transform my health after years of stress, fatigue, and sleep deprivation.  Nathan's program completely motivated me in a such a way that I hadn't had before, because I saw AND felt results, and it brought together everything I already knew while adding in aspects of body composition training that are vital to long term success.  The 24 Day Challenge is the beginning of the Evolve program, and it's where the metabolic shift starts.

When I realized that I could implement this with weight loss in my patients,  I had no idea how it was going to absolutely transform their lives.  Below is a testimonial from Ali, who even with diet and exercise, struggled with weight loss. She wrote this for me to share with you, so that others who are stuggling can see that if there is a will there is a way.  The story is amazing, but a picture is worth a thousand words.  She has forever changed her future, and I hope she may inspire you to change yours. Say yes to yourself and get ready to see what is possible!

My 24 Day Challenge Story

Before the 24 Day Challenge I had given up hope trying to lose the extra weight I have been carrying around for years.   I've been playing roller derby for 5 years and consider myself very active but the weight just wouldn't come off and my performance on the track had been a constant struggle with fatigue, lack of endurance and my energy level just wouldn't last.  I tried everything I could to break through that wall by changing my diet and exercise routine and nothing worked.  Naturally, being "older" I had it in my head that I will forever be stuck this way.  Needless to say I had given up!

Then I was introduced to the 24 Day Challenge.  I was a bit skeptical but thought why not give it a shot, it's only 24 days out of my entire existence, nothing to lose right?

I was shocked and filled with excitement with my results after the 24 Day Challenge.  I dropped 12 lbs, 4" around my waist, 2" off each arm, 1.5" off each leg and I am down 4 pant sizes!  In addition, I have increased energy, stamina and endurance.

 Ever since I was a wee one, "Carbohydrate Addict" was my middle name.  Now I have zero cravings for potatoes and pasta, never would have imagined that could be possible.  The 24 Day Challenge has taught me how to successfully fuel my body with proper nutrition.  I feel stronger, more energetic, a lot healthier and much happier than I have felt in a long time.  As cheesy as it sounds, losing weight, and keeping it off, doesn't happen by going on a "diet".  It's about changing your lifestyle, changing the way you eat, and staying committed.

 The 24 Day Challenge has literally changed my life for the better, forever!!!

 The New and Improved, 

Ali V., Oak Harbor, WA

“What you eat today, walks and talks tomorrow.”

-Babe the Pig 

This is from the movie "Babe" my daughters favorite movie at the current time, and even though you could interpret it a number of different ways, there is no doubt that what you eat controls each and every cell in your body. Since eating is something we all do, it seems like a good idea to put the conversation forward: Are your genetics influenced by the foods you eat, and even more importantly, do you have the power to control how your genes are turned on or off through nutrition?

 The answer is: YES.  The new future of medicine is known as Epigenetics- looking at how the genetic code is affected by environmental influences, and how we have the real ability to turn wellness or illness genes on or off through the foods we chose to put in our bodies. If you were to hear someone say, "it's all in my genes" it's true, but what you don't hear people say is, "but I have the power to control them."  Now I'm not talking about hair color, eye color, skin color etc, these things are in the genetic code and make up your physical appearance.  But lets say someone is meant to be 6 foot 5, but they were fed a horrible diet as a child- malnourished and under exercised.  It's likely they wouldn't make it to that height due to the genetic code being altered by deficiency states.

It's the same with many of today's epidemic diseases in the modern world like heart disease, diabetes, cancers, and obesity.  In a family where both parents have diabetes type 2, some will argue there is a genetic link for their child to get diabetes type 2 when they are older.  In truth, if the child was fed a healthy diet devoid of simple carbohydrates and bad fats, and full of vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins (with adequate exercise) it is very unlikely that this grown adult will get diabetes, for if the gene existed, it wouldn't be turned on.  However in today's world we see children getting type 2 diabetes, a sure sign that if we continue to eat (and stay sedentary) the way we do, gene destruction will happen at an alarming rate.  

The bright side to all this is that you have the power over what you put in your body and even though you don't know every "bad" gene in your body, you do have the say in what your genes can do.  Many will disagree with me here, but I have seen all to many times that when people improve their nutritional status, their bodies become efficient, leaner, and free of disease, while their minds are calmed and bright.  Even those who are what we considered "diseased, can benefit from a clean whole foods diet, sometimes even reversing their conditions and/or optimizing their current states. Take this month to educate yourself and others about the importance of healthy food, and remember you aren't helpless to your genes.

Hello 2011, goodbye 2010! Now that I'm a mom, I gauge how fast my life is going by how fast my daughter is growing. This last weekend we celebrated her 2nd birthday, and I'm not quite sure where those two years went!

It's an exciting time for me and my naturopathic practice, so I wanted to share some of the new events that are shaping my life and business for 2011! As you can see, we have a new website! It's beautiful and relevant, and I'm excited about using this as a stage to promote what our clinic has to offer. Don't miss the Facebook page for our clinic, and yes, it seems that I will be tweeting, so follow me on Twitter and I'll do my best to share the newest health related topics! Notice my new column in each newsletter "DeStress is Best", as I share common, and not so common ways, to relieve stress and boost your brainpower and energy.

As always, my first love is NeuroCranial Restructuring. I can't spread the word enough about this amazing treatment that you may have experienced yourself! My favorite medium for sharing NCR is through presentations; sometimes the smallest of venues is the best. Recently, I did a presentation at Evolution Fitness in Redmond, WA, and I am scheduled to present March 2 at Beyond Medicine in Olympia, WA. If you want to share this with your friends and family, and would enjoy a presentation in your area, I'd be more than happy to set up a day and time!

My newest business promotion stems from my own story of the last year. After two years of being a new mom and running a practice in two states, my own health took a hit. In September my daughter brought home a cold from day care, which turned into walking pneumonia for me. I suppose after years of being run down (medical school, practice, mommy hood), this is what it took for me to stop making excuses and start making healthier decisions.

My close personal friend Nathan Detracy is the owner of Evolution Fitness (evolutionbellevue.com) in Bellevue, WA and he is a professional bodybuilder who has trained some of the biggest names in the local sport. He is not only an amazing "all natural" athlete; he's a successful entrepreneur with a heart of gold! He challenged me to do his program, and  I have transformed my health to say the least.

The overall program is called EVOLVE and consists of an exercise, diet, and supplemental program. EVOLVE isn't just about losing weight, or gaining muscle. It's about transforming your body into a metabolic powerhouse and ramping up your immune system, no matter your age, gender, or circumstance! I realized this is what I wanted to offer to patients, a way to really change their physical body, biochemistry, and mental outlook! NCR addresses so many areas, but with EVOLVE it's like adding the pieces of the puzzle that were missing!

Starting with an office, phone, or Skype (new!) visit, we can get you on your way to feeling amazing just like I have. It's taken accountability, focus, and determination on my side, but the results have been short of incredible, and I no longer use the excuses to stop my health recovery! If this sounds like something you could benefit from, visit my Naturopathic services page to see how we can help you EVOLVE! Stay tuned for future success stories in our new testimonials section.

My business stays alive by the generous referrals that many of you have sent me over the years, and I am grateful for your continued support! Please remember, for every new NCR patient you refer, I will give you $50 towards your next NCR session or Naturopathic appointment! Referring them to our website will also help your odds of getting that $50, as I know they will enjoy the wealth of information!

I leave you with a picture of me with Dr Mehmet Oz MD - a very strong proponent of alternative therapies, diet, exercise, and Naturopathic medicine. I had the great fortune to meet him this last summer where he was awarded an honorary Naturopathic degree along with his wife Lisa, from my alma mater Bastyr University. He's as kind and personable in "real" life as on TV, and it was amazing to meet such an inspiration in my field!

I look forward to helping you with your goals in 2011!

Health is Wealth -
Dr Hillary