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

Dr Robert Sapolsky is a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and has done research on Primates in Kenya. Growing up in NYC he dreamed of living with apes, and later did just that, living with baboons in Africa. There he began to study the stress responses of the baboons and thus its correlation to us humans. He wrote the first version of this book in 1994, a second in 1998, and now this version in 2004. (Science is constantly changing, and what we think we know is constantly changing).

I read it back in med school, but lately it has come back into my life as I've been researching the nervous system. The title is interesting and at first glance makes you wonder, what do zebra's have to do with this book? And why don't they get ulcers? Well it all boils done to stress, and how stress can save and/or kill us.

There are different types of stress, and they affect the body differently, whether you are a human or any other animal living on the planet. Most animals, the zebra for example, live in a peaceful state of wandering, eating, drinking etc without much worry. Once in a while though the zebra experiences moments of acute stress, like running from a hungry lion, where split second hormonal and neurological activities are essential for their ultimate survival. These nervous system functions are the same in humans, and under acute stress, we do what it called the "flight or fight" reaction. It used to be that people worried about dying from diseases such as Cholera, Polio, the Flu ( hmmm I guess they still are, but not to the extent that we used to see) However, in this day and age of tests, bills, deadlines, traffic, the list could go on, more people are living with CHRONIC stress and dying from stress related diseases, and thus the ulcers begin.

This book wraps up the many ways in which good and bad stress can affect our lives and bodies, but it also looks at the personality and HOW the mind can influence our perceptions and ultimately who CHRONIC stress will kill first. Did you know that if your mother was malnourished during her first trimester you have a higher risk of heart disease or obesity, and in the 2nd or 3rd trimester a greater chance of diabetes? Did you know that more people living in NYC die of heart attacks than anywhere else in America, or that high levels of stress hormone secretion is what kills salmon after their long journey to the spawning grounds? (of course taking away the nets, fisherman, eagles, bears) This book is FULL of interesting science, facts, and some fiction, and the author has a great sense of humor! (Definitely read the notations at the bottom of the marked pages, they can usually give you a good laugh!) The author endlessly refers to research but also gives some of his own experiential theories. (pg 200 his idea about Fibromyalgia and its potential correlation to high Substance P and some low stress hormones- interesting?) as well as some of his fellow scientists (pg 33, Dr Shelley Taylor of UCLA suggesting that "fight or flight" only applies to males, and that the female stress response is "tend and befriend" because of their higher oxytocin release during stress, a theory that could explain why women tend to be more social beings.)

This book is a great reference, as the author has it nicely divided into chapters like Pain and Stress, Depression and Stress, Personality, Temperance, and their Stress Related Consequences etc etc so it is easy to flip to the chapter that one is needing in any given moment. However I recommend reading the first 6 chapters, as they give a good rundown for those "laymen" who aren't up to speed on the neurophysiology (big word), biology, endocrinology (other big word) and so on- background it always good when learning about a new subject. It not only gives the lowdown on stress, but actually some things we can do to make the picture not so bleak- action vs reaction!

I highly recommend this book and any of Dr Sapolsky's other writings, refer to http://www.barclayagency.com/sapolsky_corporate.html for more info about this interesting man!