Losing weight is a challenge for many and has even become the theme of a popular T.V. reality show. The show emphasizes one of the laws of health and its contestants do actually lose weight. While many have been helped and are being helped by the program, there is no substitute for the 8 laws of health. Fat ordinarily accounts for about 10 to 20 percent of the weight of an adult male, and about 25 percent of the weight of a female. Anymore than this is unnecessary and unhealthy. Ideally, your weight should remain roughly constant after the age of 25. Most people do gain a little as they grow older, and reach their heaviest weight at about 50, but there is no obvious physiological reason for this. It is usually due to a combination of a less active lifestyle and an over adequate diet.In order for weight management to be effective and long lasting, he or she must commit to a lifestyle change not simply a diet modification program. That person's present lifestyle habits prove that business as usual will not work. Appetite is given to us by a loving Creator to help us to enjoy the food which we must have. The basic need of the person, however, is not the enjoyment of food, but the need is for nutrients. Thoughts of food should not fill the mind. We should eat to live not live to eat.
As in the case with any physical conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health, there are 3 basic steps to take for weight loss.
1. In case of sickness, the cause should be ascertained.
2. Unhealthful conditions should be changed, wrong habits corrected.
3. Then nature is to be assisted in her effort to expel impurities and to reestablish right conditions in the system.
1. ASCERTAIN THE CAUSE
Americans generally do not feel the need to deny themselves of anything the heart desires. Overeating, hasty eating, eating between meals, eating heavy at night before going to bed. Some grow corpulent because the system is clogged; others become thin and feeble because their vital powers are exhausted in disposing of an excess of food. The liver is burdened in its effort to cleanse the blood of impurities, and illness is the result. High calorie, low nutrition fats, sugars, and low quality proteins. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Possible chemical deficiencies and/or imbalances, stress, trauma, tension or hormonal imbalances. Thyroid malfunction. Digestive enzyme deficiency. Emotional issues - Discouragement, darkness or despair. Medicating depression or emptiness with food. Using food as a coping mechanism. Rewarding self or tranquilizing pain. (Most of the above are the result of violations of the 8 laws of health, learn them - http://www.issues-of-life.com/8%20LAWS%20OF%20HEALTH.html)
Possible violations of one or more or all 8 of the basic laws of the mind - primarily >
Beholding - It is by fastening our eyes on the difficulties and shrinking from earnest battle for the right, that we.become weak and faithless. (Wrong discouraging focus on problems and challenges)
Mental Activity - Flattery and the artificial, without an object or aim--nothing substantial to satisfy the mind and strengthen principle - leave empty nothingness. (Superficial and meaningless or purposeless living; unprincipled living)
Physical Relation - If the mind is permitted to be clouded with grief, the food is not digested and as a result the system is not well nourished. A contented mind, a cheerful spirit, is health to the body and strength to the soul. Nothing is so fruitful a cause of disease as depression, gloominess, and sadness. Mental depression is terrible. (Emotional self-medication)
Thoughts - When the will is dormant, the imagination becomes abnormal, and it is impossible to resist disease. (Neglect to make decisions or be decisive on the side of right; not exercising the will on the side of right)
Expression - The natural mind leans toward pleasure and self-gratification. (Understand yourself. We are naturally inclined toward pleasing ourselves and gratifying our desires)
2. CORRECT WRONG HABITS - CHANGE UNHEALTHFUL CONDITIONS
Learn the 8 laws of health and bring your life into harmony with them. You will learn when to eat, what to eat and how often. Obedience to the 8 laws of health will definitely help you to lose any extra pounds and help you to maintain your proper body weight throughout your life. Learn the basic 8 laws of the mind and bring your mind into harmony with them. Sadness or discouragement or depression often lead to self-medication with food or other self pampering habits.
Avoid all hydrogenated oils, margarine, shortening, greases, and fried foods. Omit all animal products meat, milk, cheese, eggs, butter, yogurt, ice cream. Eliminate meats such as pork, ham, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, hamburger, canned meat spreads, pressed meats, and canned composite meats such as Spam. Cholesterol is only present in animal products. Go vegan and help yourself by obtaining vegan cookbooks and videos. Flesh foods pervert the taste and for some it may take a little time to overcome the craving for meat. Do not use refined white bread or crackers, white pasta foods, white rice, or any other refined grain products. Never use soft drinks, coffees, teas, medicines, chocolate. May use non-caffeinated herb teas and cereal beverages. Cakes, cookies, ice creams and puddings are unhealthful when made with baking soda or powder, eggs, milk, shortening, hydrogenated oils, artificial flavorings and colorings and sugar. Use sea salt instead of regular table salt if salt is used at all. Avoid high fructose corn syrups and other refined or artificial sweeteners. Read labels more carefully.
Overcome constipation. If you eat 2 meals per day - you should have at least 2 bowel movements per day. Anything less is constipation. Increase fiber and water intake. Fiber is very important for helping curb the appetite. Whole foods with fiber leave you feeling satisfied after you have eaten. Water is also very important for losing weight because if you don't drink enough, your body will hold onto water in an to counteract dehydration. This adds to your weight. Get plenty of exercise. Exercise can help significantly reduce your weight and improve your overall health and is very important for losing weight. Recent studies show that walking is the best exercise. You don't need to kill yourself but you do need consistency. Do it everyday. Filter your mental food with Philippians 4:8. Avoid music and leisure time activity that is not uplifting or that does not elevate your thoughts and tend toward the development of a Christlike character.
Don't dwell upon negative or sad themes or words in books or via any other media form. (Radio, t.v., movies, etc.) Choose cheering, uplifting words to speak and avoid disagreements. Be patient or become one. Don't try to be a god. Acknowledge your imperfections but never undervalue yourself. Proper self-estimation is found in Christ.
Laws of the mind which will help -
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are] lovely , whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
(Philippians 4:8)
1. When the mind is free and happy from a sense of duty well done and the satisfaction of giving happiness to others, the cheering, uplifting influence brings new life to the whole being. -(cheering others and making them happy in the way that God approves of)
2. The mind which is occupied with exalted themes becomes itself ennobled. - preoccupation with uplifting themes (Christ, heaven, eternity, moral excellence, immortality)
3. Feelings for others' woes will divert the mind from repining, and lead to the forgetfulness of real suffering. - (sympathizing with others)
4. That which at first seems difficult, by constant repetition grows easy, until right thoughts and actions become habitual. (start somewhere and keep making efforts everyday and it will get easier)
5. If the thoughts are rightly disciplined, it will be a far less difficult task to control the feelings. -(control the thoughts)
3. ASSIST THE BODY TO HEAL ITSELF
Try 2 meals per day with no snacks in between. 5-6 hours between meals and the heaviest meal in the morning or early part of the day. Eat a generous breakfast; steamed vegetables, large raw salad - olives and light salad dressing.
Not one bite between meals. This is a principle of life. (Five hours between meals).
Eat a moderate dinner4-5 hours well before going to bed.
Do light exercise after meals to promote digestion. Never lie down after meals.
1-5 hours of daily moderate exercise. Moderate to heavy exercise suppresses appetite. Change leisure activities and scenery.
Avoid irritants and artificial stimulants. Anything that irritates the stomach or the nervous system acts as a stimulant to the appetite - vinegar, mayonnaise, mustard, caffeine, alcohol, baking soda, baking powder, and spices (black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger).
Have your thyroid gland checked.
Do not overeat, eat fast or eat when sad.
Exercise as much as possible: Walking, room exercise, bike riding if possible.
Low calorie diet with emphasis on juices: vegetable and fruit, raw vegetables and fruits.
Low protein diet. (no animal source proteins)
Eat 6 almonds daily. (Add to a vegetable meal when not eating meat substitute)
Two quarts of water daily. (Not flouridated water or colored water)
Helpful herbal teas Mix: 2 Tbs. Chickweed
1 Tbs. Irish Moss
1 Tbs. Sassafras
Place 2 Tbs. in 10 ounces of water. Mix and drink 3 times daily
Bladderwrack tea is a very good healer of obesity. Make tea (one tablespoon of herb to one cup water).
JUICES TO DRINK
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Carrot juice or green drink
Grapefruit juice is very good. Make this a part of the juice program.
Papaya juice is good.
CLEANSERS
If you've tried everything and still can't lose weight then there may be a problem with the liver. Liver damage is common among overweight persons. Cleansing combination for liver damage is Milk Thistle, Alfalfa and Dandelion tea.
Try a Ten-day juice program: 6 ounces of juice every 2 hours.
Herbs: Chickweed, Burdock
A good multivitamin/mineral supplement - non-animal source (should have calcium, phosphorus, iron and iodine)
Niacin
Kelp
Vitamin B-6
Calcium 2000 mg. daily
Magnesium 500 mg. 2 times daily
Lecithin 1 tsp. 2 times daily
Vitamin B complex
Amino Acids - Phenylalanine (appetite control) Leucine (regulates digestion and metabolism)
Drink plenty of water.
- initial weight loss is mostly loss of water, and you need to drink an adequate amount of water in order to avoid dehydration; dehydration slows down the fat-burning process. Dehydration causes a reduction in blood volume; a reduction in blood volume causes a reduction in the supply of oxygen to your muscles; and a reduction in the supply of oxygen to your muscles can make you feel tired.
- Burning calories creates toxins (like exhaust coming out of your car), and water plays a vital role in flushing them out of your body.
- A healthy (weight loss) diet includes a good amount of fiber. But while fiber is normally helpful to your digestive system, without adequate fluids it can cause constipation instead of helping to eliminate it.
Pray and ask God to change your heart and then for strength and grace to change your lifestyle
CHALLENGE - Try obedience to the 8 laws of health and any of the above for 10 days and see and feel the results.
The use of herbs should complement obedience to the 8 laws of health. More information about this at www.issues-of-life.com under health issues.
By attempting to put into practice anything that you have read in this article you release Tyrone Keels from any responsibility for the results if you are dissatisfied with the outcome. Read the full disclaimer for health issues at www.issues-of-life.com
© 2010 Tyrone Keels