This Lemon Freeze May Protect Against Skin Cancer

I'm always happy to share valid health information and here's a great one for summer--- but you might want to continue it for the entire year!

I recently learned that if you FREEZE a lemon you can easily use it in foods and drinks! It's a new favorite addition to my healthy lifestyle. I've done it and love the results!


It's easy.
You simply wash your lemon, 
FREEZE it for a day,
cut off the ends
and then grate--rind and all.

Store your lemony grated goodness in the fridge and add to water, salads, fish, etc.

Now your body will get to benefit from the added important nutrients in the rind which could help to protect your cells and keep them healthy.

As we get closer to summer, it will be important to protect our skin against the dangers of the sun. 

 
Besides using a quality sunscreen this summer, 
did you know that  the nutrients in a lemon peel may provide added protection from skin cancer?

Limonene, an important nutrient in the lemon peel has powerful anti-cancer effects. Other nutrients have been found to help with other health issues
 --including dissolving gallstones.  


Sounds like a great addition to any healthy lifestyle.
(You could also freeze oranges as well. I'm going to try that next!)

Be well, my friends!
~Anne

Avocado Chocolate Pudding

I have had to become very creative in figuring out some healthy low/no sugar recipes for my parents as we battle against the diabolical disease of dementia/Alzheimer's.

Here's one for Avocado Chocolate Pudding.

I usually create my recipes on the spot, I don't document how much of everything I actually use, but I made it again tonight so I could have a 'starting recipe' for you.  My family loves it as is, but you may want to tweak it a bit to make your taste buds happy.

Avocado Chocolate Pudding
Makes about 12 servings
Serving Size 1.5 cups

Ingredients:

4 ripe refrigerated avocados
1 can Unsweetened Coconut Milk
2 cups Chocolate Vitalizing Protein
               (I use Shaklee's brand)
2/3 cups Raw  Cacao powder
1 Tbs.  coffee
1 large banana, sliced and frozen
1/3 cups cacao nibs (optional)
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp.  stevia (if needed)

    A little side note about my choice of ingredients...I just can't afford to let any 
    toxins in my mom's body. I research all options to use only the purest 
    products possible.  That means organic and non-GMO everything bought at 
    the grocery store and only Shaklee's brand when it comes to our protein and 
    supplements.  No other company's products comes close when it comes to 
    Shaklee's extremely strict standards for purity (which include hundreds of 
    tests more than what is required by the FDA and USP.)

Directions:
Remove the seeds, peel and slice avocados.
Add to food processor. Pulse until blended.
Add 1/2 can of coconut milk and 2 cups of Vitalizing Protein. Blend.

The mixture will be now be fairly creamy,

but needs a bit more 'chocolate' flavor.
So next add the cacao,
the coffee, vanilla,
the other 1/2 can of coconut milk.
Then the cacao nibs (if you have them)
and the frozen banana.

Blend well. 

Taste.
If you feel it
needs a little more sweetness,
add a teaspoon of organic stevia.

Transfer to a bowl,
cover, freeze for an hour.
Enjoy!

Be well, my friends!
~Anne

Cauliflower Crust Veggie Pizza Recipe

I have been wanting make a Cauliflower pizza crust for a while now
since we're going gluten-free for my mom.

After searching online and getting some advice from a few friends, 
I thought I'd give it a go.

I'm not one to ever follow a recipe, and since this one turned out so well 
(My dad even asked for seconds!) I thought I'd share my version with you.
Enjoy and if you try this yourself,  let me know how yours turned out!


Cauliflower Crust Veggie Pizza
2 organic eggs

2 large heads of cauliflower, cut into florets
2 cups of Pizza Sauce (I used Mid's)
2 tbs. organic garlic granules
2 tbs. organic Italian seasoning
3 1/2 cups part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 cups red onion, sauteed in olive oil
1 cup fresh spinach, washed and dried

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Place manageable amounts of cauliflower in a food processor 
and pulse until it has a rice-like consistency. (It doesn't take long!)

Boil 3 cups of water in a large pot.

When all the cauliflower has been riced,  add the cauliflower rice to the boiling water, cover and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Drain the water out of the pot and then transfer the rice into a large mesh strainer or colander.

These next steps are very important to help ensure your pizza crust will be firm and slice-able. :-)

Use a large spoon to push down on the rice, forcing the water out of the mesh colander. Then...take portions of the strained rice and place in a clean kitchen/pastry cloth and SQUEEZE.

You’ll be surprised how much moisture is still in the rice.  Again, it’s really important to get as much water out as possible so your end result will have a firm crust.

One you're satisfied that you have removed as much moisture as you possibly can, then transfer each section of the rice to a large mixing bowl.
Add the eggs, spices and 1/4 cup of cheese.  Mix well.  

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and begin to form your pizza crust.  It will have a different consistency than any 'dough' you've ever worked with, so just go with it. 

Once the crust is formed, bake in 400 degree oven for 40 minutes or until the entire crust is golden brown.
(More moisture will be released from the crust while it is baking)

While crust is baking, saute red onions in 1 tbs. olive oil.

When crust is done take out of the oven, cool slightly.
Add sauce, cheese, onions, spinach or toppings of your choice.

Bake at 400 until cheese is melted and golden brown.  ENJOY!

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

• Place 2 heads of cauliflower cut into pieces into a food processor. Pulse until cauliflower has a rice-like consistency.
• Bring 2-3 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Add rice, cover and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Drain rice in a large mesh colander. Press down with a spoon to release as much moisture as possible.
• The next step is important!
• Place portions of the rice in a pastry cloth and SQUEEZE any remaining moisture out of the rice. You'll be surprised at how much moisture is released.
• Place the rice in a large bowl. Add eggs, spices and 1/4 cup cheese. Mix well.
•  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and begin to add your rice to form your 'crust'.
• You can make a raised crust along the edge if you'd like it to look more 'pizza-like'.
• Place crust in the oven and bake until it is browned. (Usually 40-50 minutes.)  Don't worry about how long it takes, just bake until the entire crust is golden brown.
• While crust is baking, saute red onions in olive oil. Remove crust from oven when done. Top with pizza sauce, remaining cheese and toppings of your choice.
• Return to oven until cheese is melted and browned.

- Cool slightly and cut into pieces.

A Toxin Intervention

One of the easiest things we can to do have a healthy lifestyle is to eliminate toxins from our home.

Most people do not realize that the conventional cleaners and personal care products they buy are actually exposing them to potentially dangerous chemicals.

That means that every day, you could be exposing yourself to chemicals that could be the cause for some of your most nagging symptoms including headaches, lack of energy, ADD, asthma and allergy symptoms.

These include air fresheners, window cleaners, bathroom cleaners, lotions and even some of the most well-known baby products.

You can take a look at the side effects
of many of the 80,000+ chemicals

they use in these products on the 
National Institute of Health database.
Or...you can watch the 20 minute webinar below.

I made this as a tool for people to learn what products they might want to get rid of...and why.  

Don't worry, I didn't go through all 80,000 chemicals,
just 5 of the most frequently used.
This information may shock or surprise you and hopefully make you angry enough that you take action--and choose differently.

But I don't leave you hanging.
I also give you non-toxic alternatives which will save you so much money and help you have a healthier home.
Heck, you work hard for your money, so anything that can help you 
save money AND help you cut your cleaning time is a win-win, right?
Enjoy!
(I'd love to know what you think of the webinar.)




Be well, my friends!
~Anne

What Happens When Not Everyone is On Board With The Plan

I intend for this blog to be a resource for people who may be struggling to help a loved one with dementia/Alzheimer's.  At first, I thought I would share all the things that have helped my mom.  But I can't really tell the whole story without sharing some of our setbacks as well, can I?  It wouldn't be the truth.

And what I have to share today may be valuable to people who have family members who may not be totally on board with the lifestyle changes which are necessary to fight this disease.

My last post was about the harm that sugar does to the brain and how addicted my parents were (are) to it.  It's kind of ironic actually, considering what has happened within the course of past four days.

I'm struggling to find the words to share what happened this morning in the kindest way for all involved. I'm also hoping a valuable lesson was learned.

Doug and I have been here for 5 months. We've only gone out on a date night twice in that time, and every single time we left the house, my dad 'treated' himself and my mom to sugar.  And, each time, for a few days after, we paid dearly.  So we searched the kitchen and removed all temptations.

You have to understand how powerful this addiction is. Anyone who has ever been addicted to cigarettes or alcohol know how far they will go to sneak a 'fix' and how much better it is for them when someone else joins in.

For example, my dad took my mom to get a Frosty at Wendy's last the summer. Doug and I happened to be visiting for the week. He tried to hide the evidence, so before coming into the house he threw the containers into the trash in the garage.  In his haste to 'not get caught',  he also unknowingly threw away his iPhone...and garbage pick up was the next day.
Once he realized what had happened to his phone, it was too late.

This week my mom was having  back-to-back great days.
I mean, she was better than we had seen her in a quite a while.
My dad said he'd like to take my mom to the bank and market to get her out of the house for a while.  This was a little out of character for him,
since he usually is the one who needs to get out of the house for a little break.

When they were gone much longer than expected, Doug turned to me and said, "How much you want to bet they stopped for ice cream?".  
I thought about that for a minute.
We no longer had any sugar in the house, so it was a distinct possibility.
I hoped that he knew better, but I also knew how strong that craving is in him.

I think that his issue with sugar may have something to do with the history of alcoholism in the family.  My dad was never addicted to alcohol, but he sure is addicted to sugar.  And I believe there is a strong connection.

The following morning, my mom woke up groggy and confused.  
She was incoherent and slept most of the day, only waking up for meals.
She would not take any of her supplements.
She looked weak and frail. It was really hard to see her like that after we just enjoyed such wonderful days together.

I kept remarking throughout the day that she's acting like she had sugar.  
We've witnessed that cause and effect each time he was 'in charge' of her, so
I asked my dad if they stopped for ice cream-- he denied it.

But later, when Doug went out to my dad's car to move it into the garage, he found those  'ice cream' napkins.  You know the kind.  

We were actually sad that our suspicions were correct, but we didn't say anything that night.  No need to beat him up about it, he already knew that he had made a mistake.

But, besides the sugar coma, there's another thing that happens to my mom.  

Not only does sugar fuel the inflammation in her brain but it also feeds the unhealthy bacteria in her gut (candida) making it difficult for her to have a healthy bowel movement. This forces her to strain and causes vasovagal syncope. My dad was with her when it happened this morning and called for my help. 

These episodes are 'harmless' as long as the person doesn't hit their head when they pass out, but, let me tell you, it's very, very scary if it's your first time witnessing this happening to someone you love. 

To see your mother on the floor groaning and sweating.
Her eyes staring blankly, her mouth open, and her face slacked-- as if she was having a stroke. Then she falls asleep.

Quite the opposite of the bright-eyed, happy woman we have been seeing.

And this wasn't the first time this has happened.
But each time it has been directly related to her sugar intake a day or two before.

After the episode, she is wiped out. She sleeps 2-3 hours, she gets up to eat and goes back to rest some more.
Sleep helps the brain repair. So we let her sleep.

I know that it's hard for my dad to ignore his wife of 63 years when she asks him to stop for ice cream.   He wants her to be happy.
And I don't want to deprive them, either, but I just can't enable that addiction. It's poisoning my mom.

I just had yet another conversation with my dad. He knows that we know they had ice cream. That we found those napkins and it's no use fibbing about it anymore.

I think he now realizes the damage that 5 minutes

of sugar pleasure caused and what could have happened.  I explained how deadly it could be for my mom if she would have that kind of episode had she gone to the bathroom alone, in the middle of the night, for instance.
He answered, "That's what happened to Elvis", so I know he understands the severity of the problem.

It's such a weird thing for me to understand. My dad was ALWAYS so good about his diet and nutrition, so much so that he reversed the high cholesterol and clogged arteries in his body without the use of any medications. He would counsel others how to reverse their own health issues and always stressed the importance of a healthy lifestyle.  

I guess maybe as you get older, the craving for sugar just gets stronger...Possibly out of boredom?  Maybe due to watching TV commercials? Or maybe you start to feel 'at your age' like you deserve to eat whatever the heck you want and who is going to stop you?

My dad is turning 84 next month and has a goal to live longer than his mother. My grandmother died at the age of 98. Funny thing, she's the one who sparked my love for Nature and passion for optimum health.  She also knew how sugar affected her body so she stayed far away from it, especially in her later years.  
I hope my dad can follow her cue.

So for now, he's on board. I just hope it lasts.

I can't help but wonder how much more ground we may have gained on this disease if we hadn't had these setbacks.
But it doesn't do anyone any good to stew about it.

I'm not saying what our experience with sugar will be case for everyone, but it's certainly true for my mom and I'm hoping there's something you can learn from it.

Be well, my friends!
~Anne

The Dark Side of the Cookie Jar

My mom made the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies in the world. 
Anyone who ever had the pleasure to indulge in them would tell you I am not exaggerating.  
Someone once joked that they were as addictive as "crack", 
and it turns out they weren't far from the truth. 

When her grandchildren visited, after getting a big hug from grandma, 
they would head straight for her cookie jar, hoping for to see those decadent
morsels of goodness. They were never disappointed. 

Few came close, but no one could ever make those cookies as good as my mom.  I always thought it was because, like everything else she did for her family, she put so much love into them
--and that only made us enjoy them that much more.

But those fabulous cookies had a dark side.  

The Dark Side of the Cookie Jar

The once-in-a-while indulgence,
became a three-batches-in-one-week-for-two-people addiction, for my mom and dad. This shocked us when we learned that was happening.   

You see, my parents had discovered the value of eating clean and supplementing with high quality nutrition when they were in their late 40's.  They completely turned her declining health around.
By living a healthy lifestyle, which included getting rid of their sugar addiction, eating clean and supplementing their diet with Shaklee's high quality products, they eliminated nagging symptoms like migraines,  sinus headaches, hypertension, high cholesterol, and atherosclerosis. They enjoyed 30+ years of excellent health with the help of no prescription drugs.  They traveled all over the world and were loving life.

My mom's 83-year-old body still reflects the healthy lifestyle choices she made all those years ago.  She is stronger than many people half her age.  
I'm not kidding. This woman is strong.
More than one of her physicians have remarked that they've only seen a handful of people in their whole career who have such excellent physical health at her age. She even has a beautiful complexion. When we took her to the dermatologist for her annual check-up recently, the physician called a university student intern into the room to take a look and marvel.  

That's why this disease is so brutal. 
It is taking a very physically sound woman and making her weak.  

My dad would ask my mom to make those cookies 'just for him' and of course she would. 
They would tell themselves they deserved a little treat.
But the more they ate, the more they wanted and soon it was an unhealthy daily habit---and they became addicted to sugar once again. Because like with any addiction, a little bit is never, ever enough.

You see, she doesn't remember my name, but my mother will ask if we could go out for ice cream.  Sugar has a stronger hold on her that any memory of her children or grandchildren.  

Just think about that for a moment. Think about the power that sugar craving has over her. It's scary, really.  Especially when so many people view sugar as a reward for themselves and their children.  Studies show that sugar and cocaine have a similar hold on our brain, and it's so very easy to become addicted to that white wickedness.

If you think you may be heading down
that sugar addiction rabbit hole,
you might want to do this NO Sugar for 10 Day Challenge.

Not giving in to my mom's request for sugary treats sure isn't easy.
She asks so sweetly (pun intended) and with such enthusiasm and it's so hard to refuse her.  You think things like "let her enjoy herself" and "she's in her 80's, so what the heck". 

And our heart wants to make her happy. But...we know that giving in to that craving will only make her happy for a moment. And we have come to learn that it will not only feed her addition and for that moment of happiness, and we will all pay dearly the next day.  She will wake up introverted, sleepy, confused and, once again, in the stranglehold of this disease. We call it a sugar hangover and it just pulls her 2 steps back in her progress. 

So knowing what we now know, we no longer give in to that request.
She doesn't realize the damage it is doing to her brain, but we do.  

And I'm not going to let sugar hurt my mom any more than it already has.

The good news is that, now that her addiction has been broken, those requests become less frequent and she can be satiated with a bowl of fresh fruit, if necessary.

Our diet is one of the main reasons symptoms occur in the first place.
That old adage, "you are what you eat" has never been more true than it is today.  
Diet plays a huge role in the development (and the fight against) all degenerative diseases--- and I discovered dementia is no exception. 
Health and disease depend both on what you put in your shopping cart.

Inflammation is the enemy of brain health, so this seemed like the best place to start. Alzheimer's is referred to as Type 3 Diabetes for a reason.

My dad is slowly learning that giving her (and himself) sugar as a treat deserves a paradigm shift. He's starting to realize the correlation between sugar, my mom's brain health and the inflammation in his own body, and he's slowly starting to view sugar as the enemy. It's that change in mindset that helps people to truly change their lifestyle.

And since sugar is the ammunition for inflammation and dementia, we cut off its supply to my mom's brain.  

We're gaining ground on this disease and we're digging in.

Be well, my friends,
~Anne
 

Will Your New Diet Fake You Out?

If you've started a new diet this year,
please be sure that new diet doesn't fake you out
...and if it contains any artificial ingredients, you can be sure it will!

Do yourself a favor and read the label!
Do NOT consume any artificial ingredients. NONE.

Why? Artificial ingredients are made with petrochemicals. (Man-made substances derived from petroleum and natural gas.) 


Our bodies were simply not made to consume these chemicals, so they spend a lot of effort trying to get rid of them. (Nasty Side effect: It taps your energy and slows your metabolism!) 

Once your body realizes it can't get rid of those chemicals, in order to protect you, it hides them in your body.  It actualy stores these chemicals in your fat cells--to keep them from circulating in your blood stream. What happens when more and more of these chemicals are consumed in the form of artificial colors, flavors, preservatives and sweeteners? 
Your fat cells become larger and it becomes more difficult to get rid of that fat.

Petrochemicals are toxic.  Period.  There's no other way around that.

They are man-made entities...something we should never put in our mouths.

And just for a moment, stop and think...have we, as a nation, became any skinner or healthier when SUGAR-FREE drinks and food products were introduced?  Nope. In fact, it's just the opposite, isn't it.
That's because your brain can NOT be fooled, so you're only fooling yourself if you think for a minute that diet soft drinks or diet food items are ever going to help you lose weight.

Here's one example of an actual product label and why you might want to avoid it.
Ps.  I didn't even highlight all of the different sugar ingredients. I stopped after counting 5 of them.

So don't be fake.  The more REAL food you eat, the better.
I know, we're all in a hurry, so don't worry ,there are some healthy choices for quick snacks and meals on the go.  I'll share my favorites next time.

Be well, my friends!

~Anne

7 Helpful Tips to Make Your New Year's Resolution Stick!

I absolutely love this time of year.
A time when we can reflect on the days behind us and to make plans for a brand New Year.

It's a time we set new goals for ourselves. 

Because after all, if we aren't here to grow, to be more, to have more, to do more--- to improve ourselves, then what's the point?

Hopefully you have one or more thoughts on what you are going to do in 2015.

If you're ready to make some real progress on improving your life, I'd like to suggest a few tips to help make your New Year's Resolutions stick, so they become a permanent part of your life this year. 

1. Don't begin on January 1st
   That may sound strange...a New Year resolution always starts on the first day of the year, right? But since it's on a Thursday this year, it might be more strategic to begin the following week. Give yourself the weekend to prepare and start fresh on Monday.  Also, beginning on any day other than the 1st will help to stop the pattern of failure you may have experienced in the past.  There's way too much anticipation attached to that day and your past experience (aka failures) will be associated with it. Let's break that pattern.
2. Make a determined decision
   What do you think of when you hear "New Year's Resolution"?
   
   Some people think that resolutions are made to be broken.  Or that a resolution is something to dread...something you are forcing upon yourself to do and therefor causes anxiety and ultimate failure.
   Try looking at your resolution this year is a determined decision.
   That's powerful stuff right there.
   A determined DECISION. You are deciding that this is exactly what you want for yourself and you are going to succeed--no matter what. That this is going to become who you are. 
3. Share with others
   Tell people about your goal. Put it out there.  Let them know how much it would mean to you to achieve that goal and how much it would mean to you if they would support your efforts. That's not always easy, as sometimes the ones closest to us are not necessarily the ones who will be on board with change, so choose wisely.  Simply declaring your intent makes it real. It makes you accountable... so share on Facebook, talk to your best friend, whatever. Just get it out there--in public.  But no matter what, don't let anyone stop you from accomplishing your goal. Don't give anyone that much power. This is your life.
4. One day at a time 
   Your goal won't feel so daunting or unattainable if you chuck it down to completing it just one day at a time. Deliberately plan your day.  Set yourself up for success by eliminating anything that might tempt you to return to your old (bad) habit.
5. Change your mindset 
   This is a biggie.  Don't look back longingly on that unhealthy habit.  See it as the enemy. As something to despise.  Something that was robbing you of your health and shortening your life. Heck, if some ONE was doing that to you, you'd be ticked off, right? That's the attitude you want to maintain every time that 'urge' hits you. Most of the lifestyle resolutions we make are to break free from some addictive habit we've allowed ourselves to develop...so just know that it will be a battle.  Your greatest weapon is to control your own thoughts---don't let that little voice in your head (which is controlled by that addiction) creep in to sabotage you. And it will try, you can be sure of that. But being aware gives it less control over you.
6. Visualize your success 
   
   If you make this a daily habit, you'll be amazed at how effective this willbe. Every single day, begin and/or end your day visualizing your success. Close your eyes. Relax and breathe deeply.  Think about how you will feel next year when you have succeeded with your goal.  Think of how proud you will be. Imagine how good you will feel and look. Allow yourself to get emotional about it. (That means you too, guys!)
   I'm serious.  The thoughts we intentionally put in our minds are powerful. And when we attach an emotion to that thought, it becomes 100x more powerful. Our brain does not distinguish between real and the imagined.It recognized and reacts to both and that can be a very powerful tool.
   So take control of those thoughts. Just make sure YOU are the one controlling those thoughts and not that stinky little voice in we all have in our head which always likes to remind us of all of our past failures.  The more you are the one in control of your subconscious thoughts, the less that little voice will creep in to undermine your efforts.
   I promise.
7. Don't give up on yourself
   Anticipate roadblocks and be ready to remove them. You might experience weak moments, times when you are absentmindedly allowing that habit to creep back into your life. You are human, not perfect, and bad habits don't die easy. So be gentle with yourself. Don't view that one moment as a failure and a reason to quit. Become aware of how it happened, learn from it and move forward even stronger and more resolved to succeed because of that experience.

Let's make 2015 an epic year! You can do this! 

You are stronger than you think. Just give yourself a chance to prove it. 

Cheers! To Your Thriving Life,
~Anne

Make this Your New Year Resolution> No. More. Dieting .

A bright and shiny New Year is fast approaching and many people are planning their resolutions.

Do yourself a favor. 

Don't make 'go on a diet' one of yours.

That may sound funny coming from someone who is all about health and wellness, so let me ask you a few questions before I begin to explain myself.

• Question 1:  Have you ever made a weight loss New Year's resolution in the past?

• Question 2:  Have you ever cheated within the first month of starting a diet?  
                     I'm not judging. Just asking.  :-)

• Question 2:  Have you tried more than one diet plan in a year?

• Question 3:  Did you end those diets because you just couldn't
                     stand feeling deprived, miserable, or hungry any longer?

• Question 4:  Did you lose weight-- but then gained it all back within a year?

• Question 5:  Do you weigh just a little more at the end of the
                     year than you did at the beginning of the year?

If you answered 'yes' to any (or all) of the above,
then you’ve probably figured out by now that you'll never get ahead of the game if you continue this behavior.

I mean year after year, you starve yourself; 

watch your calories closely; you count all your points, or you take some magic pill (promising to burn fat while you sleep or some such nonsense); and ok, you lose some weight. 

Then you stop and ALL that weight you worked so hard to lose comes back to find you  --- and how fast it comes back is scary, isn't it?! 

Even worse, sometimes you even end up weighing more than when you started. UGH! 

Honestly, diets don’t work and they are detrimental to your health.
It's time to give it a rest and to give yourself a real chance at reaching your health goal this year.

And it won’t be with any stinky diet.

Sure, we all want to look good in jeans or a cute little dress,
but we shouldn't make ourselves sick in the process.
And that's what almost always what happens when you diet.

When you go on a calorie restrictive diet, you don't consume enough quality food or enough healthy nutrition, so your body reacts as if it is being starved--and it begins to conserve energy for future use--- in the form of fat.
That's right. Your body starts storing fat--and will not readily release it.
Instead, it sacrifices your muscle. And that's not good. Not at all.
The more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism--and the more efficiently you are able to lose weight/fat.

So... since you have even less muscle when you end a diet, the next time you try another diet, you would need to eat even less than you did before to experience any significant weight loss.  Crazy, right?
And what's that saying about definition of insanity?
Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results?
In this case, that totally fits.

And, not only do diets eat away at your muscle which slows your metabolism, but some diets plans and products contain dangerous ingredients.
Or they seriously lack nutrition.
Or they contain artificial ingredients.
Each of which could cause some major health issues in your body. 

I set a Google alert for any diet recalls or FDA warnings on all diet-related products, and I get notices sent to me every single day.  

The Diet/Weight Loss business a huge, largely unregulated market and there are many companies just out to get a piece of the action.

Heck, here's a newscast describing how buying weight loss supplements is not only a waste of money, but also dangerous.  Take a look.

Oh, and please don't be fooled by those highly marketed, 'physician recommended' diet programs.   Read the ingredients and the label.  Usually that's enough to give you some good clue as to if it is a healthy program or some slick marketing masking as a 'healthy weight loss program'.

Hint: If there are any artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and/or lots of sugar

...Well, does that sound like a healthy plan to you??

Also, check out the company behind the product.
 If it's a 'processed food company',  it's probably not something you'll want to try.  There is one such diet program that has been so detrimental to so many people, including some close friends of mine, that I use it as an example of what NOT to do for those I coach. 

(I won't name names here, but I will give you a clue.
The company behind it is Nestle. They have excellent marketing but extremely poor nutrition, so you can see where they spend their money. The consumer is the one who pays the ultimate price with poor health.)

So, my suggestion for 2015?  NO MORE DIETING!
Instead, make positive changes. Make wiser choices and keep them as part of a permanent, healthier lifestyle.

But I'm not going to leave you hanging if you are serious about achieving a healthy and sustainable weight loss goal this year.

If that's on your 'to do' list for 2015, then keep an eye out for my next few posts.
Psst: I'm will not you to begin on January 1^st.
We'll start the Monday AFTER the New Year, so you have time to prepare.  And I’ll share reason why in the next post.

I will also teach you what I look for in a healthy weight loss program and I'll share what specific program I am comfortable recommending to my friends and family.   Why?  People get great results, they don't feel like they're dieting, they love it and they get healthier as a side benefit.  

(And I love that!!!)

In January of 2012, my own husband (finally!) made the decision to make this program part of his healthy lifestyle too. The result?
He has lost 45 pounds and has kept it off.  It most likely saved his life.
I'm not exaggerating.  He was headed down a very unhealthy path and he totally turned his health around. That's a huge testament to this program. Especially since he was the typical 'all you can eat meat and potatoes' type of guy.  If he can do it (and love it) so can you.  
No joke.

He is now so proud of the way he looks.
He feels wonderful and he will never go back. Never.
After all, that's really the key, isn't it?

Losing that weight and then keeping it off---for good?

Be well, my friends!
~Anne