Popular wisdom tells us that it takes twenty-one days to change a habit. Others say that changing bad habits takes constant vigilance and work until the new healthier habits becomes the norm, and that the actual time this takes may vary from one person to the next. Whatever the case, making lasting change to behavior that has been ingrained for a long time is not an easy thing to do. However, dedication and motivation to change can start with something as simple as a high performance blender.
Hypnosis is one tool used by therapists in an effort to help their patients become aware of the poor nutritional habits that result in weight gain. While there are physical illnesses and genetic contributions to obesity, hypnosis for weight loss deals strictly with weight gain in individuals that will benefit from behavioral changes.
The first step in hypnosis is to have a trained therapist induce a deep relaxation that is similar to the state experienced just before sleep. In some hypnosis sessions, the therapist may relay a positive, empowering story that uses symbols and metaphors similar to what the subconscious mind might create in a dream state.
The story may include asking the subject to imagine what it will be like to achieve ideal weight, how he or she will feel, and what level of mental and physical energy will be available to the person when the goal is reached. Then there will be suggestions about feeling confident and happy when taking care of nutritional needs.
While some of the messages in hypnotic trance state are directed at the future, others are reserved for the here and now so that the subject can learn to get beyond any psychological blocks or triggers that are impeding weight control efforts. Often the therapist may have to refer her clients with weight loss goals to a nutritionist. Change often starts with education and learning what is healthy and what foods to avoid.
Although obesity rates have increased in the U.S. and the U.K. and we are constantly bombarded with messages about proper diet, there are all those other competing messages from restaurants and grocery stores enticing us to buy more. Awareness is the first step of self-control, but not everyone is aware all the time of what they are putting into their bodies.
A tool often used along with hypnosis is the food diary. Clients are asked to write down everything they eat for a proscribed period of time. This is a most amazing way to bring about awareness of habits, because the diary is essentially a record of choices. It’s even possible to assess the calories and nutrient values after the fact to get a sense of the daily levels so that it can be compared to the daily requirement.
Both hypnosis and keeping a food diary are routinely used in behavior modification programs. After learning what change is needed in order to reach a goal, a motivated person will start altering behaviors and habits. Soon the person trying to lose weight will consciously choose raw vegetables and fruits over fast food and saturated fat. A smoothie blender can quickly be put to use to increase essential vitamins and minerals in the diet
As eating behavior becomes a choice instead of a habit, the high performance blender can be utilized more fully. Conscious food selection will lead to choosing recipes that will fit into the weight loss plan. Soups, dips and sauces can be made with a blender and recipes to assist weight loss are plentiful. Fruit smoothies and raw vegetable smoothies are a convenient way to supplement your diet with healthy snacks.
As a person takes positive steps toward reaching a goal and begins to see results, a therapist may recommend that the hypnosis sessions be continued. The affirmations and empowerment one experiences in trance state can be carried into everyday routine, having a constructive affect on mood and confidence. Change for the better has occurred and habits have been altered. The man who couldn’t go a day without a cheeseburger now enjoys an avocado smoothie and weighs considerably less.
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With so much information on cable TV and on websites competing for attention, it is sometimes difficult to sort nutrition facts from fiction. The advocates for each new product or fad diet make claims that really need to be examined in light of scientific facts.
Whether you use your high performance blender to make raw fruit or vegetable smoothies, or you prefer to make soups, sauces and dips, debunking these top 4 myths will give you some information about ingredients you use.
#1 You shouldn’t eat eggs because they raise your cholesterol
It is true that a regular chicken egg contains 200 mg of cholesterol and 1.6 grams of saturated fat; most of the cholesterol is in the yolk. But egg consumption alone does not raise one’s cholesterol levels.
An individual person’s cholesterol level is due to a number of factors, including heredity and activity level. Anyone who has quizzed a doctor about the components of cholesterol test results learns that there are at least three separate measurements: low density lipoproteins (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) also known as triglycerides, and high density lipoproteins (HDL) or “good” cholesterol. It is the interrelationship of these three components along with the overall total that doctors consider before prescribing medication, dietary changes or
While eating high cholesterol foods can contribute to higher cholesterol levels, it is important to eat them in moderation and make sure you are getting plenty of exercise and that your diet is consistently healthy overall.
#2 A vegetarian diet is a healthy diet
Not all vegetarians or vegans have healthy diets. A person attempting a vegetarian diet must find alternative sources of protein and make sure that sufficient levels of calcium, vitamin B12 and omega-3 can be found in non-meat products and non-animal products, as well. While it may appear on the surface that a vegetarian diet is healthier, it is up to the individual to pay attention to daily requirements and select meals that provide the necessary nutrition. By including veggie burgers, lentils, beans, tofu, nuts and seeds in the vegetarian diet, you will reach the recommended level of protein.
If you are staying away from dairy completely, include kale, spinach and collard greens to ensure that you are getting the proper amount of calcium. Miso, seaweed and nutritional yeast are good sources of vitamin B12.
Green smoothies, soups or sauces made with your high performance blender can help you achieve the right nutritional balance needed in the vegetarian diet.
#3 All sugar is unhealthy and should be avoided
The body converts all sugar, whether processed or fructose from fruit, starches and carbohydrates into glucose, which is needed for energy. The insulin our bodies produce carries the glucose into the cells to be used for energy or stored for later use. Too much sugar overloads the body, causing weight gain, hyperactivity and the infamous “sugar crash” when the energy is expended and the sugar level plummets.
Sugar from fruit is digested and enters the bloodstream at a more even rate than sweets and processed sugar. As a result, the body’s sugar level does not tend to spike and crash when it creates glucose from fruit. Another obvious benefit from fruit is that you receive vital vitamins and minerals not present in other sugary snacks.
Fruit smoothies provide energy, and a smoothie base of dairy milk or soymilk gives you a protein boost.
#4 Organic foods have higher nutritional value
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defined the processes that must be followed in order to earn the “organic” label. Organic fruits and vegetables must be grown without the use of chemicals or synthetic material. Fertilizers must be natural, and farmers use beneficial insects instead of insecticides. Weed growth is controlled through crop rotation and weeding instead of spraying herbicides. Organic meats must come from animals that have not been given antibiotics, hormones or any other medications that would prevent disease or encourage growth.
According to an article published on the Mayo Clinic’s website ***, a study that reviewed articles and papers written in the last 50 years was not able to conclude that organic foods are more nutritious than food grown using conventional methods. Organic fruits, vegetables and meats are more expensive, though, due to the labor-intensive processes that must be followed in order to earn the distinctive label.
Whether you make raw smoothies from organic or conventional produce, you will receive the same nutritional benefits. It is the ingredients you choose that determines health value, and not the way the food is produced.
Consider these myths officially debunked and most all-or-nothing statements; all generalized bits of knowledge should be closely examined. When it comes to nutrition, it is important to gather as much scientifically valid information as possible because good health depends on good choices.
*** Reference Mayo Clinic's website: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255
