Could Christmas be Killing Us?
A few days ago I stumbled across a “Family Guy” Youtube link entitled, “Christmas is Killing Us”. The holiday season is coming up, so I thought, “why not”?
I was simultaneously delighted and disturbed.
Here’s the link. Watch if you dare: http://vimeo.com/18027996
When I stopped smiling, it suddenly occurred to me, that perhaps it is true, Christmas is indeed killing us!
Here’s what I mean:
Most people know America is facing a Diabesity Tsunami (Diabetes+ Obesity).
I don’t wish to be a grinch but the truth is 70% of Americans are overweight and almost 40% of us are obese and diabetic or pre-diabetic. That’s a 25% increase in only 3 years. How could this be?
We Never Lose the Weight We Gain During the Holidays
What most people don’t know is that nearly 60% of our annual weight gain happens over a 6-week period every year. (Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Years). During this very short 6-week time-frame, most of us gain 3-5 pounds. Come March, despite New Year’s resolutions, the excess weight is still with us. In fact, the data shows that weight we gain over this 6-week Christmas season, we typically never loose.
Here’s the punch-line: Unless you do something different, this Christmas you’re probably going to add 3 to 5 pounds to your waistline and you’re not likely to ever get rid of it! Strapping on 3-5 pounds every year during the killer-6-weeks-of-Christmas is a major reason we find ourselves overweight, obese or chronically ill at some point in our lifetime.
The Good News
I realize the holiday season should be a care-free time of food, friends, fellowship and fun. Most of us (including me) would prefer not to spend it burdened with trying to be a health-nut. The good news is you don’t have to be a health-nut in order to be healthy.
Acquiring a Self-Health Defense Strategy during the killer-6-weeks-of Christmas will likely protect you from threat of weight gain, obesity, diabetes, and chronic illness throughout your lifetime.
Four years ago, I found a simple strategy to fend off these Christmas killers for good. Using this technique I was able to loose 60 pounds and keep it off with very little effort. There is much more detail in my book, The Self Health Revolution, but here are a few of the strategies that really work.
Practice The Art of Self-Health Aikido
Aikidō : The Japanese martial art that involves taking advantage of the attacker’s force and momentum by redirecting it in your favor. (requires very little strength to do).
Five Christmas Aikido Moves
1. Feed Your Body First
No matter what happen to consume at any given holiday sprawl always feed your body first. Give your body what it needs first and you will be amazed to find you’re not nearly vulnerable to the crazy holiday cravings and glutinous gorging that everyone else falls prey to when feasting.
First thing in the morning on feast day, make a Self Health Holiday Smoothie (recipe below). It takes less than 15 minutes and it instantly gives your body over 100 powerful plant nutrients.
Punch-line:
- Drink the Self Health Holiday Smoothie 1st thing before your day of feasting.
- It’s guaranteed to control crazy holiday cravings and glutinous gorging.
- Eat guilt-free because you have already given your body something awesome.
2. Use a Smaller Plate
Since 1950 our plates have grown from 10 inches to over 14 inches today and our holiday plates are even larger. Why are we eating so much more?
We suffer from holiday food cravings and binges is because our bodies are literally starving for more nutrients. Cheaper, processed, fake foods are stripped and sucked dry of these necessary nutrients. In an attempt to make up for this emptiness, our bodies must consume massive volumes of fake foods.
Self Health Christmas Aikido is about learning to consume much more powerful, nutrient-dense foods, so your body is not forced to eat quite as much in order to feel satisfied.
Punch-line:
- We eat 30% more today: Grandmom’s plates were 10 in. vs. 14 in. now. We have been taught to eat until the plate runs out.
- Studies have shown that if you eat 30% less you will live 30% longer (eating is the most stressful thing we do to our bodies).
- Okinawans: oldest humans on Earth say “Hara Harchi bu” or eat until 80% full.
3. Fill Up On Living Foods First
- Fill up on “Living Foods” first (less-processed, healthier foods) like yummy salads, whole grains, grass fed meats and vegetable dishes, etc.
- Go for “Dead foods” last (processed, cooked turkey, stuffing and deserts).
- Living vs. Dead (80/20 rule) Ask yourself, “What’s living or what’s dead on my plate?”
4. Don't Make Any Food Off Limits
- Taste anything and everything (bite sized samples are ok–just don’t gorge)
- Tasting is what makes the holidays great and you don’t want to feel like you have missed out.
- Forbidding yourself something just makes you want it more. When you finally give in...you tend to go nuts!
5. Remember, You Are What You Eat...Eats!
- Keep in mind that what this animal or plant that you are eating has been eating. Whatever it’s been eating you will also end up eating!
- Much of our meat is from drugged, sick, poisoned, obese animals raised on factory farms I call “concentration camps”.
- Seek out animals and plants to ear that were raised as naturally and as close to the ground as possible. Their health will become your health!
( As seen in Glamour Magazine December 2012 ) |
Chai-Spiked-Pumpkin-Pie Green Smoothie
(makes 1-2 servings)
Ingredients:
7 oz. Frozen Organic Pumpkin (Freeze fresh or freeze in can)
1/2 cup Organic Soy or Almond Milk (vanilla flavored)
1/2 cup French-Vanilla Coconut Milk Creamer (organic if possible)
1/2 cup Organic Chai Tea Latte Mix in box (such as Oregon Chai or Tazo)
1 cup Organic Baby Kale (loosely packed)
1/2 cup Organic Baby Spinach (loosely packed)
1 Full Tablespoon Green Vibrance (from Vibrant Health)--optional
1/2 cup Organic Soy or Almond Milk (vanilla flavored)
1/2 cup French-Vanilla Coconut Milk Creamer (organic if possible)
1/2 cup Organic Chai Tea Latte Mix in box (such as Oregon Chai or Tazo)
1 cup Organic Baby Kale (loosely packed)
1/2 cup Organic Baby Spinach (loosely packed)
1 Full Tablespoon Green Vibrance (from Vibrant Health)--optional
For even more flavor you can add:
1/2 teaspoon Organic Cinnamon (Vietnamese if possible)
1/4 teaspoon Organic Nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon Organic Ground Clove
1/2 teaspoon Organic Vanilla Extract
1/2 teaspoon Organic Cinnamon (Vietnamese if possible)
1/4 teaspoon Organic Nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon Organic Ground Clove
1/2 teaspoon Organic Vanilla Extract
Directions:
Blend all ingredients and enjoy!