THE BEST WEIGHT LOSS BOOK ON THE MARKET!

please contact me at ann@annparker.co.uk

I am delighted to announce that my second book in my Unlock series is now released and it is called UNLOCK YOUR MAXIMUM WEIGHT LOSS POTENTIAL - and it is the best weight loss book on the market!  Even if I say so myself!

Most weight loss books, and I have read most of them!, concentrate on a single diet plan or walking or a hormone - but we ARE ALL DIFFERENT - and what works for one doesn't work for all - especially if you have a serious weight problem.  Some people just need to cut their calories but this book is aimed at people who struggle and can't keep the weight off.

 

I was 12 lb when I was born and have struggled with my weight all my life.  I had a toning table/beauty salon and met thousands of women who struggled with their weight as well.  People will always tell you to do more exercise or diet which is so patronising especially when they are chomping away on something very fattening or quoffing large glasses of wine!

 

This book is packed full of information, techniques, research, and so many other subjects including beliefs and low self esteem and worth.  Some people do over eat because of this but a lot don't (including myself!) - but I also know a lot of slim/medium size people that eat a lot.

 

Over the next few months I will be blogging chapters from the book explaning what a complicated process weight loss is but how you will feel lighter in your body, mind and soul when you have healed all the issues.

 

There is nothing like this on the market and I need to get the word out there to help as many people as I possibly can to lose the weight and keep it off for life.  Please share to everybody you know!



Do you really need to know how many calories you are eating?

Please contact me on ann@annparker.co.uk for a session or more information

This is an excerpt from my book on calories and how they affect your life - and believe me they really do!  Unlock your maximum potential is now available on Amazon in kindle or paperback form

 

I hear so many times that as long as you eat so called 'healthy food' you don't need to know how many calories you are eating.  In my opinion this is totally untrue.  If you have a weight problem and suddenly introduce a handful of nuts or half an avocado a day you will put on weight - there is no doubt about this!  If you have 5 fruits a day rather than 5 veg you can start off with a calorie count of nearly 500 calories which are full of sugar - however natural it might be.  Whereas if you had 5 veg it would be nearer a 100.  If you have a healthy salad it may have 200 calories of dressing - well oil is ok for you but not in that quantity!!!

 

Very often healthy food is high in calories and some people are saying that the body burns these off differently but in my research it doesn't.  Most people who have more than 2 stone to lose need less than 1200 calories a day.  You can, in fact, lose weight with McDonald's if your food intake in less tha 1200 calories and this has been proved by various bloggers.

 

If you look at the prepared diets such as Weight Watchers, Slimming World, 5:2 etc you will see that although you dont need to calorie count when you look at the points etc you can see that they have been calorie counted for you.  Where on Weight Watchers can you have a whole avocado or handfuls of nuts?!  If you are cutting out bread and butter, as you would on the 5:2, your calories automatically decrease.

 

I think it is a good idea to eat a different amount of calories each day so your body doesn't get used to just eating a set amount.  I find a journal where you write down what you eat (approximately don't stress) and tot up the calories etc so that gives you an idea where you can make adjustments.

 

I find that if I want to eat something (like scampi and chips) I will eat and enjoy it but cut down the day before and the day after.  AFter all this is an eating plan for life and it has to fit in with your schedule and life style.  Planning is also good so you will always have something healthy to eat or whip something out of the freezer.

 

I never fry onions or veg for a soup or a stew and this cuts the calories down immediately. Always have a skinny lattee or salad dressings.

 

Dont eat three meals a day and snack because that is what the experts tell you to do.  If you aren't hungry don't eat - perhaps two meals are OK for you.  I find that when clients have snacks they are thinking about food all the time which means they want to snack more.

 

If you learn how to muscle test (instructions in my book) you can test what food is good for you to eat and what is not.  You can also test how many times a day you should eat and what you need for maximum nutrition. 

Why do people eat so much at Christmas?

This is is a subject very close to my heart as I have been on a diet all my life, having been 12lb at birthday which in 1955 was very heavy!!  As I have an underactive thyroid with water retention I know that if I eat more than I usually do, the weight piles on!!  So at Christmas I have to plan, watch what I eat and cut down before and afterwards.  Luckily, as a veggie I dont have the fattening meat products and I dont like chocolate!

So why do people ruin their diets/health by eating 5,000 calories a day for three weeks and put on weight that it takes them to Easter to get off!!  Surely it is more important to have a few treats but still to eat healthily than put on 10 lbs that is a struggle to get off!  Alcohol packs on the weight, lowers your resistance and makes you hungry so this adds to the problem.

I enjoy Christmas just as much as everybody else and I eat what I want, but I plan and count my calories.  The problem is that the press/doctors say you dont have to count calories any more but that is not true - you need to know what you are eating - and if they are not important why do doctors have a daily recommendation!!!

13 ways to kill suar cravings + one other

13 ways to kill sugar cravings (and enable you to lose those pounds)       

My tip is to use a technique like EFT to tap out your cravings and why you have them.  Then you can tap in how much better it is to eat a mango or do some exercise instead!

Other advice:

Easter can be a difficult time for those of us with sugar cravings. Sugar is everywhere at this time of year and it’s almost impossible to avoid eating it.

Of course there’s nothing wrong with indulging your sweet tooth every now and then and enjoying celebrations with family and friends. Holidays are too few and far between and you deserve to relax and enjoy yourself.

The problem is, some people with a sweet tooth don’t do moderation! One Easter egg is too much and 20 are not enough! Once they start eating sugar they can’t stop.

This article is for you. I’ve found these strategies extremely effective for killing sugar cravings in my patients and helping them get back on track with healthy eating again. You may want to save this list and revisit it when you need help after Easter Monday.

Why is sugar so damned addictive?

Eating sugar makes you want more sugar, whereas avoiding sugar for several weeks generally means you’ll lose the taste for it and stop craving it as much.

Eating sugar triggers your pancreas to release insulin and if you eat sugar regularly, you’ll have chronically elevated blood insulin levels. This isn’t good because insulin promotes fat storage, inhibits the fat burning enzymes in your body and fuels hunger. A pretty terrible combination for anyone wanting to lose weight.

Here are 13 ways to beat down the sugar monster:

·        Try to get plenty of sleep. If you wake well rested and refreshed, you are far less likely to reach for sugar throughout the day. A lot of people use sugar as a bit of a first aid remedy to get them though an exhausting day.

·        Drink lots of water or herbal tea. You can also drink some tea and coffee, as long as they don’t contain sugar. You can sweeten them with stevia instead. If you feel hungry, often you can quell the hunger just by having a drink of a non-sugary beverage. This is particularly true on a freezing cold day; you may be ravenously hungry and a hot cup of tea is really all you needed to take the hunger away.

·        Breathe deeply. Stress, anxiety and tension drive a lot of people to eat and sugary foods tend to be their favorite. When you have a strong craving, stop and monitor your breathing. Take 10 slow deep breaths and you’ll be less likely to binge.

·        Eat adequate protein. I’m amazed by the number of people who go through each day basically living on starch and fruit. Good sources of protein include eggs, poultry, red meat (preferably grass fed), seafood, whey protein powder, nuts, seeds and legumes. Protein helps to stabilize blood sugar and in that way reduces hunger and cravings. Why not grab yourself a Synd X Slimming Protein Shake? It is extremely high in protein and extremely low in carbohydrate. It is sweetened with stevia and when you make it with coconut milk you are adding in healthy fats which will help stop carb cravings. Besides that, it is really delicious! Try this shake recipe or this delicious breakfast idea.

·        Eat adequate good fats. Fat makes you full and satisfied and far less likely to crave sugar. People who follow low fat diets typically spend a lot of time each day fantasising about sugar. Examples of good fats include avocado, olive oil, organic coconut oil, pastured butter and raw nuts and seeds. The fats to avoid include margarine, seed oils (sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, soy, canola and corn), as well as deep fried food.

·        Take a supplement to help stabilise your blood sugar. Chromium, gymnema, bitter melon, carnitine and other nutrients are combined together in Glicemic Balance capsules. All these nutrients help to reduce hunger and cravings and reduce your blood insulin level if it is elevated. That means your body will be more efficient at burning fat.

·        You may be magnesium deficient. Long term stress depletes your body of magnesium because stress hormones cause you to lose magnesium out through your urine. Chocolate is actually quite a good source of magnesium, therefore taking a magnesium supplement really helps to reduce chocolate cravings in most people. This is especially true for women who feel they MUST eat chocolate in the week before menstruation.

·        Use non-edible items that smell like confectionery. There are some divine smelling chocolate or vanilla body washes, soaps, perfumes, candles and other items available. Some of them smell just like chocolate frosting and seem almost good enough to eat. Our sense of smell is a funny thing and you can often trick your brain into thinking you ate these foods when really all you did was inhale their glorious scent.

·        Get some exercise each day, preferably outdoors. It doesn’t have to be anything gruelling and exhausting; it could just be a gentle walk around the block or to the park. Getting some movement is a great way to clear your head, calm your mind and take your thoughts away from your troubles or your cravings. Even if you are feeling quite exhausted, a short and gentle walk can give you a burst of energy.

·        Eat some chocolate, but only the good stuff. There is some amazing, high quality chocolate available. You can buy sugar free chocolate that has been sweetened with stevia or xylitol (both natural sweeteners). You can also make your own chocolate using cacao powder, or make a hot chocolate drink or add cacao powder to your whey protein power smoothie. You’ll get all the flavour and health benefits of cacao beans but none of the sugar. Here is an example of a healthy chocolate recipe.

·        Include fresh herbs in your salads. Don’t eat bland food. Your meals should be incredibly tasty and leave you feel completely satisfied. Include herbs such as arugula, cilantro, parsley, watercress, dill or basil in your salads and dress them with extra virgin olive oil, macadamia nut oil or avocado oil, along with lemon juice or vinegar. There is no need to ever eat a boring salad.

·        Dress your salads with vinegar. This follows on from the point above. Apple cider vinegar is the healthiest variety, but all vinegar improves digestion and it helps to stabilise blood sugar. It is very beneficial for diabetics as it reduces blood sugar levels after meals. This is a good way of reducing the desire to eat sweets after a meal.

·        Just don’t eat sugar. The only people who crave nicotine are smokers and the only people who crave sugar are the ones who eat it. If you follow our recommendations and stick to a sugar free diet for at least three weeks, you’ll find it becomes easier and easier and you miss sugar less and less.

Alcohol and weight loss

please contact me on info@unleashyourfullpotential.co.uk

The bad news is that alcohol is lethal for weight loss.  Sorry to tell you this but really if you want to lose weight you need to stay off the booze.  It is not just the calories but the way it acts on the body.

1.  alcohol is sooooooooooooooo calorific.  A bottle of wine is 600 calories (at least) and most people drink out of very large glasses now so can easily consume that amount!  Shorts may be less at 50 calories a shot but most people have at least two shots in one glass and if you add fruit juice or non diet drinks it will take the calorie count over 200 calories per glass.  Beer is about 200 calories a pint (depending on what type).  And if you have been reading my blogs you know that you shouldnt be drinking fruit juices and fizzy drinks - diet or non diet.  Both make you hungry and the chemicals in them change your metabolism and you will put on weight!

2. It is full of sugar and if you have an intolerance to sugar it will send your body into freefall.  This can cause all sorts of problems, especially to your liver.  The sugar will make you hungry and that is why you eat manically when you have been drinking.  It raises your insulin level (another reason you are hungry) and this can lead to Diabetes II and its precursor Syndrome X.

3. Alcohol adds water to the body which is virtually impossible to release unless you stop drinking for a few weeks.  It normally puts it round your middle and it wobbles!!  I worked with somebody who had a tremendous water problem and when she gave up booze she lost 10lb in one week - I know this is water but it is water that she was carrying.

4. You think that alcohol relaxes you but it doesnt - I thought that about cigarettes until I gave them up and took my pulse as an exercise - it was very high so was stressing me not relaxing me!!  Alcohol affects the adrenal glands which control stress so it is making you more stressed not less.  This then has a knock on affect on the body which can then make you very ill.

5. Alcohol is addictive and if you have it as a treat or to unwind after a day then one glass usually leads to another and then another.  People dont drink mindfully or tell themselves that it is fine and they dont have a problem.  I know lots of people who think they dont have a problem and have cut down during the week but they talk about it all the time and wish they were drinking - this is not good!!!  Use a technique like EFT to change your belief that alcohol is a treat or is unwinding you to it is not good for you.  People always think that one wont hurt but it rarely stops at one.

6. Alcohol makes you do stupid things!!  So you can eat chips at 2 am in the morning or you can say or do something that you will later on regret.  A friend of mine put a message on her mothers answerphone that she thought was ok.  When she listened to it back it was offensive and she was slurring her words - she couldnt believe it and immediately stopped drinking!!!  Somebody else I knew never put her drink, or what her drink made her eat afterwards (!) on her weightwatchers chart so nobody could understand why she wasnt losing weight!  When she eventually stopped drinking the weight dropped off her and stayed off without any effort.  Drinking makes you lie and cover things up as well!  Also the 2 am fry up will add unwanted pounds!

7. Alcohol has weedkillers in it and Glyphosate which can cause allergies and intolerances which will add water and weight.

8. Alcohol makes you dehydrated and feel awful.  It affects your sleep badly, makes you woozy the next day and then you cant concentrate.  Alcohol affects your memory and kills your brain cells.  Everybody I know who has drunk has a terrible memory but people of the same age are fine.  Alcohol puts your kidneys are risk and can cause cancer of the mouth and throat, among other things.

So dont swop alcohol for fruit juices or smoothies as they are just as bad.  Find a nice tea that you like and carry around the bags.  Drink water which is the best thing for you  Change your perceptions and beliefs now.  I cant understand when somebody is pregnant why they cant go without a drink for 9 months?

Easter, overeating and chocolate!

please contact me on info@unleashyourfullpotential.co.uk for a session

Well we are now approaching Easter where people are already being encouraged to overeat!  The big family lunches full of meat and cakes have been advertised for many weeks and the easter eggs have been in the shops since Christmas!!  Is all this food necessary though?  The retailers are trying to make Easter into another Christmas so that we will spend lots of money.  Television shows are encouraging baking of cup cakes, cakes and fattening puddings.  All this on top of loads of chocolate eggs!!

There was a program on this week about calories and for those of you who read my blogs you know that I bang on about knowing how many calories are in your diet!  I accept that not all calories are not equal and that an advocado is much better for you than a bag of crisps - however if you add an advocado in your diet daily (or a handful of nuts) you will put on weight!!  The calorie totals for people of 2,000 for a woman and 2,500 for a man are way over what they should be!  This is if you have a good metabolism, are very active and reasonably young - it should be near 1500.  If you are on a diet or put on weight easily it is more important you know about calories over and above everything else.  Even the diet plans that claim not to count calories do underneath their schemes.

The average Easter egg contains around 530 calories which will be approx a third of your daily allowance!!  So if you tot up the calories you will be eating over Easter with the eggs and all the other food you are quite likely to put on 5 lb of weight - is it really worth it??!!!! You will be eating over 5,000 calories a day! If you are having eggs you dont need puddings and other cakes.  You dont need a starter and tea in the evening!  Why not chop your egg up and eat a bit every day - that way you dont bombard your body and put on the weight.  Also dont forget that you will have a sugar rush which will make you even hungrier and you most probably will come out in spots as well!!!

I did a talk last monday night about muscle testing and the girl I was using as a model was so sensitive to sugar that her arm dropped down without me even pushing on it!!  Because I have always been on a diet I have never had an Easter egg in my life and I dont miss it - I am not keen on chocolate and it is not worth the calories.  REMEMBER NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS THE TASTE OF BEING SLIM!

You do need to know roughly how many calories you are consuming!!

for a session please contact me at info@unleashyourfullpotential.co.uk

The press is full of people saying you dont need to know how many calories you are consuming - you are being told that it doesnt matter how many good calories a "good" food like an advocado has because it is good for you.  Yes these foods are good for you but if you have a weight problem adding an advocado to your diet every day will be a sure way of putting on weight!!

The calories needed per day has not been revisited since we walked everywhere and didnt have central heating!  So 1800 for women and 2000 for men is very outdated unless you are very young and very active!!  It is more like 1200 for women and 1500 for men.  Dont forget as well that every 10 years you need to drop your calorie intake by 10% or you will put on weight.  Likewise if you want to add a handful of nuts you will have to make allowances in your diet otherwise you will put on weight!

I agree that eating an advocado is better for you than a sausage roll (they both have the same calories) but they will both put on weight if you are on a diet.  Eating plans that say they dont count calories do behind the scenes even though you dont have to count them yourselves.  If you are on a fast track weight loss the company wont have you eating more than 1200 calories and it will be made up of good things.  Moderation in everything is the key and if you are on a restricted diet for the rest of your life you have to be able to eat what you love occasionally otherwise you will go mad!

I have lost weight just eating a bag of crisps and an apple a day - not recommended!  Also there have been television programs where somebody has eaten a McDonalds a day and they have lost weight. So whatever people say somewhere along the line calories in will affect the weight loss.  I had a friend who went on a banana and milk diet 20 years ago.  She was told to eat as many bananas as she wanted a day as they were good for her and as she had a big appetite she ate about 9 - a biggish banana is about 120 calories so with the milk she was over 1500 calories a day and guess what - she put on weight and couldnt understand it!!!!

I have a severely underactive thyroid and have to restrict my intake and have noticed that it doesnt matter what I ate as long as I stay under 1000 calories a day.  Interestingly now they say that eating 500 calories a day for a couple of days a week is good for you.  It gives your system a chance to rest and reduces inflammation and could enable you to live longer - if you wanted to!!!!  And I do know what I am talking about as I have been on a diet since I was born at 12lb!!

I recommend a good diet (I like the Hay and Eat right for your type (blood group) especially eating 5 veg a day - it should be 5 VEG a day and not 5 FRUIT AND VEG.  Fruit should be eaten inbetween meals and max two pieces a day.  You get far more vitamins and minerals from veg than you do from fruit.  Also the fruit affects your insulin and can make you hungry.  Eat when you are hungry and stop before you are full.  Dont eat the minute you are hungry because it is good for you to feel the hunger.  You dont need 3 meals a day if you are not hungry (I have 2).  If you cant get the recommend veg in these meals either juice them (veg only) or take a supplement like JuicePlus (this is what I do).

In future blogs I want to talk about body shapes and how they rule your lives and your weight