The idiot-proof diet is all about calorie shifting. That is, in this diet, you shift your food intake throughout the day instead of eating just 3 meals a day. The diet is popular because it’s actually very easy to follow and there are hardly any restrictions when it comes to the types of food you can eat.

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The Idiot-Proof Diet

The idiot-proof diet is all about calorie shifting. That is, in this diet, you shift your food intake throughout the day instead of eating just 3 meals a day. The diet is popular because it’s actually very easy to follow and there are hardly any restrictions when it comes to the types of food you can eat.

The ‘calorie shifting’ model takes place because you eat every two and half hours. The theory is that because your body is consuming calories (energy) constantly throughout the day, it’s always in ‘burning calories’ mode instead of the ‘saving calories’ mode.

When you sign up for the diet, you get access to a diet handbook, an 11-day diet-plan and a diet calculator. You get to pick what foods you like to eat so don’t think that you’ll be tarving in this diet!

NutriSystem

The NutriSystem way of dieting is all about proper meal planning. People love this diet because it takes away the burden of trying to figure out what to eat during their dieting phase. You see, a lot of people actually get confused as to what they can eat when they want to lose weight. That’s not really surprising because there’s so much information out there and for every yay sayer, there is a nay sayer so it’s really tough to know what to eat.

However, with NurtiSystem, they do all the meal planning and portion controlling for you. You just need to sign up to any of their diet programs (e.g., Women’s Program, Men’s Program, Vegetarian Program, etc.) and order a multi-day (usually for 28 days) diet program.

After you choose your diet program, a menu is presented to you and you simply choose what you want to eat. The meals are then delivered to your doorstep at various intervals during your diet program.

The South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet is popular because the name alone conjures bikini-clad bodies! Add to that the fact that it was founded by a cardiologist, Dr. Arthur Agatston, then you have a sort of ‘doctor recommended, doctor approved’ seal on the diet as well.

At first glance, the South Beach Diet looks a lot like the Atkins Diet in the sense that it restricts carbohydrates during the initial phase of the program (there are 3 phases). The first phase (14 days) encourages ‘normal eating’ in the sense that you can pretty much eat whatever you want but you must NOT eat bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, or baked goods. Fruit is also not allowed. No sugar. No alcohol.

The second phase allows you to SLOWLY introduce these items back into your diet but at lesser levels that you consumed them before of course. The third phase is more about general maintenance.

Weight Watchers

Probably one of the longest running diet programs out there is Weight Watchers. It believes in the overall approach where food, exercise, behavior and support are addressed.

Weight Watchers is known for advocating a point system for foods. Using this system, one calculates the calorie intake of the foods he or she eats. The number of points you can have in a day varies depending on your weight. The beauty of the program is that there are no gut-wrenching food restrictions so you never feel deprived of anything. However, the point system teaches you how to balance your meals so that even if you indulge on one food item, you don’t go overboard and consume too much in a day.

Gastric Bypass Surgery – Knowing the Risks

Like any other type of elective surgery, gastric bypass surgery comes complete with its own set of risks. In fact, 10 to 20 percent of gastric bypass patients require follow-up surgery to correct a complication of the original weight loss surgery, according to the National Institutes of Health . The following list covers the most serious risks, and necessary treatments.

Pulmonary Embolism – Patients face a one percent chance of blood clots developing in the legs after surgery. Several techniques can prevent the formation of clots, such as using surgical compression stockings that put pressure on the legs and maintain blood flow in the days following surgery. If clots do form, they may break off and be carried into the lungs, where they can get caught. Emergency surgery is required.

Peritonitis – If a staple or suture used during surgery ruptures and allows stomach fluid to leak into the abdominal cavity, it can cause a serious infection, called peritonitis. Emergency surgery is required to seal the leak, followed by treatment with antibiotics to kill the infection.

Gallstones – More than one-third of gastric bypass surgery patients develop gallstones, which seem to be caused by rapid weight loss. If a patient has gallstones before the operation, the surgeon will remove the gall bladder during the gastric bypass operation to prevent further difficulties. If there are no signs of gall bladder problems, the doctor may prescribe medication to minimize the risk after surgery.

Chronic Vomiting – The connection between the stomach and the intestines can narrow as a result of scar tissue forming. When this occurs, food cannot pass easily through the channel, which may cause nausea and vomiting after eating. To correct the problem during follow-up surgery, the doctor will insert a balloon into the opening and stretch it. This outpatient procedure has a 90 percent success rate.

Dumping Syndrome – This problem occurs when food moves too quickly through the small intestine and causes nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and possibly diarrhea soon after eating. Normally, it is caused eating highly refined foods, like sugars. Proper dietary precautions can prevent or control this problem.

Nutritional Deficiencies – Approximately 30 percent of gastric bypass patients develop severe nutritional deficiencies, such as anemia, osteoporosis, and metabolic bone disorders. Taking the correct combination of dietary supplements can prevent these problems.

Stomach Ulcers – Ulcers can develop at the top part of the intestine when it is connected to the new stomach pouch. Traditional ulcer treatments are used.

Hernia – Hernias can develop in any part of the abdominal muscles where there is a weak point that allows a part of the stomach or intestines to push through. Surgery can correct this problem.

Pregnancy – Women should not get pregnant for at least two years after surgery to prevent serious post-surgical complications. Women who later become pregnant must also be careful to take the correct nutritional supplements to protect both her and the baby from developing nutritional deficiencies.

Bowel Obstruction – This problem can result when scar tissue develops where the stomach was sewn or stapled to create a smaller pouch. This requires immediate emergency medical treatment that may include surgery.

With all of the hazards involved, you need to carefully weigh the risks against the benefits of gastric bypass surgery. On the positive side, in addition to weight loss, gastric bypass surgery can dramatically reduce the chance of obesity-related heart disease, diabetes, and sleep apnea, as well as improve lower back and knee problems. Before arranging gastric bypass surgery, discuss all treatment options with your doctor to determine the course of action that is right for you.

More information: PreparationInsuranceRisksPictures

This article provides an overview of health issues related to gastric bypass surgery and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical practitioner. Please consult your doctor prior to making any major medical decisions.

How often though do we give ourselves over to God’s loving embrace?

Did you know that things show up for us in the form of intuition, ideas, people, books? Sometimes we get disillusioned as we believe it’s supposed to be in the form we want it to be.

I asked for money, where is it? I asked for a better relationship, where is it? I asked for better health, where is it?

Guess what?

God always delivers. He knows exactly what you need, and the mustard seed is planted.

The harvest is here when God believes you are ready.

We do get impatient while we’re waiting for the harvest. We want to hurry up and dig up the seed to ensure it’s growing. We work ourselves with worry wondering if that seed will ever produce our abundance and prosperity. What we don’t see is the miracle that is taking place underneath the ground to deliver our bountiful harvest. The Universe, in its intelligence, is cultivating the right environment.

Sometimes the answer is right in front of us, but we miss the opportunity.

When we let go of the outcome, we let God and the Universe do the work. We have planted the seed. Our only job now is to be grateful that things are evolving exactly as they should and the delivery date is right here, right now.

God intends that we are joyful in every moment, regardless of our “perception” of our circumstances.

Trust in yourself. When you trust in yourself, you trust in the wisdom that created you.

How does this relate to your health and weight loss?

It is no accident that you are reading this. It is no accident that you have subscribed to this newsletter. You are right where you need to be.

You only need to ask yourself one question.

Is this the answer I’ve been looking for?

I don’t know if I’m your answer. I don’t know if I’m exactly what you need. What I do know is that God intends me to help people with their health, simply and beautifully.

Let me see if I can help you make your decision.

Just recently, I was faced with a decision in leasing commercial space in a healing center in Silverdale, Washington. I had heard a strong message that I was supposed to get out in the community more, but I didn’t ask to lease space. I have been doing my energy and weight loss practice from my home. The landlord, who was leasing the space, called and said she had seen my flyer for my weight loss program and Isagenix products so I thought she was calling me to help her.

No, she was calling me to see if I wanted to lease space.

So I closed my eyes and said, “Okay, God, if this is really meant for me, I want a zebra to come running through my living room. Then I’ll know it’s really from You.”

Now, this seems pretty silly, but I sure was going through some of this self-talk and also putting my fingers over my eyes and saying, “When I open my eyes, I want you to send me a clear sign that this is what you mean by getting out in the community more.”

There was no zebra! No black and white of anything!

I then called a friend asking for assistance with my decision who said these words, “How many more people can you help if you are more visible in the public?”

This is exactly what I needed to hear and I made my decision to lease the space. It’s been a very spiritual experience, but you want to know something? It’s what I have envisioned for many years. I could picture myself doing this.

When Arnold Swarzennager was interviewed asking how an immigrant could possibly be Governor of California, this was his response. I pictured myself doing this and now I’m just living that picture.

What are you picturing for yourself?

We miss opportunities because we don’t want to believe that God provides in ways that we don’t quite expect. We miss opportunities because we focus on the lack of money in order to take that step in faith.

God always provides and remember it may not be in the form that we expected. Did you know your salary at your job is only a channel; it is not your Source. Your abundance only comes from one Source and He sends it to you through many different channels.

Hopefully, I’ve helped you. Make the decision that is right for you.