Tag: losing weight

4 Keys to Resetting Your Metabolism for Successful Weight Loss

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It’s January 2016 and everyone is in health mode. I’m excited about this because I love seeing people get serious about their health and seek out help, coaching, join gyms and commit to better eating. 

I wish January was all the time! There’s always this excitement in the new year to get healthy and then come February (or shall I say Valentines Day) the healthy eating, along with the over indulgence with chocolates takes over. 

I’m not here to judge. I love chocolate and in a balanced and healthy plan, chocolate is a-ok in my books!

But today, I want to share with you 4 ‘unconventional’ ways of resetting your metabolism. Now… you may have heard of some of these before, but they are not often talked about in regards to metabolism and weight loss; until now. 

As you know, I specialize in weight loss and offer a comprehensive weight loss program and with my clients, there are rules! Of course, with any meal plan and weight loss protocol there are always rules, but these ones are a little different and I want to share them with you because as you embark on your own health journey, I want you to start incorporating them asap. 

Whether you’re looking to lose weight, get energized or balance your hormones, these rules can help to benefit you and your goals. 

Rule #1 – Leave 5 hours between your meals, or more simply, eat 3 meals a day. I’m sure you’ve heard me speak of this before, but the truth is, eating every 2-3 hours means your spiking your insulin levels constantly throughout the day. Taking a 5 hour break allows your insulin levels to drop, which allows for more fat to be burned. I was recently interviewed on the Paleohacks podcast about this and share some insights into mindset when it comes to dieting. You can listen to the podcast here. I also wrote an extensive article on this topic, which you can read here on my site. I go into more detail about why 3 meals are beneficial for hormones. 

Rule #2 – Eat an apple a day. Ok, you’ve heard of this one before, however, it’s not just any apple and it’s not just any time of day. Apples should be eaten as part of your meal, not as a snack, and you should look for more tart varieties like macintosh, gravenstein, jonathan or green varieties. Apples contain lots (and I mean LOTS!) of vitamins and minerals and can help to lower cholesterol and uric acid. They also provide pectin and cellulose, fibres that help your body detoxify.

Rule #3 – Water. Yup, another one you’ve heard of, but the truth is, most of us just aren’t drinking enough. You should aim to be drinking 1/2 oz. of water per pound of body weight. Water cleanses your body, helps to remove waste from the bowels, and supports fat loss. Calculate your water intake and start drinking before you’re thirsty!

Rule #4 – Take 2 bites of protein at the beginning of each meal. This means your fish, poultry, meat, beans or legumes, etc. Most of us dive into the carbs, but protein helps to effectively manage insulin spikes. When the stomach receives protein first, the pancreas reacts by secreting the hormone glucagon. This hormone actually works by blocking insulin production as well as triggering more satiety. Remember, lower insulin levels means higher fat burning. 

These rules are incredibly easy to implement, you can get started with them today! I love hearing from my clients how these rules have become second nature to them. They sit down to their meals with more awareness and more appreciation for their hormones and their health. 

If you’re interested in joining my online 8 week weight loss program, I can only accept 10 women into the group. Everyone receives their own comprehensive blood panel and customized meal plan, plus 8 weeks of coaching with me. After guiding over 60 women last year to weight loss success, I am so excited to bring this program to more women.

Whether you are in the U.S. or Cananda, you can join in on the group program and even get your labs complete near you! This program is by application process only. If you are interested, please take a minute to fill out the application. Once you’re application is received, I’ll connect with you to set up a complimentary consult call to discuss your health and goals in more detail.

Click here to fill out the application form.

I look forward to helping more women achieve weight loss success in 2016, regain their hormonal health and feel confident and vibrant in their bodies once again. Know that’s its possible. Anything is possible with dedication, commitment and a true desire to make change happen.  

Cheers to the happiest and healthiest 2016!

Check out some before and after photos:

Meet Elide. She’s lost 50lbs in just over 6 months. Not only has she lost weight, but she’s gone off her medications and reduced inflammation in her joints.

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Meet Elizabeth. She’s lost over 56lbs pounds in 4 months and her energy levels have increased dramatically. She’s started to run 5km and finally looks forward to being active again. 

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Meet Marisa! Only after 8 weeks into her program, Marisa has lost 20lbs. She has been incredibly dedicated to her program and looks amazing!

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Click here to fill out the online application and let’s get you closer to your weight loss goals in just a few short months!

Your Qualitarian Nutritionist & Wellness Coach, 
Samantha, RHN
xoxoxo

 

 

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Elide’s Weight Loss Success Story

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Meet Elide…

The incredible and brave woman I have the privilege of working with. 

Elide came to me late last year looking to lose weight and get off her diabetic medication. For years she had been trying to lose weight, but was struggling due to medications, inflammation and not having the right support. 

I remember our phone call and the hesitation in her voice to spend money. We talked for an hour and I took the time to truly listen to her concerns and needs, letting her know that my program was not just some random cookie cutter meal plan, but a customized plan geared to specifically address her diabetes, blood sugar imbalances and inflammation.

Elide is one determined and committed woman and I am inspired by her daily. She’s taken the time to educate herself over the years about quality food and made a commitment to eat organic and source out the best foods she could find. She found this dramatically improved her health and in turn, she became an incredible role model for her 2 teenage daughters. 

Having suffered through 2 car crashes which almost completely immobilized her and being passed from doctor to doctor and loaded up on med’s, its no wonder she gained weight and had been struggling to lose it. 

Elide is determined to get off her med’s, reverse her inflammation and truly heal herself. She is the most positive woman I know and her mental and emotional state has been a huge reason to her success. 

I am truly grateful to work with her and be her coach on this incredible weight loss journey. 

In a short 4 weeks, Elide is down almost 20 pounds and off one of her medications! 

Her fasting morning glucose has dropped from 9 to 5.2 and her blood sugar is completely balanced and regulated between meals. In fact, she hasn’t even craved for something sweet or indulgent. 

Her joints feel better and she has more energy then ever before!!

I cannot wait to see her progress over the next month. 

By eating clean, nutrient dense whole foods, like fish, chicken and turkey, healthy fats like avocado oil, ghee and coconut oil and loading her plate up with fresh vegetables and leafy greens, Elide is a true testament to what eating whole foods can do to your body and health.

In fact, she even gets to enjoy bread on her meal plan, plus a weekly treat meal of her choice! 

I am so proud of her and grateful to her for sharing her story with all of you. 

Check out her incredible before and after photos! She looks amazing! 

If Elide can do it… SO CAN YOU!!

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 If you are interested in my Metabolic Weight Loss Program, you can read more about it HERE. Let’s set up a FREE 20 minute consult to discuss your weight loss goals and discuss if this program is right for you. I look forward to hearing from you. Please email me at – samanthagladish@gmail.com.

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How To Lose Fat Forever

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Image[Photo by: eljoja]

Seeing pictures of my fat self would disgust me. Staring back at me was someone I no longer wanted to be. I couldn’t believe how bad I let myself go. 

Now every time I pick up a 40 pound dumbbell, I think to myself that in my hands was the extra weight I carried around so many years ago.

I was in a relationship that no longer inspired me. I was in a university program that was at odds with my values. I resented the decisions I made to please others. I was disappointed that my high paying factory job had allowed me to buy everything I wanted, but left a gaping hole of what I truly needed. 

I had stuffed myself with so many Krispy Kreme donuts and endless litres of dark cola’s before I finally hit a brick wall. I was constantly bloated. I’d roll down my car window to air out the repugnant gas I passed. I dragged my feet when I walked. 

When I saw videos of myself, I was astonished at how sluggish I was. I had the posture of someone with a whittled down personality. I hid my big belly and insecurity with baggy clothes. 

Desperate for change I hunted for extreme solutions at the store. Many labels targeted my pain points so well that I would immediately jump on their bandwagon.

I dosed on pills and potions that stripped my intestines of all good and even bad bacteria (which I learned afterward). I survived on liquids for days straight as suggested. Still, I was so dehydrated and malnourished I would get massive headaches, stomach pains, and embarrassingly frequent trips to the bathroom. 

I yo-yoed up and down for a while and was unable to keep my weight down. Nothing lasted.

The cycle kept repeating until I unknowingly discovered what would create lasting weight loss results for me. It was not a product or something I could buy online. 

It was self worth. 

Self love. 

Self acceptance. 

And I had none. Nada.

It was reflected in the poor choices I made around food, exercise and the people I hung around. I was disconnected with who I was. The words passion, excitement and inspiration were simply not in my vocabulary.

Over a short period of time I began to fill that once gaping hole with wisdom instead of junk food. The biggest catalyst came in two major forms. The famous self help program Personal Power II by Anthony Robbins. And the legendary classic, Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. 

Picking up these books were like learning a different language. It was so hard to wrap my head around some of the ideas. But there was something about the stories they shared that made me feel like I could relate to so many of these people who had become influential and impactful to many. I started to believe I could transform myself. My health, my body, my mind. Everything.

It helped me tap into a long lost power that had always resided within me this whole time.

The power to decide. 

To cut off all other options, as Robbins famously puts it.

What put further fuel to the fire was coming across the Invictus poem by William Ernest Henley enclosed in Hill’s Think & Grow Rich where it stated: 

“I am the master of my fate, the captain of my soul.”

This line became my new mantra. 

No longer would I allow myself to let others dictate the direction of my life. More and more I built a newfound relationship with myself. I walked, journaled, meditated, exercised, and studied nutrition. I couldn’t help but begin eating higher quality food. 

This time it was because I wanted to. Not because I had a desire to lose weight but because I finally felt that I truly deserved it. A feeling no diet could ever give me.

I deserved to feel energetic, strong, flexible, balanced and healthy. I deserved to discover my passion, find my truth, walk my own path and reach my highest potential. I deserved to put only good food into my body. I deserved to finally feel confident about my own body. 

I decided to never settle for mediocrity. 

And that was the real turning point from dieting to a lasting shift in my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being.

No system, strategy, pill, potion, or diet guide will work unless you cultivate your self love, find self worth and learn to accept yourself.

Let go of what everyone else wants for you. Their false mythologies of what a good body, good job, or good life does not serve you. 

Find new definitions within your self. Live from that place. 

The only opinion, judgments and thoughts that matter are the one’s you have for your self.

When you live with awareness, love, and compassion for your self and have purpose, passion and inspiration behind you, you can’t help but do good things for your mind, body and soul. 

You will have less and less desire for the crappy food, negative people and toxic environments that don’t nourish you. 

Now when I come across photos of myself, staring back at me is not someone with a perfect body or a finished product, but someone I’m finally proud to be. Yes, a work in progress. But gladly embarking on a lifelong journey towards health and well being. 

Happy for the choices I’ve made. And happy to just be me.

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** Join me this evening in Mississauga for my Monthly Meetup group. Tonight’s Topic – The Transformational Power of Your Story. Plus, we have a special guest speaker! Click HERE for more info and Join us! Would love to see you there 🙂 

** If your ready to lose the weight and gain back your health, email Samantha Gladish at – samanthagladish@gmail.com and reserve your spot in her Metabolic Weight Loss Program. No pills, no shakes, just real whole foods and REAL results. 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Oliver Manalese

Image 1Oliver coaches and guides people in their personal awareness, growth and transformation. He is the founder of Integrated Self, a workshop series for self-explorers, a singer-songwriter as well as a certified yoga instructor. In between writing, coaching sessions and making music, Oliver spends the rest of his time enjoying the good life with his love Janet, eating gorgeous food, sipping espressos and travelling. For more, go to: www.olivermanalese.com

 

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10 Reasons You Should Quit Your Diet

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I am so honoured to have my dearest friend, Oliver Manalese share another guest post on my blog. Having gone through his own physical and emotional transformation and trying to understand and make sense of the world of ‘dieting,’ Oliver shares the honest and raw truth about diets that go beyond food and exercise. As a personal growth and transformation coach, Oliver works closely with people to help them step into their power and achieve a life they love. From business, to relationships and personal growth, I’ve worked closely with Oliver over the years. He has provided me with tools and insights that I use in my everyday to help keep me in alignment with my true self.  You can visit Oliver on his blog HERE and check out his other guest post on personal growth HERE.  Let’s welcome Oliver Manalese…
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I found it impossible to recognize myself. 
 
One vacation photo captured it all. Me, chugging a beer, and rocking a serious buddha belly really blew my mind that I couldn’t believe it was me! That was when I made a choice that changed my life forever.
 
Continuing on this path would have meant that staying chunky was my choice. But that was not an option. The dissatisfaction with my current state and intense desire for bettering myself meant I had to kick the old me out the door for good.
 
When we’re not aware or honest about our destructive habits, or do a reality check, nothing changes. But when we do become aware, new possibilities for change open up. 
 
Every diet I discovered was bullsh*t. The results never lasted. These are what worked for me and people I know. These are the reasons you need to quit your diet, focus on lifestyle instead, and expand your self awareness, or your efforts won’t stand a chance.
 
1. You’re a bully
I’ve often said that the biggest bully is the one in the mirror. The way you talk to yourself and treat yourself are what keep you off course from the awareness and transformation that result in a healthier, happier, you. Programs, pills, and potions won’t save you from this. Developing compassion, will.
 
2. Forget about weight loss
Most dieters focus so much on losing weight. This puts the cart before the horse. Weight loss is a byproduct of a healthy lifestyle. It’s not just food, it’s everything! Exercise, sleep, relationships, rest and so much more. Aim for health and well being. Everything else will follow. 
 
3. Health is not a product
You can’t buy your way to health. It’s an every choice, every thought, every day, sorta thing. Stop buying into everything under the sun for the dream of being like the fitness models you see in commercials. Stop believing that some diet is the magic solution. Aim for health with your lifestyle choices and watch what happens!
 
4. Excusing/hating others
“It’s easy for her, she’s naturally skinny” or “He has better genes than me” or “You’re so lucky.” 
Give it up already. I love how Robin Sharma says, “Excusing others is simply excusing yourself.” Stop worrying about other people and focus on what you have power over. You!
 
5. Others
Look at the people around you. These are people who can pressure you right out of your new lifestyle. You don’t put a recovering heroine addict in a drug house, so why mix yourself up in temptations and peer pressure from others? If you know you’ll be tempted, spend less time with them.
 
6. Every day start at zero
So you devoured a dozen freshly baked cookies in an emotional frenzy. Cheating that day doesn’t mean failure tomorrow. Start at zero every day. Stop letting mistakes from yesterday compromise the opportunity of today.
 
7. Overcompensating elsewhere
What we excessively take away from one area, we excessively make up in another area. Deprivation usually ends badly. Eating less, having cravings, and being cranky is bad news all around. We end up doing so well for a few days and then because we’ve been “so good,” we “deserve” extra slices of pie and scoops of ice cream. 
 
8. Hitting the goal
Yay! We hit our diet goal, we’ve made it as a human being, we’re done now! Sorry to burst your bubble, but it never ends. Diets sell you the idea that there is an end, but well-being is a daily practice.
 
9. Get stoked!
Get curious about health and well being. Get interested in the amount of energy you will create for yourself. Get excited about all the things you can achieve and accomplish when you become stronger, leaner and happier. It takes small changes over time and you might not see results right away. Just keep going. Trust the process.
 
10. Dream big, start small
The surest recipe for failure is trying to do everything at once. Out of excitement we overstock on products, health foods and diet guides. We try to implement twenty new habits and we wonder why we’re not getting anywhere.  It takes steam to get any train going and to slowly gain momentum. So do you.
 
Start with one thing. Master it. Build from there.
 
Quit your diet now. Choose a better lifestyle. Make it a daily practice.
 
Gain awareness, build your self confidence, and you will begin to feel that you deserve and owe it to yourself to make choices for your well-being. The hard work of daily exercise, eating quality food, surrounding yourself with supportive people will all fuel the process and push you even further.
 
And when your friends see you transform and sense a massive shift in your energy, they will undoubtedly ask what diet you’re on. When they do, make sure to have a puzzled look on your face when you respond with: “What’s a diet?”
 
Guest Post Written By: Oliver Manalese
www.olivermanalese.com
 
Image 1
 
 
 
 
Diet Image/Photo Credit: Sarah Faith
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahfaith/]

 

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My Beach Bum Back and Biceps Workout

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Hi ya beach bums!

So happy you can join me on day 2 of my beach body workout!

Yesterday’s leg & booty workout was a killer. Let me know if you tried it and how you’re feeling today! You can find the workout HERE.

Remember, go at your own pace and do what feels comfortable for you.

As for weight, I encourage you to challenge yourself, but not to over do it.

For your first rep, start out at a lower weight to ‘warm-up’ your muscles, then increase the weight to what is comfortable for you. On your last rep, it should feel rather hard to get through. If it feels as though you can add on a few reps, then the weight probably isn’t heavy enough. This will take some trial and error.

Be sure to include a quick 5 minute stretch/warm-up before beginning this routine.

Now let’s get to your workout!

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