Kwynntessential Solutions

Burn Baby Burn!

Fat burn….that beloved place where the fat melts and weight falls right off of you. It is a beautiful place to be when you are trying to lose shed a few pounds. The scale is going down every week and your clothes are getting more and more loose. So, if fat burn is such a beautiful place, why do we have such a hard time getting there?

Well that is because the process of getting to the fat burn stage is HARD! However, once you are there and you continue to eat properly, you should not have problems staying. When you are entering fat burn, you are essentially depriving your body of fuel (See my Carbohydrate blog). Your body is thinking it is running low on fuel and will send signals to your gut and brain that tell you to eat. At this time, you may have experience symptoms such as increased hunger, headaches, weakness and more. You have to push through this tough time in order to force your body into fat burn mode.

Once your body has made this transition your are now using fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. Congratulations! You have officially turned your body into a fat burning machine instead of a fat storing machine. Here is where the magic happens. You are losing pure fat and not the water weight. It takes hard work to get here, but the reward is well worth the effort. If you are ready to push your body into fat burn, drop a message in the comments. All I need to say is “I’m Ready!” and we can get started! I’d love to share one of my newest product with you. It is a meal plan that will help you prepare for your transition into fat burn. Even if you are not ready to become a fat burning machine, this tool is still beneficial. Let’s get ready to welcome the summer with a new look!

A Little Extra

Surely you didn’t think people only desire to lose weight? Some people who are considered underweight and would benefit from gaining a few pounds. There are also those who would like to gain weight because they are going for a certain “look”. In the end, people want to gain weight for almost the same reasons as those who want to lose. Just like with weight loss, there is a healthy and unhealthy way to gain weight. Sure, you could just eat a few slices of pizza and French fries every day. But why would you want to risk having a stroke or heart attack. Here are some healthy ways to help with weight gain:

Try to eat 5-6 times a day
Make sure your meals/snacks are calorie dense
Eat as many colors as you can during meal time
Add healthy fats to the diet whenever you can
Try full fat dairy products (yogurt, milk, cheese)
Don’t skimp on the condiments. Use as much as you like!
Make smoothies or shakes using your favorite frozen fruit. Add milk or 100% juice instead of water
Aim to gain 1-3 pounds a week consistently until
Once you reach your target weight, remove some of the calories from the diet so that you can maintain your weight
Talk with a trained professional (like myself) about whether a nutrition supplement is appropriate.

Sleep

Getting enough rest/sleep consistently is a VERY important part of your health journey. You have to give your body time to refresh and reset itself. We use the least amount of energy when we sleep, so that is the prime time for our bodies to revitalize itself. A lack of sleep can affect our bodies in so many ways, such as:

Having a harder time learning new information
Slowing down the metabolism and increased weight (even if you are exercising)
Increased hunger or confusing hunger with actually needing rest
Putting yourself at risk of falling asleep during dangerous times like when we are driving
Mood swings: You’re more irritable and have less patience
Increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure
Decreased ability for body to naturally fight cancer

Lower sleep hours leads to increased eating and portion sizes. This is because your hormone levels are low and there is little regulation of the appetite. In essence, sleep is closely related to our eating patterns. Allow yourself 6-8 hours of rest, relaxation, and sleep so that your body can perform at its maximum potential. Treat your body well and it will treat you well!

Romaine Recall

Recently, there has been a recall on Romaine lettuce grown in the Yuma, Arizona area due to an outbreak of E. Coli. E. Coli is a bacteria that can lead to serious illnesses including organ failure. The US Center for Disease Control has stated that unless you can be SURE that the lettuce you are consuming did not come from Yuma, Arizona, don’t eat it! If you still have any Romaine lettuce in your home, it is advised to be safe and throw it out. You also should avoid purchasing the lettuce at stores or when dining out. Washing the lettuce will not help, because the bacteria actually grows inside of the lettuce.

Even though we are not eating Romaine, you can use other leafy vegetables for the time being. That’s right! You can still enjoy a nice salad or add lettuce to your foods without causing harm to your body. Here are some suggestions that you can use:

Arugula

Kale

Spinach

Swiss Chard

Arugula Kale Spinach Swiss Chard

The deeper the color, the more nutrients the leafy vegetable holds. Use these the same you would with romaine. It can be the base of a salad or a garnish. If you need any ideas on what to do with these foods, leave a comment below.

Go Further With Food

This week I am going to showcase foods that are serve multiple purposes. Either these foods contain different nutrients or are full of ingredients that are truly beneficial to life. You may hear them referred to as “Super Foods”. Here is a list of my favorite foods that give you more bang for your buck: Continue reading “Go Further With Food”