Do you struggle with your weight and don’t know why?

 Dosha Quiz

Guest Author; Claudia Richey

This is one of the most common complaints I hear in my practice.

Weight issues and obesity have become an epidemic in our hemisphere. Most weight loss programs are a band aid that delivers a temporary fix with results that won’t last.

Yet your soul already knows there is a better solution to the problem.

Introducing Ayurveda. This ancient healing system from India has identified that there are different body types which react differently to food, lifestyle, and surroundings. Each of these body types, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, gain weight for different reasons, carry it in different areas of their body, and have different challenges in maintaining a healthy weight.

The Vata type, when unbalanced, tends to carry more weight around the hips, thighs, and lower abs. Pitta puts it on evenly, where as Kapha tends to gain it all round the torso and midsection.

Each of these types responds to different dietary measures, there is no one-fits-all approach.

Someone aiming to achieve a healthy body weight should follow a clean diet of fresh and easy to digest foods, including warm soups, stews and porridges. Avoiding processed food is just as important as getting nutrients from vibrant fresh fruits and vegetables every day.

To activate healthy digestion and a sluggish metabolism, try this tea that’s appropriate for all three Dosha Types:

Boil one liter of water with 1 tsp each crushed Fennel, Cumin and Coriander seed. Add 2-3 pieces of thinly sliced fresh Ginger. Let the tea simmer for ten minutes. Remove from heat and add Green Tea, 1 teabag or 1 tsp lose tea. Let steep for another 5 minutes, then fill your tea into a thermos and sip throughout the day.

Finding and maintaining your ideal body weight doesn’t have to be a struggle. Knowing your body and who you are plays a big role in your success.

Use your challenges and turn them into an enjoyable journey to discovering yourself!

By Claudia Richey, AWC, R.PT., R.AT., NWS, RYT

http://www.doshafit.com

Take the Dosha quiz to begin your path to a new you! 

Dosha Quiz

Refusing to FAIL! Janette's Journey

Janette's Weight Loss Story of Health and Wellness

 “My heaviest weight was 408 pounds. I stayed away from the scale for many years, but I knew I had to find out exactly where I was starting. I believe that my weight gain was related to the many tragic losses I experienced in my life. I lost my older and only sister, little brother, father and mother. I became an emotional eater and I ran to food for comfort. I remember feeling like I was literally going to eat myself to death. I did not have a stop button. I felt this way for many years. I could not distinguish the difference between physical hunger and emotional hunger. My weight at that time represented all the pain I felt internally; in retrospect it was a symptom to deeper issues.

I embarked on this weight loss journey many times before, but after many failures I tried again. A heavier person has a different experience than that of individuals viewed as normal or average weight. And in most cases the feedback from others may lead to overeating, especially for those who are emotional eaters as I once was. I often tell individuals who battle with emotional eating to take it 1 step at a time, 1 healthy choice at a time, and 1 pound at a time. My motivations for losing weight were many. I was tired of merely existing. I wanted to live. I wanted to fit into booths in restaurants. I did not want to worry whether I could fit into a classroom desk or not; nor how far from class I had to walk to my car. I wanted to play with my children without getting winded or saying maybe later. I wanted to walk and not worry about constant back pain. 

 

 

I lost weight by totally changing my eating habits. I started by calorie counted and later began to watch my sugar, carbohydrate and sodium intake. I generally consume lean meats, fruits and veggies. I drastically limited any processed foods. I drink a gallon of water each day and I exercise 4 to 6 times a week; anywhere from 1 to 3 hours a day. I did not have a trainer or surgery. My diet is what I created for myself.

My breaking point was March 2011, when I received a seat belt ticket because I was too large to buckle up. I would not have believed this was possible if I had not done it myself. Today I am 175lbs; that is a 233lb loss. I think it is amazing what the body can do once you believe it is possible; I want to encourage others to not stop. You must keep going, keep trying, and never give up!”

— By Janette Colantonio

Follow Jannette and her story on Facebook.

Janette, thank you for sharing your story with the world. You are truly an inspiration to so many!

 

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Vegetarian Lasagna

Everything is mindful about a healthy kitchen, this is why we want to share some of our favorite recipes each issue. If you would like to see some of your recipes published in Mindful Magazine, contact us. You could be our next Healthy Kitchen guest!

* Boil water to cook your noodle of choice (whole    wheat, brown rice, or quinoa).
* While noodles are cooking, cut up your vegetables of choice. Suggestions: spinach, brussel sprouts,         yellow and green zucchini, mushroom. Have the kids choose some of the vegetable.
* When noodles are done cooking and water is strained, layer bottom of a casserole dish with a single    layer of noodles, ricotta cheese, vegetables, spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese, and    continue three    levels or until baking pan is full.
* Bake in oven at 400 for 15-20 minutes, or until vegetables are soft. Each oven may vary.

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What Foods provide Vitamin B's?

Our body needs vitamin B complex, especially since the aging process decreases our ability to absorb nutrients. Vitamin B complex consists of thiamine B1, riboflavin B2, niacin B3, pantothenic acid B5, pyridoxine B6, biotin B7, folic acid or folate B9, and cobalamin B12, and in some countries pangamic acid B15 and amygdalin-nitrilosides or laetrile B17. 

Women who boost their intake of  B6, B9, and B12 can reduce their risk of heart attack by as much as 50%!

Thiamine or B1 is found in nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes, beans, egg yolk, avocados, green leafy vegetables, cod, and scallops.

Riboflavin is found in natural sources of B2 which are found in almonds, scallops, pink salmon, spinach, dairy, mackerel, wheatgerm, eggs, and oats. 

*High concentration of B2 can reduce the effectiveness of the anti-cancer drug methotrexate.

Niacin, try it's natural source of B3 from large fish like tuna, salmon, swordfish, trout, and mackerel. 

*Niacin may reduce the toxic side effects on the heart tissue of the anti-cancer drug adriamycin without reducing its effectiveness in the treatment of cancer.

Pantothenic, B5 is found in avocados, chicken, mushrooms, trout, peanuts, wheat germ, wheat bran, lentils, pink salmon, and oysters.

Pyridoxine, Some foods that contain B6 are raw milk, wheat germ, wheat bran, bananas, chicken avocados, and tuna.

*Beware of processed foods, they destroy vitamin B6. 

Biotin is your B7and is found in spinach, avocados, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, potatoes, legumes, nuts, pork, organ meats, chicken, fish, egg yolks, milk, cheese, royal jelly, soy, corn, barley and wheat bran.

Folic Acid, foods with vitamin B9 are deep leafy greens, broccoli, asparagus, lima beans, sprouts, wheatgerm, nuts, tuna, mushrooms, and dates. 
* Approximately 1/3 of pregnant women have a folate deficiencies, which can lead to birth defects.

Cobalamin, B12 can be found in meat, fish, free range eggs, yogurt, soybeans, seaweed, kelp, sunflower seeds, bananas, and pollen. 

*Vegans and vegetarians should ensure this supplement in their daily diet. Vegetarian foods containing B12 may not be absorbed.

Pangamic acid also known as B15. B15 is found in whole grain, brown rice, wheat germ, wheat grass, nut, seeds, and apricot kernels. 

*B12 is used by athletes in Europe to improve performance. Although sold as Dimetyl Glycine in the U.S., it is controversial due to lack of research. Avoid during pregnancy and while nursing due to lack of data.

Amygdalin-Nitrilosides also known as Laetrile; is B17. Find B17 in apricots, peaches, plums, apple seeds, almonds, raspberries, cranberries, blackberries, blueberries, sprouted seeds, alfalfa, mug beans, millet, lentils, garbanzo beans, wheat grass, and buckwheat. 

*Eat sparingly, controversy as to whether it is toxic or curative, because intestinal bacteria may activate the release of cyanide. Ask your doctor if you should avoid or reduce these food from your diet while pregnant or nursing; due to lack of research of toxicity levels.

*Discuss with your physician your nutritional health. This article is only informational and is not be used as diagnosis or to replace physician advice.

Resources:

www.webmed.com, American Cancer Association, Natural Standard, American College of Healthcare Sciences, www.drweil.com

If you loved this article and want more details on the benefits of Vitamin Bs, subscribe today and read the full article in the September/October 2012 Mindful Magazine issue.
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