#somersize

Suzanne Somers : The Somersize Program & How to Cook VHS

I feel a bit like I am channelling Jim Morrison right now!  But I made it through and today is officially the "end" of my 3 week P3 maintenance phase.   YAY I successfully made it through all 3 phases of a round of HCG. 

I am not sure if I will do another round or not.  My intent in using the hcg was to have it be a "jump start" to keep me focused and started on my fitness/weight loss journey.  I surely don't want to do another round.  We'll see what the future holds.

As for now I am keeping it low carb.  Pretty much like at Atkins level 2 or maybe a slight Somersize level one (except I am over coming my fear of combining fruits and fats LOL).  Anyway, my goal is to eat fabulous healthy, fresh, whole foods while enjoying life. 

What is leptin and why should you care if your body is leptin resistant?

Leptin one of the most important adipose (fat) derived hormones.  According to Dr. King's Meidical Biochemistry pageits "central function is the regulation of overall body weight by limiting food intake and increasing energy expenditure. However, leptin is also involved in the regulation of the neuroendocrine axis, inflammatory responses, blood pressure, and bone mass".

So what does that mean to you and your weight loss efforts?  It means if your body stops "hearing" leptin then you will always feel hungry, you will burn muscle tissue instead of fat, you will regain weight immediately after "dieting", you will crave sweets and eventually become more likely to suffer the diseases of aging such as diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, high cholesterol and heart disease. 

So how does one overcome leptin resistance or better yet keep their body from becoming resistant to leptin?  If you are currently on a weight reduction plan stop eating starchy carbs such as potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, pasta, rice, and actually all grains.  Eat more vegetables such as asparagus, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, chard, spinach...you get the picture here right?  Eat more healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, fish, flax and hemp oil, coconut oil/milk.  Eat the appropriate amount of proteins.  You do not need to follow a high protein diet, but you do need to include adequate amounts of protein. 

Would you like to learn more about eating to reduce leptin resistance? You can read more about leptin at Dr. Ron Rosedale's website or you can check in with the many paleo blogs here on tumblr like cookingcaveman 

***edit*** I forgot to mention Suzanne Somers (groan yes Suzanne Somers) her Somersize plan is also geared to correcting leptin resistance, and let's be real...she didn't invent the thing; scientists and doctors did, she just promotes it ;)