Losing Weight + Keeping It Off

Have you struggled with losing those few extra pounds that you put on? Or are you struggling to lose more? Do you seem to yo-yo up and down with your weight? You are not alone. Everyone knows what to do to lose weight and yet if it were that simple, no one would have any weight issues. Losing excess weight and keeping it off for the long term involves balancing a complex network of your mind, your diet, your sleep patterns, your hormones, your exercise and your toxic load.

TIPS FROM NEW LEAF WELLNESS

Our suggestion is to start with one piece of the puzzle and get that piece working, and then move onto the next. If you can work on several pieces at once, that is great; however, many people feel overwhelmed and fail if they take on too much at once. Your goal is long term weight loss, with you maintaining a healthy weight: feeling vital and having the energy to do the things that you want to do in life for the long term. With that goal in mind, it makes sense to focus on one piece of the puzzle and then another, and another; doesn’t it? It is a continual process that gets you to your goal and keeps you there. And, yes, change takes work and change does not always come easily; but it is worth it!!! First decide that you want to achieve a healthy weight, then next decide what you want to focus on first.

I have been doing New leaf Wellness weight loss program for approximately 4 months. I have lost 35 pounds and have felt wonderful. My energy levels are higher and my attitude is better. I eat real foods and my hunger levels are very low. – Lori. H from Coralville, Iowa

Then next, break it down into small easy steps that are achievable until you reach your major goal. The key is to set achievable goals each week so that you can attain them and reach success. It may seem slow at times, but slow and steady wins the race!! (remember the story of the tortoise and the hare??) You want long term results, not the yo yo frustration that so many people live through.

Many people do not relate hormone imbalance with weight but they are intimately connected. As I stated above, hormone balance is a significant piece to the optimal weight puzzle. Hormones are chemicals in your body that stimulate reactions and bodily functions to take place. A bodily function such as weight loss is definitely affected by hormones. When your hormones are out of balance you can experience difficulty in losing weight. Insulin, Thyroid, Cortisol, Testosterone, and Estrogen are key hormones in the weight loss game.

HORMONAL IMBALANCE

Many things can affect your hormone balance: stress, aging, nutrition, toxins. By balancing your nutrition you can actually help your hormones. This can be done by eliminating foods that you are sensitive too, by eating healthy foods, and by focusing on a balanced vegetable, fruit, protein diet. People underestimate the effect that nutrition has on their body but it is a major player for affecting how you feel, as well as the weight that you carry. Food sensitivities are highly under diagnosed and unrecognized by patients and doctors alike. Do not rely on blood tests to diagnose food allergies. Be aware of your body and pay attention to how it responds to certain foods. If you know that a food makes you feel bloated or tired, avoid it; even if a test showed you that you were not allergic to that food. Trust your own body! But a Food Sensitivity Test is really the best way to determine if you have any food sensitivity and New Leaf Wellness can conduct this for you. The results are very specific and exact.

I was always been a big kid, but ten years after football I found myself at 420 Ibs., and nowhere near the athlete I used to be. Last October I knew something drastic had to change and that’s when I went to New Leaf Wellness. I had heard about HCG years ago but thought it was just another fad. But instantly after meeting with the staff I knew that with the support of New Leaf’s incredible staff I was going to be successful. Like any diet, at first it was hard. But because of the drastic changes I saw almost overnight it was easy to stay dedicated. Three months later, I’m down almost 70 Ibs. and I’m starting to get the athleticism I’d lost back! I feel better than I ever have and continue to see drastic changes every week, even 3 months in! I will never be able to thank the amazing staff at New Leaf Wellness enough for giving me my life back. – Sam M. from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

STRESS + THE BODY

Stress reduction is a key component to your overall well being as well as helping to keep your hormones and weight balanced. Turn off the news and focus on positive things in your life. Breathe out for longer than you breathe in–this is a great way to immediately reduce stress. Take a few breaths throughout the day where you breathe in slow for the count of 3 and breathe out for the count of 5 – 7. This also helps you if you are having trouble sleeping. Remember to regularly allow yourself to have fun and to turn off your phone as much as you can. You do not have to be connected 24/7. And, of course fit exercise into your schedule no matter how small amount the time is. Some movement is better than no movement.

BALANCED HORMONES

Achieving hormone balance and a healthy weight is complex but we hope that these tips have helped you to focus on a few things to start with. Even when prescribed a customized bio-identical hormone  Rx, we highly encourage patients to do the above things at New Leaf Wellness. Everything is important for your health–they are all pieces to the optimal health puzzle!! Decide that you want change, and then start with a small step now to achieve your long term goals!

When you are ready to get started, give us a call at 888-728-7555 or contact us!

NLRX Nutrition: Hemp Webinar

Join us for our live webinar December 13th at 5:00CST.
Register for this exclusive webinar hosted by NLRX Nutrition + Biotrinetix Lab
>> Yes, I want to Register!
 Healthy Living with Hemp Protein
HEMP Protein

Hemp – also known as Cannabis Sativa L. is from the same plant family as sunflowers. This strong, fast growing and versatile plant has been used by man for thousands of years and has thousands of uses.It’s the single greatest plant resource for human health and well-being. Found naturally on all continents, hemp is used as food, clothing, shelter, and medicine.
COOL HEMP FACTS

üThe word “canvas” is derived from the word “cannabis”. The Latin word for hemp. üHemp returns 70% of the nutrients back into the soil, leaving the soil richer for the next crop and acts as a heavy metal übinding agent further decontaminating the soil having a positive impact on nature.
üHemp plants can grow over 15 feet  tall.

SUPERFOOD NUTRITION

Hemp seeds is one of the most essential, nutrient dense and balanced foods available- while also providing an easily digestible source of protein and balanced good fats for human health.Once removed from the shell, the nut (also known as hemp hearts) can be eaten raw or pressed, to create hemp oil and hemp protein. This is a wonderful VEGAN selection for those looking to replace their meat- derived proteins.

This is a wonderful VEGAN selection for those looking to replace their meat- derived proteins. For New Leaf Testimonials >>

Reasons to LOVE Hemp Food
  • Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs): They are called “essential” because they are necessary for many metabolic processes, and are not produced by the body itself. They are distinct from fats that are used only as fuel. The two fatty acids essential for humans are alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, and linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid. Hemp is not only an excellent source of these two EFAs, but it also provides them in an ideal ratio of about 3:1 for Omega 6 to Omega 3.
  • Fish Oil Substitution: Hemp also contains stearidonic acid which is the precursor for DHA and EPA formation, rendering the need for fish oil unnecessary.
  • Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs): They are called “essential” because they are necessary for many metabolic processes, and are not produced by the body itself. They are distinct from fats that are used only as fuel. The two fatty acids essential for humans are alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, and linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid. Hemp is not only an excellent source of these two EFAs, but it also provides them in an ideal ratio of about 3:1 for Omega 6 to Omega 3.
HEALTHY FACTS
üGirgih et. al.’s ‘Preventative and Treatment Effects of a Hemp Seed meal protein’ can aid in decreasing blood pressure. üNorajit Bon-Jae et. al.’s ‘Effects of the addition of hemp powder on the üphysicochemical properties and energy bar qualities’ teaches us that the addition of hemp powder increased flavonoids and had a better removal of free radicals, decreasing the moisture when blending it with other nutrients making it a preferred choice as an additive. üLaymann et. al. ‘Reduced Ratio of Dietary Carbohydrate to Protein Improves Body Composition and Blood Lipid Profiles during Weight Loss in Adult Women’ indicates that increasing the proportion of protein to carbohydrates in the diet of adult women has positive effects on body ücomposition, blood lipids, glucose balance and feeling full during weight loss.

 

8 Reasons TO REPLACE YOUR MEALS WITH HEMP 
  1. STEARIDONIC ACID is the precursor that makes DHA & EPA found in fish oil, targeting Inflammation, Cardiovascular
  2. function and BETTER Weight Management.
  3. Feel FULL Faster.
  4. It’s thermogenic! It’s increases your metabolic stimulation.
  5. It’s all in the NUMBERS: 30% Iron, 70% Magnesium, 30% of Zinc, and 15% of Folate in ONE Hemp nut serving.
  6. At TWO Hemp (nut and protein) Servings, one can replace 4 ounces of chicken breast or a drumstick.
  7. It has FIBER too! 3 to 4 grams per Serving, helping ease digestion.
  8. It’s a GREAT source of ESSENTIAL Omegas. Hemp Oil has 10 grams of Omegas per serving.

 

Join us for our live webinar December 13th at 5:00CST.
Register for this exclusive webinar hosted by NLRX Nutrition + Biotrinetix Lab
>> Yes, I want to Register!

Recipe: Weight Loss

In order to lose weight, your body must be able to utilize its fat stores and turn the fat into energy. All of the cells in your body prefer to burn fat rather than glucose for energy, with the exception of your brain cells who prefer glucose. Fat is more efficiently stored than glucose (a simple carbohydrate). So, whose ready to know the recipe for weight loss?

We wish it was as simple as gathering ingredients and mixing it together. However, the body is more complex and to further complicate things, all of our bodies need different things. Luckily, we have specialized in formulating the right “recipe” for weight loss for many years!

HOW OUR BODY PROCESSES FOOD:

The food that we eat gets mainly stored as fat for usage at a later time, only a small amount is used immediately for energy. Our bodies are designed for a world where the next meal is in question. This is why our bodies have a system to store dietary calories as fat. This fat can be turned into energy later when an immediate good source is not available.

Of course, we live in a world where food is readily available for most of us. Our bodies still have the system in place to conserve the energy from our dietary intake. In order to lose weight, your body must be able to take the stored fat and convert it to energy.

STORING + BURNING FAT:

There are quite a few things that interfere with your body’s ability to do this. The more carbohydrates you eat the less likely your body is to use its fat stores. Our diets today are full of carbohydrates. Another major factor that blocks fat utilization is hormonal deficiencies. In particular, deficiencies of Testosterone, Thyroid, and Growth Hormone will reduce your body’s ability to “burn” it’s fat stores.

More energy, weight control, better sex drive, sleep better, no hot flashes or night sweats anymore. – Kim S. from Clive, Iowa

Poor fat utilization leads to poor oxygen utilization which leads to decreased energy production. This shows up as increased weight along with decreased energy and wellbeing.

HOW WE HELP:

Proper nutrition, supplements, exercise, and hormonal balancing all help your body to regain it’s fat utilization capability. We specializing in repairing bodies to life a better life. To learn more about our services, contact us!

Take our Quiz:

Quick Weight Loss Quiz- FOR WOMEN

Quick Weight Loss Quiz- FOR MEN

Testosterone Series: Optimal Testosterone Levels

As people age they often find that they have past sports injuries that flare up. Men and women both notice an increase in their aches and pains, as well as an increased time to recover from workouts and a decreased ability to build muscle. While diet and your exercise regimen does play a role, a declining Testosterone level is a huge culprit. We’re sharing how to have optimal testosterone levels…

Testosterone is a hormone that performs numerous functions in the body for both men and women. It is critical in repairing injured musculoskeletal tissues and in building muscle. Testosterone also helps your memory and increases your energy level. It also helps you sleep better and improves your mood.Testosterone is not just a hormone for sex drive.

The normal values that laboratories list for Testosterone are sadly incorrect for both men and women. Optimal levels of Testosterone are the levels at which men and women feel great, think clearer, and have minimal, if any, side effects. Optimal levels of Testosterone are obtained by having your levels evaluated and treated by a physician specially trained in bio-identical hormones. If you rely on a regular physician, your symptoms will be ignored and the doctor will tell you your levels are fine because they fall in the “normal” range.

The question you must answer is this:Do you want to function in the average range (suffering from pain, poor energy, difficulty losing weight, etc.)?

Or do you want to function in the optimal range- able to build muscle and burn fat, having energy, less pain, and living a life of vitality?  If your answer is “Optimal”, contact New Leaf Wellness today!

Contact us to get started!

Call 888-728-7555 or e-mail us.

Want to quickly test your symptoms? We will send your results immediately to your email!

Hormone Quiz- FOR MEN

Hormone Quiz- FOR WOMEN

Testosterone Series: Men & Hormones

Men are more likely to have their hormonal imbalance under diagnosed than woman are. New Leaf Wellness has provided a simple questionnaire that you can use to determine if you (or the man you love) may have a hormonal imbalance.

Man and woman on couchINSTRUCTIONS: Please answer the following questions with none, mild, moderate, severe, or extremely severe. Your answers will help you to better understand the severity of your hormonal imbalance if an imbalance exists.

Are you experiencing the following symptoms?

  • Decline in your feeling of general well-being (general state of health, subjective feeling)
  • Joint pain and/or muscle aches (lower back pain, joint pain, pain in a limb, general increase in aches and pains)
  • Excessive sweating (unexpected/sudden episodes of sweating, hot flushes independent of your activity level)
  • Sleep problems (difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep, waking up early and feeling tired, poor sleep, sleeplessness)
  • Increased need for sleep, often feeling tired
  • Irritability (feeling aggressive, easily upset about little things, moody)
  • Nervousness (inner tension, restlessness, feeling fidgety)
  • Anxiety (feeling panicky)
  • Physical exhaustion/lacking vitality (general decrease in performance, reduced activity, lacking interest in leisure activities, feeling of getting less done or of achieving less or of having to force oneself to undertake activities)
  • Decrease in muscular strength
  • Depressive mood (feeling down or sad, on the verge of tears, lack of drive, mood swings, feeling nothing is of any use)
  • Feeling that you have passed your peak
  • Feeling burnt out, having hit rock bottom
  • Decrease in beard growth
  • Decrease in ability/frequency to perform sexually
  • Decrease in morning erections
  • Decrease in sexual desire/libido (lacking pleasure in sex or desire for sexual intercourse)

How To Determine Results:

After answering the above questions, look at how many you answered with mild or more severe symptoms. This will give you an idea of the severity of your hormonal imbalance.

If this questionnaire has shown you that there may be an issue with your hormones, then the next step is to get your hormone levels evaluated by your New Leaf Wellness provider who specializes in hormone balancing.​

Contact us to get started!

Call 888-728-7555 or e-mail us.

 

Testosterone Series: Low Testosterone & Sex

Males with Low Testosterone And How it Affects the Libido

Common Question: Can I have low Testosterone and still have a sex drive?

Men typically ignore their symptoms of low testosterone or often referred to as low-T. They think that if they have a sex drive and can still get an erection that they have a good Testosterone level. Things could not be further from the truth.

Common Myth: Your Testosterone levels are good if you still have a sex drive and can still get an erection.

Low Testosterone can show up in many ways. You can have low energy, poor focus, feel grumpy or irritable, and/or have trouble sleeping. You may have trouble recovering from workouts and have problems building muscle. There may be a general feeling of not being at your best. And yet, you may still be able to get erections and have a sex drive.

Common Signs of Low-T:

  • Low Energy
  • Lack of Focus
  • Just Not Feeling Normal
  • Irritability/Grumpy
  • The word testosterone written on a sticky noteSleep Apnea

At New Leaf Wellness, we have found that many men do not realize that a low Testosterone can be the cause of their symptoms. Optimal Testosterone levels are important for your overall health and vitality. Testosterone performs a wide variety of functions and you need an optimal level to function at your best. You can have sub-optimal Testosterone that is affecting your body and still be having erections and have a libido.

 

If you feel that you are not functioning at an optimal level you will want to get your hormones evaluated by your New Leaf Wellness Hormone Specialist.

 

Contact us to get started!

Call 888-728-7555 or e-mail us.

Testosterone Series: Lacking Testosterone?

As you are reading this and the words on this screen are going through your mind, you may be wondering if you or someone you know is suffering from a hormonal imbalance. If you are a man or woman over 35 years old the odds are that you do have a hormonal imbalance (and this can be the case even if you are younger).

A hormonal imbalance can present as fatigue, sleep issues, an inability to lose weight, depression, anxiety, a lack of vitality, an increase in aches and pains, difficulty healing and recovering, etc.

Hormone imbalances are not just about hot flashes and night sweats, and both men and women are affected by imbalances.

The symptoms can come up suddenly or gradually–everyone is different. If left untreated hormone imbalances can lead to osteoporosis, dementia, and other hormone related diseases including a frailty and decline of health in the last few decades of life.

Most people simply feel their slow deterioration is simply a part of aging and they settle for not feeling their best.

A great case showing this is the story of Brian. Brian’s wife had great success with Natural Hormone Therapy so, she sent her husband to the office.

BRIAN’S STORY:

Brian did not think anything was wrong with his hormones–a common issue.

Brian still had a good libido and was exercising. However, he was tired and did not want to do much outside of work. He was also slightly more irritable and grumpy. Upon further questioning, New Leaf Wellness’ physician found that he was not gaining muscle or recovering from workouts like he should. He was only 45 years old but was slowly losing vitality. He thought this was normal aging but it is not. His primary doctor had told him he was fine and he had accepted his symptoms as normal.

After a personalized evaluation of his symptoms and lab work, Brian was found to have sub-optimal testosterone and a few vitamin deficiencies. Testosterone replacement for men is safe and effective when the estrogen level is properly monitored. High estrogen and low testosterone is what poses dangers for a man’s health. Optimal testosterone levels and keeping estrogen levels low help to prevent certain diseases as well as eliminate symptoms for men.

After optimizing Brian’s testosterone and correcting his vitamin deficiencies, he finds himself having the energy to enjoy his family and life outside work. He is sleeping better and has improved memory, mood and focus. He runs his own business and has found his productivity and revenue have grown. Brian is saving time and money by functioning at a higher level. He is now living his life at an optimal level thanks to Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) at New Leaf Wellness.

Check your hormone levels with our quick quiz!

We will email you your results immediately!

Hormone Quiz- FOR MEN

Hormone Quiz- FOR WOMEN

 

Healthy Weight and Hormones

Many people struggle with weight and there are a lot of reasons why people keep excess weight on. Of course diet, exercise, and sleep are a critical component of a healthy body and sleep. Proper hormone balance is also critical. Healthy weight and hormones are a component we need to talk about for a minute.

There are many hormones involved in keeping a healthy weight. The most common hormones that are out of balance in your body are thyroid and testosterone. Thyroid is mainly responsible for your metabolic rate i.e. your ability to burn calories and keep your energy up. Cortisol is largely responsible for dealing with stress and inflammation, and storing fat is a part of that function. Insulin is responsible for metabolizing blood sugar, which is critical to your body, and also fat storage. Testosterone is known as the male sex hormone but is present in both men and women.

Testosterone has numerous functions, one of them being the ability to build muscle and enhance energy and fat burning.

Your body was not designed to deal with chronic, daily stress. Today’s world is extremely stressful: emotionally and physically.You are exposed to a lot of chemicals on a daily basis that is stressful on your body to deal with and process. You are also bombarded by daily “noise”—depressing news by radio/tv, constant access to cell phones, computers, financial stresses, etc.

Your hormones are there to keep you safe and healthy. There is no bad hormone. The problem is that with the chronic, daily stress your hormones become imbalanced. As a result you feel tired, become moody, gain weight, etc. The good thing is that you can fix that with proper hormone balancing with Natural Hormone Therapy combined with some healthy lifestyle changes. It just takes the desire to feel better to get started.

Take a look at our testimonials of people who once felt tired, lethargic and frustrated with their clothes not fitting or the scales only seeming to go up. They got tired of being tired. Are you ready to live your life better?

Testimonials – WOMEN

Testimonials – MEN

Have questions? We’re here. Call 888-728-7555 !

Do You Know The Benefits of Exercise?

When we talk about exercise, we are usually working towards a goal of losing weight. Though it is a very important piece of the weight loss puzzle, exercise has many additional benefits.

 

Here are a few things you may not have known are impacted by exercise:

 

Protect Joints: By increasing your overall strength through exercise, you build muscle that helps
to protect and support joints. Light weights during exercise are all it takes. And remember to give each muscle group a day to rest in between so it can fully recover from the work done.

Increase Energy: Many people think they are too tired to exercise. Well, exercising can actually
change that feeling! It improves circulation as well as strengthening your heart. Thus
improving energy levels. So the secret to fatigue…move more!

Improve Sleep: Exercise helps to improve alertness during the day, thus helping to bring a more
restful sleep at night. It also is a stress reliever which allows you to rest your mind at night and
fall asleep faster.

Improve Concentration: Exercise actually releases chemicals that are key for memory and
mental alertness. It helps to increase focus as well.

Determine your weight loss goals with a quick quiz and even faster results

 

 

Overall, think of exercise as not only a way to lose weight and change your physical appearance, but as a large part of increasing your mental health! Anxiety, stress, heart health, mood, focus and so much more are all added benefits from taking time for you to be your very best.

 

At New Leaf Wellness, we not only can help you with Weight Loss but we move you to a healthier lifestyle. Our Lifestyle Support Journal is an amazing tool. It helps support everyone daily with having a healthy lifestyle, no matter where you are currently on the scale of “Not having a Healthy Lifestyle” to “Having a Very Heathy Lifestyle”.

Adrenal Fatigue – What You Need To Know

Adrenal Fatigue Explained:

The adrenal gland is located on top of each kidney–the human body has a total of two adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are responsible for producing a variety of hormones. They produce aldosterone–which helps with blood pressure, epinephrine–the fight or flight hormone, cortisol–affects the immune system and metabolism, and precursors that allow our bodies to make sex hormones– Progesterone, Estrogen, and Testosterone. In today’s world our adrenal glands are getting overwhelmed and this can lead to what we call adrenal fatigue.

The adrenal glands are not equipped to handle the constant stress that we have today. They are equipped to deal with intermittent stress and then be given a chance to recover. But, in today’s world of 24/7 emails, texts, negative news, traffic, increasing work demands, decreasing sleep, etc we demand more from the adrenal glands. These glands are not being given the rest that they need.

Adrenal fatigue is the term that we give to overworked adrenal glands. When the adrenal glands are overworked they are unable to keep up with the demand for the hormones that they produce. The result can be one or more of the following: feeling fatigued, having lower sex hormones, a decreased immune system, salt cravings, trouble getting up in the morning, increased energy at night, an increased reliance on caffeine, and an inability to handle stress.

Most people in today’s world have some adrenal fatigue.

Treating it takes a multifactorial approach…. Ways to get started:

  • The first thing to do is unplug and give your body rest.
  • Turn off your phone alerts and check your phone when you want to.
  • Turn off your phone at night and one day a week if you can.
  • Give yourself quiet time to sit and simply breathe.
  • Avoid watching or listening to news since they over dramatize things and cause mental stress.
  • Take yoga or tai chi.
  • Ensure that you get to bed at a reasonable time.
  • Picking one day per week to recharge and completely unplug would be a great goal to have.

You can also support your adrenal glands by balancing your hormones with Bio-identical hormones. By doing this you take the stress of producing the sex hormone precursors off your adrenal glands. In today’s world Bio-identical hormones are needed by the majority of men and women over 35 years old in order to live optimally. Our hormones are depleted by the stressors and chemical toxins that are in today’s world. Our bodies need assistance to deal with this.

B vitamin complexes are helpful in supporting the adrenal glands. They help to lower cortisol naturally and to help metabolism. Beans, eggs, and dairy products are a great food source of B complex vitamins. I have also found B complex injections to be an effective way to ensure absorption of the B vitamins. In the beginning you may need B complex shots quite often, but as your adrenal glands recover you will find that you won’t need them as often.

TEST YOUR ADRENALS:

TEST – for Women

Test – for Men

There are also adrenal support supplements that contain herbs that assist the adrenal glands. Typically these are only needed for a short time if you are taking the actions mentioned above.

Blood ozone therapy is also effective for rebooting your mitochondria and this includes regenerating your adrenal glands. Your mitochondria are the sources of energy in all of your cells. IV Ozone therapy can improve your overall energy and well-being by assisting your body in repairing itself. This is done in the office and takes about 45 minutes.

Adrenal fatigue is rampant in today’s world. If you have any of the symptoms mentioned it is advisable to get advice from a physician trained in Bio-identical hormones. Adrenal fatigue is not diagnosed by traditional tests. It takes the expertise of someone who understands the nuances of hormones.

You can lead a healthy and happy life if you take the time to take care of yourself. Be patient and give it some time. Adrenal fatigue did not happen over night and it won’t fix over night but it can be fixed.

Ready to learn more >>