Weight Loss & Fitness

If you're Wondering Why The Typical Weight Loss Programs Haven't Worked for You! Read On:-

We've many approaches on achieving health from within.

If your general health and metabolism isn't good, then it may make little difference how or what you eat and how much exercise. Calories does not directly translate in to weight and weight gain - the human being just isn't that simple. We are offering more holistic ( mind, body & spirit ) solutions to fitness and weight problems. Balancing your whole health can only help! Whether it be by being advised by a fully qualified nutritional therapist, homeopath, treated with acupuncture to balance your system, some sessions with a counsellor or psychotherapist to see you through, or having a detox treatment. All the treatments at the Centre are aimed at improving overall health and wellbeing - which approach you choose is up to you. Either way you look at it - it's difficult see why a holistic health approach wouldn't help. When you feel good, then your health improves and you feel you want to do more!

Also, there are huge commercial interests in the low fat Weight Loss and Diet programs, from the food industry and diet product industry, when recent research shows that they simply don't work long term.

Losing weight and achieving fitness

There's much more to losing weight and achieving fitness than counting calories and exercise. It's more of a 'whole health' issue. There are those that simply feel worse for exercise or lack sufficient motivation or energy to exercise at all. Also, food manufacturers seem to push the limits of the poor quality of food labelling in the UK to sell their products as 'healthy'. Also, what is healthy for some isn't for others and establishing what is right for you would take a more holistic individual approach.

There are huge commercial interests in the low fat Weight Loss and Diet programs, from the food industry and diet product industry, when recent research shows that they simply don't work long term.

Whilst we agree that participating in a slimming or weight loss support group can be of benefit for many and would certainly help with moral & emotional support. But we feel that some, especially those that have struggled for a long time with different programs may need a more personal approach from someone appropriately qualified. Health, exercise and nutrition is all a very controversial subject with hugely differing views. What is the right diet and exercise program for some isn't necessarily right for all.

Being thin or even medium build does not necessarily mean being healthy!

The holistic view is that we look at the individual as a whole, so far is possible and treat &/or advise accordingly. Finding what is right for you and improving general health & well being from within we feel is the key. The holistic health view is that given the right stimulus and support the mind and body has the capacity to heal itself in many cases. Also, if we suspect that you need a more orthodox medical i.e. further appropriate tests from you GP, then we can write a letter of referral for that too. Many suspect that they may have a more systemic / metabolic problem and don't feel that they've ever had the chance to explain this properly to anyone and that's one of the many areas that we can help with.

Whilst a popular choice for this issue is Nutritional Therapy, there's also good reason why may of our other Therapies on offer could help. We have started to put some articles together to explain how and to start the ball rolling here's a few short articles from a complementary or alternative perspective and a few recent articles from the News Media.

Can Allergies Make You Fat?

One of the curious facts about people with food allergies is that they often appear to be addicted to the very food that is causing their problem. “How can that be doing me harm? I feel better when I eat it,” they will say, as they crave foods that may give them irritable bowel syndrome, eczema or asthma. It may even
contribute to bingeing and an inability to control food intake. Food allergies can make it difficult for you to
stick to a diet. They can lead you to feel hungry most of the time. You may find yourself waking tired and
with a headache, craving something to make you feel better.
Of course, craving particular foods can be a sign of a need for a nutrient that is in the food that is craved,
e.g. a deficiency of potassium may result in you craving avocadoes and bananas, and a shortage of zinc
may lead you to relish sunflower seeds and oysters. When there was lead in petrol, I found that a lot of
clients who had a problem with lead loved apples. These are an excellent source of pectin, which helps to
remove lead from the body. You may know little about nutrition, but instinctively your body is trying to do
the right thing.
However, in the case of allergic reactions to food, the body often seems to be doing the opposite: without
realising the connection, you crave the foods that give you distressing symptoms. Your experience of eating these foods is that they make you feel better. The reason for this seems to be that eating the food turns off the craving. But why would you be addicted to foods that harm you?

Full Article by Jane Thurnell-Read

NAET                 Allergy Testing        Allergy Links              Top of Page

Traditional Chinese Medical Acupuncture & Weight Loss

Some people find losing weight fairly easy - they just eat less and exercise more. For others it is more difficult. There are many reasons for this. The body's metabolism may not be working properly. There may be an underlying medical condition for this such as an under active Thyroid, or stress and worry may be the cause.  Medication such as steroids can also affect weight, and some people may find themselves bingeing on certain foods.

Whatever the reason Acupuncture may help by balancing the body's energies, helping the metabolism to work more effectively, and stopping the urge to binge on or crave certain foods.

Jennifer Jones         Acupuncture Page

How HOMEOPATHY may help your WEIGHT problems

People are overweight for many different reasons. For some people changes in  diet and exercise pattern can make a big difference but for others what is really needed first is to look at the reasons for the problem and do something to correct those. This is where homeopathy may help. A professional homeopath will explore all your problems , not just your weight, to choose a remedy which most nearly matches the total picture of your own unique individual needs. Some people have a genetic tendency to put on convert food to fat rather than muscle. While your genetic base is of course not changeable your health balance and metabolism may change in response to remedies such as Calcium carbonate, Kali Carbonate, etc. so that you are more able to burn fat and you may find you have less craving for cakes and pastry too.

Other people become overweight because they comfort eat. They know they should stop but that is easier said than done unless the reasons for the comfort eating can be addressed. These may be unresolved grief, stresses from work or difficult relationships, loneliness etc. There are many homeopathic remedies which can help us to deal with these things better, and a homeopath will be able to select the ones most suited to your particular difficulties. For others weight gain may be associated with hormonally related metabolic changes at puberty, the menopause or around their menstrual cycle for instance. Again there are many homeopathic remedies which can help our bodies progress those these times of transition more smoothly, thus improving our overall health and feeling of well being as well as making it easier to lose weight. For others their metabolic difficulties may stem from other problems such as poor thyroid function, or they may be eating badly because of anxiety states, or unable to exercise because of other health related problems which deprive them of their energy . All these problems can be improved by professional homeopathic treatment. The right homeopathic remedies combined with nutritional guidance and a sympathetic look at life style can make losing weight and staying healthily balanced at your right weight  a lot easier. Angela Needham RSHom. Has been helping people with problems like yours through the gentle art of  homeopathy for nearly 20 years. She also has training in nutritional guidance and life coaching which she finds helpful in helping you give the homeopathic treatment its best chance to work without obstacle.

Homeopathy Page         Top of Page

Shiatsu and weight loss

 Shiatsu could help you to lose weight and is the ideal partner for a programme of weight loss (reducing the intake of fatty acids) and/or gentle aerobic exercise.

Shiatsu could help by:

 Stimulating your lymph and immune systems. This will help to remove toxins, excess water and mucus deposits from your body, which can build up in fatty tissue and add to body weight.

 Activate your digestive system. This will help the digestive system to work more efficiently and allow you to achieve maximum potential from your food.

 Balance your hormonal system. By improving the balance and regulation of your hormonal system, Shiatsu can reduce stress on your kidneys and lead to a more effective bodily functioning. 

 Calming your nervous system. Shiatsu calms the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for digestion, blood purification, waste control and hormonal regulation.

Toning your muscular system. Shiatsu can improve the tone, elasticity and lubrication of your muscles leaving you looking and feeling better.

 In addition Shiatsu can enhance skin tone, improve posture, increase stamina and build the immune system.

Mike Day           Shiatsu Page

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Other Therapies with quick How & Why they may help

Acupuncture - see above.

Allergy Testing - Cravings for certain foods can suggest an allergy, sensitivity or intolerance to the very things we crave. Chocolate, dairy (milk, milk products i.e. butter), sugars, wheat flour and yeast

Aromatherapy Massage - When we're relaxed and feel better in and about ourselves, it's easier to be more objective about what we do, eat and drink. So less prone to giving in to urges of comfort and compulsive eating.

Bio-Detox - Ridding our system of toxins that bind to fat cells and generally undermine our health & well being can only help improve metabolism, health & wellbeing.

Chiropody - Well, yes - if your feet are in poor shape, then weight bearing exercise can be  painful and hamper your exercise efforts.

Counselling - There may be underlying emotional & psychological issues that underlie a weight problem and can also sabotage efforts to resolve it.

Healing - Hands on healing can produce a feeling of wellbeing and feeling better from with in can empower you to face and address a possible weight issue.

Homeopathy - See above.

Hypnotherapy - Hypnotherapy can be utilised to change habits or patterns that need to change and improve motivation, as these can be key factors that undermine your health & efforts to lose weight.

Massage - See Aromatherapy Massage above.

Meditation - Meditation is a form of relaxation and self healing. It can be fitted into your daily routine and help empower and motivate you for any changes that need to occur.

NAET (Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Technique) - Cravings or habitual eating of certain foods & drinks can suggest an allergy, sensitivity or intolerance to those things. Chocolate, caffeine, dairy (milk, milk products i.e. butter), sugars, wheat flour and yeast are surprisingly common in our opinion. NAET is a treatment that is aimed at desensitising the person to these substances that may be undermining your general health or causing specific  health problems. NAET can also be used to address underlying emotional issues that can hold us back also.

Nutrition - There is a lot of misleading information about nutrition and you'll find that Alex, our nutritional therapist is very hot on the latest research and advises on food and  nutrition in a very proactive way. You've probably seen the TV series - 'You are what you eat'.

Osteopathy - could help with an injury or painful condition that is aggravated or due to being over weight. This may also be preventing you from being more active &/or exercising. Common problems include joint pain of the weight bearing joints i.e. foot, ankle, knees, hips & low back. With the low back - extra weight of the abdomen pulls the lumbar spine forward, causing the small facet joints at the back of the spine to also become weight bearing. As they're not supposed to be weight-bearing, then they tend to get irritated and inflamed, causing pain at the base of the spine and sometimes in the thigh & lower leg, as well. 

Reflexology - Reflexology is based on the idea of improving the whole health of the person. As general health improves, then often we feel able to do more for ourselves and less vulnerable to slip into old habits.

Reiki - See Healing above.

TFT (Thought Field Therapy) - Can help you to break old patterns & habits that until now may have dictated your behaviour with regard to exercise and food. TFT can help make positive changes to how we think and feel.

Shiatsu - is based on oriental medicine and is aimed at promoting the 'whole health' of the person. As general health improves, then often we feel able to do more for ourselves and less likely to slip into old habits of apathy, overeating or eating the wrong things for your 'type'. Dietary advice is also given according to your 'type' in oriental medical terms. Also, see above.

If unsure, then call to discuss and we'll try and point you in the right direction, but it must be your decision of which treatment seems right for you.

Very Little Evidence to show weight loss programs work!

A study has found that solid evidence that major commercial weight loss programs in the US are helpful over the long term is hard to find. What evidence there is suggests that while many people lose weight, many also drop out, or regain at least half of the weight they lost within two years.

The study examined data collected on a range of programs, including those like Weight Watchers where people lose weight at a gradual rate without medical supervision, and more drastic, very low-calorie techniques such as OPTIFAST, where dieters need to be followed by health professionals.

"There wasn't really, for the most part, that much evidence to support" these programs, study author Dr. Adam Gilden Tsai told Reuters Health. However, every dieter is different, and many will likely shed pounds for good on some of these programs, Tsai noted. But before choosing one, dieters should be "savvy," he said, and decide whether it's worth what's involved and the cost.

To evaluate commercial weight loss programs, the researchers -- both based at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia -- searched weight loss company web sites for the cost of the program, and called company representatives if the information was not provided.

To determine how well the programs work, the researchers reviewed all available research into the programs' merits, finding studies about eDiets.com, Health Management Resources, Take Off Pounds Sensibly, OPTIFAST, and Weight Watchers.

Reporting in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the researchers found two studies where Weight Watchers dieters who regularly attended the program lost approximately 5 percent of their body weight in 3 to 6 months. This is enough of a weight loss to improve certain health problems, Tsai noted, including cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes.

Among very low-calorie, medically supervised dieters, studies showed that people who finished the programs lost up to 25 percent of their initial weight, but were at high risk of regaining at least half of it back soon after, or dropping out of the program entirely.

Furthermore, medically supervised programs can cost around $2,000 for three months, while Weight Watchers typically charges only $12 per week. "You may not lose a lot of weight on Weight Watchers, but you won't lose a lot of money, either," Wadden said.

In terms of internet-based diets such as eDiets.com, there was little evidence to show whether they work or not, although research suggested that people faired better if they got regular e-mails from a counsellor.

Wadden added that people tend to regain the weight they lost following a program because once it's finished, they return to their normal eating habits. Furthermore, the body is always trying to fend off "what it perceives to be starvation," he noted, and losing weight triggers hormone changes that make it difficult to keep shedding pounds.

Full Article at  Reuters Health News

Research Source: Annals of Internal Medicine, January 1, 2005.  - http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/142/1/I-42

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Exercise & Diet - Some Recent US Findings

The United States is in the midst of an enormous public health crisis, within the UK showing strong signs of following suit. More than two-thirds of Americans are overweight, one-third of who suffer from obesity.

Contrary to popular belief, being thin does not necessarily mean one is healthy. And, while regular exercise can balance some of the harmful health consequences of being overweight, it certainly cannot remove them entirely. That is why, according to a study, weight and activity levels are powerful predictors of living a long life; the healthiest people are those who are both thin and physically active.

Researchers conducted studies involving female nurses in the US, in order to determine the affect of both exercise and weight on health.

Fit vs. Fat Findings

• Women who were obese and inactive had a 2.5 times higher mortality rate than women who were lean and active
• Those women who were active (despite being obese) were twice as likely to die a premature death than those who were lean and active
• Lean women who exercised under 3.5 hours a week increased their risk of premature death by 55 %, compared to those women who worked out more often
• Obese women who worked out for at least 3.5 hours a week experienced a death rate that was 91 % higher than lean women who exercised similarly
• The premature death rate was 142 times greater for obese, inactive women

While physical activity does help improve health, excess weight can carry a number of significant health risks. Being obese triples the risk of heart disease, as well as produces a tenfold increase in the chance of developing diabetes.

Excerpted & adapted from -Are Exercise and Diet Equally Important?

Contact         Top of Page         Location

Holistic-Centre.org Ltd

Managing Director: Andrew C. Woodhouse

Neston is within the borough of Ellesmere Port & Neston, on the Cheshire side of the Cheshire/ Merseyside border that divides the Wirral. Neston is near to and mid way (10 miles) between Liverpool (Merseyside) & Chester (Cheshire).

Updated & Reset - 13 February 2008

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