The Chains That Bind Us

Breaking The Chains That Bind Us

I decided to create this latest blog after a conversation I recently had with a young woman who asked me to help her out. After our conversation I felt very unsettled and disturbed. And so I asked myself what was keeping this very capable person from achieving her goals. And then it hit me. It was the chains that bind us, the things we tell ourselves that keep us from fulfilling our destinies. We have all encountered some form of hardship or sadness or anger and disappointment. It can be very difficult moving forward in life not knowing what obstacles lie in wait and what the future holds for us.

I strongly believe there is one thing you can always count on and that is yourself. If you stay true to your heart  and close to your feelings then you can handle anything that comes your way. You see, the key to success is there for anyone to grab. The only question is, do you have the balls to reach out and take it?

You see, in society we are taught not to dream too big, and not to set your sights too high for fear that you might not achieve your goals. So, in turn, what happens? Nothing happens, that’s what. You see, we are taught to build these walls for ourselves and create these safety nets around us. We then insulate ourselves with people who think and feel the same way we do, so that we don’t notice our own inadequacies or strive for anything better for ourselves.

Well, let me tell you something I learned along the way. The only difference between those who succeed and those who don’t does not have so much to do with their status, wealth or depth of academia, but more to do with the fact that they were able to break free from those chains that bind us and allowed themselves the chance to dream. And when a person can dream then the sky is the limit.

The formula is quite simple. Are you ready? Here it is. Persistence and trained discipline. You see, you must have the persistence to keep moving forward.  For the game of life is constantly changing, and it is the trained discipline that will keep you focused on what it is your heart truly desires.  The last component, and most important, is that you must have the balls to jump, face it head on, and take risks. For if there is nothing ventured than there can be nothing gained. Dare to dream, dream big, make a plan for what it is you truly want for your life. Then work that plan... be persistent and most of all be disciplined and watch those chains fall down around you and the world open it’s doors to you.

The only question is are you ready to walk through that door?

Sugar Is Not So Sweet

Sugar How Much Do We Need?

Hi Everyone. Welcome to our blog. Today I am going to give you some information on one of the questions we get the most at our facility.  We constantly get asked, how much sugar should I have? Here are some scary facts that I’m sure you didn’t know about sugar. 

Sugar Not So Sweet

Did you know that the average american consumes an astounding 2-3 pounds of sugar each week? This is not surprising considering that highly refined sugars in the form of sucrose (table sugar), dextrose (corn sugar) and high-fructose corn syrup are being processed into so many foods. Some of these include bread, breakfast cereal, mayonnaise, peanut butter, ketchup, spaghetti sauce,, and a plethora of microwave meals.

In the last 20 years we have increased sugar consumption in the U.S. from 26 pounds to 135 lbs of sugar per person per year. Prior to the turn of the century (1887-1890), the average consumption was only 5 lbs per person per year.

The glycemic index is a measure of how a given food affects blood-glucose levels, with each food being assigned a number rating. The lower the rating, the slower the absorption and digestion process, which provides a more gradual, healthier infusion of sugars into the bloodstream. On the other hand, the higher rating means that blood glucose levels are increased quickly, which stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin to drop blood sugar levels. These rapid fluctuations of blood sugar levels are not healthy because of stress they place on the body. One of the major drawbacks is that it raises the insulin level, which inhibits the release of growth hormones, which, in turn, depresses the immune system. An influx of sugar into the bloodstream upsets the body’s blood sugar balance, triggering the release of insulin, which the body uses to keep blood sugar at a constant and a safe level. Insulin also promotes the storage of fat, so that when you eat sweets high in sugar, you’re making way for rapid weight gain and elevated triglyceride levels, both of which have been linked to cardiovascular disease. Complex carbs tend to absorb more slowly, lessening the impact blood sugar levels. 

The health dangers from ingesting high doses of sugar on a habitual basis are well documented. Simple sugars have been linked to asthma,  mood swings,  personality changes, mental illness, nervous disorders, diabetes, heart disease,  gallstones, hypertension and arthritis.

Here is a list of ways sugar can affect your health:

• Sugar can suppress the immune system.

• Sugar can upset the body's mineral balance.

• Sugar can contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children.
 •  Sugar can cause drowsiness & decreased activity in children, can contribute to eczema in children.

• Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.

• Sugar can reduce helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs).

• Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs).

• Sugar can cause hypoglycemia, kidney damage, chromium and copper deficiencies.

• Sugar contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection.

• Sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease, compromising the lining of the capillaries.

• Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.

• Sugar can increase fasting levels of blood glucose.

• Sugar can promote tooth decay, which can lead to periodontal disease, & produce an acidic stomach.

• Sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children.

• Sugar can speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and grey hair.

• Sugar can contribute to weight gain and obesity.

• High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

• Sugar can contribute to diabetes, and increase the body’s fluid retention.

• Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis, and can cause atheroscleroses.

• Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity, and decreased glucose tolerance.

• Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease, and can increase total cholesterol.

• Sugar can increase systolic blood pressure.

• Sugar can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream, and can cause food allergies.

• Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.

• Sugar can overstress the pancreas, causing damage.

• Sugar can cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver.

• Sugar can increase the amount of fat in the liver.

• Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.

• Sugar can cause depression, hypertension, and hormonal imbalance.

• Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.

• Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly.

• Sugar can increase blood platelet adhesiveness which increases risk of blood clots and strokes.

• Sugar can increase insulin responses in those consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets.

• Sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.

So next time you reach for that second piece of cake or that second scoop of ice cream, keep in mind the effects that sugar will have on you and your diet. 

Is Bigger Really Better?

1/2 lb Angus Burger

Total Calories: 525

Fat Calories: 311

Total Fat: 35 grams

Saturated Fat: 13 grams

Trans Fat: 0 grams

French Fries Small Plating

Total Calories: 588

Fat Calories: 177

Total Fat: 20 grams

Saturated Fat: 4 grams

Trans Fat: 0 grams

Half Chocolate Milkshake

Total Calories:281

Fat Calories: 135

Total Fat: 15 grams

Saturated Fat: 9 grams

Trans Fat: 0 grams

Ok, get your mind out of the gutter. Now that I have your attention. Well I told myself I would never blog,, but something happened on my way out to dinner.  We were celebrating our kids end of school and them making the honor roll. So we told them they could choose any place they wanted for dinner for their celebration. Of course kids will be kids and they wanted to go to a local establishment that specializes in high quality beef. I am sure you have heard of the chain called Cheeburger, Cheeburger. If you haven’t, it’s a 50’s themed restaurant that caters to families with a menu including kids meals served in cardboard replicas of 57 Chevy, specializing in their thousands of   flavors of milkshakes. So we sit down and order our meals. Our food arrives and the kids are very excited at the presentation and can’t wait to dig in. Just as we are ready to take our first bite, we hear a very loud clanging of a bell. A waiter shouts out “ladies and gentlemen, over here we have 13 year old Johnny who just finished our 1/2 pound burger! Let’s all cheer for him!!!” At that moment, for me,  time stood still and I knew I needed to blog. ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME?!?! With the obesity rate at 60% and childhood obesity rate at 32% are we seriously cheering for this?! What have we come to as a society when we encourage our youth to become gluttens? And worse still are the parents proudly gazing at their sons “achievement”. Fast forward 10 years from now and let’s see who’s cheering for Johnny when he ends up morbidly obese. 

So let’s take a quick peak at how many calories Johhny had in one sitting

Before I give you the grand total, here is the

13 Year Old Male Average Caloric Intake

Grand Total: 1562

5 feet

Male

13 years old

90 lbs

And here is what Johnny had in one sitting

Total Calories:1,394

Calories From Fat: 623

Total Fat: 70 grams

Saturated Fat: 26

So as you can see on all fronts, Johnny has almost reached his daily intake in one meal, he is over in total fat and saturated fat, in just one meal. 

So we can only assume that if this is the normal eating habits of this particular boy, it will be only a matter of time before he to becomes a statistic.

The moral of the story is we as parents have to be actively involved in the education of our children and their eating habits.  It is our responsibility to monitor there intake and offer them healthy alternatives. If left to their own accord, all children will make the poor choice first. Because they clearly lack the knowledge and base there choices on taste alone.

 So in closing I will let my 12 year old son finish with his thoughts.

Hi. When I went out to Cheeburger(yes, that is how it’s spelled, it’s a franchise) with my dad, mom, and sister I had a good time. The food (obviously) tasted really really good. But today when my dad showed me the calories I was...shocked. One 1/2 lb is like 500 calories!!! I would never go out to a restaurant thinking, “Hey I know! Let’s go have a 500 calorie burger and throw on another 500 for the fries!” I would NEVER want to eat that on purpose (Although I know some people who would.) just to get my picture on the “Hey look what I ate” wall of fame  which is on display at the restaurant. Cheeburger is a great place to go-just not every day and there are healthy choices on the menu to choose from. (But I’m still going to have my chocolate shake) Just remember: Moderation moderation moderation.

Well said my son and let us not forget exercise