Weight
loss: the problem and our solution.
RESHAPING
AMERICA
THE NUMBERS
• In
2002, it was estimated that about 2/3 of Americans were overweight,
and about 1/2 of these were frankly obese
• Americans spend $33 billion annually on weight-loss products and
services
• According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2000, the cost
of obesity in the United States was more than $117 billion
• An estimated 70 percent of diabetes risk in the U.S. is linked
to excess weight
OBESITY IN AMERICA: THE TRIED AND TIRED SOLUTION
Take one look at a list of health problems directly related to
being overweight or obese and you will wonder why anyone would
overeat in the first place. High blood pressure (hypertension),
high blood cholesterol, Type 2 (acquired) diabetes, insulin resistance/glucose
intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, coronary artery disease, congestive
heart failure, stroke, gallstones, gout, osteoarthritis, obstructive
sleep apnea and respiratory problems, some types of cancer (such
as endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon), complications of
pregnancy, poor female reproductive health (such as menstrual irregularities,
infertility, irregular ovulation), bladder control problems (such
as stress incontinence), certain types of kidney stones, and psychological
disorders (such as depression, eating disorders, distorted body
image, and low self esteem) all make that list.
Yet in 2000, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported that
some 38.8 million American adults met the classification of obesity,
defined as having a body mass index score of 30 or more. Even more,
64.5% of all Americans, were overweight. It's increasingly apparent
that the risk of serious health effects from excess body weight
is no match for our propensity to put those extra pounds on --
and keep them on.
Anyone
who has ever been on a diet (and most of us have) knows the general
formula for weight loss: eat fewer calories and burn
more through exercise and physical activity. But that overly simplistic
solution has failed us in the long run, and we are left a nation
of overweight people grasping at straws, trying every diet that
comes down the pike. It should come as no surprise that, in any
given week, there are at least two or three new weight loss books
on the nation’s best sellers lists. Americans continue to
seek an answer that has so far eluded them.
WHY DON’T DIETS DO THE TRICK?
Much of the long-term failure of diets lies in the concept of
dieting itself. Fad diets may have success in the short run, but
who is able to just eat one food group for the rest of their lives?
Diet programs that emphasize behavior changes also help to some
degree, but the obesity problem is much larger than just out-of-control
eating, and behavior alone cannot be held solely responsible for
the problem. Americans spend billions of dollars on diet products
and programs each year, yet the country's weight problem continues
to escalate. Each time we go on a diet, lose weight, put it back
on, then try to lose it again, the process becomes more and more
difficult. Yo-yo dieting has the effect of making the body craftier
in trying to keep hold of its calories, so the calories we take
in aren't used as efficiently as they were meant to be.
Real
and lasting weight loss requires change at the metabolic level – not
just changing what and how much we eat, but how our bodies actually
process and metabolize those calories. The
key to reclaiming a healthy weight level lies with two primary
body processes: insulin production and efficacy, and metabolism.
If we can normalize and stabilize the first and speed up and maintain
the second, Americans may just have a shot at shedding and keeping
off that excess weight that is the bane of our good health.
INSULIN: THE LITTLE HORMONE WITH A LOT OF POWER
Insulin
is the key hormone that impacts both hunger and how ingested
calories are stored in the body. Insulin is produced in the pancreas
in response to rises of glucose (or sugar) in the blood. It helps
the liver store glucose as glycogen and use any excess to form
fatty acids that are then transported to adipose cells, where they
are stored as fat. Having frequent elevations of glucose in the
blood over long periods of time – as is the case with many
overweight and obese people -- results in the long-term overproduction
of insulin.
Ultimately,
insulin receptor sites on cells (the places where insulin attaches
directly and causes glucose to enter) decide “enough
is enough” and begin to shut down, making the cells increasingly
insulin-resistant. Glucose levels remain high, so the pancreas
reacts by producing even more insulin, which just worsens the whole
situation. This is known as hyperinsulinemia where the pancreas
is in a constant state of producing more insulin than the body
is able to use properly.
High levels of insulin cause people to start accumulating more
and more body fat, and also actually prevent the body from releasing
stored fat to use as energy. When calories are drastically cut
but insulin remains high, fat is not available as an energy source,
so protein reserves are burned for energy. There can be quick reduction
of body (protein) weight, but virtually no loss of body fat. When
a higher level of food intake is inevitably resumed, lost protein
tissue is replaced with even more body fat.
The
real kicker is that the overproduction of insulin makes people
increasingly
hungry, so they overeat, causing even more insulin
production. This can result in a state known as “reactive
hypoglycemia,” where an overshoot of insulin output causes
enough drop in blood glucose to impair normal functioning of the
brain, with consequences ranging from drowsiness to loss of consciousness.
More
and more medical research is singling out these metabolic disturbances
related to insulin overproduction as the major culprits
in the American obesity crisis. Studies suggest that if we can
curb high insulin production while stimulating and stabilizing
resting metabolism, we will have better odds of controlling obesity
and weight problems. Increased insulin levels and the resultant
metabolic disorders are nearly impossible to control with diet
alone – as we are all too aware. And exercise alone is not
the key either. In fact, it can have almost the reverse effect
in the face of insulin excess, since it lowers the body’s
need for insulin. It’s obvious the body needs a helping hand
in stopping this disastrous metabolic cycle.
RESHAPING AMERICA
A
revolutionary new program stands on the horizon as a beacon of
hope in the
fight to control out-of-control insulin production. “Reshape
America” focuses on reducing overproduction of insulin, stimulating
baseline metabolism, and giving the body the essential nutrients
it desperately needs to establish and maintain both a healthy weight
and healthy metabolic processes. There are four key products in
the Reshape America plan. Let’s take a look at them individually.
Ameri-Start
This herbal diuretic and cleansing formula is designed to help
your body create the right environment for successful weight
management. Its 7 herbal ingredients promote removal of excess
fluid from your body and kick off accelerated metabolism that
helps flush out fat stored in cells. They soothe inflammation,
help prevent stones, and inhibit growth of organisms in the urinary
tract. Ameri-Start also contains Lecithin and L-Carnitine, which
both promote burning, rather than storing, of fat, and help clear
the liver of accumulated fats.
Ameri-Slim
Ameri-Slim is an effective ephedra-free metabolic support formula.
It contains a mixture of HCA from Garcinia Cambogia, CLA (conjugated
linoleic acid), and Apple Cider Vinegar Extract to lower levels
of insulin and properly regulate its metabolism. This stimulates
your body to use, rather than store, fat. It also contains Guarana
and Citrus Aurantium to increase metabolic rate without uncomfortable
stimulation of the cardiovascular or nervous systems. Finally,
Ameri-Slim supplies the important minerals Magnesium, Chromium
and Vanadium to help prevent insulin resistance and excess.
Ameri-Shake
This delicious balanced nutritional formula is loaded with important
nutrients, yet has only 93 calories per serving. In today’s
world, much of the food we eat is high in “empty calories” and
low in essential nutrients. Sensible weight management programs
emphasize a shift in diet toward an increase in quality proteins,
complex carbohydrates (such as fiber), and essential fatty acids,
with a reduction in simple (refined) carbohydrates and saturated
fats. Ameri-Shake provides a balanced nutritional support formula
in a delicious form that meets these objectives.
Each 25 gm serving of Ameri-Shake delivers 12 gm of high quality
protein isolates and concentrates, with 8 gm of total carbohydrates
(including 1.7 gm of dietary fiber and just 1 gm of sugars). It
supplies the vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients (healthy plant
nutrients) from 17 fruits and 12 vegetables, along with essential
Omega-3 fatty acid. This healthy blend is ideal for satisfying
hunger at the critical time after 7:00 PM, when our bodies tend
to store less balanced food as fat.
Ameri-Shake’s vanilla flavor is delicious by itself, or
it will enhance the flavorings that you may choose to add – fruits,
berries, syrups, extracts, etc. Even with these additions, it remains
low in calories and high in important nutrients. Ameri-Shake is
an ideal nutritious snack for everyone – whether working
on weight management or not. It provides a great way for “picky
eaters” to get more of the nutrition they need.
SyndRx
This metabolic support formula specifically targets the hyperinsulinemia
of Syndrome X. It combines a proprietary blend of 5 herbs with
Alpha Lipoic Acid and 3 insulin-regulating minerals to reduce
drastic fluctuations in blood sugar and control insulin buildup.
MAKING IT ALL WORK
Successful weight loss and a healthier lifestyle don't come about
magically overnight. Losing weight and maintaining that weight
loss involve many factors that include dietary supplements as well
as changing behaviors and what we put in our mouths. The participants
have to participate! Here are some tips to help with reaching weight
goals:
Healthy Diet
Follow a diet emphasizing fresh raw fruits and vegetables. Try
to avoid foods high in refined carbohydrates (like table sugar,
white flour, white bread, pasta, cookies, and cakes). Eating
smaller amounts more often is better for your metabolism.
Drink Plenty of Clean, Pure Water
Water is critical for effective weight management. It decreases
appetite, helps metabolize stored fat and flushes out toxins
released from shrinking fat cells. By supporting proper kidney
function to help with detoxification, an adequate amount of water
intake allows the liver to focus more on proper regulation of
metabolism. An adequate amount is roughly 1/2 ounce for each
pound of body weight. When you're thirsty, opt for a glass of
clean, pure water rather than sugar and chemical-laden soft drinks.
In fact, drinking a glass of water when you're hungry can help
lessen the feeling of being hungry, since we often confuse the
signals from our bodies for thirst with hunger.
Eat Early
Try to consume most of your calories earlier in the day when your
body will burn them for energy rather than storing them for fat.
If possible, avoid eating after 7 PM. If you get hungry in the
evening, try an Ameri-Shake.
Exercise
A suitable exercise program will go a long way toward helping you
reach your goal of maintainable weight loss. Even if you haven't
exercised regularly for a long time (or maybe never!) starting
out with walking at a brisk pace seems to work well for most
people. It's an activity that can be done almost anywhere with
little or no equipment. Try walking with your friends or family.
One of the best times to walk for the opitmum metabolic result
is in the evening after dinner. Walking at a brisk pace means
walking fast enough so you are just below getting out of breath.
You should still be able to carry on a conversation.
CAUTIONS
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product
is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease,
but rather is a dietary supplement intended solely for nutritional
support.
SOURCES
Duke J. The Green Pharmacy: The Ultimate Compendium of Natural
Remedies from the World's Foremost Authority on Healing and Herbs.
Rodale Press 1997.
De Smet P, Keller K, Hansel R, Chandler R (eds). Adverse Effects
of Herbal Drugs. Springer-Verlag New York, Berlin, Heidelberg 1993.
Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide
for Health Care Professionals. The Pharmaceutical Press, London
1996.
Duke JA. Handbook of Phytochemical Constituents of GRAS Herbs
and Other Economical Plants. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL 1992.
