Will You Live A Life of Wellness in 2009?

What is "Wellness"? Wikipedia explains wellness ( in regards to alternative medicine) as:
Wellness is generally used to mean a healthy balance of the mind, body and spirit that results in an overall feeling of well-being.

The term has been defined by the Singapore-based National Wellness Association as an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a more successful existence.... In other words, wellness is a view of health that emphasizes the state of the entire being and its ongoing development.

Wellness can also be described as "the constant, conscious pursuit of living life to its fullest potential."


In 2009, what parts of wellness do you think you need to work on? Do you have a plan to live a life of better wellness?

As the new year approaches, I hear a lot of resolutions about improved health for 2009 and a desire for people to be healthier. With weight loss being something that a lot of people set out to achieve at the beginning of every year, why is it that the following year we are still trying to achieve more weight loss or that we are not satisfied with the progress that we made with our weight loss plans? I have been guilty of saying that weight loss was one of my goals from year to year but not really making a dedicated effort to acheive my weight loss goals. However, in recent years I started really doing something about it in a "consistent" manner. I started making healthier lifestyle choices to help me achieve the wellness I desired. I just use weight loss as an example because of it's popularity but in the new year will you be dedicated to achieving whatever wellness goals you may have? In 2010 will you be in the same condition that you are now?

If you are happy with your current situation, I am very happy for you and I wish you continued success in maintaing where you are now. However, if you are not, will you take the neccesary steps to have a healthy balance of mind, body and spirit that result in an overall feeling of well-being? Will you try to eat better, become/stay physically active, get proper rest, reduce stress, improve/eliminate relationships, etc.?

I hope that 2009 brings everyone the wellness they desire and that we all take part in "the constant, conscious pursuit of living life to its fullest potential!" Remember the phrase, "patience is a virtue". Be patient, consistent and believe in yourself that you can achieve what you desire!

Brian Francis,CNC
www.herbalfix.biz

Lack of Sleep May Be Hurting Your Weight Loss Efforts!

How much sleep do you think you get on average? Do you think you get enough compared to recommendations made by the American Sleep Association? The American Sleep Association says that most adults should have 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Some other experts recommend 7-9 hours of sleep.

Did you know that lack of sleep may be related to weight gain? According to Michael Thorpy, MD, director of the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, "Sleep loss is associated with striking alterations in hormone levels that regulate the appetite and may be a contributing factor to obesity. Any American making a resolution to lose weight in the New Year should probably consider a parallel commitment for getting more sleep."

When we don't get the proper amount of quality sleep the levels of certain hormones associated with appetite are affected. One of the hormones is leptin, which signals your brain when you are full. Another hormone that is affected is ghrelin, which makes you feel hungry. Finally there is cortisol, which is a name that is probably more recognized than leptin and ghrelin. Cortisol can make us feel hungry even if we have already had enough to eat to satisfy our hunger. It is suggested that a lack of sleep decreases the levels of leptin and increases the levels of ghrelin and cortisol. So a lack of sleep can decrease the hormone we need to have our hunger feel satisfied and increase the hormones that make us feel hungry. This may cause overeating and weight gain. That seems like a lose-lose situation to me. For an ideal way to lose weight make sure you are treating your body right. Try to have proper nutrition, regular exercise, adequate sleep and try to make overall healthier choices.

Here is a quote from an article I found on this subject in USA Today:
Sleep may ease holiday stress

Obesity experts are intrigued by these findings. "We've known that people use food as a pick-me-up when they are tired, but now it appears they are hungrier than we realized, and there is a hormonal basis for their eating," says Thomas Wadden, director of the Weight and Eating Disorders Program at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

"The one thing that is clear is that during the holidays people should sleep as much as they can and not get too stressed out. That could prevent some of the holiday weight gain."

I hope that this information has been useful and helps to reinforce the importance of getting a good night's sleep. For some, this may even provide a good excuse to sleep in on occasion! I was extremely guilty of not getting the proper amount of quality sleep, but now I am getting alot more sleep than I used to and I do think it has made a dramatic difference(along with the other healthier choices I try to make) in my life. There are also lots of other health benefits associated with getting the right quality and quanity of sleep. So, I ask you to give it an "honest" attempt to improve your sleeping habits and see if you can reap some of the benefits of sleep as well. As we approach the new year, I hope everyone gets plenty of quality sleep and enjoys their time with family and friends throughout the Holidays!

Quick Tips for Better Sleep:
Exercise regularly but not within 3 hours of bed time.
Avoid alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes. Especially close to the time you wish to sleep.
Make a comfortable atmosphere. Adjust lighting, temperature,etc.

Here are some links for additional information and some of the inspiration for this blog:
The Dream Diet
Lack of Sleep,Cortisol and Leptin
USA Today Article
Ghrelin,Appetite & Weight Control
New Year's Weight Loss


Brian Francis,CNC
www.herbalfix.biz

Featured Product: Sleep Now

Do You Eat Until You're Full? It May Cause Obesity!

An honest answer would be appreciated. Especially since you only have to answer to yourself! Do you eat until you feel yourself getting full? I will be honest. Until recently I think I did most of the time during my life. I wanted to give some food for thought and share some information that I found interesting and that may be helpful to others.

Did you know that when you eat until you feel full that you probably have had too much to eat? Eating fast can cause you to eat more than is actually neccesary to satisfy your hunger and consume extra calories in the process (that most of us don't want). When we eat it takes time for the brain to get the message from your body that your stomach is full. The opinions on the amount of time it takes for your brain to get the signal varies among experts but there seems to be a popular opinion on about 20 minutes. It seems that alot of our lives are fast-paced and our eating habits seem to be as well. Based on the time it takes for your brain to actually realize you are "full", if you are eating quickly then there is a good chance you may be eating too much .

A study of 30 women found that when the women ate slower they consumed less calories. In this study the women were given 2 pasta meals. The first meal they were instructed to eat as much as they wanted quickly and the second meal to eat as much as they wanted at a slower pace. When the women consumed the food at a slower pace they ate about 70 less calories and remained with a feeling of fullness(satiety) an hour after completing the meal. The women also made remarks on ejoying the slower paced meal more.

Eating slower and properly chewing your food may improve your digestion as well. Digestion starts in the mouth or the brain, depending on how you look at it. Before you even take your first bite and your senses realize you are about to eat the brain sends a message for the salivary glands to prepare for food and the saliva starts flowing. The more you chew and break down the food into smaller pieces, the easier the food is to digest and may make the nutrients become better absorbed by your body. So it might not hurt to slow down a little, relax and start enjoying your meal a little more.

Besides possibly helping with weight management and helping with digestion some people can find enjoyment and relaxation in a nice balanced meal. With everyone being extremely busy and it always seeming like there's never enough hours in a day, I know it may not be possible to sit down and "enjoy" a meal often. For the people that fit into this category, is it possible to have a nice slow-paced meal occasionally? I think it may help to relieve a little stress, give you an opportunity to spend some time with friends and family (or just have a little "me-time") and you may even enhance your health a little. Now that you have this information, will you try a personal self-study and see if slower eating can provide you with any benefits?

Quick tips for slower eating:
Have water with your meal and take a sip before each bite.
Put down your utensils in between bites.
Count your chews. In the study of 30 women I mentioned, the women were instructed to chew 15-20 times.

For additional information, please check out these links:

Japanese Study: Over 3000 people: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,442883,00.html

30 Women Study: http://www.flex-news-food.com/console/PageViewer.aspx?page=19754&str=

Digestion: http://altmedicine.about.com/od/optimumhealthessentials/a/Tips_Digestion.htm


Brian Francis,CNC
www.herbalfix.biz

Can Vitamin C Help Ease My Stress?

About a month ago I was looking for some information on a search engine and a headline happened to catch my eye. I don't remember the exact wording, but it had Vitamin C and Stress in the title. I thought that was an interesting pair of words to be grouped together so I made a note to go back and search for info on that topic. I recently found some interesting information on the subject and wanted to share it with others. There are several studies on the relationship between reduced signs of stress and Vitamin C consumption.

There are alot of people that agree that there is a greater fear of public speaking than fear of death. I am one of those people. I dread (thinking about) thinking of personally doing any public speaking. I strongly dislike it and try to avoid it whenever possible. So the information I found may be able to help with my own Glossophobia,the fear of public speaking. I am not ashamed to say I had never heard the term Glossophobia before looking into this subject.

In a German research study, they exposed 120 people to the stressful situation of public speaking in combination with math problems of which half were given 1000 mg of Vitamin C. The half that received the vitamin C supplement reported feeling less stressed. The people that were not given the vitamin C supplement showed elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol and significantly higher blood pressure levels. Cortisol is a hormone that is released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. It also increases blood pressure and blood sugar and reduces immune responses. Dr. Stuart Brody who led the research team said, "This kind of high dose of vitamin C improves stress management."

Vitamin C is not produced by the body and the body cannot store vitamin C. While all fruits and vegetables contain some amount of vitamin C, some of the higher sources include citrus fruits and juices, green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and papaya. An eight-ounce glass of fresh orange juice provides 97 mg of vitamin C. The RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of vitamin C for adults is 60 mg. It is believed that the current RDA for vitamin C is extremely outdated.

Dr. Brody also said,"this is different from the vitamin C you get from oranges,or even the general powder forms...I'm not sure you would see the same results from natural vitamin C." Is it possible that you may benefit from an increase in the amount of vitamin C you consume to help lower your stress levels? Is there yet another use for the already popular and beneficial vitamin C?

For additional information on this topic, please check out the following links:
Vitamin C Minimizes Stress

Vitamin C: Stress Buster

C Your Way Clear of Stress

*Always consult with your physician before taking dietary supplements.

Best Defense - Dietary Supplement

Brian Francis, Wellness Coach
B. F. Enterprises
www.herbalfix.biz

How Much Will You Gain This Holiday Season?

I was curious about all the statements alot of people make about packing on those unwanted pounds during the holiday season, so I decided to do some research to see if I could find a good, reliable answer. I'm happy to say that I was successful! Before I mention what I found, what is your guess about how many pounds the average American gains during the holiday season? I have to admit that I was wrong in my guess. I guessed about five pounds. A research study shows that the average holiday weight gain is about one pound! I was shocked to find that out. Especially since I thought my guess was slightly conservative. How close was your guess?

The Research was conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development(NICHD) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases(NIDDK), which are Institutes that comprise the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Jack A. Yanovski,M.D.,Ph.D.,who was the study's principal investigator said,"Although an average holiday weight gain of less than a pound may seem unimportant, the weight was not lost over the remainder of the year. Dr. Yanovski also said "This is a 'good news/bad news' story." He said,"The good news is that people don't gain as much weight as we thought during the holidays. The bad news is that weight gained over the winter holidays isn't lost during the rest of the year."

This research suggests that finding a way to prevent holiday weight gain may help in the prevention of obesity and obesity-related diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
So, during this holiday season will you be a little more conscious of your weight? When measurements of 165 of the study's volunteers were taken a year after the study began, they had gained about 1.5 pounds over the course of the year. Is there some truth, related to weight management, to the beliefs that some people have about the way you go into the new year being the way you spend the rest of your year? To read more on this subject click here. Thank you for reading and have a healthy,fun and safe holiday season.

Personal Note: Growing up my grandmother always told me to think twice before you speak once because you can't take the words back once you say them. I want to transfer that thought to eating habits. Think twice before you eat once because those potential pounds may stay with you a lifetime!

Quick Tips: Try to stay physically active to help burn calories and try to watch your portion sizes. Try to eat smaller portions.


Brian Francis,Wellness Coach
B. F. Enterprises
www.herbalfix.biz

How Dangerous Is The Flu For Children?

If you haven't looked into getting your child (or yourself, if you are a parent) vaccinated for the flu yet, then you should try to make arrangements to do so A.S.A.P. or consult your physician to see if you should! Did you know that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) received reports that during the 2007-2008 flu season that 86 children died because of influenza-related complications? I was shocked when I saw that number. It is also estimated that an average of 20,000 children each year are hospitalized because of influenza complications. That was also a very alarming number for me to read.

The CDC recommends that All children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday get a flu vaccine! They also recommend that people in contact with certain groups of children get a flu vaccine to protect the child(children) in their lives from the flu.

There are three groups that have a greater risk of getting the flu. Those groups are:

1. Children younger than 6 months old

2. Children aged 6 months up to their 5th birthday

3. Children aged 6 months and older with chronic health problems. Examples: asthma,diabetes

Parents and children should get flu vaccinations every flu season to make sure they are protected since the vaccines are updated annually.

I hope the information that I came across and have shared with you is helpful and inspires people to try and make arrangements for themselves and their children to receive flu vaccines. The CDC says that flu seaseon usually peaks in January, so it's not too late yet. Please consult with your physician or pediatrician to see if they recommend you getting a flu shot for yourself or your child. A little bit of prevention can go a long way.Here is a link where you can find more detailed information on this subject. Click Here. I hope everyone has a happier, healthier future! Have a great day.

Brian Francis,Wellness Coach
B. F. Enterprises
www.herbalfix.biz

Ladies, Have You Heard About Choose To Move?

I was doing some research today on the American Heart Association website and came across some interesting information for women. The American Heart Association has started a 12 week program for women. The program follows the lives of 7 women that wanted to change their lives and become healthier individuals. The program is called Choose To Move and it is a FREE physical activity program that provides tips, strategies and information to help you become more physically active and accomplish your goals. Every week there is a new topic of interest to teach you new skills and change your life using a step-by-step approach. Some topics include: Creating A Plan of Action, Avoiding Traps and Trip-ups, De-stressing the Stressed Out and Lapsing and Snapping Back. The program helps you to try and combat cardiovascular diseases,such as heart attack or stroke, which claim the lives of more than 500,000 women yearly. That number is twice the amount of all forms of cancer and is mostly preventable. Become better educated and also receive weekly emails to help you stay motivated when you join. I hope this information has been very useful and possibly inspiring to make a difference in your life. Here is a link to the program where interested women can receive additional information and sign up: Choose To Move or www.choosetomove.org. Have a great day and I wish you a happier, healthier future.

*Always consult your physician before beginning an exercise program.

Brian Francis, CNC
B. F. Enterprises
www.herbalfix.biz

Daylight Savings Time and Heart Attacks?

I like to stay up on current events, especially health related ones. One interesting article I came across was about the link between Daylight Savings Time and heart attacks! Did you know that research suggests a link between the two events? A recent study found that in Sweden there is an increase in the number of heart attacks for a few days after clocks are set forward in the spring and that the number of heart attacks slightly declines the following Monday that clocks are set back an hour in the fall. The cause of the increase is suggested to be related to the minor reduction in sleep. The research on this topic was performed by Dr. Imre Janszky of the Karolinska Institute and Dr. Rickard Lijung of the National Board of Health and Welfare.
The research also found that the risk was greater in women then men and that the effect was more pronounced in people under the age of 65. There are more than 1.5 billion people that live in areas that use daylight savings time. "Our data suggest that vulnerable people might benefit from avoiding sudden changes in their bioligic rhythms," said Drs. Janszky and Lijung.
They presented their findings in the October 30 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
The National Sleep Foundation estimates that 70 million Americans have sleep problems and they also recommend that people get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night.
In conconclusion, pay attention to the amount of sleep you are getting and the quality of sleep as well. If you find that you are not getting the proper amount and quality of sleep, then take a look at your lifestyle and try to make adjustments to allow you to do so.
If you are experiencing problems with your sleep habits, then here are a couple tips to try to help you. First, make sure your bed-time surroundings are as dark as possible, without causing any safety issues. Try to avoid having a snack close to the time you are planning to go to sleep for the night. I hope this has been interesting and helpful. I wish everyone a much happier, healthier future!For more information on this topic, please click on one of the links below.

Article 1

Article 2

Brian Francis,CNC
B.F. Enterprises
www.herbalfix.biz

I Turned 1 Today!

Hello. I am extremely excited today! November 1st.,today, is my one year anniversery of starting my business as an Herbalife Independent Distributor! The past year has been an amazing journey for me. There were alot of stumbling blocks that had to be converted into stepping stones, but I am thankful for all the experiences, both good and bad, that got me to where I am today. I had some misconceptions about the difficulty level of starting and maintaining a business. I had no idea how challenging things would be at times, but it is in my personality to welcome a good challenge. Through my experiences, I have gained an even greater respect for all business owners no matter what size business you are operating. I would like to congratulate everyone that has decided to pursue their dreams of running their own business! Entreprenuers are a very special group of people and I think sometimes people don't realize how much work and effort it takes to be a business owner. I would also like to thank my family, friends, clients and all of the amazing people that I have had the pleasure of networking with for all of your support and encouragement. I greatly appreciate each and every one of you. In recent weeks I had decided to further my education to better myself and be able to be more efficient at helping others with their health and wellness, so I enrolled in a Certified Nutritional Consultant program. Last night I successfully completed the course which makes today even more of a celebratory occasion! I look forward to many more years of great experiences in both my personal and professional life. I hope everyone has a great day, enjoys the rest of 2008 and has the best year ever in 2009! Happy Birthday, B. F. Enterprises!

New Digestive Health Products Just Launched!

Hello. I am proud to announce the launch of two new Herbalife products! Both products can be used to aid in your digestive health. The first new product is Herbal Aloe Powder. The Herbal Aloe Powder can be used to try to soothe the stomach, relieve occasional indigestion and support the immune system. The second new product is Active Fiber Complex. The Active Fiber Complex may promote regularity and healthy bowel movement, supports growth of friendly bacteria, contains 5g of balanced soluble and insoluble fiber and can be added to Formula 1 for a thicker, smoother shake. Both products are travel friendly and don't need to be refrigerated. Herbal Aloe Powder comes in Aloe Accent and Mango Accent flavors. Active Fiber Complex comes in Apple flavor and is also available Unflavored. For more details or ordering information, please view my contact information on my online mall at http://www.herbalfix.biz/. I hope you have a happier, healthier future. Thanks for sharing your time with me today. You can also view a flyer about the new products and receive more details by clicking here.

*Always consult your physician before taking dietary supplements.

Recent Studies on Vitamin D and Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the nation's leading pediatricians group, is recommending that the amount of Vitamin D needed in youths from newborns to teens should be doubled. The group is making this recommendation based on the accumulation of recent research. The recent research suggests that in addition to keeping bones strong, Vitamin D might reduce risks associated with diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Some sources of Vitamin D include milk, some cereals, oily fish, moderate sunlight and supplements. The evidence is not yet conclusive and there is no consensus on the amout of the vitamin needed to prevent disease. For additional information on this topic please click on one of the links http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081013/ap_on_he_me/med_vitamin_d_kids or http://www.topix.net/content/reuters/2008/10/pediatricians-double-vitamin-d-recommendations

B. F. Enterprises: Health, Wellness & Weight Mgt.

Here is a Featuerd Listing on Webclassifieds.us that was published today. B. F. Enterprises: Health, Wellness & Weight Mgt.