While nothing can take the place of physical activity and supportive eating, understanding a little bit about how our bodies function with the use of natural supplements can be helpful. First to know is that no supplement melts fat, whether it is natural or not. Fat burning requires fat mobilization and then the delivery of fatty acids into the muscle cell where they can be burned as fuel. You must understand that the supplement is just that; it supplements the efforts you are already putting towards a healthy lifestyle.

Most of us are already familiar with the dangers of being overweight. Obesity leads to vascular problems, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers and other serious conditions. We know that overeating and inactivity fuel weight gain. But there can also be hormonal imbalances, calorie deprivation (under eating) and malnutrition. With the popularity of convenience and overly processed foods, many people consume a host of non-nutrient /empty calories, leaving the body craving the nutrients it needs to function properly. This often leads to self -defeating food binges and the “diet rollercoaster”.

Many studies have shown that exercise is key to preventing or controlling Type 2 diabetes, but that can be challenging to squeeze that in during the day for some. Strong evidence has also found that "unplanned" activity is also very helpful, especially for those who have sedentary jobs. This type of activity can be taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. One study done on a university hospital setting found employees who took the stairs increased maximal aerobic capacity by 9% while lowering LDL-cholesterol, BMI, and blood pressure. A little exercise really can go a long way.

• Don’t believe what you see! The models on magazines and fat burner labels are airbrushed!
• Don’t believe what you hear! Many of the “actual testimonials” on infomercials are delivered by paid actors!
• Don’t believe advertisements! Before and after photos in ads are often computer enhanced!
• Don’t believe in bottled magic! Fat burners in a bottle do not really exist!
• We, as human beings, need food!
• If you do not know a product to be safe and efficacious do not risk your health and well-being!
• If a product high in sugar promises to be a weight loss aid, it is going to ultimately limit your fat burning ability.
• If any “formula” promises to “blast” pounds, “obliterate” or “zap” inches, without sound eating and exercise, you can be certain you are looking at something sold through deceptions and lies.
• If any device promises to reduce any specific area of your body, by rocking, twisting, gliding, or pumping, you can assure yourself it is flawed.

Resolutions. I bet you made one about a week or so ago with good intention. But if you want results, if you don't want to be saying "what resolution?" in a matter of weeks, then you need empowerment.

While the walk, jog, or run up the steps of power might not be without it's unexpected obstacles, by continuing to put one foot in front of the other, by knowing that you are going to arrive at your destination, your success and achievement are all but guaranteed. Yes, these steps are every bit as empowering as you would like to believe they are. But it's not the steps themselves that change mindsets and bring about empowerment. It is the willingness to tackle them…at all costs.

The Best You've Ever Been. Isn't that the bottom line of every resolution? We resolve to be better. We resolve to be our best. Too many people resign themselves to the belief that we are destined to roll with the punches, to move along with the masses trapped in the river of life, allowing the current to take them in random and unintended directions. You're not one of those people. Maybe at times you feel caught up in the clutter, but you are not satisfied. You want something more.

Health. That is what is most sought after. We want to take control of our health and wellness. We want to age gracefully, maintaining function, independence and an incredible lust for life. We want to be living each day in an energized state with a true passion for life. It's about having the ability and energy to perform at the highest levels whether it's at work, with your family, team, or friends.

The following is a list of 16 steps to a Healthy Lifestyle:

1. Set the goals you wish to attain.
2. Write it down – keep a journal.
3. Make a list of habits you need to let go of.
4. Develop a plan of action that inspires you.
5. Be sure it is based upon reality.
6. Carefully define your philosophy of life.
7. Note beliefs that you have associated with unwanted habits, (ie: fear)
8. Take small daily steps toward creating your change.
9. Expect set backs – this is the nature of life after all.
10. Stay focused, learn from your setbacks and make needed adjustments.
11. Take on only what you can handle without stressing yourself out.
12. Take it one day at a time.
13. Know that it takes time, perseverance and commitment to reach your goals.
14. Know that you do have what it takes.
15. Visualize, feel, and be your success.
16. Reward yourself for every little step you take. You deserve it.

I believe that if we are going to succeed, we need to start with a clean slate. Forgive past mistakes, let them go. We can't change the past and there is astounding benefit by putting our energies into today.

So, let me give you a place to start. Let's develop a mental and physical clearing through cleansing the toxins from our bodies and creating an environment that supports our need for change and our creations of excellence.

The Herbal Path offers several detoxification kits that are convenient and easy to use. They basically contain encapsulated herbs which extract toxins. Toxins like to hide out in your fat cells, and your brain is 60% fat! The toxic elements are released into your blood stream, absorbed by fiber (either capsules or a powdered drink), and eliminated with the aid of essential fatty acids (available in capsule or you can take it by the spoonful!)

Toxins act like little "interruptors". They interrupt all functions of the body system and keep it from functioning at it's absolute best. We become toxic from the massive amounts of environmental pollutants, processed foods and food additives, prescription and over the counter drugs and cellular metabolism.

A good, quality cleanse (my favorites are from ReNew Life) is an excellent kick off for creating room for the change we desire both in our bodies and in our minds. Allow yourself to start your transformation at the beginning. Rid your body and brain of toxins and your mind of self-imposed limitations.

Now, let’s get to “DIETS”. Notice the first three letters of the word diet: “die”. Hmm…Most commercial diet centers, or diet programs will put you a relatively low calorie diet and may even cut out an entire food group (like carbs). When intake is close to or lower than BMR, the body will slow down its functions in order to be able to survive on the limited amount of incoming fuel. Low calorie diets cause the body to lose a lot of water. (Refer to previous articles for more information on the dangers of dehydration.) The body can give up a large amount of water in a relatively short period of time, like 6-10 pounds in a week. So you go on a diet and all of a sudden you are duped into thinking it must be working! When the body goes into starvation mode, it starts storing every little calorie it can as fat, and tries not to burn any fat in order to prevent you from eventually dying of starvation. (Scientifically, the body cannot lose anymore than 2 pounds of fat in a week’s time.) The body will actually start burning muscle tissue. Now, wait a minute. Muscle burns calories. Muscle cells are where fat is burned. We don’t want to be burning muscle, we want to be maintaining it and even getting more. The number on the scale is going down though. Want to know why? (Of course you do, that’s why you are reading this.) The same amount of muscle weighs five times more than the same amount of fat. It makes for quick temporary weight loss that slows your metabolism down. Within a matter of a short while you will actually start to gain the weight back. Does that sound familiar and isn’t it convenient for the diet industry? You don’t know that your body is rapidly retaining water in response to all the water it just lost, (which can be around 60% of the weight loss you will experience on a low-cal diet). And you don’t know that because you have lost muscle tissue you have just turned your body into a very efficient fat storing machine. You think it was the cookie, or the slice of bread you ate the other day!! You initially lost “weight” with their diet, so you are led to believe that it “worked”. So, what do most people do? Go back on the diet!!! Can you hear that…”Cha-ching…Cha-ching”, the ring of the cash registers at the diet center, the book store, and behind the scenes of the infomercials. Returning to the diet causes your body to adjust your BMR even lower now and you continue to lose more muscle. Then, you again will regain water and pack on fat, think it was your fault, feel like a failure and either return to the diet or give up all together. This is the only industry that I know of where people fail to get what they’ve paid for and blame themselves!

Arm yourself with the simple truth. The real way to decrease body fat permanently, to increase your metabolism and turn your body into a fat burning machine is to eat supportive meals frequently, engage in moderate aerobic exercise and remember muscle. We will break down each of these components in upcoming articles.

The general public has been misled and misinformed by the slick sellers of TV infomercials and commercial diet centers. Diets will make you fatter. A "tummy-toner" will not give you a six-pack. A "thigh-machine" will not reduce the size of your thighs and many of the "fat free" foods on your supermarket's shelf are actually 100% fat!

Take for example that "fat-free" can of cooking spray – you probably have some in your kitchen cupboard. It says "fat-free", so we looked at the label. Grams of fat: zero; calories: zero; calories from fat: zero. Hmm, let's look at the ingredients: 100% pure corn oil. How do companies get away with these false claims, you ask? Food labels and other regulations are tricky. You have to read the fine print. According to the FDA, any food that supplies half a gram or less of fat per serving may be labeled as "fat-free". However, there aren't any regulations as to the size a serving has to be. One serving of the cooking spray is two-tenths of a gram. Well, two-tenths of a gram of anything is going to contain less than one gram of fat!

Arm yourself with knowledge. Get the proper information from a qualified source whose goals are in line with your health and wellness needs. There are lots of billion dollar companies out there with billion dollar marketing schemes. Don't be taken!

Probiotics are a nice little secret for losing weight. They help add the much needed B vitamins into your system as well as aid in digestion and nutrient absorption. Energy production depends on almost every known nutrient, especially B vitamins. They are active in converting carbohydrates into blood glucose, the fuel that is burned during metabolism to energize all body cells, instead of storing them as fat. If you are low in your B’s it will be much harder for you to change stored fat into energy! If you want to lose weight you must give nourishment to your body. This is where the beneficial bacteria in a good probiotic can help you stabilize the fat burning process. They ensure better nutrient absorption . The more nutrients your body can absorb the less hungry you will be and the more efficient every bodily function will be. They also control yeast overgrowth which can cause gas, bloating and bulging of the stomach area. In a nutshell probiotics help you absorb the necessary substances to burn fat and keep your belly flat! Yeah! In addition to probiotics to aid in digestion try digestive enzymes, ginger and Swedish bitters.

Every function in your body relies heavily on water. Yes, even the burning of fat cells! Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water can actually reduce fat deposits. Here’s why: The kidneys can’t function properly without enough water. When they don’t work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver’s primary functions is to metabolize fat into usable energy for the body. But if the liver has to do some of the kidney’s work, it can’t operate at full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat, more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops. Retained water shows up as excess weight. Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water, it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold onto every drop. Water is stored in extracellular spaces (outside the cells). This shows up as swollen feet, legs, hands and bodies! To get rid of excess water, you must drink more water. Drinking water is essential to weight loss.

Guess what?! We need to eat fat in order to lose fat! Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) from sources such as fish oil and flaxseed oil are important for all processes of the body to work properly. The body must have a certain amount of beneficial fats in order to function and lose weight. They exert a significant lipid-lowering effect. EFA’s, which include Omega 3 oils have the ability to boost thermogenesis by increasing metabolic rate. They are also associated with reduced fat storage and enhanced insulin sensitivity. Dietary fat also provides a sense of fullness or satiation after eating. Often people on low fat diets feel hungry all the time. Healthy fats and oils help you feel satisfied. It is easier to make healthier food choices when your stomach is not growling! They also help dieting by providing a more sustained release of energy and slower rise in blood sugar.

• “Made with whole grain” means that there has to be SOME whole grain in it, but not how much. It could be a lot, but could also be very, very little. Remember that they have to list the ingredients according to the amounts, so check out the first three ingredients on the label.

• “An excellent source of whole grains” means at least half of the serving must be from whole grains.

• “A good source of whole grain” means as little as a quarter of the serving is from whole grains.

• “Multigrain” is any mixture of grains which may or may not be totally refined.

FAT FREE/CALORIE FREE Let’s take PAM cooking spray or Fat-Free butter substitutes. They claim to provide fat free cooking. But if you read further into the label you will find that the main (and sometimes only) ingredient is usually corn oil or some type of hydrogenated oil. Those, and all other oils, are 100% fat! How are they legally able to do that? Let me tell you. The law says that any food that provides less than ½ a gram of fat per serving can be labeled as “Fat –Free”. What they don’t specify is how large or small a serving size must be, so the manufacturers just make the serving size less than ½ a gram. You do the math.