The Secret to Long-Term Weight Management

The vast majority of the patients I see have some type of hormonal issue. Whether they are having difficulty getting pregnant, feeling fatigued, anxious, and/or depressed, or suffering from an autoimmune condition, there is something out of balance with the hormones that is feeding their disharmony.

One of the most sure-fire ways to keep your body in a hormonal cacophony is unmanaged excess weight. It's not always about obesity, either. Even 20 - 30 lbs. of extra weight can create enough hormonal "static" to generate all kinds of unpleasant symptoms and circumstances, such as those listed above.

So, in just about every case where one of my patients is significantly overweight, I take it upon myself to educate them about how that weight is part of the other problem(s) they want my help with.

In conventional medicine, obesity is now acknowledged as a major contributing factor in most chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia, diabetes, and others. In Chinese Medicine, for centuries the sages followed the fundamental principle that a body that accumulates "dampness" (a physiological concept that includes what we now know as excess fat) cannot function properly because the dampness "clogs" the free flow of Qi and Blood (vital energy and nutrients) throughout the body.

When Qi and Blood cannot flow where they need to go when they need to get there, the result is like damming a river -- everything downstream that depends on the flow of water will suffer. Hence, obstructed Qi and Blood flow causes the organs, cells, and tissues that depend on it to have difficulty. And, as a result, we don't feel so good. If prolonged, the lack of Qi and Blood can cause serious diseases like those mentioned above.

So, keeping this obstructive dampness to a minimum should always be an important maintenance task for health and wellness.

To keep this dampness to a minimum, you must employ a long-term strategy. And, this is where most people have difficulty because it requires a fundamental change to how you eat.

And, THAT is the secret, my friends. It's that simple.

Losing the weight is one thing. There are many, many ways to go about that. Sometimes you have to be patient with your body because it is "wound up" into a vicious cycle hormonally, so it may take a while to even START losing the weight. (That's a topic for another day). But, once you have achieved a new physiological balance and lost the weight, you MUST literally change your entire way of eating.

In my next seminar, The Tao of Healthy Weight Loss, on August 1st, 2010 at NiaMoves, I will go into detail about the specifics of how to make that change and then keep it going. It is literally learning a new way of life, a healthy way of life, a way of life that increases and sustains your Life Force, instead of decreasing and depleting it. We will talk about the role that hormones, food choices, exercise, and stress play in weight issues.

And, I will teach you how to devise your OWN way out of your struggles with achieving and maintaining your healthy weight.

Early bird registration ends this Saturday, July 24th, so take advantage of that. Past attendees have always given me great feedback on this seminar. I want you to take advantage of this opportunity as well. I really hope to see you there!


Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Women's Healthcare, is a recognized expert in women's health, natural treatment of hormone imbalance, and fertility enhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.

The Courage to Change

Change isn't easy. The nature of life is to keep things in a pattern that is predictable, repeatable, and safe. All living things -- including humans, birds, dolphins, even plants, and any other organism -- naturally seek safety, comfort, and survival via the path of least resistance.

We know that it doesn't always work out so well when we try to take the most comfortable road. Where there is order, there is chaos, and chaos always comes in to shake things up and challenge us. Whether it is a major storm, a layoff, an accident, or any other unforeseen drastic event, chaos brings with it stress and struggle, as well as opportunity for growth.

In fact, life is constantly beckoning us to change -- sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. It is impossible to stand still and those of us who fight the currents of change by trying to stay the same are fighting the Universal life force itself. That's when life is always a struggle, a challenge, and things never seem to go "our way".

One of the things I love most about what I do is that I get to meet amazing people who want to change. They come to me to help them facilitate that change in their lives. Whether it is losing weight, reducing anxiety, getting pregnant, or navigating menopausal changes, all of my patients are seeking to CREATE change.

And, this takes a lot of courage.

It is easy to just stay where we are. In fact, the majority of people will suffer through a life of mediocrity and poor health as long as it is safe and predictable. This is by no means a character flaw or something to criticize. It is simply an urge born of the desire to avoid pain. The thought of change can be very scary and I don't blame anyone for wanting to avoid upheaval, chaos, and heartbreak.

But watching hundreds of people courageously step up to the proverbial plate and intentionally create change, I can tell you that the fear of change is entirely unwarranted. Positive, self-motivated change is always liberating, uplifting, and invigorating. It presents opportunities for growth that are unmatched anywhere in life.

The hard part for most of us is simply deciding to do it in the face of that one thing we all fear: The UNKNOWN.

I can tell you with absolute certainty, however, that when you choose to change out of a desire for self-improvement and increased life energy, you WILL succeed if you have the courage and will to start and follow through. The exact result may be unknown from where you stand today, but one thing is certain: You will be in a better place in due time. You will be changed for the better.

The longer I practice, the more I realize that all I do is help other facilitate change. My chosen methods of acupuncture, therapeutic nutrition, herbs, and coaching are powerful tools that create the conditions for change to occur. They open the door to physiological states where the body, mind, and spirit can shift into a new "normal", a new "routine", a new "easy and familiar" that brings the opportunity for increased health, happiness, and life energy.

But, in every case, it's the patient who courageously steps through that open door into a new way of being. It is an honor and privilege for me to be a part of that, no matter how large or small my role may be.

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Women's Healthcare, is a recognized expert in women's health, natural treatment of hormone imbalance, and fertility enhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.

3 Ways to Avoid Added Hormones in Meat - Dr. Weil's Daily Tip

Shocking, but true... Many conventional meat producers routinely use reproductive hormones to affect growth and development of their livestock. Estrogen and testosterone consumed via meat products is one way to potentially affect fertility, especially in those who are hormone-sensitive or who are predisposed to hormone imbalance. Dr. Weil's site has just posted a nice article on some simple ways to avoid these hormones when eating/purchasing meat.

3 Ways to Avoid Added Hormones in Meat - Dr. Weil's Daily Tip

My general recommendations to fertility patients is to follow a mostly-plant-based diet, with meat comprising at most 20% of any given day's intake. Even if you are not trying to conceive, a plant-based diet can do wonders to help harmonize hormonal function.

The life-giving energies in plants are second to none, being a natural blending of Sunlight (Yang), Earth, and water (Yin). Meats, on the other hand, are secondary sources of energy and, while nutritionally useful, they fall into the category of what I call "hormone-triggering foods".

If you have a health condition, it is a good idea to consult with your health practitioner before making any major changed. Be certain that your diet will support and not exacerbate your imbalance.

Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L. Ac., FABORM, director of the Axelrad Clinic for Natural Women's Healthcare, is a recognized expert in women's health, natural treatment of hormone imbalance, and fertility enhancement using Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with conventional medical knowledge. He is known for his easy-going manner and sincere compassion for his patients. Mr. Axelrad provides coaching and support to patients across the country via his remote treatment programs, and he also maintains a busy full-time specialty clinical practice in Houston, TX. Visit the clinic website to schedule your free 30-minute initial consultation.