Jennifer at 198 pounds

Let me start by saying, I love personal trainers and gyms. I use both as a method to stay in decent shape.

I do feel, like most things, there is an appropriate time and place and allocation of personal resources. I turn patients away from my services if they do not have a basic level of nutrition, exercise and mindset. I leave them with plenty of information to take action. It is not until they have achieved a basic level of competency that I expect them to see results working with me.

Before you step anywhere close to a gym, here are the minimum baseline requirements to physical fitness. If you are unable to do these, you don’t need a fancy gym membership or personal trainer, you just need to work yourself up do being able to do these movements.

Trust me trainers do not want to watch you do basic, boring, crappy exercises. It’s embarrassing for them I’m sure. These exercises can be done at home and for FREE. Once you can do these basic activities and get bored of them, find a gym and get a trainer to take it to the next level.

If you use a personal trainer as a motivation to just get to the gym, you are exercising for the wrong reasons. People who get the most benefit from training actually want to be there and are training for a higher purpose.  Like Jennifer Phillips, you have to want to take things to the next

Here are the body-weight basics:

10×3 push ups (knees or toes)

10×3 deep squats (“ass to the grass” and heels on the floor)

10×3 split squats or lunges (each leg)

120 second plank x 1

60×2 seconds of standing on one foot without losing balance, eyes open

5×3 pull ups (male), 1×3 pull up female

10,000 steps per day

2 mile run without stopping (level surface)

Climb 3 flights of stairs, 2 steps at a time without stopping x 3

Many of you will look at this and comment on how easy it is (awesome). Doing these will not make you an Olympic athlete but will give you a base to build off of.

Truthfully, you will not fully benefit from personal training, personal coaching, fancy gym memberships until you reach this basic level. I can guarantee that if I walked into most gyms, 80% of their clients would not be able to complete the above tasks. That same 80% will only get minimal improvements and often drop out of training or use it as an excuse to eat whatever they want.

Stick to the basics before you start spending your hard earned money on additional services. People will gladly take your money or pressure you into needing their services by taking you through an intense workout then telling you how out of shape you are.

If you can do the above routine, a personal trainer will be of huge benefit to catapult you towards your future health goals.

Low Calorie Diets ( < 1200 calories) tend to work in the beginning because of the drop in calorie intake. When you cut your calories too much, however, the body adapts and slows down the metabolism. Why does the metabolism slow down? It ‘s called the Starvation Response. Basically the body interprets the sudden change in caloric intake as possible starvation!

Below are 5 major changes that occur when the body goes through the starvation response.

1. The body releases fewer fat-releasing and fat-burning enzymes such as hormone sensitive lipase and lipoprotein lipase.

2. The fat cells release less of the hormone, leptin, which is the signal that tells your brain you are well fed and not starving (it’s the “anti-starvation” hormone). Thus, when leptin output is low, the hypothalamus switches the appetite button to “on,” sometimes to the point where you cannot fight these physiological cravings with the strongest willpower.

3. Fat burning hormones crash, including your levels of T3, the active form of thyroid hormone, the important “metabolism-regulating hormone.”

4. You lose muscle. Muscle is metabolically active tissue, which means it takes a lot of energy just to keep it. When you’re “starving,” you’re in an energy crisis, so excess muscle is the primary source that the body will begin feeding off of for energy since it is not critical to survival. Muscle becomes expendable, and your body cannibalizes your own lean tissue for nutrients.

5. You store fat. Due to the survival mechanisms of the body, your body holds on to the pounds of fat to have a source of stored energy in times of famine.

Are you or a loved one fed up with the Yo-Yo dieting? Call our office. We have a Customized Weight Loss Program waiting for you or your loved one.

How Good is Your Sleep?

How well are you sleeping lately? Do you wake up between 1:00 and 3:00 a.m. on a regular basis? This is a common symptom I hear from patients who are struggling with low energy and don’t understand why. Functional Medicine gives us a clear understanding of the physiology behind what is typically going on in this instance:

If we look at the typical American diet that is full of refined carbohydrates and simple sugars we can then see the chain reaction this leads to in our bodies. When you flood your bloodstream with these refined and simple sugars, your body increases its insulin production to force all that sugar into your cells. For a moment, your cells have a quick source of energy. But that energy is used up very quickly and because of the large increase in insulin, your bloodstream is left in a state of hypoglycemia.  Let’s see how this affects sleep.

Blood Sugar and Sleep

So what does being hypoglycemic lead to? Well, there are certain parts of your body, namely your brain, central nervous system, eyes, and kidneys that do not require insulin to utilize glucose (sugar) for energy…they get it directly from the bloodstream. But if your bloodstream is now hypoglycemic, those parts of the body are now starving for energy. Therefore, you get signals during the day in the form of cravings for sweets, sugars, and salty foods for quick energy. When you give into these cravings, you start this negative snowball effect all over again.

But what happens at night when you are asleep and you aren’t aware of these cravings? These parts of your body are still starving for energy so they get it from somewhere else…your adrenal glands. Your adrenals are what produce your stress hormones with two of those being epinephrine and nor epinephrine. You might have heard of these…they are what give you your “fight or flight” response in times of stress. These hormones can be readily converted to glucose (sugar) for energy in your bloodstream. So now, your brain and central nervous system have energy to function but you have just given yourself a dose of adrenaline and your body is now awoken by a fight or flight response while you are trying to sleep! Not very conducive for a good night’s rest.

Sleep and Hormones

Adrenal fatigue leads to adrenal burnout and can lead to a host of other problems such as thyroid issues, weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, mood disorders and other hormonal imbalances. If this is you, know that relief and a program back to optimal health is right around the corner.

A Functional Medicine Assessment FMA  (FMA test)can help your doctor give you a closer look into your body’s bio-chemistry and provide a targeted approach to correcting sleep and other health issues.

Latisha House Lost 50 pounds in 55 days! No Drugs, No Surgery!

Are You Struggling With Weight Loss?

Does Your Doctor Say That Everything is Normal?

Do You Feel Like You Have Tried Everything Under The Sun?

Here is The Living Proof Institutes 10 Step Approach to Healthy Weight Management and Ultimate Health:

Weight loss has recently become a very hot topic.  It is estimated that over 65% of Americans and Canadians are overweight and a growing number are becoming obese.

The Living Proof Institute and Dr Patel believe that often the solution to weight gain can be quite simple and very rewarding.  We do not believe in crash diets and fad programs.  Our approach to your weight is very different.  We focus on YOU!  By listening to your concerns and taking a comprehensive health history Dr Pa

tel is able to come up with a customized solution for YOU.  We realize that weight is a personal struggle and therefore you require a personal and customized solution, not a cookie cutter approach.

Here is our 10 Step Approach to Weight Loss:

Step 1:

We first start with a 15 minute phone consultation before we schedule an appointment.  This allows you to ask any questions you may have and also ensures that we are the right fit for you.  We do not want to waste your time and/or money.  Our patient base is very limited to due to our personal commitment to each client.  We unfortunately do not accept every weight loss case.

Step 2:

Medical Records Review and Medication Review – Our on site Pharmacist will review your drug history (if any) and Dr Patel will review your medical records before your appointment.  These must be provided to our office prior to your weight loss appointment.

Step 3:

Fill out Intake Forms.  You can download the forms from below.  These forms must be filled out and brought to your appointment.  This will be the basis for your consultation and case review.  You will be required to fill out a 3-7 day food journal form and your NAQ (321 questions).  These form allows us to better customize your weight loss program and meet our health needs.

Step 4:

Food Intolerance Testing.  This test will identify food intolerances and allergens to start eliminating for your diet.  These foods can lead to weight gain, hormonal imbalances, food cravings and digestive problems.  These factors can inhibit weight loss.

Functional Medicine Assessment.  This test will help Dr Patel test 11 different markers of health.  These include protein metabolism, oxidative stress, alkaline reserves, carbohydrate metabolism, liver stress, kidney stress and adrenal stress.  This test allows us to make the best exercise, diet and nutriceutical recommendations for you to maximize weight loss.    For more info please visit www.westchesterwellnessprescription.com

Body Composition Analysis Testing (BCAT):  This is a comprehensive test that evaluates hydration, metabolism, BMI and cellular health.  This same testing is done with Olympic Athletes and NASA astronauts.  It is highly accurate and cost effective way to monitor weight loss.

Before Picture

Step 5:

Results review and plan.  We are now ready to begin.  Dr Patel will now make the best recommendations  for you based on your current goals, lifestyle, food intolerences and biochemistry.  You will now undergo on going coaching, meal planning, reporting and follow a prescribed exercise program to maximize weight loss.

Step 6:

You will email/text Dr Patel daily with your vitals.  These include; weight, energy, mood, digestion, cravings and food journal.  This accountability is key to your success and will provide Dr Patel the best tools to help you trouble shoot any issues with your weight loss.

Step 7:

Bi-weekly follow up.  As part of our commitment to your success you will undergo a case review every 2 weeks.  This ensures that your personal questions are answered and concerns are addressed.   You will also receive a BCAT at this time to monitor and record your results.

During and After Pictures

Step 8:

Re-testing.  Your schedule for follow up testing will be reviewed with you.  This will be based on your goals, your outcomes and your response to your program.

Step 9:

Once you have reached your goal, Dr Patel will release you from his weight loss program.  You will be given a base line protocol to follow to maintain your results and continue to enjoy optimal health and wellness. On going coaching is available for those that need it for continued weight loss.

Step 10:

6 month follow up and testing.  This allows us to address and issues or concerns and ensures that your body’s chemistry is optimal.

Call Us to schedule your Weight Loss Consultation and find out if you qualify for our program.  513 728 0416

By popular demand LPI is proud to launch a new service to our patients!  Dr Patel will be giving personal grocery store tours to you and up to 2 of your friends.

You will get 60-90 minute tour of the grocery store of your choice.  Learn insider secrets, how to pick fruits and veggies, where to find certain items and how to save money!

Our goal is to revolutionize your health, not to merely improve it!

Weekend appointments are available!

Call 513 728 0416 to schedule your appointment today spots are very limited.