Yes, these issues could be related to other causes, but when they're combined with a bathroom scale just doesn't seem to have enough digits to accomodate your bulk, it's time to drop some pounds, and for the sake of your health, sooner is better than later!!!

People who are chronically overweight may gain and lose some pounds over the stretch of weeks and months. They may even try diet after diet with little success, but looking back at the long term from youth to present, there is usually a pattern of gradually increasing weight.

There is an epidemic trend toward obesity in the United States. Back in 1990, 35 of the states in the USA had between 10% and 14% of the population that was obese. The remaining states were either unknown or known to be less than 10%. By the time we reached 2010 twenty years later, obesity had swelled to where 13 states have greater than 30% obesity within the population, 25 states are between 25% and 29% obese, and the other 12 states are 20% to 24% obese. This is a huge change which makes the already scary 1990 numbers look rather good. It shouldn't be this bad!

Overweight and obesity are afflictions of individuality, but remember that nothing happens purely by accident. For every effect, there is a preceding cause even though the cause may be difficult to see at first. What this means is the specific cause (or causes) which trigger becoming overweight may vary from person to person. This is, in part, why so many people struggle to find successful ways to lose weight. Until the root causes are met, there can be no clear plan. Sure, there are obvious solutions, but there is not simply one complete set of factors for all of us.

Working toward curing ourselves of being overweight may require some creativity, investigation, experimentation, and education on our parts. Fortunately, there are some guidelines we can follow to get ourselves started.

Education: What happens when you are overweight -
Simply put, if we are overweight, we are eating more calories than we are burning, but let's back up a step to analyze this more closely.

It has never been a good stigma our society applies to many of our "diseases" -- that being a perception of, "once we have a 'chronic affliction or disease', we always have that 'chronic affliction or disease', and it cannot be cured." It is rather like saying, "once you have brown eyes, you always have brown eyes. You cannot be cured of them." But what happens when we turn this around and see it as a genetic part of us? Then what is there to cure??? It's part of who we are.

So, the first thing in understanding the overweight / obesity condition lies in recognizing it is a part of who we are -- it is part of our uniqueness just as our eye and hair colors, the shapes of our mouths, and so on are all part of what make us special and unique. And all of this craziness we have gone though is actually a good thing -- a very good thing -- because it gives us a chance to learn more about ourselves and grow strong as individuals!!!

Now, let's be honest; there is a pretty obvious cause of becoming overweight such as eating more energy than our bodies can burn off in a specified period, but there may be some not-so-obvious causes as well such as compulsive disorders, psychological factors, genetically programmed extraordinarily slow metabolism, or even a simple lack of understanding how to eat properly.

The thing is, regardless of the cause or causes, it is critically important to our health to reverse our overweight condition since those of us who are overweight usually have overworked hearts and joints, toxic body chemistry, and a generally unfit physical condition.

The overworked and unfit body items are significant enough, but having a toxic body chemistry is also a major problem. A likely scenario is that we build toxins in our bodies from at least two different sources, primarily: 1) the digestion of foods that are really not proper foods for us, and 2) the digestion of harmful additives found in what we eat. These toxins get deposited in various physiological locales since they are accumulating faster than the levels our normal channels can handle to eliminate them. From here they may even cause various autoimmune conditions since the toxins correctly appear to the immune system as antigens, and the immune system sets to work attacking them.

Can this really what happens with every overweight person? At present the complexities of the human body make it difficult to know entirely. It does seem quite plausible, but the only way to really test our theories is to eliminate things we should not be eating and watch to see if our overall health improves once we hit on the correct eliminations.

Being pregnant is a wonderful circumstance, and it is very true that a baby needs good nutrition to grow inside of the womb. It is also true that a pregnant mother needs to consume enough nutrition for both herself and her baby; however, many pregnant women use this time as an excuse to eat anything they want in any amount, and this becomes the major problem since much of what is eaten is not a proper, nutritious food for either mother or baby. The pattern continues long enough that once the baby is delivered, the situation is exacerbated because the mother does not change habits back to old ways and instead continues with the pregnancy pattern of eating poor food choices and quantities. When confronted, the excuse given is, "well, I had kids and just never lost the weight."

Clearly, the key is to not gain the excess weight in the first place, and this can be done using several pieces of information as reminders of importance:

1. Heavier mothers usually have bigger and heavier babies, but that bigger baby still comes through the same sized opening (or worse, it requires surgical removal).

   Want to reduce the pain and difficulty of labor? Want to reduce the risk of unnecessarily harming your baby? If done correctly, keeping your own weight down while pregnant can result in a smaller, healthier baby who is easier to deliver.

2. Set a weight target for yourself while pregnant. An average healthy baby should be around six (6) to eight (8) pounds at delivery. The placenta adds another two (2) pounds. The extra blood suppply and fluids carried within the placenta can run around eight (8) pounds, and some edema (swelling due to water retention) can occur and add another two (2) to five (5) pounds for a total pregnancy gain of eighteen (18) to twenty-three (23) extra pounds.

3. Be careful what specific food items you eat while pregnant. Your body will chemically trigger a feeling of fullness off of volume eaten, but many convenience items are low volume and high calorie products, and this makes it way too easy to over-consume. Other food items contain growth hormones, and recent evidence is linking these hormonal dietary additions to our increasing size. Watch those food lables carefully!

Breast feeding our babies after delivery is also one of the best natural ways of helping our bodies return to pre-pregnancy weight, and this occurs just due to the natural cycle of hormonal changes we go through while doing it. If we cannot breast feed effectively, pumping out what is available still helps our bodies and our babies.

Adding exercise to our daily routine can also help us burn more calories than we were, but there is a delicate balance to be maintained here as creating too large a gap between calories eaten and calories burned can actually place our bodies into starvation mode during which our bodies attempt to conserve as much energy as possible, and THAT situation acts counter to the losing of weight.

Anyway, one good way that could cure ourselves of eating junk is to first eliminate nearly everything but the most benign of foods (it is only for a little while to start). We may feel a little bit worse at first -- our bodies are not used to this new found healthy diet, but as our bodies adjust and we begin feeling better and gaining energy, we could gradually begin adding foods back to see what happens.

As these are normally considered harmless foods to everyone, the ones recommended to eat initially are:

• proteins: cod, sardines, walnuts (omit for known allergies to tree nuts)
• fats: olive oil
• greens: beet greens, broccoli, collard greens¹, kale¹ (raw is optimal)
• fruits: blueberries, cherries, figs, pineapple, plums (raw is optimal)
• spices: ginger root, fresh or dried parsley, onions (raw is optimal)
• drinks: water (pure and filtered, spring water preferred)

In many cases, a strict vegan diet for one or two years works wonders to improve energy levels and clear a bothersome medical condition. Some people even maintain that course for life -- truly a very healthy path though I personally feel after a two year or so cleansing period, it is likely a person could add back some non-vegan foods in small quantities (fish or fowl, for example) without suffering further negative effects. Again, changes would need to be carefully tested, and strict veganism requires supplementation.

• Beta carotene: (from carrots, pumpkin, beets) is an antioxidant which helps reduce cancer risk (except in current smokers where lung cancer risk is actually increased). It also improves vision characteristics when it converts to vitamin A which is stored in the eye in large quantities
• Bilberry: may help improve vision (as reported by RAF pilots in World War II) -- especially night vision, and may help reduce macular inflammation
• Chamomile: seems to have a calming, and possibly rebuilding, effect on the nerves. In fact, I have witnessed improved nerve function in aging dogs given chamomile and juniper
• Cod liver oil: has wonderful anti-inflammatory effects on the body but does contain significant amounts of Vitamins A and D
• Echinacea: is a strong immune stimulant and anti-inflammatory herb which has been in use for centuries by Native Americans. It also exhibits antioxidant properties and is a great tool to use if you are constantly getting sick. (Warning: because echinacea boosts the performance of the immune system, it likely interferes with immunosuppressants. When cancer drugs act as immunosuppressants, this can be a good thing as it helps protect the immune system; however, during organ transplant, the immune system needs to remain suppressed for a time to allow the new organ to take hold. Furthermore, people with autoimmune conditions should use extreme caution with echinacea)
• Fish oil: has some incredible anti-inflammatory effects on the body
• Ginger: is a potent anti-inflammatory which has been shown to dramatically reduce inflammatory markers in the intestines.
• Gingko biloba: helps the body improve blood flow
• Juniper berries: seems to have a rebuilding effect on the nerves. In fact, I have witnessed improved nerve function in aging dogs given juniper berries and chamomile. Juniper berries should be temporarily discontinued after four weeks as they can damage the kidneys and possibly contribute to seizures with prolonged, continuous use. Juniper berries also seem to lower blood sugar
• Korean ginseng: is an antioxidant and stimulant that helps to lower blood sugar, increase sexual function, enhance the immune system, boost the mood, and improve energy (warning: it may increase blood pressure in those with already high blood pressure)
• Leutine: (from spinach, egg yokes, zucchini) seems to play an important part in keeping the eye healthy and even preventing macular degeneration
• Milk Thistle: helps the liver regenerate itself and protects it from toxins. Milk thistle contains a flavonoid that is a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. (Warning: milk thistle may interfere with allergy drugs, anesthetics, anti-anxiety drugs, anti-siezure drugs, some birth control drugs, blood thinners, some cancer drugs, and cholesterol drugs because of how they interact with the liver. It may also bother those who suffer ragweed allergies.)
• Siberian Eleuthero: is an adaptogenic antioxidant which has delicate anti-inflammatory properties, and it tends to help combat fatigue (warning: it may increase blood pressure in those with already high blood pressure)
• Turmeric: is a powerful anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory root
• Vitamin C: the eye stores massive quantities of vitamin C in both the vitreous humor and in the retina. Having the right levels is important to eyesight. It also is an important component in rebuilding skin and connective tissue
• Vitamin E: is a strong antioxidant which also helps dilate blood vessels. Good sources are: almonds, avocado, broccoli, brown rice, dandelion greens, green olives, hazel nuts, pine nuts, sardines, spinach, and sunflower seeds. Vitamin E supplements of 400 IU daily, however, may be connected to an increased risk of prostate cancer though research is not yet definitive in this area. Stick to food-based sources for now.

Question: What if I don't eat those foods or don't know how to eat those foods? -
Given that what you have been doing up to this point is not working out for you, it seems change is in order. There are plenty of recipes available with an easy search online, and they can help you learn how to prepare new foods.

Another question: Um... that's a pretty short list. I can't limit myself to only this list, can I? -
Ask yourself, "do I want to live???" Remember, this is your health we're talking about -- your life! It's well worth doing everything you can to get on top of it! And, it is only for a short time at first.

Next question: Can changing my diet really improve my health and make me feel better? -
Absolutely!
If our bodies cannot tolerate a so-called "food" on the inside, then it is a poison to us, and a poison is a poison no matter how small the quantity. When we stop poisoning ourselves, we start feeling better. I have seen the difference in my life, and countless others have seen the differences in their lives, but don't just take someone's word; try it yourself -- really try it!

Shouldn't I just follow the standard scientific approach to healing? -
You may if you wish; it is an option; however, you should also be aware of the pitfalls with this approach toward health and healing, and the number one pitfall is how it takes the "innocent until proven guilty" viewpoint in saying, "there's no proof." This is great for the legal system, but it's not so great when ignorance is traded for potentially vast damage to the body. A prime example of this is smoking of tobacco which, despite being linked to cancer by German scientists as far back as the late 1920's, was not proven in popular culture and the medical and legal communities to be detrimental to health until the last decade or so. Yet, it was still causing ill effects to health the entire time.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is another example. In the 1980's protocol to help prevent SIDS was to place babies to sleep on their backs. By the '90's, the science world had realized the error of its ways and now proclamied babies should sleep on their stomachs. But in the new millenium, the "safest" method was again to place them to sleep on their backs. Such capriciousness is a clear indication of a lack of understanding how to handle the problem.

A final point though is, why re-invent the wheel? In many ways, we already have what we need. A myriad of herbs and various plants along with other techniques that have evolved over the centuries are often already sufficient to solve today's health problems. It's always wise to educate one's self as to what can be done.

Sugars (added) - refined, and even unrefined cane sugars, along with corn syrup, and molasses are highly caloric and very inflammatory to the body and should be avoided. In the overweight person, sugar is of particular sensitivity since it is small in quantity and high in energy. Now, fruits and vegetables are normally very healthy and should be eaten, especially in cases of vegan diets; however, some fruits and vegetables are higher than others in natural sugars so the overweight person needs to monitor even these sugar intake levels until (s)he reaches a point where weight is consistently stable. Finally, sugars also support candida overgrowth which can have a negative impact on health due to intestinal toxicity.

Fatigue - this is a significant factor in cases of obesity and overweight living; however, several herbs may be of benefit. Both ginger and turmeric are recommended because of their anti-inflammatory effects as well as their ability to improve alertness. Gingko biloba and ginseng can also help improve energy levels since gingko dilates blood vessels and ginsing has a distinct stimulating effect.

1. relieving ongoing side-effects
2. changing the diet and/or supplementing with exercise
3. supplementing with drugs that stimulate metabolism and/or suppress diet
4. surgically modifying the body to limit its ability to process food

In version one, relieving ongoing side-effects, variations of pain killers, anti-inflammatories, and physical therapy are used to help ease pain and strengthen the supporting muscles so that they carry the extra load more effectively. While this may provide some comfort, this is the least effective over the long term.

Version two is probably the most difficult but also the most effective over the long term since it involves a change in lifestyle through which we re-learn how to eat and exercise to maintain an optimum, healthy weight.

The third option is to use drugs to increase metabolism, curb appetite, and/or block caloric uptake. While this method may be somewhat effective, its long term results are poor since we never learn how to modify the behavior that got us into trouble initially and are, therefore, likely to continue the negative health pattern indefinitely.

The final option, surgical modification (bariatric surgery), currently comes in four different forms (biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding), and each form carries significant risks along with the requirement of major lifestyle changes. They do offer the chance for substantial weight loss but also offer the risk of malnutrition to go with that.

Version two, changing the diet and supplementing with exercise, is really the best long term approach. Though it requires significant lifestyle changes, it offers the greatest chance of long term success with the least amount of physical damage in the process.

¹ For those taking anticoagulants such as coumadin or warfarin, caution must be exercised. Although salicylates, vitamin A, and vitamin E block the uptake of vitamin K, it is possible the vitamin K present in asparagus, brussel sprouts, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach, swiss chard, and turnip greens may interfere with anticoagulants. Vitamin K assists the liver in the process of producing coagulating proteins.