January/February 2006 Living Now
The Body Knows - Ask a Medical Intuitive

by Caroline Sutherland

Dear Caroline,

Every single December 31st my New Year’s resolution is - lose weight! I pinch my thighs and stomach, swear off fat and all my treats and then by January 2nd I am back to my old habits. I know that carrying extra weight is a symptom of something deeper but I wish there was a simple solution. Please help.

Brenda A, Beaverton Oregon

Caroline Sutherland
Dear Brenda,

I totally understand how you feel. For 20 years I struggled with yo-yo dieting until it was discovered that I was eating foods to which I was allergic. Within a month of avoiding these foods, I lost 20 pounds – never to be regained unless I slipped back into my old eating habits. The secrets of successful weight loss are all described in my new book "The Body Knows Diet – cracking the weight loss code. I believe that successful weight loss is a code – a recipe which when followed will yield results without starvation and penance. So have faith in your New Years resolution this year!

These are the five important components of effective weight loss:

  1. Food allergies: most overweight people have food allergies — particularly to the common foods that they eat every day. Foods to avoid are dairy products, wheat, corn, soy and yeast. Food allergies can trigger histamine reactions which result in fluid retention.
  2. Chronic Candidiasis: most overweight people are afflicted with the Candida Yeast Syndrome, which can trigger tremendous cravings for starches and sugars. Candida is easy to correct – ask for a yeast eradication kit at your health food store.
  3. Excessive carbohydrate consumption: carbohydrates (starches) quickly convert to sugar. Excess sugar is stored in the fat cells. Reduce carbohydrate consumption to 60 grams per day. For example ½ cup cooked rice is about 23 grams of carbohydrate and 1 slice of whole wheat bread is 25 grams. Carb grams add up quickly!
  4. Exercise: let’s get the body moving, move the lymphatic system, tune and tone up muscles and fibers, increase the heart rate and feel better. Choose something simple that you can commit to every day like a brisk walk, swim or yoga stretches.
  5. Hormone imbalances: another major component in the weight question is hormones. Overweight people often have thyroid problems and related endocrine problems which can affect fat-burning metabolism. Hormones require careful balancing which can be done through your local naturopathic physician or holistic medical doctor or family nurse practitioner.

Now let’s take a look at the emotional component. What are you weighting for? Often we use food to placate our inner child which is always hungry for joyful, meaningful expression. How much joy and happiness do you have in your life? Are you enjoying your job and relationships? Are you enjoying your own company and are you at peace with yourself? These are things to think about as we start the New Year.

Caroline Sutherland has been a practicing medical intuitive for over twenty years, she is the author of "The Body Knows – How to tune into Your Body and Improve Your Health" (Hay House) and her new bestselling book "The Body Knows Diet – Cracking the weight Loss Code." Caroline will be in Portland January 20 – 22, 2006 speaking at New Renaissance Bookshop. Visit online at www.carolinesutherland.com or www.thebodyknowsdiet.com