The Connection Bernards-Ridge Edition January February 2015

www.theconnectionsnj.com Health and Wellness PAGE 55 Q&A WITH HEALTH AND NUTRITION EXPERT By: Stephanie Solaris Why do I let the scale dictate my mood for the day? This year I’m determined to lose weight and keep my new year’s resolution. I’ve tried many weight loss programs before but they never last! So I have a couple questions. Question 1: Is it true that to lose weight, I have to eat fewer calories than my body uses? Answer: Not necessarily. DID YOU KNOW, par- ticipants who attended Weight Watchers for 12 weeks lost an average of 5 percent of their body weight, or about nine pounds. However, Steve Ball, assistant professor of exer- cise physiology in the MU College of Human Environmental Sciences, found that a large per- centage of the lost weight was lean tissue (muscle) and not fat. “Participants’ body fat percentage did not improve at all because they lost a much higher percentage than expected of lean tissue (muscle),” said Ball, MU Extension state fitness specialist. “It is advantageous to keep lean tissue because it is correlated with higher metabolism. Losing lean tissue often slows metabolism.” What your body is made of is more important than what you weigh. Question 2: Is it true that I grow muscle when I work out? Answer: Technically no. You actually shred or tear down your muscles during a good workout. Your muscle grows back stronger, firmer and bigger with the quality food you eat (lean pro- tein) post workout and while your resting and repairing during a good night’s sleep. Your body releases its biggest surge of growth hormone during REM sleep. If you have ample amounts of protein in your system, you’ll take full advantage of the spike and make greater muscle gains. Also, your muscles will soak up protein through the night, so you won’t go into “hunger” mode (where your body can break down muscle) as quickly. The more muscle mass you have the higher your basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is your ability to burn calories at rest. Question 3: I have a scale at home that tells me my fat % however sometimes I get on the scale and my weight can go up 1-3 lbs in a day when I’m doing all the right things, why!? Answer: While they are a relatively cheap option, home scales that measure fat % are notoriously unreliable. Take a huge drink of water and watch your percentage change by up to 10 percent. Question 4: So how do I find out if what I am doing is helping me lose fat and main- tain or grow muscle? Answer: At Solaris Whole Health we use BIA or bioelectrical impedance analysis. BIA is a method of assessing your “body composition” – the measurement of body fat in relation to lean body mass or muscle. It is integral part of our 60 point nutritional exam and health assessment. BIA fosters early detection of an imbalance in your body composition, which allows for earlier intervention and prevention. We measure client’s progress at each session to optimize their weight loss efforts and overall energy and vitality. Improving your BIA measurement, or main- taining a healthy BIA measurement, can also help keep your body functioning properly for healthy aging and reduced risk to illness. With your BIA results, we recommend personal- ized dietary plans, nutritional supplements, and exercise to help you support optimal health and well being for a lifetime. Question 5: How accurate are BIA body composition measurements? Answer: Over 100 independent studies, con- ducted by researchers over the past 20 years, have demonstrated that bioelectrical impedance analysis can provide an accurate and clinically useful assessment of body composition. Since 2007, our clients at SWH have had tremen- dous success in weight loss and increased metabolism using our RJL BIA technology, meta- bolic testing and functional nutrition plans. In February 2015 we are introducing the InBody 770, the newest gold standard in BIA technology at our nutrition studio in Bernardsville, NJ. The InBody 770 is used at the Mayo and Cleveland Clinics and University’s around the world. This commitment to our client’s optimum health will take our personalized nutri- tion and lifestyle programs to the next level! BIA results reveal shifts in pure fat, lean tissue, water retention/bloating and cellular integrity. Additionally visceral fat or ‘active’ fat will be able to be measured. Visceral fat is body fat that is stored within the abdominal cav- ity and is therefore stored around a number of important internal organs such as the liver, pancreas and intestines. Visceral fat is sometimes referred to as ‘active fat’ because research has shown that this type of fat plays a distinctive and potentially dangerous role affecting how our hormones function. Hor- mones play a key role in finding the right nutri- tion plan and needs for our clients of all ages. So to recap, eat well, sleep well, pay more attention to how your clothes feel than what your scale says and if the weight loss eludes you give us a call to get a Ju mpStart on your health today! Stephanie Solaris, is an Integrative Health and Nutrition Practitioner, featured speaker and the Director of Solaris Whole Health located in Bernardsville, NJ. She lost 100 lbs 14 years ago, has kept it off and helped hundreds of others do the same. For questions and to learn more go to www.solariswhole heatlh.com or call 908-221-1112. Are you struggling with... ? Weight loss? Getting out of bed in the morning Food cravings? Staying focused & productive? Indigestion or heartburn? Joint or muscle pain? ? Sleeping through the night Headaches? Allergies? & ? Anxiety, depression irritability whole heal th nutrition & weight loss The natural approach to optimal health Solaris Whole Health 5 Morristown Road, Suite C Bernardsville, NJ 07924 908.221.1112 www.solariswholehealth.com Call to get a jump start on your health today!