Testimony of the Day

“I am a health and wellness professional and am exposed to various diets and nutrition plans. Through my own research, personal trials or client experience, I have a strong understanding of how one can gain control of their weight and establish a healthy relationship with food. Of course, not one nutritional profile works for everyone and I highly advise individuals to do their own research and application to find what fits for their lifestyle and goals.

As a pro figure competitor, I have run the gamut when it comes to using nutrition in order to strip away body fat while preserving muscle mass. For many years, I followed the advice of most competition prep coaches—six to seven meals a day with a typical a mix of lean proteins, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats adding up to near 1800 calories. The first few times following this stringent clean eating plan, with an occasional ‘cheat’ meal, worked wonders as my body responded in the expected way. However, as I tried to maintain this lifestyle it became less and less effective. I always felt hungry and unsatisfied, I experienced cravings—mostly for sweets, and emotionally I wasn’t feeling my best. Worst of all, I wasn’t seeing the results I desired while preparing for another competition. I hit a plateau in my process that I couldn’t seem to get around resulting in a disappointing finish on show day.

After struggling for a few more months trying to continue this way of eating, I began to pay more attention to what Maria Emmerich was posting on social media and then borrowed a few of her books from a friend. I was skeptical at first, thinking her method was very extreme, but realized I had nothing to lose at attempting ketosis. I transitioned away from my complex carbs (sweet potatoes, oatmeal, brown rice and quinoa) slowly, eliminating one serving at a time and introducing more fats (butter, coconut oil, etc.). Once the grains were completely eliminated, I began to notice a change. This change was not only physical but emotional. I felt more satisfaction with my meals, a reduction in cravings and overall balance with my mood.

My body responded in a way that was better than ever before. I never felt deprived throughout my most recent competition prep and did not follow a typical deplete the week before the show. My strength only continued to improve throughout the process, whereas in the past it always decreased during this process. After all other competitions, the following days or weeks are difficult finding a balance with ‘treats’ and ‘normal’ eating. This last time around, I felt a strong sense of control and minimal urge to stray from the Maria way. I was happy and knew that I had found something I could maintain, not only for show prep, but for life.

I still continue to model my nutrition after Maria’s recommendations and have maintained my figure with more stability and less fluctuation. I don’t often feel as though I am missing out on anything and know that including plenty of healthy fats in my diet, rather than a focus on complex carbs, has helped this change occur. I am able to maintain high energy and strength to fuel my day and my workouts using ketosis.

To me, after reading and researching Maria’s ketosis method, it makes complete sense and will not be turning back!” Sienna

To get started on your transformation, click HERE. https://mariamindbodyhealth.com/my-services/

If you want to learn more on the keto-adapted diet that Sienna is referring to, check out my new book: Keto-Adapted!

My grandpa Vince survived his first heart attack at age 32, but with the diet that his doctor recommended it is no wonder his heart never healed. He eventually required heart surgery at age 45, then another one at age 52. At that point, the doctors gave him 5 years to live; he made it 9 and died at age 61 on Thanksgiving morning. He was given nutrition advice from his doctor to never eat eggs, butter, or saturated fat. He was living off of fake butter substitutes and popcorn. His doctor would be shocked if I served him a dinner like this!

Cholesterol is not the bad guy that we have vilified; it is vital for every cell in your body. You cannot live one day without it! It does not damage arteries, it repairs arteries![8] I like to refer to cholesterol as the firefighters in our body. They help stop the inflammation that is occurring. When you kill the firefighters (cholesterol), sure your cholesterol numbers will go down, but did the inflammation (fire) go away? No, it didn’t.

Cholesterol is so important to the human body that nature has devised a backup plan in the event your diet falls short. When that happens, your liver steps in to make cholesterol to give your body a baseline level. The high levels of insulin that are released in a low-fat, high-carb diet also trigger the body to tap off leftover blood sugar into the liver to make cholesterol and triglycerides which are used for energy and fat storage.

In its natural, unstressed state your liver makes 75% of the cholesterol your body needs. The rest you have to eat, which is my favorite food group: butter, meat, whole-fat dairy products, shellfish, and eggs.

If you deprive yourself of cholesterol, your liver overproduces cholesterol to make up the difference and stocks up. This overdrive state can’t shut off until you start eating cholesterol again. So, a low-cholesterol, high-carbohydrate diet can actually lead to heart disease!

Most importantly, the biggest contributor to heart disease risk is inflammation. A well-formulated keto-adapted diet is very low in inflammation. Sugar and carbs are the big culprits when it comes to increased inflammation. Coronary Artery Disease occurs when an LDL particle (usually a small dense one) gets lodged in a lesion (caused by inflammation) in the artery wall. It then releases its cholesterol into the artery wall which starts the formation of plaque. So if you have very low inflammation and no arterial lesions for the LDL to get stuck in, your cholesterol numbers aren’t really relevant.

“We’ve long known that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. In the absence of inflammation or injury to the endothelial cell, the cholesterol would never go through the arterial wall and it would never stay there. – Dr. Dwight Lundell”[59]

Well formulated keto-adapted diets:

1. Reduce body fat much more than low-fat diets, even though the low-carb groups are allowed to eat until fullness [10, 11].

2. Lower blood sugar and improve symptoms of diabetes [12].

3. Increase HDL (the good) cholesterol much more than low-fat diets [13].

4. Change the pattern of LDL (the “bad”) cholesterol from small, dense LDL (very bad) to Large LDL [114, 15].

5. Cause a greater reduction in blood pressure [16, 17].

6. Lower blood triglycerides much more [18].

They improve ALL biomarkers of health MORE than the low-fat diet still recommended by the authorities.

If you want to get started on a well-formulated keto-adapted diet, take the planning out and get my 30 day meal plans which include a very detailed grocery list. Click HERE to get started on your path to healing.

BUTTER POACHED LOBSTER

Beurre Monte is a butter, an emulsification of 80% milk fat, 18% water, and 2% milk solids. Heating butter above 160 degrees will cause it to “break” or separate into its different composition parts. A Beuree Monte is a techniques of keeping melted butter in an emulsified state between 180 degrees and 190 degrees, which is perfect to poach seafood, meats and low-starch vegetables.

Beurre Monte can be set aside on the stove after being prepared but it should be used within an hour after you make it.



Butter Poached Lobster Print Prep time 10 mins Cook time 10 mins Total time 20 mins NOTE: Do not forget to remove the shell. On my first attempt, I didn't remove the shell and the lobster didn't poach like it should... an expensive mistake! Author: Maria Emmerich Recipe type: Main Cuisine: French Serves: 4 Ingredients CABBAGE "PASTA"

1 head cabbage, sliced into thin "noodle" like shapes

3-5 TBS fresh thyme, chopped fine

Celtic sea salt

POACHED LOBSTER:

1 lobster tail, per person, shells removed

Kerryland Butter, cut into ½ inch chunks

1 TBS water Instructions In a large pan, saute cabbage noodles on medium with ½ TBS butter or coconut oil and tarragon (or other herb). Saute until soft like a noodle. Set aside. To find out how much butter you will need for poaching the lobster, place the shelled lobster tails in a large pot, side by side; add just enough water to cover. Remove the lobster tails and set aside; and measure the water in the pan. This is the amount of butter you will need in order to poach the tails. Yes, it is a lot of butter, but it makes a great leftover sauce for extra "cabbage pasta." Make sure to bring the lobster tails to room temperature before you begin. To make the Beurre Monte, bring 1 tablespoon of water in a saucepan (which is large enough to fit the lobster) to a boil over high heat; reduce the heat to low and begin adding the chunks of butter (a little at a time) whisking to emulsify. Once the emulsion is started, you can safely add the butter faster without it breaking. Hold the temperature of the Beurre Monte between 160 and 190 degrees for poaching. If it gets too hot, the sauce will "break" but it will still taste good. The mixture should have the consistency of a very thick butter sauce. Use a thermometer and bring the beurre monte up to at least 160° degrees, but not over 190° degrees. Depending on how large your lobster is and how many you are preparing, will determine how long you need to poach them; about 5 to 7 minutes. They should a soft consistency and look as if not completely cooked, if you over-do them, they will be rubbery. The lobster should be no longer opaque in color, but white when done. Remove lobster from the Beaurre Monte and serve over Cabbage Pasta. Notes NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)

Traditional Lobster and Pasta = 671 calories, 27.3g fat, 26g protein, 52.3g carbs, 3g fiber

"Healthified" Lobster and "Pasta" = 319 calories, 24.4g fat, 18g protein, 9.3g carbs, 4.8g fiber (68% fat, 22% protein, 11% carbs)



NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per cup):

White Pasta = 246 calories, 43 carbs, 5 fiber

Cabbage "Pasta" = 22 calories, 5 carbs, 2 fiber 3.3.3077

If you like your lobster sandwich style rather than over “cabbage pasta” make a lobster roll with my homemade baconnaise and a Protein bun! I had my leftover lobster this way!

Plan Plan Plan is the key to success

Recipes like my cabbage “pasta” can be found in my cookbook The Art of Healthy Eating Slow Cooker. Cabbage is so cheap and lasts forever, I always keep one in my fridge. Cabbage pasta can be made days ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for easy additions to dinner.

One trick that works for our family is that Craig helps clean up after dinner, while I prepare dinner for the next night. I often fill my slow cookers with the main dish, side dish and dessert (yes, I have 3 beloved slow cookers). Then in the morning, all I have to do is take the slow cooker shell out of the fridge and turn them on. That takes so much stress and anxiety out of my day!

To get over 300 slow cooker recipes, check out The Art of Healthy Eating: Slow Cooker, click HERE to order.

My favorite slow cooker is $40 off today! Click HERE to find.

And this one is more affordable and is $10 off today. Click HERE to find.

Happy Eating! Thank you all for your love and support!