The acknowledgment and legislative commitment shown by California puts it in league with only two other states, Minnesota and Montana, as states that provide diabetes prevention programs as a Medicaid benefit. Daniel Zingale, senior vice president at the California Endowment, said, “What’s revolutionary about this change is that it finally starts to recognize that by investing modest amounts on the front end on prevention, we can save enormous amounts in the long term”. This change helps Skinny Gene to continue doing what we have been doing, and will allow roughly 25,000 prediabetics to receive DPP care every year through their insurance. The only requirements to benefit from this bill is to be overweight and have high blood sugar levels, so that the ones who receive care are those who need it most.

Designs By: Courteney Lisowski

We are proud to announce that Solaire is our featured partner.

You can shop knowing you’re not only saving lives, but with the new Solaire Trimwear, you’ll look great doing it too.

SPRING INTO ACTION….GET 50% OFF ANY ITEM ON SHOP SKINNY GENE (through June 20th) Enter discount code “GetFit” at checkout! Offer available while supplies last.

Solaire Trimwear – Burn More Calories. Reduce Cellulite. Purify Your Skin.

Solaire Trimwear is designed to instantly slim down your figure by using targeted compression that holds everything in place, while helping you burn more calories and reduce the appearance of cellulite.

“Trimwear is specifically designed to help women achieve their fitness goals and look great while they’re doing it. We believe that the clothes we wear inspire us to perspire.”- Solaire Trimwear

 

The Solaire Trimwear is a difference you and feel, others will see, all because of because of these…

 4 C’s –  Calories, Comfort, Commitment to Excellence, Company History

CALORIES

Whether you are trying to get fit or stay fit, maximizing your calorie burn is key to success. Solaire Trimwear is designed to help you burn more calories while you exercise, work, and play.

• Active Compression: The ultra-snug, second-skin fit reduces muscle fatigue and maximizes your muscle’s efficiency
• Therma-slim technology: Thermo-conductive fabric absorbs and retains your natural body heat, allowing you to burn more calories during your active day.

Your increase in weight loss with help improve your body’s overall circulation and may decrease the appearance of cellulite.

COMFORT

Working out and trying to lose weight is difficult, so why not allow yourself a bit of comfort in what is usually an uncomfortable situation.

• Targeted Compression:  Feel confident knowing the targeted compression is holding everything in place, allowing you to move freely and exercise without worry
• 3D Garment Design: Solaire experimented with hundreds of functional athletic fabrics to ensure your comfortable body shaping athletic wear is the perfect fit while you “get fit”

 COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE

It helps to do your best, when you have the best, which is why Solaire is committed to providing you with only the best product available. All Solaire garments are handmade and inspected by hand. If the garments aren’t top-notch, they end up as filler for punching bags, as they absolutely do not sell Solaire garments that don’t make the grade.

COMPANY HISTORY

The Solaire Trimwear is a new line of body shaping athletic wear, but the company isn’t new to the slimming apparel industry; they’re actually pioneers. The technology in Solaire is based on the companies flagship product, Solar Belt Waist Trimmers, which after 40 years and over 20 million sold, is still the most successful slimming product of all time.

Now the company is back to once again defining the slimming apparel industry, but this time with Solaire Trimwear.

Solaire offers a happiness guarantee! So if your pants aren’t a perfect fit, simply send them back within 30 days for an exchange or full refund.

I LOVE chocolate in all its glory – milk, white, dark, with nuts, in liquid form, smothered on a piece of fruit, yum! But knowing that it can be good for my health is a definite plus. I would try to put it in everything, just like I do with chia seeds. However, it is not the quantity of chocolate you eat to access those health benefits, but the specific compounds in chocolate itself.

Truth is, chocolate is too good for us to be feared by us. It’s time to de-demonize this delectable treat, which has a long history of health benefits.

Chocolate has an extensive history dating back thousands of years ago to the time of the Mayans and Aztec civilizations. Then it was introduced to Europe in the Middle Ages to be the chocolate we know today as a sweet, silky and delightful confection. In recent time, extensive research has been highlighted in various media outlets proclaiming links to reduced risks of heart attack, diabetes and stroke, as well as improving brain function. These health benefits are derived from cocoa beans of the cacao tree, where the principal compound of the cocoa bean is polyphenols.

Polyphenols act as an antioxidant in which they help the body’s cells against free radicals that are formed by everyday processes of the body such as, breathing and environmental contaminants (i.e. pollution or cigarette smoke). Furthermore, antioxidants from cocoa have anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective (protects the heart), antiheptoxic (protects the liver), antibacterial, antiviral, antiallergenic, and anticarcinogenic effects.

Within the polyphenol group, one nutrient abundant in cocoa and chocolate are flavonoids. Flavonoids are typically found in a variety of fruits and vegetables with the main type of flavonoids being flavanols. Flavanols are responsible for providing the strong and bitter taste of cocoa, which can be a familiar taste of dark chocolate where flavanols are most prevalent. It is these flavanols that have the positive effects on the heart by lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow to the brain and heart, and making blood platelets less sticky and able to clot.

In addition, it has been suggested that chocolate can help reduce belly fat. Though it can pack on the calories and the pounds if consumed in abundance, choosing dark chocolate may be a better option. Dark chocolate consumed moderately, one ounce three times a week, can possess the benefits of curbing appetite; therefore, reducing belly fat.

Most people like me need a chocolate fix once in a while, but we have to do so in moderation. Much of the commercial chocolate sold contains added fat, sugar, calories, and preservatives. But don’t feel guilty sneaking a little piece of dark chocolate, it can keep your heart healthy.

Adding to the frustration is the fact that not all metabolism perform equally. Where one person can just look at food and gain weight another can eat whatever they want and not gain a pound?

Before you decide to hijack somebody else’s metabolism or simply give-up on your own, know this… every body has a Skinny Gene. Some people just have to put in a little more effort to get their metabolism working for them, rather than against them.

We, the Skinny Gene Project, specialize in creating healthy metabolisms. To help you ignite your Skinny Gene, we put together a FREE email series on foods you can eat that will improve your overall health and boost your metabolism. SIGN UP TODAY

Your metabolism is one of the most complicated systems in your body. Some people with a master’s degree in nutrition have a hard time understanding all of its complexities, so how can you be expected to know how to speed up your metabolism? That’s why we’re here to help!

HOW TO SPEED UP YOUR METABOLISM

Unfortunately, there is no miracle pill or food, that when taken by itself, will boost your metabolism. Think of your metabolism as being a system that only operates because of the sum of its parts, like a bicycle.

Similar to a bicycle, your metabolism needs momentum (action) to work. You have to exert energy to push the pedals. The harder you pedal, the faster you go. Like the bicycle, the more exercise and energy you exert the better your metabolism will perform.

Exercise (energy) is just one part. You also need to eat the right foods, in the right quantities, to optimize your metabolism.

The food is the foundation; it is the “wheel” that keeps your metabolism going. Just as the spokes of the wheel support the rim, the quality of the foods you eat support the health of your metabolism.

Imagine that each spoke on the wheel represents: water, fat, fiber, protein, carbohydrates, sodium, cholesterol, EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids), and vitamins & minerals. To make your metabolism as “strong” as possible, you would need to ensure that your body is getting the right amount of each nutrient (e.g. fiber). Eating too much or too little of each element could slow down your metabolism, like peddling through mud or having sticks in your spokes.

Below are 25 of our favorite foods to improve your metabolism (in no particular order):

Metabolism Boosting Foods

1. Cocoa
2. Water
3. Blueberries
4. Flax
5. Sweet potato
6. Avocado
7. Tomato
8. Yogurt
9. Cinnamon
10. Garlic
11. Beans
12. Almonds
13. Apples
14. Egg whites/Beaters
15. Soybean
16. Lemon
17. Ginger
18. Brussel sprouts
19. Spinach
20. Olive oil
21. Oats
22. Fish
23. Cottage cheese
24. Chick peas
25. Lima beans

Sign up for our FREE newsletter series that talks about our top 10 foods, why they can help your metabolism , and how to avoid traps that can slow down the metabolism.

We hope the information above and our free email series, Boost Your Metabolism, will give you some guidance and get on the path towards living a longer, healthier life. (click to sign up)

Have additional questions and would like to speak with a nutritionist, feel free to contact us. We’re always here to help.

Sign up for our Email Newsletter

Adding to the frustration is the fact that not all metabolism perform equally. Where one person can just look at food and gain weight another can eat whatever they want and not gain a pound?

Before you decide to hijack somebody else’s metabolism or simply give-up on your own, know this… every body has a Skinny Gene. Some people just have to put in a little more effort to get their metabolism working for them, rather than against them.

We, the Skinny Gene Project, specialize in creating healthy metabolisms. To help you ignite your Skinny Gene, we put together a FREE email series on foods you can eat that will improve your overall health and boost your metabolism. SIGN UP TODAY

Your metabolism is one of the most complicated systems in your body. Some people with a master’s degree in nutrition have a hard time understanding all of its complexities, so how can you be expected to know how to speed up your metabolism? That’s why we’re here to help!

HOW TO SPEED UP YOUR METABOLISM

Unfortunately, there is no miracle pill or food, that when taken by itself, will boost your metabolism. Think of your metabolism as being a system that only operates because of the sum of its parts, like a bicycle.

Similar to a bicycle, your metabolism needs momentum (action) to work. You have to exert energy to push the pedals. The harder you pedal, the faster you go. Like the bicycle, the more exercise and energy you exert the better your metabolism will perform.

Exercise (energy) is just one part. You also need to eat the right foods, in the right quantities, to optimize your metabolism.

The food is the foundation; it is the “wheel” that keeps your metabolism going. Just as the spokes of the wheel support the rim, the quality of the foods you eat support the health of your metabolism.

Imagine that each spoke on the wheel represents: water, fat, fiber, protein, carbohydrates, sodium, cholesterol, EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids), and vitamins & minerals. To make your metabolism as “strong” as possible, you would need to ensure that your body is getting the right amount of each nutrient (e.g. fiber). Eating too much or too little of each element could slow down your metabolism, like peddling through mud or having sticks in your spokes.

Below are 25 of our favorite foods to improve your metabolism (in no particular order):

Metabolism Boosting Foods

1. Cocoa
2. Water
3. Blueberries
4. Flax
5. Sweet potato
6. Avocado
7. Tomato
8. Yogurt
9. Cinnamon
10. Garlic
11. Beans
12. Almonds
13. Apples
14. Egg whites/Beaters
15. Soybean
16. Lemon
17. Ginger
18. Brussel sprouts
19. Spinach
20. Olive oil
21. Oats
22. Fish
23. Cottage cheese
24. Chick peas
25. Lima beans

Sign up for our FREE newsletter series that talks about our top 10 foods, why they can help your metabolism , and how to avoid traps that can slow down the metabolism.

We hope the information above and our free email series, Boost Your Metabolism, will give you some guidance and get on the path towards living a longer, healthier life. (click to sign up)

If you are interested in having your diet analyzed to determine if you are eating the right amount of each of the following nutrients listed above ( e.g. EFA, fiber, carbohydrates), click here to receive this months discounts and offers.

Have additional questions, feel free to contact us. We’re always here to help.

Sign up for our Boost Your Metabolism Series

By Eye so green

By Nancy Juarez, Skinny Gene Bilingual Nutritionist

During  the course of our lives, we go through many stages, whether it is childhood, adolescence, or the transition to becoming an adult. But there is one thing that NEVER changes – the love and support from our FAMILY.

Over these last several weeks, I have encountered different ways in which I affect the lives of not only these wonderful individuals I have the pleasure of working with, but their families as well. For me, this is a way of giving a piece of myself to make the world a better place. Keeping it true to the saying “even the smallest things can make the biggest difference.”

At each appointment, I have the chance to ask every patient how their week went. I enjoy these opportunities to get to know a little more about each of them and gain a better understanding of what’s going on in their lives.  During my normal chat with Alice, I learned something interesting. Something I’d like to now share with you.

From the very beginning, Alice has done extremely well in the program. She’s shown her dedication to improving her family’s health in addition to her own. Her family consists of herself, her husband, and 6 children. As you may know, this is quite a handful!

Alice makes the time to continue with the program and apply what she learns at home. Creating a healthy home is particularly important for this family of 8. Her son has suffered from high blood pressure since he was small. Alice had been to many doctors to try to find an answer to this problem, since the main contributing factors (which are weight and heredity) are not an issue in her family.

This week she came in extremely happy. She was happy to report that her son has had his blood pressure controlled during these past few months, solely based on what she had taught him!

Alice’s son isn’t the only one in the house that is benefiting from Alice’s healthy lifestyle changes. Her mother, who has had an extremely difficult time losing weight in the past, is amazed by her own weight loss. Even Alice’s husband slimmer waistline is feeling the effects of this new healthy home. It’s apparent, that in this house anyway, health is contagious!

It makes feel so accomplished to know that Skinny Gene is not only making positive changes in Alice’s life, but also her family’s.

And it brings me to want to share this quote with you from the Dalai Lama “With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.”

This makes me feel that not only am I helping an individual person, but we are helping make the world a healthier place one person at a time.

What More???

Meet Nancy

Lose a little, Gain a lot

Your Body’s Talking, Are You Listening?

Great Things Happening for Skinny Gene in TX

MEET RACHEL

Rachel has been gaining weight for the past 3 years due to a thyroid problem. Doctors told her since this is very hard to control; she should monitor her weight for the years to come. When Rachel first met with me she was so discouraged, she would tell me, “I don’t want to continue gaining weight. My legs and back hurt. I want to play with my daughter while she is still young.”  As her daughter grows up, Rachel wants to be able to keep up with the normal physical demands of being an active mom.

She was skeptical about being part of the Skinny Gene Program; she didn’t want to get her hopes up about losing weight. Her husband had just been diagnosed with diabetes and had been having very high blood sugar levels. I encouraged her and assured CHANGE was going to occur and for the better. She began to change her eating habits radically, and began exercising everyday encouraging her husband to do the same as well. The other day I received a phone call from Rachel and as I answered I heard “Nancy! I am at a clothing store and I now fit into a smaller size!”  Having completed one month of the program, Rachel has now lost 6 pounds and has dropped 1 clothing size! Not only is she motivated, but as a result of her making healthier choices her husband has now been able to cut back on insulin since his blood sugar level is now under control. Rachel and her husband are now beginning to walk 3 miles each day at the park, while their daughter plays nearby. Not only is Rachel feeling better about herself, but her family is adapting to this new lifestyle by not only making a change, but starting to make it a habit.

MEET JESSICA

Jessica is an older woman, who has recently been diagnosed with diabetes. Her doctor told her that if she controlled her blood sugar levels (which she has at 250 and 300); she might be able to get off insulin. During our first appointment, she was really depressed about being diagnosed with diabetes, which was a huge life changer for her. During the following weeks she began telling me, “I feel better every morning I wake up, knowing I am doing something for ME.”  She had spent the last 30 or more years of her life concentrating on just working but not taking care of herself and what she needed. Jessica has been in the program for a month as well, she has lost 10 pounds and her blood sugar levels have dropped! If she continues with this progress, she will be able to get off insulin sooner than she’d thought! Jessica has been following the nutrition plans and has incorporated a little more walking into her daily lifestyle.  This last appointment she told me, “I feel so much better; I have more energy throughout the day, and can finally accomplish my everyday tasks from start to finish.”  She will continue to go to the doctor regularly and I will keep you updated on her progress.

These are only two of the stories of the marvelous people I work with, but I will keep you posted about each milestone that each of them reaches, or just comments or facts they have found interesting! But for now as the song says “I Feel Gooood!”

By Nancy Juarez- Skinny Gene Bilingual Nutritionist

Related posts:

Meet Nancy

Your Body’s Talking, Are You Listening?

Great Things Happening for Skinny Gene in TX

EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND SPECIAL IN THEIR OWN WAY

At the Skinny Gene Project, we provide a personalized approach to helping others live a healthier lifestyle. Each person in our program is special to us. We pride ourselves in getting to know each person (from stay at home moms to successful businesswomen), understanding their needs, and giving them the individualized attention needed to live a healthier life.

Our personalized approach to positive lifestyle change is particularly important when it comes to the wonderful group of people we’re serving in San Antonio.

Here’s a glimpse into the work we are doing in Texas.  

Every two weeks, I meet up with my patients for about an hour to talk to them about how to make little changes in their diet that can really make a BIG difference. This particular time, I began to teach each person how to listen and understand their body’s needs.

LESSON 1: LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

Previously, I had given each patient a task of completing a 7-day food log, to see what, when, where, and how much food they ate on a daily basis. I then compared their food diary to what their body REALLY needed. We generally refer to process as a nutrition analysis.

Now… knowing what a person needs to change, and explaining it to them are two completely different things. Some my next step was to give each person a personalized presentation on “Understanding And Listening To Your Body.”

As the presentation began, I started explaining different metaphors on how the body works. For example, comparing our bodies to a car. Much like how a car requires fuel to run, our bodies need food to function. Our body sends us signals when its fuel source is running too low or too full. We also talked about the body’s “fuel gauge”. So when our body is hungry, or may be close to (E) empty, we begin to experience symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, or grouchiness.  When the body can no longer take any food, just like when cars have reached (F) full, we may begin to feel symptoms such as being bloated, gassy, or tired. These metaphors make it easier to understand how the body works when compared to everyday life.

What we need to learn TODAY to have a healthier TOMMORROW  

After discussing how our metabolism works, I  began showing each person (individually) their total nutrition needs (calories, fat, sodium, carbohydrates, etc). Every patient was in SHOCK when they realized that what they had been eating was so harmful to their body, in comparison to what their body truly needs!  They were surprised about what they had learned, but they were also pumped up and knew they wanted to make some serious CHANGES in their lives.

APPLICATION: EATING BREAKFAST

After the presentation, each patient was weighed. They were given a diet that contained their specific caloric intake needs and their weight loss goal! Their main objective for the week was to concentrate on eating BREAKFAST— I taught them that it is the MOST important meal of the day!  I showed them examples of healthy breakfast options, whether they had time to cook or were on the go.  I also had the opportunity to go through a shopping list, which ranked foods from levels 1- 4; level 1 being foods you could eat several times a day, and level 4 foods you should eat very infrequently and with extreme caution.

Each patient was asked to bring any additional nutritional labels that they would like to be included in their special Skinny Gene grocery list for the next appointment. I really stressed the importance of drinking more water and trying to make exercise a daily habit. They left the clinic motivated and excited to start using the information that we provided to them.

Each of them wants to become a new person; they want to look good and feel good, on the inside and out. To make this transformation, they’re ready to start living a better and healthier life!  

By doing this I am helping them have a better understanding on what they need to do TODAY to have a healthier TOMMORROW.  

I am really excited to see my patients next week!

Stay tuned for more updates….

By: Nancy Juarez-Skinny Gene Bilingual Nutritionist

See more post about our program in San Antonio:

Great Things Happening For Skinny Gene in TX

Meet Nancy Juarez

Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving low income and uninsured families that would not qualify for federal or state programs that would provide such care. MHM invests well over $30 million annually to provide quality healthcare to the communities surrounding their 3 primary clinics. The Skinny Gene Diabetes Prevention Program will be implemented in two of these facilities, Wesley Health and Wellness and Dixon Clinic.

The Wesley Health and Wellness Center provides care for one of the most under-served populations in San Antonio. The area has nearly 100,000 individuals (90% Hispanic), of which more than half are 185% below the federal poverty guidelines. The Dixon Clinic provides medical and counseling services to a community on San Antonio’s east side, which has a large African-American population.

In 2009, Kevin Moriarty, President and CEO, expressed to the Skinny Gene Project his great concern for the growing obesity and diabetes epidemic that was affecting their communities. MHM has excellent programs in place to help their patients control their diabetes, but they realized a more aggressive approach would be needed  to fend off this disease. To better serve their communities, Kevin decided to take it take it one step further and implement a program that focuses on diabetes prevention.

As of April 2010, we are proud to announce that the Skinny Gene Diabetes Prevention Program is successfully being implemented at MHM. Over the next 12-months, our bilingual nutritionist (Nancy Juarez), under the supervision of our Senior Registered Dietitian (Emily Barr,MS,RD,CNSC), will be working one-on-one with a total of 15 patients to help them adopt healthy lifestyle changes and prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Here are some of the new members of our Skinny Gene Family, San Antonio!

We’ve asked Nancy to share her experiences with us. Here’s what she had to say….

Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving low income and uninsured families. Their first and utmost interest is to provide the best quality healthcare they are able to offer to their patients. They provide medical, dental, and social services, along with a variety of activities, for the families they serve. They provide after-school care for children, whose parents work late, as well as computer and fitness classes for various ages ranging from children up to seniors. In the short period of time that I have worked in the MHM facility, it has opened my eyes to many possibilities and shown me the kind of help this organization can provide to its patients. Not only is there a sense of community, but there is also a real sense of family. A considerable number of families that benefit from MHM’s services are extremely grateful. If it wasn’t for MHM, these families wouldn’t have access to essential medical care, as well as the expensive medicines required to treat significant conditions and diseases. MHM has top-of-the-line equipment, which makes it possible for them to provide the best quality of care to each of their patients.

As a Skinny Gene nutritionist, I have been very lucky to have been given the opportunity to work with MHM. Since diabetes is a huge issue affecting millions of Americans in South Texas, this program will help these families by teaching them to make better food choices in order to achieve a longer and healthier life. We are currently making a difference in the lives of 15 individuals who are a part of our inaugural program at MHM. I am personally working with each of these wonderful people who are all grateful to Methodist for putting our Skinny Gene Diabetes Prevention Program in their lives. Each patient has an immediate family member or relative that has been diagnosed with diabetes, and after seeing the impact the condition has on their lives, want to prevent it from affecting them or their children.

Prior to this program, these patients (all at-risk of developing diabetes) had never been instructed by a personal nutritionist or dietitian on what they should or shouldn’t eat to lead a healthy life. Having the opportunity to have a nutritionist to guide them along the way to attain their goals is a dream to them.

All of these wonderful people are extremely motivated and excited to make very good use of what is being taught to them.

I have something in common with most of these patients—we come from Mexican descent.  As a bilingual nutritionist familiar with their culture and customs, I am able to communicate to them in a way that is meaningful and relevant to their lives. I am very pleased with the progress we have made in the short time we’ve had, but in time the difference will be noticeable and we will have paved the road for a healthier life.