Who Can Benefit?

Anyone with a brain! Trainers and clients- millions and growing- have used the neurofeedback to address a number of physical, emotional, and cognitive complaints with great success. Including:

ADHD- In November of 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) endorsed neurofeedback aka EEG biofeedback as a “Level 1/ Best Support” treatment for children with ADHD. Furthermore, the AAP has equated neurofeedback with medication in terms of efficacy for resolving ADHD.
Depression
Anxiety
PTSD
Alzheimer’s
Autism Spectrum
Sleep Disorders
Memory
Hormone Imbalance
PMS, Menopausal Symptoms
Anger, Jealousy, Emotional Reactivity, and More
Focus and Organization
Childhood Academic and Physical Delays
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Stroke
Concussions
General Wellness
Brain Fitness & Aging Well
Peak Physical & Mental Performance
Improved Academic Performance
Sensory & Auditory Processing
Addiction
Developmental Trauma
Migraine
Epilepsy
Schizophrenia
Bipolar Disorder
Marriage and Family Tensions

How Does It Work?

Neurofeedback training for the brain is similar to physical training for the body. Much of our suffering comes from pervasive recurring thoughts and feelings in which our minds become emotionally stranded or cognitively “stuck”. Neurofeedback prompts the brain to draw from its existing resources and pull itself out of these mental “ruts”. The results is a more open and positive mindset in which obstacles are more manageable and problems more resolvable.

Not all neurofeedback is created equal. You may hear other providers talk about “protocols” and use expensive testing to determine how your brain compares to a “normal” brain and then “push” the brain to look more “normal.” This can lead to unpleasant side-effects and I will let you draw your own conclusions about that…

Our system is different. There is only one you and we think that is a good thing! Much like a mirror that promotes self-correction, our dynamic neurofeedback program monitors your brain waves and then provides “feedback” to your central nervous system about what is has just done. When our dynamic neurofeedback system detects a tremor in your brain wave pattern, it sends an audible signal that encourages the brain to “reset” and self-correct. But it is not “forcing” or “pushing” the brain to do anything, 

Think of it like the rumble strips on the side of the road. They simply provide information to let you know you are leaving your lane so you can correct your path. It is neither good or bad. It is just information and you decide how to proceed. Much like the brain, you will self correct. However, if there is a bee in the car, and you run over the rumble strips, you will most likely ignore the strips to get off thee road and out of the car! The brain wants to be efficient and limit suffering. It knows what it needs to do when it is given the information.

Although the technology is complex, the process is simple, painless, and non-invasive. It is just learning. You learn to alter your brain activity the same way you learn every other skill. No one had to teach you to walk. You learned through feedback and practice. What is new in neurofeedback is that you are guided by a form of learning that was previously not available to you. With neurofeedback, you get instantaneous information or feedback about changes in your brain’s electrical activity at 256 times per second.

In 5-10 neurofeedback sessions, with feedback 256 times per second, you get over 10 million chances to learn! That’s a lot of repetition and practice! Brain science has shown that repetitive exercise of brain networks results in brain change. This is called neuroplasticity. Neurofeedback allows you to harness neuroplasticity to get to the root of the problem and reshape your brain. Come train with us today and see just how effective neurofeedback can be!

How Many Sessions Will It Take?

The number of sessions can vary depending on the issue. Everyone is different, but we do have statistics based on other client’s experiences that may give you an idea for your particular situation. Twenty is about the average. For some it will be less and others it may be more. Many of our clients start to see results in as little as 1 session, with the most typical being improvement in the quality of sleep, mood improvement, and general overall cognitive improvements.

As you age, it becomes easier to gain weight and harder to lose it. Age really does matter with regards to weight management, especially if you’re over the age of 40.

Many factors can play a role such as changes in physical activity level, diet, hormonal changes and ultimately how your body stores fat.

Have no fear this new year, here are 10 tips to lose weight and feel great for people over 40.

Shonna Kempter our nutritionist is available for consults to help you optimize your habits!

1. Follow a Paleo/Mediterranean diet

The Paleo diet is the ancestral way to lose weight naturally without counting calories. This key is back to the basics focusing on healthy, grass –fed meats, wild-caught fish, fresh vegetables, nuts, seeds and seasonal fruits. This diet focuses on whole foods and eliminates processed foods and additives. The Paleo diet emulates how the hunter-gatherers ate. The reason it works is because it gets rid of empty calorie foods (foods that provide only calories and no nutrients) and replaces these foods with more nutrient dense options. Nutrient dense foods are high in nutrients but lower in calories, which is the shift that aids in weight loss. Additionally, the foods found on a Paleo diet are rich in vital nutrients needed for weight loss and energy balance. This study confirmed weight loss in women on Paleo versus the well publicized Nordic Diet. I do encourage the plate is 70% plant based, 10% protein, 10% complex carbs and 10% good fats. This ratio is the best! 

2. Try Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern in which you cycle between periods of feasting and fasting. It doesn’t specify which foods to eat but rather when to eat them. Intermittent fasting improves insulin sensitivity (which declines with age) and as a result insulin drops and stored fat can be utilized. Additionally, intermittent fasting naturally reduces caloric intake for individuals. Research has also found that fasting can lower glucose and increase the fat-burning hormone, norepinephrine leading to increased metabolism short-term.

3. Cook your meals at home

Cooking your meals by hand at home is an act of self-care and a tool to aid in weight loss. This is because when you cook at home you control what goes into each meal. Home cooking means your meals can be free from added sugars, salt and unhealthy fats. Cooking at home means you can select what you want include (organic, fresh vegetables and healthy, grass-fed meats) and eliminate what you don’t want (additives, gluten, and refined sugars). You can also use heart-healthy cooking oils when you’re making your meals at home. One of the biggest factors holding people back from cooking at home is the belief that they can’t make a good meal because they’ve forgotten how to cook. If you’re in need of some home cooking inspiration, try our Mexican Paleo cookbook loaded with healthy recipes to get your cooking started!

4. Become a mindful eater

When life gets busy it can be tempting to multitask during a meal. This eating behavior can lead to overeating. By becoming a more mindful eating, your brain learns to better recognize it’s own hunger and satiety cues to let you know when to start and stop eating. Mindful eating is a more thoughtful way of eating that helps individuals make healthier food choices and better understand hunger cues. As a result, it is a great tool for weight loss. Mindful eating includes focusing on the sight, smell, texture and taste of foods. During mindful eating, there are no distractions like TV. One must chew slowly when eating mindfully. There is a profound mind-gut connection and so when we employ mindful eating habits it helps the brain to register satiety (the feeling of fullness) and activates the Parasympathetic Nervous System (your “rest and digest” mode). Eat with others when possible.

5. Ditch the added sugar

Sugar provides empty calories to the body. Empty calories are calories without nutrients. If you drink sweetened beverages, try replacing them with water or tea. In excess, sugar gets stored as fat on the body, contributing to weight gain. Eating too much sugar is associated with weight gain along with a host of chronic diseases like obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and Heart Disease. Added sugar is vastly different than natural sugar (like that found in fruits and vegetables). Added or refined sugars are added to processed foods, juices and candies. It acts like a foreign ingredient and the body struggles to recognize and break down this type of sugar. If your New Year’s goal is to lose weight, then it’s time to kick your sugar habit.

6. Reduce alcoholic intake

Alcohol is another source of empty calories that plays a huge role in weight. Alcohol provides a large number of calories but no nutrients. Anyone looking to shred stubborn pounds should skip that evening glass of wine. Alcohol is also unique in that the body will always give it first priority with regards to digestion. This means that, in excess, the body will break down alcohol first and since it contains calories it will use it as energy first. The result is that the protein, fat and carbohydrates you ate at dinner all get stored as fat. This further contributes to weight gain. Additionally, because alcohol is considered a toxin it causes high levels of inflammation and impacts key organs like the liver, both of which can have effects on weight. Lastly, alcohol can lead to increased food intake by triggering hunger signals in the brain. Skip the alcohol!

7. Move your body more

Physical inactivity is a major factor in the development of weight gain. In fact, sitting is now labeled as the new smoking due to its detrimental effects on weight and health. Lack of exercise can lead to weight gain and obesity-related diseases like diabetes or hypertension. Low levels of physical activity are linked to increased visceral fat (fat around the organs) like abdominal fat. Regular aerobic exercise, also known as cardio, can help you to lose visceral fat. Aerobic activity (walking, hiking, biking) pair with a healthy Paleo diet is the best way to lose stubborn visceral fat and keep it off. Yoga and gardening are another of my favorites. Additionally, regular exercise can also undo heart damage (often linked to increased weight) so get moving!

8. Stop stressing

It’s widely known that chronic stress makes you more likely to binge on unhealthy food like fast foods and processed ones. When stress causes you to eat more it exacerbates weight gain by increasing caloric intake. The stress hormone cortisol (released during times of stress) also triggers the storage of abdominal fat. Additionally, on top of all of this, new research has found that stress makes it harder for your body to break down stored fat. This is because stress stimulates the production of a protein called betatrophin, which inhibits an enzyme that is needed for the breakdown of fat. In the study, levels of betatrophin increased in mice that experienced both environmental and metabolic stressors. Stress management is key for weight loss so find a relaxation technique that works for you.

We have excellent tools such as neurofeedback and alpha stim to help your brain with stress/anxiety/depression/and insomnia.

9. Get better sleep

Individuals who don’t get enough good quality sleep are more likely to gain weight. Not getting enough shuteye can have adverse effects not only on your health but your waistline. Sleep deficiency is linked to weight gain. Lack of sleep can dysregulate the hunger hormones in our bodies. This causes the brain to not receive the proper hunger and satiety signals. Therefore, appetite, weight control and energy metabolism all become impacted. Sleep deprivation also slows down your metabolism, leading to weight gain. Check out our tips for better sleep.

10. Heal your gut

Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria. Leaky Gut Syndrome can lead to an imbalance of the good and bad bacteria, which can increase one’s risk for weight gain. Healing leaky gut syndrome and restoring the balance of good microbes in the gut is essential to protecting the gut barrier, lowering inflammation and preventing weight gain. One study found that when mice were given prebiotic fibers to increase Bifidobacteria then weight gain and insulin resistance both decreased. Additionally, a review article published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology in 2017 revealed that gut microbial populations may have the potential to regulate appetite control in their hosts by affecting how much of each appetitive hormone (leptin, ghrelin, etc.) are produced. Essentially, the microbes can influence how hungry or full you feel! In fact, research has shown that simply restoring gut bacteria by taking probiotics with multiple strains can aid in weight loss. We carry ultraflora control which has a bifido species called B420 shown to specifically help with weight loss.

 References:

Zauner et al., 2000: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10837292

Zhang et al., 2016: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388198115001997

Cani et al., 2007: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17823788

Fetissov et al., 2017: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27616451/

Zhang et al., 2015: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27149163