Harbourside Massage Blog

Being overweight or obese is a significant heath risk. 55% of Australians and New Zealanders are currently overweight and the prevalence of obesity has tripled in the last 30 years. We need to effectively address this epidemic and turn the tide on obesity-related conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, depression and arthritis. If you, or someone you love, is overweight or obese, we can help you to lose the excess fat and get healthier!

Do you want to loose weight?

If so, we have a fantastic scientifically-proven fat loss program available at this clinic to help you achieve your goal.

The Real Fat Loss Challenge

Losing weight can be a challenge, but maintaining weight loss long term can be the real challenge. How many times have you gone on a diet, lost the weight, only to put it all back on again, possibly plus a bit more! For many people this is a common hurdle in weight loss. The most common reasons people have for rebound weight gain is failure to change their dietary and lifestyle habits, and because they may have lost muscle as well as fat on their last fad diet.

Fat Loss not Weight Loss

Many calorie-restricted diets produce disappointing results, principally due to the excessive loss of muscle mass. This loss of muscle reduces your metabolic rate (ability to burn calories) and increases the likelihood of you putting the fat back on (yo-yo
dieting). Losing muscle mass and reducing your metabolic rate tends to create a vicious cycle of fat gain, which can cause many imbalances in your body. A ketogenic program, such as the one we offer at this clinic, avoids these damaging effects of dieting because it is a fat loss system, not a weight loss system.

Losing Fat is not Only Good for your Figure

Many people want to lose body fat simply so that they look good; however, having a high percentage of body fat is known to be one of the most serious causes of ill health, increasing your risk of diabetes, heart disease and many other chronic diseases.

Throw Away the Scales!

We offer patients the most effective fat loss program available. It can help you to lose up to 2 kg of fat per week whilst preserving your muscle mass. Our fat loss program is so much more than a “weight loss” program – this is a natural, scientifically-proven “fat loss” plan that delivers fast and lasting results. This is achieved with:

• A carbohydrate-controlled dietary program.
• A dietary plan that includes moderate levels of protein and good fats.
• Moderate regular exercise.
• High quality nutritional supplementation.
• Daily urine testing of ketones to measure fat burning

Real Results with Ketosis

This scientifically proven weight loss program works on the principle of ketosis. Ketosis works by shifting the body’s
metabolism away from “fat storage” towards “fat burning” by restricting dietary carbohydrates. When fat is utilised for
energy production, ketosis is mildly induced and can be easily measured with a simple daily urine test. Typically, people report that mild ketosis, and this switch in metabolism, are reflected in increased energy, appetite control and efficient fat loss. You can typically expect the following from the KetoSlim fat loss program:

• ½ -2 kg of fat loss per week.
• Maintenance of lean muscle mass.
• Long lasting healthy body composition (fat to muscle mass ratio).
• Better blood sugar regulation.
• Improvements in cardiovascular risk markers.

It is Empowering

Losing body fat is an incredibly powerful experience. You are actualising something that only you have the power to do and that only you will truly experience the personal reward for. Meeting your fat loss challenge, improving your health and looking better, can all be easily achieved by following the scientifically-proven weight loss program we run at our clinic. You can do it!

Go to www.ketoslim.com.au for more information and great tasting receipes.

If you would like support in reaching your ideal weight then call Gillian on 0425 254 445 and start working toward your goal.

Article by: Gillian Gurubhakti Golding ND.  Gillian is an experienced naturopath who specialises in helping you with auto immune, digestive, hormonal and skin disorders. “Energy, vitality, healthy ageing, peace of mind” is her motto.

Through her yoga classes you can learn peace of mind, healing techniques and how to gently take care of your physical body.

11 tips for conflict resolution by Sherry Marshall (BSc. Sociology; Masters Social Work; Masters Soc Ecology, Process Oriented Psychology)

1. Talk with the other person so that they are involved with your ongoing inner process, rather than going away and making decisions about what you want, in isolation from them.
2. Notice any communication signals that ‘cools things down’ between you both rather than continuing to ‘heat things up’ eg. Notice your own or the other person’s de-escalation signals such as an apology, a change of tone or emotion, looking down etc.
3. Notice and make space for a different style of communication. This helps process conflict, rather than insisting on only one dominant style.
4. Be open to picking up the other person’s accusation about you, as it can cool the conflict. Even if you don’t believe it, it’s useful to pick up 1 percent of the accusation, out of a sense of curiosity of ‘how come this person thinks/feels this about me.’ Be open to talking about it by thinking, ‘even if this is not true right now, where or when could it be true.’
5. Be aware if either of you are not relating to each other’s feedback. Being more in touch with the changes in the relationship communication helps prevent the recycling of the ‘fight’. Ways to  ‘drop the fight’ in the moment, include speaking personally and making “I” statements, rather than blaming statements, eg ‘I feel this ‘ rather than ‘you did this or you did that’.
6. Try to keep some awareness of your own edges in the middle of ‘hotspots’.  Slow down if things are getting too fast and do some inner work on the spot.
7. As well as picking up ‘your own side’, also step into the other person’s shoes and understand and pick up their side as well.
8. Watch out for ‘attack and defend cycles’ and ‘pursue and withdraw’ cycles.
9. See if you can work with the edges that arise in the conflict and notice if you share the same edge or have differing edges.
10. Think of the relationship conflict as a spiritual warriorship training and a great opportunity for you to find out more about yourself.
11. Get used to the heat. If your goal is to avoid or suppress conflict, you’ll consistently feel discouraged, angry and frustrated. Its not that conflict arises, its how we deal with it and reach temporary resolutions so it doesn’t endlessly recycle. Don’t recycle if resolution has been reached!

If you would like to make an appointment to consult with Sherry Marshall, in Manly or Sydney City, please email her on
Sherrymarshall9@aol.com or phone 0411 155 091.

No doubt you will have seen much talk in the media recently about “the Flu”. Having a strong, healthy immune system is your best insurance against influenza this winter, helping reduce susceptibility to colds and flus. The stronger your immune system is, the better it will be able to fight viruses and bacteria it comes into contact with.

Your Immune System: The Army Within

Inside your body there is an amazing system of immune cells and tissues whose sole purpose is to defend you against invasion by bacteria, viruses, allergens and parasites. Collectively, this is called your immune system. A healthy immune system is like having your own private army. When the soldiers in your army are working well, you hardly even notice that they are there. You feel healthy, you have low levels of inflammation, and you are resistant to infections. However, when the army becomes disorganised, confused or overworked, then you may start to notice signs that all is not right.

Potential Invaders

Your army is in constant contact with many kinds of potential invaders (e.g. bacteria, viruses, parasites, allergens). Each line of defence within your immune system has its own weapons and methods of attack to fight off these potential invaders.

Armour for Your Army

There are some key herbs and nutrients which may help your army to fight off any potential invaders and prevent infections this winter.

Herbal immune booster: The following herbs have been shown to fight the pathogens which cause the common cold and the flu.

• Andrographis paniculata is an Ayurvedic herb which has a long history of use for bacterial and viral infections. Clinical studies have shown it may reduce the severity and duration of colds and flu. Its anti-inflammatory properties contribute to its symptom-relieving properties.
• Picrorrhiza kurroa has been used traditionally in Indian and Chinese medicine to help maintain a normal healthy immune system. It has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and immune stimulating actions.
• Sambucus nigra has traditionally been used for its anti-catarrhal and fever reducing actions to help relieve the symptoms of colds. It is indicated in cases of the common cold/flu, sinusitis and coughs.

Nutrients for immune support: Zinc is the most important mineral for your immune function. A zinc deficiency may
cause a weaker immune response, predisposing you to a more lengthy or severe cold. In fact, optimal zinc status has been found to inhibit the common cold virus. Vitamin C is also important as it increases the activity of infection fighting white blood cells. Vitamin C may prevent the common cold as well as shorten the duration of the symptoms. These two important nutrients for the immune system are available from us in a pleasant tasting powdered supplement.

Good bacteria for a good immune system: Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM is a strain of beneficial bacteria that naturally occurs in the human gastrointestinal tract and is important for healthy digestive and immune function. Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 is another good bacterium that has been shown to maintain normal immune response in healthy individuals; and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 enhances cellular immune resistance through stimulation of your immune soldiers, particularly of natural killer cells.

What About the Kids?

Children often get colds and flus over winter. To help them avoid colds and flus we have a pleasant-tasting powder specially formulated for children to improve their immune response. This natural formula contains zinc and vitamin C with phytosterols, which are a mixture of plant sterols that have immune balancing effects and stimulate the immune cells to fight the virus causing the common cold and flu. It also contains andrographis and cat’s claw, herbs that have anti-bacterial and anti-viral activity. Andrographis and cat’s claw can help stimulate immune cell activity and reduce the severity and duration of symptoms from viral infection.

Diet and lifestyle – foundations for good health

As well as the nutritional and herbal supplements discussed, there are some simple dietary and lifestyle tips you can follow to keep your army strong this winter.

• Over-processing of food has become common in the last decade with the result that many packaged and fast foods have little or no nutritional benefit and yet are high in sugar, fat and salt. In order to boost your immune system, it is important to reduce fatty, processed foods and eat lots of fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and foods containing essential fats (such as oily fish, nuts and seeds).
• De-stress! Enjoy plenty of rest and relaxation. Stress can actually reduce your resistance to infection.
• Exercise regularly. Regular exercise reduces inflammation and can support healthy immunity.
• Increase water intake to six to eight glasses per day. Water is essential for all aspects of good health.

Look after yourself and respect others

If you have symptoms of flu, it is recommend you stay at home, rest and recover. This means you are giving yourself the best chance to get well as soon as possible. It is also showing consideration to your work colleagues and not sharing your virus with others.

Have faith in your immune system

Your own body has an amazing capacity to heal itself. Be confident in your body’s ability to heal itself and fight any bacteria and viruses your body meets this winter!

Posted by: Gillian Gurubhakti Golding ND. Gillian is an experienced naturopath who specialises in helping you with auto immune, digestive, hormonal and skin disorders. “Energy, vitality, healthy ageing, peace of mind” is her motto. Through her yoga classes you can learn peace of mind, healing techniques and how to gently take care of your physical body.

Contact Gillian on gmgolding@optusnet.com.au or 0425 254 445