Do your genes determine the type of diet that can help you lose more weight?

A recent study seems to indicate as much.

Inherent Health is a company that offers genetic tests from Interleukin Genetics to gain insight into heart, general nutrition, bone health, and weight management. Their weight management test can help identify the preferred type of diet for you based on a simple swab of your cheek that you send in for testing. Based on the results, you'll be identified as either a Carb Reducer, Fat Trimmer, or Better Balancer. Based on test results, people who followed a diet based on their genotype lost 2.5 times more weight!

All Inherent Health genetic tests can be sold through Amway Global Independent Business Owners. Our A New Way to a New You participants are piloting diets based on their Inherent Health weight management test results that incorporate NUTRILITE® supplements, snack and meal bars. The diets follow the exact recommendations in terms of macronutrients - carbohydrates, protein, and fat - with a reduction in calories and a focus on lots of fresh fruits and veggies, lean proteins, and whole grains.

Try it for yourself! Take the test, then use the recipes and meal plans that correspond to your results:

Fat Trimmer

Carb Reducer

Better Balancer

If you want to get started right away, you can order the NUTRILITE Trim Body System. The recipes and meal plans follow the same format and you can get used to eating healthier while you wait for your test results. Then, simply switch the meal plan to your identified results!

Chaperoning a trip no excuse for slip-ups!

I'm just back from a week in Hawaii. I had a fabulous week in the sun and sand as a chaperone for my daughter Rachel's high school band to attend a music festival. At the same time, I continued my personal focus on optimal health and a better me.

I packed my exercise bands and jump rope and started every day with exercise on the beach! The sunrise and sound of the surf brought a new dimension to my 4-3-2-1 workouts. It is transportable and effective everywhere we go!

My experience so far helped me to make healthy choices at the restaurants and watch portion control. I also packed my suitcase with NUTRILITE® meal bars, snack bars, and protein shakes to help fill the nutritional gaps of eating out. I journaled my food exchanges every day to help keep myself on track and on top.

I lost three pounds during my week in Hawaii, bringing my total weight loss to 18 pounds! I feel great physically. Emotionally, I am very confident in how I look and thrilled with my accomplishments. The last morning in Hawaii I went running for the first time since last summer. I have a goal to run the Anchorage American Heart Association Heart Run (5K) on April 24 just before we meet back up in California for the end of the A New Way to a New You 12 week wrap-up. It's time to get ready and no better place to run than in Honolulu. I ran four miles! I am so excited. A year ago I primarily walked the 5K and this year I'm in position to run the whole race.

So what is crystal clear to me now? Optimal health depends on diet AND exercise. I've lost weight before but I've never built strength and muscle like I have with the balanced approach of 4-3-2-1 exercise.

Also, I've learned that 1,500 calories a day is quite a bit when you're eating REAL food and not empty calories! Whole grains, fruits and vegetables will really fill you up. The right balance of protein, dairy and 'good' fats will keep you satisfied.

Eating right means eating more for Matt

One of the most impactful things I've learned on the A New Way to a New You program is that I needed to eat more, not less. I used to hear the word "diet" or "weight loss" and I would immediately think "I'm going to starve and be miserable."

I now realize that before this program I would wait to eat until I was really hungry (almost starving). Then I'd eat until I was too full or fill up on snacks and junk. Then I'd feel stuffed. Then I'd feel sluggish as my body tried to digest all the food. It is now totally clear that the feast or famine method does NOT work.

With this "diet" I eat tons of food. It's not about eating less, it's about eating less junk and more healthy foods. One of the hardest things was figuring out how to eat everything on the meal plan. Eating everything on the plan is key to health, because I stay full and stay fueled. I never get to the point where I'm "starving" so I never overeat, or fill up on junk, so I feel great. I feel fueled, not stuffed. I feel like a machine, not a pig!

I'm down 31 pounds at this point! I still have a way to go, but I can feel the machine working and it feels great!