The old-school model says - - Eat 2,000 calories therefore your body “gets” 2,000 calories. - Burn 2,000 calories = balance. But in reality, the MICROBIOME (gut bacteria) acts like a middleman that decides how much of those calories your body actually absorbs. Firmicutes vs. Bacteroides Example Person A (more Firmicutes) - - Eats 2,000 calories. - Firmicutes extract extra energy from carbs and fiber. - Maybe they actually absorb 2,200+ calories worth. - Excess energy stored as fat. Person B (more Bacteroides) - - Eats 2,000 calories. - Less efficient at extracting calories so maybe they absorb 1,800–1,900 calories. - More food passes through unabsorbed resulting in less fat gain. So two people, same meal, same exercise… totally different fat gain outcomes. Why This Matters in Weight Loss - It explains why some people feel like they “gain weight just looking at food.” - It also explains why calorie-restriction diets sometimes fail as the microbiome is still extracting extra calories. - Addressing the gut balance (Firmicutes down, Bacteroides up) makes the “calories in” part of the equation more favorable. FitnHealthy Forever Tip - The same 2,000 calories on a nutrition label is not the same 2,000 calories once the microbiome processes it. What questions did this create in your Mind? ✅

High levels of Zonulin leads to- Leaky Gut & Inflammation - Elevated zonulin = looser gut barrier. - Toxins, food antigens, and bacteria leak into the bloodstream → immune system stays on high alert. - Chronic low-grade inflammation is directly tied to insulin resistance, fat storage, and slowed metabolism. - direct lead in to Auto Immune Dis-eases. Fluid Retention / Puffiness - - Inflammation increases capillary leakiness and signals the body to retain water. - You see this as puffiness in the face, belly, hands, or ankles. Cravings & Appetite- - Dysregulated gut permeability can alter gut hormones (ghrelin, leptin), driving overeating. - The microbiome also shifts toward calorie-harvesting bacteria when zonulin is high. Enkephalins → Stress, Pain, and Weight Regulation Stress Eating & Reward Pathways - Enkephalins normally calm stress and reduce pain. - When they’re low (from chronic inflammation), stress feels worse. - The brain seeks quick dopamine hits (sugar, processed carbs, alcohol). This fuels weight gain. - Poor enkephalin function worsens sleep quality and increases perceived stress. - Both of these drive up cortisol → more abdominal fat storage, more puffiness. The Zonulin–Enkephalin Loop in Weight Gain & Puffiness 1. Zonulin ↑ → Leaky gut → Inflammation. 2. Inflammation → Weakens enkephalins → more stress, pain, cravings. 3. Low enkephalins → Stress eating & poor recovery → weight gain. 4. Ongoing inflammation → Water retention + puffiness. 5. The cycle repeats, making weight loss feel “impossible” without addressing both gut and nervous system balance. FitnHealthy Tip - - Zonulin makes the body inflamed and puffy. - Enkephalins, when weak, drive stress eating and inactivity. - Together, they create the perfect storm for uncontrolled weight gain and chronic puffiness — even if someone is “dieting.” Who wants a Solution to this NOW? Auto-Immune? Puffiness? Cravings? Weight Gain? No Sleep?

Imagine your body can’t tell the difference between a real tiger chasing you and modern life stress. - Whether it’s menopause symptoms, too much exercise, under-eating, money worries, or a tough job, your body thinks - “Tiger!” - Stress hormones rise (cortisol, adrenaline). - Gut barrier loosens (zonulin goes up - leaky gut, leading to Auto-Immune issues). - Natural calmers weaken (enkephalins go down, feeling even more stress). - The result - cravings, puffiness, belly fat, exhaustion. Each stressor = another tiger- - Emotional tigers- divorce, parenting struggles, finances. - Lifestyle tigers- work, household, caregiving. - Physical tigers:- over-exercise, under-eating, poor sleep. - Biological tigers - hormonal shifts, chronic illness. Your nervous system doesn’t distinguish between them — it just keeps sounding the alarm- “Run for your life!” Taming the Tiger with SWERPSS Every pillar helps calm the tiger- - Sunlight & Water → regulate daily rhythm. - Exercise & Rest → movement without burnout. - Protein → stabilizes blood sugar so cravings ease. - Self-development → mental tools to reframe stress. - Supplements → shore up gaps and support resilience. FitnHealthy Tip - Unmanaged stress = the Tiger always chasing you so the body locks into survival mode (weight gain + puffiness). Managing stress with SWERPSS - the tiger calms down. The body feels safe to heal, release fat, and restore balance. Do you have a Solution in place? What's your secret?

Remember - it can take up to 2 years to clear out all of the seed oils & it's effects from your body once you stop. Here's how Your body repairs once you cut seed oils (and rebuilds healthier mitochondria). Month 1–3: The Reset Begins What’s happening- - Intake of linoleic acid (LA) drops. - Mitochondria experience less oxidative stress. - Inflammation markers may begin to lower. What you notice- - Less bloating and digestive irritation. - More stable energy (fewer crashes). - Early improvements in skin (less redness, dryness). FitnHealthy Forever Tip- Focus on swapping hidden seed oils in condiments, dressings, and packaged foods. Month 4–12: Fat Stores Start Turning Over - What’s happening- - As you burn body fat, stored LA gets released. - Cells start remodeling with healthier fats. - Mitochondria become more efficient at fat and carb burning. What you notice- - Weight loss feels smoother and more sustainable. - Less joint pain and stiffness. - Clearer thinking, reduced brain fog. - More consistent blood sugar levels. FitnHealthy Forever Tip- Pair fat loss with antioxidants (vitamin C, magnesium, polyphenols) to neutralize oxidative stress as bad fats are released. Year 1–2: Deep Cellular Remodeling What’s happening - - A large portion of stored fat has been replaced with more stable, healthier fats. - Inflammatory pathways calm down. - Brain and nerve tissues (which remodel slower) start to show clearer improvements. What you notice- - Improved endurance and recovery from workouts. - Better sleep quality. - Fewer inflammatory flares (skin, joints, sinuses). - Steadier mood and mental clarity. FitnHealthy Forever Tip- Keep moving — exercise accelerates mitochondrial repair and fat turnover. Year 2–4: Full Rebuild & Resilience What’s happening - - Most stored LA from decades of seed oil exposure has been replaced. - Mitochondria are running clean, efficient, and resilient. - The “energy collapse” that drives chronic disease risk is dramatically reduced.

“I have been to countless doctors and even specialists — nothing worked. This was the first time I finally understood my body and saw lasting results.” We often hear this when Clients are sharing their experience with us. Because the truth is — the answer usually isn’t a new pill, a surgery, or yet another 10-minute appointment. It’s in looking deeper. Playing detective. We LOVE this part! And then we become Teachers - teaching the HOW, but just as important is the WHY. That makes it "stick" once you understand, right? Finding the root cause instead of just patching up the symptoms. Curious - Please Share if You've had a similar experience with multiple Docs or Coaches?