Your unique bio-individuality means that what works for one person may not work for the next. This is one of the reasons why most diets fail and why the SHAPE Program works so well for so many.
The SHAPE Program accounts for your bio-individuality by utilizing simple, inexpensive urinalysis testing. Through urinalysis, your SHAPE practitioner can customize the program specifically for your needs. This way you can meet your health goals quickly and maintain optimal health over a lifetime.
If weight loss is one of your goals with the SHAPE Program, the urinalysis is especially critical to your success. Here’s why:
Most diet programs fail because the brain (specifically the hypothalamus) receives a message that the body is starving. Yes, you’ll lose weight, but as soon as you reintroduce excess calories, your body will regain the weight you lost, and it will raise its “set point” to protect against further starvation.
Your set point is the weight range in which your particular body is programmed to function at its best. Your body and brain work together to set the amount of body fat they believe is necessary to sustain and maintain your overall health through energy usage, metabolism and hunger. Based on the metabolic set point theory of homeostasis, the body tends to maintain a particular weight range. However, your body’s set point can be reprogrammed through embracing sound dietary habits.
If you do not have weight to lose, but are doing the SHAPE Program to reduce inflammation, detox and cleanse and improve your immune system, the urinalysis is still beneficial. Starvation signals don’t just affect weight. Starvation can affect the brain and body in a variety of ways, causing a potential cascade of negative symptoms.
Through urinalysis, your SHAPE practitioner can see how your body is responding to the SHAPE Program and can customize your dietary requirements to meet your specific metabolic needs. For example, you may be asked to eat more protein and/or fruit, to increase your water intake or to add supplements to your daily regimen.
SHAPE practitioners use urinalysis strips to measure 10 different metabolic markers. The following is a list of those markers and what they indicate in your body.
Regular urinalysis is required for Phase I: Fast Track Cleanse (we recommend them for the Basic Cleanse, but it is not required). You will have a baseline urinalysis before starting the program. The frequency with which you should be monitored will be determined by your SHAPE practitioner, who will consider:
The SHAPE Program is not one-size-fits-all. If 10 people start together, we know that within a month or two all of them will be at different places in their journey. Our SHAPE practitioners are trained to monitor and respond to each person’s unique needs. That’s why regular urinalyses are so important. You’ll have a greater chance at long-term success if you work closely with your SHAPE practitioner and follow the program through Phase III and beyond. Trust the program, trust the process and trust your practitioner.
