Weight Loss Diet Advice | Diet Plans | Fat loss

Fast Facts: Bodybuilding to Exercise Routines

2010-04-19T01:26:00.000-07:00

More and more people are becoming health conscious nowadays with being in shape and fit as the main goal. Many are doing workouts, following diet programs, taking supplements and so forth. While there are many fitness programs that are being held where muscle training is very popular among men, bodybuilding has also attracted women as well. Although women may not be as dedicated as men to strengthen and increase muscle mass, women who are seeking to shape and tone their bodies have incorporated bodybuilding to their exercise routines.

Most women are taking bodybuilding with particular area for improvement in mind. This may include the legs, chest, back, abdominal area, shoulders, or forearms. Additionally, weights can be used to enhance the effects of resistance training as well.

If you decided to add muscle training to your exercise routines, here are some points to remember in the training to effectively carry out your goal.

Learn the right technique from a professional or gym instructor. It is very important that you know what you are doing and if you are doing it right. This will make you safe from injuries. Moreover, by learning the proper technique, you can know if you are in the right track towards your goal.

Do workouts prior to your bodybuilding routine. Workout is recommended to be done in the morning or in the afternoon. Stretch your body before doing exercises. The length of time of doing the workout is suggested to range from 30 to 45 minutes.

Plan your exercise routine. Make two days a week of strength training and add resistance training to your routine. Exercises beginning with the lower body, middle, and upper body are advisable. Begin slowly with weights or bands. Sets of up to 12 repetitions repeated three times, with rests in between each set. A good routine leaves your muscles burning and tired at the end of a routine.

Do not overwork. Let your body tell you when you're tired or in pain, then stop. Get plenty of rest. It is through resting that the body repairs its tissues and improves the muscles. Also, make a good diet regimen along with enough rest.

There are those who believe that burning fats through the use of weight may work but is surely a slow process. This claim may be indeed right but for it to be effective; it is recommended that a person should do an entire routine like the use of a circuit of exercise equipment in order to achieve the goal. Walking, jogging, or cardiovascular routines are some of the exercises that are strongly suggested.

Women who are engage in bodybuilding develop strong muscles and toned body through workouts along with the right supplements. Take the challenge of including bodybuilding to your exercise routines and see the wonders it can make. Keep the above recommendations in mind and effectively achieve your goals towards fitness and good health.

Salmon for weight loss?

2009-10-28T08:28:00.001-07:00

I was enjoying my cup of cappuccino when I notice a woman from an adjacent table talking about a certain tablet she claims to do a lot of health benefits and weight loss wonders. At a glance, I knew she was some kind of a distributor as she is holding a box of those pills.

From a not so short distance, I could see a label somewhat like salmon oil on the box she was holding and this arouses my interest. I always hear people taking about the health benefits of salmon so I decided to make a few research.

The salmon fish is very high in protein and in fats. However, the fats that it contains do wonders in the body as it is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids is very important in the health of the heart, serves as anti-cancer and anti-aging element and also helps in weight loss by detoxifying the body.
If you are then convinced with these hard facts, why not try cooking a salmon dish instead of taking those pills? You will enjoy this delicious dilled salmon steak recipe! Here is how to do it.

Ingredients:

4 salmon steaks (about 1/2 lb. each)
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 Tablespoons fresh chopped dill, or 2 teaspoons dried dill weed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper

Marinate the salmon steaks in a 9"X 13" glass baking dish. To prepare the sauce, mix the juice, oil, dill, salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Add it up with the salmon steaks and cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Have it chilled for about four hours.

When you are about to cook the steaks, pre-heat the foil lined grill before placing the steak. Cook the fish for 30 minutes or until done on medium-low heat. Serve with a side salad and boiled new potatoes.

There is nothing wrong into taking pills to help you enhance your health and aid in your weight loss. But if you can go as natural as possible, why risk? Enjoy your dilled salmon steak and its health benefits too!

Weight loss menu: Minted Chicken Salad

2009-10-26T23:05:00.000-07:00

To shed a few pound requires a lot of hardwork and discipline, not only in toning those muscles but also adjusting your meals. While some may find it hard to adjust one's meal to cope up with one's weight loss diet program, the best thing that you can do is to think positive about it. An option that you can have is to experiment with the foods that you like best and see if you can create a recipe that would be perfect while you are losing weight too! Minted chicken salad is one of the great ideas created to let you enjoy your chicken while at the same time, munching on a delicious meal.

There are several varieties of minted chicken salad. There are those who prefer doing it with spices, champagne, lentils or peas. But what we have here is a creative variant on a fruit mix perfect for your weight loss menu!

You will need the following ingredients to create a luxurious minted chicken salad for weight loss:

1 pound box farfalle pasta
2 cups asparagus, cut into 2" pieces
1 pound cooked chicken, cubed
1-1/2 cups vanilla yogurt
2 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint OR 2 drops mint extract
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup honey
2 Tablespoon raspberry vinegar
4 cups strawberries, halved
baby spinach leaves
fresh raspberries

Cooking instructions:

In a large cooking pot, boil the farfalle pasta according to the instructions in its package. Five minutes before the pasta get done, add the asparagus. Meanwhile, prepare the dressing. Combine the Mix yougurt, mint, mayonnaise, honey, and vinegar in a medium bowl, until they are uniformly blended. Set aside. Drain the pasta and the asparagus when the pasta is cooked and the vegetable is tender and crispy. Stir in dressing. Add chicken and strawberries and toss gently. Place salad in refrigerator at least two hours to a maximum of one day. When ready to be served, garnish the pasta with spinach on top and fresh raspberries.

Cooking minted chicken salad is very easy to do and you do not have to worry about it when losing weight. In fact, this is very ideal when you are on a diet program!

Set your muscles not for the gym but for the kitchen this time with Minted chicken salad and add it up to your weight loss diet!

Lose weight and Cool off with Refreshing Watermelon & Fruit Salsa

2009-09-28T02:22:00.000-07:00

A very busy work during the day entitles you to a great refreshment. But this does not mean that you still need to buy one from the store. Hey look at your fridge! There are lots of fruits that you can mix to make a delightful and healthy snack!

Here is how to make watermelon and fruit salsa!

You do not need to be an expert in food preparation as garnishing this cool refreshment is very easy to do.

Prepare the ingredients below:

2 cups variety of fruit (strawberries, kiwi, berries, peaches, etc.)

1 seedless watermelon (or other seedless melon of your choice)

1/4 cup bottled sangria or sparkling white grape juice

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Here is how to make a cooling watermelon and fruit salsa.

Slice the melon of your choice into 4 pieces 1/2 inch thick and refrigerate. Cut fruit into small bite sized pieces. To make the salsa combine fruit pieces in a bowl with sangria or white grape juice. Toss together, cover and refrigerate for 2 to 5 hours. When ready to serve, sprinkle lemon juice over melon slices and top with salsa.

Not only Watermelon and fruit salsa would make a healthy and refreshing snack, this will also help you get rid of your stock pile of fruits in your fridge. This snack is also very ideal when you are trying to lose weight as it gives you the necessary vitamins while detoxifying your body too!

What is a carb blocker pill?

2009-07-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

Certainly many corporation will claim that a carb blocker pill can aid a overweight man or woman to ose weight without them having to adjust their nutrition regime.

A food blocker acts by avoiding carbohydrates that we ingest from accumulated stored unwanted adipose tissue in our fit bodies .

But there have been no methodical examination handled which demonstrate that they work in the long duration and those handled by those that are actually actually marketing the merchandise are a somehow in suspicion and exclusively want on the tiny span consequences of this such claimed manufactured article .

The main constituent to be found out in carb blocker pill is phaselous vulgaris which is a substance achieved from the white kidney bean and wheat germ.

It is stated that the application of food blocker drug you are assisting to preclude a digestive enzyme acknowledge as alpha amylase from bringing carbohydrates down into basic sugar as energy source and so modifying into body fat .

As an alternative to your body maintaining the sugar and turning them into stored fat instead they are taken out from the your body before they actually have a possibility to shift to your bloodstream.

It is also asserted that these medicine can preclude as much as 30 to 45 grams of sugar being taken up one's body.

However when these pills at the start came to recognition back in the 1980's men who started using them found out that they triggered some quite shocking side effects which which consisted of frequent bowel movement, sickness of stomach , vomiting , spare vapour and become swollen .

As well asabove all of this the pills when they at the start retailed in) to the marketplace were marketplace to procure .

So the FDA settled on to perform studies related to these merchandise and realized that not only did they result to the results above-cited but were actually not effective and so got rid of from drug stores.

On the other hand couple of years this blocker pills of diet supplement has sighted a reinforcement and in spite of this they still keep on as not effective and expensive as they were backward in the 1980's.

These days you could be sure to purchase medially $20 to $25 for 120 capsules of carbohydrate blocker pills .

Despite the fact that there have been examination overseen which substantiate that jointly the element of the white kidney bean and wheat germ which is used in a food blocker drug do actually diminish the speed of the absorption of sugar in to the your body , you would in actual fact to have to take enormous doses of them so that they will be in truth of use .

It is acknowledge that you would ought to take medially 4 to 6,000 mg of the white kidney bean and 4,000 mg of the wheat germ in order forsuch that to create the wanted influence that you would be looking for .

Often the mediocre carb blocker pill exclusively encloses more or less 500 mg which is in truth not enough to attain your wanted outcome.

Weight loss factor: Metabolism

2009-05-29T00:14:00.000-07:00

Many of you might have noticed that people who have higher metabolism are slimmer and have higher possibility of weight loss. But why is that? How does metabolism play role in weight loss?

Metabolism is the rate at which your body uses energy, or, burns calories. Your resting metabolism measures the number of calories required to keep your body functioning.

Energy metabolism is the body's process of breaking down nutrients and converting them to energy.

Metabolism works in a manner that the higher the metabolism rate of the body, the higher it burns calories and convert it into energy. This means that the body burns the food that you consumed more efficiently thereby less fat stored in the body.

To keep your metabolism high, you should maintain the balance of your physical activity and the food you eat. By paying attention also to the foods that you consume and its corresponding calories, you will also monitor if you have supplied the right amount of calories needed by your body.

Types of dieting: weight gain and weight loss

2009-05-27T20:27:00.000-07:00

Dieting is eating food in a regulated way for the purpose of achieving targeted weight. The introduction of this concept came in as a fad for many elite group to have the desired weight or to become physically attractive. However, as health and well-being become the primary concern of most people, dieting becomes an essential in the way of life.

Wikipedia defines dieting as:

"the practice of ingesting food in a regulated fashion to achieve or maintain a controlled weight. In most cases the goal is weight loss in those who are overweight or obese, but some athletes aspire to gain weight (usually in the form of muscle) and diets can also be used to maintain a stable body weight."

There are two tpes of dieting, weight gain and weight loss. Weight-gain is practiced mostly by those who are recovering from anorexia nervosa or starvation while there are also some athletes who may practice weight- gain to increase body mass.

The most popular is weight loss among the two types of dieting. Weight loss has been a goal by many to achieve attractive body shape, yet the goal of weight loss is also popular to achieve good health or fight overweight problems.

There are several weight loss ideas that has becoming popular in the market. While weight loss providers claim that it can ne applied to everybody, it is true that personalized weight loss program should be the choice.

Each and everybody has different weight loss needs and health conditions. Therefore, there is no single rule to achieve desired weight whether for weight gain or weight loss.

NEXT More on weight loss and weight gain.

Weight loss do's and don'ts

2009-05-26T00:14:00.001-07:00

There are several ideas that people have when losing weight and some of them
are proven to be successfully effective while some are simply catchy marketing lines.
While the latter might sound really interesting, we should be aware of weight loss myths and
marketing hypes. Here are some of weight loss ideas that you should think of
and decide which are truly effective.

Weight loss don't- Crash diet. Crushed diets, I mean crash diets are not diets that will crush your weight down or give quick weight loss but rather would make your body suffer. Crash diet refers to intentional food restriction causing your body to have reduced nutrition. The idea is based on the premise that doing crash diets would allow your body to burn fat stored in the body. However, what the body adapt is to use the lean muscle tissue instead and preserve stored fats.

Weight loss don't- Skipping breakfast. Most people think that skipping breakfast would do good on weight loss. Nonetheless, it should be remembered that breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it is the meal where the body get most of its energy for the day.

Weight loss do's- Exercise and balance diet. Therapeutic weight loss or natural weight loss could be achieve through enough exercise and balance diet. This is the traditional and yet most effective weight loss method. Physical activities help you burn more calories while a balance diet which includes fiber, would help you give the right nutrition and detoxify the body.

Weight loss do's- Make a weight loss diet plan. Weight loss programs are becoming popular nowadays whether a person's goal is to lose weight against obesity or weight problems or just to have a more attractive body. Yet, one should be careful on the weight loss plan. The best thing that you could do is to assess your health first, dictate your goal and know what weight loss program could be effective and adaptable to your lifestyle and make sure you measure up your efforts in the end. This way you can evaluate and see which part you might be missing.

However, starting up with the weight loss need assessment may be a hard thing to do at first because the moment of truth is there. Be honest with the evaluation to have an effective weight loss campaign. You may also use online assessment tools that can help you learn better about your health. Some websites charge an amount for the report, yet there are also free and effective weight loss assessment tools online.

What is calorie? What role does it play in dieting?

2009-05-24T21:39:00.000-07:00

Fig. 1 Calorie Requirement Chart for Men/ Women

Hello weight watchers! Have you measured the calorie of the foods you ate today by jotting them down into a diet notebook or simply, remembering how much calories you already consumed? But before we discuss the calories you already have for the day, let us discover through this blog topic What is calorie anyway? And how does taking calories more than what you need affect your diet?

The calorie is a pre-SI metric unit of energy. The unit was first defined by Professor Nicolas Clément in 1824 as a unit of heat. Yet, in many countries it remains in common use as a unit of food energy.

Carbohydrates (including fiber), fats, proteins, organic acids, polyols, and ethanol contain food energy. All foods are made up of a combination of these six nutrients. Everything else in food is non-caloric, including (but not limited to) water, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, caffeine, spices and natural flavors.

The reason why calories are measured up in relevance to weight loss is that unused energy in the body becomes mostly stored as fat in the fat tissue. This can result to bulging and unsightly curves if not closely monitored.

More information on weight loss...

Why does my commercial weight loss plan fails?

2009-05-21T23:12:00.000-07:00

Weight loss is not just a trend in the society to show your social status and go with the fad of being "thin" but rather, a growing enlightenment as to its effect on the body and the well-being of a person. While there is an increasing following on weight loss, there are many who are confused why their weight loss plan fails despite of the same effort done by others who successfully lose weight in a period of time. We will further analyze this situation and hopefully give an answer to this confusion.

As more people embark on their weight loss journey, many ask the question why other successfully carry out their program and why they can't. as we all know, people are different, physically, culturally, not to mention the environment where they live. These are some of the reasons why a general weight loss plan fails. Unless one has a personalized diet plan that fit the lifestyle, the environment and considers a person's weakness and strengths, only then can a person successfully reach his goal.

How one can go about this?

Discover yourself first. Evaluate your strength and weaknesses that may hinder your commitment to your weight loss program.

Truthfully assess your environment. This includes your financial capability to support your program, and the moral support of your family.

Make a real personalised weight loss plan. It is very difficult to make a weight loss plan by ourselves. However, there are free weight loss success predictor tools in the internet that would assist us in this aspect. These tools would help us evaluate and plan our next steps in losing weight.

By analyzing these factors, you would understand with far greater certainty if your time and effort will be worthwhile, rather than simply wasting more time on yet another weight loss plan.

Weight loss method: holistic weight loss

2009-05-18T01:08:00.000-07:00

There are many weight loss methods being promoted everywhere and sometimes you fail to recognized what is effective and what are those which are pure marketing hype. This is especially true when we talk about weight loss supplements, equipments and so forth. Nonetheless, there is another approach to weight loss that is recognized by many and this is the holistic weight loss methods.

Holistic weight loss method is based on the premise that weight loss could be remedied only when we approach the condition physically, mentally and emotionally. This would then help develop the well-being of a person.

Body cleansing detox.

What we eat affects our health and well-being. Thus, it is necessary that we detoxify so we could remove food residues in the body that maybe harmful to our health. One way to detoxify is to eat vegetable and fruits or those that are high in fiber. Another is to maintain daily intake of water not lower than 8 glasses.

Natural weight loss supplements.

Holistic medicine promotes all natural weight loss. This is achieved by diet and exercise, and possibly use of a natural weight loss supplement. These class of supplements will provide essential minerals and trace elements such as chromium and selenium that can assist in weight loss. There are also herbs such as green tea, Hoodia Gordonii and bitter orange that can increase both metabolism and energy.

There are still other ways to have holistic weight loss. Explore more at www.weightloss-advisor.com!

Fitness Weight loss

2009-05-11T01:55:00.000-07:00

There are several fitness weight loss methods that you can try to lose weight. Among these methods are yoga, swimming, aerobics and other strength building machines. Let us discuss each of these methods and see what can be applicable to you.

Yoga. One of the fitness weight loss methods that you can try is yoga. Popularly known with the claims to strengthen the body and at the same time, unify the mind and the body, this have been practice by many. There are several types of yoga though. You should practice the one that raises your heart rate in a regular basis or allows you to do cardiovascular workouts to help burn calories.

Swimming. Another fitness weight loss method is swimming. Swimming ideally is not used as a sole method to lose weight but it accompanies another weight loss method. Thus. after an hour at the gym, it is advised to go swimming so as to tone the muscles

Aerobics. Aerobics is a recognized weight loss technique by many. Aerobics is a form of fitness exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness (flexibility, muscular strength, and cardio-vascular fitness). This is usually done with the accompaniment of music.

These are only a few of the fitness weight loss methods that you can try to lose weight. BUT as we always say, proper and balance diet combined with consistency on your weight loss program is the key to losing weight effectively.

Weight loss hypnosis

2009-05-07T23:07:00.000-07:00

from : Weight loss advisor

Weight loss hypnosis seeks to address one of the most intractable problems for those seeking to lose weight. A frequent problem of dieters is the inability to stick with a diet because of the mental or emotional problems. These problems may be the underlying cause of obesity or may be the consequence of obesity but making recovery difficult. Many dieters have tried multiple different programs and failed. There are numerous weight control programs available that work, but if you can't follow them they are of no use. This is where weight loss hypnosis comes in.
Hypnotheraphy and its use Today

Hypnotism has been used for many different purposes through the years. We've all seen shows, either on stage or on television, where hypnotists use their techniques to get people to do funny things. It can be quite entertaining. But medical hypnosis, or hypnotherapy, is often used to treat such ailments as anxiety disorders, morning sickness, and pain. It can also be beneficial to those who want to stop certain behaviours, such as smoking and overeating.

weight loss hypnosis food drink drugsWeight loss hypnotherapy works by accessing the subconscious part of the mind, which is the part that controls habitual behaviors. By using hypnosis to reach a deeply relaxed state of mind, your subconscious can be conditioned to modify those behaviours that prevent you from losing weight.

Hypnosis helps resolve deep seated emotional problems. Once your subconscious has been trained to change its habits, your conscious mind will make better decisions about eating. Cravings are suppressed or eliminated, and healthy foods become more appealing. Diet and exercise plans are easier to adhere to, increasing your chances of success.

A key advantage of hypnotherapy is the fact that it involves no drugs of any kind. This facilitates healthy weight loss and eliminates most side effects. Those who do not like to use chemicals or herbal supplements can use hypnosis without worries of drug interactions, allergies, or other complications. However, it is best used as part of a holistic natural weight loss plan that has other elements including healthy eating and exercise.

Weight loss hypnosis download solves the cost factor that has traditionally been prohibitive to people seeking hypnotherapy. Hypnotists often charge high hourly fees for their services. But nowadays there are many self weight loss hypnosis programs on the market today that can be used in the comfort of your home. Hypnosis weight loss CDs are available at reasonable prices online and in stores. The download of weight loss hypnosis are in MP3 format so you can use them right away on variety of portable devices. They should never be used whilst driving.
weight loss hypnotheraphyDoes Hypnosis Weight Loss Work?

Hypnosis weight loss can be beneficial to people who find it difficult to lose pounds with diet and exercise alone. But it only works if used in conjunction with a comprehensive weight loss program that includes diet and exercise. Hypnosis alone cannot make you lose weight any more than joining a weight management program and not following it can.

An increasing number of people are turning to hypnosis after failing to lose weight with program after program. Changing the mindsets and habits that cause us to struggle with diets and exercise regimens can increase the likelihood of losing weight. And with those habits changed, maintaining a healthy weight once it has been reached will be much easier.

Benefits of Exercise

2009-05-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

We have heard so many advices that we should include exercise to benefit our health. To justify these advices, let us enumerate the benefits of exercise that will lead to healthy lifestyle and well being.

Exercise help us sleep better. Exercise especially when done in the morning help us sleep better. However, it is not advisable to exercise before you sleep as it will keep you awake. If in case you need to exercise, you should allow an interval of 3 hours before you sleep or you may only do brisk walking.

Exercise reduces the risk for several diseases. This may be attributed because of increase blood circulation. Among the diseases that could be avoided are heart disease, adult-onset diabetes, high blood pressure or hypertension, breast cancer, osteoporosis and colon cancer. Exercise may also help prevent, or be effective in treating, some mental illnesses, such as depression.

Exercise helps you lose weight. Increasing your physical activity allows the body to burn more calories. If you do not have time for exercise activities, doing things like running the vacuum cleaner or taking up the stairs will do.

Exercise increases your metabolism. Keeping you body active helps you have increase metabolism and helps you maintain your weight.

Having recognized the benefits of exercise, do the walking and make your health better!

Fundamentals of weight loss

2009-05-05T01:27:00.000-07:00

We have been taking about weight loss topics for so long that we sometimes miss what is the basic in weight loss. Your weight loss program could only be successful if you start with the fundamentals right. We will discuss what are the basics of weight loss and how these simple steps can be the key to your weight loss success.

The fundamentals of weight loss is outlined by the ff:

Careful evaluation with your doctor.
Understanding your BMI.
What are the basic terms and body mechanisms that you should learn.
Planning out your weight loss program.
Knowing the importance of keeping a food diary.
Why exercise is needed in reducing weight healthily.
And how to stay in the course of the program effectively.

These topics will be discuss accordingly as we start our series of weight loss basics and understand the fundamentals of weight loss.

Weight loss news: FDA Warns- Stop using Hydroxycut Products

2009-05-04T03:17:00.000-07:00

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have warned the public on using the products of Hydroxycut products by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y. for the reason of a number of liver injuries reported.

Hydroxycut products are products marketed to the public that focuses on weight loss and dietary supplements. This includes fat burners, as energy-enhancers, as low carb diet aids, and for water loss under the Iovate and MuscleTech brand names.

With 23 reported case of serious liver injuries, the Hydroxycut products are requested to be recalled in the market. Among the list of products that are being recalled by the company are:

• Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
• Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
• Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
• Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
• Hydroxycut 24
• Hydroxycut Carb Control
• Hydroxycut Natural

FDA urges consumers to stop using Hydroxycut products in order to avoid any undue risk, says Linda Katz, M.D., interim chief medical officer of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “Adverse events are rare, but exist,” Katz says. “Consumers should consult a physician or other health care professional if they are experiencing symptoms possibly associated with these products.”

For more info you may visit the FDA advisory at http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/hydroxycut050109.pdf

Fat loss 4 idiots ebook: Is it worth my money?

2009-04-27T03:08:00.000-07:00

Many people have tried all sorts of diet plans from low-protein to low carb diet, and yet, none didn't work. Useless?

Frustrated having failed to lose weight despite of several programs that have been tried, and its like throwing away precious $$$, most think that weight loss diet has been a fad rather than effectively helping the body burn unneeded calories. Familiar isn't?

That is how I anticipate Fat loss 4 idiots when recommended by a dear friend. With the growing trend on weight loss, weight loss program providers claim all sorts of there competitive advantage over the other just to gather the crowd and believe their diet system.

However, since I am a very hopeful person to get rid of my stored fats, I browsed the web for www loss 4 idiots com, I was hesitant for a moment but further reading uncovered how fat loss 4 idiots work.

Fat loss 4 idiots stands on the theory of calorie shifting. This means that fat loss 4 idiots com does not require you to go on low calorie diet but instead on calorie shifting.

While most of the weightloss diet programs set your body into starvation, on the contrary, Fat loss 4 idiots suggests you eat more than 3 times a day. Moreover, as part of the program, your body will be given different types of calories each day...which confuses your metabolism and forces FASTER fat loss to happen.

Amazing isn't it?

The key to this diet program is eating the right kind of food and having the right calorie for the meal. It doesn't tells you to eat less but rather something different from the other services available on the related field.

Purchase Fat loss 4 idiot, and get a free calorie generator, which automatically personalizes your menu program and the whole diet system with bonus e-books on dieting and burning fat effectively!

I highly recommend that you download Fat loss 4 idiots and see yourself lose pound in less than 2 weeks!

Keep her happy – with Apple slices!

2009-04-13T20:13:00.000-07:00

I have just come from Easter Sunday service this morning and have something remarkable to share with you.

On these big occasions I do go to Church – but did not expect to see so special that has inspired me to ask this little girl’s photograph!

I was sitting near a mom whose little girl was busy playing with her crayons drawing numbers and figures. As expected in these situations, the little girl was soon bored and was becoming restless. Instead of giving her sweets or chocolate, mom pulled out a polythene bag of apple slices and grapes.

I was most astounded by this, for several reasons. First and foremost, the little girl seemed very happy with the offer and settled into munching and continued drawing her pictures once more. The second surprise, this being Easter and chocolate goodies aplenty, I would have expected a bar of chocolate to be first offer. Third surprise was that the little girl did not even grumble. She sort of expected nothing less!

This experience struck me deeply, because here was a mom showing me a clear example that children can be encouraged to like and eat fruit. I am sure she is not alone, but honestly this is the first time I have seen a little child with goodie bag of fruit not sweets? How many have you seen in your neck of the woods?

Only a few days ago, a research study from the Ohio State University published a study showing that about 20% of 4 year olds in USA are already obese! Highest rates were found among American Indian - 31.2%, Hispanics 22%, blacks 21%, whites 16% while only 13% of Asians are obese.

This sad state of affairs is certainly not confined to the US, as many studies have shown rising prevalence of obesity in children and adults. The question is what we do about it? I think the little girl I saw this morning provides some idea about how we can address the challenges that we face. She made a choice…a goody bag of fruit for her children. May be we have something to learn from her example.

Being obese can shorten lifespan by 10 years

2009-04-07T03:27:00.000-07:00

Do you know that being obese pose the same danger as that of smoking?

Researchers found that death rates were lowest in people who had a BMI of 23 to 24, on the high side of the normal range.

BMI or the body mass index is the statistical measurement which compares a person's weight and height. This tool is used to determine the healthy body weight based on how tall a person is.

Studies indicate that those who were morbidly fat — those with a BMI above 40 — lost about 10 years off their expected lifespan, similar to the effect of lifelong smoking.

Aside from the effects of obesity, the complications to the digestive and cardiovascular system have significant effect to the mortality rate.

Weight loss tools: BMI calculator, calorie calculator, nutritional calculator

2009-04-06T02:38:00.000-07:00

Do you know that your weight loss needs can now be quantified?

There several approaches how to lose weight and one of them is to be able to quantify your weight loss needs. This will lead you to the right track in losing weight and some of the useful weight loss tools are the ff:

Nutritional calculator. A nutritional calculator uses factors such as your weight, body type, and age to determine how many calories per day your body needs. Some calculators will even tell you how many calories you should be getting from protein, fat, and carbohydrates. The base numbers will be the amount of calories you need to maintain your weight, so if you are planning a weight loss program they will need to be adjusted.

BMI calculator. You can figure out how much weight you need to lose by using a body fat calculator function or body mass index (BMI) calculator. Body fat calculators use height and other body measurements to determine your body fat percentage. A BMI calculator uses height and weight to determine your BMI.

calorie calculators. There are several types of calorie calculators available. You can use them to find out how many calories your body burns during activities and rest, also known as basal metabolic rate (BMR) and resting metabolic rate (RMR). You can also find out how many calories you burn on an average day through your normal activities.

More about weight loss tools HERE.

Ways to lose weight

2009-03-31T02:38:00.000-07:00

There are different methods to lose weight. These methods varies from scientific to holistic approach. Here are some topics that will educate you and help you understand weight loss better.

Engage in Weight loss diet program. A weight loss Diet program is essential for a successful outcome of your weight management efforts....

Have Fitness weight loss. Fitness weight loss is key to a successful long lasting healthy weight loss program. There are many fast....

Take Weight loss diet pills. The Weight loss diet pill industry is huge because first and foremost the obesity problem is very serious in America and the....

Use appetite suppressant. The Hoodia Gordonii plant is a natural appetite suppressant, and a key ingredient in many....

Weight loss Patch. Now dieters can use a modern scientific technology of drug delivery to help them in their quest to lose those excess pounds....

Surgical Weight loss. Surgery weight loss procedures performed on the....

Lipsuction. Liposuction is a procedure that involves the removal of fatty deposits under the skin by suction. The result is a less....

Gastric Bypass. Gastric Bypass, one of the commonest form of bariatric surgery is an operation necessary in some people who have a dangerous health problems that...

With these weight loss methods, you can choose which method may suit your weight loss needs best. Be healthy.

Eating slowly can help in weight loss

2009-03-24T23:17:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed that most of those who eat slowly have less weight than those who do not? This has become part of studies in weight loss and increased the awareness of the benefits of eating slowly.

Eating slowly has several benefits not only in terms of social interaction but to the health as well. Let us dig deeper into the topic.

Interaction. Most of the important events and discussions in a person's life are made in the dining table. It is because people gather and spend time together over meal. Eat slowly and you will have plenty of time interacting with people.

Improve digestion. Eating slowly gives your body or the stomach enough time to properly digest the food that you eat. Most often, we can observe that eating fast lead us to indigestion.
Lose weight. It is surprising that there is a scientific basis that eating slowly indeed help a person lose weight. According to studies, the brain is set to give the signal of being full 20 minutes after the food is taken. Therefore, the longer a person takes his meal, the higher the possibility of eating less.

Read more topics how to lose weight here.

How to Assess your weight?

2009-03-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

Do you monitor your weight? How do you assess your weight needs?

Weight measurement is not only important to those who have bulging fats in their body. It is equally important even to those who seem to have no weight problems. One of the fastest means to assess your weight is to measure up with the weighing scale. The weighing scale quantify how much pounds did you lose or gain previously. However, there are still other ways to measure up. These are the percent body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, and BMI.

Percent body fat. PBF is the total weight of the person's fat divided by the person's weight and reflects both essential fat and storage fat. Essential fat is that amount necessary for maintenance of life and reproductive functions. While storage fat consists of fat accumulation in adipose tissue, part of which protects internal organs in the chest and abdomen.

The percentage body fat is measured with a painless test called "caliper measurement". This test measures subcutaneous (under the skin) fat using a skinfold caliper.

Waist-to-hip ratio. The waist-to-hip ratio is considered a vital measurement in women as this is is the ratio of the circumference of the waist to that of the hips. It is calculated by measuring the waist circumference (located just above the upper hip bone) and dividing by the hip circumference at its widest part (waist/hip).

The WHR has been a significant factor in physical attractiveness judgment and in implying women's fertility.

Body Mass Index. BMI is a statistical measurement which compares a person's weight and height. Though it does not actually measure the percentage of body fat, it is a useful tool to estimate a healthy body weight based on how tall a person is. Using the BMI Chart or the formula, this can define the following:

An individual is considered underweight if their BMI is less than 18.5.
A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered a "normal" weight.
A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight.
Individuals who fall into the BMI range of 25 to 34.9 begin having some health risk concerns. Specifically those who have a waist size of more than 40 inches for men, or 35 inches for women, have a higher risk for obesity-related health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
A BMI of 30 or more qualifies as individual as obese.
A BMI over 40 indicates that a person is morbidly obese.

With these measurements, you can assess your weight properly and personalize your weight loss program.

Appetite suppressant

2009-03-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

Appetite suppressants are substances in the form of drugs, diet supplement and pills that suppresses the appetite of a person to reduce intake of food. There are several appetite suppressant in the market among them are Hoodia Gordonii based pills, water and other substances.

The following drugs listed as "centrally acting antiobesity preparations" by ATC:

* Phentermine (Fastin, Adipex, Ionamin and others)
* Diethylpropion (Tenuate)
* Sibutramine (Meridia, Reductil)
* Rimonabant (Acomplia)

The following are listed as appetite depressants by MeSH.

* benfluorex
* butenolide
* diethylpropion
* FG 7142
* norpseudoephedrine
* phenmetrazine
* phentermine
* phenylpropanolamine
* pyroglutamyl-histidyl-glycine
* sibutramine

Other compounds marked as appetite suppressants include:

* Phendimetrazine (Prelu-2, Bontril)
* Benzphetamine (Didrex)
* Oxyntomodulin
* Methylphenidate (Concerta) (Ritalin)
* Phenylethylamine (Trimspa)

Appetite suppressants can be chemically available or can be taken naturally such as holistic weight loss. It is up to you then if you find this applicable to your weight loss diet program.

In depth: Liposuction to lose weight

2009-03-16T01:58:00.000-07:00

Surgical options are becoming popular in order to lose weight. We have previously discussed what is liposuction with the post Weight loss method: Liposuction and other kinds of surgical procedures to lose weight. In this post, we will discuss Liposuction in depth.

There are different ways to have your liposuction depending on the techniques that you will use. Liposuction procedure can vary depending on the amount of fluid injection or the mechanism of lipsuction.

Amount of fluid injection.

Dry liposuction
Wet liposuction
Super-wet liposuction
Tumescent liposuction
Laser assisted liposuction

Mechanism of Lipsuction.

Suction-assisted liposuction (SAL)
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL)
Power-assisted liposuction (PAL)
Twin-cannula (assisted) liposuction (TCAL or TCL)
External ultrasound-assisted liposuction (XUAL or EUAL)
Water-assisted liposuction (WAL)

Suction-assisted liposuction (SAL). This technique is the standard method of liposuction. The procedure is done by inserting a small cannula to the incision. A cannula is like a small straw. The medical specialist then pushes and pulls the cannula carefully through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells and drawing them out of the body by suction.

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL). This procedure is also called ultrasonic liposuction. Instead of manually pushing and pulling the cannula to break the fat layers, a specialized cannula is used which transmits ultrasound vibrations within the body. This vibration bursts the walls of the fat cells, emulsifying the fat and making it easier to suction out.

Weight loss method: Weight loss patch

2009-03-11T02:43:00.000-07:00

Patch is one of the innovations that have been popular in various health goals such as contraceptive, nicotine- prevention and even in the field of weight loss. Weight loss patch is among the weight lose methods that are preferred because of the convenience of use.

The weight loss patch system works on the premise that the drugs are spread into the body through the skin. This procedure limits the side effects of weight loss medications compared to the weightloss pill that has to pass through the liver.

Among the popular weight loss patch are:

1. Hoodia weight loss patch.
2. Nexagen fat loss patch
3. Dietrine weight loss patch; and
4. Slim form weight loss patch

Weight loss patch are placed in the skin like that of a band aid. You don't have to worry about the patch getting out of place and you can even use it while swimming.

Weight loss method: Liposuction

2009-03-11T00:02:00.000-07:00

One of the most popular weight loss method is liposuction. Liposuction is the removal of fats through cosmetic surgery. This is popular with women as it can be done easily through surgery and the result can be realized in a short time. Despite of the advantage however, liposuction does not address the actual weight problems. It is considered as an option to lose weight but it is not used medically as solution in the diagnosed weight loss problem.

Liposuction or lipoplasty can be done on affected areas, from the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, to the neck, backs of the arms and elsewhere in the body. Anaesthesia could be applied when there is a large portion involved but can be skipped if not necessary.

Precautions that are being held prior to liposuction surgery is

* No anticoagulants should be taken for two weeks before the surgery.
* If receiving general anesthesia or sedation, and the surgery will be in the morning, fasting from midnight the night before is required. If only local anesthesia will be used, fasting is not required.
* Smoking must be avoided for about two months prior to surgery. Nicotine interferes with circulation and can result in loss of tissue. (wikipedia.com)

There are different ways to have a liposuction. Some of the procedures are:

1 Dry liposuction
2 Wet liposuction
3 Super-wet liposuction
4 Tumescent liposuction
5 Laser assisted liposuction

Body contouring surgery through liposuction can help you get the body that you want that cannot achieve through diet and exercise alone. This is effective to those who have fat at areas of the body that traditional weight loss cannot remove.

BMI (body mass index)

2009-03-04T01:00:00.000-08:00

There are some situations that we often wonder why our weight loss efforts fail despite of the "thing" that we already did our best. The culprit may not lie on the weight loss method itself but on the attitude and approach being made to lose weight. Moreover, it is also possible that the weight loss program has not been started rightly as it should be. The key to understanding and assessing our weight loss efforts lies on our honest review of our weight loss program.

Weight loss programs have sprouted in the market like mushroom with the increasing demand for an effective weight loss campaign. However, it should be faced that no matter how strategic a weight loss campaign is, when it is not done properly and your assessment is not done rightly, you can expect a disappointing failure.

Start your weight loss campaign by analyzing your health. This can be done quantifying your health. Calculating your BMI or the body mass index can be your first step to an effective weight loss program.

BMI or the body mass index is the statistical measurement which compares a person's weight and height. This tool is used to determine the healthy body weight based on how tall a person is.

Body mass index is defined as the individual's body weight divided by the square of his height. The formulas universally used in medicine produce a unit of measure of kg/m2.

Aside from the formula, the BMI can also be determined with the BMI Chart.

Fig. 1 BMI CHART

After you are able to compute your BMI, you can then analyze the result with the BMI table (please see figure 2).

Figure 2. BMI results table

This will let you know if you are under weight, normal or overweight. With this, you can then personalize your weight loss campaign based on your needs.

Surgical options to lose weight

2009-03-02T00:05:00.000-08:00

Surgical procedures has become another option for losing weight. This requires less effort to the person however, may involve some complications along the process. Gastric bypass surgery and lap band bariatic surgery are among the popular topics in surgical weight loss. People who have undergone surgical weight loss have been observed with improvement in their lifestyle and health. For you to be familiar on what may be applicable to you, you should see the doctor.

Gastric bypass surgery or Gastric bypass procedures (GBP) is a collection of procedures that is being done to treat morbid obesity and its causes. Gastric bypass has many variations but basically, the procedure does the same goal- to reduce the size of the stomach.

Gastric bypass have three surgical procedures,

Gastric bypass, Roux en-Y (proximal)
Gastric bypass, Roux en-Y (distal)
Loop Gastric bypass ("Mini-gastric bypass")

These en routes the small intestine and the patient experiences very rapid onset of a sense of stomach-fullness or may also increase/ decrease nutritional effects .

Another is the Lap band bariatric surgery. The concept is almost the same with gastric bypass in that it reduces the functional size of the stomach however is no rerouting of the intestines needed. Instead of staples, a gastric band is used to create a smaller stomach pouch. It is always inserted via laparoscopic surgery, requiring only small incision, is quick and leads to quick recovery.

Surgical weight loss is an option to lose weight. Nonetheless, this should not be considered when it is not necessary as there can be complications like hemorrhage or effect to the person. The best thing that you can do is to talk to a doctor who can study your situation and learn if you really need the surgery.

Weight loss hypnosis: the power is within the mind

2009-02-19T06:47:00.000-08:00

Many have undergone to various weight loss training in order to lose weight and keep the body in shape. But how come there are those who succeeded in weight loss programs while others are not? There are different kinds of weight loss programs that can help in the process of weight loss. Some may involve diet pills, supplements, a series of exercise and weight training, and a combination of these. If all of these fail, what can be the last option? Weight loss hypnosis can be of help in this time.

Weight loss hypnotherapy works by accessing the subconscious part of the mind, which is the part that controls habitual behaviors. By using hypnosis to reach a deeply relaxed state of mind, your subconscious can be conditioned to modify those behaviors that prevent you from losing weight.

An advantage of weight loss hypnosis is that, the process does not involve any drugs or pills. Hypnosis helps resolve deep seated emotional problems. This may include suppressing the appetite or cravings to unhealthy foods due to emotional disturbance or problems. The effect can be focus on healthy foods and a more serious and healthy approach to weight loss.

Weight loss news: Birth defects increases with obese women during pre-pregnancy

2009-02-18T05:35:00.000-08:00

Researchers and doctors are continuing their studies on the effect of obesity and being overweight to the health of a person. This year, recent studies show that there is a significant increase in birth defects of babies whose mother are obese or even overweight during pre-pregnancy and on the pregnancy. Associated birth defects involves the spina bifida and cleft palates birth defects.

Spina Bifida

An individual with this condition will have dysfunction of the spinal cord and associated nerves from the point of the open defect and below. This birth defect is associated with the neural tube where there is an incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube that results in an incompletely formed spinal cord. A surgery can be done after birth however the damage to the nerves is permanent and the surgery cannot restore the normal function of the spinal cord.

Cleft palates

Cleft palates birth defect is an malformation of the facial structure. A cleft lip or palate can be successfully treated with surgery soon after birth.

Among the most significant findings are:

The risk of spina bifida was more than twice as high for obese pregnant women.
The overall risk of neural tube defects was nearly twice as high.
The risk of cardiovascular defects was 30 per cent higher.
The risk of cleft lip and cleft palate, either singly or together, was about 20 per cent higher.
The risk of hydrocephaly (an abnormal buildup of fluid in the brain) was 60 per cent higher.
Limb reduction abnormalities were 30 per cent higher.

The definitions of overweight and obese differed somewhat from study to study, but many studies used those set by the World Health Organization -- a body mass index or BMI of 25 and above for overweight and 30 and above for obese.

Therefore, pregnant women or those who are just conceiving should be aware that their weight matters and have effect not only on their health but also to the infant that they carry in the womb. Moreover, the BMI should be examined along with proper pregnancy ultrasound.

Weight loss news: Losing weight can help cure sleep apnea on obese persons and overweight persons

2009-02-08T21:09:00.000-08:00

The latest news on how to lose weight has been researched far and wide by many in the hope that there can be new and good news about weight loss addressing the issue on convenience, and the availability of weight loss methods. However, like any goal, losing weight can never be that easy as it entails time and effort to achieve your goal of losing weight. It is however surprising that aside from the fact that you gain a good figure when you lose some of your fats, doing so also give a number of benefits for you, in health particularly. There is a latest news that losing weight can help cure sleep apnea on obese persons and overweight persons.

Scientific studies was release early in the February this year (2009) that losing weight can cure constructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea happens when there are pauses in breathing while a person sleeps. The study was justified in a sampling created by a researched group where they reduce the weight of the respondents. Over continuous low calorie diet and active lifestyle, the respondents show improve health and also reduces the problems on hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol.

As quoted, "This is emphasized by our findings that, in conjunction with the improvement in AHI, significant improvements were also found in symptoms related to OSA, insulin resistance, lipids, and cardiorespiratory variables, such as arterial oxygen saturation, in patients belonging to the intervention group," wrote Dr. Tuomilehto. Dr.Henri P.I. Tuomilehto, M.D., Ph.D., works at the department of Otorhinolaryngology at the Kuopio University Hospital in Finland.

This new study by him and his team will lead to a new breakthrough that will ultimately lead to a healthier living and lifestyle, especially when weight loss is concerned.

What is the secret code to maintain a normal weight?

2008-09-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

What determines who you are? Genes and the environment

What determines your weight? Genes and the environment

All our biological characteristics including height, eye color, and even some behaviors are genetically predetermined! Is it likely then that your weight is similarly genetically set? And therefore affects your weightloss diet?

The answer is YES…but the actual weight (height and behavior) you carry is the expression of those genes and most importantly your environment and lifestyle you lead. The high prevalence and persistence of obesity in spite of everyone’s efforts reflects the role of their genetic predisposition and environmental factors.

Weight Set Point

Through complex hormonal mechanism the body is set to maintain a given weight over a long period of time, until and unless a significant life event alters that. Some known events, including pregnancy, illness (including emotional trauma) and other upheavals of life, are known to trigger the alteration of weight-control mechanisms through hormonal and behavior mechanisms. Once the new weight is allowed to last sometime, it becomes a new normal for the individual and change is resisted by the body’s defenses.

Scientific studies have clearly shown how starvation, even for a brief period, induces hormones (insulin and leptin) that lead to increased feeding signals and the slowing of metabolism. And as soon as feeding resumes, insulin and other hormones work to restore the fat and weight loss!

It becomes easy to appreciate the fact that no single weight loss plan or tactic is known to achieve a permanent new lower weight probably because of the body’s natural hormonal and the central nervous systems which combine to restore the weight lost and negate the individual’s efforts.

This explains why most people who lose weight successfully end up regaining that weight. It is this tendency to revert back to original weight that gave rise to the “Weight Set Point” theory. Simply stated, Weight Set Point means that whatever weight is lost will be regained so as to restore the body’s weight to a previously set point, at which point the body appears to work harmoniously – this is its “comfort zone”!

The weight set point though set naturally by the body has nothing to do with your health and wellbeing settings! The wrong set point may be setting you up for disaster.

Though the Weight Set Point Theory sounds very natural and predetermined by our genes, its expression and settings are influenced by our lifestyle and environment! As Dr. Weinsier of the University of Alabama has argued, it is within our capability to influence the weight we carry by modifying the environment we live in by our own efforts. Indeed there are many scientists who argue against the existence of weight set point, in spite of the experimental evidence available.

Why do the short-term solutions lose their battle against weight set point?

2008-09-21T19:51:00.001-07:00

A glimpse of the previous article must have purged you of all the wrong notions you had about the short-term solutions. The reason why most of the weight loss methods are considered short-term is because they work temporarily. Once you stop taking the ‘magic pill’ or cease to cleanse your system, the lost pounds come back with a vengeance. Also it is almost impossible to stick to these methods for a long time, since they defy nutrition which is necessary for our body.

But why do these methods fail? One of the simplest mechanisms of our body, which has been ignored by most of the weight-loss propagators, is the weight set point. Researchers have found that the human body may have a genetically determined set-point weight that is controlled by metabolic hormones and fat cell enzymes. And any number of attempts to work against the weight set point may not succeed, resulting in a failure of the weight loss methods. The key strategy to successful long term weight loss is working in a supportive environment with comprehensive proven methods that enable your complex body’s weight set point to reset to a new level.

What about the short term methods of Weight Loss?

2008-09-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

The fact that a plethora of ‘quick weight loss’ Web sites, books, and magazines are flourishing goes to show the preoccupation of people trying to lose weight with these ‘quick’ plans. Let me show you how these short-cut methods are just short-term plans and do not show any positive results in the long run.

Diets: Most women go on a diet with a desperate hope to lose weight quickly and easily. Basically each of these diet types swears by the method of cutting out nutritious food and sticking to just one type of food. The fact that these diet types are not endorsed by any major medical association goes to show that one needs to tread cautiously in this path.

Supplements: A big-buck business today, these weight loss products use award-winning marketing strategies to attract gullible people who are obese and overweight. The reason why most Americans buy these products is because of their modern lifestyle, which is a combination of erratic food habits (not to mention junk foods!) and less exercises. However, there have been just two outcomes of this weight loss method – one is you lose your money and the other is they damage your health.

Cleansing products: The latest fad in the weight loss business, cleansers, work by the philosophy that good health begins in the bowels. These cleansers stimulate your colon and digestive tracts to get rid of all the bad bacteria. However, most people who swear by this method also confess that an increased dependency on the cleansers have made their intestine to lose its ability to perform its natural function. This has resulted in other complications like an imbalance in electrolyte levels, which in turn affects our brain and heart.

Prescription tablets: Some ray of hope when it comes to prescription drugs or slimming tablets. Doctors prescribe specific medications to lose weight, only if the patient shows some efforts to supplement it with planned eating and exercising. This weight loss method is generally advised to people who are extremely obese, aged, physically incapable, or bedridden. But again, these drugs are to be used cautiously, because they basically restrict your hunger pangs and forcibly increase your metabolism.

Surgery: A last-resort and an expensive method to lose weight, surgery is generally recommended to extremely obese patients. There are two categories of surgeries– gastric restriction and intestinal malabsorption. In the first kind, a small neogastric pouch is created to decrease food intake. The second kind rearranges the small intestine in order to decrease the functional length or efficiency of the intestinal mucosa for nutrient absorption. The second kind is considered risky as it leads to metabolic complications, such as vitamin deficiencies and protein–energy malnutrition.

Though all these methods show how to lose weight, none of them give any priority to maintaining the ideal weight. It has been proven by many researchers that these short term methods have resulted in other health complications and have left irreparable damages in certain cases. So, one should be very cautious in choosing an ideal weight loss method.

How can I use my natural body hormones to my advantage?

2008-09-11T19:53:00.000-07:00

Our body has several in-built mechanisms to control our weight. If these mechanisms are combined with a balanced diet and adequate exercises, you can be rest assured about success in your weight loss diet plan. One such mechanism is hormones.

Do you remember those high-school biology classes where you learnt that hormones play a pivotal role in our everyday life? You know what; you should start being really nice to these hormones, as they are going to help you in your weight loss to a very large extent.

According to Greg Landry, “A hormone is a chemical messenger that carries a signal through blood from one cell or a group of cells to another.” They pass orders from the brain to the vital organs of our body, like brain, nervous system, reproductive system, kidneys, and liver. They even control our fat production and storage. Did you know that hormones control our metabolism, determine how our fat is stored, and control our hunger pangs? Actually, our body consists of many hormones and each has a specific function. But they can coordinate our bodily function only when they work as a well-managed team. An imbalance in any of these hormones can lead to obesity, heart diseases, diabetes, osteoarthritis, infertility and many other disorders.

Let us take a look at this list of hormones which can be a natural support for your weight loss plan.

Insulin: One of the major hormones, it regulates the blood sugar, and directs the glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids into the cells. It is the pancreas in our body that secretes insulin. When the blood sugar level increases especially after a heavy meal, the pancreas need to secrete more insulin thereby increasing the pressure on the organ. Hence it is advisable to take small and frequent meals. Regular exercises also help decrease the blood levels of insulin.

Thyroxin: Another important hormone aiding weight loss, thyroxin increases metabolism by giving you more energy and helping you burn more calories. Regular exercises can keep the levels of thyroxin high.

Testosterone: This sex hormone produced by the ovaries in females increases metabolism and decreases body fat. The reason why most women gain weight during menopause is because the testosterone levels start decreasing. This hormone also plays a role in the libido.

Estrogen and Progesterone: These sex hormones promote the storage of fat. Any imbalance between these hormones can result in ‘Estrogen dominance’, which may lead to other health disorders.

Growth Hormone: Produced by the pituitary gland, this hormone stimulates protein synthesis and affects the development of bones, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments. An increased secretion of this hormone during exercises increases the use of fat and decreases the use of glucose.

Epinephrine: Produced by the adrenal medulla, this hormone increases the blood flow to the heart. It even stimulates the stored carbohydrate glycogen in the muscles and liver, to use it as fuel. Similarly it stimulates the breakdown of fat as well.

Glucagon: Another hormone secreted by the pancreas, glucagon is secreted to maintain the normal level of blood glucose. It triggers the release of glycogen into the blood stream when the blood glucose levels dip down after a workout. It even causes breakdown of fat to be used as fuels.

Endorphins: Another hormone produced by the pituitary gland, it decreases appetite, blocks pain, and reduces tension and anxiety. Since they create a feeling of euphoria, an increased duration of exercises is a piece of cake.

Cortisol: Released by the adrenal gland, this helps us deal with stressed situations. It stimulates the release of glucose and fat from the cells to prepare us for any exigencies. It even stimulates our body to replace the spent energy.

As is obvious by now, exercise encourages secretion of most of these hormones; it is advisable to be in their good books. Next time you think of skipping your workout, just think of all the hormones and feel motivated to lose weight.

Why is it difficult to lose weight and keep it of?

2008-09-09T18:15:00.000-07:00

Studies have shown that most people who lose weight regain it within a year – known as weight recycling!! The reasons why losing weight permanently is difficult, is both genetic and environmental.

Blame it on your genes if you fail to lose weight after months of battle. Researches from the Tuffs University have identified a gene called perilipin, which regulates the release of fat from the cells. Apart from this information, a lot of other researchers have come to the conclusion that our DNA is already coded and hence all of us cannot benefit from the same weight loss method.

Our modern environment settings contrast very much to our “hunter and gatherer” forefathers. It is postulated by “Adaptation” theorists that our bodies are more adapted to scarce food supplies and eating protein based foods (Food and Evolution: Toward a Theory of Human Food Habits- Marvin Harris, Eric.B). Our modern life of plenty, high carbohydrate fat rich foods is departure from the prehistoric times. We eat much more, of the wrong food and do very much less. The excess calories are therefore stored.

Disability and Weight Loss

You may be facing difficulty losing weight because of an existing disease or disorder. It could be a warning sign for prevalent thyroid problems or heart diseases. Weight gain is a normal symptom for women approaching their menopause. So, you may need to rework the weight loss strategy according to the hormonal changes that occur during menopause.

Thirdly, for obese people who have difficulty losing weight through diet and exercise alone, alternative methods like medication and/or surgery have to be explored.

We now know the key reasons why the vast majority of women lose weight and regain it back fast.

Their reasons for weight loss are not firmly worked out.
They try to lose weight to please others.
They have emotional problems including binge eating and depression.
Their environment works against them – they burn off less than they eat –even if they eat very little!
They work in isolation – without dedicated support systems which are essential to guide them.
They do not know the real secret to successful weight loss! Though simple to understand the weight loss secret code is not always easy to implement without support.

I am sure all of you out there agree with me that it is a bigger challenge maintaining that ideal weight than losing some pounds. Consistency is the mantra! Life is not the same and every day it poses new obstacles. These obstacles could be in the form of low motivation, decreasing emotional support, work pressure, and of course the biggest enemy – parties. It definitely takes a lot of will power and determination to stick to your plans.

Obesity: Affects not only the physical health

2008-09-02T22:10:00.000-07:00

Obesity and Emotional Problems

Obesity as onen problem on the weight maintenanc e, also leads to depression and anxiety problems, which can worsen a woman’s infertility.

According to the Archives of General Psychiatry (2004), Vol 63 No.7, mind plays a very important role in our reproductive system. There is a constant interaction between our thoughts, beliefs, and feelings that produce chemical, hormonal, neurological and muscular changes. Any imbalances in our emotions lead to release of excessive hormones that upset the natural flow of the pituitary gland secretions like luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This may further lead to an ovulation or suppressed ovulation.

Moreover, also stated by the American Psychological Association, “obesity in women was associated with 37% increase in major depression.....and more frequent thoughts of suicide.” Depression due to stress results in excessive consumption of food and even binge eating. Additional research by the APA has shown that obese women with binge-eating disorder have developed a low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and depression.
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Obesity and Interpersonal Relationships

Deborah Carr presented a paper titled "The Social Stigma of Obesity: Does Body Weight Affect the Quality of Interpersonal Relationships?" at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association. In this paper, she shows that “the stigma of early obesity persists over the life course, and affects positive and negative aspects of family relationships during adulthood.” Obesity often leads to low self-esteem, a loss of dignity and emotional instability. When people are clinically obese, they usually suffer physical limitations too. They become so inactive, that even the simplest of tasks becomes physically exhaustive. There is also a social stigma to obesity; people who suffer often find themselves stared at in the street or the victim of verbal and psychological abuse. This not only affects the individual sufferer, but their partner too.
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Obesity and Socio-Economic Implications

According to the Economic and Social Research Council, UK, “in developed countries, there is an inverse relationship between obesity and socioeconomic status. For example, among women from social class I (professional), the rate of obesity is 10.7 per cent, while in women from social class V (unskilled), one in four women is obese.” So is the fact in our own country. The alarming rise of obesity among the working American women proves the fact that the inactive and sedentary lifestyle is the root cause.

An obesity report by the Health Committee of the UK parliament calculates “the cost of overweight and obesity to the nation at up to £7.4 billion per year, a figure which will rapidly rise.” The obesity epidemic will not only increase health care costs, but will also create a scarcity for healthy workers. The committee opines that obesity is a result of more calories and less physical activity. It has concluded that a regular and moderate physical activity is advisable to prevent weight gain.

These health problems are to a very large extent avoidable, if one determines to maintain one’s normal weight. After all ‘Prevention is better than cure’.

What other weight related health problems do women face?

2008-09-02T22:04:00.000-07:00

Apart from infertility, women have to worry about a lot of other health problems as a result of excess weight. Though overweight is not the sole reason or cause for these diseases, it is no doubt a major contributing factor.

Cancer: A recent government report by the Cancer Research, UK, shows that excess weight is one of the risk factors for breast and womb cancer.
Body fat increases the amount of estrogen in the blood, which stimulates growth of cancerous cells.
Fat increases the risk of acid reflux which is related to esophageal cancer.
Detection of cancer is difficult as the lumps are less detectable, which in turn complicates the mode of treatment to be given.
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Heart Disease: According to the American Heart Association and many other medical associations around the world, heart disease has been the main cause of death for women all over the world.
Excess abdominal fat is the key risk factor for heart attack and coronary heart diseases.
Excess weight means high blood cholesterol, which again increases the chances of developing heart diseases.
Inactive women accumulate more cholesterol and eventually are at a higher risk.
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Diabetes: According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, obesity and diabetes are major causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States.
Excess fat blocks the keyhole which produces insulin. The liver then starts producing its own glucose which leads to excess glucose levels in the blood.
Excess glucose levels in the blood leads to serious damage to the blood vessels.
Excessive damage to blood vessels will eventually result in the malfunctioning of kidneys and heart.
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Osteoarthritis: The University of Bristol in its research, ‘Obesity and Osteoarthritis’ terms osteoarthritis as the fourth important cause for disability in the world. And the major cause for this is obesity.
Osteoarthritis is a joint disorder which causes the joints to wear away gradually.
Osteoarthritis affects the knees, hips, and the lower back.
Excess weight puts more pressure on joints and the cartilage (which protects the joints) wears away gradually resulting in pain and walking disabilities.
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Sleep Apnea: Though not an alarming problem when compared to other diseases, sleep apnea can lead to major health disorders. Sleep apnea occurs when there are pauses in your breathing while you are asleep.
Overweight can cause breathing problems including sleep apnea which is a state of breath interruption during sleep. This leads to heavy snoring.
Sleep apnea may sometimes cause heart failure.
For people who are overweight, the risk of getting affected by sleep apnea is higher.
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Stroke: Excess weight increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for stroke.

Obese women have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure.
Women with a family history of high blood pressure are at a greater risk, if they are overweight.
Excess weight is a common side–effect of many a birth control pill.
These disorders show the harmful effects of obesity on our body. But did you know that it affects our mind too?

See also:

Obesity and Emotional Problems
Obesity and Interpersonal Relationships
Obesity and Socio-Economic Implications

Obesity and Pregnancy: The Danger of the Link

2008-08-27T19:13:00.000-07:00

Excess weight is a major cause for high-risk pregnancies and pregnancy related problems. According to the Bureau of Family and Community Health, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, “In Massachusetts, 43% of the women in the WIC program are either overweight or obese prior to their pregnancy and 51% of the WIC participants gain too much weight during their pregnancy.” Obesity is one of the common causes for complications in pregnancy. Dr. Laura Riley, in her article “A Call to Action: Obesity and Pregnancy”, writes that pregnant women are at greater risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, increased caesarean deliveries, longer hospital stays, premature deliveries, urinary infections, and failure to start or continue breastfeeding.

Before a woman even gets pregnant, the extra weight may cause infertility. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a condition where cysts (fluid-filled sacs) form on the ovaries and disrupts the regular menstrual cycle, is commonly associated with overweight and obese women. As well, fat tissue can produce an excess of estrogen. As a result, overweight and obese women may experience hormonal imbalance that can prevent ovulation.

"43% of the women in the WIC program are either overweight or obese prior to their pregnancy and 51% of the WIC participants gain too much weight during their pregnancy."

Individuals who are overweight or obese may endure difficulties trying to conceive. Women who weigh more than the recommended weight for their height and age pose a risk to their developing fetus. This is because overweight pregnant women often have larger fetuses and more likely need a C-section to prevent a difficult delivery that may both injure the mother and baby.

But this doesn’t mean that women who are planning to conceive must reduce weight drastically. This extreme step may again lead to delay in conception and other complications. Doctor’s advice to women with weight related problems, is to plan their conception only after reducing their weight in a planned manner. This ensures a safe delivery of the infant and less complications for the mother.

How does excess weight affect a woman’s fertility?

2008-08-20T22:39:00.000-07:00

Excess weight contributes to an array of medical conditions or diseases. In women, abnormal weight can lead to diabetes, cancers, hypertension, and infertility.

Researchers all over the world have concluded that excess weight brings down the fertility levels in women. This is true especially with women in the age group of 35 and 45. According to Cadence Minge, researcher at the Adelaide University Research Centre for Reproductive Health, Australia, “the fat eggs of obese women, do not develop into healthy embryos.” The high levels of fat and cholesterol may damage the eggs, rendering them less fertile.

Excess weight causes defects in hormonal exchange and functioning of ovaries which can lead to miscarriages and sterility. Of course you can use different drugs to tackle this problem, but these drugs generally have long-term side effects. The only sure-shot solution for this is to lose excess weight in a methodical way and then plan your conception.

How does Overweight affect women?

2008-08-18T22:39:00.000-07:00

Being overweight can be a social and health problem as well. The fad of being slim these days has been the trend in the society and being overweight can lead to social biases. However the effect of becoming overweight can be more than the emotional aspect and can lead to serious life complications.

When a person has more body fat than the usual or than the body requirement, for it to function normally, an individual is said to be overweight. Being overweight can lead to dramatic health problems and has significant effect on the fertility of a woman. Overweight affect woman in the sense that those who are trying to conceive may have to endure difficulties in the process.

As studies show, women are more prone to weight issues than men. Hence it is very essential that women should maintain a normal weight. One of the fatal diseases that often associated with being overweight is cancer, with breast and womb cancer in particular.

Aside from the hazards to one's health, being overweight can also affect the emotional well being of a woman. Affected by socio-economic factors, being overweight affects women with their self -esteem and their extent of social interaction. Women who are working should be conscious of their physical appearance since are more prone to social stereotyping and may affect their work evaluation. Some employers though might not be aware with this.

Yet despite of these alarming facts, being overweight and the issue of obesity continues to grow among women in the recent years. Therefore, changes in the lifestyle and eating habits must be recognized to bring in good health and minimal health problems. Getting into regular exercise and having an active lifestyle can help women move to a healthier life.

FAST FACTS on Overweight

Why are majority of European & American Women overweight?

And the rest of the World is catching up fast!

According to the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration, two-thirds of adult American women fall into the overweight or obese category, according to their BMIs (Body Mass Index). If this doesn’t alarm you, then you will be shocked to know that obesity among American women has multiplied between 1980 and 2004 and is still rising. This is especially true with women aged 40 and above.

Moreover, in reference to a prevalence and trend study (1999-2000) published in 2002 by the Journal of the American Medical Association, there are more overweight American men, but more obese American women.

This dramatic growth can be attributed to the modern and more sedentary lifestyle of American women. Desk jobs and a busy work schedule can hinder some to find time to do stretching and regular exercise to burn fats. Another side to this problem is the negative effect of media on women’s health. The unrealistic images of women portrayed in the media make other women detest their physical image. They try to find a shortcut to lose weight to reach unattainable goals in the shortest span, and end up with traumatic experiences. The alarming rise in women suffering from eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia nervosa only goes to show that the fad diets and crash diets cause more harm to your body, often irreparable.

Obesity – Why Quick Fixes Don’t Work

2008-08-06T23:31:00.000-07:00

“More die in the United States of too much food than of too little.” -
-John Kenneth Galbraith, the Affluent Society.

The problem of obesity and overweight has created a significant clamor not only among health professionals in the United States but also among the individuals who are directly concerned with it.

As recent studies show, this problem have been common both in adults and the children. In 2005, with a collaboration of a group of scientists, partly supported by the National Institute on Aging (a component of the National Institutes of Health), a report was released that over the next few decades rising obesity could decline the life expectancy of the average American citizen by 5 years. This is also further justified by succeeding studies on the negative effect of obesity on the life expectancy of the stakeholders.

On the other hand, obese women, like men, have increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, general ill health and premature painful death. Obese and overweight people suffer more hypertension, joint disease, and kidney disease.
So what’s next? Losing weight through diets? While some succeed in shedding a few pounds, very few manage to keep it off. And most often quick fixes does not work. Why is it?

Basically a lot of people look for effortless weight-loss methods. So they fall for false claims like ‘Don’t burn or sweat, lose 10 pounds’ or ‘Enjoy parties and still stay fit’. A lot of money is invested in powders, gadgets, and programs that promise a ‘new you’. But at the end of it all, you realize there is ‘no gain without pain’. Even if you have lost a few pounds, you may gain all of it and more.

I will try to let you in on the secrets that you also can use to lose weight successfully and keep it off. But first you must understand these basic principles that underpin any successful weight-loss program.

1. Know why you want to lose weight and be passionate about your goal.
2. See your goal being achieved as a result of weight loss and not other things.
3. Understand why having a firm REASON to lose weight and keeping it off is CRITICAL.
4. Do it for yourself.
5. Have a supportive environment.
6. Understand the food code – I make it easy to understand and work with a balanced food code.
The more natural the food the better – why?
The lower the GI the better.
The lower the GI load the better.
7. Set time aside to lose weight and stick to the plan.
8. Learn to manage and control the demons within you! Stop binge eating!
9. Write all that you eat religiously – so you know how much you are eating.
10. Write down all the activities that you do – so you can tell how much energy you are spending.
11. Get as many aides as you can afford to help you along the way- hypnosis, exercise music, yoga, diet sheets, recipes etc.
12. Know why regular meals (within the bounds of your daily energy needs) works in your favour.
13. Eat slowly – at every meal. I explain why this is very important.
14. Practice this equation: The energy you spend MUST be more than the energy you take in.
15. Resetting your weight set point is a journey not a sprint!

Being able to consider these principles will help you set the foundations of your goal, that is to lose weight and maintain good health. See the next articles and learn the principles one by one.

Which Diet Plan? Holistic dieting

2008-07-29T23:36:00.000-07:00

There are many diet plans that have sprouted everywhere such that you would not know what to choose among the others. Most often, these diet plans are endorsed by celebrities and weight loss professionals. But since most of them endorses one weight loss plan to another, you cannot establish their credibility. So which diet plan can loose those fats?

There are many diet programs that people usually enrolled themselves and yet some may have worked temporarily while others do not completely. One main problem with this is that most do not stick to the program and do not follow the process perfectly.

The key to having to lose weight is to have a diet plan which you can adjust and give all your commitment. But if you are having a problem on adjusting to the diet program, don't worry.

There are diet programs that it is not you who will adjust but the program itself. How does it work?

Some diet programs have personalised diet system which makes dieting easier and seems that you are not in a diet at all. This is the easiest available in the market and can be considered as a holistic approach to dieting.

Fat Loss 4 Idiots Work!: An honest testimonial on Fat Loss Diet

2008-07-28T22:30:00.000-07:00

Stay away from carbs and high calorie foods before you bloat up! For those who are attempting to lose fat, we have the most effective weight loss diet system that fits your budget and see the result in less than a month!

Sounds familiar?

That is how most diet systems claim their services to be and that is how unsure I am to believe them since everybody asserts to be the best!

This made my desire to loose fat more vague especially when a certain diet program requires to give up eating my favorite foods! And that is what I hate most!

When I searched for the web for ways to lose fat, I came across Fat loss 4 Idiots. I first thought it to be one of the many who claim vague fat loss program but I took a moment to review Fat Loss 4 Idiots.

While most of fat loss programs demand you to eat less, Fat loss 4 idiots do not. And it seems I'm not on a diet either. It is so enjoyable!

Fat Loss for Idiots ebook is so easy to follow. It comes step by step. The diet system maintains program for you to keep your metabolism at a higher rate than it used to be to keep fats burning constantly. Based on the theory of eating the right meals in the right patterns each day, Fat loss for idiots menu is designed to let you eat the right food combination each meal to alter hormones that burns fat.

I highly recommend that you download Fat loss 4 idiots and see yourself lose pound in less than 2 weeks! To download, Click Fat Loss 4 Idiots download.

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2008-07-28T01:24:00.000-07:00

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