Obesity is one of the main causes for the various health problems suffered by people the world over. It has been found that nearly half the population worldwide is overweight or obese. Combating weight gain has become a major concern for doctors and laymen alike. This situation has risen out of sedentary working conditions and bad food habits followed by most of us. Obviously a comprehensive change in lifestyle is much needed to overcome this gargantuan problem. The hoodia diet is a fast, easy and safe way out till necessary changes in lifestyle is made.
Hoodia is a succulent flowering plant found only in the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa. It is also known as xhooba, !khoba, Ghaap, hoodia cactus and South African desert cactus. The plant grows in clumps of green upright stems with spines and looks very similar to cactus. The San Bushmen of the South Kalahari Desert have been using this plant to suppress hunger and thirst while going on long hunts for centuries. It is also used by them as medicine for various ailments. The plant grows wild only in the remote desert areas of South Africa, Namibia and Botswana and is now considered to be an endangered species. It takes around 5 years to mature and flower. Since it needs very hot and arid desert like conditions to grow, it is very difficult to cultivate it commercially.
There are nearly 20 types of hoodia of which only the species hoodia gordonii has appetite suppressing properties. Clinical research has identified a molecule named P57, found only in the species hoodia gordonii, as the ingredient that suppresses hunger and thirst. The P57 molecule tricks the brain into believing that the stomach is full by mimicking the effect of glucose on the nerve cells in the brain. It removes hunger pangs helps to combat your desire to overeat and thus you don't feel deprived or crave for food. It even makes you stop thinking of food. It also acts as a mood enhancer making you feel good. It contains many nutrients making it a good tonic too.
Hoodia works quickly or slowly depending on person to person. It may work as fast as in 30 minutes or may take even as long as 20 days.
Hoodia has been found to be safe during clinical research. Trials done on animals have It is a natural, organically grown herb, having no dangerous stimulants. There is no danger of the side effects associated with other weight reducing drugs. It works by suppressing hunger thus promoting weight loss. Just remember to drink enough water since it also suppresses thirst. The South Kalahari Bushmen has been safely using it for generations.
Hoodia works only as an appetite suppressant. Regular exercise and a healthy diet plan are very necessary for getting the desired result.
Today, hoodia is heavily marketed all over the world in the form of pills, powders and in liquid form as the new miracle diet supplement. Many drug companies are selling hoodia online. Check for certification to ensure it is the genuine article.
For your free course teaching you exactly how to succeed with your weight loss goals using simple and effective weight loss diets simply go to http://weightlossrevolution.net
If you wish to lose 2 stones fast, this is the article for you. There is more than 1 way to lose 2 stones, but in this article I wish to present to you 2 of the most popular diets on the market today, so you can make an informed choice about which one to choose.
The diets I wish to review for you are Fat Loss 4 Idiots and the Top Secret Fat Loss Secret.
Both of these diets produce fast weight loss results for many users, but choosing the best one for you requires you to know a little more about each of them. Here are the basic facts about each diet so you can choose with which to lose 2 stones.
Fat Loss 4 Idiots
This is one of the most used diets in the world. Here are some basic facts about this diet:
Top Secret Fat Loss Secret
This is a diet created by Dr. Suzanne Gudakunst, a weight loss expert. This diet is a detox type diet which can be exceptionally good if you've tried many diets in the past and failed with them. What this diet does is to help you flush out of your body a lot of undigested weight and help you cleanse yourself of internal parasites which may be clogging your system, disrupting your internal processes, and causing you to get fat. If you are infested with this parasites, you will likely fail with all other diets and may also be facing other health issues.
Weight loss with the Top Secret Fat Loss Secret can be exceptionally fast, but you should know that detox diets are harder than regular diets like Fat Loss 4 Idiots.
The choice is yours. I urge you to use one of these 2 diets so you can lose 2 stones as fast as possible.
To read how you can start to lose as much as 9 lbs. in 11 days and keep it off, visit this webpage:
Fat Loss 4 Idiots Review.
John Davenport lost over 30 pounds in his twenties after being overweight most of his life. To read more about fast weight loss, click here: Top Secret Fat Loss Secret Review
I have read what I consider to be the best weight loss programs on the market. It took me awhile to find them, but in the end it was completely worth the money.
What about you?
Surely you've tried a few of the best weight loss programs out there, but maybe you have had no success. Maybe you lost a few pounds but then all of a sudden it came right back on and you gave up. If this is true, that's perfectly ok!
Almost everybody who starts out on a weight loss program has a hard time sooner or later. They're called plateau's. Everybody hits them, but only the best weight loss programs out there will tell you how to bust through them. But even that isn't enough. You can purchase some of the best weight loss programs ever created and still get no results.
Why?
Well there are 2 main reasons: not actually taking action and making it happen, and buying the wrong product. If you don't take action and actually do what the program says, obviously you aren't going to lose weight or gain muscle. It's not really rocket science, but sometimes people still don't get it!
Also, if you buy the wrong product for you it's also not going to work. This is because your either not going to stick with it (going back to the first reason) or it simply isn't the right kind of exercise for your goals. For example, if you're training to become an athlete but get a program saying to eat hardly any carbs, that isn't going to work!
Conversely, if you want to lose weight but the program says to eat a lot of carbs, that also isn't going to work. Finding a good weight loss program is a hard thing to do, and it should be researched. You should have a few options to pick from and all of them should be slightly different. If you have that situation going for you, you can pick and choose whatever one you'd like because one of them should fit your needs.
The best weight loss programs aren't always the most popular - sometimes it's just a matter of choosing the right one for your own personal life.
Jeremy Reeves has created a website just for you that reviews what he considers to be the best weight loss programs on the market. Show yourself that you're serious about losing weight and go check out http://www.fitness-product-reviews.com before you do anything else today.
There are various reasons that lead an individual towards gaining weight and obesity is a necessary evil which can affect the individual's health considerably. While there can be multifarious causes for obesity, one of the most prevalent causes is definitely the consumption of junk food. Junk foods are abundant in high calorie ingredients and with the emergence of scores of fast food chains worldwide, consumption of junk food have increased manifold times. It is more alarming to note that a growing number of young children constitute the maximum junk food eaters which has also increased child obesity greatly. Therefore, what is necessary is that junk food consumption needs to be reduced or even abandoned completely if possible in order to ensure weight loss. Also, it is important in these cases to replace the junk food in the diet with certain negative calorie foods which refer to food stuff which aids in weight loss. The most important characteristic of these negative calorie foods are the fact that they are made up of lesser calorie constituents than is actually required for digesting them. The negative calorie foods are extremely beneficial and their most important function is fat burning. This happens by means of the following process. The negative calorie foods contain calories which cannot be used by the body readily and therefore, much more effort needs to be put in by the body organs to extract the calorie from these foods. Moreover, since there are very insignificant proportions of calorie available to the body, there is also a very scant possibility of these calories transforming into fats. Therefore they act as natural fat burning foods facilitating weight loss. Therefore here weight loss occurs by burning the calorie content in food.
There are several food items which are extremely beneficial for weight loss and are considerably important as negative calorie food as well. These include fruits like turnip, watermelon, mango, apple, cranberry, blueberry, strawberry, tomato etc. and vegetables like cucumber, carrot, cauliflower, cabbage, onion, radish, lettuce, asparagus, papaya, beets, hot chili, zucchini, spinach etc. These are some of the food ingredients which should comprise the daily diet of an obese individual rep0lacing the junk food contents to ensure effective weight loss. There are also certain researchers who believe that while nothing like 'negative calorie' food actually exist, these ingredients can aid weight loss by increasing metabolic rates. However, the whole theory about negative calorie food remains gripped in controversies and are not acceptable to a lot of scholars due to lack of scientific evidence.
Looking for more weight loss tips? Check out http://www.lookcut.com/ today!
Fat And Weight Loss. Why Has It Not Worked?
To lose fat and weight, many of us would have tried our utmost and yet we would not have achieved the desired results. It certainly may not be for want of trying. Often, we try too hard. At times we get the results but it does not last long. We cannot seem to keep off the fat in the long term. If the usual recommendations including exercise, pills, special diet, lotions and so on have not worked for us, perhaps we need to take a totally different approach. It may be appropriate for us to find out what caused the fat in the first place. Could it be due to something in our system that is making it difficult for us to shed off the unwanted fat? Could it be due to some harmful plaque or bacteria in our stomach, intestines and colon that act as parasites that is causing the problem? The Japanese have specially formulated drinks that contain healthy bacteria which have been reported to help our digestive system. Going by the popularity of such drinks, there must be some value in it. The only Japanese to keep away from it would be Sumo wrestlers as they thrive on being fat!
What Harm Can Parasites Do?
How do these parasites get into our bodies? The answer probably lies in the food and water that we consume. It could be due to poorly cooked food and food cooked under unhygienic conditions. Raw or poorly cooked fish especially pickled salmon, trout, white fish etc., contain larvae which after 5-6 weeks mature into adult worms. The worms can lay thousands of eggs and produce chemicals as well as toxins that can even affect our brains particularly the hypothalamus. This is the gland that controls our hunger and thirst. It has been stated that parasites prevent the body from absorbing nutrients from the food we consume. What is even more serious is that these parasites can cause damage even after they die. When they die, they become mineralized like a fossil causing painful swelling and blockages within our body. This has harmful effects particularly on our digestive system and colon. Clogged bowels make it difficult for us to excrete our wastes. As a result, there is plaque build-up which provides fertile conditions for the growth of parasites.
How Do We Get Rid Of The Parasites?
For those of us who have tried everything else but have not succeeded thus far, perhaps we should consider whether parasites are the root cause of our fat and weight problem. Apart from herbal capsules, there are also drugs, health drinks and other remedies which could help to get rid of the parasites. Apple cider vinegar which has been hailed as a natural remedy for a number of ailments may also prove helpful. Before you decide on what is best for you, it would be beneficial if you could get the full details on the parasites that are behind the problem of excess fat and weight that many of us are battling with daily.
In this regard, you may find this site useful.
Getting rid of parasites in the system could be the answer for those who have tried everything else to lose excess fat and weight but failed. How can you get rid of parasites and finally be able to shed the unwanted fat and weight? Learn more here!
There are multiple reasons for obesity such as by eating too many calories for our energy requirements must be a major cause for obesity epidemic. Increases in consumption of calorie-dense foods, as evidenced by the growth of fast-food chains and higher soft drink consumption, also point to a higher energy-intake. People who eat more calories need to burn more calories, otherwise their calorie surplus is stored as fat.
Over consumption the other cause for obesity, types of food eaten may also play a key role in the rise of obesity. Researchers discover that more metabolic and digestive disorders results from over consumption of trans-fats and refined white flour carbohydrates, combined with low fiber intake.
Psychological and Social Effects of Obesity goes worst that give you high level of stress, your emotion suffer because in Todays World everyone want to be good looking and the physical appearance is goes with slim and smart people and this make overweight people unattractive.
Other than physical appearance it opens the gate of dangerous disease, research shows that it increases the level of premature death, increase heart disease, diabetes, cancer, liver, breathing problems and unfortunately many others.
But the good thinks is that according to the research that if you lose a lit bit of fat that decrease the chance of heart stroke and improve your blood pressure.
Many peoples make mistakes by adopting the shortcut ways to reduce weight but it does just opposite and gives side effect, what you want to do is that set a small goal, make your commitment fulfill, motivate yourselves, get knowledge for the right medicine.
Let me share with you 5 six weight loss tips that you can start practicing in a few minutes from now...
1. Never say "It's OK, I'll burn it off tomorrow"
It's easy to fall into this trap. When you have your favorite food in front of you, it's really difficult to resist the temptation. So you end up saying, "It's ok, I'll burn it off tomorrow" and then you give in. Now this is where you're making one of the worst mistakes! That workout tomorrow rarely happens. You know it too. Trust me, refrain yourself from giving in at all costs and you'll be well on your way to achieving that desired weight loss.
2. If you're gonna commit to a plan, make sure it's a viable and realistic plan:
Many people make empty promises to themselves thinking that they'll get it done. When it comes to weight loss, they do the same, they don't think or plan out a realistic weight loss plan. When your plan is not realistic, you will fail. And when that happens, you will feel so depressed that you're just gonna give everything up. You need to think and make a commitment that's viable and you know you can stick to.
3. Do cardio exercises and burn calories
To really lose weight, you need a good balance of the right diet and the right exercises. Walk, run, jog, swim, play sports, do exercise, aerobics or weight training, dance, use exercise machinery, anything you want and anything you like. Just make sure you pick at least one. These activities help you boost your calorie burning, making it easier and faster to lose weight. Do it regularly and you body will start to burn all the fats away.
4. Rest
You must get enough rest in and maintain a relaxed state of mind. When you're in stress, either mentally or physically, your body system automatically gets into "flight or fright" condition. When that happens, it starts preserving fat for energy usage in future. Now that's not good right. Therefore, you must get a good mental and physical relaxation so that you can pursue your weight loss at ease and with success.
5. Keep the fire burning
Most people start out with fire burning in their eyes. You can always feel their determination whenever they're near. But, they'll never make it to the end unless they know how to keep the fire burning. Find things that you know will motivate you to spur on and continue the tough journey. Hey losing weight ain't the same as taking a walk down the beach, it takes hardwork and determination. Be determined and face all challenges with open arms.
There you go, 5 easy weight loss tips just for you. I hope these tips help, cheers!
Jimmy Dickens is a weight loss coach and mentor from Boston. He teaches people how to lose weight fast with a unique system he created called the "Gimme Weight Loss Now" System. If you're looking for a complete, step-by-step weight loss system that can help you lose weight fast, do visit his website and grab his system (in the form of an ebook) at http://www.gimmeweightlossnow.com
While my primary focus (and recommendation) is strength training for the sake of gaining functional strength, there's no denying that a majority of people want to know how to get washboard abs. Male or female, washboard abs are often a big fitness goal.
So, here's a basic overview of how to get washboard abs, broken down into three elements: Nutrition, strength training, and cardio. Now before you take off, this won't be all the same stuff you've already read a hundred times - and will offer some tips you can use now.
Nutrition
The first and most important element in losing the fat covering your abs is your diet. You have to eat well. It's not as difficult as you may think, and you don't have to starve yourself. Even a simple change resulting in 300 fewer calories a day will make a difference when combined with the other two elements discussed below.
For a simple start, here are a few (simplified) tips:
Just remember, it's much easier to NOT eat that piece of cheesecake than it is to burn it off later!
Strength Training
The absence of strength training is a major problem with a lot of weight loss programs. In addition to building strength, strength training also firms, tones, and builds your muscles. By building muscle, you naturally raise your metabolism. Muscle uses more calories than fat, so more muscle means more fat burning - even at rest. And don't worry ladies, you won't bulk up. For the average female, washboard abs often aren't the goal - just a slim tummy. That's OK, the process is the same.
For a strength training workout, stick with mulit-joint full-body exercises when possible. I recommend circuit training. Circuit training allows you to get a great strength workout in a short period of time, while burning calories very effectively. It's perfect if your goal is to firm up. However, it's not optimal if you're really trying to gain strength or muscle mass, which would call for more specified programs.
On to some exercises for washboard abs. You don't need to do crunches 'til the cows come home. That's not how to get washboard abs. In fact, don't do crunches or situps. Start with simple drills like the plank, side plank (and their variations), bird dog, etc. If you train with kettlebells, the Turkish Get-Up and windmill are excellent exercises.
Cardio
Last but not least is the cardio element. I don't like that terminology, but we all know what it means. Basically, it involves getting your heart rate up for a period of time, exercising the heart and lungs, and burning fat.
However, forget about hanging out on the treadmill or stationary bike for an hour. There's a better way - interval training. Interval training consists of mixing brief high-intensity activity with brief periods of rest. Tests have shown that interval training can be up to TWICE as effective as traditional cardio.
Here's a sample interval training workout:
Your sprint time should be very intense, where your jog time should be a very relaxed pace. The idea is to put out an all-out effort (for your fitness level) for a short period, followed by an active rest period until you've just about caught your breath, then back to the all-out effort. A great deal of the effectiveness of interval training comes from repeatedly shocking your system in this way.
It's the combination of these three elements that will help you meet your goal of washboard abs. Good abs come from firm muscle and low body fat. The strength training aspect offers the muscle, while the nutrition and cardio work together to control your calories, dropping your body fat. In addition, the strength and cardio elements can often be combined, making for shorter workouts than traditional programs - and they can be done at home.
Finally, keep in mind that a nice-looking body will come naturally from a lifestyle of good nutrition and exercise. In other words, if you make your goal health and strength, the looks will be a natural, welcome side effect!
Sign up for the free newsletter and get your FREE COPY of the original Turbulence Training 4-Week Program at my Benefits of Interval Training blog.
Jason Casey has had an interest in functional strength and fitness for over 20 years. Find books, DVDs and product reviews on kettlebell training, functional strength, circuit training, interval training, and weight loss at http://www.nostinkinggym.com - for regular folks who like to work out at home.
When you take on a weight loss plan, you want fast easy ways to lose weight. You want to see results as soon as reasonably possible or you'll end up frustrated about something you feel is beyond reach. This shouldn't be the case! Find helpful food tips below that promote fast easy ways to lose weight. When you're done reading that, I'll show you another surefire way to slim down real quick.
Eat smaller portions but more meals. Forget eating large portions of the usual three-a-day meals. Eat smaller ones of five to six meals spread out through the day. Listen to your body, you'll find that it needs nourishment every three hours or so. Feeding yourself at the right intervals will prevent you from overeating.
Fill up on H2O. Eight to ten glasses is all it takes but more is even better. It nourishes, makes your skin supple and cleanses your insides, taking out what wastes you can live without.
Quality over quantity. With regards to eating, it's just as beneficial to select what to eat as to how small you eat. You'll need good, healthy doses of carbohydrates, some fiber and protein. Don't reach for that pizza slice yet! Doesn't it have all three? Yeah, along with everything fat. Very detrimental if you want fast easy ways to lose weight.
Put color on your plate. Make eating fun so you won't think you're dieting. Eat different varieties of healthy carbohydrates and a lot of fruits and vegetables. For protein, avoid red meat! Go for some fish and lean meat instead.
Mind the midnight munching. Avoid snacking in the middle of the night, or before bedtime. Eating something close to the time you go to bed will mean a slowdown in the digestion process. If you must satisfy the food cravings at night, prepare something light.
Food is our friend and a good diet does not promote a no-eating policy. If you think you shouldn't eat to make the weight drop, you'll find that it will be much harder shed off the pounds. Whoever said crash diets worked long term? Stick to the tips I mentioned and find out how fast easy ways to lose weight will work for you.
Corey is a self proclaimed Weight Lost expert. You can view a surefire secret method to losing weight at his blog http://www.fatlosshelpplan.blogspot.com and get a in dept detailed weight loss guide on fast easy ways to lose weight today!
Due in part to many reasons, the whole world, on average, is getting bigger & fatter every year. At present:
* More than 300 million adults worldwide are obese.
* Almost half of these individuals live in developed countries and as many as 23% of American adults are obese.
* Obesity results in $100 billion in healthcare costs each year in the United States.
* Obesity results in 300,000 preventable deaths each year in the United States.
* Obesity nearly doubles your chances of developing high blood pressure.
* Nearly 70 % of cardiovascular disease cases are related to obesity!
* The U.S. Surgeon General has developed a national action plan to reduce obesity.
STATISTICS PROVIDED BY:
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
The National Institute of Health
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention
The Na tional Women's Health Resource Center
A recent study from the journal Public Health reported obesity as being a greater health risk than smoking, drinking or poverty. Obesity was more closely associated with major illnesses and a poorer quality-of-life in comparison to people that smoked, drank, or lived in poverty. Researchers found that half of the people who are obese have an additional chronic condition such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes. This study was based on a telephone survey of 10,000 Americans and used only body mass index to assess obesity and overweight. Regardless, the results are cause for great concern.
You must also keep in mind that some individuals may fit into more than one category, and sometimes even all of the categories. However, the researchers stated that more people are overweight or obese than are, collectively, daily smokers, problem drinkers or living below the poverty line. Of course, being in more than one category puts your health status at an even greater disadvantage.
Obesity is a huge burden on the health care system now and will be even more so in the near future. It is a largely a preventable disease however it is a medical condition in many cases. This is very unfortunate but it is not something that should be dismissed as static. You can make a change or you can help someone make a change toward healthier living. One of the authors said the survey "demonstrates that public health officials should intensify their fight against obesity to levels that at least match the public health campaign against smoking".
Sturm, R., and K. Wells. Does obesity contribute as much to morbidity as poverty or smoking? Public Health. 115(3): 229-235, 2001.
Unfortunately, this is not a joke, and it's definitely no laughing matter. There are a large number of Internet resources for more information on either subject, such as www.diabetes.org and www.diabetesonestop.com. The newsletters from the American Diabetes Association have provided a wealth of knowledge (and many statistics and research facts in this article).
Type 2 Diabetes (T2-D) is associated with a marked impairment in the ability of the hormone insulin to stimulate glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. Most diabetic patients are obese and have high blood levels of lipids (fats) and glucose (sugar). Both of these blood levels can contribute to insulin resistance. Correct insulin is necessary for the cells of the body to pull sugar (glucose) from the blood to use as energy. Thus, it is a negative cycle (high blood glucose leads to insulin resistance and insulin resistance leads to high blood glucose!). Over the long-term, high blood glucose levels can lead to damage of the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart.
Fortunately, while diabetes is serious, it is largely preventable and is also possible to control with lifestyle modifications, although it can't be "cured". Patients can learn to take care of their diabetes by decreasing their blood glucose levels through nutritional and exercise interventions and subsequent reductions in body fat. In fact, with weight loss, exercise, and better nutrition, many diabetics can greatly reduce (or eliminate) the need for medications. Any treatments should be discussed with a medical professional before changes are initiated.
However, enough optimism, it's time to look at the hard facts and the sad state of diabetes in North American (and the rest of the world).
* T2-D affects 140 million people worldwide.
* 16 million Americans have diabetes.
* Diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death by disease in America.
* In America, the total annual cost of diabetes to the nation is more than $100 billion.
* ~25% of all Medicare costs are spent on people with diabetes.
* Obesity is the most important determinant of insulin resistance.
* No one is able to escape the effects of diabetes (i.e. death of family and friends; financial; health care costs; etc.).
The chance of death due to diabetes is increasing primarily due to cardiovascular disease. More depressing is the fact that the risk of death increases with lower socio-economic status, likely because these people are less educated, and due to the fact that you can buy loads of saturated fat and sugar for a couple of bucks just about anywhere. Cardiovascular disease sucks. Having been a spectator of an open-heart surgery at the foot of the operating table, it is clear that no one who has the choice would want to go through that ordeal. Imagine your chest ripped open, your heart fixed up, and your chest sewn up with wire. Bring on the morphine.
THE CHILDREN
The most disturbing issue surrounding diabetes is the impact that it is having in adolescents and in specific ethnic groups. Nowhere is it more sad or obvious as to what harm a sedentary lifestyle and a fast food nutritional intake can have on a person's health than in children. Overweight children are becoming more common, health problems are greater, and T2-D is being seen more and more at younger ages. Risk factors for overweight kids include overweight parents, high-fat diets, watching too much television, and being from poor families.
Unfortunately, overweight children often simply become overweight adults. Because it is difficult for people to lose body fat as one grows older, public health experts hope that preventing excess weight gain in children will avert health problems later in life. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that American adolescents are developing T2-D. However it is difficult to detect T2-D in children because rarely do they show symptoms (these take years to manifest). Thus, it is extremely important to initiate educational, nutritional, and physical activity programs as soon as possible at all socio-economic levels.
ETHNIC GROUPS
Overall, the number of American diabetics increased at least 33% over the 1990's and as obesity continues to increase, so will diabetes. Unfortunately, this impacts certain ethnic groups to a greater extent than others. For example, Native American Indians have a very, very high number of T2-diabetics in their communities (3 three times the national average). African Americans may have an even higher rate of diabetes (10.8% of all African Americans - 2.3 million). It is hoped that educating these peoples on nutrition and physical activity will help combat the disease.
NUTRITION
American's fat consumption has decreased over several decades from 40 % to 34 %, however the rate of obesity has risen from 12 % in 1991 to at least 23% today. This may be due in part to the vague "official" nutritional recommendations and the massive fast food industry. The general public believes in a low fat and high carbohydrate diet, however they don't know that there are both good and bad fats and good and bad carbohydrates.
In fact, some research shows that neither the total amount of fat or carbohydrate a person consumes can predict diabetes. Researchers suggest it may not be the quantity of fat or carbohydrate that you eat, but rather the quality. Improving the quality of your food intake and monitoring the quantity will help prevent against overweight and obesity.
Hu et al. (2001a) have written a tremendous paper on the role of nutrition in diabetes. They found that for carbohydrates, one should consume more low-glycemic carbohydrates and a high fiber content. In contrast, everyone should consume minimal refined flour products to prevent large increases in blood sugar and insulin after meals.
Recommended carbohydrate foods are oatmeal, whole unrefined grains, fibrous vegetables, apples, and other fibrous fruits, while breads and sugar based foods (soda, candy, etc.) should be eliminated. In diabetic individuals, a diet of low-glycemic carbohydrates can improve blood sugar control and if you are obese, you should absolutely eliminate all high-glycemic carbohydrates from your diet. In fact, a meal of high-glycemic foods does not cause people to feel full, and may lead to more eating! In summary, this relationship has been established: High-glycemic carbohydrates develop obesity, and obesity develops diabetes.
In their thorough review, Hu et al. (2001a) also found that a high intake of saturated fat and trans-fatty acids likely promote diabetes. In contrast, an increase in a person's intake of poly-unsaturated fat and Omega-3 fatty acids could help prevent diabetes. It is wise to decrease consumption of saturated fats (animal fats), margarine, butter and hydrogenated vegetable oils (i.e. the oil that french fries are cooked in). Salmeron et al. (2001) recommend decreasing your intake of trans-fatty acids (hydrogenated vegetable oils) by replacing them with non-hydrogenated polyunsaturated fatty acids will help decrease your risk of T2-D. One place to start is reducing your intake of fast food.
In replacement, everyone should try to consume more fish oils and non-hydrogenated vegetable oils (i.e. olive oil). Most of the research presented is based on association. For example, in the Netherlands, diets containing a lot of fish are associated with lower risks of diabetes. Researchers suggest that one must follow the correct diet for a long time (i.e. make it part of your lifestyle) in order to see benefits. For example, fish oils (Omega-3 fatty acids) have benefits for "cell membranes" and help insulin function properly, however this will not happen overnight just because you had a salmon steak!
Basically, a typical "Westernized" diet should be avoided. All the negatives (i.e. saturated animal fats and sugars) seem to be associated with one another (i.e. they are all found in your typical fast food meal). In reality, everyone should try to:
* Decrease animal fat (saturated fats) and hydrogenated cooking oils.
* Increase fish and flax oils (poly-unsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids) and vegetable oils.
* Decrease high-glycemic carbohydrate intake. Don't drink regular soda!
* Increase fiber from whole grains
* Increase fruit and vegetable consumption
At the 2001 ENDOCRINE SOCIETY meeting, alternative treatments of T2-D were recommended by Arsenis and Goettelman. In this study, diabetic patients reduced animal protein intake from 2-3 times a day to once every other day (vegetable protein was substituted) and stopped all consumption of plain sugars. Patients liked the new diet and the fact that they did not have to fast, take low calorie diets or receive appetite suppressants. The metabolic profile of many patients improved and it even helped some to stop using certain medications. The authors concluded that the reduction of animal protein and sugars help to improve the quality of life and metabolic profile of diabetic patients.
LIFESTYLE
In addition to diet, another contributing factor to obesity is that 60 % of Americans don't get enough activity and 25 % get NO activity. A recent study examined almost 40000 males over the age of 40 and how the amount of TV they watch relates to their T2-D risk (Hu et al., 2001a). Researchers showed that more TV was significantly associated with higher risk for diabetes and that increased physical activity is associated with less risk for diabetes.
The key point is that if people get up and moving that they may be able to decrease their risk of diabetes. This information should be applied towards youths as well. In addition, for obese people, simply losing 5-10 pounds can have a dramatic positive effect on their health!
Even inadequate sleep can have an effect on diabetes according to research from the lab of Dr. Eve Van Cauter. In a study, subjects that got restricted sleep (< 7h) for 5 nights had impaired insulin sensitivity (Mander et al., 2001). It may be due to disruption of bodily functions due to shortened sleep. Thus, one of the functions of sleep may be to assure normal blood sugar levels. That's another "Western world" lifestyle factor that may contribute to diabetes.
On a related note, "Excessive Daytime Sleepiness" (EDS) is becoming more prevalent. This condition is associated with diabetes and is considered as an important public health problem because it is a strong risk for public safety. Its prevalence is estimated to occur in 5% to 15% of the general population.
INTERVENTIONS
According to the National Institute Health, 35-40 % of adult American women and 20-24 % of adult American men are trying to lose weight at any given time. An interesting story came out of Philadelphia last month. Philly was rated the fattest city in the USA for January of 2000 and the mayor urged the city to lose weight. The city has taken the challenge and this year sits at 3rd, while Houston is now the fattest in the USA. On a whole, obesity and diabetes are more prevalent in the Southern United States!
In a study presented at the American Diabetes Association conference, diabetic patients have the greatest improvements in symptoms after following a program that combined a proper exercise and diet approach (Alpizar et al., 2001). Obesity remains the major obstacle to the achievement of satisfactory glycemic control in T2-D and often limits management of cardiovascular risk factors. After nutritional education and guidance, as well as an increase in daily physical activity, modest weight losses and improved diabetic factors were noted (Reynolds et al., 2001). Again, these stress the need for education and guidance.
If you are active, if you eat a variety of healthy foods (natural produce, lean meats, un-refined grains), and if you are of a healthy weight, than the fear of diabetes and obesity should be minimal. When asked how to avoid diabetes, Dr. Ronald Kahn said, "Stay thin! If you are not, get thin!" After all, obesity is the most important determinant of insulin resistance.
For active people of a healthy weight, it is not unrealistic to include the odd "Western" meal in your weekly schedule without causing panic. However, the consistent intake of a high-sugar, low-fiber, high-saturated fat diet, along with a daily sedentary living pattern precludes people to the awful diseases that are diabetes and obesity.
REFERENCES
Alpizar, M., et al. Effectiveness of an Exercise Program and Diet Plan in the Control of DM2 Patients. American Diabetes Association, 61st Annual Conference, 2001.
Hu, F., et al. Diet & risk of Type II diabetes: the role of fat & carbohydrate. Diabetologia 44: 805-817, 2001a.
Hu, F., et al. Physical Activity and Television Watching in Relation to Risk for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Men. Arch Intern Med. 161: 1542-1548, 2001b.
Mander, B., et al., Short Sleep: A Risk Factor for Insulin Resistance and Obesity. American Diabetes Association, 61st Annual Conference, 2001.
Reynolds, L., et al. Lifestyle intervention reduces multiple risk factors in obese patients with poorly controlled insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes mellitus. American Diabetes Association, 61st Annual Conference, 2001.
Salmeron, J., et al. Dietary fat intake and risk of type 2 diabetes in women. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 73(6): 1019-1026, 2001.
Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Maximum Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Mens Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines and all over the Internet, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. For more information on the Turbulence Training workouts that will help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment, visit http://www.TurbulenceTraining.com
It's not easy to figure out the "magic" formula on how to lose weight. It is a challenge for many of us, since we all have an individual path to the quickest weight loss. Any diet should have a foundation of proper diet and exercise, which will not only help you lose weight, but will also keep you healthy, and when you're healthy, you look better too.
You can use these simple guidelines, which have successfully been used by others:
You will need:
- Cookbooks for healthy meals.
- Your food, diet, and exercise journals.
- Stock up on healthy foods.
Step 1:
Take small steps. If you want to lose 40 pounds or so, decide what increments you can live with, say losing 5, 10, or 20 pounds, and take a breather in between.
Step 2:
Stick with foods you enjoy. Learn to prepare them in healthful ways. The more you are enjoying what you are eating, the more likely it is that you will continue on the path to making wiser food choices, and will shed those pounds!
Step 3:
Put a lot of fiber into your diet. High fiber content keeps you full longer. Lower calorie fiber foods would include vegetable pastas, popcorn (without the butter), oatmeal, and many vegetables are high in fiber, such as celery.
Step 4:
Start an exercise program. If you can't do a sit-up, start out with stretches and touch your toes. Pick exercises you can live with, and build up to as many exercises in one session as you can. If you detest exercising, dancing is a form of exercise too.
Step 5:
Carry healthy snacks with you at all times to avoid the pitfall of buying fast food or eating out of vending machine when you are starving!
Fast weight loss is harder to maintain. Remember that when you lose weight gradually, you are more apt to keep the weight off for good. The conventional wisdom for optimum weight loss is one-half to 1-1/2 pounds per week.
The new easy weight loss program taking the diet world by storm:
http://Fat-Loss-4-Idiots.org
Whey protein and weight loss might seem like water and oil; they just dont' go together. This is probably because for years protein supplements were the preferred choice of only elite bodybuilders. We pictured these athletes bulking up by adding extra protein to their diet.
Bodybuilders bulk up by lifting weights and not by consuming protein. If all you did was add more protein to your diet you would gain fat and not muscle. However, if you are eating the proper amount of lean protein as part of a balanced daily diet you can turn your body into a fat-burning machine.
Whey protein is found in many weight loss products and meal replacement food items. It is the whey protein isolates that are especially desirable for weight loss because of their low-fat and low-carbohydrate content. When you combine the proper amount of whey protein and a well-rounded exercise program you will build lean muscle mass. This muscle will burn more calories and start melting away your excess body fat.
You would probably agree with most other dieters that it is hunger that usually wins out over your desire to lose weight. Calorie-restricting diets have this very natural effect on our bodies. Severely reducing calories is never successful for long term weight loss. But hunger makes creating a moderate calorie deficit difficult. Whey protein has been shown to combat these feelings of hunger by promoting hormones responsible for appetite suppression. This can significantly contribute to your weight loss program by preventing late night snacking and even binge eating at the end of the day.
Whey protein and weight loss have also been linked because of whey protein's ability to prevent stress eating. Maybe you've eaten a handful of cookies and afterward realized that you weren't even hungry at the time. We've all done this and many times it is related to stress. That is why stress and obesity are closely related. Whey protein stimulates the production of a natural relaxation hormone, serotonin. Serotonin lowers anxiety levels and helps stop us from stress eating. For many people, this alone will help them lose weight and body fat.
We are well aware of the rise in obesity and diabetes. Whey protein and weight loss have been researched to determine if whey has an effect on insulin sensitivity. It does appear that whey protein improves insulin sensitivity and aids in weight loss through this mechanism.
If you are going to lose weight exercise will be an important part of the process. Whey protein helps you maximize the weight loss benefits of exercise. Research has shown that whey protein helps you gain lean muscle mass when you work out and this muscle increases your body's ability to burn fat.
Based on scientific research and the experience of many successful losers of body fat, a whey protein shake might be a great-tasting addition to your list of foods that will help you lose those extra 10 pounds.
Dr. Steve Tuggle is a practicing dentist, certified personal trainer (ACE, ACSM), certified wellness coach, life coach, ordained minister, and internet entrepreneur. You can learn more about how to improve your health and wellness at http://www.elite-wellness-coaching.com
For more information on whey protein and HOW TO LOSE BELLY FAT visit http://www.elite-wellness-coaching.com/whey-protein-shake.html
If you are into losing weight at all, or even being healthy, you have probably of heard about Hoodia. There has been great success with people using Hoodia to overcome there appetites. If you don't think it works, tribal members in Africa would eat Hoodia while out on long hunting trips to crave their hunger. This has been going on for probably thousands of years.
There are plenty of natural weight loss supplements out there that contain Hoodia. You just have to make sure it's coming from a reputable company or else it's not the real stuff. Companies need a certificate to get Hoodia because it's such in a demand now. Hoodia is grown under the harsh conditions of the beating sun and lack of water in the desert. After five years of growing, the Hoodia plant will flower which then you can eat it. Before that it is no good and you won't get the effects of the appetite suppressant.
Now this isn't going make you not eat at all. It just makes it so you can get throughout the day with eating minimal. So in the long run, your losing weight when your not eating all those greasy chips or hotdogs. Understanding the importance of not being hungry all the time will really lose the weight you desire.
To name a few weight loss supplements that contain Hoodia, Proshape RX is a notable one that really delivers results. Hoodia can be found in this one which is really effective along with the other natural herbs. Hoodia Gordonii Plus has also been around for a while which is another certified holder of Hoodia import. So if your interested in a weight loss supplement containing Hoodia, then those would be ideal for your weight loss plans.
Who would be a good contender for weight loss supplements containing Hoodia? Well, if you are one that can't seem to keep your fingers out of the cookie jar, or you are slipping on calories. It would be a good choice for you to try out this natural product. Once you get over your hunger, then you will be able to lose weight because how do you gain weight? By eating. So suppress the appetite to end that.
Everyone has tried to lose weight sometime in their life or to shape up a little bit. Find out what natural weight loss supplements actually work. TheWeightLossPlace.com has what your looking for.
You probably know by now that the liver is one of the most important organs in the human body. It's the body's natural filter that helps convert toxins into substances that can be discarded easily. Therefore, to have a healthy body, it is of vital importance that we keep this important organ in good condition. A healthy liver means a healthy body. One of the ways to help maintain your liver in good working condition is to go on a liver detox diet.
Since the liver is the first to receive toxins that enter the body, it has one of the highest toxin accumulations in the body. While the liver's main task is to clean the toxins and other wastes that are absorbed by the bloodstream in the body, the liver does not always able to discard hard substances such as heavy metals. Some of these toxins don't end up leaving the body and then what will happen is that there will be a type of toxin buildup throughout the body, especially the liver. Therefore, it is more important to detox the liver than detoxification of any other body system. The objective of a liver detox diet is to cleanse the liver of all the toxic wastes that have stagnated in the liver over the years.
A liver detox diet involves a person restricting oneself to organic foods such as raw vegetables, fruits and whole grains. The 2 ingredients that the liver needs in order to function properly are water and glucose. These ingredients aid the body's system to get rid of accumulated toxins. So, drinking a lot of water helps as it helps to flush toxins out of your system. A person on a liver detox diet must avoid foods that are not liver friendly such as fried and processed foods, sugar, coffee and saturated fats.
All in all, a complete liver detoxification will help to restore functionality to the liver as well as to the rest of the body. All of the body's organs are vitally important to maintaining a healthy body, but cleansing your liver will help the most! If you're experiencing poor health, aching body, tired most of the time, go on a liver detox diet.
For more information on how to detox your body and other free detox diet, check out detoxyourbodytoday.com .
Possibly the saddest comment anyone can make about our modern way of life concerns our obsession over how we look. The diet and weight loss industry markets almost entirely on the basis of how we think we look, rather than how healthy we are or how we feel. As important as looks are, when we base our weight loss goals on looks, we set ourselves up for serious disease and ultimate failure in the looks department, too. This article will help you set realistic goals that will drive you, not to go on another crash diet, but to take the right actions for a permanent lifestyle change that will give you the good looks and much more.
Lose Weight For Health: You'll look better! Yes, looking good is more than fitting into the latest fashions. By far, the best looking people, regardless of age, have made good health a priority in their lives. We've all seen the pictures of smokers, alcoholics, drug addicts and the morbidly obese. These pictures all have one thing in common...the people look old well beyond their years and as sick as a living person can be. Healthy people not only avoid harmful, addictive things, but they pursue healthy activities as a lifestyle. Healthy people don't need to "go on a diet" because they manage their regular diet and exercise so they never need to lose more than 10 pounds. I envy them! I'm just learning to do this in my 50's. Considering where my health choices have left me, I would have felt a lot better most of my life, had I just made health my priority. Fortunately, there's still time for both of us to feel better.
Lose Weight To Feel Better: Instead of looks, we need to manage our weight to feel better. There's no question that people who feel better look better. Half the time, I look terrible because of the asthma and diabetes caused by my previous bi-polar health habits. Tired, crabby and out of breath aren't pretty. Now that I'm down 50 pounds from my high, six years ago, It isn't as bad as it was. Feeling better is a great reason to lose the weight we need to lose. Of course, no one who is on a diet feels good. Their bodies don't have enough nutrients (that's why you lose weight) and their minds are fighting them at every turn. Oh, why can't I have that pie, hamburger, French fry, Ice Cream? We go from feeling sick and tired from carrying around the extra weight to feeling sick and tired because of our drastic diets. If we want to lose weight to feel better, we'll find a smarter way...with a permanent lifestyle change, including eating and regular exercise.
Lose Weight To Be Smarter: While developing a healthy lifestyle is smarter, it makes you smarter, too. Weight loss diets deprive us of nutrients necessary for optimum brain function. We lose concentration and become more sluggish and irritable. It really doesn't matter whether you're cutting carbs or proteins, your body is teetering on the edge of starvation, and that makes thinking far more difficult. When you lose weight using a low fat, balanced diet and exercise, the opposite is true. You get mentally sharper, feel happier and think better. That's because a balanced diet provides all the nutrients your brain needs and less fat to clog up the blood supply, while the exercise pumps the blood more thoroughly through the brain and produces endorphins that elevate mood and relaxation. Though you lose the weight more slowly, you're happier, more energetic and mentally sharper than before the lifestyle change...in short...you start getting healthier immediately.
Lose Weight To Avoid Disease: Speaking of being healthier, avoiding disease is right on the top of that list. In addition to the diseases I mentioned above, being fat causes or contributes to cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, depression, anxiety, phobia, rapid aging, allergies, and a host of other diseases. If your weight loss goal is to be healthy and avoid disease, the last thing you would want to do is stress your body further with a weight-loss diet. In fact, too few nutrients during a diet can cause many of the same diseases as being overweight. Based on my symptoms and blood tests at the time, I contracted diabetes when I was thin (170 pounds), after losing over 55 pounds in 6 months on a high carb/low protein diet program. My doctor never mentioned the high blood sugar, apparently because my weight wasn't out of control. Our bodies don't react well to the bi-polar practice of eating way too much and correcting it by eating way too little. It's a recipe for a health disaster.
Lose Weight by Healthy Living: Over the last 6 months, I've lost 20 pounds by eating the right balance of healthy, fresh foods and by getting lots of exercise, mostly aerobic exercise. Diabetes makes weight loss far more difficult because eating too few nutrients can cause a coma. This disease has forced me to use the very weight loss method I recommend in my articles and on my web-site. I expect to lose another 20 pounds over the next 6 months, then, to take about 9 months for the final 17 pounds, to reach my goal of 180. It's taking so long, because I'm replacing body fat with muscle, rather than just starving both on a traditional weight-loss diet. When you do this, you lose inches quickly, but weight slowly. So, I look lighter than I weigh. In my opinion, two things make this weight loss method superior to any other I've tried. The first is the fact that I haven't given up any kind of food. All I've done is eat the good tasting "bad" stuff less often. Pizza once every couple months, for instance. The second thing is, when I reach my goal I won't need to change a thing. The same eating and exercise that got me there will keep me there.
When you're deciding on a weight loss program, make sure you have the right motives for losing weight. If you lose weight to be healthy...to feel better, think better, live longer and avoid disease...you'll make the right choices for a healthy lifestyle. If your looks are the primary motive, you could lose your health...and your good looks.
Glen Williams is Webmaster for http://www.e-health-fitness.com, founder and CEO of EHF, Inc. He has done extensive research on personal and family health and fitness issues and has been helping and advising people on health since 1987. You can comment on his articles at Health And Fitness Forums.
If you want to lose 10 pounds in 3 or 4 weeks, know that they way you do it will also affect how you look and feel at the end of that time period. While it is possible to lose 10 lbs in 3 or 4 weeks with little exercise, provided that you follow a fast paced weight loss diet, many people wish to use that time period to develop their fitness as well. This article is basically for those people (even though I'll write a few words on nutrition as well).
Getting fit has many benefits: it improves your health, increases your metabolism and energy levels, makes you look leaner, harder, and younger, and can also improve your overall mood due to the release of certain chemicals inside our body which make us feel happier.
So, it's no wonder that many people wish to combine their goal of losing 10 pounds in 3 or 4 weeks with their ambition to become fitter.
To do both things: lose 10 pounds in 3 or 4 weeks and get fitter, you need to follow a diet and fitness program which can get you results. In order to minimize disruption to your regular lifestyle, you should choose a program which utilizes short cardiovascular routines and fitness workouts, preferably those you can do in the privacy of your own home (to save the time driving to the gym). If such a program sound like something you'd like to pursue, I recommend using a program called Turbulence Training by Craig Ballantyne. It's one of the most popular fitness programs on the internet and produces proven results. With this program you can lose 10 pounds in 3 to 4 weeks and get fit as well.
To read more about Turbulence Training and other methods to lose 10 pounds fast, click here: How To Lose 10 Pounds In 4 Weeks or Less
John Davenport lost over 30 pounds in his twenties after being overweight most of his life. To read how you can start to lose as much as 10 lbs. in 3 Weeks and keep it off, visit this webpage:
How to lose 10 pounds And Never Gain It Back.
Many individuals would like to lose weight for any number of reasons, including appealing to the opposite gender, boosting ones self-esteem, or even health reasons. Today, there is a number of different kinds of diets and weight loss supplements (or diet pills) available on the market, so the task of selecting one that will work best for you can be somewhat daunting.
Weight loss supplements can be classified into categories: carbohydrate blockers, appetite suppressant, cortisol blockers, and fat reduction supplements.
The carb blocker is still fairly popular. A few years ago, the carb diet was all the rage; people though carbohydrates were unhealthy and not good for the diet, so by taking a carb blocker, one could theoretically eat more carbs while gaining less weight.
Fat loss supplements are designed to burn fat within the body, by a process known as thermogenesis. A supplement that is designed to induce thermogenesis will cause an individuals internal temperature to rise, thus burning body fat.
Cortisol is an component that is naturally produced within the body and is attributed as a major cause of belly fat. Cortisol tends to increase when stressed, leading to a rise in fat cells, particularly in the stomach. A weight loss supplement that is classified as a cortisol blocker works to help fend off and prevent cortisol production in the body.
Perhaps one of the most popular types of diet pills on the market is an appetite suppressant. Such a weight loss supplement is designed to curb hunger, making one feel full while eating less.
Be sure you research any weight loss supplements before you take them. They should be used in conjunction with proper diet and exercise, two other ways you can lose weight effectively. Make sure to carefully read the label and follow directions properly. Doing so will enable you to maximize your weight loss.
A fabulous benefit to Proactol is that it is 100% natural and found from an herb. This means that it is healthier for you than the traditional weight loss methods and you are not harming your body from toxic ingredients.
Many weight loss supplements that saturate the market today contain ingredients that are harmful to the body. Many people have claimed to have serious memory loss and severe side effects from taking weight loss pills for too long. It can be dangerous to the body to take weight loss pills that have harmful ingredients.
Many people will take anything to lose weight and there are millions of people out there trying to achieve their weight loss goals right now. However, the problems with the common supplements for weight loss today is that people can form an addiction to these drugs and cause bigger problems for themselves than just their weight. Many of the weight loss pills might be mixed with alcohol or other drugs and people cannot stop. People might find themselves taking more than the recommended dosage for weight loss also.
Proactol is a 100% natural weight loss product because it is derived from an herb. There are no additives and extras in this product that will make you lose your memory or create an addiction. You are perfectly safe taking Proactol.
Another benefit of Proactol being a natural weight loss product is that it is not harmful to you. This means that there are no side effects from the drug and you don't have to worry about it. Many people have serious problems with excessive weight. The major problems for them are that they suffer from other medical issues too. This puts them in a difficult situation in losing weight because they might harm their health if they attempt to take other supplements that contain something dangerous. They continue to gain weight because exercising is painful and they have no other solution and need help. Proactol can help people like this because it is natural. Not only will they notice the pounds start to drop but they will soon be in a physical condition that they are capable of exercising again. This is very beneficial and proven.
When you are trying to lose weight, you have to almost cleanse your body and get rid of all of the toxins in your body. This means that for the first week of eating healthy and taking Proactol, you will see your body go through major changes and expel many of the fats and toxins in your body. You will begin to feel fantastic and completely rejuvenated. Results from Proactol are not the same for everyone because no body is the same. Some people notice visible results from Proactol with in a couple of weeks and others it may take a couple of months. You will notice the change in energy levels and clarity.
Proactol is the best solution for weight loss management because it is a completely natural product. You are not putting any toxins into your body to lose weight.
You can find more information on the amazing weight loss supplement known as Proactol. And you can also find Diet Pill Reviews, including Prescription Diet Pills at DietPillCheck.
If you are attempting to lose weight and body fat it is critical that you have realistic expectations for the how quickly you want to lose the weight and subsequently reach your goal. Today we live in a "microwave society" in which people want instant results and instant gratification. These ideas are further exacerbated by companies in the wellness industry who market products promising great results in "no time at all." Weather it be the magic pill or the latest fad diet these products are everywhere and it's important not to buy into the hype and allow it to impact your expectations.
Realistic expectations are very important because if you set your goals and they are unrealistic, you may begin to work towards them, fall significantly short of them, get frustrated and upset, and quit. I have seen this happen time and time again and these people are victims of unrealistic expectations. It can be very deflating if you set your expectations very high (lose 15 pounds this month like the man or woman on TV) and then only lose 4 or 5. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people get so dejected and quit when they were in fact making nice progress towards their goals.
The truth is a lot of people develop unrealistic expectations about the amount of weight they want to lose and the time they want to lose it in due to the marketing of companies out to make a buck. You can't let these companies whose products seemingly deliver the world impact the types of expectations you set for yourself (by the way, ever notice that at the bottom of all those infomercials and commercials it has a line saying, "Results not typical.") If you do you are setting yourself up for failure and disappointment.
When setting your expectations for any weight loss or fat loss program, it is critical that you factor in the amount of time you can commit to exercise, how committed you are going to be, how much weight you have to lose, etc. Do you think it's logical for someone who has 6 days a week to commit to exercise and someone who can commit 3 days a week to have the same expectations about the results they will get? Of course not! This is why it's very important to look at your own situation and set your expectations accordingly.
By setting realistic expectations, you are far more likely to keep the course and continue to work towards your goals. You will be encouraged with your progress and want to continue putting in the work because you are seeing results. Be sure to take into account your individual situation and set of circumstances when setting your expectations as well.
Brody Beach has a passion for helping others achieve their weight loss and fitness goals. Brody's mission is to help as many people as possible to develop the bodies they truly desire. For a free copy of one of Brody's ebooks and to receive a free personalized weight loss/fitness program designed by Brody to fit your individual needs, visit http://www.weight-loss-truth.com
You don't have to do cardio for weight loss at all. None. Shocking, isn't it? We've been told so many times you have to cardio, aerobics, and cardio in the fat burn zone in order to burn fat. But the truth? You have to control your diet. How you burn calories for weight loss is less important.
The latest research from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, has shown that an 8-week cardio program (3 sessions per week of 40 minutes per session) did not result in any fat loss! On the other hand, the interval training group in the same study lost several pounds.
Traditional cardio is a waste of time. Inefficient, and possibly ineffective. You are much better focusing on your proper fat loss nutrition and strength and interval workouts.
And you certainly don't have to do extreme amounts of cardio. But some people end up taking their fat loss activities to extremes. Making unhealthy, ineffective, and excessive choices.
For example, one reader emailed me about the 7 hours of cardio she did per week. She wondered why she wasn't losing ANY fat. That is an extreme amount of slow and steady cardio. Something I would never advise for a fat loss program. And she still wanted to do more!
I told her absolutely not. If 7 hours per week does't work for you, why would more? With that mentality, you'll end up spending every single non-working waking minute doing cardio. What kind of life is that?
Another reader wrote in about the pitfalls of her excessively low calorie diet...
"I'm on the weight loss track again. I found I wasn't eating enough calories (1000 kcal/day). Filling up on veggies is good (and I love them), but they don't have the calories. Eating walnuts/almonds helped get me there. Eating 1500+ is where I need to stay to lose weight and keep my energy up. I've dropped about 3 pounds this week."
Inside most people, there is going to be the urge to do more, eat less, or obsess even further about food and exercise when you are trying to reach a fitness or fat loss goal.
But taking eating and working out to the extremes is more often counterproductive, and in the long-run, downright unhealthy.
And the unfortunate thing is that the reader that emailed me about her 7 hours of ineffective aerobic training, was skeptical of the strength and interval workouts, because she didn't think it contained enough cardio.
But really, how much could be enough for this woman? 7 hours wasn't getting her any results. What did she want? 10 hours?
We need to understand that cardio is not the be-all and end-all of fat loss programs. There are many ways to burn fat and calories, not just by spending 60 minutes on an elliptical machine.
All you need are 3 workouts per week of 45 minutes per session. Do 20 minutes of total body strength training followed by 20 minutes of interval training. Then spend the rest of your week staying active through fun activities and focusing on whole, natural foods for your fat loss nutrition. No more extreme cardio!
You have permission to publish this article in your web sites, ezines or electronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entirety including the resource box, all hyperlinks (HTML clickable) and references and copyright info.
Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men's Health and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training for Fat Loss have helped thousands of men and women with weight loss and fat burning in less than 45 minutes three times per week. Turbulence Training for Fat Loss workouts help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment. Craig's bodyweight workouts for fat loss help you lose fat without any equipment at all.
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