Obesity & Diabetes

Health is a big asset which requires proper care and nurturing. A fit and trim body gives inner and outer confidence whereas an obese physique makes you dull and pessimistic. Obesity breeds other diseases and makes our existence uncomfortable and unpleasant. It also results in emotional suffering which is one of the most painful parts of obesity.

Obesity is not just a cosmetic problem. It's a health hazard. Someone who is grossly overweight is twice as likely to die prematurely as compared to an average-weight person. This is because obesity has been linked to several serious medical conditions such as diabetes and strokes.

A weight increase of 11-18 pounds doubles the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in comparison to individuals who have not gained weight. According to studies, over 80 percent of people with diabetes are overweight or obese. This may account for the newly invented word, diabesity, which signifies the close association between obesity and diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes, one of most prominent ailment found in obese people reduces body's ability to control blood sugar. It is a major cause of early death, heart disease, stroke, and blindness. Overweight people are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to normal weight people.  Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells.

The chances of its occurrence can be reduced by losing weight and exercising more. If you have type 2 diabetes, losing weight and becoming more physically active can help control your blood sugar levels. Increasing your physical activity may also allow you to reduce the amount of diabetes medication intake. Losing a small amount of weight can also reduce your chances of developing heart disease or a stroke and make your body ailment freeStudies show that you can improve your health by losing as little as 10 to 20 pounds. Weight reduction can decrease your chance of developing several fatal ailments like heart disease, blood pressure, and levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides. So take your first step towards  and make your life a healthy and energetic one.

Popular Diet Comparisons

At the end of the day, all people want to know is which diet reigns supreme and is worth my time and money? Which weight loss pill or exercise should I do? We all want to lose weight fast and guess what? and keep it off for good. Can some weight loss pill melt the fat off my frame, so I can eat whatever I want? The answer to that one may surprise you. Clinical trials are being run and some have finished with some shocking results you will like in regards to revolutionary, exciting new weight loss pills that are safe to take for the long run with little to no side effects.

The more diets published in magazines and on the Internet, the more people are befuddled about what dieting really means and about the right way of bringing your body back into fighting shape. The exponentially growing number of obese people has turned weight loss into an industry like never before and the market is growing every year into the billions. It seems that all is needed is a nice idea and a great marketing in order to make a lot of money or get a lot of popularity by proposing some sort of strange diet, despite the lack of professional experience in this very overcrowded field.

And there are many diets out there in magazines, TV and the internet. We’re going to go through the most popular diets, since a review of all the diets making the rounds would be beyond the scope of this article and we don't want to bore you with all the details.

The most popular diet in the world many would say is the Atkins diet. The biggest thing in favor of this diet is that it lets you eat high fat dairy products like butter and cheese. However, the Atkins diet has fallen from its zenith over suspicions of increasing the risk of coronary heart disease, not to mention the the large number of people complain of muscle cramps, diarrhea, rashes and weakness. The debate over the scientific fundamentals of the Atkins diet is still raging on.

Next comes Barry Sears, the Zone diet; another well-known eating plan. It’s all about eating the right mix of foods in order to reach the right hormonal balance for you. This state of balance, which is called the “Zone”, lets the body take in calories and use them through the day without putting anything aside as fat. This diet does some serious discrimination among foods without any scientific basis. Such as starchy vegetables, beans and whole grains are banned from your diet, although these foods are not in conflict with the principles of the Zone diet. Please note that The American Heart Association states the Zone diet lacks essential nutrients while promoting high-protein foods. Medifast is a highly effective meal replacement diet, which has been satisfying customers for over 25 years. Medifast has been recommended by over 15,000 physicians and has been clinically proven at Johns Hopkins. Medifast is a growing company in the weight loss market. Medifast is offering customers a FREE week of product with the purchase of a 4-week supply. Customers also receive Free Shipping with the purchase of a 4-week supply. You can expect to lose 20 pounds per month. They offer 2 week or 4 week food plan designed for men, women and diabetics. Easily design your meals online. Prices range from $140 to $285 which is based on choosing 2 week, 70 meal plan or 4 week, 143 meal plan, or diabetic plan which costs $285. The Jenny Craig diet is next on our list. One of the longest running diets that we know of, Jenny Craig started this business in the early 1980s and it’s still alive and purchased by Nestle, the famous chocolate maker. The basic idea of this diet is a trade off: say goodbye to recipes, and food shopping, and cooking, but you have to buy the super expensive Jenny Craig prepackaged food. And that runs to some $120 per week. Plus you have membership costs. Plus the vegetables and fruits which are not included in the prepackaged food. Therefore, If you can afford it and if you can adhere to it, the diet is not bad. The con here is you can buy similar low-calorie foods at the grocery store, and you don’t have to discuss this with a Jenny Craig expert that insists on your eating the prepackaged food because he gets a percentage of the sale price. Yes, they get a sales percentage on the food they sell you.

From Florida comes the South Beach diet. A lot of people have managed to lose weight with this diet and it actually works okay. The first phase of the diet will eliminate most foods containing carbs from your daily consumption. Fortunately, this phase lasts 2 weeks. Unfortunately, second phase focuses on return of whole grains and fruits and lasts as long as necessary. If reaching the desired weight takes you 1 year, then that’s exactly how long this phase is going to last. And if you don’t like the foods allowed by this diet then you’re out of luck I'm afraid.

And yet another favorite dieting program around is the all popular Weight Watchers. This diet puts all the management tools in the hands of the user. A lot of people who are going through the same thing are going to be there to help you. If having company during difficult times helps your willpower, then you are probably going to lose all that extra weight. If, on the other hand, you don’t like the idea of being constantly under peer pressure, then this diet is definitely not for you to try. The Mediterranean Diet is based on food patterns typical of Crete, much of the rest of Greece, and southern Italy in the early 1960s, where adult life expectancy was among the highest in the world and rates of coronary heart disease, certain cancers, and other diet-related chronic diseases among the lowest. Olive oil is the primary source of fat. Cereals, which include pasta, are an integral part of the diet, and low consumption of red meats.

This is just a brief summary, there are a lot of diets out there, dozens more than we’ve been able to go over here, so we invite you to visit our website to peruse many more diets and weight loss pills along with consumer ratings. The best thing to do when choosing a diet or weight loss pill is to do your own research. See what other consumers who tried it have to say and that will give you a better understanding of what works best. Then see what your physician and/or dietitian have to say about it.

Why are diets so popular today and which ones are worth your time and money? We have listed the most popular, respected diets today. How many more diets do you want to try? There are so many of them like the cabbage soup diet to diets made just for diabetics. Consumers have been polled and they rated all the popular diets according to how much weight loss occurred and the time it took. Look, we all know many diets aren't fun to be on and for most of us it's going to be a lifestyle change versus one - two month duration. Therefore, many consumers opt to use diet pills to loss weight without sacrificing all their favorite foods and suffering through small portions. Some will try both a popular diet and a diet pill. Either way it benefits the consumer today because of the revolutionary advancement in weight loss pills like Proactol. The one diet or weight loss pill that has true backing from the medical community for the first time, since it has passed 8 clinical trials to support all their claims, for example,blocking around 30% of your dietary fat in each meal you have by binding to the fat and is flushed out of your body. On top of that it's an all natural appetite suppressant. After being on Proactol for a year, you won't have to worry about going on anymore diets or suffer from hunger pains.

Quick Teen Weight Loss

Overweight not only hampers the health of adults, but it is injurious to teens and kids as well. Hence, if you are in the teen ages and feel troubled by those extra kilos around your waist, don’t wait any further to embrace a suitable weight loss programs for teens that you think works well for your body. Get the act together today itself! Given below are few invaluable teen weight loss tips, as seen in many of the best weight loss programs for teens prescribed by expert nutritionists, which could help you to take the fight to your foe – over weight.

Overweight – in a very basic level – is caused due to excessive consumption of food. Hence the best weight loss programs for teens must have a suggestion to control the daily intake of food, especially fatty and oily victuals. Also take care to avoid milk products, all sorts of junk foods and artificial drinks.

Another aspect that most best weight loss programs for teens suggests is to drink lots of water and incorporate fruits, raw vegetables, and fibrous foods into the diet. It is vital in balancing the nutrient content in the body caused due to the reduction in the normal intake (assuming you are following the first suggestion as such).

Replace your normal snacks – such as a packet of chips or potato wafers – with something that is healthier to your system. That is, substitute your chips or other fat and oil rich snacks with something like frozen grapes, cherry tomatoes, baby carrot or low-fat pudding or yogurt, instead.

Take few hours every day to workout in the gym or spend some time running or playing your favorite sport. Such physical activities could burn away those extra calories from under your skin. In fact this is the most important step one could find in all the best weight loss programs for teens suggested by experts.

But, the most important of all the suggestions is that you must nurture a strong will to follow the diet program, you choose, religiously. Else, no best weight loss programs for teens could help you bring down your weight. Yes, it can be hard work, but the end result is worth the pain you endure during the process. Good Luck!

Reward Yourself!

Looking better and feeling great may be their own rewards when you lose weight, but it never hurts to reward yourself for reaching goals and sticking to your eating plan. Building in incentives is a time-honored way of helping keep yourself on track. Did you pass up that piece of cheesecake at lunch? Reward yourself with a pot of fresh herbs! Did you get out and exercise for your daily half-hour? Take a luxurious bath with scented oils. Went the whole week without falling off your new routine? That calls for a big reward! Treat yourself to an evening out, or buy that book you've been dying to read.

Need some excuses for rewarding yourself? Try setting one of these goals to give yourself something to shoot for:

1. Weight loss goals.

Pretty traditional here - treat yourself to something special whenever you can mark off ten pounds toward your goal weight. Get a manicure to make you feel extra special.

2. Look, Ma, I dropped a whole size!

Well, that certainly calls for buying yourself something in that new size, even if it's just a pair of new exercise sneakers!

3. Whew! I made it ALL the way through the half-hour workout without stopping ONCE!

Now that's impressive! Call your best friend or your mom and brag -or just chat. Even if it's long distance.

4. I didn't do it! That chocolate chip cookie dough sundae was calling my name, but I turned my back and walked away.

In that case, don't you think you deserve fresh flowers for your
desk?

5. I finally fit into THAT dress!

I'd say that calls for wearing it out somewhere special, wouldn't you? Take yourself out dancing to show it off!

6. I lost weight for the third week in a row. I'm so proud of myself!

Here's an ongoing reward - for every pound you lose, drop a dollar or two into a jar, and watch the money build up. Entertain yourself with plans on how you'll spend it when you reach your goal weight.

7. I got stuck for three weeks, but I finally budged from that plateau!

I'll tell you what - sticking to a diet when you're not seeing results is one of the hardest things that you'll ever do. Get yourself something that will make it easier to reward yourself. For example, buy a blender for whipping up frozen fruit smoothies.

8. I'm halfway there!

You deserve a Halfway Party, don't you think? Pull out all your old fat clothes and try them on so you can feel great about how far you've
come.

9. I've been slugging away forever, and I'm starting to get
discouraged...

Okay, so it's not a 'reward' situation -- but it is. You deserve a reward for sticking to it this long. Want a quick pick-me-up? Pick up the phone and get together with someone you haven't seen in months.This will guarantee that you’ll receive compliments at how great you look!

10. I did it! I made it! I reached my goal weight!!

Well, sweetheart, that calls for pulling out the stops! Remember that money you've been paying yourself for losing weight? Time to cash it in for something fabulous!

Eating healthy and losing weight are gifts that you give yourself, though they may not feel like it at first. By rewarding yourself along the way, you’ll not only increase the chances of your success, but you’ll enjoy the process a whole lot more!

Smart Strategies for Successful Weight Loss

While those focusing on weight loss are eating less, they are not necessarily eating better. Regimens restricting certain foods or using extreme low-calorie diets often don't work in the long run because they are difficult to maintain and don't provide the body with the variety of nutrients it needs.

How do you lose weight and keep it off without extreme measures? Here are some tips:

* Understand your motivation to eat. Many times stress, fatigue and dehydration are disguised as hunger pangs. Ask yourself if you are overwhelmed, thirsty, bored or truly hungry before reaching for a snack.

* Plan your meals. You don't have to map out an entire menu, but think about what you can eat for lunch and dinner beforehand, so that you aren't grabbing something on the go because you're hungry and it's time to eat. Cook meals ahead of time to have on hand at the end of a long workday.

* Keep your immune system strong. When dieting, it's important to keep your immune system healthy by providing your body with essential nutrients. A health drink called NuVim is a new product that helps maintain a healthy immune system, according to its manufacturer. Tested and proven effective in 19 clinical studies, NuVim also helps with muscle flexibility and athletic performance. The drink contains the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, along with B-12, zinc, calcium and essential amino acids.

* Find subtle ways to cut calories. For instance, switch from drinking 2 percent milk to skim, or let diet soda or unsweetened tea take the place of regular soda. Low-fat and low-sugar versions of condiments like cream cheese, butter, dressing and jam also make a difference without sacrificing taste.

* Exercise as much as you can. Few people are able to lose weight and keep it off without exercise. While it may seem impossible to fit yet one more thing into an already time-starved calendar, exercising for at least 30 minutes three to four days a week is a must. Working up to an hour, four to five days a week, should be a goal.

The Atkins Diet

Supporters of Atkins say just about anyone can slim down using their program. However, there are certain people that are most likely to benefit from the Atkins plan.  These include yo-yo dieters, who find themselves losing weight, only to gain it back again; dieters who feel constantly hungry;  and those who eat for emotional reasons.  Binge eaters and constant snackers can also benefit from the Atkins program. In addition, those who suffer from a food addiction are prime candidates for Atkins. Atkins relies heavily on proteins and fats, along with carbohydrates that are rich in nutrients.  The idea is to strictly reduce the amount of non-nutritious carbohydrates you consume.  The theory behind this is that, when carbs are restricted, you end up burning fat rather than glucose. In addition, it has been shown that, all things being equal, you will lose more fat with Atkins than with other types of weight loss plans.

The Atkins plan is divided into four stages. During the initial stage, your body moves from burning carbohydrates to burning fats. You should also be able to kick the sugar habit during this stage. During the second stage, your weight loss will accelerate, but you will also be able to eat larger portions of vegetables.  In the third stage, known as pre-maintenance, you will continue to add more foods to the mix.   The final stage involves lifetime maintenance. During this phase, you can continue to fight food addictions, maintain your goal weight, and decrease the chance that you will suffer from diabetes.

However, it can be difficult to stick with the Atkins plan. This is because the temptation to eat carbohydrates and sweets is so great. Friends and relatives can become diet saboteurs, preventing you from achieving the results you’re looking for.  In this case, the best defense is a good offense. This means telling your significant others in advance that you’re determined to complete the Atkins program.  Inform them that you don’t want to even be offered French fries and potato chips.

The Journal of the American Medical Association has suggested that the Atkins plan can be dangerous for children.  This is not surprising, considering that young people are still growing and need all the nutrients they can get, whether the vitamins and minerals are from carbohydrates or other sources.  Supporters of Atkins say that, while children may not benefit from a restriction of vegetables and fruits, they could consume fewer potatoes and breads and still remain healthy.

Some medical experts say that the Atkins approach is not appropriate for people who already suffer from kidney or liver trouble.  Also, because Atkins reduces the amount of fruits and vegetables an individual consumes, the diet can leave people at greater risk for such problems as cancer and heart disease. As a result, you should probably check with your family physician before resorting to the Atkins plan, or any other low-carb, high-protein diet.

It is likely that the Atkins plan will remain controversial for the foreseeable future.  While it has been proven effective in helping people lose weight, it may also place individuals at a higher risk for serious diseases.  A great deal of additional research needs to be conducted in order to determine if Atkins is a miracle cure or a medical nightmare.  Once more studies are conducted, the long-term effects of Atkins on the human body may be easier to determine. If you are generally in good health and have a normal energy level, you might give Atkins a try. If, however, you suffer from any serious diseases, or are experiencing symptoms such as high blood pressure, you might consider an alternative diet plan.  In the end, you, in consultation with your doctor, will have to determine the diet program that’s appropriate in your particular case.

The Flavor Point Diet

The Flavor Point Diet is premised on creation of meals, whose flavors help your appetite center recognize this point sooner so you do not over eat and gain weight.

How does this work? This works based on a well-known scientific fact, that the “Flavor Point”,  it is a phase in your eating experience where the appetite center (hypothalamus) in your brain recognizes the fact that your appetite has been satisfied.

The Flavor Point diet is arranged around “flavor themes”. This means, each day has a set of meals based on a specific flavor. You could get apple flavored meals on Monday, oregano on Tuesday, or blueberries on Wednesday, etc.  Better yet, you do not feel deprived of food or nutrients at any time.

David L. Katz M.D. a renowned authority on nutrition and weight controls, working at the Prevention Research Center and the Rudd Food Center for Food Policy & Obesity at Yale University, is the writer/creator of this diet.

He conceived of this diet program and tested the recipes by conducting a pilot study of 20 women, men, and their families for over 12 weeks at the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center.

At the conclusion of the research project, the participants and their families saw their body fat drop, blood sugar, and cholesterol, insulin, and blood pressure drop significant levels.

Dr. Katz said ‘The Flavor Diet’ book , whose recipes have been created with the help of his wife Catherine a neuroscientist, has three aims:

To guide people,  to stay committed to their weight loss goals, in a responsible manner.

Be an agent of positive change, by altering the negative concepts Americans have and feel about dieting.

Change the way the foods are cooked and presented in homes, hotels, and restaurants.   Dr. Katz contends today’s prevailing culinary environment has led to flavor overload, leading people to eat more, before they feel full.

For whom is the Flavor Point Diet intended? Dr. Katz recommends the diet to be used by persons with an obesity problem, chronic dieters, and those who simply choose to eat the healthy way.

The Flavor Point Diet can be a healthy aid in lowering the obesity levels, for in the United States today, obesity has become a serious health epidemic.
Figures taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from to 1999-2002, show that 15% of American children ages 6-11 and 64% of adults aged 20 years up are classified as obese.

The second reason, is the fact that every year, hundreds of diet and weight loss programs are introduced. A majority is faddish, and some of these are dangerously very unhealthy.

The Flavor Point Diet plan with its’ three dieting phases, where the more obvious flavors are set at the beginning and the subtler ones towards the end, will suit the chronic dieter. For the chronic dieter has a tendency to  jump from one diet fad another, or skip certain stages in a diet plan.

The nutritional profile of the diet is steady, and it meets all the dietary guidelines. Because of these, the chronic dieter can safely stay at any phase of the diet plan, for an indefinite time, stay healthy, and keep losing weight.

Lastly, the diet plan is intended for and is appropriate for all the members of a household, whatever ages they may be.

The Flavor Plan Diet provides you with the ability to select one flavorful food and to eat only this, to your heart is content for as long as you want to. You will feel full and satisfied. Your nutritional requirements are met, even if you are eating fewer calories.

The Magic Of The Thyroid Diet

Health & Fitness are considered most important in our daily life and our every day diet plays an important role in it. The Thyroid Diet has magical secrets of weight loss. Thyroid diet includes food you want to eat and lose weight overnight. Thyroid diet is the best for people who have weight challenges due to thyroid conditions. It helps us to return to a healthy weight, without a rigorous change in our diet and exercise.

The Thyroid Diet explores brands, mixtures and dosage of thyroid medicines right for us considering the other lifestyle issues and supplements that help to optimize thyroid treatment. It resolves nutritional deficiencies, treats depression and corrects brain chemistry imbalances, reduces stress, combats insulin resistance, treats food allergies and sensitivities, and exercise.

Thyroid diet recommends a very low-calorie diet for weight loss in cases of hypothyroidism but it is necessary to maintain metabolism. Low calories and lower metabolism sends body into hoard mode, which is a process, thyroid patients are susceptible to. Thyroid diet suggests breaking up calories into multiple "mini-meals" per day. The Thyroid Diet manages metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss. These thyroid conditions result in metabolic slowdown. The Thyroid Diet gives diagnosed and proper thyroid treatment for successfully loses weight.

This diet has many frustrating impediments for weight loss. It offers both conventional and alternative solution for help. The Thyroid Diet has optimal dietary changes. Thyroid sufferer have to focus on a low-glycemic, high-fiber, lower-calorie diet, optimal timing of meals for maximum hormonal impact, thyroid-damaging foods to avoid, helpful herbs and supplements. They face unexpected weight gain, despite diet and exercise showing symptoms as:

- Fatigue and exhaustion
- More hair loss than usual
- Moodiness
- Muscle and joint pains and aches

Hyperthyroid leads to metabolism that stores every calorie even after rigorous diet and exercise programs. Even optimal treatment doesn’t help weight problems plague for many thyroid patients. For the majority of thyroid patients, treatment alone doesn’t seem to resolve our weight problems. Thyroid diet is a simple, understandable way that offers you the support, encouragement and information to pursue the right diagnosis and treatment.

The Skinny on Fat Burners

So you’re thinking about adding fat burners to your daily routine to help you on your way to that slimmer, trimmer body you’ve always wanted. Hey! Every little bit helps right? So why not fat burners? Well, here is the low-down on fat burners that just might help you to understand what they are and how they work for a weight loss program.

While there are quite a number of products on the market today, many of the ingredients will be similar from one product to another. Caffeine is a drug that is used all over the world mostly for its stimulant effects. Caffeine increases alertness, lowers the perceived exertion of exercise and decreases reaction time.

 Caffeine has another effect that few people know about; it also acts as a fat burner! Caffeine works by increasing the rate of fatty acid metabolism and decreasing the rate of carbohydrate metabolism during aerobic exercise. Glycogen is spared after taking in only 150-250mg of caffeine. With an increased reliance on fat and a decreased reliance on glycogen, more calories will be burned from fat if caffeine is taken in prior to exercise.

Keep in mind though that caffeine does have some side effects as well. At higher doses caffeine can cause slowed heart rate, hypertension, nervousness, irritability, insomnia and gastrointestinal distress. It is also a diuretic which causes the kidneys to excrete more fluid than normal which can dehydrate the body. Caffeine will not help you lose weight on its own, but if taken before aerobic exercise it can help increase fat burning and help you exercise longer.

HCA, or hydroxyl citric acid, has the purported effects of inhibiting the conversion of fat by blocking the enzyme ATP citrate lyase and to decrease appetite. Naringin is a substance that is isolated from grapefruit and is an inhibitor of an enzyme that metabolizes caffeine and has been shown to possibly prolong caffeine’s fat burning effects.

Synephrine is the active compound in the fruit of a plant called citrus aurantium. Synephrine is chemically similar to the ephedrine found in many cold/allergy medications and a number of weight loss and energy supplements, which contain ma huang. Its purported benefits are to increase the metabolic rate, increase calorie expenditure, promote weight loss and increase energy.

Guggulsterone possibly works in stimulating the thyroid gland. This would speed up the metabolism. It may also lower cholesterol. The trouble is, as with many of these herbs, is that they have not been studied enough to prove that they really work, and that they are safe from any side effects.

Yohimbine raises the metabolism by increasing the release of norepinephrine, one of the adrenal hormones. Studies have shown that this product did have a weight loss effect but as with most other products of this kind, long term use and side effects have yet to be studied.

In essence, fat burners may work to some extent but at what possible long term cost? With the lack of studies done on most of these products as to not only there effectiveness, but also there possible side effects, it would be safe to say that it would be best to avoid most of these products. Caffeine, if used in moderate amounts, may well be your best bet for a pre-exercise fat burning aid but use it sparingly and if you feel any of the previously mentioned side effects or any other symptoms from caffeine use, stop and consult your doctor before continuing use.

The Truth About Low Carb Diets

Low carb diets are very effective in achieving weight loss when followed.  But the key word there is that they should be followed.  However, there are controversies about their “healthiness”.  Definitely, people get into these diets to lose weight.  But what every person getting into this is not only the aspect of losing weight but also as always, keeping the weight off.  But it goes beyond that. It also involves being and staying healthy and functional in whatever we do everyday.  A slim person is definitely not attractive if he or she is weak from lack of nutrients and energy due to these low carb diets.

The body uses up carbohydrates first as a source of energy. If there are more carbohydrates taken in, the body stores the surplus as fat.  If there are fewer carbohydrates taken it, the body is forced to use the stored fat for its energy requirement.  The principle of these low carb diets is to take in food low in carbohydrates so that the body is forced to use its stored fat.

By drastically reducing carbohydrates to a small fraction of a person’s diet, the body goes into “ketosis”. The body burns its own fat to convert into energy A person in ketosis is getting energy from ketones.  Ketones are little carbon fragments that are created by the breakdown of stored fat. One feels less hungry when his or her body is in ketosis.  The end result is that he or she is likely to eat less even if  allowed to do so. In effect, the body is transformed from a carbohydrate-burning machine into a fat-burning one, thus making fat the primary energy source. This brings us to the most fundamental fact of dieting: the less fat you have, the lighter you weigh.  The end result is the desired weight loss.

There are diets like Atkins that seem to be a dream come true.  It stems from its design that a person could eat as much as he or she wants from a wide variety of food that other diets steer away from.  Steaks, meat, crab, eggs, all types of protein based food are allowed since the body will burn carbohydrates first and not protein or fats.  Basically, it follows the same low carb principle of reducing carbohydrate intake and forcing the body to use fat towards weight loss.
 
But experts are concerned about the long term safety of the diet.  By contemporary medical standards, the risk of heart diseases, stroke, cancer, liver and kidney problems are very extremely high.  These risks have been pointed out repeated by a number of health researches on high fat diets.

Other low carb diets are cleansing in nature such as the detox diet.  It helps in the health reassessment of one’s lifestyle, eating patterns and focus on foods.  Here, one becomes more aware of one’s food intake.  However, there are individuals, such as diabetics, people with low blood sugar or eating disorders have to stay clear of it.  They will find themselves more in trouble than they are already.

Low carb diets serve their purpose.  But there is no substitute for the traditional, proven healthy lifestyle of a balance diet of the basic food groups in the nutritionists’ pyramid order combined with the proper exercise. However, should a person still go through with these diets for whatever reason, he or she should be equipped with knowledge of not only the benefits but most especially the risks.  Everyone wants that slim, healthy look.  But everyone should also go for health in a sustainable manner.

Turning Off The Fat Genes

"It doesn't make any difference what I eat. Weight problems just run in my family. It's all genetic." These are common excuses, but genetic research has just shot them down in flames.

Genes do influence our size and shape, but studies clearly show that if you change your diet and lifestyle, you can override hereditary effects to a great degree. Contrary to popular understanding, genes are not dictators, they are committees. They do not give orders; they make suggestions. You can counteract your fat genes and boost your thin genes.

We often think of genes as unchangeable because, when it comes to eye color or hair color, they really are decisive. If they call for blue eyes or brown hair, that's it. But the genes that establish your size and shape are much more flexible. They need to be able to adjust your appetite and your calorie burning, depending on whether food is plentiful or not, and whether you are working hard or resting. Unlike eye or hair color, your body has to be able to change its composition from minute to minute, from day to day.

Although your chromosomes are extraordinarily complex, there are just five key gene groups you need to know about:

* Taste genes determine the foods you crave. In taste experiments, scientists use a test substance called PROP (6-N-propylthiouracil). About one in four people can taste its bitterness very strongly. These people avoid grapefruits and never go near black coffee. Although their acute taste sense is generally an advantage, the downside is they may avoid healthy vegetables, such as broccoli or cabbage, that have a hint of bitterness. If this group includes you, you'll want to find ways to flavor these healthy vegetables so you will include them in your routine.

Another one in four people cannot taste PROP and are called "taste blind." Their problem is they may tend to overeat, making up in quantity what they are missing in taste. If this includes you, and you tend to be indiscriminate in what you're eating, you'll want to take care to emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans, and to be very cautious about fatty foods and their hidden calories.

* A gene on chromosome 7 makes leptin, the appetite-taming hormone. In 1997, English researchers reported the case of two cousins who became extremely obese very early in life. They demanded food continuously and ate much more than their siblings. At age 8, one weighed 189 pounds. She had so much trouble walking she had to have liposuction of her legs. Her cousin was only two years old but already weighed 64 pounds. It turned out they shared a rare mutation blocking the leptin gene. With no leptin to curb hunger, their appetites were voracious.

You are not likely to have this same gene abnormality. However, your leptin may not be working perfectly either. Very-low-calorie diets disrupt its appetite-taming effect, causing your appetite to run out of control. The key to keeping leptin working right is to avoid severe calorie restrictions. If you eat at least 10 calories per day per pound of your ideal weight, you are unlikely to run into serious problems.

* A gene on chromosome 8 builds LPL, the key enzyme that stores fat in your cells. It waits along the walls of the tiny blood vessels that course through your body fat, and its job is to extract fat from your bloodstream and pass it into your fat cells for storage. If your LPL is doing its job a little too well, you can change this genetic tendency by choosing foods that have little or no fat in them. Once again, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains are your best friends.

* The hormone insulin, coded on chromosome 11, is part of your body's system for increasing your metabolism after meals. Depending on the type of foods you choose, you can help insulin spark a pronounced after-meal burn that releases calories as body heat rather than storing them as fat. Low-fat, vegan diets, along with regular exercise, make insulin more efficient.

* Believe it or not, exercise aptitude is largely biological, too. People who love to go for a five-mile run at the crack of dawn are genetically different from other people. They are endowed with a better capillary network that brings oxygen to working muscles and a more efficient fuel-burning mechanism. If you did not get these genetic advantages, you can do the next best thing. If you begin a regular exercise program and stick with it, your muscle cells begin to look more and more like those of natural athletes.

There is no need to be daunted by your family heritage. Yes, some of us will always be bigger and others smaller. But with a healthy, low-fat diet and regular physical activity, your genes can stop working against you and start working for you.

Weight Loss Advice For Men

Introduction
If diet and weight are as important to health and wellbeing as experts believe, American men need to make changes to what they eat and how often they exercise. They are too overweight and suffer years of ill-health despite the fact that per capita health funding is the highest in the world. The statistics make interesting reading. First, an estimated 27.7 percent of American males aged 20-74 years are obese. By comparison, obesity affects 19 percent of Australian men, 12 percent of French men and only 3.6 percent of Japanese. Second, the average life span of American men is 74.9 years, (Japan 77.8) of which an estimated 8 years are lived in ill-health (Japan 6.5). Also significant are the negative health effects of the American diet on male immigrants from countries such as Japan, who typically experience a noticeable rise in diet-related illness such as obesity and heart disease.

Health Effects of Obesity In Men
Obesity has several adverse health effects. The most serious dangers include hypertension, heart disease, cancer and diabetes, although joint problems and psychosocial hardship can also be very distressing.

Obesity is a serious risk factor for hypertension, which affects 7 out of 10 obese men, and develops as follows. As the amount of fat tissue in the body increases, the heart is forced to pump more blood around the body in order to meet the extra demand for additional oxygen and nutrients. As this extra blood passes through the arteries, it increases pressure on the arterial walls, leading to higher blood pressure. Hypertension, which is sometimes referred to as "the silent killer", is a significant contributor to cardiovascular disease.

Obesity is also classified as a major risk factor for heart disease, with almost 70 percent of diagnosed cases occurring in obese patients. The prevalence of atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries) is 10 times higher in obese men compared to those who are not obese. This type of coronary artery disease occurs when fatty deposits build up on the walls of arteries that supply the heart, reducing blood flow and increasing the risk of heart attack.

Although the link is not fully understood, there is a clear association between obesity in men and an increased risk of colon and prostate cancers. It may be due to specific eating habits, such as overconsumption of red meat allied with an insufficiency of antioxidant-rich foods like fresh fruit and vegetables. The prevalence of prostate cancer in American males is 18.7 per 100,000, compared to 10.2 in Japanese men.

Obesity is the major cause of type 2 diabetes. Almost 8 out of 10 type 2 diabetics are obese. Even mild obesity significantly increases the risk of diabetes. Weight gain after the age of 18 is a particular contributor. Obesity is also closely associated with insulin resistance, high blood sugar levels and pre-diabetes.

Abdominal Obesity Even More Dangerous
While obesity in general is a major predictor of serious ill-health in men, abdominal obesity - excess fat around the stomach - is an added health risk, which is bad news for men as they typically store fat around their middle. Men under stress are doubly at risk as stress triggers the release of the hormone cortisol which appears to stimulate fat storage around the stomach and abdomen. Abdominal obesity is one of a number of interlinked conditions (the others being high cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, high levels of inflammatory and clotting components in the blood) that comprise the condition known as metabolic syndrome. This disorder has been identified as a complex risk factor for cardiovascular disease. An estimated 1 in 3 of overweight or obese men have metabolic syndrome.

Health Benefits of Modest Weight Reduction
Although untreated obesity may have serious health consequences, even modest weight loss can bring noticeable health benefits. For example, a weight loss of as little as 10-20 pounds can eliminate the need for hypertension or type 2 diabetes medication. In addition, it can raise HDL cholesterol (the good blood-fats) reduce LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (the bad blood-fats) and thus reduce the risk of heart disease. Even so, the more weight you can lose in a steady sustained way, the greater the health improvements, especially if you can reduce the amount of fat around your middle.

Diet Advice For Men
A nutritious calorie-controlled diet is the foundation for lasting weight loss. And don't worry about cutting down on junk food. In my experience, a person's appetite for high-fat or high-sugar foods falls dramatically within a couple of weeks of healthy eating. So if you want to lose weight but can't enjoy a meal without a huge slab of fatty red meat, a large helping of mayo, or a bag of tortilla chips, try switching to a healthier diet for 2 weeks and see what a difference it makes to your taste buds.

(1) Improve Your Health And Save Money
Instead of simply cutting calories and thinking "I must diet", make a point of choosing healthy foods and think "I want to eat healthily". You may even motivate yourself by focusing on the reduced health insurance costs you will achieve by getting into shape.

(2) Personalize Your Eating Plan
There is no single diet plan that fits every man. Moreover, eliminating all your favorite foods is not a winning weight loss strategy. As long as your regular daily diet is calorie-controlled (1500-1850 calories) and contains enough healthy foods, you should be able to include a few treats without interfering with your weight reduction. If the idea of joining Weight Watchers doesn't appeal, customize an online diet plan or seek an individualised eating plan from a registered dietitian.

(3) Healthy Eating Guidelines For Men
As a general guide, choose foods which are low in fat - especially saturated or trans-fats - low in sodium, and less refined. To be more specific, eat at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables - more is better. Also, eat a wide variety of both, because different fruits and vegetables contain different nutrients. Eat whole grains such as brown rice and whole wheat bread rather than white rice and white bread. Whole grain foods are richer in nutrients and higher in both soluble and insoluble fiber compared to more processed products. Their extra fiber content means they help to maintain healthy blood glucose levels, which reduces the risk of appetite swings and cravings. Go easy on fat. Enjoy low fat dairy products - remember, full-fat cheese is a huge source of saturated fat - and don't add extra fat to food in the form of mayo or sour cream. Stay away from chips and other high-fat, high sodium snack foods.

(4) Men Who Enjoy Red Meat
Red meat, like beef, lamb and pork, is highly nutritious. Unfortunately, it's also one of the main sources of saturated fat - the type implicated in atherosclerotic heart disease. If you enjoy red meat, make sure you remove all visible fat before eating, and limit your intake to 3-4 3-ounce servings per week. Fish is a healthy alternative protein source, especially oily fish like mackerel, herring and salmon, as is skinless chicken and turkey.

(5) Eating Out For Men
If you are serious about losing weight, be extra-choosy when dining out or ordering take-out food. Here are some important tips. (1) Do not order deep-fried food. (2) Look for light appetizers, such as salads, non-creamy soups, fish platter. (3) Avoid entrees with sauces. If necessary, ask for them "on the side". Choose plain fish, broiled lean steak, or tomato-based pasta. (4) Make sure half your plate contains vegetables, without added oil or butter. (5) For dessert, choose any fresh fruit dish, and if offered cream say No. If these suggestions are too arduous, it may be best to skip eating out until you feel more confident.

(6) Men Who Enjoy Alcohol
For many men, giving up alcohol is a complete No-No. So let me give you some facts and you can choose accordingly. To begin with, alcohol contains zero nutrition. In addition, its calorie content is quite high - about 7 calories per gram. Drinking one regular Martini per day adds up to about 58,400 calories per year - the equivalent of about 16.5 pounds of body fat. One beer a day amounts to nearly as much. A better option is one 4oz glass of wine a day, which contains about half the calories of a Martini. Another problem to consider if you are male, is the contribution that alcohol makes to your fat stomach. In my experience, overweight drinkers who give up alcohol experience an immediate reduction in their stomach size, which is very good news for their health.

Weight Reduction Exercise For Men
Men typically do not find it easy to incorporate regular physical exercise into their daily schedule. More than 50 percent of American men do not take enough physical activity. Which is not good news because the medical benefits of regular exercise are compelling. Keeping active is one of the most effective methods of protecting ourselves against serious disease, and maintaining a good quality of life. This introduces the basic male dilemma. In order to achieve a comfortable standard of living for himself and his family, a man typically has to spend extra hours working instead of exercising. But by not exercising he runs a much higher risk of serious disease, a crippling rise in insurance bills, as well as an illness-prone retirement. No easy choices here, I'm afraid, although the rational decision must be to make exercise a higher priority. This is particularly true for men over 40. For men who really want to lose weight, I suggest you first see your doctor for a quick check-up. Then, if all is well, I advise you start with 45 minutes/day of light exercise. Do this for 2-3 weeks or until you notice obvious benefits such as improved breathing, sleeping and appetite. Then gradually increase the duration and intensity of your training program up to 60 minutes a day. The best way to avoid overstrain is to loosen up with stretches at the beginning of each exercise session, and wind down with stretches afterwards.

Improved Lifestyle For Men
Quitting smoking is the top priority for any man with weight-related health problems. Another essential improvement is stress reduction or at least better stress management. This is because any stress which leads to a feeling that life is out of control, is a major contributor to disordered eating, excessive alcohol intake and disease, as well as family problems. Moving to a less stressful job, reducing your work schedule, or taking regular physical exercise are useful ways to reduce stress, and will definitely assist weight loss and general health. Spending more time with your family is also a great stress reliever.

Weight Loss Medication

With more than 50% of the adult population in the UK and the USA currently classed as overweight, medication might sound like a perfect answer and it's not difficult to understand why.  Many people struggle for years to lose weight, trying diet after diet with little or no success. Unfortunately, there are no magic pills and very little if any evidence to show that weight loss medication brings about any lasting results.  Most people who lose weight whilst taking a diet pill, put it all straight back on again afterwards.  There is only one way you can lose weight realistically, and that is to consume fewer calories over a period of time, than your body uses up. Weight loss medication is designed to artificially bring about this negative calorie balance.

There are basically 3 main ways in which weight loss medication works. Stimulants boost your metabolism so that you burn up more calories.  Appetite suppressants trick your brain into telling you that you are full so that you eat fewer calories. Absorption inhibitors prevent fat and other nutrients from being absorbed by the body so that they are expelled and fewer calories are retained.

It is a sad symptom of our society today that instead of doing what we know for sure works; i.e. a healthy diet and more exercise, many people still look for a lazy way to lose weight that can also be detrimental to their health. Diet pills carry a number of serious health implications particularly if you suffer from heart problems, high blood pressure and many other medical conditions. They can also produce a variety of unpleasant side effects.  Compare that with the fact that there are no side effects associated with eating a healthy diet and increasing your level of activity.  Evidence clearly shows that a natural option is far more likely to result in permanent weight loss and better health than an artificial one, and yet many people continue to look for a quick fix.

The following are a few of the more common weight loss medications available either over the counter or on prescription.

Adipex - works by suppressing your appetite suppressant.

Bontril  - is also an appetite suppressant.

Didrex (benzphetamine hydrochloride) - works in a similar way to amphetamine or speed to boost your metabolism and decrease your appetite.

Ionamin or phentermine  - is an appetite suppressant.

Phendimetrazine - boosts your metabolism.

Reductil (Meridia in the US) or Sibutramine  - works by inhibiting the reuptake of seratonin and noradrenaline in the brain giving you a "feel good" effect and making you feel full earlier than you normally would.

Tenuate  - is a metabolism booster; it increases heart rate and blood pressure and decreases your appetite.

Xenical - inhibits the absorption of fats into the body

Weight loss medication is usually only prescribed by a physician to overweight people who have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or more, or sometimes less than 30 where there are serious risks to your health by being overweight that outweigh the risk of taking medication.  Your BMI can be described as a body/fat ratio calculated using your height and weight and is an internationally recognised measure of obesity. If your BMI is between 25 and 30 then you are classed as overweight, if it's 30 or over then you are considered obese.

Weight loss medication puts an added strain on your body.  This in itself should set alarm bells ringing. If your body is already under pressure from excess weight then why would anyone choose to make the situation worse? Diet pills can also interact with other medications you might be taking to counteract their effectiveness and, in some cases, can be highly addictive.

So what is the answer?  The answer lies in the fundamental truth that the most efficient way to lose weight is to eat a healthy diet and to monitor your calorie intake so that you consume less than you are burning up.  If you up your level of activity too then you will have the added bonus of an increased level of fitness and will speed up the process.  Only in this way can you ultimately ensure a healthy and consistent weight loss.  Permanent weight loss cannot be found in a bottle, it doesn't happen overnight either, and it certainly won't come by itself.  You have to make the decision to lose weight and then take control of your diet.  Once you've done that, you're on the road to a slimmer, healthier and happier you.

How to work out your BMI

A simple way to work out your own BMI is to divide your weight in kilograms squared by your height in centimetres.  So for example, if your height is 160 centimetres and your weight is 60 kilograms, you divide 60 x 60 by 160.  60 x 60 = 3600 divided by 160 is 22.5.  You have a BMI of 22.5, which is well within the normal range

Weight loss techniques

People gain weight when the number of calories they eat is more than the number of calories their bodies use. Overweight people have an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and other illnesses. Your doctor can help you set rational goals based on a proper weight for your height, build and age. Usually, doctors will recommend that their overweight patients combine a reduction of the caloric content of the diet, with an increase in physical activity. Other methods of losing weight include use of drugs and supplements that decrease appetite, block fat absorption, or reduce stomach volume. Surgery is another method. Weight-loss programs should encourage healthy behaviors that help you lose weight and that you can stick with in your every day activity. It is very desirable for you to gather as much information as you can before deciding to join a particular program. You may start to benefit from regular physical activity. Even modest amounts of physical action can improve your health. Start with small, specific goals such as walking 10 minutes a day, 3 days a week. When you eat out and are on the go it’s important to make smart food choices and watch portion sizes. When you prepare food at home read the nutrition label on foods. Look for foods low in saturated fats and trans fats. Choose and prepare foods and beverages with little added sugars (caloric sweeteners). Variety in the diet helps you get all the vitamins and other nutrients you need. Look for a weight loss program that gives you some control, rather than imposing one rigid system, one that offers a variety of different eating plans, so you can choose the one that's best for you. Prescription diet pills may help some people. If you use them, follow the doctor's directions carefully. Other method of weight reduction technique is the use of diet patches.

Weight Loss Tips

Here are 10 tips for helping to lose weight by using healthier meals and 10 tips for helping when you are eating out.

10 Tips for a better healthier meal

When it comes to cooking a meal for the family, don’t let your diet take a back seat. Just because you’re on a diet and the rest of your family are not does not mean that you have to eat a different meal. There are times when you have to draw the line e.g. Christmas lunch, Sunday lunch and family gatherings. Take a look at some of the suggestion below for a healthier meal:

1. Try steaming or boiling your vegetables instead of frying or casseroling, also stay away from using cheese based dishes. Try to use herbs and lemon juice instead of butter or margarine.

2. Cooking with chickens can pose as a bit of a problem, although chicken is very healthy in its self, containing half the fat of red meat. Don’t go for the easy option of breaded chicken fingers or nuggets this is very unhealthy. Try roasting or steaming your chicken in a non stick pan, and eliminate the use of oil by using a cooking spray. Beware of the chicken skin as this is very fattening, try to buy a skinless chicken or remove the skin prior to cooking.

3. Watch out for different types of bread, stay away from white bread as it is full of sugar. Try to go for wholemeal bread, seeded bread and whole grain bread. Also look for brown rice, wild rice and basmati rice, the tastes are not all that different from white rice and have a much lower starch content.

4. When buying meats like pork and beef, try to buy lean and extra lean. Try some cuts like fillet and sirloin, these have less fat content than the other cuts. Roasting, grilling and dry frying are healthy methods of cooking meat. Once again try to use a cooking spray instead of cooking oil.

5. If you're preparing turkey, why not try cooking the stuffing separate. You will reduce the fat content by preventing the turkey fat from absorbing into the dressing. Be sure to use less margarine or butter when making the stuffing. Also don't forget to skim the fat off of the gravy. Leave the drumsticks for the kids; as with chicken, choose light meat over dark and you'll save a lot in the calorie department.

6. Why not try serving fruit as a dessert? Serving fruit instead of pie or cake can make a massive reduction in the amount of calories you find in your meal. Instead of cake and pie, try serving a whole piece of fruit, some yogurt or a fruit cocktail. You will usually find that we don’t need a dessert and have one just because of habit. I think you will be surprised at how fruit can substitute the sweet tooth in a dessert.

7. If you must have an ice-cream try a sugar free ice-cream of low fat frozen yogurt. Instead of topping with chocolate sauce or caramel, try some mixed fruit cocktail. The taste of the ice-cream is almost identical and the sugar from the fruit stops the sweet craving. All in all it’s fewer calories than the full sugar and chocolate variety.

8. When cooking save yourself a lot of calories by using powdered milk. By doing this you will save on a lot of fat and calories. Also by using skimmed milk instead of cream in your favourite cream based recipes can also save on the calories.

9. Try some substitutions in your cooking. Use 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to replace 1 ounce of unsweetened chocolate in your desserts, replace 1 egg with 2 egg whites or ¼ cup of egg substitute, replace half of the oil in dessert recipes with an equal amount of unsweetened applesauce, try reduced or non-fat frozen yogurt or sugar free ice cream on pies.

10. If you still find yourself hungry after your meal and you do want to tempt your self to seconds, then go for the vegetables. Choosing steamed vegetables over meat and bread is far healthier.

10 Tips for eating out when on your Diet

1. For a starter, try and keep it light maybe a prawn cocktail or a side salad. Make an effort to stay away from creamy starters and red meats.

2. If you are a pasta lover and find it hard not to eat endless amounts. You must try and stay with a single portion. Also don’t worry if you leave a little no one will persecute you for it, especially not your body.

3. When ordering a meat dish, always go for the chicken. Stay away from fried chicken. Always go for boiled, grilled or steamed. If you must ask for red meat, be sure to ask the waiter for a nice lean piece.

4. If you don’t see anything on the menu, that is cooked to your liking. Ask the waiter if it would be possible for the chef to cook you a dish with say, boiled or grilled chicken, instead of fried. Don’t be embarrassed at this request as you will not be the first or the last to ask for it.

5. Avoid the temptation of cream sauce, butter, oil, batter and home made gravy.

6. If you do not like leaving your food, then you can always ask the waiter, to wrap it up so you can take it home afterwards.

7. If you are a take away person as I am. When you serve your take away at home, only serve half of it, and keep the other half for the next day or for another family member. Willpower is the key here!

8. If you know where you are going for your evening meal. Why not ring the restaurant and ask them to post a menu out to you, or go and pick one up. Now you can give the menu a good read and find out the best meal to suit you. When you arrive at the restaurant, your choice is already made and a healthier one it will be.

9. Buffets are the worst of all restaurant temptations. You must know your portion control. Try and have only one plate. Once again the key factor here is will power!

10. When the day comes for you to go out for your meal, try to eat smaller meals during the day, then you can keep an eye on the calories for the day and evening. However do try to remember not to starve yourself as you may just end up eating like a horse, which is never a good diet tip.

What is the Green Tea Diet Plan?

Eating and dieting these days do not usually involve your favorite beverages like green tea and coffee. But this is not always necessarily the case. With some bit of planning and a lot of discipline, your diet plan and weight regime can include your morning cups of coffee or green tea.

South Beach Diet Plan

An idea formulated by Dr. Agatston, the South Beach Diet plan is not low-carb, nor low-fat. According to its originator, the South Beach Diet plan “teaches you to rely on the right carbs and the right fats.”

This diet plan is comprised of three phases – Banishing your Cravings, Reintroducing Carbs, and A Diet for Life. Using artificial sweetener and low-fat milk in your coffee or green tea during all three phases is one way to go on losing weight without having to give up your brewed cup. Going decaf with your coffee might also be a good idea since the objective of this diet is maintaining even insulin levels. If you’re a green tea drinker, then there is less worries for you. Green tea contains only very few amounts of caffeine.

The Zone Diet Plan

The Zone Diet plan was developed by Barry Sears, a former biotechnology researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This diet plan is based on the maintenance and consistency of insulin levels. Because this diet plan also concerns itself with insulin control, the issues that arise are handled similarly as that with the South Beach Diet plan. Taking decaffeinated coffee and green tea is all right as long as these beverages don’t spike up your insulin. The eating program of the Zone Diet plan requires you to use artificial sweetener and low-fat milk in your coffee or green tea.

Blood Type Diet Plan

The Blood Type Diet plan is a weight loss regimen where the foods you eat are based on your blood type. The eating program of the Blood Type Diet plan is more restricted compared to the South Beach Diet plan, the Zone Diet plan, and the Atkins Diet plan. For instance, for people with blood types A and AB, coffee is highly advised. But for those with blood types O, adding coffee to the Blood Type Diet plan should be avoided. Green teas on the other hand are acceptable for any blood types. However, adding natural sweeteners like sugar, honey, stevia, or maple syrup in green tea should be avoided in this diet plan.

Sugar Busters Diet Plan

The name of the diet plan says it all. Subscribers to this diet plan are highly cautioned against sugars. Coffee and green teas are perfectly fine but only use artificial sweeteners.

Atkins Diet Plan

Another low-carb diet plan variety, the Atkins Diet plan works best with caffeine-free coffee and green tea. For best results, artificial sweeteners in your green tea and coffee are advised to keep your carbs down.

Paleolithic Diet Plan

Also called the Stone Age Diet plan, this diet plan is based on the consumption of simple, unprocessed foods that our Neanderthal ancestors would have eaten. This diet plan is perfect for green tea drinkers. Green tea is simple and 100% natural steamed dried leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant. If you’re a coffee drinker, you might be in for a tougher choice since you might have to give up coffee all together with this diet plan. Sugars in green teas are still a big no-no, especially the refined kind.

As you can see, there are plenty of options available to help you with your diet plan, and enjoying the benefits of green tea is a great place to start.

Zone Diet - Criticism

One diet may not work or suit on everyone. The Zone Diet Plan is a moderate plan to be followed.

The Zone Diet does not only calcuslate fat and protein match but relates calorie burn as well. It considers the significance of other ingredients as well to maintain a balanced diet. The Zone Diet will highlight the use and side effects of fats proteins, and unlike others, of carbohydrates as well. Carbohydrates affect the hormonal activities and the level of insulin in a human body. A disturbance in these internal systems leads to heart diseases and cancers. This is what the Zone Diet takes concern of.

A Zone Diet will suit every being as it keeps a balance between fats, proteins, carbohydrates and all other healthy ingredients. This balancing gives a healthy development of hormonal activities along with a loss in weight.

Despite the fact that The Zone Diet stresses on the consequence of carbohydrates for affective hormonal activities involving the hormones like Eicosanoids that relates to different metabolic courses but its shortage is also related to chubbiness and many other diseases. Nevertheless, there is no scientific confirmation for the remarks suggested by the Zone Diet plan.

What Tummy Tucks Are About

The tummy tuck is a form of cosmetic surgery also known as abdominoplasty. Its purpose is to change the appearance of the abdomen to a more desirable shape. Hence, the popular term, tummy tuck. It involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the mid and lower abdomen to create a smooth and flatter appearance. This normally includes/results in a tightening of the muscles of the abdominal wall. A tummy tuck procedure is usually taken because the individual has been unable to achieve desired results through normal diet and exercise. This may be common for those that have experienced sudden weight loss or are older, as in both cases a flat stomach cannot be acquired through exercise and diet alone. In particular, tummy tucks are popular amongst women who have had children but do not intend on bearing children in the future.

While there are various types of tummy tucks, they tend to fall into two categories: partial abdominoplasty and complete abdominoplasty.

The former category consists of a small incision made between the hips, just above the pubic area. This is followed by the removal of excess skin between the incision and the navel, and stitches.

The latter category consists of an incision made from hip to hip, just above the pubic area. Another incision is made around the navel to free it. Skin from the abdominal wall is then detached to reveal the muscles to be tightened. The muscles themselves are then tightened with sutures. Extra skin is then removed, while the remainder is reattached. Finally, all stitches are dressed, while any extra fluid from the area is drained.

An individual may experience bruising, some pain, and other discomforts within ten days after the procedure. Normally, a supportive abdominal binder is worn to contain the swelling and help support recovery of the muscles. The time needed for recovery from the procedure can take several weeks. As usual, smoking (before, as well), stringent dieting and any intense physical activity should be avoided.  All three factors can affect the ability of the body to recover.

Before considering undergoing the procedure, individuals should be in relatively good health. This applies to both their mental state as well as their physical. Patients should have realistic expectations of the procedure. Again, it is neither considered an alternative to diet and/or exercise, nor should be undergone by women planning on bearing children in the future. As well, past scarring from abdominal surgery may be sufficient cause against the procedure, since additional scarring can result.

Reduce Weight And Lose Body Fat Forever – 10 Commandments

Want to know how to reduce weight fast and lose that weight forever? Here are the Ten Commandments you need to do to reduce weight and keep body fat away permanently.

1) Cardio Exercises – Do your cardio exercises frequently. These can be any exercises that work up your heart rate to the extent that you are huffing and puffing for at least 20 – 30 minutes. Do your cardio exercises 5-6 times a week if you want to reduce weight or 2-3 times a week for weight maintenance.

2) Build Muscles – Muscles burn calories even when you are not doing anything but resting. The more muscle mass you have the more calories you will burn a day and in the course of over a period of time, the calories you burnt will add up very substantially. Building muscle mass is one sure way of losing body fat forever.

3) Eat Carbs Early – Take your meals with carbs earlier in the day and cut down on carbs on later meals. This is to prevent unused carbs from turning into body fat when you sleep and to regulate insulin level.

4) Don’t be too afraid of fats – The fats in your diet that are bad for you are saturated and trans fat. So replace these bad fats with unsaturated fat and essential fatty acids (EFAs) and these good fats will keep your body fat and fat related diseases down. But do take your fats in moderation as after all, they are still calorie laden.

5) Complex Carbs – Choose your carbs. Avoid starchy and refined carbs such as pasta, pizza, white rice and white bread. Replace them with brown rice, brown bread and high fiber carbs like green leafy vegetables.

6) Food Portion – Decide how much you want to eat at each meal and then keep to it and do not eat anymore when that portion is consumed. Eat slowly to let your body signal to your brain that you are full. This usually takes about 20 minutes. Extra food means extra and calories mean extra body fat if the food is not converted to energy.

7) Avoid Canned Or Boxed Food – These food are usually high in trans fat, sodium, sugar and simple carbs all of which will help you to gain weight and body fat.

8) Eat Often – By eating often, say at every 3 hourly intervals, your body will think that food is abundant and therefore less likely to store body fat for emergency such as a famine. But do bear in mind to keep the portion small so as not to consume more calories than you expand.

9) Get 8 Hours Sleep – Research after research has shown that people with less sleep are more prone to being fat.

10) Do Not Skip Meals – Skipping meals will slow your metabolism and forcing your body to use your muscles for energy instead of your body fat. This is a vicious cycle, the less muscle you have, the more your metabolism slows down.

There you are. By committing to these 10 commandments, not only will you reduce weight but will lose your body fat forever.

Blame It On Iodine

If you are seriously trying to lose weight, chances are have tried several different programs. Many of you are still not getting down to your desired or ideal weight. One big reason could be that you are having problems with one little molecule.

Iodine is the basis for the extremely important Thyroid Hormone in your body. That hormone regulates everything from your metabolism to your digestion. Because it usually slowly creeps up on you, it is very common to not realize that there has been a change in your energy level, memory, mentrual periods and skin texture. You could even be losing your hair over this one.

The lack of enough Thyroid Hormone in your body is called Hypothyroidism. There are several things that Hypothyroidism will cause that make you gain weight. First of all, it decreases your basal metabolic rate and overall metabolism. That is the rate that you use up energy. Basically what that means is that the normal muscle tone is lost and your muscles tend to be much more relaxed than normal. Your internal organs that use muscles will also be affected. You will probably notice that mostly by a change in your bowel habits. You will tend to become constipated. Just what you needed!

Muscles need to remain toned to keep your joints in the proper position. So, they will always normally be a little tight. This uses calories (yeah!). Obviously, when they are more relaxed than normal, you tend to gain weight.

Secondly, lack of Thyroid Hormone will make you lazy. At least that is my excuse. hehe.

Dr. Oliver Sacks (made famous in the movie Awakenings) describes one man that had to be helped out of bed in the morning. He was then fed and led to a chair in the corner. In the evening he was led back to bed. During the day he would not even talk. This happened day after day for years! Finally, for some reason, he ended up at the doctors office and was found to be severely hypothyroid. He returned to normal with treatment, but did not even remember all those years where he was a zombie.

If you suspect that you might have hypothyroidism consider these associated symptoms: dry skin, brittle nails, constipation, irregular or heavy menstrual periods (if you are male, you probably won't develop this one), feeling tired and weak, cold skin, coarse, retaining water or thinning hair. Any, or all of these can occur.

You have an increased chance of getting this condition if you have a swelling in the front of your neck called a goiter, diabetes, patches of light skin (not always, but there is a specific condition causing this that also affects the thyroid), iodine deficiency and some medications. Some women develop this as a complication of pregnancy.

If you always buy salt with no iodine, there is a slight chance that you could develop hypothyroidism as a result of the lack of iodine. Remember, iodine is part of the thyroid hormone molecule. Without iodine, your body cannot make the hormone.

When you think you may have hypothyroidism, you should see your medical doctor to get a blood test. One thing that most doctors won't tell you is that you need to be otherwise feeling pretty good during the test. There is one condition called Euthyroid Sick Syndrome that will cause low Thyroid Hormone levels when you are sick. But the hormone levels can return to normal when you get well. So, it is better to get the levels checked when you get well in order to have an accurate test.

Assuming that you have guessed right, your doctor will prescribe a thyroid hormone supplement that will get you feeling better. The only problem at this point is that it is often tricky to get the right amount into your system. You will often bounce back and forth between feeling weak and tired and feeling jittery. But with your doctors help, that should diminish fairly quickly.

The good news is that once your thyroid is in control, you are going to feel much better, have more energy and be back on track with your weight control.

Are You a Binge Eater?

Ever wonder if you have a serious problem with binge eating?

In a recent issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter, I read a feature article about the treatment of bulimia and binge eating.

Bulimia is defined as 2 or more episodes of binge eating (consuming a large amount of food in 2 hours or less) at least twice a week for 3 months.

These episodes may be followed by vomiting or purging (with laxatives or diuretics) and may alternate with fasting and compulsive exercising.

People who suffer from bulimia often view this behavior as a shameful secret.

Binge Eating Disorder (binging that is not followed by vomiting, fasting or exercise) has gotten more attention recently since it is being considered for inclusion as a psychiatric diagnosis.

The criteria are tentatively listed as “a condition that causes serious distress with at least 3 of the following symptoms occurring at least 2 days a week for 6 months:

• eating very fast
• eating until uncomfortably full
• eating when not hungry
• eating alone
• feeling disgusted or guilty afterward

Since most of the population has probably engaged in these eating behaviors at one time or another, I guess it comes down to the frequency and severity of the problem.

You can be a binge eater, but you would have to be binging quite regularly to be considered to have Binge Eating Disorder.

Many people engage in some of these behaviors all the time. People who live alone often eat alone. And while eating when you aren’t hungry is not the most satisfying experience, sometimes it is just an ingrained habit.

You do not have to be overweight to be a binge eater.

Many people with binge eating problems think they are overweight or are worried that they will become seriously overweight.

Dieting does not necessarily stop the binging and is often viewed as being part of the problem rather than the solution.

The body resists dieting by slowing metabolism and increasing appetite, commonly accompanied by an intense preoccupation with food, more binging, anxiety and depression.

If you are struggling with bulimia or severe binge eating problems, seek help and get the support you deserve. Don’t keep it a secret. You do not need to be heroic and suffer alone.

If you engage in some of the binge eating behaviors, join the club.

You can learn to change all of these behaviors, even mild to moderate binge eating by listening to your body, eating mindfully and being kind to yourself.

Best Fat Burner

What is the best fat burner?

This article will tell you but my approach is a little different. I am not going to tell you the best fat burner by discussing certain ingredients or chemicals or telling you some particular brand name is the greatest.

No. I am going to let the average person decide by casting a vote. I used an internet tool that let me determine how many searches were performed for a particular word or phrase at a certain search engine.

The results were for the month of May, 2006. I selected well known weight loss pills, brand names or an ingredient and then entered that word or phrase to get my numerical result.

The top vote getter, the most searched term for an herbal diet pill or what the people think is the best fat burner is "ephedra".

Here are the results:

Ephedra 86,507
Hydroxycut 52,524
Xenadrine 32,650
Stacker 2 19,031
Metabolife 9,819
Ephedrine 42,575
Green Tea 40,856
Chromium 8,754

Let me note a few things of interest.

More people searched for the term "ephedra" during the month of May, 2006 while searching for information on a weight loss pill or diet pill than any other well known brand or ingredient.

But what's interesting is, most people think ephedra is illegal or no longer available. Plus, ephedra is just one herbal ingredient in many fat burners.

Green tea, while it has many other benefits was not searched as often as ephedra which is considered illegal by many people.

This is also curious. The brand name Metabolife is a brand that is no longer around. The company has gone bankrupt from lawsuits yet almost 10,000 people a month search for this once great weight loss product.

Another interesting point is that the word "ephedrine" is actually a chemical within the herbal ephedra plant, but a large number of people are searching for this chemical.

Ephedrine is the major reason the herbal plant, ephedra, works so well and is considered the best fat burner, certainly among the general population of people searching the internet for weight loss pills or diet pills.