Monday, December 20, 2010

Can Quick Weight Loss Really Work?

Quick weight loss is promised by diets all the time. "Lose 10 pounds over night," the ads will scream. Most people know in the back of their mind that quick weight loss is either not healthy or is a short term fix.

Most quick weight loss pounds are only water. Your body will flush water out of your system and the scale will show a quick weight loss of 3 to 10 pounds. The quick weight loss is however short lived. The second you drink any fluids your body will hold the water and your quick weight loss will disappear.

The short tem success of quick weight loss in a low carb diet is also this loss of water. Dieters are excited when they see the quick weight loss however this excitement is short lived. Once carbs are introduced back into their diet, boom, there goes the quick weight loss.

Instead of being suckered into all the quick weight loss claims, why don't your try these common sense weight loss tips to use when dining out to help you achieve long term success. You won't see a quick weight loss by following these tips but you will see some really great long term changes in your body.

1.) If you must have a dessert, split it with a friend.

2.) Start your meal with soup and a salad. If you fill up on healthy foods first, you may eat less of the high calorie entries.

3.) Immediately ask for a box to go and place half of your meal in it. Not only will you cut calories but you now have an entire additional meal for later.

4.) Ask for non-fat or low-fat dressing on the side when ordering your salad. You can then control the portion size. A high calorie dressing can add 200-400 additional calories to your health salad.

5.) At a fast food restaurant, always order the small size. Did you know a super size French fry at Mc Donald's is 29g grams of fat and 610 calories??

Once again, these simple restaurant tips will not result in quick weight loss but if you start using these and other weight loss tips every day, you will start seeing the long term success you truly deserve. Always think long term and don't be tricked by diets that promise "incredible quick weight loss"
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Diet Food Can Actually Taste Yummy!

One of the biggest reasons that people slip off their diets and eating plans is BOREDOM.

It's very easy to look at the foods allowed on your diet and see it as restrictive and mundane. Chicken four nights a week. Fish three times a week. Leafy greens till they’re coming out the wahzoo. Who wouldn't get bored?

Well, here’s the answer. Anyone with a good set of cookbooks and a healthy imagination can succeed here. Perk up your cabinet with spices and fill your refrigerator with fresh fruits and vegetables, then look for novel ways to combine them.

Here are a handful of tips for yummy, healthy eating

1. Spice it up!

Spices are one of the quickest ways out of the diet doldrums. Rosemary and fennel with chicken, mint rubbed into pork, pepper and lemon mint on fresh fish - the 'blander' the food, the higher the effect of the spices.

2. Dress it up.

Fruit vinaigrette dressings make wonderful marinades for meats and dressings for warm or cold vegetables. Try broccoli drizzled with raspberry vinaigrette or cabbage spiced up with apple vinegar and pepper. Don’t be afraid of the vinegar word. Even if you’re not a fan of one vinaigrette, you might find yourself practically addicted to another!

2. Herb-infused olive oils - tarragon, ginger, fennel and more.

Give them a try! Use a little to start off with, and see if you like the flavors. You’d be really surprised at how tasty foods can be with these oils!

4. Low sodium soy sauce is a great way to flavor up just about anything.

5. Fruit

Dark leafy greens like spinach were practically designed to be eaten with mandarin oranges, raspberries or chunks of pineapple. Mandarin oranges are the primary reason I even started eating salads. And loving them.

Still need some help? Here are a few cookbooks to help you fight those diet boredom blues!

The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook
Feta cheese makes any food tastier!

The South Beach Diet Cookbook
This book is packed with more than 200 recipes for delicious low-fat foods

American Heart Association Meals in Minutes
These recipes will have you leaving the fast food world far behind!

Joslin Diabetes Center's Vegetarian Diabetic Cookbook
Meatless and vegan recipes that are low fat, high fiber, and delicious! Just remember that low-fat doesn’t always mean healthy. Your body absolutely needs some intake of fat to function properly.

The Guilt-Free Gourmet
Famous cruise ship chef Sam Miles put together this wonderful cookbook from his six years traveling on ships as a cook.

Well, there you go! Now you don’t have to live with boring foods—even if you are eating healthy!
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Diet Pills – A Risky Idea

I wish I had a nickel for every weight loss aid and pill on the market. You and I could both retire. Many of these have been associated with serious medical risks, including heart attack, heart abnormalities, tachycardia, stroke, seizures and death. That’s pretty scary!

Most diet pills are appetite suppressants of one kind or another, generally stimulants with effects similar to those of amphetamine. They’re okayed for treatment of obesity, where it's considered that the health risks associated with obesity outweigh the risks of the medication.

But is you have less than 30 pounds to lose, the risks are far less cut-and-dried. Over the counter medications and their risks are not as well-documented as the effects of prescription diet pills. Herbal preparation effects are documented even less, especially those whose makers don't officially make weight loss claims.

Here’s part of the problem. As long as they don't contain a 'new' ingredient, or one that has never been marketed for weight loss purposes, weight-loss aids are not subject to FDA review. Instead, the manufacturer is held responsible for the safety and effectiveness of their products. So a lot of times that means unregulated dosages, unhealthy additives and ineffective ingredients.

Hopefully, one day all over the counter medications and herbal preparations marketed as weight loss supplements will be labeled and tested by impartial researchers. Until then, there are some things that you can do to lessen diet pill risks.

Research thoroughly. There's a lot of information out there about drugs and herbs like ephedra, ephinedrine, phentermine and sibutramine. Know what you're taking and what the risks are so that you can watch for side effects.

Always talk to your doctor before you start taking any drug or herbal supplement. Yes, I know you’ve heard this a thousand times, but there are good reasons for the advice! Some products interact poorly with other medications, or have an adverse effect on chronic conditions.

Follow dosage instructions. Overdoses of stimulant medications, which are a component of most weight loss preparations, can be serious and severe.

Don't take any weight loss pill or supplement for more than a few weeks unless a doctor has prescribed it.

Ask your pharmacist when purchasing over the counter weight loss preparations to be sure that the ingredients don't interact with other medications you may be taking. Include both prescription and nonprescription medications in your questions.

There are much more healthy and effective ways to lose weight than taking pills. The potential of serious health problems remains. It's an awful lot of risk for a little weight loss.
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Does a Cholesterol Diet sound confusing?

Does a Cholesterol Diet sound confusing?

At first it doesn’t seem quite right, doesn’t it? But is seems that what we have here is actually just a slight misnomer.

Makes you think that cholesterol diets advocates the eating of more cholesterol, but the opposite is actually the case. Cholesterol diets are intended to lower the cholesterol in the bloodstream. There are some cholesterol diets that lower the total cholesterol count, and other cholesterol diets that increase the so-called good cholesterol in the bloodstream so it can combat the bad cholesterol that is there. Cholesterol diets are occasionally supplemented by cholesterol-lowering drugs. Most of the people who take cholesterol-lowering drugs wish the drugs would supplant their need for cholesterol diets, but this is not usually the case.

Cholesterol diets usually restrict specific foods from the diet, or limit the ingestion of those foods. Foods that are usually limited or banned for people on cholesterol diets include dairy products, eggs, and, sadly, shellfish. It is sad to think that such delectable foods as crab, shrimp, and lobster are high in cholesterol, but these are cholesterol-rich foods that are generally forbidden to people who are on low cholesterol diets.

But what really is cholesterol and why do we need to go on a cholesterol diet? Cholesterol is a waxy fat that is present in all human beings. Two sources contribute to the amount of cholesterol in the human body. First, the liver manufactures about 80 percent of it. Second, people consume it by eating animal products such as meat, eggs and dairy products. Cholesterol is carried through the bloodstream by certain proteins (apolipoproteins). When these proteins wrap around cholesterol and other types of fats lipids to transport them through the bloodstream, the resulting “packages” are called lipoproteins. There are four different types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol through the bloodstream:

High-density lipoproteins (HDL), or “good” cholesterol.

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol.

Very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), or "very bad" cholesterol.

Chylomicrons, which carry only a small percentage of cholesterol. Chylomicrons are mostly rich in another type of fat (lipid) called triglycerides.

So why do we need to be wary of cholesterol?

To be more specific, what we need to avoid are LDL/VLDL. High levels of LDL/VLDL cholesterol have been associated with hardened arteries atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. In contrast, high levels of HDL cholesterol have been shown to reduce some of the harmful effects of LDL cholesterol. So if your physician decides that you are in need of a cholesterol diet, basically what you’re in for is this:

Since many foods high in total fat are also high in saturated fat, eating foods low in total fat will help you eat less saturated fat. When you do eat fat, you should substitute unsaturated monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat for saturated fat. Examples of foods high in monounsaturated fat are olive and canola oils, those high in polyunsaturated fat include safflower, sunflower, corn, and soybean oils.

Foods high in starch and fiber are excellent substitutes for foods high in saturated fat. Breads, cereals, pasta, grains, fruits, and vegetables - are low in saturated fat and cholesterol. They are also usually lower in calories than foods that are high in fat. Foods high in starch and fiber are also good sources of vitamins and minerals. Cholesterol diets are low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and high in fruits, vegetables, and grain products - like oat and barley bran and dry peas and beans. The antioxidant properties in certain (e.g. brightly colored) fruits and vegetables can reduce the effects of cholesterol. Point is, to damage artery walls, cholesterol must first be chemically changed through a process called oxidation. Antioxidants help prevent cholesterol from being chemically changed and help prevent cholesterol from moving out of the blood and into the lining of the blood vessels.

Dietary cholesterol also can raise your blood cholesterol level, although usually not as much as saturated fat. A cholesterol diet chooses foods low in dietary cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol is found only in foods that come from animals. Many of these foods also are high in saturated fat. Foods from plant sources do not have cholesterol but can contain saturated fat.

All in all, following a cholesterol diet will also help you to reduce calories, lose weight and reduce obesity. That doesn’t sound too bad, doesn’t it?
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Easy Weight Loss - Is there such a thing??

Easy Weight Loss - Is there such a thing??

Most diets promise easy weight loss. They tell you there will be no sweating, no exercise and no hard work. If there was such a product that delivered this easy weight loss then no one would be overweight and we know this isn’t true.

There is really no such thing as easy weight loss. At a minimum, you will have to make an effort and change what you have been doing that caused you to gain extra weight.

You will have to change your habits and your way of thinking about food and how you live your life. Once you do change your habits and it becomes a part of your everyday routine, then you will actually see easy weight loss.

Most diets don’t talk about emotional eating. You must try to figure out why you are eating. Are you sad or depressed? Angry or even bored? Before you see this “easy” weight loss, you must discover the true reasons your are overeating.
Discovering your reasons will be your first step in changing your habits.

If you find you are overeating every night because of boredom, you now know you need to find an activity for that time. Call a friend, read a book or better yet, go for a walk. This will not only keep you from overeating but the increased activity will lead to easy weight loss.

Did you know that people will think they are hungry when they are actually thirsty? Most Americans are dehydrated and the simple act of drinking water will help with your easy weight loss.

A change in some of your grocery store habits can lead to easy weight loss as well. Try this...shop around the outside of the store first before heading into the inner ones (which contain the higher calorie snacks, etc.).

Don’t eat in front of the TV! I will guarantee you easy weight loss if you can stop this bad habit! The boob tube can be hypnotic and you can eat an entire bag of chips without even realizing it.

Switch to diet pop or water. By cutting back on high calorie soda, you will see immediate easy weight loss.

Easy weight loss is a myth without putting in some effort. With a little hard work and determination, you will eventually see easy weight loss and reach your long term goals.
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Lose Weight, But Keep Your Health!

Everybody’s looking for the magic answer. If we could just rub the magic lamp and get those three wishes – one of them being that we lose weight without really trying! What would you give up to be skinny? Some crazy methods of weight loss just may cost you your health. Take a long hard look before embracing the weight loss ideas below. Do your research and be sure that you understand the risks.

Prescription Diet Pills

Nowadays, most doctors tend to discourage the use of these amphetamines. Some won’t even prescribe them at all. While they do suppress appetite, they don’t teach you squat about eating healthy. You end up keeping the same eating habits and voila! Instant weight gain when you’re done with the bottle!. They can also be habit forming. The side effects include high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia, sleeplessness, hallucinations and delusions.

Ephedra

This all natural Asian herb is found in many herbal remedies and weight loss powders. It has a powerful appetite suppressant effect, but has been implicated in over 70 deaths.


Laxatives

One of those popular home remedies, used for getting rid of the food you just ate! Regular use and abuse of laxatives can result in low potassium, arrhythmia and pancreatic damage. These issues are life-threatening, so don’t use laxatives as a weight loss method.

Artificial Sweeteners

The artificial sweetener aspartame has been implicated in multiple lawsuits alleging damages that include blindness, seizures and brain damage. Check out the book Excitotoxins for more info on the possible dangers of artificial sweeteners.

Smoking

Afraid you'll gain weight if you quit smoking? The National Institute of Diabetes says that you'd have to gain 100-150 pounds to match the health risks you invoke by smoking. Instead, set up healthy substitutions to help you deal with food cravings and put down the cigarettes.

Purging

Making yourself throw up to get rid of the previous meal can have very damaging effects on health. Depletion of nutrients like potassium and vitamins, damage to the esophagus from stomach acids, and esophageal rupture are all possible side effects.

Diuretics

Diuretics gets rid of fluids - including vital electrolytes. The depletion can lead to dehydration, and cause your body to start retaining water. This just leads to a vicious cycle. Repeated or prolonged use of diuretics can lead to kidney damage and serious electrolyte imbalances, which may result in kidney or heart failure.

Herbal Remedies

Just because something is “herbal” doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Many medications themselves are derived from herbs. Because of the lack of regulation, dosages of active ingredients can vary widely from one manufacturer to another. Here’s a list of some common ingredients found in herbal weight loss products, along with some cautions you should take.

Ephedra (ma huang, ephedrine, ephedra extract, epitonin, ephdra sinica and sida cordifolia) should not be taken by people with heart, thyroid or kidney disease, or with hypertension

Kava should be avoided by people with mood disorders who are taking mood altering medication, and people with Parkinson's disease.

Cascara and Senna should not be taken by people taking diuretics (both are often found in herbal weight loss teas)

Gingko biloba, licorice root, and dong quay should not be taken by people who are taking blood thinners or anti-coagulants.


Selenium and Capsaicin should not be taken by people with bowel or digestive disorders



While becoming fit and trim can improve your health, you don’t want to lose that health by choosing a method that’s dangerous. Be sure that whatever weight loss method you decide on won’t lead to other serious medical problems.
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Low Fat Foods That Will Help You Lose Weight

Everyday, before every meal, the same question...”What am I going to eat? Everyday we have the opportunity to make good choices that will help us lose weight. Here are some healthy food ideas that will help you and your family lose weight together.

Variety
Most experts agree that a diet that consists of a variety and not too much of one thing is the best way to lose weight. Stay away from foods that are high in calories and fat but remember to find that balance of favorite foods and foods that help you lose weight. I personally love bread and could eat it day and night but again, I know I shouldn’t if I want to lose weight. I try to find bread products that have less than 4 grams of fat per ounce and also have at least 2 grams of fiber per serving.

Low Fat Substitutes of Favorite Foods
Trying to keep the family happy and lose weight can be a challenge at the dinner table. Burgers and hot dogs may be tasty but are high in fat and calories. Try substituting with lean meats and grill or broil, letting fat drip away during the cooking process.

Don’t be afraid to try meatless alternatives that are high in soy protein and low in saturated fat. They not only taste great but are a healthy way for you to lose weight.

Like some cheese with that wine? Cheeses are great source of protein and calcium but can be high in fat. To lose weight, buy low fat versions of mozzarella, cheddar and ricotta which still cook well in meals. Fat free cottage cheese can be jazzed up with peaches or a favorite fruit on top. What about the wine, you say?? Take all alcohol in moderation if you want to lose weight. A five ounce glass of vino can add up to 103 calories so beware of the goblets.

Snacks can also add to your families total calories so here are some low calories choices to help you lose weight: obviously, fruits and vegetables top the list but try to look for cookies and crackers that have less than 3 grams of fat in a 100 calorie serving. Don’t think you’re going to lose weight on microwave popcorn unless you limit your serving size and only get the low or fat free versions. These and the other low fat choices will help you and your family lose weight and stay healthy together.
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