New Mexico Weight Loss

How to Estimate Calories for Weight Loss

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:36:03 +0000

Weight loss in theory is a simple matter. It occurs when the number of calories burned by the body are greater than the number of calories consumed through eating. The number of calories the body uses on a daily basis is known as the Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE). TDEE is also known as the “maintenance level”. If a person consumes fewer calories than their maintenance level, then they should lose weight. On the other hand, if a person consumes more calories than their maintenance level, they will gain weight.

About 70% of TDEE is comprised of the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). The Basic Metabolic Rate is the number of calories that the body needs to sustain its necessary functions and processes. A person’s BMR depends on a variety of factors. Some of the factors, which affect BMR are;

1)Weight-Higher weight means a higher BMR. This fact contradicts the understanding that people with weight problems suffer from a low metabolism. In fact, over weight people often have a higher metabolism than thin people.

2)Height-Obviously, a person’s weight alone cannot be used to resolve whether that person is overweight or obese. A person weighing 215 lbs is not likely overweight when they are 6′3″. However, a person who is 5′4″ and weighs 215 lbs is likely overweight or even obese.

3)Gender-Men, in general, have higher percentages of lean body mass than women. Lean body mass burns more calories than does fat. Accordingly, men will usually burn more calories throughout the day than will women.

4)Age-Unfortunately, people’s metabolism tends to monotonous down when they age, meaning that their bodies will burn less calories throughout the day.

Their are really two ways for people to measure their BMR. One is by direct measurement. Direct measurement is the most accurate method. The direct measurement method is kind of a complicated process. It is usually done through indirect calorimetry. Indirect calorimetry is design of determining energy expenditure through the analysis of gas. Because it is somewhat complicated, direct measurement of BMR is not used most of the time. The more common device of determining BMR is to calculate it by the use of a formula. Several different formulas have been established to determine BMR. Each formula has its strengths and weaknesses for predicting BMR.

One of the most commonly used and oldest BMR formulas is the Harris Benedict Formula. The Harris Benedict Formula is given by the following mathematical expressions:

Metric System of Measurement

Women: BMR=655+(9.6 x weight in kilos)+(1.8 x height in cm)-(4.7 x age in years)

Men: BMR=66+(13.7 x weight in kilos)+(5 x height in cm)-(6.8 x age in years)

English System of Measurement

Women:BMR =655+(4.35 x weight in pounds)+(4.7 x height in inches)-(4.7 x age in years)

Men: BMR=66 + (6.23 x weight in pounds) + (12.7 x height in inches)-(6.8 x age in years)

The Harris Benedict Formula does a pretty well-behaved job in predicting BMR. However, it does have a couple of weaknesses that should be understood. For the very muscular, the Harris Benedict Formula will underestimate calories. For the very chunky, the formula will over estimate calories. The main reason for the Harris Benedict Formula’s weaknesses is that it does not directly take percentage of lean body mass into account. As noted previously, lean body mass burns many more calories than fat. The Harris Benedict Formula implicitly assumes a normal range of lean body mass. Accordingly, people with higher and lower than normal lean body mass will not get fair predictions. BMR formulas have been developed that directly take lean body mass into account.

Once BMR is determined, TDEE can be computed. Usually, TDEE is computed by multiplying BMR by an “activity factor”. An activity factor is dependent upon a person’s level of activity. Determining the appropriate activity factor is a matter of judgement. There are no hard and fast rules. Activity factors are shown by the following:

Sedentary 1.2 (little to no daily exercise. Job not physically demanding.)

Lightly Active 1.375 (light spend 1 to 3 days per week)

Moderately Active 1.55 (moderate exercise 3 to 5 days per week)

Very Active 1.725 (rigorous exercise 6 to 7 days per week)

Extremely Active 1.9 (daily rigorous exercise and physical job)

As an example of the foregoing, deem a 6′4 (76 inches) man, 33 years old, and weighing 220 lbs. Also, assume that the man gets a moderate amount of exercise every week. Putting the relevant information into the Harris Benedict Formula gives:

BMR=66 + (6.23 x 220) + (12.7 x 76)-(6.8 x 33)

BMR=66+1386+965.2-224.4=2192.8

Now TDEE has to be determined. Remember that TDEE is found by multiplying BMR by the appropriate activity level. Because it is assumed that the man in our example gets a moderate amount of exhaust, his activity level would be 1.55. Accordingly, TDEE is given by the following:

2192.8 x 1.55=3398.8 (rounded to the nearest decimal)

Accordingly, the man in our example will burn approximately 3398.8 calories per day. In order for him to lose weight, he must catch less than 3398.8 calories each day, until he reaches his desired weight. On other hand, he will catch weight if he consumes more than 3398.8 calories per day.

Readers should keep in mind that the foregoing is a very simplified discussion of BMR and TDEE. Their is much more to both of them. However, for many people, the above should permit a reasonable estimation of both BMR and TDEE.

Why a Senior Would Opt to Have Gastric Banding Surgery

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:52:50 +0000

My Journey to Consider Laparoscopic Gastric Banding

Over the past 25 years, I became morbidly obese. I tried oodles of weight control programs (health plan programs, Scarsdale, Weight Watchers, Weight Watchers at Work, Healthy Weigh, TOPS, Nautilus Spa, aerobics, yoga, walking, Micro-Diet, Atkins, hypnosis, Dr. Andrew Weil’s guide, Protein Power, Sugar Busters, American Dietetic Association, Dr. Phil’s Diet)…get the report?

Some of these regimens helped me lose my extra weight twice. I even maintained my goal weight for 10 years. I felt “cured.” Unfortunately, obesity is never cured, and while going about my busy life…working full-time, raising a big family, stressing…lo and behold, the “burly fairy” came calling again. I became somewhat jaded and declared “war” on diet programs. I was totally disenchanted with the entire, multi-million dollar weight loss industry. Yo-Yo dieting had ruined my metabolism. How could someone who once danced on the pompon line four years in high school, and a year in college, let herself get to this point?

My Reason for Considering Laparoscopic Gastric Banding: Health Conditions

Not only had the extra weight come back, plus more, I was aging and developing serious health conditions by age 60.High blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, joint pain, help pain, heartburn, gastric esophageal reflux disease (GERD), rashes, and an esophageal hernia plagued me. Unfortunately, my attitude was “all or nothing” when it came to dieting. I had to accept the fact that I could not stay on a diet for more than a few days, was short of breath, out of shape, clumsy and couldn’t walk far…a real couch potato. My negative outlook left me lethargic and over-sleeping. I was tired of wearing the same tight clothes, and constantly being fatigued. However, a glimmer of hope was about to occur.

Three years ago, several newspaper articles on laparoscopic gastric banding caught my eye. I began researching weight loss surgery options online. The more I learned, the more angry I was about the prospect of qualifying for this surgery to improve my health! After all, my husband and I have eight wonderful grandchildren; wouldn’t it be nice to perceive all of them grow up?

After researching the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, and gastric banding, the thought of having my stomach stapled, or my internal organs rerouted left me anxious! To tell the truth, I’m a desirable chicken when it comes to surgery. Although the other methods led to faster weight loss, I reminded myself that I had not gained my extra pounds overnight, and I didn’t seek information from to lose the extra pounds instantly. Additionally, I didn’t want to suffer from malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. Gastric banding has a low complication rate, and it was my clear and safest choice!

Sure, it took a lot of time and patience attending a surgery informational seminar in September 2008, taking a Jump Start Your Success Class, making preliminary lifestyle changes, keeping appointments, completing forms and medical releases, completing labs, obtaining specialists’ clearances, gathering pertinent medical records, making calls, taking pre-op tests, following up, and keeping a file of all documents in the event anything was lost! You must be your own best advocate! My efforts paid off. I was popular by my insurance provider on December 29, 2008, my red-letter day!

I weighed 220 on February 13, 2009, the day I had the Realize laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery. I arrived mid-morning and was released at 6 p.m. the same evening. I took it easy for three days, followed the food guidelines (which included full liquids for three weeks, mushy foods for one week, and regular foods thereafter), and began walking briefly for exercise.

Post-Surgery Serve Program Essential for Weight Loss Monitoring and Success

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. provides a terrific pre- and post-surgery interactive support program known as Realize mySuccess. Personal weight, BMI, exercise, food diary, goals, reminders and statistics are available online. It helped me tremendously, and I’m grateful for this source!

So far I’ve lost 20 pounds since surgery, and continue on my journey to better health. I work out three days a week at the gym, and have vitality and flexibility again! My outlook is optimistic, and I no longer experience joint and back pain. It was really worth every temporary inconvenience. A slimmer, healthier me has arrived! Just wish I’d done it sooner!

Reference:

Realize Personalized Banding Solution. A unique commitment to successful long-term weight loss

Recommended reading on laparoscopic gastric banding surgery:

“Medicare Now Covers Weight Loss Surgeries.”

“Gastric Banding Surgery: Better Than a 500 Calorie Diet!”

Weight Loss Camps for Kids

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 02:04:33 +0000

Yes, weight loss camps for kids really do exist. If you’ve heard of band camps, academic camps and other sorts of summer camps, then you can imagine why such summer weight loss camps exist. Weight loss camps are available all across the country. The existence of these camps reflects the growing nationwide concern about the increasing obesity in young children and our society in general.

According to the Aspen Wellness Group, obesity among children and adolescents (defined as 95+ percentile body mass index on a growth chart) has skyrocketed from 6% to 15%. This makes overweight and obesity the most common chronic illness among children and teens an additional 15% of children and teens are overweight, but not obese.

Weight loss camp programs teach kids that they can bewitch control of their weight and be pleased long healthy lives. While at the facilities, children gain skills required for long-term weight management. The children are encouraged to partake in nutrition, lifestyle and group discussion sessions. The sessions can accomplish an awareness of emotional, environmental, and situational clues around eating and activity habits. The campers learn about good food choices, behavior modification and how to prepare healthy snacks and meals.

Some camps have expanded lifestyle fitness facilities where weight loss is a natural byproduct of newly acquired healthy habits. Most weight loss camps provide a range of fun and stimulating physical activities. These camps typically have a wide range of outdoor adventures and sports for campers to participate in. Some even provide options that allow campers chose their own daily activities. Depending on location, campers are enjoy biking, hiking, kayaking, rafting, rock climbing, horse packing, surfing, and more.

When choosing a fitness camp for your child, deem whether the doctrine and procedures and methods of the camp will be a good match with your child’s desires and needs. Weight loss may camps also have the opportunity to help young people develop interpersonal skills that can have a lifelong impact. Most good weight loss camps have an educational curved.

And remember to check out the camp’s reputation with the Better Business Bureau and child care authorities. Try to obtain personal references and not unprejudiced website or printed brochures. Whether you personally visit the facility or not, do a gut check and see if you get a sense of trust, support and solid experience.

A true measure of a successful camp experience is whether the weight loss, and the habits and skills learned become long-term if not permanent. Only time will tell.

How to Lose Weight with Low Carb Diets

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 11:11:25 +0000

The best way to come weight loss is by accepting that it may be a long process that requires commitment, determination and patience. Also, since there is no “one-size-fits-all” diet plan, choosing the right diet for you as well as adopting a new lifestyle are both extremely distinguished elements to succeed at permanent weight loss.

Many people lose weight with Low Carbdiets.However, some do not achieve their desired goal because they forgot an essential fact: “Not all Low Carb diets were created equal.” Therefore, once you’ve decided to lose those extra pounds with a Vulgar Carb diet plan, your very next step should be to learn about the different options available so you can choose the right Vulgar Carb diet for you, according to your health, weight goal, lifestyle, and even according to your budget.

To lose weight with Low Carb diets it’s important to resolve one that matches your particular situation. Then, it’ll be essential to adopt the suggested lifestyle changes of your chosen diet so you can lose the desired amount of pounds and increase your chances to keep the weight loss permanently.

There is an abundance of products and magic pills that promise quick and easy results, but most of them are not effective to lose weight safely and/or permanently. It is best to stick to one diet that has proven to be helpful to many, and Low Carb diets meet that criterion.

The following measures are some of the lifestyle changes that will definitely help you to lose weight with Low Carbdietsand help you keep your ideal weight indefinitely.

1. Commitment – It is very important to be motivated to lose weight for the right reasons, not just for a certain event, beach vacation, or wedding party. Until you reach the point of true desire to get rid of those extra pounds for good, you won’t get the valuable commitment to follow through with your diet view, no matter how worthy you’ve been told you need to lose weight by your doctor, your significant other or your close friend.

2. Get help – Once you’ve made a decision to commit yourself to lose weight, you should leer the help of a health professional, nutritionist or health practitioner for guidance and support. Also, it’s recommended to get a buddy to lose weight with, as you can aid and motivate each other when either of you might feel discouraged.

3. Think positive – Do not constantly think about all those pounds you need to lose. It may become overwhelming, especially if you need to lose a large amount of pounds. Believe instead of the benefits you’ll gain. Begin each day visualizing the “new you”. Praise yourself and recognize your efforts even when your weight loss is going slower than anticipated. Instead of longing for a doughnut, learn to enjoy a bagel!

4. Learn to prioritize – Once you’ve made the decision to lose weight, it should become one of your main daily priorities. If you’re going through a difficult space in your life, have a stressful deadline at work or have other worries in your mind at this time, you may want to postpone your weight loss plan until you can fully commit to it.

5. Set realistic goals – Do not set your mind to lose a certain amount of pounds per week/month. That is not only unrealistic but unhealthy. Be conscious of the fact that it may take you several months or even over a year to come your ideal weight depending on the amount of pounds you need to lose. Healthy weight loss should be slow and constant.

6. Define the habits you want to change – If you tend to overeat when you are stressed, upset, anxious, murky, tired, pressed or depressed; the first step is to become aware of your routines so you can learn to modify them. Before eating something, ask yourself if you’re really hungry. If you are not, make an effort to notice what’s making you eat. Come up with something to distract yourself. This may take some practice but in a few weeks you’d have modified a behavior which benefits will last a lifetime.

7. Do not stay hungry – Most people need between 1200 and 1500 calories per day, according to age, gender, height, bone mass and physical activity. If you drastically reduce the calories you ingest, your body will go into starvation mode. This will favor the loss of liquids and muscle over permanent fat loss.

8. Do engage in physical activity – A well chosen Outrageous Carb diet will definitely help you lose weight, but if you add a 30 minute workout three to four times per week, you’ll double the urge at which you’ll lose weight. Physical activity and especially aerobic exercise will speed the fat loss and enhance muscle development. These changes will increase your metabolism, which in turn will help you burn calories faster. A nice and qualified cycle to create!

It is not enough to want to lose weight with a Indecent Carb Diet. Remember that choosing the correct Low Carb diet for you will increase your chances at successful weight loss as well as keeping those pounds off permanently. Also, the above mentioned lifestyle changes should attend you live a healthier life. Remember to be kind to yourself. Be constant and patient. You are enduring a difficult task, and you deserve recognition and praise.

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Healthy Weight Loss Plan Guidelines

admin — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:58:07 +0000

Anybody who is overweight would just love to find a way to shed off this excess weight, isn’t it?

But the sad thing is that many people are so obsessed with losing weight that they don’t care whether they are losing it in a healthy manner or not. As long as any diet plan works or any diet pills works for them, they are willing to give it a go without considering health complications.

If you are one of those intelligent few who not only wants to lose weight, but wants to do so in a healthy manner then congrats to you. Your decision is really an excellent one!

This article is for such people who want to accept out a healthy program to lose weight. They are not willing to sacrifice their long term health for some quick weight reduction.

In this article, I want to point out the basics of any good healthy weight loss program. Before trying out any program, it is wise if you can check how many of these basic conditions does the program satisfy. Based on that you can decide whether to give it a try or skip it.

With so many weight loss methods and scams out there in the market, it is really difficult for a common man to differentiate between a good one and a bad one. If you are facing such a dilemma, then I hope that this article is of some help to you.

What exactly is a healthy Weight loss program?
A healthy weight loss program is one which does not make you lose weight in such a manner that your health is tainted.

Many such programs and diet plans go overboard in their attempt to make people lose stout rapidly. Fad diets or starvation diets are a definite no-no. There are so many harmful effects of starving yourself and not eating properly. And many times you would not lose body fat with such fad diets, instead you will lose water weight.

Diet pills, weight loss supplements are again a definite no-no. These products can cause many harmful side-effects besides being completely ineffective for permanent long term weight loss.

Similarly – low carb diets, low protien diets etc. that make you eat only a certain kind of food and not others are also not a very good plan of weight loss.

So a healthy weight loss program should avoid all such above things. It shouldn’t ask you to starve yourself, shouldn’t completely prevent you from eating certain categories of food as you need a balanced diet in order to remain fit.

Besides these, any program should not attempt to make you lose weight at an extremely rapid creep as it can cause health issues too. Any good program should also warn you against diet pills and supplements.

In addition to these, you should be encouraged to adapt healthy eating habits. You should be advised on what to eat, what not to eat, how considerable and when to eat etc. and other basics of good eating habits.

Healthy eating habits should ideally be combined with exercising in order to produce remarkable results. A good weight loss understanding should also include advice on simple exercises to lose weight that you can fit in your busy everyday schedule.

Finally, the advice should reach from expert sources. That means that the founder of the weight loss program should have genuine qualification and experience in this field. His/her knowledge should really be up to the mark.

If any weight loss program satisfies all the above conditions, then it can be worth a try. However one final check you can do is to consult a qualified doctor about such a program so that you are on a safer side.

One Such Program:
To make things easy for you, I want to point out 1 such weight loss program which satisfies all the above conditions I have mentioned. It has gained immense popularity over the years and its founder is a well experienced person in the field of fitness and nutrition.

To know more about it, you can read my article here where I review it in detail – Natural, Healthy Chubby Burning

To read more tips about ample weight loss, read my article – Safe Weight Loss Tips

Hope you enjoyed the article!

Weight Loss Facts for New Moms

admin — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 06:10:37 +0000

Generally women gain between 25-35 pounds of weight when they are pregnant. This does not mean that they continue to weigh all that more. After giving birth to the new born, moms tend to lose around 11-15 pounds of the excess weight. This means that they need to lose the additional 14-20 pounds or more. Weight loss facts and tips online or in various books can help the new moms to shed a lot of the unwanted weight in a healthy manner.

Weight loss facts for new moms

One limitation for the new moms is that they cannot rush into starving, dieting, intense work-outs and exercise. It might take 8-10 months to get relieve into shape and look slim. It is suggested to begin with a healthy diet and drinking lot of fluids. It helps to become active and move out of the couch. Simple exercises like a brisk walk or light gardening can prove to be good for a start.

It is a big change after childbirth. Waking up at odd hours to feed the baby and caring for the current born can itself be quite stressful. Hence, it is advisable not to begin working out and heading to the gym in the initial 2-3 months. During this time, it is better to focus on eating a high nutrition diet with low fat foods to keep a track of the body weight.

Before beginning any form of exercise or considering a diet plan, it is important to consult your physician. They can help to settle which kind of exercises would be first-rate for the new moms. Other effective weight loss tricks and tips can be browsed online. You can follow whichever suits your lifestyle and feels comfortable.

New moms can begin with walking and get back into shape. Using a stroller to take the baby can be a good idea. Both mom and the baby can feel current after a walk in the fresh air. One can also use a treadmill to walk very slowly and sweat it out. Plenty of cheap treadmills are available online and in various fitness stores. Investing in one can be a good long term weight loss strategy.

When the baby takes a peaceful nap, use the time for cleaning the home. Dusting, vacuuming the carpets and some amount of washing not only keeps the home tidy but is also effective in weight loss. One can also do some light accomplish of yoga and meditation as a form of exhaust. This helps to become more flexible and calms the mind.

Doing some amount of weekend window shopping can serve to lose some unwanted calories while being a pleasant change. Remove along the stroller for the baby and walk around your favorite stores. Remember to drink a lot of water to support yourself hydrated. It would be a good idea to include lots of berries and fresh fruits in the diet. Natural acai berry drinks can help in colon cleansing and losing weight naturally. New moms can also try using the sauna and hot spas in order to feel fresh and shed pounds at the same time.

All one needs to do is get motivated. Find fresh and innovative ways to lose weight while being comfortable. Take the baby in the arms and walk to make it sleep. It is a great feeling to give birth to novel life and see the new born baby smile and react to your love and care. Utilize the time to spend and care for the baby while you work out.

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Men, Women and Weight Loss

admin — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 15:49:56 +0000

It’s a scenario most women know well – she sweats away at the gym or doing endless workout videos, counts calories and avoids popular foods, while he eats bags of chips and drinks sodas watching television. To add injury to insult, the scales seem to fluctuate in the wrong direction for her, while never budging for him.

As frustrating as it is, it’s a well known fact that most men lose and maintain weight almost effortlessly, while the average woman has to work hard to keep her weight within a comfortable range. Why is weight loss so much easier for men? The reasons are simpler than you may mediate – and so is using them to your advantage.

1. Men typically don’t stress over their weight. Most men could care less if that extra piece of cheesecake pushed the scale up a couple pounds – in fact, most men don’t even step on a scale unless they’re in a doctor’s office. If you’re wondering what an apathetic attitude has to do with weight loss success, it’s fairly simple – stress. Women are worriers by nature, but add to that the stress of counting calories, measuring portions, and the guilt of not sticking to a strict diet and exercise regime, and you’ve honest turned your fitness resolution into a counter-productive cycle.

The answer: Don’t obsess over an extra pound or two, and don’t punish yourself for a “slip-up” or for taking a day off from exercise. Focus on how you feel physically, and reward yourself with things that you love (like a spa day) when you reach milestone goals.

2. Women retain water. The average woman’s weight naturally fluctuates about 5 lbs on any given day, and the reason isn’t too much chocolate – it’s water retention. The more active you are, the heavier your menstrual cycle is, the more water you need; and if you’re not getting enough, your body compensates by holding onto it from foods and what you do drink.

The answer: Drink more water, and avoid sodas (even diet sodas), because they possess too distinguished sodium, and the carbonation can fabricate you feel even more bloated. There are several differences of opinion on how much water is enough, but for the average person the general consensus is about 64 ounces throughout the day. Water cleans the toxins out of your system (making you support less water) – and is a natural appetite suppressant.

3. Men are more competitive. When a man starts out on a diet, he usually goes it full force. He gives up certain foods frigid turkey, and works out like a madman, because to him failure is not an option. Women, on the other hand, tend to rationalize every decision, and salvage disheartened when a strategy doesn’t work.

The answer: Use your analytical nature to your advantage, but take a stab at his conquering attitude. Instead of feeling badly about yourself because things seem so worthy easier for him, take pride in the knowledge of how hard you’re working toward your own goals. If you need a more evenly matched competitor, find a workout buddy among your female friends. Not only will you find it easier to approach your fitness goals, but you’ll also make the competition fun, as both of you will be motivating each other and working together toward the same goals.

4. Men have higher metabolisms and smaller appetites. Because women are the bearers of children, we have an unfortunate disadvantage in the area of metabolism, because our bodies naturally maintain onto fat more than a man’s. As for appetites, men are more able to suppress theirs, especially when working out, while we tend to need more food after a good cardio session.

The answer: Eat a small snack before a workout, and another afterward. It’s a current piece of diet advice to eat 6 small meals instead of 3 large ones in a day, and it is a very effective intention, especially for women. The key is to fuel your body, and keep it fueled, rather than overfilling and hitting bottom several times a day. When you eat a snack before a workout, you’re fueling your body, but not to the point of being overfull (as you would be with a meal), which can make a workout both uncomfortable and ineffective. Eating a snack afterward quells the hunger that arises from physical exertion; but what many people don’t know is that your metabolism is raised for up to four hours after a good cardio workout, which means you burn fat and utilize calories more effectively.

5. Men have more muscle mass than women. This has a lot to do with #4; men’s bodies don’t need as much fat as women’s, so they have more lean muscle. The more muscle a person has, the more fat they burn – even while propped on the couch or asleep.

The answer: Up your game. Even if you’re the queen of step aerobics and have never owned a hand weight in your life, invest in some. It doesn’t take much (you want to be fit, not look like Hulk Hogan, after all), some 3-5 pound weights will work wonders. Add some light weight lifting to your cardio, and you’ll be surprised at how much easier those weight loss goals happen for you.

Why Medifast is the Best (and Worst) Diet Plan

admin — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:03:36 +0000

Of the dozens of weight-loss plans currently on the market, perhaps none are as expensive or as effective as Medifast, a low-calorie, low-fat diet that promises weight loss of two to five pounds per week. Medifast products come in individual packets that you mix with water, shake, microwave or refrigerate to acquire a daily diet of between 800 and 1000 calories to guarantee faster weight loss than other traditional diet plans. Available Medifast meals include shakes, bars, puddings, soups, chili and oatmeal.

When using Medifast, most customers adhere to the “5 and 1″ plan, which includes a daily diet of five Medifast meals (limit of one bar per day) and one “lean and green meal,” which includes up to seven ounces of chicken, turkey or fish, of up to five ounces of beef, pork or lamb. The Medifast “lean and green meal” also includes two cups of salad greens and up to ½ cup of raw vegetables, or up to 1 ½ cups of cooked vegetables. You can also use up to two tablespoons of Medifast low-fat salad dressing.

The secret behind the Medifast plan is that the low-calorie diet “causes fleshy stores to release free fatty acids that are converted by the liver into an energy source called ketones, putting the body into a mild state of ketosis, which helps you accomplish rapid weight loss while not losing muscle tissue,” according to www.medifast1.com. Medifast claims it takes the body up to three days to do this level of ketosis. Another component of the Medifast plan is eating the six meals at two to three hour intervals throughout the day, to help prevent against hunger or fatigue.

To get started, women and men can order 4-week packages of Medifast meals for the cost of around $275. This includes a sampling of some of Medifast’s most popular items. Based on the message boards on the Medifast website and some of the success stories of Medifast users, the program has been deemed highly successful by those who follow the plan faithfully and do not cheat. Cheating will cause the body to drop out of ketosis, and it will take up to another three days for the body to achieve that station again.

Some of the downfalls of the Medifast plan include the high cost. At around $275 per month, plan to employ up to $1500 in order to lose up to 100 pounds. That doesn’t take into epic the cost of the “lean and green meal.” In addition, some side effects of the Medifast plan include diarrhea, gurgling stomach and cramps, constipation, bad breath, feeling cold, skin rashes, headaches and hair loss, including other potential problems. The 800-1000 daily calorie limit, though higher for men, is very low. While working towards a spot of ketosis, hunger and fatigue are prevalent among users.

As someone who has been on the Medifast plan, another downfall is the taste of the products. While some of the items taste titanic, like the tomato soup, crackers and chocolate pudding, I had a hard time swallowing the other meals, including all of the shakes and the minestrone soup. Medifast users are allowed to add certain spices for taste, but no matter how much pepper or hot sauce I added to some of the meals, the powdered taste would not go away.

Bottom line: the Medifast opinion is only worth it for those who need to lose serious amounts of weight and for those who have failed at most other diet plans. If you’re physically active, you’ll need to cut down on the amount of utilize you do because of the decreased caloric intake. The high cost is another pitfall, and retain in mind you’ll have to have a lot of discipline to not eat the regular meals you cook for your family or most items on a restaurant menu. However, if you have the stomach and the determination, not to mention a high bank myth balance, the Medifast plan may be just what you’re looking for to finally lose the weight.

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Weight Loss Key – Oprah Encourages Water

admin — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 09:20:26 +0000

According to Health-emark.com, Oprah’s healthy weight loss diet can be summarized as low fat, no alcohol and drinking more water. Not many of us have Oprah’s resources and yet the program she adopted is one that most of us could afford to follow. If expensive products or fad foods were primary or more productive, I suspect she would have gone with them.

Oprah’s trainer Bob Greene also advocates eliminating soda: “If you substitute one sugary beverage every day with water, that’s 38 pounds of calories a year that was just eliminated,” says Bob in an interview with ET’s Kevin Fraser.

Healthy weight loss.

The key for Oprah as with anyone battling obesity is to make a healthy change. You may have seen sweat suits advertised for quick weight loss from sweating out water. Does this seem healthy or a lasting proposition to you?

Water is vital to the healthy functioning of the body. Even if you do end up drinking excess water, it passes through. Excess food has to be processed and stored before eventually being burned off which is takes a lot of energy.

Tips on incorporating water for healthy weight loss.

1. Bob Greene suggests 64 to 80 ounces of water a day in his Summer Fitness Plan. Drinking more water in hot weather is suggested.

2. Drink two glasses of water a half hour before each meal. The body’s signal for thirst and hunger trouble is very similar and sometimes a person has the condition of dehydration but eats a snack or meal instead of taking in water. By separating thirst from hunger, you are better able to stop eating when pudgy.

3. Drink two glasses of water two and half hours after each meal.

4. Substitute water for alcohol and soda. And coffee, tea, milk, juices etc. do not count towards your water intake goal. Water means plain water!

Salt and potassium.

The body needs a proper ratio of salt to water. According to the author of “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water” Dr. Batmanghelidj, it is vital to the process of healthy weight loss.

He contends that potassium comes in adequate quantities as long as you include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet. In fact, he recommends that you don’t add any potassium supplements.

But salt doesn’t reach in natural foods and must be supplemented. He recommends a half teaspoon of salt a day for every 10 glasses of water. Athletes know the importance of incorporating salt and staying hydrated with water.

Of course, too much salt is unhealthy so spread out the intake throughout the day.

Healthy weight loss and exercise.

Just substituting water for alcohol and soda and drinking more of it like Oprah and Bob Greene is a great step in the direction of healthy weight loss. If you are able to add sensible exercise, you can reach your healthy weight loss goals that much more effectively. Bob Greene advises a walking program as a great first step!

Sources:

Oprah’s Weight Loss Plan
Bob Greene’s Summer Fitness Plan
ET’s Bob Greene Interview

Slim-Fast Shakes Recalled Due to Bacterial Contamination, Unilever Offers Refund

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:42:29 +0000

Unilever, manufacturer of Slim-Fast shakes, has voluntarily recalled all ready-to-drink (RTD) shakes due to possible bacterial contamination. According to a press release at Slim-Fast.com, the company is cooperating with the FDA and is pulling all of the shakes from shelves nationwide and offering a refund to customers.

The recall involves only the Slim-Fast shakes packaged in the 11oz steel cans, purchased singly or in cartons, some of which have been found to contain Bacillus cereus which may cause nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea. All cans currently in circulation, including those currently on store shelves, in storage or in consumer’s homes, are being recalled, regardless of lot number or date purchased. No other Slim-Fast or Unilever products are affected.

Ingestion of Bacillus cereus may result in a type of food poisoning with symptoms arising rapidly and lasting for up to 24 hours, but is not normally life threatening. It isn’t known how the contaminant entered the Slim-Fast cans during the manufacturing process, which prompted Unilever to take immediate action in the total buy of all shakes as a precaution. Once the source has been identified and the threat of further contamination removed, production and shipment of Slim-Fast RTD shakes will continue.

Slim-Fast Foods Co has experienced other product recalls, including a similar consume in Aug 2000 of the RTD shakes after five consumers complained of gastrointestinal symptoms. It hasn’t been reported whether Baccilus cereus was the cause of contamination that prompted the earlier recall or if the two cases are unrelated.

Consumers having possession of any of the Slim-Fast shakes in question are directed to discard them immediately and contact Unilever at 1-800-896-9479 and inquire about a plump refund for their loss. The Consumer Services Center will be manned to accept calls Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM ET, and a recorded message with recall and refund information is available outside of those hours.

Slim-Fast products contain an ingredient that is said to minimize food cravings and control hunger for up to 4 hours. The full line of weight loss products include the ready-to-drink shakes, powdered shakes, meal replacement and snack bars. Like most diet and weight loss plans, Slim-Fast has had its share of success stories from those who have followed the plan and lost a valuable amount of weight. It has also received bad press from medical professionals and the low-carb crowd due to the large amount of carbohydrate laden sugars in Slim-Fast products. This latest nationwide win is not likely to earn them any low-fat brownie points.

Sources:
http://www.slim-fast.com/recall.aspx
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story? id=118082&page=1