How Obesity Increases Risk for Diabetes and its Effect on Blood Glucose Level

 

 

Type 2 diabetes and obesity are both serious health conditions. Millions of people have been diagnosed with diabetes and obesity can worsen insulin resistance. The early stages of type 2 diabetes feature the development of insulin resistance during which the body does not use insulin properly. The rise in need for insulin in an obese person overwhelms the pancreas that becomes unable to carry out sufficient insulin production.

 

Obesity and Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is significant aspect of type 2 diabetes and losing weight has proven to be an effective way of preventing, managing and curing the disease. Along with how obese an individual is, it is important to find out where the body has stored most of the fat treating diabetes. People that have stored excessive fat around their abdomen are more likely to be at risk of developing diabetes.

 

Losing weight is an essential objective for anyone who is overweight or obese and has type 2 diabetes. Weight loss helps to enhance insulin production and decrease the amount of medication required for treating diabetes. A healthy diet, physical activity as well as lifestyle adjustments can effectively treat diabetes.

 

Obesity Linked to Diabetes

Obesity accounts of a large percentage of the risk for developing diabetes with obese people being significantly more likely to have type 2 diabetes than people who have normal weight. There is a clear link between type 2 diabetes and obesity that can only be dealt with through healthy eating and exercise. An obese person can quickly develop the condition and doctors recommend timely intervention.

 

Gradual Weight Loss

Decreasing your weight even in small amounts over a given period will have the effect of improving the insulin action in your body, reducing the danger of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Visit onetouchdiabetes.co.in for more information.

 

Healthy Eating

Obese patients who have diabetes need to cut down on their consumption of complex carbohydrates that have a tendency to cause a rise in blood glucose. Since the body has developed insulin resistance, higher levels of insulin in the body can result in weight gain. Complex carbohydrates include bread, cereal and rice. Opt for whole grain versions of carbohydrates.

 

Lean protein such as fish and chicken is the best option for people who want to lose weight. The intake of dietary fiber needs to be higher to facilitate weight loss, weight control and prevent hunger pangs. A balanced diet is important and should contain protein, vegetables, fruits and limited fat. It is advisable to note down the food you eat and keep track of the progress you make to remain motivated.

 

Regular Exercise and Medication

Regular exercise helps you lose weight and maintain your weight loss. It prevents you from gaining the weight back, enhances sensitivity to insulin and reduces the threat of becoming diabetic. Exercising moderately at least five times each week will contribute to weight loss.

 

Different types of medication can treat type 2 diabetes and deal with resistance to insulin. Check out the recent kiwibox.com’s article on diabetes. Obesity prevention will help to prevent and treat diabetes.

 

Categories: Blood glucose, Diabetes, diabetes nbsp, diabetes obesity, Healthy Eating, insulin resistance, Lose weight, Losing Weight, obese person, obesity, treat diabetes, Weight Loss

Does Hypnosis Work for Weight Loss?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Hypnosis is becoming an increasingly popular therapy for helping to control appetite and encourage weight-loss. But does it work?

 

Yes – Kim

I’d tried every diet under the sun in my attempt to lose weight but nothing worked. Then a friend suggested hypnotherapy. I was sceptical at first but couldn’t face another year of being overweight and decided to give it a go. I looked online and found a hypnotherapist in my area who specialised in weight loss. I went for three sessions in total but found that it was easy to change my eating habits after just one session.

Before trying hypnosis, I constantly craved foods that were high in sugar and fat. During the sessions, my hypnotherapist reprogrammed my brain so that I wanted to choose healthy foods rather than unhealthy ones. She also helped my unconscious brain realise when I was full so that I would stop eating once I’d had enough food.

The results have been amazing. I really haven’t felt like I’ve been on a diet at all – I just naturally crave the foods that are good for me and find it easy to eat in moderation now. As a result, I’ve lost four stone in six months. I feel happier and more positive about life in general and get so many compliments about my new shape.

I thought hypnotherapy would be expensive but it’s a small price to pay compared to all the money I’ve spent on books, gym memberships, and diet drinks over the years.

I’d definitely recommend hypnotherapy to anyone who needs to lose weight but finds that traditional diets just don’t work.

 

No –Frankie

In my opinion, hypnotherapy is a lazy and expensive way to try to lose weight andthere is no proof that it actually works.

People who undergo hypnosis for weight loss may find that they lose weight in the short-term but from my experience, the results don’t last.

My friend tried hypnotherapy to lose weight because he had struggled to stick to a healthy diet. For a couple of weeks after the session, he did eat less and lost a few pounds but his old habits soon returned and he put the weight back on. I don’t think the hypnotherapy actually worked, I think he just started eating healthily because he was trying to convince himself that he hadn’t wasted his money.

There is no quick fix for losing weight – you have to change your entire lifestyle and take responsibility for losing weight yourself. My friend finally lost the weight after changing his diet completely and taking up exercise. You have to look at why you’re overweight – the underlying causes, rather than thinking that lying back and being hypnotised is going to help. At the end of the day, you will always need willpower if you want to lose weight and you can only supply that yourself – you can’t expect a hypnotherapist to find it for you.

Categories: diet, hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Lose, Lose weight, Losing Weight, weight, Weight Loss, work nbsp

Crazy Fad Diets: Are Any of These Worth Trying?

 

 

There are a lot of crazy fad diets out there. When you’re in your right mind, you can easily see how eating nothing but baby food or eating according to your blood time isn’t going to do much for your overall wellbeing. However, as the holiday season rolls on, and you’re bombarded with festive events and a hell of a lot of food, these crazy diets can seem a little more appealing. However, instead of putting your wellness through the mill, we’ve taken a look at four of the craziest diets out there, and what previous attempters have had to say about them.

 

1. The Baby Food Diet: This one has been around for a few years, but the baby food diet gained in popularity when it emerged that Hedi Slimane and Lady (goo-goo?) Gaga were rumoured fans. Reportedly endorsed by celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson, who kicked off a pureed-food craze a couple years ago after advising clients to replace two meals a day with jars of baby food plus a healthy dinner, Anderson has since denied endorsing the diet. If you stick to the sweet jars of baby food, the sheer amount of sugar is going to turn you into a total wreck. The diet has been known to help you lose as much as four pounds in five days, but previous attempters have also reported feeling miserable, hallucinating and having major cravings for something with a bit more texture.

 

2. The Blood Type Diet: Based on the 1997 book Eat Right 4 Your Type by Peter J. D’Adamo, ND, the blood type diet works off of the premise that your blood type determines the diet you need to lose weight and improve certain health conditions. These include asthma, heartburn, and headaches. This theory may help to explain why different weight loss plans work for different people. Another plus point of this diet is that it now comes with an app, making it convenient for you to keep track of the foods you personally can and cannot have. Unfortunately, it’s a bit of a lottery as to whether or not you’re allowed to eat your favourite foods – type Os, for example, shouldn’t eat dairy while vegetarianism is recommended for type As – but it may be worth a try with the advice of a dietician or doctor.

 

3. The Clean Programme: This diet was introduced in 2009 by cardiologist Alejandro Junger, MD, and is favoured by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow. When you do the 21-day detox, you have two liquid meals and one solid lunch, avoiding common allergens and inflammatory foods. If the idea of ditching booze, coffee, cheese, gluten, and sugar for three weeks makes you think “What will I eat?!” the programme does have an expansive list of alternative, approved foods, such as quinoa and kale. If you can keep the diet up on a long-term basis, the clean programme does offer great weight loss results, as well as more energy and better sleep. However, any diet that requires only three weeks of effort won’t give you permanent results.

 

4. The French Woman Diet: Well, French women are well known for being gorgeous, looking young and staying slim, and so this is why pin-thin fashion maven Carine Roitfeld has declared she follows the “French woman diet.” This eating plan consists of small portions of rich foods (think steak, cheese, and tuna tartare) and mindful, sit-down meals (instead of snacking away in front of the TV). The diet also excludes packaged food and, weirdly enough, exercise. This diet – which allows pudding and alcohol – actually has some compelling support, as studies have shown that calcium and red wine can aid in weight loss. However, while mindful eating can stop you from gaining weight, you’ll need to pair it with some physical activity if you actually want to lose any.

 

The post Crazy Fad Diets: Are Any of These Worth Trying? appeared first on .

Categories: baby food, blood type, crazy fad, Fad Diets, food diet, french woman, type diet, Weight Loss, woman diet

Trying to Lose Weight? Six Important Pieces of Technology to Help You on Your Journey

 

Losing weight is an often overwhelming task—especially with how many workout programs we have at our fingertips today. However, taking advantage of technology to help you in your weight loss journey can keep you motivated and help truly get results. If you are trying to lose weight, here are five weight loss technologies that can help you along the way:

 

Fitbit

One of the most common fitness technology pieces to buy is a fitness band, such as a Fitbit. These fitness bands come in a variety of prices, sizes, and capabilities. Some have displays on them, some don’t. These fitness bands can do things such as track your steps, track how many calories you are burning, as well as track your sleep. They connect to your phone and computer wirelessly, and you can use tools within the app to keep track of your exercise and eating habits. Wearable fitness technology provides a reminder right on your hand—so you won’t be able to forget about working out or eating healthy.

 

Endomondo

If you’re not ready to dive right into purchasing a fitness band or they don’t work with your budget, the next option is to download a fitness app such as Endomondo. Endomondo uses GPS technology to track your exercise routine whether it be running, walking, biking, or climbing. It can then report back information such as a map of your route and how many calories you burned. You can also connect it to a fitness band for even more useful data. You can look at your history and get information such as lap time, mile time, and more.

 

Xmovo

They say that it is easier to stick to your fitness goals when you have a workout buddy. Xmovo provides you with a community-centered workout experience, using social TV that gives you access to workouts, and lets you track your progress. You can share your accomplishments with the Xmovo community, and even join different challenges depending on your workout preferences and goals. Best of all, Xmovo provides personally designed weekly workouts, so you can tailor your exercise routine to the types of fitness goals you are trying to achieve.

 

Fitbit Aria

Made by the same company that created the leading fitness band, Fitbit has created what they like to call the smart scale. The Aria is a scale that can show your weight just like any other scale. What makes it smart is it can track your BMI, lean mass, and body fat percentage as well. It connects to Wi-Fi so you can see your stats on your smartphone or computer and is compatible with your Fitbit tracker. You can also have multiple users.

 

Daily Burn

If you’re looking to try different workout ideas or routines, the Daily Burn app gives you daily video workouts to try so you don’t get tired of working out. There are 14 different workout programs to give you a wide range of options to choose from. This is a great option for those with a busy schedule who don’t always have time to make it to the gym.

 

Technology is everywhere around us, and using it in your weight loss journey can help you achieve your goals easier, and keep you motivated along the way.

 

Categories: exercise, exercise routine, fitness, Weight Loss, Workouts

Can the Blood Type Diet Help Aid Weight Loss?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

The blood type diet claims that eating a particular diet of foods tailored to your own blood group can have major health benefits including protection from illnesses. But does it work and is it an effective diet for weight loss?

 

Yes – Cally

I first heard of the blood type diet when a friend gave me a book about it. Although I was sceptical at first, the more I read, the more it seemed to make sense. The diet works on the theory that our blood group affects how we process different foods and therefore some foods will give us health benefits whilst others, even healthy ones, can make us feel ill. When you eat the right foods for your blood group, the body works more efficiently and digests food more effectively – the result is that you feel better and can also lose weight.

My blood type is A – which means I’m ideally suited to a vegetarian diet. My partner meanwhile is O which means he should eat a high protein diet. I suppose this explains why we all crave different foods, for instance some people love red meat whilst others can’t stand it. Since starting the diet, I’ve noticed a lot of positive changes in my health. I have more energy and I no longer feel bloated after eating a meal. The added bonus is that I’ve also lost weight without really trying.

The diet may seem complicated at first but I’d say just try it. I’m still not sure exactly why it works but for me, it does!

 

 

No – Will

The blood type diet is a relatively new fad and there is no real evidence to suggest that it works. People probably feel better when they start the diet because they are paying more attention to what they eat and are choosing healthy foods rather than processed snacks. In the short term they may notice positive changes but in the long term, the blood type diet means restricting what you eat which risks cutting out crucial nutrients.

Unless you have an actual intolerance or allergy to a particular food then it is far healthier to eat a balanced diet with foods from all food groups rather than cutting certain foods out just because you believe they are somehow incompatible with your blood type. As soon as you start cutting out certain foods, you may lose weight – but you’ll also put yourself at risk of developing other health issues due to a lack of key nutrients.

It’s also totally impractical for families to follow this diet – you could end up having to cook two or more different dishes every mealtime just to cater to each person’s particular blood type.

Ask any medical expert what they think of the blood type diet and chances are they will tell you it’s a load of rubbish – there is simply no proof to suggest that what we should eat is determined by our blood group.

 

Categories: Blood, blood group, blood type, diet, foods, Health Benefits, Lose weight, type diet, Weight Loss

Five Safe Weight Loss Tips to Help Diabetics Lose and Maintain Weight

 

For those with diabetes, one of the most important steps to take is losing weight to improve the health and make it easier to manage blood sugar levels. However, this is also one of the most difficult practices to maintain, and can often be frustrating. But no matter how difficult, this is often considered a lifestyle change that needs to be maintained long-term to prevent future complications and remain healthy. Fortunately, there are a few ways to begin your weight loss journey today to attain your goals. Keep reading for a few suggestions of safe ways to lose and maintain weight while dealing with diabetes.

 

Increase Your Metabolism

By staying active and by frequently consuming low portions of calories throughout the day, it will help to keep your metabolism steady and regulated. Opt for consuming three meals a day with two small snacks in between for a diet that contains 1,500 calories each day.

 

Work with a Dietician

When attempting to manage diabetes, there are specific foods to incorporate, and some to cut out of the diet. Working with a registered dietician will allow you to find low-fat recipes, follow a plan that prevents a spike in blood sugar levels, and set specific goals that are attainable for your health.

 

Eat Smaller Meals

To prevent a peak in blood sugar levels, it’s important to eat smaller meals throughout the day rather than rely on two or three large portions to stay full. This will not only work to suppress the appetite, but can reduce your calorie intake.

 

Exercise Three to Five Days Each Week

Exercise is an essential component when managing diabetes to ensure that your insulin is more effective and that you reduce the glucose in your blood. You can also prevent long-term complications that are associated with the disease to prevent blocked arteries and maintain healthy cholesterol levels. The American Diabetes Association recommends participating in physical activity that includes swimming, walking, aerobic exercise, and strength-training activities.

 

Eat Breakfast

Although skipping breakfast may seem like an effective way of shedding excess weight, it can actually be harmful to your health by causing blood sugar levels to increase, according to studies. Studies have shown that those who suffer from diabetes are more likely to achieve their weight loss goals when breakfast is consumed each day.

 

Instead of going on crash diets or taking extreme measures to try and lose weight as a diabetic, it’s important to practice a few important habits that will allow you to burn fat safely. You’ll be able to maintain a healthy weight consistently while keeping your blood sugar levels low throughout your life. The information for this article was provided by the Weight Loss Specialists of North Texas who specialize in duodenal switch procedures for those with diabetes.

Categories: diabetics, Lose weight, Safe, Tips, Weight Loss

Healthy Eating: What You Need To Know About A Gluten Free Diet

 

A gluten free diet is a very healthy choice for individuals dealing with celiac disease. Celiac disease reduces the ability to digest gluten, therefore, cutting the gluten from your diet is very important in easing the symptoms. A lot of the problem that overweight people have is the kind of food they consume. Foods containing gluten are almost always a part of those foods.

 

The Purpose of a Gluten Free Diet

The purpose of a gluten free diet is to treat the symptoms of celiac disease. In a person that has celiac disease, gluten will cause inflammation in the small intestine. A gluten free diet is used to prevent said inflammation. There are also people who may show symptoms of celiac disease, who do not really have the disease at all. A gluten free diet will also help those people prevent the symptoms of non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

 

Exercising

To get the most out of a gluten free diet, or any diet for that matter, one must exercise regularly. One benefit of a gluten free diet is that it helps the body’s metabolism speed up. Proper digestion allows the body’s metabolism to perform the way it is meant to, because when food goes through digestion, it is converted into energy. When a person is suffering from celiac, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, they are unable to digest gluten, and it also slows their metabolism drastically. A higher metabolism results in more calories burned.

 

Weight Loss

Eating a gluten free diet has more than one reward, as it can play a vital roll in weight loss. Many people think it is hard to find gluten free foods, but there are many of them. Several gluten free foods are organic. Organic foods are naturally, and usually locally, grown. While organic foods are not always gluten free, there are many gluten free foods that are organic. Eating gluten free organic foods are the easiest way to avoid other harmful things, like preservatives and other chemicals. One must stay focused on consuming gluten free organic foods to have the best chance at a great health. Some gluten free foods can actually make you gain weight, due to the chemicals used to preserve the product, so staying focused on organic foods is the healthier choice.

 

Risks

When on a gluten free diet, one must pay very close attention to the way their body is responding. Some people who go on a gluten free diet suffer from iron deficiency. Some people may also suffer from a deficiency in calcium, fiber, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and/or folate. It is recommended that a person suffering from one, or any, of these deficiencies take multivitamins daily, to give the body the proper nutrients.

 

Eliminating, or even reducing, the gluten in your diet will lead to a much healthier life. When dealing with celiac disease, there is no other option, not eliminating gluten completely can lead to serious complications. People not dealing with the symptoms of celiac can also benefit greatly from eating healthier, by cutting down on gluten consumption and eating more organic foods.

 

Informational credit to myorganicfoods.net.

Categories: gluten-free diet, Healthy Eating, Weight Loss

The 15 Greatest Weight Loss Strategies of All Time

 

There is always a new diet tip or trick to try, but what about the old favourites? Wellness experts are often called on to give dieting advice, but which weight loss strategies do they always, without fail, recommend? The best weight-loss tips are the ones that stand the test of time so we’ve spoken to top diet authors, celebrity trainers, and doctors for their all-time favourite weight loss suggestions.

 

1. Never Skip Breakfast: ‘Eat breakfast,’ instructs Mehmet Oz, MD, presenter of The Dr Oz Show. ‘It’ll energize you for the day and keep your diet in check.’

 

2. Nibble Your Pudding: ‘Use the three-bite rule with dessert,’ recommends JJ Virgin, author of The Virgin Diet. ‘Have three small bites and put your fork down.’

 

3. Keep the Burn Going: Fitness expert Jillian Michaels advises, ‘During your workout, rest no more than 30 seconds between exercises. This will dramatically bump your calorie burn.’

 

4. Avoid Eating in the Evening: Mark Hyman, MD, author of UltraMetabolism, explains, ‘Finish eating three hours before bedtime. Your metabolism slows down when you sleep so you shift from fat burning to fat storage.’

 

5. Don’t Forget Your Dumbbells: ‘Increase the strength component of your workout,’ suggests celebrity trainer Sara Shears. ‘Adding lean muscle to your body not only tones, it also increases your metabolism.’

 

6. Question Your Cravings: Michelle May, MD, author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat, notes, ‘Before you eat, ask yourself, “Am I hungry?” Unless a craving comes from hunger, eating won’t satisfy it.’

 

7. Get Plenty of Sleep: ‘Get six to eight hours of sleep a night,’ Manuel Villacorta, RD, author of Eating Free, stresses. ‘Without it, the appetite hormone ghrelin increases, which could result in weight gain. And schedule at least two three-minute breaks during the day to practice deep-breathing exercises. It will reduce the stress hormone cortisol, which builds fat around your mid-section.’

 

8. Train Your Brain: ‘Be specific about your weight-loss goal,’ asserts Heidi Grant Halvorson, PhD, author of The Psychology of Goals. ‘The brain detects a difference between where you are and where you want to be, so when you’re specific, your brain throws resources like willpower at it.’

 

9. Start with Greens: Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, comments, ‘Eat in the right order. Eat vegetables first to naturally have more of them and ultimately eat fewer calories.’

 

10. Snack Away: Pamela Peeke, MD, author of The Hunger Fix, points out you should ‘Eat every three to four hours so you’ll be equipped to say no to temptations.’

 

11. Set a Firm Goal: ‘Set a tangible goal with a firm deadline,’ says Ramona Braganza, the trainer who got Jessica Alba in shape for a photo shoot less than three months after Alba gave birth. ‘For example, schedule an “after” photo shoot. It will help you stay motivated.’

 

12. Steel Yourself: ‘Expect some discomfort,’ warns Anne Parker of the Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa. ‘You’re leaving your comfort zone of old eating habits. Knowing that it can be uncomfortable will help you get through it.’

 

13. Schedule a Cheat Day: Jim Nicolai, MD, Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa, recommends, ‘Resist cravings by postponing indulging to a future day when you’re free to eat whatever you want.’

 

14. Use Your Arms: Celebrity trainer Jeanette Jenkins suggests, ‘When you are doing a treadmill workout, add arm exercises with light weights to increase your calorie burn.’

 

15. Stop Drinking Fizzy Drinks: ‘Put the soda down [and] step away,’ instructs Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD. ‘Regular soda drinking may make muscles less likely to burn fat.’

Categories: breakfast, Snacking, Weight Loss

Stand Up, Cool Down, Laugh: How to Lose Extra Calories

While real weight loss requires determination and effort, if all you want is to shed a few calories, there are some surprising things you can do at no cost to your mental wellbeing whatsoever. So, we gathered some top wellness experts for their secrets on burning a few extra calories.

 

1. Cool Down: According to Dr Marilyn Glenville, author of the Natural Health Bible For Women, ‘Drinking ice cold water means your body has to work harder to keep warm. Therefore you burn more calories while you drink.’ Weight loss expert Sian Walters adds, ‘You could use up to 70 calories a day just by drinking eight glasses of cold water. Sadly the same does not apply to eating ice cream. However US researchers did find that lowering your bedroom thermostat to 19C makes you burn 7% more calories while you sleep. That’s 100 calories for every 24 hours you spend in bed.’

 

2. Stand Up: ‘It doesn’t matter when, where or what you are doing,’ Walters notes. ‘Standing up burns an extra 42 calories an hour. Standing makes your heart beat faster, meaning that you need more oxygen. This in turn cranks up your metabolism, the body’s engine that converts calories to energy. This is why standing desks, which enable you to stand up while you work, are becoming increasingly popular. Make the minutes you spend putting on make-up in the morning work for you by standing in front of a mirror. Even 10 minutes flicking through the paper while you wait for the kettle to boil will count.’ Dr John Buckley, who led a study into the benefits of standing at ChesterUniversity, comments, ‘Standing for three to four hours a day helps burn up to 30,000 extra calories a year. It’s the equivalent of running 10 marathons a year.’

 

3. Fidget: Walters points out, ‘Children are often told to stop fidgeting but adults need to do it more…it’s the calories we burn when not exercising that really matter. Neat (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) studies [show] that some people’s brains are simply wired to want to move less but they can change this in 20 days. Start by wiggling your toes under your desk, whip the vacuum around each day rather than once a week or just fold your washing.’

 

4. Eat Early: Dr Glenville instructs, ‘Eat your breakfast within an hour of waking up. Your body needs that cue to fire up your metabolism. If no food appears your body will worry about how to fuel the day’s activity and turn all calorie-burning activity to a low setting.’ Walters weighs in, ‘The best metabolism-boosting breakfasts include protein and carbohydrates. A lean bacon sandwich or scrambled eggs with soldiers are winning combinations.’

 

5. Ditch Decaf: Walters notes, ‘Coffee drinkers have metabolisms that are on average 16 per cent higher than those who choose decaf, according to a study in the American magazine Physiology & Behaviour. This is because caffeine boosts the heart rate, albeit temporarily. It’s the caffeine that you need, not a lot of milk or sugary syrup so aim for a filter coffee or an espresso rather than a full fat latte. If you don’t like coffee try green tea. As well as caffeine it includes an antioxidant that has been shown to act as a metabolism booster.’

 

6. Laugh More: ‘Forget wrestling with the rowing machine for 10 minutes, you can burn the same amount of calories by laughing 100 times,’ says Walters. ‘A study in the International Journal Of Obesity showed that laughing boosts the metabolism by up to 20% and just 15 minutes of giggling a day is enough to burn 280 calories a week. That works out at up to 4lb of fat a year. Laughter helps exercise your heart too so it’s a win-win situation.’

Categories: burn, calories, cold water, extra calories, laughter, nbsp, stand up, standing, walters, walters notes, Weight Loss

Weighing Scales Provide Wake Up Call for Asthma Sufferer

Weighing yourself often might not work wonders for your emotional wellness, but for Sally Edwards it made all the difference to a major health concern. ‘My doctor had retired and I changed to a new surgery where they had an asthma clinic,’ says the hairdresser from Aldington in Kent. ‘They saw on my notes that I suffered from asthma, but this was the first time anyone in the medical profession had weighed me. She took a sharp breath and made a face, so I knew it wasn’t good news.’ The 5ft 2in 45-year-old was appalled to discover her weight had shot up to more than 11st, and was now officially obese.

 

According to Sally, ‘The problem was that I didn’t feel fat because the weight had crept on so gradually during and after my pregnancies. Then when the children left things on their plates, I’d pick at the leftovers…I knew that I had to do something about it or my asthma would just get worse because I would become more immobile and reluctant to exercise.’ There is a clear link between obesity and asthma attacks, says Deborah Waddell, clinical lead nurse at the charity Asthma UK. She notes, ‘Obese people find their asthma much harder to control.’ In fact, researchers from RoyalBromptonHospital in London found that having a BMI of more than 30 makes you more likely to need the steroid prednisolone – used to reduce inflammation in the airways – and to resort to your inhalers more often.

 

Dr Andrew  Menzies-Gow, a consultant in respiratory medicine at Royal Brompton, comments, ‘Unfortunately, one of the side-effects of prednisolone is increased appetite and weight gain, so patients are more inclined to find activity difficult. It’s a vicious circle, but if  an asthma sufferer can break that cycle and lose weight, the benefits will be obvious.’ Sally definitely saw the need to lose weight and improve her fitness. ‘Getting up the stairs was very scary because the wheezing was so loud,’ she recalls. ‘And it stayed at the same level in my 30s and into my 40s. I couldn’t run after the children at the park.’

 

In order to lose weight, Sally stepped up her exercise regime, taking up jogging after looking on the Asthma UK website. Now, she runs four miles three times a week, attends a weekly spinning class, and cycles short distances instead of using the car soon. ‘I lost a stone-and-a-half in eight months and it made a huge difference,’ enthuses Sally. ‘It really brought the asthma under control and made the attacks less frequent and less severe – I have just one a month instead of three a week. When I was 11st, my body was struggling to cope with the weight, especially climbing stairs, but the fitter you are, the stronger your lungs become.’

 

Waddell explains, ‘If you can exercise, this will expand the airways, and improve your lung function. Following a low-fat, low-sugar diet and getting rid of weight, especially around the middle, will make a big difference. It’s all about changing your behaviour and lifestyle.’ Dr Menzies-Gow adds ‘Weight loss and exercise are not a magic bullet for asthma, but they can help enormously.’ He recommends that you take a close look at your entire lifestyle, stop smoking and avoid pets which aggravate the condition. As for Sally, the weighing scales were a wake-up call, but they’re still not her best friend: ‘I still don’t weigh myself very often, but now I have a pair of size 12 jeans and I try them on once a week,’ she admits. ‘I know that if they don’t fit then I have to try just that bit harder to keep the weight off.’

Categories: Asthma, asthma sufferer, asthma uk, exercise, Lose weight, menzies gow, sally, weighing scales, weight, Weight Loss

How to Make Sure Your Weight Loss is Healthy

 

Although all weight loss is important for your wellness and wellbeing, there are good ways to lose weight and there are bad ways to lose weight. A good way to lose weight is to eat healthier food and increase your fitness and activity levels, and a bad way is to follow a fad diet. In addition to this, there are several important things that you should bear in mind which can make or break your weight loss efforts.

 

Don’t’ skip breakfast. All research shows that eating breakfast actually helps you to control your weight. Whilst some people skip this meal, thinking that it will help them to lose weight, missing meals actually doesn’t help you to lose weight because it slows down your metabolism. It can also mean that you miss out on essential nutrients and can encourage you to snack more during the day as it leaves you feeling more hungry than you would otherwise. Just make sure that you choose a healthy, low-fat breakfast.

 

On the same note, you should eat regular meals. If you eat regularly throughout the day, you will burn calories at a faster rate and it also reduces the temptation to snack on other foods that are high in sugar or fat instead.

 

Make sure that you also eat plenty of fruit and vegetables during the day. Not only are they packed full of vitamins and minerals, but they are also high in fibre and low in calories and fat.

 

Your activity levels are also vitally important. The more active you are, the more likely you are to lose weight and to keep it off as well. Exercise helps to burn off any excess calories that you haven’t managed to cut out. Find some form of fitness that you enjoy and that you can fit into your daily routine.

Categories: activity levels, breakfast, calories, fitness, Lose, Lose weight, nbsp, weight, Weight Loss

Experts Share their Best “How-To” Weight Loss Tips

They say it’s the little things that matter, and this is certainly the case when it comes to your weight loss programme. Sure, you need to look after your wellbeing with a healthy diet and exercise regimen, but on top of that you need a few little extras to get your body where you want it to be. So how do you do it? We’ve gathered a few wellness experts together to discuss their top “How-To” weight loss tips.

 

1. How to Satisfy Late-Night Sugar Cravings: Jackie Newgent, RD, author of The Big Green Cookbook, recommends, ‘To satisfy your sweet tooth without pushing yourself over the calorie edge, even in the late night hours, think “fruit first.” Wellness writer Leslie Barrie adds, ‘Enjoy a sliced apple with a tablespoon of nut butter (like peanut or almond) or fresh fig halves spread with ricotta. Then sleep sweet, knowing you’re still on the right, healthy track.’

 

2. How to Find the Perfect Workout Buddy: According to Barrie, ‘A workout buddy is hugely helpful for keeping motivated, but it’s important to find someone who will inspire—not discourage. So make a list of all your exercise-loving friends, then see who fits this criteria…Can your pal meet to exercise on a regular basis? Is she supportive (not disparaging) of your goals? And last, will your bud be able to keep up with you or even push your limits in key workouts? If you’ve got someone that fits all three, make that phone call.’

 

3. How to Stock Up Your Cupboard: ‘While there are heaps of good-for-you foods out there, some key ingredients make it a lot easier to meet your weight-loss goals,’ says Barrie. ‘Next grocery store run, be sure to place [these] top three diet-friendly items in your cart: balsamic vinegar (it adds a pop of low-cal flavor to veggies and salads), in-shell nuts (their protein and fiber keep you satiated), and fat-free plain yogurt (a creamy, comforting source of protein).’

 

4. How to Relieve Your Aching Muscles: After a gruelling workout, submerge your lower body in a cold bath for 10 to 15 minutes (you may have to throw some ice cubes in to get it to the 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit you’re after). ‘Many top athletes use this trick to help reduce soreness after training sessions,’ says ASICS running coach Andrew Kastor. ‘An athlete training for an important race should consider getting one to two massages per month to help aid in training recovery.’

 

5. How to Tell You’re Wearing the Right Trainers: ‘Your shoes should feel comfortable from the first step,’ Kastor asserts. To achieve this feeling, Barrie advises, ‘Shop in the evening—your feet swell during the day and stop in the late afternoon, so you want to shop when they’re at their biggest. Also make sure the sneaks are a little roomy—enough so that you can wiggle your toes, but no more than that.’

 

6. How to Pick the Right Workout Playlist:Barrie points out, ‘Running with music is a great way to get in a groove (just make sure it’s not blasting too loudly, or you won’t hear those cars!). To pick the ultimate iPod playlist, think about what gets you going.’ Kastor details, ‘I know several elite athletes that listen to what we’d consider “relaxing” music, such as symphony music, while they do a hard workout.’

 

7. How to Weigh Yourself: Newgent explains, ‘It’s best to step on the scale in the morning before eating or drinking—and prior to plunging into your daily activities.’ Barrie adds, ‘For the most reliable number, be sure to check your poundage at a consistent time, whether daily or weekly.’

Categories: barrie, barrie adds, late night, loss, loss tips, nbsp, playlist, trainers, Weight Loss, Workout, workout buddy, Workout Partner

Weight Loss Building Blocks: Does Tetris Reduce Cravings?

If you were a lot skinnier in the 80s, it might be because you were playing so much Tetris. This is according to researchers from PlymouthUniversity, whose new study – published in the journal Appetite, revealed that playing Tetris helped participants to lose weight.

 

The study researchers were interested in whether a demanding visual task, in this case playing the uber-addictive 80s video game Tetris would reduce cravings. Playing Tetris for three minutes lead to a self-reported reduction in immediate cravings for food and drink by around 20%. The NHS website explains, ‘A theory called elaboration intrusion theory states that imagery is important to cravings. For example, people craving caffeine have reported that they suddenly start vividly imaging the taste and smell of fresh coffee and then these mental images come to dominate their thinking…People can visualise what they crave and imagine the reward and satisfaction that giving into the craving might bring. The idea behind the research was that a task that interrupts this mental craving and imagery cycle might reduce the craving.’

 

For the study, 80 participants who reported craving food or drink (58), caffeine (10), or nicotine (12) were randomly assigned one of two tasks; playing Tetris for three minutes, or sitting in front of a screen that was rigged to show a slowly progressing “loading” bar that eventually led to a message of “Load Error” (three minutes in total). Before and after each task, the researchers measured their cravings using a single scale from one (not craving at all) to 100 (craving something very much). Before the tasks, there was no real difference between the average craving scores of the two groups (58.82 and 57.90 for the Tetris and loading screen group , respectively). However, after the tasks, craving reduced to 44.84 in the Tetris group (a 23.8% reduction) compared to 54.74 in the Load group (a 5.5 % reduction).

 

The researchers noted, ‘The findings support EI [elaboration intrusion] theory, showing that a visuospatial working memory load reduces naturally occurring cravings, and that Tetris might be a useful task for tackling cravings outside the laboratory.’ So there may be a visual element to cravings, but this leaves many questions to be answered. For example, was it Tetris specifically that reduced cravings, or could any mildly involved task, such as a crossword or reading a magazine, equally distract people from their cravings in the same way? Moreover, the amount of people who craved nicotine and caffeine was so small that it’s hard to generalise the results for these specific cravings. Plus, the participants were largely young adult women, and so the results in older people, who may be less willing and interested in playing Tetris, were also not assessed and may be different.

 

As the NHS warns, ‘The study did not investigate the link between the cravings and behaviour. For instance, did a reduction in food cravings actually lead to reductions in binge eating or any weight loss? It was also not clear how valid and reliable the one to 100 scale the researchers used to assess cravings was, as well as the other more sophisticated additional questionnaires they used. Error in the measurement of craving would likely bias the results, but it is not clear in what direction. The many questions and limitations to this research outlined above mean we should not jump to any rash conclusions about whether playing Tetris would help people lose weight or stop smoking, as some of the media reports have hinted at. It is simply too early to say and the evidence too weak.’

Categories: craving, cravings, elaboration intrusion, intrusion theory, Lose weight, playing tetris, reduce cravings, Reduced Cravings, Research, Tetris, Weight Loss

Have You Tried This Amazing Weight Loss and Fitness Gear?

Weight loss and fitness gadgets are the latest high-tech way to improve your wellness and wellbeing. With products from top fitness companies Fitbit, Jawbone and Nike, many people are now using wearable fitness products, clipped to their bras or underclothes. These track every move they make during the day, whether at work, running errands, in the bed or in the gym. The challenge is to get to 10,000 steps every day, and this often translates to direct results when stepping on the scales.

 

All fitness enthusiasts find themselves drawn to these types of products, eager to find out more about their daily fitness and even sleep routines. Trackers can be worn on the wrist, if you want to track it regularly throughout the day. The only downside to this idea is that sweat can make these devices itch and irritate the skin.

 

Nevertheless, the idea of trackers is often very appealing for people who are regularly active, and can serve as a great motivator to those who should be moving more in order to benefit their health. There is a school of thought that hypothesises that these devices will, in the future, be able to track health conditions in the elderly. The technology world is waiting with bated breath to find out exactly how these gadgets will be used in the future.

 

For example, it looks like wireless earbuds will soon be hitting the market. These will not only be able to allow you to listen to music without any need for wires, but they will also be able to track your heart rate when you are carrying out physical activities. When you are exercising, your target rate should be about 70 – 85 percent of your maximum heart rate, which varies according to your age.

Categories: fitness, gear, Heart Rate, nbsp, products, rate, technology, track, Weight Loss

The Werewolf Diet: Nutritional Wellness for Team Jacob

By the looks of things, we’re not getting rid of the vampire/werewolf/zombie craze anytime soon. In fact, now it looks as though these other-worldly creatures are infiltrating your wellbeing, as the latest fad in nutritional wellness reveals something that any Team Jacob girl would go for: The Werewolf Diet.

 

Diet and wellness expert Heather Neal details, ‘The Werewolf Diet is based on the cycles of the moon. The ebb and flow; the waxing and waning. The phases of the moon and their effect on nature and the human body. Or would that be the werewolf body? The theory behind the diet is that just as the moon affects the tide of the ocean, it also affects the water in our bodies. Supposedly, when the moon is full, or at the beginning of a new phase, there’s a 24-hour gravitational effect that can influence whether you can lose weight. Hmm. Reportedly Madonna and Demi Moore are moon-diet followers, so it must be totally legit.’

 

Neal continues, ‘There’s not only one Werewolf Diet — or Moon Diet, as some are calling it — there are two. There’s the basic plan or the extended option. The second option is really just a longer version that entails a different diet for each phase of the moon…Let’s start with the basic plan. It’s a simple 24-hour liquid fast that occurs in sync with the full moon. Water, juice, and nothing else for a full day. Sounds mildly feasible if you’re not the kind of person who will eat their arm off after more than two hours of hunger. The claim is you can drop six pounds during those 24 hours. The diet attributes this weight loss to the body’s increased ability to process toxins during the full and new moon phases, thus the drinking of more fluids. Apparently, it’s important to start the diet the exact minute the full moon starts. No pressure.’

 

According to Neal, ‘As far as the extended plan goes, you’re supposed to eat less when the moon is waxing and avoid eating when the “moonlight shines” (aka after 6pm) when the moon is waning, in addition to fasting during the full and new moons. Detoxifying teas are an added bonus for the new moon fast. There doesn’t seem to be any additional claims or reports to enhanced or greater weight loss with this more complex version of the diet. Although, also hidden in the diet’s website is the warning that you shouldn’t follow this diet for more than six days. I’m still working out how you follow a full moon flow for only six days.’

 

But is there anything in this idea? ‘Maybe it’s just me, but I think it goes without saying that this one’s a little out there,’ says Neal. However, she adds, ‘I guess it’s not so entirely off the wall though, considering how many things actually are affected by the moon. Like sleep cycles and baby births. (People tend to sleep 20 minutes less on nights with a full moon, and moms everywhere know the supposed increased risk of going into labour on a full moon.)…I suppose the only way to find out would be to go on a juice fast for 24 hours during a random day of the week and follow it up with another fast during a full or new moon, then compare the weight loss. But I won’t be signing up for that experiment, thank you very much. I’d turn into a werewolf after missing my first meal…I think I’ll stick with the sun diet: only eat on days the sun rises.’

Categories: cycle, diet, fad, moon, moon diet, nbsp, nutritional wellness, team jacob, Weight Loss, werewolf, Werewolf Diet

Five Foods, Drinks & Spices that Can Bump Your Weight Loss

It seems like not a day goes by without you witnessing some kind of magical weight-loss-promising product. There’s a pill, gel and machine to target any problem wellness area on your behalf – with absolutely no effort of your part, of course. More often than not, you see such adverts and change the channel, or write it off without much thought, but there’s always one product you see and think “well, maybe…” Being overweight is a real concern in this country, and millions put their wellbeing at risk by buying into these shams. In actual fact, the only way to lose weight is to exercise and eat right, and anything else on top of that can only help you along in that journey. If you do want a boost – and just a boost, mind – to your weight loss wellness, it’s better to opt for natural, home remedies, so even if they don’t work, you’re not putting yourself in any danger. Here are a few natural remedies that can help make your efforts more effective:

 

1. Flaxseed: The outer coating on flaxseed is the thing that makes you feel fuller, and so it’s this miracle layer that aids you in your weight loss. By feeling fuller, you’re less likely to overindulge in unhealthy snacks and meals, and so you can lose weight more quickly. Moreover, flaxseed is also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids which is good for your heart – and that’s always a good bonus! As flaxseeds are naturally flavourless, they won’t negatively affect the taste of your food, but they might add a nice little crunch. Simply crush them up and add them to soups, cereals, salads, and oats.

 

2. Green Tea: There’s no denying the immense popularity of green tea for weight loss, but where does it come from? The reason why so many people are switching from coffee to green tea is because of its high antioxidant capacity. In addition, research shows that green tea is capable of boosting your metabolism and burning fat, both of which can be a great help when you’re trying to lose weight. Plus, as you don’t drink green tea with milk or sugar, you can cut down on unnecessary calories.

 

3. Cinnamon: You might reserve this spice for Christmas, but cinnamon is a weight loss aid you should consume all year long. By activating the insulin receptors and enzyme systems involved in carbohydrate metabolism, cinnamon helps your body to regulate your blood sugar levels, increase metabolism and reduce bad cholesterol. Add a little to your coffee or tea, sprinkle some on your breakfast cereals, or try making healthy baked goods such as flapjacks, with added cinnamon.

 

4. Black Pepper: Adding black pepper to your foods aids in weight loss the same way that any hot food does; the piperine in black perpper acts as a digestive while also helping to prevent the formation of fat. Moreover, spicy foods tend to inspire you to become more active, which is a mightily important part of any weight loss programme. And the best thing is you can add black pepper to almost any dish.

 

5. Turmeric: There are many studies purporting the benefits of turmeric, with scientists even researching methods to see if it can be used to fight cancer. Therefore, it’s not hard to see how this Indian spice can aid in weight loss. As well as reducing your risk of health concerns such as diabetes, studies have shown that turmeric helps metabolise fat. Add turmeric to any Indian-style dish, such as veggies, rice, curries, and dahls.

Categories: black pepper, Cinnamon, Green, green tea, Lose weight, loss, nbsp, turmeric, weight, Weight Loss

Building Muscle: How to Lose Weight and Tone Up

Whether you want to enhance your overall wellbeing, lose weight or tone up; building muscle is the way to go. Team MuscleTech’s Lindsay Cappotelli explains, ‘Hopefully most of us know by now that the myth of women getting huge and “manly” from lifting weights is just that – a myth. Rather than turning women into big, bulky “hulks”, muscles create a lean and toned figure. They can transform your body from soft and flabby to tight and firm.’ With over 10 years of fitness experience, Cappotelli is the perfect person to give you tips for building muscle.

 

1. Don’t Overdo Your Cardio: According to Cappotelli, ‘Women often make cardio the focus of their workout routine and the weights get pushed to the back burner, when it should actually be the opposite. If you don’t have extra body fat to lose, you could even consider eliminating cardio completely, or limiting it to just one to two short, high intensity interval type workouts a week.’

 

2. Eat More: ‘Another mistake women make when trying to gain muscle is simply not eating enough,’ says Cappotelli. ‘Eating nothing but salads all day just ain’t gonna cut it! In order to gain muscle, you must consume slightly more calories than you burn. In addition to lean beef, chicken, turkey, and eggs, having a couple of protein shakes is one way to help you hit your protein and calorie requirements for the day.’

 

3. Lift heavier: Cappotelli urges, ‘Ladies, don’t be afraid to get out of the 12-15 repetition zone! When I started lifting heavier with reps in the five to eight range was when I really began seeing results. Plus, lifting heavy and being strong is an amazing feeling! Focus on getting stronger on the basic, compound lifts and try to keep adding more weight to the bar. Don’t be afraid to lift heavy! You may be surprised by how strong you really are.’

 

4. Keep a Workout Journal: ‘I think this is a crucial often overlooked component,’ Cappotelli comments. ‘Instead of just going to the gym and doing random things or whatever you feel like that day, it’s best to go in with a plan. Keep track of your exercises, weights, repetitions, and rest time in between sets, so that you can try to improve upon that from week to week. I like to plan out my workouts ahead of time every four to six weeks and make sure that I am constantly improving in some way.’

 

5. Train with Intensity: Cappotelli notes, ‘Many women don’t know what it really means to lift with intensity, so they never get the results out of weight training that they truly could. When you are performing an exercise, you should be extremely focused; not just going through the motions. Focus on the muscle you’re working. Put your mind into it. Feel it moving and contracting. Focus. Breathe. Strain. Make every rep count!’

 

6. Take Pictures of Your Progress: ‘It’s sometimes hard to see how your body is changing when you look at yourself every day,’ Cappotelli asserts. ‘Taking progress pictures every few months is one of the best ways to see how your body is changing. Weighing and measuring is one way to keep track of results, but photos will tell the true story.’

 

7. Have the Right Mindset: Cappotelli points out, ‘Results won’t come overnight, and there may be times when you feel that you’re not making any progress at all. Try not to get discouraged. It can take years to transform your physique, so don’t give up! If you’re doing the right things consistently, the results will come. Be patient, trust the process and don’t forget to enjoy the journey!’

Categories: Building Muscle, cappotelli, gain muscle, Lose weight, Muscle, nbsp, results, tone, Weight Loss, Women

3 Popular Fad Diets that Wellness Experts Have Tried

If you’ve tried a fad diet, and felt pretty stupid about failing or even making that decision in the first place, don’t worry – even those who know all about diet and wellbeing have been tempted by the promise of speedy weight loss results! Wellness expert Elizabeth Goodman Artis, Executive Editor of Muscle & Fitness Hers, admits, ‘I have experimented with most (though not all) of these popular weight-loss methods: from an all tuna plan in 7th (!) grade to the college era diet that allowed me to consume as many Snackwell cookies and Heinekens as my heart desired. Then there was the “caveman” diet I tried with my husband, a fan of the workout that espouses it. This left me craving white carbs so desperately I was ready to stuff a bagel into a baguette and call it a bagel/baguette sandwich.’

 

Goodman Artis continues, ‘And yes, many of these diets worked (not counting the beer and cookies)… at first. The reason, say experts, is that any time you drastically change your eating habits — in any way — you’re going to see results on the scale.’ The problem is that fad diets are simply note sustainable. Janet Brill, RD, PhD, a consultant in private practice and author of Cholesterol Down, asserts, ‘If you can’t envision sticking with a diet for the rest of your life, then it’s not a good eating plan.’ So we got Goodman Artis and Brill to look at some of the more popular, ridiculous diet plans of recent years, and explain why they’re more hype than help:

 

1. The Blood Type Diet: Goodman Artis explains, ‘Whether you’re A, B, A/B, or O, the theory goes that depending on your blood type, you should adhere to one of four possible eating plans: low carb/high protein, low-fat, vegetarian, or just an overall balanced diet. The reasoning is based on biochemistry and evolutionary theory.’ However, Brill points out that this has no scientific basis: ‘Blood type has to do with receptors on red blood cells and doesn’t dictate what you should or shouldn’t eat.’

 

2. Cut One Food Group: ‘Just cut out all carbs/sugar/fat (and eat as much as you want of everything else) and voila, the weight melts off,’ Goodman Artis details. ‘The problem…is that when you cut out one nutrient entirely, you’re likely to compensate with another. So if you eliminate all fat from your diet, there’s a good chance you’ll amp up the carbohydrates, and often the white processed variety. Or if you cut carbs, you may end up eating more fat. And while sugar doesn’t have much nutritional value, vowing to let nothing sweet pass your lips is just a recipe for a binge.’

 

3. Eat the Same Food 24/7: Goodman Artis recalls, ‘Seventh grade, as everyone knows, is a social minefield of cliques, mean girls, and pre-adolescent insecurity — and in an effort to lose the extra three pounds I was carrying, I decided to eat plain tuna fish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day until I could fit into a smaller pair of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. That lasted through lunch. Sub in any singular food and you have a weight-loss method that’s ebbed and flowed in popularity over the years; for example, the all-fruit diet and the notorious cabbage soup diet. There are a myriad of reasons this is a wrong-headed approach to weight loss… but the main one is of course sustainability — forget keeping this up for life (imagine if, 31 years later, I was subsisting solely on canned tuna). Few can maintain this approach for longer than a day.’

Categories: artis, Blood, blood type, Blood Type Diet, cutting carbs, diet, Fad Diets, goodman, goodman artis, weight, Weight Loss

SENSA: The Most Talked About Weight Loss Sensation

People are always told that if they want to lose weight, they have to diet and increase their fitness. Although these things definitely do improve your wellness and wellbeing, did you know that there is a way that claims to help you lose weight without dieting?

 

The SENSA Weight Loss System is rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about weight loss products that is available on the market today. It has been featured in Time Magazine, Dateline NBC and The New York Times, and claims to help users lose weight simply by shaking scented ‘tastants’ over their food. It goes against everything that we have traditionally been taught about dieting, so is it just another senseless weight loss fad, or does SENSA actually work?

 

Hollywood celebrities have been using SENSA already, with actress Patti Stranger recently claiming to have lost 30 pounds in just 8 months by using the SENSA system. Patti says she noticed her body changing and the weight just falling off her, and the best bit was that she didn’t’ have to count calories, stick to a diet or eat any kind of pre-packaged meals.

 

SENSA has also been featured widely in the media, because it is such a unique new product. Users of SENSA receive a package containing lots of different types of sprinkles. There are savoury flavours such as onion and parmesan cheese and sweet ones such as bananas and chocolate. Users don’t have to follow a specific diet, but simply have to sprinkle these flakes over anything that they eat. The theory is that the flakes fool your brain through sense of smell into thinking that it is full, leading you to consume fewer calories. Unfortunately, the lack of diet plan and the lack of any corroborating science raises some major red flags about this diet. Most experts still recommend that you stick to a low-calorie diet and do some exercise if you want to lose weight – there really is no magic fix.

Categories: diet, Lose, Lose weight, loss, sensa, sprinkle, weight, Weight Loss

Are You Being Sucked In By These Common Diet Myths?

Weight gain and weight loss seem like such a simple thing, and so in theory they should be perfectly straightforward. If you want to improve your wellness and wellbeing, you should eat right and increase your fitness levels, right? Unfortunately, as many dieters will tell you, it’s not as simple as that. In fact, there are a whole lot of commonly held myths about weight loss and gain, and many people simply do not know fact from fiction.

 

First of all, remember that being overweight does not necessarily equate to being unhealthy. Being a few pounds heavier does not mean that you are definitely going to an early grave. It is perfectly possible to be fat and healthy or thin and unhealthy. Just on its own, your actual weight is not directly related to how healthy you are.

 

Many people also believe that eating spicy food helps to boost your metabolism, leading to faster weight loss. Of course, eating well boosts your general health, but does not generally boost your metabolism. Just eat a healthy, balanced diet and make sure you include plenty of protein.

 

People also think that you have to eat an extra 3,000 calories to gain a pound, and that depriving yourself of 3,000 calories equates to losing a pound of fat too, but unfortunately it doesn’t work that way either. Everybody is different, and people’s metabolism can vary hugely. In addition to this, the human body is programmed to store fat, and so it actively fights against you if you try to lose weight. All kinds of other factors can affect your weight, too, such as the time of day, how big a meal you have eaten, how much water you have drunk and the hormones in your menstrual cycle.

Categories: fitness, Healthy, loss, Metabolism, Myths, people, weight, Weight Loss