Diet Clever and Eat Right for Life!

I can't believe

noreply@blogger.com (The Diet Plate) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:23:00 +0000

it has been more than a year since I logged on to my blog. This just goes to show how busy we have been here at Perfect Portion Control Ltd. Selling the Diet Plate is all consuming and the economic climate has been as challenging for us as it has been for everybody else. The market share though has increased despite the doom and gloom, people know that the Diet Plate works and that it is a cost effective method of losing weight.

This year we have teamed up with renowned hypnotherapist Mr Michael Skirving and together we have produced a hypnosis programme to work with the Diet Plate range of products. Now, this is not an effort to hypnotise you all into buying the Diet Plate, it is a little "non-invasive" extra help, to get you in the right frame of mind to lose weight using it. And, it saves a fortune on visiting an actual hypnotist for a 4 week course!

Anyway, I will try not to leave it another year as i want to post something next week about bananas - :)

Video interview with Gail Galvin and Endocrinologist Dr Sue Pedersen

noreply@blogger.com (The Diet Plate) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 07:40:00 +0000

Dr Ian campbell talks about Obesity

noreply@blogger.com (GreenCastle) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:32:00 +0000

Top 10 tips on portion control

noreply@blogger.com (GreenCastle) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:55:00 +0000

A portion control weight management plan is all about eating the foods you enjoy, cooked the way you prefer. Losing weight this way minimizes any deprivation you would feel on a traditional diet because no food is denied whilst still managing to eat fewer calories. It is not as difficult as people make out, and of course if you make a healthier choice, you will lose weight more quickly. It’s all about getting into the habit of eating the right balance of foods and eating the right amount of food to be just inside your weight loss zone. Here are 10 hints that I have used and found helpful, you should know I shed 17 stone (or 105kg if you work in metric), doing just this with The Diet Plate® portion control plate and bowl .

1. Size up servings.

Just how many of those chips are in a serving? Check the nutrition label to find out! You may be surprised at how small an actual serving looks compared to what you would normally eat. Learn what a serving is of your favorite foods; you can start by weighing and measuring out the foods you eat, or by buying a system that does it for you. I personally recommend The Diet Plate®, which is the system I used.

2. Breakdown Snack foods

I find if I have it in my cupboard and I open it, then I eat it. It’s sad but true. One of the things I found was that if I bought single sized servings (e.g. a 20g bag of crisps) then I would only eat them. If I had to buy “grab bags” (love the term, but they should be called fat bags) or bigger then I would have to break them down into smaller bags (I found freezer bags were handy for this and not overly expensive). This way I would only eat the one bag at a time, if I didn’t then I would eat the whole huge bag in one sitting without thinking about it.

3. Salad is good

One of the things I found that helped was to eat a salad before dinner. Ok I know this sounds a little bit weird, but bear with me. Think of it like a starter to your meal. I am talking about a fair amount of salad here as well, not just some limp lettuce. Fill the salad out with free vegetables and enjoy it.
This will help reduce your appetite and make you feel full for longer, let alone give you some much needed vitamins, a winner on both accounts! In winter you can substitute the salad for a free vegetable soup starter.

4. ‘Seconds’

If you are anything like my family, you serve your food up at the table (not true of everyone I know) but if you do, then stop. Serve the food up onto the plates in the kitchen (better still use a portion controlled plate) and then leave the rest of the food out there. I find it much easier to ‘help’ myself to seconds if they are sat in a pot in front of me than if I have to walk to the kitchen and serve myself up more.

5. Leftovers

One thing I did get into the habit of and it made my hectic life and schedule so much easier to manage, was when I cooked a meal (and cooked too much, especially to start with!) I would break the leftovers down into individual serving sizes and freeze them (the plastic Chinese takeaway containers are ideal for this). This made life easier as I would only have to reach in and reheat one of the dishes for a perfectly portion sized meal, instead of having to reheat a huge pot and then throw the rest away. This saved me both money, time and educated me about portion sizes.

6. Eat Slowly

Ok this may sound a bit quirky, but it’s true. In today’s society with time being ever precious we tend to eat a lot faster. It takes our bodies around 15-20 minutes to begin to feel full and register we have eaten enough. If you bolt a meal down in 5 minutes you will be hungry for a while and tend to a) eat more or b) snack straight away. So take your time, enjoy some conversation whilst eating and relax for a bit, drink some water with your meal too.

7. Be Childish

This tip is mainly for eating out, but as I eat out quite regularly with clients it was invaluable (and saved me some money as well, not to mention inches on my waist line). A lot of restaurants have two different size menus, one for lunch and one for dinner. When eating out ask the waiter if you can have the meal as a lunch time portion, failing that, ask for it as a starter size or the best yet a children’s sized portion. Being a child at heart I had no issue with this, and it sparked for some interesting chatting about portion sizes.

8. Drink Water

Ok, again seems simple, a little too simple? This is one of the biggest tips I can give anyone, if you’re hungry, drink a pint (500ml) of water. If you are sitting down for a meal drink a glass of water about 10 minutes before hand, failing that, drink water with your meal. Restaurants are great for this, if I am going out for a meal the first thing I ever ask my waiter for is a bottle of water for the table. Societies as a whole does not drink enough water, it helps you eat slower and helps you fill fuller, and if it is tap or mineral water, it is pretty much calorie free. Combine this with the benefits of upping your water intake (better skin, hair, nails feeling better etc) and it’s a no brainer.

9. “All you can eat”

One word, DON’T! Even the most disciplined and careful of us will slip at this point. Well, I know I did and badly. Then we get into the whole excuse of, it’s ok it’s only once a month, fortnight, week or however often it is. Before you know it, your perception of portion size is warped and you are eating more and more again. So again to reiterate my point…

DON’T!

(This goes for “upsize” or “supersize” as well, which restaurants (especially fast food) love to sell)

10. Treat Yourself

Allow yourself a treat once in a while. Eating a ‘forbidden’ food once in a while is not a bad thing. Just keep it in check. This will stop you feeling like you are deprived and craving the food you know you can’t have. Once again everything is ok in moderation.
Portion control is not deprivation, cut something in half, you save 50% of the calories too. And, if you buy a bar of chocolate, get the kiddy sized one I will guarantee once you have satiated your taste buds with that initial couple of bites you will have had your fix and find you do not need the king sized bar of fat!

Dr Sue Pedersen talks about The Diet Plate and type II diabetes

noreply@blogger.com (GreenCastle) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:24:00 +0000

Dr Sue Pedersen, a leading Canadian endocrinologist, best known for her work in obesity research. She published the first randomized controlled trial on a portion control for weight loss worldwide (Pedersen et al. 2007).

Pedersen SD, Kang J, Kline JA. 2007. Portion control plate for weight loss in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a controlled clinical trial. PMID 17592101

Dr Ian Campbell on Channel 10

noreply@blogger.com (GreenCastle) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:58:00 +0000

Dr Ian Campbell, M.B.E. international weight loss expert, talks on Channel 10 about the rising obesity epidemic and how simple ideas, like portion control, can help solve the problem before it is too late.

Dr Ian Campbell MBE in Australia with The Diet Plate!

noreply@blogger.com (GreenCastle) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:01:00 +0000

This is a radio interview with Dr Ian Campbell MBE (founder of the National Obesity Forum and Dr on ITV's UK's Biggest Loser), in which he discusses The Diet Plate and the importance of controlling the obesity epidemic.

Diabetes Mellitus and The Diet Plate®

noreply@blogger.com (GreenCastle) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:24:00 +0000

Doctors on both sides of the Atlantic and in other parts of the world are increasingly recognising the importance of portion control in the treatment of diabetes are recommending their patients use The Diet Plate®.

The Diet Plate® is not only proven to help users lose weight, it remains the only portion control plate clinically proven to help in the management of diabetics. This ground-breaking work was done by Dr Sue Pederson of the University of Calgary, Canada and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in June 2007. Dr Sue showed that one third of people with diabetes who used The Diet Plate® over a period of six months decreased their reliance on diabetes medication, including insulin. They also showed documented weight loss 80% greater than her control subjects and they saw decreases in cholesterol level. Dr Pederson concluded that “portion control” was a vital tool for people with diabetes to control their condition and that The Diet Plate® was a safe, and highly effective way of achieving that.

Dr Sue reporting on her findings said:

“the weight loss results are all the more impressive considering that people with diabetes in general do not respond well in weight loss programmes. Our overall results are comparable to similar studies undertaken using expensive weight loss drugs, but with no need for close medical supervision or risk of unpleasant side effects.”

The creator of The Diet Plate® Mrs Kay Illingworth reacted positively to the study.

“For years we’ve been helping men and women lose weight and helping them live normal lives. Now we can prove what we’ve always known, that The Diet Plate® is extremely effective and can greatly help people with diabetes regain control. It’s very exciting and rewarding to have developed such a simple and effective way to help people control their weight”.

Dr Ian Campbell, a leading UK expert on obesity and weight management welcomed the findings.

“Losing weight is never easy, and even harder for diabetics. To achieve these results over a six month period is excellent, and with no more side effects than an occasional decrease in blood glucose, easily corrected by a reduction in medication, is very impressive indeed. The Diet Plate® puts control back in the hands of the individual and makes it much easier for everyone who wants to lose weight and reap the health benefits.

The Diet Plate and losing weight

noreply@blogger.com (GreenCastle) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Losing weight is never easy, it is wrapped up in emotional issues, a general love of food, sedentary lifestyles, age and with some people a couldn’t care less approach to life. The latter normally enjoying youth and tighter waistlines!

Good nutrition is the foundation of our well being, a healthy weight/height ratio is ideal for a prolonged and happy life. It gives us the mobility to be active and enjoy the day and it gives us that “feel good factor” like the sun on our faces after a long winter.

Paying attention now to what we eat and how much we eat will reap dividends as we grow older. Those who have not paid attention and have adopted a less healthy approach to diet and nutrition are most likely to reap the negative sides of health, as most co-morbidity's of obesity are; heart disease, cancer, joint pain, strokes, Type 2 diabetes and general demise of being.

With many governments putting the onus on the individual to prevent these illnesses, it is essential that you look to your own lifestyle and ask yourself if you exercise enough, if you eat right, if you are over weight or if you drink and smoke to much? And, while life is not all about being angelic and having no vices, maybe heeding a few health tips now will prevent the unthinkable from happening?

The Diet Plate, now clinically proven to help control Type 2 diabetes was created by Kay Illingworth, who over a number of years grew from a healthy 70kg to an unhealthy 125kg. Finding it difficult to continually monitor her calorific intake, Kay had a stroke of genius one evening and calibrated a dinner plate and bowl. The effect was staggering! Kay lost 42kg in six months continual use of the system, without changing her diet or her cooking methods.

Kay says, “I thought if I could just cook what I normally cook for the whole family and serve it directly onto my special plate, stick like glue to the measurements because I knew they represented a certain amount of calories - I would be losing weight literally at the glance of an eye! Using the plate astounded me how much I over ate, my brain told me I had a 7 ounce portion on the plate, the scales told me it weighed 16 ounces and my dietitian had told me I was allowed 4 ounces. I was trying to lose weight and eat healthily but was still eating 4 times the amount I was allowed!”

The plate and bowl are made from fine earthenware, they are microwave and dishwasher proof and a tangible, durable weight loss system. Each comes with a 40 page instruction booklets and extra help is offered on www.thedietplate.com for those who would like support

New Page in The Diet Plate Booklet

noreply@blogger.com (GreenCastle) — Tue, 25 May 2010 09:45:00 +0000

The New Page, featuring James Dennis

The Diet Plate® has been revamping and updating some of its testimonials. This page is about James Dennis, who has lost an amazing amount of weight (17 stone, or 238lbs). It has had the information updated and the latest pics of James as well. An amazing story and journey.

"The Diet Plate saved my life, literally"

We wish James all the best for the future and look forward to regular updates from him on his success.

Preventative action for Type 2 Diabetes will shave £millions from health care costs.

noreply@blogger.com (The Diet Plate) — Wed, 12 May 2010 09:53:00 +0000

The secret fix that drug companies don’t want to you to know about and only a few Primary Care Trusts know about.

Drugs are big business and pharmaceutical companies make billions of pounds every year in profit in repeat prescriptions from obesity medications and other drugs to help control Type 2 Diabetes, reduce weight and improve reduce blood pressure and help cholesterol levels. The cost to patients, the health care industry and insurance companies is astronomical. The expense of diabetic care alone, impacts directly on the service that health insurance companies, doctors and diabetic educators can provide to individuals.

The patient’s health is at the greatest risk when it comes to cutting budgets. And, health care providers such as the NHS will and have to use peoples BMI measurements to decide whether that person gets a non-emergency operation. It is a known risk that people with high BMI’s are at greater risk for invasive surgery, so justifiably a measure to use, except, that people with high density muscles such as rugby players can easily exceed the level of a BMI of 30!

Therefore, how do we maintain patient care and, how do we offer them a less expensive product than pharmacotherapy? A product that the patient can personally buy into without breaking their bank or even the NHS budgets for weight management classes? The Diet Plate is not just a plate! It is a cost effective method of weight management built on common sense. It can be used every day, directly in the home, for less than £20 for a lifetime solution, not an expensive monthly fix, a product that through personal empowerment and visual lifestyle change will prevent Type 2 Diabetes and, for those unfortunate to have it, also help control it.

This is a preventative system, and a cure, holistic in its ethos it can do no harm, it is non-invasive, it applies to lifestyle but is also clinically trialed to work by Dr. Sue Pedersen, a prominent endocrinologist from the University of Calgary.

The clinical trial was to show portion control as an aid to help control Type 2 Diabetes by reducing weight. The trial proved the outcome of using “The Diet Plate weight management solution,” instead of regular plates to eat from. And, the conclusion was: Compared with usual care, the portion control tool studied was effective in inducing weight loss. The portion control plate also enabled patients with diabetes mellitus to decrease their hypoglycemic medications without sacrificing glycemic control.

This means that, weight reduction was comparable to any of the current obesity drugs offered but without need for close medical supervision and without any unwanted side effects, other than the desired one which is a reduction in diabetic medications. A money saver! You can get more information about the trials here

Lifestyle plays such an important part in our health. In fact, exercise and good nutrition are the foundations of our wellbeing. The Diet Plate is affordable to everybody through health care providers if they subscribe to us. And, to individuals who wish to take control of their own health, it is available in fine earthenware and melamine versions. If you think such a product is just for people with a few pounds to lose, then take a look at this evidence.

Melamine versions will be launched from the UK into America in July and are available to the NHS. We cordially invite any interested parties who wish to distribute the products to contact us directly.

About US: Diet Plate first appeared on CNN Headline news in 2002, it was the world’s first portion control diet in the form of a lifestyle product. A quintessentially English product developed to negate the counting of calories but control the diet through food groups and recipes. It makes losing weight easier than counting calories.

It has been purchased by the National Health Service for many years, and is used in obesity and diabetic clinics, plus bariatric hospitals and is sold in pharmacies across the UK.. It is available in South Africa, Australia and Canada as well as the UK. Dr Ian Campbell MBE is the UK’s leading obesity expert and our medical advisor,

Well Being and Healthy Eating by using The Diet Plate®

noreply@blogger.com (The Diet Plate) — Wed, 12 May 2010 09:32:00 +0000

The Diet Plate Story by Kay Illingworth.

This story is taken from Glossop Life Magazine, features Dr Sue Pederson and her ground breaking clinical trial results on portion control.

Kay Illingworth, The Diet Plate

noreply@blogger.com (GreenCastle) — Wed, 12 May 2010 07:57:00 +0000

Kay Illingworth, Inventor

Dream of starting up your own business? Read how one woman fulfilled her dream of inventing a diet plate, with a little help from the right people

Kay Illingworth, 52, is divorced with a son, Alex, 19, and a daughter, Kate, 17. Kay lives in Glossop, Derbyshire.

Old Job: Housewife.

New Job: Invented The Diet Plate® in 2002.

Start-up costs: £6,500.

First year’s turnover: Made £1,478.84 in sales, but had a £50,000 loss.
Current turnover: Expected turnover for this year is £1,000,000.

Needing a change

“When my 19-year marriage broke down, I was devastated. For three years, I cut myself off from friends and spent hours alone eating chocolate, ballooning from 10st to nearly 18st and a whopping size 26. My knees ached with the extra weight and I knew I had to take back control of my life, so I visited a dietician.

She gave me a diet sheet to follow and I totally changed my eating habits, and gave up chocolate. But revisiting her three weeks later, I’d lost barely a pound. Guessing at portion sizes just wasn’t working. That night I looked at some pasta sauce and calculated it was 6oz, 3oz of which I was allowed. But when I weighed it, I was stunned to discover it was 16oz. I was shocked that my visual perception was so out.

The templates

I hunted out my son’s geometry set and I calculated how 3oz of pasta sauce would look on a plate. Then I did the same for rice. The amounts worked and so I decided to calibrate a plate. Using measurements for each food group, I drew on to a greaseproof-paper template.

Getting started

The plate worked for me and I knew it would for other women, so I went on a two-day course in patenting, which I’d seen advertised in the local paper for £45, and started the patent process.

I borrowed on credit cards and from my mother, and friends worked for me for free. After various ups and downs, I had a lucky break when I was interviewed about the plate on American TV during the Super Bowl, which yielded lots of orders. But although I was selling them for £19.99 each, my income wasn’t covering my debts.

I had the choice between saving my 16th-century home or the business. So I sold the house, moved into a much smaller home, and cleared my debts.

Huge sales

I threw myself into work, and developed a plate for children and one for men. Then I spent 16 hours a day on the phone, promoting the plate. I hired a PR company and results were amazing – a mention in just one magazine caused a huge spike in sales.

In June 2007 a Canadian study showed that using The Diet Plate® was the best way for sufferers of type 2 diabetes to lose weight. The publicity raised our profile in the UK and brought us another huge rise in sales. It’s been tough but now we’re on target to make a million pounds in 2008 – not bad for a formerly depressed, fat housewife!”

The Diet Plate, £19.99, is available to buy from The Diet Plate®

Top tip “Believe in your business 100 per cent.”

From Woman And Home

Top 10 Diet Tips

noreply@blogger.com (GreenCastle) — Tue, 11 May 2010 13:19:00 +0000

These tips come curtosey of James Dennis, an amazing weight loss story, he shares some of the pointers that helped him during this time.

1: Drink plenty of water.

This is by far the most important tip on any diet plan, and it is good for you as well. Nearly everyone I know (who is dieting) who has upped their water intake, has decreased there calorie intake! Simple. It has become quite common knowledge now that people can confuse hunger with thirst; the knock on effect from this is that you can end up eating calories you really don’t need.
"If you don't like plain water, try adding citrus or a splash of juice, or brew infused teas like mango or peach, which have lots of flavor but no calories," says Cynthia Sass, R.D. a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

CAUTIONARY NOTE! Check the labels as many of these have calories in them!

2: Enjoy your treats away from home.

This was one of my favourite tips, and I use it. I do not keep ‘treat’ food in my house because if I do, I know temptation will win through eventually.
Ellie Krieger R.D. hosts Food Networks, Healthy Appetite. One of her tips was this; when you need a treat take a trip to your local ice cream parlor or plan a family outing.
"By making it into an adventure, you don't have to worry about the temptation of having treats in the house, and it is a fun and pleasurable way to make it work when you are trying to lose weight," says Krieger.
SO TRUE! When I get into the mindset that I want a treat I can have one, I just walk to my favourite take away and have one (although I order children’s portions). I do not deny myself anything, I just use portion control.

3: Eat protein at every meal.

It has recently been proven that protein is far more satisfying than carbohydrates or fats, it keeps you feeling fuller for longer and passes through the body easier than carbs..
"Diets higher in protein [and] moderate in carbs, along with a lifestyle of regular exercise, have an excellent potential to help weight loss," says University of Illinois protein researcher Donald Layman, PhD.
Protein helps preserve muscle mass when dieting and also encourages fat burning and keeps you feeling full for longer! Now that’s a triple winner! Get healthy protein sources in your diet, like yogurt, lean meat, nuts, or beans, at meals and snacks.

4: Use non-food alternatives to cope with stress.

At some point in life you are going to come across a stressful situation. I hear a lot of people moan about this and say this is where it all goes wrong, so, as the Boy Scout movement says, “Be Prepared.”
Instead of turning to food, have some other tactics up your sleeve. I personally find that a soak in the bath listening to music helps, or I go physical and turn to exercise. I know others that would read a chapter of a book and some practice meditation techniques. Find what helps you relax and then when you get stressed reach for that instead of the cheese!

5: Be physically active.

I have heard many people over the years say several things about exercise especially combined with a diet. The two most common I hear are; “I exercise so I can have more to eat” and “I was bad at the weekend so need to do extra in the gym”
These are not good things to hear. They are both negative and put you in a negative mind frame, also if you fail at getting to the gym you are more likely to comfort eat due to the stress put on yourself.
Exercise is always a good thing, even if you are not trying to lose weight. Instead of making it a punishment, start slowly and build it up, concentrating on how much better you feel, how you sleep better and how much more energy you have in day to day life. Keep it positive and try and build it into a routine.

6: Eat a diet full of colour

Fruits and vegetables are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and are very low in calories. They help keep you satisfied longer, and are a great snack and can be eaten with every meal. Try replacing just some of your carbohydrate with vegetables and you will notice a huge difference over time in both how you feel and how you look. If you can’t be bothered measuring it all, use one of the portion control solutions out there to show you.

7: Beware of liquid calories

Nearly all drinks contain calories, even a lot of ‘diet’ brands contain some calories and are full of artificial sweeteners which can cause a ‘spike’ in your blood sugar levels, leaving you feeling hungry after the spike has passed. Be careful of ‘healthy’ alternatives as well, fruit juice and especially smoothies are designed to be drunk in very small amounts. Although undoubtedly good for you nutritionally, they can also be very high in calories. These types of calories will not fill you up, but they will most certainly add weight.

8: Eat whole fresh foods

Modern day foods are pumped full of preservatives. This is done for ease of storage and to make the food last longer, however, this also reduces the nutritional content of the food. Where possible choose a fresh food option and avoid pre-packed are processed foods as these are typically higher in calories, fat and salt!

9: Weight loss support: join a weight management group

A huge factor in long term weight control comes from motivation and understanding, as well as receiving advice, encouragement and support. There are now many online forums that allow this to happen with ease. Why not check out groups such as Club Diet Plate. You may also wish to check with your local hospital to see if their registered dietitian conducts group weight loss programs.

10: Weight loss and portion control

As the world has taken the restaurant businesses to task over cost, what we actually deem as value for money now, could well be killing us. “Super-size” meals and “all you can eat” buffets, far from giving us value for money have warped our concept of a ‘normal’ portion of food. Be mindful of the amount of food you eat, use portion control systems and if eating out, don’t be afraid to ask for a doggy bag!

Sale on!

noreply@blogger.com (GreenCastle) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:16:00 +0000

Just a quicky... The Diet Plate® has launched its first and only sale of this year! Untill the weekend you can grab 25% off of the entire range! No gimmicks, no you must sign up for the newsletter, no join our weight loss club, just a genuine down to earth 25% off the entire range!

The only place to get The Diet Plate® at 25% off is here!

Dont miss out!

Reason, Season, Lifetime

noreply@blogger.com (GreenCastle) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:07:00 +0000

Dr Ian Campbell, M.B.E. Founder of The National Obesity Forum.

There has never been a greater need for proven weight loss programmes. Despite the fact that more of us are battling to control our weight than ever before there remains little evidence to help the dieter choose which programme will work best for them. In my experience as a family doctor and hospital specialist helping people to lose weight I know just how hard it is to achieve meaningful weight loss that lasts, and enables people to reap the many health benefits it confers.

So how does an individual choose the right approach for them? To be assured of safety, and effectiveness, several criteria must be met. Important to any successful weight loss plan is setting reasonable goals, taking a long term view, and finding an approach that fits with the new lifestyle you aspire to. Increasing activity levels is essential. Not just for weight loss, but even more importantly for weight maintenance thereafter. Long term, improving the quality of our diet, with sufficient fruit and vegetables and finding ways to remain satiated are vital. Portion control is increasingly seen as key to the most effective approaches. Being able to eat healthy meals, but portion controlled and sharing with family and friends, means long term success is more likely. But in addition to all these things, the availability of reliable clinical research proving the benefits of any particular weight loss programme is vital for both doctors, and dieters, to enable them to decide what really works.

People with type 2 diabetes in particular, present an even greater challenge as they have more difficulty both losing weight, and keeping it off, partly due to the medications they are prescribed, and partly due to increased insulin resistance. But just how effective can simply reducing portion sizes be, and does it have the same health benefits as more traditional dieting methods? Evidence does show that weight loss will both improve a person with diabetes’ overall control, but will also decrease their reliance on diabetes medications, including insulin. Dr Sue Pederson in Calgary, Canada published ground breaking research showing that using The Diet Plate®, as part of a healthy lifestyle, can reduce weight but, more importantly, improve diabetes control and reduce reliance on diabetes medication. With improved diabetes control comes greater well being but also reduced risk of heart disease, strokes, chronic kidney disease and peripheral vascular disease. But this research is also good news for those who are overweight but don’t have diabetes. The greatest risk factor for developing Type 2 Diabetes is being overweight. Reduce your weight and you can reduce your risk. Carrying just two to two and a half stones (14-17kg) excess weight can increase your risk of Type 2 Diabetes by 12 times. Conversely even just 10% of body weight loss can reduce that risk by half, and will also reduced blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and cancer risks.

People often ask me “what is the best diet?” The answer must surely be “the one you want to do”, but also the one you’ll still be doing in a year’s time, even for a lifetime. But only if there is clinically proven effectiveness. Finding a weight loss solution that will help you create a healthier lifestyle, and allow you to live normally, but more healthily, slimmer and more active, is what we should all be aiming for. And anything that makes that easier has to be welcomed. Whether embarking on a diet for the first time, or seeking to maintain weight lost using another method, The Diet Plate® can offer a tried and tested, clinically proven and effective approach to long term weight loss.

Why Train?

noreply@blogger.com (GreenCastle) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:29:00 +0000

So why train? Lets be honest for the majority of people, training or workout brings with it images of lycra clad skinny people in a gym, and at the same time fills us full of dread. Also, if we are controlling our diet why do we need to train?

The answer to this question is easy. Training helps boost metabolism, meaning your body will burn more calories (and counteract any slowing down of the metabolism due to diet). It will also help you tone your body up counteracting the loose skin look sometimes associated with weight loss (especially large weight loss).

What kind of training is best suited for weight loss?

Both men and women often fail to realize that weight training is very important for their weight loss progress. It seems that the common view is that weight training is for muscle growth whilst cardio is for fat loss. This, actually, is pretty inaccurate.

Cardio burns calories whilst you do it, and then after stopping your metabolism returns to normal. With weight training (strength training/resistance training) you actually build lean muscle. Lean muscle requires more energy; this means your body will use more calories to maintain a lb of muscle. Which in turn means your metabolic rate will increase allowing you to eat more calories without gaining weight.

Some people are worried that if they lift weights they will turn into a body builder or some muscle bound woman, this again is quite inaccurate. The muscle build up in body builders has taken years and years of strenuous training, and in most cases some additional substances to help maintain it. All most women will see from doing some weight work during their workout, is a toning up of the areas targeted (more definition and less loose skin), gain a better figure and an increase in metabolic rate. As well as all the usual benefits from working out: Feeling fitter, being able to do more, a 'feel good' factor better skin, hair, healthier heart etc.

So don’t panic, pick up some hints and tips from us or your local gym and help burn those extra pounds away.

Training and Music

noreply@blogger.com (GreenCastle) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:58:00 +0000

Training and exercise is not a fun experience for most people. I personally find that music helps me train harder and longer, and helps keep my heart beat up where I want it to be. To this end I have posted what’s on my iPod in the “training” playlist. I love a lot of these tunes, and hope they will help anybody that undertakes fitness training, be it walking, running,kickboxing, aerobics etc.

"Tennessee" by Arrested Development
“Let U Go” by ATB
“Castles in the Sky [Extended Mix]” by Ian Van Dahl
"Do Me Baby" by Bel Biv Davoe
“It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock
“Now That We Found Love" by Heavy D and the Boyz
“On the Beach [CRW Mix]” by York
"Everybody Everybody" by Black Box
“Silence [Airscape Remix]” by Delerium
"All Night Long (Touch Me)" by Cathy Dennis
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper
"Tricky" by Run-D.M.C.
"Wild Thing" by Tone Loc
"Bust a Move" by Young MC
“Fly Away (Bye Bye)” by Eyes Cream
“Dreaming [Tiesto Mix]” by BT
“Whiter Shade of Pale [ATB Remix]” by Sarah Brightman
“Better Off Alone” by Alice Deejay
“I Turn to You [H2O Mix]” by Melanie C
“Look at Us” by Sarina Paris

What do you listen too whilst training?

Can the DoH think outside the box when it comes to combating obesity?

noreply@blogger.com (The Diet Plate) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:02:00 +0000

Kay Illingworth, Managing Director, Trade Diet Plate Ltd

Grandma and suck eggs springs to mind as I start to write this, however, if we could shave more than just a few million off the cost of treating Type 2 Diabetes – would you be prepared to discuss it?

It has to be said that cash strapped PCT’s and councils face the high cost and dilemma of the UK’s ever increasing waistline and the co-morbidities they will need to administer, such as heart disease, cancer, osteoarthritis, diabetes, liver and kidney disorders, not to mention mental health and depression. Millions of pounds of tax payer’s money is, and has been spent, trying to combat the problem through public awareness campaigns and changing people’s attitudes towards how they eat and their perception of nutrition.

Theoretically all highly commendable but still we are reliant on those people governing their own calorie intake through a position of knowledge, being able to follow an old fashioned written diet provided by their GP or hospital, or the affordability of a health and fitness or traditional slimming club.

As a company at the coal face, we have continual communication with those trying to make a difference to their lifestyles and in doing so hear many anecdotal stories, about how people gain weight and how well they are doing at losing it, we hear the despair in their stories, we hear the excuses, and we see the results when they succeed even with the morbidly obese!

Consider how much budget is spent, just on one aspect of obesity related co-morbidities, such as Type 2 Diabetes?

Diabetes UK has summarised these costs as follows:
• £5 billion per year (based on year 2000 figures)
• £100 million per week
• £14 million per day
• £600,000 per hour
• £165 per second!

How many diabetics are there in the UK? Current figures suggest 2.3 million, with a further 1 million undiagnosed with the disease.

Imagine if every diabetic had their own special Diet Plate Weight management Solution to use daily, which helped them to lose weight, educate them, rebalance their nutritional requirements to a healthy diet and helped control their blood sugars, improve blood pressure, liver and kidney function. A solution that empowered them in their own home, giving them control over their diet and with free access to a support group to help them use it. What would be the impact on the figures estimated by Diabetes UK if the clinical trial figures were reflected?

2.3 million Diabetic’s at under £10 per person, £23 million total spend, and if the clinical trial result is reflected, it could be argued that up to a third of diabetics will experience stabilised blood sugars, less medication, less complications, more weight loss and other health benefits?

DIET PLATE “The Easier Option”

The Diet Plate® complete weight management solution offers a tangible and most cost effective way to manage obesity with patients who live with, or without T2D, supported directly in their home and with little supervision!

We offer a range of portion control plates and bowls made from fine earthenware or melamine that have been clinically proven to help control Type 2 Diabetes, published Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:1277-1283. Please visit The BBC article for an overview of the trial results.

The Diet Plate® was created in 1995 and first appeared on the market in 2000, with over 175,000 plates sold and distribution set to start in several countries, the Diet Plate is acknowledged as an ingenious, yet simple creation that when followed, delivers exactly what it says on the label.

The Diet Plate® offers a most cost effective for distribution right to the patient, a tried and tested solution, a one off, robust and reusable purchase that will last the patient for as long as it is needed. We all eat off plates, TDP® is a calibrated set of dinnerware, that when followed gives the patient a calorie controlled diet via diet sized measured portions. It is non-dictatorial so the user is completely in control and empowered with one simple rule, which is, “don’t serve the food outside the lines.” It comes with a 40 page booklet with full instructions and the patient can join our Club Diet Plate forums for free to get encouragement and support and results can be remarkable – prices starting from less than £10 per patient.

Pancakes!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Diet Plate) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:35:00 +0000

Our basic pancake batter makes 10 pancakes - just right to try all our lovely sweet and savoury fillings!

Nutrition Information Per Serving
(2 Pancakes)
Calories (kcal) 131
Carbohydrate (g) 18.8
Protein 6.2
Fat (g) 3.5
Fibre (g) 0.5
Ingredients

* 4oz/112g Plain Flour
* 2 Med Eggs
* 7fl oz/210 ml Semi Skimmed Milk
* 3fl oz/90 ml Water
* 20 sprays low cal Olive Oil Spray

Method

1. Combine the milk and water
2. Sift the flour into a bowl.
3. Make a well in the middle and break the eggs into it.
4. Begin whisking the eggs incorporating flour as you do so.
5. Gradually add the milk and water mixture, still whisking, until all the liquid has been added and you have formed a smooth batter.
6. Heat a frying pan over a high heat until hot.
7. While the pan is heating, measure 2 tbsp of batter into a ladle ready for making your first pancake (note how full the ladle is to avoid having to re-measure for further pancakes).
8. Once the pan is hot, reduce heat to medium.
9. Spray pan with 2 spray of oil per pancake.
10. Add the pre measured batter mix to centre of pan, and tip from side to side to evenly coat the bottom.
11. Check when edges become loose (about 20 seconds) and the batter has solidified, then with a pan slice, turn the pancake over.
12. Cook the second side for few seconds.
13. Remove from pan onto a plate and keep warm* whilst you make remaining pancakes.

*(Layer pancakes onto a plate with greaseproof paper between and place plate over a pan of simmering water).

FILLINGS

Raspberry, Coulis and Ice Cream Filling

Makes 2 pancakes (serves 2)
Nutrition Information Per Serving
(1 pancake + filling)
Calories (kcal) 125
Carbohydrate (g) 19.0
Protein 5.0
Fat (g) 3.1
Fibre (g) 8.7
Fruit & Veg Portions 1.3
Ingredients

* 2 Pancakes - see Pancake Mix Recipe
* 200g raspberries
* 2 scoops / 100ml Vanilla Ice Cream, Soft Scoop, Light, Wall's*
* 1 tsp icing sugar

Method

1. Make the coulis:
Puree a handful (50g) of raspberries with the icing sugar in a food processor until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve to remove the seeds and set aside.
2. Fill the pancakes:
Place 50g raspberries in each pancake and roll it up.
3. Top with a scoop of ice cream.
4. Drizzle with raspberry coulis.
5. Decorate with remaining raspberries.
6. Enjoy immediately!

Caramelized Cinnamon Apple Pancake Filling

Makes 2 pancakes (serves 2)

Nutrition Information Per Serving
(1 pancake + filling)
Calories (kcal) 210.5
Carbohydrate (g) 29.3
Protein 4.5
Fat (g) 8.5
Fibre (g) 2.7
Fruit & Veg Portions 1.7
Ingredients

* 2 Pancakes - see Pancake Mix Recipe
* 1 Large Granny Smith Apple
* 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
* ½oz/14g Half Fat Butter/Spread
* 2 tsp Brown Sugar
* ¼tsp Ground Cinnamon (or to taste)
* 2 tsp/50g Half Fat Creme Fraiche (optional)

Method

1. Peel, core and slice the apple into 12 wedges. Cut each wedge into 3 to make bite sized chunks. Drizzle with lemon juice.
2. Heat the butter in a frying pan until sizzling, add the apple and cook on a high heat for 2 minutes (or until apple just begins to brown).
3. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and stir well to coat. Cook for a further 2-3 minutes until caramelized, remove from heat.
4. Spoon ¼ apple mixture onto pancake and top with 1 tsp Creme Fraiche (optional). Fold pancake in half, spoon further ¼ apple mixture on top and fold pancake in half again.
5. Repeat for 2nd pancake.
6. Serve immediately.

The Diet Plate "the easier option"

noreply@blogger.com (The Diet Plate) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:49:00 +0000

The Diet Plate® complete weight management solution offers a tangible and most cost effective, permanent way to manage obesity - with patients with, or without T2D, supported directly in their home and with little supervision.
We offer a range of portion control plates and bowls made from fine earthenware or melamine that have been clinically proven to help control Type 2 Diabetes, published Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:1277-1283.

The Diet Plate® was created in 1995 and first appeared on the market in 2000, with over 175,000 plates sold and distribution set to start in several countries, the Diet Plate is acknowledged as an ingenious, yet simple creation that when followed, delivers exactly what it says on the plate.

Cash strapped PCT’s face the cost and dilemma of the UK’s ever increasing waistline and the co-morbidities they will need to administer, such as heart disease, cancer, osteoarthritis, diabetes, liver and kidney disorders, not to mention mental health and depression. Millions of pounds of tax payer’s money is, and has been spent, trying to combat the problem through public awareness campaigns and changing people’s attitudes towards how they eat and their perception of nutrition.

Theoretically all highly commendable but still we are reliant on those people governing their own calorie intake through a position of knowledge, being able to follow an old fashioned written diet provided by their GP or hospital, or the affordability of a health and fitness and traditional slimming club.

Diet Plate offers a most cost effective easy solution (for less than £10 per head), for distribution right to the patient, a tried and tested solution, a one off, robust and reusable purchase that will last the patient for as long as it is needed. We all eat off plates, The Diet Plate® is a calibrated set of dinnerware, that when followed gives the patient a calorie controlled diet via diet sized measured portions. It is non-dictatorial so the user is completely in control and empowered with one simple rule, which is, “don’t serve the food outside the lines.” It comes with a 40 page booklet with full instructions and the patient can join our forums for free to get personal encouragement and support and results can be remarkable, the average weight loss per user is currently 3 stone.

Reductil

noreply@blogger.com (The Diet Plate) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:27:00 +0000

Reductil (sibutramine), the prescription only weight loss drug has had its license withdrawn by European regulatory authorities. The EMA announced on 21 January that after years of research the drug was considered to present more risk than benefit to some users. As a consequence patients currently being treated by their doctors with Reductil will no longer be able to renew their prescription.

Reductil was launched in 2003 by Abbott Ltd. It helps people lose weight by acting in the brain to increase their level of satiety, making them feel fuller after eating and so reducing total calorific intake. There had long been concerns that its common side effects of raised blood pressure and fast pulse could make users more vulnerable to heart attacks and strokes. The recently published results of the SCOUT study, a 5 year multinational clinical trial, in the opinion of the EMA, appears to show that it does. Consequently it has been withdrawn with immediate effect.

This news will come as a disappointment to many users across Europe. I have used Reductil since 2003 with some of my patients, often with good results. Weight loss drugs don’t cause weight loss, but they can support weight loss programmes through making it easier to effect lifestyle change through a variety of means. The only prescription drug now available for doctors and patients is Orlistat, the gastric lipase inhibitor, also available over the counter as Alli.

However my opinion remains the same as always. The only safe, effective way of losing weight and keeping it off long term is to adopt a healthy, controlled diet, and to incorporate increased physical activity into our daily lives. All the evidence shows that the most successful long term weight loss patients have managed to initiate this, often with specialised support, and maintain it for many years to come.

Dr Ian W Campbell

European Drug Agency Rules Against Abbott Diet Pill

noreply@blogger.com (The Diet Plate) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:06:00 +0000

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--European regulatory authorities on Thursday said an Abbott Laboratories (ABT) diet pill should be suspended from the market because the risks of stroke and heart attack are too great with the medicine.

The European Medicines Agency said sibutramine weight-loss products should be suspended from the market in the European Union after a study of 10,000 patients suggested it put them at a higher risk for heart disease. These medicines are sold in Europe under the brand-names Reductil, Reduxade, Zelium and other names; and as Meridia in the U.S.

The agency said "the risks of these medicines are greater than their benefits."

Abbott sells Meridia in the U.S. and Reductil, Sibutral, Raductil and Ectiva outside the U.S.

Shares of Abbott closed Thursday at $55.56, down 68 cents, or 1.2%.

The agency's decision will now get passed to the European Commission for review.

Abbott spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said the company "respectfully" disagrees with the European agency's recommendation to suspend the medicine but will comply with the request. The product is still available for purchase outside the European Union.

Global sales for the product in 2009 were about $300 million, he said. Most of that came from outside the U.S.

The suspension means the product won't be available for purchase. It may be lifted if Abbott resolves the agency's concerns.

The news comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said earlier Thursday that patients with a history of heart disease are not to use Meridia amid studies suggesting it causes heart attacks, strokes or death.

European and U.S. regulatory bodies operate independently of each other, and often come to different decisions about the safety of medicines.

The FDA said Abbott has agreed to update the drug's label to state the medicine isn't to be used in patients with a history of heart disease, including heart attacks, uncontrolled hypertension and heart-rhythm problems.

The label for Meridia had recommended the drug shouldn't be used in patients with a history of heart disease.

The announcements stem from a study of 10,000 patients that showed 11.4% of those who took Meridia had a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack, compared with 10% of patients who received a fake pill. The people in the study had a history of heart disease or diabetes plus a cardiovascular risk factor.

The study has already been completed. The FDA said it plans on holding an advisory committee meeting to further discuss the safety and risks with Meridia. The date will be set after the agency gets a report on the study from Abbott on Meridia. The agency expects to get Abbott's report on the study in March.

The FDA said patients using Meridia should contact their doctor to determine whether they should continue taking the medicine. The European Medicines Agency said doctors shouldn't prescribe the medicines, and patients should talk with their doctor. Meridia was approved in 1997 to help patients manage their weight.

-By Jared A. Favole, Dow Jones Newswires;

So, instead of taking expensive drugs which can ultimately lead to some nasty side effects, why not use The Diet Plate? No side effects, totally holistic and sold by Diabetes UK, British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK amongst others.

Healthy diet may benefit women's mental health

noreply@blogger.com (The Diet Plate) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:10:00 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who suffer from depression and anxiety may want to take a look at their diet as possible contributors to these conditions, study findings hint.

Science | Health

Dr. Felice N. Jacka, at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and colleagues report mood disorders were more common among women 20 to 93 years old who, over 10 years, ate primarily processed, refined, high-fat foods.

"There's no magic diet," Jacka commented in an email to Reuters Health. But eating a diet mainly of vegetables, fruit, whole grain foods, low fat dairy products, and lean meat, and reserving processed and sweet treats to "sometimes foods," will aid physical health and may also support mental well-being, she said.

Jacka's team assessed diet and psychiatric evaluations gathered over 10 years from 1,046 women representative of the general Australian population. A total of 925 women were free of mood disorders, whereas 121 had depressive and/or anxiety disorders, the researchers report in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

When they assessed how diet might relate to mood disorders, they found that a "Western" diet -- eating primarily hamburgers, white bread, pizza, chips, flavored milk drinks, beer, and sugar-laden foods -- was associated with more than a 50 percent greater likelihood for depressive disorders.

By contrast, both depression and anxiety disorders appeared about 30 percent less likely among women eating a more "traditional" Australian diet --- mostly of vegetables, fruit, beef, lamb, fish, and whole-grain foods.

These associations remained when the research team allowed for a variety of factors including age, body weight, social and economic status, education, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol drinking habits. But similar "adjusted" analyses in women mainly consuming fruits, salads, fish, tofu, beans, nuts, yogurt, and red wine showed no similar associations.

Taken together, the findings highlight the need for additional investigations to determine whether unhealthy eating leads to declining mental health or vice versa, the researchers say.

Given that diet is modifiable, finding evidence of a causal tie between diet and mental health seems worthy of pursuit, the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Psychiatry, published online January 4, 2010

Anecdotally, we find that people following The Diet Plate Weight Management Solution report back that they experience an elated feeling or a feel good factor after about 3 weeks continued use, in addition to losing at least half a stone!

Weight Loss: Setting The Record Straight

noreply@blogger.com (The Diet Plate) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:33:00 +0000

It's time to set the record straight. The only reliable way to lose weight is to eat less or exercise more. Preferably both.

So why bother to state the obvious? Because a body of scientific literature has arisen over recent years, suggesting that fat oxidation - burning the fats we eat as opposed to the carbohydrates - is enough to promote fat loss. It isn't.

Sydney scientists have demonstrated that mice genetically altered to burn fats in preference to carbohydrates, will convert the unburned carbohydrates into stored fat anyway, and their ultimate weight and body composition will be the same as normal mice.

It all comes down to an enzyme known as ACC2 (acetyl-CoA carboxylase), which controls whether cells burn fats or carbohydrates. When it was shown that 'blocking' ACC2 will force cells to burn fats in preference to carbohydrates, many assumed that such 'fat burning' could make fat stores evaporate, and make people thin without changing food intake or energy expenditure.

Associate Professor Greg Cooney, from Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research, discusses misconceptions surrounding ACC2 in findings that appear in the prestigious international journal, Cell Metabolism, online.

"Our data urges a correction in people's concept of a magic bullet - something that will miraculously make them thin while they sit on the couch watching television," said Professor Cooney.

"While none of the large pharmaceutical companies have marketed ACC2 inhibitors, there are many kinds of so-called 'fat-burning pills' available in the health food, body building and alternative medicine markets, where limited clinical effectiveness data are required."

"Many such products can also contain potentially harmful stimulants or come with a recommendation to follow a calorie-controlled diet and do more exercise while taking them. If you follow those recommendations, then of course you'll lose weight - but you'd lose it anyway."

"The energy you use in your home can come from a coal-fired power station, hydroelectric power, or a wind turbine. You won't know which because the end result is electricity."

"The energy that fuels your body can come from fats, proteins or carbohydrates. You won't know which because the end result is ATP, or cellular energy."

"Your body will use the energy it needs and store the leftover fats, proteins or carbohydrates as fat. When you do the sums, it's ultimately a matter of calories in and calories out."

"It's important to stress that the focus of our study was limited to an analysis of the impact of fat oxidation on overall fatness. We didn't investigate all impacts of fat oxidation - and so we don't rule out benefits of burning off fats in specific tissues."

"For example, manipulating fat metabolism may - or may not - lead to better insulin action in muscles or in the liver. Should insulin action be improved, that would obviously benefit obese people with Type 2 diabetes. But we can't comment either way until we do the experiments."

And the take-home message? Follow a healthy, balanced diet and get plenty of exercise.

Source:
Alison Heather
Research Australia

taken from Medical News Today

So yet again it is proven that the weight battle is calories in and calories out. The scientifically proven method of controlling calories in? The Diet Plate, as for calories out? Get on your bike ;o)