Weight diets! Take off your weight fast!

You can do it!!! Just do this anyway :)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:44:00 +0000

1. Keep And Display All Your Old Pictures:

It's a known fact that humans respond quickly to visual stimulation. If you see a red light you stop on a dime (unless you're adventurous). When you see the golden arches you know McDonald's is on the horizon. When you see the "swoosh" your mind immediately shifts to Nike. Images always trigger responses. Keeping and displaying your old photographs will give you that extra kick needed to attack the gym!

2. Look At The Transformations Of Others:

An inspirational story is always good to get the juices flowing. Bodybuilding.com is chock full of people who have achieved the dream. Everyone from teens, housewives, businessmen, and retirees crowd the Transformation of the Week/Month.Reading the story of someone who has lost 100 lbs of fat and can now play with their grandkids moves the soul (and provides some motivation to reach your goals). Seeing someone go from the kid who got pushed around to the kid nobody wants to touch is inspiring as well. Use the transformations as fuel to hit the gym!

3. Buy Clothes At Your Target Size:

I don't know about you but I hate wasting my money. Putting money into something makes me much more likely to engage myself. I'm a firm believer in getting what you pay for. Go ahead and purchase some clothes a size down (or up) and put them in the front of the closet. Spend a good bit (around $200 or so). The first week you may not be able to get those pants past your knees. The second week you should see those pants starting to creep up. The third week even further. Eventually, they'll snap onto your new firm and trim body. Oh yeah, throw the receipt away so you won't tempt yourself to give up.

4. Chart Your Strength Gains:

This tip caught me by surprise. When I began to really work out it was purely for the look. I didn't care if I was lifting 90 lb dumbbells or 45's as long as I looked better. One of the trainers in my gym asked me to do a fitness assessment out of the blue one day and I agreed.
To my surprise my bench press max had jumped from 220 lbs to 330 lbs in a year. It was a pleasant surprise. Since I felt stronger I began pushing even harder in the gym. Imagine how good you'll feel by tracking your progress from the start.

5. Contact People You've Lost Contact With:

We all enjoy admiration (some more than others). People who haven't seen you in a while will be taken by surprise. Believe me they'll stand there with jaws dropped in utter shock. They'll ask for your advice. They'll praise your new shape. Most of all they'll praise you for what you've done. Praise makes us feel good and want to push it to even higher levels in the gym.

6. Bring Others Along For The Ride:

Inspire someone else to join the gym. They welcome your advice and encouragement with open arms! Allow them into your routine. Show them the ropes. Push them towards their goals. Their progress and enthusiasm is contagious and will infect you as well. Few feelings can rival the enthusiasm of a newcomer realizing results.

7. Shout Your Story From The Mountaintops:

Never shy away from the opportunity to tell others what you have done. People love a feel good story. Those who have yet to pull one off treat body transformations like miracles. When you tell your story start from the beginning and recall all those emotions that drove you.

o Remember being angry?
o Remember being fed up?
o Remember making that change for good?

8. Keep Your Workout Routine Fresh:

Boredom equals death. If you're bored with a relationship the train is going to stop at the next station. If you're bored with a game you stop playing. If you're bored with your workout routine you'll slog through it.
Vary your rep schemes, exercises, and break timing to add variety and spice. Try burnouts, strip sets, cable machines, dumbbells, weighted chins, and isometrics to spice it up. Breaking the monotony makes the gym fun. Keep it fresh and you'll be excited as a result.

9. Get Aggressive With Goals:

Grown tired of 2-3 lbs a week of weight loss? Challenge yourself one week and go for 5. Tighten up your diet and put your all into your sessions. Explode through every rep. Add 30 minutes to your cardio. Eat super clean. Enjoy the results of your aggressive week. Aggressive goals are great when managed properly. Sprinkling in a frenetic week is always good to get the pistons firing.

10. Work Around People With Top Physiques:

Being around top-notch bodies provides a challenge. Seeing a well-built person provides true inspiration. These people are walking knowledge bases as well and they are MORE THAN HAPPY to share with you. Being around people who are better makes you rise to the occasion.

free lose weight fast diet atkins diet dr loss weight diet weight loss surgery best diet to lose weight fast weight loss diet pill online weight loss diet pill diet free diet plan lose weight rapid weight loss diet plan best quick weight loss diet diet free loss tip weight lose weight low carb diet diet loss phentermine pill weight best diet lose pill weight

Find out! Are you obese?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:12:00 +0000

Yahoo has Interactive tool to check your body mass index, which indicates your obese.

People who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher are considered obese. The body mass index compares your height and weight. Along with your waist size, it is used to check whether your weight increases your risk for disease. The higher your BMI is, the greater your risk for disease is.
Where you carry your body fat may be as important as how many extra pounds you have. People who carry too much fat around the middle, rather than the hips, are more likely to have weight-related health problems. In women, a waist size of 35 or more inches increases the chance for disease. In men, a waist size of 40 inches or more increases risk.

A Real Person's Guide to Weight Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 23:40:00 +0000

A Real Person's Guide to Weight Loss

By: Heidi Skolnik

It doesn't matter how healthy you are or how many pounds you're carrying -- everyone has questions about living well and losing weight. So we asked the New York Giants' nutritionist, Heidi Skolnik, to tackle our readers' inquiries and share her expert insights.

Q: How can I tell if "low-fat" or "healthy" labels are lying? Peter, Killington, VT

Labels are about marketing; the nutrition chart is about content. So ignore the front, and look for high protein and fiber, and low amounts of carbs, saturated fat, and sodium. And remember, whole foods have no labels. They're the best choice of all.

Q: I became a vegetarian but haven't shed a pound. What's wrong? Adam, Kansas City, MO

Many new herbivores load up on carbs and sugary snacks to curb their meat cravings, but weight loss comes from cutting calories, not just swapping them for an abundance of another kind. Going vegetarian helps only if you trade in fatty meats for a diet heavy on vegetables, whole grains, and fruits.

Q: How can I find out if I have a slow metabolism? Tim, Chicago, IL

Many hospitals--and even some gyms--offer a quick, Breathalyzer-style metabolism test that can analyze your calorie-burning capability. Crank up your metabolic engine with intense, full-body workouts. Extra-lean muscle burns calories for hours after your last rep.

Q: Will eating fast make me gain weight? Vince, Buffalo, NY

Yes, wolfing down food can sabotage your weight-loss efforts. A recent study at the University of Rhode Island found that slow eaters consume about 67 fewer calories per meal, potentially cutting 201 calories out of your day. Start with a salad or a light side dish before moving to the main course. This will give your appetite time to catch up.

Q: Is organic food really healthier for me? Aaron, Berkeley, CA

The jury is still out. Some organic produce may contain more nutrients, but the major advantage is the reduced exposure to pesticides. Go organic with heavily sprayed crops like strawberries, apples, and peppers, but save your cash when buying foods that need minimal spraying--such as broccoli and asparagus--or that you peel.

Q: What's a realistic way to lose 20 pounds? Wes, Manhattan Beach, CA

Don't become a slave to the scale. Though it's normal to lose 1 or 2 pounds a week on a successful program, monitoring your athletic performance can keep your eyes on what really matters: overall fitness. Aiming for improvements in strength, speed, flexibility, and blood pressure can make losing weight, and keeping it off, that much easier.

Q: Do I really need to make sure I eat fiber? --Wayne, Minot, ND

While calories and fat hog the nutrition-label spotlight, fiber shouldn't be overlooked. Beyond its bowel benefits, fiber may even help you drop a few pounds: Soluble fiber slows the rate at which food leaves the stomach, making you feel fuller, longer. It can also lower your cholesterol and normalize your blood-sugar level, and it may reduce your risk of colon cancer and cardiovascular disease. Keep in mind that different types of fiber provide different benefits, so you'll need to break out of the breakfast cereal box; get your fiber fix from a mix of whole grains, green vegetables, berries, apples, and pears. Research suggests glucomannan, a type of soluble fiber sold in pill form, can also aid in weight loss. To ensure maximum absorption, break the capsule over a meal before eating.

Q: Which are healthier, canned or frozen vegetables? Bob, Albany, NY

Both retain their nutrients extremely well. Processed fruits and vegetables are often canned or frozen hours after harvest, so they retain nutrients better than fresh produce that has spent a long time in transit from farm to fork. Choose canned or frozen without added sugar or excess sodium. Stir-fry or steam the frozen vegetables, but warm canned vegetables in their own liquid--it typically contains one-third of a vegetable's nutrients.

Q: I think my scale's lying to me. How can I find out? Vin, Tulsa, OK

Take the heaviest dumbbell you have around the house--at least 10 pounds--and weigh it. Does the scale's reading match? Estimate your weight based on the error, or replace the old clunker. (We like the Soehnle Comfort F5 scale; $130, soehnle.com.)

Q: Do I really need to skip sugar in my coffee? Joe, Columbia, MD

Skipping a 16-calorie packet of sugar every day isn't going to shrink your waistline--you're only saving about 2 pounds' worth of calories per year. But if you're a sugar junkie, my advice is to find small ways to dial back the sweetness quotient in everything you eat--from that first cup of joe to the chocolate on your pillow. That way it'll be harder to see what you're missing.

Q: How can I halt my post-marathon weight gain? Chris, Charlottesville, VA

Retrain your stomach and your brain to match your mileage drop. Dial back the starchy carbs by one-third and instead eat nutrient-rich foods, such as blueberries and tomatoes. And switch to 15-minute interval workouts on the stationary bike in place of long runs. They're easier on your knees, and you'll burn more calories in less time.

menshealth

Green tea - miracle worker!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:52:00 +0000

Many times we have heard that drinking green tea or green tea extract below is beneficial for weight loss. Research experiments conducted over the years have confirmed their positive impact as an aid to weight loss. Here are the famous green tea benefits.

Green tea weight loss benefits # 1

Green tea helps in raising the metabolic rate of our body thus a greater calorie burn. Green tea has thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation. Green tea is known for its effective burning of a certain harmful fat called visceral fat, in connection with diabetes.

Green tea weight loss benefits # 2

Green tea extract is rich in polyphenols called Catechine and recent studies show that the ingestion of tea rich in Kate Chin leads to a reduction of body fat and lower cholesterols. Scientists found that green tea can prevent the fat cells from multiplying and expanding.

Green tea weight loss benefits # 3

A derivative of the green tea leaves known as epigallocatechin gallate (ECCG) has announced that as an appetite depressant. Studies have validated a drop in the food appetite for a group of small animals as a result of taking the extract.

Green tea weight loss benefits # 4

Green tea itself leads only about 4 calories per serving and his caffeine low. Green tea is therefore a very good alternative to coffee. It also acts as a diuretic, it helps to clarify the first pound of water weight quickly.

Green tea weight loss benefits # 5

Green tea is known to help in slowing down the processing of complex carbohydrates into simple sugars so that delays in the conversion to fat in your body.

Green tea weight loss benefits # 6

Green tea contains vitamin B, C and thiamine. This will ensure that our brain cells have sufficient energy to the protection of the nervous system from over promoted. A good brain nourished will certainly help in achieving your weight loss goals.

Green tea weight loss benefits # 7

Green tea has been known to increase endurance. Studies carried out by researchers found that caffeine and Catechine benefit from the presence of each other, with a synergy to aid weight loss. Green tea drink with an exercise, your weight loss will be significantly higher than done, everyone alone.

Now you know the benefits of green tea, go and enjoy it. The benefits far outweigh any side effects, if any.

Gym FAQ.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:43:00 +0000

So you've got a gym membership and you've printed a great new program off the internet. You're basically ready to rock and roll. . .

Or maybe not? Before you get your program started, this article will help you quickly and easily understand "gym talk" — the most common words used that you actually need to know.

Aerobic
While aerobics does refer to the morning TV workouts your mother or grandmother used to do in tight leotards and brightly colored sweat bands, an aerobic workout basically means that oxygen is required. Aerobic is usually associated with any cardiovascular activity which requires a prolonged amount of exercise. For instance, running on the treadmill, going for a ride on the stationary bike or going on the stepper would all be considered aerobic activities.

Circuit Training
Now this can get a bit confusing. Most gyms have a "circuit" set up, which is basically a combination of machines that are designed to be utilized in a sequence and each move is to be performed as many times as possible within a required time period, before moving on to the next machine quickly and while keeping your heart rate elevated throughout the exercise. Circuit training can be applied to any set of exercises you put together, however, the ones in the health clubs are designed to target each and every muscle group in the body.

Warm-up
A warm-up is designed to get you started on your workout by 'easing in'. A typical warm-up would be a light stroll on the treadmill or easy, five minute cycle on the bicycle, which prepares your body for the workout ahead.

Cool-down
A cool-down is performed after your workout and gives your body a chance to recover, and your heart rate to return to normal. A cool-down would be a five to ten minute stretching session, or light walk on the treadmill after your workout.

Plateau
A common term used among gym goers. When you reach a plateau in your training program, you have basically reached a stage where no further gains or changes are occurring, despite keeping everything else the same. This happens all the time and is common. To solve this problem you need to make a few changes in your program to 'shock the system'. Try upping the intensity or going for a heavier weight.

Reps
Reps or repetitions means moving the weight load through its complete range of motion in one complete move and back again to the starting position. For example, ten repetitions of a dumbbell bicep curl would be lifting the weight ten times, completing the move and returning to the starting position.

Sets
A set is a series of repetitions that are broken down into a prescribed number of repetitions. For example, three sets of ten bicep dumbbell curls, indicated as 3 x 10, would mean that you would need to complete ten repetitions of bicep curls, before having a short rest, then completing the second set, resting again and finally competing the third set. So, in essence, you will be doing thirty bicep dumbbell curls in sets of ten.

Tempo
The tempo refers to the speed of execution in the concentric phase.

Intensity
Intensity refers to how much workload you are putting on your specific muscle group, or workout duration. Intensity can be measured in "levels" 1 to 5 with 1 being easy and 5 being the most difficult.

Vitamina Food

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:16:00 +0000

Sweet potatoes are loaded with vitamin A, C, carotenoids and fiber.

Whole grain bread has about a dozen vitamins and minerals.

Broccoli has a lot of vitamin C, carotenoids, and folic acid.

Strawberries have vitamin C, fiber and taste really good.

Beans are inexpensive, rich in protein, iron, B vitamins, folic acid, fiber and low fat.

Skim or 1% milk is a very good source of calcium, vitamins and protein. It also contains little or no artery clog fat and cholesterol.

Cantaloupe is like strawberries, great tasting, and only 1 / 4 a melon gives you so much Vitamin A and C, as you need per day.

Spinach and kale are what most children do not like, but they are loaded with calcium, carotenoids, folate and vitamin C.

Oranges are also big wine tasting, and they are rich in vitamin C, folic acid and fiber.

Plain paper, old-fashioned, whole grain oatmeal is inexpensive and has no sugar or fat.

I think its very usefull weight lose tips.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 01:35:00 +0000

To lose weight you need to BURN more calories then you EAT. You do not necessarily need to exercise regularly to accomplish this, since your body burns calories all day. Your weight loss will be much more rapid, and you can eat more, if you do find time to slip in some regular cardiovascular exercise.

So to start out you want to try to drop your caloric intake by 400-500 calories. This will most likely get your burning more then you eat.. unless you are rapidly gaining weight right now, which means you are taking in a LOT more then you burn. If this is the case you need to get more drastic, but for now 400-500 fewer calories per day should do.

How do you do that? It is actually quite simple, but I would need to know your currently diet to make it very precise. I will tell you some pretty easy and common ways to cut 500 calories a day out.

DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

SODA - just 3 12oz regular sodas per day has about 450 calories You can drink diet though, especially if you need caffeine. I HATE diet, but believe me I got used to it. I still don't like it but the only reason I really need to drink soda is for caffeine.

MAYO - People think eating sandwiches is healthy, not if you have mayo on them. I know a lot of people can't handle this, but use a good mustard instead. You will be surprised, you can really live without mayo. You may need to give up things like Tuna Salad, Chicken Salad, Potatoe Salad completely if you cannot handle these without the mayo. BUT, low fat mayo in moderation is exceptable.

CHIPS - One exception, feel free to eat anything BAKED. I love baked lays. They make baked ruffles.. and there are baked tortilla chips. Never eat cheetos.. doritoes.. fritos.. potatoe chips, etc. These are extremely high in calories and saturated fat.

FRENCH FRIES - anything FRIED. Sorry guys, you just gotta live without.

ICE CREAM - You can eat non-fat frozen yogurt or LOW fat ice cream, but for reasons I will discuss below its not a good idea either.

Donuts, Bagels, Candy, Pastries (no cookies!) - These things go straight to fat in your body.

JUICE and most FRUIT. - Juice is death!!! FRUIT is shit. its all Fructose, which is a type of sugar, and WILL cause you to store fat. Now don't take this as never eat any fruits, fruits such as blueberries, strawberries, blackberries with high fibre content and low GI is ok. Fruit is great if you are living a "healthy" lifestyle, but for losing FAT it will hinder your progress. Mod Edit: Fruit is fine! It contains high fiber content which controls the release of fructose. Don't skimp on fruit

SALAD DRESSINGS & OIL - Go for NON-FAT dressing.. they still taste good.. especially honey mustard and ranch. One serving of dressing has 100+ calories!

CHEESE - unless you can find non-fat.. skip it. You can live without it.

Ok so what to make sure you ARE eating:

PROTEIN: protein should be a BIG part of your diet, this is why. Protein fills you up, but has half the calories as fat. Protein also does not cause your body to store fat, but carbs do. I will explain later.

WATER: This is VERY important for a few reasons. Drink it all day long, constantly, force yourself too even when you are not thirsty. There are techniques to do this, fill a glass and drink it all at once. Then fill the glass again to take with you or whatever. Why water. Well first off you need a ton of water for your body to burn fat. It will increase you metabolism and help you burn burn burn. But here is the reason why I think its great.. pounding a glass of water can trick your body into thinking it is not hungry.. it is great for when you get late night cravings... slam some water and go to bed.. in the morning you wake up starving.. before breakfast drink a ton of water and you wont eat as much. Use it to fill you up.

VEGGIES: Vegetables fill you up, but have little or no calories. You can use them as snacks and fillers. I prefer carrots. They are crunchy like chips, have a little taste.. and really have no calories.
So what good stuff can you eat though?

SNACKS: try nuts or peanut butter. Nuts are super high in fat, but the oils you get from it are good and essential to the body. Try a trail mix, even one with some chocolate in it. Its far better then candy.

STEAK, CHICKEN, & TURKEY: who doesn't love a great steak.. and how many different ways can you eat chicken? Tons! For steaks go for New York, or Sirloin... Top and bottom round is good too but tough. NEVER EVER eat Rib Eye or Filet Mignon they are LOADED with fat .. London Broil and Tri Tip is not bad either.

FAST FOOD: yes you can eat fast food, you just have to be smart about it. Try to get meals that have chicken. Cut out the french fries and mayo and you will be left with a semi-decent fast food meal. Fast food is NOT ideal by any means but for someone who is busy it is inevitable at times.

PROTEIN BARS: there are TONS on the market now. Many taste really good, some taste like a candy bar. I like Detour bars.. and they have 32g of protein each! Cliff bars are not bad either if you find a flavor you like.

Yogurt! Get non-fat, there are tons of flavors out there to play with.

You really have to get yourself in a mode of thinking "Is what I am eating now going to be good for me or bad for me?" Everything you put into your body should have a purpose, don't just eat because it tastes good.

Also, some fat is ok.. don't sweat it. The reason why you have to concentrate on looking to reduce it is because people normally eat more fat then they should, so really key in on that and look for ways to eliminate it. To compensate beef up your protein intake.

So why no juice? no bagels? no carbs?
This is why everyone says carbs are bad: It really isn't that CARBS are bad.. it is that sugar is bad.. and carbs have tons of sugars in them. Complex carbs are good. whole grain bread, etc, but don't go overboard.

So why is sugar bad? To process sugar your body releases insulin, and insulin promotes fat storage! You ultimately want to keep your insulin levels low low low. And very consistent and even.. when you get an insulin "spike" your body puts fat on, in men it puts it around the waste. So this is why you need to avoid sugar like the plague!

So I hope this does not sound bad or depressing, it really isn't. You do not need to starve, you do not need to give up everything that is good in life

The REALLY good news is that you do not need to live like this forever. If you follow everything above you will be adhering to a fairly strict diet. Use it to drop weight.. say for 2, 3, 4 maybe even 6 months. Once you get to where you want you can increase you calories slightly.. start adding in a dessert here and there.. treating yourself more. I stayed on the diet above for 3 months or so, now I eat much more liberally.

The number one piece of advice to take from this is: Be conscious of what you are eating at all times and its effect on your body!

Anyone will self control can diet themselves. People tend to use weight watchers and things like that because they need a support group, they are not strong willed enough to suck it up and do it for themselves. I am sure if you set a goal you will have no problem meeting it.

I know you are busy with work, but throw in a basketball game at a gym every few days.. or a short job... a ride on a stationary bike.. something to burn a few hundred extra calories here and there. The more you exercise, the more you can eat!

DO NOT weigh yourself regularly. Scales are a bad indicator of FAT loss. Measuring yourself every 2-4 weeks gives you a way better indication if you are lossing inches or not. Start today, find out where you are at. Then track your progress. Your own progress will be self motivating.

from here

The Carbohydrate's Addict's Diet (Richard Heller, M.D. and Rachael Heller, M.D.)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 00:43:00 +0000

The Diet Plan Theory:
The Carbohydrates Addict's diet is a low-carbohydrate eating plan. The diet recommends eating low-carbohydrate meals and one "reward meal" daily. The reward meal combines carbohydrates, protein and vegetables. It must be eaten within an hour from start to finish. The Hellers' diet is based on the theory that many overweight people are carbohydrate addicts; they suffer from a biological condition caused by a hormonal imbalance. Excess insulin is produced after eating carbohydrates, resulting in all-day food cravings and a willingness in the body to store fat. The plan holds that converting to this low-carbohydrate plan reverses such biological conditions, reducing appetite and body fat storage. The body will convert to burning fat for energy versus burning glucose from carbohydrate digestion. In general, although the finer points may differ, this can be viewed as a modified Atkins plan.

Disadvantages:
There are no long-term randomized studies to support the theory of carbohydrate addiction. Enjoying carbohydrate foods is not enough for an addiction diagnosis. Also, there are no long-term randomized studies to support the safety of this diet. Eating a low-carbohydrate diet leads to consuming larger amounts of fat and protein. Although debated by the medical community, long-term low-carbohydrate diets are believed to increase risk for colon cancer and osteoporosis. High-fat and high-protein diets could cause kidney function loss, elevate cholesterol levels and increase risk of heart disease. Following this diet long term will be a challenge for many.

Advantages:
Weight loss may occur with this diet. It provides a comprehensive list of foods to consume. It encourages drinking plenty of water daily. It is less restrictive than the Atkins' diet.

Just a few simple tips.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:24:00 +0000

Tip 1: Drink Herbal Tea

When urges for sweets and snacks arrive, try drinking herbal teas such as apple-cinnamon, almond, or orange. The preparation of tea alone actually helps to take your mind off of junk food. The heat from the tea fills you up, and the aroma helps to satisfy your cravings.

Tip 2: Limit High Carbohydrate Foods

To maximize the fat-burning process, it's best to gradually eliminate carbohydrates toward the end of the day. This minimizes your chances of storing fat late at night.

Tip 3: Don't Drink Alcohol

Alcohol contains too many empty calories which ultimately produce nothing but fat.

Tip 4: Motivate Yourself

Try to find an incentive for getting in shape and burning fat. Write down your goal and put it in a location you see everyday, such as your refrigerator. Motivation really keeps you going!

Tip 5: Use Low-Calorie Food Alternatives

Try to save as many calories as you can. Substitute water for soda, baked chicken for fried chicken, sub sandwiches for pizza, etc.

Tip 6: Don't Starve Yourself

Starving only promotes a bigger "rebound" effect because your body likes to hold on from what it is deprived of. Instead, fuel the body every 2 to 3 hours with small meals.

Tip 7: Drink 1 or More Glasses of Water Before Meals

This is to help fill the stomach and give you a full feeling. It works!

Tip 8: Be Consistent

No weight loss tips will work if you don't give them a chance. It may take a while to see results. Hang in there! Consistency is the key to effectiveness.

Tip 9: Don't Use the Scale

Scales can be misleading. For example, if you're losing bodyfat and bodyweight but gaining muscle, the scale won't necessarily reflect the difference between the two. Instead, monitor the inches you lose. Inches never lie!

Greening life. part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:29:00 +0000

4. Eat locally. Besides tasting fresher, locally-grown food is more ecologically sustainable. It benefits farmers and the local economy, as the profits from what is grown near you stay in your community. Check out your local farmer’s market for the best just-picked fruits and vegetables of the season, and select produce that was grown using organic methods to compound the eco-benefits. Buy large quantities and freeze, can, or dry them to enjoy locally-grown food all winter long. Or start your own organic backyard garden—the ultimate in local food.
BONUS: When you buy food that's been shipped across the globe, you have to "eat" those transportation costs when you buy. Local food is also seasonal, which means it tastes better and is also more affordable.

5. Use greener cleaners. Chlorine-free automatic dishwashing powder, petroleum-free soap, and non-toxic floor cleaner are all easy to find in most grocery stores. These products work just as well as their conventional competition, but leave behind less toxic residue for our bodies and the environment to process. You can also make your own cleaners with common household items like baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, borax, and washing soda.

BONUS: "Green" cleaners are usually better for people who have chemical sensitivities. Besides being better for the planet, they're healthier for everyone in your household.

6. Drink filtered, not bottled. If you’re buying bottled water, consider this fact: In the state of California alone, nearly three million used plastic water bottles wind up in the landfill every day. Although you might recycle yours, keep in mind that it takes energy and resources to manufacture and transport these bottles—and to recycle them too. A better option is to buy a water filter that attaches to your kitchen faucet, and fill reusable bottles at the tap.
BONUS: You'll save tons of money by saying no to bottled water and save trips to the grocery store to get it.

7. Mind your appliances. Look for the Energy Star label when buying new appliances, which means that the appliance has met the quality and energy-efficiency guidelines of both the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. And make sure you use your appliances correctly. Monitor the temperature in your fridge (it shouldn't be so cold that it freezes your milk), only run your dishwasher if it’s completely full (otherwise you’ll waste water and energy), and try to multitask your oven (if you’re firing it up to cook the dinner casserole, throw in a few potatoes too, and you’ll have lunch for tomorrow).

BONUS: Boosting the energy-efficiency of your appliances also keeps money in your wallet by reducing your utility usage.

8. Don’t pre-rinse. If you have a newer model dishwasher equipped with a built-in garbage disposal unit, rinsing your dishes is probably an unnecessary, and wasteful, step. Read the instructions and experiment with a few loads to see how much your machine can handle.

BONUS: Skipping the pre-rinse not only saves water, but it also saves you time and energy!

Here's to a greener kitchen and a healthier planet!

Too Much Sugar Turns Off Gene That Controls Effects Of Sex Steroids

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:45:00 +0000

Eating too much fructose and glucose can turn off the gene that regulates the levels of active testosterone and estrogen in the body, shows a new study in mice and human cell cultures that’s published this month in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. This discovery reinforces public health advice to eat complex carbohydrates and avoid sugar. Table sugar is made of glucose and fructose, while fructose is also commonly used in sweetened beverages, syrups, and low-fat food products. Estimates suggest North Americans consume 33 kg of refined sugar and an additional 20 kg of high fructose corn syrup per person per year.

Glucose and fructose are metabolized in the liver. When there’s too much sugar in the diet, the liver converts it to lipid. Using a mouse model and human liver cell cultures, the scientists discovered that the increased production of lipid shut down a gene called SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin), reducing the amount of SHBG protein in the blood. SHBG protein plays a key role in controlling the amount of testosterone and estrogen that’s available throughout the body. If there’s less SHBG protein, then more testosterone and estrogen will be released throughout the body, which is associated with an increased risk of acne, infertility, polycystic ovaries, and uterine cancer in overweight women. Abnormal amounts of SHBG also disturb the delicate balance between estrogen and testosterone, which is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease, especially in women.

“We discovered that low levels of SHBG in a person’s blood means the liver’s metabolic state is out of whack – because of inappropriate diet or something that’s inherently wrong with the liver – long before there are any disease symptoms,” says Dr. Geoffrey Hammond, the study’s principal investigator, scientific director of the Child & Family Research Institute in Vancouver, Canada, and professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of British Columbia.

“With this new understanding, we can now use SHBG as a biomarker for monitoring liver function well before symptoms arise,” says Dr Hammond, who is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Reproductive Health. “We can also use it for determining the effectiveness of dietary interventions and drugs aimed at improving the liver’s metabolic state.”

Physicians have traditionally measured SHBG in the blood to determine a patient’s amount of free testosterone, which is key information for diagnosing hormonal disorders. In addition, SHBG levels are used to indicate an individual’s risk for developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The discovery dispels the earlier assumption that too much insulin reduces SHBG, a view which arose from the observation that overweight, pre-diabetic individuals have high levels of insulin and low levels of SHBG. This new study proves that insulin is not to blame and that it’s actually the liver’s metabolism of sugar that counts.

This research was supported by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, and the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Science Daily

How to Burn Calories, Maximize Metabolism & Finally Lose Fat the Right Way

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:31:00 +0000

You do exactly what the experts say. You cut calories and you exercise. You've made your "calories out" greater than your "calories in". So you should be losing fat, right?

But if you aren't losing weight, perhaps you're still not paying attention to an often forgotten factor of weight loss - your metabolism. Your metabolism is a measure of how many calories you are burning each day.

Did you know that the food, exercise, and lifestyle choices you make every day have a significant impact on your metabolism?

For example, if you starve yourself instead of following a sensible weight-loss eating plan your metabolism will slow down. If your metabolism slows down, it means your calories out will be less. And that means no more weight loss, and possibly even fat gain.

So for every day that you continue to slow your metabolism with unhealthy lifestyle choices, you get further and further away from your weight loss goals. Here’s how you can maximize your metabolism and reach your weight loss goals quickly and easily.

Here Are My Top 10 Ways to Maximize Your Metabolism, Burn Calories & Finally Lose Your Unwanted Weight:

1. Don't starve yourself. Cutting calories too much is one of the worst things you can do to your body. Starving yourself actually causes you to lose much more water weight and muscle than fat.

2. Eat 6-8 small meals per day with an emphasis on lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables. To lose fat and unwanted weight effective you must have a nutrition plan. So spend a couple hours on a day off preparing as much food as you can for the upcoming week.

3. Eat breakfast. You should make this meal part of your daily metabolism-boosting plan. At the very least, eat a lean protein, drink Green Tea, and consume a fiber-rich fruit to get your fat loss day started right.

4. Eat healthy fats. Sources of healthy fats included nuts, fish, olive oil, and flax oil. Replace processed carbohydrates in your diet with almonds. For example, if you currently eat a small bag of pretzels as a mid-afternoon snack, eat almonds instead.

5. Eat high quality foods that will help you control your blood sugar, insulin, and energy levels. This will help you lose fat and prevent you from gaining unwanted weight.

6. Eat up to 1g of protein per pound bodyweight to a maximum of 150 grams per day for a woman or 200 grams per day for a man.

7. Don't drink alcohol. Alcohol prevents fat burning and will quickly add hundreds of calories. Alcohol intake can also reduce testosterone levels, a big no-no for men looking to get lean.

8. Drink Green Tea and water. This will prevent your metabolism from slowing down. Not too mention, these are your 2 healthiest beverage options.

9. Stick to a consistent sleep schedule. If possible, avoid working afternoon and overnight shifts. And, don't stay up late watching television.

10. Use the Turbulence Training strength and interval workout principles for the most efficient and effective metabolism-boosting workout. This means strength training with free weights and bodyweight exercises and performing shorter interval training workouts rather than long, slow boring cardio.

Bonus Fat & Weight Loss Tip:

Recently both my clients and myself have been experimenting with an additional mini-workout added to our regular Turbulence Training fat loss program. By completing a bodyweight circuit (10-20 minutes per day), we've discovered that we boost our metabolism again and increase our fat loss results.

So if you do your regular workout in the morning, add a bodyweight circuit after dinner. On the other hand, if you workout in the afternoon, do a bodyweight circuit first thing in the morning.

If your metabolism has slowed down due to improper dieting or lifestyle, then the Turbulence Training Lifestyle will help you get back on track to lose fat and gain muscle. Once you correct your metabolism, you will be on the road to losing fat for good.

By Craig Ballantyne

Greening life. part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:17:00 +0000

Greening your life—reducing your impact on the environment—takes a little research and planning. Because the kitchen is the most waste-producing room in an average house, it's a great place to start. The best way to do it is slowly, by starting with the easy, budget-friendly choices and moving on from there. Here are eight simple ways to green your kitchen.

1. Exile excessive packaging. Oats, popcorn, flour, pasta, dried fruit, beans, and even cereal can be purchased in the bulk section (also called the bag and weigh section) of your local natural foods grocery. Some mainstream supermarkets are even catching on to this eco-friendly trend. You simply scoop what you want out of a large covered bin and then the cashier weighs it when you check out. Although the store usually provides plastic bags, bringing your own reusable containers is a better option. Have a cashier weigh your containers while empty, and then the cashier will subtract that weight from the filled container.

If you can’t find your favorite foods in the bulk section, try to select the largest size that you can reasonably use (white vinegar will last forever, and can be purchased in gallon jugs, for example), or choose the brand that is packaged in cardboard or recyclable plastic, and be sure to recycle it when you’re through.
f you’re packing your lunch, use reusable containers instead of plastic baggies for lunch items, and tote them all to work or school in a reusable lunch bag. Many of these bags are insulated too, so your lunch will stay fresher.

BONUS: Packaging costs money too, so by buying in bulk and portioning out the food yourself, you'll save cash!

2. Consider compost. Onion peels, carrot trimmings, apple cores, and egg shells will all become nutrient-rich dirt in a few months if you toss them in the compost. If they wind up in the landfill however, chances are they’ll stick around for a lot longer. Oxygen is necessary to keep the decomposing process moving along, but landfills are designed to keep air and water out. A carrot stick in a landfill could stick around for over a decade.

To compost, you can buy or build a compost bin, or if you have a big yard, a simple compost pile will work just as well. If you don’t have a yard, check out worm composting, which you can do in your own kitchen. Completed compost can be used to fertilize vegetable or flower gardens, container gardens, and even houseplants, returning nourishment to the soil instead of clogging up the already over-crowded landfills.
BONUS: Kitchens generate a lot of waste, but when you compost, you can significantly reduce the amount of trash in your kitchen and at your curb. But make sure you do it properly, as certain foods should not be composted.

3. Buy organic. Choosing organically grown foods, which aren’t treated with chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, when you have the option helps to reduce the pesticide burden on the earth. Read more about the reasons to choose organic food here, and then learn how to buy organic on a budget.

BONUS: Organic foods are usually richer in nutrients too—they do a body good.

How many calories are there in coffee?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:17:00 +0000

Every product should have its nutritional value on the label. That is where you will see the calorie count for it. Unlike many items, with coffee, you apparentlystart out with no calories, no carbohydrates, and no nutritional value.
Things get complicated when you begin to add the sweeteners. Sugar and creamers are what adds the calories in coffee. The stimulating effects of coffee are the reason that many people will add coffee to their diets. Coffee and the unwanted calories that are in it will give you the energy to keep going at a fast pace throughout your day. Just how many calories are in your favorite coffee drinks may be something to consider. Learning about the coffee drinks and the calories included in them will help you adjust the amount you intake while following any diet plan you are on.

Starbucks Coffee calorie count

seem to be fond of Starbucks, and they have created so many delectable beverages, that once you taste them the calories don't seem to matter. When dieting, However, one needs to be aware of the calories in these coffee drinks. As an example, a Frappucino in a large cup yields a whopping three hundred and thirty-one calories. That is three hundred and thirty one calories more then just coffee.
Another example of a high calorie drink is a Latte. A tall one has a whopping two hundred and ten calories. whom You'll probably agree that it's this calorie count will not aid your diet, but having this information can help you make them more educated decision in regards to coffee consumption.

Low Calorie Coffee Tips

Remember, the significant calories are only added when adding sugar and cream to your coffee.Since you are actually the one adding the calories to your coffee, there are simple ways to avoid, or at least minimize it.
Let's start with quantity.
Start by choosing a small cup, either eight or 12 ounces should be enough. When ordering, only add fat free milk. This can save you from up to 80 grams of fat.
Do not forget the sweeteners. Use a sugar substitute instead of sugar. (1 tablespoon of sugar is 15 calories)
Naturally, You should not order cream, whipped cream, coffee syrups etc. if you don't want the calories in your coffee to be part of your diet.
Taking your coffee black, is probably the easiest way to avoid calories in coffee altogether.

A bit of trivia

Any of the fancy coffees that we like so much can cost you an hour of mild exercise. And that will only burn the calories from the coffee.

Do you really still "loving it!"?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:34:00 +0000

Americans gorge on fast food. Be it greasy burgers, tacos, fried chicken, baked potatoes, sandwiches or pizzas. Fast food is so popular in the U.S. that there are more than 300,000 fast food restaurants in the U.S. Fast food has become a part of the busy American lifestyle because it is convenient, tasty and time-saving. But, BEWARE! Fast food nutrition facts reveal that it is often high in calories, sodium, fat and cholesterol.

about 2,700 calories per day and women need about 2,000 calories per day. If you want to lose weight fast, you must take in fewer calories than you burn. This means that you must either choose foods with fewer calories, or you must increase your physical activity, preferably both.

Make healthy choices within your fast food. Try to fit fast food into a balanced, healthy diet.

Sample Menus:

1.McDonald's Burger, Small Fries, 16 oz. Soda
This meal contains approx. 481 calories , 19 g fat , 30 mg cholesterol and 665 mg sodium.

2.Domino's Pizza (3 slices Cheese Pizza, 16 oz. diet soda)
This meal contains approx. 516 calories , 15 g fat , 29 mg cholesterol and 1,470 mg sodium

3.McDonald's Vanilla Shake
This meal contains 310 calories , 5 g fat , 15% calories from fat , 25 mg cholesterol and 170 mg sodium.

4. Burger King's Grilled Chicken Caesar Club Sandwich
This meal contains 540 calories , 27 g fat , 44% calories from fat , 65 mg cholesterol and 1, 510 mg sodium.

5. Wendy's Chicken Club Sandwich
This meal contains 470 calories , 17 g fat, 32 % calories from fat , 60 mg cholesterol and 860 mg sodium .

6. Taco Bell 's 7 Layer Burrito
This meal contains 530 calories , 22 g fat, 38% calories from fat , 25 mg cholesterol and 1,360 mg sodium.

7. Arby's Delux Baked Potato
This meal contains 650 calories , 34 g fat, 47% calories from fat , 90 mg cholesterol and 750 mg sodium .

8 . Baskin Robbins' Chocolate Ice Cream ( Serving size 4 ounces )
This meal contains 270 calories, total fat 16 g, calories from fat - 140 , 55 cholesterol and 105 sodium.

9. Subway's Tuna Salad ( serving Size 314 grams )
This meal contains 238 calories, Total Fat 16 , calories from fat-144 , 42 cholesterol and 880 sodium.

10. chili's Grill and Bar 's Veggie pasta
This meal contains 680 calories, 13 g fat , 17.06% calories from fat , 125 mg cholesterol and 760 mg sodium.

11. Carl's Jr. The Six Dollar Chili Cheese Burger
This meal contains 926 Calories , 57 g Fat , 512 Calories from Fat , 154 mg.
Cholesterol and 1960 mg. Sodium.

12. Arby's Hot Ham 'N Swiss Sub Sandwich (278 g)
This meal contains 530 Calories, 27 g Fat , 239 Calories from Fat , 110 mg. Cholesterol and 1860 mg. Sodium.

13. McDonald's Steak, Egg Cheese Bagel (241 g)
This meal contains 640 Calories , 31 g Fat , 280 Calories from Fat , 265 mg. Cholesterol and 1540 mg. Sodium.

14. McDonald's Big Breakfast (266 g)
This meal contains 700 Calories , 47 g Fat , 420 Calories from Fat , 455 mg. Cholesterol and 1430 mg. Sodium.

15. McDonald's Warm Cinnamon Roll (105 g)
This roll contains 440 calories, 19 g fat , 170 calories from fat , 80 mg cholesterol and 330 mg sodium.

Check this! - The Hacker's Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:13:00 +0000

The Hacker's Diet, notwithstanding its silly subtitle, is a serious book about how to lose weight and permanently maintain whatever weight you desire. It treats dieting and weight control from an engineering and management standpoint, and provides the tools and an understanding of why they work and how to use them that permit the reader to gain control of their own weight. The book is intended primarily for busy, successful engineers, programmers, and managers who have struggled unsuccessfully in the past to lose weight and avoid re-gaining it. Computer-based tools and experiments in Microsoft Excel or the Palm Computing Platform are available, as well as an online Web application, but a computer is not necessary to use the techniques described in the book; paper and pencil alternatives are provided.

Check it!

Statistic.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 09:11:00 +0000

Obesity Drugs Work — Modestly

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:33:00 +0000

Blogdust
All-Blogs.net directory
Blogarama

EatonWeb Blog Directory

LS Blogs

Obesity Drugs Work — Modestly

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:33:00 +0000

You probably don't need a scientific study to tell you there's no such thing as a magic weight-loss pill. But a paper published today on BMJ.com shows exactly that: Taking federally approved anti-obesity medications, such as Xenical and Acomplia, leads only to modest weight loss — an extra 6 lbs. to 10 lbs. (2.7 kg to 4.7 kg) a year — and it's not likely to radically trim down bulging waistlines. "People have to understand it's very difficult to lose weight," says lead author Raj Padwal, an assistant professor at the University of Alberta.

But that's not to say the drugs aren't successful. "There's a disconnect between what medical practitioners seek and what patients seek," says Padwal. Obese patients might go to their doctor looking to lose 100 pounds or more — they want to look the way they looked in high school. But doctors usually have more modest goals, tempered by their patients' experience — and by concerns about health over vanity. By a doctor's standard, even a 5% to 10% reduction in body weight can make a big difference to a patient's health. On that level, at least, there's little doubt anti-obesity medications can help. The BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) paper, a comprehensive review of 30 controlled trials on anti-obesity drugs, showed unambiguously that orlistat (Xenical), sibutramine (Meridia) and rimonabant (Acomplia) all resulted in weight loss — but the drugs' benefits extended beyond that. In one four-year trial, orlistat reduced the incidence of type 2 diabetes by almost a third; orlistat and rimonabant both cut patients' blood pressure; all three drugs lowered certain kinds of cholesterol. Not much data exists yet on the drugs' long-term effect on sickness and mortality, but further trials are underway.

Perhaps the drugs' biggest failure, says Padwal, is simply that patients don't take them as prescribed. The new study found that about 30% to 40% of participants in the 30 anti-obesity drug trials dropped out midway through — and these participants would have received consistent support from doctors. In the real world, Padwal estimates, the attrition rate is even worse: Less than 10% of his clinic patients, he says, are still taking the drugs three months after they're prescribed.

The reasons are many. A course of medication can be expensive — hundreds of dollars a year. Drugs also have side effects. Orlistat prompts weight loss by limiting the body's ability to absorb fat, but that can result in oily feces and sometimes incontinence. Sibutramine can raise blood pressure and lead to nausea and insomnia. Rimonabant is associated with an increased risk of psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety. Still, Padwal says, "I think the main problem is the disappointment." For a lot of patients, the meager results of the medication don't justify their cost and unpleasantness.

The obesity epidemic, meanwhile, is swelling quickly. The World Health Organization estimates that a billion people worldwide are overweight, and 300 million are obese; more than a third of U.S. adults are now obese. So, why is it so hard to lose weight? "It looks very simple: People need to eat less and exercise more," Padwal says. "But if you drill down it's more complicated." Telling a single mother who works full-time that she should take a brisk walk in the inner city after work each day is not the most practical advice — she's unlikely to do it. And the stressed-out, sedentary American lifestyle — not to mention the overabundance of cheap, high-calorie foods — makes it difficult for people to eat as healthfully or exercise as much as they should.

For people who are very overweight or obese, Padwal says, virtually the only intervention that consistently gives impressive results is radical surgery, like gastric bypass. To curb the obesity epidemic, he says, patients need good old-fashioned commitment: They have to follow through with their weight-loss plan long-term, monitoring and adjusting it year after year. But, for now, he still prescribes anti-obesity drugs.

time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1684687,00.html

Obesity 'may distort cancer test'

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 14:17:00 +0000

Doctors must take body weight into account when reading test results for prostate cancer as obesity may distort the findings, a US study argues.

Obese men have more blood so the concentration of antigen, a marker for the disease, is lower, a team found.

The North Carolina study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, involved 14,000 patients.

It may explain why obese men seem to have more aggressive cancers, as tumours may initially be missed.

The test for prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is known to be notoriously unreliable.

About a third of men with raised PSA levels will not have cancer, and will undergo unnecessary invasive tests.

Meanwhile, the test sometimes misses prostate cancer, as highlighted in this study.

"We've known for a while that obese men tend to have lower PSA scores than normal weight men, but our study really proposes a reason why this happens, and points to a need for an adjustment in the way we interpret PSA scores to take body weight into account," said Dr Stephen Freedland, a urologist at the Duke Prostate Center.

"If not, we may be missing a large number of cancers each year."

Working it out

At the extreme, the men in the most obese category had PSA concentrations as much as 21% lower than those of normal weight men.

Dr Chris Hiley, of the Prostate Cancer Charity, said: "This study shows us yet another downside to obesity. An obese man's true PSA level is diluted by his increased blood volume caused by excess weight.

"Doctors now need to work out how to take this into account so they can make an accurate estimate of the PSA level - important in the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer."

She added: "This finding could also be of wider significance in interpreting blood tests in other conditions that affect both men and women."

In the UK, the disease now accounts for 13% of male cancer deaths, and is the second most common cause of cancer death in men, after lung cancer.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/7104075.stm

Simple running rules

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 09:42:00 +0000

Don’t compare yourself to others – there will always be someone better, faster, fitter, stronger, smarter… It’s important to be content with who you are, and do the best with what you’ve got. At least, this is what I told myself as I was passed by the majority of joggers on the trail, dragging myself along to mile 4.

Appreciate the beauty of nature – it’s so easy to take nature for granted. I ran by a patch of mushrooms, and one had been broken off its stalk and flipped over so I could see its little vents. How can a fungus know how to grow into such a well organized structure? How can the cells know to line up into soft, brown vents? I don’t know… it seems pretty amazing to me that one little organism can be so delicate, complex, and completely independent. It never asked anyone for permission to be itself. Meditating on the whimsy and creativity that is abundant in the life around us can put things into perspective.

Take responsibility – no one’s going to help you get in shape. It’s up to you to take care of your body. I’m really bad at this – I don’t like to exercise alone, and I sometimes put off getting in shape unless I have a partner for accountability. It’s as if I prefer to delegate responsibility about my health to others. I know that this is a common tendency in medicine – where folks rely on their doctors, without taking responsibility for applying their advice (for diet/exercise/medications) on a daily basis.

Exercise is a life-long discipline – as I thought about how hard it was to run, and how heavy my legs felt, and how much easier all of this was just a couple of years ago… I realized that exercise is not something you do every other weekend. It really is best applied on a daily basis. And being in shape is the result of consistent hard work – so we have to focus our minds on making exercise a part of our regimen, just as we make time to eat each day!

Don’t psych yourself out – part of your success or failure in exercising has to do with whether or not you believe you can do it. When you’re running, you have to believe that you can make it the whole way… or that you can run farther than you did last time. The temptation is to quit when you start feeling a little tired, but you have to keep going – encouraging yourself along the way with a positive attitude. Of course, if you really are unable to make it (your heart rate is at its limit and you are breathing so hard you can’t speak) then slow down. But a lot of the time you’ll find that running an extra mile is a matter of mindset, not physical capability.

revolutionhealth.com/blogs/valjonesmd/5-running-lessons-4299

This device could help millions.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 14:45:00 +0000

CHARLOTTE -- Carolinas Medical Center has performed a first of its kind procedure in the United States to help the obese and those suffering from type two diabetes, as part of a national study.The procedure is similar to a gastric bypass, but doesn’t require surgery."There's currently about 15-million Americans who are categorized as morbidly obese,” said Chief of Bariatric Surgery at CMC Keith Gersin.Gersin said 90-95 percent of other methods to lose weight fail, a reason why this new procedure opens up new opportunities for these patients."We'd like to think of it as more effective than current medications for the treatment of obesity and less invasive than surgery," said Gersin.Gersin was the first to install the Endobarrier Gastrointestinal Liner in the country.

"This is again performed endoscopically with a device that goes down the esophagus into the stomach where the device is deployed. The theory is food goes on the inside of this endobarrier. The digestive enzymes are on the outside of the endobarrier and the food and digestive enzymes don't mix until two feet further down stream in the smaller bowel.”

While it is similar to the gastric bypass, it’s not a replacement for those who need the surgery just yet.

"For now, it's not instead of, it's prior too gastric bypass. Whether or not this becomes a procedure instead of gastric bypass remains to be seen," said Gersin.At 2-3 months, the average weight loss is 20-30 pounds.The news is potentially even better for diabetes patients."This is a very novel technique. I think so far early on there's a lot to be excited about both in terms of the ability for patients to lose weight and the diabetes data showing the remission of diabetes. It's very exciting," said Gersin.The procedure takes about a half hour.As part of the clinical trial, patients need to be in the pipeline for the gastric bypass surgery. During this test trial, CMC will be one of only three facilities in the U.S. performing the procedure.