The Indian “miracle” cactus Caralluma Fimbriata targets the real cause of fat gain.
70% of Americans are overweight and let's face it. It's not because we're born with sluggish metabolism. It's because we're eating more, more often and eating the wrong foods.
We need to face that to realize why some diet pills don't work, and why others might wreak havoc with our hormonal balance.
We're treating the wrong cause
Most diet pills contain controversial drugs in large doses. They work by zapping up our metabolic rates to create a temporary 'high'. This process induces 'thermogenesis' or heat production, which in turn burns calories.
The metabolic boost is achieved by exciting the CNS (Central Nervous System). The resulting response is similar to the "fight or flight" effect- elevated heart rate, increased excitability, and immune suppression.
The body cannot sustain this 'high' for long, as the increase in stress hormones leads to irregular heartbeat, emotional imbalance, and extreme fatigue.
A healthy, functioning thyroid will try to set things right by slowing down the metabolic rate. That's when your fat-loss hits a plateau.
When you get off the pill (before or after hitting your goal weight), the low metabolic rate makes it even harder to maintain or lose weight.
Does that mean the "magic pill" does not exist?
Luckily, there are diet pills that can help you lose weight safely and permanently. They work by suppressing the appetite- and that's where most dieters need help!
If you badly want to lose weight, but are repeatedly let down by your cravings, then these are the pills you should look into.
The key ingredient in several new diet pills on the market is Caralluma Fimbriata, a cactus that has been used for centuries in India and Africa to suppress appetite and cravings.
Plants such as Caralluma Fimbriata have a distinct advantage over lab-synthesized compounds. They mimic the action of our natural hormones and receptors, without blocking them or altering body chemistry in any way.
Prescription drugs that suppress appetite can be harmful because they are designed to block hormones that trigger hunger. This not only creates unpleasant long-term side effects such as heart and lung problems; it can also mask real hunger.
Unlike cravings, real hunger comes on slowly and is accompanied by physical symptoms such as weakness or dizziness. It is important to know the difference in order to ensure healthy weight loss.
Caralluma Fimbriata has long been used as a famine food for its appetite suppressing action. It takes the edge off your cravings and fills you up much faster without any of the unhealthy and potentially deadly side effects of prescription diet pills.
In clinical trials conducted by Gencor (Gencor Pacific, Inc., Austin, TX), the pills produced significant weight loss in most participants. In parts of India where the plant is widely consumed, people also report improved stamina and mental focus. The plant is widely recommended for diabetics.
If you seem to be fighting a losing battle against cravings, if you badly want to lose weight but are constantly betrayed by temptation … this humble cactus can tip the scales in your favor.
Friday, December 8, 2006
The Top 13 Weight Loss Tips
Get ready to lose 10 pounds!
By paying attention to the amount of food you eat, eliminating unnecessary sugar and fat from your foods and making sure you include absolutely delicious meals and snacks to keep your taste buds happy.
Use this easy-to-follow and super healthy diet plan to lose the first 10, the last 10, or any 10 in between! Because it’s a balanced and flexible program, you can stay on this diet as long as it takes.
Top Fast Secrets
1. Keep track of everything you eat and drink. No need to estimate calories – just write down the type of food or beverage and the amount.
2. Cut your fat intake in half, that means half as much margarine or butter on toast, vegetables and your muffin, half the mayonnaise on your sandwich, and half the oil in the pan when you saute foods. You get the idea!
3. Limit the sugar treats to three times per week maximum.
4. Include good sources of protein at meal, chicken, fish, legumes, peanut, cottage cheese, eggs or yogurt.
5. Eat at least one meatless lunch and dinner each week to reduce fat, increase fiber, and get yourself into the habit of building meals around whole grains, beans and vegetables.
6. If you’re not currently using skim milk, go down to the level of fat content in the milk you use. For example, if you currently use two percent, use only one percent. If you insist on whole milk, try two percent.
7. Eat at least two servings of fresh fruit every day. Choose whatever type of fruit is in season.
8. Instead of fruit juice for breakfast or snack, drink water. Add a slice of lemon or lime for zest.
9. Include two servings of vegetables with lunch and dinner, for a total of at least four servings per day.
10. Choose one to two servings of foods made from whole grains with every meal.
11. Shut off the TV whenever you eat – that includes meals and snacks. Studies show that we automatically eat larger portions when we snack in front of the tube, and typically those foods are high in fat and sugar, which means excess calories!
12. Choose calories you can chew – that means only calorie-free beverages (except for milk) Sodas are loaded with empty calories, and fruit juices provide less fiber and vitamins per calorie than the fruit they’re made from.
13. Plan ahead for meals and snacks so you know exactly what you plan to eat. Last-minute choice tends to be higher in calories and lower in satisfaction.
By paying attention to the amount of food you eat, eliminating unnecessary sugar and fat from your foods and making sure you include absolutely delicious meals and snacks to keep your taste buds happy.
Use this easy-to-follow and super healthy diet plan to lose the first 10, the last 10, or any 10 in between! Because it’s a balanced and flexible program, you can stay on this diet as long as it takes.
Top Fast Secrets
1. Keep track of everything you eat and drink. No need to estimate calories – just write down the type of food or beverage and the amount.
2. Cut your fat intake in half, that means half as much margarine or butter on toast, vegetables and your muffin, half the mayonnaise on your sandwich, and half the oil in the pan when you saute foods. You get the idea!
3. Limit the sugar treats to three times per week maximum.
4. Include good sources of protein at meal, chicken, fish, legumes, peanut, cottage cheese, eggs or yogurt.
5. Eat at least one meatless lunch and dinner each week to reduce fat, increase fiber, and get yourself into the habit of building meals around whole grains, beans and vegetables.
6. If you’re not currently using skim milk, go down to the level of fat content in the milk you use. For example, if you currently use two percent, use only one percent. If you insist on whole milk, try two percent.
7. Eat at least two servings of fresh fruit every day. Choose whatever type of fruit is in season.
8. Instead of fruit juice for breakfast or snack, drink water. Add a slice of lemon or lime for zest.
9. Include two servings of vegetables with lunch and dinner, for a total of at least four servings per day.
10. Choose one to two servings of foods made from whole grains with every meal.
11. Shut off the TV whenever you eat – that includes meals and snacks. Studies show that we automatically eat larger portions when we snack in front of the tube, and typically those foods are high in fat and sugar, which means excess calories!
12. Choose calories you can chew – that means only calorie-free beverages (except for milk) Sodas are loaded with empty calories, and fruit juices provide less fiber and vitamins per calorie than the fruit they’re made from.
13. Plan ahead for meals and snacks so you know exactly what you plan to eat. Last-minute choice tends to be higher in calories and lower in satisfaction.
Hoodia Diet Pill Hoodia Gordonii Or Voodoo To You And I
For every diet pill fad there are millions of disappointed users that have been cheated by the guru charlatan with the latest wonder working diet wiz pill. With the reflex flinch of one of those victims we poke the stick of revelation at hoodia.
Walking the Kalahari Desert doesn’t seem the obvious place to start a diet when thirst is foremost on the mind. Native San Bushmen featured in the movie “The Gods Must Be Crazy” live and thrive here for real. Thousands of years ago their ancestors discovered the magical properties of a specific cactus that thwarts hunger pains. 10, 000 times stronger than glucose, hoodia fools the brain into thinking you are full and not hungry.
This all-natural appetite suppressant is made from pure hoodia cactus pulp and seeds. Hoodia gordonii is the specific cactus that has the appetite suppressant qualities. Hoodia can be taken as a pill, powder or a tea. Obesity has never had a foe of this gigantic magnitude, than that of the natural herbal hoodia diet pill!
The secreted cactus, called Xhoba by San Bushmen, collection sat in a laboratory for 30 years after it was discovered before its’ properties were analyzed. The mega-behemoth pharmaceutical company, Pfizer (producers of Viagra) introduced “hoodia” to the media while they were in preliminary studies. Pfizer terminated all research on hoodia when terms could not be agreed upon with Phytopharm that owned the patent. Phytopharm bought up the rights from the San Bushmen of Kalahari to harvest, test and produce a laboratory drug called P57. This synthetic Hoodia has the same active ingredient as the real cactus and contains the previously unknown molecule named P57. Phytopharm decided to sell the use of their patent to Unilever, which owns Slim Fast. The sale was for 21 million U.S. plus royalties, that remain undisclosed. The hoodia laced P 57 products by Slim Fast may show up on the market in 2007.
The hoodia works in this way: In your mid-brain called the hypothalamus; you have glucose sensing nerve cells. As you ingest food, your blood sugar rises, and the glucose sensing nerve cells activate, sending an electrical signal that we recognize as, “now I am full”.
Hoodia has been tested and proven to work overwhelmingly against the double-blind placebo check. Individuals taking pure hoodia extract diet pills ate 1000 fewer calories than those in the placebo check. 3500 calories = 1 pound of body fat. So every three and a half days you would lose a pound of fat by taking Hoodia.
There are natural products for sale that are made from real hoodia pulp that are from hoodia farms or naturally collected cactus. The hoodia plant may take up to six years to grow to harvestable size from seed. In 2005 CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna) decided to include hoodia gordonii in their list of protected cactus from South Africa and a permit is required to export this cactus from its’ homeland. It is estimated that by 2010 there will be a shortage of this product as demand outgrows the supply.
Although there are no registered side effects from taking hoodia, the native San Bushmen claim hoodia is also an aphrodisiac. The most heralded use of hoodia by the African bushman is an appetite suppressant, but they also use it as a thirst quencher. The San consume hoodia to end abdominal cramps, apply Xhoba for hemorrhoids, and drink hoodia tea for indigestion. Hypertension and diabetes are hoodia treated by the San Bushman, as well as tuberculosis.
Walking the Kalahari Desert doesn’t seem the obvious place to start a diet when thirst is foremost on the mind. Native San Bushmen featured in the movie “The Gods Must Be Crazy” live and thrive here for real. Thousands of years ago their ancestors discovered the magical properties of a specific cactus that thwarts hunger pains. 10, 000 times stronger than glucose, hoodia fools the brain into thinking you are full and not hungry.
This all-natural appetite suppressant is made from pure hoodia cactus pulp and seeds. Hoodia gordonii is the specific cactus that has the appetite suppressant qualities. Hoodia can be taken as a pill, powder or a tea. Obesity has never had a foe of this gigantic magnitude, than that of the natural herbal hoodia diet pill!
The secreted cactus, called Xhoba by San Bushmen, collection sat in a laboratory for 30 years after it was discovered before its’ properties were analyzed. The mega-behemoth pharmaceutical company, Pfizer (producers of Viagra) introduced “hoodia” to the media while they were in preliminary studies. Pfizer terminated all research on hoodia when terms could not be agreed upon with Phytopharm that owned the patent. Phytopharm bought up the rights from the San Bushmen of Kalahari to harvest, test and produce a laboratory drug called P57. This synthetic Hoodia has the same active ingredient as the real cactus and contains the previously unknown molecule named P57. Phytopharm decided to sell the use of their patent to Unilever, which owns Slim Fast. The sale was for 21 million U.S. plus royalties, that remain undisclosed. The hoodia laced P 57 products by Slim Fast may show up on the market in 2007.
The hoodia works in this way: In your mid-brain called the hypothalamus; you have glucose sensing nerve cells. As you ingest food, your blood sugar rises, and the glucose sensing nerve cells activate, sending an electrical signal that we recognize as, “now I am full”.
Hoodia has been tested and proven to work overwhelmingly against the double-blind placebo check. Individuals taking pure hoodia extract diet pills ate 1000 fewer calories than those in the placebo check. 3500 calories = 1 pound of body fat. So every three and a half days you would lose a pound of fat by taking Hoodia.
There are natural products for sale that are made from real hoodia pulp that are from hoodia farms or naturally collected cactus. The hoodia plant may take up to six years to grow to harvestable size from seed. In 2005 CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna) decided to include hoodia gordonii in their list of protected cactus from South Africa and a permit is required to export this cactus from its’ homeland. It is estimated that by 2010 there will be a shortage of this product as demand outgrows the supply.
Although there are no registered side effects from taking hoodia, the native San Bushmen claim hoodia is also an aphrodisiac. The most heralded use of hoodia by the African bushman is an appetite suppressant, but they also use it as a thirst quencher. The San consume hoodia to end abdominal cramps, apply Xhoba for hemorrhoids, and drink hoodia tea for indigestion. Hypertension and diabetes are hoodia treated by the San Bushman, as well as tuberculosis.
Lap Band Surgery Is A Promising Treatment For Obesity
Even with the tremendous emphasis on diet, fitness, and nutrition in our society, the problem of obesity is increasing throughout the western world.
According to most experts, the cause of obesity is quite simple. A person gains weight when he or she consumes more calories than they burn. This involves both diet and level of physical activity, because it is primarily physical activity that burns off calories that are taken in through food.
Recent statistics for various countries around the world suggest that obesity has reached epidemic levels in the worst offending countries. By definition, a person is considered "obese" when his or her health is endangered by the amount of fat stored in his or her body.
According to a recent study, the percentage of people 15+ years old who are technically obese has reached 30.6% for the U.S.A., 24.2% in Mexico, and 22.4% in the U.K. European countries fare a bit better.
That means, almost 1 in 3 Americans are so severely overweight that they have health problems because of it.
** What happens when diets and exercise don't work?
In spite of all the hype surrounding diet, exercise, and nutrition as solutions to the problem of obesity, millions of people cannot make these solutions work. They simply don't have the will power, discipline, or motivation to enter into a long term program that requires a radical change of lifestyle.
The consequences for people who are overweight or obese are just as serious for those who cannot get their weight down using these traditional techniques. They are just as susceptible to heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. So it is certainly in their interest to find a "non-traditional" solution that will help them lose weight.
** Gastric Surgery works for some people
One interesting new technique for helping people lose weight involves various "gastric surgery" procedures. The object of most gastric surgery is to limit the amount of food passing through the stomach and intestine. It normally does this by constricting the size of the stomach so it is filled much faster, food moves through more slowly, and therefore the ability and desire to eat is significantly reduced.
One of the most successful and least invasive is the technique called Lap-Band Surgery, which involves using a device called the LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System. The most important component of the LAP-BAND Systems is an adjustable band that circles the stomach about two thirds of the way up from the bottom.
The band is usually a silicone elastomer hollow ring filled with saline which is placed around the upper part of the stomach. This creates a new small stomach pouch in the top portion of the stomach. The larger part of the stomach is below the band. This way, the primary food storage area in the stomach is reduced.
Food in the stomach can still pass from the upper part of the stomach to the lower part for proper digestion, but the constriction makes this process go much more slowly. So a person who has had this procedure done can only eat enough to fill the primary stomach area above the band before feeling full. The net result is that he or she eats less, and gradually loses weight.
** Safest and least invasive
The Lap-band procedure is normally done using laparascopic surgery which is considered minimally invasive. With laparascopic surgery a few small incisions are made in the abdominal wall, and then narrow hollow tubes are inserted into the abdomen. The surgical tools and a small camera are then inserted through the tubes.
A small tunnel is made behind the top of the stomach. Then the band is pulled around the stomach to form a ring. The band is then locked in place with a simple locking device which holds the band securely in a circle around the stomach.
The band is then connected by a tube to a reservoir placed just beneath the skin. This allows the doctor to make adjustments to the band as the effectiveness of the system is monitored.
The size of the band controls the size of the passage (stoma) between the upper and lower portions of the stomach. The surgeon in charge of the procedure can later control the amount of saline in the band by adding solution to the reservoir or drawing it off through the skin with a fine needle. These adjustments can be done quickly and without further surgery.
** An effective alternative for combating obesity
In a clinical trial conducted in the U.S., 61% of lap-band surgery patients lost at least 25% of their excess weight. 52% lost at least 33% of their excess weight. 22% lost at least 50% of their excess weight, and 10% lost at least 75% of their excess weight.
This technique is not for everyone, but it is a very promising alternative to traditional diet and fitness regimes. The lap-band procedure requires a significant change in eating habits, and it takes time -- doctors recommend a program of gradual weight loss over 18 months to 3 years.
But the payoff is significantly reduced weight and a longer, healthier life for many thousands of people.
According to most experts, the cause of obesity is quite simple. A person gains weight when he or she consumes more calories than they burn. This involves both diet and level of physical activity, because it is primarily physical activity that burns off calories that are taken in through food.
Recent statistics for various countries around the world suggest that obesity has reached epidemic levels in the worst offending countries. By definition, a person is considered "obese" when his or her health is endangered by the amount of fat stored in his or her body.
According to a recent study, the percentage of people 15+ years old who are technically obese has reached 30.6% for the U.S.A., 24.2% in Mexico, and 22.4% in the U.K. European countries fare a bit better.
That means, almost 1 in 3 Americans are so severely overweight that they have health problems because of it.
** What happens when diets and exercise don't work?
In spite of all the hype surrounding diet, exercise, and nutrition as solutions to the problem of obesity, millions of people cannot make these solutions work. They simply don't have the will power, discipline, or motivation to enter into a long term program that requires a radical change of lifestyle.
The consequences for people who are overweight or obese are just as serious for those who cannot get their weight down using these traditional techniques. They are just as susceptible to heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. So it is certainly in their interest to find a "non-traditional" solution that will help them lose weight.
** Gastric Surgery works for some people
One interesting new technique for helping people lose weight involves various "gastric surgery" procedures. The object of most gastric surgery is to limit the amount of food passing through the stomach and intestine. It normally does this by constricting the size of the stomach so it is filled much faster, food moves through more slowly, and therefore the ability and desire to eat is significantly reduced.
One of the most successful and least invasive is the technique called Lap-Band Surgery, which involves using a device called the LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System. The most important component of the LAP-BAND Systems is an adjustable band that circles the stomach about two thirds of the way up from the bottom.
The band is usually a silicone elastomer hollow ring filled with saline which is placed around the upper part of the stomach. This creates a new small stomach pouch in the top portion of the stomach. The larger part of the stomach is below the band. This way, the primary food storage area in the stomach is reduced.
Food in the stomach can still pass from the upper part of the stomach to the lower part for proper digestion, but the constriction makes this process go much more slowly. So a person who has had this procedure done can only eat enough to fill the primary stomach area above the band before feeling full. The net result is that he or she eats less, and gradually loses weight.
** Safest and least invasive
The Lap-band procedure is normally done using laparascopic surgery which is considered minimally invasive. With laparascopic surgery a few small incisions are made in the abdominal wall, and then narrow hollow tubes are inserted into the abdomen. The surgical tools and a small camera are then inserted through the tubes.
A small tunnel is made behind the top of the stomach. Then the band is pulled around the stomach to form a ring. The band is then locked in place with a simple locking device which holds the band securely in a circle around the stomach.
The band is then connected by a tube to a reservoir placed just beneath the skin. This allows the doctor to make adjustments to the band as the effectiveness of the system is monitored.
The size of the band controls the size of the passage (stoma) between the upper and lower portions of the stomach. The surgeon in charge of the procedure can later control the amount of saline in the band by adding solution to the reservoir or drawing it off through the skin with a fine needle. These adjustments can be done quickly and without further surgery.
** An effective alternative for combating obesity
In a clinical trial conducted in the U.S., 61% of lap-band surgery patients lost at least 25% of their excess weight. 52% lost at least 33% of their excess weight. 22% lost at least 50% of their excess weight, and 10% lost at least 75% of their excess weight.
This technique is not for everyone, but it is a very promising alternative to traditional diet and fitness regimes. The lap-band procedure requires a significant change in eating habits, and it takes time -- doctors recommend a program of gradual weight loss over 18 months to 3 years.
But the payoff is significantly reduced weight and a longer, healthier life for many thousands of people.
Can Hoodia Gordonii Help You Lose Weight
Hoodia Gordonii is the newest catch phrase in the weight loss industry today. Everyone wants to be in on the secret, and still more are wondering about this miraculous plant. What does it do, how can it help you lose weight, and why wasn’t it heard of before? Well, some of it appears to be true, however there is more to weight loss than just taking a pill.
Hoodia Gordonii has actually been around for quite some time, but was only recently discovered to be an appetite suppressant. According to many reports, including some from well known media, it can make you feel full faster and stay full longer because of it's apparent ability to stave off hunger.
The Bushmen of the Kalahari deserts have been eating Hoodia for quite some time now, and have been familiar with its thirst and hunger quenching abilities. That’s why, when using hoodia it is important to have adequate hydration on top of a healthy diet. Even though hoodia is natural and may be able to work on its own to help safely curb your appetite, it is essential that you incorporate it into a healthy lifestyle. Allowing it to starve you is not healthy, so remember that.
Speaking with your doctor is essential in assuring you do not get in over your head. As with any weight loss product, your doctor should know what you are taking and how you plan to use Hoodia in your life. While it is not known to cause any unpleasant side effects, it’s not for certain how it will react with any prescription medications you could be taking. For safety reasons, let your physician know you plan on taking Hoodia and they may be able to help devise a diet and exercise plan that will work with the supplement to ensure maximum weight loss potential.
Although this supplement is being toted by many as the newest weight loss miracle, do not let the hype get to you. It is unrealistic to expect a diet pill to do all the work for you and put simply, it will not.
Diet pills like Hoodia Gordonii, Phentermine, Bontril, Adipex, or others, can help you reach your weight loss goals by supressing your appetite, but that's only part of the solution to keeping the weight off forever. If you want to lose weight and maintain your health, you have to be willing to change your eating habits and exercise.
Eat foods daily that are good for you like :
-Fruits and vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables.
-Lean chicken.
-Fish like Haddock, Cod, or Salmon, that is low in fat and has Omega-3 fatty acids that are good for your heart.
-Replace peanut butter with almond butter or cashew butter.
-Replace white bread with multigrain, rye, or spelt bread.
-Stay away from sugar. Use honey instead. Stay away from artifical sweetners.
-If you must eat deserts, eat low sugar yogurt or plain yogurt mixed with fresh fruit. Or go to a specialty bakery or health food store and buy desserts made without sugar and without preservatives.
-Stay away from caffeine that is in coffee and tea as much as possible. If you suffer from fatique, headaches, or anxiety all the time, this may be part of the reason. Try decafeinated brands instead.
-Reduce your salt consumption. Use No Salt or Half Salt products instead.
-Eat nuts without oil added to them, like pure almonds, cashews and so on, but not that much. They do have a high calorie content.
-Stay away from packaged products, including TV dinners, that are loaded with chemicals and sodium.
*Note: If you are allergic to any of the above, check with your physician for advice.
Exercise :
-Walk at least 20 minutes straight, 3-5 times per week.
-Lift light weights if you can and your doctor approves. A good gym is the best for this because they can put you on a good workout schedule. Strengthening your muscles will help you burn fat faster and will make you feel better.
-Start out slow and build from there.
You'll succeed and lose the weight you want over time if you follow some or all of these guidelines. Depending on how much you are overweight now, most doctors advise losing no more than 4 pounds a month. You should be able to do that easily.
If you are prone to eating binges, or you have a sweet tooth, or you find that cutting down on how much you eat is too tough, you should consider an appetite suppressant like Hoodia Gordonii or similar, at least for the first few months you're trying to lose weight. Only taking what is suggested on the bottle or even less at first to see how it affects you. Ask your doctor for guidance if needed.
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you can accomplish when you set your mind to it and realize you are not on a diet, but you're changing your lifestyle for the better.
Hoodia Gordonii has actually been around for quite some time, but was only recently discovered to be an appetite suppressant. According to many reports, including some from well known media, it can make you feel full faster and stay full longer because of it's apparent ability to stave off hunger.
The Bushmen of the Kalahari deserts have been eating Hoodia for quite some time now, and have been familiar with its thirst and hunger quenching abilities. That’s why, when using hoodia it is important to have adequate hydration on top of a healthy diet. Even though hoodia is natural and may be able to work on its own to help safely curb your appetite, it is essential that you incorporate it into a healthy lifestyle. Allowing it to starve you is not healthy, so remember that.
Speaking with your doctor is essential in assuring you do not get in over your head. As with any weight loss product, your doctor should know what you are taking and how you plan to use Hoodia in your life. While it is not known to cause any unpleasant side effects, it’s not for certain how it will react with any prescription medications you could be taking. For safety reasons, let your physician know you plan on taking Hoodia and they may be able to help devise a diet and exercise plan that will work with the supplement to ensure maximum weight loss potential.
Although this supplement is being toted by many as the newest weight loss miracle, do not let the hype get to you. It is unrealistic to expect a diet pill to do all the work for you and put simply, it will not.
Diet pills like Hoodia Gordonii, Phentermine, Bontril, Adipex, or others, can help you reach your weight loss goals by supressing your appetite, but that's only part of the solution to keeping the weight off forever. If you want to lose weight and maintain your health, you have to be willing to change your eating habits and exercise.
Eat foods daily that are good for you like :
-Fruits and vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables.
-Lean chicken.
-Fish like Haddock, Cod, or Salmon, that is low in fat and has Omega-3 fatty acids that are good for your heart.
-Replace peanut butter with almond butter or cashew butter.
-Replace white bread with multigrain, rye, or spelt bread.
-Stay away from sugar. Use honey instead. Stay away from artifical sweetners.
-If you must eat deserts, eat low sugar yogurt or plain yogurt mixed with fresh fruit. Or go to a specialty bakery or health food store and buy desserts made without sugar and without preservatives.
-Stay away from caffeine that is in coffee and tea as much as possible. If you suffer from fatique, headaches, or anxiety all the time, this may be part of the reason. Try decafeinated brands instead.
-Reduce your salt consumption. Use No Salt or Half Salt products instead.
-Eat nuts without oil added to them, like pure almonds, cashews and so on, but not that much. They do have a high calorie content.
-Stay away from packaged products, including TV dinners, that are loaded with chemicals and sodium.
*Note: If you are allergic to any of the above, check with your physician for advice.
Exercise :
-Walk at least 20 minutes straight, 3-5 times per week.
-Lift light weights if you can and your doctor approves. A good gym is the best for this because they can put you on a good workout schedule. Strengthening your muscles will help you burn fat faster and will make you feel better.
-Start out slow and build from there.
You'll succeed and lose the weight you want over time if you follow some or all of these guidelines. Depending on how much you are overweight now, most doctors advise losing no more than 4 pounds a month. You should be able to do that easily.
If you are prone to eating binges, or you have a sweet tooth, or you find that cutting down on how much you eat is too tough, you should consider an appetite suppressant like Hoodia Gordonii or similar, at least for the first few months you're trying to lose weight. Only taking what is suggested on the bottle or even less at first to see how it affects you. Ask your doctor for guidance if needed.
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you can accomplish when you set your mind to it and realize you are not on a diet, but you're changing your lifestyle for the better.
Weight Loss And The Theory Of Constraints
It's always been fascinating to me how business, finance and weight loss parallel one another.
Take a personal bank account for instance. If you add more to it than you take out of it, your account will grow bigger and bigger. The same is true with your body. If you put more into it through eating than you take out of it through activity it will grow bigger and bigger. That's a simple truth isn't it?
What about a business? If a business owner doesn't watch his business on a daily basis and take action when necessary his business will most probably fail. The same is true with a weight loss program. If it's not monitored on a daily basis and action taken when necessary it will fail. Most businesses fail. So do most weight loss programs. That's a simple truth also.
I've been an industrial engineer all my life and years ago I read a book that pertained to manufacturing by Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt, an Israeli physicist, entitled "The Theory of Constraints".
The core idea in the Theory of Constraints is that every real system, such as a profit-making enterprise, must have at least one constraint.
If it were not true, then the system would produce an infinite amount of whatever it strives for. In the case of a profit-making enterprise, it would be infinite profits.
Because a constraint is a factor that limits the system from getting more of whatever it strives for, then a business manager who wants more profits must manage the constraint.
There really is no choice in the matter. Either you manage constraints or they manage you. The constraints will determine the output of the system whether they are acknowledged and managed or not.
There can be many constraints in a business but I found out in my engineering career there is usually a primary one. All constraints must be managed but by focusing the most attention on the primary one, whatever is being strived for will improve. Perfection is never achieved but improvement can be accomplished.
It's a constant battle.
Does The Theory of Constraints apply to weight loss? Absolutely! If there were no constraints to weight loss then none of us would be fat. Dieters can achieve improvement by focusing on their primary constraint the same as the business manager, even though all constraints must be managed.
It's a constant battle.
So what is the primary constraint to weight loss? I think it's universal to all dieters. The cartoon character Pogo, by Walt Kelly, said it best. "We have met the enemy and he is us."
Yep. The primary constraint to weight loss is between our ears. We prefer sitting on the couch and indulging in the pleasures of the moment rather than striving for what we would like to have in the future. As far as weight loss is concerned we might as well be hunting for unicorns or searching for pots of gold at the end of rainbows. We're just as likely to find them as to lose weight.
Good information on weight loss is abundant but to lose weight you must become proactive. Knowledge is not enough. You've got to work on that primary constraint. You've got to get off that couch and DO SOMETHING. I wish you the best.
Take a personal bank account for instance. If you add more to it than you take out of it, your account will grow bigger and bigger. The same is true with your body. If you put more into it through eating than you take out of it through activity it will grow bigger and bigger. That's a simple truth isn't it?
What about a business? If a business owner doesn't watch his business on a daily basis and take action when necessary his business will most probably fail. The same is true with a weight loss program. If it's not monitored on a daily basis and action taken when necessary it will fail. Most businesses fail. So do most weight loss programs. That's a simple truth also.
I've been an industrial engineer all my life and years ago I read a book that pertained to manufacturing by Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt, an Israeli physicist, entitled "The Theory of Constraints".
The core idea in the Theory of Constraints is that every real system, such as a profit-making enterprise, must have at least one constraint.
If it were not true, then the system would produce an infinite amount of whatever it strives for. In the case of a profit-making enterprise, it would be infinite profits.
Because a constraint is a factor that limits the system from getting more of whatever it strives for, then a business manager who wants more profits must manage the constraint.
There really is no choice in the matter. Either you manage constraints or they manage you. The constraints will determine the output of the system whether they are acknowledged and managed or not.
There can be many constraints in a business but I found out in my engineering career there is usually a primary one. All constraints must be managed but by focusing the most attention on the primary one, whatever is being strived for will improve. Perfection is never achieved but improvement can be accomplished.
It's a constant battle.
Does The Theory of Constraints apply to weight loss? Absolutely! If there were no constraints to weight loss then none of us would be fat. Dieters can achieve improvement by focusing on their primary constraint the same as the business manager, even though all constraints must be managed.
It's a constant battle.
So what is the primary constraint to weight loss? I think it's universal to all dieters. The cartoon character Pogo, by Walt Kelly, said it best. "We have met the enemy and he is us."
Yep. The primary constraint to weight loss is between our ears. We prefer sitting on the couch and indulging in the pleasures of the moment rather than striving for what we would like to have in the future. As far as weight loss is concerned we might as well be hunting for unicorns or searching for pots of gold at the end of rainbows. We're just as likely to find them as to lose weight.
Good information on weight loss is abundant but to lose weight you must become proactive. Knowledge is not enough. You've got to work on that primary constraint. You've got to get off that couch and DO SOMETHING. I wish you the best.
Addressing The Fears And Feelings Associated With Weight Loss
It seems a little strange that losing weight can entice feelings of fear. Fear doesn’t seem to have a place in such a constructive process. Usually weight loss is associated with both positive and negative feelings. The positive feelings are more obvious and understandable. You’re feeling better, have more energy, look better, fit in nicer clothes, etc. However, are you aware that negative feelings about your life changing process are also normal?
Weight gain happens for a reason and it’s not all about that familiar hand to mouth motion. It’s not just about food it’s about what is behind the overeating. Smaller weight gains can usually be attributed to just poor eating and exercise habits. However, large weight gain is almost always associated with something much deeper. Gaining weight is camouflage. It allows you to disappear in society, which in turn can make you feel safer. The key is to understand what you were hiding from? Was there a trauma in you life that needs to be addressed?
Conversely, as you begin to understand why you gained the weight, you also need to address your feelings as you succeed at your weight loss efforts. This is a journey that will require time and patience. You may stall and have to restart. You may lose motivation and need assistance to get back on track. You may not fall off the wagon; you may execute a premeditated jump off the wagon. These actions can all be associated with fear.
If this sounds all too familiar, take the time to address these volatile emotions before they take you down. The following pro-active steps can ease the fears and keep you on track.
· Find A Support System. This can be a personal trainer who understands your struggle and is willing to push to keep you on track. The trainer may use motivational techniques or tactics that help you face your fears head on and eliminate the need to self-sabotage your forward motion. Personal Trainers are NOT just for movie stars any more! They are available to the general public. Call your local gym for a referral.
If a personal trainer is not an option, team up with a friend who has succeeded with weight loss and is willing to help you stay on track by exercising with you daily. Share food journals. You will learn as much from your friend’s food journal and your friend will be necessary accountability to keep your eating habits in check.
· Daily Journal Writing. Emotions locked in your mind become bigger and bigger over time which then become nearly impossible to control. Everything starts with a thought! Once you learn to train and manage your thinking you will be able to change your life. Write out your feelings and fears. The mere act of writing helps you to understand why you feel what you feel and releases the negative energy.
· Follow Up With Affirmations. After releasing the negative emotions, follow up with affirmations. It is important to fill the space with a positive turn around. Give your brain something good to dwell on now.
· Take Quiet Time. Often our lives are so busy we don’t have time to breath, much less think. Give yourself 15 minutes a day to sit and let go of the mental stress. This takes more effort than you may think. During these 15 minutes consciously let go of any thoughts that are occupying your mind. Vacuum the mental clutter and empty your mind of all thought. Let your system rest for 15 minutes and you will find that you are more in control of more of your day.
Fear is a normal part of any major life change. Once you understand this you can begin to address this emotion and push past it. Keep that forward motion by challenging any feelings that cause you to sabotage your positive growth.
Weight gain happens for a reason and it’s not all about that familiar hand to mouth motion. It’s not just about food it’s about what is behind the overeating. Smaller weight gains can usually be attributed to just poor eating and exercise habits. However, large weight gain is almost always associated with something much deeper. Gaining weight is camouflage. It allows you to disappear in society, which in turn can make you feel safer. The key is to understand what you were hiding from? Was there a trauma in you life that needs to be addressed?
Conversely, as you begin to understand why you gained the weight, you also need to address your feelings as you succeed at your weight loss efforts. This is a journey that will require time and patience. You may stall and have to restart. You may lose motivation and need assistance to get back on track. You may not fall off the wagon; you may execute a premeditated jump off the wagon. These actions can all be associated with fear.
If this sounds all too familiar, take the time to address these volatile emotions before they take you down. The following pro-active steps can ease the fears and keep you on track.
· Find A Support System. This can be a personal trainer who understands your struggle and is willing to push to keep you on track. The trainer may use motivational techniques or tactics that help you face your fears head on and eliminate the need to self-sabotage your forward motion. Personal Trainers are NOT just for movie stars any more! They are available to the general public. Call your local gym for a referral.
If a personal trainer is not an option, team up with a friend who has succeeded with weight loss and is willing to help you stay on track by exercising with you daily. Share food journals. You will learn as much from your friend’s food journal and your friend will be necessary accountability to keep your eating habits in check.
· Daily Journal Writing. Emotions locked in your mind become bigger and bigger over time which then become nearly impossible to control. Everything starts with a thought! Once you learn to train and manage your thinking you will be able to change your life. Write out your feelings and fears. The mere act of writing helps you to understand why you feel what you feel and releases the negative energy.
· Follow Up With Affirmations. After releasing the negative emotions, follow up with affirmations. It is important to fill the space with a positive turn around. Give your brain something good to dwell on now.
· Take Quiet Time. Often our lives are so busy we don’t have time to breath, much less think. Give yourself 15 minutes a day to sit and let go of the mental stress. This takes more effort than you may think. During these 15 minutes consciously let go of any thoughts that are occupying your mind. Vacuum the mental clutter and empty your mind of all thought. Let your system rest for 15 minutes and you will find that you are more in control of more of your day.
Fear is a normal part of any major life change. Once you understand this you can begin to address this emotion and push past it. Keep that forward motion by challenging any feelings that cause you to sabotage your positive growth.
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