Dieting and Obesity

Dieting and Obeseity

As we age, our metabolism decrease, that is why as we get older it becomes more difficult to maintain our body mass. Eating the same types of foods, and the same amounts as when we were kids we begin to see the fat begin to pile onto our stomachs, thighs, hips and arms. The slower metabolism cannot burn the same amount of fat. The dreaded "D" word than becomes part of our lives, dieting to ride us of obesity becomes important. Obesity effects us in several ways, such as, health, body image and self esteem.

Body Image and Dieting

Body image and self esteem inextricably entwined -- so it becomes extremely difficult to feel good about yourself when, every time you look in a mirror, you see only the fat, the negatives of bulging stomach, double chins, and fat hanging from our arms. A negative body image is a distorted perception of your shape. You perceive parts of your body unlike they really are. You are convinced that only other people are attractive, and that your body size, or shape is a sign of personal failure. You feel ashamed, self-conscious, and anxious about your body. In some cases people become extreme about body image, and it manifests in either bulimia or anorexia. Either bulimia or anorexia are not healthy for anyone, in either case complications to these conditions can lead to death, or at the minimum damage to nerveous system, and intenal organs. Bulimia or Anorexia requires prolonged hospitalization in specialized units that are dedicated to treating the emotional and psychological damage. Healthy dieting is the key to healthy lifestyle.

Dieting and Mental Health

What you eat has an affect on your mood, behavior and brain function.  Depending on the diet you have chosen, you may be noticing different things.  You may find that you are always thinking about food, you may feel less energetic, or maybe you are finding it difficult to maintain concentration.  You might also be noticing that you have become obsessed with the scale and how much you weigh.  Let's get realistic a good diet plan does not leave you hungry, or obsession with the scale. Proper dieting does not bring on a loss of energy or concentration.

Obesity and Health Complications

Being overweight leads to several health ailments, including high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease, fatty liver disease, and pregnancy complications which constitute a long list of deadly diseases. The greatest news I can give you is you can lower your health risks by losing weight. Another reason that you would want to Diet and lose the extra weight would be to increase your energy level. Additionally, self--esteem issues also become a factor - the better you look the more self-esteem you will have. Again, body image is inextricably entwined -- so it becomes extremely difficult to feel good about yourself when, every time you look in a mirror, you see only the negatives. When looking for the diet that would achieve your dieting goals, you need to consider that some of the magic lose it fast diets will achieve the weight loss for the short term, but will be ineffective over the long haul. Losing weight fast just means losses of water weight and muscle.

Dieting Basic Premise

You will only enjoy permanent weight loss through a long term shift in your metabolism to one that favors burning fat over storing fat. Fat loss is basically a hormonal and biochemical process that can only happen when your hormonal profiles and metabolism shift to burning fat. Clearly, the key to weight loss is a balance between the amount of energy being consumed and the amount being used.

Fast Dieting is often, in the main, a loss of water and lean muscle tissue. Once you go off the diet, the lost water soon returns. The lean tissue does not come back unless you exercise so your new body will weigh much the same as before, but will be more flabby. Fat does increase rapidly and it won't disappear quickly. To lose weight and keep it lost, you need to change your diet to eating and exercise habits which causes the fat to come off in the first place.

Other Diets that have gained popularity over the years just do not fit the premise of what Dieting is all about. Here is a short list of diets, and diet ideas. Before I go any further I do not encourage the use of any of these diets. Diet choice should be done with a physician or a professional your physician recommends.

Dangers of Using Laxatives For Weight Loss

One popular weight loss supplements available in the market today take the form of tea. Stores all over sell slimming teas, dieter's tea and all of them are actually the same. They may appear to be effective, but what is not seen may actually harm you.


One of the effects of drinking dieter's tea is frequent bowel movement. This gives people the feeling of body cleansing. These people may get toxins out of their body but it isn't exactly the only thing that slimming tea actually does to the body. Slimming teas contain herbs which are natural laxatives. These include aloe, senna, rhubarb root, cascara, buckthorn and castor oil. These are products which are derived from plants and have been used since the ancient times because of their potency in treating constipation and to inducing bowel movement.

Cascara, castor oil and senna are substances which are recognised as laxatives available over the counter and are also regulated as drugs. Scientific studies show that diarrhoea induced by laxatives do not absorb significant amounts of calories taken in the body.

The reason for this is that laxatives do not act on the small intestines where most of the calories are absorbed. Instead, they work on the large intestines. If taken in large amounts for prolonged periods, it can affect fat absorption of the body. This may lead to greasy diarrhea and loss of weight. Abuse of laxatives is common practice among people who suffer from bulimia and anorexia nervosa.

While weight loss can be guaranteed by overdosing on laxatives, it may also cause permanent damage to the gastrointestinal tract and the weakening and softening of the bones, a condition known as osteomalacia. Drinkers of slimming teas may actually patronise the product because they are less expansive and taste better than other laxatives sold in the market. Other people, such as those with eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa drink dieter's tea because they work fast and produce watery stool and having loose consistency.

Women may even be more susceptible to the effects of slimming teas. Although they are not known to interfere directly with the woman's menstrual cycle and fertility. It is also not safe for pregnant women to be taking in laxatives of any kind. Wise and responsible herbalists also discourage the use of senna and other herbal products with laxative properties for pregnant women, and women who are trying to conceive.

One should be wary about these findings because the labelling of slimming teas in the market today can be absolutely misleading. For instance, they commonly refer to the laxative qualities as "natural bowel cleansing properties" and not specifically use the word "laxative". Some even use the term "low-calorie" on their labelling. These products in fact, contain essentially no calories nor nutrients whatsoever; unless of course, if they are sweetened.

Adverse effects of misusing laxatives in the form of slimming tea generally occur when taken in more than or longer than recommended doses. Adverse effects include nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, rectal bleeding, electrolyte disorder and dehydration as well as injury, and worse death. It was also reported that excess use of stimulant laxatives cause severe constipation and pain for long periods (as much as for decades) due to the colon losing its function. It eventually can lead to surgery removing the colon altogether.

What is in a Weight Loss Diet Pill?

With all the strenuous activities and sweat-generating regimens that most weight loss programs have, more and more people are enticed to opt for a better alternative, without the trouble of exerting too much effort.

With the advent of diet pills that promote weight loss, people go mad over the appealing advertisements of most manufacturers claiming that their product can easily "melt away" the fat and cellulite. Advertisers place emphasis on vanity rather than safety.

With diet pills dominating the market today, who needs to tone those abs and biceps, and do healthy habit changing dieting if there is an easier way to lose weight?

With an estimated 60% of the American population are now considered as obese, these "wonder pills" or drugs are definitely reaping millions of dollars in the United States alone.

Now, the questions are: is there any truth regarding the manufacturers’ claims that these diet pills can ultimately promote weight loss? Are they really effective in helping people lose weight? And do dieting pills help people maintain their ideal weight, and curb any fat accumulation in the body?

In reality, there are diet pills that can really make a person shed off those extra pounds. These diet pills contain certain substances that were already clinically and scientifically proven to be very effective.

These diet pills are effective in increasing the metabolism of the body, thereby, initiating weight loss. Plus, these diet pills contain certain substances that suppress one’s appetite.However, with so many diet pills saturating the market today, trying to find the best, and most effective diet pill can be very tedious. Chances are, you may end up choosing the wrong diet pill when your energy decreases, and the diet pills wanes down.

Actually, there are only five factors to consider when choosing diet pills that are effective at the same time safe to use. Here is a list of the factors that you need to consider in order to come up with a diet pill that is right and appropriate.

1. The metabolism-boosting ability

In choosing diet pills that will effectively promote weight loss, it is best to look for pills that have the ingredients that will enhance your body’s metabolism, or the ability of the body to burn excess fats.

Choose those diet pills that contain alpha lipoic acid, green tea extracts, and "L-Canitine" because these ingredients have been clinically proven to be effective in promoting weight loss through increased metabolic rate.

2. The appetite suppressants

Find diet pills that effectively suppress your appetite. It does not necessarily mean that you will skip meals, but you will not just feel hungry every now and then. This is because obesity usually happens to people who are found snacking in-between meals, which actually initiates excessive calorie intake.

3. The calorie stopper

Because obesity is usually due to the excess intake of calories in the body, which is more than the recommended amount, it is best to choose diet pills that have the special ingredients that will curb the entry of calories into the body.

These substances are known as "phaseolus vulgaris." This is known to create an enzyme that will efficiently control any excess calories in the body. The enzyme responsible for this wonderful job is known as "alpha-amylase."

4. The metabolic enhancers

It is best to choose diet pills that have the so-called "lipotropic elements" that are effective in eliminating fats from the body. It functions like a sweeper that effectively sweeps excess fats outside the body. These lipotropic elements are found in vitamin C, chitosan, alpha lipoic acid, and green tea extracts.

5. The water-retention breaker

Effective diet pills are those that contain diuretics. These are elements that avert the retention of water in the body during the weight loss regimen.

All of these factors are, indeed, clinically proven and effective in losing weight. Though, it must be kept in mind that diet pills alone are not sufficient to provide optimum weight loss. Therefore, with exercise and the right diet pills, you are definitely on your way to a healthier, slimmer you.

Dieting Drugs that Induce Weight Loss

In the 1950’s until the late 90’s, doctors prescribed drugs for weight loss. The drug works by increasing the serotonin levels in the brain that makes the brain believe that the stomach is already full and thus, increases the person’s metabolic rate.

It was only after scientists discovered that these drugs had side effects related to heart valve disease, these diet pills were taken off the store shelves immediately. Years later new drugs were developed, and prescribed by doctors; many of which are still waiting for FDA approval.

Most people have known friends or family members who have tried using diet pills and have seen tremendous improvement. The idea that a simple drug can change everything without the need to change the diet or sacrificing anything is very tempting. This has made consumers spend millions of dollars every year, and has made drug companies a lot of money making and selling the drug.

Diet pills can be purchased either over-the-counter or prescribed by a doctor. Even with the advances in medical technology, these drugs can still cause health related problems which can be unpleasant, such as diarrhea and vomiting, tightness in the chest, urinary tract problems, and fatalities such as a heart attack or a stroke. Other complications from an overdose of the diet pills tremors, confusion, hallucinations, shallow breathing, renal failure, and convulsions.

The side effects vary depending on the lifestyle and health of the person, and can be minimised as long as one consults the Physican first before buying them.

Should one decide to stop using these drugs, one must consider that studies have shown that there are also side effects to stoping these diet pills. These include noticeable mood swings, hyper-activity, and pain in the stomach, insomnia and nightmares, severe irritability, extreme fatigue, depression, nausea, vomiting and trembling.

A lot of clinical tests will show that the drugs taken to lose weight really work. But this can only work if it is done with a low calorie diet and an exercise plan.

Diet Patchs

Finally, for the severely obese people who have been unable to lose weight using traditional means, the utilization of weight loss patchs may be an option.

Basically, the weight loss patch is a revolutionary device or product that helps people to lose weight effectively. The weight loss patch, also known as "the diet patch," or the "Slim Form Patch" are the new and innovative weight loss product that are now readily available in the market.

Its manufacturers contend that the ingredients used in weight loss patches are 100% natural. So, people who will use the product can be assured of a safe and effective weight loss regimen.

To know more about these weight loss patches, here is a list of some facts that can help you understand how it works:

1. It is a biological and straightforward process of losing weight.

This means that these weight loss patches are made from 100% natural ingredients that is why manufacturers claim that these products are safe to use. In addition, it is also simple and easy to utilise.

2. It’s not considered as one form of trendy weight loss program.

Because of its viability and clinically proven results, weight loss patches are considered as something that can safely burn calories and fats without having to skip meals or do some crash diets.

Moreover, because it does not advocate people to engage into crash diets, these products have not eradicated certain food groups in one’s diet. This means that the person using it is still eating a well-balanced meal.

3. It employs a "cutting edge technology" known as the Patch technology or the Transdermal.

This new technology states that in most cases, the food that enters into the body passes through the different areas inside. In most cases, there are harmful ingredients that were able to enter the body and yet it may pose greater risks.

The point here is that these substances where already broken down into pieces in areas like the liver or stomach, without passing through the bloodstreams. Hence, it pose greater risk to the person concerned.

However, with patch technology, the substances are easily absorbed and penetrated through the skin. It is in this process that the substances are redirected first to the bloodstream, where they are filtered, before they can go to the liver, stomach, and other parts of the body.

In this way, the harmful substances are already eliminated and that everything that passes through the different parts of the body are effectively utilized by the cells, where it is mostly needed.

Moreover, these weight loss patches contain the active ingredients that can effectively help people lose weight at the same time enhancing their health and well-being.

Therefore, for a revolutionary modification to weight loss regimen, it would be better if you will try using these weight loss patches. Buy now and start your life to a healthier you.

Alternatively, these weight loss patches are available in 30-piece package. It should only be worn once a day. Indeed, with the advent of weight loss patches, losing weight will no longer be considered a game for the chosen few.

Weight loss surgeries

Today, weight loss surgeries are gradually gaining recognition when it comes to losing weight. Many health experts contend that people who are excessively overweight or has slower metabolism would normally require some surgical operations.

Surgery at Present

The greatest progress in the care of the surgical patient has taken place since the beginning of the present century. An increasing knowledge of disease and disorder as a result of research has permitted the development of many diagnostic aids. Some of these depend upon roentgenograms, laboratory procedures such as chemical, bacteriologic, and pathologic determinations, as well as monitoring devices and computer aids.

Therefore, the result is that the diagnosis of disease and disorder is made with more exactness and certainty than was possible from the simple clinical examinations of previous days. That is why people who wish to undergo weight loss surgery should no longer be afraid of surgical procedure, because high clinical standards are now being implemented in every surgical operation.

The Concept of Weight Loss Surgeries

Health experts contend that weight loss surgery is a "major surgery." One of the most common reasons why people would like to lose weight is to enhance their physical attributes. However, it should not be the underlying motivation to undergo the process of weight loss surgery.

What people do not know is that weight loss surgery is especially favorable to help obese people live longer, healthier, and better.

Individual must meticulously analyze his or her situation, do some research about the process, and analyze if weight loss surgery is the ultimate choice for his or her physiological condition. Moreover, it is important to gather further information about weight loss surgery by consulting an experienced and knowledgeable bariatric surgeon or even just an expert family physician who knows the ins and outs of weight loss surgery.

In addition, the patient should also consult the other health experts such as psychiatrist, and dietician with regards to some psychological nutrition advice about long-term goals after the operation.

Generally, patients who have undergone weight loss surgery are said to be successful if they were able to lose 50% or more of their extra body weight, and will be able to maintain that condition for the next five years or so. However, the results of the operation may still vary depending on the clinical information of the patient and the skills of the bariatric surgeon. Normally, the patient will be able to lose at least 30% to a maximum of 50% during the first six months after surgery; and within the year after the operation, the patient has the potential of losing weight up to a maximum of 77%.

Best of all, people who were able to loss weight through surgical operations can actually maintain a continuous weight loss of up to 50% to 60% in the next 10 to 14 years after surgery.

Factors to Consider

As with the other weight loss management programs, there are many factors to consider before the patient should decide to undergo weight loss surgery.


Consequently, the actual weight that will be lost is reliant on the weight before the surgical procedure, patient’s age, capability to exercise, total health condition of the patient, dogged determination to maintain the necessary follow-up narture, and the enthusiasm to succeed with the help of their family, friends, and their colleagues.


If you have just put on a few extra pounds and want to avoid gaining more, these weight loss surgeries for better health may seem convincing. But, in addition to being convinced, you may also have to take some action to ensure that your weight does not creep upward.


Therefore, it can be concluded that losing weight is not just a question of deciding to be strong-willed and determined or upbeat and positive. Lifestyle changes are where it is at for long-term success with your weight especially after weight loss surgery.


Jaw wiring, and other forms of surgery also have the problem that unless there is a change in you eating behaviour, weight loss will not be sustained.

The Real Way To Diet

The most effective dieting program consists of a change in behavior. The first behavior that needs to change is your eating habits. Eating the appropriate amount of foods to maintain a healthy weight, and give you the nutrition needed for that healthy weight. Getting the proper amount of exercise. Changing your behavior to get a appropriate amount and type of exercise you need to maintain a healthy weight.

If your goal is to lose weight, and firm up your body than to do so you must change your habits permianately. Not for 3 months until you have lost the weight, and firmed up, but for the rest of your life. A change if your life style is also necessary. Most important see your physician to make sure your diet, and exercise routing is right for you considering your age, and over all general health.

Dieting Supplements

It is easy to come across dietary supplements that claim they can help decrease cravings for sweets and carbohydrates without the need to diet or exercise.  This claim is encouragement for those who are looking for easy results.  However, the concept of decreasing cravings, by definition, would be associated with a change in diet.  Clearly the hard work of dieting will have to be undertaken if any results are to be achieved. Many supplements have claims of assisting in the burning of fat, or assist in building lean muscle, many of these claims are unfounded, but clinical research has determined there are some supplements that do foot the bill. The following supplements written here are not intended for advertisement, but as an example.

Diet Tips

Here are some dieting tips.  Some work for some people while others work for others.  or example, some people find they can only lose weight by adhering to a strict diet, while others can be more flexible.

·   Nothing need be forbidden but some foods should dominate the diet more than others.




·   Aim to lose no more than one or 2 pounds per week.




·   Do not waste money on short term or fad diets.




·   Do not shop for grocery items when you are overly hungry.




·   Avoid popping in and out of food shops.  Ideally, stock up weekly and make sure you buy enough.




·   You don't have to be hungry.




·   Eat out less often.  You will have a better knowledge of what you are eating.




·   Take each day one day at a time.

Dieting is a complete process of changing eating habits, and a change in your metabolism. Fad diets, diet pills, and quick weight loss will not bring about the desired change one is working so hard for.

Herbalife Weight Loss Product: How to Weigh in With Lower Fat

One of the known strategies is to take some weight loss medications. This does not necessarily mean those that are being advertised as diet pills but also those that fall under the category of herbal medicines. One of the fast-growing herbal medicines especially formulated to help you lose weight is the so-called herbalife weight loss product.

Herbalife weight loss product is one of the major breakthroughs as far as herbal medication is concerned. Herbalife weight loss products contain the necessary herbs in order to facilitate losing weight.

Some of the well-known herbalife weight loss products are herbalife formula 1 strawberry weight control powder, herbalife diet formula 1 tropical fruit, herbalife formula 1 vanilla diet slim lose weight, etc.

One of the best things about herbalife weight loss products is that they are great tasting products, easy-to-use, and is definitely effective in losing weight. Best of all, the prices are relatively affordable when compared to other weight loss products.

To know more of the benefits that herbalife weight loss products can do for you, here is a list of the advantages.

1. One of the best things about herbalife weight loss products is that you do not only lose pounds but also inches. This means that herbalife weight loss products do not just get rid of excess fats but also tone and shape the body built, curbing the imminent re-accumulation of fats.

2. Herbalife weight loss products do not only make you lose weight but also supply you with the nutrients that are needed by the body’s cells on a daily basis.

3. Herbalife weight loss products are known to have excellent taste that is why more and more people who have tried it are satisfied with its yummy flavors.

4. Best of all, herbalife weight loss products lets you eat more of the foods you like without having to worry about accumulating more weight in the end.

5. Herbalife weight loss products are also known to help you lessen the extra calorie ingestion. Hence, losing weight will be more effective.

What’s more, herbalife weight loss products give you the pleasing feeling that curbs your hunger while you lose weight.

The bottom line is that your mission for preventing weight gain, should you decide to accept it, is to eat fewer calories when you are not involved in activities that burn up those calories. Then, try to incorporate these herbalife weight loss products in your diet.

In the end, you will achieve the ideal weight you have long wanted to obtain.

Interesting Research Findings

Japanese researchers have found a significant substance that has been shown in studies to effectively reduce obesity, specifically from the abdominal area. This substance is known as fucoxanthin and it is found in brown seaweed, a main ingredient in japanese cuisine. When fed to mice during clinical studies, the results showed a reduction in obesity by 2-5%.

Bromocriptine reveals new research which finally explains the reasons and physiology behind dieting and dieting failures. It turns out that many of the problems are in your brain. The evolutionary reasons that your body makes it much harder to lose fat than to gain it. Bromocriptine tells how the two primary hormones, insulin and leptin, that your body uses to monitor whether or not you're over- or under-eating and gaining or losing fat. Bromocriptine states how those hormones change your brain chemistry and metabolism to derail your training and nutrition efforts; that is, how your brain is controlling most of the problems in the first place.

L-Carnitine

Here is another supplement that Jon Benson writes about in his e book. "L-Carnitine Originally touted as an amazing fat-burner, L-Carnitine was bashed by one review after another in the mid-1990s. Its claims were quickly dismissed as just another line of marketing B.S. But I say "not so fast"—and remember I do not sell this stuff."

"Carnitine is bio synthesized from the amino acids lysine and methionine. It is a nutrient responsible for the transport of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria, the energy-producing center of the cell. Carnitine helps the body convert fatty acids into energy used primarily for muscular activities throughout the body. This is not in dispute—this is merely what carnitine does. What is in dispute is whether or not the supplemental form L-Carnitine (or levocarnitine) can augment these effects and facilitate fat loss to a greater degree"

AMINO ACIDS.

What are Amino Acids?

How important are they in proper dieting and weight gain? 

Protein is made up of four elements 1) carbon, 2) hydrogen, 3) oxygen and 4) nitrogen.  These four elements combine with each other when protein is broken down into a number of different structures called amino acids, each one possessing an amino group, an acid and the remainder being different combinations of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and in some cases sulfur.  These amino acids can be combined together in a variety of ways to form the protein necessary for the structure and functions of the human body.  Thus protein is formed when two amino acids link together.   

So amino acids are very important in the formation of muscle tissue as it relates to protein.  The best way to make sure you have all the amino acids is to eat a variety of foods from protein rich food as well as all the other food groups.  You cannot gain strength and muscle tissue without amino acids in your diet.

Detoxification

Detoxification is a process by which you'll remove the toxic elements from your body in order to restore your health. Your body undergoes a lot of wear and tear throughout your day to day life. Toxins and free radicals are affecting your organs, your skin and your overall well being on the inside and on the outside.



During the course of your normal daily life, you could be exposed to harsh chemicals through your work environment. You could be ingesting harmful ingredients in your food. All of these elements working together can cause a very toxic environment in your body.

Things like cigarettes, acidic foods, caffeine, junk food and soda are all harmful to your health. If you are consuming these things on a consistent basis, you are harming your body on several levels. All of these elements build up in your system over time and can cause a whole host of problems including weight gain, memory problems and immune system issues.

Detoxification is a natural process that the body accomplishes all on it's own under normal circumstances. However, when you have a poor diet and a stressful lifestyle your body isn't able to cleanse your system properly.

If your body is not able to do its job properly, you can take steps to help your body heal itself.

Detoxification can:

-Improve your immune system function



-Eliminate free radicals from your system



-Improve your ability to fight off cancer cells

-Cleanse out congestion and mucous from your body

-Purify your blood



-Help you break your addiction to sugar, salt, alcohol and junk foods

Detoxification is slowly being acknowledged by modern medicine, but there are still skeptics out there.

Diet Supplements For Weight Loss

Combine a sensible selection of the diet weight loss supplements to maximize the success of your weight loss plan. Diet Supplements are a great way of providing your body with nutrients it may be missing in your regular daily diet.