Weight Loss Black Ops -- The Blog

The attack on high fructose corn syrup remains full steam ahead.  If you aren't sure about what this substance is, it is added to many products to improve the taste and mask certain flavors. 

It also happens to be one of the fastest absorbing sugar compounds around. 

Fast absorbing sugars = spiked insulin levels = signal to store body fat

In her post on her blog, Julia Havey (Ediets.com's Master Motivator) talks about how representatives in the state of Florida are actually considering a ban on this substance in the school system based on the concern of higher risk of eventual obesity and type II diabetes. 

I wonder what they plan on replacing this substance with.  I'm quite sure the cost will probably rise.  After all, that's one of the "great" things about high fructose corn syrup -- it's super cheap. 

Even though the research is there regarding this compound, I'll be interested to see if the financial trade off is worth it to the state of Florida 

Posted by Brad at 01:47 AM | Permalink

The Quick Weight Loss Bug

Everyone seems to have it.  It seems that many products out there are making this weight loss claim and that weight loss claim.  However, the question I always have to ask is:

What are you actually losing?

Really, think about this for a second.   What type of weight is actually leaving your body?  The problem lies in the fact that the distinction is never made.  Let's be honest, what do the Lose 9 lbs In 11 Days of the world really guarantee.

Is it 9 lbs of body fat?

People are always asking me, "How do I lose weight the quickest?"  

Easy answer:  take a hatchet and chop of your leg.

You get the same results as you would following some of these diets.  Well, if you chop your leg off, you'll actually know what you're losing.  Interesting, huh?

Follow me for a second.

One pound of body fat has the equilvalent of 3500 calories.  Let's say you don't eat a thing for 11 straight days and your body is used to burning roughly 2200 calories per day.  Now if we assume that no muscle will be burned off (which won't happen), over 11 days your body will "burn" 24200 total fat calories.   Dividing out, I get that by starving yourself for 11 days, you will drop 6.9 lbs of body fat.  (In my little made up ideal world)

Now, we know that (1) your body is going to deplete its supply of glycogen in the muscles and liver first.  We also know that 1 gram of glycogen attracts 2.4 grams of water.  With that being said, the loss of 1 gram of glycogen really means a loss of 3.4 grams of total body weight (through excretion) 

Therefore, it's pretty safe to say that most of these "quick weight loss" claims have more to do with the purging of water weight from your system than anything else. 

Of course, we haven't even gotten to the muscle loss.  But, you know what.  This isn't an ideal world and we now have shown that it is impossible to lose 9 lbs of body fat in 11 days without liposuction.  

Our red flags so far:

1.  Any program that promises over 2 lbs per week of weight loss

 (cont'd tomorrow)

Posted by Brad at 11:47 PM | Permalink

In her post on her weight loss blog, Lisa Pietsch describes the Body For Life program by Bill Phillips, essentially trying to recruit other people in her arena to follow her lead.

As far as a motivational lever is concerned, forcing yourself to be accountable to someone else can often make or break a weight loss goal.  Let's be honest with ourselves for a change.  How many "white lies" do we tell ourselves on a day to day basis.  As always, it's important to understand your personal reasons for losing weight before you even embark on the journey.

One of the pros for the Body For Life program comes from the fact that there is a $50,000 grand prize for the people that win.  Now, don't get me wrong, 50 grand can motivate a few people.  However, what if the prize money was individualized, as in, if you hit a certain goal, you get paid.  There would be no competition with others and yourself.  The competition would only be between old you and new you.

One paradox with offering prize money to a select few winners is this:  There are going to be people that will not even give the program a chance just because they "know" that they won't win.  It's almost like reverse motivation.

Again, this just illistrates one more reason that there is no one thing that will motivate every single person.  Now, for Lisa and her crew, the money is more of a secondary goal.  The comraderie of friendship will take their weight loss to the next level. 

Posted by Brad at 01:41 AM | Permalink

Atkins Diet

In a post on my Health Club Secrets Blog, we get a look at the Atkins Diet and some of the misnomers created by the industry.

One of the biggest things that I see on a day to day basis is the fact that many people go "low carb" but think they can eat all of the high protein/high fat foods that they want.  They seem to forget the huge amount of calories that they are consuming.

What a shame.  Breaking the 1st rule of weight loss:

Thou shall't not consume more calories than you burn on a daily basis.

More "low carb" myths on the way.  Stay tuned. 

Posted by Brad at 12:40 AM | Permalink

Choosing the best weight loss diet for you will depend upon a number of factors. Losing weight requires will power, commitment, and a real desire to change your habits. However, these things can be compromised if you choose a diet that is too restrictive, leaving you feeling deprived and open to temptation. To ensure your best chance for successful weight loss, a diet should provide sufficient variety to keep you feeling satisfied, while still cutting back on calories enough to help you shed those unwanted pounds.

While it is possible to lose weight using the many “crash” or “fad” diets that have appeared (and disappeared) over the years, these are generally not your best guarantee of maintaining your ideal weight. Dieting for a short amount of time then returning to your previous habits will almost inevitably see your weight return as well. Since your goal is not only to reach but to stay at your target weight, it is important to make permanent dietary changes in combination with increased physical activity in order to take the weight off, and keep it off.

This means choosing a diet that will remain appealing over time, and sticking with it. Therefore, you should be realistic when evaluating potential diet plans in order to avoid the frustration and disappointment of choosing inappropriately and failing to meet your goals. If you are able to look at weight loss as a long-term objective and are willing to take it gradually, not expecting miraculous changes overnight, your ability to follow through will be enhanced greatly.

 Weight loss should also be looked at as part of your dedication to a healthier lifestyle overall, rather than an end in itself. Maintaining a healthy weight will help you not only look better, but feel better as well. View your diet as a way of taking care of yourself, rather than as a punishment, and this attitude will help take the benefits even further. There are several general guidelines to follow that will help you receive great results from any diet:

-          eat plenty of fruits and vegetables as a low-fat source of variety and nutrition

-          drink plenty of water to keep you hydrated and flush out toxins; this will not only help suppress your appetite, but have innumerable benefits such as maintaining younger looking skin

-          increase your physical activity – once again choosing activities you are likely to repeat. Even gentle forms of activity such as walking, done regularly, will show significant results

-          remember, most foods are not harmful in moderation. Give yourself small treats and discover low calorie alternatives that may reduce the need for heavier choices

Once you start losing weight and feeling great about yourself you will likely even find that the high fat foods you once coveted no longer hold such an appeal. People overeat for many reasons – consider what yours are and take steps to address these underlying issues in order to create the weight and the life you want.

Posted by Brad at 08:01 PM | Permalink

Dieting and Weight Loss

Excess is definitely not just a cosmetic problem. People who are obese are at greater risk of developing health problems like heart disease, diabetes, stroke and more. What is alarming is that the rate of people becoming obese today is reaching epidemic proportions. While we can attribute this trend to numerous factors like a sedentary lifestyle, fast-food chains and overeating – the ultimate reason why obesity exists is because many of us choose to do nothing about it.

The Source of Our Obesity Problems

Obesity becomes an increasingly serious threat as we age. For people over 35, the chances of becoming ill with any disease increases two-fold if you are obese. But the problems for obese people start at a very, very young age. Obese children can get diabetes, high-blood pressure, and liver disorders. Moreover, obesity has been observed to affect the psycho-social well-being of children – with many of those brought to clinics diagnosed with a mild form of depression.

In most cases, obesity is not caused by genes. Rather, it's caused by an improper lifestyle. The prevalence of junk food, high-calorie snacks and fast-food chains contribute much to our problems. Moreover, children and adults are increasingly becoming more sedentary, watching television or playing with video games instead of getting out.

Weight Loss is a Course of Action

There is no doubt about it; obesity is a severe form of weight problems. People should not wait until they are obese before they do something. It is important that they do lose weight. However, to get a cure, you must first know the cause of the ailment. If you are not active enough, then a stringent exercise routine is often prescribed. If you have bad eating habits, then a diet program is what you need. Many times it's a combination of a lot of things, including psychological difficulties.

Dietary programs vary a lot. However, one thing they all have in common is the omission of saturated fat and simple carbohydrates. Overweight people should consult with a nutritionist to ascertain which types of diet programs will work best for them. Try not to emulate diet programs without asking a professional. Most diet programs are custom made. Just because a diet plan worked for someone doesn't mean that it will work for you.

As for exercise, regularity is the key. If you don't have time to go to the gym, purchasing your own equipment and exercising at home will do just fine. The focus is on aerobic workouts because this type of exercise is best for burning calories. Simple activities like walking or jogging are also great for weight loss. The key, however, is doing these activities routinely.

In many weight loss cases, a lifestyle change is most beneficial. Sometimes it is very difficult to break from a habit. The only way to change your habit is to consciously adjust your lifestyle. For instance, purposefully banning high-calorie foods in the house can force you to eat more healthy meals. Enrolling yourself at a health club, on the other hand, can force you to exercise regularly. Remember that discipline and motivation is extremely important to maintaining a weight loss plan.

Posted by Brad at 07:44 PM | Permalink

A Weight Loss Pill Or Not.

Many people attempt to start their weight loss with a weight loss pill or supplement.  They reason that it will help them lose weight faster, with less work.  I must say, that this is farther from the truth that most would believe.

You see, your weight loss goals can be sabotaged by these weight loss pills as they totally undermine your adrenal system.  Most people don't think about it but the fact remains that an overloaded system does just that, it overloads.

Unfortunately, it can take months for your body to return to normal after an adrenal overload.  Even some of the "safe" supplements (like caffeine) can wreak havoc on an unsuspecting individual.

Even the regulated weight loss pills have repercussions.  How many times have you heard of a prescription weight loss pill getting recalled by the FDA.  It happens more than we would even care to admit.

For correct weight loss, the "Mind Over Body Matter" course is perfect for those that haven't or can't reduce their weight.  It involves no weight loss pills or supplements at all and has hundreds of raving testimonials to back it up.

Shouldn't you get started today? 

Posted by Brad at 05:58 AM | Permalink