Besides diet plans, surgery and drugs, consumers have been indulging in a variety of dietary supplements to help lose weight. Over the years, many nutrients, herbs, and supplements have been advocated as aids for weight loss. Of course, none has ever worked. One other dietary supplement that has been hyped up as a weight loss agent is calcium. It is known that calcium does prevent fat accumulation in the laboratory and thus some clinical researchers have been advocating calcium supplements to prevent additional weight and fat.
There are many anecdotal reports about calcium and its ability to induce weight loss. Further, many health firms and vendors of calcium also make exaggerated claims about calcium as a weight loss agent. Up to now, no controlled or randomized studies had been undertaken to look at the effects of calcium on weight loss.
Finally, now there is a randomized study that has investigated the role of dietary calcium in obese individuals. Individuals took close to 1500mg/day of calcium for 2 years and the results were compared to a placebo. The results of this randomized study have just been published in the June issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (Ann Intern Med. 2009; 150:821-829).
At a single clinical center, 340 overweight adults were randomly assigned to receive calcium carbonate or placebo for 2 years. Overweight was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to less than 30 kg/m2 and obese as a BMI of 30 kg/m2or more.
More than ¾ of participants completed the study. The results showed that there was zero difference between calcium and placebo in decreasing fat or inducing weight loss. In fact, calcium did not induce any weight loss.
The researchers concluded that "Dietary supplementation with elemental calcium, 1500 mg/d, for 2 years had no statistically or clinically significant effects on weight in overweight and obese adults," Further it was stated that "Calcium supplementation is unlikely to have clinically significant efficacy as a preventive measure against weight gain in such patients."
Even though the study has a few limitations, the data are clear-cut- Calcium may help prevent osteoporosis but does diddly squat for weight loss.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/704615
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Drugs for weight loss: Part 5
Follow-up therapy
The idea about treating obesity should be understood in the overall context of medical health. Treating obesity means one treats numerous potential risk factors and preventable disease at one time. Obesity is the genesis of a whole lot of other potential problems.
One of the major complaints most individuals have after using drugs to lose weight is that they re-gain the weight once they stop taking the medications. This suggests that further therapy with nutritional and behavioral therapy is essential to help maintain the initial weight loss. The drugs do provide a boost but they are not enough to cure the problem.
After 30 years of trying drug treatment therapy for weight loss, most experts believe that drug therapy alone is not adequate to control the obesity mania. It is unlikely that a perfect magical drug for losing weight will ever be developed and even if the drug is developed, it will not be the magic pill. Diet and exercise will always be the corner store therapy for weight control.
Drugs probably will end up being most beneficial to people who have a genetic propensity to being overweight. The majority of people who are obese today are as a direct consequence of their lifestyle and nothing to do with their genetics. These people better start walking and eating more vegetables.
The history of drugs for weight loss has taught us something- that these drugs have potent side effects and their long term complications are unpredictable. So far, drugs have not had a bigger success and have always come out on the shorter end in comparison to the food industry campaigns of “supersize”.
The last 30 years has seen a major erosion of our life style. We have abundance of food, which is cheap, readily available and the concept of supersize is now ingrained in us. We are always looking at how to make our lives easier with energy saving methods. A sedentary lifestyle is now a major preoccupation of more than 70% of North Americans. Even simple walking around the block has now become a burden for majority of individuals. New drugs may be another treatment for obesity but they will never be a replacement for a drastic change in our life style. Drugs will help lose a few pounds but beyond that, it is going to take a lot of hard work and exercise.
The idea about treating obesity should be understood in the overall context of medical health. Treating obesity means one treats numerous potential risk factors and preventable disease at one time. Obesity is the genesis of a whole lot of other potential problems.
One of the major complaints most individuals have after using drugs to lose weight is that they re-gain the weight once they stop taking the medications. This suggests that further therapy with nutritional and behavioral therapy is essential to help maintain the initial weight loss. The drugs do provide a boost but they are not enough to cure the problem.
After 30 years of trying drug treatment therapy for weight loss, most experts believe that drug therapy alone is not adequate to control the obesity mania. It is unlikely that a perfect magical drug for losing weight will ever be developed and even if the drug is developed, it will not be the magic pill. Diet and exercise will always be the corner store therapy for weight control.
Drugs probably will end up being most beneficial to people who have a genetic propensity to being overweight. The majority of people who are obese today are as a direct consequence of their lifestyle and nothing to do with their genetics. These people better start walking and eating more vegetables.
The history of drugs for weight loss has taught us something- that these drugs have potent side effects and their long term complications are unpredictable. So far, drugs have not had a bigger success and have always come out on the shorter end in comparison to the food industry campaigns of “supersize”.
The last 30 years has seen a major erosion of our life style. We have abundance of food, which is cheap, readily available and the concept of supersize is now ingrained in us. We are always looking at how to make our lives easier with energy saving methods. A sedentary lifestyle is now a major preoccupation of more than 70% of North Americans. Even simple walking around the block has now become a burden for majority of individuals. New drugs may be another treatment for obesity but they will never be a replacement for a drastic change in our life style. Drugs will help lose a few pounds but beyond that, it is going to take a lot of hard work and exercise.
Drugs for weight loss: Part 4
Using other off label drugs
Other unorthodox weight loss experts claim that other not recommended drugs may also help in the weight loss program. These drugs are not approved for use in obesity. These drugs include thyroxin, diuretics and the anti diabetic agent, metformin.
The anti diabetic drug, metformin is an effective weight loss reducing agent and has been used by non diabetic individuals. However, in non diabetic individuals, the drug can cause profound drop in blood sugar and lead to coma. Thus daily blood glucose monitoring is mandatory.
The antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin) has also been associated with weight loss. When the drug is prescribed to patients with depression, weight loss has been a noticeable side effect.
Temporary weight loss can also occur with diuretics and thyroid hormone. However, these drugs have potent side effects but still are frequently abused by athletes and boxers.
Results
There is no doubt that no matter what weight loss drug is prescribed, most patients will initially lose 5-10% of their starting body weight. This is significantly more than any conventional behavior modifying treatments. The most important rule for success is that individuals have to have realistic goals. Setting sights at losing 10-15% of body weight in a year is reasonable but the majority of individuals are unrealistic and loose hope after a few months. For the physicians, it is essential to educate patient on a reasonable amount of weight loss. Physicians who promote 25-50% weight loss in a year are setting up all patients for failure.
Most weight loss experts now feel that it is essential to help patients lose 3-10% of body weight. Results indicate that medications plus aggressive life style changes can produce dramatic results. An important part of that strategy includes educating patients to stay on low-calorie, low-fat maintenance diets and continue to exercise. While losing 3-5% of the body weight may not sound too impressive and may not be the patient’s goal, these results combined with life style changes have shown a significant reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Other unorthodox weight loss experts claim that other not recommended drugs may also help in the weight loss program. These drugs are not approved for use in obesity. These drugs include thyroxin, diuretics and the anti diabetic agent, metformin.
The anti diabetic drug, metformin is an effective weight loss reducing agent and has been used by non diabetic individuals. However, in non diabetic individuals, the drug can cause profound drop in blood sugar and lead to coma. Thus daily blood glucose monitoring is mandatory.
The antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin) has also been associated with weight loss. When the drug is prescribed to patients with depression, weight loss has been a noticeable side effect.
Temporary weight loss can also occur with diuretics and thyroid hormone. However, these drugs have potent side effects but still are frequently abused by athletes and boxers.
Results
There is no doubt that no matter what weight loss drug is prescribed, most patients will initially lose 5-10% of their starting body weight. This is significantly more than any conventional behavior modifying treatments. The most important rule for success is that individuals have to have realistic goals. Setting sights at losing 10-15% of body weight in a year is reasonable but the majority of individuals are unrealistic and loose hope after a few months. For the physicians, it is essential to educate patient on a reasonable amount of weight loss. Physicians who promote 25-50% weight loss in a year are setting up all patients for failure.
Most weight loss experts now feel that it is essential to help patients lose 3-10% of body weight. Results indicate that medications plus aggressive life style changes can produce dramatic results. An important part of that strategy includes educating patients to stay on low-calorie, low-fat maintenance diets and continue to exercise. While losing 3-5% of the body weight may not sound too impressive and may not be the patient’s goal, these results combined with life style changes have shown a significant reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Drugs for weight loss: Part 3
Amphetamines like drug
Some weight loss physicians are returning back to using the amphetamine-like agents which were used in the 1980s. These drugs fell out of favor decades ago because of their potential for abuse and causing physical dependence. Some physicians have been using dextromethorphan in relatively small doses in longer acting forms, closely monitoring patients and having them take the medication consistently every day to reduce the possibility of dependence. The individuals taking these types of drugs require frequent monitoring by the doctor.
Fat-busters
There are many individuals who are obese because they just can’t stop eating. The food craving and the binges are strong and preoccupy the mind. In such cases, another type of drug class may help. These drugs help by preventing the food from getting absorbed in the body and may even bust the fatty food which does manage to get absorbed.
Orlistat (Xenical) is the only medication besides sibutramine that has been approved for long-term weight loss use. This drug acts by preventing the body from absorbing a moderate amount of dietary fat. Weight loss from these drugs usually amounts to about 5% to 10% in four to six months. Both drugs have side effects. Xenical often causes diarrhea, abdominal cramps and loose stools. Some individuals may not tolerate these side effects for too long. The drug can also inhibit the absorption of important vitamins and so additional vitamins are recommended.
To ensure that these drugs work, the individual must adhere strictly to a low fat diet. Eating fatty food and taking these drugs defeats the purpose of these drugs.
Some weight loss physicians are returning back to using the amphetamine-like agents which were used in the 1980s. These drugs fell out of favor decades ago because of their potential for abuse and causing physical dependence. Some physicians have been using dextromethorphan in relatively small doses in longer acting forms, closely monitoring patients and having them take the medication consistently every day to reduce the possibility of dependence. The individuals taking these types of drugs require frequent monitoring by the doctor.
Fat-busters
There are many individuals who are obese because they just can’t stop eating. The food craving and the binges are strong and preoccupy the mind. In such cases, another type of drug class may help. These drugs help by preventing the food from getting absorbed in the body and may even bust the fatty food which does manage to get absorbed.
Orlistat (Xenical) is the only medication besides sibutramine that has been approved for long-term weight loss use. This drug acts by preventing the body from absorbing a moderate amount of dietary fat. Weight loss from these drugs usually amounts to about 5% to 10% in four to six months. Both drugs have side effects. Xenical often causes diarrhea, abdominal cramps and loose stools. Some individuals may not tolerate these side effects for too long. The drug can also inhibit the absorption of important vitamins and so additional vitamins are recommended.
To ensure that these drugs work, the individual must adhere strictly to a low fat diet. Eating fatty food and taking these drugs defeats the purpose of these drugs.
Drugs for weight loss: part 3
Appetite suppressants
Drugs which suppress appetite are the best choice for individual who have strong food cravings and have voracious appetites
The first appetite suppressant was Phentermine which has been available for about 50 years. It acts on the brain feeding enter. Over the years, a number of related drugs have been developed and include Ionamin, adieux and fasten. These drugs are only recommended for short term usage. The major problems with these drugs is that they can cause physical dependence after prolonged use. Other side effects may include an increase in blood pressure, palpitations, dizziness and insomnia. The major problem with these drugs is that they are often prescribed for longer periods without any medical follow up.
Even though the FDA recommends that these drugs not be used for more than 3 months, most weight loss physicians claim that with proper follow-up Phentermine is safe and effective for more prolonged use. To be on the safe side, most physicians get patients to sign a consent form acknowledging that they need to take the drug for longer than 3 months.
Recent anecdotal data suggest that combination of SSRI class of antidepressants like Prozac and Zoloft may be more effective in producing weight loss. However, none of these data have any scientific basis. Other less popular appetite suppressing agents include diethylpropion, phendimetrazine, sibutramine and mazindol.
Acomplia is the first of a new class of drugs that affect signals in the brain that influence appetite. This drug inhibits the appetite center in the brain. As an obesity treatment, Acomplia may be best suited for people who are not only overweight but also have metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a collection of symptoms, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, large waist circumference, obesity and insulin resistance that can lead to diabetes and heart disease without treatment.
Even though controlled clinical studies do show it to be an effective weight loss drug, the drug does have major side effects of concern. Severe depression nausea and vomiting are common. The drug has not been approved by the FDA for use in humans.
Drugs which suppress appetite are the best choice for individual who have strong food cravings and have voracious appetites
The first appetite suppressant was Phentermine which has been available for about 50 years. It acts on the brain feeding enter. Over the years, a number of related drugs have been developed and include Ionamin, adieux and fasten. These drugs are only recommended for short term usage. The major problems with these drugs is that they can cause physical dependence after prolonged use. Other side effects may include an increase in blood pressure, palpitations, dizziness and insomnia. The major problem with these drugs is that they are often prescribed for longer periods without any medical follow up.
Even though the FDA recommends that these drugs not be used for more than 3 months, most weight loss physicians claim that with proper follow-up Phentermine is safe and effective for more prolonged use. To be on the safe side, most physicians get patients to sign a consent form acknowledging that they need to take the drug for longer than 3 months.
Recent anecdotal data suggest that combination of SSRI class of antidepressants like Prozac and Zoloft may be more effective in producing weight loss. However, none of these data have any scientific basis. Other less popular appetite suppressing agents include diethylpropion, phendimetrazine, sibutramine and mazindol.
Acomplia is the first of a new class of drugs that affect signals in the brain that influence appetite. This drug inhibits the appetite center in the brain. As an obesity treatment, Acomplia may be best suited for people who are not only overweight but also have metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a collection of symptoms, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, large waist circumference, obesity and insulin resistance that can lead to diabetes and heart disease without treatment.
Even though controlled clinical studies do show it to be an effective weight loss drug, the drug does have major side effects of concern. Severe depression nausea and vomiting are common. The drug has not been approved by the FDA for use in humans.
Drugs for weight loss: part 2
Brief History
The control of obesity with drugs has been a major struggle for more than 3 decades. All types of drugs have been used in the past to treat obesity.
In the past, thyroid hormone and diuretics were often used inappropriately. Dangerous drugs such as dinitrophenol and amphetamines were prescribed, with serious side effects. With better understanding of obesity in the 1980s, different types of weight loss drugs were manufactured. Drugs like fen-fenn helped individuals continue to maintain their weight loss. However, the drug was associated with serious cardiac side effects and its use has been banned universally.
Since then, two new drugs with different mechanisms of action have been approved for use by the FDA. Sibutramine (Meridia) is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor acts on the appetite center in the brain, and orlistat (Xenical) is a pancreatic lipase inhibitor and inhibits the absorption of fat from the abdomen. However, these drugs do have side effects and their long term complications remain unknown. At present we have a huge gap in our armamentarium to treat obesity.
When does treatment start?
There are various guidelines and most recommend that drug therapy for weight loss should start when an individual has a body mass index (BMI) of > 27 or those who have obesity-related risk factors or co-morbidities, and in obese patients whose life style is severely affected. Under certain circumstances, weight loss drugs may also be effective for other patients. Some physicians also consider using obesity medications to patients with a BMI above 25 who have not responded to a rigorous program combining behavior modification, dietary changes and exercise.
Anti-obesity medications fall into two broad categories based on how they help patients fight fat. One group helps reduce food intake, while the other prevents fat absorption.
The control of obesity with drugs has been a major struggle for more than 3 decades. All types of drugs have been used in the past to treat obesity.
In the past, thyroid hormone and diuretics were often used inappropriately. Dangerous drugs such as dinitrophenol and amphetamines were prescribed, with serious side effects. With better understanding of obesity in the 1980s, different types of weight loss drugs were manufactured. Drugs like fen-fenn helped individuals continue to maintain their weight loss. However, the drug was associated with serious cardiac side effects and its use has been banned universally.
Since then, two new drugs with different mechanisms of action have been approved for use by the FDA. Sibutramine (Meridia) is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor acts on the appetite center in the brain, and orlistat (Xenical) is a pancreatic lipase inhibitor and inhibits the absorption of fat from the abdomen. However, these drugs do have side effects and their long term complications remain unknown. At present we have a huge gap in our armamentarium to treat obesity.
When does treatment start?
There are various guidelines and most recommend that drug therapy for weight loss should start when an individual has a body mass index (BMI) of > 27 or those who have obesity-related risk factors or co-morbidities, and in obese patients whose life style is severely affected. Under certain circumstances, weight loss drugs may also be effective for other patients. Some physicians also consider using obesity medications to patients with a BMI above 25 who have not responded to a rigorous program combining behavior modification, dietary changes and exercise.
Anti-obesity medications fall into two broad categories based on how they help patients fight fat. One group helps reduce food intake, while the other prevents fat absorption.
Drugs for weight loss part 1
Over the last 2 decades, obesity has become endemic in North America and is a major public health issue. It is estimated that more than half of American adults and 10-15% of children are obese. At least a quarter million Americans die each year from obesity related complications. The obesity epidemic is rising exponentially and it is predicted that obesity-related health problems will soon take over tobacco as the nation’s number one leading cause of preventable deaths. It has finally been realized that drastic changes are required to control the obesity epidemic. A newer breed of doctors, known as weight loss experts, has now been brought into the arena of obesity management. And of course when doctors get involved, drugs follow.
One thing that has been acknowledged is that drugs may not be the answer in controlling the obesity epidemic and a change in life style is mandatory. Therefore, along with these weight loss physicians, there has been an explosion of nutritionists, exercise gyms, herbal therapists, psychologists, spiritualists, yogis and a whole host of other experts- all who have been burdened with solving Americas number one health problem. The majority of these so called experts are in the business to make money and Quack therapy is very prevalent in the obesity business.
As Americans continue to increase their waist lines, there has been a resurgence by the pharmaceutical companies to search for the ideal weight loss drug. Many new medications are currently being investigated and a few may be available in the next decade for use. However, there are some problems with drug use in the control of obesity. For the past decade, physicians have been reluctant to use weight loss drugs. This has mostly been due to the side effects and the legal hassles which follow when prescribing these drugs. Today, physicians have only a few drugs to choose from in the battle against the bulge. The FDA has approved two weight loss medications for long-term use—typically a year or more. A few other newer agents have been approved for short term use but this may not be enough to produce the weight loss required.
Despite these concerns, the new breed of weight loss physicians are taking a second look at these drugs in combating the obesity epidemic. It is believed that more that 25% of Americans are now eligible for short term drug treatment for weight loss.
One thing that has been acknowledged is that drugs may not be the answer in controlling the obesity epidemic and a change in life style is mandatory. Therefore, along with these weight loss physicians, there has been an explosion of nutritionists, exercise gyms, herbal therapists, psychologists, spiritualists, yogis and a whole host of other experts- all who have been burdened with solving Americas number one health problem. The majority of these so called experts are in the business to make money and Quack therapy is very prevalent in the obesity business.
As Americans continue to increase their waist lines, there has been a resurgence by the pharmaceutical companies to search for the ideal weight loss drug. Many new medications are currently being investigated and a few may be available in the next decade for use. However, there are some problems with drug use in the control of obesity. For the past decade, physicians have been reluctant to use weight loss drugs. This has mostly been due to the side effects and the legal hassles which follow when prescribing these drugs. Today, physicians have only a few drugs to choose from in the battle against the bulge. The FDA has approved two weight loss medications for long-term use—typically a year or more. A few other newer agents have been approved for short term use but this may not be enough to produce the weight loss required.
Despite these concerns, the new breed of weight loss physicians are taking a second look at these drugs in combating the obesity epidemic. It is believed that more that 25% of Americans are now eligible for short term drug treatment for weight loss.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Weight loss surgery: part 3
There are hundreds of bariatric surgery centers located all over America. Since the surgery is expensive, many surgeons have joined the bandwagon to make money. While there are trained bariatric surgeons around, there are a lot of other surgeons who have very little training in bariatric surgery. The majority are in the field simply to make money. The cost of bariatric surgery is not cheap. On average it can cost anywhere from $14,000-$30,000. In addition, the results are not guaranteed.
Today, there are certain criteria for eligibility to undergo bariatric surgery. Some insurance companies will only pay if you meet these criteria. In general, complications are highest with surgeons who are not trained in bariatric surgery and those who do fewer than 25 cases a year. Do not be fooled by pre and post photos that surgeons show you. Go on cyberspace and get to know the procedure, the surgeon and talk to people who have had the surgery. Bariatric surgery can help make a big difference in your life when things go well, but when things go awry, life will suck big time.
So before you rush to get your surgery, check out your surgeon, ask for his/her credentials, talk to people and get referrals. If ever in doubt, go get a second opinion.
Today, there are certain criteria for eligibility to undergo bariatric surgery. Some insurance companies will only pay if you meet these criteria. In general, complications are highest with surgeons who are not trained in bariatric surgery and those who do fewer than 25 cases a year. Do not be fooled by pre and post photos that surgeons show you. Go on cyberspace and get to know the procedure, the surgeon and talk to people who have had the surgery. Bariatric surgery can help make a big difference in your life when things go well, but when things go awry, life will suck big time.
So before you rush to get your surgery, check out your surgeon, ask for his/her credentials, talk to people and get referrals. If ever in doubt, go get a second opinion.
Weight loss surgery Part 2
Currently bariatric surgery is being hyped up as a panacea for treatment of obesity. Surgery is not new for obesity. It first started in the 60s and has slowly evolved. Bariatric Surgery lost impetus in the 80s and 90s because it was associated with severe complications. Unlike the past, current surgical procedures are more refined, anesthesia is safe and ICU care is outstanding. Still, the benefits of surgery are limited to a few percentage of individuals. What should not be forgotten is that bariatric surgery is also associated with serious complications, many of which can be life threatening.
Almost on a weekly basis, complications of bariatric surgery make the news. Some complications are inevitable, but many are caused by bad surgeons. This is not to say that surgery is not useful, it means that surgery has limitations also.
Many obese patients nevertheless are turning to safer surgical options for weight loss. Most individuals feel that this is the last chance. In some cases surgery has done wonders, but there just as many cases where the initial weight loss after surgery is rapidly gained in a few years.
Almost on a weekly basis, complications of bariatric surgery make the news. Some complications are inevitable, but many are caused by bad surgeons. This is not to say that surgery is not useful, it means that surgery has limitations also.
Many obese patients nevertheless are turning to safer surgical options for weight loss. Most individuals feel that this is the last chance. In some cases surgery has done wonders, but there just as many cases where the initial weight loss after surgery is rapidly gained in a few years.
Surgery for weight loss 101
By now, everyone knows that we have an epidemic of obesity in north America. Obese people are no longer in the minority; they are everywhere and very visible. Obesity is no longer a hidden disorder seen only in rural America. It is everywhere. One can walk down any street in America and there are fat people everywhere. Americans should take heart- obesity is now a global problem. This truly has been one of the most successful exports of North American society. Except for a few countries in Africa, almost every nation is beset with the problem of obesity.
Data from the communicable disease center indicates that about 50 percent of adults and more than 20 percent of children and teenagers are overweight. The real numbers indicate that at least 10% of these adults are morbidly obese. Morbid obesity is currently defined as having at least 100 pounds or more over the recommended body weight.
One should not trivialize obesity, it is not harmless. While it may appear to be physically distressing, obesity is associated with a number of serious medical problems. The majority of obese individuals go on to develop high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, depression, and urinary incontinence.
Obesity today is on par with smoking as public enemy number one. The condition is preventable in the early stages but once started, it is extremely difficult to control. Despite years of intense research, no one can really explain the onset of obesity. Not only are the complications of obesity hard to manage, but we have run out of options on how to prevent/treat it.
Countless therapies have evolved over the past 30 years. There are herbs, potions, lotions, potions, drugs, surgery and even alternative care therapies- they all have one thing in common- high failure rates when it comes to control of obesity.
Data from the communicable disease center indicates that about 50 percent of adults and more than 20 percent of children and teenagers are overweight. The real numbers indicate that at least 10% of these adults are morbidly obese. Morbid obesity is currently defined as having at least 100 pounds or more over the recommended body weight.
One should not trivialize obesity, it is not harmless. While it may appear to be physically distressing, obesity is associated with a number of serious medical problems. The majority of obese individuals go on to develop high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, depression, and urinary incontinence.
Obesity today is on par with smoking as public enemy number one. The condition is preventable in the early stages but once started, it is extremely difficult to control. Despite years of intense research, no one can really explain the onset of obesity. Not only are the complications of obesity hard to manage, but we have run out of options on how to prevent/treat it.
Countless therapies have evolved over the past 30 years. There are herbs, potions, lotions, potions, drugs, surgery and even alternative care therapies- they all have one thing in common- high failure rates when it comes to control of obesity.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Fast Food Diet: Part 2
The book written by Dr Sinatra also contains a few simple healthy recipes. These foods are for the busy mum and can be prepared in less than 15 minutes. Dr Sinatra’s fast food recipes generally average about 1500 calories per day.
And of course being a doctor he does recommend walking, at least a mile a day.
His philosophy is simple, cut down a few calories each day and in a few weeks one can loose weight. Stop eating candies or chocolate- if you feel hungry eat a vegetable or a fruit and then go for walk. Substitute exercise for food. Moreover, if you do this every single day, one can lose 50 pounds in 12 months. Sounds great so far
Moreover, what to the experts say about Dr Sinatra and his fast food diet?
It does not work. How does one not order the yummy fast foods when one walks into a McDonalds? There are not many individuals who goes to a fast food store to eat green salads and a fruit bowl! The menus are very attractive at all fast food stores and everyone adds on at least an apple pie at the end. This is the problem with fast food diet. We all know how great fast food tastes. Therefore when we walk into such a restaurant, we normally cannot control our impulses and always order and eat more than what we had decided upon.
Dr Sinatra’s fast food diet plan makes a lot of sense but is not practical. There is no way one is going to keep off the burgers, ice cream, fries, and milk shakes the moment you are at McDonalds. There are very few testimonials by people who have lost weight using the fast food diet.
Plus, I am not sure when Dr Sinatra last went to a fast food store. Eating one small meal at McDonald’s today costs anywhere from $8-$10. There are no more cheap fast foods. Eating at a fast food restaurant on a regular basis is expensive. In addition, if you have a family to feed, eating out everyday is not practical. With today’s economy, it is considered a luxury.
So the search for the ideal weight loss diet continues.
And of course being a doctor he does recommend walking, at least a mile a day.
His philosophy is simple, cut down a few calories each day and in a few weeks one can loose weight. Stop eating candies or chocolate- if you feel hungry eat a vegetable or a fruit and then go for walk. Substitute exercise for food. Moreover, if you do this every single day, one can lose 50 pounds in 12 months. Sounds great so far
Moreover, what to the experts say about Dr Sinatra and his fast food diet?
It does not work. How does one not order the yummy fast foods when one walks into a McDonalds? There are not many individuals who goes to a fast food store to eat green salads and a fruit bowl! The menus are very attractive at all fast food stores and everyone adds on at least an apple pie at the end. This is the problem with fast food diet. We all know how great fast food tastes. Therefore when we walk into such a restaurant, we normally cannot control our impulses and always order and eat more than what we had decided upon.
Dr Sinatra’s fast food diet plan makes a lot of sense but is not practical. There is no way one is going to keep off the burgers, ice cream, fries, and milk shakes the moment you are at McDonalds. There are very few testimonials by people who have lost weight using the fast food diet.
Plus, I am not sure when Dr Sinatra last went to a fast food store. Eating one small meal at McDonald’s today costs anywhere from $8-$10. There are no more cheap fast foods. Eating at a fast food restaurant on a regular basis is expensive. In addition, if you have a family to feed, eating out everyday is not practical. With today’s economy, it is considered a luxury.
So the search for the ideal weight loss diet continues.
What is the Fast Food diet?
There have been hundreds of diets developed for people wanting to lose weight. While the majority of these diets are restrictive and only allow you to eat breadcrumbs, vegetable and nothing exciting, we now have a diet that allows you to eat your favorite fast food and lose weight.
The fast food diet was written by a doctor who had the common sense to understand that no matter what people say about fast foods, they do taste great. Fast foods are available everywhere, are relatively cheap, fries are crispy and crunchy and the milkshakes beat any home made beverage. It is hard to find any individual who does not like fast foods. Therefore, Dr S Sinatra (no relation to Frank or Nancy) decided to develop his fast food diet that can help people lose weight.
The great thing about Dr Sinatra is that he does appreciate the difficulty with all other weight loss diets and understands what people want to eat. In his book, he does mention that he would prefer everyone eat wholesome healthy grains, vegetables and fruits, but this is unrealistic. So why not adopt a different philosophical approach to weight loss- I agree 100 percent.
So how does the Fast Food Diet work?
When you go to a fast food store, you can order a grilled chicken sandwich, baked potato, fruit salad and a junior burger. You are not allowed to order French fries, no soda beverages and no super sizing. DR Sinatra claims that the fast food diet is healthy because most stores have changed their ingredients and have low fat.
When you order a green salad, order vinaigrette instead of ranch. This will save you calories. Use minimal salad dressing or better still do not order any dressing. Instead of a coke or a Pepsi, get a lemon drink or green tea.
The fast food diet was written by a doctor who had the common sense to understand that no matter what people say about fast foods, they do taste great. Fast foods are available everywhere, are relatively cheap, fries are crispy and crunchy and the milkshakes beat any home made beverage. It is hard to find any individual who does not like fast foods. Therefore, Dr S Sinatra (no relation to Frank or Nancy) decided to develop his fast food diet that can help people lose weight.
The great thing about Dr Sinatra is that he does appreciate the difficulty with all other weight loss diets and understands what people want to eat. In his book, he does mention that he would prefer everyone eat wholesome healthy grains, vegetables and fruits, but this is unrealistic. So why not adopt a different philosophical approach to weight loss- I agree 100 percent.
So how does the Fast Food Diet work?
When you go to a fast food store, you can order a grilled chicken sandwich, baked potato, fruit salad and a junior burger. You are not allowed to order French fries, no soda beverages and no super sizing. DR Sinatra claims that the fast food diet is healthy because most stores have changed their ingredients and have low fat.
When you order a green salad, order vinaigrette instead of ranch. This will save you calories. Use minimal salad dressing or better still do not order any dressing. Instead of a coke or a Pepsi, get a lemon drink or green tea.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Body for life Diet- part 2
The Body for life diet is an enigma. It has less to do with weight loss and more to do with bodybuilding. The book and diet plan place more emphasis on bodybuilding. For most of us- we just want to get rid of a few pounds here and there and could not really care about pumping iron. We have all seen and heard enough about Mr. Schwarzenegger.
The body for life diet plan is all about eating healthy foods and drinking gallons of water. The author even encourages eating mega doses of nutritional supplements from a firm, which is partly owed by the author (this should be a warning to all consumers- recommending a diet plan and then encouraging consumers to buy supplements from his or her store always means one thing-selling junk). All consumers should wonder why there is a need to take supplements when one is eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and nutritious diet.
The body for life diet plan recommends eating non-processed foods. You can eat chicken, turkey, fish (every type) lobster, beef, egg, cheese, every type of carbohydrate and so on.
The bottom line is eating fewer calories and burning more with exercise. At the end of 12 weeks, you have weight loss.
There is not much to criticize about the diet plan. It is sure to appeal to the younger crowd, hyperactive, energetic individuals, and those who want to pursue a body with perfect abs. The one major flaw of body for life diet plan is the amount of exercises required. One cannot spend all day in the gym and no normal person has the time or the inclination to do 1000 push-ups or exercise with a dumbbell 500 times a week. Most overweight people do not even get up to change the TV program if they can’t find the remote-what makes Mr. Phillips think they will lift 300 pounds for 45 minutes 3 times a week?- not a chance.
So what to the experts say about the body for life diet plan? Do not believe everything that Mr. Phillip sells or says. The diet is more geared towards eating a lot and then burning off the calories with intense exercises. There is nothing magical about the diet plan, book, or Mr. Phillips.
For the average person who simply wants to get rid of a few pounds, Mr Phillips body for life isn’t gonna cut it. The diet is simply too good to be true. The diet does not insist on changing behavior on how to eat less. The problem with obesity is within the brain and we all want to know how to suppress the appetite center. Perhaps, Mr. Phillips can maintain a pumped up body with ripping muscles for the rest of life- for me there is only thing that I know is permanent- herpes, if you get it, is for life.
The body for life diet plan is all about eating healthy foods and drinking gallons of water. The author even encourages eating mega doses of nutritional supplements from a firm, which is partly owed by the author (this should be a warning to all consumers- recommending a diet plan and then encouraging consumers to buy supplements from his or her store always means one thing-selling junk). All consumers should wonder why there is a need to take supplements when one is eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and nutritious diet.
The body for life diet plan recommends eating non-processed foods. You can eat chicken, turkey, fish (every type) lobster, beef, egg, cheese, every type of carbohydrate and so on.
The bottom line is eating fewer calories and burning more with exercise. At the end of 12 weeks, you have weight loss.
There is not much to criticize about the diet plan. It is sure to appeal to the younger crowd, hyperactive, energetic individuals, and those who want to pursue a body with perfect abs. The one major flaw of body for life diet plan is the amount of exercises required. One cannot spend all day in the gym and no normal person has the time or the inclination to do 1000 push-ups or exercise with a dumbbell 500 times a week. Most overweight people do not even get up to change the TV program if they can’t find the remote-what makes Mr. Phillips think they will lift 300 pounds for 45 minutes 3 times a week?- not a chance.
So what to the experts say about the body for life diet plan? Do not believe everything that Mr. Phillip sells or says. The diet is more geared towards eating a lot and then burning off the calories with intense exercises. There is nothing magical about the diet plan, book, or Mr. Phillips.
For the average person who simply wants to get rid of a few pounds, Mr Phillips body for life isn’t gonna cut it. The diet is simply too good to be true. The diet does not insist on changing behavior on how to eat less. The problem with obesity is within the brain and we all want to know how to suppress the appetite center. Perhaps, Mr. Phillips can maintain a pumped up body with ripping muscles for the rest of life- for me there is only thing that I know is permanent- herpes, if you get it, is for life.
Body for life Diet
Everyone wants a nice looking body that will last forever. Unfortunately, for the majority of people, having a slim trim body past the age of 30 is a real struggle. However, never fear- another diet plan has been devised to help you maintain your youthful sexy body.
Body for life Diet was developed by Bill Phillips. This diet plan is quite rigorous, involves intense exercise and a healthy approach to diet. The aim of the diet plan is to help you like dieting and exercise. If you adopt the body for life diet plan for just 12 weeks, you are set for life. Sounds unreal but read on.
The body for life diet plan is not for everyone. It involves intense exercise with weight training, aerobics and a varied exercise 6 days a week. Some days you lift weights and other days you do aerobics.
The diet involves eating six small meals for 6 days. All the foods you eat are nutritious, healthy and include the typical vegetables, seafood, and rice. On the 7th day, you take off and can go on a eating and/or drinking binge.
The body for life diet book is all glamour and pumping iron. There are tons of photos of people who all look like Mr and Ms Universe contestants. Everyone has the perfect abs, well-chiseled bodies, glistening skin, pumped up muscles and nice tans.
Body for life Diet was developed by Bill Phillips. This diet plan is quite rigorous, involves intense exercise and a healthy approach to diet. The aim of the diet plan is to help you like dieting and exercise. If you adopt the body for life diet plan for just 12 weeks, you are set for life. Sounds unreal but read on.
The body for life diet plan is not for everyone. It involves intense exercise with weight training, aerobics and a varied exercise 6 days a week. Some days you lift weights and other days you do aerobics.
The diet involves eating six small meals for 6 days. All the foods you eat are nutritious, healthy and include the typical vegetables, seafood, and rice. On the 7th day, you take off and can go on a eating and/or drinking binge.
The body for life diet book is all glamour and pumping iron. There are tons of photos of people who all look like Mr and Ms Universe contestants. Everyone has the perfect abs, well-chiseled bodies, glistening skin, pumped up muscles and nice tans.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Dr Phil's diet- part 2
So what can one eat?
As far as diet is concerned- buy foods that are bulky, difficult to cook and even more difficult to eat- lots of Yams, plantains or cassava- lots of fiber, carbohydrates, and minerals. Do not eat processed food, avoid sugars and drink lots of herbal tea. Moreover, if you are broke and still overweight, drink lots of water.
He recommends eating small portions and avoiding ready-made snacks, as you will definitely over eat. He says foods must be difficult to access and thus, one will not indulge. This will develop a habit of eating less by taking the desire away.
If you love beer, then you are out of luck, because Dr Phil says you cannot touch a drop. Go to the gym instead. Substitute your coca cola with a diet soda or try sex for exercise (now I know why everyone loves Dr Phil!).
Dr Phil has a lot of other positive things to say but above all, he says one should be the master of food. The brain and stomach should be in control of the dieter.
What about the experts- they all say it is great advice, encourages balanced diet, exercise, positive attitude and changing life styles. Dr Phil’s diet approach is gradual so you definitely won’t be on his show at least for a year or two.
As to how many people have used Dr Phil’s diet and lost weight is not known- but I am sure there must be a few. Negative testimonials on Dr Phil’s diet are few- perhaps the diet plan works.
Well, Dr Phil, just one simple question for you!
Rumor has it that Oprah (yes Oprah Winfrey) set you up for success some years ago. You have been on her show and vice versa, you socialize regularly with this million-dollar woman. But please Dr Phil, look at Oprah right now- she is fat (sorry I meant a ted bit chubby)- now if your diet plan is that great, do you not think she would have called you first to help her think positive? I mean you are her buddy and an expert in weight loss and everything else, so why did Oprah ignore you? Instead, she now has a personal trainer and nowhere does it say that Dr Phil was called upon for advice- just something for the weight loss diet affiandos to think about.
Like everything in life, garbage in one ear, out the other.
As far as diet is concerned- buy foods that are bulky, difficult to cook and even more difficult to eat- lots of Yams, plantains or cassava- lots of fiber, carbohydrates, and minerals. Do not eat processed food, avoid sugars and drink lots of herbal tea. Moreover, if you are broke and still overweight, drink lots of water.
He recommends eating small portions and avoiding ready-made snacks, as you will definitely over eat. He says foods must be difficult to access and thus, one will not indulge. This will develop a habit of eating less by taking the desire away.
If you love beer, then you are out of luck, because Dr Phil says you cannot touch a drop. Go to the gym instead. Substitute your coca cola with a diet soda or try sex for exercise (now I know why everyone loves Dr Phil!).
Dr Phil has a lot of other positive things to say but above all, he says one should be the master of food. The brain and stomach should be in control of the dieter.
What about the experts- they all say it is great advice, encourages balanced diet, exercise, positive attitude and changing life styles. Dr Phil’s diet approach is gradual so you definitely won’t be on his show at least for a year or two.
As to how many people have used Dr Phil’s diet and lost weight is not known- but I am sure there must be a few. Negative testimonials on Dr Phil’s diet are few- perhaps the diet plan works.
Well, Dr Phil, just one simple question for you!
Rumor has it that Oprah (yes Oprah Winfrey) set you up for success some years ago. You have been on her show and vice versa, you socialize regularly with this million-dollar woman. But please Dr Phil, look at Oprah right now- she is fat (sorry I meant a ted bit chubby)- now if your diet plan is that great, do you not think she would have called you first to help her think positive? I mean you are her buddy and an expert in weight loss and everything else, so why did Oprah ignore you? Instead, she now has a personal trainer and nowhere does it say that Dr Phil was called upon for advice- just something for the weight loss diet affiandos to think about.
Like everything in life, garbage in one ear, out the other.
Dr Phil’s Weight loss diet- a lot of bull but no action
Everyone who goes on TV to become a talk show host wants to write a book on diet. Oprah wrote a book, Dr Oz has a book, Suzanne Sommers has many books, and now it is the loud mouth, Mr. know it all, Dr Phil who has written a book on diet.
This self-proclaimed psychologist who creeps into peoples homes (remember Brittney) to know if they are crazy, has authored a book on diet. His philosophy is simple- teach your brain to feel and look at life in a positive way; and by changing the inside, the outside can be changed- what a revelation Dr Phil!
The entire diet book by Dr Phil is based on a psychological and behavior approach on how to stop eating. You must take control of your impulses, relieve stress, balance your emotions, leave in peace, and reach out and touch someone (or yourself). Taking care of emotions is the first step to weight loss. Dr Phil also mentions that one should alter their lifestyle, throw out junk food, stop buying pop beverages and sugary foods- flood the kitchen with whole wheat and high fiber foods- few calories but a lot of POOP.
Not all is bad about Dr Phil’s diet plan. He does recommend exercise. This is a must if someone wants to lose weight. He recommends exercise at all costs, join a support group, start walking, jumping -do something.
The diet book is boring. Dr Phil has his usual dull anecdotes and charts. He also encourages all dieters to keep a log of the foods they eat.
This self-proclaimed psychologist who creeps into peoples homes (remember Brittney) to know if they are crazy, has authored a book on diet. His philosophy is simple- teach your brain to feel and look at life in a positive way; and by changing the inside, the outside can be changed- what a revelation Dr Phil!
The entire diet book by Dr Phil is based on a psychological and behavior approach on how to stop eating. You must take control of your impulses, relieve stress, balance your emotions, leave in peace, and reach out and touch someone (or yourself). Taking care of emotions is the first step to weight loss. Dr Phil also mentions that one should alter their lifestyle, throw out junk food, stop buying pop beverages and sugary foods- flood the kitchen with whole wheat and high fiber foods- few calories but a lot of POOP.
Not all is bad about Dr Phil’s diet plan. He does recommend exercise. This is a must if someone wants to lose weight. He recommends exercise at all costs, join a support group, start walking, jumping -do something.
The diet book is boring. Dr Phil has his usual dull anecdotes and charts. He also encourages all dieters to keep a log of the foods they eat.
Detox diets" part 3
So what happens if you start the detox diet?
Dramatic weight loss- at least that is what dealers claim. As far as real facts are concerned- individuals who have tried this detox diet have ended up in emergency rooms with dehydration, headaches, irritability (no kidding), and feeling like crap- but they all lost nearly 10 pounds in weight.
So what do the food experts say about the detox diet? Well, they definitely agree that everyone losses weight- but it is only water and you regain it back on the first day after admission to the hospital. The diets are dangerous, unsafe and a prescription for disaster.
These quick weight loss diets are fads and unsustainable. Junk is what most dieticians call. In certain individuals with diabetes, heart problems, hypertension etc, detox diets can cause serious complications.
The heavy marketing of detox diets gives people false promises- sure people lose weight but it is not the fat- just some water. Unfortunately, there are a lot of gullible people in this world who easily fall prey to such gimmicks.
So far, there is zero evidence that detox diets can help people lose weight. In fact, there is not a single scientific study published to prove what the manufacturers of these diets claim.
Sure people get relief of their headaches and feel energized but this is more from a reaction to starvation rather than the detox diet. If anyone is serious about weight loss, the 10 day detox diets are not the way to go by- unless you have good medical insurance that will cover your recovery in hospital after the diet. By the way that simple blend of water, lemon juice and herbal laxatives can cost anywhere from $30-$60- definitely worth a try just for the experience.
Dramatic weight loss- at least that is what dealers claim. As far as real facts are concerned- individuals who have tried this detox diet have ended up in emergency rooms with dehydration, headaches, irritability (no kidding), and feeling like crap- but they all lost nearly 10 pounds in weight.
So what do the food experts say about the detox diet? Well, they definitely agree that everyone losses weight- but it is only water and you regain it back on the first day after admission to the hospital. The diets are dangerous, unsafe and a prescription for disaster.
These quick weight loss diets are fads and unsustainable. Junk is what most dieticians call. In certain individuals with diabetes, heart problems, hypertension etc, detox diets can cause serious complications.
The heavy marketing of detox diets gives people false promises- sure people lose weight but it is not the fat- just some water. Unfortunately, there are a lot of gullible people in this world who easily fall prey to such gimmicks.
So far, there is zero evidence that detox diets can help people lose weight. In fact, there is not a single scientific study published to prove what the manufacturers of these diets claim.
Sure people get relief of their headaches and feel energized but this is more from a reaction to starvation rather than the detox diet. If anyone is serious about weight loss, the 10 day detox diets are not the way to go by- unless you have good medical insurance that will cover your recovery in hospital after the diet. By the way that simple blend of water, lemon juice and herbal laxatives can cost anywhere from $30-$60- definitely worth a try just for the experience.
Detox diet: part 2
The detox regimen diet is not a one shot deal. For 10 days, you are not allowed to eat solid foods. Just a lot of water and a special blend of chemicals only available at health food stores. Just like coca cola, the detox diet formula is a trade secret but does consist of a lot of water, and ingredients like lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. There are hundreds of such formulations on the market. Each one with something unique and exotic. The theme with all of them is simple- drink 1-2 gallons of this concoction in the morning, a couple of gallon in the afternoon and if you are have finished the after drinking session, another a gallon before bed time, but this time you also get to eat some herbs.
Cyberspace is full of crazy liquid diets and there are hundred of books on the topic. There are even recipe books on detox diets. If you are not satisfied with the detox diets in North America, you can even go to China, India, Bangkok, or even Rumania- there are a lot of nutty people all over who are preoccupied with toxins and enemas.
Cyberspace is full of crazy liquid diets and there are hundred of books on the topic. There are even recipe books on detox diets. If you are not satisfied with the detox diets in North America, you can even go to China, India, Bangkok, or even Rumania- there are a lot of nutty people all over who are preoccupied with toxins and enemas.
Detox diets for weight loss
For some unknown reason many people believe that there are a lot of toxins in our body. Sure, no one would argue that there are toxins in the environment but to what extent we have these poisons in our body is anyone’s guess. There are some rare disorders caused by chemicals and poisons from the environment.
Now a lot of consumers and professionals seem to be blaming toxins for every health problems we have in society. From headaches, depression to constipation- everything is blamed on poisons like mercury, lead, uranium and so on. Now toxins are blamed for weight gain. Toxin mania has gone wild. Everywhere on cyberspace, there are vendors selling detox material, heath pros are offering toxin removal equipment, and the alternative health care workers recommend cleaning the bum (enemas) with some herbal supplements.
The dealers who sell detox products claims that by removing toxins from the body, one can regain youth, clear acne, look young, lose weight and feel great. There are lotions, potions, creams, herbs, liquids and pills to remove toxins. Now we have also have detox liquid diets to help one reduce weight. The detox diets are pretty simple in principle. You either drink the liquid diet and it works like a laxative or you instill the liquid in your bum and let it work like an enema. Once you get rid of poisons from your body, you will be free of all fat and everything else that has been bugging you.
Now a lot of consumers and professionals seem to be blaming toxins for every health problems we have in society. From headaches, depression to constipation- everything is blamed on poisons like mercury, lead, uranium and so on. Now toxins are blamed for weight gain. Toxin mania has gone wild. Everywhere on cyberspace, there are vendors selling detox material, heath pros are offering toxin removal equipment, and the alternative health care workers recommend cleaning the bum (enemas) with some herbal supplements.
The dealers who sell detox products claims that by removing toxins from the body, one can regain youth, clear acne, look young, lose weight and feel great. There are lotions, potions, creams, herbs, liquids and pills to remove toxins. Now we have also have detox liquid diets to help one reduce weight. The detox diets are pretty simple in principle. You either drink the liquid diet and it works like a laxative or you instill the liquid in your bum and let it work like an enema. Once you get rid of poisons from your body, you will be free of all fat and everything else that has been bugging you.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
3 hour Diet plan: Part 3
What do the experts say about Jorge and his 3 hour diet plan?
Hey Jorge, what about exercise,? How can you burn fat or anything for that matter without exercise? Also, Jorge, what if I work and have no time to eat every 3 hours? The experts claim this is all bogus. You simply cannot eat 2000 calories a day, not exercise, and expect to lose weight.
And what about the time of eating? There is zero evidence that shows that eating breakfast at a specific time or eating supper 3 hrs before bedtime does anything. All these times are simply confabulations and bear zero relevance to physiology.
How many of us actually eat a small portion of food at home and wait for another 3 hours? We always fill our plates all the time. Moreover, this is the problem; Jorge’s 3 hr diet plan does not show how it can reduce appetite. We all want to cut down on eating but cannot suppress the urge.
Unfortunately the 3 hr diet plan is written by someone who knows a lot about fitness but little knowledge about human physiology/behavior. For the majority of individuals eating every 3 hours, this only leads to more weight gain rather than weight loss. Perhaps in the 2nd edition of the book, Jorge should change the timing to 4 hr diet- and with each book, there will be more profits.
So what should the consumer do? Please do not buy any more diet books, or better still, write your own. There are a lot of gullible people who believe in nonsense. If you want to lose weight, stop reading diet books, start walking, and eat less.
Hey Jorge, what about exercise,? How can you burn fat or anything for that matter without exercise? Also, Jorge, what if I work and have no time to eat every 3 hours? The experts claim this is all bogus. You simply cannot eat 2000 calories a day, not exercise, and expect to lose weight.
And what about the time of eating? There is zero evidence that shows that eating breakfast at a specific time or eating supper 3 hrs before bedtime does anything. All these times are simply confabulations and bear zero relevance to physiology.
How many of us actually eat a small portion of food at home and wait for another 3 hours? We always fill our plates all the time. Moreover, this is the problem; Jorge’s 3 hr diet plan does not show how it can reduce appetite. We all want to cut down on eating but cannot suppress the urge.
Unfortunately the 3 hr diet plan is written by someone who knows a lot about fitness but little knowledge about human physiology/behavior. For the majority of individuals eating every 3 hours, this only leads to more weight gain rather than weight loss. Perhaps in the 2nd edition of the book, Jorge should change the timing to 4 hr diet- and with each book, there will be more profits.
So what should the consumer do? Please do not buy any more diet books, or better still, write your own. There are a lot of gullible people who believe in nonsense. If you want to lose weight, stop reading diet books, start walking, and eat less.
3 hour Diet Plan: part 2
So let us assume the average American wakes up at 7 am and goes to bed at 11 pm. Therefore, in a space of 16 hours, you will probably eat 4-6 meals and that is about 1800-2400 calories (PS one should know that the average American diet is about 1800 calories). What I like about Jorge is that he also lets you eat chocolates- not the whole bar but just a single smarties every now and then.
Hey Jorge, what about people who do not sleep or can’t sleep (a common problem in our society also)? Should they continue to eat every 3 hours? No answer to this question.
Jorge says that by eating every 3 hours, you avoid hunger pangs, reduce your metabolism, and reset the timer when your body burns fat. Therefore, if you get hungry, the body will first burn your fat and you will lose weight.
So does this 3-hour diet plan work?
Well, cyberspace is full of testimonials. Most people who tried this diet plan started to eat only chocolates. No one mentions any weight loss. Other questions on the blogs included, “is Jorge a member of Scientology” and has he ever met “Tom”?
Hey Jorge, what about people who do not sleep or can’t sleep (a common problem in our society also)? Should they continue to eat every 3 hours? No answer to this question.
Jorge says that by eating every 3 hours, you avoid hunger pangs, reduce your metabolism, and reset the timer when your body burns fat. Therefore, if you get hungry, the body will first burn your fat and you will lose weight.
So does this 3-hour diet plan work?
Well, cyberspace is full of testimonials. Most people who tried this diet plan started to eat only chocolates. No one mentions any weight loss. Other questions on the blogs included, “is Jorge a member of Scientology” and has he ever met “Tom”?
3 hour diet plan- another dumb idea!
One of the best ways to make money is to write a book on weight loss, but not the usual eat less and exercise more book. Have a title like “lose weight in your sleep”, or “lose weight while pooping” or “lose weight instantly”. Along the same lines is a 3-hour diet plan. This diet book was an overnight blockbuster- who does not want to lose weight in 3 hours! Sure beats Jenny Craig diet plan which goes on for years and does not even work.
The 3 hour diet plan was devised by Mr. Jorge Cruise (I believe not related to our Eccentric but handsome Tom Cruise). Jorge is not an actor but a fitness journalist and author of a number of diet plans.
So what is the big deal about this diet plan? For one, you can eat chocolates (yes, Cadburys and Hershey bars). The diet plan is all based on portions and timing, not calories. You have to eat your breakfast within one hour after getting out of bed, eat every three hours for the remainder of the day, and must stop eating 3 hours before bedtime (and I thought Tom Cruise had crazy ideas).
Mr. Jorge Cruise says one must be particular about food portion. There is no such thing as bad or good food- just do not supersize everything. All portions should be about 400 calories. But wait a minute, what exactly is a 400 calorie portion? Well for people who are just starting out in a diet plan, this is 2 bowls of cereal, one toast and half a cup of milk or if you want to skip that, eat two cream crackers, slice of bread, tea, some sugar and milk. Jorge says if you eat the right portion at the right time, you will look trim, slim and feel great.
The 3 hour diet plan was devised by Mr. Jorge Cruise (I believe not related to our Eccentric but handsome Tom Cruise). Jorge is not an actor but a fitness journalist and author of a number of diet plans.
So what is the big deal about this diet plan? For one, you can eat chocolates (yes, Cadburys and Hershey bars). The diet plan is all based on portions and timing, not calories. You have to eat your breakfast within one hour after getting out of bed, eat every three hours for the remainder of the day, and must stop eating 3 hours before bedtime (and I thought Tom Cruise had crazy ideas).
Mr. Jorge Cruise says one must be particular about food portion. There is no such thing as bad or good food- just do not supersize everything. All portions should be about 400 calories. But wait a minute, what exactly is a 400 calorie portion? Well for people who are just starting out in a diet plan, this is 2 bowls of cereal, one toast and half a cup of milk or if you want to skip that, eat two cream crackers, slice of bread, tea, some sugar and milk. Jorge says if you eat the right portion at the right time, you will look trim, slim and feel great.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Hydroxycut update part 2
Does Hydroxycut work?
Well, there is nothing about Hydroxycut that is true. If a Company lies about its clinical evidence, the ingredients and makes up false data, it is very hard to believe anything else the company has to say. Every single claim made by Iovate has been false; there is no clinical evidence that Hydroxycut causes weight loss. There have been many litigations against the company because of false claims. Even the pre and post photos of individuals who took Hydroxycut were fudged. There is no ingredient in Hydroxycut that has been shown to cause weight loss. The core active ingredient of Garcinia cambogia is HCA, which is claimed to burn more calories through thermogenesis. However, all this time the company had never tested the compound. Finally after some patients developed liver damage, it became obvious that the company lied about all its clinical evidence.
Recall
On May 1, 2009, the FDA issued a warning to consumers to stop using all Hydroxycut products, due to reports of liver problems associated with the use of Hydroxycut. There have been at least 23 reported liver problems including the death of a 19-year-old male. Other patients have developed jaundice and varying degrees of liver failure.
Final point
All consumers have to understand that the weight loss industry is full of gimmicks, hazards, toxic substances and above all else, charlatans. Everyone wants to make a quick buck at the expense of patients. So all consumers have to be aware that weight loss ingredients may help you lose weight, but sometimes they can cause irreversible damage to your organs or even take your life. So in the end we live in world where “buyer beware” is warning which should always be well heeded when it comes to health supplements.
Well, there is nothing about Hydroxycut that is true. If a Company lies about its clinical evidence, the ingredients and makes up false data, it is very hard to believe anything else the company has to say. Every single claim made by Iovate has been false; there is no clinical evidence that Hydroxycut causes weight loss. There have been many litigations against the company because of false claims. Even the pre and post photos of individuals who took Hydroxycut were fudged. There is no ingredient in Hydroxycut that has been shown to cause weight loss. The core active ingredient of Garcinia cambogia is HCA, which is claimed to burn more calories through thermogenesis. However, all this time the company had never tested the compound. Finally after some patients developed liver damage, it became obvious that the company lied about all its clinical evidence.
Recall
On May 1, 2009, the FDA issued a warning to consumers to stop using all Hydroxycut products, due to reports of liver problems associated with the use of Hydroxycut. There have been at least 23 reported liver problems including the death of a 19-year-old male. Other patients have developed jaundice and varying degrees of liver failure.
Final point
All consumers have to understand that the weight loss industry is full of gimmicks, hazards, toxic substances and above all else, charlatans. Everyone wants to make a quick buck at the expense of patients. So all consumers have to be aware that weight loss ingredients may help you lose weight, but sometimes they can cause irreversible damage to your organs or even take your life. So in the end we live in world where “buyer beware” is warning which should always be well heeded when it comes to health supplements.
Hydroxycut update
Hydroxycut is a nutritional supplement which has been hyped up to help people lose weight. The product has been around for some years is sold in many health food stores and widely available online. The makers of Hydroxycut, Iovate Health Science claim that Hydroxycut acts like a thermogenic chemical. It can burn fat, increases metabolism and decreases hunger pangs. The primary ingredients in Hydroxycut include garcinia cambogia, gymnema sylvestre, chromium polynicotinate, caffeine, green tea.
No one really knows which ingredient in Hydroxycut is the most important chemical. The vendors of Hydroxycut claim that the supplement can help obese patients lose weight very fast than they would with either diet or exercise. The vendors provide some dubious figures and claim that one can close 15 pounds in just 8 weeks.
Hydroxycut is available in many formulations. Some of these include:
- Pure Hydroxycut
- Caffeine free Hydroxycut for individuals who
are not able to take caffeine
- Hydroxycut 24- this 24 hour weight loss product
releases Hydroxycut in the morning and caffeine
at night (there is no proof that this occurs)
- Hydroxycut for competitive and athletic females
Patient testimonials on cyberspace indicate that the product does not help one lose weight. There are a few patients who claim that they have lost weight but the majority of testimonials are very negative. Many testimonials claim that the company does not give refunds, expects you to buy many supplies and customer service is non-existent. Unfortunately, what is worse is that some unscrupulous doctors have also been promoting this product. Most of these doctors are paid money to talk great about the product and make up fictitious numbers.
As far as randomized clinical studies are concerned, there are none. The only reports of weight loss are those made by vendors of this product.
No one really knows which ingredient in Hydroxycut is the most important chemical. The vendors of Hydroxycut claim that the supplement can help obese patients lose weight very fast than they would with either diet or exercise. The vendors provide some dubious figures and claim that one can close 15 pounds in just 8 weeks.
Hydroxycut is available in many formulations. Some of these include:
- Pure Hydroxycut
- Caffeine free Hydroxycut for individuals who
are not able to take caffeine
- Hydroxycut 24- this 24 hour weight loss product
releases Hydroxycut in the morning and caffeine
at night (there is no proof that this occurs)
- Hydroxycut for competitive and athletic females
Patient testimonials on cyberspace indicate that the product does not help one lose weight. There are a few patients who claim that they have lost weight but the majority of testimonials are very negative. Many testimonials claim that the company does not give refunds, expects you to buy many supplies and customer service is non-existent. Unfortunately, what is worse is that some unscrupulous doctors have also been promoting this product. Most of these doctors are paid money to talk great about the product and make up fictitious numbers.
As far as randomized clinical studies are concerned, there are none. The only reports of weight loss are those made by vendors of this product.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Eat this, Not that Diet- another weight loss diet! part 2
The diet plan also goes one-step further and rates foods in restaurants based on nutritional content. As expected, pizza hut and KFC get an F.
The diet book also grades a few restaurants based on foods served. Again, KFC, Pizza hut, Dominos Pizza, and fast foods chains are ranked at the bottom of scale.
So what does all this mean?
For individuals who love fast foods, pizza, burgers, French fries, cheese cake, etc- this is not the diet plan for you. All junk foods are given an F rating. For those who are seriously interested in losing weight, then perhaps one should read a few pages of the book online (never rush and buy a diet book- most end up in the trash or as firewood).
The foods that can be eaten include blueberries, black beans, spinach, yogurt, tomatoes, carrots, oats, and walnuts. The book goes go into more details about these foods and their calorie content. The aim of Eat This, Not That diet book is to tell you that pizza is bad; oats and grains are great (how many times have you heard this before!).
Eating healthy is what this diet plan is all about. Sticking to the diet plan will not only help you lose weight but you sure will get to know calorie content of all foods in the world and which restaurants to avoid.
For those people who already healthy, this book is not worth buying or even opening. There is lots of free nutritional advice on cyberspace. For those who are into fast foods, it is very unlikely anyone will get past the first page because the book is dry. Who cares if flaxseed has 2 calories or whole grains contain 10 calories.
There is nothing exciting about the diet plan. By now, every single soul on earth knows that greens are better than meat, sugars are bad, and exercise is good. Why write another book on such mundane, dull, dry stuff that can make one lose their libido as well. What people want to know is how to cut down on calories, not what they can eat, and where they can shop for healthy foods.
There is enough literature on cyberspace about diet and calories, why someone would buy a book with a list of foods and their calorie content is beyond explanation. This book is only good as a gift for someone you want to torture.
We are going though the economic times and spending money on a book that tells you that sugars are bad is simply not on the menu.
The diet book also grades a few restaurants based on foods served. Again, KFC, Pizza hut, Dominos Pizza, and fast foods chains are ranked at the bottom of scale.
So what does all this mean?
For individuals who love fast foods, pizza, burgers, French fries, cheese cake, etc- this is not the diet plan for you. All junk foods are given an F rating. For those who are seriously interested in losing weight, then perhaps one should read a few pages of the book online (never rush and buy a diet book- most end up in the trash or as firewood).
The foods that can be eaten include blueberries, black beans, spinach, yogurt, tomatoes, carrots, oats, and walnuts. The book goes go into more details about these foods and their calorie content. The aim of Eat This, Not That diet book is to tell you that pizza is bad; oats and grains are great (how many times have you heard this before!).
Eating healthy is what this diet plan is all about. Sticking to the diet plan will not only help you lose weight but you sure will get to know calorie content of all foods in the world and which restaurants to avoid.
For those people who already healthy, this book is not worth buying or even opening. There is lots of free nutritional advice on cyberspace. For those who are into fast foods, it is very unlikely anyone will get past the first page because the book is dry. Who cares if flaxseed has 2 calories or whole grains contain 10 calories.
There is nothing exciting about the diet plan. By now, every single soul on earth knows that greens are better than meat, sugars are bad, and exercise is good. Why write another book on such mundane, dull, dry stuff that can make one lose their libido as well. What people want to know is how to cut down on calories, not what they can eat, and where they can shop for healthy foods.
There is enough literature on cyberspace about diet and calories, why someone would buy a book with a list of foods and their calorie content is beyond explanation. This book is only good as a gift for someone you want to torture.
We are going though the economic times and spending money on a book that tells you that sugars are bad is simply not on the menu.
Eat this, Not that Diet- another weight loss diet!
Eat this, Not that Diet Book was authored to help overweight men lose weight and also encourage healthy eating. Unlike women, men are not picky, fussy, finicky or moody eaters- most men eat everything. Further, men do not read labels either at home or when shopping; they do not look at calorie content and they do not even look at the price. Calorie counting has never been for men.
Eat this, not that Diet plan promises the consumer that by watching or counting calories, one can lose weight. The overall aim of the diet plan is to help one make smart choices when selecting foods. For example, you know the concept of Super size and so you should avoid gong to fast food joints that offer this type of menu. Instead of a Big Mc you have to start eating a tiny weenie hot dog, with no mayonnaise, no ketchup, and just a few French fries- and this is how the Eat this, not that diet works.
Eat this, Not that Diet plan was developed by David Zinczenko. The book has a comprehensive list of foods that you cannot eat and a small list of foods that you can eat. Along side each food, the calorie content is listed. So for example, when you go to the Taj Mahal at Trump’s Hotel in Las Vegas, you look at the menu and then open the Diet plan booklet. Before you order, check in the book to see what the calorie count is of a Samosa or a Kebab. If one Kebab is 600 calories, then that will be your snack, dinner, and dessert.
For those who have never read labels and calorie content, this book will reveal frightening statistics. Ordering a Lonestar, 16 oz T-bone steak is a whopping 1500 calories and this does not include mushrooms, potatoes, mayonnaise, or the side dish. For those who vacation down-under, Aussie Cheese only contains 2900 calories. So for most people, Eat this, Not that diet plan either works or it does not. In most cases, it does not.
Eat this, not that Diet plan promises the consumer that by watching or counting calories, one can lose weight. The overall aim of the diet plan is to help one make smart choices when selecting foods. For example, you know the concept of Super size and so you should avoid gong to fast food joints that offer this type of menu. Instead of a Big Mc you have to start eating a tiny weenie hot dog, with no mayonnaise, no ketchup, and just a few French fries- and this is how the Eat this, not that diet works.
Eat this, Not that Diet plan was developed by David Zinczenko. The book has a comprehensive list of foods that you cannot eat and a small list of foods that you can eat. Along side each food, the calorie content is listed. So for example, when you go to the Taj Mahal at Trump’s Hotel in Las Vegas, you look at the menu and then open the Diet plan booklet. Before you order, check in the book to see what the calorie count is of a Samosa or a Kebab. If one Kebab is 600 calories, then that will be your snack, dinner, and dessert.
For those who have never read labels and calorie content, this book will reveal frightening statistics. Ordering a Lonestar, 16 oz T-bone steak is a whopping 1500 calories and this does not include mushrooms, potatoes, mayonnaise, or the side dish. For those who vacation down-under, Aussie Cheese only contains 2900 calories. So for most people, Eat this, Not that diet plan either works or it does not. In most cases, it does not.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Fat Smash diet- works for Celebs! Part 3
The food experts claim that this is a good diet and the book has a lot of excellent practical advice.
The one minor negative about this diet is that it does not indicate how one remains motivated in maintaining the diet. Further, not many obese individuals can immediately start off with heavy intense exercises!
As far as testimonials are concerned, just look at the celebs and their bodies. If they can do it, you can also do it.
Overall, the fat smash diet is good for an overweight individual looking for a near perfect diet to help lose weight. In addition, those individuals who eat junk or fast foods and want to lose weight may also find the diet helpful. Those individuals who already exercise and eat healthy, will not be helped by either the diet or book. For those who do not want to exercise nor want to lose weight, they can continue to watch TV.
The one minor negative about this diet is that it does not indicate how one remains motivated in maintaining the diet. Further, not many obese individuals can immediately start off with heavy intense exercises!
As far as testimonials are concerned, just look at the celebs and their bodies. If they can do it, you can also do it.
Overall, the fat smash diet is good for an overweight individual looking for a near perfect diet to help lose weight. In addition, those individuals who eat junk or fast foods and want to lose weight may also find the diet helpful. Those individuals who already exercise and eat healthy, will not be helped by either the diet or book. For those who do not want to exercise nor want to lose weight, they can continue to watch TV.
Fat Smash diet- works for Celebs! Part 2
The first part of the diet or phase 1 is a nine day “detox” period which essentially cleanses the body of all toxins and helps you improve your eating habits. One is encouraged to eat small meals and drink lots of fluids. Abstaining from foods is not recommended.
In the 2nd phase, which lasts 3 weeks, one can consume a variety of foods and also drink different beverages
In the 3rd phase, which lasts 4 weeks, one adds more food to the diet plan thus bringing on more variety. In this stage, one can eat Pasta, bread and even a small dessert is allowed.
In phase 4, which is like a life time maintenance phase, one can even drink beer or wine.
After 90 days, the author claims that you develop a better idea of foods you can eat and how you can adjust. Each phase is an improvement and dieters look forward to the next phase because the menu changes and choices of the foods are much more palatable.
The types of food allowed include fruits, vegetables, sea food, rice, whole grains, yogurt, soy protein, egg white, beverages and even alcohol. The foods do vary during each phase but generally tastier foods are slowly added to the diet with time.
An added bonus about the diet is that it encourages plenty of exercise. Besides aerobics, one is encouraged to participate in muscle strengthening exercises. The author does not mention if walking can substitute for strength exercises.
In the 2nd phase, which lasts 3 weeks, one can consume a variety of foods and also drink different beverages
In the 3rd phase, which lasts 4 weeks, one adds more food to the diet plan thus bringing on more variety. In this stage, one can eat Pasta, bread and even a small dessert is allowed.
In phase 4, which is like a life time maintenance phase, one can even drink beer or wine.
After 90 days, the author claims that you develop a better idea of foods you can eat and how you can adjust. Each phase is an improvement and dieters look forward to the next phase because the menu changes and choices of the foods are much more palatable.
The types of food allowed include fruits, vegetables, sea food, rice, whole grains, yogurt, soy protein, egg white, beverages and even alcohol. The foods do vary during each phase but generally tastier foods are slowly added to the diet with time.
An added bonus about the diet is that it encourages plenty of exercise. Besides aerobics, one is encouraged to participate in muscle strengthening exercises. The author does not mention if walking can substitute for strength exercises.
Fat Smash diet- works for Celebs!
How come celebs always have great figures, look sexy and young? What is their secret? Well, for one thing celebs do work hard and put in a lot of effort. Celebs get paid to look good; they regularly work out, eat less and avoid unhealthy diets- do not think for one minute that Celebs are born with good skin or physique. Looking good requires a lot of work. Here is a secret diet used most often by Hollywood personalities- the fat smash diet.
This diet may sound like a rapid weight loss program but it is anything other than that. Fat smash diet requires making a significant change in lifestyle and heavily focuses on healthy eating. The authors of fat smash diet recommend a lot of exercise and eating nutritious food. Overall, the fat smash diet is decent because it offers a variety of low calorie foods and there are also tips which help one manage unhealthy eating habits. The fat smash diet is a good approach to weight loss. The diet plan is simple, easy to follow, realistic and is a relatively painless way to lose weight.
The reports of weight loss are anecdotal. The author claims that most individuals lose at least 6-8 pounds over 2-3 months. The Fat smash diet is a 90 day program and divided into four phases. Unlike other diets, one does not count calories.
This diet may sound like a rapid weight loss program but it is anything other than that. Fat smash diet requires making a significant change in lifestyle and heavily focuses on healthy eating. The authors of fat smash diet recommend a lot of exercise and eating nutritious food. Overall, the fat smash diet is decent because it offers a variety of low calorie foods and there are also tips which help one manage unhealthy eating habits. The fat smash diet is a good approach to weight loss. The diet plan is simple, easy to follow, realistic and is a relatively painless way to lose weight.
The reports of weight loss are anecdotal. The author claims that most individuals lose at least 6-8 pounds over 2-3 months. The Fat smash diet is a 90 day program and divided into four phases. Unlike other diets, one does not count calories.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Surgery for weight loss part 2
Both Medicare and many medical insurance companies have even more stringent criteria for individuals who wish to undergo surgery. These include meeting the following requirement:
- Individual with a body weight more than 100%
above ideal body weight
- Individual who has one or more obesity related
co morbidities including diabetes, hypertension,
urinary incontinence, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea.
- Failure to lose weight after undergoing a
medically supervised weight loss program
These criteria are simply guidelines and the ultimate judgment on who can undergo weight loss surgery belongs to the surgeon. In each and every case, the individual is told about potential complications and possible benefits. All individuals who attempt to undergo surgery for weight loss must be realistic, be able to comprehend what is at stake and remain committed to an exercise program.
Of course, not everyone can undergo surgery. There are some individuals who should not undergo bariatric surgery. These include the following individuals:
- Those with a mental health problems like a
psychotic illness, e.g. schizophrenia
- Those who have an active substance abuse problem
- Those who have shown to be non compliant with
following instructions or taking their medications
- Who have other psychiatric conditions, including
borderline personality disorder
- With uncontrolled depression which has been difficult
to treat with drugs
- Who are at high risk of heart disease
Bariatric surgery is no piece of cake. While one can have the best surgeon, the patient must also play an important role in the process. Besides simply eating less and exercising more, one also needs to change one’s lifestyle. This means having to sacrifice friends, family and a lot of food.
- Individual with a body weight more than 100%
above ideal body weight
- Individual who has one or more obesity related
co morbidities including diabetes, hypertension,
urinary incontinence, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea.
- Failure to lose weight after undergoing a
medically supervised weight loss program
These criteria are simply guidelines and the ultimate judgment on who can undergo weight loss surgery belongs to the surgeon. In each and every case, the individual is told about potential complications and possible benefits. All individuals who attempt to undergo surgery for weight loss must be realistic, be able to comprehend what is at stake and remain committed to an exercise program.
Of course, not everyone can undergo surgery. There are some individuals who should not undergo bariatric surgery. These include the following individuals:
- Those with a mental health problems like a
psychotic illness, e.g. schizophrenia
- Those who have an active substance abuse problem
- Those who have shown to be non compliant with
following instructions or taking their medications
- Who have other psychiatric conditions, including
borderline personality disorder
- With uncontrolled depression which has been difficult
to treat with drugs
- Who are at high risk of heart disease
Bariatric surgery is no piece of cake. While one can have the best surgeon, the patient must also play an important role in the process. Besides simply eating less and exercising more, one also needs to change one’s lifestyle. This means having to sacrifice friends, family and a lot of food.
Surgery for weight loss
Many obese individuals have it rough and wish they could lose weight fast. Many individuals would like to have bariatric surgery but often feel afraid (sure, cannot blame anyone- Who is not afraid of surgeons?). Complications of bariatric surgery are plentiful on cyberspace. Many people who have undergone weight loss surgery, but success is never guaranteed. Sometimes it is the individual who has unrealistic expectations and other times it is the surgeon hyping up the treatment.
In any case, surgery for weight loss today is more refined and generally safe. Many newer minimally invasive procedures have been developed which means less time mucking around with surgery, less risk of anesthesia and no large incisions. Surgery is much superior to drugs when it comes to weight loss. However, not everyone can undergo weight loss surgery. Obese patients are always at risk for complications when they undergo any type of surgery. Over the years, certain criteria have been developed to ensure both patient safety by selecting the right patient.
Candidate for bariatric surgery
The surgeons do agree that just looking at an obese patient is not adequate to determine his/her eligibility for weight loss surgery. The current guidelines in North America for selecting patients for weight loss surgery include the following:
- Individuals who have failed to lose weight
with drug therapy. The drug therapy should
have been tried out for at least 3-6 months
- Individuals who have failed to lose weight
after enrolling in an intense exercise program
of more than 12 month duration
- Individuals who have a BMI in excess of 40 kg/m2
- Individuals with a BMI between 35 and 40 kg/m2
and also have on or more co morbid conditions.
This may be uncontrolled diabetes, arthritis,
poor life style or bed ridden.
In any case, surgery for weight loss today is more refined and generally safe. Many newer minimally invasive procedures have been developed which means less time mucking around with surgery, less risk of anesthesia and no large incisions. Surgery is much superior to drugs when it comes to weight loss. However, not everyone can undergo weight loss surgery. Obese patients are always at risk for complications when they undergo any type of surgery. Over the years, certain criteria have been developed to ensure both patient safety by selecting the right patient.
Candidate for bariatric surgery
The surgeons do agree that just looking at an obese patient is not adequate to determine his/her eligibility for weight loss surgery. The current guidelines in North America for selecting patients for weight loss surgery include the following:
- Individuals who have failed to lose weight
with drug therapy. The drug therapy should
have been tried out for at least 3-6 months
- Individuals who have failed to lose weight
after enrolling in an intense exercise program
of more than 12 month duration
- Individuals who have a BMI in excess of 40 kg/m2
- Individuals with a BMI between 35 and 40 kg/m2
and also have on or more co morbid conditions.
This may be uncontrolled diabetes, arthritis,
poor life style or bed ridden.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The hallelujah Diet- Part 2
So how does the diet work?
When you get up, breakfast is whole grains and alfalfa juice (for those who have never had alfalfa juice, this is a treat). Snack in the morning is more vegetable juice or any vegetable. Lunch is more grains and greens. Dinner is more greens, more alfalfa juice, perhaps pasta, or a baked potato (after looking at the ingredients, I wonder why the reverend did not call it the Rabbit Diet?)
Is there anything you cannot eat on this diet? If there is anything not mentioned above, you can’t eat. No sugar, no processed foods, no hamburger, no hot coffee, no tea, no candy, NOPE nothing. The diet is all extreme vegetarian.
So what do the food experts say about the diet? Dr Reverend’s diets lack almost all essential nutrients, minerals, and proteins. But wait, Dr Reverend did say all those extras can be bought at his store! However, the food experts are not impressed. The diet is very simple. Wake up in the morning, go outside, and eat grass (perhaps an orange to cheer you up). This is what the diet is all about. The Reverend does mention that this is the Diet God wanted him to create. But Reverend, did God ask you to open a health food store and sell crap to your parishioners?-No answer.
The website is also a gimmick. Everything the Reverend and his wife sell has exorbitant claims. Alfalfa will clean your bowel, make you smart and strong, help you lose weight and so on- nothing different compared to all other weight loss diet programs.
The food experts say this is a terrible diet and gives God a bad name. It lacks everything essential for a human to survive. Humans are omnivores and need meat sometimes. If God has wanted us to eat grass all day, surely he would have made us into cows or goats?
So in ending, the diet is dull, there is no motivation and neither is it safe. If it is not safe for healthy people, it is hard to recommend the diet to children, the sick or pregnant women.
For all of you still wanting to lose weight, please seek help from a dietician or a nutritionist. When one has a medical problem, we go to a health care professional not a car mechanic. Please Reverend, your job is to sell heaven, not help us lose weight- give us a break.
When you get up, breakfast is whole grains and alfalfa juice (for those who have never had alfalfa juice, this is a treat). Snack in the morning is more vegetable juice or any vegetable. Lunch is more grains and greens. Dinner is more greens, more alfalfa juice, perhaps pasta, or a baked potato (after looking at the ingredients, I wonder why the reverend did not call it the Rabbit Diet?)
Is there anything you cannot eat on this diet? If there is anything not mentioned above, you can’t eat. No sugar, no processed foods, no hamburger, no hot coffee, no tea, no candy, NOPE nothing. The diet is all extreme vegetarian.
So what do the food experts say about the diet? Dr Reverend’s diets lack almost all essential nutrients, minerals, and proteins. But wait, Dr Reverend did say all those extras can be bought at his store! However, the food experts are not impressed. The diet is very simple. Wake up in the morning, go outside, and eat grass (perhaps an orange to cheer you up). This is what the diet is all about. The Reverend does mention that this is the Diet God wanted him to create. But Reverend, did God ask you to open a health food store and sell crap to your parishioners?-No answer.
The website is also a gimmick. Everything the Reverend and his wife sell has exorbitant claims. Alfalfa will clean your bowel, make you smart and strong, help you lose weight and so on- nothing different compared to all other weight loss diet programs.
The food experts say this is a terrible diet and gives God a bad name. It lacks everything essential for a human to survive. Humans are omnivores and need meat sometimes. If God has wanted us to eat grass all day, surely he would have made us into cows or goats?
So in ending, the diet is dull, there is no motivation and neither is it safe. If it is not safe for healthy people, it is hard to recommend the diet to children, the sick or pregnant women.
For all of you still wanting to lose weight, please seek help from a dietician or a nutritionist. When one has a medical problem, we go to a health care professional not a car mechanic. Please Reverend, your job is to sell heaven, not help us lose weight- give us a break.
The hallelujah Diet
For a while, it appeared that only the medical establishment was aware of obesity and the problems it causes to health. Well this has all changed in the last few years. There are some preachers who also noticed that their obese parishioners have been bursting pews in church. One of these preachers is Reverend Malkmus. Therefore, Reverend Malkmus and his wife Rhonda wanted to do a good deed for the community and came up a diet book. These two faithful disciples claim that the book was written as per God’s instructions. The book is appropriately called the hallelujah diet.
The hallelujah diet is all about raw foods. On this diet one cannot eat more than 15% processed or cooked foods- this means no hot dogs, corn dogs or French fries. Reverend Malkmus says that the diet is based on foods that man ate when they used to live in caves. In 4000 BC, man ate every thing raw because there were no McDonalds or Kentucky fried chicken. The Reverend also claims that in those days man did not get fat and the church pews never got damaged.
Even though the diet has a lot of bulk, it is very low in calories. It is practically impossible to put on any weight with this diet because the choice of foods is very limited. The foods are basically plants combined with various juices. In fact, there is more juice in this diet than any solids. Reverend Malkmus strongly believes that juices can help revitalize the body and remove all the toxins (I wonder why he did not call it the juice diet- perhaps there is another book coming out?).
Reverend Malkmus also strongly recommends health supplement foods like vitamins, aromatic oils, and digestive enzymes. These substances can help digest food and help clean the bowels. The great thing about these foods is that one can get them at church. Rev. Malkmus and his wife run a big health food supplement store and will even deliver. During each congregation, the Reverend does make it a point for worshippers to know about his website and what he sells. Moreover, there are flyers all over the place on what supplements are on sale.
Reverend Malkmus also recommends some type of exercise with this diet- at least 30 minutes of going outside- preferably walking rather than sitting. He and his wife believe that a good dose of sunshine is great for the soul.
The hallelujah diet is all about raw foods. On this diet one cannot eat more than 15% processed or cooked foods- this means no hot dogs, corn dogs or French fries. Reverend Malkmus says that the diet is based on foods that man ate when they used to live in caves. In 4000 BC, man ate every thing raw because there were no McDonalds or Kentucky fried chicken. The Reverend also claims that in those days man did not get fat and the church pews never got damaged.
Even though the diet has a lot of bulk, it is very low in calories. It is practically impossible to put on any weight with this diet because the choice of foods is very limited. The foods are basically plants combined with various juices. In fact, there is more juice in this diet than any solids. Reverend Malkmus strongly believes that juices can help revitalize the body and remove all the toxins (I wonder why he did not call it the juice diet- perhaps there is another book coming out?).
Reverend Malkmus also strongly recommends health supplement foods like vitamins, aromatic oils, and digestive enzymes. These substances can help digest food and help clean the bowels. The great thing about these foods is that one can get them at church. Rev. Malkmus and his wife run a big health food supplement store and will even deliver. During each congregation, the Reverend does make it a point for worshippers to know about his website and what he sells. Moreover, there are flyers all over the place on what supplements are on sale.
Reverend Malkmus also recommends some type of exercise with this diet- at least 30 minutes of going outside- preferably walking rather than sitting. He and his wife believe that a good dose of sunshine is great for the soul.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Weight loss pills & Scams Part 2
The spiking of herbal products and dietary supplements with prescription drugs is nothing new. Many food spices from India and China have been known to be diluted with flour and colored with dye. Just recently there was the melamine scare from China. A number of health supplements have been spiked with anabolic steroids. The health food supplement industry has gone out of control. Every single day there is a new store on cyberspace and the majority of people who run this business have no morals. All they want is your money.
The other problem with these dietary supplements is that many products are fakes and contain numerous contaminants. Other drugs that have been found inside dietary supplement include blood thinners, Phenytoin (anti seizure drug) and even banned prescription drugs.
There is no harm in losing weight but one has to be aware of the health food supplement industry. While you may lose 20 pounds of your waist, but there is a chance you may also end up losing your brain or have a heart attack (many babies in China lost their kidneys from melamine spiked in real milk).
For the individuals who rely on health food supplements to augment weight loss, read about what you buy, check out the product, understand ingredients on the label, and avoid stores which hype up their products with wild claims. As a health care professional I have encountered many “Fictitious” claims made by the vendors of weight loss nutrients and supplements. The market for weight loss is huge and every one wants to make money.
One can never tell which herbal store is selling legit or harmful products. Many people have turned to cyberspace to buy their health or weight loss supplements. In fact this is where the problem starts. Cyberspace is an illusion with a lot of mysterious people lurking behind. These individuals are con men, criminals, charlatans and will give you false hopes with evil intentions. In fact cyberspace is the last place one should ever buy health based items. There are thousands of people who have disappointing stories about their cyberspace experience and weight loss supplements. So be a wise consumer. Times are tough and protect your hard earned money.
Rather than relying on health food supplements or weight loss pills, start the process of losing weight at home. Save your hard earned money to buy something for you or your family- do not just throw it away. Start by walking a little and eat less. Sure, this is not romantic or exciting, but rest assured this method is safe, cheap and will get you the desired results if you persist and remain motivated.
The other problem with these dietary supplements is that many products are fakes and contain numerous contaminants. Other drugs that have been found inside dietary supplement include blood thinners, Phenytoin (anti seizure drug) and even banned prescription drugs.
There is no harm in losing weight but one has to be aware of the health food supplement industry. While you may lose 20 pounds of your waist, but there is a chance you may also end up losing your brain or have a heart attack (many babies in China lost their kidneys from melamine spiked in real milk).
For the individuals who rely on health food supplements to augment weight loss, read about what you buy, check out the product, understand ingredients on the label, and avoid stores which hype up their products with wild claims. As a health care professional I have encountered many “Fictitious” claims made by the vendors of weight loss nutrients and supplements. The market for weight loss is huge and every one wants to make money.
One can never tell which herbal store is selling legit or harmful products. Many people have turned to cyberspace to buy their health or weight loss supplements. In fact this is where the problem starts. Cyberspace is an illusion with a lot of mysterious people lurking behind. These individuals are con men, criminals, charlatans and will give you false hopes with evil intentions. In fact cyberspace is the last place one should ever buy health based items. There are thousands of people who have disappointing stories about their cyberspace experience and weight loss supplements. So be a wise consumer. Times are tough and protect your hard earned money.
Rather than relying on health food supplements or weight loss pills, start the process of losing weight at home. Save your hard earned money to buy something for you or your family- do not just throw it away. Start by walking a little and eat less. Sure, this is not romantic or exciting, but rest assured this method is safe, cheap and will get you the desired results if you persist and remain motivated.
Weight loss pills & Scams
In the last few months, the FDA has finally gotten tough on health food supplement industry and those who promote weight loss. There are many vendors of health food supplements who flood cyberspace with false ads about weight loss. The majority (>99%) of pills , herbs, nutrients, minerals, and foods sold in health food stores for weight loss have one common theme- fake. The majority of these so called weight loss pills are made by one manufacturer and then sold under different brand names to unsuspecting consumers.
The entire health food supplement industry is unregulated. People are selling more crap than ever before. You can buy the same weight loss pill in 4 different formulations and each will have a different concentration of the supplement. There is zero quality and to avoid FDA regulations, many of these unscrupulous vendors sell active drugs as food supplements. The problem gets worse because recently, a number of Chinese weight loss herbs were found to contain actual pharmaceutical drugs. Sibutramine has been often been found in more than one of these weight loss products.
The FDA has been randomly checking these weight loss pills and herbs and found them to be fakes or counterfeit in the majority of cases
The following products sold as dietary supplements have been known to contain active pharmaceutical drugs. The supplements include the following:
Fatloss slimming
2 day diet
3 x slimming power
24 hour diet
7 day herbal slim
8 factor diet
Extrim plus
GMP
Medal Perfect slim
Lid Daidaihua
Perfect slim
Phyto shape
Proslim Plus
Zhen de Shou
Venom Hyperdrive
The entire health food supplement industry is unregulated. People are selling more crap than ever before. You can buy the same weight loss pill in 4 different formulations and each will have a different concentration of the supplement. There is zero quality and to avoid FDA regulations, many of these unscrupulous vendors sell active drugs as food supplements. The problem gets worse because recently, a number of Chinese weight loss herbs were found to contain actual pharmaceutical drugs. Sibutramine has been often been found in more than one of these weight loss products.
The FDA has been randomly checking these weight loss pills and herbs and found them to be fakes or counterfeit in the majority of cases
The following products sold as dietary supplements have been known to contain active pharmaceutical drugs. The supplements include the following:
Fatloss slimming
2 day diet
3 x slimming power
24 hour diet
7 day herbal slim
8 factor diet
Extrim plus
GMP
Medal Perfect slim
Lid Daidaihua
Perfect slim
Phyto shape
Proslim Plus
Zhen de Shou
Venom Hyperdrive
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sugar Busters diet part 3
The food experts also caution individuals about eating food low in carbohydrates and high in protein. This has been shown to cause damage to the liver, kidney and one can even develop serious mental problems. We already have lots of crazy people, psychos, stalkers, gang bangers, cheaters, and liars- so why make the problem worse!
Well what about consumers who have tried this diet? There are a few testimonials on cyberspace about the sugar busters diet. The majority of consumers indicate that life without sugar is impossible. If one were to omit all foods without sugar, then the only thing left to eat is meat and sea food. If you have no money to buy expensive lobsters and steak, do not worry, a lot of cheap Chinese cardboard does contain the occasional protein- melamine. But if you are a vegetarian, you are in big shit because the majority of vegetables and fruits contain sugar.
So at the moment this sugar busters diet is just hogwash. It is not a sustainable diet. I mean how long can one go on eating foods with no sugar? A day or two?
Surprisingly, the book did sell well. But the consumer has to remember, a book selling well is no reflection on how great the diet it. Finally, remember physicians also write books to make money because there are so many gullible people who tend to believe everything they say. For those who have bought the sugar busters diet book, use it for firewood. For those who have not bought the book, go treat yourself to a nice cup of coffee (with sugar) and a strawberry cheesecake.
Well what about consumers who have tried this diet? There are a few testimonials on cyberspace about the sugar busters diet. The majority of consumers indicate that life without sugar is impossible. If one were to omit all foods without sugar, then the only thing left to eat is meat and sea food. If you have no money to buy expensive lobsters and steak, do not worry, a lot of cheap Chinese cardboard does contain the occasional protein- melamine. But if you are a vegetarian, you are in big shit because the majority of vegetables and fruits contain sugar.
So at the moment this sugar busters diet is just hogwash. It is not a sustainable diet. I mean how long can one go on eating foods with no sugar? A day or two?
Surprisingly, the book did sell well. But the consumer has to remember, a book selling well is no reflection on how great the diet it. Finally, remember physicians also write books to make money because there are so many gullible people who tend to believe everything they say. For those who have bought the sugar busters diet book, use it for firewood. For those who have not bought the book, go treat yourself to a nice cup of coffee (with sugar) and a strawberry cheesecake.
Sugar Busters diet part 2
The authors give out a long list of what you can eat on this diet. Well, rather than list two whole pages, it is easier to write down what the authors say you cannot eat. This is just two lines- you cannot eat potatoes, ice cream, jam, bread, beets, carrots, honey, pies, candy, chocolates, syrup, pancakes, all fruits with sugars, and anything else that contains sugar- definitely no sugar containing beverages.
However you can eat lots of high fiber vegetables, grains, lean meat and fruits (without sugar). Red wine is allowed but beer is not. All the cooking is done in unsaturated fats.
To make the diet book more scientific and mystifying, these authors go into boring and dry explanations as to how and why their diet is the best in the world. Simply put, if you eat diets with high sugar, your body will automatically release insulin to burn the sugars. The excess insulin will also store the sugars and fat into the waist line. So if you eat foods with low sugar, there is less insulin produced but on the other hand, the hormone, glucagon is released. Glucagon will increase sugars in your body and will help you burn off the fat. The book goes on more details about insulin resistant and more crap. Remember, this is America and one can say anything or try to sell anything
So what do the food experts say about the sugar busters diet? They are not impressed. They think the diet is bunk and junk and has no science behind it. Just because one does not eat sugar does not mean that one can not get fat. Eat rice. meat, chicken or steak everyday and you will soon find out. More Americans have gotten fat from eating steak, pizza, hamburgers, and lack of exercise- not due to more sugars.
However you can eat lots of high fiber vegetables, grains, lean meat and fruits (without sugar). Red wine is allowed but beer is not. All the cooking is done in unsaturated fats.
To make the diet book more scientific and mystifying, these authors go into boring and dry explanations as to how and why their diet is the best in the world. Simply put, if you eat diets with high sugar, your body will automatically release insulin to burn the sugars. The excess insulin will also store the sugars and fat into the waist line. So if you eat foods with low sugar, there is less insulin produced but on the other hand, the hormone, glucagon is released. Glucagon will increase sugars in your body and will help you burn off the fat. The book goes on more details about insulin resistant and more crap. Remember, this is America and one can say anything or try to sell anything
So what do the food experts say about the sugar busters diet? They are not impressed. They think the diet is bunk and junk and has no science behind it. Just because one does not eat sugar does not mean that one can not get fat. Eat rice. meat, chicken or steak everyday and you will soon find out. More Americans have gotten fat from eating steak, pizza, hamburgers, and lack of exercise- not due to more sugars.
Sugar Busters diet
Sugar is bad, it is a poison, it is a toxin, and this is what the Sugar busters diet is all about. You stop eating sugar, all your troubles will be over- and you will be thin. Because sugars are found in many foods, everything has to be omitted from the diet. One cannot even eat certain fruits and vegetables- because sugars are harmful to health.
The authors of Sugar Busters diet claim that by avoiding sugars, this can also lead to lowering of blood cholesterol and will also help control your diabetes more effectively. Once you get rid of sugar in your diet, you will feel great, have tons of energy, and live to one hundred years old (funny, I always thought sugars gave a boost to the brain!)
The sugar busters diet was written by a number of physicians from New Orleans. These physicians observed that the population of New Orleans was grossly overweight and instantly realized it was sugar that was a problem. The great thing about this diet is that there is no need to count calories or even buy a scale. Just decrease the sugar and cut down on size of your portions. These doctors are smart because they do mention that if you continue to eat sugar then no amount of exercise will help you lose weight.
One point of note- this diet is not for individuals who love to exercise, jog, run, or be active. When one exercises, the sugar levels drop and if one is already on this diet with no sugars, then after the gym , you will most likely be taken to the nearest emergency room to get treated for very low sugars in your body.
The authors of Sugar Busters diet claim that by avoiding sugars, this can also lead to lowering of blood cholesterol and will also help control your diabetes more effectively. Once you get rid of sugar in your diet, you will feel great, have tons of energy, and live to one hundred years old (funny, I always thought sugars gave a boost to the brain!)
The sugar busters diet was written by a number of physicians from New Orleans. These physicians observed that the population of New Orleans was grossly overweight and instantly realized it was sugar that was a problem. The great thing about this diet is that there is no need to count calories or even buy a scale. Just decrease the sugar and cut down on size of your portions. These doctors are smart because they do mention that if you continue to eat sugar then no amount of exercise will help you lose weight.
One point of note- this diet is not for individuals who love to exercise, jog, run, or be active. When one exercises, the sugar levels drop and if one is already on this diet with no sugars, then after the gym , you will most likely be taken to the nearest emergency room to get treated for very low sugars in your body.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Cheater's Diet Part 3
Well what do the food experts have to say? They indicate that none of Dr Rivas’s claims are backed by any scientific study or clinical evidence. There is not a single reference in any medical textbook nor is there a single clinical study to indicate that the diet works as he says. Dr Rivas is a physician but yet he has no examples of his own patients who have followed the diet.
On cyberspace there is zilch out there on the cheater’s diet. Frank testimonials are not existent.
And what about the supplements? Well, Dr Rivas probably is endorsing these supplements because he is clueless. None of the supplements mentioned have been shown to burn fat or promote weight loss. The experts claim this is nothing more than a gimmick to make more money. The book and health supplements are the usual routine for all physicians who write books on diet. As far Dr Rivas cockamamie story on cinnamon and weight loss- Crap should suffice. Cinnamon is a spice widely used in oriental cooking to flavor food. Every single day someone claims a new medical cure for cinnamon and now Dr Rivas claims it is a cure for weight loss. Cinnamon does jack s..t
The food experts claim that this is just another diet fad with a lot of hype but no real truth to it.
For those who want to lose weight with a similar diet, try the Mediterranean diet. Exercise on a daily basis, change your life style, avoid cinnamon buns and do not listen to DR Rivas and spurge yourself on the weekends- you will get fat.
On cyberspace there is zilch out there on the cheater’s diet. Frank testimonials are not existent.
And what about the supplements? Well, Dr Rivas probably is endorsing these supplements because he is clueless. None of the supplements mentioned have been shown to burn fat or promote weight loss. The experts claim this is nothing more than a gimmick to make more money. The book and health supplements are the usual routine for all physicians who write books on diet. As far Dr Rivas cockamamie story on cinnamon and weight loss- Crap should suffice. Cinnamon is a spice widely used in oriental cooking to flavor food. Every single day someone claims a new medical cure for cinnamon and now Dr Rivas claims it is a cure for weight loss. Cinnamon does jack s..t
The food experts claim that this is just another diet fad with a lot of hype but no real truth to it.
For those who want to lose weight with a similar diet, try the Mediterranean diet. Exercise on a daily basis, change your life style, avoid cinnamon buns and do not listen to DR Rivas and spurge yourself on the weekends- you will get fat.
Cheater's Diet Part 2
On Saturday and Sunday, you can eat all your favorite foods but there is a limit. The cheater’s diet allows one to eat cinnamon buns, peanut butter, cheese, nuts but there is a limit to what you can spurge on. Dr Rivas does go one step further than most other weight loss diets- he also recommends exercise . Dr Rivas recommends that one remain active for at least 5/7 days.
While there is no recommendation for formal exercise, almost any type of outdoor activity like gardening, walking, or snow removal is acceptable. Dr Rivas stresses that when you eat less during the weekdays, your body automatically gets used to the low calorie intake and slows the metabolism. Over the weekends when you eat more, the metabolism increases and you burn off more calories.
The cheater's diet allows one to look forward to the weekends and thus is a goal driven diet. To further help with weight loss, Dr Rivas encourages other health supplements like Yerba Mate, L tyrosine, Cinnamon, green tea extracts and hydroyx tryptophan. He says these health supplements decrease the desire to eat during the weekdays and also help burn off fat.
Dr Rivas diet book sells for about $ 20 - so far everything looks A plus.
While there is no recommendation for formal exercise, almost any type of outdoor activity like gardening, walking, or snow removal is acceptable. Dr Rivas stresses that when you eat less during the weekdays, your body automatically gets used to the low calorie intake and slows the metabolism. Over the weekends when you eat more, the metabolism increases and you burn off more calories.
The cheater's diet allows one to look forward to the weekends and thus is a goal driven diet. To further help with weight loss, Dr Rivas encourages other health supplements like Yerba Mate, L tyrosine, Cinnamon, green tea extracts and hydroyx tryptophan. He says these health supplements decrease the desire to eat during the weekdays and also help burn off fat.
Dr Rivas diet book sells for about $ 20 - so far everything looks A plus.
Cheater's Diet
We have become a society of cheaters. We cheat at everything and on everyone- we cheat on our wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands, exams and so on. Now this cheating trend has been extended to our diet. The cheater’s diet is a novel concept on how to lose weight.
The cheater’s diet was created by a physician, Dr Paul Rivas. The diet has two main themes. During the weekdays one limits the calories intakes and then on the weekend one can cheat. Dr Rivas claims that allowing one to cheat on the diet keeps the individual motivated and interested. Allowing one to eat” bad foods” over the weekend also encourages one to sustain the diet- this prevents the hunger pangs.
From Monday to Friday, one eats a very low calorie diet that is very similar to the Mediterranean diet in composition. One eats a few ounces of lean mean, lots of whole grains, sea food, a variety of vegetables and fruits. One is not allowed to spurge on sugar, sweet foods, saturated fats and processed foods. One can drink water but no alcohol. The amount one can eat is not a lot. Only a ¼ of what you used to eat before- and that is very little.
Imagine just eating a quarter of a slice of bread for breakfast?
The cheater’s diet was created by a physician, Dr Paul Rivas. The diet has two main themes. During the weekdays one limits the calories intakes and then on the weekend one can cheat. Dr Rivas claims that allowing one to cheat on the diet keeps the individual motivated and interested. Allowing one to eat” bad foods” over the weekend also encourages one to sustain the diet- this prevents the hunger pangs.
From Monday to Friday, one eats a very low calorie diet that is very similar to the Mediterranean diet in composition. One eats a few ounces of lean mean, lots of whole grains, sea food, a variety of vegetables and fruits. One is not allowed to spurge on sugar, sweet foods, saturated fats and processed foods. One can drink water but no alcohol. The amount one can eat is not a lot. Only a ¼ of what you used to eat before- and that is very little.
Imagine just eating a quarter of a slice of bread for breakfast?
Friday, April 3, 2009
The Biggest Loser Diet Part 1
The diet encourages fresh rather than processed food. And reading labels is the key. If there is an ingredient that you have no clue about, then you avoid that food.
Besides fruits and vegetables, the foods should not be over cooked and saturated fats are to be completely avoided. The proteins can be obtained by eating lean meat, fish or whole grains.
All the meals are small and the aim is to prevent the hunger pangs- eat often. The average intake is about 1200 calories/day. Anything less is not recommended as you may not get all the nutrients and essential vitamins.
The diet does make sense but it is not an easy regimen to adhere. Working out on a hungry stomach is painful. The program has a lot of exercises, is relatively easy to follow and understand. The aim ultimately is to eat less and work out more.
For individuals who are quite obese, the intense exercise regimen may not be compatible.
Even though NBC and a lot of diet websites give compliments to this diet, the internet is very scare on honest testimonials. Definitely there are some people who have lost weight on this diet but there are just as many who have dropped out.
For most people this diet requires commitment and persistence. The question is not if you will be able to lose the weight but whether you can maintain the weight loss. Anyone can lose weight for a few weeks or months, but can they prevent the weight gain? if this diet plan worked as great as it sounds, it makes me wonder why they still have lots of ads bragging the success? but no bona fide testimonials!
Besides fruits and vegetables, the foods should not be over cooked and saturated fats are to be completely avoided. The proteins can be obtained by eating lean meat, fish or whole grains.
All the meals are small and the aim is to prevent the hunger pangs- eat often. The average intake is about 1200 calories/day. Anything less is not recommended as you may not get all the nutrients and essential vitamins.
The diet does make sense but it is not an easy regimen to adhere. Working out on a hungry stomach is painful. The program has a lot of exercises, is relatively easy to follow and understand. The aim ultimately is to eat less and work out more.
For individuals who are quite obese, the intense exercise regimen may not be compatible.
Even though NBC and a lot of diet websites give compliments to this diet, the internet is very scare on honest testimonials. Definitely there are some people who have lost weight on this diet but there are just as many who have dropped out.
For most people this diet requires commitment and persistence. The question is not if you will be able to lose the weight but whether you can maintain the weight loss. Anyone can lose weight for a few weeks or months, but can they prevent the weight gain? if this diet plan worked as great as it sounds, it makes me wonder why they still have lots of ads bragging the success? but no bona fide testimonials!
The Biggest Loser Diet
A fancy name for weight loss diet obtained from a television show, the biggest loser diet is a no nonsense diet which involve a lot of exercise and eating healthy foods. The diet is essentially a low calorie diet founded on the reverse pyramid 4-3-2-1 structure –meaning 4 servings of fruits and vegetables, 3 servings of lean protein, 2 servings of whole grain and one extra serving of either sweets or an alcoholic beverage, and after the meal one has to engage in a painstaking exercise routine.
The authors of the biggest loser diet claims that the diet can lower your cholesterol, blood pressure and your weight. The diet has been developed by a couple of physicians together with fitness expert, Jillian Michaels.
The biggest loser diet is a 12 week program where one eats a lot of fiber, fruits and averages about 1200-1400 calories/day. The foods recommended are healthy and nutritious. The diet encourages keeping a daily record of foods eaten, watching the portions and drinking lots of water. While the diet is easy, the exercise workouts are not easy and in fact quite demanding. The aim of these exercises is to build your cardio and endurance and are a key to losing weight.
The biggest loser diet plan is available online and costs about $5 a week. The website does provide a fair amount of advice and motivation. In addition, the online website also offers many types of exercise and a number of recipes. The diet plan encourages fresh rather than processed foods. One is encouraged to read food labels prior to buying any products. Any ingredient one cannot read or has never heard – means avoid that food.
The authors of the biggest loser diet claims that the diet can lower your cholesterol, blood pressure and your weight. The diet has been developed by a couple of physicians together with fitness expert, Jillian Michaels.
The biggest loser diet is a 12 week program where one eats a lot of fiber, fruits and averages about 1200-1400 calories/day. The foods recommended are healthy and nutritious. The diet encourages keeping a daily record of foods eaten, watching the portions and drinking lots of water. While the diet is easy, the exercise workouts are not easy and in fact quite demanding. The aim of these exercises is to build your cardio and endurance and are a key to losing weight.
The biggest loser diet plan is available online and costs about $5 a week. The website does provide a fair amount of advice and motivation. In addition, the online website also offers many types of exercise and a number of recipes. The diet plan encourages fresh rather than processed foods. One is encouraged to read food labels prior to buying any products. Any ingredient one cannot read or has never heard – means avoid that food.
The Morning Banana Diet Part 2
As to how one loses weight with bananas is not known but there are many speculations. One is that bananas block the appetite center in the brain and others say it fills the stomach so you do not feel hungry.
And what do the diet experts in America think about the Japanese Banana diet? Nonsense. There is nothing special about eating bananas. Monkeys have been eating bananas since man evolved and there are no slim monkeys anywhere. And what is so special about not eating after 8 pm? Well, the diet experts claim this is pure nonsense.
So does this diet work? Well, in Japan and everyone else- a few people had some choice words for K Mori- lying b.t.h.
Bananas are a popular fruit all over the world; man has been eating bananas for centuries, and no one has ever made such BS claims before. So going back to K Mori- later interviews posted that said that she may have been hallucinations or was delirious when she made those claims. Most likely reason for her delirium is that perhaps she ate banana skin which is known to contain a wide variety of neuroactive substances. These substances make you say and do crazy things and that is all there is to this banana diet.
For Hitoshe Watanabe and K Mori I want to add that we in America still love the Japanese and love your cars. Now that our car industry is in the dumps, please, let us look after the diet business and you just keep on making good cars- Deal!.
For those still wanting to lose weight, start walking, eat less, join an exercise program, do something.
The only two things that came out of the banana diet is that the obsession to lose weight is global and Japan also has a fair share on monkeys- who fall for idiot diet plans.
And what do the diet experts in America think about the Japanese Banana diet? Nonsense. There is nothing special about eating bananas. Monkeys have been eating bananas since man evolved and there are no slim monkeys anywhere. And what is so special about not eating after 8 pm? Well, the diet experts claim this is pure nonsense.
So does this diet work? Well, in Japan and everyone else- a few people had some choice words for K Mori- lying b.t.h.
Bananas are a popular fruit all over the world; man has been eating bananas for centuries, and no one has ever made such BS claims before. So going back to K Mori- later interviews posted that said that she may have been hallucinations or was delirious when she made those claims. Most likely reason for her delirium is that perhaps she ate banana skin which is known to contain a wide variety of neuroactive substances. These substances make you say and do crazy things and that is all there is to this banana diet.
For Hitoshe Watanabe and K Mori I want to add that we in America still love the Japanese and love your cars. Now that our car industry is in the dumps, please, let us look after the diet business and you just keep on making good cars- Deal!.
For those still wanting to lose weight, start walking, eat less, join an exercise program, do something.
The only two things that came out of the banana diet is that the obsession to lose weight is global and Japan also has a fair share on monkeys- who fall for idiot diet plans.
The Morning Banana Diet
Who would have ever though that Japan, of all places would come out with a weight loss diet recipe known as the Morning Banana diet. This land of the Rising Sun more famous for it cars, iPods and DVDS also appears to have some fat people. Japanese have always been known to eat right, exercise, eat a lot of sea food, and have a long life span. So what is up with this Morning Banana Diet?
Well, a few years ago, a famous Japanese opera singer (Kumiko Mori) claimed on national news that she had lost at least 15 pounds in weight by eating bananas in the morning (I had to read this twice because initially I thought “playing with bananas?”). Well, word got around and Hitoshe Watanabe, who is a close friend of Ms Mori,,decided to develop a morning banana diet.
Well, Kumiko’s voice about the diet took the country by storm, Everyone in Japan was rushing off to buy bananas. For a time one could find bananas in all of Japan. Even the traditional sumo wrestlers were into this diet. Kumiko was everywhere- on night shows, magazines, TV, and radio were all talking about this diet. Kumiko was even invited by her American Japanese colleagues to come to Hollywood. Finally here was a fruit which most people thought had only potassium in it- but now it was the magic pill to weight loss.
The morning banana diet is nothing magical. In the morning, you eat some warm bananas. Then you are allowed to eating whatever you want for the rest of the day but have to stop before 8 pm. One is not allowed to eat great food likes ice cream, no dairy products, alcohol, or any dessert. But water is encouraged. And one more great thing with the banana diet – no exercise. Wow the Japanese are the best and that is what everyone else said- over and over again.
Well, a few years ago, a famous Japanese opera singer (Kumiko Mori) claimed on national news that she had lost at least 15 pounds in weight by eating bananas in the morning (I had to read this twice because initially I thought “playing with bananas?”). Well, word got around and Hitoshe Watanabe, who is a close friend of Ms Mori,,decided to develop a morning banana diet.
Well, Kumiko’s voice about the diet took the country by storm, Everyone in Japan was rushing off to buy bananas. For a time one could find bananas in all of Japan. Even the traditional sumo wrestlers were into this diet. Kumiko was everywhere- on night shows, magazines, TV, and radio were all talking about this diet. Kumiko was even invited by her American Japanese colleagues to come to Hollywood. Finally here was a fruit which most people thought had only potassium in it- but now it was the magic pill to weight loss.
The morning banana diet is nothing magical. In the morning, you eat some warm bananas. Then you are allowed to eating whatever you want for the rest of the day but have to stop before 8 pm. One is not allowed to eat great food likes ice cream, no dairy products, alcohol, or any dessert. But water is encouraged. And one more great thing with the banana diet – no exercise. Wow the Japanese are the best and that is what everyone else said- over and over again.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The Rice Diet Part 2
The exotic rice recipes these authors suggest include the following:
- Boiled rice
- Steamed rice
- Par boiled rice
- Sticky rice
- Fried rice
- Vegetarian rice
- Lacto vegetarian rice
- Baked rice
- Rice in spinach
- Rice in tomato
- Rice pudding with no jelly
- And anything else that can go with Rice but no sugar (Got the picture?)
Therefore, after 10 days, you will have a nice slim and trim body with no brain.
The diet starts at around 800 calories per day-, which is close to eating nothing. After a few weeks, you gradually go up to 1200 calories per day, which is still not much. The authors claim individuals who use this diet end up losing a lot of weight and no longer want to eat unhealthy foods (perhaps they are all in hospital being treated for malnourishment?)
The authors of this diet also claim that the rice diet can cure diabetes, fibromyalgia hypertension and a lot of other medical disorders. However, if you were to look at people in India and China who have been eating rice for centuries their overall health is much worse than us in North America have. Granted the Orientals are not fat, but they have just as much diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, and even cancers. Could it be that during the recent economic boom in India and China that the poor peasants forgot to follow the directions in the Rice Diet Book? I think the problem is that these Orientals still have all the medical problems is because they eat rice only twice and not three times a day! Please you Orientals who are reading this- it is rice, rice and rice- no duck or dumplings.
So what do the food experts say about the Rice diet? Well, they describe it in one word- TERRIBLE. The diet is a big zero when it comes to nutrition. There is no protein, no vitamins, no minerals, and no fruits- NOTHING. The rice diet may work but you will probably also break up the protein stores in your brain to help support your body. You will be thin, slim, and trim but without your brain-, you will also be a waste of space.
The experts say that any diet that is so low in calories (and monotonous) never leads to long-term weight loss, as the diet cannot be sustained. Even those who lose weight in the first 2 weeks quickly go back to their original eating habits. The rice diet does not alter behaviors or motivate individuals to change. Simply changing the menu or starving people has never helped people lose weight.
The diet is inflexible, boring, and dull. Imagine waking up every morning and having rice for breakfast and more rice for the rest of the day. The rice diet can’t not be sustained.
Searching through cyberspace one quickly realizes that this diet has not caught on. There are zero testimonials on the positive aspects of this diet. Even the Chinese who eat rice twice a day think it sucks. Anyone thinking of starting the Rice Diet, should first go and see a psychiatrist.
- Boiled rice
- Steamed rice
- Par boiled rice
- Sticky rice
- Fried rice
- Vegetarian rice
- Lacto vegetarian rice
- Baked rice
- Rice in spinach
- Rice in tomato
- Rice pudding with no jelly
- And anything else that can go with Rice but no sugar (Got the picture?)
Therefore, after 10 days, you will have a nice slim and trim body with no brain.
The diet starts at around 800 calories per day-, which is close to eating nothing. After a few weeks, you gradually go up to 1200 calories per day, which is still not much. The authors claim individuals who use this diet end up losing a lot of weight and no longer want to eat unhealthy foods (perhaps they are all in hospital being treated for malnourishment?)
The authors of this diet also claim that the rice diet can cure diabetes, fibromyalgia hypertension and a lot of other medical disorders. However, if you were to look at people in India and China who have been eating rice for centuries their overall health is much worse than us in North America have. Granted the Orientals are not fat, but they have just as much diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, and even cancers. Could it be that during the recent economic boom in India and China that the poor peasants forgot to follow the directions in the Rice Diet Book? I think the problem is that these Orientals still have all the medical problems is because they eat rice only twice and not three times a day! Please you Orientals who are reading this- it is rice, rice and rice- no duck or dumplings.
So what do the food experts say about the Rice diet? Well, they describe it in one word- TERRIBLE. The diet is a big zero when it comes to nutrition. There is no protein, no vitamins, no minerals, and no fruits- NOTHING. The rice diet may work but you will probably also break up the protein stores in your brain to help support your body. You will be thin, slim, and trim but without your brain-, you will also be a waste of space.
The experts say that any diet that is so low in calories (and monotonous) never leads to long-term weight loss, as the diet cannot be sustained. Even those who lose weight in the first 2 weeks quickly go back to their original eating habits. The rice diet does not alter behaviors or motivate individuals to change. Simply changing the menu or starving people has never helped people lose weight.
The diet is inflexible, boring, and dull. Imagine waking up every morning and having rice for breakfast and more rice for the rest of the day. The rice diet can’t not be sustained.
Searching through cyberspace one quickly realizes that this diet has not caught on. There are zero testimonials on the positive aspects of this diet. Even the Chinese who eat rice twice a day think it sucks. Anyone thinking of starting the Rice Diet, should first go and see a psychiatrist.
The Rice Diet
When I first heard about the Rice Diet, I believed it was from China. Chinese and Orientals love rice and they are also thin. However, what a shock it was to discover that this Rice diet has its roots in North Carolina.
The Rice diet is quite simple. One does not eat sugar, no processed foods or saturated oils. You eat rice for breakfast, rice for snack, rice for lunch and more rice for dinner. Moreover, within 7-10 days you will lose at least 3 pounds in weight. The Rice diet is like a boot camp diet. Besides helping you lose weight, you will also get better control of your diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritic joint pain, and even kidney disease. This will all happen if you live past 14 days of non-stop rice eating.
The Rice Diet has been developed by a female dietician and her physician husband. These two authors have a cookbook on the Rice diet and offer a variety of exotic rice dishes. The diet is very low in calories and one gets to eat a lot of carbohydrates. The authors claim that this will also help you clean your bowels and remove all the environmental toxins which you have been accumulating by eating processed foods. As you start the diet, you will be able to concentrate, think, and perform much more efficiently.
While exercises are not a big thing with this diet, Yoga and meditation is recommended when you are not eating rice. The yoga will do wonders for your body and help you relax. (I am sure the hunger pangs will require some type of relaxation therapy).
The Rice diet is quite simple. One does not eat sugar, no processed foods or saturated oils. You eat rice for breakfast, rice for snack, rice for lunch and more rice for dinner. Moreover, within 7-10 days you will lose at least 3 pounds in weight. The Rice diet is like a boot camp diet. Besides helping you lose weight, you will also get better control of your diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritic joint pain, and even kidney disease. This will all happen if you live past 14 days of non-stop rice eating.
The Rice Diet has been developed by a female dietician and her physician husband. These two authors have a cookbook on the Rice diet and offer a variety of exotic rice dishes. The diet is very low in calories and one gets to eat a lot of carbohydrates. The authors claim that this will also help you clean your bowels and remove all the environmental toxins which you have been accumulating by eating processed foods. As you start the diet, you will be able to concentrate, think, and perform much more efficiently.
While exercises are not a big thing with this diet, Yoga and meditation is recommended when you are not eating rice. The yoga will do wonders for your body and help you relax. (I am sure the hunger pangs will require some type of relaxation therapy).
Monday, March 30, 2009
Lipovarin- another Health supplement pill for weight Loss? Part 2
Lipovarin is widely available online and in many health food stores. However, the product is not cheap. Ninety capsules currently cost anywhere from $50-$60 and one is supposed to six pills a day. That amounts to about $100-$120 a month. Moreover, the weight loss takes an average of 2-3 months, if it occurs. Therefore, that amounts to about $200-$400 total for a dubious weight loss treatment.
The company even recommends buying additional supplements to help boost the effects of lipovarin. The company fails to explain why one needs to buy these extra health supplements if lipovarin is that great! (another scam?)
Once the capsules are bought, the dealers do agree to a refund but many testimonials on cyberspace indicate that this is practically impossible. So far, no one has gotten any money back (but many received a lot of flak for being stupid).
As to the effects of lipovarin, all the reports are only made by dealers and other paid consumers. Most of the testimonials are negative and many claim that the product is bogus. A blog on lipovarin claims that not only is the product useless but the customer service is even worse.
At the moment lipovarin is definitely not the magic pill for weight loss. For those who still want to lose weight, continue surfing, eating less and walking more- by the time a weight loss pill is available, you probably will not ever need it.
The company even recommends buying additional supplements to help boost the effects of lipovarin. The company fails to explain why one needs to buy these extra health supplements if lipovarin is that great! (another scam?)
Once the capsules are bought, the dealers do agree to a refund but many testimonials on cyberspace indicate that this is practically impossible. So far, no one has gotten any money back (but many received a lot of flak for being stupid).
As to the effects of lipovarin, all the reports are only made by dealers and other paid consumers. Most of the testimonials are negative and many claim that the product is bogus. A blog on lipovarin claims that not only is the product useless but the customer service is even worse.
At the moment lipovarin is definitely not the magic pill for weight loss. For those who still want to lose weight, continue surfing, eating less and walking more- by the time a weight loss pill is available, you probably will not ever need it.
Lipovarin- another Health supplement pill for weight Loss?
Recently there has been a lot of hype about lipovarin and its ability to help people lose weight. Lipovarin is a non-prescription weight loss supplement, which the dealers say can help one lose weight. It does have an ingredient called Advantra-Z in the formulation- this ingredient is said to be thermogenic and helps one burn fat very quickly. Further, it is claimed that this supplement also provides a boost in energy, increases libido and revitalizes your body- Sounds great so far.
The formulation contains a lot of natural chemicals including green tea extracts, caffeine, L carnitine, taurine and Advantra-Z.
Lipovarin contains the ingredient synephrine. Synephrine is very similar in structure to ephedrine, which is a known brain stimulant and works like a thermogenic agent (burns of calories).
The reason ephedrine was taken off the market was because it was associated with a number of complications including heart attacks, strokes, chest pain and heart palpitations. Currently it is believed that Synephrine acts very similar to ephedrine and has the potential to cause serious health problems.
The formulation contains a lot of natural chemicals including green tea extracts, caffeine, L carnitine, taurine and Advantra-Z.
Lipovarin contains the ingredient synephrine. Synephrine is very similar in structure to ephedrine, which is a known brain stimulant and works like a thermogenic agent (burns of calories).
The reason ephedrine was taken off the market was because it was associated with a number of complications including heart attacks, strokes, chest pain and heart palpitations. Currently it is believed that Synephrine acts very similar to ephedrine and has the potential to cause serious health problems.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
3-day diet plan for weight loss Part 2
So what does this magical 3 day diet entail:
Breakfast-
- beverage, with 1-2 packets of artificial sweetener
- ½ grape fruit
- I toast with one-teaspoon peanut butter
Lunch
- ½-cup tuna
- One toast
- Beverage with artificial sweetener
Dinner
- 3 oz meat/chicken
- 1-cup green beans
- 1-cup carrots
- One apple
- I cup regular ice cream
And so this is all you eat, cycle after cycle.
The author of the diet says within 3 days you will feel new and thin. Well, that is all talk but what about the evidence?
Despite the fact that the 3-day diet plan has been around for more than 20 years, there is not a single scientific study to validate claims of the author. There are no trials, no testimonials, and no reports. In fact, no individuals have ever come forward and claimed that within 3 days he/she lost weight and had reduction in blood pressure.
There are no magical ingredients and there is nothing special about the diet. If one simply did not eat for 3 days and follow the 3-day routine, the results would be the same. There is no ingredient in the diet plan that can help you cleanse your bowels unless you puree the foods and give yourself a good enema! All the talk about reducing blood pressure and cholesterol is just a bunch of crap.
So what to the food experts have to say about this 3-diet plan? Absolute nonsense, not sustainable and not nutritious. There is no way that eating very calorie diets are sustainable for more than a day. Therefore, for all those who want to lose weight, chuck this diet plan in the garbage and for those who bought the book, use it for firewood.
Weight loss is a difficult problem. For those who want to lose weight, do not give up. Eat a well balanced diet and start an exercise program. While this is not some thing fancy, it is cheap, safe and a guaranteed method for weight loss.
Breakfast-
- beverage, with 1-2 packets of artificial sweetener
- ½ grape fruit
- I toast with one-teaspoon peanut butter
Lunch
- ½-cup tuna
- One toast
- Beverage with artificial sweetener
Dinner
- 3 oz meat/chicken
- 1-cup green beans
- 1-cup carrots
- One apple
- I cup regular ice cream
And so this is all you eat, cycle after cycle.
The author of the diet says within 3 days you will feel new and thin. Well, that is all talk but what about the evidence?
Despite the fact that the 3-day diet plan has been around for more than 20 years, there is not a single scientific study to validate claims of the author. There are no trials, no testimonials, and no reports. In fact, no individuals have ever come forward and claimed that within 3 days he/she lost weight and had reduction in blood pressure.
There are no magical ingredients and there is nothing special about the diet. If one simply did not eat for 3 days and follow the 3-day routine, the results would be the same. There is no ingredient in the diet plan that can help you cleanse your bowels unless you puree the foods and give yourself a good enema! All the talk about reducing blood pressure and cholesterol is just a bunch of crap.
So what to the food experts have to say about this 3-diet plan? Absolute nonsense, not sustainable and not nutritious. There is no way that eating very calorie diets are sustainable for more than a day. Therefore, for all those who want to lose weight, chuck this diet plan in the garbage and for those who bought the book, use it for firewood.
Weight loss is a difficult problem. For those who want to lose weight, do not give up. Eat a well balanced diet and start an exercise program. While this is not some thing fancy, it is cheap, safe and a guaranteed method for weight loss.
3-day diet plan for weight loss
One of the diets designed to help people lose weight is the 3-day diet plan. This diet plan was first developed nearly 20 years ago and surprising some people still use it for weight loss- yes, lose weight in 3 days!
One of the reasons this diet plan has always remained at the top is not because it works or is something special, but consumers are attracted to reducing weight loss in 3 days. Who will not try a weight loss diet that works in 3 days? The creator of this diet plan claims that not only can one lose weight, but also the diet plan will help reduce blood pressure, decrease blood cholesterol and also helps you clean your bowels.
The 3-day diet is quite rigid and one must follow the diet as mentioned to get the results. The diet is followed for 3 days and then one goes back to normal eating for 4-5 days before going back on the 3-day diet plan. If this diet plan is followed then it is claimed than one can lose 10 pounds in a few weeks.
Well, going on a diet plan for 3 days cannot be that tough but wait till you see what you are allowed to eat. Essentially nothing. The foods are very restrictive and the portions are very small. If you eat even one extra calorie, you will definitely not lose the 10 pounds in weight. In almost all cases when an individual fails to lose weight, the author blames the individual for not following the diet instructions. Moreover, if you think you get blamed for overeating, you cannot even under eat. If you under eat, you will not lose weight either.
One of the reasons this diet plan has always remained at the top is not because it works or is something special, but consumers are attracted to reducing weight loss in 3 days. Who will not try a weight loss diet that works in 3 days? The creator of this diet plan claims that not only can one lose weight, but also the diet plan will help reduce blood pressure, decrease blood cholesterol and also helps you clean your bowels.
The 3-day diet is quite rigid and one must follow the diet as mentioned to get the results. The diet is followed for 3 days and then one goes back to normal eating for 4-5 days before going back on the 3-day diet plan. If this diet plan is followed then it is claimed than one can lose 10 pounds in a few weeks.
Well, going on a diet plan for 3 days cannot be that tough but wait till you see what you are allowed to eat. Essentially nothing. The foods are very restrictive and the portions are very small. If you eat even one extra calorie, you will definitely not lose the 10 pounds in weight. In almost all cases when an individual fails to lose weight, the author blames the individual for not following the diet instructions. Moreover, if you think you get blamed for overeating, you cannot even under eat. If you under eat, you will not lose weight either.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Beverely Hills Diet Plan Part 2
How all this works is not easy to understand but the author does provide an explanation about rates of metabolism and absorption- all that boring stuff which nutritionists love to talk about.
So what do the food experts have to say about the Beverly Hills diet?
Well, none of the experts believes the hogwash about this bizarre food combination theory. They claim there is no evidence that if you eat one particular food type that you cannot get fat and all this hodge podge about food combinations has zero relevance to weight loss. They do however; agree that the diet is positive since it recommends fruits and vegetables. However, they do add the diet is positively unhealthy.
One would think that a diet with a famous name like Beverly Hills diet would be a hit. But unfortunately, there are very few testimonials which are positive. Most testimonials use words like crap, useless and s..t. What they really meant was the diet was not practical or sustainable for more than 3 days. Following this complex routine requires having to carry a small computer and writing down everything one has eaten. Imagine someone going to work and having to remember what he or she ate in the morning. While most people know what a fruit is, very few people can tell the difference between a carbohydrate and a protein!
The author has to be credited for popularizing Beverly Hills, where all the beautiful people live, but the diet actually sucks. As David Grotto, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association sums it, "like Alexander The Great's nothing but alcohol diet. Nutritionally incomplete and not practical”
So how about us who still want to lose weight? In reality, most diets books are written simply to make money. Who really cares if the diet plan works or not. There are a lot of gullible people out there with delusions of grandeur.
In reality, losing weight is hard and no one really has an answer. There is no one-diet plan for all individuals. The only one fact that we do know is that if you eat less and walk more, you will lose weight. Unfortunately, most people do not want to adopt this life style and would rather buy a pill or read a book on how to lose weight the easy way. For these people, just like cyberspace, the ideal diet for weight loss is an illusion.
So what do the food experts have to say about the Beverly Hills diet?
Well, none of the experts believes the hogwash about this bizarre food combination theory. They claim there is no evidence that if you eat one particular food type that you cannot get fat and all this hodge podge about food combinations has zero relevance to weight loss. They do however; agree that the diet is positive since it recommends fruits and vegetables. However, they do add the diet is positively unhealthy.
One would think that a diet with a famous name like Beverly Hills diet would be a hit. But unfortunately, there are very few testimonials which are positive. Most testimonials use words like crap, useless and s..t. What they really meant was the diet was not practical or sustainable for more than 3 days. Following this complex routine requires having to carry a small computer and writing down everything one has eaten. Imagine someone going to work and having to remember what he or she ate in the morning. While most people know what a fruit is, very few people can tell the difference between a carbohydrate and a protein!
The author has to be credited for popularizing Beverly Hills, where all the beautiful people live, but the diet actually sucks. As David Grotto, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association sums it, "like Alexander The Great's nothing but alcohol diet. Nutritionally incomplete and not practical”
So how about us who still want to lose weight? In reality, most diets books are written simply to make money. Who really cares if the diet plan works or not. There are a lot of gullible people out there with delusions of grandeur.
In reality, losing weight is hard and no one really has an answer. There is no one-diet plan for all individuals. The only one fact that we do know is that if you eat less and walk more, you will lose weight. Unfortunately, most people do not want to adopt this life style and would rather buy a pill or read a book on how to lose weight the easy way. For these people, just like cyberspace, the ideal diet for weight loss is an illusion.
Beverely Hills Diet Plan
California has always been at the forefront of new diets and one of the oldest diets to come from that State is the Beverly Hills Diet.
The diet is based on the idea that if you eat the right foods at the right time of the day, then you can lose weight. The diet plan extends for 6 weeks and the author claim that the diet is well balanced and nutritionally adequate. The authors of this diet claim that the reason we gain weight is because of two things- we eat at the wrong time and also eat the wrong foods. So the Beverly Hills Diet says -eat at a different time and eat what the diet says.
The Beverly Hills Diet says proteins go with proteins or fats, carbohydrates go with carbohydrates or fat and fruits go alone (what the authors fail to explain to a dumbo like me, is what are fruits? (Sounds confusing already?)
Ok so this is how you start.
For breakfast, eat a fruit and eat as much as you want. For the next hour, you cannot switch to another food. Then you follow the above regimen. However, if you eat a carbohydrate later in the day, then you cannot eat fruit for the rest of the day.
If you start the morning with a carbohydrate, then stay with carbohydrates, but you can change to proteins after 1 hour and then it is all protein for the rest of the day.
One is allowed to drink fruit juices and even wine is allowed. In addition, there is even more good news; alcohol can be consumed with carbohydrates and for those who have money, Champagne is allowed with all foods. The diet plan does give recipes that average about 1000-1200 calories/day.
And does one have to exercise with this diet. No, not compulsory. But if you have time, a treadmill, and feel like it, the choice is yours – so far all looks great.
So if you stick to this diet plan for 6 weeks, you can lose 10-15 pounds.
The diet is based on the idea that if you eat the right foods at the right time of the day, then you can lose weight. The diet plan extends for 6 weeks and the author claim that the diet is well balanced and nutritionally adequate. The authors of this diet claim that the reason we gain weight is because of two things- we eat at the wrong time and also eat the wrong foods. So the Beverly Hills Diet says -eat at a different time and eat what the diet says.
The Beverly Hills Diet says proteins go with proteins or fats, carbohydrates go with carbohydrates or fat and fruits go alone (what the authors fail to explain to a dumbo like me, is what are fruits? (Sounds confusing already?)
Ok so this is how you start.
For breakfast, eat a fruit and eat as much as you want. For the next hour, you cannot switch to another food. Then you follow the above regimen. However, if you eat a carbohydrate later in the day, then you cannot eat fruit for the rest of the day.
If you start the morning with a carbohydrate, then stay with carbohydrates, but you can change to proteins after 1 hour and then it is all protein for the rest of the day.
One is allowed to drink fruit juices and even wine is allowed. In addition, there is even more good news; alcohol can be consumed with carbohydrates and for those who have money, Champagne is allowed with all foods. The diet plan does give recipes that average about 1000-1200 calories/day.
And does one have to exercise with this diet. No, not compulsory. But if you have time, a treadmill, and feel like it, the choice is yours – so far all looks great.
So if you stick to this diet plan for 6 weeks, you can lose 10-15 pounds.
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