Percent Of Body Fat

How the scale does not even tell accurately how "healthy" somebody is bothers me. I agree with this wholeheartedly. I think it CAN be a great weight loss tool, but I also believe too many people get hung up with the number on the scale, and thus become obsessed. I know I did. That is why I said "peace" to the scale, and consequently never hopped back on (this works for me).

However, there ARE tools that are possibly more accurate in telling a person how healthy he or she is. Have you ever heard of something called "skinny fat"? A person can be quite skinny (by 'standards') but still be quite unhealthy, carrying around extra body fat, and/or being unfit. He or she may not weigh very much, but BF percentage he or she carries may be unhealthy for his or her height. So, what WE might see, we might think/judge he/she is SO skinny, "no fair," when in reality WE might actually be 'healthier,' as we might be at a lower body fat level.

I am NOT saying we should judge or carry on comparisons, but what I AM saying is that YOU and I might be healthier than we think. It all depends on the body fat level we currently possess.

SO what IS percent of body fat? The percentage of BF on a person is literally the pounds of fat he/she carries in relation to the total body weight. For example, if someone carries 56 pounds of body fat and overall weight 160 pounds, he/she would be 35 percent of body fat.

Make sense? So in essence, calculating percentage of body fat would in actuality determine a possibly more accurate number than just the number on the scale. Don't we WANT to know how much of us is LEAN versus how much of us is FAT? If not, then health/wellness/caring for self may not be a big deal to ya anyways.

The best part??? YOU CAN CHANGE THE PERCENTAGE OF BODY FAT you currently carry (if you want to, this is good news)!

Lean 'weight' is comprised of:

Fat 'weight' is comprised of:

Thus, you can see that a LOT goes into play when someone steps on a scale. The number saying how much a person "weighs" includes ALL of the above body parts/cells/structures. HOLY moly. That is why it can be SO frustrating to step on a scale. The number can fluctuate anywhere between 2-15 lbs, depending on how much water he/she drank, bathroom usage, menstruation, and a myriad of other things.

Percent of body fat is a great tool to find out just how much lean tissue we currently have versus how much fat tissue. Obviously, if anyone wants to shed body fat, he/she would pay attention to this percentage (aka ratio).

Research has also shown that percent of BF may be a better predictor of longevity, reduction in risk for chronic disease, and compressed morbidity rates than total body weight alone.

Some things to watch out for when seeking to have your BF tested (if you want to):
calipers (used at most gyms) are the least effective....because of so many different factors (i.e. who is doing the test, what kind of calipers, etc)the BodPod (found in many research institutions) is one of THE best ways (percentage error: 1-2%)the DEXA scan is THE Gold Standard (i.e the best, currently) for BF testing(percentage error: <1%)underwater weighing is effective-but requires a lot of equipment and holding breath! (percentage error: 3-7%)electrical impedance is pretty accurate (error percentage: 1-5%for at-home scale:be WARY of these, b/c they are not standardized. Some could be pretty accurate and others not so much.

There ya have it! Also, if you care, research also shows that lifting weights regularly can help decrease BF more so than just simply cardio (because of the many benefits that come from lifting weights ). A weight lifting plan can do wonders for goals in that arena.

Annette is certified in several fitness formats, holds several degrees in the areas of health, wellness, nutrition, and fitness, and currently works as a personal health coach. Find more about her at EnjoyYourHealthyLife.com

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Bariatric (Weight Loss) Surgery - Expensive, Dangerous and Unnecessary!

A recent issue of the American Association of Retired People Bulletin ran a cover story on bariatric (weight loss) surgery in which they touted its many benefits. The article carried stories of people who had lost a great deal of weight after having had the surgery.

There were only two things the article either failed to mention completely or downplayed: costs, and risks and side effects. Both of these extremely important factors were, in a rare demonstration of editorial irresponsibility, left to the reader to discover themselves.

Let's start with costs. According to the Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery website, these procedure, depending on which one and where it is performed, can run from $17,000 to $30,000. That does not, however, cover the cost of things like additional plastic surgery, liposuction, labiaplasty, tummy tuck and breast augmentation.

Health insurance providers are just beginning to pay for some of this, but only if fairly stringent requirements are met. Some of these include having a body mass index (BMI) of over 40, which is extreme obesity; or having diabetes or serious heart issues associated with the overweight condition.

And, according to the site, "If your doctor informs the insurance company that the surgery is medically necessary and provides appropriate documentation, including records of your doctor-supervised attempts to lose weight such as drug therapy and group therapy."

Now how about the risks or side effects? The renowned Mayo Clinic website lists a number of very frightening possibilities, such as vitamin and mineral deficiency, dehydration, gallstones and bleeding stomach ulcers just to name a few. It goes on to say that there are rare, but possible, side effects from Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, which is the most popular, of pneumonia, blot clots in the legs, leaking at the staple points and the highly attractive side effect, death.

So now, you've accepted the risks, figure you can live with the side effects and could pony up the 30 grand. Here's what your doctor will tell you, you need to do for it to be really effective: diet, get exercise and change your lifestyle!

Hello! Ever heard that? Before you had your stomach stapled shut?

Here's one of the exciting lifestyle changes: you can't eat things in pieces any bigger than a pencil eraser because it may cause you to vomit or block the outlet of your new super sized stomach - the one reduced in size from 40 ounces to 1-2 ounces.

And here are some of the things you may not be able to eat anymore: meat, except in tiny pieces, well chewed; pasta and bread; and even vegetables can cause problems. What a lifestyle!

There are safe, natural alternatives to weight loss which cost a couple of bucks a day and provide results. But, the issue should be less about the losing the weight and more about preventing it in the first place. The problem comes down to the food supply of the average developed nation, like the US, is incredibly under-nutritious.

In my next article, I'll discuss some of the issues countries like the US face in being able to provide a nutritious diet to their populations.

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Overweight - Are Late Nights Making You Fat?

It is no secret that the size of our population is increasing. And I do mean outwards rather than in numbers. Discussions as to why this is the case are numerous and include anything from the type of food that we eat, the serving size, gut toxicity and hormones imbalances.

And now a study (St-Onge, March 2011) has found that not enough sleep can contribute. The study found that when tired, women ate around 328.6 extra calories a day compared to men who ate 262.7 extra calories a day.

Having worked night shift for some years, this really comes as no surprise to me. Without adequate sleep it is difficult to motivate oneself to cook a healthy meal. For me personally, waking up after only a few hours of sleep always ended up in a trip to the fridge. Having witnessed what was eaten on night shift by my fellow workers in the hospital (sweets & lollies, chips from the vending machine etc.); it is also of no surprise that sleep deprived people put on weight.

But when it comes to putting on weight and sleeping irregular hours, other factors also come in to play. The body has its own 24 hour clock called the circadian rhythm which is programmed for sleeping and eating at specific times of the day. For example our adrenal hormones are raised early in the mornings to support us becoming active as we prepare ourselves for the day. Our digestive function is supposedly at its most active at 8am in the morning. So for shift workers, going to sleep in the daytime and staying away through the night is fighting against the inbuilt functions of our body.

Stress can often be the cause of problem sleep, especially if a person is waking between 2 and 3 am. Raised cortisol levels can be the result of stress. These hormones are glucose based and can subsequently disrupt the burning of fat.

As tempting as it may be to stay up late to watch a movie or to go out clubbing at 10 o'clock at night, remember that these habits do not support your health. If working night shift is unavoidable here's a few tips to help control your weight and your health.

Plan ahead to ensure that you have plenty of healthy food available in the house, otherwise you may be tempted to grab the first thing at hand when you wake up hungry.Take a packet of nuts to work with you - nibbling on these is a healthy option that provides a good source of protein, fat and carbohydrate.Take food to work with you. This way you are less likely to join in the early morning sugar hit that many of your work mates will be relying on to get them through their shift.Try to avoid eating 4 hours prior to sleep time or having caffeine drinks late into your shift. This will only make sleep matters worse.Be prepared to change your exercise habits - abandoning them while doing night work will not help with sleep or burning those extra calories that might sneak in each day.Increase your sleep quality by establishing an environment that is sleep enhancing e.g.blackening out your bedroom, reducing all noise e.g. using an air conditioner to block out unwanted noise, no television in the room. Also take the phone off the hook, ask the neighbours to keep quite, avoid stimulating activity (e.g. exercise) prior to sleep.

By incorporating a few of these simple steps, longterm health and weight issues could be avoided.

Vivienne Savill is an author, Naturopath and Nurse who runs a natural health clinic in Australia. She is passionate about teaching people how to maintain good health and prevent ill health, through the use of diet, nutrition, lifestyle and herbs. Vivienne has written numerous self help books including How to Stop Metabolic Syndrome: A Prevention and Treatment Guide to Insulin Resistance, Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Disease, which can be found at http://www.recipetohealth.com/.

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Obesity Can Cause Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Many Types of Cancer, How To Diet to Improve Immunity

There is ample evidence showing the relationship between obesity and diabetes, and between obesity and heart disease. For about the past twenty years, however, the medical community has become increasingly aware that there is also a connection between obesity and cancer.

The most common sites for the cancer to develop are the esophagus, colon, kidney, uterus, and breast, particularly after menopause.

The American Institute for Cancer Research has linked more than 100,000 cancers per year in the United States to obesity. Further, the obesity related cancers have tripled in incidence over the past two decades.

The American Cancer Society estimates thirty percent of deaths due to cancer are the result of nutritional deficiencies, excessive weight, and inadequate exercise.

Of particular concern is the fact that obesity is on the rise and is considered to have reached epidemic proportions. One may rightly assume therefore that because there is a relationship between excess weight and cancers, the incidence of cancer will also increase.

The relationship between the obesity and cancer is not completely understood because of the complexities of each of the diseases. However, there are several possibilities which may explain the connection to some extent.

- Esophagus: Obesity causes an increase in the incidence of regurgitation of the stomach contents, particularly at nighttime. The stomach acids irritate and wear away the lining of the esophagus.

- Colon: Fat cells are known to produce estrogen. It is speculated that the excess estrogen makes the cells of the colon more prone to cancer.

- Kidney: As with the colon, it is suspected that estrogen secreted by the fat cells is responsible for the development of cancer.

- Endometrium: The lining of the uterus is particularly susceptible to negative effects of the estrogen load flooding the system from fat cells.

-Breast: Obesity appears to trigger mutations of genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2 which are precursors to cancer of the breast in post menopausal women. Obesity also makes thorough breast examination more difficult.

There are at least twenty additional types of cancer in which obesity has been implicated. Notably, the gall bladder, pancreas, and ovaries also appear to be susceptible.

The good news is that the American Cancer Society has dedicated a significant about of research funds in hopes of learning more about the connection between the two diseases of cancer and obesity.

Even though the scientific community remains unclear as to the nature of the correlation, there is little doubt that the threat is real.

For those struggling with obesity or raising children who are at risk for excessive weight gain, the fact that the incidence of cancer in cases of obesity should be enough to spur us into action.

Obesity is the root cause of many serious illnesses.

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Increase in Obesity Due to More Sedentary Jobs

As technology has made many jobs more sedentary, record numbers of Americans are also piling on the pounds, with new research confirming what many of us already suspected, this inactivity is a big contributor to the increase in obesity. Americans are actually burning from 120 to 140 less calories a day compared to just 50 years ago, in part because occupations have shifted from physically demanding to not so much. No surprise that the numbers of those overweight or obese have skyrocketed to what many consider epidemic proportions during these same years.

Researchers place a lot of the blame on calorie intake, though eating and exercise have both been widely studied. But with most of us spending more of our waking hours at work - what we do (or don't do) during those hours has a significant impact on daily activity.

Fifty years ago around 50% of jobs in the U.S. called for some type of physical activity (farming, construction, mining, manufacturing) as an integral part of the work, today it's around about 20% thanks to jobs in retail, business and education.

The authors contend that around 100 fewer calories burned each day would lead to the weight gain similar to what we've seen since 1960. If we were all following the government guidelines for being active (150 minutes of moderate activity, 70 minutes of vigorous activity) each week then we'd make up for the extra calories, but few of us are actually doing this, hence the levels of obesity and overweight. Only 25% of Americans are achieving this recommended amount of exercise on a regular basis.

It's the demands of our hectic life that make fitting in exercise so tough. Work and family keep us hopping, and our always on world doesn't help matters. What will is getting up and getting moving.

Putting conscious effort into moving more each day is a smart start. Suggestions like taking the stairs, parking far from the door, walking over to see at co-worker cube instead of sending an email, taking a walk at lunch or between meetings. If your company has an onsite gym, use it. If your benefit program helps out with the cost of health club memberships, take advantage of it.

The study authors suggest that companies need to do more to encourage activity at work... not only helping to stem the tide of obesity, but perhaps cutting the number of injuries as the unfit try to workout on the weekends.

In a book by a registered dietician the cornerstone of the plan is that the smallest, most simple changes can have a significant impact on what you eat and what you weigh. Working at your own pace, you take each tip in turn, and move on once you've mastered it. In no time you'll have made ten smart changes that will truly impact your weight. Not just for today, or the upcoming reunion... but from now on.

There's a great quote on exercise that drives the point home, especially true in today's mostly sedentary, "no time to workout" world with it's increase in obesity. "If you don't make time for regular exercise, sooner or later you'll have to make time for being ill"- the words of Edward Stanley (1826-1893).

FREE Bonus Secret Health Reports - For a limited time you can grab 5 FREE essential health reports from the Daily Health Bulletin. Click through now to discover other potential reasons behind the increase in obesity and how through diet and lifestyle changes you can lose weight and keep it off.

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Middle-Aged Spreads: The Shape of Things Come

Enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee at an outdoor café, and watch the world and his wife waddle by, and you'll see that the shape of the human race is changing. Pot bellies are now the norm rather than the exception. These unsightly bulges have become so commonplace that we're now treating them as figures of fun, referring to them as balconies, bay windows or bread baskets. But these jokey euphemisms shouldn't be allowed to conceal the fact that these anatomical aberrations are not just cosmetic disasters. Today they're a major health hazard, in the over-developed world, predisposing to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, asthma, and Type-2 diabetes.

It's unfortunate that evolutionary forces caused our primeval ancestors to carry the bulk of their excess fat stores around their waists. This development, which has been passed on to us, is in accord with sound ergonomic principles. The closer weights are carried to the spine, and the nearer to the body's centre of gravity, which is roughly the level of the navel, the easier they are to bear. This was shown some years ago, when two Indian researchers set a small group of volunteers the task of carrying 70lb of granite chips in a variety of different ways. Sometimes the load was carried in their hands, at other times on their head, or in a rucksack. The results revealed that the effort was least when the load was symmetrically balanced and carried as close as possible to the spine. This was best achieved by using a double pack harness, of the sort developed for use by commandos during WWII, which places the load on the abdomen and buttocks. This is exactly what happens when obese people carry their load of excess flab on their bellies and butts. Unfortunately, while this mode of transport is mechanically highly efficient, it's also carries a serious health risk. This is one time when what looks attractive to others, is equally good for us. Women must strive to regain their hour glass figures, which men have always found alluring. One of my overweight lady patients told me that she had retained her hour glass figure - it was just that the sand had dropped. Her measurements were still 38-24-35, but not necessarily in that order!

In the old days 'apples and pears' were cockney rhyming slang for 'stairs'. Now they're used to describe the shapes of people who carry their weight around their bellies (the 'apples'), and those who carry it primarily around their buttocks and thighs (the 'pears') Tests show that the apples are at greater risk of heart disease than the pears, or those whose fat is spread more evenly around the body. For this reason it's thought that measuring the waist-to-hip ratio is a more accurate health indicator than checking the overall body weight. To make this assessment, the hip circumference should be measured in inches at its widest point, and this figure then divided by the waist measurement taken in inches at the same level as the belly button. Men with a ratio greater than 1.0, and women with a ratio of 0.8 or more, have the greatest risk of heart disease. Research carried out at the University of Texas has also shown that people with the largest waist-to-hip ratios are twice as likely to have calcium deposits in their arteries, which predisposes them to arteriosclerosis and coronary disease. Having a pot belly can also increase the risk of asthma, even among people who would not otherwise be classified as overweight. This was revealed at the Northern California Cancer Centre, when a study was carried out of 130,000 women of varying shapes and sizes. This showed once again that the significant factor is not the overall body weight, but more particularly the place where the fat is stored. Even women whose weight was judged to be within normal limits were found to have a 37 per cent increased chance of developing asthma if their waistlines spanned more than 35 inches. In the same way a study carried out at Birmingham University showed that men with waists in excess of forty inches, and women with midriffs greater than thirty-five inches, have a two, to four-fold risk of developing Type-2 diabetes. All of which suggests that a camera, tape measure or full-length bathroom mirror is a better tool for assessing the health risks of obesity than a weighing machine.

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What Is the Hypothalamus Gland?

The hypothalamus is an endocrine gland located in the limbic region of the brain. The limbic region is associated with emotional processing, behaviors, the sense of smell, and long term memory abilities. This single gland has an effect on many different body functions including:

• Mood
• Hunger and thirst
• Sex drive
• Sleep
• Body temperature
• Stimulate or inhibit hormones from other endocrine glands
• Metabolism

The brain has a special artery, known as the hypophyseal portal system, used by the hypothalamus to send hormones directly to the anterior pituitary gland. This is an important feature since it causes the pituitary to release or decrease stimulating hormones that are used throughout the other anatomical features of the endocrine system. The proper function of the pituitary is vital to the health and regulation of the many systems within the body. The pituitary influences the ovaries and testes, as well as the adrenal glands and the thyroid gland.

When there is a dysfunction of the hypothalamus there is a cascade effect that occurs because of the heavy reliance upon this one gland to balance the endocrine system. This can result in problems throughout the body.

A breakdown in the ability of this gland can result in hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, low gonad function, and an imbalance of growth hormones due to the poor communication with the pituitary. These conditions can cause heart problems, infertility and impotence, osteoporosis, weakness, and diminished stature, as well as many other health complications.

With a strong correlation of the features in the endocrine system, it can be difficult to determine the symptoms of which have manifested as a result of a dysfunction of the hypothalamus. The symptoms can be general and vague such as constipation, fatigue, moodiness, difficulty thermal regulating, weight gain or loss, changes in menstrual cycle, or a diminished sexual drive. All of these conditions can be the result of other endocrine gland problems or the hypothalamus itself, further illustrating the closely intertwining relation of this system. It is necessary to have testing done to determine the exact cause of the problem.

Hypothalamus dysfunction can be triggered from eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, malnutrition, or excessive iron intake. If the individual is experiencing chronic bleeding, infections, or inflammation it can cause difficulty in the regulation of hormone levels resulting in symptoms. There are certain medical procedures such as surgery and radiation which can affect the limbic region of the brain. Occasionally people may even suffer from genetic disorders or abnormal growths which may predispose them to this condition.

After testing, which may include blood work or radiology such as an MRI, a medical treatment plan can be established. The endocrine system is like a pyramid with the hypothalamus at the top and its effects are gradually spread through many other anatomical features. For this reason, the testing performed can be superficial in an effort to address the immediate issue. As an example, if an individual has hypothyroidism that is what the treatment and testing focuses on, unless there is an additional complication the hypothalamus is not targeted.

When symptoms are the result of hormonal imbalances, there are many different supplements that can be taken to correct the problem associated with the specific deficiency. If the condition arises from infection, inflammation or bleeding there are treatments designed to address those issues. In the event there is a tumor which is creating the dysfunction, surgical options or radiation may be required. As previously noted, the symptom is addressed as it pertains to the specific endocrine gland that triggers the hormonal problem.

In general, despite its effect on many other organs and glands, a condition involving the hypothalamus maintains a good health outlook for the person suffering with these problems when provided appropriate medical care.

Despite its effect on many other organs and glands, a condition involving the hypothalamus maintains a good health outlook for the person suffering with these problems when provided appropriate medical care. Consider the HCG diet. With pure hcg drops you can lose up to 1-2 pounds a day and you will keep it off.

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Blazing The Belly Doughnut

Fitness is a growing concern in today's busy modern world, because as people are working longer hours and sometimes multiple jobs, it can be difficult to find the time for proper exercise routines. Yet, such a concern is no small matter as the top medical conditions that are rising in prevalence and costing millions of dollars annually are related to lack of an active lifestyle.

Finding the time for personal fitness can be rough. Experts will recommend to set aside at least half an hour each day for exercise, and sometimes it can seem impossible to get even that much when commute time is worked into it. In addition to that, many places set aside for specific exercise workouts will require monthly commitments which many people may not be able to financially deal with, especially when such a cost is coupled with the lack of time.

Luckily, there are many ways to remain fit even if one can't separate the time every morning or afternoon to go to a paid personal gymnasium. Simply put, leading an active lifestyle is possible for everyone, and sometimes all it takes is a few simple changes that will be easy to incorporate in even the busiest lifestyle.

What some people may not know is that small changes can make a big difference. Choosing to park farther away from the door and walking a few extra feet every day can add to the overall energy that is spent. Weight loss is a matter of expending more energy than the body takes in every day, and every little bit helps.

Another thing that many people may not be aware of is that it is not truly possible to target any single given area of the body. To get rid of belly fat, the entire body must be made healthier and more fit. A good starting point is adding as many ways to expend energy as possible, but food is also important.

Replacing soft drinks with water is a great way to cut down on the extra calories. Another inexpensive, simple way, is to stop eating out. Many fast food restaurants prepare their meals in a way that can introduce a large amount of calories that a home made meal would not do. Packing a lunch can save a few dollars and help with losing those unsightly pounds.

The types of foods to cut out may be surprising to some people. There is nothing wrong with an occasional desert, and in fact, researchers have found that consuming a little bit of chocolate can do wonders to lift moods up and may even be healthy for the heart.

However, certain foods such as pasta and dairy products are best enjoyed in moderation. These foods can be particularly rich in fat and can lead to unwanted weight gain if consumed too much. It is always good to eat healthier, and work out more, if one is trying to become a healthier and skinnier person.

For more helpful fitness tips advice and products visit us at http://fitnessandexerciselife.com/.

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Bioidentical Hormones and Weight Loss

Everyone knows that losing weight is difficult for most women. Perhaps it is because our bodies work against us if our hormones are not balanced. Therefore, the need for balancing our hormones could be the main issue in weight loss. Bioidentical hormones like the product Amberen may be the answer. Bioidentical hormones are plant based as opposed to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) made of synthetic hormones or animal -derived hormones which may not be assimilated in the human body and could cause even more weight gain problems.

Actually, a woman who has unbalanced hormones has many problems other than weight gain, but weight gain contributes to all her other problems. She may be experiencing all the symptoms of menopause such as lack of energy, loss of libido, loss of energy, irritability and mood swings, trouble concentrating, hot flashes, and night sweats. Weight gain is just one of her problems.

One cause of weight gain and difficulty in losing weight may be a thyroid deficiency. The thyroid gland produces hormones known as T3 and T4. These hormones help our body metabolize calories. Doctors prescribe medicine if they find that we are low in T3 and T4. Often they prescribe Synthroid for hypothyrodism.
Testosterone is another hormone that helps our body metabolize calories and burn fat more efficiently. It also prevents storage of fat around the mid section. If testosterone and progesterone levels decrease leaving us estrogen dominate, we may gain weight and experience severe fatigue.

Bioidentical testosterone regulates hormone levels and helps symptoms such as fatigue and lack of sexual desire. Testosterone is also connected to aggressiveness, development of muscle mass and social outlook.

Balancing hormones with bioidentical hormones can alleviate fatigue, increase bone loss, boost sex drive, relieve hot flashes, stop night sweats, relieve anxiety attacks, stop weight gain, and make a woman feel younger. Bioidentical hormones are derived from plants. Bio identical testosterone is made from extracts from soy and yams.

Bioidentical testosterone creams are made when these extracts are combined with cream and applied directly to the skin. Taking testosterone pills is not recommended since their potency is reduced during the digestive process.

One safe way to balance hormones is with bioidentical hormones and perhaps a progesterone cream that is formulated from plant sources that our body synthesizes like it did our own natural progesterone. When buying progesterone cream, make certain that it contains at 20 mg of USP progesterone per dose. Progesterone helps our bodies use fat for energy.

Prognenolone is a hormone that is made from cholesterol. It helps relieve stress, lifts our mood, improves brain function and helps increase testosterone levels to improve metabolism.

J. Wray is a Cougar who helps other Cougars with sexual secrets, style, beauty, health, and fitness issues at her website http://www.sexualsecrets.biz/

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Obesity Strategies Are In Need

It has been known for many years that obesity is associated with the increase risks of heart disease and other, and that the problem, needs to be resolved more effectively. Just a while ago, obesity has been identified as an immense population problem, and needs preventive measures to be taken. What are the reasons, and causes of this widespread disease, and what needs to be done to prevent it?

Your genes can decide individual vulnerability to gaining weight, but the widespread disease of obesity is not affiliated with genetics, because the increase in obesity has happened over a short period of time for the genetic make up of the population to have changed considerably.

The current widespread disease of obesity is caused mostly by a world that advertises extensive food consumption and represses physical activity. Influences like increasing the accessibility and promotion of foods, increases in jobs that use computers, and television viewing, the reliance on motor vehicles for transportation, the reductions in physical education in schools have all contributed to this obesity problem.

To prevent obesity a few health officials have suggested a series of community based plans that place an importance on changing the surroundings. These include strategies like modifying the design of buildings to promote the use of stairs, making neighbourhoods more walkable by adding more sidewalks, making food labels easier to read to help consumers make better choices, and increasing healthy foods in schools. But most of these health officials have focused on providing education and other forms of awareness, with little attention on community change.

A recent arranged study of preventing obesity in children, the researchers analyzed six long-term studies for one year. These involved children from kindergarten to ages 12. A combination of strategies were used, with all but one that gave nutrition education, with the strong importance of lowering the eating of fats while increasing vegetables and fruits.

Four studies included increasing physical activity, and one also focused on motionless behaviours, mostly television viewing. One attempted to modify the school's food resources. The reviewers decided that strategies that implement a lowering in physical activity and an increase in physical activity might be helpful in preventing obesity in children with the warning that currently only high quality data on the effectiveness are available. The results were that the few weight gain prevention studies had very limited a success.

With the threats to the health of people due to obesity, why haven't more efforts been made to prevent it? It is only in the past five years that obesity has become identified as an issue that needs prevention. We lack the comprehension of its causes and where to mediate. Without a doubt, the need to prevent obesity is critical. More research is needed to build the improvement of community based plans. I hope you enjoyed the article.

I know how it feels to be picked on and laughed at, because I was overweight growing up. Weight Loss is a struggle that can be achieved with good determination, and knowledge. I have lost 102 pounds and still getting results with the same diet program. If this diet plan is not right for you please find one that is! You will look and feel so much better. Visit-> Obesity Strategies

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Surviving Weight Loss Whiplash

Surviving weight loss whiplash can often be very painful. I call it weight loss whiplash because like driving a car down the road, you are going along on your journey to health and then wham! You get hit with something so unexpected. The pain is so excruciating. The scars it leaves and the pain you must endure may threaten to make you never want to drive again!

Often when you begin a weight loss journey the people in your life that you feel should be supportive aren't. This may make you resent them. It may make you doubt your own efforts or your ability to succeed. You may want to keep in mind that this journey is about you. Your health and longevity depend on it!

It may seem difficult to focus on yourself. You may find that you feel you are being selfish for focusing on your own needs. It is important that you take care of yourself. You have to believe that you are worth this journey! You may find that those who aren't supportive of your efforts may need to have their time with you limited or eliminated.

I had the experience of actually losing several friends as I began to lose weight. At first it was very painful. I felt so hurt and it made me doubt my efforts and success. It also made me wonder if the cost was really worth the benefit. I didn't want to lose friends or make the choice not to be around certain family members.

As I progressed in my journey I realized that I was eliminating the negative and making room for the positive. I had to choose who was in my circle of support. I soon realized if a person wasn't going to bring positive to the table, then they weren't going to be allowed at my table. And boy was I shocked when I realized that even meant a few family members and friends.

I noticed as I began to heal myself and progress in my weight loss, I began to make a new circle of friends. I found as I surrounded myself with positive people it made it easier for me to stay on track with my journey to health. I also found that being around people of like minds served my best interest. I now realize that had I not made the choice, no matter how painful at the time, to experience this weight loss whiplash I would still be well over 800 pounds or dead!

Get ready for the weight loss whiplash. Prepare yourself to make difficult choices. Think ahead about how you will feel when you are healthy. Think about how you will be able to better fulfill who you are meant to be. Surround yourself with positive! Love yourself and allow others to love you too.

By the way, do you want to learn more about how to reach your ideal body weight?

If so, I suggest you contact me at releasethepounds@yahoo.com. I have released over 350 pounds so far! Learn from my expertise!

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Can Obesity Be Solved At Home With The Flex Belt?

We live in a world of increasing obesity and many people seem unwilling or unable to do that much about their weight. Most people are aware of the health benefits of a slimmer figure but for many the chances of getting one are as remote as flying to the moon. They cannot be bothered or after a hectic day at work, are just too tired. There is also the cost and time that has to be taken to account in any gym membership.

This is where equipment like the Flex Belt can prove useful. As part of an exercise regime it can help tone and shift the pounds and even used on its own, it has a place although the effects may not be as dramatic.

The Flex Belt can be worn around those parts of the body that would benefit from a workout. The waist is an obvious target on many people, but it can also be used on the bottom and thighs and even the arms.

The belt is quite simple to operate although the actual mechanics of use may take some time to get accustomed to. It is fitted around the appropriate area and the settings adjusted to the intensity of the desired workout. It is recommended that this starts slowly and increases as the user gets familiar with the effects.

The belt works by mimicking the effects of muscle contraction and relaxation, something like you would get by flexing the muscles and relaxing them, or of course by lifting a weight or performing a sit up.

One of the factors in weight gain is water retention. The feeling of being bloated and overweight is hardly conducive to wanting to do a work out and the circle repeats itself, no exercise, added fluid retention, more lethargy. The Flex Belt by manipulating and vibrating the areas of use can help to move some of that fluid around, making the idea of exercise somewhat more appealing.

There is no doubt that working out in an intensive way with cardio exercise and a healthy attitude to food is going to have a quicker effect on the waistline and those who use the Flex Belt as part of an overall regime rather than relying on it exclusively will see better more rapid results. Walking briskly for fifteen to thirty minutes a day at least three times a week and eating less fast food will accelerate the good work of the Flex Belt. Like all exercise and dieting regimes, there is no magic involved. The Flex Belt can work and work well and for those who have never done any exercise but want to make a start with something that can be used at home, there is little equal, but it will take time and patience to see the results. There are no overnight cures for a fat belly except perhaps surgery and that comes with its own not insignificant risk.

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Belly Flop: A Telltale Sign of Self Neglect

People have a weight problem the moment they start to show signs of a middle aged spread. This is where fat most commonly accumulates, and this is where it does the greatest harm. Many people today ignore these tell-tale signs.

Surveys show that two thirds of Australian men are over-weight, yet kid themselves they're not. Others believe that the love handles appearing around their waist are an inexorable part of the ageing process. That's total twaddle. Whether we're eighteen or eighty our muscles never turn to fat. If we exercise too little and eat too much, our muscles waste and our fat stores swell, but while these biological changes often occur together, they're not causally linked.

The moment you spot the signs of a bulging belly take yourself in hand. Embark on a regime of life style change which will enable you to achieve permanent weight control without the need for regular spells of crash dieting. There are no short cuts, and no easy ways of losing your spare tyre by spot reduction. You can have your belly kneaded until it's black and blue, but none of the surplus fat will be dispersed. Only the person giving the massage will lose weight. Nor can you flatten your stomach with electrical stimulation.

The muscles of your thighs and belly wall will react if you wire them up to a machine which subjects them to faradic stimulation, but the twitches produced will be nowhere near as strong as the powerful contractions you'll get if you carry out tummy strengthening exercises. Despite this well known fact a well-known company continues to market these machines, and claims to have sold over three million units, on their copywriters' promise that they will 'improve muscle tone and body shape'. This doesn't prove that faradic stimulation works, merely that there are a multitude of gullible people anxious for a quick fix cure.

Abdominal crunches can improve your posture, but they don't get rid of midriff fat. This was shown some years ago when a group of volunteers carried out an average of 185 sit-ups a day for 27 days and showed no reduction whatsoever in their levels of abdominal fat. If it's cosmetic appearance that matters, you'll get quicker results by wearing an abdominal belt or old fashioned belly binder, like the elasticated 'Magic Knickers' now being offered by Marks and Spencer to shape the female waist, derriere and upper thighs. These have the added advantage that they can also improve the abdominal circulation, since blood tends to pool in the abdomen when the belly sags. Tests carried out in America have shown that people with protruding bellies can speed the circulation of their blood by as much as 40 per cent if they wear a stout abdominal belt.

But these contraptions are cumbersome to wear, and restrict the easy in- and-out movement of the stomach wall which should accompany the regular rise and fall of the diaphragm during easy, natural breathing. The simple solution to these problems is to develop a firm, washboard abdomen. This can be done by the regular performance of an exercise which fitness buffs refer to as an 'abdominal retraction'. This can be performed without expensive equipment, and without scrambling about on the floor, since it involves no more drawing in the tummy wall in an imaginary attempt to pin the navel against the spine. This should be done at odd times during the day, when you're waiting for a bus, or standing in line in a check-out queue. This won't reduce your weight, but it will improve your health and enhance your appearance. Next time we'll investigate the benefits, and long term effects, of liposuction as a means of spot reduction.

http://www.donaldnorfolk.co.uk

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Obesity: The Disturbing Facts

Obesity is defined as excess total body fat, and is usually seen in people who weight 20% or more over their normal body weight. BMI or body mass index is the most common method of measuring for obesity. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 shows a person to be overweight, and if the measurement reaches 30 or higher, the person is considered obese. Morbid obesity is when a person's BMI is 40 or higher and they are 50% or more above their normal weight.

It is common knowledge that consuming more calories than we burn in a day can lead to obesity, but there are other obesity facts that should be considered.

• Age is the leading factor in obesity. As person ages, their body metabolism lowers, which can result in weight gain in later years if the person is still maintaining the same diet and exercise routine as they did when they were younger.

• Gender is another major factor in obesity. Women have a higher percentage of obesity than men. A women's metabolism is lower than a man's, which means they burn less calories per activity than a man does. In later years when a woman becomes menopausal, their metabolism slows down causing significant weight gain postmenopausal.

• Genetics is an obesity fact whether it's being overweight or thin. Children of biological parents tend to adapt to the same weight and body type as their parents. Studies have shown that a child of an overweight mother has a 75% chance of being overweight as well. The same is true of a child of a thin mother; they also have a 75% chance of being thin.

• Environment also plays a role in obesity. In many cases, a person's environment plays a huge role in whether a person eats and exercises right. If a person is surrounded with other people who do not exercise or eat properly, they tend to follow the same patterns.

• Physical exercise tends to lower a person appetite while raising their metabolism. A person who tends to be inactive has a lower metabolism, and has a larger appetite. Research has also shown that many inactive people tend to eat out of boredom instead of hunger, and is more common in women. In the last 20 year, obesity has increased dramatically due to decrease of physical activity of the general public. Many experts blame this on the electronic generation, where children over the past 20 years have been raised by electronics that are more appealing than simply playing outside. This behavior in children can lead to obesity and will follow them into adulthood.

• Psychology also plays a role in influencing a person activities and eating habits. A person often eats to fill the boredom or in response to negative feeling of sadness or anger. Women tend to overeat during menopause as their hormone levels become imbalanced and they suffer from moments of depression.

• Illnesses such as hypothyroidism can also lead to obesity, which is an over active thyroid that tends to slow a person's metabolism.

• Medications such as steroids and antidepressants can also cause a person to gain weight.

Is Obesity a Disease -Up to date information on obesity and illness.

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Is the Bacteria in Your Gut Making You Fat?

Every individual that is overweight has their own reasoning as to why they are having a weight problem. Often it is blamed on the types of food they eat, or eating too many calories and not enough exercise. What may not be thought about however, is how the gut is reacting to the foods that is being introduced, or how the bacteria in the gut plays an important role in weight control.

An interesting study has shown that individuals that have a normal weight have a certain type of bacteria, whereas those that are suffering from obesity have a greater quantity of another type of bacteria. This is causing them to take a look at whether the condition and state of the digestive system of individuals, is playing a role in their weight levels.

It's really interesting to see two individuals that can consume the exact same food yet their systems react differently to it. Some studies have shown that when this takes place, the calories that come from the foods are used by the body differently by the people eating the exact same meal. One individual may store more calories than the other. Much more research as to why this happens is being conducted to find the true answers

Something else that is being looked at in the research field is if there are certain viruses that are found in the gut that could be a factor in weight gain as well. Most of this is conjecture and theory at the moment, but it's an area that is being looked at more closely.

The answers to many of these questions may soon prove why some individuals do well when dieting and others don't. It is not unusual for two individuals to be on the exact same diet and yet some will have great success at losing weight, whereas others won't.

How the gut plays its role in the body is being closely looked at in many other areas besides weight. There is evidence becoming present that it may affect individuals who suffer from depression or some psychological conditions.

Based on these new findings it would do well for individuals that are suffering from weight problems to take a closer look at the types of foods that they are eating and what effects the consumption is having on their gut. Alternatevly, explore the possibility that there is a potential problem in this area that could be either causing them to gain the excess weight, or perhaps they are finding the weight difficult to lose.

If you are dealing with any weight issues be sure to check out http://www.fastfatoff.com/ for some interesting information. For the role that the gut is having on the health don't miss out what http://www.livinglifearticles.info/ has to offer.

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Reduce Abdominal Fat - 4 Essential Steps to Finally Flatten Your Stomach For Good

Abdominal fat is just disgusting. Having a bulging and protruding mid-section doesn't really look good whether you're a man or a woman. It's attention grabbing and object of ridicule. If you have abdominal fat, you need not suffer all the mocking remarks and scornful looks. Now is the best time to make change and improve yourself, not merely for physical reasons, but for a far more serious reason - your health. Make a conscious decision to finally reduce abdominal fat now, not tomorrow not next week.

Truth is, abdominal fat is the most dangerous bundle of fat accumulated in the body. This is because your internal organs are in the abdominal cavity, and their well-being is being compromised due to fat in-between and around the organs. This posed some serious concern. The good thing is, abdominal fat can be controlled and removed. I have here 4 vital ways to help you lose abdominal fat for good:

Lessen Calorie In-take

Even if you're doing strenuous exercises but you're not lessening calorie in-take nothing will happen; you will just get stuck to your original weight and body size. In order to lose around 1 pound per week, decrease your current calorie level by about 500 calories. Just remember to never consume less than 1,100 calories as this is not healthy anymore.

You must cut calorie consumption slowly and safe. Drastic change or suddenly losing pounds at once is a bit unhealthy and has possibility that the lost pounds will come back just as fast.

Do Extensive Exercise

"Spot-burn" abdominal fat is not effective. You need to have a regimen that would help you lose whole body fat instead of spot reduction. Aerobic exercise is the best. It makes you breathe hard while using the large muscle groups at a regular, even pace.

Your body uses stored carbohydrate and it is circulating fatty acids for energy thereby making you lose weight. To effectively lose body fat, adding resistance training with your aerobic exercise is the best. You can make use of resistance bands, exercise machines or free weights.

Drink 3 liters of Water/day

Water is an essential and indispensable liquid sustenance no one can live without. Well-hydrated body assists your muscles and organs to work efficiently. When your whole system is working well, your metabolic rate increases and you will feel more active. Your metabolism burns calories 3% faster with the help of water.

Metabolism is vital in losing weight and in flushing out toxins and fat so it's significant to give your body what it needs like enough water sustenance in order for it to work to its full capacity.

Understanding Health Risks linked with Abdominal Fat

Knowing and understanding the health risks related to having abdominal fat will definitely pump you up to do everything to reduce belly fat. These related illnesses are not simple health issues that can easily be cured. Having diabetes, cancer, hypertension or heart ailment is not a joke. These are life-threatening conditions that are very costly and entail life long medications.

Now please pay attention here:

Having abdominal fat is a serious matter. It is a medical issue that needs to be addressed the soonest possible time to avoid health risks and complications in the future. Coronary heart disease, Diabetes, Cancer, Hypertension, and Gynecological problems are just some of the ailments that may befall those obese and overweight.

You can always diet and exercise on your own but it is better to ask assistance and try proven alternative programs in the market. One such proven diet program that is receiving rave reviews is the "calorie shifting diet" from Fat Loss 4 Idiots.

Click http://www.reduceabdominalfats.info/ now and get your body and life back into Shape for good!

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Is Obesity More Prevalent in America Than European Countries? My Eye Test Says Yes!

I just came back from a vacation with my family. We went to Italy and Lithuania. During our stay, I did make some interesting observations regarding obesity in Europe; there really is no obesity in Europe. Of course there are those who are a little overweight, but it's not like it is here in the States.

So, why is there obesity in America and how is Europe able to stay trim? Some of my thoughts here are based on the eye test and some based on research and general knowledge. First, I did notice some real differences in culture. European cities do have fast food but not commercial fast food, at least to the point that we have in the US. In Lithuania, a lot of the diet includes a variety of potato dishes, which of course is a starch and from what I have heard over the years, should not be eaten regularly in order to maintain normal weight. Lithuanians are typically big boned and tall. This is my third trip to Lithuania spanning 12 years. I've never spotted a person that was markedly overweight like you see every day here in the US.

My family and I then spent four days in Rome. Everyone knows about the wonderful pasta dishes one can eat. What I saw for four days in Rome is this: pasta, ready made pizza stands on almost every street corner, bakeries with that outstanding crusty bread. The cookies and gelato stores are everywhere and filled with people. Not just the tourists in these stores. The locals are in these stores too. So, are those locals overweight? Nope, it's basically the same as in Lithuania, no overweight people. Ok, let's break this down; what are the differences in the American and European cultures?

1. What I did not see in Europe were the usual fast food shops that you see in the US. In America and on any street corner, there are plenty of restaurants that use trans-fats oil, the unhealthiest of all oils. Restaurants claim it's changing and are purportedly using healthier oils. Whether or not trans-fats are used, it's still saturated fats, which move from your mouth right over to your hips and belly.

2. Americans feast on their favorite vegetable, French fries, their favorite sandwich a big burger with cheese and wash it down with a large soda that's made with high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener. The burger alone is 29 grams of fat. A medium order of fries is 22 grams of fat. 51 Grams! What about the pop? Frankly, it's in a league of its own. On average, there are 7-10 teaspoons of sugar in a serving of pop. That's just one serving but many people, especially teens have 3 or more cans a day! 3 cans of pop are 30 Tsp. of sugar. Oh, do you think anyone has dessert?

3. High fructose corn syrup is a real health hazard and used in everything from ice cream, cookies, cakes, commercial breads, meats and sausages. HFCS is the number one source of calories in the US. The biggest culprit for this horrible product is soda pop. We are the number one consumer of soda pop per capita in the world. High empty calories providing no nourishment. Is it a wonder Americans are breaking the scale? On the other side are the diet sodas that are made with aspartame or other artificial sweetners. Those are getting a reputation for being more unhealthy than the sugared sodas.

4. From a young age, it's apparent that many kids are sent the wrong message about diet and nutrition. It is also apparent that most families don't sit down together at the dinner table every night. Whether or not kids liked it, back in the day, that's what we all did. We sat down at the dinner table and had a balanced meal. Now, too much junk food fills their stomachs and there is no room for a nourishing meal. Their diet is poor at home and now, school lunches are being criticized even on TV with the Jamie Oliver food experience. How do they break the chain?

5. I hate to show my age but back in the day before electronic games, my friends and I would literally hang out after school to play any sport we could. That was our past time. That was our exercise. I try to get my 14 year old outside and away from the laptop. It's very difficult. We do play tennis a couple times a week and he has gym in school but the culture is very different. There really is no motivation for kids to go out and play after school. The poor diet and lousy exercise regimen makes for fat kids. Fat kids turn into fat adults. Jamie Oliver is really opening some eyes to what American kids are eating in school.

6. Exercise for adults in the US is quite a bit different than what I saw in Europe. Americans use their cars a heck of a lot more than Europeans. If there is a good reason for the gas prices going up as they are, perhaps more people will walk or bike instead of driving everywhere and anywhere. Regarding actual exercise, I sense that health clubs and working out is more of an American thing where Europeans just do more physical labor like walk and take stairs.

I hope that we as a nation can turn this obesity issue around because with obesity comes poor health. Issues like diabetes, heavy metal toxicity, high blood pressure and more will put an extra burden on our health insurance system.

Peter Pauletti created his website in an effort to make people aware of heavy metal toxicity in children and adults. Toxicity comes from many sources including from foods in the above mentioned article.

For more information, go to http://healyourtoxicchild.com/.

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African Mango - Another Weapon Against Obesity

In Cameroon Africa there is a rare type of mango fruit from which African mango extract is gathered. The seeds of the plant contain the element that is attributed to its weight loss properties. The extract is called irvingia gabonensis and has been used for hundreds of years in Africa and is reputed by the natives to have many health benefits.

This wonderful extract may have many medical benefits in addition to help with weight loss. The aid to weight loss occurs because the extract speeds up the metabolism in the body and this means it can help the body burn many more calories.

The seeds of this fruit have heat generating properties that help burn body fats. Obesity in this country is a national epidemic, in fact, obesity has become a problem throughout the world. Anything that can safely help control this epidemic would be worthwhile.

Research has seen compelling results in both weight reduction, body fat reduction and reduction of waist circumference with this supplement as well as a reduction in leptin (the obesity hormone) levels.

Although African mango has been studied for over 20 years in this country, it has more recently been studied for its aid in weight loss. In double blind testing the supplement showed positive clinical results also in treating insulin resistance and high cholesterol conditions.

Participants in various studies were administered 150 mg twice a day before meals. The participants results were weight reduction and an improvement within metabolic guidelines associated with insulin resistance.

Aside from the promising laboratory results, African Mango has a very low propensity for abuse. It also has been clinically proven to have no weight rebound effect.

Of course, when starting a weight loss program, one should never rely entirely on supplements alone; one must eat a healthy diet and include some exercise in order to meet weight loss goals.

Remember loosing weight is difficult and it is about using the extra weight you have accumulated as energy. You must burn calories for energy and if you do not burn more calories than you ingest you will gain weight.

To a large extent metabolism also plays an indispensable role in your health. If it is slow your body will absorb excess calories that turn to fat. This supplement will help increase your metabolism and aid in preventing your body from storing excess fat.

The research appears to be so positive regarding this supplement and there does not seem to be any adverse side effects or dosage restrictions. Seriously, what have you got to lose - maybe more weight with African Mango.

Virginia Brown - wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and proud member of the Wintu Tribe of Northern California. Always seeking better and healthier ways to live my life. Live well and be happy.

http://Stayhealthyinfo.com/Mango.html

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Hypnotic Gastric Banding As An Alternative: Why You Should Choose It

From working with so many people who have had gastric banding, I have worked hard to perfect my method. I am concerned that people still undergo this risky operation without being aware of the facts. In my experience, having your stomach shrunk by surgery does not always result in dramatic long-term weight loss.

While there is no doubt that having a smaller volume of stomach will prevent you eating large dinners or bulky meals, it does not prevent you from eating the very food that is the major cause of weight gain: sugar. Because sugar is a dense food, you can eat huge amounts of it. You can consume several packets of biscuits, a bucket of sugary popcorn and large amounts of chocolate even with a smaller stomach, but you could never consume a bucket of lamb chops or chicken fillets, as you would feel full quite quickly.

Hypnotic gastric banding addresses food issues!

Unlike hypnotic gastric banding, gastric banding fails to address cravings. When you eat sugar your body is looking for nutrition. Because it is not getting any it will encourage you to go on eating in the belief that eventually it will get something nutritious, which never happens as sugar is a worthless chemical that has no nutritional values at all. Even with gastric banding it is possible to go on eating quite large amounts of chocolates and cakes and this is a major problem. With gastric banding it is essential that you eat real and proper food in order to get essential nutrients. It is dangerous when people who have had banding stop eating real food as it often makes them vomit and so they instead stick to sugar, starch and confectionery.

When I worked on Celebrity Fit Club USA, three of the celebrities had had stomach banding but despite this, they were hugely overweight (one weighed 800lbs/ 55 stone). Spending time with this person, I noticed that they ate very slowly but still large amounts as they had learnt that if they ate slowly they could go on eating and thus, take in large amounts of calories. Another celebrity appeared to live on a diet of cream cakes, chocolate and cheese and again, she could eat a lot of these foods as they are dense and don't require a large stomach to eat them in large quantities. Yet another client seemed to live on full fat milky lattes, which she would dip croissants and muffins into and she seemed to be constantly eating and drinking these, despite the banding. She was consuming a lot of calories in the form of sugar and starch, which train the body to store fat. Many patients I see who have had banding stop eating real food altogether and live on smoothies, milkshakes and juices and the high sugar content continually raises their insulin levels leaving them more prone to fat storing.

So what else does hypnotic gastric banding consider?

If you want your body to become a fat burning machine you need to avoid refined sugar and avoid starch like bread, pasta and pastry. Starch turns to sugar really quickly. Your body can only store fat if insulin is present and insulin is only present in the body when you have eaten carbohydrates. Therefore, the most effective way to become slimmer and maintain a slim body is to cut out starch and sugar and eat the food that nature meant you to eat: lean protein meat, fish, poultry, eggs, fruit, vegetables, etc. You don't need to limit quantity because your body cannot and will not store fat if no carbs are present. Therefore a gastric band simply discourages you from eating the very foods that burn fat and encourages you to eat the very foods that make your body store fat. And weight loss almost always plateaus with a gastric band, which is very disheartening. Vanessa Feltz has recently reported this issue with her gastric banding.

Here is the proven answer.

What my hypnotic gastric band method does is readjust your stomach size but also allows you to become elated and enjoy eating healthier food. Hypno gastric banding is a safer, non-evasive long-term option. Simply altering your body physically may not give long term results but by addressing the main issue that caused the over eating, you will be able to love healthier alternatives.

I have made a hypnotic gastric banding CD that encourages you to believe and to feel that you have a small, tiny, shrunken stomach, which in turn encourages you to eat less and to feel full quickly while becoming slimmer. It also programmes and conditions you to only want to eat real and nutritious food while becoming indifferent to and disinterested in sugar and junk. It is a healthier, safer and much better way to become and to stay slimmer with no nasty side effects.

You can read about how very effective my treatment is in the Daily Mirror.

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If Done The Right Way, Fasting Can Facilitate Weight Loss

Fasting is a difficult technique when you consider it for weight loss, but if done the proper way, it can help you lose weight effectively. It is usually the idea of consuming enough nutrients to keep your body functioning. Eating too much can have harmful consequences on your health, and ruin your plan to achieve a significant weight loss.

Intermittent fasting can cut calories

Fasting can increase the hormones responsible for burning fat. Intermittent fasting is an alternate pattern of eating between periods of fasting and non-fasting. Unlike diet plans, there are no special meal plans; you fast for short periods after eating what you want. These short calorie deficits help you lose significant weight without being on a diet roller-coaster. Intermittent fasting actually gives your digestive system a break and in the process it burns extra calories stored in the body. Apart from cutting calories, intermittent fasting gives you more freedom with your diet. In between fasts, you can eat whatever you like without following a strict diet plan. Needless to say, the better diet you eat, the more effective and fast weight loss you achieve. That being said, if you fast two times a week without changing anything in your diet pattern, you can achieve your desired weight loss.

Is intermittent fasting healthy?

Before delving into this discussion, first of all, it is important to be aware of the difference between fasting and starvation. It is a well known fact that starvation implies lack of adequate nutrition. It is the most extreme form of malnutrition. But fasting is about calorie restriction without compromising with nutrition. In particular, when you fast, diet must be balanced (even if you restrict calories). One of the most common side effects of fasting is muscle loss. When your body is low on calories, it fetches not only from stored fat, but also from muscles. Fasting can also cause fatigue and hallucinations. If not done right, it is associated with many risks, and could do far more damage to health than good. So in conclusion, fasting is an extreme way to lose weight, and is probably not for everyone. It is by no means a "miracle cure" for weight gain, it's just a simple concept that can work effectively, if done under medical supervision. Do not fast if you are under medical treatment, pregnant or nursing, or recovering from surgery.

Weight management with slimming pills

For many people exercise and diet alone cannot provide effective weight loss. They need something extra to curb their hunger, boost their metabolism, or block the absorption of dietary fat into the body. This is where slimming pills comes into the picture - they are a type of prescription medicines that are formulated to help in weight loss. These pills can be categorized as appetite suppressants, metabolism boosters, and fat blockers. Xenical is one such slimming pill which belongs to the fat blockers group of drugs. It can prevent absorption of up to 30% of dietary fats in the body. Orlistat is the active ingredient in Xenical that blocks the action of an enzyme called lipase, which is responsible for breaking down of fats into smaller molecules in the stomach for absorption. Xenical slimming pills work effectively in conjunction with regular exercise and healthy diet to provide obesity treatment.

Tom is one of the good article writers having much experience in writing health articles. He has written many articles on Xenical Orlistat for Obesity treatment

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Obesity Health Risks And Treatment

I'm sure you already know that obesity is an epidemic in the United States. Collected data shows that obesity continues to rise year after year. It would probably be a good idea if you prioritized healthy habits to the top of your to-do list. What is even more upsetting is that not only are adults suffering from obesity and the chronic diseases that come along with it, but children as well. To be exact, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. But according to a few studies, the rise of obesity is slowing down and believed to be because of health-related media or a biologic limitation on obesity.

What would be considered a healthy weight for me?

According to the Body Mass Index (BMI) which is determined by height and weight, if your BMI is 18-24, you are considered healthy. If your BMI is 18 or lower you are considered underweight, which also has its health problems. If your BMI is anywhere from 25-29, you are considered overweight. If it's between 30 and 39, you'd be in the obese category. And anything over a BMI of 39 would be considered extremely obese. Take into consideration that a muscular body builder with a BMI of 35 wouldn't necessarily mean that he was overweight. This is because a BMI chart does not take body fat percentage into consideration. But you should have no problem categorizing yourself into one of these groups because you should have a decent idea of whether you are overly muscular or overweight.

Obesity is not something to take for granted and if you are overweight or obese than you should take action now and make necessary lifestyle changes in order to become healthier. Many health problems can arise from being obese such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, certain types of cancers, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity can also significantly reduce your life expectancy.

I am most definitely not trying to scare anyone with this information, but I am trying to send a message that could potentially help someone decide to change their life around for the benefit of well-being.

What advice can be given to someone who is overweight or obese?

Being overweight and/or obese doesn't have to be a permanent thing. It is very possible to change your future into a healthier one.

What is the main treatment for obesity?

Diet and Exercise! Something is better than nothing. Only 30 minutes of exercise each day can significantly help reduce health risks. You obviously know your body better than anyone else, or at least I would think so. That being said, don't push yourself to hard when you begin an exercise program. The real trick is to start from the bottom and gradually build yourself up. I exercise 5-6 days per week but that doesn't mean I'd recommend the same training program for someone who hasn't exercised at all in the last year and is suffering from serious health risks. So just to point you in the right direction, try exercising for 30 minutes, 3 days a week which is ideal. Then after 3 weeks or so, you may choose to increase it to 4 days per week. You could also increase the duration of your workout to 40, 50, or even 60 minutes. But I wouldn't suggest exercising for over 90 minutes. You want to make sure you are working out smarter. Not sure of what types of exercises to do? Do some cardiovascular exercises, go for a nice stroll around your neighborhood, play with your dog or kids, pick up a hobby like gardening, join a gym or maybe a boot camp. Any type of exercise is 100 times better than no exercise at all. My best advice is to keep with your program. Don't give up. Realistically it won't happen over night but consistency, hard work, and dedication will bring you the best results. Find out the best way cardio to burn fat.

As for dieting try sticking to real foods! That means if you can't hunt it, fish it, grow it, or ferment it then you probably shouldn't be eating it. If you never liked fruits and vegetables now is the time to start liking them. Fruits and vegetables especially contain essential vitamins and minerals that can boost your metabolism and assist with weight lost. If you do slip up and eat something you know you shouldn't have don't be so hard on yourself. Make a mental reminder of your slip up and try harder the next time a delicious distraction gets in your way to a sexy body. Try eating less more often. Portion your food if you want to speed up your metabolism. Rather than eating 3 big meals try consuming 4-6 smaller meals. And an emphasis on not spending too much time staring at a scale rather figure the progression of your performance by the way you fit into your clothes. You never know if you're replacing fat for lean muscle, which is heavier.

The trick is to Plan, Track, and Modify your program. Those actions are what I consider to be "The 3 keys to a Sexy Body".

My last piece of advice is to not get distracted by the little details that usually just become overwhelming and often leads to giving up. Please... Don't give up!

I also found that surrounding yourself with positive people who support your goals can really help you mentally and emotionally. Stay away from negativity! Tell everyone what you are up to because it will boost your determination to assure you reach your goal. Lastly, believe you can do it and believe it is possible. Realize that anything you set your mind to can be accomplished.

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Cupcake Fever

I don't even like cakes, muffins or most baked goods, but walking by a cupcake store almost every day it's hard not to succumb at least to the curiosity of trying one.

We can't forget that advertising is the soul of business, which is why so much money is spent on it.

This specific cupcake store has people lined up outside, even during winter months, which is what teased my curiosity even more. I resisted for about a year, but resisting just made the matter worse, so I decided to try one once and for all.

I got in line, and was totally immersed in the difficult task of choosing one and of course, with the excuse that my husband wouldn't like the carrot one, I ended up buying two cupcakes. I had to try the one with vegetables on it so I would feel less guilty.

When I was paying, I saw a tiny cupcake that for me was much more appealing, and I asked about them. However, you would have to order them way in advance.

If I had time in advance to think I would also have had time to do my homework and read the labels, realize that it was not such a good idea before impulsively buying 1000 calories and twenty teaspoons of sugar, instead of buying one to share or none.

Size does matter and for an average 500 calories and 10 teaspoons of sugar per cupcake, what counts for about 25% of your total calorie intake for the day, you would have to skip a whole meal to balance it out.

Sharing should have been the ideal option. In my case this was already out of the question - I had bought one for each one of us and my poor husband didn't even ask for the extra calories.

Our increasing love affair with sugar is going to kill us.

Yesterday when walking by the same cupcake store, I saw a mother and her two kids - maybe seven and eight years old - eating a cupcake outside the store. The three of them were sharing one cupcake, enjoying it, with no guilty look on their faces. I think this mother did her homework.

I was so proud and almost went over there to congratulate the family.

Yes sugar is addictive, yes it has power over us, but reading your labels, eating as a family and sharing can still give us pleasure and balance it out.

My goal as a pediatrician is to remind parents of their power to prevent and control childhood obesity. Parents have the power to change their home environment and influence changes in their schools and communities.
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Dangers of Fast Food Part 2: Addiction

It's 11:30PM and you can't sleep. You also have this strong urge for a hamburger. Luckily the fast food restaurant you frequent is still open, so you hop into your car and drive 3 miles to satisfy your craving. If this seems at all familiar to you, you may have developed one of the dangers of fast food: addiction.

Junk food binges or sugar cravings, terms that are thrown around nonchalantly, actually may underline a physiological condition that is just starting to be recognized by researchers and nutritionists alike. It has been discovered that overeating high-calorie, high-fat foods found in fast food restaurants carry the risk of overstimulating our brains pleasure pathways, making it less and less responsive. This has been shown to lead to the development of compulsive overeating habits.

The term addiction is tossed around because these fatty foods effect the brain in much the same way as drugs such as heroin or cocaine. In the brain, dopamine, an opiate-like ("feel good") neurotransmitter, is released as a response to pleasurable stimuli such as food, sex, or drugs. In the case of cocaine, the D2 receptor which normally receives dopamine is blocked by the drug. This over floods the brain and overstimulates its receptors, eventually leading to a physical change in which the way the brain reacts to the drug. In animal studies, fast foods caused the animals to completely lose control over their eating behavior, a hallmark of addiction.

This addictive state didn't just suddenly happen, but came about because of several possible factors. One of these factors is the increase of portion size from half a decade ago. When McDonalds first started in 1955, its only hamburger weighed 1.6 ounces; now the largest hamburger is 8 ounces. When a 44-ounce drink costs only ten cents more than a 32-ounce drink, which option do you think most people will prefer? More often than not, bargain trumps your actual thirst level. This may make sense from an economic standpoint, but that's where the danger lies.

Since most of us are exposed to fast food at such a young age it's understandable how we may be addicted, even if we don't consciously realize it. I remember wanting to go to McDonalds as a child just for the toy that came with the happy meal. Statistics from the Journal of American Medical Association found that Americans consume about 10 percent more calories than they did in the 1970s. This is about 200 extra calories per day! A survey of 1,244 adults showed that one in four Americans wouldn't give up meat for a week even if they were paid a thousand dollars to do so. Definitely sounds like an addiction.

If you haven't already done so, please check out my other article on the danger of fast foods. Also stay on the lookout for part 3. Thanks!

Clinton is an independent distributor for the health and wellness company, Kyani. Please click on the link to learn about the company and the amazing health products that have been changing the lives of many people.

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The Truth Behind Saturated Fat

It is my belief that saturated fat is good for you. It is found in animal fat, butter, lard, coconut oil and many other things. In today's society it is highly controversial which is why many mainstream "experts" are condemning the intake this fat by saying it is the leading cause of heart disease and obesity of which nothing could be further from the truth.

There was a study this year that showed no link between heart disease and dietary intake of saturated fat. It was not the first one either. The 40-year Framingham Study in USA has also found no link.

It has never been our 'enemy'. But it is unfortunate that their are now more harmful fats being marketed to replace it in our diets because so many people have been lead astray by ignorant and bias researchers.

Whilst artery clogging Trans-fats have been proven to increase bad cholesterol risk of heart disease. Polyunsaturated-fats will go rancid if heated and contain too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3 which will result in upsetting your body's natural balance and can cause serious health problems.

Mono-unsaturated fats however are relatively more stable compared to the 2 listed above as the chemical structure is more similar to saturated fats.

Saturated-fats are good for the immune system, play an important role in our bone health by helping the intake of calcium, and even has helpful anti-bacterial properties.

Interestingly if you changed your diet as in all the oils that you use, and only used coconut oil, over 12 months the research show's you could lose 36 pounds! That's assuming you're required to lose weight, if not I would recommend using it anyway to take advantage of its many health benefits.

Many people are trying to avoid saturated-fat because of the false claims about heart disease and clogged arteries when really the scientific evidence does not point to this when honestly evaluated.

Why not trying replacing your Margarine with Organic Butter? Or try replacing canola oil with coconut oil? and see how much your health improves? Just remember saturated fat has been on the menu for thousands of years and its only in the last 50 years that its been falsely convicted of being "the bad guy" so these other cheaper-to-make oils can be sold on a mass scale to the public.

When you next do your grocery shopping or see saturated fats being criticized in the media remember this is what nature intended us to eat.

For more information please visit our site: nutritious health

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Waist-Hip Ratio or BMI?

Definition

Waist-hip ratio can be defined as the ratio between the circumferences of waist to the hips. How to measure. The waist circumference should be measured at the narrowest point of waist that is usually midway between the lowest rib and iliac crest. The hip circumference should be measured at the broadest area of hips with legs close together. The waist-hip ratio can be calculated by dividing the waist circumference by the hip circumference.Indicator of health. The Waist to hip ratio can be used as an indicator to measure of the health of a person, and to calculate the risk of developing health conditions. Apple-shaped bodies (people with more weight around the waist) suffer more health problems than those with "pear-shaped" bodies (people carry more weight around the hips).

Waist to hip ratio is used as a measurement of obesity. Which is an indicator of other more serious health conditions? A Waist hip ratio of 0.7 for women and 0.9 for men is shown to correlate strongly with health and fertility. Women within the 0.7 range do have optimal levels of estrogen and less susceptible to diseases such as diabetes, CVS disorders and ovarian cancers. Men with Waist hip ratio around 0.9 have been shown to be more fertile and healthy. Waist hip ratio has been found to be an efficient predictor of mortality in elderly people than body mass index.

If obesity is redefined using Waist hip ratio instead of BMI, the percentage of people categorized at risk of heart attack worldwide would increases threefold. The body fat percentage is also considered to be an accurate measure of relative weight... Hence, it is possible that two women have different body mass indices but same waist-hip ratio, or they have the same body mass index but different waist-hip ratios. Even in ancient civilizations, female representations are most often in the 0.6-0.7 range for waist hip ratio, suggesting a preference towards lower Waist to hip ratio. Other studies have found that waist circumference, not waist hip ratio, to be a very good indicator of CVS risk factors, body fat distribution, and hypertension in type 2 diabetes. Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI metric units:

• Weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters for example. If Weight 80 kilograms and Height is 1.8 meters.so 1.82 meters square = 3.24 then 80 divided by 3.24 = BMI 24.69.

Imperial units:

• Weight in pounds multiplied by 703, divided by the square of height in inches. For example. If Weight is 190 pounds. and Height is 6 ft or 72 inches square of 72 = 5184 and 190 x 703 divided by 5184 = BMI 25.76

It is mostly agreed that: People with BMI below18.5 is underweight, between 18.5 and 25 is ideal, between 25 and 30 is overweight and over 30 is obese.

In some countries health officials say the lower limit for BMI is 20, and anything below is underweight.

Problems with BMI.

BMI is a very simple tool which does not account for the person's waist, chest or hip size. A weight lifter could have a higher BMI as compared to a person with a large belly due to large muscle mass but it does not mean that he is over weight or obese. It is just due to the over simplified calculations of BMI which does not account for fat to muscle ratio. Also BMI does not account for bone mass.

So that is why many health professional do not take BMI as a good tool for ideal body weight calculation. They take this tool as a general measure for rough estimations or simple BMI underestimates body fat in obese people and overestimates it in muscular or lean people.

Summary

So as a whole if we compare the two BMI and Waist hip ratio we find out that BMI is a rather very simple tool that was easy to use and easy to apply in lot of situations. but today as we know WHR is a better option that gives us a better understanding about the general health conditions of the person and its overall health out look. another obesity analyzer is body fat percentage which is even more accurate but is rather a bit difficult to calculate and only experts can handle it better.

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Who to Really Blame for America's Child Obesity Epidemic

CHILD OBESITY - The BLAME GAME COP-OUT: 30% of American adults are over-fat, and child-obesity is alarmingly on a steep rise. Sadly, many parents are quick to blame everyone and everything for their child's developing obesity problem. Perhaps it's time to point the finger in the mirror.

Last week alone, I saw Mom's on TV blaming the Fast Food Industry, Video-games, and Soda-pop, as the reason that "little Johnny" is over-weight. Last I heard it was a free country, and nobody "makes" us eat the way we do. Perhaps some adults need to blame their own gluttony for being over-fat, and their own - lack of - positive role-modeling skills for the reason their kids are on that same path. It may be a tough pill to swallow, but allowing our kids to "run a muck" is the parenting path of least resistance, and therefore - unfortunately - the path to many parents choose In the Malls, at Little League games, and in the Grocery Stores, I (myself) witness more and more kids controlling their parents, instead than the other way around.

The Government may run our country, but, as a parent, "you" are the Sheriff of your own town (i.e. household). You should both, establish the rules, and find creative ways to enforce them. I "get it", it's often hard to control what kids eat while trolling malls with their buddies. However you should hardly complain about that if "dinner" at home each night is a "Pizza-Pocket" or frozen Buffalo wings - and later that night a bag of Doritos and a few cans of Coke while they lay on the couch texting their friends all night.

By the way, whatever happened to dinner-time being a "all-family-members-included" event? Somehow along the way, American families have lost their heads-of-household, or more specifically, their authoritative figure. Instead, many too parents often opt for a more liberal parenting approach, attempting to be more of a "buddy" to their son or daughter. Cupcakes, ice cream, and hot dogs makes kids happy, and god-forbid, we should insist on our kids eating things he or she doesn't like. Allowing little Johnny to balk - at will - at Mom's evening meal offering, is a parenting faux pas. Food "tastes" are developed throughout our growing years. I am not suggesting that parents be so ridged that their battle-cry becomes, "it's either healthy food, or go without", no, not at all.

Bottom-line: Healthy eating for kids begins at home. More specifically, it begins with responsible parenting. Is the fact that your own little Johnny is a 120-pound 5th-grader, really the fault of school lunches and soda-machines in the lunch-room? Give me a break.

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How Dangerous Can Obesity Become?

Obesity is gradually becoming one of the most serious concerns throughout the world, especially among the Western nations. In the UK alone, more than 2.3 million people are suffering from obesity related problem. Obesity in itself is not a disease but it may lead to several grave physical complications if not provided with adequate medical attention. Obesity can simply be defined as a particular medical condition that suggests storage of excessive body fat, capable of causing serious complications that may affect life expectancy rate. If not provided with proper medical attention, obesity can cause several potential life threatening situations.

Which are the major causes of obesity?

The most common cause of obesity is consumption of excessive calories through food together with insufficient physical activity. Storage of excessive fat in your body happens mainly due to irregular lifestyle and dieting habits. If you consume too many high calorie foods, consume alcohol regularly or develop a habit of taking antidepressants, then you are at a high risk of being obese. This risk becomes even greater if you do not engage in sufficient physical activity to burn off the extra calories. In addition to these situations, obesity can also be caused due to hormonal imbalances, genetic disorders and endocrine problems.

Which are the complications I may face if I am obese?

Obesity may not be a disease in itself but it plays a catalytic role in causing several diseases, potent enough to develop into life threatening situations. Excessive storage of fat in your body is the main reason of physical discomfort. In addition, this physical condition has an important role to play in causing cardiac problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, severe sleeping disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), degenerative arthritis and certain forms of cancer.

How would I know that I am obese?

The best way to know if you are medically considered to be obese is to calculate your BMI. BMI, or the body mass index, is a method to compare your weight and height. If your BMI is found to be varying between 25-30 kg/m² then you are pre-obese and the same situation will be called obese if it goes beyond 30 kg/m². It is common misconception to confuse between pre-obese and obese situation. Being pre-obese means you can live healthily but you should take precautions to ensure that you do not become obese. You should start treatment immediately if you are found to be obese for the sake of your health.

How to treat obesity

The best ways to keep obesity under control are controlling your dietary habits and doing physical exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes. However, these methods take time and you may need to wait for a considerable period to see the change. If you are seeking more immediate results, slimming pills may be the solution for you. There are several slimming pills available that claim to solve your problem but not all are clinically proven to be safe or even to work. The only prescription medication currently available for this purpose is Xenical which is considered to be very safe and also, within a relatively short space of time, helps you to lose 5-10 percent of your current body weight.

Webmaster associated with online clinic "HealthExpress" this site provides various information on Xenical (Orlistat) and helps people in curing Obesity, resources are available on site HealthExpress.co.uk.

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