With daily reports emerging from popular media outlets citing various statistics that show obesity is on the rise, it’s hard to ignoring the growing weight problem in the United States. Despite the increasing amount of information and with no shortage of diet and weight loss products available to today’s consumers it’s often hard to know exactly where to turn and who to trust. Losing weight is actually a very easy concept – eat less and use more energy during the day, however finding a more detailed plan is slightly more difficult. Finding the right diet solution that works for you is really like dating to find someone you like and want to marry. Something like the Atkins or Zone diet may be fun, trendy, and exciting, but if it’s not something you are prepared to spend the rest of your life with it’s not the right diet for you. (more…)

Popularity: 8% [?]

With celebrities like Nicole Ritchie, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and others whom young girls today admire is any wonder teen girls are on the verge of a health crisis? These unhealthy and dangerously skinny bodies set unrealistic goals that children can never live up to.

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Popularity: 10% [?]

Just came across this blog post from a company known as hitwise. They provide some interesting data showing the relationship between searches for ‘online dieting’ and Thanksgiving and Christmas. Pretty interesting to look at. Bill Tancer – Hitwise US: Thanksgiving and Online Dieting – Reflecting on a Negative Correlation

The negative correlation between the two subjects appears to be very clear. This year I decided to dig a little deeper and examine the online dieting custom category on a daily basis last year between Thanksgiving and New Years.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Vitamin E or Tocopherol, is a fat-soluble vitamin in eight forms. It is an important antioxidant often found in skin creams and lotions. It is believed to play a role in promoting skin healing and reducing scars after burns or injury.

The most active form of vitamin E in humans is Alpha-tocopherol, which is a powerful biological antioxidant. The Recommended Daly Allowance of vitamin E is based on the alpha-tocopherol form. The Institute of Medicine indicates most North American adults get enough vitamin E from their normal diets to meet the current recommendations. However, they do caution those who consume low fat diets because vegetable oils are such a good dietary source of vitamin E.

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Popularity: 15% [?]

On the Cabbage Soup diet, you can eat unlimited amounts of cabbage soup for seven days and lose 10 to 15 pounds. The recipe for the soup can vary slightly, but includes a variety of low-calorie vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, and cabbage, flavored with bouillon, tomato juice and onion soup mix. The more soup you eat, the more weight you can lose. On each day of the program specific foods must be eaten with unlimited amounts of soup and water.
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Popularity: 9% [?]

The Sonoma Diet Plan is a diet and weight loss program that is based on the Mediterranean Diet. It was developed by Connie Guttersen a registered dietitian for an obesity clinic located in Washington State and additionally is dietary consultant for the Culinary Institute at Greystone.

The core of the diet is ten food groups known as the “power foods”, they are:

• Almonds
• Bell peppers
• Blueberries
• Broccoli
• Grapes
• Olive oil
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Whole grains

According to Guttersen these are not only good for you but they are full of flavor, which is something missing in many other diet plans. In addition to the power foods the Sonoma diet places emphasis on managing portion sizes.

The diet consists of three separate waves. The first wave last 10 days and is the most restrictive part of the diet. Following this diet you will be allowed to eat lean meat, seafood, some vegetables, some grains, small amounts of dairy, nuts, black coffee, and tea. The goal of this phase is to limit the amount of sugars that the body takes in slowly weaning you off of a sugar dependency.

In wave two you add more fruits and vegetables, sugar free sweets and low-fat yogurt. Additionally you are allowed to start consuming wine, honey and small amounts of chocolate. You will stay on this stage losing small amounts of weight every week until you hit your target weight.

Once you have obtained your target weight you will move to wave 3. On wave 3 you will be allowed to eat an ever wider range of fruits and vegetables with the occasional small sweet dessert thrown in.

Popularity: 19% [?]

The best weight-loss plan is the plan that is the most nutritious. When you are managing calories it is very important to have a good balance of food. That should include plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean sources of protein, low-fat dairy and whole grain, and high-fiber foods. If you want to eliminate certain foods- cut out all empty calories like sugar and soda.

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Popularity: 11% [?]

Americans are overweight because they are eating too much. Portions have greatly increased over the years and people are just getting used to them. Controlling your portion size may be the single most effective thing you can do to promote lasting weight loss.

In 1985- serving sizes were much different then they are today. The average muffin was 1.5 ounces and 205 calories; a bottle of soda was 6.5 ounces and 85 calories; the average bagel was 3 inches in diameter and had 210 calories. Today the average muffin weighs 4 ounces and has 500 calories; the average bottle of soda is a 20 ounce bottle with 250 calories; the average bagel is 6 inches -350 calories. As our portion sizes increase so does our body size. (more…)

Popularity: 9% [?]

Anyone who’s ever watched a professional sporting event has seen a bucket of Gatorade dumped over the winning coach. Aside from the celebration traditions, do sports and energy drinks do any thing for these athletes, or is it just clever marketing? Can these sports drinks help consumers and amateur athletes as well, if so what facts should they be aware when drinking them? Reading the advertisements of popular sports drink you are likely to encounter messages like this “Sports drinks are designed to maximize fluid absorption and enhance performance by delivering carbohydrates and electrolytes”. We’re going to take a look at these drinks to help you get a better understanding of what they can and can’t do for you.

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Popularity: 77% [?]

On any given day in the United States between 30 and 40% of women admit to being on a diet, the same is true for 20 to 25% of all men. In fact Americans are spending over $15 billion dollars a year on diet related foods, books and services. For many people these diets work, they do actually lose the weight. However the majority of them will put the weight back on within 6 to 12 months. So why do people who were so successful fail, and end up back where they started, to answer that question we’ll need to take a look at how and why people start diets in the first place. (more…)

Popularity: 13% [?]

Xenical diet pills which are also marketed under the name Orlistat are prescription diet pill manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Plc. The product works buy inhibiting the body’s ability to absorb the triglycerides into the bloodstream and convert them fatty acids. Very little of the drug is actually absorbed into the body, and the majority of “the action” occurs with the gastro-intestinal or GI tract within the body.

On January 23 the pill received an 11-3 vote to be considered for an over the counter release. The over the counter version of the diet pill will be marketed under the name Alli. The over the counter version is a less potent version of the prescription diet pill which is already available at the time of writing in Australia and New Zealand.

Currently Alli shows no long term health effects and has minor side effects such as loosening of the stool, and increased urgency of bowel movements. While the weight loss isn’t significant in most cases, it has been shown to reduce type 2 diabetes effects.

So does this make the diet pill “good for you“? Studies have shown that people who stop using the pill gain back the weight they lost fairly quickly. Why, because the pill didn’t teach you how to lead a healthier lifestyle. In fact the pill is little more than a quick fix band-aid solution. However for consumers who want the benefit without the work of exercise or eating healthy foods the product holds a lot of appeal. So if you decide to try it be sure you understand the long term effects of your decisions, and how it may impact your overall health.

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Popularity: 9% [?]

Dexatrim is dietary suppressant and weight loss product that has been on the market for many years. During that time it has undergone improvements and advancements. Today Dexatrim is a completely natural product that contains green tea leaves, has no caffeine and is Ephedra free. This makes the product safe to use. Most people using the product have found they start to lose weight within two to three weeks and continue to lose it slowly and safely while they continue using the product. People who chose to exercise more and eat healthier foods often get quicker and more dramatic results when using Dexatrim.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Home gyms offer you the ability to workout in the privacy of your own home. No trips to the gym, no excuses about not wanting to get dressed and go outside when you want to workout. Your home gym is available to you 24 hours a day 7 days a week, so you can create a workout schedule that fits your lifestyle.

Home gyms can be a few pieces of equipment in your basement or den to a dedicated room in your home to include a full range of equipment similar to what’s found in a fitness club. Most people start a home gym with a few specialized pieces of equipment and grow into a more universal type gym area with multiple exercise options. When considering setting up a home gym you must consider different types of equipment that are available. The most popular types are:

• Treadmills
• Free Weights
• Exercise Bikes
• Stairmaster
• Rowing Machines
• Yoga Mat

Popularity: 8% [?]

If you’ve looked into supplements for weight control, then you’ve probably heard the term Cortisol, but not sure what it is or what it does. Cortisol is part of the Cortisone hormone that is secreted by the adrenal cortex. The medical terms it is known as an adredalcortical hormone, a glucatroid. It’s more commonly known a hydrocortisone or cortisone. Cortisol is important for weight loss for two reasons. First Cortisol will reduce the hormones that cause tissue or muscle growth. Secondly Cortisol has been shown to affect your appetite. Studies also show it can have a negative effect on mood, bone health, sex drive, performance and energy levels.

Throughout the day your Cortisol levels will fluctuate. This is a perfectly normal function for your body. However prolonged or continued high Cortisol levels can lead to health problems, some more serious than others. As stated before it will stop the growth and in some cases loss of muscle mass, and affect your appetite. You may also suffer mood swings, feel tired from a lack of energy. Many athletes who train at a very high energy level have Cortisol issues due to low carbohydrate levels. The most effective way to have your Cortisol levels tested is with a hormone test from a doctor.

There are now treatments on the market that can help you regulate Cortisol production. One of the most popular is Relacore. It has also been shown that Vitamin B has a positive effect on regulating Cortisol levels, as do ginseng, rhiodiola and ashwaganda. If you don’t want to take supplements make sure you are getting enough carbohydrates, and you are giving your body enough rest at night and between periods of high physical exertion like sports or exercise. You can also try stress reducing techniques like yoga or other relaxing activities.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Following the South Beach Diet isn’t hard, but it isn’t easy. If followed properly it’s possible to lose weight relatively quickly and safely. One of the most important things to remember is that phase 1 of the diet is the strictest and will require the most commitment. It will also be the part of the diet where you see the quickest results.

Foods are given a Glycemic Index number which measures how much your insulin level will rise when you eat it. The higher the number the worse it is for your body. You will be avoiding foods that are high in refined carbohydrates or sugars to manage your insulin level. You will stay on this diet for two weeks or until you have lost a maximum of 13 pounds. It’s very important that you not follow this plan for more than 2 weeks or you could put your health at risk.

Once you’ve taken control of your insulin level you will progress to phase II. The transition from phase I to phase III is actually one of the most critical parts of the south beach diet. Many people haven’t conquered their corporate cravings entirely and are tempted to go on carb consuming frenzy. They overload their body, trigger a blood sugar spike, and undo two weeks worth of work. In some cases people have even gained back some of the weight they lost. The key to succeeding is to slowly add carbohydrates back in, and make sure you are continuing to lose weight 1-2 pounds per week is the acceptable range. You stay on phase II until you reach your goal weight

Once you’ve reached your goal weight, you progress to phase III or lifetime maintenance. You take the skills you learned in phases I and II and continue to apply them. Your goal is to keep a steady weight without much fluctuation. At this point you really won’t consider yourself on a diet anymore. You will think of it as having a normal healthy well balanced lifestyle

Popularity: 6% [?]