Weight Gain During Pregnancy, And Weight Loss After Pregnancy

Are women doomed to become fat after childbirth?

What is normal weight gain during pregnancy, and what’s the link between pregnancy and metabolism? Will losing weight after pregnancy be easy, or will you gain weight? What to do while pregnant…

Weight Gain During Pregnancy and After Pregnancy

How much weight gain is normal during pregnancy, and will you continue to have weight gain after pregnancy?

How will the link between pregnancy and metabolism affect how you’ll be losing weight after pregnancy?

Understand what causes excessive weight gain during pregnancy, and…

You won’t have any problems with excessive weight gain while you’ve been pregnant.

Will you get fat by having children?

Whether you’ll have weight gain during and after pregnancy is a choice, because it’s totally within your control once you understand what’s really going on, however…

Most women do have weight problems because of bearing children, and the reason is simply malnutrition. Strange but True!

The first thing you have to understand about pregnancy, is that the baby comes first. That’s a “Survival Issue”. Once you get pregnant, everything is geared for the survival and health of the baby.

If it wasn’t that way, we would not have survived as a Species!

What does the Baby Need?

In order to grow properly and be born healthy the baby is going to need lots of Nutrients, Vitamins, Minerals, Enzymes, etc…

If you provide these nutrients in order to grow a Healthy Baby, no problems, but if you don’t…

The baby will take what it needs from the mother’s body, and if that happens, you’re going to have “Two Problems”:

1. You’re going to be hungry all the time if you don’t provide the baby with what Nutrients it needs, so you’re going to overeat and have much more weight gain during pregnancy than you need to.
2. The baby is going to extract whatever Nutrients it can from your body, which is going to do a real number on your metabolism.

Now you have Two Problems!

First of all, you’re going to have excessive weight gain during pregnancy, which means that instead of gaining the normal 25 to 30 Lbs, you could gain up to 50 Lbs or more, and…

The extra weight, is weight which will be very hard to get rid of after pregnancy, because…

Secondly, your body has been drained of stored nutrients, which means that now, you probably have a slow metabolism, so instead of easily losing the weight after pregnancy…

You’ll probably continue to have weight gain after pregnancy also.

Heaven forbid if you get pregnant again.

The answer is very simple!

Just eat only healthy food so that you provide all the nutrients which your baby needs and you’ll have no problems.

You need to have good variety in your diet, and just get the healthiest food that you can buy. That’s a Win-Win situation, for both you and your baby, otherwise you both suffer, because…

Your baby could be unhealthy, and you could get fat for the rest of your life, or at least have a real hard time getting rid of the excess fat.

What’s Normal Weight Gain During Pregnancy?

In a normal pregnancy, you should have a weight gain during pregnancy of about 25 to 30 Lbs or a little more depending on the situation.

Lets say that you give birth to a baby that’s about 7 to 8 Lbs. Increased blood volume can be another 3 to 4 Lbs, and increased fluid volume can be another 2 to 3 Lbs.

Then the Amniotic fluid and a larger uterus can add an extra couple of Lbs each, plus larger breasts can weigh an extra 1 to 3 Lbs and the Placenta can weigh 1 to 2 Lbs.

On top of that, your body could store away anywhere from 6 to 8 Lbs of fat. (That’s a survival feature in case of famine).

Add it all up and you could have a weight gain during pregnancy of anywhere from 24 to 32 Lbs, but that’s nothing to fear, because very little of that is fat, and…

If you nourish both you and the baby during pregnancy, then your metabolism will remain normal, and you’ll have no problems with weight loss after pregnancy.

What’s Healthy Eating During Pregnancy?

This subject could cover many Volumes all by itself, but to keep it simple…

Eating healthy during pregnancy is no different than when you’re not pregnant, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables (organic if possible), and stay off the “Junk Foods”.

It’s not Rocket Science!

Go easy on the meats, and especially stay away from the cultured meats because most of them contain lots of Sulfites and Nitrites as preservatives and these are very unhealthy for adults let alone your baby.

Read the ingredients in all processed foods for these preservatives also, because they are very pervasive.

Take Top Quality Supplements

Since most of the foods available in the supermarkets today, are very deficient in nutrients, it’s important to take top quality supplements which your body can absorb.

However…

Only about 3 to 5% of most Vitamin and Mineral Supplements available on the market today are absorbed by the body and are a total waste of money.

The same Super Supplements which we recommend to our weight loss students are great for when you’re pregnant, because these are not weight loss products, but general Supplements, which…

Help people to become more nutritionally satisfied. If you’re more nutritionally satisfied, you’ll eat less automatically, and that’s why people lose weight while becoming healthier.

By giving better nutrition to you and your baby, you won’t have nearly as many cravings, and you’ll eat a lot less junk. This way, not only is it better for your baby, but you won’t have so much excess weight gain during pregnancy.

Don’t Diet Whatsoever

We don’t recommend dieting whatsoever, even for weight loss, but it’s especially important that you don’t go on a diet to try and prevent weight gain during pregnancy, because…

Your baby needs all the nutrients it can get in order to develop a healthy body.

Even if you’re overweight, when you’re pregnant is not the time to try to lose weight. Losing weight after pregnancy is the best.

Eating healthy and taking top quality supplements during pregnancy will help to keep your metabolism normal so that you won’t have abnormal weight gain while pregnant.

Register for the Slim America Project!

Even if weight loss is not an issue for you right now, do register for the Slim America Project, because you’ll learn how to eat healthier, what supplements to take, and just as important…

How to have your baby, without excess weight gain during pregnancy. That way, you won’t have a problem with weight loss after pregnancy.

Your baby deserves the very best that you can give it, and you are the only one that is in total control of its Future Life.

Can Weight Loss Improve Your Health And Make You Feel Better

Many people today are interested in weight loss and weight loss programs. Sedentary life styles and lack of exercise have contributed to a general trend toward carrying around a few extra pounds. Following a disciplined weight loss plan can prove very helpful and beneficial to people who don’t really have any idea of how to create a weigh loss diet. There are many options available today to help you trim a few pounds and fit into the clothes you want.

Losing weight is not something one can do overnight. A carefully planned weight loss program requires common sense and certain guidelines. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformantion floating around and lots of desperate people are easily duped and ripped off. The leading experts now recommend that people who want to lose weight start increasing their physical activity. Just being more active in general (such as climbing the stairs instead of taking the elevator, moving around instead of sitting still, sitting up instead of lying down as well as showing some excitement and enthusiasm instead of boredom), are things that more effectively burns calories and reduces body fat.

A balanced lifestyle of good nutrition and regular exercise will help you achieve your weight loss goals. Some people seek Fast Weight Loss while others would like to gradually thin down for health reasons. Take advantage of all the information and help available today to help you achieve your weight loss goals.

How To Select A Weight Loss Program

Choosing a weight loss program may be a daunting task. You may not know what to look for in a weight-loss program or what questions to ask. This information can help you make an informed decision about joining a program.

A Responsible and Safe Weight-loss Program.

Experts agree that the best way to reach a healthy weight is to follow a sensible eating plan and engage in regular physical activity. Weight loss programs should encourage healthy behaviours that help you lose weight and that you can maintain over time. A safe and effective weight loss program should include:

1. Healthy eating plans that reduce calories but do not rule out specific foods or food groups

2. Regular physical activity and/or exercise instruction

3. Tips on healthy behaviour changes that also consider your cultural needs

4. Slow and steady weight loss of about ¾ to 2 pounds per week and not more than 3 pounds per week (weight loss may be faster at the start of a program)

5. A plan to keep the weight off after you have lost it

Ask Questions

Gather as much information as you can before deciding to join a program. Providers of weight-loss programs should be able to answer these questions:

1. What does the weight loss program consist of?

2. What are the staff qualifications?

3. Does the product or program carry any risks?

4. How much does the program costs?

5. What results do participants typically have?

What does the weight loss program consist of?

1. Does the program offer individual counselling and/or group classes?

2. Do you have to follow a specific meal plan or keep food records?

3. Do you have to purchase special food, drugs, or supplements?

4. Does the program encourage you to be physically active, follow a specific physical activity plan, or provide exercise instruction?

5. Does the program provide information on how to make positive and healthy behavior changes?

6. Is the program sensitive to your lifestyle and cultural needs?

Does the product or program carry any risks?

1. Are there risks related to following the program’s eating or exercise plans?

2. Are there risks related to using recommended drugs or supplements?

3. Do participants talk with a medical professional?

4. Does a medical professional oversee the program?

5. Will the program providers work with your personal health care provider if you have a medical condition or are taking prescribed medications?

How much does the program cost?

1. What is the total cost of the program?

2. Are there recurring costs such as weekly attendance fees, costs of food and supplement purchases, etc?

3. Are there additional fees for a follow-up program or to re-enter the program for follow-up after you lose weight?

4. Are there additional fees for medical tests?

What results do participants typically have?

1. How much weight does an average participant lose and how long have they kept off all or part of their weight?

2. Can the program provide references?

Armed with this information you should be better equipped to avoid anyone touting empty promises or those that can’t sustain long term results.

Healthy Weight Loss

I am Mr. Weightless, and though I may be a superhero, and I may be immune to heart disease and cancer, still Mr. Weightless can catch a cold. Being fit means that it is very rare that I get sick, but a virus is a virus, and I caught a cold. Although I felt miserable, there came some good of it, because I came to a realization that will simplify how you can think about good health and weight loss: Take the advice for the sick, even while you’re well.

Why Is This Advice for the Ill?

All of the things we tell sick people so that they recover more quickly are exactly the things that we should be doing every day. Following that advice will not only ward off disease, but also lead to greater energy and vitality, and best of all, weight loss. How we came to ignore these positive factors in our daily lives, I don’t know.

In our society, we have a tendency to put off what is most healthy because we think it is inconvenient. When we get sick and can’t perform our “more important” jobs, then we make the decision to do what is best for the body. If we took these simple pieces of advice in our regular routines, we would be sick fewer days. So for those who think their work is more important than their health… if you take care of your health first, you’ll be able to work longer and take fewer sick days, so you’ll accomplish more work!

Fluid Intake

“Drink plenty of fluids” is the thing everybody says whenever someone says they have a cold. Drinking water and natural fruit juices is so easy, yet most people don’t do it. There are a myriad of benefits to drinking water all day, which you can find in my article on Water. Drink a lot of water all day. The improvements to your digestion, energy balance, joint health, skin health and the function of virtually every organ will astonish you. You will start losing weight right away when you drink at least your quota of 8 glasses of water per day. And there is no danger of drinking too much water, so you don’t need to keep track or count glasses, just keep drinking it.

Natural fruit juices are also great for you. They contain sugars to give you energy, but won’t dehydrate you like caffeine will. They also contain all of the other vitamins and nutrients from the fruits themselves. In the case of citrus fruits, like oranges, vitamin C comes in high concentrations. We’ll get to the vitamins in the next section. Other juices are good for different reasons, but remember that there is no such thing as a “bad” natural fruit juice. Many natural juices are also fortified with calcium, which is another excellent nutrient that will not only strengthen your bones and prevent osteoporosis when you grow older, but it is also related to fat loss.

No matter how good the label looks, do not drink artificial fruit-flavoured juice, because those only contain sugar, water and flavouring.

Vitamins and Herbs

Many people suggest high doses of vitamin C to cure the common cold. It is such a good nutrient, it should be taken daily, whether you’re sick or not. Vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is known to boost the immune system, which is why it is recommended for treatment of the common cold. But a good immune system is always beneficial; it is better to prevent getting a cold by having a strong immune system than to treat it once you’re sick. Vitamin C is also a most powerful antioxident, which means that it prevents all sorts of cellular decay and counteracts cancer-causing carcinogens. Finally, vitamin C boosts the production of adrenaline, which will boost your feeling of wakefulness, energy and speed your metabolism, supporting weight loss.

Vitamin C is not the only supplement that sick people are told to take. My mother is particularly fond of echinacea. This is an herb that also boosts the immune system. It has proven effective in treating the common cold, but unlike vitamin C, it does not show a significant effect on healthy people.

Taking a multivitamin everyday that contains high doses of vitamin C, as well as a full complement of other vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients is a positive step for anyone. It is virtually impossible to get every nutrient that you should every day unless you take a multivitamin. For those attempting to lose body fat by reducing their food intake, it becomes essential. Not only will you replace the nutrients you’re not getting from your restricted diet, you’re also packing in those nutrients that can speed up your weight loss.

Chicken Noodle Soup and Other Good Food

When you’re sick, you may have a friend who offers to take care of you and make you some chicken noodle soup. There are a lot of theories about why chicken soup may be good for you when you have a cold. Some say that it’s just the steam and hot liquid that opens up the airways; others claim that it inhibits neutrophils, white blood cells responsible for inflammation. My theory is simpler: chicken noodle and chicken vegetable soups are just good food, and should be consumed regularly. In a tasty meal, you’ve got protein from the chicken, carbs from the noodles and/or vegetables, spices and seasoning that have herbal benefits, and the chicken fat as well. A good rule of thumb is to eat simple, good food that has these properties.

An easier, faster way to get such a balanced meal (more complete than even chicken soup) is to have a meal replacement for two meals a day. These can be found on the Products page, click here.

Sleep

The final and most important ingredient to beating a cold is rest. Of everything discussed in this article, it is also the element that most modern men disregard. Even when sick, we tend to get up and do some work, rather than concentrating on getting well. Sleep is the time your body and mind recuperate from the day’s activities. Without sufficient sleep, your body cannot heal properly, and your mind cannot function properly. There have been some studies that show that sleep deprivation can lead to overeating and obesity, due to the elevation of certain hormones.

Sleep recommendations have varied tremendously in all the studies done. Most people today believe that 8 hours is the optimum duration of sleep. However, some adults can’t bring themselves to sleep longer than 6 hours, and many will sleep for 10 if not awoken by an alarm. The need for sleep steadily declines throughout your life. A baby can sleep as much as 18 hours a day, but it will come at odd times until their rhythms match their parents. So, it seems like they never sleep because they’re always crying in the middle of the night, but they’re sleeping a lot of the rest of the time. In contrast, the elderly awake early and frequently cannot fall asleep until very late. Some may nap frequently, but in all, they are awake far longer than most adults.

The amount of sleep any person needs seems to be quite individualistic. To find your perfect sleep duration, try waking up at the same time every day for work, but go to bed one half-hour earlier each night. You may not feel comfortable right away, but you’ll probably fall asleep within 10 minutes. Eventually, you will find a time that is ideal in that you will fall asleep easily and wake up feeling really energetic. On a weekend, you can test your theory by going to bed when you feel tired, and not set an alarm to wake you. When you wake up, write a note of the time you first woke up (in case you want to sleep in further). Then it is a simple matter to figure out how long your body wants to sleep.

Sleep is not the only component of rest. People will actually tell you to “take it easy” to help you recover. This is also a good idea for everyday life, not only when you’re ill. Learn to take time every day to relax. There have been many books and studies on the benefits of meditation. None that I know of relate meditation to weight loss, but it is related to a reduction of stress. Lower stress levels will reduce your risk of heart disease, and if you’re an “emotional eater”, then reducing your stress through meditation can be a big step towards weight loss.

Feeling Under the Weather?

Until you become weightless, like me, you’ll be “under the weather” because the clouds are above you. So, every day behave as if you’re under the weather: drink plenty of fluids, especially water and natural fruit juices; take a multivitamin and the proven herbal health boosters; eat natural food in good proportions; and get adequate sleep, including meditation or some form of relaxation.

Glycemic Index,a magic weight loss solution or a soap bubble

Glycemic index ranks different carbohydrate foods depending on their potential to raise blood glucose levels.

The ranking is on a scale from 0 to 100.Higher the Glycemic index, higher is the particular carbohydrates ability to effect a spike(rise) in blood glucose levels.

Low-GI foods, by virtue of their slow digestion and absorption, produce gradual rises in blood sugar and insulin levels, and have benefits for health.

Low GI diets have been shown to improve both glucose and lipid levels in people with diabetes (type 1 and type 2).

This is as far as it goes about the use of glycemic index for weight loss.

Popular diet books like the south beach diet are founded on the premise that the spike in blood glucose levels leads to more hunger and subsequent weight gain, whereas the foods with low GI have a tendency to delay the haunger or lower appetite, leading to weight loss, which is too simplistic, but ,not quite supported by scientific evidence.

Read this excerpt taken from WebMD:

Experts Take On the Glycemic Index

It sounds like a magic formula for dieters –but experts have long been saying there’s no such thing. “If you don’t have peaks and valleys in your glucose level then hunger should be kept at bay,” says Kathleen Zellman, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). “However, it’s not that simple. It’s also affected by meal size, whether there’s any fat in the meal, and overall health status.”

“Glycemic index looks at individual foods — not how that food might interact with another,” says Connie Diekman, RD, an ADA spokesperson in St. Louis, Missouri. “If you eat a high glycemic index food with a protein, for example, it might be absorbed more slowly. … That’s the hang-up with glycemic index. Very few people will sit down and eat one high glycemic index food and then another. It’s meals that we eat.”

Michael Jensen, MD, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., says it’s never been proven that high insulin levels — which result when a high glycemic index food is eaten — mean increased hunger. “When [you] work with patients who get real hungry between meals, you have to try a couple of different things. I’m not sure if it’s glycemic index, the bulk of food, the content of food that gives [the sense of fullness] … I also have them consider adding protein and modest amounts of fat to decrease overeating between meals.”

All the researchers are unanimous in that, it’s the fiber content of the diet that is more important for controlling diabetes and weight gain than the Glycemic Index.Read the exerpts of a new research document from WebMD,….

New research shows that when it comes to type 2 diabetes, not all carbohydrates are created equal. Tufts University researchers report that eating whole-grain foods, especially fiber-rich cereals, appears to improve insulin sensitivity and lower the risk of the metabolic syndrome.

Whole-grain foods have already been found to help protect against heart disease and certain cancers, and the newly published study is one of several that indicates there is a protective role for whole grains against a constellation of major risk factors that lead to metabolic syndrome — a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and the development of type 2 diabetes.

“Unless you’re a diabetic, glycemic index may not be all that important,” says Jack Alhadeff, PhD, professor of biochemistry at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. , who adds that since most of us eat a variety of foods in a meal, the accuracy of the index can be questionable.

But what about the notion that glucose from high-index foods is more likely to be stored as fat?

“The scientific literature is very clear that eating carbohydrates that are embedded in plant cellulose — complex carbohydrates — is always better,” says Nagi Kumar, PhD, director of clinical nutrition at the Moffitt Cancer Center and professor of human nutrition at the University of South Florida in Tampa. “But the reasons it is better are not because it somehow lessens or alters fat storage.”

All this leads one to conclude that the importance of fiber is far more that Glycemic index for dieters. The weight loss programs like many low carb diets and the popular south beach diet are only trying to exploit the limited scientific data on Glycemic Index to sell their diet wares.

A diet rich in fibre has many advantages like:

Fiber can help you avoid overeating. It has been found that fiber can bind with cholesterol in the digestive tract, thus lowering blood cholesterol.

Another important point about fiber-rich foods is that they tend to be loaded with phytochemicals that appear to have anticancer functions,along with these benefits and its role in weight maintenance, fiber helps prevent the following:

Constipation Hemorrhoids Appendicitis Diverticulosis — an intestinal disease where pockets, which can become infected, develop in the intestinal lining.

A diet program which recommends fiber rich foods and is loaded with healthy and natural weight loss alternatives to the foods recommended by the fad diets is the only alternative to safe and sure weight loss.

Five Tips for EASY WEIGHT LOSS!

Weight loss is a hot topic among people today, especially considering the fact that more than half of us are overweight. As we get older we often get busier, and before we know it, find ourselves in the prime of our lives and packing a few extra pounds. With so little extra time in our lives it is impractical to join the latest diet fad or commit to sweating in the gym for hours at a time. Are we all destined to grow outward with each passing year, or is there a simple way for us to reclaim our healthy figures? If you struggle with your own battle of the bulge read on for five sure-fire ways to drop a few of those unwanted pounds, and more importantly learn how you can prevent packing them in the first place!

TIP #1: Burn it in the AM
What is the first thing you do when you wake each morning? Hit the snooze button for an extra ten minutes of sleep? What if I told you that taking those ten minutes to strap on your sneakers and walk briskly around the block would result in weight loss? It has been proven that aerobic activity done on an empty stomach forces your body to recruit energy from storage. This energy is stored in the form of fat on various parts of your body. Starting tomorrow take ten minutes out of your morning to walk briskly around the block before breakfast. Do not sprint or try to walk as quickly as possible, simply walk at a pace that you could comfortably hold a conversation. This seemingly small activity, when done consistently, will produce surprising weight loss results!

TIP #2 Forget Your Late Night Snack
I know I am not the only one who enjoys eating a snack after dinner! Although comfort food seems to taste better right before bed, it is also more prone to stick with us when eaten late at night. It has been proven that not eating three hours before bed reduces fat storage throughout the night. If you go to bed at 10pm, finish eating for the day no later than 7pm. Once you have made this a habit you will be ecstatic over the long term weight loss!

TIP #3 Kiss that Frappuccino Goodbye
What tastes better than a frothy, venti frappuccino smothered in whip cream and chocolate syrup? While blended coffee beverages have rapidly gained popularity with the masses, their caloric tallies have been all but ignored. Whether you are an avid Starbucker, or only wander in for an occasional treat, it is important to know the truth about what you are drinking. The average Venti sized frappuccino weighs in at 530 calories. This staggering number equals 2.5 bagels, or one third of the recommended daily calories for an average woman. Not only is this an extreme amount of calories to be consumed in a beverage but the calories come purely from sugar, which is easily stored as fat. Next time you are in line at the coffee shop and find yourself eyeing a sugary beverage, redirect your attention to the tea selection, or stick with an old fashioned cup of coffee.

TIP #4 Fuel Your Fire
Have you ever tended a campfire? You probably remember continuously adding sticks and branches to keep the fire from running out of fuel. Your body’s metabolism is similar in its need for constant fuel. Eating a small meal every three hours is a great way to keep your metabolism high all day long. When your metabolism is high you burn more calories throughout the day and are less likely to store fat. Rather than eating 2 or 3 large meals a day, and allowing your ‘fire’ to go out, giving way to hunger pains, try eating a small meal every three hours and be amazed at your weight loss results.

TIP #5 Curb Your Carbs
I’m sure sometime in the past year you have found yourself subjected to the testimony of a converted ‘low-carb’ enthusiast. While these people may look great it is definitely not the right diet for everyone. Extreme fatigue, crankiness and downright impracticality are what make this diet a tough cookie to swallow. Cutting one or two carb-filled items out of your daily diet can make a huge difference in meeting weight loss goals. While I wouldn’t recommend throwing out your bread basket entirely, consciously cutting carb-filled items out of your daily food intake is a great idea. If you normally have a sandwich for lunch make it open-faced, thus cutting out half of the bread. If you enjoy eating pasta for dinner reduce your pasta portion and add extra vegetables. These minor changes to your daily diet will prove themselves priceless when you step onto the scale!

It is you against the bulge, and now that you are armed with these 5 tips for easy weight loss, I am confident that you are going to win! Keep in mind that consistency is the key. The more effort that you put into implementing these 5 tips into your daily lifestyle, the quicker the unwanted pounds will disappear!

Does your weight loss plan include these 10 Essential Steps?

Be prepared to be less effective and waste your own time, if your weight loss programme does not contain these quick lose fat tricks.

1. Must have a Change in Lifestyle

Every effective weight loss programme will help clients change their lifestyle. This is absolutely critical to the long term success of the programme. Unfortunately, it is now fashionable to pop slimming pills or go for cellulite treatments to lose weight.

The results from such programmes will never be permanent because the person’s lifestyle would effortlessly put back all the weight. The very moment that these artificial programmes are halted, weight will come rushing back.

When a person changes his/ her lifestyle, the unhealthy food and weight gaining activities will be eliminated from their daily lives. Hence, an effective weight loss system MUST have an in-built mechanism that helps clients refine their lifestyle.

2. Must include a Water Drinking plan BEFORE Meals

Drinking at least a glass of water half an hour before meals is critical to weigh loss and maintenance of a healthy body. The water replenishes the fluids that will be used to make bicarbonate solution on the mucus membrane of our stomach lining. This protects the stomach from being burnt by its own acid fluid.

Similarly, a well hydrated body reduces the urge to drink unhealthy drinks which introduce more toxins to your body. Furthermore, the body does not need to excessively retain water, thus making the body fatter than necessary.

Lastly, a majority of people are chronically dehydrated though they seem to be leading normal lives. It is a common sight to see my clients reduce the amount they eat after they begin the water routine. Many people have lost the ability to differentiate between food hunger and water hunger. A systematic water plan will help them regain this lost touch.

3. Must include a systematic plan for reduction of sweetened and diuretic beverages.

Sweetened drinks are beverages like soda, cola, diet cola, tea, coffee and beer. The three major groups of substances that would impede and slow down your weight loss are caffeine, sugar and sugar substitutes.

Caffeine – This is a diuretic substance that drains your body of water. It is roughly estimated that you lose 33% more fluid from your body then the amount you drank. If you drink one cup of coffee, you would lose all the fluid from the coffee plus an extra 1/3 a cup. This makes you body desperate to retain whatever water it can. In the long run, your body’s instinctive reaction is to retain water, hence giving out the round water-filled appearance. Diuretic drinks are coffee, tea, most colas, most sodas and beer (though it technically has no caffeine, it is a diuretic).

Sugar – Besides the numerous health damaging effects of sugar on your body, it also adds useless calories to your diet. When sugar enters the body it is broken down into glucose and the calorie that is created is termed “empty calorie”. It has absolutely no vitamins or minerals, hence it does not do any good to your body besides adding calories.

Sugar substitutes – Sugar substitutes like Aspartame (sold as nutrasweet) and Splenda cause you to overeat sugars (including carbohydrates) because receptors in the tongue have been trained, through the years, to expect “sugar” when it tastes “sugar”. Products like nutrasweet always tout that you get the taste of 8 (figurative number) spoonfuls of sugar but only half the spoonful of calories. In theory this sounds great, however, our receptors in the tongue will stop glucose production in the body and expect to be able to take it from the incoming food. So now it is expecting 8 times worth of sugar calories! But the sugar only provides 1/16th of that. The body now hungers for more food since it has shut down glucose production. All “diet” drinks that claim to be sugar free and sweets that are sugar free contain either nutrasweet or splenda, you can confirm it on the labels.

4. A Muscle growth programme

You need a proper muscle growth plan if you ever want to stop spiralling back to your heavy weight. Programmes that are based on pills and nutrition tend to neglect or gloss over the muscle building plan. This is very dangerous because your muscle acts as a buffer for excess calories and helps maintain your weight and figure. Furthermore, there is no such thing as eating to build muscles as popularly believed. Muscles can only be built in the good old fashioned way – make it do work.

5. A programme that focuses on the growth of the aerobic Type 1 muscle fibres.

On the other extreme there are programmes that are excessively focused on going to the gym. That would mean they ask you to go twice or three times a week to the gym for weights. This is a waste of your time and probably they are building up Type II (a/b) muscles instead of Type 1 muscles fibres. This difference is important because Type II muscles are big and showy, but they require a lot of maintenance and have poor fat burning abilities. Type 1 muscle fibres hardly bulge but contain the highest amount of mitochondria, an essential enzyme in fat burning.

6. You must want to lose weight.

Most people assume that being involved in an activity means that they actually want to do it. Many people busy themselves finding the greatest miracle weight loss cure or trying out every fad but never really achieving anything. Subconsciously, they do not want to lose weight, but the appearance of busy effort allows them to gain affection or acceptance by loved ones, peers and their own inner selves!

7. A Nutrition plan that reflects personal individuality.

When we buy clothes, especially expensive ones, we always insist on having it tailored to our size. Sometimes, the sleeve may be too long but the chest perfect fit. That is why stores have many different labels to suit different body size and shapes. Similarly, the food we eat should also be tailored to our body, not just in terms of size (calories) but also in terms of design. Nutrition programmes need to first assess and categorise our body type or blood type or metabolic type (not limited to these categories), before any recommendations can be made.

8. The plan should never come with food restriction.

Yes the unbelievable! Most of my clients are shocked when I advise this to them. It is an accepted fact that all diets mean that you have to give up on your favourite foods. This is totally untrue and will in fact destroy the sustainability of the programme. We are creatures of greed; we always want what we cannot have. That is hardwired into us. Hence, the command not to eat a particular food will conversely create a greater demand for it. The correct technique should be learning to manage the urge, rather than suppressing it.

9. It must have a component that includes aerobic walking or jogging.

Ultimately, our body thrives to walk, jog and run, that is our basic function as human beings. For many overweight people, this function has been dormant and numbed for too long. Aerobic walking or jogging is essential to any weight loss programme because it gradually helps your body to adjust to the change in weight load as you slim down. Swimming or carrying weights in an aerobic fashion is not a substitute because the whole body is not engaged in the activity.

10. The programme MUST be sustainable relative to your daily workload and commitments.

You cannot and should not embark on a quad weekly (4 times a week) get slim course if you already have to juggle two jobs and a family. Firstly, it is absolutely impossible for you to sustain the hectic schedule in the long run. Secondly, it would create a phobia within you, framing your mindset that weight loss is a strenuous and painful event. A healthy lifestyle is a fun activity that should preferably involve your family and loved ones, the last thing you would ever want to do is to sign up for a programme that is too daunting to complete.

Will Your Plan Lead To Permanent Weight Loss? How To Tell

This article summarizes what a plan must have to be able to result in long-term weight loss. If a plan fails in any one of these, any weight loss will be short-term and the individual will experience “yo-yo dieting”.
Several years ago, a colleague who had tried several weight loss plans, asked me to help her figure out why she wasn’t able to achieve permanent weight loss. After extensive research on how the body regulates weight and studying individuals who had succeeded in attaining long-term weigh loss, I concluded that there are four characteristics that a plan must have to result in long-term weight loss. If a plan fails in any one, it might create short-term weight loss but the pounds will come back and you will find yourself trying something else. At first glance, these factors might look straightforward and simple but I will present the science behind them and why they must be taken into account for you to succeed.

The four characteristics are:

1. The plan must avoid cravings 2. The plan must avoid hunger 3. The plan must call for increasing your activity level 4. It must be a plan you can live with for a long time

What are cravings? A craving is when your body pushes you to want a particular food ingredient. This can occur even when you are not hungry. When you finally give in and get the food, you almost always binge, that is, eat more than you would have if you did not have cravings for it.

What causes cravings? Your body needs 6 essential food ingredients to function properly. They are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins and water. If you deprive your body of any of this, it will create the sensation that will drive you to get it. The most easily identified example is when you deprive your body of water. You develop thirst. Thirst is the body craving for water.

Weight loss plans that tell you to cut out particular foods will always lead to cravings. It is this battle in your body to give it what it needs that creates conditions of discomfort and lead to most individuals ending the programs. There is an area of the brain that controls what and how much you eat and is responsible for creating cravings as a way for you to provide the body what it needs.

So, how do you avoid cravings? By eating all the required food ingredients. The key is that in all the food groups, there are “good” types and “not so good” types. You need to know the good types and eat only those. For example, with carbohydrates, the good types are the ones with low glycemic index (GI). GI is a measure of how fast a food increases the production of insulin. Insulin causes fat buildup. Simple sugars, potatoes and white bread are examples of high GI foods, while whole grains and vegetables have low GIs and therefore good for weight loss.

By understanding the concept of eating all the essential foods and dividing them into “good” and “not so good” foods, you will avoid cravings and overeating.

Next time we will discuss hunger and how successful plans avoid hunger.

How to Identify Fraudulent Weight Loss Claims

The FTC has released an 18-page report to help the media identify products that use fraudulent weight loss claims in their sales pitch. The report, Red Flag Bogus Weight Loss Claims, is available here: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/redflag/. Although it is geared toward the media, consumers may also learn from the brochure.

Below are the seven warnings of the report.

FICTION: Products that claim you can lose two or more pounds per week without dieting and exercise. A claim is false if it is telling you that you can quickly lose weight, drop dress sizes, lose inches, or lose body fat without changing your lifestyle.
FACT: Losing weight will require you to change your eating and exercise habits.

FICTION: Products that claim you can eat whatever you want and however much you want with no limits. A pill that will allow you to eat whatever you want and still lose weight? Science may be good, but it’s not going to change the laws of physics.
FACT: What goes into your body must go somewhere, whether it is expended into energy, turned into fat, or turned into waste; your body must do the work to expend the calories.

FICTION: Products that claim your weight loss will be permanent even after you stop using the product. A pill that will curb your appetite is only going to work while you use the pill.
FACT: Anything permanent is going to require a permanent lifestyle change.

FICTION: Products that claim they will block absorption of calories or fat and lead to substantial weight loss.
FACT: Even fat blockers must be used in conjunction with a lower calorie diet.

FICTION: Products that claim you can safely lose more than three pounds a week for more than four weeks at a time. You should consult your health care professional for what your goal weight loss should be every week, especially if you are diagnosed with obesity.
FACT: Intense weight loss of more than three pounds per week over several consecutive weeks can be damaging to your organs and cause health problems.

FICTION: Products that claim all users will lose substantial weight.
FACT: No product can work for everyone.

FICTION: Products that are worn on the body or rubbed on the skin will cause substantial weight loss. Patches, creams, lotions, body wraps, clothing, shoes, earrings, rings, belts, buzzers, etc. etc. – leading to weight loss?
FACT: Weight loss can only occur through changes in diet and exercise.

Are Weight Loss Supplements Worth It?

What do you think of the hundreds of weight loss supplements out there on the shelves today? Are they worth the money? Will they actually help you lose weight? How do you know which ones are going to work for you? Is there any proof that these products work?

I’ve taken some time and researched some of the most popular product to try to find the answers for you. The truth is, most products won’t help you lose anything but money. There are a few, however, with some research behind them that prove that they actually work.

What are these supplements that work? It seems that only four products hold the best promise for those of us who want to slim down. They are Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), Hydroxycitic Acid (HCA), phaseolomine, and possibly 5-HTP.

1. Conjugated Linoleic Acid, CLA, has a number of research studies behind it. It is a fatty acid that has been found to reduce cancer risks, body fat and to increase lean muscle tissue. The Journal of Nutrition reported a Scandanavian Research team found CLA to increase the lean body mass of humans and also to decrease the fat mass. Subjects also had lower blodd fat and cholestrol after taking CLA. CLA does occur naturally in meat and dairy products, but the levels are pretty low. Also, if you’re following a healthy low-fat diet, you tend to not get as much meat and dairy, so supplementation may be the answer for getting a healthy dose of CLA.

2. Hydroxycitic Acid, HCA, is derived from a fruit, Garcinia cambogia or Malabar tamarind. It seems to work by inhibiting an enzyme that converts carbohydrates to fat. It also seems to suppress the appetite. Studies on humans have had mixed results with one study showing significant weight loss in participants. Another study using a high fiber diet, showed HCA had no effect on weight loss. Critics think the high fiber diet prevented absorbtion of the HCA. So, if you’re on a high fiber diet, HCA may not be for you.

3.Phaseolomine is derived from the white kidney bean. It works by reducing your body’s absorbtion of starchy carbohydrates. Since you absorb fewer calories, you lose weight. Seems like this supplement would be great to take if you knew you were going to indulge. Research has also shown that you burn more fat while taking phaseolomine. Subjects in one study lost 10% of their body fat in 30 days. Phaseolomine is typically found in carb blocker products.

4.5HTP works by increasing the level of Serotonin in the brain resulting in more stable emotions, better sleep and weight loss. I take 5HTP myself and have found it to be an excellent appetite suppresant as well as a mild mood booster. In one study where women were given either a placebo or 5HTP and a 1200 calorie diet, those who took the placebo lost 2.28 pounds and those who took 5HTP lost 10.34 pounds. This was accomplished in 6 weeks. Are there other supplements that work? There may be others that will stand the test of time and research, but for now these are the best non-prescription supplements I’ve found to enhance your weight loss efforts. Good luck losing the weight you want to lose!