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Archive for August 2010
Weight Loss Diet How to beat depression and come out a winner every time
Weight Loss asked:
all, I want to start by saying that depression can be an incredibly serious illness. Nothing listed in this article is to take the place of the advice or medications as prescribed by a qualified physician. What we will attempt to do in this article is simply provide some things you can do yourself to hopefully overcome the symptoms of depression without having to resort to prescription drugs. If you cannot, do NOT feel like a failure sometimes the illness of depression requires taking more serious action so heed your doctor\’s advice at all times.
I think just about everyone feels depressed at one time or another. Perhaps you don\’t get the promotion you were counting on at work, or you were struck down with an illness that makes you feel hopeless, or any of a number of other things derail you making you feel that life somehow just isn\’t fair and you become sad and overall depressed. This is certainly common because of the events mentioned above, but for some of us, these symptoms come on suddenly often not even associated with any specific event at all. Depression can strike without warning and zap your interest in activities you used to love or even life in general. If you notice yourself not reacting positively to things you used to love and feeling like you just don\’t want to do or become involved in anything at all, you may be feeling the symptoms of depression. If you notice these signs yourself, the thing you NEED to do is take action immediately. Below is a list of some things that may help you bounce back to your old self.
Exercise – If you are down, then get up and get active! Physical exercise has shown to be incredibly effective at curing the symptoms of depression. Set a realistic goal for your workout and hit it and this sense of accomplishment will do wonders for your outlook.
Check your diet – Unhealthy eating, especially a diet high in sugar and processed flour has actually been linked to depression in some folks. If your diet resembles the menu of a local bakery, it may be time for an eating overhaul.
Skip the drink – Alcohol is a depressant not to mention it is toxic to your body. If you are looking to kick the blues, then start by kicking the booze!
Give meditation a try – Sometimes the stresses of our daily life can be just too much too bear and if we just had a break to allow our mind to rest and relax, we could get rid of this negative energy that can often lead to a depressed. Meditation can be the perfect answer to help you relieve this stress.
Get your 8 hours EVERY night – Sometimes we become sleep deprived and we don\’t even know it. If your body has not had enough sleep, then you can bet it will catch up with you. Sometimes the symptoms you may be feeling that mimic depression may simply be because your body is exhausted. Try to make sure you get enough sleep every night as regularity is really the key here.
Make a list of things to be grateful for – Listen, sometimes it is hard to see depending on what we have going on in our life, but there is always someone out there who has it worse than us. If you put down on paper the things you have in your life that you are grateful for it can help put your mindset into perspective. Your family, your job, maybe a skill that you posses, put it all down. Keep this list with you and refer to it whenever you are feeling down.
I want to reiterate how serious depression can be. The tips above can and do help some who put them to use. The key thing is to do SOMETHING. If you are proactive and take action at the first signs of depression, then you can overcome it and come out on top!
The Fat Loss Secret
all, I want to start by saying that depression can be an incredibly serious illness. Nothing listed in this article is to take the place of the advice or medications as prescribed by a qualified physician. What we will attempt to do in this article is simply provide some things you can do yourself to hopefully overcome the symptoms of depression without having to resort to prescription drugs. If you cannot, do NOT feel like a failure sometimes the illness of depression requires taking more serious action so heed your doctor\’s advice at all times.
I think just about everyone feels depressed at one time or another. Perhaps you don\’t get the promotion you were counting on at work, or you were struck down with an illness that makes you feel hopeless, or any of a number of other things derail you making you feel that life somehow just isn\’t fair and you become sad and overall depressed. This is certainly common because of the events mentioned above, but for some of us, these symptoms come on suddenly often not even associated with any specific event at all. Depression can strike without warning and zap your interest in activities you used to love or even life in general. If you notice yourself not reacting positively to things you used to love and feeling like you just don\’t want to do or become involved in anything at all, you may be feeling the symptoms of depression. If you notice these signs yourself, the thing you NEED to do is take action immediately. Below is a list of some things that may help you bounce back to your old self.
Exercise – If you are down, then get up and get active! Physical exercise has shown to be incredibly effective at curing the symptoms of depression. Set a realistic goal for your workout and hit it and this sense of accomplishment will do wonders for your outlook.
Check your diet – Unhealthy eating, especially a diet high in sugar and processed flour has actually been linked to depression in some folks. If your diet resembles the menu of a local bakery, it may be time for an eating overhaul.
Skip the drink – Alcohol is a depressant not to mention it is toxic to your body. If you are looking to kick the blues, then start by kicking the booze!
Give meditation a try – Sometimes the stresses of our daily life can be just too much too bear and if we just had a break to allow our mind to rest and relax, we could get rid of this negative energy that can often lead to a depressed. Meditation can be the perfect answer to help you relieve this stress.
Get your 8 hours EVERY night – Sometimes we become sleep deprived and we don\’t even know it. If your body has not had enough sleep, then you can bet it will catch up with you. Sometimes the symptoms you may be feeling that mimic depression may simply be because your body is exhausted. Try to make sure you get enough sleep every night as regularity is really the key here.
Make a list of things to be grateful for – Listen, sometimes it is hard to see depending on what we have going on in our life, but there is always someone out there who has it worse than us. If you put down on paper the things you have in your life that you are grateful for it can help put your mindset into perspective. Your family, your job, maybe a skill that you posses, put it all down. Keep this list with you and refer to it whenever you are feeling down.
I want to reiterate how serious depression can be. The tips above can and do help some who put them to use. The key thing is to do SOMETHING. If you are proactive and take action at the first signs of depression, then you can overcome it and come out on top!
The Fat Loss Secret
Progressive Muscle Relaxation For Stress And Insomnia
Gary M. Miller asked:
Medical treatments, aromatherapy, and all the tired old “over-the-counter” prescriptions are just too boring anymore when it comes to treating insomnia or other sleep related problems. You need something new! Now there is a really exciting and effective technique that can be used to deal with Insomnia and other sleep disorders and it’s called the Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique.
What does this technique really do and how does it help to induce sleep? Well, there are number of good things it does and they work quite well to solve your sleeping problems. Progressive muscle relaxation is a technique that is used to tighten a certain group of muscles and then induce a relaxation stage afterwards that can reduce the overall tension in your body as you progress through the process. It is now being practiced widely by many people to relieve depression, anxiety, and stress. It is also used to treat insomnia as well as other habitual muscle pains in the body. It is being more commonly suggested for use amongst practitioners that have learned the technique of tensing and relaxing the muscles one group at a time. They concentrate on each group individually and thereby flush out the stresses and relieve the overall tension from each particular muscle part.
You can perform progressive muscle relaxation yourself by gradually starting the technique in your limbs and then moving to your facial area and your abdomen until you finally reach your upper body area. This technique is required for about 10 to 20 minutes a day and you’ll really be surprised with the results. It will show you some small but effective changes in your body that will lead to more overall relaxation.
Progressive muscle relaxation targets every area of your body and also provides ample contraction periods that result in a feeling of relaxation after each repetition. It then reduces the nervous feeling of “exasperation” in your muscles and replaces it with a feeling more like drowsiness to put you in the mood for a real rest. This practice can be easily done at home at anytime of the day and especially when you are having difficulty falling asleep. This is a fun alternative to try and get yourself in the mood for bed. It is also very simple and a very practical way to aid yourself in sleeping. It’s especially great for those people who are hesitant to try over-the-counter treatments or who have found the herbal medications to be ineffective.
Progressive muscle relaxation is very easy and sort of like reading a book before bed. It’s just something simple you can do to get yourself in the mood for sleeping. All you have to do is just clear your mind of anything and gradually contract your muscles at one leg for 2-3 minutes while inhaling and exhaling slowly. Then move to your other leg and to each of your arms, always contracting the muscles for a few seconds and then releasing them. Feel that wonderful relaxation after you release? That’s the technique starting to take effect!
Your mindset helps a lot when it comes to progressive muscle relaxation. Set your mind to experience the feeling of relaxation each time you release the contraction and you will begin to get the idea of how you can fall asleep after you are done. Soon you will feel relaxed with the technique and you’ll start to feel very light. You’ll get a lot better at putting yourself to sleep in no time.
This is a very simple and convenient way to help you fall asleep. The technique has often been used on Insomnia patients with great success. It’s safer than those drug medications for sleep disorders and it will not cost you any money at all. It fits with the saying that “mental serenity and calmness starts with relaxation”. With Progressive Muscle Relaxation, you are more than assured of a relaxed muscle and a relaxed body that will lead to a calmer state of mind. You don’t need to worry any longer about having to go through all that sleep difficulty. With some very simple and basic contractions, you’ll learn to teach your body how to relax and your mind will then follow. Go try it out and have a great rest tonight!
Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle
Medical treatments, aromatherapy, and all the tired old “over-the-counter” prescriptions are just too boring anymore when it comes to treating insomnia or other sleep related problems. You need something new! Now there is a really exciting and effective technique that can be used to deal with Insomnia and other sleep disorders and it’s called the Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique.
What does this technique really do and how does it help to induce sleep? Well, there are number of good things it does and they work quite well to solve your sleeping problems. Progressive muscle relaxation is a technique that is used to tighten a certain group of muscles and then induce a relaxation stage afterwards that can reduce the overall tension in your body as you progress through the process. It is now being practiced widely by many people to relieve depression, anxiety, and stress. It is also used to treat insomnia as well as other habitual muscle pains in the body. It is being more commonly suggested for use amongst practitioners that have learned the technique of tensing and relaxing the muscles one group at a time. They concentrate on each group individually and thereby flush out the stresses and relieve the overall tension from each particular muscle part.
You can perform progressive muscle relaxation yourself by gradually starting the technique in your limbs and then moving to your facial area and your abdomen until you finally reach your upper body area. This technique is required for about 10 to 20 minutes a day and you’ll really be surprised with the results. It will show you some small but effective changes in your body that will lead to more overall relaxation.
Progressive muscle relaxation targets every area of your body and also provides ample contraction periods that result in a feeling of relaxation after each repetition. It then reduces the nervous feeling of “exasperation” in your muscles and replaces it with a feeling more like drowsiness to put you in the mood for a real rest. This practice can be easily done at home at anytime of the day and especially when you are having difficulty falling asleep. This is a fun alternative to try and get yourself in the mood for bed. It is also very simple and a very practical way to aid yourself in sleeping. It’s especially great for those people who are hesitant to try over-the-counter treatments or who have found the herbal medications to be ineffective.
Progressive muscle relaxation is very easy and sort of like reading a book before bed. It’s just something simple you can do to get yourself in the mood for sleeping. All you have to do is just clear your mind of anything and gradually contract your muscles at one leg for 2-3 minutes while inhaling and exhaling slowly. Then move to your other leg and to each of your arms, always contracting the muscles for a few seconds and then releasing them. Feel that wonderful relaxation after you release? That’s the technique starting to take effect!
Your mindset helps a lot when it comes to progressive muscle relaxation. Set your mind to experience the feeling of relaxation each time you release the contraction and you will begin to get the idea of how you can fall asleep after you are done. Soon you will feel relaxed with the technique and you’ll start to feel very light. You’ll get a lot better at putting yourself to sleep in no time.
This is a very simple and convenient way to help you fall asleep. The technique has often been used on Insomnia patients with great success. It’s safer than those drug medications for sleep disorders and it will not cost you any money at all. It fits with the saying that “mental serenity and calmness starts with relaxation”. With Progressive Muscle Relaxation, you are more than assured of a relaxed muscle and a relaxed body that will lead to a calmer state of mind. You don’t need to worry any longer about having to go through all that sleep difficulty. With some very simple and basic contractions, you’ll learn to teach your body how to relax and your mind will then follow. Go try it out and have a great rest tonight!
Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle
Healthy Food Choices
Jun Yuan Lim asked:
It is not true that you have to go on a dieting in order to have a successful weight loss experience. In fact, by reducing the amount of food intake everyday drastically, it is harmful for your body. What you need to do actually is to carefully consider the type of food you eat everyday.
Here are some healthy food choices you may want to consider:
1. Grains
You should consume 6 ounces of grains everyday. Grains can be found in foods such as whole grain cereals, breads, rice, crackers and pasta.
2. Vegetables
You should consume 2 1/2 cups of vegetables everyday. Vegetables you should consume are broccoli and spinach. Carrots and sweet potatoes are very good as well, along with dry beans such as peas, pinto beans and kidney beans.
3. Fruits
You should consume 2 cups of fruits everyday. You should focus on eating a variety of fruits (and not stick to just one variety). You can also consume fruit juices as well.
4. Milk
If you are an adult, you should drink 3 cups of milk everyday. If you are a kid aged 2 – 8 years, you should drink 2 cups of milk everyday. When choosing milk or other dairy products, you should opt for those which are fat-free or low-fat.
If you do not like milk or you can’t have it due to medical reasons, you can go for lactose free products or other sources of foods with calcium such as fortified foods and beverages.
5. Meat and Beans
You should consume 5 ounces of meat and beans everyday. When eating meat, you should always bake it, grill it or broil it, as this will prevent grease from adding to the equation. You should also vary the amount of protein intake everyday, with more fish, beans, peas, and nuts.
In addition, when you cook your food, you should also limit the amount of solid fats such as butter, margarine, shortening and lard you put in. Even though these may help make your dishes taste better, but along with it comes with lots of fats, and it will also increase your cholesterol level.
By picking the types and varieties of foods wisely, it will greatly aid you in your weight loss regime.
However, on top of choosing healthier food to consume, you should not neglect exercising – as it goes hand-in-hand with your healthy eating lifestyle.
No matter how young or old you may be, eating healthy will help you keep prolong your active lifestyle for even more years ahead and help you in your health as well.
Discover an amazing, never-revealed before instant fat loss secret you can use immediately to lose at least 45lbs of that sickening, unwanted fat from your body in the next 14 days – Click here to learn about this amazing fat loss secret.
Fat Loss For Idiots
It is not true that you have to go on a dieting in order to have a successful weight loss experience. In fact, by reducing the amount of food intake everyday drastically, it is harmful for your body. What you need to do actually is to carefully consider the type of food you eat everyday.
Here are some healthy food choices you may want to consider:
1. Grains
You should consume 6 ounces of grains everyday. Grains can be found in foods such as whole grain cereals, breads, rice, crackers and pasta.
2. Vegetables
You should consume 2 1/2 cups of vegetables everyday. Vegetables you should consume are broccoli and spinach. Carrots and sweet potatoes are very good as well, along with dry beans such as peas, pinto beans and kidney beans.
3. Fruits
You should consume 2 cups of fruits everyday. You should focus on eating a variety of fruits (and not stick to just one variety). You can also consume fruit juices as well.
4. Milk
If you are an adult, you should drink 3 cups of milk everyday. If you are a kid aged 2 – 8 years, you should drink 2 cups of milk everyday. When choosing milk or other dairy products, you should opt for those which are fat-free or low-fat.
If you do not like milk or you can’t have it due to medical reasons, you can go for lactose free products or other sources of foods with calcium such as fortified foods and beverages.
5. Meat and Beans
You should consume 5 ounces of meat and beans everyday. When eating meat, you should always bake it, grill it or broil it, as this will prevent grease from adding to the equation. You should also vary the amount of protein intake everyday, with more fish, beans, peas, and nuts.
In addition, when you cook your food, you should also limit the amount of solid fats such as butter, margarine, shortening and lard you put in. Even though these may help make your dishes taste better, but along with it comes with lots of fats, and it will also increase your cholesterol level.
By picking the types and varieties of foods wisely, it will greatly aid you in your weight loss regime.
However, on top of choosing healthier food to consume, you should not neglect exercising – as it goes hand-in-hand with your healthy eating lifestyle.
No matter how young or old you may be, eating healthy will help you keep prolong your active lifestyle for even more years ahead and help you in your health as well.
Discover an amazing, never-revealed before instant fat loss secret you can use immediately to lose at least 45lbs of that sickening, unwanted fat from your body in the next 14 days – Click here to learn about this amazing fat loss secret.
Fat Loss For Idiots
Advantages of the Atkins Diet
Jeff Behar asked:
Dr.Robert Atkins addressed his own weight condition from a diet he read in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Realizing the benefits of the diet he followed Atkins later popularized the idea as The Atkins Diet in a series of books, starting with Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution in 1972. The Atkins Diet or just ‘Atkins’ is a well known low carbohydrate diet.
How Atkins Diet Works
The Atkins Diet states we can change our metabolism and lose weight easily simply by eating foods high in protein and fat and limiting foods high in carbohydrate. Consuming a high level of carbohydrates causes overproduction of insulin, leading to increased hunger and weight gain. The diet encourages the consumption of foods rich in protein.
The Four Stages of the Atkins Diet
Induction
The Induction phase is the first, and most restrictive, phase of the Atkins Nutritional Approach. It is intended to cause the body to quickly enter a state of ketosis. Carbohydrate intake is limited to 20 net grams per day.
Ongoing Weight Loss
The Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) phase of Atkins consists of an increase in carbohydrate intake, but remaining at levels where weight loss occurs. The target daily carbohydrate intake increases each week by 5 net grams.
Pre-Maintenance
Carbohydrate intake is increased again this time by 10 net carbs a week from the ladder groupings, and the key goal in this phase is to find the “Critical Carbohydrate Level for Maintenance”, this is the maximum number of carbohydrates you can eat each day without gaining weight.
Lifetime Maintenance
This phase is intended to carry on the habits acquired in the previous phases, and avoid the common end-of-diet mindset that can return people to their previous habits and previous weight. Whole, unprocessed food choices are emphasized, with the option to drop back to an earlier phase if you begin to gain weight.
Each stage becomes progressively less restrictive and gradually increases carbohydrates allowed.
What Food is Allowed in Atkins Diet
The allowed foods include a liberal amount of all meats, fish, shellfish, fowl, and eggs; up to 4 ounces (113 g) of soft or semi-soft cheese; salad vegetables; other low carbohydrate vegetables; and butter and vegetable oils.
Sample Menu Plan from the Atkins Diet
Breakfast:
Italian sausage frittata
Cup of Herbal Tea
Lunch
Tuna salad with mixed leafy greens topped with bacon bits
Dinner:
Bacon cheeseburger with broccoli and cauliflower
Fresh fruit kebobs
Snacks:
High-protein, low-sugar snack bar
What Food is Not Allowed in Atkins Diet
No bread, alcohol, or carbonated beverages, not even diet soda. Beverages are limited to water, and consumption of caffeine is not allowed. It May be difficult to eliminate breads and cereals, especially in families with children who love these types of foods.
Misconceptions about the Atkins Diet
Many people incorrectly believe that the Atkins Diet promotes eating unlimited amounts of fatty meats and cheeses. This is a key point of clarification that Dr. Atkins addressed in the more recent revisions of his book. Although the Atkins Diet does not impose limits on certain foods, or caloric restriction in general, Dr. Atkins points out in his book that this plan is “not a license to gorge.
Another common misconception arises from confusion between the Induction Phase and rest of the diet. The first two weeks of the Atkins Diet are strict, with only 20g of carbohydrates permitted per day. Atkins states that a dieter can safely stay at the Induction Phase for several months if the person has a lot of weight to lose. Once the weight-loss goal is reached, carbohydrate levels are raised gradually, though still significantly below USDA norms, and still within or slightly above the definition of ketosis.
Known Health Benefits of the Atkins Diet
There are over 50 studies that highlight the positive weight loss results and other health benefits associated with following the Atkins Diet. These benefits include weight loss, improvement in risk factors for heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, inflammation, benefits in treating epilepsy and decreasing obesity in children and adolescents.
Study out of University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Washington University School of Medicine randomly assigned participants to a low-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat diet or a low-calorie, high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. The low-carbohydrate diet produced a greater weight loss and was associated with a greater improvement in some risk factors for coronary heart disease.
Study out of Stanford University Medical School compared four weight-loss diets representing a spectrum of low to high carbohydrate intake for effects on weight loss and related metabolic variables. Participants assigned to follow the Atkins diet, which had the lowest carbohydrate intake, lost more than twice the weight and experienced favorable overall metabolic effects at 12 months than those assigned to follow the Zone, Ornish, or LEARN diets.
Additional Suggested Health Benefits of the Atkins Diet
Many people like being able to eat as much protein and fat as they wish, because these foods are often restricted in more traditional diet plans.
For people who have tried a low-fat, high-carbohydrate weight loss plan without success, increasing protein in their diet often results in decreased food cravings and more rapid weight loss.
The diet is relatively easy to follow; there are no complicated meal plans.
Potential Risks of the Atkins Diet
Eating unlimited amounts of fat, especially saturated fat found in meat products, can lead to increased risk of heart disease. Extensive research on healthy populations tells us to eat more fruits,vegetables and whole grains. Restricting these foods in the name of weight loss may lead to long-term health problems.
Additionally any diet that limits carbohydrate causes the body to rely on fat or muscle for energy. When our body breaks down stored fat to supply energy, a byproduct called ketones is formed. Ketones suppress appetite, but they also cause fatigue, nausea, and a potentially dangerous fluid loss. Anyone with diabetes, heart, or kidney problems should check with their physician before following a low-carb diet.
Unpleasant side effects include constipation (caused by the low-fiber diet) and bad breath.
Impact of the Atkins Diet on Diet Culture
Since the Atkins Diet made headlines n the late ’90s, there has been an explosion of low carbohydrate versions of traditionally high carbohydrate products, such as bread, pasta and even candy. Thiewed as the “grand daddy” and cause of the explosion of low carrb diets popularity in the nineties to early 2000.
What the Experts are Saying about the Atkins Diet
Atkins Diet supporters claim it offers faster weight loss and a relatively user-friendly eating plan. Sceptics, including dietitians and nutritionists, maintain that Atkins Diet weight loss is both short-term and possibly a health risk, even though the weight loss itself may have the beneficial effect of lowering cholesterol.
Dr. Foster, one of the researchers involved in studying the Atkins Diet, acknowledged the possible health dangers of the Atkins diet and stated a longer five-year study was planned:
“This larger study of 360 participants will help us more fully assess the benefits and risks of low-carbohydrate diets on bone mass, kidney function, arterial function and exercise tolerance,” he said. “I’m very, very concerned that people will get the message from these studies that the Atkins diet is safe and effective, but I don’t believe we know that yet.”
Brigid McKevith, a nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), said:
“We welcome the fact that the Atkins diet is being studied scientifically and that randomised controlled studies have been carried out, because it’s very popular with the public. [however] There are several potential problems with the Atkins diet. These include long term bone health, as with a very high protein intake the excretions of calcium increase, so there could be implications for the health of bones,” she explained.
“There could be difficulties for people who have an underlying problem with their kidneys or liver, because it would be putting more strain on those organs, and problems in terms of heart disease too, as it’s a diet very low in fruits and vegetables. Also, it’s very low in fiber, so in terms of digestive health, it’s not in keeping with our fibre and complex carbohydrate recommendations.”
Belinda Linden, head of medical information at the British Heart Foundation, holds similar views.
“The new studies do not indicate a dramatic weight loss for excessively obese people,” she said. “Previous studies have shown that weight loss from the Atkins Diet may involve muscle loss rather than body fat. Another potential problem is that it is so far unclear from studies whether weight loss is sustained over a longer period than six months. One of the studies shows no significant difference at 12 months.” She added that: “With minimal fruit and vegetables included in the diet, it holds serious implications for coronary heart disease and cancer. Diets need to be varied to protect against these conditions – and this one isn’t. This diet requires further long term and larger studies before its effectiveness can be confirmed.”
Volumetrics author Barbara Rolls, PhD, who holds the Guthrie Chair in Nutrition at Penn State University, offers a very simple explanation as to why people lose weight on Atkins diet:
“They’re cutting calories, even if they don’t realize it. No one has shown, in any studies, that anything magical is going on with Atkins other than calorie restriction. The diet is very prescriptive, very restrictive, and limits half of the foods we normally eat. In the end it’s not fat, it’s not protein, it’s not carbs – it’s calories. You can lose weight on anything that helps you to eat less, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for you.”
Neal Barnard, MD, president of the Physicians Commission for Responsible Medicine, a non-profit research group based in Washington, says:
“Low-carb diets have been linked to increased frequency of colon cancer, formation of kidney stones, kidney disease, and even osteoporosis… The reason for the health worries is in large part due to red meat. People who eat meat every day have three times greater risk of developing colon cancer. And then there is the problem of the kidneys. They aren’t designed to work on an oil slick of fat.”
Susan Barr, registered dietitian in New York City, says:
“There have been reports in the medical literature that say that this low-carb diet may not be as bad as we thought. That makes people interested again in this diet, but until there is more research on what stresses the diet places on the body, there is no way to know what it might be doing besides providing short-term weight loss.”
The Bottom Line
The Atkins Diet is an optimally balanced lifetime eating plan with the flexibility to meet each individual’s unique physical condition addressing factors such as age, gender, level of physical activity, and metabolic rate.
This diet may seem like the tastiest way to lose weight, but don’t be misled by claims of effortless weight loss and unlimited amounts of food. Nothing is that simple!
The Fat Loss Secret
Dr.Robert Atkins addressed his own weight condition from a diet he read in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Realizing the benefits of the diet he followed Atkins later popularized the idea as The Atkins Diet in a series of books, starting with Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution in 1972. The Atkins Diet or just ‘Atkins’ is a well known low carbohydrate diet.
How Atkins Diet Works
The Atkins Diet states we can change our metabolism and lose weight easily simply by eating foods high in protein and fat and limiting foods high in carbohydrate. Consuming a high level of carbohydrates causes overproduction of insulin, leading to increased hunger and weight gain. The diet encourages the consumption of foods rich in protein.
The Four Stages of the Atkins Diet
Induction
The Induction phase is the first, and most restrictive, phase of the Atkins Nutritional Approach. It is intended to cause the body to quickly enter a state of ketosis. Carbohydrate intake is limited to 20 net grams per day.
Ongoing Weight Loss
The Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) phase of Atkins consists of an increase in carbohydrate intake, but remaining at levels where weight loss occurs. The target daily carbohydrate intake increases each week by 5 net grams.
Pre-Maintenance
Carbohydrate intake is increased again this time by 10 net carbs a week from the ladder groupings, and the key goal in this phase is to find the “Critical Carbohydrate Level for Maintenance”, this is the maximum number of carbohydrates you can eat each day without gaining weight.
Lifetime Maintenance
This phase is intended to carry on the habits acquired in the previous phases, and avoid the common end-of-diet mindset that can return people to their previous habits and previous weight. Whole, unprocessed food choices are emphasized, with the option to drop back to an earlier phase if you begin to gain weight.
Each stage becomes progressively less restrictive and gradually increases carbohydrates allowed.
What Food is Allowed in Atkins Diet
The allowed foods include a liberal amount of all meats, fish, shellfish, fowl, and eggs; up to 4 ounces (113 g) of soft or semi-soft cheese; salad vegetables; other low carbohydrate vegetables; and butter and vegetable oils.
Sample Menu Plan from the Atkins Diet
Breakfast:
Italian sausage frittata
Cup of Herbal Tea
Lunch
Tuna salad with mixed leafy greens topped with bacon bits
Dinner:
Bacon cheeseburger with broccoli and cauliflower
Fresh fruit kebobs
Snacks:
High-protein, low-sugar snack bar
What Food is Not Allowed in Atkins Diet
No bread, alcohol, or carbonated beverages, not even diet soda. Beverages are limited to water, and consumption of caffeine is not allowed. It May be difficult to eliminate breads and cereals, especially in families with children who love these types of foods.
Misconceptions about the Atkins Diet
Many people incorrectly believe that the Atkins Diet promotes eating unlimited amounts of fatty meats and cheeses. This is a key point of clarification that Dr. Atkins addressed in the more recent revisions of his book. Although the Atkins Diet does not impose limits on certain foods, or caloric restriction in general, Dr. Atkins points out in his book that this plan is “not a license to gorge.
Another common misconception arises from confusion between the Induction Phase and rest of the diet. The first two weeks of the Atkins Diet are strict, with only 20g of carbohydrates permitted per day. Atkins states that a dieter can safely stay at the Induction Phase for several months if the person has a lot of weight to lose. Once the weight-loss goal is reached, carbohydrate levels are raised gradually, though still significantly below USDA norms, and still within or slightly above the definition of ketosis.
Known Health Benefits of the Atkins Diet
There are over 50 studies that highlight the positive weight loss results and other health benefits associated with following the Atkins Diet. These benefits include weight loss, improvement in risk factors for heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, inflammation, benefits in treating epilepsy and decreasing obesity in children and adolescents.
Study out of University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Washington University School of Medicine randomly assigned participants to a low-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat diet or a low-calorie, high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. The low-carbohydrate diet produced a greater weight loss and was associated with a greater improvement in some risk factors for coronary heart disease.
Study out of Stanford University Medical School compared four weight-loss diets representing a spectrum of low to high carbohydrate intake for effects on weight loss and related metabolic variables. Participants assigned to follow the Atkins diet, which had the lowest carbohydrate intake, lost more than twice the weight and experienced favorable overall metabolic effects at 12 months than those assigned to follow the Zone, Ornish, or LEARN diets.
Additional Suggested Health Benefits of the Atkins Diet
Many people like being able to eat as much protein and fat as they wish, because these foods are often restricted in more traditional diet plans.
For people who have tried a low-fat, high-carbohydrate weight loss plan without success, increasing protein in their diet often results in decreased food cravings and more rapid weight loss.
The diet is relatively easy to follow; there are no complicated meal plans.
Potential Risks of the Atkins Diet
Eating unlimited amounts of fat, especially saturated fat found in meat products, can lead to increased risk of heart disease. Extensive research on healthy populations tells us to eat more fruits,vegetables and whole grains. Restricting these foods in the name of weight loss may lead to long-term health problems.
Additionally any diet that limits carbohydrate causes the body to rely on fat or muscle for energy. When our body breaks down stored fat to supply energy, a byproduct called ketones is formed. Ketones suppress appetite, but they also cause fatigue, nausea, and a potentially dangerous fluid loss. Anyone with diabetes, heart, or kidney problems should check with their physician before following a low-carb diet.
Unpleasant side effects include constipation (caused by the low-fiber diet) and bad breath.
Impact of the Atkins Diet on Diet Culture
Since the Atkins Diet made headlines n the late ’90s, there has been an explosion of low carbohydrate versions of traditionally high carbohydrate products, such as bread, pasta and even candy. Thiewed as the “grand daddy” and cause of the explosion of low carrb diets popularity in the nineties to early 2000.
What the Experts are Saying about the Atkins Diet
Atkins Diet supporters claim it offers faster weight loss and a relatively user-friendly eating plan. Sceptics, including dietitians and nutritionists, maintain that Atkins Diet weight loss is both short-term and possibly a health risk, even though the weight loss itself may have the beneficial effect of lowering cholesterol.
Dr. Foster, one of the researchers involved in studying the Atkins Diet, acknowledged the possible health dangers of the Atkins diet and stated a longer five-year study was planned:
“This larger study of 360 participants will help us more fully assess the benefits and risks of low-carbohydrate diets on bone mass, kidney function, arterial function and exercise tolerance,” he said. “I’m very, very concerned that people will get the message from these studies that the Atkins diet is safe and effective, but I don’t believe we know that yet.”
Brigid McKevith, a nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), said:
“We welcome the fact that the Atkins diet is being studied scientifically and that randomised controlled studies have been carried out, because it’s very popular with the public. [however] There are several potential problems with the Atkins diet. These include long term bone health, as with a very high protein intake the excretions of calcium increase, so there could be implications for the health of bones,” she explained.
“There could be difficulties for people who have an underlying problem with their kidneys or liver, because it would be putting more strain on those organs, and problems in terms of heart disease too, as it’s a diet very low in fruits and vegetables. Also, it’s very low in fiber, so in terms of digestive health, it’s not in keeping with our fibre and complex carbohydrate recommendations.”
Belinda Linden, head of medical information at the British Heart Foundation, holds similar views.
“The new studies do not indicate a dramatic weight loss for excessively obese people,” she said. “Previous studies have shown that weight loss from the Atkins Diet may involve muscle loss rather than body fat. Another potential problem is that it is so far unclear from studies whether weight loss is sustained over a longer period than six months. One of the studies shows no significant difference at 12 months.” She added that: “With minimal fruit and vegetables included in the diet, it holds serious implications for coronary heart disease and cancer. Diets need to be varied to protect against these conditions – and this one isn’t. This diet requires further long term and larger studies before its effectiveness can be confirmed.”
Volumetrics author Barbara Rolls, PhD, who holds the Guthrie Chair in Nutrition at Penn State University, offers a very simple explanation as to why people lose weight on Atkins diet:
“They’re cutting calories, even if they don’t realize it. No one has shown, in any studies, that anything magical is going on with Atkins other than calorie restriction. The diet is very prescriptive, very restrictive, and limits half of the foods we normally eat. In the end it’s not fat, it’s not protein, it’s not carbs – it’s calories. You can lose weight on anything that helps you to eat less, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for you.”
Neal Barnard, MD, president of the Physicians Commission for Responsible Medicine, a non-profit research group based in Washington, says:
“Low-carb diets have been linked to increased frequency of colon cancer, formation of kidney stones, kidney disease, and even osteoporosis… The reason for the health worries is in large part due to red meat. People who eat meat every day have three times greater risk of developing colon cancer. And then there is the problem of the kidneys. They aren’t designed to work on an oil slick of fat.”
Susan Barr, registered dietitian in New York City, says:
“There have been reports in the medical literature that say that this low-carb diet may not be as bad as we thought. That makes people interested again in this diet, but until there is more research on what stresses the diet places on the body, there is no way to know what it might be doing besides providing short-term weight loss.”
The Bottom Line
The Atkins Diet is an optimally balanced lifetime eating plan with the flexibility to meet each individual’s unique physical condition addressing factors such as age, gender, level of physical activity, and metabolic rate.
This diet may seem like the tastiest way to lose weight, but don’t be misled by claims of effortless weight loss and unlimited amounts of food. Nothing is that simple!
The Fat Loss Secret
Weight Loss Diet Natural and Safe Weight Loss Tips
Weight Loss asked:
to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of health and healing, the Kapha Dosha (humour) is primarily responsible for fat and adipose tissue in the body and therefore reducing Kapaha is the key to a successful weight loss program. Below you will find some effective tips from ayurveda to help reduce Kapha Dosha and thus battle obesity and being overweight.
Of the four dimensions of our being, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual, in this article I will cover the Physical Dimension which is most important for the reduction of Kapha and the correlating reduction in weight.
Weight Loss Tips from Ayurveda:
1. Ayurvedic Diet for Weight Loss:
Obviously an anti-kapha diet is the place to start when looking to lose weight. This means eating lots of fruits, vegetables, spicy foods and whole grains.
2. Exercise for Weight Loss:
The following Ayurvedic guidelines should be followed for proper exercise with regard to weight loss:
* More Exercise the Better: Kapha\’s qualities of fixed, dull, heavy, soft and cold are all negated via exercise. In other words, the more exercise you do the more you reduce Kapha and therefore fat in your body.
* Exercise Without Excessive Strain: According to Ayurveda, Kapha individuals need the most vigorous exercise, but at the same time, the exercise should never be extreme. Find a good balance between doing too little and over doing it. Breaking a nice sweat is good, but being totally breathless is probably too much.
* Be Consistent: A Kapha body type has a propensity towards weight gain so you need to make exercise a daily part of you life. The hardest part will be to get the exercise program underway. Once this is done Kapha people tend to be very determined and steady, so they will be able to adhere to it long term. Getting started though is another matter for Kapha types and usually requires shock treatment. In the spirit of shock treatment, understand that by NOT exercising and NOT losing the weight you are putting your longevity and quality of life at risk. Enough said, start today!
* Yoga for Weight Loss: Yoga offers an excellent way to include holistic exercises into your fitness program. These exercises will not just help you lose weight, but will also help your overall health and well-being.
* Post Exercise Diet: After exercises do not drink cold liquids. This period is key as you are trying to increase the metabolic fire in your cells so they burn more calories and drinking cold liquids at this time will negate this important benefit which exercise bestows.
3. Hard Physical Work to Burn Calories:
According to Ayurveda reduction of Kapha is promoted by living a physical, active lifestyle. In today\’s age of technology, computers, TVs, TiVO, internet, etc, manual labor is getting more rare for people to do. So you need to consciously incorporate physical work into your life. Whether that be mowing the lawn, tending to the garden or shoveling snow, it is important to not live a sedentary live of watching TV and eating twinkies.
4. Massage Therapy to Reduce Fat:
There are many treatment modalities in Ayurveda of which massage is highly recommended. In the context of weight loss and reducing Kapha, strong massage with light oils such as mustard or flaxseed is helpful.
5. Sleep Guidelines for Weight Loss:
No napping or going to bed early. If you want to reduce Kapha and weight remember you burn more calories when you are awake and being active, than when you are happily snuggled under the blanket.
The above recommendations will surely help you with your weight loss goals and in addition to helping you get slim, they will also make you more healthy and fit.
The Fat Burning Furnace
to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of health and healing, the Kapha Dosha (humour) is primarily responsible for fat and adipose tissue in the body and therefore reducing Kapaha is the key to a successful weight loss program. Below you will find some effective tips from ayurveda to help reduce Kapha Dosha and thus battle obesity and being overweight.
Of the four dimensions of our being, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual, in this article I will cover the Physical Dimension which is most important for the reduction of Kapha and the correlating reduction in weight.
Weight Loss Tips from Ayurveda:
1. Ayurvedic Diet for Weight Loss:
Obviously an anti-kapha diet is the place to start when looking to lose weight. This means eating lots of fruits, vegetables, spicy foods and whole grains.
2. Exercise for Weight Loss:
The following Ayurvedic guidelines should be followed for proper exercise with regard to weight loss:
* More Exercise the Better: Kapha\’s qualities of fixed, dull, heavy, soft and cold are all negated via exercise. In other words, the more exercise you do the more you reduce Kapha and therefore fat in your body.
* Exercise Without Excessive Strain: According to Ayurveda, Kapha individuals need the most vigorous exercise, but at the same time, the exercise should never be extreme. Find a good balance between doing too little and over doing it. Breaking a nice sweat is good, but being totally breathless is probably too much.
* Be Consistent: A Kapha body type has a propensity towards weight gain so you need to make exercise a daily part of you life. The hardest part will be to get the exercise program underway. Once this is done Kapha people tend to be very determined and steady, so they will be able to adhere to it long term. Getting started though is another matter for Kapha types and usually requires shock treatment. In the spirit of shock treatment, understand that by NOT exercising and NOT losing the weight you are putting your longevity and quality of life at risk. Enough said, start today!
* Yoga for Weight Loss: Yoga offers an excellent way to include holistic exercises into your fitness program. These exercises will not just help you lose weight, but will also help your overall health and well-being.
* Post Exercise Diet: After exercises do not drink cold liquids. This period is key as you are trying to increase the metabolic fire in your cells so they burn more calories and drinking cold liquids at this time will negate this important benefit which exercise bestows.
3. Hard Physical Work to Burn Calories:
According to Ayurveda reduction of Kapha is promoted by living a physical, active lifestyle. In today\’s age of technology, computers, TVs, TiVO, internet, etc, manual labor is getting more rare for people to do. So you need to consciously incorporate physical work into your life. Whether that be mowing the lawn, tending to the garden or shoveling snow, it is important to not live a sedentary live of watching TV and eating twinkies.
4. Massage Therapy to Reduce Fat:
There are many treatment modalities in Ayurveda of which massage is highly recommended. In the context of weight loss and reducing Kapha, strong massage with light oils such as mustard or flaxseed is helpful.
5. Sleep Guidelines for Weight Loss:
No napping or going to bed early. If you want to reduce Kapha and weight remember you burn more calories when you are awake and being active, than when you are happily snuggled under the blanket.
The above recommendations will surely help you with your weight loss goals and in addition to helping you get slim, they will also make you more healthy and fit.
The Fat Burning Furnace
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