Weight loss – Weight loss treatments

Everyone’s always looking for that magical pill that’ll switch on the right mechanism so they can start losing weight fast and get where they want to be faster. And maybe you’re not looking for overnight results, but wouldn’t life be amazing if some daily supplement could accelerate your initial progress, so you could start looking great and feel better about yourself that much sooner?

Then, just by stabilizing your diet and making all the right moves, you could hold your weight there where you wanted it and start aging with a little more finesse. Hey, we can dream…

But while there might not be completely magical solutions out there, we do hear about a supplement every now and then that’s said to give dieters some pretty amazing leverage. One example getting a lot of attention lately is fiber supplements.

But what’s the real deal? Is there anything to the hype? Let’s have a look.

What Is Fiber Really?

All right, at the risk of boring you to tears, you need to know that there are two different kinds of fiber important to health and nutrition, both typically derived from plant material.

They’re known as soluble fiber and insoluble fiber.

Soluble fiber is viscous. It absorbs water and ferments in your digestive tract, turning into gases and active byproducts. This reaction produces compounds some people think are very beneficial to your health.

Insoluble fiber, on the other hand, is best described as “roughage.” It’s basically plant material the body cannot digest (more on this later).

The indigestible insoluble fiber just absorbs water and passes right through your digestive system without fermenting and breaking down because there is nothing in a normal human body that it reacts with. It also changes the way you digest other foodstuffs by attracting and holding water molecules from certain materials.

Not to gross you out, the end result is a bigger, often coarser stool travelling through your body faster.

Fiber Supplements For Weight Loss

So where does weight loss factor in?

Some weight loss enthusiasts believe fiber supplements can trim your waistline because they make you feel full, thus stifling your appetite. Fiber is also difficult to break down into energy, and since your digestive system still attempts to convert it into energy, your metabolism speeds up and you burn more calories.

Make sense?

As well as helping you to lose or maintain weight, fiber has also been shown to yield a number of other health benefits. Because of the way it ‘wraps up’ cholesterol, allowing the body to get rid of it more easily, it can help to lower cholesterol levels. It also binds with fatty acids and slows down blood sugar absorption (a physical reaction of much interest to diabetics).

To go on, fiber is said to improve digestion and alleviate some of the symptoms associated with health problems, like Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

But here’s where things get interesting…

The Dangers of Fiber

While most government organizations still promote adding huge amounts of dietary fiber to your diet – almost comically so – there is a lot of new research suggesting excessive fiber intake may be extremely dangerous.

Think about it and it makes perfect sense – weight loss and health enthusiasts basically rely on fiber because it’s an INDIGESTIBLE MATERIAL.

And it’s easy to see why digesting materials the body is not meant to digest could be a potentially bad idea, wreaking havoc on your digestive system and overall health over the long-term.

Konstantin Monastyrsky writes in his alarming book, “Fiber Menace,” about a huge range of problems caused by excess fiber. He argues that we have not possessed the technology to process insoluble fiber into food products for very long and, as a result, our bodies have not yet learned to manage the stuff.

Again, it’s indigestible!

Effects he warns about include loss of control over the bowels (to the point of depending on laxatives), appendicitis, chronic constipation, rectal bleeding, diverticular disease, and increased risk of colon cancer.

This list, only the beginning of a longer one that reads like a nerve-wracking pharmaceutical commercial, is in exact opposition of everything our society has been told about fiber.

But the evidence is very compelling.

Now, don’t freak out because fiber is not going to necessarily kill you or turn your intestines into the Texas Chainsaw Massacre as long as you don’t overdo it…hint, hint. Stick to getting small quantities of it from natural foods that haven’t been processed – this natural stuff is typically soluble and doesn’t mess with your body the way insoluble fiber does.

As far as fiber affecting your appetite and thus aiding in weight loss, at the end of the day, if the growing concerns of fiber are true, losing a few pounds a little faster is never worth the damage it can do your body.

Not Ready to Sign On with the Anti-Fiber Crowd?

Maybe you’re not ready to give up on fiber and still aren’t convinced the stuff is even bad for you. Mainstream fiber buffs have got their claws in you and they’re not letting go…

You still might want to hold back a little bit on jumping on the supplement bandwagon and instead start educating yourself more about the benefits of a good diet, what “good diet” actually means, and how it can change your body and your life.

As indicated in the beginning of this article, supplements are a product of the magic pill phenomenon, and while some do have their benefits, there are dangers as well. For instance, did you know dietary supplements have no warning labels?

In fact, no purity standards are set in place at all, and since supplements are labeled as food, they are largely free of federal oversight.

A recent CBS News article by Sue Chan warns, “Some may inhibit blood clotting. St. John’s Wort may negate birth control pills, while Melatonin has been linked to seizures in children.”

And the real problem with these “mays” and “mights” is that someone has to prove a supplement (or food) to be dangerous before it can be yanked off the shelves – a far cry from the way we handle pharmaceuticals. Not to mention it’s hard to prove a supplement is hurting people when the companies who sell them are not even required to report complaints.

Look, this is my take:

Have you ever noticed how the “supplement crowd” is always so quick to remind us that we should make sure to get our fiber (or whatever nutrient they’re promoting) from natural food rich in that nutrient as well?

If supplements are so amazing, why the emphasis on getting your daily dose from natural foodstuffs? I dare suggest they’re covering their own rear ends, knowing that getting the nutrients you need from real food is really where it’s at.

Certainly food for thought.

And, knowing that all the healthy stuff your body needs to stay trim, healthy, and sexy can be found through the right natural food diet, that’s where you should focus your energy.

Fat burners are supplements that help to burn off calories more efficiently, thus reducing overall body fat. In order to burn one pound of fat, you need to lose 3,500 calories. These supplements can complement a reduced-calorie diet and exercise plan by enhancing the effects of calorie reduction. However, there is no one specific classification of fat-burning supplements that is appropriate for everyone looking to lose weight, so it is important that you compare products before making a purchase. Quality burners come in a variety of different forms, but you should only purchase those from an authorized dealer for your safety.

Classifications

There are two primary types of fat burners: appetite suppressants and thermogenic supplements. Appetite suppressants are some of the most common kinds of burners, and they work by decreasing your body’s hunger signals so that you consume less calories throughout any given day. Thermogenic supplements work by increasing your body temperature in an effort to improve the efficacy of your metabolism. These kinds of fat burners are generally used on a short-term basis so that your body does not get too accustomed to them. Some variations of fat-burning supplements are also designed for people with hypothyroidism, a condition that can decrease your metabolism.

Common Ingredients

Green tea is one of the most common ingredients in all fat burners, and it is also considered as one of the safest. The extract contains small levels of caffeine, so you might find a higher concentration of the ingredient in thermogenic supplements. Also, green tea is a long-time proven way to increase your metabolism and slightly decrease your appetite. Hoodia is a common appetite suppressant that is derived from the leaves of the corresponding plant. Bitter orange is an other common fat-burning herbal ingredient that can increase your energy level, as well as to help you burn more calories.

Where to Purchase

Supplements are widely available in most drugstores, but fat burners are even more prevalent in retail stores that specialize in weight loss products. It is always best to try one bottle of a fat burner at one time to assess its effects. If you find that the supplement is helping you shed unwanted weight, then you might consider buying the fat burners in bulk from an online store in order to save money. Keep in mind that these supplements can help you lose fat, but most people lose up to two pounds per week at one time. Losing too much weight at once can disrupt your metabolism and actually cause the opposite effect.

Precautions

Weight loss supplements are often made out of herbal ingredients, which can be just as powerful as conventional medications. It is important that you pay attention to the ingredients of a particular product in question, and to ask your physician about any possible drug interactions. Also discontinue the use of fat burners if you experience any side effects, such as dizziness and rapid heart rate. Although many quality fat burners do not cause such symptoms, every individual responds to these supplements differently, so it is imperative that you listen to your body.

1) DON’T EAT IT IF THE CAVEMAN WOULDN’T HAVE
Avoid processed foods, which have no place in the caveman eating plan, and instead focus on lean, all-natural and organic cuts of meat, fresh fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables. These foods will not contribute to belly bloat, and will help you stay satiated for longer between meals. This will help curb the tendency to overeat, which can be exacerbated by eating too many simple carbohydrates and processed foods. If it comes from a can or packet, chances are the caveman wouldn’t have eaten it! The caveman was not a farmer and did not have grains at his disposal – so eat grains only in very small amounts, and be very cautious of wheat, which does not sit well with many people. If you have a high wheat diet, start by replacing some of the wheat based food with fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds

2) TURN OFF YOUR TV
If you are hanging out on the couch, you aren’t burning many calories at all. The more weight you want to lose and the flatter you want your belly to be, the more you need to move and focus on pastimes that encourage calorie burning in your body. Watching television should be the last thing on your list. Gardening, house cleaning, working out, and playing with your kids are all activities that help you burn calories.

3) EAT ORGANIC FOOD WHENEVER POSSIBLE
Organic foods are grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other chemicals. In the case of organic dairy and meat products, they are grown and processed without the use of hormones or antibiotics. All of these chemicals and additives have the potential to have negative effects on the human body. Some have been directly linked to chronic illnesses and disease. By opting for organic foods, you are making a choice to consume foods that do not have these chemicals and additives; a huge step forward on the road to improving your health and wellbeing. Eat clean to stay lean!!

4) CUT OUT JUICE
Because juice is high in sugar and in calories, it is often a hidden source of weight gain. When you eat a whole apple, you ingest the fructose but also vitamins, minerals, and fibre that keep you healthy and which your body needs to function well. If you drink juice, you lose most of these benefits, which means you are almost just drinking straight sugar. It’s also very easy to drink too much juice – if you pour yourself a large glass, how many pieces of fruit do you think is the equivalent?

My heart was pounding in my chest and my breath was coming in short, labored gasps.

After about two minutes the technician stopped the instrument of torture and I was escorted to a chair for a welcome rest.

As my pulse returned to normal my brain played a flashback of my exercise motto. “If I get the desire to exercise I’ll lie down until it goes away.”

My daydreaming was interrupted by a pleasant nurse who announced, “The cardiologist will see you now.” As I entered the heart doctor’s office he looked up from studying the results of my treadmill test and grimly stated, “You are a walking time bomb. You need to go to the hospital now.” He didn’t even want my wife and I to have lunch first, but reluctantly agreed on the condition that we would not dawdle.

Three days later a highly skilled surgeon sawed open my chest and stitched in bypasses to six of my favorite arteries.

Fortunately (for me) this story has a happy ending. I made a quick recovery and moved exercise and weight loss to the top of my to-do list. Twenty-one years later my heart is ticking like a fine watch.

One of Yogi Berra’s famous sayings is, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

It’s easy to take an unplanned detour down the wrong road… and this could cause us to end up where we really don’t want to be.

The New Year is always a good time for reflection-and provides an opportunity to make a fresh start.

The Law of Inertia seems to be have been made especially for exercise: “The tendency of a body at rest to remain at rest or of a body in motion to stay in motion.”

Some of you (you know who you are) haven’t exercised for so long you may need a map or GPS to find your way back.

One of the things to keep foremost in your mind is that fitness is a journey-not a destination.

For your exercise program to be really effective, it has to become a part of your lifestyle.

Lifestyle is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as, “Way of life or style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person.”

Doesn’t it make sense to occasionally take a fresh look at our attitudes and values toward physical activity?

In his excellent book, Aspire, Discovering Your Purpose Through the Power of Words, author Kevin Hall teaches us a powerful word which comes from the ancient Aztecs.

It is called “Ollin” and is pronounced ALL-in. “Ollin” means to move and act now with all your heart.

Kevin tells us that Ollin means “one-weighted focus” and “calls for putting all your weight behind what you are doing, and if you don’t, you run the risk of falling into the pitfalls associated with indecision and inaction.”

My pre-exercise life was plagued with exercise indecision and inaction. Procrastination was where I excelled.

“Procrastination” comes from the Latin “pro,” meaning forward and “crastinus,” signifying tomorrow. This mindset deceives us into believing that we will somehow move forward tomorrow.

One of the most effective ways to overcome procrastination is to post your exercise appointment on your calendar. Soon it will become a habit.

I like what Dennis Waitley says, “Stop stewing and start doing. Don’t put success on layaway. Do it now!” Can you do it? Of course you can! This is your year!