Personal Weight Loss

Phyllis Ekleberry asked:


Copyright (c) 2008 Phyllis Ekleberry

Do milk and weight loss go together? We have all seen the commercial where someone is drinking a glass of milk and then says ‘”It does a body good”. After that statement, the commercial goes on to say that by including milk in your every day weight loss program promotes better weight loss particularly around the waist line.

Milk and Weight Loss in the News

The Natural News had this to say about milk and weight loss, ‘”There is no evidence that dairy consumption helps people lose weight, according to a study conducted by researchers published in the journal Nutrition Review.”

Researchers Reviews On Milk and Weight Loss

The researchers reviewed the results of 49 different clinical trials that examined the connection between either dairy or calcium supplement consumption and the changes that occur when you do consume dairy products or take calcium supplements. The results were over-whelming. Out of the studies the following was recorded:

- 41 studies showed no weight

- 5 showed a correlation with weight loss

- 2 showed an actual weight gain

- 1 study found no impact on weight but a decrease in the accumulation of body fat.

This is verifiable testing that shows milk and weight loss do not necessarily go hand in hand. When you partake of dairy products, researchers have found out that you also consume more whole grains, fruits and vegetables. With these great choices, you will lose weight faster and easier. All of these things have complex carbohydrates instead of the over-processed carbohydrates that are found in white breads and bleached white grains and white rice. It also shows that women who have a higher dairy consumption or calcium intake are much less likely to drink or smoke. Those same women are also more likely to exercise and take vitamin supplements.

The Direction of a Good Weight Loss Program

This research goes a long way to point you in the direction of a good solid weight loss program instead of just picking what you think will work and hope for the best–like milk and weight loss . Instead of listening to the dairy industry, which has a vested interest in touting the supposed weight-loss benefits of milk and weight loss, you need to choose a weight loss plan that encompasses good eating habits along with exercise.

Many health experts advise that rather than expecting a single product to function as a miracle food, those wishing to lose weight should instead focus on a balanced, healthy diet with consistency.

You and Your Weight Loss Program

So what should your weight loss program possess? You should choose a weight loss program that fits your lifestyle and combines a good variety of foods. If you choose a weight loss program that has limited menu choices, then you will quickly tire of those choices and ultimately lose the battle. Generally speaking, if you can retrain your brain to eat healthy meals, stop the munching all day and eat when you are hungry instead of eating when you are bored, stressed, depressed, lonely or sad, then you will succeed!

Steps of Healthy Weight Loss Program

Following these simple steps to your weight loss program will catapult your weight loss into the double digits!

1.) Find a program that fits your lifestyle.

If you are not fond of cooking, a diet plan that requires you to cook will not work! Don’t choose a weight loss program or diet plan that requires you to eat something you can’t stand or do something you are not willing to do, this is self defeating.

Hint: this does not excuse you from exercise or improving your eating habits because without these two elements in your weight loss program, you are not going to get where you want to be very fast.

2.) Decide the “why” - you have to have a motivating reason why you want to lose weight. If your reason is not motivating enough to stop food in mid air - find another one! There will be times that your reason why will be the only thing that motivates you to exercise, eat less and eat healthy - Get a good one!

3.) Make sure you are healthy enough to go on the program you have chosen!

Please take the time to check with your doctor before you go on a weight loss program to see if there are any under lying problems that could limit your success.

4.) Choose a diet that makes sense. One that is healthy and has plenty of options If you are contemplating taking weight loss supplements - either in the form of a weight loss pill or weight loss patch.- Please take the time to check them out. Some companies have tested their products in a double blind test - look at the test results before using their products. Don’t trust the companies that have not gone through this process. The good ones have tested their products to insure their safety as well as their results.

5.Above all - carry through. You must continue along the weight loss path to succeed.

This is the hardest things to do - to carry through with your plans. How many times have you decided to do something and then dropped it like a hot potato because it did not work fast enough or it was not fun enough. Buckle down - just do it. It has to be done for your health’s sake so just do it!

6.) Enlist a support person, group or friend. With the right support you can move mountains!

7.Give yourself some praise. You are taking one of life’s hardest journeys - the weight loss journey. Losing weight just takes some time and committed dedication. You are worth it - you are worth every calorie you don’t put in your mouth - you are worth every moment you exercise. After all, if you do not take care of yourself - who is?

Jackie Serta asked:


Are you looking to lose weight? If you are, have you ever though about joining a weight loss center? A weight loss center membership is a nice way to help you achieve your goal of losing weight. If you have never been a member of a weight loss center before, you may be wondering how you can go about finding a weight loss center to join.

Before examining how you can go about finding a weight loss center to join, it is first important to know what weight loss centers are. When examining weight loss centers, you will find that weight loss centers come in a number of different formats. Most commonly, weight loss centers are used to describe local weight loss programs, where you attend group meetings at the “center.” There are some weight loss centers that have weekly or biweekly meetings, like for weigh-ins. There are also weight loss centers where your membership fees give you access to onsite exercise equipment or the ability to attend an aerobics class.

Now that you know exactly what weight loss centers are, you are better prepared to go about finding one to join. One of the many ways that you can go about finding a weight loss center to become a member at is by using your local phone book. When using your local phone book, you will want to checkout the business directory section, which is also commonly referred to as the yellow pages. You may be able to find the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of local weight loss centers by looking under the headings of “weight loss,” or “health and fitness.”

In addition to using your local phone book, you can also use the internet to help you find a local weight loss center to join. When using the internet, you can use online business directories or online phone books. These online resources are nice, but they are similar to what you would find in your local phone book. Often times, you only get the name, address, and telephone number of a weight loss center. If you were to use an online business directory, you may also get the address to an online website, if the weight loss center in question has one.

In keeping with using the internet to help you find a local weight loss center, you can also use standard internet searches to your advantage. When performing a standard internet search, you may want to search with phrases like “weight loss centers,” or “weight loss programs.” This generalized search may return results for nationally operated weight loss centers. If you are looking for a local center, you may want to incorporate your city or your state into your standard internet search as well.

Another great way that you can go about finding a local weight loss center to join is by asking those that you know for recommendations. This includes your friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors, or your doctors. Whether the individual in question was or still is a member of the weight loss center in question or they know someone who was, you may be able to get a lot information by speaking to those that you know. It is also nice, as you often don’t just get the name, address, or telephone number of a local weight loss center; you also should get personal recommendations and constructive criticism as well.

The above mentioned approaches are just a few of the many ways that you can go about finding local weight loss centers to join. Although it is nice to hear recommendations from those that you know or use the internet to help you familiarize yourself with all of your options, it is important that you take the time to find the perfect weight loss center for you and needs. This should involve examining the membership features that you have access to, the cost of becoming a member, and so forth.

Julie Barros asked:


Weight loss success for many people is a constant struggle while others seem to get it on the first try. So why do some people struggle and others breeze through this difficult challenge?

There are certain factors that seem to work against some people, like age, a lower metabolism and even genetics play a part. But these are all things that can be overcome with the right motivation, commitment, knowledge and support.

In fact, these are the secret ingredients that successful losers have, and by losers I mean those who have lost the weight and kept it off. You can find just about every weight loss tip like drink plenty of water, eat healthier foods and exercise more. All of these are great tips and will help towards losing weight. But if you struggle to lose weight then you need to dig deeper and try new ways to stay committed to your weight loss goal, gain all the right information for you, find ways to get motivated and build the proper support system.

Weight Loss Success through Commitment

My guess is if you didn’t want to lose weight you would not be reading this article. But saying you want to lose weight is just a small step to really committing to weight loss.

Increase your commitment by creating a personalized weight loss plan. Set a realistic goal, one that is something you can achieve and would be happy with. The goal can be in terms pounds, inches or body fat loss. Or it can even be by clothing size or the way you look in the mirror.

Make smaller goals that you can measure your progress by the week or month. Making smaller goals helps you stay focused and committed towards your long term goal. Plan for the week and go shopping for the foods you need and clear your schedule to allow time for your planned exercise routines.

Keep in mind that even the best made plans can change as life will give you the unexpected. Don’t let a missed day of exercising or eating right throw you off track. Shrug it off and keep on going with your plan and make adjustments if needed.

Weight Loss Success through Knowledge

Knowledge is power and with the right knowledge on your weight loss needs you can accomplish amazing results. Many weight loss programs are designed to adjust to the individual needs. Each person’s calorie intake needs and exercise needs will be different.

Your daily calorie intake for weight loss is dependent on your weight and height, age and gender and activity level. Do the proper research to first determine what your basal metabolic rate is. Then adjust your calorie intake needs for your level of activity. Once you have armed yourself with this information, then create a calorie deficit, where you consume fewer calories than you burn.

If you are able, add exercise to your weekly routine. Studies show that people who exercise and diet lose weight quicker and are more likely to keep the weight off versus those who only diet. Start out slow if you have not exercised in awhile. You should try to create a calorie deficit of 500 to 1,000 calories a day for weight loss by eating fewer calories and adding exercise. Be sure you don’t reduce calories too low or you will cause your metabolism to slow down and you run the risk of actually gaining weight.

Weight Loss Success through Motivation

If only we could buy motivation in a can we would be all set to lose the weight. Unfortunately motivation cannot be bought and is at times very difficult to find. Try looking for that certain something or someone that inspires you to stay with your weight loss and keep you motivated.

Try motivating yourself using a reward system. You can reward yourself with whatever you want but try to stay away from food as a reward. Use a calendar and place stickers or stars when you reach a goal or had a good week. Although this may seem like you are back in school, it is a visual reminder of how well you are doing. When you hit a significant goal treat yourself to a night out with your friends and family.

If you hit a weight loss plateau and feel like giving up, motivate yourself by looking back at your progress to see how far you have come. Remind yourself that plateaus are just part of the journey and to stick with it. Eventually you will come off the plateau and be on the losing end of things again. Try mixing up your exercise routine or change and add different foods to push past the weight loss plateau.

Another weight loss motivation tactic is to create your own personalized motivational saying. Even if you don’t think you are a creative person, write something down that you can relate to and get motivated by. Post it where you can read it everyday. You know yourself best and therefore can create a personalized weight loss motivation tip that will inspire you.

Weight Loss Success through Support

Support groups can be found for just about everything life can throw at you, including weight loss support groups. Weight loss can be very challenging and frustrating. Adding support to your weight loss ingredients can be the difference between getting through the challenge and giving up.

You can look for organized support groups through weight loss programs, on-line forums or chat rooms. You can also build your own group. Include your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers. Let them know you are trying to lose weight and want their support. Perhaps you and your neighbor can go walking a couple of times a week. At work, you and your coworkers can plan a “bring your own healthy meal” day at work, instead of going out for lunch.

With the right support, motivation, knowledge and commitment, you can be successful at your weight loss goals.

Boris Tomson asked:


The hurdles to weight loss and weight loss diet :

Weight loss diet is all about creating healthy eating habits. There is nothing called quick weight loss diet as weight lost slowly is healthy and fat loss is best achieved when weight is lost slowly. Imagine how did you gain weight? Did you gain it overnight? Certainly not, do not aim to lose it overnight also.

Unreachable goals need to be replaced with real ones as a first step to weight loss. It is painful when you feel like you are depriving yourself. This becomes a struggling experience instead of being an exciting and positive experience. Healthy weight loss takes this integral approach to body and mind, as obesity has everything to do with your mental functioning. Every gland in the brain changes its functioning as you lose weight.http://lose-weight-quick-365.blogspot.com

Weight loss is recommended for those who weight more than the recommended guidelines. It is more like ’slow and steady wins the race’. Rather than dropping size by tomorrow, setting a goal of 1 to 2 pound per week is more realistic and achievable. The quick fix or short term approach has been the hallmark of weight loss programs. Yet, weight loss being a health and fitness issue and more appropriately a lifestyle issue, it is quite manageable if handled right.

This is not easy to do and can add to a person’s stress level and is even harder when suffering from sleep deprivation. One must be very motivated, disciplined, patient, have a weight loss plan, be able to follow specific and realistic daily and weekly goals, and be honest with oneself.

Choosing weight loss diet with caution

Weight loss diet is a very lucrative market in United States, but it still leaves many dissatisfied despite trying many weight loss diet plans. No, not deceived, they make them lose weight as marketed, but the overall story remains the same- lose 20 pounds, gain back 30. The most promising weight loss diets help in lose weight rapidly but fall short of providing skills to maintain your weight loss. Lifestyle changes incorporating few healthy eating habits in your diet keep the weight off forever. Yo-yo dieting is particularly dangerous decreasing the metabolism leading to an immediate weight gain once the caloric restrictions are relaxed.http://lose-weight-quick-365.blogspot.com

True, dieting alone can help you lose weight. Cutting 250 calories from your daily diet can help you lose about half a pound a week: 3,500 calories equals 1 pound of fat. Diets that promise fast weight loss with hardly any effort don’t give you the skills you need to maintain your weight loss; in some cases, these quick fix weight loss routines can even be seriously detrimental to your health. When it comes to losing weight, most weight loss experts will tell you that it is not about dieting. Dieting requires present-moment frustration and self-denial with little immediate reward.http://lose-weight-quick-365.blogspot.com

Gen Wright asked:


Weight loss can be challenging if you don’t have the right weight loss tools to help you along your journey. Tools are used everyday to help us complete simple tasks like fixing a loose door handle, heating up foods or even sending a letter to a friend. We think nothing of using a screw driver, computer or even a microwave. These are just part of the everyday tools we use.

However, when it comes to losing weight people often don’t think in terms of weight loss tools to aid us in reaching our goals. Instead they think only in terms of eating healthy, exercising and finding good exercise and weight loss tips. So if we are willing to use tools for everyday tasks, why do so many people not take advantage of weight loss tools to help them lose weight?

Weight Loss Tools - What are they?

Most people don’t take advantage of these tools because they simply do not know what they are or which tools are right for them. Tools, as defined on Wikipedia, are “a device or piece of equipment which typically provides a mechanical advantage in accomplishing a physical task”. I define weight loss tools a little more loosely. To me a weight loss tool is any document, calculator or software that can help you track, record, calculate information you need to lose weight.

You could expand on this definition, making it wide open, by saying anything, rather it be a weight loss tip or weight loss program, can be considered a weight loss tool. After all, anything that helps you accomplish your task can be considered a tool. So instead of going it alone, you want to look for weight loss tools that will help you lose the weight and keep it off.

Which Weight Loss Tools are Right for You?

When it comes to finding weight loss tools, there are literally hundreds or even thousands, depending on how you define a tool for helping you lose weight. So how do you know which ones you should look for and which ones you need? Although weight loss can be difficult, the formula for weight loss is actually quite simple; consume fewer calories than you burn. In other words, you need to create a calorie deficit.

BMR Calculator / Weight Loss Calculator

In order to create a calorie deficit you first need to understand how many calories you currently burn. Your basal metabolic rate, or BMR, is the amount of calories you burn while at total rest, like sleeping or sitting in a chair. However, we typically do not spend our entire 24 hours sleeping or resting, so a BMR calculator or weight loss calculator will factor in an activity level. These calculators generally have a selection for activity levels that include sedentary, lightly active all the way to highly active.

Other factors used in the BMR calculator are your gender, age, height and weight. These factors are used as each person’s metabolic rate depends on these. For instance, someone who is taller tends to have a higher metabolism. This is because they generally have a higher amount of muscle mass. Additionally, as we age our metabolism tends to slow down, so age is also needed for the calculation. The bottom line is you first need to know how many calories you burn through your metabolism. Then and only then can you begin to create a calorie deficit.

Calorie Intake Calculator / Exercise Calculator

Once you know your BMR calories you can start creating a calorie deficit. This can be done by either consuming fewer calories, exercising more or a combination of both. In order to help you create your calorie deficit there are two weight loss tools you may need. The first, a calorie intake calculator, will help you calculate the number of calories in the foods you eat. These calculators generally have a way to search for food items and select serving sizes. Once you have provided this information these calculators will tell you how many calories are in the specific food item for the specific serving size.

The next weight loss tool to look for is an exercise calculator. These calculators typically have several different exercises to choose from, level of intensity and of course the ability to input the duration. With this information the calculator will return the approximate number of calories burned during your exercise routine.

So you can see that it is easy to create your calorie deficit once you have all the tools to give you the right calorie information. However, unless you want to track this in your head daily, there is one more weight loss tool that I would recommend.

Calorie Intake Chart

This is one weight loss tool that you can create yourself or find one for free online that you can download and save to your computer. What you want to look for or create is a document, such as Microsoft Excel, where you can track it all. The file should include the ability to write down the foods you eat and their calorie content, the exercises you did and how many calories you burned and of course factoring in your basal metabolic rate. With all this information you can easily have the document calculate your calorie deficit for the day. If you really want to get fancy, add daily, weekly and even monthly charts that track your weight, inches lost, etc.

Although there are many other weight loss tools, with just these simple tools mentioned above you are well on your way to achieving your weight loss goals. All of these tools can be found on the web and are often free. You can even download certain files or even look for weight loss software that provides it all.

Gen Wright asked:


Dieters love weight loss tips. They are great reminders and tiny shoves to keep us on our way to reach our weight loss goals.

These 10 natural tips will help you get on the losing end of your weight loss and work for teens to seniors. So no matter what your age, these tips to get losing today.

Weight Loss Tips #1

Want It!

This may seem a bit redundant, but to really be successful at weight loss you have to want it. To really want it you have to go above just saying you want it, you have to commit to weight loss. The best way to commit to losing weight is to build a goal and jot it down.

A goal does not have to be in terminology of losing weight. Instead you could write your goal as measurements or body fat % lost or even clothing size. Make your goal reachable and quantifiable. Write it in terms that you can relate to and review often. For instance your goal can be ?I want to drop 2 dress sizes by the end of the year? or ?I want to lose 5% body fat in 4 months? or ?I want to weigh 135 pounds by this New Year’s Eve?.

Plan smaller goals that you can use along the way to ensure you are on schedule to achieve your final goal. Track your goals and your improvement by using weight loss tools such as a calorie chart, exercise chart or weight loss chart. Search for or develop a weight loss journal. Journalizing is a great way to track your foods, water, workouts and feelings for the day and a wonderful method for you to stay committed to your weight loss.

Weight Loss Tip #2

Stop Bad Habits

Learned habits can be hard to let loose. Let’s face it, some things we do are because we have always done them that way. This is the time to change. Get rid of the idea that you have to eat it all. If you are in the ?baby boomer? age then you know what I am talking about. We were led to believe to finish our plates and could not leave the kitchen until they were clean.

Well that was then this is now. Instead of scarfing it down stop when you are full. Take smaller portion sizes and if you are still hungry go back for seconds but make it a smaller piece. When eating away from home order from the kid’s menu for smaller sizes or ask for a ?baggie? and keep the rest for another time.

Weight Loss Tip #3

Keep it in the Kitchen

This is one habit worth talking about as its own tip. Many people have a bad habit of chowing down on the move or squatting in front of the television set when eating. Experts say people who eat in front of the T.V. tend to eat bigger servings. This is primarily because of being focused on the boob tube and not focused on what you are consuming.

So take your meal out of|away from} the family room and into the kitchen. Take advantage of this time to not only eat better and wiser but to find out how the kids are doing in school. By using your eating time as a nice family time you are also slowing down your eating. This will allow your stomach time to tell your brain that you are full and will likely consume fewer calories.

Weight Loss Tip #4

Throw Out Temptation

If it is out of the question to stay away from tempting foods, then just remove these from harms way. The old saying ?out of sight, out of mind? may just do the trick for you. Go through your cabinets and fridge and throw it out. Replace the too sweet or too fatty foods with the right foods. Sugar free jell-o is a wonderful way to get your sweet tooth satisfied without piling on the calories. Instead of potato chips get low fat popcorn.

Try going your first two weeks with no unhealthy snacks at all. You will be surprised at how your yearnings will fade by going without for a few weeks. Have a bag of carrots or celery near by. These veggies help gratify the need to crunch on something and are low in calories.

Weight Loss Tip #5

Get Support

Weight loss is a monstrous challenge for many of us, so go it on your own. Look for a weight loss support group online or on-site or start your own support group. All of the really successful weight loss companies offer a groups or one on one support.

But if you are planning to go without a weight loss plan then create your own support plan by including friends, family members, coworkers and neighbors. Your group can be as big or as small as you need. Let everyone know you are embarking on a weight loss journey and ask for their support and encouragement.

Weight Loss Tip #6

Track Your Weight Loss

In order to make sure you are on the right road to reaching your goals you need to record your progress. By recording how you are doing you can make modifications as needed to ensure you keep losing weight and reach your goals.

Keep track of the foods you eat and how many calories you have in a day. Track your exercise routines and how many calories you burned during exercise. This will help ensure you create a calorie deficit for losing weight. Measure or weigh yourself once a week and record your weight. Review your progress and weigh against your goal. If you see your progress headed in the wrong direction, make adjustments to your foods and/or workout routines.

Weight Loss Tip #7

Add Variety

You need a variety of foods to keep your meals interesting and fun. Don’t burn yourself out by eating the same things day in and day out. Eat from all the food groups by including whole grains, protein, dairy, fats and veggies and fruits.

Try eating 5 to 6 mini meals every day to help your metabolism stay energized. Eat protein with each meal by including lean cuts of meat and fish and beans and eggs in your diet plan. Aim for 5 ? 9 servings a day of vegetables and fruits. Make your choices colorful by having dark green leafy veggies, red or orange peppers, etc. Vary your fruit selection as well consuming citrus fruits and non-citrus fruits.

Your dairy products should be fat free and low fat choices. Make your bread and pasta selections whole grains. The complex carbohydrates and high fiber in whole grain breads and cereals help to speed up your metabolism. Additionally you want to consume some the good fats in your food selection. This is because your body needs some vital fatty acids from the foods you eat as it cannot make these fats itself. Just read the labels and choose foods that have the healthy fats and try to eliminate or reduce trans fats.

Weight Loss Tip #8

Watch What You Drink

Several people do not track or think about the amount of calories in their beverages. A regular flavored cola has more than 100 calories and 10 teaspoons of sugars. Fruit drinks are also high in sugar and calories. Switch to diet drinks and drink more green tea and water.

Watch the alcohol consumption as well. A lot of alcoholic drinks are high in calories and alcohol tends to turn to fat and sugar in your body. You should try to eliminate or reduce your alcohol intake while trying to lose weight. However, if you have a special occasion, beer and wine are lower calorie drinks.

Weight Loss Tip #9

Satisfy the Sweet Tooth

As you continue on your weight loss journey there will be times when you need a sweet treat. If you let your cravings go unchecked for too long then there is a good chance it will overcome you and lead to “binge eating”. So go ahead and treat yourself to that tempting snack once in awhile.

Moderation is the key here. It’s okay to sneak a snack and not feel bad. Just make sure it doesn’t become a common thing but is just every now and then change from your diet. One of the main reasons people stop strict diets is their constant cravings eventually gets the better of them. So go ahead and give in and make your snack small but enough to calm your sweet tooth. Then get right back on track with your weight loss journey.

Weight Loss Tip #10

Get Active

There are a lot of people who are exercise fanatics and then there are those people who flinch at the very word exercise. However, if you want to lose weight, and here’s the important part, keep it off then you need to include exercise to your weight loss plan.

By exercising you are burning excess fat and calories. You are also increasing lean muscle mass. The more lean muscles you have the higher your basal metabolic rate (BMR). The higher your metabolism the more calories and fat you burn in a given day.

If you are just starting out, then start slow by going for a brisk walk 20 minutes 3 times a week. Also add some strength training 2 or 3 times a week. As you get used to this workout routine then improve your speed and duration. Increase the resistance during your strength training as well. It doesn’t matter what you start with just so long as you start to get active.

Lesley Lyon asked:


Weight loss pills have become popular in the past several years. There are two basic types of diet pills or weight loss pills - ‘prescription’ and ‘non-prescription’ pills.

Prescription Pills :

Prescription weight loss pills are treated like drugs. They require FDA approval and are closely regulated. Some examples of this type of weight loss pills are Xenical (Orlistat), Meridia (Sibutramine) and Phentermine/ Fentermine. To prove their effectiveness in weight reduction, these pills are subjected to a range of clinical tests typically for monitoring health risks and side effects.

Non Prescription Pills

The Non-prescription weight loss pills are also called as weight loss supplements. These drugs can be purchased over the counter as they are subjected to minimal FDA regulation only. Some examples of this type of weight loss pills include pills from Metabolife™ and Herbalife™ as well as fat-burners, herbal weight loss pills, stackers, other sports or diet supplements.

The difference between prescription and non-prescription weight loss pills is becoming narrower. Since some types of non-prescription pills can be just as powerful or dangerous as weight loss drugs. Exception is that these types of weight loss supplements are not regulated similar to prescription weight loss pills. Hence they can be more dangerous if anything. The FDA has issued warnings recently about weight loss supplements that contain ephedra. Hence, many drug manufacturers are now declaring as ‘ephedra-free’ by removing ephedra from their weight loss pills.

Who can benefit from Weight Loss Pills?

Prescription weight loss pills are designed specifically for the treatment of obesity rather than mere weight loss. Despite health risks and side effects, the use of weight loss pills is justified, as obesity is a serious condition associated with serious health risks. Weight loss supplements or Non-prescription weight loss pills should be viewed in similar light.

Do these Weight Loss Pills work?

The answer is both Yes and No. With a proper exercise program and diet in conjunction with medical supervision, weight loss pills or weight loss supplements can be effective in the short term at least. However the benefits may quickly wear off as the body adjusts rather quickly to many weight loss pills.

Weight Loss Trials of Pills clinically:

Clinical weight loss trials demonstrate that by using weight loss pills alone, long term weight control is not possible. A combination of improved diet and physical activity is to be maintained in the long term to maintain weight loss successfully.

Consult your doctor before taking weight loss pills:

You should obtain information from your doctor about the possible dangers and side effects of weight loss pills before taking any weight loss pills.

Side Effects of taking weight loss pills:

Weight loss pills become less effective as time progresses like most drugs and can lead to addiction. If you feel any of the following side effects, taking the pills should be stopped immediately.

Irritability

Anxiety or nervousness

High blood pressure

Insomnia

Heart palpitations and Heart attack

Tightness in the chest

Vomiting, constipation or constant stomach pain

Diarrhea, Fever and Head aches

Dry mouth

Dizziness

Profuse sweating

Blurred vision

Hair loss

Urinary tract problems

Disturbances in sex drive and menstrual cycle.

The long-term effects of these weight loss pills are not known and how they interact with other medications is also not clear.

Tze Khit asked:


Do methods weight loss salons use work? How about the weight loss pills that ‘burn up to 2000 kilocalories per day’? Well, in most cases, people don’t even eat up to 2000 kilocalories when they’re trying to lose weight.

Quote from Singapore Health Promotion Board’s Nutrition FAQ:

The use of weight loss products may lead to relatively fast weight loss initially. Many weight loss products contain bioactive substances that suppress appetite, stimulate metabolism or induce water loss from the body. It is not safe to use these products without medical supervision. Moreover, weight loss products are usually expensive and do not help change the overweight individual’s eating and exercise behaviors that are the root causes of weight gain. This makes maintenance of weight loss difficult.

 

Enough said.

With regards to numerous weight loss salons using body wraps, infrared or electro stimulation devices etc - must you really be educated to realise that all these don’t work? Please don’t fall victim to their intensive marketing tactics. If they really work, why do they spend so much money on advertisements mostly showing astonishing ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures and slim figures of celebrities but little or no scientific information about their weight loss devices?

Wait. Didn’t recent TV programs show normal Singaporeans losing weight after visiting beauty salons? How do you explain that? Well, these weight loss salons know their stuffs don’t work, so now they’re getting smart enough to recruit some personal trainers and nutritionists to ‘preach’ healthy living. So on top of their dubious weight loss gimmicks (where the real bucks are rolling in), they have their clients exercise and diet. Without a doubt, exercise and diet worked, and weight loss resulted. At www.PT.com.sg we offer the same services (without the body wrap nonsense of course!) at a fraction of the cost.  

Seriously, only lazy people wanting a quick fix would visit these weight loss salons. But the thing is that they don’t even provide a quick fix! You’ll only get ripped of.

Here’s an excerpt from a very informative report compiled by the Federal Trade Commission of the United States Of America - Deception In Weight Loss Advertising Workshop:

Seizing Opportunities and Building Partnerships to Stop Weight Loss Fraud. A panel of experts discusses and analyses claims made by manufacturers, citing scientific references to show how these claims are false and misleading the public. The claims include:

1. Consumers who use the advertised product can lose substantial weight without reducing caloric intake and/or increasing their physical activity.

2. Consumers who use the advertised product can lose substantial weight while still enjoying unlimited amounts of high calorie foods.

3. The advertised product will cause permanent weight loss.

4. The advertised product will cause substantial weight loss through the blockage of absorption of fat or calories.

5. Consumers who use the advertised product can safely lose more than three pounds per week for a period of more than four weeks.

6. Users can lose substantial weight though the use of the advertised product that is worn on the body or rubbed into the skin.

7. The advertised product will cause substantial weight loss for all users

8. Consumers who use the advertised product can lose weight only from those parts of the body where they wish to lose weight

 

 

Find them familiar? Read them in ads on the papers or on television lately? Please do take time to read the full report: http://www.ftc.gov/os/2003/12/031209weightlossrpt.pdf

Losing weight ain’t easy. Nobody said it is. Only hard work and smart dieting will help you achieve your goals. Another important key is to change your eating behaviors and adapt to healthy eating so that the weight will be put off for good. Please do show your friends and family the reports and help to prevent any more fellow Singaporeans from falling into the traps of these useless companies!

 

References

Muris, T. J., Thompson, M. W., Swindle, O, Leary, T. B., and Harbour, P. J. (2003). DECEPTION

IN WEIGHT LOSS ADVERTISING WORKSHOP: Seizing Opportunities and Building Partnerships to Stop Weight-Loss Fraud. Rockville MD: Bureau of Consumer Protection of the Federal Trade Commission..Available from World Wide Web:

http://www.ftc.gov/os/2003/12/031209weightlossrpt.pdf - Page 59-73

Health Promotion Board. (n.d). Nutrition FAQ. Singapore: HPB Online. Available from World Wide Web:

Singapore Health Promotion Board’s Nutrition FAQ - Q.12

*The statements in the above article are mere opinions of its author and are by no means directed to any beauty salons, weight loss salons or whatsoever, in Singapore.

Why Waste Money On Scientifically Unsound Slimming Programmes?

Use Our Proven Methods to Lose Weight Today.

Rohit Chopra asked:


overweight and obesity are becoming very common these days and people try to attempt several methods to lose excess and unwanted weight. Overweight not only changes the way you look but also has comes with the possibility of health risks. Therefore overweight persons have to take up one method or the other to lose the excess fat. What is more important than losing one’s weight is losing it quickly and safely. One such method of losing weight is the weight loss supplements. There are a lot of weight loss supplements available over the counter claiming to have miraculous effect in losing weight quickly and easily. Not all these supplements are good. So before you buy weight loss supplements ensure that it is both effective and safe.

Always choose the best weight loss supplements by reviewing them thoroughly and opt for renowned makers. Weight loss supplements act in many ways to help reduce weight. Some of these weight loss supplements try to speed up your metabolism. Some stimulate the thyroid gland increasing the active hormone production. Some claim to stimulate the muscles in burning glucose saying that it helps in weight loss. There are some weight loss supplements that have effect on producing heat, which is again a process of spending calories. Some chromium based weight loss supplements can be very dangerous as they may damage the genetic materials in the cells.

One of the problems is that some of these weight loss supplements are untested, unproven and are neither effective nor safe. So before you choose your weight loss supplements make sure you have made the right choice.

One another type of weight loss supplement is available in the market, claims to melt away fat while you sleep. The ingredients in this supplement are supposed to be collagen hydrolysate and Vera. While collagen is like protein in normal food and helps in muscle building Vera is a laxative. This instruction along with this weight loss supplement is that the persons using this supplement should not eat anything for three hours before going to bed. The laxative effect of Vera adds to weight loss. It is actually the decrease in consumption rather than the supplement that helps one to lose weight. Weight loss supplements also include sweeteners with low calorie value. The main advantage with these sweeteners is that they are approved by FDA for their safety. These sweeteners can be very safely used even by pregnant women and children.

Further there are thermogenic fat burners. These weight loss supplements raise the temperature of your body and thus increase the number of calories burned. These have proved successful and effective in losing weight. Like other weight loss supplements, these have to be used moderately and not abused. Short term usage of these thermogenic weight loss supplements have proved successful and resulted in good weight loss.

One other form of weight loss supplements is the fiber powder or the pills. Generally fiber food makes you feel full and also help in stimulating the contractions of your intestines. So these kinds of weight loss supplements create a feeling of fullness and there will be weight loss because of the emptying of your intestines. The problem is taking fiber in concentrated forms like pills and powder for a longer period may lead to diarrhea, nausea and you may also become dependent on fiber supplements for bowel regulation. Ensure that you consider and take the correct amount of weight loss supplements after proper consultation. Further, weight loss supplements along with other things like exercise, nutritional diet etc, will help in safe and effective weight loss.

Jackie Serta asked:


Are you interested in losing weight? Whether you would like to improve your health, improve you appearance, or do both, you may be interested in finding a weight loss plan to use. When it comes to weight loss plans, you will find that you have a number of different options. Two of your most common options include paying for a weight loss plan or developing your own.

If this is your first time attempting to “seriously,” lose weight, you may be wondering whether you should develop your own weight loss plan, also commonly referred to as a weight loss program, or pay for one. One of the best ways to determine which weight loss plan you should use is to examine the pros and cons of each. A few of the most influential advantages and disadvantages to developing your own weight loss plan, as well as paying for one are outlined below.

When it comes to paying for a weight loss plan or a weight loss program, you will find that you can do so locally or online. If you choose to participate in a local weight loss program or plan, you will likely meet in a centralized location. Many times, you just get together every week or two. There are some weight loss programs where you can exercise onsite though. Should you choose to join an online weight loss program, you will likely have online meetings or discussions with trainers or other weight loss program members, either on a message board or through emails. You should also have access to healthy recipes and easy to do exercises.

One of the many advantages to paying for a weight loss program or a weight loss plan is that you are often given a professional plan. Many times, the individuals or trainers in charge of running these programs have training or firsthand experience with losing weight. This often eliminates trial and error, as many have already learned what works and what does not work with weight loss.

In all honestly, the only downside to paying to join a weight loss program or a weight loss plan is that you have to pay to do so. With that in mind, however, you should be able to find affordable weight loss programs and plans, both locally and online. Although it is not guaranteed, many people find the most affordable help in the form of online weight loss programs or online weight loss plans. 

As for developing your own weight loss plan, there are a number of advantages to doing so. One of those advantages is that you can customize your weight loss plan and program to you. For example, if you were allergic to milk, you could work your allergy into your weight loss program, where as a paid weight loss plan or program may not do so. You can also customize your workouts to yourself. This is great if you are obese and unable to follow many workout videos, which seem like they are designed for those who already in “perfect,” shape.

Another one of the many advantages to developing your own weight loss plan to follow is that it is fun to do. You also have a number of tools at your fingertips. There are a number of websites and magazines that you can get weight loss information from; information that you can use to create your own weight loss plan to follow. Some individuals have said that creating their own weight loss plan to follow makes them more excited about the process and more likely to see the plan all the way through.

The above mentioned factors are just a few of the many that you may want to take into consideration, when trying to determine whether you should develop your own weight loss program or join a paid weight loss program. Many individuals have reported starting their own weight loss program and then later joining a paid one if they didn’t get the results that they were hoping for.