Battling Obesity

During any exercise and diet regimen, losing the first few pounds is often very easy. That’s good because it’s a great motivator when you see results right away. But as you lose more, the rate of loss, and the speed with which you see visible effects, slows down. It’s hard to keep going when you aren’t seeing the benefits.

But don’t lose heart. It’s natural that initial efforts at a certain level will get you only 80% of the way there. The other 20% is going to come harder. That’s just the way things are. There are techniques that can help you get that last 20% - and, more importantly, keep 100% of the results over the long term.

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In order to optimize your health a good diet is essential. But, with all the fad diets around it can be difficult to know what is ‘good’. Nutrition science to the rescue! Though some things are still controversial, numerous studies reinforce the following basic information.

A healthy diet requires not just items from the four basic food groups, but in the proper proportion. The average person will need about 2000-2500 calories (sometimes more for larger men, less for women and those looking for rapid weight loss). About 50% of those calories should come in the form of carbohydrates, with 30% from fats (yes, fat is good!) and 20% from protein.

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It’s an obvious truth that after giving birth most women’s bodies make considerable adjustments. Broad hormonal changes are common and mood swings are not unusual. But one thing that many women will focus on (sometimes too much) is losing that weight and body fat gained during pregnancy.

In order to do that safely and in a way that produces beneficial long-term results, take it slow and steady. Weight reduction and regaining muscle tone after birth takes time.

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Women are the major consumers for weight loss programs and diets. Men tend to focus more on exercise. But either topic is, and should be, popular with both sexes. Men, too, need to concern themselves with proper diet and nutrition as part of a rounded program of weight loss and health.

Particularly with the onset of middle age, diet becomes a greater concern for men. Calorie needs are typically highest in the mid-20s and taper off about 2-4% with every passing decade. For an average-sized male (say, 5 ft 9 inches and 170 lbs), the average number of appropriate calories per day, 2500, reduces to 2200-2350.

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Nearly everyone today worries about being overweight. We’re constantly inundated with messages from TV and the Internet about widespread obesity and the risks of being obese. Whether it’s health issues or social acceptance, no one wants to be fat.

But if you look at it from an evolutionary aspect, the ability to store excess calories in the form of fat cells is a very life-serving ability. When a person consumes more calories than the body uses for muscle movement, internal temperature maintenance and cellular repair the remainder is stored in the chemical bonds of fat cells. Technically, it’s stored in something called ‘adipose tissue’.

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By Larina Kase

“I’d Die For a Hot-Fudge Sundae” Evolution and Emotional Eating By Dr. Larina Kase

I crave sugary foods when I am stressed. I like salty foods when I am tired or when I am bored. I eat comfort foods like pasta when I am down. Are you like me? Do you eat based on how you feel?

Many people eat in response to particular emotions. It is human nature really. Think about it, this type of eating behavior has survived throughout evolution for a reason.

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By Larina Kase

Okay, I admit it. I’m an emotional eater.

People are often surprised when they hear me say this because I’m so into the psychology of weight loss. But it really isn’t that big of a revelation. The truth is, we’re all emotional eaters. It’s human nature. I’m not going to try to make you never eat in response to an emotion again. I will, however, help you to keep emotional eating from interfering with your fitness and weight loss goals.

Emotional eating is completely normal but it can become a major problem. When we eat in response to our emotions, we’re more likely to eat too much of the wrong kinds of food. And we’re actually less likely to enjoy the food because we’re so preoccupied by our own emotions.

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By Paul Kayne

Many people feel that to lose weight you have to go on a big diet and change everything that you eat. But there are many simple things that you can do to help lose weight. Here are 5 pain free things that you can do to help shed some pounds.

1) Eat from a smaller plate

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By Craig Ballantyne

The #1 reason for not working out is a lack of time.

If you get up at 5:30am to drive an hour to work, only to get home at 6pm and then have to launch right into carting the kids around, who can blame you for not working out? Not when it takes 45 minutes to do cardio, and another 30-45 minutes for isolation bodybuilding workouts.

If that’s the way you have to exercise to lose fat, then practically no normal person is going to be able to pull that off.

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By Kim Jamieson

I was at the salon recently and made this observation. I am astonished that people take better care of their nails, than they do their bodies. What is wrong with American people? They are not concerned with their health and wellness, but seem very concerned about chipped and polished nails. Why do they take care of their nails and go weekly to the salon for their manicures and pedicures, but would never set foot in the gym, or do any physical exercise to improve their health and well being. Do they think that people look at their nails, before they notice their fat, unfit, unhealthy bodies? They are wrong. People are very critical of each other, and notice everything about each other. I think it is about time that we put the same amount of time and energy into our bodies each week, as we do our manicures and pedicures.

To do this we first need to change our mind set. Trust me, if you feel good with a manicure and pedicure, imagine how GREAT you will feel when your body looks fit, healthy, and you feel trim and self confident. I do not want to forget to mention how your life will change and you will start to soar in every aspect of your life.

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