Dieting – Fast Fat Weight Loss Programs, Why There Is No Such Thing

There are a lot of fast fat weight loss programs that people subscribe. There is no such thing. Here is why.

The Miracle Diet Cure

There is just no guaranteeing several pounds of weight loss in very few days let alone overnight. Fat in the body, especially the fat in the belly burns last. Fast fat weight loss programs have to be better qualified specially the "fast" word. All results of "fast fat weight loss" programs, without exemption, are inconclusive, under study at best although failed-until-now is an honest word. It may be unfair to give a blanket statement and call these products as scam but until a conclusive government report comes out the tip is don't. Just don't.

The Quick Weight loss Program

No two people have the same metabolism. Different bodies react differently. Again the "quick" word. This is a tired but proven catch phrase to make you draw out your wallet and part with your money. In a country where "busy" is the operative word and "no time" is the norm, it is just so sad to see good money wasted. Why? Because chances are the product is a hunger suppressant. Now, why in heaven do people have to earn so they do not eat. The usual given argument is to get fit but then again, why starve the body the nutrients that it will need to survive or at least be healthy?

The reason why the "fast" and the "quick" word needs better qualifying is this. All the energy that the body does not need, we know, is stored in the body as fat. Now fat is important (too much of it is not but that is another story). The fat in us is stored so that when the body runs out of fuel, it will draw from this storehouse of energy to keep it going for a long time but only when the energy stored in the muscles are depleted. But that is precisely the point. When we the body undergoes a weight loss program, the body reacts by storing as much energy that it could. It will recognize the lack of nutrients much similar to how we recognize that a food shortage is about to happen. Like us also it will store and conserve all the energy that it possibly could for future use. Like us, it will be very stingy in releasing the energy, releasing only as far as we would need to function. And that is exactly what happens. The body will first take out as much water from the cells. Next it uses the muscle for fuel. Then and only then will it use the fat that has been stored to enable you to survive. As the good book said, we are beautifully and wonderfully made, why tinker with that?

What to do then?

Regulate the diet. True, fat, sugar and sodium must be limited but that is because most of us take more than three times our daily requirement. Eat, but eat healthy. Get a good diet plan and stick to it. If there is too much temptation that you failed for a while, shake off the dust, get back on the saddle, and do it again. Exercise too because nothing is better than sweating it out. Muscles will only develop when stress is applied to it and so get a good daily workout. Get fit gradually. Disrespecting how the body is designed always end up badly. Fast fat weight loss programs? Nah.

Dieting – Eating A Balanced Diet

On closer look, the world is able to supply all that the body needs to keep it strong, healthy and living well. Dieting is not always abstaining from food rather, it is eating a balanced diet. It is the preference of one food group over the other that create the imbalance.

Sodium for example is essential to the functioning of the body. Without it various illnesses arise. More than that, sodium makes us sweat out the toxins that the body has accumulated whether naturally or not. Sodium is also an agent that helps keep the body temperature at operating limits. Fat is too. Fat for all its portrayed grossness keeps the skin looking well and toned. It is the body's best insulator against cold and is a source of the lubricant for the different parts of the body. One of its best purposes though is that it is the body's storehouse of energy if you will. It will keep the body going and surviving long after all the other nutrients are gone. Fat and sodium might be the top food to avoid according to most dieting programs but ask those who are not selling health concoctions. The answer might be slightly different. But take all things in moderation. In like manner, fiber is bad for the body if all that the body gets is fiber.

The issue then is not so much with what is introduced to the body but the manner and proportions by which it is introduced. Take for example sugar. Processed sugar is good as a quick source of energy. Fruit sugar is better. The sugar in the fruit is burned by the body in slower quantities and therefore lasts longer unlike its processed counterpart. Fruit sugar does not give the feeling of a quick energy surge like that which we feel with processed sugar. Coffee likewise is a good source of antioxidants aside from its various benefits. Antioxidants keep us healthy, vibrant, and arrest the aging process. Of course too much coffee is too much coffee. Just like anything that is ingested in copious amounts, the benefits are negated and often illnesses if not discomfort occurs.

The best way to diet then is to have a balanced diet. Everything that we eat must be limited to or as close as possible to prescribed amounts. There is this food chart that is commercially available that will help anyone determine the correct ratio that the body requires. Elementary really but very informative, it tells us of things that we should already know but do not.

In an effort to get the best diet, we sometimes go to lengths to buy the expensive foods. Fine sentiment but really unnecessary. All food has its purpose; all food has its own nutrient that will serve the body well. Everything that is edible under heaven is to provide life. The difference sometimes is in the advertising, who endorses it and how successful is the hype. Otherwise the difference is not much, only the price.

No one could go wrong with water. Water, even when taken copiously, will always be good. You can never get enough of it. That which the body does not need is either perspired or flushed out.

The best way to a balanced diet then is to eat that which is available and to have variety but only in prescribed amounts. If obesity is the issue, think of that which you eat most and limit its intake or do not take it for a while until your weight normalizes. But drink water, lots of it.

Dieting – Health Foods

The truth of the matter is that all foods are health foods. The variety of foods that are available has their purpose and uses. The food that grows in one region is a balanced food for that region and is not superior to those that grow in another which is also the food that is very appropriate for that region. Everything is where it should be. No amount of hype and sales pitch could change that, and no matter the try, people will remain healthy if people eat in variety and in correct proportions without gorging.

Health foods however is a term used by health proponents in the 1920's to foods that have special benefits to specific health issues. Health foods for example are those foods that are low in sugar and fat since these are the primary causes of obesity when left unchecked.

What are these?

Organic Foods

These are foods farmed as organic in nature. Organic foods for most of human history had been the staple in farming. These are foods farmed without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides. For livestock, organic classification mean that the animals were not injected with antibiotics, are not genetically modified nor growth hormones used in raising them. Today, there are two basic kinds of farming of organic food. One is the private garden which will also sell their produce labeled as organic, the other are organic food industries regulated heavily by most governments.

Natural Foods

Natural foods are health foods that are similar in ideal to organic foods although these foods are processed without the use of refined sugar, food coloring, refined flour, and flavorings.

High Fiber Foods

High fiber foods are health foods that have high fiber density. Examples of high fiber foods are berries, cabbages, and fruits and vegetables that have high fiber concentration. The thing that is so important with foods that are high in fiber is that it improves the absorption of nutrients in the body as it cleanses the digestive system. A clean colon and healthy colon for example prohibits 64 different kinds of diseases that would otherwise afflict the body when the gunk and the junk in the system are not flushed out.

Omega 3 rich foods

Unlike foods that are low fat and low sugar, foods rich in Omega 3 are good sources of essential fatty acids whose benefits are too numerous to name. Some of the benefits of foods rich in omega 3 are that it has excellent anti aging qualities, is a good cancer retardant, good for heart problems, skin, hair, metabolism, rheumatism, good for the memory and brain health, etc. What is good about these foods is that it is everywhere and is not expensive. Examples of foods are, Avocado, berries, soya beans and soybean oil, flaxseeds and flaxseed oil, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, olive oil, Brazil nuts, tofu etc.

Vegetables like, broccoli, squash, kidney beans, green beans, lettuce, cauliflowers are very rich in Omega 3. Likewise fish especially the cold water/fatty variety are excellent sources of Omega 3. Some of the fish are the trout, swordfish, milkfish, salmon, mackerel, herring, and Albacore tuna.

Health foods are everywhere. Those mention here are just a few of the examples but mostly the healthiest and among the best. Dieting through health foods is as easy as picking the next choice.

Dieting – Successful Diet Plans

There are gazillion ways in the internet and on television shows that tell of successful diet plans. True enough. The problem often is that what works for a group of people may not work for another, but more on that later.

The Human Factor

Most diet programs will tell you to stick to the diet program and given a few weeks you would have lost so much weight. Ideally that works. The truth is the temptation to exceed the required calories is sometimes too strong to resist that there are occasions when the person ends up indulging more than the prescribed caloric count. When that happens (and often it does) the person doing the weight loss program end up feeling guilty and thinks that the program is over for them. If ever, they would repeat the same procedure from the start. Wrong. We are people. Just like anybody else, we fall to temptation. When we do and if we do, all it takes is to jump to the saddle again with resolve. If we fall again, saddle up again. The weight gained previously by a little indulgence often does not add up much if the resolve is there.

The Quick Fixes

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is not. Yet it is everywhere. What makes it tempting is that work is out of the equation. The truth is that does not work that way. Juices, concoctions, pills, tablets, preparation, exotic fruits etc. that reduces several pounds of body weight in a few weeks or days are not just true. Hunger suppressant maybe, but when the body cries out for the nutrient that it needs, the weight kicks back with a vengeance.

Again there are drugs advertised to make the body slim, fast. These are often very expensive against the benefit that the person gets. The most proven drug that blocks calorie from getting into the system of the body is still Orlistat. However, you do it with exercise and diet to get the most benefit which is at best modest. Since Orlistat is the only drug that have proven definitely (in conjunction with other weight loss activity) to reduce calorie in the diet, any claim beyond that is still under study at best. To make the diet work for you, exercise must accompany the program. Besides, there is really nothing better than sweating it out.

Exercisers

The old-fashioned running and brisk walking are tired exercise methods that always work. The exercisers sold on TV may work and if you are convinced of the gadget remember only that the models selling them did not trim their body on those exercisers.

Different people have different metabolic rates. There are also other hidden causes that may hinder the affectivity of the weight loss program subscribed. The best way to do this (almost everybody know this although not always adhered to) is to check with your physician first. Get a confirmation whether the alternative diet, exercise programs, weight reducing methods, etc. will work well for you or at least will not conflict with your current health status and age. Because often, testimonies are good and true, but they always provide generic approaches and solutions. So take your health into your hands. Successful diet plans are those that you can realistically follow. No matter how agreeable the methods are, check it out with the doctor first. You may belong to a different class with a different set of dieting needs.

Dieting – Try These Healthy Foods

Include these healthy foods in your diet. No matter how much weight you are working out to loose or gain, these healthy foods will enhance any diet. Do not mind about the added calories, they are so minimal. To think of it, most food contains calories. The benefits you get from these foods are great.

Let us drink to your health

• Water for the body is good. Water with flavoring? As Rabbis usually says, we could look at that in different ways. Funny sometimes are Rabbis but actually there is too much wisdom in that. You see, you will never go wrong with water. No one does. Any water that is not needed by the body gets out of the body. The more is flushed out, the cleaner our system gets, and the healthier we become. What should be bothering is what we mix with the water.

• Fruit juices? Okay but make it natural. Juices squeezed out of fresh fruits do wonders for the body. It has some calories but the benefits far outweigh whatever the added calories. The sugar in fresh fruits unlike processed sugar is good. The calories derived from it give constant, steady burning energy unlike table sugar that gives sudden energy boosts and the feeling of tiredness afterwards. Because of the natural sugars, the feeling of being full lasts and so we feel hungry less. If the diet leans on strict adherence, do not buy bottled juices or powders. There are so many other additives in it that may upset your dieting program. This is the time where you should read the label. Read the fine print too. You may be getting more of the additives and less of the fruit juice. Most fruit juice preparations are so watered down, perked up with additives, highly sugared and not worth much in the healthy foods department.

• Coffee – Yes. Coffee are very rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants benefit the body in many ways. One of these is the slowing down of the aging process. Now, eating food that are rich in antioxidants may not shave off years to our looks but it makes our body function better. But limit that to a few cups because of the caffeine.

Then We Feast

• Eat avocado and no, do steer off it because of the fat. The fat in avocado is good and considered in nutrition circles as "healthy Fat". Avocado is one of the richest in fiber especially those that are fully ripe. Actually the more mature it gets the better the fiber. It is one of those rare food that are very filling without calories. Just like coffee avocados are very rich in antioxidants less the caffeine. It is also an excellent source of Omega 3 fatty acids. Avocados could be a complete meal when mixed with milk. It also blends very well with many different kinds of food like salads, guacamole, tortilla etc. This is not a boring health food.

• If avocado tops in fiber, walnuts top in Omega 3. Good as salad and pastry toppings, it is also a good portable snack. Hemp oil is almost similar in benefits.

• Likewise, apples, potatoes, oats, Brazil nuts, and fishes of the fresh water/fatty variety are healthy foods that you will never go wrong even when you eat plenty.

Dieting – Healthy Diet

A healthy diet involves including in the diet all the food groups that one sees in the food chart. It is eating in variety. It is enjoying life including titillating the palate. The main pitfall of obesity and being unhealthy is sticking to a particular food group day in and day out. The habit of eating only a particular food group nourishes the body, energizes it in fact but limited only to the nourishment that a particular food group offer. And so it is very important to diversify your menu although that done, it is just as important that the correct balance is achieved.

Throughout the country, it is very common to see large people that are undernourished. For example, while sodium helps the body to function normally, it is a fact that sodium consumption is often three times the required daily intake. Fats and calories are too, sometimes even more. This is attributed (fair or not) to fast food chains serving much soda, sugary foods and foods that contain saturated trans-fats. Since foods served here are almost similar in content, and are readily available, favoring a particular diet is common. Variety is lost and so are other essential nutrients.

It has often been said that when we buy food we should read the label or at least know the caloric content to arrive at a healthy diet. Wise advice that should be heeded. Label information is very important if we do not want to go over the required fat, calorie and sodium intake. But if you are like most people, the less bother you have the better. Besides who really enjoys counting calories inside a restaurant or read labels in a grocery all the time, every time. And so the list below is translated to the number of cups or servings if you will, so that the diet is easily monitored. For brevity though, ages are those that are in the adult range. The list is based on people of average weight. The heavier and the more active you are the more you will require depending on the difference of the weight against people in the normal weight range. The approximation is very close and effective for all activity ranges that do not have particular diet requirements aside from getting sufficient nutrients in the food and staying fit.

There are six main food groups that are to be included to the diet. The food groups in order of serving size priority are:

1. Grains – Average daily serving for adults should be about six ounces, half of which are whole grains

2. Fruit – Eat fruits daily equivalent to two cups. This is the minimum requirement eating more than that is advisable.

3. Vegetables – About three cups is the minimum

4. Meat, Beans and Proteins – Three quarters of a cup is ideal.

5. Milk Groups – Three cups a day is sufficient.

6. Oils – should be about six teaspoons

When these requirements are met, you can still eat as much as 260 calories of added sugars and fats at your discretion.

Eating a healthy diet then simply means eating various foods to get the entire nutrient that the body needs. It does not really have to be costly. It does not have to be anything special. It is simply enjoying the entire spectrum of food that nature offers and then regulating it.

Dieting – How To Maintain the Ideal Weight

Once you lose weight, maintaining the ideal weight is not as hard. There are several choices that you could do and most are as easy as picking the correct products and choosing right.

Things to do

1. Cook at home. Cooking at home gives you a very good idea of the contents and the limits of the nutrition that you are serving. In short cooking at home makes you manage well what you serve. One of the main causes of improper dieting is the drive to the fast food. Hefty amount and sodas have already taken its toll. Limited variety of the food in the diet nailed the malnutrition issue. Being too busy and having less time is a good reason why eating fast food meals were preferred. Eating imbalanced diet negated it.

2. Have variety in your diet. There are six basic food groups, all of which have their own advantages. Ideally you must have portions of them in recommended amounts to maintain the ideal weight. Understandably, that will not be possible every time. If that is the case, just limit the eating of food that contains fat, sodium and much sugar. While these are needed too by the body, the cause of overweight and being undernourished is that the average person have more than three times the amount of these foods in their daily meals.

3. Exercise. No matter how busy the person is, exercise is a must. The main cause of being large whatever the age is eating and being sedentary. You do not need expensive exercise equipments for this. Jogging, brisk walking, climbing the stairs and hanging on a tree limb or a doorjamb, do the trick.

Things not to do

1. Do not take weight reducing pills, fat loss pills, and fat managing pills. If ever, take only that which is government approved. Fat weight loss providers make their products very appealing. It has to be. Testimonials abound and as if it were not convincing enough, fancy laboratory titles backs up the claims where there is also proof of testing, research and recommended dosages. Of course it would be that way. If the advert is only on the say so of the manufacturer, then take it as it is. It is only the say so of the manufacturer. There is only one fat blocker that is government approved. Even that had gone several revisions and the effect is only moderate. In oriental medicine, there is a saying that the medicine that you take will cure the targeted part that is ailing the body but will destroy another. The word then is caution.

2. Do not return to the same diet as before. That is very obvious but the temptation to backslide is so strong that resolves are sometimes thrown out the window just to indulge in a "harmless" little more, followed by a little bit more.

3. Do not under eat. Under nourishment is just as dangerous as over eating, sometimes more so. But if you must want to feel light, take power foods. There are several foods in the market that are very inexpensive. Oatmeal, avocado, cereals, fish, berries, walnuts etc, are the foods that are usually taken lightly but are in fact are very good choices when the idea is maintaining the ideal weight.

Dieting – Why Fad Diets Fail

Fad diets are those diets that claims fast weight loss in just a few days with minimum effort except to stick out with the diet plan. There are several of those being flooded into the market every month, always well advertised sometimes well endorsed and fatally frustrating. Simply put, fad diets are always starvation diets and therefore unrealistic. It fails this way.

Fad diets are foods that one has to endure. On top of that, a person on a fad diet is told to eat less and if the fad diet comes with an exercise program, to work more. The only saving value is that it is low on fat and generally low on sodium but so is water. These, therefore, need preparation. Every preparation however tastes unappealing bordering on unpalatability.

Fad diets may sometimes come together with an exercise program. But if one is to observe carefully, initial weight loss happens this way. A body that perspire losses water and water is heavy. When the dieter checks the weight after the exercise, there is truly a weight loss. But drink water and the body go back to the original weight. The water then that was lost during the exercise will only equal to the weight that was lost on perspiration. The impression however will be different.

The body then starts to slowly react to the starvation diet losing water in the cells which then translate to weight loss. As you continue the starvation diet, the body will start feeding at the muscle and therefore you lose weight. Because you are avoiding the eating of fat (which the body by the way also needs), the tendency of the body is to conserve all the fat that is in store. It will go on for a time say 15 days depending on your metabolism. Now, when the body has burnt most of the energy in the muscle, the person starts to get weak. The reason for this is that it is already starting to burn the fats that are stored in the body and which the body has tried much to conserve.

The irony is that, fats do not burn easy. Unlike other energy foods that the body is used burning to provide the energy to stay alive, burning the fat will in itself take more time to provide the energy needed and then the person on a fad diet starts being phlegmatic in movement. Performance will be poor, activity will slow, and even the exercises will take a lot more effort that, after a while, is dropped also.

Obviously, the point in going on a diet is to be healthier, let alone fit. A fad diet works to the contrary. The weight loss effects are immediate; it always is because it has to be, but the desired effect and the ideals in which the dieter started with is not.

True enough weight loss happens even emaciation (if the person will last that long), but lack of energy and other unhealthy symptoms does too. For most people, realization sets in fast. The body that has been crying out for the nutrients to keep it functioning will eventually be heeded and the fad diet forgotten. As that happens, the person will start to eat and regain all that which was lost during the time that the body is being starved. What is more is that it usually does not end there. The craving for food that has been suppressed are often overpowering that weight in fact starts gaining more.

Low Carb Dieting the Truth: Part One

Almost everyone knows someone who has used a low carb diet. They have used it themselves had a friend use it or are getting ready to use it . Are these diets magic? Are they safe? Can I really eat all of the cheese and meat I want ? Will I die if I go into ketosis?

These are just a few common questions I hear in regards to questions that concern low carb diets. In this series of articles I will present readers with scientific facts and my practical observations for implications concerning low carb diets. Some low carb supporters will not like what I will have to say. Some low carb haters will not like what I have to say. The objective of these articles are to educate readers on the practical implications of low carb dieting. Some will be offended and some will say how can that be. Either way sit back and enjoy as I attempt to shed light on the highly talked about topic - low carb diets (ketogenic diets)

I have provided a brief overview of some the topics that will be discussed in this series of articles.

What type of changes occur while using low carb diets

Do low carb diets make me mean

Do low carb diets spare muscle

Can I gain weight on a low carb diet

How much weight can I expect to lose

Can this diet help my medical condition

Different types of low carb diets

Why you need to cycle higher days of carbs

Who needs low carb diets

Are they safe for children

Are they beneficial for athletes

The topics mentioned above are just a few that will be addressed in Low Carb Dieting.

Before we move any further let me introduce the word ketogenic. Must of you reading this article are probably familiar with the world as it implies low carb or restriction of carb intake. Simply put for our purposes the words ketogenic and low carb are synonymous. A couple of other comments I would like to make before we move on. This comment is for Low Carb supporters that swear of all vegetables and fruits. Get on medline.com and do some research. Go to the library and look through some journals. A complete diet for long term use needs to incorporate greens and some fruits to be healthy. A short term diet devoid of fruits and vegetables might not be that bad, but rejecting greens and any fruits for life is a bad idea.

This comment is for the low carb haters. One of the number one reasons most of America is fat is because of chronically high insulin levels. Which is primarily contributed to excessive carb intake. Don't get me wrong I am not blaming high carbohydrate intake on all of our obesity problems. I should probably say excessive and the wrong types of carbohydrate at the wrong times are the problem. At the same time the answer is not to eat all of the saturated fat we can find : which can contribute to insulin insensitivity, elevated TG's, increased lipogenesis and digestive problems.

What is a ketogenic diet? A diet that causes ketone bodies to be produced by the liver, and shifts the body's metabolism away from glucose in favor of fat burning. A ketogenic diet restricts carbohydrates below a certain level (generally 100 per day). The ultimate determinant of whether a diet is ketogenic or not is the presence or absence of carbohydrate. Protein and fat intake vary. Contrary to poplar belief eating fat is not what causes ketosis. In the past starvation diets were used often to induce ketosis. I will repeat myself again and say lack of carbohydrate or presence of ultimately determines if the diet is ketogenic.

In most eating plans the body runs on a mixture of protein, fats and carbohydrates. When carbohydrates are severely restricted and glycogen storage (glucose in muscle and liver) is depleted the body begins to utilize other means to provide energy. FFA (free fatty acids) can be used to provide energy, but the brain and nervous system are unable to use FFA's. Although the brain can use ketone bodies for energy.

Ketone bodies are by products of incomplete FFA breakdown in the liver. Once they begin to accumulate fast and reach a certain level they are released , accumulated in the bloodstream and cause a state called ketosis. As this occurs there is a decrease in glucose production and utilization. There is also less reliance on protein to meet energy requirements by the body. Ketogenic diets are often referred to as protein sparing as they help to spare LBM whiled dropping body fat.

In regards to ketogenic diets there are two primary hormones- insulin, glucagon that need to be considered. Insulin can be described as a storage hormone as it's job is to take nutrients out of the bloodstream and carry them to target tissues. Insulin carries glucose from the blood to the liver and muscles, and it carries FFA from the blood into adipose tissue (stored fat triglyceride). On the other hand glucagon breaks down glycogen stores (especially in the liver) and releases them into the blood.

When carbs are restricted or removed insulin levels drop while glucagon levels rise. This causes enhanced FFA release from fat cells, and increased FFA burning in the liver. This accelerated burning of FFA in the liver is what leads to ketosis. There are a number of other hormones involved with this process as well.

In general we refer to three different types of ketogenic diets.

1) STANDARD KETOGENIC DIET- A diet containing l00 or less grams of carbohydrates is referred to as STANDARD KETOGENIC DIET

2)TARGETED KETOGENIC DIET- consuming carbohydrates around exercise, to sustain performance without affecting ketosis.

3)CYCLICAL KETOGENIC DIET- alternates periods of ketogenic dieting with periods of high carbohydrate intake

The Beginning of Ketogenic diets

Originally ketogenic diets were used to treat obesity and epilepsy. In general ketogenic diets are similar to starvation diets in the responses that occur in the body. More specifically these two states can be referred to as starvation ketosis and dietary ketosis. These similarities have led to the development of modern day ketogenic diets.

Ketogenic dieting has been used for years in the treatment of childhood epilepsy. In the early 1900's times of total fasting was used to treat seizures. This caused numerous health problems and could not be sustained indefinitely.

Due to the impracticalities and health problems occurring with starvation ketogenic diets researchers began to look for a way to mimic starvation ketosis while consuming food. They determined that a diet consisting of high fat, low carb and minimal protein could sustain growth and maintain ketosis for a long period of time. This led to the birth of the original ketogenic diet in 1921 by Dr. Wilder. Dr Wilder's diet controlled pediatric epilepsy in many cases where drugs and other treatments failed.

New epilepsy drugs were invented during the 30's, 40's and 50's and ketogenic diets fell to the wayside. These new drugs lead to almost disappearance of ketogenic diets during this time. A few modified ketogenic diets were tried during this time such as the MCT (medium chain triglycerides) diets, but they were not welly accepted.

In 1994 the ketogenic diet as a treatment for epilepsy was re-discovered. This came about in the story of Charlie a 2yr old with seizures that could not be controlled with mediacions or other treatment including brain surgery. Charlie's father had found reference to the diet through his research and ended up at John Hopkins medical center.

Charlie's seizures were completely controlled as long as he was on the diet. The huge success of the diet prompted Charlie's father to start the Charlie foundation. The foundation has produced several videos, and published the book The Epilepsy Diet Treatment: An Introduction to the Ketogenic diet. The foundation has sponsored conferences to train physicians and dietians to implement the diet. The exact mechanisms of how the ketogenic diet works to control epilepsy are still unknown, the diet continues to gain acceptance as an alternative to drug therapy.

Obesity

Ketogenic diets have been used for at least a century for weight loss. Complete starvation was studied often including the research of Hill, who fasted a subject for 60 days to examine the effects. The effects of starvation were very successful in regards to treatment of the morbidly obese as rapid weight loss occurred. Other characteristics attributed to ketosis, such as appetite suppression and sense of well being, made fasting even more attractive for weight loss. Extremely obese patients have been fasted for up to one year and given nothing but vitamins and minerals.

The major problem with complete starvation diets is the loss of body protein, primarily from muscle tissue. Protein losses decrease as starvation contines, but up to one half of the total weight loss can be contributed to muscle and water loss.

In the early 1970's Protein Sparing Modified Fasts were introduced. These diets

allowed the benefits of ketosis to continue while preventing losses of bodily proteins.

They are still used today under medical supervision

In the early 70's Dr. Atkins introduced Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution With millions of

copies Sold the diet generated a great deal of interest. Dr. Atkins suggested a diet limited

in carbohydrate but unlimited in protein and fat. He promoted the diet as it would allow

rapid weight loss, no hunger and unlimited amounts of protein and fat. He offered just

enough research to allow the diet recognition. Although most of the evidence

supporting the diet was questionable.

During the 1980's Michael Zumpano and Dan Duchaine introduced two of the earliest

CKD's THE REBOUND DIET for muscle gain and then the modified version called

THE ULTIMATE DIET for fat loss. Neither diet became very popular. This was likely

due to the difficulty of the diet and the taboo of eating high fat.

In the early 90's Dr. Dipasquale introduced the ANABOLIC DIET . This diet promoted 5

days of high- fat-high protein-low carb consumption whle eating high carbs and virtually

anything you wanted for two days. The diet was proposed to induce a metabolic shift

within the five days of eating low carbs (30 or less). The metabolic shift occurred as your

body switched from being a sugar buring machine to a fat-burning machine.

A few years later Dan Duchaine released the book UNDERGROUND BODYOPUS: MILITIANT WEIGHT LOSS AND RECOMPOSITION . The book included his CKD diet which he called BODYOPUS. The diet was more specified than the Anabolic Diet and gave exercise recommendations as well as the basics concerning exercise physiology. Most bodybuilders found the diet very hard to follow. The carb load phase required eating every 2 hrs and certain foods were prescribed. I personally loved the book, but felt the difficulty of the diet made it less popular. In this author's opinion Ducahine's book is a must read for anyone interested in Nutrition.

Ketogenic Diets have been used for years to treat specific conditions such as obesity and childhodd epilepsy. The effects of these diets have proven beneficial in a number of these well documented cases, but for some reason when we mention any type of low carb diet (ketogenic diet) people begin to tell us about how their doctor or friend told them it would kill them or how that diet was shown to damage the liver or kidneys. Keep in mind epileptic children have been in ketosis for up to three years and shown no negative effects; quiet the opposite. The weight loss in morbidly obese patients has been tremendous and the health benefits numerous. Maybe before coming to the conclusion that all types of ketogenic diets are bad other factors need to be considered such as activity levels, type of ketogenic diet, length of ketogenic diet, past eating experience, purpose of ketogeninc diet, individual body type and response to various eating plans, current physical condition, and quality of food while following ketogenic diet. As you can see there are numerous factors that come into play when saying a diet is good or bad. I think people should take the time look at the research and speak with various authorities in regards to low carb diets before drawing conclusions from the they says.

Relevant research in regards to ketogenic dieting

Efficacy and safety of the ketogenic diet for intractable childhood epilepsy: Korea multicentric experience

Chul Kang H, Joo Kim Y, Wook Kim D, Dong Kim H,

Dept of pediatrics, Epilepsy center, Inje Univ Coll of Med, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul Korea

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the safety of the ketogenic diet, and to evaluate the prognosis of the patients after successful discontinuation of the diet in infants, children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy. The study looked at patients who had been treated with KD during 1995 through 2003 at Korean multicenters. The outcomes of the 199 patients enrolled in the study at 6 and 12 months were as follows: 68% and 46% of patients remained on the diet, 58% and 41% showed a reduction in seizures, including 33% and 25% who became seizure free. The complications were mild during the study, but 5 patients died during the KD. No significant variables were related to the efficacy, but those with symptomatic and partial epilepsies showed more frequent relapse after completion of the diet. The researchers concluded the KD is a safe and effective alternative therapy for intractable epilepsy in Korea, although the customary diet contains substantially less fat than traditional Western diets, but life-threatening complications should be monitored closely during follow up.

Reference

McDoanld, L (1998) The Ketogenic Diet. Lyle McDonald.

Copyright 2005 Jamie Hale

Jamie Hale is a writer for numerous fitness and sports publications. He is also the author of four books and the owner of Maxcondition.com.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Why are you skinny though you eat much? (Yeah Right!)

Why are you skinny though you eat much?


(People have varied metabolic rates)


http://www.simpletruckerdiet.com/


There may be something of mystery to you. The situation is: you eat like hungry as a bear and think of no weight-loss programs because you do not need one since your body is like skin plus bone… In dieting, the concern of weight control is not the mere issue. There are individuals who wish to have rounder butt and not to walk like walking skeletal systems around.



Why do body shapes and sizes vary?



They vary because we have different metabolism or metabolic rates to be specific. Our age, sex, amount of muscle compared to fat, and the amount of exercise we do in our daily living are different and they are the determinants of metabolic rate. These things make our body shape different from each other too. It does not mean that if one looks thin, it means that she is so choosy when it comes to food. There are instances of genetic or hormonal factors affecting metabolism too. That is why it is a wonder for some when a person eats in tons but he or she stays slim.



If compared to females, males have higher metabolic rate to females because of testosterone or male hormones. As we know testosterone is responsible for all the so-called “manly matters” among the men’s physiological aspect. It includes the growth of muscles. And by nature, males are born with more muscles than females. This makes them have higher metabolic rates than the females who have estrogen and progesterone as sex hormones.



As to age, adults have lower metabolic rates than infants, children and teenagers. This is because of the fact that the latter age groups have more active growth hormones in their stage of life. Actually, research show that human growth hormone is not prescribed for matured adults because they will just suffer from negative consequences. This is only prescribed for children that are not of normal growing rate.



Is there also an increase of metabolic rates for females?



Women have higher metabolic rates when they are pregnant and more when they are breastfeeding. However, this plunges down when they menopause. For them to maintain higher-than-normal metabolic rates, daily exercise would be a huge help. Doing so would increase the amount of muscles so, metabolic rate is increased too.



Is exercising in the evening better than other times of the day?



It does not matter at all. No research neither studies shows that the time of the day affects the effect of the exercise to the body. Doing it whenever you are free and comfortable is always the best idea. Doing it three to five times a week would indeed give you better results.

Still bothered why your little-eater friend looks like as if he ate all the food you swallowed all these times? We hope that upon reading on you have realized the key points and hopefully do what is best for you to meet your metabolic rate needs in having the weight you have been waiting for.

Subscribe to my weekly newsletter and get free weightloss tips and articles sent right to your inbox. Click here>> http://www.simpletruckerdiet.com/

Resting Metabolic Rate: It is metabolism that matters!

Resting Metabolic Rate: It is metabolism that matters!



http://www.simpletruckerdiet.com/




Having a tough time jumping up just to let those jeans fit your thighs? Before a housemate complains about the mild earthquakes you create, think of doing your part of making an effort to commence a better and healthier life for your very self. What about a diet? It does not mean that you will starve to death but you just have to take efforts to lose weight.



Weight loss is as confusing as buying goods in a busy marketplace. Too crowded with methods that come with too many promises, it boggles up your mind. These promises come with the best advertisements and testimonials. But, did you know that you have the entire control of your weight? Did you know that it is all about how to know your metabolism and calculate your RMR or Resting Metabolic Rate?



What is RMR?



It is the total rate used up by the body in using fuel or burning calories but at times that we are just not doing anything or while resting.



There are factors that affect our RMR. One of these is age. As we become older, our muscles deteriorate and it leads to lower RMR. As a result, aging is accompanied with gaining of weight.



Dieting or any form of doing exercise is not at all an assurance that one could effectively lose weight. We have short-term effects only but what about the long-term ones? We know for a fact that the latter is more important than the former. Weight loss may mean losing your muscles instead of losing your fats. Muscles are essential for metabolism, so you may just get the other-way-around results. Choosing a more effective exercise really matters. Weight lifting is commendable.



As you take steps in increasing your RMR, you are pushing your self on your way to a lighter weight and healthier life as a whole.


Subscribe to my weekly newsletter and get free health tips and articles straight from your inbox. Click here>> http://www.simpletruckerdiet.com/

You got to take it higher…

You got to take it higher…


(Benefits of increasing your metabolism)

http://www.simpletruckerdiet.com/



Did you know that the key to a successful weight loss is by mellowing down your metabolism? Metabolism is the process of burning calories in your body which happens naturally even if you are not exerting any effort- yes including when you are sleeping.



Metabolism, if increased, would result in taking much fluid thus weight loss would happen gradually. The recommended weight loss of 1 – 2 pounds per week is really possible... By increasing the metabolism you are giving the body a need to have more amount of protein.



As we all know, exercise could increase metabolism but the point is that an individual must do an exercise that is suitable and effective for his or her body type. Increasing the metabolism must come before trimming down on calories.



A permanent weight loss may be achieved through increasing metabolism and this process provides different benefits.



This would give you more time to do whatever you want because you do not need too much exercise- this would allow you to enjoy other activities. Moreover, you do not have to force your self to do tough exercises.



Unlike other diets that hold promises of remedies when actually you just end up disappointed, increasing your metabolism will give you better long-term results and will not give you bigger possibilities of gaining weight again.



You do not have to ignore the favorite food and you need not spend so much time just preparing non-fat meals. Of course, you could stop spending too much just for this non-fat food and the like.



These benefits are very simple but these are very important especially for the well-being of an individual. When we exert effort and work hard on our objectives like losing weight, impossible will not even be a fact at all.



These benefits are just some of the many increasing your metabolism could offer- so what are you waiting for?

Sign up for my weekly newsletter at http://www.simpletruckerdiet.com/

Healthy Recipe:Cod With Balsamic Dressing

Lean protein in your diet is essential to healthy weight loss and weight maintenance. Cod is a great source of lean protein plus it's lower in fat than red meats.

Losing weight isn't about hunger, misery or crash dieting! By learning to make, delicious, easy-to-prepare, nutritious food your body needs and will enjoy – losing weight becomes exciting and energizing.

Instead of high calorie, fatty sources use spices to provide flavor to create exciting meals your whole family will enjoy. Pan Seared Cod With Balsamic Thyme is another recipe in a range of hunger fighting, low fat recipes to help you keep your weight under control. This irresistible, no hassle meal will help you conquer your weight loss goals  while still making mealtime a real treat.

Variety is the essential element of any successful health program. If you get bored with foods, you're much more likely to abandon your program completely. Experiment with spices to find thrilling alternatives. Try new recipes to help ad to your new variety of quick home cooked meals to replace take outs, frozen dinners and snacks. Your body will love you and your family will be elated.

Pan Seared Cod With Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients:

500g fresh cod fillet (or boneless, skinless chicken breasts)
2 teaspoon olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoon fresh thyme
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Sprinkle fish with salt and freshly ground pepper on both sides. Heat a large skillet for which you have a cover over medium-high heat. When hot, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, place the fish in the pan, lower the heat to medium and cook for five minutes or until the underside is brown and a curst begins to form.

Carefully turn the fish over, turn the heat down to medium-low and cover the skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes more. Fish is done when it flakes with a fork. Remove fish from skillet and place on a plate. Bring the heat back up to medium-high, add the balsamic vinegar and cook quickly, scraping the pan with a spatula.

Turn off the heat, put the fish back in the skillet and turn over to coat both sides with the reduced vinegar. Sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves and serve immediately.

* Note: fish should cook for about 10 minutes for each inch of thickness. If you use chicken breast instead, it will need a total of about 15 minutes cooking time.

Nutritional Analysis Per Serving:

Calories: 228
Protein: 40 grams
Fat: 6 grams
Carbohydrates: 1 grams

For more healthy solutions get your free copy of "36 Potent Foods for Weight loss and Healthy Living" at http://www.simpletruckerdiet.com/