Monday, March 31, 2008

7 Days To a Brand New You

I wish I could take credit for this article… but alas, I do not write for .  But I totally had to share it with you.  This is for the beginners who need to get on the right track - or for those of us who have gotten off the track and need to get back on

You look in the mirror one day and everything is wrong. Your hair, your teeth, your skin, your shape. Especially your shape.

So you write a long list, and you make a pact with yourself that tomorrow you’ll start a new whiz-bang weight-loss and life-changing plan. According to your calculations, you will be trim, taut and irresistible in three months.

Three weeks down the road, things are worse. What went wrong? Basically, you fell victim to the “END” (Everything Now Dilemma).

With END you have so much on your mind at once that you get confused, you forget a thing or two, you get rattled and then you give up. When you take one thing at a time, your chances for success get much better. Here’s a seven-step plan that will help you to take it day by day.

This is as simple as the days of the week because that’s how it works: seven days, seven steps. Each day you add one thing, so that by the end of the week you are juggling seven balls without dropping one. Here’s how:

Monday
Back to work or school. Resolve that all you will do differently today will be to make sure to eat two or more pieces of fresh fruit. Any time, any way.

Tuesday
Today you will set some goals. Plan where you would like to be by the end of the month, then the end of the year—both in your private and personal lives. Write these goals in your diary or stick them where you’ll see them.

Wednesday
Water day. Eat that fruit, keep your goals in mind and drink six or more glasses of water. Add variety with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice. Or sip on herbal tea if you prefer.

Thursday
Add in some exercise. Go for a (20- to 30-minute) walk. Walk in the park, around your neighborhood or head for the mall and do some fast-paced window shopping...but don’t forget the fruit, the water and to review your goals.

Friday
Fruit, walk, water, goals ... it’s getting easier. So this is the day you give your diet a spring cleaning. Eliminate foods that are not helping you stay trim and healthy. You know what they are.

Saturday
Pay day. Well done! You’re still drinking plenty of water, including fresh fruit in your diet, exercising, eating well and generally staying on track with your life. Spoil yourself with a special treat. Go on, you deserve it. Have some frozen yogurt for dessert, take in that new movie, or plan a weekend away.

Sunday
Traditionally a day of rest. And you can rest, too, since relaxation is key to maintaining control over your new healthy regimen. Take time to lie in a hammock and gaze at the clouds. Put on a facial mask, take a long, luxurious bubble bath, read a book or play with your pet.

Now that wasn’t so hard, was it? By the end of just one week you are happier, brighter, healthier and ready to keep going—because you know it takes just three weeks to create a habit. Except you will have created seven by then.

See why I love ?  They have the best articles as well as a great and healthy weight loss plan! 

Friday, March 14, 2008

The Unexplainable

There are going to be times on your weight loss journey that you simply look at the scale and go “HUH??”

Today was one of those days for me.  Now seriously, I weighed myself on Wednesday to make sure I was on the right track and I was down almost 2 pounds from last week.  I have stayed within the point range for the week, and even managed to save most of my weekly points for Wednesday night when I was going to go out with my girlfriend.  I knew we were going to be drinking so I wanted to make sure I had enough so that I could have a good time.  So in total, for dinner and drinks I had about 48 points left to spend.  I spent 49.  Not bad I don’t think… one point over (I KNEW I shouldn’t have had that chocolate martini!).

Thursday I woke up and as expected I weighed much more than I did Wednesday. I felt bloated and horrible and really I didn’t even want to see the number but I looked anyhow and saw that since Wednesday morning to Thursday morning I gained a whopping 10 pounds.  That actually is very normal for me to gain and lose up to about 8 pounds in a day because of the way my body retains water.  I wasn’t too concerned thinking that after I walked and spent a day eating regular again I would lose much of that “weight”.  Not so much. 

I weighed in this morning at exactly 7 pounds heavier than what I was last week.  WHAT??  Those 7 pounds can’t stay on forever can they? I couldn’t have seriously gained 7 pounds in one night from points that I had saved up.  I just couldn’t.  Hence the title - The Unexplainable. 

So, what kind of weight is this?  Is it real weight? Phantom weight? Water weight? Or just plain “beer weight”? 

Well I don’t know, but I’m telling you this - I’m reweighing myself on Monday to see what the hell happened!!!!

So, what about you all this week?  How have you been doing?  It is Friday and all!  So, let’s see those weight losses!!!!!

Monday, March 10, 2008

Popping the pills

Raise your hand if you are just one of the millions of people who have relied on over the counter weight loss pills?  Well I’m raising my hand right along with you.  For me, it was Metabolife.  Gosh I loved that stuff.  The full feeling I got during a meal, the added energy, the 50 pound weight loss… yep, it was all good!

The appeal of losing weight quickly is hard to pass up. But do they actually work? And are they a safe option for weight loss?  Here’s my answer - Yes, for me it worked.  No, it was not healthy!  (And let’s not mention the fact that I gained the weight all right back as soon as I stoped taking them!!) Nor is the Dexatrim I took or any of the other various ones I tried - oh wait, now its all coming back to me… Chromium, Trim Spa, the one in the green bottle, and Hydroxycut.

Here’s a look at some other non-prescription weight-loss pills and what they will and won’t do for you.

Bitter orange

Increases the number of calories burned Touted as an “ephedra substitute” but may cause health problems similar to those of ephedra
Long-term effects unknown

Chitosan

Blocks the absorption of dietary fat Relatively safe, but unlikely to cause weight loss
Can cause constipation, bloating and other gastrointestinal complaints
Long-term effects unknown

Chromium

Reduces body fat and builds muscle Relatively safe, but unlikely to cause weight loss
Long-term effects unknown

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)

Reduces body fat, decreases appetite and builds muscle Might decrease body fat and increase muscle, but isn’t likely to reduce total body weight
Can cause diarrhea, indigestion and other gastrointestinal problems

Country mallow (heartleaf)

Decreases appetite and increases the number of calories burned Contains ephedra, which is dangerous
Likely unsafe and should be avoided

Ephedra

Decreases appetite Can cause high blood pressure, heart rate irregularities, sleeplessness, seizures, heart attacks, strokes and even death
Banned from the marketplace because of safety concerns, but may still be legally sold as a tea
Despite the ban, many ephedra products are still sold on the Internet

Green tea extract

Increases calorie and fat metabolism and decreases appetite Limited evidence to support the claim
Can cause vomiting, bloating, indigestion and diarrhea
May contain a large amount of caffeine

Guar gum

Blocks the absorption of dietary fat and increases the feeling of fullness, which leads to decreased calorie intake Relatively safe, but unlikely to cause weight loss
Can cause diarrhea, flatulence and other gastrointestinal problems
May cause intestinal obstruction if not taken with enough water

Hoodia

Decreases appetite No conclusive evidence to support the weight-loss claim

Notice that there are no “brand names” in this list.  That is because a name in this case really is just a name.  A lot of the most popular weight loss supplements are the same thing with a different celebrity touting them or a different color bottle - but they have the same ingredients!  Then of course there is Alli, which seems to have the most popular name right now.  It is a reduced-strength over-the-counter (nonprescription) version of orlistat, a prescription weight-loss medication. Alli promotes weight loss by decreasing absorption of fat by the intestines. The capsules are taken with meals, up to three times a day.  Now, if you are anything like me, you have thought about Alli.  Honestly, the only thing that really stopped me was the fact that it is like $46.99 a bottle!! But I’ve always been curious to see if it really works like they say it does.  Of course I would prefer not to have a heart attack or stroke trying to figure it out. 

Alli and so many of these others sounds like a dieter’s dream, but there are no shortcuts to permanent weight loss.

Dietary supplements and weight-loss aids aren’t subject to the same rigorous standards as are prescription drugs or medications sold over-the-counter. Therefore, they can be marketed with limited proof of effectiveness or safety. Vendors can make health claims about products based on their own review and interpretation of studies without the authorization of the FDA. However, the FDA can pull a product off the market if it’s proved dangerous.

For us, it’s hard to know what you’re getting, or even if the list of ingredients matches what’s in the bottle. Many weight-loss pills contain a cocktail of ingredients — some with more than 20 herbs, botanicals, vitamins, minerals or other add-ons, such as caffeine or laxatives. How these ingredients interact individually and collectively with your body is largely unknown. And using them can be a risky venture, especially if you’re taking other medications.

Honestly, the best thing you can do is to not take them at all.  Prescription drugs we’ll talk about another time because I DO know someone that they worked for, and for a lot of people they are able to get the weight off safely.  But as far as those things you find on the shelf of the weight loss section at Walmart?  Skip them and eat healthy.  It may take longer but you at least know you won’t die… or have really bad gas!!