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Weight-loss pills

Popular weight-loss pills

A number of weight-loss pills are available at your local drugstore, supermarket or health food store. Even more options are available online. Most haven't been proved safe and effective, and some are downright dangerous.

Herbal or dietary supplement	The claims	What you need to know
Bitter orange	Decreases appetite	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 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
Hoodia	Decreases appetite	No conclusive evidence to support the claim

B-12 injections for weight loss: Do they work?

Injections for Weight Loss

There is no evidence that vitamin B-12 in any form — including vitamin B-12 injections — enhances weight loss. One study published in 2005 suggested that people who took a number of different supplements, including vitamin B-12, gained weight more slowly over a 10-year period than did those who took no supplements. However, many factors have to be considered, including the fact that people who take dietary supplements tend to be more health conscious, which may contribute to better weight management.

Although vitamin B-12 is an important vitamin, it is not likely to directly impact weight loss.

six pack abs

six pack abs

The Bicycle exercise is the best move to target the rectus abdominis (i.e., the 'six pack') and the obliques (the waist), according to a study done by the American Council on Exercise. To do this exercise correctly:

1. Lie face up on the floor and lace your fingers behind your head.
2. Bring the knees in towards the chest and lift the shoulder blades off the ground without pulling on the neck.
3. Straight the left leg out to about a 45-degree angle while simultaneously turning the upper body to the right, bringing the left elbow towards the right knee.
4. Switch sides, bringing the right elbow towards the left knee.
5. Continue alternating sides in a 'pedaling' motion for 12-16 reps.

Lose Weight in a Busy Schedule

1. Commit to a specific schedule

When you fail to plan you plan to fail. Don't try to haphazardly fit your workouts into your schedule without any rhyme or reason. Don't think you're guilty? If you've every told yourself "I'll workout as soon as I get some time", you were in direct violation of this key principle.

In order to set yourself up for success, you will need to take the time to literally write your workouts into your weekly schedule. In order to be effective, you will want to be following your exercise program at least 3 days per week. Anything less would be kidding yourself.

Therefore, right in the midst of all of your appointments, "to-do" lists, etc., should be a written plan for your weekly workout routine, so that you will never be in the dark as to when you committed to yourself to go.

2. Utilize the weekend

Take advantage of the fact that it only takes 3-5 days per week to put together an effective, results-producing workout. One trick to help you pull it all off is to workout on the weekends. One of the benefits to this course of action is that your schedule is more flexible and under your control during this time.

What is also means is that when the hectic weekdays roll back around, you will only be responsible for working out 1-3 days during the work week.

3. Keep your workouts as a high priority

One of the biggest mistakes that even many people who have scheduled a workout program into their schedule make is allowing it to be bumped off of their schedule to easily.

Although things will occassionally come up that will cause you to have to reschedule the workout you had planned, you must be vigilant in making sure that only the most important emergencies are allowed to temporarily take you off of your plan.

In the event that one of those important emergencies does happen and you can't make it to your workout, reschedule with yourself to make it up on the next possible day that you are available to do so. If your own health, fitness, and efforts to lose weight are not a priority to you, they certainly won't be so to anyone else.

4. Enroll others in your goals

Don't go at this alone. Let the important people in your life know what you are up to. You love interest, spouse, parents, children, co-workers, and close friends will often pitch in and help you to meet your fitness or weight loss commitment to yourself if you make them aware adn ask for their support.

Leverage these relationships to delegate some of your normal responsibilities or even allow you to shift appointments that you have with them as you restructure your schedule for your workout. If any of them are into exercise or trying to lose weight themselves, don't hesitate to form a buddy system with them as you move forward with your program.

5. Don't beat yourself up

No matter who you are, there will be times in your workout program that you just aren't able to keep it up as you would like due to outside demands. Don't be too tough on yourself on this.

Remember that it is what you do consistently over a long period of time, not what you do in spurts, that truly counts. Just make sure that you get back on the horse full force as soon as you can and continue to press forward, doing your best to avoid slacking off again.

No matter what goals you have for health, fitness, or weight loss, you CAN fit an effective exercise program into that hectic schedule of yours and be amazingly successful at getting the exact results that you want!

LOOSE WEIGHT BY DRINKING WATER

Don't roll your eyes! The potion for losing that excess body fat is all around you. It covers two thirds of the planet. If you eat right and exercise at the intensity, frequency and duration proper for you, but still can't get rid of a little paunch here and there, you're probably just not drinking enough water.

No need to get defensive. You're actually quite normal. Most people don't drink enough water. Most people are also carrying around a few more pounds than they would be if they did drink enough water. If you can't seem to get that weight off, try drowning your sorrows in nature's magical weight-loss mineral. It works, and here's why:

"What on Earth is 'metabolism', anyway?" People use the term all the time, but ask them what it means and you'll get all kinds of answers. Merriam Webster defines it as, "The process by which a substance is handled in the body." A little vague, but that's really all it means.

There are many forms of metabolism going on in your body right now, but the one everyone is talking about it the metabolism of fat. This is actually something that the liver does when it converts stored fat to energy. The liver has other functions, but this is one of its main jobs.

Unfortunately, another of the liver's duties is to pick up the slack for the kidneys, which need plenty of water to work properly. If the kidneys are water-deprived, the liver has to do their work along with its own, lowering its total productivity. It then can't metabolize fat as quickly or efficiently as it could when the kidneys were pulling their own weight. If you allow this to happen, not only are you being unfair to your liver, but you're also setting yourself up to store fat.

"I've tried it and I couldn't stand it!" The problem is that, though many decide to increase their water intake, very few stick with it. It's understandable. During the first few days of drinking more water than your body is accustomed to, you're running to the bathroom constantly. This can be very discouraging, and it can certainly interfere with an otherwise normal day at work. It seems that the water is coming out just as fast as it's going in, and many people decide that their new hydration habit is fruitless.

Do take heed , though. What is really happening is that your body is flushing itself of the water it has been storing throughout all those years of "survival mode". It takes a while, but this is a beautiful thing happening to you. As you continue to give your body all the water it could ask for, it gets rid of what it doesn't need. It gets rid of the water it was holding onto in your ankles and your hips and thighs, maybe even around your belly. You are excreting much more than you realize. Your body figures it doesn't need to save these stores anymore; it's trusting that the water will keep coming, and if it does, eventually, the flushing (of both the body and the potty) will cease, allowing the human to return to a normal life. It's true. This is called the "breakthrough point."

One recent finding, as irresponsible as it may be, that caffeine increases the body's fat-burning potential has many people loading up on coffee before going to the gym. This finding may hold some degree of truth in it, but caffeine is, in essence, a diuretic, and diuretics dehydrate. Caffeine may increase the heart rate, causing a few more calories to be burned, but this is at the expense of the muscles, which need water to function properly. This isn't doing your heart any favors, either. It's already working hard enough during your workout. Never mix caffeine and exercise. In fact, your best bet is to stay away from caffeine all together. It's a big bully that pushes your friend water out of your system.

Water is the best beauty treatment. You've heard this since high school, and it's true. Water will do wonders for your looks! It flushes out impurities in your skin, leaving you with a clear, glowing complexion. It also makes your skin look younger. Skin that is becoming saggy, either due to aging or weight loss, plumps up very nicely when the skin cells are hydrated.

In addition, it improves muscle tone. You can lift weights until you're blue in the face, but if your muscles are suffering from a drought, you won't notice a pleasant difference in your appearance. Muscles that have all the water they need contract more easily, making your workout more effective, and you'll look much nicer than if you had flabby muscles under sagging skin.

"Eight glasses a day? Are you kidding?!" It's really not that much. Eight 8-ounce glasses amount to about two quarts of water. This is okay for the average person, but if you're overweight, you should drink another eight ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight you carry. You should also up this if you live in a hot climate or exercise very intensely.

This water consumption should be spread out throughout the day. It's not healthy at all to drink too much water at one time. Try to pick three or four times a day when you can have a big glass of water, and then sip in between. Don't let yourself get thirsty. If you feel thirsty, you're already becoming dehydrated. Drink when you're not thirsty yet.

Do you think water is yucky? Drinking other fluids will certainly help hydrate your body, but the extra calories, sugar, additives and whatever else aren't what you need. Try a slice of lemon or lime in the glass, or if you really think you hate water, try a flavored water. Just make sure you read the labels. Remember that you're going to be consuming a lot of this fluid.

It's probably a good idea to stop drinking water a good three hours before you go to bed. You know why.

"How cold should it be?" This is debatable. Most experts lean toward cold water, because the stomach absorbs it more quickly. There is also some evidence that cold water might enhance fat burning.

On the other hand, warmer water is easier to drink in large quantities, and you might drink more of it without even realizing it. Do whatever suits you, here. Just drink it!

When you drink all the water you need, you will very quickly notice a decrease in your appetite, possibly even on the first day! If you're serious about becoming leaner and healthier, drinking water is an absolute must. If you're doing everything else right and still not seeing results, this might just what's missing.

Misconceptions About Exercise & Weight Loss

Exercise burns relatively few calories and therefore makes an insignificant contribution to changing the energy balance.

• Even though total calories expended during exercise seems to be low, a negative energy balance of as little as 200 calories a day can result in weight loss over time.
  • For example: A 170 lb person decides to add one hour of tennis, three days a week to their schedule. Adding this will replace 1 hour of watching television.
    • Calories burned playing tennis = .045 calories a minute per pound of weight
      • So: 170 lbs X .045 X 60 minutes = 459 calories
    • Calories burned watching television = .008 calories a minutes per pound of weight.
      • So: 170 lbs X .008 X 60 minutes = 81 calories
    • 459 calories - 81 calories = 378 more calories burned for each hour of tennis
• Intense activity (anaerobic exercise) can burn fat hours afterward; 3 to 14 hours.
  • Anerobic activity can burn 9 times as much body fat for every calorie expended as compared to aerobic exercise
  • An increase in physical activity will automatically result in an increase the amount of food eaten.
    • In lab tests, when moderate exercise is performed food intake either remains the same or decreases. At the same time, weight will decrease. With longer periods of sustained activity, food intake will increase in response to increase caloric expenditure. In this case, weight will remain the same if the diet is ad lib.
  • Exercise can be used to reduce fat from a specific area of the body.
    • Fat loss will occur in a preprogrammed proportion dependent upon genetics, sex, and hormonal levels.
      • Areas with the largest amount of fat lose more fat although although these areas will seem to be totally reduced last.
      • With adequate fat loss muscular definition will be achieved in the peripheral and gradually toward the waist, hips, or thighs.
    • Exercise will help burn calories and maintain lean body weight which can result in fat loss. Increases in muscle in specific areas can change the appearance of those areas but will not result in specific loss of body fat.
    • If the muscle mass improvements out pace fat loss in a specific area, girth can be greater.
  • Sauna, steam baths, or sweat suits are effective for losing weight.
    • Any weight loss occurring in saunas or steam baths is fluid loss. These fluids will be replaced and the weight will come back.
  • Passive exercise machines can be used to reduce body weight.
    • Many machines exists that are electronically powered, which do the work for you. These types of machines won't assist in weight loss or fat reduction.

Reduce Weight by Watching TV

I LOVE my TV! The idea of being able to watch TV as I lose weight sounds pretty good to me. With EnterTRAINING, the idea is that you can watch TV and use your TV to motivate you to exercise.

The merchant for this weight loss product says that "EnterTRAINING turns your TV into your own personal trainer. If you are not exercising hard enough, the TV volume goes down. If you don't get back on track, the TV turns off until you do." EnterTRAINING is a "method for motivating fitness. It employs electronic entertainment as a reward system for cardio target zone training performance while using The EnterTRAINER. The more desirable the reward (TV show, music, video game) the more motivated you are to maintain your cardio target."

For me, this sounds like a bit more work than I am willing to do because I Iike watching my TV with some salty crunch snack by my side and a nice soft seat for my bum, but I am including it just in case you are one of those people that can do exercise given the proper motivation. For me, I think I would rather watch the blank screen, so I am not sure it would work for me.

Lose Weight by Standing Around

With the Power Plate, you can stand around on their machine and let them shake you skinny. Basically, you can jiggle your jiggles away.

The merchant for this weight loss product says that the "Power Plate is one of the most unique fitness ...devices on the market today. Advanced Vibration Technology ...stimulate[s] enhanced muscle strength and performance. The Power Plate produces a vibration through which energy is transferred to the body. This mechanical stimulus produces a stretch reflex which, depending on the frequency, results in rapid and intense muscle contractions 30-50 times per second." So basically, all you got to do is stand there and let this contraption shake you. I don't know what kind of headache you'll get but I think the idea of my body moving while I just have to stand there is pretty darn appealing.

Lose Weight by Lying Down

Luxury Hypoxi is a way you can lose weight while you lie down and relax. Now, that's the kind of exercise I can do well and do for hours at a time.

The merchant for this weight loss product says that the Hypoxi L250 is the "pioneering active inch loss therapy that targets fat burn from the lower body whilst the client gently trains in a comfortable reclined position." It's a lot of words but I did pay attention to the phrase "reclined position" which means lying down.

"At the heart of the L250 is Hypoxi's unique vacuum chamber. Through a combination of alternating vacuum therapy, an integrated lounger for the client to relax on and a bicycle ergometer so that gentle exercise can be undertaken, the L250 promotes targeted inch loss and increased lymphatic drainage from the lower body..., [this is] an experience more like.. spa therapy than a form of exercise.

Lose Weight by Sitting

By using the Hula Chair, you can lose weight on your fat a$$ by just sitting on your fat a$$ all day long.

The merchant for this weight loss product says that the Hula Chair is "the biggest sensation in Japan! ... Experience better overall health with our patented Hula Chair. This modern miracle combines the best of ancient traditional Chinese medicine with 21st century space-age technology. Improve your balance and coordination as it gently aligns your spine and improves blood circulation. You’ll love how it feels as it works out your abs and mid-section. And there’s no better way to warm up for any activity. You’ll never experience a more pleasurable workout ! Simply sit upright in the Hula Chair, press the button and let its elliptical motion work wonders on your body.

Weight Loss for the Lazy and Unmotivated

Do you need to lose weight?

I do. Desperately!

I gave up the idea of having a flat stomach when I understood that men with flat stomachs do not get to eat lots of ice cream. Since I believe that life's too short to deny yourself a nice hot funge sundae with extra nuts, I wisely gave up the fantasy of a tight six-pack belly for the reality of a belly that has clearly had more than six-packs.

I struggle daily to avoid the dreaded feeling of my gut hanging like a top heavy muffin over my too tight trousers and belt. But I admit, it's a losing battle (get it? losing battle ...heh heh).

Well, with our advances in technology, I was thinking there's got to be a better way to lose weight and keep it off than the boring old formula of eating less and exercising more. Come on already, aren't we beyond that yet?!

With a little bit of late night research, I discovered that there ARE some new inventions to help folks who are inherently lazy get skinny.

Here are some great fitness machines for folks like me who want to be slim, but also want to get slim while chomping on our super-sized bag of Doritos and watching our favorite game on TV:

Diet and Nutrition

Nutrients That Aid Weight Loss: Calcium

There are certain foods and nutrients that have been shown to help those trying to lose weight. In a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, women with the highest consumption of dairy calcium lost the most weight and fat over two years, regardless of how much or how little they exercised.

According to research, calcium appears to suppress a process of the body in which fat is deposited, so intake of calcium may actually promote metabolism and reduction of fat. Though it is better to get calcium from nutritious foods, calcium supplements are also effective. Many women's daily calcium intake is far below the recommended 1200-1500 milligrams per day, so there is typically room for improvement in this area.

Foods High in Fiber and Water Content Help Weight Loss

Fiber is a substance that is not digestible, so it adds bulk to foods without adding significant calories. Consuming high fiber foods is beneficial for health in general, but also aids weight loss by giving a feeling of fullness without extra calories.

Similarly, eating food with high water content also give a feeling of fullness, but water has no calories. Foods that contain a lot of water include most fruits and vegetables, eggs, fish, and soups.

HEALTHY TECHNIQUES to LOOSE WEIGHT

Healthy Lifestyle Leads to Healthy Weight Loss

For many people, healthy weight loss does not involve quick fixes, but rather employing life long strategies and changes for an overall healthier lifestyle. Introducing healthy habits, such as regular exercise, and replacing processed, high calorie, high fat foods with healthy foods, are often necessary for successfully managing weight over the long term.

Healthy Weight Loss Better, Even If Results Are Modest

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is important for overall health and quality of life, but studies show that even modest weight loss for those who are overweight - losing as little as 5% weight - can reduce risks for a variety of health problems and diseases. Losing weight in an unhealthy way, such as crash dieting, employing extreme dietary restrictions, or using unsafe diet aids, can actually backfire and cause other health problems. Losing a small amount of excess weight in a healthy manner is typically more beneficial than losing a lot of weight in an unsafe way, because healthy weight loss methods are more likely to improve overall health.

Herbs for Weight Loss

Herbs That Increase Metabolism for Weight Loss

Some herbs act on digestion, metabolism, or appetite to impact weight loss. Certain substances can increase thermogenesis, or metabolism, which may lead to weight loss.

Certain thermogenic, or stimulant, herbs have a reputation for aiding weight loss, but according to the FDA should be avoided due to serious or possibly fatal side effects. Weight loss herbs to avoid include: ephedra (or products containing ephedra), which can have dangerous cardiac side effects, herbal laxatives such as cascara sagrada or senna, which can cause serious intestinal problems.
Herbs which may safely aid weight loss include the following:

» Cayenne contains a substance called capsaicin, which may stimulate digestion and increase metabolism and fat burning.
» Green tea contains caffeine and antioxidants that appear to stimulate metabolism.
» Seaweed, or kelp, is a natural thyroid stimulant, which may boost metabolism.
» Nettle is considered to be a thermogenic herb.
» Ginseng helps to boost energy and metabolism.

Anyone with problems or health conditions related to any of these herbs or their actions should not use them.
Hoodia Gordonii: "New" Herb for Weight Loss

The herb Hoodia gordonii (or just "Hoodia") has gained recent attention as an aid for weight loss, due to its appetite suppressing actions. The plant grows in African desert regions, and has been used by the Kalahari San Bushmen for many hundreds of years.

Studies at Brown University indicate that Hoodia appears to work by interrupting or stopping the hunger mechanism in the brain. There is almost no research on the effectiveness of Hoodia as an herbal weight loss supplement, and no substantial information on its safety.

Diabetics should probably avoid Hoodia, because this herb "tricks" the brain into thinking that the body has sufficient blood sugar levels, which may interfere with the function of normal physiological processes that indicate when blood sugar is becoming dangerously low.
Fiber to Suppress Appetite

Taking soluble fiber supplements adds bulk and makes one feel full, but without any added calories. It is imperative to drink adequate water when using fiber supplements to avoid constipation and digestive problems, and fiber supplements should be taken under supervision of a health care professional. Foods high in soluble fiber include apples, oatmeal, beans, and pears.

Tips to convince wife to lose weight

First of all, I appreciate the situation you're in. It's one many men have to face, and one I've faced, and honestly we're not well equipped to deal with it. Here's my advice, for what it's worth, on the subject.

Let me start by saying this: You can't convince your wife to lose weight. Weight is a HUGE control issue for women. It's the big red button in the middle of the control panel, and it has a sign over it saying "DO NOT HIT THIS BUTTON". When she decides she wants to deal with it, she will deal with it. Until then, it's probably best to love and support her the best way you know how.

My wife currently ways about 150Kg (I'm not sure what it is exactly, since it's apparently a matter of national security). Her Doctor is telling her to lose weight. Her joints and feet are telling her to lose weight. The multi-billion dollar ad industry is telling her to lose weight. Random insensitive pedestrians are telling her to lose weight. Her family have been telling her the same thing for years. She doesn't need to hear it from me. What she needs to hear from me is that I love and support her and will help in whatever way I can, when asked (and not before).

I am carrying some extra freight myself (I weigh about 90Kg) that I need to take off. So I've started working on it. I haven't asked her to join me. I haven't told her how great I feel. I haven't threatened to leave her for a skinny-mini when I get into shape. On the contrary, I've reassured her otherwise. I've just been working patiently and diligently to get my weight under control and bring it down a bit. I figured, maybe she'll join me, maybe she won't. I asked her to stash her goodies out of eyesight so I won't be tempted by them. Eventually, she joined Weight Watchers, we've put the whole house on a diet (certain naughty food things will no longer have a temporary home in our house), and she's working on it. I don't ask if she's lost weight, I don't tell her or even ask her what she should or should not be eating or doing. I don't take ownership of Her Project. It's hers, and I'm here to help. My expectation (and this is probably the hardest part) is limited to wanting her to be healthier and happier. The rest of it is up to her.

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