Sunday, October 5, 2008

What Should You Expect After Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Obesity surgery has been performed for well over fifty years now and, despite the fact that it does carry risks most patients are very satisfied with the results and enjoy a an enormously improved standard of living. But there is a price to pay and you will need to lead a very different lifestyle following surgery which may be very difficult unless you are prepared for the change.

Some of the post-operative changes are obvious as the basic principle behind gastric bypass surgery is to drastically reduce the size of your stomach and physically restrict the amount of food which you can eat. This simply means that your days of enjoying a big meal are gone.

However some of the other consequences of surgery are less obvious.

For instance, the days of eating foods which are high in fat or sugar even in small quantities are also over. The consequences of eating foods of this nature can be most unpleasant as rapid absorption in your now shortened digestive tract can lead to very unpleasant feelings of faintness.

You will also find that the change in your pattern of eating leaves you very short of water so that you must get used to drinking small quantities of water throughout the day in order to avoid becoming dehydrated.

This is all well and good but just what should you expect from weight loss surgery in terms of weight loss?

Weight loss will of course vary from person to person but it is important to start by understanding just how post-operative weight loss is measured.

The starting point is to calculate just how much excess weight you are carrying and this is done by working out your ideal weight. Using pounds, for a man this will be 106 plus 6 times your height in inches less 60. As an example, for a man who is 5ft 10ins tall the ideal weight will be 106 + 6 x (70 – 60) which works out at 166 pounds. In the case of women the principle is the same but this time a women's ideal weight is 100 plus 5 times her height in inches minus 60.

Thus, if we take the example of the man above and give him a weight of 366 pounds then he is carrying 200 pounds in excess weight. From this starting point we will measure weight loss in terms of the weight loss as a percentage of excess weight over time. Therefore, if at the end of 6 months his weight has fallen by 100 pounds then his weight loss will be 50 percent.

In general you could expect to shed approximately 50 percent of your excess weight within 6 months of surgery climbing to approximately 70 percent one year after surgery and to in the region of 80 percent at the end of 2 years. For most patients weight loss will stop after 2 years and indeed some long-term weight gain will be evident. Longer term weight re-gain is usually around 10 to 15 percent of your excess weight.

Again, in general, if you are very overweight you will lose a greater percentage of your excess weight (perhaps as much as 90 or 95 percent) while if you are less overweight you may drop as little as 60 percent in the 2 years following surgery.

You will almost certainly not shed all of your excess weight and are not going to achieve your ideal weight through surgery. As a consequence, it is sometimes said that gastric bypass surgery is not completely successful. Despite this the vast majority of patients would not agree with this and would say that the change in their quality of life is simply incredible. Something that is clearly evident to anybody who has looked at the many gastric bypass pictures posted on the internet these days.

Basics of the Perricone Diet

The focus of the Perricone diet i.e. the diet plan set by renowned dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone is on looking younger and increasing longevity rather than on bringing about weight loss. These are a host of benefits that such diet plan provides. Here are the commonly observed gains reaped by resorting to the diet plan-

 

  • Decreasing of inflammation in all organ systems of the body.
  • Improving body metabolism.
  • Improving the heart condition and making it resistant to diseases.
  • Improving bone density.
  • Bringing about a rejuvenation of the immune system.
  • Decreasing the risk of cancer.
  • Helping in repairing the skin.
  • Helping to bring weight loss.

These are significant health benefits indeed and these account for the popularity of the diet plan the world over. People following it have been acclaiming the Perricone diet plan and have been recommending it to others too.

 

The Perricone diet plan basics

 

The Perricone diet is set based on Dr. Nicholas Perricone’s Inflammation Theory of Aging that points out that the food that is eaten by us leads to inflammations being caused and it is this inflammation that leads to aging. Just as in case of other fad diets there is a ‘villain’ in case of Perricone diet too. The ‘villain’ or ‘culprit’ that is to be dealt with/combated by the Perricone diet is inflammation.

 

Inflammations or the swellings are the causative factors of wrinkles, acne and other skin problems. These are the causes of a number of other medical problems too. The root cause of the inflammations or swellings lies in taking in the wrong foods. It is the bad or wrong choices of foods that are directly responsible for the wrinkles, degenerative diseases etc. as also of the hastening of the aging process.

 

According to Dr. Nicholas Perricone, by adhering to the diet schedule as set by him- following his diet and regimen of supplements and lotions the process of aging can actually be reversed. The Perricone diet assures to make anyone look younger within a time period of even just three days.

 

It must be remembered that the Perricone diet is a costly diet and requires strict adherence. The diet classifies inflammatory foods as the ones that include high carbohydrate and high glycerin items. Bread, pasta and sugar or sugar containing foods are some common inflammatory foods. As per the diet plan such foods ought to be totally excluded from the diet for a continuous period of 28 days and in their place anti inflammatory food items like salmon, avocado, berries etc. are to be taken in. This will ensure better health and will benefit the skin too. So, a healthier and more attractive body and skin is what is achieved by having recourse to the Perricone diet.

 

Some Perricone diet suggestions seem sensible and rest on accepted scientific bases while others may seem not explanatory enough. However, though the diet is unproven to a large extent yet its benefits being apparent qualifies it as a worthy diet plan to follow.  

 

Saturday, October 4, 2008

How to Lose 15 Pounds

Do you desire to lose 15 pounds fast? What kind of pounds do you want to lose - muscle, fat or water?

Did you know that most people when they talk about losing weight, don't really know what exactly they are talking about. Most people automatically connect weight with fat, but that's not accurate.

If you want to lose 15 pounds just so it looks better on the scale readout, then it probably doesn't matter whether you lose fat, water or muscle. When you are looking to lose that extra ring around your belly, then you are wanting to lose 15 pounds of fat fast.

If your goal is to lose fat instead of just pounds, it is important for you to know that water makes up a part of that weight loss. In fact, during the first few days of any diet, water makes up the majority of loss.

Numerous websites are claiming that they are able to reveal to you how to lose 15 pounds fast. What they don't always tell you is that losing weight fast can be dangerous to your health. Surely, it wholly depends what you believe to be 'fast'. For some people, a month would be fast while others see it as something more immediately, like a few days or a week.

The most realistic goal would be to lose 15 pounds in a month, because that's far more achievable. However, it can be risky if the weight loss is not approached correctly.

Water is the easiest to lose, but there is no way just to get rid of the water if you want to lose 15 pounds fast. Your body needs water to survive. Take away the water and it will die.

Starving will not solve your problem either. In fact, not eating will cause your body to retain and even gain weight. When your body isn't getting enough nutrients, warnings go off. In a desperate effort to survive, it hangs onto everything you feed it, which adds weight.

You need to eat foods like fish or meat which needs a great deal of energy to digest to lose 15 pounds fast. You could eat nothing but meat, but that wouldn't be healthy either. Your body needs a well-rounded diet that provides all the required nutrients. A well balanced diet and losing weight can go hand in hand, you only need to know what foods are the right ones to eat. Take your weight and fat content of your body before you begin with your weight loss plan and don't forget to measure your body. There are special calipers available in weight and fitness centers (usually as a part of some tool kit), which allow you to take measurements of the fat tissue on different areas of your body. Always keep these measurements in your reach to see how you are progressing.

Below are 5 key points which will help you to lose 15 pounds fast:

1) Use herbs instead of salt , because salt is the cause for water retention. Stop using salt and you will see how your weight starts to drop.

2) Instead of 3 big meals a day, try to eat 5-6 small portions - this keeps the digestive system of your body active.

3) Add foods that use more energy to digest, including meat, chicken, salmon, asparagus, cheese, carrots, squash and green beans.

4) Drink lots of pure water throughout the day as this helps boost your metabolism.

5) Exercise to build muscle, because muscle increases your metabolism naturally.

Always re-measure your body and weight every week or so and in case you aren't seeing any positive improvements, adjust your weight loss plan and exercises.

You can lose 15 pounds fast if you stay with your plan and don't give up, no matter what!

Friday, October 3, 2008

Dangers of Obesity and its affects on Diabetes

Media companies are pumping out news on diabetes, as a world wide phenomenon. So it is little wonder to find out that diabetes and obesity are interrelated, so closely linked that the two are virtually symbiotic.

In fact, obesity is a leading cause of diabetes. When you consider obesity and diabetes, it will not escape you that obesity does more than causes your diabetic condition to worsen, because it is also a major cause of heart diseases as well as strokes and heart attacks.

The Centre for disease control has let it be known that they think that obesity and diabetes are so interrelated that they think obesity is the real NO1 reason people get Diabetes.

The magnitude of the problem can be judged when one goes by figures released by the Surgeon General that show that overweight children and adults have doubled in their numbers as compared to ten years ago. The result is a drastic increase in Type 2 diabetes, which is a cause that should make anyone worried.

Bad Food Choices

Getting to the bottom of the diabetic problem we only need to look at why the problem starts, and then why and how food plays a role in this.

Eating fast foods is certainly detrimental to one’s health since they are loaded with high fats, calories and also carbohydrates that only end up making you put on weight, and thus increases the risk of developing diabetes.

Wrong Exercise Choices

When your intake includes both fast food and softies, the problem is increased much more because soda contains massive amounts of sugar as well as carbs. This will lead you to becoming overweight and a diabetic. When you combine these types of food groupings into your daily intake you will become obese.

The 3RD factor that bring on obesity and diabetes is people that consume in such a way, also tend to forget exercise which then contributes to both obesity and diabetes and to even cause certain heart problems as well.

So there you go, its in your interests to become knowledgeable about obesity and diabetes and if you are at risk of contracting the diseases, you should always be aware of the signs. Please understand that excessive sugar will make you diabetic and that your fav hamburger can in the wrong amounts make you obese thereby worsening your health and causing more complications, which can include a diabetic condition.

Fast weight loss with Russian Kettlebells

Currently, people are dying to lose weight, they would do almost anything just to get rid of the ugly fat they have in their body. They are dying literally from the effects given by crash diets and unknown diet pills. Look around you, there are thousands who had been victimized by the dangers given by these unhealthy options to losing weight.

If you don’t like to belong to the population of these dying people then you should opt for an alternative which is healthy and been proven through time, a good example of this is the Russian kettlebells. This tool is an old time strength training tool which is similar in a lot of ways to a dumbbell although it is shaped in a different way. Actually, this looks like a cannonball with a handle and it is normally made from cast iron.

Losing weight through the means of Russian kettlebells is highly encouraged since it does not put any harm to the body. You lose weight merely because you are sweating thus the fat is burned off. You will also lose weight because you are subjecting yourself to rigorous physical activity that will help strengthen the muscle and get rid of fat.

Of course, the goal of losing weight will not be obtained without undergoing sensible eating habits. No matter how much you tire yourself to curb weight, if you cannot discipline the amount of food that enters your body then everything will be useless. Discipline is the trick, if you don’t have this then no exercise program will work well on you.

Who are the candidates for kettlebell exercises? Anyone. Those people who do not have enough time to go to the gym can most likely try out this trick since they won’t be asked to leave their house since they can simply look for a space to try the exercise. Also, people who hate exercising would discover the fun way of working out since they won’t feel bored by the process. Indeed, this is the best way to lose weight.  Kettlebell training takes less than 20 minutes a day.  Celebrities like Katherine Heigl use kettlebell exercises 20 minutes a day 3 times a week and look what it does for her body.

Daily Diet Plan For Teenage Girls And Boys - Easy To Follow Teenage Diet Plan

Every teenage diet plan can be a danger to the persons health, specifically when the teenager has a medical condition. It is really crucial, because of this fact, that you consult with your family doctor before you begin with such a plan. In most cases, doctors will advise against teenage dieting because it usually is not necessary.

Teenagers are usually very vulnerable due to the changes that happen to them and peer pressure affects them seriously. They constantly worry that their appearance isn't adequate, which in turn leads to drastic steps from teenagers who don't even have a weight problem. Starving is not a solution.

The best teenage diet plan that will give you the required nutrients to keep you healthy and helps building healthy bones, is the plan you are looking for. Your family doctor usually knows the most suitable plan for your individual requirements.

Eating junk foods all the time, will not help you to reap the benefits of a great teenage diet plan. You will rather be at risk to develop health problems that are related to you weight like heart disease or diabetes.

Carrying a little too much weight is a common occurance for teenagers. Most people will lose that excess weight naturally as they grow. Also, no one is the same as any other person. What might be a good weight for someone else might not be right for you. There are different factors to take into consideration: Your height, bone size and what is the normal weight in your family.

Just by keeping away from junk food, which includes nearly no nutrients and eating nutritious meals you will see a benefit. Below is a good teenage diet plan, which you can follow. It will help you losing weight in case you weigh too much.

One important element of a good teenage diet plan is exercise. Sometimes, this is enough. You body needs to digest the food you eat and exercise helps it to do this. Exercise is building up muscle tissue, which in turn is a natural calorie burner. With regular exercise you are burning energy that would turn into fat cells otherwise.

I have already mentioned that you should avoid fast food as well as sugar-based foods and of course any foods with high carbohydrate, like pop, chocolates and crackers. They have limited to no nutritional value. When eaten, these foods quickly turn to unhealthy fat which can block your blood vessels and arteries.

It's best to create your teenage diet plan with your doctor's or parent's help, especially if you are extra heavy. Refer to healthy eating books and magazines for advice and ideas. Preparing a diet plan that gets results is not that difficult.

Vegetables and fruits: Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure you get natural minerals. Certain vegetables, like asparagus, will help you to lose weight. Carry small quantities of fruits and vegetables for snacks.

Lean meats: Lean meat needs more energy to digest, so eating small portions of it can be helpful in losing weight. Avoid eating a lot of red meat because it contains more fat than other meats and is harder to digest. Choose chicken or fish instead. Only eat a small amount of meat daily.

Milk and cheese: These 2 foods deliver the much needed calcium. Instead of drinking 100% milk, drink skim milk. It has less fat but still provides all the goodness. Cheese is another food that can actually help you to lose weight because it boosts your metabolism.

Water: Drink lots of water, it is essential for your body - especially when you are exercising. It's about the only food that is guaranteed non-fattening.

Substitute the usual 3 large meals a day with 4-6 smaller meals. This will keep your body's metabolism working and prevent the food from turning to fat.

The best teenage diet plan always requires a lot of exercising and eating less more often.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Control Servings to Control Your Weight

Portion and serving control is an important part of losing weight. Once you cut out all of that extra food, you will find your fat loss greatly improved. Here are some tips that you can use to make sure that your meals and snacks are just the right size.

 

Plate Patrol

 

Your plate can be the key to overeating and portion control.

Larger plates allow you to fill up on more food. Using a smaller plate is a great way to keep your portions under control. The smaller plate only allows for smaller portions, so you eat less.

While you are filling that smaller plate, remember to fill it in thirds: one-third vegetable, one-third high fiber bread or pasta, and one-third lean meat product.

 

 Censored Servings

If you find yourself snacking throughout the day and into the night, there is help for your serving situations. The key is to avoid temptations. Remember, losing weight fast depends on not overeating and controlling your portions:

·        Stay away from vending machines.

·        Keep snack foods in cupboards and out of sight.

·        Don’t keep a candy dish in your home or office.

·        Similarly, don’t keep a bowl of chips around during TV watching.

·        Buy a very limited amount of snacks and put them in single serving baggies. Limit yourself to one a day.

·        Don’t buy large bags of any kind of snack food. Look for single servings or “fun” sized servings and only eat one.

Just making these few changes can have a dramatic impact on your health, diet, and weight. If you really want to see rapid weight loss results, combine these techniques with a professionally certified exercise plan, like the one in this No Nonsense Muscle Building review. Within just a week or two you'll see your body change. A combination of exercise and diet improvements is the most powerful way to lose weight known to man!