4 Things To Consider About Weight Loss Supplements

Every day, millions of people spend millions of dollars on weight loss supplements. Most of these claim to grab fat, speed up metabolism, or prevent the body from gaining weight in some other manner. It seems like every day, we see new products coming on the market that promise to do these things for people.

With well over 60% of the adult population of the U. S. overweight, there is a vast market for these products as well.

Most people are concentrating on three points: ease, speed, and personal attractiveness. They want to be able to take a pill or tonic that will lose the weight for them. They also feel that, as one lady put it to me, "If I could just lose the weight, I would look better and feel so much better about myself."

So how do these products stack up? What can they really do for the dieter? That adds a fourth dimension - effectiveness.

EASE:

Okay, I can't find much fault there. Most are pills or liquids that need to be taken once or twice a day. That should satisfy most people's desire for ease.

SPEED:

Now, it starts to get a little sticky. First of all, there are so many products making so many claims about what they will do for so many different people, it is difficult to say if any weight loss supplement really is as fast as it claims it CAN be. Take the most effective weight loss program in the universe, and have several thousand people follow it, and you will get several thousand results. Additionally, what works for one person might not work, or work as well, for her sister or brother.

To make matters worse, how well any weight loss product works will depend to some extent on how it is combined with exercise, nutrition, rest, genetics, and so on.

Second, speed in weight loss just MIGHT NOT be a good thing! As a matter of fact, weight lost TOO QUICKLY can actually endanger health. Just as a point, most weight loss supplements claim to do their work by altering or interfering with the normal processes of the body.

PERSONAL ATTRACTIVENESS:

I may be a bit biased, but when I find someone attractive, it often has as much to do with their outlook on life, and their personal enjoyment of life, as it does with how much their body weighs or how it is shaped. I am personally aware of people who lost large amounts of weight and yet did not improve their "attractiveness" at all. I also know people who are not what society would consider to be physically attractive, and yet they are attractive to those around them.

I know from personal experience that many overweight people feel that if they could just lose the weight their lives would change for the better. On some levels, that sometimes happens, but, if the weight loss comes about through artificial intervention, such as with a pill or through surgical intervention, they often find that their lives have not changed as much as they thought. In some cases, life can be even harder as a direct or indirect result of the method they used to lose weight.

EFFECTIVENESS:

When someone decides to lose weight for health reasons, they are, or should be, making a commitment to change the lifestyle choices they have been making that have gotten them to where they are. If instead, they take a pill to disrupt the normal processes of the body in hopes that the pill will change their lives, they will most certainly be disappointed. Even if the pill does do what it says, they cannot continue depending on it to do this for them for the rest of their lives. Only a permanent change in lifestyle choices will result in permanent, healthy weight loss, and this involves nutrition, exercise, hydration, and rest and does not require weight loss supplements.

Even those with drastic genetic predispositions towards obesity can take control of a portion of their weight and their health. I have a close personal friend who weighs over 400 lbs. She is young (mid 20's), beautiful, and vivacious, but her weight is gradually wearing her down. Her health is slowly becoming impacted by her weight, and she continually expresses a desire to lose weight.

However, she continues to drink several sodas sweetened with sugar daily. She sweetens her tea and coffee with sugar. She cooks and consumes huge meals with a high fat content when she is not ordering the most fat-laden offerings of the fast food palaces. She makes no adjustment in her lifestyle, and the closest she comes to exercise is when she becomes excited during a video game. Except for work, her life is lived almost entirely in front of a TV or a computer. She is genetically predisposed towards being overweight, but she could lose 100 or even 200 lbs simply by making different lifestyle choices. Instead, she opts to try each new diet fad or pill that hits the market only to be disappointed in the end.

A FINAL NOTE ON WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENTS:

Are there truly chemicals and compounds, natural and synthetic that can enhance a weight loss program? Certainly there are, but not those that achieve the goal simply because someone swallows them. Almost every weight loss supplement on the market includes a phrase to the effect that the product will work "...best when used in conjunction with good nutrition and a regular exercise program..." or words similar. Nutrition and exercise are the keys. Even the best weight loss supplement can only enhance the effects of a healthy lifestyle based on these.

Donovan Baldwin is a Dallas area writer. A graduate of the University Of West Florida (1973) with a BA in accounting, he is a member of Mensa and has held several managerial positions. He has written poetry and essays for his own use, and instructional media in many of the positions he held. After his retirement from the U. S. Army in 1995, he began writing articles on various subjects for websites he owned as well as for use by other webmasters. He has a keen interest in health, fitness, diet, and weight loss and has recently completed courses on Diet and Nutrition, and Fitness. He has posted information on a great way to burn fat at http://nodiet4me.com/burn_fat.html.

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Weight Loss Surgery - The Benefits and Pitfalls You Should Be Aware of

Being overweight is difficult, and that is not just because people look down on larger individuals. It is also difficult to find attractive clothes, make large purchases, enjoy good health, play sports, and do all of the things so many others can do easily and with little effort. Fortunately, for those individuals who are overweight and cannot seem to find a way to lose the weight through dieting or exercise, then weight loss surgery might be a viable option. There are a wide variety of weight loss surgery options available as well, so individuals interested in these procedures must do their research, talk to their doctors, and think long and hard about the best procedure for them. Of course, individuals should weigh the risks and benefits and make the wisest choice regarding going ahead with weight loss surgery in the light of these results.

The Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery

First of all, there are many benefits of weight loss surgery. The most basic of them being weight loss. Individuals who have any of the weight loss surgeries lose a significant amount of weight most of the time. Of course, there are some individuals who do not benefit from weight loss surgeries, but the majority of individuals do lose weight. When individuals lose weight there are many benefits including lower blood pressure, decreased risk for heart disease and diabetes, increased self esteem, self confidence and many other benefits as well. So, if you are considering any of the weight loss surgery options you now know the benefits that you will more than likely receive. However, weight loss surgery will not necessarily change the way others feel about you and this is not a good reason to go through with the surgery. Additionally, you should not rely on weight loss surgery to do all the work for you. Instead, you should go into the surgery with a plan for a healthy diet and exercise afterwards as well.

The Drawbacks of Weight Loss Surgery Any time you have surgery there are drawbacks and risks you should keep in mind. While many times the risks are not high, sometimes they are, and should be considered accordingly. Infection, internal bleeding, deep vein thrombosis, anesthesia complications, ulcers, pulmonary problems, removal of spleen, and other complications may arise during or after your weight loss surgery. There are other complications as well that might apply to your personal situation and only your doctor can inform you of these. There is a risk of the surgery not going as planned, not being successful, or even not being performed due to problems encountered at the start of surgery. Death is even a risk when weight loss surgery is performed, although it is a slim risk for most individuals. Obviously, all of these risks should be carefully considered before choosing to undergo weight loss surgery.

Types of Weight Loss Surgery

There are many types of weight loss surgery and the American Society of Bariatric Society notes two particular types of procedures that are used. One of these procedures is to decrease the amount of food an individual eats and the other type of procedure is to simply alter the way food is digested.

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty is a procedure that is also known as gastric bypass. Basically, gastric bypass surgery involves stapling the stomach smaller so that food enters slower and that the individual eats less. A gastric band is also used on the stomach's outlet to regulate the amount of food leaving the stomach.

Another type of bariatric surgery includes laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. This procedure uses a gastric band to partially close off the upper portion of the stomach. This allows the individual to feel full faster and eat less, thus losing weight. The gastric band is really helpful in this procedure.

Other types of malabsorptive procedures include the biliopancreatic diversion, extended gastric bypass, combined gastric bypass, as well as others. Each of these procedures have their own risks and benefits, some use gastric bands while others use a lap band, gastric band, or a mixture of procedures.

Deciding on the Procedure for You

Unless you are a doctor there is no way you can decide which procedure will be best for you. You might have a friend that was successful with one type of procedure and another who failed with a different one, however these success and failure rates with others are not necessarily the best information to base your decision on. You need to meet with your doctor, evaluate your health and past history as well as your expectations, and then your doctor will recommend the procedure that is best for you. Of course, you are welcome to get a second opinion or more if you want, but generally the surgeon knows what will be best for you. So, if you believe the benefits outweigh the risks go ahead and have gastric bypass or bariatric surgery and finally lose that weight. If the risks outweigh the benefits there are still many weight loss options out there you can try.

Sue Taylor is the webmaster of several weight loss surgery sites including [http://www.lapbandnews.info] and [http://www.stomachstaplingsite.info]

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I Need to Lose Weight Fast! Is Fast Weight Loss Really Possible?

The short answer is Yes, it is possible to lose weight fast.

How Fast?: It is important to remember that a healthy sensible amount of fat to lose really should not be more than say 2 pounds a week. If this is not as fast as you would like, then an accelerated fat loss program where the body's metabolism is geared to burn maximum fat may be OK for a limited time period.

What about Diet Pills?:There are a lot of pills on the market with the usual testimonials and pictures etc that say that you can lose weight quickly. It seems to defy logic though that a tiny pill can help you lose bulk fast in a healthy sustainable way. Reminds me a little of the movie "Soylent Green" where the food of the day was a nutritional pill. How exciting is that? 

Can I speed my metabolism up?: Burning fat by using your own metabolism and the shifting calories diet allows you to naturally lose weight fast and keep slim as a way of life. Mixing the correct amount of fat burning foods and knowing the correct pattern of eating is your answer to slimming down. By eating foods that take more energy to digest than they give means that your body will hunt down your fat areas and use them for energy. Altering the pattern of when these foods are ingested will keep your metabolism at peak rate. 

Can I still eat junk food?: To continue a diet for an extended time will put your body under a lot of strain and a good weight loss diet, even if it promises quick loss, should always stress a sensible approach by yourself when you want to lose those kilos. Laying off the diet at two week intervals is often a good way to ensure your body is not punished too hard. Having a bit of a junk food weekend now and again is also great for motivation. 

How can I stay slim?: Fast loss should only be a temporary goal, sustained weight loss should be a balance between using your knowledge of shifting calories gained when you learnt how to lose quickly, a sensible exercise program to keep the whole of your body in shape and above all, a realistic view of what your ideal weight should be. Your need for quick weight loss should never compromise your overall health. 

So, is losing fat quickly possible?: If your idea of fast weight loss is 30 pounds in a week, then I would say no. To lose say 9 pounds a week is possible with the shifting calories theory. If you want to diet safely and healthily for a sustained period, see if you have enough time to use the shifting calories theory but slow it down to around 2 pounds per week after your initial fast weight loss phase. 

How can I start?: Ultimately, if you need fast results, then you also need to take action quickly as well. We all know that if we had started to eat right and worked out correctly when we first noticed the pounds piling on, we probably would not be looking for a super fast fixit now. Now is the moment and now you can make a difference. The power of this wonderful internet means you can start your online weight loss diet within 10 minutes and from the next mouthful of food you eat.

To use the theory of shifting calories as your answer to "Lose Weight Fast [http://www.fastest-way-to-lose-belly-fat.info/]", you can click on the following link to read the Quick Fat Loss Strategies [http://www.fastest-way-to-lose-belly-fat.info/] and access this online diet today.

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Green Tea - Weight Loss and Other Possible Benefits

Scientists have been exploring new ways to exploit the wonders of green tea in a myriad of ways.  This simple little plant and products derived from it are being looked at for use in everything from gels to protect against HIV to weight loss products designed to clean up our systems and help us burn calories more efficiently.  It seems that every time you look, research is being done on some new possible benefit of the humble plant. 

Drinking green tea is said to increase energy without the jittery side effects produced by ingesting caffeine.  Some sites report that it also aids in digestion and that it can help the body to burn calories more efficiently.  There are also said to be cancer fighting properties locked up in the tea that can help to prevent prostate cancer in men who drink it.

The down side is that modern research is still limited regarding the benefits of drinking the tea or taking supplements containing it.  There are plenty of people performing research, but the research is still relatively young and ongoing.  Of course the drink has been popular among the Chinese for thousands of years and there are many who swear by its benefits.  Some tea drinkers report increased energy and even improvements in the way their skin looks.

If you enjoy drinking tea, by all means, continue in good health.  Just be aware however that not all of the research is in and that anything being sold in the area of weight loss should be purchased with care as some people will make unsubstantiated claims simply to sell products.  Keep checking on current research as you sip your tea and pay attention to what your body tells you.  If you enjoy drinking it and you feel better when you do, perhaps that is enough as long as there are no negative effects.

You might also enjoy these articles about green tea weight loss products and quick weight loss claims.

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The Best Weight Loss Advice is Simple Weight Loss Advice

 Have you been completely overwhelmed with the avalanche of weight loss advice available nowadays?  Not only is there so much weight loss advice available but so much of it seems to contradict itself...do you know what I mean?

One article says that low carb is the way to lose weight, another book says that low fat is way to reach your goal and yet another infomercial says that eating raw foods is the ticket.  With all these differing views which advice should one choose?

Well maybe all this information overload has caused us all to get turned around, making us focus on all the trees so that we are missing the forest.  Could it be possible that we have taken a fairly simple equation and turned it into something so complicated that it takes some kind of Ph.D to figure this whole thing out?

Can losing weight really be this difficult to figure out...?; and yes I am overweight myself, thank you very much (but that is changing even as this article is being written).  You don't even need to be told what this simple equation is for losing weight...do you?

We all know that reduced calories will result in a calorie deficit that will in turn produce weight loss.  The only proven method for significant weight loss at this time is reducing your calorie intake.  Although if you had the money and could stand the pain then liposuction could be an avenue to weight loss (but not for this guy).

If you can reduce your calories through diets such as low carb, low fat, raw or zone then that's great because the calorie restriction will produce weight loss.  The question that needs to be asked at this point is this: Can you maintain one of these diets in a long term manner such as a year or longer?

If you have a significant amount of weight that you desire to lose, such as myself, then you need a way of reducing your calorie intake that will fit your lifestyle.  Do you really want to carry all your "special foods" in eight different plastic bowels or baggies everywhere you go every day for the next year?

If you love living your life by a formula that is rigid and inflexible, not to mention unforgiving, then you have many choices available as plenty of these "miracle diets" have their own unique madness that needs to be followed with a healthy dose of obsession.

There is a way to lower calories while eating the foods that like without having to obsess about "bad or wrong" foods.  The minute you put any kind of food on the naughty list, this is the food you will crave night and day until you cave in and eat it.  Then you will feel guilty and throw in the towel because you are a failure and then you will go and drown your sorrows at the fast food joint of your choice (been there, done that...repeatedly).

So how about this weight loss advice:  

Reduce your calories only one to two days a week instead of trying to eat like a bird seven days a week.  Let me explain.  If you were to implement one or two short term (24 hour) fasting periods a week then you just created a calorie deficit for your week.

By fasting from, say 6pm after supper to 6pm the next day you just cut out the calories of two meals (you also just received some amazing health benefits by giving your digestive system a break).  If you incorporated two 24 hour short term fasts in your week you would probably cutting out around 2000 or more calories from your week...that means weight loss.

Now you can eat normally the rest of the week.  No more resisting restaurants or forgoing the bread and salad dressing.  With that being said, you do realize that if you cut out 2000 calories using short term fasting that it is self defeating to go and celebrate your accomplishment by tanking down 8000 calories at the nearest Olive Garden...right?

The point here is that we can cut calories while eating real foods that we enjoy, we just need to exercise a little common sense and self control.  This is a simple method to cut calories that we can implement into your lifestyle anytime we choose.  For some the optimum time may be from 8am to 8am the next day for others it may be 2pm to 2pm.

Also if there is a special occasion that comes up you can shift your fasting day from Monday to Tuesday...see, no bowels or baggies or special portions.  Now let us ask the previous question again:  Could you maintain this method on a long term basis?  Well..could you?

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Weight Loss Herbs - How Safe Are They?

Obesity is a sickness that can strike anyone at any age. It is a sickness that has affected millions of Americans - both young and old - resulting in serious health complications. Obesity, if left untreated, can lead to health risks such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and even diabetes. Because of this threat, Americans are taking pains to find the best and effective weight loss program and product in the market. One of these products are weight loss herbs, which vary in effects. How safe are weight loss herbs?

Two types of herbs

Weight loss herbs fall into two types. One type of herb serves to "trick" your brain believing that it is full, so you will not be tempted to eat. Another type of herb functions to boost your metabolism, thereby resulting in faster weight loss. This latter type of herb is also called thermogenic herb.

How thermogenic herbs work

Thermogenic herbs are increasing in popularity today. These herbs function as stimulants, containing substances like caffeine, in order to speed up body functions like heart rate, digestion, and respiration. The effects of these herbs make you more energetic.
Meanwhile, thermogenic herbs also act as diuretics or water reducers, thereby resulting in weight loss through body water decrease.

Dangerous herbs

At present, weight loss herbs have invaded the market. Many of these have not been tested by the US FDA; hence the effects are still unknown. Weight loss herbs do not undergo the same strict testing as other drugs do, which is why several "unsafe" and "untested" herbs are being sold in the market.

However, the US FDA is taking pains to study herbs sold in the market. As of now, their list of dangerous weight loss herbs include:

o Herbal Laxatives - this usually takes the form of diet tea, cascara, senna, buckthorn, aloe and rhubarb root. These herbs can result in cramping, diarrhea, and if overused, could cause your bowels to no longer function without laxative stimulation.

o Ephedra - this popular weight loss herb is also known as ma huang. In high doses, Ephedra can raise blood pressure, increase heart rate, and over stimulate the central nervous system. As of now, the FDA has reported over 800 incidences - and two deaths - of unhealthy side effects brought by ingesting Ephedra. Other side effects include heart palpitations, seizures, stroke, chest pain, and heart attack.

o Herbal fen-phen - Ephedra serves as the main ingredient in the version of the dangerous diet drug known as fen-phen. Herbal fen-phen has not been shown to even work in clinical trials, but it has been attributed with serious side effects from heartbeat irregularities to death from heart attack and stroke.

Healthy products

That is not to say, however, that all weight loss herbs are dangerous. A couple of herbs that have passed US-FDA standards include:

o Cayenne - this organic spice is not for making your food taste spicy. Research has shown that cayenne contains an ingredient called capsaicin that stimulates saliva, stimulates digestion and accelerates your metabolism at a safer level.

o Green Tea - green tea and weight loss have been shown to have correlation. Green tea serves as a natural stimulant that behaves much like coffee but with the added benefit of vitamin C and flavoniods (or antioxidants). Green tea is said to boost metabolism and increase fat oxidation.

o Seaweed - seaweed is a good source of trace minerals such as chromium and iodine, acting as a natural thyroid stimulant.

o Ginseng - also said to boost metabolism

Fiber for weight loss

Another option for weight loss is taking fiber. Fiber makes one feel full without worrying about the excess calories. Aside from that, fiber also helps promote regular bowel movement, releasing harmful toxins in the body.
You can ingest fiber supplements or take fiber-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables.

What is the answer?

In the end, weight loss herbs can be an option for weight loss. But these herbs should be taken with a grain of salt. When buying herbs, make sure to check if they are FDA approved. If there is no way to check, research about the product: know its ingredients and its side effects. Once you have researched about it, be sure to buy only from reputable brands and markets so you are assured of high-quality herbs.

Taking herbs and supplements are not the best way to lose weight. In the end, proper diet and exercise are the only solutions to achieving a healthy body image.

Phillip England is a weight loss expert and director of TheUltimateWeightLossSecret.Com [http://www.theultimateweightlosssecret.com] - check it out for all your weight loss information. Phil also provides honest advice about weight loss supplements like Proactol [http://theultimateweightlosssecret.com/weight-loss-supplements/metabolism-boosters/effective-weight-loss-from-proactol]

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