Weight loss

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A weightloss pyramid made on the model by BCM
Weight loss, in the context of medicine or health or physical fitness, is a reduction of the total body weight, due to a mean loss of fluid, body fat or adipose tissue and/or lean mass, namely bone mineral deposits, muscle, tendon and other connective tissue.
Contents
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• 1 Unintentional weight loss
• 2 Intentional weight loss
• 3 Therapeutic weight loss techniques
• 4 "Crash Dieting"
• 5 Weight loss industry
• 6 See also
• 7 References
• 8 External links

Unintentional weight loss

A significant loss of total body weight is a serious, chronic illness. Substantial, unintentional weight loss is a symptom of acute or chronic illness, especially if other evidence is present.
Weight loss, for example, accompanied by early satiety, bilious vomiting of partially undigested food, postprandial epigastric pain and eructation may indicate Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome[1]. Weight loss accompanied by insatiable thirst and hunger and fatigue may indicate diabetes mellitus, a chronic disease characterized by an abnormal accumulation of carbohydrates in the bloodstream due to insufficient production of insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas that, when secreted into the bloodstream, permits cellular metabolism and utilization of glucose.
Poor management of type 1 diabetes mellitus, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), leads to an excessive amount of glucose and an insufficient amount of insulin in the bloodstream. This triggers the release of triglycerides from adipose (fat) tissue and catabolism (breakdown) of amino acids in muscle tissue. This results in a loss of both fat and lean mass, leading to a significant reduction in total body weight. Note that untreated type 1 diabetes mellitus will usually not produce weight loss, as these patients get acutely ill before they would have had time to lose weight.
Myriad of additional scientific considerations are applicable to weight loss, including but not limited to: physiological and exercise sciences, nutrition science, behavioral sciences, and other sciences.
One area involves the science of bioenergetics including biochemical and physiological energy production and utilization systems, that is frequently evidence of diabetes, and ketone bodies, acetone particles occurring in body fluids and tissues involved in acidosis, also known as ketosis, somewhat common in severe diabetes.
In addition to weight loss due to a reduction in fat and lean mass, illnesses such as diabetes, certain medications, lack of fluid intake and other factors can trigger fluid loss. And fluid loss in addition to a reduction in fat and lean mass exacerbates the risk for cachexia.
Infections such as HIV may alter metabolism, leading to weight loss.[2]
Hormonal disruptions, such as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) , may also exhibit as weight loss.[3]

Intentional weight loss

Weight loss may refer to the loss of total body mass in an effort to improve fitness, health, and/or appearance.
Therapeutic weight loss, in individuals who are overweight, can decrease the likelihood of developing diseases such as diabetes.[4] , heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, osteoarthritis[5] and certain types of cancer.
Weight loss occurs when an individual is in a state of negative energy balance. When the human body is spending more energy in work and heat than it is gaining from food or other nutritional supplements, it will use stored reserves of fat or muscle.
Although weight loss may involve loss of fat, muscle or fluid, weight loss for the purposes of maintaining health should aim to lose fat while conserving muscle and fluid.[citation needed]
It is not uncommon for people who are already at a medically healthy weight to intentionally lose weight. In some cases it is with the goal of improving athletic performance or to meet weight classifications in a sport. In other cases, the goal is to attain a more attractively shaped body. Being underweight is associated with health risks such as difficulty fighting off infection, osteoporosis, decreased muscle strength, trouble regulating body temperature and even increased risk of death

Therapeutic weight loss techniques

The least intrusive weight loss methods, and those most often recommended by physicians, are adjustments to eating patterns and increased physical exercise.
Usually, health professionals will recommend that their overweight patients combine a reduction of the caloric content of the diet with an increase in physical activity.[7] A good approach to do this might be to choose calorie-poor food and exercising at night (to avoid eating while watching TV, ...) [8] If however, you exercise a lot during the course of the day (or all day for that matter), it may be better to not try to reduce your calories in your food during the day at all (you will usually burn all of it anyway during the day), and just eat when hungry, and, in addition, only try to reduce your calories at night. This method may be better for those people exercising all day to avoid to lose energy too quickly, which often translates in eating a lot more at certain moments, usually to this degree/speed of eating that you can no longer assess you've had enough. A good indicator to tell you that you didn't eat too much is again the hunger feeling; exercise until you feel tired and/or hungry and then go to bed only slightly hungry. However, even if you do not watch your calorie-density of your food (by the method explained just above), it is always best that you eat slowly, or eat a bit and then wait a little. Often, your hunger disappears if you leave a little time as the stomach needs time to digest and tell your body you've had enough. [9] Also, another good complementary technique is not too make your food tasty at all and leaving it basic (to avoid "eating out of taste" instead of hunger); for this, one may eg decide to no longer put anything between theirButterbrot or sandwich, ...). In addition, a much proposed method to hold oneself to a decreased calorie-diet is to increase the amount of liquid you drink. When water or low-calorie drinks are not a working alternative/option, vegetables may be used instead. However, whenever possible (not hungry), (overweight) people are advocated of not eating/drinking at all, to allow the body/stomach to shrink, so that the person will automatically reduce the amount they eat (as the hunger feeling disappears), hereby normally (although not always) also decreasing the amounts of calories he consumes. Yet another method maybe the increasing of ambient temperature. Increasing the ambient temperature makes it much easier for certain people to endure the hunger feeling (as its intensity weakens with higher temperature [10] Increasing the temperature may be done by either heating up the house (trough radiators, convectors, ...) -or- by putting on more clothes (eg several layers thereof and making sure the ends of the clothes overlap). Note that after a while, when you get used to the extra heat, your appetite may go up again; when this happens extra layers are added to again increase the heat. This latter method is recommended as it allows continuous high temperature (even if you go outside), is cheaper and also puts up less stress for the environment. Also, the implementation of a new hobby (eg listening music, ...) [11] [12] Most of these methods have been proposed by nutritionists as BCM and other organisations involved in weight loss[13][14] Also, nutritionists as BCM advocate reducing the amounts you eat entirely (to only 3 meals a day).
Other methods of losing weight include use of drugs and supplements that decrease appetite, block fat absorption, or reduce stomach volume. Especially medicine with herbs as Fucus vesiculosus are popular [15]. Also, there are also some mental tricks (eg brushing your teeth early to avoid snacking at night, avoiding to buy high-calorie foods at the supermarket, ...) that -although they may be low-tech-, have return big results [16]. Finally, a more radical (and usually less recommended, unless really necessairy) method is Surgery. Bariatric surgery artificially reduces the size of the stomach, limiting the intake of food energy. Some of these treatments may have serious side-effects.

Crash Dieting

A crash diet is where a person willfully restricts themselves of all nourishment (except water) for more than 12 hours. The desired result is to have the body burn fat for energy with the goal of losing a significant amount of weight in a short time. Crash dieting is not the same as flexible intermittent fasting, where dieters fast for 2 days each week and calories are cycled. Generally the weight lost in a crash diet returns when normal eating resumes.

] Weight loss industry

In the developed world, there is a substantial market for products which promise to make weight loss easier, quicker, cheaper, more reliable, or less painful. These include books, CDs, cremes, lotions, pills, rings and earrings, body wraps, body belts and other materials, not to mention fitness centers, personal coaches, weight loss groups, and food products and supplements. US residents in 1992 spent an estimated $30 billion a year on all types of diet programs and products, including diet foods and drinks.[17]
Between $33 billion and $55 billion is spent annually on weight loss products and services, including medical procedures and pharmaceuticals, with weight loss centers garnering between 6 percent and 12 percent of total annual expenditure. About 70 percent of Americans' dieting attempts are of a self-help nature. Although often short-lived, these diet fads are a positive trend for this sector as Americans ultimately turn to professionals to help them meet their weight loss goals

Diet and Health

A balanced diet comprising of healthy and diverse foods is key to promoting good health.

After all, we are what we eat - Research continues to prove that eating healthy food promotes good health and unhealthy food habits lead to a diseased body. Foods contain vital nutrients that aid our body’s metabolic function.


However, a lack of consumption of these nutrients or feeding upon the wrong kinds of food leads to an accumulation of toxins within the body, resulting in chronic diseases in the long run.

A nutritious diet while ensuring overall well being, helps to maintain a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI), reduces the risk of several debilitating diseases like cancer, cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, osteoporosis and stroke.


Thus a nutritious diet is important in the prevention and cure of various diseases.

Healthy Food Groups
Since no single food group can nourish the body with all the vital ingredients it requires, it is important that we consume a variety of healthy foods to derive the nutrition our body needs.

There are five main food groups, they are:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Cereals and Pulses
• Dairy
• Poultry, Fish and Meat products

A healthy balance of these five food groups ensures essential vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. The food group serving size will depend upon various factors like age, activity level, body size and gender.



It is also important that one eat a variety of foods from within and across the food groups. As some foods from within a food group provide more nutrients than others.


This will ensure that one gets the maximum recommended nutrition from the food group; besides the food variety will make for an interesting meal.

In conclusion, it must be noted that allopathic medicine treats the symptoms rather than the root cause of the disease, which is usually caused by wrong eating habits leading to an accumulation of toxins within the system. Whereas a nutritious diet can rectify underlying causes of diseases and restore one to wholeness of mind and body. Once we realise the connection between a wholesome diet and good health, our food will be our medicine and maintaining good health will be a matter of making the right food choices and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Different Types of Diet

A nutritious diet is key to maintaining good health.


The food that we eat or drink on any given day refers to a diet. However the foods that we eat should supply the vitamins and calories our bodies need to be nourished with for optimum function.


Unlike in the past where one only heard of a weight loss diet, today there are a variety of diet types. The diet types range from the Atkins diet, South Beach diet, Mediterranean diet, blood type diet, Zone diet, low calorie diet, detoxification diet, GI diet, Gluten-free diet, juice diet and a plethora of others.

People follow various types of diets for a variety of reasons like weight loss and weight gain, religious and personal preferences, to recuperate from illnesses, as well as to combat diseases like diabetes, cancer, hyperthyroidism and other chronic conditions.


Most of the popular diets have been thoroughly researched and tested for their effectiveness. However prior to embarking upon a diet, it would be prudent for you to assess whether the nutrition objectives of these diets are in sync with your dieting requirements.


Personal considerations like your age, activity levels, health condition, daily calories and vitamin recommendations needs must be kept in mind.
Caution must be taken to ensure that your ideal diet contains all the essential nutrition needs your body needs. A food guide pyramid and nutrition facts label on packaged foodstuff will help in selecting the right diet for you.

Several popular diets can actually harm instead of heal you.

Especially those diets, which totally exclude vital food groups and restrict variations in food. For instance some diets advocate that one greatly reduce the amount of carbohydrates, while others advice an overly excessive consumption of fruits.

They make unfound and false claims that the human body cannot digest protein and carbohydrates simultaneously. The fact is that different parts of our digestive tract caters to varied nutrients and absorb those nutrients. However, most of our food like beans (which contain 50% protein and 50% carbohydrate) is a combination of both proteins and carbohydrates.

Whatever diet you choose to adopt, make sure that it contains the average recommended vitamins and minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fiber and fat your body needs.

Atkins diet

Atkins’ diet?

The Atkins diet is a high protein low carb diet which was introduced in the 1960’s by Dr. Robert Atkins. Atkins diet system claims weight loss and has noted several success stories. Dr Atkin resolved his own overweight condition and successfully treated thousands of patients on his diet plan. He popularized his diet in a book series called Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution in 1972. Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, is his revised copy with updated ideas but basic concepts remained same.

The majority will sequentially pass through this as they successfully shed their excess weight.


Supplementary diets are provided for those who cannot follow the majority route, like those with a high metabolic resistance and those with food intolerances.
Atkins’ diet menu - What can you eat on the Atkins’ diet

The Atkins’ diet menu lets you eat foods that many dieters only dream about. The Atkins’ diet plan is said to work even if other diets have left you feeling depressed and deprived.

About Dr. Atkins diet:
Atkins diet menu sets few limits on the amount of food you eat. Instead, it severely restricts the kinds of food permitted on your plate: no processed and refined sugar, milk, white bread, starchy vegetables, white rice and white flour. This includes cereals and pasta made from white flour.

The Atkins diet lets you eat foods traditionally regarded as "rich": meat, eggs, cheese, and more.

Atkins diet plan claims to cut down your appetite in the process.
On Dr Atkins’ diet, you eat almost pure protein and fat.


You can liberally eat nutrient-rich unprocessed foods like animal flesh (meat, fish and poultry). You can have red meat, fish (including shellfish), fowl, and regular cheese (not "diet" cheese, cheese spreads, or whey cheeses). You can also cook with butter, have mayo with your tuna, and add olive oil on your salads.

Then again, carbs are restricted (about 20 grams of net carbs per day, meaning total carbs minus fiber) in the first two weeks. That translates to three cups of loosely packed salad or two cups of salad with two-thirds cup of certain cooked vegetables each day.

The Atkins’ diet menu does allow for adding fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods after the two-week induction period.

How Atkins’ diet works?
Dr. Atkins diet is predominantly based on the theory that overweight people eat too many carbohydrates. Our bodies tend to burn both fat and carbohydrates for energy, but carbs are used first. However, our bodies naturally lose weight by burning stored body fat more efficiently by drastically reducing carbs and eating more protein and fat.


Researchers claim that, fewer the carbohydrates present in a diet, the more sustained the blood sugar level remains throughout the day. This is because sugar is always metabolized first. Craving is caused by blood sugar fluctuations aggravated by carbohydrate consumption. However, by cutting down carbohydrates, a person’s blood sugar can retain a more even level throughout the day. As a result, he or she will have no cravings and refrain from in-between meal snacks.

Also, diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates tend to increase the body’s production of insulin. When insulin levels are high, the food is more quickly turned into body fat in the form of triglycerides. High triglyceride levels appear to be one of the greatest risk factors for heart disease. You are able to cleanse the burned stored fat out of their cells, by using the fat cells for energy thus causing the dramatic drop in weight.

Atkins diet – Pros and Cons: What the experts say?
Critics of Dr. Atkins diet say that meat-heavy; high-protein eating patterns could be linked to osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer, and renal disease.

The great majority of experts and nutritionists maintain that Dr. Atkins’ theories still remain unproven. They are concerned that a high-protein, high-fat diet could cause a lot of problems, especially for the large segment of the population that is at risk for heart disease. Further, the. Atkins diet plan does not include a high intake of fruits and vegetables, recommended by most nutrition experts because of the numerous documented health benefits from these foods.

Dr Atkins diet pros and cons
No one can deny that the Atkins Diet is probably the most successful diet of the last few years. There are many pros and cons that could be linked to this diet.

The most common pros and cons are listed below:
Advantages of Atkins diet

Experts say that only benefit of the Atkins’ diet may be quick weight loss and possibly eating as much foods as desired to some people. Rapid weight loss is what motivates people at first. However since so many foods are off-limit, a high rate of the followers just drop out before reaching the fourth, maintenance level.


Disadvantages of Atkins diet
Many health experts disagree with the Atkins philosophy. They call it an unhealthy way of losing weight.

They point out that one negative allowance the Atkins diet offers is eating as much protein as one possibly can. High protein foods are also high in fats; and high levels of fats increase the levels of the “bad” cholesterol. The general fat allowance is only 30% of a person’s daily calorie intake. Dr. Atkins diet menu promotes eating as much fat as desired.

Atkin’s diet can also be taxing on the kidneys. Such high protein consumption increases the renal load on the kidneys and can be detrimental to kidney function in the long run.

However, by far the biggest disadvantage of the Atkins diet is that although the pounds may be shedding quickly, the weight levels off (returns back) over six months to one year.

Liquid Diet

A liquid diet is either a full liquid consumption or a partial meal replacement which may come in the form of either juices or teas.

Most of the liquid diet recipes may not be suitable for excessive and long term weight loss. However, they may bring certain benefits for particular types of procedures. They are beneficial to both post and pre op and they are also a type of treatment desired for following bariatric surgery.

When to Use Liquid Diets
Most experts do not recommend this kind of diet unless the person is to undergo treatments such as sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. In cases such as those which are pre-operative, a clear liquid diet serves several functions.

It can flush bowel movements while at the same time diminishing strain on the digestive system. Beverages such as tea, coffee, broth and sports drinks are also allowed. If strained first, certain juices are also permitted. Before entering this type of diet, a physician will provide a fact sheet on how long and how to do the procedure.

Persons who have undergone bariatric surgery may be required to follow an exclusive, fluid-only diet which may continue for up to ten days following the procedure. Extreme obesity may also be treated through an all-liquid diet. Initially, the diet may be successful; however, it must be monitored by a physician for signs of negative side effects. However, a general agreement states that this procedure will not teach the person the necessary requirements of healthy diet to obtain weight loss.


Health Issues
This diet may not provide the needed nutrients to provide adequate amounts of energy for most individuals. Through this diet, short term weight loss may be achieved. However if protein shakes will be deleted from the diet, weight gain may proceed. People who undergo juice fasting, which is also considered as one type of liquid diet, may find it unsatisfactory. The lack of fiber and proteins are also a big issue with many physicians.



In most cases, the use of liquid diet recipes, even if medically advised and supervised, will not be practical for those who only need to loose a few pounds. Some people believe that going into a medical diet will cleanse the impurities of one’s system including those that have been built up in the liver. These beliefs are usually unsupported by most physicians since the foods that are deleted from the diet are all beneficial and important. The diet provides inadequate amounts of the needed, nutrients, vitamins, fibers, proteins, and other required elements for optimum health and growth.


During the course of the diet, the resistance to disease and nutrition will be at stake. This approach may be used to loose a limited amount of weight; however, it must be used in conjunction with the normal and regular meals. This diet may fail to give you desired results if portion control is not applied.

Mediterranean Diet – Fights Away Heart Problems

When you think about the Mediterranean diet, you would also probably think about the Mediterranean region.


You would ask yourself if it has anything to do with the region. Sure enough, this type of diet is called as such because it is derived from the food groups that the people in the Mediterranean eat. Since more than five decades ago, the lifestyle and the diet of the people within the region have been looked upon.


It has been discovered that their way of living is healthy, enabling them to live longer. Plus, it has been discovered that they are not posed with possible risks of cancer and heart diseases. This discovery has been studied further, and results show that when the Mediterranean diet is followed, a person is steered away from serious illnesses.


The Mediterranean diet consists mainly of fruits and vegetables. If you want to follow this kind of diet, then you should be willing to eat a whole lot of these. If you are a meat lover, then you should cut down your consumption.


You should eat less red meat, dairy foods like cheese and milk, and fish. Egg consumption should only be four every week, or none at all. Drinking wine should be moderate or very little.


Fat consumption should only be from olives, if you use oil for cooking your foods, you should only use olive oil.

A Mediterranean diet focuses on the consumption of olives and the use of olive oil because of its high level of MUFA or, monounsaturated fat. This type of fat adds to the great benefit of the diet.


It is one of the main factors why a Mediterranean diet protects you from the risks of serious illnesses, like cardiac arrest or problems to the circulatory system. Herbs and garlic are also effective in driving away problems to the heart.

Olive oil is also good for pregnant moms and nursing moms, since it helps in the development of the infant's brain. This is also good for older people because it slows down the process of aging.

A Mediterranean diet also includes foods which are rich in dietary fiber; like cereals, wheat bread, oatmeal and brown rice. Dietary fiber aids in effective digestion, which is the reason why people who have problems with their bowel movement are advised to eat fiber-rich foods. Aside from dietary fiber, the foods which are included in the diet are also rich in carotenoids, phytochemicals and antioxidants which are present in fruits and vegetables.

Low Carb Diet

Today’s generation has thought about the importance of having a balanced diet to achieve a healthy and fit body.

But with the conflict of schedules and tight arrangements in our busy life today, we haven’t been able to gain enough time to provide the necessary food for us since we’re usually on the go. There are actually a lot of diet programs that are sprouting almost from anywhere today, like the South Beach Diet and Atkins Diet, After-Six Diet and so on and so forth.


These programs seem to have their specific advantages. Additionally, there are diet programs out there that compose focus on high fiber foods for sufficient blood flow and high fat foods that are composed of “bad” fat and “good” fat.

Among those mentioned diet programs, one method has become more popular, the Low Carb Diet program.

What Low Carb Diet does?
This diet program should be followed strictly for you to reap the benefits it contains.


If you are determined enough, the restriction of carbohydrates results into the state known as ketosis – burning the fat with successive fabrication of ketone bodies in your bloodstream. The effects of ketosis are that is stabilizes your blood sugar; dropping your insulin level; and of course, losing weight.


You can determine easily to see if your diet program produces ketosis with the use of ketone test strips.

One thing you should know about is that all your life, the body has been continuously taking sugar which is absorbed in the form of carbohydrates. And through all of this, you body has only one recognized carbohydrates and that is the sugar.



Eating a diet with 60-70% carbohydrates means that on that number, you are actually eating sugar. This is a common unbalanced diet.


The idea of Low Carb Diet is to retain both the insulin sensitivity and body chemistry back into the state of balance.

The Benefits
Basically, Low Carb Diet concentrates on the method of cutting down a person’s every day food intake. This diet program allows the person to eat all foods excluding those that have the amount of carbohydrates. With the overall testimony and everything else in between, people have bolted to Low Carb Diet. And most of them have been able to determine how effective this method is. The following are some of the benefits acquired from the method of Low Carb Diet:

Compared to fasting, this diet program is considered to be a faster and quicker method of losing weight.

This diet program provides the overall ingestion and absorption of protein
Low Carb Diet soothes the blood sugar levels and is greatly valuable to those people who have diabetes.

Do your own body fat calculation

It has been proven beyond doubt that more and more people are becoming obese and suffering from weight problems due to hectic lifestyle that has become the norm of today. Teamed with fast foods which are heavy in their fat content, and very little physical activity, it is natural that people are gaining weight day-by-day.

While we all want to lose weight and have at some point or the other gone on several diets, opted for quick weight loss solutions, weight loss supplements and various other methods of weight loss, what generally we tend to forget is that before we decide to lose weight, we need to calculate the amount or percentage of fat that we need to lose. This purpose is solved by the several types of body fat calculator available today, the most common one being body mass index, and body fat percentage calculator. There are a lot of such types of calculating devices available today

Do your own body fat calculation

It has been proven beyond doubt that more and more people are becoming obese and suffering from weight problems due to hectic lifestyle that has become the norm of today. Teamed with fast foods which are heavy in their fat content, and very little physical activity, it is natural that people are gaining weight day-by-day.

While we all want to lose weight and have at some point or the other gone on several diets, opted for quick weight loss solutions, weight loss supplements and various other methods of weight loss, what generally we tend to forget is that before we decide to lose weight, we need to calculate the amount or percentage of fat that we need to lose. This purpose is solved by the several types of body fat calculator available today, the most common one being body mass index, and body fat percentage calculator. There are a lot of such types of calculating devices available today

Do quick weight loss plans hold truth?

Each day you might have come across a plethora of plans for quick weight loss. Some use this as a publicity stunt to market their weight loss products .However some might really hold a little truth in it. But if the thought whether these plan really work still lingering in your mind proceed with the article.This article covers
• Do Quick Weight Loss Plans Work?
• What are the different plans?
• How Weight Loss Plan Works?
With so many different types of diets available today, people who are looking to lose weight or who are suffering from obesity have a wide range of options to choose from. However, for people looking towards options which would make them lose weight fast, there are a lot of free weight loss plans which are just conning people into believing that they can miraculously lose 10 to 15 pounds in a week, or as per some quick weight loss plans, even in a day.

It has generally been found that most free weight loss plans do not advise you on how to maintain the supposed weight lost, while they do keep urging you and motivating you through case studies of patients who have achieved amazing results by undertaking their plan.

One Day Diet

By far, perhaps the most amusing weight loss plan which comes across is the One Day Diet, which claims that the diet will help individuals lose 20 pounds within a month, while eating a high-caloric diet every second day of the month.The one day, during which you have to diet, you are allowed to consume only diet wafers and raw fruits. The very next day, however, you can eat whatever you like regardless of the amount of calories in it. If you search for this on the Internet, you are likely to find advertisements screaming about the popularity of this diet and the scientific proof. People who have actually undergone the diet will actually be making claims about losing absurd amounts of weight in an equally absurd number of days.Based on the concept that the body will burn stored fat if it is not getting any high-carbohydrate containing food for an entire day, the weight loss plan providers fail to prove as to how the body will digest the stored fat if the fat is being replaced again the very next day.

One Day Diet

By far, perhaps the most amusing weight loss plan which comes across is the One Day Diet, which claims that the diet will help individuals lose 20 pounds within a month, while eating a high-caloric diet every second day of the month.The one day, during which you have to diet, you are allowed to consume only diet wafers and raw fruits. The very next day, however, you can eat whatever you like regardless of the amount of calories in it. If you search for this on the Internet, you are likely to find advertisements screaming about the popularity of this diet and the scientific proof. People who have actually undergone the diet will actually be making claims about losing absurd amounts of weight in an equally absurd number of days.Based on the concept that the body will burn stored fat if it is not getting any high-carbohydrate containing food for an entire day, the weight loss plan providers fail to prove as to how the body will digest the stored fat if the fat is being replaced again the very next day.

Lose 10 Pounds In 10 Days Plan

Meanwhile, the Lose 10 Pounds in 10 Days Weight Plan, claims to stimulate weight loss, though the providers clearly state that one would need to change their lifestyle as well in order to achieve results. Despite promoting a healthy lifestyle, the plan focuses on a diet of meat and butter, which, for people who are suffering from heart diseases, could be fatal. The promoters of this weight plan claim that the plan is easy to follow and does not involve any artificial food or ingredients. As per the plan, while you are unlikely to witness any weight loss during the first four days, on the fifth day suddenly you will notice a reduction of five pounds, and for the following days, you will continue to lose one pound per day.

Farmer's Market Diet

Other gimmicks similar to these diets include the Farmer's Market Diet. This weight plan focuses on consuming simply fresh vegetables. The basic flaw in the plan, however, is that it does not incorporate any consumption of proteins, without which the body is not going to develop properly.

Is weight loss surgery safe for you?

The weight loss surgery is becoming the attractive option among many obese people. However among the awful lot of options available it is important to choose the best one. Before taking any decision it is strongly recommended to weigh the pros and cons of it.The article throws spotlight on the weight loss surgery and various options available.This article covers
• Is weight loss surgery safe?
• What are the various options available in the weight loss surgery?
• What are the advantages in it?
• What are the risks involved in it?
With more and more people being overweight and obese in today's age, weight loss surgery is fast becoming an attractive option. What is weight loss surgery one might ask! Weight loss surgeries are simply a number of different gastric bypass surgeries which are commonly referred to as weight loss surgeries, or WLS. Generally, WLS is also referred to as bariatric surgery, bariatric meaning anything to do with weight.

While there are several surgery options available for patients today, it is quite difficult to decide on which one is the best option. What does matter, however, is the fact that since all patients are different, every patient needs to weight their options carefully before deciding which type of surgery they want to go in for. It also depends on how good a doctor/surgeon they find for their procedure. Discuss the various procedures with your surgeon before making a final decision. It is of utmost importance that you acquire your information from credible sources only!

In order to determine whether WLS is a safe and advisable treatment for a patient to go in, it is important to know the basics of bariatric surgery. According to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, there are three basic approaches that WLS takes to achieve results in bariatric weight loss surgery:
• Restrictive practices that lower a patient's need for food intake.
• Malabsorptive practices which cause food to be poorly digested and incompletely absorbed, in order for it to be passed out as stool.
• A combination of both restrictive and malabsorptive practices. This not only lowers the risks associated with both the procedures, but also results in efficient excess weight loss.
Some of the common WLS procedures include:

Gastric Restrictive Procedure

Restrictive WLS works by lowering the quantity of food consumed by the patient at a time and does not hinder with the normal process of digestion. In a restrictive weight loss procedure, a smaller upper stomach pocket is created by the surgeon, which connects to the rest of the stomach. Weight is lost by the reduced stomach capacity, which directly results in a lower intake of calories.

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)

VBG is a type of restrictive procedure in which the upper stomach is stapled vertically for almost 2 inches to produce a smaller stomach pocket. A ring controls the outlet from the pocket, thus slowing down the process of emptying of the food. This in turn, makes the patient feel full, thus decreasing the urge to eat.

The main benefit of VBG is that a lowered amount of well-chewed food goes into and passes through the digestive tract. This allows the nutrients to be fully absorbed into the body as per the normal digestive process.

However, it is important to note that postoperatively, there exists a risk of leakage or infection from the stapling of the stomach resulting in staple-line disruption. The ring which is used in the procedure may also lead to complications of obstruction or perforation.

Laparoscopic or Minimally Invasive Surgery

During a laparoscopic operation, a small video camera is inserted into the abdomen, while the surgeon views the procedure and the insides of the abdomen on a video monitor. The camera and surgical instruments are inserted through small incisions made in the abdominal wall. This approach is less invasive as it replaces the need for open incisions, which also increases the risk of infection. Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery experience less pain after the surgery, leading to easier breathing and lung function. Other benefits with laparoscopic surgery are that there are fewer wound complications.

Laparoscopic weight loss surgery produces similar excess weight loss as compared to the other methods. However, not all surgeons are qualified enough to perform laparoscopic surgery and the American Society for Bariatric Surgery recommends that laparoscopic WLS be performed only by surgeons who are experienced in both laparoscopic and open bariatric procedures.

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding

A Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band procedure, commonly known as lap band weight loss surgery, is a restrictive process in which a band is placed around the upper part of the stomach, dividing the stomach into two parts, a small portion and a larger part. Food digestion occurs though a normal process, but food is regulated. Due to this, most patients start feeling full faster, thus lowering their food/caloric intake and leading to weight loss.

The advantages of this procedure are that it limits the amount of food consumed at a meal, food is completely absorbed by the body as the food passes through the digestive tract in a normal manner. Also, if required, the procedure can be reversed.

Malabsorptive Procedures

Malabsorptive processes tend to reduce the size of the stomach, though the stomach pocket which is created is generally larger as compared to the other procedures. The goal of these surgeries is to control the amount of food consumed by the patient and change the normal digestive process. The procedure involves changing of the anatomy of the small intestine in order to direct the pancreatic juices and bile in a manner where they meet the ingested food closer to the end of the small intestine. This results in incomplete digestion, allowing for more of the food to be passed out as stool. Some of the common malabsorptive procedures are as follows:
Biliopancreatic

Biliopancreatic Diversion (BPD)

BPD removes nearly three-fourths of the stomach in order to both limit food intake and lower the output of acid. In this process, surgery basically involves division of the small intestine so that all the food moves through only one section of the small intestine.

Extended (Distal) Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGBP-E)

RYGBP-E is a form of malabsorption procedure which is achieved by creating a divided small gastric pocket. This type of surgery generally involves the tying of a length of the small intestine to the stomach in order to divert the bile and pancreatic juices. There are lower operative risks associated with this procedure, though there is a higher risk for the formation of ulcers, malnutrition, etc.

Your guide to safe weight loss practices

The clutter of weight loss companies churn out different vows every minute for the obese people to attract more business. Is it possible to become slim in such a short span of time as promised by them? Are they safe and recommended by the doctors? Certainly not. The doctors do not prescribe such overnight weight loss practices. The article steers you to shed weight in a medically safe manner. Take a look at it.This article covers
• Tips for healthy weight loss
• Some of the dos and don'ts in weight loss
• Types of diets
So you have finally resolved to lose that excess weight! Before you start planning for your weight loss program, however, you need to keep in mind that there is no magic pill that will make you lose your excess weight within a week or less. The right way to go about losing excess weight is a healthy weight loss program, which this healthy weight loss guide details for you. A healthy weight loss plan should involve three basic fundamentals to begin with: eat healthy food, have a balanced nutrition, and exercise regularly to lose weight the healthy way, and keep the weight off after losing it.

Generally, people find that they are stuck in a diet cycle, where for starters they lose a pound or two owing to fast weight loss diets, and then resume their normal diet patterns, just to gain the weight back again. And then they start the entire procedure over again! However, by opting for a healthy weight loss plan, you can not only lose weight effectively for the longer term, but you will also improve your health and raise your self-esteem.

Successful And Healthy Long-Term Weight Loss Plan Should Include

Following a healthy lifestyle which should ideally include regular exercises and nutritious foods
• Changing your outlook towards food
• Analyzing the reasons why you tend to overeat. Some possible reasons could be due to boredom, depression, actual hunger, etc.
• It is important to realize that in order to lose weight one's calorie intake needs to be less than what the body actually requires. However, this does not imply that one starts to eat less. What is necessary is that you not only enjoy the food you like, but also work rigorously towards committing yourself to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
• Some possible suggestions for doing this could include creating lower-calorie containing versions of your favorite food items by substituting higher-calorie ingredients with low-calorie vegetables and fruits. Adding of fruits and vegetables to your diet not only mean that you intake more water and fiber, but this also makes you feel full faster.

Dos and Don'ts

Another option is to eat your favorite dishes, but in small and sensible portions. Using a measuring cup will help you cut down on calories, and while eating out, sharing the dessert at the end could do wonders. It is also advisable to choose low-fat meat and dairy products as low-fat dairy products also combat high blood pressure. The age-old advice that it is good to eat green leafy vegetables actually comes in quite handy if you are adopting the healthy lifestyle. Fresh fruits and vegetables, combined with nuts, beans, and whole grains, is the safest and healthiest diet to follow to lose weight in a healthy manner. Also, fruits and vegetables aid in reducing the risk of many cancer forms along with other chronic diseases. They also provide the vital fibers, vitamins and minerals, and other nutrients which are required by the body for good health. Do note it is best to eat fruits and vegetables in the natural way if possible. Steaming or boiling is the second best option as it retains the most amounts of nutrients.