http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/health/weight-loss/fast-weight-loss.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/weight-loss/fast-weight-loss.html Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600
Speed is not always a good thing. While a fast Internet connection will increase your productivity, fast weight loss is counter productive. I would compare weight loss to roasting a turkey. You could quickly cook your Thanksgiving turkey in the microwave, but slow roasting in the oven tastes much better.

Let's Look at the Numbers

To lose four pounds in a week, you must create a weekly calorie deficit of 14,000 calories. That is 2,000 calories a day. The average person normally burns 2,000 calories a day. So, you could potentially not eat anything and lose four pounds a week.

However, if your daily caloric intake is less than 1,200 your body will go into starvation mode. This causes your metabolism to slow down and you will burn fewer calories.

Eat Less and Workout More

To reach a 2,000 calorie deficit and lose 4 pounds a week, you could eat 1,200 calories a day and burn 1,200 calories a way with exercise. You would eat four 300 calories meals and do 3 hours of cardio everyday. You would lose 4 pounds a week and 16 pounds a month. Are you willing to do that?

The F in Fast Stands for Failure

It is possible to lose weight quickly, but it is unlikely that you will keep it off for long. 98% of dieters regain the weight they lost within 5 years of losing it. This weight gain occurs because they lost the weight too quickly. They go on a strict diet. They lose weight. They stop the diet. They regain the weight. This sequence occurs because they have the wrong view about weight loss.

Weight Loss Climb

People view weight loss as a climb up a steep mountain and they use strict diets and exercise as the rope. They then try to climb the mountain as fast as possible. They get to the top and break the rope (diet). Then they fall back to the ground.

Weight loss should be seen as an endless climb. The tactics you use to lose weight are the same ones you will have to use to maintain it. You can never cut the rope. The endless climb view makes a slow climb more understandable than a fast climb. You can spend the rest of your life on a fast strict diet and exercise plan or on a slow simple nutrition and activity plan. The choice is yours.

Fast weight loss is not permanent. Large lifestyle changes lead to fast temporary weight loss. Small lifestyle changes lead to slow permanent weight loss. The choice is yours.


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Kalvin C. Chinyere, M.D., fondly known as Dr. Kal, is a weight loss expert and the creator of The Don't Go Broke Weight Loss Program. Dr. Kal was an overweight child and an obese teen. In his 20's, he tipped the scale at over 330 pounds. Dr. Kal has since lost and kept off over 140 pounds naturally. Learn more about him and his program at his blog: http://www.drkalblog.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/weight-loss/weight-loss-supplements-that-work.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/weight-loss/weight-loss-supplements-that-work.html Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600
If you want to lose weight and keep it off there are some supplements that can help. A one-a-day multivitamin, a calcium/vitamin D pill, a fish-oil pill, and green tea extract can help you shed pounds with no adverse side effects.

Multivitamins

You get most of your nutrients from carbohydrates. Vegetables, fruits, and whole grains are filled with vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, flavanoids, and antioxidants that keep your body running well.

When you decrease your calorie or carbohydrate intake, you do not typically get all the nutrients you need. Taking a one-a-day multivitamin can help fill in the voids in your nutrition plan.

Calcium and Vitamin D

I recommend that everyone, especially women, take a calcium/vitamin D supplement. The combination of calcium and vitamin D can help you:

* Lose weight,

* Prevent osteoporosis,

* Decrease blood pressure, and

* Prevent cardiovascular disease.

Taking a calcium/vitamin D pill will supplement for what you are not receiving in your diet.

Fish-oil Pills

Fish-oil pills have polyunsaturated fats in them called omega-3 fatty acids. These "good" fats can help you:

* Lose weight

* Improve your cardiovascular health

* Decrease your LDL "bad" cholesterol

* Increase your HDL "good" cholesterol

To get the full benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, you should eat at least two servings of fatty cold water fish per week or take a daily fish-oil supplement that provides at least 600mg of omega-3 fatty acids

Green Tea

Green tea is filled with phytochemicals and antioxidants. These phytochemicals and antioxidants have many potential benefits, including:

* Boosting metabolism

* Decreasing your risk of cardiovascular disease

* Decreasing your risk of cancer

To boost your metabolism and lose weight you could drink four cups of brewed green tea every day. You may not like the idea of drinking multiple cups of tea everyday. Instead of drinking the tea, you can also take 500mg of green tea extract (standardized for EGCG) once daily.

The combination of a one-a-day multivitamin, a calcium/vitamin D pill, a fish-oil pill, and green tea extract can help you lose weight. Stay away from those over-the-counter weight loss pills. They are a big waste of money.

Please consult your physician, registered dietitian, or certified fitness professional before starting or changing your diet or exercise program.


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Kalvin C. Chinyere, M.D., fondly known as Dr. Kal, is the owner of One Step Closer Health & Fitness, a disease prevention and lifestyle change business based in Decatur, GA. He is also the creator of The Don't Go Broke Weight Loss Program. Dr. Kal has lost and kept off over 140 pounds naturally. Learn more about him and his program at his blog: http://www.drkalblog.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>