Sunday, May 6, 2007

You can achieve your weight loss goals with help from Fitterliving.com’s variety selection of diet products and weight loss supplements. No need to stand in the isle of a market and wonder which dietary supplement you need. You don’t need to pick-up every single one and read to see if it is the right one for you. You can depend on the high-quality, weight loss supplements offered by Fitterliving.com. Fitterliving.com carries more than just weight loss pills. Combined with a healthy diet and exercise program, Fitterliving.com’s diet products can help you achieve your weight loss needs, feel better and look your best, without harsh or portentially dangerous side effects on your body.

A healthy intake of fiber has been linked to weight loss, healthy heart function, digestion and might even reduce the risk of some forms of cancer and diabetes. But, most Americans don’t get enough fiber in their diets. Fortunately, supplementing your diet with fiber has never been easier or more affordable.

Americans are Waging a Losing War Against ObesityBy Christine Park

Americans are Waging a Losing War Against ObesityBy Christine Park
05/04/2007 - 60 million people in the United States are considered obese. This has created a $35B market for dozens of diet products and programs. But, before you choose a program, Action News Consumer Reporter Christine Park has some important information.

If you believe the images on TV, in movies or magazines, Americans are a thin bunch. But, the reality is 64% of American adults are overweight and 33% are obese.
Dieter Carol McClain says, "The doctors told me if I did not change what I was doing, I would probably have a full-blown heart attack before I was 45."

Countless weight loss companies offer a way to drop pounds...for a price.

We compared the costs of some of the most popular programs out there. On top of enrollment fees were:

Weight Watchers charges $10 to $13 per week
Jenny Craig will cost you about $100 a week for food
Nutrisystem charges $326 for a month's worth of food
LA Weight Loss starts at $10-99 a week
Dieter Della Caver says, "...and so I called, and I said how much is it, and she says, $10-99 a week and I said perfect!" Della Caver says it was the pay-as-you-go idea that initially lured her into the LA Weight Loss office at River Park.

She is one of 6 women who contacted Action News Consumer Watch saying they felt misled by LA Weight Loss. They ended up spending hundreds, even thousands of dollars, after they found out everything had to be paid up front. That included signing a year long contract and buying supplements and pills that staff insisted were essential to the program.

Della says, "It was a little over $1100, $1200 basically. After they calculate how much weight you want to lose, then you have to do a 52 week maintenance program, then you have to buy the product. And that's separate."

Lorraine Burrow says LA Weight Loss sales counselors pushed her hard and she ended up forking over $1,400 for her plan. She says, "I said 'no, I'm sorry. I can't afford it'. And she looks at me and says, you really do want to lose weight, don't you? This is the way you will lose it fast and easy."

Both Lorraine and Della said the products made them sick. They tried to get refunds, but haven't succeeded. LA Weight Loss *has* resolved two of the complaints we received with refunds.

Attorney Generals in two states, Washington and New York, investigated LA Weight Loss' advertising and sales practices. Without admitting to wrongdoing, the company agreed to nearly a million dollars worth of settlements in those cases.

LA Weight Loss isn't the only weight loss company in trouble with the government, either. In January, the FTC reached a settlement of $25M with four weight loss pill companies for making false, unsubstantiated health claims about products.

The makers of Xenadrine EFX, Cortislim, Trim Spa and One-a-Day Weight Smart agreed to curb their advertising and pay the fines. They remain on store shelves.

Kaiser Permanente Doctor Devi Pondacherry says popping pills can be dangerous. "It's an issue whether you want to live healthy or whether you want to be slim and die early. We don't believe in any kind of pills and there's no magic pills to lose weight."

Truth is, the only long-term solution is a lifestyle change that includes a well-balanced diet and exercise. That's why Carol McLain says Weight Watchers works for her. She says, "...tried every diet you could think of, and nothing seemed to work. I came here in a last attempt, desperate."

The program emphasizes low-fat, high-fiber meals based on a point system and group support meetings. It is top-rated by Consumer Reports and often recommended by doctors.

For some, LA Weight Loss is the way to go. The company provided some success stories like Tena Evans, who lost 140 pounds. Evans says, "I figure it's $10 a day for me. You don't have to use their products. It may cost a lot, but gastric bypass is a lot, a heart attack is a lot."

Lisa Bennett is now 35 pounds lighter. She says she never felt misled or pressured by LA Weight Loss and the year long contract worked in her favor. She says, "If you don't keep it off for a year after losing the weight, your success is gonna go down. So by paying up front, I knew I'd be successful."

In response to this story, Action News received the following statement from Jackie Zima of LA Weight Loss:

"Since 1989, LA Weight Loss has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals lose weight and live healthier lives. In fact, the health of our clients is LA Weight Loss's number one concern. All LA Weight Loss programs and products are developed with our Research & Development department and reviewed by our medical director and team of registered dieticians. The track record of LA Weight Loss-it's meal plans and products-show them to be safe, and they work. However, our refund policy is clear. If a client's physician objects to their patient participating in LA Weight Loss, then the patient is eligible for a refund. The employees named in your emails are no longer with the company, and we are working with the LA Weight Loss franchise in Fresno to continue contacting these clients and refund their money. We're sorry if there was confusion about our refund policy, which we believe is fair and responsive to our client's needs. "

To learn more about the Consumer Reports Diet Ratings, please visit: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/health-fitness/exercise-wellness/top-diets-605/overview/index.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1&searchTerm=diets

Fat Flush Fitness Plan

Fat Flush Fitness Plan
Alien Sheng
Alien writes for Medical doctor. He also writes for home remedies and drugs treatment.He is writing for online doctor from Aug 2006. Check out his latest articles on Bodybuilding supplements and Beauty tips .
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Alien Sheng
May 5, 2007
The Fat flush fitness plan is a revolutionary diet plan by Ann Louise Gittleman for weight loss and for providing an innovative way to completely detoxify the body system. It aims at reshaping the body system as well as improving the overall fitness of body.
Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., C.N.S., is a well-loved health nutritionist and futurist. The fat flush fitness plan comprises of three phases. The beginning is really tough as you are supposed to say no to almost everything you crave for, apart from the essentials like grains, dairy products, sugar and even starchy vegetables. Phase 1 of the plan comprises of 14 days and is planned to start weight loss with a giant leap. Phase 2 aims at keeping up the momentum and thus you continue to lose weight while Phase 3 goals on maintaining your figure without any ill effect on your health.
The Fat Flush Fitness Plan aims at giving you quick loss of unnecessary weight as well as that ugly cellulite. The effects include better toning of muscles of buttocks, thighs and upper arms. It also claims to provide respite from problems like water retention. It includes exercises that target to reduce fat in tummies.
There are some famous and tasty recipes that can be enjoyed under the fat flush fitness plan. They are smoothies of cranberries with protein powder, flaxseed oil, blueberries etc for breakfast. Another recipe that is Gittleman’s answer to those tempting white rice with mashes potatoes is Kari’s Marvelously Mashed cauliflower. It is prepared by mashing boiled cauliflower, adding spices like cloves, garlic, onion powder etc and serving with beef or chicken broth.
At first the fat flush fitness plan can seem tedious and hopeless and a really uphill task. Some avid followers of the diet shared their tips to keep up your spirits to follow the plan till end. According to them, the best way is to find a partner for mutual encouragement and motivation. You can also seek help online help from the various Fat Flush message boards and other support groups.
Another idea is remove the source of all temptations by cleaning out your cupboards and fridges. In order to get a super figure you should follow your diet in an organized way by planning out your meals. Measure each food item that you plan to have and don’t overdo or under do. If you feel low without your favorite chocolates or that tempting burger then go for something healthy like vegetables, cran water etc. Last but not the least, don’t forget the power of self motivation and keep giving yourself a pep talk from time to time regarding the benefits of Fat Flush Fitness Plan.
Ann Louise Gittleman's Fat Flush Fitness Plan reformed weight loss, by providing a complete innovative system for detoxifying the body for improved overall well being. Recently she teamed up with fitness expert Joanie Greggains and developed another complete body care program that complements her plan. So go ahead and follow the famous Fat Flush Fitness plan and get a curvaceous figure as well a healthy and energetic body.

Monday, April 23, 2007

People with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 20 and 25 can get their insurance rates decreased by up to 20%. Those of you that do not know what your Body Mass Index (BMI) is, there is a free BMI in left column of this page.On an average of 14 million americans are taking some type of drugs to lower their cholesterol levels. There are lots of foods that lower your cholesterol. Here is my favorite 3 foods that help me lower my cholesterol.

Salmon Salmon does more than lower your cholesterol it has omega 3 fatty acids aswell.

Garlic Garlic helps you lower your LDL cholesterol and it helped increase your HDL choleserol.

Blueberries Blueberries are a good source to keep your cholesterol levels low. It contains a antioxidant called 'pterostibene'.

118 Reasons Why Alive!

118 reasons why Alive!® formulas are the most complete multivitamins and Whole Food Energizers™29 Vitamins & Minerals * 24 Fruits and Veggies * 12 Green Foods * 18 Amino Acids * 12 Degestive Enzymes* 12 Organic Mushrooms * 10 Essential Fatty Acids * plus Citrus Bioflavonoids in rapidly dissolving tablets,vegetarian Vcaps®, effervescent drink mixes, and Ultra-Shake™ powders with soy or rice-pea protein.It's nutrition you can feel

Boosting your Metabolism

Boosting your metabolism
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April 22, 2007 6:00 AM
A slow metabolism is often the scapegoat for problems with body weight. Dieters may comment that they are having trouble losing weight because they have a slow metabolism and envy the capability of thinner persons to maintain their lower weight because of a high metabolism. What is metabolism and how much does it relate to weight control?
Most people use the term "metabolism" to mean the rate at which the body uses calories. Calories are used for important body functions like breathing, heart rate, waste removal, growth and repair of tissues. Even while you are sleeping, these activities take place. This is referred to as your "resting metabolic rate" (RMR) or "basal metabolic rate" (BMR).
Additional calories are obviously used when the body is moving, with the rate of calorie burning increasing as the activity becomes more intense. Calories are also needed to process food eaten — digestion and absorption.
The resting metabolic rate varies from one person to another because of a number of factors. One of these is genetics. Some people are born to burn calories at a faster pace than others. Besides genetics, a body supporting more muscle, may also have a higher metabolism. Men tend to have a higher metabolism than women.
The timing and availability of food (calories) consumed can affect the rate of calorie burning as well. When the body undergoes periods of food deprivation, it slows the metabolism in order to conserve calories. Activities such as yoyo dieting (severely restricting calories followed by overeating) or skipping meals can set up this type of response by the body. This makes it more difficult but not impossible to lose weight.
If the body is so determined to protect itself from starvation, then how do we maximize our metabolism to lose weight? One of the best responses is to be physically active. Some activities burn calories. Those involving strength building can increase or protect muscle — muscle burns calories. More muscle means more calorie-burning. Metabolism is also raised somewhat for a period of time shortly after exercise.
Some recent studies are suggesting a relationship between sleep and body weight. People who get less sleep tend to weigh more. Adults should be getting around 7-8 hours of sleep nightly, while children and teens need at least 9-10 hours. Not only does sleep alter messengers in the body that regulate appetite, but being awake longer, may mean more time to eat. A number of overweight individuals consume extra calories, especially from less healthy calorie-dense foods, in the evening. Going to be earlier could prevent this extra eating episode. Some people mistake feeling tired for being hungry.
A common pattern of eating among overweight individuals is to eat minimally throughout the earlier part of the day and then consume larger amounts from mid-afternoon through the evening. This might look like a cup of coffee or more in the morning, skipping breakfast and lunch or eating minimally until getting home late afternoon. The body then tries to compensate by over-consuming for the rest of the day.
The alternative pattern, which is likely to result in a more normal body weight, is eating three meals with healthy snacks between. This means eating every three to four hours. The body is then comfortable with consistent fuel coming in throughout the day and does not slow the gears down. The added benefit is that your brain and your body will have adequate energy. It also means you will be in better control of the amounts and type of foods you eat.
To increase the chance that the food from each of these meals and snacks lasts for the three to four hours, try matching a carbohydrate source (your primary fuel) with protein and fiber. This allows the energy from the carbs to be available in a "time-release" type fashion. More processed/refined carbs tend to be used up more quickly and leave you low on fuel before the next eating episode.
Some supplements and weight loss products claim to boost metabolism — some actually do while others do not. Those that do only change the metabolism slightly. Most of these contain some form of stimulant that raises your heart rate. This can produce negative side effects such as heart palpitations, elevated blood pressure, trouble sleeping, and anxiety. It can also be dangerous if you are taking certain medications.
Safer ways to boost your metabolism and prompt healthy weight loss include doing at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise most days of the week and doing exercises to increase or maintain your muscles by taking them to fatigue two to three times a week. For cardiovascular exercise, the longer and/or more intensely you exercise, the more calories you burn. If you are using weight machines or free weights, skip a day between working the same muscle so the muscle has a chance to recover.
Food goals include eating every three to four hours and choosing carbs plus protein plus fiber each time you have a meal or snack. Start the day by eating within about an hour or so after waking to kick-start your metabolism.
Pamela Stuppy, MS,RD,LD is a registered, licensed dietitian with nutrition counseling offices in York, Maine, and at Whole Life Health Care in Newington. She is also the nutritionist for Phillips Exeter Academy.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Teenager dies

A HEALTHY young woman collapsed and died just three weeks after starting to take a weight-loss "wonder drug".Marie Malone, 19, was chatting to a friend on her mobile phone when she suddenly called out before dying of heart failure on her bed at her home at Iluka in Perth.
Her parents have spoken about their tragedy – thought to be the first Australian death linked to weight-loss drugs – hoping to prevent further fatalities and to warn others about the appetite suppressant Reductil.
Peter and Steph Malone are horrified that the drug is still available on prescription.
And they said Marie's shocking death in April last year was senseless because she didn't have a weight problem and didn't need the drug.
"My God, she died for absolutely nothing," her carpenter dad said, fighting back tears.
"She was 75kg at 1.7m. She was athletic and strong. But she wasn't remotely obese. She was gorgeous."
Mr Malone, 47, was angry Marie got the drug through a GP, who he believed should have told her to persevere with diet and exercise instead.
The GP told the Malones their daughter was prescribed the drug because she asked for it.
Last year, the Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee said sibutramine – Reductil's chemical name – was a "moderately plausible explanation" for Marie's death.
A Therapeutic Goods Administration report said it was possible the drug was a factor.
A spokeswoman for Abbott Pharmaceuticals, Reductil's distributor, said the TGA had not contacted it about Marie's case.
The company was committed to patient safety and routinely monitoring the safety of its products.
Sibutramine had been prescribed to more than 360,000 Australians and about 19 million patients worldwide.
A Federal Health Department spokeswoman said there had not been an "unusual number" of adverse effects with Reductil and it would not be taken off the market.