Sunday, December 20, 2009

Free Weight Loss Tips: 7 Really Bad Ways to Lose Weight

Some people are on a never-ending quest to find quick ways to lose weight. Many people jump from one method to another trying to find that magic bullet cure to dropping pounds the easiest and fastest way possible. The things they are willing to put their bodies through, while trying to achieve this goal, goes from mildly amusing to down right scary.

Maybe you’ve tried some of these methods yourself. Heaven knows there’s no shortage of advertisements, websites and product manufacturers encouraging you to try the latest, greatest fat loss miracle. Companies, and some individuals, make millions of dollars promoting these schemes to the unwary. The truth is, it would be a miracle if anyone was able to lose weight and keep it off permanently without either, wasting their money, or risking their health with these products and schemes.

Here’s a list of the worst ways you can choose to lose weight.

Starvation – This seems like one of the simplest ways to get weight to come off. I mean, not eating means you’re not ingesting any calories or fat, right? True. It also means that you’re literally starving your body of much needed nutrients it needs in order to function properly.

Most people who try to go the starvation route quickly find out that it’s hard to maintain for more than a few days. Not eating enough can lead to mental fogginess, feeling cranky and moody, and loss of energy. Who can get everything they need to do in the day done when they feel like this?

Plus, the worst part is that by denying your body the calories it needs, it will actually slow down your metabolism. You know what that means, right? Your body will not be able to burn fat efficiently. Instead, it will hold onto every single calorie you put into your body. Know why?

Because you’re starving it!

Our bodies are smarter than we think. They’re like machines. When your body gets less fuel than it’s used to, it knows enough to slow everything down and reserve its resources. When you finally

do get hungry and pig out, those calories will go straight to fat storage. Guess what? You may actually cause yourself to gain more weight by starving yourself.

Fad Diets – There’s an endless array of fad diets that instruct you to eat all kinds of things. Usually you have to eat the same food items, again and again, anywhere from 7

days to a whole month. For those who do manage to make it through a fad diet, their joy of dropping some water weight will be short lived.

Again, you can’t really lose enough weight and keep it off permanently by drinking lemonade, eating cabbage soup, diet cookies, ice cream, chocolate, popcorn, etc. While most fad diets do include healthy foods, they are way too strict and mundane to stick with for very long. Soon, you’ll

be craving your old comfort food favorites again. That is, until the next fad diet comes along.

Throwing Up – Okay, for most people, this is an uncomfortable idea and they won’t even try it. For others, it’s very attractive. They reason that you can eat anything you like, in any kinds of quantities, because it’s only temporary. Once you’ve pigged out, you go to the bathroom, stick your finger down your throat and up comes everything.

This temporary food enjoyment, followed by throwing up, can lead to serious health problems. Bulimia is a huge risk factor when you choose this road to weight loss. As we have seen too many times, people who use this method can develop serious issues with food and body image. This ultimately leads to life threatening consequences. Hey, you wanna lose weight, not end up a skinny basket case. Just being honest.

Pill Popping – Taking diet pills is one of the most popular ways people choose to lose weight. It’s also one of the most futile methods. If taking diet pills really worked well for all those who take them, then why do we see increasing numbers of obese people?

Diet pills have been around for decades, so you’d think that they would have a reputation for being so effective that most people would be slim and trim. Yet, here we are – fatter than ever.

Many people, who struggle with their weight, just don’t want to face the idea that it may take some actual work to drop those pounds. Instead, they desperately look for quick fixes, and there’s no quicker fix than popping a diet pill. Oh, and the promises the manufacturers make, are so over the top that it’s not any wonder they’re stuffing their pockets with cash. I mean, who wouldn’t want to drop all of their belly fat in 30 days flat – without lifting a finger or changing their eating habits?

Some diet pills are harmless herbal remedies that don’t really do much of anything. While others contain ingredients that have a detrimental effect on the body. There have been some sad news stories about people who’ve sustained permanent liver and kidney damage from taking a weight loss supplement. Others, unfortunately, have lost their life.

If you’re someone who is prone to taking diet pills, you need to stop and re-evaluate how effective they really are in helping you to lose weight. And, if they are that effective, why do you feel the need to keep taking them? Did you actually gain all that weight back?

Hmmm.

HCG Injections – Some people have resorted to taking hormone injections to lose weight. While our bodies naturally contain hormones, introducing any type of hormonal drugs into your body is really risky. While HCG is often used to help infertile women get pregnant, it is considered a controversial method in weight loss.

When you’re dealing with hormones, there’s gonna be side effects. Here are some of the documented side effects from taking HCG for long periods.

Abnormal breast enlargement (men), multiple birth pregnancies (women), tiredness, nausea, mood changes, acne, excessive fluid retention, sore throat, hair loss, prostate hypertrophy (men), unknown side effects from using counterfeit HCG.

Laxatives – The purpose of laxatives is to help loosen up the bowels if you’re constipated. That’s it. There is no evidence that taking laxatives to lose weight does anything positive to help the body shed fat. The thing is, as soon as you’ve ingested the food, your body goes into action to absorb calories. Taking a laxative after eating is already too late to prevent calories from going where they wish to go.

Those who have gone down this road often regret it, because laxatives can make you feel and look really ill. You can even become addicted to laxatives and end up being hospitalized. The damage you can cause your organs will not be worth all the pain and trouble.

Gimmicks – There are all types of silly products out there that claim they can help you melt away the fat in just minutes per day. Wrap yourself in a sweat suit or place a gyrating, electric belt around your waist. These are gimmicks that will just waste your time and money.

If you’re really serious about your health, there are smart ways to lose weight that don’t involve putting your body, and long-term well being, at risk. Losing weight takes real commitment, and yes – time. Many people who try things on the bad list just don’t want to hear this. They want to take shortcuts.

Well, again, if these shortcuts really worked, there wouldn’t be so many of these same people constantly trying to lose weight.

Monday, November 30, 2009

How Homeopathic Sub-Lingual HCG Drops Differ from HCG Shots

Homeopathic HCG drops have steadily gained in popularity recently because so many dieters are adverse to HCG shots. Originally, Dr. Simeons' protocol called for injecting HCG into the muscle several times daily, to replenish the body's natural reserve of HCG. Now, however, both physicians and dieters have observed similar results by using oral HCG.

What is homeopathic HCG?

Homeopathic HCG is obtained using a method known as oligotherapy, in which a small but potent amount of HCG is obtained using the standard homeopathic practice of dilution. Under the general principles of homeopathy, a small but potent dosage of a vitamin or mineral carries the same impact as a regular but not highly potent dose. Therefore, the homeopathic sublingual drops are just as potent (if not more) than HCG shots.

Is oral HCG as effective as injectable HCG?

According to various studies, dieters had the same rate of successful weight loss when they used the oral HCG drops as when they were taking shots. Physicians who observed these dieters noticed the same amount of weight loss, or in some cases, even greater weight loss, than dieters who stayed with HCG injections. These same dieters reported feeling less hunger between meals and more energy than when they used injectable HCG.

Can oral HCG be obtained without a prescription?

Injectable HCG can only be obtained with a prescription within the United States. Do not buy injectable HCG from a supplier in the United States--it is dangerous and illegal. Only homeopathic HCG drops are available without a prescription. Make sure the supplier you choose has a lab that complies with the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States. The HPUS maintains the strictest standards for the manufacture of homeopathic remedies.

Is Oral HCG painful to take?

No. Oral HCG drops are painless and virtually effortless to take. Simply place a few drops under your tongue using an oral syringe. HCG shots must be given in the muscle, but oral drops are ingestible.

Does oral HCG require refrigeration?

No. HCG hormone is diluted and mixed with a 16% usp solution of alcohol, which makes it ingestible and also acts as a preservative. This means that oral HCG drops do not require refrigeration; nor do they have an expiration date.

If manufactured by a reputable lab, the HCG drops are just as effective as HCG shots. They are certainly more convenient and far less painful than HCG injections. Sublingual HCG drops are definitely a viable option for dieters who want to stick with the HCG weight loss cure without using HCG injections.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Natural Products To Lose Weight - Acai Fire For Men

Losing weight can be one of the most frustrating things to accomplish, especially when you are not doing it the right way. Many people think that losing weight only involves dieting. However, successful weight loss involves a good combination of dieting, exercising, and taking in supplements. There are lots of fat burning supplements out there but is best to use natural products to lose weight. These products can ensure you get properly nourished and you burn fat effectively all at the same time.



Natural weight loss programs are everywhere. You can learn more about them in books, videos, and in many internet sites. These programs typically include a well balanced diet, proper and regular exercise, and a good dose of natural products to lose weight.

These natural products do not only help ensure that you are able to burn more fat than what you eat, they also help you get all the nutrients you need to stay fit and healthy. In this manner, you would be able to lose weight successfully without ending up being sickly. These natural products usually contain all the essential vitamins and minerals that we need so we can face the different challenges we meet daily.

Natural weight loss products are also rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential to us because they help us fight the damaging effects of free radicals and aging. They are also effective in helping us eliminate toxins and waste that might have been trapped in different parts of our system.

So when you are planning to have better control of your weight, it is best that you follow a natural weight loss program. Through sticking with natural products to lose weight, we can be sure that our weight loss mission is free of any side effect that can be potentially harmful to our health.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Physical Therapy For Knee Pain And Arthritis By Dr. Aaron LeBauer PT, DPT

Dr. Aaron LeBauer PT, DPT

Physical therapy is the safest, lowest risk and most cost effective treatment for knee pain and arthritis.


A recent study questions the efficacy of arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee. This is encouraging to patients and they should seek physical therapy for their condition, which is an effective non-surgical treatment choice for arthritis of the knee and knee pain. The study, titled “A Randomized Trial of Arthroscopic Surgery for Osteoarthritis of the Knee” was published in the September 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).


The study found that physical therapy, combined with comprehensive medical management, is just as effective at relieving the pain and stiffness of moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee as surgery.


This study offers hope and encouragement to persons with osteoarthritis who would like to avoid the pain and emotional toll of surgery. Many times the first option presented is surgery when there are other less invasive and more conservative options available. Physical therapy can be equally effective and should be the primary treatment option considered by not only patients, but also primary care and orthopedic physicians.


Many times knee pain is associated with a movement dysfunction at the hips or foot/ankle and these abnormal movement patterns can cause increased stress on the knee joint. Arthroscopic surgery does little to correct the dynamic factors that may be contributing to knee pain and pathology. These findings reinforce the need for a comprehensive, whole body, treatment approach for such patients.


This recent study in the NEJM adds to the growing body of evidence supporting physical therapy for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, including:
• A report published in the January 2008 issue of the journal Physical Therapy that reviewed research on osteoarthritis of the knee from 2000 to 2007 and found “high-quality evidence that exercise and weight reduction reduce pain and improve physical function.”
• A study published in the Feb 1, 2000 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine that concluded “a combination of manual physical therapy and supervised exercise yields functional benefits for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and may delay or prevent the need for surgical intervention.”


A physical therapist will perform a thorough examination, including hands-on assessment, and design an individualized plan of care that may include:
• Passive soft tissue and joint mobilizations, including myofascial release, to release restrictions that create an unbalanced postural alignment.
• Evaluation of the foot and ankle to determine if prescription orthotics to wear in your shoes
• A series of exercises designed to help improve motion and improve muscle strength. Including walking, swimming, flexibility exercises and a functional progression of activities to simulate normal stresses on the knee.
• Most importantly you should learn self-treatment techniques so you can extend the benefits of your sessions by taking care of the whole body independently. Learning to reduce and minimize symptoms at home is an important aspect of physical therapy.


A knee’s tolerance for stressful activities often decreases with age and loss of conditioning. As a result, stresses that would not have caused pain or injury to the knee last year could today. A decrease in levels of activity over a period of time may also contribute to the vulnerability of knees.


There are steps one can take to help prevent injury and continue to enjoy participating in sports and exercise. Participating in a regular exercise program designed by a physical therapist can be one of the best ways to prevent injury.


The first step in designing your exercise program is an evaluation by your physical therapist. He or she can identify your predisposing factors, those body traits that may make you more or less at risk to a knee injury. Based on this evaluation, your physical therapist can create a customized routine that will help you reach your optimum levels of function, strength and conditioning.


In many states you can see your physical therapist directly, without a referral from your physician. This is called Direct Access, and allows you to seek treatment for your condition today, get better faster, spend less money, feel great and return to the activities you enjoy. You can search for a manual physical therapist at http://www.apta.org or when you call the physical therapy practice of your choice, ask if they provide hands-on manual physical therapy.


Physical therapy plays a key role in treating and rehabilitating the knee, and the patient’s participation in their own recovery plays a big factor in achieving a successful outcome. For more information on taking care of your knees, visit http://www.moveforwardpt.com


Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=409028&ca=Wellness