Health and Fitness Center

Weight Loss Medicine
By Eric Cho

Obesity is a problem that is growing at an alarming rate affecting many people and it is also a factor that leads to other serious conditions such as heart disease or diabetes. Treatments can include prescription weight loss medication, over the counter supplements, or both.

Weight loss medication when combined with regular exercise and a reduced calorie diet can help with weight loss. Different medications affect the body differently. Some reduce the appetite making a person feel full, while others speed up the metabolism and burn fat, or even all three combined.

Prescription weight loss medication should be used only by those that have an increased risk of another medical condition because of a weight problem and they should be used only under the direction of a physician. They should not be used for cosmetic weight loss such as losing 10 pounds. Prescription weight loss medicine has been approved for use on individuals with a BMI that is above 30 or for those that have a BMI of 27 combined with obesity related conditions. Side effects from prescription weight loss medications are generally mild however as with any medication there is the potential for serious side effects. You will need to discuss all of your options with your doctor.

For those that are not in need of medical intervention for weight loss but are looking for a cosmetic change in their weight, there are many over the counter products which will do the job. Choose wisely as some are more hype than effective. As with prescription medications many reduce the appetite while increasing metabolism and burns fat.

Some products contain ephedrine, ephedra, and caffeine and the safety of these drugs is still unknown. There have been reports that link these compounds to stroke, heart attack, and seizure that can result in death. Some countries have banned the use of ephedrine and ephedra. When using ephedrine or caffeine based products always make sure that you are over 18, do not have any heart problems such as high blood pressure and that you are not pregnant or lactating. It is important to always use caution when starting a new weight loss supplement and remember that even though it is over the counter it is still potent.

With so many products out in the market place, there are many which do not help with weight loss. So here are just a few that appear to be showing promising results.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid or CLA has been involved in several studies and has been found to reduce body fat, increase lean muscle tissue and reduce the risk of cancer.

Derived from a fruit, Hydroxycitric Acid or HCA inhibits an enzyme that converts carbohydrates to fat and it also suppresses the appetite. There have been mixed results in studies. It is recommended that a diet lower in fiber will give better results.

Derived from the white kidney bean Phaseolamine works by reducing the amount of starchy carbohydrates that the body absorbs which means you absorb fewer calories to help with weight loss. Studies have shown as much as 10% body fat loss in 30 days.

5HTP (5-Hydroxy-tryptophan) increases serotonin levels in the brain which result in weight loss, improved sleep and better mood. Studies have shown it is an excellent appetite suppressant and results in excellent weight loss over a 6 week period. Most users were happy while they lost their weight thanks to its mood enhancing abilities.

L-carnitine is an amino acid which has been shown to encourage the body to burn stored fats for fuel/energy instead of carbohydrates. Very effective when taken before exercise.

The quest for the perfect body will never end and thus a multi billion dollar industry will continue to flourish. Healthy weight loss can be achieved by including exercise and good nutrition with the right weight loss medication or supplement. It’s important for a person to find the best combination for their personal situation.

Thyroid Weight Loss Treatment

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Before And After Weight Loss Pictures Exposed
By Tisha Diaz

Almost every weight loss diet, pill, program, juice or drink, or regime will be sold to you with some form of before and after pictures. You see these pictures in newspapers, billboards at the roadside, and any other form of advertising. The question is whether you can really believe them?

In weight-loss clinics and in some gyms you might get to see before and after pictures of weight-loss that you can easily recognize as real people having lost real weight.

These institutions normally display testimonies from their clients on the walls. These are verifiable cases where you can talk to the actual individuals involved. If it is a gym you can often see the people featured in the pictures doing their cardio or attending an aerobics class.

When you find these before and after pictures they can serve as a huge motivational factor for you.

The same can not always be said of the professional before and after pictures that are attached to many advertising campaigns.

The same can also not be said of before and after pictures of celebrities who have lost weight.

The trouble with these before and after pictures of weight-loss is that one never knows whether the person featured in the picture used only the product that is being promoted. One also does not know the exact period of time that it took that person to lose that the amount of weight.

Celebrity weight loss can rarely be taken as the norm and as something that the average person in the street can achieve.

These people have the money and the time to employ professionals and to concentrate several methods on their weight-loss effort.

Next time you want to see before and after weight loss pictures to help you motivate yourself in your own weight-loss efforts, look for the pictures of everyday people. These pictures should also provide you with more information about the person s weight-loss such as what they did, what they used, and how long it took them to lose the weight.

Tisha Diaz recommends this fat loss and weight control program that will help you get rid of those excess pounds and make you slim and trim

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Gym Personal Trainers - Those Who Disgrace Their Profession
By Josh Stone

I ve been doing some research on thermogenics/ fat burning/ fat blocker supplements, so I headed to the gym today and asked a Personal Trainer over there about a certain thermogenic product.

Anyway, he recommended a personally-guaranteed product… a mixture of Ma Huang* and something called ******? He hesitated in spelling it for me.. and kept pushing me to buy it.. which kinda turned me off.. 2-4 pills a day he said, up to 2 weeks, followed by a one month off period.

I am searching online for the latter ingredient.. but can t seem to get the spelling right. Ma Huang is also called Ephedrine which accelerates heart rate (the PT said).

He mentioned that 80% of his clients are taking these tablets and all of them absolutely love it.. so I did ask him: why do i need to buy a hundred tablets? can t i just take 50 tabs first? his reply to me was: oh but u can keep u see… so i said: if 80% of your clients are taking it, im sure u can help me find someone who wants to buy the other half since it s so popular anyways.. he had nothing to say.

Previously on another occasion some months ago when I felt as if my workout wasn t quite going anywhere, I asked him how to get rid of the last couple of layers of blubber.. he straightaway launched into this ONE-week programme thing that he designed.. 6 days of workout, high-protein high fibre diet, some pill-popping, then on the 7th day, only SIPS of water allowed to get rid of water in your body.. he guaranteed me 6 packs.. i was like WHAT?!

I thought I d share my experience with you.

Cheers! Fitchick

This is like giving a kid a can of beer when all he needed was a glass of milk. It s just MEAN. This is just SO WRONG is SO MANY ways I just don t know where to start.

It is extremely disappointing to hear such recommendations come from the mouth of a Personal Trainer (PT). It is people like these who tarnish an awesome life-changing and inspiring job of being a Personal Trainer. What I find disappointing is that he suggested an easy way out (which also happens to be a very UNSAFE one) to someone who was keen on doing things right. What he suggested very much sounds like a recipe for a heart attack… jokes aside.

Also, the diet he suggested sounds very much like a pre-contest diet where bodybuilders strip their last bits of bodyfat to look good just in time for a contest and appearing on stage. You should ask the PT.. what happens after the 1 week of madness?

If I were you.. I would NOT go down that path of drug abuse to achieve weight loss. This entire topic is very, very controversial, and surprisingly - very widespread wherever you go. It s just that it is rarely discussed, for obvious reasons - it s illegal, and has the potential to do you harm if you re not careful.

As for Ma Huang - it s pretty common and can be found in most thermogenic supplements - but in controlled doses so that you won t run the risk of screwing yourself.

Here s a description of Ma Huang I got off the net:

*Ma Huang is an evergreen plant derivative. It acts as a stimulant by supposedly boosting energy and helping with weight control, and is chemically similar to ephedrine. Ephedrine accomplishes weight control partly by reducing appetite and by boosting your heart rate, etc.

Any products containing ephedra were made illegal for over-the-counter sales by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 12, 2004. Prior to this date, ephedra was available legally in nutritional supplements, energizers, and dietary teas, as well as in herbal “ecstasy,” which was the impetus for its controversy. The US FDA banned ephedrine after it “…received an increasing number of reports of adverse reactions associated with ephedra use. These reported reactions vary from the milder adverse effects known to be associated with sympathomimetic stimulants (e.g., nervousness, dizziness, tremor, alterations in blood pressure, headache, gastrointestinal distress) to chest pain, myocardial infarction, hepatitis, stroke, seizures, psychosis, and death.” Some 32 deaths were also attributed to this drug.

However, the whole ephedrine abuse drama too, is controversial, and there s always been two sides of the story, just like everything else. I d rather not go there.

And a note to everyone - I do not condone the usage of Ephedrine, or any other drug for the enhancement of sport performance, no matter what your excuse is. Nothing beats proper nutrition, diet, and exercise.

Thanks for sharing your experience with us Fitchick. I appreciate it.

Josh Stone, also known as DM, is the author behind the site http://www.dailymuscle.com which offers the author’s personal views on real-life fitness, bodybuilding, sports nutrition, cardio, fat loss, training information, and on all things that surrounds fitness.

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The Gym Can Be A Scary Place
By Paul Hegarty

If you go to the gym a lot you get to see all sorts of people. You get to see those you are fitness enthusiasts you see those who are confident and motivated. The gym at first sight can be intimidating and more so if you are out of shape. If you go to the gym frequently enough, you get used to seeing certain types: and what’s important to remember is that the majority are there for the same reason and that is to improve there physical well being.

Then as you start to work out and look around you see those who can’t look you in the eye. Their demeanor suggests they’re embarrassed. They look down move awkwardly, and are intimidated by the machines. This is a tough environment for these folks. I myself have been in situations where I could not use a machine and was too shy to ask anybody.

Like anything else nobody wants to admit that they do not know. I am sure you were there once. I am a male of the species so you could imagine what happens when I get lost out driving in a new city. Yes I fit the male stereotype.

Don’t delay about giving them encouragement. A simple, sincere smile would go a long way. Don’t give advice don’t offer to show them how a particular machine can be adjusted. If you smile at them everyday, chances are by next week, they shall have mustered enough courage to ask you to help them figure out their fitness routine. It works all the time!

Learn about living a healthy life in the comfort of your own home with educational Health DVDs. Learn about Yoga Positions For Beginners.

Paul Hegarty is the owner of learningfromdvds.com. Price compare Yoga DVDs, read reviews, download free E-books. Read this month’s e-book on “How To Spot A fraudulent Email”. Grab your free copy today.

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Diabetic Pregnant Women - Gestational Diabetes
By Michael Russell

Gestational diabetes affects approximately 3 to 5 percent of all pregnant women in the United States. This article addresses issues such as diet, exercise, blood sugar level and general medical care of women with gestational diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease where the body uses food improperly. The body gets its main energy source from glucose or from a breakdown of complex carbohydrates such as starches. Once sugar and starches are digested, they enter the blood stream in the form of glucose. Insulin assists the body in getting the glucose from the blood stream to the muscles and other body tissues. The pancreas is where insulin is manufactured. Glucose cannot get into the body cells without insulin. Instead, glucose accumulates in the blood and is excreted into the urine through the kidneys.

Women with gestational diabetes have plenty of insulin. The problem is that the insulin is partly blocked by hormones made in the placenta. This is called insulin resistance. In women without gestational diabetes, the pancreas makes enough insulin to overcome the insulin resistance. But when the pancreas makes all the insulin it can and it still cannot overcome the effect of the placenta s hormones, that woman has gestational diabetes.

Factors associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes are obesity, diabetes in the family, a stillbirth, or a child with a birth defect. Studies have shown that women older than 25 are also at greater risk. The Council on Diabetes in Pregnancy recommends that all pregnant women be screened for this disease. One of the most common screening methods is the 50-gram glucose screening test.

The key to preventing complications is control of blood sugar levels immediately after the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. A comforting fact is that gestational diabetes does not cause birth defects. But many babies are born much larger than average. The baby can grow too large for a vaginal birth and a cesarean section delivery is necessary. In some cases, the baby is born with hypoglycemia. In this case, the baby will be given glucose intravenously. These two examples are manageable and preventable. The key is careful control of blood sugar levels in the mother immediately after the diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

An important component in caring for gestational diabetes is a strict diet. There is a wide assortment of literature that details dietary guidelines for women with gestational diabetes. Her health care practitioner will teach her how to measure her blood glucose level at home. Additionally, she may have to check her urine for ketones (these are by-products of the breakdown of fat). Ketones may be found in the blood and urine as a result of inadequate insulin.

It is very unlikely that the baby will have diabetes. However, the child may be at risk for Type II diabetes. Other problems such as hypoglycemia and jaundice may also occur.

More than likely, gestational diabetes goes away immediately after delivery. But these women are at risk of developing it in future pregnancies. Make sure to have screening tests during subsequent pregnancies in the first trimester.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Diabetics

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