Weight Loss Forum - Diet Forum - Weight loss blogs - Blogs

Free Rice will Test Your Vocabulary

smiley — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:29:20 GMT

I found this fun website at www. freerice. com (remove the spaces). At this site you participate in a vocabulary game. Each answer donates 20 grains of rice to help fight hunger. The game is addictive and before you know if you've accumulated a whole bunch of rice.

This isn't a food freebie site per se, but it's well worth a visit :smile:

Free Bear Naked Fruit and Nut Granola

smiley — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:22:49 GMT

Bear Naked is the manufacturer of an all-natural line of granola. There stuff looks to be very high quality and has great reviews.

If you want to try a bag of granola for yourself, go to their site and fill out the form.

www. bearnaked. com/postcards/sample.asp (remove the spaces)

Activa Challenge - Free Yogurt

smiley — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:58:12 GMT

Activa yogurt has a new campaign called the "Activa Challenge". The premise is that if you eat Activa yogurt for 14 days and are not satisfied by how amazing your digestive system is running afterwards, they will refund your money for the yogurt. Here's how it works:

How to Get a Refund for the Activa Challenge

If you have eaten a 100-g serving of Activia per day for 14 consecutive days and are not satisfied, please follow the steps below to obtain your refund.

Include the following documents in your refund request and send it by mail:

The full cash register receipt(s) showing the date of purchase between September 8 and October 26, 2008 the place of purchase in Canada, and the price paid for 14 consecutives portions of 100 g of Activia. Examples : a single receipt must show the purchase of two 8 x 100 g packages or one 16 x 100 g package. Two receipts, printed within nine days or less of each other, must each show the purchase of one 8 x 100 g package.
The bar code(s) found on the underside of each package
A letter of at least 15 words (preferably in English or French) explaining clearly the reasons why you are not satisfied with your Activia product after taking it for 14 days in a row. In order for us to process your refund, please indicate clearly your full name, address with postal code.
Affix required postage and mail your request to the address below within 30 days of the date marked on the first receipt. Activia 14 Day Challenge, 100 de Lauzon, Boucherville, QC J4B 1E6.

Requests postmarked later are considered null and void. All refund requests must be postmarked not after November 26, 2008, or else are considered null and void.

Within 6 to 8 weeks after we've received your duly completed request, you'll receive by mail a cheque made out to your name in the amount indicated on your receipt(s). This amount equals the total you paid for either two packages of 8 x 100 g or two 12 x 100 g packages or one 16 x 100 g package or one 8 x 100 g and one 12 x 100 g or two 650 g or one 8 x 100 g and one 650 g or one 12 x 100 g and one 650 g.

Incomplete or invalid requests will not be honoured, and the customer will not receive notice to this effect.

One Activia 14 Day Challenge refund is allowed per household. The refund offer applies solely to individuals, not to businesses or sellers of Activia products. In the case of fraud, Danone reserves the right to demand repayment of the amount paid, along with compensation for any other damages incurred.

For more information, please contact us by e-mail or by phone at 1 888 ACTIVIA.

For more information about the yogurt refund with Activa, please visit their website www. challengeactivia. ca/en/rules/ (remove the spaces).

Muscle Weighs More Than Fat � A Common Weight Loss Myth

Guinea Piggy — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:16:22 GMT

I�m sure you�ve heard it, that explanation for the phenomenon when you�ve been exercising and dieting and your weight stays the same, �Muscle weighs more than fat. Even though you aren�t losing weight you�re still losing fat.� I�m sorry to say that this is one of the most regularly shared weight loss myths between dieters:eek:.

When I began exercising regularly as part of my diet regime I noticed there would be times when my weight would stand still. I recall a span of five days when I worked out like mad at the gym and stuck to my diet and was aghast every morning when I weighed myself and my weight was exactly the same:confused:. I�m talking exactly, not up or down, just the same. I began thinking that perhaps this was my body�s way of getting revenge from taking away all those delicious calories and making it go to the gym. I was dumbfounded.

The majority of my workout is cardio, but I do strength training for 30 minutes 3 times a week. I can�t say exactly how much muscle I gain from this program, but for hypothetical reasons I will estimate that I gain an average of 0.5 lb of muscle a week. Now, it is true that muscle is denser than fat (see below for fat vs. muscle example), but weight is weight. So if I gained half a pound of muscle, then did I lose only a half a pound of fat, or are there other factors at play?

After reading lots of articles about muscle building and general muscle physiology I can offer these three factors as explanation for my stubborn weight loss � water retention, glycogen storage and muscle gain.

Water Retention � there are a number of reasons you will gain water weight; you haven�t been drinking enough water so your body stores more of it; excess salt in your diet; monthly hormonal changes; water stored with glycogen in muscles.

Glycogen Storage � glycogen is carbohydrates kept for future use that is stored in the liver and muscle tissue along with a large amount of water that is needed for its metabolism and can account for weight gain following carbohydrate intake.

Muscle Gain � as I hypothesized above, I expect my average muscle gain to be about half a pound every week, which I expect contributes relatively very little to explaining why sometimes your weight plateaus.

As you can see, gaining muscle has very little to do with stubborn weight loss. If you are sticking to your diet, are exercising regularly (making sure to mix up your exercise routines) and your weight is still at a stale mate, then make sure to drink plenty of water, avoid salt in your diet and reduce the amount of carbohydrates you are eating.

Density of Muscle versus Fat: Density is simply the ratio of mass to volume. The density of fat is about 0.9g/ml whereas the density of muscle is about 1.06g/ml. (For conceptual purposes, it is helpful to convert 1 ml = 0.06 cubic inches.) If you gain one pound of muscle and lose one pound of fat your weight will stay the same but you will lose 4.6 cubic inches of body volume (e.g. inches around your waist) as demonstrated using these calculations:

454g (1 lb) muscle x 0.06 cubic inches/1.06g = 25.7 cubic inches

454g (1 lb) fat x 0.06 cubic inches/0.9 g = 30.3 cubic inches

25.7 cubic inches gained � 30.3 cubic inches lost = 4.6 cubic inches lost

This example demonstrates that if you gain the same weight of muscle that you lose in fat, hypothetically your weight will stay the same, but you will still lose inches from your waistline.

Weight Loss 4 Idiots � A Calorie Shifting Diet

Guinea Piggy — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:58:20 GMT

There has been a lot of hype around calorie shifting recently in the world of weight loss. Calorie shifting is quickly becoming a regular weight loss term to describe a type of diet that is intended to increase your body�s metabolism naturally. The concept of calorie shifting has been present in many fad diets over the years, but has been made very popular by the Weight Loss 4 Idiots diet.

Weight Loss 4 Idiots Diet, also known as �Fat Loss 4 Idiots� is an online diet. It can be adapted to accommodate vegetarians as well as some of your basic likes and dislikes of foods. Once this information has been entered, you will be provided with an 11-day diet plan. During this diet plan you will be given simple meals to prepare and eat 4 times a day. Each meal ranges in calorie content, carbs and fats. You are also supposed to eat each meal at different times of the day throughout the week. All this fluctuation in eating times and calories per meal is the basis of their �calorie-shifting� diet. It is said that by shifting your calorie intake around all the time, your body will be forced to burn calories at a higher rate.

Although most of the foods in the Weight Loss 4 Idiots diet are low-carb and low-fat, there are no portion controls:confused:. You are supposed to eat as much of the food listed for a meal, such as cottage cheese, until you are satiated, but not stuffed. For this reason, people find the Fat Loss 4 Idiots pretty �idiot-proof� because there is no calorie counting and measuring of food. The diet also recommends that you walk for at least 30 minutes each day.

Weight Loss 4 Idiots boasts on their website �Lose 9lbs in 11 days�. I was intrigued by a diet that doesn�t have portion control, and was skeptical of the results they claim, so I looked around online for reviews. I found many, many people who are having success with this diet, mostly women. Although a few people did lose 9 lbs in the first 11 days, weight loss typically began to decrease as the weeks went on.

The pros for this diet is that it is simple to follow, gives you 3 cheat days every 11 days, and encourages daily exercise. The con for this diet is that it is low in fruits and vegetables and very high in protein, which can be hard on the body.

Does Weight Loss 4 Idiots and calorie-shifting work as a diet? I see evidence that there are a number of people who are having short-term success with losing weight on this diet. My biggest concern is that this diet is not teaching you how to eat properly for long-term weight loss and weight management. Smaller portions, a healthy balanced diet and regular exercises that include cardio are essential in developing a healthier lifestyle and are not a part of this diet plan.

The Truth about Red Meat Digestion

Guinea Piggy — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:23:18 GMT

I was enjoying a perfectly cooked rare beef fillet mignon yesterday when I was rudely interrupted by my friend who thought it pertinent to tell me that �Red meat stays in your digestive tract for 3 months, you shouldn�t eat it�. This isn�t the first time I�ve heard this myth about the digestion of red meat taking 3 months, but I always thought it seemed rather far fetched. For my benefit, and now yours, I decided to find out the truth about red meat digestion.

Fillet Mignon Perfection :p

I think it�s helpful to begin by defining what red meat is. According to Wikipedia, the nutritional definition of red meat is simply meat that comes from mammals. Meat from poultry is considered �white meat�.

How long does it take for red meat to be digested? According to Lisa Cicciarello Andrews, College of Nursing, University of Cincinnati, red meats on average take from 1 to 3 days to be completely digested and eliminated from the body. Red meats take much longer to digest than other foods because of their high protein and fat content.

Is eating red meat a few times a week bad for you? After reading many journals and articles, there seems to be a general consensus that red meats should be eaten only on occasion, such as once a week. The primary concern about too much red meat in the diet is that it is high in saturated fat that raises blood cholesterol. Other concerns about red meat stem from it being linked to the development of some serious diseases, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer and heart disease. According to a study published by the American Cancer Society, people who eat 3 or more ounces of red meat per day, which is equivalent to the amount of meat in a hamburger, are 30-40% more likely to develop cancer in the lower part of the colon. People who eat processed meats, such as ham, bologna and bacon are in the highest risk categories for colon cancer and rectal cancer.

The message here seems to be that red meat should be eaten at most a couple times a week. Other foods, such as poultry, fish and beans are great red meat substitutes that provide lots of protein and should be eaten more frequently. When you do eat red meat, choose smaller portions and lean cuts. When preparing, red meat should be baked, broiled, or poached, rather than frying or charbroiling (BBQ�ing) it.

Master Cleanse Review

Guinea Piggy — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:57:37 GMT

Recently a woman in my office went on the Master Cleanse. I was tempted to call it a diet because she lost a bunch of weight, but actually the purpose of Master Cleanse is to rid the body of toxins.

The Master Cleanse is also known as the Lemon Cleanse, Lemonade Diet or the Maple Syrup Diet. These alternative names stem from the primary ingredients of the diet, which is�you guessed it, lemon juice and maple syrup. This cleanse was originally developed by Stanley Burroughs and was published in his book "The Master Cleanser� in 1941.

Master Cleanser Book by Stanley Burroughs

By following the directions in the book, people are able to adapt the cleanse to their detoxifying needs. The cleanse itself is very straightforward and includes drinking a large quantity of a �lemonade� concoction that includes water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. The cleanse also recommends drinking a cup of Senna leaf tea in the morning or before bed and the occasional saline wash that involves drinking salt water.

The woman in my office who just tried this cleanse swears by it. She claims that it helped her body to purge all kinds of toxins and now she feels better than she ever has. It�s also true that she lost about 15 pounds in two weeks, but as the Master Cleanse book clearly states, at least half of this weight loss is water. I admit that my co-worker was pretty cranky some days while doing the cleanse, which is not usually her character, but she also seemed to have an unusually high amount of energy for someone who is not eating any solid foods. I�ll wait to see if she keels over in the next few days:eek:, but if not I think the Master Cleanse may be worth a try.

Losing Two Pounds a Week

Guinea Piggy — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:46:41 GMT

When I first started dieting the weight just flew off of me, but now things are definitely slowing down. I'm not at a plateau yet, but I'm having to work harder to lose the pounds.

My goal each week is to lose 2 pounds, which is considered ideal weight loss if you do it safely. I was flabbergasted when I looked into how many calories I have to burn to lose even one pound of body fat - 3500 calories. So, to lose two pounds a week, I will have to burn an excess of 7000 calories from my diet :eek:.

I have calculated my BMR value (using the BMR calculator), which is 1600 calories a day. The BMR value is how many calories my body needs just to perform its basic functioning, such as breathing and keeping my heart beating. What this means is that if I eat 1600 calories a day and do absolutely nothing but lie in bed, my weight should stay the same. At my current weight, my doctor has instructed me to eat a minimum of 1800 calories a day. So how does all of this work if I'm to lose 2 pounds a week?

From a few calculations, I figure I burn an additional 600 calories a day driving to work, walking in the office, doing the odd chore at home and watching tv. Some days are more physical than others, but thats a guestimate. Basically, I will need to exercise the rest of the calories away. If I consume 12,600 calories a week and my body functions and daily life activities burn an average of 15,400 calories a week, then I will need to burn off an average of 4200 calories a week, or 600 calories a day, to meet my weight loss goal of losing 2 pounds a week.

Here's a brief list of activities I can do to burn 600 calories:

76 minutes of Aerobics: low impact
60 minutes Aerobics: high impact
60 minutes Aerobics, Step: low impact
42 minutes Aerobics, Step: high impact
104 minutes Aerobics: water
60 minutes Bicycling, Stationary: moderate
40 minutes Bicycling, Stationary: vigorous
52 minutes Circuit Training: general
60 minutes Rowing, Stationary: moderate
50 minutes Rowing, Stationary: vigorous
70 minutes Stair Step Machine: general
139 minutes Weight Lifting: general
70 minutes Weight Lifting: vigorous
42 minutes Bicycling: 14-15.9 mph
75 minutes Golf: carrying clubs
119 minutes Golf: using cart
70 minutes Hiking: cross-country
60 minutes Ice Skating: general
60 minutes Racquetball: casual, general
60 minutes Rollerblade (inline) Skating
42 minutes Rope Jumping
52 minutes Running: 5 mph (12 min/mile)
42 minutes Running: 5.2 mph (11.5 min/mile)
46 minutes Running: 6 mph (10 min/mile)
33 minutes Running: 6.7 mph (9 min/mile) 76
70 minutes Swimming: general
60 minutes Tennis: general
92 minutes Walk: 4 mph (15 min/mile)
83 minutes Walk: 4.5 mph (13 min/mile)
70 minutes Walk/Jog: jog <10 min.
*to get these values I used the calculator found here Calories Burned - Exercise Calculator

As you can see, burning an excess of 600 calories a day is actually not that hard. There are a lot of activities that you can do to reach this goal. This list really shows what it takes and the kind of commitment you need to make. As for me, my new goal will to be to do aerobic exercise for one hour 5 days a week and build from there. I guess it's time to buy myself some new running shoes ::)

Aspartame and Weight Loss - How Aspartame Can Harm Your Health

Guinea Piggy — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:06:19 GMT

If you were, or are, a soda drinker like myself, then likely one of the first things you did was switch to diet sodas when you decided to lose weight. What many people still don't know, however, is that the artificial sweetener commonly used in diet sodas, called aspartame, may actually cause some pretty serious health effects and be addictive.

Aspartame, also marketed under the brand name Equal� and Nutrasweet�, is found in many types of foods and drinks and is not limited to only diet varieties. A few common examples of drinks that contain aspartame include Crystal Light, Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi.

Is it unhealthy to eat and drink products that contain aspartame? Well, the aspartame issue really seems to be split because there is lacking medical evidence that aspartame has been the sole factor for causing negative health effects. But for people who claim to have been affected by aspartame, their symptoms included Headaches/Migraines, Dizziness, Seizures, Nausea, Numbness, Muscle spasms, Weight gain, Rashes, Depression, Fatigue, Irritability, Tachycardia, Insomnia, Vision Problems, Hearing Loss, Heart palpitations, Breathing difficulties, Anxiety attacks, Slurred Speech, Loss of taste, Tinnitus, Vertigo, Memory loss, and Joint Pain. Some medical professionals also believe that the metabolism of aspartame may cause more serious health conditions such as Brain tumors, Arthritis, Multiple sclerosis, Epilepsy, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Mental retardation, Lymphoma, Birth defects, Fibromyalgia, Diabetes, and Thyroid Disorders.

What is in Aspartame that makes it potentially hazardous to your health? Aspartame contains 10 percent methanol, which is rapidly digested in your body. When it is metabolised methanol is converted to formaldehyde and then formic acid. Chronic formaldehyde exposure at even very low doses has been shown to cause immune system and nervous system changes and damage as well as headaches, general poor health, irreversible genetic damage, and a number of other serious health problems.

Is aspartame addictive? There are many people who claim that aspartame-containing foods are addictive. In addition to methanol, aspartame contains two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Aspartic acid acts as an "excitatory" neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger, in the brain, stimulating neurons to fire. Phenylalanine also easily enters the brain and is transformed into neurotransmitters that can further interfere with normal brain function. This altered brain chemistry caused by aspartic acid and phenylalanine may be responsible for the addictive nature of aspartame.

Aspartame in Diet Beverages - Drinking the occassional diet soda will likely not cause any permanent health problems, however drinking diet beverages all day long can have accumulative negative effects on your health. It is best to err on the safe side of this issue and avoid foods and beverages containing aspartame. Stick to be best diet beverage out there...water, and drink plenty of it.

Do Tea Diets Really Work?

Guinea Piggy — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:58:59 GMT

Green Tea is probably the most popular weight loss beverage other than pure water. Drinking Green Tea has shown to increase thermogenesis (metabolism) and promote fat oxidation in the body, as was found in a study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Because of Green Tea's fat-burning power it has become a common ingredient in herbal diet pills and as a diet enhancer in many weight loss programs.

Green Tea, the way it should be eaten :biggrin:

In addition to Green Tea, other teas are becoming popular for the supposed belly-shrinking abilities. Wu Long Tea (also known as Oolong Tea) even has its own diet - Wu Long Tea Diet. To follow this diet all you need to do is substitute all of your normal beverages for Oolong Tea. If you do this it is said that the tea will do the rest, including raising your metabolism, reducing carbohydrate absorption, suppress appetite, aid in digestion, and more. Sounds pretty good, but does it really work:confused:.

A friend of mine tried the Wu Long Tea diet and called me about a week after starting it, totally excited. "I've lost 5 pounds!" she exclaimed. I admit I was pretty impressed. The Wu Long Tea diet appeared to just make the pounds melt away for her. So, with a new hope of a newly found flab cure I rushed out to the grocery store and bought the best Oolong tea I could find. As soon as I got home I brewed myself a big pot and started guzzling that stuff non-stop. I replaced all of my beverages I would normally drink with Oolong tea and you know what....I gained three pounds in a week:mad:.

So why do tea diets work so well for some people and terrible for others? Well, there is one theory I have come up with - success of a tea diet will be greatly influenced by what you were drinking before you started. For example, my friend loved to drink butter milk before bed (yes, it is milk with butter melted in it), but when on the Wu Long Tea Diet she just had tea. Just this switch alone may have been enough to account for some of her amazing weight loss. So if you consider how many calories people drink during the day in juices, coffees, sport drinks and carbonated beverages it is not far fetched to imagine that they will lose weight if all they drink is tea because there is almost no calories in it.

Why did I gain weight? Well, I already know not to drink beverages high in calories so drinking Wu Long Tea instead did not make a big difference in my daily calories consumed. What did make a difference was the "Green Light" I gave myself when it came to eating :redface:. I didn't go crazy, but I ate more than usual and had some higher cal stuff because I thought the tea was going to work miracles for me like it did my friend.

The bottom line is that diets and diet products work differently for everyone. There are so many factors to consider before jumping on the band wagon. Your best bet is to stick to what you know works - eat a healthy diet, control your calorie consumption, and get regular exercise.

Insulin Response to Sight and Smell of Sweet Foods

Guinea Piggy — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:03:51 GMT

My co-worker brought in a box of donuts to the office yesterday and placed them on her desk, right behind mine. I sat there for two hours forcing myself not to look at the donut box, but even without the visual of those scruptious donuts, I could still smell them. I could smell their sweet flavour and I got so hungry that I had to ask my co-worker to move them to another part of the office. I felt a bit stupid. People must think I don't have any self control, but actually I had more self control than they realize. Despite my hunger, I refrained from even snacking that day and waited until dinner to eat. It was a proud moment for myself :smile:.

Donuts like this are one of my weaknesses

The evolution of the "sweet tooth" is quite fascinating, but even more interesting is how our bodies have evolved to respond to the mere suggestion of incoming calories. Even at the sight or smell of sweets, lets say donuts, our brains trigger a reaction in our bodies called the Cephalic Phase Insulin Response. This response causes body to start producing insulin, the �fat� hormone, which stores sugar in the blood stream, and programs the adipose tissue fat cells (belly fat) to store everything they can. And all of this before even one donut touches your lips.

What happens in your body following a release of insulin that is not met with a stomach full of donut is that your blood sugar drops. Because your brain thrives on the glucose in your blood, and because now there is less of it because your body thought it was going to have a donut but didn't, your brain tells your body it needs food. This brain hunger further triggers strong cravings for more sweet-tasting items, and high glycemic foods.

So, when I told my co-worker to move the donuts away from my smell range I had a valid point. Even though I hadn't eaten a donut my insulin was going up, my blood sugar was going down and my craving for food was going through the roof, not because I have poor self-control, but because my brain was saying it didn't have enough glucose. What a vicious cycle :redface:.

There are two articles published about this topic that I learned a great deal from. They can be found at http://www.glycemic.com/ReportH.htm and http://harvardmagazine.com/2004/05/t...e-eat-now.html. Here's to not breaking down and eating those bloody donuts :p.

Drinking Water is Important for Weight Loss and Health

Guinea Piggy — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:15:36 GMT

I have been told over and over again that drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses a day of water is essential, not only for good health but to aid in weight loss as well. Despite being told this, I continue to struggle with drinking enough water to keep myself hydrated :frown:. So, to give myself some extra motivation I decided to find out the real facts about how drinking water can wash away a little extra fat.

Water and Fat Metabolism
Your liver is the organ that metabolizes fat. Here fat is metabolized into usable energy for the body. This is the process of burning fat and is the key process for losing weight. When you don't drink enough water it is actually your kidneys that suffer. Your kidneys are always busy filtering waste products from your blood and they require good hydration to work properly. When you are dehydrated the kidneys slow down and the liver has to pick up the slack. This means that the liver has to work to rid your body of toxins and is too busy to metabolize fat, thus fat metabolism slows down and you lose less weight.

Cycling Water in Your Body
When you first start drinking more water you will be running to the bathroom all the time. But just because you are peeing all the time does not mean that the water coming out is the same water you just put in. In fact what is happening is your body is ridding itself of water it has been storing for some time. This cycling of old water for new is a very important flushing process and will leave your body rejuvenated. And the good news is that eventually your body adjusts to the new amount of water being consumed and the frequency of bathroom visits goes back to normal.

Water Improves Skin Complexion
Drinking enough water also improves the condition of your skin. Water helps to flush impurities from your skin and keeps the skin cells "plump" so that wrinkles and sagging areas diminish. Who wouldn't want that :smile:?

How much water do you need to drink?
Well, the minimal amount an average adult should drink in a day is eight 8-ounce glasses. If you are an overweight person you should drink another eight ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight you carry. You should drink this water throughout the day, not all in one sitting. Some experts have said that cold water is absorbed by the stomach faster and might enhance fat burning, but really as long as you are drinking water it doesn't matter how warm or cold it is. Also, if you dislike the taste of water try adding a slice of lemon or lime to it for flavoring instead of adding empty calorie drink mixes.

So off I go to get a big glass of refreshing water. After writing and reading all the pros of drinking enough water it just seems like a no-brainer.

Weight Loss Plateau

James — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:38:20 GMT

Well things have really slowed down since my initial week. I have lost another 10 pounds but it has taken 3 more weeks!
I hit a plateau at the end of the second week, and my weight loss has really slowed down.
A weight loss plateau is when your body gets very subborn and refuses to le go of it's fat stores even when you are dieting hard. You can read about it here if you want. http://www.weight-loss-center.net/we...s_plateau.html

I think the weight loss plateau has to be the number 1 reason why so many diets fail. I mean as long as you are losing weight it's encouraging to keep going. But if you dieting and not losing - what is the point?:confused:

The key is keep motivated, once you get past the plateau, you lose weight a lot faster.

Dieting Causes Hair Loss

Guinea Piggy — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:42:33 GMT

Oh, now is that not just the icing on the cake that you can't eat because you're on a bloody diet - dieting can cause hair loss :eek:.

I was so distraught when I read that if you are losing significant weight you may lose hair. I ran to the bathroom right away. All squinty-eyed in the mirror, I went over my hairline over and over again, looking for any sign of weakness, thinness, recession. OK, none found...yet.

The American Hair Loss Council states on its website

"Hair loss may also occur due to dieting. Franchised diet programs which are designed or administered under the direction of a physician with prescribed meals, dietary supplements and vitamin ingestion have become popular. Sometimes the client is told that vitamins are a necessary part of the program to prevent hair loss associated with dieting. From a dermatologists's standpoint, however, the vitamins cannot prevent hair loss associated with rapid, significant weight loss. Furthermore, many of these supplements are high in vitamin A which can magnify the hair loss."

I am assuming that losing hair while losing weight doesn't happen to everyone (every model would be bald :biggrin:). Perhaps the key to keeping your locks is to eat a balanced diet. If you are worried about hair loss while dieting, maybe try to limit foods that are high in Vitamin A. These foods include cantaloupe, carrots, spinach, kale, apricots, papaya, mango, beef liver.

On the other side of the coin however, Vitamin A is really good for your body. Vitamin A plays an important role in vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell division, and cell differentiation (in which a cell becomes part of the brain, muscle, lungs, blood, or other specialized tissue.). Vitamin A also helps regulate the immune system, which helps prevent or fight off infections by making white blood cells that destroy harmful bacteria and viruses. Vitamin A also may help lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) fight infections more effectively.

After looking around on the web for more evidence of hair loss being related to weight loss, and finding a number of people claiming to have experinced this, I am sure that this isn't just another weight loss myth. If anyone who reads this post feels they may be experiencing hair loss because of their diet, please seek medical advice from your doctor. Hair loss can be as simple as too much Vitamin A, but it can also be a symptom of more serious health conditions.

Will Rising Gas Prices make Americans Fatter?

Guinea Piggy — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:14:04 GMT

There is no end to the evidence that America is headed into a recession:frown:. With credit crisis around the world, and spikes in the prices of gas at the pumps, living within our means is becoming more and more difficult.

With fewer dollars to stretch throughout the month, many of us are having to choose cheaper options when buying food. Unfortunately, in many cases, cheaper is not better. Due to a pinched pocket many of us will likely have to replace healthy low carb or whole grain breads with the puffy white carb laden and nutrient devoid breads; will have to wave goodbye to the extra lean ground beef and lean cuts of meat to be replaced with the lesser quality fat-fouled meats; will sadly leave behind the whole grain pastas that are endorsed by the United States Department of Agriculture's current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and suck up buying the old generic pasta again, just to save a few bucks.

Do we have to choose these lesser quality foods that will make our weight shoot up faster than the price of oil just because we have to afford gas for our cars? What options do we have?:confused:

I have been thinking about how to answer this question for myself. I believe that my health should take precedent over most other things in my life and it is times like these that a few sacrifices should be made. Here's what I've decided to do in order to save some extra money so I don't have to give up healthier food items:

I will blow the dust off of my bicycle in the garage and bike to local places I need to go (this will be some good exercise too)
I will take public transportation to work at least 3 times a week (this adds about an hour onto my commute, but at least I won't have road rage from sitting in traffic)
I will only eat out at a restaurant once a week (I do this only a couple of times a week right now, so this isn't a big change)
I will start buying my fruits and vegetables at the local market instead of at the big chain grocery store (this will add a second stop to my grocery shopping, but I the local fruit and veggie market is about 50% cheaper so I'll save money)

Personally, I think this is not an unreasonable list and I can make these small changes. It just goes to show that if you keep your health at the forefront of your priorities, you will find many ways to keep you on track, even during the most trying of times:smile:.