Weight Loss Products and Programs

As the science of weight loss has become more and more commercial (evidenced by all the weight loss and weight loss equipment ads seen on TV and in print media), several myths have become focused around the aspect of weight loss. It seems that we all want a safe and simple solution that involves no exercise of will-power. Well, maybe one day one will appear. But, at this time, there’s really no magic cure.

But, there are several weight loss myths that need to be examined.

Perhaps you’ve seen or read this: Lose weight by eating ice cream. The idea behind this is that your body requires energy to warm up the cold ice cream, so you’re using calories to do this.

Well, certainly, warming the ice cream requires energy. It even requires energy/calories to digest it. Energy is used in any activity the body undertakes. That’s just a physiological fact. Consider the actual facts regarding this myth. Since ice cream is normally high in both sugar and fat, you consume more calories in eating the ice cream than in warming and digesting it. Sorry, you still have to watch the desserts.

This same false theory is sometimes used with ice water. Since the water has no calories, it beats eating ice cream. But – the amount of energy required to bring the water up to the temperature of your body is considerably less than with ice cream. Thus, not much effect on weight loss.

There are times you may feel hungry, when, in fact, you may just be thirsty, due to slight dehydration. Consuming water can lessen the feeling of hunger. and you’ve consumed less calories than with other alternatives, such as orange juice or soda.

Maybe you’ve run across this myth: Adding one pound of muscle causes 50 more calories to be burned by the body. Besides not even being true, this doesn’t mean much. What is meant by ’50 more calories’? Over what period of time? Your body burns approximately 70 calories in one hour, just by sitting. You’re consuming calories just to pump blood, maintain cells and temperature, etc.

What one pound of additional muscle will do is burn no more than 12 calories in an hour. Adding muscle can be good, because a high level of effort is required in vigorous activities like weight training or running. Even less rigorous exercise, like walking, is beneficial. However, this does more muscle toneing than muscle building. In a one hour workout, the average male will consume approximately 350 calories.

The body’s metabolic rate can be raised by about 250 calories a day through vigorous exercise over not exercising at all. Brisk walks will also raise the metabolic rate, but not as much. A good idea would be to have a workout every other day, and take a walk on the other days. The walking will keep muscles stretched and toned, and will help prevent the buildup of lactic acid, a cause of sore muscles.

Now for the reality. If you consume more calories than your body uses, the extra calories are stored by the body as fat. The stored fat is then used by the body when you need more energy than has been provided. This helps consume the stored fat in order to provide the additional energy. This causes less fat in the body, leading to weight loss.

That reality is most likely to be achieved through the time honored combination of exercise and the right diet.

Everyone needs to know the importance of a healthy diet. Because there are so many advantages that eating healthy food brings, it’s amazing…

It may seem that everyone is pushing a healthy diet plan today. The types and kinds vary. If all the diet books were gathered together the sheer volume of pages would be enormous. Doctors, athletes and even television stars all seem to have their own ideas on how to eat to loose weight.

A factor that is more important than weight loss or gain is having a healthy lifestyle. A part of any healthy lifestyle is having a good and healthy diet. Part of that healthy diet is keeping everything in balance. Diet and exercise must be in balance or you will either gain or lose weight. You should also work to balance your portions of protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits and grains.

It is important to be sure you are dinking enough water. Every day you should have 64 ounces in order to ensure proper hydration. It doesn’t matter if you drink it in 32-2 ounce Dixie cups or have a couple of 1 liter bottles that you sip on throughout the day, you have to have your water. Lack of hydration can cause unclear thinking, kidney problems or other problems with the systems of your body. Remember 64 ounces daily and coffee, tea or soda do not count.

Balance those calories each day. Weight gain is caused by consuming too many. This weight gain can lead to more weight gain since it often hinders exercise and causes depression. If you do not eat enough calories, you loose weight, along with muscle and energy. Malnutrition is a danger if your diet is too low in calories.

Do not forget fresh foods. The fresh foods include fruits or vegetables. Vegetables add texture for our palate as well as fiber to the system. Fruit is a natural sweet, but its calories are also offset by fiber. These are both great for snack time.

Get the correct amount of protein. Protein is necessary for the body to rebuild muscles that are stretched daily. Protein is often loaded with fats. Learn the correct size of a serving of protein. Many restaurants have sold us on a serving being as much as 1 pound or even 1 1/2 pounds of steak, when 3 ounces is the correct serving size. While many of us enjoy protein, a balanced diet reminds us to eat in moderation.

This brings us to fats. There is the right kind as well as the wrong kind of fats. Olive oil and nuts contain the correct fats that your body needs for absorbing vitamins. Many of our diets are have too much of the wrong type of fat. Overly processed snacks as well as much of our fast food is prepared using hydrogenated fats. We love the taste and will as large a portion as the restaurant serves. Our love of fat is a taste we have acquired. Eating a healthy diet with good fats will cause an adjustment ion our bodies as well as a healthier lifestyle.

Changing diet is not the only requirement for healthy living but it may be a step that will help to get you on your way.