Posts filed under 'Weight Loss Articles'
While there are some highly effective ways of losing weight and keeping it off, there are also some very dangerous methods. Two of those unsafe techniques would be the use of diuretics and laxatives. Neither product is made as a tool for losing weight, and users (and their bodies) can quickly become addicted to them. While some people may see a slight decrease in the number on the scales, diuretics and laxatives generally offer more harmful effects than good.
Diuretics include any medications used to increase urination. They are prescribed to help treat such conditions as high blood pressure, glaucoma, and kidney disorders, but certainly not obesity. Diuretics can work in one of three ways: by forcing the kidneys to add more salt to the urine (less sodium means less water retention), by decreasing salt absorption in the body, or by reducing the production of a hormone that causes the kidneys to retain salt and water.
Laxatives are similar to diuretics in inducing excretion, though they provoke bowel movements instead of urination. They are often used to soften the stool and treat constipation, and as with diuretics, not obesity! They work by sponging up all the water in your body to ease your bowels. Abusers of laxatives often have eating disorders, such as bulimia, and think it is necessary to quickly rid the body of food after each meal so as to not gain weight.
The use of diuretics and laxatives can potentially be more harmful to your body than being overweight. The biggest reason for this is the addiction you can get by taking them, as well as the dependency your body may adopt. It may be hard for you to use the restroom after you’ve stopped taking these products because your body has relied on them, if only for a few days or weeks. Repeated use of either can also cause dehydration. Prolonged use of diuretics can cause kidney and liver damage, cramping, and thickening of the blood. Abusing laxatives may lead to irritable bowel system, renal failure, and pancreatitis.
As if the dangers of using these methods aren’t enough to make someone not use them, the results obtained from the use of diuretics and laxatives are often much less than satisfactory. If you do happen to lose weight, it will most certainly be for the short term and could be at the expense of causing other problems. Some people think if they rid their body of most of the water they take in, they can lose weight. In reality, that leads to dehydration, which will actually cause your body to start retaining water, adding water weight. These people may also think if they rid their body of all food as soon as they eat it, the fat will not be absorbed. Again, this is not true. By the time laxatives take effect, the food is in the intestines, and most of the calories and fat have already been absorbed into the body. Essential nutrients are sometimes not absorbed when laxatives are used, which can cause other organs to stop working properly.
Overall, the use of diuretics and laxatives for weight loss purposes is just not worth it. They offer many more negative effects than they do good, and those negative effects can be extremely dangerous to your health. Improper use of these products can lead to an obsession by you or your body, which will make it harder for you to stop use.
July 2nd, 2008
Losing weight is most effectively done with a healthy plan and realistic goals. Diet and exercise also play a major role in how much you will lose. You need to become familiar with calories, especially how many you need to consume each day, and recording each consumed food’s amount of calories is important. Also, plenty of water needs to be taken in to stay hydrated, especially since its better for you body than other beverages.
The first step in losing weight is to modify your diet to include lots of healthy foods, and to cut out, or significantly limit, the unhealthy items. It’s also a good idea to eat every 2-3 hours to keep your metabolism up. As far as beverages go, be sure to consume at least 8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Cutting out caffeinated drinks will increase your weight loss initially because you are no longer consuming so many “empty calories.” Though many people turn to juices when they are trying to lose weight, some kinds can actually be as bad as soft drinks because of the amount of sugar they contained. You should limit yourself to no more than one non-water beverage a day.
There are many tips when it comes to healthy eating. Try to consume at least 3 servings of raw, steamed, or baked vegetables, as well as 2-3 servings of fresh fruit daily. One serving is typically one cup. Try to avoid fried foods and limit foods that are high in starch and sugar. These foods include potatoes, white bread, and candy. Alternatives to these bad foods could be sweet potatoes, wheat bread, and fat-free/sugar-free candy (but still limit the candy, because no junk food is really healthy!). Many people think that fat is bad for you, but just like with carbohydrates, certain fats are good for you. For example, saturated fats found in nuts ad fish are beneficial to the body. Lean beef, steak, chicken and turkey are all good meat choices. Stick with healthy cooking methods such as baking or grilling.
Exercise is also an important concern when it comes to losing weight. Begin by doing 30 minutes of cardio every other day. Do not overdo it, but try to push yourself further each time you work out. You may want to do some weight training on your off days to gain and tone muscles. You can join a gym, purchase some home gym equipment, or just go for a walk/jog down the street. It’s best to work out with a friend or family member. When you have others supporting you, you are more likely to stick to the program.
Another aspect of weight loss that is just as important as dieting and exercise is support and motivation. When you have others cheering you on, or close friends or family that you have to be accountable to, you are more likely to stick to your weight loss plan. Encouragement really helps a person accomplish difficult things, and most people love to hear the progress you’ve made. They will more than likely return with a comment of “Great job!” which is music to every dieting person’s ears.
As you can see, dieting takes some determination and dedication, but can be accomplished. Realizing what foods and beverages are good to consume, and cutting the bad ones out of your diet is a great step toward reaching your goals. Exercising will also help you lose the weight and keep it off, and it is tons of fun to do with family and friends. Having a support system is also nice when tackling weight loss.
June 20th, 2008
When attempting to lose weight, it is essential to set a healthy, attainable weight goal. Losing weight too quickly can have more negative effects on your body than just being overweight and/or obese have. Rapid weight loss can affect your muscles and other organs, and could lead to a potential shutdown of your metabolism. Below are some healthy guidelines to healthy weight loss, and what could happen if you expect to shed too many pounds in a small period of time.
A realistic weight loss goal that is spread out over a considerable amount of time is essential for positive results. For most people, losing 2 lbs per week is considered healthy weight loss. One exception to this rule is people who weigh over 200 lbs. These people can set a goal of losing one percent of their total weight each week and still be considered as losing slowly. For example, someone that weighs 280 lbs can safely lose 2.8 lbs per week. This weight goal should be updated weekly as your weight decreases. Keep in mind that during the first week or two of weight loss it is not uncommon to lose 5-7lbs, which is mostly water weight.
If you think you can lose weight quick by fasting, or starving yourself, it’s not going to work. When you do not eat enough calories throughout the day, the body goes into “starvation mode” and begins to store fat. If you exercise during this time, the only thing your body will lose is muscle and water. It will also try to conserve energy by slowing metabolism since it does not know when it will get its next meal. A slowed metabolism is not a good idea when trying to lose weight. Meeting your recommended calorie intake daily is important to keep the body functioning properly.
Along with metabolism, rapid weight loss can have a negative affect on your muscles and certain organs such as your skin and gallbladder. Losing weight quickly can cause muscle loss. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn while at rest so you want to keep as much muscle as you can. Losing too quickly could also cause you to have loose hanging skin. With fast fat loss, the skin does not have adequate time to tighten over your body. If it does not eventually tighten, the only solution to the problem is surgery. Remember, the older you are the less likely your skin is to tighten down over your new body. Additionally, rapid weight loss could cause the development of gallstones. This is due to the rapid loss of too much water from your body.
In conclusion, losing weight too quickly provides no long term benefits to your body, and is likely to do more bad than good. It can have negative impacts on your muscles and skin, as well as slow down the digestive system. Losing weight at a healthy, steady rate will help ensure that you keep the weight off. Any quick fix, if it actually does work, will only temporarily work and you will soon gain that weight back if you have not developed and proper diet and exercise routine.
June 20th, 2008
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