Biggest Loser Diet has been receiving rave reviews in the recent past. It is also on television, so many people already know about the weight loss formula. So, does the program work or is the hype unfounded?

Theory

The program is aimed at three things: weight loss, diabetes reversal and disease control. 

It claims that within 6 weeks of healthy eating and regular exercise, it is possible to set yourself on a successful journey towards sustained weight loss. On top of that, the diet plan promises to reduce your chances of getting cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia as well as reversing diabetes. Finally, Biggest Loser Diet is said to help with heart health and plays an important part in improving the immune system.

According to the plan, humans consume too many of the wrong foods and too few of the right ones; we also tend to sit down too much. The solution therefore is to regularly eat calorie rich fruits, vegetables, proteins (lean) and whole grains. You will also be required to practice portion control, draw up a food journal and engage in exercises.

In essence, this is a long term plan that has numerous short term benefits.

The foods

The diet plan follows a 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 formula i.e. 4 servings of fruits and vegetables, 3 servings of lean protein, 2 servings of whole grains and finally a single serving of what it refers to as “extras.” The extras could mean sweets, alcohol, oils or even fats among others. 

Foods should be whole with zero added sugars, fats or salts. Fruits are also preferred as whole; not dried and not in juice form. The protein portion has to be divided into between 4 and 6 minor portions. 

Serving sizes depend on the user’s weight

To determine your allowable calorie intake, simply multiply your current weight by seven. For example, a person weighing 200 pounds will require 1400 calories in a day. Once you have determined your allowable calorie intake, the next step is to conform to it by ensuring that you check on the calorie contents of all your foods.

Aerobics and strength training:

1. Aerobics

When you purchase the Biggest Loser Diet program, you will realize that it comes with fitness plans and suggestions for cardio exercises.

Aerobics require that you start at a level suitable to your demands. The work outs span at least 30 minutes each day for 3 to 6 days a week. Aerobic exercises could include anything from cycling to swimming. There are several online programs for Interval Training as well as Tempo Training. 

2.Strength training

Again, the online program has a variety of strength training exercises for you, complete with demos. Just like with aerobics, you are expected to start at your level as you move up.

For both trainings: Biggest Loser Diet does not provide you with a fitness trainer, and thus the discipline and willpower is wholly upon you. However, they will provide online help via their experts. You are also advised to consult your doctor before you take on the exercises.

Conclusion

This diet plan works and will definitely help you lose weight. Is has already been endorsed by the American Diabetic Association and the University of California. If you are looking for a long term weight loss solution, it is one of the better options out there.

Sean forman is a blogger at easywaystoloseweight.org. With a background in journalism, he enjoys writing about health, science, and lifestyle.

read more →

So you saw this fabulous sexy dress in a shop the other day? How wonderful would it be to be able to wear it confidently, wouldn't it? It doesn't hurt to dream but real changes require some effort. Make your dreams come true and be your own star by having a healthy and beautifully shaped body using the tips and information in the infographic. There's a right diet for everyone and combined with physical activities one can achieve miraculous results! Are you considering becoming a vegetarian? Choose from pescatarian, flexitarian, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, vegan or raw food diet. The essential information on what to eat, what are the pros and cons of each diet you will find in the infographic. You also have other options: the spectrum of low carbs, low calorie and low fat diets is really wide. And when you already decided about your new eating habits, combine it with some exercises like cycling, dancing or aerobics and burn accordingly 364, 273 or 664 calories per hour! Don't worry if diets and sport fails in your case. There is the third but sure option to lose weight: bariatric surgery. Check out the infographic and find out the essential info on gastric bypass, gastric sleeve and gastric band.

created by Nordbariatric

read more →

We all complain about our weight from time to time and usually know when it’s creeping up or we could do with gaining or losing a few pounds. Even if weight is not a particular problem for you, we should still pay attention to it and keep it under control. The stark reality is that with obesity becoming an increasing problem, more people are exposing themselves to all manner of health risks including type 2 diabetes (a condition caused by too much glucose in the blood), heart disease, strokes, asthma and many types of cancer. Other conditions linked to obesity include high, infertility, osteoarthritis - a condition that affects the joints and pain. And then there’s the psychological problems that can develop as a result of being overweight such as feelings of inadequacy and lack of confidence, which if left unaddressed could result in a more serious depression. Being too heavy can cause mobility issues, making it harder to get out and socialize which can become very isolating. All these issues put a strain on relationships with family and friends too. Most people are aware of the importance of a healthy diet and regular exercise when it comes to controlling weight, but for many it’s just not that simple. Bariatric surgery such as gastric banding or a gastric balloon can be used to treat people who are morbidly obese and have exhausted other avenues to lose the weight with little or no success.

Gastric Balloon

Sometimes recommended by the NHS and many leading medical practitioners as the non-surgical procedure to combat obesity, a gastric balloon is a procedure where a deflated soft silicone balloon is inserted into the stomach through the mouth rather than having to make an incision in the abdomen. The gastric balloon can usually be passed through your mouth and down into your stomach using an endoscope which is a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera on one end. Once in place the balloon is filled with air or saline solution to decrease the amount of gastric space so patients feel fuller faster after eating and adjust to smaller portion sizes. Gastric balloons can be left in the stomach for up to six months and can achieve an average weight loss of 5–9 BMI. A gastric balloon procedure can be a good solution if you’re too obese to meet the criteria for other types of bariatric surgery, helping you reach the weight needed to have other surgery if deemed necessary.

Gastric Banding

Gastric banding – the procedure where a gastric band is fitted to control weight– is one of the least invasive surgical procedures to be recommended by the NHS.A laparoscopic gastric band equipped with an inflatable silicone rings placed around the top half of the stomach, by adjusting the diameter of the silicone ring, it can reduce food consumption and therefore weight. Gastric banding works by reducing stomach pouch to a smaller size which slows and limits the quantity of food per consumptions that patients feel full quicker. Commitment is required on the part of the patient to sustain weight loss by opting healthier food and limiting portion sizes. Gastric bands make this achievable as they reduce appetite and control the progress of food from the top portion of the stomach to the lower portion where digestion takes place. Gastric banding is design as such a laparoscopic surgery is sufficient enough, and thus the wound is minimum and usually as the consequences, patients have less pain than open surgical procedures, almost unnoticeable scars, a much shorter hospital stay, quick recovery, and is reversible with only another key-hole operation. None of the body organs are permanently modified or removed, stomach will function as usual post the surgery. Gastric bands are made from biocompatible materials, and coexist nicely with patient’s internal organs and inflict no harm to the body.

Take Control of your Weight

Bariatric surgery of any kind is a big decision to make, however, if a weight loss procedure such as gastric banding or a gastric balloon does appear to be the most suitable solution to your obesity problems, it’s reassuring to know that both procedures are reversible and neither makes permanent changes to the body and are clinically proven to be effective. Before deciding on which weight loss surgery route to go down, it is advised that patients need to be fully informed and understand that the aim of both procedures is not temporary weight loss but rather to change the relationship they have with food and pave the way to a new healthy attitude to and for life!

read more →

It is not surprising really that so many of us are scared of eating fats when diets treat them as the root of all evil.

But here is the thing – not all fats are the same.

In fact, there are many which are essential for the health and maintenance of your body.

So fats can be good for you?

Yes, when you have them in moderation.

Essential fats found in fish, nuts, seeds, plant oils and avocados are particularly good for your health as they help to: promote a healthy heart; balance your hormones, improve brain function and concentration, boost your immune system and reduce the impact of stress.

• Plant oils – sunflower, coconut, rapeseed, olive oil, grape seed, avocado, walnut, flax seed  hemp and argan oils are all healthy oil which you can cook your foods in.
  
  
• Flax-seed – rich in omega 3, flax seed also contains lignans that can help to improve your digestion.
  
  
• Nuts – may normally be associated with unhealthy fats; however the essential fats found in nuts can help to balance your hormones, nourish your brain and help you to maintain a healthy weight.
  
  
• Seeds – sunflower and pumpkin seeds are both rich in zinc which is important for your immune system.
  
  
• Avocados – research has found that avocados can lower your blood pressure and cholesterol.
  
  
• Oily fish – mackerel and sardines in particular contain large quantities of omega-3 and omega-6 oils which are important for your health and bodily function

See what we mean? Just because they contain fat, doesn't necessarily make them bad for you.

Can the fats I eat affect my body fat?

Another misconception about eating fats, is that they instantly turn to body fat (which is why you put on weight), but this isn't true.

When it comes to sourcing energy, your body prefers to use carbohydrates, which it then breaks down into glucose to fuel your body.

Now should you fail to use this energy, your body stores this excess glucose in your fat cells. However, once these are full – as if often the case – your body then begins storing them in your muscles cells which leads to the appearance of weight gain, loose skin and loss of definition.

So in other words, the fats you eat often have little to do with actual weight gain (although eating them in excess can’t help).

Faith Brought on understands the benefits of having the right knowledge when it comes to weight loss and likes to spread the word about traditional weight loss methods but also fat burners and appetite suppressants.

read more →