SO YOU WANT TO HAVE TIGHT ABS

HEY YOU, YES YOU! Obviously YOU want to get that six - eight pack you always wanted so bad right?!  FIRST THINGS FIRST: ACTUALLY DOING ABS.  Every morning(AND I MEAN EVERY MORNING) do abs, diferent variations of abs (I started from 200(10 diferent workouts x20)) DO THAT. EVERY MORNING. NEXT THING IS, and you ALL know - FOOD.  You want sexy body? You have to eat properly, no more bread(white bread) at all, no more sweets, candy, chocolate etc. NO MORE ENERGY DRINKS(full of sugar and other stuff bad for you)  EAT CLEAN! And by "CLEAN" I mean, eat all sorts of food, at least 10 diferent kinds of food(viands/foodstufs idk the proper name), eat meat, eat fish, eat vegetables, etc. NO MORE FAST FOOD. (TRY THAT FOR A WHOLE MONTH) 3. CARDIO - 20 minutes ATLEAST of cardio 4 times a week! AND FINALY, yes it must be weard ha? 4 steps to abs, hmmm. COMMITEMENT - IT IS ALL ABOUT YOU and only YOU YOU have to push YOURSELF EVERY SINGLE DAY TO DO THOSE ABS, YOU have to RESIST all the CHOCOLATE GOODNESS, YOU have to RESPECT YOUR BODY. You know why? Because YOU will get those abs.  Good luck and stay strong. PROOF (Gave my pre pic and after pic) Have in mind that I am not DONE yet. THESE RESULTS ARE 54-60 DAYS.

Changing your weight loss status quo Pt 1

 

I’m a firm believer that if you are unhappy with your status quo, you should stop complaining and focus your energy on changing it. In other words, if you are unhappy about your current weight or dress size, or lack of energy, or lazy attitude to exercise, stop complaining and whining and filling your dear friends’ ears with your meowing and do something about it.

How? Well, firstly realize that ‘God don’t help those who don’t help themselves’ and there is no easy way to being healthy or losing weight. I know, it already sounds hard for some of you, I’m sure and you are probably ‘googling’ for that quick, fast product that will assist you with your weight loss or achieving your goals. However, if you like the truth (and I prefer the truth over lies), you will never lose weight and keep it off without making some lifestyle changes…….it’s just the absolute truth!

I mean, haven’t you ever noticed those who try fad diets lose weight (sometimes really fast and we are left wowing), but when the diet ends, they pile on back all the weight they lost, plus some more.

If you really are sincere with yourself and tired of the vicious cycle you’ve led, here’s some advise that will see you through your journey -;

1.      You are what you eat, so except you are like my skinny cousin whom I adore but hate for her fast metabolism, if you eat chocolates in excess, sorry, it will go to your hips. Pizza, it will show in your skin, on your energy levels and go straight to your hips and other body parts, icecream, same and affect your sugar levels and if in excess, may eventually lead to diabetes. What am I saying/ Steer clear of fatty , unhealthy foods. Even drinks such as juices, in excess (even though it may be freshly squeezed oranges for instance) can lead to weight gain.

2.      In order to lose weight, aim to eat the ‘Right foods’. Healthy carbs such as wheat bread, wild rice, brown rice, whole wheat pasta,etc. Squirm if want , but these foods are usually lower in calories, full of fibre and therefore more filling  and are unprocessed.  If it tastes like ‘sawdust’ then you probably aren’t cooking it right. Seek out interesting ways to make your healthy foods palatable. E’g I love eating brown rice with a spicy chilli prawns stirfry. For proteins, stick to lean meats such as goatmeat, lamb, pork without fat, chicken, eggs, fish, prawns…you get my drift. Use healthy unsaturated fats such as olive oil, canola oil, coconut oil for cooking…..and don’t forget to have your helpings of fruits and vegetables. When planning your meals, watch your portions and also try and have an idea of the amount of calories contained in your meals. You can use a tool such as www.caloriecount.about.com to calculate the amount of calories you need to consume to lose weight. They even have an app that you can download on your ipad!

Thank me later!

3.      The time of the day you eat your meals is very important. Aim to eat meals before 7pm. Applying this simple rule is actually enough to see a change in your scales. If per chance you are busy and unable to eat before then, have some lean protein with veggies e.g a smoked chicken salad made with lettuce and tomatoes. Add some sea salt and black pepper and a tablespoon of oil and you have a lovely healthy meal that your body will  thank you for. The reason why its best to focus your meal on protein is because it’s slow burning and will fuel you all night, plus it will not affect your insulin levels and therefore you will be able to fall asleep easier.

4.      Exercise is very important if you want to lose weight and keep it off. Why? Think about it, if you firmed up your body and have more lean mass than fat, it would take longer for your body to put on weight cos you are toned.

I understand that a lot of us do not like exercise, I don’t myself, but I find myself doing it, especially if its fun. So try playing basket ball, football or even volleyball for the ladies ( I cant play cos for some reason I am afraid of getting hit by a ball..lol), try swimming (I love this!) take Pilates classes (aim for more than 2 classes a week if you want to see a quick change in your body), go running early in the morning to clear your head, try using an elliptical trainer whilst listening to music or watching your favorite sitcom (you wont notice 40 minutes are over ), jump rope, its great for cardio…start with 100 jumps and build up to 1000, or if you’re just downright lazy, take a long walk.

2014 Fitness Plans

Happy New year!

It's always great to start the year with a plan and goals to attain for yourself. I already stated my hair plans on my blog, fifi'shealthymane.blogspot.com.  I will be reviewing my goals in the next 3 months.

My Health Goals for the year are focused on my Health and Fitness, rather than weightloss. I have found that I like my body when I weigh 56-57kg and I put on 2 kg during xmas, so I figure I will lose this along the way with the following lifestyle plans

·         Drink a Green Juice everyday. I intend to drink Ugwu (Pumpkin leaf) juice twice a day. In the morning when I awake and at evening before I retire to bed. For those who do not know, Ugwu is a Superfood and is very rich in Chlorophyll and is usually compared to Wheatgrass. Ugwu is very good for boosting your immune system, cleansing your blood, boosts fertility, slows down the ageing process as its rich in antioxidants, prevents malnutrition, curbs high blood pressure and prevents cancer.

·         Focus on eating healthier and avoiding bad carbs. I will be eating more of Proteins, fruits and vegetables

·         Join a gym and stop using my fear of being kidnapped as an excuse not to work out. I hate gyms but since I cannot jog on my road, I best drive to the gym.

·         Swim 2 times a week

·         Focus on building my abdominal muscles, as middle age spread seems to be happening to me. If you like call me vain, but this appears to be the truth.

·         Be happy! Do fun stuff for exercise!

BURN NOTICE

Frequent heartburn sufferers are nearly 80 percent more likely to be diagnosed with throat cancer, says a study in Cancer Epidemology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Regular backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus can irritate the lining, which leads to DNA damage, which is the first step towards cancer.
Popping antacids MAY lower your risk. If you repeatedly feel the burn, discuss your options with your doctor!

The truth about caffeine

Caffeine: Most of us can't get through the day without it. Whether brewing a fresh pot of coffee in the morning, enjoying lunch with a refreshing can of cola, or recharging in the afternoon with an energy drink, we have many routines and food rituals revolving around this energizing substance. Found naturally in the leaves, seeds and fruits of more than 60 plants (including cocoa beans, kola nuts, guarana, yerba mate, green tea extract and tea leaves) and added to many other foods and beverages, caffeine is the world's most popular stimulant. In the US alone, more than 80% of adults consume it.

Like many commonly enjoyed foods and ingredients, we get mixed information about caffeine. Sometimes we hear it does a body good. Other times, we hear it's bad for us. Keep reading to uncover the truth about caffeine: how it works—and how it affects your health.

Why Caffeine Keeps You Charged
The brain produces a natural sedative called adenosine, which binds to the appropriate receptor sites in the brain, resulting in a drowsy feeling. Adenosine levels rise during daytime/waking hours, encouraging sleep in the evening. While sleeping, adenosine levels drop, so you awaken refreshed and raring to go.

Caffeine is similar in structure to adenosine. It temporarily binds to adenosine receptor sites in the brain.  This prevents adenosine from attaching itself to the sites and thus, wards off fatigue. If you regularly consume caffeine, you might also discover that you build up a tolerance because the brain makes more receptor sites as a result. Therefore, you need more caffeine to attach to these new sites and get the same results.

While caffeine is one of the most studied ingredients in food supply, there is still great confusion regarding its effects on health. For years caffeine has been included on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's list of substances that are "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) list. Extensive research has been conducted on numerous health aspects of caffeine consumption. Here is a synopsis of the findings regarding caffeine and health.
5 Health Benefits of Caffeine

• Dementia Risk: While it is too soon to tell about caffeine's role in the prevention of dementia in humans, there are some preliminary animal studies showing that it might help to protect against dementia.
   
• Headache Treatment: The blood vessels in the brain dilate (enlarge) during a headache. Caffeine constricts the blood vessels, which lessens the pain. It is also a mild pain reliever. This is why caffeine is found in headache medications like Excedrin Migraine (130 mg per 2 tablets), Midol Complete (120 mg per 2 tablets) and Anacin (64 mg per 2 tablets).
   
• Mental Stimulation and Problem Solving: Caffeine has been shown to speed up reaction time and improve processing skills, such as paying attention, solving arithmetic problems, typing and proofreading.
   
• Parkinson's Disease: Several preliminary studies have shown that higher caffeine intake can reduce one's risk for developing Parkinson's Disease. In fact, caffeine might help improve tremors and motor skills in people who already have the disease. However, the benefits could lessen as a person develops a tolerance to caffeine.
   
• Physical Performance: Low to moderate doses of caffeine (200-300 mg) have been shown to improve athletic performance in well-trained athletes, especially in endurance events like running. However, in sports that require short bursts of movement like weight lifting or sprints, caffeine is less effective. Caffeine might help with the burning of fat for energy after exhausting the carbohydrates stored in the muscles. Caffeine also helps reduce the feeling of muscle pain and tiredness, so one feels better while exercising

4 Health Risks of Caffeine Consumption

• Complex Tasks: Caffeine can worsen performance on complicated tasks, and with caffeine usage over time, the mental boost one gains from caffeine is reduced.
   
• Fertility and Pregnancy: The March of Dimes recommends that women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant consume no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day due to possible adverse effects on fertility, miscarriage and fetal growth.
   
• Fibrocystic Breast Disease: While it does not cause this condition, caffeine can aggravate the symptoms in some women who already have the disease.
   
• Sleep: Consumed later in the day, caffeine can interfere with the onset of sleep and especially rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Most people report difficulty falling asleep when consuming caffeine within six hours before going to bed. Your sensitivity will vary based on how quickly your body metabolizes caffeine, the amount you ingest and your regular consumption amount

As with anything in life, the key thing is 'moderation'. Do not abuse your caffeine intake.

culled from http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1962&page=3

The hazards of a juice detox

Thinking of signing up for a fruit juice cleanse? You might first consider how your body reacts to a week with no protein or fat and fewer than 1,000 calories a day.

After the first sip
Your brain's hunger signals are answered with a dump of pure fruit-juice sugar. And don't get any ideas—veggie-based body cleanses aren't any healthier.

The sweet stuff prompts the pancreas to squirt out insulin, which moves sugar—now in your blood in the form of glucose—into your cells.

After 30 minutes
As your cells suck up the glucose, your blood sugar level can start to plummet and you may feel dizzy.

Meanwhile, lacking enough calories, your body is operating off its supply of glycogen, a form of short-term energy stored in the liver and muscles.

After two days
With each shot of juice, your insulin levels skyrocket, then crash. Your glycogen stores are pretty much gone, leaving your tank on empty—and you feeling weak and listless.

Since you're getting only about half the calories you need, your body draws on two long-term power sources: triglycerides, a type of energy stored in fat cells (woo-hoo!), and protein, taken straight from your muscles (oops). You begin to lose muscle mass, even if you're still exercising every day.

After three days
Your brain is not happy. It enters into semi-starvation mode and gobbles ketones, fuel that comes from the breakdown of fat. Ketones work, but they're like low-grade gasoline; as a result, you may feel unfocused or irritable. (Any "mental clarity" is likely due to a strong placebo effect.)

Sans a fresh protein infusion, your brain is also lacking amino acids, the raw materials that neurotransmitters need to maintain your mood. If you're prone to depression, you may start feeling blue.

The proteins in your shrinking muscles break down into ammonia and uric acid, unwelcome chemicals that invade your bloodstream. Now your kidneys are busy detoxing your detox.

Stay near the bathroom: The juice's high carbohydrate load causes a surfeit of water to enter the intestines. That extra H2O in your gut means you're apt to get diarrhea.

After four days
With no food to digest, your small intestine feels ignored. Its villi—the rows of tiny fibers that move food elements into the blood—start to atrophy. Your diarrhea may get worse, leading to dehydration... and there goes your rosy glow.

On the eighth day
Solid food! But uh-oh—you've lost muscle. Even if you go back to your regular eating habits, you now have less muscle mass to burn those calories; instead, the calories are more likely to be turned into fat. (Hence, one reason yo-yo dieting makes it harder to lose weight: Your reduced muscle-to-fat ratio messes up your metabolism and makes calories much harder to work off.)

Sources: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/detox-diet-side-effects?cm_mmc=Facebook-_-womenshealth-_-content-weightloss-_-JuiceCleanseEffects

The hazards of a juice detox

http://-loss/detox-diet-side-e

Thinking of signing up for a fruit juice cleanse? You might first consider how your body reacts to a week with no protein or fat and fewer than 1,000 calories a day.

After the first sip
Your brain's hunger signals are answered with a dump of pure fruit-juice sugar. And don't get any ideas—veggie-based body cleanses aren't any healthier.

The sweet stuff prompts the pancreas to squirt out insulin, which moves sugar—now in your blood in the form of glucose—into your cells.

After 30 minutes
As your cells suck up the glucose, your blood sugar level can start to plummet and you may feel dizzy.

Meanwhile, lacking enough calories, your body is operating off its supply of glycogen, a form of short-term energy stored in the liver and muscles.

After two days
With each shot of juice, your insulin levels skyrocket, then crash. Your glycogen stores are pretty much gone, leaving your tank on empty—and you feeling weak and listless.

Since you're getting only about half the calories you need, your body draws on two long-term power sources: triglycerides, a type of energy stored in fat cells (woo-hoo!), and protein, taken straight from your muscles (oops). You begin to lose muscle mass, even if you're still exercising every day.

After three days
Your brain is not happy. It enters into semi-starvation mode and gobbles ketones, fuel that comes from the breakdown of fat. Ketones work, but they're like low-grade gasoline; as a result, you may feel unfocused or irritable. (Any "mental clarity" is likely due to a strong placebo effect.)

Sans a fresh protein infusion, your brain is also lacking amino acids, the raw materials that neurotransmitters need to maintain your mood. If you're prone to depression, you may start feeling blue.

The proteins in your shrinking muscles break down into ammonia and uric acid, unwelcome chemicals that invade your bloodstream. Now your kidneys are busy detoxing your detox.

Stay near the bathroom: The juice's high carbohydrate load causes a surfeit of water to enter the intestines. That extra H2O in your gut means you're apt to get diarrhea.

After four days
With no food to digest, your small intestine feels ignored. Its villi—the rows of tiny fibers that move food elements into the blood—start to atrophy. Your diarrhea may get worse, leading to dehydration... and there goes your rosy glow.

On the eighth day
Solid food! But uh-oh—you've lost muscle. Even if you go back to your regular eating habits, you now have less muscle mass to burn those calories; instead, the calories are more likely to be turned into fat. (Hence, one reason yo-yo dieting makes it harder to lose weight: Your reduced muscle-to-fat ratio messes up your metabolism and makes calories much harder to work off.)

Sources: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/detox-diet-side-effects?cm_mmc=Facebook-_-womenshealth-_-content-weightloss-_-JuiceCleanseEffects

Reducing High Blood Pressure

 

 

 

A lot of Nigerians currently suffer from High Blood Pressure (HBP) but don’t understand the impact of this deadly disease or what they can do to reduce it. So, what’s it about?

HBP is simply the increase of the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls.HBP/hypertension causes the heart to work harder to pump blood and contributes to hardening of the arteries and to the development of heart failure.

Normal pressure – less than 120 over 80 (120/80)

Pre hypertension – 120-139 over 80-89

Stage 1 HBP – 140-159 over 90-99

Stage 2 HBP – 160 and above over 100 & above

Exact causes of HBP are unknown but the following factors aid in the development.

Smoking, being overweight, lack of physical activity, too much salt in diet, too much alcohol consumption, stress, old age, Genetics, family history, chronic kidney disease, thyroid disorders.

So, what can you do to reduce it?

1.      Lose extra pounds and watch your waistline.

HBP increases as weight increases. In general, the more weight you lose, the lower your blood pressure. Also, losing weight helps makes your blood pressure needs more effective.

In general, men are at risk in waist measurement greater than 40 inches whilst Women are at risk if greater than 35 Inches.

2.      Exercise regularly. At least 30-60 minutes. Most days of the week.

3.      Eat a healthy diet. Eat a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetable and low fat dairy products. There’s a diet programs usually recommended for people with HBP called DASH (dietary approaches to stop hypertension).Google it and try and follow this asap if you are hypertensive.

4.      Reduce salt in your diet. Small reduction can reduce your BP. To reduce salt, consider these tips: track how much salt you use a day, read food labels, and eat fewer processed foods (avoid potato chip, frozen dimers, bacon and processes meats). Use herbs and spices, don’t use salt.

5.      Limit alcohol consumption

In small amount alcohol can actually lower your BP. But in above moderate amount, it raises BP and can reduce the efficacy of your BP medication. If you must drink, track your alcohol consumption, avoid bingeing and if you’re a heavy drinker, reduce.

6.      Avoid smoking as nicotine increases your BP.

7.      Reduce caffeine consumption.

8.      Reduce stress.

9.      Monitor your BP by using a kit at home.

The benefits of english pear

English pears are my best fruit at the moment. They really taste so good and can be quite juicy plus it’s not so sweet and has a few calories. It’s packed with lots of nutrients per calorie and has been referred to as fruit of the gods by homer in the odyssey and in fact, in Greek mythology, pears were sacred to 3 goddesses Hera, Aphrodite and Pomona. Ancient Chinese believed that the pear was a symbol of immortality and in Chinese the word “li” means both “pear” and “separation” and tradition says that to avoid a separation, friends and loved ones should not divide pears between themselves..

So what are the benefits of this sweet fruit?

1.      They are high in fiber- one medium sized pear contains 6g so they are a delish way to keep your bowels moving which prevents colon cancer.

2.      It helps keep your cholesterol levels down.

3.      Its’ a hypo allergen fruit i.e. those with food sensitivities can actually eat it without any adverse effects. The juice of pears is safe to be introduced to infants as it’s both mild and healthful.

4.      Pears have antioxidant and anti- carcinogen glutathione which helps prevent high blood pressure and stroke.

5.       Constipation – pectin found in pears is a diuretic and has a mild laxative effect. Drinking it regularly helps regulate bowel movement.

      6.   The best way to reduce a fever is by drinking a glass of pear juice.

      6.    It’s an excellent immune booster.

      7.    Aids in pregnancy as high content of folate (folic acid) prevents neural tube defects in infants.

       8.   It’s  also great for people with diabetics as its got a low glycemic index meaning the carbs in pears are slow to convert to sugar and enter the blood stream. 

Aren’t these good enough reasons to incorporate pears in your diet today?

The truth about most weightloss products

How many times have you walked into your neighborhood Pharmacy and felt compelled to look over at the dietary aid shelf, looking for the newest weight loss wonder usually referred to as dietary supplement that claims ‘you can lose 10kg in 3 weeks’ or ‘helps increase your metabolic rate, thereby aiding in weight loss’. So you decide to buy these products and in fact, yes you do lose weight the first one or two weeks and you are super excited, but after a while, the weight loss stops and you start putting on weight when you go back to eating like you did before, but this time the weight is more than you started with in the first place.

Man was created such that we are always seeking the fastest(and less demanding) route to all things. We demand that everything be achieved fast. Get fit fast….. get rich fast….lose weight fast! We think nothing of popping a pill or drinking our meals so long as we get our desired target. we spend our hard earned money chasing the dream of a ‘quick fix weight loss product’ containing chemicals that Lord knows where it comes from and then years later along the line we either find ourselves obese or in bad health.

Well, dearies, here are a few home truths about weight loss and being healthy.

1.       There is no shortcut to being healthy and fit, so please stop wasting your money on fad diets and gimmicks. The companies making them did their research and realized that there is a huge market for weight loss products for gullible people and came up with claims that they can never really back up long term. Their aim is to make money and maximize their profits so you’ll find that the products never work as good as they promise and you always end up going back and spending more money. In the end, it is a vicious cycle, except you decide to become more sensible and take your health into your own hands.

2.       When trying to lose weight, you are better off with eating real foods and watching your portions, as most diet products contain chemicals such as:

·         Aspatame (E951) which is used in creating a lot of diet foods and drinks

·         Acesulfame (E950) used in diet drinks

·         Polyols, xylitol, Sorbitol etc used in making diet gums and sweets

I know to you, it may sound ok, but do you really want to eat food that contain chemicals you can barely pronounce? Do you really want to eat foods that often leave you with side effects such as stomach aches, depression, dizziness and even CANCER? And yet, we wonder why our generation is plagued by this dreaded disease? Havent you ever heard the saying – ‘You are what you eat?’

3.       A lot of weight loss medications contain powerful stimulants that can cause serious ailments. Take for instance Sibutramine which is present in weight loss dietary supplement such as Slimming beauty bitter orange slimming pills, or the more popularly known drug called ‘Meridia’ which has now been banned in most countries. This drug causes Cardiovascular issues such as stroke and heart attacks. Some diet drugs may also cause elevated blood pressure, headaches, vomiting and insomnia. Dietary supplements are always a big drug safety issue as most of the time, we really don’t know what’s in it and the manufacturers are not under any real obligation to state that on the packaging. Some contain caffeine which will only give you a kick (you’re better off drinking several cups of coffee black)and some contain additives which are illegal and you cannot even get them with a prescription. So, even if you do lose weight, you may end up with an unpleasant side effect or even dangerous cardiac issues. That said, why would you knowingly do this to your body?

4.       A very low calorie diet will always leave you feeling deprived so you’ll always feel the temptation to binge. Plus, you will lose muscle weight instead of fat and end up with a body that jiggles instead of one that’s smooth and taut. You also risk being malnourished AND research shows that people who follow fad diets always end up gaining the weight faster. Also realize that you did not put on the weight overnight so why the hell are you trying to lose it overnight? It can cause dryness of the mouth, headaches, dizziness, fatigue and weakness, cold intolerance, dry skin and nails, menstrual irregularities in women, hair loss, constipation, irritability and confusion, inability to concentrate, mineral and electrolyte imbalance etc The list goes on and on. Plus being on a very low calorie diet can lead you down the path of eating disorders such as bulimia and even anorexia (if you get caught up in counting the numbers).

Scary right?

So what should you do to lose weight?

Watch out for the next part of this article….

How many times have you walked into your neighborhood Pharmacy and felt compelled to look over at the dietary aid shelf, looking for the newest weight loss wonder usually referred to as dietary supplement that claims ‘you can lose 10kg in 3 weeks’ or ‘helps increase your metabolic rate, thereby aiding in weight loss’. So you decide to buy these products and in fact, yes you do lose weight the first one or two weeks and you are super excited, but after a while, the weight loss stops and you start putting on weight when you go back to eating like you did before, but this time the weight is more than you started with in the first place.

Man was created such that we are always seeking the fastest(and less demanding) route to all things. We demand that everything be achieved fast. Get fit fast….. get rich fast….lose weight fast! We think nothing of popping a pill or drinking our meals so long as we get our desired target. we spend our hard earned money chasing the dream of a ‘quick fix weight loss product’ containing chemicals that Lord knows where it comes from and then years later along the line we either find ourselves obese or in bad health.

Well, dearies, here are a few home truths about weight loss and being healthy.

1.       There is no shortcut to being healthy and fit, so please stop wasting your money on fad diets and gimmicks. The companies making them did their research and realized that there is a huge market for weight loss products for gullible people and came up with claims that they can never really back up long term. Their aim is to make money and maximize their profits so you’ll find that the products never work as good as they promise and you always end up going back and spending more money. In the end, it is a vicious cycle, except you decide to become more sensible and take your health into your own hands.

2.       When trying to lose weight, you are better off with eating real foods and watching your portions, as most diet products contain chemicals such as:

·         Aspatame (E951) which is used in creating a lot of diet foods and drinks

·         Acesulfame (E950) used in diet drinks

·         Polyols, xylitol, Sorbitol etc used in making diet gums and sweets

I know to you, it may sound ok, but do you really want to eat food that contain chemicals you can barely pronounce? Do you really want to eat foods that often leave you with side effects such as stomach aches, depression, dizziness and even CANCER? And yet, we wonder why our generation is plagued by this dreaded disease? Havent you ever heard the saying – ‘You are what you eat?’

3.       A lot of weight loss medications contain powerful stimulants that can cause serious ailments. Take for instance Sibutramine which is present in weight loss dietary supplement such as Slimming beauty bitter orange slimming pills, or the more popularly known drug called ‘Meridia’ which has now been banned in most countries. This drug causes Cardiovascular issues such as stroke and heart attacks. Some diet drugs may also cause elevated blood pressure, headaches, vomiting and insomnia. Dietary supplements are always a big drug safety issue as most of the time, we really don’t know what’s in it and the manufacturers are not under any real obligation to state that on the packaging. Some contain caffeine which will only give you a kick (you’re better off drinking several cups of coffee black)and some contain additives which are illegal and you cannot even get them with a prescription. So, even if you do lose weight, you may end up with an unpleasant side effect or even dangerous cardiac issues. That said, why would you knowingly do this to your body?

4.       A very low calorie diet will always leave you feeling deprived so you’ll always feel the temptation to binge. Plus, you will lose muscle weight instead of fat and end up with a body that jiggles instead of one that’s smooth and taut. You also risk being malnourished AND research shows that people who follow fad diets always end up gaining the weight faster. Also realize that you did not put on the weight overnight so why the hell are you trying to lose it overnight? It can cause dryness of the mouth, headaches, dizziness, fatigue and weakness, cold intolerance, dry skin and nails, menstrual irregularities in women, hair loss, constipation, irritability and confusion, inability to concentrate, mineral and electrolyte imbalance etc The list goes on and on. Plus being on a very low calorie diet can lead you down the path of eating disorders such as bulimia and even anorexia (if you get caught up in counting the numbers).

Scary right?

So what should you do to lose weight?

Watch out for the next part of this article….