Acomplia Diet Pill to Give Fats a Breather

21st June 2006. For most people, the day was just like any other day, holding not much importance. But for obese people in the UK, the day will be ever remembered. For on this day, Acomplia, the wonder drug for obesity was released for sale on prescription. Research on acomplia as a diet pill was going on for years. And all eyes were on when the wonder drug will be released.

After Fen-phen, Acomplia diet pill was the most anticipated drug and many overweight people had their trust clung on this drug to give them freedom from excessive fat. Therefore, news of approval of acomplia came like rain during a dry spell. It raised the hope that finally they can get rid of fat, which not only gave one a clumsy look but also made them susceptible to many diseases of the heart.

Acomplia is the brand name of Rimonabant. French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Synthelabo, could easily sense the huge market for any such drug. In the UK, 46% of men and 32% of women have been reported overweight, i.e. who have a body mass index of 25-30 kg/m2. Moreover, 17% of men and 21% of women have been reported obese, i.e. with a body mass index of more than 30 kg/m2. US and Europe together account for 100 million overweight people. This makes the market for Acomplia diet pill a huge one. All agencies, which were authorized to sell acomplia on prescription, informed being flooded with orders just as news of approval in the UK spread.

It is said that hitting at the roots of a problem is the best way to fight the problem. Acomplia diet pill operates in a similar manner. It targets certain receptors in our brain, which offers a pleasure sensation on eating. These are cannabinoid receptors. It is these receptors that are tickled when one consumes marijuana. This is why we feel hungry after smoking a joint of marijuana. Blocking cannabinoid receptors helps dampening appetite. Therefore, weight loss is realized.

Weight loss with acomplia diet pill is remarkable. In a placebo controlled study undertaken on 6800 patients with acomplia (with diet and physical exercise included), the average reduction in weight was as much as 6.5 kgs, as compared to 1.6 kgs through a placebo; i.e. approximately four times as much as placebo.

Rimonabant is still awaiting clearance by FDA in the US. Sanofi plans to launch Rimonabant under the new name ’Zimulti’ here. Until such time that the Americans hear about FDA approval, they will have to continue with the fate. And if they are die-hard fans of this drug then they will not mind visiting a doctor in the UK and purchasing acomplia from a local pharmacy here. The pain will certainly be insignificant before the pain of being obese.

Exercise with best results

The problem of setting the training at a certain moment in the day is more serious than it appears to be. The choice of the period when we train depends on more factors.

It's clear from the start that we cannot consider the period of three hours after every main meal, because this interval must be allotted to digestion only. Considerable physical effort is totally unadvisable in this period (blood must not be directed to the muscles, since gastric digestion has priority).

More exactly, people should train when their stomach is empty, but the level of glycemia must be constant. Considering a normal awake - asleep rhythm, there are two favorable moments when we can set fitness programs and training in general: one in the morning, between 10-12, and the other one in the afternoon, between 16-19.
 Current practice in most of the sports confirms these periods as best for training.

Another argument for choosing one of these intervals for training is the body temperature, which now gets to its maximum. The second period (16-19) is even better than the first one from this point of view, because the temperature is higher and this enhances sport performance.

It is not advisable to train very early in the morning, right after waking up and before breakfast. However, there are authors who support the idea of having the training in this period. The reserves of glycogen are limited after the lack of food during sleeping and this is a reason for using the adipose tissue earlier in training than in other cases.

Unfortunately, at the same time, the stress hormones (cortisone) are secreted abundantly, so besides the adipose tissue, there is the risk of losing precious muscular tissue.

Another argument against this is the fact that body temperature is very low in the hours of morning, so no motion parameters (force, resistance, speed, mobility, skill) can be fully activated. Thus, a prolonged and tiring warming up would be necessary, hindering the actual training.

Everybody agrees that training before bedtime is not advisable at all, because they delay sleep a few hours, given growth of cortical activity and of body temperature.

This schedule can be adapted to any biorhythm and time zone and once automatism installed, effectiveness of training will definitely increase.

Control all Unhealthy Urges with Acomplia

Crave for food and cigarette are two unhealthy urges. They lead you to path of inheriting various diseases. Such detrimental habits if not controlled can lead the mankind to disastrous consequences. Medical science has found a medication to control both food and cigarette yearnings. This will help people to loose weight and quit smoking and will also curb certain other unhealthy habits.

The medical community eagerly awaits the FDA approval of Acomplia. The scientific name for accomplia is Rimonabant.  Developed by the French drug maker Sanofi-Synthelabo, it is also referred to as Zimulti. It is another trademarked name given for the marketing of Rimonabant.

Acomplia works by targeting the CBI receptors and blocking the body’s ability to receive signals that tells it to smoke or eat more. It helps to normalize the EC system thus making hunger and cigarette cravings more manageable. This blocking of signals results in weight loss. It further improves the cardiovascular or metabolic risk factors in obese people and reduces their dependence on tobacco and helps them quit smoking.

Although acomplia benefits more of the obese people, still it’s usefulness for the community of smokers cannot be left unnoticed. Its trial has confirmed that it is an effective way to relinquish smoking.

Studies on the side-effects of acomplia have been done. The common side-effects are as follows-:

ò Dizziness
ò Nausea
ò Irritability
ò Depression
ò Restlessness

The side-effects of acomplia are fewer as compared to other drugs. Its positive effects on weight loss, smoking cessation, and its aptitude to maintain a healthy cholesterol level, blood sugar and blood pressure are highly beneficial for the consumers.

Though acomplia is one of the most promising weight loss drugs, it should still not be taken without the consultation of a doctor. No one can better advise you on the drug than your physician. He may not allow you to take acomplia if you have had some serious health problems in the past.

Take the medicine as per the directions given by your doctor. Some people have the misconception that if they double the dose than that actually prescribed, they can get better results. It is not true. Trying to double the dose can prove to be harmful for your health.

Precautions have to be taken while consuming acomplia. Since the medicine can cause dizziness, therefore one should avoid doing certain hazardous jobs.

The dual character of acomplia distinguishes it from other weight reducing drugs. It is promised to be one of the most significant drugs ever made that will cater to the grave needs of people.

Count Colors Not Calores to Lose Weight!

If you need to drop and few kilos and don’t know where to get started, stop counting calories and start counting colours. When it comes to losing weight, make sure your plate is piled high with a range of colourful fruit and vegetables. You’ll naturally create more balance and health-filled menus.

Why? Colour not only brightens your mood û but also your diet. Load your plate with fruit and veges like a box of crayons in colours such as red, yellow, orange, blue, purple, white and green and you’ll also be filling up on power packed phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are naturally occurring chemicals which combat disease, including cancer.

Go easy on the beige and brown foods such as pasta and startchy carbs. When there are too many of these drab colours on your plate, weight gain is almost certain. That's because these beige foods often are high in calories and can leave you feeling hungry later. A cup of beige or brown beans can be over 200 calories....but a cup of red or green vegetables is under a hundred! Add fresh greens, deep purple-reds and bright yellow-orange to a meal, and water the nutrient content go up, while calories go down! Plus, you'll get more enjoyment from eating when there's a variety of colours and flavours on your plate.

According to Dr David Heber, M.D., Ph.D. and author of ôWhat Color Is Your Dietö the key to designing your colourful diet is to choose from a range of different colour groups:

Blue/purple fruits and vegetables contain varying amounts of health-promoting phytochemicals such as anthocyanins and phenolics. Choose from a range including blueberries, blackberries, eggplant, plums, raisins. These assist in memory function.

Green group includes broccoli; Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and bok choi. These foods stimulate the genes in your liver to turn on the production of enzymes that break down the cancer-causing chemicals in the body.

The yellow/green group includes green peas, avocado and honeydew melon. These promote eye health.

The yellow/orange group includes carrots, mangoes, apricots, rock melon and pumpkin. These contain carotenoids (beta carotene is one), fierce antioxidants that help prevent cancer and assist to lower heart-attack risk.

The white group includes bananas, white peaches, cauliflower, garlic, ginger, mushrooms and are helpful to maintain heart health.

The red group includes tomatoes, pink grapefruit and watermelon all of which contain lycopene. Lycopene is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The red/purple group includes grapes, grape juice, prunes, cranberries, strawberries and red apples. These foods contain anthocyanins which have a beneficial effect on heart disease by inhibiting blood clot formation.

Body Mass Index (BMI): Are You at a Healthy Weight?

The body mass index, or BMI, helps clarify an important distinction between being overweight or being obese. If you weigh too much, you're obviously overweight. But if you have a very high proportion of body fat, you're obese. Based on your body mass index, your doctor or other health professional will classify your weight as healthy, overweight, or obese.

According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the BMI describes body weight relative to height and is correlated with total body fat content in most adults. In almost all cases, this means that the BMI will accurately reflect your weight and proportion of body fat as a function of your height and weight when categorizing you as healthy, overweight or obese.

Calculating your approximate body mass index is relatively straightforward, although you'll probably need a calculator just to save time. To get your BMI, multiply your weight in pounds by 703. Next, divide that result by your height in inches. Then divide that result by your height in inches one more time.

As an example, let's say you weigh 180 pounds and are 5 feet 10 inches tall.

Multiply 180 by 703 to get 126,540. Next, divide this by 70 (70 inches is the same as 5' 10) to get 1807.7. Now, divide 1807.7 by 70 one more time. The result -- 25.8-- is your approximate BMI or body mass index. If you don't have a calculator handy, you can get the same result using the free interactive BMI calculator at www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm.

If the above example sounds you, you might be surprised to learn that you're ever so slightly heavier than your doctor might like. A BMI from 18.5 up to 25 is considered healthy, from 25 up to 30 is classified as overweight, and 30 or higher is obese.

Generally, says the NHLBI, the higher a person's BMI, the greater the risk for health problems. In addition to causing your BMI to skyrocket, excess body fat is a well recognized health risk. Men and women with waist lines in excess of 40 and 35 inches, respectively, are much more at risk for health problems like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Like every rule of thumb, this one also has it exception. Body builders, for example, often have a body mass index above 25 and sometimes even above 30. In this case, however, the higher BMI reflects the fact that body builders have more muscle mass without having more fat.

Finally, there's still only one sure way to lower your BMI if you're overweight or obese: Eat less and exercise more. Your body will burn more calories than you eat and your body mass index will go down over time.

Did you know that there are some foods, which require more energy to metabolize than we obtain from eating them? This result is usually referred to as the negative calorie effect. A simple example is water. It supplies zero calories, but requires energy to swallow and warm to body temperature.

Below is a list of other foods, which although they provide calories, the amount is less than we need to do nothing. We call this Basal Metabolic Rate..(BMR). That's the amount of energy we need to breathe, circulate the blood, remove the toxins and filter it. That doesn't count the energy we need to get out of bed, bathe, use the toilet and dress. We call these foods negative calorie foods, (N.C.Fs.).

These must be a tremendous boost for someone wanting to lose weight. Yes, but only if used properly. Healthy diet plans use items from all the main food groups. From these, we get the nutrients to make the building blocks, which are necessary to maintain the body in a healthy state. A diet consisting of N.C.Fs., would result in us drawing our energy requirements from our muscles. This results in weakness and wasting of the body. Anorexics are a prime example.

So how can we use N.C.Fs. without harming ourselves?

The answer is quite simple. Use them as part of, and to bulk up a balanced calorie-wise diet. For example, 1/2 grapefruit(vitamin C, fibre) 1 egg-white (protein) 2 slices melba toast (carbohydrate) pat of margarine (non-saturated fat) 1 cup of 1% milk (protein, carbohydrate, low-fat, calcium, vitamins) makes an excellent low calorie but nutritious breakfast.

Here is the list.

* Apples
* Asparagus
* Beets
* Blueberries
* Broccoli
* Cantaloupes
* Carrot
* Cauliflower
* Celery stalk
* Celery root
* Cranberries
* Cucumbers
* Eggplant
* Endives
* Garden cress
* Garlic
* Grapefruit
* Green beans
* Green cabbage
* Lamb's lettuce
* Lemons
* Lettuce
* Onions
* Papayas
* Pineapples
* Prunes
* Radishes
* Raspberries
* Spinach
* Strawberries
* Tangerines
* Tomatoes
* Turnips
* Zucchini

Use it wisely, and good health.

A review of the fat loss 4 idiots diet

Fat loss 4 idiots is a new diet plan that claims to  help or rather make you lose 9 pounds in just 11 days. Although the advised average weight loss is between 3 to 4 pounds per week this diet is an ideal approach to kick start yourself to a new you. Losing 9  pounds within 11 days would keep King Kong on track so what’s wrong with average Joe or plan Jane jumping onto the bandwagon of slim and sexy forever.

So does this diet actually work? Can you shed 9 pounds in 11 days?

Personally I believe this diet to be great! I think this one diet among several that really advertises the truth. Yes you can shed 9 pounds in just 11 days. Why am I so confident about this diet? I myself have done it.

Why does this diet work? How is it different from other diets?

This diet is based on the principle of shifting calories. This diet recognizes that our body has an amazing adjusting capacity. Our metabolism adjusts really quickly to the quantity of food we eat and hence speeds up or slows down accordingly. Our body builds a certain tolerance to certain foods and prioritizes what needs to be burned first and what can be burnt slower. Normally calories are first burned before the fat.

Most diets don’t work because they are aware of the fact that calories are burnt before fats and hence advice lower calorie intake. But what they do not realize is that our body is extremely clever. If you reduce your intake of calories even for a month, your body adjusts to it and your metabolism will not reduce too much fat.

The fat loss 4 idiots diet is not focused on the calories you consume but works on a special calorie eating system.

This diet encourages you to have not 3 but 4 meals everyday for the 11 days. It does not restrict you from many foods. It encourages you to eat a certain type of food one week and eat a different type of food the next week. It basically aims at tricking our metabolism which indeed is a quick and clever learner. If we eat different types of food every week, our body will not have room to adjust to any type. Thus our metabolism will be high and hence causing the burning of fats. Remember the higher your metabolism, the more fats will be burned. Say for example we eat about 2,500 calories and suddenly switch to 200 calories, our body may still read it as 2500 calories and thus burn fat in the bargain.

If you are overweight or obese, and you want to lose weight, give this diet a try. It is only an 11 day diet. You can also resume the diet after 3 days. And on those 3 days you can eat whatever you care to eat. This diet is fairly easy to follow. It allows you to eat fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates and proteins. Believe you me, this is a very easy diet to follow and what is more, the results actually show at the end of the diet.

Change A Simple Stress Habit, Loose Weight

When you put yourself on a diet you may be setting yourself up for failure from the start.

What!!?

It's true. Diets are stressful. Stress causes hormones to be released that start a whole chain reaction of eating issues for a lot of people. This is why weight loss with hypnosis is so
powerful: change your behavior and your weight will begin to melt off you.

Under stress, many people eat for relief, which, unfortunately, lasts only as long as the last bite. The problems will suddenly reappear. The reality is, they never went away. The inevitable feelings of being a failure set in. Not only didn't you solve your problems, you created a new one, right there around your waist.

The solution?

Find tools besides a fork to attack emotional angst. In the time it takes to forage for your favorite quick-fix food, you can take steps to break the cycle, beat stress, eliminate emotional eating and yes, finally drop that excess weight for good without even trying.

Food cravings, especially for emotional eaters, mean you want something else.  It could be creative stimulation, companionship, or more satisfaction in life. What are your eating triggers? Boredom, frustration, and loneliness? Once you figure out what the real issue is youhave a great chance to change the behavior. Here's how to figure it out and feed your real issue.

1. Keep a food journal.
Every time you reach for food, write down what you eat and how you were feeling. Patterns will emerge. Once you recognize the pattern you are on a path to start to break it.

2. Shop for some new stimulants.
Do you eat when you're bored? Time to make a new grocery list: buy inexpensive, accessible things such as books, CDs, and tapes or DVDs of favorite films that provide the emotional lift you're seeking from food. Keep them handy, and turn to them when you're down.

3. Call your best friend.
Do you eat to escape painful feelings? Make a human connection instead of eating. Call someonewho makes you feel good. someone who makes you feel good.

4. Create new habits.
Find a hobby. When you're engrossed in something you love, you forget all about eating, especially if you're active. Falling in love with an activity like walking or bicycling is even better.

5. Head toward your dreams.
Moving towards goals, one little step at a time is satisfying. With taking a simple, small step forward the feelings of empowerment and accomplishment provide a heady satisfaction that begins a cycle of satisfaction and for many, satisfaction without food.

6. Find new rewards.
Like most people, you probably eat to celebrate happiness too. Find new, affordable rewards such as earrings or tickets to a play or movie.

Determining the Efficacy of Diet Pills

Diet pills are of a recent origin. The preceding generation was unaware of products such as these. In fact, back then the problem of obesity was not as widespread. If you talked to them about a product such as diet pill, they would have given you a blank look. The advice from their side would have been to keep off from such pills. Instead, go for natural methods of dieting and physical exercise.

Before we pronounce a judgement on the efficacy of the advice, let us state that diet pills do not isolate individuals from dieting or physical exercise. They only accelerate the pace with which the benefits are received from dieting and physical exercise. Therefore, the older generation only views one aspect of the pills and not whole. Therefore, it is not giving the entire picture.

Diet pills are safe for use. However, an important point to be noted while using the pill is that they are not for cosmetic use. You have to attend a friend’s marriage and you want to lose those extra pounds. Diet pills may not find use in such cases. These pills may be used only by the obese people. Obesity is not how you perceive yourself (if it is thus, then every woman will think of herself as obese). Obesity has been defined as having more than 30% of the ideal weight or Body Mass Index of 30 or more. Moreover, if obesity has resulted into any disease such as high blood pressure and heart problems, then these pills may be prescribed. Most of the diet pills are not recommended for children below the age of 16.

The diet pills may be classified into broadly two categories- prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs. Prescription drugs may not be used unless otherwise recommended by the doctor. In this category, popular diseases include Meridia and Xenical come.

In case of over-the-counter diet pills, user can purchase directly from the chemists shop. No prescription of the doctor is required.

Diet pills with natural or herbal ingredients too have emerged in the recent decades. This is because of the popular belief that chemical drugs cause allergies. As compared to them, herbal diet pills are safer. In addition, their effects are more stable. While these are available in traditional chemist shops, one can also purchase them from health food and nutrition stores. Diet pills with herbal supplements will have written ’all natural’ on them.

Diet pills of different varieties work in different ways. Some work by suppressing the appetite. They affect the Hypothalamus in our brain, which regulates appetite. Lipase is an enzyme that breaks down the fat. Prescription fat blockers act as lipase inhibitors and thus remove fat from the body instead of breaking it. A few diet pills affect appetite related hormones. Ghrelin is blocked and brain gets the signal that stomach is full.

Diet pills are not entirely free from drawbacks. They have been associated with side effects such as cramping in the stomach, formation of gas and sometimes diarrhea. The user may also experience rise in blood pressure and heart rate. The user is in greater risk of heart attack.

Nothing can compete with the natural remedies. Discipline in diet and physical exertion is always necessary, whatever diet pill one is using.

Are Weight Loss Supplements Useful?

It doesn’t matter what you are doing - browsing the Internet, surfing cable, or flipping through your favorite magazine û you will find plenty of advertisements that promote the magical qualities of weight loss supplements. Weight loss supplements come in all manner of shapes, sizes and styles and have a range of claims and solutions.  And there are all manner of claims û from pills, patches and creams. But do these cures really work? Only you can decide that for yourself. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular weight loss products and the positive benefits and negative effects of each, so you can make up your own mind.

Bitter Orange, Citrus Aurantium, and Sour Orange: These products are made directly from concentrated extracts from orange peel. They often claim that they increase metabolism, but there has been no conclusive tests to back this up. Bitter Orange, Citrus Aurantium, and Sour Orange contain the stimulant synephrine, which can cause hypertension and cardiovascular toxicity. Individuals with heart disease, hypertension, and glaucoma should avoid these at all costs.

Chromium (Examples of Chromium products include Puritan’s Pride Chromium Picolinate, Vitamin World Naturally Inspired Yeast Free Chromium Picolinate, Nutrilite Trim Advantage): The claims that chromium increases weight loss and improves body composition have been backed by one main study which proved this to be the case. There are two types of chromium: Trivalent (which the body requires and is considered safe in doses of 200 micrograms or less daily) and Hexavalent (but this form can cause stomach upsets, ulcers, convulsions, kidney and liver diseases, and death).

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) (Examples of this product include Vitamin World CLA, Nature Made CLA, Now Foods CLA): This product claims to promote leanness, but there are very few studies that actually support the marketing claims. While more research is needed, CLA is generally safe.

Ephedra/Ephedrine: Ephedra may aid weight loss by suppressing appetite, and research has proven its effectiveness when used with caffeine. However, ephedra causes high blood pressure, stroke, and serious heart problems, which is why the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedra was prohibited in April 2004.

7-Keto Dehydroepiandrosterone (7-keto DHEA): Preliminary research indicates that this product may decrease body weight and fat composition by increasing metabolism, but larger research studies are needed.

Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA) and Garcinia Cambogia: These products claim to suppress appetite and improve fat metabolism. While studies have shown mixed results, they are generally safe.

L-Carnitine: L-Carnitine claims to inhibit obesity, but there is very little evidence of its effectiveness.

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), Pyruvate, and Dihydroxyacetone and Pyruvate (DHAP): A few small studies suggest that these supplements may have modest effects on weight loss, but research is needed. Presently, no serious side effects have been reported.

Lecithin, Guar Gum, Psyllium Hulls, Chickweed, and Chitosan (Examples: Chito-Trim, Exercise in a Bottle, Fat BlockerùChitosan Complex, Fat Grabbers, Fat Trapper, Fat Trapper Plus, Metabo Fat Blocker, Miracletab, Now Chitosan with Chromium): These products claim to help break down fat so that it can be absorbed, emulsified, trapped, and eliminated by the body. There is currently no competent and reliable scientific research to support such claims.

Are Atkins Diet And Low Carb Diets Safe?

Are low carb diets safe? How safe is Atkins diet? Are low carb and Atkins diets dangerous to your health? These are burning questions for dieters all over the world.

I have personally tried low carb diets and Atkins diet and these diets made me lose weight very quickly. However not only did I lose body fat weight, I also lost muscle weight. I had very obvious muscle and fat loss because I can visually see my reduced muscle mass in the mirror.

This certainly isn’t healthy. Furthermore, the more muscle mass that you lose, the less toned your body shape is. The end result is that you will end up thin and yet looked flabby with lose skin.

The frustrating part will be that after you are off the low carb or Atkins diet, you will very probably gain back all the weight that you have loss and even more. This is because your muscles are active and they continuously burn calories. Since you have less fewer muscle mass now, your body’s metabolism or capacity to burn calories slows down tremendously.

In other words, when you put on weight again, you are putting on body fat instead of muscles if you do not exercise. You will be fatter and less healthy than before you went on the low carb or Atkins diet. To compound matters, because of lesser muscle tissues resulting in lower metabolism and thus lesser calories being burnt, you are going to get fatter.

Since then I have stayed off both low carb and Atkins diet. Both types of diets are almost similar as they require you to cut down drastically on your consumption of carbohydrates. Atkins diet went a step further by advocating almost no carbohydrate consumption for 2 weeks before adding some carbs to your meals gradually thereafter.

Besides losing muscles, how safe are low carb diets? This is what Dr Lyn Steffen and Dr Jennifer Nettleton from the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health commentated in a Lancet report, ôLow carbohydrate diets for weight management are far from healthy, given their association with ketosis, constipation or diarrhea, halitosis, headache and general fatigue to name a few.ö

The doctors warned that the diet increases protein load on the kidneys and alters the balance of acid in the body. This also results in loss of minerals from the bone stores and affect bone strength. The doctors went on to say that, ôOur most important criterion should be indisputable safety and low carbohydrate diets currently fall short of this benchmark.ö

Dr Atkins, the creator of the Atkins diet died in 2003 after he was alleged to have slipped on an icy road and hurt his head fatally. However his medical report stated that he had a history of heart attack, hypertension and congestive heart failure.

Were Dr Atkins medical conditions related to his low carbohydrates diet is anybody’s guess. Do you want to take the risk by going on a low carb diet? I don’t think I will. If I ever want to lose weight again, I will rather go on the proven method of healthy eating and regular exercises instead of jumping on any fad diets.

Fitness For Older Women - 10 Years Younger With Strength Training

Strength training has a lot of advantages for women, and particularly for women aged 35 to 40 and older. By the age of 40, women generally begin to lose bone density and muscle mass. One study at Tufts University, designed by the author of 'Strong Women Stay Young', Miriam Nelson PH.D, found that instead of losing bone density and muscle mass, the women were 15 to 20 years younger after one year of weight training. They gained bone density, and their strength tests matched women who were in their 30's and 40's.

These women didn't diet, but they did end up looking slimmer. Some lost 1 or 2 dress sizes, and they all replaced fat with muscle. Because muscle weighs more than fat, this is the reason they looked slimmer, though the scales may not have changed much.

The women in this study were all post menopausal, and some of their ages were in the 50's and 60's. They made some remarkable changes in their lives as they got stronger. One woman described going rollerblading with her children. Another went canoeing with her husband. More than any pills or potions, strength training gave these women back a youthfulness some didn't even have to that degree in the first place.

The women in this study used leg weights and free hand weights that were adjustible in their strength training program. They started at a level they were able to - even if this was the lightest weights available. They didn't buy lots of expensive equipment or home gyms, and many of these can be bought second hand with a little research locally. As they developed their strength, they invested in heavier weights.

For the strap on ankle weights, they started with 1 to 3 kilograms in each cuff. The suggested ankle cuffs hold up to 10 kilograms each. The dumbells they used for their arms were adjustable, and they started with 1 or 2 kilograms. The only other equipment they needed was a chair, somewhere to store the weights, and a towel. Because you're working out in your own home you don't need to buy expensive or flashy gym clothes, or worry about feeling the odd one out.

The workout itself is in the book, Stong Women Stay Young. It covers a range of basic exercises that don't take up too much time, which is suggested you do twice a week. Each session takes about 40 minutes including warming up and cooling down.

Tips for women working out with weights at home

* Make sure the area you're working in doesn't have rugs, electrical cords, toys and other items that you can trip over
* Keep your pets and young children away from this area whilst you're working out
* If you're using a chair when you do exercises, make sure it's on a carpet that won't slide around. If you don't have carpet, put the chair against the wall so it stays stable
* If you have problems with your back, you'll need to be careful when you're carrying your free weights around. Take a few trips to carry things if you have to move them in or out of a storage area. And make sure you lift them properly by bending your knees and moving slowly.
* It helps to keep the weights you're not currently using in their container. That way they can't be knocked off by curious children.
* If you're using leg weights, don't walk around with them on. It could affect your balance. And if you trip on something, you are more likely to injure yourself than normal
* Keep the telephone off the hook, and the cellphone off. That way if someone rings you won't be interrupted
* Make sure you have some drinking water nearby in case you get thirsty.
* Don't drink any alcohol, even a little bit, less than a couple of hours before you exercise
* Try and make sure you haven't just eaten a meal before you work out. But by the same token, make sure you're not starving! If you're really hungry, you could become light headed or dizzy when you work out.
* Don't forget to warm up!
* If you're using weights, try doing them in front of a mirror so you can check your posture. You'll get more out of the exercise, and work the right muscles. Sometimes our posture becomes so habitual we don't realize it's not quite right until we see it
* If you're using weights, a good posture means you're chin is down slightly, so that it's aligned with your neck. Your neck is in line with your spine, shoulders are straight and not stiff, back is straight, and your knees are not locked or bent. Your pelvis should be tucked under a little
* When using weights, do the lifts slowly. This really works the muscles instead of letting the motion do the work for you.
* Make sure you pause for a count between lifting the weight up, and lowering it
* Don't hold your breath whilst you're lifting wights. Given that we're contracting muscles, sometimes we unconsciously hold our breaths at the same time. Remember to breath, but don't go the other extreme and hyperventilate!

References: Miriam Nelson and Sarah Wernick, Strong Women Stay Young (Lothian)

Check All Regarding Diets That Make You Lose Weight

The old advice continues being worthy: the correct form of losing weight is to go to a professional that teaches you ways to achieve that goal. You have multiple options to success in your journey; like for instance go to a nutritionist or a doctor. Another way is to go to the gym, a lot of gyms offer counseling to lose weight. There are as well a different ways like to attend a group or follow a diet.

If you cannot go to an expert then you should educate yourself alone by reading and practicing what you have read. As you learn on nutrition you’ll know how to eat to live and not otherwise.

Secrets about diets that aid you lose weight

Diets usually impose us what to eat and when to eat, in general those diets are not specially designed to our lifestyle. The first advice is to follow a diet that is adjusted to your busy life. Don’t let this information mislead you, this doesn't mean that nothing will change and that you’ll be eating the same things you used to eat, the real meaning is that you can still eat what you used to but in moderation.

When you follow a diet low in calories definitively you will lose weight. The real issue of all this arises when you leave the diet. So while you return to your old habits you  gain your weight again. And it is an endless cycle.

Fast diets results

These diets are designed to lose weight quickly. They are not recommended because they have temporary results. If you gain and lose weight quickly you are damaging your health and your figure.

If your answer is yes to one of these questions consult with your doctor or nutritionist. Diets are everywhere, to all likes and if you want to get permanently lose weight you can make it. You should now be able to difference good diets from the ones that are not since the good diets are those who are balanced they include all the nutritious groups.

But of course most people are not interested because we gain weight, what we want is to lose weight. There are several ways to lose weight. Or even better there are many diets to lose weight.

So Finally Do diets Work?

Diets are always in complete changes, and suffer some sort of an evolution as time goes by and nowadays there are two main groups low floor carbohydrates and high proteins and balance. Independently far from what diet means to each one of us, diet it is simply a nutritious system that follows defined rules to lose weight for a certain time. These last words are important because in our minds we can follow a diet, lose weight and forget about it. The reality is that losing weight once doesn’t mean it will never come back. And that is the fundamental fact that diets that promise immediate results, these results are not durable.

Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about carbohydrates?

Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about carbohydrates? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about carbohydrates.

Now that we've covered those aspects of carbohydrates, let's turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

It has been estimated that three out of every four overweight people are addicted to carbohydrates.  But what does this mean? In essence, it means that you have too much of the hormone insulin in your system.  This insulin prompts you to eat often and to consume the wrong types of foods.  Some of the tell-tale signs of carbohydrate addiction include fatigue, mood swings, and migraines which can be caused by low blood sugar.

A carb addiction can lead you to consume a whole bag of  pretzels at one sitting, or to indulge in half a cake at dinner time.  Your body is conditioned to eat as many carbs as possible.  Thus, it may seem that at times you’re never really satisfiedùno matter how much or how often you eat.

On the official Carb Addicts plan, you eat two meals composed of vegetables and protein; the other meal consists of protein, vegetables that are not filled with starch, and carbohydrates.  During this last meal, known as the reward meal, you can even eat dessert.   The trick is to skip the carbs for two meals each day.

The authors of the program believe that, if you follow this regimen, you will lose your cravings for carbohydrates in time.  If your urge to consume carbs does not disappear by the second week of the program, they recommend checking your diet to see whether you are following the program closely.

With the Carb Addicts plan, like other diet plans, you need to closely monitor your portion sizes.  All of your hard work will be in vain if you allow yourself to over indulge in sweetsùeven if it is for only one meal a day.  Also, you need to make sure that the protein you consume is not high in fat.  You may want to eat fish, chicken with the skin removed, or lean meats when trying to obtain a protein source.

Another important aspect of the Carb Addicts plan is that you are not permitted artificial sweetener except during your reward meal.  This can be quite a challenge, especially if you’re accustomed to sweetened coffee in the morning.  However, it can be well worth the deprivation in the long run as you see those pounds melt away.

There is no set time for the reward meal; however the authors of the plan recommend that the meal take place in the evening.  This is because it can take 12 to 24 hours for the body to overcome carbohydrate overload.  There is also a psychological advantage to having the meal at night.  It gives you something to look forward to all day long.

You should begin your reward meal with a salad, such as a Caesar salad or an Oriental salad,  then divide the rest of the meal into thirds:  One third should consist of low-carb vegetables, one-third protein, and one-third carbs.  This formula has proven successful in enabling individuals to achieve long-term weight loss.

As with many other meal plans, the biggest challenge for those who are on the Carb Addicts Diet is the ability to stick with it.  Dieting can be hard work, no matter what kind of rewards await an individual at the end of the day.  Your commitment will enable you to stay with the program, even when it becomes particularly challenging.

Surf the World Wide Web, and you’ll find a number of testimonials offering glowing reviews of the Carb Addicts Diet.  But you should keep in mind that results can differ from individual to individual.  While some people might see rapid weight loss with the Carb Addicts plan, others may see only moderate weight loss.   The success of the program may depend on your own individual physiology.

Is the Carb Addicts Diet a fad?  It all depends on who you talk to.  While some people see it as a significant dietary breakthrough, others view it as just a passing fancy.   Medical experts disagree as to whether the Carb Addicts Diet represents sound nutrition.  In the end, you, in consultation with your personal physician, will have to decide whether the Carb Addicts Diet will work for you.

The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you'll be glad you took the time to learn more about carbohydrates.

Aerobic Effort for Good Fitness

No matter who you are in the world, you have to have aerobic exercise. It is required for a healthy body and a quality way of life. It has many of pros and will make you feel greater in all aspects of your life. Why should you do aerobics?

Muscle groups get more blood and oxygen from the body during an aerobic exercise session. It is not good to halt suddenly from an aerobic activity. Cramping and dizziness can occur from this. After a relatively intense work out, a cooling off session is always a good idea. Running in place for a little while is a good suggestion if anyone gets too tired during a work out session. More efficient use of the lungs by raising the oxygen transported to them as well as the heart using this oxygen more effectively are a few of the pros of aerobic exercise. The definition of aerobic translates to with air, or with oxygen.  It is a work out that is lower in intensity and lengthier in duration. With aerobic work outs, a person uses the same large muscle group in a repetitive movement from between fifteen to thirty. A  heart rate of around 60 to 80% is the objective to maintain. Just a few aerobic activities are: light running, cycling, walking, or treading water. These sessions should be able to be done without someone breathing hard. You are possibly anaerobically exercising if you are unable to carry on a short conversation.

Aerobic exercise has so many benefits that it is wild to picture that we sometimes do not take the time to do it for ourselves. It maintains and reduces body fat, boosts our total stamina, gives us extra energy, assists in our resilience to tiredness, increases our muscles, and increases our lean body mass. It also helps us mentally by improving mood, lowering anxiety, reducing depression, reducing tension, and having us sleep better at night. Who cannot benefit a bit from all that?These are pros that people could all use.

Exercise that is higher in intensity and shorter in time is called anaerobic exercise. The body wears out faster and develops muscle more quickly with anaerobics. Many sports are categorized as anaerobic exercises: soccer, downhill skiing, weight lifting, basketball, and football. Running or sprinting is another one. Anaerobic exercise will boost the chances of the body becoming sore.

An aerobics class may be a good start for people who want to reap the rewards of aerobic exercise and aren't positive how to begin. In an aerobics class, you can do high or low intensity cardiovascular. The instructor will be able to show class members how to perform these moves either way. How high you carry your limbs up during the aerobic session is how the intensity is measured. People must do the level of intensity pertaining to their abilities and the frequency of their aerobic sessions.

The objective while working out aerobically is to achieve your target heart rate and remain at that for the entire period you are working that group of muscles. This works the heart more efficiently and has the body burn a greater amount of calories. The aerobic curve is something some people will reach. This is when you begin exercising and elevate your intensity level to the peak then slow down gradually. It is more efficient to maintain that continuous rate as your heart rate rises. The lungs and heart endure longer and work more effectively when they are trained. People that perform aerobic exercise on a routine interval will have to exercise harder to reach their target heart rate as their endurance increases. People who are just beginning will reach their target heart rate fast until their body becomes adjusted to the exercise.

Aerobic exercise may be somewhat difficult to do at first, but it is absolutely necessary for cardiovascular fitness. A healthy body takes steady aerobic sessions and is a continuous process. People who are in good cardiovascular condition can keep this by exercising a minimum of three times a week. Those who are trying to lose weight and elevate their level of health should exercise four or five intervals a week.

Do you find it hard to cut down on foods like potato chips, cake, bread, and pasta. Well, you are not alone. Not by a longshot! Obesity is one of the biggest problems facing people today, and one of the hardest to overcome. Sometimes you need a hand, and carb blockers are a wonder of science that are a natural, effective aid in weight loss.

Also known as starch blockers, carb blockers inhibit the production of a starch-enzyme, namely the starch-digesting enzyme alpha-amylase. With less of this enzyme in production, the body is less able to break down carbohydrates into sugar, which would normally then be absorbed into the body, which normally the excess sugar is translated into fat. The main ingredient in these pills in Phaseolus Vulgaris, which is derived from white kidney beans.

Now that the technical side is out of the way, these pills can be very handy if you are on a diet, especially the low-carb Atkins diet. Sometimes you can't help but having high-carb foods and this is where the pills help by not letting your body absorb much of the carbs, helping you to get by. The pills help you lose weight, but you do also need to keep a reasonable diet, as the pills are not miracles in themselves. However, they do heavily help in the battle of the bulge. Weight-loss can be a struggle for many, but carb blockers help you balance your intake. Carb blockers, in addition to a sensible diet, can create a slimmer you.

Beat the Carb Cravings

Anyone who’s been on a low carb diet will tell you that the first week is the hardest. Some report actual physical symptoms of carb withdrawal, like irritability, headaches, and lack of energy. Others say it’s the emotional struggle to stay away from rice, bread, pasta, potatoes the staples that they’ve grown used to serving with every meal.

These carb cravings can easily tempt you into giving up on your diet altogether. Don’t. You have so much to gain (or in this case, lose): think 10 pounds in the first two weeks, as some diets claim, and a visible reduction of tummy handles. (Hey, you’ll be able to fit in a smaller size of jeans!) So how do you survive the battle against bread? Here are some tips:

Indulge in the right food

One of the advantages of low carb diets is that you don’t starve yourself. You can eat very well, just stay away from certain types of food. How does help beat the carb cravings? If you’re not ravenous, you’re less likely to raid the fridge in a mad fit of hunger. You can also replace a high-carb snack (like a chocolate bar) with an equally tasty bag of peanuts, and not feel deprived.

Veteran low carb dieters actually advise keeping stashes of low-carb diets in their desk drawers, or by the television the places where most people get the desire to munch on something. Keep the portions small, just enough to make you feel that you’ve had a treat, without actually turning into a binge. You’ll need a lot of small plastic bags, or tiny plastic containers. Another tip: prepare the individual servings beforehand, preferably after eating a meal so you’re not tempted to put more than you should.

Keep yourself busy

Most of us eat not out of hunger but habit. You’re bored, stressed, or you’re killing time before you take on the next item on your to-do list. Avoid temptation by keeping your mind on something you enjoy. Some dieters carry a book around, others start a hobby like scrapbooking which will let them pass long hours without even thinking about food. For those who work at the office, and need something to keep them away from the vendo machine, bookmark a website that you can browse until the snack attack passes.

Look for other forms of recreation v It’s become customary to make meals the center of any recreational activity: eating chips while watching a movie, going out to dinner with friends. While you’re still getting used to the low-carb regimen, pass up the invitation to have drinks after work and invite everyone to watch a play, hit the badminton courts, or attend a museum opening.

Get a diet buddy

Dieting becomes more fun when you have a diet partner to give encouragement, praise you for every lost pound, and even help you scout for the low-carb friendly restaurants in your area. Don’t know anyone? Go online and join a dieter’s forum. Exchange recipes, share thoughts, and hey, even make new friends. You’ll still feel the carb cravings, but somehow, saying no is a little easier.

Your Good Health Is Counting On It

Did you know that everything that gets you moving can and will contribute to your health-from walking to a high-intensity aerobics class?

Research shows that regular exercise can lower the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and certain cancers. And exercise helps people manage a great number of other health issues, including depression and anxiety, arthritis, osteoporosis and maybe even dementia. Experts say that it may even help slow the aging process. And it makes you feel good!

The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), the nonprofit association for the fitness industry, reminds people that any physical activity is better than none. The health benefits from physical activity are cumulative. The most important thing is getting started. So get moving-whether that means taking the stairs, parking farther out or walking on a treadmill. Newcomers to physical activity should start slowly and gradually work up to exercising for longer periods of time.

For many Americans, taking those first steps toward building the exercise habit can be difficult and intimidating. So during the month of May, participating health clubs will open their doors for several days to the public, free of charge, so more Americans can benefit from the safe, supportive, and enjoyable environments that health clubs offer. It's part of the IHRSA-organized Get Active America! program to encourage more Americans to exercise for their health.

Whether you're a senior, a mid-lifer, a 20-something or a teen, there's a health club that can provide you with the support you need to create a workable exercise routine that fits your life. There's a network of professionals across the country eager to help.

Remember: It's never too late, and it's never too little to enjoy the benefits of exercise. Do it for your health!

Exercise Game Planning for Dieters

If you make the wise decision of trying to get more exercise, you’ll need to figure out what you are able to do and how long you are able to do it. I’m not talking about what you could do in your glory days. I’m talking about what you can do right now. I’ll give you an example.

When I was in college, I wasn’t very fat or heavy at all. I used to jog three miles a day religiously, until the day I got a job, and then I just didn’t seem to have the time for it anymore. With a little patience and a lot of junk food, I grew to be over 60 pounds heavier than my former self. Then, out of the blue sky, I decided to take up jogging again. I bought a pair of cheap running shoes and headed for the local high school track. There was quite a variety of people walking, running, and playing soccer. I saw a few high school-aged people and even some women and men over 60 or 70 years old. I thought, “This is great, I can look forward to 40 more years of jogging.”

I remembered that I had liked to stretch before the three-mile-joy-ride, so I stretched out my thighs, calves, and any other leg muscles I could think of. I was set to go, and I couldn’t wait to get the “runner’s high” that I used to experience daily.

The first ten steps were a little bit uncomfortable, and of course they would be. I hadn’t attempted to jog in seven years (and 60 pounds). “But I only need to run twelve laps,” I thought to myself. That would be three miles.

I started out strong, but within the first half lap, I had slowed considerably and I was having trouble breathing. This isn’t how I remembered it. What was going on? I feared I might collapse right here on the track, and then the grandma runners would pass me up one by one and laugh. I couldn’t let that happen.

Since I could barely run, or breathe, I decided to start limping. It didn’t matter which leg I chose as long as it remained consistent. I slowly limped onto the grass in the center of the track and pretended to be assessing the damage to my leg. I was actually sucking wind quite violently.

A few people stopped to ask if I was all right. All I could think to say was, “Damn, it’s the same muscle I pulled six months ago.” I’m glad they didn’t ask me which muscle. I then massaged my leg all over but concentrated most of my efforts on my left ankle. Within five minutes I was up and limping again, this time straight towards my car.

Even though I seemed to pull off the fake limping act, I still felt miserable. I hadn’t even run one lousy lap. I got in my car and raced away. I couldn’t go straight home until I had collected all of my painful thoughts and sorted them out. Instead, I headed to the one place that I felt most welcome...7-Eleven. I don’t remember what I feasted on that day, but I didn’t imagine that the clerk was laughing at me as I had imagined the other runners back at the track had been. In fact, no one really laughed at me that day, but they might have if I hadn’t been such a great actor. And knowing that they could have laughed at me, I ate like a king and queen combined, and I cleansed myself of the imagined laughter. I wanted a hug that day, but maybe what I really needed was therapy.

The story illustrates that you need to exercise at your current level of ability. If it has been five years since you’ve exercised, you cannot expect yourself to pick right up where you left off. Experiment a little and see what your body can actually do right now.

Another gem I will peddle to you is the idea of starting small and building up to bigger routines as you become ready. If you decide that walking will be your favorite means of exercising, don’t try for ten miles on your first day. You can easily start by just walking around the block each day for a week. Next you can try expanding your walk to involve a few more blocks. The following week you’ll add even more blocks, and in six months or so, you just might be walking three or four miles. Make sure that you build up gradually, rather than biting off more than you can chew. It’s much better to have a continuous string of successes than a setback every four weeks.

After you lose ten to fifteen pounds, you will feel able to exercise longer. The more you lose, the more you can do. That seems a bit backwards to me. The people who most need to exercise are the same people who can do the least amount of it. It’s a cruel world. Don’t think—just get started right now.

When you are ready to begin exercising, remember that you will be doing this each day. It is important not to get bored. If you keep your exercise bicycle in the garage, make sure you also have a television or radio in the garage. Watching television or listening to the radio passes the time a little faster; before you know it, your 30 minutes are up.

One friend of mine is a big advocate of varying your routine often. If you’ve been walking on flat land as your exercise, perhaps the next thing to do is to try adding some hills to your walk. Then perhaps you could bike on certain days and swim on others. I agree that this would be a better overall workout than exercising the same way each day. However, I’m lazier than he, and we both know it. He has weighed 100 pounds less than me for a stretch of nearly ten years, so he must be doing at least a few things right.
Whatever your exercise plan will be, make sure you keep at it. Make a schedule and stick to it. Let it be a regular part of your day, like brushing your teeth or feeding your dog or cat. It’s easy to say you will just take one day off, but sometimes that day can turn into days or weeks.

Plan ahead for the winter or off-season. You may not be able to jog for long stretches at a time during the winter, depending upon your local climate. Buy that exercise bike, or take up an indoor exercise such as aerobics.

It is also wise to be mindful of the time of day you prefer to exercise. I knew a lot of people at my office that liked to get up early in the morning and exercise. I always had a hard time getting up early, since I had been used to staying up so late (when I was twenty-something). But many things would keep me from exercising after work. I was often too tired or mentally drained after work. I also belonged to some clubs that met in the evenings, and I still needed some time to see my friends. Yes, life was busy, but I’m sure it’s been busy for you as well. Given my situation, I eventually realized that I could exercise more consistently if I woke up one hour earlier and exercised in the morning. Was that easy for me? No. It took me three or four months to adjust to my new schedule. But once I found myself bouncing out of bed very early in the morning, I knew I would continue to do so.

The best news about exercise is that it gives your metabolism a jolt to help you burn more calories even after you’ve finished exercising. That’s truly a deal you can’t pass up. So stop whatever it is that you are doing and go exercise right now. Yes, I mean it! Hurry! Right now!

6 Steps to Super Sleek Stylish Hair

Whether you want to look great for a party and have all afternoon to get ready, or just want to smarten up before a meeting, there are things to do to get your hair looking great and give your confidence a real boost.

Super Hair Tip Number 1:

Shampoo properly.  By this, I mean that you should invest in a top quality salon shampoo that matches your hair type, if you have coloured hair, make sure that the formulation of your shampoo is suitable, likewise if your hair is thin, greasy, blonde, or brunette, talk to your stylist, and get them to advise you on what they think is best.  Too many people simply pick something off the supermarket shelf and home for the best, when what they really need is a shampoo that suits them.

Super Hair Tip Number 2:

Condition deeply.  Hair conditioners have a formulation that will add body and shine to your hair.  You know how uncomfortable and scratchy clothes are if you don’t use a fabric conditioner, well hair is the same.  Also, a good conditioner will help to keep your hair static free, which will reduce frizziness even more.  Massage the conditioner from root to tip and leave it to work its magic and make your hair look really healthy and shiny before rinsing it thoroughly.

Super Hair Tip Number 3:

Dry your hair well.  Modern hair dryers will not harm your hair as much as they used to, but if you are going to use a blow dryer to get your hair dry quickly, make sure you keep it moving over your hair and dry it evenly to avoid overheating.  If you have the time, use the dryer on a cool setting to avoid damage.

Super Hair Tip Number 4:

Use a good Serum.  There are a huge variety of great products around that are designed to smooth your hair.  Most salons will be able to point you in the direction of a serum such as Frizz-ease that will help to keep your hair looking great.  Generally hair serums work in three ways, by relaxing the hair, smoothing it, and reducing the potential for it to attract the static electricity that will cause it to frizz up.

Super Hair Tip Number 5:

Use good quality hair straighteners.  Most people find that the cheaper hair straighteners do not do a very good job.  You might find that they do not get hot enough to iron out the kinks properly on a single pass, and are not slippery enough to allow your hair to pass through smoothly.  Opt for ceramic or glass heating plates, and make sure that there is an adjustable temperature.  GHD straighteners are the one of the most popular brands around and ae commonly used in salons all around the world.  Their plates get hot fast, and are extra smooth to make styling your hair easy, all of which makes them a real favourite in salons around the world.  Ceramic plates will help discharge the static electricity from your hair too, and leave it looking straight for longer.

Super Hair Tip Number 6:

Eat well.  Your hair is nourished by what you eat and drink, and will never look good if you don’t eat a balanced diet with lots of vitamins and minerals.  Hair is mostly made of protein, so make sure your diet includes plenty.  Drink water too, as this will flush impurities out of your body and keep you healthy.

Exercise and Arthritis

Your bones hang out in a lot of joints. Knee joints. Hip joints. The joints in your fingers and the joints in your toes.

Wherever bones meet, there is also cartilage, a rubbery, protective layer that ensures your joints bend smoothly and painlessly. But even cartilage cannot do this tremendous job alone. A thin membrane called the "synovium" provides fluid that lubricates the moving parts of the joint. When the cartilage wears out of the synovium becomes inflamed, the result is generally a case of "osteoarthritis" or "rheumatoid arthritis."

In osteoarthritis, the cartilage can be eroded so much that bone does rub on bone. Thos type of arthritis develops gradually over a lifetime as a simple result of the wear and tear placed on your joints over the years. Very few people escape some degree of osteoarthritis, though the severity varies a great deal.

As a matter of fact, if you are over the age of 50, you are likely to have at least one joint affected by osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis affects men and women equally and is by far the most common type of arthritis, with almost 16 million Americans in the list.

In rheumatoid arthritis, damage to the synovium is at the source of trouble. Doctors and researchers are not absolutely sure what causes it, but most think that rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system actually attacks certain tissues in the body, including those that connect the joints and the synovium.

Rheumatoid arthritis begins with swollen, red, stiff, and painful joints, but it may progress until scar tissue forms in the joint or, in extreme cases, until the bones actually fuse together. Almost 75% of the 2 million people with rheumatoid arthritis in the United States are women. The disease can hit as early as teen years.

Exercising Your Prevention Options

Investing a little time in developing a good weight-bearing low-impact exercise and stretching plan can add up to great results when it comes to staving off arthritis pain. Strong muscles help protect the joints from wear and tear, and the movement keeps joints flexible.

That is why the quest for fitness is at hand, even if you are 50 years and over. However, most Americans over 50 are still right where they always were sitting back and watching others jog by. Most of them contend that that is just for people who have been athletic all their life, or some say exercise is for young people and engaging into exercise will do them more harm than good.

There are still some that insist on excusing their selves in exercise routines because they do not just have time or they have less energy than ever before. These are all lame excuses. Hence, it is time to start to get rid of those pains. Start exercising.

Consequently, preventing arthritis is not an exact science, but physicians have discovered a few ways to lower your risk. Here is how:

1. Do not weight around

The single most important measure anyone can take to prevent osteoarthritis of the knee is to lose weight if they are overweight. Extra weight puts extra stress on your knees. If you are 10 pounds overweight, for example, you put 60 pounds per square inch of extra pressure on your knees every time you take a step. That extra pressure can slowly but surely erode the cartilage in your knees, leading to arthritis.

A study has clearly supported the theory that weight loss weighs in on the side of prevention. In the study, overweight women who lost 11 pounds or more over a 10-year period decreased their risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee by 50%.

2. Stretch those muscles

Any kind of stretching is good as long as you do not bounce, which can lead to a muscle pull. This is according to some of the professors of clinical medicine in New York City.

Try to hold a slow, steady stretch for 15 to 20 seconds, then relax and repeat. It is best to flex up by stretching before any exercise, especially running and walking. But it is also a good idea to stretch each day. Ask your doctor to teach you stretches that focus on potential arthritis trouble spots, such as the knees or the lower back.

3. Walking is always the best exercise

Take a good long walk at least three times a week or participate in a step-aerobics or low-impact exercise routine maximum results. There is no proof that running is bad for the joints, but remember, it may aggravate an injury if you already have one. Just remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

The bottom line is that of all the healthful habits, exercise is the most important. This is because people are designed to be active. Hence, it is really important for people to exercise in order to stay healthy and keep those joints free from wear and tear.

Just keep in mind that the unexercised body, even if free from the symptoms of illness or problems like arthritis, is not at its full potential. Hence, start exercising right now!

Can't Lose Weight? Maybe You Have A Thyroid Disorder

A thyroid disorder called hypothyroidism means you have an underactive thyroid gland. If you have trouble losing weight no matter what you do, it could be because you are hypothyroid. There are almost 30 million Americans with thyroid disease and women are 7 times more likely than men to have it. Hypothyroid is the most common thyroid disorder and often misdiagnosed by doctors.

You may get this because it is inherited, or because of previous problems, such as nodules, goiter, thyroid cancer, previous thyroid surgery, another autoimmune disease.

This is a condition where the thyroid gland, a small butterfly shaped organ located at the base of the neck, does not produce enough hormone to function properly.

What happens is that it takes in iodine, combines it with tyrosine (an amino acid) and converts it into the hormones T4 and T3. If your thyroid is normal, 80% will be T4 and 20% T3. These hormones travel through the bloodstream, converting oxygen and calories into energy. If this process doesn’t work properly, then the calories and oxygen cannot convert the energy properly and you may gain weight or incapability to lose weight.

The symptoms can include : weight gain, depression, forgetfulness, fatigue, hoarseness, high cholesterol, constipation, feeling cold, hair loss, dry skin, low sex drive, tingling hands or feet, irregular periods, infertility. You may even experience recurrent pregnancy loss, resistant high cholesterol, difficult menopause, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, or mitral valve prolapse.

Do you feel sluggish and fatigued on a regular basis, or do you get bouts of depression and sadness? Are you always feeling cold, especially your hands and feet, or do you have brittle nails? These are just some of the possible signs of the disease. There may be other causes, but at least this may give you a clue as to why you do not feel well. Check with your doctor in all cases to be sure.

When your metabolism doesn't work right because you have this disorder, you may find that there's no amount of dieting or exercise that takes the weight off. You may in fact put on extra pounds, even though you are doing just what you are supposed to.

What can you do ? Meet with your doctor and ask if you need a thyroid examination and blood test. These likely will be a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) blood test, along with T4, T3, Free T4 and Free T3 tests.

A drug called levothyroxine (often called Levo-T, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid) may be prescribed for you. It is usually inexpensive, has minimal side effects, and has uniform potency. However, all thyroid hormone replacement therapies, whether natural or synthetic, have the ability to restore thyroid hormone levels.

Supplements that contain the following might also help:

- L-Tyrosine - is one of the amino acids that your body needs to make thyroid hormones. It is included in some weight control products because it works to stimulate your metabolism. It's also an element in helping your brain operate more efficiently which makes you feel better.

- Guglipid - an extract from the Indian guggal tree, may improve thyroid function and assist in controlling your weight. Scientists are finding that guglipid lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol, and thus can help somewhat to prevent heart disease.

There is always hope and lots of help out there for you. If you suspect that you have this condition and you are not sure what to do, talk to your physician for guidance and advice.

Adult Attention Deficit Disorder

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is usually identifiable in early stages of childhood. There are instances when the disorder continues until adulthood if treatment is not prompt or effective. This is known as Adult Attention Deficit Disorder (AADD). The impact of AADD is severe compared to ADD because as an adult, coping strategies are required to a greater extent with regard to disorganization and other symptoms of the syndrome. The visible signs and symptoms of the disorder in adults are as below:

Impulsiveness. ADD adults have difficulties handling their impulsiveness. Sudden bouts of anger, impulsive spending, butting into conversations, and breaking relationships are all side effects of impulsiveness. This in turn leads to lack of cordial atmosphere and feelings of regret at later stages.

A high level of distraction. The ADD adult is always thinking of a myriad subjects and incidents that leave him/her unfocused and distracted. Apart from this, external stimuli introduce further distraction to the overactive mental process. When the adult leaves home and mixes with the society, he/she is bombarded with words, visuals, and noises that disturb and irritate.

Anxiety and lack of focus. Since the patient is also on the thinking track, there is tendency to do the task at hand with lesser concentration. This leaves them confused as to why mistakes occur in their work or why they leave their work half-completed. The patient resorts to writing important things in hand notes or schedulers.

Impatience. Just like children with ADD, adults too are fidgety with staying put in one place. They are always taking in things, keeping their hands busy, or keeping engaged in multiple activities. This tends to make them feel exhausted at times.

Socializing problems. Making friends, retaining relationships, caring for family members, and working co-operatively with colleagues are a strain for ADD adults due to their impatience and impulsiveness. This further brings down trust levels.

Lack of planning and disorganization. It is difficult for ADD adults to comprehend instructions, work procedures, do time estimates, and complete work within deadlines. They are unable to chalk out tasks involved in an activity and estimate the time likely to be taken for completing each task. This issue is the result of all the factors discussed above.

Memory problems. Short term memory loss is a hurdle for ADD adults that leads them to forget the task at hand or instructions given only a little while before. Their mind tends to jump from though to another in a matter of minutes, leaving them with no idea of the real situation.

Several strategies such as maintaining reminders in mobile phones, keeping notes in calendars and schedulers, attending skill-developing sessions, and deploying pneumonic to remember things would help these adults lead a comparatively normal life.

Exercise Bikes Are Not What They Used To Be

Do you remember the days when exercise bikes were just bikes held up off of the ground? When exercise bikes were no more complicated than your regular everyday outdoor bike? It seems like a million years ago but in fact it was just yesterday. In an amazingly short amount of time exercise bikes have changed the way we exercise and they way that we stay in tip top shape.

Gone are the exercise bikes that are like outdoor bikes, not we have spinning machines and exercise bikes with TVs on them. We have exercise bikes that will take us up hills and down them to add some spice to our workouts and exercise bikes that will monitor your heart rate and your breathing. It is truly amazing just how much these amazing fitness machines have changed over the last few years. And the best part is that all of these changes to the exercise bikes of today mean that you get a better, more personalized workout each and every tie that you get onto on.

What makes exercise bikes so great and so popular is that they offer so much variety but you never have to leave the house. Many people do not like going to a public gym to exercise in front of all kinds of people. It makes you uncomfortable, who wants others to see them sweating? I know I don’t. And when you have home exercise bikes you never have to take this kind of thing into consideration, you can do all of your exercising in the privacy of your own home.

That is not the only plus to exercise bikes though, there is more. If you had a regular bike, what would you do when it snowed or it was raining really hard? It is not safe to ride a bike outdoors in that kind of weather. Not only could you slip and fall off, but others driving could have a hard time seeing you. This can lead to all kinds of dangerous situations but when you have your own exercise bikes indoors, you can exercise at any time of the day r night, in any weather with perfect safety. Safety should always come first and with these kinds of exercise bikes it always does.

When it comes to choosing the exercise bikes that are right for you, it will take some serious shopping around. You need to take into consideration why you are looking for indoor exercise bikes. Is it to burn fat? To promote good heart health? Better circulation? These types of considerations will affect the kind of exercise bikes that you should be looking at. Since there are so many add ons and extras that you can get these days you need to make sure that you are looking at the exercise bikes that have what you need.

For example, if you want to work on your heart health then you need to look at the exercise bikes that will have heart monitors and perhaps some more of those kinds of add ons.

Breathing – an Important Factor in Fitness

With the exception – probably the only one – of pearl gatherers, who dive without any autonomous equipment, breathing counts in all sports – as well as in fitness. Each sport branch has imposed its own breathing style – according to efficiency, effort timing, meteorological conditions etc.

If we take breathing as a taxonomic criterion, sports can be divided in two big groups:

1. The first one includes all the sports that use the technique of respiratory stop or blocking. The most typical among these are force sports such as athletic weight throwing, weightlifting, body building, gymnastics etc. In short, we might say that here the anaerobic extreme is concerned – the one which imposes apnea (blocking the thorax and respiration). The main advantage of diaphragm blocking is the rising, for the moment, of the explosive force of the sportsman. A rise in execution speed for maximum force efforts has also been observed. The classic example is the snatch of weightlifting in which force and speed are simultaneously implied on the basis of respiratory blocking.

This respiratory blocking, inevitable in the above-mentioned sports, has also some disadvantages. Among these we could mention high pressure values in the thorax, abdomen and skull, high pressure on blood vessels with low feed-back through the veins etc. Thus, due to the rising of pressure inside the eyes the aggravation of previous short-sightedness is possible. Also, in the inferior limbs, varicose veins can either appear or worsen. Effort in exclusively anaerobic conditions increases rigidity both in the blood vessels and in the muscles.

2. The second big group is the one of sports that do not use respiratory stop. Here we enter the realm of purely aerobic effort. The typical examples are running races, swimming, cycling etc. - generally efforts on long and very long distances. In these events the muscular force implied is little - medium at most - the stress affecting the cardiovascular component and leading to increased cardiac frequency and pulmonary ventilation.

There is also a third category - mixed sports, both aerobic and anaerobic, in which the two techniques alternate. This is the case of sports games, contact sports, rhythm breaking in medium distance running races, etc. In the case of fitness, as both types of effort - aerobic and anaerobic - are present, apnea, as well as effort without respiratory blockage, is used. As far as correct respiration is concerned, there is a general rule stating that one should breath out during the most difficult part of the movement (the positive or concentric course) and breath in during come-back (the negative or eccentric course). Within these courses, we can have or not have a respiratory stop/ blockage. If we have it, it will occur at the critical point of the course.

Another breathing rule is the one that takes into consideration the dilatation of the thorax. In this case, breathing in is done on the course which allows thorax expansion, and breathing out on the movement that contracts it. In both cases, breathing in is done through the nose - in order to filter and warm up the air flow and breathing out is done through the mouth in order to be faster and more efficient.

It is interesting to know that the 'shouting' that we hear in many weightlifting training sessions or contests, is actually the sound of forced breathing out.

Burn Body Fat And Lose Weight 24 Hrs A Day û Lose Fat Even When Sleeping

Burn body fat 24 hrs a day is simple. Yes, I said simple but I did not say it is easy. That is because you must have a firm commitment and mental discipline to do it. However, it will get easier and easier when you adapt to your new lifestyle and when your lose fat goal is achieved.

So how do you burn fat 24 hrs a day? Here are some simple steps to lose fat 24 hrs a day.

ò Build muscles. Muscles are active cells and they are great calorie burners. The more muscles you pack on, the more body fat you will burn because the calories you have eaten will be burned for energy by your muscles.

ò Do your cardio exercises in the morning before breakfast. Make sure that your cardio exercises raise your heart rate sufficiently to burn more fat. The exercises must be intensive and will leave you puffing, panting and sweating. This is to make sure that you will continue to burn calories hours after you stopped your cardio exercises.

Do your cardio exercise 5-6 days a week. On top of that, because your carbohydrate store is low in the morning, your body will burn more body fat to fuel your cardio exercises.

ò Eat 5-6 times a day with about 3 hrs intervals. Make the meals small consisting protein and complex carbohydrate. Complex carbs are carbs that are more difficult to digest so that they do not spike insulin quickly to be converted into body fat. So instead of eating white rice, eat brown rice. Instead of having white bread, substitute it with brown bread instead. Have plenty of fresh leafy fibrous vegetables.

The frequency of meals will tell your body that there is plenty of food and so your body need not store body fat for emergencies. On top of that, your digestive system will be constantly working to digest the food and so that means burning of calories.

ò Do weight training 3 times a week with rest days in between. Do your weight workout in the evenings so that you will continue to burn fat. Workout with compound exercises such as bench presses, squats, lunges, dead lifts etc to activate more muscle fibers and so that these large muscles will carry on burning calories for many more hours into the night.

ò Take slow release protein supplement before bed such as casein protein. This is to feed your body throughout the night and help your muscles to recover from the day’s activities and at the same because casein protein is slow to digest so will not turn to fat easily and thus your body will continue burning calories even when you are asleep.

So with a combination of all these activities, you will be burning body fat almost 24 hrs a day. Simple? Great. Let’s start to lose weight by burning body fat round the clock now.

Best Diets To Lose Weight

Some thing tasty and yummy and yet you lose weightàà

All the best diet plans are based on restrictions on carbohydrates, fats and high calorie products. During diet plans you can take fruits, green leafy vegetables, roughages and foodstuffs having less calories.

Top Diet Plans:

The Cabbage Soup diet has been used by dieters for years. This diet includes many versions but the simple one is that if you eat cabbage soup when you are hungry it will fill you up and will help you stay on low calorie diet. While you are on cabbage soup diet you must not take oily, fatty foodstuffs. This diet has very low calories. Therefore cabbage diet is among the best diets to lose weight.

The Sonoma diet was first prepared by Dr. Connie Gutterson. This diet includes antioxidant vegetables, juicy fruits like blueberries, spinach, whole grains and little almond oil. You can even add a glass of red wine. Sonoma diet is also approved as one of the best diets to lose weight.

Slim Fast diet is very helpful in controlling hunger for more than four hours. Slim fast diet is balanced, nutritional and rich in calcium and proteins. The Slim-Fast Diet plan is planned for dieter to take six times in day. You can add fruits, yogurt and cottage cheese. Fresh vegetables, meats and nuts are also a part of slim fast diet. It is not only diet cautious but also gives you a good flavor and taste. It can be considered as the best diet plan to lose weight especially for teenagers.

Negative calorie diet is less of a diet and more like diet helper. It consists of a list of foodstuffs whose net calorie account is less than total calories taken to digest them. These include high roughages, low fats, fruits and vegetables. Roughage is key content of negative calorie diet. The calorie output here is negative thus it will help losing weight.

12 Things You Can Learn From A Two-Year Old

If you ask any child about the adults around them, they'd probably say we're a little wacky and seem to be stressed out a lot of the time. Here are a few simple things they can teach us...

1. Nap when you're tired.

2. Eat when you're hungry.

3. Don't starve yourself, it makes you tired and cranky. Eat little bits often to keep fueled up.

4. Stubbornly refuse to eat even one more bite once you're full. If you're full after a few bites, gleefully throw the rest away.

5. Leave the table with a satisfied, full belly and an eagerness to dive back into your delicious life.

6. Be picky and only eat foods you love. If it doesn't taste great to you, clamp those lips shut and refuse to eat until something better is found.

7. Be in awe over how amazing and wonderful your body is. Notice how it moves, hugs, plays, loves, heals, and enjoys life.

8. Run, jump, skip, play. Move your body because it's so much fun and it feels good. Be amazed at all the incredible physical things your body can do.

9. Wear clothes that are comfy and that make you feel good.

10. Appreciate the people around you for who they are rather than for how they look.

11. Hang out with fun, friendly people and stay away from mean, critical ones.

12. Feel great about yourself because, well, why wouldn't you?

If you don't have a two-year old around right now, seek one out and watch them for a day. Their simple enjoyment of life, and their absolute respect for their own bodies is something to aspire to.

Atkins Diet - Learn More

The Atkins diet can be boring because of the limited choice and some believe it can be dangerous. Get a physical to make sure you can tolerate the diet and inform the doctor about your decision to try the Atkins diet. Make sure you completely understand how the diet works.

You can get all the information, both positive and negative, that you could want online, at the library or the bookstore. The Atkins diet attempts to get your body to burn fat instead of carbs as fuel. Atkins dieters sometimes experience physical reaction in the early weeks of the diet.

There are things that can be done to alleviate these symptoms. Dizziness and muscular cramps can be experienced by new Atkins dieters. You might have dizziness, cramps or other physical effects caused by the dietary changes you are making. You can take steps to prevent cramps and other symptoms.

Brain fog, dizziness and muscular cramps are common reactions to the dietary changes. Minerals like potassium wash out of your system rather quickly. A banana will not replace all the potassium loss, you need to take a supplement. Your symptoms should improve in about an hour.

Here are some hints to help you stay healthy while on Atkins. There are ways to help you combat the symptoms of the dietary changes. You need to eat at least 8 calories per pound of body weight. You need to drink enough water to flush toxins from your system.

Some people recommend drinking water equal to half your body weight, that is a lot of water. Water helps the body to rid itself of acidic ketones and also helps in lipolysis , the burning of fat rather than carbs for energy.

Don't weigh or measure yourself more than once a week, more often will have you obsessing over every 1/4 ounce. You will likely see a decrease in inches after the first week, if not you will surely see it in pounds. Eating the carbs that make you feel your best, still means you need to stay within the limits for the diet stage you are in. You will get more bang for the buck if you choose unprocessed, natural nutrient dense carbohydrates.

Sugar is an absolute no-no. Regular exercise is absolutely necessary. Do not even consider a program that promises you can lose weight without exercise. Exercise helps the body to better utilize the foods you consume. Not doing enough exercise is as bad as doing too much. Ask your doctor's advice about how often, how much and what type of exercise is right for you. Don't start off by trying to run a 10k, try a walk around the block and build up tolerance for more.


Be sure to take the nutrient supplements prescribed by your doctor. You should have a journal to record your weight loss and food consumption. If a major event or life change happens, record it and the emotions, since these can affect how you eat. What happens in your life affects what you eat, how much and even how often you eat.

Significant events should also be entered because even good stuff can affect you. Keep track of exactly what you eat in your food journal if you are diabetic you will be able to see how certain foods positively or negatively affect blood sugar levels. You should record your daily test results in this journal also.

Your journal will teach you to recognize patterns and to realize when your blood sugar levels are changing. Share your journal, or at least the trends you have noticed, with your doctor so that he can determine what needs to be done. Read the labels on every pre-packaged food item, look for white flour and hidden sugars.

You will lose weight faster if you limit your caffeine intake. The Atkins diet, or any other diet, is not going to take off 50 pounds in a week. A weight loss of 2-4 pounds a week may be realistic for one person but not for another. Losing more than this could be dangerous.

7 Top Foods to Include in your Kid’s Diet

Here is a list of the top 7 healthiest foods to feed your kid and why it’s so healthy:

1. Oatmeal: A fabulous breakfast food, full of B vitamins, iron, zinc and calcium. Old-fashioned oatmeal offers plenty of carbohydrate for quick energy and high fiber.  Add berries and honey to make it a delicious perfect food for those fast-paced school day mornings!

2. Yogurt: Kick your child's dairy consumption up a notch and include yogurt on the menu. A great source of calcium, yogurt is easier to digest than regular milk, and the cultures (check the label to make sure they're in there!) are very beneficial to good colon health. Watch it on the sugar content though.  A great idea is to buy plain yogurt and sweeten it yourself with fresh fruit!

3. Broccoli: it is one of the best vegetables for anyone, especially growing kids.  It has loads of calcium, potassium, beta-carotene and a wide variety of the B vitamins.  If your child is not a fan of plain vegetables include broccoli in a casserole or put a little shredded cheese on top to add flavor.

4. Protein: One size does not fit all when it comes to protein. The fact is that growing kids need protein to keep growing. How you're going to give it to them can vary widely, according to your preferences. Good choices include legumes, beans (combined with a grain to make a complete protein), soy products like tofu, eggs or lean meat, fish or poultry.

5. Whole Grains: The best nutrition is found in whole grains. Brown rice and whole wheat bread are a quantum leap over their white counterparts and offer necessary fiber, minerals and vitamins.  Choose grain products with the words ôwholeö, ôunbleachedö and ôintactö or ôgroundö.

6. Nut Butters: Peanut butter and other nut butters are great fast and easy foods for kids. Kids need fat (it's a good fat if it doesn't have hydrogenated oils mixed in it) and they need the protein.  Try spreading almond or sunflower seed butter on crackers, toast or celery sticks for a quick and nutritious snack.

7. Fresh Fruit: My personal choice would be cantaloupe in the melon department. Vitamin C, beta-carotene, bits and pieces of B vitamins and trace minerals and calcium fill every juicy bite. Any in season fresh fruit is sure to be packed with healthy goodness!

Bariatric Surgery Improving Mortality Rates of Obesity-Related Diseases

We knew that gastric bypass and Lap Band surgery are beneficial for battling obesity and its co-morbidities.  But what is more exciting is the number of journal articles that are reporting the extent of improvement in both medical and psychological quality of life.  Did you know that the New England Journal of Medicine, one of the most highly respected medical journals reported that gastric bypass not only improves cause related mortality from coronary artery disease by 56% and diabetes by 92%, but also Cancer?  Yes, cancer mortality also improves after gastric bypass.  When comparing nearly 8,000 patients who had gastric bypass with ~ 8,000 patients of comparable sex, age and before surgery BMI the mortality from Cancer was 60% less.   The numbers are astounding.

Losing weight may make you healthier but it also improves your social life?  This is reported in a renowned journal, International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine.  A study in 2007 showed that significant changes in BMI secondary to weight loss surgery increased employment and subjects living in partnership, improved eating behavior, reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms.  All this, to complement improvements in your health! Local weight loss surgery Los Angeles patients have achieved incredibly successful and life-changing results not just in their appearance, but also in self-esteem, social and health related issues as well.

Dr. Mark Paya at the California Surgical Weight Loss Center performs Los Angeles bariatric surgery including Lap Band, sleeve gastrectomy procedures, and laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery Los Angeles.  They have a multidisciplinary service which includes dietician, psychologist, physical therapist and subspecialists such as gastrointestinology, pulmonary, cardiology and endocrine.  They have centers in Glendale, West Hills / Woodland Hills, Northridge, and Los Angeles.