Weight Loss

How Much Weight Loss is Healthy

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Lose up to 10lbs in 10 days! “I lost 25lbs in just 30 days!” Weight loss with a deadline, they are all over the place. The advertisements suggesting weight loss in a time frame are confusing regarding what can realistically be accomplished in a given time frame. For some, they give false hope, and they will have multiple attempts at losing weight. For others, they give up all together.

So what is a good goal to set for healthy weight loss? Well, let’s discuss what weight is and what exactly it is that you really want to lose. You can also talk to LIVE’s online trainers to discuss your personal situation.

Body Mass- the total amount of weight minus fat stores. So lean mass includes muscle, bones, organs and healthy tissue.

Body weight-the total amount of weight of a person. There are 3 main types of weight that you will lose or gain. Muscle, fat, and water.

Muscle weight Muscle weight is the amount of lean body mass that a person carries. It uses a lot of calories to maintain itself. If the calories are not there, the muscle weight will decrease. So the more muscle weight you have, the more calories you need to maintain it. This is why it is important to make resistance training and exercise part of your program to lose weight, and Live’s personal training and diet programs can give you the support and education you need to be successful. People who workout, regardless of wanting to build muscle or lose fat, need to eat more healthy calories than when they were sedentary!

Fat weight – This is the amount of adipose tissue, or fat, that a person carries. Body fat does not need calories to maintain itself. It is stored calories that a person has already ingested and is burned as energy as a result of exercise. We need a certain amount of fat to be healthy. These percentages will vary between men and women but healthy ranges for men will fall between 4% and 15% and for women 10%-20% of total body weight.

Water weight – Water weight accounts for the levels of hydration in our body. This weight can fluctuate 5lbs in a single day based on hydration levels. If you have ever been sick and lost weight very quickly, it was most likely water weight. The contestants on the Biggest Loser TV show, lost up to 20lbs in 1 week, and it was most likely some fat, but a lot of water weight too. The reason NFL football players weigh in and out of each summer practice is because the are being monitored for hydration levels as they can lose 3-5lbs in a single practice session. And finally, this is the weight you will lose and gain rapidly with low carb fad diets.

So how much weight can you lose safely and keep it off? 1lb of fat equals 3500 calories. That is about 2 days worth of food for most of us. To lose weight and keep it off, a calories deficit of about 500 a day is acceptable. This means if you eat 2000 calories a day, you should burn through 2500. So by the end of the week 1-2 lbs of fat loss is considered healthy, achievable and maintainable. Muscle is what we want to gain so we can burn more calories and raise our metabolism. We will all gain muscle differently based on a number of factors including genetics, training regimen and supplementation. A good number to target is about 1-2 lbs a month. The reason for this is because it is difficult to put on muscle and lose body fat at the same time. So you have to have a strict calorie balance so you can gain muscle weight without gaining fat weight too.

There is more than one type of weight you can lose or gain making this a vague topic to quantify. This is why they use the term “weight” on TV and in advertisements when referring to an abundant amount of weight loss quickly. Set realistic goals, and if you are consistently changing your body composition by losing fat and putting on some healthy muscle you will eventually look and feel the way you want to, you will have done it the right way, and will therefore be able to maintain the new you for life!

Copyright (c) 2007 Charles Carter

Weight loss workout program

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There are several weight loss workout programs available in the weight loss industry today. So much so, that if you are new to the entire “weight loss” thing then you might feel like a kid in the candy store when it comes to choosing one for your specific needs.

A good weight loss workout program will essentially involve an optimum combination of regular exercise and a healthy diet plan. Exercise is perhaps one of the best hobbies which one can ever develop since it is so essential for the regular upkeep of the entire health. Several diseases will never come within a one mile radius of your body if you just keep pumping iron on a regular basis. This in no way means that you have to go for extremely strenuous exercises for the regular upkeep of your health. There are several combinations of exercises which can be utilized without stressing your physique.

Regular exercise regime reduces the possibility of type 2 diabetes and coronary diseases in addition to lowering your blood pressure and maintaining your body weight. Several studies have concluded that people involved in regular exercise are less prone to stress and are able to handle adversity far better. Even simple home workouts like a treadmill workout can boost our energy levels to magnificent limits and you will feel the difference all day long.

A good weight loss workout program will inevitably cater to your personal needs and weight loss goals. There is no such thing as a “One size fit all” solution when it comes to losing weight in a natural manner. Every individual is different with different health history and hence you must approach the trainer provided by your weight loss workout program. There is no need to hide anything related to your health history, from your trainer. Do tell him about your past weight loss attempts no matter whether you failed or succeeded while pursuing them. In case you failed then do tell him the reason you feel might be the culprit for the same. All this information is invaluable for him so as to give you a clear cut weight loss plan to follow.

Most of the excellent weight loss workout program also gives you an important measurement known as the Body Mass Index or BMI. This index is basically a ratio of your weight (In pounds) to your Height (In Inches). For a healthy person the BMI is between 18 and 25. In case your BMI is between 25 and 30, then you can consider yourself to be overweight. Most people joining a weight loss program for the first time usually fall into this category. In case your body mass index is between 30 and 40 then you are suffering from obesity, which is a medical condition. For an obese person, it will be better to consult a doctor before coming to gym. This is because; a doctor will be in a better position to asses your condition and hence will recommend you appropriate exercises before you think about coming to gym. In case your BMI is over 40 then youre an extreme case of Obesity known as Morbid Obesity. If this is your condition then you are in urgent need of professional help and you must get it at once.

If youre just overweight and are mentally prepared to come to gym then you can also add a few strength training exercises to your schedule. This is particularly helpful for developing fit muscles and leaner body. This kind of workout also increases your metabolism which in turn leads to better digestion of your food even after you have left the gym for long durations. Your trainer from the weight loss workout program will be in a better position to guide you in this regard.

This site explains weight loss methods used in medical weight loss centers.

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An individual with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 is considered obese. Diets and exercises can fail to achieve the desired weight loss and it is therefore advisable to seek medical weight loss centers to assist in weight loss for such individuals as they are at a high risk of developing heart diseases and diabetes. Well, let us discuss the weight loss programs that these centers offer.

Very low calorie diets offered in medical weight loss centers are commercial formulas that provide an individual with no more than 800 calories per day and they completely replace an individuals normal food intake. Common side effects of using these formulas include dizziness, mood swings, headaches and confusion.

The use of obesity drugs is another method used in medical weight loss centers. Meridia and Xenical are FDA approved drugs and they help decrease the body weight by up to 10%. Meridia reduces hunger by altering the brain chemistry while Xenical stops fats absorption in the stomach and intestines. Common side effects of these drugs include headache, insomnia, frequent bowel movement and rapid heartbeat.

Gastric bypass surgery is another method widely used in medical weight loss centers. The medical procedure shrinks the stomach by creating a small stomach pouch on top of the main stomach. The small intestine is then attached to the small pouch and the procedure forces the food digestion and travel to happen only through the upper pouch and the small intestines thus limiting the amount of food an individual can take at a time. Weight loss through this method can achieve results of up to 68% within the first year.

Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) is a procedure carried out in medical weight loss centers where part of the stomach is removed. The intact stomach is then attached to the small intestines. In this method theres rapid weight loss as most food travels too fast through the small intestines and there is therefore no absorption of most nutrients and calories. BPD causes more weight loss than gastric bypass however it has more severe side effects like nausea, sweating, dumping syndrome, diarrhea right after eating and anemia. With this method, an individual can lose up to 80%.

Ensure that you consult your doctor before choosing any of these methods; they are irreversible and require one to have a life-long commitment of lifestyle change.

Activity and Weight Control

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The only way to eliminate stored fat is burned. Now you know that exercise increases energy expenditure and energy expenditure is related to both the intensity and duration of activity. If exercise is intense, the duration of participation is necessarily shorter. While we are able to spend up to 125 calories in one mile every run we brisk walking or jogging at a comfortable pace for two miles and three times the calories without becoming exhausted. This concept explains why we moderate activity recommended, instead of intensive effort to control weight. The relationship of exercise calories helps explain why the benefits grow with a better physical condition. More Fitness offers more activity and more control over your weight.

The effects of exercise does not stop when people stop exercising. The oxygen consumption Excess post-exercise, the amount of rest after training level exceeds said spending a evevation prolonged post-exercise caloric. increased caloric expenditure for 30 minutes or more remaining after strenuous exercise. prolonged effort, as a race distance, the oxygen consumption and body temperature and increase the use of hormones mobilize energy and increase metabolism. On cessation of exercise, calorie consumption remains elevated above resting levels during the recovery period. The EPOC is often overlooked when the caloric benefits of exercise are tabulated.

Activity Versus Dieting

Some people believe that diet is better than exercise for weight control. They note, rightly, that it is easier to reduce calories Itaka refusing a piece of cake, that is to burn the cake after dinner, that would be more than 2 miles to 110 calories per mile jog. But considering the question “Is this system a better method of weight control?” The answer is available for more than 35 years, and the answer is no,

Oscai Holloszy and compared the effects of diet and exercise on body composition of laboratory rats. They controlled the experiment, so that both groups of equal weight. After 18 weeks of caloric restriction or the other or swim, they performed the analysis of the carcass.

The analysis indicated that the exercise was a more effective way to lose fat. Moreover, the study compelling evidence of protein-preserving effects of exercise, losing 5 percent protein for athletes, compared with 11 percent of dieters. The amount of water lost through caloric restriction was 16 percent for the athletes, compared with 26 percent of dieters. The loss of water, a phenomenon that occurs in dieters, accounts for the rapid success of most fad diets fail and veentual the overall objective, the loss of fat. A control group of sedentary freely eating animals gained weight during the study. Their weight gain was from 87 percent fat and 10 percent water. Can we generalize the results of this study in animals to humans?

A study of 16 obese patients compared with a period of six months of the scheme with a comparable period of diet and exercise. The exercise group achieved greater fat loss, exercise and other positive effects, including heart rate, lower resting and improve recovery of heart rate after exercise. And then 25 women have a deficit of 500 calories a day when a diet, exercise or a combination of both, all women have the same amount of weight lost, but the group plans have lost less fat and more lean tissue. The authors, who conducted the study recommended that those interested in losing weight on diet and exercise to combine into a greater loss of fat and lean tissue protection. A more recent study of 24 overweight women confirms the superiority of diet and exercise to reduce body fat and preserve lean tissue, compared with diet alone.

Realistic Weight Loss Goals How To Build A Strong Foundation For Long-Term Weight Loss Success

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Formulating realistic weight loss goals is the first critical step you must undertake when starting a new weight loss or diet program. If you do not make a concerted effort to develop realistic goals for your weight loss and dieting you will, probably, create unrealistic goals. The consequence of unrealistic weight loss goals is you will not have a clear idea how to approach your weight loss and dieting, and as a result you will flounder and fail. Examples of unrealistic weight loss goals would be, “I am going to lose all the weight I need to lose fast!” That is a goal but it is unrealistic because there is no mention of how you will lose the weight and how much weight you want to lose. A second example of an unrealistic goal would be, “I will lose all the weight by reducing what I eat.” Again, that is an approach to weight loss but how much will you reduce, how will you measure the portions you eat and how long will you continue the reduction? Goals that are not specific and difficult to assess and monitor are recipes for disaster. The outcome of “goals” like these is that you will fall back into comfortable habits and soon you will become frustrated and then you are just a whisper away from complete failure. To maximize your success you must set realistic goals and when you do you will discover that success will come faster and you will achieve your goals easily.

When you set weight loss goals be sure to establish easily attainable short-term realistic weight loss goals. When I speak of short-term goals I am speaking about a goal you can achieve in the next week. Begin developing your short-term goals and as you do write down every action required for you to accomplish your goals. This list of goals and actions must be as specific as possible. When you decide on a goal make the goal as clear as possible because the more well defined your goal the easier it will be for you to achieve the goal. Developing a plan to attack the dieting process is of the utmost importance and setting realistic weight loss goals is fundamental to your success. To give yourself every opportunity to succeed make your goals detail rich, extremely positive and very clear. Anytime you sit down to create a realistic weight loss goal think of the goal as a piece of the most essential “roadmap” you will every use. A “roadmap” is useful because it contains all the information, details, and hints to get you from the starting point to the final destination. Your list of short-term realistic weight loss goals is that “roadmap” for your weight loss and dieting success. As you set weight loss goals remember that for the goals to be most effective they must be clearly defined, detail rich, and very specific. Once you have spent time understanding this step all you have to do is follow the path you have charted and watch your success grow with every week.

Planning and attention to details will bring success in any endeavor and weight loss is no exception. To be success with weight loss you must plan how to attack every obstacle every day. When setting goals for weight loss each goal must be expressed using very positive language. An example of a goal that isnt structured correctly is, “In the next seven days I will change how I eat and see if I lose some weight.” Getting to the point of knowing you need to lose weight is important but the way this goal is structured will lead to failure. The reason this goal will lead to failure is that it is not specific. In what ways will you change how you eat? How much weight do you believe you can lose? A goal that would be much easier to achieve would be, “In the next 7 days I will lose two pounds. I will achieve this by ” This goal has a definite starting point and finish and a plan to get from start to finish. Also this goal is positive, clear and specific. As you create goals that have a definite starting and endpoint point, when your goals are filled with details you will build momentum and you will experience success much easier and faster that you anticipated.

Im sure some people might think the goal of losing two pounds in a week is an easy goal however think about this, two pounds may not sound like a lot but to lose two pounds you must make some difficult changes in your life. These changes will affect of how, when and what you eat. These changes affect basic life patterns that you have developed over the years and are not easy to change. Always understand that you are making important changes in your life and the more time you devote to creating and detailing realistic weight loss goals the faster you will experience success

Creating the short-term realistic weight loss goals is crucial to your success. Therefore it is imperative you create these goals when you can devote all of your attention to this process. Since these goals are critical to your success you need to find a peaceful place where you can focus and be undisturbed. Ask yourself if can you achieve each goal in seven days? Through the process of creating the list of realistic weight loss goals you will see the path for your success very clearly. Always remember that the clearer and detailed your goals the more easily you will find success.

You want to lose weight and you must also want to keep the weight off. Your degree of success with long-term weight loss will be directly affected by the amount of thought, planning, and patience you put into developing your short-term realistic weight loss goals. Long-term weight loss is not the subject of this article but you need to begin planning to achieve it. A very helpful tool to use is visualization. Visualize who you want to be in one year. Allow yourself to feel the emotions you imagine you would feel after one year of successful weight loss. Create a detailed picture in your mind about everything in your life: the clothes are you wearing, what you are feeling, what you are thinking, and of course how you look. If you follow these simple steps everything is within your reach. All of your success will arise from your short-term realistic weight loss goals. Take the time to develop these goals and they will propel you into your new future. Do not allow doubt to exist in your mind. Everything is right in front of you and it is just waiting for you to grab hold it. Decide right now that you will be successful and begin your successful journey by achieving all your short-term realistic weight loss goals.