Why Can't I Lose Weight? 3 Reasons Why You Can't Lose Weight

Having a perfect, slim, fit body is what a lot of people dream of having. There are some who can practice a simple diet and casually exercise and achieve their goals while others have to push hard just to reach their quota for the day, yet still end up having the excess weight in the end. There are actually a lot of different reasons why this may happen. You may be asking yourself this question: "Why can't I lose weight when others can do so with such ease?" There are several factors that may be behind this. In order to understand how your body works and what you should to in order to successfully achieve your goals, you need to take these things into consideration:

Poor Eating Habits

When you are exercising regularly, you tend to watch out for what you eat. This is something that is common amongst almost every dieting person. However, stopping yourself from eating food will only stimulate cravings. A craving is a diet wrecker. Once you have got the urge to eat a certain food that has been kept out of your diet for a long time, you will tend to over-indulge once you finally decide to eat it. The best advice is to have small portions of cravings like ice cream, chocolates, and cakes once you reach certain milestones in your diet plan. This acts as a positive reward mechanism and will convince you to work hard in order to earn a small portion of your favorite food.

Stress

Stress is proven to really alter a diet plan. Once you are overly depressed, your mind just wanders and you stop paying attention to amount of food going into your mouth. Since your mind is diverted to a certain topic, you are totally unaware of the servings.

Lack of Exercise

Dieting alone is never effective. Exercise tends to burn off calories while also tightening your muscles, which results in an ideal body.

Approaches to losing weight are relative. One person may benefit from a certain approach while another person does not. But, with discipline and with the knowledge of the things that will stop you from achieving the weight loss that you have dreamed of, you are a step closer towards achieving your dream. There are also several different products on the market that will help you to achieve better results at a faster pace.

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How to Burn Fat and Build Muscle

Fat burning advantage by practicing exercises in the morning. A frequently asked question...

Is it better cardiovascular exercise in the morning or evening?

You burn the same number of calories in the morning than in the evening for the same amount of exercise. However, research shows that the percentage of fat burned during exercise in the morning on an empty stomach is bigger.

A study at the University of the State of Kansas USA, evaluated the type of calories you burn by doing exercise fasting and also after a normal meal.

Eight individuals in good physical shape (aged 21-27 years) participated in this study.

The results have shown that you burn the same amount of calories on an empty stomach after a meal, but people who had consumed any calories before exercise, burned greater amount of fat than those who ate their last meal up to an hour and a half before exercising.

Other advantages are related to cardiovascular exercise done in the morning. The increased energy throughout the day and increases metabolism (more calories burned) during the waking period.

In addition, this research has shown that people who exercise early tend to maintain their exercise program long term.

While those who prefer to exercise later in the day tend to miss workouts, this being due to distractions and fatigue daily.

The experts agree that training the practice of physical activity in general is beneficial regardless of the time you do.

Get up early to do your cardio can help you burn more calories from fat.

Exercising at night is also effective and should not be overlooked. When you exercise in the evening, your metabolism increases so you burn fat and pull a huge advantage for the cardiovascular system.

Spread your meals to burn more fat.

The composition and distribution of meals can play an important role in your ability to burn fat.

Losing body fat quickly depends not only what you eat but when you eat.

If you do your cardio in the morning, do it immediately after waking up and not eat.

Take an additional type Energy Performance Booster with caffeine before exercise to help mobilize fat for energy.

Research shows that the use of caffeine before exercise can help burn more fat by affecting the mobilization of it for energy.

To maximize the benefits of cardio throughout the day, you need to split your meals and reduce the consumption of carbohydrates.

Do your cardio 2 or 3 hours after eating and make sure that this meal is low in sugar to reduce the effects of insulin and to maximize fat loss.

After your workout, try to eat a meal at relatively low glycemic index.

This will help support the hormones responsible for burning fat, such as glucagon and insulin control.

Eating at least two hours before your workout cardiovascular and making sure meals before and after your workouts, you are carb burn more calories from fat and avoid depression energy.

Adjust the duration of cardiovascular exercise to build muscle.

Moderate intensity cardiovascular work is the best way to build muscle and improve heart health. While cardio is beneficial to health in general, do cardio 4-6 times per week at a high intensity is cons-productive to muscle growth.

If you do cardio while trying to build muscle, it should be done at moderate intensity.

Means of low intensity exercises that keep the heart at a rate that does not exceed 60% of the maximum frequency (VO2 MAX).

If the intensity is too high, excess calories are burned and you may use some of the muscles for energy.

Balance and distribute meals to build muscle mass.

Build muscle means eating in quantity and quality sufficient to increase muscle mass.

Eat plenty of high quality protein throughout the day both before and after your workouts.

Start your day with a source of quality protein to complement your breakfast (Pure Performance ® Whey or Whey Protein Isolate Performance).

It is important to make a contribution to high quality protein and carbohydrates immediately upon waking. Then start your workout in the morning.

If you train in the evening, good absorb calories including protein, complex carbohydrates and essential fats before starting the day.

This is of course completely different for people who aim to try to burn fat and avoid eating before cardiovascular exercise.

Recent research conducted by Tipton show that consumption of 30 grams of whey protein (containing 15 grams of essential amino acids) before and after your workout can increase protein synthesis up to 400%!

Additional research shows that consuming a drink that combines protein and carbohydrates, the type of beverage protein powder immediately after training can also increase protein synthesis.

These are set in the more muscle if they are consumed several hours later.

The following meals should contain a combination of high quality protein and complex carbohydrates.

Build muscle depends on a balance between the proper training, the nutritional quality and sufficient rest for recovery.

Neglecting any of these settings may prevent you to gain muscle you want.

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Natural Ways to Lose Weight For Fast and Long Term Results

Losing weight is probably one of the most over-analyzed topics. There are so many people who want to achieve a healthy and slender body. Sometimes, however, it goes beyond a normal earning to be healthy and fit. Some body-conscious people tend to rush things up. The tendency with this is that they often end up with unsafe weight loss plans. But why risk your health when you can actually lose weight fast and safe?

Eat a lot of vegetables. Vegetables, especially green leafy ones, let you feel full quickly, which saves you from the need to fill your stomach with more food. This is not their only advantage. They also sweep away toxins that may be collecting around your stomach and your intestines.

Do not skip meals. Usually, a person may think that skipping meals will help in the reduction of your body weight, but it actually does not do a lot to help. Skipping meals will just leave your brain thinking that you need to load up on the next meal. The tendency with this is that you will actually end up taking in much more than you would have in the first place.

Drink plenty of water. Water has many purposes in weight reduction. One is that it stands effective in suppressing appetite since it alerts the brain for the feeling of fullness. Water has no calories, which means that loading it in the stomach will not leave your body retaining any weight. Also, it aids in fast digestion.

Stay active. Reducing weight can be possible if there is routine exercise. It does not always have to be gym exercise. Simply walking, running, and doing household chores can be a great help already to shrug off excess weight inside the body.

There are food supplements available on the market, too, that can be used. Natural food supplements pose lesser risk to achieving the body weight that you have always been dreaming of. Since there are less chemicals involved, you can be sure that your liver is taken care of while the process is going on.

Losing weight the fastest yet safest way boils down to one thing: stick with the natural way. Considering the pool of products on the market today, there will always be unsafe ones that will affect your body in the long run. With the use of the natural ways, though, you will get the best effects in a healthy way.

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Lose Weight In Just 4 Weeks With These Easy To Follow Tips

Losing weight comes with a lot of benefits. One is that it helps boost your confidence, as it tends get your body into good shape. Next, it saves you from a plethora of diseases, as it tends to lower cholesterol levels by burning the fats dwelling in your tissues. Did you know that you could lose weight in 4 weeks? Ideally, the maximum weight loss that the body can handle is around 2 pound per week. This is a lot of work to do. To succeed in achieving the body weight you have been dreaming of in 4 weeks, there are several milestones you must set and reach in the process.

The first week should be the week for all the adjustments. This is when you will have to prepare your body adeptly for the 4-week weight loss program. Since you will need a lot of exercise, start off with a 10-minute exercise for this specific week. This is also the time when you should start reducing your food intake by getting rid sweets in your diet.

The second and third weeks are when you have to do a lot of work. This is when you may start with 30-minute routines. The routine may include vigorous exercises.

The last week is like the cooling down week. This is the week when you need to weigh in the results of your work and evaluate the needs for more improvement. If you have done the routine correctly, you are sure to get a whole lot of positive benefits. It would also pose a difference if you have included a high protein diet with your exercise. These foods give you ample of nutrients to regenerate cells while losing weight. But this should also be taken with power boosters such as fruits and vegetables, as you will be left lethargic once the protein used up. There are various food supplements, too, that can help you up to get the energy that you will need.

Four weeks can be a short while to achieve the best results, but with proper discipline you are sure to see a whole lot of improvements. Just limit your expectations to the recommended weight loss of 2 pounds per week in order to remain healthy while you are involved with your weight reduction program. Remember not to rush things so you can achieve the results that will leave you feeling great.

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How to Lose Weight Quickly By Jumping Rope

It can very stressful when you need to work out just to fit into a certain dress for an upcoming party. The tendency is that you will become so desperate to shed weight that you may embrace some unhealthy practices. But here is one tool that will help you lose weight even when you are just at home: jumping rope. This is a simple exercise, but it has a lot of proven benefits that will eventually turn your body to its most admirable form. But you need to follow these steps in order to make sure it is effective:

The first step is to set a goal. Set the weight that you need to reach to give yourself direction with your skipping rope routine. Remember that the body can lose a maximum of 2 pounds a week and still be healthy. Once you go beyond this number, your body can become lethargic. Have your limits be as realistic as possible.

Once you have a goal, remember that there is just one thing that will help you achieve maximum results: do it regularly. When your body starts to adapt to the exercise, it will gradually burn the calories that you aim to get rid of. Once you stop at a certain point, you will have to start all over again. Set a time every day that will most convenient for you. For instance, you may choose to exercise every morning. This specific time is when you have to do the routine every day. As your mind is set that this specific time is intended for exercise, your body will also be conditioned likewise, and you will be amazed how it reacts to the exercise.

Monitor your progress as well. There should be a sense of direction and dedication in order to see the results you want. At first you can begin with a short routine of only a few minutes a day. Eventually, though, you should progress up to 30 minutes of training. Make sure you monitor the time, too, so that you can change course if you ever notice that your routine does not meet your expectations.

Jumping rope is a simple exercise that almost anyone can try. It may appear simple, but it does help a lot in losing weight. Moreover, it strengthens the cardiac muscles that prepare your body for any vigorous activity that you are to face.

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Top NINE Tips For Losing Fat And Toning Up

Losing fat and toning is fairly straight forward. There are many myths and lies being peddled to you from many sources in this day and age. These tips will help you succeed rather than fail as they have worked all around the world with trainers and trainees that value results. Don't let the snake oil salesman sabotage your weight loss goals and rip you off. You can eat great food that nourishes your body rather than poisons it, you owe it to yourself and your family. Exercise of the right kinds will also maximise your results. Slow endless cardio will slow your BMR not increase it, and resistance exercise will build lean muscle which burns excess calories and you will also look amazing:

1.) Eat about 170 g of protein at each meal.

2.) Eat a variety of coloured vegetables daily.

3.) Low GI fruit, seeds, nuts for snacks.

4.) Wholemeal wholegrain pasta, bread etc.

5.) 20 minutes of HIIT cardio ever 2nd day eg interval sprints.

6.) Resistance training for the whole body especially the large muscle groups for about 40 minutes every 2nd day. Resistance bands are really versatile and portable.

7.) Personal or group Personal Training.

8.) Adequate hydration, sleep.

9.) Stretching, foam rolling after each workout.

Protein could include lean meat from chicken breasts, kangaroo steaks, pork midloin with trimmed fat, steak trimmed of fat, tofu, eggs in moderation.

Colourful vegetables contain all different types of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fiber. Dark green leafy vegetables are especially good for you eg. Spinach.

Apricots are an example of low GI fruits. Also include berries for good health.

Wholemeal breads and other grain sources are very important for fiber and other nutrients.

Interval cardio gets your fat burning furnace cranking for up to 48 hours after a workout.

Resistance training with progressively heavier weights/resistance builds lean muscle mass which burns about 100 calories per kg per day.

Water and sleep help to flush out toxins. Water percentages should be over 50% to 65% for non athletes, and 5 % more for athletes. Preferable level is about 60%. Drink over 2 litres of fluids during cooler months, and over 3 litres in summer.

Stretching muscles after resistance training brings them back to a normal state. Foam rolling and/or tennis ball use of muscle slings and fascia is also important.

Group Personal Training is fun, accountable, motivating, social, and affordable.

Hope you liked the content and good luck with your Health and Fitness Goals.

Tony Shepherd is a Personal Trainer who does one on one, small group, and Bootcamp style training. Ab Fab Results Personal Training located in Melbourne, Australia.

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Struggling To Lose Weight? Here's The Most Effective Diet And Exercise Plan (EVER!)

Are you struggling to lose weight? Are you tired of jumping on diet after diet and exercise plan after exercise plan... only to end up failing and feeling miserable? Read on to discover the most effective diet and exercise plan I have found to get the best results possible... FOR YOU!

In The Beginning...

300 pounds, a fat stomach, love handles, heavy breathing, pain in my back just from walking, and VERY low self-esteem. That's what I dealt with before I began my journey to transform my body!

Needless to say, I was desperate. I tried everything in the beginning. Diet pills, fad diets, starvation diets, and so much more. And you know what? Nothing worked! I just couldn't get that scale or my waistline to budge!

Then... I Had An Epiphany...

This epiphany drove me to finding the most effective diet and exercise program for ME... and as a result... I lost a TON of weight, I flattened my stomach, and so much more!

Can you guess what it was?

Well, I gave you a couple of hints in the beginning of this article and in the paragraph above...

I found a diet and exercise program for ME and I found a program I felt would get ME the best results.

In other words, I for one stopped messing around with unnatural diets and diet pills. That's something no matter what, I STRONGLY recommend you steer clear from. Secondly, I stopped trying to find the next best thing and what was working for OTHER PEOPLE. Instead, I looked for something I knew that I wouldn't have a problem STAYING CONSISTENT WITH!

And that right there my friend is the most effective diet and exercise plan: A plan that YOU are interested in trying and would not have a problem staying consistent with!

Why Is That So Important?

Well, one thing I learned (the hard way) is that if you want to get the best results, it all boils down to two words: Consistency + Results. Period.

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Some Helpful Weight Loss Tips

If you are among those suffering from obesity and overweight, you need to take some serious actions to shed extra kilos. Because, being obese or overweight, you are inviting a number of diseases, including Type 2 Diabetes, Sleep Apnea, High Blood Pressure and Chest Pain. Over and above, obesity degrades your quality of life and gives birth to depression. Therefore, it is vital for you to lose weight and live a healthy life.

Losing weight looks easy, but it can turn out to be a difficult task as you have to refrain from your favorite food and include physical activities in your routine. Here are some useful medical weight loss tips:

• Avoid private or public transport for short distances: You do not need a car or bike to go to the closely located market, theater, eating joint, etc. Try going on foot; it will help you burn some calories and keep your body fit.

• Say no to snacks: Though you love snacks, you have to avoid their intake to make your weight loss goal achievable. French fries and all other deep fried items add to your body fat; therefore, it is better to stay away from them.

• Exercises: Exercise plays an important role in reducing weight and makes your body slim. You can also consider swimming, aerobics and crunches.

• Household chores: It is good to have a servant who washes clothes, do dishes and keeps your home neat and clean. But, it will be better if you do most of your household chores yourself as it can help you lose some kilos.

• Don't skip meals: It is a myth that low intake of food or skipping meals can burn calories. Since our body needs calories to burn calories, it is very important to eat right amount of healthy food after regular intervals of time.

• Drink sufficient amount of water: Water helps kidneys function properly, which helps in shedding calories.

• Start playing outdoor sports: Since outdoor sports are all about running and sweating, participating in one is a good way to lose weight naturally.

If you are not able to reduce or manage your weight even after following the above-mentioned tips, you can contact any of the reliable weight loss clinics. These clinics examine your body carefully and suggest a diet plan that is best and effective for you. They also suggest a few medicines and injections, so that you lose weight as soon as possible.

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Weight Loss Hype Has To Go

There is no longer a demand in the weight loss industry for hype. Consumers are sick and tired of monstrous promises with no delivered results. This is starting to catch up with many weight loss companies because they've pretty much maxed out their promises to a point where there's no where left to go.

If you're as sick as me about hearing things like take off 20 lbs in 2 weeks, or lose 10 inches off your waist in less than a month, then it's about time we told the advertisers that we're fed up and don't want to hear it anymore.

There's really only one way though that we the consumers are going to accomplish this task. Vote with the almighty dollar. If the consumer base really wants the weight loss industry to deliver real promises, real programs, and real results, we have to stop falling for the weight loss BS. The next time we see an infomercial promising us crazy results overnight, we have to sit back and think about it for a minute. Is that even possible?

And that's where they get us don't they. Many consumers are still willing to shell out $50 or $100, or even $500 for a quick fix solution to our weight control problem. Here's the worst part. Many of these programs provide short term results, so they are right in saying that John lost X lbs or Melinda took off X inches off her waist. Then behind closed doors many of these so-called testimonials just rebound and put the weight back on once they get off the diet or exercise routine.

So what can the weight loss industry do better?

Start working on real changes to the way our population lives. Help them help themselves instead of providing band-aid solutions to an epidemic that's growing at an accelerating rate. The main reason why so many children are having weight issues is because of the lifestyle that the parent's provide for them. That's right... the child isn't choosing what they eat or what they do most days. It's somebody's job to look out for them. Their parents, right?

But maybe it's not their parent's fault either. If they're parents don't have a lifestyle conducive to maintaining a healthy weight or choices, they simply pass that on to their children. So let's just start by educating the moms and dads out there to make smart healthy lifestyle choices and they will in turn pass that on to the next generation.

Let's work on lifestyle changes together. This way we'll give our future generations a fighting chance.

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UK Obesity Epidemic Is Out Of Control

Only one third of British men are considered to be normal weight, according to the latest statistics from the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). 

Experts warn that the UK obesity crisis is 'spiraling out of control', with the number of people being admitted to hospital because of obesity-related problems increasing significantly in recent years. 

The finding relates to information gathered in 2011 which paints a rather alarming picture of the obesity problem in the country, indicating that the epidemic has shown no signs of improvement. 

The percentage of men with a healthy body mass index (BMI) - of between 18.5 and 25 - went down from 50 percent in 1993 to 34 percent in 2011. Among women the percentage also fell, from 50 percent to 39 percent. 

Currently, 65 percent of men and 58 percent of women are classed as either overweight or obese in England.

Obesity is also affecting the country's youth. Nearly 1 in 10 children attending reception class in 2011-12, aged 4-5 years, were classed as obese. The health consequences associated with childhood obesity were recently published in Frontiers in Endocrinology, where researchers believe it could be responsible for disrupting the timing of puberty as well as leading to a diminished ability to reproduce. 

In addition, the authors of the report found that only one third of adults (only 36%) participate in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week. A quarter of all men and women (24% and 29% accordingly) are consuming the recommended daily amount of fresh fruit and vegetables, these figures are lower among children (16% for boys and 20% for girls).

The health risks associated with obesity

There are considerable health risks associated with obesity. In 2011-12 a total of 11,736 hospital admissions were related to obesity - more than 11 times higher than in 2001. 

Obesity is known to be the cause of a range of diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even several cancers. Just over half of all obese men and 44 percent of obese women have high blood pressure (hypertension). The WHO (World Health Organization) estimates that close to a third of coronary heart disease cases are because of obesity or excess weight gain.

 
Obesity is one of the leading causes of a range of medical conditions

What's causing the obesity epidemic?

Some of the underlying factors that can cause obesity include:

• People using cars as a means of transport instead of walking
• The high demand for cheap, fatty and high calorie foods
• More and more people living sedentary lifestyles than in the past - modern leisure activities (such as watching TV or playing video games) involve sitting down rather than being active
• Young children not getting their recommended daily hours of sleep - which increases their risk of becoming overweight. Partial sleep deprivation is associated with weight gain.

Treating obesity

When it comes to treating obesity, there are four goals:

• Stop further weight gain
• Lose weight by adjusting one's calorie intake and exercising
• Prevent putting the weight back on
• Improve one's general state of health

Gastric banding has also been identified as a safe, effective, low-cost, and long-term solution for morbidly obese patients who have not responded to standard treatments. According to a recent study published in the journal Annals of Surgery a significant number of obese patients who underwent gastric bypass surgery were able to lose 26 kilograms on average and keep the weight off for over a decade. 

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Could Cold Temperatures Help You Lose Weight?

Ray Cronise, a former NASA scientist who spent 15 years overseeing experiments aboard shuttles at Marshall Space Flight Center, has been conducting experiments since 2008 to see if cold temperatures have an effect on the metabolism.

In 2008 while watching a televised program on Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps, Cronise got an idea. The documentary claimed that the swimmer was consuming around 12,000 calories a day while training. That fact didn’t make sense to Cronise considering his own calorie-restricted diet allowed him to have only 12,000 calories per week.

At the time Cronise weighed 209 pounds at 5 feet 9 inches tall, and was trying to get down to 180 pounds. He thought to himself, if Phelps was really consuming that many calories daily and was in the water three hours a day, then something didn’t add up because the swimmer would become a “blob.”

That’s when it hit him. The water was taking heat from Phelp’s body causing him to burn extra calories in order to keep his internal body temperature at 98.6 degrees.

Cronise began testing his hypothesis by attempting to avoid heat altogether. He began taking cool showers, going on what he called “shiver walks” (three miles of walking in 30 degree weather wearing nothing but a t-shirt, shorts, gloves and earmuffs) and even sleeping without sheets. After performing these tests for six weeks without changing his calorie-restricted diet and weekly exercise routine, he lost 27 pounds, which nearly tripled his previous weight loss rate.

In 2010 the NASA scientist had officially set off a new fad diet referred to as “thermal dieting.” He and his theory were mentioned in the book The 4-Hour Body by Time Ferriss, which recommended 20-minute ice baths. The theory quickly spread to bloggers who began experimenting themselves and writing about it. This caused the idea to spread into diet books and products alike, such as Lycra bike shorts with pockets for frozen gel packs.

Studies have shown cold exposure can boost metabolism anywhere from 8-80 percent depending on variables such as the degree and duration of the exposure, whether or not the body is shivering, diet, and physiological factors (age, gender and body fat percentage, etc.). All of these factors make it extremely difficult to quantify how environmental temperatures affect a person’s metabolism, which takes out a decent amount of science behind the theory. Scientists are trying to differentiate the science from the pseudo and the possibility of developing a weight-loss pill that could cause the same effects.

Cronise is currently holding experiments in his own home by submerging volunteers in 60 degree water for 20 minutes while they’re connected to a snorkel-like contraption called “The Cosmed Quark.” This $30,000 piece of lab equipment analyzes breathing by tracking inhaled and exhaled carbon dioxide and oxygen – a calculator for the amount of fuel the individual is burning.

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Employees Shed Pounds in Worksite-Based Weight Loss Intervention With Behavioral Counseling

Workplace-based programs that include dietary advice coupled with behavioral counseling appear to be a promising approach for men and women with significant weight loss goals, based on the results of a pilot study conducted by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University. Employees enrolled in the intervention arm of a randomized controlled trial lost on average, 18 pounds over a six-month period compared to a two pound weight gain in a control group.

The study results are published online ahead of print by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

"Although previous research has focused on weight loss interventions based in office settings, those studies that we are aware of report modest weight loss over periods ranging from three months to two years. To the best of our knowledge, our approach is unique because of the inclusion of a strong behavioral component," says Senior Author Sai Krupa Das, Ph.D., a scientist in the Energy Metabolism Laboratory at the USDA HNRCA at Tufts University. "Over the course of the intervention, a counselor with training in both nutrition and behavior modification met at first weekly and later bi-weekly with the participants as a group during their lunch hour. In these sessions, discussions focused on strategies for menu planning, portion control and managing hunger, as well as dealing with stress-related and emotional eating. The participants also received individual support in a weekly e-mail exchange with the counselor."

The weight loss component of the study enrolled men and women from four Boston area companies, all of whom had a body mass index (BMI) classifying them as overweight or obese. Eighty-four (84) men and women from two of the companies, one for-profit and one non-profit, completed the intervention. Thirty-four (34) employees from the other two companies served as the control group.

For six months, the employees enrolled in the intervention followed a reduced calorie diet, emphasizing low-glycemic and high fiber foods that are less likely to raise blood sugar. The participants were responsible for purchasing and preparing their own food. At the completion of the intervention, Das and colleagues observed substantial improvements in common markers for cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk. These included lower total cholesterol and glucose levels and lower blood pressure compared to the control group. Additionally, the intervention participants were given the option to enroll in a six-month, structured maintenance program. No significant weight re-gain was observed in the 40 participants who enrolled and stayed in the program.

"Based on our results, it seemed the weight loss intervention became embedded in the office culture and also helped the weight of people who were not enrolled in the program," said Susan B. Roberts, Ph.D., a co-author of the study and director of the Energy Metabolism Laboratory. "We made an effort to reach employees who were not involved by producing a series of newsletters and holding monthly seminars on general health-related topics such as cardiovascular health, childhood nutrition and exercise."

"To gauge the impact of this parallel programming, we asked employees in all four worksites who did not participate in the weight loss intervention to provide us with a self report of their body weight and we saw an encouraging ripple effect," added Roberts, who is also the author of The "I" Diet book and program upon which the intervention is based, a professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and an adjunct professor of psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM). "Overweight and obese employees at the intervention sites lost up to three pounds while employees at the control sites gained up to two pounds."

The authors recommend future studies that include more worksites and longer post-intervention follow-up. "For example, the current study does not explain why the employees at the non-profit intervention site lost significantly less weight than the employees at the for-profit site," said Das, who is also an assistant professor at the Friedman School. "It would be valuable to know what exactly about the culture fostered the success, because offices are really wonderful settings for weight loss groups. Co-workers have established relationships, creating an automatic support system and level of comfort. There is also the benefit of not having to set aside as much additional time for weight management. It can be built right into the work day."

This study was supported by a pilot grant from the USDA HNRCA at Tufts University (pilot grant H15001-DAX023) and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) (grant T32 HL 069772).

Additional authors of this study include Taylor Salinardi, Ph.D., a 2012 graduate of the Friedman School; Payal Batra, Ph.D., and Lorien Urban, Ph.D., postdoctoral associates in the Energy Metabolism Laboratory; Alice H. Lichtenstein, D.Sc. director of the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory at the USDA HNRCA at Tufts University and the Stanley N. Gershoff Professor of Nutrition Science and Policy at the Friedman School; Anastassios G. Pittas, M.D., Co-Director of the Diabetes Center at Tufts Medical Center and associate professor at Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) and Edward Saltzman, M.D., a scientist in the Energy Metabolism Laboratory at the USDA HNRCA at Tufts University and an associate professor at the Friedman School and TUSM.

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High Fat Diets Maybe Linked To ADHD And Learning Problems

iets that are high in fat are possibly linked to childhood brain-based conditions, such as memory-dependent learning disabilities and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), researchers from the University of Illinois College of Medicine reported inPsychoneuroendocrinology.

Senior author, Gregory Freund, said:

"We found that a high-fat diet rapidly affected dopamine metabolism in the brains of juvenile mice, triggering anxious behaviors and learning deficiencies. Interestingly, when methylphenidate (Ritalin) was administered, the learning and memory problems went away."

Altered dopamine signaling is common in both obese/overweight children as well as those withADHD, Freund explained. When the number of dopamine metabolites is higher, anxietybehaviors in children are more prevalent, he added.

Freund and team were intrigued by the recent increase in childhood obesity prevalence, which appears to have risen in parallel to the number of children with adverse psychological conditions, including ADHD, depression and impulsivity.

Freund and colleagues set out to determine what the effects of a high-fat diet versus a low-fat one might be on the behavior of four-week-old mice. In the high-fat diet, 60% of the calories came from fat, while in the low fat one only 10% came from fat. Typical diets in Western Europe, North America, and Australasia contain between 35% to 45% fat.

The researchers noticed a marked difference in the behavior of the mice in the high-fat diet within a week, even before they were able to detect any weight gain.

The high-fat diet mice started burrowing and wheel running more frequently. They also became more and more reluctant to explore open spaces. Certain memory and learning deficits became noticeable among the mice on the high-fat diet - their ability to negotiate a maze started to deteriorate; their ability to recognize objects also got worse.

The mice on the high-fat diet were then switched to a low-fat one. Even though impaired recognition continued among those that remained on the high-fat diet, the researchers explained that previous studies had shown that the brain biochemistry of mice starts to normalize after about ten weeks as the body begins to compensate for the high-fat diet. Dopamine eventually returns to normal and the mice get fatter and fatter, become obese and develop diabetes.


Is the Western pattern diet triggering anxious behaviors and learning deficiencies in children?

Freund said:

"Although the mice grow out of these anxious behaviors and learning deficiencies, the study suggests to me that a high-fat diet could trigger anxiety and memory disorders in a child who is genetically or environmentally susceptible to them."

If mice adapt to a high-fat diet, would an abrupt change to a low-fat one have a negative effect on memory, learning and anxiety, the scientists wondered.

No inflammation - the authors were surprised to find no evidence of inflammatory response in the brains of the mice after three weeks on the high-fat diet. One would expect a high-fat diet to stimulate inflammation.

Instead, there was evidence that a high-fat diet triggers chemical responses similar to ones observed in addiction, with dopamine, the neurotransmitter that drives an addict's pleasurable experiences, rising in the brain.

A different study, carried out by researchers from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, and published in the International Journal of Obesity, found that children with symptoms of ADHD are more likely to become obese adults.

Researchers from Perth's Telethon Institute for Child Health Research found that a diet high in total fat, saturated fat, refined sugar and sodium - a Western diet - is more likely to cause ADHD in adolescents, compared to non-Western diets. Their study was published in theJournal of Attention Disorders (July 2010 issue).

Team leader, Associate Professor Wendy Oddy, said "We found a diet high in the Western pattern of foods was associated with more than double the risk of having an ADHD diagnosis compared with a diet low in the Western pattern, after adjusting for numerous other social and family influences."

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4 Tips to Help You Avoid Winter Weight Gain

(CC) Alan Cleaver/Flickr

We all seem to pack on a few extra pounds in the winter months. The weather is cold and all we want to do is curl up on the couch with some comfort food. Even the most active of us tend to be a little less motivated to stick to a fitness plan during the colder months. Lizzie Fuhr of FitSugar noticed this trend and pointed out four reasons why we gain weight in winter and how to avoid packing on the pounds.

First, everyone is more prone to skipping their workouts in the wintertime. When it’s cold outside, it’s far easier to change into pajamas and lounge around the house than it is to head to the gym. It seems most of us are doing just that. Fuhr suggests packing your gym bag the night before and taking it to work with you. If that still doesn’t help, try morning or lunchtime workouts instead.

If you live in a place that gets a true winter with snow and frost, it’s probable that your city or town is lacking in fresh produce. Make more of an effort to find farmers’ markets in the area and be open-minded to less-popular vegetables. If you’re really stuck in finding greens, go the frozen route.

Wearing layers, a necessary evil during winter, doesn’t help with your fitness goals. It allows you to hide your body under clothes that tend to hide your figure. Pump up the heat in your house and walk around in fitted clothes for a day to remind yourself of any areas you want to work on.

Winter comes with much longer periods of darkness, which can often trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This disorder will have you feeling pretty depressed, but a workout might be just what you need. The endorphins you release when you exercise can help perk you right up.

Do you have any tips for staying healthy and active during the winter months?

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What to Look for When Checking Out Weight Loss Supplements

Getting weight loss supplements isn't like shopping for clothes. It's not the "one-size-fits-all" type and certainly not one you choose because it's expensive and everybody else uses it. Sure, popularity defines what is apparently the best but then again, not everything is always what it seems to be, especially when it comes to what you put in your body.

For one, you have to be aware of the safety risks because one wrong move could be the end of it all. The next thing you need to do is to research and gather all the information you can about a particular product before going ahead and buying it so that it won't be a total waste of your time and money. And more importantly, you have to know if it really works or not and the only way to do this is to get qualified medical advice so you can get weight loss supplements that will really work for you and help you achieve your fitness goals in no time.

So what do you need to do to find the best weight loss supplements? First, you can take advantage of all the internet has to offer because with anything and everything available online these days, you will be able to find what you're looking for with a lot of patience and only a few minutes. Second, search online for reputable sites that list down all the ingredients contained in the weight loss supplements they sell along with details about possible side effects along with the benefits of each.

Of course, finding the right sites is an exercise in trial and error but then again, this is why you need to browse through their customer testimonials and reviews because these are honest opinions of people who've actually tried and tested the products. It is also important to find sites that are run by actual experts so that you know you are in good hands and you are getting your products from people who understand what you are going through.

Next, you need to find the all-important ingredients that you must have in order to lose weight the right way. Bodybuilders are prime examples of people who need to lose weight, build up their energy and stamina and maximize their metabolism, something that weight loss supplements are supposed to do. In this light, you will need to look for those that contain calcium, fiber, conjugated linoleic acid or CLA, green tea extracts and whey protein to name a few. Calcium is said to help you lose fat while preserving muscle while fiber helps suppress your appetite by making you feel full longer because it delays gastric emptying.

CLA on the other hand, helps you lose body fat and increases lean muscle mass. It is found primarily in beef and dairy products so it is especially a helpful supplement for vegans. Green tea extract, as you know is an antioxidant that helps you lose weight primarily by adjusting resting energy usage and increasing your energy due to catechins, caffeine and theanine that it contains. Its other weight loss benefits include reducing blood pressure and bad cholesterol or LDL. And last but not the least, whey protein helps build muscle and is the easiest type of protein to digest. You'll need all your strength and power to do intense exercise routines and whey protein is the best one to help you do it.

As far as actual weight supplements go, orlistat and meal replacements like bars and shakes have been medically proven to really help you lose weight. Meal replacements can substitute for breakfast and lunch as per prescribed usage, enabling you to enjoy a portion-controlled meal of around just 500 calories. Orlistat on the other hand, blocks about 25% of calories from fats, making it an effective diet supplement and is also easily available over-the-counter which is why many people are taking to this particular supplement these days.

And to make absolutely sure you are getting safe and trusted weight loss supplements, you need to check if they carry the USP seal since the vast majority of products sold are not regulated by the FDA. Check with your doctor before taking any kind of supplement and avoid any products that contain an excessive amount of caffeine since it can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure.

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Possible Link Between Childhood Obesity And ADHD, Learning Disabilities

A University of Illinois study has established a possible link between high-fat diets and such childhood brain-based conditions as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and memory-dependent learning disabilities. 

"We found that a high-fat diet rapidly affected dopamine metabolism in the brains of juvenile mice, triggering anxious behaviors and learning deficiencies. Interestingly, when methylphenidate (Ritalin) was administered, the learning and memory problems went away," said Gregory Freund, a professor in the U of I College of Medicine and a member of the university's Division of Nutritional Sciences. 

The research was published inPsychoneuroendocrinology and is available pre-publication online.* 

Freund said that altered dopamine signaling in the brain is common to both ADHD and the overweight or obese state. "And an increase in the number of dopamine metabolites is associated with anxiety behaviors in children," he added. 

Intrigued by the recent upsurge in both child obesity and adverse childhood psychological conditions, including impulsivity, depression, and ADHD, Freund's team examined the short-term effects of a high-fat (60% calories from fat) versus a low-fat (10% calories from fat) diet on the behavior of two groups of four-week-old mice. A typical Western diet contains from 35 to 45 percent fat, he said. 

"After only one week of the high-fat diet, even before we were able to see any weight gain, the behavior of the mice in the first group began to change," he said. 

Evidence of anxiety included increased burrowing and wheel running as well a reluctance to explore open spaces. The mice also developed learning and memory deficits, including decreased ability to negotiate a maze and impaired object recognition. 

Switching mice from a high-fat to a low-fat diet restored memory in one week, he noted. 

In mice that continued on the high-fat diet, impaired object recognition remained three weeks after the onset of symptoms. But Freund knows from other studies that brain biochemistry normalizes after 10 weeks as the body appears to compensate for the diet. At that point, brain dopamine has returned to normal, and mice have become obese and developed diabetes. 

"Although the mice grow out of these anxious behaviors and learning deficiencies, the study suggests to me that a high-fat diet could trigger anxiety and memory disorders in a child who is genetically or environmentally susceptible to them," he said. 

Because the animals adapt to the high-fat fare, the scientists also hypothesized that abruptly removing fat from the diet might negatively affect anxiety, learning, and memory. 

The researchers had expected that the high-fat diet would stimulate inflammation, which is associated with obesity, but they saw no evidence of an inflammatory response in the brain after one or three weeks on the high-fat regimen. 

Instead, they saw evidence that a high-fat diet initiates chemical responses that are similar to the ones seen in addiction, with dopamine, the chemical important to the addict's pleasurable experiences, increasing in the brain. 

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