Weight Loss

Posted by Tracy Rose

Could you be overweight because of your lack of faith? Linda Benge says that fad diets are what makes us fat and relying on God for help is the only diet you'll ever need. Her book, The Diet to End All Diets (Tate Publishing, 2007) is a small baberback that is packed with advice about feeding your soul, becoming whole again and the power of prayer. "Eating right can be a wonderful adventure with the Holy Spirit instead of endless torture," (15.)

Benge writes from experience after finding success in losing weight by relying on God and faith instead of fad diets. "I am trusting God to bring my body to balance," (69.)

Lines of scripture appropriately accompany each chapter. The book itself is nicely laid out, but it lacks substance. Like Overeater's Annonymous, many dieters take on the motto that they will accept the things they can't change and do their best to work on the rest. This goes along with the idea of trusting in a higher power to help you through the tough times.

The question is how much are we respnsible for and how much do we turn over to our higher power. Trusting in God to bring us a blanced, healthy body isn't going to work unless we do our part. Eating right, exercising and adopting a generally healthy lifestyle are essential for weight loss. When you are doing all you to lose weight and you hit a platteau, that's the time to work your hardest and trust that the details will work themselves out.

Having faith and a strong belirf is God is very motivating for some people though. The Bible is also filled with scripture that applies to a healthy life and body. Benge's book is filled with quotes that dieters can throughout their weigh loss journeys.

Posted by Tracy Rose

Obesity and depression often go hand in hand. Weight gain makes people bad about themselves. Depressed people tend to not take care of themselves as well. It becomes a circular situation of overeating and feeling sad.

Research by Sarah Markowitz, MS shows how closely obesity and depression are linked. She also suggests, however, that these conditions can be treated together. Exercising more and reducing stress are two things you can do starting now to improve both conditions.

Dieting to lose weight has a bad effect on depression and many antidepressants actually cause weight gain though. It's important to be careful when devising a treatment plan. You doctor, however, can prescribe something to treat the obesity and depression without worsening either condition.

Posted by Tracy Rose

I have been overweight since elementary school, but it took me a long time to realize that love has no size boundaries. Overweight women are not too big to date. There is always someone out there who will appreciate you for who you are.

As a teenager I had a hard time dating. I hated my body and felt different than the other girls my age. My weight was one season I didn't date, but the underlying reason was how I felt about myself and my weight.

By the time I reached my 20's I was feeling a little more comfortable about who I was. I found that the better I felt about myself, the more attractive I became. Self-acceptance was my ticket into the dating world. Guys weren't as concerned about my weight as I thought they would be.

Now in my 30's (and recently divorced) I have experienced a whole new level of attention. I decided to give online dating a try. It turns out that I am not too big to date. While I was hoping to find someone who would love me for who I am despite my size, I found that some men actually find overweight women attractive.

Posted by Tracy Rose

Xerisan is a new option for non-prescription weight loss pills for the severely obese. It contain four key ingredients that work together to maximize your weight loss success

1. Phaseolus Vulgaris, a bean extract that is known as a carb blocker

2. Calcium Pyruvate, an ingredient that has shown good results in doubling people's weight loss efforts

3. Synephrine, a stimulate that raising metabolism and provides energy

4. Chromium Picolinate, a common ingredient in diet pills that burns fat and carbs.

The ingredients combine to stimulate the metabolism, suppress appetite and reduce your calories and fat. Combined with diet and exercise, Xerisan can be a useful weight loss tool.

Research Results on Phaseolus Vulgaris

According to a recent study, "Phaseolus Vulgaris extract produces significant decrements in body weight and suggest decrements in fat mass in the face of maintained lean body mass." The study concluded that, "Phaseolus Vulgaris extract appears to be a safe and effective aid to consider in weight loss/ maintenance programs."

The Verdict on Xerisan

Though Xerisan is noted as an expensive over-the-counter weight loss supplement, it has no known side effects. Research shows that Xerisan can help severely obese people lose weight when used along with a proper diet and increased exercise.

Int J Med Sci. 2007; 4(1): 45-52.

Published online 2007 January 24

Posted by Tracy Rose

Just about every woman I know struggles with her weight or with food issues of some sort. So it doesn't surprise me that a new survey by Self Magazine and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that 31% of women have used diet pills, laxatives or purged after eating to lose weight. Nor does it surprise me that 3 out of 4 women have issues with food or their bodies.

I have personally fought the weight loss battle since I was a kid. I have a sister, friends and support group members whoa re also overweight. Not one of us is happy with our bodies, yet despite dieting attempts, the weight either won't budge or we lose weight temporarily and gain it all back.

The study also found high percentages of women who ate less than 1,000 calories per day to lose weight, found that being overweight caused them to be unhappy, have tried cutting out complete food groups to lose weight or have an emotional eating problem.

I'll be the first to admit that I have an unhealthy relationship with food. I am a self-proclaimed emotional eater. I eat because I learned at a young age, as a sensitive and self-conscious child, that food was my friend. Food would never turn on me or let me down. Depending on food to lift my mood became a behavior problem and it is difficult to change.

This study proved that I am not alone in my weight loss struggles. In fact, most women have food issues or are unhappy with their bodies.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2008, April 23). Three Out Of Four American Women Have Disordered Eating, Survey Suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 27, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2008/04/080422202514.htm

Posted by Tracy Rose

I recently came across a study that found 50% of obese girls were less likely to go to college. Certainly not because of their lack of intelligence, motivation or interest. The reason obese girls are opting not to go to college is because they lack the self-confidence and self-esteem.

I see this as a sad reality. As a once overweight college student myself, I guess I was in the other half of the equation that wanted a better life for myself, regardless of my size. Education is important and nothing should stop young women from reaching their educational goals.

What concerns me is that if women choose to opt out of college because of the way they look, what else will they drop out of in life? What kind of life do we lead if we stay locked up at home, wishing we were skinny? That's not the kind of life I want to life. I want to lose weight and be healthier, but my life does not stop because I am overweight.

I urge overweight women to go to college and make that commitment to yourself. Going to college was empowering and it was a great time in my life. Not to mention that my weight was not an issue with people after I graduated high school. A little maturtiy goes a long way.

Reference:

Economics of Population Health, 2008

http://businessshrink.biz/Psychology of Business/2008/03/06/obese-girls-50-less-likely-to-attend-college-than-non-obese/

Posted by Tracy Rose

In a beautiful setting far away from home and the Biggest Loser ranch contestants were put to the test. This wasn't the common vacation. They were taught how to eat healthy while on vacation by shopping local fresh food markets, but they also had to train harder than they ever have and completed a triathlon.

Contestants reaches new highs in their weight loss journeys this week as they pushed their fears aside and took the bull by the horns. Kelly made herself proud by just being able to complete the triathlon. Mark not only put aside his fear of bridges to participate in the challenge, but he also put his need to win aside in an emotional gesture during the challenge. Mark and Alli had been neck and neck the whole race, so when he was close to the finish line he stopped and waited for her. They crossed the finish line together with her carrying him on her back.

Sadly for Mark, the vote was between him and his brother this week. They both gained one pound this week. Many tears wre shed as his brother Jay asked the other contestants to write his name down and vote him out this week. Mark had sacrificed himself earlier in the game and earned his way back in, so it was Jay's turn to take one for the team.

Posted by Tracy Rose

One pound. It doesn't seem like much in the big scheme of things, but on the Biggest Loser ranch, one pound is all it takes to stay or be sent home.

This week on the Biggest Loser, Jay won $10,000 in a food challenge. He was then given the choice of keeping the money or buying a one pound pass with it to use for the weigh in. Because of the value of one pound in this game, Jay chose to cash in the money for the one pound pass.

The girls took the weigh in by storm this week and were, in fact, the biggest losers. I couldn't have been happier with the outcome. Jillian pushed these two to their limits and they came out on top with the top two scores for the week.

Dan was sent home this week because he only lost one pound and fell below the yellow line. It was just another reminder of how important that one pound difference really is.

Posted by Tracy Rose

Last night on the Biggest Loser, Jillian (the trainer) stood up for one of her teammates (Brittany) in a big way. Allison (the host) pointed a question about the game to Brittany and Jillian jumped to her defense. She told them Brittany had a difficult weak and begged everyone to just back off. That is the clean version of what happened. Jillian let her have it and really cussed her out.

Although I think Jillian's comments were inappropriate, I was happy to see someone standing up for Brittany. I am rooting for Brittany to win. She was part of the two person team with a stranger in the beginning. Her and Bernie formed a solid bond quickly and it was difficult because this was the first week since Bernie was sent home.

I can relate to Brittany because there have been times when I have put my full effort into eating right, exercising and making lifestyle changes to lose weight and the weight did not come off as easily as it did for everyone around me. Brittany even has Jillian stumped, at times, because she is following the dietary guidelines and we see her kicking butt during her workouts, but two pounds is all the scale will reflect as a loss when the others are pulling 4-8 pounds.

While I think Jillian could have handled herself better at the weigh in last night and it was good Biggest Loser drama, I was happy to see her sticking up for Brittany.

Posted by Tracy Rose

The author of the South Beach Diet, Arthur Agatston wrote a companion book called the South Beach Diet Cookbook. The South Beach Diet is a complete resource for low-carb dieters.

There is an overview of the South Beach Diet that describes good and fad carbs, good and bad fats, how to reduce fat and how to eat enough of the good stuff so you feel full and stack on track with your weight loss goals.

Next is a section on how to shop for success on the South Beach Diet plan.

The three phases of the South Beach Diet are outlined.

Lastly, the cookbook is filled with recipes that will fill you up, increase you health and help you lose weight. The recipes are interesting and different enough that you won't feel like you are on a diet program.

Recipes:

*Fire Spice Salmon

*Souffle stuffed chicken

*Caribbean ratatouille

*Chocolate-swirled cheesecake

*Peachy walnut torte