What Exactly is the Mediterranean Diet?

By its name alone, the Mediterranean diet attracts a lot of current and would be dieters due to its exotic name. But what is it exactly? One concern of the Mediterranean diet is that it allows 40% fat consumption compared to the 30% of the American Heart Association. Let's go into more detail as it seems a waste to just let it go without giving it a fair reading.

The Mediterranean diet evolved from the respective diets of countries surrounding the Mediterranean basin. Among the countries surrounding the basin are the south of France, southern Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Cyprus. Originally introduced by American doctor Ancel Keys, the diet failed to gain popular recognition until the 1990's. Based on scientific data, people around the Mediterranean basin had lower rates of cardiovascular disease compared to Americans who, for all intents and purposes, consumed the same relative amount of fat. One possible explanation is the presence of olive oil and red wine. Olive oil lowers cholesterol levels in the blood while red wine contains flavonoids. Flavonoids are anti-oxidants that also help the body when dealing with allergenic material, viruses and cancer causing agents.

Another contributing factor to a European's better health could be the fact that they tend to walk more than Americans do. Questions have also been raised as to whether the Mediterranean diet contributes enough iron and calcium to the diet. Green vegetables and goat cheese have been found to contribute these nutrients respectively.
The thing about the Mediterranean diet is that its foods are often rich and tasty thanks to olive oil. Normally, margarine and hydrogenated oils lack the flavor that olive oil gives out. Another part of the diet is regular but moderate consumption of red wine. Saturated fat consumption is low as opposed to high amounts of monounsaturated fat and dietary fiber. This is due to the fact that the diet includes big servings of fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, olive oil and fish.

In comparing the food pyramid of the United States against the Mediterranean diet, people of the Mediterranean consumed fruits, vegetables and grain just as Americans do. The main difference lies in the fact that Americans consume more red meat. Consumption of cold water fish is also prominent in the Mediterranean diet. This results in reduced risks of heart disease, cancer and improved immune system functions. Compared to the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) pyramid, the Mediterranean diet contains little saturated and trans fat that raise cholesterol in the blood. The USDA's pyramid does not differentiate from healthy and unhealthy fats.

Characteristically speaking, the Mediterranean diet has high consumption of olive oil. Breads, cereals, fruits and vegetables likewise have a high rate of consumption in the diet. Fish and poultry as well as wine are moderately consumed while eggs and red meat are rated as very low in consumption.
The problem with most diets is that they tend to be extreme. Some diets, like the vegetarian diet, limit a person to just eating fruits, tofu, yogurt and vegetables. Other diets would require high protein intake while severely limiting intake of the other food groups. Like a user friendly computer, the Mediterranean diet does not go to extremes to achieve a desired result. The diet allows for consumption of tasty foods. This allows the dieter to actually enjoy the gastronomic delights normally prohibited by other diets. A solid testament to this fact rests on the presence of wine in the diet.

The most surprising aspect of the Mediterranean diet is that fat is regarded as a healthy dietary component. Keep in mind that it is the fat that gives food most of its flavor. Two substances, omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats, are considered to be healthy and are not restricted in the diet. Olive oil, canola oil and nuts are good sources of monounsaturated fat while fish, vegetables and nuts contain the healthy omega-3 acids. Saturated fats and trans fat, on the other hand are considered to be unhealthy as they contribute to heart disease. Red meat, butter cheese and milk are sources of saturated fat while processed foods contain hydrogenated oils from which trans fat comes from.

From what has been written so far, and from all the sources and references where this article was taken from, the Mediterranean diet comes highly recommended by health professionals. The Mediterranean diet maintains a healthy but tasty, smorgasbord of delicious foods with which you can maintain a healthy diet without the need to sacrifice flavor and variety. While we appreciate the people who struggle and strive to come up with healthy diets, good food carries more weight in our stomachs.

TOP 10 FAQs To A Detox Diet

1. What is detox?
Detox is the popular short form for detoxification. It describes a natural process that goes on in your body. The detox process neutralizes toxic wastes which accumulate in your bodies, chemically transforming them into relatively harmless compounds and then eliminating them from the body via stools or urine. Toxins enter your body when you breathe in air full of pollutants, consume junk food, smoke cigarettes or use products that are harmful. The removal of toxins from your body is a crucial process in order to maintain good health.

2. What is a detox diet?

Detox diet is a diet that helps our bodies to eliminate harmful toxic wastes. There are many types of detox diets. In general, many people refer the term "detox diet" to mean a dedicated detox diet plan program that is undertaken to remove toxins from a specific part of the body. For instance, there can be detox diet programs for cleansing of the colon, liver or the GI tract.
Dedicated detox diet programs are short-term diets. Detox diets are also recommended for losing weight. They work by giving your body various organic chemical compounds required for detoxification, such as vitamins, antioxidants and other necessary nutrients. Some of these organic compounds help elimination of waste products from your body by increasing the frequency of bowel movements and urination.

3. Why undergo a detox diet program?

Regular consumption of unhealthy food substantially reduces the natural ability of your body to detoxify and eliminate toxic chemicals. There are certain indications when you have a toxic body. They include feelings of sluggishness, frequent colds, digestive problems, allergies, eczema, etc. The presence of toxins further lead to conditions like hormonal imbalance, impaired immune function, nutritional deficiency and inefficient metabolism. Undergoing a detox diet program can help repair, maintain and maximize the natural detoxification abilities of your body.

4. What are the benefits to adopting a detox diet program?

Some of the benefits of detox diets include increased stamina and energy, enhanced mental alertness, clearer skin, better immune system, improved digestion and lots more.

5. When is a detox diet program not advised?

You should not be going through a detox diet program if you are pregnant. Also, if you are suffering from diseases such as anemia, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, lowered immunity, hypothyroidism, low blood pressure, ulcers, epilepsy, cancer or ulcerative colitis, some detox diets may not be appropriate for you. Detox diets are also not meant for children.

6. Are there any side effects to a detox diet?

Yes, there can be a few. For example, within the first few days of starting a detox diet, you may suffer from headaches. Or you may feel extremely exhausted especially if you need to purge a few times. Most side effects or symptoms should disappear after a few days.

You may also experience excessive diarrhea, if you are doing a detox diet program for the first time or if the detox diet program is too harsh for you. Hence it is best that you go under the guidance of a health care practitioner for this.

7. Do I need to consult a doctor before trying a detox diet program?

Yes, you are advised to. Just because you are facing symptoms like tiredness, irritability, acne, weight loss, and hunger, it does not mean that you need a detox diet. Sometimes, there might be other medical reasons that require different treatment. Therefore, do consult a doctor and get a thorough check up done before you start taking detox diet.

8. What foods are normally included in a detox diet?

A detox diet includes high fiber foods and consumption of adequate amount of water. It normally includes fresh and green vegetables like broccoli, spinach etc and other healthy foods like garlic, artichokes, beets, cauliflower, rice, beans, nuts and seeds. It also includes plenty of fresh fruits except grapes.

9. Can I continue medication during a detox diet?

No, you should generally be undertaking a detox diet program during a period when you are feeling well. As such, if you are having your period, do not go on a detox diet program either during this period.

10. What can I eat once the detox diet is over?

Once you have finished a course of a detox diet, you should not be eating unhealthy foods like deep fried

Low-Carb Diet - Should I or Shouldn't I?

It's no wonder that confusion reigns when it comes to the worth and reliability of low-carb diets after all the conflicting studies and confusing interpretation of the information. It seems like debates are popping up everywhere!
No matter if it's Atkins, South Beach or some other low-carb plan, there are approximately 30 million Americans are on a low-carb diet.
Supporters contend that the large amount of carbohydrates in our diet has led to increased problems with obesity, diabetes, and other health situations. On the other hand, some attribute obesity and related health problems to over eating of calories and lack of physical activity. They also express concern that without grains, fruits, and vegetables in low-carbohydrate diets may lead to deficiencies of some key nutrients, including vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, and many minerals.
It is already known that any diet, whether high or low in carbohydrates, can produce meaningful weight loss during the early stages of the diet. Keep in mind, the key to a diet being successful is in being able to lose the weight on a permanent basis.
Let's see if we can expose some of the mystery about low-carb diets. Following, is a listing of some related points taken from recent studies and scientific literature.
Point 1 - Some Differences Between Low-Carb Diets
There are many famous diets created to lower carbohydrate consumption. Lowering total carbohydrates in the diet means that protein and fat will take up a proportionately greater amount of the total caloric intake.
Low carbohydrate diet like the Atkins Diet restrict carbohydrate to a point where the body becomes ketogenic (a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that includes normal amounts of protein). Other low-carb diets like the Zone and Life Without Bread are less confined. Some, like Sugar Busters announce only
to eliminate sugars and foods that elevate blood sugar levels excessively.
Point 2 - What We Know about Low-Carb Diets
+Close to all of the studies to date have been small with a diversity of research objectives.
Carbohydrate, caloric intake, diet duration and participant characteristics are wide-ranged greatly. Most of the studies to date have two things in common, none of the research studies had people in the study with a average age over 53 and none of the controlled studies lasted more than 90 days.
+The results on older adults and long-term results are scarce. Many diet studies fail to keep track of the amount of exercise, and therefore caloric use, while people in the study are dieting. This helps to explain the variances between studies.
+If you lose weight on a low-carb diet it is a function of the calorie intake and length of the diet, and not with reduced amount of carbohydrates.
+There is very little evidence on the long-range safety of low-carb diets. Even though the medical community has concerns, no short-term bad effects have been found with cholesterol, glucose, insulin and blood-pressure levels among the people in the study on the diets. Because of the short period of the studies the adverse effects may not show up. Losing weight typically leads to improvement in these levels, and this may offset an increase caused by a high fat diet. The over-all weight changes for low-carb and other types of diets are similar.
+Most low-carb diets can cause ketosis. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and confusion are some of the potential consequences. When first starting a low-carb diet some fatigue and constipation may be met and these symptoms usually disappear quickly.
+Some report that you can have more calories when on a low-carb diet. Remember a calorie is a calorie no matter what you intake. When the study is not closely supervised variations will result by people cheating in the study on many factors of the study.
There are three important factors I would like to re-emphasize:
1.- The over-all success rate for low-carb and other types of diets are similar.
2.- Small amount of information exists on the long-term efficacy and safety of low-carb diets despite their huge popularity,
3.- Dieters usually experience boredom with a strict version of the low-carb diet and are not able to stay on diets of low carb food.
After observing the subject, a more severe and controlled study are needed on a long-range basis. The ketosis produced is abnormal and stressful metabolic state. The results may cause more problems than it solved.
By picking a reliable diet you will benefit over a lifetime of proper eating and not a weight loss quickie.
An excellent rule of thumb is look at the diet long-range and see if you can see yourself still on that diet after a couple of weeks. However, by following a diet with fat, carbohydrates, protein and other nutrients in moderation may be the best way to go and a little more exercise won't hurt either.

What is Yo Yo Dieting|Yo Yo Dieting in Men

When a person wishes to go on a diet, they may experience the ups and downs that come with the process of dieting. This is when the term "yo yo dieting" comes into play. Even though a person may lose weight after beginning a diet, they will have to work hard to keep up and maintain the progress. Yo yo dieting is also seen in individuals who are obese.
Those who are obese have more fat cells than a person who is physically fit. Their fat cells are also larger. When an obese man or woman diets, their fat cells do not decrease in numbers, they only grow smaller. This means that when food intake increases after a diet, the fat cells will return to their original state, making the overall appearance of the individual larger. This is why it is important for a person to find a diet that they will be able to stick to; they will be able to feel better and maintain their weight loss better.
Although the trend of dieting has been mostly associated with women; men also experience these ups and downs of yo yo dieting. During short-term dieting, a dieter must exercise or else half or more of the weight they lose will be due to a loss in muscles. Muscle loss will lead to a variety of problems, such as a thinner, weaken body prone to breakdowns and fatigue; weakened maintenance of weight because it is muscle than burns calories, not fat; and when weight is gained back, it is mostly fat that will stick to the body- exercise is needed to build muscles.
Another result of yo yo dieting is when the weight is gained back, a dieter who does not exercise will not only be fatter, but will appear thicker than they were before. For example, let's say a man weighed 300 pounds and wore a 5x shirt. He diets without exercising, then loses 20 pounds. Now, let's say that he regains the weight, but now he is puzzled as to why he now has to fit into a size 6x shirt. The reason is that
fat is lighter and less dense than muscle, so it takes more fat weight, as well as bulk, to replace the lost muscle weight. Exercise can eliminate some of these problems.
Not only is yo yo dieting a frustrating process, but it is not good for your overall health. When a person bounces from weight gain to weight loss and back to weight gain again, the immune system suffers. Studies have shown that negative health effects of yo-yo dieting can still be detected years after the fact. If a man participates in crash dieting, such as trying to lose ten pounds in ten days, they will most likely suffer from a yo yo dieting trend. If they are trying to maintain a healthy weight, they should choose a diet that promotes a healthy diet over longer periods of time. The diet should be a complete lifestyle change and not something to try for one brief moment. It has been said that if you lose more than 1-2 pounds a week, you are probably doing too much.

Top 10 Reasons Why the Mediterranean Diet is Good For You

Low in Saturated Fat
Physicians and nutritionists the world over all agree that a diet that is high in saturated fat can have very negative consequences on a person's health and wellbeing. Indeed, a diet that is high in saturated fat can cause a person to suffer heart disease, can lead to cancer and can cause a whole host of other health problems and concern.
The Mediterranean diet is noteworthy because of the fact that it is very low in saturated fat. The typical person who follows the Mediterranean diet intakes less than eight percent of his or her calories from potentially harmful saturated fat. This is significantly below the average of people who do not follow a Mediterranean diet regimen.
Includes Plentiful Amounts of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Another reason why the Mediterranean diet is good for you lies in the fact that the diet includes the consumption of a significant amount of fruit and vegetables. Indeed, the diet encompasses more fresh fruits and vegetables than any other dietary program or plan today.
Fresh fruits and vegetables have a significant beneficial effect on a person's health and wellbeing. People who following the Mediterranean diet and consume generous servings of fruits and vegetables each day have a lower incidence of certain diseases including cancer and cardiovascular ailments.
High in Whole Grains and Fiber
A benefit in the Mediterranean diet is found in the fact that it lowers in the incidence of certain types of cancer. One of the reasons that the Mediterranean diet lowers the incidence of cancer is found in the fact that the diet is rich in whole grains and dietary fiber. Both whole grain and fiber have proven to lower the incidence of cancer, including colorectal cancer.
High in Anti-Oxidants
The Mediterranean diet is high in anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants play a significant role in maintaining the body -- including organs, muscles and skin -- in top condition. A diet high in anti-oxidants is believed to ensure that a person will live a longer, healthier life.
Low in Red Meat
Because the Mediterranean diet is low in red meat, the diet plan works to reduce the amount of "bad cholesterol." A diet low in "bad cholesterol" lessens the incidence of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke.
High in Lean Meats
The Mediterranean diet includes lean meats in moderate portions. The reasonable amount of lean meats -- including fish and certain seafood and fish -- provides a health source of protein and energy for a person.
Low in Dairy
The Mediterranean diet is low in dairy products. In fact, a true adherent to the Mediterranean diet includes almost no dairy products at all. Any dairy that is included in the diet is low fat or non fat. Because the diet is low in dairy, particularly fatty dairy products, the diet encourages a person to obtain or maintain an ideal weight. Additionally, the diet aids in reducing cholesterol and works to prevent heart disease.
Prevents Disease
As mentioned, one of the reasons that the Mediterranean diet is good for you rests in the fact that the diet plan appears to reduce the incidence of certain diseases including:
-- heart and cardiovascular disease
-- cancer
-- diabetes
-- hypertension
-- diabetes
Longevity
The history of the people of the Mediterranean region demonstrates that the Mediterranean diet works to extend a person's life. In addition, while working to extend a person's life, this diet scheme works to ensure that a person's longer life will be healthy as well.
A Convenient Diet Program
Finally, the Mediterranean diet is good for you because it is a convenience diet program. In order to follow the Mediterranean diet you do not need to buy any special products or prepare a unique and hard to manage diet plan. If used with moderate exercise, it is a great way to lose weight while remaining healthy.

The Green Bean Way of Losing Weight Without the Fear of Side-Effects

People that are overweight can find a number of advertisements, which will encourage them to try products that claim to be effective methods to getting back in shape. History proves that people generally fall for tactics that are accompanied by high-profile advertising and claims which are backed by several testimonials. Manufacturers of such products generally look forward to targeting gullible individuals who they feel could be looking out for quick-fix remedies. Unfortunately, it must also be mentioned that they have been successful in their leaving people doubting the veracity of the claims made even by reputed manufacturers.
Weight loss methods that are generally promoted by different manufacturers contain fillers or chemicals, which can prove harmful to the body. Some products do work effectively but leave behind side-effects which people will have to bear. One does not understand as to why the Food and Drug Administration of the country does not impose any kind of restrictions on the type of advertisements that can be seen in various publications. However, it cannot be denied that these companies have managed to garner a share on the market and are doing quite well.
Today it has been confirmed by numerous researchers that the only products which can assist people in losing weight without the fear of side-effects are those that have been manufactured by using natural ingredients. In the days when weight loss medications were not available, it is certain that there were a number of overweight people who could have used other methods to get back into shape. These people would have used natural ingredients along with their regular diet and gradually managed to lose weight without the fear of any side-effects being left behind. The same logic can be applied even today with the assurance that results will be guaranteed and individuals who use such methods will manage to feel lighter soon.
One method that is fast catching the eye of celebrities and individuals alike is a supplement made from green coffee beans. They are generally known as green bean coffee extracts and are available in the form of soft gel capsules. Research conducted has provided information that extracts from green coffee beans can inhibit the body from absorbing fat. It can also inhibit the release of glucose into the blood which researchers feel may help with weight reduction.
A discovery that has recently been published shows that green bean coffee extracts have the capacity to help the human body burn fat faster than any other components. It also has properties that are antioxidant and slow down the growth of new fat cells within the body. Most importantly since the supplements are made from natural ingredients, people can rest assured that they will face no side-effects whatsoever.
It is not easy for people who are overweight to find methods that will help them effectively. However, if they choose to go the green bean way, they will soon find to their amazement that their objective of losing weight can be achieved without the fear of side-effects haunting their mind.

Is Garcinia Cambogia fruit extract Safe While Breastfeeding|The Truth About Taking This Supplement

People who have been struggling with their weight issues often use supplements to help them shed off the extra pounds. One of the supplements that are claimed to help a lot in reducing weight is the Garcinia Cambogia. This supplement is believed to deliver satisfying and also quick result. Not only does it help people to lose weight but it will also improve their overall health level. However, there are some considerations that people should know before they consume this supplement. One of the concern is if Garcinia Cambogia is safe while breastfeeding.
Understanding Garcinia Cambogia
Garcinia is a fruit, small in size and has the resemblance of a pumpkin. It comes from Southeast Asia, India, and Central Africa where the fruit has been used for centuries as a medicinal and natural dieting method. In the past, the fruit wasn't very popular because it doesn't taste so good, but its health functionality is truly great. Ancient documents have pointed out that the fruit had been consumed by traveler who had to go to lengthy distance with so little food.
How The Supplement Works
Only recently the Western medical world started to understand the benefits of consuming Garcinia Cambogia, especially when it is turned and processed into weight loss supplement. It contains the active ingredient Hydroxycitric Acid - HCA - which is believed to be responsible for the weight loss effect. The HCA is able to inhibit the enzyme lyase production which will delay the process of changing the carbs becoming glycogen and glucose - which will be stored within the body as fat deposit.
Not only it delays the production of the enzyme lyase, it also boosts the organs and systems communicative channels that are responsible for feeling full and satisfied. When people consume this supplement, they will feel full immediately, so they won't be tempted to eat, binge, or snack.
But Why Should Pregnant Moms Avoid Consuming This Supplement?
For a starter, the supplement will affect the blood sugar and create instant fulfilling sense, which can be dangerous for breastfeeding moms since they need all the nutrients they can get from the food they eat. When they feel full and stop eating, their nutritional needs won't be fulfilled. Moreover, the fruit can increase the metabolic rate which can bring a negative effect for pregnant and nursing moms.
These moms can't take drastic changes to the body and they can't risk endangering themselves as well as their babies when they consume the supplement. Furthermore the garcinia supplement has not undergone intense testing to analyze the effects it has on children under 18. And since whatever a mother consumes will be past down to her babe through breast milk, it is best to avoid consuming the supplement for their own safety as well as for their young babe.

Weight Loss|The Exercise Trap

Read anything about weight loss and you will see something about exercise. It might be referred to as "physical activity", but that's just a codeword. They mean exercise.
Actually, many people have tried exercise and given up on it because it just didn't seem to work for one reason or another. Here are some explanations of why someone might think that exercise ISN'T working, when it IS!
THE BEGINNING OF THE EXERCISE PROGRAM FOR WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Exercise is activity, movement you might say. People have been moving all their lives, so they know how to do it, right? Well, if you are just talking about "getting some exercise", you might be right. However, if you are talking about exercise for the purpose of losing weight, things change a little.
At the beginning of a weight loss program, the person has probably been sedentary for some time and has experienced an overall deterioration in the body's ability to deal with, or react favorably to, physical activity. At this point, almost any activity above the normal level becomes "exercise" for this individual. Over time, the body will adjust to the new level of activity and assume a new homeostasis, or overall balance of physical ability, fat, muscle, body weight, and metabolism. It then becomes time to adjust the activity upwards in order to arrive at a new balance. Once an acceptable balance, usually a target weight, has been arrived at, the individual can change from a weight loss program to a weight maintenance program.
Unfortunately, people tend to be a little ignorant on the subject of exercise and sabotage themselves at the start of their weight loss program through several different mechanisms. Beginners usually:

• Try to do too much
• Don't do enough
• Don't increase the level
• Do the wrong exercises
• Have unrealistic expectations
• Don't understand what exercise is going to do

Some of these items cross lines, so it is difficult to talk about one without talking about another one or two. For example, if someone has unrealistic expectations, they may try to do too much or too little. If they do not understand what exercise is going to do, they may choose the wrong exercises. Most of these problems are directly related to ignorance about exercise. This is why, if you are interested in using exercise as part of a weight loss program, you either do a little studying on the subject, or get yourself a good personal trainer.
Let's briefly talk about the situations above.
TOO MUCH EXERCISE
This can cause you to fail in many ways. You can strain muscles, make yourself feel sick, or even injure yourself. After a day or two of too much exercise, your body and your brain will be screaming at you to "knock it off!" To be effective for weight loss, exercise should become a regular activity and if you are dreading the next workout, you will eventually find ways to avoid it altogether. You need to start small and build yourself up. This can create a problem also.
TOO LITTLE EXERCISE
As I mentioned above, for the sedentary individual, almost any activity will be classified as "enough exercise" at first. However, the body soon adapts to this small unit of activity and settles in at a new level, usually without really exhibiting much in the way of weight lost.
INCREASE THE LEVEL OF EXERCISE
Once the body has achieved its new level of "fitness" relative to the starting point, it becomes necessary to increase the intensity or duration of the exercise, or both. The person who starts out trying to run a marathon will fail. The person who starts out walking to the mailbox must eventually start walking past the mailbox and down the street, or they too will fail.
THE WRONG EXERCISES
Exercises can be divided roughly into three groups. In my high school days (don't ask how long ago) we would talk about strength, endurance, and flexibility. These days you hear things like resistance training, cardiovascular training... and flexibility. As pointed out, at the beginning, almost any movement will qualify for pretty near all three types. As you progress, you will have to separate out each and, for the purpose of overall health, give each its due. However, for weight loss, cardiovascular activities will probably give most people the most weight loss bang for their buck. Be aware that strength training will also benefit weight loss in the long run due to the formation of muscle tissue which can aid in burning calories.
UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Exercise works, but it generally works from the inside out. While someone who is overweight may experience an initial weight loss, most of what is happening is going to take time. If you want to look in the mirror in a couple of days or step on the scale and see obvious evidence of weight loss, you are bound to be disappointed. You will have to accept the fact that even the most perfectly designed and executed exercise program is probably going to take weeks or even months to produce inspiring results. At the start, you may just have to keep going on faith. However, EXERCISE DOES WORK!
EXERCISES LITTLE SURPRISE
This actually happened to my wife. She was trying to lose weight and began exercising. A few days later, I could tell that she was experiencing benefits. She was more active, perkier, her complexion was glowing, she was walking around the house singing more than usual, and she looked "tighter" to me. One night we were talking, and she was going on and on in an excited way about how much looser her clothes were getting. In fact, they were getting so baggy; she was saying that she would have to go shopping for more. She was in a great mood when I left the room. A few seconds later, I heard her exclaim, "Oh no!" I stepped back into the room and she was crying.
She had stepped on the scale and her weight had GONE UP since the last time she had weighed herself.
Even though I had explained to her what was going to happen, like most people who have tried and tried to lose weight, her immediate reaction was that her exercise program "wasn't working." She felt like another promise had failed her.
We will leave aside the fact that everybody's weight fluctuates from day to day and from hour to hour. If you are checking your weight daily, you are setting yourself up for failure. If you MUST weigh yourself, do it once a month or even once every two months. If you have been eating properly during that time and doing your exercise, increasing it as you achieve each new level of ability, you will have lost at least a few pounds.
What got her, and a lot of other people, is a simple physiological process which was, in a few days, going to work in her favor. When someone who has NOT been exercising begins to exercise, they usually build some lean muscle mass and burn off some fat. Unfortunately, at first, the weight of lean muscle mass that is added is sometimes greater than the amount of fat that is lost. Therefore, someone may find that they are actually GAINING WEIGHT for the first few days or even weeks of their exercise program. In time, if the program is continued, the muscle mass will plateau, and the fat will continue to be burned and the weight will come down.
Remember how my wife was saying that her clothes were looser? That's because she was burning fat and adding lean muscle mass. The lean muscle takes up less space than the fat that has been burned. Even though she had gained weight, her body size was actually smaller... and she was healthier.
If you are going to start a weight loss program, make sure you learn a little bit about exercise and use that in addition to monitoring your nutritional intake.

Exercise|Top 20 Benefits

Top 20 Benefits of Exercise

• Elevates your metabolism so that you burn more calories everyday.
• Increases your aerobic capacity (fitness level). This gives you the ability to go through your day with less relative energy expenditure. This enables a "fit" person to have more energy at the end of the day and to get more accomplished during the day with less fatigue.
• Maintains, tones, and strengthens your muscle. Exercise also increases your muscular endurance.
• Decreases your blood pressure.
• Increases the oxidation (breakdown and use) of fat.
• Increases HDL (good) cholesterol.
• Makes the heart a more efficient pump by increasing stroke volume.
• Increases hemoglobin concentration in your blood. Hemoglobin is part of the red blood cell that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
• Decreases the tendency of the blood to clot in the blood vessels. This is important because small clots traveling in the blood are often the cause of heart attacks and strokes.
• Increases the strength of the bones..
• Causes the development of new blood vessels in the heart and other muscles.
• Enlarges the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
• Decreases blood levels of triglycerides (fat).
• Improves control of blood sugar
• Improves sleep patterns.
• Increases the efficiency of the digestive system which may reduce the incidence of colon cancer.
• Increases the thickness of cartilage in joints which has a protective effect on the joints.
• Decreases a woman's risk of developing endometriosis by 50%.
• Increases the amount of blood that flows to the skin making it look and feel healthier.
• Exercise, in addition to all the physiological and anatomical benefits, just makes you feel GREAT!