Sensible Weight Loss Following These Steps
December 22, 2011 by Jason Jones
Filed under Diet
At first, fat loss can be an intimidating never ending battle for many people. The truth is losing weight can be boiled down to a few major factors that will determine your success or failure. In a nut-shell, the types of foods you consume, and the amount measured in calories is one big piece. The other key component is exercise, and exactly how many calories you’re burning off with your workouts.
Once you’re able to establish a calorie deficit with these two factors, you shed weight. It’s that straightforward. The hard part is having the self-control and commitment to stick to your plan. Listed below are some straightforward tips on how to achieve fat reduction without gimmicks.
1) Calculate how many calories you body needs to consume to maintain your existing weight. This is called you maintenance calorie (search Google with “calorie needs” and you will find a few different online calculators that will help you with this)
2) Initially deduct 10% (to a maximum of 500 calories) off the total maintenance calories. Drastically reducing your calories will result in muscle and water loss - not loss of fat.
3) Divide you calories over Five to six meals rather than 2-3. You should aim to eat every 3-4 hours. Always include protein in your small meals.
4) Cut out all simple carbohydrates such as white rice, flour, white bread, sweets, etc (after exercise, eat whole grain, high fiber foods instead.)
5) Exercise a minimum of Three times a week, doing 30 minutes of cardio to a reasonable intensity level. A heart rate monitor may be a good investment as you can keep workouts in a safe heart zone based on your level of fitness. This will help to create the calorie deficit and encourage your body to shed fat.
6) Make simple replacements in your diet. You’ll be amazed at how these modifications can jump start weight loss such as choosing a natural no calorie sweetener in place of sugar, diet drinks or teas in place of full sugar drinks, use leaner cuts of meat etc. At first these changes may be difficult but you will get used to them and make vital calorie savings every day.
7) Drink lots of water - at least 6-8 glasses of water every day - if you are dehydrated your body will be less efficient and will make weight loss more difficult.
Attempt to limit your carbohydrate intake (stick to the complex variety only, brown rice, whole wheat, etc), choose low fat options and consume a moderate amount of protein. From my experience the South Beach Diet is excellent.
9) Have a food diary to monitor how many calories you are consuming - it is very easy to overeat.
10) Introducing supplements your diet can help to accelerate weight loss. A diet rich in protein can help preserve muscle (more muscle means an increase in metabolism). There are also some weight loss supplements available which help enhance your metabolism, this is useful as your metabolism may slow during extended periods of dieting.
Learn more about the potent fat-loss and health related benefits Forskolin today. Also, stop by this site where you can find out about one cooking spices for fat burning spice
Find Out About Hoodia Gordonii
December 18, 2009 by Adrian Moore
Filed under Hoodia
Hoodia Gordonii diet pills were fabulously popular about 10 years ago. However, this popularly abruptly crashed just after the Food and Drug Administration released a report stating that many forms of Hoodia pills available in the United States were actually using fake Hoodia Gordonii. As could be predicted, Hoodia immediately lost it’s authority as a credible diet pill.
Hoodia Gordonii is a succulent plant and is a member of the cactus family. This plant is native to the huge plains of the Kalahari Desert in the southernmost aspect of Africa. Over time, people began to take notice that the nomadic peoples in this area ate the stem of the Hoodia plant to limit their hunger during long hunting and gathering trips from home. The people of the Kalahari call Hoodia by the African name ‘Xhoba’.
Before reaching maturity, the Hoodia plant needs a minimum of five to seven years to grow. The plant can only be harvested after reaching maturity. Once Hoodai became popular as a diet pill, the available supply of Hoodia Gordonii is could not meet demand. At this point some unscrupulous people began to develop fake Hoodia in hopes that they could pass it off as the real thing.
Authentic Hoodia Gordonii can help to limit food cravings that can be so annoying when dieting. Experts say that food cravings are the biggest reason that most diets fail. One of the biggest pitfalls in losing weight is actually gaining control of our developed eating habits. Hoodia Gordonii is the most powerful all-natural appetite suppressant currently on the market today.
Hoodia is an outstanding diet management tool. Be aware that you cannot expect to achieve results if you consume less than 800 mg of pure Hoodia every day. Unfortunately, at levels exceeding 800 mg of Hoodia there might be an increased likelihood of side effects, such as stomach upset. Other side effects include headache, racing heart rate and constipation.
Like most other diet products, taking Hoodia Gordonii alone will not make you lose any weight. However, this all natural appetite suppressant can help you control your food cravings which often destroy all but the most motivated dieters and the best planned diet regimes. You still need to eat a healthy diet including much fruit and vegetables and exercise regularly to get the full benefits from any weight loss program.
Hoodia Gordonii might just be an appropriate weight loss tool for any person who feels constantly hungry on a diet. Please note, only purchase Hoodia diet pills from reputable online dealers or health food stores so that you can be certain that you are buying genuine Hoodia.
You can learn more about hoodia diets at our the diet pills report site.
Can Tonalin CLA Help Belly Fat
December 13, 2009 by Jane Moore
Filed under Weight Loss
Tonalin CLA caplets seem to be getting some positive reviews these days from an assorted bunch of reputable sources. It’s enough to get me interested enough to give them a go. I struggle relentlessly with a stubborn 10 or 15 pounds and I need some sort of extra boost to get me on the right track. In the event that CLA doesn’t work for me then I have lost nothing because there are no side effects and the cost of a one or two month supply is fairly minimal.
I am impressed with what I have read so far on the subject. The two most interesting reports have come from two research universities in North America. One university is is American and is located in Wisconsin. The other university is Canadian and can be found in Guelph, Ontario. Both of these controlled scientific studies claim that Tonalin CLA really helps overweight people lose weight and maintain their new weights.
The Canadian study, based out of the University of Guelph was conducted first. It was an eight week study and studied 60 overweight adults. The research took special interest in monitoring the potential weight gain or loss change over the Christmas holiday period. The group that took the CLA supplements everyday lost weight in the period leading up to the holidays. Furthermore, this group did not gain any weight over the holidays even though they tended to over eat and they didn’t exercise. The placebo group gained weight in the weeks leading up to the holidays and then gained even more weight over the Christmas holidays.
Impressed by what they heard out of Canada, a group of researchers from the University of Wisconsin tried to repeat the Canadian results and were entirely successful. The American study used forty overweight adults and they studied them for six months including the 8 weeks used in the Canadian study. The participants in the American study also claimed to have lost fat from their belly region when they took daily a CLA pill. The cardiovascular experts were delighted with this extra result as belly fat can lead to heart disease which is a deadly threat to their patients.
By controlling for diet and exercise, the research teams could make certain that it was the CLA pill that was the catalyst for any weight changes. All of the subjects were carefully monitored. Both the American and Canadian research teams made sure that that all of the participating subjects consumed approximately the same amount of calories per day. Furthermore, all of the subjects had the same amount of daily exercise.
The fact that these two studies were performed by professionals at respectable North American Universities makes me think that the studies are solid. I have nothing to lose by trying this natural supplement. I am going to try Tonalin CLA and continue with my regular exercise and diet.
Learn more information on tonalin and weight loss at this weight loss blog.
Zotrim Tablets - Ingredient Review
August 31, 2009 by Ernesto Martinez
Filed under Weight Loss
With a multitude of weight loss products available over the counter, it is sometimes difficult to know which ingredients work best to burn calories and fat in a safe and natural manner. Yerba mate, guarana, and damiana are three ingredients that have beneficial weight loss properties. All of these preparations are plant-based and have been used as health supplements for a number of years.
Yerba Mate
Yerba mate is a shrub (small tree) that is native to the rain forests of South America. For centuries, it has been used to stimulate energy levels, provide mental focus, nutrients, and other health benefits to locals. Along with the vitamins and minerals, yerba mate is also known for its high levels of antioxidants and amino acids. It also contains caffeine is considered as a natural stimulant.
Due to its ability to suppress the appetite and stimulate the metabolism, yerba mate is found in many diet supplements. In addition to appetite suppression it also slows down the absorption of food which provides sensations of fullness for longer periods of time after a meal.
Guarana
Guarana is a climbing plant typically found in Brazilian and Venezuelan rain forests. It has become a popular ingredient for both energy drinks and dietary supplements due to its ability to enhance endurance and focus. The high quantities of caffeine are primarily responsible for endurance. Guarana seeds contain a considerable amount of xanthine alkaloids which increase oxygen in the blood and tannins which has anti-inflammatory effects.
The theory behind the use of guarana for weight loss is that the stimulating effect of the caffeine helps decrease the appetite and promote fat loss.
Damiana
Damiana is a plant that can be found in California, Mexico, and Texas. It has been used by people as a sexual enhancer but is most commonly known for its ability to treat depression, the flu, headaches, and more. The leaf of the damiana plant also contains aromatic oils and beta-sitosterol which is known to reduce high blood cholesterol.
Damiana has several properties that work to facilitate weight loss. It is effective as a laxative that eases constipation and removes waste from the body. Damiana also naturally raises the body’s metabolism and increases energy levels.
When all three ingredients are combined, clinical studies show it significantly assist obese people with weight loss. Many dietary supplements being sold contain these ingredients separately, but only a handful, such as Zotrim, include all three.
Although the aforementioned ingredients are powerful, there are some side effects. For more information, click the following URL for a full review on zotrim or read other weight loss reviews.
What You Need To Know About Colon Cleansing
If you have not heard of colon cleansing, it is a way that we can help our colon, one of the most vital organs, to function at its highest possibility. If you have been researching, you have probably seen that there are a bunch of ways to clean your colon. One thing that may be nagging you is the concern of the safety of such a procedure.
Although there are many different way to go about colon cleansing, a huge majority of them are safe. There are some methods though, that contain harmful ingredients and chemicals that may actually have a negative effect on you. And, with any method, there may be side effects because your body isn’t used to these new substances.
Finding the right mix of method and product is the key. If you just use supplements, it won’t work as effective. You’ll want to do your colon cleanse about every 6 months for the maximum effect.
There are various ingredients on the different products and methods for colon cleansing. There are many that claim to contain all natural substances, but that is not the case. Most contain some herbs, which are natural, but they do not contain all natural substances.
Be sure to exercise caution when deciding on which colon cleansing products to use. If you take too much of anything it can harm your body still. Also, some of the substances may be new to your body which may cause some mild side effects.
It would be best if you just used products that you know are safe. You will definitely want to do research and find what is safe and what isn’t. Looking online, or reading some books from your local bookstore would be great for this.
There may be a better option out there for you than what you are currently considering. Each product has different ingredients. Be sure to check into what ingredients your product has and what effects those ingredients may have good or bad.
Long-lasting health results is the goal of colon cleansing. Always know the risks before using a certain product. In the long run, having a nice, clean colon will help your body to function at its best, and absorb the good nutrients needed on a day to day basis.
So Many People Are Asking - How Much Acai Berry Should I Take?
July 19, 2009 by Travis Van Slooten
Filed under Acai Berry
Acai berry has recently become one of the most popular supplements on the American market, but many people are still asking how much acai berry they should be taking. While there is no set amount of acai which you should take, there are some things to consider which may help you decide what amount of acai is right for you. Depending upon the product you are using, the acai berry dosage may vary.
Always Consult Your Doctor
It is extremely important that you understand right away that only your doctor is qualified to determine what amount of acai berry, if any, is safe for you to consume. While there are many internet ‘experts’ who will rush to tell you that a certain dosage is right for you, they are not qualified to make that decision. On average, people are taking between 1000 and 4000 mg of different acai berry supplements. While you will most likely fall into this category, it is always the best bet to consult with your doctor to make sure you do not have potential allergies to the product you are considering.
What Are the Consequences of Too Much Acai?
If you do happen to take a great deal of an acai berry supplement, the odds are that you will still be fine. There are no known side effects to consuming pure acai berry, but your body can react negatively if you take too much or almost anything. With acai berry, as with most foods, you may experience an upset stomach or related problems such as diarrhea. You are no more likely to be hurt consuming too much acai berry than you are if you consume too many apples, but that does not mean you shouldn’t exercise caution when deciding how much acai berry to take.
Are All Acai Supplements The Same?
Some acai berry products are not pure acai berry. If you are wondering how much acai berry to take, you first need to make sure that you are taking a pure acai product. Any acai berry supplement which contains fillers or additives may require special consideration. Some acai berry products may contain sugars or caffeine which could have obvious side effects if you consume too much. However, if you take a pure acai supplement, you are taking something that is not known to have any side effects for people who are not allergic.
It is always a good idea to stick with what the company recommends in terms of dosage. The correct acai berry dosage is what is printed on the label and that is the dosage you should stick to. If you want to take more acai or take a different kind of acai berry supplement, you should consult with your doctor first. You doctor is the best person to suggest how much acai berry you should take.
Does Hoodia Gum Really Work?
May 11, 2009 by Reagan Miers
Filed under Weight Loss
Over the past few years the dieting world has been shook up by the introduction of a number of speciality hoodia products, such as hoodia gum, hoodia chews, and hoodia pops. All of these products claim to be able to effectively and almost instantly suppress your appetite. Therefore helping you to lose weight because by controlling your appetite you will eat less.
While that sounds fantastic, I doubt these products have any affect on appetite and do very little for weight loss. For starters, I doubt that any of the hoodia gum products contain authentic hoodia gordonii. The hoodia gordonii plant is found only in South Africa and contains a molecule called P57. This molecule is the active ingredient in the hoodia plant that tricks the brain into thinking you are full. There are several varieties of hoodia, but only the hoodia gordonii variety has the ability to suppress appetite.
Hoodia gordonii is very scarce right now and there simply isn’t enough to meet demand. As a result, it is very expensive. Hoodia supplements and products have been very popular the past few years so many companies have jumped on the bandwagon. You have everything from hoodia gum to hoodia tea available today. Unfortunately, many companies have tried to cut corners to reap the profits of this high demand herb by either diluting their products so there is very little hoodia gordonii in them, or simply not using any at all ? but still claiming their product contains it.
Companies should not be allowed to get away with this, but they can because there is no regulation for hoodia supplements or products. It’s all down to the consumer to make sure that they know enough of the facts to make sure they do not get scammed or tricked into buying phoney products. Sadly, it’s true that most of the products out there are fake, most don’t contain any hoodia gordonii and those that do contain only very small amounts. Experts have stated that the percentage of fake hoodia products that are actually on sale could in excess of 80%!
There are several things you can look for when buying hoodia gum and other hoodia products to ensure that what you are buying is real, but the two most important are CITES certificates and independent lab test results. You’ll find these documents on websites that sell and market hoodia gums and other hoodia supplements. If you can’t find them, then it is very likely the product doesn’t contain authentic hoodia gordonii.
You will be hard pressed to find these documents on any hoodia gum website. I have researched many hoodia gum websites and have yet to find both of them clearly displayed. This is the primary reason why I doubt that any hoodia gum product can be a “powerful and fast-acting appetite suppressant” as many claim to be. If you can’t find these documents, then the product probably doesn’t contain authentic hoodia gordonii and as a result, has virtually no ability to effectively suppress appetite.
However, let’s assume that these hoodia gum products contain authentic hoodia gordonii. I still believe they would be highly ineffective when it comes to suppressing appetite because they contain very little hoodia gordonii. Hoodia gum products typically claim to have anywhere from 20-150mg of it per stick of gum. That isn’t going to be nearly enough to effectively suppress appetite.
It is argued by doctors and slimming experts that it can take a dosage of about 3,000mg of hoodia per day before a person will experience effective appetite suppression. However, some people may be able to manage on a much lower dose of around 800 to 1,500mg. This would still mean that you would have to chew several sticks of hoodia gum before you received this dose.
One final concern I have about all of these hoodia gum products is that the majority of them state that they were made using concentrates or extracts from the hoodia gordonii plant, and that these concentrates only contained the active ingredient P57. The problem with this is that the process of extracting this molecule has not yet been fine tuned and there is only one company in the world, called Phytopharm, who have the legal rights to do this.
This is a British medical company who are the exclusive holders of the patent for extracting the P57 molecule from the hoodia gordonii plant. However, even though they have spent the last several years and millions of pounds on researching this process, they have so far not been able to come up with a way to effectively extract P57 for use in weight loss products. I don’t see how these hoodia gum products can claim to be based on hoodia gordonii extract, when the process of creating that extract hasn’t even been properly developed.
The bottom line is I doubt that any of these hoodia gum products contain authentic hoodia gordonii, which is necessary to effectively suppress appetite. Furthermore, even if they do, they contain so little of it that it would probably do very little to suppress your appetite. If you are serious about trying hoodia supplements to suppress appetite, I strongly suggest you stick with traditional hoodia diet pills.
Finding Pure Hoodia Gordonii and the CITES Certificate
May 1, 2009 by Reagan Miers
Filed under Hoodia
If you are in the market for hoodia diet pills, you have probably heard about CITES certificates. CITES certificates can help you locate pure hoodia gordonii products and steer you away from products that don’t use pure hoodia. I often wonder how many consumers really understand what CITES certificates are all about and what they represent in the hoodia market. I hope this article will shed some light on the topic for you.
The hoodia gordonii plant is a protected plant that is in high demand. This cactus looking plant used to only grow in the wilds of South Africa. However, the increased demand for the plant, because of its weight loss properties, has prompted many people to begin farming the plant. This led South Africa to put regulations on the plant. Regulations that not only would protect the plant, but the San people who claim it as their native plant. There are controls in place that now regulate the growing, harvesting and exportation of the hoodia gordonii plant.
One of the basic regulations put in place for the endangered hoodia gordonii is the implementation of the CITES certificate. CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. This is basically an agreement between governments that ensures that international trade of the plant doesn’t threaten its survival. There are other regulations and documents that are required, too, but for the sake of this article I am only going to discuss the CITES certificate.
In order for a company to legally export hoodia gordonii from South Africa, an export permit from CITES must be obtained. Every shipment exported from South Africa must be accompanied by a CITES permit. These permits expire in six months, but the expiration period only pertains to the actual shipment of hoodia gordonii out of South Africa. In other words, a supplier has six months from the time they are issued a CITES permit to actually ship the hoodia gordonii out of South Africa. If they don’t and the shipment of hoodia sits in the port, the supplier must reapply for a new permit.
A lot of people are confused about the dates on these CITES permits. Some people think if they are viewing a CITES permit and the date is old, this automatically means something underhanded or shady is going on with a company. All it really means is the expiration date for exportation has passed.
When someone exports hoodia gordonii from South Africa, the original CITES permit stays with the inventory until it is gone. If a supplier exports thousands of kilograms of hoodia on one permit, they may not sell out of it for months and months. Yes, the date on the CITES permit will be expired, but the permit itself is still valid and proves the hoodia gordonii is legal and authentic. Just because a CITES permit may have expired doesn’t mean the plant that is being used is a fake, or that shady practices are involved in the business.
Another point to keep in mind is that the company or supplier shown on a CITES certificate doesn’t always match the name of the company selling the actual end product. For example, you may be interested in buying a hoodia supplement from “Helen’s Health Company” so you go to their website and you view their CITES certificate. Everything checks out except you notice the supplier shown on the permit is a company called, “Supplier Incorporated.” Shouldn’t the company listed on the permit be Helen’s Health Company? Not always.
Supplement companies purchase their hoodia gordonii from suppliers. Suppliers are the ones that are listed on the CITES permits. These are the companies that actually go in and export the hoodia out of South Africa. There are only a limited number of suppliers who can obtain CITES permits. In the above example, the ABC Company is the supplier of the hoodia gordonii to the XYZ Company.
Finally, just because a CITES certificate is displayed on a website doesn’t mean the company uses as much authentic hoodia gordonii as they claim. Hoodia products are classified as supplements so they are not regulated. As a result, companies can make claims that aren’t necessarily true. For example, you may be interested in a hoodia diet pill that contains 500mg of hoodia gordonii per capsule. You go to the company’s website and sure enough, they display a CITES permit so you immediately think the product is authentic.
The CITES permit doesn’t regulate what happens to the plant once it’s exported. The CITES certificate only serves as a sign that pure hoodia gordonii plants were exported from South Africa. A supplement company can do whatever they want with it once it is in their possession. They may even claim to be packaging 500mg of hoodia gordonii into their capsules when they really may not be.
I hope you now understand the importance of CITES certificates. Understanding what they are, and what they aren’t, should help you when you go to purchase pure hoodia gordonii.
Manage Your Diet with Hoodia Gordonii
April 9, 2009 by Jack Andrew
Filed under Hoodia
Do you know that a lot of people are still unaware of how hoodia diet pills impact on a person’s health when taken everyday? Many of them are also in the dark as to what types of food can or cannot be taken with the supplements. Indeed, despite being widely-known and used for some time now, many aspects about the products are unfamiliar to many people.
Hoodia gordonii is an organic supplement that suppresses appetite. While it doesn’t burn fat, it is also free from any disagreeable side effects. The effect of hoodia is that it deceives the brain into believing that you have already taken in enough. When you feel full, you won’t eat so much and eventually lose weight. Most hoodia users explain the effect as not wanting to eat at all.
When it comes to what you can or cannot eat, there are actually no restrictions. The thing is though, if you want to be on track for a slimmer, healthier you, you should always aim for a healthy, balanced diet. Being an appetite suppressant, hoodia can remove all signs of hunger so you may just want to miss out on a meal or two.
Even if you always feel full and don’t feel like eating, take in a healthy, balanced meal nevertheless. While you may not feel it, your body not only requires nutrients but also the calories to keep it going. Restricting your intake of calories slows down the body’s metabolism and instead of reducing weight you could wind up packing on the pounds.
With hoodia diet supplements, you can gain control of the type and quantity of food you take in. The feeling of hunger is no longer a factor, so you won’t be enticed to eat just anything and can choose the healthier foods. This is where the real power of hoodia gordonii lies - taking control of your eating habits.
Lastly, let me call attention to the fact that the effectiveness of hoodia diet supplements varies from person to person, and for some, don’t work at all. For the best prospects of making hoodia pills work for you, get the real product and not one of the many fake brands in the market. Before buying one, take time to research and read.
Once you find a brand that works, you’ll gain more control over your diet without any adverse side effects and you’ll have an easier time at reaching your weight loss goals!
A Natural Appetite Suppressant That Will Kill Your Hunger
April 1, 2009 by Jack Andrew
Filed under Hoodia
Finding a powerful natural appetite suppressant can play a key role in reaching your weight loss goals. After all, if you can control your hunger and consequent overeating, you can limit the calories you consume and you can lose weight.
Hoodia gordonii is one such natural appetite suppressant to consider and we’re not talking diet pills either. You can find hoodia today in many products such as coffees and teas and yogurt too!
Some manufacturers in South Africa are making yogurt with hoodia gordonii. The yogurt comes in several flavors such as peach, pineapple, banana, and granadilla. It’s not available within the U.S. but that doesn’t prevent anyone from making it for themselves.
Why should you mix hoodia with yogurt? By combining both of these natural appetite suppressants, you can kill hunger in its tracks and feel full until your next meal. No more overeating or turning to junk food that just leaves you hungry after you eat it!
For preparing this simple snack,you will simply have to select your favorite brand and flavor of yogurt.Then purchase a high quality hoodia gordonii diet supplement. Make sure the diet supplement is in the form of a capsule and contains nothing except pure hoodia gordonii powder. Tablets will not work. Lastly, make sure each capsule contains a minimum of 400mg of hoodla powder as appetite cannot be suppressed by a lesser quantity of hoodia powder.
Making this custom mix is very simply. Twist the hoodia capsule apart and combine the hoodia powder with yogurt. You may add some fiber powder to make it an even more effective appetite suppressant. You need to drink water when taking hoodia so be sure to follow this snack with a glass of water.
This simple and healthy snack can keep you on track and help you reach your weight loss goals.



