Continue reading Crash dieting after Christmas excess can put your health at risk … - Scotsman
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If you are looking to drop those extra pounds gained during the holidays, you may want to consider the new alternative of herbal diet pills. If you are trying to squeeze into that new bathing suit for the vacation trip to the beach, check on what herbs can do for you. Everyone wishes they were a few pounds lighter, and we all wish that the weight would melt away. While this will not happen without diet and exercise, you can assist your body by using herbs.

Herbs have been used for centuries to help people cope with diseases, to help people heal and to keep people healthy. When trying to lose weight, do some research on which herbs will increase your metabolism. Knowing which herb will work for you will enable you to choose the best herbal diet pills for you. No one wants to use something that won’t work, and you must educate yourself about herbs before you will know how to pick the best for your situation.

Herbs can also be used to curb your appetite. This is very important when you are trying to cut back on the amount of food you eat. Anyone can tell you that dieting is very hard work when you are still hungry. Let herbal diet pills help! By using herbs to curb your hunger, dieting will become easier. It’s always easier to say “no” to that chocolate cake desert when you are feeling full. You can also use those special herbs to flavor your favorite meals, so that as you eat, you feel fuller without taking in many calories as you normally would. Dieting becomes much easier!

While there are no “magic” herbal diet pills that will do all of the work for you, you can make weight loss easier by using herbs that will help you. There are many resources available to find the correct herbs for you. Take a trip to your library to go through some books on herbs. Try an internet search on forum groups that discuss herbs. There may even be a local dietician that you can call or set up an appointment with to discuss your desire to use herbs in your weight loss plan.

Tags: weight gain, lose weight, herbal diet, weight loss pills, diet pills

There are many low carbohydrate diet options available now to anyone who wants to lose weight and learn to improve eating habits and keep the weight off. The Atkins Diet is one of the most popular low carb diets around, and people who have used it have been very successful in meeting their weight loss goals. Dieting isn't easy for anyone, and sometimes traditional dieting approaches, such as counting calories just isn't enough. Of course, every diet should be accompanied by plenty of exercise to make the weight come off faster and stay off. The Atkins Diet teaches dieters how to eat more protein and fat, and limit starches, carbohydrates, and sugars. The Atkins Diet is also a great way to get off that glucose roller coaster, and keep blood sugar levels more constant without crazy fluctuations.

The Atkins Diet works by strictly limiting carbohydrate intake and increasing protein and fats in the diet. By taking this approach, the body does not have the carbohydrates to burn first, so it burns fat instead. It may seem crazy to some to eat butter and other fats on a diet, but it is really the carbohydrates that keep people from reaching their weight loss goals. The Atkins Diet isn't just a fad diet scam. It has been around since the early 1970s and even though it is controversial, Atkins Diet books have been and remain to be phenomenal best sellers. In addition to the multitude of weight loss success stories, the Atkins Diet is great for disease prevention, weight loss maintenance, and good health. Dieters have a number of food options available to them and the amount of food eaten is not restricted, only the types of foods. No refined sugars are allowed, or white potatoes, white rice, or white flour. Meats, cheeses, fats, and proteins are all acceptable food options on the Atkins Diet.

The first two weeks on the Atkins Diet are the most restricted, in which only twenty grams of carbohydrates are allowed (carbs less grams of fiber). Fruits are not allowed and only a few leafy green vegetables. During this period, the change in biochemical activity is supposed to jump start the weight loss mechanism. Many people see significant results during this time frame, which gives them the added encouragement dieters need to continue with the diet and meet their weight loss goals. Many people have had great results with the Atkins Diet, but it isn't for everyone. If you have any concerns consult your health care provider before beginning this or any restricted diet. For more information on the Atkins Diet visit www.atkins.com.

Tags: natural treatment, alternative treatment, health, herbal treatment, herbal

So was I.  I gained over 20 pounds in 3 months and didn't know what was going on.  My eating habit hadn't changed but I was tired and exhausted all the time.  I even suffered from depression. The depression was to the point I wanted to cry all the time. The depression was so bad until I made an appointment with my doctor. I had blood work done and even an MRI but no real problems was found except an increased prolactin level. My doctor suspected an underactive thyroid but the test result didn't show it.  Being a nurse I know the symptoms of hypothyroidism but never put it all together.  After researching it out, blood test does not always show abnormal TSH.

Your weight gain could be caused by an under active thyroid or hypothyroidism. It afflicts millions of people every year. It is a result of a decrease in the production of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The pituitary is the gland that produces this hormone. The thyroid regulates the metabolism which helps to control weight. Without TSH in inadequate amounts, weight gain occurs. Often hypothyroidism weight gain is overlooked or attributed to some other underlying ailment.

Although hypothyroidism is easy to treat, losing the weight is sometimes difficult. This is the problem I was having.  I had test work done which should a increased prolactin level but TSH was normal.  So I was not put on thyroid medication.  What I found to help bring my thyroid in balance was Thyromine.  Because of an underactive thyroid or sluggish thyroid, I was gaining weight uncontrollably. Thyromine has guglipid which is an ayruvedic medicine used to treat obesity,arthritis and lipid problems.

Gaining weight may not be your fault so don't be a victim. Get control over your weight, improve your thyroid function and start losing weight.  The holidays are around the corner.

Tags: thyroid, weight gain, diet, weight, dieting, obesity, health, underactive thyroid, fat, hypothyroidism

My husband and I went on the atkins diet several years ago. This is the first time my husband has done any dieting. I on the other hand have tried every diet know to mankind. Of course he dropped 10 pounds the first week, and could not understand why I am always saying that weight loss is difficult. I did lose 6 pounds the first week so I had to agree that the diet was working. The first two weeks were difficult to get used to eating only low carbohydrate foods. Once we got past that two week mark we found that it was an easy diet for us to follow. On the atkins diet you eat mostly protein. My husband has always been a big meat eater so that part was easy. It was more difficult for him to give up the potatoes and bread that he ate along with his meat. We needed to find alternative foods that were allowed on the atkins diet.

I bought the atkins diet book which not only outlines the diet but also has recipes. It is amazing how you can eat a lot of food on the atkins diet and still lose weight. The main challenge is getting some variety into your meals. When we first started the atkins diet the dinner meal was very easy to prepare. We would have some type of protein, fish, pork, chicken or beef and a large leafy salad with bleu cheese dressing. This was not that different than what we ate before it was just minus the potato and bread. After a few weeks the lack of variety started to bore us. We were both losing weight, so that helped keep us motivated, but we were getting tired of the same meal each night. Then I discovered some of the recipes in the back of the atkins diet book. Our favorite is mashed cauliflower. It is the same texture as mashed potatoes. The atkins diet book also had a recipe for a salad that has all the same ingredients as potato salad, minus the potatoes. You substitute cooked cauliflower. I was skeptical at first, but it tastes wonderful.

Over the years we have added carbohydrates back into out diet. Initially we both gained some of the weight back, but now we have found the right balance for each of us. Long term with very low carbohydrates did not fit our life style, or taste buds, but the atkins diet was an effective way for us to take off pounds.

Tags: alternative treatment, health, herbal, natural treatment, herbal treatment

So it's no secret anymore that America is one of the most overweight countries today. Our weight issues have been a hot subject in the media and news for several years now, and new trendy diets and weight loss programs have been spawning out of control. If you are like many millions of other Americans and are overweight, you're probably very interested in finding the best weight loss system possible. Are these new trendy diets the way to go? What about medication, or even surgery?

The rise in the use of both medication and surgery is to me a little scary. While they are both the best weight loss methods with respect to losing weight fast, they are also the most risky, and have vastly more side effects and dangers compared to dieting and exercise programs.

Surgery, whether it's liposuction or a gastric bypass, is always inherently risky. While liposuction is definitely the safer of the two common forms of weight loss surgery, it remains very expensive, and can leave you with a pretty vicious scar. Gastric bypasses are more drastic, and can lead to serious tissue damage, medical conditions and nutrient deficiencies. So surgery is the best weight loss procedure in that it gets the weight off fast, but because of its danger and high cost, it really should be reserved for people that suffer from obesity that is causing serious and immediate adverse health effects.

Medication is less drastic than surgery, but not by a lot, and in itself has plenty of dangers associated with it. Regardless of what you hear advertised, any drug or ?herb' that suppresses your appetite will have some potentially harmful side effects, and shouldn't be taken without talking to your doctor first. As tempting as they may be, medications aren't the best weight loss method for most people, and should be reserved for more serious forms of obesity.

Unfortunately, its good old diet and exercise that is the best weight loss method in the end. The good news is our understanding of both diet and exercise is improving. We now know that starving yourself is not the answer. Actually, studies today are showing that the best weight loss diets are the ones that encourage you to eat a lot and often, but stick to healthier foods. Foods high in fiber, vegetables, lean protein, and low fat, eaten throughout the day will help you maintain a high metabolism. If you're hungry, eat! Starving will slow down your metabolism considerably, so keep eating but just eat healthy things.

Tags: health, alternative treatment, herbal treatment, herbal, natural treatment

There is a 7 day weight loss plan that works wonders. It is a well kept secret among dieters. Not only can you lose weight fast but you can lose up 9-12lbs in 7 days. So if you are trying to get the weight off before the holidays then this diet plan is for you.  Not only do you lose weight but you are also doing a mild detoxification of simple sugars and caffeine.

7 Day Weight Loss Plan:

Cabbage Soup Recipe

6 large green onions
2 green peppers
1 or 2 cans of tomatoes (diced or whole)
3 Carrots
1 Container (10 oz. or so) Mushrooms
1 bunch of celery
1/2 a head of cabbage
1 package Lipton soup mix
1 or 2 cubes of bouillon (optional)
1 48oz can V8 juice (optional)
Season to taste with salt, pepper, parsley, curry, garlic powder, etc.

Directions:

Slice green onions, put in a pot and start to saute with cooking spray.

Cut green pepper stem end off and cut in half, take the seeds and membrane out. Cut the green-pepper into bite size pieces and add to pot.

Take the outer leafs layers off the cabbage, cut into bite size pieces, add to pot.

Clean carrots, cut into bite size pieces, and add to pot.

Slice mushrooms into thick slices, add to pot.

If you would like a spicy soup, add a small amount of curry or cayenne pepper now.

You can use beef or chicken bouillon cubes for seasonings. These have all the salt and flavors you will need.

Use about 12 cups of water (or 8 cups and the V8 juice), cover and put heat on low. Let soup cook for a long time - two hours works well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

7 Day Weight Loss Plan Step By Step:

Day One: Fruit: Eat all of the fruit you want (except bananas). Eat only your soup and the fruit for the first day. For drinks- unsweetened decaffeinated teas, cranberry juice and water.

Day Two: Vegetables: Eat until you are stuffed will all fresh, raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. Try to eat leafy green vegetables and stay away from dry beans, peas and corn. Eat all the vegetables you want along with your soup. At dinner, reward yourself with a big baked potato with butter. Do not eat fruit today.

Day Three: Mix Days One and Two: Eat all the soup, fruits and vegetables you want. No Baked Potato.

Day Four: Bananas and Skim Milk: Eat as many as eight bananas and drink as many glasses of skim milk as you would like on this day, along with your soup. This day is supposed to lessen your desire for sweets.

With this 7 Day Weight Loss Plan, be sure to drink 6-8 8oz glass of water. Avoid caffeine and also 2 tsp of apple cider vinegar in an 8oz glass of water will speed up the process.

Day Five: Beef And Tomatos: Ten to twenty ounces of beef and up to six fresh tomtoes. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water this day to wash the uric acid from your body. Eat your soup at least once this day. You may eat broiled or baked chicken instead of beef (but absolutely no skin-on chicken). If you prefer, you can substitute broiled fish for the beef one one of the beef days (but not both).

Day Six: Beef and Vegetables: Eat to your heart's content of beef and vegetables this day. You can even have 2 or 3 steaks if you like, with leafy green vegetables. No Baked Potato. Eat your soup at least once.

Day Seven: Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices and vegetables: Again stuff, stuff, stuff yourself. Be sure to eat your soup at least once this day.

Repeat the 7 Day Weight Loss Plan as often as you like to achieve the desired results. Start now and lose weight before the holidays.

As always please consult your doctor before starting any weight loss program.

Tags: weight, fat, health, dieting, health and wellness, lose weight, obesity, diet, medical, weight-loss