Hello Everyone!

I hope 2013 is starting off with a bang for you all. Time is passing by so fast!  It's January 14th already, two weeks into this month and 2013. With that being said, for those of you who made the New Year's resolution of of changing your weight or improving your health, it's time to get busy. For those who made the "I'm gonna lose weight" or "I'm going on a diet" resolution, you need to take a look at the information in this post before you decide on a weight change program.

In my last post I did a brief overview on the most popular diet plans in the United States. There are hundreds of diet plans and all have pros and cons and offer something slightly different. All have two goals in mind: to help you lost weight and spend a sizable amount of our money while doing it.

Some diet plans that has been getting national attention lately are incorporating the use of Adipex, hCG and or B12 injections. Not to insult any one's intelligence, I'm going to explain what Adipex, hCG and B12 are so you get a better understanding about these three products.

Let's start with Adipex.
Adipex (phentermine) is a drug that is prescribed to be used as an appetite suppressant to help reduce weight in obese patients. It is typically prescribed for individuals who are at increased medical risk because of their weight and works by helping to release certain chemicals in the brain that control appetite.
Some of the side effect of Adipex include a risk of a increase in blood pressure, heart rate, restlessness, and insomnia (not being able to sleep). Additionally Adipex has the potential to cause psychological dependence. After short-term use, a tolerance begins and can be followed by rebound weight gain. In the central nervous system, it can cause over stimulation, restlessness, dizziness, euphoria, tremors, headache, mouth dryness, unpleasant taste, diarrhea, constipation, and other gastrointestinal problems. 
It is recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that Adipex should be used short-term (usually up to 12 weeks).

What is hCG?
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) This is a hormone naturally excreted during pregnancy. The FDA approved this hormone for use in women who are experiencing hormone issues during pregnancy or fertility problems as well as other medical problems. However the FDA has not specifically approved the use of hCG for weight loss. The hCG injection is given every day.

In recent years, researchers have found that hCG actually helps men and women burn more fat and can be used to aid weight loss.  Some weight loss clinics use hCG injections, claiming that hCG burns body fat and redistributes it away from the stomach and buttocks. hCG diets also require patients to restrict calorie intake to 500 calories a day!

Vitamin B-12 and Weight Loss

Now let's look at Vitamin B12. Vitamin B-12, also known as cyanocobalamin, is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin that helps the body burn glucose (sugar) in order to produce energy. Vitamin B-12 is also important for the production of healthy red blood cells and for the maintenance of a healthy nervous system. Vitamin B-12 supplements are available to treat certain types of anemia and vitamin B-12 deficiency. Some weight loss clinics include vitamin B-12 injections in their weight loss programs because they believe the vitamin boosts ones metabolism, which helps people shed extra pounds.

Warning

The effectiveness of hCG injections and vitamin B-12 in weight loss has yet to be proven. "hCG diets have been studied for years, and no quality study has shown that HCG or vitamin B-12 help people lose weight," according to MayoClinic.com.

There is one weight change program that boasts not to use Adipex or hCG. You also do not have to sign up for a bootcamp exercise program. (Hooray!) The Weight Loss Cafe' has been gaining National and International attention over the last few months. This program actually encourages you to eat to keep your metabolism working. It's as simple as 3 healthy snacks, 2 delicious nutritional shakes and 1sensible meal a day.  Very simple. There is also a "instant gratification" part that no other weight change program offers. The Weight Loss Cafe is popping up all over and may be launching soon in a town near you.  For more information go to www.theweightlosscafe.info .

I hope you've enjoyed this post. If so, please leave a comment and like on Facebook.

Angela 

<a href="http://www.hypersmash.com">www.Hypersmash.com</a>

  References:

• MayoClinic.com: Vitamin B-12 Injections
• MayoClinic.com: HCG Diet

 

     

Weight Loss Cafe Part 2

Calling all Diets

Hello and Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has had a safe and happy holiday season. It's wonderful to spend time with friends and family, eating and enjoying foods that you've denied yourself from during the year. Some individuals overindulge in those delicious, high calorie sweets or delicious holiday beverages  because they have the intention of making the infamous New Year's resolution of going on a diet and commit to a exercise regimen on or after the new year.

Many people find that, in order to diet, they need some support or want to join a diet group. Dieting programs can cost money, with mass-market programs running as much as $5,000 to $10,000 a year between the cost of food, counseling, fitness gear, DVDs and calorie counters and so on. Dieting in the United States is a billion, yes, I said billion dollar industry.

Below is a brief overview on four of the most popular diet programs that we have or will see advertising over the next several weeks. I'm also giving an overview on a fairly new weight change program called the Transform 90 System.

Here's the overview:  

WEIGHT WATCHERS
Claim: Lose Up to 8 lbs/month
Typical Cost a month: $716
Working out to a Cost per Pound of $90
Weight Watchers is the industry leader. It is considered to be the AA for over eaters and food addicts. The program encourages a sensible diet and behavioral changes such as healthy foods with emphasis on portion control, support, exercise and attitude. It's easy to follow. You get a sense of what makes you feel full and what's high in nutrients. The average cost of the program for a month is $716 which is reasonable for a commercial diet program. This cost includes real food, snacks, weekly group meetings and access to the Weight Watchers website. That averages out to about $90 a pound.

NUTRISYSTEM
Claim: Lose Up to 8 lbs/month
Typical Cost a month: $529
Working out to a Cost per Pound of $66
This is a different type of program altogether. You choose from various types of pre-packaged portion controlled meals. There are over 160 foods to choose from, some available at a 15% discount if you buy from Walmart or Costco. There is no counting calories, counting carbs, or points. Also, there is unlimited phone counseling for Nutrisystem. There is also no cooking and the food is delivered directly to your door. The average cost per month is $529 and based on losing about 8 pounds a month that averages out to about $66 a pound. That makes it one of the most affordable, a big draw in a down economy.

ATKINS
Claim: Up to 21 pounds first month; Up to 12 pounds a month after that
Typical Cost a month: $948
Working out to a Costs per Pound of $45 the first month and $79 a month after that
SOUTH BEACH DIET
Claim: Up to 17 pounds first month; Up to 8 pounds a month after that
Typical Cost a month: $818
Working out to a Cost per Pound of $48 the first month and $102 a month after thatThese two diets have the highest monthly costs, about $1000 each. That's because you are loading up on pricey proteins. However, notice that these were some of the lowest costs per pound, particularly in the first 2 weeks which is an introduction period! That means that there is a strict ban on certain foods, so that brings that first month cost down to under $50 a pound for both programs. In the months after that, the costs go up because you are losing about half as much weight as the introduction period. On the Atkins plan, you're looking at $79 a pound, which allows you to eat butter, eggs and bacon. On South Beach, which puts great emphasis on "good fats", your average cost is going to be about $102 a pound.

ARDYSS TRANSFORM 90

Claims: Up to1/2 to 1 pound a day; 30 pounds a month

Typical cost: $ 600.00

Working out the cost First month: $300.00 mos, $100/mos after

Working out the cost per pound: $20.00 first mo; $7.00 mos after

It is also a system that is not too complicated or unrealistic to follow.

Ardyss Transform90 System is about eating more than 5 times a day, in a healthy way. It's as simple as 1, 2, 3:

1 Balanced meal, 2 Delicious shakes and 3 Nutritious Snacks.

This includes the Meal replacements, Fat Burner, Detoxifer, Transporter, Energy Booster and a

reshaper for Women or Men, weekly group meetings, webinars and conference calls and access to your personal Ardyss website. You'll also receive an entire 12 months of FREE coaching to stay motivated and on track! With the 2013 Bonus Referral program, you invite 2 people each month to participate in the system and you receive a $100.00 credit for your Maintenance package, plus $60 per person which equals $120 (you can use towards a new wardrobe).

This Ardyss Transform 90, is the newest kid on the block but has toted as much if not more success than the other programs. One unique thing that this system offers is "instant gratification". A woman or man will receive an instant drop of 2-3 clothing sizes after donning one of Ardyss' reshaping undergarments. There are several but the most popular are the Body Magic for women and Abdoman shirt for men. These reshaping undergarments give the appearance of a liposuction transformation without having had the surgery. I will go into a description and the mechanics of these 2 garments in the next post.

For those who are interested or would like more information about the Ardyss Transform 90 System, please go to www.ardyss.com/transform90.

If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment and like us on facebook.

Have a fabulous day!

Angela

Part 2

Hello and welcome back to DETOX or DIE, part 2.

I want to thank all of you who read my last blog post and left a comment. I would appreciate if you always leave a comment after reading, like it on Facebook, Tweet and/or forward the post to family or a friend. Knowledge really is power.

In my last (and very first blog post) I went over digestion, constipation and why detoxification, which is getting rid of excess toxins and mucus from you digestive track is extremely import. Before starting a weight change program or eating plan, one should get rid of the excess undigested food and residue that’s left in your digestive track with a gentle but effective cleanse. Before I go over some natural products that are available, consider these questions:

1. What color is your stool?

2. Has your diet in the last year (or longer) included these foods:

fried foods, refined flour snack or dessert foods (cake, cupcakes, donuts, etc.), large amounts of dairy products, processed foods (containing artificial ingredients and refined ingredients), meals from fast food restaurants more than twice a week and meats and fish that are not lean?

If you answer YES to any of these, you would do well to begin your weight loss program with a detox, or better yet, a Ultra Cleanse.

3. Have you been taking any prescription medications for the last year or longer AND is your weight gain related to these medications (as a side effect)?

If YES, then a long-term dietary change that incorporates cleansing foods will help move any toxic residue from these medications from your body and may also help you manage the weight gain.

4. Have you been experiencing any of these symptoms of toxicity:

ü  Allergies to certain foods

ü  Intolerance to fatty foods

ü  Digestive disorders that include bloating and flatulence (gas)

ü  Pain in your abdomen

ü  Lower back pain

ü  Bad breath and foul-smelling gas and stools

ü  Constipation, diarrhea, irregular bowel movements or sluggish elimination

ü  Rashes, boils, pimples, acne or other skin problems

ü  Compromised immune system

ü  Frequent colds and viruses

ü  Frequent headaches

ü  General aches and pains throughout the body

ü  Low energy, fatigue or loss of vitality with no apparent cause

ü  Inability to get enough sleep

ü  Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), breast soreness, vaginal infections

If you have experienced any of these symptoms, you will definitely benefit from a Ultra Cleanse.

It's important to find a gentle detox that's right for you. Extreme detox diets should be avoided.

There are some natural products that not only ease constipation, but help with sluggish digestion, ease heartburn (GERD/gastro esophageal reflux disease) and add a natural source of fiber to your diet.

In a study of periods of time the healthy human stomach requires to digest various foods, Drs. William Charles D. Maile and K.J.L. Scott used x-ray studies to test the time it took to digest certain foods. They found while it took a pint of water 45 minutes to pass through the stomach and continue on its journey, a pint of milk took 6 1/2 hours to digest in the stomach. Who would think it would take that long to digest a pint of milk?

When you slow digestion down that much, your colon is bound to be slowed down. Luckily, natural supplements like Ultra-Cleanse can help speed the process up again and help one avoid constipation.

The properties of these natural herbs, probiotics, and enzymes support internal cleansing. Within 7 to 10 days you may experience relief resulting from the elimination of wastes from your system, thanks to the effect of this formula on the digestive system throughout the body.

The Ultra Cleanse consists of two easy steps:
Step 1: Internal Cleanse (1 tablet in the morning)
Step 2: General Detoxifier (1 cup of tea in the evening)

Everyday Health Benefits include helps to cleanse and purify the digestive system, including the colon. Also helps facilitate normal digestion.

After 7-10 days of detoxing your digestive system, you don’t want to stop there. Another product called Le’Vive Green juice assists the body with nutrients that help re-energize, detoxify, and revitalize. This proprietary blend provides high concentrations of antioxidants extracted from the world’s top herbs and vegetables like Aloe Vera, Alfalfa, Artichoke, Milk Thistle, Senna, and Ginger.

The everyday Health Benefits of this antioxidant juice includes promoting cleansing of the digestive tract *. LeVive Green can also contribute to liver, kidney, and heart health, and Cardio protective properties*

PRECAUTIONS: This product contains Senna extract. Do not use if you have or develop diarrhea, loose stools, or abdominal pain. Consult your physician if you have frequent diarrhea, are pregnant, nursing, taking prescription medication or have a chronic medical condition.

Although I’m not a medical doctor, as a Certified Health Coach, I have received hundreds of testimonials from clients who’ve consumed these products and have experienced a significant improvement in the frequency and consistency of their bowel movements, not to mention having more energy and their abdomen has decreased in size.

Start the new year with a healthier (and cleaner) digestive tract.

If you would like more information on these natural products, leave me a comment with your contact information and I can put you in contact with a knowledgeable distributor.

 

I apologize for the long post, but this information was too good to keep to myself. Leave your comments below and have a fabulous day!

 

Angela

Certified Health & Wellness Coach

* *These statements have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, mitigate, cure or prevent any disease.

DETOX or DIE

It's the end of the year and I'm starting to see Weight Watcher's commercials already. The other weight loss programs will soon be airing their commercials. It's great to get the dialog going about weight loss or dieting. However the real topic that needs to be discussed but is not talked about enough is our colon health or detoxification. Detoxification along with a healthier way of eating will significantly improve one's health as well as aid in losing weight.

 

But before getting into all of that, let's look at how digestion works. 

 

When we eat food, digestion begins in the mouth as enzymes in our saliva (spit) begin to breakdown food. Chewed food moves to the stomach where gastric juices further break down food. Within 2-4 hours of you starting your meal, food is ready to enter the small intestines where it will travel for approximately 16 feet as it is further broken down and essential nutrients are absorbed.

After several hours of moving along the small intestines, what is now undigested waste is pushed into the colon (large intestine).

The colon does little absorption in comparison to the small intestines and time of waste material in the colon may last anywhere from 4-12 hours or more depending on the person.

 

The colon (also called the large intestine) is the last part of the digestive system. While the small intestines handle the absorption of most nutrients we use, the leftovers are passed to the colon for final processing and expulsion.

The quicker the waste materials in our colon pass, the less of these harmful materials and toxins enter the body and affect our health.

 

Now we can talk about detoxification.

 

DETOXIFICATION is the process of clearing toxins, excess mucus and congestion from the body.

Many of these toxins come from our diet, drug use, and environmental exposure. Internally fats, especially oxidized fats and cholesterol, free radicals, and other irritating molecules act as toxins.

Detoxification involves dietary and lifestyle changes which reduce intake of toxins and improve elimination. Avoidance of chemicals, from food or other sources, refined food, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and many drugs helps minimize the toxin load.

 

More and more physicians are agreeing - If you don't have a bowel movement every day, you're most likely constipated. This means a good 90% or more of people in the United States are constipated.

What's the big deal of not going to the bathroom every day?

When your food goes through the large intestine, water should be extracted from undigested food. Your body is trying to absorb the liquid. If the walls of the colon are obstructed or the undigested food is not fully processed, the materials can fester in the colon and ferment and rot. Toxins from the fermenting waste may now be absorbed by the body, leading to unwanted health conditions.

It's something to avoid at all costs.

 

There are tons of products on the market that make claims about ridding the body of excess waste and cleansing the colon. However most of these products are harsh and some individuals become dependant on them for them for a regular bowel movement.

 

The next few blog posts will discuss some natural products that we have discovered that are natural and very effective in not only cleansing the colon but removing impurities from the blood as well. Stay tuned.

 

If you found this post informative, please leave a comment. Have fabulous day!

Angela

Health and Wellness Coach