Top 10 Reasons Why you should NOT "go" on a Diet

The only thing growing faster than the $65 billion diet industry is the American waistline. If one of your New Years resolutions was to Go on a Diet, the only place I guarantee you will go....is up in weight.

It's a Fact - Diets will only make you fatter.

When it comes to the latest in Diet fads, we are quite gullible and easily tempted by a Diet's empty promised. Reason being....the diet industry KNOWS we are in search of the "quick fix" and will only play with our emotions - our desperation for the quickest way to relieve looking and feeling fat.

Diets are nothing more than Temporary Solutions with many lingering, negative side effects.

Here are the Top 10 Reasons Why you should NOT "go" on a Diet

1. Diets do NOT work.

Diets have a 99% Failure Rate. Have you noticed a pattern yet? Lose weight....quickly regain it? Over time, studies show if you diet you are more likely to be overweight than people who eat normally and make small gradual changes to their lifestyle. No, the Law of Averages does not apply to this faulty system.

2. Dieting can be Dangerous.

Any time you severely restrict the amount or types of foods you eat you put your health and life at risk. Dieting has been related to injuries and sudden deaths from electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition, and heart arrhythmia's. Weight cycling, or yo-yo-ing weight, is associated with higher death rates - especially if some type of pills are being used. At no point should you ever place weight loss above your health.

3. Dieting Destroys your Metabolism.

Diets will cause your weight to quickly cycle up and down. Sure, you may lose weight quickly because you are simply not eating enough. In the initial stages, the first seven to nine pounds lost are water, presenting a real danger of dehydration and mineral deficiencies. Even more terrifying ins the break down of lean muscle due to inefficient nutrients and calories. If you are losing more than 3-4 pounds a week, you can be sure this is what is happening - very little fat is lost this state.

Now, any muscle loss will cause your metabolism slow to a crawl. The cumulative effect takes place for you cannot survive very long on very low calories (1200 or less) and you will eventually eat more - on top of a slower metabolism. All those excess calories will be stored as fat - causing rapid weight gain.

4. Dieting is Exhausting.

Diets are just reduced calorie Fads disguised by a clever gimmick. "Lose weight while you sleep" "Eat all you want and still lose weight" Not eating enough or cutting out certain food groups means your body may not be getting the energy it needs, or may lack certain nutrients. You will feel exhausted, light headed and experience some not-so-fun mood swings.

5. Dieting is Disruptive.

Dieting negatively affects your normal eating patterns. Diets can lead to binge eating, overeating and chaotic eating. When you diet, it is common to override your internal signals telling you to eat. You end up trying to use willpower or resist hunger signals and may even go as far as taking appetite suppressants. This results in being unable to know when you really are hungry or wore....when you're full.

6. Dieting can lead to eating disorders.

Experts state that the high rates of eating disorders in the U.S. are due in part to people dieting, losing weight, rebounding, and becoming chronic dieters.

7. Dieting Causes Food Obsessions.

If you spend a large amount of time and energy depriving yourself of food or certain types of food - you will spend more time thinking about food and become obsessed attempts to control your weight by what you choose to eat or not eat. How long do you want to live like this?

8. Dieting Diminishes Women.

There is way too much attention focused on our appearance and an arbitrary number on the scale. In the midst of this focus - we end up avoiding what really matters to us - our dreams and ambitions. Even worse, it erodes our confidence and self-respect.

9. Dieting Intensifies Negativity.

If you diet, you are more judgmental and critical of yourself and others. Once again, wasted time and energy.

10. Diets Put Your Life on Hold.

Does this sound familiar...."I'll be happy when I weigh "x pounds." Guess what, the issues in your life are not related to your weight. Take responsibility and take back control of your life. Decide to be happy now and do what it takes to live a lifestyle that reflects your priorities.

So this year resolve to NOT go on a Diet. Set Yourself Free from this miserable, guaranteed to fail weight loss cycle. Do NOT let the diet industry make money by taking advantage of you. It is time to stand up for yourself and take control.

by: Holly Rigsby

Read More..

Why Your Diet May Not Be As Rich In Iodine As You Assume

The trace mineral iodine is well known for its crucial role in enabling the body's manufacture of vital thyroid hormones, but it is also important for the health of the immune system and for optimal brain function. It is widely believed by many authorities that iodine deficiency should never be seen in the affluent West, although this problem affects millions throughout the developed world.

Some nutritionists argue, however, that this conventional view is too optimistic, because the content of all minerals in foods is heavily dependent on the mineral content of the soil from which those foods are derived. The assumption must therefore be that the continuing de-mineralisation of farm soils has led to a reduction in the amount of dietary iodine commonly consumed.

Fish and other seafood, however, remain a relatively rich source because these ocean creatures concentrate the sea's iodine in their flesh. Though not commonly eaten in the West, seaweed, or kelp, is also an excellent source of iodine for this reason, and is readily available in the form of a dietary supplements. Dairy products and certain meats may also be a good source, particularly where iodine is routinely added to farm animal feed. But in countries, including most of Western Europe, where animals are grazing fields growing on iodine depleted soils, levels are likely to be much lower.

So even in the West, those not including fish or seafood in their diets, and not using iodised or sea salt, may be at real risk of deficiency. In an effort to compensate for low levels of dietary iodine, the mineral has been routinely added to ordinary table salt in the US for many years. But the practice is not as common in the UK and other European countries, where specially iodised or natural "sea-salt" has been marketed more as a luxury alternative. The problem of insufficient dietary iodine has been compounded on both sides of the Atlantic, however, by increasing concern about the possible adverse health consequences, particularly high blood pressure, of excessive salt intake. Many nutritionists, however, regard these fears as exaggerated, and believe that any such potential problems are far less serious than the consequences of an insufficiency of iodine, and may be easily resolved by the use of the low sodium salt alternatives available.

Iodine, however, cannot in any case be regarded as a luxury. Its essential function lies in the production of the vital thyroid hormones; thyroxine, sometimes known as T4, and tri-iodothyronine, or T3. And as is well known, these hormones are crucially important in ensuring a healthy metabolic rate and the release of energy from food; so an underactive thyroid gland is commonly the villain in cases of excessive weight gain, particularly where this of sudden onset, and in cases of difficulty in losing weight even when following a sensible reducing programme. A healthy thyroid gland is also crucial for the optimal functioning of the immune system.

But perhaps even more importantly, iodine deficiency is also known as a major cause of avoidable brain damage; a problem which the World Health Organisation has estimated to affect an astonishing 50 million people worldwide. Sadly, many of these cases occur in children whose mothers were iodine deficient in pregnancy, resulting in a condition of severely retarded brain development known as congenital hypothyroidism, or "cretinism". Even where such catastrophic consequences are avoided, iodine deficiency in childhood may also have serious effects on the developing brain, leading to low energy and motivation for learning, and measurable impairment of IQ scores.

Since 2001 the Food and Nutrition Board of the US Institute of Medicine (FNB) has prescribed a Recommended Dietary Allowance for iodine of 150 mcg for all individuals over 14, rising to 220 mcg for pregnant women and 290 mcg for those breastfeeding. Somewhat confusingly, however, an excessive consumption of iodine is also associated with a malfunctioning or enlargement of the thyroid gland, as well as mouth ulcers, headaches and gastric upsets, and the FNB therefore advises an upper safe limit for daily iodine consumption of 1,100 mcg for adults. Most people eating a conventional Western diet are unlikely to exceed this level.

With the possible exception of pregnant and breastfeeding women, people in the West who use liberal quantities of iodised salt as a regular seasoning are unlikely to need further supplements. But many commercial multi-mineral preparations contain iodine in reasonable quantities, usually in the form of potassium iodide, and whilst not perhaps strictly necessary, such supplementary doses will do no harm and may be regarded as a useful insurance policy given that, like all minerals needed by the body, iodine functions best in the presence of adequate supplies of all the others. And it should be particularly noted in this context that the effects of any deficiency of iodine may be intensified by any deficiency of selenium, iron or vitamin A.

source: by: Steve Smith, Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter and journalist with a particular interest in health and wellness.

Find out more at http://www.sisyphuspublicationsonline.com/LiquidNutrition/Iodine.htm

Read More..

Introduction to Atkins Diet

You always thought that to lose weight and feel good you have to adopt a low-fat diet? If so, the principles and approach of the Dr.Atkin’s New Diet Revolution, Revised might just not sound right for you. Since Dr. Atkins published his book, new scientific researches show that a controlled carbohydrate nutritional approach is better for you-and for your body-than a lowfat, high-carbohydrate nutritional approach.

Many people think that only one thing matters: how many calories you take in and use up. It’s not that simple.When you follow a controlled carbohydrate approach, you get what Dr. Atkins calls a “metabolic advantage”. When you control carbohydrate consumption sufficiently, your body will switch from burning glucose derived from carbohydrate to burning primarily fat for energy. The metabolic advantage is that burning fat takes more energy so you expend more calories. And if you eat fewer calories-as many Atkins people do because their appetite is usually diminished-you’ll likely lose weight even faster. So it’s not that calories don’t count, it’s just that you will burn more of them, with less hunger, when your body is operating on a fat-based metabolism.

According to Dr. Atkins, there are 3 groups of patients that fit into the Atkins Diet profile. If your answer is “yes” to most of the questions in one category, then Atkins is the right diet for you.

Read More..

Singles, Exercise and Diet(share?)

Pot luck dinner anyone? Churches seem to love those fat laden affairs, and Christian singles are apparently leading the way to the buffet. A recent UK survey on the habits of singles found that singles of all ages had unhealthier diets than married folks. For example:

* More than two times as many single people ate fried food and fast food (3x a week) compared to those married. That’s a lot of Burger King!
* Only 20% of single men and women ate the recommended 5 daily servings of fruits and veggies, compared to 34% for married couples.

The only good news for singles is that they were more likely to excercise than their married counterparts. I suppose we have to work off all that artery clogging junk food!

I found the above news on diet quite surprising. After all, obesity is usually counter-productive to finding a girlfriend or boyfriend. Yet, there are many reasons why singles may have poorer diets than married people. Some singles report that they would rather not cook if they are doing it for themselves. Others report that eating comfort foods (like French Fries) helps them deal with stress and loneliness. Finally, still other singles stated they’re on the run so often, they simply have no time to prepare a healthy meal.

In God’s Word, it’s clear that God wants His children to honor Him with their bodies. Would you agree that this not only means to stay away from sexual impurity, but also from stuffing our faces with unhealthy foods? Ouch.

Bible Verse of Day

-Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body- 1 Cor. 6:19-20

Read More..

Win a slimmer you - instantly!

DON'T just dream about dropping weight, we're offering you the chance to SEE yourself slimmer.

With the help of motivational photo expert Fiona Moreton, we’ll show you what you COULD look like if you slim down with The Sun Diet. Send your pics to editor@thesundiet.co.uk and tell us why you want to lose weight.
The winners will get their slimmer pics published on thesun.co.uk and FREE membership to The Sun Diet.
If you reach your target weight, you'll be treated to fantastic makeover and photoshoot for the paper.

IT REALLY WORKS!

See Yourself Slimmer creator Fiona Moreton came up with the idea after her weight rocketed during her twenties.Going from nine to twelve stone, her own battle against bulge inspired her to help other women."In my twenties the weight really started to pile on," says Fiona, 36.

"I was incredibly unhappy and comfort ate a lot."

Like many women, Fiona tried endless diets, but always hit rock bottom when she fell off the wagon. Even her wedding wasn’t enough to keep the pounds off permanently."I met my husband in my late twenties and although I got down to ten and a half stone in 2000, I started piling on the pounds again after the wedding.

By 2002 I was over 12 stone.
"I was playing around on some photo software one day and managed to make a photo of me look slimmer."It helped me so much to be able to see what I could look like."

Fiona cut out naughty snacks and made healthier choices, like switching white bread for wholemeal and eating more fruit and veg.She kept her photo stuck to the fridge as a reminder of how great she would look. "The weight slowly came off over a period of a year and a half, it dawned on me just how much the slimmer photo had helped.

"After months of planning I launched See Yourself Slimmer in May 2005 and just as importantly I have remained at my ideal weight of nine stone!"

Read More..