Weight Loss Pills' Effects...The UGLY Side You MUST Know

Weight loss pills and drugs...anywhere you look, they're all around you.

Whether it's on the internet, radio, TV, or newspaper, you'll see advertisements about these fat burning drugs...netting millions and millions of clients wanting to trim down those beer bellies in record time.

And if you're also desperate to lose weight quickly, it would seem that this is the MOST logical and practical option to finally flaunt your body at the beach or mall without sweating it at the gym or hassle of resisting the temptation of buying that double-patty burger meal...or so it seems.

An unbiased and critical look at these weight loss pills' effects and bad side will make you think twice about picking up that phone and ordering them.

Not convinced?

The following facts will!

Weight Loss Pills' Effects Fact 1 A good portion of these fat loss drugs act as metabolic boosters.

So what does that mean?

That means your body's chemical processes are reved up. And what's the risk? One that stands out the most (and scares the most) is the fact that the way your heart works is adversely affected by these pills, and heart valve disease is just one of the illnesses that might plaque you if you're not so lucky with these "magic" weight loss pills.

Weight Loss Pills' Effects Fact 2 Some weight loss drugs are beefed up with Caffeine and Ephedrine Hydrochloride.

And they do make you lose weight...at the risk of having physical and psychological addiction to these drugs, headaches, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression. And in my book, that's not a very good bargain!

How do I know if I am overweight?

Do I need to Lose Weight? Q: I weigh 45 kilos, Do I need to lose weight?

A: I cannot answer that for you. But I can tell you some ways to find out.

Overweight means your weight is higher than what might be considered normal weight for your height. If you believe that you may have put on a few extra pounds, you will need to assess how your weight impacts your risk of developing serious weight-related diseases and health conditions. The three main ways that weight is measured are: percent body fat (PBF), waist-to-hip ratio,and BMI (body mass index).

PBF is measured quite painlessly by a test known as 'caliper measurement'. The test measures under the skin fat with a skinfold caliper. The practioner will take hold of a fold of skin and simply pull it away from the muscle.This is normally done at the waist, hips and thigh areas. A formula is then used to calculate what the estimated body fat is. It should be noted that there are a few reasons why PBF measurement may not be considered the ideal method to use. Age,the skill of the person taking the measurments and the more overweight you are the less accurate the results are likely to be.

Waist to Hip measurement.

Take a tape measure and measure your waist at it's narrowest point and then measure your hips at their widest point.Then simply divide the measurement for your waist by the measurement from your hips and there you have your waist-to-hip ratio. Women with higher ratios than 0.85 are deemed to have a higher cardiovascular risk. As the ratio increases so does the risk factor. The same situation applies to men if their ratio exceeds 0.90.

BMI ( body mass index) To calculate your body mass index do the following: divide your weight (in pounds) by your height (in inches) squared, then multiply the result by 705. For example:your height is 5'5" = 65" 65" squared = 4,225 (65"x 65") weight:120lbs. 120 divide by 4,225 = 0.0284 0.0284 x 705 = 20.02( rounded down to 20 ) BMI is 20

How does this translate to your wellbeing?

Well assuming that you are over 20 years of age:

BMI of less that 18.5 = considered underweight. BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 = considered normal BMI of 25 to 29.9 = considered overweight Falling into the range of 25 to 34.9 means that you could experience some health concerns. Especially men whose waist size exceeds 40 inches or 35 inches for women. To put it bluntly if your BMI exceeds 30 a person is considered obese and should a person's BMI exceed 40 they are considered morbidly obese.

How to Lose Belly Weight - 3 Mistakes You Must Avoid

nowing how to burn belly fat is the critical first step. For many people fat on the stomach area is one of the most stubborn areas to get rid of it from. There are many myths surrounding how to lose that belly fat, and as a result there are common mistakes that people make. Here are a few of them so that you can avoid them.

1. It is widely believed that it you want to lose the belly fat and tone your stomach then doing hundreds of ab crunches will work. This in fact is a myth; no extra amount of these crunches will help you to effectively lose that belly fat. When you exercise your body decides where the fat is burned from and if you have a flabby belly, the fat needs to be burned from the top first. Abdominal crunches will not be effective in this process.

2. Cardiovascular workouts are an important part of burning fat as they increase the heart rate and burn off the fat deposits quickly. Many people make the mistake of doing long cardio workouts though, which is pointless and can become quite boring very quickly. You can intersperse cardio work with other types of exercise that are more efficient at fat burning.

One of these is strength training. This exercise includes methods like weight lifting, lifting dumbbells, resistance bands or bodyweight exercises. These types of exercise are really good at helping to lose belly fat as they help to build lean muscles which burns the fat. It is recommended that you do these types of exercises three times a week. They are great at increasing you Basal Metabolic Rate and this is an essential factor in burning off more calories.

3. It is widely known that changing your diet helps immensely to lose excess fat. Changing your diet from unhealthy to healthy foods is a huge part as well as exercising in the battle against the bulge. Many people switch to foods that have labels such as "sugar-free", "low-carb" or "low-fat". It is assumed that as they state that they are low that they must be better for you.

It is in fact best to be wary of these labels- they are not always what they seem. Low- fat on the label does not automatically mean that the food is lower in calories. It is common for foods with these labels to have more sugar as a replacement for the fat that has been removed. Low-carb foods are low in glucose which is necessary for the brain to function properly, and sugar-free foods are generally higher in carbs and fat instead of the sugar!

It remains that the best way to lose belly fat is to maintain a healthy, balanced diet and do regular mixed exercise of the different types. Now you are able to separate the truth from the myths about how to burn your belly fat, you are ready to begin your lifestyle changes to a fitter and less flabby body.

Best Diet and Exercise Tips

To find the time to lose weight, you need these best diet and exercise tips. No time to figure out and follow a weight control diet? Not enough hours in the day to get any exercise in? You are not alone.

Let's start at the end of the day, both figuratively and literally.

At the end of the day, what do you want for your body, your mind and your lifestyle? What is the most important stuff for you?

If it is working yourself ragged all day and half the night at your business or career, then you have to step back from the coalface for a bit and look at where you are heading. If you fill your hours with doing work, planning for work, stressing about work, you are not going to be as productive, creative or organised as if you undertake to have a more balanced life.

You may know the story of the woodcutter hard at work in the forest, cutting down mighty big trees day in day out. His saw has become blunt because he doesn't maintain it; he only sees the huge numbers of trees in front of him that have to be cut down. If he stopped regularly and sharpened the saw, he would get the trees cut down faster and more efficiently. But (you knew this was coming) he can't see the forest for the trees.

If work is the focus of your life, you have to make sure you work to maximum efficiency. You have to stop and sharpen your saw. Take time out to plan, prepare and eat meals that will fuel your body for peak performance. Take a break and get some daily aerobic exercise that gets you out of your work head space.

By eating properly and exercising regularly, you are going to be more clear headed, creative and organised and you will actually get more done at your workplace in a shorter period of time because you are coming to work fresh, rested and recharged. Often, when you take yourself out of the work environment, you come up with your top ideas and strategies seemingly from nowhere.

Finding the time to lose weight happens at the end of the day in the literal sense as well.

The end of the day is when you can plan your time. 15 to 20 minutes before bed is the optimum time to prepare breakfast, lunch and healthy snacks for the next day as well as your exercise program. Get your walking shoes and outfit out ready to throw on first thing or to pack into the car for your lunchtime stride around the block.

At first you may find this tiring, but that is because you are about to break an entrenched habit. After a couple of weeks of good nutrition, you will have plenty of energy and enthusiasm to prepare for your day the night before. Give it this time. It will work for you.

At the start of the day, you reap the benefits of the few minutes spent in evening preparation. You are not dashing around looking for something, anything to put in your mouth. You are not giving up on your exercise for the day because you can't locate your socks and time is a wasting.

You are prepared, rested and ready for action. The time is there. Use it or lose it.

A Little Motivation

No essay today. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. The next time you reach for that cookie, or decide not to exercise today, go over to google and just search "diet before and after." I know that's all the motivation I need to stick with my diet/exercise plan. Good luck out there.

BMI Calculators

The media constantly barrages us about new diseases and alarming medical findings. Reporters, physicians and scientists alike bring us disturbing results of the latest research almost daily, and confront us with health issues we may never even have thought of. If it was not for them, we would probably ignore definite and important warning signs and not worry so much about our physique, what we eat, and how much we exercise.

A healthy weight assessment is recommended by anyone who works for, or is interested in, fitness and the well-being of mankind. That means keeping track of how much people weigh, and what it does to their bodies. From all the news coverage health issues receive, we learn that more and more people are struggling not only with what they eat, but also how much. The result is a steady increase of the population's 'Body Mass Index', and sadly to say, this has a negative impact on all aspects of society, including health care. Indeed, the heavier, overweight or obese people become, the more chances arise they get sick.

Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a precise measurement. It is a ratio of a person's mass in kilograms to the square of their height in metres. BMI = weight in kg/ (height in metre)2. The desirable, normal range is 20-25. Above 25 is considered overweight, above 30 is labeled as obesity, and over 40, is found to be morbidly obese. BMI scores below the lower end of the acceptable range indicate malnutrition.

BMI is mentioned in many diets and fitness plans. Understanding the concept is one thing, being able to measure one's body mass, is another. Fortunately there are several convenient tools available to help you figure out what your BMI is. Calculators and counters can be purchased as handy, handheld, portable devices. They can be purchased online, or at specific locations where they sell exercise equipment or diet supplies, or you can take advantage of easy-to-use online programs, which were explicitly designed to determine a person's Body Mass Index.

Pocket size, portable BMI calculators devices are easy to use, and usually come with multiple built-in features. Follow the instructions, enter the required information, and the gadget will display your results on a practical screen.

All you need to enter when using an online BMI calculator program is your height and weight. With the click of a mouse you will instantly get your results. Monitoring your BMI regularly is important. It will help you keep your levels in a normal range, which will reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

BMI weight loss calculators are most reliable for people between the ages of 18 and 70, except for those who are pregnant, women who are breastfeeding, body builders, competitive athletes, and individuals with chronic illnesses. In case you do not have access to a computer, or a BMI calculating device, health clubs and fitness centers usually are equipped with BMI calculators, and will gladly measure the Body Mass Index of their members.

What it Takes to Start Losing Weight

Are You Living Through Diet Hell...Really, What Does it Take to Finally Achieve the Weight Loss Goals That You Have Always Wanted? When you think of weight loss and losing weight, the first things that probably come to your mind are either those "lose weight overnight!!" articles that are in every magazine and newspaper in the world that never work and are written by some personal training idiot that has no idea what they're talking about...

Or maybe you're thinking of all of those weight loss pills that claim to be safe and allow you to "eat whatever you want and still lose weight because the pill will do all of the work for you" or whatever ridiculous line they are using to get you to buy their useless unsafe weight loss product.

Or, how about eating negative calorie foods like celery and water all day!

Well, if you are thinking any of those things, forget it! Forget all of it!

The science behind losing weight is actually quite simple; burn more calories then you consume. If you can fully understand that then you are on your way to losing weight.

You can count how many calories you eat in a day, but this gets very difficult and time consuming and a lot of the time not accurate. However, it is good to have an idea of how many calories you are burning throughout the day, and how many you are taking in. If you don't monitor this, it will get out of control.

Everyone burns calories. The average women burns approximately 1,800 calories per day, and a man burns a couple hundred more, depending on their weight. This does not take into consideration exercise OR the muscle mass that you have on your body. People with more muscles in the right areas, burn more calories! This is something that is taught in great detail within Strip That Fat, our top recommended product.

2000 calories is easy to eat, especially if you eat the wrong foods. That is the reason people GAIN weight. If you know what foods to eat, to satisfy your hunger and that are not packed with low quality calories, your diet can help you shed weight quicker than you ever imagined. These foods are given to you within Strip That Fat (and some of the other top diet plans in less detail)

And one last tip that will help you lose weight. Eating smaller meals more often is much better for you than eating big meals less often. 5 smaller meals/day is much better than 3 big meals. You will feel less hungry throughout the day, and you body will actually function better and your metabolism will go up. These are all things that we learned within Strip That Fat.

If you do get your hands on the Strip That Fat diet system, you will never have to worry about another diet again!

5 Ways to Continue Losing Weight

Even though everyone loses weight in a different way, it is common and perfectly normal for any dieter to reach a plateau. Instead of allowing it to frustrate you, use it as an opportunity to double up your efforts and reconnect with your strategy to carry you through to the finish line. Listed below are 5 of the best ways to re-ignite the healthy weight loss process when you feel challenged. Choose the tips that work best for you or simply go for them all!

Healthy Weight Loss Tip #1: Start Exercising Although you can lose weight without exercise, it will always accellerate your efforts. If you are not injured or do not suffer from severe asthma, be thankful that you can get outside and move your body. Take advantage of your ability to be active because many people do not have that luxury. The more you exercise, the better you will get at it, and the less it will feel like work.

If you are already exercising, add something different to the mix to make your body working harder. Add intensity, in the form of extra weight, run faster or for a longer distance, or more duration. Going until you fail is the easiest way to ensure you're pushing hard enough. Add extra sit-ups and push-ups before you go to sleep and when you wake up. Done in the AM on an empty stomach, this can kick-start your metabolism by teaching your body to more efficiently mobilize its fat stores for energy.

Healthy Weight Loss Tip #2: Make Healthier Eating Choices When you are trying to lose weight, there is nothing more important than proper nutrition. Your body can perform miracles with choices like soy protein shakes, fruits and vegetables. You'll not only bust past your plateau, but you'll do it in a healthy way. Eliminate refined sugar grains (most pre-packaged snack foods) so carbohydrates can not get their way unnoticed into your diet.

Cutting back on how often you eat can have a negative impact on your diet plateau as well. Small, frequent meals are more satisfying and produce better weight-loss results than the same number of calories consumed in three large meals. Take advantage of healthy snacks like protein bars, soy nuts and fresh vegetable and fruit slices. Eating more of the right kinds of food is a much smarter plan of action to break a healthy weight loss plateau than starving yourself.

Healthy Weight Loss Tip #3: Drink Green Tea Whenever I want to lose 5 or 10 pounds of stubborn belly fat, I drink more green tea. Packed with more vitamins and antioxidants than any other drink, green tea is an all-natural way to give yourself energy to compliment your enthusiasm for losing weight. The best part, however, is that green tea ahas the amazing ability to actually speed up your metabolism! You will notice results right away with just one cup, but the more you drink it, the more you will want it!

Healthy Weight Loss Tip #4: Keep Your Incentive Strong The body achieves what the mind believes. If you don't believe you can make it past the hurdle of a weight loss plateau, you probably won't. You'll give up before you have a chance to even try. Focus on re-capturing the determination you felt when you first began your weight-loss program. The excitement of watching the pounds drop one by one should be the focus of your motivation. If it was something that has come and gone, like a high school reunion or a wedding, choose a new goal.

Start keeping a diet journal of everything you eat and drink. You may quickly discover that hidden carbohydrates and sugars are keeping your healthy weight-loss progress stuck at the plateau. Eliminate trigger foods or anything that you think may be contributing to your inability to lose more weight. If you are eating pretzels every day at 2pm, don't starve yourself by not eating if you are hungry at that time...just replace the pretzels with something healthier like fruit or chicken.

Healthy Weight Loss Tip #5: Drink More Water It is extremely important to replenish your fluids by drinking plenty of water on any weight loss program, especially if you are incorporating exercise on a daily basis. An inadequate supply of water can slow down your weight-loss, so carry a water bottle with you wherever you go throughout the day. Keeping well hydrated not only helps you burn fat efficiently, it also helps control hunger.

Follow these 5 steps and you will have a better chance of losing substantial amounts of weight, and feel better about your body. Each time you sit down to eat or have a snack, take a moment to become mindful that the food you are about to eat is either taking you one step closer to your goal, or one step away. As you make this mental connection, and dedicate each serving of food or drink to your weight loss, you will naturally be inclined to enjoy the foods and drinks that pushed you past your plateau.

Four Reasons Why Diets Fail

You don't want your weight loss plan to flop before you have even seen positive results. Here are some things that can result in diet failure.

Statistically, more diets fail than succeed. However, if you train yourself to think of the process as a weight loss plan, rather than a diet, you are more likely to reach your desired goal. Before beginning the plan, educate yourself about the reasons why diets result in the desired weight level one year following the diet. There are several reasons, including both physical causes and psychological causes. A failed diet is bad for you in two areas. First, it is demoralizing to try very hard to succeed at something and fail. Second, yo-yo dieting results in increasing difficulty in getting the weight off each time.

Nutritionally unsound diets

If your weight loss plan is nutritionally unsound, it can leave you feeling hungry all the time, particularly if you are eating significantly fewer calories than you normally consume. It takes planning to provide fewer calories and avoid hunger pangs at the same time. By their very nature, diets place a lot of emphasis on food and you will be thinking more about food which exacerbates the feeling of hunger. Eliminating certain food groups from your diet is an example of a nutritionally unsound diet as is eating only one of two foods during the course of the diet.

Boring Diets

Diets which rely on only one food may sound like the pounds will melt away, but often, the dieter will last through only two or three meals of grapefruit or something similar that is touted as the latest 'lose weight quickly' fad. Instead, choose a weight loss plan that provides a variety of nutritious and filling foods and be sure to include some of your personal favorites as a treat. By reducing the size of portions and including healthy exercise, you can often take the pounds off gradually and never feel like you are bored or suffering from the results of monofoods during the course of the diet.

Unrealistic Expectations

If you prepare a weight loss plan that calls for losing lots of weight in a short period of time, you will almost certainly fail. The plans which show the best likelihood of success are those that use tested approaches to weight loss and set realistic intermediate goals. A weight control program that doesn't allow adequate time to work is almost certain to cause discouragement, usually resulting in the dieter giving up in despair, well short of the desired weight loss goal.

Physical problems

Sometimes physical problems are the issue in weight gain, and even the best weight loss plan won't result in dropping the pounds. However, if you review your diet plans with your physician prior to beginning the weight reduction program, he or she will be able to determine if there are any medical problems that should be addressed prior to altering eating habits. Certain diseases such as diabetes and thyroid problems can result in drastic and sometimes dangerous weight gains. By seeking medical attention, these issues are almost certain to be monitored and corrected through the use of medications, diet or exercise.