Diet Pills – A Risky Idea

I wish I had a nickel for every weight loss aid and pill on the market. You and I could both retire. Many of these have been associated with serious medical risks, including heart attack, heart abnormalities, tachycardia, stroke, seizures and death. That’s pretty scary!

Most diet pills are appetite suppressants of one kind or another, generally stimulants with effects similar to those of amphetamine. They’re okayed for treatment of obesity, where it's considered that the health risks associated with obesity outweigh the risks of the medication.

But is you have less than 30 pounds to lose, the risks are far less cut-and-dried. Over the counter medications and their risks are not as well-documented as the effects of prescription diet pills. Herbal preparation effects are documented even less, especially those whose makers don't officially make weight loss claims.

Here’s part of the problem. As long as they don't contain a 'new' ingredient, or one that has never been marketed for weight loss purposes, weight-loss aids are not subject to FDA review. Instead, the manufacturer is held responsible for the safety and effectiveness of their products. So a lot of times that means unregulated dosages, unhealthy additives and ineffective ingredients.

Hopefully, one day all over the counter medications and herbal preparations marketed as weight loss supplements will be labeled and tested by impartial researchers. Until then, there are some things that you can do to lessen diet pill risks.

Research thoroughly. There's a lot of information out there about drugs and herbs like ephedra, ephinedrine, phentermine and sibutramine. Know what you're taking and what the risks are so that you can watch for side effects.

Always talk to your doctor before you start taking any drug or herbal supplement. Yes, I know you’ve heard this a thousand times, but there are good reasons for the advice! Some products interact poorly with other medications, or have an adverse effect on chronic conditions.

Follow dosage instructions. Overdoses of stimulant medications, which are a component of most weight loss preparations, can be serious and severe.

Don't take any weight loss pill or supplement for more than a few weeks unless a doctor has prescribed it.

Ask your pharmacist when purchasing over the counter weight loss preparations to be sure that the ingredients don't interact with other medications you may be taking. Include both prescription and nonprescription medications in your questions.

There are much more healthy and effective ways to lose weight than taking pills. The potential of serious health problems remains. It's an awful lot of risk for a little weight loss.

Posted by Jeff Dedrick
http://dietingsucks.blogspot.com/

Low Fat Foods That Will Help You Lose Weight

Everyday, before every meal, the same question...”What am I going to eat? Everyday we have the opportunity to make good choices that will help us lose weight. Here are some healthy food ideas that will help you and your family lose weight together.

Variety
Most experts agree that a diet that consists of a variety and not too much of one thing is the best way to lose weight. Stay away from foods that are high in calories and fat but remember to find that balance of favorite foods and foods that help you lose weight. I personally love bread and could eat it day and night but again, I know I shouldn’t if I want to lose weight. I try to find bread products that have less than 4 grams of fat per ounce and also have at least 2 grams of fiber per serving.

Low Fat Substitutes of Favorite Foods
Trying to keep the family happy and lose weight can be a challenge at the dinner table. Burgers and hot dogs may be tasty but are high in fat and calories. Try substituting with lean meats and grill or broil, letting fat drip away during the cooking process.

Don’t be afraid to try meatless alternatives that are high in soy protein and low in saturated fat. They not only taste great but are a healthy way for you to lose weight.

Like some cheese with that wine? Cheeses are great source of protein and calcium but can be high in fat. To lose weight, buy low fat versions of mozzarella, cheddar and ricotta which still cook well in meals. Fat free cottage cheese can be jazzed up with peaches or a favorite fruit on top. What about the wine, you say?? Take all alcohol in moderation if you want to lose weight. A five ounce glass of vino can add up to 103 calories so beware of the goblets.

Snacks can also add to your families total calories so here are some low calories choices to help you lose weight: obviously, fruits and vegetables top the list but try to look for cookies and crackers that have less than 3 grams of fat in a 100 calorie serving. Don’t think you’re going to lose weight on microwave popcorn unless you limit your serving size and only get the low or fat free versions. These and the other low fat choices will help you and your family lose weight and stay healthy together.

Posted by Anna Dedrick

Diet Food Can Actually Taste Yummy!

Posted by Anna Dedrick

One of the biggest reasons that people slip off their diets and eating plans is BOREDOM.

It's very easy to look at the foods allowed on your diet and see it as restrictive and mundane. Chicken four nights a week. Fish three times a week. Leafy greens till they’re coming out the wahzoo. Who wouldn't get bored?

Well, here’s the answer. Anyone with a good set of cookbooks and a healthy imagination can succeed here. Perk up your cabinet with spices and fill your refrigerator with fresh fruits and vegetables, then look for novel ways to combine them.

Here are a handful of tips for yummy, healthy eating

1. Spice it up!

Spices are one of the quickest ways out of the diet doldrums. Rosemary and fennel with chicken, mint rubbed into pork, pepper and lemon mint on fresh fish - the 'blander' the food, the higher the effect of the spices.

2. Dress it up.

Fruit vinaigrette dressings make wonderful marinades for meats and dressings for warm or cold vegetables. Try broccoli drizzled with raspberry vinaigrette or cabbage spiced up with apple vinegar and pepper. Don’t be afraid of the vinegar word. Even if you’re not a fan of one vinaigrette, you might find yourself practically addicted to another!

2. Herb-infused olive oils - tarragon, ginger, fennel and more.

Give them a try! Use a little to start off with, and see if you like the flavors. You’d be really surprised at how tasty foods can be with these oils!

4. Low sodium soy sauce is a great way to flavor up just about anything.

5. Fruit

Dark leafy greens like spinach were practically designed to be eaten with mandarin oranges, raspberries or chunks of pineapple. Mandarin oranges are the primary reason I even started eating salads. And loving them.

Still need some help? Here are a few cookbooks to help you fight those diet boredom blues!

The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook
Feta cheese makes any food tastier!

The South Beach Diet Cookbook
This book is packed with more than 200 recipes for delicious low-fat foods

American Heart Association Meals in Minutes
These recipes will have you leaving the fast food world far behind!

Joslin Diabetes Center's Vegetarian Diabetic Cookbook
Meatless and vegan recipes that are low fat, high fiber, and delicious! Just remember that low-fat doesn’t always mean healthy. Your body absolutely needs some intake of fat to function properly.

The Guilt-Free Gourmet
Famous cruise ship chef Sam Miles put together this wonderful cookbook from his six years traveling on ships as a cook.

Well, there you go! Now you don’t have to live with boring foods—even if you are eating healthy!

Posted by Anna Dedrick

Lose Weight, But Keep Your Health!

Posted by Anna Dedrick

Everybody’s looking for the magic answer. If we could just rub the magic lamp and get those three wishes – one of them being that we lose weight without really trying! What would you give up to be skinny? Some crazy methods of weight loss just may cost you your health. Take a long hard look before embracing the weight loss ideas below. Do your research and be sure that you understand the risks.

Prescription Diet Pills

Nowadays, most doctors tend to discourage the use of these amphetamines. Some won’t even prescribe them at all. While they do suppress appetite, they don’t teach you squat about eating healthy. You end up keeping the same eating habits and voila! Instant weight gain when you’re done with the bottle!. They can also be habit forming. The side effects include high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia, sleeplessness, hallucinations and delusions.

Ephedra

This all natural Asian herb is found in many herbal remedies and weight loss powders. It has a powerful appetite suppressant effect, but has been implicated in over 70 deaths.


Laxatives

One of those popular home remedies, used for getting rid of the food you just ate! Regular use and abuse of laxatives can result in low potassium, arrhythmia and pancreatic damage. These issues are life-threatening, so don’t use laxatives as a weight loss method.

Artificial Sweeteners

The artificial sweetener aspartame has been implicated in multiple lawsuits alleging damages that include blindness, seizures and brain damage. Check out the book Excitotoxins for more info on the possible dangers of artificial sweeteners.

Smoking

Afraid you'll gain weight if you quit smoking? The National Institute of Diabetes says that you'd have to gain 100-150 pounds to match the health risks you invoke by smoking. Instead, set up healthy substitutions to help you deal with food cravings and put down the cigarettes.

Purging

Making yourself throw up to get rid of the previous meal can have very damaging effects on health. Depletion of nutrients like potassium and vitamins, damage to the esophagus from stomach acids, and esophageal rupture are all possible side effects.

Diuretics

Diuretics gets rid of fluids - including vital electrolytes. The depletion can lead to dehydration, and cause your body to start retaining water. This just leads to a vicious cycle. Repeated or prolonged use of diuretics can lead to kidney damage and serious electrolyte imbalances, which may result in kidney or heart failure.

Herbal Remedies

Just because something is “herbal” doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Many medications themselves are derived from herbs. Because of the lack of regulation, dosages of active ingredients can vary widely from one manufacturer to another. Here’s a list of some common ingredients found in herbal weight loss products, along with some cautions you should take.

Ephedra (ma huang, ephedrine, ephedra extract, epitonin, ephdra sinica and sida cordifolia) should not be taken by people with heart, thyroid or kidney disease, or with hypertension

Kava should be avoided by people with mood disorders who are taking mood altering medication, and people with Parkinson's disease.

Cascara and Senna should not be taken by people taking diuretics (both are often found in herbal weight loss teas)

Gingko biloba, licorice root, and dong quay should not be taken by people who are taking blood thinners or anti-coagulants.


Selenium and Capsaicin should not be taken by people with bowel or digestive disorders



While becoming fit and trim can improve your health, you don’t want to lose that health by choosing a method that’s dangerous. Be sure that whatever weight loss method you decide on won’t lead to other serious medical problems.

Posted by Anna Dedrick