Tag Archives: Fat Loss Diet

Get Paid to Go on a Fat Loss Diet

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So on my commute to my real job I see a billboard for AmeriHealth insurance that says “Lose Weight, Get Paid $200!”  Since there are several studies about incenting people to lose weight through a reward system, I did a little digging to find out exactly to what they were referring.

As part of AmeriHealth’s Healthy Lifestyles program, they will reimburse up to $150 of your fitness center fees and $200 of class fees for approved weight management programs.  It’s a win-win: for you, as it eliminates one more barrier to getting healthy, and could lead to other financial benefits like fewer co-pays, lower food and clothing costs, and less gas used; for them, healthier subscribers means fewer insurance claims.  The program also provides substantial discounts for alternative health (like acupuncture, massage therapy, and dietetics) as well as other programs for smoking cessation and healthy maternity.

Check with your health care provider to see if they offer similar programs – it could be just the kick-start you need to getting the weight off for good!

Use This Weird Belly Flab Buster on Your Fat Loss Diet

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Ok, I don’t mean to get too scientific, but this is super important. You see, while busting the belly flab does take effort, it’s not nearly as hard as people make it out to be.

Seriously, the most important part of the process is arming yourself with the CORRECT knowledge. If you know how your body works…why it stores belly flab…what actually causes it to burn off…you’re a whole lot better off.

Now, I know there are a ton of so-called experts out there that are confusing the heck out of you. I know a lot of people tell you different things. It can be as frustrating as all get out. But if you follow these simple rules and burn them into your brain things will be a lot different.

Anyway, let’s get to today’s easy lesson. Check this out:

- Increased Protein intake triggers the hormone Glucagon.

- This, in turn, prevents the spiking of your Insulin (which is also a hormone) levels.

- Which simply means you minimize the chance of storing blood sugar as fat.

In other words, eat more protein and you bust the belly flab. Sure, there’s more to it than that, but that is the crux of it. And so long as you understand the basics you can KEEP the belly flab from coming back.

When you only eat carbs your Insulin levels go through the roof. And all that blood sugar (that’s what the carbs turn into after you’ve eaten them) which isn’t needed by your body MUST go somewhere. Yup, it goes to your belly; or your butt; or your hips; or your thighs…

The best part is, it’s not very hard to consume more protein. In fact, it’s pretty darn easy. A high quality protein powder will do just the trick.

As you’ve probably heard, my buddies over at Prograde Nutrition have launched their new Prograde Protein powder this week. I wanted to be sure you knew today is the last day you can get it at 10% off. Yeah, they were offering a discount on it just this week to celebrate it’s arrival. But the offer ends TONIGHT at 11:59pm EST so hurry over to Prograde Nutrition to take advantage of it.

I cannot recommend Prograde Protein highly enough. These guys create the highest quality products out there. Save 10% by getting yours right NOW before you forget

Get a Bigger Brain from Your Fat Loss Diet

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A new study published in Human Brain Mapping reports that elderly individuals who were obese or overweight had significantly less brain tissue than individuals of normal weight.

The study reviewed the brain images of 94 people in their 70s. They were followed for five years, and it was discovered that clinically obese people had 8% less brain tissue, while simply overweight people had 4% less brain tissue compared to normal-weight humans.

“The brains of obese people looked 16 years older than their healthy counterparts, while those of overweight people looked 8 years older,” study leader Paul Thompson said. “This is the first study to show physical evidence in the brain that connects overweight and obesity and cognitive decline.”

Go Under the Needle to Help Your Fat Loss Diet

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From Men’s Health:

When Polish researchers examined acupuncture as a diet aid, they found that people who got needled lost 10 more pounds and ticked 2 additional points off their BMIs compared with those who merely cut calories.

Marie Cargill, a licensed acupuncturist in the Boston area, explains that pressure points on the body—mostly on the ear—work as a switchboard to the brain, triggering electrical pulses that suppress appetite. “The ear system is very effective for addiction treatment,” she says.

Don’t Drink Yourself Into a Fat Loss Diet

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I was riding the NYC subway this morning when I saw this poster from the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. It serves as a fantastic reminder about the impact of sugary drinks on your body – I am a huge fan of “shock” advertising!

The report has some great advice:

  1. Drink plenty of water
  2. Choose fat-free or 1% milk
  3. Switch from juice to whole fruit
  4. Skip sports drinks and “energy” drinks
  5. Watch out for coffee and tea drinks and shakes (aka the crappuccinos!)

Don't Drink Yourself into a Fat Loss Diet

Should the Government Force You to Go on a Fat Loss Diet?

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In case you didn’t see this in the New York Times recently, Japan has taken a very aggressive stance to ensure the health of its citizens.  Under a national law that came into effect two months ago, companies and local governments must now measure the waistlines of Japanese people between the ages of 40 and 74 as part of their annual checkup.

Those exceeding government limits, which have been set at 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women, will be given 3 months to lose weight, at which point they will be provided dieting guidance if they do not lose weight.  If necessary, those people will be directed toward more weight loss education if there is no improvement over 6 additional months.

Here’s the kicker – to reach its goals of shrinking the overweight population by 10 percent over the next four years, and 25 percent over the next seven years, the Ministry of Health will impose financial penalties on companies and local governments that fail to meet specific targets.  Imagine if your employer was fined because you were fat – that does not seem like a good way to advance in your career!  What if your local taxes increased because there were too many fat people in your town?!

Perhaps the most telling comment came from a professor in Tokyo who felt that the campaign was unnecessary in Japan because they are so slender already, but “if you did this in the United States, there would be benefits, since there are many Americans who weigh more than 100 kilograms” (220 pounds).  No doubt that the U.S. government, as well as the health insurance providers, will be watching this program very closely.

Is it any wonder why the Japanese are especially vulnerable to fad diets like the Banana Diet that became popular there recently!

So, don’t wait for the Government, or worse, your employer to tell you to lose weight!

Try This Belly-Busting Burrito on Your Fat Loss Diet

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When I tell people that I lost 80 pounds in 8 months by eating burritos, they always assume I ate at Chipotle or Taco Bell a la “a Mexican Jared” (Jared is the guy who lost a ton of weight eating Subway sandwiches).  Nothing could be further from the truth!

I created my own high-powered fat-burning burritos either at home, or on the road, wrapped them in foil and took them with me. Ok, so maybe some of my concoctions would be better called “wraps” but I just love the word burrito.

I did my homework and tried to stuff my burritos with all of the foods that are known to help you feel full AND burn fat.  Here is one of my favorite recipes from my book, The Burrito Diet:

  • High-protein, high-fiber tortilla (my favorites are made by La Tortilla Factory)
  • 4 ounces of grilled chicken breast – I usually grilled it with lime juice
  • 1 cup of sauteed onions and peppers – as a shortcut I would use the frozen fajita vegetable mix
  • 1/4 cup of black or pinto beans
  • 1/4 cup of shredded reduced-fat cheese – I used a special Mexican blend
  • Slice of fresh avocado
  • Dash or two of Cholula hot sauce

This bad boy has over 15 grams of fiber and 40 grams of protein, plus the healthy mono- and poly-unsaturated fats in the avocado.  This will leave you feeling satisfied and help torch the belly fat!

For more great recipes just like this, check out The Burrito Diet or sign-up to the right for a free excerpt!

Don’t Belly Up to the (Protein) Bars on Your Fat Loss Diet

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It would be great if a manufacturer could make a protein bar that was portable, tasted good and delivered the high quality protein you need to consume to keep your fat burning furnace going.  If only life was so easy!  Most protein bars are not much better for you than a candy bar!  They contain substandard proteins like soy, gelatin (yes, just like that wiggly dessert), and collagen.  Many of them are filled with sugar.  Even the low carb versions typically use glycerol or maltitol (known as sugar alcohols) that have a smaller effect on blood glucose levels but also can lead to bloating, diarrhea and flatulence – no one wants that!

Stick to natural foods as much as possible and use protein shakes when you need something portable.  Other options include an apple with peanut butter, a handful of mixed nuts, cheese sticks, cottage cheese, or Greek yogurt (much creamier than US versions – I like a brand called Fage).  If you are on-the-go, you may have to do a little planning to make sure you’ve got these healthy snacks on hand. But the time you put in will be paid back through increased fat burn!

Binge Eating Can Crush Your Fat Loss Diet

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Ever wonder if you have a serious problem with binge eating?  In a recent issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter, I read a feature article about the treatment of bulimia and binge eating.  Bulimia is defined as 2 or more episodes of binge eating (consuming a large amount of food in 2 hours or less) at least twice a week for 3 months.  These episodes may be followed by vomiting or purging (with laxatives or diuretics) and may alternate with fasting and compulsive exercising.  People who suffer from bulimia often view this behavior as a shameful secret.

Binge Eating Disorder (binging that is not followed by vomiting, fasting or exercise) has gotten more attention recently since it is being considered for inclusion as a psychiatric diagnosis.

The criteria are tentatively listed as a condition that causes serious distress with at least 3 of the following symptoms occurring at least 2 days a week for 6 months:

  • eating very fast
  • eating until uncomfortably full
  • eating when not hungry
  • eating alone
  • feeling disgusted or guilty afterward

Since most of the population has probably engaged in these eating behaviors at one time or another, I guess it comes down to the frequency and severity of the problem.  You can be a binge eater, but you would have to be binging quite regularly to be considered to have Binge Eating Disorder.

Many people engage in some of these behaviors all the time. People who live alone often eat alone. And while eating when you aren’t hungry is not the most satisfying experience, sometimes it is just an ingrained habit.

You do not have to be overweight to be a binge eater.  Many people with binge eating problems think they are overweight or are worried that they will become seriously overweight.  Dieting does not necessarily stop the binging and is often viewed as being part of the problem rather than the solution.  The body resists dieting by slowing metabolism and increasing appetite, commonly accompanied by an intense preoccupation with food, more binging, anxiety and depression.

If you are struggling with bulimia or severe binge eating problems, seek help and get the support you deserve. Donít keep it a secret. You do not need to be heroic and suffer alone.

If you engage in some of the binge eating behaviors, join the club.

You can learn to change all of these behaviors, even mild to moderate binge eating by listening to your body, eating mindfully and being kind to yourself.

Choose one small habit or behavior at a time, not your entire existence, and you’ll have a much better chance to reach your weight loss goals.

Is Wu-Yi Tea Good for a Fat Loss Diet?

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I got a note recently from a reader asking about Wu-Yi Tea:

“What’s up with this Wu-Yi Tea?  I see it everywhere online!  Does it work?”

Wu-Yi tea is the same as another tea on the market, Wu-Long…which is a marketing spin on the word Oolong, a tea that you have probably heard of before.  The claims made by these teas are based on one Japanese study where energy expenditure was measured for 120 minutes after consumption of both oolong and green teas.  Oolong increased energy expenditure in the subjects by 10% as opposed to 4% for the green tea.

However, there are two major flaws in this study:

  • 120 minutes is not a significant amount of time
  • There was no measurement of fat loss specifically

So there may be some benefit to consuming oolong tea, but it would require several more controlled studies before I would recommend it as a supplement you should include in your arsenal.

Also, oolong tea is widely available in supermarkets and specialty stores – so if you choose to use oolong tea, you don’t have to pay the outrageous prices they are charging online.