Physical Problems

Many people don’t realize that they can easily gain weight due to some underlying conditions. There are plenty of medical conditions that can contribute to weight gain. Some of these include pituitary disorders, blood sugar imbalance, and a relatively low thyroid hormone.

Malfunctions in the adrenal gland can also cause some people to gain weight faster. Liver and kidney disease can also become a factor. Even drugs that are used to cure such diseases can also cause some people to gain weight especially if the drugs have a fluid retention side-effect. That is why it’s important to go to a doctor first before even deciding to lose weight in order to properly assess the right course of action.

High Levels of Stress

The popular Yo-Yo dieting, which has been a trend to most celebrities nowadays, is mostly caused by huge levels of stress. Stress can affect the weight of a person; either losing or gaining weight can be caused by stress. The body can also cause stress by producing stress hormones, like epinephrine and cortisol in huge amounts.

These two hormones can cause the abdomen to store more fats than usual. Avoiding the production of these stress-inducing hormones must be dealt with externally through avoiding stressors whether from work or at home. Finding relaxing activities can also help the body eliminate stress.

Body’s Toxicity Levels

If the body absorbs too much toxins, it will need those extra pounds to dilute them. This is why it is important to opt for organic foods. Not only are they healthier but contain fewer toxins from chemicals. Conventional methods of farming require chemicals to fight against pests attracted to produce. Spraying pesticides is a normal ritual when growing crops. However, this practice causes health problem, which can contribute to weight gain or inability to lose weight.

Addictions to Food and Beverage

Let’s face it, all of us love food. However, the excessive love for food and beverage obviously causes weight gain and obesity. Furthermore, addiction to drugs especially narcotics can cause the imbalances to your weight. Some chemicals like those from marijuana can cause the body to crave for more food than usual.

Alcohol addiction can also cause weight gain due to the alcohol’s ability to dehydrate the body. This would result in an increase need to eat and drink. Aside from those, excessive use of sugar on food and drinks can cause the body to gain weight faster. Depending on such unhealthy habits is one of the major reasons why it is hard to lose 10 pounds or even less.

I then think what the heck, why bother then get back into my old routine and put the weight right back on, but after being a yo-yo dieter for many years I realized I didn’t have to deprive myself, I simply needed to learn to eat smaller portions of whatever I wanted. Then I didn’t have to feel guilty and throw in the towel.

Yo-yo dieters lose weight and then each time they add it back plus some and that’s no fun. I have often over the years tried to starve myself and there has to be a reconditioning of the way you think if your this type of dieter. You have to learn to take baby steps and take it slow and steady and change the way you think to keep that weight off permanently.

You don’t have to deprive your self of anything just smaller portions. I’m sure everyone has watched the diet programs on TV, The Biggest Loser and the celebrity fitness one so we all know by now that you have to set a realistic achievable goal like two pounds a week for several weeks and then maybe a pound a week after that.

Of course some weeks you’ll probably lose more and some you may even gain, but that doesn’t mean you need to give up. All programs suggest that you track your progress on a graph and that way you will see that ups and downs are natural and you can continue on toward your ideal weight goal, but taking it off fast isn’t the answer, the slower you lose it the longer it will stay off and that’s what we want.

Some women find that they gain weight around the menopause years and are advised to eat a healthy, low fat diet with plenty of fiber and avoid sugar. ( I love the cocktail hour so I have a problem with that one) and exercise regularly. As we get older usually the physical activity levels drop also. I have noticed that more so over the past 4 years and I simply can’t do what I use to.

There is no magic way to take off the pounds we manage to put on, but many people are using Alli or orlistat which is a fat blocker and it’s an over-the-counter drug, you can also get it in prescription form known as Xenical, but there are side effects which center around digestive and bowel problems and it should be used with a low fat diet plan under a doctors supervision.

The FDA does back it, but I’d check with my doctor before using it to make sure it would be right for you. He can explain all side effects and what to expect, but there has been some good results reported with this pill. You can read more about this product at their web site just do a search for Alli.

I just did an interactive session at www.ShrinkYourself.com that was free to do and it was pretty cool. I have always known why I gain weight and it’s not food it’s overindulging from the cocktail hour, but I wanted to check this out and I can see how someone could benefit from a program like this.

We over eat for many different reasons and if you don’t know what is causing all the snacking and comfort foods then maybe it’s time to take a look at your emotional state at the times it occurs and find out how we can recondition the mind to react in a more positive way that will satisfy that hunger that we think we have to fill with food.

I like this approach to controlling our weight by understanding the emotions that are behind the cycle that triggers the need to eat. By understanding what the switch is we can work toward changing how we react and that is a positive step towards helping yourself instead of feeling worse because we feel like we failed for eating something that was forbidden on our diet. I actually hate that four letter word.

With all the media and hype in the world how do we know what will really work for us? It can be very frustrating when something works for some, but when you try it you can’t see any benefits for yourself. Of course we didn’t put all that weight on over night, but we expect it to come off that way and when it doesn’t we get discouraged.

I know I feel better when I’m thinner, but if I’m comfortable with myself and my health isn’t suffering then I don’t push the issue. I haven’t watched that new series with Carson Kressley about how to look good naked, but I think it’s a great idea that we learn how to be comfortable in the skin we’re in and go from there. I don’t hate my body, but I have never been comfortable looking at it or having others look at it.

Even when I was young before having my son I was still very modest in that respect. I wouldn’t change clothes in front of anyone, not even in gym class. I’m not saying I didn’t wear revealing clothes because I did, but that was different from actually being nude in front of someone, where’s the mystery in that? I’m not a prude and it doesn’t bother me to see nudity, just not mine.

I have been reading a lot about Hoodia lately because when I decide I want to try something to lose those extra pounds I want to be sure it is going to be safe and apparently the Hoodia diet supplement was introduced to Americans in 2004 and has been featured on BBC, The Today Show, Oprah, and also 60 minutes.

It comes from a plant and Hoodia is a genus consisting of 13 species of plants that is found in Southern Africa. Hoodia Gordinni is used for weight loss and it’s manufactured into diet pills and supplements. It works by naturally suppressing a dieter’s appetite. By eating less there are fewer fats to burn.

It also helps to reduce your calorie intake in a much more comfortable way and you don’t have to follow a strict regimen. It’s suitable for individuals who don’t have time to prepare portions sized meals. Dieter’s don’t have to restrain themselves from eating the food that they want which would later lead to a food binge.

After taking the supplement the dieter would feel full the rest of the day and you wouldn’t be thinking about food at all once the pill takes effect. It helps to control cravings like when we want those midnight snacks which we all know are harder to burn. When your not constantly focusing on food then it’s much easier to loose weight.

Hoodia not only comes in the pill form, but also patches, powder, and liquid and you should make sure that the supplements contain 100% Hoodia. Since it has become famous in the market there are a lot of cheap imitations circulating on the internet. Make sure that the manufacturer has a C.I.T.E.S certificate and an Analytical report. This will guarantee what you are purchasing the original product.

Before buying the product make sure to read the label. Look for a money back guarantee because the supplement is expensive to make you want to make sure that you are getting your money’s worth. The supplement will not work unless it contains 100% of the original ingredient.

From all reports since it comes from a plant, makes it 100% natural and safe. Unlike other drug supplements it doesn’t contain other ingredients such as ephedrine, caffeine and stimulants that cause unpleasant side effects. If you want a hassle free diet then this one might be for you. Like I said I’ve been looking into this for future reference because it seems the most convenient and natural way.

Just because something works well for one persons body doesn’t mean it will work for you, but one thing we can do is detox our body on occasion to feel better and you will find most Drs will agree with this. There are many inexpensive detoxifying kits that you can purchase, but should always follow directions that are given.

When I was younger I would fast for a few days and only drank water, but then I started having a problem of not wanting to eat anything because it just seemed disgusting and I would go longer and longer without touching food. I knew I was starting to have a problem so I got help before I got too emotionally caught up in it and destroyed my immune system.

We have so many toxins in our body and even more so now because of water and air pollution, stronger chemicals, nuclear power, and radiation. Many people are ingesting new chemicals, using all kinds of drugs, eating more sugar as well as refined foods, and abusing themselves with various sedatives and stimulants, not to mention drinking and smoking.

What are some of the diseases that can be caused by a weakened immune system due to excess toxins that we don’t eliminate? How about cardiovascular illnesses and cancer also skin problems, allergies, obesity and arthritis. Other things that we encounter are coughs, fatigue, headaches, gastrointestinal problems and other assorted pains.

Check with a nutritionist or your Dr for the best plan, some of the foods that are allowed are fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, garlic, broccoli, beets, beans or nuts. Only fresh fruit extracts should be used as beverages, but I think grapefruit is okay and of course 6 to 8 glasses of water a day is always recommended. Water is a must when you are in detoxification, and many people swear that ionized water has magical powers, but many chemist disagree.

There are also many herbs that have always been used to help rid your body of toxins, such as Cascara Sagrada is normally used in conjunction with Psyllium seeds and helps to promote healthy bowel movements and is a good natural laxative that will help strengthen the colon. Nettles are used in cleansing the urinary systems as well as any part of the body.

Milk thistle is used to simulate the protein synthesis in the liver and for effective elimination of toxins found in drugs and alcohols that can damage your body. Dandelion roots are detox herbs having strong cleansing properties appropriate for your liver. It is good for removing the gall bladder wastes and also works well for kidneys if used with other compatible detox herbs. Burdock root – for stronger cleansing needs it helps reduce heavy metal build up.

As far as I’m concerned it is good to detox the mind and body and bring balance to your life, but always check with a professional for the best results you will be able to achieve for yourself. Whether you find the right diet or not we should learn to eat healthier and detox occasionally. That is why many people swear by the ph miracle diet, like I mentioned before there are always pros and cons for everything.

I decided to use it as a post encase other people were concerned with their body’s ph.

You should first go to your Dr. for a checkup and see why you are passing out, maybe you have high blood pressure. Also discuss a more alkaline diet with him. I am not a Dr. or a licensed nutritionist so I would feel very uncomfortable about advising you on starting any type of diet without visiting your Dr. because he could make a better assessment, with that being said I have listed a few things below for you that couldn’t hurt, but check with your physician first.

Pay a visit to your favorite health store and ask the nutritionist or clerk there which green drink powder they sell the most of and which one their customers swear by.They have lots of product knowledge and will be more than happy to help you decide which would be best for you.

Stress can cause acidity and when the body works to combat stress it in turn creates more stress. This vicious cycle is propagated by an increase in acid production. Acid is a detriment to your body. When the body is overly acidic it doesn’t run well.

Strive to have balance in your daily diet of 70% alkaline to 30% acid.Try to avoid canned fruits and vegetables. The canning process has negative effects on the alkaline state of these foods. There is also a lot of sodium in canned fruits and vegetables. If you cannot buy fresh, look for frozen.

The FDA recommends whole-wheat products for better health. Yet according to the pH diet, grains like wheat, millet, oats and rice are acidic and harmful. The alkaline grains of buckwheat, quinoa and spelt are favored for their alkalizing benefits.

Lowering the intake of processed foods and eating more vegetables is good health advice for everyone, whether or not they follow the specifications of this particular diet. In fact, this has been one of the major criticisms of the pH miracle diet.

Generally, all meats and dairy are omitted on the pH Miracle diet. If you’re worried about protein, goat milk is slightly alkaline. There is also protein provided from vegetarian options like beans, tofu and certain nuts and seeds. Most vegetables have alkalizing effects, except for mushrooms. Fruits are limited to coconut, grapefruit, lemon and lime.

Alkaline or ionized water provides your body with the right pH it needs for your cells to function. The human body and all of its cells have a pH of 7.4 that is slightly alkaline. Drinking alkaline water helps support this system. Ionized alkaline water can be created in your very own home with the use of a water ionizer.

Drinking alkaline water each day will help your body become more balanced. If you use green drinks to support your pH miracle diet, mixing them with ionized water will increase their effectiveness. Using ionized water in cooking will also produce better tasting foods. Alkaline water will help vegetables maintain their natural colors when you steam them.

Of course the professionals have a physical trainer to help them, but you can achieve some of the same benefits by simply ensuring that you are doing exercises that will help you improve your game.  How long you devote to exercise depends entirely on you, but you will be very glad you invested the time.

Running is one of the best things you can do.  Whether you run at a full run or you choose to just jog does not matter as much.  However the fact that you are running is phenomenal.  If you stop and think a lot of tennis involves running back and forth across the court.  If you have the energy to do this and do it without running out of breath then you are well onto the right track to ensure that you are in good physical shape.  Running from one end of the court to the other and losing your breath in between will make it much harder for you to successfully play.

You are also going to need to work on strengthening your abdominal muscles.  Having a good strong core with toned abs will help you achieve a powerful swing.  While you do not need washboard abs you do need to ensure that you can control your abdominal muscles while you are playing.  This means you are going to have to resort to some sit-ups and crunches to ensure that your stomach muscles are toned.

The muscles in your back cannot be ignored either.  Using various workout equipment you can generally tone these in just a few minutes a day or however often you work out.  Taking some small weights and focusing heavily upon repetitions rather than the actual weight amount is quite helpful in order to improve your overall back strength.  Remember, many of the racquets that are used are quite heavy, so having the strength to lift them is important.

The arms and legs need to be toned as well.  To do this some leg curls, arm curls and a bit of lifting weights can help.  Once again you need to focus on repetitions since this is going to help you greatly while you are playing.  The pure muscle mass is not as important as the ability to maintain your energy and strength during a match.  You should strive to work towards higher numbers of reps regardless of which workout method you chose rather than pushing to bench press 300 pounds which I never could do anyhow.

The final thing you need to work at is stretching.  If you are doing proper stretches before any workout and before actually playing you are going to ensure that your muscles are in top shape.  This will allow you to be a little bit looser in your playing without always being injured if you step slightly wrong.

If your muscles are able to bend, flex and stretch without tearing or pulling immediately you will be able to avoid a lot of injuries.  Make sure that you are always stretching as part of any exercise routine that you engage in to make sure your muscles are in top condition. I can no longer play tennis since my back injury, I simply don’t have the flexibility or stamina any more, but many older people are still very active in the sport.

We seem to think we have to deprive ourself of everything we enjoy. One thing that we often forget is the importance of moderation. Fill up on servings of fruits and vegetables but allow yourself to enjoy the occasional indulgence for the sake of sanity. If you never allow yourself to enjoy a taste of chocolate, why on earth would you want to live forever?

Seriously, do not forget to enjoy food just for the sake of dieting. There is nothing wrong or sinful about enjoying food, it becomes a problem when we enjoy all the wrong kinds of food.
We remove everything that we see as being a temptation and that is just setting ourself up for failure because no one is perfect and just because we slip every now and then it doesn’t mean that we’ve messed up our diet so we might as well revert back to our old eating habits. Your goal is to shed a few pounds and just because you slip it does not mean that you are a failure.

Another dieting mistake is when you choose a plan that has you eating the same thing everyday. Despite our need for routine and structure we tend to enjoy changing our lunch routine on occasion. Choose a diet or nutrition plan that allows alot of variety, as they say variety is the spice of life and we tend to get bored when all we can eat is the same thing day in and out. You also do not need to starve or punish yourself which I have done over the years and it’s not healthy.

Giving up seems to be the biggest mistake we make. We all have setbacks along the way. Even those who have achieved monumental dieting success have met with failure along the way. The end result however, for those who stick with the plan is a healthier body and that is something that is worth fighting for.

Your goals may get side tracked but you can set new goals. You may have had a bad day or even a bad week when it comes to your dietary goals and plans. Do not let this defeat your desires to become a healthier person. Also set small goals to start something you know you can achieve and then set another after the first is met. Taking baby steps and setting a realistic goal is very important. Some people tell you to set an aggressive attainable goal, but it has always worked the opposite for me. It was easier for me to take it in stages. Instead of me saying I need to lose 60 pounds, I found it easier to work for 20 then another 20 then the final 20 or whatever it was.

Learn to overcome those mistakes and move on from them. Let your failures teach you as much as your successes and you should be well on your way to the healthier person that you know is hiding inside. Whether you want to get rid of 10 pounds or 110 pounds the only way to achieve that goal and make it last is by dedicating yourself to the process of becoming a healthier person. A healthy person has healthy eating habits and doesn’t starve him or herself. Nor does a healthy person binge on things that aren’t healthy. Learn to enjoy food in moderation and you should be well on your way to the success you seek.

Vegetarian diets can have a great influence on your blood pressure and help to maintain it. You would get many of the following Polyunsaturated Fat, Magnesium, Calcium, Complex Carbohydrates, Fiber, Potassium, and Vitamin A & C which would be very beneficial.There are so many diets out there you should first speak with your doctor to find out which would be best for you if your concerned with high blood pressure.

Fiber has been proven effective in lowering blood pressure and try to limit your intake of sugar, especially the common table sugar sucrose. Not only will you help lower your blood pressure but it will also help reduce your cholesterol levels and you will probably notice weight loss. Now we all know that consuming lots of fruit and vegetables is also very important and combined with low-fat dairy foods that are low in total fat, cholesterol and saturated fat has proven to be effective in lowering blood pressure.

Lots of people are getting away from table salt and using unprocessed sea salt, but many people use more salt than they are aware of. Some of us are just used to automatically salting our food not thinking that it was probably used when being cooked. When eating out try to reduce your salt intake believe me it will help lower your blood pressure.

A diet high in potassium and low in sodium reduces your blood pressure rise by reducing the effect of adrenaline. If you reduce your sodium intake you must also increase your potassium intake. I have just recently started taking a potassium supplement because of really bad cramps in my legs at night.

There are some vegetables and spices that help control your blood pressure. Many of these are very common vegetables and spices so you may be helping your blood pressure and not even know it. The essential oil of onion can be very beneficial if you have two to three tablespoons a day, it could help reduce your systolic levels. Tomatoes are also a beneficiary to controlling blood pressure. They are high in GABA, a compound that helps lower your blood pressure.

Broccoli contains several blood pressure reducing ingredients. Carrots also have many compounds that do the same. Introducing these vegetables to your diet will do wonders for your blood pressure. Even if you don’t suffer from high blood pressure, it’s best to keep it at a safe level and take the extra precautions to get there.

Garlic and celery are also great to add to your diet. Garlic is good for the heart which you’ve probably been told before and if you watched Ophra recently you will have heard that it is also good for a man’s libido, if you can stand to be around him afterwards. Eating just one clove of garlic a day has been proven to be beneficial.

Taking care of your health is very important and we tend to realize that more as we get older so which ever diet you choose or whatever foods you try to limit always remember you are doing it for your health and the people who love you. If you have any question about your health or blood pressure make sure you talk with your doctor about ways to get it under control and maintain it.

Another great step to healthy eating when you are first starting the process is to take a few moments to learn about what foods are the healthiest for you and how they work in your body. Most people understand that fruits, vegetables, and low-fat meats and dairy products are good for you, but few people understand why. The key is learning about nutrients. When you understand how specific nutrients work in the body, you will be more likely to make these healthy choices.

When cleansing yourself to prepare for a new healthy diet, you should also take into consideration your schedule for meals. If you often eat in a hurry at odd times of the day, you probably aren’t getting the best foods possible. Plan ahead! Instead of grabbing a fast food lunch on the go, take a bagged lunch to work, complete with a healthy wrap and some fresh vegetables. Plan ahead for healthy meals in the evening as well as cooking ahead if you are not currently getting healthy dinners and have little time to cook when you get home every night.

Even if you only replace one soda a day with a glass of water, you are really improving your calorie intake and helping to hydrate your body. If you eat fast food every day for lunch, just try replacing that half of the time. When you start by taking small steps, it does not seem like you are cutting out all of the foods you love and you can take your time to learn about healthy foods and appreciate them equally.

It’s also important to know what some of the labels mean that you see in the stores. I know when I go the the grocery store I’m never quite sure of what the labels actually mean.You see signs everywhere labeling products as natural and organic, but what exactly does that mean and what’s the difference? If we learn what these labels mean then we can better decide if we want to spend that extra money for a product that could possibly be just a marketing ploy.

Aren’t all fruits and vegetables natural? Unless it would be a new food source that had been processed and developed they would be natural.Now when we look at organic foods we will find they are more expensive because they are grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers and the two main benefits to eatting organic foods are because you are helping the environment because those chemicals are not being introduced into nature and because you are avoiding ingesting chemicals they would be healthier foods. Of course if your on a budget you can skip those products that you peel because once you’ve discarded the peel, you’ve also discarded the chemicals. Instead, opt for organic items like apples, where you eat the peel. No matter what you buy make sure that you rinse off the food when you get home.

Another label you often see is “no hormones.” This is typical when you see meat or milk products and would be false, because all animals naturally produce hormones. Hormones naturally help an animal (and us humans) regulate body organs, have young, and function. All meat products have hormones. What the labels really mean is that no hormones were unnaturally given to the animal, which is sometimes done to increase milk production. Regardless of hormones, however, the milk and meat is safe for a person and not a violation of an animal’s rights.

Lastly, a label on eggs and meat can indicate if the animal was caged or penned. This does not make a difference in the quality or nutritional value of the meat, but is simply a matter of animal rights. These products may be a bit more expensive, but if you want to make human decisions, that is the way to go. Reading the label and making healthy choices can sometimes be difficult, but learning how to do so can help you make the best choices for your diet.