The Dangers of Crash Diet

“Any kind of diet that involves, some kind of fasting or living on a very small amount of food or drinking fluids only; in order to lose weight” is not recommended by the medical profession. Why? Because it dangerous, both to physical and mental health.

Let’s talk about the dangers of crash diet. Crash diet is a type of food/calorie deprivation often seen in people with an eating disorder, such as anorexia, although not restricted to these groups; they may be the precursor to such a disorder.

About the effect of crash diet, crash dieters, depend on the degree of calorie deprivation, are likely to suffer in hunger pains, increased susceptibility to infection, and feeling of hopelessness, depression, low energy and general malaise. There are some more serious health issues associated with crash dieting, including major organ failure; heart, liver and kidneys, are all at risk.

Quite often the weight loss during a crash diet is pretty rapid, initially. Dieters see this as a positive thing, giving the kind of instant gratification that we have all come to expect in the modern world. In reality, often muscle is lost, as well as fat, so that when a person returns to a normal pattern of eating, the dieter puts on a higher percentage of body fat than they had pre crash diet. I’m sure you know about "yo- yo" dieting and this is the start.

After the crash dieter lose weight, but when she/he return to normal eating, he/she will end up putting more fat on, and do crash diet again. This cycle continues and each time the diet is embarked upon, the result becomes worse as the body actually deteriorates physiologically. That is not the right way to lose weight.

If you are the person who want to lose weight quickly, crash diet is not the answer. Try to lose weight safely, even it take some time, you will be a person will stand a much better chance of maintaining their new weight.

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A Little Knowledge for Losing Weight

You can see that there are many books, magazines and even websites talk about diet or losing weight quickly. Now do you really think all these stuff are true or delivering the correct message for you? Some are good and may suit you, but others are just a fake. Guaranteed, you will not able to lose weight with them and you won't stay on those diets for very long.

Most of us when it comes down to food has a weakness point. It's human nature. If you can't imagine eating that kind of food just to lose a few pounds, you will never lose weight for sure.

The key is to know what your body needs. You have to know what your body needs and fulfill it. Try to learn how to listen to your desires and you will know what your body needs. It will tell you what you need to eat and when. So start listening to your body much more carefully.

But first, you should learn what your essential daily ingredients are. Did you know that your body will collapse if you didn't supply it with them?
- First one, of course fibers are essential for the digestive and colon functions. You will find them mainly in vegetables, cereals and some seeds.
- Secondly, you should check for vitamins and minerals, which provides the energy and suitable medium for organic processes within your body.
- Third, you should know what your daily need of carbohydrates, proteins and fats so you can adjust the amount accordingly and not exceed it.

This is a knowledge that you have to grasp and pass down to your children for them to get used to the idea of eating smart. It is not really hard to be healthier and live longer. Most importantly, enjoy your food and never treat it like it's a mission which has to be done.

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Snack for Losing Weight?

Believe it or not, snacks are very important if you want to lose weight. The research has found that by not snacking, your consumption of food will be greater at mealtime, then you will end up by eating more. Of course if you really want to lose weight, you can’t eat snack whatever you want.

So, what are the best snacks to eat? Check it:
- Whole grain foods
Whole grain crackers and whole grain pretzels are great choices when seeking a whole grain snack. It packed with fiber and carbohydrates, giving you an immediate energy boost that hangs around for the duration.

- Vegetables and fruits
I think that I don’t need to explain about them anymore, I’m sure you know what the benefits. They are full of vitamins and other nutrients, fat-free, and healthy for you.

- Nuts and seeds
They are very rich in protein but beware because the calories can add up quickly if you do not proportion your snacking on them.

Ok, a little more about snacking time.
If you eat your breakfast at 8am, then you should eat at 10:30. This should pull you through to 1:00 pm, lunchtime. Afternoon snack should be eaten at 3:30 and then you typically have dinner around 6pm.

Now you can see that you are eating something small every 2-½ hours, which gives you stamina and a clear mind with the ability to focus better because you are not hungry or too full. If you are trying to lose weight, then snacking of course is your best option.

Stay focused, feel better and lose weight. Healthy snacks for weight loss are out there, you just need to eat them.

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Healthy Weight Loss Choice

We are overweight because of our unhealthy choices! Maybe we were taught our bad habits, maybe we simply pick them up as we age, or maybe we know what we need to do to experience healthy weight loss.

In today's society, when we hear about healthy weight loss, we immediately think about diets. And diets mean counting calories, who has the time for that right and this is not healthy weight loss. And some of us consider diets that mean avoiding all the foods we enjoy such as low-carb diets, or the Adkins's diet, which again is not healthy weight loss. Well, healthy weight loss does not mean starving yourself, nor does it mean that you need to avoid your favorite foods.

Healthy weight loss means lose weight with the way that is good for body, heart, and soul. Yes, there are many diet programs that will help you in losing weight quickly, but which ones are healthy, how do you know what is healthy and what is not.

The simple meaning of healthy weight loss is know exactly what you should eat in order to lose weight and of course a little exercise in your day. I think I don’t need to explain about the food you need to eat anymore, because I have written many articles about it at my blog.

And about the exercise, exercise is in an important aspect of healthy weight loss and maintaining the new lifestyle. The thing to remember about exercise for healthy weight loss is you must never punish your body or yourself. Means if you don’t like cardio or weight training, just avoid it, do the activity you really like. It means instilling good habits into your everyday routine and maintaining those healthy habits, after you have achieved the healthy weight loss.

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8 Hormones for Losing Weight

If ever read my previous post about calorie shifting diet, the diet program focus in your fat burn hormone and fat storage hormone that will help you in losing weight. And in this article, you will know another 8 hormones that will also help you in losing weight.

1. Growth Hormone
Stimulates protein synthesis (muscle tone/development), and strength of bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Decreases use of glucose and increases use of fat as a fuel during exercise. This helps to reduce body fat and to keep blood glucose at a normal level which helps you to exercise for a longer period of time.

2. Endorphins
An endogenous opioid from the pituitary gland that blocks pain, decreases appetite, creates a feeling of euphoria (the exercise high), and reduces tension and
anxiety. Blood levels of endorphins increase up to five times resting levels during longer duration (greater than 30 minutes) aerobic exercise at moderate to intense levels and also during interval training. Also, after several months of regular exercise, you develop an increased sensitivity to endorphins (a higher high from the same level of endorphins), and endorphins that are produced tend to stay in your blood for a longer period of time. This makes longer duration exercise easier (you're feeling no pain) and it causes your exercise high to last for a longer
period of time after exercise.

3. Testosterone
An important hormone in both males and females for maintaining muscle tone/volume/strength, increasing basal metabolic rate (metabolism), decreasing body fat, and feeling self-confident. It's produced by the ovaries in females and by the testes in males.

Females have only about one tenth the amount of testosterone that males do, but even at that level in females it also plays a role in libido and intensity of orgasms. Production of testosterone in females begins to decline as a woman begins to approach menopause and in males it begins to decline in his forties.

Blood levels of testosterone increase with exercise in both males and females beginning about 20 minutes into an exercise session, and blood levels may remain elevated for one to three hours after exercise.

4. Estrogen
The most biologically active estrogen, 17 beta estradiol, increases fat breakdown from body fat stores so that it can be used and fuel, increases basal metabolic rate (metabolism), elevates your mood, and increases libido. This hormone is at much higher blood levels in females, but the ovaries begin to produce less of it as a woman begins to approach menopause.

The amount of 17 beta estradiol secreted by the ovaries increases with exercise, and blood levels may remain elevated for one to four hours after exercise.

5. Thyroxine (T4)
A hormone produced by the thyroid gland, Thyroxine raises the metabolic rate ("metabolism") of almost all cells in the body. This increase in "metabolism" helps you to feel more energetic and also causes you to expend more calories, and thus is important in weight loss.

Blood levels of thyroxine increase by about 30% during exercise and remain elevated for several
hours afterward - this period of time is increased by an increase in intensity and/or duration of exercise. Regular exercise also increase thyroxine levels at rest.

6. Epinephrine
A hormone produced primarily by the adrenal medulla that increases the amount of blood the
heart pumps and directs blood flow to where it's needed.

Stimulates breakdown of glycogen (stored carbohydrate) in the active muscles and liver to use as fuel. It also stimulates the breakdown of fat (in stored fat and in active muscles) to use as fuel. The amount of epinephrine released from the adrenal medulla is proportional to the intensity and duration of exercise.

7. Insulin
An important hormone in regulating (decreasing) blood levels of glucose ("blood sugar") and in
directing glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids into the cells. Insulin secretion by the
pancreas is increased in response to a rise in blood sugar as is often the case after a meal.

Typically, the larger the meal, or the greater the quantity of simple sugars consumed, the larger
the insulin response. This is another reason that it's good to eat small frequent meals and
to limit consumption of sugar and of processed bread, pasta and rice. The whole grain (non-
processed) versions of those products are a much healthier choice.

Blood levels of insulin begin to decrease about 10 minutes into an aerobic exercise session and
continue to decrease through about 70 minutes of exercise. Regular exercise also increases a cell's sensitivity to insulin at rest, so that less is needed.

8. Glucagon
A hormone that is also secreted by the pancreas, but it's job is to raise blood levels of glucose
("blood sugar"). When blood sugar levels get too low, glucagon is secreted and causes stored
carbohydrate (glycogen) in the liver to be released into the blood stream to raise blood sugar to a
normal level. It also causes the breakdown of fat so that it can be used as fuel.

Glucagon typically begins to be secreted beyond 30 minutes of exercise when blood glucose levels may begin to decrease. So, next time you're exercising, think about all the wonderful things that are happening to your hormones. It might even make you want to do more exercise!

Article Resource: http://www.greglandryfitness.com

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