Thursday, June 11, 2015

Considering you don’t have an excessive amount of loose skin already it is possible to lose weight and keep your skin firm in the process. The idea is to keep your body well hydrated day in and day out. NEVER EVER let yourself become dehydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and NEVER EVER totally eliminate your carbohydrate intake. From my experience most people who have lost weight too fast by eliminating their carbohydrates ended up with a lot of excess skin afterwards. The whole idea is to lose the weight to get healthier and of course to look better with your clothes ON and with your clothes OFF. Here are some tips

1. Follow a well rounded balanced diet such as my insulin response diet located at http://www.tbfinc.com

2. Follow a full body exercise routine alternating with a split routine every 4 weeks. For example, full body routine 4 weeks, split routine 4 weeks, full body routine 4 weeks, and so on.

3. Considering you don’t have stomach ulcers and you are not on blood thinners you should also take ONE TEASPOON of cold artic cod liver oil ONCE PER DAY with your evening meal.

4. Take 1000-1500mg of lecithin per day. Lecithin has been known to increase the elasticity of the skin.

5. Anything you can do to increase circulation will also help. Skin brushing techniques are very good. Do a search on the internet for skin brushing to get all the info you need. Deep massages are also good.

6. Most importantly if you are more than 75 pounds overweight DO NOT try to lose weight too fast. The more you weigh the easier it will be to lose weight on this program so ease into it slowly so you only lose about 3 pounds per week. Doing this will prevent the sagging skin. If you lose weight too fast you will end up with loose skin 90% of the time.

7. Some of my clients have done weekly body wraps with great success but it can get messy. You can do this as an option but it’s really not necessary.

As an option you can also take a supplement called collagen.

As I stated above one key to increasing the elasticity of your skin is to keep your body well hydrated. Yes, drinking water will do this. The average person needs at least an ounce of water per pound of body weight. Possibly more depending on the type of exercise you do on a daily basis. The reason why so many people end up with loose skin after losing weight is because they go on low carbohydrate diets that will in turn dehydrate the body. If you lose weight and are dehydrated in the process you will see the scale weight go down but unfortunately most of the weight being lost is nothing more than water weight. If you are losing 2-3 pounds per week you are doing great. If you are losing 4-6 pounds you are pushing the limit. Any more than 6 pounds per week and you are sure to end up with loose skin after losing the weight because chances are you are restricting too many carbohydrates from your diet. Cutting out refined flours/breads and sugars will yield the best results.

Also, instead of getting on the scale every week to measure your progress go more by how your clothes are fitting. I always tell my clients to try on the tightest pair of pants they have and then follow my program for 4 weeks and then try them on again. After 4 weeks those tight fitting pants will be a thing of the past.

Follow all the above and you will see satisfactory results.

Ephedrine has been shown to increase the effectiveness of thermogenesis (fat burning) in the body. It contributes to the release and blocks the re-uptake of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. This gives norepinephrine the ability to continuously stimulate receptors in your body, causing fat cell “flood gates” to open and facilitate fat loss resulting in weight loss.

Not only does ephedrine increase the rate at which fat is lost, it preserves muscle at the same time, making it an ideal dieting aid for athletes. The most comprehensive look at ephedrine for weight loss is a recent meta-analysis published in The Journal of the American Medical Association. This meta-analysis was done by the request of the US Department of Health and Human Services. It reviewed 44 controlled trials on the use of ephedrine for weight loss it found that on average, it increased weight loss 1.3 lbs. per month more than placebo. However, combinations of ephedrine or ephedra with caffeine or herbs containing caffeine resulted in an average weight loss of 2.2 lbs. per month. Through nutrient repartitioning, ephedrine promotes fat loss while preserving fat-free mass.

One of the reasons why it is such a powerful weight loss agent is that it operates through a variety of mechanisms, including increasing levels of norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine, and stimulating both alpha and beta adrenoreceptors. It (through facilitating the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline) stimulates the alpha(1)-adrenoreceptor subtype, which is known to induce hypophagia (appetite suppression). It is estimated that appetite supression accounts for 75-80% of the weight loss with ephedrine.

What is Ephedrine?

Ma Huang (Ephedrine) is known as one of the world’s oldest medicines. Ma Huang (Ephedrine) is a member of the family of herbs known as the Ephedraceae. Ma Huang is a shrub-like plant found in desert regions throughout the world. It is distributed from northern China to Inner Mongolia. The dried green stems of the three Asian species (Ephedra sinica, Ephedra intermedia, Ephedra equisetina) are used medicinally. The North American species of ephedra, sometimes called Desert Tea or Mormon Tea, does not appear to contain the active ingredients of its Asian ephedra counterparts.

Ephedrine is a naturally occuring central nervous system stimulant obtained from the plant Ephedra equisetina. Ephedrine is produced by chemical synthesis, the synthetic product being marketed in the form of its salt, ephedrine sulfate; it occurs as a white crystalline powder with a bitter taste, soluble in water and very soluble in alcohol. Ephedrine’s peripheral stimulant actions are similar to but less powerful than those of epinephrine (also called adrenaline), a hormone produced in the body by the adrenal glands.

What is Ephedrine used for?

Ephedrine has been used in China for more than 5,000 years to treat symptoms of asthma and upper respiratory infections. It has also been used in the treatment of headaches, fevers, colds, and hay fever. Today, compounds derived from this herb are commonly found in many over-the-counter (OTC) cold and allergy medications. Ma Huang is also found in some weight loss and energy products. For dieters, Ephedrine suppresses the appetite and stimulates metabolism through a process known as thermogenesis. Recently, Ma Huang has been the subject of scientific research for obesity because of this thermogenic fat-burning effect. It is used to increase heart rate, blood pressure and performance. This is normally released by your body under stress to enhance sports performance.

Ephedrine has moderately potent bronchial muscle relaxant properties, and therefore is used for symptomatic relief in milder cases of asthmatic attack; it is also used to reduce the risk of acute attacks in the treatment of chronic asthma. Ephedrine is also used to treat low blood pressure, because it constricts blood vessels and stimulates certain actions of the heart.

What are the side effects of use and Ephedrine Weight Loss?

Some of the more common side effects people experience from taking the drug are nervousness, dizziness, tremors, rapid heart rate, headaches, jitters, palpitations, insomnia, increased blood pressure. When taken at higher levels, ephedra can cause drastic increases in blood pressure, as well as cardiac arrhythmias. Discontine use if you experience any side effects.

Do not use this ephedrine weight loss product if you are now taking a prescription containing Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) (Certain drugs for depression, psychiatric or emotional conditions, Parkinson’s disease) or 2 weeks after stopping the MAOI drug. If you are uncertain whether your prescription drug contains an MAOI, consult a health professional before taking this product. Do not store above 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Protect from moisture.

What is an ECA stack?

The ECA Stack is a component found in thermogenic weight loss pills, composed of ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin working to speed up the metabolism and thus cause calories to burn faster and result in weight loss. Anyone with high blood pressure or heart problems should not take the stack.

Benefits of Ephedrine (Ephedrine Weight Loss)

ephedrine increases metabolism

ephedrine suppresses appetite

ephedrine preserves muscle tissue

ephedrine treats symptoms of asthma and upper respiratory infections
Losing Weight With PCOS – Low Carb May Help Insulin Response

PCOS is a condition that has a strong impact on a woman’s fertility, and affects between 5% to 10% of women of child bearing age. Because a woman’s body doesn’t produce enough eggs when she suffers from PCOS, it can cause infertility and contribute to difficulties in falling pregnant.

Most cases of PCOS are not genetic, but they are all related to hormonal abnormalities. The reason not enough eggs are produced is because of an excess of the androgen, or ‘male’ hormones. Both men and women have androgen hormones, but men have them in much greater quantities. This hormonal imbalance means that the cysts that are a normal part of producing eggs, do not grow. So a woman with PCOS has a lot of small cysts on her ovaries that do not mature to release their eggs. Normally, once this process happened, the cysts would go.

Another consequence of the higher levels of androgen hormones is the increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, as well as a likelihood of having more facial hair.

Interestingly, low carb diets such as the zone diet may help overweight women with PCOS. A recent study of 11 non diabetic, overweight women with PCOS who had an average age of 33 was conducted. The study compared a ‘standard’ diet with 56% carbohydrates and 16% protein, with a lower carb diet of 43% carbohydrate and 15% protein. The fat component of the lower carb diet was a lot higher than the standard diet, by 14%. This is higher than it would be in the Zone diet. The fat content of the low carb diet was almost evenly split between polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids. The fat content of the standard diet was almost evenly split between the two types of fatty acids, but was slightly higher (by 3%) in the monounsaturated variety.

A third diet, one high in both carbohydrates and monounsaturated fatty acids, was also compared. The study participants only followed each diet for 16 days. They had a 3 week break between each diet, and tried all 3.

Because production of the androgen hormones are influenced by the presence of insulin, the researchers were interested in finding out whether a low carb diet could reduce the amount of insulin circulating in the body. They believed this would have an indirectly positive effect on PCOS.

The results of this study found that whilst hormones that were circulating weren’t significantly affected by the lower carb diet, the women’s cholesterol, fasting insulin levels, free fatty acids, and their response to insulin were positively affected. The fact that their response to insulin improved is an indicator of the possible benefit of a low carb diet to PCOS sufferers. And because the women only followed the diet for 16 days, this may be why their levels of circulating insulin were not more prominently affected.

The authors of the study state that: Because elevated insulin is thought to contribute to the endocrine abnormalities in PCOS, a reduction in insulin would be expected to ultimately result in an improved endocrine profile.”

They go on to say that these improvements indicate that using a low carb type diet, with a lower calorie intake, would probably benefit overweight women who suffer from PCOS.

Not all low carb diets are created equal however. The Atkins diet has been associated with an increased risk of heart problems for some, as well as being implicated in the hospitalization of others.

A 40 year old woman was hospitalized with very high levels of acids in her blood as a result of following the Atkins diet strictly for about a month. The release of acids in the blood, called ketosis, is an indicator of the ‘success’ of the Atkins diet, and is actually a result of the process of starving the body of certain nutrients beyond a threshold level. The nutrient being, of course, carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are a source of energy for the body, the only source used by the brain. But when the body is deprived of carbohydrates after the threshold level, it will use alternate methods of metabolizing energy. It uses stored fats and protein, but this is not a very biologically efficient way of producing energy for the body. So, there are a lot of acidic metabolic by products, called ketones. These are released into the bloodstream, to be excreted by the body.

In the case of this woman, these metabolic by products weren’t excreted fast enough and built up in her bloodstream. She was vomiting 4 to 6 times a day. This build up of blood acids represented a dangerous situation and she was admitted to intensive care.

The Atkins Foundation responded that this woman must have had abnormal metabolic or clinical issues. But given that this woman, who was obese, is in a category at which the Atkins diet is marketed, there is a real cause for concern here. With obesity, there is a greater likelihood for both general medical problems, and metabolic problems. If an obese person did not have metabolic problems of one form or another, they would not be obese. Perhaps there were circumstances that were particular to this woman here, but until those potential dangers are understood more fully, this is a significant issue. It’s ironic that a diet should be implied as not being suitable for anyone with metabolic issues, particularly if this diet is marketed as a ‘way of life’ – that is, recommended for long term use.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

To be healthy is the ultimate desire of the young generation. A healthy body is defined as a proper ratio of height and weight of an individual and it is called mass index. If mass index exceeds the body ratio then it is treated as an obesity case. There are mainly two advantages of healthy body; increase in resistive power to fight back the disease, and improve self-confidence level of the individual. Keeping body fit helps the individual to progress in all the walks of life.

To overcome obesity is the primary requirement of an individual and to overcome this, strong will power and patience play an important role. But in most of the cases, people are unable to cope up with these factors; thus some of the medicine experts introduced weight loss tablets in the market. These pills help in reducing the excess weight and keep the individual fit and healthy. One of such pill is the Phentermine, which acts as an agent in suppressing the diet and appetite. When diet and appetite is in control, body automatically responds to the mass index of the individual. The Phentermine is one of the best diet suppressant medicines available in the recent market. It has a certificate approved by the FDA and it is working in this field since 1953. It helps in reducing weight in just two to three months. The proper ratio of metabolic rate and the calorie ratios are properly maintained with the help of Phentermine. Another reason for Phentermine to be popular world wide is the cost of the pills as compared to other weight loss pills. Phentermine pills are cheap and fulfill the desire of being healthy and fit.

As we know that the Phentermine is a medicine that controls the appetite, it is also an Anorectics class of drug. The main job of these pills is to affect the serotonin conditions of the brain and in turn reduce the quantity of intake. Due to this the individual is less attracted towards the fatty foodstuffs and gains control over the excess calories. Every medicine takes time to show actual effects and the same is the case with Phentermine, so people taking Phentermine pills should have patience and will power.

Phentermine does not boast about its popularity neither it is a magic pill because Phentermine work for those people who are ready to carry out daily workouts nor stick to the balanced diet. It is a two way process. Once you are ready to follow the system then only Phentermine will work for you otherwise the result will not be achieved as per your anticipation. The Phentermine pills are recommended to those patients who are suffering from obesity and other illness related to over-weight. People with heart problems should not go for Phentermine. Pregnant women are advised to stay away from Phentermine and in case they are already taking Phentermine, should consult their doctor for the right kind of doses; otherwise the new born baby may lead to abnormalities. Brest feeding mothers are not recommended to take Phentermine pills.

There are various formulae available in case of Phentermine pills, one of them is quick release formula that provides fast impact on the blood stream and helps in controlling the appetite and reduces the weight enormously. The second formula works with time frame, in which the medicine mixes in blood stream after 12 hours and after this period only, the actions start for controlling the appetite. The obesity patients who are undergoing treatment with Phentermine are advised not to engage in activities such as driving and working on heavy machineries.

Individuals have to follow Phentermine pills for three to four months and during this period they have to carry out regular exercise and follow correct dose of the pills.
There are 3,500 calories in one pound of fat. Thus, if you cut back or work off just 3,500 calories, you will lose an entire pound of fat. While it is possible to cut back on your calorie intake and increase your exercise regimen in order to lose pounds quickly, it is important to note that doctors recommend that you lose no more than 2 pounds of weight per week in order to ensure that your body properly adjusts to the weight loss.

Here are some tips to help you safely drop 3,500 from your regular routine:

Run

Running for about 1 hour at a slow pace will help you lose approximately 350 calories, depending on your body type, speed and terrain. Thus, if you run for one hour five days a week while maintaining a consistent diet, you will safely lose one pound.

It is important to understand that many people who just begin running will eat pasta and other foods high in carbohydrates in order to compensate for the exertion. They think that because they worked out so hard, they deserve a treat. After all, they justify, the pasta will help to keep their energy levels high.

However, what they may not realize is that while they are justified in thinking that the carbohydrates will infuse their workout routine with energy, they are not actually setting their bodies up to lose weight. When you burn 350 calories but intake 450 over a high-carbohydrate pasta dish, you are adding more calories to your body than you otherwise would have.

Running does, however, help to boost our metabolism and change your muscle tone so that you burn calories more efficiently. Instead of inhaling a pasta dish after a run, select instead to have a large salad and splurge for the carbohydrate-rich croutons.

Eat In

When you eat out at a restaurant, not only are you subjecting your body to an array of high fat, high calorie foods, but you are also tempting yourself to eat a larger portion than you might normally eat. Therefore, what could be a simple 500 calories meal can easily turn into a 1500-calorie fat fest. In order to lose weight by cutting calories, it is essential that you are aware of exactly what you are putting into your body. Especially in the beginning of your new routine, it is important that you prepare your meals and monitor your level of hunger.

When eating out, generally you are in a social situation where food is not a priority but spending time with your friends is. For this reason, people tend to eat more than they normally would. Non-dessert eaters often even spring for the extra round of calories. If you must eat out, help yourself avoid temptation by selecting a salad rather than a plate of pasta or burger. You will be amazed at the difference in the amount of calories you intake when you make simple choices such as meal option.

By reducing your overall calorie intake and increasing your level of physical activity, you will be able to lose those 3,500 calories without much trouble. Make sure that you stay focused, motivated and on task. Youll shed unwanted weight in no time!

1. The Weight Loss Patch

Perhaps the most appealing benefit of using a patch is that it is so easy to use. No pills to remember to take, no special diets, no required exercise routine. Naturally, sticking to a healthy diet and exercise program is best for your overall health, but if that is difficult for you to adhere to all of the time, the patch may be a solution that works for you.

A weight loss patch that you place on your body will deliver the active ingredients by transdermal delivery, meaning through the skin. The patch ingredients will go directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system and liver. Simply apply the patch to a smooth area of your skin and change it every 3 days. That is all of the maintenance that is required.

A patch can even be used occasionally when you are traveling and know you will be eating out a lot, or for those times you are too busy to cook the proper foods. A patch that suppresses your appetite will help you develop good eating habits that will help you maintain your ideal weight in the future ~ no more yo-yo figures.

2. Appetite Suppressant Pills

Curbing your appetite to stop the influx of calories in the first place seems to be the logical way to lose and maintain your weight. However, we are so bombarded by confusing claims everywhere for appetite suppressant pills ~ in print, on the radio, on television, even on billboards when driving, that it is difficult to know which diet pill will really help take off those pounds ~ and keep them off..

Some diet pills will cause your heart to race, your hands to shake, or an overall “wired” feeling. To avoid these problem, stay away from products that contain Ephedra, Ma Huang, and Ephedrine.

One herbal diet pill that has gotten a lot of publicity lately is Hoodia Gordonii The authentic plant comes from the Kalahari desert in South Aftrica. Respectable television shows like 60 Minutes, the Today Show, BBC, and even Oprah’s “O” magazine have given it rave reviews for its fast acting appetite suppressing qualities. While it can take one to two weeks to work fully, many users report a decline in their appetite with the first pill.

In fact, Hoodia has had so many positive reports that there are now a lot of knock-off products being marketed to the uninformed ~ especially on the Internet. The real Hoodia is very rare because it takes up to 7 years for the Hoodia plant to mature to a point where it provides appetite suppressant qualities. In addition, the African government is now limiting the amount of Hoodia it exports, meaning only a few suppliers have the real thing. Because Hoodia is so rare, you can expect it to be a little more expensive than other diet pills.

Another diet pill that helps shed pounds is Herbal Phentermine. This is a non-prescription appetite suppressant that is scientifically designed to produce similar effects of a popular Rx version of phentermine.

The good news is that the Herbal version contains only natural ingredients so you don’t have to be worried about side effects. Plus, you can avoid the time, expense, and embarrassment of a doctor’s visit.

Herbal Phentermine will not only suppress your appetite, but it will also increase your metabolism so you burn more calories and have more energy.

3). Carbohydrate Blockers

Perhaps you prefer not to have your appetite suppressed, but instead would like to eat all of the pasta, bread, rice, and potatoes you want. If this sounds more like your style, then you might want to try a carbohydrate blocker.

Scientists have discovered, and thoroughly tested a method to allow us to eat the foods we love and not gain weight. We can now stop the normal conversion of starchy foods to sugar before it can pass through our digestive system and store as fat on our hips, thighs, buttocks and stomach. Derived from white kidney beans, the resulting carb blockers, (starch neutralizers), are a completely natural product. They work by neutralizing the Alpha amylase enzyme that digests starch.

By neutralizing this digestive enzyme, the starch from our food does not get digested. Instead, it remains intact and does not convert to sugar. It simply passes through the body undigested and acts as a fiber ~ which is a very good thing. We get more fiber going through our intestines while avoiding the conversion to sugar and the resulting fat storage ~ a definite win-win situation.

Over the past several years, there have been many positive studies to determine the effectiveness of carb blockers and their ability to help lose weight. One study was performed at the Northridge Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, over an eight week time period.

It reported that participants saw an average weight loss of 200% more than those taking a placebo, and lost an average of 1.5 inches around their waists. This was 43 % more than those taking the placebo. Plus they reported having 13% more energy, even though it is not a stimulant.

Whether you choose patches or pills, prefer to eat starchy foods, or use carb blockers, some things to look for when buying diet products are that they:

1) Contain all natural ingredients

2) Do not have harmful side effects

3) Offer a 100% money back guarantee

Friday, June 5, 2015

Bistro MD 

Bistro MD is a diet delivery system that delivers throughout the United States. It was developed by Dr. Caroline Cederquist, a board certified physician in the field of weight management with over 20 years of experience. Dr. Cederquist grew up in a family that was largely overweight. While growing up, she made the decision to change her genetic disposition by leading a healthy lifestyle. After extensive work helping patients lose weight as a bariatric expert, Dr. Cederquist built the foundation to create a program that offered the right balance of nutrients to help sustain healthy, balanced weight loss. Dr. Cederquist’s goal was to create a program that was more than simply shedding pounds on a scale. She wanted the focus of the program to be on improving your overall health, and built the program based on real science with the idea that food is medicine.One difference between BistroMD and some of the other diet delivery programs is that it does not promise fast, extreme weight loss nor does it excessively limit daily caloric intake. BistroMD was created alongside a team of Registered Dietitians to ensure all foods meet nutritional requirements. Each meal is created to help provide long term weight loss and contains a balance of lean proteins, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates. Each of the programs featured by BistroMD offers 1,100 to 1,400 calories per day with a caloric breakdown of 40-50% lean protein, 20-25% healthy fats and 30-35% complex carbohydrates. 

Medifast 

One of the more popular diet plans on the market is Medifast. Medifast is so widely popular because it was developed by a physician to help patients lose weight prior to having surgery. Dr. William Vitale from John Hopkins University developed Medifast because of the serious risks that excessive weight can pose when patients undergo a variety of surgeries. After several patients were successful with the program and lost the weight necessary to undergo surgery, Medifast gained popularity with the general public and the plan became available to all of Dr. Vitale’s patients. Not long after Medifast became popular with Dr. Vitale’s general practice patients, other physicians around the globe implemented Medifast into their own practices. Since Medifast was first created by Dr. Vitale, it has undergone some changes, but the majority of the plan still remains the same today. One of the factors that helped Medifast continue to grow in popularity is that it has repeatedly been proven to be a safe and effective weight loss method for most individuals. While it does reduce caloric intake below the recommended 1,200 calorie daily limit, it does so in the healthiest way possible and with the approval of most physicians. The Medifast plan also teaches individuals how to eat a balanced diet after finishing the initial weight loss phase of the plan and helps keeping caloric intake at an optimal rate to keep unwanted pounds at bay. 

Dukan Diet 

Although the Dukan Diet is relatively new in the United States, it has been religiously followed by much of the population overseas for over 12 years. The French-based diet claims to have helped millions lose weight quickly and effectively. Many of Hollywood’s hottest celebrities attribute their weight loss success to the Dukan Diet as well. In some ways, the Dukan Diet is to the United Kingdom what the Atkins Diet is to the United States. Both diets are similar in that they were created by physicians and they emphasize a high protein, low carbohydrate diet, but the similarities end there. 

Created as a treatment option for obesity by famed physician Dr. Pierre Dukan, the Dukan Diet promises to help you lose weight without counting calories, measuring proportions or logging countless hours of exercise each day. It focuses on a high protein, low carbohydrate meal plan with minimal fat intake unless it is derived from fish or eggs. The diet features four phases that can last anywhere from one day to several months, depending on how much weight you want to lose and how fast you want to lose it. The main difference between the Dukan Diet and most other fad diets is that, when you have reached your goal weight, you can eat anything you want six days a week, as long as you stick to the plan one day each week. 

Dr. Pierre Dukan is a renowned clinical nutrition expert with over 40 years experience in the field. Although he specialized in neurology initially, Dr. Dukan soon became intrigued by the weight epidemic sweeping the globe. After working with thousands of obese patients in his private practice, he decided to devote his life to helping people shed unwanted weight and maintain their weight loss for a lifetime. Thus, the Dukan Diet was born . 

South Beach Diet 

The South Beach diet plan was created by Dr. Arthur Agatston with the help of Marie Almon, a dietician and nutritionist. As a cardiologist, Dr. Agatston had a long list of cardiac patients needing to shed weight and lower their cholesterol. He often suggested they eat a low fat diet but, after time, he realized that most of his patients were unable to stick with the plan. Dr. Agatston consulted with several other physicians and deemed that dieters had a difficult time following low fat diets because of the insulin spikes that low fat diets caused. When regular foods were substituted with low fat varieties, the calorie count did not change. The only difference was that the fat was being substituted by added sugar in order to replace texture and taste. The excess sugar in the low fat version of the food then caused a spike in blood sugar, leading to hunger pangs and the body craving more and more sugar. This cycle continued and eventually created an insulin resistance that led to weight gain, increased body fat and consumption of more calories than prior to starting the low fat diet. 

When Dr. Agatston initially created the South Beach diet, his goal was to prevent worsening of the heart disease in his patients, assist them in weight loss and show them how to eat the right foods. Patients were so successful losing weight on the plan that word quickly spread about the South Beach diet and it gained worldwide notoriety. 

The idea behind the South Beach Diet is that it is intended to be more of a lifestyle change than a diet. Although the South Beach diet restricts carbohydrates, it does not eliminate all of them. Dr. Agatston did not want to completely eliminate all carbohydrates because too much fat and not enough fiber could make heart disease worse. He was well aware of the success the Atkins diet achieved from its low carbohydrate foundation, but he felt there was a better and a more manageable way to help patients lose weight and still be able to enjoy a wide variety of foods. 

Diet-To-Go 

One of the diet delivery programs that has recently grown in popularity is the Diet-to-Go program. Diet-to-Go was founded in 1991 by Hilton Davis. Diet-to-Go is a meal delivery service that offers local food pickup as well. The company was founded in Virginia as a local diet delivery program and expanded to selling frozen meals through mail order in 1997. Initially, the meal plan was created under the direction of Dr. Gabe Mirkin. It was touted as a low fat diet and has since grown to offer a variety of diet programs. Diet-to-Go offers vegetarian, low carbohydrate, low fat and low sodium meals for men and women. A typical meal plan for women ranges from approximately 1,100 to 1,200 calories per day. Men’s plans range from 1,400-1,600. These caloric values fall within recommended guidelines and helps the program be backed by physicians nationwide. All of Diet-to-Go’s meals are inspected daily by the USDA and meet the guidelines of the American Heart Association, American Cancer Association and the American Diabetes Association. 

The meals with Diet-to-Go are delivered once a week instead of the typical once a month that is common with other diet delivery programs. Meals arrive in coolers with dry ice surrounding them to ensure all meals created by award winning chefs maintain their freshness. They have to be microwaved and are essentially like a frozen meal you would purchase at a grocery store, but within dietary guidelines. 

Diet-to-Go is also in partnerships with a variety of business, including but not limited to Gold’s and World Gym. Individuals that prefer to pick up their meals as opposed to having them delivered can do so at one of these locations. The food pick up options are currently only available in five cities across the United States. The cities include the greater Los Angeles area, the San Francisco Bay, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. The cities that will have food pick up available are expected to grow in the near future with the growing popularity of the company. 

Nutrisystem 

One of the most popular diet programs on the market is the Nutrisystem plan. Nutrisystem has been around for over 40 years; helping millions around the globe lose weight and improve their overall health. Nutrisystem was founded in 1972 and entered public trading almost 12 years later in 1999. It started out as a center, similar to Weight Watchers where dieters would visit on a regular basis for support and information on the program. In present day, there are no longer standing Nutrisystem centers around, but that has had no effect on the company’s exponential growth. The plan is now completely administered through Nutrisystem’s interactive website and is advertised nationwide through infomercials and commercials. Countless celebrities have served as spokespeople for the company and lost weight on the program. 

Celebrities such as Marie Osmond, Belinda Carlisle, Janet Jackson and Jillian Reynolds credit the Nutrisystem plan with helping them lose between 20 and 45 pounds. The idea behind Nutrisystem is that it is a delivery meal system of pre-planned, pre-made meals that you receive at your doorstep. This takes the guess work out of what you should eat and helps you stay on course by, not only telling you what to eat, but actually providing each meal for you. Unlike with most diet plans, on the Nutrisystem plan, you will not have to worry about counting calories, points, carbohydrates or fats. You will also not have to go to weekly weigh ins, such as on the Weight Watchers plan. The meals come to you and you do the tracking online via the member’s interactive website. 

Nutrisystem is also unique in that it provides several different plans to match you with the plan that is right for you. It offers plans aimed specifically at woman’s women, men, vegetarians, seniors and diabetics. The plan can cost as low as $8 and increases from there. The actual cost of the program depends on the plan you choose and the level of the plan you opt for. Plans and plan levels are described in detail below. 

On Nutrisystem, you should expect to lose between 1-2 pounds per week. This is considered a safe and effective rate at which to lose weight and be able to maintain it. One of the more popular aspects of the Nutrisystem plan is that the entire plan and all of the meals provided with it are preservative free. All meals are also within the USDA target for daily sodium intake and the plan as a whole was created with optimal nutrition in mind. The Nutrisystem plan prides itself on offering foods that are high in protein and fiber, lower in sodium, offer zero trans fats, low saturated fats and are also low-glycemic foods to help prevent insulin spikes. Low glycemic foods also keep sugar levels stable and the metabolism working at an optimal rate throughout the day. 

Jillian Michaels Diet 

The Jillian Michaels Weight Loss Program was created by Jillian Michaels, a best-selling author, Emmy nominated television personality and one of the country’s top health and fitness experts. After appearing on “The Biggest Loser” and quickly becoming a favorite, Jillian created a brand for herself and has continued to motivate people to lose weight and get in shape through her website, books and television appearances. Jillian has been an expert in her field for over 20 years and holds numerous training certificates, as well as a Muay Thai and Akarui-Do black belt. In addition to Jillian’s Online Weight Loss Program, Jillian has also published several books and DVD series, including Slim For Life: My Insider Secrets to Simple, Fast and Lasting Weight Loss and Jillian Michaels Bodyshred. 

After being a successful trainer since the young age of 17, Jillian opened up her own sports medicine facility and eventually found her way onto the hit show, “The Biggest Loser.” While on the show, Jillian quickly earned the reputation of being the toughest, no holds barred trainer on the show. Jillian did not accept anything less than 110% from her team and put all of her time and effort into making them succeed. Jillian’s passion has always been fitness and she truly believes that anyone can change their life and their destiny through healthy eating habits and a proper fitness routine. 

After being on the show and realizing how many viewers wanted her help in realizing their fitness and weight loss goals, Jillian decided to create her own weight loss program. She wanted to create a plan that could be customized to meet anyone’s needs and be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 


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