Fat Loss 101 - Master the Basics, Get all the Results

It seems everyone want to lose weight, but with all the information out there it just gets more and more confusing for the average person to know what to do? Let's back it up a little and start from the basic understand of how fat loss happens in a simple and easy manner. Once you can master the basics, that is probably 90% of where all your results will come from!

Fat loss first and foremost is a hormonal event, the right hormones telling the body to release the stored "energy" in the fat cells to burn off. It is also important to know that there are also fat "storing" hormones that act in the opposite way, triggering the body to store "future energy" into the fat cells. The body triggers these hormones through many different stimulus like food, drink, exercise, stress and sleep. Fat cells are just the body's emergency storage tanks afterall. If we didn't have fat cells, we wouldn't have survived the famines of the past. It's a built-in survival mechanism that is getting all the wrong signals today. The body wasn't designed around constant intake of food, especially the processed and high in sugar kind. (as that is not something that naturally grows on trees!)

So we know that fat loss is hormonal. Also fat loss occurs when oxygen is present, what is known as aerobic. (which means "with oxygen"...don't get all happy yet all you daily joggers) The other stage is called anaerobic (which means "without oxygen"). Anaerobic training is also known more commonly as "strength training" (which you can tell by the lactic acid burn). Here's where people get confused when it comes to exercise. Most people think that by doing aerobics you burn all the fat you want. Well if that was the case, obesity would of been taken care of in 1986 and your gym aerobic instructors wouldn't have an average BF% over 25%. Who ever said you are guaranteed to burn fat? What about stored glycogen? Plus if you can burn fat in an aerobic state, well aren't you in an aerobic state all day long (minus brief times of anaerobic activity) including sleeping?? So here's the breakthrough, you have the ability to burn fat all day long! The only thing left is the hormones and whether they are saying "empty the storage tanks" or "here comes some more" to the fat cells.

The Fat loss hormones were are going to focus on briefly are insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone (GH). Insulin is a fat storing hormone, while glucagon and GH are fat burning hormones. If insulin is present and elevated, the other hormones go down (this is an important relationship to realize). Another hormone called cortisol (stress hormone) is a muscle breakdown hormone....and that is not something we want in our fat loss quest. Below are just quick and easy bullet point on how to maximize the fat burning hormones and minimize the muscle breakdown/fat storing hormones (don't think all muscle breakdown is bad, you need to break down and rebuild the cells it's when you have excessive breakdown and minimal rebuilding that is the issue as that will lead to a loss of muscle).

Your #1 enemy, sugar and all it's hiding places (drinks, sauces, dressings, etc). If it has a label, read it and see what sugars you are really getting, as everything you put into your mouth counts! Why is sugar bad? Because sugar will be quickly absorbed into the blood which cause a spike in your blood sugar and with that spike the body releases insulin to take care of it (shuttle excessive blood sugar into the fat cells for storage!). So like I tell my clients, every time you put sugar into your mouth just tell youself "I don't feel like burning fat for the next 3-4 hours" as that is exactly the hormonal signal you are giving it. Remember also, when insulin is high glucagon and GH go down (this is important to remember especially at night)

So let's recap, for fat loss we want:

* Minimal insulin levels thoughout the day (no high levels/spikes except during the post workout window when the insulin sensitivity is maximum, it goes into muscle not fat)

* Maximum Glucagon (which is directly inversely proportional to insulin levels)

* Maximum GH (which is controlled by insulin, exercise response and sleep)

* Keep Cortisol in check (you will have some, but excessive will lead to muscle loss)

For Insulin control (and max Glucagon response):

* Keep levels low by not eating sugar or foods that quickly break down into the bloodstream

* Have protein with every meal (as that will slow down the digestion of any sugars). Also protein intake stimulates the release of glucagon.

* Improve insulin sensitivity with glycogen draining exercise (resistance training) which will in turn reduce your insulin resistance (which is one of the biggest reasons for obesity and a serious increase of risks for many other diseases including heart disease, cancers, diabetes, accelerated ageing and more!)

For max GH response:

* Most of your daily GH is released in the first couple hours of sleep at night (75%) . Keep your insulin levels low (which means no big meals or sugar 2-3 hours before bed) and get to bed by 10pm to get the maximum response

* Exercise with Intensity (for fast twitch muscle recruitement, not slow twitch), whether it is resistance training or doing interval training like sprints. Short burst of anaerobic intense exercise (lactic acid burn) will in turn signal the body to release GH. Long aerobic activities (jogging, etc) will NOT. (The old arguement of look at the body composition of a sprinter vs the marathon runner...the sprinter has more muscle and very low bf%, the marathon runner has little muscle and a higher bf% even if they look smaller) See the role of lactate in exercise induced GH response.

* Exercise in a fasted state has also shown to increase GH levels (again make sure you have enough energy to get through the workout, a small meal may be needed 1-2 hours prior if the activity it too intense)

Minimize excessive Cortisol:

* Keep all exercise under 45min (remember we want to increase the intensity in a short period, not the duration). Anything longer will just start wasting muscle as fuel.

* Practice relaxing throughout the day, don't stress out over things that mean very little in the long run (ask yourself will this really be important in 1 week, 1 month, 1 year). Get perspective on things in your life, and detach from things that really don't matter. Smile more, take deep breaths throughout the day, get out in nature, find your passions in life, etc. We are too stressed out and our body was only meant to use stress in short bursts (fight or flight response) not all day long events.

So if you can master these small steps, you will see tremendous changes. Now what if there was something else you could do to decrease insulin resistance and improve GH response to exercise and sleep? Hey how about something that also helps the health of the gut, improve digestive process and liver function (which is an important organ for fat burning). Hmmmmmm.....could that be Intermittent Fasting?? Wow....look how everything starts to nicely come full circle!

About the author: Mike ODonnell is a professional health and fitness coach. You can see more free health and fitness information on his blog at http://www.theiflife.com

The IF Life is also focused on using Intermittent Fasting for maximum fat loss, muscle, performance, health and living life to the fullest.

What's The Deal With Omega 3 And Weight Loss?

This article will talk about a popular topic these days: omega 3 and weight loss.

Before I go into briefly what omega 3 is, I would like to forewarn you that you should not depend on one particular supplement to lose weight. This instead comes from a variety of factors - surprisingly easy to apply, but still a multitude of factors to consider.

OK, so that being said, omega 3 is a polyunsaturated essential fatty acid. Many health practitioners suggest to their patients to help with a variety of circulatory diseases or other physiologic or autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

In general, the greater the ratio of omega 3 fatty acids to omega 6 fatty acids, the healthier it is for you.

Since losing weight is directly proportional to (but not exclusively dependent on) circulation, it is sometimes suggested by word of mouth to lose weight.

Here are some important things you should know about omega 3 and weight loss:

1) Omega 3 is essential if you want to have a healthy diet or lose weight.

2) Be careful when relying just on omega 3 supplements to lose weight. There is no evidence that omega 3 will help you lose weight by itself.

3) Although not many and far less than medical methods, there are some unwanted side effects if consumed in great amounts (and unfortunately the brainwashing attached with omega 3 helping to lose weight gets them to consume these large amounts). These range from a risk of a hemorrhage to high LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol), to reduced ability to heal and combat infections.

4) Losing weight is a holistic process. The exact method is beyond the scope of this article. You can access a very safe, fast, healthy method here. This type of method doesn't involve surgical methods (such as liposuction) or even exercise to lose weight. And they can help you lose 8-15 pounds in the first week, and keep helping you lose weight thereafter.

Ideally the answer towards losing weight is not a supplement or a gimmick or one fad method (or a reliable method for that matter) over another. The answer lies in a healthy process. Commonly this process is obtained with certain foods and not others. These are not "secret" foods, these are foods that we have all eaten at one time or another.

So, to summarize, omega 3 is essential if you want to keep healthy. However, don't rely solely on omega 3 to lose weight. The best news is, you can still lose 8-15 pounds in the first two weeks safely without using any "hocus pocus" formula or medical procedure.

Good luck!

By Patrick C. Martinez

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Weight Loss After Pregnancy - A Realist Approach

Weight loss after pregnancy is a major issue with many women. During pregnancy, a woman can gain around 25-35 pounds. After delivery, she will lose around 12-22 pounds. This leaves around 12-22 pounds that she will have to deal with. The key is to remember that it is possible to lose all this weight and regain shape.

Be Realistic

Many women are influenced by celebrity moms and aim to lose their weight in a very short span of time. This is a very unrealistic approach to a complicated issue. Celebrity moms have expert fitness trainers, dieticians, etc., with them round the clock. It is thus, very important to keep realistic targets, have patience, and to work hard.

Therefore, after your pregnancy period is over you are surely going to be thinking about losing all the weight that you have gained. However, you should not rush into things. Before you start any exercise or diet after pregnancy, it is best to consult your doctor. After he/she gives you the green signal, you can start in all earnest.

Helpful Tips

Here are few weight loss tips to help you along the way-

For the first three months post partum, do not go on a diet. Dieting is not good especially if you are breastfeeding your child.

Eat a healthy well balanced diet. Ensure that you eat lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Remember that you have just delivered and your body needs time to heal.

Instead of eating few heavy meals, you should focus on eating several small healthy meals everyday.

Avoid sugar, caffeine, processed foods, and sodium.

You can begin with slow exercises, like walking. Just be active around the house and you will start seeing a positive trend in your weight loss.

Pregnancy weight gain is natural and unavoidable. Yes, some women gain more weight than others and some women lose weight faster than others do. It is best to maintain a healthy diet during and after pregnancy. Keep yourself active. Walking is a very good form of exercise to keep your weight in check. Once your body has healed after pregnancy, you can go on a diet and exercise plan for losing weight. Aerobics, jogging, swimming, yoga, etc. are some of the exercises that you can take up. Talk to your doctor about them and see which ones are suitable for your body.

It is good that you are working hard to lose all the weight gain, but do not overexert yourself. Always listen to your body. Take rest when you feel tired. Take it easy and always keep in mind that you are going to make it. Losing your pregnancy weight is not that hard if you have realistic expectations and patience. Keep your energy level up by eating healthy foods and work diligently on your weight loss after pregnancy program.

You must keep in mind that after delivering it is more important to take care of your body and baby than rushing to lose all the pregnancy weight gain. You should follow weight loss tips only after 2-3 months of your pregnancy or as per doctor's advice. After pregnancy there is ample time to get back into shape. Don't worry now. weight loss after pregnancy is possible if you maintain a realistic approach, work hard, and have patience.

How a Weight Loss Skin Patch Works

A weight loss skin patch works by making use of a transdermal delivery system to introduce various chemicals that can address functions such as suppressing appetite, increasing metabolism, or preventing the body from absorbing oils and fats from food directly into the bloodstream. The transdermal delivery system used is safe and works based on the idea that some molecules can so small that it is possible for them to be easily absorbed through the skin and then directly into the bloodstream for the body to use. With this kind of delivery system, as much as 95% of any medication can reach the cells of the body through this manner as compared to the amount absorbed by the cells if the medication was taken orally. To ensure that the weight loss skin patch would work, the molecules present in any medication to be used must of a size small enough to be absorbed through the skin. Depending on the purpose, a weight loss skin patch can contain chromium, hydroxycitric acid, and caffeine the same ingredients found in any weight loss supplement regardless of delivery system used.

Effectiveness

Many brands tend to brag about how effective their weight loss skin patch is. This isn't to say that they aren't but consumers should be wary that it's not just because they are using a patch that makes it effective. A weight loss skin patch can function in a number of ways. Apart from administering needed amounts of a particular weight loss supplement (since they do contain the same ingredients as oral weight loss supplements do), a weight loss skin patch makes it easier for anyone who wears it to stick by whatever weight loss method they are using, much like how a post-it would remind you of errands that you have to run. As with any weight loss supplement, weight loss skin patches are most effective when used in conjunction with a healthy eating plan and regular exercise, and shouldn't be relied on as a sole means of losing weight.

Where to put it

While you can put it anywhere on your body, a weight loss skin patch is recommended to be placed on the back or the shoulders. Before applying weight loss skin patches, always clean the area in order to remove any dirt, and then afterwards make sure to completely dry it. Wherever there is excess hair, you may want to remove excess hair first on a particular area before putting on the weight loss patch or to choose another area where there is less hair growth. This will make sure that the weight loss patch will not only stick better (ensuring optimum absorption) but removal will also be relatively easy and pain-free. In case that weight loss patches get removed or wet, they can still be used although they are not guaranteed to work at the same rate as a newly-put weight loss patch would.

Phillip England is a weight loss expert and Author of the popular report "The Ultimate Weight Loss Secret". To receive your free information on the secret that doctors, and health companies either don't know, or don't want you to know, please see http://www.theultimateweightlosssecret.com/secret

Fat Loss 4 Idiots Diets - Lose 9 Pounds Every 11 Days

Fat loss 4 idiots diets work wonderful but you should be very careful. If you don't pay close attention you will suffer great risk of actually losing the fat permanently. I say this with a bit of sarcasm because most of the companies that sell diet stuff, don't want you to get thin permanently because then their money-pit dries up.

Walking down the aisle of any grocery store you'll stare dozens of "low fat" and "fat free" items in the face. Low fat has made the world crazy and people now think they just have to eat low fat and their bodies will have less fat too.

Here is the reasons why low fat and fat free diets don't work

1. There is no direct relationship between fat calories eaten and fat on a person's body. Your body is very able to convert any type of calorie to fat and not just fat calories.
2. You can eat 3 pounds of sugar every day and I guarantee you will get fat although sugar has zero fat calories.
3. White rice is fat free too, but eat a lot everyday and you can bet on it that you will get fat.

So what does that tell you about eating fat free foods?

Forget about buzz words like "non fat" and "low fat" because they were invented to make you think you're eating healthy.

What you need to worry about is the exact types of foods that you combine together at each meal, so that you get the proper portion of fat calories and carbs at each meal - which will maximize weight loss.

Fat loss 4 idiots diets is a brand new diet that burns off fat fast and permanently.

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Simple Weight Loss Strategies Part 4

There are many simple weight loss strategies which, when used together, will strengthen your resolve and enable you to reach your goals more quickly.

An important strategy is to set achievable goals and reward yourself when you achieve them. This is particularly true if you have a lot of weight to lose, as you can become very discouraged if you think about having to lose 30 or 40 pounds or more.

Learning to feel good about yourself is an important part of weight loss. So, set small, realistic goals along the way to your final goal, which is your ideal weight.

For example, treat yourself to something, but not something food related, for every 5 pounds you lose. This could be a trip to the cinema, buying and giving yourself time to read a good book. It might be a bottle of perfume or aftershave, or a day out with friends or family.

The loss of 5 pounds will make you feel good and the treat will also create good feelings, which will reinforce your resolve. You could plan your treats in advance, which will give you an extra incentive to reach your next goal. This also adds an element of fun to what might otherwise feel like a very difficult undertaking.

It is also important to make sure that your goals are realistic. On average, you might expect to lose one to two pounds per week, although if you are very overweight you are likely to lose more in the earlier stages of your weight loss programme. So be sure that the goals you choose are ones you can reach within the time you set yourself.

Simple weight loss strategies are easy to integrate into your daily routine, enabling you to move quickly towards your goals.

Waller Jamison 2007

Kick start your weight loss with a New Weight Loss Strategy every week No time for exercise? Here are some Fat Burning Moves You Can Do at Your Desk

Weight Loss Options - Surgery and Dieting

Obesity is one of most common health problems in our society. Many people struggle with their weight on a daily basis. Some people want to lose weight for cosmetic reasons, and others need to lose weight for health reasons.

Regardless of your reason for pursuing weight loss, you will likely be overwhelmed by the many different diet and surgical options available. There are a number of popular diet plans, some of which are helpful for weight loss, and some of which are just fads that arent likely to help with long-term weight management.

Diet plans that encourage you to eat only certain types of foods with certain other types of foods, or encourage you to eliminate certain other foods from your diet fall under the category of fad diets. Such diets tend to be unhealthy and do not bring about lasting weight loss. Some people do experience initial weight loss success from following certain fad diets. However, it is impossible to follow a very structured and rigid diet forever, and people tend to very quickly re-gain any losses that come about from fad diets.

When seeking weight loss through diet, it is important to keep in mind that no matter what you eat, you will gain weight when you regularly take in more calories than you expend, and you will lose weight when you regularly expend more calories than you consume.

In spite of the many different suggested eating plans, this basic formula for diet and weight loss holds true. If you go on an all candy diet, but you burn off more calories than you consume, you will lose weight. If you go on an all juice diet and you dont burn off more calories than you consume, you will gain weight.

The best diet for weight loss is a balanced diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, and goes light on refined sugar and flour. Whole foods provide more nutrients than processed foods. When you are reducing calories, it is important to choose foods that give you the best nutritional bang for your buck. Your body needs foods from all of the major food groups to function properly and stay healthy.

For people who are significantly overweight and are not able to lose weight through traditional methods, there are a number of weight loss surgery options. Both gastric bypass and lap band weight loss surgeries have been used successfully by many people who need to lose significant amounts of weight.

Gastric bypass is a permanent surgical procedure that makes it physically impossible for people to consume large amounts of food. Following gastric bypass, a person is likely to drop large amounts of weight very quickly, do to the sudden drastic change in calories consumed. A more recent technology than gastric bypass, the lap band procedure is gaining in popularity because it is less painful, less invasive, and reversible.

Consider lap band surgery for a safe and fully reversible weight loss method. TLBC offers a sound solution for lifelong weight loss. http://www.tlbc.ca/