Does Fat Loss 4 Idiots Really Work?

If you are like most people who have tried diet after diet with poor results then you are probably pretty skeptical of any new diet making weight loss claims. This is understandable because of the sheer amount of fad diets that pop up from week to week. If you are reading this then you are obviously interested in the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet and are wondering not only if it works but how it works.

First let's look at how it works because it is unlike most of the diets on the weight loss market today. Instead of restricting the types of food you eat it uses food as the fuel that revs up your internal fat burning engine; your metabolism.

It's common knowledge that if you burn more calories than you eat during the day you will lose weight. Most diets work on the principle that if you cut calories you will start to lose body fat. Unfortunately by doing this you cause your metabolism to slow down and you burn fewer calories, which is the opposite of what you need to have happen.

This is why the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet is so different from other weight loss offerings. This plan actually works by allowing you to eat healthy foods that work with you body to increase your metabolism. Not only does it teach you which foods to eat it also helps you create a menu and eating plan that taps into your body's daily energy rhythms. By giving your body certain types of foods at certain times of the day you can further the metabolism boosting process.

So does it work? That is the question most people want answered. If you follow the plan closely it claims you can lose 9 pounds every 11 days until you lose the weight you want. Most people who follow the diet report that they lose between 6 and 7 pounds during the 11 day time period. The best part of this diet is the fact once you lose the weight you can adjust it to maintain your weight and keep the weight off for good.

Fat Loss 4 Idiots is a diet that teaches you how to use food to achieve your weight loss goals. If traditional diets have left you feeling hungry why not try a diet that goes against the grain and actually lets you put food in your belly.

For more information about how the Fat Loss 4 Idiots Diet can help you lose weight and improve your health please visit the Fat Loss 4 Idiots Review page by Clicking Here.

Cardiovascular Disease and Weight Loss

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an umbrella term covering disorders of the heart and blood vessels. It includes coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, and hypertension (high blood pressure). Overweight, lack of exercise, stress, and a high-fat diet are major contributing factors to all CVD.

Coronary artery disease: In order to supply the rest of the body with blood, the heart muscle needs oxygenated blood itself. It gets it from the coronary arteries located on the outside wall of the heart. When one or more of these arteries are narrowed, blood flow is restricted or may be halted altogether. The result is coronary artery disease, the major underlying cause of heart attack.

One sign that the heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen are the chest pains of angina. This type of chest pain usually occurs during activity and is relieved by rest.

Atherosclerosis: This is a condition in which fatty deposits build up on the inside of arterial walls. As the arteries narrow, they cannot carry sufficient blood to the tissues. To compensate, the heart pumps harder, blood pressure increases, and many parts of the body are damaged as a result. Everything from poor circulation in the limbs to heart attack and stroke can be blamed on atherosclerosis.

Some people are more prone to atherosclerosis than others, but there is no question that a highfat diet is a major contributor. People who are overweight, lead a sedentary lifestyle, and have high cholesterol levels are at much increased risk for developing atherosclerosis.

High blood pressure: Also called hypertension, high blood pressure is a condition in which the pressure exerted by blood as it is pumped through the arteries is consistently higher than normal. Normally, blood pressure at rest should not be greater than 120/80. Blood pressure is considered high if it is repeatedly and persistently higher than 140/90.

High blood pressure can damage the arteries, heart, and other organs, including the kidneys and the eyes. It increases the risk for heart attack, coronary artery disease, a stroke, kidney failure, and loss of sight due to damage to the retina. Hypertension is more common in men than women, and the incidence increases with age.

Being overweight is one of the most important risk factors for high blood pressure. People who are 20 percent overweight are eight times more likely to have high blood pressure than people of normal weight.

When your blood pressure is taken, the compression cuff on your arm causes a column of mercury to rise in a metered column. Two measurements are taken: the systolic reading is blood pressure at its highest, when the heart muscle contracts; the diastolic reading is blood pressure at its low point, when the heart muscle relaxes. In a blood pressure reading of 120/80, for example, the higher number (120) is systolic, the lower (80) is diastolic. Cardiovascular disease

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Lose Weight With Fat Burning Foods

Can you imagine this? There are a group of foods where you can eat practically all you wish to and at the same time still lose weight. Well, it is true. The following are some foods that require more calories to burn than they contain. Eating these foods will help melt the fat away.

Making healthy substitutions is the best way to begin. Substitute fruits for cake and ice cream. Try substituting turnip fries for french fries. With a little creativity you will have endless possibilities. If you need help with recipes you can look online or get a book from your local library or natural food store. With vegetables it is helpful to eat them either raw or lightly steamed. You would like them to be slightly crisp when you serve them.

Here is a partial list of some examples.

Artichokes-Artichokes are very tasty and it worth trying them. With just a little practice you'll be able to prepare them exactly to your taste.

Celery-Celery is well known as a fat burning food. Eat it every day for a few weeks and see for yourself. Eating carrot sticks and celery during the day is a great snack. It will provide some essential nutrition and burn calories at the same time. Whenever possible it is best to use organic product. Green Peppers-Green peppers are loaded with vitamin A and vitamin C. They are easy to grow and they freeze nicely so you should consider adding them to your garden.

Tomatoes-Technically tomatoes are a type of fruit. They are, however, prepared like vegetables. There are literally thousands of types of tomatoes. Peas-Canned peas are horrible. Fresh pea pods are readily available in supermarkets and natural food stores. Please, eat them fresh.

Here are some other vegetables that will assist in your weight loss program. They include brussel sprouts, corn, string beans, asparagus, cauliflower, kohlrabi, red peppers, broccoli and green beans.

Let's not forget pumpkins and squash. Pumpkins and squash are delicious. They make great side dishes. They are probably one of the most under-utilizes foods available today. They are so tasty they kids enjoy them too.

Chances are you use onions and chives already. Grab a cook book and see what you can do with leeks, scallions, and shallots? You'd be amazed at how versatile they can be. Packed with fiber and nutrition, root vegetables are just what you need if you are trying to lose weight. This group includes carrots, parsnips, radishes, rutabagas and turnips. Turnips make great substitutes for potatoes!

Using herbs to season your food is a great way to eat healthy and lose weight. These herbs in particular are good because they require more calories to digest than what they contain. These include chervil, parsley leaves, celeriac and garlic.

Here is an interesting note about garlic. Garlic has been used for centuries not just as a food but as a medicine too. It is claimed to help lower cholesterol, reduce the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, and it is even said to fight cancer. This list of fat burning foods is just the beginning. Do you realize that losing weight can be kind of fun and sort of an adventure. It does not have to be a hardship. As I mentioned above, find some cook books and experiment with the recipes. Lose weight and have fun, what a concept!

Kathryn Soloff is the mother of 8 children and a natural foods cook for over 30 years. She is co-publisher of http://www.natural-remedy-dot-com.com/fatburnerreviews/herbal_fat_burners.html where she provides additional advice, tips and hard to find information on Weight Loss

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Quick Weight Loss!

Perhaps you've heard the joke about the SHOCKING news headlines from the year 2050: "New study reveals that exercise and proper nutrition is the key to successful weight loss!"

It seems that we're always looking for a quick and easy way to lose fat, but those darn studies and that reputable research just keeps getting in the way of our dream!

There's always someone out there telling us we can lose fat without watching our diet and without any exercise. As much as we'd like to believe that's true, deep down inside we know better. The ads promising that we can 'get slim quick' remind us of the 'get rich quick' infomercials we see on late-night television. Still, there's no shortage of 'get slim quick' products out there.....

A YaHoo search of the term "Easy Weight Loss" yielded about 10,600,000 hits.

A Google search of the phrase "Quick Weight Loss" showed about 14,300,000 recommended sites to visit!

Looking up "Easy Fat Loss" on YaHoo revealed about 4,290,000 answers.

Finally, running a Google search for "I want to lose weight but I don't want to exercise because I don't have the time, money or will power" will bring up about 633,000 sites.....we're not kidding!

Compare that to the Google results for "Weight Loss Truth": only about 2,760,000.

+ PERMANENT FAT LOSS REQUIRES EFFORT

Let's face it, there really is no good way to lose fat without any effort! Successful and permanent weight (fat) loss takes some time, it takes some effort, and it certainly requires some exercise! Consider what Dr. Gabe Mirkin had to say on the subject recently: "There are many products on the market today that promise to help you lose weight. None will help you unless they get you to exercise more and eat fewer calories." (Source: The Sportsmedicine Institute, Inc.)

+ DON'T BE TEMPTED BY SHORTCUTS

So is it possible to lose weight quickly? Sure, but weight loss achieved quickly and/or by 'cheating' will never be permanent and is usually not healthy.

Remember the phen-fen pills that were popular just a few years ago? While they certainly helped you lose weight, they were withdrawn from the market in September of 1997 after being linked to the occurrence of serious cardiac valvular disease, and primary pulmonary hypertension.

Ephedra, another weight loss pill, was pulled from shelves on April 12, 2004. After a careful review of the available evidence about the risks and benefits of ephedra in supplements, the FDA found that these supplements present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury to consumers. The data showed little evidence of ephedra's effectiveness, except for short-term weight loss, while confirming that the substance raises blood pressure and stresses the heart (Source: www.nccam.nih.gov).

Please note that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that ephedra was effective for ONLY short-term weight loss. Does that sound like a permanent solution?

There are lots of other 'shortcuts' out there, from laxatives to harsh stimulants. There are also some honestly good products that can help us lose fat IF they are used in conjunction with regular exercise and healthy nutrition. Green tea is a good example. Clinical studies conducted by Dr. Abdul Dulloo, of the University of Geneva in Switzerland brought the conclusion that green tea weight raises metabolic rates and speeds up fat oxidation.

+ THE TAKE-HOME MESSAGE

So what's the take-home message? The bottom line is that there is no 'get slim quick' miracle out there. The only way to achieve permanent fat loss by following the same advice we've been hearing for years: exercise regularly and watch what we eat!

Let's watch out for products that claim we can achieve the body we've always wanted without diet or exercise. We know that's not true, so let's not be tempted by the empty promise.

* Copyright 2005 Pick Up The Pace. Permission is not required for the distribution of Pick Up The Pace articles as long as they are used in their entirety, are properly credited to Pick Up The Pace, and are accompanied by our website link: www.letspickupthepace.com.

* The information in this article and on this site is for general reference purposes only and not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information in this article or on www.letspickupthepace.com should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition.

Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women, focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit http://www.letspickupthepace.com for more information.