Almost 108 million Americans were overweight or obese in 1999. Until now, obesity continues to be a serious problem and is predicted to reach epidemic levels by the year 2020.

One way to prevent this scenario is to make people aware of the risks of being overweight or obese.

Here are some diseases that you are putting yourself in risk of if you are carrying a lot of extra pounds:

1. heart disease
2. stroke
3. diabetes
4. cancer
5. arthritis
6. hypertension

Losing weight helps to prevent and control these diseases.

The quick weight loss methods which have spread like fire these days do not provide lasting results. More often than not, dieting methods which involve dietary drinks, foods and supplement or pills do not work. If they do, the results are just temporary.

It is better to rely on a healthy weight loss option which will provide lifetime results. You have to set realistic goals and not expect to lose a lot of pounds in a short span of time.

Here are some tips on how you can lose those unwanted pounds the healthy way:

1. Do not starve your self.

The key to a healthier way of losing weight is: Do not diet.

You may seem happy and feel that you are losing those unwanted flabs on your belly and thighs by skipping meals. But remember that this would not last long. Your body cannot tolerate having insufficient food to fuel the energy that you use up everyday.

If you get used to skipping one or two meals a day, your stored calories will be used up instead of the energy that should have been provided by your meals. So if you just eat one huge sandwich in one day, it will end up straight to your problem area (i.e. highs, buttocks, hips).

2. Start your day right.

Mothers always say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Have a healthy meal in the morning to jump-start your metabolism.

Your food intake after you wake up will be used to burn fat all day long.

3. Eat small, healthy meals frequently.

Five small-serving snacks per day is better than three hearty meals. Eating more frequently, and in small servings, can prevent over-eating. This will also increase your metabolism and make calories burn faster.

4. Decide on how much weight you want to lose.

Keep your goals realistic. In the long run, it is virtually impossible for you to lose 40 pounds in 2 weeks. Have a mindset that you want to eat healthy to stay healthy for the rest of your life.

Once you have decided on a weight loss plan or program, stick to it and make sure that you follow your own set of dieting rules.

5. Drink lots of water.

Your body needs sufficient water to burn fat and keep your cells hydrated and healthy.

6. Avoid too much sugar.

Plan your meals around lots of fruits and vegetables, some bread, rice or pasta for that carbo fix that you need, plus lean meat and protein rich-foods. Sweets, sodas and pastries should be once-in-a-while indulgences only.

7. Watch your fat intake.

Fat is not the culprit to being overweight. You need this to keep your weight at the proper level.

There is such a thing as healthy fats. Olive, peanuts and canola oil have them. Tuna, salmon and mackerel have omega-3 fats which is good for the heart.

8. Exercise.

Leave your car if you are only going a few blocks from home, take the stairs instead of the elevator, jog, cycle or skate. Use these activites and other home chores if you are too lazy to go to the gym and take exercise classes. Make sure that you do this regularly and you will not even notice that you are already shedding pounds with these mundane activities.

It does not matter how much weight you plan or need to lose. What is important is that you set realistic goals for yourself.

Go slow. If you have already lost 5 or 6 pounds, give yourself a break then try to lose the next 5 pounds.

Eat healthy, drink lots of water, have enough sleep and exercise. This will give you a higher chance of losing weight and improving your health, which would result to a new, healthier you.

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Rapid weight loss is possible, thanks to a surgical procedure called the gastric bypass. In essence, this weight loss surgery reduces the size of a part of the stomach and connects it to the small intestine. By doing so, it prevents overeating and helps gain satisfaction after eating small meals. After the surgery, the stomach volume becomes smaller and, as a result, can contain only 1 ounce of food (which stretches to 8 ounces over time).

Have you gone through weight loss surgery? Because of the changes in your digestive system, you need to follow a diet after the surgery. You also need to consult a registered dietician to know the foods you must eat, how to eat them, and how much to eat. Your post-surgery diet must be planned carefully to avoid sudden weight gain and other complications such as vomiting. Also, the right diet helps shorten the recovery period, ease pain on the surgical areas, and adjust your body to the changes in eating habits.

For the first two days after your surgery, eating is not allowed. Then after several months, you are required to eat certain foods that vary in softness and texture. Weight loss surgery patients follow a diet progression that begins with liquids and proceeds to pureed foods and soft foods. The first phase is the liquid diet consisting of water, milk, juice, broth, and soup. It is followed by three to four weeks of puree diet that includes foods with a texture of a thick liquid or a smooth paste.

Examples are yogurt (low fat or sugar free), oatmeal, pureed meat, and pureed fruits, among others. The third phase is an eight-week soft diet that consists of foods that are easy to chew such as fresh fruits, ground meats, and cooked vegetables. Afterwards, you can move on to the last phase, which is the solid diet. Just be sure to avoid overeating and skipping meals.

Usually, every meal should include foods rich in protein such as cheese, lean meat, and eggs. You need protein because it helps in repairing and maintaining the tissues in your body after the surgery.

After the surgery, it is recommended that you start with six small meals everyday. After a few weeks, move on to four meals a day and then reduce it to three meals a day once you have started following a regular solid diet.

The rate at which your body adjusts to the new diet and eating habits determines how fast you must proceed from one diet phase to another. Most patients begin eating solid foods three months after the surgery, but for some, it can happen sooner.

When complemented with regular exercise, following the right diet leads to a 50 to 60 percent weight loss two years after the surgery. Whats more, you enjoy the weight loss benefits of the surgery for good of you consistently maintain the right diet.

Of course, theres a price to pay for not following the doctors or dieticians recommendations on diet and exercise. Weight gain is the usual result of bad health practices such as lack of exercise, overeating, and high-calorie food and beverage intake. If it happens to you, visit your doctor to discuss the possible solutions. That way, you will be able to get the most out of gastric bypass surgery.

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Any teenage diet plan can pose a potential health risk, especially in people who have certain medical conditions. It’s imperative, therefore, to seek medical advice before starting such a plan. In most cases, doctors will advise against teenage dieting because it usually is not necessary.

Teens are at a vulnerable stage and take peer pressure very seriously. They worry about their appearance which can cause those who do not have a weight problem to take drastic measures. Skipping meals is not the answer.

The best teenage diet plan provides the proper nutrients that are needed to build healthy bones and maintain overall good health from the inside out. Your doctor can advise you on the best plan for your specific needs.

If you eat junk foods constantly you will not receive the benefits of a good teenage diet plan. Instead, they will be at risk of developing weight-related health problems that include diabetes and heart disease.

Keep in mind that being a little heavy is common in people your age. Most people will lose that excess weight naturally as they grow. Also, everyone is different. What might be a good weight for someone else might not be right for you. You have to consider your bone size, your height, and what is a normal weight for your family.

You can always benefit from eating nutritious meals and avoiding junk food, which contains very little nutrition. Here’s a good teenage diet plan you can follow to reduce your weight if you are overweight.

One important element of a good teenage diet plan is exercise. Sometimes, this is enough. It helps your body to digest the food that you eat. It builds muscle which naturally burns calories. Exercise uses energy that would otherwise turn into fat.

We’ve already talked about avoiding fast foods and any high carbohydrate and sugar-based foods such as candy bars, potato chips and sodas. They have limited to no nutritional value. When eaten, these foods quickly turn to unhealthy fat which can block your blood vessels and arteries.

It’s best to create your teenage diet plan with your doctor’s or parent’s help, especially if you are extra heavy. Refer to healthy eating books and magazines for advice and ideas. Preparing a diet plan that gets results is not that difficult.

Fruits and vegetables: Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure you get natural minerals. Certain vegetables, like asparagus, will help you to lose weight. Carry small quantities of fruits and vegetables for snacks.

Lean meats: Lean meat can actually help you to lose weight because it takes more energy to digest than other foods. Avoid eating a lot of red meat because it contains more fat than other meats and is harder to digest. Choose chicken or fish instead. Eat a small amount every day.

Milk and cheese: These two foods provide much needed calcium. Skim milk has less fat than 100% milk but with all the goodness. Cheese is another food that can actually help you to lose weight because it boosts your metabolism.

Water: Water is essential, especially when you’re exercising. It’s about the only food you can eat that is guaranteed non-fattening.

Rather than eating three large meals a day, switch to 4-6 smaller meals a day. This will keep your body’s metabolism working and prevent the food from turning to fat.

Remember that the best teenage diet plan involves eating less more often, and getting lots of exercise.

Tags: Bone Size, Calories Exercise, Candy Bars, Diabetes And Heart Disease, diabetes;, Diet Plan, Drastic Measures, energy;, Excess Weight, food;, Good Health, Health Risk, Healthy Bones, heart disease;, High Carbohydrate, Junk food;, Junk Foods, Nutritional Value, Nutritious Meals, Potato Chips, Potential Health, Proper Nutrients, Related Health, Skipping Meals, Vulnerable Stage —

How To Eat A Healthy Diet During Pregnancy
Beverley Brooke

Perhaps the number one complaint of women trying to watch their weight during pregnancy is that they are hungry all the time. True, pregnancy does result in an increased metabolic demand on the body, which can cause you to be hungry. Many women also experience a number of cravings during pregnancy, which can make healthy eating challenging.

The first thing to remember is that the idea that you should eat for two is wrong. You only need an additional 300 calories per day, and generally you dont need these calories until you are well on your way to the second and third trimesters.

So what can you do to help manage your weight and stick to a healthy diet?

Remember that during pregnancy it is vital that you do not cut back on your caloric intake. This has the potential to rob your baby of essential nutrients that are necessary for his/her growth and development. Here are some tips to help you stick to a healthy diet throughout your pregnancy:

Avoid skipping meals. If you have a habit of skipping breakfast, youll find that you are not only more fatigued but ravenous during your pregnancy, which will result in overeating. Be sure that you eat each meal every day.

Try eating several mini meals throughout the ay. This will not only help you feel fuller longer, it will help minimize the nausea often experienced during the first trimester.

Satisfy your cravings with nutritious snacks. Have a variety of healthy things to snack on readily available so you avoid overindulging in foods that are too decadent. If you are craving something sweet, consider having some mini chocolates near by or opt for a cup of hot chocolate. Both are far better for you than an entire candy bar or piece of cake.

Exercise during your pregnancy. The act of exercising in and of itself will be plenty to motivate you to stick to a healthy diet. Youll feel better about yourself and find that you have more energy throughout the day.

Avoid high calorie beverages. Soda pop (which isnt good for you anyway, particularly during pregnancy), juices and other flavored drinks often contain a good 100-300 calories per serving. Stick to water or flavored water during your pregnancy.

Drink lots of water. You may think you are hungry when in fact you are actually thirsty at many points during your pregnancy. In fact, the brains hunger and thirst centers often get mixed up, so people often feel hungry when they are in fact dehydrated. The better hydrated you are, the les likely you are to overeat.

About the Author

Article by Beverley Brooke, author of “Ensure A Healthy Pregnancy For You And Your Baby And Lose Weight After Pregnancy” – visit http://www.pregnancy-weight-loss.com for more on a range of pregnancy health issues

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