Tag: Weight

Categories
General Weight Loss Tips

Weight Loss Success Diets/Programs

Most people have tried a variety of diets, incorporating different healthy foods into their diets with little results. Eating the right foods and exercising can have a positive impact on your weight and help you to reach your weight loss goals.

People set themselves up for failure because it is hard to break the negative patterns we set in our lives. It is so easy to make excuses for ourselves when it comes to losing weight. Procrastination as well as the loss of motivation in our weight loss journey leads to failure.

I have listed a few food choices and weight loss programs which have lead to successful weight loss for so many.

Foods That Promote Healthy Weight Loss

Of course, you should always incorporate fruits and vegetables into your diet. But, if you’re not drinking enough water, all your efforts will fail. Water acts as a cleansing agent and keeps us hydrated. You should aim to drink 8 glasses of water per day. Depending on your activity level, you may need more. If plain water doesn’t appeal to you, try adding a little lemon juice or sugar-free crystals to your water.

You need to have plenty of fiber in your diet. Eating a sufficient amount of fiber will ensure that you will not have digestive issues. Having too little fiber can cause constipation which is what you definitely do not want when trying to lose weight. Constipation can make you feel sick and bloated. Foods that contain high amounts of fiber are beans, lentils, fruits, vegetables and grains. You have a variety of fiber-filled foods to choose from to help with managing your weight. Fiber helps you to feel full longer.

Foods that contain protein are also essential for healthy weight loss. You will want to eat a minimal amount of red meat because it can be very fatty. Instead, stick with white meat such as chicken and fish. Fish is extremely good for you. It is lean and provides nutrients that are needed to maintain healthy weight.

Reduced Calorie Diet

You can lose weight successfully simply by counting calories. That doesn’t mean that you can eat really bad stuff in small amounts. It means that you can have balanced meals that leave you feeling full with some healthy snacks in between. The main idea behind calorie counting is portion control. You can have something sweet here and there, you just can’t scarf down an entire box of donuts. As you take in less calories, you will begin to lose more weight. You should keep a log of the food you eat each day and fill in how many calories each meal is. By doing this, you can succeed at losing weight by counting calories.

These are a few of the proven programs available at various costs.

Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers has been around for years. The system has helped many shed unwanted pounds. This program gives its members a chance to meet with one another which helps in developing a support system. Members can attend live meetings or the program can also be accessed online. The goal of the Weight Watchers diet is for members to lose 2 pounds per week. Weight loss is steady. The Weight Watchers diet will allow a certain number of points each day to each member based on their body composition. Participants are given a booklet that tells how many points any kind of food will cost them. It also includes meals that can be ordered at restaurants so members won’t be tempted to cheat while dining out. Weight Watchers is a safe and reliable diet. It certainly is not a fad diet and it is here to stay.

South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet was developed for overweight heart patients. It provided excellent results for these patients. While this diet is similar to the Atkin’s Diet, there are some differences. It is often referred to as the healthy version of the Atkin’s Diet. During the first two weeks on this diet, most carbohydrates must be completely avoided. This would include rice, pasta and bread. Instead, you are required to eat three meals a day until you are satisfied. These meals include meats, shellfish, turkey, chicken and fish. Nuts, fat-free cheese, eggs, salad and vegetables are also on the menu for this diet. You can expect to lose 9 to 13 pounds during this phase of the diet. During the second phase of the South Beach Diet, carbohydrates are reintroduced, but only a little. This stage of the diet will allow you to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week. The third phase of this diet requires that you make a lifestyle change and eat healthy foods and maintain your weight. This diet is about balancing the good carbs and the bad carbs. This diet also has an online program with a database of recipes which also offers alternatives to vegetarians.

Nutrisystem Diet

The Nutrisystem Diet provides prepackaged foods to its participants which typically includes three meals and two snacks per day. These are shipped directly to the customer. Different options are provided for men, women and vegetarians. This diet provides a safe and healthy way to lose weight. You must be willing to stick with the meal plans. The idea behind this concept is that the meals are prepackaged, and therefore, contain the right amount of calories for your physical makeup. If you sneak other foods in on this diet, you will not get the results you had hoped for and you will be spending a lot of money for nothing. This diet plan can work but it will take hard work and determination. The meals can be pricey, but if you are someone who’s on the go, this may be the right diet plan for you.

Related Blogs
Categories
General Weight Loss Tips

Lap Band Surgery

The Lap Band system is an adjustable gastric banding system that restricts the amount of food your stomach can hold at one time. This means that you can lose wait gradually and keep that weight off. This system works without any stomach cutting or stapling and is easily adjustable. You will feel full sooner and stay full for a longer period of time, allowing you to become a healthy person and stay healthy for many years to come.

What is Lap Band Surgery?

Lap Band surgery is less invasive than others surgeries such as stomach cutting and stomach stapling, and it is 10 times safer than other gastric surgeries like gastric bypass and gastric sleeves. It also has fewer risks and the recovery time is generally faster than other surgeries associated with weight loss. In a typical Lap Band surgery, the patient is put under general anesthesia and the system is placed during a laparoscopic procedure. Long, thin instruments are used to put the system into place through a small amount of tiny incisions. The surgery generally takes about an hour to perform and is done often on an outpatient basis. The system in implanted around the top part of the stomach, very much like a belt. A small access port is placed underneath the skin on your abdomen, which is connected to the system by a tube. Adjustments are made through this access port, most frequently during the first year the system is in place, by adding or removing a saline solution to achieve optimal weight loss. After the surgery is complete, you can expect to recover and be back to your daily routine after about a week’s time.

Who is a Candidate For This Surgery?

Only your doctor or surgeon can give you a complete evaluation to determine if the Lap Band system is right for you, but there are some qualifications to determine if you may be a candidate for this surgery. If you are 18 years old or over and at least 100 pounds overweight, you may qualify. You must be prepared to make major changes to your lifestyle and eating habits, and you must not be pregnant or drink alcohol in excess. If you do become pregnant after having the procedure done, your Lap Band can be adjusted while you are pregnant and changed back afterwards. If you have been overweight for more than 5 years and your previous attempts at losing weight have only shown short-term success, you may also qualify for surgery. You must also currently be healthy enough to recover from minimally invasive surgery. There are some factors that may cause you to not be a candidate, such as ulcers, heart or lung disease, portal hypertension, cirrhosis of the liver, alcohol or drug addiction, or certain other factors that your doctor will determine.

Benefits and Risks of This Type of Surgery

The benefits for this surgery are great and for most cases outweigh the risks. You will be able to take control of your weight and increase your health, allowing you to perform all the functions of daily life. However, just like all major surgeries, there are certain risks involved that you need to be aware of. One of the risks that every candidate for this procedure needs to know about is death. Although there were no deaths recorded in the US study, it is possible and can occur during or after the surgery. A tear in the stomach can also occur during or after the procedure, which can lead to the need for additional surgery. This happened in 1 percent of the patients studied. Age and excess weight can increase the risks for complications of surgery. There are also risks associated with medications used in the procedure and negative body responses to foreign material. Patients may also experience complications after the procedure is completed, such as nausea and vomiting, regurgitation, and band slippage. Most of these complications are not serious but may require hospitalization or additional operations. Studies have shown, however, that this system contains fewer risks than other gastric surgeries to treat obesity.

Average Weight Loss to Expect

The amount of weight you will lose with this surgery varies from patient to patient. The amount lost depends on several factors, and you need to be dedicated to your new lifestyle. Weight should be lost gradually, and sometimes a loss of two to three pounds a week can be attained, although the usual results show a loss of 1 pound per week during the first year after having the procedure done. Losing weight too quickly can be dangerous and may lead to other health problems. Studies have shown that patients typically lose weight at a greater rate during the first year the implant is in place.

Studies Done on This Surgery

Three peer review studies were conducted in the United States showing the results and effectiveness of this procedure. All three studies have shown that the amount of weight lost with the system is generally equal to that of gastric bypass surgery while incurring less risks and complications. The amount of time needed for recovery was significantly less than that of gastric bypass surgery, and it is up to 10 times safer than other procedures used to treat obesity. This system is the least invasive surgical procedure available to treat obesity, and the duration of hospital stay is dramatically shorter than other options. It is the only adjustable and reversible procedure to treat obesity. One study of 99 patients showed that after one year, there was an average loss of 44.4 percent of excess body weight. After surgery, patients were able to return to their normal activities in approximately seven days.

A detailed description of the lap band procedure and how it works can be found at the free encyclopedia, Wikipedia, located here.

Categories
General Weight Loss Tips

Gatorade Coupons

Gatorade Logo.

Gatorade Company History

Rehydrate, replenish, refuel – that’s Gatorade. Its journey from an experimental potion to a wildly successful beverage is one of science, imagination, and thirst-quenching performance.

1965 began as a wretched year for the Florida Gators. Their beleaguered coach begged University of Florida researchers Dr. Robert Cade, Dr. Dana Shires, Dr. H. James Free and Dr. Alejandro de Quesada to determine why his team consistently failed to perform.

After several weeks of research, the scholars decided that the athletes failed to replenish their stores of electrolytes and carbohydrates, which were expended through bursts of intense energy. The researchers created a foul-tasting concoction, “Gator-Ade,” and added lemon-lime flavoring and sugar to reduce its rank acidity.

After glugging the experimental drink, the Gators blasted through the competition and ended the season with a 7-4 winning record. The following year, the Gators achieved their first ever victory at the Orange Bowl. Gatorade got the credit. Its reputation rocketed and by 1967, Gatorade was the official sports drink of the NFL. Teams from around the nation – such as the Kansas City Chiefs, who chugged Gatorade during their 1969 season and won the Superbowl – used Gatorade to bolster their athletes’ endurance.

In 1973, the University of Florida settled with Dr. Cade over ownership rights, and have retained royalties ever since. Gatorade was bought by Quaker Oats Company in 1983 and accounts for a third of the company’s present sales.

Gatorade soon spread across sport lines. It became a standard hydrating drink for NASCAR drivers, baseball players, hockey teams, and in other athletics. It is now the official sports drink of the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, USSF and other professional and collegiate sport divisions and conferences. Pepsi-Cola’s PowerAde is its main competitor.

Products Specialties

2010 brought the advent of a new marketing campaign, replete with alternations in nutrition, packaging, and labeling terminology. Gatorade has reconfigured its drinks to target athletic customers, and has removed excess vitamins and minerals previously contained for other health benefits. Products are now marketed under the G-Series campaign: Prime, Perform, and Recover.

Prime G01 drinks are infused with B-vitamins to energize athletes, in addition to regular carbohydrates and electrolytes. It is said to be “coming soon” by Gatorade.

Perform drinks contain the original Gatorade formula. Rain (No Excuses), X-Factor (Tough), AM (Shine On), and Fierce (Bring It) subsets have been consolidated under the Prime G02 line. They are sold under their traditional (Rain, X-factor, etc.) subline names.

Gatorade markets the Recover G03 as the “the world’s first rehydrating protein drink.” It has extra protein to repair muscle following an intense workout. Like Prime G01, it is coming soon.

All Gatorade is available in liquid and powdered forms and comes in almost twenty distinct flavors. There is no content difference between liquid and powdered forms of Gatorade.

Gatorade is also releasing a G-Series Pro (Elite) line of products for extreme athletes. It includes a specialized Prime G01 carbohydrate drink, nutrition shake, nutrition bar; Prime G02 liquid and powered endurance formula; and a Prime G03 protein recovery shake.

“Half the calories, all the G,” is how Gatorade markets their G2 line of drinks. G2 drinks are for “hydration off the field,” with less sodium and nutrients than its sport-oriented counterpart, Gatorade G. G2 is currently sold under the Perform category, in both liquid and powder form.

Gator Gum and Gatorade Focus (Tiger) have been discontinued as part of the new 2010 marketing and product campaign. Tiger Woods no longer has Gatorade sponsorship.

Find Gatorade Promotional Discounts, Rewards, Deals Coupon Codes

Currently, Gatorade is in the midst of a seasonal rewards program in the UK called “Gatorade Gives Back.” All bottles are labeled with a code, which can be entered onto the UK Gatorade website, www.gatoradegivesback.co.uk, or texted using the number provided on the purchased bottle. Participants can win athletic and sports-related prizes from participating companies like New Balance, Polar, Power Music, Neilson Active Holidays and The National Magazine Company. Additionally, Gatorade holds weekly drawings for registered participants for grand prizes, including admission to major 2010 athletic events and a day spent with an Olympic competitor.

Unfortunately, Gatorade offers a very limited amount of individual product coupons. Few websites have any online printable coupons, and available coupons may only last a few days or hours. Budget-minded customers are better off buying discounted or bulk materials from independent retailers like criticaltool.com and couponsnapshot.com.

As Gatorade is a bulk product, many independent retailers hold their own store sales. $10/10 deals for 20-oz Gatorade bottles are quite common. Interested customers should scour local pages for independent deals on Gatorade products.

For sports hydration, there is no better choice than Gatorade. With a flavor to fit every desire, and vitamins and electrolytes to fit every need, Gatorade is sure to improve performance on the field and pleasure off the field.