Why Metabolic Burnout Makes It Hard to Lose Weight

By Kathleen Roberts

If you struggle to lose weight, you may suffer from metabolic burnout. What is metabolic burnout, and why does it make weight loss difficult? LoveToKnow recently spoke with Valerie Berkowitz, registered dietitian and author of The Stubborn Fat Fix, to learn more about metabolism burnout and how it may be affecting your weight.

Interview with Valorie BerkowitzAbout Metabolic Burnout

LoveToKnow (LTK): What is metabolic burnout and how is it caused?

Valorie Berkowitz (VB): Metabolic burnout is a term described in my book, The Stubborn Fat Fix, and it is exactly what the name implies. Metabolic burnout is the result of many years of abuse (stress, lack of sleep, prescription and over-the-counter medications, poor diet and exercise patterns) that cause your organ(s), i.e. your adrenal glands, pancreas or thyroid, to work less efficiently. Your internal balance is thrown off and the body struggles to bring itself back into equilibrium.

LTK: How can someone know if they have metabolic burnout?

VB: There are many different symptoms but a few are: fatigue or inability to fall asleep, hunger and difficulty losing weight. In chapter five of The Stubborn Fat Fix there are easy to answer questions that help identify and categorize the factors that cause metabolic burnout and lead to "Stubborn Fat" such as yeast overgrowth, thyroid, adrenal and hormone issues and insulin imbalance.

How to Fool Your Metabolism into Burning Fat

By Susie McGee

Is it possible to fool your metabolism into burning fat? The answer is a resounding yes! Everyone knows that as people age their metabolism typically slows down. While most children don't have to worry about boosting their metabolism, adults continue to wage war with those added pounds that continue to sneak up on their bodies. Diet and exercise play a huge role in controlling weight gain, but you can also trick your body's metabolism into burning fat as well.

Understanding

According to an article written by By Samantha Heller, M.S., R.D. and published in Health Magazine, most people's metabolic rate, which is defined as the energy your body uses when it is at rest, is typically based on genetics. Some people's bodies are just genetically geared to have a faster metabolic rate than others. That's certainly good news for some, but bad news for others.

Whether you want to lose weight or simply feel more energetic, eating healthy foods is the key. Choose foods and snacks like the following:

AsparagusBeansBroccoliEggsFishLegumesMelonsNutsOatmealSpinachWhole-grain cerealsApplesBananasBaby carrotsHummusLow-fat cheddar cheesePeanut butterTrail mix

Serve apples or bananas with peanut butter or low-fat cheddar cheese for a delicious snack, or munch on hummus with whole-wheat crackers.

Jumpstart Your Day

Most people know how important water is to the body, but they may not realize that guzzling a large glass (or two) of icy cold water can boost metabolism as well. In addition to that tall glass of water, begin each day with a good breakfast. Again, choose healthy foods, such as whole-wheat toast and a tablespoon of peanut butter or fat-free yogurt with a handful of nuts or granola.

Follow a Catabolic Diet

Catabolic foods can help your body burn fat as well. Eating these foods means you actually use more energy to burn more calories than the actual calories you ingested! Catabolic foods are primarily fruits and vegetables, and some of the best foods for you to eat include the following:

ApplePineappleOrangeWatermelonLemonsLimesGrapesSpinachCarrotTomatoPotatoBroccoli

A word of caution: While these foods are certainly good for you, a balanced diet is extremely important to maintaining a healthy body. Be sure you still fulfill the nutritional guidelines published by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Choose Exercises that Trick the Body

Exercise is good in just about any form, but there are exercise routines you can do that will fool your metabolism into burning more fat.

Interval training - Many people choose a particular form of exercise and stick with it. After a while, however, the body adjusts to that exercise and weight loss slows down. However, with interval training, you are tricking your metabolism into continuously burning more fat because your workout alternates short bursts of intense activity with slower, less intense activity. A popular new program that will have you up and moving at least three times a week is the Couch to 5K Running Plan. If you have an iTouch, iPhone, or Droid phone, you can download apps, like "Get Running" which gives voice prompts for what to do during the walk/jog routine.

Weight lifting - Another way to boost metabolism is by lifting weights. This isn't body building, but instead a way to boost your metabolism with strength or resistance training. Start out slowly with weights that provide resistance but aren't so heavy that you have to strain and push to lift them.

Don't Starve Yourself

Finally, don't starve your body. When you restrict calories from your diet, you are depriving your body of a necessary energy source. This can actually slow down your metabolism because the body is tricked into believing that it must store carbs and fat until more food is available. Instead, eat regular meals filled with healthy foods that will provide your body energy and boost its metabolism.

The phrase "You are what you eat" holds a lot of wisdom. Stop starving your body or filling it with empty calories from processed and sugar filled foods, and instead choose fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods that provide your body with the energy it needs to stay active and healthy. When you change the way you eat, your metabolism speeds up, and those pounds start to melt away!

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Dr. Perricone 3 Day Diet

Wild caught salmon is a Perricone staple.By Ann Parkinson

Dr. Perricone is already renowned for his popular skin care line and his original anti-inflammatory diet which claims to fight aging and minimize wrinkles from the inside out. However, he has recently launched a three day diet plan which also claims to provide a dramatic difference in your skin tone over just a short period of time. This diet requires extreme dedication, but it is not without flavor or merit in its approach.

The Perricone 3 Day Diet

You can review the details of Dr. Perricone's 3 Day Diet at his blog. He compares this brief dietary endeavor to "a facelift in your kitchen." Though such promises may seem extreme, the science behind Dr. Perricone's diet is mostly well documented. Perricone proposes a diet that is high in antioxidants and essential fatty acids. For over a decade the United States Department of Agriculture has been promoting antioxidant rich foods as being useful for cellular renewal, thus promoting longevity and health. The USDA concluded that the foods highest in antioxidants were capable of warding off harmful free radicals that are responsible for aging and many kinds of disease.

Moreover, the Mayo Clinic touts the importance of certain essential fatty acids within the diet, particularly the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and fish oil products. These good fats may lower triglycerides, relieve inflammation within the body, and decrease your chance of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Dr. Perricone's love of wild caught salmon is a nod to the importance of these fatty acids.

Fundamental Nutrients

Perricone reduces the foundational nutrients of his three day plan to:

DMAEAstaxanthinFatty AcidsDMAE

All Natural Detox Diets

By Yvonne Gando

From disease prevention to rapid weight loss, have been touted for their numerous benefits. While many claim detox diets use the natural detoxifying power of everyday foods and beverages to achieve improved health, it's helpful to take a closer look at the detox diets out there in order to separate fact from fiction.

Guide to

While detox diets have been praised by many, critics have raised concerns about the safety of certain regimens. Make sure you find out all the facts first before deciding on whether or not a detox diet is right for you.

7 Day Detox Diet

The 7 Day Detox Diet is based on the concept that the body accumulates up to twelve pounds of undigested "junk" in the digestive tract. After taking a supplement containing 34 natural detox ingredients for one week, the diet's creator claims individuals can lose anywhere from five to seven pounds of waste.

Master Cleanse

The Master Cleanse, also known as the Lemonade Diet, was popularized by Beyoncé Knowles, who used it to shed pounds for her role in the film Dreamgirls. With a recipe that calls for water, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup, this program aims to help dieters flush their systems. Those following the cleanse are to drink this lemonade while abstaining from all other food and drink for 10 days.

Colon Cleansing Diet

Using a foundation of high-fiber foods and water, the Colon Cleansing Diet claims to eliminate excess waste to help improve colon function and rejuvenate the entire body.

Fruit Flush

Aiming to help with irritability, bloating, fatigue, and carb overload, nutritionist Jay Rob developed the three-day Fruit Flush. The meal plan consists of protein shakes and fresh fruit, and is designed to improve liver function, rid the body of toxins, and boost energy.

Raw Food Diet

Based on a method by author and nutritionist Natalia Rose, the Raw Food Diet consists of consuming uncooked produce for ten days. Acceptable foods include nuts, fruits, grains, seeds, vegetables, water, juices, and coconut milk.

Martha’s Vineyard Diet

Promising to help dieters shed 21 pounds in 21 days, Martha’s Vineyard Diet was conceived by Roni DeLuz, a naturopathic doctor. The plan consists of a liquefied diet of fruits and vegetables, in addition to antioxidant supplements.

Liver Cleansing Diet

The brainchild of Laura Cabot, an Australian physician, the Liver Cleansing Diet aims to cleanse the liver with the consumption of fruits, vegetables, poultry, and fish. Lean proteins and healthy fats such as olive oil, salmon, and avocados are also allowed.

The Benefits of Detox

Supporters of detox diets, like naturopathic doctor and author of Detoxification, Linda Page, assert that benefits of detoxifying include renewing and recharging the body, while jump-starting a healthier lifestyle.

Physician, medical educator, and author Cheryle Hart claims can help the body restore optimal alkaline balance, leading to improved overall health. Specifically, dieters can achieve the following benefits:

Mental clarityBetter metabolismWeight lossImproved moodHigher energy levelsRegular sleepThe Downside of Detox: Critics and Side Effects

Detoxification, or metabolic therapy, as the American Cancer Society categorizes it, is based on the concept that the human body is exposed to toxins on a daily basis, including environmental offenders such as smog, dietary additives including preservatives, and indulgence in alcohol and caffeine.

In her article,Detox Diets: Empty Promises or Effective?, registered dietician Leslie Beck and Director of Nutrition at the Medcan Clinic in Toronto, Canada, asserts no scientific evidence exists to support the claim detox diets accelerate the elimination of waste from the body. She also claims medical experts believe that the human body has its own efficient cleansing system-–the skin, lungs, kidneys, liver, and GI tract–-to remove toxins.

According to Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky, side effects of detox diets can include dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and dehydration. Zeratsky also supports the school of thought that the liver and kidneys work effectively to rid the body of waste and toxins without the help of cleansing diets.

Before You Get Started

Wondering if a detox diet is right for you? First and foremost, consult your doctor. Do your research, and know that it’s always a good idea to maintain a healthy lifestyle for long-term benefits. No miracle cure can take the place of healthy habits

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Celebrity Dieting Tips

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner?By Ann Parkinson

The idea that "celebrities are just normal people" doesn't seem to hold up in view of the svelte figures that appear on the red carpet. If you have ever wondered how these public icons remain slim and well-preserved over the course of a lifetime, you may be in for a few radical surprises. Celebrities are public figures, and it is their job to look appealing and fit at all times. While the end result may look the same, diet tips and secrets of the rich and famous may range from healthy lifestyle choices to some extremely unhealthy decisions.

How Do Celebrities Do It?

When it comes to maintaining a trim figure, diet is at least half the focus. The trouble with mirroring celebrity weight loss methods, however, is that not all celebrities employ the same regimens. Celebrities lose weight and maintain muscle tone through a variety of means, some of which are actually dangerous. Whereas some A-list celebs employ a personal chef, a restricted diet, and a personal trainer to keep up their glamorous appearance, others may look to prescription medication, dangerous drugs, and even end up with eating disorders.

It can be daunting for the average housewife and mother to see a celebrity give birth and then, two months later, appear primed and ready for a bikini shoot. ABCNews.com brings the issue to light, stating celebs often have a lot of help, even that of the surgical variety. There are so many tricks and tools available to celebrity budgets that simply aren't feasible for the typical American. In fact, the diet tips and secrets of many celebrities simply aren't much of a secret.

Free 2000 Calorie Diet Plans

By Donna Sundblad

A 2000 calorie a day diet plan provides enough calories to include a variety of healthy foods to keep menu items interesting and your body fueled. If you're considering a 2000 calorie plan for weight loss or maintenance, it's fairly easy to follow once you learn how to track calories and substitute lower-calorie foods and drinks for some of your higher-calorie favorites.

If you're looking for dieting inspiration, you can find a number of on the Internet, or you can create your own by learning how to pare down calories in your favorite recipes. This takes a little extra work on the outset, but once you know the calorie content per serving for a recipe, the hard part is done. Some recipes come with calorie and serving size information included.

Calorie Control Council

The Calorie Control Council offers a 2000 calorie a day plan to encourage people to eat healthy, balanced meals. They not only offer a sample menu for seven days of meals, but they also provide a list of tasty low-calorie recipes to help build your lower-calorie recipe collection. They also offer a list of healthy substitutions to help you convert your own recipes, too.

2000 Calorie Diabetic Diet

Drugs.com offers the basics for a 2000 calorie diabetic diet. This diet is calorie controlled and designed to help control blood sugar as well as lose weight. A sample menu offers ideas for items to prepare, but also provides specific measurements for dieters to learn how to measure serving sizes.

DietBites 2000 Calorie Meal Plan

While DietBites offers a free 2000 calorie meal plan, they also recommend you change your diet to the number of calories required for your size. Other recommendations include setting a realistic goal weight based on your true frame size. This diet offers a healthy balance across all the food groups and a sample menu to get you started.

MyPyramid.gov

MyPyramid.gov offers a seven day menu plan for a free 2000 calorie-a-day diet. This menu also takes a balanced nutritional approach with foods selected from each food group.

Pros and Cons

Eating 2000 calories a day, whether for weight loss or maintenance, has it pros and cons:

ProsCalorie counting works to lose or maintain weight when done diligently.Allows you to eat a wider range of foods as long as you count the calories.2000 calories are enough calories to keep most dieters from feeling hungry as long as they make wise food choices.ConsMeasuring food portions and servings takes time.Not everyone wants to track their calories every day.Some dieters will feel like 2000 calories a day is not enough.For other dieters, 2000 calories will be too many.Is 2000 Calories a Day Enough?

Before you arbitrarily choose to follow a 2000 calorie diet plan, it is important to determine whether or not that is the right amount of calories for you in relation to your weight goal. Every person is different and the number of calories you need as an individual is determined by a variety of factors including your current weight, height, age, and activity level. For many women and smaller people, 2000 calories a day is more than they need, if they want to lose weight. Handy online calculators can help estimate the right amount of calories for you, but before you start any diet, it is best to talk with your healthcare provider. He will guide you to the plan best suited to your individual needs based on your medical history and current weight.

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Macrobiotic Diet Foods

By Meg Brannagan

Diet influences your life and health and choosing macrobiotic foods is often not just an eating method, but encompasses a holistic way of living. Macrobiotic foods promote good health and may be eaten to prevent illness or as a supplement for other methods of healing. Food selection follows the principles of yin and yang to provide balance for your environment. Some foods are considered to have more of these types of energy, in that they offset temperature or environmental changes. For example, in the summer, yin foods might contain more water and are refreshing for the body if the weather is hot. Alternatively, in colder months, yang foods have more aromas and provide warmth. Thus, macrobiotic diet recommendations follow these principles when selecting foods.

How Much to Eat

The macrobiotic diet includes a variety of different foods eaten in proportion for balance, with the largest amount of your calories coming from whole grains. The amounts of calories you eaten each day include:

50 to 60 percent from whole grains20 to 30 percent from vegetables5 to 10 percent from soups made with approved vegetables, condiments and sea vegetables5 to 10 percent from beans, lentils and sea vegetablesStandard Foods

Some types of foods are acceptable to eat on a regular basis in the right proportions for your daily diet. The foods to include regularly are:

Vegetables such as bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, mustard greens, onions, radishes, turnips and winter squashWhole grains, including barley, brown rice, corn, oats, rye and wheatAduki beans, chickpeas, lentils and tofuSea vegetables such as arame, hiziki, kelp, kombu and noriSeafood, including carp, flounder, halibut and troutDrinks such as banchea tea, dandelion root tea, roasted barley tea and spring water

You may also use some types of flavorings to add taste and for use in cooking. Flavorings such as brown rice vinegar, barley malt and seaweed powder; and seasonings such as sea salt, miso, tamari soy sauce and organic vegetable oil are all acceptable for regular use.

Occasional Foods

Some foods are acceptable to eat on occasion but should be limited to no more than two to three times per week in season:

Vegetables such as celery, cucumbers, lettuce, string beans and water chestnutsWhole grains, including bulgur, rice cakes, tortillas or whole wheat pasta and crackersBeans such as kidney beans, lima beans, navy beans, pinto beans or soybeansSeafood, including clams, shrimp and oystersNuts and seeds, including peanuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and walnutsFruits in season and local to your climateFoods to Avoid

Foods to avoid on a macrobiotic diet include:

White rice, white flour, white sugar, foods made with yeast and processed cerealsVegetables such as beets, peas, pickles, potatoes, spinach, yams and zucchiniRed meat, poultry, frozen entrees and canned or processed foodsEggs, dairy products, chocolate and honeyDrinks such as fruit juice, shakes, malts, coffee, soda, black tea and alcoholNuts such as Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamia nuts and pistachiosSeafood, including bluefish, mackerel, swordfish and tunaPreparation

Preparing macrobiotic foods involves using simple methods of cooking. Methods such as boiling, preparing soups, stir-frying without oil and steaming are all ways of cooking macrobiotic foods that are simple, use fewer condiments and sauces and preserve flavor. Foods may also be prepared using a pressure cooker if you have one. Occasionally, foods may be prepared using a small amount of vegetable oil for sautéing; they may also be baked or eaten raw.

Try to eat foods that are not processed, are organic and locally grown whenever possible. Cooking using a gas flame is preferable to preparing foods using electric ovens or microwaves. Select cast-iron or stainless steel utensils and pans rather than those coated with Teflon. In addition to carefully preparing your foods, chewing food thoroughly may make digestion easier and will give you time to reflect on what you are eating and to show gratitude for your meal.

Macrobiotic foods hold many benefits by providing vitamins and nutrients good for your health. By choosing these types of foods and following a macrobiotic diet, you are making positive choices for your lifestyle that can result in better physical and emotional health.

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Coffee On an Antifungal Diet

A necessary restriction?By Ann ParkinsonReviewed by Terri Forehand RN

The question of whether or not coffee should be consumed on an antifungal diet is an important one. Anti-fungal diets are becoming more and more popular, particularly due to the rise in awareness regarding candida albicans and their effects on health. Most traditional anti-candida diets restrict coffee on the basis of its caffeine content. This isn't necessarily a bad move on the part of dieticians, but strong medical opinions still state coffee is a highly misunderstood food. Resources such as the Mayo Clinic can't help but point out that many anti-fungal diets are showing themselves to be inadequate in their attempts to provide a formulaic candida-cleansing diet.

Caffeine and Candida

Can coffee affect a fungal overgrowth? The answer to this question is, "it is possible." However, the most important question to ask is, "Will caffeine always affect a fungal overgrowth?" There is a vast difference between answers like "absolutely" and "possibly" and the reason behind this disparity lies in the nature of caffeine and the unique aspects of an individual's biochemistry.

About Caffeine

Coffee is sometimes considered a health threat because of a single component of its chemical makeup: caffeine. However, it is important to remember caffeine is not coffee; coffee contains some caffeine. Coffee also contains a wide variety of other nutrients, antioxidants, and ingredients that may actually be beneficial to your health. In the past two decades, the medical opinions regarding coffee have taken a drastic shift and news agencies such as CBS and USNews have been happily reporting the latest research.

Caffeine and Candidiasis

So, if coffee isn't quite the dietary demon it was once assumed to be, why are major anti-fungal programs such as the Body Ecology Diet still leaving this food off their "good" list?

First of all, candidiasis is a tricky diagnosis. A systemic fungal overgrowth is a very real situation, but it is rare, and mostly present in highly immune-compromised persons such as cancer victims and AIDS patients. The more common diagnosis of candidiasis is often given by alternative medical practictioners who are seeking an explanation for a patient's tricky symptoms such as:

Chronic fatigueBrain FogPersistent yeast or fungal infectionsDigestive symptoms

Oftentimes, these patients have experienced little success from conventional medicine treatments, and so they look for an alternative program. It is always possible a yeast or fungal connection can be linked to their symptoms, and thus an anti-fungal diet alongside anti-fungal supplements are often prescribed.

Anti-Fungal Diets

Anti-fungal and candida diets are eating programs that:

Contain anti-fungal ingredientsAre yeast-freeEliminate any foods that feed fungi and yeasts, such as sugars and carbohydrates

Many, if not most, of these diets are extremely restrictive when it comes to stimulants, alcohol, sugars and carbohydrates. However, resources such as CandidaFood.com reports on the more interesting aspects of the coffee/caffeine and yeast connection.

Caffeine affects the central nervous system as a stimulant. Fungi feed on sugars. Caffeine is not a sugar. Dieticians may be able to make the argument that caffeine can over stimulate the nervous system, resulting in a rush of hormones that may compromise the immune system. The Mayo Clinic lightly outlines this process. However, such a response occurs mostly in individuals who are simply drinking too much coffee or in individuals who are inherently caffeine sensitive.

In otherwise healthy individuals, it still remains to be proven that minimal coffee consumption will affect a fungal condition.

Where the Research Lies

Currently, research cannot corroborate claims that mild coffee consumption will exacerbate a fungal condition. Hence, fungal diets that eliminate coffee completely from their regimen, are not necessarily in line with the latest medical opinion. However, it has been proven that excess caffeine consumption can be harmful to the endocrine, digestive and immune systems. Anything that compromises the immune system can lead to or at least aid a fungal infection.

If you are attempting an anti-fungal diet and are concerned about your coffee consumption, you should always preempt your plans with a doctor's visit. Discuss with your medical practitioner whether or not your fungal diagnosis is indeed accurate and any supplements or dietary changes you may be considering as a treatment.

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Dr. Brian Arcement Talks About hCG

By Kathleen Roberts
hCG is quickly gaining popularity in the weight loss world as the magic remedy for quick and easy weight loss. What are the facts about hCG? Is it safe? Does it really work? Recently, LoveToKnow had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Brian Arcement, Medical Director of Nuviva Medical Weight Loss Clinics in Florida, about how hCG works and why.
About Dr. Brian Arcement
LoveToKnow (LTK): Dr. Arcement, can you provide a little background on yourself and what makes you qualified to speak on hCG?
Dr. Brian Arcement (BA): I am a graduate of the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and completed my residency in Internal Medicine, a Fellowship in Cardiology at the University of Florida Health Science Center-Jacksonville and a second Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center-Nashville. I am also a diplomat of the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine.
As a Quad certified and Board certified interventional vascular cardiologist, I have been practicing for more than a decade. Through the course of my work, I have seen the physical devastation of poor lifestyle choices and the aging process on the human body. Therefore, during my years of professional practice, I now see weight management as a vital component in long-term health.
In addition, I have been utilizing hCG for over five years through my Hormone Replacement Therapy practice specifically for men with testosterone deficiency and most recently with the medically assisted weight loss program I designed through Nuviva Medical Weight Loss. In addition to my experience, I am comfortable with the Nuviva program's use of hCG for weight loss based on the anecdotal evidence we have seen through our clinics as well as the clinical experience other weight loss clinics nationwide have demonstrated through the successful treatment of thousands of clients.
About hCG
LTK: What is hCG?
BA: HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone produced by women during pregnancy. The hormone is primarily responsible for maintaining a viable fetus, particularly during the first trimester. Additionally, it is thought that hCG causes a physiologic occurrence making stored fat available as a nutrient source for the growing fetus.
LTK: Why does it help people lose weight?
BA: HCG is believed to help the body utilize stored fat for calories and to reduce the body's tendency to use lean muscle mass as an energy source when combined with a very low calorie diet.
Using hCG
LTK: In what forms is hCG available?
BA: Although hCG is available in several forms, including subcutaneous (or injectable), topical, sublingual and homeopathic, I recommend only the use of pharmaceutical grade subcutaneous hCG.
This is because the subcutaneous route is the only method known to directly control the proper amount of hCG given. hCG given sublingually requires at least double to triple the amount of injectable hCG to ensure that some hCG is absorbed. However, the amount absorbed can vary from client to client based on each individual's oral mucosa. This same reasoning applies to topical hCG and why I do not recommend its use.
Additionally, some clients are even incapable of absorbing any hCG topically or sublingually. Oral hCG has no biologic effect as the hCG is immediately broken down by acid in the stomach. The only method available to provide absolute certainty that the correct amount of hCG prescribed is given is to inject the hCG subcutaneously.
LTK: How is hCG best taken to be the most beneficial?
BA: My recommendation is found in the Nuviva protocol, which allows for a client to take 150 units of subcutaneous hCG daily six days a week. Also, we have seen through the course of our work with clients that hCG loses its effectiveness after a certain amount of time. Therefore, I recommend clients cycle on and off hCG in specific time frames in order to maximize its effectiveness.
Weight Loss

37 strawberries a day, keeps doctors away

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LA JOLLA, Calif., June 29 (UPI) -- Thirty-seven strawberries a day may help keep diabetes complications away, U.S. researchers say.

Researchers at the Salk Institute's Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory say fisetin, a naturally-occurring flavonoid found most abundantly in strawberries and to a lesser extent in other fruits and vegetables, lessens complications of diabetes.

"This manuscript describes for the first time a drug that prevents both kidney and brain complications in a type 1 diabetes mouse model," co-author David Schubert, professor and head of the Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, says in a statement.

Corresponding author Pam Maher, a senior staff scientist in the CNL, initially identified fisetin as a neuroprotective flavonoid 10 years ago, which may provide the protective effect of the Mediterranean Diet.

In the study, mice fed a fisetin-enriched diet remained diabetic, but acute kidney enlargement-or hypertrophy-seen in untreated mice was reversed and high urine protein levels -- a sure sign of kidney disease -- fell, Maher says.

Researchers observed that blood and brain levels of sugars affixed to proteins known as advanced glycation end-products were reduced in fisetin-treated mice. Excessively high advanced glycation end-products also correlate with inflammatory activity thought to promote some cancers, the study says.

The findings are published in PLoS ONE.

Mormon ‘Biggest Loser’: You need to move to lose

She said she would do it, and she did.

Denise "Deni" Hill, a 59-year-old Bountiful, Utah, mother of eight, won $100,000 on NBC's "The Biggest Loser" TV show last week, for losing the highest percentage of weight among the previously eliminated contestants.

Hill went from 256 pounds at the beginning of the competition to 131 at the season finale. she lost 125 pounds, or 48.83 percent of her body weight.

She was only slightly bested by grand-prize winner Olivia Ward, who went from 261 pounds to 132, for a 49.2 percent weight loss. Ward won the $250,000 grand prize and title of "Biggest Loser."

"That was my plan," Hill said matter-of-factly during an interview on Friday, as she was driving home from California. "It was all really thrilling."

One of the most exciting parts of the experience was seeing the other contestants, who were transformed by their weight loss.

"We all get along well, and we were all so happy for each other," Hill said. One of the most changed was Justin Pope of Logan, who went from 365 to 193 pounds.

"When he first came up to me and gave me a hug, I didn't know who he was," she said. "He looked fabulous. it was incredible."

In fact, Pope came very close to beating Hill for the eliminated contestant prize. Pope partnered with Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner, who voluntarily left the show and didn't attend the finale.

Pope and Gardner are partners in a Logan gym, and Hill said that Pope is also hoping to open a low-cost facility for kids and families. she plans to donate some of her prize money to buy spin bikes for it.

And although $100,000 sounds like a big payoff, after taxes and tithing (Hill is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) and paying off debts, "It's basically gone," she said. "But I will be out of debt."

Hill's exit from the show was a bit controversial. During Week 8, she and another parent, Jesse Wornum, purposely gained weight to be sent home — "I drank a lot of water and ate really salty food," she said.

Because of alliances forged among some of the other players, Hill said she felt the need to sacrifice herself to save her daughter, Sarah, from possible elimination.

But Sarah ended up being sent home two weeks later.

"Hindsight is 20-20," Hill said. "At the time, I thought that was my only choice to keep Sarah. Now I wish I would have just tried as hard to lose as much weight as I could. but it's what it is."

When Hill came home, she quit her sedentary job as an administrative assistant, and worked out 3½ to 4½ hours each day. she used two personal trainers — one at Four Pillars Fitness and another at the South Davis Recreation Center, and she also attended workout classes at the Skills Fitness Center.

She also received weekly deliveries of meals, a gift from eDiets to all of the contestants.

"I didn't use them all the time because I like to have a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables," she said. "But it really helped once in awhile when I didn't have time to cook for myself and I was dashing out the door."

Hill said she's gotten some complaints on "The Biggest Loser" message board that not everyone can afford to quit their job to lose weight.

She pointed out that Ana Alvarado was able to lose a great deal of weight despite being eliminated the first week of the show. (And Ana would also be a shoo-in for the Miss Congeniality Award, Hill added.)

"But Ana is a letter carrier with the Post Office, so she walks a route every day. my job was sitting at a desk eight hours a day, and my goal was to win. Now I will just maintain the weight I am at.

"I lost it fast, but if I can do it, anyone can do it," she said. "I was a total couch potato. you can find time in the morning or after work. you just need to move to lose."

And, don't shy away from the gym because you think you're too heavy, she advised.

"That's what the fitness center is there for. I was so intimidated going to a gym, but they are for heavy people, not just people who are already in shape. find one that will show you how to use the machines and give you a program to follow, so you don't get intimidated. A personal trainer is great, but if you can't afford one, go to the exercise classes. there are all sizes in the classes."

Also thrilling was hearing her body fat statistics.

"I went from 52 percent body fat to 22 percent. That's an athlete. And I can't believe my kness. they were so bad before, because I was carrying an extra 125 pounds. And my sleep apnea is gone."

And now, she'll be job hunting. she half-jokes that her ideal job would be at Costco, "because I would have health insurance and I'd be doing a lot of moving and lifting."

She hopes to have an opportunity to do motivational speaking, and will be doing some work with Nu Skin as well.

She's especially proud of her daughter Sarah, who looked fabulous at the finale in a hot pink, size 4 knit dress. Sarah actually brought it for her mother to wear.

"It looked good on me, but it looked fabulous on her," Hill said. "The dress I wore was one that I brought with me from Nordstom. I had a lot of neat comments that I looked very beautiful and modest, which was my intent."

Valerie Phillips is the former Deseret News food editor. she blogs at chewandchat.blogspot.com. Email:

Straight talk about weight loss

By BRIAN SODOMA
Robert Smith knew something was wrong a few years ago. At 430 pounds, the then 30 year-old mortgage officer and family man was mentally preparing himself for a long talk about weight loss with his doctor. but to his surprise, during a doctor's visit, his blood pressure, cholesterol and other vitals came back normal.

"I couldn't believe it," he said.
But what Smith was probably more surprised about was the fact that his doctor still didn't seem concerned about him losing weight. A few diet recommendations and a brief conversation about the food pyramid and the visit was done.
Even still, Smith joined Weight Watchers and began walking and lifting weights regularly. he has lost more than 150 pounds in the past three years and remains doggedly consistent with his exercise and eating routines.
"I'm maintaining now, enjoying myself a little, but during the time I was losing the weight, I was strict," he adds.

How to Speed Up Metabolism - Easy Tips and Tricks

Models struggle with weight gain, as much as anyone else. And, like everyone else, once they hit 30, he becomes progressively more difficult. Studies show that after 30, women lose 1 / 2 pound of muscle each year and earn the same amount in the fat! If you want to go to castings, you need a way to stop it. Obviously going to the gym and eating well is important, but you can also make your body for you. Increasing your metabolism, reducing your alcohol consumption for example, means that even when you are resting you burn calories. Here are some great ideas that my friends have used in modeling.