Meditation For Weight Loss

I think you are going to enjoy this!

What if you could just think about what you are going to eat for lunch and then just relish it in your mind before you actually do lunch?

Well, apparently it works! Research has shown that people tended to eat less of a food if they imagined the eating process repeatedly before they actually ate the food.

The study led by Dr. Carey Morewedge from Department of Social and Decision Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University shows people tended to eat less of a food if they imagined the eating process repeatedly before they actually ate the food. And the study found the more food a person “ate” in his imagination, the less food subsequently he would eat.

In the study, according to what Dr. Morewedge told NPR Science Friday radio program, study participants were told to imagine the process of eating M&M, including moving the candies into a bowl, and then asked to eat the real food. Those who imagined eating 30 M&M ate much less real M&M than those who imagined eating only 3 M&M.

Dr. Morewedge said simply imagining moving the food did not help.

He said you also need to imagine eating what you are going to eat to reduce the consumption of the food. The study showed when participants imagined they were eating M&M, and then when they were assigned to eat cheese cubes, no matter how many M&M they ate in their imagination, they ate the same amount of cheese.

Read the rest of the article from FoodConsumer.org > Here

Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. won a U.S. panel’s backing for Contrave, a new diet pill that may be the first prescription weight-loss drug approved in more than a decade. The company’s shares almost tripled in extended trading.

Contrave’s benefits in helping obese people lose weight are greater than the drug’s potential long-term risks, outside advisers to the Food and Drug Administration said today in a 13- 7 vote at the agency’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. The panel earlier said a study of Contrave’s heart risks should be done after approval.

Orexigen, based in La Jolla, California, and partner Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. avoided safety concerns that delayed competing products from Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Vivus Inc. in October. The FDA hasn’t approved a prescription diet pill since 1999 for the almost two-thirds of U.S. adults who struggle with their weight.

“I voted yes for one more option,” said Melanie Coffin, the panel’s patient representative. “I’m disappointed with the efficacy, it’s very small. It’s not going to be a perfect drug for everyone.”

The FDA usually follows its advisers’ recommendations and is scheduled to make a decision on approval by Jan. 31.

Read More Here

Now who says that fat loss has to be dull and painfull. Read this report about how eating the ‘right’ foods can make your weight loss lots of fun ):

It’s time for a new slim-down mantra: Eat more to weigh less. No joke!

The right foods help you drop pounds by revving your calorie burn and curbing cravings.

Top experts share their best picks. Add these eats to your plate today and you’ll be slimmer and healthier in no time!

Steak

In a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women on a diet that included red meat lost more weight than those eating equal calories but little beef.

“The protein in steak helps you retain muscle mass during weight loss,” says study author Manny Noakes, Ph. D.

Eat more: Grill or broil a four-ounce serving of top round or sirloin; slice thinly to top a salad, or mix with veggies for fajitas.

Eggs

Women on a low-calorie diet who ate an egg with toast and jelly each morning lost twice as many pounds as those who had a bagel breakfast with the same number of calories but no eggs, a study from Louisiana State University reports. “Egg protein is filling, so you eat less later in the day,” says David Grotto, R.D., author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life.

Eat more: If you can’t cook before work, bake a frittata on Sunday; chill it and nuke slices for up to a week.

Kale (or spinach)

One raw chopped cup contains 34 calories and about 1.3 grams of fibre, as well as a hearty helping of iron and calcium. But kale’s earthy flavour might take some getting used to. Spinach, another nutrient powerhouse, is a milder-tasting option.

Eat more: Mix chopped raw kale into cooked black beans, says Jennifer Iserloh, founder of Skinny Chef Culinary Ventures. Or slice kale into strips, saute it with vegetable broth and top with orange slices. Make a meal by tossing mix with quinoa.

Oats

“Oatmeal has the highest satiety ranking of any food,” Grotto says. All oats are healthful, but the steel-cut and rolled varieties have up to five grams of fibre per serving, making them the most filling choice. Instant oats contain three to four grams per serving.

Eat more: Instead of using bread-crumbs, add oats to meat loaf.

Lentils

Lentils are a bona fide belly flattener. “They’re high in protein and soluble fibre, two nutrients that stabilize blood sugar levels,” says Tanya Zuckerbrot, R.D., author of The F-Factor Diet. “Eating them helps prevent insulin spikes that cause your body to create excess fat, especially in the abdominal area.”

Eat more: There are many varieties of lentils, but red and yellow cook fastest. Add cooked lentils to pasta sauce for a heartier dish, Zuckerbrot suggests.

Goji berries

These chewy, tart berries have a hunger-curbing edge over other fruit: 18 amino acids, which make them a surprising source of protein, says chef Sarah Krieger, R.D., spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

Snack on them mid-afternoon to stay satisfied until dinner. The calorie cost? Only 35 per tablespoon.

Eat more: Mix 1/4 cup of dried berries with 1/4 cup raisins and 1/4 cup walnuts for a trail mix. Or for dessert, pour 1/4 cup boiling water into a bowl with 2 Tbsps. dried berries; let sit 10 minutes. Drain, then spoon over 1/2 cup low-fat frozen yogurt.

Wild salmon

Fish fats keep your heart healthy, and they shrink your waist. “Omega-3 fatty acids improve insulin sensitivity– which helps build muscle and decrease belly fat,” Grotto explains. And the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn.

Eat more: You don’t need to do much to enhance salmon’s taste, says Sidra Forman, a chef and writer in Washington, D.C. “Simple is best. Season a filet with salt and pepper, then cook it in a hot pan with 2 tsps. oil for one to three minutes on each side.”

Apples

People who chomped an apple before a pasta meal ate fewer calories overall than those who had a different snack. “Apples are high in fibre–four to five grams each– which makes them filling,” says Susan Kraus, R.D., a clinical dietitian at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. Plus, the antioxidants in apples may help prevent metabolic syndrome, a condition marked by excess belly fat.

Eat more: For a pie-like treat, chop up a medium apple and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. allspice and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Pop in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.

Buckwheat pasta

Swap plain noodles for this variety; you’ll slip into your skinny jeans in no time. “Buckwheat is high in fibre and, unlike most carbs, contains protein,” Zuckerbrot says. “Those two nutrients make it very satiating, so it’s harder to overeat buckwheat pasta than the regular stuff.”

Eat more: Cook this pasta as you do rice: Simmer it, covered, over low heat. For a light meal, toss cooked buckwheat pasta with broccoli, carrots, mushrooms and onions.

Blueberries

All berries are good for you, but those with a blue hue are among the best. They have the highest antioxidant level of all commonly consumed fruit, according to research from the USDA Agriculture Research Service. They also deliver 3.6 grams of fibre per cup.

Eat more: Instead of topping your cereal with fruit, fill your bowl with blueberries, then sprinkle cereal on top and add milk or yogurt, Iserloh recommends.

For more superfoods for weight loss, go to theprovince.com/liveit
Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/health/Superfoods+loss/3846903/story.html#ixzz17KUTNvFE

With the holiday season just around the corner, here’s news which will be welcomed by those who’ve been meaning to lose weight but haven’t got around to it.

Crash dieting is an effective way to slim, scientists have found. Despite health warnings from nutritionists, research showed that dieters who shed the most weight in their first month also lost more in the long run.

And they were just as likely to maintain their new shape as dieters who lost less.

The message, says the study, is that the first few weeks of a diet are critical and may spur dieters on.

University of Florida researchers followed more than 250 obese women who were asked to cut their calorie intake and increase their exercise for 18 months. Those who lost more than 1.5lb a week during the first month lost more than two stone within six months on average.

But those who initially lost less than half a pound a week ended up losing just 11lb overall. The 1.5lb a week figure is well within the safe limits recommended by most dieticians.

Although women in both groups did put some weight back on, those in the speedy group fared no worse than the others.

Writing in the International Journal of Behavioural Medicine, the researchers said: ‘Because weight regain reverses the health benefits achieved with weight loss, considerable efforts have been placed on identifying behavioural factors that may be associated with long-term success. Studies have shown that rate of initial weight loss, even within the first few weeks of treatment, may serve as an important predictor of long-term success.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1274791/Crash-diets-work-best-Rapid-weight-loss-lead-shedding-long-run.html#ixzz0nKM2IGOs

Women can enjoy a tipple and stay slim, according to a study that shows moderate drinkers gain less weight than teetotallers. Women who drank red wine gained the least, but the results held for other wines, beers and spirits.

Although alcohol contains calories, the US researchers believe the women may have substituted it for other food. Their work in the Archives of Internal Medicine followed over 19,000 women over 13 years.

The women recruited into the study were aged 39 or over and of normal weight at the time they joined.

Over the next 13 years, on average, they gained weight progressively.

Those who drank no alcohol gained the most weight, and there was an inverse relationship between weight gain and alcohol consumption.

Even after accounting for lifestyle, dietary factors and things like smoking and exercise, the study found those who drank the least gained the most weight.

READ MORE AT BBC

In recent years, weight-loss surgery has emerged as an incredibly effective tool in helping patients manage obesity and make healthy lifestyle choices. However, weight-loss surgery is not for everyone, so you should understand the key factors used to determine if you are a good candidate for weight-loss surgery, like the LAP-BAND System.

While there are several medical factors that can determine whether or not you are eligible for weight-loss surgery; if you qualify, your commitment to the long-term weight-loss process will greatly impact the results. You may want to consider some of these issues on your own, but meeting with a weight-loss surgeon will help you gain an understanding of both the procedure and the lifestyle changes required afterwards.

Body mass index

The body mass index (BMI) requirements for weight-loss surgery were originally set by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and have been in place since the 1990s. As a result, weight-loss surgeons will look for patients with a BMI of at least 40 or a body weight at least 100 pounds over ideal weight. Patients with a BMI between 35 and 39 may also be considered for weight-loss surgery if suffering from at least one health condition related to obesity, including, but not limited to, diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, depression and high cholesterol.
BMI is the most commonly used method of determining an individual’s level of obesity. By using theBMI calculator provided by NewHope Bariatrics, you can see where you fall amongst the following BMI classifications:

o Healthy Body Weight - BMI from 18.5 to 24.9

o Overweight - BMI from 25.0 to 29.9

o Obese - BMI from 30 to 34.9

o Severely Obese - BMI from 35 to 39.9

o Morbidly Obese - BMI 40 and above

Failure of traditional weight-loss methods

Before agreeing to operate, weight-loss surgeons also need to determine if their patients have attempted to lose weight on their own. In most cases, surgeons will require that patients have tried traditional diet and exercise regimens prior to considering weight-loss surgery and documented the results. And in some cases weight-loss surgery patients have participated in medically supervised weight-loss programs. Weight-loss surgeons use this information to determine if their patients are committed to weight loss and lifestyle changes.Documentation of weight-loss efforts is also important when approaching the funding of weight-loss surgery. Like weight-loss surgeons, insurance providers typically require prospective patients to provide proof of repeated efforts to lose weight without surgical intervention.

Overall Health and Lifestyle

While there are many health conditions that may increase the urgency of weight-loss surgery, weight-loss surgeons will require all patients to meet certain lifestyle requirements as part of the program. To ensure that patients undergoing weight-loss surgery are able to experience long-term success and improve their overall health, surgeons will look for patients that avoid smoking, drinking and the abuse of drugs. If considering weight-loss surgery, it is important to eliminate these habits prior to beginning the process. After surgery, patients will be expected to avoid smoking and illicit drug use, while alcohol consumption should occur on a limited basis.

Commitment

Lastly, it is very important that all prospective weight-loss surgery patients be committed to permanent lifestyle changes. After ensuring that patients understand both the risks and rewards inherent in weight-loss surgery, some insurance providers will require psychological evaluations. As weight-loss surgery is not a magic bullet to erase obesity, it is important for all patients to understand the role that better eating habits and exercise play in the recovery process. Additionally, most weight-loss surgery procedures will require patients to meet regularly with doctors, attend support groups or meet with medical specialists to help support specific areas of follow-up care. The decision to have weight-loss surgery should not be taken lightly, and hence, doctors and insurance providers will insist that any patient undergoing the procedure is fully committed to each part of the lifelong process.

If you are trying to determine if you are a candidate for weight-loss surgery, you should consider your BMI and your past experiences with traditional weight-loss methods. If you feel you meet the criteria outlined here, you should then carefully consider both the potential benefits and responsibilities of weight-loss surgery. Though you may be unsure if weight-loss surgery is right for you, a consultation with a weight-loss surgeon will provide extensive insight into your condition and information about life after the procedure. In the end, if you are a good candidate for the procedure and feel prepared for the necessary lifestyle changes, weight-loss surgery can be the first important step towards a longer and healthier life.

Carole S. Guinane, a Chief Clinical Officer writes articles about obesity and weight loss for http://www.newhopetoday.com New Hope Today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carole_S._Guinane

Ever tried to avoid carbs in order to lose weight and found they still follow you everywhere you go? At my favorite restaurant, the fettuccine on the menu taunts me; at my friend’s baby shower, the sandwich platter beckons much louder than the mixed greens. And in a business meeting, the cookies distract me. Whether it’s a basket of warm bread, a tasty pasta or tantalizing desserts, carbs can be hard to quit.

Thankfully, you don’t have to. Despite their reputation for helping pack on the pudge (remember Dr. Atkins?), certain carbs can actually help you feel fuller longer and fight fat. The key? Fiber—found in whole grains, oats, certain legumes and even popcorn! When people follow a high-fiber diet—at least 34 grams of fiber a day—they absorb up to 6 percent fewer calories, research shows.

READ MORE at YAHOO HEALTH

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/healthieryou/15578/eat-pasta-drop-pounds/

Linda Ralph was so determine to lose all the fat that was clinging on to her body that she made up her mind last year to take drastic action. She spent a huge sum of money to get gastric band surgery. To keep her motivated, she kept a photographic diary to chart her weight loss.

Today, one year down the road, Linda has lost 140 pounds and gone from a size 24 to a slim size 10. For someone aged 50, this is a remarkable achievement and her story will trully serve as inspiration to many overweight women waiting to take the plunge and lose all that fat.

Click Here to read her diary, complete with all the pictures of the year that changed her life.

Image & Story Source from Daily Mail Online

One fourth of patients thinking about bariatric surgery are usually refused insurance coverage 3 times prior to obtaining approval.

On top of that, 60 percent say their health worsened during this waiting time period. A few insurance policies demand patients to verify they have attempted going on a diet, physical exercise, medication and psychotherapy. However a lot of policies will not cover these prerequisites.

Read More > Click Here

Obese teens who receive gastric banding achieve significant weight loss

A higher percentage of severely obese adolescents who received laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding lost more than 50 percent of excess weight and experienced greater benefits to health and quality of life compared to those in an intensive lifestyle management program, according to a study in the 10 February issue of JAMA.

Adolescent obesity is a serious health challenge globally. In the US, more than 17.4%, or more than 5 million adolescents were obese in 2004, an increase from 14.8% in 2000. Obesity is associated with both immediate and late health effects and reduced life expectancy, according to background information in the article. Lifestyle programs that have included changes in diet, exercise, and behaviour to promote weight loss often have poor results. “Bariatric surgery is now extensively used for adults and is being evaluated for adolescents,” the authors write. “Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (gastric banding) has the potential to provide a safe and effective treatment.”

Read More > Virtual Medical Center