Raspberry Ketone for Weight Loss: Is Dr. Oz Right?

raspberry ketoneEver since Dr. Oz praised raspberry ketone as a “fat-burner in a bottle,” dieticians, fitness experts, and nutritionists can’t stop talking about this unique weight loss ingredient.

“I’m interested because it seems like it might give a bit of a jump start to the challenge of losing weight and it seems to be a condensed version of raspberries, which are good for you in general anyway,” explains one anonymous consultant. [1]

“Anytime there’s anything around weight loss everyone jumps on the bandwagon looking for an easy fix,” explains Sharon Meyer, nutritionist. “Raspberry ketones have their place, but it’s the extraction that I think is complicated.” [2]

But what is Raspberry ketone and how can it help you?

What Is Raspberry Ketone?

Raspberry ketone, or rheosmin, has been used as a flavoring agent since the 1920s due to its aromatic nature.

Despite its name, natural raspberry ketone is not extracted from red raspberries. Although raspberries contain raspberry ketone, their natural content is very low. Consequently, manufacturers utilize peaches, grapes, apples, rhubarb, and even tree bark to create sufficient raspberry ketone concentrates. [3]

Raspberry ketone is structurally similar to synephrine and capsaicin. [4] Synephrine is said to be the weight loss equivalent to ephedrine that interacts with the central nervous system to increase energy levels and promote fat burning. Capsaicin is a chili pepper extract which promotes thermogenesis. [5]

Although research is limited, raspberry ketone is said to offer numerous weight loss benefits without negative side effects:

Potential Benefits

• Weight loss
• Increased metabolism
• Strengthened immune system
• Elevated energy levels

How Does It Work?

Experts believe raspberry ketone stimulates the release of norepinephrine, an adrenal hormone which causes fat cells to breakdown into fatty acids. The liver then converts the fatty acids into ketones. Ketones are then used as an alternative energy source.

Is There Clinical Research?

Unfortunately, raspberry ketone studies are limited to two animal studies.

raspberry ketone studyThe first study was conducted in 2005 on mice fed a high-fat diet. Researchers found raspberry ketone prevented the high-fat-diet-induced elevations in weight and fat in the liver. The data suggested raspberry ketone achieved this effect by increasing norepinephrine-induced lipolysis. Experts concluded, “RK prevents and improves obesity and fatty liver.” [6]

The second study was conducted 5 years later and also featured mice on a high-fat diet. Experts found raspberry ketone supplementation increased the expression and secretion of adiponectin, a hormone that regulates glucose while processing fatty acids in the blood stream. “These findings suggest that RK holds great promise as an herbal medicine since its biological activities alter the lipid metabolism.” [7]

While promising, further human trials need to be conducted to validate raspberry ketone’s weight loss potential.

Are There Any Risks or Side Effects to Worry About?

Raspberry ketone’s effects in humans are unknown. It has not been sufficiently studied to determine short or long-term benefits and side effects.

Due to its chemical similarity with synephrine, many express concerns about its potential to increase negative cardiovascular events such as hypertension. Consequently, patients with an increased heart attack risk should avoid raspberry ketone for weight loss.

According to WebMD experts, “there are anecdotal reports of jitteriness, increased blood pressure, and rapid heartbeat among people taking raspberry ketone supplements.”

However, without studies, it is unknown whether these effects are associated with raspberry ketone specifically, or additional ingredients found in raspberry ketone supplements. [8]

Does Dr. Oz Recommend A Specific Raspberry Ketone Supplement?

Although Dr. Oz expressed his amazement with raspberry ketone’s weight loss potential, he has not ever recommended or endorsed a specific raspberry ketone supplement.

“I am not and have never been a paid spokesperson for any particular brand, supplement or product,” writes Dr. Oz. “’I’ve even decided to no longer use brand names on The Doctor Oz Show. My mission for the last three years has always been to better your health and make your busy lives easier. I care about you, value your trust, and want to protect your safety.” [9]

Consequently, dieters should be cautious about buying any raspberry ketone supplements. If advertisements are flashing Dr. Oz’s photo or claiming his endorsement, the manufacturers are lying to you.

Tips to Avoid Raspberry Ketone Scams
When Dr. Oz promoted raspberry ketone as a weight loss ingredient, thousands of dieters flocked to raspberry ketone supplements to slim down.

With so many people demanding raspberry ketone supplements, diet pill manufacturers were quick to carve their piece of the profits.

However, not all manufacturers are trustworthy, and more often than not, raspberry ketone supplements contain fake raspberry ketone or concentrations too small to be effective.

Fortunately, there are a few tips to avoiding diet pill scams:

tips to avoid scams• Choose supplements made in the US or Europe. Products manufactured elsewhere do not follow the same ingredient standards.

• Make sure the supplement does not contain ephedrine.

• Look for product certification.

• Avoid products with over-the-top and dramatic weight loss claims. Raspberry ketone won’t change you overnight.

Should You Try Raspberry Ketone for Weight Loss?

Preliminary evidence is promising, and there are numerous success stories involving raspberry ketones. However, even this potentially powerful ingredient is no magic bullet for weight loss.
Even Dr. Oz recommends raspberry ketones work best “when paired with regular exercise and a well-balanced diet.”

While it may be worth trying, more information is needed to verify raspberry ketone’s effects on human test subjects before dieters should spend a fortune on the latest RK fat burners.

References

[1] Allen, Jane. “Raspberry Ketones Freny Follows Dr. Oz Show.” ABC News. April 5, 2012. Available from: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/raspberry-ketones-frenzy/story?id=16074044

[2] Johnson, Carolyn. “Health experts question raspberry ketone diet craze.” ABC Local. Feb. 17, 2013. Available from: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/health&id=8995957

[3] Nicholas, Gayle. “Is Raspberry Ketone Effective for Weight Loss?” Medscape today. Dec 11, 2012. Available from: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/775741

[4] Morimoto C, Satoh Y, Hara M, Inoue S, Tsujita T, Okuda H. Anti-obese action of raspberry ketone. Life Sci. 2005;77:194-204. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15862604

[5] Lejeune MP, Kovacs EM, Westerterp-Plantenga MS. “Effect of capsaicin on substrate oxidation and weight maintenance after modest body-weight loss in human subjects.” Br J Nutr. 2003 Sep;90(3):651-59. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13129472

[6] Morimoto C, Satoh Y, Hara M, Inoue S, Tsujita T, Okuda H. “Anti-obese action of raspberry ketone.” Life Sci. 2005 May 27;77(2):194-204. Epub 2005 Feb 25. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15862604

[7] Park KS. “Raspberry ketone increases both lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.” Planta Med. 2010 Oct;76(15):1654-8. doi: 10.1055/s-0030-1249860. Epub 2010 Apr 27. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=red%20raspberry%20adiponectin.

[8] “Raspberry Ketones.” WebMD. Available from: http://www.webmd.com/diet/raspberry-ketones-uses-risks

[9] Oz, Mehmet. “My name for Profit? Not Anymore.” The Dr. Oz Show. Available from: http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/mehmet-oz-md/my-name-profit-not-anymore

The HCG Diet Controversy: The Good and Bad of HCG

hcg diet controversy

HCG diets undoubtedly have a huge following among dieters. Although experts remain skeptical, many men and women have successfully lost weight while on the hCG diet.

“6.4 pounds in 4 days and that included my fat loading days!!” explained one user at an hCG dieting forum.

“I did round 1 for 6 weeks and lost 30 lbs.,” adds another. “I kept all of it off during maintenance . . . (I did not lose any) and just started my 2nd 6 weeks and plan on losing 30 more. Love love love hcg diet!”

When everyone wants to be slim and sexy without the work, losing so much weight so quickly seems like a dream come true.

But is hCG as amazing as it looks?

What Is HCG?

HCG is approved by the FDA as a prescription drug for female infertility and other medical conditions. Although it is not approved for weight loss, those in favor of the hCG plan claim that hCG injections effectively curb appetite while promoting energy levels.

The History
The hCG diet plan was originally developed by Dr. ATW Simeons in the 1950s. While in India, Dr. Simeons discovered that hCG mobilized lipids in nearly all of his patients, resulting in weight loss. He proposed hCG as a supplemental hormone to accompany an ultra-low-calorie weight loss diet of less than 500 calories. [1]

This later inspired multiple researchers to study hCG, but interestingly enough, Simeon’s results were not reproduced.

It wasn’t until Kevin Trudeau wrote his book, The Weight Loss Cure “They” Don’t Want You to Know About, that the dieting community become truly interested in the program.

HCG Phases
The hCG diet plan is broken down into 3 phases based on Simeons’ research. The phases include the following:

Phase 1. This phase involves a high caloric and high fat intake for 2-3 days while taking hCG. Supposedly, the body will attempt to deposit new fat cells but the hormone will prevent it from doing so. Consequently, the body is said to loosen and mobilize lipids rather than storing new fat.

Some sites also recommend detoxifying or cleansing the body during this phase via a colon cleanse or simply avoiding all processed foods and artificial sweeteners.

Phase 2. This is the most challenging phase for dieters. It requires a strict caloric intake of 500-700 calories per day. Many consumers prefer to consume lean protein as well as low-calorie fruits and vegetables. Occasionally dieters turn to coffee and tea for breakfast, and then consume two slightly larger meals for lunch and dinner.

According to hCG dieters, most of the weight comes off during the first 5-10 days. However, many continue the hCG diet for up to 60 days.

Phase 3. The 3rd phase, or maintenance phase, is the easiest part of the hCG diet to maintain. Caloric intake is increased to 1200-1500 calories per day, which is still low but within normal range for many. During this phase, hCG use is halted and dieters must wait at least 23 days before beginning a new hCG regimen.

Speedy Weight Loss: The Good of HCG

“HCG products are marketed with incredible claims, and people think that if they’re losing weight, HCG must be working,” explains Elizabeth Miller, acting director of the FDA’s Division of Non-Prescription Drugs and Health Fraud. [2]

low caloriesFor example, one website claims “With HCG diet drops, you can lose weight, contour your body by shedding fat in all the right areas, and still feel energetic and full of life. . . HCG drops will control your metabolism so that your body will burn fat from the places where fat shouldn’t be, like the abdomen, thighs and other areas that can become unsightly.”

With such amazing hype and offers, is it any wonder that dieters can’t resist giving hCG a try?

Countless success stories are posted in forums and popular media sharing sites such as Facebook. With more dieters losing weight successfully, these success stories then spur new dieters into trying the hormone.

“I did the diet for 30 days, lost 25 pounds,” says one dieter at hCGDietInfo.com. “I was on cloud nine.”

Kracquell, EveryDayHealth.com, shared: “I am on the 5th day of the HCG drops and have lost 7lbs already, the first day alone I lost 3.6lbs, the diet is amazing. I’m not going to lie, the first 2 days after the load were very difficult for me. I had headaches and was hungry, but once you get through day 2, it’s a breeze, trust me. I forget sometimes to eat my fruit and have to remind myself to ensure that I am getting the 500 calories in, this is important, don’t skip your fruit or meals. I will keep you updated, HCG is wonderful. I ordered my drops online from hcgdirectbuy.“

While this seems ideal at first, experts warn that there’s more to this program than meets the eye. . .

The True Cost of HCG: The Disadvantages

Elizabeth Miller continues, “The data simply does not support this; any loss is from extreme calorie restriction. Not from the HCG.” [2]

Most experts agree, living on 500 calories a day is not only unhealthy – it’s dangerous.

“It is virtually impossible to meet your nutritional needs for carbohydrates, protein, fats, and fiber with less than 500 calories per day,” point out WebMD experts. “The diet will most likely result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies.” [3]

Although very low calorie diets are sometimes prescribed for the obese, medical supervision is needed to ensure the side effects are not life-threatening.

Then there’s the hormone itself. . .

“Taking the hCG hormone itself can cause a variety of complications that can read like the fine print in a prescription disclaimer: Users may report incidences of headaches, blood clots, restlessness, leg cramps, constipation, temporary hair thinning, depression and male breast enlargement.” Explains Tom Scheve, health writer. “Also, you may feel, well, like you’re pregnant — swelling, breast tenderness and water retention, anyone?” [4]

But that’s not all. hCG comes with a wide variety of additional side effects:

• Severe pelvic and abdominal pain
• Swelling of the hands and legs
• Shortness of breath
Weight gain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting

What About Simeons’ Research?
Many dieters are under the impression that because one doctor proposed this weight loss plan it is bound to work.

However, Simeons’ research is often distorted and glorified to suit a supplement seller’s needs.

As mentioned earlier, multiple studies have since been conducted on hCG and its supposed weight loss effects. However, scientists have yet to duplicate Simeons’ findings.

In a recent study, researchers tested hCG for weight loss and found “there was no statistically significant difference in the means of the two groups in number of injections received, weight loss, percent of weight loss, hip and waist circumference, weight loss per injections or in hunger ratings.” [5]

Researchers concluded that hCG does not enhance the effectiveness of a rigidly imposed weight loss regimen.

FDA Warning
warning signAs of December 2011, the FDA issued warning letters to several companies marking hCG products as “homeopathic” weight loss solutions. The letters warned that the companies were violating federal law by selling unapproved drugs without supporting their claims.

Even homeopathic hCG is illegal. The FDA advises consumers who have purchased homeopathic hCG for weight loss to “stop using it, throw it out, and stop following the dieting instructions.” [2]

Is hCG Diet Right for You?

Despite the fact that many dieters have successfully lost weight on hCG, the cons far outweigh the cons with this diet.

The low-calorie restriction, lack of clinical research, and high side effect risk pose too many problems to be a reliable way to lose weight.

Although you might lose weight with hCG, chances are likely that you’ll gain it all back when you return to your normal diet.

Shirley Blakely, nutritionist at FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition suggests, “in general, the reference (average) calorie level is 2,000. If you want to lose weight, reduce your daily intake by 500 calories. Over the course of a week, that equals 3500 calories, which is the loss of a pound. Gradual weight loss is the way to do it.” [2]

References

[1] Simeons ATW (2010). Pounds & Inches: A New Approach To Obesity. Popular Publishing. ISBN 0-615-42755-3.

[2] “HCG Diet Products are Illegal.” US Food and Drug Administration. Available from: http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm281333.htm

[3] Zelman, Kathleen. “The Truth About HCG for Weight Loss.” WebMD Expert Review. Available from: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-hcg-for-weight-loss

[4] Scheve, Tom. “HCG Diet: What You Need to Know.” HowStuffWorks. Available from: http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/diet-fitness/diets/hcg-diet3.htm

[5] Stein MR, Julis RE, Peck CC, Hinshaw W, Sawicki JE, Deller JJ Jr. “Ineffectiveness of human chorionic gonadotropin in weight reduction: a double-blind study.” Am J Clin Nutr. 1976 Sep;29(9):940-8. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/786001

Weight Loss Nutrition: Foolproof Dieting Tricks

Weight Loss Nutrition
According to the IDEA Health and Fitness Association, at any given time, up to 24% of men and 40% of women are trying to lose weight.

However, even though so many people are always trying to lose weight, few seem to actually be successful at losing weight and even fewer people keep the weight off.

Too often, individuals will increase their physical activity but fail to significantly change their diet and nutrition.

Millions struggling to lose weight can follow proven weight loss nutrition tips to see greater success.

Don’t Let Yourself Go Hungry

One of the common mistakes dieters make is to go for hours without eating anything. While keeping your calorie count low is definitely one of the most important aspects of proper weight loss nutrition, you should never attempt to reduce your intake by simply not eating.

This is because if you go too long without food, it can actually make it harder to lose weight because of the effect it has on your body’s blood sugar levels.

You see, your body converts the food you eat into blood sugar, or glucose, which your system uses for energy throughout the day. Your pancreas produces and releases insulin, which is a hormone responsible for carrying glucose into your cells to be used for energy.

However, when you go too long without eating, your body begins to think it needs to go into a more defensive mode and begins storing glucose on your body as fat rather than convert it into energy, making you gain weight.

You should thus avoid going for more than three hours without food and do so by eating several small meals throughout the day rather than three large meals, making sure to include sources of fiber, protein, and fruits and/or vegetables.

This was proven to be an effective way to maintain a healthy weight in a 1998 study conducted at Tufts University, in which subjects who ate small, more frequent meals lost weight while the group who ate large meals did not.

Get Your Rest

As we’ve established, one of the most important parts of proper weight loss nutrition is keeping your calorie intake low, but sometimes persistent cravings and a hearty appetite get in the way of your dieting goals.

Fortunately, there is an easy and foolproof way to keep your appetite in check: make sure to get at least seven or eight hours of sleep each night.

Sleep affects your appetite because of two hormones: ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin is responsible for making you feel hungry in order to help you get the calories and nutrients you need to keep your body running correctly, and leptin’s job is to tell your body when you are full and have eaten enough.

When you are fully rested, ghrelin and leptin keep each other neatly in check. However, when you don’t get enough sleep, these hormones become off-balanced: your ghrelin levels increase, making you feel constantly hungry, and your leptin levels decrease, making it practically impossible for you to feel full.

In a study conducted at Stanford University in 2004, researchers proved this by observing approximately 1,000 subjects’ sleeping habits, ghrelin and leptin levels, and weights.

At the end of the study, the researchers discovered that the subjects who had slept fewer than eight hours a night had higher ghrelin levels, lower leptin levels, and higher percentages of body fat than the participants who regularly slept for eight hours every night.

If you want real success with your diet, you should therefore set a goal to get eight hours of solid sleep each night.

Get Enough Protein

Those participating in a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition said the benefits of increasing protein to 30% of total calories included greater satisfaction, less hunger and weight loss.

Other studies show increased protein enhances weight loss, fat loss and improved blood fat levels.

Researchers suggest the higher amount of protein in the diet lead to fewer appetite-inducing hormones reaching the brain to signal hunger. Additionally, the added protein combined with regular exercise can increase muscle mass to help reduce the muscle mass you lose and increase the fat you burn. High-protein diets became extremely popular during the late 90s because of the results, but protein should be consumed in moderation with a balanced diet.

Your Dream Body is Within Your Grasp

If you follow these tips and turn your unhealthy tendencies into the ideal weight loss nutrition habits, you will finally be able to reach your dieting goals and your target weight!

However, sometimes it may seem like you need some extra help–whether it’s right at the beginning of your diet or in the middle while you’re trying to get over a frustrating plateau.

If this sounds familiar, you should consider adding a diet pill to your routine, since the right product can really help you burn more fat and increase your metabolism. Visit http://dietpillsthatactuallywork.net/slimvox/ to read more about one of the leading diet pills on the market Slimvox. Slimvox is an advanced diet pill for women designed to help you improve your overall effort to lose weight. The key ingredients can help aid your weight loss nutrition by aiding with craving and appetite control.

Also, if you have any weight loss nutrition tips, we would love for you to comment below and share your best tips for eating a healthier, more balanced diet.

Weight Loss Tips

The Best Weight Loss Tips That Work!
Lose 21 Pounds With Our Top 21 Weight Loss Tips

ConsumerPriceWatch.net has been working to help people find the most affordable and effective ways to lose weight since early 2005. During that time we have compiled a list of the best weight loss tips we could find. Below you will find 21 tips to help you shed those pounds even faster.

Tip #1

Eat Breakfast!!

We have been told our whole lives that the most important meal of the day is breakfast, yet somehow it is the most skipped meal. Not only does eating breakfast give you the energy to get your day started; but, recent studies have shown that your metabolism is significantly faster when you eat breakfast daily.

Tip #2

Dessert!! Once in a While…

While on a diet, sugar cravings and that piece of cake you never get can many times sabotage your efforts because once you start, it becomes hard to stop. That’s why seting aside a specific day every so often when you can have these treats will help you stay on track with your diet.

Tip #3

Drink Water!!

One of the biggest diet killers is not drinking enough water!! Our bodies are made up of 70% water, and most people don’t get enough to drink. Not only is water necessary for your body but it can also act as a free appetite supressant! Also, when your body is dehydrated it has a harder time digesting the food you eat.

Tip #4

Diet Journal…

Keeping a diet journal is a very important aspect of dieting. It provides a record so if you forget what you have eaten you can refer to it. And while dieting can get discouraging, keeping a journal helps remind you of the progress you’re making.

Tip #5

Cook Your Meals

Cooking can not only be a great weight loss tool but it can also help out any budget. When we eat out, we are not only having to guess at the nutritional content of the food we are eating, it also can get very expensive. By cooking the food you eat, you can know exactly what you are eating and if it fits in your diet or not.

Tip #6

Carb Timing

Carbohydrates are great, and they are found in just about every form of food. But there are entire diets based around the absence or extreme reduction of carbs. While an overload of carbs can be detrimental to a weight loss or diet plan, the right amount at the right time can actually help you lose the maximum amount of weight.

Tip #7

More Meals

I realize this may seem counterintuitive to some. But the fact is eating multiple small meals can help with weight loss. Instead of the usual 3 meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, try 6 meals. It may even seem like an overload of food at first. But like a long distance runner, endure till the end.

Tip #8

Envision Your Triumph

To achieve a goal, you have to have a goal or an end result in mind. Otherwise, what are you doing? Many people find that it is easier to remember this if they have it written down or pictured somewhere they see all the time. I know people who literally tape a picture to their ceiling right above their bed with their goal written on it.

Tip #9

Cheat Days

Take a break every once in a while. While it’s not okay to cheat on tests or in other parts of school, it is okay in dieting. A cheat day provides motivation in hard weeks and a nice break in gentler weeks. It also prevents your body from getting settled into burning only a certain amount of calories per day.

Tip #10

Fat Beverages

Americans love fat, sugar loaded beverages. If you ever watch shows like intervention when they feature obese individuals, they always say “I don’t eat that much.” They drink their way to obesity. The FDA came out stating that “the average American takes in 82 grams of added sugars every day.” That is about 317 calories.

Tip #11

Take Your Time

My mom is always telling me to slow down, and yet I keep eating like a starving child. It has always been that way for some reason. As such, my stomach doesn’t have time to send the signals to my brain telling me I’m full until my stomach is so full it might burst. So try eating slowly, savoring the taste, and take the time to chew your food.

Tip #12

Discover Your Emotional Trigger

In studies conducted at George Washington University, people who were most successful in weight loss were motivated by an “emotional trigger”. It seems that when strong emotions such as shame, embarrassment, or fear were kindled in an individual, they were motivated to do the work and make that change.

Tip #13

Don’t Eat After 7 PM

Every body has a flow, a rhythm it follows to keep itself in balance. This applies to sleeping patterns, eating patterns, etc. Therefore, your body works differently at 9 in the morning than it does at 9 at night. The timing of your last meal varies depending on what time you go to bed, what time you wake up, etc. But in general, don’t eat after 7 PM.

Tip #14

Keep Up On Your Fiber

Fiber has been studied and developed into multiple forms to help suppress our appetites and moderate our food intake. Glucomannan is a form of fiber that has even been studied specifically as an appetite suppressant to supplement healthy weight loss. Fiber in general stays in our stomachs longer and maintains a feeling of fullness.

Tip #15

Make Realistic Goalsl

Goals are nice, but it seems most of us break them too early. So what does it take to avoid this cycle? First, write it down. It’s always easier to remember if it is written down so you can see it. Second, make it a challenge. If it is too easy, you will get bored. Third, make it realistic. Do not make unrealistic goals.

Tip #16

Everything In Moderation

Don’t completely cut anything out of your diet. In psychological terms, when you tell yourself you can’t have something, it makes the need for that one thing that much more intense. Fat and every other “unhealthy” thing are essential to the body and even healthy when taken in moderation. On some diet plans, you are given a day off.

Tip #17

Support and Competition

Competition is a good thing. It inspires us to do better. Without competition, we can lose our inspiration and motivation to strive harder and be stronger. But if you involve family or friends, you have that extra support of people pulling you back up when you fall, whether you want to be pulled up or not.

Tip #18

Learn To Love Soup

Alton Brown. He is the one and only man with his own show on the Food Network who is not overweight, which is crazy. He hosts “Good Eats” which basically means he goes around the world and eats at some of the most unhealthy restaurants for a living. So how does he do it? When he’s not working, he focuses on soups and salads.

Tip #19

It’s All About The Portions

I once read a book called “French Women Don’t Get Fat” by Mireille Guiliano. While it may not be true that they never get fat, the French do have a significantly lower rate of obesity than do Americans. Guiliano’s focus was on … surprise — portion size! According to the USDA, the average caloric intake for Americans is now 2002 calories per day.

Tip #20

Focus on the Fat

We want to see that weight loss on the scale. The problem is when this weight consists of muscle mass or water. You may lose it quickly, but you can also gain it back quickly. Experts say you should expect to lose a maximum of 2 pounds per week with the right combination of diet, aerobics and weight lifting.

Tip #21

Eat The Calorie Burners

By calorie burners, I mean those foods which require your body to use more calories to burn than they actually contain unto themselves. These calorie burners are not so hard to find. There is an extensive list, which includes most fruits and vegetables. So help your body out a little and load up on these calorie burners.


Common Weight Loss Tip Question: Do Diet Pills Really Work?

It Depends! Diet Pills can be the perfect complement to a healthy diet and regular exercise. But using the right diet pill for you in order to supplement your weight loss goals is the only way to see the benefits of a diet pill. Although there are no “miracle” pills, there are diet pills that can produce great results. When looking for the right diet pill, look for products that are effective, safe, and efficient.

Unfortunately, it may be incredibly difficult to find the right diet pill because this thriving market has produced thousands of diet products that always seem to leave something out. However, ConsumerPriceWatch.net has taken the guesswork out of finding the best diet pills on the market by providing thorough analysis of the top diet pills available. Look below to find how the top diet pills fared in our rigorous analysis.

Can’t Lose Weight? It Might Be Out of Your Control

can't lose weight

Diet experts and nutritionists make it seem that losing weight is simply a matter of calories in vs. calories out.

If you faithfully keep track of how many calories you eat in a day vs. the amount of calories you burn during exercise, you will not only lose weight but keep it off – it’s basic math.

However, there could be other factors that could be interfering with your weight loss equation, turning a simple add and subtract formula for weight loss into a complex conundrum of plateaus and frustration.

If your bathroom scale is refusing to budge, then one of these problems could be the reason why you can’t lose weight.

You’re Feeling Blue

In a study published by the American Journal of Public Health, individuals who frequently feel depressed, sad, or lonely were more likely to gain weight.

Belinda Needham, PhD, explains, “They may be eating more high-fat, high-calorie comfort foods, or they may have cut back their physical their physical activity.”

Additionally, anti-depressant medication may cause a gradual accumulation of weight gain over the years, as much as 5-15 pounds.

While increasing physical activity can increase the release of endorphins (helping to improve your mood), you may want to ask your doctor to adjust your medication.

You Could Have a Deficiency

Mineral deficiencies can have a huge impact on your energy levels, your metabolism, and consequently, your ability to lose weight.

For example, if you’re low on calcium, you could experience numbness and muscle aches which makes it difficult to finish a workout, or you could experience a constant craving for salty snacks which could make it harder for you to maintain a healthy low-calorie diet (salt temporarily increase calcium levels in the blood stream, tricking the brain into thinking it’s solved the problem).

On the other hand, you could be low in magnesium, which results in weakness and dizziness, and can sap your energy levels. Or perhaps you could be low in Selenium which can impair thyroid and cardiac function.

You should be very careful with your vitamin and mineral intake. Too much or too little of any vitamin or mineral can make it difficult to lose weight and lead to more severe medical problems. Double-check with your doctor that your diet is providing you with the nutrients you need to stay healthy.

You’re Not Regular

can't lose weightConstipation and irregular bowel movements could be the reason you’re packing on the extra pounds.

Dr. Hedaya, Founder of the National Center for Whole Psychiatry, points out, “Ideally, you eat, and then, an hour or so later, you have a bowel movement, but once or twice a day is still in the healthy range.”

Using a detox program or diet pill such as the ones found on supplementreviews.org may be just what you need to eliminate excess waste and fats from the digestive tract, giving you a fresh new start and promoting better digestive health. Additionally, you might want to consider increase your fiber and your water intake to ensure that your bowels stay in tip top condition.

Final Thoughts

Rather than constantly criticizing yourself for not being able to lose weight, now is the perfect time to step back and see if there’s something in your life that could be throwing a wrench into your plans.

Robert J. Hedaya, MD, explains,“ A lot of people make what we think are lifestyle choices but are actually our bodies reacting to factors we can’t control. Whether it’s hormonal, a medication side effect, or something else, too often we put the onus on the individual, and there are factors that sometimes justify a doctor’s help.”

Seeking a medical professional for the above causes will not only help lose weight safely but can ensure that you aren’t suffering from potentially undiagnosed medical conditions and issues.

Diet Tips: Get More Out of Your Diet Pill

diet tips get more out of your diet pill

After sorting through pill after pill after pill, reading the latest reviews and shopping around for the best products for the best prices, you’ve finally find a diet pill that suits you.

Congratulations!

You’ve taken the first few baby steps to losing those stubborn pounds and living a healthier life – but the battle is only beginning.

Just because you’ve found a diet supplement that works, doesn’t mean that you can simply pop a pill and all your weight loss wishes will come true.

According to the CDC, more than one-half of U.S. Adults are taking dietary supplements. Yet further statistics have shown that over 80% of people who have lost a significant amount of weight regained those extra inches (and then some) within the first 2-5 years.

So if a diet pill can help you lose more weight than dieting and exercise alone, who’s responsible for keeping the weight off?

That’s right – you are.

Unless you develop healthy habits now, all that extra weight you lose with that perfect little pill will come back with a vengeance. Fortunately there are a few techniques to ensure that you lose weight and keep it off.

Make Realistic Goals

make realistic goalsYou can try millions of diet tips and tricks to lose weight, but it takes careful planning in order to slim down. In your enthusiasm to be rid of the extra weight, it can be easy to assume that the diet pill you’re now using will give you that perfect body in a matter of weeks.

Yet despite manufacturer’s claims for over-the-top weight loss, experts at WebMD agree that “diets alone don’t work. Sure these diets can help you lose weight at first. Yet for most teens, one-third of this loss is muscle – not fat.”

The best way to lose weight is to find a balance between calories in vs. calories out, aiming for a 500 calorie deficit through diet and exercise so you can lose a healthy 1-3 pounds per week. While a quality diet pill can certainly speed up the process, don’t expect it to do all the work for you.

Learn to Love Exercise

Many fat burners and similar weight loss supplements depend on stimulants to give you an extra increase in energy. This enables you to burn more calories throughout the day, even when you’re at rest.

But in order to capitalize on this boost in energy, you’ll need to hit the gym on a regular basis. Establishing a regular exercise routine can ensure that you keep losing weight long after you’ve stopped taking the supplement. exercise daily

In a study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, participants who took a weight loss supplement for one year lost more weight when they walked for half an hour each day than those who simply took the diet pill alone.

“Obese people who took pills alone typically lost 11 pounds in the study. When they added the full program promoting lifestyle changes, they lost 27 pounds – more than twice as much,” says USA Today. (You can read more about this study here).

Adding as little as 20 minutes of exercise a day, whether it’s swimming, dancing, or walking, can burn an extra 100 calories a day. By the end of the year, losing those extra 100 calories a day could potentially add up to losing 10 pounds of fat.

Eat to Lose Weight

Portion control is also essential when it comes to losing weight, and if you’re taking an appetite suppressant, you may be able to cut down on calories without constantly feeling starved all the time.

On the other hand, don’t get caught in the diet trap and think that by cutting your calories to an all-time low that you’ll get your weight loss results even faster.

Researcher David S. Ludwig, MD, PhD, explains in his Optimal Weight for Life program that low-fat diets may actually slow a person’s metabolism down to a level where it is not burning calories as effectively as it could – which in turn makes it difficult to lose weight. (You can read more about it at this WebMD article.)eat to lose weight

Rather than focusing on what foods you can’t eat, focus on what foods you can eat – experiment in trying fun new fruits, or cook with vegetables with different spices to see what pleases your palette. It might surprise you at how much you enjoy eating healthy.

Think Long-Term

When taking a diet pill, it’s easy to think that you’ll shed a few extra pounds just in time for a big event. You’ll look great for a few days with the band-aid solution, and then gain it all back just as quickly as you lost it as soon as you start eating normally.

However, losing weight should be a long-term goal that establishes habits for healthy living throughout your life. Although some dietary supplements are not meant to be taken for more than a few weeks or months at a time, what you do during this time frame can determine whether or not you lose weight and keep it off for good.

Hopefully these diet tips will motivate you to reach your goal, so you don’t have to be just another statistic.

Diet Trends Revealed to Be Good and Bad

Looking back at high school year book photos can be embarrassing for everyone, but few people realize that the trends they are excited about right now will be just as embarrassing in a few years as those mile-high bangs or jean cut-offs are now.

Trends often get bad names as current fads that won’t last forever and aren’t based on anything other than public hysteria.

And a lot of the time this perception is probably well-earned, as diet trends get phased out after people realize they are dangerous, ineffective and even goofy.

But rather than get invested in diet trends that can be a waste of your time or even unsafe, read what the science has to say about these current diet trends:

Low-Carb Everything

Ever since the Atkins diet caught fire over a decade ago, people have been very wary of the bread aisle, choosing instead to go for meats of all kinds; even when these meats are heavily laden with saturated fats.

Although many people found that they lost weight on the Atkins diet, it was usually due to a difficulty to find foods that were lacking in carbohydrates rather than a magical property of protein sources.

But this trend might be more dangerous than shallow. A 25 year study in Northern Sweden published results in BioMed Central’s open access Journal Nutrition Journal that shows a low-carb diet to actually increase your levels of cholesterol.

Since Sweden had the highest incidence of cardiovascular in the Northern region of its country in the 1970s, researchers took to monitoring the progress of those looking to lose weight and lower their risk factors for CVD, like high cholesterol.

What the researchers found was that those who followed a low carb diet actually saw an increase in their cholesterol levels, rather than the anticipated lowering of cholesterol.

Diet Pills

Demonized in the late nineties and early two-thousands, diet pills are now currently on the upswing and are emerging more powerful than ever as one of the most popular diet trends.

This is largely due to increased spending on research from the government as well as private investors, leading to more innovative and safe ingredients that can both stimulate your metabolism as well as suppress your appetite.

Diet pills like Apidextra are designed to not only help you eat fewer calories but also burn more each day. And with an all-natural ingredient list, you don’t have to worry about negative side effects like you would with diet pills from the past.

To read more about Apidextra, you can find a critical analysis at http://www.weightlosspills24.com/apidextra/.

More Meals for More Weight Loss

In response to studies about metabolism, more people are opting for 5-6 meals a day rather than the traditional 3.

This is both good and bad; good because it helps dieters stay energized without feeling the energy crash and appetite spike of hunger.

However, more meals can also be bad for your diet if you are bad at limiting your calories during each meal. Often the boost your metabolism sees from eating more meals is canceled out by the increase in calories you eat.

To counteract this, make sure that your traditional meals (i.e. breakfast, lunch and dinner) see a sharp decrease in the number of calories you eat each day. That way, your extra meals will be easier to include without eating more.

Different Diets: the Popular, the Trendy and the Ridiculous

Promising to help you lose 2-3 pounds a day, the K-E Diet might sound like the next diet you want on your weight-loss-resume. But when you hear that you have to eat through your nose for a week and a half, you might not be as interested.

Since the K-E diet is far from the only diet that promises weight loss at only ridiculous expenses, here are some of the most popular dieting trends revealed. Find out if they really will help you lose weight, or if you’ve got a little more than your dignity on the line with these diets.

Diet Pills

Once seen as an unnecessary danger that will give you more health risks than actual results, diet pills are beginning to emerge as big players in the dieting world again.

This is largely due to the fact that there is more emphasis on clinically proven ingredients and better access for customers that are interested in researching their options before investing in a diet pill.

Each weight loss pill works in a different way, but the majority of your options are either geared towards suppressing your appetite to help you eat fewer calories, or increasing your metabolism to help you burn more calories.

Although appetite suppressants are good for people who have difficulties sticking to a healthy diet, those that increase your metabolism and help you burn fat can help you lose weight the fastest.

If you are interested in seeing what kind of options you have with diet pills, you can find the best fat burners by visiting here.

The K-E Diet

different dietsRecently popularized by soon-to-be brides looking for the next best crash diet, the K-E diet is designed to help you lose 10, 15 or even 20 pounds in as little amount of time as possible.

Rather than spending time and energy counting calories, the K-E diet outfits each dieter with a feeding tube that runs through their nose and down their esophagus into the stomach. This provides a steady drip of protein and fat mixed with water.

Allotting to just 800 calories a day, the K-E diet claims to be able to help you massively cut down on your caloric intake without causing you to be hungry or feel deprived.

However, the dieters are forced to have a tube in their nose for 10 days straight and carry the food solution with them everywhere they go.

Even though the results are pretty dramatic, they are very temporary. And dieters noticed bad breath and constipation as two major side effects.

The Happiness Diet

While so many people are spurred to diet by feelings of self-loathing, or think that the only way to lose weight is by being miserable and hungry for a few weeks or months, the Happiness diet is supposed to make you feel better about yourself before you even see the scale drop.

Mainly focused on food that give you lots of energy and keep you feeling full, the Happiness Diet is designed to mainly cut out processed foods and empty calories from your diet.

Although the Happiness diet is supposed to make losing weight easier, most dieters who have tried it complain that the foods are expensive and difficult to incorporate into their daily routines.

However, if you have more time and are have long-term weight loss as a priority, you might want to read more about the Happiness diet here.

Natural Stimulants That Burn Fat

natural stimulantsFinding diet pills that don’t use stimulants is almost as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.

These natural or synthetic substances are used for weight loss because they either suppress appetite or burn fat; sometimes both.

For the most part, natural stimulants are safe and effective. But every once in a while one comes along, causes problems, and gives all the rest a bad rap.

Natural stimulants focus on your brain, which is the main source of weight gain behaviors. If they are effective and safe, they can be a big help when you are trying to shed extra pounds.

The following natural stimulants are the most popular. Read on to see if they are effective and safe.

Synephrine

Ephedra has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for 5000 years. More recently, the stimulant was used by diet pill manufacturers to help people lose weight. That is, until it was banned in 2004 due to fatalities and health concerns.

The removal of ephedra left a big gap in the weight loss industry, so scientists got together and eventually discovered Synephrine. It is now commonly known as the “safe alternative to Ephedra”. But don’t just take the advertisers word for it. See what studies have to say.

A 2011 study published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences tested Synephrine’s effect on metabolism, blood pressure, and heart rate. At the end of the study, researchers found that “no increase in heart rate or blood pressure was observed over the 75 min. of the study”; which, by the way, is a good thing.

In addition to being safe, Synephrine was shown to be an effective thermogenic that can burn fat when used in doses of 10-20 mg. A popular diet pill that uses Synephrine is Fenphedrine.

Caffeine

Caffeine is popular because it’s found in soda pop, coffee, and energy drinks. But what many people don’t realize is that caffeine can burn fat.

natural stimulantsLike Synephrine, Caffeine is a thermogenic. For those not familiar with this concept: thermogenesis is the process in your body that regulates temperature. Thermogenics are substances–usually natural stimulants–that make your body temperature rise; which causes your body to burn fat faster.

When diet pills use caffeine, you’ll see it in these four common forms: Caffeine, DiCaffeine Malate, Caffeine Anhydrous, and Green tea. The recommended dose for caffeine is between 100-300 mg a day. A higher dose, especially above 300 mg, is more likely to cause side effects.

NV has become a popular diet pill through celebrity-endorsements. Using Caffeine Anhydrous as a main ingredient, NV is supposed to burn fat and help users “lose weight fast & get your confidence back”. One way to see if NV works is to read customer review. There are some on the official website and you can read more reviews here.

Capsaicin

Next time you eat a jalapeno, you’ll be happy to know that there are more things burning than just your mouth. Capsaicin is a natural stimulant found in chili peppers that burns fat, and it may improve digestion too; according to Susan Kundrat, sports nutrition consultant.

There are supplements that use capsaicin; but if you’re not a fan of popping pills, you can get the same results from eating food. This is great news for spicy food lovers!

Find the Right Diet Pill

If you can handle the heat, a stimulant-based diet pill can a big difference in your weight loss efforts. However, some diet pills use stimulants that or unsafe, or they use unsafe doses. Avoiding these products is the best policy.

On the other hand, a diet pill that uses clinically proven, natural stimulants in the recommended doses is what you should be on the lookout for.

The Wedding Dress Diet

wedding dress dietThe day that you’ve waited for your entire life is finally here.

You have planned and saved for your wedding since the day you figured out how to say the words “I do” and you can’t wait to put your plans into action.

There is only one problem. You tried on your wedding dress the other day and you can’t breathe – it seems to have gotten smaller. You have apparently put on a few pounds since the engagement.

Well, it’s time to put down that doughnut, put on your running shoes, and lose a few pounds.

While exercise is a very effective way to lose weight, it isn’t the only thing you can do lose some of your extra inches. Would you believe that the wedding dress diet can help you lose weight and speed up your metabolism?

Apples

Yes, it is true that an apple a day will keep the doctor away, but did you also know that an apple a day will also keep weight gain away? Studies have shown that people, who eat an apple before they sit down to eat a meal, will consume fewer calories during that meal.

Apples are a very good source of antioxidants as well. Antioxidants help boost your immunities and get rid of damage causing free radicals.

Chili Peppers

If you like spicy food then now is the time to turn up the spice in your kitchen. Chilies contain an ingredient called capsicum which has been shown in studies to increase thermogenesis in your body.

“Thermo” means heat, and “genesis” means creation. Thermogenesis is the non-shivering way that your body creates heat to burn calories. The increase in thermogenesis means an increase in metabolism which will give you more room to breathe in that dress of yours.

Vegetables

Vegetables are a great source of fiber. Fiber is something that your body cannot digest easily. People who eat a meal high in fiber will most likely feel full sooner than people who don’t eat much fiber.

Fibrous foods are usually low in calories as well. If you can replace fatty, low fiber foods with low calorie, high fiber foods, you can lose weight.

One More Thing to Try

Is the wedding dress diet not helping you lose weight fast enough? Do you want a little weight loss boost? Try adding a weight loss supplement to your list of daily things to put into your mouth. One weight loss supplement that can effectively help you lose weight in a healthy manner is Apidexin.

Now, you’re probably asking yourself, “Does Apidexin work?” The answer is yes. Apidexin is a weight loss supplement that has been studied and proven to be highly effective. The ingredients are safe so there are no side effects to worry about with this supplement.

Go for It!

These foods in the wedding dress diet and this weight loss supplement have been proven again and again to help people lose weight. Why not try adding these foods, along with Apidexin to your weight loss routine? You may find that you are pleasantly surprised when you go to try on your wedding dress again.