Over-the-counter weight-loss pills: Do they work?

Over-the-counter weight-loss pills: Do they work?
The temptation to use over-the-counter weight-loss pills to lose weight fast is strong. But are these products safe and effective?
By Mayo Clinic staff

The appeal of losing weight quickly is hard to resist. But do weight-loss pills and products lighten anything but your wallet? And are they a safe option for weight loss? Here's a look at some over-the-counter weight-loss pills and what they will and won't do for you.
Over-the-counter doesn't mean risk-free

A number of weight-loss pills are available at your local drugstore, supermarket or health food store. Even more options are available online. Most haven't been proved effective, and some may be downright dangerous.

Dietary supplements and weight-loss aids aren't subject to the same rigorous standards as are prescription drugs. Thus, they can be sold with limited proof of effectiveness or safety. Once a product is on the market, however, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors its safety and can take action to ban or recall dangerous products. Indeed, the FDA has banned the sale of supplements containing ephedra and other ephedrine-like ingredients.
Check the facts before you buy

It's important to do your homework if you're thinking about trying over-the-counter weight-loss pills. Read labels and talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Also be sure to check the FDA website for alerts about safety concerns and product recalls.

The table shows common weight-loss pills and what the research shows about their effectiveness and safety.

Smaller, Healthier Meals are Recommended

Eat smaller but more meals in the day. This is the most effective diet plan for women post 40 years. When the metabolism is low, you need to give it more work. The body metabolism tends to reduce when the body feels the need to store more energy. This is because of the natural human tendency of keeping reserves for the worst-case scenario. As such, a very important part of diet plan for females, is that you give your metabolism a good workout; make sure that you eat at a three-hour time interval. Stick to a healthy diet plan with a lot of vitamins and fiber content. Eat 5 to 6 small meals in the day. In case you feel hungry midway, have a small healthy snack. Avoid eating fatty or cholesterol-rich foods and stick to fruits for snacks. This will not only increase your metabolism, but will keep you healthy and strong as well. More so, this will prevent you from overeating at regular times.

If you have kids at home, you might face some problem. Many of the meals you eat for your age might make children unhappy. Rather than orienting the food preparation according to your children's whines and whims, why not train them to eat like an adult? Bring in boiled and steamed foods instead of fried stuff. Instead of plenty of oil/butter, add enough seasonings and spices as per your taste and sprinkle oil, so that you cut down on the fat content. Get into a routine of drizzling, lightly spraying, or dabbing butter or oil.

$400 MONTHLY CASH PRIZE DRAW

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So if you could do with getting back into shape and do with a little extra spending money to spend as you wish why not give it a try,you have nothing to lose except maybe a little weight.Please note your details will never be shared,sold or rented and you will always have the right to unsubscribe  anytime you wish.Look forward to announcing you as our latest winner.Good Luck!

From BBC News: US obesity 'higher than thought'

The obesity problem in the US may be much worse than previously thought, according to researchers.

They said using the Body Mass Index or BMI to determine obesity was underestimating the issue.

Their study, published in the journal PLoS One, said up to 39% of people who were not currently classified as obese actually were.

The authors said "we may be much further behind than we thought" in tackling obesity.

BMI is a simple calculation which combines a person's height and weight to give a score which can be used to diagnose obesity. Somebody with a BMI of 30 or more is classed as obese.

The US Centers for Disease Control says at least one in three Americans are obese.

Many more?

Other ways of diagnosing obesity include looking at how much of the body is made up of fat. A fat percentage of 25% or more for men or 30% or more for women is the threshold for obesity.

One of the researchers Dr Eric Braverman said: "The Body Mass Index is an insensitive measure of obesity, prone to under-diagnosis, while direct fat measurements are superior because they show distribution of body fat."

The team at the New York University School of Medicine and the Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, looked at records from 1,393 people who had both their BMI and body fat scores measured.

Their data showed that most of the time the two measures came to the same conclusion. However, they said 539 people in the study - or 39% - were not labelled obese according to BMI, but their fat percentage suggested they were.

They said the disparity was greatest in women and became worse when looking at older groups of women.

"Greater loss of muscle mass in women with age exacerbates the misclassification of BMI," they said.

They propose changing the thresholds for obesity: "A more appropriate cut-point for obesity with BMI is 24 for females and 28 for males."

A BMI of 24 is currently classed as a "normal" weight.

"By our cut-offs, 64.1% or about 99.8 million American women are obese," they said.

It is not the first time BMI has been questioned. A study by the University of Leicester said BMIs needed to be adjusted according to ethnicity.

Last year in the BBC's Scrubbing Up column, nutrition expert Dr Margaret Ashwell advocated using waist-to-height ratio to determine obesity.

She said: "It is a real worry that using BMI alone for screening could miss people who are at risk from central obesity and might also be alarming those whose risk is not as great as it appears from their BMI."

                                    

Is the U.S getting obese? Is it out of control? Or is just another scare story put about by the media. What are your thoughts, does it worry you? What could or should be done about it by the government or by the person.What are the long term implications for the country as a whole if it carried on in this manner? Or do you believe  it's about time the government stopped meddling with the individuals right to decide what they do with their own health and bodies.It's called taking individual responsibility Please join in,I love to hear your views.

Ian

Getting Motivated

Q.I want to lose weight but I don't have the motivation to join a gym and work out 3 or 4 times a week.What do you suggest I should do?

A.There is a whole lot you can do to get yourself motivated and moving.It starts with one small step, a small change in your life style that is realistic and easy to do.This is vital,and is your starting point.Have you ever considered during your lunch hour instead of sitting at your desk go for a brisk walk.Needn't be that long 20-30 minutes thats all.By the end of the month you will start to notice the difference.Because you may not realize it you are excising, and if you get a friend to come along with you all the better! You see what I mean,just one small change that is easily done by you.Another small change that is quick and simple to do is instead of ordering fries with that burger.Stop.What about substituting that burger for a lower calorie alternative instead. I have loads of ideas you could use in my free book which you can download here.You will be eating healthy food instead. Choose the right food groups and you will start to double your weight loss effects with no effort on your part at all.These foods will make your body naturally burn the fat.Why not work smarter not harder that's what I say! Again they are outlined in the book.Now there are two simple and realistic goal ideas anyone can adopt and start losing weight easily.In no time at all you can move it up a level if you wish and join the gym.Good Luck!

Low Carb Diets: Do You Know What They Are?

 This is probably the best diet to start with it will kick start your body into fat burning.

How? 

By increasing your protein  intake and controlling your carbohydrates in a measured manner forces your body to burn fat.

 Here are some some low carb meal  plan ideas,they don't have to be dull and tasteless 

 Breakfast:

Eggs,Fried Bacon and small Cherry Tomatoes

Launch:
Lamb skewers with coleslaw

Dinner:
A nice chicken salad

Any time snack:

Cheese & Tomato dip with celery

The Benefits:

How will you when you are on this diet? You will notice

1. steady weight loss .
2. Reduced cravings slow modifying your apatite.
3. Which will improved control.
4. Higher energy levels. 

The beauty of this diet is it can be customized to your own medical or dietary requirements, for instance diabetes,under active thyroid,low blood sugar or low glycemic levels the low carb diet can  be altered to suite you.Eat foods that you do like and leave the ones you don't.

Details of this can be found in food that burns fat book which outlines all need to know about getting maxium benefits from this diet with plenty of meal planning ideas.You can download it free here.

 What is the Gi Diet?

 The (Gi) Glycemic index diet is nutritionally balanced and includes slow-releasing carbohydrates, helping you to feel fuller for longer. Say goodbye to cravings and hello to a new lease of life, with tasty delicious meals and improved energy levels.

Here is an example:

Quick Breakfast Idea:

A Bowel of cereal with nuts

  or

 Those who love a cooked breakfast add beans on toast with your cereal.

Launch:

Tomato and lentil soup

Dinner:

Mediterranean fish pie or chicken and cashew  nut stir fry.

Snack:

Onion and yogurt dip

Mediterranean diet

 It is well documented that people who live in the Mediterranean region have a tendency to live a lot happier and longer lives than the most.Due to the high fruit,nuts,olives,vegetables and fish found in their diets.This all adds up to low cholesterol levels and coronary disease.

For those people who want a filling and tasty alternative to stodge.A Satisfying well balanced diet that doctors have know for years is probably amongst the worlds most healthiest diets there is.

  

Here is an example that you could use.

Quick Breakfast Idea:

Greek yogurt with nuts,fruit and toast

Launch:

Hummus and cheese pitta

Dinner:
Salmon and herb pasta.

Snack:
Rainbow Fruit Salad



Vegetarian diet, Total wellbeing diet, Gluten free diet, Healthy heart diet, High fibre diet all have major benefits But which one is right for you? This must be carefully assess before you considered, incorporating them into your diet. All these aspects from meal planning, recipes, and exercise workout regimes for all levels are covered and are yours free. For instant download for you to read. Should you wish to make a more informed decision

Health: Three Reasons Why You Ought to Lose Weight

Are you a woman who's struggling with your weight? If you are, you're undoubtedly not alone. In the present day, many women are confronted with many points, together with weight. If you are sad along with your current weight, it's possible you'll be excited by altering it, but, for a lot of, that's typically easier said than done.
When it comes to shedding pounds, many women are in a position to provide you with an infinite number of excuses as to why they can't drop some weight or excuses as to why this essential challenge needs to be pushed off to the facet for now. Many ladies are missing the motivation wanted to lose weight. If you're one of those girls, you'll want to proceed reading on. Beneath, three causes as to why it's best to drop extra pounds are outlined and these causes may function the motivation that you have been in search of

1 - Look
Though many ladies are satisfied with the best way that they look, many are not. If you're at the moment sad with the best way that you look and feel, you will want to consider losing weight. Weight loss, even a small one, can significantly improve the way that you just see your self, as well as the way in which that others see you. When you hate looking at your self in the mirror each morning, it could be time to consider dropping weight.


2 - Well being
For many girls, being chubby or obese isn't nearly carrying round a couple of additional pounds. Obesity has been linked to quite a few health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, in addition to the early onset of death. If you don't take steps to drop extra pounds now, especially in case you are seriously chubby, your health may produce other plans for you. It is important to point out that these plans may not essentially be good ones.

three Wellbeing
Along with benefiting your health and your physical look, weight reduction also can make you feel good about yourself. Many women notice an prompt enchancment in their self-confidence and shallowness after they lose weight. Which means that even if you're affected by other points, other than weight associated points, weight reduction might be able to help you with overcoming those points or a minimum of the stress that's associated with them.

The three above mentioned reasons are only a few of the many explanation why it's possible you'll want to think about dropping pounds, when you have weight to lose. Do you have to decide that losing weight is in your best interest, you could need to think about making an appointment with a healthcare professional. All these appointments are essential, in addition to insightful. Your healthcare professional might be able to instruct you on secure ways you can go about reducing weight they usually may be able that will help you set cheap weight loss goals for yourself.
Although it's suggested that you simply converse with a healthcare professional about your intent to shed some pounds, you do not have to simply rely on their expertise or their input. A large number of women, identical to you, reduce weight by becoming a member of locally operated weight reduction programs, as well as online weight reduction programs. What is sweet about weight loss applications, each these operated regionally and on-line, is that you just typically stroll away with skilled recommendation, as well as assist from others identical to you.

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