Search Weight Loss Topics:

Page 129«..1020..128129130131..140150..»

Home » Lose Weight » Page 129

Growing up as a stereotypical geeky kid who cared more about computers than sports, Ive always struggled with weight issues. For lack of motivation and proper guidance, I found it extremely hard to get into a routine that would work for me.

As it turns out, Im far from alone in struggling with better health in this ever-connected world. However, it is those same tools that can be exactly what you need to guide you and, more importantly, help you stay on the path towards better fitness.

I used the power of my Android phone to drop 55lbs (~25kgs), get into better shape and start running trails and marathons. If I can do it, so can you!

Now, your goals might vary. Be it a few extra pounds gained over the holidays or the choice to lead a healthier lifestyle, losing weight is not easy even on a good day. In fact, it is extremely common to get disheartened with the lack of progress or direction. Additionally, what worked for me might not for you, and it is always a good idea to seek professional advice. Remember, everyones bodies are different!

The guide below should serve well as baseline suggestions for how you can create a structured regime to lose weight and achieve better health using your Android phone.

Whether youre into hiking, biking, photography, or drone piloting getting started and making the right equipment decisions can be a serious investment. But sometimes its hard to know where to get started, especially if

As a foodie, I quickly came to realize just how many calories my favorite treats have. No matter how much exercise you put in, diet is far and away the biggest factor in a weight loss journey. Called a calorie-deficit diet, your daily caloric intake needs to be lower than what you burn. Sounds simple? Youll be surprised by just how quickly those calories add up.

Calorie counting is fine, but apps that give you a nutrient breakdown can be much more helpful.

Keeping a tab on your daily dietary intake has multiple benefits. Of course, you can see how many calories you are taking in, and with the integrations with fitness trackers and apps, you can readily see if you are burning off enough. More than that though, it is the nutrient breakdown that comes across as more handy.

While there are many apps that claim to assist with calorie counting, a few might be better for your part of the world. I found MyFitnessPal to be among the best. The app has been around forever and doesnt quite have the best interface, but it does the job and has a robust food database. I also tried outHealthifyMe which is another option but the constant reminders to upgrade to premium plans and the lack of integration with complementary services was off-putting.

MyFitnessPal is pretty self-explanatory as far as apps go. During the onboarding process, you will need to enter your age, height, and weight. You can then set yourself a weight goal, as well as how much weight you are aiming to lose every week.

It is easy to get too optimistic, but I would highly recommend sticking to a goal that you can realistically meet. You dont want to get disheartened do you? Keeping a track of your food intake can show you exactly how many calories you are consuming, as well as an overview of the nutrients so that you can optimize your dietary habits.

MyFitnessPal not cutting it for you? From apps that just track your daily intake to others that can recommend customized diets, check out our list of the 10 best diet and nutrition apps for Android to find one that might be your jam.

In addition to eating healthier, hydration is another aspect that most of us forget or give up on. The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recommends a daily water intake of 3.7 liters for an adult male.

Im not proud of the fact that Im particularly bad at keeping myself hydrated. If it werent for the constant reminders, I would likely go days without grabbing a sip of water. No, coffee is not a substitute.

Listen, I get it. It is easy to get caught up in work and activities to the point where you drink water only when you are thirsty. However, water not only helps keep you full but also helps your metabolism and assists in dropping weight faster.

Ive found myself using the Hydro app to keep a log of my daily water intake. It also provides handy reminders if I go too long without drinking a tall glass of water. The apps interface is a bit basic, and if you want something that can track your coffee and tea intake as well, Water Time might be another alternative. You can check out our list of the best water reminder apps for Android to take a look at more options.

Also read: How to get into shape with your fitness tracker in just 7 minutes a day

Of course, a diet can take you only that far. It is imperative that you put in the effort to burn more calories than you consume. Workouts come in many shapes and forms, be it outdoor running or hitting the weights at the gym. I needed help in coming up with a scientific plan for running better, and so it was time to turn to apps on my phone to help me plan a defined fitness routine.

Now, Ive never been much of an athlete and achieving my goal of running a 10K was not going to be easy. Referring to our list of the best weight loss apps, I stumbled upon the Couch to 5K app.

The app presents you with an expertly designed plan for interval training and structured schedules to help you achieve your goals. Not only did the app work for me, but it also helped me get on track to run and complete marathons and trail runs. Hows that for an endorsement!

The first few days were certainly not easy. Finding the motivation to get up and go out for a run can be particularly hard. However, I observed that notifications from the app and the gamification aspect of earning ticks for completed workouts were a good incentive for me to step out every day.

If you are using a fitness tracker, it is probably best to use the accompanying app to keep a track of your outdoor runs. As a Fitbit Ionic user, Ive been using the accompanying app to send over my data to Strava for more granular analysis of my workout data. If you dont have a fitness tracker, you can strap in your phone in an armband and track your workouts using a range of fitness apps just as well.

Over time, I discovered that the Strava app provided a bit more granular data about my heart rate and pacing for my runs. Fitbit integrates reasonably well with Strava to upload data to the service.

If you are coming over from another fitness tracker that doesnt, the SyncMyTracks app is a great resource to bring over all your data from some of the most popular fitness services. In my case, I had a lot of historical data from Google Fit and a range of other trackers Id tried out.

In case you are in the market for a new fitness tracker, weve got an up-to-date list of the best fitness trackers to consider. Also check out our list of the best GPS running watches if youre more into running.

But what if you need help with planning a workout?

Cardio fitness is excellent and plays a big role in dropping weight (if that is your goal), but I also wanted to work on strength training. The Play Store is chock full of apps that claim to be great workout companions. In fact, weve already weeded out the chaff and curated a list of the best workout apps on Android.

Which app works out best for you will ultimately depend on what you are hoping to achieve. For example, the 8Fit app would be best suited for someone who is just starting out with working out and needs a bit of hand-holding with guided workouts.

On the other hand, if you already know your way around the gym and need an app to keep logs, or to help you optimize your workout, Ive found JEFIT to be an excellent option to plan out your workout schedule. It can help you find fresh exercises, as well as guide you on the correct technique to use with gym equipment for a more effective workout.

I ended up using a combination of both to help me find my groove at the gym. Eventually, though, I ended up crafting my own routine based on my learnings from the app.

Theres no magic pill to make you lose weight or get healthier. No matter how much weight you wish to lose, this is a journey that takes anywhere from weeks to months and still does not really end. If you have a natural tendency to gain a few pounds, you will know that keeping the weight off is just as hard as losing it the first time around.

In my case, between my fitness tracker and the various apps that I was using, I found MyFitnessPal to be the best place to integrate all that data. The best part? The app pulls in workout data and calorie burn from connected apps and gives you a clearer picture of how your diet and exercise is affecting your fitness goals.

Update: July 12, 2019 at 9:10 a.m. ET: As of version 2.16.22, Google Fit now has a dark mode. Details below! Google Fit is the fitness app for the rest of us. It's not the app

Another option that is built into Android phones is the Google Fit app. Im not a fan of the interface and it doesnt offer too much data, but the app integrates with most popular fitness trackers and services to give you a quick glance of your daily fitness statistics. The interface centers around activity rings and provides a gist of your daily activities and sleep cycles. Compared to more full-featured apps, I found Google Fit to be unintuitive and light on information. However, if you are just looking for the essentials, the app is free and likely pre-loaded on your phone. Certainly doesnt hurt to give it a try.

Your phone is a powerful tool to help you lose weight

Getting healthier is hard work, but it doesnt have to be a pain. Between the granular data and guided workout patterns that your Android phone, accompanying apps provide, it is possible to take out a lot of the effort and guesswork needed to devise an effective strategy for weight loss.

Unlike a gym, you dont need to lock yourself into an expensive trainer either. In fact, almost all the apps mentioned here include free trials that will let you try and settle on what works best for you.

It took me six months of concerted effort to drop weight, but the journey certainly didnt stop there.

Ive since kept up a regimen of running three to four miles most days of the week. Between a job that doesnt require me to walk around much and my general proclivity towards unhealthy eating, Ive also kept up with logging my food intake on MyFitnessPal as well as keeping track of my fitness levels using the Fitbit and Strava apps.

A bigger realization for me, though, was the fact that used in a proper manner, your phone can be an indispensable tool in your fitness journey. Using a combination of apps, I was able to design, track and stick to a fitness plan that was perfectly suited to me.

It took out the hassle of working with trainers or getting disheartened with not getting results. The data was right there in my hands to see, and it motivated me to stick at it.

Your fitness is in your hands and it is incredible to see just how powerful a tool your phone can be to help you along the way. Got any favorite fitness apps? Let us know in the comments section!

Excerpt from:
How I used my Android phone to lose weight - Android Authority

This time of year is so saturated with diet culture and black-and-white thinking about health and weight. Registered dietitian Brenna O'Malley, creator of the health blog The Wellful, told POPSUGAR, "Don't get sucked in! Freeing yourself from guilt around food and getting off the dieting cycle to tune in to your body and figure out what works and feels good to you is the best gift you can give yourself this season." She's referring to intuitive eating, which has been (thankfully) gaining popularity, but is it possible to eat intuitively and still lose weight?

Intuitive eating is a philosophy developed by registered dietitians Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch in their groundbreaking book from the '90s called Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works. "It's a way of eating that provides a path toward healing from disordered eating and creates peace in one's relationship with food and body," said Heidi Schauster, MS, a registered dietitian and the author of Nourish: How to Heal Your Relationship With Food, Body, and Self. When we aim to nourish and respect our bodies and not try to fix or change them, we enter into a more nurturing, caring relationship with them, no matter what the outcome is around weight, Heidi said.

When you commit to intuitive eating, Evelyn and Elyse said in their book, "you will be released from the prison of yo-yo weight fluctuations and food obsessions." It brings you back to when you were younger and you had no issues obsessing about food and your weight back when you ate the foods you loved and were able to self-monitor how much you ate in a healthy way.

There are three possible outcomes when you start intuitive eating: weight loss, weight gain, or weight staying the same, said Kirsten Ackerman, MS, RD, CDN, who hosts the Intuitive Bites podcast and identifies as a fat-positive dietitian. She told POPSUGAR that all three outcomes are welcome, because weight is not the focus of intuitive eating.

Some people may experience unintentional weight loss with intuitive eating after breaking free from the restrict-binge cycle, while others will gain weight that they'd lost through restriction, explained Christy Harrison, MPH, RD, CDN, an anti-diet registered dietitian nutritionist, certified intuitive eating counselor, and host of the Food Psych podcast. Christy said that we can't predict what's going to happen for any particular person when they start eating intuitively, but in her experience, most people gain some weight in the early stages of intuitive eating because they've been deprived for so long.

"Intuitive eating isn't a diet; in fact, the intuitive eating approach is explicitly opposed to intentional weight-loss efforts," Christy said. She added that the true approach of intuitive eating "is anti-diet and anti-intentional-weight-loss. A true intuitive-eating provider will never promise weight loss as an outcome."

Healing your relationship with food and your body, and finding freedom from the physical and mental harm dieting can cause is what intuitive eating is all about. This means that "it's not possible to practice intuitive eating while pursuing intentional weight loss," Kirsten said. She added that intentional weight loss disconnects you from your body by placing the focus on the external variable of body weight. When intentional weight loss is the goal, honoring and supporting your body's needs becomes a secondary goal. "The process of intuitive eating puts trust in the body to restore weight to a place it feels comfortable maintaining when being adequately nourished," Kirsten explained.

It's totally understandable, expected, and normal to have the desire to lose weight in this culture, especially for higher-weight people who are constantly bombarded with messages that their bodies are wrong and need shrinking, Christy said. Giving up the pursuit of weight loss is challenging, and even harder the more weight stigma you've experienced in your life and the longer you've been dieting. If you've been stuck in the cycle for decades, it's incredibly difficult to move away from the dieting mentality, but it's also freeing.

Once you stop making weight loss your life's goal, you'll be able to make peace with food and your body, honor your hunger and fullness cues, break free from food obsessions and harmful dieting and exercise habits, and truly enjoy life.

See the article here:
Can You Do Intuitive Eating and Lose Weight? Dietitians Say Maybe, but You're Missing the Point - POPSUGAR

Weight loss can be achieved by following a good diet and ensuring you exercise regularly. The right plan will be different for each slimmer and knowing what foods you should eat can be a challenge. However, there is one food group dieters should ensure they eat plenty of.

Although nutrition and exercise are both important when getting into shape, eating the right foods could lead to the best results.

Krissy told Express.co.uk: I think nutrition is more important. What youre putting into your body is by far the most important tool you will ever have.

Learning how to cook, learning how to prep and knowing what foods your body needs are all important.

When following a healthy diet plan, those hoping to get into shape should look at exactly what is in their foods.

READ MORE: James Martin weight loss: TV chef used this trick to shed a whopping six stone

She said: Food is so overlooked, people think they can workout and eat what they want.

You need to put micronutrients into your body to help you glow from within. Then it will show on the outside. Food for me is way more important for sure.

So, what should you eat?

The expert explained it is important to look at the macronutrients and micronutrients in each meal.

DON'T MISS

Macronutrients are the broad nutrients in foods and include carbs, fats and proteins, according to Heathline.com.

Micronutrients are nutrients in foods such as vitamins and minerals.

Everyones macros will be different depending on goals, Krissy explained.

If you want to lose weight, maintain or gain weight your calories will be different and thats individual to you.

Mix it into a smoothie, add some mango and kale. Add some dates with spinach into a morning smoothie.

It makes a world of difference, its delicious and you wont even notice it.

Micronutrients are a must. Your body needs that nourishment.

Dieters can speed up their weight loss journey by combining a diet plan with exercise.

The Tone & Sculpt app is available from 13.99 at The App Store and on Google Play

See the article here:
Weight loss: Eating more of this food can help you burn fat fast - what is it? - Express

Wellness fads, endless exercise products, and conflicting information on the internet it can be increasingly tricky to sort fitness fact from fitness fiction.

Now a new poll from PureGym asked 149 gym managers across the UK to name their most commonly encountered gym myth and a whopping 71% of them cited the widely-held belief that cardio is weight loss route one.

Three PureGym personal trainers based in the UK, Kay Miyake, Marc McLaren and Peter Williams, explain the findings.

So this is a myth?

Not wholly, but mostly. While aerobic exercisesare a great way to expend energy, weight lifting can be similarly effective, and comes with a host of other health benefits like improving strength and bone density.

If your goal is weight loss you will likely not only be burning fat but losing muscle mass too, says Miyake. By including weight training you can offset this, and muscle mass influences how many calories you burn at rest. Therefore, although cardio appears superior in initial calories burnt, weight training has been shown to increase calories burned after the initial exercise period.(iStock/PA)

Its easy to see where the myth comes from a sweat-filled set on the treadmill just feels more loss-making than a lift but weight loss is ultimately dependent on energy balance, and it doesnt hugely matter in what form.

But Isnt weight training used to build bulk?

Yes, it is, but that doesnt mean a turn on the bicep bar is going to transform you into Arnold Schwarzenegger.

We tend to default to weight training as a means to increase muscle size, says McLaren, but building muscle doesnt happen overnight. It can take years to build a significant amount of muscle, especially for females, though I still find that many females worry about this.(iStock/PA)

Directly after weight training the muscles youve used most may look and feel larger, and this is often mistaken for a change in muscle mass. In reality, it comes from a temporary and localised increase in blood flow (youre quite literally pumped).

The world bulking gets thrown around a lot, but the reality often consists of shaping, toning, and strengthening.

So Whatis the right balance?

Purely from a weight loss perspective, its not particularly important.

I would recommend you pick a balance that suits how you enjoy training, says Williams. If you dont like cardio just add little bits here and there, or use HIIT (high intensity interval training), to just get it over and done with. Either way, make sure you enjoy it or you wont do it.

Gym time is me time, and the more you tailor your gym routine to your tastes the more likely you are to keep going. Consistency is key, so next to enjoying your workouts the weights-cardio divide is detail.

What should you do to lose weight?

The short answer is: whatever makes you want to exercise.

When filled with fresh resolve it can be tempting to try and run (or lift) before you can walk, but the battle will be won or lost several months down the line. A lot of people go in trying to change their lifestyle completely all at once which can be very hard to manage, says Miyake. I would suggest setting up small habits you can stick to, and gradually building from there. Instead of trying to get to the gym five days a week, start off going once or twice.

There are no quick fixes or miracle cures, so focus your efforts on creating that sustainable, day-to-day calorie deficit. You do need to be aware of your energy input and output, says Williams, and most people can be guilty of not tracking their calories accurately, and forgetting things like multiple coffees with milk, or little snacks.

If you arent accurate with how many calories youre consuming then it becomes a guessing game when calculating how many you need to burn for weight loss.(iStock/PA)

Finally, remember that your exercise is for you and you alone, and do not take your cues from social media. What you see an influencer doing will not necessarily work for you, says Miyake. Health and fitness is different for everyone. Find what works for you to improve your wellbeing, performance, and sense of self.

Read more:
Is cardio the best way to lose weight? Personal trainers bust the myth - Irish Examiner

For the 12 years that "The Biggest Loser" aired on NBC, everyone was a loser.

The disgusting display of hatred of fat people, their bodies and their liveshelped cement the modern stigma against them, and oftenruined the health of its contestants.But for some inexplicable reason, last weekUSA Network premiered a revival ofthe reality seriesto traumatize us all(Tuesdays, 9 EST/PST).

There are plenty of good and bad TV shows these days, but it's rare to find reality TVthat'sactually harmful to the people involved and society as a whole. "Loser" is a frightening example of what can happen whenour worst impulses are given airtime.

PhiXavier Holms, James DiBattista, Kristi McCart, Domenico Bruggelis, Teri Aguiar, Katarina Bouton, Erica Lugo, Bob Harper, Steve Cook, Megan Hoffman, Robert Richardson II, Dolores Tomorrow, Micah Collum, Kim Emami-Davis on "The Biggest Loser."(Photo: John Britt/USA Network)

If you have somehow blissfully purged this awful series from your memory, here are the finer points of the weight-loss competition: A group of overweight people competes to lose the highest percentage of their body weight. Most of the episodes are devoted to watching the contestants participate in grueling exercise challenges while the trainers berate them, or watching them standshirtless so as much of their bodies as possible are on displayon a prop scale (a disclaimer reminds the viewer that accurate weights are determined off camera). Each week, the person who shed the least weight on a percentage basis goes home, and the last person standing wins $100,000.

"We did want to make a better connection or bigger connection between weight loss and health,"USA reality programming executiveHeather Olandertold the Television Critics Association last month. "The message in the show is, yes, being thin and fitting into skinny jeans if thats what you want, fabulous. But thats not the end all, be all. Its not about getting thin at all costs. Its about getting healthy and setting these contestants on a healthy lifestyle path."

To Olander's credit, there are changes in the show.Gone are the "temptation" challenges, in which contestants eatjunk food in exchange for game advantages. Nordo they vote each other off every week. There are on-camera "therapy" sessions with trainer-turned-host Bob Harper, and the losers are sent home with an after-care package that includes a gym membership and access to a nutritionist.

"The Biggest Loser" is coming back. Bob Harper, far left, Erica Lugo, Steve Cook and Heather Olander were present to promote the revival.(Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

But what hasn't changed is the show's fundamental message: Fat is bad, thin is good, and happiness and acceptance are achieved only by losing weight, at whatever cost.

There's consistent, documented evidence that "Loser" was a dangerous show for contestants: some practiced unhealthyweight-loss strategies or tried to game the competition by adding pounds before competing.When they left the program, somestruggled with eating disorders and weight gain. A National Institutes of Health study published in 2016 found the series had slowed the metabolisms of former contestants, making it harder to maintain their weight loss.

Contestants Kristi Mccart, Katarina Bouton, Teri Aguiar, Jim Dibattista, Domenico Brugellis on "The Biggest Loser."(Photo: Ursula Coyote/USA Network)

The show was not just damaging to the people who endured its brutal process. Watching the series didn't make thin people more empathetic to the lives of those with different bodies:Research foundthat "anti-fat attitudes increase after brief exposure to weight-loss reality television."

"Loser" promotes the false narrative that exercise is the most important part of weight loss, and that anyone can achieve itif they just try hard enough. Viewers see radical body transformations over just a few short weeks, and perhaps some of them assume the only reason other fat people stay fat is that they're lazy bums who refuse to try hard enough.

In reality, our weight is determined by a variety of contributing factors, and it varies from person to person. Genetics, socioeconomic status, preexisting medical conditions, stress and mental health affect numbers on a scale. Some people may never be able to be thin.

And even if every individual defined as "medically obese" some 40% of the American population, according to the CDC wanted to lose weight, they don't have to. That's the goal of body positivity and fat acceptance movements. Overweight people shouldn'thaveto lose weight to befull members of society, sit on airplanes without abuse and see doctors without facing discrimination. The way someone else's body presents is no one's business but their own.

Spouting buzzwords about "health" and "lifestyle" on the new "Loser" in noway covers up the crassness of the reality show in an age when reboots and revivals have become something of a default business model for Hollywood. The series is not returning so it can help people achieve healthy goals or spread positive messages: It's back to profit fromthe degradation of a subculture.

One can only hope the producers miscalculated America's desirefor this kind of programming as our culture inches towards inclusivity and acceptance of all sizes. When "Loser" premiered in 2004, there was no "This Is Us" or "Shrill." "Body positivity" wasn't a household term.Lizzo, who had her own conflict with "Loser" alum Jillian Michaels,wasn't yet a superstar. Late-night hosts like James Corden weren't making impassioned speeches against fat shaming.

We've started to make change for the better. We don't need to fight over "Loser" all over again.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/02/04/the-biggest-loser-back-and-goodness-sake-why/4596187002/

Read more:
'The Biggest Loser' is back, and we have only one question: Why? - USA TODAY

Mens Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. We update when possible, but deals expire and prices can change. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Questions? Reach us at shop@mensjournal.com.

Tired of weight loss plans that make you miserable? Its no funand sometimes downright difficultto stick to a strict diet that keeps you from enjoying the foods you love. How would you like to eat what you want and still lose weight?

You can, with Noom.

Noom doesnt tell you what to eat and when. It doesnt cut your favorites from your diet. Noom doesnt make your sell meal plans or force you to eat things you hate. Noom restricts calories rather than specific foods. By setting a limit on your daily caloric intake, you can eat what you want and still lose weight. You just have to watch how much you eat instead of what you eat.

Noom is different because it treats you like an adult, holding you accountable to things like portion size. It does that through a supportive community of fellow Noom users, Plus, you get a personal health coach whose job is to offer guidance, advice, and help you make smarter lifestyle decisions.

Hold on a second. A diet plan that treats you like a grown-up, holding you accountable and putting you in charge? If Noom sounds groundbreaking, thats because it is.

Most diet plans are strict regimens that tell you what you can and cant eat. Many force you to buy into their food services. So you pay a bunch of money to get boxes and boxes of pre-packaged meals. You either eat themall the time, every dayor they spoil and youve wasted your money.

Sure, theyre healthy and good for you. And some of the food can be tasty. More of then than not, though, it tastes about as appetizing as the packing its delivered in.

Isnt there an easier way to lose weight, one that puts you in charge? Thats Noom.

Noom stands out because of its revolutionary and easy to use app. Log what you eat, and you keep track of your calories. Log what you do, and keep track of the calories you burn. Thats it. Just as in life, success, or failure, is entirely up to you.

Of course, Noom is full of suggestions and tips on the right foods to eatand which to avoid. But it doesnteliminate the choice altogether. It simply gives you the information you need to make a prudent, educated decision.

And if you ever have a question or concern, if youre feeling tempted or weak, just reach out to someone for support and advice. You can quickly and easilyand often immediatelytalk to any of the thousands of Noom users who are going through the exact same weight-loss struggle. Talking with someone who knows what youre experiencing can be a super-helpful tool in fighting cravings and urges.

Plus, youve got access to your personal health coach, 24/7/365. Your Noom coach is trained to motivate you, to assist you every step of the way. And theyre always there to chat.

Starting out, you and your coach will work out a daily calorie limit, as well as an exercise and fitness plan. Your coach will hold you accountable to put in the work and keep your calories down. Its not painful. Its not bland and tasteless. From Nooms perspective, its your diet, your life, and your plan. So its your responsibility.

By focusing on making smart decisions and doing the right thingand holding you accountableNoom helps you control the little things in life you can control. Like how much you eat.

After a while, making the right decision about your diet and fitness can bleed over into other aspects of your lifesay, your drinking or your relationships. Soon, thanks to Noom you could be making smarter choices up and down the board. Getting healthier and making better decisions. Putting you in charge of our own health. Thats what makes Noom different.

By controlling what you can, and being accountable to yourself, Noom helps you be the person you always knew you could be. It sounds too simple, too good to be true. But once you start seeing results, as tens of thousands of noom users already have, youll start to understand how Noom is so successful.

The Noom app, found in the App Store and Google Play, offers two monthly memberships: a Healthy Weight Program for $45 per month, or a Diabetes Prevention Program for $90. Theres no free version of the app, but Noom does offer a 14-day trial to start out.

Why not try Noom today? Take control of your life. Youre already an adult. Its time you started being treated like it. Eat what you want and still lose weight with Noom

Check out the great products and gear we recommend to Mens Journal readers

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

Link:
Eat What You Want and Still Lose Weight: Take Control of Your Diet with Noom - Men's Journal

I know you realize that for effective weight loss its always calories versus exercise. All physical activity uses calories, even turning a page or ironing, but some activities like swimming or tennis obviously uses more calories than others. Even walking keeps muscles working.

Following is a letter sent by Lynn Fischer to a friend.

Dear Sandy,

I am writing to you because as friends, you confided in me about some of your health issues. So I am putting my suggestions on paper for you to look over in privacy. You said what was most important was to lose some weight. Plus, you wanted to have a healthier eating plan. Well, I have a plan for you to lose about 40 pounds in around one year, and its below. Healthier food suggestions are also given as is a simple exercise plan.

I know you realize that for effective weight loss its always calories versus exercise. All physical activity uses calories, even turning a page or ironing, but some activities like swimming or tennis obviously uses more calories than others. Even walking keeps muscles working.

Moving your body is important. It can be housework, gardening, yoga, gentle walking outside or on a treadmill or more highly active jogging, running, tennis, skiing, calisthenics, weightlifting. Just about any vigorous movement uses up more calories than soft working out. Even getting up from your desk every hour to walk your pup for five or 10 minutes is exercise for your body besides getting a break from your desk work.

You can choose to lose weight slowly or quickly simply by changing the serving sizes, types of food or amounts you consume and how much exercise and what kind you choose to do each day.

New way of thinking

First, your decision to becoming healthier may mean a restart in your thinking. Taking care of your own health, before anyone elses, must become first for you. Before family and friends, work or play (unless someone close to you is in crisis) you need to put your own health goals first. You have to understand you are important. After all, you cant do what you want, feel like you want, have the energy you want or take care of those you love if you arent healthy yourself.

Your health can only be managed, and your goals can only be realized, because of your own diet and exercise choices. Even those who love you will agree that only you are the one in charge. Realizing your own health is foremost will keep your goals in focus.

Inflammation is the root cause for most chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. Unfortunately, when we are considerably over our optimal weight, our bodies contain inflammation. Because overweight people have inflammation in their bodies, they dont work optimally either.

The National Institute of Healths department of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease says health problems associated with excess weight can include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, several types of cancer, sleep apnea and kidney disease. And these are just a few of the medical problems that too much body fat can cause.

Because inflammation is already in your body, you also may not feel as well as you could. And your energy levels may not be very high. In addition to inflammation, excess fat negatively affects everything; the way we move, our organs, muscles, sight, hearing, taste, digestion and evacuation.

You might also be short of breath, tired or lethargic, depressed or even angry. Extra weight can cause negative mood changes and personal feelings of unworthiness. And this isnt fair to you. You are a wonderful, successful, talented, hard-working, loving person with integrity, but excess weight can make you unhappy.

Because of your age (50+) and because you said you have too much work including stress, it is great that you are willing to make dietary and lifestyle changes to improve your health that improves your life. Regarding reducing stress, consider the pros and cons of retiring earlier or dropping some hours or keeping fewer clients. Lowering ones stress can be the smartest thing one can do for better health. Youre fortunate you have a loving and supportive husband, Rob, whom you adore whos never brought up your weight although he is concerned about your health.

Because you asked, in looking at this in its totality, in my opinion you are in crisis mode. You are at an edge where you can continue as you are and become obese and far unhealthier, or you can take control and put yourself on a healthful trajectory. You may not recognize this. My assessment isnt to scare you, its just what I see and because you asked, and mostly its because I care for you and value your friendship.

Sandy, I do this for a living, and I have a lifetime of studying weight, diet, health and exercise and how each of these affects us. We can have medical issues (and most of us do) that we cant help, but we can make the effort to work around them and have the terrific good health we want for ourselves anyway.

Planning what is right for you to lose weight takes time and you cannot begin too soon. And it takes a lot of time. And effort, especially at first. But soon, eating more wisely fits right into your life. Regarding the time it takes, it might be several months (sometimes years) to get it exactly right for you because some of these are lifetime changes.

But this is an adventure you can win. Eating healthfully becomes a habit quickly. Good food and good exercise decisions right for you soon become second nature, easier each day. This daily planning keeps your health goals in the forefront. Then your diet and exercise plans become almost automatic. All of this takes lots of effort, but youre worth it. Getting yourself to a healthier place can be a struggle. So what? Most good things take time and a struggle.

A pitfall should be noted. Many who lose weight successfully, even for as long as a year, finally becoming trim and strong (some with the help of a lap band or other operation). Unfortunately, studies show 95% go back to overeating and quickly, within a few months, gain all the weight back again. If youre aware of this, you can better take steps to avoid it.

Working toward being healthier is worth it and is much easier and less expensive than trying to manage the serious illnesses that too much extra weight can, and will, bring.

After deciding which approach you want to take, and several are listed below, you will start looking carefully at food nutritional labels, counting calories, looking at the fat, sodium, fiber and protein levels. Consulting with your doctor about your plan, seeing a weight specialist, a registered nutritionist or dietitian, a clinical counselor or a psychiatrist (who as an MD can prescribe medication if needed) or a psychologist (who may also have a deep understanding, training and experience in excessive eating and can help with emotional problems sometimes associated with overeating) is always recommended.

Other health choices

There are ancillary health choices too, like limiting time with negative people and being around those who are more health-conscious, because it rubs off. And, of course, making sure you have all your medically suggested inoculations for flu, pneumonia, shingles etc. There is nothing more discouraging than having your health goals interrupted by having to stay in bed with the flu if it could be avoided.

Although herbal or homeopathic remedies may work for some, they arent medically advised, especially when tackling something as important as a weight-loss program. Because it is so difficult, medical or dietary specialists can be important, not anecdotal dietary advice or untested remedies, some of which can be counterproductive.

You already drink plenty of liquids which is great! Water, coffee and flavored waters, tea, calorie-free flavored or sparkling drinks, diet sodas, soups, sherbets, flavored ices and all other liquid-based foods count as liquids, so keep that up. Note that caffeine products are a diuretic, which means you may have to urinate more often and at night, that can interrupt your sleep.

I noticed after dinner you had a cup of coffee. Although you said you have no problem getting to sleep or staying asleep, coffee at night can cause other problems, says sleep researcher Kenneth Wright Jr. a professor with the Department of Integrative Physiology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Besides enlarging your veins and arteries, he says, late afternoon or night caffeine does not let you get the natural, total body relaxation and sleep support your brain and body needs. Caffeine is known to disrupt quality sleep in ways you may not be aware of, and that can affect you the following day.

Dr. Wright says that coffee, as the worlds most widely consumed psychoactive drug, when taken at night disrupts the bodys internal clock as caffeine appears to push or boost your internal clock. This means the best or most relaxing sleep comes an hour later than normal. This seemingly minor time alteration of a one-hour delay of your most restful sleep can make you feel sluggish in the morning and during the day.

Dr. Wright adds, Even chocolate at night, especially dark chocolate after 5 p.m. if you eat several pieces can also affect sleep as can any caffeine-boosted drink including colas, iced or hot tea that isnt decaffeinated.

These unusual sleep-timing effects were again found in a recent additional small study. Sleep researcher Jamie Zeitzer, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, praised the study by Dr. Wright because researchers found that consumption of evening or night-time coffee, the bodys circadian clock (which sets biological rhythms such as your sleeps natural sleep/wake cycles) is disrupted. Every cell in the body apparently has its own clock and caffeine is shown to affect and disrupt each cells internal clock. With this information you might consider switching to decaffeinated coffee after dinner.

Coffee, however, has lots of benefits nearly all experts and studies show. Coffee keeps one alert, students do better on testing, its shown to help with weight loss, and athletes use it to get better workouts. The Archives of Internal Medicine reports that a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health found that women who drink four or more cups of coffee were 20% less likely to suffer from depression. So, coffee for most people isnt usually a problem, but since one cup of coffee stays in your body for eight hours, switching to decaf after 2 p.m. might help with more ideal sleep.

One decaf cup still contains 4 milligrams of caffeine, which isnt much compared to the 40 milligrams in a cup of coffee. No study indicates that decaf causes sleep problems.

Diet choices

It is suggested by most cardiologists and weight loss specialists to greatly reduce red meat consumption depending, of course, upon how often you eat it. Heart doctors suggest 3 ounces of red meat just once a week at most, not twice a day, which is usual. Weight specialist indicate that by cutting red meat consumption youll most likely begin to drop weight quickly. It usually isnt difficult to substitute meat with 3 ounces of lean fish, shellfish or poultry (skinless and not batter fried). People who lessen meat consumption say anecdotally they have more energy.

However, the January 2020 Cleveland Clinics Heart Advisor Newsletter (vol. 23/ No. 1) cites five articles in the annals of Internal Medicine that contradict cutting down on meat parenthetically saying that red meat consumption is just fine. But the Cleveland Clinic cardiologists (and nearly all other cardiologists) disagree with the meat is okay study. Some strongly.

When researchers at Harvards T. H. Chan School of Public Health crunched the exact same number as the meat is okay group they concluded that even a moderate reduction in red meat in America alone might prevent 200,000 (premature) deaths per year.

Eating most types of red meat also causes antibiotic resistance says University of California, Berkeleys February 2020 Wellness Letter. According to a report from six major consumer and health organizations including the Natural Resources Defense Council Consumer Reports and the Center for Food Safety, of the 25 largest fast-food chains and fast-casual restaurants, 21 (of the fast-food chains), have a troubling overuse of antibiotics in their beef. Fifteen of them received a grade F for still not having a meaningful and transparent policy in place to reduce or eliminate meat antibiotics

Only two chains, Panera and Chipotle, earned A grades for their strict antibiotic policies.

McDonalds improved from an F grade in 2018 to a C in 2019, but that is still too high. So, reducing red meat in your diet may have other beneficial health benefits besides weight loss. Stanley Hazen, MD, PhD, Co-Section Head of Preventive Cardiology with Dennis Bruemmer, Md, PhD says, There is a reduction in mortality risk with lower red meat consumption. Its one more reason people are switching to meatless products such as Impossible Burgers and Beyond Meat.

Its easy to fill your plate with the thousands of other foods available that you will like, and there are many ways to improve meals nutritionally. For example, plain pasta can spike your blood sugar levels without giving you many nutrients. But pasta with a sauce of heavily laden vegetables like sauted onions, garlic, tomatoes, sweet basil, dried oregano, fennel seeds and ground turkey, makes it a satisfying dish that blunts raising your blood sugar.

When eating starchy foods such as white potatoes, white bread, corn, peas and rice, make sure you combine it with numerous other non-starchy fruits and vegetables such as leafy greens, tomato, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. One example is having rice with lots of Asian vegetables. Non-starchy vegetables can all be enjoyed because they are very healthy and wont cause spikes in your blood sugar. Bread such as Daves Killer Bread is often whole wheat and has lots of grains that diminish spikes.

High fat butter on your bread, rolls or vegetables can easily be substituted with any of the very low saturated fat tub margarines (7 grams saturated fat versus 1 gram) such as Benecol and I Cant Believe Its Not Butter, and many other good choices.

We all love cheese, but its interesting to note that a cows highest production of female hormones is when shes lactating. Lactating milk from mammals such as cows or goats is what our whole milk, 2% or skim milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, gelato, cottage cheese and cream are made from. This high level of consuming a female animals hormones may be problematic for some boys and men, especially if they consume lots of dairy as they could be getting too many female hormones.

Daily eating plan

If you stick to around 750 calories a day, you can lose about 40 pounds in a year (depending upon exercise).

BREAKFAST:

1 small sausage of turkey or chicken OR 1 egg (hard cooked, scrambled, or soft boiled) for morning protein

cup fresh mixed berries.

OR

cup cooked or cold cereal with soy milk.

If protein is left out at breakfast, add it at lunch. Any beverage; coffee, tea, water-diluted low sugar juice by half, coffee without sugar (use artificial sweeteners such as Stevia, Equal or Truvia). Coffee with a low-fat creamer. Make a note of the calories.

LUNCH:

Green, light or dark lettuce salad, radishes, carrots, tomatoes, green beans and a very low-fat dressing, as much as you like.

OR

A large plate of cooked seasonal vegetables as much as you like. Add a slim half slice piece of high-grain bread. Ezekiel is also a good brand. Make a note of the calories.

DINNER:

Three ounces skinless poultry, shellfish or fish. A large helping of several interesting cooked (or raw) vegetables, and perhaps cup of brown rice. Any water-based beverage such as iced or hot decaffeinated tea, decaffeinated coffee, diet caffeine-free soda. Make a note of the calories.

Keep the daily total under 750 calories. Yes, you will be hungry and it isnt easy. Figure out ways to combat the hunger with calorie-free drinks, sparkling water or having on hand crisp raw vegetables as snacks. Waiting 20 minutes alleviates the discomfort of hunger pangs for nearly everyone.

Enjoy a dessert you love just once or twice a week but make it small and special. Why waste your weight loss and health goals on a horrible cookie?

A snack daily of a small handful of nuts or peanut butter on a half slice of bread and any single fruit at any time of the day is great but add them up so you dont exceed your daily calorie goal of 750 calories. You can also eat fresh berries, pears, kiwi, or apples that are lower in sugar and higher in fiber. Fruits with peanut or almond butter is a great dessert. Once you know about how many calories are in several items, such as about 100 calories in a slice of bread, these numbers stay with you.

You are on a journey and it isnt easy. This is your health, your life, your goals, your very being alive. Your own journey says so much about you and youve succeeded already in so many ways.

My friend and weight loss expert Dr. Susan Forward says that weight loss is difficult and sometimes more easily accomplished when trying one or more of the following: diet books, low fat recipe books, healthy eating magazines, single or group therapy, hypnosis, walking with friends on a regular time period, or joining a good weight loss program like Weight Watchers. Please remember these should be done along with consistent exercise such as weight lifting (easier if you have a trainer to push you), walking daily on a treadmill or outside, and jogging for a few feet or even a few hundred feet. If you bring light weights during your walk, you can do arm exercises such as bicep curls as you walk. You can then move on to bigger weights when you strengthen your muscles.

Please remember that I am here to support you and I am a free source of information for you to use!

Lynn Fischer (Kryger) is the author of seven best-selling cookbooks and the host of The Discovery

Channels The Low Cholesterol Gourmet and Public Broadcastings Lynn Fischers Healthy Indulgences

Go here to read the rest:
Nutrition: Weight loss is not easy, but its worth it - News Chief

There are two types of people in the world: those who do CrossFit, and those who hear about the commitment, dedication and effort involved with this intense fitness mindset and say, Yeah no thanks.

If you fall into the former camp, then youve probably already heard the vertical diet being talked about around your local box. But non-CrossFitters may still be in the dark about this inverted diet trend whose nutrient profile is often described as an upside-down letter T and wondering if it could help them lose weight.

The vertical diet was created to help bodybuilders easily put on mass to meet weight-gain goals without digestive issues, says registered dietician Amy Shapiro, founder of Real Nutrition. The foods allowed are easy to digest and dense, yet they are clean and minimally processed.

But before you jump on yet another diet bandwagon with a catchy name, theres some stuff you should know about it. Its not for everyone, first of all and it doesnt meet all your nutritional goals as is. Heres the whole scoop.

Okay, back to the upside-down T. The vertical diet gets its name because it emphasises receiving the majority of your calories from a restricted number of nutrient-dense foods instead of eating more evenly, or horizontally, across several different food groups.

The bottom of the upside-down T is your foundation meant to be filled with small quantities of foods providing necessary micronutrients while the vertical line represents the bulk of your calories for the day (mainly red meat and white rice, but Ill get to that later).

READ MORE: What Is Alternate-Day Fasting And Is It A Safe Weight-Loss Method?

The diet was designed by a bodybuilder, Stan Efferding, and because of its focus on protein and carbs, its meant to help people build muscle mass and improve energy, stamina and endurance. According to Efferding, reducing your food intake to a limited number of easily digestible foods allows you to enhance your metabolism and improve your gut health.

When youre following the vertical diet, youre supposed to build a solid foundation of micronutrients by eating things like milk, eggs, fish, vitamin C-rich fruits and some vegetables, like potatoes, spinach and carrots, says Shapiro. These foods are not, however, meant to contribute to your overall calorie intake. Instead, you eat them in small amounts for their vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

The bulk of your calories comes from red meat and white rice. Why? Well, red meat is a nutrient-dense protein source thats rich in iron, zinc and vitamin B12 (more so than other proteins, like chicken). Meanwhile, white rice is easily digestible, so its a good carb source for athletes. The vertical diet also encourages you to keep increasing your carb intake, i.e. moving up the vertical line over time.

As for whats off the vertical diet menu: chicken, fish, brown rice, wheat-based and whole-grain foods, beans and legumes, and high-raffinose (a.k.a. gassy) foods, like broccoli and cauliflower. You cant have added or artificial sugars. There are no onions or garlic allowed, either. Basically, any food thats not super digestible should be avoided.

The only reason people who arent extreme athletes or powerlifters might consider doing a diet like this is if it promises weight loss, right? (Otherwise, just why?)

But heres the thing: Though the vertical diet could result in weight loss for some (such as those who eat a lot of processed foods or sugars), its not really designed for that. Remember, the diet is supposed to help people gain muscle mass, so to lose weight as in, fat on the diet, you have to do some strategic tweaking.

READ MORE: Low-Carb Vs. Keto: Whats The Diff And Which Is Better?

You could lose weight on this diet if you watch portions and eliminate excessive amounts of white rice and simple carbs, says Shapiro.

Because the programme limits many plant-based foods needed for weight loss, she adds, you would also want to increase the amount of vegetables and reduce the quantity of fatty cuts of meat and cheese you consume. (Hello, ketos antithesis!)

Great Q! The vertical diet claims that it will improve your gut health, and that may be true: The diet is based around foods that are mostly low in FODMAPs (a.k.a. fermentable carbs), which can contribute to bloating, gas, diarrhoea and other GI conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Crohns disease when eaten in high quantities.

A 2016 review published in Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology showed that mostly all of the studies done on low FODMAP diets are correlated with improvement of IBS symptoms, with up to 86 percent of patients reporting fewer GI symptoms.

READ MORE: 12 Fasting Tips Thatll Help You Actually Lose Weight (And Not Go Crazy)

So, by sheer virtue of being mostly low in FODMAPs, the vertical diet may ease some of your GI distress. And, certainly, if youre an athlete looking to put on muscle, the nutrient profile here can help you meet your goals without causing other problems.

Usually, when youre trying to put on muscle mass and eating large quantities, you can feel overly full, gassy and bloated, explains Shapiro. Vertical-diet foods are streamlined to digest easily and with minimal side effects. But because they are calorically dense, they assist with weight gain unless, once again, you customise the plan for your goals.

Though the foods you eat on the vertical diet are relatively clean, whole foods, theres historically been a lot of concerns about the effects of high red meat consumption on overall health. The American Heart Association warns that eating too much red meat can have negative effects on your cholesterol levels and heart health, but some newer studies including one done at the Harvard School of Public Health debate whether red meat is really to blame for heart disease.

READ MORE: 5 Mindful Eating Tips That Will Change Your Relationship With Food

Its also worth noting that the vertical diet is fairly deficient in fibre, since it emphasises white rice and cuts out whole grains, legumes and some vegetables. Shapiro says that fibre is crucial for maintaining cholesterol levels and heart health (not to mention regular bowel movements). She also notes that the diet is low in probiotics (because it cuts out most fermented foods) and high in animal protein, saturated fat and simple carbs.

So although youre eating cleaner, youre not necessarily eating more nutritiously and you could suffer from a lack of fibre and probiotics if youre not compensating for those losses.

Shapiro says if youre a bodybuilder or extreme athlete looking to put on mass as your number-one goal, the vertical diet can be an effective way to get there. And even if youre a more moderate gym rat, she says, it can still work for you but with some important modifications.

I would recommend including additional sprouted grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits, and limiting the intake of saturated fat from red meat and full-fat dairy, Shapiro advises.

Although the diet mostly eliminates added sugars and processed foods (always a good thing), casual dieters just looking to lose weight might struggle to follow the high-protein, high-carb requirements of the vertical diet without accidentally gaining weight. And they might find themselves deficient in many nutrients that contribute to a broader definition of health.

At the end of the day, its your call, but only try an eating plan that suits you not your kinda-obnoxious, CrossFit-obsessed next-door neighbour.

This article was originally published on http://www.womenshealthsa.co.za

Image credit: iStock

Sarah Bradley

More:
What is the vertical diet and is it good for weight loss? - Health24

CORONATION Street star Katie McGlynn has exclusively revealed upping her step count saw her shed two dress sizes.

The actress, 26, who played cancer-stricken Sinead Tinker in the ITV soap, is back to her size 8 wardrobe and committed to "focus" on her health.

6

Katie quit the ITV soap late last year in tragic scenes which saw her character pass away from her second bout of cancer - leaving husband Daniel and baby Bertie behind.

Off-screen, she exclusively told The Sun Online how the sad subject matter and intense filming left her snacking on cakes in the Corrie canteen, and creeping to a size 12.

She candidly told us: "I just didnt feel myself.

"Throughout the whole Sinead storyline, I put a bit of weight on and didnt feel comfortable in my own skin, and I wanted a kickstart on my health, and to feel confident again.

6

6

"Youre knackered and youre doing 12-hour days and its upsetting scenes.

"The canteen at Corrie have the best homemade cakes and I was eating for the town."

Revealing her secrets to weight loss success, with the help of personal trainers at Ultimate Performance in Manchester, she added: "I was weight-training four to five times a week, and steps was the main thing.

"I was doing 15,000 steps a day, which really helped, and tracking them on an app.

6

"It took 12 weeks to lose the weight. Im now a size 8, and I was a 10 before - tethering on a size 12, and I didnt like that - I was like a big size 10.

"Im not dissing 10s, but its just the way my body shape is - I feel more comfortable being a size 8.

"I lost over a stone, and a little later I lost a bit more so I think it was a stone and a half altogether."

Proving she's just like the rest of us when it comes to stuffing ourselves silly with mince pies and pigs in blankets, she conceded: "However, over Christmas I put half a stone back on.

6

6

AFTER DATE Love Island's Sophie and Connor head out on first date after Aftersun reunion

HUMES THAT GIRL? Rochelle Humes' OTHER identical sister Lili leaves Love Island's Aftersun

'so cringe' Love Island fans cringe at Sophie and Connor's 'awkward' reunion

RUTHLESS! Piers Morgan makes huge dig at Ruth's feud with Phillip Schofield on Loose Women

'WE WERE CHATTING' Corrie's Alison King and Mikey North claim they didn't kiss at NTAs

Exclusive

LUST ORDERS Corrie's Alison King can't remember Mikey North snog because she was so drunk

"Im going to focus on my health this year and Im going to carry on with my fitness.

"To celebrate my weight loss, I threw out my old wardrobe and bought some new bits, and some new gym gear."

Previously, Katie has told how she felt "very down" about her weight and as such, adopted a high protein diet.

She showed off her new figure at last month's NTAs, where she was crowned winner of the Serial Drama Performance.

Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220.

We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.

Link:
Katie McGlynn says walking 15,000 steps a day helped her lose weight and drop TWO sizes after binging on - The Sun

The GOLO diet is a weight loss program marketed by the company GOLO For Life.

The official website says that the GOLO diet is different from other fad diets because it focuses on "increasing metabolic efficiency" and rebalancing hormones, rather than just counting calories.

There's limited research on the diet's effectiveness for weight loss, and some of the few studies that have been done were funded by GOLO For Life. Here's what you should know about GOLO and it's diet program.

GOLO was founded in 2009 by a group of doctors, researchers, and marketing strategists. The name is short for the company motto: "Go lose weight. Go look great. Go love life."

The diet started to catch on in 2016 and 2017, according to Google Trends, and at the close of 2019, it seemed to peak interest, yet again ending up on the US News & World Report's most popular diet of 2019.

Marketers of the GOLO diet claim that, with proper nutrition and a supplement called Release, it can restore your insulin sensitivity and metabolic health.

What exactly GOLO considers "proper nutrition" is unclear. The website emphasizes "foods that contain the nutrients you need and fuel your metabolism."

In order to access the full GOLO's dieting guide, you have to pay $50 to $100 for a bottle of the company's controversial Release supplement, which is developed by GOLO's in-house researchers and pharmacists and, like most dietary supplements, not FDA approved for weight loss.

You can get some idea of what types of food the GOLO diet promotes by checking the meals pictured on the site. They're made up of proteins, vegetables, and unprocessed carbohydrates. The company also emphasizes calorie restriction, based on the 1300 to 1500 calorie diet they model on their website.

The tenants of the GOLO diet, eating mostly unprocessed foods, are backed by evidence to help people lose weight. Moreover, multiple forms of calorie-restriction have repeatedly shown to help people lose weight and improve insulin sensitivity how effectively your body responds to insulin, a hormone critical in metabolism.

However, the scientific evidence behind the GOLO diet's eating plan, specifically, is limited. The website links to four studies: two were not peer-reviewed and the remaining two studies were published but funded by GOLO For Life.

Also, the 2019 study that suggests investing in the diet's Release supplement can lead to greater weight loss is questionable, says Jose Aleman, an endocrinologist at NYU who studies obesity told Insider.

Specifically, Aleman takes issue with how the study was conducted to achieve this result.

The study, which was funded by GOLO For Life, included 68 patients all of whom were on the GOLO diet eating plan. Half took the Release supplement while the other half took a placebo. The results show that those on Release lost more weight, but on closer look, the average starting weights for the two groups were very different: 213 pounds in the placebo group vs. 240 pounds in the Release group.

Heavier patients lose weight faster, Aleman says. Not to mention, improvements in insulin resistance are most dramatic with the loss of the first 10 pounds which happened in the heaviest group first, as we'd expect. Because the groups were so different at baseline, their weight loss difference is not likely to be the result of the supplement, Alemen says.

The bottom line is that the GOLO diet's attention to eating unprocessed foods and restricting calories will likely help you to lose weight. However, investing in their Release supplement may not be the best use of your money.

Originally posted here:
What is the GOLO diet? Why experts question its weight-loss claims - Insider - INSIDER

Page 129«..1020..128129130131..140150..»

Home » Lose Weight » Page 129