What You Need to Know about Anorexia and Women’s Eating Disorder

Open up a woman’s magazine and you would not miss on an article about anorexia or bulimia. To some readers, these issues may only seem like an ordinary, day-to-day thing that happens. Yet, for those women who suffers, worst, die from these eating disorders, weight consciousness is a wrecking havoc. The twentieth century marked the dawn of a new era, and suddenly, thin was in.

Billboards and beauty magazines proclaimed it.

Women today are faced with a struggle. Current research proves that women are more likely than men to perceive themselves as overweight regardless of their actual weight. A study projected that the total number of women in the United States who are overweight comes to 46%, and 75% of them look at themselves in the mirror thinking they are! Other studies show that women suffer from eating disorders significantly more than men and have lower levels of body satisfaction and self-esteem.

Anorexia is an eating disorder which is characterized by unfounded fear of becoming fat accompanied with an unending and extreme dieting, fasting, purging, and exercise. They are characteristically too skinny but are convinced that they are still fat. This disorder typically begins at around the onset of puberty.

Hey here I have something that can help you improve your diet and your fitness and best of all is that it's free

People with anorexia go to extremes to never to gain weight. Too extreme that they end up like skeletons but still think extremely obese.

Although this disorder can affect anybody, research shows that those in the upper echelon of the society, where weight has been placed in the limelight, are the ones who become imprisoned of this deadly disorder.

People with anorexia manifests either, or both the so-called “eating signs” and “appearance signs.” Eating or food behavior symptoms include strange food rituals, like eating when there is nobody around, pre-occupation with food, pretending to eat, obsession on calories and fats in food, and dieting despite being skinny.

Physical appearance symptoms on the other hand include dramatic weight loss, fixation on body image, being harshly critical of physical appearance, and denial of being skinny.

Major risk factors of anorexia have been identified as follows: genetic predisposition, peer and family pressure, low self-esteem, history of sexual abuse, and perfectionism.

Biological studies explored the link between an anorexic’s genetic predisposition and the disorder, and found out that if a girl has a sister who has anorexia, she is 10 to 20 times more likely to develop similar disorder.

Studies launched by psychologists on the other hand, revealed psychological risk factors of anorexia. Children who are “over-achievers” are more concerned about pleasing others and keeping up with their parents” and the society’s standard of beauty. They want to appear pleasing and perfect, afraid for others to say something ill about their behavior and their

Read More

Weekly Healthy Eating Habits: Ground Rules in a House of Food

There’s nothing you can do about the high-fat or high-calorie foods that are in the local pizzeria or fast food places, but you don’t have to live with them in your own house. If you could live with them, you wouldn’t have a weight problem. So don’t try to tempt yourself. Recovering alcohol or addicts don’t keep Scotch or cocaine around just to test their resolve. Why should you? Keeping your house clean from fatty and unhealthy food is the start of a weekly healthy eating habit.

Even if some members of your household grouse about not having twenty-four-hour access to potato chips, keep your perspective. If you were recovering from alcoholism, no true friend or loved ones would insist on keeping fully stocked bar in the house against your wishes.

Keeping your trigger foods out of the house is not an unreasonable condition as long as you make it clear to household members why you need to do this. They need to know it is more than just a diet issue — it’s a health issue. It is about becoming, and remaining fit , healthy and in control of your life and your diet. Weekly healthy eating habits will start difficult but once you get the hang of it, things will be easy and breezy.

Hey here I have something that can help you improve your diet and your fitness and best of all is that it's free

We literally eat with our eyes. So going about one’s business in a home that has food on display can be dangerous. If there are foods that you decide you need to have around the house for others, but that you find a potential trigger food, establish some new habits instead of risking your resistance capacity.

Keep foods, packages, cookie jars, and other container off the kitchen counter. Keep them off easy-to-reach shelves. The prospect of pulling out and climbing up onto the stepladder to reach a bag of potato chips nestled on the top shelf may be enough occasions to make you say, “forget about it.”

Don’t forbid foods, but forbid them from those areas of your life.

If someone insists on buying Haagen-Dazs, just ask them to do it when you aren’t around or to do it somewhere else. If they want pizza, tell them its fine. But they have to take it all outside.

Provide the people you’re living with canisters wherein they can store their special foods that may cause you problems. Tell them to keep it anywhere as long as it’s not within your reach. This helps you as much as you help them keep their choices.

Give them lockable cabinets or boxes wherein they can store their foods. Give them the lock and make sure you don’t have access to the combination key.

Part of taking control of your food intake is to learn to live and maintain control in a world of food, a world with other people, and a world where other people’s wishes and desires don’t always go with yours. Educate those around you and take steps to make your home environment fairly safe. You have to convince people around you that your weekly healthy eating habits will be there to stay so might as well they get used to it also.

Sometimes we find ourselves justifying our cravings by saying that “food is everywhere — I have to learn to live with it.” This rationale is very considerate, rational, and even logical. But they are still wrong.

As far as depriving the other people around you, take a moment to assess who is really applying the pressure. More often than not, you will find that you, and not the other members of your households, are the ones who are bringing the foods in.

A house full of people may be a house full of different points of view, but sometimes, when health is at stake, it is better to temper these points of view and stick to ground rules.

Read More

Depression and Obesity: A Call for Lifestyle Change

Depression is a significant health problem that affects both the young and older population. Estimates of depression vary widely. However, there is a consensus that the size of the problem is underestimated owing to misdiagnosis and mistreatment.

The term depression is used to describe a symptom, syndrome, or disease. It is a disorder of the emotion rather than of thought. With this severity of the condition, it is a must to improve and move for lifestyle change.

Major depression, which affects approximately 20% of the population, is classified as either unipolar, which is characterized by persistent unpleasant mood, or bipolar, which on the other hand is characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania.

As with schizophrenia, genetic factors appear to play an important role in the development of mood disorders. Neuroimaging techniques have revealed several anatomic and functional abnormalities in different regions of the brain.

Hey here I have something that can help you improve your diet and your fitness and best of all is that it's free

Though different disciplines cite differing causes and risk factors of depression, recently, psychological studies reveal a there is actually a two way link between depression and obesity. A better understanding of these two health problems would lead to a better way of treating both.

Being obese may add up to the stress already experienced by the person. This chronic stress brought about by the social stigma attached to being obese, topped with self-reproach and dissatisfaction with one’s appearance may lead the individual to fall into depression and other related symptoms. This condition, however, may be drastically change by an effort for lifestyle change.

Studies reveal that overindulgence to starchy, sweet, and fatty “comfort foods” are common among obese individuals. These foods alleviate the depression and thereby improving the mood of the person. Recurrence of this vicious cycle will only push the already obese person, further down the threshold of desperation and depression, thus, worsening both his physical and emotional state.

The first step towards this phase is to convince the person to change his ways. Though this may be a little bit tough and rough, everything else will flow from that will to be better.

Once he already recognizes and sees for himself the benefit of that change, he will now feel better of himself. And slowly, he will be able to let go of that ill feeling towards how he looks and towards his body.

Healthy food choices will lessen the guilt that a depressed and obese person feels. This will make him feel good about himself because he knows that his body and his disposition benefits out of his choices.

Regular physical activities have already been proven to improve one’s mood by shaking up those happy brain cells and improving the flow of oxygen into the brain.

Thus, will, plus healthy food choices, and physical activities are lethal weapons in fighting and treating both obesity and depression.

Read More

Does Smoking Contribute to Weight Gain?

Most cigarette users would claim that they lose appetite when they smoke. Yet, when they quit, they tend to put more weight on than when they were smoking. One may now ask,

“Does smoking contribute to weight gain?”

&

“Does smoking have something to do with obesity?”

_____It was reported that obesity and diseases – which was caused by smoking – has been the leading causes of death around the world. The existence of smoking and obesity has great ill effects on health. According to scholars, smokers live 14 years lesser than those who do not smoke. In the same vein, 1/3 of obese smokers die between ages 40 to 75 years old, hence the relationship between smoking and obesity is completely intertwined.

Hey here I have something that can help you improve your diet and your fitness and best of all is that it's free

_____At the onset, a smoker may lose weight because of smoking, because nicotine increases energy use, thus reducing appetite. This explains why smokers most likely have a Iower body weight than non-smokers. Then again, this phenomenon has an extreme side effect which is weight gain following smoking cessation. Because of this, a widespread belief that smoking is a “good method” of losing and managing weight has been making waves.

This, of course, is not necessarily true.

_____Studies reveal that heavy smokers (people who smoke a bigger number of cigarettes a day) have higher body weight than light smokers. Should the initial belief be true, then it should have followed that the more cigarettes you smoke, the lesser would be your weight. Furthermore, newly found evidences would point out that smoking has something great to do in as far as poor fat distribution, central obesity, and resistance to insulin.

_____Smoking’s effect on the body can be characterized by weight loss due to increased metabolic rate and decreased calorific absorption. A single puff of tobacco a day has been proven to increase the body’s energy use by 3% in 30 minutes. Then again, this effect is weaker among obese smokers. Studies found out that an obese female quitter of smokingdecreased her body’s energy usage by 16% compared to that time when she was still smoking. These data show that smoking generally does not help in controlling one’s weight. Heavy smoking on the other hand increases the body’s chance to gain weight.

_____Though light smokers may benefit from the weight loss effect of smoking, the adverse effect of the same on the body’s other organs cannot be discounted. The smoker’s heart, for instance, suffers the most as the smoker inhale more smoke. As cigarette smoker’s inhale more smoke, his metabolic rate runs faster as the heart is forced to beat faster. The moment a smoker inhales a cigarette, his heart is forced to beat 10 to 20 times faster per minute. When he decides to stop smoking, the heart rate slows down, causing metabolism to slow down as well. In this case, you can never say that the benefits out-way the risks. Yes, a light smoker may lose weight by changing his metabolic rate, but the gaining weight part will have to happen at withdrawal on top of a deadly heart disease caused by increased heart rate.

 So to answer the question “does smoking contribute to weight gain?,” the answer is in the affirmative. The explanation above very well illustrates how this happens.

Read More

Improving Self-Image through Weight Loss

Most women feel uncomfortable with and in their bodies, whatever their size and weight. Women feel insecure and frequently reach out to body transformation as a cure-all for other issues. The perpetual enticements of the “slim body” merchants mean that tremendous strength must be exercised in order to look afresh at our bodies and try to see them for what they are.

If they are fat, that may well be a statement of self-dislike, a desire to be distinguished from the crowd, a test, a rebellion. It may be that feeling or being fat so upsets us that we hate our bodies and feel despair about taking care of them. They think that being thin is the answer to all these. This is precisely the reason why weight loss options have been very prominent.

Well, let me make it clear what thin is not. Thin is not an arbitrary number on a scale. It’s not the cover of Cosmopolitan, FHM, or GQ. It is not the model of the moment or the latest celebrity fitness adviser.
Thin, like fitness, is personal. Thin is the weight that improves your health, appearance, and overall quality of life. It is the weight that allows you to walk up a flight of stairs—briskly—but doesn’t require utter starvation to get there. It is the weight loss part and acts that looks and feels great on you and that everybody will notice.

Thin, should mirror your own concept of who you really are, and not what you think people and society label you with.

Hey here I have something that can help you improve your diet and your fitness and best of all is that it's free

How do you do that?

First, take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Ideally, look at yourself in the nude — after you’ve showered or just before you dress. Evaluate just how fit you look. If your arms are full, does the flesh sag or is it firm? If your thighs are heavy, are they dimpled and jiggly or smooth and fair tight? Take an inventory of the areas that need to be toned and tightened.

Should it be impossible not to compare yourself to someone or something, please, just resist the impulse.

Forget the beauty magazines and the movies. Your goal weight should be just that—your weight, not Heidi Klum or Kim Kardashian’s weight, not the weight of any other sexy star.

If you use the world of entertainment as your guide to ideal weight, you are in for a disaster. These images that assault you have very little to do with good health or the way real people live.

Forget the dress you wore during the spring dance two years back. More often than not, dieters look back some time in their past when they felt particularly slender and beautiful—and decide that that is the weight they want to reach. It does not matter that they were eating nothing but ice cubes for months to get there.

As you look at yourself in the mirror, let go of your old notions of thin and your ideal shape. Simply see your body as it is now, lumps, bumps, cellulite, and all. As you gaze at your body, the parts you love, the parts that you hate, imagine your problem areas gradually shrinking. Picture those lumps and bumps becoming smooth lines and contours. Fix that image in your mind. Let it take the place of all the other, unrealistic ideals you may have envisioned. That should be a good start. Effective weight loss should start here.

Read More

Psyllium Fiber and Weight Loss

The importance of high fiber diet is becoming popular especially to those who want to lose weight. Along with the shot to fame of high-fiber cereals is the rise to familiarity of one of its lesser known ingredient: psyllium fiber.

Psyllium fiber is a water soluble fiber similar to fiber found in grains such as oats and barley. It comes from psyllium husk which covers the brown, tiny gel coated, tasteless and odorless psyllium seed. This plant is native to Asia, the Mediterranean region and North Africa. Its use can be traced back to traditional Indian and Arab medicine. Arabs used Psyllium during the Middle Ages while references of its use can be found in ancient Indian prescriptions for its healing properties and traditional uses.

The seed husks are used in the food industry to form gels that give thickening and textural changes to foods. It can be used in baked goods as a low calorie source of fiber, in ice creams and sherbets as a natural stabilizer. It is approved in the U.S. both as a supplement and bulk laxative. Unlike insoluble fiber such as wheat bran and oat bran, it does not cause irritation and allergic reactions. Moreover, the amount of soluble fiber in psyllium is much higher than oat bran. Psyllium yields 60 to 70 percent soluble fiber, eight times that of oat bran. It is also safe for long term use.

Hey here I have something that can help you improve your diet and your fitness and best of all is that it's free

Psyllium fiber is considered pure dietary fiber. It is not broken down as it passes down the gastrointestinal tract and so psyllium has no nutritive value other than as a source of fiber. What is so special about psyllium fiber is its capacity to attract and bind water. Upon absorbing water, it increases in volume swelling about 35-50 times its size and creating a spongy, gelatinous mass in the bowels. Thus, when taken by humans, it acts like a huge sponge inside the colon and intestines. This simple process may bring the following health benefits to the body:

1. Maintains a Healthy Colon
   Psyllium is an excellent colon cleanser. It breaks down and moves toxic waste matter stuck in the folds and crevices of the bowel. A healthy colon is also necessary to maximize the benefits of healthy diet. Otherwise, poor elimination can cause toxic buildup from accumulated waste and weaken the immune system, paving the way for illness. The American Cancer Institute recommends eating 20-35 grams of fiber a day. Every 100 grams of psyllium provides 71 grams of soluble fiber.
2. Therapeutic Advantages for people with Diabetes
   Psyllium fiber improves the control of blood glucose concentration and acts as natural insulin to give patients suffering from diabetes a good therapeutic advantage. With this, its not only ideal for weight los but also for theraphy.
3. Reduce Bad Cholesterol and Lowers the risk of Coronary heart Disease (CHD)
   Psyllium’s ability to absorb water helps to increase the body’s ability to eliminate cholesterol through the bowel. Psyllium reduces LDL (low-density lipoproteins) or “bad” cholesterol, while having no significant effect on the HDL (high-density lipoproteins) or “good” cholesterol. The bad cholesterol is passed through the bowels, thus lowering one’s cholesterol levels. Lower “bad” cholesterol reduces the risk of Coronary Heart Diseases. Low-fat diets which included Psyllium had a greater cholesterol-lowering effect than low fat diets without Psyllium. Incorporating Psyllium into food products is also more effective at reducing blood glucose response than use of a soluble-fiber supplement that is separate from the food.
4. Helps Reduce Diarrhea and Relieve Constipation
   The bulking effect caused by the absorption of water by the Psyllium fiber helps to relieve diarrhea. Incidentally, this bulking effect is also used to treat constipation by increasing fecal bulk and loosening stools.
5. Achieve You Weight Loss Goal
   Psyllium’s absorption of water causes the fiber content to expand and creates a feeling of fullness in the stomach. The sensation of fullness reduces hunger craving. Reduced hunger craving mean less unhealthy eating which in turn lead to weight loss.
   For people who wish to lose weight, it is always recommended that diet and exercise be used in conjunction with the Psyllium. It is also advised to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day while using Psyllium because of its ability to absorb fluids in the intestine. Choking is a hazard if psyllium is taken without adequate water and thickens in the throat.

Read More

5 of the Major Reasons Why Going to the Gym Doesn’t Result to Weight Loss

Isn’t it frustrating to see your body figure in front of a full body mirror still not shaping up the way you want it to despite months over months of sweating at the gym?

I would be very frustrated about it.

Let us try to dissect why despite your crazy lifting at the gym yields not enough results to your body. Here are 5 of the major reasons why:

Hey here I have something that can help you improve your diet and your fitness and best of all is that it's free

1. You are doing the wrong program – This is where gym instructors come in. Unless you are one yourself, most people can’t really decide which part of their body needs to be toned or worked out. When you have a trainer at the gym, the best thing to happen starts with you facing that weighing scale you’ve been avoiding for how many years of your existence. Also, you will know the routine you have to go through and the right amount of time you need to spend in the gym. A guided gym work out is very important so you won’t waste your time lifting and sweating over exercises which you don’t really need in order to achieve what you truly want to.
2. You double your food intake after a gym’s session – Even I won’t deny it, after lifting or even doing cardio exercise in the gym, you’ll surely go hungry. However, instead of killing for a grilled chicken by the corner just outside the gym, why not go buy a fruit juice or shake? Maybe you’re just really thirsty and not hungry. This is also good practice as your body loses a lot of fluids from exercising.
3. You eat salty foods – Didn’t you know? Salty foods happen to greatly affect your diet plans. Salt easily absorbs water from the body. Hence, when you eat excessive amounts of salty food, it helps slow down the metabolism process of your digestive system, thereby resulting to the slowing of your weight loss process. When you are hitting the gym, it is best to take in electrolytes and avoid salty chips or grains.
4. You are inconsistent – While it is not advisable to hit the gym and work out every day in order to give your muscles time to heal and to avoid from getting burned out, it is also but important to stick to a consistent exercise regimen. For instance, if you are scheduling your gym on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, make sure to be able to stick to it and hit the gym on those days. Or, at least make sure you’re able to hit the gym at least three times in a week. If you fail to commit to a schedule, chances are, you’ll feel lazy to hit the gym eventually and waste your diet plans for nothing.
5. You’re relying on the amino acids you’re taking – “Gym people” are known to take amino acids, or those supplements that can build up their body mass. What most of these people often take for granted is the fact that these supplements don’t work on their own. Apart from cardio exercises, they need to convert these supplements into energy in order for them to see effective results. Otherwise, they’re just taking these body building supplements for nothing. Also, #4 should be correlated to this last tip. These two should be perfectly done together.

Read More