Active Life

2011-11-13T20:57:00.001-08:00

Miracle Drink : Carrot, Beet Root and Apple

This MIRACLE DRINK has been circulating for a long time long. It is worth your while to

take note. There is a celebrity Mr. Seto who swears by it. He wants to make it public to draw

the attention of people who have cancers. This is a drink that can protect bad cells forming in

your body or it will restrain its growth! Mr. Seto had lung cancer. He was recommended to take

this drink by a famous Herbalist from China . He has taken this drink diligently for 3 months and

now his health is restored, and he is ready to take a pleasure trip. Thanks to this drink! It does

not hurt for you to try.

It is like a Miracle Drink! It is simple
You need one beet root, one carrot and one apple that combine together to make the JUICE !

Wash the above, cut with the skin on into pieces and put them into the juicer and immediately you

drink the juice. You can add some lime or lemon for more refreshing taste.

This Miracle Drink will be effective for the following ailments:

1. Prevent cancer cells to develop. It will restrain cancer cells to grow.
2. Prevent liver, kidney, pancreas disease and it can cure ulcer as well.
3. Strengthen the lung, prevent heart attack and high blood pressure.
4. Strengthen the immune system
5. Good for the eyesight, eliminate red and tired eyes or dry eyes
6. Help to eliminate pain from physical training, muscle ache
7. Detoxify, assist bowel movement, eliminate constipation. Therefore it will make skin healthy & LOOK more radiant. It is God sent for acne problem.
8. Improve bad breath due to indigestion, throat infection,
9. Lessen menstrual pain
10. Assist Hay Fever Sufferer from Hay Fever attack.

There is absolutely no side effect. Highly nutritious and easily absorbs! Very effective if you need to lose weight. You will notice your immune system will be improved after 2 week routine. Please make sure to drink immediately from the juicer for best effect.

WHEN TO DRINK IT:

DRINK IT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WITH THE EMPTY STOMACH! AFTER ONE HOUR YOU CAN EAT BREAKFAST. FOR FAST RESULTS DRINK 2 TIMES A DAY, IN THE MORNING AND BEFORE 5 P.M.

YOU WILL NEVER REGRET! IT DOES NOT COST YOU MUCH MONEY! PLEASE CIRCULATE TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

DEPRESSION

2011-03-02T09:37:00.001-08:00

DEPRESSION

What is depression?

The word depressed is a common everyday word. People might say "I'm depressed" when in fact they mean "I'm fed up because I've had a row or failed an exam or lost my job" etc. These ups and downs of life are common and normal and most people recover quite quickly.

However, depression is a mood disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness. It lowers motivation and energy levels. Depression permeates through the body and mind. Symptoms can become severe enough to interfere with day-to-day activities. When depressed, you may often experience feelings of low esteem, guilt and self-reproach driving you to take irrational decisions.

Who gets depression?

· Depression affects people of all ages, geographic locations, demographics and social positions

· About 2 in 3 adults have depression at some time in their life. Sometimes it is mild or lasts just a few weeks. However, an episode of depression serious enough to require treatment occurs in about 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men at some point in their lives. Some people have two or more episodes of depression at various times in their life

· Women are more likely to become depressed than men. The higher risk may be due in part to hormone changes during a woman's life

· Men are less likely than women to get help for depression. They may show the common symptoms of depression, but they're more likely to be angry and hostile and few may mask their condition with alcohol or drug abuse. The risk of suicide is greater for men than for women

· Elderly, older people may become physically ill and less active than they once were. They may lose their loved ones or may have to live alone. These changes can raise the risk of depression

What are the symptoms of depression?

The following is a list of common symptoms of depression. It is unusual to have them all, but several usually develop, if you have depression:

· Low mood for most of the day, nearly every day. Things always seem 'black'

· Loss of enjoyment and interest in life, even for activities that you normally enjoy

· Abnormal sadness, often with episodes of crying » Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or uselessness

· Poor motivation. Even simple tasks seem difficult

· Poor concentration. It may be difficult to read, work, etc Sleeping problems, excessive sleeping, insomnia Lacking in energy, always tired Difficulty with affection, including going off sex

· Poor appetite and weight loss. Sometimes the reverse happens with comfort eating and weight gain Irritability, agitation or restlessness

· Physical symptoms such as headaches, palpitations, chest pains, and general aches. Symptoms often seem worse in the mornings ^:: Recurrent thoughts of death. This is not usually a fear of death, more a preoccupation with death and dying. Some people get suicidal ideas such as ..."life's not worth living"

· The severity of the symptoms can vary from mild to severe. As a rule, the more symptoms from the list above that you have, the more severe the depression is likely to be

How is depression diagnosed?

Depression is typically diagnosed simply by a clinical interview asking about the core depressive symptoms.

People tend not to recognize depression, even it's right before their eyes. Never overlook the various symptoms. Being honest with one's self, is the key to be able to cure such an illness. Depression shouldn't be something that one fear of, instead, one should just start taking charge of his/her life and actually face this illness and fight it.

"Life is too beautiful a gift to waste." Depression may not kill one's body but it certainly kills one's spirit if you'll let it. Don't be a victim.

What causes depression?

The exact cause is not known. Anyone can become depressed. Some people are more prone to it and may develop for no apparent reason. An episode of depression may also be triggered by a life event such as relationship problem, bereavement, redundancy, illness, etc. In many people it is a mixture of the two. For example, the combination of a mild low mood with some life problem, such as work stress, may lead to depression.

· Women tend to develop depression more often than men. Particularly common for women to become depressed is after childbirth (postnatal depression) and menopause

· A chemical imbalance in the brain might be a factor. This is not fully understood. However, an alteration in some chemicals in the brain is thought to be the reason why antidepressants work in treating depression

· Trauma and stress from major life changes

· Serious medical conditions like heart disease, cancer, HIV, arthritis and certain drugs can contribute to depression because of the physical weakness and stress they impart

Some do's and don’ts about depression:

· Don't bottle things up and 'go by alone¹. Try and tell people who are close to you how you feel. It is not weak to cry or admit that you are struggling

· Don't despair-most people with depression recover

· Do try and distract yourself by doing other things. Try doing things that do not need much concentration but can be distracting such as watching TV. Radio or TV is useful late at night if sleeping is a problem

· Do eat regularly, even if you do not feel like eating

· Don't drink too much alcohol. Drinking alcohol is tempting to some people with depression as the immediate effect may seem to relieve the symptoms. However, drinking heavily is likely to make your situation worse in the long run

· Don't make any major decisions while you are depressed. It may be tempting to give up a job or move away, to solve the problem. If at all possible you should delay any major decisions about relationships, jobs or money until you are well again

· Do tell your doctor if you feel that you are getting worse, particularly if suicidal thoughts are troubling you

· Sometimes a spell off work is needed. However, too long off work might not be as good as dwelling on problems and brooding at home may make things worse. Getting back into the hurry flurry of normal life may help the healing process when things are not improving. Each person is different and the ability to work will vary

· Sometimes a specific psychological problem can cause depression, but some people are reluctant to mention it. One example is sexual abuse as a child leading to depression or psychological difficulties as an adult. Tell your doctor if you feel something like this is the root cause of your depression

Will obesity lead to depression or vice versa?

Obesity is largely to blame for an epidemic of anxiety, mood disorders, depression and other mental disease. Past studies have also proved this fact that people who are obese have also suffered from depression. It is not yet confirmed that whether depression causes obesity or obesity may result in depression. People who are suffering from depression sometimes suffer from hormonal disorder which can be easily treated. The treatment of depression and obesity should be integrated.

How ALC experts can help you manage your condition?

SYNDROME X

2011-03-02T09:36:00.001-08:00

SYNDROME X

What is syndrome x?

Syndrome x, also known as metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that put you at risk for heart disease and diabetes. These conditions are:

· High blood pressure

· High blood sugar levels

· High levels of triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood

· Low levels of HDL, the good cholesterol in your blood

· Too much fat around your waist

The cause of metabolic syndrome might be insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone your body produces to help you turn sugar from food into energy for your body. Insulin resistance is the inability of the body to deal with dietary carbohydrates and sugars properly. At the cellular level this means that the insulin receptors that allow transport of blood sugar into the cell are blocked from accepting insulin and so the blood sugar can't get through, leading to both high blood glucose and high insulin levels, as the pancreas tries to overcome this resistance by producing extra insulin If you are insulin resistant, too much sugar builds up in your blood, setting the stage for disease.

What are the causes of syndrome x?

Genetics and the environment both play important roles in the development of the syndrome x.

Genetic predisposition a family history that includes type II diabetes, hypertension and early heart disease greatly increases the chance that an individual will develop the metabolic syndrome.

Environmental issues such as high carbohydrate diet, low activity level, sedentary lifestyle, and progressive weight gain also contribute significantly to the risk of developing the metabolic syndrome.

· Excess weight & excess carbohydrate intake. The vast majority of overweight people have high levels of insulin, ingestion of too much refined carbohydrate triggers the release of high levels of insulin to deal with it. Insulin stores excess carbohydrate as fat and suppresses fat stores being released and burned for energy. So we get fatter and fatter and it becomes more and more difficult to lose weight

· Sedentary lifestyle and Lack of exercise

· Mineral and nutrient deficiencies-insulin requires many minerals and nutrients to work properly in the body. Common deficiencies of chromium, magnesium and zinc can increase insulin resistance

· Increased stress - Studies have shown that people who don't get enough rest and are under increased stress have high levels of blood glucose and insulin resistance. Most people are under increased levels of stress, from juggling work, family, finances and modern life

How is syndrome x diagnosed?

Syndrome X can be diagnosed when two or more of its related disorders occur simultaneously:

· Insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Elevated or erratic levels of glucose with insulin resistance. Warning sign: fasting glucose above 110 mg/dl and post parandial blood sugar of more than 140 mg/dl

· Abdominal/Central obesity: a waist circumference over 90 cm in men and over 80 cm in women (Asian)

· Abnormal blood lipids: Elevated total cholesterol and triglycerides and low HDL (of less than 40 mg/dl in men and 50 mg/dl in women). Warning sign: total cholesterol above 240mg/dl and triglycerides above 150mg/dl

· Hypertension: Warning sign: consistent blood pressure higher than 130/90 Right now, if you are over 50 years, you have a more than 1 in 3 chance of developing syndrome x and if you already have syndrome x, you are at a 3. 5 times greater risk of death from coronary heart disease. You also have an increased risk of liver and kidney disease and possibly cancer

What are the symptoms of syndrome x?

· Failure to lose weight

· Unexplained weakness

· Associated fatty liver

· Central obesity

· Associated symptoms of diabetes

· Associated symptoms of hypertension

What are the complications of syndrome x?

Although you may not notice any changes in the way you feel, having syndrome x dramatically increases the risk of serious health problems including diabetes, heart disease and stroke. In fact, the more health risks you have, the more likely you are to develop these conditions.

Will obesity lead to syndrome x?

If you're overweight, chances are that you crave carbohydrates. This is actually a physiological craving caused by the way your body chemistry over-reacts to eating sweets and carbohydrates. If excess glucose remains in circulation, high insulin levels will stimulate lipogenesis (fat production and storage). To compound the problem, there is evidence that high insulin levels trigger the hypothalamus (the master gland) to send out hunger signals.

Thus, many cases of obesity are due to an imbalance of the hormone insulin. If insulin is not rapidly cleared from the blood stream after a meal, it will cause an individual to feel hungry. Usually high insulin will signal the body to stop eating, but if a person has chronically elevated glucose levels due to inefficient insulin, he may eat more. Ultimately, the more refined carbohydrates a person eats, the hungrier he or she may become. Even if you eat as few as 800 calories a day, if you are sugar sensitive and those calories are from carbohydrates, you may find that you still gain weight.

How is syndrome x treated?

The goal of treating syndrome x is to treat both the underlying cause of the syndrome and also to treat the cardiovascular risk factors if they persist.

Majority of people with syndrome x are overweight and lead a sedentary lifestyle. Lifestyle modification is the preferred treatment of metabolic syndrome. Weight reduction usually requires a specifically tailored multifaceted program that includes diet and exercise. Sometimes medications may be useful. One study showed that individuals who are physically active (30 minutes of activity at least 5 times per week) have half the risk of developing metabolic syndrome than those who are inactive.

If lifestyle modification alone does not improve your health risks, your doctor may prescribe one or more of the following medications:

· Insulin sensitizers to help lower blood glucose and insulin levels blood-pressure -lowering medications, medications to decrease "bad'' cholesterol (LDL) and increase "good" cholesterol (HDL)

· Leading a healthy lifestyle now can reduce your risk of developing the health risks associated with metabolic syndrome as you get older. Effective prevention includes eating a healthy diet, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight

How ALC experts can help you manage your condition?

2011-03-02T09:35:00.001-08:00

SLIMMING SOLUTIONS

Obesity

A Growing Concern of developing nations

With over 250 million obese adults worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) considers Obesity as a major public health problem, 'A global pandemic'. By 2015, WHO predicts that over 700 million adults will be obese world-wide.

The rising prevalence of overweight and Obesity in Indians has a direct correlation with the increasing prevalence of Obesity related diseases like hypertension, dislipidemia, Type-li Diabetes, osteoarthritis, and cardiovascular diseases which affects all the vital organs and body systems.

Overweight people are:

· 3 times more likely to have hypertension

· 2 times more likely to have heart disease

· 3 times more likely to have diabetes

Are you staring at the mirror in disbelief? You are not alone!

Pregnancy, work pressure, stress, medical and emotional problems, lack of commitment and self-discipline often are the causes of neglect for one's body. Staring at the mirror, you may want to hide from the weight issues leading to low self-esteem, poor self image and peer pressure. Minor things like going shopping for clothes, engaging in sports, family and friends gatherings or upcoming family weddings cause tremendous stress. Comfort eating or postponing the solution will draw you into a viscous cycle, facing continuous defeat.

You are not alone. You can regain your self-confidence by making healthy choices in eating and active living your priority today. Any time is a good time to take control of your health.

Win your battle with bulge the holistic scientific ALC way

Take the burden of weight loss off your shoulders. ALC presents its revolutionary weight management solutions. The unique, holistic and scientific approach works without any crash diets, food packets, supplements, appetite suppressants, harmful medications or invasive surgeries.

The team of qualified professionals like doctors, nutritionists, dietitians, psychologists, physiotherapists, nurses and therapists at ALC administer a multi disciplinary approach to provide solutions to weight related problems. Before the above teams of professionals handle you, they will do a comprehensive analysis of your body composition, measurements, coexisting medical problems, dietary habits, lifestyle, social and personal situations which lead to weight gain.

A customized program will be formulated for you on a scientific basis and executed with stringent monitoring. The ALC program works on the scientific principle of creating negative calorie balance for offering weight management services through diet, activity and lifestyle modification.

Healthy eating plan

Losing weight does not mean self denial, starvation, popping pills or difficult to follow diets. Taste is the single most important reason you choose one food over another. Your personal ALC nutrition expert will discuss your likes and dislikes and suggest a balanced diet plan keeping in mind your food habits, lifestyle, favorite foods, cravings and most importantly, the nutrient requirements of your body, You will learn to eat right, enjoy your food and shed the kilos and keep them off for life. Functional foods, possessing beneficial health and wellness properties beyond the well proven nutritional benefits, will be incorporated in your daily diet plans. A daily diet record in your personal ALC Diet Diary will help you and the nutrition expert, to embark on a guilt-free weight loss program with variety, balance and moderation as the basis of ALC healthy eating plan.

Active living

Regular exercise helps to reduce body's fat reserves by converting them to energy. The physical activity patterns are designed and monitored by experienced physiotherapists to build endurance, flexibility, balance and strength to enable you to participate as fully as possible in life. A comprehensive assessment of your fitness levels will be done before suggesting the activity patterns. Incorporation of active living options in daily routine will help you to remain active through out life.

Lifestyle counseling

The counselor interacting with you and will help you to break through any personal obstacles that hold you back from your health and weight loss success. The professionals at ALC are the best lifestyle educators and encourage you to substitute unhealthy lifestyle with healthy options not just for today but for the life. They will be your personal motivational coaches, encouraging, acknowledging and guiding you throughout the program to realize your final goals of a complete transformation under one roof. In a short time, you will notice a transformation in your appearance and your outlook.

Weight management solutions at ALC

Looking great is not just about losing weight, but about achieving the right body shape. The joy derived from fitting into your favorite dress or that old pair of jeans is overwhelming. ALC's vast menu of weight management solutions are customized to your unique needs and also make use of the latest technology to lose inches and shape up the specific areas of your body along with improvement in flexibility, posture thus helping you stay active, supple and healthy for life. Weight Loss is recommended to overweight/obese individuals to achieve their ideal body weight in a scientific way by creating a negative calorie balance through diet modification, physical activity, passive activity and lifestyle modification under the supervision of a team of qualified professionals. This results in overall health improvement and a better quality of life.

Body therapies - Specialised therapies help to tone up the muscles during weight loss. Anti-cellulite products are used for giving manual massages using specialized strokes which help in local fat utilization, elimination of toxins and strengthening the connective tissue.

Tucks/Spot reduction - Specialised therapy on specific areas like tummy, hips, thighs, arms and back helps in increased peripheral circulation, strengthening of connective tissues & elimination of toxins thereby providing the body the requisite tone and shape.

Body firming and toning - Specialized appliances are used to firm and tighten loose skin resulting from weight loss. Customized programs help in reducing excessive fat from desired places.

Waist and tummy trim treatment- The induction of an advanced product "Waist and Tummy Trim Gel" followed by body firmer results in firm, toned and slimmer waist and abdomen cosmetically and improves the health status of the individual by subsequent reduction in the associated risk factors due to abdominal obesity.

Herbal anti-celiulite therapy- This therapy is a dry friction massage which opens the circulatory channels & facilitates the metabolic activity in the body. This herbal treatment helps to mobilize the fat, firms and tones the massaged area and improves the blood circulation thereby promoting the supply of vital nutrients and oxygen.

Lipolift program - An advanced program which adopts a unique and highly effective combination of weight-loss techniques.

Termoslim therapy - A combination session involving an appliance, product and massage therapy helps to improve blood circulation, fat metabolism and muscular movements thereby giving weight loss, muscle strengthening and improved muscle tone.

Gel Therapy - A gel with anti-celiulite properties is used as an alternative body sculpting means to shape up the body and reduce excess fat in targeted areas.

ULTRASLIM/ ULTRATRIM -This program using ultrasonic induction of lipolytic cream helps in deeper penetration of the product thereby increasing metabolism of fat and treating regional adipose mass

Head to Toe firming- A specialized service for complete body firming resulting in a toned and firmed appearance of the face as well as body.

Age defying with body firming - A preventive and restorative age defying treatment for the face with a firming and toning treatment for the body. It is especially beneficial for fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.

Comprehensive Wellness Services

New therapies partnering with wellness have been devised to provide effective personalized solutions in order to stay active, supple and healthy for life. These therapies help in relieving pain and stiffness, improve flexibility, range of motion, posture and provide a feeling of general well being and improve confidence of the individual.

Core muscle strengthening program -This program improves or maintains flexibility, normal free range of movement capability, tones and firms the core muscles, improves and corrects posture and also helps to reduce waist circumference and central obesity. Neuro muscular therapy - It works on the principle of applying static pressure by hand on specific myofascial points to relieve pain. This deep tissue therapy helps in realignment of connective tissue thereby taking care of the localized pain resulting due to nodules formation in people who have a sedentary lifestyle with desk jobs.

Analgesic therapy -It benefits clients who suffer from generalized aches and pains and thus restricted body movements. This therapy helps in removing the metabolic waste, decreasing inflammation, relieving pain thereby improving overall well being.

Bio energy therapy- This therapy depicts transfer of energy through the healing hands of the therapist along with the dormant energy of the stones. Placement of stones is the key deciding factor for the kind of condition being treated, whether 'Relaxation, pain relief or Water retention'. Various massage techniques and warm stones work in harmony to relax the body at its deepest level.

Weight gain - This program works on the principle of positive calorie balance through dietary modification, relaxation therapies, muscle development programs of body firmers and specific passive and active activity patterns.

Counseling -This program is focused on intensive counseling in terms of dietary modification, activity patterns and medical review. The counseling is done through a combined endeavour by the team of professionals - Doctors, Physiotherapist and Dietician.

Maintenance program- Upon completion of the slimming program, clients are advised diet and activity patterns for maintaining the weight lost at ALC. Intensive counseling sessions with the professional team during as well as after package completion help to bring about permanent changes in lifestyle essential for weight maintenance. The main objective of this program is to give the client the confidence that ALC is still with him, till the client believes that he can manage and adjust to his new lifestyle and maintain his good health and weight.

Corporate wellness program - Recognizing the need for a scientific and effective work place health promotion program, ALC launched its 'Corporate Wellness Meter Program'. We team up with companies to promote health and wellness through lifestyle changes, early prevention and screening programs to all employees at the office premises.

Home care slimming and body shaping products

ALC's personal care range of over 100 body care, skin care and hair care products are ayurvedic or herbal in nature, made from special blends of botanical extracts, nutrients and aromatic oils. ALC's shape-up range is a brand leader in the anti-cellulite category working on your problem areas like hips, thighs, waist, tummy, arms, chin and neck. These products are available at your nearest ALC centre or at over 10,000 retail outlets.

ALC Extensive Network for the Frequent Travelers

OBESITY frequently asked questions

2011-03-02T09:34:00.003-08:00

OBESITY frequently asked questions

What's the difference between being obese and being overweight?

Obesity is excess fat. Overweight is excess weight. A overweight person need not be fatty (obese) such as athletes, who has more muscle mass.

Can a normal weight person be obese?

A person with normal weight can be obese (excess fat), because of less muscle mass. This is known as sacropenic obesity.

What should be goal of a obesity treatment? Weight loss or fat loss?

It is the fat percentage that measures obesity. Hence loss of fat is essential than the weight loss through loss of water, muscle or bone.

What has made slimming centers or weight-loss centers boom recently in our country?

A boom of slimming centers in our country in recent times may well be attributed in one way to the 'heath awareness’ created by health magazines, fitness guides, fitness programmes, easily available on video cassettes etc. and on the other hand to the fashion magazines and western outfits creating, a cosmetic 'thin is in vogue.' The basic idea of a slimming centre or a weight loss centre is to scientifically help an obese person to trim excess fat off. What should otherwise have place under the banner of medical profession has now become a multimillion-rupee cosmetic business.

What precaution should I take in joining a slimming centre or a weight-loss centre?

Any one suffering from a serious weight problem should certainly not join a slimming centre or a weight loss centre without a proper understanding of the difference between just weight loss on one hand and fat-loss leading to weight loss on the other hand.

The body is made up of four major tissues: Muscles, Bones, Water and fat. It is possible to lose weight by reduction in weight of all the four tissues at a time or by reduction in any of them in muscles and water or by combination such as reduction in any one of them singly such as only muscles or only bones or only water or only fat.

A reduction in the weight of body tissues such as muscles, bones and water is dangerous and has nothing to do with the treatment of obesity. A weight loss programme could prove dangerous if it includes"

1. Loss of muscles: could include loss of the muscles of the heart, liver, kidney, brain etc. sometimes irreversibly.

2. Loss of bones: (rare but possible) in the form of their becoming, porous (osteomalacia) or thinning out and is of grave medical concern.

3. Loss of water: if it is medically proved that a person is suffering from retention of water (oedema) in such excess amounts as to cause harm and aggravate certain serious conditions such as high blood pressure, congestive cardiac failure, swelling of the body during pregnancy etc. Then attempts under medical guidance must be made to remove excess water, keeping a close monitoring on levels of vital elements such as potassium, (K+) etc., for fear of possible dehydration. "No attempt is justified in administering diuretics or water loss drugs to a normal obese person to effect weight loss."

All such weight loss programmes involving especially muscle loss or water loss can be manipulated to give 'quick' or miraculous weight loss, as the speed of weight loss in this case depends on the 'eagerness of the obese person and the intensity given by the concerned centre.' Such quick weight loss programmes obviously end up landing the obese person into serious side effects" loss of hair, face pale, drawn and haggard, weakness, wrinkling of skin, loss of appetite, nausea, irritation, lack of sleep, etc., and dangerous consequences of health: damage to vital organs, kidney, liver, heart, brain, etc.

What are the various possible ways to induce quick-weight loss in obese person?

1. Appetite Suppressing drugs: An increase in their dosage can severely reduce food intake leading to quick weight loss in the form of 'muscle' loss.

2. Diuretics: Their over use can lead to severe and rapid 'water’loss in the form of urine.

3. Diets: Such as various fad diets, starvation programmes etc. depending on their severity lead to rapid muscle and water losses.

What is a diuretic? How do they act?

Kidney is an unique organ of excretion. It holds back useful elements in the blood and allows only waste material to pass out of the body in the form of urine. This property of the kidney is called selective filtration. Drugs belonging to the diuretic group, when taken by an obese person (or even non obese person), lead to diuresis, a forceful expulsion of water in the form of urine, by inhibiting the Selective Filtration action of the kidneys. This forceful removal of water leads to weight loss obviously water, not fat and the weight is regained once water is drunk.

The Diuretics, along with forceful removal of water also cause loss, of vital elements (K+) potassium, (Na+) sodium etc. Causing harmful side effects similar to dehydration.

Is it safe to use Laxatives or Purgatives for treatment of obesity?

These group of drugs act by speeding the movements of the intestines thereby preventing absorption of digested food in the gastro-intestinal tract. This causes frequent passage of stools (diarrhea) with water resulting into weight loss. Unfortunately the weight loss is fluid and nutritive material from the intestines and not fat loss. The resulting thirst soon leads to drinking more water and lost weight is quickly regained.

Continual abuse of laxatives and purgatives for weight loss can seriously interfere with digestion and absorption of food, and will eventually cause loss of weight through malnutrition.

I'm more than 20 percent overweight but I'm happy and satisfied with my life, so why should I care about my weight?

Being overweight, and particularly, being obese, is bad for your health, even if you're only slightly overweight. It is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, and is linked to a higher incidence of diabetes, which you are twice as likely than a person of normal weight to develop. In addition, it is associated with several types of cancers, gout, gallbladder disease & other diseases.

At 240 pounds, i have more than 80 pounds to lose. 1 feei like I'll never achieve that. Should I just give up?

No. Losing as little as five to 10 percent of your body weight - in your case, 12 to 24 pounds - can significantly improve your health. Health care professionals recommend that your first effort at losing weight should be at this level followed by a period of maintenance before trying to lose more.

I realize I need to lose weight; how should I get started?

The safest way to lose weight is, in most cases, to eat a nutritionally complete diet that cuts about 250 calories a day from the number of calories your body requires to maintain its present weight, plus add an exercise regime that burns an additional 250 calories a day. If you do this, you will lose about a pound a week.

Do I have to exercise?

No, you don't have to. But not only will exercise make the weight come off more quickly and easily, it will make your weight loss much easier to maintain. If you do lose the weight without exercising, you will still be unfit, which in itself is a health hazard.

What effect can a very under active thyroid gland have on an adult?

The thyroid gland is located in the neck directly in front of the windpipe. Under the control- of the pituitary, it secretes a hormone called thyroxin which is rich in iodine and which helps the body burn up fat. if your thyroid is particularly active you reduce fat to water and carbon dioxide much more quickly. If the thyroid is inactive, the fat turnover is slowed down. Since less fat is burnt, more fat is stored. An under active thyroid gland can and does cause excessive weight gain.

How is my pancreas related to obesity?

The main function of pancreas is the secretion of insulin, a substance which is vital in the control of fat formation. Among other things, insulin speeds up the body's transformation of carbohydrate into fat. It also works on the storing of this fat and inhibits the release of fat already stored. Obese persons, as a group, tend to have an over responsive pancreas gland and produce excessive quantities of insulin. When they eat a certain amount of carbohydrate, they get a higher rise in insulin than a person who is not obese, leading to the formation of and storage of fat in the body.

What effect can a very under active pituitary gland have an adult?

Pituitary produces two hormones, which directly affect the manner in which the system utilizes fat. One of these pituitary hormones promotes the deposition of fat in the fat cells. The other stimulates the release of fat from cells. When you produce these hormones in proper amounts, your body's equilibrium is more likely to be maintained. When you produce these hormones in quantities that do not match, there will be trouble, probably in the shape of obesity. Most obese people have no pituitary disturbance, but it is important to know that for some, however few, pituitary disturbance may be the cause of obesity.

Does too much or too less of a hormone cause obesity or is it the other way round?

When certain people are under tension, their system puts out more of an adrenal gland secretion called cortisone, which tends to increase the appetite. These people are stress eaters.

They feel better when they eat, This leads to overindulgence of food, Result, Obesity. On the other hand, if a person is overweight, this might alter his body's metabolism, so that the adrenal glands tend to be over responsive in stress situations leading, to increase in appetite, overindulgence of food and

resultant obesity. But the question is, what has led to obesity? Has increased amount of cortisone caused obesity or has obesity caused increase in secretion of cortisone? In short, it is difficult to say; "Which is the cart and which is the horse?" with regard to over weight and obese individuals.

What about the roie of sex glands in adults?

The sex glands in adults also have some role to play in obesity, particularly in governing the distribution of fat. .We know that while a man acquires fat at the back of his neck and his waist, a woman tends to acquire it on the buttocks and on the thighs.

If a man suffer s from a disease or undergoes an accident necessitating the removal of his testicles, his fat distribution will become feminine; that is he will put on fat on the buttocks and on the thighs. He will also be likely to put on more over-ali fat, A woman whose ovaries have been removed similarly tends to become fat. The sex glands in adults have a role in a small minority of obesity cases.

Is there a special treatment for spot reduction such as hips, thighs, breasts etc.?

Often, an obese person is less alarmed by general body weight than by hips, waistline, thighs or arms that bulge where they shouldn't. They are natural prospects for 'spot reducing' gadgets which promise to flatten the local bulges. Sauna belts, rollers, vibrators and many more are examples.

Science has proved that two things are necessary to lose weight. effectively, one; follow a medically oriented weight loss programme so that you burn up excess fat. Two : exercise those areas you specifically wish to reduce, tone and firm.

There is no such thing as a magic pill/remedy/gadget for spot reduction that can specifically reduce hips, thighs, breasts etc.

What is Fat Loss Forever programme?

Fat loss forever is a scientifically designed, weight reduction through long-term fat loss based on integrated, multi-disciplinary, evidence based medicine with clinically validated diagnostic and treatment protocols.

Fat loss forever focuses on diagnosing obesity, diagnosing causes of obesity & risks associated with obesity and treating obesity (sustained fat loss than weight loss) & treating causes of obesity and risks associated with obesity.

The philosophy of fat loss forever is to enable people to lead positive, confident, healthy & fulfilled lives using science and latest medical technologies, safely and economically.

OBESITY frequently asked questions

2011-03-02T09:34:00.001-08:00