By: Agebe Olonta Eineje
I have recently joined the league of ‘Magic Weight Loss Formula’ seekers, occasioned by the continuing increase in the size of this pouch I carry in the name of stomach. This is not so much my fault as “pot belly” was a fad among young men in Nigeria, especially those of my age-group (born in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s). In most cases we see it as a chief sign of ‘enjoyment’; trust Nigerians with ‘Isi-ewu, Nkwobi, Assorted pepper soup, Gulder beer, bad eating and exercising habit etc. Modern kids do not seem to have that challenge; having six packs (courtesy of Hollywood) is the new trend and everybody is joining the bandwagon, so I hopped in too- who doesn’t want to look like Denzel Washington?
I was introduced to a product recently: Optimum Weight loss and Fat Burner (marketed by U.S based Joy to Live), I have been using it for a while now and will make my assessment available to you as time goes on. I have also been running, and doing some Abs exercise; sit ups and crunches-whew! The walls of my stomach are still reeling from the pains. In a bid to improve the rate of weight loss I came across some information that could help you too.
Weight loss: in the context of medicine, health or physical fitness, is a reduction of the total body mass, due to a mean loss of fluid, body fat or adipose tissue and/or lean mass, namely bone mineral deposits, muscle, tendon and other connective tissue. It can occur unintentionally due to an underlying disease, emotional discomfort (stress) or from a conscious effort to improve an actual or perceived overweight or obese condition (where I find myself now).
Weight loss occurs when an individual is in a state of negative thermodynamic flux: when the body is exerting more energy (i.e. in work and metabolism) than it is consuming (i.e. from food or other nutritional supplements), it will use stored reserves from fat or muscle, gradually leading to weight loss.
It is not uncommon for some people who are currently at their ideal body weight to seek additional weight loss in order to improve athletic performance, and/or meet required weight classification for participation in a sport. However, others may be driven by achieving a more attractive body image. However, it is important to note that being underweight is associated with health risks such as difficulty fighting off infection, osteoporosis, decreased muscle strength, trouble regulating body temperature and even increased risk of death.
There are hundreds of diet plans and recipes that can be helpful for weight loss. While some are thought of as unhealthy and potentially harmful to health, others are recommended by specialists. Diet plans are generally designed according to the recommended caloric intake but it is important to note that the most successful diets are those that also promote physical activity alongside. There are many ‘magic’ dietary programs that claim to be efficient in helping overweight individuals to lose weight without a single effort. However, the long-term efficacy and effect on health of these plans is questionable.
The weight loss industry has grown enormously in the last decades with a substantial market for products which promise to make weight loss easier, quicker, cheaper, more reliable, or less painful. These include books, DVDs, CDs, crèmes, lotions, pills, rings and earrings, body wraps, body belts and other materials, not to mention fitness centers, personal coaches, weight loss groups, and food products and supplements. US residents in 1992 spent an estimated $30 billion a year on all types of diet programs and products, including diet foods and drinks.
Could you believe that a whooping $33 billion- $55 billion is spent annually on weight loss products and services, including medical procedures (surgeries inclusive) and pharmaceuticals, with weight loss centers garnering between 6 percent and 12 percent of total annual expenditure? About 70 percent of Americans' dieting attempts are of a self-help nature. Although often short-lived, these diet fads are a positive trend for this sector as Americans ultimately turn to professionals to help them meet their weight loss goals. In Western Europe, sales of weight-loss products, excluding prescription medications, topped £900 million ($1.4 billion) in 2009. Think about what Africa expends on this.
One very important and effective ways of losing weight is; watching/controlling what type of we eat; eat whole foods, this may not give you the ‘instant’ effect we often desire but nonetheless effective. In most cases this is pretty difficult because diet food do not taste as sweet as the junks we consume on daily basis. Training your taste buds to such good and healthy foods will not only improve your health and weight loss but will probably help you save a few bucks. Whole foods are preferred above processed foods because the latter trains your buds to crave more sugar and salt- an artificially enhanced level of sweetness. This might not seem harmful but they are usually behind weight gain issues.
When your taste buds are not addicted to artificially enhanced sweeteners, added sugars, corn syrup or salt you are more likely to be satisfied by simple, whole, low-calorie foods that are richer in vitamins and minerals and better for your body. At lunch, you might choose a side of veggies instead of chips. After dinner, you might crave a bowl of fruit instead of the pre-packaged cookies. Just think of the calories you could save!
However, just because a food label says "healthy" doesn't mean it's good for you. When you shop for whole foods, before you put the food in your cart, ask yourself where it came from. If the answer isn't a farm, a field, or a body of water, it's probably not a whole food. Of course, you may not be able to rid your kitchen of every processed food, but if you can replace a few, you might notice a difference.
Sources: Wikipedia, About.com
