Ok, to start, I am a big fat guy with a saggy chest and a big gut. I’ve been fat nearly my entire life. I just turned 24 and am tired of the way things are. When I’m doing exceptionally bad with my weight, the fat is solid. At times when I feel a little healthier, It feels like i’ve got a big layer of jelly around my torso.

What I’m looking to do is get into good shape. I want to get stronger, have a better looking body that’s big in a good way, and have the endurance to do physical activity for extended periods. If I were to choose a somewhat exaggerated ideal, I’d say a body like a professional wrestler: big with muscles that are actually strong and functional, but flexible and conditioned enough to move around.

I am currently taking steps to get a heavy punching bag, mostly for cardio.

Unfortunately, I live far enough away from a real town that even If I wasn’t poor, a gym membership is currently out of the question.

I’m looking for some advice from people who aren’t looking to sell me anything.

All-around advice is certainly welcome, but a couple of main questions I have are:

What are some foods or herbs that will assist in speeding up my metabolism, or safely flushing my body of toxins?

As I am poor, what are some inexpensive places to get equipment like weight benches and free weights?

Any ideas on a way to set up a pull-up bar that won’t collapse on a 400+ pound dude?

When I finally do lose a lot of fat, what are natural ways of ridding myself of the excess skin?

I know I have to change my diet, and reduce the amount I eat at any given time. Any info on foods where less of it feels like more would be appreciated too.

Also, I’m sure one or more of you have useful info that I haven’t exactly asked for in my questions, and I welcome that as well.

Thank you in advance.
Ok, I guess I could clarify this more… My intent is to get there mainly WITH exercise.

Surgery is not an option. Besides it not being for me, I don’t even begin to have enough money to even think about surgery.

Exercise & vigorous dry rubbing of the skin will stimulate new cell growth. You are young enough for your skin to recoup. Skip pull ups & do push ups for awhile. Liquid detergent bottles filled with water will make cheap weights. (1 gal. weighs 8#)

Nearly 6 years ago, I started Atkins low carb way of eating to just quit gaining weight. I had to get my out of control appetite under control. I never imagined I could LOSE weight without hunger or exercise, since I’ve become disabled. I never bothered weighing or measuring til I’d noticed that my clothes got huge quick. When my health improved dramatically also, I knew this was my new way of life and since it’s eat all you want (of low carb foods) I know I can do this for life.

My personal carb level is low. I am older & disabled & don’t move much (or cook much) but I eat all I want of meats, eggs, cheeses, yogurt, fats, green vegetables, almonds, berries, flax seeds, chia seeds, shirataki noodles and other foods. Someone active would have a MUCH higher carb level & can usually include all fruits, beans, whole grain products but not sugar & highly refined carbs in unlimited amounts. As long as you have <9grams carbs per hour, you will maintain insulin control & shouldn’t gain weight, no matter the calories.

Overweight & obese people have blood sugar & insulin dysfunctions and can NEVER eat carbs as someone with a functioning body can. They make the mistake of going back to the way of eating that made them fat and that is not possible and yes they will gain all weight back if they eat what they ate that made them obese originally. Insanity is defined as doing the exact same thing, in the exact same way and expecting different results. Many people can return to moderate carb levels but very few can really eat all they want of sugar & maintain weight or health.

You can lose more body fat eating protein & fat (don’t eat protein alone) than not eating AT ALL. To lose weight fast, eat all you want, but nothing but meat, eggs, healthy oils, mayo, butter & half an avocado a day (for added potassium). Keep the calories high & the fat percentage high, at least 65% of calories. Green vegetables & some cheese will continue weight loss but at a slower pace.

The first 2 weeks eat several cups a day of (mostly) lettuce & celery, cucumbers, radishes, mushrooms, peppers & more vegetables thereafter - add 5 grams per day additional every week (20 grams day first 2 weeks, 25grams 3rd week, 30grams 4th week etc) til you gain weight, then subtract 10grams. That will be your personal carb level (everyone is different & depends on how active you are.)

Start with meat, fats & salads for 2 weeks and then slowly add in more green veg, wk4 fresh cheeses, wk5 nuts & seeds, wk6 berries, wk7 legumes, wk8 other fruits, wk9 starchy veg, wk10 whole grains. You will learn how your body reacts to different foods.

The body won’t release fat stores if you lower calories below what it needs. It will slow metabolism to compensate & store every spare ounce as fat. If you continue lowering calories, it will continue lowering the set point, til it can survive off nothing & store fat on anything. The body will only release it’s fat stores if it knows there is plenty of nutritious food.

Eating carbs while trying to lose body fat is terribly inefficient. When in glycolysis (burning glucose as fuel) you have to lower your calories (which slows your metabolism) & exercise heavily to deplete your glycogen stores before burning body fat.

The core of Atkins program is converting the body from glycolysis (burning glucose as fuel) to ketosis (burning fat as fuel). Dietary fat levels need to be at >65% of total calories, if not, the body will still remain in glycolysis by converting 58% of excess protein into glucose (via gluconeogenesis).

It takes minimum of 3 days to convert a body to ketosis, (but only one bite to convert back to glycolysis). People feel sluggish the first week but most feel better than ever thereafter.

Simple carbohydrates (sugar, flour, bread, cereal, pasta, potatoes, rice) trigger insulin which can store the calories eaten into fat. The more protein the more the fat burning hormone glucagon is released.

High insulin levels promote inflammation, weight gain, hunger & unbalance other hormones. Controlling insulin levels will balance out other hormones & allow human growth hormone (HGH) to be produced naturally so lean muscle will be gained even without exercise. Any exercise will greatly increase muscle mass with high HGH levels.

Ground flax seed (2 Tbsp) 1/4 cup water, artificial sweetener, mix in a raw egg - let sit 10 min. to absorb liquid, put some cream cheese in the middle & nuke 2 minutes. Suggested for daily fiber needs.

Adderllin.com
This product contains..

Vitamin B3
Is a B vitamin with Nootropic effects. It is also has been noted for its use in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin B12
Is involved in the metabolism of every cell of the body, especially affecting the DNA synthesis and regulation but also fatty acid synthesis and energy production. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause severe and irreversible damage, especially to the brain and nervous system. Vitamin B-12 gives a great natural energy boost.

Guarana
Guarana is an herb that is rich in caffeine. Research has also shown that guarana may affect how quickly the body perceives itself to be full as well.

Bitter Orange
Bitter orange is used as a stimulant and appetite suppressant which aids in weight loss. It contains several alkaloids such as synephrine that stimulate the body’s beta-3 receptors. Activating these receptors boosts your metabolic rate and energy levels to help increase fat burning and ultimately body fat loss. It also promotes the release of epinephrine and nor-epinephrine which boost mental energy and focus while indirectly helping body fat loss.

Yohimbe Bark Extract
It is of the tryptamine chemical class with stimulant and aphrodisiac effects. It is also known for it’s thermogenic effect. Like adderall® it is classified as pycho-stimulant that has Nootropic behavior.

Choline Dihydrogen Citrate
It is a naturally-occuring ammonium salt that is found in the lipids that make up cell membranes -in the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Choline is the chemical precursor or “building block” needed to produce the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and research suggests that memory, intelligence, and mood are mediated at least in part by acetylcholine metabolism in the brain.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine
ALCAR has neuroprotective benefits in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. ALCAR plays many important roles in the body, but the most important one from a fat burning perspective is ALCAR’s role in escorting fatty acids to the cell’s mitochondria where they can be burned as fuel aiding in body fat loss.

Bacopa Extract
It has been used in India for several thousand years and is considered a “brain tonic” which enhances memory development, learning, and concentration thus fighting attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The herb shows significant psychotropic action as evidenced by excessive sleep and conformation changes in the brain as well as blood. It is also a potent antioxidant.

Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
Tyrosine is converted in the body to key biologic compounds. These compounds include epinephrine, dopamine, L-dopa, Co-Q10, and thyroid hormones.

Caffeine
Caffeine has nootropic effects, inducing positive changes in memory and learning. Both caffeine and naturally occurring caffeine found in guarana called guaranine are found in Adderllin.

Dimethylaminoethanol
DMAE is related to choline and is a biochemical precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Studies have shown an increase in vigilance and alertness, with a positive influence on mood.

White Willow Bark Extract
White willow bark extract is added because a synergy occurs whenever ingredients are combined and the specific combination of those ingredients provides a greater benefit than the individual benefits that could be realized if each of those ingredients were taken independent of each other. Also known as a natural pain reliever.

Piperine
Piperine is an extract found from black pepper and is known for it’s increased uptake of nutrients and supplements.

Vinpocetine
Is an extract found in the periwinkle plant. Vinpocetine is reported to have a cerebral blood-flow enhancing and neuroprotective effects. It is also used as a drug in eastern european countries for the treatment of cerebrovascular disorders and age related memory impairment.

Huperzine
Is naturally occurring and extracted from the Firmoss plant. Huperzine has been shown to enhance memory and learning performance in clinical trials performed on China

I hope this helped people who want to take an herbal alternative for recreational use.

Nice website - I was surprised at its functionality.
I was also pleased to see the ingredients listed there as well - it sounds like a dynamite combination.
I would have been happier to see a percentage or the mg of the separate ingredients for quality control.
In time the FAQs may need to be expanded to include answers about norepinephrine and serotonin and MAO inhibition
This is not a nutritional supplement for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease although some constituents most certainly are such as Piperine. Because some ingredients function as AChE inhibitors, it would be contraindicated but that is a reason for using for AD.

For the past few weeks I’ve been trying to lose weight. I am VERY overweight and want to lose atleast 60-70 lbs by December. I’m 19, female, 5′4, and weigh around 240. My mom got me some Mega-T Green Tea pills to take twice a day. It says it helps curb appetite, helps stimulate metabolism, and helps burn fat. Is this true? And is this safe? It also contains Hoodia in it. I heard that green tea is good for losing weight around your stomach and that is where I carry most of my weight. I just want to know if I should really try taking these along with diet and exercise? I am VERY paranoid about pills, but this is more like an herb right???

K8tea, I’ve had good success losing weight with tea for the last 2 years. I’ve recently found my favorite. Try it yourself. http://www.goodinternetdeals.com/Weight-Loss-Tea.html

Use as many of the following fat burning foods to your diet in your efforts to lose weight as they will help melt away stubborn fat.

Apples

There’s truth in the saying ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’.  They are also a rich source of soluble fiber which prevents hunger pangs. Apples have the added health benefits of lowering cholesterol levels and blood pressure. An average sized apple contains about 81 calories, no cholesterol, sodium or saturated fat.

Asparagus

You can eat as much as you want as it is so low in calories. Another great fat burning food. However, don’t overdo it as you may get blown away - if you know what I mean:-)

Broccoli

Low in calories, rich in vitamin C and calcium and a great fat burner

Cabbage

Rich in calcium and vitamin C and a great anti-oxidant. It’s also low in carbs and calories so try different varieties.

Cod

A popular fish which is low in calories and low in fat.

Celery

This is possibly one of the best foods to eat when on a weight loss diet. Containing only about 12 calories, it is filling and you can eat as much as you want.

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits and berries contain vitamin C which burns fat by liquefying it. Therefore it can be easily flushed from the body provided you drink plenty of water. Most of them also provide plenty of fiber which helps you feel fuller for longer.

Eggs

High in protein and an excellent source of vitamin B12 necessary for helping to burn fat.

Garlic

Garlic oil can be used as well and both are good for weight loss as they help to reduce fatty deposits.

Grapes

Not the ones that have been fermented in a bottle! Fresh grapes are very good fat burners and provide fiber.

Green Tea

Boosts your metabolism and speeds the rate at which your body burns fat. It also contains ant-oxidants with anti-cancer and anti-heart disease properties.

Mango

Good source of potassium, fills you up nicely and good calorie and carb content.

Mushrooms

Delicious, versatile and fantastic! They can be eaten any time and in any type of meal. They are high in protein which makes them ideal for anyone who is vegetarian or vegan. Also, they contain few calories and hardly any carbs.

Onions

Rich in calcium and a good carb to calories ratio. Another versatile food which can be used in many ways.

Peppers

A great group of foods to raise your metabolism. Hot, spicy chilli peppers and other spicy foods make you sweat by raising your body temperature this burning fat quicker. Rich in Vitamins A and C, fat-free, high in fiber and low in sodium and calories.

Potatoes

Contrary to popular belief potatoes are not fattening. They are a great source of potassium and fiber, lower cholesterol and protect against heart disease and strokes. What makes them fattening is the butter, milk and cream that is often added to them. Try eating a baked potato with a healthy topping or filling for a delicious, nutritious meal.

Soybeans

Soybeans protect your cells from accumulating too much fat and help in the breakdown of fatty deposits as they contain the chemical lecithin.

Spices

These help burn more calories as they speed up the metabolism.

Spinach

Rich in vitamins C and E and iron it speeds up the metabolism and helps to burn away fat. Remember Popeye?

Turnip

They can be used in a variety of meals, are low in calories and contain vitamin C and burns fat by liquefying it.

Tuna

Low in fat compared to some other fish and very versatile. If using the tinned variety choose ones that are packed in spring water rather than oil.

These arenâ??t the only fat burning foods you can eat but if you start with some of these ones you will have made a great start to lose weight.

Sue Baker
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/lose-weight-easily-21-fat-burning-foods-710394.html

I’ve heard that taking fat burners are very bad for you. Not only do they mess with your body’s health, but i’ve heard that once you stop taking them, your metabolism is shot and you gain a tone of weight. But is there any kind of a natural herb or vitamin that helps metabolize and burn fat faster? I’ve heard that green tea does, and biotin, but do they really, and if they do, how much? if not, or if there is anything better, what is it? This is to go along with my workout and cardio routine, not a lazt solution to lose weight. i lift weights a lot, and run 3-4 times a week. I just want to speed it up if i can. Thanks for the help!

Try phentrazine. The website is usaveonpills.com. There products are all natural and it help alot! I will purchase it when i get money,lol 2 weeks from now. If you don’t want to its OK. i have this good diet that can help well:

Mornings: do cardio for 30 Min’s, after that go jogging for 1 hour. Come home and eat breakfast-8am. I ate a bowl of bran cereal with one light yogurt. For snack 11am i ate apple, For lunch 2pm i ate 3 boiled eggs, light yogurt, and homemade chicken salad without dressing. 2nd Snack 5pm i ate apple. Dinner 8pm was a glass of milk . I worked out again at evening 6pm, cardio for 1 hour and jogged for 1 hour.

Do this for two weeks straight and you will lose all your gut and extra weight. Very strict, but worth it

Use skim milk for cereal! No other food. Only drink water 2 gallons a day

When we talk about foods, we instantly think that these will make you fat. Since most foods have calories and if left unburned in your body, they will be converted to fats and thereâ??s how most people become overweight.

However, contrary to what you may think, there are actually some fat fighting foods that can help you lose weight.

As research and my personal experience shows, there are foods that do not make you fat. These fat fighting foods can be your daily dose of fruits or those beans. There are a number of fat fighting foods identified. These foods are normally high in fiber and improve a personâ??s digestive system.

It is then easier to digest these foods and it even speeds up the metabolism. With a proper amount of these fat fighting foods, enough energy for the whole day can be maintained.

Also, a proper diet can make a person leaner while still maintaining a healthy life style.

Some examples of these fat fighting foods are oatmeal, garlic, and onions. Oatmeal for breakfast helps a person reduce the cravings for fatty food while garlic and onions breaks down fatty deposits found inside our bodies.

Nuts may have fatty acids but they help in burning fat and not add up to a personâ??s flab.

Lean meat such as pork, chicken and beef contains a lot of proteins which are needed to build and maintain muscle mass. These muscles in turn are active calories burners so eating more proteins can help you lose weight. You should choose meat that contains at least 95% lean meat.

There are many other foods that do not make a person stout. However, in all cases, avoid foods that are high in carbohydrates such as cakes, pasta, pizza and rice.

Starvation diet may not always be the easiest way to lose pounds. There are still ways to make yourself fit but still manage to enjoy the pleasure of eating. Discipline in eating is the key to lose the blubber. Fight the fat, and enjoy munching!

Ricky Lim
http://www.articlesbase.com/low-calorie-articles/fat-fighting-foods-are-there-foods-that-can-help-you-lose-weight-733917.html

I AM SORRY THAT THIS IS LONG, BUT PLEASE READ

I am currently doing research about Black Seeds. It is also known as Black Coriander or Black Caraway seeds. It is know that Black Seeds can cure/treat many medical ailments.

Well in my Biology class, we were learning about adaptation, and an example is the AIDS virus. When ever this one perosn took the medication, it seemed that somehow the virus would adapt to it. Well since I have heard of Black Seed, and I have done some research, I was wondering if it can treat HIV/AIDS. I know that it may not completley cure it, or that you need to take this for a while to see results, i was just wondering about the possibilities.

Based on this info, what do you think? Any comments will be accepted. It would help me if you cite your information (if you can).

-Black seed unquestionably has a positive and stabilizing effect on the human immune system which . Moreover, since diseases are the result of defective immune systems, it is fair to assume that the beneficial effects go beyond skin disorders and allergies. Since the immune system has a direct or indirect effect on all the systems of the body, when you are infected by any disease, the power of the immunity system affects the cure of this disease.

-Black seed is a safe and effective herb that can be used by almost anyone. No irritations or side effects are caused when the right dose is correctly applied. Its benefits are obtained through consistent use,the effects are medium to long term. Diabetes is useful in the treatment of diabetes mellitus or diabetes caused by an allergy. However it is recommended that the treatment be supervises because Black seed does lower blood sugar levels. Black seed should not be taken by pregnant women if their wombs are sensitive

-Mahfouz and El-Dakhakhny, prominent Egyptian researchers isolated the active principle nigellone from Black Seed’s essential oil in 1959. There are over 100 different chemical components in the seed.

Nigella and melatin are two ingredients in Black Seed that contribute greatly to its highly diversified powers. These substances work together to provide the digestive benefits that have been revered in Black Seed. They also promote cleansing and assist with overall eliminating action.

Two of the most volatile oils found in Black seed are nigellone and thymoquinone which were fist discovered in the herb in 1985. Nigellone offers both anti-spasmodic and bronchodilating properties which contribute to Black Seed’s potency against respiratory ailments. It also acts as an antihistamine which helps to reduce the negative symptoms of allergy sufferers. Thymoquinone contains excellent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It is also a strong anti-oxidant and helps cleanse the body of toxins. Both nigellone and thymoquinone work in conjunction with one another to enhance Black Seed’s action against respiratory ailments. It also provides a healthy alternative to the more commonly prescribed cortisone based therapies used by allergy sufferers.

Black seed provides a rich supply of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These ingredients play a key role in daily health and wellness. They help to regulate the metabolism, carry toxins to the skin’s surface for elimination, balance insulin levels, regulate cholesterol, improve body circulation, and promote healthy liver function. A deficiency in polyunsaturated fatty acids can lead to a wide number of health problems including nervous system disorders, uninhibited growths, and skin diseases.

Black seed contains over 100 valuable nutrients. It is comprised of approximately 21% protein, 38% carbohydrates, and 35% plant fats and oils. The active ingredients of black seed are nigellone, thymoquinone, and fixed oils. Black seed also contains significant proportions of protein, carbohydrates and essential fatty acids. Other ingredients include linoleic acid, oleic acid, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin B2, niacin, and vitamin C.

A 1994 study conducted in London by King’s College revealed that Black Seed has properties that inhibit certain enzymes, which also inhibit the production of certain prostaglandins. This is more proof that the rich and complex combination of elements found in Black Seed work together for a total effect.

Black Seed has over 1400 years history of use. Many ancient books and text suggest the following traditional uses for Black Seed. But please note, that these should not be understood as cures or treatments for any disease or illness.
Now this is only some of the research that I have done. I have not actually done some testing or anything, I am just in High School. Right now, I am in the stage of gathering information.

What’s the active ingredient?
Can it be synthesized or purified on a large scale?
What’s the target?
What’s the mechanism of action?
What’s the effectiveness compared to current treatments?

These are the questions that must be answered before it can be used to treat anything.

There’s a reason medicine doesn’t just use things like this. Until you know what molecule is doing what you don’t know about any possible cross-reactions, toxicity issues, and most importantly you can’t quantify everything since the amount of active ingredient isn’t controlled.

Last year as a nation we spent $30 billion on weight loss programs and products. This year 50 million Americans will go on a diet … 95% of those people will fail at keeping the weight off.

What other industry could survive, let alone flourish with a failure rate of 95% ? Even more astounding, what industry has repeat business clientele with such a rate of failure.

It makes no sense ! If you blame yourself for a product or program not working, then maybe you will go back over and over again. Maybe you will go back when you see all the commercials, adverts and billboards that show all the people it has (supposedly) worked for. Most weight loss programs and products count on you blaming yourself (and not them) when results are not forthcoming or not long lived.

This gets me a little ticked off and I know it applies just as much to men as it does for women, but for women every failure erodes their own self perception. Year in and year out their self concept is chipped away at until they feel they have no control whatsoever. They may be treated badly at work or by their family. Aspirations are a thing of their past, they just exist with the cards they have been dealt and fail to dream yet alone realize anything better than that which they have already. It is a hateful scenario and it is a hateful cycle with a ripple effect that just ruins a person’s life.

With such a enormous failure rate how is it then that we always seem to think that the blame lies with us ?

At one end of the spectrum there are the people that fund the infomercial business. They buy that 5 minute a day exercise machine or that cellulite cream, at 3 in the morning they are punching in their credit card details for that fat zapper or carb blocker. They are looking for minimal effort on their part and in return they want dramatic results. Deep down though, do they really expect those results, I doubt it, I think that they just feel better as in some way they are feeling pro active.

Sure you can give away control but you can never give away responsibility. If you think that you will be rewarded just by the purchase decision then you are fooling yourself. The client that tells me that they have worked with several personal trainers and not seen the results they had expected is the client that is putting in sub maximal effort. A trainer can only be responsible for your behavior one hour at a time and even then they cannot do the work for you.

The body is wiser than our conscious mind. Treat it badly and it will find ways to counter act your poor choices. I used to compete and that backlash was one of the main reasons that I left the sport of bodybuilding. I would spend months dieting my weight down to the single digit body fat percentages demanded by the sport but right after show time I would start regaining those pounds at an alarming speed. When I first started competing it did not phase me as I was certainly rewarding myself in the ‘off season’ with foods that I knew would pack on some pounds. I knew I would be dieting soon enough for the next show so a little indulgence in the interim seemed just fine by me. Then as I competed year in year out that cycle became really old, the joke about having two closets, one for pre contest clothes and one for off season clothes was wearing a little thin. The weight fluctuations bothered me and so I changed things around. I dieted for my shows with my usual discipline (nothing like having to wear a bikini in front of a room full of people to keep you on track) but afterwards I kept my diet super strict but not quite so calorie restrictive. The result, I still ended up heavier, I might just as well have enjoyed the gain as I ended up in the same place anyway.

“for every action there is an opposite reaction of equal force”

Our bodies like ‘homeostasis.’ Our bodies prefer to keep and even keel and seek to maintain that steady state. When we go too far off track our bodies control center has the ability to adjust and adapt despite the external influences we are imposing. One of the ways our bodies can counter act our own behavior is to increase or decrease our metabolic rate. We know we have genetic metabolic factors, we also know we can enhance our metabolism by eating the right foods and by being physically active. However sometimes with good intentions we push too hard and it is then that our body has the ability to shove right back by slowing our metabolic rate to preserve the very energy we are trying to burn.

Very Low Calorie Diets (VLCD) are a major culprit. A study published in ‘Medicine & Science in Exercise & Sport’ monitored a number of female gymnasts and runners. The athletes who ate the fewest calories per day had the highest body fat percentages. Due to low calories the body had the ability to slow down its own metabolic rate to conserve energy. We have known for decades about this “Starvation Mode” but it doesn’t seem to stop people from cutting calories to ’starvation’ levels.

As a species mankind needs to be able to do this. Food supplies were not always constant. Certain foods were only available certain times of the year and other foods were only available when the opportunity arose (hunting). Our bodies have always known to adapt when food supplies were low and we are not a million years away from the times when this was a good thing. The leading cause of death until the 20th Century was starvation. Mankind has been on this planet for about 5 million years, so the concept of dieting to look better is a pretty recent thing. It was about 3.2 million years ago that we eventually got ourselves upright. ‘Lucy’ was found in Ethiopa back in 1974. If it took almost 2 million years to get off all fours then it could easily take just as long for us to feel comfortable existing with minimal body fat and eating foods that are not born of the land. Evolution or no evolution we must accept that our bodies are smarter and less superficial than us.

With VLCD our metabolism is able to slow down to conserve energy. At first these diets do indeed work and we will see our weight reduce. What we do is a mere inconvenience, we might deem our VLCD as something almost admirable, something that takes huge self discipline, but in the great scheme of things our inner working can correct our misbehaving and give us a slap on the wrist as a reminder.

We reduce our calories and often the calories we do eat come from poor sources. We lose weight for a while and then our metabolism slows down and we ‘plateau.’ We may cut our calories even farther to try to lose the weight but this just digs us even deeper into the whole. If the number on the scale is now moving downwards it is now because you are losing muscle. Fat is more energy dense (9 calories a gram) and so if your body feels like it is starving it is unlikely to give up its densest energy source. It is more likely to give up the tissue that is using up energy. Muscle is metabolically active, it needs energy just to exist. If you get rid of some of the muscle then your body can conserve even more energy on the limited number of calories you are giving it. If you choose to eat too few calories you will lose weight (note I say ‘weight’ not ‘fat’) eventually you will suffer from a depressed metabolism and the weight loss will halt. Your body will seek to hold onto its stash of energy and rid itself of the muscle tissue that has its own energy requirement.

At some point the dieter either reaches their desired weight or they have become very disheartened (and just plain hungry), they may relax their calorie restriction a little or they may quit altogether. At this point they have a slower metabolism than before the onset of the diet and they have less muscle. Before they started reducing their calories they may have had a basal metabolic rate of 1800 calories a day, since then they have lost muscle and now their BMR might only be 1500. By simply returning to their normal way of eating they are going to gain weight just because their daily energy requirement has been reduced.

Joanne Lee
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/are-you-destoying-your-metabolism-678548.html

I been clean from smoking herb for two months, and I had one puff two weeks before taking the piss test, What do you think Pass /Fail ? And why do you think pass/fail?

How long do you think that puff will take to clear out of the system.
Dont you think that regular metabolism would take care of that?
And yes, I know I was wrong for doing that so please do not elaborate on that.

how it shouws up in the testing is going to depend on one MAJOR factor….

how long and how frequently had you smoked before you stopped.

this was a few years back…but my uncle had gotten into some trouble that required him to be on probation and he had to take a urine test every month. he didn’t test clean the entire time. The amount in the test got lower because he wasn’t smoking anymore, but he didn’t test clean. They told hom that it could take years for him to pass a piss test clean.

something to think about……

try one of those pee fixers that you can drink. You can get them at most tobacco shops.

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably looking for a list of foods that will help you lose weight. Many people believe that there are “magic foods” like green tea that will make you lose weight. Certainly eating certain types of food will help, but the reasons why may surprise you.

Have you ever known someone who seemed to stay slim and trim no matter what they ate? If so, why are you looking for a list of foods that make you lose weight?

It’s not so much the specific foods you eat, but how and when you eat them. For example, “heavy,” calorie-rich foods are best eaten earlier in the day, since during the period following your meal, you’ll be active and burning more calories. The body won’t need to store any of those calories as fat.

A set of techniques collectively known as “calorie shifting” enables you to eat pretty much whatever you want-as long as you eat it at the right times, in the right portions, and at the right intervals. The real key to weight loss isn’t to eat certain foods that make you lose weight. It’s to stimulate your metabolism with the foods you do eat. Metabolism is ultimately what burns calories and makes you thinner.

While calorie shifting techniques are incorporated into many diets, one stands head and shoulders above the other: FatLoss4Idiots. This diet is so effective because it’s the easiest diet in the world to follow. You input the foods you like to eat, and it determines how you can most effectively employ calorie shifting to lose weight while eating them. Many people have lost up to 9 pounds in 11 days using this diet. It’s hard to imagine why you wouldn’t-the benefits are clear!

Aaron Patterson
http://www.articlesbase.com/weight-loss-articles/the-key-to-eating-foods-that-make-you-lose-weight-695691.html