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Would you like to lose a few pounds? More than a few? Me too.

These days we do so much online. We can run businesses online. We stay in touch with friends and family online. We shop online. So why not make the Web work for us when we’re trying to lose weight too? Fortunately there are plenty of online weight loss tools out there that do just that. And many of them are free!

Today I want to share some of my favorite free online weight loss tools with you, in the hopes that at least one of them might prove to be useful in helping you reach your own goals.

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1. FitDay.com — FitDay is a pretty comprehensive online weight loss tool. You can track what you eat in your food journal as well as tracking your exercise routines. You can track your weight changes. You can look up calorie information for the foods you eat. And you can look up how many calories different exercises burn. It’s my favorite all-around tool for tracking. You can get a PC download version if you prefer that over the online one, and they offer a premium membership if you want more advanced reports and to have ads removed from the site.

2. SparkPeople.com — A friend turned me onto SparkPeople.com a couple of years ago. It’s a free online weight loss community. If you don’t want to go it alone, this might be what you’re looking for. You’ll have a great support network, challenges to keep you motivated, and you’ll get plenty of tools and trackers to help you put your weight loss plan into action.

3. FitWatch.com — This site is much like FitDay.com as far as the calculators, tools, and trackers go. This site used to be my preference of the two, although not for any particular reason. They’re both fantastic resources, so play with both of them and see which one’s free version is most appealing to you.

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4. CalorieKing.com — CalorieKing is a calorie counting website. You can certainly use the more comprehensive tools I mentioned, but if you’re just curious about calories, this can be a more straightforward option. I specifically love CalorieKing though because they seem to have more thorough information about restaurant foods than some other calorie counting websites I’ve used.

5. YouTube — YouTube is a surprisingly good source of free workout material for those looking to lose weight. You can find countless online workouts you can do from the privacy of your own home. I would just caution you to look for videos from reputable fitness instructors as opposed to amateurs. There is always a risk of injury when trying a new workout, and you need to stay serious about your safety.

What about you? Do you have any favorite free online weight loss tools you’d like to share with our readers? Do you have feedback on any of these? Feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts!

Millions of Cases of Diabetes in 2000 and Projections for 2030, with Projected Percent Changes.

Westerners have always taken pride in their ability to produce, cook and eat the most sumptuous, savory foods. Food is the centerpiece of family life in much of Western life, with dinnertime often being the main part of the day when a family can get together. Food brings people together, acts as source of comfort, and has for centuries been used for peace offerings, gifts, and to celebrate and to mourn. However, the preoccupation with pleasing the palate has become an obsession in much of Western society.

Obesity in Western culture has become such widespread phenomenon as to be a featured segment on most newscasts at least once a night. Television shows such as “The Biggest Loser” throw a beacon on the problem with glaring klieg lights, putting the issue in front of people in a way many may never have seen it. Whether one sees those kinds of shows as exploitative or just mindless fodder for reality television, it cannot be denied the medium has thrust the issue of obesity into the public eye. Now that the overall health issues of obesity have begun to unanimously trump the issue of looks and physical attractiveness, it has garnered enough attention to be able to get its fair share of research funding and media coverage.

While there are many explanations for the obesity phenomenon, it boils down to more sedentary lifestyles, which are fueled by consumption of nutrient-deficient, calorie-laden foods. A rise in white collar jobs over the last several decades, and automated machinery to make even manual labor easier have combined to reduce the amount of natural exercise people used to get at their jobs. Being over-worked, under-paid and perpetually under tremendous stress in a bad economy does not help the cause. The ‘rat race’ so readily identifiable in American culture has caused the staples of the family dinner table to be pizza and chicken tenders. Hormones and other additives used to preserve and flavor food, as well as speed the growing process, has wreaked havoc on the dietary habits of most people living in Western culture.

When the issue came to the public awareness with such staggering, sudden clarity with the arrival of the Western financial recession and the healthcare issue in the United States came under such fire, it spurred more aggressive research practices and more in-depth care from healthcare providers. There are doctors who specialize in the treatment of obesity, and wellness programs to help those who are obese are so abundant as to be innumerable.

One of the lesser-known aspects of obesity is the issue of its correlation to diabetes mellitus type 2. The lavish lifestyles and notoriously bad eating habits of Westerners have caused the rates of both obesity and diabetes to skyrocket in the last twenty some-odd years, initially leading doctors and researchers to believe obesity must have something to do with late-onset diabetes. Currently, the New England Journal of Medicine reports about ninety percent of diabetes is caused by obesity.

According to National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC), a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are nearly twenty-six million diagnosed cases of diabetes type 2 in the United States, which makes up almost nine percent of the population.

The cost of obesity and diabetes on the pocketbooks of Western citizens is another catalyst in the drive to substantially lower the number of environmental- and lifestyle-induced cases of diabetes. With the world economy in such dire straits, there is a sudden charge to lower the cost of anything and everything that is not financially solvent. The cost to taxpayers is becoming ever more burdensome as Westerners continue to eat themselves into financial and physical ruin. Until Westerners realize there must be a consistent, responsible move on the part of the general population to control this ever-worsening problem, there is little evidence of any slowing down of the obesity phenomenon, and its ensuing problems such as diabetes.

One more slice!

Why do we Overeat?

Many parents encourage their children to “clean their plates.” They are expected to eat every bite of food placed before them. As adults these individuals have trouble not finishing their servings. Others don’t want to seem rude to a gracious host; they eat past the point of comfort. Some people haven’t learned an alternate way to cope with stress and anxiety.

Overeaters may lack a sensitivity to stomach fullness. The over-stuffed feeling doesn’t register until 20 or even 30 minutes after you’ve had your last bite. By then it’s too late. Normal feelings of fullness leave you secure and contented. Being stuffed is miserable.

How to Regain Your Sense of Fullness

Normal eaters eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full. They are not tempted by excessive snacking because they are still satisfied from their last meal. They are hungry at mealtime, because they haven’t snacked. Those keenly aware of their fullness signal stop when they are full – even when Grandma brings out her famous apple pie. The thought of lifting the fork for one bite seems painful.

If you’ve habitually ignored your fullness signals, or have lost touch with your signals – you can regain this connectivity. How? Monitor your fullness sensations. It may be very faint after a moderate amount of food. If you keep eating does it go away?

There are different signals. Some people report bloating of the lips or face rather than a stomach signal. Some feel closure at the back of the mouth or weakening in the limbs. Discomfort in the gut is too late. If you eat to satisfaction you should feel content, secure, and full 20 to 30 minutes after a meal. If you eat to the point of fullness, ignoring your subtle signal, you’ll feel stuffed later.

Another warning: the painfully stuffed feeling is alleviated by – gasp – starting to eat again! A normal eater would never think of eating more after feeling uncomfortably full. The overeater turns to food again. The overeater relies on food to salve any discomfort, even that brought on by eating too much!

If you have a strong taste urge and a weak fullness signal it is important to get in touch with your body. The non-diet philosophy of eating when you are hungry and stopping when you’re full is altruistic.

This method is both simple and straightforward, focusing on developing a healthy relationship with food rather than focusing on weight loss or dress size. Listen to your fullness signal. Stop eating when you first notice it.

Have a drink of cold water. Feel it in your mouth as it destimulates your taste buds. Feel it slide down the esophagus to settle and soothe the stomach. Some find brushing their teeth shortly after a meal also helps discourage snacking and signals the body that meal time is over.

By: Terra L. Fletcher

The hardest part about losing weight is to stay motivated. Usually the results are very slow to notice, so day by day you stop seeing the point in going on.

This is when turning to people for help is a great idea. It is always more fun to try to achieve your goals together with someone. Both the feeling of being supported and the contest spirit keep you encouraged and motivated.

But what if there’s no one nearby to share your weight loss goals with? That’s when social media communities are there to help. Here are the three absolutely free web-based tools to help you achieve your weight loss goals:

1. SparkPeople

SparkPeople promotes “a new approach to weight loss” which is basically nothing new but sounds useful: join support groups and help each other lose weight.

Besides support groups and strong and active community, the site also offers quite a few tools to help you track your meals, monitor your weight and keep an eye on your progress:

• Personalized diets;
• Calorie counter,
• Customized fitness programs,
• Expert Q&A section,
• Motivation program, etc.

2. Traineo

Traineo invites members to build a support network of traineo motivators and then join thousands of active community members sharing motivation and support as they follow their weight loss programs. Basically it works as follows:

• You set your weight loss goal
• Then you choose friends and/or family members to become your ‘traineo motivators’ who will track your progress.

This is actually a unique and useful feature: your “motivators” will be receiving your Traineo reports and (if they notice that you seem to be giving up) they can quickly get you motivated again.

traineo in under 2 mins from traineo on Vimeo.

3. Thintopia

Thintopia invites you to lose weight collaboratively by taking part in weight loss competitions.

It lets you meet other like-minded people and connect with them. While the site is really limited in features and simple in design, it does have a great idea. By competing each other you can achieve a lot and have fun as well!

The guest post is by Eric who has recently started a website on treadmills for sale.

With the lifestyles we lead and our dietary habits, piling on pounds as we grow older, is inevitable. Some of us even tend to take it easy, having gotten used to carrying all that baggage around.

I was browsing a weight loss forum the other day and read a post by a woman who is overweight and loves it – because her face looks healthy and glows when she is plump and it doesn’t look as attractive when she loses a few pounds.

What can you say to such people? The reason for this line of thinking is because most people don’t really know the numerous problems that excess fat in the body causes.  For most, it is just an appearance issue.  What they don’t seem to understand is that overweight is a medical concern and can seriously affect their health.

We read of the many health problems associated with overweight.  They are arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, fatty liver, sleep apnea, asthma, high blood pressure, gallstones, mood, depression and energy levels, all of which impact the quality of life.

If you’re thinking, you know it all, you cannot be more wrong.  I thought I knew everything until I read an article in the news.  I always worried about gaining weight and the possibility of diabetes, which could lead to kidney failure or some such horrible problem.

But what I read was scary and it is sure to motivate you to keep the bulge at bay from now on.

Scientists who are involved in researching problems associated with weight are of the opinion that there’s something more dangerous and critical happening inside our body; especially in one of the main organs of our body – our brain.

They have found that excess of body fat can lead to shrinkage of the brain, making us much more vulnerable to cognitive problems, and possibly dementia.  Such people are at increased risk of memory problems, visual or sensory disturbances, inattention, problem solving, gait problems or speech difficulties among others.

In our society, the incidence of Alzheimer’s has been on the increase for many years and this is attributed to the stress we encounter in every aspect of our lives, at home and at work.  Mental health decline is by and large the scariest as it leaves people at the mercy of others.

As part of the study, 94 elderly people who did not have dementia or other cognitive impairments were followed for five years.  It was seen that the brains of overweight people looked eight years older and those of obese people were 16 years older when compared to their leaner peers.  People with a larger body mass index had smaller brains because they had less brain tissue.  Most of the lost tissue was in the frontal and temporal lobes, which are important for planning and memory.

It’s early days yet to really know whether this would surely lead to dementia, but a smaller brain is indicative of destructive processes and there is the increased risk of Alzheimer’s, according to researchers.

Scientists say the reason for the shrinkage could be because excess body weight increases the possibility of clogged arteries, thus reducing blood supply to the brain cells, resulting in brain cell death and shrinkage of the brain.

According to a professor of neurosurgery and director of the University of South Florida Center for Aging and Brain Repair in Tampa, “We all lose some tissue as we get older and they’re saying this is being accelerated.”

This is said to be the first study of its kind showing physical evidence in our brains that links obesity and overweight with cognitive decline.

Unfortunately, we are part of the “obesity epidemic,” and this is a problem that affects all age groups, including kids. Statistics reveal that more than 60 million Americans are now obese, while another 36 percent come under the overweight category.

It’s time to understand that obesity affects every organ of our body and everything within our body is linked.  We are what we eat.

We’ve ravaged our body and all it has to offer, and the time for reparation is now. What happened to the concept of balance in everything?  Yes, including food.

Haven’t we seen our grandparents and parents suffer from Dementia? I hope we learn the lesson while we still can.

Unlike our ancestors who used their muscles for everyday activities and lived a physical lifestyle, our lifestyles are comparatively sedentary. Body fat is accumulated in unwanted places and the perfect body shape is a dream. Getting rid of the fat seems an almost impossible task. Fortunately, with the advancement in science, there are ways we can do something about that.

Just like sculpting a figure, body sculpting is the new term used to describe cosmetic surgery that is intended to change a person’s body contours to achieve a perceived perfect physique.

It is most natural for fat to deposit in specific areas of our body and can impact an otherwise perfect physique. These localized fat deposits often are hereditary, such as in the neck, chin, arms, abdomen, breasts, flanks, knees, thighs and buttocks.

There are a couple of popular methods available for us to get rid of these deposits and shape our bodies the way we want; liposuction and lipolysis.

Liposuction was first performed in 1974 and has advanced over the years. It is now considered as one of the safest body shaping and contouring surgeries that helps in removing unwanted fat from specific areas. Fat cells are taken out from under the skin using a vacuum-suction cannula (a hollow instrument that looks like a pen) or with the use of an ultrasonic probe that breaks up the fat into small pieces and removes it with the help of suction.

Lipolysis on the contrary is a procedure where there is a breakdown of fat that is stored in fat cells, which means melting down of fat in the body through injections without any procedure. It works for spot reduction of fat. The fat cells are dissolved into liquid and eliminated from the body through urine and feces. It takes about two weeks for the results to be noticed.

Liposuction procedure works best for areas where stubborn fat deposits refuse to go away even with weight loss programs, such as the hips, thighs, buttocks, neck, face, back, arms or calves. Experts say that it is only to be used as a mechanism to get rid of localized fat and not as a weight loss measure. A liposuction procedure is usually done for more than one area at the same time.

Some men with gynecomastia also use this procedure to reduce their breast size or to remove lipomas but generally it is meant to be used for cosmetic body shaping purposes. The scarring is much less when compared to other plastic surgery procedures.

It is essential to have realistic expectations when considering liposuction. Although results can be dramatic, they may not be immediate. The success of this surgery depends on several factors, like the age, weight, general health and skin elasticity. This procedure is not advised for people with diabetes, heart or artery problems, history of blood clots or insufficient blood flow. A perfect candidate would be one with normal weight, healthy, good skin elasticity and troubled areas that do not respond to exercise or diet.

Licensed dermatologists or plastic surgeons perform liposuction surgery. There may be complications after a liposuction procedure even if it is performed by the most experienced physician. It has to be performed at a hospital, surgical center or a doctor’s office.

Lipolysis is performed by releasing free fatty acids into the bloodstream for them to circulate in the body. Small injections of Phosphatidylcholine (PPC) are administered locally, directly into the subcutaneous tissue. Multiple injections will be needed to cover an area. In that region, the local fat deposits are destroyed and the fat stored in the cell is released, which results in a reduction of body circumference in that area. It is said that women respond better to the treatment than men due to the difference in structure of the fat cells and connective tissue.

Phosphatidylcholine is a natural product in our body that helps emulsify fat and cholesterol. It has been used for its cholesterol lowering properties for a long time and it is said to protect the liver. Experts say that lipolysis is good for soft fat, while fibrous fat may be more difficult to treat, as the fat cells only weaken instead of bursting.

Lipolysis is considered to be mild when compared to other cosmetic procedures available; although, patients do experience soreness, mild swelling, bruising on the specific areas which lasts for a week or so. Some people have noticed small painless lumps in the area. There have been reported some uncommon side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and rarely infection and prolonged bruising. Doctors reveal that patients with cardiovascular diseases, malignant disorders, kidney diseases and blood disorders are advised not to undergo this treatment.

Whatever the treatment you undergo; whether it is liposuction of lipolysis, a follow up routine of exercise and a healthy diet is essential to maintain the weight that has been reduced as fat cells can grow fast if a conscious effort is not made to keep them off.

Obesity in childhood leads to obesity as adults. In spite of being aware of the health problems associated with obesity, the percentage of obese kids in America is increasing at an alarming rate. Studies show that one out of three kids is obese.

Most kids are not into exercising and spend most of their time watching TV, playing video games or using the computer. Today’s busy schedules and fast-paced lives give parents no time to prepare home cooked nutritious meals for the family every day.

Parents have a responsibility to prevent overweight in their kids and that means adapting the way the whole family eats and exercises. It is important to spend time together as a family and steer kids towards a healthy lifestyle. Leading by example is the only way parents can take care of their kid’s health.

The problem with obesity is not just an obese adult with fat hanging from the body, suffering from low self-esteem and getting bullied by peers. There are several other serious risk factors involved. Several health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, bone and joint problems, liver and gallbladder disease, depression, shortness of breath and restless sleep are not exclusively adult domain anymore – they affect kids too.

If you think that is scary, wait till you hear the rest. You should know what you are putting your kids through, for you to be able to take control over their diet and health.

Latest research shows that obese kids may be damaging their thyroids, in the process creating a vicious cycle of metabolism and overweight. Researchers say that obesity may cause inflammation that damages the thyroid, which secretes hormones to regulate metabolism. Any increase or decrease in the production of the thyroid hormone is dangerous for health.

As parents, you will be able to take better care of your child’s health if you understand how the body gets affected. Our bodies get their energy from food we consume through metabolism. This is the chemical reaction that takes place within the body cells that convert the fuel from food into energy we need for everything, right from moving to growing to thinking. It is a vital process that starts when we are conceived and ends with our death. People die when the metabolism stops functioning.

Most disorders of metabolism are caused either because of abnormal levels or problems with the functioning of hormones or enzymes, such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is caused due to an overactive thyroid gland when it releases too much thyroxine hormone. Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid gland, where it releases too little thyroxine. This can result in excessive weight gain, slow heart rate, fatigue as well as constipation. Kids and teens need to be treated on time to avoid the risk of mental retardation and stunted growth. Now researchers have found that overweight can put the thyroid gland at risk.

Fatty food, prepackaged meals and lack of exercise are factors that contribute to kids being overweight, along with television and video games, which are the major culprits.

Experts say that the key to keeping kids healthy is to take the whole-family approach to obesity. Kids usually learn by seeing their parents. Bring about a change in eating habits and ensure everybody exercises. Get your kids and teens involved by planning healthy meals and making good food choices.

It is important not to fall into the most common food traps that parents usually fall into. The old fashioned idea of rewarding the kids with chocolates or treats for good behavior should be abandoned. However, favorite snacks and chocolates should not be completely forbidden as children tend to rebel and overeat. Then the most common clean-plate system where kids are supposed to finish everything on the plate can prove to be dangerous. Kids should be allowed to eat only as much as they wish to.

Most important is to make sure your child’s self esteem does not get affected and this can be done by letting them know that you love them whatever their weight. This is the first step to a healthy and happy child.

While we all think that Wall Street greed and the huge pay packets of “fat cat” speculators and bankers brought about the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s, the actual cause is entirely different. This was said to be just the trigger of the real cause, which is US gluttony.

America has gotten used to stuffing itself. You would understand if you had seen the 2004 documentary, “Super Size Me,” by Morgan Spurlock. It conveys the consequences of gluttony.

What does supersizing mean? It refers to the American habit of “supersizing” all the fast foods and getting consumers to opt for the bigger sizes for reasons of “economy” or savings. You would have seen the pricing policy adopted by most fast food sellers. The bigger the size, the lesser you pay. This psychological trigger works wonders and consumers end up being the scapegoats opting for bigger sizes while the people selling them laugh all the way to the bank.

In fact, Morgan Spurlock, the film-maker practically tested this by surviving on a diet of three McDonald meals a day, for thirty days. The result was drastic – he ended up heavier by 11.1 kg. This weight gain was the least of his worries. He also developed all sorts of health problems; such as high blood pressure, psychological disorders and liver problems. Coming back to normal was a long and arduous task, which included a rigorous detoxification program for 14 months.

This experiment brings to light America’s insatiable appetite, not only for food but for everything, right from gas-devouring cars to climate-controlled condominiums. United States’ consumption levels far exceed its population, which is only 5% of the World population. America consumes 24 percent of the world’s energy. It is said that an average American consumes as much energy as 13 Chinese, 31 Indians, 128 Bangladeshis or 370 Ethiopians.

Statistics reveal that approximately, a total of 815 billion calories are consumed by America daily. According to nutritionists, this is 200 billion more than the required amount. This figure is without taking into consideration the huge amounts of completely edible food thrown away by Americans daily, which is around 200,000 tons. Experts are of the opinion, that very soon, the Earth will be bereft of resources and it will become necessary to create four new Earth-sized planets.

When will American consumers realize that the huge sodas and supersized fast foods that come cheap can cost them dearly in the long run?

America has become the land of the obese and statistics show that the number of obese adults doubled in the last couple of years. It has become almost an epidemic and about 300,000 Americans are said to die each year due to overweight. It is the second leading cause of preventable death after smoking.

People in the Public Health departments realize that obesity is a long-neglected problem and solutions need to be found. They say that obesity will very soon exceed the risks cause by puffing on butts.

It is important to know that obesity is not just storing fat in the body, but a cause for dreaded diseases, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, sleep apnea and many others.

It would be interesting to note that the problem of obesity has created a controversial debate over whether it can be classified as a disease. While the National Institutes of Health say that it should be considered as a disease; the U.S. surgeon general is of the opinion that obesity is a condition. They say that obesity cannot be classified as a disease because people have control over it and it is in their hands to reduce weight.

It is a sad day indeed, because while others fight over the issue of classification of obesity, we continue to eat those huge burgers and drink gallons of cola and add on pounds.

We may get way with consuming more energy, because we may not be affected by it during our lifetime; but can we say the same about our health – about our lives? The saying, “we are what we eat” holds true. In order to be healthy and to keep physical and emotional suffering at bay as long as we live, we have to understand what our body needs – not what satisfies our palate.

Supersized America has to think of the children who are going to suffer the same fate tomorrow. After all, children learn by following their parents. Time to realize that the colas you so lovingly give your children are harming them.

Obesity is a problem most adults of today face. Some give up trying to reduce weight thinking it’s hereditary and others get discouraged when nothing seems to work. There are some people who are happy with themselves and what they are.

Agreed, we do not have to bother about what others feel about us but we have to be concerned about our health. Obesity as we all know leads to all sorts of health problems. Lack of exercise only aggravates the situation.

Researchers have time and again drilled it into us that exercise helps burn fat. Results of another recent study reveal that just a single bout of exercise helps obese people boost their fat-burning rate and improve their metabolism.

This is great news and should motivate all those obese individuals who have given up taking care of their health. According to a researcher from the University of Michigan, “This means that exercising, even without losing weight, can benefit individuals in terms of metabolic health. By exercising to increase their ability to burn fat and store fat as triglycerides in muscle, which is beneficial, people reduce their insulin resistance and their likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.”

They also found that obese women’s fat burning rate had reduced when they overate and did not exercise.

To appreciate the immense value of these research results, it would help to understand what metabolism is and how it works.

Metabolism refers to the many chemical processes that go on continuously in our body, which are the root cause of our life and functioning. All these processes need energy from food. The amount of energy (kilojoules or kj) our body burns is regulated by our metabolism. The only way we can get our metabolism to work is through exercise.

Metabolic rate is the rate at which the energy is burned. There are three components to this:

• Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) – It is the amount of energy the body needs to maintain itself. It contributes to about 50-80 percent of total energy used. Muscle mass is responsible for BMR, and anything that reduces muscle or lean mass reduces BMR. Since the BMR accounts for so much of the energy used, it is important not to lose muscle mass when trying to lose weight.

• Energy Used During Physical Activity – This is the amount of energy burned during physical activity. The energy used during exercise is the only form of energy that can be controlled by us. Normally, the rate of energy expenditure is only about 20 percent of the total energy used, but with strenuous exercise, the rate may go up 50-fold or even more.

The following list should help you understand how much energy is used for various activities.

o Sitting – 1.7 (kj)
o Writing – 1.7
o Standing in a relaxed manner – 2.1
o Driving – 3.8
o Vacuum cleaning – 11.3
o Fast walking – 14.2
o Running – 29.3
o Swimming (4km/hr) – 33
o Rowing in a race – 67

• Thermic Effect of Food – Our BMR rises after eating because we use energy to eat, digest and metabolize the food consumed. It rises as soon as we start eating and peaks after a couple of hours. This rise in BMR can vary a lot between 2-3 percent and 25-30 percent, based on what is eaten.

Here are the foods that contribute to the rise in BMR:

o Fats – BMR rises by 4 percent
o Carbohydrates – by 6 percent
o Proteins – by 30 percent
o Hot spicy foods – Foods containing mustard, horseradish and chilli can have a thermic effect.

This is the reason, we are told to eat more protein rich foods and less fatty foods.

You must note the importance of muscle tissue in our bodies. Muscle tissue has a monstrous appetite for kilojoules. The more muscle mass you have, the more energy you will burn. People usually put on weight as they age and this is because they slowly lose muscle. Researchers believe that the reduction in muscle mass as a person ages could be more due to being less active. They believe that strength training and resistance training can help reduce or even prevent the loss of muscle.

Now that you know what foods to eat and what activities to perform in order to boost your metabolism and increase the energy you expend, start following the basic steps first. Initially, you can begin with going for a slow walk, increasing the speed gradually. Next step is to concentrate on the food you eat, without depriving yourself. Just replacing part of the fats with protein is a good way to start. A good exercise and food regimen is a wonderful way of kick-starting your life again.

You no longer have to worry even if you do not seemingly lose weight, as long as you are being health conscious and you know your body is happy.

Death begins in the colon! That may sound a little extreme but it is a fact that a troubled colon leads to all sorts of diseases, some more serious than the others. Colon cleansing is one of the best ways of cleaning an unhealthy colon that is severely out of balance. While it is necessary to learn about different methods of cleansing, it is of utmost importance to understand that several mishaps can occur if colon cleansing is not performed properly.

Do not believe anyone that says colon cleansing is free from any reactions. It is common to have physical reactions to the colon cleansing process. These reactions may include headaches, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea or dizziness. For all the discomfort, this is actually a sign that the process is working and that you are actually eliminating toxins from the body. Although, these symptoms may not be considered as serious, if they do occur, you may need to temporarily cut back on your cleansing procedure.

You must learn not to confuse cleansing supplements with laxatives. Laxatives are not considered to be a good alternative, despite the fact that many health professionals recommend them. According to colon hydrotherapists, laxatives only stimulate the muscular movement of the colon. They can also cause dehydration and do nothing to loosen and remove the colon’s false lining. Laxatives may also weaken the colon by irritating and over-stimulating it, and it is best to stay away from them.

Colon cleansing should not be attempted without taking into consideration all the health factors. Those recovering from substance abuse, alcoholics, diabetics, people suffering from eating disorders, and individuals who are physically weak or have a hypothyroid or hypoglycemic condition should not undergo any form of cleansing or detoxification without strict medical supervision. It becomes inevitable to consult a physician before venturing to clean the colon, even when going in for alternative colon cleansing treatments using herbs.

We know that a colon cleansing program begins with the intake of adequate amounts of fiber among other things. However, increasing your intake of dietary fiber too rapidly can cause unpleasant side effects, such as gas, bloating, and even diarrhea. Someone in a state of ill health and gastrointestinal dysfunction cannot rush into a detoxification program. In people whose systems are deeply imbalanced, the body lacks the energy and proper organ function to run the complex processes of detoxifying itself. To avoid any of the unwanted side effects, fiber consumption should be increased gradually. Many people rush into it because they decide they need to get their health right immediately, and in the process suffer unexpected health problems.

Colon cleanses can be done at home too but the danger is of overdoing it. With colon cleansing, too much too soon can prove to be harmful. If attempting to do an enema at home, the equipment should be sterilized properly. Any negligence can easily lead to bacterial infections that could turn serious. It is also important to be gentle so as not to damage the intestinal wall.

Total fasting is bad for health too. Yes, there are many colon cleansing programs that stress on fasting but when you fast without consuming anything, your liver has to exert itself to flush out toxins. These toxins can easily get into the colon and then into the body. They eventually come back to the liver, putting a lot of load on the liver. There has to be intake of fresh organic juices, raw vegetables and lots of water to ensure that toxins are flushed out and do not recirculate.

According to the Department of Health, there have been cases where colon cleansing has caused severe illnesses and even death due to contaminated equipment, perforation (puncture) of intestinal walls or electrolyte (salt and mineral) imbalance. People at higher risk for a bowel injury include those that have ulcerative colitis, severe hemorrhoids, rectal or colon tumors, diverticulitis or those recovering from bowel surgery. People with heart failure or kidney problems may experience electrolyte imbalance. Since the colon walls can absorb substances, there is a chance that it can cause allergic reactions with the possibility of irreversible complications.

Although, colon cleansing in itself is not dangerous, the way it is performed has a big impact on the outcome. All these mishaps can be avoided by taking by ensuring it is done under the supervision of a healthcare professional.