Atkins Diet

For decades, the Atkins Diet has gone several revisions until finally resting on top as the foremost low-carbohydrate, high-protein and high-fat diet. In the past, the Atkins Diet allowed unrestricted consumption of eggs, cheese and meat while restricting foods, vegetables, pasta and bread. Fortunately, the latest version of the diet is fashioned for the modern taste – healthy, delicious foods.

Aside from getting a wide variety of foods, Atkins dieters also get to enjoy special shakes and bars from the very beginning of the diet plan and subsequent days.

Pros: Atkins diet is balanced. The diet has placed conscious focus on healthy fats instead of allowing all dietary fats. And while being a low-carbohydrate diet, the newer version of Atkins diet allows good carbs that provide vitamins and minerals, and much-needed fiber.

Cons: While short-term studies on the diet showed improvements in blood sugar and blood cholesterol level, there has not been any conclusive research on the efficacy of Atkins diet.

Pritkin Principle

Pritkin is known for its low-fat, high-carbohydrate eating plan. The diet focuses on consumption of high-fiber goods, fruits and vegetables, while curbing fat at only 10% of the total daily calorie intake. The theory behind the Pritkin Principle is that eating plant-based, low-fat foods can improve cardiovascular system and promote weight loss.

Pros: Since the new Pritkin diet includes the Calorie Density Solution, dieters can easily consume foods that can promote healthy weight loss. Low-calorie dense aids are important in Pritkin and you will find it tremendously satisfying to consume large quantities of these foods, as opposed to limiting your calories and consciously counting them all the time.

Cons: Pritkin restricts fat. The only allowed fat intake should be not more than 10% of daily calorie intake. This means that dieters will miss out on the 25 to 35% recommended calorie-from-fat diet of the American Heart Association. Also, dieters are likely to curb essential fatty acids like omega-3 fats, when doing Pritkin’s diet.

The South Beach Diet

This is probably the trendiest and newest high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. Aside from that, the South Beach Diet also controls fat consumption. This diet claims that the faster the starches and sugar are processed and absorbed in the bloodstream, the faster the body gets fat. There are three phases of the South Beach Diet. First phase is for kick-starting the diet and weight loss; second is for long-term weight loss; and third lasts for one year once the weight loss goal is achieved.

Pros: South Beach Diet promotes a balanced diet. This is extremely beneficial for the health. The diet allows healthy distribution of snacks and desserts, and provides meal plans with easy recipes for dieters to follow.

Cons: The claim of the diet about obesity and weight loss is also its most salable factor. Many dieters blindly follow South Beach thinking that weight loss is indeed remedied by their plan. And while it is indeed possible to lose weight following the phases of South Beach diet, weight loss is only prompted through less calorie consumption.

Avoid Diseases

Eating right and exercising regularly, along with other helpful health supplements are effective in creating strong barriers against several types of diseases. We all know that obesity is associated with a broad range of deleterious diseases. From heart conditions and diabetes to cancer and even death, staying healthy and fit can help avoid these and more.

Lessen Stress

With the fast and continuous pace of our modern time, it gets hard to catch up sometimes; and this can cause tremendous stress. Stress is everywhere. You can get it at work, home and even from you yourself. But with a healthy body, you can easily and significantly lessen the amount of stress you experience on a regular basis. Exercise, for instance, prompts the body to produce endorphins. This specific hormone, also known as happy hormones, is responsible for making us feel good about ourselves. So by exercising regularly, you can continuously feel better and avert stress.

More Energy

People who work at night are particularly prone to sleep deprivation, stress, and harmful diseases associated with staying up late. It’s easy to get sleepy at night because our bodies are programmed to shut off during this time of day. Relying on energy drinks and caffeine to get the body going through the shift can cause harmful effects to the health. Exercising regularly and eating “superfoods” as well as helpful supplements can give the right amount of energy your body needs through the night.

Longevity

Nowadays, studies are conducted to look for ways to lengthen life. It is common knowledge, however, that maintaining a healthy body can help prolong life. Adding helpful natural supplements, like acai berry, which has been found to produce benefits of longevity, can even help you live and enjoy life a little bit longer.

Aging

But one of the most helpful benefits of maintaining a healthy body has something to do with aging. Aging is inevitable. From the day we are born, we set foot on the long road to old age. It doesn’t mean, however, that we should look old. Adopting a healthy habit early in life can help you age gracefully. By the time you reach forty, you can still knock the socks off those half your age with the youthful glow you obtained through regular exercise, habit of eating healthy and taking helpful supplements.

Nowadays, there are surgical procedures that can help those suffering from severe obesity. Prescription drugs that help people adapt to a healthier diet are also helpful. Diet pills, like hoodia gordonii, acai berry and other natural supplements, also prove effective in losing excess pounds off.

It’s critically important to find help as soon as possible in order to regain health and lessen the exposure to the onset of the following dangers of obesity:

Diabetes

Obese adults are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes early than others.

High-blood Pressure

High-blood pressure is also very common with obese individuals. Having high-blood pressure can increase the risk of developing heart-related conditions.

High levels of LDL or bad cholesterol and triglycerides accompanied by extremely low levels of HDL or good cholesterol can seriously increase the chances of heart problems and stroke.

Cancer

There are several types of cancer that can develop from obesity. Colon, kidney and esophageal cancer are the most common. Women who are 20-pounds overweight between the ages of 18 to midlife are also at a greater risk of developing breast cancer after menopause.

Liver Conditions

Since obesity is also associated with diabetes, people suffering from the condition are also likely to develop fatty liver disease.

Sleep Apnea

People suffering from obesity are also prone to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when there is a sudden and abrupt cessation of breathing during sleep. Stored fat around the neck is common with obese individuals. This excess fat can make the airway small making snoring louder, breathing harder and even stop it altogether.

Depression

There are several psychological conditions linked with diabetes, and of the most common is depression. Obesity can cause extremely low self-esteem. This will eventually cause obese individuals to yield to depression.

Battling obesity is difficult. Like other weight loss regimen, it takes a lot of patience and dedication. Especially for people who have been used to eating anything they get their hands on, it’s hard to adjust to a healthier and seemingly restrictive eating habit. Luckily, this can be alleviated with continuous exposure to a healthy diet along with the help of natural diet pill like hoodia gordonii, which is effective in suppressing the appetite, and acai berry, which is helpful in improving metabolism.

1. Find out your daily calorie intake

The Basal Metabolic Rate is quite useful in helping you target your daily recommended calorie intake. Don’t forget that one of the basic parts of weight loss is to monitor how much calories you consume daily. To get the right amount of calories you need each day, use this formula:

(Weight in lbs. x 15) + (activity [minutes/day] x 3.5) – BMR = Daily Calorie Intake

In this instance, use a BMR amount of 500. This is the recommended number for those who are losing weight. The difference you get from the above formula is the safest and most suggested amount of calories you can take each day.

2. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables

Like mentioned above, it’s crucial to eat healthy. But how many servings of fruits and vegetables are recommended? People who are in a weight loss journey are advised to eat as much as 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Not only will this provide the right nutrients but a regular healthy serving of helpful dietary fiber as well.

3. Eat when hungry

You don’t have to starve yourself when losing weight. In fact, it is suggested that you eat whenever you are hungry. The best way to stave of in-between-meal hunger pangs is to spread your meals throughout the day. Instead of the traditional 3-meal days, make them six. The same goes with the servings. Eat half of your breakfast first; the other half later; half of your lunch and so on and so forth. This way, you’re not at risk of eating too much and too little.

4. Have a less-restrictive day

Less-restrictive day is different from cheat day. Some people who are just starting to adapt to their new eating habits find it difficult to adjust. But with a cheat day, they can easily revert to their old ways. This is why changing it to less-restrictive is important. If you have a particularly favorite type of food that you can’t eat because of the diet, it will be a good idea to set one day every week for a reasonable amount of this food.

5. Read and understand food labels

Even if you’ve the habit of reading product labels, do you understand what they say? Take some time to do your homework. Find out what TransFat, Saturated Fat, etc., all mean.

6. Opt for water instead of soda

Instead of drinking soda or coffee, choose water instead. If you’re planning to drink fruit juices, opt for fresh, all-natural ones, and stay away from commercially processed drinks. Hydrating your body through the weight loss journey is important but you have to be sure that what you’re drinking will not give you calories you don’t need.

7. Exercise regularly

All those mentioned above will not be useful if you don’t move. Even if you’re eating fruits and vegetables, watching your meals, drinking fluids, etc., they will all be put to waste if you don’t exercise. Start by taking 30 minutes to 1 hour cardio everyday and another hour for strength training. One of the benefits of weight loss is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. If you want to lose weight on a budget, you don’t have to become a gym member. Climbing the stairs, walking, running, lifting heavy books and just about anything you could think off can help you lose weight without breaking the bank.