Thursday, 10 May 2012

Four Tips For Using Low Carb Diets


If you've been looking at all the various diet programs that are out on the market, one variety that you've without a doubt come across is the low carb diet. 
Almost everyone seems to be jumping on the low carb bandwagon as the diet promises fast and effective weight loss.
While it's true that these diets can help you reach your goals, you must remember a few important tips to make sure that they work most effectively for you.
Let's go over the main things to note so that you can see fast results from your low carb diet plan.
Cut Back On Exercise Volume
The first tip that you'll want to keep in mind is that when on a low carb diet plan, you should cut back on your exercise volume slightly.  The reason for this being that you won't have as much stored muscle glycogen when using a low carb approach, and it's this muscle glycogen that fuels all your physical activity.
When it drops down, so will your intensity level so to help maximize the benefits that you get from your workout, go for shorter sessions instead.
Eat Plenty Of Vegetables
The second tip to remember when on a low carb diet is that you must never cut out or reduce your consumption of vegetables. 
Vegetables are so low in calories in the first place that they'll hardly contribute any carbs to your diet at all, but more importantly they're chalk full of nutrients.
Add vegetables to each meal and preferably each snack you eat and you'll move that much further ahead on your diet plan.
Drink Up
Moving on, it's also going to be essential that you're drinking enough water when on your low carb diet plan.  Higher protein, lower carb diets do tend to have a dehydrating effect on the body, so by drinking more water you'll help to offset this.
Also, by having plenty of water throughout the day as well as using an appetite suppressant such as Phen 375, you can really take the edge off your hunger as well.
Low carb diets by nature tend to decrease the overall hunger levels you feel, but adding more water and your appetite suppressant take this effect one step further.
Add A Few High Carb Days
Finally, the last thing that you should note is that you should aim to have a few higher carb days in your diet as well.
High carb days are going to help to offset any slow-down to your metabolism that you experience, therefore helping ensure that you don't hit a diet plateau.
Higher carb days will also help to relief you of any food cravings that you may be suffering from as well, so this can be an added benefit of having these in there.
All in all, low carb diets can definitely be an effective way to structure your fat loss approach but you must be sure to do so wisely by making use of all of the above tips.  If you are sure to follow these, you will see the fat loss progress you're looking for.

Wednesday, 9 May 2012

Are All Carbs Equal?


Discovering the truth about carbohydrates…

It’s a well-known fact that a diet rich in carbohydrates is proven way to satiate your appetite and makes you feel fuller. On the other hand, a diet low in carbohydrates can actually cause temporary weight loss. However, this temporary weight loss is not without some serious health risks. This presents a serious diet dilemma of what one should do while selecting a carb diet.

The solution to this dilemma is quite simple. All you need to know is “what to eat?” Yes, it’s all about making wise carbohydrate choices.


Salient features of carbohydrates
Let’s first review what carbohydrates are, where are they found and what do they do for our bodies.

Definition: Simply speaking, carbohydrates (or saccharides) are sugars and starches, which serve as a fuel for our body systems.

Functions: Carbohydrates are our body’s major fuel for each of the functions that it performs e.g. respiration, reproduction, mobility, circulation and nerve signal transmission (the function of CNS). They actually give our body the required energy for the skeleton, muscles and central nervous system (including brain and spinal cord). The performance and function of our brain, in particular, specifically depends on carbohydrates e.g. functions like learning, thought process, thinking etc., cannot be performed without a continuous supply of glucose from the blood.

Sources: The common sources of carbohydrates include fruits (carbs are found in the form of fructose), various vegetables, beans, several dairy products; food produced from grains, and also the sugar, honey and corn syrup.
Types: After digestion, our body converts carbohydrates into glucose, which is utilized by our cells as a fuel soruce. Depending on the same, there are two major types of carbohydrates:
i)         Simple carbohydrates: These carbs are broken down quickly and easily by the body into glucose.

ii)    Complex carbohydrates:  These carbs are broken down slowly and take more time to enter the blood circulation.

The role of insulin: Insulin is a hormone that is secreted by pancreas, a digestive gland. The main role if insulin is that it controls the blood sugar (glucose) levels in our blood. Once all carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, insulin helps the glucose enter the muscles / tissues’ cells. The remaining glucose is stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles for future use (this is the same glucose that we use during our exercise / workouts). Any additional / remaining glucose is stored in the body as “fat”.

Are all carbohydrates equal?

With respect to their structure and food value, carbohydrates can be classified into three types:
  1. Simple carbohydrates: These carbs are made up of one or two sugar units that are broken down and absorbed quickly into the blood circulation.

    For the same reason, some modern studies have shown that some of the food belonging to simple carbohydrate group can actually cause acute increase in blood glucose levels which naturally results in more insulin release from pancreas, eventually resulting in enhanced appetite and more risk of fat storage.
Examples: Sugar, candies, honey, syrups, candy, honey, jams, jellies, molasses, juices and soft drinks all contain simple carbohydrates. While fruits primarily have simple carbohydrates, they are also enriched in valuable vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water. Similarly, dairy products e.g. milk contain simple carbohydrates along with proteins, calcium and other nutrients.

  1. Complex carbohydrates (starch): They consist of more than two sugar units. Brown rice and refined (white bread) form are some perfect examples of such carbs. They have a more complex structure and hence, take more time to be digested and absorbed into the blood. For the same reason, they cause only an average increase in insulin secretion which results in stabilization of appetite and only a few carbs are stored as a fat.
Examples: Unrefined or ‘whole grain’ carbohydrates commonly found in whole grain pasta, brown rice and bran cereals take more time to be digested. They also have plenty of vitamins, fiber and minerals which is essential for health and growth.
Legumes such as beans, peas, lentils and soybeans contain complex carbohydrates but also have plenty of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein.
Grain products usually have complex carbohydrates. However, they also contain fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein.
Vegetables contain variable amounts of both simple and complex types of carbohydrates and several nutrients e.g. vitamins, minerals and are also a great source of fiber, and water.

  1. Indigestible carbohydrates (fiber). They cannot be broken down by the body into smaller units for absorption and hence are not an energy source for the cells. However, they are a good source of health especially with respect to their role in promoting better digestion of other foods. They also prevent us from constipation.
It is clear from the above discussion that not all carbohydrates are equal and each type has its own structure, function and role in the body. Therefore, making a wise carbohydrate food choice is essential and should be done in the light of your fitness goal i.e. weight loss, muscle building or just maintaining your fitness.

Start Losing Weight with Proactol

Some people find it hard to stick to diets and consistently fail to lose weight. They try nearly every kind of new dieting idea that comes along hoping that one of them would finally work, but the miracle never happens. Naturally, these people tend to overlook their own mistakes and fail to understand what prevents them from losing weight. The human brain displays a remarkable ability of ignoring the things it does not want to face, so it’s not hard to understand why some people eat all manner of things and still claim they haven’t touched anything but salad for a whole week.


But there are ways of working around these problems and if you don’t want to become one of these people, then you should stick to these pointers. Their purpose is to make eating a conscious act in order to avoid giving in to compulsions and temptations. The easiest thing to do is to carry around a notebook and a pen and to write down everything you eat. And I mean every little thing. Have you finished that half a slice of pizza that your partner couldn’t eat anymore? Write it down. At the end of the day look over the list and you’ll be surprised at how many things you actually eat on a regular basis. 

 Five Ways to Start Losing Weight
  1. Since eating and drinking are, for the most part, acts that bypass rational thinking you should try to bring them out of the twilight zone. So every time you reach out for a drink or some food, stop and ask yourself “Why am I doing this?”. You may be thirsty, hungry, bored, lonely, depressed, tired or stressed, but out of this list of reasons only thirst and hunger are legitimate. 
  2. Put the bottle down if you’re not thirsty. Put the food back on the shelf or on the table if you’re not hungry. Do you crave sweets because you’re tired? Get some sleep instead. Do you feel the need to eat because you’re lonely and depressed? Go to the cinema or visit a friend. Read a book, watch a movie or listen to some music. There are options.    Proactol 100% Safe
  3. Never starve yourself. This is one of the big mistakes in dieting. Unless you have enough willpower to qualify for Nietzsche’s Overman status you will break down sooner or later and eat the first thing that you can get your hands on. Such as snacks or fast food. Starvation also makes the body go into power save mode by limiting your energy levels and hanging on to the existing fat. The body makes no difference between dieting and actual starvation and will behave as if in danger. Therefore you must eat three meals a day, plus snacks consisting of fruit and vegetables. This is the best way to lose weight. 
  4. Don’t try to banish your favorite foods completely because you will only sap your own willingness to stick to a diet. The key to dieting is moderation, not denial. Do you like ice cream? Well, have a couple of spoonfuls of ice cream every Sunday. Take a break from whatever it is you’re doing and enjoy this special treat. Don’t feel like you’re cheating on the diet and keep any guilt pangs away. You’re just dieting, not preparing for admission to a convent or monastery. So have a bit of forbidden food every five days or so and enjoy the moment.
  5. And, of course, you must exercise. If you’re not used to exercising and are a bit scared of all the effort and sweating, then start small. There’s no need to rush into hour-long training sessions. Five minutes per day will do for starters. Get a treadmill and a pair of dumbbells and make your own schedule. Two minutes and a half of running and two minutes and half of curls. Every week increase the time spent exercising by another five minutes and add new exercises. Your goal should be to spend at least 30 minutes every day working out your body. Sixty minutes is even better, but it will come in time. It’s OK to start small.



Proactol: is it safe?

Is Proactol Safe?

Proactol is 100% Organic and 100% Naturally Safe. Effectiveness and Safety is a very rare combination when it comes to weight management products. Proactol is medically tested and is one of the leading and most trusted weight management pills in the market today. It is derived from an all-natural source, Optunia Ficusindica, a cactus also known as Prickly Pear. This type of cactus is now getting attention from medical experts and dieters for its medicinal benefits. It aids in the treatment of diabetes, weight loss and even hangovers by reducing the amount of dietary fats absorbed by the body, blocking appetite and stabilizing sugar blood levels.
Endorsed by renowned health officials and Pharmacological experts, Proactol is referred to as the miracle pill and has already passed 3 clinical trials. The double fiber characteristic of Prickly Pear cactus is the main reason why it is very effective. One of these miracle fibers helps block appetite and stabilize blood sugar levels while the other blocks fat absorption. Studies has shown that 27.4% more fat can be blocked from absorption by the body's system when taking these pills.
Proactol, the Natural Fat Binder

Proactol is 100% All Natural

Unlike fat blockers, Proactol is not harmful to your body .Due to its 100% natural organic fat binder NeOpuntia, Proactol does not cause any serious side-effect. Adverse reactions may happen to others, but some may not experience them at all. It still advisable that you consult a medical doctor and take extra precautions when taking weight-loss pills or any kind of medicine. Mild side- effects may include stomach discomfort and gastrointestinal irritation. Always remember to take only the prescribed dose to hasten fat loss in order to prevent these side effect to occur. People with known history of digestive or gastrointestinal problems as well as diabetics are discouraged to use the pill.
People with these conditions should NOT take Proactol:
  • Pregnant Women- It is best to consult your doctor before taking Proactol supplements. It has not been tested safe for Pregnant women Any Weight -loss supplements should not be taken during pregnancy , this may cause low birth weight and other fetal anomalies.
  • BreastFeeding - Proactol is NOT SAFE to use by Breastf  eeding Moms. Body fat is needed to nourish your body after pregnancy. It is not known if these pills can pass through breastmilk
  • Diabetics - Extra Precautions should be taken when you have history of diabetes. Proactol can lower sugar levels and this may affect patients with this disease. Please consult your doctor prior taking any supplements.

Live Healthier with Proactol

Taking Proactol Supplements daily can generally improve your overall health. Proactol can help you lose weight safely and naturally. Live a healthier lifestyle by having a sensible routine exercise and proper diet plan. Maintaining an ideal weight to height and weight proportions, lowers your risks for having liver and heart ailments . When you have already achieved your desired weight, the number of pills can be decreased to maintenance doses , you can reduce your intake from 3-4 pills to just 1-2 pills per day. Proactol is worth a try!
Proactol, the Natural Fat Binder