You would think we would know better, but everytime a new "Miracle Diet" raises it's ugly head, we all think "Here it is!".
The latest one that has come to my attention is the HCG Diet. In a nutshell, you either take injections or a sublingual homeopathic formula of human chorionic gonadotropin, a pregnancy hormone produced by the embryo soon after conception. This is combined with a 500 calorie per day eating plan.
The problems with this?? Where do I begin!? First off, the endocrine system is a delicate balancing act that is already under stress by a variety of assults on a daily basis. Birth control pills, hormone creams, diet, stress all have an impact on our hormones. I like to think that the innate wisdom of the human body has an embryo making this hormone for a reason, and when the need is gone, levels fall. Messing with the hormone system is just asking for trouble.
And then there is the matter of the 500 calorie a day diet. Yes, the theory that after weeks/months of eating 500 calories your habits will change, in reality, I have seldom seen that work out. Most people cannot maintain this type of diet for more than a day or two, and if they do, most of the time we don't want to be around them!
500 calories will throw your body into starvation mode, STORE fat and burn muscle for energy. You may lose weight (see previous post for that rant) but in the long run you will end up gaining it back. The fact the the injections/formula is supposed to burn fat does not compensate for the natural tendencies of our bodies.
Long term, permanent, healthy weight loss will only be achieved thru a healthly lifestyle that includes the proper foods, exercise, stress management. I'll probably get some arguments on this, but in my practice I see too many people with whacked out hormones, poor health, diet and lifestyle habits to endorse this as a healthy way to lose weight!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Fat Loss vs Weight Loss
So many people ask me what is the best "weight" loss program. Well, just about any fad diet can give you "weight" loss. Starving yourself will result in "weight" loss and there are, of course, lots of pills (hydroxycut, alli) who guarantee "weight" loss. But let's look at what you're losing.
Dieting in the traditional sense (calorie or food restriction, pills, meal replacement) slows your metabolism, throws your body into fat storage mode and pretty much makes you cranky and unpleasant to be around. You may lose "weight" but, at best (!?) this is water loss and on the down side is muscle loss. If your body thinks you're starving it will store everything (yes, even broccoli and boiled chicken) as FAT and break down muscle for energy. And of course, it's muscle that dictates metabolism!!
This is why diet after diet we lose weight only to gain it back (and more). Muscle weighs more than fat so losing 20lbs in muscle and gaining back 20lbs of fat will look like 40lbs on you. That's why often as we get older (and have dieted more) our weight may be the same on the scale, but our clothes have gone up a size or two.
Don't be deceived by "weight" loss promises - you need to lose fat and build muscle for permanent body composition changes. Don't rely on the scale - it can be deceptive! Instead, take your measurements (bust, waist, hips, thighs, upper arm and calf) and aim to lose inches! This is more reflective of fat/muscle ratio.
Of course, the best way to build muscle is through exercise! And you don't have to make it a second career! Walk for 30-60 minutes twice a day and do 30 minutes of resistance training 3 times a week. In addition, don't skip meals, drink lots of water, keep stress to a minimum and stick to eating low to medium GI foods. You know, like the Transitions Lifestyle System!
Be Well!!
Dieting in the traditional sense (calorie or food restriction, pills, meal replacement) slows your metabolism, throws your body into fat storage mode and pretty much makes you cranky and unpleasant to be around. You may lose "weight" but, at best (!?) this is water loss and on the down side is muscle loss. If your body thinks you're starving it will store everything (yes, even broccoli and boiled chicken) as FAT and break down muscle for energy. And of course, it's muscle that dictates metabolism!!
This is why diet after diet we lose weight only to gain it back (and more). Muscle weighs more than fat so losing 20lbs in muscle and gaining back 20lbs of fat will look like 40lbs on you. That's why often as we get older (and have dieted more) our weight may be the same on the scale, but our clothes have gone up a size or two.
Don't be deceived by "weight" loss promises - you need to lose fat and build muscle for permanent body composition changes. Don't rely on the scale - it can be deceptive! Instead, take your measurements (bust, waist, hips, thighs, upper arm and calf) and aim to lose inches! This is more reflective of fat/muscle ratio.
Of course, the best way to build muscle is through exercise! And you don't have to make it a second career! Walk for 30-60 minutes twice a day and do 30 minutes of resistance training 3 times a week. In addition, don't skip meals, drink lots of water, keep stress to a minimum and stick to eating low to medium GI foods. You know, like the Transitions Lifestyle System!
Be Well!!
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