Category Archives: Lose Weight Fast

From skinny and tall to clinically obese and back again, David Kirchhoff of Weight Watchers documents his own struggles in "Weight Loss Boss." Here's an excerpt.

As a kid, I was embarrassed about how skinny I was.

As an adult, I hated being fat.

Some people are never satisfied!

These days, I am pretty content with the state of my weight203 pounds, about 40 pounds less than my peak just over a decade ago. And yet, Im hardly on autopilot. I know that staying here will not happen by accident. I will have to keep working to make these changes permanent.

Yes, losing weight is hard, sometimes. Yes, youll fail occasionally; I wrote the book on that (this one). But well also enjoy our successesand believe me, they are achievable. While this is work, its a job that has a big payday: It can help you live better, longer, more happily. As a special bonus, you can also look good doing it. (Style points count, right? Right!)

When I was a teenager, the very concept of being overweight was completely beyond my comprehension. In my family, I was a bit of a genetic freak. My father is 5 foot 10, as is my older brother, and my mother and two sisters clock in at 5 foot 2. I shot past them (to 6 foot 3) at a blazing clip; unfortunately, it left me looking like an underfed giraffe.

I was all arms and legs, and no matter how hard I tried, I simply couldnt gain weight. (Oh, I figured that one out big-time later on, though.) Throughout high school, I weighed a steady 170 pounds, which made me look like I was built out of coat hangers. There is nothing particularly cool about being able to see all of your ribs and discern a heartbeat between them.

Then I went to college, and everything changed: I gained 45 pounds in one year. Thats a disaster for most people, but for me, I finally looked seminormal for the first time. So I started to work out, got stronger, and rounded out my musculature. But after college, I went on to do graduate work in fatness. I was steadily gaining weight from newly acquired habits of nutritional debauchery and general slothfulness, sacrifices I told myself I was making for a high-paced professional life.

On July 23, 1999, at the age of 32, I got my first physical in about 7 years. In the time that elapsed between arriving in the waiting room and getting my blood work back a week later, my life would change.

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‘Weight Loss Boss’ weighs in against ‘the ice cream frenzies’

When Levels Were Low, Testosterone Replacement Led to Lost Weight, Smaller Waists

May 9, 2012 -- Testosterone replacement may promote weight loss in obese older men who have low levels of the male sex hormone, a new study shows.

But before men try to lose weight by bumping up their testosterone, experts agree that more studies are needed to show that the treatment is both safe and effective.

Researchers followed a group of mostly older, overweight men receiving injections of the hormone for up to five years to treat erectile dysfunction and other symptoms associated with low testosterone.

Their findings were presented at the 19th European Congress on Obesity in Lyon, France.

The men who were treated the longest lost more than 30 pounds on average over the course of the study, and also showed improvements in blood pressure, blood glucose, and LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Researcher Farid Saad, DVM, says the dramatic weight loss came as a surprise.

"This study was not performed for the purpose of promoting weight loss," he tells WebMD. "This was an incidental finding that was entirely unexpected."

The study included middle-aged and older overweight or obese men with low testosterone levels being treated with testosterone replacement at a single urology clinic.

A total of 214 men remained in the study for at least two years, and just over half of these men were followed for another three years or more.

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Testosterone Linked to Weight Loss in Obese Men

By Carina Storrs HealthDay Reporter Latest Sexual Health News

TUESDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Women who use an intrauterine device (IUD) as birth control may not have to worry about gaining weight after the device is implanted, new research suggests.

Researchers compared the medical records of 223 women aged 15 to 44 who were using two different types of IUDs, following them for up to two years later.

About half of the women had a non-hormonal IUD containing copper while others used a hormonal IUD that released low levels of a progestin hormone called levonorgestrel (LNG) every day.

Women in both groups appeared to lose about 1 percent of their body weight in the first and second years of having an IUD.

The study was scheduled to be presented Monday at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists annual meeting in San Diego.

"We really expected to see weight gain, and we didn't even expect that there would be weight loss," said study author Dr. Erika Kwock, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Kaiser Permanente Northern California in Santa Clara.

Although previous research has not found associations between hormonal or non-hormonal IUDs and weight gain, Kwock thought that the women in her study would put on pounds "just because over time people tend to gain weight regardless of contraception," she said.

However, Kwock pointed out that the weight loss among the women in her study is probably not a reliable result. Her study did not include enough women to allow for a statistical analysis to show that the women actually shed pounds.

Still, "the numbers are encouraging that there is not a weight difference for LNG IUDs and copper IUDs," Kwock said.

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IUD Use Tied to Modest Weight Loss

MOUNTAIN LAKES The school board authorized the Lakers Sports Association to pursue planning and fundraising to expand and refurbish the Mountain Lakes High School weight room, which Head Football Coach Darrell Fusco called extremely dangerous," at a cost of $200,000 to $300,000.

Fusco told the school board on Monday night that things have changed in student athletics since the weight room was constructed. He said more athletes in more sports weight train now and the roughly 1,200-square-foot room off the back of the high school is difficult and dangerous for athletes to use.

Its cramped, he said. There are major problems from weight benches that are not covered properly to a couple of good pieces of equipment that are in need of repair.

He said the proposal is to redo the room by knocking out the back wall of the high school facing the baseball field that would result in the loss of three parking spaces, but would allow for doubling the size of the room to roughly 2,400 square feet. This would allow equipment to be more safely spaced out and for new items that have been donated in recent years, such as kettle bells, to be used properly.

The plan also is to do repairs on some of the pieces of equipment that do not work and to refurbish and add equipment, too.

We had the field hockey team try to go in there to do circuits and they couldnt, Fusco said, between the lack of space and the lack of properly working equipment.

The idea to do the weight room project, Fusco explained, was developed when he, Buildings & Grounds Supervisor Mark Prusina and Business Administrator/Board Secretary Dan Borgo toured the high school with the goal of coming up with an improvement that would be beneficial to many students.

What we would do down the road is add an educational component, said Fusco. We could bring in students from Briarcliff. We could have students come in as freshmen and be given a (personalized fitness) plan.

He said that while weight training is not a big part of the physical education program now, with a better equipped room, it could become one.

Fusco said the Laker Sports Association and parents who support school programs also felt the proposal was manageable in terms of fundraising and would be a maximum benefit to students.

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Mountain Lakes High School weight room makeover proposed; Laker Sports to fundraise

DALLAS

Chandler Tucker is like a lot of people--she dieted and then gained the weight back.

She was getting geared up for spring break and went on an 800 calorie a day diet.

She stuck with it for nearly a month.

"It was easy, Chandler said. After the first couple of days I just got the hang of it."

And the pounds dropped like crazy.

"When you eat that clean and differently than I did before, I lost about 10 to 12 pounds before spring break really quickly, Chandler said.

But her weight came back and researchers at the University of Melbourne may have discovered a key reason why.

Researchers put 50 overweight men and women on an extreme diet of about 500 calories a day.

After eight weeks they lost 30 pounds then over the next year regained an average of 11 pounds.

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Lost weight then gained it back? Maybe we can blame it on our hormones

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire -05/08/12)- FitDay (www.fitday.com), the free online diet and weight loss journal trusted by millions of users, today launched the next generation of online FitDay tools. The new FitDay is a top-to-bottom product reimagining that introduces numerous new features and enhancements to help users achieve their fitness goals.

"We know the essential part FitDay plays in our users' lives. So when we started work on the new FitDay, we went straight to our users to understand exactly what they wanted in a redesign," said Brent Conver, general manager of FitDay. "We've retained all the essentials our users love and added lots of new functionality, all while improving speed and usability. We're very proud of the final result."

A New (Fit)DayFitDay's bold new look sports a contemporary color palette and a streamlined user interface developed to maximize productivity on the site. Functions such as searching for foods, logging foods, and viewing reports can now be accomplished in fewer steps.

Among the numerous product enhancements in the new FitDay:

FitDay.com Premium UpgradesFitDay Premium, the feature-filled paid upgrade for FitDay accounts, has been completely redesigned along with the free version of FitDay. FitDay Premium retains its 100% ad-free interface while benefiting from all of the product enhancements of the free version. Additionally, FitDay Premium introduces the following features:

Available TodayThe new FitDay is immediately available to new FitDay users who sign up for an account starting today. Existing users will automatically retain the classic version of FitDay and can upgrade to the new FitDay at any time by logging in, clicking "Profile," and changing their Preferred Theme to "FitDay 2.0."

About FitDayLaunched in 2002, FitDay (www.fitday.com) is an online diet journal and calorie tracker that helps users stay on top of foods, exercises, weight loss, and fitness goals. More than 6 million people have used FitDay to take control of their diets and stay healthy over the past decade. FitDay is an Internet Brands, Inc. website.

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FitDay Launches Next Generation of Online Diet and Weight Loss Tools

At a time when kids are maturing emotionally and physically, it's important to set up good nutrition habits for the future.

mikebaird/flickr

The issue of child weight loss has gotten a lot of attention recently. When Dara-Lynn Weiss wrote in Vogue magazine about the dramatic (some might say Draconian) methods she used to help her seven-year old daughter lose weight, the media and the public jumped on her. Denying her daughter "reproachfully" of dinner one night after hearing what she'd eaten during a school celebration, was one of the admissions that sparked the backlash.

When her daughter's physician told Weiss that her daughter, at 4'4" and 93 pounds, was clinically obese at six years old, she knew she had to take action. Few readers were outraged that a mother would step in to help her daughter become a healthier weight; what sparked controversy were the methods Weiss used, such as snatching hot chocolate from her daughter and pouring it out after a barista was unable to give a calorie count for the beverage. (For the record, her daughter did achieve a healthy weight by age 8.)

The article struck a chord and not just because of the controversy it sparked. It raised an important issue. Parents find themselves in a difficult and confusing position when they are told their child needs to lose weight because he or she is clinically overweight or obese. The health risks to kids, especially when considered over the course of their lives, are enormous. Serious overweight in children contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.

Child Weight Loss Is a Delicate Issue

Weight loss in children is tricky for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that they are still growing and need to have a solid nutritional foundation to maintain that growth.

Being overweight is a psychologically loaded issue for a child (as for anyone else): Self-esteem, self-worth, and popularity can be wrapped up in it, so it's especially important to come at the weight loss endeavor as productively and positively as possible.

Here is some of the best-supported advice for parents who are trying to help their children lose weight. The bottom line: The focus should always be on health, and on making the experience as positive and rewarding - and as anxiety-free - as possible.

Be Sure Weight Loss is Necessary

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How to Help Your Children Maintain a Healthy Weight

Latest Diet & Weight Management News

Plan Would Cut Fast-Food Ads/Sales, Promote Activity and Healthy Foods

By Daniel J. DeNoon WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

May 8, 2012 -- Obesity in America is a crisis that threatens national security -- and urgent action is needed, says the Institute of Medicine.

The IOM's plan: Totally change the way Americans approach exercise and nutrition.

How? By asking every single American to become involved, says Daniel R. Glickman, chair of the IOM committee that issued the 478-page plan. Glickman, former secretary of agriculture under President Bill Clinton, is executive director of congressional programs for the Aspen Institute.

"When you have a national epidemic of this size, it is in the hands of every individual to make this happen," Glickman said today in a presentation to the CDC's Weight of the Nation Conference in Washington, D.C.

"When people understand the consequences of not taking action, they will understand," IOM committee member Christina Economos, PhD, of Tufts University, said at the meeting. "This will require bold actions from all sections of society."

The IOM report "issues a blunt, strong challenge that the obesity threat is imminent and enduring to our children and to our nation. It holds everyone accountable," said James Marks, MD, MPH, senior vice president for health at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which funded the IOM study.

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New Weight Loss Plan for U.S. Obesity Crisis

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 09, 2012

With warm weather steadily approaching, most people are on the search to find the best diets for quick weight loss. The current weight loss trend on the rise is the supplement, green coffee extract according to a recent survey of diet plans. Since mentioning the benefits on hit show Dr. Oz, consumers are curious to know more about how effective this supplement really is.

Most people are used to seeing coffee beans in their roasted state which brings out a rich, dark-brown color but when first harvested they are green. In their purest form, coffee beans are found to boost metabolism which aids in weight loss. A recent study conducted by leading coffee extract researcher, Dr. Joe Vinson, found that more than 35% of subjects lost more than 5% of their body weight and weight loss appeared to be greater while subjects were taking the pills than when they were on the placebo. Vinson, whose research focuses on plant polyphenols and their effects on human health, said it appears that green coffee bean extract may work by reducing the absorption of fat and glucose in the gut; it may also reduce insulin levels, which would improve metabolic function. What most people dont realize is that this study, although recent, are still fairly new and there is a lack of concrete evidence and potential side effects.

A diet with similar effects and more credibility is the hCG diet, which has been around for over 50 years and has seen its fair share of praises as well as criticisms. Diet Doc has refined their version of this diet and creates personalized programs to fit each persons needs which in turn seem to create lasting results. A recent study, also publicized by Dr. Oz, found that the hCG diet puts the body in a state of ketosis where the body burns fat instead of muscle as a source of energy. When muscle is used, which is the common way of losing weight, people will find that they bounce back to their original weight, hence the term yo-yo dieting. Diet Docs programs are designed to keep the body in a constant state of ketosis thus leading to seemingly fast weight loss results.

Diet Docs weight loss programs are unique because each patient is monitored by a team that consists of a physician, nutritionist and a nurse. Their programs last from 23- days on up with client testimonials stating that they lost 14 pounds in a matter of two weeks. Their programs also consist of a daily intake of up to 1300 calories, in comparison to Vinsons green coffee extract study in which participants took in an astonishing 2400 calories a day. The results are clear, green coffee extract is a just another quick weight loss solution trend, whereas, Diet Docs hCG weight loss programs are more realistic in creating lasting results and healthy life-changes in the shortest amount of time.

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Diet Doc’s hCG Diet Programs Have Similar, Yet Longer-Lasting Effects Than Green Coffee Extract for Weight Loss ...

Is spring and summer weight loss easier or harder than other times of the year? It's up to you. Warmer weather can be "the best of times or the worst of times" for successful weight loss.

For example, how can you resist all the in-your-face fattening foods you're confronted with at picnics, weddings, amusement parks, fairs, ball games and during summer vacation trips? After all, a major part of fun-in-the-sun for many people is all the rich and tempting foods.

Healthy Spring and Summer Weight Loss Tips

Summer weight loss success doesn't have to mean staying home with your celery. By getting clear about your weight loss goals and planning ahead, you'll be able to say, "No thank you" to all the hot dogs, potato salad, sodas, cotton candy and fried dough.

If you haven't already reached your summer weight loss swimsuit targets, here are seven simple weight loss tips for super successful summer weight loss slimming.

1. Plan your summer to support your goal. You can't expect to win the "battle of the bulge" without a clear strategy, especially since it takes changing a lifetime of bad old habits. So plan your summer campaign and visualize a successful winning outcome.

2. Drink "water, water everywhere!" Water has zero calories, helps curb your appetite, keeps you cool and hydrated in the summer heat and quenches your thirst better than anything else. So learn to love it. Add a twist of lemon or try herbal iced tea.

3. Exercise first thing in the morning. Morning's the perfect time to beat the heat with exercise and weight training. You can get your weight loss plans off to a great start, burn calories and rev up your metabolism before the hot sun makes you feel lazy.

4. Pack healthy low calorie snacks to go. Don't leave it to chance. Take plenty of portable calorie-counted mini meals wherever you go chopped veggies, strips of cooked chicken breast, fresh fruit, low fat cheese or even a low cal sandwich.

5. Focus on low calorie high fiber foods. Keep a bowl of raw baby carrots, snap peas, red pepper strips or lightly steamed cold broccoli, cauliflower or green beans for snacks. By choosing from this healthy vegetable list youll fill up first on foods high in fiber.

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How to Lose Weight in the Spring & Summer