Losing Weight

Fig 1


Hi All,
I have been pondering whether to write this article or not, I decided too because I am fed up with the mixed messages people are getting regarding being over weight on the internet.

You’ve seen the ads I was this size when I started and now after 2 months I am this size after applying, whatever the gimmick is as advertised.

I am overweight myself and I have tried all sorts of lifestyle changing diets and exercises. When you go on the internet, there is a lot of sensationalising of products that will do all the work for you and take off those pounds that are hindering your life.

I am not condoning or blaming all companies, as there are some good products out there to help aid you in losing weight.

The problem is that many people are in a situation like myself overweight, suffering from many ailments, such as heartburn, feeling queasy, but the worst of these feeling 24/7 bloated (fig 1).

I went to the doctor when I had been ill with the flu, only for the doctor to pinpoint the fact I look overweight, then all was concentrated on my overweight condition, “when did you last have a mini health check”?

Oh no here we go, “your blood pressure is abnormally high, let’s book you in to have a blood test and check your blood count”.

I only came in for a check for my flu symptoms! Now this doctor is publicising the fact that I am overweight and most of my illness is due to the weight.

The results are in and I am told that my blood pressure is a worry, but most of my blood count results were good. But the doctor told me to change my lifestyle and the food I eat.

But as a precursor anyone that is thinking of or going to have a lifestyle change should see your doctor first before you start. It is good to have a check like this to give you a history of your current condition.

The annoying thing here is that I changed my food habit and started exercising in a gym again. I started to lose weight and then, to my disappointment I started to put weight back on?

What was going on, I have cut out a lot of sugar based foods and cut down on my calorie intake, supplemented by my attendance at the gym. At that moment I became despondent and gave up!

Well what else could I do, I cut down on my food intake and train and my body is still no worse off and to cap it all I still feel bloated!

The moment of no return came when I needed to use my suit, I couldn’t believe it I have blown up like a balloon and I now can’t fit my suit, I don’t know what size I am I am fed up and I feel sick all the time.

I am virtually at am impasse! What the hell do I do, I am feeling my heart palpitations more and I know my blood pressure is high, what’s happening to me?

If I seek information on the website all I am surrounded by is the amazing use of diet pills, pills and more pills!

That was not good enough for me, I wanted to know why I was ill and why I was continually bloated to all proportions.

I found information about the production of food and what food additives side effects on humans are.

I also through research found out all the symptoms I was suffering from and why. In all I answered the question that NO ONE would admit too which is all foods we are eating have varying amount of chemicals and toxins in the form of additives and food colourings.

So I know now what can be causing my problems, my stomach feeling like an acid bath continuingly bubbling away and causing me nothing but discomfort. My question is how do I tackle this?

Again I have done research about this and found that in order for the many diets and gymnasium regimes to work I need to start my lifestyle change from within.

When you see on the Internet websites citing that you should workout and get a six pack to be fit, please shun this it’s pure bu****t? Sorry for the profanity!

When I here people telling me they measure a person’s fitness by the size of their six pack, I just shake my head in disbelieve!

To the many people out there who have given up and are disillusioned, fitness starts from inside out.

You will need to start by detoxifying your body. Now when I say detox I don’t mean buying rubbish products that have laxative ingredients in its content.

In essence you will need to start undoing what you have allowed yourself to put your body through. You will need to do a colon cleanse

This will entail flushing the digestive system of all the accumulated toxins that have built up over the years in your stomach.

Also to enable effective flushing you will also need to PH balance your digestive system as by now acid build up would be the main cause of your heartburn and queasiness.

To follow the routine of this takes 3 days to do a colon flush. When I did this I wanted to clean my system completely out, so I did the three days water fast.

Not all of you will have the will power to drink water; instead you can drink fresh fruit. Just to be on the safe side check with your doctor.

Remember this is just the beginning of your recovery, once you have finished your detox, you will really need to make drastic changes with the food you eat, because you will start to feel yourself again, your senses will kick in again and you will be more aware of what you eat.

Knowledge of the foods that affect us is what you need to know in order for you to make informed changes to your new lifestyle change to the food you will be consuming.

Now that you have made these changes, you will need to balance these changes with exercises at the gymnasium to help your body promote your body to maximise your metabolism to what it should be doing effectively.


N.B

Metabolism is the rate at which your body burns calories to sustain life. Your body burns calories 24 hours a day, everyday regardless of whether or not you workout.

Unhealthy Lifestyle or is it!

Obesity is rising

As a nation we need to change the way we eat and incorporate exercise to keep up a good staple diet and a balanced way of living. We are over-indulging with recent reports of increasing obesity, but it’s not necessarily our fault.

We keep treating the symptoms:-
• Heartburn
• Allergies
• Coughing
• dry, itchy throat and tongue
• Itchy skin or rash
• Nausea and feeling bloated
• Diarrhoea and/or vomiting
• Wheezing and shortness of breath
• Swelling of the lips and throat
• Runny or blocked nose
• Sore, red and itchy eyes
This list goes on and on, the result of knowing what causes these symptoms never get answered, instead we are bamboozled into being given a medicine that masks the problem.

Some doctors are passive when trying to help you, in fact they convince you into thinking that you are solely to blame, and it’s because of an un-healthy lifestyle!

Well it’s not all your fault, and the reason you will never have anyone form the food industry, from any of the scientific organisations and the government to admit anything, is because it’s all about the £ and $’s, PROFIT.

What is there to admit? The fact that our food, packaging, and the way farms cultivate produce is filled with a cocktail of additives that are harmful to humans, in fact in some cases it can trigger off cancer.

But hey who am I to preach, I’m not the expert here, but I do have knowledge of the chemicals that have been induced into the food products that have been distributed throughout US and UK and it’s not good.

There are many people out there working hard to lobby against the use of harmful additives, but no one hears about it! Instead many of us have bought into the propaganda seen on TV and reports that come out now and again, “carrots are bad for you because” or "drinking coffee can help reduce cancer” as an example.

This is almost like a strategic method to keep people in the mainstream of thinking.
Too many people have been brainwashed into thinking that the symptoms are our fault, "you eat too much", "you eat too much junk food".

“We don't know exactly why some people have a food allergy and others don't. But someone is more likely to develop a food allergy if they have a parent, brother or sister with an allergy of any type”.

Does that look familiar! The government are campaigning about obesity in Britain and using the autonomy of the Food manufacturing to blame, which to a point is correct, for producing so much low standard junk food and other processed food as the cause of over indulgence.

Hey everyone we all need to take responsibility for our lives, we need to do more research into the food processing and what is used, but most of all make it aware to others that they may also pass it on.

Nothing so far I’ve seen, convinces me that the government, food manufacturers, food processing scientist are going to blow the lid wide open with the use of deadly additives that are a cause to many of the increasing diseases, allergies and cancer forms that have increased for many years.

The additives that are used in many of the food produce is induced with the food we consume and sits in your body and it’s the reaction to your body that you feel the effects that have increased over the years, and at worse has developed into all the side effects many of us are suffering today.

Why have i stopped losing weight?

Food Label

As with many of you out there, you will have been on the many diet fads, listened to your friends and work colleagues as to the method of losing weight. The tireless trek to the gym, tried yoga, step classes, aerobics, spinning, swimming, running, personal trainer in a gym and it goes on.

Everyone knows that it is important to keep our bodies clean. We wash, shower and bathe daily to remove the build up of filth and dirt from the outside of our bodies. We also brush and clean the plaque from our teeth; we even pamper our bodies, nails, and face scrubs, feet soaking in oils and herbs. But we never make that effort with our insides; we tend to follow the trait that this is done by drinking lots of water.

What works I don’t know, I just know that I have been suffering for some time with countless of varying illness, nausea, tiredness, feeling sick, heartburn, and pains in the stomach and many more you could add to the listing.
At some point I have lost weight by the method of calorie reduction, small meals, exercising, eating certain times, but for some reason I have slowly started to put weight back, why? So what can you do?

Go to the doctor and be told the change your lifestyle is wrong, they always conduct an ad- hock survey on you, how much do you drink, how many units a week? Do you smoke; and if so how many a week? Then comes the grim reaper revelation, you are overweight and your blood pressure is too high!

Ok if you are masochist then go to your dietician and they will convince you to try various food groups and you are at fault for consuming too much. All this self punishment is fine to a point, but has anyone stopped to think why am I not succeeding?

If I do nothing I gain weight, I change my lifestyle, diet, exercise and sweat like profusely and for what to get a slap in my face, by the digital numbers that rotate like a fruit slot machine. Why? Associated with all this is a problem that some people are suffering from but your doctor cannot answer.

The illness associated with your lifestyle, heartburn, stomach pains, Irritable bowel syndrome, a form of diabetes, palpitations, body twitching, it goes on.
Strange as it maybe, i have found little if any information in the UK or lobbyist raising these concerns.

I have found the usual propaganda of articles news clips from the government raising the profile of the need for people to address obesity by getting fit and addressing the amount of food that we eat. I have had to research the United States to learn what exactly we as a nation are consuming in terms of the contents and food properties.

Nothing mentioned about the need of concern that the rising use of additives is having a profound effect on people in differing ways. I am so mad that you the public are being brainwashed into thinking that you are entirely to blame. The use of the blame game is rife in the UK.

The fact that food manufacturers and some farmers that produce a great mass of food produce are using certain additives above the recommended amount and in some cases have been advised by professional bodies not to use them at all are ignoring the advice and pocketing profits on the back of our ill health. Below i have compiled some good sound information that you should be more familiar about.

12 Dangerous Food Additives

In the United States, more than 3,000 substances can be added to foods for the purpose of preservation, colouring, texture, increasing flavour and more.

While each of these substances is legal to use (at least here in the States), whether or not they are all something you want to be consuming is another story all together.

With any processed food you run the risk of coming across additives, and reading through ingredient labels you need a science degree.

Of course, eating largely fresh, whole foods is the best way to stay away from unsavoury additives, but, assuming you do include some processed foods in your diet, the following additives are ones you surely want to stay away from. Look for them on ingredient labels and if one turns up, take a pass.

Propyl Gallate
This preservative, used to prevent fats and oils from spoiling, might cause cancer. It's used in vegetable oil, meat products, potato sticks, chicken soup base and chewing gum, and is often used with BHA and BHT (see below).

BHA and BHT
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are used similarly to propyl gallate -- to keep fats and oils from going rancid. Used commonly in cereals, chewing gum, vegetable oil and potato chips (and also in some food packaging to preserve freshness), these additives have been found by some studies to cause cancer in rats. If a brand you commonly buy uses these additives, look for a different variety, as not all manufacturers use these preservatives.


Potassium Bromate
This additive is used in breads and rolls to increase the volume and produce a fine crumb structure. Although most bromate breaks down into bromide, which is harmless, the bromate that does remain causes cancer in animals. Bromate has been banned throughout the world, except for in the United States and Japan. In California, a cancer warning would likely be required if it were used, which is why it is rarely used in that state.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
MSG is used as a flavour enhancer in many packaged foods, including soups, salad dressings, sausages, hot dogs, canned tuna, potato chips and many more.

According to Dr.Russell Blaylock, an author and neurosurgeon, there is a link between sudden cardiac death, particularly in athletes, and excitotoxic damage caused by food additives like MSG and artificial sweeteners.

Excitotoxins are, according to Dr. Blaylock, "A group of excitatory amino acids that can cause sensitive neurons to die."

Many consumers have also personally experienced the ill effects of MSG, which leave them with a headache, nausea or vomiting after eating MSG-containing foods. To find out more about the side effects associated with MSG, as well as a complete list of which foods contain it, see our past article MSG: If it's Safe: Why do They Disguise it on the Labels?

Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet)
This artificial sweetener is found in Equal and NutraSweet, along with products that contain them (diet sodas and other low-cal and diet foods). This sweetener has been found to cause brain tumours in rats as far back as the 1970s; however a more recent study in 2005 found that even small doses increase the incidence of lymphomas and leukaemia in rats, along with brain tumours.

People who are sensitive to aspartame may also suffer from headaches, dizziness and hallucinations after consuming it.

Acesulfame-K
Acesulfame-K is an artificial sweetener that's about 200 times sweeter than sugar. It's used in baked goods, chewing gum, gelatine desserts and soft drinks. Two rat studies have found that this substance may cause cancer, and other studies to reliably prove this additive's safety have not been conducted. Acesulfame-K also breaks down into acetoacetamide, which has been found to affect the thyroid in rats, rabbits and dogs.

Olestra
Olestra is a fat substitute used in crackers and potato chips, marketed under the brand name Olean. This synthetic fat is not absorbed by the body (instead it goes right through it), so it can cause diarrhoea, loose stools, abdominal cramps and flatulence, along with other effects. Further, olestra reduces the body's ability to absorb beneficial fat-soluble nutrients, including lycopene, lutein and beta-carotene.

Sodium Nitrite (Sodium Nitrate)
Sodium nitrite (or sodium nitrate) is used as a preservative, colouring and flavouring in bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, corned beef, smoked fish and other processed meats. These additives can lead to the formation of cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines. Some studies have found a link between consuming cured meats and nitrite and cancer in humans.

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
The process used to make hydrogenated vegetable oil (or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil) creates Trans fats (a type of un-saturated fat), which promote heart disease and diabetes. The Institute of Medicine has advised that consumers should eat as little Tran’s fat as possible.

You should avoid anything with these ingredients on the label, which includes some margarine, vegetable shortening, crackers, cookies, baked goods, salad dressings, bread and more. It's used because it reduces cost and increases the shelf life and flavour stability of foods.

Blue 1 and Blue 2

Blue 1, used to colour candy, beverages and baked goods, may cause cancer.

Blue 2, found in pet food, candy and beverages, have caused brain tumours in mice.

Red 3
This food colouring is used in cherries (in fruit cocktails), baked goods and candy. It causes thyroid tumours in rats, and may cause them in humans as well.

Yellow 6
As the third most often used food colouring, yellow 6 is found in many products, including backed goods, candy, gelatine and sausages. It has been found to cause adrenal gland and kidney tumours, and contains small amounts of many carcinogens.
Information to gain knowledge please read and find out for yourself!

Dangerous foods
http://www.videojug.com/interview/death-and-dangerous-foods

Additives
http://www.migrainephd.com/index_files/Page374.htm

Food Additive Codes
http://www.drsref.com.au/foodaddcodes.html

Consuming Food Advice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vV-a_NBkeA&feature=fvsr

The Dangers of Aspartame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvFRLIjOLOU