Diet News and Reviews

Reality television has taken programming by storm the past few years. With the introduction of the first few reality shows ' featuring real people in everyday situations, interest has grown tremendously. And reality television is not just featured in America, but all around the world. For some reason, people love seeing how strangers interact with each other when forced to live in the same house, search for a special prize, receive a recording contract, win money or compete against each other in unknown situations.

As the popularity for reality television has grown, so have the different situations of those shows. Several reality series have taken on the focus of weight loss or challenging people to get healthier. The most popular of the reality shows focusing on weight loss by far is The Biggest Loser. The Biggest Loser brings people from all over the country and challenges them to take control of their health and weight loss by placing them into teams and assigning each team a personal trainer. The Biggest Loser shows viewers the difficulties of losing weight, which has become a widespread problem in our society.

The contestants are placed into teams at the beginning of the show, and have an initial weigh in. Then throughout the week, there are challenges between the teams and the winning team usually gets some sort of prize. On The Biggest Loser, everything begins and ends with the weekly weigh-ins. The team that loses the weigh in has to choose someone to eliminate that week. There is usually some immunity even for the eliminating team. The person that has the highest total percentage of weight loss for the team that loses the weigh-in, would not be eligible for elimination. The great part about this show is that the contestants are isolated from the rest of the world. Their meals are custom and they spend an incredible amount of time working out. Several people lose over 100 lbs. while staying at The Biggest Loser Ranch.

Another neat thing is that at the end of the show where someone is eliminated, there is a small snippet showing them 'now' and allowing viewers to see how much weight they continued to lose after leaving the ranch. Because these shows are filmed in advance, there is always a chunk of time between what's taken place previously and what the contestants are doing in real time. The greatest part about the biggest loser is not only that one contestant wins $250,000 for losing the highest percentage of weight, but also that each contestant has had a chance to change their life. Since the contestants are isolated, they lose large amounts of weight in a very short time. The eliminated contestants have a chance to come back during the finale and do their final weigh-in as well. The Biggest Loser among those that were eliminated wins a prize of $100,000. That equates to quite a payoff for losing excess weight and getting healthy.

Cookie Diet Review

History of the Cookie Diet

Dr. Siegal, a doctor based in Miami, Florida, developed the original cookie diet. The cookie diet is also his trademark. As an obesity expert, he developed the cookie diet in 1975 as an answer for his patients who were losing faith in their diets due to hunger. He developed the cookie diet cookies a convenient, sensible snack that should curb hunger and therefore help his patients to stick to their diet.

Dr. Siegal realized, early in his career, a fact that helped shape his future reputation: he realized that his patients were failing at their diets because hunger was causing them to cheat. He figured out that he could help his patients stick to their diets and lose weight if he could control their hunger. With extensive chemistry knowledge in his background added to his passion for cooking, Dr, Siegal discovered that if he combined certain food proteins, called amino acids, in a particular way he could produce foods that offered unusual hunger control qualities per calorie. Using his discovery, he created his now-famous diet cookies. Later he went on to develop other products using the same technology like shakes and soup that had the same hunger-controlling qualities.

The cookie diet cookies do not however contain any prescription drugs and they are therefore available to purchase without obtaining a doctors prescription. The Cookie Diet cookies can be used as a diet in themselves or they can be used in conjunction with other diets as a snack alternative or they can simply be used to help control the appetite.

Over the past thirty-two years, according to the official site, the cookie diet has been used by more than 500,000 people and the cookie diet has helped them reach their goal weight. The cookie diet has also been used by more than 200 other physicians in their own practices to help people lose weight.

The Cookie Diet today

Recently there has been a sudden resurgence of interest in the cookie diet. There are two companies who seem to offer the ‘cookie diet’ – Dr. Siegal’s official company and a company called Smart for Life.

Both of these companies offer “cookies” which aim to help you lose weight and both are easily found on the internet id you search for cookie diet.

The cookie diet no longer consists only of cookies but both companies offer shakes, meal replacements, soups, muffins as well as a variety of cookies.

Does the Cookie Diet work?

Since the diet, using the cookies, uses only 800 calories a day, chances are that you will lose weight on the cookie diet. Whether the cookies are healthy and provide the right nutrients, vitamins etc, is a topic debated by medical research. Apparently even Dr. Siegal does not recommend the diet as a long term option. If you’re looking a short term solution then the cookie diet may be a viable option, but whether it will help you to change your lifestyle in the long run and keep the pounds off, remains a mystery.

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Top five fat busting exercises
These exercises are based on circuit training which incorporates aerobic and anaerobic workouts to burn calories more effectively. Do the recommended exercises six to 10 times, with a short break of one minute to 30 seconds in between them. Perform three to four circuits per workout. You will probably see results in a month if you do them diligently five to six times a week, combined with a low calorie diet.

1. Stationary/walking lunges
Lunges work all the muscles in the lower body like the quads, hamstrings and bottom. It also builds strong core muscles as you will need balance to do the lunges.

2. Skipping
Skipping is a great cardiovascular workout that works the entire body. It tones the muscles of the upper body, especially the deltoids and pectorals, and adds definition to the lower body.

3. Push ups
Push ups work out the entire upper body in one simple move. Arms get super-sculpted and it also tones up the chest.

4. Bend over two arm rows
Standing with light weights, bend over slightly and use your back muscles to lift the weights. This exercise works the entire back muscles as well as the biceps and triceps.

5. Bicycle
This tummy-firming exercise gives you a defined waist in a shorter period as it works the upper abs, lower abs and obliques all at once. Lying down, support your head up with your hands and bend legs up. Twist body and bring the left elbow to right knee and vice versa.

10 foods to cut out for super weight-loss

1) Avoid soft drinks

2) Limit oily and fatty foods

3) Cut back on fried foods and snacks

4) Desserts made with coconut milk

5) Gravy and soups at food centres

6) Full cream salad dressings

7) Sweets and chocolates

8) Cookies and cakes

9) Flavoured rice or noodle dishes

10) Alcohol

“Core exercises are essential for post-natal women as they suffer from poor truncal stability and weak pelvises. The core exercises mentioned here emphasize the core muscles of the body so as to provide a stable linkage between the upper and lower limbs and truncal stability and are ideal exercises to do after pregnancy,” notes Dr Tan Jee Lim, consultant orthopaedic sports surgeon.

Think of your body as a tall structure. If the foundation is not strong, the building will be structurally unsound. Core muscles are the all-important foundation. Located deep within your torso, these muscles stabilise the spine, pelvis and shoulders and create a solid base of support, enabling you to generate powerful movements.

Pilates
“Pilates is known for its ability to redefine body shapes. The exercises work so deep that you develop a natural corset, allowing you to look taller and more svelte after pregnancy.” Pearlin Siow, Pilates instructor

Two exercises to do:
1. Roll ups
- Lie with legs hip distance apart and bring arms up. Inhale and exhale as you “peel” your back off the floor.
- Stretch on top. Inhale and exhale as you lower your back down to the floor. Remember to draw your navel against your spine all the way down. Do eight reps.

2. Criss-cross
- Bring knees up to 90 degrees and lock fingers behind head. Bring head and shoulder off the floor.
- Inhale and exhale as you twist and point left elbow to right knee and vice versa. Remember to stretch opposite leg out long and keep lower back on the floor. Do six reps.

Yoga
“The slow, focused movements in yoga require a strong mid-section to maintain the poses and these exercises will give you a flatter tummy after pregnancy.” Adeline Tien, yoga instructor

1. Plank pose
- Kneel and place hands directly under shoulders and knees under hips. Inhale and exhale as you lift knees from the floor, tucking toes under and pressing heels back. Keep torso parallel to the floor and maintain a straight line. Draw your lower abdomen into the spine to engage the core muscles and protect your lower back. Stay for 30 seconds to one minute.

2. Full boat pose
- Sit on floor with knees bent, feet flat and hip distance apart. Place hands behind knees from the outside.
- Inhale and exhale as you lift your feet off the floor. Stretch your arms alongside the legs, parallel to the floor. Try to keep the lower belly relatively flat. Lift through the chest and breathe easily. Stay in the pose 10 to 20 seconds. Gradually increase the time to one minute.

Fitball
“Fitball exercises not only give you defined abs after pregnancy, it also enhances your posture and reduces possible spine injuries.” Sebastain Varguese, fitball instructor

1. Squat
- Place fitball on lower back against a wall. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart.
- Inhale and exhale as you bend your legs till they are 90 degrees on the side. Maintain knees behind feet. Inhale and exhale as you slowly roll yourself up to a standing position. Do six sets.

2. Supine lumbar tilt
- Lie down and place feet on fitball. Contract abs to keep torso light.
- Inhale and exhale as you lift your torso off the floor. Keep arms relaxed and hold for 10 counts, breathing slowly. Do five sets.

Gyrotonics
“Gyrotonic develops strong, lean muscles and greatly improves the mobility of the joints. The movement of gyrotonic is generally circular. The exercises start from the core and will give the body a good stretch after pregnancy.” Ivana Daniell, gyrotonic instructor

1. Side bend
- Sit on a chair with feet hip distance apart, keep a lengthened spine and arms relaxed on the side.
- Inhale and exhale as you stretch to the right. Inhale to come back to starting position and repeat for left side. Hold tummy tight as you do the gyrotonic stretches. Do six sets.

2. Twist
- Sit on a chair with feet hip distance apart and keep a lengthened spine. Place hands lightly on knees.
- Inhale and exhale as you slowly twist your body to the right. Inhale to come back to starting position and repeat for left side. Do six sets.

Laughter is the best medicine. We’ve heard this expression so many times. Now, we do know for sure the truth underlying this adage, for science has proved it beyond any further doubt. Laughter can destress and heal like nothing else can. When researchers monitored the human physiology under the effects of laughter, it became apparent that it also exercised the body albeit in a mild, but in a totally positive manner.

The effects of laughter are somewhat similar to that of exercise. Our physiology changes when we laugh. We stretch our facial and upper body muscles. Our pulse rate quickens and our blood pressure increases, causing an increased supply of oxygen to our tissues. This is very similar to the effects caused by a mild workout.

This mild workout gained through laughter is the principle on which laughter clubs are founded. Old people the world over benefit from these clubs which combine low-impact stretching and waving of the arms with laughter to boost the heart rate. The medical effects are so positive that it would be a good thing for all people young and old to incorporate a few minutes of this therapy into a workday.

Science has recorded these positive benefits from laughter on the human physiology:

• Laughter releases Endorphins or “feel good” hormones into the blood stream.

• Laughter reduces stress. Endorphins are responsible for reducing stress levels. As stress is one of the principle causes of excess weight, increased endorphin levels in the blood can help reduce excess weight, or at least prevent you from packing on a few more kilos.

• Laughter can give you a mild work out.

• Am increased metabolism manages weight more efficiently.

• Improvement in breathing causes the body tissues to be oxygenated more efficiently.

• Enhanced blood circulation regulates blood sugar.

• Most importantly, laughter acts as a powerful anti-oxidant which boosts the immune function of the body.

All these benefits can be yours through laughter therapy, without having to spend a single penny. It would also make the world a better place to live in. However, a word of caution: don’t be too hasty to dump the treadmill yet, for the maximum weight that you could lose through laughter therapy would be about 2 kilos in a whole year. 10-15 minutes of laughter therapy in a day can cause you to burn 50 calories, which is approximately the same calorie count contained in a piece of candy. Wow! Such an Easy Weight Loss! So use this therapy in combination with other forms of exercise; it will make the exercising more fun and you will feel better about yourself which is the ultimate purpose of all such activity anyway.