Next, body does not know why it is suddenly getting less food, so a million years or so of evolution kick in and direct it to go into famine survival mode. Fat is body's long term survival energy source, so it decides that it must conserve fat to survive. That is probably not what you were hoping to hear, but unfortunately that is way it works. In order to make up deficit in available energy sources brought on by diet, body begins to break down muscle to use as an energy source. Another important science nugget to know is that muscle is metabolically active tissue and fat is not. In other words, muscle burns calories throughout day, while fat just sits there. The more muscle you have, more calories you burn, even if you are just sitting on couch. Of course, as we just discovered, dieter is losing muscle due to calorie restricted diet, so he is now actually burning fewer calories throughout day. Again, looking to survive perceived famine, body becomes more efficient at storing fat and slowing down its metabolism to adjust to lack of food coming in. Haven’t we all heard someone complain that no matter how much they diet, they cannot lose weight because they are victim of a slow metabolism? The reality is that, for vast majority of people, we are CREATORS of our metabolism, NOT victims of it. Now body has slowed down it's metabolism to point where dieter stops losing weight. The usual reaction is to cut calories back even further. Of course, as we now understand, this only compounds problem as more muscle will be broken down, further hindering body's ability to burn calories throughout day. Diets based on calorie deprivation usually are not sustainable for long term, and eventually dieter becomes discouraged and returns to their pre-diet eating routine. Unfortunately, this person has slowed down their metabolism significantly and is burning fewer calories than they were pre-diet. So, when they go back to their old eating habits, weight comes right back on and it comes back as fat, not as muscle that they lost. If they started out at 200 lbs with 25% body fat and lost 15 lbs during diet, when they gain weight back and hit 200 lbs again, their body fat percentage will now probably be closer to 30%! This is an illustration of a term most people are familiar with, yo-yo dieting, and it is why surveys show that over 80% of people who lose weight by dieting alone say that they gained back all of weight they lost, if not more, within a year. Does this mean that people should just give up trying to lose weight? Not at all. It just means people need to stop looking for next quick fix diet that comes down road. Nobody wants to hear that it takes actual effort to lose weight, but I am sorry to say that it does. It should say something that obesity rate in this country continues to climb while all of diet gurus out there rake in millions from innocent people looking for a solution. Obviously, reasons for being overweight vary, and every individual responds in a unique way to a weight loss program. But, for true long term fat loss and improved overall health and fitness, there are some common sense truths: * A need to eat a balanced diet containing complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and essential fats. Avoid highly processed carbohydrates, excess sugars, and excess saturated fats. * Eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout day is better than eating 2 or 3 larger meals. You will have more energy throughout day, and your body will burn calories more efficiently. * Performing moderate aerobic activity provides many benefits including improved cardiorespiratory function, improved endurance, lower blood pressure, and improved cholesterol to name a few. * In addition to aerobic activity, people should perform resistance training to maintain or increase lean muscle mass. As we have learned, maintaining our muscles mass is critical in driving our metabolism and key to losing not just body weight, but body fat. Keep these points in mind next time you hear about latest ‘miracle’ or ‘breakthrough’ diet and you will be on your way to losing pounds, and not just your money.

Dave Soucy, Fitness Consultant and Certified Personal Trainer, is owner of Perfect Fit, LLC.

Dave can be reached at (603) 641-8297, via email at dave@perfectfitonline.com, or through www.perfectfitonline.com Copyright © 2004 Perfect Fit, LLC. All rights reserved.

Can a food allergy be cured? Well, it’s sad to say that food allergy cannot be cured. How do you treat this food allergy then? The only way that can be done is to strictly avoid food that can cause allergic reactions or symptoms. Don’t forget to read ingredients of food you’ll consume. If there isn’t any, ask store staff to explain ingredients. If you still cannot get information, in order to prevent allergic reactions, just find another food which is safe for your body!

If you suddenly get reactions, there are some over-the-counter prescriptions you can use to relieve them. However, it’s of course better for you to consult with your doctor before taking any medications, especially if your food allergy has become worse.

Talking about medicines your food allergy, you can get them for online. Compare some of them through Internet and ask your doctor which is best for you.