Weight Gain = Poor Quality of Life

Written by Michael Lewis


Continued from page 1

"The message of even maintaining weight is a very important preventive goal," says awachi. "If you can prevent adding a couple of pounds a year, it would translate into a health gain in terms of function, as well asrepparttar known risk factors for cardiovascular and related health."

Being Overweight Increases Risks Of Health Disorders ------------------------------------------------------ Physicians know that being overweight increasesrepparttar 141197 risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes among other disorders.

The study cites national statistics showing that overrepparttar 141198 past 15 years,repparttar 141199 average weight of Americans has increased by nearly eight pounds.

Ofrepparttar 141200 patients involved inrepparttar 141201 study, close to 40% ofrepparttar 141202 women gained between 5 and 20 pounds, approximately 40% maintained their weight, and just over 15% lost between 5 and 20 pounds. The women ranged in age from 47 to 71, with an average age of 58, and were followed for four years.

Franca Alphin, director ofrepparttar 141203 Duke University Diet & Fitness Center, says learning to maintain weight is as important as taking it off.

"The majority of people know how to lose weight but not maintain weight loss," says Alphin. "The challenge to someone losing weight is to maintain weight, andrepparttar 141204 challenge for people with normal weight is to maintain it." She says part ofrepparttar 141205 center's weight-loss program is defined periods of weigh maintenance. "When someone reaches their goal weight, typically other issues in their lives that have been on hold come back, and food can be reinstated as a crutch, so maintaining weight becomes more important."

The Bottom Line In Dieting Is Calories --------------------------------------------------------- Alphin advises a daily diet of 1,200-1,500 calories and an ultimate exercise goal of 30 minutes three or four days per week. "The bottom line in dieting is calories. You have to be aware of portions and over consumption regardless of what foods you choose to eat."

Source: WebMD

About The Author ---------------- Michael Lewis has been collecting articles and information on Weight Loss and HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and related health benefits. He has created and edits numerous web sites about this subject. Michael is a staff writer for www.ageforce.com


Fat Is A Self-Inflicted Disease

Written by Virginia Bola, PsyD


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So what happens? Did they never approachrepparttar social ideal or did they battle for years and then one day just give up?

If you control your weight for an external reason - catching a mate, making friends, becoming popular - once these goals are accomplished,repparttar 141177 effort no longer seems worthwhile. If you fight to stay slim for intrinsic reasons - you like to look slim, you like fitted clothes, you respect yourself when you know you look good - then you are more likely to keep plugging away at it.

What is so pathetic aboutrepparttar 141178 obese is not just how awful they look, it'srepparttar 141179 deadness in their eyes: no pride, no self-respect, no self-affection. What a depressing way to exist, made only more tragic because it is self-inflicted.

Virginia Bola is a licensed psychologist and an admitted diet fanatic. She specializes in therapeutic reframing and the effects of attitudes and motivation on individual goals. The author of The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual, and a free ezine, The Worker's Edge, she is currently working on a psychologically-based weight control book: Diet with an Attitude. She can be reached at http://dietwithanattitude.blogspot.com


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