Healthy Weight Management

BMI is short for Body Mass Index and it helps tell you if you have too much fat in your body.  While there are a lot of methods for calculating body fat, BMI is a quick and easy method for determining if you are underweight, overweight, obese, or in a healthy weight range. 

To calculate your BMI, you simply use your weight in kilograms and your height in meters.  If you don’t know how to do the math, or just don’t want to, there are calculators online that will figure it out for you.  Just input your height and weight.  Many of them will also let you know if you’re in a healthy weight range.

For adults, the healthy BMI range is between 18.5 and 25.  If your score is below 18.5, you are considered underweight.  Above 25 is considered overweight, and above 30 is considered obese.  This range is used for men and women aged twenty and over.  For those under eighteen, healthy BMI levels vary by age and sex.  BMI range can be determined for children by using height/weight charts.

The problem with BMI is that it’s not terribly accurate for determining the overall percentage of fat in the body.  It was developed as a simple way to determine body fat in large groups of people for various studies.  However, we are all different shapes and sizes and some have more muscle that others, which adds quite a bit of weight to our bodies.  This is a quick reference, but for an accurate reading there is another method.

If your BMI is high, the easiest way to verify that you need to lose a few pounds is by measuring your waist.  A waist of greater than 40 inches in men and 35 inches in women is seen as overweight.  Other methods for determining body fat percentages include underwater weight, fat fold thickness, and several other tests that require advanced technology.  Many of these methods are expensive or difficult, so your doctor probably won’t perform them unless they’re absolutely necessary.

If your BMI is above or below the healthy range, your first step should be to visit a doctor.  They can not only perform more accurate tests to determine your exact fat percentages, they will also ask about your current lifestyle, eating, and exercise plan.  If your BMI is high, but you eat right, exercise regularly, and don’t practice many bad habits, you may not be at an increased risk for health problems.  If you do need to lose or gain weight, they can get you started on a plan to achieve a more healthy weight.

While it may not be perfect, BMI is a fantastic tool to quickly figure out if you are in a healthy age range, or should be concerned about your percentage of body fat. 

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Your BMI, or Body Mass Index, tells you how much fat there is in your body.  An accurate BMI reading is a great way to tell whether or not you’re at a healthy weight.  If your BMI is too high you are at a greater risk of weight-related health problems like heart disease, stroke and diabetes.   Maintaining a healthy BMI is one of many ways to stay healthy and reduce your risk of future problems.

To calculate your BMI, you simply need to know your weight in kilograms and your height in meters.  A healthy BMI range for men and women is between 18.5 and 25.  Below 18.5 is considered underweight, 25 to 30 is overweight, and over 30 is considered obese. 

You should monitor your BMI regularly if you think you weight is changing (or needs changing).  That means if you gain weight OR if you lose weight.  While it doesn’t garner nearly as much attention, a BMI that is too low is just as dangerous as one that is too high.  If your BMI is below 18.5, you should alter your habits to gain weight in a healthy manner.  A doctor can help you come up with a weight gain plan just as they would for weight loss.

While you may be an adult legally when you turn eighteen, BMI calculations don’t consider you an adult until you’re twenty.  Women under age twenty can calculate their BMI in the same way as adults, but the cut-offs for a healthy range are different and vary by age.  If you’re nineteen or younger, you should check age/weight ratio charts to determine if you fall in the healthy range.  A BMI less that 5% of other women your age is considered underweight, between 5 and 85 percent is healthy, 85 to 95 percent is overweight, and above 95% is obese.

Just because your BMI doesn’t fall into the healthy range doesn’t mean you need to lose gain weight.  If you are older, or if you are an athlete or just very muscular, your BMI may not be accurate.  This is because BMI is a general tool developed for men and women aged twenty and above, and isn’t specific to age, sex, or body type.  If your BMI is high or low, you should consider getting a more accurate reading of body fat percentage from your doctor.  Also, if you eat healthy and exercise regularly, you are probably less likely to have health issues than someone with the same BMI and a poor lifestyle.

If your BMI is not in the healthy range, your best course of action is to visit your doctor.  The can give you a healthy weight loss or weight gain plan that is right for you. 

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For many people, losing weight seems like a constant uphill battle.  Sometimes, despite our best efforts, the weight just won’t come off.  A lollipop may sound like the last thing a dieter needs, but you might be surprised to find out how many people swear by them these days.

Of course you can’t lose weight with your average lollipop.  But Power Pops are all the rage among people who want to shed those extra pounds.  They contain Hoodia, a popular herb that has been heralded for helping countless people lose weight.

What is Hoodia?

Hoodia is a plant that is related to the cactus.  Found primarily in Africa, Hoodia has been used by bushmen for many years to suppress appetite.  But it wasn’t until recently that Hoodia began to be used in commercial diet supplements.

Many celebrities have sung Hoodia’s praises.  It has become one of the most popular herbs for weight loss.  It is not a stimulant, so it doesn’t make users jittery.  It simply tricks their brain into thinking that they are full.

It can take up to two weeks for a person to get the full benefits of Hoodia.  Optimal dosages also vary from person to person.  It can be used from one to three times per day.

How Do I Use Power Pops?

The suggested usage of Power Pops consists of having one with a glass of water 30 minutes before each meal every day.  The water is necessary to help the ingredients of the Power Pop break down in your system.  The Hoodia suppresses your appetite, allowing you to feel full without eating as much.

Learn more about Hoodia lollipops and read product reviews here.

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Bee Pollen and Weight Loss

As most of us search for the perfect diet, you may be surprised to learn that bee pollen and weight loss have been linked.

Research has found that bee pollen increases the metabolism, thereby speeding up the rate at which calories are burned. In fact, it is thought that pollen from the honeybee is even more potent as a weight loss alternative. The pollen itself is low in calories, and it contains a substance called lecithin which allows fat to dissolve more readily in the body. In addition, the effect bee pollen has on cholesterol is positive, and can decrease cardiovascular disease as a result.

Another reason why bee pollen is so effective in losing weight is that it suppresses the appetite. Once you have a regular meal, you feel sated and do not require a second portion or snacks later on.

Here is another amazing fact. The amino acid in bee pollen can also increase weight. Hold on, this is not a contradiction. Simply put, there is an amino acid within the bee pollen called phenylalanine. Now what this does is signal to the body whether or not it is being deprived of food or needs food to survive. Amazing, isn’t it?

Bee pollen is also known as an energizer and has a domino effect on the body. The more energized you are, the more you will engage in physical activity, which will result in the loss of more weight.

Experts also note that the reason why some cannot lose weight, or gain weight for that matter, is due to a “chemical imbalance within the body‘s metabolism”. When bee pollen is introduced, therefore, there is a stabilizing effect which can bring the body back into balance and can attribute to either weight loss or weight gain.

Bee pollen is available in capsule form and can be taken in conjunction with a weight loss program. However, it should be stressed again to consult with your doctor before beginning any weight loss program, as well as ascertain if you are allergic to the pollen itself.

Now a word about phenylalanine that should be addressed: This chemical is found in decongestants and appetite suppressants. This should not be taken as a supplement since it can cause severe side effects.

Consult with your physician before deciding on any course of dietary supplementation.

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Bee Pollen and Weight Loss

As most of us search for the perfect diet, you may be surprised to learn that bee pollen and weight loss have been linked.

Research has found that bee pollen increases the metabolism, thereby speeding up the rate at which calories are burned.  In fact, it is thought that pollen from the honeybee is even more potent as a weight loss alternative.  The pollen itself is low in calories, and it contains a substance called lecithin which allows fat to dissolve more readily in the body.  In addition, the effect bee pollen has on cholesterol is positive, and can decrease cardiovascular disease as a result.

Another reason why bee pollen is so effective in losing weight is that it suppresses the appetite.  Once you have a regular meal, you feel sated and do not require a second portion or snacks later on.

Here is another amazing fact.  The amino acid in bee pollen can also increase weight.  Hold on, this is not a contradiction.  Simply put, there is an amino acid within the bee pollen called phenylalanine.  Now what this does is signal to the body whether or not it is being deprived of food or needs food to survive.  Amazing, isn’t it?

Bee pollen is also known as an energizer and has a domino effect on the body.  The more energized you are, the more you will engage in physical activity, which will result in the loss of more weight.

Experts also note that the reason why some cannot lose weight, or gain weight for that matter, is due to a “chemical imbalance within the body‘s metabolism”.  When bee pollen is introduced, therefore, there is a stabilizing effect which can bring the body back into balance and can attribute to either weight loss or weight gain.

Bee pollen is available in capsule form and can be taken in conjunction with a weight loss program.  However, it should be stressed again to consult with your doctor before beginning any weight loss program, as well as ascertain if you are allergic to the pollen itself.

Now a word about phenylalanine that should be addressed: This chemical is found in decongestants and appetite suppressants. This should not be taken as a supplement since it can cause severe side effects.

Of course, consult with your physician before deciding on any course of dietary supplementation.

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Are late night snacks keeping you from losing weight?  Some studies have shown that healthy and overweight individuals tend to eat the same number of calories during the day.  At night, however, overweight individuals tend to eat more calories.  Eating at night is often easier, and we feel less inhibited because we might be alone.  We are also less busy than other times of day. We want to slow down and destress and “reward” ourselves with fatty or sweet foods. If you want to lose weight, you need to find ways to curb late night hunger and replace that with healthy snacking habits.  Here are a few suggestions.

Do something else.  Unless you’re starving, you might eat at night because you’re bored.  If you feel the need to snack, try doing something else to occupy your mind.  Go for a walk or read a book; you’ll soon forget that you were ever hungry.

Do more healthy snacking during the day.  Even if you’re trying to cut calories, eating too little during the day will make you more likely to binge at night.  Eating 1500 calories during the day and being satisfied at night is better than eating 1300 calories during the day and munching down on a 500 calorie snack at night.  Try to eat the bulk of your calories earlier in the day and have a light dinner and maybe a fruit for an evening snack. Don’t let your blood sugar dip too low, and remember to eat breakfast!

Go to bed.  If you get the urge to eat shortly before you go to bed, just go to bed early.  Not only will this keep you from snacking; people who get enough sleep at night tend to eat less calories during the day.

Eat at a table.  No matter what you eat during the day, treat all eating events like meals.  We tend to eat while we’re doing other things like watching TV or sitting at the computer.  Eat all your food sitting at your kitchen or dining room table and don’t distract yourself.  You’ll likely eat less.

Healthy snacking at night.  If you must snack late at night, think about what you eat.  Instead of grabbing a bag of chips, get out some carrots with a healthy ranch dressing dip, fruit or yogurt.  Go for high fiber and protein which take longer to digest and keep you feeling full longer.  It’s also important to eat portioned snacks.  This way you probably won’t eat several portions at a time.

These are just a few tips to get you started.  Just remember if you make a decision to eat less at night and stick to it you will see results.

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The risk of heart disease doesn’t begin with the heart. It begins with how well you take care of yourself and reduce the danger signs in your life. One important danger sign is weight gain. Risk factors that contribute to heart disease include: diabetes Type 2, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, and high blood pressure. The one factor that can bring on all of these things is obesity.

Obesity has become an epidemic. We eat foods high in saturated fats and we lack proper daily exercise. The extra poundage puts a greater strain on the heart to pump blood to all of the tissues. People are developing what were considered “senior problems” earlier in life due to obesity.

This is how it works. Eating the wrong foods leads to an increase in our total blood cholesterol, particularly LDL, the “bad” cholesterol. LDL cholesterol sticks to the walls of our vessels and forms hard plaques. As plaques form, they narrow the opening, or lumen, of the arteries. The blood pressure increases because we now have a smaller pathway for blood to travel.

Our risk of developing diabetes increases when we are overweight. Production of insulin by the pancreas goes haywire. We produce too much. The excess insulin in the blood damages the lining of our vessels making them more susceptible to plaque formations. Doctors can test for precursors to Type 2 diabetes. If the precursors are treated then diabetes may not develop. If not, we become diabetic for life.

The plaques that form can break off and roam free in the blood stream. If they get stuck in a major artery like the coronary arteries that feed the heart, then the person will suffer a heart attack. Immediate intervention can save a life, but that person is still doomed over the long term if they don’t do something about their weight.

As long as a person remains obese, the other risk factors hang around also. See a doctor to get a comprehensive physical and instructions for lowering the risk of heart disease. Changing the foods we eat is the first step. We must lower our caloric intake and eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Exercise is a must to improve cardiovascular health. We improve our oxygen efficiency and shed pounds at the same time. Losing even ten percent body fat greatly reduces the risk of heart disease in a person’s life. Every little bit counts.

To reduce the risk of heart disease, we must drop the pounds. Maintaining a healthy weight not only makes us feel better, but keeps our hearts running at maximum efficiency. Don’t neglect to do something about the one risk factor that we can definitely change.

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Whether you have a little or a lot of weight to shed, it’s important to stay motivated. When you first start to lose, not only do you notice, but so do others. This reinforcement along with the dropping numbers on the scale, spur you on to victory. Then, one day, the numbers stop falling. You are still thirty pounds from your goal and the scale refuses to budge. This is called a weight loss plateau. What can you do towards overcoming it?

One thing that shouldn’t be done is giving up. Look at it this way: You aren’t losing weight, but you aren’t gaining weight either. Plateaus are experienced several times over the course of a weight loss program. In the beginning, weight loss is steady because it’s new to the body. Your increased metabolism and decreased caloric intake work to shed those pounds. Water loss accounts for at least the first ten pounds of weight loss. As your body works to adjust to your physical activity, more calories are burned which translated into more weight lost. Plateaus come when the body has become accustomed to the routine.  Don’t stress. Giving up will put you right back at square one.

First of all, throw out the scale (if it was expensive, just pack it away in the back of the garage). You may have heard this before, but it’s true: Muscle weighs more than fat. If weight training has been a component of your weight loss program, then as the muscle mass increases so will your weight. You may still be losing fat, but the weight of the increased muscle balances everything out.

To jump off of your current plateau, examine your diet and exercise program. If your fitness routine hasn’t changed since the beginning, consider making a few changes. Try a new activity. If you’re used to aerobics five times a week, switch to the treadmill or an elliptical trainer. Muscles need to be challenged on a regular basis in order to grow.

If the exercises are still a challenge, then consider what you are eating. If you’ve been having a free day more than once a week you could be taking in too many calories. Go back to what you were doing at the start of the program. Keep journals for a couple of weeks to track what works for you and gets the scale moving again.

Remember, change one thing at a time. When you change something, give the change a full thirty days, and then check the results. Weight loss isn’t easy, but it is rewarding to reach your goal. Keep at it!

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