Excess Weight… why we pick up weight… how to lose weight long term

Increased weight, how we get it, what it does to us and how to lose it effectively and long term

Increased weight and how to lose it has occupied us, particularly women, since ancient times. However, whilst it used to be a problem of a minority of mostly ‘affluent’ people, the majority not having even enough to eat, it is now an epidemic in the Western world since there is more than enough food around. The problem has been compounded by also our present life styles, as we tend to a much more calorific diet than before and too much of it; We also tend to do little exercise compared to olden times, many jobs are now sedentary and our leisure hours also tend to be spent with relatively little physical activity. However, in addition to the Western nations now becoming fat, there are also metabolic consequences to this and increased mortality and morbidity resulting from it.

A few important points in relation to weight:

Why do we become overweight-

We are what we eat.
Most of our body fat originates from glucose (sugar). All glucose comes from plants.
All starch is simply glucose molecules attached to each other in branches/chains. Thus, all the glucose from potato or wheat starch is also absorbed, just slower than from sugar in sweets and cakes. All alcohol is made from sugar and becomes sugar in the body.
Every molecule of glucose not immediately needed for energy is stored in the body; a little as glucogen in the liver and the rest as fat. It is said that if one eats one biscuit or another equivalent a day more than needed for energy, one will put on a stone in 6 months.
Dietary fat is not necessarily all stored if taken in excess, but, particularly saturated fats, will also clog the arteries and reduce utilisation of our own body fat for energy.
Weight increase is rarely due to disorders such as hypothyroidism and much more commonly because of the imbalance between calorie intake and utilisation.
‘I eat the same as my friend who is thin but still cannot lose weight’- once a steady state is reached, that is, the energy intake balances the output, you will not put on or lose weight irrespective if you are thin or fat. You will only lose weight if your own calories utilisation is more than intake.

Metabolic consequences of weight increase

The high carbohydrate, that is, glucose intake and the high saturated fat intake lead to medical problems, the most important of which include:

Increased levels of blood fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides and larger proportions of dangerous cholesterol complexes-this in turn increases the risk of vascular disease such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, impaired circulation in legs as well as occasionally acute pancreatitis.
The metabolic syndrome which eventually leads to diabetes mellitus which can lead to further complications.
Fatty liver which can lead to cirrhosis and eventually liver failure.

Why do we eat too much and too much of the wrong food

Comfort eating
Easy availability of relatively cheap ready meals and takeaways
Not every body can or wants to cook!
Preconceptions that cooking one’s own healthy food is difficult, time consuming, boring, expensive.
Habit

Diets

Generally, people do not want to change their lifestyles or if they want to lose weight, want to do it quickly and painlessly and once they reach the weight they want, wish to continue as before the diet. Thus, there have been many fad diets and artificial ways of losing weight too numerous to mention and although they work for a time, once stopped, the weight returns with also sometimes ill effects on health. Other measures include bulking agents such as some sea weeds, drugs that induce fat malabsorption, surgery to remove excess fat and reduce stomach size etc. In extreme cases, drugs and surgery may be needed. However, in most people such measures are not needed and if unsupervised can be dangerous. Further, weight will be regained as soon as they are stopped if the eating and life style habits have not also changed permanently. There is much truth in the saying that many quick fix diets do not work and do not work long term-they do not change the habits but are only a temporary and sometimes dangerous measure, particularly if intended for a drastic fast weight loss. It is also common sense that abnormal, artificial eating habits can only be sustained so long before one becomes ill or gives up !

LOSE WEIGHT WITH SURESLIM – Click here for more information….

How to lose weight safely, effectively and permanently

We are all different but we all need support and encouragement to lose weight. The weight loss should also be tailored to our lifestyles, foods likes and dislikes, it should not be a misery but even a pleasurable dietary and lifestyle experience and one which we will be happy to continue long term and eventually see as normal. Most importantly, it should be not only safe but improve our health long term.

If done properly and combined with regular exercise, it is possible to lose significant weight in just a few weeks. Thereafter, providing a healthy, well balanced diet is followed long term, the weight can stay down. However, as no two bodies or metabolic rates are the same, the key is to find a management programme plan that works best for you while also keeping you healthy. People spend hours calculating calories, the sugar, carbohydrate and fat content of their food intake, measuring up to the last gram all they eat, restricting whole groups of foods and in the process may feel hungry all the time or become miserable, as well as running the risk of becoming deficient in minerals, vitamins, amino acids and other essential nutrients . This may affect metabolism, slowing it down and even making them ill. Further, not all overweight people are fat just because they eat too much or eat too much of the ‘wrong foods’. Occasionally they may have undiagnosed underlying disorders such as an under-active thyroid. Others may have disorders where unsupervised dieting may be harmful such as diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes).

The SureSlim Wellness Clinic’s Weight Loss Programme is devised after a review of a comprehensive range of blood test results (including glucose and blood fats) and other factors such as the personal medical history, medication, food likes and dislikes, present and ideal weight. Thus, in addition to checking for underlying disorders which may have to be dealt with beforehand or issues which may have caused the weight increase or stop you from losing it; the programme is individualised to your needs and preferences. You are regularly reviewed, supported and encouraged and at the end of the programme your blood can be checked again for the salient factors which often improve such as your blood sugar and blood fats. The programme does not include any weight losing substances, bulking agents or similar. It should not leave you hungry and if at any stage you wish to modify what you eat to more of something and less of other, the dietary regime is changed. The idea is that you change your eating habits for life but also that you change them to something you are happy with. Finally, to ensure that the weight loss programme is as safe as possible, SureSlim also encourages keeping your medical practitioners in the loop, advising them of the results of the tests you had and the progress you made.

LOSE WEIGHT WITH SURESLIM – Click here for more information….