weight loss Archives - A Million Lives

May 29, 2018 by Greg Underwood

3 reasons you aren’t losing weight

It’s a topic that is never going to die down, for the simple reason that people generally struggle to lose weight.

The likes of Sono Bello are bursting at the seams with people who are desperate for a more advanced procedure to curb their waistline, and this is something that doesn’t seem to be on the slide.

Unfortunately, there is no magic button that is going to allow your weight to plummet in record speeds. Instead, there are common reasons why people tend to struggle to keep off those extra pounds, and through the course of this guide we will take a look at some of these in detail.

Reason #1 – Hold on, are you losing weight?

This first reason isn’t really a reason, so to speak. A lot of people feel that they have hit that dreaded brick wall, when in reality they are still shifting the pounds and losing a decent amount of weight.

Why does this happen? Firstly, the scales can take a while to catch up. Your hormones tend to be instable, which causes weight fluctuations, while your water retention can also change regularly and impact your weight.

Additionally, and this next point is important, you might actually be losing fat, but not losing overall weight. If you’re doing this, you’ll probably be pretty happy with the outcome anyway. Your fat levels are diminishing, and being replaced by bigger muscles (so you are more toned). The scales don’t tell you this – you’ll need to measure your fat to see if this is the case.

Reason #2 – You don’t track your food

Whenever you start a new health regime, one of the first suggestions that is often made is to start a food diary. There is plenty of reason behind this recommendation as well; it tells you the whole truth about what is going into your body. For a lot of people, it’s quite eye-opening as well. They don’t realize that they are eating 10 chocolate snacks per day; as they space them out so it “feels” like nothing.

As such, if you feel like you have hit that brick wall, go back to basics and record exactly what is entering your mouth. You might be surprised, and you might be able to take action. Luckily, this action doesn’t usually have to be too drastic either. It might be just cutting out one food a day, which makes a monumental difference to your weekly calorie intake.

Reason #3 – You don’t drink enough water

If you were to look at water from a very basic perspective, you might think that it doesn’t contain any calories and therefore shouldn’t affect your weight loss quest in the slightest.

However, open up this topic a little more and all starts to become clear. Firstly, studies have shown that drinking more water can facilitate more weight loss. Additionally, as you are using it to replenish yourself, you are probably replacing a liquid that’s laced with fats or sugar.

May 11, 2018 by Greg Underwood

What to Expect Before, During, and After Weight Loss Surgery

Thanks to medical advances, today patients can choose between a variety of bariatric surgery procedures as a tool to help meet their health goals. No matter if you’re considering Contrave discounts, sleep gastronomy, or another weight loss surgery, there are things you’ll want to know before, during, and after the surgery. By being prepared ahead of time and knowing what to expect, you can start your weight loss journey off on the right foot.

Here’s what you need to know about the entire weight loss surgery process.

Before Surgery

Before looking into weight loss surgery, it’s worth noting that there are certain requirements that you must meet in order to be approved. For example, you must typically have a BMI in the obese or morbidly obese categories before you can undergo surgery. Other common requirements include:

History of failed past efforts to lose weight
Serious weight-related health problems
Non-smoker
Willing to stick to post-surgery guidelines

If you believe you’re a candidate for weight loss surgery, it’s best to find a bariatric surgeon in the area who can help to determine the best way forward for you to meet your weight loss and overall health goals.

One of the biggest misconceptions that people have about weight loss surgery is that it’s a miracle worker. Others think it’s the easy way out and “cheating” in a sense. But, undergoing bariatric surgery doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to lose weight. In order to be successful in meeting your weight loss goals, you must stick with your diet and exercise program, along with taking the proper supplements needed to ensure your internal health. It takes a lot of discipline and perseverance to lose weight, even after surgery.

While going on a strict diet can be frustrating, many doctors require that their patients follow a strict pre-surgery diet to not only prove they can stick to a diet program, but also to properly prepare the body to undergo a serious surgery. By sticking to the diet, you can expect to lose a few pounds, which is a great way to start your weight loss journey.

During Surgery

Before undergoing surgery, your bariatric surgeon will likely discuss how the procedure works. Most weight loss surgeries can be done using a laparoscopic technique, which involves four or five small incisions versus one large one. Patients typically heal much faster with this form of surgery as the incisions heal quicker.

During surgery, you will undergo general anesthesia and be put to sleep. While you’re likely to wake up feeling quite groggy, some patients say that sleeping while under general anesthesia is some of the best sleep they’ve ever had!

Surgery can last anywhere from an hour to a few hours, depending on the procedure you’re undergoing as well as your overall health condition. After waking up, you will likely be tired and in some pain.

After Surgery

Once surgery is completed, you’re well on your way to your personal journey to losing weight. After waking up from anesthesia, you’re likely to be very tired and feeling some discomfort, especially around the incision area. Your doctor will prescribe you pain medication to make you more comfortable. Depending on your surgery and how well your body reacts after surgery, you may be able to go home a few hours after. Some patients need to spend a night or a few days in the hospital after surgery to receive close monitoring.

After you’re discharged from the hospital, the true work starts. First, you must focus on healing and getting back on your feet after surgery. This means sticking to your diet, eating plenty of protein, and taking any recommended supplements. Eating a lot of protein, resting, and staying hydrated can help speed up the healing process.

Most doctors recommend that you take a few weeks to heal. Once the incisions have closed and are much less painful, you can likely begin light exercise, such as walking. After a few weeks and you’re fully healed, you’ll want to put all of your focus and energy into following your meal and exercise plans.

When jumping into exercise, listen to your body. While you want to push yourself, some patients start exercising before their body is fully healed. If you experience any pain or discomfort, discuss this with your doctor.

Post-surgery it’s also important to stay in touch with your doctor. Many weight loss offices provide weekly support groups where you can discuss how things are going and create friendships with those who are undergoing a similar lifestyle change. Having access to a support group is important, especially when you’re not losing as quickly as you wanted or feeling tempted by bad food choices.

After weeks of sticking to the plan, you’re likely to see amazing results on the scale and in the mirror. The key is to keep going and to push through all the bumps in the road until you’ve met your ideal weight.

Was this article helpful and informative? Leave us a comment with your thoughts in the section below.

April 26, 2018 by Greg Underwood

5 Hacks For Quick Weight Loss

Do you want to shed the pounds fast and keep them off? Follow these hacks for quick weight loss so you can start getting closer to your goals quickly.

According to a recent Gallup poll, 53 percent of Americans want to lose weight. That word “want” is a powerful part of the sentence because so many people spend years “wanting” to lose weight without being able to do it successfully.

As anyone who has gone on a pounds-shedding quest will tell you, it’s much easier said than done. Different tactics work for different people, and sometimes you need tricks to help you along the way.

If you’re having trouble getting your weight loss started or you’ve hit a plateau, check out these tips for quick weight loss.

Hacks for Quick Weight Loss

Whether you have a special event on the horizon or you’re just tired of feeling self-conscious, it’s time to change your lifestyle habits. Small changes can go a long way toward your weight loss goals.

Stop Buying Snacks Ahead of Time

Are you one of those people who go to the grocery store once per week and buys all your meals and snacks ahead? If you’re like many of us, those snacks are probably gone by day two or three.

Instead, only keep healthy food around the house. If you get a craving for something a bit more decadent, you’ll have to put in a lot of effort to go to the store and get it.

In many cases, that extra effort is enough to dissuade you. If not, at least you’ll burn some calories in the process of getting it, especially if you can walk to the store instead of driving.

Get a Hobby

There are countless reasons why we eat when we’re not actually hungry, and one of the most common ones is boredom. After all, munching on a snack makes any movie or TV session more enjoyable.

Take up a hobby that uses your hands. Knitting, crocheting, woodworking, and drawing are great ones that keep your hands busy so you aren’t tempted to snack.

If you find a fun hobby that burns calories, it’s even better for quick weight loss.

Add Micro-Workouts

For most of us, dedicating an hour of our busy day to struggling in the gym just isn’t appealing. Whether time or motivation is more of a factor, micro-workouts could be your best friend.

Micro-workouts can include doing squats while brushing your teeth, crunches while you wait for the shower to heat up, or jumping jacks while you wait for dinner to finish in the oven.

While longer exercise sessions are still great for cardiovascular health and burning belly fat, mini workouts can help too. They’ll torch extra calories and make it easier to create an exercise habit.

Consider Professional Body Contouring

If you only have extra fat in one specific problem area, weight loss might not actually be what you need.

Sometimes, fat is resistant to diet and exercise. If you’re a healthy weight but you have a troublesome bulge or two, it might be time for body contouring.

This procedure can be surgical or non-surgical, so talk to a medical professional about what they’d recommend.

It’s also helpful to start with a little research on your own. Look for specific questions like “What types of body contouring are available,” “How much does laser lipo cost,” etc.

Start Your Weight Loss Journey

As you work toward your weight loss, you’ll have advice flying at you for every direction.

Feel free to try as many tactics as you want (if they’re safe). The key is to find out what works for you and stick to it.

For more helpful weight loss hacks and more, browse our health and fitness articles. Good luck!

March 7, 2018 by Greg Underwood

4 Things You Must Do to Get Rid of Belly Fat

Belly fat is often the weight we most want to get rid of, but the hardest to shift. You can eat a healthy diet and exercise every day for weeks, and still be left with stubborn belly fat that just doesn’t want to go away. Along with being the most stubborn, fat around the midriff can also be the most dangerous since it’s also made up of visceral fat lying deeper in the abdomen underneath your muscle and surrounding your internal organs. The first thing to understand is that there’s no ‘quick fix’ supplement or exercise aid that you can use to get rid of all your belly fat; it must be done with a combination of a healthy, balanced diet and varied exercise. We’ve listed some of the best ways to get rid of excess belly fat.

#1. Eat Less Calories:

The best way to lose weight is to consume less calories and do more exercise. However, be careful when it comes to counting calories – if your intake is too low, then you’ll run the risk of damaging your metabolism and making it harder for you to lose weight. You may find it useful to use a calorie-counting app or wearable such as a Fitbit which tracks your activity levels and adjusts how many calories you will need accordingly.

#2. Get More Protein:

It’s not just important to think about the calories that you’re consuming, but also how you are getting them. You should also focus on the type of nutrients that you’re getting from your diet. You should aim to increase the amount of protein that you eat whilst limiting simple carbohydrates that are usually found in starchy foods such as white pasta, rice and bread or potato chips and fries. Instead, drink more protein shakes and include a moderate amount of protein-rich foods in your diet such as lean meat, beans and legumes, and unsalted nuts.

#3. Do More Cardio:

One of the biggest misconceptions about losing belly fat is that increasing the number of sit-ups, crunches and planks you do is the best strategy. Although doing abdominal strengthening exercises in the gym can certainly help you to tone up and gain core strength, it’s important to incorporate a wide variety of exercise types into your routine to get the best results. Strength training is important, but don’t skip out on cardiovascular exercise, which gets your heart rate pumping and speeds up your metabolism. High intensity interval training is a great choice since it keeps you moving and causes your body to continue burning fat long after you finish your workout. See Workoutbox.com for more tips and exercise ideas.

#4. Get Enough Sleep:

Lastly, be aware that there’s a proven link between lack of sleep and obesity, so make sure you are getting at least 6-8 hours of rest each night. When you’re deprived of sleep, your body increases its production of a hormone known as ghrelin, which stimulates your appetite and makes you crave calorie-dense foods.

Did you find this information useful? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.