Archive for the ‘Weight Loss’ Category

For 4 years I sat in the waiting room at my daughter’s dojo while she was being taught how to defend and protect herself.  For some reason I just never made the connection between her defending herself and growing as a skilled female Martial Artist and me defending myself and growing as a skilled female Martial Artist.   

I always attended the belt testing sessions and I watched many adults and children progressing through the ranks of the belt system.  I was always happy for them but I still didn’t see any relation to their skills and my life.  It happened to me after one particular belt testing session.  I watched a woman who had been in the dojo for perhaps 2 years as she earned another belt plus she had lost a significant amount of weight since she started training in Shotokan karate.  I caught a glimpse of the deep satisfaction she was experiencing and I suddenly realized this was not simply for my daughter but it was for me too. 

I signed up immediately and began an incredible journey.   I knew little about dojos or karate etiquette but I found myself enjoying and appreciating the required rules of respect.  So seldom in our society do we experience the kind of respect we are all entitled to receive and we are seldom held to a standard where we must exhibit rules of respect. 

I have been training for 5 years and I can proudly say that I, a woman of 47 years of age, am a 3rd degree brown belt.  I have shed some tears and experienced more physical injuries than I care to remember, however, the physical and mental benefits that I have experienced cannot be replaced.  The sense of satisfaction I feel is beyond measure.

I feel physically and mentally capable of defending myself should I ever have too.  I have learned from my Martial Arts training to be aware of my surroundings and I carry this into my life every day.   I did experience a level of fear in my life prior to my training.  This fear has been replaced by confidence.  I know that if ever I am attacked I have an extremely good chance of prevailing.  

I really enjoy the physical benefits that have come along as a bonus.  With the physical demands of training comes the ability to eat and enjoy food without much worry of weight gain. To look at me you wouldn’t know that my body has become extremely muscular providing me with a great deal of strength. 

If you are feeling stuck in a rut and you are bored with the gym and pilates and yoga classes and you think you are too old to learn a new skill like Shotokan karate then please  think again and give it a try.  I have friends at the dojo that are in their 50s and have never felt better.  Watch for my next blog titled “Women and Empowerment with Martial Arts”.   

Weight Loss Pills Beware

[Each year, increasing numbers of people around the world are becoming overweight, including school children according to recent studies. To cure this problem, some people have resorted to surgical measures whereas others have decided that adjustments to their food intake and an increase in physical activity is necessary. The problem is that many people are impatient and want instant results so they resort to taking weight loss drugs instead of living a healthy lifestyle.

These drugs usually work buy telling the brain it’s no longer hungry, stimulating metabolism to aid the shedding of excess fat. It was only after scientists discovered that these drugs had side effects and were related to heart valve disease that they were taken off the shelves. Since then, newer drugs have been developed and doctors continue to prescribe them although they are still awaiting FDA certification.

The chances are that if you asked enough people, someone will say they have used them and been happy with the results. This is obviously a very tempting prospect, to lose weight while eating the same diet. Many millions of dollars are spent each year in The United States alone while the drug manufacturers spend huge sums on further research into weight loss drugs.

An individual wishing to buy weight control pills can do so over-the-counter or have them prescribed by their doctor, however there are still health risks associated with their use. You must check the packet carefully before you decide to use them because some of the other side effects can be even more harmful, like the possibility of a heart attack or even a stroke, with hallucinations, tremors, breathing problems and convulsions all recorded as side effects for users of these drugs.

This can lower the possibility of some side effects occurring, although this may depend on the genetic makeup of the person using them. Problems like irritability, tiredness, vomiting, stomach pains and sleep problems are all common effects reported when someone stops taking these weight control pills.

{Although these weight loss drugs do work, an increase in beneficial effects occurs when regular exercise is undertaken along with a change in eating habits. Despite all the bad publicity, weight loss drugs do work but they are more successful if they are used in conjunction with a low calorie diet and regular exercise, preferably using a properly worked out exercise regime.} A low calorie diet would consist of meals that contain vitamins, minerals and fibre which are all essential for good health; the best sources are fruit and vegetables.

As far as the exercise is concerned, this needs to be worked out in advance after a physical examination by your doctor. A regime of this kind would increase an individual’s metabolic rate.]

Everyday we hear reports that the US population is becoming increasingly overweight, and just as often we are faced with a confusing array of diets, pills and other products, all claiming to help us lose weight. Most of these products are not grounded in sound nutrition. Recently, the benefits of weight loss through water fasting have been touted by certain health-conscious groups, However research does not support this claim.

Before beginning any type of diet, it is a sensible thing to determine if one is really overweight. It is easy to recognize excess weight, however there is a distinction between overweight and being obese. An overweight person is one who has a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9, while an obese person is one with a BMI of 30 or more.

Some people become overweight because of compulsive eating or food addiction. Drinking copious amounts of water will not help a person lose weight if he/she is constantly eating lots of fried foods and sweet things. During a water fast, a person drinks only water when thirsty. Water fasting is undertaken for spiritual reasons among several religions. Traditionally, Roman Catholics do a water fast before receiving Holy Communion. Muslims and Jews all fast at certain times of the year during special observances, while Christians fast whenever they feel like it.

Some people engage in water fasting as a means of detoxifying the body, with weight loss as its ultimate goal. It is believed that water fasting helps the body to heal and detoxify faster than juice fast. The idea behind this is that less energy is used in digesting food, freeing up energy for the release of toxins. However, doctors and dietitians warn against this practice, saying that the human body is capable of losing toxins through the skin, liver, colon and kidneys. They say that extended water fasts are harmful as the body loses vital nutrients; they also slow down the metabolism.

Proponents of water fasting attribute several health benefits to this type of fast. Among them are:
a. More energy
b. Healthier skin
c. Improved sleep
d. Elimination of headaches
e. Elimination of stored toxins and
f. Weight loss

Another reason given for water fasting is that more fat is burned during a water fast as the body has to draw on its stored fat for energy after the first few days of fasting. Finally, it is advised that water fasting is more effective when accompanied by physical and emotional rest. If this is not possible, then a juice fast is recommended.

Those who find the taste of water boring can drink carbonated water. There is no calories added and there is both neutral and flavored carbonated waters available.

Water by itself is essential to life. We cannot live without water, but like everything else it must not be overdone. Dietitians and nutrition experts maintain that the only way water can help a person lose weight is if they substitute water for high-calorie drinks and foods. While fasting may have some health benefits, the key to these benefits is moderation, and, as always, if in doubt consult your medical practitioner.