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Chapter 8 - Weight Control ___________________________________________

Fad Diet Plans Fasting _____________________________________

Fasting is an extreme diet in which only water, vitamins and liquid supplements are allowed for an extended period of time (usually thirty six to seventy two hours). Jesus and other spiritual leaders used fasting as a way to reach mental and spiritual clarity, fasting for up to 40 days and nights. Fasting is a quick way, but not a good way, to lose weight. Even though large weight losses have been realized in relatively short periods of time, research has revealed that as much as 60% of the weight lost during fasting is lean muscle tissue.

It should also be noted that fasting can be dangerous (even fatal) and should never be carried out unless under the close supervision of a physician.

The Atkins Diet ____________________________________________________

This is a diet variety of designed by Dr. Robert Atkins, a New York cardiologist. The diet plan is based on the theory that proteins and fats are only fattening when they are ingested with carbohydrates.

When carbohydrates are eliminated from the diet, the body uses stored fat for its energy source. This has a two-fold effect. First, it decreases body weight by decreasing body fat, and second, it causes a build up of ketone bodies, a by-product of fat metabolism, which suppresses hunger. Using this theory, Dr. Atkins advocates counting carbohydrates rather than calories. Foods containing large amounts of carbohydrates are not permitted and foods with small amounts of carbohydrates are allowed in limited quantities (usually no more than 50 grams per day). Foods containing no carbohydrates may be eaten in any quantity.

According to Atkins, you can eat as much protein and fat as you want without fear of gaining weight as long as you limit your carbohydrates. Reducing carbohydrates lowers the insulin levels in the body. Insulin is used to break down sugars and to store them as fatty acids. It is surmised that as a result of excessive carbohydrate intake over periods of time, our bodies become insulin resistant. As a result, insulin is secreted by the pancreas when sugar is in the bloodstream, but the sugar is not broken down, as it should be. Subsequently, more and more insulin is secreted, as blood sugar levels remain high.

It should be noted, that when the body is deprived of carbohydrates for energy, it would burn the fatty acids derived from fats. However, the ketone bodies contained in fats are not utilized for energy. They are detoxified by the liver and secreted through the urine. This causes the body to lose a considerable amount of water which contributes significantly to initial weight loss. Your body will subsequently become thirstier and you will crave more water that is critical to any weight loss plan. It has been said that the amount of weight that you can lose is proportional to the amount of water that you consume. The more water you drink, the more weight you will lose.

As body fat continues to be used as the body’s source of energy, the ketone bodies build up and concentrate in the liver and kidneys. This can cause inflammation and eventual damage to these organs. Furthermore, since the diet is heavy in fat, large amounts of cholesterol are introduced into the blood stream and this may predispose the individual to arteriosclerosis and heart disease.

Chapter 8 - Weight Control ___________________________________________

Another drawback is that the severe restriction of carbohydrates would cause such a rapid depletion of carbohydrates from the liver and muscles that sustained vigorous activity would be very difficult. In general, with the exception of marathon athletes, normal levels of glycogen would be available if about 35% of the individual’s caloric intake were in the form of carbohydrates.

Amphetamines as Diet Aids __________________________________________________________________________

These drugs work in a two-fold manner. First of all, amphetamines have been found to cause anorexia (loss of appetite). Secondly, amphetamines are sympatheticomimetic and thus arouse and stimulate. This increase in sympathetic stimulation not only inhibits fatigue, but also increases the metabolic rate. Thus, more calories are burned because more work is being performed both intrinsically and extrinsically.

Some doctors do recommend amphetamine use for short term weight loss. The reason that they are used only for short term weight loss is that the drugs lose their effectiveness after a few weeks mainly due to tolerance development.

Interestingly, there is no ∞ WELLNESS FOR LIFE ∞ research that indicates that __________________________________________________________________ amphetamines are beneficial in long term Anorexia and Bulimia. weight reduction. Recently, Some people who have a condition known as bulimia eat enormous the Federal Drug and Food quantities of food, but regurgitate so that the calories do not enter the blood Administration banned stream. This disorder has typically been associated with athletes, females in doctors from prescribing particular, who are subject to intense pressure to be thin. Male athletes in sports amphetamines for weight such as horse racing and wrestling, who must qualify for a particular weight loss because it is believed class, have also been affected by eating disorders. Bulimia is often accompanied that they do not work as a by anorexia, which is a condition characterized by a distorted body image. They diet aid to justify the risks think they’re fat when they’re really not, so they deprive themselves of food they pose. until they are dangerously thin. Studies have shown that eating disorders, The dangers bulimia and anorexia, primarily affect persons from affluent families because there is more pressure to be thin in social circles. Historically, anorexia and involved are considerable. bulimia affect females more than males. As gender and racial gaps disappear, so Although the research is not the incidents of these disorders among particular ethnic and gender groups also conclusive, there is a disappear. possibility of physical and psychological addiction.

Since the drug is sympatheticomimetic, heart rate, vasoconstriction and blood pressure are all increased, in that way, heightening the possibility of cardiac difficulty. A speeding up of the aging process, hypoglycemia and stroke are also possible side effects of amphetamine use.

The Lover’s Diet ______________________________________________________

The “Lover’s Diet” is more of an activity than a diet. The idea is to “grab your mate instead of your plate.” In other words, every time you have an inappropriate desire to eat, you’re supposed to “get busy” instead and decrease your caloric intake while increasing your energy expenditure.

Although there are wide individual differences in activity and duration, sexual intercourse may require an average energy expenditure of about 200 calories. Of course, if you are not real careful, you can gain a whole lot of weight in 9 months. In this case, it might be advisable to just walk or jog around the block a couple of times instead.