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In my practice as a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist I have counseled many patients on weight loss. There are similarities that I recognize as causing long term success or failure. This article will share my conclusions to identify the reasons for success or failure.

It is my responsibility to help my patients “to get real” with themselves. What does that mean? Keeping a journal with time, portions of food, beverage and water consumed, in addition to keeping track of amounts of activity is the best first step to accept and recognize if they are helping or hurting themselves. This usually is met with mixed reactions. There are those patients that do not do their journaling and after many months return to my office with additional weight gains. They finally realize this accountability is necessary and both becomes self evident and necessary for positive changes to occur. Every patient is different in their metabolic needs and journaling enables me to fine tune their menus. It also simplifies their lives.

So let’s examine accountability. I have heard every excuse imaginable. It is my job to help my patients succeed and I need to unveil truths. In terms of food and beverage choices, I provide education on the importance of clean food. That does not mean, boring tasteless meals. Clean food is simple but tasty. The addition of herbs and marinades can enhance basic food groups. It does mean reading labels to know exactly what you are putting into your body. Who can substantiate using harmful ingredients? Knowing that ingredients are listed in the order of amounts in products can help determine good or poor choices. Knowing that the food industry is clever in disguising ingredients like sugar, salt and fat with so many different names can aid in not choosing to buy those products which not only will help with weight loss but also can send a clear message to manufacturers that the public is becoming a very knowledgeable consumer and they will have to be more compliant with their products. Using chemicals to provide extended shelf life or offering products to eat and drink are not real food not only creates intestinal issues but in many cases creates more cravings for sugar, salt and fat laden products.

Now let us look at activity. The busiest people in the world that are also successful have learned to budget their time and prioritize their activities. What does that exactly mean? Learning to dedicate one day each week to look at the week ahead and block out time for exercise has been proven to be an important health enhancing activity. Research and statistics cite blood pressure being lowered with regular exercise. In addition, stress is perceived and dealt with in more positive manners. Interpersonal relations can improve with one’s responsibility to take good care of themselves. I have noticed that when my patients take the time to plan their lives they also become more compassionate with others. The realization that achieving goals is very hard work gives them the ability to be more forgiving of their peers that “don’t get it yet”. Of course weight loss usually follows which improves self esteem and reinforces a more positive outlook which translates not only in business but also in relationships with family and friends.

There are many reasons that this is happening, fast food has never been more available than today and at such affordable prices too. These fast food companies are well known for their use of saturated fats in their products, coupled with their ability to afford huge marketing budgets they literally brainwash the masses into eating their products. As you have probably guessed, I’m not a big fan!
Other reasons for this weight gain are increased levels of sugar in processed foods, reduced fiber intake, overindulgence or overeating, genetics and because we, as a species, are growing increasingly older our metabolisms get slower with age therefore we are destined to be a world of fat pensioners!

Many people don’t like the idea of waiting to lose weight and are continually looking for ways in which to lose weight quickly. Many of these people eventually decide upon the weight loss pill as their savior, in my opinion not the best choice but e will have a quick look at the benefits.
During the period between the 1950′s and the late 1990′s doctors prescribed weight loss pills freely. These pills somehow increased the body’s production of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that basically tells the brain the stomach is full even when it isn’t, so these pills acted not only as an appetite suppressant but as a trigger to increase the body’s metabolic rate.

All was well and good until research showed that these weight loss pills were responsible for heart valve disease and they were promptly removed from circulation. Since then modifications have been made to the drug and some forms have re-emerged. Some of which are still awaiting FDA approval, but such is the demand from the general public that this lack of approval is being ignored by many.
These weight loss pills gives out the wrong signal as many believe they can continue living the way they were before, without any changes at all, as long as they take a so-called miracle pill!

Millions are being spent on these weight loss pills every year and drug companies are rubbing their hands with glee, unsurprisingly! They are readily available, many of them over the counter but what most people are not taking any notice of is that there is still a huge health risk.
Diarrhea and vomiting, tightness of the chest, urinary discomfort and serious risks such as heart attack or strokes have all been associated with weight loss pills. Not to mention the effects should you take over the stated dose; which include tremors, confusion, hallucinations, shallow breathing, renal failure, heart attack and convulsions.

The side effects do vary and are dependent upon the lifestyle you lead and your health and you should always consul your doctor before taking any un-prescribed weight loss pills.
Before you start taking these tablets to should be aware that they are also highly addictive and when you decide to stop taking them you will experience withdrawal symptoms and side effects, such as mood swings, hyper-activity, insomnia and nightmares, severe irritability, stomach pains, extreme fatigue, nausea, depression, vomiting and trembling.

Clinical tests show that these pills do work, but, and here is the big one. When used in conjunction with a low calorie diet and an exercise plan.
I will spell it out clearly for those that haven’t read this article properly; these pharmaceutical companies are making heaps of money by selling you a product that is addictive, expensive, and not beneficial to your health and above all won’t work unless you are exercising and dieting anyway!

I wouldn’t even advise a low calorie diet as they do not work either! Check out the sites below for weight loss programs that DO work, that are healthy and that don’t put your health at the bottom of the list of objectives!