A look at weight loss infomercials

Only in America could billions of dollars be made selling weight loss products to people who need to shed a few extra pounds. In a world full of starving people, Americans seem to have emerged as a nation of overfed, under exercised fatties who can’t put down that bag of potato chips, stop eating that ice cream or refuse that second (or third?) helping of pasta. America’s weight problem – historically solved by eating less and exercising more – had now proliferated a dizzying array of products. Celebrities, nutritionists, doctors, herbologists, hucksters and former fatties have come up with thousands of products designed to melt fat, reduce cravings for bad foods, block carbs, sugar and fat, lose pounds while you sleep, and more.. Many products claim that, as long as you take one of the pills, you can eat what you want and actually lose weight. There are diet plans, calorie counters, diet food cooked and delivered to your doorstep daily, dance and walk your way to weight loss, the hula weight loss program, the Brazilian weight loss program, the fat burning, belly reducing, balanced woman, unbalanced woman. You name it and it’s on a weight loss infomercial. In fact, weight loss programs (separate from fitness programs and equipment, which may result in weight loss but are sold as ways to improve your appearance) account for more than 50% of all revenue generated in today’s infomercials. One of the most successful weight loss infomercials ever produced featured a product called Bio Slim. Created by Doctor Josh Leightberg, Bio Slim was a science-driven, medically sound program consisting of several herbal pills which when combined with a diet plan also created by Dr. Leightberg resulted in a changed metabolism, an improved digestive system and a stronger anti-immune system, all of which ultimately led to a steady, healthy weight loss. Following the success of Bio Slim, a steady stream of niche players, knockoff artists and entrepreneurs took to the airways with their twist, their hook, their product designed to produce quicker, easier results. One of them was the well known and extremely successful Fen-Phen diet, which was a combination of two herbs known to doctors and other professionals in the industry as herbal speed. While still legal at the time, the pills killed the appetite completely, created a euphoric state in the user and led to many problems including heart attacks which led the FDA to ban the main substances from use in the USA. Weight loss infomercials are so powerful and so successful that you have to be careful which products you choose to use. As with anything else in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There really is no magic pill or substance that is going to let you sit on the couch and eat huge quantities of bad foods and make you lose weight without paying some kind of terrible price. I mention Bio Slim as an example of a stellar product designed by a professional doctor whose goal was to improve people’s lives and make money. You could call a number given out to anybody who ordered Bio Slim and speak directly with Dr. Leightberg if you had questions or concerns about his product. That should tell you something about the man and the product he’s putting his name on. Another thing to look out for in weight loss infomercials are the add-ons. Popular diets like the Atkins diet which were not sold on infomercials, but became successful through book sales, interviews and word of mouth led to the creation of a whole host of products you didn’t need that were designed to help you stay on or perform better while on the Atkins plan. Low carb foods and low/no carb candy imitations, sometimes ten times more expensive than their higher carb counterparts, flooded the airwaves. Pills designed to reduce the difficulties associated with the Atkins diet surfaced in infomercials. These items are usually designed by less than professional individuals looking to cash in on a craze they had nothing to do with in the first place.

The advantages of smartlipo over traditional liposuction

Liposuction in various forms has been in existence for many years. Since 1982, the procedure has been performed millions of times in the United States alone. In recent years, however, advances have been made in the field of plastic surgery that has revolutionized liposuction. Laserlipolysis, also known as SmartLipo, is an FDA-approved procedure that greatly surpasses what was possible with traditional liposuction. The advantages of SmartLipo are tremendous, and the procedure promises to attract many more patients in the future as the reputation continues to precede itself - especially due to the many advantages of undergoing SmartLipo rather than traditional liposuction. Tiny cannula results in minimal invasion, no stitches Traditional liposuction is an invasive procedure that involves utilizing a tube called a cannula, which is connected to a high-powered vacuum. The cannula is inserted into the area where the procedure is to be performed, and the doctor rotates the cannula beneath the skin to remove fat from the body. SmartLipo is far less invasive than traditional liposuction procedures. The cannula used is extremely small, and at one millimeter, stitches are not necessary at the site of insertion. The laser employed in SmartLipo offers far more precision than simply moving a cannula manually, as in traditional liposuction procedures. Laser removes excess fat, without leaving excess skin While the laser is melting fat cells, the heat produced by the beam also acts to seal blood vessels, and this causes the body to produce collagen. The body is sculpted by the procedure and further surgery is generally unnecessary. Often, with traditional liposuction, the patient must undergo additional procedures to remove the excess skin after the fat has been withdrawn. When fat is removed from the body, it cannot regenerate. Adults have a finite amount of fat cells, and once they are removed from an area, it cannot gain fat once again. With SmartLipo, the fat cells are heated to a bursting point, and the liquefied fat exits the body through the insertion point. Any excess fluid is filtered out of the body via the lymphatic system. Safer procedures, quicker recovery with SafeLipo Traditional liposuction is not only an invasive procedure, but one that can cause serious trauma to the skin and connective tissue of the individual undergoing the procedure. Bruising is quite common, as the cannula has to be manually manipulated to achieve symmetrical results. Healing times can vary depending upon the amount of fat being removed, however with traditional liposuction, compression bandages are recommended to be worn for six weeks after completion. In stark comparison, the advantages of undergoing SmartLipo are plentiful. One of the most advantageous aspects pertaining to SmartLipo is the recovery time. Most patients are back at work within two dayspression bandages are usually worn for up to two weeks, but are not always necessary. In addition, the collagen released as a reaction to the heat of the laser continues to develop for up to three months, firming and tightening the treated area long after the procedure has been performed. If you are considering your options regarding body sculpting and permanently ridding your body of fat, look no further than SmartLipo. The alternative is unthinkable once you know what is available to you.

How to eat between meals and still lose weight

Unlike other, more restrictive diet plans, snacking is a perfectly acceptable part of a low carbohydrate diet—provided your snacks are all found on the low carb list. Snacking is not only okay, it’s also beneficial in many ways. Eating small amounts over the course of a day has been shown to speed up the body’s metabolism, burning fat more quickly and efficiently. Also, snacking helps prevent hunger pains, which can drive even the most disciplined dieter to cheat or overeat at the next meal. Without using snacks as a safety net, dieters will be more tempted to pick at restricted foods and just about anything else that comes their way. That said, snacking—like everything else—should be done in moderation. Just because a food is found on the low carb list does not mean it is okay to eat as much of it as you want. Consult your low carb list to see how many carbohydrates are in a serving of the food(s) you wish to have as a snack, and be sure that the total amount of carbohydrates fits within your daily allowance. A food makes it onto the low carb list because one serving is low carb, not an unlimited amount. There are plenty of foods on the low carb list that make good snack choices. All meats and cheeses have virtually no carbohydrates, so they are acceptable selections even in large amounts. Try a cold cut platter and/or an assortment of cheese cubes to sample from throughout the day. And who says a leg of lamb or some buffalo wings aren’t great for snacking? Melt some cheese over a drumstick, serve up bacon and sausage, or make meatballs. Don’t forget eggs—hard-boiled, scrambled, over-easy, egg salad, the choices are limitless! Other good snack items from the low carb list with almost no carbohydrates include lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, celery, and cucumbersbine these with other foods from different categories of the low carb list to make a delicious salad. For example, throw in some cheddar cheese cubes with some nuts (be sure to check the low carb list to determine which nuts have less carbs) and top with olive oil. Or enjoy a chicken Caesar salad. Choices from the low carb list that are good snack foods, but in moderation, include many vegetables. Avoid potatoes, squash, and carrots, as these are high in carbohydrates. However, a veggie platter with broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, peas, and string beans, either or cooked or raw, topped with real butter can make a filling treat. Most beans make a delicious and easy snack, and go well with veggies, like celery bits. Or, try making chicken or tomato soup, or beef stew, for a filling afternoon. With the right recipe, almost any food can qualify for the low carb list! Search online for low carb recipes for muffins, breads, and even gooey desserts. Once you’ve tried a few successful recipes, experiment and see what new low carb foods you can create.