Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead is a documentary. It isn’t about weight loss, but in it two men and one woman use juice fasting to improve and get rid of health conditions. In the process, the two men who are very overweight lose a lot of weight, change their lifestyles, and get rid of their skin conditions. Is it a documentary worth watching?
There are really two types of documentaries out there. The first is the one most people think of when hearing the word. It is dull, packed full of information, and is a good thing to sleep to. However, it isn’t easy to watch and some can put you in comatose even when you want to hear what they have to say. Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead doesn’t fall into that category. Instead, it is informative and shares a lot of information while being entertaining and easy to watch. Joe Cross shares his story with you and does it in a way that makes it so you really do want to know how the movie ends.
Even the funniest and easiest to watch documentary might not have anything useful to say. However, Joe Cross’ movie makes you feel like you are more informed than you were when you started. It combines the personal experience of the people involved, interviews of regular people on food, and information about nutrition presented from experts.
There are lots of people who have found Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead a great inspiration. Many people are buying juicers as a result so that they can start on a juicing journey. My personal response was significantly different than I ever imagined. I have always been against things such as fasting, even juice fasting. My idea about it is accurate. If you do a juice fast, lose a bunch of weight, and then go back to your old life and eat a bunch of junk then you won’t be any healthier for it. However, if you do a juice fast and then use that to jump start a new lifestyle with healthier eating and even with exercise then you will be better off as Joe Cross and others in his video.
I think everyone who has a diet that is less then stellar diet should watch the movie. It is interesting, inspiring, and it may even give you the desire to do something about your own life.
In the end, Joe Cross has done a great service to all of us. This entertaining documentary has a lot to offer people because most of us simply do not have a diet that is good for us. Additionally many of us are not even aware of just how bad our diets and lifestyles are. Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead will give you a good watch.
I work from home. This is an advantage to others who go and have office based jobs. However, both have a similar problem. The job requires that you spend a significant portion of your day sitting. Add to that entertainment in the form of sitting and you are looking at a lifestyle that easily lacks movement. Because exercising is so important it is a good idea to make sure that you are getting as much as you can from your day. You can exercise at work and make your life better in the process. You will also find other benefits including being more alert throughout the day and having more energy.
Walk More
Walking is a great way to get some exercise. This works everywhere. However, at work you can squeeze in more walking then you realize depending on how your workplace works and what types of rules they have. Here are some great ideas to help you walk more and get more out of your work day.
Work Your Muscles
Your muscles can be worked in a lot of different ways. You can work many of them by squeezing them in and holding them. Try to sit up straight and squeeze your abs and or glutes (buttocks). Alternate so that you are getting the most from these muscles.
Take a Break
Where you work is really going to depend on what types of things you can do in order to get more exercise on your breaks. You can always walk. However, if you have the space you can also do a variety of other things on your break as well. Mix it up if you can.
Exercise in Your Chair
There are a lot of things you can do to exercise at your chair. However, it should be noted that some of these may look funny if you work in a cubicle and someone peaks in at you. You will want to make sure that you are comfortable with funny looks and/or questions. One thing that should be noted is that it is your life and your health that we are talking about here.
Stretches
Taking the time to stretch throughout your work day can be enough to help you eliminate injuries. You should target any areas that hurt you throughout the day and take the time to stretch them. It is even a good idea to set a timer and stretch once an hour to make sure that you keep yourself working well. You will find that this will give you energy and wake you up when the time is rather boring.
Exercise At Work – Some Helpful Tips
Exercising at work, just like exercising anywhere else takes time to develop. Here are some tips to help you get started on the right foot.
Exercising throughout the day is good for you for so many reasons. These are some really great things to move you toward a healthier lifestyle. While you should still add some real exercise to your life and this shouldn’t replace the aerobic workout that your body really needs, it is a great way to help keep yourself healthy, help you get in shape, and help you to feel better than ever before.
Push ups are pretty well known. I remember having to do them throughout middle school and high school as part of our “cals”. However, just because you have an idea of how they are done doesn’t mean you realize their full potential. The truth is that push ups are good for all of you.
How to Do a Push Up
To do a push up you will want to get on the floor. By laying flat you can work your way into a good position. Lay flat on your stomach, move your feet into a 90 degree angle so that your toes will support your body, and put your hands flat on the ground (palm down) so that they are about shoulder width apart. Use your arms to lift your body up. You want to keep your back straight, your bottom tucked in, and slowly lower yourself toward the ground. You will only be bending your elbows and using your arms to move your body weight around. Just before you touch the ground you will want to raise yourself up again.
What Muscles Push Ups Are Good For
Most people think about their arms when they are doing push ups. However, the truth is that this is working all the muscles in your arms including the biceps and triceps, but that is really just the beginning. It is also working the muscles of your legs to hold yourself up, your back, your chest, and your stomach. If you are doing a good job keeping yourself in form then you are also working your buttocks.
What Are Push Ups Good For?
Push ups are good for working a large number of muscles. By doing push ups you can make a difference in your strength. You will increase your muscle mass which in turn will have your body burning more calories while doing the same things that you already do. There are also a lot of advantages of doing push ups over other types of muscle building exercises.
By starting out doing a few push ups each day you can work your way into doing more and more. You are building muscles and doing great things for your body while you do it.
Feeling full is an important part of making sure you don’t overeat. You can still overeat even if you spend all day feeling full, but when you don’t feel hungry you can learn to avoid eating too much. What are the ways that you can make yourself feel fuller, feel less hungry, and enjoy the comfort of satiation.
How to Feel Full Throughout The Day When it comes to eating less it is an all day project. You need to make sure that you feel satiated all day long. To do that you will have to change a lot of different habits. Here are some tips that will help you feel full throughout the day.
Choose Foods That Make You Feel Full Longer There are certain types of foods that will make you feel full longer. By choosing these options you will be able to eat more, take in fewer calories, and feel great while doing it.
Meal and Snack Tips To Help You Feel Full Longer If you want to feel fuller longer then you will have to use all the tips at your disposal. Here are several that will get you started. However, as you eat less food over time and learn to recognize when you are almost full you will find you feel fuller most of the time. You will be able to eat less and less as your stomach shrinks.
Quick Tips on How to Feel Full Without Eating While it is important that you work toward having the right foods, eating your meals well, and you have to give your stomach time to shrink, it is also true that you can learn how to feel full without eating.
Losing weight is about eating better. It is true that there are a lot of diets out there that can help you lose weight, but in the long run it needs to be something you can do as a lifestyle for the rest of your life. That can be a lot harder than just picking one and going for it. For a great lifestyle you should also know how to feel full throughout the day so that you eat fewer calories at meal times and as a whole. Eating the right foods and creating the right habits are a great start.
The maple syrup diet goes by several names including the Beyonce maple syrup diet, the master cleanse, and the lemonade diet. No matter what you call it you have a fad diet that will cause you to lose weight, but it isn’t likely to help you keep it off and it could even be detrimental to your health.
How the Maple Syrup Diet Works This isn’t really a diet, but rather a type of fast. You will be drinking a laxative in the morning. Then throughout the day you drink the maple syrup and lemon concoction, water, herbal and decaffeinated green tea. Each night before bed you have another laxative. That’s it. You aren’t supposed to eat any food and you are supposed to get the benefits only if you follow this plan.
Maple Syrup Diet Ingredients When you make your shopping list for the maple syrup diet you need to add sea salt for your morning laxative, herbal laxative tea with senna in it for your evening laxative, organic lemons (limes can replace them), organic grade b maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and pure distilled water.
Maple Syrup Cleanse Recipe To make an entire batch you are to mix 3 quartz distilled water, 1 cup of fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice, 1 cup of the organic maple syrup, and 1 tea cayenne pepper. To make a single serving you will want to mix 2 T of lemon juice and maple syrup into 8 to 10 ounces of water with 1/10th of a tsp on cayenne pepper on top.
Following the Maple Syrup Diet To follow the maple syrup diet you should add 2 teaspoons of sea salt to 1 quart of water first thing in the morning and head to the bathroom to work on cleaning your system out. Then you should drink 8 to 12 glasses of lemonade throughout the day. You can also have as much water, decaffeinated green tea, and herbal tea as you want, but no other beverages. Finish the day with a cup of laxative tea. You will do this each day for ten days. Some report doing it longer and others use it as a three day fast, but for the most part it is designed to be a 10 day process.
To mix it up you can have your lemonade cold with ice like you would regular lemonade, hot like tea, or you can mix it in with your tea. However, you need to make sure that you are drinking as much of it as possible.
When you are done you should ease out of the fast. If you don’t you may feel ill from eating regular foods. The first day you should drink watered down juices. The next day you should drink juices and soups. On day three after the fast you should have simple foods that include juices, soups, and fresh fruits and vegetables. You should always eat sensibly after that.
It is said that this can be done every four weeks. However, before you decide that this fad diet is for you take the time to read the side effects and risks. Long term use can be very dangerous.
Maple Syrup Diet Side Effects First it should be noted that if there is anything wrong with you then this can be very dangerous. You should always talk with your doctor about dietary changes such as this and if you are diagnosed with a condition or you are taking medication it is even more important.
That said, this “diet” causes starvation for the duration of the time you are on it. It is true that it causes you to lose weight, but it also causes cravings, hunger, aches, pains, mental irritability, and fatique. It can cause vomiting, weakness, bad breath, glazed eyes, heavily coated tongue, oily skin, breakouts, and a pallid complexion. Most proponents of the diet and detox will tell you that you get these symptoms because toxins are being released into your body and they will be flushed out. However, it is also possible that you are starving yourself and these are simply the side effects of that process. Additionally, this regimen will cause your blood sugar to rise and fall throughout the day as your body processes the sugars in the maple syrup.
Claims of the Maple Syrup Diet The maple syrup diet has a lot of claims. Not only can you lose 9 to 20 pounds, but you are supposed to do it while your body gets rid of all the toxins it has stored up from environmental issues, processed foods, and poor eating habits. It is also said that this reboots the metabolism, improves the immune system, and gives you lots of energy.
While it is true that you lose weight, the other benefits are to be doubted. Science has not yet proven that any type of fast including the maple syrup diet really causes your body to get rid of its toxins. There is also no way that you can “reboot” your metabolism and there is no way that starving yourself will make your metabolism work better. Finally, while doing one maple syrup diet isn’t likely to do anything for your immune system one way or another, using this method of fasting often will lower your immune system according to research.
Risks of the Maple Syrup Diet The maple syrup diet can certainly make you feel bad in the short term. However, that isn’t the big risk for this “diet”. The concern is a long term one, especially if you are doing this diet either longer than ten days or more than once. Concerns then become that it can cause protein deficiency, your body will burn your muscles (usually before fat because it is easier) instead of fat, you can experience deficiencies in vitamins and minerals, and it can cause blood sugar issues. It also weakens the immune system.
Is It Worth It? One thing that should be noted is that Beyonce doesn’t recommend it for weight loss. She used it under strict supervision while trying to lose weight for the move “Dreamgirls”. Under normal circumstances she gets her great body from exercise and healthy eating.
While some people say that it isn’t worth it in the long term, but it is worth it short term I have my own doubts. It is very likely that the weight will be gained back after you have resumed eating correctly and it doesn’t seem worth the risks. Add to that the feeling of hunger and the side effects for ten days makes it so I personally wouldn’t touch this “diet” or recommend it. I would also warn that the maple syrup diet can be dangerous no matter who recommends it, how many books out there people are trying to sell to you, or how many claim amazing successes. Be careful! Your life is important!
Weight loss surgery has been around since the 1970′s, though technologies have advanced procedures and safety as increased. There are also many types of weight loss surgery rather than a single option for those considering it. In any case, there are several things that you must consider if you are thinking about weight loss surgery.
Weight Loss Surgery Isn’t An Easy Fix Some people think that weight loss surgery is an easy fix. You get your insides altered and it is easier to lose weight. However, this isn’t really the case. You will still need to work on losing weight. You will need to make food choices according to which surgery you get and you will still need to exercise in order to lose all of the weight you want, to tone your muscles, and to get the look you want.
Do You Really Need Weight Loss Surgery? Many people want to get weight loss surgery because they feel that they are at the end of their rope. They are tired of dealing with their weight and tired of dealing with the difficulties that are weight loss. However, there are some studies that show that with a good weight loss program you can lose almost the same amount of weight as you can with weight loss surgery.
One such study was done by German researches. They published in the International Journal of Obesity. Their study showed that with lifestyle changes that include a low calorie diet, behavioral and group therapy, nutritional counseling, and exercise people lost 53% of the weight they needed to lose as apposed to the average of 55% of most weight loss surgery recipients. However, 40% of people dropped out before the year was up and 75% of people gained at least some of the weight back in three years. While many weight loss surgery recipients do gain back some of the weight this seemed to be a larger amount than with weight loss surgery.
However, what one can get from these studies is that with a lot of work you can change your life. It isn’t easy, it requires a lot of changes, and keeping it off can only be done by maintaining the lifestyle changes that were required to lose the weight in the first place.
Is Weight Loss Surgery For You? Before you should consider weight loss surgery you need to make sure that it is a good idea. In most cases you should be at least 100 pounds overweight and have a BMI greater than 40. In some cases, people who need to lose 75 pounds and have a BMI greater than 35 if they have a serious condition related to their weight such as heart disease or diabetes.
In many cases there are a few other things that will help you qualify for weight loss surgery. They include a history of trying to lose weight. Sometimes a surgeon or the insurance company will have you try to lose weight with a doctor certified program. Group therapy and or drug therapy may be required as well. Weight loss surgery should always be the last option.
Advantages of Weight Loss Surgery The advantages of weight loss surgery include a quick weight loss. Often it is easier for patients than traditional weight loss methods because they are forced into eating differently. Some types of surgery also have a lot less absorption of nutrients because of the surgery and that can lead to eating a variety of foods without worrying about weight gain. In most cases, long term success will require dietary changes and exercise is highly advisable. However, the surgery can give you the advantage of easier dietary changes and exercise can be easier once some of the weight is lost.
Disadvantages of Weight Loss Surgery Surgery is always a severe change and can always have severe risks. While it isn’t common, some people have died getting weight loss surgery and others have had severe and life altering side effects. However, there are a few disadvantages that should be considered before you make any final decision about weight loss surgery.
Types of Weight Loss Surgery Currently there are several different types of weight loss surgery. More and more research is done to improve current methods and to find new ones as well. There are three different kinds of weight loss surgery. The first type is the least drastic. It simply limits the size of the stomach making it easier for people to eat less food. At the same time, these procedures make it so that the basic function of the stomach and digestive track work the same so there are fewer consequences nutrition wise, but it will take longer to lose the weight. The second kind of weight loss surgery re-routes the digestive tract in one or more ways and causes the body to absorb fewer nutrients including calories. The final kind of surgery combines the two methods. Here are some of the current types of weight loss surgery approved by the FDA.
Weight Loss Surgery Cost People who are considering weight loss surgery often want to know how much it is going to cost and whether or not their insurance will pay for it. There is a very complicated answer. The surgery will cost about $17,000 minimum and can cost as much as $35,000. This covers pre-op visits, lab work, and x-rays. It covers the cost of the hospital, your surgeon, and anesthesiologist. Sometimes it will cover post-op check up. However, it will not cover the services of a dietitian to make sure you are eating right, any fitness experts or regimen, behavioral modification therapy, nutritional supplements that will be needed to remain healthy, or the cost of plastic surgery to remove excess skin and fat after weight loss is achieved. It also doesn’t cover additional surgeries should they be needed due to issues with the first one.
In many cases, more and more insurances are covering the cost or part of the cost. Sometimes an insurance company will require that you go through a few hoops before allowing weight loss surgery to be used.
Weight loss surgery isn’t for everyone. Not only is it extreme, it is also dangerous. The advantages should carefully be weighed to make sure that the benefits of getting weight loss surgery. It should always be used as a last resort and whenever possible lifestyle changes should be made before trying weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery isn’t an easy solution. Not only does it require six weeks of recovery, it will still require better eating, exercise, and general lifestyle changes.
In my head I know that people really can lose a large amount of weight. It is possible to lose 100 pounds and even 200 pounds to get to a healthy weight. You can do it completely naturally (or when talking to myself, I can do it completely naturally). In fact, many weight loss success stories show that if you do it by reducing portion sizes, eating healthier, and exercising you will not only lose the weight, but you will be able to keep it off. The good thing is that sometimes reading the stories of others who have been where I am and who have done amazing things can be motivational and can help me move the thoughts in my head to my heart. I can do this and so can you. Here are some people who have done it before us. Their weight loss success stories can help us all make it to where we want and need to be.
Jackie Freitag lost 105 pounds! Like many of us, Jackie didn’t realize how much she needed to lose weight until it hit her like a ton of bricks. She was asked to be the maid of honor in her friend’s wedding. Through a series of steps to get healthy she has lost the weight and kept it off!
Samantha Szabo lost 145 pounds! As a physical therapist she wondered if people would take her advice or ignore her because of her size. In the end she decided to do something about it. She ate smaller portions and replaced fried foods, bread, and pasta with fish, vegetables, and whole grains.
Bonnie Crawford lost 160 pounds! Bonnie felt that should would never be able to do anything about her weight. She had always been heavy, had a history of weight issues in her family, and was weighting in at 358 pounds and struggling to get into a size 34. Using Weight Watchers Flex Plan, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and consuming a few treats here and there she was able to lose 160 pounds and completed an ironman race (swimming, biking, and running).
Brent Schmitt lost 177 pounds! Brent weighed in at 419 pounds and was surrounded by a family with weight problems and health issues often associated with weight issues including diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease. He was afraid that he would walk down the same path as his family and decided to make a difference in his life. He lost 177 pounds and now lives a much healthier lifestyle.
Jamie Ritchery lost 227 pounds! There are a lot of people who think that they are too old to lose weight or too large. Jamie would have fallen into both categories at 45 years old and 342 pounds. However, she lost 227 pounds and has kept it off for 2 years. She did it by eating a little every few hours, eating fruits and vegetables, cut down portion size, and drank water instead of soda. After losing some of the weight she added exercise. It really can be done.
Weight loss is definitely not easy. In fact, it is very hard. However, when you are feeling like you aren’t going to make it or there is no way you can make it, know that others have come before you. You don’t have to have weight loss surgery and you don’t need some amazing diet. Instead, you need healthy choices, good foods, smaller portions, and exercise. You can get there and so can I! You can come back often for weight loss motivation! These weight loss success stories are just the beginning. You can also add yours by using the contact form!
The best vegetables for weight loss are those that you will actually eat. You need a lot of vegetables for weight loss. It’s recommended that you have 3 or more servings of vegetables per day. A serving of vegetables is 1 cup of raw or cooked veggies and 2 cups of leafy greens. That works out to be a lot of vegetables and most people don’t eat enough. So, first you need to decide which ones you will eat. The good news is that there are lots of choices that will help you eat more. Here are some of the best vegetables for weight loss.
Vegetables That Fill You Up The vegetables that fill you up are high in fiber. There are a number of different options and you should choose those that have the most vitamins or nutrients. Yams or sweet potatoes, bright colored squashes (especially winter squash), beans and legumes (especially black beans, white beans, chili beans, kidney beans, lima beans, and lentils), broccoli, brussels sprouts, avocados, and asparagus.
Vegetables That Offer Lots of Nutrients Most vegetables have a lot of nutrients, but some have more than others. Leafy greens (spinach, kale, lettuce, and collard greens), leaks, cabbage, carrots, and sweet bell peppers.
Vegetables High in Water Having lots of vegetables that are high in water are also helpful because they will help keep you hydrated and thus your body will be able to burn fat and work healthy. These vegetables include tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, onion, yellow summer squash, eggplant, and romaine lettuce.
Free Foods or Negative Calorie Foods Some people talk about free foods and or negative calorie foods. These are very low calorie foods. For the foods to be classified as a “negative calorie food” it has to take more calories to digest the food then the food itself provides to the body. Free foods include carrots, cucumbers, radishes, fresh green beans, celery, cauliflower, cabbage, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and lettuce. Most leafy greens and lettuces are considered negative calorie foods.
Garlic and Onions While garlic and onions don’t easily fall into a category, they are often recommended for weight loss. They are also great for seasoning other vegetables that you might not other wise enjoy.
When you are looking for the best vegetables for weight loss you should always consider what ones you will eat. You can add a bit of flavor with herbs and seasonings, but avoid high fat toppings so many people prefer including cheese and butter. Make sure that you are cooking them just till they are tender and not till they are mushy. You will enjoy them a lot more. Frozen vegetables are often sweeter as well which can also be more enjoyable. Try to enjoy your vegetables!
Quick List of the Best Vegetables for Weight Loss avocado beans broccoli brussels sprouts cabbages carrots collard greens cucumbers eggplant garlic green beans kale lintels leafy greens leeks onions radishes romaine lettuce spinach squash summer squash tomatoes yams zucchini
Super foods as a concept have hit the market. These are foods that are supposed to be very healthy for you and many of them are considered weight loss foods. The idea is that by adding super foods or by choosing to eat the best foods for weight loss you will be able to lose weight. While the idea in itself is just too simple, there are some things you can take away from it. Eating foods that are healthier will help with weight loss and some foods have benefits that make it a little easier than others. Blueberries and weight loss are supposed to go hand in hand. While that isn’t necessarily proven, there are a lot of benefits to these small, blue fruits.
Reasons Blueberries Help With Weight Loss Blueberries can help with weight loss because they are low in calories, low in sugar, they have no fat, no cholesterol, or sodium. Plus they are high in fiber which will help to fill you up, while not costing you a lot of calories. To eat 100 calories worth of blueberries you would need to have 1 ¼ cup of blueberries.
Studies Linking Blueberries and Weight Loss There have also been some studies done on rats that may indicate that blueberries and weight loss have a more direct link. These studies showed that blueberries could reduce belly fat, improve blood sugar, and lower cholesterol levels. More studies need to be done in order to know for sure if these same things happen in humans, but until then there are plenty of reasons to eat blueberries for weight loss, good health, and even enjoyment.
Health Benefits of Blueberries In addition to being low in all things bad and high in many good things that make blueberries for weight loss work, they also have many other health benefits. They have powerful antioxidants. They also have a lot of vitamins and nutrients and are particularly high in vitamin C, vitamin E, and potassium. They have a few different compounds in them that are said to fight disease and even cancer. Finally they give you energy in addition to tasting good.
Adding Blueberries to Your Diet Blueberries can be added to your diet in a lot of ways. They can help you feel fuller, you can get all sorts of nutrients, and they can help keep you healthier. Here are just a few ways they can be added to your diet, but feel free to get creative.
Eating blueberries isn’t going to have you drop pounds left and right. However, they make great snacks, are good to add to your lunches, and will help in a healthy lifestyle. You will still need to make good food choices, eat a low calorie diet, and exercise. Blueberries and weight loss can go hand in hand, but they aren’t a miracle solution that will get you were you want to be all by themselves.
Many of my articles have taken a very technical turn as of late. I like them and I like how my personality is starting to creep back into them as well. However, I wanted to touch base with the reasons I started this website. It was really a two fold reason and here’s where I am at with that.
1. I started this website because I wanted to lose weight. I have wanted to lose weight my entire life and have failed miserably because in the past I have never stuck to anything that would actually help me lose a significant amount of weight and do it in a timely manner. I always gave up on anything that was really good for me. In fact, in the time I have started this blog, I have started and stopped a LOT. I have lost 20 pounds…which is good, but because I need to lose a lot more than that…it isn’t much. Today I am the same place I was (or nearly the same place I was) in January when I wrote out New Year’s resolutions to make a change.
One thing is different. I have recently started watching what I am eating and working hard on portion control. I want to do it for me. However, I also want to do it for you because I want great things for you. As this last month of heavy writing and posting to this blog have progressed that has taken root more than anything else. I want great things for YOU!
2. What I want for you. I could continue pouring out lots of technical try this not that, here’s a good options, I don’t know about that type of articles (and to some degree I will), but I also want great things for you. I want you to find a lot of help here. I want you to find a resource for information about eating healthy, dieting, exercising, getting in the right mindset, and all of that. I want you to find help losing weight. A resource that will motivate you. There are a lot of people out there who can tell you what to do or what not to do when trying to lose weight, but I completely und
erstand! If you are looking for help losing weight know this:
No one’s perfect. Weight loss is hard (trust me, I know). You won’t find anything easy here. No magic solution. No perfect pill. Instead, you will find the truth. I will do my best to provide high quality information, examples, and truths here. Feel free to ask questions and to follow my progress. Feel free to send me an email through the contact form whenever you want. I hope your day is full of sunshine.
~Danelle
