Are High Protein Diets Really Designed For Women?

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If you have more than a passing interest in weight loss, you're likely to have considered - or tried - a high protein diet. Although high protein diets have been around since the Atkins Diet in the 1970s, they've come back into vogue since Kate Middleton (now Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge) was said to have lost weight on the Dukan diet. For the fitness-minded among you, you're probably also familiar with the Paleo Diet, which tends to go hand in hand with CrossFit training. Finally, Tim Ferris started a new movement with his 'Slow Carb Diet'.

Are High Protein Diets Really Designed For Women?

The close cousin of high protein diets is the 'sugar is evil' movement. The argument is that sugar is the cause of the huge rise in obesity, and the low-fat diets of yesteryear had it all wrong.

I'm not entering into the protein/sugar debate here, apart from to say that you can lose weight on a high protein diet, and reducing the sugar in your diet is beneficial for just about everybody. BUT you can also lose weight on any diet that has an iota of commonsense behind it, and the 'sugar is bad' message has been bombarding us since we were all kids, so this is hardly a revelation.

The real problem here is that the 'high protein and sugar is evil' movement is getting so much airplay nowadays that it's difficult not to get swept up by it. It's hard not to feel guilty that you have yet to kick your sugar habit, or admit you'd really like a sandwich for lunch rather than another chicken salad.

Actually, the real, real problem about all of these high protein diets - Atkins, Dukan, Paleo and the Slow Carb Diet - is that they were all developed by men. Before you think I'm completely sexist I do think it matters, and here's three reasons why.

1. Men tend to be overweight due to a general lack of awareness and information about nutrition and healthy eating, whereas emotional eating tends to play a bigger role in women's weight problems.

2. Men tend to be better at deciding to diet and then just following the rules, especially when they're allowed a 'cheat' day (which most of these diets include). Women, on the other hand, tend to be more influenced by hormone fluctuations and their emotional attachment to food.

3. Men tend to think a diet that allows them to eat big quantities of red meat and lots of eggs is a dream come true. Conversely, women are more likely to feel deprived when all they want is chocolate but they have to eat a medium rare sirloin instead. And, when deprivation beckons, it doesn't take long before a diet is ditched completely.

The final straw, of course, is that us girls tend to chastise ourselves and believe we're a total failure when we can't stick to a diet, leading to a spiral towards low self-esteem, an escape to emotional eating, and so the cycle continues.

Admittedly, no diet really takes into account the emotional aspect of eating which is extraordinarily ironic because once you understand your Inner BMI (beliefs mindset imprint) about food and your weight, everything else takes care of itself. However, I do think a high protein diet is particularly harsh for women compared to men, and from my own experience I know that men tend to be able to stick to this diet for far longer than women.

So, if you're thinking about embarking on one of the diets I've mentioned, please remember that you're human (not just a machine that needs food), your emotions are real (not to be stuffed down and ignored), cravings are often a sign to look deeper and weight control is a lifestyle, not a life sentence.

I hope you enjoyed this article, please feel free to let me know your thoughts on my viewpoint.

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How to Lose Weight With the God-Given Plan

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I've struggled with my weight since I was about 14 years old. At 14, I was 5 feet 7 inches tall (the height I am now) and when I weighed in at the varsity sports physical (held in the library in front of everyone), I was 150 lbs. I've never been a skinny waif, but I was never considered "fat" either. I was athletic and muscular and well, big-boned! Nevertheless, the shock on the athletic director's face when she saw how much I weighed was enough to make me cry!

How to Lose Weight With the God-Given Plan

Since then, I've dieted and exercised and over-dieted and over-exercised. I've had seven babies and been pregnant with two others (for a brief shining moment), and so have had the hormonal and weight changes that go along with that. I've never been extremely happy with my body, but I've never been so unhappy either that I'm willing to starve or have some kind of eating disorder.

I've recently lost two pants sizes. I have no idea how much weight I've lost because I don't own a scale. But I definitely needed to lose some, because I was wearing a pants size that I've never had to wear before! Rather than starve myself and sign up for a gym (I hate to spend money on stuff like that), I decided to take a more God-given approach.

First, I really hate to exercise. I don't mean that I like to sit around all day, but I like my exercise to have a purpose. When we lived in Vermont, I used to stack wood and carry wood into the house and haul water down to animals. I lived on the side of the hill, so even getting to the mailbox was exercise. I live in the city now and still have a large garden that needs hoeing and weeding, but the other activity simply isn't there. So I had to adjust.

Since I'm still not going to join a gym and I still hate taking a walk just for the point of taking a walk, I've tried to add activity and exercise to everything (well, not everything) I do. Since we live in the middle of a wonderful downtown area, we walk everywhere. I love to walk with a purpose. We walk to Jack's soccer games. We walk to one of the three playgrounds near us. We walk to the pool. We walk along the trail to the bike shop, the boat launch or the ice cream shop (where I very patiently only eat the last couple of bites of Kiara or Seamus' ice cream and forego a treat for myself!).

I've also started instituting a little exercise routine into more boring parts of my day. I still dry my hair with a blow dryer. No, it's not very frugal or green. I know that. But I'm growing it out and until it grows out, I have to dry it or I'm frizz central. Which I just hate. So there. You caught me! But while I'm drying my hair and brushing my teeth, I raise up and down on my toes 30 times. Sounds silly, I know. But I haven't had a defined calf muscle in probably ten years and after doing this for two months, I do. I also do 20 leg lifts on both sides while I'm blow drying. Silly? Sure. But something has to account for those pant size drops because I still eat ice cream before bed two or three times a week!

If I'm feeling really energetic, I'll lay down and do a bunch of stomach crunches and weight lift with some 8 lb weights that came with our house for about 10 minutes. I probably do this 3-4 times a week. And while I'm waiting for the coffee to brew in the morning, if Seamus isn't too grouchy, I'll do 20-30 deep squats right there in the kitchen. It's usually about 5 am so no one else sees me.

I try to do these things in little spurts because the idea of "working out" for 30 or 60 minutes at a time not only sounds mind-numbingly boring to me, but is virtually impossible because someone is always needing something!

I've also changed the way I look at food. I was always a pleasure and comfort eater. Now I try and look at things in a more centered way. I figure that God and Mother Nature came up with a plan for what humans should eat and they provided us with it - as well as the tools and knowledge to grow more. If it doesn't grow in the ground or doesn't eat what grows in the ground, I try not to eat it. By looking at our food as what it is, simple fuel, and not as a reward, punishment, comfort or anything else, I have found that I eat a lot less and eat much more of the things that are good for me.

I eat much less refined sugar now than I used to. I used to not be able to pass by a plate of cookies or brownies and now I have no trouble. By simple changing my perception of food and being happy with what is provided, I find that I have fewer cravings and fewer "needs" for what really are "bad" foods.

I also found that my nature is to not be wasteful. I was hollered at forever as a child to "clear my plate" and "eat all I take." What I started doing as a grown-up was eating everything my kids left on their plates too, so it wouldn't go to waste! Ugh! They were perfectly healthy, eating what they needed, and here was their vacuum cleaner mom, still trying to please her parents with perfect plates. Once I realized just how many crusts of PB&J I was eating, I realized that it's OK to be a little wasteful sometimes.

Now, I am not perfect! I do not eat salad three times a day! But I've cut out all refined flour from our diets except for pasta once a week and I've tried to eliminate refined sugar from everything I eat and drink. I only drink coffee and water during the day - no more soda (especially diet soda which I'm convinced makes you fatter) and I have a glass of wine or two with my hubby on a date night once a month or on a weekend. I do put lemon juice in my water occasionally, just for something different.

Why do I call this a God-Given diet? Because I believe God has given us all the tools we need to be healthy and the weight we need to be. We just have to embrace real food and take our exercise opportunities when we can, as often as we can.

"For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living" - 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

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How the Paleo Diet Will Help You to Lose Weight and Improve Your Health

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The Paleolithic diet includes only the kinds of foods that would have been eaten by our ancestors thousands of years ago, before the invention of agriculture. Better known by its abbreviated name, the Paleo diet has been successful in helping many people to lose weight and find freedom from a variety of ailments.

How the Paleo Diet Will Help You to Lose Weight and Improve Your Health

A modern-day Paleo diet includes foods like grass-fed beef, pastured chicken and eggs, wild-caught fish, vegetables, and fruit. Some people choose to include dairy, depending on their body's ability to tolerate it.

The Paleo Diet is Effective for Weight Loss

Many of the people who adhere to the Paleo diet will tell you that it is more of a lifestyle than a diet. There is no need to gulp down tasteless and unpalatable foods or starve yourself, as is often the case with conventional diets.

Certain foods should be excluded from your daily menu if you are trying to lose weight. Microwavable meals, grains (e.g., bread and pasta), starches, and sugary foods are some examples of items that will work against you in your weight-loss efforts. These are high glycemic foods that will raise your blood sugar levels and increase body fat. Even those "healthy" grains will contribute to this chain of fat-building events.

Eggs and bacon, steak, chicken, and seafood are all items that may be included while following the Paleo diet. Eating high-protein foods helps you to feel full for a longer period of time. No empty calories here--Paleo meals are packed with nutrients and flavor without chemical additives or sugar.

Refined sugar is an addictive substance. Often, there are both physical and emotional attachments to its effects. A little bit of fresh fruit may help you to wean yourself off of sugar, although completely abstaining from all kinds of sugars will help to take those pounds off faster.

Removing these items from your daily food intake will not only melt away pounds, but will also help to increase energy, clear your mind, and improve your health.

The Paleo Diet Eliminates Substances That are Harmful to Your Health

The Paleo diet gets rid of gluten, reduces lectins, and cuts out refined sugar. These common elements of the standard American diet tend to be at the root of all modern diseases.

Gluten and lectins are two of the major contributors to food allergies today. Gluten is found primarily in wheat and several other grains, but it is also commonly used in many processed foods, making it almost impossible to avoid. Lectins are in all foods in differing amounts. Items that are high in lectins include legumes (e.g., peanuts and beans), nightshade vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant), dairy, and wheat.

Gluten and lectins damage the cells that line the intestinal tract, destroying healthy bacteria and the villi that absorb nutrients. This results in a chain of events that can lead to a variety of health issues, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), depression, fibromyalgia, allergies, and arthritis.

The sugar content in an average American's diet continues to increase dramatically each year. Recent estimates place the current amount consumed at 156 pounds annually. A large portion of this huge quantity is contained in many of the products that are often used on a regular basis, including condiments, energy drinks, and salad dressings. Sugar consumption has been linked to a variety of health issues, including diabetes and heart disease.

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How To Lose Weight, The Straight Facts

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How To Lose Weight - Why is there so much confusion? It seems like every single day, the next BIG diet comes out. At the same time, the next "scientific breakthrough" fitness machine comes out. Enough is enough. Here are the simple facts.

How To Lose Weight, The Straight Facts

There are 2 major components that you need to keep in mind when it comes to losing weight. They are calories in, and calories out. If you take in more calories then you are burning, you will gain weight. If you are burning more calories than you are taking in, you will lose weight. Simple enough? OK, now let's look at how to lose weight, focusing on these 2 aspects or our lives.

When it comes to calories that you are taking in, that obviously has to do with the nutritional aspect of fitness. On the other hand, when you are talking about burning calories, now we are looking at your physical activity level, mainly your exercise. While changing one of these should impact your weight, the key to getting real results is combining the 2.

How To Lose Weight - Nutrition
I have never been one for counting calories. I think that is a tedious task, and I always felt bad for people that had to do it. As I have gained experience in fitness field, I have developed my own philosophy on this topic. I think that when a person decides that they are ready to lose weight, they need to really look at the calories that they are taking in now, before they start to change their diet. By having an idea how many calories you are consuming now, you can make the right changes to help you reach your goals. Once you have that number, set a "goal" calorie count. Do not just cut your calories in half, or suddenly eliminate everything bad from your diet. 99% of the time that people try this, they get frustrated, and before you know it, they are right back to eating fatty, high calorie, heavily processed foods, and their weight is going no place but up. If you really want to know how to lose weight, do it in stages. If you are taking in 3,000 calories a day right now, cut down to 2500 for a few days, and then 2,000 in a week or so. The following week, cut it down to 1500, and so on. Some people get dangerously low with their calorie intake, and end up not getting the key nutrients that their body needs to stay healthy. Do not make that mistake.

Food To Eat To Lose Weight
Here is a basic guide of what to eat, and what to avoid. There is no magic ingredients, just basic rules to follow. Avoid foods that heavily processed, high in sugar and fat, and that lack nutritional value. When it comes to breads and pasta, pick whole wheat over white. When it comes to milk, stay away from whole. If its fried, don't eat it!

Eat your greens! Vegetables are not only low in calories, but they are high in nutrients, and most are low on the glycemic index (which means that they keep you feeling full longer, keep your blood sugar level, and many more benefits). If you can, eat a salad a day. Drink water, lots of water. Eat lean meats, such as fish, chicken and turkey. Keep the red meat to a minimal, but if you love it, do not totally eliminate from your diet. A lot of vegetarians will tell you that the secret is no meat. Well, try telling that to the paleo's, who's diet is mainly meat, and they insist it is the best. The truth is, the reason both work is that they cut the garbage out of their diets. In short, use your head. If you think it might be bad for you, it probably is.

Exercise To Lose Weight
People can argue day and night about which kind if exercise is best. People use this as an excuse to not exercise, saying that they don't want to do the wrong thing. The key is to get out there and get moving. When you look at the scientific evidence, you are going to burn the most calories by doing total body moves, preferably with resistance, or doing intervals with your cardio. If you do not know where to begin, start jogging! Can't jog yet, walk, swim, ride a bike, do something. The more that you do, the more calories that you will burn.

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Can You Lose Weight by Eating Salads?

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Are salads the key to losing weight? Find out in this article.

Can You Lose Weight by Eating Salads?

Maybe you've heard of someone who lost a lot of weight by eating mainly salads? Did they manage to keep it off? Did they suffer a lot? Let's find out.

Benefits Of Salads

The main benefit of eating salads to lose weight is that they contain hardly any calories and yet fill you up. You can eat a huge chunk of green leaves and it might give you barely 20 calories or about 1% of what a woman needs to eat every day.

If you add dressing to this then be prepared for a whole load more hidden calories.

The Problem With Salads

Salads are great as an alternative side to more calorific sides like fries, but on their own they are not a way to lose a lot of weight.

I do not recommend eating a lot of salads in order to lose weight. Salads as part of a balanced diet are great, however.

The problem with salads is that they provide a little but not much nutritional value. If you want to get nutrients from plants then you are better of eating something like broccoli or root vegetables.

And a diet plan composed mainly of salads will leave you severely malnutritioned and without enough calories. Your muscles will waste away. Don't do it!

A Better Diet

A better way to eat is to incorporate salads into a normal healthy diet. So, if you have a meat dish (lean meat preferred) then use salads as a side on the plate instead of some greasy alternative.

If you want a low calorie food that is packed with nutrition then you are better off eating more fruits. If you eat an abundance of different fruits you can actually live forever this way and a few people choose to do so.

I don't know a single person who has tried to live on salads and been successful!

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Weight Watchers Zero Point Foods - A Real Bonus For Dieters

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Weight Watchers has been successfully teaching dieters to lose weight and lose fat since the 1960s. The points system is a relatively new innovation, but has been no less successful and some find it easier to use than earlier methods.

Weight Watchers Zero Point Foods - A Real Bonus For Dieters

Parts of the Weight Watchers system is covered and protected by US patents, but broadly the number of points a person can have to eat in a day is covered by their starting weight:

Less than 150 pounds = 18-25 Points

150 to 174 pounds = 20-27 Points

175 to 199 pounds = 22-29 Points

200 to 224 pounds = 24-31 Points

225 to 250 pounds = 26-33 Points

Over 250 pounds = 28-35 Points

How to allocate your day's food can become crucial when a single Big Mac will costs 14 points and a slice of undecorated cheesecake will cost 7 points!

Using some zero point foods will bulk up your day's intake without costing any of your points allocation. Here is a partial list:

asparagus
beets
broccoli
brussels sprouts
cabbage
carrots
cauliflower
celery
cucumber
diet soda
eggplant
leeks
lettuce
mineral water
mushrooms
okra
peppers
pumpkin
radishes
salsa
sauerkraut
scallions
snow peas
soy sauce
spinach
sprouts
squash
tomatoes
turnips
watercress

If it isn't obvious from the above, salads - green, garden and mixed - are all zero point Weight Watchers foods, as are vegetable juices.

If you'd like to mix some lemon or lime juice, salt, pepper, vinegar and mustard, you could have a zero point salad dressing for your zero point salad. Spend one point and you can add some olive oil! Lush, indeed.

Understanding how to use the Weight Watchers points system, in it's entirety, and to your benefit - including the Zero Point Foods - can mean you reaching your weight loss and fat loss goals sooner.

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What is a Gluten Free Weight Loss Diet?

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The gluten free weight loss diet started out as a kind of recommended diet for those with celiac disease. However, due to the onset of diet fads, the gluten free weight loss diet became recognized even those who are not diagnosed with the disease. A lot of people are self-diagnosing just so they can buy gluten-free products and start losing weight. Remember that a lack of understanding of diets can lead to complications and side effects that may even lead to more weight gain so before jumping into the bandwagon of the gluten free weight loss diet, make sure that you are properly informed on what it can do for you.

What is a Gluten Free Weight Loss Diet?

The person with celiac disease

Gluten is a protein component that can be found on barley, oats, triticale, wheat, and grains. A person with celiac disease has a small intestine that is sensitive to gluten. In fact, even small portions of gluten can cause them harm. There are no known causes for the disease but it is believed that there are environmental and genetic factors involved. There is still no cure but it can be managed with a gluten-free diet. If left untreated, it can lead to a variety of disorders like osteoporosis, malnutrition, and infertility.

What the diet can do

The gluten free weight loss diet contributes to the recovery of the small intestine as well as in aiding in the absorption of important nutrients. With this diet, you avoid all types of food that have rye, barley gluten, and wheat. Examples of foods we love to eat but contain gluten are breads, pizza, pasta, malted breakfast cereals, bagels, and crackers. Oats are also avoided and you have the option whether to avoid or limit your intake of milk. Beer products, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages are also avoided.

What you can eat

With a gluten free weight loss diet, you can still eat any of the following food products since they naturally do not have gluten:

1. Fresh, dried, canned, or frozen fruits and vegetables as long as they do not have thickening ingredients and additives that have gluten.

2. Starches and flours made from rice, soybeans, tapioca, corn, and buckwheat.

3. Dairy products like cheese. However, avoid these products at the beginning of your treatment for celiac disease.

4. Eggs

5. Alcoholic beverages like wine and liquor like brandy, whiskey, ciders, and liquers.

6. Unprocessed meat products

7. Frozen or canned meat products, provided that they do not have any sauce.

8. Cereal products made from corn, lentil flour, rice bran, amaranth, lentil flour, psyllium, and polenta.

9. Rice crackers, rice crispies, corn tortillas, taco shells made from corn.

10. Gluten-free pasta, bean or rice vermicelli, buckwheat noodles, and rice noodles.

11. Condiments like tomato paste, jam, honey, cocoa, vinegar, honey, tahini, and some salad dressings and sauces.

12. Snacks like plain corn chips, plain chocolate, and popcorn.

13. Drinks like coffee, tea, mineral water, and spirits.

A few precautions

Be careful when buying foods that are labelled as "wheat-free" because it does not necessarily mean that they are gluten-free. When buying food, read the ingredients on the labels and be aware of the kinds of hidden gluten like those that can be found in different food additives and medications. Also, be aware that there are products that have "modified food starch" written on their labels because they may contain gluten.

Do not self-diagnose

Never self-diagnose that you have celiac disease. Before going on a gluten free weight loss diet, make sure to check with your doctor first. Only your doctor can give you the right diagnosis by showing that your bowel lining is damaged through endoscopy, blood tests, or by performing a biopsy on your bowel. More importantly, it is advised that you do not go on a gluten free weight loss diet before going to the doctor for a real diagnosis.

Stuff to remember

The gluten free diet may seem a little overwhelming at first. However, with enough knowledge, information and support, you can incorporate the diet into your lifestyle without any problems. Having celiac disease does not mean you have to stop eating majority of your favorite foods because despite several restrictions, you can still enjoy a variety of foods included in the diet. Furthermore, if you need more information on celiac disease and gluten free diets, you can consult a gastroenterologist, your doctor, or a credited/licensed dietitian or nutritionist.

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