ALL NATURAL ADVANTAGE

Natural Healthcare And Advice

Effective Fat Loss Not Muscle Loss    

Healthy, effective, long-lasting fat loss demands a balanced, healthy lifestyle that incorporates good eating habits and exercise. Over-eating encourages our bodies to store excess food as fat, which has been shown to cause serious diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and certain forms of cancer.

It is well known that as “fad” diets come and go, they are usually ineffective as when people stop these diets, all the weight they lost is regained plus more.

Notice we are talking about fat loss NOT weight loss as fad diets tend to LOSE FAT AND MUSCLE MASS. An effective fat loss program should REDUCE FAT AND GAIN MUSCLE.

Why Have A Health Assessment Prior To A Weight Loss Program? 

A Comprehensive Health Assessment will identify possible underlying causes of difficulty in losing weight in the past. Unless these causes are identified and effectively treated it will be difficult to lose and keep any weight loss off.

Common causes of resistant weight loss include: 

•    insulin resistance

•    diabetes

•    stress

•    hormone imbalances

•    hypothyroidism

•    polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

•    depression

•    food allergies

•    adrenal exhaustion

See Natural Weight Loss Programs for a comprehensive review of these conditions and how they are an obstacle to effective weight loss.

Body Composition Testing Prior To A Weight Loss Program

Weight loss is more than just physical appearance. Effective long-term, healthy weight loss can only be achieved by decreasing body fat and increasing muscle tone with diet and lifestyle changes. Weight loss also means getting back into shape. Exercise will also tone up your body and reduce the risks associated with weight gain.

The Bioimpedance Assessment (BIA) System is able to measure your body fat levels and your muscle mass. It can give a guide as to how much body fat needs to be lost will monitor fat loss and muscle gain. The main advantages of increasing muscle mass is that you feel much better, your physical appearance is greatly enhanced and lean muscle burns more energy thereby burning more fat.

Dietary And Lifestyle Assessment

Central to any fat loss program is an assessment of the dietary intake of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Increasing dietary protein can result in increased energy and fat loss. Protein is the most satiating by stimulating signals to the brain to say that you are full. The type of protein may be important, as some protein sources are more effective than others.

Dietary Calcium has a fat lowering effect. A low calcium diet lowers core body temperature and increases fat accumulation.

Cravings may be due to poor blood glucose control, which can stimulate food intake. Refined carbohydrates can stimulate food cravings by upsetting neurotransmitter balance, particularly the calming neurotransmitter, serotonin.

Emotional eating issues need to be addressed. Emotional eaters do not necessarily eat more foods; they do tend to eat more unhealthy foods, such as starchy, sweet, salty and fatty foods.

Getting sufficient sleep may help reduce fat loss. In one study sleep restriction resulted in 24% increase in hunger, and 23% increase in appetite, especially for energy-dense foods with high carbohydrate content.

Weight gain may be due to medication use. Many medications may increase weight gain with long-term use. Some of these include: antidepressants, oral contraceptives, corticosteroids, beta-blockers oral hypoglycaemic agents and antihistamines.

Nutrient Supplementation For Enhanced Fat Loss

Why may supplements be required during a fat loss program? Supplements are determined according to individual requirements. Additional nutrients may be required to optimise glucose metabolism, enhance fat mobilisation from fat cells and to minimise muscle loss.

Protein Supplementation

When carbohydrates are restricted the body may burn protein. The protein burned may be from your own muscle tissue.

This is why during many weight loss programs there is not only loss of fat but muscle mass as well.  

It is therefore necessary to supplement with sufficient protein to ensure minimal muscle loss. Protein is necessary to maintain adequate energy and strength, mental growth and tissue repair, and to maintain muscle mass. A non-denatured whey protein powder or a soy based powder may be required to help enhance fat loss during the weight reduction program. A soy based protein has the added advantages of reducing cholesterol levels.

Supplements

To address any nutritional deficiencies, a high potency multi-vitamin mineral supplement is highly recommended. This is especially useful if your diet has been poor or you have restricted certain food groups in the past and live a stressful lifestyle. A good quality multivitamin mineral supplement helps give you the energy required to commit to a successful weight loss program.

Fish oils are essential for good health and supply the essential fatty acids that the body cannot supply and have been shown to help in weight loss. Only a high quality fish oil should be used to ensure the supplement is free of contaminants such as heavy metals, dioxins and PCBs.

Thermogenic Aids

Thermogenesis is the process of burning calories to produce heat. There are specific and non-specific thermogenic nutrients that help burn fat.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) has been shown to promote thermogenesis, resulting in fat loss. Linseed oil provides excellent levels of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFAs promote thermogenesis and reduce insulin resistance.

Chromium improves energy production in the body and reduces the amount of glucose in the blood. With less glucose, fat accumulation is reduced.

The herb Garcinia quaesita contains hydroxycitric acid. This acid inhibits an enzyme that converts carbohydrates into fat. Another herb, Citrus aurantium, will increase the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), the rate at which the resting body consumes calories. People with a low BMR burn fewer calories at rest, which may contribute to fat gain.

Phaseolus vulgaris can block up to 57% of calorie absorption from starchy and carbohydrate rich foods when taken before meals.

Carnitine aids the body in burning fat and enhances muscle growth.

Exercise

The one word that patients don’t want to hear from a weight loss consultant is exercise. However no weight loss program will succeed without some form of exercise. Not only will exercise increase fat loss faster, muscle mass is gained and patients have more energy and motivation to continue to lose even more fat. 

An added advantage is that muscle uses more energy, even when at rest, so you continue to burn more energy (fat) when not exercising!

The sooner you make a commitment to lose those excess kilos permanently, the sooner you will:

•     have more energy and vitality

•    improve current health problems

•    significantly lower risk of disease in the future

•    increase self-esteem

•    be in control of your own health again

I can help you achieve permanent fat loss for you. But you need to take the next step today and book an appointment. 

For advice or to book a consultation contact me. 

Disclaimer

This website has no financial connection to the supplement or health products industry.

The information on this website is provided as a guide to your healthcare options only.  The All Natural Advantage website makes no statements, representations or warranties about the accuracy or completeness of, and should not be relied on as a sole source of information.  We take no responsibility or liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for any expenses, losses, damages or costs you might incur as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in any way, and for any reason including but not limited to, you deciding whether or not to choose specific treatment based on the information.

Please contact me or another qualified health professional before embarking on any health treatment program

Send mail to All Natural Advantage with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 05/28/08