Happy Holidays From 1st N Weight Loss

Let us all remember the spirit of giving during this holiday season, without a thought of getting. Remember the happiness as we see the joy in others. Take the time, and forget oneself while finding time for our fellow human-beings. 

1st N Weight Loss

What Is The Dukan Diet

What Is It:

The Dukan diet is the ultimate in prescriptive eating, with only a small choice of foods to choose from in the first phase. Carbs are the enemy, even if they come dressed as fruit and vegetables (as seen above).

Pierre Dukan’s high-protein, low-carb plan was first published in Europe in 2000. It wasn’t until 2010 that the Dukan movement really became popular, and was rebranded as the Dukan diet. Despite being the newbie on an already very carb-free block, The Dukan diet carved a gap in the jostling miracle weight loss market with a little help from some fairly well known fans throughout Hollywood.

Pierre Dukan began his medical career specializing in neurology but allegedly switched to nutrition after recommending a high-protein diet to a friend desperate to lose weight. So impressed with his friend's rapid reduction in size, Dukan embarked on developing and researching the diet that would eventually make him a household name. To date, the Dukan diet book has sold more than eight million copies worldwide.

Not without controversy, Dukan’s weight loss plan has come under criticism from health professionals, many believing that the diet promotes an unbalanced way of eating. 

The diet

Attack phase.

This first stage lasts between five-ten days and promises immediate results. Dieters have 72 high-protein foods to choose from, with absolutely no carbohydrates allowed.

Cruise phase.

While pure protein days are still encouraged, carbohydrates are slowly reintroduced in the form of 28 pre-approved vegetables. Dukanites, as the dieters are called, stay in this stage until they have reached their ‘goal weight’.

Consolidation phase

Previously forbidden foods such as fruit and dairy are gradually reintroduced. Followers are even granted two ‘celebration meals’ a week where they are allowed to eat almost anything they like (some restrictions still apply).

Stabilization phase

If you’ve managed to reintroduce carbohydrates back into your life without putting weight back on, you’re allowed to step into stage 4.

How long people stay on the diet depends on their current weight, fitness and desired goal weight. 

My Final Thoughts:

During the initial, very restrictive phase you can expect to lose weight quite quickly which of course acts as a great motivator. The diet is especially attractive for those who don’t like counting calories and prefer a more prescriptive way of eating because it sets out exactly what you can have.

The Dukan diet restricts fat and omits vegetables completely in the first phase, with a gradual re-introduction of some fruit, vegetables and carbs in the subsequent phases of the diet.  Beware that many followers find it difficult to stick to the dedicated weekly “protein day”.

There is limited scientific support that the Dukan diet is effective and sustainable in the long term, so although you can expect to lose weight in the initial very strict phases of the diet, most go on to regain the weight they originally lost.

More importantly, though, the diet ignores key healthy eating principles – including the importance of fruit and vegetables, the benefits of whole-grains and fiber and the health benefits achieved by selecting from a variety of food groups. For these reasons the diet is likely to be nutritionally imbalanced.

If you are just tired of all the fad diets like so many others that just zaps your time, energy, money, and eventually leads to you regaining the weight you previously lost, then let AdvoCare become your last stop...I did, and the results don't lie.

See also The Military Diet

                    Before & After AdvoCare 

This article is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is not to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice or any doctors recommendation. Prior to beginning any weight loss program, individuals must consult a physician for proper diagnosis and/or treatment.

Fighting Obesity To Age Healthy (A Sunday Confession)

Look my friend before reading my article you need to understand this, I have been there, I know exactly how you feel, and what you may be going through.  But let me tell you, being over weight will hurt you if you sit there and let it and don't get up and at least try and do something about it. It is not good to be over weight, obesity can cause your body plenty of harm.

If you are reading this article, and are overweight...you might have asked yourself some of the questions below;

What can really happen if I am overweight?

If you are over weight there is many things that can happen to you. Obesity is responsible for heart attacks. Obesity is behind sleep apnea, strokes, diabetes and so on. When a person is overweight, they often hurt all the time. Sometimes it makes it difficult to breath. Obesity causes the heart to work harder. You may have a hard time walking across the floor. Obesity can make you feel depressed and not want to go anywhere or do anything. Being overweight is bad on your health, as well as your mental well being.

What can I do to help myself?

You have several options, yet the first is to gain willpower to take control of your body. Not tomorrow, but today....tell yourself "Today is the day, Why Wait". The next step is to start eating the right foods, getting some exercise and so on. If you can exercise like you want to that is great, take it slow and do a little at a time. Do not overdo it. If you over work your body, the body will let you know.

Obesity prevents many people from being active. A persons emotions and mental state is affected by obesity, and you start thinking, or saying "I don't want to do anything, or you cant do anything", and its no use, you might as well just sit there and do nothing.

Let me tell you friend, you have to do something. Get out of the house and take in a movie to try and regain your mental state. Perhaps you could visit some friends that you have not seen in awhile. The more you start living, and being active, you will eventually start feeling better about yourself and regain the confidence to lose some weight.

This article is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is not to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice or any doctors recommendation. Prior to beginning any weight loss program, individuals must consult a physician for proper diagnosis and/or treatment.

What should I eat?

I cant tell you what to eat, but I can however give you a few pointers.

Instead of frying your food, bake it. Baking meats, veggies, etc will help cutback grease. Baking will help drain the fat out of the food rather than if you fried the food. Fried foods mean fat, fat, fat, which can harm your heart.

• Try to eat several small meals throughout the day. 
• Eat plenty of raw vegetables, and salads. 
• If you enjoy chocolates or sweets, find substitutes. 
• Try to stay away from fast foods, fast food has obesity written all over its menu. 
• When you sit down to eat at home, avoid eating in front of the television. 

As I stated earlier, being over weight is hard on you both mentally and physical. Try to gain the will power, motivation, and determination to get up and move, your life may depend on it.

Sit down with those who mean the most to you, and tell them you will beat this...."WHY...because you love them". Tell yourself you will see the graduations, and the weddings, to include the grandchildren. Let this be the motivation you need to beat this....I believe in you!

Start out by taking it slow. Don't go hog wild since it will only make your heart work harder. You need to learn your limits to help you lose weight and take control of your health, remembering its a life change. 

If you find it still too hard to lose weight on your own, then maybe you should see if there is a local support group near that you can join, and get the support you need.

This article is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is not to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice or any doctors recommendation. Prior to beginning any weight loss program, individuals must consult a physician for proper diagnosis and/or treatment.