Self-Improvement | Obesity | The Self Improvement Blog

5 Simple Tips to Avoid Obesity

January 21, 2010 By Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

By Ian M Bell -

There is a great deal of nonsense spoken on the subject of obesity. There are numerous facts, figures and statistics in general as to the reasons why people are becoming more and more obese. Many of these facts are complicated – to many they are over-complicated. However, it is true that a 2006/07-health survey found that:

one in three adults were overweight (36.3%) and one in four obese (26.5%).

one in five children aged 2 to 14 years were overweight (20.9%) and one in twelve was obese (8.3%).

The World Health Organization now describes the prevalence of obesity as an epidemic. There has been a rise in obesity even in healthy and ‘Green’ New Zealand in recent decades – from 9% (males) and 11% (females) in 1977 to 20% and 22% respectively in 2003.

The fact that obesity is an expanding problem globally should make us sit up straight and take notice. But of what do we take notice? Some agencies claim that obesity is down to eating too much fast food. Others say that it is largely genetic, and that, if your parents and their parents were ‘fat’ then you will be too! To a limited extent some of this is accurate. What these ‘schools of thought’ forget, though, is that YOU are an individual, and if YOU follow a few simple and common sense rules YOU will be precisely the weight you want to be.

WATCH

1. Examine your eating habits and analyse what you are eating. This is number one on the list of tips because, if you are eating haphazardly (the wrong food), the chances are you DON NOT STAND A CHANCE of getting slim. Eat the right things for health. Salads, fruit, vegetables, fresh fruit and vegetable drinks – not fizzy, sugar-filled pop drinks. Eat honey if you must have sweet things. Reduce creamy, rich and deep-fried foods unless you know that they are cooked with healthy oils and not fat.

HABIT

2. If you are eating merely as a matter of habit you are probably not thinking at all about the things you are consuming. This will cause you to put on weight due simply to the fact that you are more than likely stuffing things into your mouth that have little or no nutrient value for your body’s health and well-being.

EXERCISE

3. Monitor also your daily exercise habit. If you don not have one already, get one! You will find it easier to lose weight and keep it off if you have at least a walking or jogging routine three or more times each week. The body’s metabolism needs exercise in order to utilise the nutrients and minerals you put into it. Good food is absolutely no use to you if your metabolism is hindered in this way.

WHAT IS OBESITY?

4. Obesity is defined as an excessively high amount of body fat (adipose tissue) in relation to lean body mass. Overweight is excess weight for height so, if you are a man six feet (1.8m) tall and you weigh 150 lbs (68kg) that is fine. By contrast, if you are a woman five feet tall and weigh the same, that is overweight. This is all pretty obvious, but what we need to be able to do as individuals is to objectively look at ourselves in the mirror and ask the question “am I overweight for my height and how can I remedy that”? The answer is in tips one, two and three.

5. Finally, once you can see that your excess flab is beginning to be shed, you will then realise just how simple it is to GET YOURSELF to a comfortable size and weight that you (and everyone else) can handle.

It is interesting to note that we generally eat as our parents eat. This is simply because it was our parents who first cooked for us and they were in the ‘habit’ of preparing the type of food their parents made for them. You can see that any hereditary connection to the weight we put on is almost certainly down to the food we are in the ‘habit’ of eating – because our parents put it on our plates, and their parents before them and….so on!

Remember, you will not show signs of weight loss until you make those all important decisions on what you can eat that will help you lose that unwanted weight. The day that someone says to you “Goodness you have lost weight” is the day you will skip with delight – literally!

I’m Ian and I write many articles on the subject of golf. Come and visit my latest website over at: http://www.1080ptelevision.org that helps people find the best 1080p television available on the market.

Article Source: 5 Simple Tips to Avoid Obesity

Filed Under: Health, Physical Health Tagged With: avoid obesity, exercise, Habit management, obesity, self improvement

Do You Want To Be Healthy?

October 10, 2009 By Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

By Michael Byrd –

There are 8,956 different ways to die. But, most people “choose” the same 4. Why do I say “choose”? Because the majority of our population are choosing a suicidal lifestyle that leads to early death.

As Dr. Augustus Grant, president of the American Heart Association, puts it, “Poor diet, excess body weight, physical inactivity and smoking, are modifiable risk factors that contribute to the premature death of close to 1.5 million Americans each year.”

“Last year,” according to John Seffrin, head of the American Cancer Society, “over 80 percent of all deaths in America were from 4 things – heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.” And all of these 4 diseases are dramatically affected by a lifestyle of “poor diet, excess body weight, physical inactivity and smoking.”

And Americans aren’t the only ones. Now days, the rest of the world’s population are joining us in a lifestyle that leads to early death. Even though most people are born healthy, with the potential to live a long healthy life, they’re refusing to follow the guidelines from health experts and scientists all around the world.

Yet the evidence is undeniable and the message is being drummed out loud and clear on a daily basis. “You can do something about your health. You can protect yourself from chronic disease.” But, what do we do instead? The majority of the population continues a couch-potato lifestyle, eating junk food, gaining weight and smoking cigarettes.

This health crisis is so severe that the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society have joined forces to get the word out by delivering a unified, clear, straightforward message.

Here’s what the scientists and experts are saying. Most deaths are not caused by unlucky genes or even environmental toxins. People, all around the world, are dying prematurely because of the unhealthy lifestyle choices they’re making every day – day, after day, after day.

Most Americans, for example, are way overfed and way undernourished. More than 60% are either overweight or obese. Yet very few are eating the recommended 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Most don’t even get a pittance of that. And, when they do eat fruits and vegetables, it’s usually in the form of unhealthy banana splits or French fried potatoes.

What’s more, the majority of Americans still don’t exercise for the recommended 30 minutes a day. Nearly 1 out of every 4 still smoke after over thirty years of health warnings. And these negative statistics are growing throughout the world.

But you don’t have to be one of these statistics. If you want to avoid the fatal four – heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer – just follow the guidelines for optimum health. Eat a healthy diet, including fruits, vegetables and natural whole food supplements. Manage your weight. Exercise regularly. And don’t smoke.

After all, wouldn’t it be nice to live to be a happy, healthy, fit centurion and then die peacefully in your sleep with a big smile on your face, surrounded by loving family and friends?

Michael Byrd has over 18 years of education and experience in the fields of physical therapy, health, fitness and nutrition. His pursuit of wellness has led him to the many health benefits of fish oil and other natural whole foods that will help you to look younger, feel better and stay healthy. Get Michael’s FREE nutritional CD while supplies last. Visit http://www.omega-3.us.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Byrd

Filed Under: Emotional Health, Health, Physical Health Tagged With: exercise, good nutrition, healthy, obesity, Self Improvement

Let’s talk about weight loss

September 5, 2009 By ireneconlan 2 Comments

By Irene Conlan -

This is a very personal story – my story. I have struggled with weight most of my life and in the younger years was able to keep the weight off with a bit of effort and determination. I was a regular at the gym for years and used several diet plans successfully over that time period. (The picture, by the way, is not me. I will post a picture soon).

Then I had a bout with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Before I totally crashed and had to go to bed, I started gaining two pounds a week regardless of what I ate or how much I exercised. No diets worked. Eating 800 calories and walking 2 – 5 miles daily did nothing. The result? I gave up. My attitude was if I’m going to be fat, I might as well enjoy the food I eat! I didn’t go crazy with it but I stopped dieting. My friends who know me well think I wasn’t eating enough but I continued to gain slowly over the years.

Now and then I would try again so along the way I tried several diets – The South Beach diet, Atkins, Weight Watchers, etc. They had been successful before but this time around – nothing. They didn’t work and I didn’t stick with them. I hated the way I felt, the way I looked and my limited activities because of the weight. Several years ago I asked my doctor if there was anything I could do about it and he replied, “Forget it. At your age it is impossible to lose weight.” (Not too encouraging was it? )When anyone brought up the subject of my weight I would avow, “If anyone can show me how to lose weight, I will do it.”

When I encountered a small health problem, I chanaged doctors. This time I chose a woman internist for my primary care physician and, in the first visit, she told me I needed to lose weight. I gave her my weight history and she gave me the name of a doctor she guaranteed could help. “Yeah, right!” I thought.

But I dutifully went to the meeting the weight loss doctor holds once a week. Hmm. There might be something to this. She absolutely guaranteed that if I followed the program precisely, I would lose 1/2 pound a day. Guaranteed it! Wow! I had promised myself and everyone else that if anyone could help me I would do it, so I made an appointment. I could at least give it my best shot.

It is a very carefully monitored program, with lab work and one-on-one visits with the doctor every two weeks.

It works!

I have lost 30 pounds in 60 days!

I look better. I certainly feel better. And I’m absolutely delighted. I still have a lot of pounds to shed but I WILL get there.

Dr. C. You were wrong! I CAN lose weight at my age.

And to all of you who feel helpless and hopeless because of your weight, YOU CAN DO IT, TOO! Email me if you want to know more. theselfimprovementblog@gmail.com

Filed Under: Emotional Health, Health, Physical Health, Spiritual Health Tagged With: obesity, self improvement, Weight

Obesity May Harm Your Health in Many Ways

August 5, 2009 By Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

By James Dragnou -

Obesity, the condition where there is a considerable increase in the body mass index, is now proving to be really deadly. Obesity is in fact, one of those preventable problems which are claiming lives in great numbers all over the world. Since excessive body weight is associated with many problems in almost all parts and systems of the body, an aggravated condition of obesity can make it even deadlier for the obese.

Obesity affects various systems in the human body when in an aggravated condition. Adverse effects of obesity can be seen in humans. The following are:

Cardiovascular Problems:

Since there is a direct link between the accumulation of fat in the body and the blood and heart systems, various problems can be created. High blood pressure is one of commonest problems, usually caused by obesity. High cholesterol and atherosclerosis (blockage of the arteries) are some other commonly seen problems in obese people. Also, due to inflammation of arteries, the blood supply to the heart may also be reduced thereby creating a greater risk of heart failure. In fact, more than 12% of congestive heart failure cases are caused due to obesity.

Endocrine and Reproductive Problems:
The presence of extra fat in the body also hampers the production of many hormones. This happens due to presence of cells which impair the production of some hormones. Since the abdominal fat present in the patient impairs the production of insulin digesting cells, it is said to cause Diabetes mellitus type 2. Also, other problems like polycystic ovarian syndrome, menstrual disorders, infertility, etc. are known to occur in the reproductive system. Even in pregnancy, complications may occur which may also lead to birth defects in the baby.

Cancer:

Medical researchers have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause of this finding but it has already been established that being obese increases the risk of cancer to a great extent, especially in women. Chances of developing colon cancer, including other types of cancers like breast cancer, oesophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, gall bladder cancer, etc are also found to be common in obese women. In addition, one can develop stomach, prostate gland, endometrial, ovarian or cancer of the cervix. Obese people need to take special care of their kidneys.

Neurological Problems:

Neurological problems are not a direct effect of increased body fat. Since obesity can cause problems like hypertension and diabetes which reduce the blood flow to the heart and the brain, there are various problems that may occur. Strokes may also occur due to lower blood flow to the brain, potentially causing impairment. Due to improper functioning of the brain, other problems like dementia, headache, meralgia paresthetica (pain in outer thigh due to injury to nerve), carpal tunnel syndrome and idiopathic intracranial hypertension can also crop up.

Musculoskeletal Problems:

Obesity can also cause a great stress on the human skeletal system. Since the bones and the skeletal frame have to bear far more body weight, it can be stressed out which causes problems like osteoarthritis. Lower back pain is also caused as an indirect effect of obesity, osteoarthritis and diabetes. Gout may also develop due to accumulation of uric acid in the joints, usually the big toe of the foot. This condition causes a great, unbearable pain.

Respiratory Problems:

Obesity causes the tissues to become soft and the muscle tone to become reduced around the airways, problems can arise in the respiratory system too, the commonest being obstructive sleep apnea. In addition, obesity hypoventilation syndrome is an extended form since the amount of oxygen reaching the lungs decreases. Asthma, another ailment can also occur because of obesity.

Gastrointestinal Problems:

Obesity causes problems like gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in which there is heartburn due to a reflux that is caused by mucosal damage in the oesophagus. Fatty inflammation of the liver is also an outcome. In addition, formation of stones in the gall bladder and hernia can also occur in obese people.

Genitourinary Problems:

Due to obesity, the development and the functioning of the genital organs can be affected to a great extent. Urinary incontinence, chronic renal failure with slow loss of kidney function, hypogonadism (improper functioning of sexual organs in males and females) and erectile dysfunction or impotence, can be caused as a result of obesity.

Psychological Problems:

Obesity causes a lot of psychological problems in patients as they have to face a lot of social stigma due to their appearance. This can lead to depression and low self esteem. Body dysmorphic disorder or too much botheration about body parts also causes a lot of stress and social isolation. In some adverse cases of psychological pressures, people may even commit suicide.

Skin Problems:

Though not really fatal, obesity also causes various skin problems in the patients like stretch marks, Acanthosis (hyper-pigmentation of the skin in folds), Lymphedema or fluid retention in various body parts, including Cellulitis, carbuncle or intertrigo.

All these problems are a direct or indirect consequence of obesity. There are so many problems that can be caused some of which are reversible and some irreversible. Obesity, like any other disease must be handled with care and caution!

Obesity and it’s cure needs a Doctor to treat it medically. Obesity Information and some of the FDA approved medication like Reductil helps an obese patient to get rid of overweight in healthy way.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Dragnou

Filed Under: Emotional Health, Health, Intellectual Health, Physical Health Tagged With: health, obesity

Dear Ladies on “More to Love”

August 1, 2009 By ireneconlan 1 Comment

By Irene Conlan -

Dear Ladies,

I watched the premier of “More to Love” last night and my heart is heavy (no pun intended). I know the filming is over and all but the winner has gone home – and perhaps she has, too. There are things I wish you knew before you started this adventure and I hope, before you allow yourselves to spiral down into a pity party or depression because you were not the one chosen, you will consider advice from someone who has been there:

The majority of you did not like yourselves because you are overweight. You have felt unattractive, unlovable and unloved most of your lives because you are heavy, and, with all the help around you to lose weight you have failed to do so. I have been slender and I have been very heavy following a year battling chronic fatigue syndrome. I could not lose the weight – or so I believed after many failed attempts. I said to anyone who commented on my size “No diet works for me. If I could find something that works, I would do it.” After some serious health problems due mainly to my weight I did find something that works for me and I am 100% committed to following the program perfectly. It is doctor-managed and a loss of one half pound per week is guaranteed. It is working! I am well past fifty and if I can do it so can you – if you want to.The key is motivation and commitment. If you do not wish to lose weight, then make a commitment to yourself to change your attitude towards you.
Your self esteem issues were painful. Each of you is a unique and special woman with talents and abilities that no one else has. You are not your weight. Your weight is not you. You are worthy of everything wonderful that is available to everyone else. I would venture to say that most overweight is based on a foundation of poor self esteem which is compounded by more overweight and set into motion as a viscous circle. Take control! There are things you can do to raise your self esteem. Don’t just sit passively waiting for things to improve. You improve them so when the next opportunity comes along, you’re ready. It doesn’t matter what your size is, no one wants to spend the rest of their life with someone who doesn’t like themselves and probably lives in the land of victimhood. The days of victimhood are over, girls! Get your heads out of the pity pot and do something for yourselves. If you don’t know what to do, contact me.
This man stated up front that he likes big, beautiful women. So why are you whining about your size and telling the world you’ve never had a date, etc.? A few of you stated up front, “I like who I am” and I’d be willing to bet it is one of you who gets the guy. Remember, he has his own self esteem issues to deal with because he has had trouble dating – just like you. Drop the self effacing moves and go for it. If there’s one guy out there who likes heavy women, there has to be a whole lot more.
Happiness is a state of mind and is as available to you as it is to someone who is a size four (or whatever). Start with gratitude and work your way up to happiness. Get yourselves some books on happiness and read them. Go to my bookstore if you need suggestions. A size 24 with the radiant glow of happiness is far more beautiful that a sour faced size six and someone is going to notice.
If you were not the chosen one, don’t allow it to make you feel like a failure. You are a success because you got in there and gave it your best shot. Take pride in that. Hang on to all you learned there and use it to make the next relationship that success you’ve longed for. Don’t hang up your dating hat – you’ve just started.

There are so many more things to say and we can’t cover them all here and now. Work on your self esteem and fall in love with the beautiful woman in the mirror. When you truly love you you will most likely find someone else to love as well.

Filed Under: Dreams and Goals, Irene's Articles, Self Esteem, Self Improvement, Stress Management Tagged With: More to Love, obesity, overweight, relationships and dating

Obesity, Weigt Loss and Self Esteem

April 7, 2009 By Guest Contributor 2 Comments

By Guildford Joe Thomas -

Today I am addressing the topic of weight and its affect on your self esteem. As unfair, and senseless, as it may seem, a major part of your personal attractiveness is measured by your physical size.

Fat and overweight people are definitely discriminated against in many societies. Having extra weight makes you a target for cruel jokes and insensitive comments. It is generally assumed that if you have a weight problem it is your fault entirely, you just eat too much. Is this fair? Shouldn’t we take a collective pause on this attitude and try to understand the real reasons our loved ones are overweight?

Some overweight people will tell you that they are happy and comfortable with whom they are. They accept and love themselves. They may have bouts of low self esteem but it is not entirely related to their weight.

But almost everyone wants the flat abs, the firm figure and the slim waist. What about you? Are you comfortable in your fat skin? Why haven’t you permanently lost the extra weight you’ve been carrying for years? Can you picture yourself living a very healthy balanced lifestyle? Do you think that you have to be rich to eat healthy? Are those super healthy foods too expensive for you?

Well I can tell you that you do not have to buy all the latest expensive organic products to live a healthy life. You do not have to spend thousands of dollars for a weekend retreat with Deepak Chopra to achieve mental and spiritual wellness.

You can take control of your health without buying designer supplements or following Hollywood style diets. Over 64% of Americans are overweight so there is a great market for all kinds of weight loss products. Most of these are useless and some may even be harmful. A lot of them cost great sums of money.

I have been a strong advocate for balanced living for many years. Losing weight begins and ends with your thinking. You have to be mentally committed to not just losing weight but seeing yourself and your life in a whole new way.

It is truly a mind and body transformation. These two must be in harmony for you to succeed. You have to change what you are feeding your mind as well as you are feeding your body. Do you have low self esteem because you are overweight? Or did your low self esteem cause you to overeat?

I am not putting you on the couch here. But this is a good question to ask yourself as you start your mind/body journey to better health and holistic living. Success is yours to have, and it is not difficult if you are thinking right.

The internet is filled with invaluable free and, low cost, information that can help you do just that. Where to look and how to separate the good from the bad is a free service I will provide with a series of ongoing articles on Healthy Living on a Shoestring.

To your total best health,

Guildford Joe Thomas

Guildford Joe Thomas began his wellness journey 30 years ago when he quit smoking, stopped eating meat and became a vegetarian. He is a strong advocate of holistic fitness. For him, mind, body and spirit must be equally nourished and exercised. He is an avid reader and lifelong student of healthy living. His latest project is a series of articles on Healthy Living on a Shoestring. To learn more go to: http://www.healthylivingonashoestring.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Guildford_Joe_Thomas

Filed Under: Emotional Health, Health, Physical Health Tagged With: obesity, Self Esteem, Weigt Loss

The Pressures Fat People Experience in Today’s Society

September 17, 2008 By Guest Contributor 1 Comment

By Richie C

The Social Discrimination Fat People Endure.

Being overweight, even if it is just by a few pounds which make you a little more round than others, sets you up as a target for weight loss industries, and suddenly it feels as if all the advertisements regarding weight loss in the media are targeted at you; even though it is not really the case. Being self conscious because you are fat is or even a little overweight really what makes you more aware of them than anything else. Society has made it clear that being fat is not normal and is also very undesirable, and even young children are ridiculed and teased in school from early days. Some people are built bigger than others, and no matter what methods are pursued to lose weight nothing is successful. You may initially lose a few pounds in the beginning, but your body will add them again afterwards because this is your natural balance and nature does everything to keep it that way.

The Stress and Pressure to Conform in Society

Different groups of the population are heavily discriminated against. Some examples have been black people, gay and lesbian communities, and even people that follow different religions. Fat people are discriminated against even more so, but in a lot more subtle ways than the groups mentioned above. It has been proven that people that are more attractive and slim than others will get employment, even if a fat person is more qualified for the job. At social events people will avoid overweight people. Perhaps you remember the school prom where fat people never had a chance on the dance floor because no one bothered asking them to be a partner. It can even be difficult to find the right sized clothing in some stores to fit your frame. Many fashion clothing designers will not give a second thought to making something special for people with bigger frames either. Remember the fiasco about airline seats not being able to cater for people a little rounder than others??

It’s Time to Stand Up and Be Counted.

Everyone has a place in society fat, short, tall, black, ugly, those with different sexual needs, and even the aged. Certain organizations lobby for the rights of specific groups but there are few that cater for fat people. The only one that tries is already discriminatory because it tells you to lose weight in order to be accepted. That is the weight loss industry and the medical fraternity that tell you the horrors of being fat. There are millions of overweight people that are as healthy as can be. They will probably live long fulfilled lives if they choose to accept who they are and not bow down to the pressures that society puts on them. There are few [http://www.fatexpress.com/ ]social communities specially designed for different groups but who has bothered to cater for happy people with sturdy frames?

You are My Best Friend

There is a movie that was made years ago that highlighted the discrimination fat people face called ‘Shallow Hal’. True to its word; it shows that people a little more round the middle are people with the greatest personalities of all. The most steadfast friends that have the biggest hearts are people that can be described as being cuddly, plump, round or portly. Make friends with the most honest, open and friendly people on the planet and you will discover what true friends really are.

Richard has been researching the internet for quality information on health, weight loss, and beauty products to keep people informed and able to enjoy a better quality of Life since 2005. He has also written over 5000 articles for website onwers in this and other niches. Thus; You can certainly use this information with confidence to look good, feel great, and purchase products with confidence.

Blog: [http://lifeswayz.blogspot.com ]Life Tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richie_C http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Pressures-Fat-People-Experience-in-Todays-Society&id=1483504

Filed Under: Emotional Health, Health, Physical Health Tagged With: obesity, Self Esteem, Self Improvement

5 Simple Tips to Avoid Obesity

Do You Want To Be Healthy?

Let’s talk about weight loss

Obesity May Harm Your Health in Many Ways

Dear Ladies on “More to Love”

Obesity, Weigt Loss and Self Esteem

The Pressures Fat People Experience in Today’s Society

Lipstick and The Leash

An Interview with Christopner “Divinity” Dines

News and Other New Stuff

Listen to Yvonne Perry’s interview with Gaetano Vivo today at 2:55 CDT

Someone You Should Know

Book Reviews

The Oneness Gospel: Birthing the Christ Consciousness and Divine Human in You. A Review

Alpha Chick: Five Steps for Moving from Pain to Power. A Review

Irene’s Articles

Cleaning out the clutter

Let’s put “Self” Back in Self Improvement