Despite what “get tough” weight loss boot camp drill instructors might say, the difficulties we have in losing weight and sustaining the loss has more to do with the efficiency of our bodies than any lack of self-discipline. Our propensity for hanging on to extra body weight developed when food was not easily available. When we were able to eat more calories than our bodies needed at the time, our bodies adapted to the feast and famine cycle by storing energy reserves – also known as body fat – to sustain life until the next time food might be more available. The days of famine in modern countries are over and food – lots of fatty food – is available everywhere. Hence, the modern problem of people carrying unhealthy weight.
To counter this body mass increase, many people try a multitude of options from strict diets to surgical and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. For some, surgical procedures such as Lap-Band or gastric bypass are viable options. Additionally, cosmetic surgery, such as liposuction, or fat dissolving injection lipolysis injections have been used by some to melt pockets of cellulite from the body. Still others seek extreme diets to drive a change in weight. It is important to note that all of the options, from surgical to non-invasive procedures, and even some diets, can carry some risk. All options should be carefully researched and considered. The problem with the extreme diets, such as “eat all the celery and tomato juice you can and nothing else” fad diet is that they usually involve very low caloric intake, often coupled with severe restrictions in the types of food eaten. While these diets may be very effective in the short term, they are a long-term disaster as they trick our bodies into thinking we are in the midst of a famine cycle, and our bodies respond by slowing down our metabolism. When a crash dieter returns to normal eating patterns, the real “crash” becomes evident, as the weight lost is almost always quickly regained, often with an additional gift of five extra pounds.
It’s all very depressing but people should take heart because there are good, effective ways to shed cellulite and become healthier. The trick is finding an eating and exercise plan that works with your body and your personal lifestyle instead of against it.
The best diet plans don’t call for crash dieting but for a manageable reduction in caloric intake. Ideally, this decreased calorie consumption should not come at the price of eliminating entire food groups or a person’s most loved foods. Instead, the plan should help decrease mindless eating, especially when not hungry, and focus on intake of lower calorie, lower fat foods that are also high in nutritional value.
Any program for losing weight requires exercise. You don’t have to run a marathon in order to reap the benefits of movement. Instead find creative ways to add steps to your day; park in the most remote lot at work; always take the stairs instead of the elevator; shop in an area that enables you to walk rather than drive when you do errands. When diet and exercise are not sufficient, some people turn to surgical procedures to help them lose significant weight. LAP-Band surgery is growing in popularity and has been quite effective for many. This minimally invasive surgical procedure, which requires no stomach cutting, reduces one’s stomach capacity and therefore food intake. Gastric bypass surgery is in some ways similar as it reduces the amount of food intake by reducing stomach size. But gastric bypass surgery is more invasive than Lap-Band surgery in that food ends up bypassing part of the small intestine. Significant weight loss begins soon after the procedure and can last for a year.
It’s a fact that liposuction is not viable for achieving large-scale, long-term weight loss, but it may be very useful for people who have problem areas that are not resolving with diet and exercise alone. Liposuction is done under general anesthesia and uses a stainless steel tube and vacuum to remove fat.
PCDC fat melting injections involve the injection of “fat melting” drugs to remove small volumes of fat deposits, such as under the chin. BOTOX shots are completely different.
Proponents of lipo-dissolve promote it to be safe, although the most commonly used drugs, phosphatidylcholine and sodium deoxycholate, have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA’s statement is that, “these are unapproved drugs for unapproved uses.” Additionally, no significant studies have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness or safety of lipodissolve. Last, it is not intended to be a weight loss procedure as it only removes small volumes of fat.
Most doctors agree that diet and exercise are critical components of any weight maintenance or fat loss program. Having Lap-Band or gastric bypass surgery alone will not bring about the desired long-term results. Visit your doctor and get recommendations for achieving an ideal, healthy weight.
