Doctors | Exercise

Is Your Child Wetting The Bed Regularly?

Category: Child Health Tips | 46 views | Add a Comment

Bedwetting is a childhood problem that makes both parents and children more upsetting and embarrassing.

The medical term for bedwetting is nocturnal enuresis, a condition where an involuntary passage of urine occurs during nights, while sleeping.

Bedwetting is fairly common and normal in toddlers of age 5 or below.

However, a child over the age of five who wets the bed frequently for a longer time needs an immediate medical evaluation.

What Makes The Children Wet The Bed?

The reason for children to wet the bed can be either a medical condition or psychological effects.

As a parent, it is most essential for you to identify the reason why your child wets the bed and what is happening with them to wet the bed.

The most common factors that increase the chances of bed wetting in children are hereditary, hormonal imbalances, urinary tract infection, small bladder that cannot hold large amount of urine, very deep sleep, constipation, urinary tract abnormalities, spinal cord abnormalities, diabetes, and traumatized sleep-patterns, and nervousness.

Also, there are certain food items that increase the risk of bed wetting while sleeping. Chocolate, orange, grapefruits, spicy foods, and bubbly drinks are all responsible for bed wetting in children.

On the other hand, people often consider excessive drinking of water before bedtime to be one of the reasons for children to wet the bed. In fact, it is not true. The child is very lazy to move out of the bed to go to the bathroom.

How To Stop Bed-Wetting Problem In Children?

Bed wetting in children goes away naturally as they grow older. However, in some children it remains for a longer time making it a problem for both parents and the children. So, follow some of these simple steps to help your child from this condition [Techniques to manage bed wetting].

Before bedtime, take your child to the toilet and make your child to stay away from drinking large amounts of water or other fluids.

A bed-wetting alarm device works better if your child over the age of 5 is unable to keep dry during the night, while sleeping. Bed-wetting alarm is a device that sets off an alarm when it senses urine. By setting this alarm device, your child can wake up easily and make use of the toilet.

For effective results, use the device exactly as directed. Doing this can surely detect the bed wetness and alarm sounds immediately as soon as it senses the urine. Always keep the device away from the child, as the child can reset the alarm before returning to bed for sleeping [Other bed wetting products].

It is a good idea to use a rubber or plastic wrap in between the spread sheet and the mattress until your child keeps the bed dry during the nights. This protects your bed from wetting and smelling like urine.

Allow your child to help you in changing the wet bed sheets and covers. This educates your child about his/her responsibility and also reduces your child’s embarrassment from the family members whenever he/she wets the bed.

If the problem increases even more, consult your doctor for an appropriate treatment for bedwetting.

How to Get Six Pack Abs

Category: Abs Exercises, Articles, Body FITNESS | 74 views | Add a Comment

Strengthen your abdominal muscles and lose body fat. The concept is simple, but putting it into action is not. It will take dedication, willpower, patience and time to get a six pack but in the end, the effort is well worth it. Remember, abs are made mostly in the kitchen! You can have the most toned and defined abs but they won’t show through if there’s a layer of fat over them.

Do Crunches. Lie on the floor (with or without a mat) and cross your arms in front of your chest. Bend your knees up as far as they go. (Do not place both hands behind your head. Placing both hands behind your head can cause lower back problems in the long run as it places unnecessary stress on that part of your body from pulling on your head and neck.) Another alternative is to cross your arms in front of your chest and lightly place your finger tips behind your ears, without pulling on your neck or ears to help raise you off the floor. Draw in your abdomen towards your spine while inhaling through your nose. Now raise your shoulders (upper torso) towards your knees, using strictly your abdominal muscles. It is very important not to lift your entire back off the floor, as this can cause back strain, and the extended movement does not help you develop six pack abs any faster. The most important part of the crunch is the initial flexing of your abs as you lift your shoulders off of the floor. As soon as you begin lifting off the floor exhale through your mouth, ending with a gasp once your shoulders are off the floor. Then pause for a second once you are at the top of the crunch and exhale the last bit of air from your diaphragm while flexing your abs. The proper breathing and flexing make all the difference. Now lower back down slowly and controlled while inhaling through your nose, just until your shoulder blades touch the ground. Do not let your head touch the ground and repeat.
Do Sit Ups. Lie on the floor, feet on the floor, knees up and fingers placed behind your ears or hands crossed on your chest. Sit all the way up, lifting your lower back off the floor along with your shoulder blades.Lower yourself down. Repeat. Once this becomes relatively easy for you (i.e. you can do a quite a bit with ease) start adding more challenges. Find an incline bench or do these on an exercise ball. Once you “graduate” from that, do weighted sit ups. Hold a weight on your chest while you do these. As these become easier, hold heavier and heavier weights. You might also try lifting your feet off the ground while doing the sit ups or alternating the leg in the air, like pretending to pedal while sitting up. If your hands are behind your head, bring your left knee up to touch your right elbow and then your right knee to the left elbow.
Do Leg Lifts. Lie on the floor, legs straight out, hands at your sides. Lift your legs straight up (not bending your knees at all) until they’re at a 90 degree angle (or close). Lower your legs and repeat without letting your legs touch the floor. For more challenge there is equipment at most gyms that will allow you to raise yourself up using your arms as support and dangle your legs. You can perform leg lifts there too. If you’re using this piece of equipment, you can make it easier by just raising your knees to your chest. It’s more difficult to raise your legs to a horizontal position with your legs straight. This helps firm up the lower abdomen. If you’re truly a monster, try doing leg lifts with a medicine ball hanging from your feet. Or hang from a pull up bar and raise your legs in front of you all the way up to the bar. Still too easy?…
Do Jackknife Sit Ups. Lie down flat on the floor. Place your hands on the ground to your sides for balance; you can pick them up as you get used to the movement. Simultaneously raise your knees and torso so that your knees and face meet on an imaginary line extending from your pelvis to the ceiling. You should be able to kiss your knees at the top of the motion. Your legs will naturally fold bringing your feet towards your hips, much like a jackknife. Lie back down (i.e. “spread out”) and repeat. Place a weight between your feet when you think you can handle it. What’s that? More?
Do V-ups. Lie on the floor, legs straight out, hands on the floor but this time extended out over your head. Simultaneously raise legs and torso. Don’t bend your knees! What kind of V would it be if you bend your knees? Reach with your hands toward the raised feet. Touch your feet if possible (will require some flexibility). Relax, return to starting position and repeat. Add weight between feet to match your taste.
Static Hold and Side Statics. Put your body into the push-up position but with your elbows on the floor, and you whole body flat. This position is known as the static hold position and it trains your core (including your abs) to hold the body in place which is the real purpose of your abs. Hold this position for as long as possible, but you should be aiming to start off with at least 45 seconds, while seasoned ab workers known to achieve over 20 minute static holds. To perform the side static hold roll onto one side of your body and lift into the same position as before, but this time only one arm will be on the ground with the other arm pointed straight up the air and your non-weight bearing leg resting on your bottom leg. Once again, hold this for as long as possible
Train Your Oblique Muscles. It’s not as important to work on your oblique muscles at first, but eventually you’ll want to start working these too. These are the muscles to either side of your stomach. There are multiple ways to do this and anything that includes twisting your torso against a resistance counts. There are twisting machines at gyms, you can twist while you do sit-ups, you can do side bends, you can twist side to side with a medicine ball in hand, etc. Be aware though, that many beginners tend to have weak obliques compared to their abs (it simply isn’t used as much in daily life) so go easy on the sides at first.
Know that since it is, literally, the center of your body there are many other tricks you can use to train your abs, and some of the other movements will more or less involve your abs. Including every abdominal exercise in existence would make this article painfully long and new methods are being developed constantly. Now that you’ve made up your mind about a washboard mid-section, get creative! Find new ways to crunch, bend and twist in your daily life. Some possibilities include:
- Use a stability ball. Do your crunches on the ball to introduce instability to your workout, which will improve your balance too. There are also lots of core exercises that can be done with a stability ball.You can also use a small bubble use for physical therapy.
- Duck and twist during your daily routine. Reach with your left hand to things on your right and vice versa. If you feel like turning around to face something, see if you can do it with keeping your hips in place and twisting at the waist (warning: awkward when talking to other people, use only against inanimate objects). While walking or standing, pretend that something is coming toward you and you have to duck to get out of the way. Do this as often as you are comfortable or at times when it won’t look weird. You can bend forward from the hips or, if you’re really into it, bend at the knees too and really “sink” out of the way. Caution: If you have lower back problems, you could injure yourself.
Do the Scientific Best Abs Exercise Researchers at the San Diego State University, found that there are certain abs exercises that triggers most muscular activity. The winner was the “bicycle maneuver”:
- Lie on the floor; make sure your lower back is pressed on the ground.
- Take your hands behind your ears. Then bring up your knees at a 45 degree angle.
- Start doing a bicycle pedaling motion. Touch your elbow with the opposite knee (right elbow with left knee and so on, alternating)
- Breathe relaxed and evenly throughout the whole exercise.

Lose Fat

Lift Weights. The more muscle your body has, the more calories your body burns, even at rest. Many people are afraid of getting huge due to weight lifting but the fact is you won’t!, Many huge body-builders out there have been body-building for years to get huge. If you just do cardiovascular exercises without lifting weights then you will lose the muscle mass, you will also feel weak and it will take longer to lose that fat. So, to get rid of that fat quickly lift weights combined with cardiovascular exercises. Running, biking, swimming, stair climbing, jumping rope, tennis, volleyball, dancing, squash or any other activity that gets you moving and keeps you moving is a great way to burn fat. However, a cardiovascular workout should be performed for at least 20 minutes to burn fat prior to this your body will simply run on its stored energy, which results in minimal fat loss. Cardiovascular training should always be done after your weight lifting workout. While lifting weights, you use stored, (carbohydrate) energy, thus, by performing cardiovascular exercises after weight training your body will have less stored energy to use and go straight into the fat storage for its energy use. The overall best way to shed fat fast is to do cardiovascular (30 minutes minimum) right when you wake up. Your body will search for energy to use, and when it finds nothing in your stomach, it will go directly to your fat reserves for energy.
Keep Metabolism Steady. Eating one small meal (such as a potato, a salad, etc.) every three hours that you are awake will not speed up your metabolism, rather, it will keep it going. Your metabolism goes and slows with your food intake and eating something small every three hours will keep that metabolism burning calories and will help you lose weight. A jar of nuts in the office will do just fine, grab a handful when you feel like it. Most fruits can last for a couple days without refrigeration, and if you have a refrigerator at the office, make use of it.
Eat Smaller Dinners. Cut down on the size of your dinner. If you’re hungry, snack on fruits or other healthy, low calorie snacks. Large dinners tend to hurt a fat loss process because most people aren’t very active after dinner. This is the basis for advice along the lines of “don’t eat anything within N hours before going to bed”. The claim that your entire dinner is stored as fat isn’t entirely true (the process is more complicated than that) but the fact you don’t move after dinner is enough to hurt your cause. You can offset this by eating a larger lunch or snacking healthily before dinner. Fresh fruits or vegetables are excellent choices for curbing appetite not to mention other health benefits. A handful of nuts might do the same. Drink a large glass of water before sitting at the table.
Eat More Fiber. Most people don’t get enough fiber. The recommended amount is actually not that much if you eat a healthy diet. “Fiber foods” include whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and nuts and seeds. Other options are fiber supplements.
Eat Breakfast. Many people skip breakfast because they don’t have time for it. Keep this in mind: You don’t have time to skip breakfast, it’s simply too valuable to skip. The fact that skipping breakfast messes up your concentration and other mental functions is beyond the scope of this article. The harm of skipping breakfast from a weight loss perspective is it makes you eat a huge lunch since your body hasn’t had anything in the past 12 (or more) hours. When you eat a huge lunch you get that after meal drowsiness so now you’re both unproductive and inactive. Cereals don’t take much time to prepare and consume, and most of them are very healthy nowadays. If you are extremely pressed for time, consider grabbing a box of breakfast bars or a smoothie and throwing one in your bag when you leave for work or school. Some breakfast bars out there are also excellent sources of fiber.
Drink More Water Every Day. Many places suggest 8 cups (2L) of water a day. It also depends on your weight (1L/20kg would be good, more if it’s hot or you’re ill). It sounds like an absurd amount of water, but actually, you can drink tea without sugar to make up some of the quota. In fact tea, especially green tea, rev up your “metabolism” (actually cause a temporary increase in calories burned).
For fat loss purposes, it is important to remind yourself that thirst is a much weaker stimuli than hunger. If you consistently feel hungry after meals, don’t immediately think that you need to eat more. You may simply be thirsty!
Needless to say there are many benefits of water. The human body is anywhere from 55% to 78% water depending on body size.

Top Tips

Motivation is the key. Regardless of aim, having the right attitude towards your motivation is important. If your motivation source is purely the result, you will likely not last very long. It’s important to enjoy the exercise, the immediate and long term benefits and to incorporate enjoyable activities into your exercise routine. And remember, your significant other can also benefit from mutual exercise activities.
It may help to use a record-keeper or plan book for your exercise program. Exercise journals are fantastic for this purpose because as you enter daily information in the journal, you’re putting together a complete record that can be referred back to in the future.
If you feel you need to, ease into the changes in your lifestyle. Start eating breakfast. If you have difficulty with this, start with a couple glasses of water or a large cup of coffee right when you wake up. It’ll go down easy and prepare your stomach to get back to work. Cut the amount of dinners little by little. For the exercises, start slow and increase pace and/or repetitions as you are comfortable. Attempting lifestyle changes in a drastic, sudden manner can backfire. Do what you can but don’t sell yourself short.
Make a photo diary of your body but don’t take pictures too often (once a month is fine). Don’t study your pictures intensely since you might not get motivated if you don’t see a difference. If you are consistent in your diet and exercise, you should see changes monthly. Keep in mind that you won’t see changes in the mirror everyday since they will be very small improvements.
Unless you are watching your weight for another reason, ignore the reading on the scale. You may be decreasing your body fat but your weight may stay the same (or even increase) as you build muscle. Muscle tissue is denser than fat so it will be heavier than the same volume of fat. Water weight can also vary your readings by a surprisingly large amount.
Try to keep a steady eating routine. It will throw your body off if you skip a meal and starve yourself only to stuff your face later. Avoid such situations as much as possible.
For added variety you may look into using a Swiss ball and/or a medicine ball during your ab workout. Doing crunches on the swiss ball will improve your balance, or you may use it to get a little more flexion in your abs. The medicine ball has many different uses, the simplest one being added weight.
If you are already skinny, but simply don’t have the abdominal muscle that you want, passively exercising while doing other things can help a great deal. If you spend a long time in a sitting position, try continuously clenching your stomach. Get in the habit of doing this for hours at a time and you may be surprised at its effectiveness.
Try to make an effort to make your abs strong while you are young because the abs are one of the last muscles to atrophy, so you may not have to worry about them when you are older if you do a good job while you are young.
Try some stress relieving activities, such as yoga or meditation. Built up stress causes an increase in your weight.
You should make working out a priority like keeping a job, you don’t want to miss and not get paid.
500 calories’ is the calorie deficit a day needed to lose a pound of fat per week. This may be from eating less or hitting the gym.

Warnings

Most, if not all of these exercises are not recommended for people with lower back problems. There are many other ways to properly develop six pack abs without putting so much strain on your back. If in doubt or experiencing lower back pain, talk to a physical therapist for proper ways of performing the routines.
This exercise regimen will only work for a select few individuals. For some people, this exercise advice will actually provide the opposite desired effects. For example, for people who have a few extra pounds around the belly and start this from scratch. They are actually more likely to look larger in the belly for a period of time since they are putting on muscle beneath their fat at first. You may want to begin for a significant period of time by doing more cardiovascular exercises to lose fat all over the body. Doing specific muscle exercises, unfortunately, does not remove fat from that specific area of the body. Additionally, focusing solely on the abs can produce an imbalance in the body and may cause back problems where there were none before or exacerbate any existing problems
As with any exercise program, consult your doctor before making major changes in your workout routine if you have medical problems. Increase loads slowly. Being eager is great but setting unrealistic goals isn’t going to help you in the long run.
Don’t starve yourself. If you go hungry for an extended period of time your metabolism will slow down. The body, thinking that no food is available tries to make the best of what it has and goes into power-saving mode. Whilst on ‘power-saving’ mode, the body will supplement its carbohydrates (being burnt for energy) with the proteins in your muscles. What this means is that you are in fact eating back into that six pack just to try and make it show through.
Fiber also acts like a mild laxative. Be careful if you eat a lot of fiber. It can also cause some gas if you’re not used to taking in so much fiber. If you increase your fiber dosage by a lot, increase your water intake too. Excessive fiber with little water can result in digestive problems.
Habitual snacking on unhealthy foods is often done almost unconsciously. Many people do this and don’t realize how many calories they take in. They insist they eat very little (which is true during their major meals), but they don’t realize that their snacking is making them gain weight or stopping them from losing weight. Avoid buying high sugar snacks and instead buy healthy, low calorie snacks. A way to prevent unhealthy snacking is to write down everything you eat in a day. As you watch the list grow you will be inclined to put that donut down.
Be wary of ab machines that you may see on TV. Many of these are in fact rip offs and you are more likely to stay motivated if you incorporate an ABS workout into a regular gym session(you are less likely to get sick of it). You can get a great ab workout just by using the floor. Remember that it’s not the exercise that will give you the six pack. It’s the combination of strength exercises and fat loss. Playing more athletic sports, weight lifting, and cardiovascular exercises are a million times more effective for fat loss than using an exercise machine. If you feel you need to use those machines, a gym membership will likely suit you much better.
Supplements can be useful, but they are just what they advertise themselves to be; supplements. There is no magic pill to make you lose weight with no work. There are some supplements out there that can help you lose weight by increasing your metabolism or by helping you curb your appetite, but you still have to work. Most tend to be “snake oil” and will not really give you any results while costing you great deals of money. And remember, even if they DO help, all supplements still require the consumer to watch their diet and increase their exercise. A simple multivitamin or mineral pill is likely all that most people will need.
Sit ups can be bad for your back and neck. They have caused many lower back problems and are not recommended by most doctors. More and more K-12 schools are phasing sit ups out and switching to crunches. A good alternative to sit ups is to lay on your back, lift your feet in the air as high as you can reach them, and lift your butt off the floor instead. The best results come when you do them slow and tighten your abs (and even butt). When you lower your legs do not let your butt touch the ground completely, then repeat. This exercise conditions, tightens, and hardens all the same muscles as a sit up when used with crunches as well.
Don’t neglect warm-ups or you may find yourself pulling muscles and long-term pain when you start doing this method!
Opinions on weight loss and muscle training routines are like noses - everyone has one but they’re all different. In the end, you should find something you enjoy and that you will stick for life. Over time, you can modify it until you get the results that are right for you.

Weight Loss Exercises

Category: Articles, Weight loose & gain | 72 views | Add a Comment

Many people all across the globe yen for losing their weight. They want to shed those extra pounds, or get better physical fitness,

or improve general appearance of body. Apart from adjusting your food habits, regular exercise should be an important part of your weight loss program. There are many weight loss exercises that can help you regain full fitness quickly, provided you follow these regularly and properly.

Brisk Walking

Walking is the most important exercise if you want to lose weight. It is simple, comfortable and doesn’t cost you anything. Walking anytime is good for you; though, a brisk walk for about thirty minutes early in the morning is the best option. You gain more oxygen at that time since the air is fresh and there is no pollution as well. Morning walk ensures that good amount of oxygen enters into your body that cleans your body of excess of toxins, and keeps you in good health. It relieves you of any stress and anxiety and helps you to focus on your weigh loss program in a positive way.

Morning walk is good because your body is fresh after a good night’s sleep. When you start having early morning walks, do not seek any results within a few days. It is a gradual process and it takes about two to three months before you see any visible signs.

The most important aspect of having early morning walks is following a routine, and doing it regularly. You need to be regular as well as punctual. Apart from early morning walk, you can have a leisurely walk after meals in afternoon, or in the evening also. Gradually begin with a 15-20 walk routine in early morning, and slowly increase it to 30-40 minutes. If you can extend it to about one hour exercise in a couple of months, it will be the best part of your weight loss exercise program.

Aerobics

You can also do aerobics for losing weight. According to recent study, many youngsters all over the world prefer doing aerobics exercises to lose weight. It can involve quick movements of different body parts, or even dancing. Aerobics helps you gain optimum amount of oxygen, and gives your body the required agility and flexibility. You can do aerobics at home, or join a slimming centre that guides you on what kind of aerobics exercise you should do.

Aerobics helps you burn extra calories and make you feel energetic. Anybody can do these exercises, irrespective of one’s age, weight, or physical health. The important advantage of doing aerobics that there are no risks of any injuries. Moreover, you can do it at your home, and it does not cost you anything. If you can afford it, engage a physical aerobics trainer for best results.

Swimming

Swimming is one of the most widely recommended exercises for people who want to lose their weight. It is a wholesome exercise that doesn’t require too much of physical effort. If you love to spend some time in water, and want to lose some weight as well, do regular swimming. Not only for weight loss, swimming is otherwise an excellent exercise to keep your body and skin healthy and energetic. The advantages of swimming are that you can do it any time, and you have fun as well. Besides, it helps you get rid of any stress and anxiety, and keeps your mind fresh.

Plan out a schedule for swimming and follow it regularly. If you are covering two or three laps of the swimming pool, the extra calories are burnt out giving your body an excellent exercise. Also, swimming along with a regulated diet is one of the quickest methods to lose weight as compared to some of the other exercises. Seek the opinion of your physician and an experienced swimming instructor for your swimming program and follow the program carefully, for effective weight loss.

Gym Exercise

As per latest trends, joining a gym seems to be a very easy and comfortable method to exercise to lose weight. Many gyms have personal trainers that guide you on what kind of exercises you should do, and how much weight to lift and so on. However, proper diet is important if you plan to join a gym. Consult you doctor about what kind of exercise you should avoid, if any.

Playing Sports

Participating in outdoor sports activities is another method to lose weight. If you love sports, join any local academy and play the game regularly. You do not need exercises in gym, nor even swimming as sports take care of all the benefits that you get from these. Play any sport that involves physical activity to lose weight, such as football, badminton or tennis. There are some community level clubs that organize regular sporting meets which are a good platform for being active in social life as well.

Which category your diet belongs to?

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The most popular form of weight loss is shedding weight by observing diet. By diet it is meant not renouncing food as such but food with high in starch contents. If you are keen about observing diet then you will have to fix an appointment with your dietician to set up a proper diet chart for you .Take a look at the popular form of diets suggested in the article and consult your dietician. This article covers

Different Types of Diets
Two most popular forms of diet
What is atkin’s diet?
Advantages and disadvantages of atkin’s diet
What is zone diet?
Advantages and disadvantages of zone diet

Wherever you look today, information on what you should eat to lose weight, or simply on what a healthy diet should include, is easily available. However, if you are trying to lose weight or are suffering from obesity, it is necessary for you to know what all types of diet plans exist out there today, and which one would be the right one for you. Often, there are people who have been having low carb diet foods or following some other diet plan expecting to see miraculous results. However, until unless you thoroughly examine which diets are offering what results, you should refrain from simply jumping from one diet plan to another expecting results overnight. Also, do not forget that it is not just your diet which is going to help you reduce weight, but your general lifestyle. So, depending on the Atkins diet recipes or any other low carb recipes is not the right decision. Start exercising and lead a healthy life overall in order to lose weight and to maintain that over the long term.

Statistically, it is estimated that every year, Americans spend about $33 billion on weight loss programs and products. Always be aware that if a weight loss program is promising you a magical solution to your weight problems, it is likely that he/she is trying to dupe you. If you are planning on starting a diet, it is best to either consult your doctor or a registered dietitian. They will not only help you a diet plan which meets your requirements, but also one which will be safe. In general, it is best to avoid diets which promises to deliver a quick result or fast weight loss. Be wary if its claims sound too good to be true and always trust your better judgment. You should also avoid diets which recommend that you consume less than 1000 calories per day or eliminate a major food group from your meal.

This article discusses the pros and cons of two of the most popular diet plans and how effective or ineffective they actually are. While there are a lot of diet plans available today, the Atkin’s and the Zone diet are the two most popular ones. Close behind them are the Pritkins Diet, the Protein Power diet, the South Beach diet, the Specific Carbohydrates diet, the Sugar Busters, and so on and so forth.

Atkin’s Diet

The Atkin’s diet is one of the most popular diets in the world today. It is a high-fat, high-protein, and low-carbohydrate plan and the dieter can consume unlimited amounts of cheese, eggs, and meat. However, the diet restricts the intake of food items containing high levels of carbohydrates, such as sugar, pasta, milk, fruits and vegetables, bread, etc. The theory behind the Atkin’s diet states that if an individual eats too much of carbohydrates, the body would produce insulin, which would ultimately lead to an increase in the individual’s hunger and thus, weight gain. If the person inhibits the intake of carbohydrates, then his/her appetite is bound to go down and with no new source of carbohydrate entering the body, the body’s metabolism would be forced to utilize the stored fat for energy.

The disadvantages of the Atkins diet food products are as follows:

Risk of long-term damage to kidney function due to a prolonged period of high-protein diets
Increase in cholesterol levels
Increased risk of heart disease, cancer, and even osteoporosis
The inhibition of carbohydrates and restriction on having fruits, vegetables, milk, bread, etc., can lead to health problems as these are food items which are highly necessary for the body (in terms of providing naturally forming vitamins and minerals) to maintain its proper health.
There is no scientific proof about the efficiency and safety of this diet.

Advantages of this plan include

Individuals who have been unsuccessful on high-carbohydrate, low-fat diets are likely to benefit from this diet.
It is an easy diet to follow
The diet does not involve any meal plan, and is basically hassle-free

Do your own body fat calculation

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Your doctor often would have told you that your body weight is not in tune with your height .He would have suggested you to shed several pounds to weigh according to your height .The body fat calculator does somewhat similar job. It suggests you how much pounds you are required to shed to reach the normal weight. There are several varieties in the body fat calculator .Take a look at the article.This article covers

How Does a Body Fat Calculator Work?
What are the different types of body fat calculator?
Some common techniques used for body fat calculation

It has been proven beyond doubt that more and more people are becoming obese and suffering from weight problems due to hectic lifestyle that has become the norm of today. Teamed with fast foods which are heavy in their fat content, and very little physical activity, it is natural that people are gaining weight day-by-day.

While we all want to lose weight and have at some point or the other gone on several diets, opted for weight loss solutions, weight loss supplements and various other methods of weight loss, what generally we tend to forget is that before we decide to lose weight, we need to calculate the amount or percentage of fat that we need to lose. This purpose is solved by the several types of body fat calculator available today, the most common one being body mass index, and body fat percentage calculator. There are a lot of such types of calculating devices available today, however, while some utilize complicated formulas and others are too expensive for a general person to afford, the body mass index is the ideal solution for calculating how much body fat your need to lose.

The different types of body fat calculator for body fat measurement work in different ways. However, in order to ensure that your calculation is reliable, you must consider the accuracy, reliability, availability and the cost factors attached to these fat calculators. These are important factors when you are deciding on the technique. Some of the most common techniques used for body fat calculation are described below in this article.

Height-Weight Tables

Perhaps the most unreliable method of measuring body fat are the height-weight tables which have been use for ages. The method involves placing the height-weight chart and searching for your height. Then you follow the chart to look at the corresponding weight for that height. Some height-weight tables even provide body frame sizes, though it is highly unlikely that you will be aware of your body frame size! These tables are the least accurate because there is no guarantee that the height to weight ratio has been calculated by a certified doctor, and there is no proof on the accuracy of height measurement. Neither do these charts calculate your body fat. They just tell you the ideal weight that ’someone’ thinks is right for a person of your height.

Electronic machines which are often installed at markets, airports, and gyms, more or less operate on the same principle, with a ruler first measuring your height, and then churning our a pre-determined weight for that height. Both these types of tables are not ideal because they will not give you a correct idea about your overall health, or about how much weight you actually need to lose.

Is weight loss surgery safe for you?

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The weight loss surgery is becoming the attractive option among many obese people. However among the awful lot of options available it is important to choose the best one. Before taking any decision it is strongly recommended to weigh the pros and cons of it.The article throws spotlight on the weight loss surgery and various options available.This article covers

Is weight loss surgery safe?
What are the various options available in the weight loss surgery?
What are the advantages in it?
What are the risks involved in it?

With more and more people being overweight and obese in today’s age, weight loss surgery is fast becoming an attractive option. What is weight loss surgery one might ask! Weight loss surgeries are simply a number of different gastric bypass surgeries which are commonly referred to as weight loss surgeries, or WLS. Generally, WLS is also referred to as bariatric surgery, bariatric meaning anything to do with weight.

While there are several surgery options available for patients today, it is quite difficult to decide on which one is the best option. What does matter, however, is the fact that since all patients are different, every patient needs to weight their options carefully before deciding which type of surgery they want to go in for. It also depends on how good a doctor/surgeon they find for their procedure. Discuss the various procedures with your surgeon before making a final decision. It is of utmost importance that you acquire your information from credible sources only!

In order to determine whether WLS is a safe and advisable treatment for a patient to go in, it is important to know the basics of bariatric surgery. According to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, there are three basic approaches that WLS takes to achieve results in bariatric weight loss surgery:

Restrictive practices that lower a patient’s need for food intake.
Malabsorptive practices which cause food to be poorly digested and incompletely absorbed, in order for it to be passed out as stool.
A combination of both restrictive and malabsorptive practices. This not only lowers the risks associated with both the procedures, but also results in efficient excess weight loss.

Some of the common WLS procedures include:

Gastric Restrictive Procedure

Restrictive WLS works by lowering the quantity of food consumed by the patient at a time and does not hinder with the normal process of digestion. In a restrictive weight loss procedure, a smaller upper stomach pocket is created by the surgeon, which connects to the rest of the stomach. Weight is lost by the reduced stomach capacity, which directly results in a lower intake of calories.

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)

VBG is a type of restrictive procedure in which the upper stomach is stapled vertically for almost 2 inches to produce a smaller stomach pocket. A ring controls the outlet from the pocket, thus slowing down the process of emptying of the food. This in turn, makes the patient feel full, thus decreasing the urge to eat.

The main benefit of VBG is that a lowered amount of well-chewed food goes into and passes through the digestive tract. This allows the nutrients to be fully absorbed into the body as per the normal digestive process.

However, it is important to note that postoperatively, there exists a risk of leakage or infection from the stapling of the stomach resulting in staple-line disruption. The ring which is used in the procedure may also lead to complications of obstruction or perforation.

Laparoscopic or Minimally Invasive Surgery

During a laparoscopic operation, a small video camera is inserted into the abdomen, while the surgeon views the procedure and the insides of the abdomen on a video monitor. The camera and surgical instruments are inserted through small incisions made in the abdominal wall. This approach is less invasive as it replaces the need for open incisions, which also increases the risk of infection. Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery experience less pain after the surgery, leading to easier breathing and lung function. Other benefits with laparoscopic surgery are that there are fewer wound complications.

Laparoscopic weight loss surgery produces similar excess weight loss as compared to the other methods. However, not all surgeons are qualified enough to perform laparoscopic surgery and the American Society for Bariatric Surgery recommends that laparoscopic WLS be performed only by surgeons who are experienced in both laparoscopic and open bariatric procedures.

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding

A Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band procedure, commonly known as lap band weight loss surgery, is a restrictive process in which a band is placed around the upper part of the stomach, dividing the stomach into two parts, a small portion and a larger part. Food digestion occurs though a normal process, but food is regulated. Due to this, most patients start feeling full faster, thus lowering their food/caloric intake and leading to weight loss.

The advantages of this procedure are that it limits the amount of food consumed at a meal, food is completely absorbed by the body as the food passes through the digestive tract in a normal manner. Also, if required, the procedure can be reversed.

Malabsorptive Procedures

Malabsorptive processes tend to reduce the size of the stomach, though the stomach pocket which is created is generally larger as compared to the other procedures. The goal of these surgeries is to control the amount of food consumed by the patient and change the normal digestive process. The procedure involves changing of the anatomy of the small intestine in order to direct the pancreatic juices and bile in a manner where they meet the ingested food closer to the end of the small intestine. This results in incomplete digestion, allowing for more of the food to be passed out as stool. Some of the common malabsorptive procedures are as follows:

Biliopancreatic Diversion (BPD)

BPD removes nearly three-fourths of the stomach in order to both limit food intake and lower the output of acid. In this process, surgery basically involves division of the small intestine so that all the food moves through only one section of the small intestine.

Extended (Distal) Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGBP-E)

RYGBP-E is a form of malabsorption procedure which is achieved by creating a divided small gastric pocket. This type of surgery generally involves the tying of a length of the small intestine to the stomach in order to divert the bile and pancreatic juices. There are lower operative risks associated with this procedure, though there is a higher risk for the formation of ulcers, malnutrition, etc.

Biliopancreatic Diversion with “Duodenal Switch”

This procedure is another form of BPD in which stomach removal is restricted to just the outer margin.

How to determine the cost of liposuction surgery?

Category: Weight loose & gain | 33 views | Add a Comment

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes excess fat or localized fat deposits through a suctioning process. It can even alter the body shape. If you want know the cost of it, you should first find out the number of areas that require this surgery. Learn more about liposuction surgery and its cost from the article.This article covers

What is Liposuction surgery?
What are the types?
How much does it cost?

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes excess fat or localized fat deposits through a suctioning process.Liposuction surgery can be used for the treatment of truncal adiposity, commonly known as buffalo hump, though the rate of success varies from patient to patient. While doctors generally do not see liposuction surgery as being a substitute for weight loss, liposuction can be a method of altering the body’s shape.Statistically, in 2001 itself, more than 385,390 liposuctions were performed in the United States.Liposuction is also known as suction lipectomy or lipoplasty.

Liposuction surgery can be performed through several techniques and to know the best option, it is a good idea to consult with your doctor/surgeon.Liposuction is always performed under either a general anesthesia or even a local anesthesia, depending on the patient’s case and on the area which needs to be operated on.In case a local anesthesia is used, the patient might be given a sedative to ease the procedure.

Types of Liposuction Surgeries

Wet Liposuction

Wet liposuction is the most common technique used today. It is often used in the case of abdominal liposuction. In this procedure, the surgeon injects a fluid mixture, which contains an intravenous salt solution, an anesthesia and adrenaline into the area which is being treated. The injection of this liquid helps in reducing bruising, bleeding, and swelling. This also makes it easier for the surgeon to remove the fat cells.

The process involves making a cut and inserting a cannula (which is a tube that is inserted into a cut or cavity) into the cut. A syringe or a vacuum pump is attached to this cannula and the fat and fluid is then sucked out through this apparatus. If the treatment is being carried out for a larger area, then it might be necessary to make more than one cut. After the procedure is completed, the cut is stitched back by the surgeon.

Tumescent Liposuction

Another technique which is used is tumescent liposuction. It is a variation of the wet liposuction technique itself, with the difference being in the amount of fluid mixture injected. In tumescent liposuction surgery, the amount of fluid mixture injected is much larger. Tumescent liposuction is generally performed on patients who only require a local anesthesia and the process also takes longer to perform than normal wet liposuction procedures.

Ultrasonic Liposuction

Another less used technique is that of ultrasonic liposuction. In this procedure, the cannula used produces ultrasonic energy, which liquefies the fat as it passes through the fatty areas. The liquefied fat is then suctioned off in the same manner as traditional liposuction surgeries. The advantages of this procedure are that it improves the effectiveness of liposuction performed on fibrous body areas such as the back and breasts. Ultrasonic liposuction takes the longest amount of time to be completed.

Dry Liposuction

A rarely used procedure is that of dry liposuction, in which there is no fluid mixture injected before the surgery. The process of suction by the cannula remains the same, thus resulting in more bruising and bleeding.

Since the procedure is quite simple, patients do not need to stay overnight at the hospital and can go home the same day after having the operation. However, in case of extensive treatment, patients may have to stay overnight.

Post-Op Care

Post-operation, patients will be put on painkillers in order to relieve the uneasiness which may arise as the anesthesia wears off. Also, it is best to have someone accompany you on the day of the surgery as driving after anesthesia is inadvisable. Patients need to be committed to follow the advice given by the doctor in order to take care of the stitches.

In most cases, patients also need to wear tight-fitting or snug-fitting clothes/bandages around the treated area for nearly three weeks. It is advisable to avoid strenuous exercises for at least a month, while walking and mild exercises can be resumed.

While generally complications are uncommon in liposuction cases, complications may arise. The most common ones being infections, which may happen after the surgery. Embolism, or the blockage of a blood vessel, may also occur, along with swelling. While swelling is a normal part of the surgery, in case of severe swelling along with pain in the area, it is suggestible to consult your doctor.

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