Medical weight loss is an option that many people often turn to when other methods of losing those extra pounds are not effective. For others, it may be the first choice as recommended by their physician after being assess and diagnosed accordingly. There are several methods in going about shedding extra weight and some of these are connected to the field of medicine in the sense that there is a need to rely mostly on it for a person to be lighter. The right diet combined with several exercises is actually one of the more effective ways to shed those few extra pounds. People who are just slightly overweight may not be recommended for many of the medical weight loss procedures.
Bariatric Surgery
This is one of the techniques that physicians may recommend to their patients if there is little that dieting and exercising can do. Many view this as a quick fix that can basically deliver results in as short as just a few weeks. People who are considered obese are often the receiving end of surgeries that can encourage the body reduce. This type of medical weight loss technique involves surgery which is focused on the digestive system of the patient.
Gastric banding entails having a constricting band put somewhere before the esophagus meets the stomach to diminish the amount of food going through, thus making the patient eat slowly and less. Another method is to make the stomach smaller, thus making a person feel full in just a few minutes of eating. These two fall under the restrictive method that prevents the person from eating too much.
Gastric bypass surgery is also another option for bariatric surgery. It entails the rerouting of the intestines in such a way that it connects to a smaller stomach pouch. This basically means that some of the food ingested does not pass through the right channels. This misdirection means that not all the food is digested and processed properly. There is some form of digestion but the absorption of the nutrients and fats is not complete. All ways of slimming down always comes with the warning that there should be a proper diet included in it. Some dieticians may recommend the use of supplementary vitamins and minerals for those who may undergo any of the forms of bariatric surgeries. This step is to ensure that the patient is not malnourished or unhealthy.
The main goal of these medical weight loss techniques is either to restrict the intake of food in order for the individual to actually lose some kilos or to prevent the full absorption of food. The two methods of medical weight loss can be combined, depending on the recommendations of the surgeon. It is usually the more obese people who may need these options. Other individuals who are just slightly overweight can usually lose the extra kilos they have by going on the right diet combined with the proper exercises. Dieting and exercising can prove to be a healthy option that has several benefits for the individual.

I make no claims about knowing everything there is about losing weight, but one thing I am certain off and that is Metabolism is the key to losing weight and having it stay off. If you can control that, then a really good weight loss program will certainly help you achieve your goal of a fitter and lighter you.

First off all you have to understand just exactly what the word Metabolism means, and how it relates to the human body. In this short article I will endeavour to explain it as simply as I can.

First off Metabolism is mainly divided into two categories.

1. Catabolism which breaks down organic matter, for example to harvest energy in cellular respiration. (Cellular Respiration is the set of the metabolic reactions and processes that take place in the cells of organisms such as humans to convert biochemical energy from nutrients and then release waste products).

And

2. Anabolism which uses energy to construct components of cells such as proteins and nucleic acids. (Nucleic Acids are some of the most significant molecules found in living organisms. Their role is to store and transmit genetic information to build proteins).

Some experts have classified hormones as anabolic or catabolic, depending on which part of metabolism they stimulate. The classic anabolic hormones are the anabolic steroids, which stimulate protein changes and muscle growth. The balance between anabolism and catabolism is also regulated by circadian rhythms (you can liken these rhythms to your body clock), with processes such as glucose metabolism fluctuating to match your periods of activity throughout the day.

Although fat is a common way of storing energy, in vertebrates such as humans the fatty acids in these stores cannot be converted to glucose through gluconeogenesis as these organisms do not have the necessary machinery to manufacture enzymes. As a result, after long-term starvation, vertebrates need to produce ketone bodies from fatty acids to replace glucose in tissues such as the brain that cannot metabolize fatty acids.

(Ketone bodies are three water-soluble compounds that are produced as by-products when fatty acids are broken down for energy in the liver and kidneys. Two of the three are used as a source of energy in the heart and brain while the third is a waste product excreted from the body).

Well there you have a very basic description of the metabolic processes that are taking place within your body all the time, even when you are sitting down doing nothing or when you are asleep.

Understanding these metabolic processes means you can lose weight without knocking yourself out. You certainly do not need to spend hours in a gym doing all those crazy aerobics and cardios. You can do it quite easily in the comfort of your own home in between TV commercials.

My advice to anyone who wants to lose those extra pounds and keep them off is simply this. All these different metabolic processes are what make your body the size it is. Controlling what you eat and how much will give you the body size you want.

Therefore program your brain to program your body. Get your body to listen to what your brain is telling it, and then find a really good weight loss/fitness program such as the one below. No matter how busy you are it should help you get started and it can’t hurt to try and achieve your goal.

This article gives pertinent information about Dukan Diet and its side-effects

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Pierre Dukan, a French doctor and nutritionist, challenged with the case of obesity started to look for alternative ways in curing the illness. After 20 years of thorough research he published in the year 2000, a book called, “Je ne sais pas maigrir” or translated as, “I don’t know how to get slimmer.” It gained the best-seller in France after a year it has been published.
It was made a hit in UK when Kate Middleton, now the duchess of Cambridge, tried the Dukan Diet before her marriage to the beloved Prince William, she reportedly claimed a loss of two dress sizes. It also allegedly claimed to help five million French. The book is also gaining fame in the US in the year 2011 when actress/singer, Jennifer Lopez, lost pounds after her pregnancy by following this diet.
Dukan Diet: What is it? How does this work?
Dukan Diet is similar to the famous Atkins diet. Atkins and Dukan are much alike in terms of non-intake of carbs initially and do not require portion control or counting calorie consumptions. In Atkins, it requires net carbohydrate intakes and unlike Dukan, it suggests a daily intake of oats, increase water consumption and 20 minutes of everyday brisk walking. Dukan Diet adopts four phases namely: Attack, Cruise, Consolidation and Stabilization.
Four Phases of the Dukan Diet
Attack: In this starter phase, the dieter is only allowed take protein rich foods that are exquisitely low in fat. Dr. Dukan provided 72-item list of foods to be eaten, it excludes pork, lamb, poultry products and cheeses. Food should always be cooked but without adding any fat to it, it best to cook in grilling or roasting. It also requires you to eat 1 ½ tbsp. oat bran & 1.5 liters of water per day. This phase should be followed around 2-7 days or more. Results from this initial phase within 5 days may result in 4-7 lbs. loss. This phase promotes quick loss of weight since it is strictly based on a protein-only diet.
Cruise: Cruise, the second to the fourth phase of the Dukan diet scheme. During this phase dieters who were only allowed to eat protein-only foods can now alternate a 28-items of non-starchy vegetables. They may take attack phase diet for today and take non-starchy veggie diet for tomorrow, and so this phase must go on by alternating these two types of diet each day. This phase may last long enough as much as you want by reaching your desired weight and assuring 2 pounds per week loss.
Consolidation: As one achieves the desired weight, one has to go the next phase called Consolidation, this is the maintenance phase of this diet scheme where you have to prevent putting back excess pounds. The plan in this phase is less strict compared to the first two phases. During this phase you are permitted to eat protein-only and veggie diet along with a piece of low-sugar fruit, 2 slices of whole grain bread and a portion of hard cheese. In this phase you are allowed to have 1-2 serving of starchy foods and one celebration meal per week. The phase of consolidation does not expect to loss off pounds but rather it is steadily the maintenance process.
Stabilization: Stabilization is the final phase and a life-long phase of the diet scheme. In here maintenance of the life-changing diet may be a challenging and tempting. During this portion of the scheme, one is already permitted to allow any food intake that a person wants and by also sticking to the diet rule in the consolidation phase. As Pierre Dukan suggest, that staying on the phase 1 rule once a week and eat whatever you like for the rest of the week lowers the chances of regaining weight.
Pros and Cons of Dukan Diet
Pros: The fast results of this diet scheme is beneficially rewarding and motivating. It allows you to have protein and veggie meal plan diets and does not require you to count off your calorie intakes.
Cons: It is highly restrictive and can exclude healthy foods. Dieters can experience side-effects such as symptoms of headaches, nausea, lethargy, irritable and loss of concentration. Dieters may acquire halitosis (bad breath), metallic tasting mouth and strong smell in their urines. For those people who have problems with their kidneys and liver are not advised to follow this diet plan. It is not also recommended for pregnant and nursing mothers.

Views and Opinions by Health Experts on the Dukan Diet
There are lots of critics in this diet plan. Due to the restrictive type scheme of this diet, some fruits, grains and nuts which are healthy and have high amounts of vitamins and minerals that are vital to the nutrition of the body are eliminated. Keri Gans of American Dietetic Association, said that the lost amount of multivitamins that should be acquired from those restricted foods are not compensated in the Dukan diet. Experts have also criticized that experiencing such side-effects may not be healthy at all.