Weight Loss Alternatives

Introduction Since the onset  of this century, one of the most  prevalent  problems that has afflicted the  society, especially  in the developed countries, is that of obesity. Hendrick asserts that up to 63.1% of adults in America are suffering from this health anomaly (Hendrick, 2010). Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Weight Loss Alternatives specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This figure implies that two out of every three American adults are obese. This finding suggests  that thousands of Americans are at risk of contracting medical conditions such as diabetes, high-blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and heart attacks. This is  primarily  the reason why the  focus  of  numerous  television advertisements, according to Grannis (2008), has shifted towards  alternative  weight loss solutions for Americans. Some of these solutions have occasionally come under heavy criticism, prob ably due to competitive reasons, yet, they seem to be viable options for losing that extra weight. This  article  gives some of these alternative solutions, their pros and cons, and a  conclusive  argument about each method. Controlled Breathing As a common  exercise  during regular Yoga classes, controlled breathing seems to be the least of the alternatives that can  assist  a person to lose weight.  Nevertheless,  latest studies  reveal  that breathing in a controlled fashion burns excess body fats. How does this occur? A big  portion  of body fat constitutes fragments of oxygen, carbon and hydrogen.  According to WeightLossfor All (2010), addition of oxygen to the body through inhalation will  inevitably  break down the fatty  compound  into water molecules and carbon dioxide and secreted through urination and exhalation respectively. For a normal human being, taking deep breaths that  lasts five seconds in the inhalation process, then exh aling through the mouth, is a  sure  way of achieving this goal. The same  article  advises that one should  exercise  this  procedure  at least eight times every  minute  to burn the fat in the body. Asthanga is a Yoga related  treatment  that uses this breathing technique (Carter, 2010). Scientists have made discoveries that suggest that this hypnosis method converts fats conceived through stress, thyroid issues and poor eating habits into  body  waste. For athletes, using the same method to relax after  vigorous  activity  also helps in burning extra fats in the body.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are certain advantages that are associated with controlled breathing methods. The most  outstanding  advantage  in using this method of losing weight is how cheap it would  possibly  be. According to the mentioned sources, the pe rson engaging in this alternative method will only have to subject himself to controlled breathing. Nevertheless, Carter also points out that there is some information from Yoga experts that one needs to be aware of while practicing these techniques in order to  have the desired effects. Other advantages mentioned by Carter  include  the holistic cleansing of  certain  systems of one’s body. While performing this procedure, she claims that the colon as well as the digestive system receives purification. Large amounts of oxygen in the body works well in detoxifying the internal organs in one’s body. Another  system  that receives cleansing is the respiratory system, whereby eradication of toxic substances that sublime along the lungs takes place. One of the disadvantages of using this  method  as an  alternative  weight loss  method  is that it is slow. It will take a lot of time for a normal person to lose a significant number of pounds. In a ddition, there is a lot of  external  influence  that may hamper this method, including eating habits,  day-to-day  activities and stresses and strains of life. These factors have to  play  to the  person’s  advantage  in  order  for controlled breathing methods to  take  effect entirely (iloveindia.com, 2010). Another disadvantage is the fact that it can  play  as a muscle builder, rather than a relaxation  procedure  for athletes. This is not  particularly  a  disadvantage  for all athletes, but some sports require minimum muscles in certain body parts.  Continuous controlled breathing, according to WeightlossForAll increases the rates at which the heart pumps blood to the body.  This may be hazardous to people with weaker cardiovascular mechanisms. Overall, controlled breathing seems to be quite a  working  method  of losing weight. Though it may require constant  practice  and patience, the advantages of doing this along other weight reduction methods do  bring  the desired results. The use of Lipozene There are  certain  pills called Lipozenes that may assist in loss of  weight  in a quicker way than the methods mentioned earlier. Lipozene is made from  konjac, a plant with tough fibers. It has the ability to  make  the user feel full by slowing down the food digestion process (Monson Schoenstadt, 2009). Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Weight Loss Alternatives specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nevertheless, Monson in his  review  asserts that there is a need for much research to  determine  the degree of its  effect  in reduction of weight loss in a  normal  human being. Primary suggestions show that Lipozene contains a  certain  ingredient, glucomannan, which has an  effect  on the fatty tissue of the human body.   According to Grannis,  there  are suggestions that seem t o  validate  the above  theory  by stating that glucomannan has the  ability  to reduce the sugar level of the user (2008). In addition, the article mentions that it also lowers cholesterol and fat qualtities in the body. On face value, the drug seems to give quite an innovative way to coerce the human being into reducing fats in the body.  The direct  advantage  of using Lipozene is that the  pill  itself is a  supplement. This means that the  drug  contains all the advantages that supplements have, that is, it is a fiber. As stated earlier, fibers assists in the digestive system of the  body  by cleaning it up. The other advantage is that fiber in the digestive system reduces the amount of food that one consumes. Hawarth, a specialist in  nutrition  as mentioned in Askville (2008)  asserts  that 14 grams of fiber each day in the diet can reduce the amount of  real  food that the person would otherwise consume by 4 pounds. This significan t reduction in the end gives us our second  advantage; controlled eating habits. Finally, the chemical within this ingredient has some medicinal value.  Glucomannan,  as stated earlier  does not only reduce a person’s  weight, but also assists the body through reduction of blood sugar and cholesterol (Kennedy, 2010).  The balancing of these two factors in one’s body is  necessary, and since  overweight  people suffer from these imbalances, this chemical content might be of value in their recovery. Natural ways Natural ways of losing weight are the steadiest and most  consistent  ways of according to some health experts. The  body  itself can burn the fat that an  overweight  individual has in their body; it only takes  healthy  and permanent changes in how one perceives food. Instead of removing unhealthy foods from ones diet abruptly, one can  begin  by adding healthier foods to their diet. This will ensure that they are  full  and will have less  space  in their stomach for the unhealthy foods. Increasing ones protein intake helps them to  feel  full for longer periods because they increase the amount of time it takes the food to reach the stomach (Nicks, 2010);  vegetables and fruits also  provide  vitamins and phytonutrients that make one  full.  Eating healthy boosts one’s energy leading them to start exercising, this helps in  naturally  burning accumulated fats as well as boosting more energy. New research has shown that exercises release a hormone that suppresses ones appetite naturally.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Physical activity lowers the risk of high-blood pressure, heart disease and heart attacks, and, at the same time, lowering the cholesterol levels in the body, which lead to clogged arteries (Mayo, 2010). One down side to going to the gym or jogging to lose weight is that it can lead to  many  injuries incase one is using the  equipment  in the wrong way or if they  strain  themselves too much. In addition, incase ones  schedule  becomes too busy and  stop  the  exercise  that they had begun, it will  lead  to one gaining weight all again. Aromatherapy The  word  aromatherapy seems as if it has nothing to do with weight loss. On the contrary, Aromatherapy motivates one to  diet  or even  go  for  exercise. Smell  therapy  also stimulates some feelings as well as memories (Ehrlich, 2009). For example, the use of grapefruit oil is a  common  exercise motivator for people who want to keep fit. On the down low, aromatherapy is  an  ex tremely expensive form of healing that requires a lot of equipment, a lot of  knowledge  in chemistry and it consumes a lot of time. The aroma of some foods motivates people to eat, as is the case where one enters a restaurant and orders something because it smells appetizing. This can lead to overeating and thus a person ends up adding more weight. Acupuncture The Chinese have used this  approach  as a form of  therapy  for many centuries. The most experienced acupuncturist studies how energy flows in the body and how it impedes or controls digestion. It has been proven that metabolism impediments can be unblocked if needles are applied in the  specific  body regions (Helmz, 2006). This procedure also helps the  body in controlling a raging  appetite  as well as keeping the individual on track in their  goal  for weight loss. Acupuncture though being low-risk  can have some dangers associated to it.  Failure to sterilize the needles can cause disease transmission having in mind that the transmission of Hepatitis B and C is possible even when using sterilized needles.  Placing the needles carelessly can cause damage to the brain, lungs and other organs incase deep needling is done in these areas.   On a less serious note, some people have complained of headaches, fatigue, and  nausea  or even in other cases, a worsening of the symptoms after acupuncture. Drinking water The kidneys need a lot of water to be able to clean up the blood (Donald, 2010).  If there is not enough water, the liver performs both of these roles, a  function  that will lead to it lowering  productivity  reduction, which is converting fats to energy.  The above inefficiency leads to the body storing up fats and leads to weight gain. Some experts say that drinking cold water enhances burning of fat, which eventually leads to weight loss and  in addition,  drinking a lot  of water leads to a loss of appetite, which is a step in the ri ght direction for anyone who wants to look  lean  and  healthy. Giving the  body  a lot of water makes it to eliminate the water that it had stored in places like the ankles, thighs or even around the belly in order to create a balance. This can be a  disadvantage  because if one goes through a long  period  without water, the body will have no  reserve  to depend on. Detox and Raw Diets Detox diets are those diets that get rid of impurities in the  body, the body’s inability to remove these toxins leads to illness. Toxins  are  poisonous substances that interfere with the bodies normal functions (Wong, 2010). Raw diets are meals that are made up of uncooked foodstuff. These diets lead to  fast  and natural weight loss that improves people’s health at the same time boosting their energy. Though they have many advantages, these types of weight loss  alternatives require  total commitment; detox diets usually lead to cases of low  im munity  and nutrient  deficiency; some foods  gain  nutritional  value  after being cooked. Some people’s digestive systems cannot handle raw foods because of the nature of the foods despite having all the enzymes they  require. Colon cleansing The colon is a  vital  part in the digestive system, but if toxins  clog  it with wastes and fecal  material, it does not work effectively because the body gets tired quickly and lacks the  energy  to burn the fat. When a colon is cleansed the necessary nutrients and vitamins can be absorbed more easily and incase one is on a diet, they can  follow  it without difficulty. This  practice  supplies a person with additional energy, reduces the  weight  and enhances metabolism. Colon cleansing is  specific  to an individual. One can lose a lot of  weight  from a colon cleanse diet while another may not. Some factors that lead to this  disparity  include eating habits, metabolism, and exe rcise routines. Some colon cleanse diets like the lemon juice stipulates that no solid foods are allowed for a period of ten days, during this time, one has to take a salt-water flush while during the afternoon they  take  laxative tea each morning. These  diet  requirements  are quite a challenge and force many people to quit a few days after they have started the weight loss program. Bariatric Surgery This surgery places a  physical  obstacle to the calories that one can take over a period.  Some procedures  act  as  early  signs of  fullness  while others act as a barrier.  This leads to an  individual  eating less food and then their body turns to the excess  fat  that it has stored as an immediate source of energy. The common types of this surgery are gastric bypass, gastric banding and gastroplasty. Many patients have successfully gone through these procedures making it a remarkably  safe  and effective weight loss  method. However , like every other surgery, it can  get  complex  and  has  its own risks. Conclusion There are  very  many ways of losing weight, whereby each has its  advantages  and disadvantages. It is in the hands of  whoever is losing the  weight  to  choose  the  method  that is most  suitable  and convenient for them. Someone ought to be extremely careful in choosing which method to  employ, giving preference to those that have the least risks as compared to their effectiveness. References Askville. (2008). How does lipozene work to assist users in losing weight? Retrieved from http://askville.amazon.com/lipozene-work-assist-users-losing-weight/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=10716538 Carter, D. (2010). Yoga Weight Loss A Healthy Alternative: Penetration of Disaster. Retrieved from http://www.preventionofdisaster.org/article/yoga-weight-loss-a-healthy-alternative Donald, S. (2010). The Water Health Report: How eight glasses a day keeps the fat off! Retrieved from http://www.colonhealth.net/free_reports/h2oartcl.htm Ehrlich, D. (2009). Aromatherapy. Medical Center. MA: University of Maryland. Retrieved from http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/aromatherapy-000347.htm Grannis, J. (2008). Effective Lipozene alternatives for losing weight quickly. Helium:Diet and Weight loss. Retrieved from http://www.helium.com/items/779044-effective-lipozene-alternatives-for-losing-weight-quickly Helmz, M. (2006). Doctor, what’s this Acupuncture all About. Retrieved from http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/acu_info/articles/aboutacupuncture.html Hendrick , B. (2010). Americans Are Eating Poorly, Exercising Less, and Getting Bigger, Survey Finds. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/about-webmd-policies/default.htm?ss=ftr Ilonveindia. (2010). Yoga for Weight Reduction: Yoga Benefits. Retrieved from http://yoga.iloveindia.com/yoga-benefits/weight-reduction.html Kennedy, D., (2010). What Are the Benefits of Lipozene. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/fact s_5002039_what-benefits-lipozene.html Mayo, C. (2010). Exercise: A drug-free approach to lowering high blood pressure. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/HI00024 Monson, K., and Schoenstadt, A. (2009). Lipozene. Retrieved from http://weight-loss.emedtv.com/lipozene/lipozene.html Nicks, J. (2010). How to Fix a Slow Digestive System. Retrieved from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/slow-digestive-system.html WeightLossForAll. (2010). Can breathing really affect potential weight loss. Retrieved from http://www.weightlossforall.com/breathing-techniques-x.htm Wong, C. (2010). Learn About the Detox Diet. Retrieved from http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/dietarytherapy/a/Detox_Diet_Plan.htm This essay on Weight Loss Alternatives was written and submitted by user Mr.Immortal to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.