Beyond the Blue Horizon...: WHY: Diets Don't Work and How They Can

I think I've tried just about every diet under the sun. From fads to fantasy to fitness to finding out that I really just have to experiment with my own body chemistry using whole foods...plus a few cheats ;) The following (edited) article is a pretty good overview of some of the things to know when becoming a scientist in the laboratory of your own body.

Weightloss - Understanding Why Diets Don't Work Discovering What Does Work

"Let's talk about fat people" the skinny little comedian on stage said, I and one other lady, instinctively got up to leave the lounge. Bad mistake. Suddenly we were unwilling participants in his cruel joke! He toyed with us for several minutes leaving us in tears. Of course he apologized profusely immediately afterwards.
And then he did something amazing, he rolled out a full size standup cutout photo, from behind the curtain. It was of him, only at 450 Pounds! He went on to explain how even medical science had failed to help him all his life. How diet after diet had failed, only to leave him fatter. By the end of his "ACT" we had been in tears several more times, mostly with laughter.
So, what finally worked for him? First he stopped trying to starve himself. He ate a lot of food, even more than usual. Treated himself to sweets even occasional chocolate. And get this, he started Drinking alcohol! Red wine to be exact. That's right, it's not how much you eat or drink, but what you eat and drink, and some sweets or calories actually help you loss weight.

Here's Why and How

Why? When you don't eat enough your body thinks it needs more, so it starts to save, it begins to store away what ever it can. Mostly FAT! Your body makes fat cells to store it. This is called starvation or survival mode. Your body needs some fat and fat cells, without any fat in your body you would die. Don't let anyone tell you that you can get rid of fat cells, you can't. Well, only with liposuction. Once your body makes a fat cell it's there for life. And your body only makes these when it feels like it needs them, in other words when it's hungry. Ever hear someone say they can think about food and gain weight? It's True. Never let yourself go hungry!
Your body needs calories for energy. If you're dieting (low calorie) and exercising, your body isn't burning fat, it's burning muscle. Calories are converted to energy, energy is what burns fat out of the fat cells or shrinks them. This is called metabolism. It's the rate at which the body turns calories into energy. Ever know someone who can eat and eat and still be thin? Most thin people have a fast metabolism. Their metabolism is "SET" faster. The point at which your metabolism is set is called a "Set Point." Some people's bodies actually burn more fat while they are sitting or even sleeping than other peoples bodies do running! The bad thing is, we inherit a certain set point and even a certain number of fat cells. That's why fat runs in families. The good thing is, your set point can be Changed.
How? By eating high calorie low fat and carbohydrate foods. Sounds simple enough doesn't it? But wait, remember when I said you need some fat? There are actually some fats that will help you lose weight. CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), a fat found in sunflower seed and borage oil, was recently in the news, as scientist found that it helped convert fat into muscle. CLA like GLA are called essential fatty acids. They are needed for the regulation of fat metabolism. And high calories, well isn't plain white sugar higher in calories than anything? What you need to understand is there are good fats and bad, as well as good sugars and bad. The same goes for just about everything you eat and drink.
Read food labels and try to find the good fats and low carbohydrates. Don't count calories. Count fats and carbohydrates. Below are some lists and tips to help you out.

What Are the "Good" Fats?

Peanut oil - Monounsaturated fat helps reduce levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Seed oils - like Sunflower seed oil, Borage oil, Flaxseed oil, provide essential fatty acids, CLA and GLA.
Avocados are rich in essential fatty acids and provide natural Magnesium.
Evening Primrose oil - is a direct, natural source of GLA an essential fatty acid critical in the production of prostaglandin's. In the body prostaglandin's help with the regulation of fat metabolism. They also support inflammatory response, the various hormones in the body, and the cardiovascular, central nervous, and immune systems.
Fish oils - containing the Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.
Olive oil (especially extra virgin or unrefined) is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants, helps reduce levels of total and LDL cholesterol. It contains a remarkable substance known as oleuropein which has the amazing ability to invade foreign cells, ingest them, thereby stopping the virus/bacteria/fungus/free radical, etc. from reproducing.
Coconut Oil
Fresh butter (in moderation)l

What are "Bad" Fats? Trans Fats?

Margarine
Hydrogenated or Partially Hydrogenated fats (Very Bad)
Refined vegetable oils
Saturated fats, in excess
Most polyunsaturated fats

Fried foods are OK in moderation, as long as they are fried in good fats (oils). (Tip), Never reuse cooking oil, as the heating process converts the good oil to Bad! Use mayonnaise or salad dressings that are made with olive, seed or nut oils.

What are the Bad Sugars?

Refined white sugar or cane sugar (Worst)
Brown sugar (Bad)
Sucralose and Acesulfame K (Toxic) Look for studies over the next few years to debunk the "natural goodness" of these chemicals.
Nutrasweet or Aspartame (Toxic) There are more adverse reactions to Nutrasweet reported to the FDA than all other foods and additives combined. In certain individuals, it can have devastating consequences.
Saccharin, well it's been taken off the "carcinogen" list, but it still isn't considered safe by some.
Refined white sugar or cane sugar (Worst)
Brown sugar (Bad)

What are the Good Sweeteners?

Good sugars: (TIP), some will tell you to stay away from anything sweet. Do Not do this, your body craves sweet! Crave=Hunger=addition of fat cells. When wanting something sweet, good choices are whole foods that are sweet naturally. The fiber is important to help your body not deplete your life force energy.

- Plain fruit, fresh or dried (without additional sweetener)
- Stevia herb - (the very best)
- Pure Grade B maple syrup (in moderation)
- Honey or Royal Jelly - (in moderation)
- Fructose (a backup emergency, better than using sugar for those cookies!)

Breads and Starches

So many foods contain starch that to remove all starch from the diet is impossible. Foods like beans, rice, wheat, oats and all grains, potatoes, squash, many vegetables and fruits. Learning to discriminate between refined (bad) starches, like white bread and flour, and complex (good) starches, like brown rice or whole grains is very important. White bread and refined cerals and pasta do not provide good nutrition and turn to sugar as your body metabolizes them, while hearty whole sprouted grains can provide fiber and nutrition.

Drinks

Red wine? Well it's been proven to reduce bad cholesterol and speed metabolism of fats! If you can't handle alcohol use red wine vinegar. Also pure 100 percent fruit juices are good.
Water, drink it, a lot of it! Lack of water causes the sensation of "hunger."
Tea, most teas can give you a quick energy boost. Some are formulated to help you lose weight. Some excellent tea choices are Green tea, Rooibos, Essiac Tea, Yerba Mate, and most herbal teas. Even black teas can offer some positive benefits.

Supplements and Other Helpers

CLA Conjugated Linoliec Acid
Super Omega 3—6—9 - is a blend of Fish, Borage and Organic Flax Seed Oils.
Kelp - Helps maintain Iodine levels and aids in weight loss.
Astragalus - Aids in glandular functioning, increase metabolism and energy.
WARNING: Ephedra or MaHung is an herb for asthma and allergies not weightloss! Taking it may speed you up for a short period of time but the side effects can be devastating or deadly.

Protein and Fiber

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, local and in season.
Spirulina - is an excellent source of protein.
Vegetarian proteins such as tempeh and seitan are good alternatives to animal protein.
Meat is good source of protein in moderation. Chicken, lean red meat, fish. Try to buy high quality grass fed beef, free range chicken, and meats that are free of hormones and steriods.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamin C - naturally increases the body's metabolism, prompting it to burn more calories, and essential for normal glandular function.
Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc - Magnesium is a good mineral to flush metals from the system and taken along with calcium and zinc they have a calming effect. It is also involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis.
Lecithin - is a natural source Choline & Inositol which are essential for the breakdown of fats and cholesterol. The cell membranes in the body are composed largely of lecithin. These membranes handle the flow of nutrients in and out of the cell. It is a lipid that is required by every single cell in your body. Lecithin is the most abundant of the phospholipids. Scientific studies have shown that lecithin has the ability to break up fat and cholesterol into small particles which can be easily handled by the system. One of the indications of lecithin deficiency is obesity. It helps prevent arterial congestion, helps distribute body weight, cleans the liver and purifies the kidneys. Lecithin also enables fats like cholesterol to be dispersed in water and then carried from your body. In other words, lecithin is a substance that can change fat so that it is water soluble. Like soap changes grease so it can be washed away. It will seek out and destroy fat deposits wherever they are. With nervous, mental or glandular over activity lecithin can be consumed faster than it is replaced.
Molybdenum - is an essential trace mineral that is not well known but it is very important for regulating the body's pH balance. By raising the pH (e.g., 6.1—6.2) the oxygen level in your body increases ten times. This increases nitrogen metabolism which helps your body burn fat.
Digestive Enzymes - When you change your diet, even for the better, your body has to adjust to the new foods you are eating and proper digestion is curtail.
Take a good all natural multivitamin every day for overall health.

Exercise

There it is, you knew it was coming, that terrible Double four letter word. It does evoke a response, kind of a sense of depression. Don't call it exercise! Just simply think of it as movement. Move your body, even when you don't feel up to it. Slow stretching movements do burn excess fat and carbs.
Try some relaxing movements and walk a little everyday, even if it's around the house or office. You will find it gets easier day by day. Look at it this way, when you first get up in the morning it's hard to move, then as the hours pass it gets easier.
This is because your body releases more energy the more you move, so move your body! (TIP) Trick your body into releasing energy, by thinking of running fast. That's right, just thinking about fast movement causes your body to release more energy.

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