There are many proven methods to lose weight, the key is how to lose weight safetly and in a way that changes your body composition from fat to lean. Any restricitve diet will result in weight loss no matter how unhealthy it is, but if as a result you lose muscle tissue then your metabolic rate will decrease and the weight will go back on and more besides. To lose weight safetly, you need to take in fewer calories than you burn, including sufficient glucose to metabolise fat (you cant burn fat without glucose), have a balanced nutritional intake to ensure healthy and complete digestion, and you need to increase your activity to increase your muscle mass. The only place in your body you burn fat is in your muscles, all cells uses glucose exclusively and do not have the ability to metabolise fat. Muscle cells have the greatest energy requirement and this cannot be met by glucose alone so it is combined with fat to meet the increased fuel requirements. Any exercise that increases muscle tone and density combined with good nutrition is the only effective way to lose fat weight and keep a lean healthy body.
The amount of weight lost in the first 7 days is determined by the type of restrictive diet you follow; if you consume a low carb diet (of any variety) then as each 1g glucose enables you to store (for cellular use) 3 g water, then you will experience a heavy fluid loss. Its generally accepted that the 1-2lbs of fat is the maximum you can lose in a week. this is based on the fact to burn 1lb of pure fat you need to expend an additional 3,500 calories. Given that a typical hour long exercise session a moderate/fit individual burns around 500 calories, combined with reduced intake 1-2 lbs after fluid loss is normal.
A deficiency of chromium has been linked to an increase in sugar cravings, specifcally for sweet or high carb foods. If there is a deficiency then a supplement can help reduce these cravings but is best taken as part of a multi vitmain - mineral complex or by specific diagnoses for doseage by a nutritionist.
I am a practising therapist and former personal trainer specialising in weight management. I have a Masters Degree in Nutrition and Exercise Science and am trained in a variety of psychological techniques including NLP, clinical Hypnosis Life Coaching, and Thought Field Therapy (TFT). I have written 3 best selling books on weight loss, the most recent being WEIGHT LOSS IN MIND which comes with a set of audio CDs. I have appeared on television including a spell on GMTV, Channel 4 and have been featured in the Daily Mail. I run one day workshops combining psychological techniques with an easy to follow nutrition system. You can find out more and see TV clips of me in action at www.powertochange.me.uk
