Tag Archives: weight loss

Happy Mammoth Hormone Harmony Review

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Happy Mammoth Hormone Harmony  £54.99 happymammoth.com

I am always wary of supplements even though I tend to be a sucker for them. Sounds like a contradiction? It is, but I won’t put just anything into my body. I had heard of Happy Mammoth and the reviews I have read are brilliant. So I jumped at the chance to review their Hormone Harmony supplement.

I can’t say how impressed I am. I have had three babies and the youngest is two. Losing weight has been hard, especially around my belly. I had an emergency C section and I also have an underachieve thyroid. I exercise as much as I can and try to eat enough protein. I took Happy Mammoth Hormone Harmony for a month and my stomach is flat. It definitely reduced my bloating and fluid retention. While supplements aren’t for everyone this one definitely worked for me. I loved it and I’m considering using it long term. Great stuff.

Contains a blend of plant extracts shown to relieve symptoms of Menopause, decrease symptoms of premenstrual tension, and support reproductive hormones.

  • Reduces bloating and fluid retention in 1 to 3 days
  • Eliminates hot flashes in as little as 4 to 7 days
  • Induces deep, uninterrupted sleep in 5 to 7 days
  • Starts shifting hormonal weight in 15 to 30 days

Breast cancer survivor shares her “life-saving” 5 stone, 10-pound weight loss

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Sandra Dalton-Goldspink, 49, from Hull had a series of health problems, including breast cancer and fibromyalgia. Her health issues kick started Sandra’s determination to change her life, inspired by her dream wedding vow renewal. Sandra lost 5 stone 10 pounds following the Fast 800 programme, transforming her health.

“I used to eat mindlessly”, explains Sandra. “I loved takeaways on a Friday night, and I ate a lot of processed foods. I would have a slice of pizza or a pasty, snack on my son’s leftovers, followed by dinner and then crisps or a toastie in the evening. I didn’t realise how much food I was eating. You think you’re doing no harm, but realistically you are. I was a size 24, and weighed 18 stone 12 pounds at my heaviest.”

Sandra’s weight impacted her overall health. “I had no energy, I couldn’t walk very far without getting out of breath. My joints were so painful from carrying the excess weight that my husband had to rub cream on them in the evenings. I have fibromyalgia, and the doctor said I was severely obese and needed to lose weight to improve my health. I also have IBS, which of course was connected to what I was eating. I didn’t realise that the processed foods I was eating were amongst the worst things I could eat for my IBS until a nutritionist told me. Even a family member said I should lose weight. But I didn’t listen to anyone until I got breast cancer.”

In late December 2020, Sandra started to experience pain in her chest, and was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I have had a full mastectomy, and I wear my scar with pride. I am now cancer free, but this was the wakeup call I needed. My breast cancer was caused by exposure to oestrogen, and the doctor said I needed to eat more healthily to improve my recovery. I am vegetarian and liked to eat soya and tofu. I didn’t know that these two foods were connected to oestrogen production. I became terrified to eat anything, I thought with every mouthful I was putting oestrogen in my body. Then I discovered the Fast 800 – a science based programmewhich was developed Dr Michael Mosley – and my life changed.”

 

Sandra followed TV presenter and Fast 800 ambassador Saira Khan on Instagram, and started to join in with her daily exercise sessions on social media. When Saira talked about the Fast 800, which follows the ethos of the Mediterranean diet, Sandra thought the diet could help her.

 

“I was already trying to be a bit healthier”, says Sandra. “But I was still having takeaways every week – I thought that because it was a vegetarian meal it would be fine. When Saira shared the plan, I felt that as it’s only a 12-week programme, it was achievable. I started the Fast 800 in July 2021, and lost nearly two stone in the first two weeks. At first, I felt a bit hungry as I was getting used to the quantities of food. But after a few days, I felt full! I was so used to eating so much food, it was a shock to the system, but this new plan showed me the amount of food my body actually needed.”

 

A new way of life

“I had never eaten half of the stuff I eat now, but it’s so tasty”, says Sandra. “This is my lifestyle for the rest of my life now. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

Sandra’s health, and confidence, has transformed following her new lifestyle. “I can walk a lot more easily now and can bend my body properly. I don’t get out of breath in the way I used to. And I am so much more confident. People used to make cruel remarks to me in the street, which only made me comfort eat more. Now, I feel like the person I used to be years ago, before the weight crept on – which was about 15 years ago.”

Sandra and her husband Andrew’s families were friends, and the pair have known each other since childhood. Andrew has wanted to renew their wedding vows for years, but Sandra has resisted due to her weight. Now, it is intended to happen next year. “I had a crush on my husband since I was eight. We wanted renew our vows as we didn’t get married in a church. Andrew always wanted to do it, but I wouldn’t agree as I felt too big. Now I want to celebrate our marriage, and I’m going to treat myself to a new dress to wear on the day. I never liked having my photo taken, but I’m excited to see photos from my big day.”

 

As Sandra invested in her health, she started exercising more too. “I follow Saira’s exercise sessions on Instagram, and the Fast 800 have a brilliant exercise portion of their programme too. I never dreamed I would be able to wear leggings like other women, but now I do. It’s the little things that help me understand how much my life has changed.”

Sandra realised how much weight she had lost when her extended family got together for her dad’s birthday. “Due to Covid-19, I hadn’t seen everyone i n a while, and no-one could believe it was me! My cousin said I looked like a whole new person. My mum said I looked really nice in my outfit. It used to be so rare to get a comment like that, it was lovely to receive that compliment.”

 

Sandra’s experience following the Fast 800

“The Fast 800, and Saira, have saved my life, I really do believe that”, says Sandra. “If I can transform my health, anyone can. It is the best thing I have done in my life. I am so much happier and healthier now. I didn’t think I would have the willpower, and I feel so much better. I would tell anyone in my position to be positive, and try it for themselves.”

 

Sandra shares her favourite elements of the Fast 800:

“The food is lovely. The plan has such a variety of food to choose from, it cut the shopping time in half and stopped me worrying about what to eat”, Sandra says “And the exercise tips help. I like the meditation section, it’s a nice, soothing way to start and end my day. I also like thespecial shakes you can eat as part of the plan– the chocolate is my favourite.”

“The community is amazing. People share their stories and motivate each other. Someone said I was a true inspiration, and that meant so much to me. I’d love to help other people going through what I did.”

  • A 12-week programme on www.thefast800.com costs £99 and includes:
    • Meal plans for The Very Fast 800, The New 5:2 and Med-style diets, with vegetarian options
    • Three calorie-counted meals per day based on healthy, gut-friendly Mediterranean-style food
    • Over 400 tasty and easy-to-make recipes unique to the online programme
    • Shopping lists – just print and go, or use the list to help with your online grocery shop
    • Guided exercise plans – all suited to the home, no equipment necessary
    • Lots of tips and support on how to adapt your routine
    • Health Coaches on hand for advice, support and motivation
    • A lively and inspirational cohort of members, united by a common goal to improve health
    • Weekly motivational articles and videos, so you can make these changes for life!

 

Major new book – Weight Loss for Life, from Johns Hopkins University

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I have had three children and my weight has fluctuated after every one of them. My third is almost one and now I want to lose the weight so I was interested in reading this book. I am glad I did. It is a comprehensive and non-judgemental plan backed by the latest, and best, science. I found it easy to read and follow. I highly recommend it.

Major new book – Weight Loss for Life, from Johns Hopkins University’s Healthful Eating, Activity & Weight Programme

Weight Loss for Life

The Proven Plan for Success

By Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD, And Kimberly A. Gudzune, MD, MPH

This is not a fad diet book. This is the most comprehensive, scientifically based-programme to lose weight and keep it off, with practical details about diet and nutrition, movement and motivation, medications, supplements, surgery, and more.

In Weight Loss for Life, two experts from the Johns Hopkins Healthful Eating, Activity & Weight Programme provide you with all of the information you need on your weight lossjourney. They bring together leading experts in behavioural health, nutrition, exercise, and nursing to help you develop a plan that works best for you—and one that’s not just focused on just restricting calories or certain foods. Anyone struggling with unwanted weight gain or obesity will find this programme to be helpful, compassionate, and clear.

A central feature of the programme is a Personal Plan of Action to help you set up reachable goals, plan your meals, and make time for movement. All the recommendations are customisable based on your personal health and needs. You’ll find interactive features too, with surveys throughout asking you to reflect on your own eating habits as well as barriers to success. And unlike other books Weight Loss for Life covers it all: supplements, prescription medications, med spas, and surgical options. If you struggle, it can help you get back on track. Throughout, testimonials from others who have followed the programme along with hundreds of photographs and drawings will help educate and keep you motivated along your weight loss journey.

Weight Loss for Life is the guide to the science and art of achieving and maintaining a healthful weight.

“This evidence-based, easy-to-understand approach to weight loss provides readers with the appropriate tools they need to be successful long term in reaching their own individualized goals. More comprehensive than other weight loss books on the market, this book is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to lose weight safely and effectively.” – Virginia Quick, PhD, RDN, Rutgers University

Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD, is Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Professor and Chair of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University. Kimberly Anne Gudzune, MD, MPH, is Associate Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where she is the director of Johns Hopkins Healthful Eating, Activity & WeightProgramme.

Hardback, 400 pages, 131 colour photos, 10 colour illus., 9781421441948, £22.00

https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12203/weight-loss-life

 

Can Keto Pills Actually Help You to Lose Weight?

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last three years, ‘keto’ is a word you’ll have heard before. While most of us have only a passing familiarity with the term, we generally know that it has something to do with a certain diet trend.

Though some have written it off as just another fad, keto has nonetheless gained a lot of traction among its followers and the public at large, with many having claimed to see great results with regards to meeting their weight loss goals.

As a result, a whole industry has grown around the idea, with keto pills being one of the most popular products on the market. Claiming to aid in weight loss and make it easier to drop a dress size, they promise to activate in the body a mechanism known as ‘ketosis’, which we’ll explain in more detail below.

But do they actually work? According to the experts, the answer may surprise you.

What are keto pills and how do they work?

weight loss, pills, do they work?

Source: Pixabay

Keto pills have generated a lot of discourse in recent years. They’ve made their way into the mainstream, many have doubted their efficacy, but there are also those who swear by them as a weight loss aid.

Keto pills function in a similar way to the keto diet. The keto diet works by sending your body into a state of ketosis. This is a specific type of metabolic process whereby your system burns fat instead of glucose to generate energy, thus getting rid of the fat deposits already at its disposal: your extra weight.

This ketosis is achieved by eating foods that are high in fat and low in carbohydrates, and typically takes around four days to occur. Once the process had been activated, the body sends fat cells to the liver, where they’re converted into ketones and used for energy.   

In keto pills, the concept is the same: to increase the level of ketones in your blood. However, rather than requiring the individual to cut out carbohydrates from their diet, they instead utilise something known as medium-chain triglycerides. Usually found in foods that are high in saturated fat, such as coconuts and palm oil, these work to stimulate the ketones in your blood, produce a state of ketosis, and thus catalyse weight loss.        

Are keto pills safe?

In order to prove their detractors wrong, some keto pill manufacturers have been willing to put their products through rigorous tests. At least five have appeared, for example, on US reality show Shark Tank, with reviews for Shark Tank keto pills advising that they’re a safe aid for weight loss for those interested in using them.    

The only downside to taking keto pills is that they can initially cause headaches as a side effect (although this is not the case for everyone who uses them). However, even those are affected need not worry, as this is nothing more than indicative of the body adapting to ketosis and typically resolved within a few days.

Do keto pills work as well as a keto diet?

Source: Pixabay

While keto pills can almost certainly aid with weight loss, experts do suggest that they’re slightly less effective than the diet they’re based on. That’s because, while they stimulate ketone production, they’re unable to replicate all of the benefits of this diet.

In particular, they do not lower either circulating insulin or glucose levels, with experts suggesting that these two boons are likely of equal benefit to increased ketone levels themselves.  

Are keto pills something you would be willing to try to aid with your weight loss goals? 

Collaborative brand content.

My Favourite Personal Trainers PTs | Wellness

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I don’t go to the gym. It is not that I do not want to, it is that I like to save time and money. Sweating in front of strangers is not my idea of fun either, so I workout at home. This has not stopped me finding some amazing personal trainers. YouTube is full of them. I love PopSugar Fitness, Fitness Blender and Joe Wicks. I cannot recommend these sites enough and I hope you check them out. They have changed not only my body, but my life. Here are some of my favourite personal trainers and their workouts.

Jeanette Jenkins.

Jeanette takes no prisoners. She does an INSANE 500 calorie workout. She helped me lose a stone in weight. She is so happy and positive. I feel so happy after doing her workouts. Hell, I even feel happy while doing it. Even if it hurts like hell.Check out all of her workouts. They are all amazing.

Amy Rosoff Davis

Amy is another brilliant trainer. I did the workout below three times a week when my daughter was a few months old and I lost half a stone and completely changed my body shape. Her focus on BarreCore looks easy but is hard as hell. It really reshapes your body. Her other workouts are great too. She trains Selena Gomes.

Kelly and Daniel from Fitness Blender have a huge amount of amazing workout videos. They even have workout programs which are cheap and that makes sure you workout different muscles each day. Their site is work a look: Fitness Blender. One of their great workouts is below.

I am now focusing on keeping the weight off. Okay, okay, I should not be too hard on myself as the three times I put on a lot of weight I had either had an injury or had a baby. But the above people helped me get fit and healthy each time. I find it hard to lose weight and keep it off now. Make sure you go at your own pace. I have done low impact modifications when I have hurt my knee or am starting up again. These are my recommendations. They worked for me, I hope they work for you too.

 

In Search of Wellness | Catherine Balavage’s New Health Column

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healthy eating, food, mushrooms, broccoli , It started with abject fear. The radiologist would not meet my eye. They were all smiles when I first arrived. I have had scans before and I know, without a doubt, that this time they have found something. When I go home I tell my husband they found something. He tells me I am being silly but I saw it in the radiologists eyes.

It is a week until the doctor calls me with the results. They have found nodules on my thyroid. I had told the doctor about my persistent sore throat many times. ‘I am going to be alright though?’ I ask the doctor. I cannot tell you that she replies. Everything feels very real. All I can think of is my two little children.

In another three weeks I have more tests and another scan. The consultant decides that they are not worried after all. I feel like I can breathe again. The weight of burden being lifted makes the world even brighter than before. But then I feel angry at myself. I have taken my body and my health for granted. I read an article in a newspaper that having sugar in your tea increases your risk of cancer. I rarely have a soft drink but I love chocolate and in July 2019 I took two sugars in my tea.

When this happened I was overweight. Not by much, but enough to make me worry. I have since lost a stone, stopped taking sugar in my tea, exercised frequently, and improved my diet. There was a huge difference in every aspect of my life. After I cut out sugar a lot of people told me my skin looked amazing and I was glowing. I stopped having those awful sugar crashes. You do not realise how awful sugar and caffeine makes you feel with the constant highs and subsequent crashes.

I have started this column to talk about my progress. Not just the weight loss but the improvement that happened to my health. The highs and lows, along with my relapses.

In November I had a medical emergency that required urgent surgery. I almost died. A few weeks after the surgery I got severe pneumonia in both lungs and ended up going in and out of hospital. The past three months have been the worst of my life but I refuse to let it break me. This column will cover everything about wellness as I become the fittest and healthiest I have ever been. From healthy eating, exercise and meditating; if it is about health I will cover it and give you the low down. Here goes.

Struggling To Get Pregnant? Losing Weight Will Help

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Dr Sally Norton – UK leading NHS weight loss surgeon & consultantOne of the many reasons that women, and occasionally men, come to see me for weight loss advice is because they want to start a family, but are struggling. Did you know that obesity is a major cause of difficulty getting pregnant – and can increase the risk of miscarriage or problems during pregnancy and childbirth? In fact, there is a significantly greater risk of diabetes during pregnancy if you are overweight – and this can affect the future health of your child as well as you.

Research evidence shows that being overweight can contribute to period problems, hormonal imbalances, lack of ovulation, resistance to fertility treatment and therefore fertility problems particularly in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

There is a higher risk of miscarriage, higher risk of abnormalities of the baby as well as still birth in women who are overweight. The pregnant overweight mother is also at higher risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and difficult or complicated delivery of the baby by Caesarean or forceps.

Some women end up seeking help with IVF (in-vitro fertilization) or other forms of fertility treatment, but this isn’t usually funded unless women are below a BMI of 30 or under the age of 40 – which is why I get women coming to me for weight-loss surgery. They are desperate, the clock is ticking, and they can’t seem to lose weight on their own. It’s sad to see, and the stress of it all doesn’t help fertility in the slightest!

Interestingly it’s not all about the woman’s weight. In men, being obese can cause the following problems: reduced semen volume, a reduced sperm count and increased sperm DNA damage. Losing weight will improve these parameters.

So, if you are thinking of starting a family, it is a great incentive for both you and your partner to lose weight. But you have to make sure you do it in a way that is good for you. Fad dieting which will starve your body of essential nutrients which, for women, is just at the time when you and your unborn child need them most. In fact, some studies suggest that a mother’s diet, even BEFORE she actually gets pregnant, can affect the health of her child. So instead of crash dieting, treat your body with the care and respect it deserves – after all, you’ll be relying on your body to create a healthy new life within it. Fill it with the most nutritious food you can find, keep active to ensure you are as fit as you can be – and not only will you be rewarded with a slimmer healthier body but you will find it easier to get pregnant too.

By Dr Sally Norton – UK leading NHS weight loss surgeon & consultant

 

 

5 Ways to Keep Your Willpower in Tip-Tip Condition

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By Dr Sally Norton.

Weight Loss Surgeon, Health Expert, Founder of www.vavista.com

Anti Gravity yoga , Anti-Gravity Yoga and Ballet Barre Conditioning at The London Dance Academy, barrel ballet, conditioning. fitness, sport“If something is going to work, it has to be easy to sustain. In other words, you don’t need much willpower to make it happen and to keep it up for good. We all know that our self-discipline can flag when we are tired and stressed, so we shouldn’t rely overly much on it. Any changes that you decide to make must therefore be easy to keep up, even in difficult situations. That usually means that they need to be small changes, that don’t mean too much disruption to your normal life. But lots of small and easy to sustain changes add up, which is what we are looking for when it comes to successful, sustainable, long-term weight loss.”

 

1. Get enough sleep – people who are well-rested are more likely to make healthy choices.

2. Don’t expect to be able to make too many difficult choices. A recent study showed that people faced with a stressful task to work on, and then asked to choose between different foods tended to make less healthy food choices; it’s as though their willpower and concentration can only focus on one thing at a time! Accept it, and don’t ask too much of yourself at any one time.

3. Think long-term. A recent study showed that people who keep their sights on more long-term goals tend to achieve more than those who focus on short-term rewards.

4. Think about the common reasons why you may fail in your efforts and take steps to prevent the sabotage. It may be friends or family who tempt you away from your path – how can you stop them? It may be that you are always too exhausted to go the the gym after work – think of a different way or different time to exercise instead that you will find easier to keep up.

5. Be kind to yourself. If your willpower slips, it isn’t the end. Just think about why – were you tired, were you overly stressed, were you asking too much of yourself? Use it as a learning experience and address the reason why you deviated from the path you have chosen for yourself rather than beating yourself up about it – then it is much less likely to happen again.

So, don’t ask too much of your willpower, it is scientifically shown to be pretty unreliable! Instead, adopt new habits that require minimal willpower to maintain and you will succeed in spite of your willpower, rather than because of it!