How to get Flat Sexy Abs and a Flat Stomach and a ….

Good morning,

Flat abs. Flat abs. Flat ABS!

Turn on any TV infomercial in creation and chances are, you’ll see ads for gizmos that guarantee “flat abs” if you use it religiously (and of course, add in diet and exercise and all those goodies too).

The thing is, however, you already HAVE flat abs. Abs, by their nature, are flat muscles. Your abs, however, are probably simply covered with fat.

To get a flat stomach, you need to lose weight all around. You simply cannot decree, I shall drop the 44 pounds that are currently glomping onto my waist! Spot reduction is a myth – you cannot say from where you’ll begin to lose.

Flat AbsI wrote a free report on the ultimate Abs exercise – simply click on that picture and sign up for free to receive it! You’ll find lots of resources for other abs exercises as well…not to mention, the key trick towards successfully losing weight and keeping it off.

Remember, sellers of infomercials and other quick-fix products are often simply selling you the dream. Become a smart consumer instead – you’ll uncover the weight loss and exercise program that works best for you.

Enjoy,

Barbara

ps – Still want abs stuff? Consider:

Obese? Weight loss surgery – getting the facts and resources

Good morning,

Many people who are obese are looking into weight loss surgery (Bariatric surgery) to help them lose the weight. The challenges they run into, however, can be many….long-term weight loss always requires an eating lifestyle change, and several individuals have actually put the weight back on. For example, here’s a thread about one such instance:

… No matter how someone loses weight, they do have to really work it. Some people are lucky in that they can eat more calories and exercise less while others have to exercise daily and carefully watch what they eat. I find I am someone who needs to exercise every day and I need to carefully watch what I eat.

Although I don’t know a lot about weight loss surgery, from what I’ve heard and seen, I think you were misguided by your doctor in him telling you that you didn’t have to participate in your weight loss (lose despite yourself) and that your stomach wouldn’t stretch out. There is no pill, surgery or device that can make us lose weight without us being an active participant.…MORE….

Choosing to undergo weight loss surgery can be grueling. But there’s lots of research you can do to help you make the decision, including:

Here are some acronyms and glossary words used with Weight Loss Surgery:

Anastamosis – the place where two organs are joined together with staples or stitches. This is done when the surgeon fastens stomach to intestine, and intestine to intestine.

BMI (Body Mass Index) – measurement describing a person’s individual weight condition

BMI Calculator – A free online tool that used to determine an individual’s Body Mass Index.

BP – Blood Pressure

Banding – when a band is placed around the top part of the stomach to make it smaller. You will feel full faster, and learn to reduce the amount of food you can eat. No bypass is performed.

Bariatric Surgery – Generic term for any number of surgical procedures performed to treat morbid obesity, including Gastric Stapling, Morbid Obesity Surgery, Stomach Reduction Surgery, Stomach Stapling Obesity Surgery, and Weight Loss Surgery.

Bariatric – generalized term describing any number of surgical weight-loss procedures.

Body Mass Index ( BMI ) – a formula to measure obesity using both height and weight. Calculate your BMI

Bypass – when part of your stomach and small intestines are “skipped over” so that fewer calories are absorbed. The stomach is also made smaller to restrict the amount of food you can eat.

Colon – large intestine beginning at the end of the small intestine and ending at the rectum

Comorbidity – a possibly fatal side-effect brought about by a disease process. Excess buildup of fatty tissue can cause comorbidities such as diabetes and heart attacks; specific to morbid obesity.

DS – Duodenal Switch

Dilation – process of enlarging a passage or anastomosis

Digestion – the breaking down and absorption of the food you eat.

Dumping Syndrome – side-effect of bariatric procedures in which food is prematurely released from stomach into the small intestine, resulting in nausea and vomiting. Generally associated with sweets, high-calorie liquids etc.

Duodenal Switch – A bariatric surgery in which surgeons 1.) divide a patient’s stomach into a slender vertical pouch and, 2.) re-route the small intestine to effect malabsorption. This is also known as biliopancreatic Diversion.

Duodenum – the upper section of the small intestine, connects to the stomach.

Esophagus – the tube-like structure that takes food to the stomach after you swallow.

GBP – Gastric Bypass Surgery

GBS – Gastric Bypass Surgery

GERD – Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease

GP – General Practitioner

Gastric – a word that pertains to the stomach, such as gastric bypass or gastric juices.

H Pylori ( helicobacter pylori) – a certain type of bacteria that affects the stomach. It weakens the lining of the stomach stomach which may lead to ulcers.

Ileum – 10 feet of small intestine, responsible for absorption

Jejunum – 10 feet of small intestine; the part responsible for digestion

LB – Lap-Band

LapBand Surgery – a bariatric surgery in which surgeons install an inflatable ring around the upper portion of the stomach. Also known as Adjustable Gastric Banding, Adjustable Lap Band Surgery, Gastric Banding, and Laparoscoptic Gastric Banding.

LapBand – an inflatable ring installed around a patient’s stomach; functions to limit the intake of food into the stomach and to control the release of food into the small intestine.

Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery – a minimally invasive bariatric surgery performed using slender instruments and advanced camera systems. It’s also referred to as Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery.

Laparoscopic – the description of a minimally invasive surgical method in which specially trained surgeons use slender instruments and advanced camera systems to perform delicate surgeries inside the abdominal cavity. This results in smaller surgery openings.

Large Intestine (large bowel) – Most fluids are absorbed here. Waste products are also concentrated and passed through the rectum as stool, or bowel movement.

Leak – if the anastomosis does not form a complete seal, fluid can leak from the pouch or intestine into the abdominal cavity. This is one of the risks of bariatric surgery.

MO – Morbid Obesity

Malabsorption – the incomplete uptake of calories and nutrients. It’s a physical process utilized in bariatric surgeries (ie, roux-en-y gastric bypass) and causes high weight loss by limiting the amount of calories taken in by digestive system.

Morbid Obesity Diet – Strict nutritional diet followed by post-operative bariatric surgery patients that often limits patients to less than 800 calories per day. It’s also known as the After Gastric Bypass Surgery Diet.

Morbid Obesity – the potentially fatal physical condition of having excess fatty tissue. Generally the body mass index exceeds 40 or the person is at least 100 pounds overweight.

NSV – Non-Scale Victory

Obesity Surgery Center – a medical facility specializing in bariatric procedures.

PB – Productive Burp

PCP – Primary Care Physician

Pouch – the part of the stomach that is closed off with staples or a band to make it smaller. It is your “new” stomach where the food is now digested in a smaller space. It will hold 1-2 oz after surgery. The most food it should ever hold is about 4 oz ( half a cup).

RNY – Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

Roux enY – A bariatric surgery in which surgeons 1.) divide a patient’s stomach into a smaller pouch and, 2.) re-route the intestine to effect malabsorption. Also known as Gastric Bypass Surgery.

Saline Solution Port – disc-like device implanted beneath the skin of patient’s torso, used to adjust the constriction of the LapBand.

Slime – What comes up before the Productive Burp

Small Intestine (small bowel) – food is mostly digested and absorbed here. Chemicals help break the food down, and some fluid is also absorbed. The small intestine has three sections: the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum.

Stomach – an organ that stores food, digests food, and sends it slowly to the small intestine. The stomach also produces certain chemicals that help you absorb certain vitamins.

Strictures – narrowing of anastomosis or section of intestine; often related to scarring or ulcers

Vertical Gastrectomy – A bariatric surgery in which surgeons divide a patient’s stomach into a slender vertical pouch. Also known as Gastroplasty and VBG.

WLS – Weight Loss Surgery

Always do your research first!

Enjoy,

Barbara

ps – here are some bariatric goodies:

Weight loss spot reduction myths – Can you really lose in just one place?

Morning,

Oh, the joys of telling your body, golly gee, you shall lose the 30 pound jumbo tire that’s hiding your belly and ultimate reveal your flat and sexy abs!

Alas, it just doesn’t work like that, you know?

Spot reduction, the banner cry of thousands of infomercials, is a myth.

Let me repeat that.

Spot reduction is a myth.

It does not work.

Your body will lose the weight in the opposite way it put it on. So…if you gained first on your thighs, you’ll lose first on your thighs. You cannot do a bazillion crunches and expect your belly to flatten like a popped Mylar balloon (well okay, you CAN expect that, but you’ll be woefully disappointed).

Here are some great resources regarding spot reduction and dieting and such:

Yes, it truly would be wonderful if, say, you could decree how you will lose weight. But it’s a diet/weight loss myth. It is not true.

This is one reason why many diets can fail – if you go in expecting to lose weight in a certain area, and that doesn’t happen….you might decide, it’s useless, why continue? But that kind of thinking will only lead you further down the road to failure.

Instead of looking for spot-reduction, turn the key in your mind and commit to getting healthy! By doing that, you’ll lose the weight and eventually….the area you want to trim will shrink as well.

It’s up to you.

Enjoy,

Barbara

ps – while strength training doesn’t spot-reduce, it can really help your overall body! Check out:

When your body tells you NO WAY IN HECK!!

Morning,

Well.

Well well.

Well.

I’m due for surgery now in 12 days (that’s the good news!).

The bad news is that my leg problems are increasing daily. I started my beloved circle walk….and after 100 feet, realized…it would be utter insanity to continue it.

So I came back home.

I’m at a crossroads yet again in my life. I want to continue exercising…and at the same time, I know I must give my leg a rest. Thus, perhaps I’ll simply lift weights later on today. But what a personal shock it was for me to realize my current state.

In the interim, I reviewed our dojo’s sword demo, and was able to transcribe all 106 moves. I will bring this paper with me to the hospital; might as well teach myself something while I’m in recovery.

I find myself wanting to be several people at once. I want to run away and hide…yet I want to continue with my karate/self defense until the last possible moment. I want to be by myself so I can drop the confident facade….and at the same time, I want to be in front of my colleagues and conquer all my fear and pain and overcome my current worries. I want to prove to myself that no matter what happens in my life, I will not only survive…but thrive.

12 more days and counting.

And life goes on,

Barbara

ps – Pedometers are great for walking, did you know that?

Tempted by fad diets? Before you spend your money…

Ah, the silver bullet of weight loss – just indulge in a fad diet so extreme it would make an elephant’s toenails fall off…and watch those pounds of flab melt away!

No exercise, no eating changes, nothing different – it’s as though a genie will magically appear to suck out all the fat from your belly and turn you into a hot and svelte sex-god or sex-goddess before you can say “Hey wait! That was my money you just scammed from me!”

It’s human nature – wanting the quick fix can be more tempting than 28 maple frosted Krispy Kreme donuts .

But how many diet fads really work?

Can you count less than one?

It’s common sense really – if you are eating really poorly from the get-go, removing those bazillion calories for a few days will of course result in weight loss (often water weight). But because you never learn how to continue a healthy lifestyle change, the instant you go off your fad diet, the weight comes screaming back.

Thus! The next time the seductive lure of “lose weight by sneezing it off!” rears its sensuous head, consider these extremely useful sources.

It’s the smart consumer who makes the best decisions! Always research things that sound too good to be true…chances are, they’re exactly that.

Enjoy,

Barbara

ps – Want more info about fads?

Happiness is losing two more bathing suit sizes

Well! Today I decided to try swimming once again.

The good news – I’ve lost at least two more sizes! I went from (last year) a size 18 to (3 months ago) a size 12 and now, that just hangs off of me. So I need to visit Sports Authority and check out the size 8s and 10s.

The bad news – my femur exostoses makes swimming really not fun. I can feel the pull of the muscles over that bone lump with every kick I complete. I’m fine with sparring, I’m fine with treadmillizing….but swimming, blah, it’s quite, well, icky.

These things happen, I suppose…after surgery I’m sure that swimming will be part of my physical therapy. Joy joy joy, not.

Surgery happens this month! Yay!

And life continues,

Barbara

ps – Size 8, here we come!

Safe and Smart Internet Weight Loss Edge – coming soon!

Morning,

Well, after several weeks of massively writing exertion, I’m coming quite close to releasing The Safe and Smart Internet Weight Loss Edge book!

This has truly been a labor of love – it’s not enough to write down all of my secrets to my success, but I wanted to go above and beyond…and have gathered almost 900+ categorized weight loss resources to include with the edition.

Wow! What a lot of work this has been! But I’m pretty pleased with the final results. Now all I have to do is design the eBook image, put into place the free dieting/weight loss resources, set up securepay and paypal, announce a pre-launch (you’ll be able to save $20 over the gold price!) and and and….it’s a lot.

Some things that it includes are:

  • How to “turn the key” in your mind so weight loss comes naturally (it’s surprisingly simple to do)
  • What weight loss is really about (it’s not just what you eat!)
  • What’s really going on when diets fail (it’s not the diet itself)
  • How to choose to succeed at weight loss (it’s easier than you think!)
  • How to find the one true reason to lose weight (that speaks to your heart)
  • How you’re probably already exercising (even if you hate it!)
  • How to view yourself as number one (critical for weight loss)
  • How to believe in yourself (key to losing weight)
  • How to customize your “me filter” (and not get scammed by weight loss promises ever again)
  • How to crave getting up and moving (easier than you think!)
  • How to come to peace with yourself about your current situation (no more self-pity!)
  • How to honor your past dieting mistakes and gain strength from them (making this time the last time)
  • How to find tailored online support (so you have weight loss buddies)
  • Where to find weight loss empathy (sharing the struggle makes it that much easier)
  • Why you don’t *need* weight loss scales (getting rid of them will actually help your weight loss)
  • How to forbid scales to rule your emotions (another reason to get rid of them)
  • What to expect when losing weight (more than you’d think!)
  • Why every “diet” known to man fails (it’s really simple when you think about it)
  • Why weight loss plateaus aren’t the end of hope (they happen for a reason)
  • Why “starving yourself” is guaranteed to fail (and make you unhealthy as well)
  • The one thing better than a final goal (do this and see your attitude improve dramatically)
  • How to detect weight loss scams (and use only legit sources instead)
  • How to kick your weight loss desire into overdrive (and experience success faster)
  • How to uncover the one true desire that works for you (and gets you on the weight loss journey faster)
  • Where to discover valuable weight loss support (to keep you motivated)
  • How to deal with diet sabotagers (and stay the path)
  • How to find detailed information about any diet you want (you can do much more than just search for the name!)
  • How to uncover targeted diet forums (and see ahead of time if that diet is for you)
  • Where to find the best free diet journals (and learn from other’s successes)
  • What to do when diet support goes byebye (and ensure your weight loss continues)
  • How to communicate effectively with your spouse regarding weight loss (and remove any negative feelings)
  • How to take ownership of your own emotions (and take control of your dieting success)
  • How to give yourself permission to rebound from dieting failure (and become even stronger)
  • Where to uncover free books on self-esteem (which gives you tools to create successful weight loss in the future)
  • How to take advantage of “clever helpers” (and boost your dieting benefits)
  • How to discover the perfect “sexy wear” for you (and give yourself a super reward at your weight loss success!)
  • How to craft the perfect lifestyle for yourself (and get rid of dieting failures)
  • How to shun dieting scams (and save all that money)
  • Where to find the real truth about informercial products (thus keeping you from making big mistakes)
  • How to turn Google into your own personal dieting instructor (you’ll be shocked at the ways you can search!)
  • Where to find the most up-to-date dieting blogs (you can even get postings automatically sent to you!)
  • How to get all dieting and weight loss tips forum postings gathered in one place (making staying current a snap)
  • How to know yourself best (and not be swayed by false dieting promises)
  • Where to find the true nutrition facts (no diet pills required!)
  • How to calculate exactly how many calories you need to eat to lose weight (forget about padding)
  • Why you should never have a dieting timeline when starting (this tip is guaranteed to help keep you on the wagon)
  • How to internalize your own weight loss success (and then make it so!)
  • Why throwing out food can boost your success (and not just because you don’t eat it!)
  • How to set up free weight loss accounts (and keep track of your progress)
  • How to choose the RIGHT lifestyle change for yourself (and watch the pounds melt away)
  • How to make “eating well” a normal way of living (no sacrifice is needed)
  • What to write in your diet forum introductions (and see the weight loss support pour in)
  • What to do when you’re about to fall of the diet wagon (and keep yourself abreast!)
  • How to strength train without going to the gym (you can do this anywhere!)
  • Why you’re never too old (and why you’ll be succeeding this diet time)
  • How to witness your own personal magic (and stay the path)
  • MORE!

Like I said, wow. :)

Enjoy,

Barbara

ps – Want some great diet help? Consider:

Enjoy,

Barbara

Looking for diet and weight loss news resources?

Morning,

One of the neat things about the Internet is you can always find current and up-to-date information about weight loss and overall health, no matter what category you require!

Here are some useful resources:

AOL Body Health

MSN Diet and Fitness

Google Diet News

And one of the neat features about many news sites is they offer an RSS feed option, so you can download something free like

FeedReader

and have all the latest headlines right smack there on your desktop.

It’s really useful! You can take advantage of this technique and keep track of diet forum postings and diet blog postings as well.

Enjoy,

Barbara

ps – It’s November! Soon to be:

Fad diets – have you succumbed to the false promises of weight loss?

One of the most damaging bits of hucksterisms out there are the fad diets that promise beeyons of pounds of weight loss with zero effort and no exercise.

It’s a sad fact of life, but there are amoral people out there who have no problem lying to desperate people…simply to make money off of their needs.

The facts are, no fad diet will ever work….because by its definition, a fad diet is NOT a lifestyle change…it’s simply a (generally) 2 week long eating program that is woefully insufficient in nutrition and good health. Of course you’ll lose weight if you cut out all the junk food in your meals…but unless you train yourself to eat healthy after the diet is over, you’ll only simply gain the weight back once again.

Not a good thing!

Here are some resources that demystify fad diets:

Fad Diet.com

American Heart Fad Diet Information

Spotting Fad Diets

Food Faddism!

Remember…diets by themselves never fully works…only lifestyle changes will! There is no one quick fix nor any silver bullet…instead, it’s up to you to find out what fits your personality and style the best, and then implement the plan and make it so.

You own your own success!

Enjoy,

Barbara

ps – LA Weight Loss is one popular method people use:

Mighty Mice! A view of gene-tweaking for optimal body without diet and ….

So! Have you heard about the mighty mice that have been genetically engineered? To quote:

….Nov.1, 2007 — Scientists at Case Western Reserve University have genetically engineered mice that outrun, outlive, and out-eat ordinary mice while staying lean, light, and fertile well into old age.

Chalk it up to a change in a single gene.

That genetic tweak boosted levels of an enzyme called PEPCK-C in the mice’s skeletal muscles, knocking mice’s muscle metabolism into orbit.

“They are metabolically similar to Lance Armstrong biking up the Pyrenees,” researcher Richard Hanson, PhD, says in a news release.

The mighty mice were seven times more active than normal mice. They showed unusually high levels of activity in their cages from the time they were 2 weeks old.

Running on special treadmills designed for mice, the genetically engineered mice left ordinary mice in the dust….MORE….

Do read the article, it’s fascinating! Just think how much easier losing weight would be if we could simply tweak our genes to Fat Burn Mode ON! ‘course, then we’d miss out on the awesome fun of exercising and pitting ourselves against our own personal achievements….but hey. Dreams can be fun, indeed.

:)

Barbara

ps – Remember this fine hero who always came to save the day?