Continued from Why Is It So Hard to Lose Weight?

It may sound far-fetched, but the theory that a virus can make you fat is gaining credibility.

In 1986 Nikhil Dhurandhar was treating obese patients in Bombay, India, while working on a PhD in biochemistry, when he had a conversation with a fellow scientist about an avian virus that was killing poultry.

The scientist mentioned an odd effect the virus had on the infected chickens: Their abdominal cavities were full of fat, and the dead birds were far heavier than their healthy counterparts. A sick chicken should be a skinny chicken, Dhurandhar thought.

He wondered what would happen if he exposed normal chickens to the virus. Sure enough, the ones that got infected developed significantly more body fat than the healthy birds and, paradoxically, lower cholesterol and triglycerides. (more…)

According to Us Weekly, after her recent split from her beau of five years, Fabrizio Moretti, the 5-food-4 Drew Barrymore began to get leaner.

Her pal says that since the split Barrymore has lost an estimated 20 pounds.

Drew Barrymore’s diet: “I eat lightly, but believe me, I pig out and I pay for it the next day,â€? she tells Us. A typical day? Cereal in the morning, a chicken sandwich lunch and fish with veggies at dinner. (more…)

What if the journey to a permanent weight loss only takes four days and it is not about what you eat or do not eat and how much you exercise, rather, it is all in your head?

Sounds like another fad diet with a new age spin to boot? That is what I thought when I first heard of The Four Day Win.

My suspicion turned to shock when I saw the name of the first chapter – “Why Are You So Damn Fat?” Holy frakking donut! Actually, I am not fat, but if I were, I would probably blame my excess weight on questions like that.

As it turns out, one has to read the chapter – not just the name of it – to get the point. Note to self: Premature judgment – bad. Reading – good. Duh!

There seems to be a trend emerging in the world of dieting. Okay, maybe dieting is an unfortunate word here, because these books are not your typical diet books.

They are not about diet plans, exercise routines, and nutrition. Sure, many of them cover that information, but the main focus is to take fresh, outside-the-box approach to weight loss and lifetime weight management.

The Four Day Win is one of those books and it is awesome. So why four days and not eight? Martha Beck, a Harvard-educated PhD and author of The Four Day Win explains: (more…)

David L. Katz, MD, a professor at Yale University and author of The Flavor Point Diet, sorts out the healthy, the harmful, and the hype.

I’ve read that drinking red wine benefits the heart. Does 100 percent red grape juice have the same healthy effect?

With grape juice, you’d be missing out on wine’s alcohol, which in moderation raises protective HDL cholesterol, makes platelets less apt to stick to one another, and increases a chemical in the body that helps dissolve blood clots (it’s called tPA — tissue plasminogen activator — and is actually used as a drug to treat heart attacks and strokes in emergency rooms).

But I don’t recommend you start drinking alcohol just for your heart.

Both wine and 100 percent grape juice, especially the dark purple Concord variety, have another ingredient with cardiovascular benefits: flavonoids — antioxidants that are concentrated in the skin of grapes. (more…)

“Fact: 546% more weight loss than the leading ephedra-based diet pill. Finally, rapid weight loss and incredible energy in one amazing “Super Pill.�

That’s right! Rapid weight loss plus the kind of intense, non-stop energy kick you want from a diet pill… and more. Much more!�

That is the opening for the Zantrex-3 two-page spread advertisement, which is currently in many magazines.

Ephedra was banned, so it seems rather odd to compare the two.

And yes, there is much more. The ad continues with the following charade claims:

“Here’s another fact: Zantrex-3 is way beyond ephedrine, way beyond fat-burners, way beyond anything on the market today. (more…)

There is a lot to like about SIGG water bottles. Designed and manufactured in Switzerland, these bottles are a thing of beauty.

I am talking word-class design, hardcore precision and meticulous Euro craftsmanship.

They come in over 100 unique, vibrant colors and 17 bottle caps that are 100% leak-proof and interchangeable.

All SIGG water bottles are made from a single piece of pure aluminum for leak-proof durability. (more…)