According to the findings of a recent research study, when college students watch a movie and snack with either a skinny or overweight (fat) friend, the students typically followed the thin friend’s lead when she overindulged. And, on the contrary, students showed more self-control when snacking with a bigger / heavier companion who overate.

Thus, it was safe to conclude, that skinny friends may actually cause you to eat more, and of course, gain weight. The findings were published recently in the Journal of Consumer Research, and suggest that seeing a skinny friend eat a big meal basically gives implicit permission for one to do the same.

How was the study conducted? 210 female college students were recruited for what the participants believed was a study on movie viewing; each woman watched a movie with a companion – who was actually a member of the research team. In some instances, the researcher showed up as her normal 105 lb self, while in other instances, she wore padding that made her appear to be obese. During the movie, the movie-watchers were offered snacks, with the undercover researcher taking her portion first.

Dr. Brent McFerran, an assistant professor of marketing at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna, Canada who led the study, suggested that instead of looking at a thin friend who is gorging on dessert and feeling permission to do the same, we should remind ourselves that all individuals are different – with different metabolisms and exercise habits. Thus he said, you should focus on your own goal of healthy eating, rather than automatically mimicking a friend.

A recent study has offered some clues on how to get diet benefits without actually dieting.

British researchers found that by removing a gene that’s linked to nutrients and growth, mice were able to live 20 percent longer (on average), and thus partly explains why eating less appears to improve health and increase longevity.

The ribosomal S6 protein kinase 1 (S6K1) gene is the specific gene in question here, and researchers found that removing S6K1 meant the mice’s bodies behaved in a similar way to mammals whose calorie intake is restricted.

Most calorie restriction studies in the past have found that a lifetime of deprivation is needed in order to achieve the longer-life benefits, and many researchers are now said to be working on ways to replicate the findings with drugs.

So maybe one day soon we will be able to get the benefits of dieting, without actually needing to go on the diet – just have the S6K1 gene removed!

We all want to lose weight FAST, and as tempting as immediate results might be, weight loss on the scales is not always what it seems. Fast weight loss is often water weight loss, not true weight loss. It is important to understand that any water weight that is lost will come right back as soon as you “rehydrate”.

How to tell if you’re losing weight the healthy way (by reducing your fat stores) rather than dehydrating yourself:

• Any diet promising that you will “lose 10 pounds in one week!” (or 20 lbs) should probably have in the fine print that you’re likely to regain it the following week.
• Watch the rate at which the scale changes as you lose weight. If you lose more than 2 lbs in a week, chances are that more than 60% of what you’ve lost is actually water, and maybe even some much-needed muscle tissue. Unfortunately, you’ll gain it all back once you start eating normally again – because the body needs to maintain a certain level of hydration in order to function properly.

More on fat loss vs. water weight loss soon!

Want to lose weight? Not up for trying weight loss medications such as Generic Phentermine just yet? How about trying the 1-day fast? Here is the simple information about the 1-day fast:

• For all three meals for the day (breakfast, lunch and dinner), eat fruit salad, grapefruit, apple and orange. Drink green tea, or black tea with lemon, and one teaspoon of honey (to increase your metabolism)
• This weight loss technique will allow you to lose unneeded liquids, and a bit of fat; it’s especially good for those moments when you need to look and feel your best
• It is important to note that this diet should only be done once per week

Good luck trying the one day fast!

It doesn’t have to go ‘all downhill’ after you turn 40. You can still stay slim way beyond age 40; the key is nutrition. Individuals over 40 have completely different nutritional needs than younger individuals. For the over 40s, the calorie needs go down but you still need the same number of nutrients. That’s why nutrition is so key for this age group. Here are some tips for staying slim past age 40:

• Limit foods that provide unnecessary calories and that offer few nutrients. Focus on the quality of what you eat, rather than the quantity. Very importantly – limit your consumption of desserts, sweets, butter, margarine, salad dressing, oils, sugar and high-fat snack foods.
• Eat smaller portions of food from the four food groups. Pay attention to portion size and don’t eat too much! Smaller portions will help you to stay at a healthy weight.
• Drink lots of water. Water is important for general health, and also to prevent constipation. Other fluids that are sources of water unclude milk, herbal teas, decaff coffee, vegetable juices and fruit juices.
• Get adequate vitamins and minerals. You may need to take daily mineral and vitamin supplements. Important ones include Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, calcium and iron.

Here are five quick and easy suggested steps for rapid weight loss.

1. Choose the same rest day each week and fast until 12 noon.
2. The other six days of the week, eat a heavy breakfast before 12 noon.
3. Take a fat reducer or other weight loss product such as Generic Phentermine on a daily basis
4. Take 1 teaspoon of fish oil every breakfast morning (6 days a week)
5. Drink 1 cup of Licorice (or Green Tea) on the one morning of the week that you fast

Let us know if this works for you!

A healthy weight is not necessarily the lowest weight you can be, but in fact, is unique to each individual. It is the weight that is suited for your body type and at which you function best, without compromising your health and increasing your risk for any weight-related diseases.

Your body weight is not only determined by gender, age, height and weight, but is also dependent on the following:

• Genetic predisposition
• Muscle and fat distribution
• Body shape
• Level of physical activity

Ensuring A healthy Body Weight
To judge if you have a healthy body weight takes more than just looking in the mirror or standing on a scale. It is a combination of everything including reviewing and monitoring the following:

• Your muscle-to-fat ratio. Pinch your abdominal area, thighs and arms. Less than an inch of fat means you are okay; more than an inch means it’s time to do something about it.

• Your body’s fat distribution, e.g. pear shape or apple shape. Be active. Get in at least 30-45 minutes exercise daily.

• Your cholesterol. Make sure that your triglycerides and saturated fat levels fall within normal values. Try foods low in cholesterol, such as, Nestle Cheerios breakfast cereals with whole grain.

• Your diet. Reduce your intake of calories from fat and include calcium-rich foods such as Nestle Svelty Skimmed Milk. Remember, control portions.

You can achieve and maintain your ideal healthy body weight through healthy eating, and by making daily exercise an important part of your life.

According to a study released earlier this week, obesity during early adulthood raises the chances that a person will later be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“This is the first study to explore at which ages excess body weight predisposes an individual to pancreatic cancer. With our epidemiological research, we aimed to demonstrate the relationship between BMI (body mass index) and risk of pancreatic cancer across a patient’s life span and determine if there was a time period that specifically predisposes an individual to the disease” said Donghui Li, a professor of medicine at the University of Texas.

The study also examined the link between BMI (which is calculated according to a person’s weight and height), cancer occurrence and the chances of survival among patients. It was found that found that obese youths 14 to 19 years of age had a 60% higher chance of developing pancreatic cancer than did their less overweight peers.

It also found that obese individuals between 20 to 40 years of age were 2 to 3 times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, but the risk leveled off for those who gained the weight in their 40s and was statistically insignificant for those 50 and above.

Finally, the study also found that obese or overweight individuals were more likely to develop pancreatic cancer earlier on their lives, not later.

So you want to lose weight? First, lose the idea of being on a diet – your diet is what you eat everyday. If you need to lose weight, then you need to change your lifestyle i.e., a weight-loss diet to reduce your calorie intake; burn some extra calories by increasing your activity; and gradually change some behaviors that sabotage your weight loss.

Focus on healthy eating – not a ‘diet’, which begins and ends. Aim to make changes which become long-term habits. Persons, who win at weight loss long term, continue to eat the same way even after they have reached their goal. Here are some secrets of those who have won the battle of the bulge:

1. Have regular, scheduled meals. Do not skip meals, especially breakfast, and don’t go more than five hours without eating.
2. Keep tempting, high calorie (sugar and fat) foods out of sight. You should be able to have an occasional treat.
3. Control portions.
4. Keep variety in your diet. Do not regularly exclude food groups.
5. Pay attention to what you drink as well as what you eat, also, to the way that foods are prepared.
6. Stay connected (friends/family/pet) and have some fun. Boredom and loneliness often lead to mindless eating.
7. Don’t drastically cut calories (below 1,000 calories per day). You may lose tissue (muscle) which can slow your metabolism.
8. Learn to eat slowly. Goal: chew each bite at least 15 times. This is much easier if you are not ‘starving’. Of course, feeling a little hungry is okay.
9. Be active. Get up and move more, whether a structured exercise program, or begin by just increasing you daily activity.
10. Learn to manage stress and get enough sleep.

A course of Generic Phentermine is not the only sure shot way to lose weight. Here’s the 411 on losing weight, the ins and outs and more:

• Weight loss products are effective but expensive. There are numerous prescription medications (including Generic Phentermine) drugs, weight-loss supplements, meal replacement protein shakes, and herbal products but it’s almost guaranteed that they won’t be cheap. If you can afford it then go for it.
• Exercise and portion control are a critical component to losing weight and keeping it off. You can’t simply take a few pills or supplements and expect them to do the work for you. A strict, sensible diet as well as a daily exercise routine are critical.
• Consider trying weight control products. Different ones work in different ways … some suppress the appetite, others block chemical messages in the brain to give a feeling of fullness while others act in the stomach to decrease the amount of fat which the body absorbs. See if any work well for you.

Other products to consider on your weight loss quest – meal-replacement protein shakes, green tea extract and of course prescription medication. Good luck!