The media and many weight loss gurus preach that people can shed those extra pounds through a strict regimen of low-fat dieting and exercise, but the truth is that some need to do more because our bodies work differently. Our propensity for hanging on to extra body weight developed during tough times where there was little to eat. When we were able to eat more calories than our bodies needed at the time, our bodies adapted to the feast and famine cycle by storing energy reserves - also known as body fat - to sustain life until the next time food might be more available. Now, most people find that food - an infinite variety of it - is readily available but there is no intervening famine cycle. Hence, the modern problem of increased body mass.

In an effort to shed cellulite, many people try a multitude of options from strict diets to surgical and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. For some, invasive surgeries known as gastric bypass surgery and the Lap-Band are viable options. Additionally, cosmetic surgery, such as liposuction, or cellulite busting PCDC injections have been used by some to remove unwanted fat cells from the body. Still others seek extreme diets to drive a change in weight. It is important to note that all of the options, from surgical to non-invasive procedures, and even some diets, can carry some risk. All options should be carefully researched and considered. The problem with the extreme diets, such as “eat all the celery and tomato juice you can and nothing else” fad diet is that they usually involve very low caloric intake, often coupled with severe restrictions in the types of food eaten. While these diets may be very effective in the short term, they are a long-term disaster as they trick our bodies into thinking we are in the midst of a famine cycle, and our bodies respond by slowing down our metabolism. When a crash dieter returns to normal eating patterns, the real “crash” becomes evident, as the weight lost is almost always quickly regained, typically to the tune of many pounds.

Some get depressed thinking about losing weight, however, it doesn’t have to be daunting if you follow some simple steps. The trick is finding an eating and exercise plan that works with your body and your personal lifestyle instead of against it.

The best types of diet plan involves reducing calories in the diet incrementally. Ideally, this decreased calorie consumption should not come at the price of eliminating entire food groups or a person’s most loved foods. Instead, the plan should help decrease mindless eating, especially when not hungry, and focus on intake of lower calorie, lower fat foods that are also nutritionally dense.

Increased activity is another essential component of a weight loss plan, and an easy one to implement. You don’t have to run a marathon in order to reap the benefits of movement. Instead find creative ways to add steps to your day; park in the most remote lot at work; always take the stairs instead of the elevator; shop in an area that enables you to walk rather than drive when you do errands. When diet and exercise are not sufficient, some people turn to surgical procedures to help them lose significant weight. LAP-Band surgery is growing in popularity and has been quite effective for many. This minimally invasive surgical procedure, which requires no stomach cutting, reduces one’s stomach capacity and therefore food intake. Gastric bypass surgery is in some ways similar as it reduces the amount of food intake through making the stomach smaller. But gastric bypass surgery is more invasive than Lap-Band surgery in that food ends up bypassing part of the small intestine. Significant weight loss begins soon after the procedure and can last for a year.

It’s a fact that liposuction is not viable for achieving large-scale, long-term weight loss, but it may be very useful for people who have problem areas that are not resolving with diet and exercise alone. Liposuction is done under general anesthesia and uses a stainless steel tube and vacuum to remove fat.

Phosphatidylcholine and sodium deoxycholate injections involve the injection of “fat melting” drugs to remove small volumes of fat deposits, such as under the chin. Don’t confuse this type of treatment with BOTOX injections as the latter is a skin smoothing treatment not a fat removal treatment.

Proponents of lipo-dissolve promote it to be safe, although the most commonly used drugs, phosphatidylcholine and sodium deoxycholate, have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA’s statement is that, “these are unapproved drugs for unapproved uses.” Additionally, no significant studies have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness or safety of lipodissolve. Last, it is not intended to be a weight loss procedure as it only removes small volumes of fat.

Most doctors agree that diet and exercise are critical components of any weight maintenance or cellulite removal program. Having Lap-Band or gastric bypass surgery alone will not bring about the desired long-term results. Visit your doctor and get recommendations for achieving an ideal, healthy weight.

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