The Divorce Diet Melts Off the Pounds

From a scientific point of view, the Divorce Diet seems unlikely to aid in a person’s weight loss goal for the simple reason that it can be an unhealthy way to lose weight, but many researchers are debating that theory and state that the Divorce Diet is a foolproof way to lose pounds and re-gain one’s healthy weight.

What is the Divorce Diet?

Survivors of a painful divorce know it all too well. The stress of going through a painful divorce causes people to lose a lot of weight, and fast. Yes, this diet works. There is no doubt about it, but there is also no doubt that this diet strategy is painful. The stress that accompanies a painful divorce is heart wrenching. But a sudden drop in pounds with very little effort accompanies it.

According to James Harris, who is a psychologist and the current managing director of the Eating Disorder Program at the notable Presbyterian Hospital located in Dallas, Texas, "There's no magic in it …a person going through trauma like divorce is often burning off more calories” and at the see time “eating less calories and that makes weight come off quickly.”

Why Do People Lose Weight During Divorce?

The reason people come into this position is stress. A leading professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Daniela Schreier, states that divorce is at the top of the list of one of the most stressful life events people go through. Dr. Schreier also noticed a trend in divorcing clients who drop large quantities of weight quickly. Dr. Schreier notes that this usually occurs during the preliminary shock period of the healing cycle of divorce - when people demonstrate symptoms of "acute stress syndrome" after their spouse or partner seeks a divorce or divulges an affair.

Stress and Weight Loss

Survivors of the divorce diet state that stress dissolves away the pounds in a way that worked like no previous starvation diet ever could. These veterans comment that it goes well beyond the usual theory of calories in and calories out.

Thorina Rose, who is a graphics designer in San Francisco, said it happened almost within days after learning of her husband’s affair with another women. Ms. Rose was already petite but after going through her divorce she quickly lost twenty pounds with no effort. Ms. Rose decided to keep a journal of her painful divorce and published it in "The Heartbreak Diet", a memoir of the harrowing experience.

Failing to Eat

Maybe people fail to remember meals because they are preoccupied dealing with the issues of the divorce. Maybe it is because they are busy making arrangements for their new life. Whatever it is, many divorce survivors state that they merely forgot to eat. And sleep is affected too. With little sleep, few meals and excessive stress, the body’s metabolism is affected.

Not All Divorcees Lose Weight

Not all people lose weight during divorce, however. Dr. Schreier commented that some people actually have the contradictory reaction. For these people, food actually becomes an origin for comfort and because of it, they can gain weight.

The acute stress of divorce can trigger eating disorders and weight extremes such as weight loss, and then sudden and unhealthy weight gain.

Exercise Can Help

Assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Lona Sandon, stated that exercise could become a lifesaver for many people. "It can energize you, relax you, and ease stress and depression," Ms. Sandon said.

The key to long lasting weight loss, however, is slow weight loss. And the good news is that neither Dr. Harris nor Ms. Sandon regards the divorce diet and its accompanying quick weight loss as a serious health hazard.

And for those that are going through the difficult time of a divorce and heartbreak, the "divorce diet" gifts the sufferer with a notable consolation prize after the demise of their relationship.

As Ms. Rose puts it, "I felt miserable. But I looked hot."

Researchers Study the Exercise Pill

Exercise Pill, Weight Loss, and Obesity

Can we skip our workout and just take a pill? The exercise pill may be the answer that all couch potatoes have been looking for.

For those that struggle with the daily routine of getting off of the couch to exercise, a recent drug, which many call the “exercise pill”, may sound like a miracle. A recent study conducted by renowned scientist, Ronald Evans, showed that stationary mice that took the drug for a month actually burned more calories and had smaller fat percentages than did untreated mice. And when the very same mice were tested on a treadmill, they could run nearly forty percent further and twenty percent longer than the untreated mice.

They also confirm that in mice that did exercise preparation, another complimentary drug made their workout much more successful at boosting stamina. And after four weeks of drug administration and exercising, the mice could run sixty percent longer and seventy percent further distances than another mouse population that had performed the same exercise but without the drug.

Various Uses of The Exercise Drugs

The two drugs have been examined by researchers for varied uses. The no-exercise drug is in progressive human testing to determine if it can ward off a complexity of heart bypass surgery. The first drug, known as GW1516 and the second drug, the no-exercise medication is called AICAR

Exactly how the effects could result in successful reactions in humans is another question, however. Hopefully someday, researchers note, this type of drug could possibly help to treat obese people, people who suffer from diabetes and others with certain medical conditions, which obstruct their ability to exercise.

The study lends support to the theory that the medication which was developed for the management of metabolic diseases, when administered in combination with exercise, offers the ability to run even faster and farther than exercise alone can. Plus, another chemical administered led to stronger endurance in the mice, even within the group of mice who did not exercise.

Ronald Evens, who conducted the study and who is with the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California stated that the medicine "tricks" the muscles into considering that exercise has been conducted daily. Unfortunately, the pair of compounds is both extremely attractive targets for abuse by competitive athletes. However, people with health issues, which prevent them from keeping up with a consistent exercise regimen, could be benefited.

The publication by Evans and his associates was released in the July 31 online issue of the research journal Cell.

The research focused on two drugs that provoke genetic changes in the physical body, which are replicated by exercise and can eventually accompany improved muscle function and calorie burning abilities.

In the mice studies, the drugs appear to result in positive results.

Exercise Still the Best Way to Build Endurance

Nevertheless, it takes more than just changed muscles to turn a stationary mouse into a long-distance runner. Whether the same results would be present in humans is unknown at this time.

Preceding experiments propose that it might screen for weight gain while on a high-fat diet, which is why researchers theorize that the exercise drug could possibly be an effective means of treating obesity. However the drug would need to be administered for an extended period of time in order to be effective, so that the safety for people could be fully tested.

Test Results of Exercise Pill Still in the Preliminary Stages

Not so fast! Those who cannot follow an exercise regimen due to medical issues such as joint soreness or heart failure could indeed benefit from this drug.

Renowned research scientist from the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Eric Hoffman, noted that the AICAR drug simulates aerobic exercise only and not strength training that could be more beneficial to those that are bedridden or the elderly. Hoffman cautioned that the new test results that were conducted on mice have not yet been replicated in people.

Laurie Goodyear from the Joslin Diabetes Center, which is located in Boston, noted that AICAR may demonstrate useful effects, and someday might even be beneficial in treating diabetes. Several drug companies are pushing for research on such drugs for treating diabetic patients. And one reason for this is that in animals, AICAR can stimulate muscles to deduct sugar from the blood, but this theory is in the exploratory stages.

Goodyear commented on the fact that exercise has such extensive benefits in the body that she is unsure that any pill could ever be capable of supplying all of the benefits achieved from exercise.

Consult a Professional

If you have any questions about skipping your exercise routine in hopes that the exercise-pill will soon be available on the market, it is recommended that you consult a professional health care physician before making any drastic changes to your exercise regimen.

Dieters Take Note: Too Much Sugar Free Gum Could Lead to Excessive Weight-Loss

Scientists uncover striking similarities between two clinical cases in which a twenty-one year old women and a forty-six year old man lost a dangerous amount of weight over a short period of time due to chewing too much sugar-free gum. Both patients, who were hospitalized for diarrhea, were found to be consuming a lot of sorbitol, an artificial sweetener and common ingredient in sugar-free gum, according to a German physician's report.

The risk is far greater in Europe than in the United States because in the U.S., sorbitol is rarely used and instead aspartame, also called NutraSweet, is more often used in sugar-free gum. NutraSweet and saccharin are safe; however, it is recommended that people limit their intake of sorbitol, which is not safe when ingested in large quantities. These findings were published in the January 12 issue of the British Medical Journal.

When the female patient stopped chewing gum, she was released from the hospital and soon regained fifteen pounds. The male patient also had positive results when he stopped chewing gum. He felt better and soon regained eleven pounds only six months after the gum-chewing with sorbitol ended.

How Much Sorbitol is Safe for Dieters?

Each stick of gum that has sorbitol listed as an ingredient has an average of 1.25g of the sweeter. It is not a big problem for most of the European gum-chewers, as long as they do not experience negative symptoms such as diarrhea and excessive weight loss. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that the danger of diarrhea is associated with the consumption of more than 50g of sorbitol daily.

The British Medical Journal also recommends that people refrain from excessive amounts of sorbitol contained in sugar-free gum, however it reports different numbers for safe amounts of sorbitol. The patients that were sickened by the sweetener in this study were found to have consumed between 20 and 30g of sorbitol every day.

Gum Chewing May Help Reduce Cravings and Control Appetite

Researchers have found that gum chewing may help to reduce food cravings, which in turn could control appetite for dieters. Gum chewing in place of an afternoon snack can help to reduce calorie intake. Chewing gum has also been found to reduce anxiety and stress.

What Can a Dieter Do About Their Urge to Chew Gum?

It is common for dieters to use gum chewing as a dieting tool because of the impact that it has on the reduction of food intake, regulation of appetite and diet and increasing weight loss. Researchers recommend that dieters read the ingredients of their favorite sugar-free gum. If sorbitol is listed as one of the ingredients, it is recommended that a log be kept to minimize the chances of accidentally chewing too much sugar-free gum with sorbitol.

Consult Your Doctor

If you have any questions about the safe amount of sugar-free gum with sorbitol, it is highly recommended that you consult your physician. People may be tempted to chew sugar-free gum with sorbitol for the diet and weight-loss benefits, but a consultation with a health care provider is the safest option before using excessive gum-chewing as a dieting tool.

Looking at the Role of Behavior in Successful Weight Loss

From a scientific point of view, at least, weight loss is a simple proposition. If you take in fewer calories than you expend in exercise and other daily activities, weight loss will result. It's simple physics, these rational types will argue.

"Easier said than done," say the millions of obese and overweight men, women, and children who have fought the good fight against their expanding waistlines -- and lost. Although the physical act of losing weight may be as simple as eating less and exercising more, we all have very strong social, mental, emotional, and cultural associations that make the process of implementing significant and lasting changes in our eating patterns extremely difficult.

To those who have engaged in extended battles with excess weight, it should come as no surprise that scientists are now documenting the ways that human behavior can impact weight loss. A number of recent studies have sought to identify and analyze the behavior patterns of those people whose diet efforts have succeeded. This week, we'll take a look at the findings that have emerged as researchers seek to better understand the role of behavior in weight loss.

New Model of 'Eating Competence' May Help Weight Loss Efforts

For decades, dieters have been force-fed a view of food that is unhealthy, according to researcher Barbara Lohse, associate professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State. People trying to lose weight have been encouraged to wallow in a sense of food deprivation. Many popular diets counsel their followers to think of food as fuel, rather than a source of pleasure.

However, this view of food may prove to be unhealthy in the long-term, spurring binges, cyclic weight gain, and yo-yo dieting, none of which are consistent with optimal health and weight management. The research team led by Dr. Lohse recently directed a study that sought to determine whether a more well-rounded view of eating and food would help or hinder study participants' weight loss efforts.

According to the study, food competence is defined as having positive, flexible, and comfortable eating habits. People with food competence are confident in their ability to choose nutritional foods, to eat when, what, and how much they want to, and to approach their food with discipline and self-control.

The study demonstrated that those who scored higher on the food competence scale were less likely to be overweight, have high cholesterol, or to be at high risk for heart disease. Highly food-competent individuals were also more likely to have a more nutritionally-balanced pattern of food consumption.

The researchers concluded that the food competence model should be considered as a replacement for the deprivation-based "food is fuel" model that is now commonly pushed by many popular diets.

Researchers Analyze the Behaviors of Successful Dieters

Statistics say that major weight loss is often impossible to achieve and maintain, but there is a small group of elite dieters out there who have beaten the odds and gone on to lose a hundred pounds or more. A study conducted by a team at the College of Medicine Metabolic Research Group recently sought to pinpoint and analyze the behavioral techniques of these superstar dieters.

According to the findings of the study, the first twelve weeks of any weight loss effort usually determine the success of the long-term outcome. If a dieter can stick to an intensive, highly restrictive diet regimen for twelve weeks, they will exponentially increase their chances of going on to lose all of their excess weight.

In the long-term, most of the successful dieters reported that improved quality of life post-weight loss provided the motivation they needed to maintain their dietary changes. The researchers concluded that supervised intervention during the first phase of a major weight loss effort may increase the chances of success.

The Behavioral Components of Successful Weight Loss are Unique, Study Says

There is a widespread belief that overweight people can shed excess pounds by adopting the eating patterns and behaviors of their thinner counterparts. People who are desperate to lose weight are often counseled to take on the behaviors of those who have already won the weight loss battle.

However, this seemingly harmless form of diet mimicry may be doing more harm than good, according to Queensland University of Technology behavioral scientist Neil King. King led a recent research effort to identify behavioral patterns in successful weight loss.

The study, conducted by investigators at the University's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, found that there is a great deal of variation in each individual's response to weight loss. Each person deals with their own unique biological, physiological, and psychological barriers to the weight loss process. As such, issuing a single standard as the universal prescription for successful weight loss is unrealistic.

The researchers concluded that their findings emphasize the need for individualized treatment of obese and overweight patients. The standard "one-size-fits-all" approach is not specific enough to give people who are struggling with their weight the kind of personalized support that they need.

If you want to shape your habits to help reach your weight loss goals faster, talk to your doctor, a licensed therapist, or another helping professional with a track record of expertise in this area. And please be sure to check back each week for more of the diet and fitness news you need.

New Studies Focus on Identifying the Most Effective Weight Loss Motivation Techniques

Most people don't have any trouble starting a new diet; in fact, recent surveys indicate that as many of one-third of all American adults consider themselves to be following a weight-loss regimen at any given time. These survey results also indicate that the most popular times to start new diets include Mondays, the first calendar day of the month, and the weeks following the New Year.

Starting a diet may not be a problem -- but staying on that diet long enough to see real results is often a major challenge for men and women seeking to shed excess pounds. Most people who start new diets quit them within a month. Even more distressing is the news that constantly starting new diets -- a practice commonly referred to as "yo-yo dieting" -- can actually have a harmful impact on health.

Taking all of this into consideration, researchers around the world have been exploring the role of motivation in weight loss, looking for the things that will help overweight and obese people stick it out until their battle is won. This week, we'll take a look at the most striking recent findings to emerge from the field of weight loss motivation.

Researchers Clash over Controversial "Park Avenue Diet"

The next in a long line of popular, "name brand" diets to emerge in recent years, the Park Avenue Diet focuses specifically on the issue of weight loss motivation. The plan's weight loss regimen in and of itself is not that revolutionary -- basically, it sticks to the basic formula of complex carbohydrates, whole grains, and low-GI fruits and veggies that many other recent diet plans have suggested.

However, what's different about the Park Avenue Diet is that it places a major focus on dieters' external appearance during the weight loss process. Along with visits for blood work and nutritional consultations, dieters who pay the $950 fee can also schedule appointments for beauty parlor pampering, such as highlights and spa treatments. The objective is to help dieters gain confidence in their appearance while shedding pounds and keep them focused on gradually improving their look over time.

While experts agree that this approach to weight loss may be motivating, some decry the diet as overly superficial. Keri Gans, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, asserted that successful weight loss efforts should focus on participants' health, rather than their hair color.

Social Support is a rucial Part of Weight Loss Motivation

In the past, it was widely assumed that willpower and determination were the most important ingredients in a successful weight loss effort. However, a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill indicates that finding a social network of like-minded weight loss buddies may be more helpful.

The researchers analyzed the weight loss data from the Framingham Heart Study, one of the largest longitudinal diet studies ever conducted. Specifically, the scientists sought to determine how the social environments of both successful and unsuccessful dieters may have played a role in the outcome of their weight loss efforts.

Across the board, the researchers found that the most successful dieters were those who had a substantial social network to fall back on during the weight loss process. Examples of healthy social environments that were identified in the study included weight-loss groups, low-fat or low-carb cooking classes, gyms, exercise classes, running clubs or outdoor enthusiast groups. Conversely, social activities that ran counter to weight loss and good health were found to stymie successful dieting outcomes.

Money May Motivate Some Dieters to Achieve Weight Loss Success

Some dieters are motivated by a desire to improve their health, while others find comfort in the thought of being able to wear more fashionable clothes. But according to a study conducted by researchers at the RTI International research institute, the promise of cold, hard cash may be the most powerful motivator for some men and women seeking to shed pounds.

With health care costs and insurance premiums rising, many companies are looking for programs that can promote healthier lifestyles among employees. According to the study's results, paying employees for pounds lost can be a very effective means of achieving this goal. Even when the payout was as little as $7 for each pound lost, the results were encouraging. The study's authors said that more companies may look to cash incentives as a solution as the obesity epidemic continues to contribute to spiraling health care costs.

If you're having difficulty with weight loss motivation, your physician or another licensed health care practitioner may be able help you connect with the professional resources you need to make your diet work. Check back each week for the breaking research news that can help you succeed in your weight loss journey.