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Weigth Management Tips

Caffeine is NOT a Diet Aid

WEIGHT LOSS HINT: Ditch the Caffeine if you want to Lose Weight!

Many people believe their daily mug of coffee or other caffeinated drink helps them to lose weight or keep weight off. However, the diuretic effect of caffeine is what appears to create weight loss, and this causes loss of water, not fat. Reputable practitioners, like the Mayo Clinic, debunk the myth of caffeine for weight loss and discourage its use as a weight loss aid.

Caffeine intake often perpetuates many of the factors contributing to weight gain and continued obesity. Coffee and caffeine intake aggravates stress, including physical, mental, and emotional stress, leading to increased levels of the glucocorticoids including cortisol. A well documented relationship exists between chronically elevated levels of these stress hormones and deposition of excess fat in the abdomen leading to obesity as well as increased caloric intake, particularly increased ingestion of fats and sugars.

The following characteristics of coffee have an adverse effect on weight loss:

Coffee Elevates Stress Hormones

Caffeine in coffee elevates the stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) and norepinephrine. These hormones are responsible for increased heart rate and blood pressure, and a sense of “emergency alert”. Circulation of oxygen to the brain and extremities is decreased and the immune system is suppressed.
The purpose of this “fight or flight” response is to provide the body with a temporary energy boost for intense physical activity. With today’s sedentary lifestyle, the continual state of increased stress resulting from caffeine consumption can negatively affect weight control through disruptions in normal metabolism.

Increased Cortisol Levels Lead to Abdominal Obesity

Chronically elevated blood cortisol levels that are caused by frequent stress or regular caffeine or coffee intake lead to an increased buildup of fat in the abdominal area; this type of weight gain further stimulates the release of additional stress hormones.

Increased Stress Leads to Overeating

This chronic state of increased stress caused by caffeine is associated with a markedly increased tendency to overeat. CNS stimulants stimulate anxiety and caffeine consumption increases the tendency of people to overeat or binge-eat and abuse laxatives and diet pills.
Coffee drinking increases physiological measurements of stress, and although this effect is greater with increased caffeine levels.
Elevation of stress hormones leads to fat cravings.
Elevated levels of cortisol increase appetite.

Caffeine Stimulates Appetite

Although caffeine is included as an ingredient in many weight-loss aids, it actually stimulates appetite, and organizations including the Mayo Clinic discourage the use of caffeine as a weight-loss aid. Initially, caffeine may decrease appetite through its central nervous system response. However, subsequently caffeine increases cortisol levels, and higher levels of cortisol stimulate appetite.
Caffeine triggers hypoglycemia through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal glands, causing an immediate and sustained constriction of blood vessels, decreased circulation to the brain and a heightened feeling of low blood sugar. The body’s reaction to hypoglycemia results in food cravings and increased appetite. People often crave higher fat foods resulting in increased caloric intake, further interfering with the body’s ability to maintain a healthy weight.

Source: Meri Rafetto, RD, Theresa Grumet, RD, and Gerri French, RD, MS, CDE

Belly Fat got You Down?

WEIGHT LOSS HINT: Relora can help you get rid of Belly Fat!

WHAT IS IT?Relora® is a natural stress management ingredient that helps control stress-related eating and has the added value of being non-sedating. In central nervous system receptor binding assays the plant extracts in Relora® binds to several important targets associated with stress. In addition, it normalizes hormone levels associated with stress- induced weight gain and eating behavior. Stress has been shown to play a significant role in a variety of conditions. A large percentage of overweight adults have excessive abdominal fat due to stress-related over eating. Relora® appears to maintain healthy hormone levels in stressed individuals and act as an aid in controlling weight and stress-related eating.

WHERE CAN I GET RELORA? Right here!

Relora is available at your local Thin&Healthy.

Clinical Studies reveal that Relora® helps control stress-related symptoms, such as: irritability; emotional ups and downs; restlessness; tense muscles; poor sleep; concentration difficulties. Post trial analysis revealed an excellent agreement (82%) with the pretrial concept. Relaxation was reported by 78% of the patients. The product does not cause significant sedation, however, 74% of the patients did report restful sleep. Only 24% reported drowsiness. Relora® was judged to be gentle on the stomach by 94% of the subjects. No significant side effects were reported. A second trial was undertaken to measure cortisol and DHEA levels in 12 patients with mild to moderate stress. Elevated cortisol levels and depressed DHEA levels are associated with chronic stress. In addition, Relora® reduced stress- related snacking of sweets, such as ice cream, cake, pie, and cookies by 76% in those individuals that claimed they ate these types of foods under stress.

Over 500 subjects at the Living Longer Clinic in Cincinnati have taken Relora® and rated its efficacy on a 5-point scale. Relora® was considered effective for stress, restful sleep and stress related eating if the subject rated the product 3 or higher. Ninety percent (90%) of the subjects reported Relora® helped them relax with a mean score of 3.5. Eighty- seven percent (87%) reported Relora® helped them have a restful sleep with a mean score of 3.5. Eighty- one percent (81%) reported Relora® helped prevent stress related eating with a mean score of 3.4. Seventy percent (70%) of the subjects rated Relora® as effective in helping manage weight with a mean score of 3.0.

Relora® prevents weight gain.

Clinical Trial A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial with Relora® was completed in January 2004. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Relora® in overweight women who typically eat more in stressful situations. 28 subjects completed the study and Relora® was well tolerated. There was a significant weight gain during the study for the placebo group but no significant weight gain and some weight loss for the Relora® group. There was also a significant reduction in anxiety scores. The mechanism of action appears to be through reduction or normalization of stress hormone levels, and possibly perceived stress, thereby helping subjects maintain body weight.
Convinced? Try it now! I WANT MY RELORA!

What’s the Deal with Meal Replacements?

WEIGHT LOSS HINT: You Can’t Really Replace a Meal with a Beverage!

With the fast pace of society more and more people are searching for fast and easy ways to get in a meal, but can a beverage really replace a meal?

Meal replacement beverages are popping up on grocery and convenience store shelves all across the country. They market their ease, taste and ability to “replace a meal” but a closer looks shows you might not be getting the nutrition you think.
The average meal replacement beverage is between 170 and 280 calories and between seven and 20 grams of protein. A typical meal would provide closer to 500 calories and around 20 – 30 grams of protein. These low calorie levels may be enticing for weight loss but the problem is they may not give you the satisfaction a meal can. Eating satisfaction comes from the taste, texture and feeling of fullness a meal provides – liquids often lack that “feeling of fullness”, meaning you may end up eating more not less.

If you would like to get more out of your meal and stay satisfied longer, try adding a Thin&Healthy protein supplement to your meal instead of grabbing a meal replacement beverage. You’ll be getting 15 grams of protein with less than 4 grams of fat and you won’t have to give up all the tastes and textures of eating a real meal.

If you are on the Thin&Healthy plan you know you can have up to four supplements a day. Try having a chocolate pudding for dessert or a cappuccino with your breakfast. Add our chicken noodle soup to your lunch menu or have a wildberry passion cold drink with your dinner. You see, supplements don’t take the place of your meal–they go along with it. You’ll feel full, you won’t be craving sweets and you’ll help to increase your metabolism with the added protein. (Protein builds lean muscle and just the existence of lean muscle burns fat.)

There are tons of great supplement flavors to choose from! SUPPLEMENT PACKAGES AVAILABLE IN THE STORE!!

SUPPLEMENT FLAVORS AVAILABLE:

GELATIN: STRAWBERRY-BANANA, CHERRY
HOT DRINKS: HOT CHOCOLATE, CAPPUCCINO
PUDDING/SHAKES: CHOCOLATE, VANILLA, STRAWBERRY
COLD DRINKS: WILDBERRY PASSION, GRAPE, LEMON, GRAPEFRUIT, PEACH MANGO, ORANGE
SOUPS: CHICKEN BOULLION, CREAMY CHICKEN, CREAMY MUSHROOM, CREAMY TOMATO, CHICKEN NOODLE