Diet & Weight Loss Articles

Understanding the Concept of Weight Loss

For most people, the concept of weight loss is a vague one. We all have a notion of what dieting is, but most of us know very little about how weight loss actually occurs, and what consequences weight loss will have on our bodies.

To understand weight loss, it is first necessary to understand the basic concept of our energy requirements. This concept is explained by the following two points:

• All people, even those who are sedentary, expend a certain amount of energy every day. The energy required in a single day varies from individual to individual. Work habits, age and body composition are all factors.
  
• Everyone must consume food, which contains various proteins, fats and carbohydrates to replace energy lost (burned) and to maintain general health.

If we do not receive our daily intake of food (ie. Calories), our bodies will compensate by drawing on their own reserves, which are essentially our FAT STORES and LEAN BODY TISSUE (muscles, tendons, ligaments, circulatory system, brain, immune system, skin and other organs). This is when weight loss occurs.

In fact, weight loss, for any individual, can ONLY occur when there is a negative daily caloric intake with respect to the individual's daily energy expenditure. (in other words, consuming fewer calories than are burned as energy during the day)

Example: A female office worker, age 30 with little or no exercise routine, might require 2,000 calories a day to maintain her existing weight. Weight loss will only occur if her daily intake is less than 2,000 calories. The general rule to follow is one gram (0.0022 pound) of weight loss for every deficit of 7 calories per day…a loss of ¼ pound a day requires a deficit of 875 calories…a loss of 1 pound requires a deficit of 3,500 calories. Again, this is the ONLY way weight loss will occur!

Low Calorie Diets

The use of low calorie diets (to accomplish a daily negative caloric intake) for weight loss is not a new concept. Physicians and weight loss programs have been putting their patients on these types of diets for over 20 years. It has been learned during the last 10 years that this method is most successful when combined with a comprehensive program of behavior modification. Our weight loss program has been designed to accommodate all ranges of weight management needs and to help people avoid the “yo-yo” dieting cycle by providing lessons to teach long term behavioral lifestyle changes.

The Role of Protein Supplements in Weight Loss

As was previously explained, when the body experiences a negative caloric intake, it will compensate by taking from BOTH its fat stores and lean body tissue to maintain its energy requirements. This is both counterproductive and unhealthy! People must be concerned with losing their unwanted fat stores while dieting, and also preserving their lean body tissue. To accomplish this, protein supplementation is necessary.

As the body's "architect", protein plays a vital role in building and maintaining body structures, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, circulatory system, brain, immune system, skin and other organs.

These structures need a regular supply of "fresh" protein to build new cells. Unfortunately, when you cut calories to lose weight, you tend to cut protein-rich foods out of your diet. Without protein, your body tissues start to break down!

Protein supplementation helps PRESERVE your lean body mass (muscles, tendons, ligaments, circulatory system, brain, immune system, skin and other organs) while losing unwanted body fat.

Taking a closer look, all protein consists of amino acids. When you eat foods (or supplements) that are high in protein, your body breaks down the protein into its amino acids and rebuilds them in specific sequences to form the structures it needs. However, your body can't make nine specific amino acids (called essential amino acids), so it relies on your daily food intake for its necessary supply.

Protein Requirements

People on a weight loss diet need much more protein during weight loss than they do if they are on a weight “maintaining” diet. One rule of thumb states that the protein need is between .55 and .75 grams per pound of ideal body weight. Therefore, someone with an ideal weight of 150 pounds would need at least 82 to 112 grams of protein each day. Studies show that in order to maintain nitrogen or protein balance (in other words, lean body mass) on a calorie restricted diet, an average woman must ingest at least 80-100 grams of protein a day. Otherwise, the body will lose fat AND lean body mass, with possible negative health and body composition consequences. Consistent intake of protein supplements on a daily basis, combined with a restricted calorie diet is essential for healthy weight loss.

Types of Protein Supplements

The protein supplement must contain adequate amounts of high quality protein, yet remain low in overall calories, carbohydrates and fat. In fact, high protein supplements will make NO difference with your weight loss unless taken in conjunction with a restricted calorie diet. Otherwise, the excess protein will be converted into fat just like any other energy source.

Also, the protein ingested must have adequate amounts of essential as well as non essential amino acids to be effective for weight loss, and to maintain (healthy) lean body mass. Essential amino acids, such as Tyrosine (a precursor of catecholamine) and tryptophan (a precursor of serotonin) are vital for consistent, comfortable weight loss. In fact, the serotonin from tryptophan has been shown to work on the satiety (hunger) center in the brain.

In other words, consuming protein helps create a
feeling of “fullness” while dieting, so you feel less hungry!

Another Protein BONUS: Protein, like carbohydrates, does supply calories, and therefore energy. Unlike carbohydrates, however, the body uses more energy to break down protein. Simply put, your body will burn MORE calories converting protein into energy than it would converting simple carbohydrates.

Protein helps you maintain a higher metabolic rate while on a reduced calorie diet plan. The result, more weight (body fat) is lost!

Why Use Protein Supplements for Weight Loss?

As has been stated, effective weight loss will only occur when there is a negative daily deficit of calories, couple with adequate amounts of high quality protein. For people who try using food only – even those who have some knowledge of nutrition – this would be a very difficult, time consuming task. Most of us – especially those who are working full time, or who have children, simply do not have the time or knowledge to buy and correctly prepare foods that have a low calorie profile, are low in fat, and yet still can provide us with the protein and other nutrients we need to lose weight and remain healthy. Such efforts may be dangerous (for the reasons previously stated), and at least ineffective.

The Protein Answer for Effective Weight Loss

The answer to this problem is to incorporate protein supplements designed especially for weight loss and fat reduction, within a prescribed diet plan .

We offerr protein supplements that are specifically designed for weight loss – they supply your body with the necessary amount of protein without the added calories and fat found in most common protein rich foods, such as dairy products (milk, cheese) and meat. In fact, our featured protein supplements have one of the highest ratios of protein to carbohydrate levels per serving of any weight loss supplements found in the US.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Restricted caloric intake is required to lose weight. Consult a physician before starting a diet or exercise program.