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The present Lose weight, anti-fat, diet pill fueled craze kicked off many slanderous campaigns against fat. For an example, just look at the number of diet programs, anti fat pills on the market and the throngs of consumers looking to buy weight loss pills. Unlike the others of its ilk, this craze may shown us a few bonafide winners with some long lasting effects. Take the top weight loss supplement conjugated linoleum acid (CLA) for example, this fatty acid is probably the BEST fat for fast weight loss. However, some people are still skeptical when you suggest that they should eat fat or that some fat is actually needed in a healthy and well balanced diet. For the die-hard fat fearer, the word fat equals fat and that is that!

It is next to impossible to eliminate every single source of fat from our diets, and as previously stated, there are actually good fats that need to be included in our diet daily, even when we are working with the goal of weight loss in mind. Actually, including the foods that are sources of these good fats may not only help us to lose weight, but will also keep us healthier in the long run.

When we eat any type of fat, the body must work to break it down to a usable form, in this case, fatty acids and glycerol. Fatty acids are often used as fuel for resting muscles. Glycerol can be converted back into glucose for energy if needed, but only after a long chain of events takes place.

Certain types of fat have no benefit for the body whatsoever – they are dangerous and should be avoided. These include the animal-based saturated fats which are transported to the body’s storage tanks and dumped off. A diet that is high in animal-based saturated fats will lead to thickening of the arterial walls, as well as thickening of the blood. The combination of thick blood and thick arteries produces more work and stress for the heart. This, in turn, can lead to scarring and heart attack.

Beneficial fats like conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and the Omega 3’s can help prevent and reduce the effects of heart disease. CLA has been shown to be very helpful in preventing damage caused by cholesterol in and around the heart.

When lipid metabolism is working properly or when it is enhanced, the body will either use the lipids for immediate energy or flush them out instead of storing them. When a fatty meal is consumed, some insulin will be released, although not nearly as much as with a high carbohydrate meal. The more insulin that is released by the body, the more likely it is that there will be some body fat storage. With lipids however, the insulin release is not as high unless some carbohydrates are eaten as well (most fatty meals contain some carbohydrates). The body will tend to focus on the carbohydrates first. This means that by adding beneficial fatty acids to the diet it is possible for the body to whisk the excess fats away before it is finished processing the carbohydrates.

Excellent food sources of Omega 3’s include: fatty fish like salmon, trout, and halibut; walnuts; and olive oil. CLA is found typically in beef, lamb, veal, poultry, milk, and cheese.

What is metabolism? It is the process by which our body burns calories for fuel. We should also be aware that certain food calories are broken down in different ways, but once they make it to their lowest common denominator it may not matter what the exact source of those calories really was. The process by which foods are broken down, and the rate at which this happens may influence how much calories is burned and how much is stored. For now, the focus will be on carbohydrate metabolism and why understanding the basic action can help you to lose weight.

Whenever we eat or drink something, our body must use energy to process the nutrients. In the case of carbohydrates, the actual amount left over after processing is 90% of the total calories. We burn about 10% of the carbohydrate calories just by digesting them. Our body takes the carbohydrates and breaks them down to a simple compound called glucose. The body is in a constant battle to maintain the delicate balance of all of its systems including its blood glucose level. This balance, also known as homeostasis, can be interrupted and thrown-off, by overeating and by extreme dieting. In most cases, the body is aiming for blood glucose numbers in the range of 70–110 mg/dL.

Whenever we eat or drink anything, our body releases hormones that help to digest and process the foods and beverages. Of these hormones, insulin is like the mother hen. It attempts to usher all of the sugar molecules into storage tanks. The body also releases glucagon that is like an older sibling. It tries to break the sugar molecules out of the storage tanks so that they can be burned for food. Glucagon will also try to hide the sugar by turning it into glycogen and stashing it in the muscles and in the liver. If there is no immediate need for the energy, the remaining calories will be stored either in the glycogen tanks to be burned off at another time or in the fat cells where it will be kept as body fat.

Certain foods upset the delicate balance and produce a huge tidal wave of insulin. These insulin spikes can then lead to faster, easier fat storage as the body starts to resist the insulin’s efforts. Insulin resistance is the inability or resistance of the muscles or liver cells to store glycogen. As a result of this resistance, even more insulin will be released. When more insulin is released, the body is more likely to store fat.

Total insulin released is usually equal to the total amount of blood glucose. However, the higher the initial flood of carbohydrates, the longer that the insulin will be at elevated levels. Again, the more insulin that is released into the blood stream, the more likely you are to have at least some body fat storage. It is better to eat foods that do not cause insulin spikes or at least those that cause smaller insulin spikes. It is also wise to eat smaller, more frequent meals.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a natural, polyunsaturated fatty acid. Beef is the richest source of CLA, but it is also found in other meats as well as in non-meat animal products. This fatty acid, found and proven to be a very powerful antioxidant, can be beneficial in weight loss regimens and also seems to have other more serious benefits to recommend its use.

First, studies have proven that CLA supplements not only help dieters lose weight, they also help to maintain weight loss. CLA also assists in establishing a safer and healthier fat/muscle ratio in the body. A side-benefit is the burning of abdominal fat, deemed to be the most dangerous fat in the body.

Second, CLA supplements appear to have benefits in lowering cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as in keeping the arteries clear. We all know the dangers of high cholesterol and triglycerides. We also know that keeping our arteries clear so that our heart does not have to work as hard to pump oxygen rich blood to all of our body parts is important as well.

Third, CLA does not damage Vitamin E or other vital nutrients, which allows them to fulfill their antioxidant potential within the body. CLA is considered to be a powerful antioxidant itself, providing necessary protection against damages caused by free radicals and other dangerous compounds found within the body. CLA in the heart muscle, for instance, is thought to strengthen it and protect it, not only from the normal wear and tear of living, but also from stress related damage.

Fourth, CLA may have anti-cancer properties. Additional studies have shown a reduction in benign and malignant tumors when CLA was supplemented in test rats. The cancers most widely studied and affected by CLA were breast, prostate, and metastatic lung cancer.

Additionally, CLA may have benefits for maintaining healthy bones. In our quest for weight loss, we may forget that we actually need some healthy fats. This is especially true for women. CLA, a beneficial, natural fatty acid may help to prevent some of the risks associated with an extremely low fat diet and the resulting bone loss. Many people jumped on the anti-fat wagon a few years ago. It is now known that there are actually good fats that are actually needed for optimum health and healthy weight loss. We are aware of the good Omega 3’s and what they can do for us. Now it is time for us to learn about CLA and its benefits.

If you are worried about your weight, or even just concerned about your BMI, you are certainly not alone.  Recent surveys have shown that over seventy percent of Americans are struggling with their weight.

One question that has been posed time and again still has researchers puzzled.  What is it that causes our population to have such a widespread problem with achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight, and how can it be overcome?

There are many pieces to this perplexing problem.   DNA can certainly play a part in an individual’s metabolism – if your ancestors struggled with weight loss, chances are high that you will, also.  Recent research has focused on the process of Mutagenesis, or changing the structure of DNA to assist individuals who have the genetic markers for inherited obesity and the associated problems that come with it.  Is it possible to change the body’s code for the better?  Scientists are hard at work to find the answer.  In the meantime, there are real breakthroughs that can help break the cycle of persistent weight loss and weight gain that such a large percentage of the population battles.

Some of the best tools for weight loss involve simple knowledge about how the body works and what to do to optimize the body’s energy balance.  One thing you can do is use a BMR Calculator to evaluate your body’s basic caloric need.  A Basal Metabolic Rate Calculator (BMR Calculator) uses information you provide to determine how many calories you would need to maintain your current weight even if you did nothing all day.  The second tool is knowledge about your BMI (Body Mass Index).   Using a BMI Calculator, you can determine the fat to lean ratio that makes up your body.  Standard BMI Calculators can help you to determine whether you are underweight, at a healthy weight for your height, if you are overweight, or if you are obese.  The knowledge you can gain from using these two important tools is enough to get you started down the path of healthy weight loss.

It is important to feed your body properly while losing weight.  When you decrease the amount of calories that you are taking in, it is essential to use high quality nutritional supplements to ensure that your body’s vitamin and mineral needs are met.  If the body is not receiving quality nutrition, it will fight to retain fat – again, that tricky DNA comes into play.  Centuries of struggle to find adequate nutrition have programmed our genetic codes to be thrifty and store fat.  Taking a quality supplement along with plenty of water can help to speed weight loss and restore balance to your body.

Healthy exercise is also important for weight loss.  Remember that if you have not exercised in a long time, you should start out slowly and work your way up to a more active lifestyle.  A high quality weight loss supplement can help you with exercise as well, giving you more stamina and helping your body’s cells to convert more easily.  Fat cells will shrink rapidly and muscle cells will show increased growth as long as they are fed properly – cells need micronutrients to operate efficiently.   So, remember that a body is a sum of parts and DNA is ultimately the key.  Until the mysteries are solved, a BMR Calculator, knowledge about your BMI, and a healthy diet and exercise plan paired with supportive supplementation remain the best tools for healthy weight loss.

To begin a diet without understanding where you are now and what steps will take you where you want to be is a plan – but it’s a plan to fail.  Instead, make a plan to succeed by defining where you are, what your goal is and what must be done in the areas of diet, exercise and health to reach your goal.

Any of us who have dieted know that the best intentions can be overcome by the first hunger pang.   We know it’s easier to think about exercise while sitting in our favorite chair.   We know that depriving our bodies of the nutrients it needs leads to fatigue and weakness and gives us an excuse to quit dieting.

Plan your diet by making a schedule for meals, defining an exercise program suited to you and add an excellent weight loss supplement that will support your health as you pursue your goals.   You will increase the likelihood of success drastically by spending a bit of time building a diet plan to suit your taste and your lifestyle.

Be realistic about where you are right now.   Begin by calculating your body mass index (BMI). Try these free weight loss tools courtesy of Liporidex.com. Lowering your BMI can have a significant impact on your life by decreasing risk of disease and improving overall health. The BMI measurement may be incorrect if you have a high concentration of lean muscle. Accuracy may also be affects for those at the extreme range of ages. Use this handy BMI chart provided to track your weight loss progress.

Other calculators are provided to:

-       Determine the caloric requirement that will help you lose weight, gain weight or maintain the weight when you reach your goal.

-       Design an exercise regimen based on caloric expenditure by activity

-       Access a database of foods and calories per serving to plan your meals

Choose your diet supplement carefully.   If you buy weight loss diet pills that leave you jittery you are at risk for nervous eating.   Choose a top weight loss supplement that targets the unique problems you face when dieting but also provides natural support for your overall health and well being.

As you create your diet plan, choose a date to start that will allow you time to clear your kitchen of foods that are not helpful and fill the refrigerator with fresh, healthy foods.  Outline a plan for exercise that is practical and will fit in with your schedule.  It does no good to have an ambitious workout plan if you have to skip it due to time constraints.

Set milestones for your progress.   Sometimes you will exceed your own expectations but if you fall short one week, just make adjustments and keep going.

Your end goal is to lose weight in a way that leaves you looking and feeling great.   With healthy food choices, regular exercise that suits you and the top weight loss supplement taken daily, you will feel better, look better and be able to continue your new healthy lifestyle long after your diet days are over.