Physiogenomic analysis of weight loss induced by dietary carbohydrate restriction
Background:
Diets that restrict carbohydrate (CHO) have proven to be a successful dietary treatment of obesity for many people, but the degree of weight loss varies across individuals. The extent to which genetic factors associate with the magnitude of weight loss induced by CHO restriction is unknown. We examined associations among polymorphisms in candidate genes and weight loss in order to understand the physiological factors influencing body weight responses to CHO restriction.
Methods:
We screened for genetic associations with weight loss in 86 healthy adults who were instructed to restrict CHO to a level that induced a small level of ketosis (CHO 10% of total energy). A total of 27 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected from 15 candidate genes involved in fat digestion/metabolism, intracellular glucose metabolism, lipoprotein remodeling, and appetite regulation. Multiple linear regression was used to rank the SNPs according to probability of association, and the most significant associations were analyzed in greater detail.
Results:
Mean weight loss was 6.4 kg. SNPs in the gastric lipase (LIPF), hepatic glycogen synthase (GYS2), cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and galanin (GAL) genes were significantly associated with weight loss.
Conclusion:
A strong association between weight loss induced by dietary CHO restriction and variability in genes regulating fat digestion, hepatic glucose metabolism, intravascular lipoprotein remodeling, and appetite were detected. These discoveries could provide clues to important physiologic adaptations underlying the body mass response to CHO restriction. (more…)

Seven Keys to Permanent Weight Loss Success (Part 3 of 4)
During a recent seminar that I conduct, participants explored the concept of just how powerful the mind is and how this relates to losing fat. After a serious of powerful exercises, they were asked to create an action plan based on what they learned in order to successfully lose fat and keep it off. The result of this workshop was seven keys that addressed what most diet programs or weight loss systems do not: the fact that fitness starts inside. (more…)

The Hamptons Diet Cookbook: Spicy Eye Round
This is the third exclusive recipe introduced this week from bestselling author Dr. Fred Pescatore's The Hamptons Diet Cookbook. After enjoying the incredible Bacon and Eggs “Muffins” recipe for breakfast and then those yummy Southampton Crab Cakes for lunch… (more…)

Bariatric Surgery Things You Should Be Aware Of
When all other measures fail to control morbid obesity, weight loss surgery is a source of hope to the overweight. American doctors perform weight loss surgery over 140,000 times a year.
The oldest form of weight loss surgery is the most familiar, stomach stapling. In this 30-year-old procedure, most of the stomach is sliced and then stapled shut. (more…)

Weight Loss Is Just Simple Math
Think of your body as a giant scale. That scale is a perfect analogy for gaining and losing weight. Think of putting “calories you burn” on one side and “calories you eat” on the other side. To maintain your current weight, the scale needs to be balanced. If you eat more calories than your body needs, you tip the scale. These extra calories are stored as fat — on your hips, butt, stomach, chest, face, etc., etc. etc. (feel free to add your personal trouble spot here). To loose weight, you want to tip the scale in the other direction, so that there is a calorie deficit, not a calorie surplus. To lose one pound of body fat, you have to burn (or not eat) 3500 calories. There are three ways to lose weight: 1) Increase your metabolism. One way to do this is to gain lean muscle (through strength training). For every pound of muscle you gain, your body burns 50 more calories a day. This means that with more muscle you can eat the same amount and still lose some weight. 2) Eat less. To lose one pound of fat a week, you need to cut 500 calories a day from your diet. With 1000 fewer calories a day you will lose two pounds a week. This may sound like a lot of calories. It’s important to know that it is. 3) Workout more. If you just exercise, you would have to walk on a treadmill at 4 MPH for 1.5 hours a day, seven days a week, to lose two pounds of fat a week. The perfect way to lose weight is to do all three. If you increase your metabolism, eat less, and workout more, you will lose weight. It will be easier and less painful than drastically cutting back on your calories or becoming a slave to the treadmill. Nick Irons is a certified personal trainer in Washington, DC. He made history in 1997 when he swam 1600 miles from Minneapolis to Baton Rouge in the Mississippi River. Take a look at his "Health, Fitness, and Nutrition News" blog at his website: <a href="http://www.MarylandPersonalTrainer.com" title="http://www.MarylandPersonalTrainer.com" target="_blank">http://www.MarylandPersonalTrainer.com</a>. (more…)

Getting The Body Ready For Summer
Three cheers. Summer is just around the corner. It’s time to get the body ready to show off the shorts and sleeveless tops. A bikini is defiintely not something I’m brave enough to wear. Although I’ve been at my target weight for some months now I’ve still got too much body fat.

To get ready to […] (more…)