Ravi’s Gadgets

There are many fast weight loss success stories that have come out of The Biggest Loser TV Show but none as captivating as the story of The Weight Loss Twins, Bill and Jim Germanakos. This article shares how they got motivated to lose weight, how they did it and how they are doing today.

Bill and Jim knew they were heading down a bad path, at 40 years of age they already had high blood pressure and high cholesterol and with a history of premature death related to obesity (their father died too young from his own obesity complications) they knew something had to change.

An ah-ha moment happened for Jim that pushed him to apply to be on the Biggest Loser show. Jim, who is an Eagle Scout himself was raising a 16 year old son with similar aspirations. They had an opportunity to go on a special camping trip as father and son but once they got there Jim was told that he was too heavy to go on the trip. He and his son had to leave.

This devastated Jim because his son was so hurt but it put him on a new path that led him to the reality show and eventually to he and his brother becoming fast weight loss success stories.

When the twins got accepted to be on the show they weighed a combined 695 pounds. In just 8 months they had shed half their body weight each and together lost 345 pounds. And, I might add that Jim was voted off the show after week 5 yet still managed to lose 134 pounds at home while working a full time job.

They credit their success to the education they received from the many medical doctors, trainers, dieticians and psychologists they worked closely with while on the show.

When they got to the ranch they realized that they were doing many things wrong with their diets and lifestyles. Some of the things they began to do that lead to their rapid weight loss were to start eating smaller meals throughout the day, track their food intake in a journal, count calories, exercise aerobically and against resistance and of course work on their positive mental attitudes.

All of these factors combined to give them rapid fat loss and catapulted them to fame as the Biggest Loser Grand Champion (this went to Bill) and the champion among eliminated players (Jim’s accomplishment).

The brothers were so grateful for the new life they were given that they vowed to “pay it forward” and dedicate themselves to helping others who struggle with weight. Today they maintain healthy weights and they have created a rapid weight loss system that details what to eat, how to exercise and everything you need to drop weight fast. Their hope is to take their success and turn it into many more fast weight loss success stories.

The winners of Season 4 of The Biggest Loser are about to reveal The Truth About Diets.

Losing weight is one of the hardest feats for a lot of people. Some do not even achieve this at all which is very frustrating and sometimes even downright terrifying. The thought of not being able to fit in your old pair of slacks again or not being able to slip on that strapless ball gown without worrying about back fat is just unnerving.

This is why you should explore as many effective weight loss methods in order to bring about the result that you want which is a slimmer body.

As you know, the media plays a very important role in the determination of effective weight loss methods and most of the time, you will come across certain information that are inaccurate thus leading you to a completely wrong path.

Here are fool proof ways to achieve effective weight loss and say good bye to the plus size rack:

- Regular exercise- Yes, you probably heard of this suggestion so many times that it sounds like a broken record already. However, it is one of the most effective means of losing all the weight especially if your eating habits borders on the gluttonous. If you eat so much, you have to exercise that much as well in order to balance out things. If you keep on shovelling in carbs and fat without finding any release for them, you will be in serious trouble. You do not have to join the gym or take spinning classes. Start with an early morning jog every day then you will soon get used to the idea of moving around a lot that it will become second nature to you.

- Weight loss supplements- This choice is probably one of the most preferred because it entails no significant physical effort or curbing of food intake. However, there are certain disadvantages to going with this option because it does not work for everyone. There are some people who have tried practically every single weight loss product in the market but did not lose a single pound at all. It can also get expensive since these supplements have to be taken for months, sometimes even years before the results can be seen.

- Low carb low fat diet- This type of diet is tagged as one of the hardest effective weight loss methods to pull off largely due to the fast food phenomenon. Although it is true that it can be very difficult to say no to fast food, there are ways by which you can still stay true to this diet. First off, you have to make sure that you stock up your fridge with enough food that you can cook throughout the week and look up easy to prepare dishes that you can make. Stick with lean meat and fish and make up for it by adding all sorts of herbs and spices to the dish so that it will taste a lot better.

Effective weight loss methods do require discipline and commitment for you to be able to gain their full effects. The best thing to do is start with something simple in order not to overwhelm your body as well as your mindset.

In due time, you will get used to the habit of eating less or at least healthier, moving around more often and being conscious of how you treat your body.

Many people consider weight loss as an important goal to achieve optimum health. Both men and women are naturally conscious of how they look, including how much they weigh. Being fat or obese can be quite self-destructive, since it can affect a person’s self-esteem and also his self-confidence. By knowing what to eat, and how much should be eaten, people can more or less control their weight. Aside from limiting food intake, people should also regularly exercise and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

But there are people who find it hard to go to the gym or simply cannot resist eating more than they need to. To lose weight, they often look for weight loss pills which they consider to be the sweat-free way of losing the extra pounds. These pills have become popular to weight watchers because of their convenience and perceived effectiveness. Weight loss pills are sold as over-the-counter drugs at local drugstores, health food stores, and supermarkets. Even on the Internet, a lot of these diet pills are being sold and ready for delivery for eager online shoppers. However, much care must be put into the decision to use these drugs. Many of these weight-reduction medications have not been proven safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration. These pills actually contain different components that supposedly make a person lose weight fast. Based on advertised claims about these drugs, weight loss pills decrease a person’s appetite, blocks the absorption of dietary fat, and increase the number of calories that are burned by the body. These pills also supposedly increase fat metabolism, reduce body fat and builds muscles, while increasing the feelings of fullness. All these are just unsubstantiated claims and, as such, the use of the said drugs should be done only after consultation with health professionals. The use of unregulated drugs could be dangerous to one’s health.

At present, the US Food and Drug Administration has a list of approved weight loss medications for adults. One such approved drug is called Alli, a reduced-strength over-the-counter weight loss pill that works by decreasing the absorption of fat by the intestines. However, this particular medication only works with a reduced calorie, low fat diet together — and regular exercise.

Knowing that some of these weight loss pills are still not proven safe nor effective, people should consider thinking of losing weight the natural way. Although it would be a challenge for anyone, this would be the safest and healthiest way to lose weight.

There are actually several safe and proven weight loss programs that have been designed for people who desperately need to shed off extra pounds. These diet-based programs cater to different types of individuals who have certain preferences when it comes to their choice of diet and lifestyle. These weight loss programs take time to work and anyone who wants to try them out should have the mental toughness, determined effort, and close family support needed to see through the program. Going on a diet is like reversing or removing lifetime habits of eating and lack of exercise. Weight loss programs such as the Atkins Diet, Weight Watchers, the Scarsdale Diet, the Zone Diet, and the Anne Collins Diet promises weight loss for people who follow the requirements and recommendations set forth in these specially designed regimen. These diet programs, however, all share the same thing: the weight watcher must engage in physical exercises. All these programs have different eating plans to range from low-carbohydrate intake to no-meat plans. Of course, these diet plans have been designed to meet the varied needs and preferences of weight watchers.

When one is really willing to lose some weight, following these weight loss programs would surely be much easier. People can surely lose weight without the dangers of risking one’s health by taking dangerous weight loss pills that might not be even be effective at all. By having an optimistic and sensible approach to weight loss, people can lose weight in a healthy way.

If you have not tried the simple pine nut, you will be amazed at the healthy punch this tiny nut packs. Its key benefit is that it suppresses hunger and tells your brain “Thanks, but I am already full.” Additionally, it slows the emptying of your stomach, again helping you feel full. These benefits are due to a powerful hormone called cholecystokinin (or CCK.)

Siberians used a handful of nuts to sustain them on long hunting trips and as a way to maintain their energy. Portable, tasty and offering a long-lasting fill, they were the perfect trail mix. Still today, in Siberia, a handful of pine nuts precede a meal, setting the stage for a moderate meal.

Pine nuts are delicious with a mild, nutty flavor and contain certain fatty acids that can help suppress hunger. One ounce of pine nuts (approximately ¼ cup) has 190 calories, 19 g of fat and only 4 g of carbohydrates. They contain more protein that any other nut or seed as well as a variety of vitamins and nutrients such as: vitamins E, B1, B2, and B3, beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A) as well as essential amino acids, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium and zinc.

Pinolenic acid is a polyunsaturated fat that encourages two hormones (including CCK) that suppress hunger. It has been studied extensively and is included in many appetite suppressing diet formulas. It signals to your brain that you aren’t hungry any more. These same hormones are included in both pine nuts and pine nut oil.

The secret of CCK

The secret to pine nuts effectiveness is cholecystokinin (or CCK) which is a peptide hormone gene expressed through the digestive tract, set off by food intake and released into the blood stream. The hormone sends a signal to the brain which indicates satiation. It is also believed that partial digested protein aids in the release of CCK. Pine nuts are exceptionally high in protein at 31%.

CCK has been studied at length since its discovery almost 30 years ago. Researchers have discovered that CCK is produced in the duodenum (the beginning part of your small intestine) after eating and sends the “full” feeling to the brain. It releases digestive enzymes from the pancreas, contracts the gall bladder and slows the rate of stomach emptying, helping you feel full. In fact, cholecystokinin means “to move the gall bladder.”

Other health benefits

Additional health benefits of pine nuts include:

Digestive aid
Satiety promoter
Antioxidant protection
Treats gastrointestinal problems
Promotes cardiovascular health
Addresses inflammatory and autoimmune disorders

Incorporating Pine Nuts into your diet

It is easy to add these versatile nuts to your diet in a variety of ways.

They can be tossed into a salad as a nutty addition. Or add them in your next pasta dish or soup for a mild crunch. Pine nuts are an essential ingredient to pesto or can be made into a simple, delicious dip perfect for pita chips or vegetable sticks. Or try them, raw by the handfuls, just like the Siberians.