Background:
While high protein reducing your calorie intakes have been shown to improve satiety and retention of lean body mass (LBM), this study was designed to determine effects of a protein- enriched meal replacement (MR) on weight loss and LBM retention by comparison to an isocaloric carbohydrate-enriched MR within customized reducing your calorie intake plans utilizing MR to achieve high protein or standard protein intakes.
Methods:
Single blind, placebo-controlled, randomized outpatient weight loss trial in 100 obese men and women comparing two isocaloric meal plans utilizing a standard MR
to which was added supplementary protein or carbohydrate powder. MR was used twice daily (one meal, one snack). One additional meal was included in the meal plan designed to achieve individualized protein intakes of either 1) 2.2 g protein/kg of LBM per day [high protein reducing your calorie intake (HP)] or 2) 1.1 g protein/kg LBM/day standard protein reducing your calorie intake(SP). LBM was determined using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Body weight, body composition, and lipid profiles were measured at baseline and 12 weeks.
Results:
Eighty-five subjects completed the study. Both HP and SP MR were well tolerated, with no adverse effects. There were no differences in weight loss at 12 weeks (-4.19 +/- 0.5 kg for HP group and -3.72 +/- 0.7 kg for SP group, p > 0.1). Subjects in the HP group lost significantly more fat weight than the SP group (HP = -1.65 +/- 0.63 kg; SP = -0.64 +/- 0.79 kg, P=0.05) as estimated by BIA. There were no significant differences in
lipids nor fasting blood glucose between groups, but within the HP group a significant decrease in cholesterol and LDL cholesterol was noted at 12 weeks. This was not seen in the SP group.
Conclusions:
Higher protein MR within a higher protein reducing your calorie intake resulted in similar overall weight loss as the standard protein MR plan over 12 weeks. However, there was significantly more fat loss in the HP group but no significant difference in lean body mass. In this trial, subject compliance with both the standard and protein-enriched MR strategy for weight loss may have obscured any effect of increased protein on weight loss demonstrated in prior weight loss studies using whole nourishment reducing your calorie intakes.

If you are reading this because you are frustrated about not being able to keep your weight off, rest assured you are not alone. You are only one of millions in the United States who feel just as frustrated as you are, and wonder what to do.

First of all, when you consider weight loss programs, you have to remember that they can work for you. However, there is no substitute for exercise and balanced dieting no matter which diet plan you follow.

If you are looking for a healthy diet plan to follow in order to help you keep your weight off for good, you have to first examine the purpose of a few well-known diets. If the purpose of the diet you have interest in trying promotes gradual weight loss and offers balanced meal plans then you know that it is most likely a good diet to follow.

If the diet that you are considering makes claims of drastic changes of weight in an extremely short period of time such as lose 50 pounds in less than a month or similar, then you know the diet is most possibly either a hoax or one that could cause harm to your body, mind, and emotions.

Another example of a diet that could possibly either not be effective long term or do not provide all of the nutrients your body needs are various three-day to seven-day diets. These are the type of diets in which you only eat a certain type of one or a few types of foods. Some foods that are used for these shot term diets are the grapefruit, hot dogs, read meats, and so forth. Usually this one food and a variety of other foods along with it are supposed to make up a diet that will help you lose weight.

Those who try the above mentioned temporary diets sometimes referred to as crash diets may lose at least a little bit of weight. However, if they have no long term diet plan after the first few days they are likely to gain all that weight they lost back. In order for a diet to be effective there needs to be a long-term diet plan.

One aspect not mentioned in this article yet about healthy dieting is that of exercise. Most healthy dieting plans also include provision for exercise, and encourage participants to plan an effective exercise programs. The purpose of exercise is to keep work your heart and muscles and to help burn fat. Exercise helps keep your body in ideal shape, or it helps it reach the ideal healthy state.

If you have heard of a diet plan that offers a remedy in which you can lose weight without exercise, you are usually advised by health professionals and personal fitness trainers to beware of these types of diets. Many people will recognize these diets as an easy solution to your problems; however the long-term effect is usually unknown or very unpredictable. Many people who use diet plans in which exercise is said to not be needed have a tendency to gain weight back of they are not careful.

Some examples of healthy weight loss diets are the food pyramid diet, which offers meal and nutrition plans from all the food groups. The food groups of this pyramid are generally fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, grains, and fats. The USDA offers guidelines for daily food allowances and even promotes personalized food pyramid dieting.

Both the USDA website and Mayo Clinic have ways that you can calculate how much of eat type of food you should eat daily. Not only that but they have a calorie guide as well. It is easy to plan this type of diet, especially if you already are in good health overall and just need to lose a few pounds, or even 15 to 20 pounds.

For those who are chronically obese, greater measures may be sought than just simply following a food pyramid. Chronically obese usually refers to an individual who is usually about 50 pounds or more overweight and has not had very much success with dieting leading to permanent weight loss.

Those who are chronically obese will often try a low carb diet in which they temporary reduce to almost nothing the amount of carbs that they consume. Then, they gradually add more carbs to their diet the further along they are in it. During this time they will find out how many carbs they can eat without gaining weight, and how they can continue to lose weight at a slow, steady rate.

If the above diets are still not enough for a person who really wants to keep the weight off, that person may qualify for one of various medical treatments. For example, some people will undergo stomach reduction surgery or liposuction. Others have even taken part in a clinical study on the gastric pacemaker for appetite reduction.

There are quite a few options out there for those who want to lose weight and keep it off. If you want to find out for yourself which one would be most effective for you remember you can call your doctor or a dietician to help you find the right plan for you. That doctor will suggest both a diet and fitness program to help improve the quality of your life.

Author: Jason Cox – online product reviewer

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