Losing Weight with specific Testing

Phase IV Scientific Health and Performance Center in Santa Monica specializes in something very important - checking the individual behind the weight loss and exercise program and trying to figure out that person's own bio-rythms. They actually perform blood tests on people, while they are on the treadmill and working out. The accurate physiological picture allows the trainers and nutritionists to determine just what needs to be done with that person at that point in time.

Generally most exercisers go high intensity for about eight weeks and burn a lot of calories. The body responds to exercise by releasing hormones to meet the demand, as the body sees the exercise as stress. But after eight weeks, the body adapts to that workout. The result? Weight gain, lethargy, or burnout.

"And that's when we have to change the stimulus on that person or the athlete; otherwise they're going to become apathetic. As the hormones fade, as the body no longer sees it as stress," says Forster.

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The Fat Inside

If you thought that losing weight on the inside was hard enough... some doctors claim even thin people may have excess fat internally!

If it really is what‘s on the inside that counts, then a lot of thin people might be in trouble. Some doctors now think that the internal fat surrounding vital organs like the heart, liver or pancreas — invisible to the naked eye — could be as dangerous as the more obvious external fat that bulges underneath the skin.

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Weight Loss for Older Women

Since weight loss usually means losing some muscle tissue, as well as fat, it has been argued that losing weight might be dangerous for older people. A problem when it comes to overweight older people who wish to enjoy the benefits of scaling down their weight.

The women lost an average of 25 pounds -- about 35 percent of the total loss was muscle. Results show despite the large amount of muscle loss, participants' strength and walking speed did not change, and their aerobic fitness improved. The findings suggest weight loss through dieting should not lead to increased disability.

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