Health Desk

Are you one of “those” who have tried every diet out there, purchased every exercise DVD, or joined multiple gyms in the past and never used the memberships?

I am an anti-dieter or so I thought until I tried something that I had recently read about and done some studying about. I’m talking about the use of Vitamin B12 shots. I have been a big fan so far. Vitamin B12 shots are available over the counter. No doctor visits and co-pays and no prescriptions needed! There are many websites that you can find online to purchase the Vitamin B12 shots and there are even videos that will show you how to safely inject the shots yourself.

I do 3 injections per week. I know, you’re probably thinking you can’t possibly do the injection yourself or some may be squeamish overall at the thought of any needle. Well, there are other options like the Vitamin B12 patch and of course your normal Vitamin B12 pill. These too are available over the counter.

Vitamin B12 provides a boost of energy and helps maintain healthy red blood cells. As hectic as my week is trying to balance a full time job and 3 children as a single parent, I find it hard some days to keep up and energy is hard to come by. So, when a friend of mine told me about B12 for weight loss, I started researching it and decided to give it a try. I should say that in addition to my B12 injections, I have cut out fast food and drink plenty of water throughout the day and pair this all up with exercise 3 times a week.

Now I’m not saying this is for everyone and if you have questions or are concerned about the use of Vitamin B12, you should consult your doctor first.

I’m happy to say that in the past 2 weeks, I’ve lost 4 pounds. 21 pounds to goal!

A low-carbohydrate diet not only helps you lose weight, it is often used to help control blood sugar, blood pressure, and lower cholesterol. Atkins, South Beach, and Zone are all popular low-carb diets.

Experts say the high carbohydrates in typical modern diets is unhealthy, and has lead to increasing problems with diabetes and obesity, as well as higher insulin levels which can lead to insulin resistance, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

When you reduce carbohydrates, the tendency is to eat larger portions of protein and fat. You can do this in a sensible manner by replacing the carbs with healthful sources of protein and limited amounts of fat.

Popular low-carb diets range from almost zero carbs to about 35% (about 175 grams per day), but to stay within a healthy range you should have about 130 grams of carbs per day, or 26% of a standard diet of 2,000 calories.

Read nutrition labels to help keep count of your daily carbs. Choose healthy carbohydrate sources that are high in fiber such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. People with diabetes or insulin resistance may find that choosing carbohydrate foods with a low glycemic index works best for them.

Most of your calories should come from lean meats, fish, beans, low-fat dairy products, and unsaturated, non-hydrogenated oils that are free of trans-fats. Meat that has been preserved with nitrites should be avoided.

Below are some food suggestions to incorporate into a healthful low-carbohydrate diet.

Protein (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, and beans):

• Lean chicken and turkey
• Egg whites
• Seafood and fish
• Dried beans and peas
• Soy foods
• Nuts and seeds

Dairy products and dairy substitutes:

• Nonfat milk and milk products
• Unsweetened nonfat yogurt
• Soy beverages

Bread, cereal, rice, and pasta:

• Whole wheat and whole grain breads
• Breads containing whole, intact grains and seeds (millet, flaxseed, etc)
• Whole wheat pasta and noodles
• Brown rice, basmati rice
• Barley, buckwheat
• Whole grain cereals, muesli
• Whole wheat pita, chapatis
• Oatmeal

Fats and oils:

• Non-hydrogenated olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil
• Non-hydrogenated corn oil, flaxseed oil, hemp oil, pumpkin seed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil