Weight Loss Pasadena will help you reach your weight loss goals, period!

A person doesn’t have to be obese, but even being over-weight, can lead to major health risks like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, sleep apnea, increased blood sugar levels leading to insulin resistance and many more preventable diseases and conditions associated with increased weight.

Being educated, having a lot of willpower and regular exercise can help, but often times this is not enough.

Maybe you have consulted with a  bariatrics specialist to discuss possible surgical procedures to finally lose the weight like gastric bypass surgery or the gastric lap band.

Do you really want your stomach stapled? Do you really want a band placed around your stomach so that you feel full even after having a very small amount of food? Are you fully award of how dangerous and invasive these types of weight loss surgeries can be?

Even so-called safe procedures like liposuction to get rid of pesky cellulite can be very risky sometimes.

It is a great idea to make sure that in your quest to lose weight that you evaluate all of the non-surgical ways to lose weight before going through a risky and possibly painful surgery, but does that mean that all of the other ways to melt off those extra pounds of fat and inches are safer than surgery?

For instance: Weight loss pills or medications and fad diets or starvation type diets can also be very detrimental to your health. Many people try these extreme methods and they become obsessed with losing weight, which can lead to developing eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia, which if goes untreated, can often lead to very serious health complications, even death!

Losing weight doesn’t have to be so risky though. There are ways to lose weight that do not involve starving, dangerous pills and over the counter weight loss solutions which are proven to work, and it all starts with education.

You also don’t need to read a bunch of boring books about the mechanics of weight loss. You don’t have to memorize a ton of information about body mass index (BMI), fat, calories, protein, carbohydrates or any other complex information on how the human body works.

There is some basic information that you do need to know though, about how our body processes food, especially sugar, that will open your eyes on how to finally lose weight, and keep it off for the rest of your life. This kind of simple  information is ultimately what Weight Loss Pasadena is all about.

We have also included a local directory of weight loss providers like gym’s, weight loss centers, doctors, and even hypnotists that provide weight loss solutions, so no matter where you live in the Marin, San Francisco or genera Bay Area you live in, you will have plenty of options.

Below is a short list of some of these: Weight Loss Pasadena directory:

24 Hour Fitness 525 Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena CA 91101

Dr. Beth L. Speckman, D.C.
1167 N. Lake Avenue, Pasadena CA 91104

Dr. Stephanie King D.C.
375 Huntington Drive, Sutie B, San Marino CA 91108

Healthy For Life
950 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena CA 91105

Marianne Zaugg, PhD – Clinical Hypnotherapy
3827 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena CA 91107

Pasadena Weight Loss Center
65 North Madison Avenue #611, Pasadena CA 91101

Sweet Science Nutrition
12441 Ventura Court, Studio City CA 91604

Smart For Life Weight Management
850 East Green Street, Pasadena CA 91101

Zerona Laser
960 East Green Street, Pasadena 91101

While we at Weight Loss Pasadena do not usually recommend rapid weight loss…

Sometimes…

Sometimes you may have a situation, or event that is coming up on short notice, and you want to lose a couple of extra pounds before you attend. Losing weight rapidly is never recommended at Weight Loss Pasadena because it is widely believed to be unsafe.

However, we have all been in a situation where losing a few pounds for an event was necessary, and we have all done it too. So, we can’t hardly tell you that you can not do something when we have done that very thing ourselves.

Here are a few tips on how to lose weight fast:

Tips for Losing Weight Fast – Burn the Fat or Eat the Muscle?

I know that you’ve heard a lot of information about carbohydrates. In recent years, a myriad of popular diets arguing against carbohydrates have come and gone. Many people have lost weight by cutting out carbohydrates from their diet, only to gain all of the weight back as soon as they went back to eating like they used to.

So what’s the truth about carbs?

Not only are carbohydrates not really the cause of weight gain, they are absolutely essential to our lives! If you have ever tried a low or no-carb diet, you may remember that when you cut the carbs out of your diet, you craved them even more than you did before.

The reason for this is very simple.

The human body needs carbohydrates, period! In order for normal brain and body function, the human body needs carbs on a daily basis. Without eating an amount of carbs in ones diet, you will become tired, and not able to think as clearly as before.

That is not to say that all carbs are good, all of the time by any means. There are carbohydrates that are better for us than others, and the real key to being healthy is knowing when to eat carbs, and what kind to eat.

Below is a great video on whether or not carbs make you fat, check it out now!

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We created Weight Loss Pasadena because we have struggled with weight at one time or another in our lives.

And it was really frustrating packing on those extra pounds, then trying to get them off!

I had never been one of the skinny kids growing up, and when I became an adult, my genes didn’t help me out any more than they did in high school.

For the most part I wasn’t generally overweight in a big way, except for a few years back. I took a few months off from a job that was stressful, and I basically ate and drank whatever sounded good to me on a given day.

I would go to the local sports bar and eat a greasy hamburger and a few beers, and after about six months, I was fat! I had a big, disgusting belly and a round face. Walking up the stairs was brutal, and I developed an ugly snoring habit to go with my bad eating habits.

I had dieted in the past, with not great results. I had previously did one of the low-carb diets, and I did lose weight on it. The only thing is, once I ate carbohydrates again, the weight came back on pretty fast. Not to mention, I hated living a life where I couldn’t have bread on my sandwich!

So anyway. I made a  little video with a few pictures that I could actually find from a diet that I found on the web that actually worked. Not many pictures of me exist, because I really don’t like my picture taken, but when I was overweight, I really hid from the camera even more.

My little weight loss video is below, so enjoy it and remember that I was a pretty lazy person, and I managed to lose weight. Basically, if I can do it then I know you can do it too.

Cheers!

Have you ever heard of Weight Loss Forever?

This was a weight loss center with 8 locations around the Virginia Beach, VA area including the corporate headquarters.

I can’t bash a business like this, because a lot of people use this type of method to lose weight, and a lot of people have success. The problem is, that often times, a lot of money is required up front for meals, counseling and weight-loss plans.

A lot of people in Virginia lost hundreds and thousands of dollars by signing up for a business like Weight Loss Forever.

One day, the company decided to close its doors, keep everyone’s money and they didn’t mention a word of this to anybody.

Here is a link to a Virginia Beach area news station that put out a story about the Weight Loss Forever incident.

Now, this isn’t the kind of thing that happens all of the time, and this company wasn’t doing any business in the Bay Area, but it does show you that people that are out to take your money and run, will do it for any reason. People trusted this company to help them lose weight, and all they got was their money stolen from them.

In the end, people were basically willing to gamble with hundreds or thousands of dollars, all to lose weight?

I suppose when somebody is running a business designed to help people, but they need to pay rent for their building, and pay employees, it stands to reason that they could take all of the clients money and close up shop one day without notice. Just keep in mind that the next time a company pulls a stunt like this, it could be with your money!

I think a lot of people go to these types of weight loss centers because they offer support. Anybody that has ever tried to lose weight by themselves knows that having some support during the ups and downs of losing weight can help out a whole lot.

This is why Weight Loss Marin was created. Giving you the support that you need without spending a ton of money, and risking that money, hoping that you don’t get taken for a ride the way the folks were in Virginia Beach.

In this day and age, businesses are going under at an alarming rate, so please be warned if you are ever asked for your credit card for future services at an business like this. You want to lose weight, not your money.

Story link: wavy.com

We advise that if you are going to use a weight loss center like this, that you stick with one of the larger ones like Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers.

Here are the addresses of some of these local centers.

Jenny Craig Weight Loss Center

www.jennycraig.com

1143 Fair Oaks Avenue, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Weight Watchers – Pasadena

www.weightwatchers.com

305 N Rosemead Blvd, Rosemead – Center, Pasadena, CA 91107

At Weight Loss Pasadena, at least one of us tried losing weight using this method.

While it may seem like some kind of a dream to be able to eat basically anything, as long as it is protein to lose some weight, it’s really not healthy for you at all. One of us (I won’t mention names) has had experience with eating a diet high in any kind of protein and very low in carbohydrates.

Not only is this not the way that our bodies are intended to use food, the weight loss never lasts when you go back to eating a more traditional diet.

Here is another article we found on low-carb, high protein diets:

Nearly everyone is somewhat familiar with the food pyramid and the different groups of foods it represents. In an attempt to lose weight, many people have adjusted their diets to include everything but what is recommended we eat every day. A low carb, high protein diet is one of the plans that mixes up the pyramid by having you eat more servings from the meat group and less from the grains, dairy, fruits and vegetables.

A low carb high protein diet is designed strictly for the purpose of weight loss. Normally, the body uses carbs to get energy but when you reduce the carbs you consume, the body goes into a state known as “ketosis” which means it is burning fat stores for energy like it would during starvation. After the first few days on this type of diet, your hunger is reduced and you begin to eat less.

The biggest reason that you will consume more protein during these diets is that these choices are low in carbs or are carb-free. However, there are some major drawbacks to consuming too much protein. First of all, it can put a strain on your kidneys and make you at a higher risk for kidney disease. A lot of the protein consumed on a low carb high protein diet will normally come from red meat which is high in cholesterol. This can lead to an increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Cancer is an increased risk due to the lack of vitamins, antioxidants and other nutrients normally obtained from foods that contain carbohydrates, especially fruits and vegetables. A low carb high protein diet can also put you at risk for osteoporosis or kidney stones since you will excrete more calcium through your urine than normal which can lead to problems over time.

In some situations where fast weight loss is needed for a person who already has a health problem or surgery is being performed, a low carb high protein diet may be used to get rid of extra pounds in a hurry. Sometimes people will also use this type of diet when they are preparing to make a switch to a healthier lifestyle or to follow another weight loss program so that their weight loss gets a “boost”. Short time plans can be beneficial without the risk of doing more harm than good but may not be the best approach for a lifetime change in eating habits.

These diets are also used by people who have a predisposition to diabetes since they have proven to be effective at lowering blood sugar. While a diabetic diet is similar to a low carb diet for weight loss, the latter is more stringent and reduces the amount of carbs you are allowed to eat to a greater degree than for those who have already developed diabetes.

To get the great weight loss results and not suffer the long-term health effects that you can get from these tradition low carb diet plans, consider a more modern version of the low carb high protein diet plan. These diets have been modified to include more complex carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains which also include more of the dietary fiber that you need. Protein is obtained from lean meats so you get the weight loss you want and the nutrients you need!

At Weight Loss Pasadena, we know that proper nutrition is an absolute staple in the fight against weight gain.

We hear information all of the time on Omega-3 fatty acids and the many ways that they are good for our overall health. From lowering cholesterol to helping maintain a healthy weight, the Omega-3 fats that are found in healthy fish, green leafy vegetables, walnuts and organic eggs are so vital to our good health.

But did you know that a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can also help our body to burn fat and maintain a healthy weight. Of course, you can’t eat a diet of only Omega-3s but with some easy to follow information, you can add them to your diet in a healthy way, without overload.

There is a lot of information out there about various ways to lose weight or maintain your current weight in regards to diet. It is widely known that people in the world with a natural diet high in Omega-3 fatty acids seem to be much healthier than people with on a cheeseburger diet.

Not to worry if you aren’t a fish lover, as these essential oils and fats can be found plentiful in a wide array of other kinds of foods, so you can still get them into your diet without much effort.

Here is a really good video on Omega-3 fatty acids and where you can get them to start living a more healthy lifestyle.

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Over at Weight Loss Pasadena, we definitely know how annoying stubborn belly fat is!

There is nothing more annoying, and frustrating than finally losing some weight, only to have a bunch of really stubborn belly fat hanging around…literally. For many people, belly fat is the hardest thing to get rid of in a weight loss goal. Even some really fit people still have a belly that they have to carry around, so at least it’s good to know it’s not just some of us with this problem.

Below is a great article and video about belly fat, and more importantly…some tips on how to get rid of it.

In the midst of a busy professional and personal life, keeping in good shape often takes a backseat to life’s daily concerns. If you’re looking for an effective method for how to lose belly fat within your existing schedule, then we have a number of proven methods to help you trim your waistline.

Many busy professionals gain weight in the context of trying to balance competing priorities in their schedule, which leaves exercise, healthy eating and other weight-regulating activities on the sidelines. The good news is that this guide can help provide a roadmap for shedding those excess pounds so you can get in shape according to your own rules.

Getting In a Proper Exercise Rhythm

If you haven’t been to the gym since 8-tracks went out of style (I hear they’re making a comeback), then you should seriously consider integrating daily exercise into your routine. For busy professionals concerned about their schedule, the good news is that you can find enjoyable, relaxing and heart healthy exercise routines which allow you some flexibility. The key to proper methods for how to lose belly fat is to increase your heart rate for an extended period of time on a regular basis (at least 3 days a week), but this doesn’t mean you have to hit the heavy weights or run outside in the freezing cold.

On the contrary, there are a number of relaxing, enjoyable exercise routines that can help increase your metabolism, burn calories and begin to learn how to lose belly fat gradually over time. Many first time dieters assume they have to crush and burn with immediate results from their discipline, but the truth is that an effective long-run exercise routine should be gradual, enjoyable and easily integrated into your daily schedule.

With a proper balance of cardiovascular activities ranging from cycling to swimming and Yoga, combined with light strength training, you can begin to integrate methods for how to lose belly fat over time.

Healthy, Enjoyable Diet Routines

Forget about those crush and burn diets that ask you to leave taste out of the question – the single best dietary restrictions for how to lose belly fat focus on overall nutrition, enjoyment of food and moderation of fats, sugars and artificial ingredients. The principle rule of thumb to help lose weight is to ensure you burn more calories than your intake on a daily basis.

Therefore, a properly structured weight loss diet should focus on tradeoffs, discipline and moderation, while also ensuring proper intake of nutrients, vitamins and protein in order to ensure healthy living on a daily basis.

To begin, a focus on how to lose belly fat should start with a complete review of your existing diet. By evaluating your current dietary habits, you can immediately find items that should be substituted, including refined (white) sugars, fried foods, sugary drinks and late night snacks. Take a fully inventory of your dietary habits and find suitable alternatives, such as egg-white omelets for sugary breakfast cereals, grilled chicken instead of fried and a sensible desert such as yogurt in lieu of junk foods.

By shifting your diet toward sensible alternatives you can reduce your sugar and fat intake, which will help you move down a path to weight loss. By following a disciplined plan, including moderate consumption of your favorite foods, you can gradually lose belly fat over time.

Here is a video with some additional tips on how to lose belly fat.

At Weight Loss Pasadena, we want you to be aware of the difference between overweight and obese…

…and all of the different ways weight is measured to ensure that you are a healthy weight for your body type.

What better place to get the right information from than the very people that you and us pay to find that information…the Federal Government. Below is some great information on what is considered obese and overweight.

Defining Overweight and Obesity

Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.

Definitions for Adults

For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the “body mass index” (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat.

• An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
• An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

See the following table for an example.

It is important to remember that although BMI correlates with the amount of body fat, BMI does not directly measure body fat. As a result, some people, such as athletes, may have a BMI that identifies them as overweight even though they do not have excess body fat. For more information about BMI, visit Body Mass Index.

Other methods of estimating body fat and body fat distribution include measurements of skinfold thickness and waist circumference, calculation of waist-to-hip circumference ratios, and techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Definitions for Children and Teens

For children and teens, BMI ranges above a normal weight have different labels (overweight and obese). Additionally, BMI ranges for children and teens are defined so that they take into account normal differences in body fat between boys and girls and differences in body fat at various ages. For more information about BMI for children and teens (also called BMI-for-age), visit BMI for Children and Teens.

For more, see Defining Childhood Overweight and Obesity.

Assessing Health Risks Associated with Overweight and Obesity

BMI is just one indicator of potential health risks associated with being overweight or obese. For assessing someone’s likelihood of developing overweight- or obesity-related diseases, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines recommend looking at two other predictors:

• The individual’s waist circumference (because abdominal fat is a predictor of risk for obesity-related diseases).
• Other risk factors the individual has for diseases and conditions associated with obesity (for example, high blood pressure or physical inactivity).

For more information about the assessment of health risk for developing overweight- and obesity-related diseases, visit the following Web pages from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Here at Weight Loss Pasadena, we know what it’s like to have some stubborn post-pregnancy weight hanging around for a while.

It seems that no matter how hard we tried to get rid of that baby weight, it just didn’t want to go away, at least not easily. Eventually though, it did with some simple to follow guidelines. Just knowing these easy tips and techniques can really help new mothers get rid of those unwanted pounds put on by post pregnancy weight gain.

Here is a great article on post-pregnancy weight loss:

Post pregnancy weight loss is a common goal for most women who have just had a baby. If you’re one of them, you are probably looking forward to fitting back into your regular wardrobe after months of wearing maternity clothes. However, losing those extra pounds is usually much easier said than done, particularly if you are trying to juggle the demands of a newborn as well as everything else in your life.

Hopefully while you were pregnant, you were careful to eat foods that were high in nutrition to give you baby the best possible start in life. Now that your baby is born it is really important that you continue healthy eating habits. This is particularly crucial if you are breast-feeing your baby. But in order to reach your post pregnancy weight loss goals you will need to make some adjustments.

Following are some guidelines for healthy and safe post pregnancy weight loss:

• Choose foods which are low in fat and high in nutrition. Primary food choices for your post pregnancy weight loss should be fresh (or frozen) fruits and vegetables, beans and whole grains, low-fat dairy products and lean meats including skinless chicken, pork and beef. Small amounts of healthy fat such as unsalted nuts or olive oil should be included in your diet as well.

• Keep foods which are highly processed and high in fat, sugar, and / or salt out of your diet as much as possible. They provide very little nutrition and have a lot of calories and sodium, which will not help your post pregnancy weight loss efforts. If those foods are difficult for you to resist, don’t set yourself up for temptation. Instead, don’t buy them and don’t keep any of them in your home.

• Keep your portions small. Some people find that it helps to use smaller plates so the portions look bigger. Don’t skip meals – you need all your energy and all the nutrition. In fact, to boost your post pregnancy weight loss efforts you may want to eat 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day. This will help keep you from getting so hungry, and will also keep your metabolism higher.

• Don’t eat when you are not truly hungry. Having a newborn to take care of can be stressful at times. For many women, food is a source of emotional comfort when they are feeling stressed or upset or frustrated. If you find yourself reaching for food due to emotion rather than hunger, find an activity to distract yourself. You may want to put the baby in the stroller and go for a walk, or pick up the phone and chat with a supportive friend.

• Get back into a good exercise routine. If there were no complications with your delivery, such as having a C-section or other delivery issues, and if you were exercising regularly while you were pregnant, you should be able to get back into exercising within a few days of giving birth. If you have any concerns or if you weren’t exercising before, it is best to talk to your doctor first.

• Don’t rush the post pregnancy weight loss. Too many women want to lose weight as fast as possible, which is neither realistic nor healthy. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a slow and steady weight loss of one to two pounds a week. Losing more weight than that is usually just water weight and will quickly return. Losing weight more slowly will help you to keep it off over the long term.