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All of us have probably heard that too much fat in our diets is bad for our health. However, not all fats are bad. In fact, some fat is actually good for us and is required by our body for proper function. Some of the uses that fat has in our body include:

1) Helps our body in the production of hormones

2) Insulates and cushions our body and internal organs

3) Keeps our skin and hair healthy

3) Regulates our blood pressure

4) Helps to improve brain function - especially in children

5) Provides us with energy

6) Lowers bad cholesterol levels

7) Alleviate symptoms of PMS and Menopause

8) Lowers our risk against heart disease and other cancers

9) Helps to transport certain vitamins through our bloodstream

Understanding the differences between fats, therefore, can be helpful to understand whether the fat content in a particular food will be helpful to you or harmful.

Polyunsaturated Fats

Polyunsaturated fats are a rich source of Vitamin E and essential fatty acids which we need but can’t be made by our bodies. These fats help to lower bad cholesterol levels, ease symptoms of PMS and aid in motor coordination. Polyunsaturated fats can be found in sunflower oil, safflower oil, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, and sesame seeds.

Monounsaturated Fats

Like polyunsaturated fats, it is thought that monounsaturated oils also assist in the lowering of bad cholesterol levels. Additionally, a diet rich in monounsaturated fats have been associated with lower risks of cancer and increased longevity. Some foods that are rich in monounsaturated oils include: olive oil, Angola oil, sesame oil, avocados, macadamia nuts, brazil nuts, humus, mackerel, and lean meat.

Saturated Fats

A diet high is saturated fats have been proven to raise the levels of bad cholesterol and increase the risk of heart disease, cancer and obesity. These fats have been found in large quantities in such foods as: cheese, lard, cakes, chocolate, pies, pastry, cookies and meat.

Trans Fat

As bad as saturated fats are for our health, Trans fats are even worse. Trans fats are nothing more than saturated fats that have been chemically modified in the food manufacturing process. And not only do they increase the levels of bad cholesterol in the body but they also lower the good cholesterol levels as well. There is also a link between Trans fats and various forms of cancer and heart disease. Trans fat is sometimes listed on the food label; however is mostly found in margarine, cookies, cakes, puddings, fried foods, chocolate bars and in many fast foods.

Everyone wants to look slim but do you know how to dress to look the slimmest you can be? Whether you are bottom-heavy, top-heavy or want to look both taller and slimmer read on for some clothing hints to help you look your fashionable best!

If you feel you are bottom-heavy than your hips are wider than your shoulders and you have what is known as a pear-shaped body with rounded thighs. Look for tops that are fitted but not really tight but avoid extremely loose tops or blouses. Open collar tops, turtlenecks and V-necks are all good choices and look for blazers that fall just below the waist. Straight or boot cut leg pants and/or jeans are best for you but stick with dark colors for your bottoms such as black, brown, navy blue or dark grey.

A-line skirts that fall to your knees are good for your women with bottom-heavy figures but don’t wear ones that are skintight and steer clear of mini skirts. Dresses that are nipped in at the waistline but have a slight flare are flattering for bottom-heavy women who also look good in empire style dresses. Strapless and sleeveless dresses call attention to the neck area, arms and shoulders and would be a style you might want to consider.

Top-heavy women have what is known as an apple-shaped body. This is considered a very womanly figure with full breasts, a soft middle, narrow hips and sleek, slim legs. Too light and too baggy tops are a no-no for top-heavy women who should go for boat neck, mock neck, turtleneck, V-neck and shirt collars that graze the body gently. AS far as material goes, woven knits with stretch provide the best fit. Showing the hint of cleavage is appealing but don’t overdo it. What looks really sexy is a camisole trimmed in lace worn under a top, jacket or blazer. Full or puffy sleeves should be avoided at all costs.

Flat-front, low-rise pants are ideal for top-heavy figures, as are front-pocket jeans for those who don’t like their stomachs very much. Back pockets on jeans accentuate a flatter derriere. A-line skirts will bring the waist into focus while above the knee skirts are flattering for women with nice looking legs who want to show them off. Top-heavy women look better wearing two-piece outfits (such as a top and skirt) but there are dresses that can look equally as attractive for this type of figure. Suggestions to keep in mind include soft princess seamed dresses, sleeveless sheaths (black is an excellent color choice) and strapless dresses with corseted tops.

Black is a very slimming color for every figure type as is navy blue. However if looking not only slimmer but taller is your goal then go for outfits that are monochromatic (in other words all one color) but throw in some contrast or a flash of color in the form of an overshirt, cardigan or blazer. To improve the vertical lines of the outfit, don’t button up the cardigan or blazer. Always wear skirts that are longer as opposed to wider and match the color of your pantyhose or stockings to your skirt or pants and make sure your shoe color matches as well. Striped tops or blouses should have vertical as opposed to horizontal stripes as horizontal stripes make a person look “wider” whereas vertical stripes create an optical illusion by both slenderizing and lengthening the torso. V-neck tops are an excellent choice if appearing taller and slimmer is your goal and choosing shoes that boast a heel is the best bet (the higher the heel the better, but don’t go overboard and choose “neck-breaking high!). Other tips for looking taller and slimmer include wearing scarves and tying them loosely so as to have long and vertical dangling ends; wearing long necklaces and/or pendants but avoiding chokers or any necklace that is short or very tight around the neck and steering clear of big belts which can be overwhelming both to the observer (and sometimes uncomfortable to the wearer, ouch!).

Another suggestion for how to look slimmer includes wearing a black dress under a bright colored blazer (such as red or fuchsia) to hide a big tummy or a bottom that is too large for your liking. The vibrancy of the blazer will call attention to the top half of your body instead of the bottom half.

It may seem unbelievable but water is single most important catalyst in losing weight and weight management. Most people take it for granted but if there really was a magic potion for weight loss, water would be it.

How does Water help with Weight Loss?

Water suppresses your appetite naturally while helping the body to metabolize stored fat. Research studies have shown that a decrease in water consumption will cause fat deposits to increase. While an increase in water consumption will help reduce fat deposits.

The kidneys can’t function properly when they don’t have enough water. When your kidneys don’t work to their capacity, it causes the liver to work harder.

If your liver has to do its job and that of the kidneys work, it won’t work properly. The end result is your body metabolizes less fat and while more fat stays stored in the body causing a halt in weight loss.

Water Benefits
Drinking ample amounts of water is the best treatment for water retention. When the body doesn’t consume enough water it goes into starvation mode and starts holding on to every drop. Water retention shows up as swollen feet, swollen hands and legs which can be bothersome. Diuretics are simple solution with short term effects and while it forces out the retained water it is also forcing out essential nutrients that your body needs.

The easy solution is consuming the amount of water your body requires.
Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone by giving your muscles their natural ability to contract by preventing dehydration. Water also helps to prevent sagging skin that is usually present after weight loss. During weight loss your body has more waste to rid of and ample amounts of water help to flush out the waste.

Water can help relieve constipation. When the body isn’t consuming enough water, it starts taking what it needs from other sources and the colon is just one of those spots. The result ends in painful constipation.

To summarize: the body does not function properly without water and it can’t metabolize stored fat properly. Retained weight piles on as excess weight. To rid your body of excess water you must drink more water. Water is essential to weight loss and staying healthy.

How much Water should you drink?
The average person should drink eight, 8-ounce glasses of water each day. But recent studies have shown that you should consume half your weight in water. In other words if your weight is 140lbs, you should consume 70lbs of water per day.

You should also increase your water intake during exercise or activities that are outside in the heat. Your body will be using up more water, quickly. To prevent dehydration and heat stroke you need to consume more water.

Water should be cold when you drink it and studies also show that cold water can actually help you burn calories, yet another good reason to drink water! In the end, it is essential to consume the proper amounts of water to help aid your weight loss and to keep your body running properly.

Adults gain both lean body mass and storage fat when they gain weight. Usually, the amount of fat gained usually far surpasses the amount of lean body mass gained. Example: if you gain ten pounds, 6-8 of those pounds would be fat and 2-4 of those pounds would be lean body mass.

When the average person loses weight, they lose water, lean body mass and storage fat. To help prevent dehydration it is essential to drink water. From a health point of view and to maintain your metabolic rat, it is far better to preserve as much lean body mass as possible while you reduce your body fat.

How much fat and lean body mass should you expect to lose when you lose weight?

Studies show:

During the early stages of weight loss, at least 75% of the weight lost should be fat loss and not more than 25% should come from lean body mass.

While you continue to lose weight, fat loss should be about 90% of the weight you lose and lean body mass should be approximately 10%.

Body mass index (BMI), weight-for-height tables, overweight, and body composition – you might be utterly confused right now after trying to process what each term means and how it can affect your health and weight loss efforts. Below we have a quick recap:

Body composition refers to the amount of lean body mass and body fat.

Lean body mass is what you want to keep or expand. The amount of lean body mass you have is the most important indicator in determining your metabolism (the rate at which your body burns calories).

Body fat stores energy and protects your organs from injury while insulating your body to keep you warm.

Overweight persons are usually 25-50lbs over the recommended weight for their height.

Obese persons are considered overweight or at least 30lbs over the recommended weight for their height. Obesity factors can include genetic, psychological, environmental and other factors.

Men and women of all races, ages and sizes are at risk for becoming overweight at some point in their lives.

Doctors use weight-for-height tables to determine fat measurements and have ranges of acceptable weight for a given height.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a mathematical formula based on a person’s height and weight to determine what a healthy weight would be today.

We hope we didn’t confuse you too much and you know understand how the body loses and gains weight amongst other things. Understanding how your body functions will help you to be successful with your weight loss goals.

When it comes to cellulite, this is probably the most common question that women search for a response. The answer to this question is quite simple. Let’s find out more about this issue.

The term cellulite firstly appeared around 1970 in France. The term was used to describe the dimpling pattern of fat found on the hips, thighs, buttocks and upper arms. So, cellulite is mainly no different from any subcutaneous fat deposits in our body. But why does the skin looks so awful? Well, our skin is linked by lots of strands of fibrous tissue attached to deeper tissue layers in the body which separate the fat cell compartments. The enlargement in the size of these fat cells is accompanied by a dimpled appearance in the skin which results in the fat cell compartments bulging. This is what we know as cellulite.

Women are more likely to develop cellulite because of their body architecture. For men, the septa are arranged in a lattice form pattern, and because it allows more support, there are fewer chances that they squeeze through as it does with women. Also, cellulite can develop in both fat and slim persons, of any age, size or body structure. So, take a look at your body and see whether you have some cellulite areas or not.

The causes of the cellulite are still unknown, but there are some factors that, when combined can lead to cellulite development. So, here are some of the cellulite causes:

- damaged circulation (recent studies have shown that cellulite can be caused by a damaged circulation and drainage in the tissues under the skin)

- estrogen imbalance (this female hormone has a role of softening the fibrous tissue which closes the womb right before giving birth to a child. Without this hormone, a birth would be impossible)

- Bad diets (a proper diet must be recommended by a specialist, and kept to rigorously. Organic foods, plenty of water, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals are a must in a good balanced diet)

- stress

- Over exertion (overexertion and free radicals are closely related. Studies have shown that the most common diseases nowadays start from free radicals. The tissue underneath the skin is very delicate and vulnerable, and therefore, the accumulation of free radicals here, would seriously affect the circulation)

- free radicals

- A lack of exercises (doctors claim that the lack of proper exercise can cause poor lymphatic and blood circulation and in particular poor lymph drainage. Therefore, in the end you will develop cellulite on several parts of your body)

- smoking, drinking and taking drugs (all these factors will only bring toxins in your body, creating an unhealthy environment for your body cells)

So, now that you know what causes cellulite and how we develop it, it is much easier for you to avoid it. And, in case you have already developed cellulite, using some of the suggestions listed may make it easier for you to get rid of it.

When Mike turned 65, he was 25 pounds overweight. By strict dieting, he shed the extra pounds, but he lost more weight; he also lost his energy and vitality. He was always exhausted, and his friends, seeing his gaunt, drawn face, worried about his health.

By the time volunteered for a particular fitness program two years later, he had put 25 extra pounds back on. After 6 months of exercise and some willpower at the dinner table, Mike slimmed down again. This time he felt better than he ever had, brimming with energy and glowing with good health.

What made the difference? The first time Mike lost weight; the second time he lost fat. The distinction is important. According to research, a large portion of the weight lost by dieting alone is active tissue, such as muscle and connective tissue, while a smaller fraction is excess fat. Exercise has the opposite effect. It increased his lean body mass and decreased his excess fat.

Same thing goes with cellulite. Most people tend to think that cellulites are only present to people who are obese. That is why they sometimes associate cellulite with fats and obesity.

Actually, even if cellulite refers to the chain of wrinkled “fat cells” and “subcutaneous connective tissues” beneath the layer of the skin, it should never be associated with people who are fat or obese. In fact, there are many people who have cellulite but are not fat at all.

In reality, nobody knows the main reason why some people accumulate cellulite. However, there are some factors that health experts are considering such as the structure of the fat cells or the poison that entered the body. Some experts say it may be caused by some hormonal changes in the body. But none of these things has been proven to cause cellulites.

However, the only main reason why most of the cellulite cases are abundant in women is that the connective tissues of women are more rigid and firm than men. Hence, whenever a woman gets fat, the fatty cells tend to swell and get bigger. It creates a protruding appearance to the skin producing an “orange peel” look.

For this reason, women are more prone to cellulite than men. That is why it is important for women to be more careful on their body as they have higher chances of accumulating cellulite.

Fats and Cellulite

With the many cases of obese people having cellulites in their body, most of them believed that their cellulites are caused by being too fat.

Even though not all those who are obese develop cellulites, being overweight can really trigger the development of cellulites. This is because too much fat under the skin tend to push the connective tissue creating a strain on the skin. Thus, cellulites form.

However, this is still dependent on the structure of the cells. If an individual’s cell structure does not inhibit the tendency to bulge or expand even if fat deposits accumulate, then there will be no cellulites.

So, the most important thing to remember here is to keep those connective tissues firm and strong and avoid accumulating excess fats so as to avoid the development of cellulite.

How? Start an exercise routine program.

Transforming food into fat seems all too easy for most of us. Losing fat is far more difficult, and to accomplish this, we have only three alternatives: (1) decrease food intake and keep activity constant; (2) increase activity and keep food intake constant; or (3) combine both approaches: diet and exercise.

Physical activity can help reverse the results of inactivity. An hour of vigorous exercise burns up 300 to 600 calories. If you also cut 300 to 500 calories from your daily menu, you can also lose weight at the rate of one to two pounds a week.

Without exercise, you would have to eat 500 to 1,000 fewer calories a day to lose the same number of pounds in a week. Exercise is not for everyone who is over-fat, however. The severely obese person should exercise only under medical supervision to prevent strain on the cardiovascular system and connective tissue. And no one should restrict food intake drastically without consulting doctor.

Resorting to this kind of activity will only get the matter worse. Remember what happened to Mike? He thought that when he started dieting, he would eventually lose all the excess fats he has accumulated. The problem is that he lost those connective tissues rather than excess fat.

For people who are prone to cellulites, this will be a greater problem. Losing connective tissues instead of fat by strict dieting can only make the skin more prone to greater problems but the fat cells are still there. That only means that the problem is not solved at all.

Hence, if you wish to loose those cellulites, it would be better to loose those fats first. The idea here is to burn those fats by increasing your metabolism by 7.5% to 28% more than your normal rate.

It is for this reason that exercising is an important factor in losing cellulite. So for a more cellulite free body, always engage in an exercise routine.