Josh Bezoni's Blog - Posts Tagged "motivation"
Cellulite is Not a Condemnation
Recently, and by recently I mean in the last five years or so, the concept of “cellulite” has been dragged through the mud in the mainstream media as a phenomenon reserved for the obese and the unhealthy. Yet, despite the unappealing aesthetic cellulite presents, the fact is that it’s just fat. That’s all.
It’s just normal fat that is a little bumpy because the fat is poking through the connective tissue between tendons that generally covers it. Since it pokes through these areas and is not forced to distribute, the resulting appearance is one of fat with dimples, not unlike a golf ball. In this light, it’s not like cellulite is some curse plaguing those unfortunate enough to be cast under its spell. It’s merely fat, and as such, it can be reduced, shed, and eliminated, but not without what will undoubtedly be hard work.
Despite the fact that cellulite is just fat, it does tend to affect more women than men since women’s skin are generally thinner. There’s a lot of things that go into it, really. There’s your total percent of body fat, your age, and your genetic predisposition as a whole, but again, even if you are naturally inclined towards cellulite, it is possible to overcome.
Just for context so you can truly understand that cellulite is not some rare and disgusting disease, it is estimated that as much as 85% of all women have some cellulite somewhere on their body regardless if is overweight or even underweight. Even women under 100 lbs are susceptible!
This all said, there are a dangerous amount fitness gimmicks and unsubstantiated products and techniques that claim to erase your cellulite like it’s some sort of sickness and not just fat that can be lost with the right combination of nutrition and exercise. I’d like to point several of these out to ensure no one spends their hard-earned cash on a product that doesn’t even work.
Cellulite Creams
So, so many of these creams flood the market and they flat out do. Not. work. That’s all there is to it. They just don’t. There’s no research to support their working, and honestly, how is rubbing cream on your fat deposits supposed to make them disappear? Theoretically, these fatty deposits are surplus resources of energy your body is essentially saving for a rainy day. So why would smothering them in a cream on the outside of your body have any effect on their reduction? It wouldn’t.
The fact is that cellulite is located much deeper than the very superficial exterior layer of skin that said cream would cover. Just as well, your epidermis is specifically designed to keep things from soaking in and affecting your internal organs; so, really, even in theory, and definitely in practice, these creams don’t work. Put simply, steer clear.
Liposuction
No. No, no, no. Does liposuction reduce your fat? Yes. Does it reduce cellulite? No chance. In fact, the reason for this is the very opposite reason that cellulite cream doesn't work. Liposuction removes fat that is too deep to affect cellulite. Those tricky fatty deposits are too close to the surface for liposuction to be a viable option, and too deep for any cream to have an effect.
Mesotherapy
While I can’t outright prove this is a crock, I can certainly say I am highly skeptical. Essentially, mesotherapy is a procedure that concentrates a series of injections to the cellulite area, and then the fluid in those injections is supposed to break down and dissolve the fat in question.
Yet, like the creams, there is no scientific evidence to substantiate these claims; and the medical community itself is very distrusting of mesotherapy. Not to mention, you need to get a ton of injections, which could very well incite any number of possible side effects. Plus, every single session costs hundreds of dollars, thus making it very expensive to undergo a procedure that most of the medical world doesn’t believe in, anyway.
The only way to get true, lasting results is to make a lifestyle change that focuses on your health. Eat nutritiously. Workout religiously. Live tremendously.
It’s just normal fat that is a little bumpy because the fat is poking through the connective tissue between tendons that generally covers it. Since it pokes through these areas and is not forced to distribute, the resulting appearance is one of fat with dimples, not unlike a golf ball. In this light, it’s not like cellulite is some curse plaguing those unfortunate enough to be cast under its spell. It’s merely fat, and as such, it can be reduced, shed, and eliminated, but not without what will undoubtedly be hard work.
Despite the fact that cellulite is just fat, it does tend to affect more women than men since women’s skin are generally thinner. There’s a lot of things that go into it, really. There’s your total percent of body fat, your age, and your genetic predisposition as a whole, but again, even if you are naturally inclined towards cellulite, it is possible to overcome.
Just for context so you can truly understand that cellulite is not some rare and disgusting disease, it is estimated that as much as 85% of all women have some cellulite somewhere on their body regardless if is overweight or even underweight. Even women under 100 lbs are susceptible!
This all said, there are a dangerous amount fitness gimmicks and unsubstantiated products and techniques that claim to erase your cellulite like it’s some sort of sickness and not just fat that can be lost with the right combination of nutrition and exercise. I’d like to point several of these out to ensure no one spends their hard-earned cash on a product that doesn’t even work.
Cellulite Creams
So, so many of these creams flood the market and they flat out do. Not. work. That’s all there is to it. They just don’t. There’s no research to support their working, and honestly, how is rubbing cream on your fat deposits supposed to make them disappear? Theoretically, these fatty deposits are surplus resources of energy your body is essentially saving for a rainy day. So why would smothering them in a cream on the outside of your body have any effect on their reduction? It wouldn’t.
The fact is that cellulite is located much deeper than the very superficial exterior layer of skin that said cream would cover. Just as well, your epidermis is specifically designed to keep things from soaking in and affecting your internal organs; so, really, even in theory, and definitely in practice, these creams don’t work. Put simply, steer clear.
Liposuction
No. No, no, no. Does liposuction reduce your fat? Yes. Does it reduce cellulite? No chance. In fact, the reason for this is the very opposite reason that cellulite cream doesn't work. Liposuction removes fat that is too deep to affect cellulite. Those tricky fatty deposits are too close to the surface for liposuction to be a viable option, and too deep for any cream to have an effect.
Mesotherapy
While I can’t outright prove this is a crock, I can certainly say I am highly skeptical. Essentially, mesotherapy is a procedure that concentrates a series of injections to the cellulite area, and then the fluid in those injections is supposed to break down and dissolve the fat in question.
Yet, like the creams, there is no scientific evidence to substantiate these claims; and the medical community itself is very distrusting of mesotherapy. Not to mention, you need to get a ton of injections, which could very well incite any number of possible side effects. Plus, every single session costs hundreds of dollars, thus making it very expensive to undergo a procedure that most of the medical world doesn’t believe in, anyway.
The only way to get true, lasting results is to make a lifestyle change that focuses on your health. Eat nutritiously. Workout religiously. Live tremendously.
The Real Reason You Can't Lose Weight
Sodium. We all know about it and we’ve all heard we eat too much of it; but what, really, is sodium? And why does it matter if we eat too much of it? Well, for one, sodium, plain and simple, is necessary for the body to function to properly. It plays a vital role in water balance, nerve function, and a whole array of various physiological functions that are of the utmost significance to our health. That said, we really only need a small amount—500 mg, in fact. To put that into perspective, you can get your daily amount of sodium from a serving of chips, crackers, canned food items, pickles, cheeses, pretzels, or even salted nuts. Even condiments like ketchup and salad dressings are packed to the brim with sodium.
Considering we get our daily intake from something as simple as a bag of pretzels, it is easy to see how so many Americans are consuming far too much sodium (like 4 to 5k on a daily basis); and we only need 500mg! Even being conservative, that means the majority of American adults are processing 8 times more sodium than they should be. Even the American Medical Association is speaking up and is trying to persuade the FDA to revoke their categorization of salt as a supposedly ‘safe’ additive. You can see why.
What’s really intriguing about all of this is the fact that salt is actually an incredibly addictive substance. So it makes sense that big food manufacturers would pump the stuff into their products. They want you to keep coming back. They don’t care about your expanding waistline, only their expanding pocketbook. To show you what I mean, there has been clinical research conducted that illustrates the fact that salt actually shares many of the same attributes of addictive substances (i.e. morphine, cocaine, and heroin). When we ingest these addictive substances, our brains release hormones that we perceive as pleasurable sensations. Thus, we keep coming back for more.
Additionally, a Finnish study that was published in 2006 concluded that there is a clear-cut link correlation salt intake and obesity. From the 1980s to the mid-1990s, Americans’ salt intake increased tremendously by more than 50%. Here’s why this fact really is such terrible news: a diet that with too much sodium is the leading cause of high blood pressure, which in turn leads to heart disease and stroke (which, shocker, are two diseases that go hand-in-hand with obesity).
When a man or woman has a high blood pressure reading of 140/85, their blood begins coagulating into a sort of salty sludge. Then, in reaction, their body will start dumping extra water into their bloodstream which results in the expansion of blood vessels—indicating any number of potentially fatal problems. Well, now that I’ve established too much sodium is awful for you, here’s what you can do to mitigate the effects:
-Consumer fewer processed foods
-Choose fresh or frozen veggies, not canned
-Purchase fresh meats, not canned, cured or smoked
-Ask about unsalted meals at restaurants
-Opt for low sodium versions of soups and snacks
-Choose foods that don’t list salt or sodium in the first five ingredients
-Use a salt-free herbal blend instead of a traditional salt shaker
Good luck, Godspeed, and stay healthy! Cheers!
Considering we get our daily intake from something as simple as a bag of pretzels, it is easy to see how so many Americans are consuming far too much sodium (like 4 to 5k on a daily basis); and we only need 500mg! Even being conservative, that means the majority of American adults are processing 8 times more sodium than they should be. Even the American Medical Association is speaking up and is trying to persuade the FDA to revoke their categorization of salt as a supposedly ‘safe’ additive. You can see why.
What’s really intriguing about all of this is the fact that salt is actually an incredibly addictive substance. So it makes sense that big food manufacturers would pump the stuff into their products. They want you to keep coming back. They don’t care about your expanding waistline, only their expanding pocketbook. To show you what I mean, there has been clinical research conducted that illustrates the fact that salt actually shares many of the same attributes of addictive substances (i.e. morphine, cocaine, and heroin). When we ingest these addictive substances, our brains release hormones that we perceive as pleasurable sensations. Thus, we keep coming back for more.
Additionally, a Finnish study that was published in 2006 concluded that there is a clear-cut link correlation salt intake and obesity. From the 1980s to the mid-1990s, Americans’ salt intake increased tremendously by more than 50%. Here’s why this fact really is such terrible news: a diet that with too much sodium is the leading cause of high blood pressure, which in turn leads to heart disease and stroke (which, shocker, are two diseases that go hand-in-hand with obesity).
When a man or woman has a high blood pressure reading of 140/85, their blood begins coagulating into a sort of salty sludge. Then, in reaction, their body will start dumping extra water into their bloodstream which results in the expansion of blood vessels—indicating any number of potentially fatal problems. Well, now that I’ve established too much sodium is awful for you, here’s what you can do to mitigate the effects:
-Consumer fewer processed foods
-Choose fresh or frozen veggies, not canned
-Purchase fresh meats, not canned, cured or smoked
-Ask about unsalted meals at restaurants
-Opt for low sodium versions of soups and snacks
-Choose foods that don’t list salt or sodium in the first five ingredients
-Use a salt-free herbal blend instead of a traditional salt shaker
Good luck, Godspeed, and stay healthy! Cheers!
DOUBLE your Fat Loss TODAY
When we are first being taught about nutrition, the Food Pyramid always springs to the forefront of conversation. Claiming that grains (made up of bread, cereal, rice, and pasta) make up the base of the food pyramid, it was thought we were supposed to receive an astounding fifty percent of our diet from carbohydrates.
Crazy! It’s this sort of fattening advice that perpetuates nutritional misperceptions which relegate people to an unhealthy lifestyle, condemned to believe they are doing the right thing and properly monitoring their diet when, in reality, they are actually making losing weight more difficult, more frustrating, and downright exhausting. What is perhaps the most ridiculous part of this spreading of false information is that we know better.
Fortunately, government agencies and the United States educational system have released massive updates to the outdated policy; it’s just slow to take effect. In fact, the USDA is rightfully now recommending that half of your diet come from fruits and vegetables, and only 30% should come from grains—much better advice. Not to mention, the ‘experts’ are now also suggesting that protein makes up about twenty percent of our diet, a fantastic increase from the nearly nonexistent portion that was advised before.
All this said, there are still some considerable improvements to be made even to this new and improved My Plate System (the new and improved version of the Food Pyramid). For one, it does not really allot for healthy fats like nuts, oils, and organic dairy products—think butter and cream. These sorts of fats are a vital part of any diet, and most certainly should not be eaten sparingly. In actuality, you should be consuming about 25% of your calories through these open fats.
In regards to grains, I would chop it down to size and say they should only make up about 15% of your diet. There are only two meals a day where you should even consider eating grains, anyway, and those are breakfast and the meal after your workout. The reason for this is that research has proven glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity are at their highest during these two points in the day.
With respect to protein, let’s beef that up to at least 35%. By increasing protein, you will have an increased thermic effect of feeding (which means you burn more calories just by eating protein), have better blood sugar control, see a decrease in body fat, and witness a significant increase in calorie-burning lean muscle.
Really, just by lowering grain consumption, you will improve your body’s capacity for processing carbohydrates, and then when you increase your protein intake, you can nearly DOUBLE your fat loss. It’s that easy.
Crazy! It’s this sort of fattening advice that perpetuates nutritional misperceptions which relegate people to an unhealthy lifestyle, condemned to believe they are doing the right thing and properly monitoring their diet when, in reality, they are actually making losing weight more difficult, more frustrating, and downright exhausting. What is perhaps the most ridiculous part of this spreading of false information is that we know better.
Fortunately, government agencies and the United States educational system have released massive updates to the outdated policy; it’s just slow to take effect. In fact, the USDA is rightfully now recommending that half of your diet come from fruits and vegetables, and only 30% should come from grains—much better advice. Not to mention, the ‘experts’ are now also suggesting that protein makes up about twenty percent of our diet, a fantastic increase from the nearly nonexistent portion that was advised before.
All this said, there are still some considerable improvements to be made even to this new and improved My Plate System (the new and improved version of the Food Pyramid). For one, it does not really allot for healthy fats like nuts, oils, and organic dairy products—think butter and cream. These sorts of fats are a vital part of any diet, and most certainly should not be eaten sparingly. In actuality, you should be consuming about 25% of your calories through these open fats.
In regards to grains, I would chop it down to size and say they should only make up about 15% of your diet. There are only two meals a day where you should even consider eating grains, anyway, and those are breakfast and the meal after your workout. The reason for this is that research has proven glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity are at their highest during these two points in the day.
With respect to protein, let’s beef that up to at least 35%. By increasing protein, you will have an increased thermic effect of feeding (which means you burn more calories just by eating protein), have better blood sugar control, see a decrease in body fat, and witness a significant increase in calorie-burning lean muscle.
Really, just by lowering grain consumption, you will improve your body’s capacity for processing carbohydrates, and then when you increase your protein intake, you can nearly DOUBLE your fat loss. It’s that easy.
