Hoodia Information

This article was in About.com

A Deadly Combination

Obesity and Smoking
A Deadly Combination
By Terry Martin, About.com
Updated: October 3, 2006

About.com Health’s Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Morbid Obesity 
Information About Smoking
 Risk of death is 3.5 to 5 times greater for obese smokers than it is for people who have never smoked and are at a normal weight, according to a study published in the November, 2006 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The study, which began with a self-administered questionnaire taken between 1983 and 1989, asked more than 80,000 radiologic technologists aged 22 to 92 questions about age, height, weight and smoking behavior.

BMI (body mass index) was calculated, with a BMI of 30 to 34.9 being considered obese, and 35 and over being very obese. Smoking behavior was analyzed by looking at a person’s tobacco consumption level, number of years smoked, and current smoking status. Researchers then followed participants through December of 2002, noting the number of deaths that occurred.

Calculate Your BMI

The study involved researchers from the National Cancer Institute, the University of Minnesota and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Key Findings:
20 percent of obese adults in the United States smoke.
Obese smokers face a greater risk of death from cancer and circulatory disease.
Current smoking is a greater risk factor for death by cancer than obesity is, generally speaking.
The higher a person’s pack-years (number of packs smoked per day times the number of years smoked) are, the greater the risk of death.
Men and women of all ages faced an elevated risk of death due to circulatory disease as BMI increased. And for those who were both obese and currently smoking, risk of circulatory disease increased 6 to 11 times under the age of 65, as compared to their never-smoking, normal weight counterparts.
While it’s not surprising that obesity coupled with smoking is a recipe for trouble, it is important to highlight this growing health concern in America today.
Taking Charge of Your Health
Making healthy choices can be difficult when we’re constantly bombarded with products that are hazardous to our health, but it’s not impossible. With education and some motivation, we all have the ability to make lasting changes for the better. If you’re an overweight smoker worried about gaining weight due to quitting, take heart. It’s never too late to change your course and even reverse damage to some extent.
After the Last Cigarette
Is it Too Late for Me to Quit Smoking?
One Day at a Time
If you need to lose weight and quit smoking, break your goals down into realistic, workable chunks. Don’t overwhelm yourself by looking at the big picture – focus your attention on the day you have in front of you only. We cannot change the past, and it’s futile to worry about the future. Today is where your power to make changes in your life lies. Use it to your advantage!
One Thing at a Time
In order to quit smoking successfully, you must give cessation 100% of your attention for the first few months; often more. Think weight maintenance rather than weight loss while your quit program is young. Aim at holding your weight steady for now – a realistic goal while you are working to quit smoking.
Minimizing Weight Gain When You Quit Smoking
Once you have some smoke free time under your belt and you’re feeling more comfortable (yes, the day will come!), you can shift your focus over to weight loss. You may even find that the strength and sense of personal power that quitting has given you will make losing weight easier too.
10 Ways to Control Portions
10 Reasons It’s Hard to Lose Weight
How Much Weight Gain is Normal with Smoking Cessation?
If your eating habits remain the same as they were when you smoked, you can expect to gain approximately 5 to 10 pounds. This gain is temporary, and will fall away once your body adjusts to cessation, as long as you continue eating normally!
Add a Little Exercise
You can further help yourself avoid weight gain when you quit smoking by adding some exercise to your daily regimen. Do as much or as little as you’re comfortable with, and be sure to check with your doctor if you have health concerns that could influence increased physical activity.
Getting Started with Exercise
Put your health at the top of your list of priorities and resolve to begin changing your lifestyle for the better. It won’t be long before what feels like a chore becomes an enjoyable challenge with tangible rewards. Momentum is a beautiful thing! Use it to fuel your determination to make lasting healthy changes in your life…one simple day at a time.

Hoodia gordonii (pronounced HOO-dee-ah) is also called hoodia, xhooba, khoba, Ghaap, hoodia cactus, and South African desert cactus. It’s actually not a true cactus at all, but rather is a succulent with sharp spines, that resembles a cactus.Hoodia is causing quite a stir for its ability to suppress appetite, thereby promoting weight loss. The CBS television news program, 60 Minutes, and the British network, BBC have already featured stories about Hoodia.Hoodia Gordonii can only be found in the semi-arid deserts of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola. Hoodia grows in clumps of green upright stalks.It takes about five years, or more, before Hoodia’s pale purple flowers appear. After that time the plant can be eaten. Although there are at least 40 known varieties of Hoodia, only the Gordonii species is believed to contain the natural appetite suppressant

Hoodia is causing quite a stir for its ability to suppress appetite, thereby promoting weight loss. The CBS television news program, 60 Minutes, and the British network, BBC have already featured stories about Hoodia.

Hoodia Gordonii can only be found in the semi-arid deserts of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola. Hoodia grows in clumps of green upright stalks.

It takes about five years, or more, before Hoodia’s pale purple flowers appear. After that time the plant can be eaten. Although there are at least 40 known varieties of Hoodia, only the Gordonii species is believed to contain the natural appetite suppressant

Edamame makes a great snack. 

It is packed with nutrition and is also known as fresh soybeans.  Just make a bowl to snack on throughout the day or to set out as an easy, healthy appetizer that disappears quickly. This is a powerhouse food.

This was on Healthy Living on Yahoo and looks interesting.

Yollet: My favorite new fitness trend user by Erin Kurdyla, Fresh Fitness Tips, SELF Magazine,  from This Author » 

 Last night I skipped my run and hit The Dance Connection for a free trial Yollet class. Yollet is a fusion of Classical Ballet and Yoga and it was an awesome workout. The first thirty minutes of class were filled with ballet moves that challenged both my balance and flexibility and really worked my legs at the bar. Then we chasse’ed (all new terms to me) across the dance floor and performed a mini-ballet routine. After ballet we grabbed the mats for a relaxing half hour of yoga poses and stretching which felt great. I don’t think I’m headed for the world of professional ballet anytime soon, but it was FUN to trade in my sneaks for ballet slippers for the night. And I definitely have a new appreciation for dancers who make ballet look so graceful and elegant on stage. Yollet was the perfect combination of dance, core strengthening, and stretching. It was a tough workout, but definitely worth an encore!

Leap into the world of ballet and sculpt lean legs fast! These moves can be done in your very own living room. No ballet bar required!

Don’t Give Up on Your Weight Loss Goal.  This is the only sure way you will lose.  If you fail one day get back up and start again the nesx day.  Just don’t give up.

Good weight loss combination:

 Healthy diet to include at least 3-4 servings of milk or dairy per day (cheese, yogurt or such).

Several servings of fruits and vegetables.

Plenty of refreshing water.

Some exercise, depending on your fitness.  Some cardio and some strength if possible.

At least 7.5 hours of sleep each night.

Don’t forget the Hoodia Gordonii for appetite suppression.

This recipe is from Women’s Health and is low calorie 

Chicken Tortilla Casserole
 
Ingredients
Serves:  Prep: 12min|Cook: 35min |Total: 47min
              
NOTE: Ingredients for a changed serving size are based on a calculation and are not reviewed by the author or tested. Please also consider scaling up or down cooking containers as needed.
2 C chopped, grilled chicken 
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained 
1 jar (8 oz) chile peppers, drained 
1/2 C old el paso enchilada sauce 
3/4 C crumbled baked tostitos 
1/2 C shredded reduced fat jack cheese 
 
Directions
1. Stir together the chicken, beans, peppers, and enchilada sauce. Place it all in a 9” x 9” baking dish. Top with chips and bake at 400°F for half an hour. Sprinkle cheese over the dish and bake an additional 5 minutes. Top each helping with salsa and fat free sour cream.

Nutritional Facts per serving

CALORIES 174.4 CAL

FAT 3.9 G

SATURATED FAT 1.4 G

CHOLESTEROL 36.3 MG

SODIUM 582.2 MG

CARBOHYDRATES 17.7 G

TOTAL SUGARS 1.9 G

DIETARY FIBER 3.7 G

PROTEIN 17 G

Hoodia is currently the most publicized and talked about natural weight loss product in America . It has been featured on CBS 60 Minutes, ABC, NBC Today, BBC, CNN, in Oprah’s “O” Magazine and in other major electronic and print media.

Hoodia Balance contains a massive 750MG of 100% pure certified South African Hoodia from the Kalahari Desert. With the media storm surrounding hoodia, the product is in extremely high demand. That coupled with the fact that there is a very limited quantity of real hoodia gordonii available from South Africa, the opportunity for counterfeit, fake and diluted hoodia products is running rampant. There are two certified documents required to prove the authenticity of pure South African Hoodia which we are proud to display. They are the C.I.T.E.S Certificate and the Analytical Report.

 If you find yourself getting tired easily or feeling lethargic, then something is missing in your diet.  To ensure that you always have the energy to go through the day, take an energy dietary supplement. What it usually does is it converts fat into energy.  Not only do you get energized, you also get the side benefit of weight loss.  It’s a win-win situation.
 
Some things to remember when deciding to use such supplements are:

1. Use only organic supplements.
2. Consult with your physician before taking any kind of medication or supplement.
3. Maintain an active lifestyle.
4. Put together a healthy diet plan.