Welcome to my blog, where you'll find short tips, quick stories, resource links and other useful stuff about nutrition and weight loss. Its also where I rant and rave from time to time.

15 February 2009 - New Zealand Practitioner warns about Lemon Detox Diet

If you've missed my YouTube video about the Lemon Detox Diet, watch it here.

Now, also see below what New Zealand Practitioner Leanne James has to say about it when interviewed by Sam Beck from HealthyBlog.co.nz.

4 February 2009 - CHOICE Pharmacy Diet Plans review

Choice Magazine, published by the Australian Consumers' Association released it's review of 'diet shake' weight loss programs at pharmacies.

Read the full report

What the experts say (along with others, I advised CHOICE on this review)

Choices verdict:

"These programs are of obvious financial benefit to the pharmacies, and a constant stream of short-term clients will shift a lot of product off the shelves. Will you lose weight? If you follow them closely, yes. Will the pharmacy setting provide you with your own highly skilled weight-loss advisor? Our experts think not.

Considering the inadequate training of consultants, little ability to tailor programs and deal with individual circumstances and habits, as well as the lack of close, qualified supervision, CHOICE does not recommend these programs. The current regulations and voluntary codes of practice covering weight-loss programs are insufficient. CHOICE wants to see a national accreditation system, including minimum standards for training, covering all programs, consultants and leaders who counsel people on losing weight."

My view on diet shakes:

Whilst I recognise that many people get initial motivation from seeing quick results and it may be easier to follow a diet plan where you drink shakes instead of having to manage real food, there are some real downsides:

• The same lower energy intake (often less than 5,000 kJ / 1,200 Cal) that gets you quick results also drops your metabolic rate and can reduce your muscle mass.
• The negative effect on metabolic rate and muscle mass is worse if you do not exercise, which can help preserve muscle.
• Shakes are processed foods and not whole foods, so they do not provide nutrients in a natural balance, despite having added vitamins and minerals.

I enjoy a nutrient-rich diet, and I know the healthy synergies it provides so this is why I will always recommend real food over diet shakes. And I believe that given the choice, most people would rather eat real food.

3 February 2009 - Cravings segment on the Morning Show

I explain new research about cravings and how to manage appetite, on today's Morning Show.

A study published 27 January looked at voluntary inhibition of hunger in 23 fasted men and women. This cool thing about this study was that it used PET (positron emision tomography) or brain scans to see what male and female brains were doing before and after voluntary inhibition of eating.

The researchers discovered that in men but not women, food stimulation with inhibition decreased activation in key parts of the brain involved in emotional regulation and motivation. It appears that men are better able to choose to switch off there brain's desire to eat, but women not so well.

Perhaps women have a stronger biologcal drive to eat, which is harder to over-ride or maybe it's just that women typically have greater emotional ties to food, developed over time.

While the scientists keep working on an answer, the clear message here is how important appetite manaement is for successful weight manahgement. Click the link below for some tips to crush those cravings.

Watch my segment on the Morning Show

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