Does Pooping Actually Help You Lose Weight?

I believe that I'm not the only one who used to think that you'll lose weight if you poop as much as you eat. The irony because apparently most weight loss products and slimming tea in the market promoted their product with the same concept, or at least I think so.

My husband is very supportive of my weight loss effort. I try my best not to keep unhealthy food in the house and my husband is totally supportive by not brings junk food home. But yesterday I asked him to buy me curry maggie, my favorite junk food. I haven't had maggie in a pretty long time, a non-scale victory I'm so proud of. But yesterday I just have to give in. I have a strong cravings for this food, blame the monthly hormones. And I am feeling so guilty now to confess that I have tried fiber drink to...I know this is sounds ridiculous but I've resorted to fiber drink to stimulate the need to go to the bathroom. It just gives me a peace of mind to know that I can 'take care of the big business' after I eat a meal. I have this theory that when I'm emptying my colon after a meal I'm basically pooping the calories back out. HA-HA. #myth

I quit taking fiber drink last time because I realized that I have became dependent on it. I was at the point where I can't poop when I skip the drink. I have became so obsessed with it. But recently I start taking a fiber drink again to ease constipation. Only now I won't drink it regularly, only when needed though as to avoid dependency on that. Constipation happens to me sometime especially in the week or so before my menses and causes headache. And when I had a bad food choices or eat something that I am not suppose to eat, it's just so comforting to think that I can probably undo the bad eating with a sip of fiber drink. #anothermyth

How does fiber drinks work
I don't have the exact idea how it works for weight loss but from my general reading (got info from the leaflet and their website), fiber drink are one tool for adding fiber to your diet, usually contain soluble fiber extracted from vegetables and fruits and to be taken before meal. When you eat your food, this fiber drink will work like a blocker that block the binding process of enzyme alpha-amalase (produced in the saliva) with starches so the carbs will move quickly out of the body without being absorbed. Fiber also act as laxative where it works by increasing the water content and bulk of the stool, which helps to move it quickly through the colon.

NH Vege F'bre Plus Review
I am currently drinking NH Vege F'bre Plus by NH Detoxlim. (FYI, this is not a sponsored post) This drink does not contain preservatives and chemical additives, no synthetic coloring and flavoring. According to the label, NH Vege F'bre Plus is made from all-natural ingredients - Soluble fruit fibre (ananas comosus, scientific name for pineapple), soluble vegetables fibre (brocolli, spinach), fructose, wheatgrass, vitamin C, chlorophyll and semen plantago ovata.

Plantago ovata containing product is already taken by many people world-wide to control bowel function, may be a useful supplement in weight control diets as it affects fat intake, and may have some effect on the subjective feeling of fullness.

NH Vege Fibre Plus: It is formulated for Asians with hectic lifestyles, imbalanced diets and weight problems.

Natural: NH Vege Fibre Plus is made from 100% natural ingredients

The label also reads, taste nice and refreshing. But in my personal opinion, it taste a bit yucky. Actually it taste like green juice made from raw leafy green vegetable, well because it is green vegetable. I have tried green smoothies before but the taste is not really pleasant to my taste. This fiber drink has the similar taste, I had to hold my breath and finish the drink at one go!

Green drink: Empty one sachet (5 g) NH Vege Fibre Plus into a glass of
lukewarm water (about 250ml to 300ml). Mix well and enjoy!

NH Vege F'bre Plus can have some effect within 5-8 hours, so I always plan my schedule and make sure I am in a comfortable place 6 - 8 hours, or be close to a bathroom cause the effects will be immediate. There will be a light stomach cramp but it usually doesn't last forever. That's just the way it works. NH Vege F'bre Plus continues to work in the system, so I always keep in my mind to limit my eating or I'll increase the number of trips to the bathroom. Drinking plenty of water is a must. What I like most about this drink is how it makes me feel lighter. It is definitely cleaning your system and much better than salt water cleanse.

So does emptying your bowels after every meal help you lose weight?
Pooping is imperative to a good cleanse, de-bloat and helps flush all that extra water weight from your body.

1 - YES you might see the number on the scale swing up a bit after you have a bowel movement. 

2 - ...but it DOESN'T COUNT as actual weight loss.

According to dietician Alexandra Caspero, R.D., founder of Delicious Knowledge, our body's weight fluctuates throughout the day and it's typically normal. Constipation links to water retention and if you haven’t used the restroom before weighing yourself, it'll affect the number on the scale. Going low carb diet is a natural way lose excess water weight.

Water weight isn't as "real" as weight from muscles and fat, it tends to magically melt away as your kidneys restore your body's salt/water balance. But here's the thing - water weight is still weight, right? Losing 5 kg or 10 kg of (water) weight may look or feel different -- and there are health choices we can make to keep it at bay.

I will be updating my progress after I start seeing more weight come off. Have you tried any home remedies for weight loss to get your diet off to the right start? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

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Turmeric Tea And Weight Loss: What's The Connection?

I first heard about turmeric tea for weight loss from my mom when I was younger. I mean a lot younger.(^_-) Turmeric is known to be one of the most magical healing herbs but back then I have no specific idea how turmeric can help with weight loss. Neither did mom.(^_^;) I guess. She got the tips from the other housewives in our neighborhood. And I bet she simply decided to give the tips a try. Later when I became a mom myself for the first time, I discover that drinking turmeric tea after delivery for 3 days in row can help relieve the pressure of a swollen uterus after childbirth.

Turmeric Tea for Weight Loss

Turmeric root contain an active compound called curcumin, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. How turmeric can help in weight loss? In my experience, drinking turmeric tea can suppresses your appetite thus help reduce your cravings for food. According to Slism site, curcumin in turmeric helps your body block fat.

How turmeric helps you block fat? Curcumin inhibits the formation of fatty tissue by blocking the mechanism used to form it. It does this by supressing your blood vessels used to form fat tissue. Turmeric can also be used in the treatment of diabetes by helping to moderate insulin levels.

 Turmeric Tea Recipe

Mine version is simple. You'll need:

• 1 inches turmeric
• 1 inches ginger
• Tamarind paste 
• 1 glass of hot water

You can grate turmeric with a microplane or smash with a pestle and mortar

1. Wash the turmeric and ginger root of any dirt before you peel it. You don't need to peel the turmeric and ginger but I prefer to. Crush the ginger and turmeric root using mortar and pestle. Be warned that turmeric will stain everything it touches yellow! That's why I don't use blender. But don't worry your fingers turn yellow with turmeric because it washes off skin pretty easily with any soap.

Fresh turmeric will stains surfaces and fingers.
Wear gloves while grating it if you don't want yellow fingertips.

2. Bring water to a boil. Pour hot water into a glass then put the crushed turmeric and ginger root with tamarind paste into it. You can use lemon or honey in place of tamarind paste. Stir slowly.

You can use turmeric powder if you can't find raw turmeric root. Only make sure it organic. I love to use fresh turmeric root each time I brew my tea because it provide a richer flavor.

3. Let the water sit for a few minutes.

4. Lastly, strain the mixture and enjoy your tea.

Turmeric tea taste bitter but the ginger and tamarind paste counter the bitter taste.
Please ignore my messy hair. Bad hair day.  >^_^<

You can make a big batch of turmeric tea each weekend and freeze it to enjoy throughout the week but I prefer warm over cold tea. Another tips I read from other blogs, limit your intake of turmeric tea to 2-3 times per week to prevent accidental overdose.

10 Other Amazing Health Benefit of Turmeric

1. Help prevent (and perhaps even treat) cancer
2. Useful in preventing and treating alzheimer’s disease
3. Incredible benefits against depression
4. Relieves arthritis
5. Immunity booster - turmeric contains a substance known as lipopolysaccharide, which helps stimulate the body’s immune system.
6. Heals wounds - sprinkle turmeric powder on the affected area to speed up the healing process.
7. pimples treatment - use as a face mask. All you need is turmeric and water. Apply this paste to the pimple-affected area and leave it for some time.
8. Remove stretch marks. Turmeric mixed with yogurt is good to remove stretch marks.
9. Help you to get rid of soar throat, cough, cold. Applied turmeric paste on forehead helps reduce fever.
10. Delay ageing and fight age-related chronic diseases.

Word of caution

I was thinking now about incorporating turmeric tea into my diet to boost weight loss but mom warned me that daily intake could cause pre-menopause. There's a case, someone she knew who used to drink turmeric tea every day finding it tough to conceive later.

Turmeric when combined with strong medications can also cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Turmeric has known for its liver-protective effects however it can cause significant liver damage if used in excess high doses. Long-term use of turmeric may also cause indigestion, nausea, or diarrhea. According to National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), people with gallbladder disease should avoid using turmeric as a dietary supplement, as it may worsen the condition.

My verdict? Too much of a good thing can be bad. Take running as example. Running is a good form of healthy activity. But too much running can be a serious threat to your health. So, moderation is the key here.

Have you ever made turmeric tea or tea with other herbs and spices? 

Leave your comments below, I can't wait to know 

how you incorporate turmeric into your everyday life. 

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Weight Loss Help: 5 Randoms Act of Kindness You Can Do To Yourself Today

It's been a while since my last post. I hope you miss me. You know when a diet blogger stop posting, it might because she has been off track her diet. Haha~ Partly true for my case. In fact, my monitor stopped functioning and that's the reason of the lack of update. However, it's fixed now. I'm not entirely missing, still active on Instagram. Follow me honeybeegeb on Instagram and let's get connected. :)

We often taught or read about doing random act of kindness. Random act of kindness is doing something for someone without any thought of receiving something in return. Why bother to practice this? Because an act of kindness, no matter how big or small can make someone's day. Have you ever experienced a random act of kindness from a stranger? Do you remember how it made you feel? The effect is not only impact to the other person but to yourself as well. They bring yourself joy, inner happiness and peace. They liberate us from self-obsession, selfishness, and isolation. It's a really liberating feeling.

But have you ever thought of doing the same kindness to your own body? Loving yourself is a great approach in the process of losing weight. Don't wait until you lose the weight to love yourself. 

It's easy to say what you DON'T love about your body. It's not a surprise! We are always our own worst and biggest critic, don't we? We often compare ourselves to others. We don't feel beautiful, don't feel good enough. Being kind and nice to yourself is as important as being kind to others. Being kind to yourself means taking care of your own body by eating right, exercise regularly, getting enough sleep. After all, your body is the only place you have to live, right? Being kind to yourself also means freeing yourself from toxic relationship, from self-hatred, self-disgust, self-sabotage, anger, worries, and the list goes on. And being kind to yourself means enjoying your life. We don't have to be conform to "Hollywood" standard of beauty.

5 Random Act of Kindness You Can Do To Yourself Today

1. Take a Laugh Break

The old saying 'laughter is the best medicine' is definitely appears to be true. According to Michael Miller, director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, a good belly laugh leads to the release of endorphins from the brain.

Endorphins, pleasure-inducing neurotransmitters, activate receptors on the surface of the endothelium, the layer of flat cells lining blood vessels. That leads to the release of nitric oxide, which widens blood vessels—increasing blood flow, lessening inflammation, inhibiting platelet clumping, and reducing the formation of cholesterol plaque.

How to get a good laugh? Read a comic, or a funny book, watch a sitcom, hang out with people who make you laugh.

2. Trust the Process

I am still in a weight loss journey. Failure after failure it seems like unending journey for me. I feels like I'll never succeed. I can't hold up a diet for more than a few weeks. Staying committed to being fit is a daily struggle. I'm tired of counting calories. Weight loss motivation comes and goes. But along the way I learned that losing weight and keeping it off is a lifestyle change. Not until you lose weight but forever. The process is terrific but it's so worth it. 

Stress could be impacting your weight loss. But learn to trust the process is one great way to de-stress yourself. It's obvious, the end result I wanted is losing weight — to end obesity, to end the cycle of dieting. But each decision I made to lose weight for example avoid junk foods or wake up early to catch my morning workout is a process that makes me grow, a chance to know myself better, learning to love myself, and to develop self-trust. I don't know what end result you are expecting of but whatever your goals might be, career, financial or fitness wise, know that each choices you make today to reach your goals is a learning process. Each choice you make builds trust, and with trust, the choices get easier. 

3.  Say Kind Things to Yourself 

Like I mentioned earlier, we are our own worst critic, so even though you understand the value of being kind toward yourself, it isn't always easy to practice especially if you have develop the attitude of constantly criticizing yourself for a long time. But I know with practice, you will learn how to do it. The more you practice, the more unbidden kind thoughts appear in your mind. Read: 60 Examples of Positive Self-Talk. You can't kill a bad habit but you can stop doing it.

4.Overcoming Challenges

Challenge is not a failure. Failure is a challenge that telling you that your plans need a tweak. We grow by acknowledging our weaknesses. If people around you try to bring you down, for example someone says that you are never going to lose weight, that you'll never succeed, ask the question and find answers that tell you that it isn't really true. You may see that you are actually doing a good job in your workout routine, but may be a bit off track with your calorie intake. The strive to be perfect will diminishes your worth. Instead of striving to be perfect, strive to do your best so that in that way you can increase your capacity for self-kindness.

5. Invest in Yourself

Start today. Ask yourself, how do you feel? What do you need? What action needed to reach your goals? Spend at least 30 minutes in the morning or evening reading material that will motivates you. Be open to learn new skills and improve yourself. Hire weight loss coach or join a fitness club. Try bungee jumping or learn golf. By constantly learning new things you will keep your mind and body active. Take a moment to appreciate and enjoy your smaller accomplishments, or you could miss it. This approach makes life lighter, more joyful and it becomes easier to keep the motivation up.

What's one nice thing you can do to yourself today?

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Cupping for Weight Loss: My First Experience with Cupping Therapy

Cupping therapy is an ancient medical practice that has been used in China for thousands of years. There are many health benefits of cupping therapy you may never knew, including weight loss.

Circulation is the process of bringing blood, oxygen and hormones to and from cells in the body to nourish it and help to fight diseases, and stabilize body temperature and pH. Poor blood circulation can develop a variety of health problems such as headaches, feeling tired much of the time, feeling short of breath at times, swelling and water retention - especially in the feet, etc. Poor blood circulation caused by a lack of proper nutrition, and acid toxins within the body.  Cupping is not only an excellent natural remedy to relieve muscle pain, practitioners believe this is also an effective way to clear your body of toxins, stimulates energy, relieve constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and encourage healthy blood flow. Healthy blood flow can help you lose weight by encourage nutrients in your body supplied to your muscles in a more efficient manner.

But when I decided to try cupping therapy, weight loss is not my motive. I did this to alleviate headaches. When I first heard about cupping therapy, I was a bit hesitant just like most of people who are afraid of the sight of blood but I decided to give it a go anyway. Nothing to be scared actually. The process isn't painful and quickly goes.

WARNING!!! May contain some disturbing images to some readers.

There are two types of cupping: dry cupping and wet cupping (controlled bleeding). Wet cupping is significantly more effective according to the practitioner. Cupping used are plastic or glass to replace the horn, pottery, bronze and bamboo cups used in earlier times. The cups can be various shapes. RM20 per cup.

Cups used during my cupping session. Made of glass with an extension at the top to accommodate a rubber squeeze ball which when squeeze and released pulls air, followed by skin up into the vacant area.

The cupping therapy process

Step 1 - Massage

The practitioner massage my skin for 2 minutes to find out which points are painful and tender, and especially which points are the tenderest. It's where she will place the cups.

Step 2 -  Air cupping

Massage oil applied to create a better seal as well as allow the cups to glide over muscle groups. I had it done five on  my shoulder and one on my head. I had my hair shaved at the cupping area. My husband was like, why on the head? The trigger points that cause headaches are somewhere at the shoulders area and you can try cupping at that particular area, he merely says. Not necessarily on the head. The practitioner suggested me doing cupping on the head because I told her I need a pain relief from a headache. So I thought why not if it could stop a throbbing headache. Hair grows, anyway. The shaved area on my head can't be seen after some hair trick. So it's not a big deal for me.

Shaved area on my head

The hubs: He got an arm dislocation in a car accident he involved in
not long time ago. He always complained about stiff shoulder.
It looked like the cupping mark on that spot are the darkest. 

The modern version of dry cupping does not include the risk of fire and heat

The traditional cupping use flame to heat the air inside of the cup to create suction. But the more modern version of cupping they used here does not include the risk of fire and heat, so my mind can be at peace. Plus it doesn't hurt! The air is withdrawn by means of a squeeze-rubber balloon attached through a tube. When pinched the balloon expels air so that as it re-expands it draws air out, creating suction to draw skin up inside. The cup is left in place for 3 to 4 minutes. Dry cupping can dispels trapped wind that cause muscle and joint pain. The cups at this process looked steamy believed to be an expelled wind.

Step 3 - Superficial skin incision

The cup removed, then the practitioner usually poked the cupped area with lancet needle, a pricking needle which often use to collects blood sample. Puncture done is just below the skin's surface approximately 0.1 mm depth. But the practitioner where I went to use razor blade instead of needle to create a small skin incision. Between razor blade and needle, I am not sure which is the best. I have no idea that I can choose between this two method. Since this is my first time, I didn't ask further.

The hubs: Right after the small skin incision was made

The hubs asked about this when he had his cupping session the next day. The practitioner explained that using razor blade is better. The process of drawing out blood, according to the lady is much quicker and in most cases of diabetes patients, the cuts heals much faster. Using razor blade method is not painful as it seems. I just felt a little ticklish when she performed this but the things I'm not okay with is it left unwanted incision mark. The mark is actually less obvious except when you take a closer look at it. They completely gone after weeks.

I thought the incision mark may not visible, I was wrong. 

You can choose whatever method that feels more comfortable for you. Don't forget to tell your therapist of which method you wanted to use.

Step 4 - Wet cupping 

Cups are again left in place for 3 to 10 minutes and mild suction performed to draw a small quantity of blood out of the wounds. This process is done twice.

Mild suction performed to draw a small quantity of blood out of the wounds.

Yuck! A clot of dark blood would begin accumulating in the cup

Mine (left) and the hubby's cup (right): I merely tease him saying his blood is thicker than mine because there are too many buildup of toxins in his body 

Mr Hubby's cups are almost full 

Orangish crystal-like "things" that can be seen in the drawn blood
indicate the presence of uric acid

Oily and watery blood indicates high level of cholesterol in the body

The colour and amount of the blood drawn to the surface depending on the degree of toxicity in the muscle tissue. Dark blood is a sign of stagnation, which in many cases in modern terms is the amount of toxins in the blood. People who depend on hospital medicines for years may found his blood black, the practitioner told me. Orangish crystals like colour that found in the blood is a signs of uric acid.

Step 5 - Cupping mark

Although the resulting marks can look alarming, it is temporary and will fade. Mine eventually disappear in about a week. The length of time that cup marks persist usually reflects the level of circulation of blood in each patient’s system and the ability of their body to properly detoxify.

The cupping mark on my skin (left) and the hubby (right): According to the practitioner dark colour of the cupping mark indicates the toxicity level in the body

Skin reaction after cupping

Bruce Bentley, the foremost international expert on the history and practice of cupping said, the marks the cups leave do have a meaning.

"All the changes that arise are pathogenic factors brought to the body surface. And they are certainly not “bruises” as far too many people believe. This is a big question so let’s just cover some issues in brief. Different colours are explicit indicators of the conditions within the body. A dark purple or even black marking always shows that there is deep-seated blood stasis. This will occur over an area with an unresolved longterm injury. Qi deficiency is indicated by the area remaining neutral or paler than the surrounding skin surface, after cupping. Coldness is a light mauve discolouration. Sha also frequently shows up at the skin surface after cupping, though not as much as after gua sha, because it is more thoroughly drawn out and released by the process of scraping. Cups can also draw up dense knotty purple masses, like varicosed lumps, from the body."

"One case where these turned up was on a woman’s scapula. After treatment she had great relief and said that since childhood she’d always had a problem in the area, ever since her mother had yanked her arm very hard and dislocated her shoulder. The cups drew out this old trauma and she has been fine since."

An antiseptic cream will be applied to the incisions after cupping.

Side Effect 
No major side effects aside from skin cuts. One month after the cupping therapy, I had no more headache. I am feeling more peace and relaxed. I am sure to come back for another cupping session.

Cupping Dos & Don'ts
The practitioner lady told me that cupping therapy is perfectly safe and no rules to be followed. However from some of my readings, I learned that cupping should not be done on infants, neither should it be done on the very young or the very old. And cupping is contraindicated in pregnancy, since it strongly activates and disperses the blood.

You can eat whatever you want however it is best to consume low fat and wholesome food in the 2 days prior to your treatment. Just like my husband said, it's a waste of money if you try a detox treatment but pay less attention on what you put in your mouth.

Do not eat and drink anything at least three hours prior to the treatment so that the body is not occupied with digesting food. It is best to eat healthy food 24 hours before and after treatment. Drink plenty of fluids prior to this period.

Cupping vs Blood Donation

Dead and stagnant blood cells accumulate in the capillaries near the surface of the skin. This stagnant blood is pretty much useless and takes up space which could be utilized by fresh clean blood. Cupping therapy is a process to remove this toxic blood and promotes the circulation of fresh blood.

The cuts are very light. The body heals the area very quick and the blood will stops coming out automatically. So don't worry about the possibility of all your blood being pump out. :)

Cupping Therapy vs Blood Donation. Source: alhijamah

Has anybody tried the cupping therapy? Does it work for you? 

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[Book Review]: Childhood Obesity: 4 Sure-Work Ways to Keep Children at a Healthy Weight

I used to gets particular upset with my kids every mealtime, they won't finish their foods. I'm upset because unfinished foods means food waste. I always feel guilty about wasting food. My mom said, 'children do not need as much food as adults. They just need about half the portion of an adult.' 'If you continue serving them large portion of food, they will tend to eat bigger portion sizes,' says mom.

Practicing healthy portion control is important to keep children at their healthy weight. Lesson learned #1. Thanks mom. As a matter of fact, I'm afraid the kids didn't get enough food, or maybe they will get hungry before next meal so I always try to provide them enough food to eat and make sure they finish it. Portion sizes are often overlooked!

In the United States, 1 in every 3 kids is overweight or obese. This is an alarming statistic! Obese children tend to remains obese as an adult. Obesity is a health concern since it increases the risk of serious medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, and many more.

As parents or other concerned adults, what steps can we take to help prevent obesity in our children?

1. Keeping portion size under control

I have learned how to determine portion sizes for my kids. It's also important for me to help them learn to take responsibility for their own portions. Teach the kids portion sizes by using your hand.

2. Healthier alternatives

If you do have a child or children who have weight issues, never talk to them about diet and exercise. This is based from my own experience, it will really impact them in a negative, emotional way. What you can do is find healthier alternatives. For example, if they like sweet foods, start having them eat more fruit. Maybe dip bananas or strawberries in dark chocolate. Create a supportive environment. Move tempting foods out of sight in cupboards or in the refrigerator. Find a fun workout DVD you can do together as a family.

3. Teach nutrition to children

Start showing them how to read the labels. Let them help you prepare healthy food. Tell them about what you are making and why it’s good for your body.

3.Be a good role model

If your children see you eating your vegetables, being active, and limiting your TV time, there’s a good chance that they will do the same. These habits will also have the happy side effect of helping you maintain a healthy weight.

4. Distributes educational materials

Having a friendly children's books can inspire children and parents to eat healthier and live more nutritionally fit through education. My children and I are currently reading a book "Larvie Learns a Lesson."

About the Book: "Larvie Learns a Lesson"

Larvie Learns a Lesson written by Mickey Seger, MD, Melinda V. Gonzales, PA-C, and Terive Duperier, MD. They work in a medical practice in San Antonio called the Bariatric Medical Institute of Texas (BMI of Texas) and are specializes in medical and surgical weight management. Concern were raised about children being overweight or obese. Hence this book is use as a way of teaching children of what to eat and what not to eat, making them more aware of the consequences of their bad choices.

Larvie Learns a Lesson tells the story of a caterpillar that had eating habits that he does not realize are unhealthy until he finds himself in a dilemma. He breaks his bad eating habits and exercise more with the help of his doctor. His healthy lifestyle does not only cures his high blood and diabetes, he also becomes an inspiration to his fellow bug friends.

This book has only 15 pages and has great, colorful illustrations. The prints are large, and widely spaced making the words easier to read. This is a younger children's brilliant book for reading with parents. My younger child is not reading yet, but he enjoys the book and loves for me to read to him. Since he cannot read it for himself, the next best thing is to memorize it. This book has becomes his favorite and he wants to hear me read the book over and over. I think it's perfectly normal for preschooler to want to hear the same book over and over again. Moments like this are important opportunities for parents or teacher to teach the children about healthy habits. Children are watching characters from school reading books and library books, as models.

If you're interested to have this book as your educational support material or if you need more information about healthy living and managing obesity, check out BMI of Texas.  

Do you have any other ideas, what steps can we take to help prevent obesity in our children? 

Please write your thought in the comments.

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"Bekam" Cupping Therapy: Top 4 Untold Health Benefits of Cupping Therapy

Who are fans of Gwyneth Paltrow here? She caused a stir at a New York film premiere back in 2004 when she arrived with visible cupping marks on her back. And maybe some of you have seen the photos of Jennifer Aniston last year stepped onto the red carpet with what looked like cupping marks on her back? Is cupping just another Hollywood trend? It's normal what celebrities are doing will always gain public attention and no surprise if later it become trends. Cupping therapy has actually been around for hundreds of years. It is an ancient practice of alternative medicine.

History of Cupping 

According to Chinese Cupping site, cupping was an ancient Taoist medical practice and was widely used in the courts of Imperial China back from the year 281 AD. Its administration was first recorded by Ge Hong, a practicing Taoist, an alchemist, and a famous medicinal herbalist during his time. 

During those times, they used animal horns for cupping. Some consider the Chinese to be responsible for cupping, however its true origin still remains uncertain to this day.

Papyrus Ebers, an Egyptian medical papyrus dating around 1550 BC detail the earliest use of cupping for treating fever, pain, vertigo, menstrual imbalances, weakened appetite and helping to accelerate the healing crisis.

Benefit of Cupping

Almost all of us have had a headache some time in our lives. I gets headaches few days just before my period starts. Not really serious but they can be so uncomfortable. As a mom with two kids to take care of, I cannot afford to be sick. I thought it may be just one of the PMS symptom. This is because of the natural drop in oestrogen levels at these times. It will be gone after my period is over. But lately headaches have become more frequent. I have being getting painful headaches right after my period is over. I can describe the pain as throbbing, pounding, or pulsating and at some point make me feel like nauseated. No, it is not migraine if you ask me. I have a friend who have been a migraine sufferer, and I am not feeling the symptom she describe when migraine attack is coming. Maybe the headache caused by trapped wind? Women who already had childbirth experience are more prone to trapped wind, say the old folks. Or perhaps it's a toxic headache?. We are living in a toxic environment. No matter where we live or how careful we are, we cannot avoid.

One day, I decided to try wet (blood) cupping. It was a spontaneous decision. The reflexology saloon I happened to stop by that day did not offer body massage service. I felt so sick that day and I think I needed a massage for some relieve. They recommended me the cupping therapy instead. Out of the blue I said, OK. I am actually afraid of blood. My decision could be under the influence of pain. Haha~ I could not bear to walk further to find the nearest massage spa. A month later: no more headache since cupping!

The other benefit of cupping: 

1. Relaxing

Cupping is much like the inverse of massage. Rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upward. Once suctioned, the cups are generally left in targets acupuncture points for about ten minutes to provide relief through pressure.

2. Detox

Cupping is an excellent way to perform lymphatic drainage massage. By using suction and negative pressure, massage cupping releases rigid soft tissue and drains excess fluid and toxins.

3. Improve your blood circulation

Cupping stimulates blood circulation to stagnant skin and muscles and relieve muscle and joint pains, sedate the nervous system (which makes it an excellent treatment for high blood pressure). Good blood circulation can also help ease insomnia.

4. Clear your lungs

This treatment is also valuable for the lungs, and can clear congestion from a common cold or help to control a person's asthma. Three thousand years ago, in the earliest Chinese documentation of cupping, it was recommended for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

The Risk

There are two main forms of cupping therapy: dry and wet (controlled bleeding). According to the therapist, wet cupping is the fastest, most effective method to move congestion and sluggishness in the body compared to dry cupping. While cupping is relatively safe, the treatment may be slightly painful or even cause burns in some cases.

As much as I love cupping and this practice may be hot in Hollywood, not everyone will enjoy it and not everyone is suitable for cupping. Do your research or consult with doctor before undergoing cupping treatment.

Don't forget to read my first experience with cupping therapy in the next post.

Has anybody tried the cupping therapy?

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Betting on Weight Loss: Motivation Booster or Stress Caused?

PUKAS. (pronouce: ˌpuː - kɑːz) It's my native language that means DRAW. 

A few months back, my diet buddy and I decided to use financial rewards method to provide us strong incentive to ditch bad habits and finally to lose weight. The game plan is similar to the one on dietbet.com. Everyone is to contribute $50 to a fund, and this money will refund to us at the end of the month IF we hit the weight loss goal. If one of us is losing weight and the others are not, the money will goes to the winner. But if none of us are losing weight, then this is what we call 'pukas.' The money will remain there and will be carry forward to the next month. We invited some friends to join the challenge. We thought, the more participant the merrier and the higher the pressure will be. This automatic pressure can actively keep our internal motivation high. The fear of losing dough or the motivations to make profit from others who failed is likely to help us to stick with the weight loss program. It's lose weight or lose your money. I suppose it make sense, isn't it?

But some friends we invited to join the bet politely rejected the idea. The reason? Their husband give them no permission to join. Oh, their excuse seriously cracked me up, they really do. Friends, if you're happen to read this now, I'm sorry. I don't understand in the first place why do you guys need your husband's permission to lose weight? This is your body, you're in charge. You're in charge of managing your health. You're in charge of your workout time. You hold the responsibility to watch what you eat. The idea to make a bet on your weight loss is for powerful motivation and accountability. I repeat, for motivation and accountability. That's it. Actually the real issue here is the competitive weight loss game itself and the risk of losing your money at stake. So the 'husband's permission' is just a lame excuse, I guess. I understand that when there's money involved it probably will makes the weight loss challenge a family matter. So in the end only three of us agreed to place cash bets on whether we can lose the unwanted kilos.

For update, it has been 3 months since we started and I have lost...lost to the game twice. And our latest weigh-in was 'pukas.'

Making a Diet Bet on Your Weight Loss: The Pros and Cons  

PRO -  Weight Loss Betting is a MOTIVATION BOOSTER

Everyone loves winning money. To win cash, you have to lose weight, reach your weight loss goal. It's that pretty simple, right. It's a good motivator. If your money were at stake you are more likely than others to stick to the diet and exercise changes that make weight loss possible. You don’t want to lose your own money, and you don’t want to lose somebody else’s.

CONS - Weight Loss Betting is a STRESS CAUSED

I don't know about others but for me trying to lose weight is a stressful thing. Your expectations about weight loss facing the limits of your will power may cause stress. Like that is not enough, keeping the money you've bet that you cannot afford to lose may be increasing your stress levels. According to research, chronic stress can affect your metabolism, promoting fat storage, and increasing cravings for sugary, high-fat "comfort foods".

The pressure to win may also lead into unhealthy manner of losing weight. You can still lose weight by taking laxatives to expel your waste after eating hoping you can get rid of unwanted calories. But that's not healthy.

Read also:  Obsessed with Fiber Supplements for Weight Control

Also, what happens when the weight loss bet is over? Can you keep the weight off? Can you stop weight gaining after that? If individuals don't have the right education in place, they're apt to fall back on their bad habit and will gain all the weight back and an extra few kilos.

So would you lose weight if money were at stake? Would money be enough motivation for you to lose weight?
I love feedback, leave your opinion in the comments. 

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Excess skin and Weight Loss: Is Weight Loss Surgery for You?

This is a guest contribution from Paula, a writer for a medical reconstructive and cosmetic surgery center in Atlanta.

Dr. Patricia, 

I have recently begun planning a healthier lifestyle and am aiming to lose a rather large amount of weight to do so. My question is what will happen to my skin? Will it shrink along with my body mass? I have heard some say that skin will not shrink down when you lose weight, and you have to have plastic surgery to remove the excess skin. Is this true? I have done an extensive amount of research on the subject, and I have found almost nothing. I am not concerned with a bit of saggy skin, but when I do reach my weight goal, I don't want to look like an old, lumpy sack of potatoes. Please help! 

Does this sound familiar?

This is an actual question emailed to us from a customer that comes in for regular skin spa treatments. I get many emails from patients curious about what happens to their skin during weight loss and it seems like skin is the one organ in our body that people know the least about. Sure we know if we scrape it, it bleeds, if its dry, we moisturize, but there is so much more into knowing how your skin works to realize the affects our daily lives have on it. So the quick answer to the question is not really quick at all, it is a Yes and No.

Yes, your skin will shrink down to an extent.

No, it will not tighten completely.

Yes, if the amount of excess skin is disruptive, you will want (not need) to have it removed. If excess skin is causing health issues then it must be removed. Excess skin can be a serious medical problem but so is obesity, although excess skin is troublesome, your health should be the first and foremost concern. 

Skin 101 

Skin is our largest organ in our body and it is our first line of defense against the environment. This makes it very important for us as humans to take care of our skin through sun protection and nutrition. Your skin is made of a protein called collagen; collagen allows for elasticity but it also has its limits. When you pinch your skin you know it is not solid, we've all seen those crazy creepy YouTube videos of people stretching their eyelids and ear lobes or whatnot. In order to understand what happens to our skin during weight gain or weight loss, we should first understand what happens to our fat when we lose weight.

What happens to our fat when we lose weight?
When we lose mass by burning fat, the fat doesn't just disappear as we would like it to, instead our fat changes form. When we eat, glucose and sugar are harnessed from the carbohydrates we consume, which are our bodies’ first fuel source. The liver then stores the glucose in the form of glycogen and released into the bloodstream as necessary. Once our bodies run out of glucose for energy then fat takes over in what is called ketosis. During ketosis, our hormones activate an enzyme in fat tissue called lipase. The lipase ignites fat cells to release macromolecules called triglycerides. Once they are released they are signaled to break into three components of glycerol and three fatty acid chains in a process called lipolysis. They liver then absorbs the glycerol for energy and the fatty acids move to the muscles for energy. Because the fat tissue is removed of some of its components, it shrinks and so does the skin but as stated before only to an extent.

Skin stretches because rapid weight gain or growth (ex. pregnancy) outpaces collagen production in your skin which causes areas to overstretch. Just as plastic will tear when stretched too far, so will skin in terms of stretch marks. In cases of massive weight loss, where individuals lose 80 lbs. and over, folds of extra skin remains because the skin had become so outstretched that it hangs from the thinner body like a rubber band that has lost its elasticity.

In cases of moderate weight loss, skin can certainly shrink back to fit the body’s new size because of its elasticity. However, collagen fibers weaken with age and a few other factors thus resulting in wrinkles. The factors that determine your skins elasticity is dependent upon the individual and include whether the individual smokes, their race, sun damage, genetics, and even how often their weight has fluctuated greatly. 

Excess Skin Problems 
Having excess lose skin is detrimental for those who have gone through a massive weight loss or weight loss surgery. Instead of the fit and slim gorgeous body they were hoping for after putting so much work into weight loss, they have a thinner yet disfigured body image because of the excess skin. Many who go through weight loss surgery either do not realize that the surgeon does not remove the excess skin after the surgery or was not told resulting in a poor body image because of the remaining skin.

Excess skin can even cause the body distressing problems that many individuals wouldn't know about until they have the loose skin. Folds of skin from a massive weight loss can result in psychological and physical problems. A 2013 study published in the North American Journal of Medical Sciences observed 64 patients following a massive weight loss. The patients were then polled on their “Quality of Life” post weight loss and had these results:

• Dermatitis and itching in 28%, 
• Difficulty finding clothes that fit properly 26%, 
• Difficulty performing physical activity 34% (N Am J Med Sci. 2013 April; 5(4): 301–305). 

They were also polled on their satisfaction with their appearance in which most rated their satisfaction in terms of specific body parts as “dissatisfied” to “very dissatisfied”. The physical problems that result from lose skin transcends into mental and emotional problems with patients as their expectations with their bodies are unsatisfactory without proper preparation beforehand.

Another common medical concern that results from having excess loose apron-like skin is intertrigo—a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection that occurs often due to the difficulty in keeping these folds of excess skin clean and dry. The skin can also cause back pains and ulcerations.

Treatment Options 

As mentioned before, a protein in the skin called elastin allows the skin to shrink back to a regular size. However, when going through weight loss, losing 20-30 pounds is very different from losing 80 lbs. or more. In cases of moderate weight loss, there are ways to reduce the amount of resulting excess skin through exercise, muscle-building, eating properly, staying hydrated and by losing the weight slowly.

Exercise that includes increasing muscle tone can tighten connective tissue and help stretch the skin as it essentially acts as a filler to your skin instead of fat tissue. By consuming the proper amount of food and water every day will ensure that your skin absorbs the necessary nutrients. Water is a crucial component of maintaining skin elasticity and you should be taking in at least 2 liters each day. The two ingredients that keep skin plump and elastic are elastin and collagen, the protein to help form these is found in cottage cheese, legumes, tofu, milk, beans, seeds, nuts, and fish.

In more severe cases of massive weight loss and bariatric surgery patients, other methods must be applied to eliminate the health risk with excess skin. If you've had a 9-month pregnancy, your skin can shrink back to pre-baby. However, if you've carried 50-100 extra pounds on your body for an extended period of time you will most likely need to resort to plastic surgery to tighten the loose skin and resolve the resulting health issues. There are treatment options for excessive lose skin through a body lift or post-bariatric surgery for those who have gone through bariatric or weight loss surgery.

Post-bariatric surgery and body lifts involve many body areas as patients have loose skin not only on their abdomen but also through the face, neck, thighs, buttocks, arms and breast. Surgery will leave small and large noticeable scars though most patients find these acceptable and enjoy more self-confidence when wearing a bathing suit. Depending on the patient, procedures can be chosen selectively focusing on the most problematic areas. For example, a patient who has lost a moderate amount of weight but has a mild amount of loose skin can have just a tummy tuck to remove remaining fat and skin in the abdomen area. Men who have gone through a massive weight loss sometimes result in sagging or large breasts. Here liposuction alone may be satisfactory, however, this is not typical and breast augmentation or reduction may be necessary.

Each individual is different which is why it is crucial to first speak or have a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon. Your surgeon will be able to identify if you are a good candidate for post-bariatric surgery and will guide you through different procedures that will ultimately give you the satisfactory body you would like to achieve. According to the same study as mentioned above, participants who had gone through post-bariatric surgery following the initial poll had improved “Quality of Life” results. 65% of patients reported an Improved Body Image, 64% reported Improved Self-confidence, 53% reported Better Fitting Clothes, 45% reported Improved Mobility, and 40% reported Improved Balance of Life.

Everyone can agree that losing weight is hard, excess skin just makes it harder even though you are healthier. It takes perseverance and a community of friends for anyone to succeed through it and once you do, the results are so worth it for you and your family.

The Bottom Line? 

Being healthy has far greater importance than excess skin. Although, having excess skin can lead to some serious issues there are non-surgical ways of preventing infections such as keeping your excess skin dry.

For those who are able and want to remove the excess skin, it is important to remember that these procedures should only be considered after ones weight has stabilized; especially after weight loss surgery. This can range from 7-18 months after weight loss. Insurance companies have very critical guidelines as to what procedures are covered. If cosmetic, it is most likely they will not cover for post-bariatric surgery. However, if the need is medical where infections are reoccurring then it will be necessary for them to provide coverage for post-bariatric surgery.

Another important factor in finding a plastic surgeon that can perform these procedures is that they must be board certified. If your plastic surgeon’s website or office does not advertise that they are board certified you must RUN! For everyone who has heard horror plastic surgery stories, this is probably where it started, having a surgical procedure done without a board certified surgeon. Use ASPS (The American Society of Plastic Surgery) to find a board certified surgeon near you.


Author Bio: Paula is a writer for a medical reconstructive and cosmetic surgery center in Atlanta. She has two kittens and loves to write about all things beauty, women, health and fitness! She spends her days outside and at the center where she learns as much as she can from the board certified surgeons. This plastic surgery center specializes in not only post-bariatric surgery but also breast augmentation and tummy tucks. Paula also has a personal blog Littlefurrymusings.tumblr.com where she writes about all kinds of things that she thinks others would enjoy.

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