In a world where fad diets are all the rage and people jump at the newest get-skinny-quick schemes, the “Mayo Clinic Diet” is nothing new. Having been around for nearly thirty years, this diet has several variances, but touts the same promise: to lose a lot of weight fast. Its name is also deceiving. It was neither created nor endorsed by the Mayo Clinic.

Each variation of the plan follows the same plan. Dieters are encouraged to eat as much poultry and beef as they please. Some variations require that the dieter eat numerous amounts of grapefruit; others, eggs. One variation warns that dieters should not skip the portions of bacon. In all of the variations, dieters are promised to lose up to 56 pounds in the period of two months.

As with all fad diets, the “Mayo Clinic Diet” promotes rapid weight loss by eating as much of an item as the dieter pleases, the most popular instance being grapefruit. It isn’t a permanent means of weight loss, nor is it healthy. Most promoters of the diet even warn that it isn’t safe to practice for more than a period of two months at a time.

The “Mayo Clinic Diet” does not teach a dieter how to practice moderation. It perpetuates the problems of unhealthy eating and will not help the dieter control his or her weight problems. Additionally, the “Mayo Clinic Diet” offering the temptation to “eat until you’re satisfied” and not count calories should be a warning label.

The only way to permanently and successfully lose weight is to practice moderation. Following the trend of fad diets may not only cause you to gain all of the weight you’ve lost back (and sometimes more), it can have lasting affects on your health. Rapid weight loss, and subsequent gain, can be bad for your heart. It can also lead to other irreversible health problems.

As with all diets, you should consult with your doctor before beginning. It is almost guaranteed that this is not a diet your physician will advocate. The Mayo Clinic’s name may be attached to this diet, but even they do not recommend practicing this unhealthy means of losing weight.

While the dietary drug Orlistat continues to grab the headlines in this ground breaking treatment of obesity, many may not be aware that there are a number of variations of the treatment which are marketed under different names. Xenical is one such variation of the Orlistat drug, and a treatment which is proving ever more popular and ever more successful.

How can you apply for Orlistat treatment?

As you can imagine for a treatment which promises to reduce body weight, without any serious side effects, there has been massive demand for Xenical. Unfortunately this has also spawned a number of illegal internet sites selling the drug, which is only available on prescription. Under no circumstance should you purchase any such treatments from the internet as usage needs to be monitored, and you do not know what you will receive when buying off the internet, with many reports of fake or potentially harmful tablets being delivered.

Your first port of call should be your doctor who will review your particular situation and decide whether Xenical may benefit you. This is done by taking your height and weight and calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI) which is a quick calculation to see if, and by how much, you are actually over weight. The treatment will only be prescribed for patients who are obese, and in need of a weight reduction program for health reasons.

It is also at this stage that your doctor will check your blood pressure, and an array of other possible health conditions which you may have, or may be present in your family chain. High blood pressure, diabetes, etc can often effect the final decision as to whether Xenical is the treatment for you.

How does Xenical actually work?

The difference between Xenical and many of the other weight loss drugs on the market is the fact that Xenical works by actually reducing the body’s intake of fatty components, rather than trying to supress your physical food intake.

The treatment works by reducing the production of lipase enzymes in your intestine which is where fatty content is converted into fatty acid and absorbed into your body - resulting in extra fat. By physically reducing the production of this enzyme the amount of fat absorbed into your body is immediately reduced by about 30%. Due to this reduced intake, your body has less calorific intake which when used in conjunction with an exercise plan will result in your body burning more fat and thereby further reducing your weight.

Any unprocessed fatty components of your digested food are immediately excreted out of the body by the usual channels.

Do you still need to exercise when taking Xenical?

While the treatment itself will have an immediate impact upon your BMI, the only way in which you will be able to retain the benefits is by also changing certain aspects of your lifestyle. You should really see Xenical as the first step in a more healthier lifestyle, not the final stage.

When visiting your doctor, they will only
prescribe the treatment if you agree to increase your exercise routine, and also eat healthier, avoiding excessive intake of foods which have caused the initial weight gain. There needs to be a two tier approach, with Xenical giving the patient the initial boost of losing weight and the increased exercise and healthier living plan assisting with the long term goal of keeping the weight off.

Are there any side effects in taking Xenical?

While there are side effects when using Xenical, they are not serious and more of an uncomfortable nature unless certain precautions are taken. Due to the reduced absorption of fatty content, the excess fatty elements are excreted naturally. Initially stools can be loose and oily, with increased flatulence and some patients have reported experiencing sudden bowel movements in the early days.

However, these are side effects which can be negated by reducing the fatty content of your diet, which will have a direct impact upon the amount of fatty content passed through the body. Some users may also find it beneficial to take vitamin supplements until their body becomes used to the treatment.

Does Xenical really work?

As you would expect from a treatment which has the potential to change so many lives around the world, there have been extensive trials and research into the impact on an array of different patients. These results show that twice as many users of Xenical experienced weight loss of at least 10% in the first 12 months, against those on a traditional diet. Put in perspective, the results show that Xenical has the potential to not only have a major impact upon a patients weight, but also lead to a better all round standard of living.

The results of the various trials carried out over the last few years where presented to the American Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) who approved the treatment on prescription. However, they have also approved a variant of the treatment, Alli, for over the counter sale - the first time ever that an obesity treatment has been approved for over the counter use.

Summary

In summary, Xenical has the potential to change the lives of many obesity sufferers, with very little or no side effects to mention. The days when obesity treatments meant an operation, or a brain suppressant which reduced your food intake, have long gone. By physically reducing the amount of fat which is digested into the body, many will see an immediate impact from Xenical.

However, it must be stressed that in order for the treatment to have longer term implications, many patients will need to review their life styles and eating habits, instigating healthy changes on a long term basis. Light exercise is also a major part of the overall process, resulting in an increased feel good factor among many obesity sufferers.

Unfortunately obesity has become a major health issue over recent years, with many studies showing a marked increase in the weight of children from an early age. It is essential that the situation is addressed as soon as possible, in order to promote a more balanced approach to exercise and eating.

For many, the introduction of Xenical as a treatment will have a major impact on their health and their standard of living.

The Mayo Clinic Diet has been said to be around since the 1940’s but no one knows exactly where it came from. Year after year, the Mayo Clinic gets inquiries regarding the Mayo Clinic Diet but, none the less, the diet is not associated with the clinic. The plan offers a new lifestyle approach to maintaining and managing your weight.

The diet plan allows you eat an unlimited amount of vegetables and fruits, plus a wide variety of healthy picks from all of the other food groups. It also focuses on eating grapefruit to help speed up the weight loss effects with fat burning.

This diet method states, that there are no foods that are considered off limits but they do advise that if you eat foods that are high in fat, this will help eliminate hunger. They also practice the rule that you should stop eating when you feel satisfied and full. They claim that this is the key element in the success of this plan.

Most diets that restrict foods can be effective for a certain amount of time but in the long run you only pack on the pounds again due to feeling deprived and then overeating.

The other main key in this plan is to maintain a good daily physical activity level due to its positive effects on weight management and overall health. The actual Mayo clinic states that this diet may be dangerous for some
people and they continue to state that this diet is in no way associated with them.

The diet offers rapid weight loss for individuals, by consuming grapefruit, vegetables, salads and large amounts of meats and fats. It is still very important not to over eat and to stop when you feel full. You also want to try avoiding snacks in between meals on this plan.

Success Rate - while there is no real statistics reported for the success rate of the so-called Mayo Clinic Diet, it has been noted that there is rapid weight loss that is common among dieters that use this method. People on this diet claim they have lost up to 52 pounds in a 2-month period, which is due to an extreme weight loss from a high-protein and high-fat plan. As with any diet, individual results will vary. This can be a good jump start to your weight loss but you would still need to get a good exercise plan and eating plan down pat in order to keep the weight off.

Before starting any diet program or exercise program, consult your doctor. Your physician will help you choose an exercise regimen and diet plan that meets your goals and needs. You do not want to lose weight too quickly as this can be very damaging to your body and overall health.

As with any fad diet, you will see the weight come off quickly but if you do not incorporate a healthy style of eating then you will quickly gain back all that was lost and in some cases even more.