InfraRed, science in wieght loss

[Cymric]

Well, I wouldn't trust it for the world to produce a slimming effect save for local dehydration. There is nothing special about the far infrared spectrum: both fatty and normal tissue will absorb parts of the spectrum and thus produce a nice, warm sensation. If the radiation flux is high enough so that fats begin to 'burn', you get the equivalent of a sputtering candle. Or of cooking meat---think an electric grill here :-).  In other words: I'd take the 'fat burning' with a pinch of salt if I were you :-).

However, local heating does have some medical benefits. It soothes certain types of pain, and helps you relax. I remember that my parents had a cat whose favourite place was right in front of a normal glow bulb. I replaced it with an infrared lamp as it was friendlier to the eyes and more efficient at producing IR, and after that you couldn't get her to move with a crowbar :-).

[Cymric]

bloodline wrote:
I noticed that when I tried to loose some weight, if you eat less calories, your body adapts... It conserves resources...

That is why you must excercise as well. There is no miracle cure for dieting: swallowing less calories and making sure your body needs every scrap of energy it can muster is the only way. I'm off for my 100 lanes of swimming now :-).

But when I tried atkins, because I was still eating a normal amount (but without refined carbohydrates), I lost nearly 2 stone in as many months.

Funny how the good doctor died showing severe signs of obesity... (His QI, which despite not being a very good indicator still gives you some indication, especially in the extremes, was over 35. That is definitely not good.)

[Cymric]

gizz72 wrote:
Any food synthethically produced always have adverse side effects on the body, that's why there's still natural vegtables extracts, a proper diet and excercise is still the best possible route to good health.

Unfortunately, refined carbohydrates are anything *but* synthetic in origin. They are 100% natural in origin. The only thing is that our bodies can almost immediately begin absorbing the saccharose. When faced with other carbohydrates, such as for example cellulose, we need bacteria in the lining of the gut to break the stuff down---we can't do so on our own.

In addition, the entire 'synthetic' vs. 'natural' thing is a load of bovine scatology in my quite arrogant opinion. Chemically, there is no distinction whatsoever between a natural compound and an atrifically produced one, they are made up of exactly the same molecules. The difference is between the ears, and on your bank statement :-).

[Cymric]

@PMC:

Good excercise regime. Be very careful when circumstances dictate you should reduce the frequency of excercise, you are likely to end up at your local GP with symptoms of arrythmia if not carefully 'trained down', so to speak. I speak from personal experience, and it isn't fun.

I really need to get my bike fixed and do some cycling again---I swim 3 times a week (2.5 km), but I miss the outdoors.