Alma Jones

In the previous post, I have discussed a few tips on how to lose weight for good, like eating breakfast. (Read the rest of the tips on how to lose weight.) Below are more tips on how to lose weight for good.

• When buying groceries, buy healthy options that you love. Buy fruits, vegetables, lean meat. Skip instant noodles and junk food. If you have to, just buy a bag or two. Don’t stock up on unhealthy food. Out of sight, out of mind.

• Do not be afraid of fatty food. Just because something has fat doesn’t mean you must avoid it. Fat makes you feel full as it helps keep hunger pangs at bay. Remember that “fat won’t make you fat” as long as you take it in moderation.

• Remember that extra protein & carbohydrates will also be stored as fat in the body. A lot of people eat too much protein, thinking it’s not going to be converted to body fat. A biochemistry book will show you that ANY source of calories will be converted to body fat if it is not needed by the body.

• Dissociate eating from all other activities. Do you love eating in front of the TV? Don’t. Learn to enjoy your food. Sip slowly... does it taste good? Savor the food... does it melt nicely in your mouth? Eating is a joy in itself. The more you focus on food alone and nothing else, the more you feel satisfied. You will no longer keep wishing for more.

• Skip the softdrinks or iced tea. A can of soda can give you as much as 150 calories – or up to 3 cups of vegetables! If you can’t do without, get the diet variety as they have zero calories.

• Learn how to read nutrition information. Yep, you find them in almost all food packaging. Don’t just look for the calories… the calories indicated there are those for one serving only. For example, the nutrition information in a medium-sized bag of chips shows 170 calories per serving. But that bag has more than 3 servings, so it packs up to 510 calories all in all!

Lastly, if all else fails, ask a doctor to help you. There are so many things outside of surgery that a doctor can offer you. Being overweight is now considered a medical condition; physicians can therefore come up with a treatment plan tailored especially for you.

Being overweight is not simply a problem about looks; it’s also a problem about health. Everyday, millions of people suffer from heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes, all of which are related to being overweight. Just being ten pounds overweight can greatly increase your risk for all the above diseases.

Stroke and heart disease used to be a disease of the old; now, because of the increasing incidence of obesity, more and more young adults have these conditions.

We should fight weight problems. I hear of stories about how other overweight people do not want to lose weight because they “love themselves.” Unfortunately, they are missing the point: it’s not about how they look; it’s about how they are risking their health.

The calculation of BMI and determination of weight problems were not established to provide a compass for outer beauty; they were instituted because beyond a certain range, the risk for heart disease or diabetes or stroke rises steeply.

Aside from weight, waistlines have also been in the limelight. Again, this is not because big waistlines are not pretty; it’s because studies have shown that abdominal girth, more than arm or thigh circumference, is significantly related to your risk for stroke or heart attack. This means that having a big gut will have a greater impact on your health than having big thighs.

In the spirit of fighting obesity, here are more tips to help you in your weight management scheme:

• Download a food exchange list. Study it. Study it like you’re preparing for an exam, because if you pass the test, you lose the weight. Knowing how many calories are in one teaspoon of oil, or remembering how many calories are in one slice of pork, is going to help you lose weight. Hey, it’s worth the effort. You did it to pass highschool; why not do it to get that weight you’ve always wanted?

• Stay away from fast food. Although fast food chains are now showing us healthier choices, the truth is, most of what you’ll want to eat from them are the unhealthy ones. So what if they serve a salad if you’ll still order a double cheeseburger with large fries?

• Eat more fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables have a lot of fiber, which give bulk to food without packing in calories. In other words, it may look like you’ve eaten a lot, but you’ve only consumed a few calories. A cup of rice can have the same calories as 5 cups of greens! A cup of vegetables has around 50 calories.

• Learn how to cook. Home-cooked food can be a lot healthier than takeout food. You are in control; you know how much oil is in that bowl of soup; you know when to scrimp on mayonnaise or when to give it more. You also get to cook more vegetables in a healthy way, because takeout vegetables are usually stir-fried for convenience.

Click here to know what to buy from the groceries and to read more tips.

Marylin Monroe struck gold; she wasn’t reed-thin but she caused quite a commotion because of her figure. Sadly, nowadays, being curvy doesn’t seem to be as much of a hit. Very few people are happy about their bodies and the pounds of fat that come as “age baggage.”

To cater to weight issues, a lot of diets have sprouted like mushrooms, some of which have been the cause of serious complications like hypoglycemia and metabolic acidosis.

There is no short-cut to a great figure. Crash diets are exactly what they claim to be; you crash after you diet. Right after you shed the extra pounds, you resume your bad habits and ignore the guilt as you reach for another bag of potato chips. This brings us to the all-important question: which diet is the best?

To help you make your own diet plan, here are a few tips. As they are based on studies, not fads, they will help you lose weight effectively without putting your health at risk:

• Eat breakfast. The satiety center, that part in the brain that tells you you’ve had quite enough, responds well to a big breakfast. Despite packing in a lot of calories, a big breakfast makes you eat less the entire day because you won't crave as much. With a protein-packed breakfast, you snack less and eat smaller portions the rest of the day. Studies have shown that once you make this a habit, you lose the weight – and it stays off.

• Find a realistic diet, one you can stick to for life. Crash diets do help you lose weight. But you will regain what pounds you’ve lost, and perhaps even more, once the crash diet ends. Your diet should be capable of sustaining you, not sending you down the road of low blood sugar. Read: it should be a well-balanced diet. Now, there is an undeniably wise tidbit of weight loss.

• Stay on a diet that does not deprive you of what you want. Life is all about happiness. Who cares if you’re slim if you don’t get the pleasure of having a piece of white chocolate melt in your mouth? A good diet should teach you to eat a balanced diet, with allowances for sweets and what-have-you.

• Portions, portions, portions. Yes, a successful diet allows everything – but in moderation. Don’t hesitate to head for the buffet with the sinfully greasy pork rinds but just get a slice or two. It will satisfy your craving without having your caloric intake go overboard.

• Learn to count your calories. Sure, this may take a little effort. Although using neurons everytime you eat your meals may seem unappetizing, remember that you will lose weight when you "think before you eat." Besides, once you get the hang of calorie-counting, you can tailor your diet based on whatever is on the table and you won’t need actual recipe-like diet prescriptions. You get to eat anything. And I mean anything.

• Do not forget your vitamins and minerals. It’s not just about having everything that’s low-fat or low-calorie or sugar-free; it’s also about getting enough vitamins and minerals. Once you get vitamin or mineral deficiencies, you tend to suffer from cravings which may be hard to curb. Having a diet that’s rich in magnesium helps you stay away from chocolate cravings. Enough chromium helps you say no to dessert desires. Lastly, adequate iron helps put a stop to burger fever.

People are genetically equipped to survive droughts and famines; thus, it is rather easy for us to gain weight and slow our metabolism. It is vital for smart & savvy people like you to learn to keep our weights and appetites in check. Thanks to science and research, these tips can help everyone lose the extra pounds the fun and healthy way – and you will lose them for good.

From the previous jump, the definition of important words, such as non-comedogenic and Isobacter Technology, were laid down. (Read the definitions HERE. ) Now, let’s see what L’Oreal Pure Zone Deep Purifying Gel really does for your skin:

• This is a product that works in oil control. And I mean it really works. Just make sure you use an oil-free non-comedogenic moisturizer after you use this L’Oreal wash.
• Since it reduces oil production, it may help in acne control. Remember, oil production is just one factor that may bring about pimples.
• This is not for people with dry skin. This product is so effective in oil control that people with normal or dry skin may end up looking like they belong in a desert.
• You must not leave this product on your skin for a long time. Ten to fifteen seconds is alright, but it may start to sting if you leave it on longer.
• Depending on how oily your skin is, you may use this once in the morning or twice a day (once in the morning, then again before going to bed). Do not overwash your face. Again, overdrying your skin may trigger your skin to produce even more oil.
• Make sure you rinse off this product thouroughly. If you get an afterfeel that makes you think there is still some product left on your skin, then rinse some more.

To sum up, here is my evaluation:

• Oil Control: 5/5
• Acne control: 4/5
• Hypoallergenicity: 0/5
• Honesty in advertisement: 5/5
• Ease of rinsing: 3/5
• Available research: 3/5 (no recent researches not being funded by the company)
• Overall satisfaction: 4/5

I hope this article helps you the next time you go shopping for a facial cleanser and find L’Oreal Pure Zone Deep Purifying Gel. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them!

Question: Does the L’Oreal Pure Zone Deep Purifying Gel really work?

Dr. Alma Jones says: Consumer life is riddled with questions and uncertainties. You might have once asked yourself, “Which anti-aging cream is better?” or perhaps “Which diet will work wonders for me?” And the misleading advertisements, meant to sucker you into buying their products, are no help.

I then made it a small personal mission to use what I have learned in my practice as a physician to help consumers choose wisely.

Recently, I have been studying the research done by L’Oreal. I have also personally been using the products. I have ventured into Neutrogena and Ponds as well.

L’Oreal Pure Zone Deep Purifying Gel comes from L’Oreal’s Pure Zone line, which is supposed to target acne and oil control. The Deep Purifying Gel is a facial wash which comes in a clear gel form. It does not lather much, but this does not mean it isn’t a good wash. (Do not make the habit of judging facial washes based on the amount of lather.)

To give you a lowdown on what L’Oreal Deep Purifying Gel claims to do, here are a few noteworthy points on the bottle:

• Isobacter Technology (Antibacterial action: salicylic acid)
• Deeply cleanses pores
• Purifying action
• 82% purer skin
• Tolerance dermatologically tested
• Non-comedogenic

What do these things mean?

1. Isobacter technology
   
   Loreal capitalizes on salicylic acid to give consumers better skin. Salicylic acid has known antibacterial properties.
2. Deeply cleanses pores
   
   This is their claim on the product. According to their own research (which, of course, I won’t be able to verify unless I launch my very own study series), this product deeply cleans pores. Remember that all research work done by this company is of course funded by the company itself, as is the case with most researches done for beauty products. Eventually, it will be up to us consumers to gauge the truth in these claims.
3. Purifying action
   
   Simply put, this product is supposed to give you a purer looking skin: less blemishes, less acne. I have used the product for over two years now and I have noted less breakouts. It is important for me to mention that I am also concurrently using topical prescription drugs to counter acne.
   I will give L’Oreal credit, though, because this product is really effective in reducing sebum production. The face is really noted to have less oil production during the entire day. With regular use, oil production is greatly reduced. Of course, I follow up with moisturizers (if you have overly dry skin, your body compensates by producing even more oil, so do NOT skimp out on moisturizing because it actually helps combat oiliness!) which I have chosen specifically for breakout-prone skin. (In a separate post, I will be divulging moisturizer secrets, especially for those with oily and acne-prone skin).
4. 82% purer skin
   
   This is according to their own (company-funded) research. A good research or study follows certain criteria: it should be placebo-controlled (a certain number of participants use a placebo, or a product with absolutely no effect), double blinded (both the participants and the study crew should be “blind”, or unaware, of which product is being used by whom), etc. I believe that their study is not double blinded, nor is it provided with a control or placebo group.
   The consequences of not having double-blinded or placebo-controlled studies is that since the participants know that they are using a product that’s supposed to make their skin look better, this knowledge may have a psychological impact. They may become biased and believe that their skin looks better, although there has been absolutely no improvement.
5. Tolerance dermatologically tested
   
   Nowhere in the bottle does it say that the product is hypoallergenic, and with good reason. There are people who are allergic to salicylic acid. There is a list of allergens that should NOT be included in a product for it to be labeled as hypoallergenic. Because this L’Oreal product has one of those allergens, it made do with saying that most people can tolerate the product.
6. Non-comedogenic
   Ah, yes, this is the winning claim. Any product you apply on your skin, if you are prone to breakouts or acne, must be non-comedogenic (meaning it does not cause pimples). Comedogenic products block pores, facilitating bacterial growth inside the pores. The result: pimples. This L’Oreal product is non-comedogenic, so it is ideal for those who have oily, acne-prone skin.

Okay, now that I’ve dissected what the product claims to do, I want to share what other things you should know about L’Oreal Purezone Deep Purifying Gel.

Read what L’Oreal Purezone Deep Purifying Gel can really do.

Almost all my patients have been asking me about specific beauty products, like L'Oreal, Elizabeth Arden, Ponds, and the like. It is rather tempting to buy one for yourself after all the ads you see in the magazine. So, in my future posts, I'll be discussing my personal evaluation of each particular brand and their commercial products.

I will tackle different dermatological issues for each product, including whether or not they are non-comedogenic (do not cause pimples), hypoallergenic, and worth your money. I do not recommend commercial products that I have not yet personally tried and tested, so my next few posts should be interesting, given that they are from the viewpoint of a doctor (and are unpaid reviews at that).