For now though, diet labs offer a number of tests to help people understand their current health condition and be better informed about what proactive steps can be followed to lose weight and become healthier.

What Tests do Diet Labs Offer?

Right now, there is no standardized legal description of a “diet lab”, so every facility offers different diet testing. Some of the tests currently available from diet labs include:

• CBC – Otherwise known as a “Complete Blood Count,” this common test will measure the functioning of your immune system, as well as the oxygen levels in your body. The test can reveal certain forms of malnutrition, including anemia, as well as the presence of inflammation in cell tissues, which can be linked to the consumption of certain types of food and drinks.
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel – This full-spectrum test of your blood will reveal important insights into how your kidneys and liver are functioning. Your blood glucose levels will also be measured, which can reveal the presence of diabetes or an elevated risk of contracting Type II diabetes. Thyroid and other metabolic disorders can also be identified with this test, as well as abnormally low Vitamin D and/or calcium levels.
• Ketones – This test will measure the number of ketones in your urine. High levels can indicate the presence of diabetes or an excess of high glycemic index foods in your diet.
• Liver Panel – When people are obese, there is a strong correlation between high enzyme levels produced by the kidney. This test can also identify long-term damage to the kidneys.
• Serum Iron – This test measures the level of iron in your blood. Low levels may indicate anemia, iron deficiency due to dietary or other causes, as well as other forms of malnutrition.
• Lipid Profile – This is the test that measures the various forms of cholesterol in your blood, an important marker for tracking and monitoring your overall health.
• Serum Magnesium – This test can identify problems related to a loss of magnesium which can occur due to malnutrition, the consumption of diuretics (which include “water pills”), and excessive use of laxatives.
• Serum Phosphorous – Consuming too many diuretic drinks (which includes soft drinks, coffee, and tea) can lead to low calcium levels. High levels of phosphorous in the bloodstream can result from overusing common antacid products.
• Amylase Test – Performed on urine samples, the amylase test can reveal damage to the pancreas and/or salivary glands.
• Thyroid Panel – This test can reveal problems with the thyroid gland, including hypothyroidism (low levels of hormones produced by the thyroid glands). The thyroid is the “control center” of the body’s metabolic function, and can play a key role in difficulty losing weight.
• Transthyretin – Also referred to sometimes as prealbumin test, this can reveal certain deficiencies in the liver and the thyroid glands, as well as some forms of malnutrition.

It is also recommended that anyone visiting a diet lab get a standard check-up where vital signs are measured. These include blood pressure, pulse rate, and your temperature. Abnormal vital signs may indicate a fever, inflammation, dehydration and issues relating to blood pressure .

How Much Do Tests at a Diet Lab Cost?

Every diet lab charges different prices for their services. The tests listed above require just a small blood sample and/or urine sample but many diet labs send their blood work and/or urinalysis work to a third-party laboratory. In some cases, these tests may be covered by existing health insurance. Always check with your insurance provider for the exact details about which tests have partial or complete coverage.

Interpreting Your Diet Lab Results

The internet is replete with advice about how to interpret the results of your diet lab work but only a medical professional or nutritionist can give you an accurate diagnosis of the current state of your health. Working with the results of your diet lab tests, you and your nutritionist or healthcare professional can then develop a diet and exercise routine to help you succeed in losing weight and enjoying a healthier life.

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Not Getting Enough Rest

In our busy, hectic lives, we often sacrifice sleep in order to get everything done. Without a doubt, not getting enough rest is a sure recipe for poor health, as our bodies need an adequate amount of time to heal and rebuild. Most people need at least seven hours of sleep per day, so if you find that your schedule simply cannot accommodate a full night’s rest, try to take a brief nap or two during the day to compensate. That being said, a strict schedule that includes 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep, giving your body its best chance to stay in top condition and fend off viral invaders.

Overindulging During the Holidays

It’s the time of year for feasts and delicious treats, but overdoing it can severely tax your immune system. Gobbling down sweet foods sends the body into overdrive as it attempts to balance blood sugar levels, leaving few precious resources to protect your body against illness. And, while drinking at parties is part of the fun for some people during the holidays, every drop of alcohol adds a strain on the liver, one of the key organs in the fight against foreign viral invaders. Eat and drink responsibly, and enjoy your holiday treats in moderation, and your body will have the resources to protect you properly.

Stress

It has been conclusively proven that an excess of stress takes its toil on our immune systems, leaving us compromised and vulnerable to infections and illnesses. Whether it’s the stress of battling the crowds at the mall, or stress from overly strenuous workouts in response to over-indulging in holiday foods, our bodies and minds can only handle so much. Take it easy whenever possible, and carve out a few minutes to relax and reflect in between all the hectic activities of the holiday, and your body will reward you with robust health and fewer bouts with colds and other illnesses.

Skipping Your Workouts

While you definitely don’t want to over-compensate for eating holiday foods with too much time in the gym, it’s also a really bad idea to skip your normal workout sessions. Whatever your normal exercise and fitness routine, it’s always best to stick to your normal schedule, as it will reduce stress, help keep you fit, and blow off a lot of the stress and strain of the season.

Social Smoking

By now, we all know that smoking isn’t good for us. But many people pick up the habit, or vastly increase how often they smoke, during the holidays. After all, many people will agree that nothing goes better with a few party drinks than a cigarette. If you find yourself tempted to blaze through an entire pack, take a moment to step out and get some fresh air, remembering that every cigarette is putting a tremendous stress load on your health and immune system.

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The 80/20 Rule

This famous equation works equally well during the holidays. Give yourself permission to indulge in your favorite treats 20% of the time, while remembering to stick to your healthy diet and exercise regime the other 80% of the time. Many people celebrate the holidays by staying on their regular track during the weekdays, and then give themselves permission to indulge during the weekends.

Managed Indulgence

Saying no to your favorite holiday drinks and goodies can be almost impossible. But when you decide to give in and sample some of those delicious sugary foods, do so without a guilty conscience, but don’t let it get out of control. If you order a holiday drink at your favorite coffee shop, order a standard size, not the huge one. And if your coworker brings in a fresh batch of cookies, eat one or two, don’t bring a handful back to your desk.

Just a Taste

If a coworker or loved one is pressuring you to eat some wicked holiday treats, it can be hard to say no. Go ahead and put a little on your plate, but be sure to stay on track by filling the rest of your plate with vegetables and other healthy fare. If the pressure to eat every sugary, high-fat dish becomes overwhelming, try a polite excuse like, “Yes, I will try it later,” or “I’d love to eat more, but I filled up earlier.”

Being Different Makes You Stronger

While it may look like everyone around you is gorging themselves on unlimited holiday goodies, it is possible to stay strong by choosing to be different. Remember that in a few weeks that those people are going to feel stuffed, sickened, and force to vow to change their ways on New Years’ Day. If you can remain committed and on track during the holidays, transitioning to the new year will be a breeze. By remaining committed to a healthy diet and exercise routine, you might just inspire those around you to employ a little self-control.

Party With a Full Belly

Office and other holiday parties can be a real blast, but if you arrive with an empty stomach, it’ll be almost impossible not to overindulge on fat-packed goodies and sugary treats. Eat a healthy meal at home first, or bring your own lunch to work, and then you’ll have the power to resist all those tempting goodies. After the party is over, and the other guests are groaning and moaning, you’ll be glad you ate a healthy meal beforehand.

The post How to Enjoy the Holidays Without Packing on the Pounds appeared first on SmartChoiceMD.

One of the best reasons for using kettlebells is the fact that no other equipment is needed in order to get a complete workout. This makes them incredibly convenient for women who want a quick and effective workout, since there won’t be the added expense of a gym membership or investment in expensive exercise equipment. For anyone who has 15-20 minutes 3-4 times per week, kettlebells are proving to be a great way to get into shape. In addition to their convenience, kettlebells are popular because they provide a total body workout that tones, sculpts and conditions all the body’s muscles. Because the weight distribution of a kettlebell is not as even as that of a dumbbell, it forces all muscles to work during a swing or movement. This helps women who are concerned about certain problem areas of their bodies, such as sagging arms, soft abdomens or large hips.

While kettlebell workouts can be performed by either sex, certain exercises are geared specifically towards the ladies. Most kettlebell exercises for women are designed to work your abdominal muscles, legs and hips, although some are also known for working all major muscle groups during the workout. Three of the most popular and effective kettlebell exercises are the snatch pull, deadlift and box squat.

The snatch pull, which is designed to work the entire body’s muscles, is done with the feet shoulder width apart and the kettlebell on the ground between the feet. With the knees slightly bent, the kettlebell’s handle is grabbed from the top. It’s then lifted up to chest level, with the elbows staying bent. Then, your hands should slide to the sides of the kettlebell handle while lifting it over your head. The steps are then reversed to return to the starting position, then repeated 5-7 times depending on your fitness level.

The deadlift starts just like the snatch pull, with feet shoulder-width apart and the kettlebell on the ground. Toes are pointed outward, knees bent and the handle grabbed with both hands while your back stays straight and flat. Then, the legs and feet are used to push up while the arms are kept in a straight downward position until you reach a standing position.

The box squat is done by putting a chair behind you and then positioning yourself a foot away, you stand with your feet apart and lift the kettlebell to chest level. Then, move down into a sitting position using the lower back and buttocks, followed by moving back up by using your butt to push on the chair. This is great for the hips and legs, and is known for being incredibly effective.

In addition to being convenient and inexpensive, ketttlebells are known for working over 400 muscles in the body. Now drop those dumbbells ladies and grab a kettlebell!

The post Kettlebell Exercises for Women – Taking the Workout World by Storm appeared first on SmartChoiceMD.

The Easy, Peazy Abdomen Squeezies – Even when coworkers are busy toiling at their tasks, this silent exercise will allow you to sneak in a bit of fitness without disturbing anyone. As you are seated in your chair, take a deep breath in, and slowly squeeze your abdominal muscles, holding the squeeze for 5-10 seconds. Rip out 10 ab squeezies any time your gut feels flabby.

Summertime Thigh Blaster – Its crunch time for your committee to get projects approved before summer, and savvy workers know there’s always time for a good thigh workout. While you’re waiting around for the bosses upstairs to look things over, place both elbows on your thighs and then try to fold your chest towards your legs while pushing against the movement with your arms. Hang on to that for 10 seconds and then release before crunching in another 10 reps.

Project Posture Promotion – Experts agree that when it’s a tight race for valuable in-house promotions, good seating posture can literally put you head and shoulders above the others. Keep a ramrod straight back as you work, walk and eat.

The Stress Popper – When your manager is screaming about your overdue TPS reports, a great way to relieve a little stress is to use your wheeled desk chair as a piece of exercise equipment. Scoot your chair until you can just grasp the edge of your desk with your hands. Now lift your feet off the ground an inch and hold that position while you slowly use your arm to reel in your body until your chest touches the desk. Now push away and repeat until your body gets the memo.

Seated Belly Dancing – Many office workers are able to surreptitiously work on their second job moonlighting as a belly dancer by taking advantage of the swivel function of most office chairs. To melt those stubborn love handles, sit upright on your chair and lift your feet one inch off of the ground. Now grasp your desk with your thumb and fingers. Twist your inner-genie core to swivel side to side until you’ve completed 15 sweaty rounds.

The No-Sweat Push-Up – Every military movie you’ve ever seen always shows buff young men blasting off dozens of push-ups. In the office, you can get the same effect without even breaking a sweat by using the wall. Take two steps from a sturdy wall and then lean forward until your palms are flat against the wall. Now, bend your elbows and sweep your body towards the wall, then hold for two seconds and then rinse, rather and repeat 15 times or until you’re humming the tune to Rocky.

The CEO Shrug – One day in the far future when the suits up on the top floor have recognized your many years of hard toil for the firm by installing you as CEO, you need to get ready to look the part. Obfuscate company earnings and confuse shareholders with the perfect shoulder shrug. Raise both shoulders straight up, holding for five seconds, and then allowing to relax. Blast off 15 more of these babies until the board is ready to double your bonus.

The Pencil Pincher – Nothing improves productivity like attention to details. Practice saving your boss’s money by rolling the back of your shoulders until the shoulder blades feel “pinched” together, as if you’re squeezing a pencil between them. Hold for 15 seconds and then repeat 15 times until you’re a genius at spreadsheets.

Paul Bunyon Stomp – Next time the copier jams, a far more economical way to take out your frustration is to perform the Paul Bunyon Stomp. Stand with legs apart and clasp hands together over your shoulder as if you were holding an axe. Pretend to swing the axe across your body and then switch directions, repeating the entire thing 15 times until you’re in the mood to drink blue milk.

The Casual Lean-In – While certain bestselling books help ambitious workers advance their careers, the casual lean-in can help even the most satisfied member of middle management. To get a great upper arm workout, simply casually lean against the nearest wall, supporting yourself only with the forearm. Now just keep leaning until you’ve got to push back out, repeating this until you’re appointed CEO.

Flappy Boardroom – If last quarter’s statistics are casting a pallor of gloom and doom over the boardroom, bust out this move inspired by wacky dancers of the 1920s. Stand with your arms by your sides and palms facing backwards and then wiggle your arms for five seconds as you channel your inner penguin. Repeat for 15 reps until you’re dreaming of a vacation in Antarctica.

The Passive Punch – When the suits upstairs have heartlessly axed yet another one of your genius ideas, frustration can mount until you’re just about ready to go nuts. Burn off some worksite frustration by engaging in high-energy shadow boxing. Throw jabs, uppercuts and overhand smashes against the morons who taunt you by their consistent ability to fail upwards.

Spirit Pump – When your team manager informs you of the good news from corporate that the company’s stock price is up for the year, a great way to share your team spirit and improve health is to fire off 60 seconds’ worth of Spirit Pumps. Punch your fist in the air like the champion you are and don’t stop until all your co-workers are brimming with team spirit.

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