| Imagine this scenario next January 1st: you dont | | | | holidays are particularly hard to lose. They also tell us |
| make a New Years resolution to lose weightbecause | | | | that the heavier you are, the more weight you tend |
| you havent gained any! | | | | to gain during the holidays: the heaviest folks in the |
| Come January 1, most people look back on the last | | | | study gained an average of 5 pounds in November |
| month or so of happy indulgence with a tinge of | | | | and December. So CLA might be particularly helpful |
| scale-based regret. Well, theres a new scientific study | | | | over the holidays for those who are 20, 30 or more |
| that offers a no-exercise, no-dieting way to not gain | | | | pounds overweight. |
| weight over holidaysand maybe stay trimmer all year | | | | How does CLA work to prevent weight gain? |
| round. | | | | Nobody knows for sure. It may stop fat from |
| The study was conducted by researchers at the | | | | getting into fat cells. It may affect the development |
| University of Wisconsin, in Madison, and at the | | | | of new fat cells. It may burn up fatty acids in muscle. |
| University of Guelph, in Ontario, , and was published | | | | But that it does work is a proven fact. |
| recently in the International Journal of Obesity. The | | | | A two-year study published in the American Journal |
| researchers investigated conjugated linoleic acid, or | | | | of Clinical Nutrition showed that people who took |
| CLA, a building block of fat, found mainly in meat and | | | | CLA lost 5 pounds of fat and gained 2 pounds of |
| dairy. | | | | muscle in about 3 monthsand remember, thats |
| The researchers studied 40 healthy but overweight | | | | without reducing calories or increasing physical |
| people: 32 women and 8 men, ranging in age from 18 | | | | activity. |
| to 44. They divided them into 2 groups. Over six | | | | Can you get enough CLA through your diet to lose |
| months, one group took a supplement of 3.2 grams | | | | weight? No, say the experts Ive talked with. Youd |
| of CLA daily and one didnt. The researchers weighed | | | | practically have to live on meat and cheeseand even |
| the study participants three times: pre-holiday | | | | then you wouldnt get 3.2 grams a day. |
| (August-October), holiday (November-December), | | | | Ive taken to mentioning CLA supplements to |
| and post-holiday (January-February). The results? | | | | anybody I talk to who wants to effortlessly lose |
| The CLA group actually lost a tiny amount of weight | | | | some fat and gain some trimming muscle. (And who |
| during the holidays: about 1/5th of a pound. | | | | doesnt.) People (particularly women) are telling me |
| Meanwhile, the group not taking CLA gained an | | | | that they can definitely see the difference after a |
| average of 1.3 pounds. (With many gaining much | | | | month or two of intake: a noticeable trimming and |
| more.) The non-CLA group also gained a bit | | | | slimming, as fat is lost and firming muscle is gained. |
| post-holidays, while the CLA group stayed stable. | | | | Usually, women lose about a dress size in 1 to 2 |
| Over the six months of the study, the CLA group | | | | months. |
| lost 2.2 pounds, mostly fat, and mostly from the | | | | Studies show that CLA is very safe. And its also |
| belly. | | | | good for more than weight-loss. It may play a role in |
| Maybe youre thinking the non-CLA group simply ate | | | | preventing cancer, boosting immunity, and |
| more. Nope. Both groups ate the same amount of | | | | strengthening the circulatory system. And it also has |
| calories and got the same amount of physical activity. | | | | been shown to boost mood, particularly among |
| The only difference between the two wastaking or | | | | dieters. The researchers in this study reported that |
| not taking CLA. | | | | negative emotions decreased significantly among |
| A couple of other interesting points from this study: | | | | those taking CLA. |
| The researchers note that pounds put on during the | | | | |