After months of watching the number on the scale rise, some pregnant women are surprised to find that they actually lose weight in the last trimester rather than continue to gain.

Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for staving off a variety of diseases and adverse health conditions, but doing so can be difficult. Losing weight and keeping it off requires dedication and a committed effort to consuming fewer calories and exercising more.

There are no human enzymes that are specifically designed to break down fat cells; instead, the process is a complicated one and involves many different enzymes. Humans store fat for energy and break it down only when they are at an energy deficit.

You can slim your upper body in two weeks by implementing the proper balance of calorie management, nutrition and exercise. Focus on exercises that target your core because you can slim your physique by tightening the muscles in this area.

Eating five small meals when you're trying to lose weight may help keep you from feeling deprived or overly hungry. It may also help stabilize your blood sugar and energy levels so that restricting your overall calorie intake is more manageable.

Millions of Americans suffer from thyroid diseases, according to Medline Plus. Levothyroxine, available in the brand medication Synthroid, is used to treat hypothyroidism, a health condition that affects metabolism in the human body.

There are many types of joints in the body including fibrous, cartilaginous and synovial joints. The synovial joints are characterized by the presence of synovial fluid within a space that encapsulates the articulating surfaces (surfaces that touch each other) of the joint.

You need to set your sights on a goal before you start a new weight-loss plan. The goal you should focus on is your ideal weight, and it is crucially important to know that number.

If you ever turn on the television or open a magazine, the ads you see may lead you to believe that perfect thighs are everywhere. In reality, however, even supermodels get some thigh-beautifying help from makeup artists and computer technology.

Where a woman's weight loss first becomes noticeable really depends on her genes. Many women hang on to weight in the hips and thighs, while others are more likely to have a larger midsection.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder that affects between 5 and 10 percent of American women, according to Harvard Medical School. PCOS is a disorder characterized by high levels of the male hormone, androgen, which often results in weight gain.

If losing weight were easy, more than two-thirds of Americans wouldn't be overweight and the 64 billion dollar weight loss industry would probably be out of biz too.