If you've decided that you're ready to lose weight, you probably want to lose it fast. While it's possible to lose 4 pounds in a week, you should only do so under the guidance of your doctor. Fast weight loss on a fad diet may get you the results you want, but it won't do much good at helping you keep off the weight.

Ketosis is a metabolic state in which your body begins to break down stored fat and to burn it for energy. As part of this process, your blood level of ketones -- byproducts of fatty acids that have been broken down -- rises sharply. Diets that are extremely low in carbohydrates often induce a state of ketosis.

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a fertility treatment for women who cannot become pregnant without medical intervention. A number of factors, including male or female infertility or a combination of both can cause couples to turn to IVF.

You follow your diet carefully, but your weight loss stoped. You have reached the frustrating phenomenon known as a weight-loss plateau, and it occurs when your weight-loss stalls out despite the fact that you have not begun eating more.

Yes, your ribcage can become smaller when you lose weight. This occurs due to losing subcutaneous fat, the layer of fat directly below the skin. Weight gain results from consuming more calories than you use in activity. The body stores excess calories in fat deposits and this affects your circumference at the ribcage.

The biceps consist of two parts -- the biceps brachii and brachialis. The biceps brachii has a long and short head and the brachialis sits on the sides of these segments. Well-defined biceps have a robust, rounded look when they are contracted.

Sea kelp plants are found in salt water and are a rich source of iodine, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and other minerals. There are several types of sea kelp, such as bladderwrack, which are used as nutritional supplements for thyroid disorders, digestive problems, arthritis, obesity and other ailments.

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You’ve probably heard the saying “you can’t outrun a bad diet,” but that doesn’t stop people from hoping -- and trying -- to find that miracle pill/exercise/diet that will let them eat what they want AND lose weight.

According to MayoClinic.com, drinking fruit and vegetable juices is no healthier than eating the fresh fruits and veggies, whole. However, if you rarely eat fresh produce but enjoy juices, using a juicer may help encourage you to include these healthy options in your daily diet. If you reduce your overall caloric intake so that it is less than your caloric expenditure, you will start losing weight.

Ketosis happens when your body resorts to fat for energy after your stored carbohydrates have been burned out. It often occurs when people fast and exercise. But most commonly, ketosis occurs in people who eat low-carb, high-protein diets, which are also called ketogenic diets.

Mary Kay Z. shares her secrets to going from "big girl" to "bad-ass athlete" -- you may be surprised at what they are!