Weight loss is one of the big topics-no pun intended-on the late night television circuit. While flipping through the channels after 11p.m., you are apt to come across several advertisements for weight loss pills and diet supplements, each promising to help you drop those unwanted pounds and remove stubborn belly fat once and for all.
Let's face it, if these pills really worked, America wouldn't be the top overweight country in the world.
There are types of alternative medicine which can help with weight loss, however, and with great results. While no alternative medicine is a magic solution, practicing these principles can help you become more limber, feel more energetic, and the end result-or side effect if you will- is weight loss.
Take yoga for example. The low impact stretching involved with yoga will help you feel less stressed, and as a result less likely to over eat as a result of depression or anger. Acupuncture has exact pressure points in the ear which help reduce cravings, and detoxifying teas and herbs can help you feel healthier, and the side effect would be thinking twice before deciding that you want to "pollute" yourself again with oily and fatty foods. In this respect, alternative medicine is wonderful for weight loss.
Click on any item to buy or click to go to Amazon and shop the entire store.
____________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Most alternative medicines for weight loss come in the form of detoxifying teas, energy supplements, and vitamins. The exercise and diet plans are the basis-as they should be- for safe and effective long term weight loss. There is no magic potion to lose weight. Truly dropping pounds and keeping them off requires regular daily exercise and a change in eating habits, period.
However, to get you ready for weight loss, here are some alternative medicine detoxifying teas and interesting supplements;
Take turmeric, ginger, and lemon-about a half teaspoon each and the juice of half a lemon, and boil it all in 2 cups of water. Drink every morning as a detoxifier before you start your diet.
All diets should consist of fresh fruits and vegetables, and buying a juicer is a great way to make a habit out of eating healthy. Please see your doctor before starting any kind of diet plan.
Omega three is a fine source of nutrient, and can be added to any smoothie or juice that you're drinking.
Visit your local food co op or herbalist, they can get you set up with all sorts of alternative teas and nutrition advice, and can refer you to a good homeopathic doctor who will evaluate you as to what your individual nutrition needs are.
Bovine and shark cartilage are two dietary supplements to hit the alternative market. Both have been used for years outside of the United States and Britain, but now are big business in the health food stores.
The most popular form of alternative medicine for weight loss isn't really medicine at all, rather behavior modification through hypnosis. Hypnosis doesn't make you rely on will power, that's one of the reasons it's so popular.
How hypnosis works is that it investigates what is subconsciously holding you to the thinking and eating habits that keep you overweight. Hypnotists believe that if the root cause of the obesity can be alleviated, the patient will naturally begin to lose weight. It is actually a very effective form of alternative medicine, and overall can cost much less than trips to day spas and expensive over the counter weight loss pills. Through hypnosis you can let go of fears that keep you from eating healthy, and begin to allow a positive energy flow through you, causing you to want to stick to the new way of eating and exercising.
DISCLAIMER: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.
Since natural and/or dietary supplements are not FDA approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not intended to “diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”
Showing posts with label Weight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weight. Show all posts
Friday, November 19, 2010
Weight loss vs. Fat loss – Yes There Is a Difference!
To lose weight properly (burning fat) you must increase your
metabolism (weight training) and your need for oxygen (aerobics)
while eating enough calories each day (nutritious diet) to
give you energy and maintain the protein in your muscles because
protein helps build muscles, which indirectly burns fat
In order to lose weight, your body must burn more calories than it takes in, but keep in mind that your body needs calories for energy and when you exercise; your body needs even more calories. Before I talk about energy, the first thing you must understand is that losing weight and losing fat is not the same thing. Just because you lose weight, does not mean you lose fat, and just because you lose fat, does not mean you lose weight. When people talk about losing weight, what the really want to do is lose the excess fat on their body and obtain an attractive figure.
When you eat, the body uses most of the calories for energy. If you eat more calories than the body uses, it will get stored as fat. If you do not consume enough calories per day you will lose weight, but you will also lose energy. When you do not consume enough energy (calories) for your body, it will start using up your energy stores to make up for the energy deficiency. Unfortunately, the energy stores used is not your stored fat, but instead it’s protein and carbohydrates (carbs) that will supply most of the energy (stored fat makes up a very small percentage). Your body will take the protein and carbohydrates from your muscle cells; causing your muscle mass to reduce (say goodby to that toned attractive look) which forces your metabolism to decrease (a low metabolism = slow or no fat burning). When this happens your body requires less energy to maintain its new lower body weight (remember the body weight is lower because you loss muscle), which is why your body conserves energy by slowing down the metabolism. In other words, the body has adapted to the new lower energy (calorie) intake which means that you will no longer continue to lose weight.
Keep in mind that the weight you had lost in the first place was mostly water weight and you will eventually gain it back in the form of fat, not muscle (in order to get your muscle mass back to the way it was before, you have to work on rebuilding it). When carbohydrates and protein that are already in your body are used as the energy source, your body will lose water weight because both carbohydrates and protein hold water in the cells. In essence, you are dehydrating yourself to lose weight. So yes the scale will go down, but approximately 75% (if not more) of it is water instead of fat. And just so you know, exercising while consuming a small calorie intake just makes the situation worse. This is because when you exercise, you start burning off more energy and the more you workout, the more energy your body needs. I already told you above where the energy comes from, and if you do not give your body the energy it needs, it will just feed on your muscles even quicker now that you are exercising. So eat more food! In addition to this, when you cut down too much on your calorie intake, your body will start storing calories because it doesn’t know when you will eat again. The calories that are stored will be stored as fat. So in other words, when your body is storing energy, it’s basically storing more fat.
To summarize my point: Not eating enough calories results in muscle loss, dehydration, slower fat burning, and your body will always adapt to a lower calorie intake.
Bottom Line: if you can’t maintain that lower calorie intake for the rest of your life, you will gain your weight back when you get tired of starving yourself!
To lose weight properly (burning fat) you must increase your metabolism (weight training) and your need for oxygen (aerobics) while eating enough calories each day (nutritious diet) to give you energy and maintain the protein in your muscles because protein helps build muscles, which indirectly burns fat. This brings up another good point: When you build muscle your weight will increase because your muscles are made up of mostly water, but your body fat percentage will decrease because building muscles increase your metabolism (in other words, muscles way more than fat, but take up less space than fat). So keep in mind that losing body fat can’t be measured by a scale; use a measuring tape and also look at yourself in the mirror, and then you will see the true results. One of the best ways to know if you are losing more body fat than water is by using a body fat analyzer.
Make sure that you focus on fat loss not weight loss. Your goal should be to lose weight by burning fat, not losing water from your muscles. Remember this when you choose your weight loss program.
Click on any item to buy or click to go to Amazon and shop their entire store.
___________________________________________________________________
metabolism (weight training) and your need for oxygen (aerobics)
while eating enough calories each day (nutritious diet) to
give you energy and maintain the protein in your muscles because
protein helps build muscles, which indirectly burns fat
In order to lose weight, your body must burn more calories than it takes in, but keep in mind that your body needs calories for energy and when you exercise; your body needs even more calories. Before I talk about energy, the first thing you must understand is that losing weight and losing fat is not the same thing. Just because you lose weight, does not mean you lose fat, and just because you lose fat, does not mean you lose weight. When people talk about losing weight, what the really want to do is lose the excess fat on their body and obtain an attractive figure.
When you eat, the body uses most of the calories for energy. If you eat more calories than the body uses, it will get stored as fat. If you do not consume enough calories per day you will lose weight, but you will also lose energy. When you do not consume enough energy (calories) for your body, it will start using up your energy stores to make up for the energy deficiency. Unfortunately, the energy stores used is not your stored fat, but instead it’s protein and carbohydrates (carbs) that will supply most of the energy (stored fat makes up a very small percentage). Your body will take the protein and carbohydrates from your muscle cells; causing your muscle mass to reduce (say goodby to that toned attractive look) which forces your metabolism to decrease (a low metabolism = slow or no fat burning). When this happens your body requires less energy to maintain its new lower body weight (remember the body weight is lower because you loss muscle), which is why your body conserves energy by slowing down the metabolism. In other words, the body has adapted to the new lower energy (calorie) intake which means that you will no longer continue to lose weight.
Keep in mind that the weight you had lost in the first place was mostly water weight and you will eventually gain it back in the form of fat, not muscle (in order to get your muscle mass back to the way it was before, you have to work on rebuilding it). When carbohydrates and protein that are already in your body are used as the energy source, your body will lose water weight because both carbohydrates and protein hold water in the cells. In essence, you are dehydrating yourself to lose weight. So yes the scale will go down, but approximately 75% (if not more) of it is water instead of fat. And just so you know, exercising while consuming a small calorie intake just makes the situation worse. This is because when you exercise, you start burning off more energy and the more you workout, the more energy your body needs. I already told you above where the energy comes from, and if you do not give your body the energy it needs, it will just feed on your muscles even quicker now that you are exercising. So eat more food! In addition to this, when you cut down too much on your calorie intake, your body will start storing calories because it doesn’t know when you will eat again. The calories that are stored will be stored as fat. So in other words, when your body is storing energy, it’s basically storing more fat.
To summarize my point: Not eating enough calories results in muscle loss, dehydration, slower fat burning, and your body will always adapt to a lower calorie intake.
Bottom Line: if you can’t maintain that lower calorie intake for the rest of your life, you will gain your weight back when you get tired of starving yourself!
To lose weight properly (burning fat) you must increase your metabolism (weight training) and your need for oxygen (aerobics) while eating enough calories each day (nutritious diet) to give you energy and maintain the protein in your muscles because protein helps build muscles, which indirectly burns fat. This brings up another good point: When you build muscle your weight will increase because your muscles are made up of mostly water, but your body fat percentage will decrease because building muscles increase your metabolism (in other words, muscles way more than fat, but take up less space than fat). So keep in mind that losing body fat can’t be measured by a scale; use a measuring tape and also look at yourself in the mirror, and then you will see the true results. One of the best ways to know if you are losing more body fat than water is by using a body fat analyzer.
Make sure that you focus on fat loss not weight loss. Your goal should be to lose weight by burning fat, not losing water from your muscles. Remember this when you choose your weight loss program.
Click on any item to buy or click to go to Amazon and shop their entire store.
___________________________________________________________________
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Weight Loss vs. Fat Loss: Discover Why Your Scale May Be Your Worst Enemy
In your pursuit of a leaner body, you know doubt utilized a bathroom scale to chronicle your progress. However, you may have been doing yourself a grave disservice. As you know, a scale measures how much weight you have lost, but it will never tell you where this weight was lost from. This is where the problem lies. When dieting, your combined weight loss could potentially come from fat loss, water loss, or muscle loss. Obviously, the former is what we all want to achieve, and the latter two are what we need to try and avoid whenever dieting. Unfortunately, many of the fad diets claiming rapid weight loss are often achieving this at the expense of water loss and/or muscle loss. Generally speaking, if you are losing greater than two pounds per week you are likely losing muscle as well.
The best way to monitor your progress when embarking on a new diet is to measure your body fat percentage and your lean body mass. Lean body mass is your weight excluding fat. Lean body mass includes bone, muscle, and other fat free tissues with the majority of this being muscle. By measuring these two items, you will be able to determine how much fat you are losing and whether or not you are losing any muscle. The simplest way to measure your body fat percentage is through skinfold testing. If you know a personal trainer or other fitness professional in your area, they will likely be able to take these measurements for you. However, self skinfold testing is available with the use of the “Accu-Mesure”, which can by found easily online.
Once you have determined your body fat percentage, you are ready to calculate your fat weight and lean body mass. To calculate your fat weight, multiply your total weight by your body fat percentage. Remember to convert your body fat percentage to decimal form before multiplying. I.e. 11% body fat would be converted to .11 Once you have calculated your pounds of fat, subtract your pounds of fat from your total weight in pounds, which will give you your lean body mass.
Armed with these simple equations, you will be able to track your weight loss much more accurately than by simply using a scale alone. You will know exactly where your weight loss is coming from, so you can quickly make adjustments to your caloric intake to maximize your results. For example, if your lean body mass decreases and your body fat decreases, this should tell you there is to much of a calorie deficit and you should increase your daily calorie intake slightly to prevent the loss in lean body mass. Whenever you’re on a calorie restricted diet, some loss in lean body mass and therefore muscle is hard to avoid. However, this loss in lean body mass should be limited to a few tenths of a pound per week. Initially, when first starting a diet program, you will likely notice a larger drop in lean body mass due to water loss. Don’t get alarmed by this. An obvious downward trend in your lean body mass over time is definitely a concern.
It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss proper nutrition and how to calculate daily caloric needs for weight loss; however, I will mention a simple formula that can be utilized to get you in the ballpark if you have average or better body fat percentages. To calculate your total daily calories needed for fat loss, multiply your total weight by 12-13. This will give you a good starting point. I will also mention that spreading your calories out over 5-6 meals per day with each meal consisting of approximately 55% complex carbohydrate, 30% lean protein, and 15% fat will give you the best chance of permanent fat loss. Obviously, these percentages may not work for everyone, but they are a great place to start. If you want to maintain your hard earned muscle, it is also imperative you maintain a weight lifting routine, while dieting.
I hope this information will help you achieve all your weight loss goals and help you understand exactly how your nutrition and diet program is affecting your body. There is certainly still a place for the bathroom scale, but unless you’re also measuring the items above, you will never fully realize the affect of your diet program and reaching your full potential may be difficult. I wish you the best of luck.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Weight Management Advice For All Star Signs
Do you have difficulty losing weight? Maybe the answer lies in your star sign! Find out by reading Anne Collins light-hearted weight loss advice for all 12 star signs.
Take a break from the serious side of dieting and see how the planets affect your weight. Of course, astrology cannot offer a scientific answer to obesity, but you may be surprised at how closely you fit the description for your star sign. Who knows, maybe the stars do have an influence over your eating habits and your general approach to dieting. Check out the advice for your star sign below, and see how closely you fit the profile.
AQUARIUS (20 Jan - 18 Feb)
Advice: Look for maximum support and avoid over-strict diets.
Overweight Aquarians are typically drawn to the mysterious. So initially they may be tempted by fad diets, supplements and food combining. Usually however, they end up choosing a more healthy diet, and because they tend to be optimistic and independent, they don't quit easily. Even so, they need flexibility in their diet, as they do not like being pinned down. Also, the unpredictable nature of many Aquarians means they can flip from being a perfect dieter one day to a binge eater the next! Lastly, being private people, they tend not to join support groups - which can be a disadvantage. For best results, they should choose a flexible eating plan combined with an online support group where they can share their ups and downs without losing their privacy.
PISCES (19 Feb - 20 Mar)
Advice: If you're overweight, don't ignore the problem. Find a good incentive.
It's not uncommon for Piscean dieters to say one thing, but then do the opposite! So their eating habits don't always match their good intentions! That said, they are good organizers and once they start a diet they plan it well. Since they enjoy their food, they should choose a diet plan with plenty of variety. And for best effect, they should use their wonderful imagination to visualize how they will look when they reach their goal. Alas, Pisceans don't find it easy to start dieting. Often they depend on someone else to suggest it to them. Support is crucial for them as they are easily distracted. One critical comment can destroy their motivation, while even a minor amount of stress can drive them to bingeing. Despite this, young Pisceans tend to lose weight quite easily once they develop a rhythm. However, older Pisceans tend to gain weight easily. To minimize this, they should take action as soon as they start gaining in order to prevent obesity in later years.
ARIES (21 March - 19 April)
Advice: Be patient when dieting. Find a buddy or others to keep you on track.
Ariens are often very interested in their health and appearance, so they hate being overweight. But although they tend to start a diet with enormous enthusiasm, unless they achieve rapid success they are tempted to give up and move on to something new - maybe another diet. Their dislike of restrictions as well as their impulsive nature can make it difficult for them to stick to a diet for very long. Yet if they apply their many positive qualities, and get support, they can be very successful. Not least because Ariens love a challenge and have a great desire to succeed. To summarize, providing they accept their dieting weaknesses and take steps to overcome them - for example, by getting plenty of support - Arien dieters can achieve great success.
TAURUS (20 April-20 May)
Advice: Don't go too long without food. Make exercise fun.
Taureans are too realistic to be attracted to fad diets or other weight loss gimmicks. And their methodical nature means that dieting comes easier to them. Furthermore, their normal patience ensures that they stay on track even if their weight loss is slow. However, typical Taureans tend to lose weight quite slowly, often because they have a slow metabolism and don't really enjoy exercise. Also, a minority of Taureans can become very "set" in their ways, and may not find it easy to change their lifestyle. Where it occurs, Taurean obesity tends to be the result of a sweet tooth, a love of rich food and occasionally a self-indulgent streak. So eating regularly throughout the day will prove especially beneficial for them. Due to their dislike of exercise, they should join a fitness group for optimum support.
GEMINI (21 May - 20 June)
Advice: Set yourself realistic goals. Join a weight loss support group.
Despite the fact that Geminis tend to have a fast metabolism and burn calories quite quickly, this does not always guarantee success. This is due to their fickle nature, their impatience and occasionally their unrealistic expectations. Ideally, they should choose a Taurean diet buddy to help keep them on track. Even so, Geminis have many positive qualities that help them to lose weight. Their optimism and love of change can inspire them to embrace the necessary lifestyle changes. For best results, they should seek support to help them stay cool if and when weight loss slows down, and try to curb their natural tendency to weigh themselves every day!
CANCER (21 June -22 July)
Advice: It's vital you have a powerful incentive to lose weight.
Overweight Cancerians can spend years worrying about their size and shape without taking remedial action. One reason for this is that they LOVE to feed themselves and others! So the idea of following a rigid calorie-controlled diet is not attractive to them, especially for more moody Cancerians with a tendency to eat for comfort. That said, patience is the greatest Cancerian asset. So once they commit to a diet and exercise program, Cancerians are very tenacious and tend to persevere until they reach their goals. But they must have a good incentive to lose weight, and they must choose a diet plan which suits their lifestyle and offers a wide variety of foods.
LEO (23 July - 22 August)
Advice: Don't be distracted by fad diets.
When it comes to losing weight, Leos greatest strengths can be their greatest weaknesses. For example, if things go well, their enthusiasm and desire to succeed can make weight loss quite easy for them. But if they encounter difficulties and fail to meet their high standards, they often become despondent and quit. This is aggravated by the Leo desire for excitement, which increases their weakness for fad diets or other plans that promise "instant weight loss." To combat this, it is particularly important for Leos to choose a healthy diet program that offers reliable weight loss, plus enough support to help them bounce back if they experience "bad days" or "bad weeks".
VIRGO (23 August - 22 Sept)
Advice: Be realistic! Don't expect to lose weight too fast.
Similar to Leos, Virgo dieters can struggle to lose weight despite their positive qualities. On the one hand they are gifted with great practicality, attention to detail and high standards, which leads them to choose sensible diets and which may give them great strength of purpose. On the other, they expect too much of themselves, which can be their downfall. If they don't lose weight fast enough, either they feel too miserable and quit, or else they cut corners, eat too little and end up bingeing. To overcome this, Virgos should join a diet forum or support group which might help them to channel their energy and cope with occasional disappointments.
LIBRA (23 Sept - 22 Oct)
Advice: Boost your self-discipline by joining diet and exercise groups.
Librans tend to have a slower metabolism and may gain weight relatively easily. This is aggravated by their laid-back attitude, dislike of exercise and the Libran sweet tooth! On the other hand, Librans are very aware of their appearance and appreciate that in order to maintain their looks they need to eat healthily and take regular exercise. Once motivated they adapt well to new routines. For best results, Librans should avoid being tempted by any plan that promises "effortless" or "ultra-fast" weight loss, and choose a more realistic program. In addition, they should join an exercise group or gym to help them get a regular workout.
SCORPIO (23 Oct - 21 Nov)
Advice: Ease up. Don't worry so much. You're a natural winner.
Weight reduction tends to be easier for Scorpios than any other star sign. This is because Scorpios are positive, well-organized, determined and willing to follow a new diet regimen. If they have a weakness, it is their need to completely immerse themselves in their weight loss program. So if sudden obstacles appear, which prevent them from giving their utmost, some Scorpios can quickly become restless and dissatisfied. Also, in an attempt to lose weight as fast as possible, they can overdo things. They may reduce calories too far, or take too much exercise. If they avoid these traps, Scorpios typically achieve great success.
SAGITTARIUS (22 Nov - 21 Dec)
Advice: Focus on your diet and get plenty of exercise support.
When it comes to losing weight, Sagittarians have one major handicap: they try to take on too much. They are quite capable of starting a new diet and a new job at the same time. As a result, despite great enthusiasm and a genuine desire to finish what they start, they can't give their diet the attention it requires. Result? The wheels come off. This situation is aggravated by Sagittarian impatience and an undomesticated nature. For best results, Sagittarians should limit their commitments, choose a diet which offers simple recipes and enough online support to help them overcome their periodic restlessness. A fun exercise program, such as an aerobic dance class, is especially beneficial for Sagittarians.
CAPRICORN (22 Dec - 19 Jan)
Advice: Go with the flow and learn to accept help.
Capricorns have a number of wonderful qualities. Extremely single-minded, well-organized and able to sacrifice everything to achieve their goals, Capricorns rarely have problems losing weight, provided they are motivated. However, they do not take advice easily, nor do they look for help, so if they experience problems - like a weight loss plateau, a sudden loss of motivation, or a weekend binge - they can find it difficult to recover. So for best results, Capricorns should be more prepared to take advice and seek support. As far as specific plans are concerned, a practical diet with strict rules is ideal.
Take a break from the serious side of dieting and see how the planets affect your weight. Of course, astrology cannot offer a scientific answer to obesity, but you may be surprised at how closely you fit the description for your star sign. Who knows, maybe the stars do have an influence over your eating habits and your general approach to dieting. Check out the advice for your star sign below, and see how closely you fit the profile.
AQUARIUS (20 Jan - 18 Feb)
Advice: Look for maximum support and avoid over-strict diets.
Overweight Aquarians are typically drawn to the mysterious. So initially they may be tempted by fad diets, supplements and food combining. Usually however, they end up choosing a more healthy diet, and because they tend to be optimistic and independent, they don't quit easily. Even so, they need flexibility in their diet, as they do not like being pinned down. Also, the unpredictable nature of many Aquarians means they can flip from being a perfect dieter one day to a binge eater the next! Lastly, being private people, they tend not to join support groups - which can be a disadvantage. For best results, they should choose a flexible eating plan combined with an online support group where they can share their ups and downs without losing their privacy.
PISCES (19 Feb - 20 Mar)
Advice: If you're overweight, don't ignore the problem. Find a good incentive.
It's not uncommon for Piscean dieters to say one thing, but then do the opposite! So their eating habits don't always match their good intentions! That said, they are good organizers and once they start a diet they plan it well. Since they enjoy their food, they should choose a diet plan with plenty of variety. And for best effect, they should use their wonderful imagination to visualize how they will look when they reach their goal. Alas, Pisceans don't find it easy to start dieting. Often they depend on someone else to suggest it to them. Support is crucial for them as they are easily distracted. One critical comment can destroy their motivation, while even a minor amount of stress can drive them to bingeing. Despite this, young Pisceans tend to lose weight quite easily once they develop a rhythm. However, older Pisceans tend to gain weight easily. To minimize this, they should take action as soon as they start gaining in order to prevent obesity in later years.
ARIES (21 March - 19 April)
Advice: Be patient when dieting. Find a buddy or others to keep you on track.
Ariens are often very interested in their health and appearance, so they hate being overweight. But although they tend to start a diet with enormous enthusiasm, unless they achieve rapid success they are tempted to give up and move on to something new - maybe another diet. Their dislike of restrictions as well as their impulsive nature can make it difficult for them to stick to a diet for very long. Yet if they apply their many positive qualities, and get support, they can be very successful. Not least because Ariens love a challenge and have a great desire to succeed. To summarize, providing they accept their dieting weaknesses and take steps to overcome them - for example, by getting plenty of support - Arien dieters can achieve great success.
TAURUS (20 April-20 May)
Advice: Don't go too long without food. Make exercise fun.
Taureans are too realistic to be attracted to fad diets or other weight loss gimmicks. And their methodical nature means that dieting comes easier to them. Furthermore, their normal patience ensures that they stay on track even if their weight loss is slow. However, typical Taureans tend to lose weight quite slowly, often because they have a slow metabolism and don't really enjoy exercise. Also, a minority of Taureans can become very "set" in their ways, and may not find it easy to change their lifestyle. Where it occurs, Taurean obesity tends to be the result of a sweet tooth, a love of rich food and occasionally a self-indulgent streak. So eating regularly throughout the day will prove especially beneficial for them. Due to their dislike of exercise, they should join a fitness group for optimum support.
GEMINI (21 May - 20 June)
Advice: Set yourself realistic goals. Join a weight loss support group.
Despite the fact that Geminis tend to have a fast metabolism and burn calories quite quickly, this does not always guarantee success. This is due to their fickle nature, their impatience and occasionally their unrealistic expectations. Ideally, they should choose a Taurean diet buddy to help keep them on track. Even so, Geminis have many positive qualities that help them to lose weight. Their optimism and love of change can inspire them to embrace the necessary lifestyle changes. For best results, they should seek support to help them stay cool if and when weight loss slows down, and try to curb their natural tendency to weigh themselves every day!
CANCER (21 June -22 July)
Advice: It's vital you have a powerful incentive to lose weight.
Overweight Cancerians can spend years worrying about their size and shape without taking remedial action. One reason for this is that they LOVE to feed themselves and others! So the idea of following a rigid calorie-controlled diet is not attractive to them, especially for more moody Cancerians with a tendency to eat for comfort. That said, patience is the greatest Cancerian asset. So once they commit to a diet and exercise program, Cancerians are very tenacious and tend to persevere until they reach their goals. But they must have a good incentive to lose weight, and they must choose a diet plan which suits their lifestyle and offers a wide variety of foods.
LEO (23 July - 22 August)
Advice: Don't be distracted by fad diets.
When it comes to losing weight, Leos greatest strengths can be their greatest weaknesses. For example, if things go well, their enthusiasm and desire to succeed can make weight loss quite easy for them. But if they encounter difficulties and fail to meet their high standards, they often become despondent and quit. This is aggravated by the Leo desire for excitement, which increases their weakness for fad diets or other plans that promise "instant weight loss." To combat this, it is particularly important for Leos to choose a healthy diet program that offers reliable weight loss, plus enough support to help them bounce back if they experience "bad days" or "bad weeks".
VIRGO (23 August - 22 Sept)
Advice: Be realistic! Don't expect to lose weight too fast.
Similar to Leos, Virgo dieters can struggle to lose weight despite their positive qualities. On the one hand they are gifted with great practicality, attention to detail and high standards, which leads them to choose sensible diets and which may give them great strength of purpose. On the other, they expect too much of themselves, which can be their downfall. If they don't lose weight fast enough, either they feel too miserable and quit, or else they cut corners, eat too little and end up bingeing. To overcome this, Virgos should join a diet forum or support group which might help them to channel their energy and cope with occasional disappointments.
LIBRA (23 Sept - 22 Oct)
Advice: Boost your self-discipline by joining diet and exercise groups.
Librans tend to have a slower metabolism and may gain weight relatively easily. This is aggravated by their laid-back attitude, dislike of exercise and the Libran sweet tooth! On the other hand, Librans are very aware of their appearance and appreciate that in order to maintain their looks they need to eat healthily and take regular exercise. Once motivated they adapt well to new routines. For best results, Librans should avoid being tempted by any plan that promises "effortless" or "ultra-fast" weight loss, and choose a more realistic program. In addition, they should join an exercise group or gym to help them get a regular workout.
SCORPIO (23 Oct - 21 Nov)
Advice: Ease up. Don't worry so much. You're a natural winner.
Weight reduction tends to be easier for Scorpios than any other star sign. This is because Scorpios are positive, well-organized, determined and willing to follow a new diet regimen. If they have a weakness, it is their need to completely immerse themselves in their weight loss program. So if sudden obstacles appear, which prevent them from giving their utmost, some Scorpios can quickly become restless and dissatisfied. Also, in an attempt to lose weight as fast as possible, they can overdo things. They may reduce calories too far, or take too much exercise. If they avoid these traps, Scorpios typically achieve great success.
SAGITTARIUS (22 Nov - 21 Dec)
Advice: Focus on your diet and get plenty of exercise support.
When it comes to losing weight, Sagittarians have one major handicap: they try to take on too much. They are quite capable of starting a new diet and a new job at the same time. As a result, despite great enthusiasm and a genuine desire to finish what they start, they can't give their diet the attention it requires. Result? The wheels come off. This situation is aggravated by Sagittarian impatience and an undomesticated nature. For best results, Sagittarians should limit their commitments, choose a diet which offers simple recipes and enough online support to help them overcome their periodic restlessness. A fun exercise program, such as an aerobic dance class, is especially beneficial for Sagittarians.
CAPRICORN (22 Dec - 19 Jan)
Advice: Go with the flow and learn to accept help.
Capricorns have a number of wonderful qualities. Extremely single-minded, well-organized and able to sacrifice everything to achieve their goals, Capricorns rarely have problems losing weight, provided they are motivated. However, they do not take advice easily, nor do they look for help, so if they experience problems - like a weight loss plateau, a sudden loss of motivation, or a weekend binge - they can find it difficult to recover. So for best results, Capricorns should be more prepared to take advice and seek support. As far as specific plans are concerned, a practical diet with strict rules is ideal.
Weight Loss With The Help Of Green Tea
Weight Loss - Green Tea Benefit
Over the past few years, green tea and its connection with weight loss has long been the center of various clinical studies. Positive effects of green tea on weight loss have been discovered in recent years.
Studies show that the relation between green tea and weight loss are substantially linked together through the plant’s thermogenic properties. Thermogenesis is the process by which the body produces heat by speeding up metabolism, burning calories, and breaking down fat. Certain substances in green tea are believed to help in the body’s thermogenesis, thus contributing to weight loss.
Weight Loss in Other Herbs
Other than green tea, there are other natural herbs that contribute to weight loss. Gugulipid for instance has been shown to augment the metabolic rate of the body and help with thermogenesis, thus leading to weight loss. Gugulipid has also been reported as a catalyst for lowering down cholesterol levels.
Another herb that aids in weight loss is Maitaki. Derived from a Japanese plant, Maitaki helps promote weight loss by targeting the liver, which is a major digestive part of the body.
Maximizing Weight Loss Benefits in Green Tea
A standardized weight loss herbal extract of pure green tea is needed in order to maximize the weight loss benefits of green tea. The market offers several green tea weight loss products that do not use standardized extract. These non-standardized green tea weight loss products are cheaper but do not contain enough active green tea substances to have any significant weight loss benefits.
Scientists and traditional herbalists believe that better weight loss results are achieved when green tea is used in conjunction with other weight loss herbs and with other nutrients. So before buying a green tea weight loss product, it is advisable that you choose a product that contains a rich blend of green tea herbs, minerals and nutrient that aid in weight loss.
Green tea when combined with ginger and olive leaf helps lower cholesterol and promotes weight loss. Green tea helps stop blood vessel constriction while CoQ 10 protects the heart and ensure blood pressure levels. By mixing green tea with CoQ 10, you will not only achieve maximum weight loss but you will also be able maintain the health of several body systems at one time.
The Ideal Green Tea Weight Loss Product
The first thing to make sure of when buying green tea products is to see if the manufacturer of the green tea extract follows strict GMP compliance, the manufacturing standard used throughout the world. Having GMP approval in green tea products assures you that you are getting a product of the highest quality.
Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, herbal products such as green tea are considered dietary supplements. This means that the success or effectiveness of these products do not have any guarantees. Companies or manufacturers that claim 100% success in their green tea products are doing false advertising and should not be patronized.
For assurance that you’re getting your money’s worth when you buy a green tea product, find a product that is using standardized green tea extract. Look for strict GMP compliance and make sure that the manufacturer of the green tea product has all the proper credentials in product formulation.
Over the past few years, green tea and its connection with weight loss has long been the center of various clinical studies. Positive effects of green tea on weight loss have been discovered in recent years.
Studies show that the relation between green tea and weight loss are substantially linked together through the plant’s thermogenic properties. Thermogenesis is the process by which the body produces heat by speeding up metabolism, burning calories, and breaking down fat. Certain substances in green tea are believed to help in the body’s thermogenesis, thus contributing to weight loss.
Weight Loss in Other Herbs
Other than green tea, there are other natural herbs that contribute to weight loss. Gugulipid for instance has been shown to augment the metabolic rate of the body and help with thermogenesis, thus leading to weight loss. Gugulipid has also been reported as a catalyst for lowering down cholesterol levels.
Another herb that aids in weight loss is Maitaki. Derived from a Japanese plant, Maitaki helps promote weight loss by targeting the liver, which is a major digestive part of the body.
Maximizing Weight Loss Benefits in Green Tea
A standardized weight loss herbal extract of pure green tea is needed in order to maximize the weight loss benefits of green tea. The market offers several green tea weight loss products that do not use standardized extract. These non-standardized green tea weight loss products are cheaper but do not contain enough active green tea substances to have any significant weight loss benefits.
Scientists and traditional herbalists believe that better weight loss results are achieved when green tea is used in conjunction with other weight loss herbs and with other nutrients. So before buying a green tea weight loss product, it is advisable that you choose a product that contains a rich blend of green tea herbs, minerals and nutrient that aid in weight loss.
Green tea when combined with ginger and olive leaf helps lower cholesterol and promotes weight loss. Green tea helps stop blood vessel constriction while CoQ 10 protects the heart and ensure blood pressure levels. By mixing green tea with CoQ 10, you will not only achieve maximum weight loss but you will also be able maintain the health of several body systems at one time.
The Ideal Green Tea Weight Loss Product
The first thing to make sure of when buying green tea products is to see if the manufacturer of the green tea extract follows strict GMP compliance, the manufacturing standard used throughout the world. Having GMP approval in green tea products assures you that you are getting a product of the highest quality.
Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, herbal products such as green tea are considered dietary supplements. This means that the success or effectiveness of these products do not have any guarantees. Companies or manufacturers that claim 100% success in their green tea products are doing false advertising and should not be patronized.
For assurance that you’re getting your money’s worth when you buy a green tea product, find a product that is using standardized green tea extract. Look for strict GMP compliance and make sure that the manufacturer of the green tea product has all the proper credentials in product formulation.
Weight Watchers And Soda
Mountains of Sugar
Do you know any weight-watchers who use 20+ TABLESPOONS of sugar i n their coffee or tea? Do you know anyone who uses 20 tablespoons of sugar in their coffee or tea? I hope the answer to that is zero. Why? Because all weight-watchers know that sugar has a high calorific value and is therefore detrimental to weight loss, and bad for your health in general. Using that amount of sugar will create liver problems eventually and could as well lead to diabetes. So the question is: ‘If high levels of sugar are bad for us, and we all seem to know that is a fact, why would anyone drink soda that contains 20+ TABLESPOONS of sugar in each can?’ Food manufacturers love to add food to almost all processed foods. It is cheap and makes everything take better, not just sodas and desserts.
Deadly Fizz
It is hard to put hard numbers to how many people ruin their weight control program by drinking soda (carbonated water, fizzy drinks or soft drinks, depending upon which country you live in, are all forms of what I refer to as soda), judging by the ever increasing sales of these drinks, the answer is most weight-watchers fall into this trap. These super sweet drinks are so addictive that most diets choose to ignore the facts about these sugary drinks.
Soda and Burgers
A young man that I know was heading down the road to obesity and being an accountant he was aware that his job didn’t include physical exercise that help burn off calories that he was taking in everyday. Like most twenty something people he didn’t like the idea of going on a diet so he decided to try a different way. He decided to cut soda and fast foods from his diet. The result, in less than six-months he was 27 pounds lighter, feeling healthier and looking trim. He had to purchase some new wardrobe, but it was worth it. That was eleven years ago and he still remains trim today, he eats well but absolutely refuses to go back to fast foods or soda.
It doesn’t matter what brand of soda you drink, unless it is labeled as diet it has “light” or “diet” they massive amounts of sugar and are unhealthy. Check the label for the calorie count before you drink. When you order in restaurants make sure you emphasize that you want diet soda, and double check when the glass is brought to the table.
Hyper-Activity Link
There is convincing evidence that we should mention before we leave this article about hyper-activity in children. There is little doubt that high sugar dosage is often the cause of children becoming hyperactive, it also leads the behavioral problems. It may not effect all children but does effect a large number. Consequently it is advisable to take a long, hard, look at what your child’s sugar intake is particularly including soda. But also look a snacks, cookies, cakes, pastries etc.
The healthiest drink is water; it will also quench your thirst better and for longer than soda, and it is also rated at zero calories, which should make it the weight-watchers drink of choice. For your children you may find it beneficial to make them smoothies using fresh fruit as an alternative to soda.
Do you know any weight-watchers who use 20+ TABLESPOONS of sugar i n their coffee or tea? Do you know anyone who uses 20 tablespoons of sugar in their coffee or tea? I hope the answer to that is zero. Why? Because all weight-watchers know that sugar has a high calorific value and is therefore detrimental to weight loss, and bad for your health in general. Using that amount of sugar will create liver problems eventually and could as well lead to diabetes. So the question is: ‘If high levels of sugar are bad for us, and we all seem to know that is a fact, why would anyone drink soda that contains 20+ TABLESPOONS of sugar in each can?’ Food manufacturers love to add food to almost all processed foods. It is cheap and makes everything take better, not just sodas and desserts.
Deadly Fizz
It is hard to put hard numbers to how many people ruin their weight control program by drinking soda (carbonated water, fizzy drinks or soft drinks, depending upon which country you live in, are all forms of what I refer to as soda), judging by the ever increasing sales of these drinks, the answer is most weight-watchers fall into this trap. These super sweet drinks are so addictive that most diets choose to ignore the facts about these sugary drinks.
Soda and Burgers
A young man that I know was heading down the road to obesity and being an accountant he was aware that his job didn’t include physical exercise that help burn off calories that he was taking in everyday. Like most twenty something people he didn’t like the idea of going on a diet so he decided to try a different way. He decided to cut soda and fast foods from his diet. The result, in less than six-months he was 27 pounds lighter, feeling healthier and looking trim. He had to purchase some new wardrobe, but it was worth it. That was eleven years ago and he still remains trim today, he eats well but absolutely refuses to go back to fast foods or soda.
It doesn’t matter what brand of soda you drink, unless it is labeled as diet it has “light” or “diet” they massive amounts of sugar and are unhealthy. Check the label for the calorie count before you drink. When you order in restaurants make sure you emphasize that you want diet soda, and double check when the glass is brought to the table.
Hyper-Activity Link
There is convincing evidence that we should mention before we leave this article about hyper-activity in children. There is little doubt that high sugar dosage is often the cause of children becoming hyperactive, it also leads the behavioral problems. It may not effect all children but does effect a large number. Consequently it is advisable to take a long, hard, look at what your child’s sugar intake is particularly including soda. But also look a snacks, cookies, cakes, pastries etc.
The healthiest drink is water; it will also quench your thirst better and for longer than soda, and it is also rated at zero calories, which should make it the weight-watchers drink of choice. For your children you may find it beneficial to make them smoothies using fresh fruit as an alternative to soda.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Weight Loss Tips From Real Women
Everyone has their favorite weight loss tips. Here's a handful of diet suggestions from real women who claim they really work.
I drink a full 12 ounce glass of water before I sit down to eat. It fills me up and I don't eat as much at meals. - Monica, 22
My secret weapon is sugarless gum. Whenever I have the urge for a snack or something sweet, I pop it into my mouth and start chewing. Works like a charm every time. -Maddi, 43
Knitting works wonders. I used to snack like a pig while I watched T.V. at night. Since I started knitting, I've lost almost ten pounds, and I know it's because my hands are too busy to pop stuff in my mouth. -Liz, 25
It tastes horrible, but it really works. My grandmother told me to take one teaspoon of cider vinegar before every meal to eat up the fats. - Diane, 21
Peer support! There's nothing like feeling guilty for letting your friends down to make you get out and go exercise. I make dates to play tennis or go for a walk - no backing out when someone else is counting on me. -Cara, 22
All right, this is going to sound really silly but - when I have to lose weight, I only eat foods that I can eat with chopsticks. I'm not very good with them so -- I don't eat a lot. -Lisa, 32
When I'm sitting in traffic or at my desk, I do tummy tightening exercises. Just pull in your tummy, hold for a count of 20, and release. Do that about twenty times and you can really feel it. - Sheila, 52
Water. I drink lots and lots of water when I'm on a diet. It helps flush out the system and keeps me feeling fresh. It also helps with the bad breath I get when I'm on a high protein diet. - Dena, 34
I'm always rushing out the door and forgetting breakfast, and then I end up snacking at my desk halfway through the morning. Now I keep a box of Carnation Instant Breakfast in the break room, and fix myself one as soon as I get to work. No more craving goodies at 11 am. -Deb, 45
When I'm dieting, I keep fresh fruits and veggies all cut up and ready to go in little snack containers. If I went to all the work of making them, I'll eat them instead of grabbing a bag of chips on the go. -Amy, 16
I strip down naked and look at myself in the mirror at least once a week. It's easy to see the progress I made, and how much I still need to go. Vinnie, 34
I buy myself something really slinky and hang it where I can see it every day. The trick is that it can only be about one size too small - if it's any smaller than that, I just give up. But if the goal is just “that” close, it's a real motivator. -Shanae, 24
Got a favorite diet tip? Make your own list, or ask your friends to fill in a few. The more strategies you have to help you stay on your diet, the more likely you are to be successful.
I drink a full 12 ounce glass of water before I sit down to eat. It fills me up and I don't eat as much at meals. - Monica, 22
My secret weapon is sugarless gum. Whenever I have the urge for a snack or something sweet, I pop it into my mouth and start chewing. Works like a charm every time. -Maddi, 43
Knitting works wonders. I used to snack like a pig while I watched T.V. at night. Since I started knitting, I've lost almost ten pounds, and I know it's because my hands are too busy to pop stuff in my mouth. -Liz, 25
It tastes horrible, but it really works. My grandmother told me to take one teaspoon of cider vinegar before every meal to eat up the fats. - Diane, 21
Peer support! There's nothing like feeling guilty for letting your friends down to make you get out and go exercise. I make dates to play tennis or go for a walk - no backing out when someone else is counting on me. -Cara, 22
All right, this is going to sound really silly but - when I have to lose weight, I only eat foods that I can eat with chopsticks. I'm not very good with them so -- I don't eat a lot. -Lisa, 32
When I'm sitting in traffic or at my desk, I do tummy tightening exercises. Just pull in your tummy, hold for a count of 20, and release. Do that about twenty times and you can really feel it. - Sheila, 52
Water. I drink lots and lots of water when I'm on a diet. It helps flush out the system and keeps me feeling fresh. It also helps with the bad breath I get when I'm on a high protein diet. - Dena, 34
I'm always rushing out the door and forgetting breakfast, and then I end up snacking at my desk halfway through the morning. Now I keep a box of Carnation Instant Breakfast in the break room, and fix myself one as soon as I get to work. No more craving goodies at 11 am. -Deb, 45
When I'm dieting, I keep fresh fruits and veggies all cut up and ready to go in little snack containers. If I went to all the work of making them, I'll eat them instead of grabbing a bag of chips on the go. -Amy, 16
I strip down naked and look at myself in the mirror at least once a week. It's easy to see the progress I made, and how much I still need to go. Vinnie, 34
I buy myself something really slinky and hang it where I can see it every day. The trick is that it can only be about one size too small - if it's any smaller than that, I just give up. But if the goal is just “that” close, it's a real motivator. -Shanae, 24
Got a favorite diet tip? Make your own list, or ask your friends to fill in a few. The more strategies you have to help you stay on your diet, the more likely you are to be successful.
Weight Loss Tips and Diet Information
Weight Loss Tips and Diet Information. A behavioral approach to lossing weight by recognizing triggers that cause you to eat.
Even the most seasoned weight loss expert can use some weightloss tips every so often. Our eating habits are tied very closely with our behavior and using a behavioral approach to dieting can be beneficial to certain types of people who have bad eating habits that can be overcome with a little behavioral intervention.
Many times an individual eats without thinking. This means that the person’s habitual behavior has overrun his cognitive functioning. In a nutshell, we basically shove food into our mouths just because it is there. Among the many weightloss tips offered, thinking before snacking is the prime tip as far as the behavioral approach goes. When we act on impulse, we rarely make good choices.
The behaviorist will look at the problem in a number of ways. The best approach would be to get into the habit of slowing down a little bit. Some good weightloss tips include waiting ten minutes before grabbing that snack that is calling you from the pantry. You may discover that you are not really hungry. If you wait ten minutes the craving will most likely go away on its own.
You can also opt to go for a brisk walk when the urge to cheat on your diet arises. This is a great way to get much needed exercise along with self-control. You will be less likely to run to the pantry upon entering the home after a jaunt around the neighborhood. You will be more likely to go for a big glass of cold water instead.
Some people laugh at these two weightloss tips but they do work if you take a behavioral approach. You have to focus on your actions. The best way to look at it is making priorities. Do you want the chocolate cake or do you want to fit into those jeans tucked away in your closet? There are times that the chocolate cake will win but not often if you focus on your behavior.
Weightloss tips that involve a behavioral approach also include portions. We often need to train ourselves to understand how much is enough. Getting into the habit of buying single-sized servings or taking the time to measure will increase your chances of success.
You also may find that there are certain “triggers” that cause you to eat. This is a simple stimulus-response cycle that the behaviorists claim can be broken with a little effort. Weightloss tips in the trigger realm include avoiding the kitchen right after a stressful situation, eating only at the dinner table and keeping a diary of what happens right before you get a craving.
Advice About Weight Loss Programs, Diet & Weight Loss Pills and Diet Nutrition
Weight Loss Tips for Women: 5 Solutions to Staying Slim
Weight regain is not inevitable, but you need to take action to avoid it. Apply these solutions to your life and you will find weight maintenance to be simple and satisfying.
So congratulations! You’ve lost some weight! Now, how do you keep it off?
When you’ve spent weeks or even months striving and sacrificing, you don’t want to have your spirits sink as you see the scale start to go up. For most of us, regardless of our weight loss method, weight regain is a real possibility. But is it inevitable?
Follow these five sure tricks, and your scale will stay put:
If you gain a pound, lose it!
People who are successful at maintaining a weight loss weigh themselves at least twice a week. Pick regular times of day, and regular days of the week, to weigh and keep a chart. If you find you’re up a pound or two, follow a healthy and structured food plan until the extra weight comes off again.
Have planned snacks instead of grazing. To combat rampant, spontaneous snacking, plan a couple of balanced snacks every day that you can measure out and enjoy. Be sure to include some protein and complex carbohydrates in your snack. If you feed yourself a bit more frequently, you will be less likely to graze mindlessly.
Balance your treats with healthy choices. You can have an occasional treat, but you can also have an occasional healthy choice. Keep the treat small so that you don’t get a big sugar or unrefined carb rush. And if you must eat sugar or an unrefined carb, eat a little protein with it so that your blood sugar doesn’t crash and cause cravings for more of the same.
Admit your trigger foods and avoid them. All you have to do is look at certain foods and you know you’ll eat them. Don’t keep any snack foods in plain site around your house. Put them away. If you find yourself going to the cupboard or refrigerator to peruse the snack items, you’ll need to keep the trigger foods out of your house altogether.
Experiment and use the tools that work for you.
Many dieters hate the act of writing down what they eat. Some dislike exercise. Others abhor weighing and measuring their food. Still others will not give up sugar and unrefined carbs. You need to be honest with yourself, though. These tools are proven to work. So, experiment with all the tools available to you and use the ones that work.
Weight regain is not inevitable, but you need to take action to avoid it. Apply these solutions to your life and you will find weight maintenance to be simple and satisfying.
So congratulations! You’ve lost some weight! Now, how do you keep it off?
When you’ve spent weeks or even months striving and sacrificing, you don’t want to have your spirits sink as you see the scale start to go up. For most of us, regardless of our weight loss method, weight regain is a real possibility. But is it inevitable?
Follow these five sure tricks, and your scale will stay put:
If you gain a pound, lose it!
People who are successful at maintaining a weight loss weigh themselves at least twice a week. Pick regular times of day, and regular days of the week, to weigh and keep a chart. If you find you’re up a pound or two, follow a healthy and structured food plan until the extra weight comes off again.
Have planned snacks instead of grazing. To combat rampant, spontaneous snacking, plan a couple of balanced snacks every day that you can measure out and enjoy. Be sure to include some protein and complex carbohydrates in your snack. If you feed yourself a bit more frequently, you will be less likely to graze mindlessly.
Balance your treats with healthy choices. You can have an occasional treat, but you can also have an occasional healthy choice. Keep the treat small so that you don’t get a big sugar or unrefined carb rush. And if you must eat sugar or an unrefined carb, eat a little protein with it so that your blood sugar doesn’t crash and cause cravings for more of the same.
Admit your trigger foods and avoid them. All you have to do is look at certain foods and you know you’ll eat them. Don’t keep any snack foods in plain site around your house. Put them away. If you find yourself going to the cupboard or refrigerator to peruse the snack items, you’ll need to keep the trigger foods out of your house altogether.
Experiment and use the tools that work for you.
Many dieters hate the act of writing down what they eat. Some dislike exercise. Others abhor weighing and measuring their food. Still others will not give up sugar and unrefined carbs. You need to be honest with yourself, though. These tools are proven to work. So, experiment with all the tools available to you and use the ones that work.
Weight regain is not inevitable, but you need to take action to avoid it. Apply these solutions to your life and you will find weight maintenance to be simple and satisfying.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Weight Loss Tips - To Live a Healthy Lifestyle
Obesity is one of the biggest problems faced by millions of people in America. This has resulted in a big weight loss corporate industry in the country like Weight watchers, Jenny Carig and many others. Although there are good programs, The average person can themselves do quite a bit to reduce their weight. The two major factors in weight loss are exercise and controlled diet. I have put together several points which will be useful to individuals looking to reduce their weight.
1. Try to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Most fruits are low in calories and make you full sooner. Not to mention the other vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and fiber they also contain. If you are not currentlly eating enough fruit and vegetables it may seem like a lot. Just start out slowly and each day increase how much you eat. Soon you will wonder how you survived without them before.
2. Read those nutrition fact labels: It is a good idea to know how many calories you are consuming. Some foods combo's can be deceptive, for example if you are having a plate of salad topped with lot of high calorie dressing and a soda, they you have just had more calories then you might get from a combination of grilled chicken sandwich (with no cheese and dressing) plus diet soda. So be smart with what you eat. Prefer home cooked food as much as possible, that way you have complete control over the components of your meal. Get the family involved in the prep and cooking. Everyone will enjoy the meals more and take a more active interest in eating correctly and healthy..
3. Eating smaller moe frequent meals will also help you cut down the total intake of calories compared to 3 big meals a day. It also prevents high blood sugar levels followed by sugar crashes which caused hunger pangs that lead to snacking on junk foods.
4. Give yourself a break: Being too restrictive with you diet can demotivate you, so to give yourself regular breaks. But do not over-eat at the same time, be conservative and try to make up for it in other meals.
5. Drinks: Soda and fruit juice, are all loaded with sugars which we usually do not account into out diet plan. Drink water instead or artificially sweentened drinks..
6. Exercise: Don't depend on your car for all your transport needs, walk wherever you can. Go hiking and those backpacks help to burn extra calories. Make friends who have a active lifestyle, join gym or get a treadmill in your home. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. Remember to increase your exercise in a progressive manner day by day instead of doing strenuous exercise from day one. Be practical on what your body can take and avoid overexertion.
7. Get motivation: Talk to people who have had success in weight loss and they will give you a lot of inspiration.
8. Get enough sleep, reduce stress and live happy.
9. Reward yourself when you reach your monthly weight loss goals.
10. Never give up, even if you have failed a few times previously.
11. Eating slowly can lead to weight loss: Did you ever notice that thin people take an awfully long time to eat their food? Eating slowly is one method that can help take off pounds. That's because from the time you begin eating it takes the brain 20 minutes to start signaling feelings of fullness. Fast eaters often eat beyond their true level of fullness before the 20 minute signal has had a chance to set in. The amount of calories consumed before you begin to feel full can vary significantly depending on how quickly you eat. So slow down, take smaller bites and enjoy and savor every tasty morsel. consult your doctor before starting any weight loss effort and they will also tell you if you have any medical condition that may prevent you to follow these tips.
Check with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise plan to make sure you have no medical condition that could be effected.
1. Try to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Most fruits are low in calories and make you full sooner. Not to mention the other vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and fiber they also contain. If you are not currentlly eating enough fruit and vegetables it may seem like a lot. Just start out slowly and each day increase how much you eat. Soon you will wonder how you survived without them before.
2. Read those nutrition fact labels: It is a good idea to know how many calories you are consuming. Some foods combo's can be deceptive, for example if you are having a plate of salad topped with lot of high calorie dressing and a soda, they you have just had more calories then you might get from a combination of grilled chicken sandwich (with no cheese and dressing) plus diet soda. So be smart with what you eat. Prefer home cooked food as much as possible, that way you have complete control over the components of your meal. Get the family involved in the prep and cooking. Everyone will enjoy the meals more and take a more active interest in eating correctly and healthy..
3. Eating smaller moe frequent meals will also help you cut down the total intake of calories compared to 3 big meals a day. It also prevents high blood sugar levels followed by sugar crashes which caused hunger pangs that lead to snacking on junk foods.
4. Give yourself a break: Being too restrictive with you diet can demotivate you, so to give yourself regular breaks. But do not over-eat at the same time, be conservative and try to make up for it in other meals.
5. Drinks: Soda and fruit juice, are all loaded with sugars which we usually do not account into out diet plan. Drink water instead or artificially sweentened drinks..
6. Exercise: Don't depend on your car for all your transport needs, walk wherever you can. Go hiking and those backpacks help to burn extra calories. Make friends who have a active lifestyle, join gym or get a treadmill in your home. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. Remember to increase your exercise in a progressive manner day by day instead of doing strenuous exercise from day one. Be practical on what your body can take and avoid overexertion.
7. Get motivation: Talk to people who have had success in weight loss and they will give you a lot of inspiration.
8. Get enough sleep, reduce stress and live happy.
9. Reward yourself when you reach your monthly weight loss goals.
10. Never give up, even if you have failed a few times previously.
11. Eating slowly can lead to weight loss: Did you ever notice that thin people take an awfully long time to eat their food? Eating slowly is one method that can help take off pounds. That's because from the time you begin eating it takes the brain 20 minutes to start signaling feelings of fullness. Fast eaters often eat beyond their true level of fullness before the 20 minute signal has had a chance to set in. The amount of calories consumed before you begin to feel full can vary significantly depending on how quickly you eat. So slow down, take smaller bites and enjoy and savor every tasty morsel. consult your doctor before starting any weight loss effort and they will also tell you if you have any medical condition that may prevent you to follow these tips.
Check with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise plan to make sure you have no medical condition that could be effected.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)