In the Middle of the Diet: How to Keep Focus and Motivate Yourself to Continue

In the Middle of the Diet: How to Keep Focus and Motivate Yourself to Continue

Midway through the diet program, there are new questions to be answered, and new considerations to be accounted for. The chief question is whether the dieter is proceeding toward the right path to attain the projected weight. The next chief question is whether the dieter is still sufficiently motivated to proceed through the whole course. Many people begin a dieting routine with high hopes of losing weight, only to withdraw at some point, due to the exacting lifestyle changes. There are the nearly indubitable excuses: "I have no time," meaning no time to exercise, no time to list down in one's daily health logbook, no time to; and "I can't help it, really," meaning succumbing to the temptation to snack at the wrong time, or to eat unsuitable foods one usually eats before, or to slack off. Moreover, there is also the impression that the weight loss isn't coming fast enough, and as such, they give up altogether.
Do you still remember the pictures you peered at when you first committed yourself to losing weight and changing your health habits? Remember them intently and focus on that goal of yours which you have set up. Or if you want to really remember them, post them somewhere - like on the refrigerator, or in the wall, or in the eating table, or in front of your exercise machine, or even at your bed before you sleep. Remind yourself that someday, if you persist on your diet campaign, you will surely accomplish that dream weight. Motivation ought not to take place at the start only; one should continuously motivate oneself in order to continue smoothly.
There are also temptations along the path; eschew them. Take your hands off that excessively fatty foods or bad carbohydrates. Rid your cabinet of all those sweets and empty calories. Eschew the admonitions of fast-food. Tell yourself that immediate, impulsive self-gratification today will veer you away from your primary, stated weight loss goals. Ask yourself questions like, "Which do I prefer - eating a large, cupcake with icing today, or a pizza overflowing with oil, or the health and the bodily figure which I am yearning for all time?" If you give in to temptation once, don't worry; there are always second chances. However, break your convictions again and you really need a soul-searching to find out if you are really serious about your weight loss project.
Finally, one of the major reasons why many people quit a diet or weight reduction program is because the whole process gets boring and mechanistic. They think that it's all just going through the motions, without any appreciable signs of weight loss. The way to determine one's weight is to give a few minutes everyday to check one's weight in the bathroom scale. As for the boredom, this is the time to introduce variety. Every day, eat different foods with the same nutritional value. Today, it may be cauliflower; tomorrow, it may be broccoli; the next day, it may be cabbage. Try an exercise activity you didn't do before. Or try involving others with you; the more people you can identify with, the happier, and this true also in case of diets.

Weight Loss: Thin Naturally

Weight Loss: Thin Naturally

Being naturally thin is the best way to reach the weight loss goal and keep it off forever. Being naturally thin is also a life style or a way of living. It's a simple way to make weight loss a natural part of the life. You don't have to give up the foods you love or join special weight loss program. It's about balancing calories in tiny ways that add up to big benefits. You just adopt some good habits naturally thin people do. Choose the ones you like to follow, stick with them, and you'll slim down and shed up the pounds and keep them off forever.
1. Natural food is the best. People these days consume a lot of chemically "enhanced," highly processed and nutritionally deficient food. This unhealthy eating leads to many causes of chronic health problems worldwide. Of course, there can be reasons other than diet to account for poor health. However, good nutrition is one of the keys to good health. The continuous ingestion of micro amounts of toxins, combined with inadequate nutrition, that has created such an epidemic of obesity and degenerative disease. Therefore, switch from enhanced food to natural food is the best way to invest on your best health.
2. It is all about balance: If you love to exercise, you can eat a bit more, if you hate to exercise, you should eat a bit less. Think before you eat, so you won't feel too guilty after the over indulgence. What about my favorite thing in the world-- chocolate? Yes, of course you can eat chocolate. Life is too short to deprive yourself something such yummy and sweet thing. Should you buy a giant Hershey chocolate bar and eat it in 10 minutes? Of course you can. Just you need to recognize what you are eating and what consequence it might lead to, or how many miles you need to jog on the treadmill to get those calories off from your body. So, if you think it over, you would reach to the same conclusion I have for the best devil food in the world-- enjoy every bite, but only for a small amount.
3. Balance your meals. Don't eat the same meals in a row. Get a bit of everything, but not too much of anything. Balance your proteins with your starches; balance your fruits and vegetables with your sweets and fats. If you eat a really light breakfast, you can have more for your lunch. If you had really big lunch, then you should go light on dinner. If you ate a lot all day one day, then you should go easy the next day.
4. Keep busy, keep moving. Dance away your teeth brushing time: You can walk side way or do some hip moving dance, even sway your shoulder and head with rhythm. Make it an exercise time will change the boring brushing to something fun and enjoyable. Talk it up. Every time you grab the phone, stand up and pace around. Heavy people sit on average two and a half hours more per day than thin people, according to the Mayo Clinic. Park the car farther rather than near your work place or shopping mall. Choose to walk up the stairs rather than using the elevator.
5. We spend hours on chairs at work at home, so it is good to learn some chair workout poses or movement which not only can relax your work stress but also good for your blood circulation and over all well being. For example, facing forward, place palms on the front edge of the seat with knees bent at a right angle. Lower butt toward the floor; raise and repeat. Seated in a chair with your back straight and your feet on the floor, squeeze knees together and gently bring them toward your chest.
6. Switch your soda to water if possible. Change from regular soda or fruit juice to diet soda or a flavored seltzer. Even better, drink tea or water. Water is the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off! Although most of us take it for granted. Pure, clean water may be the only true Magic Potion for permanent weight loss! Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase! And an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits!
7. Chew your food slowly and really taste how the food taste. It needs more than ten minutes to send the full signal to your brain. So, eating too fast usually leads to over eating. Eat it slow, and give every bite some chewing time and some appreciation for the flavor of the food itself.
8. We are what we eat; eat what you need, not eat what you want. Have you ever heard some weight loss pill ads said; "You can eat anything and still lose weight." Well, the fact is it is not true and no, you can not eat anything you want and still lose weight. For most normal and health people, that kind of ads is definitely false; unless you have unique digest function which prevents to absorb the nutrients or you are physically sick. The input of food into the body, the calories if not got used, eventually will accumulated and become fat. So, before your picking up a food, make sure you won't eat just for it is time to eat or just it has food on the table. Listen to what your body needs, not what you want. Respect your body; treat it like a temple, not like a junk yard.

What Is My Best Weight Loss Diet?

What Is My Best Weight Loss Diet?

There is no need to have a weight loss diet. It is your body, your taste buds, your preference, your life; so you decide what you want to eat, what to put into your mouth, and that is your pleasure and your responsibility too. Diet, by definition, tells you what to eat. Why should other people tell you what to eat or what amount you can eat? What does other people know what your body needs or what your body desire? You are the one that have control about what your food will be and how much you are going to have.
Knowing what food you need:
Won't everyone's life be easier if everyone knows what he or she wants or needs? No matter it is the relationship, the job choice, where to live, where to go for the vacation, which school to attend or which age to retire? If everyone knows what they really need to do, everyone's life would be happier and simpler.
On the table in front of you. You see french fries, chocolate cake, chicken salad, hamburgers, oranges, and steak. What you are going to do with those food? Do you need to eat them all? No, not really. You will know if you ate all of those, you are going to get stomach upset if you ate them all and also gain some unneeded calories too. So, you know what you need and also what you want when you are seeing the food. So, the deciding fact to your successful or failing weight loss plan is can you be powerful enough on self discipline and not let your wanting for food over rule your need for food.
Food lust or food need:
When you went to movies, you snacked on some popcorn and sipped a cup of smoothie because everyone was getting some. We know about peer pressure on decision making, but if you succumb to it, you know it is not going to do anything good on maintaining a good and fit body. So, you know what your body doesn't need that. Therefore, if you have strong will power and you truly want to maintain a good weight, you know what you should do and what you should not do. You don't need to deny yourself if you truly need those snack, but you really don't need all of them. You can have a few bites, taste the taste, and share them with your companies. You can have what you really desire, but not all at once.
Food thrifty and food need:
When you cleaned the dinning table, you saw the leftover food of your kids' still on the plates. Should you eat them all because if you don't, the food will be wasted? When the situation occurs, you need to listen to what your body needs and your internal cues; you don't make your decision on eating food based on thrifty causes. If you are full, then you are done with eating. No matter how many leftover you see on the table; eating them will not do your body good if you are already full.
Food as investment to your body:
When you go to the gas station, you won't put diesel into your car, and you might have certain consideration about what fuel you would like your car to have. You would not put random ingredient into your fuel tank, because you know what you need to invest into your car for its long term benefit and it safety concern. Same things apply when you consider food as the investment to your body and it long term health. What will be good for your body in the long run? Not meals to McDonald's every night, not steak and cookies every day, not French fries or any deep fried food for every eating occasion. It must be something good and something healthy like:
1. Fruit and vegetables are 100 percent natural, fiber rich and super nutrients loaded.
2. Whole food with lesser processed the better: Use whole wheat flour instead of white bleached flour, use brown rice instead of refined rice rice, make your own cereal instead of premade box cereal, make your own jam instead of the jars on the counter.
3. The lesser ingredients, the better the purer: When you go on the grocery shopping, look at the ingredient fact to see what in the package that you will be buying. If it contains a lot of names that you don't even know, then you better not buying it; the chance is those are either chemicals or artificial flavor or preservatives.
4. Used good oil instead of bad oil: Use unsaturated oil whenever you can, and have good omega-3 fish oil or flaxseed oil for your heart health. The repeated used deep fried oil is cancer inducing element which is very bad for any body let alone it only contains fat.
5. The sweet devil: I love chocolate, I bet you do. Should I eat them? Of course I should and you should too. Just remember don't eat a lot at once time. Taste them, don't just eat them. If you can't stop thinking about it, you probably want it, so you can have a small portion of it.
Final words: Don't jump and eat food at your first impulse. Spend some time seriously asking yourself, "Do I really need this?" The answer maybe a yes, or maybe a no. Just remember think food as the investment, whenever you see an available food, make a decision, consciously and with forethought, and you will be on the right track on the train of healthy eating without any diet and without much regret or guilty.

5 Ways to Lose 5 Pounds in a Week

5 Ways to Lose 5 Pounds in a Week

You have desperately wanted to shed the extra flab to look good for the upcoming office Christmas Eve bash and to wear your favorite little black dress. Your target is to lose five pounds in seven days and this is possible provided you follow the correct regimen of appropriate diet and requisite exercises.
• Set a target: First, set yourself a five-pound weight loss target for those seven days. This is not only achievable but lowers your risk of cerebro-vascular accidents, heart attacks and even cancer in the long run. This target is by no means unachievable if you follow a scientific and practical approach to shed the extra flab.
• The correct exercise regimen: The correct exercise schedules and balanced yet less intake of food is a sure way of losing five pounds in one week. Enroll yourself into a well-equipped gym with the right weight training equipment to start exercising. Make sure that you work out under the guidance of an experienced and trained supervisor as he will ensure that you aren't over exercising and straining your muscles. Remember, it isn't prudent to use machines and equipment without professional advice as you may end up with a bad back or other associated orthopedic problems. Adding aerobics to your work out helps to sweat out that unwanted fat as well. Back it up with resistance and cardiovascular exercises on alternate days. This ensures overall fat reduction by over 20 per cent in one week.
• Eat right: In terms of diet, eat protein-rich foods to achieve that target of reducing five pounds in a week. Avoid fats and carbohydrates, particularly saturated fats such as butter, cheese, oil etc. Just avoid pizzas, pastries and carbonated sodas despite the craving that you might have for them during this period. Salads are the best and safest alternatives when you feel hungry between meals but avoid salad dressings as these have a high calorific value. Cooking your own meals also helps as it lets you keep count of the saturated fat intake.
• Patience is the key: However, do remember that fat reduction happens at a pace in which it is accumulated and a five-pound weight loss won't happen overnight. In fact, if you have been a big eater all these years, suddenly going on a crash diet and resorting to back breaking exercises won't help you lose your entire body fat in seven days. You need to have the patience to achieve your target. So cut back on the calories gradually while increasing physical activity slowly but steadily rather than in fits and starts.
• Have smaller portions: The average person has four meals daily and is prone to feeling hungry at those particular times of the day. Instead of having four heavy meals, why not break them up into eight meals of smaller portions each. Also makes sure to avoid snacking through fast foods and fried items if you want to reach that five-pound weight loss target. Fruit, brown bread and oatmeal are ideal for boosting your body's basic metabolic rate and these too, help in weight reduction.

Lose 10lb of Fat Fast: 8 Ways and Methods

Lose 10lb of Fat Fast: 8 Ways and Methods

So your weighing scales are showing that you are ten pounds overweight which has to be got rid of as soon as possible on the doctor's strict orders. It's true that this is no easy task but it isn't impossible achieving it either. Why only ten pounds, you can lose as much weight as you want provided your planning and execution are methodical and done in the proper way. Here's how to go about it:
• Don't lose patience and harbor dreams of getting the perfect body overnight as this may end up with some very negative results. Rather, try and make it a gradual process which is bound to yield some lasting effects in the long run.
• Your diet needs to be severely controlled. Couple this with a well planned workout program comprising the right set of exercises, keeping your age, height, weight and overall physical condition in mind. Do this under the supervision of a trained instructor, if necessary.
• Start the day by detoxifying your system. Mix the juice of one full lemon, a tablespoon of honey and hot water and drink it one go. This will clear your bowels and help eject the unwanted metabolic wastes and feces from your body and is a proven way to reduce fat fast. This drink can be drunk between meals or whenever you are hungry and helps reduce unnecessary food cravings.
• Consult a dietitian to have a food chart prepared and eat accordingly to combat fatigue caused by a rigorous workout program, if you have got into one. The diet should be able to convert fat into muscle. Eat lean white meats, plenty of fresh green vegetables, apples, citrus fruits and fish, which are anti-oxidant rich. Also eat on a smaller plate to avoid piling of food and eat smaller portions.
• It also pays to split your meals and to fiber-rich foods as much as possible. You weight loss is ensured if you eat 35 gms of fiber every day and helps clean out your digestive system effectively.
• Do not skip breakfast and eat your dinner latest by 7PM as this aids digestion. Your body's metabolism is boosted after breakfast and calories burn faster. Drink three to four liters of water every day to reduce appetite and flush out toxins. Water intake should be at periodic intervals so that you make up for water loss through perspiration when exercising.
• If you wish to get rid of ten pounds fast, then simply say NO to sweets. If that can't be helped at all, eat a small quantity in the morning when your body's metabolic rate is on the higher side. Stop taking sugar in the tea and coffee that you drink everyday.
• Maple syrup is an effective sugar supplement if you simply can't have beverages without a sweetner in them. Avoid carbonated sodas at all costs. Eat a whole fruit instead of the juice. Green tea, minus sugar is also strongly advised at periodic intervals to enhance cardiovascular functions and for weight reduction.

Fantastic Diet Recipes

Fantastic Diet Recipes

Sometimes the idea of eating desserts may give worries especially to those who are on a weight loss diet. There are many healthy diet dessert recipes you can eat on and not sabotaging your weight loss plans. I have cited a few of the nutritious diet dessert recipes for your weight loss diet. These recipes are not just super healthy they are also very simple and satisfying-satisfying enough to feed your cravings for sweets. Whether you're counting calories and looking for something sweet to eat for dessert, it doesn't matter, the recipes are. You can have these nutritious and healthy desserts anytime you want.
When it comes to desserts, it usually makes our mouths watery and we just can't help but get a bite or more than a bite of it. So for those who are on a weight loss diet no need to worry, here are a few desserts you can have, but again always eat moderately.
Peach Sundae
Ingredients
• 4 ripe peaches, halved and pocked
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
• 3 cups nonfat vanilla frozen yogurt
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Put peach halves with brown sugar and lemon juice, and place them cut-side-up on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 20-30mins until the peaches are tender. Add a little water if the juice on the pan begins to burn, and loosely cover the fruit with a foil.
3. Top each peach half with frozen yogurt.
Mango Pudding
Ingredients:
• 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 1/2 cup water
• 5-6 ripe mangoes, peeled and diced, or 5 cups diced frozen mango
• 1 ½ ounce can nonfat sweetened condensed milk
• 3-4 tablespoons lime juice
Directions:
1. Sprinkle the gelatin in a small bowl with water; bring 1/2 inch water to a gentle simmer in a small skillet. Or microwave it for 10-20sec. Set the bowl with the gelatin mixture in the simmering water until the gelatin has dissolved completely. Stir the mixture until smooth.
2. Blender the mango (or food processor). Process until smooth. Push through a very fine filter until you have 2 cups puree. (Reserve any extra fruit or puree for a smoothie or yogurt topping.) Mix the mango puree, sweetened condensed milk and lime juice in a medium bowl. Slowly paddle in the softened gelatin mixture. Make sure it is well combined.
3. Coat eight 6- to 10-ounce ramekins with cooking spray. Divide the pudding among the ramekins. Let it cool then refrigerate.

Awesome Ways for Low Carb Diet Health

Awesome Ways for Low Carb Diet Health

A low-carb diet doesn't mean that it is generally bad for your health, although if you follow one blindly, without thinking about your overall health, you may well damage your body.
Low carb doesn't mean no-carb: you need to differentiate between good and bad carbs. Bad carbs are those found in heavily refined and processed foods, so the less processed foods you buy, the better it is for your health, whether or not you are on a low-carb diet. Processing tends to refine the nutrients out of foods and also there is a tendency for manufacturers to add sugar to their products. Just about the only food that takes well to processing is the tomato as the nutrients are released when the tomato is heated. On the whole this is not true of other foodstuffs.
You shouldn't eat commercial popcorn, and read labels carefully for added sodium (salt) and sugars which include pectin and glucose. Too much salt in your diet will mean that you retain water in your system, and as the first couple of weeks of any diet involve ridding the body of excess fluids and toxins, a high level of sodium in your diet will prevent this happening and so delay or hamper the weight loss you desire.
Healthy carbs are those found in fruit and vegetables, and these usually have fairly potent antioxidant properties which prevent the free radicals in our body damaging cells and so causing cancers. Fresh produce also has anti-inflammatory properties and the vitamins and minerals contained in these are necessary for our good health.
If you have plenty of green vegetables, or orange and yellow ones, you will be giving your body most of the nutrients it needs. Protein can come from dairy products, meat and fish. However avoid the starchy vegetables such as potatoes, instead have broccoli and salads with your meat.
When you are on a low-carb diet you will need to think about the nutrients in your food and so you should do some research into the constituents of the foods you eat. Knowing more about your diet and how it works will help you in the future when you have lost the desired amount of weight and hopefully you won't slip back into bad eating habits, because you know the consequences and are sensible enough to want to lead a long and healthy life. You will become more adventurous with the dishes you prepare so that you don't have to face the same foods cooked in the same way every day. Change and versatility are the key ingredients to a successful diet. Good luck.

Practice Makes Perfect in Health

Practice Makes Perfect in Health

When you learn a new skill, you know that the more you do it the better you will be at it. As children, we learned many skills and practiced quite often to make sure that we continued to get better. We may have experienced some frustration, but we didn't get discouraged to the point where we quit. If we wanted to get better, we just kept on practicing.
Now, much of this was built for us through the structure of activities we were doing. Whether it was a sport, a musical instrument or a particular subject in school, there was always another practice, lesson or class that forced us to keep working on the skill. No matter how frustrated we were, we had to get up the nerve to show up the next day to work on it again.
It's a shame we don't have teachers or coaches to keep us focused on our health. Well, we do, but the majority of people are choosing not to use us. That is not a cheap shot or a plug for myself, it just the nature of the way people look at their health. The fact of the matter is, most people don't look at health as a set of skills that can be improved with practice.
Maybe we should start looking at it like that. Maybe if we looked at health like we looked at learning to ride a bike or learning to play our favorite sport, we would understand that we got better at it the more we practiced. More importantly, we would realize that health is not only possible, but it is much easier the better we get at it.
The more you ride a bike, the less you have to think about the fundamentals. Think about the most basic skills we have and how little we actually think about them. Riding a bike is one example I like to see because I can remember the steps it took to go from a big wheel to training wheels to a mini-bike to a regular bike. It took a long time to make that progression and there were a few skinned knees and even a few tears. I remember thinking after a few falls that it may never happen. Despite this feeling of frustration and failure, I still knew that I was going to have to try again. The next day would come around and guess what: I was back out there trying to get on those two wheels.
No matter how difficult it was, I knew that I had to do it. I feel the same way about health today. No matter what obstacles stand in my way, I will do the things that lead to a healthy lifestyle. I will always exercise. I will always watch my diet and eat good food. I will never smoke and the stress that is in my life will be managed so that the whole of my routine is healthy. The only difference between now and then is that I've been doing it for so long that it comes naturally, just like riding a bike.
I don't have to spend too much time thinking about food or wondering when I'm going to exercise. I don't have to try to quit smoking or get a handle on an out of control routine that brings me down day after day. That is what many people are trying to do today. They are living unhealthy lifestyles and are trying to change that. It is not easy, but they can do it too.
If we can start looking at health as a set of skills, we can live healthy without the feeling that we can't do what we need to do in order to live healthy. It is easy for someone that is out of practice to say that it can't be done. It will be more difficult the longer it has been, but that doesn't mean that it can't be done.
Let's go back to our bike scenario. The process of learning how to ride a bike was not easy and it didn't happen overnight. And we didn't already have a skill and simply forgot it. We started from square one, not knowing how to do it at all and we figured out what we had to do. Once we figured it out, we still had to practice and practice until we were able to ride a bike. Now we can jump on a bike, no matter how long it has been, and we can ride it comfortably. We may not be as good as when we were riding a bike every day, but that is the point. The more you do something, the better you get at it and the easier it becomes. In other words, practice makes perfect.

Business Health Expert Joe Byrd uses his passion and expertise to bring business and health together. He integrates health education in lifestyle topics such as Stress Management, Weight Management, and Smoking Cessation into businesses in order to accomplish the following:
Improving Employee Health
Decreasing Health Care Spending
Increasing Your Employee Productivity
Improving Employee Satisfaction and Retention
Joe applies his craft in the business world by making health part of business strategy. As he helps companies invest in their employees, together they create healthy and successful cultures.

A Brief Overview About Weight Loss Surgery

A Brief Overview About Weight Loss Surgery

It is one thing being a bit over weight, but there are many people world wide who have been classed as clinically obese, and have to take more drastic measures to get themselves to a safe weight. The quickest way to deal with this is with surgery, such as bariatric surgery.
This method effectively restricts the person's food intake and it slowly interrupts your digestive processes. However, in order to undergo this procedure, you have to consult your doctor and discuss thoroughly all the advantages and disadvantages of this method. Also discuss the chances of success and the after effects of the operation.
Remember that this is a serious procedure and there is always an element of risk with any operation. You will want to do careful research into the matter and really think about it before proceeding. At the very least, search several websites which offers this service and read all articles relating to this method of weight loss and then compare company policies, rates and feedback coming from their previous clients.
The method works by making changes to small intestine or your stomach. Consider that if you are not chronically obese or chronic, it may be better for you to opt for a proper and healthy exercise and diet instead. This method is typically more for those who are over weight by one hundred pounds (and above) and with a body mass index of forty plus.
Gather all the information you can and other important facts and take notes about the issues and other concerns regarding the operation. Read reviews, health magazines, blogs, and testimonials of experts and people who have undergone the procedure. Study if there are any serious complications and other problems attached to it.
If you have already tried many exercise programs, diet pills, supplements, and other methods but have failed, then this type of operation could be something to consider to set you on the right path. If you have made the decision to take the operation, talk to your physician whether the entire procedure is covered by your health insurance policy.
Remember that not all severely obese and overweight people are allowed to undergo this procedure because of health problems, past sickness and ailments and other factors that might affect your health after the surgery. However, this method is typically very effective and well tested.
Remember, that this method is normally used as a way to fix the problem short term, but beyond that you will need to prepare a long term plan for retaining your ideal weight. The two most obvious areas you will need to look at is getting plenty of regular exercise and sticking to a diet plan which is healthy while maintaining the correct calorie in take for your body type and size.

Today's Amazing Weight Loss Product - African Mango Extracts

Today's Amazing Weight Loss Product - African Mango Extracts

Obesity is a serious concern among millions of people all over the world. Diseases associated with obesity are numerous - cancer, cardiovascular diseases, kidney malfunction, diabetes, and other degenerative diseases. Many reality shows highlight how obesity can ruin one's self-esteem and even one's desire to live a normal, productive life. It is no wonder that the weight-loss industry remains to be a billion dollar business, due to the increasing demands for products that can really help beat obesity.
Natural weight loss supplements are gaining more popularity these days and this is due to the fact that chemical-based appetite suppressors usually do not deliver what they promise. The recent addition to natural health supplements is the African mango extract. The African mango is sometimes called "bush mango", which is a fruit that can only be found in the West African rain forests.
Recent studies have proven that the Irvingia Gabonensis ingredient found in bush mangoes can burn fats faster and suppress the appetite for hours. One popular study involved 102 subjects, half of whom were given Irvingia extracts while the other half was asked to take a placebo. Volunteers who were given 150 mg of the African mango supplements twice a day before meals reduced their weights considerably after about a month.
Should You Try African Mango?
In several studies conducted, these mango extracts helped in burning an average of 12 pounds after using it for 28 days. This is due to the ability of the extract to suppress food cravings and to speed up metabolism. Aside from helping people lose weight, African mango extracts can also decrease blood sugar levels and bad cholesterol.
The instant fame of this mango extract has been due largely to the endorsements of Hollywood celebrities and famous doctors on its efficacy as a total weight loss solution. It is well worth the try, if you want a natural supplement that has been proven to cause no side effects. Most brands of Irvingia supplements also offer a refund in case you are not satisfied with the results.
No Side Effects
Unlike other slimming tablets that are made from artificial ingredients, African mango pills are made from natural ingredients, so they do not produce adverse side effects. Most people who try to lose weight using pharmaceutical-grade weight loss pills often experience dizziness, nausea, and extreme headaches. This is because these pills usually contain high levels of stimulants.
With all these benefits, it is no wonder that the number of people who use African mango extracts increases daily. There is, of course, no substitute for a good diet plan and exercise workout, but using a natural supplement that has been proven to work can also jumpstart your weight loss program.

If You Can Eat Cayenne Pepper Then You Can Burn Body Fat

If You Can Eat Cayenne Pepper Then You Can Burn Body Fat

Cayenne pepper benefits are quite extraordinary; this wonderful little herb can help your body with so many things. Cayenne Pepper is a very high source of vitamin C, A and B complexes, and is very rich in organic calcium and potassium. Speed up your metabolism with the health benefits of cayenne pepper. And lose weight by having more energy for burning body fat.
What is Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne comes from red, hot chili peppers. It is also known as the African red pepper, American red pepper, Spanish pepper, bird pepper, or Guinea pepper as it is sometimes called in the United Kingdom. Cayenne pepper is actually one of the best natural herbs for weight loss. Capsaicin is the active ingredient in peppers like cayenne had been known to the native cultures of the tropical Americas for thousands of years. Native Americans that were located south of the Mexican boarder were consuming capsaicin as early as 700 B.C.
Capsaicin aids in speeding up your metabolism much faster than green tea. When cayenne pepper is taken on a regular basis or better yet daily basis it can increase your metabolism some say as much as 25%. Many people have no clue that the benefits of cayenne pepper can actually aid in weight loss. Now, don't get me wrong - Yes, you will still have to maintain a healthy diet and exercise but this wonderful herb will help a great deal.
Fat Burning
Fat burning or thermo-genesis occurs to maintain the body's temperature, fat is sacrificed to produce energy and heat. The central nervous system takes the dominant role in setting the rate of this process. Capsaicin in chili peppers like cayenne peppers can bind to receptors in the central nervous system, increasing therm- genesis at the rate at which the body burns fat. Seconds after ingesting it, you will feel more energetic, which is what you want, because the more energy you have the more you are on the go, and the more you burn body fat. Your heart is strengthened by you ingesting cayenne pepper, and will pump less, yet pump the same amount of blood, which means more energy for you.
Evidence
Researchers from Laval University in Quebec investigated the effects of cayenne peppers on fat burning following the consumption of meals. The team, led by Dr Yoshioka, compared the energy expenditure and rate of fat burning in volunteers who had consumed a control meal versus those who had consumed a meal containing the peppers. The results, published in the "British Journal of Nutrition" in 1998, showed that the peppers significantly increased thermo-genesis.
Cayenne Pepper Health Benefits
Dr. Christopher, is one of the leaders in American Herbal medicine, has discovered that if you take cayenne pepper in a glass of water three times a day, you can cure a stomach ulcer. It has also been proven, if someone is having a heart attack give them a cup of hot water with Cayenne Pepper in it, and their heart attack will stop within 3 minutes or less.
I recommend taking cayenne in powder form and not capsule. The healing powers of cayenne start in your mouth, as soon as it touches your tongue. If you take it in capsule form, your tongue and stomach don't notice anything until the capsule bursts and apparently puts your body into a state of shock! This herb is truly a miraculous herb. There are many known health benefits of ingesting cayenne including curing varicose veins, bad breath and killing cancer cells in the body.
Find out more about the benefits of cayenne pepper and other alternative cures.

Secrets of the Atkins Diet Menu

Secrets of the Atkins Diet Menu

The Atkins diet began to be formulated by Dr Robert C. Atkins as far back as 1963. He read up on the scientific papers and was interested in the links between poor diets and obesity. He formulated the first Atkins Diet which was stricter then than it is now, and many people who had very good intentions of sticking with the diet fell by the wayside after a month or so because it was so rigid. Today's Atkins Diet has been changed to accommodate new thinking in the field of healthy weight loss and it is sometimes called the Atkins Natural Approach. The diet you will follow today if you chose the Atkins one maintains the basic philosophy of Atkins, but as this fell into disrepute when photographs of the late doctor were published after his death, showing him to be very overweight, if not obese.
One of the secrets of the Atkins diet is exercise. You have to exercise as part of the program, or you will not burn off the calories you eat. You should also not have a heavy meal or even a snack late at night, unless you propose to go for a brisk walk or jog after it, as if your body does not burn off the calories they will be stored and you will not lose the weight you had hoped to lose.
The official Atkins Diet website describes the diet in detail and is the best place to start your research to discover if it might suit you and your lifestyle. It is versatile, which commends it to a lot of people and not very restrictive after the first three phases of the diet. To maintain weight loss, you have to stick with the program, and remember the basic tenets laid down in the diet's "manual."
One of the secrets of its success is that it can be adapted to suit the individual and you can choose the foods you eat within a given framework. There is an Atkins version of the US Food and Drug Administrations food pyramid that is quite clear and which allows fats of the good variety such as those found in olive oil in the first three phases. Bad fats are also called Trans-fats which are those used for frying in fast food outlets and which are used and reused. Too much intake of these fats can result in heart disease and other illnesses.
If you had discounted the old Atkins Diet because of the negative publicity, the new one, the Atkins Natural Approach is worth investigating.

3 Phenomenal Fat Burning Foods

3 Phenomenal Fat Burning Foods

As a contributor to various health and fitness publications, I get a lot of exposure to information that many people find hard to believe or too good to be true. Nowhere is this more common than when discussions about the best fat burning foods arise. In this article, I'll share 3 of the best for excellent health and effective weight loss.
While everybody knows that fruits and vegetables should make up a significant portion of their regular diet, there are several foods most people would be surprised to see on the list. These shockers are delicious everyday foods that are easy to prepare and stimulate your body for optimal fat loss. With that said, let's begin.
Fat Burning Food #1: Egg Yolks
Shocking, isn't it? Most people are apprehensive when faced with this surprising fact, but egg yokes -rich in fat and cholesterol- can actually be a great tool. There are plenty of chronic dieters who've grown accustomed to the notion that fat and cholesterol are inherently bad things and this simply isn't true. Government health and nutrition guides actually encourage that 30% of the calories you consume on a daily basis should come from healthy fats, and there's plenty of that in egg yolks!
Egg yolks are not just rich in GOOD cholesterol and healthy fats, there are full of nutiritional benefits that cross the spectrum -protein, vitamins, minerals, and trace nutrients- and the concentration of these good things only increases when you're eating cage-free eggs from roaming hens. Finally, the healthy fats in eggs help to regulate and balance your own fat profile, making the fat that is in your system most beneficial to you.
Fat Burning Food #2: Avocados
Another 'fatty food,' avocados have risen to prominence in the western world as of late and with good reason. If you like creamy textures in your foods, there is no better place to get it than in this miracle fruit; they are absolutely jam packed with fiber, antioxidants and vitamins too. And because they are so rich in fat, like egg yolks, they help to regulate your appetite and the fat burning hormones in your body. Avocado is a great addition to almost any meal throughout the day, whether it be with eggs in the morning, sandwiches at lunch or a healthy dinner dish!
Fat Burning Food #3: Grass-fed Beef
You know how crazy we are about free-range eggs, and we're the same about grass-fed beef. Cattle are evolutionarily designed to eat grass -not corn and not grain. Unfortunately, most of the beef we see in the supermarket comes from cows who were we fed with the latter.
Grass-fed beef actually has way higher quantities of healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids, quality protein and vitamins, all of which contribute to regulated fat levels, muscle-building and ultimately weight loss.
If you take two things from reading this article, make sure that you remember how important healthy fat is to your diet and how beneficial food can be if you're getting it from a quality source. Until next time, enjoy the journey towards weight loss success!

FAD Diets That Work - What You Should Know About Fruit Dietary

FAD Diets That Work - What You Should Know About Fruit Dietary

FAD Diets is very subjective topic and there is no clear definition of it. Perhaps it is time now to correct any misapprehensions about food that may have arisen.
Fad Diets That Work: Raw Vegetable And Fruit Diet.
Any doctor will assure you that raw vegetable and fruit dietary an express route to a serious health trouble. Yet thousands of people prescribe it for themselves. They have the mistaken idea that this is a healthy diet as well as a reducing their weight diet, that it "cleanses the system" as it takes off pounds. The real fact is, it does not. In fact, it is much more likely to produce either constipation or diarrhea and other serious ill effects. This kind of diet should not be confused with a so-called vegetarian diet.
The vegetarian, if he remains in good health, adds quantities of milk, eggs and cheese to his ration of vegetables, fruits, cereals and nuts. So he gets enough of the animal proteins which are essential to everyone that live in this planet. If you try to lose your weight by eating nothing but vegetables and fruits, nature will give you a sharp warn­ing that it will not tolerate such a lack of protein.
Protein is best supplied by lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs and milk. Within a day or two you will feel weak and the weakness will not pass no matter how much you stuff yourself with great quantities of carrots and celery and apples.
You will lose weight, but not necessarily much fat. The lost weight will be stolen from your muscle tissue as well as your reserves of fat and you will rapidly put yourself into low gear. Your skin will become dry and scaly. You will find yourself jumpy and cross and develop­ing nagging headaches and a listless inability to con­centrate on anything.
Fad Diets That Work: Banana And Skim Milk Diet.
Unfortunately, this is an­other diet that too many people often prescribe for them­selves. There is no doubt that anyone who eats nothing but bananas and milk and a little unsalted lettuce or spinach for several weeks will lose a considerable number of pounds. But if a diet of this sort is undertaken without a doctor's orders, the dieter is going to find she is suffering from more than just overweight. She will lose health as quickly as he loses weight and will probably put back most of the lost weight as soon as he discontinue the diet and goes back to his old eating habits.
This is not only a useless diet, it is a dangerous one. It should be emphasized that bananas and milk are both superb foods and contain a goodly assortment of the elements we need for health. It is, however, the deficiencies that such a diet has, for example, iron - which cause the trouble. This diet will lead to anemia, a miserable, stub­born malady from which recovery is usually a long struggle.
In order to have diets that work, you must understand that your body is made up of many different materials. These materials all come from food and drink. But, you need many different foods each day because different foods supply different ingredients necessary to good health. When you are talking about diets that work, what you want to lose is fat and, with that fat, those extra inches around the waist. You do not, however, want to lose lean tissue. Loss of weight from lean tissue is dangerous, and useless.

Lose Weight to Choose Life With T5 Slimming Pills

Lose Weight to Choose Life With T5 Slimming Pills

The WHO Consultation on Obesity has termed obesity as a "disease" in one of its recent reports. Another study revealed that among the British adult population, about one in four people are now actually considered to be clinically obese. It further reiterates that people in the UK are among the heaviest in the Europe. It can sometimes be close to impossible for morbidly obese people to partake in normal activities such as sports and social events. These people can potentially be at risk of developing health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.
Goal setting: The first step towards weight loss
Many weight loss experts and fitness gurus will tell you that the most successful slimming regimes are often based on the practice and. So it goes without saying that you need to devise a plan when you set a specific weight loss goal. Simply put, a reasonable weight loss target should be set. You should try to achieve this goal through 100% commitment and effort. Making significant changes in the amount of active exercise that you do can give a kick-start to your weight loss plan. Walking short distances or cycling for an hour in the morning can be good option to burn those extra calories. Jogging for few hours a week can also help in toning your body.
You also need to take a close look at your eating habits and daily calorie intake to follow a healthy diet regime. What kind of food you are eating and in what portion sizes, hold a great significance when you think about cutting down your calorie intake. You should try to cut down on your consumption of fatty foods and increase the intake of healthy foods. Snacking on fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains add a significant value to your weight loss plan. These foods boost your immune system in addition to keeping a control over your calorie consumption. It is also advisable to regularly maintain a log or a diary to keep a track of your total calorie intake and total calorie burnt in a day. This way you can be up to date with your weight loss progress. Natural slimming pills are trusted by most people around the world for effective and safe weight loss.
Natural slimming pills
Natural slimming pills contain natural plant extracts and ingredients that do not cause any side effects. Depending on the working nature of these pills, they come in different variants such as appetite suppressants, metabolism boosters, and fat blockers. Appetite suppressants work to help you by curbing your hunger. Metabolism boosters tend to boost the rate of your body's metabolism and burn calories through thermogenesis. Lastly, fat blockers work by blocking the absorption of certain amounts of fat in the body for weight management.
T5 Turbo Boost is one such brand that has earned its name as a popular natural slimming pill for an effective weight management. The natural ingredients in this pill include sida cordifolia, white willow bark extract, L-carnitine, and caffeine. These ingredients are known to produce fat-burning effects in the body to turn all those extra fats into energy. T5 slimming pills should be taken in the morning and in the afternoon with water for effective weight loss results.

Low Carb Bread Substitutes For Low Carbohydrate Diets

Low Carb Bread Substitutes For Low Carbohydrate Diets

One of the most difficult challenges in a low carb diet is finding low carbohydrate bread substitutes. I love bread and given the option I would eat hard roles or French bread slathered with butter at every meal but most breads are simply off the menu in a low carb diet.
Finding bread substitutes can be difficult especially if you are a bread-a-holic like me. Pepperidge Farm makes several reduced carbohydrate breads that are both tasty and satisfying though usually more expensive than regular bread at the grocery store. I am particularly fond of the Pepperidge Farm reduced carb oatmeal. Arnold Bakery also makes a reduced carb bread although we have not been able to buy it locally, I am told that they still make it and that it is sold in some markets around the country.
Another interesting alternative to bread is the low carb wrap. There are several companies coming out with delicious low carbohydrate wraps. We found several brands at one of our local grocery stores that show a net carbs of less than 5 grams. Some of these new wraps have special flavors like spinach and herbs and tomato basil and some are very similar in texture and taste to regular soft tacos.
You may not find these products in every grocery store in your area. We have several grocery stores that we frequent and only one of these stores carries the low carb breads and low carb wraps so be on the lookout for them at a grocer in your area.
Wraps are especially good because they can be loaded with meats or canned tuna for a quick and easy lunch. You can also use certain wraps as the dough for thin crust pizza. I like to use a wrap around an Italian sausage or bratwurst cooked on the barbeque grill. You can even find low carbohydrate hotdogs and use the wraps as a hotdog bun.
Another bread substitute is romaine lettuce leaves to make a cold cut sandwich. With the lettuce leaves the added benefit of green leafy fiber, which is great for keeping things moving through your body's digestive system.
It is important in any diet to eat lots of water foods like lettuce and other green leafy vegetables and to drink as much water as you can. In the process of losing weight, as fat cells purge their stores of fat molecules they release a significant about of toxins that get stored along with the fat. Drinking lots of water flushes out these toxins and keeps you from feeling queasy during the day.
If you are a lover of bread like me and have chosen a low carbohydrate diet to lose weight you may find the suggestions above of help to you in satisfying your desire for breads and other, off the low carb diet, foods.

Consume These Foods to Get Really Fat

Consume These Foods to Get Really Fat

Many people want to shed weight. Well that may be a sensible thing to do particularly if your obese! A lot of people also understand how to shed weight. The simplest way is to simply burn off more energy than you consume! That's fairly easy.
What many people don't seem to comprehend is why and how they acquire fat so quick. So let's take a look at a few foods that will probably assist you to acquire weight quick. Then you may make use of these food items to acquire weight or you may just quit consuming these to assist yourself begin to shed a couple of extra pounds! Before we speak about the foods, just keep in mind that every pound you want to gain demands 3500 calories in addition on average.
One of my preferred foods for increasing weight is the pretty sugar-cinnamon roll. For those who have never had a sugar-cinnamon roll before be careful, they taste very sensible! There are plenty of sensible sugar-cinnamon rolls available in the world, however let's be truthful, one of the very greatest is made by Cinnabon. These little babies tend to be more than just yummy, they are totally delicious! Even much better they come in at a good 700 calories per roll, which means you only need to eat 5 to achieve that additional pound you've been dying for, and might just die for!
The actual preferred item on my checklist is Fried potatoes. They are available in so many designs and dimensions it is practically unjust. I may never be able to taste them all! Well they are smart, and greasy. They are usually made by frying in oil and salting intensely, this leads to an extremely tasty mixture of sodium and oil that assists the body to not understand when it is no longer hungry. The typical helping of french fries has in between four hundred and six hundred calories, however don't be concerned when you get the added giant size accessible with most dishes you will probably be capable of getting close to 1000 calories per serving!
An additional one of my personal most favorite is actually ice cream. I adore premium ice cream created from additional rich cream. A few ice cream businesses in fact possess herds of cattle carefully bred specifically for their particular capability to create cream with much more fat within it! These people furthermore create ice cream together with many sorts of extremely rich ingredients such as dark chocolate, caramel, nuts, as well as chocolate buttons! A sensible sized helping of ice cream along with a few great delicious items combined within will probably set you up with much more than one thousand calories from fat. This particular is actually the fast method to increase some pounds!
These actions ideally aren't used too literally, since with the standard habits of individuals ingesting desserts in the morning, deep-fried cooking for lunch, and fattening cooking for supper which includes a good soft ice cream treat it will be simple to obtain a couple of lbs inside a few days. If you stay away from foods similar to these you will probably undoubtedly be on your way to not increasing weight rapidly, and possibly even dropping a couple of pounds. Having a well balanced diet plan will be everything many of us need to start to shed weight and accomplish far much better wellness in their lifestyles. It truly isn't troublesome to be balanced, you need to simply make the decision to do so, and continue with the needed behavior!
Individuals hardly ever desire to deliberately obtain a large amount of body weight quickly, however many of us are living ways of life contributing to this occurring regularly. Look at this post to determine one of many methods you might effortlessly gain a number of pounds in one weeks time! Additionally look at this post to discover what to stay away from consuming to help prevent this increase in weight from happening for you personally!

Fighting the Emotional Setbacks of Weight loss Programs

Fighting the Emotional Setbacks of Weight loss Programs

In opposition to what many reluctant dieters believe, starvation isn't your worst nightmare when you decide to finally engage yourself in a weight loss program. Your biggest adversary would be none other than yourself. As much as you want to reduce weight, you will shortly find out how much you don't want to do the things you have to do in order to follow a strict weight reducing strategy. Even less aggressive routines wouldn't seem to be so agreeable to you. More to the point, your emotional disposition would be your primary opponent.
In taking weight loss programs, you should be deeply motivated to your goal, and inclined to do what it takes to lose weight. Prepare yourself by thinking that it probably won't be a happy ride for you. If anything, it would be greatly frustrating. Even though it doesn't sound very encouraging, being expectant will be your armor against many emotional setbacks. Being prepared, you won't be taken by surprise and be forced into a desperate decision right off.
Emotional Setbacks of Programs
So what should you expect from weight loss programs? Start with your favorite treats, snacks, meals, and dishes. Perhaps that would include ice cream, cheeseburgers, fried chicken, chocolates, and lots of other tasty treats. Chances are you will no longer be able to eat any of those. For someone as accustomed to eating greasy foods as you, this decision will be heartbreaking, if not totally devastating. At some point in your obese life, you have found solace in eating those delicious delicacies. You may be slightly overweight, but you do have the advantage of being able to savor the reason why you're fat.
The Heartbroken Dieter
There are very few momentous emotional catastrophes in a person's life that can match the devastation of the heartbroken dieter. This emotional impediment will either slow your progress in losing weight or make you quit weight loss completely. This is the point where you will need your tons of motivation to push forward and continue on your weight loss routine.
Aside from giving up, you might also suffer a few withdrawal symptoms from greasy foods-just like you would suffer withdrawal symptoms from addition. Keep in mind that while there is a great difference between weight loss and rehab, engaging in weight loss is no less difficult. In order to sidestep the emotional hindrances losing weight, you must be well motivated, determined, and focused on one goal. Additionally, you have to be prepared for the worse. It might get bad-so bad, in fact, you might want to quit-but it won't become impossible. There will always be a way if you set aside your sensitive mentality.
The Upsides of Weight loss
Having supportive friends is good for you, too. As you continue to shed those extra, unwanted fats, your friends will be the first to see, besides yourself, the startling change in your size. Their "congratulations" and "good jobs" and other complements will surely help motivate you.

Lose Weight in 2 Weeks After Childbirth

Lose Weight in 2 Weeks After Childbirth

Lose weight in two weeks after pregnancy! Are you kidding me, who wouldn't want that? Don't get me wrong, child birth is an amazing event. For nine or so months, your body is going through beautiful changes. You're filling out in places that you didn't know you had and things are looking rather nice. Then you go through a few hours of intense labor and the next thing you know, you are looking down at your bundle of joy. Congratulations!
After a while though your next thought is "how the heck am I going to lose this weight!" or "I hate the way my body looks". You then break out the over-sized clothing to cover those parts you want to avoid. For some of you ladies, perhaps you're carrying baby weight but your baby is grown, yikes! This article will provide a few very doable tips for effective weight loss in 2 weeks after pregnancy or for some of you, years after your pregnancy.
Make yourself a priority
The first thing you should do is make it a priority. Now those may be fighting words to some. "What do you mean, make it a priority? I have a baby to take care of". Yes I understand that and that's exactly why you should make it a priority. Women are notorious for placing themselves on the bottom of their "to do" list and often times their not on there at all. Things don't become dynamic until they become specific.
Get Active
Now that you've made losing weight a priority, consult with your physician and pick an activity that you will enjoy. You can start out walking especially if you haven't worked out in a while. Walking is great and you can do it with your baby. My top pick is belly dancing even for beginners. Belly dancing is a fantastic and sensuous workout that will get you burning serious calories. You can either find a class which will allow you to get some "Me" in addition to your workout or you can follow along to a dvd at home.
Get Some Rest
Sleep when your baby sleeps. Has anyone told you that? You may be tempted to over look this piece of advice but let me tell you that the dishes and laundry will get done when they get done. When that baby of yours is lying down to rest, that is your cue to lie down and rest. Sleep is essential for your body to function both physically and mentally and is an integral part of your weight loss plan.
Good Eats
The third thing you should do is make sure you are eating well. You may have distant memories of eating an entire pizza, pints of Caribbean coconut ice cream or a bucket of fried chicken...maybe that was just me? I understand the irrational cravings during pregnancy. However, if you want to lose weight in 2 weeks after pregnancy then you need to eat small portions of nutritious meals. Quinoa is a highly nutritious grain that can be made in large quantities and stored for quick access and can be paired with just about any protein.
Fat Burning and Cleansing System
If you want to lose weight 2 weeks after childbirth then you should rid your body of toxins that have been building up for years. Where do the toxins come from? Everywhere! The air you breathe, the water you drink, your cleaning products, even the foods you eat. A toxic body cannot function at its optimal level and will hold on to weight. Some people see or hear the words "cleanse" and they usually think colonic, well that's not at all what I mean. With a fat burning and cleansing system you are still eating food, flooding it with nutrients but you are also flushing your body to help it get rid of toxins.
Can you lose weight in 2 weeks after pregnancy? Yes, the thing to keep in mind is that everybody is different and so you can't compare one person's weight loss to the results that you want to see. Don't be hard on yourself and don't have unrealistic goals. What's most important is that you are healthy and if you are consistent, the weight loss will happen over time.

Can Weight Loss Tea Help You Drop Pounds?

Can Weight Loss Tea Help You Drop Pounds?

Does weight loss tea really helps people lose weight? The simple answer to this question is yes. Other questions that come to mind are:
• Are all weight loss tea products safe?
• Which ones are made with the highest quality ingredients?
There are a number of tea products, referred to as slimming tea, weight loss tea and diet tea. It might be good to start out by looking at what's not good to buy. For starters lets look at an herb called Senna.
This plant is used as a laxative and works by creating peristaltic movements of the colon. These movements occur naturally in healthy individuals, but it might not be healthful to consume a beverage on a regular basis that induces these movements.
Overuse of Senna can cause electrolyte imbalances; and some people experience stomach cramps and nausea after consuming it. Senna may be useful for specific applications, but I'm not sure I want it in a beverage I consume on a daily basis.
When it comes to quality you want to have a formula that works without any extras or fillers. What about organic ingredients? If you're trying to drop some pounds, you want to be healthy while you do it, right? Unfortunately there are a lot of companies that use the cheapest ingredients they can find, focusing only on making a buck.
These lower quality products could have any number of toxins in them from pesticides, fertilizers and lack of quality assurance somewhere in the manufacturing process. I've seen a number of these products on the market so make sure you look for something that's organic.
Organic has a standard. If a food or supplement has been certified organic, you can be sure there are no dangerous fertilizer or pesticide residues in it. Organic practices not only protect you, they help to keep the environment in a more natural state, which is beneficial for everyone.
So quality is important, but can tea really help you lose weight? Let's look at some facts about why it might. When considering the idea it's important to understand what tea is first. Real tea or traditional tea comes from the plant Camellia Sinensis. There are different varieties of this plant but they all have some things in common; One of those commonalities is they contain caffeine.
Weight loss is associated with increased energy expenditure and inhibiting nutrient absorption. Caffeine, being a stimulant, increases the metabolism which does increase energy expended. So is caffeine the only reason a tea might help you loose weight, or is there something more to it? Research has confirmed there is something else at work.
Studies were conducted on people drinking equivalent amounts of caffeine from different sources. There was a difference in the amount of calories burned between the groups. It was discovered that drinking oolong tea, not only increased the amount of calories burned; It also increased the amount of calories burned from fat compared to consuming equal amounts of caffeine in green tea or plain water.
Now we know it's not only the caffeine in the tea that increases energy expenditure. Research concluded it was a special class of polyphenols, which are found in higher amounts in oolong teas than other tea varieties, linked to oolong's additional, fat burning ability.
We can conclude that weight loss tea really can assist you in dropping pounds. Of course, it always helps to include a healthful diet and other healthful lifestyle habits for your long term success.

Can Flat Stomach Exercises Stand Alone To Achieve Killer Abs?

Can Flat Stomach Exercises Stand Alone To Achieve Killer Abs?

We have to admit, the abdomen is the only part of the body which is so hard to maintain, much more to obtain surfboard abs. The internet and other forms of media such as TV, books, and magazines provide us with various but, at times, in conflicting advices, which leave people at a great despair as to what or who to believe. No matter how one sees it, these tips are but a combination of the different exercise programs lifestyle changes around. So here are a few points to achieve that desirable body you want by doing flat stomach exercises and adhering to a healthier well-being.
The Hard Part
Sweating out is the only known method that can help you lose those adipose tissues. Schedule and devote more time to run on the treadmill or do some crunches. A flat stomach exercise is absolutely hard, and extremely painful, however, seeing the end result of your effort is much more appealing and fulfilling. Below are common and simple exercises to help you in your quest to a toned ab.
1. Commit to at least a 3-per-week walk or jog for 30 minutes. Burning the calories is the key to a flat stomach, and a cardio workout can give you this benefit. It also boosts your metabolism so you will expend more fat.
2. A popular exercise today, Pilates works on toning the body with focus on your core or your middle section. It also improves flexibility and posture. Purchase at least one DVD and perform the workout at the very least a couple of times a week.
3. Crunches are the first exercise one can come up when asked what workout is best for the abs. And that is practically true. There are various forms for crunches, including the traditional, reverse, oblique, and the traditional but straight leg style. Nevertheless, crunches should be done properly to achieve optimum results. Avoid sit-ups since it works your hip flexors, they are not too reliable to tone your tummy.
The Arduous Challenge
We heard it, time and again, that the full effect of exercise can only be achieved when paired with proper diet. When one is not following a recommended diet. then a flat stomach exercise will be just a waste of time. There are other things that you also have to consider to achieve a flat tummy, exercises cannot do it alone.
1. The most important thing to consider is eating the right food. Eat more fruits and vegetables to add more fiber to the diet, and choose lean meats over the others. Trim down on bad carbs, such as white bread, rice, and pasta. Instead, eat brown rice and whole wheat bread. If you have to munch on something before bedtime, chew a small portion of fruits and vegetables. Finally, speed up your metabolism by eating small, more frequent meals instead of 2 to 3 large meals.
2. Drink lots of water. Seriously, at least try to consume 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. It is very essential when you are exercising, so you won't end up having IVs running through your veins. It also helps fill you up so you eat less and it assists in digestion.
3. Make sure that you are getting enough sleep, about 7 to 8 precious hours. Sleep gives the body time to repair and rests its muscles. It will also help you prepare for the workout the following day. A more efficient and productive day is only attainable when one is properly rested.

3 Fatty Foods That Can Actually Help You Burn Fat

3 Fatty Foods That Can Actually Help You Burn Fat

If the title of this article has you a little confused, you are not alone. There are literally millions of frustrated drop out dieters who have learned the hard way that their understanding of nutrition and more specifically fat is totally wrong. While most of us know the basics about which foods are healthy and which are not, there is a ton of grey area in the realm of fatty foods that weight loss experts are starting to shed some more light on.
The truth is that fat is not the horrible thing it is made out to be. In fact, most government-issued nutrition guides recommend that fat composes 30% of your daily caloric intake. The confusion starts to mount, however, when the consumer is left to determine which fats and which foods can lead to healthy lifestyle and dramatic, effective weight loss. Let's discuss three of these fatty foods that can help your fat burning goals.
Fat Burning Food #1: Avocados
Growing in popularity over the past 15 years, avocado is absolutely loaded with nutrition and healthy fats. Rich in fiber, antioxidants and vitamins, this miracle fruit helps to regulate your appetite and stimulate the fat burning hormones that are already in your body. They're a great option for adding a nice creamy texture to any meal without compromising calories or sacrificing quality.
Fat Burning Food #2: Egg Yolks
If you're surprised, don't be. In fact, you should be more surprised that egg yolks have been given such a poor reputation to begin with. Yes, they are fatty and known for having cholesterol, but egg yolks are a great way to get quality nourishment for each of those important elements of your diet. Not all fat is bad, and not all cholesterol is bad. If you incorporate healthy fats like the kinds in egg yolks, you actually balance your own fat profile and make the fat that is in your system the most beneficial it can be. One last thing; the purer the better -try to shop for free range eggs!
Fat Burning Food #3: Grass-fed Beef
Lately, a lot of information has come out about the feed farm animals are given and how it affects our health down the line. It's important to remember that cattle are meant to eat grass, not grains and not corn. Sadly, that's where most of our meat at the supermarket comes from; it lacks optimum quantities of healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and quality protein. Purchasing grass-fed beef is clearly the healthier choice and it will expedite your fat loss process.
If you have learned two things from this article, let them be the importance of quality food sources and the fact that fat is an essentially part of any healthy diet. Keep working towards your goals and don't fall into the traps of the diet industry!

Enhancing Fat Burners

Enhancing Fat Burners

Fat burners are a primary source to aid your diet and exercise plan. This is because they are designed to get you into a fat burning mode and make up a little bit for poor diets and over snacking. Many types of fat burning pills are available online. Most are classified as nutritional supplements and attack weight loss from a natural method.
One of the main types of fat burners uses something called capsicum extract to get results. This is done by cultivating red hot peppers. More specifically, the nutrient in these peppers that actually causes the pepper to become hot is put into pills. People may think they can eat red hot peppers and get the same fat loss results. This is not true though. If you eat enough peppers to get a proper dose, you will be too sick to move. The way this nutrient is cultivated into supplements allows you to ingest a large amount with no side effects because it eliminates the irritants and focuses on its ability to get your body healthier.
The other type of fat burners focus more on using fat as energy easier. This is based on research and scientific studies proving the ability of certain substances cultivated naturally in a pharmaceutical lab to be able to convert fat cells over the mitochondrial wall more efficiently. The end result is fat burning that takes place constantly and a residual effect of this is higher metabolism and higher energy levels.
Some advantages of utilizing a fat burner is smarter results. Since your clearly working on reducing total body fat percentage, your abs will start to show and the beer gut you hate will be eliminated. For these reasons, millions of people are subjected to buying any kind of diet pill they can find. This is not a smart idea though. The more intelligent and safer idea is do research like reading this article and finding products that are very focused on your results and providing ingredients that actually work to back up claims.
Obviously you will see faster weight loss results if you combine the right weight loss pill with daily exercise and diet. Some of the best ways to keep up exercise is by doing it while your having fun. If you can find a way to implement fun with working out, it is sustainable and you can start to look like you want and be happy in the mirror.

Lose Fat Pounds Fast - 3 AMAZING Tips That Helped Me Drop 50 Lbs Quickly And Easily

Lose Fat Pounds Fast - 3 AMAZING Tips That Helped Me Drop 50 Lbs Quickly And Easily

Do you have a lot of body fat weight that you need to lose? Are you diligently trying out many different types of diets and/or pills... but yet are just not getting the results you hoped for? Well, in this article here, I'm going to talk to you about 3 amazing things I did during my transformation program that was the basis of me losing over 50 pounds of BODY FAT (not muscle)... in around 8 weeks time... permanently, naturally, and easily! If you follow these tips too, I can assure you, you WILL lose fat pounds fast as well!
Focus on DOING it instead of LOSING it...
What this means is that it is better to pay more attention to achieving an action goal (an exercising achievement, avoiding a strong temptation food for a week, etc.) instead of focusing on trying to lose weight. Doing this will increase your motivational levels because it is far more easier, for example, to focus on simply drinking nothing but water all day than it is to keep thinking about how you need to lose X amount of weight.
The reason why this is so important and so effective is because when you focus on your end goal too much, you'll spend too much time analyzing and trying to find the next best thing when you don't see results coming as quickly and/or consistently as you hoped for. Instead, just focus on doing the right things you need to do to get the body you want... one small ACTION achievement at a time.
Once I started I doing this, I noticed a difference THE SAME DAY!
Regular or synthetic...
Most people who have high performance vehicles will 8 times out of 10 opt for getting synthetic motor oil and the highest grade of gasoline for their vehicles. Guess what? Our bodies are also a high performance machine and putting crappy fuel (food) in it is not going to get it running optimally.
What I recommend for you to do is to try to eat more raw and organic foods. Those types of foods are the premium foods that are bodies are meant to have. Whenever you eat these foods, your body internally is throwing a party! You are providing the exact nutrients it needs (without chemicals, processed junk, and other bad stuff) to run at an optimal level.
This will also lead to many health benefits. You'll lose weight quicker, you'll burn off stubborn fat quicker, you'll naturally detoxify your body, you'll improve your digestive system, boost your metabolism, and so much more!
Now besides raw and organic foods, I also recommend that you go on a diet program where there are no restrictions and carbs and fats. The reason why is because the body needs HEALTHY carbs and fats, and those restrictive diet programs want you to eliminate ALL OF THEM! Not providing your body with the appropriate amount of healthy carbohydrates (fiber) and fats (omega fatty acids, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat) is only going to hinder your progress... along with causing some unsettling side-effects!
Make your diet easy to stick to...
There is nothing more annoying than starting a diet program full of excitement... and then shortly thereafter you lose motivation! This is usually because things are being done during the diet that is making it complicated and no where near enjoyable.
So, what I recommend for you to do is to make things as easy as possible for you when you are just getting started. And this is simply because the beginning is when you are the most vulnerable to slip back into bad habits.
Examples of things you can do to make it more easier is to do things such as keeping a large water jug with you to ensure you drink plenty of water throughout the day, prep your meals in advance, keep sandwich baggies of vegetables for a quick snack when those sugar cravings pop up, etc., Also, instead of complicated (and VERY ineffective and expensive) fad diet programs, I highly recommend that you choose an online diet program that's easy to follow and has proven effective for many people.

Weight Loss With Opuntia Ficus Indica

Weight Loss With Opuntia Ficus Indica

There is a lot of new studies and research being done on the new fibrous material called Opuntia ficus indica. The reason why it is under such scrutiny is because there are many claims that it can really aid people with weight loss. The method it uses is binding fat up so you can't digest all of it into your body. It makes you excrete a certain percentage. In order for consumers to get a clear picture about how much fat is actually bound and kept from being absorbed, lets take a look at some proof. There are weight loss pills that do offer this nutrient.
There was an experiment done on the fibre complex called Opuntia ficus indica. The substance was given to patients in a regular meal that contained the following things:
- 20 grams of sunflower oil
- 144 grams of homogenised skim yoghurt
To see the true benefit of this substance there was a total of 2.7 grams of fat prevented from absorption within the four hours of eating the previous substances. There were also findings that showed the Opuntia ficus indica does not pick out any particular fatty acids to bind to.
Evidence such as this means that the nutrient was able to bind fat and keep about 28.3% of the fat consumed from being taken into the body. For people who would like to lose weight and do it safely and naturally, this is a solution to seek out. Fat binders such as Proactol Plus use this natural ingredient as its primary means to help anyone with weight loss. Some of the benefits of using this over a prescription weight loss pill is that there are no side effects and it works extremely well with a lot of scientific studies done to prove its effectiveness.
For obese patients, there is no telling how many diets and exercises you may have tried in order to lose weight. It would be a wonderful feeling if you could have the freedom to eat a similar diet to what you already consume, but lose weight. The way to do this is by utilizing an advanced fat binder for weight loss. It is a great way to enhance your results and feel more confident about how you look. It also eliminates that guilty feeling you get when you consume extra snacks and fatty foods.
You can truly be happy with a brand new weight and healthier body. Fat binders are a solution many people should enjoy.

The Keys To Losing Weight In The Buffet Line

The Keys To Losing Weight In The Buffet Line

Do your knees buckle in the buffet line? The numerous choices and the "all you can eat mentality" can create anxiety among the most disciplined "dieters". Yet eating through the buffet line can be fun, healthy and fat blasting when you use these 7 keys:
KEY 1: Just because it is all you can eat doesn't mean you eat it all! Move past the notion of getting your money's worth. How do we determine the exact worth of any meal? Also, eating more because you feel like you have to make this meal a bargain will end in bloating, gas and fat.
KEY 2: Downsize your portion size: Start small. Look over the whole buffet and determine what your "must-haves" are then take a small amount. You can always go back.
KEY 3: Turn your plates upside down Have you noticed the 2 different-sized plates at the buffet? Usually we place our salad on the small plate and then fill the big plate with foods that expand our waistline. Instead, why not fill the big plate with salad and use the small plate for your delicious delicacies? With this built in portion control, you are filling up on "good for you" vegetables without feeling deprived from your favorite foods.
KEY 4: When using one big plate practice the ½ + ¼ + ¼ portion equation of satisfaction without suffocation. Before you place one morsel on your plate, look at your plate and visually cut it into quarters. Use half of the plate for vegetables, one quarter for protein and one quarter for starch.
KEY 5: Life may be uncertain but that doesn't mean you should eat dessert first. Your first time through the buffet line has one purpose; to fuel your body. Dessert is fun and delicious and a treat which means it is eaten after you fuel your body. In addition, when you return to the buffet table to have dessert, pick one item. Just because a dozen items are displayed doesn't mean you need to taste them all.
KEY 6: When eating dessert use the DIG principle for maximum enjoyment and a minimum of calories: After you return from the buffet table with your dessert, make sure it is exactly what you want otherwise you will not feel satisfied and may keep indulging. Pick up your fork and take a bite while really focusing on the taste then put down your fork. Repeat this process two more times. After that third bite, ask yourself: "Do I want more?" and listen. If so then take another bite and ask yourself again "Do I want more?" When we are focusing on our treat without guilt or self-hate, those first three bites will be satisfying without adding pounds.
KEY 7: Perception Use your God-given expert status to perceive when you are full. Just because you fill your plate doesn't mean you clean your plate. Rather, take home that extra food or place it in the trash. Yes, it is wasteful but your health, your weight and your self-esteem are worth more than any amount of food.
You can't feed the starving children with your leftovers, but you can help the world with your glowing health which is a byproduct of using Portion control, Proportion control while exercising your self-perception muscle.

How To Replace Fat With Lean Muscle

How To Replace Fat With Lean Muscle

You can replace fat with lean muscles, but it will take effort, and exercise. It may not be easy, but it is possible. And it is possible to do this with exercises that are not all that strenuous. You don't have to be a massive muscle builder to replace fat with muscle. What counts is to be consistent, you have to workout regularly. And you have to follow a plan which is designed to do it in the most straight forward manner. To make it work for you, you need to find a plan that fits your ability and desire so you will follow it consistently. You can learn the best way for building lean muscle.
It takes two kinds of exercise as well as the proper diet to keep building lean muscle. The two kinds of exercise are aerobic and weight resistance exercise. You can't just convert your fat into muscle in one step. You have to first get rid of the fat by burning it off. That takes aerobic exercise, often called cardio, a fast exercise that get your heart pumping and gets the oxygen flowing to the muscles to feed the fire. That burns the fat. Then you have to do resistance exercises, most often some sort of weight lifting to break down your current muscles enough that they have to rebuild themselves. That's your added muscle. Once you start adding more lean muscle, it will be easier to lose the fat because muscles burn fat. That's a good reason for building lean muscle.
As far as diet goes, you have to eat correctly. You can't overeat, or you will be adding back extra calories that your exercise is trying to burn off. So you have to find out how many calories you should be eating for your body type and exercise level. Then you have to be also eating the "right" foods. Diet is important for building lean muscle. You need to have the proper balance of protein and carbohydrates and other nutrients. As you research various exercise plans, check out their recommendations for the correct muscle building diet. You will need to consume a variety of healthy foods while working on your plan to replace fat with lean muscles. Don't go with plans that include limited or "fad" diets. They don't help you in building lean muscle.
One thing to consider is to stick with the most healthy foods that you can, and this means trying to eat Organic. If you consume mostly organic vegetables, and fruit, and meat, you will be assured of eating "healthy". This is because such foods will not clog up your rebuilt system with added chemicals such as pesticides and hormones, and added enhancers such as waxes. A clogged system won't help you in building lean muscle.
Also you have to consider what you drink. In your body building regimen, always think about what you are adding to your new body. You need to make sure that you get enough water everyday. Your body needs the water to carry away the waste products from breaking down the fat cells, and carry the new proteins to you growing muscles. Drink filtered or otherwise purified water, don't add whatever contaminants that may be floating around in unfiltered water. Don't add the sugar and coloring chemicals from flavored drinks. Don't add alcohol (a poison) from alcoholic drinks. Poisons don't help you in building lean muscle either. Drink enough water to keep you hydrated, which is more than people usually are thirsty for. If you are thirsty, that means you are dehydrated already. You should be drinking a half gallon of pure water every day. Even more if you are working out hard.
To keep building lean muscle, you need a balanced planned diet, and a balanced exercise plan, and don't forget that the body needs a lot of sleep as it rebuilds muscle. With a bit planning and some regular effort you can do it. You can be building lean muscle to replace the excess fat.

Why Weight Loss Takes More Than Will Power and Determination

Why Weight Loss Takes More Than Will Power and Determination

Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the US. Smoking is number one. Unbelievably, over 95% of individuals who lose weight gain every pound back within 5 years.
There seems to be a fundamental flaw in how Americans go about their weight loss staying power. Determination and will power goes a long way in weight loss techniques, and needs to be a ubiquitous factor in success. However, there needs to be more to achieve long term success, and bio-identical hormones can help dramatically.
People say that obesity is an epidemic. Yes, it does represent a rampant problem, but an epidemic? Should it be in the same category as heart disease or other diseases like breast cancer? The answer is yes it should, and here is a scientific look at the problem.
When one cuts calories during a diet, it is not the "end all be all" success strategy. The assumption is that the body will start burning fat for its energy if it does not receive enough calories during the day, but unfortunately what is more likely to happen is that the body burns muscle instead. The muscle is what allows the body to maintain stable body weight once the dieting is completed. If it has been burned up, that may lead to the individual gaining back substantial amounts of the weight.
In addition, while losing the weight, the body becomes more adept at storing fat in a self preservation mode, so once the diet is completed that may cause more weight to pack on than pre-diet.
It is well known that exercising has significant cardiovascular benefits and helps maintain bone density with weight bearing activities. However, as a sole factor in weight loss it is not the complete answer. One pound weight loss equals 3500 calories. That takes a lot of aerobic activity. Such as running 35 miles, which is more than a marathon!
There is significant debate about the role of cutting fat out of one's diet. Fat does not stimulate insulin, whereas heavy carbohydrate foods do. Insulin, interestingly enough, leads to further fat creation. So a certain amount of fat in the diet is not an enemy.
In the largest study performed in the country to date looking at heart disease, the Framingham Heart Study, those who ate the most saturated fat weighed the least. Those individuals had the lowest cholesterol levels and the lowest incident of coronary artery disease.
There is a lot more science to obesity than simply having physicians say "Eat less and exercise more." Injecting science into a weight loss program will allow people to diet smarter and not just relying on determination, will power, and the older techniques that are looking like myths.

Phoenix Integrative Medicine represents the premier weight loss center in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ along with providing bioidentical hormone replacement and wellness programs for anti-aging and cancer prevention.

The Logical Approach To Weight Loss

The Logical Approach To Weight Loss

Well over 60% of Americans are either overweight or obese. Dieting and weight loss represents a very large business opportunity with fads popping up every couple of years that sweep the nation.
So what is a logical approach to losing weight that would help people lose weight and then keep it off? Over 95% of dieters gain back all of their lost weight within 5 years.
Most advice for losing weight revolves around calorie restrictions, exercise, and eating less fat. There are downsides to each, so a combination may help. Fat is truly not the enemy in dieting. Participants in the Framingham Heart Study who had the most intake of saturated fats also had the lowest cholesterols, weighed the least, and had the lowest incidence of coronary artery disease. Yet that is very common advice in dieting - cut out fat.
People think restricting calories will turn their bodies into eating up fat. But this is not what happens. The body starts eating up muscle instead. In order to properly reset the human metabolism into burning fat instead of muscle, the key is to take away sugar.
It is predominantly carbohydrates that break down into sugar and also stimulate the most insulin production, which may create body fat. Once sugar and carbohydrates intake is decreased sufficiently, the body can start utilizing fat as an energy source and appropriate weight loss ensues. Once this point is reached in fat utilization, patients can lose safely 2 to 3 pounds per week.
Reducing insulin levels is key to losing weight. Since insulin is a fat storing hormone and also creates fat, reducing it can be very effective in a dieting program. Since sugar is placed into fat cells by insulin and then created into fat, decreasing sugar intake will decrease this occurrence and also downgrade insulin production.
What this amounts to is a low carbohydrate diet. A significant amount of the weight loss programs in existence utilized this technique. The emphasis has switched from a low fat diet to a low carb diet. A low carb diet does not mean one can eat massive protein and not gain weight. Excess protein can be converted into sugar for fat storage and may backfire the whole diet plan.
Keeping the body hydrated is key, since over 50% of the body is water. Monitor the color of urine. If it's clear, the body is sufficiently hydrated. If it's yellow or darker, drink more water. Alcohol should be restricted. The body likes it for fuel, so it will go after it prior to fat. It will potentially sabotage an effective weight loss program.
Exercise alone is difficult as a technique, since it takes 3500 calories burned to lose a pound. But it's an effective adjunct along with helping reduce stress and excess adrenal hormones, which can then decrease insulin levels.
Maintaining weight loss is in some ways the most difficult part of the whole program, as over 95% of people gain their lost weight back within 5 years. Exercising, minimizing carbohydrate intake, and going on a bioidentical hormone replacement program will make sure the weight stays off.
Balancing your hormones will assist dramatically in helping patients lose weight and then being able to keep it off. Since the process of weight loss and maintenance is a life long process, making sure hormone levels aren't way off balance and exacerbating the problem may be a cornerstone in the approach to effective weight loss.

The 20 Most Intelligent Ways to Lose Weight

The 20 Most Intelligent Ways to Lose Weight

The following list highlights my top 20 points if you want to lose weight comfortably. By adopting these points you should have everything you need to succeed.
Reduce stress
Learn to relax
Get to bed on time
Work on your self-esteem
Set realistic goals
Adopt the right attitude
Develop a strong vision
Ensure people support you
Find out your Metabolic Type®
Find out your resting metabolic rate
Plan every meal in advance
Shop once a week
Plan for mishaps
Only eat nutrient-rich foods
Monitor your progress
Celebrate every pound you lose
Eat at least 3 meals a day
Ensure you are well hydrated
Exercise sensibly
Keep a diary
I have devised a three step traffic light approach to losing weight, and I suggest you do enough work at each traffic light before you move onto the next one. The three traffic lights cover initial preparations (red light), final preparations (amber light) and action (green light).
Red Light: Initial Preparations (1 week to 1 year)
1. Reduce stress - Under any psychological or physical stress the body is designed to look after itself, and one way it does that is to conserve weight. The body doesn't differentiate between different types of stress, so some types of stress you can probably reduce easily (e.g. getting to bed on time), while others might take more work to reduce (e.g. work related stress).
2. Learn to relax - It is said that relaxing makes us thin. This goes against the grain for living today, we feel pressurised to do more and achieve more. When you relax your metabolism is turned up, your fat burning increases, and you become more insulin-sensitive. The problem is that relaxing isn't our natural state. You need to work at relaxing. Exercise that is good for reducing stress includes qi gong and tai chi.
3 Get to bed on time - Sleep deprivation leads to increases in grehlin the hunger hormone and decreases leptin, the satiety hormone. This in turn increases your hunger for high carbohydrate foods. This can easily lead to weight gain. Get into the habit of going to bed at 10pm and waking up after 6am.
4 Work at your self-esteem - You become your thoughts. Work on improving your self-esteem to help your fat loss efforts. There is a close relationship between obesity and low self-esteem, with one leading to the other. Erase old emotional scars and negative beliefs.
Amber Light: Final Preparations (1 day to 1 week)
5 Set realistic goals - Ideally you should aim to lose one to two pounds of weight a week. If you lose more than two pounds you can lose muscle mass, which is not good. It is helpful to write down your weight loss goals and pin them up at home, this keeps them front of mind.
6 Adopt the right attitude - Adopt a passionate zeal for achieving your goals, failure is not an option. It is not a quick fix and look to each month, not week by week. Look to the big picture. Don't get entrenched in the day to day ups and down which is inevitable, stay focused and practical. The attitude is not one of deprivation, or guilt with eating. Enjoy your food. You need to eat enough to lose weight.
7 Develop a strong vision - Having a very strong vision of what you want to achieve by losing weight is important as it becomes easier for you to achieve your goal. One way of creating a strong vision is to create a vision board. You create a vision board by writing, drawing or sticking things onto a piece of card which would represent 'you' when you achieve your goal weight: how you will feel; your body statistics; new activities; or clothes you would wear.
8. Ensure people support you - It really helps if people around you are positive about your fat loss efforts, and provide any support needed. This is most important of people closest to you, including your family and partner. It can also help if you share the experience with a friend who is also looking to lose weight, as it injects healthy competition and more accountability.
9 Find out your Metabolic Type® - Metabolic Typing® is a process of finding out which foods are right for you, and in what proportions. Some people need to eat more protein and fat, others need more carbohydrate. By eating the correct balance of macronutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrate) for your body you should feel less hungry in-between meals. You can find out your Type by filling in an online questionnaire.
10 Find out your resting metabolic rate (RMR) - Your resting metabolic rate is the calories you burn while at rest. This represents the ideal number of calories for fat loss. The more muscle you have the higher your RMR will be. Buying a set of Tanita® scales is a great investment as it will tell you what your RMR is, eliminating any guesswork.
Green light: Action
Weekly (2-4 hours a week) -
11 Plan every meal in advance - Plan your meals for the week. Aim to eat the same calories as your resting metabolic rate, and to have at least three meals a day. Once you have worked out your weekly meal plan it is good to devise a shopping list based on everything you need.
12 Shop once a week - Shopping once a week helps prevent binge eating as you will have everything you need to hand.
13 Plan for mishaps - Plan how you would deal with any potential mishaps in advance. Mishaps can include an extra stressful week at work, eating out, or lack of sleep.
14 Only eat nutrient-rich foods - If your body is lacking in nutrients you are likely to feel hungrier as your body craves the nutrients you lack. This is tough if you are looking to lose weight. Eat a good variety of high nutrient foods; check out the ideal foods for your Metabolic Type®.
15 Monitor your progress - Weigh yourself at least once a week. Some people weigh themselves more frequently. There is no ideal. The ideal is the right frequency that motivates you. If you weigh yourself more frequently be aware of daily fluctuations, so don't feel despondent if the scales do not shift every day, it is unrealistic.
16 Celebrate every pound you lose - It is great for your self-esteem to celebrate every pound you lose by doing something you really appreciate. This could be buying a new pair of track pants, going for a massage, or taking up a new hobby. Keep it real.
Daily (1-2 hours a day) -
17 Eat at least three meals a day - Stick to your weekly meal plan, eating at least three meals a day. Work out what works best for you. Some people need just three meals a day, for others three meals and two or three snacks is what works best. Don't skip breakfast as this slows down your metabolism. Avoid under eating.
18 Ensure you are well hydrated - Dehydration can be masked as hunger, so you can eat more if you are dehydrated. Also, dehydration is registered as a stress on the body which, as we have discussed, can lead to weight gain.
19 Exercise sensibly - Try and incorporate some exercise into each and every day. Thirty minutes of exercise a day should be seen as the bare minimum. These thirty minutes could include brisk walking, walking up the stairs at work, a yoga class, or going to the gym. Make sure you don't overdo it as exercise can increase your stress load, which could lead to weight gain. Always train with some fuel left in the tank. Listen to your body, everyone can handle different intensities. If you feel you are getting drained, back off on the intensity.
20 Keep a diary - Keep a daily food diary, otherwise it is simply too easy to overeat. A diary keeps it front of mind.