By Sharon Bell
Our life experiences teach us how to live a simple life. Complications start in the mind. If we are always thinking of our problems, our life will be miserable. Finding solutions to our thousands of questions is easier if we have a clear mind and an open heart in accepting possible answers. Surviving the challenges that we face every day is all matter of learning the ropes of working hard and enjoying what we have at the present.
Anything we do has an impact in our daily lives. It only depends how we manage our time and efforts toward what is beneficial to our being. When it comes to health, living a good life means that we are aware of the things that would be harmful or helpful to us. The food that we eat, the activities that we do, and how we weigh things out have an effect in our physical health. These also help us determine if we are really health conscious or serious to stay in shape.
We know that regular exercise and healthy diet are essential in staying fit. Both exercise and diet go hand-in-hand in making the body healthy. However, these two should be made in moderation since too much of something is not good. Dieting does not mean getting so thin. It means reducing the food intake rich in fat, sugar or calories. Vegetables and fruits should be part of the meal. They are good sources of vitamins and minerals that help the body to be strong and fight back free radicals in the body. You don’t need to look so slim to tell that you are in a diet but rather to have an ideal weight using the body mass index. It is based on your height and weight, although it is not the only factor used in identifying if you are really healthy. There are still many factors such blood pressure, cholesterol level, sugar content in the body, etc.
Having a clearer complexion is not only through medications or whitening soaps. Exercising is one way of having good skin. As you exercise, it causes the pores to open and helps release the sweat. Sweating is sometimes messy and makes us look tired and restless; but this helps to eliminate dirt and impurities in our system. As a result, it makes our complexion clearer.
In getting rid of stored fat in the body, burning the calories through exercise is the answer. Depending on the plumpness of the problem areas, more rigid activities are necessary, particularly cardiovascular exercises such as brisk walking, running, biking, etc.
Staying in shape gives you the opportunity to move lightly and freely without any feeling of shyness that you look heavy or always complaining that you tire easily. Exercise strengthens your body against fatigue and stress.
The benefits of exercise are reducing high blood pressure, preventing and controlling type 2 diabetes, preventing osteoporosis or thinning of the bone tissue and loss of bone density overtime, preventing cardiovascular diseases, stroke, helping to improve your mood toward having more patience, not easily irritable and helping to keep the muscle strong. Other types of cancers are also prevented such as colon, prostate and breast cancer.
Exercise doesn’t have to be always on the gym. Activities like running, walking, swimming, gardening, skiing or biking are suggested. Diet pills and other supplements are helpful but doctors’ advice should be sought for proper medication and guidance.
About the Author: Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.healthnfitnesszone.com.
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Sunday, December 16, 2007
Losing Weight The Natural Way
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Fat Loss – It’s So Easy, You Just Won’t Believe It!
By Ben Kong
By cleaning up your food you will experience dramatic improvements and even lose body fat ‘effortlessly’ when combined with regular training. You simply eat clean - spread your food out as you go about your day and train hard and the body fat just falls off. It’s a great place to be and you may even get to where you want to be doing this. Nothing wrong with that at all.
(Functional, clean nutrition has an explosive effect in regards to weight loss - here's why: http://www.ultimatebodysuccess.com/e-course1.html)
Ultimate results, though require a little more precision
To get that extra bit of leanness though or if you want to get down to walking around fairly ripped or even completely shredded you will need to put a bit more work in.
Fat loss is very basic. Remember, food is now fuel for your body to train. Your body will need fuel to train and go about its day and any fat loss plan is designed to give it most of the fuel it will need through food but with a small deficit each day so that it will have to draw on the body fat that it has stored up over the years to meet the shortfall. Over time your stores decrease until you are left with a body that looks ripped and rock hard because the fat that covered your muscles is gone.
If it is so simple, then why is there a multi-billion dollar weight loss industry and so many people crashing and burning?
Well, there’s a combination of factors. Societal conditioning and lies about food and what is healthy are a big part. Lifestyle and mental factors are also a major reason. People are simply unwilling to change who they are and become who they need to be to get the body they want.
But the one greatest factor we believe why people simply fail when it comes to fat loss is a lack of structure. Without a clear idea of EXACTLY what needs to be done each and every day you are doomed to wander aimlessly around your fat loss goals like the masses, forever questioning and tinkering with no idea where they are going only to throw your hands up in frustration.
(Successful muscle gain and weight loss is a fusion of training and lifestyle - here's why: http://www.ultimatebodysuccess.com/e-course3.html)
You know, structure doesn’t mean rigidity! In fact to the contrary – structure actually gives you flexibility. Most people think that structure means they’re slaves to the time clock, making sure they ingest however many calories by a certain time…or else. Wrong! It’s actually the opposite - a training and clean eating structure enables you to lead a normal life, taking into account the inevitable unpredictability but allows you ensure you have a solid back-up plan that takes care of the unpredictability of life – e.g. by carrying food around with you.
To not end up like the disillusioned majority, you need to start at the beginning. It’s not about jumping into a certain diet or training plan.
You need to know the one critical factor that underpins all fat loss. Only then can you begin to work out an exact plan of training and eating that is customized for your body to turn it into a Fat Burning, Muscle Building Machine that will see you getting results as quickly as possible.
© All Rights Reserved 2007
About the Author: Ben Kong is the author and co-creator of Ultimate Body Success - The Impossible To fail, Total Lifestyle System For Creating Your Best Body Ever. Click the link now to find out once and for all how to profoundly transform your body beyond belief. http://www.ultimatebodysuccess.com/freeReport.php
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Pain-free Weight Loss
By Ricardo
Obesity has been a high-ranking national problem for a couple of decades now. Are you bothered by all those extra pounds? Is there anything you can do about it? You’ve tried dieting; you’ve tried exercise programs. If you’re lucky, you may have seen some partial results, and now you live in constant fear of gaining it all back the moment you let your guard down and allow yourself to be seduced by your favorite pastry. Hundreds of diet books are published every year. None of them seem to work.
The problem may not be all those calories, or how many times a day you eat, or how much faith you put into your exercise program. The problem may very well be in your head.
That’s right.
Imagine you have a couple of guests over, and one of them is especially nasty and cranky. He or she demands attention all the time, likes nothing, takes offense easily. The entire household is jumping around him or her, offering affection, drinks, conversation, gifts – nothing pleases him (or her). Nothing! Finally, you (the hostess) realize it’s time to show the pest where the door is.
The second thing you realize is showing him (or her) the door is a pretty difficult task. He (or she) won’t take hints. He (or she) won’t believe your lies. He (or she) will call your bluffs. If you tell him (or her) that his (or her) mother, sister, wife, husband, child is on the phone, he (or she) will ask you to take a message – he (or she) is too busy berating the other guests.
So you resort to insults. You call him (or her) terrible names. You raise your voice to such a degree some of the guests quietly suggest to you you should have been an opera singer.
Nothing. The pest remains.
Finally, intelligent gal that you are, you decide to ignore him (or her). Somehow, you get the others to ignore him (or her) as well.
The pest will linger for another hour or so. Then he (or she) will leave.
Pests only persist if you accommodate them.
If you accommodate your fat, it will stay. Forever.
Your extra pounds are weighing you down – so what do you do? You sit or lie down. You’re accommodating your fat.
It gets difficult to keep your back straight towards the end of the day, so you relax your posture. You sprawl, or you bend, or you lean against something. What are you doing? You’re accommodating your fat.
You put on certain types of makeup, you get certain types of haircut, you use certain types of perfume – directly or indirectly, you’re accommodating your fat. Always. It feels welcome.
You THINK about being fat more often than you think about literature, opera, sex, history, money, housing, children, dogs, travel, etc, etc. You’re accommodating your fat. Your fat loves being thought about.
There is a way to get around it. You should stop accommodating your fat immediately. Start acting as if it didn’t exist. Straighten up. Smile. Each time you look at yourself in the mirror, be on guard. The moment you want to think about your fat, think about opera or history. Or sex.
About the Author: Ricardo is the author of "A Fat Girl's Ultimate Guide to Thinness and Happiness". Find it by following this link: http://mightyniche.com/thinandhappy.html
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Thursday, December 13, 2007
5 Step Diet To Lower Cholesterol!
By B.J. Gordey
If you’re worried about lowering your cholesterol level you’re not alone. Changing your diet to lower cholesterol is usually the first step in cholesterol maintenance, before medicines are added. People who have high cholesterol may be able to lower their cholesterol levels with these simple lifestyle changes:
Step 5) The School of Medicine at Stanford University did a study consisting of 377 men and post-menopausal women, with high cholesterol. First they put them on a low-fat diet, and then had half of them to do aerobic exercise, and the other half did no form of exercise at all.
After one year, the exercising group had significantly reduced their cholesterol levels – while the sedentary group showed no such reduction in their cholesterol. So the 5th step is to add aerobic exercise to your lifestyle.
Step 4) Did you know that the average person makes about 75% of their blood cholesterol in their own liver, while only about 25% is absorbed from food. So you should be able to further reduce your cholesterol with dietary changes.
A low-fat diet with no trans-fats will lower your cholesterol anywhere from 8% to 20%. There are several very good low-fat diets – the Dash Diet, Mediterranean Diet, the South Beach Diet, Ultra metabolism Diet, and Weight Watchers Diet are all great diets to reduce your fat and trans-fat intake. All of these diets have either online programs or manuals and books to provide step-by-step instructions and menu plans. So your 4th step is to add a reduced fat diet.
Step 3) One of the reasons your body produces Cholesterol is a self preservation tactic. Your arteries develop cracks and stress fractures as a natural occurrence. Your body must patch these cracks and fractures or you will bleed to death.
The substance of choice for your body to use is Collagen. However, if the raw ingredients needed aren’t present in sufficient quantities to produce this miraculous elixir, cholesterol can also be used instead.
So to keep your collagen production at its peak, rather than giving your liver a reason to produce additional cholesterol, give your body plenty of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Your 3rd step is to add vitamin C (ascorbic acid) to your diet.
Step 2) 60 recent heart bypass surgery patients were divided into groups. The first group had no dietary restrictions, while the second and third group had one white or one red grapefruit each day.
The second and third group had significantly lowered cholesterol levels while the no grapefruit group showed no reduction. But the red grapefruit group also had a reduction in their triglycerides. So step 2 is "Eat Red Grapefruit", which will incidentally help with step 3 as well.
Step 1) A study of 14,600 men and women ages 45 to 75, recently showed the participants' total cholesterol declined as their number of meals per day increased. Those who ate five or six times a day had the lowest total cholesterol, on average approximately 5% lower, while the highest measurements were found among those who ate only one or two meals a day. So your number 1 step, and incidentally the easiest, is to eat five or six small meals a day, rather than one or two large ones.
If you find a diet to lower cholesterol and follow these 5 steps, you should have your cholesterol to healthy levels as quickly as possible.
About the Author: B.J. Gordey is the owner of Top10-diets.com. Are you looking for a diet to lower cholesterol and ways to add a low cholesterol diet to your lifestyle. You can learn a lot more about how a diet that works can help you at Top10-Diets.com.
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How To Maintain Your Weight After Losing It
By Subodh Gupta
You lost your weight, couple of pounds after sweating and struggling on a treadmill every day. You sacrificed so much, your family time, the tasty dinners in restaurant, and the pints of larger in a pub. No doubt, you should be proud of yourself.
Normally it happens with most of people that after initial weight loss success we get back to our old habits. So you skip your gym, you make couple of phone calls to your friends to go outing, you stuff your fridge with ready meals full of saturated fat and you feel relaxed and getting back to watching TV for long hours rather than having active life style.
After some time you start noticing some changes in your clothes; the lovely, sexy, red dress (size 8) you wore for your birthday two months ago is getting tighter, the jeans which were just perfect can be zipped only when you deeply pull your abdomen in or you hear a friend’s remark that you look rather healthy and your face rounded a bit.
At this moment you have to be truthful to yourself – you are gaining the weight again.
You want to panic, but there is no need for that. There is a simple solution to maintain your weight after losing it. There are 10 easy guidance points for you to be followed:
1. Eat smaller regular meals to allow your body to maintain good blood sugar levels. This will stop the cravings.
2. Drink plenty of water (8 glasses a day). This helps your body tremendously and reduces the urge to eat.
3. Replace fizzy drinks with water. Fizzy drinks contain enormous amounts of sugar and you do not want that. You may add fresh lime or lemon juice to your water.
4. Keep record of how much alcohol you consume a week as this carries calories too. Drink only occasionally.
5. Try to get five recommended fruit and vegetables a day. These will supply you with fiber and vitamins.
6. Reduce fried foods and look at alternative ways of cooking the same foods (e.g. baking, steaming).
7. Do not binge on items such as chocolates and cakes. Those carry lots of unhealthy fat and sugar. Allow yourself a small treat once a week.
8. Control your shopping habits. The least junk food you have in your kitchen the easier will be not to give in the temptation.
9. Maintain a good exercise program. You have to keep moving to keep yourself in good shape. Get yourself a pedometer and check how many steps you do every day. If you stick only to walking try to achieve at least ten thousand steps a day, 5-6 times a week.
10. Use stairs instead of a lift, carry your shopping in both hands, walk instead of taking a car for short distance, etc. Those little things will make the difference in a long term.
Remember: By keeping the small changes to your eating and exercising routine, you can make some big strides in your effort to maintain your weight after losing it.
About the Author: Mr. Subodh Gupta has been interviewed by various TV channels in India and London and is also the author of two books. For reaching to Subodh Gupta Yoga website http://www.subodhgupta.com Celebrity Trainer
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Weight Loss And Cravings
By Subodh Gupta
There are many things you might know in terms of losing weight.
There is the exercise regime you follow, the healthy low in fat and high in fibre diet you mastered, the 8 glasses of water you drink every day, the amount of food you have on your plate, and the time you eat.
Equipped with all the knowledge you are determined to shed off those extra pounds from your thighs or midsection to become new you, the next Pamela Anderson or Daniel creg.
Unfortunately after couple of weeks of your weight loss regime you are as the same as you started your journey. Wondering what went wrong. You may start asking yourself. Feeling cheated and disappointed you are about to call it off.
But there is a solution
You most probably did not recognize the importance of craving factor which didn’t allow you to achieve your results. Because of that you didn’t notice the extra calories you were putting inside you believing you are strictly following your low-calorie diet.
Important: Cravings can be overcome. If you seriously want to lose weight you have to recognize which type of craving it is and deal with it. Tell yourself you can do it but you just have to want to. If you give in to your cravings you will never achieve the perfect body you are dreaming of.
Cravings can happen because of the habit you developed, or boredom, or emotions.
1. Habitual craving
If you crave for a certain type of food each day and at the same time, you have developed a food habit. Your body does not need these sugary and fatty calories, but because it gets them every day and same time you are salivating when you come to even think of the treat waiting for you. You may eat this high-in-fat snack without realizing the bad impact is going to have on your weight loss.
Solution: You have to break the cycle. When you get the impulse to eat something you shouldn’t, do something completely non-food related by changing your activity. If you became habitual to eat your treat after a meal or while reading a book or watching TV go for a walk instead or call a friend.
2. Boredom
You may eat when you are bored. Simple as that but happens to everybody more often than we are aware of.
Solution: Recognize the symptom and ask yourself if you are really hungry or just bored. In that case you need to find something to distract you, something you can enjoy to do to get yourself out of this dead zone. This could be to watch your favorite movie or meet up with your buddy, or in case if everything else failed go for a nap. This will definitely help in not to overstuffed yourself with fatty snacks.
3. Emotions
If you are an emotional eater, you most probably eat a lot of food without even realizing it that’s why this is the most dangerous type of cravings. Most of the time cravings are not truly food related. The cravings come when you feel angry, frustrated, sad, depressed or anxious.
Solution: Examine your mood first before reaching for the chocolate bar or a packet of crisps. Remember: all the food in the world will not help any emotional issues you may be facing at the moment. Try to treat your emotions with something positive and calming like having a hot bath, go for a walk, do yoga or listen to soft music.
Sometimes simple a glass of water can take care of your craving.
About the Author: Mr. Subodh Gupta has been interviewed by various TV channels in India and London and is also the author of two books. For reaching to Subodh Gupta website http://www.subodhgupta.com Celebrity Trainer
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Top Ten Tips For Lazy Dieters
By Anu Priya
There are people everywhere (you may be one of them) who know that they need to and want to lose weight. But have the ‘yeah, I’ll probably start tomorrow’ syndrome. On top of that, let’s face it; many people are simply too lazy to change their lifestyles, so here are ten free diet tips to kick-start your diet. This free diet guide would show you the right direction.
Tip no. 1: Set SMART goals. Goals give dieters something to aim for and are a good source of inspiration. Fitness experts worldwide would agree that all goals you set should adhere to the following acronym:
S (simple): All goals should be easy to remember. Saying ‘I want to lose 20lbs of fat, gain 10lbs of muscle, speed up my metabolism and lower my cholesterol in 6 weeks unless I get promoted in which case I want to lose 10lbs of body weight in 8 weeks’ may well be ambitious and time-considerate, but you are hardly going to remember it in 6 weeks when you need to figure out how much you have lost.
M (Measurable): Your goals should almost always contain a number. Whether it is to drop 10kg or to fit into those 34 inch jeans, having numbers involved means that you can check your own progress.
A (Achievable): Many people often ask me: ‘Is it possible to lose all this weight in 3 weeks’ or ‘I want to lose 50 kilos! Can I do it before Christmas?’ The answer to the latter question is usually a resounding ‘no’, and I often suggest that these people might want to set themselves a target that can actually be hit. Above all, it prevents disappointment and makes them less likely to fall off the rails halfway through a dieting program.
R (Realistic): Your goals should reflect your lifestyle. It is a good idea to diet when you are likely to have little stress from outside influences (such as work) and you have plenty of time for the exercise you enjoy.
T (Time-considerate): Which of the following sounds like a more positive statement: ‘I am going to lose 20lbs’, or ‘I am going to lose 20lbs in 10 weeks’? If you never put a limit on when you need to lose the weight by, you are never going to push yourself to shed those pounds.
Tip no. 2: Write Down Everything You Eat. Many people are overweight because they are ‘heavy snackers’ and eat far too much than they realise. The simplest way to beat this is by writing down everything you eat. That way, when you eat something that you did not ‘mean’ to eat, you will know about it.
Tip no. 3: Use Smaller Plates. As silly as this may sound, a smaller plate will look fuller than a bigger plate with the same amount on it, so your mind will tell the rest of your body that it is getting more food. Besides, you can only fit so much on a small plate!
Tip no. 4: Proteins. Low fat protein rich food, such as egg whites and chicken breast, are fantastic for dieters that want larger portions, as they contain amino acids that build muscle fibres. Aim for 60g per day (I favour tofu or soya bean; it’s cheap, easy to fry -with fat-free Pam spray- and contains beaucoup protein).
Tip no. 5: Low Carbs, Not NO Carbs! Atkins enthusiasts rave about the benefits of carb-starving and that fats are not really that bad, but the simple fact is that your body needs carbs as a basic energy, so after starving yourself of them only to eat them again, your body stores that energy as, you guessed it; fat! Aim for around 240-260g of carbohydrates per day (look at potatoes, pasta, rice and wholemeal bread).
Tip no. 6: Buy a Bag of Nutrasweet. Any sweetener can be used as a sugar substitute and I believe they taste fairly similar. Plus, a tablespoonful contains about 0.1 calories, compared to the 18 that you will often find in sugar.
Tip no. 7: Lift Weights. Lifting light weights can burn calories and tone up every muscle in your body. It is a common misconception that lifting weights will always build big muscles, which is something that many women are keen to avoid. However, this is only true if your body is of the correct somatotype (body shape) and if you really are overweight then believe me, it’s not.
Tip no. 8: Drink Green Tea. The benefits of green tea have long been discussed, the main one being that it contains the right chemicals to speed up your basal metabolism (which in turn burns fat faster). Two cups per day (without sugar!) is enough, while the only known side effects are that the caffeine in it can cause minor sleep deprivation, so drink it in the morning.
Tip no. 9: Get Busy! As I mentioned earlier, many overweight people are ‘heavy snackers’ and these are usually people with two much time on their hands (that are often bored). The best way to combat this is to, quite simply, do something! Getting a new hobby, and therefore spending less time near the TV, are ways to keep you away from the fridge.
Tip no 10: Stop Talking About it! Diet must be one of the most discussed topics in modern society, yet, the people who talk about it are often the ones who want to lose weight. Then, how to prevent obesity? The real secret is to get on with it. As of tomorrow, you are officially dieting, so scribble down five small meals and brew yourself a cup of green tea!
About the Author: http://Dietpolicy.com is a website that deals with various topics like junk food, obesity, weight reduction and diet tips and many more. This article has been written by Tom Eveleigh. He is a Physiology student and a health and fitness enthusiast.
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Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Body Fat: Do You Have Too Much?
By Gary Holdon
Body fat is an important issue of your overall health. Reducing your body fat is important, because too much body fat can make you more prone to serious health difficulties, such as a heart attack or a stroke. It can also drain your energy and create problems with your movement. There are ways to reduce your body fat percentage that don't require a serious diet or a lucrative program that costs thousands of dollars. All it takes is a little bit of creativity and some willpower.
One of the first things you should do is to figure out your body fat percentage. You can find this out through a number of methods, but an exact number representing your body fat percentage is usually quite hard to discern, and your doctor can provide numbers that are more accurate in a few minutes. It involves an equation and finding out your average density.
If an individual is serious about reducing body fat, the first place to start is body fat measurement. This evaluation may not be a great ego booster, but it is a good motivator. If an individual has dangerously high body fat, a drastic change in lifestyle might be necessary, and this may be the push he or she needs to make a change and get healthy. The body fat measurement can be used as a guide to put one on the right path to better health.
Replace Food with Better Food
One of the first things you should do is to replace rice, pasta and breads with vegetables. This isn't like the Atkins diet, in which you drop the carbohydrates in your diet. This technique replaces a type of carbohydrate with another type of carbohydrate, providing your diet with a better way to burn them altogether. Fruits and veggies are better fat burners than rice, pasta and breads, so they will help you reduce your body fat.
Drink Water
Next, drink plenty of water each day. Consuming a lot of water actually makes it harder for the fat to stick to your body, allowing you to lose body fat and keep it off. Water also flushes your body out and removes harmful toxins, creating a better body system with which to fight off body fat. Water also raises your energy level, if you drink enough of it, and can improve your concentration.
Resistance Training
If you add some light resistance training to your workout and you do it before you do any cardio, you'll find that you will have an easier time with your goal to lose body fat. This occurs because your body does not actually burn fat for the first portion of your exercise, so it is better to allow your body to warm up to lose body fat. Elevate your heart rate by doing some light training, then go forward with the whole routine.
A proper diet, keeping well hydrated and regular exercise are excellent and cost-efficient ways to improve health without spending large amounts of money. Expensive diets and special programs to reduce body fat percentage are not required to lose weight, but creativity and a genuine commitment are. If an individual is serious about losing body fat and is willing to put in the time and energy toward doing so, then that's already one foot on the road to better health.
About the Author: Gary Holdon is a writer and internet publisher who likes to publish info resources about weight loss. Check out http://www.11-weight-loss.net/
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Search Terms: how to figure out how much body fat i have,
Why Losing Weight Does Not Require Big, Drastic Eating Changes
By Brian Abraham
One of the biggest weight loss myths is that you have to make huge changes in what you eat to get to your target weight.
Nothing can be further from the weight management truth!
Losing weight is about eating less than your current daily calorie requirements. So if you need 2,500 calories right now, you lose weight when you eat 2,000 calories instead. And all this requires is small, acceptable, everyday changes. Nothing drastic.
To prove this, we’ll use a few real life examples. In each of these examples, we’ll start with an everyday food item and replace it with a substitute that makes sense, so none of that: “Want Ice cream - Eat Carrots instead” stuff. We hope that these examples will show you how simple successful weight management really is – all it requires is a little bit of knowledge of what you’re eating:
1. Fast Food:
A large Double Quarter Pounder Meal at McDonald’s will equal 1,600 calories. Change this to a medium coke and small fries and you’re down to 1,200 calories. Take it a step further and get an iced tea with your Double Quarter Pounder and Small Fries and you’re down to 800 calories!
Now let’s think about this: Is going from a large quarter pounder meal to a custom meal of iced tea, small fries and a quarter pounder, a huge change? We don’t think so - Yet it’s actually saving you 800 calories/meal!
You can also try a combination of a Subway Club Sandwich (at 320 Calories) and a Subway Mustard Ham & Egg Sandwich (at 310 calories). This delicious alternative will total 630 calories per meal.
2. Ice Cream:
3 cups of ice cream = 850 calories. Replace 1 cup with 1 container of Jell-O and you’re down to 700 calories. Replace another cup with a banana and you’re down to 525!
1 cup of ice cream + jell-o + a banana is a still delicious dessert (maybe better than the original) and yet it makes a huge difference.
3. Coke:
1 can of Coke = 150 calories. 1 can of Diet Coke + Lime = 0 calories. Adding Lime makes it taste great and gets rid of that aftertaste as well. Alternatively add lots of ice in your beverage and you end up drinking half the amount in calories.
4. Donuts:
1 Chocolate Donut = 250 calories, 1 Cream filled Donut = 350 calories. There is nothing wrong with eating donuts when managing your weight, simply make a better donut choice.
5. Pizza:
The average slice of a large pizza equals 225 calories. Simply go for the “thin crust” option, (and this is offered in just about every large pizza franchise) and you’re decreasing 75-100 calories per slice!
We Hope We’ve Made a Point!
We simply can not go from a Large Big Mac meal to a diet of apples, broccoli and spinach to lose weight. It makes no real-life, practical sense and it’s simply not going to be sustainable. Not to mention that it’s absolutely unnecessary as well.
Getting to your ideal weight is all about making small changes that don’t burden or completely change your everyday routine. We hope our examples have given you a few ideas for your daily life as well.
About the Author: Brian Abraham runs Zlimmer!: Weight Management Simplified. Zlimmer! currently features the free ebook: How To Avoid Weight Gain In Winters.
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10 Tips To Lose Weight
By Kathryn Soloff
The Holiday Season is upon us. This time of year we have the habit of indulging ourselves. Food is an important aspect of our celebrations. It is therefore obvious that we make wise food choices. Of course, this is easier said than done. Especially when we see some of the food that is available that is made by our family and friends.
In the majority of cases people will not be concerned with those of us watching our weight. Because of this they are less inclined to prepare healthier versions of their recipes. At this point it becomes our responsibility to both stick with our diets and to watch what we eat. It is obvious that the variety of dishes that we are presented with will be very tempting.
What follows are 10 eating suggestions that will help you with your weight loss program.
1. The first one is to stop eating when you are full. At this time of year this is something that many people do not do. This is especially true of those people that believe in cleaning their plates. I do not believe in wasting food, so take only what you can eat comfortably. At the point that you feel satisfied you should just stop.
2. Get into the habit of walking, especially after eating. Walking may be the best form of exercise. It can be a very good cardiovascular exercise, particularly in the colder weather.
3. It is important not to count calories incessantly. I never cared for this form of dieting. Also, it drives the people around you nuts. There already are enough stress factors this time of year. The smartest thing to do is to watch what you eat as opposed to keeping track of the calories.
4. Watch your sweets. Avoid eating too much fat. I am not fond of artificial sweeteners. I believe that they cause more harm than good. If you are at a holiday celebration, just try to indulge in a small amount of sugar.
5. Eat 3 good square meals as opposed to several smaller meals or continuous snacking. I realize that this is contrary to what many articles and experts say. Eating regular meals, sitting down to eat, eating quality food and chewing well are what is important.
6. Realize what your eating limits are and do not cross them. This is very important if you have changed your diet and are trying to lose weight. You know better than anyone else what you can and cannot eat. It is true that most of us enjoy splurging at this time of year. It is really a matter of making up your mind and sticking to your guns.
7. Opt for the best food choices. At every family function there ought to be some healthy food choices. Choose the plain fruit and vegetables as opposed to the cake, cookies and pies. Stay away from the dips.
8. It is best to eat in moderation. Choose the healthiest foods, sit down when you eat and chew your food extremely well.
9. If you choose to drink, do so in moderation. Remember that many holiday drinks are loaded with sugar. Your best choices might be water, unsweetened tea or coffee.
10. Eat whole grains. Very few people realize that whole grains are biologically the stable of our diet. Stay away from white bread, cake or anything with processed flour. These food will put the pounds on very quickly. Instead, it is best to eat whole grain or multi grain foods.
There are always more things that you can do to help your weight loss. It is important to remember that converting to a healthy lifestyle is something that you should practice the entire year.
About the Author: Kathryn Soloff is the co-publisher of http://www.natural-remedy-dot-com.com/losing_weight/ where he provides additional advice, tips and hard to find information on Natural Herbal Weight Loss. Sign up for our free ecourse: 10 Steps To Lose Weight Without Dieting.
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Saturday, December 8, 2007
Losing Weight – 6 Ways Drinking More Water Can Help Make It Happen
By Chris
If you are trying to lose weight, but are failing to pay attention to your water intake, you are making things much more difficult than they have to be. Here are some of the major reasons why anyone hoping to burn off fat and get slim needs to get a healthy dose of water every single day.
1. Water Helps you Feel Full
There are lots things you can consume to feel full, but only one has zero calories. Pounding down water constantly will reduce hunger pangs give you the willpower to stick to your diet.
2. Water Will Help You Think Straight
Ever go reach a point in the day, usually the early afternoon, when all of sudden it feels your energy just drains from you and you can’t seem to concentrate on your work. It’s not a sign of a declining mind, your brain probably is just lacking the water it needs to function at its peak. And since living healthily usually requires a lifestyle adjustment and a change from your usual routine, you need to keep your brain as healthy as possible. If your brain gets the water it needs, you are more likely to consider the damage to your diet a soda might cause. You are more likely to remember an appointment with your personal trainer. And
3. Water Will Help You Digest Your Foods More Efficiently
While you are trying to lose weight, you want the food you eat to get converted into muscle and energy as much as possible. To make this happen, you have to have a strong, efficient digestive system and metabolism. And that just isn’t possible if you are dehydrated. If your body lacks sufficient hydration, your body will struggle to digest the foods you eat, and therefore more will be turned into fat.
4. Water Will Help Keep You From Getting Sick
If you don’t get enough to drink, you might suffer from something called “Chronic Cellular Dehydration,” where your cells are weaker due to being constantly dehydrated. This will weaken your immune system, which will make you more likely to become ill. And nothing can put a damper on a fitness plan like a cold or flu. When you’re sick, you are more likely to skip workouts and eat “comfort foods” to feel better. Drinking enough water gives your cells all they need to effectively fight infection.
5. Water Will Increase Your Liver’s Fat Burning Potential
If you are trying to lose weight, you should take extra good care of your liver, because that is the organ that helps you burn fat and convert it into energy. When you don’t drink enough water, it weakens the liver, which means that your body’s fat burning powers slow down.
6. Water Will Improve Your Blood Circulation
The more oxygen you have in your bloodstream, the more fat you are able to burn. How do you increase the level of oxygen in your bloodstream? You guessed it, by drinking plenty of water. That extra burst of oxygen will help you on two fronts: it will help you burn fat faster and give you more energy for more intense workouts.
About the Author: Chris McCombs is one of the best Irvine personal trainers in California. His website www.socalworkout.com contains valuable tips on fitness and “how to” style exercise videos.
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How To Lose Weight Fast?
By Anne-Marie Ronsen
Tips and recommendations for successful of any diet
- Set a goal. Figure out how fast you can do it, then create a plan to increase your vitality. Incorporating exercise and good nutrition into your daily routine.
- Don’t make too many changes at once. Start with small changes.
- Keep in mind that ALL you eating should be a pleasure.
- Learn about the nutrients contained in the foods you eat. Provide the body with all the essential nutrients for a long and healthful life.
- Drink plenty of water per day and Avoid wasting calories on alcoholic beverages. The average alcoholic drink contains 150-200 calories per glass.
- Lose or gain weight because you want to and not to please others.
- Don’t expect immediate results… Your results will come in direct proportion to the amount of effort you put in.
- Eat small portions, about 5 or 6 times each day… Don’t skip breakfast and Don’t eat anything for at least an hour before going to bed. This helps keep your metabolic rate high, and helps you lose weight naturally.
- Avoid refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and white sugar.
- Choose fruits, vegetables or whole-grain products.
- Challenge yourself to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
- Exercise and positive attitude are the only things you need to lose fat permanently… Think how lovely and healthy your body is becoming day after day as a result of your new eating habits.
- Celebrate each small success and Keep in mind every small step in the right direction is bringing you closer mand closer to your main target.
- Don't confuse WEIGHT loss with FAT loss! Don't think diet, just eat and lose weight!. And Think Like a Winner!
Please note the above is intended for your reference only. While the information is based on material provided by various researchers, it does not presume to give medical advice. Please check with you doctor before starting any diet.
Copyright © Anne-Marie Ronsen
You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the author bylines are included.
About the Author: Anne-Marie Ronsen is the author of many wealth and self development books for women. Download e-books and software from http://www.e-bestsellers.com, http://www.PLRbestsellers.com or http://www.UniversalPublishingltd.com … You will learn about the best tips and recommendations to improve your health, weight and wealth.
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Save Your Self Esteem Through Calorie Shifting For Effective Weight Loss
By Colin Lim
If you are one of the millions of people around the world that struggles with weight issues, I would bet that you have already tried at least one if not a number of weight loss programs only to either fail completely or not get the desired results due to any number of reasons. Failing at weight loss programs can have a very negative impact on a person's self esteem and can be very destructive in the long run.
Not only have I experienced this personally, but I've also seen the huge negative impact on a number of friends who have also tried fervently to lose weight using any one of a number of popular weight loss programs that are popular in the market today.
Having weight issues already impacts the self-esteem. We unfortunately live in a world that places beautiful people on pedestals so those of us that suffer with weight loss issues can have fragile self-esteems at best. If we then try a weight loss program that promises great results, its easy for us to set our expectations high & dream of a time where weight isn't a problem and we aren't looked down upon by the “beautiful people”. But if we then do not get the results that we are expecting, that the program claims to be able to achieve for us, this can be a major blow to our self esteems, and many of us turn this feeling into destructive behaviour which often includes binge eating and the feeling that we will never be able to achieve a healthy body.
So what is the solution for us? Well, the simple answer is that we need to find a weight loss program that works for us. If we are actually able to lose the weight we want to lose, then this will be a huge positive impact on our self esteems and our life in general. Yes, it's stating the obvious and you are most likely thinking, how do I do that? I've already tried! How does anyone do that with so many weight loss programs on the market today all claiming to be the best one and to have great results?
The answer, I believe, lies in finding a weight loss program that focuses on proven scientific facts about our bodies. A proven scientific fact is that our bodies will release two types of hormones every time you eat something: 1) Fat Burning Hormones or 2)Fat Storage Hormones. Depending what you eat and when will determine exactly how much of each hormone your body releases and obviously the more of one will determine whether your body will burn away the fat or store it as fat. A weight loss program that works will focus on the generation of more fat burning hormones and minimises fat storage hormones. If you are able to get your body to produce more of these natural fat burning hormones, then you will be able to lose weight and keep it off.
The key to producing more of these fat burning hormones is in what you eat and when you eat. The amazing fact is that, you do not have to eat less in order to produce more of these fat burning hormones - in fact a successful way of getting your body to produce more of these hormones and lose more weight is to eat more! Yes, the way to do this is through a method called calorie shifting.
Calorie shifting essentially manipulates your body to produce more fat burning hormones by eating different types of calories each day in different patterns. This will then force your body to generate more fat burning hormones resulting in faster weight loss. This is based on the fact that your metabolism doesn't know how much food you'll eat tomorrow or the next day because those days have not happened yet. It is because of this that your metabolism always burns calories based on your eating habits during the past few days, because it assumes that you'll continue to eat in the same general way. But if you changed your eating program by shifting the types of calories eaten, then your body's metabolism will burn all of those calories eaten, and when it finishes with those calories, it will burn any stored fat. This is also dependent on what you eat as you need to eat food that “fat burning compatible”. These are foods that are easy to burn and those force your body to look for other sources of calories to burn - your fat stores.
The most successful calorie shifting method is known as the “Idiot Proof Diet”. Whilst the diet name can sound a little offensive to some, it basically is called that as its easy to follow and works for everybody and there is no need for calorie counting nor label reading. It includes comprehensive menus so that you know exactly what types of foods to eat. It also tells you when to eat it. The diet plan constantly alternates your menu between every possible type of calorie, constantly shifting from one type of calorie to the next, ensuring that the scale keeps dropping.
Imagine what the impacts to your self esteem will be when you are able to follow a proven diet plan that will in fact help you lose weight fast and help you keep that weight off. Don't imagine it, its time to take action and not only save your self esteem but in fact boost it. This will have a huge positive impact on your life.
About the Author: To learn more about this revolutionary weight loss program that will save your self esteem, click here
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Search Terms: Diet Manipulates Fat Burning HORMONES, calorie shifting and fat burning, foods to eat whilst calorie shifting, Fat Burning Hormones Shifting Calories, self esteem due to weight issues,
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Weight Loss Solution
By Bob Gill
Statistics in the United States indicate that obesity and rates of people being overweight have reached epidemic proportions. 11% of children, for example, are obese, according to the World Heart Federation Fact Sheet, 2002. 50% of women aged 20 to 74 are overweight or obese, according to The National Women’s Health Information Center. The statistics for men in all age groups are no better. A weight loss solution is needed.
Being overweight carries certain health risks, the main one being heart disease and the possibility of heart attacks. Of course, the determination of being overweight must be left to a doctor as everyone’s body is different because of fat and muscle ratio to body weight. So don’t automatically try dieting if you are some 20 pounds overweight; get your doctor to establish the fact beforehand that a weight loss solution is needed.
Don’t make the mistake of following traditional ways of trying to lose weight. There is no need to drastically lower your calorie intake, or to virtually starve yourself, combined with vigorous exercise. Use the tried and successful diet that involves eating 4 meals a day and includes moderate exercise only. (Note, though, that in one aspect of the diet you don’t even have to exercise). You need never go hungry following this eating style as a wide variety of food is available.
The “Shifting Calories” eating style encourages shifting certain calories eaten and using an irregular eating pattern. It is the irregularity of the system that shocks the body into raising its metabolism and you lose weight. Thousands of people worldwide can attest to the success of this diet plan.
In the Shifting Calories system certain types of calories are manipulated at each meal. Fat calories are not manipulated, just carbs and proteins. You are presented with a large list of foods and then shown how to manipulate these to gain maximum weight loss. There is no skimping at meal times; you eat only until you are satisfied. You don’t overeat, of course, but you stop short of being “full”.
You are shown the exact foods that you need to rotate each day. You can eat the foods in any order, as long as you follow the recommended carbs and proteins combinations. To make it even easier for the dieter, an online diet generator will generate your daily menu for you!
This program dismisses the contradictory diet hype you have heard over the years, like “low carbs” and “low fat”. It emphasizes the danger of sugar and how we should be looking for this in foods. Sugar is a bigger danger than fat and a large contributor to weight gain.
The danger of intense aerobic work-outs is discussed. How these work-outs burn mainly carbs, not fat. Over-exerting yourself elevates your breathing and heart rate and your body will then burn mainly carbs. Slightly elevating your breathing and heart rate, though, through a moderate exercise like walking, will burn stored body fat.
The Shifting Calories plan, then, could be an effective and permanent weight loss solution.
About the Author: The author has had past weight problems, but has managed to lose up to 40 pounds and maintain permanent weight loss.
For more information on the "Shifting Calories" method of losing weight, please visit:
http://www.homebusinesslink.com/weightlossrecipe.html
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Bad Habits Can Ruin Your Diet
By Janet Martin
It's been weeks since you started dieting to shed off those extra pounds. You've made a vow to become a better person and to get rid of unhealthy eating habits. You want to look better, feel better, and live longer. And you firmly believe that losing weight will help you achieve these goals.
Unfortunately, you haven't accomplished much yet. You stare in the mirror and you still see the same old face with the same ugly body. So what's holding you back? What's keeping you from effectively losing weight and maintaining whatever gains you've made? Dietitian Tara Gidus of the American Dietetic Association said that while some people sincerely want to lose weight, they unintentionally consume a lot of calories because of certain bad habits. This is enough to ruin anyone's diet.
Just what exactly are these bad habits? Here's a quick roundup from Elizabeth Somers, author of “10 Habits That Mess Up A Woman's Diet”:
I'm lonely – feed me! Variations of this theme are “I just got promoted and I need a treat!”, “My son got an 'A' in math so let's celebrate” or “My pet spider Reggie just gave birth! Bring out the beer!” Giving meaning to everything and using that as an excuse to eat more can be catastrophic to your health. Sure we all deserve a treat once in a while but overindulging is an entirely different thing. Learn to differentiate between the two if you want to lose weight.
What's your excuse? “I'm not fat. I'm just too short for my weight!”, “I'm a busy person. I have no time to exercise”, “I'll start dieting tomorrow as soon as the weather improves!” or “I have a sluggish metabolism which is why I don't burn fat easily.” You'll be surprised at the kind of crazy excuses people can think of to postpone dieting or exercising. The fact is, the more you delay, the less likely you'll get into shape. To reach your ideal weight quickly and start feeling better, don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today.
Mindless eating. The little things in life do matter, especially when it comes to eating. So think twice before you put anything in your mouth. Testing the spaghetti sauce while cooking, eating your son's leftovers, or consuming that small piece of cake in the fridge to save space may seem harmless but these all add up to extra pounds that you don't need right now.
Putting other people first. You have a diet plan but can't seem to stick to it. The reason? Your husband loves meat while your kids are crazy about hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries. So you might as well join the club, right? Wrong! If you really want to lose weight, stick to your diet plan and choose your meals carefully. You're not only helping yourself this way but your family will love you even more for preparing nutritious meals for them.
Let's drink to that! Many people believe that they'll lose weight if they eat less and drink more. True, drinking makes you full and reduces your craving for food. But if you drink alcohol, soda, and sweetened juice all day, who are you fooling? All you'll get are more calories and more problems!
While diet and exercise are essential in losing weight, many products can help you do a better job. One of them is Zylorin that can enhance your diet and exercise program in four ways. It can speed up your metabolism, suppress your appetite, control sugar levels and cravings, and sustain your energy level throughout the day.
About the Author: Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com.
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Reduce Weight With Stomach Band
By Nicholas Bowen
Obesity is a condition which is becoming increasingly rampant these days, in fact it is taking the shape of a serious health hazard. There are different ways through which one can lose weight, but what is important to find out is that method of weight loss which will suit a person perfectly. Obesity if not treated on time can lead to several other serious health consequences. Studies have found out that stomach band is one method of weight loss surgery that has a very high rate of success. Now just because you are obese doe not mean that you are eligible for undergoing the weight loss surgery. Stomach band is performed on those people who have tried out all the other methods of weight reduction without any success. The person must not be suffering from any serious medial disorder and must be between the age of 18 and 55. Talk to the doctor and clarify any doubts that you have about stomach band.
Stomach band also known as gastric band, is a type of weight loss surgery where a stomach band is placed at the top portion of the stomach, in order to divide the stomach in to two parts. A small pouch and a larger pouch are created by putting this band. The stomach band that is used for this kind of surgery is a flexible one, which can be used to vary the size of the stomach pouch based on the need of an individual. Making this adjustment is not at all difficult; all the doctor needs to do is pump saline in or out of the rubber ring in the stomach band via the reservoir and the access port of the band that is inserted under the skin during the surgery.
The basic idea behind reducing the size of the stomach by using stomach band is that after the reduction in the size of the stomach, the amount of food intake will reduce naturally. A very small amount of food intake will make the person feel filled up so there is absolutely no chance for the person to overeat. However the person must take proper care of the diet that they are taking, and make sure that they eat all the required nutrients for the body in just the proper proportion. Initially after the surgery the weight loss may not be as drastic as you have been wishing for, the whole process takes some time, but be assured that you will see the results for sure after some time.
If you have any doubts about the whole process, make sure to seek consultation with a doctor and clarify all the doubts. If you or any friend or family member wants to undergo the procedure find out an efficient and competent doctor to do the whole process. The amount of risk involved with the process of weight reduction through stomach band is very less and you can actually undergo the process without any second thought, if only you are not suffering from any major health condition.
About the Author: Nicholas Bowen is vastly experienced in weight loss procedures. He advises obese people about the best methods of stomach bands is http://www.gastricband.com
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Monday, December 3, 2007
Why There Is No Such Thing As A Quick Fix Weight Loss Solution
By Mike Warner
We are blessed in today’s society that whatever we want, we can pretty much get it straight away. When I mean straight away, I mean now.
You want to go on a vacation, jump online and you could be on your way this afternoon. If you are hungry, stop by at a fast food chain. If you want to watch your favorite TV show, you can use TIVO or the internet (sometimes) to do so, whenever you want. It’s quite amazing what we can do.
All of this instant gratification though is making it very hard for us to be healthy and lose weight.
Because we are so used to getting whatever we want, when we want it, we’ve been conditioned to believe that we should be able to lose weight at the push of a button, or the taking of a pill, without changing anything we’re doing.
Because we live such abundantly, and are spoilt by how quickly we can get it, we feel it should be the same when it comes to weight loss. We believe there’s got to be a way to easily, and very quickly pop a pill, and enjoy safe weight loss.
Now, if we think logically about this, it does not make any sense. Anyone who knows anything about weight loss will tell you that it comes down to one simple formula:
You have to burn more calories per day than you eat.
If you can manage that, you can’t help but lose weight. The problem is of course in managing it. For you to lose weight, you need to do this for an extended period of time. And of course to do this, you have to modify your lifestyle.
The thing is though, we don’t want to eat less. We don’t want to give up our favorite foods and drinks. And of course, we don’t want to exercise.
The fact that we resist change so much means there has been a multi-million dollar weight loss drug and supplement industry that thrives. Its amazing that what we’re willing to try, just so we don’t have to eat less or exercise more.
Some of the side effects created by some of these drugs are pretty severe, so much so that you wouldn’t wish it on your worst enemy. Ironically, there is enough people in the US that are happy to pay for it, as long as they can just keep their old habits and let the drug do all the work.
Now, am I saying that weight loss drugs and supplements are all useless?
No, not necessarily. What I am saying is that if you are really serious about losing weight and keeping it off, you do need to make some lifestyle changes. And you know what?
It won’t be easy. Anytime you do make some lifestyle choices, there’s going to inertia. You’ll have resistance from yourself to making the change. You just have to keep focused on your end goal.
So, what is smart is to focus on changing your lifestyle, and choosing effect supplements to help you do this, if it is appropriate for you.
How do you know if a supplement is appropriate for you?
All you have to do is figure out what lifestyle choices you’re going to make. Decide what habits you need to form to maintain the body you want. Now think about all the things that might go wrong, when you make those changes.
For example, if you are overweight, you should start by looking at what you are eating. Often people will over-eat and under-drink. What I mean by that is that they will eat, even when they are not hungry, just because its lunch time, or because food makes them comfortable, and they won’t drink water regularly throughout the day (and leave themselves dehydrated).
So in that case, this person should think about how they can have water within touching distance of themselves throughout the day. If you do that, you will naturally sip it. You’ll be amazed how this simple tip controls your appetite.
If comfortable eating is a problem, I would now look at one of the popular weight loss supplements out there, called Hoodia. I would choose Hoodia, because, to date, there are no known side effects that have been reported. This doesn’t mean that it won’t cause side effects, because Hoodia is quite new to the market, but at this stage it seems the best choice. I would though be very careful about where I buy my Hoodia from. The source where you get your Hoodia is the most important factor you have to think about if you plan on using it.
The reason Hoodia would be effective here is because its job is to make you feel full. So if you are already feeling full, you don’t have to worry about comfortable eating. You can now focus on eating a balanced diet, full of good nutrition so that your body gets all the nutrients it needs to help you lose weight.
Again, I would not recommend relying on Hoodia long term. Use it in the short term to get into good dietary habits, then when you do get used to eating healthy foods, wean off it.
That way you keep in total control, without relying on anything. You’re just using it (Hoodia in this case) to make it easier for you to change your lifestyle. The point is, if you want to keep the weight off, you have to take the power off the pill, and put it back into your ability to change your lifestyle. If you do that, you’re more likely to stick to your new habits, and therefore keep the weight off.
About the Author: If you are interested in how to buy real, pure hoodia and avoid cheap, fake Hoodia sellers, click on those links. You'll get good info on weight loss.
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How Much Weight Can One Lose With South Beach Diet?
By Wade Robins
Carol is a happy individual. However, this was not always the case. A year ago, she was suffering from depression. Her frame of 5’7” was under pressure. The reason – her weight of 87 kilos was too much for her body to bear. Doctors had classified her as obese and she was suffering from chronic backache, high levels of cholesterol and heart problems.
That is when she read about the South Beach diet. She tried it out and successfully lost as weight. So, what is South Beach diet?
South Beach diet is one of the few diets that have managed to attract thousands of loyal followers. Devised by Miami based cardiologist, Dr. Arthur Agatston, the diet first hit the American shores in form of a book titled The South Beach Diet: The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss.
The cornerstone of South Beach diet is the regulation in the type of carbohydrates and fats that enter the body. Carbohydrates, fats and proteins are the main components of food. However, different food items contain different kinds of carbohydrates and fats. The kind of fats and carbohydrates ingested by you creates a negative or a positive impact on the body.
South Beach diet stresses on restricting the consumption of bad carbohydrates. Bad carbohydrates are complex in nature and rank high on the glycemic index. Most processed foods, soft drinks and bakery items made from refined flour contain bad carbohydrates. Bad carbohydrates are rapidly broken down and get absorbed into the blood stream. The body releases high doses of insulin to regulate the glucose levels. However, once the carbohydrates get burnt up, the insulin still present makes you carve for more food and you end up gulping more. Similarly, the saturated fats tend to be sticky and may increase the risk of arteriosclerosis and other heart related ailments.
South Beach diet restricts the consumption of bad carbohydrates and saturated fats. The three phases of South Beach diet also ensures that you are able to shed those extra pounds. In the first stage – which lasts for two weeks- the dieter can expect to lose weight of around 8-13 lb. There is no fixed period for the second stage of South Beach diet and one can continue with it till the time the weighing machine displays the figure you want, in other words till you have achieved the desired target. Usually, people lose anywhere between 1-2 lb per week. The third phase is to be continued for lifetime. For more info see http://www.southbeachdietclub.com/sbdclub/south-beach-diet-recipes.html on south beach diet recipes.
Thus, South Beach diet has helped thousands to regain a slim and a healthy body. However, South Beach diet asks the sacrifice of burgers, pastries, pizzas, soft drinks, and many other yummy food. This is a small ask for a life long of health and fitness.
The third phase can consist of meals that are recommended for phase one and two. But remember to steer clear of fats, and anything that contains bad carbohydrates. Adhering to the rules of South Beach diet can launch you on a path to a healthy self.
About the Author: You can also find more info on southbeachdiet food list and south beach diet meal plan.
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Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tips For Not Gaining Weight On Thanksgiving Or Christmas
By CD Mohatta
On feast days, it’s especially important not to skip a healthy breakfast. We tend to over eat and choose more fattening and sugary foods when we’ve gone too long without eating. A healthy breakfast might include two or more of a whole grain cereal or oatmeal, eggs, vegetables, yogurt or milk, and fruit. Try to eat healthy food every four hours throughout the holidays, but eat small meals. Make sure you drink a lot of water, particularly on feast days.
Often staying lean during the holidays is hardest on the cook. Here are a few tips for cooking a more healthy weight-friendly meal:
For a stuffing that is less fattening and even more delicious, start with whole wheat bread or whole grain rice. Use half or less of the amount of butter and oil. Double or even triple all the healthy ingredients such as celery, onion, mushrooms, nuts, and dried fruit. This will lower the fat and increase the fiber of your stuffing. It will also make it more flavorful. Your traditional recipe can be adjusted in this way.
Use a rack to roast meats. Domestic duck and goose should be pricked all over the skin prior to roasting, to allow the fats to escape. Cover your roasts until the last to keep them moist, instead of using butter. Then remove the cover for the last twenty to thirty minutes to allow the skin to brown.
Purchase an inexpensive gravy separator. These are small plastic pitchers with the spout located at the bottom of the cup, much like a garden watering can. Before making gravy, ladle the meat juices into the gravy separator and allow a minute for the fat to float to the top. Carefully pour the juices into the pan you will use to make gravy until the fat reaches the bottom and then stop. Then continue to make the gravy. Your gravy will be much more lean but just as flavorful.
In the first part of this article, we looked at how we can make stuffing that is not heavy and will not add weight. We also talked about how to make less fattening gravy. Let us discuss more.
Learn how to make especially delicious salads. To mixed greens you might add sliced pear, apple, beets, orange slices, nuts, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and dress the salad with a raspberry vinaigrette.
If you are going to serve rolls, try a whole grain roll.
Find side dishes that are both healthy and particularly delicious. Make larger batches of the healthy dishes and smaller batches of the less healthy ones. This will gently encourage you and your guests to want more of the healthy vegetable side dishes.
Eating a healthier holiday meal, even if you are not doing the cooking, is easier if you follow certain guidelines. Half your plate should be vegetables, no more than a quarter of the plate should be meat, and no more than a quarter of the plate should be starches and breads. Fill at least half your plate with salad, green vegetables, baked sweet potato, carrots, squash, brown or wild rice, cranberry sauce, and fruit. If you are eating meat, choose a lean portion about the size of a deck of cards. Select only a small portion of stuffing, mashed potatoes, casserole vegetables, vegetables in heavy sauce, cheese, or breads. Avoid butter, do not use extra salt, go easy on the gravy, and avoid cheese sauces. Wait on what might be second helpings for another small meal a few hours later.
There is no need to deny yourself dessert, just use common sense. Always eat healthy food before dessert, and then take a small portion if you see something you like. If you have filled up on healthy food first, you will be less tempted to overeat dessert.
About the Author: Users of myspace, friendster, hi5, orkut, etc, click for myspace comments and myspace graphics. Add christmas myspace layouts to your profile.
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Weight Loss: Exercise Is Necessary
By Kathryn Soloff
Many of us live relative sedentary lives. We are designed to move, but our modern lifestyle permits us to be less active than we should be. Our lifestyle is rather unusual when you consider how we are meant to be. We wake up in the morning, move to the breakfast table, then to the car, next to the office, followed by a restaurant, then to the living room to watch television and finally back to bed.
You should keep in mind that this is a relatively modern phenomenon. Not too long ago, a man who worked on the farm did the equivalent of 15 miles of jogging each and every day.
In today's world, our daily routine keeps us regulated to our homes, chairs and car seats. If we want physical activity, we must create it for ourselves.
Obesity is caused by two things. The first is how and what we eat. The second, and equally important, is the lack of physical activity. Therefore, it is important that we create some sort of activity program.
Keep in mind, that exercise alone is not sufficient. It is also necessary to change your eating habits to lose weight and to improve your health. Nevertheless, it is essential to incorporate some sort of sustained activity program. The more consistent you are in your daily exercise, the easier it is to lose and maintain your weight. Here are some things to consider.
Get some quality sleep. Exercise and good quality sleep complement each other. In order to function well you need good sleep. To sleep well, you have to have enough physical activity.
Walking is probably the simplest exercise program of all. When done properly, walking may be the only exercise that you require. You should gradually build up to to 45 minutes to one hour of brisk walking five times per week. Besides weight loss, the walking has both physical and psychological benefits that are more than worthwhile.
Of course, walking outdoors is preferable. When the weather is bad; however, use a treadmill.
The plan is to develop a consistent approach to diet and exercise. This should be, of course, lifestyle changes and not merely some temporary bandaid. The objective of your program is to lose weight, feel better and to improve your health.
This program that you develop requires both focus and dedication. Determination is essential to obtain your desired results. Many of us get impatient easily. What we are striving for here is long term results. In the matter of losing weight, as with many things in life, perseverance is omnipotent.
This is just the beginning though. If by the first week you are able to stick to your program, you have a great chance to further boost your weight loss and stay with the plan until you achieve your desired result. Try as much as possible to be unlike the people who give up easily just because they could not see the result they want at the time they want. Patience is a virtue. The same way it took your body time to gain all that weight, think about it as the time your body will have to exert just to get rid of it.
Stop procrastinating and seize the day. Take the time now to develop both your diet and exercise programs. Implement them immediately. Make adjustments as time goes on and you learn more. Remind yourself that lost weight and improved health are gifts to both you and your family.
About the Author: Kathryn Soloff is the co-publisher of http://www.natural-remedy-dot-com.com/fatburnerreviews/herbal_fat_burners.html where he provides additional advice, tips and hard to find information on Weight Loss. Sign up for our free ecourse: 10 Steps To Lose Weight Without Dieting
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=203034&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet
Saturday, November 24, 2007
What Is A Good Diet? Does It Even Exist?
By Melinda Grossman
"What is a good diet?" you might ask. I personally think of a diet as how I eat everyday – not just when losing weight – but also when maintaining a healthy weight. But the majority of folks associate the word "diet" with weight loss. So that's the meaning I'll use in this article. Now let's cover some of the characteristics of what is a good diet.
First, a good diet satisfies all your nutritional needs. And it's also one you can stay on.
It should have an adequate number of calories. There is a minimum that you can't go below and still lose weight healthfully. Check with your doctor to find out what your minimum is. For most people it never drops below 1200 calories. So, if you ask, "What is a good diet?" the answer might be one that gives you enough to eat.
Health care professionals don't want you on a diet that makes you lose unhealthy amounts of weight. Other than the first week or two, you should only be losing 1 or 2 pounds per week. The only exception is if you’re under a doctor's care.
A diet that offers a variety of foods is on the right track. This way you have proper nutrition and you won't get bored. The foods should be readily available, too. Something to consider: If your diet program sends you special foods to eat, you won't be able to stick with it if your shipment arrives late. This can lead to diet failure.
A good diet restricts certain choices. You should be able to eat only limited amounts of fats in your foods. Sugar and other simple carbohydrates should rarely be consumed. Also, it is not a good idea to drink too much alcohol. A diet that allows you to eat or drink very much of these items is not a healthy diet.
That's what a good diet restricts, but what's included? Every meal should have certain nutritional groups: Carbohydrates, protein, and a small amount of fat. They should also be in the right proportions for healthy eating.
Having smaller meals more than 3 times a day is another sign of a good diet. The less you eat at any one time, the easier it is for your body to metabolize the food without turning it into fat. Another reason to eat 5 or 6 smaller meals is to keep your body from going into starvation mode. When your brain senses hunger, this is what happens and it automatically sends signals to store fat for survival.
A newer solution to the search for a good diet is one that includes calorie cycling. This is a concept born of the bodybuilding movement. Bodybuilders who want to gain muscle will eat more calories for five days and fewer calories for two days. The application of this idea for dieters is to eat fewer calories for 5 days, and eat a few more for 2 days. This will help you lose weight while maintaining the muscle mass you have.
When you ask "What is a good diet?" think of all the things you want from it. If you want your diet to keep you healthy, demand it. If you want it to be convenient for you, do not accept a diet that isn't. Having a right diet makes all the difference when it comes to losing weight successfully.
About the Author: Looking for some exercise and weight loss programs? You'll find helpful weight loss tips, exercise programs, and health risk assessments at http://www.WeightLossAnswersOnline.com.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=203181&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet
Effective Chinese Medicines For Weight Loss
By Roger Thompson
Chinese herbal medicine is one of the great herbal systems of the world, with an unbroken tradition going back to the 3rd century BC. Yet throughout its history it has continually developed in response to changing clinical conditions, and has been sustained by research into every aspect of its use. This process continues today with the development of modern medical diagnostic techniques and knowledge. Because of its systematic approach and clinical effectiveness it has for centuries had a very great influence on the theory and practice of medicine in the East, and more recently has grown rapidly in popularity in the West. It still forms a major part of healthcare provision in China, and is provided in state hospitals alongside western medicine.
Some Chinese medicines are promoted as having the ability to help people loose weight by primarily causing peoples’ metabolisms to act more efficiently. Other types of Chinese medicines for weight loss are thought to assist the human body in processing fat substances in a more effective manner as well as stopping the accumulation in the body of unhealthy fats. Another variety of Chinese medicines for weight loss act to provide a boost to the metabolism.
Herbs that can help the body from developing fatty deposits are immature citrus peel, magnolia bark and citrus aurantium. Herbs that are thought to have the ability to improve the functioning of your metabolism and increase your energy are astragalus, atractylodes and ginseng. Some herbalists also recommend cinnamon, ginger, eucommia bark and epimedium. With the increase in your level of energy it will be easier to partake in workouts and this will assist you in losing undesirable weight. These herbs can be helpful for people who seem to gather unwanted weight in the stomach area.
Some Chinese medicines for weight loss are affective by supposedly reducing stress, depression, anxiety and other types of emotional conditions that can cause people to over eat. This category of herbs includes mint, magnolia bark and biota seeds. Some herbalists recommend bitter herbs such as coptis and Chinese rhubarb that are considered useful in detoxification and they supposedly lower inflammatory and acidic situations in your body which seem to cause people to desire large amounts of food. These herbs might not be found in your basic grocery store so you will probably have to do some research in order to find out where you can purchase them in your area or perhaps you would prefer the convenience of buying them on the internet.
Bao He Wan is a Chinese medicine for weight loss which some people suggest might help you loose weight by reportedly improving your digestion system. It is sold as a wafer. It includes Shan Zha which helps the body digest meats and fatty substances, Shen Ou to increase you digestive systems’ ability to digest alcohol and rice, it also contains an herb named Lai Fu Zi which improves the digestion of starchy items and a couple other helpful herbs. This product does have some unwanted side affects.
A lot of the Chinese medicines for weight loss have not been scientifically proven in independent laboratories to be effective in helping people loose weight so use your judgment before you try these products and consult with your doctor. Chinese medicines taken for weight loss will not solve your weight problem unless you stick to a healthy diet and exercise because they are not going to perform miracles for you.
About the Author: Roger Thompson writes for Leading Leading Portal for health care, medical, biotech and hospital jobs.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=203870&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Weight Loss: Exercise Is Necessary
By Kathryn Soloff
Many of us live relative sedentary lives. We are designed to move, but our modern lifestyle permits us to be less active than we should be. Our lifestyle is rather unusual when you consider how we are meant to be. We wake up in the morning, move to the breakfast table, then to the car, next to the office, followed by a restaurant, then to the living room to watch television and finally back to bed.
You should keep in mind that this is a relatively modern phenomenon. Not too long ago, a man who worked on the farm did the equivalent of 15 miles of jogging each and every day.
In today's world, our daily routine keeps us regulated to our homes, chairs and car seats. If we want physical activity, we must create it for ourselves.
Obesity is caused by two things. The first is how and what we eat. The second, and equally important, is the lack of physical activity. Therefore, it is important that we create some sort of activity program.
Keep in mind, that exercise alone is not sufficient. It is also necessary to change your eating habits to lose weight and to improve your health. Nevertheless, it is essential to incorporate some sort of sustained activity program. The more consistent you are in your daily exercise, the easier it is to lose and maintain your weight. Here are some things to consider.
Get some quality sleep. Exercise and good quality sleep complement each other. In order to function well you need good sleep. To sleep well, you have to have enough physical activity.
Walking is probably the simplest exercise program of all. When done properly, walking may be the only exercise that you require. You should gradually build up to to 45 minutes to one hour of brisk walking five times per week. Besides weight loss, the walking has both physical and psychological benefits that are more than worthwhile.
Of course, walking outdoors is preferable. When the weather is bad; however, use a treadmill.
The plan is to develop a consistent approach to diet and exercise. This should be, of course, lifestyle changes and not merely some temporary bandaid. The objective of your program is to lose weight, feel better and to improve your health.
This program that you develop requires both focus and dedication. Determination is essential to obtain your desired results. Many of us get impatient easily. What we are striving for here is long term results. In the matter of losing weight, as with many things in life, perseverance is omnipotent.
This is just the beginning though. If by the first week you are able to stick to your program, you have a great chance to further boost your weight loss and stay with the plan until you achieve your desired result. Try as much as possible to be unlike the people who give up easily just because they could not see the result they want at the time they want. Patience is a virtue. The same way it took your body time to gain all that weight, think about it as the time your body will have to exert just to get rid of it.
Stop procrastinating and seize the day. Take the time now to develop both your diet and exercise programs. Implement them immediately. Make adjustments as time goes on and you learn more. Remind yourself that lost weight and improved health are gifts to both you and your family.
About the Author: Kathryn Soloff is the co-publisher of http://www.natural-remedy-dot-com.com/fatburnerreviews/herbal_fat_burners.html where he provides additional advice, tips and hard to find information on Weight Loss. Sign up for our free ecourse: 10 Steps To Lose Weight Without Dieting
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=203034&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet
The 5 Things Anyone Can Do To Lose Weight And Stay Healthy
By Gabriel Adams
Are you finding it difficult to keep up with the barrage of health and fitness articles telling you to do nigh-impossible things in an attempt to lose weight and stay fit? Are the rules of nutrition getting increasingly complicated, so much so you’ve started ignoring them? You’re not alone there. More and more people are getting increasingly befuddled with new discoveries of foods or exercises that offer benefits and cause never-heard before diseases.
Keeping your health and fitness routine simple is the key to success. You are more likely to feel encouraged to keep at it if you choose a routine that simple and doable. Staying healthy and fit may seem complicated, but the basics are very simple.
Here are five simple and easy ways you can improve your health and fitness starting today:
Eat Less Food
Do you eat till you are full and then snack as a hobby? Stop! It’s simple- the more you eat the fatter and unhealthier you’ll be. Eat sensibly. While it is certainly not recommended that you go on a crash diet, no matter how urgently you need to lose weight, it is advisable that you eat smaller portions of food five times a day rather than 3 huge meals daily. Stop eating before you feel full, and drink a glass of water – you'll find that within 10 minutes you'll feel full.
Drink More Water
The recommended daily minimum is 8 glasses o f water. Drink up anytime, anywhere. Water does you a world of good and flushes away unwanted toxins. Drink lots of good clean water and you may start to lose weight and feel better with that one step.
Exercise Daily
It does not matter what exercise you choose to do as long as you do it. If you’re fed up of running on the treadmill in a stuffy old gym, grab your beach kit and go out for a run on the beach. Follow it up with a swim in the sea for a complete body work out. You don't need an expensive gym membership to work out. In fact, many experts believe that a more natural workout, with exercises such as running, walking, biking, swimming, push ups, pull ups, sit ups, etc, is actually better for you.
Give up Smoking
Every single cigarette you smoke damages your heart that much more. If you smoke, give it up; if you don’t, don’t start. If you need help to smoke smoking, don’t be ashamed to ask. Cigarettes are highly addictive and often difficult to give up without help. There are a variety of products and services that can help you stop the habit of smoking. The sooner you stop smoking, the better.
Stay Mentally Alert
Indulging in mentally stimulating activities like crosswords and Sudoku helps to stimulate the brain and retard the onset of Alzheimer’s and other age-related conditions. You might try Scrabble – if you don't have anyone to play with, try playing an online game of this great lingual exercise.
About the Author: Want to stay healthy? Check out glyconutrients or goji juice, aka jugo goji.
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