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Information on the Atkins Diet Program

November 18, 2010 Leave a Comment

The Atkins diet program or the Atkins diet was named after Robert Atkin, who devised a plan for his own weight issues. He had tremendous success with the program and decided to write a book about it that instantly became very popular.

The main focus of the Atkins diet is the use of a low carbohydrate diet or a low carb diet. Through his research, he was able to link obesity and serious weight problems to the consumption of three bad carbohydrate items which were sugar, flour and high fructose corn syrup. He found that these three ingredients were present in alarming quantities in almost all Western foods.

He concluded that elimination of these ingredients or at least a reduced intake would result in significant weight loss. The Atkins diet program has had a lot of success over the years and it is still one of the most popular diet programs available today.

More information about the Atkins diet program

The Atkins diet has four stages to it, each of which is discussed briefly in the sections below.

  • The Induction stage – This is stage where people see the most amount of fat loss with this diet program. One can lose anywhere between 5-10 pounds per week. This is the stage where carbohydrate consumption is severely restricted. The diet will give very specific instructions about what carbohydrates and how much of it can be consumed.
  • The ongoing weight loss stage – This is the second stage of the diet where carbohydrate levels are increased to more healthy levels. The first phase is a stage where the carbohydrates are severely restricted whereas this stage will be a little bit more lenient on carbohydrate intake. Though the levels are increased, it will be maintained at a level where weight loss still occurs.
  • A pre-maintenance stage – This is another stage where the level of carbohydrates that you consume is increased again. This stage is largely dependent on how well the user or dieter is able to understand his or her body. They will have to stop pr limit their carbohydrate intake at a point where they are able to still consume it without gaining any more weight.
  • Lifetime maintenance – This is the stage where the dieter will use all of what they have learned in the previous three stages to manage their carbohydrate intake in such a way that they are completely in control of their weight levels.

The diet was extremely popular in 2003 and 2004 when it was estimated that almost one out of eleven Americans were on the Atkins diet. In 2005 however, Robert Atkins died after a viral infection and the diet lost a lot of its popularity after that. It still continues to be a popular diet that has a large following although a lot of critics have criticized the Atkins diet program as being too demanding and unhealthy for the user.

The diet also became unpopular as it was a very expensive diet to follow for most people. The suggested items in an Atkins diet were usually the more expensive items that you would find at a grocery store which was not something that all Americans could afford on a regular basis.

Filed Under Diet Programs For Women, Weight Loss Diet

Will A Vegetarian Diet Plan Help You Lose Weight?

November 18, 2010 Leave a Comment

You might have heard about vegetarian diet programs where meat is completely avoided. A lot of people are having success with it although that does not mean that it is a diet plan that will work for everyone.

You can learn more about what a diet that is vegetarian will do for you by reading more of this article.

Benefits of a vegetarian diet

The most obvious reason why vegetarian food is linked to weight loss is due to the fact that vegetarian meals have less calories and fat when compared to the non-vegetarian meals or meals that include meat. When your diet in general has fewer calories and less fat, you are bound to experience some fat loss.

This fat loss will also largely depend upon your past diet plan. If you were eating a lot of meats and then switch to a vegetarian food plan, there is a good chance you will experience good fat loss as the number of calories that you eat will get scaled down drastically. This is a particularly good plan for people who were consuming a lot of red meat such as beef that is very high in both calories and saturated fat.

Things you should know about a vegetarian diet program

Just because something is vegetarian does not mean that it is automatically good for you. A vegetarian food item can be just as bad as red meat depending on the choice of food. Fatty cheese or sour cream with a lot of fat is the equivalent of junk foods on the vegetarian side.

One must also be careful about the nutritional value provided by vegetarian meals. Vegetarian meals in general will have a lower amount of protein as it does not include meat. Fruits and vegetables are a great source of vitamins, fiber and carbohydrates but they are definitely lacking when it comes to proteins. Thus, one would have to take a good combination of vegetarian meals and include foods such as soya beans, cheese and other dairy products to get the required amount of protein intake. Eggs and fish are also a good source of protein although some vegetarians will not consume eggs or fish.

Other benefits of a vegetarian diet

There are other benefits to a vegetarian program in addition to weight loss. A vegetarian meal program is also considered a detox or detoxifying diet which will cleanse the body of toxins and unwanted chemicals. If one was consuming large quantities of meat or junk food, there is a good chance that there is a lot of toxin build up in the body that will lead to various problems such as dull skin, indigestion, fatigue and so on. A vegetarian meal program will cleanse the body of toxins in just a matter of days which will result in glowing skin, increased energy levels and better digestion.

In conclusion, a vegetarian diet can offer a lot of benefits especially if you were a heavy meat eater before. That being said, one has to exercise good diligence and common sense when following a vegetarian diet as it has its own perils and downfalls just like any other diet plan.

Filed Under Weight Loss Diet

The Detox Diet Plan – What Is Its Purpose?

November 18, 2010 Leave a Comment

You might have read an article or a blog on detox diet tips that might have illustrated the various benefits of going on a detox diet plan. Critics of this diet are often split on its effectiveness with some claiming that it is not necessary to detox the body as it is a natural process that happens anyway. Others say that a detox diet is essential every now and then as the body consumes too many toxins to be eliminated through a natural process.

What exactly does detox or detoxification mean?

The body produces a lot of toxins when it carries out various processes such as digestion for example. The breakdown of protein will result in the production of ammonia which is considered a toxin. Other toxins are ingested into the body in the form of food that we consume. A lot of junk food has preservatives and other chemicals in them that are not good for the body. These are considered toxins.

How does one go about detoxifying their body?

There are many specialized detoxifying diets out there that will allow a person to get rid of the toxins in their body. These diets will mostly consist of organic foods that do not have any form of chemicals or preservatives in them. Most of the diets will also include a lot of herbal supplements or ingredients that will speed up the detoxifying process.

A person will have to change their diet quite a bit when going on a detoxifying diet. Even caffeine will have to be cut out in some cases. It can be difficult for a lot of people to go through with a detox diet as this form of diet plan requires a lot of discipline and sacrifices.

What are the benefits of a detox diet?

A detox diet will usually last only a few days as it will be enough for the body to repel toxins if they are not being ingested regularly. A detoxifying diet will result in increased energy levels, clearer skin tone and even better bowel movements than before. It has been known that people who go on a detoxifying diet of fruits and vegetables over a few days will end up with skin that is glowing as a result of detoxification.

Detoxification is something that is referred to alcoholics or heavy smokers as well. The body takes a real toll if someone consumes alcohol or cigarette smoke on a regular basis. They will most probably have problems such as dull skin, indigestion, irregular sleep and so on. A detox diet can do wonders for people like this as the body will be drastically relieved of toxins once people like this go on a detoxifying diet. It will allow the body to recuperate from abuse and there will be tell tale signs of improvement in just a few days.

Though there are several detox diets that are available for use, one should use common sense to pick a diet that will be realistic for them as not everybody will be able to follow most detoxifying diet plans.

Filed Under Diet Programs For Women, General, Latest News on Diet Programs, Weight Loss Diet

Weight loss Secrets Revealed

October 12, 2010 Leave a Comment

One of the secrets of successful weight loss is eating a healthy diet low in fat and calories. ?Right..? In addition, in this article you will learn other secrets that will help you to lose weight, without affecting your health.

For example:

Drink Water and Lose Weight

Water is a key part of any weight loss program.Water will help the body with:Suppresses appetite,-

Assists the body in metabolizing stored fat,- Reduces fat deposits in the body, -Reduces sodium buildup in the body,- Helps to maintain proper muscle tone, – Rids the body of waste and toxins, etc.

-Drink a minimum of 64 ounces per day (2 quarts)

-Drink an additional 8 ounces per day for every 25 pounds overweight

-It is better to drink the water cold. Drink clean water, bottled or filtered

-Every time that you are hungry, drink one or two glasses of water.

The #1 Secret to Keeping Off Weight

You have proven everything, from restricted foods, balanced diets, narcotics, supplements, strenuous exercises. But it doesn’t care what you make, your overweight returns again.It is because you don’t know the Secret #1 to stay off weight. Which is the secret..?

The Secret is to maintain the ” energy balance ” Your energy balance is simply the balance between how many calories your body absorbs and burns. Absorb more calories than you burn, and you gain weight. -How to Gain or to Lose 1 pound of weight

If you eat 3500 calories more than those that you burn,

You gain1 pound of weight

Reciprocally, if you burn 3500 calories more than what you ingest

You lose 1 pound of weight.

10 Medically Proven Ways to Lose Weight

Try top 10 scientifically proven tips Way 1-Journaling : Writing down your daily food intake is a way to acknowledge the importance of your weight loss mission and help you to take it seriously. Tracking your food, your emotional triggers, and daily physical activity helps you identify patterns and habits that lead to overeating and inactivity.- Way 2-Daily exercise. Get moving! Exercise burns calories and suppresses the appetite. The National Academy of Sciences recently set new recommendations of 60 minutes of exercise per day, up from 30. But don’t panic! Only 30 minutes per day needs to be vigorous activity; use other activities of daily living to add up to the remaining 30 minutes. Way 3-.. Kick up the calcium. Recent research by Zemel and his colleagues at the University of Tennessee has shown that consuming three servings a day of calcium-rich dairy foods can speed up weight loss by 50%-70% while strengthening bones and preventing osteoporosis. It’s a no-brainer — how can you argue with eating yogurt, cheese, and milk – all really healthy foods if you choose low-fat versions – while enhancing weight loss?

Boosting Weight and Slowing the Effects of Aging

Aging expert reveals secrets to losing weight – “My research has shown that the chief therapeutic intervention to prevent
weight gain, regardless of age, is the anti-inflammatory diet,” says Dr Perricone in his latest bestseller “The Perricone Weight Loss Diet.”Follow these tips to stabilize blood sugar and insulin, maintain precious muscle mass and stay thin for life. * Eat cold water fish, such as wild salmon, sardines, etc. However salmon is a fat-burner, muscle-builder, wrinkle-eraser, skin-saver, depression-lifting brain-booster.* Take fish oil capsules. If you don’t eat fish or want to increase the weight loss benefits of the omega 3 fatty acids found in cold-water fish, take high quality fish oil capsules.* Avoid stress — stress causes the release of the hormone cortisol, Excess cortisol increases appetite and promotes storage of fat in the abdominal area. * Eliminate Food Cravings. Just 1/2 teaspoon of the amino acid glutamine taken at meals three times per day will stop the constant cravings for sweets and high glycemic carbs. * Laugh to Lose Weight: Laughter reduces stress hormones, strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, acts as a muscle relaxant.

Weight Loss Myths

Common misconceptions regarding weight loss1-Starches make you fat. Not true-Starchy foods such as potatoes, breads and pasta are the fastest-burning foods you can eat. All are carbohydrates, which provide the body’s main source of ready-to-use fuel. Nutritionists and dieticians recommend that the greatest share of our diet – 60% – be composed of this fuel. “Only a tiny percentage of carbohydrates is ever converted to fat in the body,” says Adam Drewnowski, Ph.D., director of the human nutrition program at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health. 2-You need to cut calories drastically to lose weight-Not really. When you cut back too hard on calories, the body goes into a conservation mode in which your metabolism switches to a slower pace.This actually decreases your ability to lose weight. To make sure your body keeps burning fat, experts advise that you drop your total caloric-intake only a little while adjusting the fuel mix. According to one study, men who got 25% of their calories from fat, but ate as much as they wanted of other types of food, lost an average of a half-pound per week

Right Nutrition – Wrong Nutrition

Receive the right nutritious elements and avoid others.-Know Good food categories :Fruits and olive oil; raw Vegetables / Cooked Vegetables; Grains and Pasta; Nuts & Seeds; Unrefined sugars (often brown). And Wrong food categories : Animal food; White flour; Refined Sugar; Stimulants.

1. Animal Foods

Animal foods are: meat, milk, yoghurt, cheese, bouillon, butter, fish, shellfish, eggs e.g. If you want to lose weight quickly it is a must to stay away from animal products.

There are two reasons why you have to abstain from animal food if you want to slim down fast:

The energy animal foods contain consists of proteins. Proteins take a longer time to digest and are burnt in a different, more cumbersome way than fruits and vegetables.

Animal products contain a lot of fattening cholesterol whereas fruits and vegetables do not contain any cholesterol.

Sensible Weight Loss Tips

Losing weight may not be effortless, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. To achieve long-term results, it’s best to avoid quick-fix schemes and complex regimens. Focus instead on making modest changes to your life’s daily routine. A balanced, healthy diet and sensible, regular exercise are the keys to maintaining your ideal weight.

Here are some generally-accepted guidelines for losing weight

Consult with your doctor, a dietician, or other qualified health professional to determine your ideal healthy body weight. Eat smaller portions and choose from a variety of foods. Load up on foods naturally high in fiber: Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, Limit portions of foods high in simple carbohydrates.

Limit portions of foods high in fat: dairy products like cheese, butter, and whole milk; red meat; cakes and pastries. Exercise at least three times a week. Drinking 8 glasses of water a day is important to your health, your normal diet and to help lose weight. Water is necessary for the metabolism of your stored fat. Try to work out as much as possible, but at your own pace.

Filed Under Weight Loss Diet Tagged With Revealed, Secrets, weight

Weight Loss Simple and Easy

October 12, 2010 Leave a Comment

weight lossWeight loss does not happen in a vacuum. There are conditions that impelled it. Without weight gain, there will not be a discussion about weight loss. A good starting point in the desire to loose weight is to first figure out where we went wrong. Is it in our diet? Is it in not moving enough? How much of a roll does genetics play in our weight loss? The individual desiring to loose weight must of necessity ask oneself some of these questions and honestly seek to find proven and tested answers.


Where did I go wrong?


Much of America as we know today is overweight. Some reports say a whooping 2/3 of the population is either just obese or morbidly obese. They also show that our food and diet are the main culprits for this epidemic. There is a saying that says, “You are what you eat”. It is therefore self evident that we have not eaten the right things in the right amounts. We have been lax with our diet. Knowing this, it would appear that loosing weight would be as simple as doing the opposite of what we have done so far. And for many, weight loss would simply mean just that- eating the right things in the right amount and being patient to give the body time to work itself out. And over time, the weight will drop off.


But we live in a complex world and things are not always as simple as they seem. There are old habits to break, and emotions to deal with. There is the issue of time, and availability of the right foods at the right place and time. There are genetic dispositions that sometimes work against our best efforts in weight loss. There is also the noise in the diet and weight loss industry generated by the dizzying number of weight loss products and the claims and counter claims made by the beneficiaries of these weight loss products and programs. The individual desiring to loose weight is therefore faced not only with the weight that he or she needs to loose, but how to approach his or her weight loose goal within such a confusing environment?


The trick is to get back to the basics of weight loss by:


1. Doing all things in moderation. I believe that nothing eaten in moderation will in and of itself become a problem. It is when we over indulge and make a hobby of some foods that we open ourselves for weight problems.


2. Making wise food choices. Instead of loading up on over processed foods laden with sugar, fat and carbohydrates, we can instead load up on foods with high fiber contents as these give a sense of fullness with minimal intake.


3. Drinking sugar free liquids in-between bite as this helps to give us that sense of fullness, without necessarily consuming much.


4. Not being a mindless eater. Mindless eating can be avoided by being aware of what you are eating and how much. Make it a habit to use smaller plates for your servings. Chew your food completely and quit at the first sign of fullness.


5. Ridding your environment of the temptation of mindless eating. According to a recent survey by a popular media house, just by merely moving the candy jar a few feet away from its location, reduced the amount of candy the participants consumed.


6. Only stocking foods that are nutritionally healthy and balanced.


7. Getting enough sleep and


8. Keeping on moving. Be active! Inject some exercise activities into your routine. Activities as simple as just working are very beneficial. Walk to the neighborhood store. Park a little away from the office and walk the rest of the way.


For the morbidly obese, who need to lose more weight, additional help may be necessary. Getting a health or colon cleanse would be a good place to start. The colon, it has been established plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy digestive system and body functions. A toxic and diseased colon creates an imbalance in the body, leading to increased fat deposits, especially around the organs. A health or colon cleanse helps to remove toxins from the body and restores the normal functions of the digestive track and colon, leading to better absorption and removal of fat deposits, especially around the organs.


Weight loss surgery may also be considered where everything else fails. Because of the risk associated with surgeries generally, bariatrics or weight loss surgery should be considered with extreme care. A complete risk benefit analysis must be carried out before a final decision is made. Choose the procedure with the list risk and the most benefits.

Filed Under Weight Loss Diet Tagged With Simple, weight

Which Weight Loss Clinic is For You?

October 12, 2010 Leave a Comment

weight lossLosing weight has been the dilemma of many people world wide for quite some time. United States, England and Australia are now known to have nearly half of their population overweight. Obesity is reaching new records in the western countries and the rest of the world is quickly catching up.


Along with this major problem, people have been searching for answers to the questions, like, How do I lose weight? What is the best way to lose weight? Can I lose weight quickly and safely? What really works? Are weight loss pills and supplements effective? And can I trust a weight loss clinic?
You have probably tried some diets and popular ways of trimming excess fats. Like most people, you have probably lost some extra pounds, but you ended up putting the weight back on. Perhaps you will never be satisfied with the results. Why? It is because you need the right mental attitude, unless you have the right attitude towards losing weight, you will not be able to keep it off.


Attitude and knowledge is everything. This is the principle of some of the most successful weight loss clinics. They can help you get on track and help you regain your beautiful body back and self confidence.


Weight loss clinics can help get you back on track and stay on track. Most have professional dieticians, who can guide you on your food choice. Some clinics work one on one, others work with group sessions. Basically, weight loss clinics guide you to lose weight. Some educate you, so you are self reliant in your food and exercise choice in the future. Others will just tell you to follow a plan. It is probably up to the individual as to which weight loss clinic is best, as what suits one person may not suit others. Some people like the hand holding, while others want to know why they are doing it a particular way.


Here are some things to check, whether the weight loss clinic is right for you-


Check the reputation of the clinic. There are hundreds of weight loss clinics popping up all over the country. Some of them are just out to make a quick buck. Beware of clinics promising you of instant weight loss, with little or no effort, this can be too good to be true. Do an internet search on the clinic, if they have lawsuits all over the place, good chance you should avoid it. Ask if you can speak to previous clients, to see what they liked and disliked about the clinic. Privacy policies aside, there should be a couple of people to talk to.


How long have they been around for? Are they an established company? Do Doctors recommend it?


Do you have to keep buying their supplements or meal replacement shakes? How expensive are these?


Some clinics recommend certain exercises and equipment. Do you have to buy it from the clinic and what exercise do they recommend? It is a must that a workout regime be included because this is a must in losing weight the healthy way. Also, make sure the exercise program is suitable for you. Like, if you have bad knees or ankles and they want you to run three miles a day.


What diet menu and programs do they offer? While their super diet can help you lose the weight, what do they recommend in the real world? While measuring and weighing every ounce of fat, protein and carbohydrate might be okay for a professional bodybuilder, will it suit your lifestyle?
Do they cater for vegetarian or health issues, like, can you follow it if you are a diabetic?


Write your questions or concerns down before you go to the clinic. This way, you will not forget to raise questions, especially if a certain part is not suitable to your health conditions.


Choosing your weight loss clinic is as important as choosing what you eat to stay fit. You know, there can be lots of weight loss clinics out there that can promise you the sexiest body ever. But, not all of them can fulfill this promise.


So there, you have the simple tips on how you could get the best weight loss clinic!
You can now start shedding off those extra pounds. Just remember, that no matter what clinic you chose, losing weight still comes down to you. You have to be dedicated and practical about it, otherwise, you will just be wasting your hard earned money and time.


Ultimately though, it is up to you to move more and eat less!

Filed Under Weight Loss Diet Tagged With Clinic, weight, Which

Weight Loss Supplement Dangers – What You Really Need to Know

October 12, 2010 Leave a Comment

weight lossIf you are looking for a weight loss supplement there are two different kinds of diet pills that are available. The first one is prescription weight loss pills, and the second is nonprescription weight loss pills, which are commonly referred to as weight loss supplements. Are these supplements, that you can purchase over-the-counter, really safe for your consumption? I thought they were, so I tried some. I was lucky. I recognized my own side effects before it was too late. Many others find out about weight loss supplement dangers after damage has been done to their body. You do not have to be one of them.


The weight loss industry is a billion-dollar industry, and it wants your money. It will do what ever it needs to do to get your money. I had read an advertisement about a supplement that was going to burn my fat off while I slept. It was quite ironic that these pills actually got me so wound up that it was no longer possible for me to sleep. My activity level was such that I could not stand still for a long period of time, and had to keep in constant motion. I realized when I was not able to sleep that there was no possibility of these supplements being able to burn off the fat in my sleep. I couldn’t sleep! I stopped taking them, and later read horror stories from people that had taken these pills long-term. That is when I first realized that weight loss supplement dangers really do exist.


Prescription weight loss pills are regulated by the food and drug administration, and are to be used only in the case of obesity, not for cosmetic weight loss. There are numerous side effects reported by using them, and there are cases of overdose, and even death. Nonprescription weight loss pills are not regulated in the same manner by the food and drug administration. They do not have the same requirements as prescription weight loss pills, as far as labeling, dosage and advertising goes. You really cannot know exactly what is in that bottle of supplements that you purchase. Weight loss supplement dangers can affect you for the rest of your life.


When examining weight loss supplement dangers, it is important to keep in mind that the weight loss industry knows that you are doomed to fail if you follow the fad diets, or take pills and meal replacement shakes. I was lucky. I saw the weight loss supplement dangers at an early stage. I was then able to find something completely safe and effective and started losing weight without any side effects. What I found was green tea. I combined that with sensible eating of organic foods and I found that not only did I lose the weight. I needed to lose, but it stayed off as well. You should really look at all of the health benefits of drinking green tea, and how you can lose weight safely and naturally.

Filed Under Weight Loss Diet Tagged With Dangers, Really, Supplement, weight

Weight Loss Truths – Un-Sugar Coated

October 12, 2010 Leave a Comment

weight lossMillions of people are currently on a weight loss mission. Sadly, only a small fraction will lose weight, and half of those that do succeed will put it right back on in a matter of months.


The weight loss product industry makes billions of dollars yearly at the whim of desperate consumers looking for that quick fix, that magic pill, or the revolutionary machine that will make them lose weight.


Weight loss does not come in a bottle or a machine. It never has, and it never will. True weight loss takes proper nutrition, exercise, and rest. There are no short cuts, quick fixes, overnight miracles, or FDA approved drugs that will force the fat off your body, much less keep it off.


While you read this revealing article keep a few key points in mind. These are the truths that you may not want to hear, but need to. Here are the weight loss truths, un-sugar coated.


Weight Loss Truth #1 – You will not lose 5-10 pounds of body fat in a week


If you want to lose fat and keep it off, then it’s going to take some time. I won’t guarantee 5-10 pound weight loss in a week or two, but I will say you can realistically lose 1-2 pounds of body fat a week, and gain lean muscle at the same rate. You didn’t put the weight on overnight, and therefore it’s not going to magically disappear overnight.


True weight loss is fat loss…not muscle loss, not water or bone loss, but fat loss. Losing 5-10 pounds or more a week is a loss of bone, muscle, and water, which results in a destroyed metabolism.


Scale weight is obsolete, as the scale is only a measuring device, unable to distinguish between muscle, fat, bone, and water weight.


Weight Loss Truth #2 – There is no quick fix to fat loss, and fad diets are worthless


Lose 40 pounds in a week! Lose weight while you sleep! Rapid weight loss! Lose weight without diet or exercise! These are consumer hot buttons, causing you to buy products with your emotions. They are misleading and just plain lies, lies, and lies. Fad diets and “quick fix” products will drain your wallet and leave you feeling worse than when you started. The only weight you will lose on a fad diet or a quick fix is water, muscle, and bone. These are not desired results, as they lead to metabolic downgrade and increased fat storage.


Lotions, potions, and gadgets for fat loss should be tossed out the window. They are worthless. Taking fat off requires nutrients and exercise. It’s that simple, yet rarely told to you because the weight loss product industry’s job it to make an insane amount of money.


Weight Loss Truth #3 – You have to stop eating processed foods labeled “healthy,” “low-fat,” or “low-carb”.


Food labels are misleading and can cause you to gain more fat in the long run. They are completely processed.


Prepackaged meals and “diet foods” contain chemicals that your body can’t metabolize and therefore, it slows down your metabolism. Chemicals that don’t leave your body become toxins and get lodged in your fat cells, making fat loss even more difficult.


Weight Loss Truth #4 – You will have to put forth the effort if you want to lose fat


The body is made to be nourished and to be physical. If you want to lose fat you have to eat right and get moving. It may not be glamorous or fun, but it’s a must if you want to shed the fat.


There are a number of things you can do for exercise, such as walking, in-line skating, weight training, biking, hiking, swimming, etc. Whatever your choice is, just do it.


Weight Loss Truth #5 – You will not be a supermodel or swimsuit model


Well, I’m not saying this can’t or won’t happen, but my point is that many weight loss ads suggest that after you take their product you will look like the supermodel marketing the product.


Remember, models are models. They are spokespersons for the company. They are just doing their job. Just because a supermodel is holding a bottle of the latest cortisol blocker does not mean you will look like her by taking that product.


Weight Loss Truth #6 – Muscle does not weigh more than fat


There is a misconception linked with weight training, that muscle weighs more than fat. I’ve heard Dr. Phil say this (yes, the wonderful “dieting expert”), as well as Bob Greene, Oprah’s personal trainer. These people are looked upon as icons, yet they are giving out false information.


Muscle does not weigh more than fat. Go do the experiment yourself right now. Grab two pounds of chicken fat and weigh it, and then weigh two pounds of chicken meat (muscle). Which weighs more? Neither. Two pounds of fat weighs the same as two pounds of muscle, two pounds.


Muscle is more dense than fat and it takes up less space. Therefore, it would be ideal to add muscle to your frame because it’s more dense, creates curves, and it increases your metabolism.


Weight Loss Truth #7 – You can’t spot reduce


Doing a thousand leg lifts won’t reduce your thighs any faster than doing a thousand crunches to tone your abs. Simply, and sadly put, you cannot spot reduce. Doing crunches upon crunches will only build the underlying abdominal muscle beneath your layer of tummy fat.


To trim down flabby areas you need to eat several small balanced meals that are unprocessed, and you need to exercise. When your body fat begins to reduce, your trouble spots will begin to shape up.


Weight Loss Truth #8 – Weight loss is a lifestyle


Losing weight properly, which is reducing body fat and building lean muscle tissue, should not be a one-shot approach; it should be a lifetime commitment. If you ever go back to your old destructive habits you will become out of shape again, and will have to work twice as hard to get back in shape.


Adopt a healthy eating and exercise lifestyle, and maintain it for the rest of your life. Doing so will keep you fit, energetic, slow down the aging process, keep you looking young, and it will prevent early degenerative diseases.


Being healthy and in shape is not genetic, it’s by choice. Make the right choice today.


Weight Loss Truths Conclusion


Now that you have the weight loss truths, begin to work on them to improve your health and to get in shape. Your health and your body are yours, and you have to work daily to keep them functioning correctly and to give you the look you want. Once you get in the shape you want to be in, all you have to do from there is simple maintenance, which becomes something you do daily, such as brushing your teeth or shaving your legs.


Do your body right and it won’t steer you wrong.


Copyright 2006 Karen Sessions

Filed Under Weight Loss Diet Tagged With Coated, truths, UnSugar, weight

What’s the Deal With Weight Loss Pills?

October 12, 2010 Leave a Comment

weight lossDieting is hard, and it’s not uncommon for people to turn to weight loss pills to give them an added boost when trying to shed unwanted pounds. It’s hard, though, to know which pills, drugs, and supplements will really work for you. Everyone is different, and your body chemistry and underlying medical issues will always influence the way these drugs work on your body.


Most people, when thinking about weight loss drugs, first look in the pharmacy department of their local supermarket. There are dozens of different choices, but if you read the package carefully, you will find that most over-the-counter (OTC) weight loss pills use caffeine as their primary ingredient. Caffeine works to increase your overall metabolism, and also acts as a diuretic, helping you to shed water weight while giving you energy to exercise and shed the fat that you really want to eliminate.


Other ingredients found in OTC weight loss supplements are less benign. Hoodia seems reasonably safe, but has not been thoroughly studied; research at Pfizer, however, indicates it may have negative effects on the liver. Most older weight loss pills use substances that mimic amphetamines in their effects. It’s been known for a very long time that amphetamines will make you lose weight, but with serious side effects such as nervousness, tremors, racing heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, diarrhea, and even heart failure and death in the worst cases. For this reason, you should always tell your doctor when you’re using OTC weight loss pills.


The same rule goes for OTC weight loss supplements. For the most part, the word “supplement” in OTC products is used to wiggle past some serious rules set up by the FDA to control dangerous substances. That does not mean that weight loss supplements are going to harm you, necessarily; it does mean that you should treat them as drugs, just like any other weight loss product.


Prescription Weight Loss Pills


A much safer way to go is to speak to your doctor about your weight loss plan. He may help you select a safe OTC weight loss product, or he may prescribe weight loss pills that will work for you.


In the last several years, a dizzying array of new prescription weight loss products have hit the market, from new appetite suppressants based on brain chemicals to chemicals like Orlistant which block the body’s ability to absorb fats and other specific nutrients.


These drugs are by prescription only for very good reasons. For instance, if your body is blocking fat absorption, it is probably also blocking the absorption of a variety of different vitamins and minerals that are critical to the proper functioning of your body. If you use prescription weight loss pills in ways your doctor did not advise — overdosing, for instance — you may become sick because you aren’t getting proper nutrition, and this can even cause you to put on more weight.


If you don’t want to speak to a doctor about weight loss, you can also talk to a pharmacist for advice on which OTC products and weight loss supplements are most likely to help you and least likely to cause harm. Never overlook simply asking for help whenever you’re in doubt – but ask someone who’s qualified to offer medical advice, not the teenager at the health food store counter.


Weight loss supplements can be effective in conjunction with regular exercise and a healthy diet. It’s just a matter of finding what works for your particular needs. Talk to your physician about conventional and alternative options for losing weight.

Filed Under Weight Loss Diet Tagged With Pills, weight, Whats

Why Weight Loss Motivation Could Be the Key to Your Dieting Success

October 11, 2010 Leave a Comment

weight lossDid you know that it is your weight loss motivation that is the main thing that keeps you from dropping 10, 20 or 50 pounds, or even more? You heard right; it’s not so much the food you’re eating and nor is it the lack of exercise. Without the proper motivation to lose weight you will, like as not, be unable, to find the personal fortitude and will power, to achieve your diet program goals. As far as providing more tips on losing weight goes this article focuses on the importance of developing your weight loss motivation, for if you can master this, your success at shedding those pounds and keeping the weight off is as good as guaranteed.


Firstly you need to get clear about what is meant by your ‘diet inspiration’ is. In other words what is is that will help to propel you to eat less food and start that calorie zapping exercise regime. The plain fact is that without the inspiration to both reduce your current calorie intake and boost your energy usage, it is unlikely that you’ll make sufficient progress towards your diet goals to maintain your weight loss motivation. But what factors might help to put you into an inspired frame of mind?


Primarily you can actually begin to inspire yourself by focusing on the benefits you will realize from losing weight. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is an easy or trite question. For example, if you have kids, losing weight will mean that you will have more energy and regain much of your own youthful mental clarity and sharpness to be able to keep up with them in all department. You should also recognize that it is actually a responsibility that you have to your children and your partner (if you have one, or want one) to keep yourself healthy and improve the chances you will be around for as long as you can. So losing weight is not just for your own benefit but can have some real motivating benefits for your family too.


Perhaps you are saying: “…this doesn’t apply to me, I don’t have kids”, and maybe “I don’t even have a partner”. But before you reach for the biscuits and further compound your sorrows this could, in fact, well be part of your whole initial weight gain issue. It is important to look ahead and see what you really want the future to bring. Even if it seems a world away, or hard to imagine, you need to overcome any ‘reticence’ and clarify the things that you want out of life without shame or reservation. If having a family is part of your future goals, even if not yet a reality, then the need for responsibility for your health is still absolutely paramount.


But let’s take a look at what you will gain by losing those pounds that may be as much of a weight on your mind as they are a body.


It is a real kick-starter to get clearly planted in your mind an image of how you will look 20 to 50 pounds lighter. Just imagine yourself with that sexier, firmer, healthier looking body. Imagine your waist clearly defined, again, and slimmed down by 4 inches or more. See, in your mind’s eye, as clearly as you can, your belt confidently cinched in and accenting your attractive bosom, or of course, those broad shoulders if you’re a man. Don’t be afraid of creating as clear an image as possible. It has been shown that clearly seeing what you want to achieve is central to maintain motivation. The woollier and vaguer your goals and vision the less likely you will be to sustain the weight loss motivation you require.


Now, imagine the day (not that very far away) when you go out to the ‘dumpster’ and fling away those oversize clothes – or if you are ‘eco-minded’ then see yourself donating them to a charitable concern for the benefit of another who has not conquered their motivational demons! If your weight-loss problems have piled on gradually over the years, then think back to the last time you were truly happy with your figure and imagine yourself slipping into a pair of jeans or slacks that fit you back then. Feel yourself brimming with the confidence that you will have when you can don your beachwear and relish the admiring glances rather than fear the look of others. It can all become a reality if you can maintain the motivation to lose weight that purposeful and deliberate ‘envisioning’ can provide.


But, once you have pumped up your weight loss motivation how do you keep it there day to day during the ‘slings and arrows’ of sticking to a diet program and fitness regime? For a start it IS important to be realistic about achieving your goals. Many folks look for ways of losing weight fast, but trying to losing weight quickly is ultimately a road to misery and defeat. No matter what some ‘fad diets’ and weight loss pills, patches and other such “scams” seem to offer it is neither realistic nor healthy to imagine losing more than about one to two pounds a week. True some weeks you could see a drop of 3 or 4 pounds, but on another week it may be ounces or even a little step backwards! Realistically over each month that you follow your fitness and diet program around one-and-a half pounds a week average, or even a little less, is a sensible target. Do not be put off by this, as losing weight more quickly will be hard to keep-off, plus if you get the exercise and diet balance right you’ll also see your body firming-up as you slim-down, rather than becoming a mass of loose skin!


So, it is realistic to think in terms of losing, say, 20 odd pounds of weight over about six months and maybe 50 pounds of excess weight sensibly and steadily over the course of about a year. The concept of losing weight fast that may have been gradually gained over many years is not only foolhardy, it may well be unhealthy, and likely to be unachievable and so ultimately ‘de-motivating’. So one of the best tips on losing weight is, to reiterate, be sure to set realistic targets and you’ll get long-term results, plus maintained weight loss motivation!


It is fair to say that defining and understanding weight loss motivation is critical to achieving successful long-term weight loss. Being realistic, adopting a healthy, steady, dietary strategy combined with a manageable exercise regime is one part of the equation. The other key element is about deriving inspiration and motivation from accepting how your weight loss will benefits those you care about, and also from clearly envisioning the ‘new you’ in as minute detail as possible in order to focus your mind, bolster your belief and ensure your ultimate success.

Filed Under Weight Loss Diet Tagged With Could, Dieting, Motivation, success, weight
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