Quick Weight Loss Secrets

4 Tips to Lose Belly Fat

2010-02-12T11:46:00.000-08:00

You've dieted and so far you've been pleased with the result. You've slimmed down, have more energy, and look better in your clothes. With one exception, for some, these areas are the thighs or upper arms but for most of us, the most stubborn fat area is usually the belly. Here are a few tips that will help you lose belly fat:

Eat foods that will help you shed belly fat. Try eating olive oil, almonds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, macadamia nuts and avocado. The essential oils these foods contain will offer your body the dose of fat it needs every day, without going straight to your tummy like other types of fats and oils would. Most importantly stay away from transfats. These are artificially produced fats found in margarines, commercially baked goods and in fast food. Transfat sticks to the belly like peanut butter to jelly.

Aside from the essential oils you will be getting from the previously mentioned foods, your diet should be rich in fruit and vegetables, with some fat-free dairy on the side. Fruits and veggies provide needed vitamins and minerals, are rich in antioxidants and fiber and fill you up. Just don't douse the veggies with fat filled dips, salad dressing or drown them in butter. A squeeze of lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil with a sprinkling of herbs should add all the flavor you need.

Combine a healthy, fat loss oriented diet with plenty of exercise. While exercise specifically oriented towards working your abdominal muscles can help you get a more toned waistline, it won’t help you shed the type of fat you are looking to get rid of. Instead, general workouts will help your body burn fat, including that on your belly. It’s recommended that you work out for at least 30 minutes every day, whether that consists of running, swimming or aerobics-type workouts. Exercise raises the body's metabolism while exercising of course but also for 4 to 6 hours afterwards. If possible exercise in the morning or afternoon rather than the evening, and you'll burn even more fat.

Stress has been shown to increase the tendency to gain belly fat and make it harder to lose fat in that area. While stress may be unavoidable in today's hectic lifestyle, set some time aside each day to wind down and relax.

These were a few tips that will help you get rid of the unwanted belly fat.

Lose weight quick with acai berries

2009-08-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

Tired of being overweight? After you get home from a long day at work, do you just crash in front of the television while waiting for the frozen pizza in the microwave to heat up? Losing weight can be a challenge whether it's 15 pounds or 50 pounds.

You're not alone. Almost everyone has packed on extra pounds. People today have a higher rate of obesity than any previous generations. Even our children are heavier and more prone to weight gain than ever before. Our lives have slowed down and become more sedentary. We work in an office instead of manual labor. We take the elevator instead of the stairs, even if it's just a flight or two. We talk about getting in shape but don't do much about it.

Evolutionarily speaking, the human body was engineered for a diet low in fat, high in fiber, with lots of fresh vegetables and fruits with occasional protein from meat. But these days, our diets are the opposite. Our meat and fat consumption has increased while vegetables and fruits in our diet have decreased significantly and people as a whole receive a lot less exercise. It should come as no surprise that energy levels have decreased as our weight has increased.

However, there may be a solution to these two problems. It's Acai Berries.

These berries are small and grow on acai palm trees in South America. The taste is similar to chocolate blueberries. Some nutritionists consider it a super food. The pulp of these berries contains natural energy boosters that have the added bonus of enabling weight loss quickly and naturally. Acai berries have been accepted by many as an essential for improving your energy levels and health.

Lose weight fast

Unfortunately, there are some downsides. The berries don't last long after harvesting, as they're very perishable. Fresh berries won't be found at the supermarket. Fortunately, processed berries keep their beneficial qualities even if they're preserved, made into a juice, or even a powder supplement.

Acai berries don't affect your eating habits, they increase your metabolism. These berries can boost the rate that calories are burned from your body when you're engaged in daily activities. The increased burn rate means an increase in metabolism. Even when you're asleep your body will use up more calories, and that translates into weight loss.

Acai berries also have an extremely high amount of antioxidants, more than 10 and 12 times the content of grapes and blueberries, respectively. Not to mention the fact that these berries are also a fantastic source of Amino Acids, Anthocyanins, Fiber, Healthy Fats, Minerals, Plant Sterols, and Vitamins. These are all essential to any weight loss plan, making acai berries an even better weapon for fighting fat.

While acai berry supplements can do you lots of good, they can't make you lose weight if you continue to overeat and keep a sedentary lifestyle. Combine acai berries with a regular exercise program and healthy eating and the pounds will just melt away.

Which Acai Berry Pills Are Safe to Use? Know This Information Before You Buy Your Acai Supplement

2009-06-12T15:35:00.000-07:00

Before addressing the question about which Acai Berry Pills are safe to use, people can be confused regarding whether acai berries are even safe to consume. The fruit has been becoming increasing popular these days because of its healing qualities and energy boosting power. The fruit has come to the forefront for those who are on a weight loss program. The fruit is a great detoxifier as well as an antioxidant as it cleanses the body and helps get rid of the toxins that pollute the body.

These days many physicians favor natural supplements rather than those manufactured synthetically. Since Acai berry grows naturally, it is basically a naturally occurring fruit. It does not contain any toxins and doesn't have any known side effects. The fruit can be taken in the form of fruit preserves or in the form of tablets as food supplements. Unfortunately fresh Acai berries are only found in South America. They can't be exported because they have a very short shelf life and start rotting soon after being harvested.

The next question is which acai berry pills are safe to use?

a.) Start by looking at the label. Most of the companies selling the Acai pills don't easily reveal how much Acai berriy was used in their products on their websites. Maintain caution before buying acai pills from such places. In some cases, these kinds of pills contain added products which might not suit everyone or which are not advisable to be consumed every day.

b.) Most of the acai berry pill companies add some additives in the capsules they make. You must be well aware about what these additives are. There are different additives for different situations thus these additives may not be good for your particular condition. For instance, in some of the pills caffeine is given a high percentage which is certainly not recommended for pregnant women or lactating mothers. Green tea is often a component. Some supplements have a laxative added to clean out the colon. Any of these additives are safe but you should know what's I the pills you're taking.

c.) It is a good option to look for products which show the percentage of acai berries in the total product. The higher the percentage the better.

Acai berry pills are quite safe to use if you take care and carefully consider the facts well before buying your supplements. Since acai products have different standards in the market, it is important for you to buy the products from a reputed company produces high quality products.

3 Foods to Cut Fat and Cholesterol

2009-04-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

Lowering your cholesterol can be a challenge, especially if you day's schedule doesn't have a moment to spare. Here are 3 foods to cut fat and cholesterol while you lose weight fast.

Eat an apple a day. It's not just an old wife's tale that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Consuming a 5 ounce apple means you're adding 3 grams of pectin to your diet. Pectin is a soluble fiber that binds to bad-for-you fats cleaning them out of your system. Apples have flavonoids which are compounds that prevent holesterol's ability to cling to the inner walls of your arteries by as much as
38%. That's good news because it decreases your risk of a heart attack.

D-glucaric acid is a substance that decreases the body's ability to form LDL cholesterol, the bad cholesterol, in the liver by 35%. As an added bonus pectin also adds a feeling of fullness which means you can less than you usually do, lose weight, but still feel full. It's best to eat the apples raw to get all their benefits. Apple slices spread with peanut butter is a good way to start your day at breakfast.

Another fat fighter and food that lowers cholesterol are nuts. Only 2 ounces a day reduces the liver's production of LDL cholesterol by 33% and increases the good HDL cholesterol by 11%.

Nuts are rich in monounsaturated fats. Not only do monounsaturated fats cut cholesterol they also act as an appetite suppressant. Any kind of nut will do but almonds and walnuts are especially beneficial.

Nuts make a terrific snack by themselves. 2 ounces is what would fit in your cupped palm or about 2 tablespoons. Nuts can be added to salads, fruit smoothies, breakfast cereals and cooked vegetables. One red grapefruit daily decreases LDL cholesterol up to 20% and is twice as effective as white or pink grapefruit. The reason is red
grapefruit is richer in antioxidants which curb the liver's tendency to produce cholesterol.

As an added bonus one study showed that women who ate any color grapefruit daily lost 20 pounds in three months without any other change in their habits. Eat the whole fruit rather than just drinking the juice to take advantage of all the fiber.

Adding these three foods to your daily diet can help lower your bad cholesterol levels, increase your good cholesterol and as an added bonus help you lose weight.

Lose Weight Fast With Fruits

2009-04-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

Green crisp apples, juicy mouthwatering pineapple, luscious red strawberries, fruit can not only be a delicious treat and a source of vitamins and overall health, but they can also help you lose weight fast. You just have to know how to go about it. Fruit has fiber which helps you feel fuller longer. Fruit also is packed with water, up to 80%. A valuable piece of advice in every diet is to drink plenty of water; it "cheats hunger" as well as hydrating your body. But you can also use fruit for a similar purpose, while giving your body plenty of fiber and prolonging the satiety sensation.

In order to lose fat fast by using a fruit-based diet, be careful about the type of fruit you choose. Choose the ones that have high water content and lower sugar content. You can go for citrus fruit, cantaloupes, and berries. Stay away from the super sweet ones unless they have a very high water content like watermelon. Sweet translates into a high sugar content and that can cause blood sugar spikes. A blood sugar spike causes your body to release too much insulin which then leads to a feeling of hunger. Also stay away from fruit that has been canned or processed in any way, the whole point of eating fruit is to obtain the maximum amount of vitamin and antioxidants with a minimal intake of fat and sugar.

Eating the whole unprocessed fruit is better than drinking the juice. The fiber in the whole fruit will keep you fuller longer. The fiber also slows down the digestive process so you won't get a sugar spike. It's better for you and your weight loss program to eat the whole unprocessed fruit rather than just drinking the juice.

Even though a fruit-rich diet might seem easy to pull off at first, a few days into it, you may be craving something else. The trick is to squeeze fruit into your daily eating habits, by replacing some of the major calorie providers in your daily diet with fruit. Make sure you always keep fruit handy, so that when you are itching for a snack, they will be the first thing you will set eyes on.

One study showed that women who ate a small apple before every meal lost more weight than woman who didn't eat the apple. It seems the pectin in the apple and fiber worked to help the women feel fuller longer. Apples contain a substance that binds to fat and helps it move through the body without being absorbed.

Fruit can help you lose weight in a delicious and healthy way, all you need to do is incorporate them into your daily eating habits.

Calorie Negative Foods: Fact or Fiction to Help You Lose Weight Fast

2009-03-07T11:47:00.000-08:00

Negative calorie foods is a term that is widely circulated in the world of weight loss and body building, but what does it mean for a type of food to have negative calories, how does that work, and despite all the hype, are negative calorie foods for real? Will they help you lose weight fast?

Negative calorie foods are foods that require your body to burn more calories for their digestion than the digested product will give back to your body in terms of energy. That means that not only will said type of food not provide you any calories, it will make your body burn some as well. Even though it sounds too good to be true, there are certain foods that will do just that, you just have to know how to use them.

Most of these foods should be eaten raw in order for them to have a maximum effect. After all, by cooking them you make it easier for the body to digest them in most cases, and as such, you're cheating yourself. The negative calorie foods belong to the fruit and vegetables food categories, and some examples of negative calorie foods are as follows: cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, lettuce, radish, cucumber, lemon/lime, grapefruit and others.

Negative calorie foods are most effective when used on their own, or in combination with each other but certainly not in combination with calorie-rich foods, something that would render the use of negative calorie foods useless. In other words don't put cheese sauce on your broccoli or dip your celery sticks in peanut butter. Combine raw shredded cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, celery, and radishes for a crunchy salad for lunch. Add raw cauliflower and broccoli spears to your dinner. Have an entire grapefruit with your breakfast.

Negative calorie foods are not miracle foods that will make you lose weight in no time without any effort on your part. Rather, they can help you in your efforts to lose weight, complementing the effects of a balanced, low fat diet and exercise program. While these foods will not spare you the effort it usually takes to achieve positive results in weight-loss, they will help you get there faster.

Try consuming two servings of a negative calorie food with every meal. You'll get more vitamins, fiber, and burn more calories. One of the best negative calorie foods isn't really a food at all. It's ice water. Yes, an 8 ounce glass of ice water requires your body to burn up 25 calories in order to raise its temperature back to normal after consuming the water.

Lose weight fast by adding negative calorie foods to your diet.

Lose Weight in Two Weeks with a Low Calorie Program.

2009-02-12T13:58:00.000-08:00

The average person needs to eat about 2000 calories per day to maintain their weight. Of course this varies based on how much the person weighs, their metabolism and activity levels, but it is a bench mark. Lose weight in two weeks. There are three ways to lose weight on a low calorie program: Cut back the number of calories consumed, increase activity levels to burn off more calories, or just a combination of both.

A pound of fat requires that 3500 calories either be burned or not consumed. A calorie is the amount of energy in food. 500 calories would have to be cut from the average person's daily diet to lose one pound of fat per week. A restricted low calorie program is usually between 1200 to 1500 calories per day. A medium apple has 70 calories, an 8 oz. steak about 425. One tablespoon of fat, oil, or butter has 120 calories. As a general rule fat and oil has more calories than any other type of food. Vegetables and fruits have the least amount of calories.

Increasing the amount of exercise per day can result in weight loss. If you walk for 30 minutes daily you'll burn off 250 calories. The good news is that exercising at a brisk pace, say walking, for 20 minutes will increase your metabolism from 10 to 15% for two to four hours afterward. A brisk pace means that you can still talk while walking. If you can whistle or sing, you're going too slow and if you can't catch your breath enough to hold up your end of the conversation, you're going too fast.

Combining a low calorie program with an exercise program will allow you to burn off the fat faster.

The advantages of a low calorie program is that you can eat a wide variety of food. There are no restrictions on what you can eat, just how much you can eat. If you absolutely have to have a piece of cheesecake you can eat it as long as you include it in your daily calorie consumption.

The disadvantages include sometimes being hungry but you can lose weight in two weeks on a low calorie program.

Severely cutting back calories doesn't accelerate weight loss, in fact it has the opposite effect. Your body is conditioned to react to starvation, which is what you're doing when you decrease calories below 1000 per day, by lowering your metabolism. So you can cut back and your body will just compensate. The bad news is if you go back to a normal diet it takes your body a while to realize you're not starving and increase your metabolism back to normal levels.

Plan for your snacks

2009-02-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

Plan ahead so you won't be hitting the vending machines or the cookie jar. There are lots of prepackaged alternatives at the grocery store that offer low fat, low calorie, but tasty snacks. Prepackaged costs more than the big bags but you get portion control in return. You can also package up your own snacks. Keep the calorie count to about 100. Fresh fruit and veggies are a given, but you can also have popcorn without the butter, saltine crackers with low fat cheese, a cup of soup, a handful of nuts, or pretzel sticks. Put your selected snacks in a zip lock bag and place in the fridge, when you feel the urge, they'll be ready and waiting.

If you work outside the home, brown bag your lunch

2009-01-22T16:52:00.000-08:00

It's tempting to run out to the nearest fast food joint for a high fat, high carb lunch. If you pack your lunch you have control of what you eat and won't be tempted by a burger and fries. If you have a fridge and microwave at your office, and who doesn't these days, you can serve up a delicious salad and soup lunch. As an added benefit you will save money. The average fast food lunch these days costs around $7.00. And you can use the time you save to run errands, relax or take a walk around the block.

Lose That Weight with Acai Berries

2009-01-14T15:18:00.000-08:00

You know you've put it off long enough. First it was "wait until the kids were back in school," then "who can diet at Halloween with all the festivities," then along came Thanksgiving and Christmas with all the cookies. Well you're out of excuses it's time to lose that weight in 2009.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to find a food that was not only good for you but helped you lose weight and tasted good? How about a raspberry chocolate flavored juice? There is such a thing: the Acai berry. It's high in antioxidants, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. It helps you lose weight because the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids it contains help increase your metabolism. The fiber fills you up and because it takes longer to digest, it keeps you full so you don't get hungry as soon.

Acai berries are not some brand new scientifically molded super food. It's been around for ages and has been consumed by native South Americans as a regular part of their diet. The Acai palm tree produces two crops a year. Are you now wondering why this wonder fruit doesn't show up in the produce section of your local supermarket or at least health food store? It's simply because the berries are extremely perishable once they've been harvested. Within 24 hours of being removed from the palm tree the berry starts to rot. That and the fact that the berry is a small sized fruit about the size of a grape with a rather large seed there isn't a lot that's edible.

The good news is that Acai berries products are available in the United States and other parts of the world besides South America. There's Acai berry juice, pulp, powders, extracts, and supplements.

Like any good for you food the challenge is to incorporate the food into your diet on a daily and regular basis. Here are a couple of ways to get Acai berries into your diet and boost your weight loss program. Here are a few more ideas.

Fruit smoothie - Mix 1/2 cup of juice with 1/2 cup of yogurt, whirl in a blender with a handful of chopped fresh fruit.

Mix the pulp with equal portions of applesauce

Mix half juice and half green tea

Mix half juice with half sparkling water

The amount you should use of the powders, extracts and supplements depend on the quality of the product and how the acai berry was processed. While there haven't been any side effects confirmed from Acai berries eating too much of anything isn't good for you.

Have breakfast

2009-01-12T14:51:00.000-08:00

Skipping breakfast leads to low blood sugar mid morning which results in cravings for sugary foods to pump the blood sugar back up. A vicious cycle results and continues throughout the day. Your breakfast should consist of whole grains, a protein source and fruit. It doesn't have to be fancy. A slice of whole wheat toast spread with a tablespoon of low fat peanut butter and an apple will do just fine. Or you could mix ½ cup of nonfat cottage cheese with chopped fresh peaches and a couple of whole wheat crackers. Another possibility is a scrambled egg served on an English muffin with a glass of orange juice.

Can You Lose Weight Fast And Easy Or Are You Your Own Worst Enemy?

2009-01-07T10:19:00.000-08:00

You've been lugging the same 15 pounds, or maybe it's 25 or 50 pounds, around for what seems like forever. You've tried every diet known from cabbage soup to no carb to bananas and peanuts. You lose a little weight and then it comes right back on. Are you your own worst enemy when you try to lose weight fast and easy?

The key word is "try." When you think about it there's really no such thing as "try." You either accomplish your goal or you don't. And that may be why you've had such a difficult time "trying" to lose weight, you didn't think you actually could.

How you think determines how successful you'll be. Trying implies a half hearted effort that may work for a little while but is full of doubts to whether you'll achieve your goal. So change your way of thinking as much as your way of eating to lose weight.

Picture yourself healthy and at the weight you want to be. If you have photos of the thinner you put them up on the bathroom mirror. When you look at the photos picture yourself looking like that now. If you don't have photos choose a picture of someone you'd like to look like.

The idea is to fill your mind with the positive image. When a cookie beckons or you're dying for a double mocha latte in the afternoon, replace the craving with the positive image of you.

Change the way you think about food. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and juices are filled with energy and that's what the new you wants: lots of energy. Sugary cookies, breads, candies, sauces, and rich foods are filled with sludgy, draining, weigh you down calories, and that's what you do not want.

Enjoy the crunch of a fresh apple and the sweetness of the juice. Thank about the vitamins and antioxidants you're giving your body. Apples have another benefit. It's been shown that eating a small apple before every meal leads to weight loss. That's because apples contain a substance called pectin which makes you feel fuller so you eat less.

Now compare the apple with a frozen entrée, over salted, laden with chemical preservatives, and added fat to replace any flavors the natural ingredients may have had. The entrée just sits in your stomach like a lump and then slowly slugs through your digestive system.

Which would you rather have?

Change your thinking from trying to doing and you'll lose weight fast.

Visit Dee Power's Lose Weight Fast for more weight loss tips.

Consider enlisting your family in your weight loss program

2008-12-30T11:56:00.001-08:00

Most of us are a bit overweight. If you need to lose a few pounds the odds are so does your significant other. Dieting together can be more successful than dieting alone, but don't turn it into a competition. Men naturally lose weight faster than women because their body composition has a higher proportion of muscle to fat than women's. Muscle burns more calories than fat which means they lose weight faster. Instead of looking at your weight loss goals as pounds look at it as a percentage of your body weight loss. Or establish your weight goal and mark each target as a percentage of your total weight loss goal.

If others in your family are at their perfect weight or just don't see the need to lose weight, they may not understand the need for less food, less fat, or streamlined meals. Prepare your meal and add an extra dish or two for them, that you don't particularly care for. Another alternative is to prepare a regular meal and you eat half of what you usually would eat. It's very possible that if you don't tell your family they're eating low fat low calorie they won't notice. You can always say you're preparing healthier food for them which is true.

Snacks and junk food can be a dieter's downfall. Buy your family their favorite can't-live-without-snacks. Keep those snacks in their rooms, laundry room, or their closets. Out of your sight is out of your mouth. Make it clear when those snacks are gone there won't be anymore until the next shopping trip.

Children can be the dieter's best friend or worse enemy. Tell your children you want to lose weight and you need their help. No more fast food, no more unhealthy snacks. Most children will co-operate, some a little too well, when they tell you you to stop eating that ice cream and stay on your diet in front of the other parents.

Adjust your plate size

2008-12-20T11:51:00.000-08:00

Adjust your plate size. The tendency is to fill our plates full, so trick yourself and use a smaller plate. Use a salad plate for your dinner plate and you'll automatically eat less. Use a small bowl instead of a soup bowl and you'll cut calories. You can also reverse it. Use the dinner plate and fill it full of salad greens – just be careful with the salad dressing. To cut down on the amount of dressing consumed, place the dressing in a small bowl. Dip your fork in the dressing before you spear your salad. While your salad is on the dinner plate, use the salad plate for your entrée.

Know what a serving really is.

2008-12-13T10:30:00.000-08:00

Know what a serving really is. Portions these days have become gigantic. You might think that a serving of cooked pasta is a big bowl full but look on the package. You'll be surprised to see that a serving is considered just an 8 ounce cupful of cooked pasta. And the serving of pasta sauce? Well that's just ¼ cup or 2 ounces. A serving of chicken, or meat, is 4 ounces, that's a chicken thigh or drumstick. In the case of meat, a serving is about the size of a deck of playing cards. A serving of vegetables is ½ cup, a serving of fruit is ½ cup, or one whole fruit such as an apple. Of course with fruits and vegetables

Sugar free and low fat doesn't necessarily mean low calorie

2008-11-17T08:34:00.000-08:00

Sugar free and low fat doesn't necessarily mean low calorie. Many of the sugar free snacks contain as many, if not more, calories than their counterparts. Low fat might mean sugar and starches have been added to make up for the lost flavor and creaminess from the fat. Read the labels to make sure you're getting what you think you're getting. Sometimes it's better to use a lesser amount of the original food than the usual amount of the low fat or sugar free substitute.

Always put food on a plate

2008-11-03T16:11:00.000-08:00

Always put food on a plate, a real plate, not a paper plate, and eat at the table. You'll be amazed at how much food you consume away from meal times or on the run. It's easy to down a bag of potato chips eating in front of the TV. Or you're hungry so you grab a leftover chicken leg and eat it over the sink. You're late for work so you reach for a donut to have with your latte as you drive.

Don't eat unless you're sitting down at the table with a plate in front of you. You'll feel silly putting chips and dip on a lunch plate, so silly you probably won't do it. Putting all the food on plates and eating at the table makes you aware of how much you're eating and when. Seeing all the dirty plates in the sink can motivate you not to eat.

What you drink counts in your calories for the day

2008-08-31T09:15:00.000-07:00

It's easy to forget that fruit juice, sodas, sweetened ice tea, and café mocha, all add up. Water is always your best bet as a refreshing drink. Add a slice of lemon or lime for flavor. Or a crushed strawberry, a few raspberries or a peach slice. You can keep a pitcher of ice water on your desk, or kitchen counter and it will remind you to drink more. Keep single serving bottles in the freezer to grab on your way out. Put the bottled water in front of the juice, milk, and sodas and you'll be tempted to drink the water instead of the other liquids. Just cutting out two sodas a day can significantly drop your calorie count.

Plan for your snacks

2008-08-23T21:41:00.000-07:00

Plan for your snacks so you won't be hitting the vending machines or the cookie jar. There are lots of prepackaged alternatives at the grocery store that offer low fat, low calorie, but tasty snacks. Prepackaged costs more than the big bags but you get portion control in return. You can also package up your own snacks. Keep the calorie count to about 100. Fresh fruit and veggies are a given, but you can also have popcorn without the butter, saltine crackers with low fat cheese, a cup of soup, a handful of nuts, or pretzel sticks. Put your selected snacks in a zip lock bag and place in the fridge, when you feel the urge, they'll be ready and waiting.

Sensible Eating Habits

2008-08-14T02:39:00.000-07:00

Have breakfast. Skipping breakfast leads to low blood sugar mid morning which results in cravings for sugary foods to pump the blood sugar back up. A vicious cycle results and continues throughout the day. Your breakfast should consist of whole grains, a protein source and fruit. It doesn't have to be fancy. A slice of whole wheat toast spread with a tablespoon of low fat peanut butter and an apple will do just fine. Or you could mix ½ cup of nonfat cottage cheese with chopped fresh peaches and a couple of whole wheat crackers. Another possibility is a scrambled egg served on an English muffin with a glass of orange juice.

If you work outside the home, brown bag your lunch. It's tempting to run out to the nearest fast food joint for a high fat, high carb lunch. If you pack your lunch you have control of what you eat and won't be tempted by a burger and fries. If you have a fridge and microwave at your office, and who doesn't these days, you can serve up a delicious salad and soup lunch. As an added benefit you will save money. The average fast food lunch these days costs around $7.00. And you can use the time you save to run errands, relax or take a walk around the block

Burn the Fat

2008-07-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle is the perfect book for those that want to follow a healthy eating plan and who really want to understand the science of weight loss and muscle building. It combines a specific exercise plan to compliment the healthy eating and to help you lose more weight.

Of course, everyone knows that you should eat healthy food, but this book makes you actually want to.

What's most interesting about this book, I believe, is that it also offers suggestions of what you can do if the plan isn't working for you. Other diets assume that if you are not losing weight on their plan, you are doing something wrong. Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle actually helps you to figure out what needs to be better and how to tweak it.

The goal setting section of the book also makes it particularly motivating. Venuto offers specific suggestions as to how to incorporate goal planning into your life...and not just goal planning for weight loss.

While some people may be initially put off by the cost of the ebook, it's important to point out that this book is much more comprehensive than most other diet books. And many other diet and fitness programs actually come with a higher price tag, though it's split up into lower monthly payments.

If you're serious about not just losing weight, but about eating healthy and maintaining an active lifestyle, then Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle is the right plan for you.

However, there's nothing particularly bad about this style of eating. If following the Blood Type Diet is a reasonable way for you to begin a healthy eating program, then this is the right diet for you.

Is the Atkins Diet For You?

2008-07-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

The Atkins Diet is the grand daddy of the quick weight loss diets. It's based on severely limiting carbohydrates. Carbs are processed by the body to become sugar or glucose. Glucose is used by the body for energy. If the carbs consumed for the day aren't enough, the body transforms the fat it has stored back into glucose for energy. Carbs also cause the blood sugar to spike which signals the body to produce insulin to remove the sugar from the bloodstream. This causes the blood sugar to drop which results in a craving for more carbs to raise it back up. That's the basis of the Atkin's Diet. Severely limit carbohydrates in the daily diet and the body has to fall back on its fat storage for energy.

The initial two week kick start program only allows 20 grams of carbs per day. The carbs from fiber are netted – subtracted from the total carb count. So for example, while ¼ cup of blueberries has a total carb count of 5.1 grams, only 4.1 grams are counted because 1 gram is from fiber.

Protein such as fish, chicken, beef, and pork contains 0 grams. The diet allows cheese and eggs. Seafood is tricky, some, like shrimp, have 0 grams and others like oysters, pack a walloping 12.5 grams per 6 oz. You can have limited amounts of green vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli, asparagus, and cabbage. Fruit is not allowed. To give you examples of carb counts, an apple has a net 16 grams of carbs, a slice of wheat bread has 12 carbs. Alcohol in any form is not allowed during the kickoff stage. An exercise period of 30 minutes per day is mandatory.

After the initial two weeks, carbs are gradually and slowly added back to the diet, fruits and vegetables first. Some vegetables like sweet potatoes (19) and corn (14 per 1/3 cup) contain too many carbs to ever become a regular part of the diet. The maximum level of carbs at this stage should be between 30 to 35. The objective is to continue losing weight but at a lesser rate than the initial two week period. If the weight loss stops the number of carbs being consumed has to decrease again.

The maintenance diet is at a level of carbs where you've stopped losing weight and don't gain weight. It maxes out at about 40 grams of carbs per day. A turkey sandwich with mayo and sliced tomatoes is about 30 grams of carbs. A medium pear has 21 and one cup of 2% milk has 11.

Sugar, processed foods, flour and starches, such as potatoes and rice are pretty much off limits forever on the Atkins Diet. Most fruits have to be eaten in moderation if at all and certain vegetables as well.

The South Beach Diet: Is It the Diet For You?

2008-06-30T20:10:00.000-07:00

The South Beach Diet is similar to the Atkins Diet in that it has an initial two week phase I period that drastically reduces carbs. The difference between Atkins and South Beach is that there are good carbs and bad carbs. The glycemic index of a food is what counts. The glycemic index is how much a food increases blood sugar compared to the amount that same quantity of white bread would increase blood sugar.

A spike in the blood sugar or glucose, signals the pancreas to make more insulin. The insulin's job is to get the sugar out of the blood stream into the organs for energy or into storage. The body stores glucose as fat. Keeping the blood sugar from spiking means less insulin is produced which means the sugars are absorbed slowly resulting in a steady level of decreasing sugar levels rather than a rush. Low blood sugar leads to cravings for sugary foods and over eating. And the cycle starts again.

Bad carbs spike the blood sugar. Good carbs don't. Good carbs are those from foods which contain a lot of fiber, such as whole grains or contain fiber and water such as fruit. The body takes longer to digest the good carbs so they enter the blood stream more slowly.

The longer food takes to digest the better. For example a piece of raw broccoli is better than cooked because your body has to work harder to digest the raw broccoli. The faster carbohydrates are digested, the more quickly they're turned into sugar – glucose, and the more likely they will be turned to stored fat.

Fiber, protein and fats slow down the digestive system which means the blood sugar rises slowly and falls slowly. The tendency to over eat is diminished and the onset of hunger delayed.

The South Beach Diet limits fats and oils and encourages the consumption of lean cuts of meat and low fat cheeses. Vegetables and fruits are allowed after the initial phase I - two week period. Whole grains can be added back including whole grain bread. White breads, cookies, cakes, rice, potatoes, and sugar are off limits except for special occasions.

The South Beach Diet is a change in eating patterns for life, but other than the forbidden processed foods, white flour, and sugar, the diet is reasonably manageable. It allows a broader selection of foods than the Atkins diet.

Walk Off the Weight

2008-06-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

Exercise combined with a few changes in your diet can melt off the pounds in no time. But if you think exercise means hours sweating in the gym, think again. As with any new exercise program check with your doctor before proceeding.

Studies have shown that walking at a brisk pace has the same benefits to your heart as jogging, with less stress to your joints. Walkers are less prone to injuries than joggers. A brisk pace means that you can talk while you’re walking without gasping for air. If you can sing a tune you’re going too slow. You should be able to keep up the pace for 30 to 60 minutes without a lot of stress.

If your goal is to lose a pound a week you have to either increase your exercise to burn up 3500 calories or decrease your food intake by 3500 calories. On a daily basis that means a change of 500 calories. Walking a mile takes the average person 15 minutes and burns up 100 calories. So you’d have to walk about five miles a day, or spend an hour and fifteen minutes walking to lose a pound a week.

You don’t need a lot of expensive equipment to start walking. A good pair of walking shoes is essential, but other than you don’t need much of anything else. Wear loose clothing of natural fibers so if you sweat, the moisture will be wicked away from your body and evaporate. Wear sun block and a hat.

You can walk at any time of day (or night for that matter). Some people prefer the morning because it gives them a boost of energy for the day. Others prefer at the end of the day so they can unwind.

Start your walking program with a 15 minute walk for a few days in a row. Then gradually increase the time by five minutes. By the end of two weeks you should be up to 30 to 45 minutes a day. You’re burning 200 to 350 calories without any changes in your diet. After six months you’ll have lost from 12 – 20 pounds. If you want to accelerate the weight loss, walk faster, cover more ground in the same amount of time.

If you decrease the amount of food you eat by 200 calories a day you double the weight loss. 200 calories isn’t really that much of a sacrifice. For example regular salad dressing has about 100 calories per tablespoon; a serving size is two tablespoons, so substituting nonfat salad dressing would save 200 calories. A 3.5 inch bagel with two tablespoons of cream cheese is about 400 calories. Eat half of the bagel instead of the whole one, and you’ve saved your 200 calories. A glass of whole milk is 150 calories, skim milk is 90, if you drink 3 glasses of milk a day you save 180 calories by switching to skim.

There you have it: an easy way to lose weight, increase your fitness level and strengthen your cardiovascular system and all you did was take a walk.

Lose Weight: Join a Fitness Center

2008-06-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

Joining a fitness center can motivate you to stick with your weight loss program. But there are so many to choose from, how can you narrow down the field?

Determine what your goals are for your fitness program.

Do you want to lose weight, get in shape for an athletic event, improve your chosen sport or establish a life long fitness routine? Knowing what you want from a center will help you choose the right center. Take a few minutes and think about your goals.

Friendly or firm -- philosophy counts

Do you want a congenial atmosphere where the trainers are your friends and gently motivate you towards a fitter and firmer body? Or do you need the no nonsense 'let's get going' approach? Or perhaps you prefer the camaraderie of your peer group pushing you to greater fitness. The atmosphere of the center will influence your enjoyment of the program and if you enjoy the program you'll be consistent in your attendance.

Visiting the center's website will give you some insight into the center's philosophy. Better yet visit the center itself. While you're there take a moment and look at the members and the interaction between the members and the instructors.

Location, location, location

It's important in real estate and it's important for your fitness center. Choose a center that offers what you want and what you need, but also consider its location. If you have to travel out of your way, the odds are you won't do it when you need it the most. Pick a center that is either close to home or close to work. That way you can work in your work out without spending as much time traveling to it as you spend using it.

You gotta have it

If racquet ball is your favorite sport, then your fitness center has got to have racquet ball courts. If your heart is set on circuit training then the right equipment and instructors have got to be available. If swimming is your preferred method of getting fit, make sure your center has a lap pool. You might think it doesn't matter, but in the long run, it will. You will be more likely to make excuses not to go, if the center doesn't offer what you need.

Amenities

Spa, massage, swimming pool, sauna, and Jacuzzi are all wonderful amenities but will you use them? And will they be available when you want to use them? While the appeal of having the day's tensions and stress massaged away sounds wonderful, will you actually the service? Or would onsite day care be more useful to you? Most centers have busy time periods before the work day and after work, will the amenities you want to use be too busy? If your idea of the ideal workout includes a steam and sauna followed by a quick refreshing dip in the pool, make sure your center has them.

Show me the money

Memberships fees can range from a few dollars a visit to thousands per year. Make sure the center you choose fits within your budget.

Think Your Way Thin

2008-05-22T14:08:00.000-07:00

Can you really lose weight just by thinking about it? Well studies have shown that athletes can improve their game through the technique of visualizing the correct sequence of muscle movements. During the process of visualization it seems that even though the muscles don’t move, the brain sends electrical impulses that mimic the impulses sent when the action is physically carried through. Practicing by thinking about it.

People who want to lose weight are often their own worst enemy. Looking in the mirror they chide themselves for their flabby thighs or stomach over hanging the belt. They don’t see that they’ve lost weight, they just see how much more weight they should lose. This mind set just re-enforces their poor self image. Then when a cookie beckons, they figure why not, they’re fat and flabby anyway.

Want to know a better thought process? Think of your body the way you want it to be. If you have a picture of your former thinner self, use it as a guideline. That’s the real you. Whenever you’re tempted by a double chocolate brownie think of the thin you.

You can use your mind to control your eating habits. If you’re tempted to eat, just delay gratification for 15 minutes. In most cases when the time has passed, so has the craving.

Visualization can be used as a substitute for eating. Think of a place where you feel safe and happy. Perhaps it’s the beach with the waves rhythmically pounding the shore, the sand underfoot, and the sun glistening off the water. Smell the salt air and feel the cool breeze ruffling your hair. When you feel an eating binge coming on, close your eyes and picture your safe place. You are turning your attention away from the momentary satisfaction of eating to the longer term satisfaction of losing weight by focusing on a pleasant memory.

Remind yourself you are in control of your food, not the other way around. Give yourself permission to have whatever you want. Deprivation as a diet doesn’t work. It’s like when someone says DON’T think of a pink elephant, the first thing you think of is -- the pink elephant. If you tell yourself: I can’t have pizza, I can’t have pizza, I can’t have pizza, the more you’ll want the pizza. Give yourself permission to have the pizza, but just a small taste. Thank about what you like best about the pizza. Savor the crispy crust, the tang of the tomato sauce and the flavor of the cheese, then stop eating. You’ve had the taste of pizza, you don’t have to eat the entire portion.