Atkins Diet

No other diet is as controversial as the Atkins diet. There are those who malign Dr. Atkins’ diet plan as being overly restrictive and affecting weight loss not by offering healthy choices but instead by greatly diminishing the food choices available to the participants. Additionally, Atkins diet meals were said to be too expensive for the average food consumer, while proponents of the diet pointed to the fact that Dr. Atkins’ revolutionary diet was to thank for their weight loss. There is little dispute that you will lose weight on this diet, yet the question remains if the Atkins diet is a healthy vehicle of weight loss, or if it should be numbered with the fad diets that seem to fascinate the American public so frequently.

The Atkins diet and its recipes, menu plan, and overall effectiveness must be measured against the backdrop of medical studies that have been performed. As such, it has been found out that the number one criticism of the Atkins diet – the fact that is support the ingestion of meat proteins – has not been shown to cause an increase in hearth disease or contributing factors. Instead, the Atkins diet plan and diet menu has been found to be in direct relationship with a concise lack of energy for those on the Atkins diet.

 

When reviewing a copy of the Atkins diet, physicians have also warned that the high protein content in Atkins diet foods has been associated with osteoporosis as well as increases in diarrhea. While the former can only be partially battled with calcium supplements, the latter may be effectively counteracted with fiber supplements. If you are thinking of starting the Atkins diet, consult first with your physician to see if you are a good candidate and also make use of the free diet information on the Atkins website where you will be able to find many answers to your questions. While there is no definitive yes or no answer when it comes to ascertaining if this diet is really good for you, there is enough derogatory information available to proceed with caution rather than jumping in with both feet!

Obesity And Herbal Weight Loss

A major health concern for Americans today is obesity. It is approximated that two-thirds of American adults are considered overweight, while one-third of Americans are considered obese or seriously overweight. Obesity is defined as “having an abnormal amount of body fat; being 20 to 30 percent over the ideal weight for age, sex, and height,” and it plagues modern Americans as the number one health concern.

Setting aside its considerable emotional and aesthetic issues, obesity is a huge risk factor for life-threatening health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney problems, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, cancer, and gallstones. Excessive body weight also creates a large amount of stress on joints, ultimately increasing a person’s chances of developing arthritis.

Given the risks inherent in being obese or even overweight, it’s important to take safe, natural steps to improve one’s health. One way to do this is to utilize herbal weight loss methods. Herbal supplements are a great way to achieve natural weight loss.

Herbal weight loss may help to raise the body’s metabolism level, suppress the appetite, and/or add to overall health and well-being. But, as always when starting a new weight-loss regime, it’s important to be aware of any possible side effects of herbal and/or natural weight loss supplements. Always consult with a health care professional.

Examples of weight loss supplements and herbal weight loss methods include:

• Aloe Vera: improves digestion by cleaning the digestive tract.
• Astralgus: provides a boost of energy and quickly satisfies any craving for sweets.
• Bee pollen: a herbal weight loss method that stimulates metabolism and, as with Astralgus, quickly satisfies any urge for sweets.
• Ephedra (also known as huang): a weight loss supplement that suppresses appetite and increases the metabolism.
• Kelp: provides a boost to the metabolism.
• Licorice: reduces any cravings for sweets and regulates blood sugar levels.

Modern herbal weight loss supplements like combine several fat burning herbs into one weight loss formula. People losing weight with the help of weight loss supplements rarely if ever experience side effects, other than increased confidence from having lost the weight.

Still, weight loss herbs should be combined with healthy eating and lifestyle habits, as well as moderate exercise 2-3 times per week. When taken alone however, weight loss pills like Proactol can help a person bind up to 27% of fat before digesting it, burn off stored fat and calories and increase energy and motivation to exercise and lose more weight.

Health And Weight Loss

North America has the hight heart disease rate in the world for a reason - one third of our population is obese! And its hard to say that we try and do nothing to change that, but in reality we live in one of the laziest continents, and find it to easy to simply goto a convenient fast food restaurant and than go home and sit down after our ‘long day.’

To begin, when looking at weight loss from a medical context, it is a reduction to your total body mass. Either from fluids, bone mass, muscle or fat. But the weight loss that we are all looking for is the weight loss for fitness and health, and the reduction of fat!

Weight loss for individuals who are overweight or obese is great for reducing the treat of health problems and diesels - such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and osteoarthritis.

Weight loss occurs when the body of an individual is in a state of negative energy balance. When your body is losing more energy in work and heat than it is gaining from other natural supplements, resulting in your body using its reserves - body fat.

In my experience with weight loss pills and programs I have found a few that have worked for me, and others that I know. the key is to find one that best suits you, weight loss is not an easy one step thing, it is different for everybody. So its worth while taking your time to see what best suits you.

Diet Pills - The Dangers

The active ingredients that promote weight loss (the ingredients included in virtually all weight loss drugs) are more damaging to the body than they are beneficial, that is certain. These are drugs in a group of drugs classified as anoretics. Anoretics, or “anorexigenics” come from the same root word as the disease known as anorexia. These, the active drugs / ingredients included in any number of specific brand-name, over the counter drugs, do many things. Most importantly for the market, they suppress the desire to eat. The curbing of someone’s hunger is not a bad thing – especially if someone wants to loose weight to get healthy. But suppressing your appetite will only make you feel the need to eat less.

You still require certain nourishment to sustain yourself, but with hunger suppressants—time will sail by and there is a great tendency to ignore if not completely forget the need to eat. Malnourishment is bad for anyone, and can lead to a large number of mental as well as physical complications. Therefore, simply not eating is risky enough with the possible development of malnourishment – with or without weight loss pills. But realize that this is only one horribly damaging possibility in addition to all of the other potential dangers that come with the regular use of weight loss pills. Risks such as pulmonary disease, strokes, and heart failure are all too common side effects for someone trying to treat a weight problem (real or imagined) with fast-acting diet pills.

When I was a young dance instructor I experienced the effects of weight-loss and malnourishment for a brief period. I was in my first year of college. I taught dancing classes, took lessons, and I was also a full-time English major on the Dean’s list when I actually suffered from not eating. It was a subconscious anorexia, I drank coffee I rushed around, and I just forgot to eat. A lot. I didn’t sleep as much as I needed to, and, especially being very active I burned a lot of calories when I was awake.

I began to grow very thin before I even noticed it. I would become faint or weak when I would be active. Suddenly lack of nourishment had begun to interfere dramatically with my life. Then I really had to focus on being sure I was eating, not suppressing my appetite by drinking too much coffee, and taking vitamin pills to be sure that I was receiving the nutrients I needed. Right around that time there were many women and high-school girls who took diet pills and who (as a result) were thin to the extent that it had become unhealthy. It was strange, soon after I realized symptoms of dizziness, blurred vision, shakiness and poor concentration I knew I had to do something to get my regular, healthy eating habits back on track. No more than two days later one of my ballet instructors pointed out how great I looked. It was like a flashing sign. I could see it, glaringly, the reason why so many aspiring ballerinas, gymnasts, and other athletes and performers tend to become anorexic or bulimic. That same week, I discovered that one of my students, a thirteen year-old, had been taking “mini – thins” a kind of asthma medication notorious for suppressing someone’s appetite. This drug has since been pulled from the market in many states. I was glad her mother had caught her. I had no idea why she would have thought she had a weight problem – but such psychological distortions are not an obvious illness.

The big point is that these drugs can really harm you. It’s not a question of whether or not you want to “look good” by loosing weight with diet pills (as advertised) without dieting or beginning an exercise program. What it is is a question of how much you want to risk, how much of your health and subsequently, your life you want to risk so you feel better in your bikini. Before you read on you may think I am being harsh and or judgmental. I assure you that I am not judging, and if there is harshness to my words it is only the importance I feel must be placed on the subject right away. More and more people want to loose weight fast and with little effort, and more and more pills are being put on the market today advertising extreme weight loss without diet and exercise. Think before you try it, please. Read the facts below:

Here are some of the more common active ingredients in various popular diet pills on the market today. These are the side effects you can almost always count on experiencing when you take them, as well as some of the less likely but potentially fatal side effect which can occur. I will use the generic names of these medications and indicate the brand names in parenthesis for your benefit. My recommendation is that you do not use diet pills . . . plain and simple. However, if you are going to take diet pills, at least try to recognize the active drugs so you know exactly what risks you are facing. Most of the following drugs are active ingredients derived of or synthetic for amphetamines. These same amphetamines come in the worst of variations such as the notorious, destructive “Crystal-Meth Amphetamines” which rampage our inner city streets. Many people with home labs for illegal drugs will use these kinds of pills to extract ephedrine: the key ingredient in crystal meth. As a matter of fact, the asthma medication “Mini-Thins” was pulled off of the market in many states for this reason. In other states, you can only purchase one or two bottles at one time. This policy is enforced to try and prevent the production of crystal meth-amphetamines in home labs.

Active ingredients will be listed on the back of the bottle in addition to loss of appetite, there are the following, other side effects. One drug used in weight loss pills is Dexfenfluramine (Adifex) has the possible side-effects of nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, mood disorder, a disorder called “reactive depression insomnia,” as well as anxiety, headaches, constipation and dry mouth. The psychological conditions of this drug are extremely damaging and should be your primary concern. The drug Phentermine (also called Adipex, Duromine, Ionamin, or Panbesy as brand names) will potentially cause over-stimulation of the central nervous system, a condition referred to in the psychiatric community as “GREAT IDEA Syndrome,” as well as heart disease. Specifically phentermine can cause heart palpitations, abnormal heart rhythms, respiratory depression, increased blood pressure, tremors and even induce a coma. The majority of people who use such drugs tend to use them excessively . . . this is extremely dangerous. You can make yourself crazy, literally, when you expose your body to these chemicals. Once in your bloodstream – especially when consistent – your brain can be forever altered by these drugs. Is it worth it? Is it worth landing yourself in a coma just so you can loose a few pounds without giving up fast food or having to start exercising regularly?

Here are a couple more examples of weight loss drugs and what they do. Mazindol (also called Teronac) is, among other things, likely to cause gastrointestinal problems, trouble sleeping, rashes, but most importantly, it may cause hypertension or irregular heart rhythms. Flenfluramine (also called Dietoff or Ponderax) can also result in coma, over-stimulation of the central nervous system, respritory distress, as well as heart disease such as palpitations and irregular or abnormal heart rhythms. One of the least dangerous diet pills you can take (originally created to treat depression) is Fluxoetine (or, Prozac) this drug can possibly cause weakness, somnolence, nausea, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, sweating, tremors, sexual dysfunction, and difficulty swallowing. There is a family of drugs, the Prozac descendants, and many other psychiatric drugs that can result in loss of appetite. Among the side-effects of some of these drugs (for example: Paxil) are seizures, suicidal tendencies, severe birth defects, in addition to the heart problems and other common side effects I have already mentioned.

Find out more about these drugs and their specific nature in more articles on this website. Talk to your doctor about ways to loose weight. Or you can seek the advice of a nutritionist or personal trainer to improve yourself physically, loosing weight and strengthening your vital organs instead of weakening or harming them with diet pills. If you want a happier and healthier (and not to mention longer) life, please consider the consequences of your choices – even when you seriously need to lose weight.

Are Weight Loss Pills Safe

The weight loss industry is currently awash with slimming products that make wild and spurious claims to be the best or cheapest on the open market. Unlike prescribed slimming pills, non prescription or “over the counter” products do not need to undergo the same rigorous testing and standardizing procedures and so manufacturers along with the retailers are keen to get the products out to market with minimal clinical evidence and sell on the strength of “cheap” rather than “proven” via clever marketing and advertising. The market is volume driven with the emphasis on quantity rather than quality.

Who Buys Slimming Pills.

Slimming tablets, supplements or pills are sold to desperate consumers eager to control their weight, the majority of the industry understands this and so their message appeals. Fast and Rapid are words that are often used to sell. “Rapid” and “Weight Loss” should not appear in the same sentence. The weight loss pill industry is huge. Currently, in the United States alone it is worth over sixty billion dollars ($60 billion) with over 10% of the products sold either fraudulent or harmful.

What Are The Types Of Weight Loss Pills.

Possibly the best known weight loss supplement available to buy today is Hoodia. Hoodia is a natural ingredient that comes from a cactus like plant that grows in desert like conditions of South Africa.Hoodia contains a chemical called P57. P57 is an extremely powerful and effective substance that acts as an appetite suppressant. The problem with Hoodia is that it also contains a dozen other chemicals that are of no use in fight for weight loss. The process for extracting the P57 from Hoodia (Gordonii) takes over 5 years, this is costly and time consuming. In recent times Hoodia rather than P57 has become synonymous with weight loss and so an estimated 80% Hoodia branded slimming products contain no trace of P57. So in effect consumers are buying Hoodia related products without any appetite suppressing substance.

Other appetite suppressants such as Ephedra and Phentermine can be purchased over the counter but both have negative side effects.

Ephedra can cause both physical and mental damage to the consumer. It is an amphetamine-like compound that stimulates the central nervous system, misuse can lead to life threatening consequences. The FDA has issued several warnings about the use of Ephedra as diet product. Phentermine is usually a prescribed medication for the clinically obese, although this can be bought over the counter advised use is short term and under strict medical supervision. Although the potential side affects are mild they are very real; blurred vision, dry mouth, sleeplessness, irritability, chest pain and palpitations.

Fat burning and blocking supplements have very little evidence surrounding them to suggest that they can be effective as a slimming aid.

Fat burners; Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is a fatty acid produced by bacteria found in the stomachs of livestock type animals (cows and sheep) as well as certain types of plants such as sunflowers and safflowers albeit in smaller quantities. At present it is not clinically proven that CLA is effective as a weight reducing product. Initial studies have shown very little conclusive proof. However studies have shown that expectant mothers or mothers that are breast feeing should avoid this type of supplement.

Fat blockers; there have been some hysteria surrounding Chitosan – a fibre extracted from shellfish. Outrageous claims have been made but most of the studies have been carried out on animals and as yet it is unproven on humans.In conclusion both fat burners and fat blockers have no scientific or medical evidence that they work and have no long term side effects. This is also an expensive choice.

Prescribed Weight Loss Pills. Xenical (Orlistat) are mostly used for clinical obesity and cannot be purchased legally over the counter. A consultation with a doctor or GP is required. Xenical binds with dietary fat and stops them being absorbed into the body. Although this is a proven method for losing weight doctors are often only to prescribe to the obese, meaning that the slightly overweight are often denied the medication.

Over The Counter Fat Binders. Fat binding is possibly the most effective way to combat obesity and control weight. Although relatively new to the market – a product called Proactol has been given medical backing, approval and is now a certified medical product (MDD 93/42/EEC) and is manufactured in accordance to EN ISO 13485:2003 standards.

Proactol is a 100% herbal product and unlike Hoodia has a standard attached to it. So consumers can be confident that they are buying and administering something that contains the weight reducing element.

It is important to remember that for the advantages a pill, tablet or supplement can give, for absolute success in achieving weight loss targets a healthy diet and exercise is also required.

Hypnosis for Weight loss

Recent statistics (gathered by the NCHS) shows that 30 percent of American citizens from 20 years and above are obese. This counts more than 60 million people. We all know the consequences of being overweight; increased risk of diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes II and even cancer. The weight loss industry has grown tremendously in recent years and more and more obese people are trying out various weight loss programs or weight loss pills, most of them experiencing that it doesn't work in a sustainable way. But what about hypnosis for weight loss, can it really help?

Hypnosis in general is a very old method designed for speaking directly to our subconscious mind and thus modifying our behaviour. We know that hypnosis can have numerous other successful applications besides weight loss and the examples range from performance improvement for athletes and therapy for victims of abuse to curing diseases like ulcers, nausea, migraines, depression and anxieties, just to mention a few. But the question I'll try to answer is; could lose weight hypnosis be an alternative for losing weight?

About 15 percent of the USA's population have got the label 'highly hypnotizable', while 10 to 15 percent can't be hypnotized at all. In between this measurement is where the majority of 70 to 75 percent might be eligible for hypnosis more or less. Just so that you are aware that hypnosis doesn't work for all of us.

The experts disagree regarding which extent hypnosis by itself can provide a sustainable weight loss. What most experts seem to agree upon however, is that hypnosis can make a contribution to weight loss for many people if it is combined with healthy diets and workout. Whether or not hypnosis can help you lose weight can only be answered if you try it, either by contacting an hypnosis therapist or trying out a good self hypnosis program that you can find online. There are some success stories about hypnosis and weight loss. A friend of mine, who had been overweight since he was a child and had entered all thinkable weight loss programs and remedies just to experience an endless weight roller-coster trip, lost - believe it or not - almost 100 pounds with hypnosis. And he was very skeptical initially. So it might be worth a trial for you as well.

5-Step Weight Loss Program for Permanent Weight Loss

5-Step Weight Loss Program for Permanent Weight Loss

Every Journey Worth Taking Begins with a Single Step 
Here are five easy steps to gain control of your weight loss efforts. Start at the beginning, then take small steps, each and every day and you'll climb that mountain.

STEP 1: State What You Want Now 
"I want to lose 50 pounds."

Is that achievable in the next month? If not, break it down into smaller mini-goals. "I want to lose 5 pounds this month."

What other ways can you say what you want, besides wanting to lose some weight?

"I want to step on the scale and see (state a number) pounds (remember, keep it something you can achieve in one month).

"I want to feel my pants getting looser."

"I want to see myself in the mirror wearing last year's bathing suit and it fits."

"I want to notice my clothes are getting too big for me."

"I want to easily bend over and touch my toes."

"I want to get up from a seated position, easily and gracefully."

Those are positive goals. Focus on what you want. How you want to feel, what you want to experience.

STEP 2: Make A Plan 
Get out your weekly calendar and start with eating less (portion control), eating more (healthier foods), or eating differently in some way.

STEP 3: Consider Exercise 
Adding regular exercise helps more than anything else because the more active you become the more calories you burn, and if you build muscle, the more calories you'll burn at rest. What, when, how often? Do you need equipment, books, tapes or can you just get started and gather the other ingredients as you go?

Write it all out. Your plan should include which days of the week and at what time. Don't make the mistake of trying to decide you'll exercise every day. You're not likely to stick to a plan that doesn't have build-in off days. Make it easy at first. You can always add more later.

STEP 4: Decide Whether Your Plan Is Workable For You 
Take a look at your plan and decide whether it's possible. If not, make changes until it is.

Start by listing each item, and then asking yourself how will you achieve this?

1. I want to eat less quantity. I'll achieve this by having half or three-quarters of the amount I usually have. See if that is sufficient. Keep a food diary for one week, religiously writing down everything that goes in your mouth.

2. I want to eat more healthier foods. I'll achieve this by adding more fruits and vegetables for snacks, so when I'm hungry, or think I'm hungry an apple or some carrots might be my snack of choice. This has the added benefit of more nutrition.

3. I want to eat differently. I'll achieve this by paying more attention while eating. Turn off distractions. Think of each bite as a separate event. Write down what I'm tasting and see what I notice now that I never noticed before? Different smells, sights, textures, and subtle tastes. I'll make an effort to really chew each bite at least 10 times.

4. I want to add some exercise. I'll achieve this by getting a book either at the library or a store, get a free pass to my closest gym, talk to friends, borrow exercise tapes. Find exercises I can do in front of the TV at first, or on the floor in my bedroom when I first get up or whatever works. No matter if others see me, I don't care. Start slowly, after the first few weeks, add more if I'm ready.

Close your eyes and imagine your plan. 
If you chose getting up an hour earlier, can you see yourself doing it? Does it fit? Are you a night person? If so, an early morning workout probably won't pan out - stick to midday or evening workouts. Find what fits for you.

STEP 5: Set Up Plan A And Determine What You Need To Get Started 
Plan A: I need a small notebook I can carry with me for keeping track of daily foods (this is only needed for a week or two to get an idea of what I'm eating).

Need monthly calendar to track my exercise minutes, even if it's only 10 minutes this month and 20 next, that's progress. You are after progress, not perfection. There is no such thing as perfection.

Visit library or order book online for using bodyweight for exercises. Pushups, crunches, etc., can be done without any extra equipment.

Buy healthy foods to have on hand such as fruits, cut up vegetables. Make dinner at least twice a week and freeze leftovers into ready-to-eat frozen meals.

Purchase or order supplements, protein powders, etc., if I want them.

Putting It All Together 
Start working your plan. Don't wait for the next full-moon or some other arbitrary starting date. Just get started. The sooner you start, the sooner you begin to see results.

If you use EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), do it at least three times a day. It only takes a couple of minutes and you can do it while you do other things, so get it done. Check in with your list of behaviors you'd like to change, and then work on one issue each week or until it becomes a non-issue, then move to the next.

You might start with frustration that things aren't happening fast enough:

Example EFT statements: 
"Even though I'm frustrated by all these instructions, I deeply and completely accept myself."

"Even though I don't want it to take so much effort, I deeply and completely accept myself"

"Even though I hate all this and just want to wake up skinny, I deeply and completely accept myself."

No matter what, if you are putting attention on this process, then you are making progress. It doesn't matter if you keep to your plan exactly. What does matter is that you make a plan at all.

If you make a small effort every day you'll find that some days will be better than others, and that's okay. It's easy to forget, and fall back into our usual patterns which is why keeping a notebook handy helps keep you on track. So does scheduling your workout time just like you would any appointment, and then keeping it.

The point is not to be perfect--the point is to take action. 
You can use a grading system, such as one point for achieving each item on your list, and tallying the points at the end of the week. You could also color in the squares on the calendar, so when you achieve what you planned, you color it in, but if you didn't achieve what you planned, you don't color it in. That way you can see at a glance how often the calendar is colored, how many squares are missing, etc. You can also see as months go by how you are improving. Having a visual display of your progress can help keep you on track. Remember, expect to be less than perfect in the beginning.

If the idea that you won't be perfect is all it takes to keep you on a really strict path at first, that's fine, but be aware you'll likely slip a time or two in the following weeks. Think of it as nothing more than a learning experience, and go ahead to see if you can prove me wrong. That would be great. Just no matter what, no matter if it's been a week since you did anything on your list, it does not matter; just pick up where you left off and start again.

Small Changes Equal Big Results 
There are 365 days in a year. If you achieved your goals on 200 of them this year, wouldn't that be an improvement over last year? As you improve, your weight will fall. That's how it works. That's why people who achieve their best weight and maintain it have learned how to stay "on plan" than "off plan." Eventually you don't really think of it as a plan at all but just how you are. It becomes your new way of life.

I don't diet, and I never have yet I maintain my weight. I don't restrict myself but my choices are what makes the difference. I can eat candy, cookies and cake any time I want, but usually I don't want to. That's the difference. When someone says they can eat what they want, they mean they usually want to eat foods they know will support their health goals.

Use these five steps to get started on a plan, right now. Start by getting a small notebook, then starting writing down th days of the week, thinking about your schedule and how you'll make some changes to your routine. After all, it's your present routine that isn't working, so you must make some changes. Make them fit, and then you'll fit into those smaller jeans in no time and this time it will be a permanent weight loss.

3 Simple Weight Loss Tips

3 Simple Weight Loss Tips

Tip 1) DRINK A GLASS OF WATER AFTER EACH SNACK

This will help you get in your 8 to 10 glasses of water each day but it can also have other benefits. Ever feel hungry after eating a handful or standard serving of nuts? Try drinking water afterwards. The water will help you feel full and prevent overindulgence.

Drinking water after a snack will also help remove the aftertaste from your mouth and can help curb your desire for more.

Tip 2) EAT SLOWLY & ENJOY YOUR FOOD

You will feel full and more satisfied if you take the time to savor your food and chew it slower. Don’t get in the habit of eating while standing or eating quickly. Sit down and chew.

Eating slower will help you enjoy your food more, pay attention to what it is you are actually eating and get a better sense of when you are actually full.

Tip 3) EAT YOUR LARGER MEALS EARLY, AND SMALLER MEALS LATER

You will feel better and lose weight quicker if you eat a large breakfast and eat a smaller dinner. You may also want to eat the majority of your carbs earlier in the day, saving a salad and lean meat protein for dinner.

Eating larger meals during the part of the day when you are most active will help you to feel satisfied throughout the day and curb cravings for unhealthy snacks.

Five Tips for Easy Weight Loss!

Five Tips for Easy Weight Loss!

Weight loss is a hot topic among people today, especially considering the fact that more than half of us are overweight. As we get older we often get busier, and before we know it, find ourselves in the prime of our lives and packing a few extra pounds. With so little extra time in our lives it is impractical to join the latest diet fad or commit to sweating in the gym for hours at a time. Are we all destined to grow outward with each passing year, or is there a simple way for us to reclaim our healthy figures? If you struggle with your own battle of the bulge read on for five sure-fire ways to drop a few of those unwanted pounds, and more importantly learn how you can prevent packing them in the first place!

TIP #1: Burn it in the AM.

What is the first thing you do when you wake each morning? Hit the snooze button for an extra ten minutes of sleep? What if I told you that taking those ten minutes to strap on your sneakers and walk briskly around the block would result in weight loss? It has been proven that aerobic activity done on an empty stomach forces your body to recruit energy from storage. This energy is stored in the form of fat on various parts of your body. Starting tomorrow take ten minutes out of your morning to walk briskly around the block before breakfast. Do not sprint or try to walk as quickly as possible, simply walk at a pace that you could comfortably hold a conversation. This seemingly small activity, when done consistently, will produce surprising weight loss results!

TIP #2 Forget Your Late Night Snack.

I know I am not the only one who enjoys eating a snack after dinner! Although comfort food seems to taste better right before bed, it is also more prone to stick with us when eaten late at night. It has been proven that not eating three hours before bed reduces fat storage throughout the night. If you go to bed at 10pm, finish eating for the day no later than 7pm. Once you have made this a habit you will be ecstatic over the long term weight loss!

TIP #3 Kiss that Frappuccino Goodbye.

What tastes better than a frothy, venti frappuccino smothered in whip cream and chocolate syrup? While blended coffee beverages have rapidly gained popularity with the masses, their caloric tallies have been all but ignored. Whether you are an avid Starbucker, or only wander in for an occasional treat, it is important to know the truth about what you are drinking. The average Venti sized frappuccino weighs in at 530 calories. This staggering number equals 2.5 bagels, or one third of the recommended daily calories for an average woman. Not only is this an extreme amount of calories to be consumed in a beverage but the calories come purely from sugar, which is easily stored as fat. Next time you are in line at the coffee shop and find yourself eyeing a sugary beverage, redirect your attention to the tea selection, or stick with an old fashioned cup of coffee.

TIP #4 Fuel Your Fire.

Have you ever tended a campfire? You probably remember continuously adding sticks and branches to keep the fire from running out of fuel. Your body’s metabolism is similar in its need for constant fuel. Eating a small meal every three hours is a great way to keep your metabolism high all day long. When your metabolism is high you burn more calories throughout the day and are less likely to store fat. Rather than eating 2 or 3 large meals a day, and allowing your ‘fire’ to go out, giving way to hunger pains, try eating a small meal every three hours and be amazed at your weight loss results.

TIP #5 Curb Your Carbs

I’m sure sometime in the past year you have found yourself subjected to the testimony of a converted ‘low-carb’ enthusiast. While these people may look great it is definitely not the right diet for everyone. Extreme fatigue, crankiness and downright impracticality are what make this diet a tough cookie to swallow. Cutting one or two carb-filled items out of your daily diet can make a huge difference in meeting weight loss goals. While I wouldn’t recommend throwing out your bread basket entirely, consciously cutting carb-filled items out of your daily food intake is a great idea. If you normally have a sandwich for lunch make it open-faced, thus cutting out half of the bread. If you enjoy eating pasta for dinner reduce your pasta portion and add extra vegetables. These minor changes to your daily diet will prove themselves priceless when you step onto the scale!

It is you against the bulge, and now that you are armed with these 5 tips for easy weight loss, I am confident that you are going to win! Keep in mind that consistency is the key. The more effort that you put into implementing these 5 tips into your daily lifestyle, the quicker the unwanted pounds will disappear!

Five Important Things to Know Before You Join a Weight Loss Program

Five Important Things to Know Before You Join a Weight Loss Program

1. What is my BMI and how do I calculate it?

BMI means Body Mass Index. The value is associated with body fat and health risks.

Healthy weight is defined as a BMI equal to or greater than 19 and less than 25 among all people aged 20 or over. Between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight; more than 30 is considered obese.

To determine body mass index: [Weight in pounds ÷ Height in inches ÷ Height in inches] x 703.

Fractions and ounces must be entered as decimal values.

The metric formula is: BMI= Body Weight(kg)/height(m)2. Remember that: 2.2 lbs.=1 kg and 39.4 ins.=1m.

For example, if you are 1.75 M tall and weigh 80 kg. , your BMI will be = 80/1.75X1.75 = 26.122, i.e. slightly overweight (Always keep in mind that "obesity" is defined as a BMI greater than 30)

2. What are carbs, proteins, fats?

Carbohydrates provide your body with its basic fuel, very much like a car engine and gasoline. Glucose goes directly into the cells, which convert it into the energy they need.

There are two types of carbohydrates:

Simple carbohydrates (also called "sugars" on food package labels): glucose etc.

Complex carbohydrates ("starches"), made up of chains of glucose molecules, which is simply a way plants store glucose.

Starches can be found in great quantities in most grains (wheat, corn, oats, rice) and things like potatoes and plantains.

Your digestive system breaks a starch back down into its component glucose molecules so that the glucose can enter your bloodstream.

Carbohydrates provide cells with energy, proteins provide cells with the building material they need to grow and maintain their structure.

Protein can be found in both animal and vegetable foods. Most animal sources (meat, milk, eggs) provide "complete protein": they contain all of the essential amino acids.

Fats are also an important part of our diet. Many foods contain fat in different amounts. High-fat foods include dairy products like butter and cream as well as mayonnaise and oils.

There are two kinds of fats: saturated and unsaturated.

Fat is necessary because: the only way to get certain fat-soluble vitamins is to eat fat, your body has no way to make certain essential fats, so you must get them in your food.

Another reason is that fat is a good source of energy, in fact it contains twice as many calories per gram as do carbohydrates or proteins. Your body can burn fat as fuel when necessary

3. What else does my body need?

Mainly vitamins and minerals. These can be found in various foods, fruits, etc..It seems the "Standard Western Diet" is deficient in vitamins and minerals. This has led to the creation of vitamin and mineral supplements.

4. What are the dangers of being overweight (too fat)?

When it gets to a certain level, overweight becomes "obesity", which has been described as "a serious, chronic disease that is known to reduce life span, increase disability and lead to many serious illnesses including diabetes, heart disease and stroke, cancer, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, gall bladder disease, gout."

5. What exactly is Atkins diet?

Dr. Atkins diet, first introduced in 1972, is strictly focused on limiting carbohydrate consumption.

That is why it is called a low-carb, high-protein diet or sometimes simply a low-carb diet, together with other diets such as South Beach Diet, Protein Power Diet etc...

Negative Calorie Foods & Weight Loss

You gain weight when your calorie intake is more than your 

calorie expenditure. But if this calorie equation is reversed, 

then it results in "negative calorie" balance in your body. In 

this negative calorie case, you expand more calories than you 

take in, resulting in a decrease in the stored calories in the form 

of body fat, and you experience a weight loss. About 10% of 

daily caloric intake is used to process foods in the body. You can 

expand more by doing physical activities.

There are certain foods that show negative calorie effect because 

the body has to expand more energy to extract calories from these 

foods. The negative calorie foods need more calories to break down 

the foods and digest than the calories the foods actually contain. 

The extra calories are taken up from the stored fat in the body. Thus 

the negative calorie foods (may also be called as minus calorie foods 

or fat burning foods) are ideal for reducing the body fat and for 

losing weight.

Let us take an example. A piece of dessert consisting of 300 calories 

may require only 150 calories to be digested by our body, resulting in 

a net gain of 150 calories which is added to our body fat! So if you eat 

100 calories of a food that requires 150 calories to digest, then you have 

burnt an additional 50 calories simply by eating that food. These 50 

calories are used up from the stored fat in your body!

These foods are widely available in nature. Some of the foods from the 

list of negative calorie foods (about 100 in number) are: asparagus, broccoli, 

beets, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, carrot, garlic, papaya, 

spinach, turnip, zucchini, apples, oranges, lettuce, grapefruit, pineapples, 

strawberries, and raspberries.

It is a great idea to eat these negative calorie food items to your full 

satisfaction without counting calories. Include these foods in your daily 

diet and plan your diet according to food pyramid. You will be amazed to see 

the fast weight loss results. You can follow negative calorie diet plan for 

safe and permanent weight loss.

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electronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entirety 

including the resource box, all hyperlinks (HTML clickable) and references and copyright info.

The Key To Quick Weight Loss

Are you dieting your way to bone loss?

Are you aware that the diet you follow may be depleting your bones of essential nutrients and increasing your chances of developing osteoporosis? Popular diets may promise quick weight loss, but calcium and other important nutrients are often missing from the menu, which can lead to bone loss.

And women who consistently limit what they eat to avoid gaining weight may undermine the health of their bones, according to a study by ARS researchers in California. (1)

The study looked at the eating behavior of women between the ages of 18 and 50 and found that those classified as "restrained eaters" had significantly lower bone mineral density and bone mineral content (key indicators of overall bone strength and health) than women who said they weren't concerned about what they ate.

"Exercise and eating a well-balanced diet with adequate calcium, are two of the best ways to keep your bones strong and healthy." advise the researchers.

Calcium is not only good for your bones but can help you maintain a healthy, low fat diet too. There has been increasing media coverage about numerous studies showing that a diet rich in calcium helps reduce body fat.

Why is calcium important in weight loss?

Calcium is a fat burner. High-calcium diets seem to favor burning rather than storing fat. Researchers say this is because calcium stored in fat cells plays an important role in fat storage and breakdown.

Calcium changes the efficiency of weight loss . In fact, study after study has shown that the people with the highest calcium intake overall weighed the least, and the people with the lowest calcium intake had the highest percentage of body fat. (2,3,4)

When overall calorie consumption is accounted for, calcium not only helps keep weight in check, but can be associated specifically with decreases in body fat. A low daily calcium intake is associated with greater tendency to gain weight, particularly in women. (5)

Researchers found that adolescent girls who consumed more calcium weighed less and had less body fat than girls who consumed the same amount of calories from other sources. (6)

Previous studies have shown that a higher calcium intake can block body fat production in adults and preschool children (7), but this was one of the first studies to show that it might have the same effect in body-conscious preteen and teenage girls.

But aren't dairy products fattening?

Some dieters consider dairy products to be fattening, but the evidence suggests the opposite is true.

Consumption of calcium-rich dairy foods can actually help to reduce and prevent obesity. Over 20 recent studies show that milk products actually contribute to weight loss.

A new study in obese adults, presented at the First Annual Nutrition Week Conference, showed that increasing calcium intake by the equivalent of two dairy servings per day could reduce the risk of obesity by as much as 70 percent. (8)

The study provided clinching evidence that calcium in low-fat dairy products can help adjust your body's fat-burning machinery and help keep your weight under control.

In another study, obese subjects placed on a high-calcium diet, with yogurt as the calcium source, showed markedly greater fat loss than those on a low-calcium diet. (9)

Numerous studies have shown that dairy calcium is more effective in reducing body fat than other forms of calcium. (10)

Why does diary calcium work so well?

Researchers believe that other nutrients found in milk products act in synergy with calcium to reduce fat more efficiently.

Glycomacropeptides (found in whey proteins derived from milk) in particular, are known to create feelings of satiety and fullness and decrease food intake. (11,12,13)

Foods that are a good source of calcium include cheese, milk, ice cream, baked beans and other dried legumes, dried figs, broccoli, most dark-green leafy vegetables, and soft fish bones like those in canned salmon.

Disclaimer: If you are under 18, pregnant, nursing or have health problems, consult your physician before starting any weight loss plan. The information here is not provided by medical professionals and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your physician before beginning any course of treatment.

Five Tips for Easy Weight Loss

Weight loss is a hot topic among people today, especially considering the fact that more than half of us are overweight. As we get older we often get busier, and before we know it, find ourselves in the prime of our lives and packing a few extra pounds. With so little extra time in our lives it is impractical to join the latest diet fad or commit to sweating in the gym for hours at a time. Are we all destined to grow outward with each passing year, or is there a simple way for us to reclaim our healthy figures? If you struggle with your own battle of the bulge read on for five sure-fire ways to drop a few of those unwanted pounds, and more importantly learn how you can prevent packing them in the first place!

TIP #1: Burn it in the AM.

What is the first thing you do when you wake each morning? Hit the snooze button for an extra ten minutes of sleep? What if I told you that taking those ten minutes to strap on your sneakers and walk briskly around the block would result in weight loss? It has been proven that aerobic activity done on an empty stomach forces your body to recruit energy from storage. This energy is stored in the form of fat on various parts of your body. Starting tomorrow take ten minutes out of your morning to walk briskly around the block before breakfast. Do not sprint or try to walk as quickly as possible, simply walk at a pace that you could comfortably hold a conversation. This seemingly small activity, when done consistently, will produce surprising weight loss results!

TIP #2 Forget Your Late Night Snack.

I know I am not the only one who enjoys eating a snack after dinner! Although comfort food seems to taste better right before bed, it is also more prone to stick with us when eaten late at night. It has been proven that not eating three hours before bed reduces fat storage throughout the night. If you go to bed at 10pm, finish eating for the day no later than 7pm. Once you have made this a habit you will be ecstatic over the long term weight loss!

TIP #3 Kiss that Frappuccino Goodbye.

What tastes better than a frothy, venti frappuccino smothered in whip cream and chocolate syrup? While blended coffee beverages have rapidly gained popularity with the masses, their caloric tallies have been all but ignored. Whether you are an avid Starbucker, or only wander in for an occasional treat, it is important to know the truth about what you are drinking. The average Venti sized frappuccino weighs in at 530 calories. This staggering number equals 2.5 bagels, or one third of the recommended daily calories for an average woman. Not only is this an extreme amount of calories to be consumed in a beverage but the calories come purely from sugar, which is easily stored as fat. Next time you are in line at the coffee shop and find yourself eyeing a sugary beverage, redirect your attention to the tea selection, or stick with an old fashioned cup of coffee.

TIP #4 Fuel Your Fire.

Have you ever tended a campfire? You probably remember continuously adding sticks and branches to keep the fire from running out of fuel. Your body’s metabolism is similar in its need for constant fuel. Eating a small meal every three hours is a great way to keep your metabolism high all day long. When your metabolism is high you burn more calories throughout the day and are less likely to store fat. Rather than eating 2 or 3 large meals a day, and allowing your ‘fire’ to go out, giving way to hunger pains, try eating a small meal every three hours and be amazed at your weight loss results.

TIP #5 Curb Your Carbs

I’m sure sometime in the past year you have found yourself subjected to the testimony of a converted ‘low-carb’ enthusiast. While these people may look great it is definitely not the right diet for everyone. Extreme fatigue, crankiness and downright impracticality are what make this diet a tough cookie to swallow. Cutting one or two carb-filled items out of your daily diet can make a huge difference in meeting weight loss goals. While I wouldn’t recommend throwing out your bread basket entirely, consciously cutting carb-filled items out of your daily food intake is a great idea. If you normally have a sandwich for lunch make it open-faced, thus cutting out half of the bread. If you enjoy eating pasta for dinner reduce your pasta portion and add extra vegetables. These minor changes to your daily diet will prove themselves priceless when you step onto the scale!

It is you against the bulge, and now that you are armed with these 5 tips for easy weight loss, I am confident that you are going to win! Keep in mind that consistency is the key. The more effort that you put into implementing these 5 tips into your daily lifestyle, the quicker the unwanted pounds will disappear!

8 Proven Weight Loss Tips

There are a lot of “crash” diets out there that promise that you’ll drop a considerable amount of weight in days or a week.

I have tried a few of these, and in my experience the weight always comes back on, just as quickly since the weight loss tips given are not something that will work with your body.

One thing you don’t want to do if you are actually serious about losing weight is to follow these fad diets and their ridiculous weight loss tips.

After their ineffectiveness has been proven time and again, people will start to wise up to that particular diet, and will head off in search of a new craze.

Lets be honest, people are always searching for new weight loss 
tips because they want to lose pounds and they want immediate results, but this is just wishful thinking.

To lose weight permanently and effectively it will be a rather slow progress, all depending on your metabolic rate and how much you need to lose.

There are however some proven tried and true weight loss tips for aiding in the weight loss process, and I can make you familiar with them.

Weight Loss Tip 1 
Don’t skip breakfast. Whatever you do follow this advice, because otherwise you are much more likely in fact prone to binge later in the day.

Weight Loss Tip 2 
Don’t eat anything for at least an hour before going to bed.

Weight Loss Tip 3 
Don’t snack while watching TV. It’s acceptable to eat a meal while watching television, but never is snacking at this time acceptable.

Weight Loss Tip 4 
Substitute fruits like; bananas, watermelon, plums, peaches, and oranges for sugary treats like; cookies and candy.

Weight Loss Tip 5 
Substitute honey for sugar, and carob powder for chocolate in all recipes. These taste just as good if not better when used properly.

Weight Loss Tip 6 
Eat more vegetables. This can even be enjoyable if you have a 
good cookbook like Good housekeeping's latest edition.

Weight Loss Tip 7 
Avoid unnecessary high calorie foods. Instead of a high calorie salad dressing for instance try cottage cheese or yogurt to improve the salads taste and peel of the pounds.

Weight Loss Tip 8 
Exercise at least a half hour each day for five days out of the week. Biking on a stationery bike while reading is a great form of exercise to slim legs.

In conclusion there is nothing stopping you from losing weight 
except yourself. Get off the "I can't do anything about my weight problem" bandwagon and start dropping pounds today!