Weight Loss As An Added Bonus

The truth is that the astounding weight loss being achieved on the green tea diet is just one of the numerous miracle-like benefits of simply drinking green tea. Green tea diet is also widely recognized as a substance that can protect against many different cancers such as stomach cancer, ovarian cancer, cancer of the colon, oral cancer, prostate cancer, and breast and cervical cancers. Another antioxidant in green tea diet is also being studied as a potential cure for cancer. The green tea diet is actually a dietary supplement which is composed of natural ingredients such as green tea. 

 

Due to the popularity of recent findings, green tea has almost become synonymous with weight loss and diet. For instance, instead of drinking coffee and cream which area high in calories, green tea weight loss programs can not only save you from taking in too much calories but also let you take in several healthful substances like polyphenols and flavonoids. There are a large number of remedial benefits of drinking Green Tea and research has confirmed that consuming a small amount like just one cup of Green Tea a day can greatly assist in weight reduction and fat burning. The great thing about the weight loss benefit of green tea extracts is that it does not have any adverse side-effects. 

 

Green tea diet supplements are all the latest rage in the weight loss industry today. With its countless health and weight loss benefits, these dieting supplements are fast replacing ephedra as the leading weight loss product in the market. Although green tea weight loss supplements also contain caffeine this doesn't seem to have the negative effects found in other products with caffeine. People who use these supplements in studies will lose approximately 2 1/2 pounds per month. Yes, believe it or not, more and more often you’ll find green tea (or green tea extract) included in the compilations of many of the more popular weight loss supplements today. 

 

As opposed to black and oolong tea which undergoes full oxidization, green tea diet is only gently steamed, preserving the natural antioxidants in its original form. A green tea diet is one of the easiest lifestyle changes to make. The green tea diet is no different that it not only recommends but requires the use of simple exercises to be completed along with the consumption of the dietary supplements.

 

Weight Loss and Dieting Plan

Obesity is inextricably interlinked to many type of illness. Dieting and regular exercises are the best way to keep you fit. Obesity can cause breast cancer, heart diseases, Osteoarthritis etc. In this regard I have some tips to keep you fit.

 

Many of us like to ask some general questions about their weight and dieting plan. As I know , In the middle ages a fat lady was supposed to be the symbol of fertile mother earth and thus was considered beautiful. But now circumstances have been changed like, a women who walked with the heavy step of an elephant and solid busts considered less attractive and the idea to be as thin as a bamboo pole with solid busts came to be more attractive.

 

Many have suggestions that this concept arises after world war I and II, due to the scarcity of food, it became fashionable to look slim and trim. Some good suggestions for weight reduction are do not eat between meals, especially not all those chips munched before the TV. It can badly affect your appetite and can ruin your skin too. Fried things, not vegetables like potatoes, pastries and cakes are definitely no-no! Eat slowly and chew thoroughly. If you can't resist yourself between meal snacking then you can satisfy your hunger with salads and fruit. I heard from one of my friend that he lost 4Kg in a month with the Israeli army diet. First 2 days only apples, the next two days only cheese and the last 2 days only boiled chicken. No tea or coffee or any other liquids, except water or fresh juice. But if your grandparents and parents are fat, how do you expect to look like Naomi Campbell? Sometimes thyroid gland secretions also cause extreme obesity or extreme thinness. But if you maintain your diet taking some appetite suppressants, you can reduce your weight. A normal person need about 2000 calories per day and if you reduce to 1000 calories, you will lose weight. Calories are in butter, cheese, pastries, cakes, puddings, sweets, soups, sauces, cocoa chocolate, dried beans and dried fruit. Less calories are found in spinach, fresh fruit and salad. green leafy vegetables have less calories.

 

Some people say that exercising like cycling can make fat legs slim and trim. But according to me exercise makes matters worse. Avoid cycling which is a muscle-developing exercise. Even swimming and dancing aggravates matters. Exercise is under 2 headings: reducing and developing. People used to think if you drink plenty of water, you would become slim, but sometimes it does exactly the opposite. You retain water and that makes up fat.

 

Many people wants to firm up their stomach. For this you have to learn to brace it in and up, and you should not let it sag, like as if you are dropping it into a bag at the bottom of the tummy? The style of walking with the tummy-in behind-in by models is an exercise in itself. Do not walk with shoulders hunched. The tummy should be up and in , and the hips slightly forward. Also while walking, take a deep breath and pull your tummy muscle in. Exhale slowly, but do not let your tummy out. This will remind you sagging all over the place! Sometime I stand before the bathroom mirror while I am washing my face or anything else, and I can see the pull in tummy exercise playing on the abdominal-muscles. Learn to do it automatically. But it is tiring to lift up your tummy like that because you are not used to using those muscles, but when it becomes second nature, it becomes easier. There are several exercises for the tummy. Lie flat, breathing deeply in and out. Divide each breath into 3 little jerks, pulling your tummy in at each little jerk. Let your breath out without bulging the tummy. Do this in the few groups of 6, with a good rest in between. Lie down flat, hook your feet under a piece of furniture and put your hands under the head. Then try to rise to a sitting position without lifting the feet from the floor. Lie down flat keeping the knees straight and the toes pointing forwards. Move your feet so that the toes pointing up and, at the same time lift up the head to look. Then relax. Repeat the exercise 7 times. Some exercise about the ever expanding hips. Crouch with arms hunched about knees, as if you are getting ready to run a marathon. Then sway your body to and fro, backwards and forwards with emphasis on the leg muscles. You can also lie face down on the floor,, with the chin resting on the back of your hands. Then slowly lift your head up from the ground, which is quite difficult because at the same time you are trying to lift up your legs, one at a time also! Do this very slowly.

 

Now come to the thunder thighs. Actually they look extremely nasty instead of tasty. So that is why I am giving you a real nasty dose of exercises. Lie on your back and double your knees to your chest. Keep your feet together, then shoot both the legs about to right. Then slowly pendulum-wise, rotate your legs to the left and then to original position again. Rotate your legs this way about 7 times to each side. Rest for a minute and then do some ait bicycling, with yourself still lying down. See, how a baby rotates its legs, follow the same procedure. A easy exercise for the thighs is stand straight, swing and touch your toes, left-right. Good for your waist, good for your thighs.

We All Want a Weight Loss Program That Works!

According to several reports taken in the recent past, America has a high obesity rate. The reports show that almost 60% of America’s population suffers from either overweight or obesity problems. America is not the only country facing such problems. Britain too is plagued by the very same problem. According to reports in Britain one out of every 10 children are cursed with the very same problem. This problem is not common only to America or Britain, however the percentage of obesity or overweight people in these countries are alarming. We are soon becoming a nation that is very unfit and filled with fat obese people. Due to the rise in obesity nation-wide, diet plans have been blossoming all over. 

 

There are dozens of diet plans that are being made available to everyone. There are low carbohydrate diets, low protein diets etc and many more. In spite of all these diets out there, we are still fat and are getting even fatter. There are so many diets out there that it is honestly very confusing. 

 

There are many people who genuinely want to lose weight and are not sure how to go about it. All these diets have got them wondering which one to try out. 

 

For those who are earnestly seeking weight loss and wanting to see results there is one such program that I personally recommend: Fat loss 4 idiots. This diet really does work. It is very unlike most of the diets you’ve heard of before. This diet even offers you a good explanation for why you lose weight when you are on the diet. It is simple and easy to understand. The diet states that your body will burn as many calories as you take in. so if you take in about 2800 calories, you will also automatically burn 2800 calories. Your metabolism automatically adjusts to whatever you take in. that’s just how our system works and is meant to work. 

 

Low carbohydrate diets too are very popular but these diets are a bit hard to follow. These diets are best only if followed to the T. The problem with low carbohydrate diets is that during the diet you feel very tired, this is because you are robbed of carbohydrates which produces energy. 

 

Diets are not supposed to treat food as the enemy. Food can never be our enemy. You can eat your favorite food and still lose weight. Just so you know, our brain controls the release of 2 fat burning hormones and these two hormones are controlled by the food that we consume. These 2 hormones are essential in the burning and storage of fat in our body. 

 

Fat loss 4 idiots is just making sure that everyone is educated everyone and trying to help them make sensible decisions regarding their eating habits. They not only educate but also provide you with a diet that will help you lose weight in a healthy manner without causing your body any harm.

Water: Your Best Weight Loss Friend

Water is one of the key components to a healthy diet and a long-term weight loss undertaking. It not only nourishes your body by keeping your cells hydrated, but it fills your stomach so that you are less hungry. Here are some quick tips for consuming a weight-loss-friendly amount of water without feeling like you are a human water drain.

 

8 Glasses a Day

 

Just about everyone has heard that it is important to consume at least 8 glasses of water a day as part of a well-balanced diet. The 8 glasses of water will help to hydrate your body and leave your skin feeling moist and supple. What’s more: it is important to understand exactly what those 8 glasses of water are doing to your body.

 

As the water enters into your system, it hydrates your cells. Not only will you feel more energized, but it will help to keep your cells strong against illness, headaches and fatigue. Imagine that the body’s cells are a plant. Without water, the plant will wilt and be less strong against daily elements. However, with the proper amount of water and care, the plant will be strong and healthy.

 

Water relieves the body of harmful toxins, such as those that are caused by illness and stress. By infusing hydration into your system, your body pumps out unwanted chemicals that will slow you down and make your body function less healthily. 8 glasses of water is the minimum if you wish to retain a properly functioning machine.

 

Fruit

 

Many people get their water from fruits, such as apples, watermelons and berries. One piece of fruit, depending on the size, can count for as much as half of a glass of water. The added benefit of fruit is that in addition to helping to hydrate you, fruit can add healthy amounts of vitamins and minerals to your core diet.

 

Fruit also fills the stomach and energizes you. Because fruit contains very few calories, it is a good food to fill up on. However, fruit does contain fructose, which is a type of sugar. Fructose will spike the level of sugar in your blood stream, which will give you energy. Yet, if that energy is not consumed readily, the fructose will turn to fat (if only a small amount of it.)

 

Dehydrators

 

There are beverages and activities that dehydrate your body quickly so that your essential amount of water intake needs to be increased. Beverages that deplete water from your body include sodas, coffee, tea and alcohol.

 

In order to ensure that you stay properly hydrated, drink one glass of water for every glass of soda or other dehydrating beverage. Also, for every half-hour of sweat-inducing exercise, you should drink at least one cup of water. If you are exercising in a particularly humid environment, you may have to drink more water in order to avoid headaches, illness and overall dehydration.

 

Water truly can aid your weight-loss process if you are diligent about consuming generous portions of it. Many people find that carrying a water bottle with them everywhere they go is the best way to remain tempted to treat your body right.

Wanting To Lose Weight, Why Not Go Herbal

With so many ways advertised for losing weight, where do you start? This article considers some inexpensive, natural herbal solutions to your quest for weight loss.

 

These days, there is a great deal of pressure for overweight people around the world to lose those excess pounds. Being closer to their ideal weight would not only lead them to have a healthier lifestyle but it will also literally lighten their load, and improve their overall well-being. 

 

There is a long list of dieting options available. There are exercise programs, exercise machines, dietary supplements, dietary food and drinks, diet pills - there are even soaps which claim to help you lose pounds while you bathe. 

 

One other available option to shed off those unwanted pounds is to go herbal. 

 

Herbal weight loss products have been in great demand for people who want to lose weight the natural way. However, when you take herbal supplements to lose weight, you would have to wait for a longer time for the results because of the more subtle effects of medicines which came from plants and natural herbs.

 

Here are some herbal weight loss options that you might want to consider:

 

1. Herbal Weight Loss Products

 

There are a lot of herbal weight loss products available in the market now. You can check out the Internet and you will find a lot of herbal weight loss pills and products. 

 

Be careful, however, as there are some products which claim to be safe and natural because they are herbal, but some actually have side effects because of non-extensive research on the effects of these products. 

 

Here are some ingredients and chemicals which make up some herbal weight loss products that you should watch out for, as they might have harmful effects to your health: 

 

Senna. This is an herbal laxative. Senna is a main ingredient in weight loss teas, and it works by stimulation the colon. The downside effect of this herb is dehydration. It can also lead to colon problems and can become addictive. Some people, when addicted, are unable to perform bowel movements without it, so watch out. 

 

Chromium picolinate. This is a synthetic compound found in herbal weight loss products. Chromium is a nutrient which helps regulate blood-sugar level. However, this ingredient, when taken in high doses, may cause damage in the chromosomes. It can also lead to dehydration.

 

St. John's wort. This supplement increases the production of a chemical in the brain. If not used properly, it may cause eye and skin sensitivity, mild gastrointestinal distress, fatigue and itching. 

 

Although a lot of herbal products claim to be safe and natural, it is better to scrutinize the ingredients and research about the effects of the product itself before going for these herbal dietary pills.

 

2. Organic Foods

 

Around the world organic food has found its way to more homes and restaurants. Organic food devotees believe that consuming organic goodies help their bodies as well as the environment. 

 

A person who buys organically raised eggs and vegetables claim to be healthier, and they are not spending money on doctors and prescriptions as these keep them healthier and away from the hospital. This could also be an option for weight watchers, as organic food is known to be kinder to your weight than chemically-processed food products. 

 

3. Green Tea

 

Studies show that intake of green tea, or green tea extracts burns extra calories. Also, green tea with caffeine can increase fat burning by up to 40% thereby reducing fat. 

 

This is one good option for those who want to lose weight. In a study done, people who took green tea were found to lose 2 to 3 times more weight than those who did not drink green tea. 

 

These results show that green tea is a natural product for the treatment of obesity. Thus, it also makes for a healthier dietary option, not to mention the good effects that it has on the body as compared to caffeine. A cup of tea gives an emmediate energy lift without the side effects of caffeine. 

 

3. Caffeine

 

Coffee provides an energy boost to increase fat burning. Caffeine also provides a likelihood to be active, which in turn increases your rate of calorie burn. 

 

4. Immortality Herb

 

This herb, whose scientific name is Gymnostemna Pentaphyllum, is known to have the following benefits: 

 

increases healthy blood flow

reduces artery blocks

aids healthy blood pressure

increases the rate of fat burning 

 

5. Apple Cider Vinegar

 

There are pills and food supplements whose main ingredient is apple cider vinegar. Here are the benefits of taking this herbal option:

 

• weight loss

• improved cholesterol level

• improved high blood pressure

• helps prevent rheumatoid arthritis

Oatmeal - The Most Powerful Breakfast for Weight Loss

Did you know that simply eating breakfast raises your metabolism by 10 percent? Oatmeal is one of the most powerful breakfast foods of them all. If you are looking to get your body in great shape, you should incorporate this as a staple food in your diet.

 

Oatmeal is the perfect meal to start your day because it boosts your energy and has plenty of fiber to keep you full and satisfied. Oatmeal breaks down slowly in the stomach, giving you long-lasting energy. It is also full of water-soluble fibers, which play a crucial role in making you feel full over a longer period of time. Studies have also shown that oatmeal reduces cholesterol, maintains blood sugar levels and fights against heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, and obesity.

 

If you want to add some powerful antioxidants to your oatmeal, simply throw on some blueberries and raspberries. These delicious fruits are packed with antioxidants that fight against heart disease, cancer, and a multitude of other ailments. Blueberries have also been proven to preserve vision. This powerful fruit rated highest in antioxidants among over 40 fruits and vegetables.

 

What more could you ask out of the first meal of your day? However, oatmeal doesn’t just have to be for breakfast. You can use it a couple hours before you exercise to energize your workout. You can even include oatmeal in your smoothies. It is also a wonderful addition to muffins and even as a covering for chicken breasts.

 

Keep in mind that you must buy the unsweetened, unflavored variety. To spice it up a little, you can use bananas, berries, or milk. The downfall of pre-flavored oatmeal is that it often comes loaded with sugar calories. So, stick to the good stuff.

 

If you’re looking for oatmeal with a little more texture, you can try out the steel-cut oat variety. Although this type does take a little longer to cook, I find that it is well worth the wait. They have a somewhat chewier texture and heartier flavor than rolled oats. Once you try this variety, you may never go back.

 

If you’re having trouble with late night binges, have a bowl of oatmeal instead. This will help squash your cravings. Not to mention, you’ll be avoiding any junk food or empty calories.

 

If you’re looking to get in the best shape of your life, I suggest your alternate your morning meals between oatmeal on one day and have eggs and meat on another. This will put your fat-burning into overdrive.

Nutrition Notes on Weight Loss Supplements and Diet Pills

More people are spending hundreds and even thousands of dollars yearly on weight loss supplements in the hope of speeding up their metabolism. The main desire is to be attractive and accepted but it is becoming a more difficult goal to achieve. The fitness industry is booming but still a lot of people are unable to cut those fat in spite of all the exercise and diet efforts. In America, more than sixty per cent of adults are overweight and thirty per cent are considered obese. This is because: one, a lot of weight loss products promises unrealistic goals; two, dietary supplement manufacturers rely on the overweight person’s failure to survive; and three, the information about the supplements in the market are just written by themselves just to make a sell. 

 

Although the Food and Drug Administration has successfully banned illegal marketers, some products are still available. Consumers can be deceived of the labels which claims caffeine or ephedra fee not knowing that these supplements composes of other ingredients that may pose the same health risks. These include heart and digestive problems, headaches, insomnia, and even psychological side effects.

 

Other supplement manufacturers say that their products contains EGCG which is a phytochemical ingredient found in green tea. This so-called component claims to speed up metabolism but in reality poses to reduce the risk of cancer. Some studies denote that it could slightly increase the potential to burn calories and now can be found in many weight loss supplements. It has good points on the other hand since the body might conform to EGCG after a period of time. Even the weight loss benefit could sum up to 60 to 70 calories a day. This helps prevent excessive weight gain. 

 

A few other significant effects of weight loss supplements is that it may contain ingredients that makers claim will prevent the absorption of carbohydrates. One good example is Chitosan, which appears most promising, which in fact shows no positive result in fat absorption. It could even take up to seven months for men to lose just a pound of body fat and for women, there is no fat loss at all. Thyroid supplements act as thyroid replacements help regulate and optimize the thyroid at a higher level. This they say makes the body feel like a couch potato and won’t perform the job it has to.

 

Diet Pills. According to manufacturers, diet pills use natural ingredients capable of prolonging life and containing alcohol used in medication or flavoring. One thing’s for sure, never take diet pills as substitute for cutting calories without the doctor’s recommendation. There are simple but important steps to be followed when taking diet pills:

 

• Never crush diet pills to mix in drinks or soups. Take it whole with a full glass of water.

• Diet pills causes a person to urinate more frequently due to its diuretic effect. This could lead to dehydration, thus, causing complications. As a pre-caution, it is best to drink eight glasses of water everyday while on diet pills.

• Take only the recommended dosage. Taking more than required will not help you lose weight but increase the risk of side effects.

• Heartbeat should be less than 86 beats per minute. Stop taking the pills if it reaches 90 or higher that is why regular checking of pulse is a must.

• Always follow the instructions set by the dietician and/or doctor and not only rely on what’s enclosed in the box. Also diet pills will only work as expected if diet plan is being followed.

• After three months, stop taking the diet pills. Common diet phenylpropanolamine is safe to use only up to sixteen weeks. Other studies show that it can cause health problems if taken under one month.

Now That I Have to Eat Salads, Any Suggestions?

When people resolve to lose weight, they know snacks and junk foods will have to be eliminated and replaced with salads and fruit. In order to stay on such a dietetic resolution it is imperative that the meals be enjoyed.

 

Of course, it’s easy as pie to peel a banana or grab an apple and enjoy the delicious flavors of these and several other fruits without the hassle of preparation. However, everyone knows that we still need our vegetables as some nutrients which may be lacking in fruits are very much more present in these substances.

 

Moreover, when it comes to weight loss, as we detoxify with exercise and diet, it is imperative that the body is nourished and provided with as much essential substances as possible to maintain adequate health and wellness. These are abundant in green leaves and vegetables and in addition to this; these substances possess the fibrous qualities to serve as intestinal brooms for ridding the body of excess debris.

 

But how many people do you know that just grab plain lettuce or cabbage and chew on these items like rabbits? Even if you came across someone so inclined, I bet you they wouldn’t last long on such a practice. But still we need the vegetables. So how does one ensure to get them and enjoy them as we go on a weight loss diet?

 

Perhaps the tastiest and most creative way will be by eating salads. 

Now, to enjoy them and to be able to have fun making them on your own for saving money and knowing exactly what is in your meal, here are some tips and recipes that should come in handy.

 

Ensure to chop the base vegetables all to the same size to allow the flavors to intermingle. When making for the whole family you can double the ingredients in the recipes and increase the vegetables. 

 

Great choices for base vegetables for salads are Lettuce, Cabbage and Kale.

You can augment these with fruit vegetables like Cucumber, bell peppers, tomatoes etc or root vegetables like carrots or plain celery.

 

For a dressing, you can use any choice of the following to enjoy your salads while you go on a diet for weight loss

Tom-Avo

• 2 organic Roma or Hot House tomatoes 

• 2 big Avocadoes (pitted)

• 2 tsp orange juice (freshly squeezed) 2 oz of water

 

Serving Suggestion: Chop some Red Cabbage say a cup or less finely and sprinkle into the soup 

 

The Real Ranch Dressing

 

• 2 medium sized tomatoes 

• 2 young coconuts 

• 1/2 tsp of salt 

• 6 organic sun dried tomatoes 

• 1 stalk of Celery 

• 1 tbs of lemon juice (optional) 

 

Blend all and use as a dressing for a lettuce based salad. (Note: I recommend using one base leafy vegetable at a time, if desired a fruit veggie like cucumbers or organic bell peppers can be used along with shredded carrots.) 

 

Guacamole

 

• 2 avocadoes 

• 2 medium tomatoes 

• 1/2 orange 

• Sea salt to taste

 

Process everything in your food processor. 

 

I would say this can be an excellent first food for a child in the evenings. Serve in lettuce leaves or largely cut cabbage leaves a la Tortilla chips and dips.

 

Dress Down Dressing

 

• 1/2 lemon 

• 2-3 avocadoes

• Sea Salt to taste 

• 1/2 cup water 

 

With the suggestions above, now that you may have to include more salads and vegetables into your diet for a safe and healthy weight loss, these delicious recipes will ensure that you not only enjoy how you make your meals but most importantly that they taste good. This way you can stay on your weight loss program and still not compromise tasty meals per-se.

 

Well, enjoy your salads and have fun working out later on.

Need To Lose Weight Fast For A Special Occasion?

If you have just a little weight to lose, and want to take it off fast (say, so you can fit into those great pants for your cousin's wedding), there are a number of diets that you can use. Most of these wouldn't be recommended for long-term weight loss, as they substantially restrict your intake of some essential nutrients, so using them habitually may not be healthy. But if you're normal diet is healthy, and you just want a quick boost to drop 8-10 pounds quickly, or to kick off a new diet with a bang, the Cabbage Soup Diet actually works.

 

The cabbage soup diet has been around for nearly 30 years. It's based on the notion that your body actually uses more calories to digest cabbage than the amount that it derives from cabbage. It's a so-called 'negative calorie diet', and includes many foods that, like cabbage, are high in fiber and very low in calories.

 

The base of the cabbage soup diet is - what else? Cabbage soup. There are several recipes for cabbage soup available. Essentially, the soup is made with onions, peppers, mushrooms, carrots, cabbage, celery and spices to taste. You'll be eating the soup every day - as much of it as you want.

 

In addition, there is a seven day routine of foods to supplement the cabbage soup.

 

Day One: All the fruit you want (except bananas) along with all the soup that you want. No caffeinated beverages or sodas. Drink only water, tea and cranberry juice.

 

Day Two: Eat all the vegetables that you want, but avoid dried beans, peas and corn. Eat veggies raw, fresh or cooked. No fats, no sauces, no butter. At dinner, you may have one baked potato with butter - and of course, all the cabbage soup that you want!

 

Day Three: Eat all the fruits and veggies that you want from day two and day three - but NO baked potato.

 

Day Four: Bananas and skim milk - yes, all the skim milk you want, plus up to eight bananas, along with -- you guessed it, all the cabbage soup you want.

 

Day Five: Eat ten to twenty ounces of beef (or skinless chicken, or broiled fish). Drink at least 10 glasses of water, and eat up to six fresh tomatoes. (if you substitute for the beef today, you may not tomorrow)

 

Day Six: Eat all the beef, vegetables and cabbage soup that you want. No baked potato. Lots of leafy green vegetables.

 

Day Seven: You can have all the unsweetened fruit juices, brown rice, and vegetables that you want - and at least one bowl of soup.

 

That's it. Remember - this diet is NOT recommended for long term weight loss, or long term use. It doesn't contain enough complex carbohydrates to be healthy for longer than a few days. But if you just need a jump-start or a quick fix, it's a good way to pick up the pace for a week.

Need Practical Weight Loss Tips?

 

The fastest way to losing those few extra pounds is the most basic of all weight loss tips: cut down your consumption of food. I know. That is easier to say than to do. Most weight loss tips about food consumption focus on slightly changing your eating habits. If you need the snack break, do it. The other class of weight loss tips is exercise. Studies have shown that people who walk faster tend to maintain their weight better than people who walk more slowly. If excess weight is a serious concern for you, the best of the weight loss tips is to consult with a qualified weight loss management expert.

 

Weight loss is something almost everyone struggles with sooner or later. "How to lose weight" is not the only question you should be asking. Make self-acceptance just as equal in importance to weight loss. Going for true self-worth gets you to stare the problem right in its eyes. It is strongly advised you get help if many wounds are surfacing. There are many great books and resources on weight loss self-esteem, body image, and true self-acceptance that will take you in new directions.

 

What I am saying here is that the real problem is not how to lose weight, or what to eat, etc. the real problem is self-judgment. Our society today certainly struggles with a weight epidemic. When it comes to our weight and health, a reasonable diet and sufficient exercise always prove superior. Fortunately there is diet information everywhere we turn.

 

Understanding your body and how it functions is key in forming a good diet. If you watch television, then you've surely been bombarded with diet information from some fitness guru. A great place to begin your search for diet information is online. Many diet plans offer a variety of meals that contain low amounts of fat, carbs, and calories. The key to dropping weight is eating healthy and acquiring a daily exercise routine.

 

Whether you're looking to start that new celebrity diet, or simply desire some diet information, you will find it on the World-Wide-Web. With proper diet and fitness benefits, your body will soon transform into that size six you crave. It's time to live healthy, and rid yourself of that burden, which too often destroys your confidence, as well as your body.

 

There is no quick fix when it comes to weight loss, but if you make gradual improvements across a number of areas, the combined effect will put the brakes on the obesity snowball and have your weight loss snowball rolling before you know it.

Metabolism - What is it and How Can I Control It?

Many of my clients were initially overweight, not all, but most were. In fact, more than 60% of my clients came to me to help them lose weight. The other 40% is a mixture of people who want to live longer, who want to look sexier, who want to add muscle to their physique, or who just want to live a healthy, energy-rich life.

 

Today, I'm going to focus on helping those people who want to lose weight, not because I think that the topic of weight loss is more important than other topics I could cover, but because I think I need to clear up a few false ideas that are circulating in the industry.

 

First and foremost, if you're overweight, there's a very good chance that you have a low metabolism! I know that might not be shocking to you. You may have already thought that you had a slow metabolism, but here's why I'm re-stating it...

 

Having a slow metabolism means that you can eat 'only a little food' and still gain more weight than your neighbour who eats far more than you every day of his or her life.

 

Your metabolism is basically a bunch of organs and glands that are responsible for regulating how your body burns food for fuel and how it converts that food into energy. These include the thyroid, pancreas, stomach, small and large intestines, and the colon.

 

When you have a slow metabolism there's a good chance that one of more of these systems is out of balance or just plain not working properly (and that's almost always due to improper living, disease, drugs, or a severe accident).

 

But there are more causes for being overweight other than having a low metabolism. You see, overweight people tend to eat when they're not hungry, they tend to have a larger appetite, they tend to eat "diet foods" more often (which are rarely conducive to weight loss as the label suggests), they tend to eat before they go to bed, and worst of all they tend to see themselves as being overweight.

 

Now you can clean up almost all of this mess by living a healthy lifestyle, or if you've read any of my books or listened to any of the audio programs my company has out, then you already know all the basics associated with living a lean, healthy lifestyle.

 

But the underlying problem that can never be cleared up simply with your actions, is the way you see yourself when you close your eyes.

 

My studies at the National Metabolic and Longevity Research Center have taught me that overweight people constantly think about their weight in a negative way, thus creating the undesired effect. It's true that you become what you think about, and if you constantly see yourself as being fat, you'll never be thin!

 

Here's a tip... for the next 30 days (it takes 28 - 30 days to change how you subconsciously think of yourself) take a few minutes in the morning and picture a great looking, tight, sexy body from head to toe - then put your face on that body. 

Do this exercise again in the mid-afternoon, and then again right before you fall asleep at night.

 

Do this for 30 days and I guarantee that you'll experience a dramatic change in the way your body looks.

Mediterranean Diet Information

Mediterranean diet is basically the dietary traditions followed by the people of Greece, Spain and southern Italy who live around the Mediterranean Sea. It has been studied by an American Dr Ancel Keys when he landed in Greece in 1945. He discovered that the people of Greece and Spain had longer life expectancy and didn’t have any major health problem.

 

Their diet mainly consists of lots of food from plant sources freshly eaten minimally processed, locally grown, and seasonal and very little food from animal sources

 

Foods mainly are fresh fruits, vegetables, sea fresh fish, herbs, bread, grains, nuts and seeds, non-refined oils like olive oil which is 25% to 35% of fat consumed and low consumption of saturated fats, moderate consumption of cheese and yoghurt, honey and fresh fruits for desserts, lots of fresh fish and non-refined cereals. 

 

Vegetables consumed should be at least 1 pound and red meat consumed sparingly only. Lots of physical activity and consumption of wine if taken should only be 1 glass for women and 2 glasses for men daily with meals.

 

Fruits are mainly grapes, raisins olives, avocado, strawberries, raspberries, currant, blue berries grapes, black olives, orange, apple, pear, figs, pomegranates, dates, passion fruits, cherry, apricot, grapefruit, peach, prunes, quince, bergamot and plums.

 

Vegetables are spinach, lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, white peach, bell pepper, carrot, beetroot, tomato, onion, shallots, scallions, green onion, celery, eggplant, capers, cucumber, lemon, Zucchini, white and red cabbage, mushroom, grapevine leaves, artichokes, potatoes, sweet corn and gherkin.

 

Grains are mainly pasta, couscous, rice, polenta, bulgur etc.

 

Legumes are carob, peas, beans, lima beans, chickpea and lentils.

Herbs and spices used are anise, basil, bay leaves, borage, peppercorns, garlic, chilies, chamomile, chervil, chives, dill, fennel, lavender, marjoram, mint, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, sesame seeds, rosemary, sage, savoury, sorrel, tarragon, and thyme, vanilla, mahaleb, red saffron, masticha, cinnamon, clove, coriander, cumin and caraway.

 

Cheese used are mainly from sheep and goats milk - bocconcini, edam, feta, halloumi, kasseri, kefalograviera, kefalotyri, roquefort cheese, mozzarella, mitzithra, manouri, manchego, peciino toscano , mascarpone, parmesan, and pecorino, anthotyro, xynotyri, ladotyri, anevato and batzos.

 

Nuts are almonds, fennel, poppy, sesame, pistachio nuts, peanuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, pine nuts and chestnuts.

 

Fish and fillets are herring, salmon, trout, tuna, anchovies, sardines, mackerels, cod, and carp. Sea foods like octopus, clams, mussels and squids are also eaten. A wide variety of these foods consumed daily has been found to be very good for the heart as well.

 

Low-Carb High Protein Diets

This type of diet became very popular as of recently due to the promotion of the ever-popular Atkins Diet Craze. This diet is very popular because there is no calorie counting involved, and many foods that many people love to eat are allowed on the diet. Further, the Atkins diet is a high-protein diet, which means that weight lost during this diet will not result in lost muscle mass, since protein is the main nutrient needed for maintaining healthy muscle tone. This diet basically eliminates carbohydrates, which are simple sugars or foods that break down into simple sugars. These serve as empty calories in your diet, providing no nutrients yet many calories. 

 

While we won’t cover the Atkins diet here, we can give you basics of the high-protein, low-carb diet. First let us identify carbohydrates. Sugar, including powdered sugar, granulated white sugar, brown sugar, or any type of sugar you can think of, is the main carbohydrate that you would need to eliminate. All types of pastas count as carbohydrates, meaning all noodle and spaghetti products must be eliminated. Starches of any type, such as white rice, potatoes and potato chips, need to be eliminated. Cereals are mostly carbohydrates and should be avoided entirely during the diet phase. Because of the low-carb craze, there are many low-carb options of sodas, milk, ice cream, bread, beer, and wine available in the average supermarket. If you do consume these, be sure to do so only occasionally and in moderation, even if it is a low-carb type. Otherwise, the aforementioned foods should be eliminated entirely when not of the low-carb type. Beware of foods that contain hidden sugars, like bacon, barbeque sauce, ketchup, salad dressing, cough syrup, and fruit juice. As strange as it may seem, fruits and fruit juices should be eliminated while in the weight loss phase of this diet, as they are nearly pure carbohydrates. Anything made with flour needs to be eliminated during the weight loss phase, since as mentioned earlier they are high in carbohydrates. 

 

Now what can you eat? Well, the good news is that you can eat all meats, fish, poultry and seafood, except prepared meats like bacon and honey baked ham, which are high in sugar. Skip the bread and have meat and salad, or meat in your salad. Eggs are very low-carb friendly, but be sure to skip the mayonnaise or salad dressing unless it is low-carb type mayonnaise or dressing. Any type of vegetable is fine, but be sure to realize that when making that salad that tomatoes are actually a fruit, and you want to limit your consumption of them at least during the weight loss phase. Choose brown rice as your starch replacement, as it is low in carbohydrates comparatively to potatoes, bread or white rice. Cheese is good in limited amounts, as this is a high-protein, low-carb food. Butter and cream can be used, but should be consumed in limited amounts. One complex carbohydrate that is good is fiber, as it does not break down into simple sugar, and helps the body with elimination. Further, fiber fills you up quickly without adding significant calories, so hunger pangs are fought off successfully. 

 

Finally, make sure you are drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day minimum in addition to any other liquid you may consume. Dehydration often masquerades as hunger and causes overeating. Of course, again exercise is a necessary and vital part of your diet plan, which we will cover in the next section on exercise. 

 

Once you lose the weight that you set out to lose, the weight loss phase of your diet is over. Of course keep in mind that you are making lifestyle changes, not going on fad or binge diets. This means that you will not go back to your old eating habits. Instead you will introduce certain foods back into your diet in moderation. For example, you may add a couple of strips of bacon once a week to your meal plan. You can enjoy small portions of deserts of any kind, simply in moderation. It is best to avoid soft drinks all together, or opt for the low-carb type permanently. If you do introduce any other carbohydrate-laden foods, be sure to do so only at one meal, and in small portions. Reducing carbohydrates will become a lifestyle to you when following this plan, one is very likely to boost your overall energy level and help you keep the weight off.

Low-Carb Diet, Should I or Shouldn't I?

It's no wonder that confusion reigns when it comes to the worth and reliability of low-carb diets after all the conflicting studies and confusing interpretation of the information. It seems like debates are popping up everywhere! 

 

No matter if it's Atkins, South Beach or some other low-carb plan, there are approximately 30 million Americans are on a low-carb diet. 

 

Supporters contend that the large amount of carbohydrates in our diet has led to increased problems with obesity, diabetes, and other health situations. On the other hand, some attribute obesity and related health problems to over eating of calories and lack of physical activity. They also express concern that without grains, fruits, and vegetables in low-carbohydrate diets may lead to deficiencies of some key nutrients, including vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, and many minerals. 

 

It is already known that any diet, whether high or low in carbohydrates, can produce meaningful weight loss during the early stages of the diet. Keep in mind, the key to a diet being successful is in being able to lose the weight on a permanent basis.

 

Let's see if we can expose some of the mystery about low-carb diets. Following, is a listing of some related points taken from recent studies and scientific literature. 

 

Point 1 - Some Differences Between Low-Carb Diets 

 

There are many famous diets created to lower carbohydrate consumption. Lowering total carbohydrates in the diet means that protein and fat will take up a proportionately greater amount of the total caloric intake. 

 

Low carbohydrate diet like the Atkins Diet restrict carbohydrate to a point where the body becomes ketogenic (a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that includes normal amounts of protein). Other low-carb diets like the Zone and Life Without Bread are less confined. Some, like Sugar Busters announce only to eliminate sugars and foods that elevate blood sugar levels excessively. 

 

Point 2 - What We Know about Low-Carb Diets 

 

• Close to all of the studies to date have been small with a diversity of research objectives. Carbohydrate, caloric intake, diet duration and participant characteristics are wide-ranged greatly. Most of the studies to date have two things in common, none of the research studies had people in the study with a average age over 53 and none of the controlled studies lasted more than 90 days. 

• The results on older adults and long-term results are scarce. Many diet studies fail to keep track of the amount of exercise, and therefore caloric use, while people in the study are dieting. This helps to explain the variances between studies. 

• If you lose weight on a low-carb diet it is a function of the calorie intake and length of the diet, and not with reduced amount of carbohydrates. 

• There is very little evidence on the long-range safety of low-carb diets. Even though the medical community has concerns, no short-term bad effects have been found with cholesterol, glucose, insulin and blood-pressure levels among the people in the study on the diets. Because of the short period of the studies the adverse effects may not show up. Losing weight typically leads to improvement in these levels, and this may offset an increase caused by a high fat diet. The over-all weight changes for low-carb and other types of diets are similar. 

• Most low-carb diets can cause ketosis. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and confusion are some of the potential consequences. When first starting a low-carb diet some fatigue and constipation may be met and these symptoms usually disappear quickly. 

• Some report that you can have more calories when on a low-carb diet. Remember a calorie is a calorie no matter what you intake. When the study is not closely supervised variations will result by people cheating in the study on many factors of the study.

 

There are three important factors I would like to re-emphasize: 

1. The over-all success rate for low-carb and other types of diets are similar.
2. Small amount of information exists on the long-term efficacy and safety of low-carb diets despite their huge popularity.
3. Dieters usually experience boredom with a strict version of the low-carb diet and are not able to stay on diets of low carb food.

 

After observing the subject, a more severe and controlled study are needed on a long-range basis. The ketosis produced is abnormal and stressful metabolic state. The results may cause more problems than it solved.

 

By picking a reliable diet you will benefit over a lifetime of proper eating and not a weight loss quickie.

 

An excellent rule of thumb is look at the diet long-range and see if you can see yourself still on that diet after a couple of weeks. However, by following a diet with fat, carbohydrates, protein and other nutrients in moderation may be the best way to go and a little more exercise won't hurt either.