Calcium – The Key To Quick Weight Loss

Calcium – The Key To Quick Weight Loss
by: Priya F Shah

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.

References: Dieters May Lose Bone Density. April 1999; Agricultural Research magazine Regulation of adiposity by dietary calcium. Zemel MB et al. [2000. FASEB J 14:1132-1138.] Regulation of adiposity and obesity risk by dietary calcium: mechanisms and implications. Zemel MB. 2002. [J Am Coll Nutr 21: 146S-151S.] Effects of dietary calcium on adipocyte lipid metabolism and body weight regulation in energy-restricted aP2-agouti transgenic mice. Shi H et al. [2001. FASEB J 5:291-293.] Calcium intake, body composition, and lipoprotein-lipid concentrations in adults. Jacqmain M et al. [2003. Am J Clin Nutr 77:1448-1452.] Higher dairy intake is associated with lower body fat during adolescence. Novotny R et al. [2003. Poster Presentation, Experimental Biology Meeting, April, San Diego, CA.] The role of dietary calcium and other nutrients in moderating body fat in preschool children. Carruth BR and Skinner JD. [2001. T Int J Obesity Relat Metab Disord 25:559-566.] Calcium and Dairy Acceleration of Weight and Fat Loss during Energy Restriction in Obese Adults. Zemel MB et al. [Obes Res. 2004 Apr;12(4):582-90.] Dairy (yogurt) augments fat loss and reduces central obesity during energy restriction in obese subjects. Zemel MB et al. [2003. FASEB J A1088:679.3] Calcium and Weight: Clinical Studies. Heaney, R.P., Davies, K.M., Barger-Lux, M.J. [Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 21(2), 2002, pages 152S-155S.] Cholecystokinin decreases food intake in rats. Gibbs J, Young RC, Smith GP.J Comp [Physiol Psychol 1973 Sep;84(3):488-95] Cholecystokinin antibody injected in cerebral ventricles stimulates feeding in sheep. Della-Fera MA, Baile CA, Schneider BS, Grinker JA. [Science 1981 May 8;212(4495):687-9] Peptides with CCK-like activity administration intracranially elicit satiety in sheep. Della-Fera MA, Baile CA. [Physiol Behav 1981 Jun;26(6):979-83]

Tips for Guaranteed Healthy and Fast Weight Loss by Nathalie Fiset

Tips for Guaranteed Healthy and Fast Weight Loss by Nathalie Fiset

Almost everybody, at some point in their of life, has experienced weight-related problems. Most of us, women and men alike, are not content with what we see. We feel that unless we are wafer thin like the models and celebrities we see on television and magazines, we will never be attractive and beautiful.

On the other hand, there are an increasing number of obese individuals across the world. Becoming overweight has become a trend in both the West and East hemispheres. The increasing popularity of processed and fast foods have exacerbated the obesity situation.

There are many diseases related to being overweight, such as hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, coronary heart disease, to name a few. Thus, you need to find ways to incorporate weight loss activities and good eating habits to our daily routine.

Before you start any type of diet, however, you need to go to a physician first. The doctor will tell you if your weight loss plan is appropriate for your health condition. Furthermore, the physician will also assist you in determining if you really need to lose weight and how much weight you need to shed. Many people develop eating disorders because they do not visit a doctor before drastically changing their eating habits and starting a diet plan.

If you want to lose weight fast, healthy and permanently, you need to follow the tips below.

Maintain a balanced diet

The reason why many people are overweight is partly due to an unbalanced diet. If you eat too much from one food group, you won’t be able to get the vitamins and nutrients that your body need.

A balanced diet is composed of protein, dairy food, a little bit of fat from healthy oil, fruit and vegetables, and good carbohydrates — at least 5 portions every day. Many professionals suggest a diet that is composed of mostly carbohydrate, moderate protein intake, and a little bit of fat.

However, there are many diets espousing a huge amount of protein intake and a dramatic decrease in carbohydrates. Before you apply such diets to your daily routine, you need to talk with a physician first. This high-protein diet may not be ideal for some people, such as those with kidney disease.

Increase servings of fruit and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamins and minerals that our body need. Such food supplies us with vitamin A that is good for our eyes, vitamin C that boosts our immune system, beta-carotene that helps protects our body from the damage of free radicals, and nutrients.

Most fruits and vegetables are high in fiber and low calorie, so they also help clean our colon and make us feel fuller. Canned fruits and vegetables are acceptable; however, there is no substitute for the real thing.

Stay away from junk food and sugar-loaded drinks

Try eliminating junk food and soda from your diet for a week or two, and you will surely feel and see the difference. Maybe the reason why it is called junk food is due to its poor nutritional value. Try looking at a junk food’s label, not only is it full of saturated fat, but also usually high in salt or sugar, or both.

Aside from water, most of the things you drink are also loaded with calories. Soda and sweetened fruit juices are mainly sugar. Thus, no matter how little you eat, but if you still drink lots of soda and sweetened beverages, you will still continue to gain weight.

Don’t skip breakfast

Even if you are in a hurry or late for work or school, you need to grab a bite. It would be better if your breakfast is healthy – probably an apple, oatmeal and a glass of nonfat milk.

If you miss breakfast, you most probably will feel hungrier the rest of the day. In order for our body function properly, we need energy from the food we eat. If you skip breakfast, or a meal or two, your body’s metabolism will slow down to compensate for the lack of energy supply.

More often than not, people who skip meals, particularly the first meal of the day, will binge later in the day. So, even if you skipped breakfast, you will have a tendency to eat a lot during lunch or dinner.

Start exercising

Many of us spend an extended number of hours in our offices. We get stuck sitting down in front of the computer for more than eight hours. When we get home, we spend another hour or two to check e-mails and chat with friends. Thus, we don’t expend most of the calories from the food we eat and those excess calories go straight to our belly, arms and thighs.

If you want to increase your metabolism, you must start exercising. Brisk walking is a good way to start your exercise routine. If you do not have time to go to the gym, you need to find ways to increase your activities. Try sports activities that you will enjoy – boxing, badminton, or spelunking. There are many to fat burning activities to choose from.

The tips above will not let you lose 10 pounds overnight. However, in the long run, such changes will help you become healthier and fitter. The weight loss you will experience will be more permanent.

Natural Weight Loss – 5 Tips Can Make Your Plan Successful

Natural Weight Loss – 5 Tips Can Make Your Plan Successful

One of the major health problems found nowadays is the issues related to lifestyle. Obesity is growing by leaps and bounds and hundreds of thousands of people across the world suffer from overweight one or the other way. Again, the culprits are many; right from improper dietary pattern (including irregular meal timings, consumption of junk, canned, packed foods and foods with preservatives) to hereditary factors and from bad and harmful lifestyle (such as sedentary) to lack of proper body care.

There are many ways to lose the weight. The options include surgeries (such as liposuction), modern medications, fitness exercises, special physical workouts, proper dietary pattern, lifestyle modifications, consumption of healthy and specially designed foods, intake of herbal medications or natural products etc. More and more people now prefer to undergo natural weight loss as modern options may come up with other complications and unwanted effects.

Let us learn natural weight loss tips-

Natural weight loss tip 1: To lose weight, one should not go for any quick weight loss. This is because a sudden drop in a weight may make body weak and dull. It also harms body systems and organs. One should plan not more than 10% of the body weight to lose in one week. The first thing that comes to lose weight is dietary restriction. Junk food, spicy food, oily food and foods with preservatives are to be given up. Include dark, green and leafy vegetables and fresh fruits (preferably citrus and not so sweetish) that help in fat metabolism and also help in cleansing the intestines so body remains a toxic-free zone.

Natural weight loss tip 2: The nature has gifted us with lots of herbs that possess natural anti-obesity action. They help in loosing and then melting down the body adipose tissues (the body fats). Herbs such as garcinia, guggulu, haritaki are said to have good results in obesity and overweight. One can consume such herbs as a single supplement or can go for some herbal formula that contains the blend or combination of these herbs.

Natural weight loss tip 3: Honey, lukewarm water and lemon juice work wonderfully. To prepare special solution out of it, take one glass of lukewarm water and add 1 tsp of honey along with 1 tsp of lemon juice. Consume this healthy drink preferably on empty stomach on a regular basis. The solution helps in cleansing the intestines and also helps in losing the weight.

Natural weight loss tip 4: Exercises do play significant role in lose weight. Aerobic exercises, cardio, jogging, early morning brisk walking etc are considered to be useful in losing extra pounds those have been accumulated in various parts of the body.

Natural weight loss tip 5: Change in lifestyle is necessary and is very important factor in natural weight loss campaign. Park your vehicle a bit far away from the office and take a walk. Likewise, prefer climbing the stairs than to go for elevators. Giving up sedentary lifestyle helps in shedding off extra pounds from the body.

By: Bryan Len

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

For more useful information visit Natural Weight Loss and Herbal Weight Loss at www.herbal-supplements-for-you.com/

10 Tips For Shopping For Weight Loss – free article courtesy of …

10 Tips For Shopping For Weight Loss
 by: Donovan Baldwin 

Everybody is different. What works for your friend might not work for you, or might work better for you. Therefore, these suggestions for shopping for weight loss are presented as helps, and I hope you will find something of use to you. With just a little thought and creativity, you should be able to come up with several more tips yourself.

 

1. Always use a list when you shop, and stick to it. Almost any other food item you put in the buggy will be something that does NOT fit in to your weight loss plan.

2. Plan ahead. Decide what your meals are going to be, and what ingredients you will need. Include portion sizes in this planning. If you just buy a pack of steaks, you will probably cook all those steaks at once and there is a chance they may be eaten all at once. Planning your meals will help you prepare your shopping list. Plan also for meals such as lunches you carry to work.

3. Take someone with you who you can trust to be on your side. By "on your side", I mean, of course, someone who understands and supports your weight loss goals. While this person should be aware of what you are trying to accomplish, YOU must understand that they ARE trying to help you, and YOU must give them permission to express their honest thoughts about purchases you are making…especially if you are deviating from your list.

4. Have this trusted friend or family member HELP you draw up your shopping list.

5. Always eat before shopping. It is a fact that shopping when hungry increases your tendency to put extra items in your shopping cart.

6. Learn to read the labels. Almost every food you buy has a label outlining nutritional content and levels. Knowledge of nutritional needs is important, but does not need to be daunting. Basic information is easy to obtain.

7. Avoid convenience foods. Most have additional calories, fats, or carbohydrates. Although they may taste great, this is often a direct result of those very attributes.

8. Plan PREPARED meals. Cook from scratch. Not only will you probably enjoy the meals more, but having to prepare a meal helps prevent you from indulging yourself with a quick and easy snack or meal.

9. Avoid buying "empty" foods. These are foods such as chips, cookies, or candy. An apple may have as many calories as a piece of candy, but it contains a much higher level of nutrition, and provides factors such as fiber, for example.

10. Buy foods you really like. Eating in a healthy manner does NOT have to be a boring or unrewarding experience. Types of meals enjoyed in Japan, for example, can be tasty and a different and inviting experience, but they can also be very good for you. Again, be aware of portion sizes. Just because it is "good for you" doesn’t mean you ought to go back for seconds or thirds.

There you are, 10 hints for shopping for weight loss. Since portion sizes was mentioned twice, let me leave you with this thought. Most Americans eat portions much larger than recommended sizes. A discussion of portion size is more than can be incorporated into this small article. However, people in France tend to eat very rich foods yet do not have the obesity problems found in America. People in Japan who eat a traditional Japanese diet tend not to have an obesity problem such as is found in America. As diverse as these two cultures and their diet are, a common factor is portion size. They typically eat much smaller portions than Americans.

Copyright 2006 Donovan Baldwin

About The Author

Donovan Baldwin’s interest in fitness and health began in 1970 when he first read Dr. Kenneth Cooper’s "Aerobics". Find more weight loss tips at http://nodiet4me.com. You can find additional articles on fitness, health, and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.blogspot.com.

This article was posted on January 17, 2006

Healthy Weight Loss Program: Your Personal Exercise Prescription …

Healthy Weight Loss Program: Your Personal Exercise Prescription … 

A fat burning exercise prescription is a MUST for the long term success of any healthy weight loss program. Guidelines for healthy weight loss related to exercise and physical activity have been steadily improving over the last 20 years.

Along with the 1996 Surgeon General’s recommendations, the American College of Sports Medicine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association have all issued statements on the importance of regular physical exercise in a healthy weight loss program.

The diet industry also endorses exercise as a beneficial component in any healthy weight loss plan.

In fact, look at the disclaimers of any fad diet, special weight loss pill, or fat reducing fruit nectar and you’ll see where, in addition to the "unbelievable benefits" of their product, the practice of proper nutrition and consistent aerobic exercise are highly recommended to achieve optimal healthy weight loss results.

In other words, these companies are telling you that eating right and the incorporation of moderate aerobic exercise have more to do with the overall outcome of the healthy weight loss plan than does their "miracle pill".

Overview

1. Determine your age adjusted maximum heart rate (220 – your age = maximum heart rate)

2. Determine your optimum fat burning exercise heart rate range (maximum heart rate x .6 = minimum heart rate; maximum exercise heart rate x .75 = maximum exercise heart rate

3. Exercise for 30 minutes, 3 times per week, keeping your heart rat between 60% and 75% of your age adjusted maximum heart rate.

4. Perform the flexibility exercises listed below 2 – 3 times per week.

Exercise Prescription

Exercise, by definition, means purposeful movement. Although many kinds of exercise exist, certain exercises may not be necessarily therapeutic for you. Remember, an exercise prescription is just that; it’s a prescription. Very little benefit will be obtained with nonspecific, over the counter exercise programs. Your understanding of the purpose, principles, and adherence to each prescribed exercise technique will be essential to the development of a positive outcome.

The purposes of an exercise prescription are to:

1. Increase muscular flexibility
2. Normalize and balance muscle tone by increasing oxygen rich blood flow to the tissue
3. Integrate muscle activity
4. Restoration of functional movement
5. Restoration of functional muscle strength and endurance

The exercise principles listed below serve as a guideline for proper application. Study the principles carefully in order to maximize the effectiveness of your exercise program.

Exercises designed to improve flexibility should be performed several times per day. Each exercise should be held for 30-60 seconds to allow the tissue to elongate.

Exercise prescribed to improve strength, mobility, and endurance should be performed at a pace that would enable you to complete the prescribed number of repetitions in one minute. If multiple sets are prescribed for each exercise session, a 90 second rest interval should follow each set.

Never hold your breath during exercise. Your therapist will instruct you in the proper breathing technique that will facilitate a better exercise outcome.

You may experience a slight ache or discomfort following your first or second exercise session. This is a normal reaction referred to as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and should go away in a day or so. This type of muscle soreness is not a cause for stopping your exercise program.

If the exercise reproduces a specific pain or makes an already existing pain become more widespread, stop the exercise and inform your physician immediately.

Allow yourself enough time to complete the exercise as prescribed. Exercise sessions that are rushed through with little attention paid to technique will be ineffective and will prolong your symptoms. If time becomes an issue, perform a few repetitions several times throughout the day.

Don’t be in a hurry to advance to more strenuous exercise. Remember that tissue adaptation to new forms of stress takes time. In some cases it took years for your condition to develop. It is unrealistic to expect that the condition will be resolved after just a few exercise sessions. Compliance with your prescribed program and patience will result in the desired outcome.

In combination with a healthy diet and nutrition plan, a fat burning exercise prescription is a necessary component of any healthy weight loss program.

Before beginning any healthy weight loss program, it is strongly advised that you consult with your physician.

By squidoo

Handy Tips For Healthy , Permanent Weight Loss by Stefania Townsend

Handy Tips For Healthy , Permanent Weight Loss by Stefania Townsend

The key to successful healthy weight loss is to make some permanent, realistic eating and lifestyle changes.

Don’t starve yourself.

Eating small healthy meals throughout the day lessens the chance that you’ll start snacking on candy or fat-laden fillers. Try to eat five small meals per day, instead of three large ones. That way you avoid becoming too hungry and there’s less danger of you reaching for something sweet when your blood sugar levels are lower.

Never skip breakfast.

A good breakfast actually helps to kick-start your metabolism. And by eating right first thing in the day, you’ll be less likely to pick unhealthy choices later on. So make the time in your morning to eat a balanced meal before tackling your busy day. It will not only give you the energy you require, it will also help you stick to your weight-loss plan

Diet foods.

Learn to read labels to identify the total fat and sugar content of food. Don’t be mislead by claims of ‘low cholesterol’ or ‘low in saturated fat’. Many foods still have a high total oil or fat content. ‘Lite’ is another term that is misleading, and may mean light in salt, flavor or color rather than low in fat and calories. Often total calories may be high due to added sugars.

Watch out for portion sizes.

The amount of food you eat, even if it isn’t junk food, can still affect your weight. You can follow a smart eating plan by choosing the right foods, but if you aren’t watching the amount of food, you’ll find it difficult to lower your calorie intake and reach your ideal weight.

Supermarket tips.

Write your grocery list in advance – and stick to it

Never shop on an empty stomach. It will only encourage you to splurge on unplanned treats Leave the kids – and the potential for impulse buys – at home. Avoid the confectionery aisle. The easiest way to avoid temptation is not to encounter it in the first instance!

Eating out and going about your normal social life when you’re trying to lose weight can be difficult. You can still achieve your goals by following a few simple guidelines.

Don’t go to parties or functions hungry.

It takes roughly twenty minutes for your brain to recognize that your stomach is full. When you’re hungry you tend to eat quickly which can lead to overeating. Having a nutritious snack before going out will make it easier to say no to fatty, sugary party foods.

Change your focus.

Isn’t the point of a great party to socialize? So try to catch up with as many people as you can. The more occupied you are, the less time you have to think about the food! Not only will your clothes thank you but you might also make some new friends!

Stay hydrated.

Most people have a hard time telling if they are hungry or just thirsty. Going to a function dehydrated is just setting you up to overeat. Try breaking up your drink of choice by alternating it with water

Party drinks.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that party food is your only enemy in the weight control war. Alcohol and soft drinks are both calorie-packed carbohydrates. Drinking too much of either will lead your body to store the excess calories as fat tissue.

Food cravings.

If you find yourself drifting off to the food table too often, ask yourself why. Are you really hungry, or are you just bored? It’s also worth considering motivations such as nervousness or stress. Ask yourself, will this food really make me feel better?

Clever menu choices.

If there’s a great new restaurant you’d like to try remember it’s still possible to enjoy your meal and keep your weight-loss program in track.

* Choose tomato-based sauces instead of creamy sauces.

* Try ordering an appetizer as a main meal.

* If you must order condiments like sour cream and salad dressings, order them on the side and use only half of the amount they give you. Or try toppings like salsa or low-calorie dressings to add flavor with fewer calories.

THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISE

Regular exercise is an essential part of sustainable weight management. It builds bone and muscle strength, wards off conditions such as diabetes and hypertension and supports a healthy heart.

Being fitter also helps you take part in more of life’s pleasurable activities, such as keeping up with your children, joining in more outdoor activities on the weekend, and enjoying food and drink without the guilt and consequences!

Adding a quality weight loss supplement to your diet and exercise plan will really lift your energy levels and kick-start your exercise plan.

Try to think of exercise as an opportunity to treat your mind, body and senses – not just a way to keep off the pounds. Think of all the good you’re doing your body. If you just think of exercise as a chore then you’ll find it hard to stick to a healthy exercise routine.

Take opportunities to exercise as part of your daily routine by adding a little more activity into everything you do. Take the stairs rather than the elevator. Park the car a little further away than usual in the mall. Walk the dog for an extra twenty minutes.

Don’t find excuses not to exercise. You may have a lot going on in your life but if you "think" you don’t have time to exercise then you won’t change your mindset. Remind yourself of the benefits of fitness. If you’re stressed a 45-minute break at the gym will actually make you think more clearly. Exercise is also great remedy if you’re feeling lethargic as it gets blood pumping through your body, which gives you more energy, helps you work more productively and sleep better.

Be consistent. In order to see results and reap the health and weight loss benefits you must exercise regularly. Every day is ideal but at least three times a week is essential if you’re serious about getting results.

Don’t worry about how you look. The thing with gyms is that everyone is much more concerned with how they look than how other people look! Just ignore everyone else and turn your music on, watch the TV or think about what you’re doing on the weekend. Avoid working out in front of mirrors which will only magnify your feelings of being watched. It’s important to choose a gym where you feel comfortable, and one which is close to home will help as well. Some gyms even offer childcare or classes that involve running with prams so now you can’t use the kids as an excuse!

Holiday Weight Loss – free article courtesy of ArticleCity.com

Holiday Weight Loss
 by: Adam Waxler

Is it possible to avoid those holiday pounds?

We all know that maintaining your diet and weight loss plan during the holidays can more than a little difficult. In fact, maintaining your ideal weight during the holiday season can seem almost impossible. Fortunately, if you believe the old stories about how much weight people put on during the holidays, you’re only partially correct. In a recent study conducted by The National Institute of Health, the researchers discovered that, in reality, most people tend to put on just under one pound. However, a person who is already overweight will average a whole five pounds extra during the holiday season.

Unfortunately, the study also shows that people tend to keep those holiday pounds on. In other words, over ten years, those ‘not-so-much pounds’, could lead someone to being overweight.

So, what can we do in order to keep those extra pounds off? How do we lose weight put on during the holidays? After all, our homes are usually filled with holiday pies, cakes and other goodies, and they can be pretty temptingeven for the most faithful of dieters!

Here’s a few tips to get you through the holidays.

Just a Nibble!

Have you ever noticed that when you start eating a rich dessert it tastes so good, but by the last bite, you’ve had enough? One way to keep the pounds down is just to enjoy a few bites of that delicious cheesecake or chocolate fudge brownie. No one says that you have to completely deprive yourself of holiday treatsjust limit how much you eat!

Enjoy the Company, Not The Brownies!

Many people think of holiday parties in terms of the foods that they’ll get to eat (or have to avoid) instead of the real reason for the celebrationthe company and conversation. If you keep yourself busy chatting with friends, you’ll be less likely to invade the snack table.

Go Full

You’ve likely heard the grocery store trick; don’t go shopping when you’re hungry because you’ll only end up buying more. Well, the same can work for holiday parties! Eat a lot of raw vegetables, and other healthy foods that will stick with you during the party and you’ll be less tempted to binge on the bad stuff.

Drink Water

If you were to add up the calories that you’ve probably consumed in sodas, fruit punches and alcoholic beverages at parties, you would likely be amazed. You can gulp down hundreds of calories without even realizing it if you’re not careful! Instead of one of these high-calorie drinks, make it a habit to drink waterwhich in itself will help flush out extra water weight.

Create an Eating Schedule

It wouldn’t be funor realisticto try and get through an entire party without at least sampling some of the treats. But instead of heading instantly to the food table and loading your plateand then suffering the rest of the party because you want moretry spacing out your snacks for the entire party. Plan on taking a nibble of something about every thirty minutes. Not only will it help you eat less, it will be a fun game that you can play with yourself!

Most importantly, remember that the holidays are meant for enjoyment. Don’t be too hard on yourself, and if you make a mistake, talk an extra long walk to work off those extra calories instead of beating yourself up over it!

Your Brain Can Help You Lose Weight… Or Make You Fat! – free …

Your Brain Can Help You Lose Weight… Or Make You Fat!
 by: Tracy Lee 

Have you done this before?

You have set your weight loss goals and mapped out your plan to lose all those excess pounds that you have been dying to get rid off.

In your mind, you have psyched yourself up — this time you are going all the way out to lose all those pounds! "Nothing can stop me," you tell yourself.

Then, you rationalize that…

1) In order for you to succeed in your weight loss goals, you must follow a super-strict diet and exercise routine.

and/or

2) If you happen to go off track in your diet or exercise routine by eating your favorite high-calorie junk food and skipping your exercise session, this means you have totally blown off your plan altogether.

Sound familiar?

I sure hope not!

This train of thought can be very detrimental to your weight loss efforts, but it’s all too easy to fall into this trap. And not only is it very harmful to your body, it actually lowers your self-esteem too.

Your brain can help you to lose weight, or it can make you fat.

If you want to lose weight successfully, you’ll need to have the right thoughts in your brain. Conversely, holding on tight to the wrong concepts can (and will!) jeopardize your plans!

Here’s what you should do instead…

1) Get rid of the word "DIET" from your thoughts

Firstly, you must shake off the idea that you absolutely have to follow an extremely restrictive diet in order to lose weight successfully.

In fact, most people who are able to lose their unwanted weight successfully DO NOT diet. What they do is simply change their lifestyle such as practicing portion control, moderation, cutting back on calories and curbing their emotional eating bouts.

It’s time to change your focus from weight loss to weight management. It is not just losing weight, it is about changing your lifestyle so that you can maintain your weight loss.

And do you notice how most women like to use the word "diet" every time they want to lose weight? We "go on" and "go off" diets after every holiday season; we say "I start on Monday" only to go off it by the weekend. Nobody says "I start my new way of life on Monday." But that’s exactly what we need to do. An effective diet isn’t just for Christmas or just a very special occasion, it’s for your whole life.

We need variety not only for our nutritional reasons. It is also to satisfy ourselves, and to take care of our "wants." So, you need to create your own healthy lifestyle… the lifestyle that you want, and one that’s sustainable for the long term.

Be wary of any plan that restricts entire food groups, or if it relies on just 1 type of food (e.g. soup or salad) as its mainstay.

Believe me, I’ve been there and done that. If you go on a diet that requires you to eat all the food that you hate or totally omits your favorites, you are going to dread your meals and are bound to fail. Even if you manage to lose the weight, all your pounds (and probably more!) will creep back once you are off the diet.

2) Do NOT give up your favorite foods

Another thing that most women would do initially is severely limiting their food intake. Or they completely cut off their favorite foods.

This is one thing that you should never do.

"Why?"

Well, by doing that, it sets you up for binges and your temptation for these foods would definitely increase.

Instead, you should reduce your consumption slowly. For example, you always have desserts after dinner. Instead of cutting off totally, you start by reducing your portion size to half. Thus, the temptation becomes much less powerful when you have just the taste of something "bad" now and again instead of telling yourself that it is off limits for good.

After a while, you will find yourself accustomed to the new portion sizes, and you’ll be able to satisfy your craving with just a small amount of your "super sinful" foods.

3) Forgive and move on…

So, you decide to keep your favorite foods in your weight loss plan. You allow yourself a chocolate cookie everyday. But, you could not resist the temptation and you finish half of the pack. Next day afternoon, you finish the remaining half of the chocolate cookies pack for your afternoon tea.

Gee, have you blown your weight loss plan again? Does that mean you should just give up the idea of losing those extra pounds and go back to my old eating habits?

Well, not allowing yourself to make mistakes is the worst mistake you can ever make. Seriously.

Having this all-or-nothing thinking is a way to let you off the hook. It is an escape route that you create for yourself. In your mind, you could be telling yourself, "Oh well. It is all gone. I guess I don’t have to bother anymore. Give me my cookies."

There’s an old saying that goes, "No matter how far along you are down the wrong path, it’s never too late to turn back." So don’t think just because you made bad choices today, you can’t start over tomorrow.

Everyday is truly a new beginning. You do not have to wait until a new year, a new month or a Monday to start all over again.

You can’t erase last night’s binge, but you can aim for a much healthier today!

4) Create a lifestyle you want

Many times, when you want to lose weight, you will plan up a very strict diet and exercise routine for yourself. Well… there is a high chance that you would not be able to execute it successfully. To make things worse, you hate it.

Why not aim to create a healthy lifestyle you want so that you do not give up your favorite foods?

You must create a realistic and achievable weight loss plan. After all, you want to plan to SUCCEED, not to fail, right?

If you find difficulty in creating a good plan for yourself, or if you can’t seem to discipline yourself to stay true to your plan, I suggest that you engage a personal trainer to help you.

5) Celebrate your small victories

Every time you achieve a small milestone, go ahead and reward yourself.

But do not over-indulge. For example, you can reward yourself a small ice-cream once you have managed to complete your first week of exercise routines. Or when you lose your first 3 pounds, you can treat yourself a slice of cheese cake.

Remember, it is alright to reward yourself for the small challenges you have overcome so that you won’t give up so easily. Let it be something you look forward to every time you surmount a challenge.

If you set up your rewards properly, they’ll motivate you on a daily basis and you’ll find it easier to follow your weight loss plans!

Bonus: And here’s one more extra tip… Don’t stress yourself. Take it easy on yourself as you’re learning how to be a new, improved and healthier you. After all, you’re only human… a soon-to-be-much-lighter human!

Copyright 2006 Tracy Lee

Diet Friend Or Foe

Diet Friend Or Foe

Women who have similar kind of thoughts about men, careers, cosmetics, shoes etc. support each other and maintain amity between them. But sometimes when you are practicing a diet you may not get the same level of support from your friend. Her attitude towards your diet, nutrition and fitness programs may de-motivate you and keep you away from weight loss goals. When it comes to choose your nutritional plans don’t just jump with your friend’s choice. Rather choose according to the requirement of your body’s and don’t compromise with your health and weight loss program.

Many people are crazy about diets and always keep on talking about weight loss, fitness programs and come up with long speeches about eating the right kind of food. In real, if you investigate you will find that she does nothing for weight loss. But still she talks a lot about her food, fitness and dieting. Its better not to feed their bogus passion by encouraging her for further talks but instead you can change the topic of discussion. You can talk about something like shoes rather than talking about diets and weight loss. This will help you to curtail the negative energy and will ensure you to focus on your weight loss goals.

Few people might have all the knowledge about weight loss regimes and techniques. She might know that how much calories are there are in twenty peanuts and the time you will have to spend on your treadmill to work out the extra calories. Although they have vast knowledge sometimes they forget what is good for them. You may find people practicing strict schedules and are obsessed with weight loss regimes. Try to help them from such life threatening fascinations. These kinds of strict practices can lead to life threatening disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Instead of encouraging her with these practices advice her to seek immediate help and not to ever participate in these malpractices because it’s danger levels.

Suppose one of your friends is a real foodie who loves to have junk food items, nothing can really keep away from having junk stuffs; she is far from doing exercise, besides she smokes a lot. Now what to do with her? If you are a real friend and want her to be good and healthy then try to take the chance for occasional indulgence with her like sharing an ice cream or French fries with her. If she is your one of the best friend who meets you regularly then you must decide carefully about how to change her way of thinking instead of following her unhealthy methods. The process, which your friend is following, is not actually the way to be on a diet. Diets are for shedding the extra calories from body and help to maintain a body in a healthy state. Diets practiced in an obsessive way when becomes threatening to life must be stopped immediately and if possible proper medical attention to be provided to the person.

Numbers of diet plans are available now in the market. Many diets have become the latest trends and people follow them religiously in order to attain the perfect shape. These trendy and fashionable diets are known as fad diets, which are only a temporary solution for a lifelong long problem of obesity. Instead of going for a fad diet, plan your weight loss programs carefully according to the requirement of your body. The diet plan, which you will prepare, must tackle the energy balance equation and the calories of the body. Instead of choosing the fad diet recommended by your friend its better to consult a trained dietician who can tell you whether this particular diet plan is a friend or a foe to your body.

By: Alex Fyfe

Fat Loss 4 Idiots – A Unique Weight Loss Plan That Really Works!

Fat Loss 4 Idiots – A Unique Weight Loss Plan That Really Works!

A lot of weight loss programs are being offered online these days. But only a few of them are effective. They do not work most probably because of the myths related to weight loss. A weight loss plan should instruct a candidate on the correct food to be taken, the time interval of its consumption, and its most appropriate pattern of consumption. Manipulating fat burning hormones is the only effective method for losing weight in a safe and healthy way.

No! Do not lose heart! Don’t think that you can never achieve that enviable figure or body anymore. Here’s a ray of hope for you. A weight loss plan that really works, let’s say, in just eleven days!

You must have tried out a number of weight loss plans by now. If you still find yourself very fat and ugly, then there must be something wrong with all those weight loss plans. You must understand that till now many weight loss plans have been formulated, but sadly, not even a handful of them are effective. What can be the reason behind this? Is it impossible to conquer obesity? Certainly not! You simply need to identify facts about weight loss and segregate them from myths.

Many weight loss plans are based on myths and that is the reason they do not work. For example, did you know that lack of exercising is not actually a big reason for you to get obese? A lot of weight loss programs stress on your taking long and painful exercising sessions in the gymnasium. A lot of people who are quite obese find it difficult to exercise. As a result this method proves to be ineffective for losing weight.

Weight loss pills are another ineffective remedy for losing weight. These days a weight loss plan normally consists of the consumption of one or two herbal pills in a day during the treatment. The pills are claimed to effectively reduce the weight in a short span of time. But they hardly work and, moreover, they are harmful for the consumer. Many people have contracted dangerous diseases, such as, stomach cancer etc., after consuming those pills.

The food that you eat, the intervals in which you eat, and the pattern of consumption play a very significant role in weight loss. A weight loss plan should consists of a schedule that lets you know what to eat, when to eat, and how much to eat. Did you know that for losing weight eating the right food is not enough? You should know when to eat what. Otherwise the body will not burn the food efficiently and you will not lose much weight. On the contrary these unused calories will get deposited as fat in your body. An effective weight loss plan consists of the correct pattern of eating food.

There are some popular weight loss programs such as those of Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig Weight Loss Plans. But they offer to reduce weight at a slow pace. You can reduce only about two or three pounds per week. But these are hardly effective. An accelerated weight loss program from Fat Loss 4 Idiots, for example, is a more effective one. It is a highly efficient and fast fat-burning program that drives away all myths about weight loss and put you on the right track. Their plan scientifically manipulates fat burning hormones. You will definitely find yourself losing significant weight in a short time by following their diet plans and other weight loss instructions.

By: Paul Moore

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