Beginner Weight Loss Tips | Weight Loss Advice | Weight Loss Resources

7 Clues That You May Not Be Ready for a Diet

2010-11-22T05:22:00.001-08:00

Have you ever tried to start a diet and had the most difficult time ever sticking to it? Most often that happens when you try to push yourself to go on a diet when you really don't want to. There is some inner resistance happening that will make failure certain (at least temporarily).

Below are 7 clues that you may not be ready to start a diet, along with tips for overcoming the resistance:

1 - You feel resentful or angry.

Does the thought of having to follow a specific eating plan bother you? Do you feel like it's a big pain in the you-know-what and you feel angry or resentful about it?

Overcoming this resistance can usually be accomplished by focusing on the parts of dieting that you DO like. Focus on having more energy, how good it feels to notice your clothes getting looser, or the high you get from seeing that you've lost a few pounds. If you can balance the negative with positive aspects, it helps reduce the resistance somewhat.

2 - You feel depressed about not being able to eat your favorite foods.

Usually this kind of resistance comes up when you are considering following a very strict diet that forbids most of the foods you love. But you don't have to follow such a strict plan to lose weight! Remind yourself that you can still enjoy foods you love, but you'll eat less of them. Maybe allow yourself one day per week where you can have a small treat. Or, make it your mission to seek out healthy alternatives to substitute the foods you love.

3 - You feel angry that everyone else can eat what they want but you can't.

Remind yourself that those people probably don't overeat the foods they love, and you are going to form better habits so you can enjoy your favorites without overdoing it.

4 - You start thinking about ways you can cheat.

Again, this is usually the byproduct of feeling like you must give up every food you love, and it's just not necessary to do that. Make a rule that you can have any food you like, but you are going to limit treats to once a week, or once every two weeks, and only a small serving. Then you won't feel the need to cheat because nothing will be forbidden.

5 - You hope to lose a LOT of weight FAST.

Unfortunately, it's not healthy or easy to drop a lot of weight quickly, and your desire to do so probably stems from the thought that you will only have to stay on the diet for a short time if you can lose weight very quickly.

Instead, focus most of your attention on improving your eating and exercise habits, and the more successfully you can do that, the quicker the weight will come off. And since you won't be attempting to lose weight through fad dieting or unhealthy activities, it will be more likely to stay off once you lose it.

6 - You see the diet as a temporary measure to drop weight so you can hurry up and go back to your old lifestyle.

Needless to say, this won't work long-term! See your new eating and exercise habits as a new lifestyle that you will maintain for the rest of your life, and you will find it much easier to stick with it.

7 - You blame everyone and everything else for the fact that you are overweight.

Diet success starts with taking full responsibility for where you are today. Even if you have "fat genes" in your family; even if you never realized how damaging excessive sugar consumption can be; even if no one ever showed you how to eat healthy - none of that matters once you take responsibility for your own health and well-being.

Once you can identify and resolve these inner conflicts, you'll find it much easier to start your diet and stick with it.

Common Beliefs That Can Stall Your Weight Loss

2010-10-03T05:15:00.000-07:00

Most experts agree that weight loss is not just a physical endeavor - there are a whole bunch of emotional and mental issues that tie in to the size and state of your body. While weight loss is largely a result of calories in, calories out, there are also plenty of mental "stumbling blocks" that could slow you down or even keep you from reaching your goal weight at all.

Below are 7 common beliefs that could cause problems while you are trying to lose weight:

"I can't do it."

If you have tried unsuccessfully to lose weight many times before, you may find yourself struggling with a strong belief that you can't lose weight. Maybe you believe that you can only lose so much weight, or you may believe that you can't lose any at all. Either way, this kind of belief will override your desire to eat healthy and exercise, so that it seems like a constant battle to keep going and making any progress at all.

Overcoming this belief is as simple as reminding yourself that you can do anything if you simply take the right action steps. Keep telling yourself that millions of people successfully lose weight and keep it off, and you can too.

"I don't deserve it."

Low self-esteem can leave you feeling like a failure, even if you try to make the right moves toward a healthy body weight. If you commonly feel like you don't deserve to have a slender, healthy body, be sure to keep building up your self-esteem by saying daily, "I deserve to live a happy, healthy life, and the actions I take today will make that happen for me."

"I'm doomed to stay this way."

Sometimes it's easy to feel like the entire universe is against you, and no matter what you do you will stay stuck where you are. It's possible to feel this way even if you don't have any logical evidence to support such a belief, but it's even easier to feel this way if you consistently feel stuck in other areas of your life too. Keep reminding yourself that YOU are the only one in charge of your life. The universe is not conspiring against you - you simply need to take different actions to get different results.

"My family is overweight."

On some level you may know that just because your family is overweight does not mean you have to be too, but you may feel as if your genes are working against you. The problem with this perception is that you won't feel strong enough to even try losing weight - you'll just assume that because much of your family is heavy, you will remain heavy too. To overcome this belief, remind yourself that plenty of overweight families have one or two members that do not struggle with weight. Also remind yourself that more often than not, HABITS are passed down through generations, and those habits contribute to overweight problems much more than genes do. Change your habits and you will also change your body size and weight.

"No matter what I do . . ."

Do you ever say to people, "No matter what I do, I can't lose weight"? This is a sure way to create a self-fulfilling prophecy because you are essentially failing yourself before you even allow yourself a chance to succeed. Turn this around by saying, "I choose to be successful at everything I do from now on."

At first you may not really believe it, but eventually you'll see the proof with your own eyes. Also be sure to turn each day into a success. At the end of the day, say to yourself, "Wow, I intended to eat healthier today, and I did! That's success. I intended to work out, and I did. More success!" Just change the way you see success and failure, and you'll realize that they are nothing more than perceptions that serve you or work against you.

"It's too hard."

Even though most of us know that losing weight and changing our lifestyle habits isn't going to be easy, we try to convince ourselves that it will be easy so we don't lose motivation. Once we get going, however, we realize that it's harder than we thought it would be, and we begin to doubt our ability to keep going. At this point you just have to say to yourself, "So what if it's hard? I'm going to keep going anyway. I'm going to do my best, even if I stumble now and then, I'll still be making progress."

"I feel vulnerable."

Many people don't realize that they aren't overweight JUST because of their eating habits. More often than not, there are some emotional fears and traumas that cause them to put on the weight as a defense mechanism. They feel safer or more protected with the extra pounds on their bodies, and when they start to lose weight they end up feeling very vulnerable and exposed.

If this is a problem for you too, keep reminding yourself that extra weight doesn't really protect you from anything. If anything, it makes your life more difficult, physically, mentally and emotionally! Be willing to let go of the weight and be more vulnerable, and you'll likely discover a hidden well of strength you didn't know you had.

Rekindle Your Motivation for Weight Loss

2010-10-03T05:11:00.000-07:00

What to Do if You Lose Your Motivation for Weight Loss

Virtually any weight loss plan you start will go smoothly at the beginning because you are fired up and eager to do what it takes to reach your goal weight. But over time, it's very common to start losing that inner spark. Before long, you may start feeling annoyed about having to prepare special foods for yourself, or just wishing you didn't have to work so hard at maintaining a healthy weight.

When this happens, you have reached a crossroads. You can either continue down the path of "this sucks and I don't want to do it any more" - or you can do a few things to rekindle your motivation so losing weight becomes exciting and fun.

How to Get Motivated Again

First things first - reconnect with the reasons why you initially wanted to lose weight. Why was that goal so important to you? What did you stand to gain from losing weight and getting fit? Spend some time really thinking about these reasons and ask yourself if they are still important to you.

Assess Your Plan

Now, take a moment to consider the weight loss plan you are following. Is your dissatisfaction stemming from the fact that you don't like the plan itself? Is it not working well for you? Is it very strict? Does it require a lot of time and energy to follow?

Remember that you don't have to be married to any particular plan! If you are no longer feeling the love for your current plan, you can easily explore others or come up with your own. You can even take components from several different plans and combine them into your own unique plan. Simply consider the areas you most need to change, and you'll be able to create a plan that helps you do that.

Create Coping Tools

No matter which plan you follow, you may need to think about ways to keep yourself feeling motivated and inspired as you go along. Create a "toolbox" filled with things that help you do that.

You can store a few pictures of yourself at a lighter weight to inspire you (or even magazine cut-outs of models with the type of shape you are trying to create for yourself), a blank journal in which to work through your feelings, a few bags of your favorite tea, a book of jokes - anything that would help boost your mood and rekindle your commitment to losing weight, add it to this toolbox.

Start Fresh

Now the only thing to do is start fresh again! Take it one day at a time and don't get overwhelmed. Remind yourself daily why you are taking these action steps, and keep your eye on the prize (your goal weight).

Zig Ziglar once said that motivation never lasts - that's why you need to do it every day, like bathing. That insight in itself is motivating because now you know how to motivate yourself, and you need only work at it a little bit each day to keep that inner fire burning.

Walking And Weight Loss

2010-09-16T06:08:00.000-07:00

Walking And Weight Loss: The Facts

The facts about walking and weight loss are interesting. It seems obvious that running would burn more calories than walking, right? And therefore fast walking would burn more calories than slow walking. Of course, if you look at that in terms of time, it is true. Running for 10 minutes burns more calories than walking for 10 minutes.

But if you think in terms of distance, there is not so much difference. Walking for one mile and running for one mile will burn approximately the same number of calories. There is just a little more involved in running because the person is usually pushing upward as well as forward. But the difference in calories burned is not huge.

This means that if you are starting out with a fitness program with walking and weight loss, there is no need to stress about how fast you are going. Concentrate instead on the distance. Use a pedometer to measure how far you can walk in a half hour at a comfortable pace right now, even if that is a very slow pace. Then as you become more fit you will see that you can walk further in the same amount of time.

Eventually you may decide to move on to running, simply because it means that you can burn more calories in a shorter time. A good way to begin is to introduce short bursts of running into your daily walk. For example you might start with 1 minute of running followed by 7 minutes of walking. Gradually you can increase the running time and reduce the walking time until you are simply running.

Many people use a heart rate monitor watch while running. This can also be useful if you are interested in walking and weight loss or if you are following a combined walking and running program. You can keep track of your heart rate and in many cases set an ideal heart rate zone. The watch will beep if you go dangerously high or lazily low. Many watches can also be set to beep to tell you when you need to switch from one form of exercise to another.

Of course, if you choose walking for weight loss it is important to do it often. At least three times a week is recommended for any fitness training, and more often is better. To keep you motivated, it helps if you enjoy your chosen exercise. Walking in pleasant surroundings out of doors is often more fun than using a treadmill, and can help you to keep to your planned program.

Walking can be excellent exercise for anybody who has the use of their legs. Even if you are extremely unfit, you can probably stand and move slowly around the house for a half hour. Of course, check with your doctor first, but using a pedometer you will almost certainly find that if you spend a half hour walking every day, your distance will increase. That means that you will burn more calories. In this way, you can start to be successful with walking and weight loss.

Choosing an Online Weight Loss Program

2010-08-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

You may have wondered whether an online weight loss program is worthwhile or not, and that will depend on a few factors.

- Convenience

One of the biggest reasons you may be seeking an online weight loss program is for simple convenience. Maybe you have a busy schedule and want to do most of your weight loss activities from home. Being able to log onto a weight loss membership program online any time you like can be very helpful in this respect. It's there whenever you have time, rather than forcing you to attend meetings or classes at specific times.

- Cost

Online weight loss programs are really quite affordable (most of them anyway). Usually for just a few dollars a week you can gain access to nutritious recipes, workout ideas, articles and tips, support forums and all kinds of tools and calculators to help you create a weight loss plan that works for you.

- Well Rounded

Ideally you should choose a program that addresses many different aspects of weight loss, like figuring out how many calories you need, exercise and fitness tips, balancing your intake of nutrients, supplement advice, and so on. As you probably know, weight loss is much more than just calories in and calories out. Yes, that's what it comes down to in a broad sense, but there are also tons of little things that can interfere with a successful weight loss plan, and there are tons of little things you can do to help make your transition easier. A well-rounded program will include many helpful tools and resources that help you do that.

- Support

Some online weight loss programs also include support features, like a discussion forum for members to communicate with each other, or even one-on-one coaching with counselors, dietitians, and personal trainers. Not everyone feels like they need support, but it's good to have it available if you should decide you need it.

Online weight loss programs aren't for everyone - some people actually enjoy going out to meetings and workout classes, but if you prefer a more solo journey, an online weight loss program might be just right for you.

Mental Tricks to Overcome Temptation to Eat

2010-06-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

It happens to all of us: we're cruising along on our weight loss program, feeling great, staying on track - when suddenly a temptation is staring us right in the face. Maybe it's a box of donuts your oh-so-thoughtful coworker brought into the office. Maybe it's the scent of freshly baked bread from the bakery down the street. Maybe it's just a random craving that seemed to come out of nowhere, and now it has you in a death grip.

With most weight loss programs, there are only two possible responses: summon the willpower to ignore the craving and stay committed to the plan, or give in to the craving and feel like a failure.

Luckily, these are not the only two responses you can choose, and today we're going to share a few others to help you win the battle of wills the next time you face temptation:

1) Minimize the Intensity
The only reason cravings are so strong is because you create tension in yourself by saying, "I want that but I can't have it." Not being able to have something only makes you want it more! Instead, see the donut (or whatever is tempting you) for what it really is. "It's just a blob of flour, sugar and fat. Yes, it smells good, yes, it would probably taste good, and if I really want to eat it, I can. But do I really want to?" You'd be surprised how well this approach works - it knocks that smug donut right off its pedestal and minimizes the intensity of the craving.

2) Long-Term Gains
Is the enjoyment you would gain from eating one donut worth missing out on the accomplishment of reaching your weight loss goals? Granted, in the heat of the moment it might seem worth it. But if you take a mental step back from the craving and remember how badly you want to feel the joy of being slender and healthy - suddenly the benefits the donut offers seem shallow and fleeting in comparison.

3) The REAL Deprivation
Wanting a gooey goody and not allowing yourself to have it triggers a strong sensation of deprivation - but if you do give in to the craving, what are you REALLY depriving yourself of? Success? A feeling of pride about your appearance? Those slender, slinky, sexy clothes that you've been dying to wear? A longer life? Better quality of life? Is a donut really worth that?
Once you get into the habit of seeing temptation in a different light, suddenly it doesn't seem so hard to overcome it and stay focused on what you REALLY want - that beautiful, healthy, strong body.

The Associated Risks of Rapid Weight Loss

2008-02-06T00:23:00.000-08:00

There are lots dangers associated with obesity. Heart disease, cholesterol, and diabetes are only some of the risks associated with being overweight. However, losing weight is not the easiest thing to do. People with weight problems are constantly losing pounds and putting them on again. Is it any wonder that crash diets for rapid weight loss are becoming so popular?

Rapid weight loss is something that overweight people are always looking for. However, is there any rapid weight loss programme that could shave off the pounds and keep them off? Moreover, is losing weight super-fast a good idea? What are the associated health risks? Yes, these are some of the questions that should be running through your mind when you look at the advertisements for rapid weight loss programmes.

It might be tempting to look at a rapid weight loss plan that guarantees to have you looking at a 20-pound slimmer reflection of yourself within a week, but yield not to that temptation. The effects of rapid weight loss might not be permanent, and you could be doing irreparable damage to your metabolism. Thus, the positive effects may not last for long, but the adverse ones could end up haunting you forever.

If you are already prone to kidney troubles, then trying to lose weight quickly could aggravate these. You could end up with gall bladder stones or low blood pressure, as well as imbalances in the mineral content in your body. None of these would bode well for your health in the long run.

Added to this is the risk that you could be regaining all the lost weight within a few months of losing them. Although some people do benefit from rapid weight loss programs, the results have not always been in favour of those programmes.

Our dear Oprah Winfrey had been a case in point some years ago when she wowed us after having lost oodles of weight; but she put it all on again within a short span of time. Most rapid weight loss programmes tend to require you to starve yourself. This is not the way to go about losing weight. Keep in mind that if you starve yourself, you will run the risk of binging. Thus, you could end up eating a lot more than you had bargained for. The result: all those pounds that you had lost will be back again.

There is also a high possibility of you developing an eating disorder.How do you get rid of those pounds and keep them off? Eat healthy and exercise well. Many people tend to go from fat to thin to fat again because they set unrealistic weight loss goals for themselves. The idea is to go slow, but to keep moving towards that target.

The best way of ensuring that you do this is by following a balanced diet. Eat fats; eat carbohydrates; consume those calories, just don't stuff yourself with them. Schedule yourself for some regular exercise, drink lots of water and get adequate rest.

You should soon be looking at a slimmer you minus the risks of rapid weight loss.

Meeting Weight Loss Challenges Head On

2008-02-06T00:09:00.000-08:00

Food can be like an addiction. It is all around you and you know that over eating will never do you any good. Yet, you eat one hamburger, then the second one and before you know, you’ve eaten 3 or 4 and you still feel like having more. Have you ever felt like that? Weight loss challenges and temptations are many, starting from a simple urge to eat through to the lack of motivation. Are you ready to tackle those?

However, before we take weight loss challenges head on, let us consider the following questions:

• Do you gain weight fast after you lose weight?
• Is your friend/family obese too?
• Are you a fast-food junkie?
• Do you find diet food tasteless?
• Do your parents always deny that you are overweight?
• Do you lack patience and feel bogged down by the pressure of losing weight?
• Do you lead a stressful life?

If your answer is ‘Yes’ to any of the above questions, then you are facing a weight loss challenge.

You may be addicted to food or you may have morbid obesity as a genetic condition, but to live a healthy long life, you need to lose the extra pounds. To be a better family member, a good friend or professionally successful, you need to shed off that extra baggage that you are carrying around.

Obesity is a worldwide problem and many are tackling weight loss challenges successfully. There are various reasons that make fighting obesity a challenge. You may be depressed, may not have a support system around you, confused which method to adopt or may not be realizing that it has gone out of your control. But never forget that we have immense power to build or break ourselves.

Following these tips will help you face weight loss challenges in a more routine manner:

• Make an emotional commitment.
• Don’t be a member of the ‘finish-the plate’ group. You do not need to finish your plate if you are not hungry anymore.
• Follow a healthy diet. Healthy diet does not mean tasteless food.
• Give yourself a free reign one day every week and eat in moderation for the rest of the week.
• Be active and stay active. Force yourself to be active in the beginning; soon you will start enjoying being active.
• Weigh yourself regularly but don’t get obsessed with it.
• Adopt some form of pleasurable activity like music, painting or dancing.
• It is alright to seek help and try to lose weight with a group of people. One can motivate the other.
• Access websites that help people tackle weight loss challenges in a scientific and systematic way.
• Consult your physician for surgical procedures, if needed.

Note: As a beginner in losing weight you must face these challenges in a positive way and set small realistic goals for yourself to achieve.

Weight Loss Products Available In The Market Today

2008-02-05T23:58:00.000-08:00

If the causes for the growing incidence of obesity among peoples in various parts of the world might interest academicians or developmental sociologists. Those affected by excessive fat gain appear to be more practically concerned with utilizing one or more of the spate of weight loss products that is available in the market. Indeed, the range of weight loss products that exist appears to cater to the needs of consumers across the entire financial sphere - let us take a look at a couple of these products available today.

There are inexpensive products like HerbaLife Weight Loss Starter Kit priced a modest $7.99 only. Enzymatic Therapy Metabolic Advantage Thyroid Formula Weight Loss can be yours for between $16 & $19. However, to procure such products in the upper price bracket as Herbalife ShapeWorks Weight Loss Advanced & Herbalife Weight Loss with enhancers and protein flexibility, one would need to part with as much as $ 110 and $ 136 respectively.

The Rimonabant (generic Acomplia) 20 mg 336 tablets sell for a steep $ 479. Obviously, the weight loss products target consumers in the entire range of their purchasing power. Certain leading brands of weight loss products are HerbaLife, TwinLab, Clif Bar and Source Naturals.

Each has a diverse array of offerings in the defeat-obesity battlefield. Significant retailers of weight loss products include VitaPal, MyVitanet, MotherNature.com, All Star Health, iHerb.com and Amazon.

The current philosophy of most weight loss products seems to be seeking to replace regular meals by diet shakes and nutritional supplements. Green tea extract is a common ingredient in several fat burners, because it helps with thermogenesis and the metabolism of fat. Green tea extract is derived from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, the plant from which black and green teas are made.

Several antioxidant and cancer-fighting health benefits of green tea extract are supported by preliminary scientific research. A disclaimer also generally accompanies descriptions of the weight loss products, to the effect of their not having been evaluated by the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Hence, the ethical validity of the confident advertised claims of reducing weight advertised by the weight loss companies cannot be universally accepted as a matter of right.

The company HerbaLife subsequently ceased using ephedrine in its products after the FDA recorded adverse reactions involving its Thermojetics green tablets, and owing to rising insurance premia. To sum up, the global market is teeming with weight loss products and programs. These are generally herbal pills, invariably require diet modifications, frequently include exercise regimens, & lastly, even extend to the option of performing surgical corrections to one’s body fat.

Individual trial-and-error experiments with one product after another might be the only way for a consumer to test the efficacy of their respective claimed benefits; and this course might be fraught with the risk of medical complications.

Note: A degree of caution and care, therefore, in choosing such a product or program might prove prudent.

Are Weight Loss Drugs Unnatural?

2008-02-05T23:49:00.000-08:00

Do you think using weight loss drugs are unnatural?, read the accompanying story and judge for yourself.

Jimmy was stressed out as he had just been dumped again for the umpteenth time. No! He was not a loser at all; he earned handsomely enough to negate the stereotypical loser tag. He had a good bunch of people as friends too. You must be wondering then what the fuss was all about.

Ok let me give you another chance to guess the reason for Jimmy being shunted out again and this time around by Tania, if it is of any consolation to you. Well you have guessed it right; yes, the factor, which drove Tania to leave him out, was the extra baggage that Jimmy was carrying with him. No, I am not talking about a backpack; I am referring to those unwanted pounds of flesh that had gathered around Jimmy’s belly.

What Jimmy wanted was a miracle because after all these setbacks he did not have the courage to go for strict dieting regimes coupled with extreme fitness routines. What he needed was weight loss drugs! Weight loss drugs are the most effective way to lose fats because not everyone is gifted enough to have that strong sense of purpose and persistence to go through tough dieting and extreme exercise routines.

Most of the people will start a dieting routine and will leave it after a while because of one or the other reason. Weight loss drugs are nobody’s favorite at the outset because everyone will say that it is an unnatural way of doing a right thing. However, most of the times we are being unfair and over generalizing without researching about the ingredients of weight loss drugs.

Consumer’s concerns about the side effects of unnatural ingredients have driven most of the manufacturers of weight loss drugs to go for natural ingredients. Hence, this base has been covered pretty well by the weight loss drug sector. Another competitor to the weight loss drugs, which seems to be the talk of the town these days, is the liposuction procedure. Now this is a really drastic and desperate stuff; going under the scalpel just for the sake of losing unwanted pounds seems preposterous to most people but there are some desperate souls out there, I guess.

On one end, people talk about weight loss drugs being unnatural and on the opposite end of the spectrum, you will find those who will pay hefty sums for the liposuction procedure. Startled? Don’t be; let me demystify it for you. Peter starts with a dieting plan, coupling it with an extreme exercising regime. He refuses to take the weight loss drugs because he ‘thinks’ that they are ‘unnatural’.

What happens then? yes you have guessed it right again, he loses the character for the dieting plan and eventually, opts for a completely artificial and extremely dangerous way of losing weight in the form of liposuction. Jimmy has decided that he won’t be banished away from a woman’s company again; he will not allow it to happen again. He has decided that he would start losing weight by using weight loss drugs and would couple it with casual exercises to expedite his progress.

This way he would not have to go for unnatural means for losing weight and he would be certain that he would lose weight for sure.

Developing a Healthy Weight Loss Plan

2008-02-05T23:42:00.000-08:00

A little flab here and an extra inch there can make for a expensive change wardrobe and is are widely regarded as being bad news. Just look around and you, and you will see weight loss company representatives eager to help you start off on programmes for a healthy weight loss - "Healthy" being the "operative" word.

Fad diets are all over the place these days. Most often, they are not ways of guaranteeing healthy weight loss. After all, what is the point of losing weight if you end up with metabolism-related problems? Obesity does lead to health problems, but so do fad diets. So how does one come across a healthy weight loss programme? Obesity eats your energy levels and affects your self-esteem. Your neighbour might suggest a crash diet programme that worked wonders for her. However, this does not mean that the same diet would work for you. Yo-yo dieting is bad news for health more often than not.

Cut down on your fatty indulgences and drink some protein shakes and you could be on your way to losing fat and building muscles. On the flip side, however, you could end up with kidney troubles. Similarly, reducing your calorie intake might help you shave off a few inches in the short term. However, the weight loss might not be a permanent one.

So how does one come up with a healthy weight loss plan? Popeye, the well-known cartoon character is always shown eating spinach, while his friend Wimpy is constantly hogging on hamburgers and fries. The results are there for all to see. While Wimpy is flabby, Popeye is muscular enough to take on any villain that comes his way. It is just another reminder that the key to healthy weight loss lies in eating right.

To begin with, one's weight loss targets need to be reasonable. You can't just wake up a week before Christmas and hope to lose twenty pounds before that Christmas Eve party. Not only is this an unreasonable target, but achieving it can only be done through unhealthy means. You need to develop a healthy weight loss plan. This would involve setting reasonable goals. Tell yourself that you will lose two pounds a week and work towards it.

Start slow, be patient and be persistent, that is the secret to healthy weight loss.It is best to visit a doctor or a qualified dietician to figure out what would be a healthy weight loss plan for you. Each person has a different kind of metabolism combined with different health issues.

You will need to chart out a suitable diet plan that will give you your daily dose of carbohydrate, calories, proteins, fats, and vitamins. You would also have to start doing some regular exercise. You could set out for a jog every morning; or you could get together with some friends and join an aerobics class.

If you are the sporty type, playing tennis more often could work wonders. Healthy weight loss need not be a faraway dream if you are focused on your goal.

Planning Your Weight Loss Program

2008-01-19T10:45:00.000-08:00

Every successful venture in life gets better results with good planning and this also applies to fat reduction and weight loss.

If you put a little planning into your weight loss program before you start you'll have a better opportunity to succeed.

The first step is to determine how much weight you want to lose because unless you have a solid goal in your mind it makes it all the more difficult to achieve your weight reduction.

If you are obese then it is important that you seek professional advice before starting on any weight loss program so you remain safe and healthy throughout the process.

In any case it always pays to get support where possible from professionals and even enlisting the support of your friends and family to help you with your goal to lose weight.

If you have any health problems or health concerns discussing things with your doctor is essential before starting weight loss as changes in nutrition and exercise can place additional loads on your body.

Stand in front of a mirror and look at your body while visualizing how you want it to look. It is also a good idea to take a photo of your body at the start of your weight loss program as we often forget the progress we make and looking back can be handy to offer encouragement at times when you feel like the going might be a little difficult.

One other thing that is very important is to distance yourself from negative people and those who don't offer you any support because there are always those around who don't want to see others improve in their life.

These basic points that I have just discussed will go a long way to helping you succeed and achieve what you set out for with your weight loss program.

Emotional Triggers that makes you eat more.

2008-01-19T10:41:00.000-08:00

There are many different reasons why people become overweight.

It is not as simple as saying that overweight people just eat too much because there can be any number of psychological reasons that make people want to eat more.

Emotional triggers such as stress, sadness, depression and so on can all make a person want to eat more food. This is due to the fact that there are certain chemicals in the brain that are linked to both mood and hunger.

Many people associate eating with various different emotions and for this reason they choose to eat more food to make themselves feel better, or happier, or more comforted.

If you feel that this is the reason for your weight problem then it is probably better to get those issues resolved first by seeing a specialist rather than trying to attack the food problem first.
For a lot of people it is habit to over eat and behavioral modification will be the key to weight loss success in these cases.

One of the easiest ways to change your eating behavior is to eliminate any temptations. This is best done at the supermarket by not actually buying foods that are going to cause you a problem.

By not having these low value foods in the house you won't be tempted to eat them because they won't be there and this will encourage you to eat better foods and in doing so change your behavior patterns.

This process is made considerably easier if all members of the household will help towards achieving the goal of better eating.

If you do the shopping then you will be able to determine what food is purchased and this will help to make your weight loss easier, and in doing so it will help the nutrition of all members of the household.

Regular Weight Management Patterns

2008-01-16T08:54:00.000-08:00

By getting into a regular pattern it makes the task of losing weight considerably easier. If you know that you are going to exercise at the same time every day then your body will soon become adjusted to the fact that it will be exercising and this not only makes the exercise easier but it also ensures that you will stick to the plan and reach your goals a lot sooner than you would if you weren't consistent in your actions.

By keeping a record of your fitness training, you will be able to improve your performance in small steps that will result in big gains over the course of your program.

A regular checkup with your doctor is always recommended to ensure that all aspects of your health are improving and any concerns that you might have can be answered before they have the chance to escalate.

You might occasionally have a break from your weight loss program and this is not unexpected. It can actually do you a lot of good to have the occasional break from routine, provided of course that you get back to the program in a reasonable time and don't slip back to your old habits.

By adding variety to your food and your exercise it will ensure that you don't get bored as this is one of the main reasons that many people struggle to maintain their plan and achieve their goals.
If possible get others to join in with you when you are training as this can help to relieve any boredom and also inspire you to do more training and improve your performance.

Always try to associate with positive people and those who will help you to reach your goals and don't accept any negative energy from others as this will only hinder your chances of success.

Your Daily Calorie Consumption

2008-01-16T08:44:00.000-08:00

The amount of calories that you consume on a daily basis will determine whether you gain or lose weight and this is one of the most important aspects of any weight loss program that you decide to go on.

Studies have been taken where overweight people believed they were eating no more food than other people they associated with who were considerably slimmer than them.
The overweight people were under the false impression that the reason why they were heavier and gaining weight was due to their body's metabolism.

When keeping a record of their food consumption over a specified period of time it was shown that they were actually consuming more calories and it had nothing to do with their metabolism but rather their choice of food and the quantities they were eating.

You only need to reduce your calorie intake by 100 calories per day to make a substantial effect on your weight over the period of the year.

This is a very manageable goal for almost everybody and it is not too difficult to cut back by that amount, however many of the weight loss programs are recommending considerably more reduction in calories making it very difficult to maintain and as a result of this many people are failing to achieve what they start out to do.

Now when you combine the fact that you only need to reduce calories by that much, with additional supplementation of vitamins and minerals that can help your overall health, you can see how you can stay nutritionally balanced throughout the whole weight loss process and not feel as though you are starving yourself.

For many people just knowing that the hurdle is not so great, and that there are suitable supplements to assist them, is enough to ensure that they can start and maintain a good weight loss program.

Enjoy Losing Weight

2007-12-16T11:23:00.000-08:00

Losing weight doesn't have to be something that you dread every day of the week. You should be eating good healthy food that doesn't leave you feeling starved although initially you might feel that way as you change from the bulk poor quality food that you've been eating to smaller portions of better quality food. It can take time to your body to adjust and one of the best ways to help out in this situation is to drink more water.

Most people realize that exercise is one of the best ways of losing weight although there are a lot of people who are reluctant to exercise for one reason or another. For those people who are obese it can be quite difficult to exercise although there are forms of exercise their can cater to virtually anybody.

Swimming biking and walking are three very good low impact forms of exercise that can improve your fitness and reduce your body weight.They can speed up your metabolism and help you to burn fat and swimming in particular is very good for people who are overweight to the extent that they find walking difficult.

Recently Nordic walking has become a lot more popular and this is a particularly good form of exercise for two reasons. Firstly by using the poles when you are walking you are using a lot more of your upper body muscles for the exercise and in doing so this helps to burn more calories than walking without them.

The other benefit of using the poles when walking is the fact that it takes a lot of the stress off your knees and hips and this can be a godsend for oversized people who find that their joints take quite a hammering when walking due to their weight.

Is no wonder that Nordic walking is becoming one of the most popular forms of exercise throughout the country.

Maintain your Weight Loss Goals!

2007-12-14T13:09:00.000-08:00

You've probably been thinking about losing weight for a while and hopefully with the help from this information that you are reading you will be able to do so a lot easier.

By gaining more knowledge on body weight, fat loss and other aspects of health you will be able to make a more informed decision on the best course of action for you to start losing weight.
With so many different weight loss programs on the market, and weight loss products, it can be difficult some time deciding where to start and which one might be the best for you and the lifestyle that you prefer to lead.

In addition to that, you need to look at a program that is easy for you to start and maintain and one that will ensure that you get the results that you require in the fastest and easiest way possible.

As your weight is crucial to your long-term health and enjoyment in life it is essential that you make the correct choices as soon as possible and benefit from the actions that you take. One of the biggest problems that most people have with any weight loss program is when it becomes too difficult for them to maintain.

This unfortunately leads to failure for many people however there are many excellent weight loss products that are available these days that can make the task of reducing weight considerably easier and in doing so more people are managing to reach their goals.

It is my belief that the easier it is the more likely you are to lose more weight and keep that weight off for good so using any product or technique that can help you achieve your goals in a more comfortable manner has got to be good for your weight loss.

5 Logical Tips To Lose Weight Now!

2007-11-28T10:54:00.000-08:00

Do you want to lose weight now? There are many different activities which can help you lose weight. In this article I will tell you of some of these activities. As you read through this article, you will realize that most of these activities are nothing but sound commonsense. But do you actually do them regularly? I bet you don't.

Abstain from sweet drinks - Do you always find yourself reaching out for that sweet beverage? Do you drink a lot of soda and soft drinks every day? Are you extremely addicted to tea and coffee? You may not realize it, but all these drinks and beverages are actually adding up to your fat. The very first step towards weight loss is to replace all these beverages with water and fruit juice. Whenever you find yourself reaching out for your favorite soft drink, drink lots of water instead.

Eat small - A lot of people make the mistake of eating one large meal in a day. The natural fallout of this mistake is that when you become hungry later in the day, you will go to your favorite fast food restaurant and order some junk food. This will further add to your calorie count and make you fatter. To avoid this situation, it is best to eat small meals throughout the day. In fact, you can just break your large meals into several smaller meals and eat them throughout the day. This way, you will never feel hungry and you will get no chance of eating junk food.

Lead an active life - Obesity is very often the natural fallout of a sedentary lifestyle. If you are serious about losing weight, you should become active. You should regularly go for morning walks. Walk up to the places for which you would use your car. Take to the stairs instead of using the elevator.
There is an even greater advantage of becoming active. If you're always on the move, you are less likely to think about eating junk food.

Eat Slowly - You should never eat too fast. Your brain takes some time to realize that your stomach is full. Usually, it takes about 20 minutes to realize it. If you eat too fast, you might have already eaten a lot of food before your brain gives you the signal that you are full.

Workouts - Last but not the least, you should also make it a point of exercising regularly. The best form of exercise is weight lifting. Workouts are also one of the most popular ways of losing weight.

The Diet Channel’s Top Ten Weight Loss Tips

2007-10-23T00:49:00.000-07:00

Internet weight loss community, The Diet Channel has put out a Top 10 list of the most fundamental steps to losing weight and keeping it off. None of these tips will blow your mind as anything new and innovative, and there’s a reason for that: losing weight does not have to be rocket science. Nearly all successful and enduring weight loss programs incorporate one or more (often all) of the following primary factors in achieving and maintaining one’s ideal weight.

Cardiovascular Exercise (aka Aerobic Exercise)–. The Diet Channel recommends a minimum of 5 sessions per week of 30 minutes in length each for there to be any significant affect on weight loss. Don’t have time for a solid 30 minutes stretch (nor the stamina)? No problem. 3 sessions of 10 minutes each in one day counts as one 30 minute session.

Weight Training – It points out that the more muscle tissue a person has, the more calories their body can burn. In other words: gain muscle, lose weight.

Keep a Food Diary – The Diet Channel recommends keeping a written record of what you eat, how much of it you eat, and when you eat it. In addition, it advises jotting down a few words about your level of hunger prior to eating and any thoughts or feelings you had afterwards.

Health First – The next tip is a change in belief, a shift in your state of mind, whereby you train your focus on staying healthy, not on getting thin. When you’re healthy, you achieve and maintain your natural and ideal state.

Identify Your Triggers – The Diet Channel points out that we often eat (or overeat) in response to stress. Identify what form of stress prompts you to eat – boredom, loneliness, guilt, shame, anxiety – and you identify the path to slimming down.

Join a Support Group – Support groups are an essential element of a successful and lasting weight loss program,. You’re likely to find numerous options available to you in your area. Don’t cheat yourself of the benefit of support and encouragement from other human beings going through the same thing as you.

Portion Control – Oftentimes, a larger contributor to unwanted weight isn’t what you eat but how much of it you eat. Proper portion control can open up your world to a whole breadth of food choices you may previously have denied yourself.

One Day at a Time – Make realistic goals for yourself, and set realistic limits. Make it easier on yourself to succeed in your program of losing weight by avoiding placing unrealistic expectations on yourself. Don't try to lose a massive amount of weight in a short period of time. Just don’t do it. Spread it out, slow and steady. That, they say, is what wins the race.

What is Cellulite?

2007-10-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

Cellulite are normally seen as embarrassing by woman, on themselves or anyone else. But while most people have no trouble identifying it, scant few understand exactly what cellulite is.

Cellulite is fat that protrudes out from the lower layers of skin into the dermis, or outer layer of the skin. Cellulite gives a dimpled appearance to the skin, often grotesquely described as a “cottage cheese” look. Commonly cellulite is seen on the rear end, thighs, and lower legs, though it can appear elsewhere.

Surprisingly, modern science still knows very little about the cause or causes of cellulite. We do know, however that between 85% and 98% of women (that’s almost all women) have at least some cellulite somewhere on their bodies. So, contrary to popular misconception, then, and despite how used to seeing cellulite on obese people we may be, cellulite is not a derivative of being overweight.

Science has also observed that cellulite is less common in men, leading many researchers to believe there is hormonal component to its formation. Prevailing theories suggest that the appearance of cellulite could be related to one’s diet, more specifically the ingestion of large amount of trans-fats as well as foods like pasta, white bread, and other foods heavy in white flour. Again, this is suspected, but not yet “known” or proven.

As is the case whenever a perceived new problem arises in our culture, manufacturers scamper to produce and release countless products targeting the cellulite-afflicted. You’ll find gels, lotions, pills and more all promising to rid you of that unsightly cellulite. Do they work? So far there’s nothing but anecdotal evidence supporting these products at best. Another false hope in the battle against cellulite is liposuction, the removal of fat from the body through surgery. Liposuction does not suck out cellulite.

Some sufferers have found that certain kinds of massage may produce a temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite on the body, but not a reduction in the actual existence of it. This is because there are no blood vessels in subcutaneous fat, so when the body is massaged and circulation below the skin is stimulated, the surface of the skin appears smoothed out. Massage, then, is only a superficial solution to cellulite, and one with effects lasting only for the short term.

The only steps so far that have shown to make any real and lasting reduction in cellulite are the same steps advised for proper and effective weight loss: a healthy lifestyle. Eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, and getting plenty of both exercise and rest seems to be the only known remedy for unsightly and embarrassing cellulite. It’s not reinventing the wheel, and it’s no quick fix – but it works. And when it comes to looking and feeling good, what works is all that matters.