February, 2012

What Cows Know About Weight Loss That We Have Forgotten

I want to talk to you about cows and what they can teach us about weight loss, or more specifically, fat loss. While it may not be obvious, we can learn a very important lesson from cows.

Not so many years ago, cattle were herded across the central plains. North in the summer and south in the winter, following the good weather. While moving several thousand head of cattle on horseback, it was impossible to bring food for the animals, so the route taken had to include grasslands or prairies where the cattle could graze.

With the advent of cattle ranches and barbed wire, it became increasingly more difficult to run cattle across the open range. Instead of moving the cattle to the food, ranchers began to bring the food to the cattle. With a change in diet came a change in the meat and dairy products as well.

You know the old saying “you are what you eat”… well, the same is true for cattle. Cows that consume a diet of fresh grasses instead of dry cattle “feed” end up consuming a higher concentration of many nutrients as well. One in particular that I’d like to discuss with you is a fatty acid called conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA.

Throughout time, people who ate beef and drank milk from cows that were “range fed” ended up consuming a healthy amount of CLA. Since then, the amount of CLA that cattle consume has decreased dramatically, and so they are passing less along to those of us further down the food-chain.

So, what does that mean for us? Well, once upon a time, people were able to make meat and dairy a part of a healthy diet, and that beef and milk actually helped them to stay lean.

The actual way in which CLA keeps animals (like us) lean is still somewhat of a mystery, but through observation, scientists are able to see that it works… and it works very well. A double blind study of obese humans in Norway showed that

after 12 weeks, the group that took a little over 3 grams of CLA per day had a statistically significant decrease in body fat mass (BFM) and a statistically significant increase in lean body mass (LBM). These results were acheived without a significant lifestyle change.

Now I’m not going to suggest that anyone tries to lose weight without making significant lifestyle changes. Changes should include (but not be limited to) a decrease in calories per day and an increase in exercise per week. If people can get significant results without making a lifestyle change, what can they do when the two are working together?

I’ve been hearing about CLA for years now from friends who have lost pounds, fat and inches, and I’ve begun to take it myself as well, finally. I’m walking thirty minutes a day, five days per week, reducing my caloric intake, and taking CLA three times per day. I’m looking forward to updating you on my progress, and I hope you’ll join me as well.

Before you decide, let’s look at what we know about CLA and its effects. Studies show that CLA reduces body fat and weight in four ways:

* By decreasing the amount of fat that is stored after eating

* By increasing the rate of fat breakdown in fat cells

* By increasing the rate of fat metabolism

* By decreasing the number of fat cells

In addition to decreasing fat, CLA also helps to increase lean muscle mass. This helps in two ways, first of all, muscle looks better and more natural than fat, and secondly lean muscle burns calories. It’s a synergistic effect that compounds as you lose more fat and increase muscle.

Give CLA a try, you’ve got nothing to lose but fat!

Michael Callen is the author of the Weekly Weightloss Tips Newsletter (http://www.weeklyweightlosstips.com) and the Chief Technology Officer for WellnessPartners.com (http://www.WellnessPartners.com), an online retailer of dozens of health and wellness products such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), r+ alpha lipoic acid (R+ ALA), and green tea extract.

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Smarter Eating

Dieting doesn’t have to be a chore. Actually, you can eat what you like and still cut the pounds. How you ask? By smarter eating. For example, there are 7 days in a week. Let us say you eat clean for 2 days with the third day being a cheat day. More times then not, you are eating well and still having what you like to eat. This has many benefits. You get to reward yourself for successfully eating correctly the first 2 days and then you shocked your metabolism to burn even more calories by incorporating that 3rd day as your cheat day. When you eat clean for long periods of time, your metabolism adapts to this, so you have to shock you metabolism to kick start extra calorie burning. Some of the easiest ways to eat smarter are,

1. Drink plenty of water during your meals. You will fill up on

water and not consume extra calories.

2. Eat a big breakfast. Eating breakfast kick starts your metabolism. When you skip breakfast, you run the risk of over eating later in the day.

3. Try not to eat 4 hours before bed time. Going to sleep on an empty stomach will prevent your body from storing extra calories and when you wake up you’ll be so hungry, you won’t want to miss breakfast.

Follow these 3 simple steps and you can easily cut back on calories and boost you metabolism with out removing the foods you enjoy. Eating smarter will promote long term weight and fat loss and keep your goals in site. Remember, eating for weight loss is not a sprint, it is a marathon.

By Joe Maresca

Senior Health & Fitness Advisor

http://www.GetBuilt.Net

Joe has over 15 years in the health & fitness industry. He has helped numerous individuals with their fitness goals.

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How to Lose Weight in a Healthy Way with Hypnosis

More and more people are turning to hypnosis or hypnotherapy for help with weight loss. Most people who seek the help of a hypnotherapist will have already tried numerous diets or slimming programs with little in the way of lasting results.

Many traditional weight loss programmes leave us feeling frustrated and deprived. Noticeable results are sometimes a longtime coming and in the meantime life seems to be governed by our latest “diet”. Our lack of motivation means that with no immediate benefits to show for all our hard work we tend to just give up – until the next time!

Using hypnosis to aid weight loss, you will feel healthier, more energetic and happier from day one. You will find it easy to be in control of your food intake and exercise routine and you will feel proud of your healthier lifestyle. “Dieting” has never been this good!

In just one session, lasting no more than 2 hours, you will learn to take control and enjoy a healthier, happier life.

Hypnosis is a perfectly natural phenomenon that occurs in

both man and in animals and is as much a part of our everyday functioning as seeing and hearing.

There is nothing magical about hypnosis and contrary to popular belief it is not a state of sleep. It is better described as a state of heightened awareness and concentration at one with a feeling of calm and lethargic relaxation.

There are no adverse side effects from hypnosis and it is inconceivable that anyone could come to any harm as a result of it. It is totally safe, natural and non-addictive.

Hypnotherapists use the power of suggestion to induce the hypnotic state in a client and then work with the client’s altered state of awareness to bring about a therapeutic end. This would usually be to help someone to stop doing something that they do not want to do or to start doing something that they would like to be able to do.

Hypnosis itself, therefore, is not an end result but used wisely is a powerful, natural tool in the aid of therapy.

Fiona Turner, Dip.Hyp. MIAH

http://www.headhighhypnotherapy.co.uk

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Fighting Cellulite and Winning

Cellulite – a word most women are very familiar with. Cellulite is the formation of tiny dimples on the skin, usually appearing on the thighs and your bottom.

Now dimples were really cute when we were children, but the puffy puckering dimples we find on our body are a curse to most women. Statistics say that over 80% of women develop cellulite.

Cellulite is very difficult to treat. Cellulite is constructed of small pockets of waste and studies indicate is tied to poor circulation and a sluggish metabolism.

The most effective treatment involves enhancing your natural cellular function and speeding up your metabolism so it is better capable of eliminating toxic waste from the body.

There is a huge selection of cellulite remedies on the market, all claiming to reduce or rid the body of cellulite. It’s pretty easy to get caught up in the hype of the miracle cellulite cure.

So how does one determine what will or will not help? Below is useful information to help you make an intelligent choice. Up until recently most of the treatments for sale were merely topical treatments which by themselves are not very effective at treating cellulite.

It is important to remember that until now very few if any remedies were more than simple topical treatments, which alone are not very effective in treating cellulite. There are many creams on the market the mix combinations of vitamins, herbs, and antioxidants. Some will do no more than make your skin appear smoother and healthier.

Although a superficial treatment, it will reduce the appearance of the cellulite areas.

The better creams will contain antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and ingredients that stimulate the flow of blood. Cellulite areas are damaged skin pockets which are normally dehydrated. . Increasing the blood flow and reducing inflammation help the skin repair itself. The best treatment comes from the inside out.

We’ve all heard the commercials or ad campaigns that claim that “their cream” can decrease the size of the thigh and repair cellulite.

What these products actually do is draw waste water away from the area, thus temporarily decreasing the size of the thigh and the appearance of the cellulite. T

his is “not” a cure, but a temporary fix. Any size you lost will be regained as soon as you drink water. Body size is not relevant to having or not having cellulite.

Topical cellulite remedies can be beneficial, however they have little effect if they are used alone. Creams reach only the epidermis [top layer] of the skin. They are unable to penetrate the dermis where much of the damage is.

Because they are unable to penetrate the dermis layer and fight the skin damage, many of these treatments are not successful. The surface dimpling caused by cellulite is merely a symptom of the underlying cause.

To reverse the damage you must go beyond treating the top skin layer. Internal treatments and technological treatments can be very successful in treating the underlying problem. Combine science and nature with your topical treatments for real help.

To “really” fight celluloid you need to go within the body. By working inside the body and outside with topical treatments, you’ll have a better chance of fighting cellulite.

The more of them that you use, the more success you will be in reducing, preventing, and even eliminating your cellulite.

It is very important to strengthen blood vessels/increase blood flow. Strengthening blood vessels and increasing blood flow you increase circulation.

Increasing circulation will then allow more blood flow to the celluloid areas so the body will better be able to break down the toxic areas.

The first stages of cellulite and are not visible to the naked eye. The first stages are the result of blood vessels breaking down. Nutrients reach the skin via blood vessels and when the blood vessels are unable to feed nutrients to the skin damage occurs. This damage is called cellulite.

It is very important that the right nutrients are actually able to reach the areas that need them. Feed your body antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, water, and collagen. These will act as reinforcements to help nutrients reach the affected areas. etc., the skin has no way to attain reinforcements. It eventually loses the battle to cellulite

It is important to encourage the Production of connective tissue. This can be done by increasing production of the matrix (GAGs) that make up connective tissue in your body. A strong dermis will help in preventing and repairing cellulite.

The connective tissue is the primary water reservoir for your entire body, so it stands to reason if you have healthy connective tissue your body will be much better able to hydrate itself when needed, keep all of your cells, from your liver to your skin, supplied with their ideal component of water, thereby functioning at their optimal level.

The most important Internal needed to form GAGs in your body, is glucosamine. Glucosamine is the primary building block of GAGs. Your body also needs B vitamins and trace minerals so that your body can metabolize the glucosamine into GAGs.

It is also important to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Your body needs ample collagen and elastin to keep the connective tissue strong. When the dermis is strong, fat cells are not able to break through and appear on the surface, with the familiar dimples.

Your need to supply the body with amino acids to build collagen and elastin.

Make sure that your cells are fully hydrated. De-hydrated cells become weak and are then unable to hold back the fat from surfacing. By drinking plenty of fluids you keep your body hydrated, which revitalizes your cells.

They are then able to push the cellulite forming fat cells back below the surface into the deeper layers of the skin. Keeping your body hydrated has other benefits also, it will keep your skin looking young and beautiful and allow you to better fight disease and infection.

By optimizing the health of your cells they will be able to function at peak levels. Your skin will look younger, smoother, and overall more beautiful.

It is also important to ensure waste is properly removed from the body. If your body is retaining wasted water it can cause problems such as bloating, weight gain, edema, and puffy eyes. It also interferes with your body’s ability to repair cellulite damage.

All of us are exposed to the damage caused by free-radicals. Free radical damage occurs from many sources, such as sun exposure, smoking, and a poor diet.

Free radicals damage the skin making it more susceptible to cellulite. The best way to prevent and repair free-radical damage is with the use of antioxidants, both topically and internally.

Your body responds to damage by rushing defensive nutrients to the affected area. It accomplishes this by dilating the blood vessels and releasing specific chemicals.

What you witness is the skin becoming warm and red. This is inflammation. Prolonged inflammation causes the free-radical damage and cell wall deterioration that it is attempting to prevent.

That is why it is so important to use soothing ingredients, both topically and internally, to calm inflammation before it begins doing more harm than good. Anti-inflammatories are widely available in a variety of products.

Exfoliation is a must. By the time we reach adulthood, the rate our cells turnover has drastically decreased, leaving us with a surface of dead skin cells that not only looks dull, it no longer provides an adequate barrier against the elements and water loss.

The most effective way to combat this is to exfoliate. Exfoliation removes the surface layer of dead cells. There are many ways to exfoliate. Chemical formulas use mild agents to dissolve the dead cells.

Textured soaps, sponges and brushes strip away the surface cells. When you remove the dead cells from your skin’s surface, a message is sent telling your body to create replacements.

The dead cells are replaced with strong young cells that look and feel healthy. But more than that, these cells are better equipped to stand up to the onslaught of cellulite.

Many effective ingredients include essential oils and botanical extracts. Before using a product is always wise to do a patch test. Some botanicals and antibacterial agents can cause reactions in sensitive skin types.

Aloe Vera juice or oil is extracted from the aloe Vera plant. The leaves are made up of water, enzymes, and minerals such as calcium, aluminum, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, and sodium.

But wait there’s more. Aloe Vera juice also contains twenty amino acids. Aloe Vera is well known for its healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids are used in many cosmetic products. Certain combinations of AHA products increase cell turnover rate and increase the thickness of the epidermis.

The effect depends on the product’s pH level, the AHA concentration, whether it is a cream or cleanser, as well as how the product is used AHA products make the skin appear smoother and younger.

Lactic acid is commonly found in milk, pickles, and other foods made by bacterial fermentation. Lactic acid can help reduce the effects of photo-aging and can play an important role in the treatment of sun-damaged skin.

Glycolic and salicylic increase the cell turnover rate and uncovering younger skin.

Hydroxy acids unclog embedded cellular debris from pores and shedding the outermost layer of dead skin.

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a potent fat- and water-soluble antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. ALA penetrates the skin cells the lipid-rich cell membrane and continues to be effective once inside the cell due to its water solubility. ALA works with vitamins E and C, boosting their antioxidant abilities.

Basil extract is used to relieve pain and muscular spasms, and to stimulate blood flow. It is also known for its restorative and anti-inflammatory properties.

Bioflavonoids’ have strong anti-inflammatory powers, and are also a strong antioxidant.

Niacin improves the ability of the epidermis to retain moisture. When used topically it produces softer, smoother skin with less dryness and flakiness, and it reduces the appearance of fine lines.

Butcher’s broom root extract strengthens and tones blood vessels. In Europe it is a popular treatment for varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

Carnitine is found naturally in the body. It transports fatty acids to your cells, where they are metabolized. It burns fat and strengthens cells.

Cat’s-claw is an effective anti-inflammatory, which also increases blood flow throughout the body. Recently is has been successful in stimulating the immune systems of cancer patients.

The active ingredient in cayenne is capsaicin. Capsaicin not only increases circulation. It also alters the action of the

body’s substance P which transfers pain messages to the brain. As a result it is effective in reducing both pain and inflammation by short-circuiting the pain message.

Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant. Studies have shown its ability to increase resistance to disease and to strengthen the heart. It creates a substance known as ATP in the body’s cells which is vital for energy. It also has great antioxidant abilities, as well as boosting the antioxidant effect of vitamins C and E.

Peptides are the amino acid, the building block for collagen and elastin. Copper peptide is a trace mineral that helps the body convert amino acids into this connective tissue. Copper peptides are an excellent source of collagen and elastin production.

Essential fatty acids are so vital that they have been referred to as vitamin F. They have amazing hydrating abilities in topical creams, and when taken internally they help to build up the cell membranes and attract water to cells.

Fennel is a diuretic and an anti-inflammatory that needs more research to find its full abilities.

Ginkgo Biloba is an antioxidant, but it also increases the blood flow throughout the body, expanding the reach of any nutrients in the food you eat.

Grapefruit oil and extract have been used for muscle fatigue, stiffness, acne, fluid retention, and skin tightening, and as an antiseptic and astringent.

Grape-seed extract inhibits the enzymes collagenase and elastase, which break down collagen and elastin. Because grape seed is able to prevent the damage from ever occurring, it is very effective in the prevention of celluloid. Green clay is sometimes reffered to as a cellulite solution but does need more study to confirm this. Green clay contains many of the trace minerals that your body needs to metabolize nutrients into new tissue.

Juniper berries extract is high in vitamin C. It is used to treat pain and inflammation from arthritis and varicose veins, and to increase circulation.

When Lecithin is taken internally on a regular basis, it aids your body in repairing and strengthening its cell membranes.

Kelp is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties on the skin. It is rich in minerals and has been used to supply the thyroid gland with iodine in some instances. Kelp can also be used to hydrate the epidermis, nourish the skin, and protect elastin fiber.

Pine oil is used as a disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, as a diuretic, and to stimulate circulation.

Pomegranate is fast becoming recognized for its antioxidant qualitites. Studies have showed the that the topical application of pomegranate extract has an effect on preventing skin cancer. Pomegranate is a very potent antioxidants that work primarily in the skin.

Retinoids applied topically over a long period of time temporarily thicken and strengthen the dermis, making it more difficult for cellulite to push its way through.

Zinc, manganese, copper, selenium, magnesium, boron, chromium, molybdenum, silica, and vanadium are all trace minerals. Our body needs these minerals in trace amounts to r metabolize nutrients. Trace minerals are vital to cellulite.

Vitamin C fights an ongoing battle against cellulite and skin damage. Vitamin C breaks down collagenase and elastinase, two naturally occurring substances in the body that attack collagen and elastin.

Vitamin C is also a natural anti-inflammatory and powerful antioxidant with proven studies that it is effective in battling free-radical damage within the skin.

Vitamin E, both topically and when taken internally, is a very potent fat soluble antioxidant. Because it is fat soluble it can work its way into the fat-rich cell membranes in our bodies, protecting the cell walls from free-radical damage. Vitamin E is also an excellent hydrating and sealing agent in topical creams.

Many popular treatments claim to reduce cellulite. Treatments range from body raps to massage to surgical procedures.

Body Spa Treatments are beneficial on many levels. Great for exfoliating, toning, and stimulating blood flow. A terrific skin care regime.

Body wraps induce sweating thereby having a temporary diuretic effect. However, fat cells and connective tissue are not affected by sweating.

With a body wrap you are covered from head to toe for up to an hour in herbal or seaweed-soaked cloth strips to increase circulation and firm the body’s contours. Once you are unwrapped you body is massaged to enhance circulation and send oxygen to blocked tissues.

Watch your alcohol and caffeine intake prior to a body wrap as both are dehydrating. Body wraps are not recommended for anyone with high blood pressure, anyone who is dehydrated, or pregnant women.

Deep-tissue massage consists of slow strokes to create micro tears at the surface level, making tissue longer and smoother. It also loosens the connective tissue so that it moves more freely and no longer adheres to underlying structures. Deep massage followed by lymphatic drainage can make the surface layer of skin more flexible.

Massage can improve the condition and appearance of your skin, however it does not remove or decrease fat cells. It is excellent for increasing circulation and thus moving nutrients to tissues.

However, if deep massage is too intense, it can also damage blood vessels, which defeats the benefits for cellulite reduction. Areas with cellulite are already sensitive, so be sure to tell the therapist it it feels like too much pressure is being applied. Deep massage provides relaxation and can stimulate the blood vessels and reduce stiffness.

Dermal fillers are expensive. They are a temporary method that improves the appearance of cellulite dimples. The treatment consists of a serious of human fat injections which make dimples less obvious.

Other filling agents can be used rather than fat. The dimples appear less noticeable until the fat is absorbed by the body, then the dimples return to their normal appearance. Not only is this procedure quite costly it is a lengthy procedure.

Electronic Anticellulite Devices are a few noninvasive, nonsurgical treatments for skin contour irregularities. This procedure temporary reduces the appearance of cellulite.

A vacuum type device creates suction to temporarily immobilize and lift the fatty tissue, while dual rollers create deep, subdermal massage to the connective tissue. This stretches the connective tissue, increases blood and lymphatic flow, and exfoliates the skin.

A session can take from forty to ninety minutes, and entail from ten to thirty treatments as well as a monthly maintenance treatment. If you stop treatments your skin reverts back to its original condition. Long term results have never been established either clinically or scientifically.

The lymph system is the body’s waste disposal system. It is the body’s natural defense system, clearing away bacteria, cell debris, excess water, proteins, and wastes from the connective tissue and returning it to the bloodstream for ultimate removal by the kidneys.

If pathways become congested or damaged fluids build up in the connective tissue, leading to edema, swelling, and inflammation. When this occurs the lymphatic system transports the damaged cells, inflammatory substances, and waste away from the area. The sooner this occurs the faster the recovery.

Manual lymphatic drainage is a technique that involves a gentle lymph massage, which enhances and stimulates the lymphatic system to remove wastes more rapidly from around the cells and in the tissues, sending it back into the lymphatic system for removal and ultimate cleansing.

For cellulite treatment, the therapist first assesses the condition of the skin: color, texture, temperature, moisture, and elasticity.

The next step is to look at the contour of the hips and legs, and hunt for skin thickening, ridges, lumps, and visible scars that run across lymph vessels and may obstruct lymph drainage.

The therapist also examines for visible veins, looking for redness, swelling, heat, and pain. Lymphatic drainage is very useful before and after cosmetic surgery to decrease bruising, edema, and inflammation. The effects are only temporary, and it has not been proven to reduce dimpling in the long term.

Mesotherapy are micro injections injected into the middle of the dermis at a trouble spot, to deliver healing or corrective treatment to a specific area of the body. They can be made of conventional or homeopathic medication.

They are mixed with isoproterenol, vitamins and a diuretic when treating cellulite. Isoproterenol is touted to melt fat although no clinical studies are available to back up this claim. Up to two hundred deep injections are delivered into trouble.

The biggest problem with mesotherapy is that there is no standardized mix for the formula. Long-term, chronic cellulite and wrinkles may require at least fifteen sessions before you notice any result.

Microdermabrasion is a popular alternative to chemical peeling that utilizes a blast of aluminum oxide or salt crystals to exfoliate skin superficially, by passing the particles through a vacuum tube to gently scrape away the aging skin.

The results are similar to a light peel. Microdermabrasion devices are available for home use, although not as good as a professional treatment the cost is significantly less.

Nonablative Lasers point the laser beam at the affected area, causing the collagen and elastin bundles to heat up and move closer to the surface. This firms the skin and reduced imperfections. The results are temporary.

Peels utilize a strong concentration of a chemical exfoliating agent to resurface the skin. New cells made by the remaining dermis result in a newly healed surface, and healthier, more radiant skin.

Chemical peels are very flexible and can be adapted to various levels depending on how deep a peel you want and how sensitive your skin is. Glycolic acid is a common ingredient in peels as it is generally gentler and safer than trichloracetic acid

Peels work by damaging the skin to a stage where the body needs to build new collagen and elastin bundles. You might feel a burning or stinging sensation, and there will be moderate swelling of the treated areas for about a week and minimal scabbing, followed by healing and a toughening of the skinThalassotherapy is rich in sea minerals and nutrients.

The therapy combines the sea nutrients with warm sea water to dilate pores and blood vessels, opening the skin to absorb the sea minerals.

In the end the best way to cure celluloid is simply to avoid getting it. Eat a balanced diet low in fat, drink plenty of water, eat fiber foods, and plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit.

Exercise for 20-30 minutes daily to help keep the body in shape, and avoid smoking, alcohol. A healthy life style will go along way towards prevention.

Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry, and wedding help. So stop by and visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/We’ll help you make your fashion statement! Remember looking good doesn’t have to cost a fortune!

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The Easiest Weight Loss Program for You

Although there’s no easy “one size fits all” weight loss program, there is such a thing as a weight loss program which makes it easier for you personally to lose weight than others.

This is the program which fits your lifestyle so well that you are happy to adopt it and live with it permanently.

1. Decide which foods to include in your diet.

Which healthy foods do you like? Which ones do you tolerate? And which do you hate?

Build your meals around those healthy foods which you enjoy. After all there is no point in eating a meal and hating it.

The exception?

If you hate a whole food group, and your diet would be unhealthy without it. In that case, adapt your diet to include the elements you need in a palatable way. For example, if you hate vegetables serve them in a way that you can’t taste them. Puree them and include them in soups, stews or pasta sauces. If you hate or have an allergy to dairy products, choose other foods to give you alternative rich sources of calcium and protein.

2. Decide which junk foods you’ll dump

Which poor food choices can you easily live without?

Dump the junk that doesn’t matter to you. Maybe eating some junk foods has just become a habit and you can easily wean yourself away from them. Others are ones you love and would miss a lot so include small amounts in an otherwise balanced healthy diet. In this way you reduce the junk without feeling deprived.

3. Replace the gap left by the junk food you don’t care about with healthy food you do like

Best of all replace the junk with healthy food which has a touch of luxury. For example, you dump peanuts and potato snacks and replace them with blinis, low fat cream cheese and caviar or dump donuts for crispbread and smoked salmon or lean prime roast beef.

4. Upgrade the junk food you love

Replace your junk food choices with something even better. For example, instead of treating yourself to your usual cheap chocolate bar, feel like a million dollars by buying yourself a couple of exquisite handmade chocolates. This means you can really indulge yourself now and again without piling on the pounds.

5. Create weekly meal plans around the foods you have decided to include in your diet

Pre-set meal plans in diet books and weight loss programs make life easy but they’re unlikely to give you the most satisfaction and enjoyment per calorie. They are not based on the foods you particularly like and many have an aim of allocating foods in particular proportions of fat, carbs and proteins, which makes for some weird meals and combinations.

Forget being too rigid if you want to find a healthy balance you can live with for life.

Also give those meal replacement bars and shakes a wide berth. Who wants to live on those for a week never mind a life time?

Instead, choose a good variety of different healthy foods each day and also vary your choices throughout the week. If planning your

own healthy meals sounds like too much hard work, use a ready-made meal plan but substitute some of the things you like least with similar foods you like better.

6. Don’t get too hungry

Living with hunger is hard and totally unnecessary to lose weight. The easiest weight loss program matches your individual hunger patterns. Such a ready-made program may not exist, so why not devise your own?

Eat enough at each main meal to satisfy your hunger but not feel stuffed. And eat often enough so that you’re not ravenous when it’s time for lunch or dinner. Most people need a small snack mid-morning and in the afternoon. As a guideline eat no more than about the size of your two clenched fists for any main meal and, if you feel you need more, fill up on salad or vegetables.

Your aim should be to feel hungry when it’s time for a meal but not all the time.

7. Add some easy exercise

If exercise doesn’t fit into your life easily you won’t do it (at least, not for long). Choose an activity which feels like fun, even if it means trying a few things first to see what you like. Or build your fitness by simply doing more as you go about your day – moving more at work, being more active around the house and garden, choosing to walk instead of taking the car on short journeys etc. Build your level of activity gradually so that you ease into fitness – you don’t have to tie yourself to the gym every night – but if you love that, that’s ok too!

8. Think about what motivates you

As with the other elements of a weight loss program we are all individuals when it comes to motivation. Why do you want to lose weight? What reason is strong enough to make you stick to your plan? You will have your own combination of reasons and they are the key to your success. Remind yourself daily why you are doing this so that you feel more motivated to change your habits.

9. Celebrate in style

Choose how you will celebrate your success and make it something that drives you to meet your goal. Plan your celebration to reward yourself with whatever means most to you personally and not with what you or others think you should want.

10.It’s all about you

We are all different and so there’s no one weight loss plan or program that will work best for everyone. Choose your own elements like a pick and mix selection. Go at your own pace and you’ll finally find just the right combination that works for you – the easiest possible weight loss program.

Copyright 2005, Janice Elizabeth Small

Janice Elizabeth is a weight loss coach, slimming club owner and author of “The Diet Exit Plan”, an 8 week coaching program for automatic permanent weight loss. Request her FREE 15 page report “How to lose weight without dieting – 7 secrets the diet industry doesn’t want you to know” at http://www.SimplySlimming.com TODAY!

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Dieting Strategy — Stop Diet Drop Out

Diet drop out, a significant problem for all types of diets, requires a new dieting strategy. Exchange it…and watch diet drop out rates plummet.

What is Diet Drop Out?

To stop a diet plan before reaching your goal or before reaching a pre-defined time limit is called diet drop out. Not one diet succeeds at keeping diet drop out rates low. One or more of the following strategies are used by diet plans in attempts to eliminate diet drop out:

  1. Shorter Dieting Sessions

    This is a strategy that more often back fires, setting the stage for weight gain. Subjects placed on shorter dieting sessions experienced weight loss at a faster rate than those following longer sessions.

    Fast weight loss (over 3-4 pounds/week) is unhealthy and negates any progress made on lowering diet drop out rates.

  2. Severe Calorie Restriction

    This strategy follows the same principle as faster dieting sessions. Allow dieters to lose weight fast, and they won’t have time to drop out. Unfortunately, severe calorie restriction also causes weight gain.

  3. Diet Holidays

    This strategy allows dieters to take long breaks or “holidays” from following the diet. However, the opposite result is often observed. Diet drop out rates increase because many dieters never start the diet again.

In order to provide a strategy that works, diet plans should

ask dieters why they drop out. Then simply provide a solution for the reason dieters drop out, problem solved.

Why Dieters Drop Out

When dieters are asked what is the hardest part about dieting, the response is surprising. Most dieters say that following strict diet menus, not exercise, is the hardest part.

A good strategy for decreasing diet drop out rates would address the menus. This is exactly what Exchange It accomplishes…giving dieters more control over what they eat.

The exchange process involves substituting healthy food choices for harmful ones. For instance, substitute a healthy fat, like Omega-3, for saturated fats. This allows you to eat more fats, and still remain on your diet.

To learn more about Exchange It! and other new dieting strategies, click…

Exchange & Other Dieting Strategies

To Healthy Living!

Michael A. Smith, MD

Chief Medical Consultant

Diet Basics Website

Dr. Smith is the Chief Medical Consultant for Diet Basics, a content rich website dedicated to your weight loss success. Quickly becoming known as the net’s primary resource for weight loss issues, his RSS Feed and News Blog are received by thousands of e-zine websites, medical centers, and individuals. The interactive content is original and informative, challenging readers to act and maximize their weight loss efforts.

To Healthy Living!

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Go Low-Glycemic To Burn Away That Excess Fat!

Obesity — it is as much the scourge of the developed world as poverty is of the Third World. Thousands in the developed world have been desperately — and rather unsuccessfully — trying to shed their pounds, even as thousands in the underdeveloped world have been trying to put some fat into their bodies.

The World Health Organization says that the United States is now the fattest country in the world. Ask anyone who has tried to burn away those calories. It’s easier to look for the proverbial needle in the haystack! And they will tell you that there are no shortcuts in a fat loss regimen.

There are many causes that contribute to weight gain. Often, it may not only be the intake of food. Hormonal factors, side-effects of medical conditions, and many other factors cause weight gain. Recent research has shown that the increased amount of chemicals and toxins in the environment is a factor contributing to obesity.

Dieting and fat burning exercises are often considered the only solution for fat loss. But such a regime should be tailor-made for your body composition and lifestyle to be effective. However, many people do not follow professional advice and cause more harm to their body than good while on a fat loss regime.

This is where we need to look at the new low-glycemic standard of healthy eating. Glycemic indexing basically measures by how much a given food raises blood sugar and insulin response. This is important because the rate

at which your blood sugar rises after eating is important in managing your weight.

High-glycemic food causes many negative effects, including weight gain. They increase your appetite, and raise fat in your body system by increasing triglycerides. However, a low-carbohydrate diet is not necessarily a low-glycemic diet as is the popular misconception. Such a diet will only lead to more fat in the body.

So what is a low glycemic diet? Fruits and vegetables are low-glycemic food, and you should include them most in your daily diet. However, it is often not quite possible to stick to such a diet.

That is where glyconutritionals or glyconutrient supplements come in. Glyconutrients are a class of sugars that are found in fruits and vegetables and are necessary to keep the body ticking along perfectly. The are needed to some the fundamental biochemical process of cell-to-cell communication in the body, and tone up the immune system.

Eight of these essential sugars have already been discovered and six of these are not available in our daily diet. Taking glyconutritional supplements made from fruits and vegetables helps in two ways: they help you maintain a low-glycemic diet and also keep your body strong while on a fat loss regime.

Lisa Hyde-Barrett, a registered nurse and wellness advocate, understands the relationship between good nutrition and good health. She’s become passionate about the new research behind sugars, specifically glyconutritional products. Want to learn more about fat loss? Go to http://www.deadly-health-myths.com/healthy_weight_loss.html

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Cellulite: The Biggest Female Epidemic

Cellulite is probably one of the most embarrassing of all physical faults that women have.

Cellulite isn’t just a problem with the obese or overweight either. Normal sized and even skinny women suffer from cellulite as well!

It has been surveyed that 90% of ALL women have cellulite somewhere on their bodies. That leaves only a small 10% who are actually free from this problem.

Now before you start hating those women’s guts for being so lucky, you should ask yourself what you can do to get rid of your cellulite so that you will be a part of that 10%.

Eventually as enough women begin to solve this cellulite problem and rid themselves of cellulite, the 10% who are free from cellulite will grow to 15% and the 90% who suffer from cellulite will decrease to 85%, and on and on.

You little knew that ridding yourself of cellulite and helping your friends and family to do the same could have such a momentous effect, did you?

Everyone thinks dimples are adorable, but thats only when they’re on your face. They don’t look quite so cute when they’re on your thighs, hips or any of the many other places of which we women are cellulite prone.

“What help is there for my cellulite?” You might ask.

Thats a good question since there are so many different claims about products and treatments that will supposedly “Diminish Cellulite In 10 Days!” or whatever claim they put out.

What woman wouldn’t want to try these just to see if they would work for her?

But sadly

in most cases you’ll be throwing your time and money away on these false or misleading claims that will not help cellulite but will only drain your bank account.

There are a lot of real things you can do to help rid yourself of cellulite. Proactive things that don’t involve liposuction, or having your thighs vacuumed over.

Here are 4 of the main ways to combat cellulite:

1. Exercises which target certain areas with cellulite help a great deal.

2. Eating a properly balanced diet is tremendously successful in clearing the toxins and fatty tissue from your body that result in cellulite.

3. Even massages and saunas have been proven to help since they aid in the elimination process, which clears fatty build up, and in turn clears cellulite.

4. Drinking more water also helps with elimination and cleansing your system from cellulite. So be sure to get your 6-8 glasses each and every day.

It’s also an interesting fact to know that men don’t get cellulite. Even when they get obese or fat.

Their fat deposits are structured differently than ours so the skin doesn’t dimple when they get bigger, causing cellulite, as it does with women.

This of course is a relief to women everywhere because no woman wants a man who has the same physical defect she herself suffers from and hates so passionately.

So there you have it. Try the above listed methods to naturally help diminish your cellulite and become one of those lucky 10%.

For more of Beth’s expert advice visit her Article Website.

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50 Motivational Tips for Exercise and Weight Loss

No matter who we are, we all have days when we just do not feel like exercising. The weather might be grey, you’ve had a busy day, or you might just be bored with your program. Whatever the reason, you just don’t feel like it!

It’s on these days that we need that extra motivation.

I’ve been exercising regularly for most of my life so I’ve had plenty of those days. To get me through, I’ve compiled a list of tactics to help motivate me.

Read something inspiring!

It could be a biography, quote, poem, or song. Use other people’s experiences to give you that lift.

Start a walking group!

It’s more social and you all get to feed off the motivation of each other.

Think of exercise as a menu rather than a diet!

Make a list of activities and choose 1 each day.

Use a training journal!

By keeping track of your activities you can see the improvements in your fitness week to week.

Start an interest or hobby that requires physical fitness!

It could be bushwalking, rock-climbing, tennis, golf, or scuba-diving. If you require physical fitness to enjoy the activity you will be more inclined to train for it.

Increase your incidental activity!

This is the amount of activity you do in your normal course of your day, the activity not generally classed as exercise. You could: walk to work, take the stairs instead of the elevator, get up to change the channels instead of using the remote, or play with the kids for 15 minutes per day.

Try cross-training!

If your exercise program is always the same then break it up with one

session per week of swimming, bike riding, jogging, sprints, or circuits. You could even play a different sport and use it as a training session.

Use a personal trainer!

Personal trainers can provide motivation as well as training variety.

Use an exercise video!

If exercising in public places is not for you, then try training at home. There are many forms of training available on video including: boxing, aerobics, pilates, and yoga.

Just start!

You will always be able to find excuses not to train so don’t think about it, just walk out the door.

Listen to music!

Put on the stereo or use a walk-man. Music certainly helps the time go faster.

Watch TV!

Most fitness centers currently have a cardio theatre where you watch your favorite shows whilst you work out.

Read about the benefits of exercise!

We all know that exercise is good for us but do you know why it is? Reading a reputable publication on exercise can inform you of the great ways exercise can improve your life. It’s more than just being able to walk up those stairs!

Don’t complicate things, make it simple!

You don’t have to find a fitness centre or join a Tai Chi group. Just find a nice park and go for a walk or run.

Create a list of reasons you want to be healthy and read it regularly

It may be to improve health, play with the kids, or trek through India. Whatever the reasons write them down.

This is just 15 of the 50 motivational tips I have collected. To see the rest go to: 50 Motivational Tips for Weight Loss

Fitness Tips – diet plan, exercises, weight loss and gain muscles latest information.

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Lose Weight and Feel Full on Fewer Calories

There’s a common notion that people tend to eat the same number of calories from day to day. But that’s not necessarily so, says Barbara Rolls, PhD. Many people eat the same weight of food from day to day. Therein lies the strategy behind her new weight loss book, “Volumetrics.” If people consume the same volume of food they always do but with fewer calories than usual, they’ll lose weight, without feeling hungry.

Dr. Rolls has the credentials to weigh in. Unlike so many fad diet “experts” whose primary objective is to sell books, she is a nutrition and obesity researcher with years of scientific study to her credit.

The research, which was conducted at Penn State University, served women similar meals and snacks over several different days but varied how many calories the meals contained per pound.

On some days the women ate a pasta salad that had more vegetables than pasta. On other days, the salad contained more pasta than vegetables, which upped the amount of calories per bite. The women were allowed to eat all the food they wanted.

The women ended up satisfying their hunger by eating the same daily food weight-about 3 pounds. As a result, on some days they were satisfied with 30% fewer calories. The researchers explain that as the stomach fills and the food is broken down into tiny particles satiety occurs whether a pound of food contains five hundred calories or

fifteen hundred.

The book rates more than 600 foods for their calories per gram of weight. Not surprisingly, vegetables and fruits rated very well on the calorie per pound scale. The book points out that it’s sometimes easier to lower the energy density of a dish like lasagna by adding, say, spinach or eggplant rather than taking out fat by removing cheese.

But the best point, perhaps, is that “not every food choice you make should be determined by energy density” because some foods, “like chocolate, are too delicious to give up.” Now that’s our kind of weight loss book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The cardiologist looked up from the treadmill report and grimly stated, “You are a walking time bomb. You need to go to the hospital immediately.” Two days later a heart surgeon sawed open Gene Millen’s chest and stitched in bypasses to six clogged arteries.

“A six way heart bypass isn’t a record” said Gene, “but it’s not bad for a skinny 59 year old with normal cholesterol and blood pressure. The villains and heroes in the heart attack melodrama may surprise you as they have me.”

Gene Millen reviews new research on heart attack risks that are more dangerous than high cholesterol… and how natural supplements and heart vitamins can send them packing! Check out The Heart Health website at http://www.heart-health-for-life.com

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