Thursday, May 31, 2012

Add Phentermine to Your Life and Forget Those Extra Weights

Overweight nowadays is a curse. Everybody from children to teenage and from adults to aged is not spared. In fact obesity is turning to be an epidemic engulfing the whole world in a very drastic manner. Due to obesity or over weight majority of us are facing various health problems and at times situation becomes grim. Heart troubles, diabetes, exhaustion are some common but serious factors that arise due to overweight. It certainly hampers our daily work as well as our health.

On gaining weight people do practice dieting with exercise but it has been found that majority of the masses are not getting the right result according to their will. But clinical trails is proving that if proper medicine goes hand in hand with your dieting and exercise programs, results can be very fruitful. So, what’s the harm in adding just a medicine in your daily routine?

On this pretext, most of the dieticians across the world prescribed Phentermine as one of the most effective diet pill for treating over weight in a very significant way. This diet pill first received its approval from FDA way back in 1959 as an appetite suppressant for short- term treatment of obesity.

It works by affecting our hypothalamus gland and stimulating certain neurotransmitters present in our nerve cells leading to decrease in our food appetite. It also controls our metabolic activities that run inside our body continuously. Though side effects like dry mouth, headache, dizziness, constipation may affect you initially but fades away as the body gets used to it.

Generally Phentermine diet pill is taken on an empty stomach or before breakfast. But if you some how skip a dose and its time for the next one, don’t overdose it, just go for the next single dose. Normally a dose a day is prescribed but it’s your doctor who can understand your problem and prescribed it, siting your problem. So consult a doctor before its usage.

Researches have proved that Phentermine diet pill is effective only when there is a proper diet along with a bit of exercise scheduled in our daily routine.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Add Phentermine to Your Busy Schedule

Crave for food and following an unhealthy diet are two reason for gaining weight and accumulation of fat in our body. But the question is that how many of us can skip these two reason. Probably none! In this busy life, it is very difficult to follow a balanced diet that can really help us to maintain a healthy and fit life. We do need some alternative to check our health and fitness as well.

Dieticians across globe nowadays recommend a diet pill call Phentermine to people who are fighting to overcome obesity in quick time. Phentermine diet pills are playing a very vital role to prove its magic. It’s an old drug. It got is approval from FDA way back in 1959 as appetite suppressant and from then onwards it has been serving the masses with a significant track record. So you can now really depend on Phentermine diet pills.

Consuming Phentermine diet pills affects our hypothalamus gland in our brain. This in return stimulates our neurotransmitters in our nerve cells and decreases our appetite towards food.

Phentermine is usually a short term drug for patients fighting obesity. If prolonged usage is necessary, it is always wise to consult a doctor or a dietician. For maximum and productive result use Phentermine along with your diet and exercise program. Remember Phentermine is not a substitute for your food. It is a drug and acts as any drug.

As it is a drug and affects our brain, it is natural to have side affects. Some common changes are like discharge of oil in gas, insomnia, constipation and stuffy or runny nose. But the body gets used to it after a few days of treatment. Generally a dose before breakfast is enough to give you desired result. But depending on your obesity problem the dose may differ. So seeking a doctor’s prescription is necessary.

Phentermine is a generic name. It is available in the market with different brand names like ADIPEX-P, IONAMIN etc. One can now even get Phentermine online. So what ever your schedule and how much busy you are you can add Phentermine diet pills without any problem. Just ask for online Phentermine diet pills.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Add Intensity To Your Muscle Building Workout

One of the biggest difficulties facing bodybuilders is how can they be sure that all muscle fibers have been recruited and exhausted during a given exercise and it is only by achieving this that muscle gains can be maximised.

The simple answer is, you have work beyond failure and experience a higher level of training intensity than before. This also ensures that workouts remain challenging and continue to engender progress over time thus reducing the likelihood of regression.

But how do you go about intensifying your training? Fortunately there is a tried and tested path to follow as outlined below:

1. Increase resistance - increasing the weight lifted in meaningful increments ensures the muscle is pushed beyond its previous point of failure thus maintaining the muscle building process. Aim to increase the weight when you reach six to eight reps and failure does not occur.

2. Change the exercise - to achieve maximal gains all muscle fibers in a body part must be trained. Changing the angle (e.g to incline bench press) or introducing a new exercise will stimulate growth.

3. Reduce rest intervals - giving the muscles less time to recover before exposing them to further work has the effect of increasing intensity.

4. Pre-exhaustion - when an exercise involves two or more muscles the weakest will prevent you from working the primary muscle to failure. The answer is to first isolate and tire the primary muscle before immediately moving to another exercise that works the set of muscles to failure.

5. Introduce supersets - this involves performing two exercises for the same muscle group without a rest interval. This means you have to utilize different muscle fibers which stimulate greater growth.

6. Use partial reps - at the point of failure you will not be able to complete the full range of movement for a given exercise. Completing a partial rep that uses only a segment of the lift will still work your muscles beyond the point of failure. This technique is especially useful to advanced bodybuilders as it allows them to increase intensity without adding extra routines that could cause overtraining.

7. Use isometric contractions - this involves holding the weight still at the point of failure to stimulate a static contraction in the muscle.

8. Employ forced reps - this involves completing one or more final reps after the point of failure has been reached. You will need the assistance of an experienced helper to attempt this.

Once you have added these techniques to your training regimen you'll know you've done your best to maximize muscle growth.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Add Flavor to Meals Without Adding Carbs

With all of the low-carbohydrate and no-carbohydrate frenzies lately, you should be aware that adding a dry seasoning blend of quality herbs and spices to your recipes will boost flavor without adding carbohydrates or calories.

I believe in making food exciting - an emotional experience - with bold, but not overpowering, flavors to enhance what you are cooking so the first bite tastes as good as the last.

A dish can come alive with a dusting or sprinkling of one of my Magic Seasonings to replace salt and pepper. Freshness and quality are key - I don't have a freezer or microwave in my restaurant, K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen.

In the early years, patrons of K-Paul's would ask me what type of seasoning I used on my dishes. In response, I would usually tell them I used a mixture of many spices, and I would give them a small bag as a sample. Slowly, people began getting embarrassed to ask for more samples, and they offered to pay for them. So, I started bottling my spice mixtures and selling them at regional stores. Ultimately, K-Paul's was the birthplace of Magic Seasoning Blends. My seasoning blends are all natural with no MSG and no preservatives.

Today, my Magic Seasonings are distributed to supermarkets

nationwide. Through these seasonings, I am happy to spread the joy of great food to people everywhere.

In my native Louisiana, people start talking about what they are having for lunch and dinner at breakfast. Food is simply part of our culture. Food excites us.

In Louisiana, meals aren't just about eating; they are about eating well. And meals are seen as an opportunity to spend time with family and friends. I want you and your family to enjoy the bonding experience of sharing wonderful meals together.

You don't have to sacrifice flavor when you reduce the fat and carbohydrates in your family meals. Simply sprinkle your favorite Magic Seasoning Blend on fish, vegetables or meat before you begin the cooking process. The blends work well with all types of cuisine, from Italian to Mexican to French to Chinese.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

ADD As An Adult - What's It Like?

Attention Deficit Disorder is often difficult to diagnose in adulthood as it sometimes masked by relationship problems, mood disorders, substance abuse, employment issues, or other psychological disorders. It was previously believed that children and adolescents would grow out of ADD, but it has just been acknowledged in the last few decades that it persists into adulthood. Actually, 67% of children with ADD will continue to exhibit signs well into adulthood. ADD is very difficult to diagnose in adults and sometimes only occurs after a child of the adult is diagnosed and the genetic link is made.

How is Attention Deficit Disorder exhibited in adults? Actually, in much the same ways as in children. Adults with ADD often have difficulty in completing assignments, fail to pay close attention to details, fidget, are inattentive, are unorganized, and talk excessively. Unfortunately, adult ADD is often commingled with lack of self-control, poor memory, anxiety, depression, mood swings, employment issues, chronic lateness, and difficulties regulating motivation, emotions and arousal. Like their child counterparts, these behaviors cause an inability to function in every day activities, which can especially cause a problem in employment situations.

Adults that have grown up being undiagnosed as having ADD often suffer from low self-esteem and feel like they are stupid, lazy, or even crazy. Diagnosing them as adults may lay to rest lifelong perception issues they may have had with themselves and may allow them to improve on self-esteem, as well as work skills and performance. It is believed that these reasons could actually be the basis for the depression and other psychological issues they have as adults.

Treatment for adults often includes medication, education, behavior skill building to better cope with their disorder, and counselling. Stimulant medication, as with children, may be the first stage in treatment. However, this is not a cure and should be coupled with behavior modification to reach full potential. Counseling may very well be an important aspect of treatment, as ongoing psychologically issues have been present. Likewise, just being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder may cause reason to seek counseling in order to come to terms with the diagnosis.

The important thing for an adult to remember when they have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder is that there is help available and treatment is easily attainable. They should find comfort in understanding the root of their behavior and actions and knowing help is available.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

ADD And College Students - How Does It Affect Them?

Unfortunately, Attention Deficit Disorder does not necessarily fade with age. Many people that suffer as a child will continue to suffer as a teen, as well as into adulthood. However, this disorder may affect people differently at different stages in their life.

College can be a difficult time for some students. For many, this represents a time of breaking free and starting their new uninhibited lives. This may be an exciting and emotional time. How does a college student with ADD face such a time?

For a person with Attention Deficit Disorder, this may prove to be a harsh time of transformation. Typically coming from families that were especially doting and accommodating to their situation, they are thrown in to a new environment to fend for themselves. One of the basic behavior modification techniques in training an ADD child is through structure, routine, and habit. At once, all of this is taken and it becomes the student’s responsibility to recreate this structured life they once had. Of course, a person with ADD is typically disorganized and unstructured. So, they may have a difficult time having the discipline to enact such stringent requirements for themselves.

Another aspect to consider is the increased difficulty in the academic load in college as compared to high school and the additional responsibility put on the students. Not only will the student be responsible for their own organization and structure, they will do so under more stress and academic pressure. This increasingly more difficult schoolwork is not made easier by the student’s general inattentive nature, distractibility, and impulsiveness. The very core of ADD makes college more difficult. With any luck, the student has spent enough time over the last few years regulating their own behavior that they will easily be able to in this new environment.

For the most part, the same steps should be taken in college to deal with ADD as was necessary in high school and other grades. To be effective, a student should carry some type of organizational calendaring system or digital organizer. In college, they do not hold the students’ hands like they do in high school – once an assignment is made, it is expected to be turned in on time, without reminders. Therefore, it becomes imperative to keep up with deadlines and dates. Students should also create structure and organization in their dorm or apartment and utilize the same skills they have been developing for years.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

ADD And Coexisting Conditions - Why Is It So Complicated?

ADD is often accompanied by a coexisting condition. On the other hand, often ADD and these other conditions have similar symptoms and, therefore, are easily misdiagnosed. Of course, this creates a plethora of problems as these disorders, when separate, must be treated differently. A misdiagnosis will lead to ineffective treatment. As coexisting conditions, these are especially of concern, because they increase the severity of many of the symptoms of ADD, as well as the negative impact on those that suffer them.

One such condition is Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder. Children with this disorder tend to be very aggressive and defiant. They usually lose their tempers very easily and challenge authority figures. This is the most easily diagnosable behaviors, as teachers and parents become aware of this conduct quickly and seek treatment almost immediately. This particular disorder is common in children that are the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADD and occurs in 35% of children with ADD. This coexisting condition makes it much more likely that these sufferers will get in legal trouble as they age due to their authoritative defiance.

Many children that have ADD also suffer from mood disorders and/or depression. The complication associated with this coexisting condition is the increased likelihood of suicide common during teen years. 18% of ADD children also suffer from some type of mood disorder, and is it more likely to occur within the inattentive type of ADD. This is often not as easily diagnosed as compared to other conditions. Children with mood disorders as a coexisting condition must be treated with different medication than typical ADD treatment; therefore, such therapy may be more difficult.

Also a concern is anxiety disorders among ADD sufferers, which constitutes roughly 25% of those with ADD. Traits common of Anxiety Disorders are fear, panic, and worry, which may necessitate medication and/or counseling. As with mood disorders, combined treatment make therapy more complex and arduous.

Learning Disabilities are also conditions common with children that have ADD. While ADD, in itself, is not a learning disability, it can make it extremely difficult for children to perform well in school. If coupled with a learning disability, it makes it considerably more challenging for children to grasp academic concepts and utilize such knowledge.

For the most part, coexisting conditions make treatment more difficult and the side effects of both disorders more severe. The typical signs and symptoms of ADD are difficult enough to deal with, but with more intense severity, it often makes side effects deadly or incredibly negatively life altering.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

ADD - What Is It?

ADHD, or what's more commonly referred to as simply ADD, is one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed diseases in the world. The truth is, most people don't understand ADD and wouldn't recognize a person with it if they saw one. It is the hope of this article and the series to follow, to educate you about ADD, what it is, how it's diagnosed, how it's treated and several other topics that hopefully will aid in your awareness and understanding of this disease.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD or ADD, is a condition where the person with it is unable to maintain attention for an extended period of time. Other symptoms are impulsive behavior and motor restlessness. It is said that about 4.4% of all adults have ADD.

ADD is what is classified as a neurobiological disorder caused by problems in the dopamine neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Most cases of ADD are inherited. If a parent or close blood relative has ADD then there is a 30% chance that a child will have ADD. In studies of twins it is shown that if one twin has ADD there is a 50% chance that the other twin will also have ADD. ADD is not caused by poor nutrition as it was once believed. It is also not caused by bad parenting, drugs or allergies. Other medical conditions may cause symptoms similar to ADD such as severe head trauma, thyroid problems, foetal alcohol syndrome and lead intoxication, so it is important to do a thorough analysis in order to determine if the person has ADD and not one of these other problems.

What happens with ADD is that when a person does not get adequate neuro-chemicals, or in other words, the brain is not being properly stimulated, it tries to find ways to increase their release. Things such as movement, physical activity, focusing on things that are stimulating or doing anything that causes stimulation are various ways that people with ADD stimulate their brains. In a sense this is more a reflex to their not getting the proper neuro-chemicals and not so much a conscious act, which is the reason that people with ADD act in this way and really can't control their actions.

The problems this action causes is that people with ADD, when confronted with a situation that doesn't stimulate them, such as school work, then focus their attention on something that does stimulate them. Obviously when this happens the school work is not attended to and this results in poor performance in the classroom. An associate of mine related a story of this to me, about a child who would get up in the middle of the class, stand on his desk and start telling jokes. At first it was thought that he was just trying to be funny and disrupt the class. As it turned out he actually had ADD and couldn't help himself. This occurred during a time when people really didn't understand this disease.

Other problems associated with people who have ADD is that they have difficulty with personal relationships and staying employed. Also people with ADD may do things to stimulate themselves that are actually reckless and dangerous and thus may further complicate their lives with legal problems.

In the next in this series we'll discuss how to determine if someone has ADD and if diagnosed what steps can be taken to treat it.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

ADD - Treatment Through Nutrition

In previous articles we covered what ADD is and how to diagnose it. In this third instalment we're going to begin a series on how to treat ADD.

ADD can actually be battled from many directions. There are drugs, behavior modification, nutrition, exercise, and a number of other things that can be done to combat ADD in both children and adults.

In this article we are going to choose the natural route first and discuss proper nutrition which can have a huge effect on the behavior of someone suffering from ADD.

One of the main contributing factors to children who suffer from ADD is when their blood sugar level, or glucose level becomes too low. This causes them to become sleepy in class and then ultimately restless because they are bored. Glucose is extremely important in determining a child's attention span. This may sound clichéd but the most important meal of the day is breakfast and glucose should be a part of every child's breakfast. This will ensure that the child's blood sugar level is maintained throughout the day. Kids who skip breakfast tend to have a shorter attention span and a harder time remembering things.

Next is vitamin B. Vitamin B is needed because it helps to release the energy in glucose. Without the proper amount of vitamin B in the diet a child can become aggressive and depressed. There are 12 essential parts to vitamin B so it may be difficult for a child to get all the vitamin B he or she needs just from eating, even though cereal is a good source of vitamin B. To supplement the rest a good multi vitamin capsule will do the trick.

Also very important is iron. Iron aids in transporting oxygen to the blood system and the individual cells, most importantly, brain cells. Not enough iron in the diet results in anaemia, which is very common in children who don't have a balanced diet. Anaemic children, as well as adults, are very tired and don't have the energy to do the things that want to or need to do. Good sources of iron are red meat, tuna, chicken and vegetables like broccoli.

Folic acid is also essential as this helps in the formation of red and white blood cells. Not enough folic acid will also make a child feel tired, irritable and forgetful. Fruits and vegetables are good sources of folic acid.

Zinc is needed to maintain communication between the brain cells and the nerve cells. Zinc deficiencies can cause your child to have difficulty in solving academic problems, which can lead to frustration for the child, therefore bringing on ADD symptoms. Zinc can be found in cereals and peanuts.

Vitamin A is important for the nervous system. Vitamin A also helps to strengthen vision. Many times a child will have problems in school because of impaired eye sight. Vitamin A can help to improve the eye sight which in turn will lessen the child's frustration. Vitamin A can be found in carrots and many orange or yellow fruits like bananas.

Proper nutrition is an essential part of a child's health whether he or she has ADD or not. But in children with ADD, proper nutrition is critical.

In the next article we'll cover other treatments for those suffering from ADD.

Monday, May 21, 2012

ADD - How Is It Diagnosed?

In this next in a series of articles about ADD we're going to discuss how to diagnose if someone indeed does have Attention Deficit Disorder.

First of all, in order to accurately diagnose ADD you need to see your family doctor. This is not something that you can do on your own no matter how well you think you know the symptoms or even if you have it yourself. As was discussed in the previous article, there are other problems that can have the same symptoms as ADD.

For starters, there is no blood test that can determine if someone has ADD. The truth is, there are no definitive tests for most mental illnesses. So the logical question becomes, how does a medical professional diagnose ADD?

Again, you should begin with your family physician. However, if you don't feel comfortable with him for some reason then you can opt to see a specialist in this area. Ask your doctor for a referral to a specialist.

The first thing that should be done is to have a complete physical examination to rule out any medical causes. There are many medical conditions that are similar to ADD. These include the following: autism, hearing impairment and hypothyroidism.

Having a complete physical exam can rule out these other disorders.

The next thing you should do is a complete family history. The main reason for this is that ADD is inherited so by tracing your family history to see if anyone in your family has had ADD it will show how much of a likelihood that your child has ADD as well. Also any special circumstances in the family history like divorce should be discussed as events of this nature can cause significant changes in the child's behavior that, though appear similar to ADD symptoms, are actually as a result of the change in the family situation.

If the child goes to day care or attends school, questionnaires should be given to the teachers or care givers for them to complete. According to the DSM-IV criteria, symptoms have to be present in at least two settings. The reason for this is that a child may simply just not enjoy one particular setting because of the teacher or maybe even just the surroundings, especially if they are not, in the child's eyes, pleasant. This questionnaire will rule out special circumstances being the cause of the symptoms. For example, if the child is having problems at school but not at home, the cause may be simply a matter of being unable to see or hear well enough in the classroom to be able to do the work. Many times, the cause of ADD-like symptoms is that the child simply needs eye glasses. In fact, that was exactly the case of an associate of mine long before they even knew about ADD. He had trouble concentrating in class only because he couldn't see the board and needed glasses. Therefore this questionnaire is one of the most important parts of this process.

Psychological testing should be done also, such as IQ tests. This will show a correlation between the child's test scores and his ability.

Once the doctor has gathered all this information he will compare the results to the DSM-IV criteria for determining if a child indeed has ADD.

In the next of this series we'll discuss how to treat ADD once it is diagnosed.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

ADD - Causes and Diet

Parenting, good or bad does not cause Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). A calm stable home may help ease some children, while a home with problems may lead to more frustration for a child with ADD/ADHD, but these are not the causes of ADD/ADHD.

Studies show that ADD and ADHD are linked to genetics. If a parent had ADD or ADHD the child has a seventy percent chance of also having it.

Studies show that children who exhibit ADD and ADHD qualities do not have the proper nutrients for brain functioning. Because the body is not receiving important nutrients, the brain can not perform properly. Many children with ADD or ADHD have lower levels of amino acids and zinc. Low levels of essential fatty acids (EFAs) also play a very important role in ADD/ADHD.

Another possible factor that may contribute to ADD and ADHD is food allergies. Take out highly allergenic foods and then watch your child's behaviour then add the foods back in to the diet. Do this slowly - one food at a time every two weeks. You may notice a behavior change when adding a certain food back into the diet. This is how you can determine if a certain food or foods is causing ADD/ADHD symptoms. Common allergy foods that lead to ADD/ADHD symptoms are chocolate, wheat, corn, eggs, sugar and milk.

It is important to find the causes of ADD/ADHD. Many professionals prefer other avenues than going straight to drugs for help. If you can identify the main issue causing the ADD/ADHD then you can hopefully avoid the medications. Drugs will not cure ADD/ADHD. They may just help with the symptoms.

Diet

We stated above that Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are very important to brain functioning. There are low levels of EFAs in children with ADD/ADHD. The brain cells need fat (Omega 3s-n which are EFAs) to function properly. The only way to get this Omega 3 fat is through your diet or vitamins. Good sources of Omega 3 fatty acids are tuna, shrimp and salmon. Olive oil and walnut oil also provide the Omega 3 fats.

Amino acids are a source of food for the brain. They are a source of protein for the body and are essential for brain functioning. You may want to include meat, soy, eggs, fish and dairy into your child's diet. If you are vegetarian, try brown rice and beans, nuts and seeds.

Along with the amino acids and EFAs, 'B' vitamins, zinc and phosphatidyl serine can be used to help with the symptoms of ADD/ADHD.

If your child exhibits ADD/ADHD symptoms, remember to eliminate high allergy foods adding them back in slowly to find the possible culprit. Also add in EFAs, amino acids, 'B' vitamins, zinc and phosphatidyl serine. These steps may be the winning combination to help you avoid medication.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

You’ve lost the Weight, but how clean are you on the inside where it Counts?

In today's age and world, being slim, shapely, possessing ripped abdominal muscles and toned arms seems to be the aim of a vast majority of the people you see spending tons of hours working out at gyms. These same people spend loads of money on the new weight-loss pill or supplement guaranteed to 'make you eat less and increase your metabolism...' and in spite of whatever side effects the product may contain, the average Joe, still thinks this quick fix will be worth the risk. In truth, some of these people have luck with these efforts, and yes they possess the ever so ripped and toned muscles we as a society admire so much. However, the fact that needs to be accepted and pondered upon thoroughly is: 'Whatever is not built on a proper foundation will eventually crumble!' Most fitness experts and bodybuilders atrophy and wear down prematurely as sooner or later, these muscles 'blown up' with unnatural substances have a tendency to pretty much deflate. Moreover, 'ripped' muscles and supposed 'feats' of strength DO NOT depict proper and optimal health. There is a saying that is known to every culture which goes:” you are what you eat...” What you eat plays arguably the most important role on your overall health and fitness, thus PROPER DIET should be the most important factor of any and every health seeker. What then should one eat? In a nut-shell: yes as boring as it may sound- Fruits and Vegetables. These substances possess the abilities to not only provide the necessary fuel needed for day to day activities, but play important and vital roles in 1. Providing the alkaline reserves in the body for balancing chemical metabolism within. 2. Cleansing the digestive and excretory tract as they act as the much needed intestinal broom to sweep these 'pipes' (as you may call them) clean to function properly in their duties of nourishing and cleansing the body. 3. Keeping the body fit, trim and in shape WITHOUT the unwanted side effects of toxic and artificial substances such as pills and supplements. Sure, it is a great feeling to be able to see the awesome cuts in your 'abs' and arms when you look in the mirror, but feeling good on the inside as well and knowing that you are thoroughly cleansed internally should be of just as much importance as 'getting ripped'. As I stated in one of my previous articles, a quick and sure-fire method of attaining internal cleanliness and the added bonus of healthy weight-loss will be to undergo a fast. There are several methods of this tried and true method of healing and although it is covered to a degree in the free resources section of my website, you can always do some research on this radical; yet extremely effective method of internal purification and weight loss. In conclusion, the cleaner you are on the inside and the freer you are of toxicity the quicker you can and will attain your goal of being in shape.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Weight Loss Motivation Guidelines

Introduction
If there is one thing that all dietitians and obesity experts agree on, it is that personal motivation is the foundation of all weight loss success. No matter how healthy the diet-plan, or what combination of calories and nutrition it contains, it won't help anyone lose weight unless they follow it for long enough. Their willingness to do so depends entirely on how motivated they are to change their eating and exercise habits in order to achieve their weight loss goals.
Motivation Advice Hard To Find
The Internet offers a bewildering array of diets and weight loss eating plans, but advice on motivation when dieting is in extremely short supply. Given the strong link between diet-compliance and motivation, this lack of motivational help is surprising to say the least. It may stem from the fact that many diets are created by people who lack hands-on experience of helping people to manage their weight. Perhaps they see weight loss as a biological rather than a human process. If so, I think it's a mistake.
Motivating Yourself To Lose Weight
I tell all my clients that starting a weight loss diet is like starting a journey. And like any journey it requires preparation. We need to look ahead and plan how to overcome problems that occur along the way. By doing this we take control of the process and greatly increase our chances of success.
Unfortunately, many dieters don't plan ahead. Instead, they take things as they come, and rely upon two things: their initial enthusiasm, and (when this wears off) their willpower. But enthusiasm and willpower aren't enough to overcome the temptations and difficulties which we face when we try to change our eating habits and lifestyle.
Stop for a moment and imagine taking your family on a camping trip. Do you rely on your enthusiasm and willpower for food and shelter? Of course not. In all probability you spend hours beforehand carefully packing and preparing for every eventuality, and the whole trip is carefully planned out in advance.
Yet when you start a diet-journey, many of you set off without any kind of planning or preparation. It's as if you are convinced that everything will go smoothly. But let's face it, what diet ever runs smoothly? Answer: none! So what happens when we encounter a big problem? Answer: we wobble, and often quit.
We Need To Plan New Thinking Habits
Planning a diet-journey doesn't involve packing equipment, it involves packing "new thoughts". We need to rehearse and adopt new ways of thinking in order to overcome problems during our journey. This isn't psycho-babble - this is plain common sense. After all, successful dieting is largely a matter of motivation and attitude. It's about what goes on between our ears!
The Most Common Dieting Problem
The most common problem we face when dieting is boredom. This typically occurs when our initial enthusiasm for losing weight wears off, and we become tired of watching what we eat. We become dispirited, and slightly depressed at the idea of having to maintain our "sensible eating habits" while everyone else seems to be having a good time.
Losing Direction Leads To Boredom
We get bored when we lose our sense of direction. So to overcome it, we need to reestablish exactly where we are going. Remember, dieting is not an aimless process, it's a journey from A to B. Here's how we think when we lose direction:
"I'm really bored with dieting, it's such a pain. I don't have any freedom any more. I can't eat this, I can't eat that... I'm fed up. I can't share food with the girls at work, I can't eat at my favorite restaurants, I have to keep saying No to food when I visit friends, I have to watch my family eating in front of me, I don't have time to exercise properly, I'm never going to lose weight and I'm feeling really miserable. Heck! Life is too short for this..."
This kind of thinking is totally demotivating. It focuses exclusively on the negative aspects of dieting and signals complete aimlessness. No weight loss goal is achievable when we think like this.
A Better Way of Thinking
Now let me show you some better alternatives. Please compare them with the above example.
Example 1
"Hmm, my diet isn't going so good. But I'm not going to make excuses. I've wasted enough time making excuses to myself. From now on, no matter what happens, I'm going to be honest with myself. So what do I want? I want to lose weight and get myself into shape. Why? Because I really want that beach holiday (or other very selfish goal) which I promised myself. I want it so bad I can touch it! Okay, so I need to learn how to eat properly - big deal! I can easily do this if I put my mind to it. Heck! Eating good food isn't difficult. What's difficult is seeing myself being overweight for the rest of my life. I want something better. Something a lot better than a fistful of nachos or a dollop of fatty dessert."
Example 2
"Hmm, my diet isn't going so good. So let me remind myself why I'm dieting. All my life I've been eating to please other people. My mom said "eat this", so I ate it. My school friends said "have some of this", so I had lots. My work colleagues now say "have a slice of this", so I have two! And my kids say "you must try this", so I try it. And every time I make an effort to lose weight, everyone says "forget about your diet, eat some of this" so I do. Well that's enough! No more eating to please other people. Today I'm going to start eating to please me. And what pleases me is the idea of wearing a size (?) dress to my daughter's wedding (or other very selfish goal). I realise I need to eat properly, but this is a ridiculously tiny price to pay for achieving my goal. Heck! Eating good food isn't difficult. What's difficult is carrying my excess weight around all day. I want something better. Something a lot better than a 4-cheese pizza or a box of cookies."
Example 3
"Hmm, my diet isn't going as smoothly as I thought it would. Never mind, I'm sure this is quite normal. I can't expect to change my regular eating habits without a few hiccups along the way. Besides, I'm looking for more than the few minutes of pleasure I get from filling my stomach with junk. I want a lifetime of pleasure - real pleasure from looking good and being taken seriously and who knows, maybe finding a great partner. I know other people see me as a fat person - goodness, at times I do too! - but this is exactly WHY I want to change. I'm tired of being fat. Real tired. And if this means learning how to eat good food, then let's do it! And when it gets tough I'm going to login to Anne Collins forum and get help. All I know is, I want to make it happen!"
Example 4
"Hmm, my diet isn't going as smoothly as I thought it would. This morning I watched my colleagues eat a whole birthday cake - it looked delicious - and I sat there feeling miserable and deprived. Then I went for lunch with a friend and chose a tuna salad while she ate half a pizza followed by two slices of cheesecake. It was torture! But then I started thinking to myself "what's more important - a few slices of cheesecake, or a really lean shape?" And I decided that looking good was what I really wanted. I know that it's not going to happen overnight, but if I can persevere and learn good eating habits along the way, I know I'm gonna make it..."
Example 5
"Hmm, my diet isn't going as smoothly as I thought it would. But at least it's not a race. So who cares if I have a few wobbly moments, as long as I get where I want to go. At 26 I'm in the prime of my life, and I want to make the most of it. I'm tired of my slim friends getting all the best guys. I want to turn a few heads myself. I want the attention and I want to be taken seriously, and if I have to spend 12 months dieting - heck! I'm gonna do it. Last week I saw a friend of mine in hospital who lost a leg in a car crash. The doctors say it's going to take her 12 months to relearn how to walk. Now that is tough. By comparison, my journey is easy. And as long as I keep reminding myself of this, I'll be fine."
Points To Remember
1. A diet is a journey from A to B.
2. Feeling bored is a sign we are losing our direction.
3. When we lose direction we need to regain it, fast!
4. The way to regain direction is to remind yourself why you are dieting.
5. You are dieting because you want something better than a plate of fattening food.

Getting Help To Lose Weight
Changing our eating habits is much easier when we get support from other people. So make sure your online weight management plan includes membership of a forum. Because only people can offer you the sort of encouragement you need to achieve your personal weight loss goals.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Weight Loss Issues-Can You Be Cellulite Free

One thing I really must say at the outset of this article is, that if you were to ask the majority of men to define cellulite they would most probably be completely baffled. Then after you explained it to them in detail and told them that you suffered from it, more likely than not the reaction would be to look at you as if you were slightly mad, shrug their shoulders and say that they had actually never noticed it. So one consolation I suppose, is that most men apparently just do not see it and do not know what all the fuss is about! (They can be wonderful sometimes can't they!) From a womans point of view however, cellulite is at best something which restricts what she can or cannot wear, or at worst in extreme cases something which can be downright unsightly. If we are being brutally honest, dimples on our cheeks can be really cute, but dimples on our thighs and our buttocks most certainly are not. It has been described as the dreaded "orange peel look" especially in relation to female thighs and buttocks. Many women can literally spend absolute fortunes to try and find ways to eliminate it. Having established that it is a big problem (for the majority of women at least), I find myself coming back to the question in my title - Is it possible to be totally free of cellulite! In truth I think sadly that as things stand at themoment probably not, but there are many many steps that can be taken to minimise the unsightly look of cellulite, and my intention in this article is to outline just a few of them. It does really help if we try and understand some of the main causes of cellulite, and what if anything we can effectively do to both reduce the unsightly appearance (in our eyes at least), and even to try and banish it completely. We should remember that the primary cause of cellulite is weight gain, and if a woman does gain excess weight the layers of fat under the skin expand, but sadly not in a smooth uniform way. We have the female hormone estrogen which promotes fat on the thighs and buttocks to thank for this. When fat cells start to build up on the lower half of the female body, they are more likely to multiply and press against the skin. This process creates the bulged and dimpled look of the dreaded cellulite, and with very very few exceptions, it is completely a feminine problem. Another important factor is that as we age our skin also tends to lose its tautness, particularly so if we do not take any forms of regular exercise. So having now determined the main causes of cellulite,let us look in some detail at some of the choices available to us to try and minimize the effects of it. The first choice is that you can learn to live with it! Yes, I do actually mean that! At the end of the day it is not going to detract from you as a woman, and there is no reason whatsoever why you cannot still be very attractive. Do not let it become an obsession under any circumstances! The second and for me personally, the most important choice available is to make a seriously determined and long term effort to lose those unnecessary extra pounds. I strongly recommend a low fat diet as the first and vital step to take if you are to succeed in fighting this battle. Make it a top priority to become much more active! Simple changes such as walking more frequently, taking up a sport that you really could enjoy(perhaps something you did in the past), or alternatively taking the time to join a few exercise classes, are just some examples. Join those exercise classes which concentrate primarily on hips buttocks and thighs. This will greatly help in improving and toning up those areas affected by cellulite. Your third choice is to try out some of the many creams that you can purchase. Use these with a deep massaging technique which will help improve the overall appearance of the cellulite areas. The fourth and most drastic choice is liposuction which removes excess fat. Another such process is Endermologie, a mechanical massage that will smooth out the dimples. These methods can be really expensive, so you will have to be prepared to dig deep for them. Useful Quick Fix Tips To Disguise Cellulite. Fake Tan - Apply the fake tan normally, but just before you are going to show your legs, rub a layer of hair serum (yes the stuff you use to stop frizz), along your shinbone. This makes the thinner area of your shinbone much more prominent, and will therefore help to disguise those parts which are less firm in appearance. Wear The Right Shoes - Heels or wedges will make your legs appear much longer, but beware of ankle straps and flat shoes. They really do make your legs look considerably shorter and fatter. Take a tip from the celebrities. They wear heels with trousers and jeans, and have them made so that the trousers end about an inch below the ankle. The effect of this is to make their legs look really long and slim. Draw The Eyes Upwards - If you are wearing your jeans on a night out for example, by either wearing a bulky necklace, a glittery scarf, or maybe even a Wonderbra and a V Necked top (if you are feeling slightly daring), you will distract attention away from your thighs. Wear dark colors as they make your bottom parts look much slimmer. Try out a Fast Fix Treatment - Treat yourself by going to a beauty salon, and indulge in one of their cellulite instant fix procedures. These can be very expensive but they really do make your thighs look smoother and sleeker. Unfortunately though, these procedures only last for a short length of time. The majority of women would love to have thinner cellulite free thighs, but do please remember that it is your overall appearance which matters most. If you look and feel attractive in yourself that will be the way that others will also see you. Remember that the aim here is for improvement not perfection. Cellulite has been a femimine curse (as women see it), since the beginning of time. As yet no one has come up with either an instant or indeed permanent cure. However until they do, and one day somebody just might, stay focussed on your overall health, take serious and meaningful steps to lose weight, and maintain a good exercise program. That way you can at the very least keep the whole thing in perspective, and in so doing, maintain your self confidence and self esteem at a much higher level than it would otherwise have been.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Weight Loss At Work: Non-Food Rewards

The e-mail comes out at noon. "To celebrate your hard work this week, there is cake and ice cream in the big kitchen at 3 today. Be there!" The universal reward for hard work always seems to be food: cake and ice cream, a catered lunch for in-service training sessions, pizza for the overtime crew, bagels and cream cheese to brighten up a bleak Monday morning. Food seems to be the perennial favorite for any kind of work reward because it is universally accepted. Some of us (we hard core dieters) may pass on the sweet stuff but usually find something allowable. In a world where two thirds of us are overweight or obese, is there nothing else available as a gift that cuts across all individual interests? Recently, we had a whole week at my company devoted to employee appreciation. The primary rewards were, of course, food but other things were added: a company baseball cap, a hiking water container, a lunch bag, and a handwritten note of thanks to every employee from their supervisor. The cap was a bust for those of us with any modicum of fashion sense; the insulated flask and bag were food related, and the handwritten notes were superfluous - good supervisors show their appreciation of hard work constantly while a handwritten note from a harsh supervisor, no matter the "thanks" stated, means diddly squat to a resentful employee. The HAS to be something else, doesn't there? We human beings have few things totally in common and eating is the primary universal. Other common bodily activities such as urination and defecation are not easily translatable into some kind of reward system. We are all involved in physical activity, to some degree, but that is often more a chore than a delight. When it comes to our other senses, we all differ so much that one person's pleasure is another person's pain: music, perfume, pictures, or massages are differential tastes rather than general givens. Money is almost always acceptable but the small amounts that would be individually generated to replace a free dessert or snack would be so minimal that their reward value would be insignificant. So what can those of us on a permanent diet, and alarmed about our coworkers' increased girth, suggest? How about plants? Small individual pots or a larger department shrub would save our waistlines while adding to the health and esthetics of our environment. I calculate, just within my call center, that if a plant had been given to each department, instead of an edible goodie, for celebrations over the past 5 years, that I would now be working in a lush rain forest of exotic plants where the stale re-processed air conditioned air would be purer, more humid, and a thousand times fresher. Morale booster and health benefits in one fell swoop! How about the gift of time? In our overly busy pressured lives, who would not be immensely grateful for a free hour here or there. Rotate it through each department, letting one or two people leave early on a Friday afternoon. That would means something and would carry no cost so upper management should be ecstatic. Instead of a handwritten note, how about getting Supervisors to perform their subordinates work duties for an hour or so, once in a while? Can you imagine the morale boost for an employee to get off the telephone, or the machine, or the computer, and shoot the breeze with friends for an hour while their duties are performed by their supervisors? And if mistakes are made - so much the better. It creates a sense of equality and inter-relationship between workers and supervisors that is generally lacking in a corporate environment. How about free "Get out of jail" cards for every line worker? Each person gets one free card and additional cards can be given by supervisors for outstanding work, ensuring that the better workers have more cards. The cards can then be used as excuses for small transgressions - coming in a little late, leaving early, making minor mistakes. With the use of the card, a worker avoids verbal coaching, warnings, or being put on report. And let employees use their cards for coworkers who may need them - think of the teambuilding that would accomplish! Flexibility of hours, assignments, and days, is another area where workers will universally respond: not to money, or food, but to accommodation of individual needs. Give each employee a wish card and then allow them to use it to get something they need. What does all of this accomplish? It allows for employee rewards without fats and carbohydrates. Now isn't that worthwhile? P. S. I'm recommending this to my company. I'll let you know if they buy it!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Weight Loss: The All Natural way without Gimmicks

If you type up Weight Loss in a keyword tracker tool or in a search engine like Google, you will be alarmed to see how many searches in a day are being done on this subject alone. Take www.submitexpress.com for example, put ‘weight loss’ in their word tracking device; you will see that on a daily basis, more than 5000 searches are being done on how to lose weight. However, this shouldn’t be alarming, I mean the average person does have the desire to be liked, sought after and popular. This might explain why we are so captivated with celebrities and perhaps why we at times blindly follow whatever fad or trend they might propagate in the quest to lose weight and be slimmer, sometimes at the cost of our own health. An observation of Nature will show that no animal free of captivity is upholstered with excess weight and are oft times very fit, agile and sharp. This is because unlike man, all animals adhere to the simple laws of nature to maintain health which include eating the right foods for your type and getting adequate exercise. Well these are the basic laws, others might include getting sufficient rest, getting sunshine, interacting with others. There are so many myths and fads that promise to aid you in losing weight that when they are intelligently dissected will make you wonder what ever made you think to give them a shot, which is part of the reasons why I am writing this to inform you that as the slogan of my site on drugless healing says: “if one way is true, it is the way of nature”. Moreover, Nature bows at no alter, seeks neither praise nor applause, she only asks for a hearing, my friends. For weight loss, your best bet will be to embrace the three limbs of Naturopathy: -Proper Exercise -Proper Diet -Positive Thinking. Now I will explain each one in brief detail: PROPER EXERCISE: Now, there was a time, like almost everyone, that I assumed big and inflated muscles meant fitness and health. Wrong. Maybe it might depict strength-to a degree and that, for only a while, but you ask anybody about one of the greatest martial artists of all time, Bruce Lee, here was a guy who was said to do a thousand (1000) push-ups and other feats of strength and any picture of him shows he was not a blown up mass of muscle waiting to atrophy and deflate as is the case with most fitness experts and body-builders using artificial supplements, I mean look at the agedness depicted across their faces most of the time. This leads one to conclude that for exercise, basic Aerobic-with oxygen-exercises (such as walking, jogging, and dancing) and Anaerobic-without oxygen-exercises (such as push ups, pull-ups, dips, using the ab-wheel and weight lifting for body builders) can be sufficient without the use of synthetic products. For those who want an exercise for the mind as well as the body, Yoga definitely is unmatched. From my experience, if you were to do the Sun Salutations (hailed in Yoga, Martial Arts and African Wrestling as the ‘best exercise for humans’) which have been passed down from centuries with a proper and sensible diet, which I will be explaining soon, you are well on your way to weight loss and strength. Some Indians perform about a 100 plus rounds of this marvelous exercise on a daily basis and have immense fitness, strength, agility and virility. Add some other poses like the inversions (Shoulder-Stand), Forward Bends (Head to Knee Pose), Backward bends, Balancing Poses (arguably the best exercises to tone the arms, abdomen and restore a sense of balance and self confidence in humans who practice them) and you are bound to see the immense results. Speaking of emulating celebrities, well did you know Sting, Madonna, Russell Simmons, Beyonce and Prince all practice some form of Yoga and need I mention how fit and good they look? I could go on and on about Abdominal exercises and Breathing Exercises of the Yoga genre (which in the case of the latter is also EXTREMELY effective for weight loss) but that will be another subject in itself, the bottom line is: in my opinion, exercises that use the body’s weight for resistance such as Yoga, Calisthenics and Pilates are arguably the best for the human body. Have you ever seen a chimpanzee lifting rocks repeatedly? Yet that distant cousin of humans can rip a door off a car and is easily 8 times stronger than an average modern day human. Still, if we share about 98% DNA with this primate (as well as other apes), its evidence to make one wonder how much healthier and fit we would be by adhering and living as close as possible to Nature’s laws of diet and exercise. PROPER DIET -“You are what you eat” (Anonymous) -“Let your foods be your medicine and your medicine your food” (Hippocrates, the father of medicine) -“Every herb bearing seed and every tree bearing fruit with seed in it shall be yours for food” (Gen 1:29) From these radical quotes above, it should be plain to see that most modern day meals and mixtures are totally against Nature’s intent for us as humans for fitness, agility and strength. It will be safe to say that if you want to lose weight, re-read these three quotes and the proper diet will stare you right in the face: Fruits and Vegetables. Admittedly, and you can take this from a guy who was a raw vegan for several months, (Now, I mostly fast and eat mono meals of fruit and raw or cooked vegetables every other day) that might be kind of hard to accomplish or adhere to. Well, if you approach it the wrong way, being radical in nature and as with all things that don’t have a strong foundation, you may be bound to fail. The good news is there are several books on the subject of this kind of a diet and though adequately addressed in the core e-book of my site, you can type up Vegan Diets, Raw Vegan Diets, Vegetarianism in any search engine to be educated-to a degree- on the subject. I have experimented with each of the three kinds of diets and have been on the Standard American diet and am now of the firm belief that the first two and maybe the third if done sensibly and wisely are the best for humans, period! I touched on the subjects of internal cleanliness and non-animal product diets in my article available in my blog and some article directories under the title “Is a Low-Carb, High Protein diet the best for weight loss?” but I will briefly state again that based on the quotes above, and the facts that this diet has been proven countless times to be the best (Ask Bill Pearlman-four times Mr. Universe winner!), without the need for much of an argument, a diet free of animal products is simply the best for humans. For an idea of a daily menu, you can look for my article “How to Cure Acne in 10 days” in some of the major article directories online, last time Google did its spider crawl, it came up in most of them but I also put in my blog for my readers just in case. I’ll leave you with this factor to consider though on the subject of proper diet, based on the anthropological approach of several authors of Naturopathy, and from simple observations, we as primates, just like our distant cousins, the great apes, are frugivores, eaters of mainly fruits and green leaves and it cannot be a co-incidence that these substances make up the mucus-less or alkaline forming foods that even science has proven to be the best for human life and of course, weight loss. POSITIVE THINKING: Some quotes from perhaps the most rugged book ever put together, that being the Bible, bring to mind just how important it is to think positively-and wisely so-in any endeavor one is undertaking. “As a man thinks in his heart; so is he…” and “Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life”. That stated, what you constantly think over and over is eventually what comes to pass. The mind has such powers that are beyond human comprehension at times, but according to the author of the “Power of Positive Thinking”, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, “You are what you are now based on your thoughts five years ago and will be in five years what you constantly think of yourself now.” Although one’s thoughts are very important, without taking the steps to act on them (of course when they are constructive and positive) they do end up being a waste, but your reading this article does depict a desire to want to improve yourself be it through weight loss or any other factor. Like with any journey in life, of course, you will have times when you may want to give up, lose faith or focus and consequently get off the path to success, which may explain why most people fail at diets and fads in the quest of losing weight, well, my friend, you will have to literally tune your thinking to be positive so as to overcome the doubts and fears as you go about accomplishing your goals. It honestly will be easier applying the two other limbs of drugless healing above for weight loss as they do go hand-in-hand. In conclusion, forget the fads and hypes. For a healing program to be successful at anything, especially weight loss, it must cover the three limbs of health: diet, exercise and positive thinking. It is my hope that this article will show you how to choose the best methods of attaining not only weight loss, but fitness and health on the inside and out.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Weight Loss Survey: Why Dieters Fail To Lose Weight

Current levels of overweight and obesity, together with weight-related disease, have made weight control a major health priority throughout America. Yet statistics indicate that average weight reduction on conventional diets adds up to a mere 5-8 pounds per year. So why do we find dieting so difficult? According to a new survey(1), the answer seems to be: because we make 3 crucial mistakes. We don't have a good enough incentive; we allow ourselves to go hungry; and we can't cope with "bad days". The weight loss survey conducted by annecollins.com asked dieters to select the three biggest problems they faced when dieting. The most common problems reported were: "Inadequate incentive to lose weight" (76%); "Hunger" (72%); and "Bad days" (70%). Although these results will come as no surprise to most dieters, they highlight the importance of motivation in the dieting process. We examine how these problems occur, and what steps can be taken to overcome them. Why Do We Need an Incentive? We gain weight because we take in more energy than we use. Either because we eat too many calories, or burn too few, or both. So if we want to reduce weight, we need to improve our eating and exercise habits. And this is not easy, because let's face it - old habits are not easily discarded, especially if they involve cutting out our favorite treats. We need a powerful incentive to help us change. Specifically, we need an answer to the question: "How exactly will I benefit from losing weight?" When faced with this question, many dieters have no answer. Those who do, typically reply: "I'll feel better" or "my health will improve". Others explain they are trying to lose weight to please their doctor, or their partner, or simply because they are "overweight". Unfortunately, none of these reasons are strong enough to help us succeed. So when temptation strikes, we are unable to resist. What Type of Incentive is Best? Our motivation to lose weight must be based on a selfish, specific benefit. A good example might be an upcoming beach holiday, or a family occasion, or the achievement of a specific mobility or fitness goal. It must be as specific as possible (general benefits are useless) and ideally related to a fixed date. In addition, it must be selfish. Losing weight to please others rarely works. The advice I give to my clients is very simple. Do not bother dieting unless you have a good incentive. Because no matter how good the diet, no matter how valuable the exercise plan, unless you have a powerful reason to change your habits you won't succeed. Hunger Kills Diets Most dieters are still convinced that calories are their enemy. So the less they eat, the faster they are likely to lose weight. This is not true. In reality, the less we eat, the more hungry we get and the easier it is to fall into temptation. The human body is trained to eat when hungry and no amount of willpower will neutralize this basic urge. This is why binge eating is such a common response to low calorie diets. How to Avoid Hunger No rocket science here. Avoiding hunger simply means eating regularly throughout the day, and keeping your calorie intake above 1000-1200 per day. This prevents hunger, thus reducing the urge to overeat, and in addition helps to maintain a regular high level of calorie-burning. Eat Too Much Rather Than Too Little We all have days when we feel extra hungry, even when we are dieting. This is no problem - simply eat more! It is always better to eat a little too much than not enough. Might this delay your weight loss? Yes. But so what? Taking a few extra days to achieve your goal is not a problem. The real danger is not eating enough and ending up hungry and depressed. This is a recipe for a binge. Bad Days and The Problem of Perfection No dieter is perfect. The truth is, all dieters experience "bad days" or fall into occasional temptation. Sadly, most dieters insist on "being perfect". They cannot tolerate these lapses. So if (say) they visit a friend and end up eating 2 containers of ice cream and a box of cookies, they go to pieces. "I'm useless!" they cry. "I'm a failure!" Overwhelmed by guilt at not being perfect, they then quit their diet in disgust. It's the Guilt That Does the Damage In this situation, the actual binge is typically fairly harmless. I mean, we need to eat a huge quantity of food (3500+ calories) to gain even one pound of weight. The real damage is caused by the ensuing guilt. And this is what we need to address. Guilt Comes From Trying to Be Perfect All dieters make mistakes and this is perfectly normal. Having an occasional binge is no cause for alarm, far less guilt. Even my most successful clients - those who have lost 100+ pounds - had regular lapses. The difference is, they didn't see themselves as "perfect" individuals. So they felt "entitled" to make occasional mistakes, and so should you. Once you accept this, you will find dieting a whole lot easier. We Need Support to Make These Changes In order to overcome the 3 problems described above, an essential first step is to find proper support. This is just as important as choosing the right diet plan, because no matter how good the diet, it can't motivate you to stay on track - only people can do this. Dieting is ten times easier when you receive encouragement from others. So when choosing an online weight loss program, choose one with an active forum. Because at the end of the day, it's all about people. When we are alone and isolated, the smallest obstacle can seem like a mountain. But when we have people behind us, anything is possible. Notes: 1. Weight Loss Survey (Oct 2005) by annecollins.com. A total of 17,403 subjects replied to the survey. They were asked to choose 3 from a list of 10 diet-problems. The results were as follows: (1) Inadequate Incentive (76%). (2) Hunger (72%). (3) Bad Days (70%). (4) Boredom (69%). (5) Stress (60%). (6) Interference From Others (51%). (7) Too Much Eating Out (32%). (8) Eating on The Run (28%). (9) Ill-health (5%). (10) Lack of Sleep (1%).

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Weight Loss Surgery: What Are The Options?

To understand how surgical procedures aid the grossly overweight person to reduce their body fat, it helps to first understand the digestive process that is responsible for handling the food we take in. Once food is chewed and swallowed, it’s on its way through the digestive tract, where enzymes and digestive juices will break it down and allow our systems to absorb the nutrients and calories. In the stomach, which can hold up to three pints of material, the breakdown continues with the help of strong acids. From there it moves into the duodenum, and the digestive process speeds up through the addition of bile and pancreatic juices. It’s here, that our body absorbs the majority of iron and calcium in the foods we eat. The final part of the digestive process takes place in the 20 feet of small intestine, the jejunum and the ileum, where calorie and nutrient absorption is completed, and any unused particles of food are then shunted into the large intestine for elimination. Weight loss procedures involve bypassing, or in some way circumventing the full digestive process. They range from simple reduction of the amount you can eat, to major bypasses in the digestive tract. To qualify for many of these surgeries, a person must be termed “morbidly obese”, that is, weighing at least 100 lbs. over the appropriate weight for their height and general body structure. Gastric Bypass In the mid 1960s, Dr. Edward E. Mason discovered that women who had undergone partial stomach removal as the result of peptic ulcers, failed to gain weight afterwards. From this observation, grew the trial use of stapling across the top of the stomach, to reduce its actual capacity to about three tablespoons. The stomach filled quickly, and eventually emptied into the lower portion, completing the digestive process in the normal way. Over the years, the surgery evolved into what is now known as the Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass. Instead of partitioning the stomach, it is divided and separated from the rest, with staples. The small intestine is then cut at approximately 18” below the stomach, and attached to the “new”, small stomach. Smaller meals are then eaten, and the digested food moves directly into the lower part of the bowel. As weight loss surgeries are viewed overall, this is considered one of the safest, offering long-term management of obesity. Gastric Banding A procedure that produces basically the same results as the stomach stapling/bypass, and is also classed as a “restrictive” surgery. The first operations, involved a non-flexing band placed around the upper part of the stomach, below the esophagus, creating an hourglass shaped stomach, the upper portion being reduced to the same 3-6 ounce capacity. As technologies advanced, the band became more flexible, incorporating an inflatable balloon, which when triggered by a reservoir placed in the abdomen, was capable of inflating to cut down the size of the stoma, or deflating to enlarge it. Laparoscopic surgery means smaller scars, and less invasion of the digestive tract. Biliopancreatic Diversion A combination of the gastric bypass, and Roux-en-y re-structuring, that bypasses a significant section of the small intestine, thereby creating the probability of malabsorption. The stomach is reduced in size, and an extended Roux-en-y anastomosis is attached to the smaller stomach, and lower down on the small intestine than is normal. This permits the patient to eat larger amounts, but still achieve weight loss through malabsorption. Professor Nicola Scopinaro, University of Genoa, Italy, developed the technique, and last year published the first long-term results. They showed an average 72% loss of excess body weight, maintained over 18 years, the best long-term results of any bariatric surgical procedure, to date. BPD patients require lifelong follow-ups to monitor calcium and vitamin intake. The advantages of being able to eat more and still lose weight, are countered by loose or foul smelling stools, flatus, stomal ulcers, and possible protein malnutrition. Jejuno-Ileal Bypass One of the first weight loss procedures for the grossly obese, was developed in the 1960s, a strictly malabsorptive method of reducing weight, and preventing gain. The jejuno-ileal bypass reduced the lower digestive tract to a mere 18” of small intestine, from the natural 20 feet, a critical difference when it came to absorption of calories and nutrients. In the end-to-end method, the upper intestine was severed below the stomach, and re-attached to the small intestine much lower down, which had also been severed, thereby “cutting out”, the majority of the intestine. Malabsorption of carbohydrate, protein, lipids, minerals and vitamins, led to a variation, the end-to-side bypass, which took the end of the upper portion, and attached it to the side of the lower portion, without severing at that point. Reflux of bowel contents into the non-functioning upper portion of small bowel, resulted in more absorption of essential nutrients, but also less weight loss, and increased weight gain, post-surgery. As a result of the bypass, fatty acids are dumped in the colon, producing an irritation that causes water and electrolytes to flood the bowel, ending in chronic diarrhea. The bile salt pool necessary to keeping cholesterol in solution is reduced by malabsorption and loss through stool. As a consequence, cholesterol concentration in the gall bladder rises, increasing the risk of stones. Multiple vitamin losses are a major concern, and may result in bone thinning, pain and fractures. Approximately one third of patients experience an adjustment in the size and thickness of the remaining active small intestine, which increases the absorption of nutrients, and balances out the weight loss. However, over the long term, all patients undergoing this bypass are susceptible to hepatic cirrhosis. In the early 1980s, one study showed that approximately 20% of those who had undergone JIB, required conversion to another bypass alternative. The procedure has since been largely abandoned, as having too many risk factors. While surgical methods of reducing weight are valuable to the morbidly obese, they are not without risks. Patients may require more bed rest post-surgery, resulting in an increased chance of blood clots. Pain may also cause reduced depth of breathing, and complications such as pneumonia. Before undergoing any fat/weight reduction surgery, a severely overweight person needs to thoroughly understand the benefits and risks, and must make a commitment to their future health. Having a smaller stomach is not going to stop the chronic sugar-snacker, from “grazing” on high calorie sweets. Nor does a steady supply of pop, concentrated sweet juices and milk shakes, reduce the calorie intake. With some bypass surgeries, certain foods can aggravate side-effects that need not be that severe, if common sense diets are adhered to. Surgery can be a “shortcut” to weight loss, but it can also reduce your enjoyment of life, if you are unable to adhere to the regimens that go with it.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Weight Loss Problems Gone Forever

Imagine if you would for a moment your weight loss problems gone forever. What would your life be like? What kinds of things would you be able to do as a result? If you were not overweight you might discover what sitting comfortably in a movie theater chair might feel like, or what it would be like to take a long walk with your grandchildren or enjoy the excitement of participating again in your favorite sport. Even your daily routine of toileting, showering and simply getting dressed would be greatly improved. Continue to imagine…what kind of dreams could you be fulfilling if weight was no longer a concern for you? How would you feel about yourself? How much money would you save? Imagine never again having to worry about gaining weight or losing weight. On top of that imagine being able to eat all you want and never worry about your weight! You Can Lose Weight And Always Keep It Off! I know it sounds too good to be true. However, it’s entirely possible to have all that and more. Eating a delicious whole foods, plant based diet can give you all that, plus the added benefit of promoting excellent health. According to T. Colin Campbell, Author of The China Study, a whole foods, plant based diet reduces your risks of heart disease, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, cancer and many other common diseases. Obesity Is A Huge Problem We all know obesity is a huge problem in America today. Yet, there’s probably not one obese person who enjoys being that way. You don’t need the statistics to tell you that 2 out of 3 adults in America are overweight; all you need to do is look around at your friends, family, church members and coworkers. In 2002 American medical care costs related to obesity were listed at $100 billion dollars. Yes, that’s billion! And believe it or not, that’s $30 billion dollars more than was spent in 1999. Doesn’t it seem absurd that we spend billions of dollars each year on medical care related to obesity when there are millions of starving children in our world! Promoting The Problem It is unfortunate that we have a system that promotes obesity. Obesity is promoted by the “super size it”, “more is better”, and “I want it now” mentalities. On top of that, to solve the weight gain problems that our system encourages, the same system promotes “quick fix” weight loss solutions: diet drinks and foods, fad diets, calorie counting, carb counting and food exchange gimmicks. Now The Solution Life does not have to be this way. You can experience freedom from weight loss issues and enjoy the best health of your life! You can eliminate all the worries and the guilt associated with wrong eating. You can make eating a joy and a pleasure not a mathematical equation. According to Dr. Campbell, research has shown over and over again that vegetarians and vegans (people who eat no animal products) are typically significantly slimmer than those who eat the standard American diet. In one study overweight subjects were told to eat all they wanted of foods that were mostly low-fat, whole food and plant-based. In three weeks the subjects on average lost 17 pounds each. Vegetarian Versus Whole, Plant Based Foods I need to give a word of clarification here. One can be a vegetarian and still be overweight. What happens is some vegetarians simply replace meats with refined grains, pastas, breads and sweets. A whole food, plant-based diet is the key to weight loss and an ongoing healthy lifestyle. You can eat all you want of plant based foods in their natural forms, i.e. foods that have not been or have been very minimally processed. Some examples would be fresh raw fruits and vegetables, soaked nuts and seeds (not raw or roasted), brown rice, oat groats, various legumes and beans. Examples of foods that don’t fit the whole food criteria are breads, pastries, milk, cheese, products with refined sugars or artificial sweeteners, canned fruits, soups, and vegetables etc. Making the transition to preparing delicious whole food dishes can be challenging at first. An excellent resource for helping you to do so is Rita Romano’s recipe book, Dining In The Raw-. Another great resource is Hallelujah Acres at www.hacres.com. Make Exercise Part Of Your Plan We all know that exercise promotes weight loss. One study suggests that only 15 to 45 minutes of exercise a day will result in maintaining a body weight that is 11 to 18 pounds lighter than it otherwise would be. However, that’s not the whole story. There is also some scientific evidence that suggests that vegetarians have on average a higher metabolic rate, meaning they burn more of their ingested calories rather than depositing them to fat. In another study, rats on mainly a vegetarian diet chose to exercise more than rats on a high animal protein diet. You Have A Choice Obesity and weight loss issues affect millions of people in our nation each year. Largely these problems can be eliminated with the proper education and attitude about what kind of foods promote health. Being overweight is not a problem that will ever be corrected by a diet program or a diet drink! Dr. Campbell says, “the diet that helps to reduce weight in the short run needs to be the same diet that creates and maintains health in the long run….we can control the cause (of obesity). It is right at the end of our fork.” What will you choose to do?

Friday, May 11, 2012

Weight Loss Motivation – How To Find It And Keep It!

Everyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows that the really big issue is motivation - where do we find it, how do we keep it going, and what do we do when it slips! To be successful at losing weight you must find your own motivation. More importantly, you must keep motivated, even when times get tough! Read through the tips and tricks and other resources below to help you find and maintain your motivation. * Set your goals and work out a realistic timescale for achieving them. Commit to them 100%. * Put it in writing! Scribble down in as much detail as possible why you need to lose weight, how much you are going to lose, when and how. The more you commit to paper the better. Carry a notebook around with you and use it to record thoughts and ideas, recipes, quotes - whatever will inspire you and keep you going. * Tell a friend or member of the family and ask them to help you stick with your plan. * Remember that you are losing weight and improving your health "one day at a time". You can stick at anything for one day! * Don't dwell on the junk that you are taking out of your diet. Instead, celebrate the healthy foods that you are putting in. * Make bullet points of your main motivational issues and write them on a stack of cards. Display the cards where you will see them regularly - on your bathroom mirror, in your purse, in your car. * Create a "mantra" to repeat to yourself when times get hard. For example, "Every day I am improving my health, my looks and my well-being. I am getting stronger in every way." * Consider asking for sponsorship from friends and family for a good cause. Perhaps you can raise money for starving children while you get your own eating under control? * Start a file or scrapbook of articles, recipes and any other interesting titbits you read. * Start another file of fashion and wardrobe ideas. Plan what you will need to buy when you shrink a size or two! * Buy a piggybank and fill it up with a particular sum for every pound you lose. You can use it towards your new outfits! * Find someone to share the experience with, and laugh your way through the tough times. * Learn from other successful slimmers. Read other people's stories, join a club, find a chat room, or start your own email group. * Motivate yourself with our collection of weight loss quotes, available free to subscribers to the weekly Losing It My Way ezine.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Weight Loss: Tweaking Your Lifestyle

Despite our national propensity to overeat, under-exercise, and grow steadily heavier and more out of shape, we all yearn to be slender, fit, and attractive. Our culture rewards the thin and the beautiful; look at how we devour celebrity gossip, mesmerized by the looks and energy of our current favorites. Why the discrepancy between our aspirations and our reality? There are a plethora of reasons, most of which can be traced to the simple fact that life gets in the way. “I’d love to cut back on my food intake,” we think, “But I have to attend all these work functions and have little control over the meals that are served.” “I would really like to get in shape,” we complain, “But there’s no free time and I can’t afford a personal trainer like the movie stars I see.” “I really want to take care of my skin and my body,” we wail, “But I’m so busy that a quick shower and a slap of moisturizer is all I can fit into my schedule.” It would be so wonderful to have loads of free time: to plan our days; to cook low calorie, healthy meals; to exercise without time constraints; to be able to pamper ourselves without the pressure of deadlines. Unfortunately, our lives are too hectic for that to happen in the foreseeable future. We can throw up our hands in frustration and join the legions of the overweight and the unfit, or we can work out a personal plan that fits within our lifestyle, taking us where we want to go, albeit not quite as quickly or completely as we would prefer. Your life, your time, the demands and responsibilities you face, vary on an individual basis. You will need to calculate what works for you, and what cannot be realistically accommodated. Here are some ideas to consider: 1. Diet Eating on the run, at your desk, or on the rubber chicken circuit, wreaks havoc with even the best-laid diet plans. If you weigh even a pound more than you’d like, try to identify where you are going astray. If fast food on your way to an appointment is your downfall, look at what you order. Almost all drive-thrus these days offer salads. The problems with those salads can be minimized by throwing away the little bag of croutons (fried) and omitting the packaged dressings (loaded with fat). Carry your own individual container of low calorie dressing, opt for (unsweetened) ice tea, black coffee, or a diet soda, and avoid those sugar-laden colas like the plagues they are. If you lunch at your desk, ask yourself what are you eating? If it’s takeout, by all means have a cheeseburger or a sandwich. Just discard the bread or bun and eat with a plastic knife and fork, cut into raisin-sized pieces that will fill you up fast. French fries and onion rings? You just don’t want to go there. Is your office always filled with snacks and treats (as most of them seem to be these days)? When the snacks come by, go to the bathroom or, better yet, take a brisk walk around the building to beef up your “won’t” power and clear the vision of goodies from your head. If business lunches, dinners, or those awful meeting banquets are your obstacles, plan ahead. Lunch is relatively easy: salad (with your own dressing, of course) or fish and cottage cheese are available almost anywhere. For dinner, try two low calorie appetizers instead of an entrĂ©e. Best of all is something that you have to work at – crab legs, unpeeled shrimp, an artichoke (hold the hollandaise) – it will take a lot of time and no one will notice how little you are actually eating. Banquets are particularly difficult because a plate is plunked in front of you, filled with food you would never order by choice. Cut whatever protein and vegetables there are into little pieces and chew slowly. Spread the rest out over your plate and play with it to delay the onset of a syrupy dessert. Get a cup of black coffee and place it squarely in front of you to thwart that eager-beaver waiter who keeps trying to slide a plate of pie onto your table. Entertaining in the home creates a different set of problems because usually you know the hostess and want to avoid creating any bad feelings. Fall back on allergies as no one wants to see you break out in hives in the middle of their party. Carry a club soda or mineral water with you and no one will notice that you’re not drinking. Over a period of time, these little changes can have a significant impact on your weight. If you’re hungry when you get home, make sure that you have some liquid protein or a health shake available to complete your daily nutritional needs. 2. Exercise. With the best of intentions, millions of us purchase gym memberships. If we all actually used them on a regular basis, as we promise ourselves we will, there would be waiting lines spilling into the streets. Health clubs can keep signing up more and more members because they know that the number of regulars will stay about the same as the new enrollees will show up in a burst of initial enthusiasm but within a few short weeks will gradually fade away. Unless you have a job with very regular hours, something few of us enjoy these days, it’s difficult to commit to going somewhere on a regular basis. We mean to go but then an important meeting comes up, our significant other asks us to do something, or the kids pester us to drive them somewhere. Our high demand lives almost force us to obtain our exercise at home. Television is replete with home equipment that promises to flatten our abs, define our pects, and re-sculpt our entire bodies. Despite their assurances that the equipment easily folds away, we know our apartments can never accommodate a Bowflex or a Nordic Track. Where do those buyers live? In the suburbs, we suspect, where the expensive equipment is soon relegated to the basement or the garage to gather dust until some future yard sale comes along. Equipment, except for minimal contraptions such as elastic bands and hand weights, are just too much trouble, and setting them up takes too much time. Slipping exercise into your schedule is most easily handled (and therefore more likely to be regularly repeated) by pursuing activities that can be initiated without any preparation time, special clothes, or long periods free of interruption. The old standbys of pushups, situps, stretches with weights, yoga, and calisthenics have stood the test of time for a reason. They can be inserted into your crowded schedule at odd moments of the day and require no preparation except a short warm-up. Some of the newer programs: callanetics, pilates (some), killer exercises, and video workouts also fit these requirements. When you unexpectedly find a secret half hour free, take a walk and, if you can, magnify its benefits with an occasional bout of sprinting. Such a plan may not make you into a Mr. or Ms. Universe but it will keep you limber and semi-fit while avoiding that energy-devouring guilt you develop when you set your sights too high and then fail to follow through. 3. Taking care of yourself. We have all read the accounts of Cleopatra bathing in asses’ milk to bleach and smooth her skin. But she was a Queen, for heaven’s sake! She didn’t have to get up at the crack of dawn to fight the traffic into the office. She didn’t have to take care of a husband, a house, or a child. You’d have the time to leisurely bathe if it weren’t for cleaning the house, washing the clothes, finishing that report for the office, helping the kids with their homework, cooking dinner, and picking up Aunt Mildred at the airport. We know we need to take care of ourselves. We want to perform the routines that will stave off the signs of age that wait just around the corner. We would love to take a long daily bath or shower, polish our skin to perfection with a loofah and scrubbing powders, envelop ourselves in skin softeners and lotions, and pamper our face and hair with special cleansers, masques, and skin brighteners. Again, our lives get in the way. We work out a minimal routine of makeup remover, toner, and moisturizer. We shampoo our hair when we can and occasionally find the time for a special oil treatment or facial. It is hard to be fully motivated when the signs of age are brief and fleeting. When I have more time, we tell ourselves, I’ll work on it. Twenty years later, the wrinkles have set in, the jowls have puffed out, and our skin carries the scars of sun, wind, and gravity. Then we bemoan our lack of care through the years and try to minimize the ravages of time already indelibly imprinted on our looks. By all means, stick to your rapid daily routine. Sure, you could get up earlier in the morning and have time for more self-care but you’re already, like most working-age Americans, sleep-deprived. One solution is to identify one period a week when you can steal a couple of hours for yourself. Women, especially, shortchange themselves, too busy taking care of everyone else and ignoring themselves. Stake out your claim to that two hour window as if your life depended on it. Use it only for you. Use it to take deep treatments for your face or your hair. Use it to practice relaxation, listen to music, or walk in the rain. Use it to pamper every part of your body and spirit. Use it to think about yourself, and your goals, and your dreams. Use it to appreciate yourself and the good things life has brought you. Use it to lay plans for future self-development and use it to become your own best friend and confidant. Our lives are so filled up with what we have to do that our wants and internal needs are often unmet. In even the busiest and most demanding schedule, there are moments we can carve out for ourselves, but only if we absolutely insist on it. Right now is the time to become assertive about your own self. You too deserve a brief moment in the sun.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Weight Loss

I had been overweight my entire life. I have tried to changed my live as well and now I’m successful. What I have been done ? It’s began 3 years ago. I have changed my thinking on my life. I stopped to use my favorite sentence that tomorrow I'll do something about my weight and I became aware that this is my last chance to change my visage. Here is why we gain weight and my suggestion to reverse it When we are nervous, we eat. Don’t tense. When we celebrate something with friends, we eat. Let’s celebrate in temperance. When we watch TV, what do we do ? We eat and eat. Hard nut to crack ? Once we sad, we eat When we see to smoke somebody, we take something to eat We need to ask ourselves some questions that may help solve a problem: I thought about loss weight but then I didn't. Why does this happen? ? Mostly it's because you really do want to eat the sweet. Do I really need this cookie/cake/ice cream right now or am I pacifying something that is not going right for me, right now. What in my life would I like to change, right now? Why do I want to change it? What will these changes bring about, either now or in the near future It's always easier to put weight loss off for one more day. People who have successfully achieved their ideal weight and better health without dieting report the following success strategies : They made a commitment to changing habits long-term vs. just losing weight They became educated about sound nutrition principles They learned to cope with emotions and stress without food They consciously eat when their hungry and stop when their full They shift the focus from “looking good” to honoring their health and well-being They learn to adjust portions or food intake to match activity level They don’t sabotage themselves, when they blow it They seek ongoing support as needed to stay motivated For me when I'm busy and trying to get a lot of work done and something stumps me or requires extra thought, my tendency is to want to take a break and get something to chew on. That might be true for you too. I haven't worked directly on the anxious feelings themselves, just the end result of wanting to eat something. Every time I've tried it, I've ended up not wanting what I was going to eat in the first place so personally I'd say it is very effective. More at:http://www.phentermine-xenical-4you.com http://www.phentermine-xenical-4you.com

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Understanding obesity - how to reduce weight

THE CAUSES OF EXCESSIVE WEIGHT If you eat more nutrients containing energy than you need for your daily activities, for the internal processes of your body, and for the burning process that maintains the body temperature, the excessive nutrients can be transformed to fat and stored in the fat depots in your body. The causes of this occururing, and thus of overweight, are one or more of these factors: 1. Consuming too much fat: Fat is the most energy-rich nutrient, and over-consume will cause the eccessive fat consumed to be deposited in the body. 2. Consuming too much sugar, starch or other carbohydrates: Carbohydrats are also important energy sources. Over-consume of carbohydrates will cause the eccess to be converted to fat and stored in the body. 3 Consuming too much alchohol: Also this substance contains energy, and eccessive consume results in fat stored in your body. 4 Consuming too much of preprocessed products with added, and often hidden fat or sugar, like sweet beverages, cakes, ice-cream, fast food and snacks. 5. Eating too much alltogeather: Perhaps your food is not fat- or sugar-laden, but you simply eat too much alltogeather. Also protein will be converted to fat if it is overconsumed. 6. Irregular eating, like eating much at one time, little at another time, wait long between some meals, cunsuming huge doses of sugar at some times, no sugar at other times: If you eat irregularly, you can get an uncontrollable appetite, a swinging blood sugar level, and an abnormal physiology that makes you deposit fat in your body. 7. A still sitting life with little exercise so that you burn little fat and sugar. 8. Boredom in your daily life: If you do not have much hobbies, or leasure activities, or isolate yourself from other people, you may suffer form boredom, and eccessive eating may be your way of getting entertainment. 9. The body has some capacity of burning some extra amount of sugar or fat. This capacity may be decreased because of lack of vitamins and minerals, and because of an unsound diet. 10. An abnormal appetite that urges you to eat far more than you need: This abnormal appetite may originate from psychological causes, an onsound diet or lack of exercise. AANALYZE YOUR OBESITY PROBLEMS Before beginning your weight reduction program, go through every possible obesity causing factor listed above, to find out what factors contribute to your over-weight problem. Go down to details. For example: If you find you consume too much sugar, find out the exact food types contributing to your eccessive sugar consume. Write everything down. MAKE A PLAN With the performed analysis in hand, make a plan for your weigh reduction. Decide a goal for your weight. Decide one or more measures for each component contributing to your problem. Write down your plan. HOW TO REDUCE WEIGHT In order to successfully loose weight, you must attack every component you have found to be a causing factor of your obesity problem. Here are the concrete mesures you can use, and put into your plan: 1. Eat less fat If you eat much fat, you must reduce the daily intake of fat, to do so: * Choose fat poor fish, fat poor meat/beef, chicken, turkey, mushrooms and other food sources with law fat content as the main components for dishes. * Cut away visible fat from meat or other food sources. * Do not add much margarine, butter or oil to your food. * When you fry something, try to use as little fatty smear in the pan as possible. 2. Eat less sugar If you eat much sugar, reduce your daily inntake of free sugar, or bounded sugar as in flour, potatoes and the like: * Do not add much sugar to your food. * You may also need to consume less bread, potatoes, peas and beens, if you eat very much of it, but do not stop eating these kinds of food, since they contain valuable nutrients. However, use bread made of full corn. 3. Avoid eccessive alcohol consume Alcohol contains energy, and will be transformed to fat, if you consume too much of it. 4. Avoid preprocessed food with added and often hidden fat or sugar Some food contains a great amount of hidden fat or sugar, espesially fast food, snacks or preprocessed food. * Therefore you should avoid eating much of products like: cakes, sweet drinks, snacks, choclate, icecream or fast-food. * You should also buy all the food you use in a natural form, and make your dishes yourself. Then you achieve an absolute controle over the amount of fat and suger in your dishes 5. Eat less alltogeather, but do not starve yourself Having reduced the amount of sugar and fat from your diet, you may fall to the temptation of eating more than before, beacuse the new composition of your food does not satisfy your hunger. You should be aware of, and avoid this trap. * When trying to loose weight, you should reduce the total amount of the food you eat. * However, you should not starve yourself. To starve will only make you tired and sick, and then make you interrupt your efforts to get slim. 6. Eat regularly Regular eating habits will give you a stable blood sugar level, help you control your appetite and normalize your fat burning physiology. * You should eat three or four meals each day. * Each meal should contain the same moderate amount of sugar and fat. * Each meal should contain some protein sources like fish, meat, eggs, mushrooms or proteine-rich seeds, and in every means be as nutritionally complete as possible. 7. Increase your daily physical activity Physical activity increases fat burning and will help you control your appetite. * Do some daily exercises of a kind that increases energy consumption: Jogging, cycling, swimming, ball play, skiing, and so on. * Do also som exercises to increase your muscular volume, since muscles will burn fat, for example weight lifting. 8. Find some new hobby or interest If you find yourself some new hobby or leasure activity, you will avoid boredom and the temptation to over-eat because you are bored. Try also to do interesting activities together with other people. The new activities will also give you less time to only sit eating. 9. Eat healthy food to increase your fat burning capacity It is not possible to loose weight without sticking to the above mentioned basic fat reduction principles, but you will also benefit from applying some measures that will increase your ability to passivly burn fat: * Eat as natural food as possible, avoid food that has been heavily cooked, heavily fried or chemically processed. Natural food has its content of protein, vitamines minerals and anti-oxydants intact, and these are necessary for the fat burning abilities. * Eat some raw fruit and vegatables to each meal, since these contain vitamins, minerals and anti-oxydants you need. * You may benefit from supplements of vitamins, minerals, herbs, anti-oxydants, as these will make your body more capable of burning fat. * The little fat you use in your diet, should come from sources like olive, peanuts, canola, fish, nuts, sun-flower, etc. Then you will get a good balance between mono-unsaturated fat (olive, canola, peanuts), poly-unsaturated fat of the omaga-3-type (fish) and poly-unsaturated fat of the omega-6-type (sunflower). * Consume whole cereals or bread made from whole unrefined cereals. * There are also natural products on the market you can use to increase your break down and burning of fat. 10. Bring your appetite under controle Many of the measures allready listed, will also help you to controle your appetite. If this still is difficult, this problem may be attacked by specific means: * You can use some medicines to reduce appetite for some time or to reduce the uptake of fat or carbohydrates in your inestines. There are both natural medicines based on herbs, vitamins and minerals and pharmachological products to achieve this. * Daily meditation can help to relaxe your mind and gain controle. * Psychological counseling may be necessary. 11. The ratio between fat and sugar in your diet The total mount of fat and carbohydrates combined, is a key factor in causing obesity, not fat alone or carbohydrates alone. In some weight loosing regimes, one eats very little carbohydrates, and fairly much fat. In others one eats fairly much carbohydrates, and very little fat. The proponents of each type of regime claim that their approach helps the body to burn fat better. Probably people are different, and react differently when trying to manipulate the diet in these ways. As a first approach, it is probably not wise to try such extreme approaches. However, if you have brought your eating habits under controle, and still not achieved a satisfactory result, you can try to manipulate the fat/carbohydrate ratio to see if this will help. But do not stop consuming fat alltogeather. You will allways need some essential fatty acids in your diet. CARRYING OUT YOUR PLAN Having made your plan for your weight reduction, the time has come to carry it out. After each week, go through the points in your plan, and evaluate how well you did. Also check your weight. Write down for every point in your plan how well you did.