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October 9, 2008
“Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.” This quote by Mark Twain may not seem to have anything to do with losing weight on its face. However, as you progress in your weight loss program, you may find wisdom in it. Maintaining proper motivation to continue a weight loss program can be one of the biggest hurdles when trying to lose weight. There are, however, some tricks you can use to stay motivated.
The motivational trick that many people report working best for them is looking down at the scale and seeing actual progress. If you are able to get off to a good start, losing those first 5 pounds can turn into a dramatic motivator. Once you see that your program is working and it is actually possible for you to lose weight, you will be encouraged to stay with it, and the weight loss will continue.
Another way to stay motivated in losing weight is to keep a picture diary of your progress. Start on day one of your program with several pictures of yourself. Each week, take new pictures of yourself in the same poses. If you make any progress at all, it will be very apparent and this can be an extremely powerful motivating technique.
It is also important to set reasonable goals in order to maintain proper motivation. One can easily become discouraged and quit entirely on their weight loss program by setting unrealistic goals. It does you no good to try and lose 30 pounds in 30 days, or some such nonsense. If, however, you set a more reasonable goal of losing say it, 10 pounds in 30 days and you achieve that goal, you will feel as if you are on a direct path towards success.
A final and perhaps most powerful method of maintaining motivation is to lose weight with a group of friends or like-minded people. Attempting to lose weight with other people can bring a few different benefits to your particular goals. You will feel encouraged by the support others show you in trying to reach your goal. Also, others in the group will hold you accountable and keep you honest.
All that is needed to lose weight is proper knowledge and proper motivation. While knowledge in losing weight can be easily obtained from a number of sources, lack of motivation is often what stops people from achieving their weight loss goals. However, with the powerful tips described above you will be able to stay motivated and complete your weight loss program.
If you’re reading this, then chances are you’re trying to lose weight. And if you’re trying to lose weight, chances are you’re struggling. Losing weight can be a daunting task in today’s society, where you are bombarded with unhealthy food from all directions, and you are pressured to participate in a sedentary lifestyle on your sofa. It seems as if everybody who attempts to lose weight struggles at one time or another with their progress. However, using the right techniques, you should be able to answer the question “why can’t I lose weight?” Here are four such techniques to stop struggling:
1. The number one reason most people struggle to lose weight is that they simply are not honest with themselves. Many people claim to count calories, but conveniently leave out that Big Mac they had for lunch or that piece of cake at Aunt June’s birthday party. On the other side of the same coin, many people are not honest about their exercise program. It’s easy to stop 10 minutes short of your desired workout length, but doing so consistently will seriously harm your chances to lose weight. There are two techniques in particular that are powerful in helping you stay honest with yourself. Starting a written journal in which you write everything you eat, and every exercise you do, down to every last calorie eaten in calorie burned can go a long way towards ending your struggles. Also, you may want to consider starting a picture journal. Do this by taking a picture of yourself in the same pose every week.
2. Another reason why you might be struggling is lack of goal setting. Very rarely does anybody achieve any significant measure of success, in any walk of life, without setting specific and realistic goals. Not only will setting goals give you a clear path and end result in your weight loss program, but as you meet these goals they will give you encouragement along the way. It is important, however, to be realistic in your goal setting. It will only be a disservice to your desire to lose weight if you set an unrealistic goal for yourself and then use your failure to meet that goal as an excuse to stop your program.
3. Perhaps you may be dieting too much. You may have been upset with your progress, and decided to drastically reduce your calorie intake. While on its face, this would seem like a sure way to lose weight quickly, ultimately it will hinder your chances in meeting your weight loss goals. The reasons for this are twofold. First, when your body does not get a certain amount of calories, it goes into what is termed as “starvation mode.” This simply means that your body begins to feed off not only the fat, but also the muscle you already have. Since muscle increases your metabolism, it is in your best interest to keep as much as possible throughout your weight loss program. Second, when you are in starvation mode, you are much more likely to binge. These periodic binges will do more than enough to offset any gain you get from cutting calories. An effective way to combat potential binging is to keep small portion controlled snacks available where you can access them quickly in case of a hunger attack.
4. A final reason you may be struggling to lose weight is, quite simply, you’re not getting enough calcium. It is common knowledge that calcium aids in the building of bones and other tissue of the body, but a recent study by Creighton University’s Osteoporosis Research Center in Nebraska showed those who ate calcium rich diets were up to 70% less likely to be overweight. Simply reading the calcium on a nutritional information label however, can be dangerous. Since many high calcium foods are also high in fats, you’ll want to be sure that you’re picking your calcium sources wisely.
These are only a few reasons why you may be struggling with your weight loss program. There are surely other aspects which are contributing either to your success or lack thereof. However, if you combine the above techniques, you will be much more likely to meet your weight loss goals.
October 8, 2008
There are many occasions that make women want to lose weight quickly. Maybe there is a wedding or a class reunion that is right around the corner. We want to look our best for such occasions, especially if we haven’t seen some of the party goers for a long time. One weight loss option is the 3 day diet. This plan promises quick weight loss in only three days.
Of course, quick weight loss is very appealing to many of us, but it is not recommended by most of our doctors. Many nutritionists argue that the 3 day diet only leads to temporary weight reduction. Most of us who follow the plan will only find the weight creeping back on in just a few weeks.
However, we must consider the purpose for the 3 day diet before abandoning the eating plan entirely. If the goal is to lose about ten pounds in three days for a specific occasion, then this plan is perfect for you. If you want permanent weight loss and an eating plan that you can follow for the rest of your life, then the 3 day diet is definitely not for you.
The plan is very restrictive and it requires a lot of will power. Anyone following the 3 day diet is urged to follow the plan for only three days. This is why the plan is best for anyone who wants to slim down quickly for a special occasion and not for someone looking for a long-term diet plan. People who follow the 3 day diet are instructed to go off of the diet for at least two days before starting the regimen over again.
Just about every woman has experienced the urge to drop one or two dress sizes before a special event. Maybe it is that little black dress that is hanging in the back of the closet that you haven’t been able to zip up for a few years. The 3 day diet can be a great way to get you back into that dress in just a few days.
Maybe you just need a kick start to your long term weight loss plan. Sometimes losing a lot of weight quickly can give a dieter the motivation required to get on a good diet and exercise plan. I have found that dropping significant weight in the beginning of a weight loss plan will insure that I am motivated to continue.
Even though the 3 day diet has many critics, remember to consider the purpose for the plan. This is not a long term diet and it definitely is not a way of life. However, if you are looking to drop a few pounds quickly or if you just need the motivation to get yourself into diet mode, consider the 3 day diet as a start.
The 3 day diet is one of those trendy little diets that seems to be popular today. If you follow the 3 day diet correctly, you can supposedly lose upwards to 10 pounds in just three days. That seems like a lot of weight to lose in such a short period of time, is it healthy or even possible?
While its certainly possible to lose 10 pounds or even more in just three days, it’s probably not healthy, and generally not recommended by health professionals. The 3 day diet is invariably frowned on by nutritionists as being an overall a fad diet that is not very effective in producing sustainable weight lose. Sure you can lose 10 pounds in three days, but the chances are you’ll put it right back on again when you finish.
The 3 day diet isn’t really anything scientific or overly complicated. It’s basically just your typical calorie restricted diet. Most formulas for it involve three meals a day consisiting of very limited portions of low fat, low sugar foods. Some examples of a few of the meals recommended in the 3 day diet include half a grapefruit and one slice of toast for breakfast; a half a cup of tuna (no mayo) and a slice of toast for lunch; and a three ounce portion of chicken, two cups of vegetables and one cup of ice cream for dinner.
Like many diets, the 3 day diet recommends drinking 4+ glasses of water daily, and allows you to add any low calorie seasonings to your food, such as Worchester sauce, spices, mustards, vinegars, salt and pepper, soy sauce or ketchup. It also allows for drinking tea, coffee, or diet soda, so long as there is no sugar added.
So does this kind of 3 day diet plan work? Chances are you will in fact lose some weight if you stick to it. However, going from eating normal or oversized portions to eating the kinds of meals recommended in the three day diet is going to through your body’s metabolism for a loop. Essentially, you’ll be on starvation mode, and the moment you resume regular food consumption you’ll promptly start gaining wait again.
The recommendation to drink plenty of water is really the only thing the 3 day diet does right. Everyone should drink at least 4 glasses of water a day, whether dieting or not, and ideally should drink even more.
Overall, the 3 day diet is not the best diet plan. If you are otherwise healthy and just want to lose a few pounds for a reunion, wedding, or some other event coming up on the weekend, the 3 day diet may help, but in terms of an effective sustainable weight lose program its not going to help much in the long run.
Everyone, it seems, is trying strange fads or ingesting crazy concoctions to lose weight or improve their health. They want a get slim quick fix, or an easy elixer of youth, or something else equally absurd instead of to take the time actually required to improve health. The latest fad is called the 3 day diet, and it claims that, by consuming what it tells you to, you can lose ten pounds in three days. Come on, what are we foolish. It tells you to eat saltine crackers, toast, eggs, tuna, coffee, tea, apples, cheese. All regular stuff, nothing magical or “high tech” in any of it, and in 3 days, you’re supposed to lose all of that weight. I have trouble believing it.
If it is true, it is probably because of the small amount you eat on the 3 day diet, and it probably is mostly “water weight.” Water weight means that what you lose is mostly water flushing out of your system, and very little body mass is actually reduced. Losing water weight is actually pretty pointless since it just means getting dehydrated. This can be dangerous, and is certainly unhealthy.
The best way to lose weight is the old, traditional way, in my oppinion, although it takes a little longer. You exercise regularly, eat lots of green leafy vegetables, and also fruits in moderation, cut out processed and fatty foods, and don’t snack between meals. Also, very high carbohydrate food is not really good for your diet either as it will fill you up with calories. This is not a 3 day diet, or even a 30 day diet, but nonetheless, within a couple of months, you will be slimmer and healthier, and happier too.
There are diets that are outright dangerous. The atkins diet, for example, works by throwing your liver into ketosis by eating nothing but lots of protien. This can cause liver damage, and in some cases, death. Nonetheless, it does make you lose weight at a high rate of speed, but once you get off it, you will probably gain the weight right back.
If you are going to get on a 3 day diet program, one thing to consider is what kind of exercise to do to supplement your dieting. Jogging is very good, but can be hard on your knees. Bike riding is a little safer on your joints in the long run. One of the best exercises, however, is swimming, because it is zero impact and exercises the whole body. Personally, I like to swim for at least half an hour every day. Nothing makes me feel healthier or more refreshed.
The presence of so many myths in the weight loss industry surprises me to no end! One example of such a myth is that total elimination of carbs leads to successful weight loss. What surprises me even more is that these myths are taught apparently by ‘weight loss experts’ themselves. In this article I will tell you about three important facts of weight loss that you may not be aware of!
1. Weight maintenance is more important than weight loss: You know what, since you are now struggling with weight loss, it seems to be the most difficult thing for you, right? What you may not be aware of is the fact that maintaining the weight you’ve ‘lost’ is even more difficult than losing weight. I can give you scores of examples where people have lost weight successfully but gained it later because they fell into old habits! To make sure that you are at your ideal weight at all the times, it is important that you look beyond the scales. You need to know your BMI as well as your fat-to-muscle ratio. The less fat and more muscles you have, the better for you!
Once you are able to lose weight as well as maintain that slim figure, it will enhance your looks. You will not only become more attractive, but also healthier!
2. Follow low-carb, not no-carb: Many people will give you the ill-suggestion of eliminating carbs altogether from your diet. These people are of the opinion that carbs are the sole culprit behind weight gain, and once there is a total absence of carbs, weight loss would be easy and quick. This is simply not true! Your body needs energy to perform its daily activities, and remember that the primary source of energy for your body is the crabs. In the absence of carbs, your body will derive energy from your muscles.
You will surely lose weight, but that would be as a result of muscle loss. You won’t lose the thing you really need to: that is, fat!
Instead of eliminating carbs altogether, try to follow a low-carb diet!
4. There is no viable quick weight loss program: With a new fad diet pill or weight loss program coming up almost every month, it is easy to get sucked into the hype and believe that you can really lose 20 pounds in three weeks! However, if you look beyond the hype, you will realize that most of them don’t work. They will surely help you lose weight quickly, but only for a temporary period. When you stop their usage to return back to your normal eating habits, you will gain back all the ‘lost’ weight.
And it is only natural. When you didn’t gain weight within a couple of weeks, how can you expect to lose the same within that timeframe?
The best way to lose weight permanently is by following a healthy diet and an effective exercise regimen. There is no second opinion on that!
Have you ever felt overweight or just plain out of shape? This is a common feeling amongst many Americans. Unfortunately the fast food joints on every street corner don’t exactly help the situation. While excess body weight can certainly put a damper on anyone’s self-esteem, you don’t have to just sit back and take it. In fact, it may be time for a 6 week body makeover. Imagine how great you would feel if you could just drop that extra 15 or 20 pounds. Well, with the infinite diet plans scorching the market these days, there’s really no reason why you can’t achieve fast results. Toss aside the fast food and begin your 6 week body makeover now. It’s time to take back your self-confidence and feel great about yourself again.
Do you diet and exercise regularly? These two things truly are the key to a nice figure and healthy body. It’s inevitable that many of us have to work five days a week and unfortunately have trouble making the time for regular daily exercise. Well, let’s begin by eating right. This is an imperative first step in your 6 week body makeover. You want to construct a healthy diet plan. Maybe you need to consult a nutritionist in order to do this effectively. Regardless of the eating habits you conform to, you want to be sure that you control your diet even after your 6 week body makeover. It’s crucial to eat healthy if you want to retain your slamming new figure. Foods that are high in protein and vitamins, but low in carbs, salts and fats are important for a healthy diet plan.
To get the best results out of your 6 week body makeover, you want to exercise as best you can. Spend a half an hour or more each day doing some sort of fitness regime. You can even do this while you watch TV. There are a number of simple exercises you can accomplish in your very own living room. With the Internet on your side, a healthy 6 week body makeover is easy. Jump online and see what the most recommended exercise routines are for getting toned and burning fat. You’d be amazed at all the useful and free information at your fingertips. That ideal, confidence-boosting figure can be yours with the right diet and fitness regime. Start your 6 week body makeover today. What are you waiting for?
Whether you want a cushy job for yourself, or venture into modeling, or aim to head for the tinsel town, you need to be in good shape. These days, how you look is more important than how talented you are! Your personality and ability is determined by your body’s size and shape. No wonder then that a lot of people are gearing up to lose weight as quickly as possible! The problem is that people take the weight loss steps when it is already too late - that is, they have grown too fat!.
1.Your diet needs to be changed: If you diet consists only of chips, junk fried foods, soda, alcohol, and fizzy drinks, how can you expect to lose weight? These foods are rich in calories and when they enter your body the calories get converted into fat and make you overweight. If you want to lose weight, it is crucial that you change your eating habits first before anything else!
These calorie-rich foods provide your body with more energy that it needs. This excess energy then gets deposited in your body as fat. On top of that, if you sit on your cozy sofa the whole day and don’t even move your body a bit, the situation is only going to get worse as you don’t get a chance to burn the fat! The ultimate result is that you become overweight and develop a large belly!
So which foods should you eat in order to lose weight? Obviously the ones that are low on calories and high on nutrition are ideal foods for you. Examples of such foods are natural vegetables and fruits. Eat fruits in their raw forms instead of gorging on fruit juices! As for the vegetables, try to eat them in raw form too as you will consume the least amount of calories that way; but if raw vegetables give you a ‘yucky’ feeling then you can cook them, but make sure you use as little oil as possible while cooking!
2. Exercises shouldn’t be skipped: If you hate doing exercises then don’t expect to lose weight. Dieting can only help you so much; if you want to speed up the weight loss process by burning the fat deposits already present in your body, then exercising is the only way to go! Exercising doesn’t mean running on the treadmill for hours. A simple walk for half-an-hour can help you burn a lot of fat! If you cannot find time for other exercises, make sure you don’t forget to walk regularly after every meal!
September 26, 2008
Over the last couple years I have been writing on everything related to losing weight. Due to some technical difficulties with my blog I am in the process of recovering some lost data. It should only take a couple of days so make sure you sign up to my list below to know when the updates are complete
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