Thursday, December 6, 2012

Easy Tips For Weight Loss





If your like millions of other Americans, you could stand to lose a few pounds. But weight loss can seem like such a daunting task. With so many fad diets and weight loss products on the market, you may not even know where to start when it comes to losing weight. Luckily, this article has compiled several simple tips that you can implement in your everyday life to help you lose weight safely and permanently. Read on and learn what steps you can take to get the body of your dreams.
The first thing you need to do is give up the age old tradition of three squares meals a day. This simply won't do if you are serious about losing weight. Rather, try eating 5 or 6 smaller meals every 2 or 3 hours. This has the benefit of keeping you feeling fuller throughout the entire day, while giving you more energy.
Stay away from refined sugar. You'd be surprised how much sugar the average person consumes daily, and most of those empty calories go straight to your waistline. Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that is easily converted to fat if it is not burned off right away, so unless you are engaging in some sort of strenuous physical activity, your best bet would be to stay away from sugar altogether.
Replace those sugary sodas and fruit juices with water. It is amazing how many extra calories we can get from our beverages. Moreover, these calories don't fill us up so we still end up eating more than we should. Get into the habit of drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. If you are really in the mood for something other than water, you can opt for tea or black coffee (but remember...no sugar!).
Rather than cooking with butter or vegetable oil, try cooking with olive oil instead. Olive oil contains healthy unsaturated fats that have actually been shown to aide in weight loss. You can also use olive oil in place of your usual salad dressing.
Make sure you get enough fiber in your diet. Fiber is great because it helps with digestion, but it is even greater because it causes us to feel fuller for longer. Foods like whole grains and beans are chalk full of fiber and other healthy nutrients as well.
It is important that you have some form of protein with every meal. Like fiber, proteins keep us feeling full and they are also the building blocks of muscle. Muscle helps the body burn fat and maintain a high metabolism so make sure you are eating lots of lean meats and other protein sources.
These are just a few steps you should be taking in order to lose weight safely and keep it off. Not only are these tips great for shedding those extra pounds, but they will also promote a healthy lifestyle so that you'll live a longer, happier life. Don't waste another minute and start using these tips today!

How To Safely and Permanently Lose Weight

Losing weight is tough, keeping that weight off can seem down right impossible. Luckily for you the following article will show you the importance of changing your eating habits so that your lifestyle changes allow you to safely and permanently lose weight. Below you will read some great tips and tricks that will enable you to shed those extra pounds and get the body you've always wanted.
The first thing you want to do is document anything that goes in your mouth. You'd be surprised how many extra calories we consume without even realizing it. A food journal will allow you to see what types of food choices you are making and amend them if need be. It can be difficult at first, but it doesn't take too long to make it a habit and your waistline will thank you for it.
One of the easiest ways to cut calories is to replace all of your beverages with water. Everybody knows that sodas are chalk full of sugar and have no nutritional value. However even fruit juices should be avoided as they also contain high amounts of sugar. Instead, strive to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water each and every day.
You've probably heard your mom say it a thousand times, and shes not wrong...eat your vegetables. Veggies are among the most nutrient dense foods we can consume and are vital in maintaining a healthy body. Don't be afraid to mix it up and try new vegetables to see what you like. Just remember to include some dark leafy greens in the mix as these are the best vegetables you can eat.
Stop frying your food! Cooking meals in oil is simply infusing your food with unhealthy fats that will not only cause you to gain weight, but will also put you at risk for numerous health issues down the road. Instead, try implementing healthy cooking methods such as steaming, grilling and baking to make your meals.
Find healthy snacks to replace unhealthy ones. Instead of reaching for that bowl of ice cream, try some yogurt with some berries mixed into it. Often times, people snack when they are bored and not even hungry so making sure that your snacks are healthy will ensure that you aren't consuming too many extra calories.
When it comes to breakfast, it really is the most important meal of the day. Never skip your morning meal as it jump starts your metabolism and keeps it churning throughout the entire day. Make it a habit to wake up 15 minutes earlier so you can enjoy a healthy bowl of oatmeal, or at the very least take a cereal bar with you on your way out the door in the morning.
None of the tips mentioned are novel ideas, but when coupled together, they can lead to significant weight loss. What's better is that these tips should be incorporated into your everyday rituals so you will be keeping that weight off permanently!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

How Food Preparation Can Affect Your Weight Loss Efforts

As Featured On EzineArticles


When trying to lose weight, you need all the help you can get! Start at the beginning, before you even bring food into your home and plan every step thereafter; not only will this reduce the number of calories you are likely to consume, it will help ingratiate healthy habits into your subconsciousness. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Make meal planning a regular event. Knowing exactly what you're going to have for dinner should eliminate a lot of the normal temptations involved; sit down once a week and carefully schedule what foods you will be enjoying each night. Use this time to plan portions and account for calories, and you have taken a big part of the weight loss battle by the horns before you ever sit down to eat!
2. Change how you shop. Have a well-thought out list consisting of beneficial foods that don't contain a lot of fat, calories, sodium or sugar. Make sure you know how you're going to use the foods too; don't just buy because it says "low-cal" on the label. Limit the time you spend shopping to avoid impulse decisions in the more indulgent food aisles and never, ever go grocery shopping when you are hungry!
3. Start preparing foods using better methods. Baking and steaming foods can save you an abundance of calories over fried in oil or butter and are much better for you too. Use a non-stick spray if you do decide to break out the frying pan, instead of something unhealthy, and try adding zing and flavor with interesting spices. Serve vegetables raw with a low-fat dip and you've got a fast and healthy replacement for traditional calorie-laden side dishes that use cheese and butter.
4. Invest in a new and smaller set of dishes. Over the past few decades, plate sizes in America have grown considerably and that can deceive us into eating more than we should. A smaller plate will look fuller with less food on it and help you to automatically control your portion sizes. Garnish with healthy parsley to make it pretty, take up space and aid in digestion too.
5. Make dinner a time of conversation. Setting out a big meal and letting everyone just dive right in leads to eating too quickly and long after becoming adequately full. Add candles and conversation to set the pace and take some of the focus off of rapid face-stuffing. This can be a great time to learn more about what's going on in your children's lives or catch up on the romance with your significant other.
Changing your entire approach to food can help you lose weight more effectively and develop very healthy habits. Try to re-think the things you are neglecting in the process of food preparation, and you will probably find quite a few habits that add up to extra calories and a lot of room for improvement. Use these tips to make positive changes and hopefully, attain success in your weight loss efforts!

Quick and Easy Calorie Burning Tricks

As Featured On EzineArticles


If you have a few pounds to lose and think that a crash diet is the only solution, think again. There are many approaches to losing weight and quite a few that are effective. However, sometimes the simplest things can jump-start your weight loss and get you going in the right direction. Read on for some ideas on how to burn calories without major lifestyle changes.
One very simple thing that can increase your activity level and add up to a fitter body over time is taking stairs instead of elevators whenever possible. This is something that does not cost you anything and requires no major investment of time. You don't have to join a gym or class when you do simple things like this to burn calories in the course of your daily life. Get in the habit of taking the stairs and resolve that you will always do it. That way, it is never an issue. You may also want to try parking in the space farthest away rather than the closest when you are shopping or running errands. These extra steps every day add up to a higher activity level in general. 
Make sure that you do one activity every day that gets you moving. Every day. This does not have to be a major workout, just something that makes you active for a few minutes. It can be going for a walk around the block, swimming a few laps or even having fun on the water, kayaking or rowing in a canoe. Whatever you choose, make it a part of your daily life. If feasible, recruit a partner, someone who will keep you accountable and push you on the days you feel lazy or preoccupied. 
Purchase a journal that is dedicated to writing down what you eat and how many calories you burn to counteract the accumulation of snacks and meals. If you work out at a gym, some equipment will actually track this for you. Bring along your journal and write down your totals. At the end of every week, look over your notes and see what patterns emerge. Use this to change course if necessary, and to build upon what works. 
Put some money aside to invest in a bicycle. This is the perfect way to burn some extra calories while also saving money on gas and reducing your carbon footprint. It is not necessary to give up your car, or to ride your bike to work every day, particularly for long distances or in inclement weather. You can use it instead of pedaling to nearby destinations such as the post office or neighborhood coffee shop. Bicycles can be expensive, so you may want to purchase a pre-owned one until you know for sure that it is an activity you will pursue.
Take the time to incorporate these easy ideas into your daily life, then enjoy watching those pounds disappear. Your health will improve and your energy levels rise. Get started today creating the new you.

Understanding Personal Goals In Weight

As Featured On EzineArticles


Weight-loss is on the minds of millions of people. People want to lose weight for many reasons. Unfortunately, many people fail in their efforts because they are looking for a quick and easy way to lose those pounds. If you have been down this path, and would like to start again with stronger tactics, read this article for some advice that can help you get back on track.
Anything can be accomplished if the motivation is there. You have to ask yourself what type of commitment you are willing to make in order to meet your weight loss goals. No fad diet or pill can give you the motivation. Commitment comes from the heart. It reflects how badly you want something. It is not enough just to say it. Your actions have to show it. If you are doubtful about your full commitment, perhaps you are not ready to lose weight.
It will be helpful to you if you write down the reasons why you want to lose weight. These reasons will help you develop a goal. Your reasons will be your source of motivation.
There are many weight-loss methods that do not require fad diets or pills. These healthy methods are more sustainable because they require a fundamental change in your lifestyle. You need to eat foods that are high in nutrition and low in fat and sugar. You need to exercise regularly. You need to increase the amount of vegetables and fruit in your meals. Finally, you need to be patient. Healthy weight-loss is a gradual process. You will be in this for the long-term.
It is important to have a circle of people supporting you through your weight-loss efforts. They can encourage you to stick with it. You may even be able to find an exercise buddy who can work out with you. Your support network is your Cheerleading section when you reach one of your goals. You do not need a lot of people. As long as you have at least a few friends who are always there to cheer you on, you will be in good shape.
You should consult a nutritionist who can evaluate your current diet and suggest improvements. Your nutritionist is able to tailor a diet for you. It is not enough to just eat less, but you have to eat the right foods. A nutritionist can give you  suggestions on food ingredients and preparation.
Keep a journal of the foods that you consume everyday. This is a way of policing yourself so you do not sneak a donut without counting those calories. After you have completed a day's entry, look back at it, and see how balanced your diet is. If you see that not enough vegetables were eaten, eat more of it the next day.
Weight loss does not need to involve expensive programs or pills. If you stick to the basic ways of proper nutrition and regular exercise, you can attain your weight-loss goal. All it takes is your commitment and patience in the process.