Over two thirds of Americans are over weight, and half of them are considered obese. Most of the remaining third of Americans are concerned about becoming overweight! While we are obsessed with avoiding food that is high in fat, America has the dubious distinction of its population having the highest percentage of overweight people of any nation in the world! England is number two!
One of the most common and harmful misunderstandings is the misinformation (lie) that we are fat because we eat too much fat. Though eating excess fat can contribute, the primary culprit for excess body fat and many degenerative diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes is NOT eating foods high in fat, but eating too much carbohydrates and sugar, and especially in combination with fat, such as French Fries and corn or potato chips. People on a high carbohydrate and low fat diet tend to be more unhealthy, carry more excess body fat and don’t live as long.
Putting the Brakes to Your Metabolism!
What creates excess body fat, more than anything else, is a high RATIO of the carbohydrates to protein and fat, and especially certain types of carbohydrates that have a high conversion rate to fat. When the percentage of a meal (not just for the day) is higher in sugar or carbohydrates (a long chain of sugar molecules), much more of that food will be converted to fat instead of being burned as energy (calories). The effect of this is putting the brakes on your metabolism, which results in lower energy and greater storage of fat. Obviously, this is NOT what you want!
Plus this sets up a vicious cycle of over eating. Once the carbohydrates are converted to fat, you get a blood sugar drop, which makes you hungry for more carbohydrates. So you eat more to raise your blood sugar, and the whole vicious cycle repeats! Soon, you’ve gained weight, and feel even more like a failure.
According to the Glycemic Research Institute, many of the “fat-free” foods are much more fattening than they were before the fat was removed, because sugar has been added (and often disguised) to compensate for the low fat!
This is because carbohydrates and sugar, and especially certain carbohydrates, stimulate insulin production. Insulin directs your body to convert the food to fat and store it as fat instead of just burning it as energy. To measure this fat conversion and storage effect, foods are rated by what is called the glycemic index. The higher the index, the higher percentage of that food and the other foods eaten with it, will be converted to fat, regardless of the fat content of the food.
So for an example, eating high glycemic foods like baked potato, rice cakes, corn flakes or cooked oatmeal which are low in fat, is more fattening than eating a juicy beef steak or a bowl of ice cream!
High Fat Conversion Foods
These are some common foods with their glycemic index numbers, that are especially high on this index, and thus stimulate fat storage:
Common sugar (sucrose)—92
Macaroni and cheese—92
Potatoes (mashed—100; French fries—107; baked—121; potato chips—high)
Corn—78; pop corn—79; corn chips—105; corn flakes—119
Pizza—86
White rice—83; brown rice—79
White and wheat bread—101
Cold cereals (most). E. g. Life—94; Grape nuts—96; Cheerios—106; Total—109
Cooked cereals (e. g. Cream of Wheat—100, oatmeal—87 (steel cut is less)
Bananas—77
Most juices and all drink mixes and soft drinks (97)
Desserts (ice cream—87); donuts—108
Fat-free bottled “lite” dressings (due to added corn syrup and maltodextrins).
High fructose corn syrup—89
Maltodextrins—150 (added to many foods, but deceptively not counted as sugar! )
Did you notice that some of these foods are worse than pure sugar? It is wise to eat these foods sparingly. And when you do eat these foods, balance the glycemic index for the whole meal by eating low index foods with them.
Fat Burning Foods
Here are some of the foods that are rated as having a low glycemic index:
Fructose—32
Trutina Dulcem (a fruit sugar fifteen times sweeter than regular sugar)
“Super sugars” (glyconutrients)
Stevia—though not “approved” by the FDA as a sweetener, it is often used as such
High protein foods (e. g. fish, meat and eggs)
Most vegetables including sweet potatoes and yams
Beans—40
Salads—low
Avocado—low
Stone ground bread and sprouted grain—low
Barley—36
Rye—48
Most pastas—varies; spaghetti—59 (but very low nutritional value)
Berries—low
Cherries—32
Apples—54
Oranges—63
Peaches—60
Pears—53
Dairy products; whole milk—39 (there are other concerns mentioned previously)
Soy milk—43
Seeds and nuts—as low as 21 (peanuts)
Butter (in moderation—far superior to margarine)
Olive oil
Soy beans—25
Celery—very very low
There is one other huge advantage to using low glycemic foods besides weight control: longevity! According a study by T. Par entitled "Insulin Exposure and Aging Theory" in the Journal of Gerontology - 1997; 43: 182-200, high insulin levels, which result from consuming high glycemic foods, promotes accelerated aging. Both calorie restriction and a low glycemic index diet appear to be important for longevity, BUT a diet of low glycemic foods is even more effective than calorie restriction for longevity.
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Showing posts with label metabolism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label metabolism. Show all posts
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Top 5 Exercise Plateau Breakers
Plateau. That dreaded word that you do not want to hear, let alone experience. Especially if you have been diligently exercising in an attempt to get fit or lose weight. We have all experienced a plateau at some time - all of a sudden you stop losing weight or you just cant seem to run any faster. When you hit a plateau, don't panic. It doesn't necessarily mean you need to work harder or spend more days at the gym.
Here are five ideas that may help you break through in record time.
Take an Active Rest
If you have hit a plateau, it may be time for an active rest. Take a week off from structured exercise, and instead take leisurely walks, play ball with the kids, or take a yoga class. Active rest rejuvenates the mind and the body and allows for overworked muscles to rest and rebuild. You will return to exercise stronger and ready for new challenges.
Time to Eat
As you increase your fitness level, your body's metabolism may increase and so will your calorie needs. If you hit a plateau, evaluate how much you are eating. You may need to eat more than you have in the past for your body to continue to increase its fitness level. If you find you are often hungry, this is a clear sign you need to eat more to sustain your exercise program.
Mix it Up
If you do not vary your workout routine your body will eventually run on cruise control, and you will experience a plateau. Try new cardiovascular activities, or use free weights if you always use machines for strength training. Changes in your routine will surprise the body and force it to adapt, bringing you to new levels of fitness.
Different Day, Different Intensity
Varying your activities, or cross-training is important to avoid or break through a plateau. While cross-training the type of activity is often recommended, it is also important to cross-train the intensity of your workouts. Specify different days of the week as low, moderate or high-intensity days. Try interval training work at a low intensity for a couple of minutes and increase to a high intensity for a couple of minutes, and repeat. If you use a heart rate monitor, be sure your average heart rate for your exercise sessions vary from day to day.
Sleep It Off
Be sure you are getting enough sleep. Getting the right amount of sleep for your body will allow time for your muscles to recover from exercise. This will ensure that you can come to your next exercise session with enough energy and at full strength to take on a challenging workout.
If you are still frustrated, find inspiration in the story of Chris Witty, winner of the Gold Medal in 1000 meter speed skating in the 1998 Winter Olympics. A month before she was to compete in the Olympics, she was diagnosed with mononucleosis. Of course she had to cut back on training, and at the time that she should have been preparing to peak for competition. Not only did she win the Gold Medal, which nobody expected, she broke the world record! Imagine what a little rest might do for your workouts!
If you find you still cant break through that plateau, then make the decision to ride it out. Sometimes a plateau is necessary to allow the body to catch up with a new body weight or fitness level. Rest assured your body knows what is best and will break through the plateau at the right time!
Best Fat Burning Exercises and Interval Training
Here are five ideas that may help you break through in record time.
Take an Active Rest
If you have hit a plateau, it may be time for an active rest. Take a week off from structured exercise, and instead take leisurely walks, play ball with the kids, or take a yoga class. Active rest rejuvenates the mind and the body and allows for overworked muscles to rest and rebuild. You will return to exercise stronger and ready for new challenges.
Time to Eat
As you increase your fitness level, your body's metabolism may increase and so will your calorie needs. If you hit a plateau, evaluate how much you are eating. You may need to eat more than you have in the past for your body to continue to increase its fitness level. If you find you are often hungry, this is a clear sign you need to eat more to sustain your exercise program.
Mix it Up
If you do not vary your workout routine your body will eventually run on cruise control, and you will experience a plateau. Try new cardiovascular activities, or use free weights if you always use machines for strength training. Changes in your routine will surprise the body and force it to adapt, bringing you to new levels of fitness.
Different Day, Different Intensity
Varying your activities, or cross-training is important to avoid or break through a plateau. While cross-training the type of activity is often recommended, it is also important to cross-train the intensity of your workouts. Specify different days of the week as low, moderate or high-intensity days. Try interval training work at a low intensity for a couple of minutes and increase to a high intensity for a couple of minutes, and repeat. If you use a heart rate monitor, be sure your average heart rate for your exercise sessions vary from day to day.
Sleep It Off
Be sure you are getting enough sleep. Getting the right amount of sleep for your body will allow time for your muscles to recover from exercise. This will ensure that you can come to your next exercise session with enough energy and at full strength to take on a challenging workout.
If you are still frustrated, find inspiration in the story of Chris Witty, winner of the Gold Medal in 1000 meter speed skating in the 1998 Winter Olympics. A month before she was to compete in the Olympics, she was diagnosed with mononucleosis. Of course she had to cut back on training, and at the time that she should have been preparing to peak for competition. Not only did she win the Gold Medal, which nobody expected, she broke the world record! Imagine what a little rest might do for your workouts!
If you find you still cant break through that plateau, then make the decision to ride it out. Sometimes a plateau is necessary to allow the body to catch up with a new body weight or fitness level. Rest assured your body knows what is best and will break through the plateau at the right time!
Best Fat Burning Exercises and Interval Training
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
4 Fad Diets To Avoid
By Ada Denis
The insanity regarding weight loss has affected every obese
person out there. And why not? A decision to lose weight is a
good one, but you need to do it healthily. Unfortunately,
most people take to the unhealthy weight loss method called
'fad dieting' and end up losing muscles rather than fat.
Keep in mind that a fad diet cannot offer you a permanent
weight loss solution; only a healthy food plan can. So don't
focus on how to lose weight fast; rather, focus on how to
become healthy through weight loss. In this article I will
tell you about top four fad diets you mustn't follow.
1. Liquid Diet
Under this diet plan, you are required to eat only liquids
and avoid all solid foods. Liquids such as milk, protein
shakes, and fruit juices are recommended. If you follow this
diet only for a few days, you will become weak and limp.
This is definitely not a practical diet to go with since you
won't be able to follow it for the rest of your life.
2. Grapefruit Diet
Have you ever heard of or followed this diet? If you have,
you will know that this diet plan restricts your food intake
to a ridiculously low level, probably to that of a baby.
Under this diet plan, you need to eat only grapefruit and
protein-rich foods at every single meal of the day. This
diet is based on the belief that when protein is combined
with grapefruit, it accelerates a person's fat burning
process by enhancing his metabolism, thereby helping him
lose weight.
Now this might be true, but ask yourself - could you eat
grapefruits all your life? I would surely get bored. Plus
the weight loss you achieve through this diet would be just
temporary. Obviously, this is not a diet plan for you.
3. Egg Diet
This is basically a stem of the Atkins diet. This diet is
based on the concept that if you eat a protein-rich diet and
avoid all carbs, your body would be forced to burn fat to
produce energy since it won't find any carbohydrates. For
this reason you are suggested to eat as many eggs as you
can, along with cheese and meat.
In reality though, the concept doesn't work. When your body
doesn't get an adequate supply of carbohydrates, it won't
burn your fat deposits; instead, it would start burning your
lean muscles. Gradually, you will turn into a smaller
version of your former self, albeit with the same huge
potbelly you had. But far from that, your metabolic rate
would be reduced to a very low level as well. Do you still
think it is a good idea to go with this diet?
4. Banana Diet
Yet another crazy diet, which asks you to eat only bananas
for your breakfast. Of course, you could eat anything for
the rest of the day. The rationale behind this is that
bananas help in quicker digestion, thereby preventing the
body from absorbing all calories and turning them into fat
deposits. There is no scientific study or proof to backup
this claim, so I am not sure if this diet works at all.
When choosing a diet plan, you need to choose one which is
not only healthy but also viable; plus it should help you
achieve permanent weight loss. None of the above fad diets
fit this criteria, so they are definitely not for you. If
you are just looking forward to losing a few pounds, then
definitely go with any of the diets above, but don't be
surprised if those pounds come back as soon as you quit
dieting.
Any other fad diet you know of that works or not? Leave
a comment and let us know.
The insanity regarding weight loss has affected every obese
person out there. And why not? A decision to lose weight is a
good one, but you need to do it healthily. Unfortunately,
most people take to the unhealthy weight loss method called
'fad dieting' and end up losing muscles rather than fat.
Keep in mind that a fad diet cannot offer you a permanent
weight loss solution; only a healthy food plan can. So don't
focus on how to lose weight fast; rather, focus on how to
become healthy through weight loss. In this article I will
tell you about top four fad diets you mustn't follow.
1. Liquid Diet
Under this diet plan, you are required to eat only liquids
and avoid all solid foods. Liquids such as milk, protein
shakes, and fruit juices are recommended. If you follow this
diet only for a few days, you will become weak and limp.
This is definitely not a practical diet to go with since you
won't be able to follow it for the rest of your life.
2. Grapefruit Diet
Have you ever heard of or followed this diet? If you have,
you will know that this diet plan restricts your food intake
to a ridiculously low level, probably to that of a baby.
Under this diet plan, you need to eat only grapefruit and
protein-rich foods at every single meal of the day. This
diet is based on the belief that when protein is combined
with grapefruit, it accelerates a person's fat burning
process by enhancing his metabolism, thereby helping him
lose weight.
Now this might be true, but ask yourself - could you eat
grapefruits all your life? I would surely get bored. Plus
the weight loss you achieve through this diet would be just
temporary. Obviously, this is not a diet plan for you.
3. Egg Diet
This is basically a stem of the Atkins diet. This diet is
based on the concept that if you eat a protein-rich diet and
avoid all carbs, your body would be forced to burn fat to
produce energy since it won't find any carbohydrates. For
this reason you are suggested to eat as many eggs as you
can, along with cheese and meat.
In reality though, the concept doesn't work. When your body
doesn't get an adequate supply of carbohydrates, it won't
burn your fat deposits; instead, it would start burning your
lean muscles. Gradually, you will turn into a smaller
version of your former self, albeit with the same huge
potbelly you had. But far from that, your metabolic rate
would be reduced to a very low level as well. Do you still
think it is a good idea to go with this diet?
4. Banana Diet
Yet another crazy diet, which asks you to eat only bananas
for your breakfast. Of course, you could eat anything for
the rest of the day. The rationale behind this is that
bananas help in quicker digestion, thereby preventing the
body from absorbing all calories and turning them into fat
deposits. There is no scientific study or proof to backup
this claim, so I am not sure if this diet works at all.
When choosing a diet plan, you need to choose one which is
not only healthy but also viable; plus it should help you
achieve permanent weight loss. None of the above fad diets
fit this criteria, so they are definitely not for you. If
you are just looking forward to losing a few pounds, then
definitely go with any of the diets above, but don't be
surprised if those pounds come back as soon as you quit
dieting.
Any other fad diet you know of that works or not? Leave
a comment and let us know.
Friday, 24 September 2010
Want To Build Muscle? Focus On The Right Muscle Building Diet
By Robert Harvard
When most people begin muscle building, they typically focus
on the exercises necessary to build muscle and reduce
body fat. However, the bodybuilding diet is the most
important aspect of the entire process. Without a proper
diet, those muscles you've worked so hard to build will be
covered over with a layer of fat, which goes against
everything a bodybuilder tries to do.
A bodybuilding diet isn't difficult to keep up, it just
takes a little discipline and know how. With a few tips and
a lot of self control, you could be well on your way to the
physique you've only dreamed about.
Split Up Your Meals
As we grew up, our parents usually taught us to eat three
meals a day. Those meals were to contain the four food
groups and they were generally large enough to keep us
satiated until the next meal came around. However, the more
you eat in one sitting, the more your body has to work to
digest it. Health experts now tell us to split up our meals
into four to six smaller meals, eaten throughout the day.
This, too, is what the bodybuilding diet entails. By
splitting up your meals into four to six smaller, more
manageable, meals each day, our metabolisms speed up,
enabling us to burn more fat than ever before.
Stay Away From Processed Food
When you begin your bodybuilding diet, you want to refrain
from anything that uses processed flour. Experienced
bodybuilders will tell you to stay to the outside perimeter
of the supermarket, where the dairy, meat, fruit, veggies
and bread are located. They will tell you to stay away from
the inside aisles of the supermarket, where all the chips,
and other processed foods are located. The simplest way to
keep to your bodybuilding diet is to tell yourself to keep
it natural. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and stay
away from anything laden with sugar; as this will turn into
fat in the long run.
Water, Water, Water
It can't be said enough. When beginning any bodybuilding
diet, you can't refrain from drinking lots of water. Water
flushes the fat and toxins from our body and also helps us
in fighting disease and illness. After all, we are seventy
percent water so we need to drink plenty of water if we hope
to stay healthy. A good rule is to drink a glass of water
before each meal, during each meal and once between meals.
This will keep you plenty hydrated and that's important,
especially when it comes to your bodybuilding diet.
If you stick to the above tips and work hard, you could
become a bodybuilder in no time. Remember, being a
bodybuilder doesn't just mean having big muscles, it also
means having low body fat. While working out will give you
the muscles you want, it's the bodybuilding diet that will
strip you of that fat so that those muscles, and all your
hard work, will finally be revealed.
How to make full use of (http://medicalalarms.net.nz/) medic
alert is important and you can find the top useful tips of
(http://healthsupplement.co.nz/) vitamin supplements.
When most people begin muscle building, they typically focus
on the exercises necessary to build muscle and reduce
body fat. However, the bodybuilding diet is the most
important aspect of the entire process. Without a proper
diet, those muscles you've worked so hard to build will be
covered over with a layer of fat, which goes against
everything a bodybuilder tries to do.
A bodybuilding diet isn't difficult to keep up, it just
takes a little discipline and know how. With a few tips and
a lot of self control, you could be well on your way to the
physique you've only dreamed about.
Split Up Your Meals
As we grew up, our parents usually taught us to eat three
meals a day. Those meals were to contain the four food
groups and they were generally large enough to keep us
satiated until the next meal came around. However, the more
you eat in one sitting, the more your body has to work to
digest it. Health experts now tell us to split up our meals
into four to six smaller meals, eaten throughout the day.
This, too, is what the bodybuilding diet entails. By
splitting up your meals into four to six smaller, more
manageable, meals each day, our metabolisms speed up,
enabling us to burn more fat than ever before.
Stay Away From Processed Food
When you begin your bodybuilding diet, you want to refrain
from anything that uses processed flour. Experienced
bodybuilders will tell you to stay to the outside perimeter
of the supermarket, where the dairy, meat, fruit, veggies
and bread are located. They will tell you to stay away from
the inside aisles of the supermarket, where all the chips,
and other processed foods are located. The simplest way to
keep to your bodybuilding diet is to tell yourself to keep
it natural. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and stay
away from anything laden with sugar; as this will turn into
fat in the long run.
Water, Water, Water
It can't be said enough. When beginning any bodybuilding
diet, you can't refrain from drinking lots of water. Water
flushes the fat and toxins from our body and also helps us
in fighting disease and illness. After all, we are seventy
percent water so we need to drink plenty of water if we hope
to stay healthy. A good rule is to drink a glass of water
before each meal, during each meal and once between meals.
This will keep you plenty hydrated and that's important,
especially when it comes to your bodybuilding diet.
If you stick to the above tips and work hard, you could
become a bodybuilder in no time. Remember, being a
bodybuilder doesn't just mean having big muscles, it also
means having low body fat. While working out will give you
the muscles you want, it's the bodybuilding diet that will
strip you of that fat so that those muscles, and all your
hard work, will finally be revealed.
How to make full use of (http://medicalalarms.net.nz/) medic
alert is important and you can find the top useful tips of
(http://healthsupplement.co.nz/) vitamin supplements.
Monday, 1 June 2009
Increase Your Metabolism With These 10 Tips
By Thong M. Dao
There are many folks who would give everything they have to
increase their metabolism. Having a high level of metabolism
enables you to burn fat and lose weight fast with less
amounts of activity. Metabolism is the rate by which the body
produces and consumes energy and calories to support life.
Here is a list of items that will affect your metabolism;
frequency of meals, stress levels, diet plans, activity, and
the amount of muscle tissue your body has.
Here are 10 home run tips that will boost your metabolism.
1. Build up lean body mass. It is only natural that
metabolism decreases with age, but it is possible to counter
the effects. The amount of muscle you have is a strong
determinant to the ability to burn calories and shed fat. So
it goes without saying that exercise is essential.
Build strength and resistance by working out at least twice
a week, preferably with weights. Do easy exercises between
workouts. Simple tasks such as walking the dog and using the
stairs instead of the elevator can burn off calories.
2. Consume breakfast daily. Many individuals do not consume
breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Have you ever noticed, those individuals who consume
breakfast are thinner than those that don't? Metabolism
decreases considerably if you wait to eat later in the day.
3. Spicy food is a friend of metabolism and helps increase
its level.
4. Sleep more. According to research, people who do not get
enough sleep run a greater risk of gaining weight. Also,
muscles are regenerated during the last couple of hours of slumber.
5. Increase water intake. Water flushes out toxins produced
whenever the body burns fat. Majority of the body's
functions involves water, and lack of water causes their
operations to decrease.
6. Have smaller meals. Every 2 to 3 hours we need to consume
a meal, approximately 4 to 6 meals a day. Remember we are
increasing our metabolism so, think healthy meal, not junk
food.
7. Planning on skipping meals? Well don't! One of the
biggest concepts of individuals who are trying to lose
weight is to skip meals. Big mistake! Skipping meals slows
down your metabolism.
8. Meals need to be planned in detail. Occasional eating is
a mistake. Plan what, when, and serving size daily.
9. Green tea. Green tea is also a friend of metabolism.
Green tea boosts metabolism but contrary to coffee, it has
no undesirable side effects.
10. Whole grain, beans, fruits, and vegetables are great to
assist you on your weight loss adventure.
Achieving the desired body weight is never impossible if you
have the determination and patience needed. Remember that
eating right and working out are not just a passing fancy,
but a lifestyle.
Subscribe to my hype-free (http://www.fat-free-fast.com)
fitness newsletter and gain FREE immediate access to a 5-day
(http://www.fat-free-fast.com/index.html) total fitness
course plus a ton of top-notch gifts at your fingertips!
Thursday, 30 April 2009
How To Develope Healthy Eating Habits
By Dan Beckwith
Good carbs, bad carbs, protein, nutrients...It can all get
pretty heavy duty. Healthy eating facts abound and can get
very confusing.
Today, let's put away the latest calorie counting charts and
discuss a tactic that is incredibly easy and is guaranteed
to help you lose weight, and eat more healthy. It is truly
one of the best healthy eating facts around.
Consider this, when was the last time you ordered a pizza or
went through the drive through at the local fast food place?
You know the super deluxe pizza, or the hamburger and fries
are bad for you... so, why? Why did you go there?
I'm sure there are exceptions, but my guess would be that
most of you grabbed the burger or pizza for no reason other
than - you didn't know what to fix for dinner. The fast food
place was on the way home, and it offered a simple solution.
To a surprising extent, our unhealthy diets exist for no
reason other than convenience. It's a fact - but, not one
of the healthy eating facts. The last thing we want to do
after a long day at work, is create a menu for our dinner.
We are tired! Then, when you consider the minefield of good
carbs, bad carbs and so on... it's even worse. BTW - it's
just as bad to toss a frozen pizza into the oven as it is to
order one.
Here's how to solve that problem...On your next day off (or
whenever you can) set aside a couple hours and plan your
dinner menu for each day in the coming week! Go two weeks if
you are feeling ambitious.
Put each meal plan on a separate sheet of paper in a 3 ring
binder. If you want to go all out, you can even separate the
days with pretty, multicolored tabs. Eventually, you will
probably want to laminate the pages.
Every night, when you get home, open your binder to that
days menu and prepare it. Here's the important part, we want
to make this a habit so never deviate from this daily plan.
You will totally stop the impulse buying from the local fast
food place, save a lot of money, and never have to worry
about what to fix for dinner.
It may seem overly simple, but it works and it will save you
quite a bit of money too!
If you had a personal chef, and their job was to fix you
healthy, nutritious, low-calorie meals, you would expect
them to pre-plan the menu. If they always waited until the
last minute for inspiration, you would most likely fire
them. Think of yourself in the same way, pre-plan your
meals. Then, don't change your plans during the week.
Right now, it may seem like a boring chore, but once this
becomes a habit you will learn to truly love your binder.
If you plan all your meals to be healthy ones, it MUST
eventually improve your health. It has to!
At the end of your first week, sit down and do it again.
Make up a new meal plan for the next week. Try to make them
all different recipes than the ones you had before. By the
end of the first month, you will have a months worth of
different recipes you can call on.
Every meal, for four weeks, will be different. This way you
will never get tired of eating the same meals over and over
again. They will all be tasty, nutritious and low calorie.
Once you've gotten this far, you can stop your weekly
planning and just continuously rotate the recipes in your
binder.
I think that's one of the best healthy eating facts out
there, and it will help you save a bundle at the grocery
store.
Check out my website for a bunch of additional information
and a free subscription to my " Fast Weight Loss" mini
course.
Dan Beckwith is an author and geek who's done all the weight
loss research and studies, so you don't have to. To discover
bunches of
(http://www.weightloss-2.org/Healthy-Eating-Facts.html)
Healthy Eating Facts, read bunches of interesting articles
and get your copy of a free (http://www.weightloss-2.org/)
"Fast Weight Loss Tips" mini-course, check out his website
IMMEDIATELY!
Monday, 20 April 2009
How To Make Fat Loss Work For You
With a huge percentage of the population of Western
countries overweight and out of shape, it's no wonder that
the demand for fitness products is as strong as ever. Diet
pills, protein shakes and exercise gadgets are selling like
crazy as people try to lose weight and have a better quality
life.
As the culture of fast-food spreads across the globe, an
increasing number of people are falling prey to the
temptations of high-calorie junk food. Obesity is on the
rise and together with it other diet-related diseases like
diabetes and high-blood pressure.
In their quest to lead healthier lives and find the fastest
fat loss method, overweight people embrace the newest fad
diet that comes along. The word 'fad' precedes 'diet'
because that's just what they are - popular for a while then
as folks realize their effects aren't sustainable, these
over-hyped diet plans are quickly dropped for the next one
that comes along.
Getting rid of excess fat is only a matter of burning more
calories than our body takes in each day. Office work and
commuting takes up most of our hours and this means we're on
our butts for most of the day. Losing weight then by just
cutting back on food intake won't be very successful without
regular workout sessions.
Fat loss happens faster when we exercise and use up a larger
amount of caloric energy than we get from our daily
consumption of food. Aside from improving our physique,
working out regularly also conditions the cardiovascular
system and produces endorphins which improve our mood.
Trying to cut back on calories by passing-up breakfast or
lunch can also lead to a feeling of self-deprivation. This
only serves to make us vulnerable to loss of self-control
and pigging-out the next time we go to a party or a buffet
table. Eating too much in one meal if done regularly results
in an ugly potbelly after a while.
Experts say it's more effective to eat small portions
whenever we get the munchies rather than stuffing ourselves
every meal. Doing this can also keep our metabolism high and
lets us burn calories more efficiently. It's been discovered
that our metabolic rate slows down considerably when our
body senses a shortage of food.
Having healthy eating habits and sticking to regular
fat-burning exercises (cardio and strength training) will
help speed-up fat loss and keep metabolism high. Raising the
body's metabolic rate means less calories transformed to
fat.
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Starting A Fat Loss Diet? Check Out These 7 Tips First
Do you want to lose fat? Have you tried different diets and
failed consistently? If you answered yes to these
questions, you are in good company. There are a lot of
people who have been trying fat loss diets over the years
and have failed. The reason they have not succeeded is that
they used gimmicks and lose-weight-fast diets that do more
damage than good. Here are some sensible things to keep in
mind when you try to lose weight.
1. Why are you overweight? Do you have a problem with
emotional eating? If that's the case you need to teach
yourself to turn to solutions other than food when you have
an emotional difficulty. If you are just not eating right,
learn how to eat well and nutritiously. Check with your
doctor if you suspect a hormonal imbalance. When you find
out what is causing you to gain weight, you can go ahead and
find a solution that will encourage fat loss.
2. Decide that from now on you control your food intake.
Look for a long term healthy diet that will allow you to
live a healthy life. Do not let friends and family pressure
you into eating something you shouldn't eat. Do not let
restaurant menus or food in your fridge influence what you
will be eating. Eat only what you decide you will be eating
in order to attain a healthy lifestyle.
3. Eat every 2-3 hours. The recommendation used to be to
eat 3 big meals. However, today we know that eating
frequently is better for your metabolism. Beware of snack
foods that are high in fat and calories. Instead, choose to
eat healthy snacks and stay away for high-fat processed
treats or sugary sweets.
4. Chew your food well. If you eat slowly and enjoy the
taste of your food, you will get more pleasure out of
eating. You will also end up eating less because it takes
your body some to to register that it is full. If you eat
too fast - you will end up eating more before you realize
that you are full.
5. Don't make major changes in your lifestyle. It is much
easier to follow a fat loss diet when you don't need to make
huge changes in your eating habits. Choose a plan that will
allow you to make small changes, allowing time for yourself
to get used to each change. You should not feel that you
need to starve or eat food that you are not familiar with.
6. Stay away from processed food and eat a balanced diet
instead. Processed foods are high in sugar and fat, and
eating it will make it harder for you to lose weight.
Processed food is also unhealthy and can cause heart disease
and other health problems. Instead, eat a lot of fruit,
vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins.
7. Remember to hydrate. Water, unsweetened teas, and other
relatively calorie free beverages that provide good
hydration (diet beverages often have caffeine, which can
reduce their hydrating ability) are a must. You'll feel
fuller, your body will be able to keep itself cleansed, and
the flavor of teas and similar drinks keeps you from having
cravings.
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
How To Increase Your Metabolism
Speeding up metabolism will guarantee weight loss success.
It must - it's a scientific process, not a wish. Learning
how to speed up metabolism in your body is a vital, but easy
step. Once you learn what causes weight gain, weight loss
and speeding up metabolism in your body... you will never
again feel frustrated, hungry or defeated by a diet that
doesn't work.
All weight loss (and weight gain) problems have to do with
metabolism. If your body is not metabolizing calories in an
optimal fashion, your dieting efforts are doomed. You will
be fighting against basic body chemistry - and you'll lose.
But, hang in there, speeding up metabolism is relatively
simple to do.
It's an ugly issue to consider, but most colons - due to our
standard diets - are impacted with a lifetime of fecal waste
the never gets eliminated. Most metabolic problems have
their beginnings in our digestive tracts and typically in
America, we have miserably functioning ones.
If you're serious about weight loss, look into some high
quality colon cleansing products. You'll be surprised at
what is lurking inside you. It's not pretty, and it prevents
your body from properly assimilating nutrition and
effectively metabolizing the foods that you eat.
Reports of clearer skin, increased energy, easier and longer
lasting weight loss and reduced illness are common after a
thorough colon cleansing.
Once you've gotten your colon squared away, you can
confidently start on your efforts to lose a few pounds.
I know that you don't want to hear it, but fast weight loss
programs are not healthy or effective for the long term.
Diets that help you lose a lot of weight in a relatively
short time pose a problem for most people as soon as they go
off the diet. Speeding up metabolism is the road to weight
loss. Most rapid weight loss diets don't address the issue
of how to speed up metabolism. Most diets actually slow the
metabolism which is why we regain the weight.
Health issues aside, the biggest problem with rapid weight
loss is that it usually comes at the expense of calories.
Almost every diet designed to lose weight quickly, requires
you to drastically cut back on your caloric intake. You are
literally starving yourself. Ok so far, most of us could
afford to miss a meal or two. But...
Your body doesn't understand dieting. It doesn't know it's
only a temporary condition. It just knows that something is
wrong and you aren't getting enough food!
So, instead of happily burning off your excess fat - what
your body does is try to protect you by slowing down your
metabolism. It tries to make do with no more than the
calories you are giving it. This causes a decrease in energy
and if you cut back enough, it could cause a decrease in
necessary bodily functions leading to coma and death!
Finally, when you stop the diet and start eating normally
again, all of a sudden you have all these extra calories.
They have to go somewhere, so they get stored as fat.
Caloric intake that was normal before your diet, is now
(because of your slowed metabolism) way too high! You will
gain all the weight back. Plus, you'll keep going. You need
to learn how to speed up metabolism in your body so the
calories are burned away.
We're bombarded by ads and testimonials from companies
showing someone who was successful on their diet. They lost
the weight and kept it off. Assuming they really did it,
(these multi-billion dollar companies would NEVER lie to
us!) somewhere in the ad is a disclaimer saying that these
results are not typical. They never tell us about all the
other things that went into the weight loss. Such as
exercise, colon cleansing, eating healthier, and sometimes
medication. They probably made a radical change in their
lifestyle.
So, how to speed up metabolism? Two areas to begin with are
a colon cleansing and second, don't cut way back on your
calories.
Instead, speeding up metabolism in your body is as simple as
eating MORE OFTEN! Instead of two or three big meals a day,
eat five or six smaller ones. This will aid in speeding up
metabolism by keeping your metabolism constantly working.
Your body will - again - try to help you by burning off the
extra fuel at a faster rate. This shows up as increased
energy.
You should see your doctor before you start any weight loss
or exercise regimen and while there, have them check your
thyroid to eliminate any worries on that aspect of weight
loss.
Don't wait. Start right now. sure, study all the weight loss
literature, but take some minor step toward your goal every
day. Starting right now! Take a walk, eat a healthy
breakfast, stop going to the fast food places - do
something! Everything adds up and soon your weigh problems
will be nothing more than a distant memory.
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