The Firm Diet Plan

The firm diet plan is what's needed when you move from your regular way of eating in your attempt to lose weight. It is usually very hard to stick to your diet plan.

You make promises to yourself regarding all the things you will give up. You swear that you are giving up fizzy drinks and replace it with water. You fool yourself into believing that one little piece of that bar of chocolate will not hurt, but have you ever eaten one little piece of chocolate and leave the rest? It does not happen easily we need to stick to the firm diet plan.

The Firm Diet Plan - It Is Just an Apple

The way to lose the weight is to commit and promise yourself you will not give in to temptation. I remember years ago asking a work colleague if she would like an apple, and was told that her diet did not allow it now.

My thought was, one apple won't hurt! But where do you draw the line. The idea is to commit to something and stick to the plan.

As the only way you can lose the pounds is by sticking to your carefully thought out plan, how do you get the motivation and control to stick to your diet plan?

The firm diet plan - these tips below will help you stay on track.

• Set practical weight loss target for yourself. What you have to remember is if you set unattainable goals you will fail. Stay away for fad diets or crash diets that promise you to lose 20 pounds in one week. Set a realistic weight loss goal - doctors and dietitians will tell you one pound a week is a healthy loss. Once you have your goal, give yourself a treat (half an apple) and start losing another pound.

• Choose your diet plan well and make sure it is suited to your way of eating as well as healthy. Choose your food items well. Are you cutting down on fats and sugars? Stick to around 1500 calories a day, and look closely at your weekly shopping list. Ask yourself if you can live with the plan chosen and will it work for you.

• Plan your meals a week or more in advance. Make your shopping list and do not forget the healthy snacks. They will come in handy when you need something quick to eat or waiting for mealtime.

• Remember the point of dieting is not only to lose the weight, but to develop a new permanent lifestyle; you do not want to regain the weight.

• Make sure you have each day the required vitamins and minerals in your diet.

• Talk positively and give yourself pep talks. Set aside a few minutes each day to be positive. Talk loudly to yourself - stop worrying about what others think about you. Reaffirm your goal of losing the pound at the end of the week and nothing is going to stop you.

• Losing weight is not that easy or we will all be the ideal weight with nothing to worry about. Take it slowly. It took years to pile on the pounds and it will take time to take it off. Aim to lose one pound a week - that is 52 pounds a year.

Check out 60 Ways To Lose Weight

Theresa Williams is a grandmother with two children and three grandchildren, in her sixth decade plus of life, now retired for full time employment. As she is not the retiring type, she has started on a new course in her life. She lives with her two dogs and a garden that is too large to cope with. As weight control in later years is something we really have to be concerned with, we are living longer and need to maintain good health for ourselves and family.

60 Ways To Lose Weight

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Theresa_Williams

How to Turn 'Diet Failure' Into Weight-Loss Success

"Past performance is no guarantee of future results."

That's the boilerplate we see when we buy a mutual fund or other potentially risky investment. It serves as a warning, lest we think success is a sure thing.

But what if we flipped things around and used those words to encourage ourselves?

What if we used them to remind ourselves that yes, we can change, that we can succeed in the future even if we've struggled in the past?

Plenty of women feel like they've "failed" at fat loss because they've tried this diet or that diet, lost some weight, and then regained it. Maybe that describes you.

But let's look at those events as results, not failures. Let's examine them to see why you might not have been successful.

And let's not make the mistake of thinking we're doomed to stay unhealthy just because we haven't attained our goals just yet.

A better strategy is to figure out what we can learn from the past and use our "failures" to make better choices now. You can start by asking yourself these questions:

1. Did the diet provide enough calories to keep you satisfied? (Most popular diets do not!)
2. Did the diet include enough high-quality protein?
3. Was the food plan based on normal whole foods (e.g., lean meats, vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy, whole grains) rather than fake foods (e.g., shakes, meal-replacement bars, "diet" cookies)?
4. Did anyone support you during your fat-loss program?
5. Was exercise part of your routine?
6. Did you have an exercise buddy, join an exercise class, or otherwise enlist the help of people who kept you accountable?
7. Did the diet promise fat loss if you took certain supplements?
8. Did the program promise weight loss greater than one to two pounds a week?
9. Did the diet cut out whole categories of essential macronutrients (for example, carbohydrates or fats)?

If you answered no to some or all of questions 1 through 6 or yes to some or all of questions 7 through 9, the odds were against you.

Don't let that discourage you: you just learned something.

All of those factors have a powerful influence on your chances of success.

This topic has been on my mind since a friend e-mailed to thank me for believing in her-and to say that some of the others in her life have seen her "fail" at diets before and thus expect her to "fail" again.

Here's what I know: your past performance does not dictate future results.

With solid information rather than hype, people who support you, the willingness to change your habits, and enough self-love to cut yourself some slack when you hit a rough patch, you absolutely can lose fat and improve your health.

I know you have the power.

Mary C. Weaver, CSCS, is a fat-loss and body-transformation coach for women and an NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist.

She helps women lose weight, speed up their metabolism, and take years off their body.

Register for her online training session, The 7-Step Formula for Weight-Loss Success: Tuesday, March 26. Sign up here ---it's FREE!

Save your spot today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_C_Weaver

What Makes You Obese?

Obesity, in simple terms, is excess of fat in the body. And to know that you are obese or not, you can take the help of BMI calculator. If your BMI is between 25 and 29.9, then you are overweight and if it is 30 or more than 30, you are obese. There can be a number of reasons for obesity, some of which are listed below:

• Eating More than the Required: We often find it difficult to control our cravings, which results in over eating. Over eating simply means consuming more calories than your body actually needs.
• Inactive Lifestyle: Now that technology has given birth to laptops, automatic washing machines, dish washers, video games and a number of other such devices, most of the people are following an inactive lifestyle. Days when people had to go out of their house to a closely located market for buying necessary items are a thing of the past. Using Internet, people can buy any item they want with just a click.
• Lack of Sleep: According to surveys, lack of sound sleep increases your chances of gaining weight. The condition applies to children as well as adults.
• Medication: There are medicines that can cause a rise in your weight. If this is the case with you, it would be advised to choose an alternative treatment available.

With an aim to shed kilos instantly, most of the obese people put their faith in weight reduction surgery. Though the surgery rapidly reduces weight, it puts you on the risk of harmful infections. Moreover, the result of the surgery is not guaranteed.

Signing up for a weight loss program is a good substitute of surgery. There are various weight loss clinics that offer such programs based on diet plan, safe medicines, or both. The clinics follow a tested procedure that includes examining body, conducting tests, studying results and suggesting an effective weight reduction method.

Since their introduction, weight loss clinics have been very popular due to the fact that they can easily transform the life of obese. If you are thinking to contact any particular weight reduction center, then you are suggested to do a thorough research. The research could include reading reviews on Internet, talking to the previous patients and visiting the center personally. The research will help you determine the authenticity of a particular clinic and choose a reliable partner in the pursuit of your weight loss goal.

Gaurav, working for California Medical Weight Management, spreads awareness about the importance of harmful effects of obesity. According to him, weight loss centers play an important role in curing obesity. In his articles, he writes about the commitment medical weight loss centers towards transforming the life of obese people.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gauravyng_Mahajan

Ways to Stop Food Cravings

Ways to Stop Food Cravings is a struggle for many of us. It is common for food cravings to happen just around bedtime. Around that time of the day we are looking for some tasty treat before we go to bed. At times these craving are impossible to ignore.

Most food cravings have nothing to do with the need for nutrition but emotionally related. We are hard-wired to crave food to nourish as the same way we crave sex to have children. So in order for the human being to survive we need to eat and we need to have kids.

Biology has the upper-hand and we cannot do much about it. We cannot just say it is biology and eat. We will get as big as a whale in no time. So we have to be crafty and smart in our approach to our cravings or they will control us.

So, how do we control the situation and work toward looking at ways to stop food cravings? Here are a few tips.

• In order to curb your cravings, you cannot eat what you do not have. For instance, if you love chocolate biscuits do not buy it. Keep healthy food on hand for those times you fall victim to temptation.

• Can you recognize the feelings and emotions that cause you to comfort eat? Do you eat when you are stressed or bored? Recognize the feeling and when you are more likely to head for the kitchen. Make a note in your food diary. Label a column in your diary, ways to stop food cravings and keep careful notes.

• Curbing your hunger is a matter of self control and discipline. Although this is important, you will need support from friends and family. Discuss your over-eating habit with them to see if they may have ideas as to how you can curb it.

• Exercising increases the feel-good endorphins and that will help keep down your cravings. At least 30 minutes a day will be sufficient.

• If you cannot resist the temptation, eat food between 100-200 calories. Choose low fat foods.

• Do not skip meals. Eat smaller meals about six a day. Try some relaxation or do something pleasurable to get you away from comfort eating.

• Set a timer for one hour. If after the hour you still feel the craving, have a small amount of what you fancy.. Set the timer for another hour and get busy doing something. Most cravings lasts no more than 20 to 30 minutes. After the hour the problem may be solved.

• One of the ways to stop food cravings is pop a stick of chewing gum in your mouth. Get calorie free, it tends to stop you snacking.

• Have a glass of water you can be thirsty and not needing something to eat.

• Throw out all the unhealthy foods you have in the fridge and cupboards. Plan carefully and you will succeed. The goal here is to eat sensibly, be cheerful, and live long!

Check out 60 Ways To Lose Weight.

Theresa Williams is a grandmother with two children and three grandchildren, in her sixth decade plus of life, now retired for full time employment. As she is not the retiring type, she has started on a new course in her life. She lives with her two dogs and a garden that is too large to cope with. As weight control in later years is something we really have to be concerned with, we are living longer and need to maintain good health for ourselves and family.

60 Ways To Lose Weight

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Theresa_Williams

Home Body Wraps and Weight Loss: Top 3 "Marketing Myths"

Body wraps are being touted as the latest weight loss miracle product because celebrities are paying up to $200 per body wrap to "slim down" for big events like movie premieres. At $200 per wrap and using the highest quality ingredients, these high end spa body wraps do indeed quickly shed fat deposits and help anyone look noticeably thinner-for a short time. However, there are a large number of "at home wraps" available at a mere fraction of the cost of the spa wraps that claim to provide the same amazing results or better. But as with most things, the marketing myths tend to pale in comparison to reality. Specifically, here are the top 3 marketing myths about at home wraps and weight loss:

Myth #1: Lose 2-14 Inches From One Wrap

Like most "marketing facts", this is actually a half-truth. Most consumers assume the 2-14 inches of loss will come from one area, like the waist or belly. However, most home wraps making this claim are actually talking about the cumulative inch loss from several regions of the body, including: Arms, legs, thighs, hips, and rear end. So rather than losing 2-14 inches from one area, you might lose ½ inch to 2 inches per region if the body wrap actually works.

Myth #2: Body Wraps Work In Just One Hour (or even 2 or 3 hours)

Let's be clear: Nothing will ever help you shed 2-14 inches, even cumulative inches, in just one hour or even a few hours. Even the very best spa wraps on the market today take 1-2 days to fully shed toxins and fat deposits. Any product claiming faster results is flat-out lying. The only truth to this claim is that ingredients will begin to eliminate toxins in as little as an hour but you'll never see any results in less than 1-2 days, period.

Myth #3: Results or Permanent

No, not even close. Body wraps eliminate the toxins your body has stored in its skin cells which are located adjacent to your fat deposits. Until you eliminate those toxins, your body cannot burn those fat deposits for energy or eliminate those unwanted pounds. However, since we are constantly ingesting new toxins in virtually every food or beverage we consume, the slimming results of a body wrap are only temporary. On the highest quality wraps, your results will last around 4 weeks unless complement it with a healthy diet and exercise. If you do, then the results could become permanent but otherwise, they will last a few weeks before you need to either apply a new wrap.

But At Home Body Wraps Do Work-Really!

While most home wraps are a complete waste of your time and money, some actually work as advertised and for a fraction of the spa pricing. However, when it comes to predicting results, the ingredients are truly everything! Most cheap and inferior products are made with synthetic ingredients that your body likely can't use and may even make matters worse if they become stored as more toxins. Therefore, look for herbal body wraps because they are made from all-natural ingredients that actually purge the toxins and fat deposits as advertised.

Jennie Chen Johnson is a health and wellness contributor specializing in natural detoxification and weight loss strategies. To learn more about home body wraps and weight loss, visit http://www.justbodywraps.com today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennie_Johnson

Raspberry Ketone - Eliminating The Fat From Your Body

Many products come on the market every day professing to be the next big thing to help you shed the pounds, within a matter of days. These products claim to be the miracle product that you have been waiting for, capable of giving you the body of your dreams.

The thing is most of these products exaggerate the results they can provide. Dropping two stone in two weeks is close on impossible. Unless you go under the knife, or submit yourself to a course of liposuction, losing that much weight that quickly is just crazy.

However, what if I told you there is a weight loss product that really can help you to shed the pounds. Albeit at a sensible rate, there are no silly guarantees, just cold hard facts.

Raspberry Ketones provides you with the advantage that you need to lose fat quickly. It increases your energy level, speeds up your metabolism and helps you to lose fat quicker.

The increase to your energy level will help you to work harder and exercise more vigorously. You will end up with a huge amount of energy at your disposal. More energy equals more exercise that in turn means more calories burnt. The final result is that you just get slimmer and slimmer.

Is The Raspberry Ketone Diet Right For You?

This diet is perfect for those that put the energy into their exercise routines and closely monitor their progress. If this sounds like you then the raspberry diet is for you.

Raspberry Ketone raises your metabolism. If you like to exercise then you are probably going to burn twice the amount of calories when you take this diet supplement. This fat burner is that good.

Are There Any Side Effects to Raspberry Ketone?

If you are worried about side effects to raspberry ketone you don not have to be, there are no known side effects to this particular diet supplement.

You are not actually eating mountains of raspberries, it is not physically possible to eat the amount of raspberries that you need to get the benefit you will receive from the ketone inside them. It is the raspberry ketone that is good for weight loss.

Raspberry ketone has been endorsed by a number of TV celebrities who are well known for voicing their opinions on products, good or bad.

Should I Try The Ketone Diet Or Not?

You have so much to gain by trying the this diet, and nothing to lose, most reputable suppliers will offer you a money back guarantee if you discover it does nothing for you.

Raspberry Ketone really is a miracle in a bottle, no you will not lose 20 pounds overnight, however you will find that it boosts your metabolism, increases your energy and helps you burn more calories. All of this will allow you to shed those extra pounds. So why not dig a little deeper into Raspberry Ketone and see what it can do for you.

For more information on what Raspberry Ketones can do for you visit my site at raspberryketonedroz.org and find out more about this amazing product.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Lane

Body Wraps: Weight Loss Tool or Waste of Time?

If you believe the marketing hype, then body wraps are weight loss tools that seemingly possess the magical ability to help you lose "2-14 inches" of fat and cellulite in just one application. In addition to these incredible weight loss claims, wraps are also supposed to help you tighten and tone skin, jump-start new diets, and even help detoxify your body. But before you start shopping for an at home body wrap for weight loss help, let's just examine their claims in detail first:

Claim #1: Body Wraps Can Help You Shed 2-14 Inches in One Application

This is probably one of the most misleading claims about body wraps because most people assume that the 2-12 inches of fat loss will occur in just one area-like maybe your abs or waistline. But don't believe the hype because this inch-loss is actually "cumulative" meaning they are measuring the total inch loss from several areas of your body, including: Arms, Legs, Thighs, Hips, and Buttocks. So while a wrap might help you lose a couple inches from your waist, another couple inches from your thighs, and so on for a total "cumulative" inch loss of 2-14 inches. So while a wrap can help you look slimmer "overall", they are not going to help you eliminate a large number of inches from any one area or magically make your belly fat disappear in just one application.

Claim #2: Only Takes About an Hour to See Results

Again, this is only a "half-truth" much like the 2-14 inches claim. Yes, the ingredients do absorb into your skin within an hour and begin purging toxins. However and depending on the quality of the wrap, the ingredients should continue to flush toxins from your skin deposits for the next 24 to 48 hours. So rather than applying a body wrap just an hour or two before your big event, you really need to apply it a day or two in advance for the best results.

Claim #3: Body Wraps Provide Long-Term Permanent Weight Loss

Sorry, but this is marketing hype as well. Wraps only purge the toxins in your skin cells that are trapping fat cells in place. Until you eliminate those toxins, your body cannot burn the fat cells for energy and you will never be able to shed those unwanted inches. Once your body flushes the toxins, it can finally burn those fat deposits and that's exactly what it does immediately following the application of the body wrap. However, because the foods and beverages we ingest are made with additives, preservatives, and other synthetic ingredients which the body considers toxic, the toxins return in just a few weeks. So unless you follow-up a wrap with healthy diet and exercise, the results will only last a few weeks. However, you can maintain your inch-loss by reapplying a body wrap every 4 weeks or so but again, you really need to follow-up with healthy diet and exercise for best results.

Concluding Thoughts

Yes, body wraps really do work but you have to be careful when reviewing many of the claims made by companies selling the wraps. Because while 2-14 inches of fat loss is possible, it's a cumulative inch loss spread between your arms, legs, thighs, hips, and buttocks. And although it only takes about an hour to actually apply a wrap, it takes up to 48 hours for the body wrap to produce maximum weight loss.

For best results, it is highly recommend that you use herbal body wraps since they are made from 100% all-natural ingredients, are easier to apply, and last longer than most at home wraps on the market today.

Jennie Chen Johnson is a health and wellness expert specializing in detoxification and natural weight loss. To learn more about herbal body wraps or just visit http://www.justbodywraps.com today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennie_Johnso

Safe Ways To Lose Weight Fast And Efficiently

Look in the market and you will see a number of fat loss programs and products that promised to let you achieve a slim figure in the shortest possible way. While these products may help in achieving your goals, they cannot guarantee that your body and health will not be compromised. If you want to effectively achieve your fitness goals, below are some safe ways to lose weight that you may follow.

Altering Your Eating Habits

Start by assessing the eating habits you have been following. Determine whether your ways of eating are healthy or not. If you are fond of eating fast, processed and other unhealthy foods; it is about time that you prefer healthier eating alternatives. Examine your food portions and meal servings. It could be possible you are overindulging even if you are eating healthier food choices. If you are eat snacks, choose the healthy varieties such as vegetables and fruit slices instead of salt-laden potato chips. Your time of eating must also be observed. If you eat chips while watching TV, if you get up from bed just to indulge on a midnight snack; then you ought to make some adjustments if you want to become slimmer.

Wisely Planning Meals

Take into consideration your weekly schedule. Set a day when you are free to prepare your healthy meals for the week, particularly on days when you will be most busy and tend to eat unhealthily because you lack the time to prepare healthy meals. In cooking, there are healthier substitutes to the usual ingredients that you use such as low-fat cheese for regular cheese. There are a lot of healthy food recipes that can be found online. Plan in advance so that you can avoid impulsive eating. You can cook in advance double batches of meals and just freeze them in single or divided servings.

Be In The Move

Living an inactive and sedentary life is also a big factor why a person becomes overweight. Being active does not mean going to the gym to exercise. Even simple physical activities that you can incorporate in your everyday life will support your efforts on losing weight. You may perform usual household chores such as sweeping and scrubbing the floor; mow the lawn manually instead of using an electric mower. You may simply go out for a walk or jog around the neighborhood or nature park within your vicinity. As long as you are enjoying the physical activity, do it so that you will aid your body in burning the excess calories.

In preparing your foods, the method of cooking that you use also have a significant effect on your weight. If you are fond of frying, realize that this will only load your foods with more fats than necessary. Thus, choose healthier cooking methods like boiling, steaming, broiling and baking.

Drink Your Water

Water is a definite beverage that you can indulge in without any feeling of guilt. In fact, if you want to lose weight and become healthier, you need a lot of water to drink (about two liters in one day).

Like A Fitness Model can offer a safe way to get lean body. Fat Loss Troubleshoot will also a recommended complete package on weight loss.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roberta_Barrow

Chasing the Best Weight Loss Programs

A Good Weight Loss Program - a never-ending quest.

Contrary to popular belief, eating less is not the solution when you're looking to lose a few extra pounds. And unfortunately... there are lots of weight loss programs that will emphasise that.

Reducing your food intake will help you lose weight but the human body needs a certain amount of daily dosage. This includes the consumption of sufficient vitamins, proteins and iron etc every day to make sure the body stays healthy and functions properly.

On the other hand, excess of anything can be detrimental to one's health. Therefore, eating too much of a particular food, or none at all can also lead to problems such as a deficiency of say, calcium for example.

It is important to find the right balance in your meals if and when you decide to go on a weight loss regime. A bit of the Yin, a little of the Yang will make certain that your body finds enough nutrition and the resources to function as it should on a daily basis without you having to worry about an expanding waistline or the health concerns that can arise from being overweight or obese.

There are weight loss programs and recipes available for those of us out there who're either too busy, or too lazy, to implement an exercise regime, and would like to lose weight through diet plans only.

Some of them are single-recipe meals or food tricks that you can incorporate into your daily routines without too much hassle, while others are elaborate programs extended over a period of weeks or months to help you lose weight, and then maintain that weight loss.

The Big Breakfast Diet

We have all heard the emphasis our elders place on a nice, hearty breakfast at the beginning of the day. Well, this diet plan, popularly known as The Big Breakfast Diet works on the same principle.

This diet plan will also appeal to you because it has more to do with the timing of the meals as compared to their contents! The source of this plan is a book by the same name penned by Daniela Jakubowicz.

The basic premise of this author is that you consume a sizable amount of calories (anywhere from 610-850) in the morning, preferably before 9 am. Doing this activates the body's metabolism and your body now makes better use of its circadian rhythms, allowing better digestion and fat burning.

What is even more interesting is that you do not have to exclude mouth-watering delicacies like ice cream and donuts from this diet plan! However, these should not be included in your diet at the behest of protein and fiber-rich foods.

If this plan is followed properly, one can lose up to 25 pounds in a month according to Jakubowicz. Let's review the items that you can eat under this plan.

To begin with, most working people literally struggle everyday to first think about what to prepare for breakfast, then actually prepare it, and then finally find the will to actually eat it!

But it is not the "Big"-iness of the breakfast that keeps you full all day; you have to incorporate the right balance of protein, carbohydrates, sugars etc.

Sample Breakfast

The following is a sample breakfast that is prepared according to the aforementioned guidelines.

· Scrambled eggs (country-style) prepared with 3 egg whites, cheese (2 oz.), veggies, and ham (2 oz.)

· English muffin (half) with cream cheese

· Cereal with milk (ideally 8 oz.)

· Smoothie (strawberry)

· 1 Chocolate fudge brownie

So now you probably have an idea of what a "Big" breakfast looks like. Once again, it should maintain a balance between proteins and carbohydrates, and you don't have to give up on sweets!

Lunch

Lunch should comprise of 3 servings of protein, including vegetables, both low-calorie (3 servings), and sweet ones (2 servings). Finally, delight yourself with 1 serving of fruit.

Lunch should be taken by 2 pm.

Dinner

You can have up to 3 servings of protein in dinner, though there is always an option of consuming lesser proteins, followed by 2 servings of sweet vegetables. If you still feel hungry, fill your tummy with unlimited helpings of vegetables with low calories. Finally, give your taste buds a treat with 2 servings of fruit.

You should take dinner a few hours after lunch. Note that these timings can go up by 1 hour (but not more than that) during the winter season.

You may have noticed that the intake of protein is overly emphasized in this plan. This is because protein makes you feel full. On the other hand, carbohydrates convert into energy, fueling up the body's fat burning process. This effect is enhanced when the right amount of carbs are taken in the morning.

Moreover, the sweets are included in all meals simply to prevent cravings. If you do not feel like eating breakfast, go ahead and have it. As you continue with the diet plan, both your body and your taste buds will adjust to the timings.

Now a word about the timings. Many experts who have reviewed this diet plan have noted that there is nothing spectacular about the 9am time period or the 600 calorie quotient.

However, all experts have endorsed the principles behind this plan, namely have a good breakfast in the morning with limited meals in lunch and dinner to avoid overeating as well as hunger cravings.

The Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean Diet is not like your typical diet plan. It rather revolves around food items of places neighboring the Mediterranean, such fish, fruits, and olive oil.

Likewise, items comprising meat and cheese will be avoided or at least their quantity will be lowered.

Along with helping you to eat healthy and losing weight, this plan also helps you to avoid heart problems like heart attack, as well as other medical conditions like type II diabetes and Parkinson's disease.

Planning the Mediterranean Diet

The attractive feature of the Mediterranean diet is that it can be incorporated in one's daily eating routine. Things that you can add to your daily diet under this plan are:

· Fruits and Vegetables- Blueberries, Grapes, Broccoli, Beans, Olive, Spinach, Lentils, and Chickpeas etc.

· Whole-Grain-Pasta, Oats, Brown rice, and Couscous etc.

· "Good"* Fats- Olive oil, Canola, Flaxseed etc.

· Fish- Tuna, Lake Trout, Salmon, and Mackerel etc. Eat at least twice a week.

· Low-fat Dairy Products-Milk and Cheese etc. Have small amounts on a daily basis.

· Poultry and Eggs-Eat every alternate a day or once a week.

*Good fats are unsaturated fats. It is widely held that about 35% to 40% of daily calories come from unsaturated fats found in items like palm oil, coconut oil, and butter. In this diet plan, you should also limit the consumption meat and dairy products made from whole milk.

What else? Oh yes! Reduce consumption of red meat. Only have limited servings (up to 3 oz.) at varying days throughout the month. As far as sweets and desserts are concerned, restrict them to only a few times a week.

This includes your daily soda as well! You should rather opt for red wine in the Mediterranean diet plan. Women can have 1 glass, while men can enjoy up to 2 glasses per day.

How to Add the Mediterranean Diet Plan to your Everyday Diet?

The following suggestions will help you include healthy Mediterranean foods in your otherwise Western diet:

· Instead of using butter, you can have olive oil and fresh herbs with your morning toast

· Take the cheese out of your salad and replace it with seeds and nuts

· Avoid the bacon and instead go for a sandwich made with slices of avocado

· Try herbs and spices instead of salt for taste

· For dessert, try a piece of fruit instead of a piece of cake or chocolate. This can include baked apples or dried fruit as well

· Olive oil can also mean sauce on your pasta, along with pine nuts and a wee bit of Parmesan cheese

· Avoid red meat for lunch and dinner and replace it with broiled or grilled fish with olive oil.

· Stay away from white flour and go for whole-grain products

· Ground flaxseed can serve as a healthy addition to your cereals, soups, and low-fat yogurt

· Drink fat-free or 1% milk and use it for baking purposes as well

· Replace mayo or cream based vegetables and dip them instead in a vinaigrette dressing or hummus

Finally, resort to cooking with canola or olive oil instead of oils immersed in saturated fat. You can consult a dietitian, or even surf the internet to get further tips on incorporating the Mediterranean diet to your daily routine.

Note: You can maximize the benefits of the Mediterranean diet by some physical activity. This doesn't necessarily mean the gym exercises. Just do anything that keeps your heart beating.

Even housework and taking the stairs instead of the elevator qualifies. Yes, we know, the purpose of a diet plan is to help you lose weight with changes to food and drink only, but hey, you are not getting anywhere by being a couch potato!

For your success,

Adrian Obijeski

The Big Breakfast Diet specific recipes, custom-designed weight loss exercises, healthy diet plans from various cultures around the globe, can be found at http://www.naturalremedies-foryou.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrian_Obijeski

Reach The Fitness Goals You Place With This Particular Help

There are many diet supplements and fringe exercise programs on the market, a lot of which can be really dangerous for your body and well-being. The next article provides you with the information about how to get fit.

Free weight lifting including barbell squats is vital to building a muscular body.

In the event you normally use your treadmill for exercise, try playing basketball or walking outside. The difference in intensity and muscle use that is required to operate uphill outdoors can yield different results than similar exercise on various terrains.

Ensure that you stretch your exercise routine. Do the stretch for 20 or half a minute. We have seen research about folks who suffer from stretched between sets can boost your strength by twenty percent. Stretching is additionally limit the chance you possess of injury at the same time.

Working out on your lawn is the best way to find some good exercise. You need a good workout along with your yard needs to have work done into it. As a result for the win-win situation. Try and function in the yard at least one time a week to also get some good exercise. You could potentially overlook time where you can appealing yard and the body.

A lot of people stay motivated by seeing results because they pursue their motivation. Try wearing tight clothes rather than relying on the scale.Wear these everyday you diet to find out progress.

The frequency of your resistance training regimen depends upon your personal goals. If you are searching to construct muscles and increase strength, you must schedule less weight training reps. If you wish to lower your fat, you will definitely get leaner but well-defined muscles.

Try performing actual sit-ups with your crunches once you work out. Sit-ups seem to have a negative reputation lately. It is wise to keep away from anchored sit ups that need you to anchor the feet.By doing this of sit-ups can seriously strain your back.

Clean every one of the equipment at your gym prior to starting working with it. Other fitness users may not have left germs on the equipment.

Exercise when you clean your property. If you locate yourself down on to the floor clearing up a stain or spill, conduct a few lunges or squats. You may maybe execute a few push-ups when you are down there.

Fizzy drinks are certainly one of sugar.

To repair your putting technique, target a distance of around 17 inches past the hole. This oddly-specific figure arises from the truth that must be clear of footprint-free turf. The grass is quite a bit thicker that has the impact of slowing your ball will roll slower.

Ensure you will find the appropriate shoes for the exercise. When you are not wearing the correct footwear you are able to injure your back, legs, feet or ankles.
Carrying this out can persuade folks to acquire involved.

Produce a regular schedule for exercising that will help you following through on your fitness routine. Make a promise to yourself to work out a definite length of time weekly, whilst keeping the workout date on your own no matter what else pops up. If something happens and you do have to cancel your training session, schedule a makeup day, and provide it equal weight on the calendar.

Obtain your fitness routine off about the right foot using these tips. Make certain you make exercise an element of your day-to-day life, not simply a weekly habit. Being fit and healthy means you might have more energy and they are better able to face life's challenges.

If you actually want to lose weight then I recommend pure green coffee bean extract. Lose as high as seventeen pounds in weeks without workout program or diet! Finally there is a way to reduce weight without pain or starvation! Go to http://www.greencoffebeanmax.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ted_Cassana

Six Pack Abs Fuel: How To Build a Fat-Loss Meal Plan to Bring Out Those Summer Abs

Spring is here and summer is closing in. If you haven't started ramping up your fitness routine, now is the time. Even if your summer abs still have some hibernation girth, it's not too late to rev up the metabolism and melt away the flab.

I know you want to hear about what revolutionary abdominal exercises will shred up your core, but doing endless amounts of crunches and sit-ups are only useful for enhancing abdominal strength and have very little to do with bringing out ripped, summer abs.

Instead, focus on these key points; that go to show, abs are made in the kitchen.

1. Watch Your Sodium

Sodium does not affect body fat directly, but it does influence water retention and the overall health of an individual. In turn, this can detour one's body away from metabolizing body fat and shift it's priorities towards flushing out excess fluids. Remember, you wouldn't drink seawater, would you?

Eating out, or having too many cheat foods often transpires into sodium bloat, which for some can be an instant four to twelve pound weight gain within a 24 hour period. This is clearly not good for you, but it is also not the look you are going for.

To solve this dilemma, establish your own sodium homeostasis. Keep sodium moderate and always know the values of sodium and its derivatives (especially in frozen foods). Whether it's foods or seasonings, keeping track of sodium and doing your best to avoid a rapid fluctuation is in your best interest for summer abs.

2. Avoid Processed Foods

Most people purchase processed foods because they are cheap and convenient. However, not only do these foods lack necessary nutrients, they can cause one's body to become insulin resistant. Meaning, eating packaged goods, cereals, candy and other processed carbohydrates causes insulin to be released and blood glucose to spike. If this becomes to frequent and insulin spikes are too high, one's body becomes insulin resistant, leading to weight gain and Type Two Diabetes.

To avoid this travesty of modern foods, go back to the basics. Whole foods, such as quinoa, sweet potatoes and brown rice, provide the perfect blend of energy and nutrient rich complex carbohydrates. As well, finding the right ratio and portions of these whole foods will rev up one's metabolism and ignite body fat.

3. Do You Really Need Dairy?

There's a reason why dairy is excluded from the healthiest, lifestyle diets. Paleo, Vegan and most clean diets exclude dairy because of a large majority of civilization having natural allergies and intolerances to dairy. This causes an inflammatory response that can detour weight loss and promote weight gain.

Personally, I was a huge advocate of dairy and lived by it for most of my life. It was not until I excluded dairy from my diet that all my digestive issues vanished and so did an excess 20 pounds! As well, I have had clients experience the same exact physical changes.

One needs to ask themself, "Do I really need dairy?" There are countless calcium, vitamin d and protein substitutes. With all of this available, one should definitely give it a try if not convinced. Sure, there are studies for both sides of the argument. However, most of the pro-dairy studies are funded by dairy, FDA or USDA, basically all lobbyists for dairy.

4. Manage Your Calories

When hydration and nutrients are on par (while avoiding food intolerances, sodium, sugar and processed foods) fat loss comes down to a numbers game. Finding your caloric allowance for weight loss can be the game changer everyone needs for consistent fat loss. Odds are, if you are not sporting your summer physique yet, you are not there yet (keep this in mind while having at least five meals a day, every two to three hours apart).

So, making periodic calorie drops and adding the occasional cheat meal can keep you metabolism interested in fat loss. Literally, a metabolism that is used to a monotonous meal plan is less likely to give up fat stores then an active metabolism.

5. Are You Getting Enough Fiber?

Fiber is a crucial component to weight loss because fiber offsets hunger while slowing the release of carbohydrates into the body.

To make sure fiber is an adequate part of every meal, use this formula from the Institute of Medicine. For men 50 and younger, 38 grams of fiber is necessary, every day. For men older than 50, 30 grams is necessary. For women 50 and younger the number is 25 and 21 grams for women older then 50.

Great sources for fiber are raw fruits and vegetables.

Unfortunately, just like Rome, summer abs are not built in a day. Be sure to practice these steps consistently and routinely for optimal results.

To learn quick, convenient and effective, fat loss secrets, join http://www.workoutanywhere.net. Members have access to new, weekly home or traveling workouts, meal plans, recipes, challenges, nutrition guides and coaching for only $9.95/month.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_M_Rundle

Some Frightening Facts About Our Eating Behaviours

It is without any doubt the amount of food that you ingest daily is going to influence your body weight in the long run. Neglecting this globally known fact is one of the ways in which many of us have played into the hand of the enemy known as obesity that is hounding many health care systems in the world today.

Armed with the knowledge that obesity is a result of the food that we consume, it is time for us to start scrutinising all the food that we intend to eat on a daily basis. Obesity rates are rising very rapidly all over the world and we need to exclude our selves from this dangerous condition by being very principled about what we put in our bellies.

We now need to take a closer look at these frightening statistics to make ourselves aware of the dangers and find ways to overcome bad eating habits.

Eat Very Fast

You may be trying to cut down your weight but have not observed any tangible success but have you tried to take a peak into how fast you eat your food? Nearly a quarter of Americans have been shown to eat too quickly, thereby effectively hindering their bodies from realising the feeling of satiety at the right time. This habit grows worse with time and meaning that one gets rather numbed to the fact that they can control their food intake. This results into a very high daily calorific intake which becomes obesity, in the long run.

The 'Clean-Plate' Mentality

One other thing that is quite an issue is that many people want to clean their plate of all the food that is set before them. Almost thirty percent of all Americans do this whether they are feeling full after a few mouthfuls or not. This mentality is the out -doing of many and they end up eating more than is really necessary. Although some people do it because they do not want to see waste, others just do it unconsciously because they have learnt to eat what they have been served without any further thought.

This kind of behaviour doe not come without a price to pay. In this age, we tend to serve bigger size portions than before, meaning that we tend to eat twice as much as we ought to eat at any one meal.

Serving food on smaller plates can be a good way to go about dealing with this issue concerning the 'clean-up- your- plate' mentality.

Monitoring Your Hunger

Monitoring your hunger signals is an important issue if you intend to lose weight successfully. Most of us are out of touch with our levels of hunger just because we have been programmed to eat at certain times. This means that we just eat when we think it is time to eat rather than if we are actually hungry and need food.

The more productive thing to do before you eat at any time is to check if you are really hungry and need food. If you feel that you do not need to eat at that time, forego and wait until you feel hungry. It is, however, important that you do not wait until you are absolutely ravenous as you may end up eating more than you actually need. Regulating your food consumption like this will make it easier for you to eat less food which translates into weigh loss over time.

Do Not Rush at Meal Times

While sitting down at your meals take your time to savour every mouthful! This has been known to reduce the amount that you eat as you tend to enjoy your food more bringing in satiety quite quickly. Statistics have recorded that almost 30% of Americans eat do not put their fork down at meal times. This means that more food is eaten as there are no periods of rest to taste the food and experience it. This almost unconscious eating leads to over-eating, poor digestion and inevitably, weight gain.

Taking these points into consideration will gradually help you to lose weight. Losing weight has always been about changing life style so that you can regulate your food intake and helping your body to utilise the food more efficiently. Do some exercise alongside these tips and you will be well on your way to the get the body that you desire and the glowing health that you need.

Visit us to find out more about how you can control your food intake I am interested in supporting people who are struggling with excess weight find solutions so that they can enjoy healthy and more fulfilling lives. Discover more at http://yourbestweightlossprogram.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susana_Perida

Weight Loss - What Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem Don't Tell You

I could lose weight easily in my teens and twenties. Lots of water and exercise and keeping total calories under control was all I really needed to focus on. When I was in my mid 30s, I put on about 20 pounds. I was working long hours and earning a good wage, so I decided to try out Nutrisystem. Long story short, the food isn't horrible. You avoid hunger pangs and cravings. I did not change my exercise routine which was mostly just walking at the time. I lost 4 pounds the first week, and for the next 12 weeks, I lost anywhere from 1 to 2 pounds a week. I needed to do some weight bearing exercise when I was at my target weight in order to tone up. This regimen worked for me and I was satisfied.

Jump ahead ten years. It was deja vu, at least at the beginning. I gained some weight. I started a Nutrisystem program, as before. But, this time, I did not lose any weight. In fact, I was gaining a little. I noticed I was gaining water weight around my fingers, ankles and even my mid-section. I looked at the sodium amounts and realized that was the problem. They were out of sight. Nutrisystem publishes what you will be taking in for sodium, daily, "The standard Nutrisystem program contains approximately 1,800 mg/daily sodium*." And, they add, " Lower sodium for some individuals may need to be less than 1,800 mg.".

* Jenny Craig is more 2,000 mg.

"Some" individuals?!! As you get older, it is not uncommon to need to begin to reduce your sodium intake. A number of people seem to become more sensitive to it. And, there are those who feel their blood pressure goes up when they ingest a good deal of sodium daily.

I haven't had to eliminate my sodium intake. But I most days I have only about 25% to 30% of what Nutrisystem lets you have. That is a big difference. And if your body is at all sensitive to salt, you will really feel and see the difference in your diet program results.

Effectively managing your salt intake is one of 10 incredibly simple but powerful steps defined in a program I created. I developed this out of necessity. I was middle aged. What worked before no longer would work. It took me many years using a lot of trial and error, before I figured out what would work now. The cool thing is that this program is really easy to follow and flexible. This way of eating will even work for people who don't like to diet or exercise as well as for those who have not been able to lose weight any other way. Last but not least, it doesn't cost you extra money. You are going to save the cash you would have spent on Nutrisystem prepackaged food.

The 10 steps are:

(1) Reduce your salt.
(2) Halve your carbs
(3) Eat these vegetables (raw cucumber and celery)
(4) Eat these fruits (Granny Smith Apples and white grapefruit)
(5) Drink enough water
(6) Reduce or eliminate certain sweeteners
(7) Evaluate preserved foods
(8) Reduce/eliminate dairy consumption and avoid bad fats
(9) Give yourself satisfying yet smart snacks
(10) Walk

Try just one step this week, you decide which one. When you are ready, add another step! Add another when you feel you are ready to until you take all 10. I think you will be very happy with the results! And you may feel this way well before you get to the 10th step!

Kathy writes about healthy eating & thinking and other topics in her blog, Wrapped beautifully as well as in e-books available at Amazon including http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-In-Steps-ebook/dp/B00876V0LM

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Morrison

How Detox Programs Remove Toxins and Prevent Weight Loss Failure

Permanent weight loss is dependent upon peak liver performance. In order to burn fat and lose weight, our liver converts fat in the form of triglycerides into energy. However, fat soluble toxins in the liver severely impede your liver function and stop fat burning. A well-designed program that supports the liver will enhance fat burning and result in permanent weight loss.

Your liver is responsible for maintaining energy balance for different systems throughout the body that require energy to do their function. Muscle uses free fatty acids, the brain uses glucose for energy. When the liver is required to make energy from stored fatty acids due to calorie restriction, toxins that are stored in fat cells along with triglycerides are circulated into the liver for processing.

The liver is like a factory that has limited resources and cannot function without proper maintenance. Toxins cause the liver to require more resources (special amino acids, polypeptides, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes) and without them, similar to a factory, the liver will shut down. In order to break the load of toxins coming into the factory the liver will halt the process of breaking down triglycerides. Circulating triglycerides are restored into fat cells. Hence, the process of burning free fatty acids is reversed due to toxic overload in the liver.

When the liver cannot process toxins fast enough, it will not convert the fat into glucose for energy consumption. At this point weight loss stops or worse, weight begins to accumulate again even on a low calorie diet.

In order to lose weight and excess body fat, a weight loss program must encourage the consumption and reduction of internal fat rather than protein. If the body consumes protein instead of fat it breaks down muscle and connective tissue resulting in weakness and emaciation.

The solution to successful long term weight loss begins with a detox system that will support and increase liver metabolism in order to reduce toxic load that naturally surges as fat cells are consumed for energy. (It's like running a car engine with 94 octane versus 87 octane).

To be effective weight loss should be a system that is followed over time. For those who are serious about permanent weight loss, one of the best initial programs is a simple and effective 14 day detox system.

The goal is to get healthy and eliminate toxins in our bodies such as pesticides, herbicides and industrial chemicals that enter our bodies through the food we eat, water, juices, sodas, alcohol and the air we breathe. These toxins enter our bodies negatively affecting our health, vitality and contribute to chronic diseases. A 14 day detox system can remove toxins from our bodies enabling the body to lose weight and reduce body fat. Other benefits include increased energy, healthier skin and hair, restful sleep, clear thinking, positive moods and the start to healthy habits for prolonged health.

Additional benefits of a 14 Day Detox System include:

• Improves digestion issues
• Reduces or eliminates bad breath
• Reduces fatigue and increases energy
• Relieves constipation and headaches
• Improves skin, reducing or eliminating itchy skin and rashes
• Relieves joint pain
• Increases concentration and reduces irritability

A successful 14 day detox program includes a balanced diet supplemented with protein, herbs, nutrients and antioxidants to help the liver balance detoxification pathways.

Be sure to avoid foods such as sugar, sweeteners, gluten containing grains including wheat, oats and rye, dairy products alcohol and desserts.

Implementing a 14 day detox program is a simple and effective short term strategy for getting you on a path of long term health and permanent weight loss.

Dr Gary Gruber of New Canaan CT is one of the leading experts of natural health and weight loss with solutions based on empirical evidence (clinical) over the past 12 years. To learn more about a 14 day detox program and natural solutions for improved health visit www.sciencemeetsnature.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Gary_Gruber

How to Deal With Obesity Simply and Effectively

Obesity is not an eating problem. Obesity is an emotional problem. We eat to give ourselves rewards. We eat to calm our nerves. We eat to stay busy. We eat to occupy our hands when we can't think of anything to do. We eat to punish ourselves. We eat because it gains us some attention. We eat because our society equates big with healthy in some cases. The kids love fast food; therefore I'm a good parent because I give them what makes them happy.

Obesity is triggered by thoughts that are harmful to you. We need calming; we need to be rewarded; we need to do something. Before obesity becomes debilitating we need to do something about it. There is a direct link between obesity and diabetes, obesity and heart attacks, obesity and strokes - and any of those can kill you.

So agree with me that obesity is triggered by thoughts. Check it out for yourself. What is the first thing you do before grabbing a bag of chips or a soft drink? You THINK, "That looks good;" or "I need that (whatever)." You do this time and again throughout your day and the fat builds up and up and up!

So, when thoughts are harmful to us, the answer is simple: DON'T think those thoughts!

The next time the desire to eat something pops into your mind, I want you to immediately say to yourself, out loud, "I'm not going to think about that." If it recurs, say it again.

I think you'll discover that the negative thought will go away. It will go away every time you demand that it go away.

This solution is so simple that many people have trouble accepting it. The most effective way to control harmful thinking is to say to yourself out loud, "I will not to think about that." Do it as often as necessary and do it out loud.

Someone said, "That's easier said than done."

Not really. You have the innate authority to decide what you want to think about. If a thought is harmful to you, don't think that thought. It's your choice. As you make that choice again and again, your subconscious remembers how you like to respond and will start to make your response automatically. It's amazing how quickly this can happen.

Let me share three simple rules that you can use to teach your subconscious to help you even more to deal with your obesity:

1. When you're tempted to step on the scale (another thought), say out loud to yourself, "I only weigh myself once a week." Set a time that's convenient, say Sunday morning before you dress for church. If you think about weighing yourself any other time, say "I only weigh myself once a week." This will keep you from being discouraged on the days when you don't show any weight loss.


2. If you are hungry, you must eat. Say to yourself, out loud, whenever it crosses your mind (but at least several times a day), "I eat when I'm hungry and no other time." But you must be honest with yourself. There's a difference in true hunger and simply wanting to eat something. If you ate a meal an hour ago, it is not logical that you are hungry again. Use this rule as often as required.


3. If the family is sitting down to eat or you're going out with friends and you're not hungry, get yourself a cup of tea or a flavored beverage and enjoy the company. Don't let well-meaning people coerce you into eating with them. Say, "I'm really not hungry and when I'm not hungry, I do not eat anything at all, regardless of when or where I am." Be kind; be cordial; but be firm with your friends and with yourself.

When you have the urge to eat and you know that you're not hungry, you can drink a bottle of water or a cup of tea to ease the desire to eat.

Say these three rules to yourself, out loud, several times a day. Before long, your subconscious will be dealing with your thoughts of eating automatically.

Don't give in to the temptation to try helper fads. Rule 1 keeps you from discouragement. Rule 2 assures that you're getting enough food for good health, and rule 3 lets you enjoy life with family and friends without feeling guilty. You don't need anything else to help you. You're capable of doing this all by yourself by teaching your subconscious to work with you.

As a bonus, allow yourself to be a little proud of yourself every time you use the rules.

Nothing could be more effective than having your subconscious mind control your impulse eating for you before you even think about it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rod_Peeks

How To Stop Craving Junk Food: 5 Surprising Tips

A sudden uncontrollable craving can sabotage even the best-laid healthy eating plans. Even though most cravings don't last more than 20 to 30 minutes, they can be difficult to resist. In fact, the food industry invests a lot into scientifically researching what gets us hooked on food and what keeps us coming back. It can be hard to compete with this with willpower alone. The following five tips will help you understand how to stop craving junk food.

1. Stress. When you are stressed out your body releases the hormone cortisol. This causes you to seek out rewards in the form of junk food cravings. Sugar and fat decrease the effect of this hormone. If you can't wait out cravings when you are stressed then eat something healthy or distract yourself with something that will counteract the stress.


2. Sleep. When you don't sleep enough your body releases various hormones that make you want to eat and increases the chance that you will reach for some junk food. Caffeine can help in the short term (think low cal coffee, not a super caramel mocha latte). Improving your sleep habits is the best solution in the long term.


3. Association. If you regularly eat while doing an activity - say snacking while watching TV - your body will automatically start to crave food when you sit in front of your TV. You can break this association by changing your environment (e.g. re-arrange your TV room or move your TV somewhere else). Replacing these associated food cravings with a more positive healthy self-image will help reprogram your brain and teach it how to stop craving junk food.


4. Going cold turkey. Sometimes completely eliminating something from your diet is easier than cutting down on it. You will need to find a healthy substitute to replace the junk food such as nuts, protein bars or shakes, and healthy meals instead of fast food.


5. Cleansing. Cleansing your body including going a day with drastically reduced calorie intake can reset your system and make you more sensitive to your body's needs. It will also help your body metabolize food more effectively. This can help to reduce cravings as well as help you make better food choices in general.

These five points can help you better understand how to stop craving junk food. Try implementing just one item from the list for a week or two. Given enough time, it will become habit and you can move on to implementing another item from the list. Eventually you can work towards more healthy eating habits and fewer junk food cravings.

If you are considering cleansing I recommend starting with the Isagenix 9 day cleanse. This gentle but effective system produces fast visible results and can address many of the issues mentioned above and more. Click here for more details.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phillip_Rice

Combating Obesity the Bariatric Way

Obesity has become a focus of mainstream media and organizations over the past decade as the average weight of Americans has increased. In 2010 reports showed that 36% of adults in the United States were obese, which is a drastic jump from the 13% reported in the 1960's. With an increase in overweight population comes a rise in the number of cases of health related issues that come from obesity, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and sleep apnea. Diets work for some in order to combat weight gain, but others have reached a point where they need more drastic help to achieve weight loss.

Bariatric surgery is an option for people who are very committed to obtaining and maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle. The procedure is not taken lightly and is only recommended and approved for people with a body mass index of 40 or higher or for people with a high BMI and very severe health issues, like diabetes. There are various methods for this surgery, but the end result is reducing the size of the patient's stomach so the feeling of being full is achieved much sooner, decreasing food intake and the number of calories consumed. This allows for long-term weight loss.

Bariatric surgery does prompt a change in food habits that can seem very drastic and rigorous, hence why it is only for those who are committed to changing their lifestyle and eating habits. Once the surgery is completed, patients generally go through phases of what types and amounts of food they are able to eat. For the first week only clear liquids are approved such as protein fruit drinks or clear broths. It is important to keep nutrition in the diet, hence broths or protein drinks being included in the liquid intake. During the second week liquids that are not see-through can be added to the diet. See-through liquids include creamy soups and puddings.

At this point it is still imperative to keep protein levels high, meaning recovering patients should look into special Bariatric soups and puddings made specifically to help their bodies recover from surgery and aid in a healthy reintegration of solid food. Phase three introduces pureed foods like mashed potatoes or cottage cheese. Finally at phase four patients are allowed soft solid foods. This gradual reintroduction of food to the diet will allow for proper recovery. Once these phases are complete, the patient then must adhere to a specific Bariatric diet approved by their doctor. As previously mentioned, Bariatric surgery is a life altering procedure that changes a person's food habits for life.

Thankfully there are companies committed to creating delicious gastric bypass foods designed specifically to be low in fat and high in protein. Some patients who have gone on the Bariatric diet before having the surgery to prepare for the procedure have lost enough weight that they no longer needed the operation, which is a testament to the balance of protein and low calorie foods offered by Bariatric diets.

Bariatric Diet Supplements, http://www.bariatricdietsupplements.com, has a wide selection of gastric bypass foods designed for patients both pre-op and post-op.

While obesity is a widespread problem in America, there are ways to combat the issue, such as Bariatric surgery or Bariatric diets.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meg_Trahan

Will Intermittent Fasting Help You Lose Weight

Under certain circumstances, there is a great deal of evidence that says intermittent fasting can help with burning fat. Intermittent fasting is spacing your last meal of the day and your first meal the next day farther apart to as much as 16 hours. The rational is that after you eat, your body takes about six to eight hours to metabolize that glycogen, then to continue functioning it goes into your fat stores.

But if we start feeding our body before that six to eight time period, or before the glycogen has been used, we never allow our system to tap into our fat storage. This makes it very difficult to ever lose weight. Of course we can go too far when we fast. When we go past a certain point, our system realizes it isn't going to get any more food and goes into starvation mode. At that point it basically stops using our excess fat.

Tests have shown that there are additional health benefits to intermittent fasting. These include increasing insulin sensitivity, reducing oxidative stress, and increase the capacity for resisting cellular stress. All of these will retard aging of the cells as well as preventing diseases associated with cell damage.

So is an intermittent fasting plan right for everyone? Actually, all of the factors that go into healthy weight reduction make it nearly impossible to find one magic bullet that will be right for everyone. First, it is safe to say that pregnant women should never fast. A baby needs all the nutrients they can get, and some studies have actually suggested that fasting can alter the baby's heartbeat and breathing patterns, along with increasing gestational diabetes.

Those that suffer from hypoglycemia, a condition of abnormally lower level of blood sugar, should not go through periods of fasting. Your goal if you have this condition would be to normalize your blood sugar levels first, then if you decide to fast opt for a less rigid version of fasting. Those with diabetes also will not be helped with intermittent fasting.

Finally, you must realize that if you are going too fast, you must pay even more attention to your nutrition levels when you do eat. By continuing with a toxic-rich diet of highly processed foods, then proceed to not eat for 15 or 16 hours, you could be doing your body more harm than good in the long run. Putting together a healthy diet plan to make sure you are getting the proper nutrition in the shorter time period you are eating in will be vital.

Whenever you are going to make dramatic changes in your diet, even if they are healthy changes that will eventually greatly benefit your health, it may take a little while for your system to adjust to the change. But listen to what your body is telling you, and if you are going a little too quickly, don't fight it. Just go a bit slower with the changes, and if it is good for your system will eventually adapt.

Tapping into fat storage is one of the secrets to weight loss. It not only requires good diet and exercise, but there is evidence that what you eat and timing when you eat is important. Rich Carroll is a writer and health enthusiast living in Chicago.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rich_Carroll