Dinner Recipes

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Effective Weight Loss - It's All About the Metabolism, Eating Right

Most people do not understand much about losing weight. They get bogged down by searching for the fastest way to shed that few pounds. The most common is that they factor in a lot of cardiovascular exercises and neglect their diet; that is they prefer to starve themselves with the incorrect mindset that eating less will make them slimmer. In a sense, that is right. Eating less makes you slimmer. But for effective weight loss, eating right is priority.

When we talk about metabolism, we mean the mechanism in your body that propels food digestion, shedding the excess weight that is stored on the walls on your stomach, churning them into fats. How then, do we speed up this mechanism, making it propel faster?

Let's start off first with a proper diet. First off, keep your meals small and healthy. Forget about fast food for awhile. You don't want to spend 4 hours jogging off that Big Mac!

Have your meals in intervals of significant 3 to four hours. (And by significant I mean from the time you stop eating to the time you start again). Yes you must be thinking, if I have a meal every 3 to 4 hours, I am eating close to 5 meals a day! That's right! We want to keep your metabolism running!

Let's say, for example, we start the day with a healthy choice of finesse cereal and a banana (fibers from banana helps you defecate). With a light breakfast, you are bound to feel hungry approximately 3 to 4 hours later, and it's probably time for lunch. Take a trip to the nearest cafe (or supermarket if you've got the time) and order a healthy salad, top it up with some boiled chicken strips, or smoked salmon slices if you must but keep off anything fried and make sure that salad dressing is low fat! There you go, who says you've got to stuff yourself trying to lose weight.

After the next interval, you're bound to feel hungry again. Treat yourself to a cookie from Mrs Fields. Just one won't hurt. And then it's probably time for dinner. Don't be afraid to have a steak for dinner, topped with a side salad and a healthy glass of red wine (but I do reckon you shouldn't put this on your list during the first week of diet). After dinner, take an hour or two break and then have some apple and orange cubes.

The rationale behind this diet is that you are eating small intakes of food that are neither fat nor unhealthy. These food digest quickly and fats won't stick to the walls of your stomach and form a flabby belly. Eating small meals in 3 to 4 hour intervals helps to keep the metabolism running, not forgetting to couple it with a great variation of cardiovascular exercises. Keep up with the routine and you're bound to shed that few pounds in a matter of 2 to 3 weeks!

Lee is a Muay Thai practitioner and runs the website http://themusclemind.com

This website provides articles on various subjects written by field professionals. The purpose of TheMuscleMind.com is to provide readers with quality articles that will help to improve their knowledge.

Fast Weight Loss Tips

Here in this article are a few fast weight loss tips which should help you get on the right path to losing weight successfully.

First up don't starve yourself. It may seem logical that if you eat as little as possible you will achieve fast weight loss but this isn't really the case, and nor is it safe.

It may result in initial quick weight loss but this will soon stop. The reason for this is that your body will sense it is being starved and so will slow your metabolism down to reserve more energy.

It will also inform your metabolism to burn muscle rather than fat which will increase your appetite to almost unbearable levels and thus causing an end to your diet. Once you go back to a regular eating routine you will find you gain weight quicker as your metabolism will still be working at a lower rate.

One piece of advice that is often ignored is to drink plenty of water. Water makes us feel more energetic and less sleepy but it also makes us feel fuller which is also a great benefit as it goes towards preventing you from snacking between meals.

Speeding up your metabolism is a great way of increasing the rate at which you lose weight. There is no need for pills though as there are several natural steps you can take to increase this.

They include eating more meals a day, keeping active, and making sure you eat breakfast ( this wakes your metabolism up for the day). You can find a few more tips on increasing your metabolism by reading Metabolism Boosters- Natural Ways To Boost Metabolism.

Many diets advise you to cut out certain food types such as protein or carbohydrates but this is something I would try to avoid. Every food group contains something which our body needs so by leaving out a certain food group our body will miss out on the benefits they provide.

A diet based around shifting calories not only has fast results but also doesn't require you to miss out on any food groups.

Thank you for reading these fast weight loss tips, now all you have to do is put them into practice.

To read more fast weight loss tips visit this webpage shifting calories.

Katie Turner lost 34 lbs after having her twins and you could too. To find out more click here.

Natural Herbal Fast Effective Weight Loss Products

Many people, especially women, are interested in an effective method to jump start their weight loss program. There now exists in the market place natural herbal weight loss products. These products are 100% natural, safe and effective. It is a natural method to help you lose unwanted weight.

These products have been around in their natural form for generations. These same formulas are now available in capsule form for the modern consumer. Ingredients such as Lotus Leaf, Poria, Bush-cherry Seed, Chinese Yam and Hawthorn Fruit have been used by the Chinese for hundreds of years. These herbal weight loss products can be used for long periods of time without experiencing any serious side effects.

Natural products are found to be extremely effective. It is not uncommon to lose 5 to 10 pounds in the first month. Even after that one can lose 2 to5 pounds for each following month. When side effects do occur they are extremely mild. These side effects include sweating, constipation or trouble with sleeping. In order to eliminate these side effects one only has to cut their dosage in half.

In order to find the right herbal weight loss product you probably have to do a little research. Read the package carefully. It is important not to exceed the recommended dosage. Compared with weight loss products that are medicinal in nature, natural herbal weight loss products are very safe and effective.

It so go without saying that if you are under medical supervision or have any medical condition that it is important to consult with your doctor first.

In this country over sixty percent of the adults are overweight while thirty percent of these are considered to be obese. People spend a lot of money for weight loss products every single year. Regardless of their efforts most of us are not successful trying to lose weight through diet and exercise alone. It is time to consider using an herbal weight loss supplement.

Presently there are two very successful weight loss products on the market. The most well known is Hoodia. It is true that in its natural state that Hoodia is a very effective method to lose weight. The truth is that much of the Hoodia that comes into this country has been adulterated and is considerably less effective.

The other is Chinese green tea. My research, which includes interviewing Chinese doctors, is that this is really not an effective weight loss solution. Apparently, there is nothing in green tea that is an effective weight loss agent.

Another natural weight loss product that is not well known is 999 Fitness Essence. Until recently this has only been available by purchasing it through your local acupuncturist. Many people report, especially women, that they have very positive results with this product. They have told of its continued results over time.

Of course, if you want to increase your chances for success you will want to change your diet and include a daily exercise regiment.

Sign up for our free ecourse: 10 Steps To Lose Weight Without Dieting

Kathryn Soloff is the mother of 8 children and a natural foods cook for over 30 years. She is co-publisher of http://www.natural-remedy-dot-com.com/fatburnerreviews/natural_food_fat_burners.html where she provides additional advice, tips and hard to find information on Weight Loss.

Metabolism Fat Burning Facts

It seems that today every magazine and newspaper article is promoting the latest exercise method and philosophy for burning fat and helping all of us to keep our weight down. It is a known fact that regular exercise has been proven to help people shed their extra pounds, but this case is not quite that simple. A person may have excess weight for a number of reasons. It is essential to target the particular circumstances before assuming that methods of burning fat are going to be the answer.

One of the few things to keep in mind is that water retention or excess carbohydrates and sugars can all cause a person to be heavier than their ideal weight. In those instances, it is obvious that focusing on burning fat rather than reducing the intake of the real offender is not going to be effective in helping to lose weight.

It always seemed strange to me that some lucky people who never seem to have trouble maintaining an ideal weight while others struggle constantly trying to shed their extra pounds. If two people are eating identical foods and taking the same amount of exercise, there has to be a difference in the way that their bodies deal with the fat intake. And surprisingly enough - there is a difference. One person has a higher metabolic rate than the other person does. Specifically, it is their fatty acid metabolism that is the key factor. Quite simply, their body is more effective at breaking down the fat intake from their diet into other products that the body needs and the fat is not retained as excess weight.

Unfortunately there are a few people who may actually be suffering from a fatty acid metabolism disorder that prevents their body from being able to break down the fat effectively. This can only be treated using medical intervention. These disorders are relatively rare and for most people who have a low fatty acid metabolism rate, there are two potential solutions.

The first is to increase your overall metabolic rate that includes the fatty acid metabolism. The most successful method for the majority of people is to increase the amount of regular cardiovascular exercise that you take. This is especially important as you get older because your natural metabolic rate slows down. Any effective cardiovascular exercise raises the heart rate. These include cycling, swimming and fast-paced walking. Just thirty minutes a day taken three times a week can have a huge impact on your bodys metabolism.

Of course, it is not only increasing the metabolic rate that is going to lead to weight loss. In fact, everyone has a base metabolic rate that continues even when he or she is sleeping. There is another factor that needs to be taken into consideration and that is the amount of calories that you consume. The body does need some calories in the form of fats to enable the body to convert them into other products, but as already mentioned, too many can be stored as excess fat and this translates into excess weight. Therefore, to help achieve and maintain your ideal weight, you need to restrict your calorie intake and increase your fatty acid metabolism to ensure that your body is burning fats at its optimum rate.

Metabolism is the driving force behind our fat burning process, understand Metabolism Burning Fat Facts and other John Furnems selected texts about Metabolism at Metabolism Facts

Weight Loss Tips - Where To Find The Motivation To Lose Weight

You start out ready and eager to lose weight. You don't mind giving up your favorite foods when you have to and you even look forward to your daily workout. But somewhere along the way, you just can't stand it anymore. Anyone trying to lose weight has experienced the boredom and displeasure that comes with a diet regimen. During this time, it's more important than ever to stay motivated and optimistic.

When you find yourself needing motivation, first look at how far you've come. Whether it's two pounds or twenty, give yourself a pat on the back and keep trucking along. Keep track of how many pounds you've lost and work towards an obtainable goal. Reward yourself whenever you reach a goal, you deserve it!

Think about how much more energetic and happier you feel since you've began exercising and eating better. Just a half-hour of exercise can give you a great energy boost and bring you out of the doldrums. This does seem to be illogical at first, but the reason for this is the burst of hormones that exercising provides. Working out also increases lung capacity so more oxygen can reach your muscles increasing your stamina.

Weight loss motivation is about how much you really want to lose weight. When you first began your exercise regimen, what were your reasons? Why not take some time and list them on a sheet of paper. Maybe you were asked to lose weight by your physician, or just want to lose some pounds for swimsuit season. Whenever you feel you are ready to give up, take out the list and go over the reasons about why it is important to you to get into shape.

One of the most important things you can do in order to stay motivated is to concentrate only on positive thoughts. Whenever you get a negative thought, replace it with a realistic positive thought. As a matter of fact, keep a journal and keep track of these negative thoughts and your positive substitutes. A trap people trying to lose weight often fall into is giving up or beating themselves up when they eat the wrong foods or forget to exercise. The best thing you can do is do your exercises as soon as you are able and if you give in to a donut or cookie, just consider it a hard-earned reward and get right back on the horse.

The foundation of weight loss motivation is setting realistic goals for yourself. If you start out by measuring yourself up against a supermodel, you are going to get discouraged, quick. Your first goal should be something simple, like exercising every day, it doesn't matter how long. Once you've shown yourself you can do it, work yourself up to fifteen minutes and then half and hour.

If you can keep a positive outlook and not succumb to negative thoughts and self-doubt you will find yourself on the express train to weight loss. The best place to find motivation is from within.

Kelly Lester is committed to one thing, and that's helping YOU lose weight. Visit his website right now at Guide To Weight Loss for some great information on losing weight. Or, want to see the #1 weight loss course online? Visit the Burn The Fat Review section of Kelly's website.

Juicing For Health And Weight Loss

Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not something to be waited for, but rather something to be achieved. William Jennings Bryan

Juice Fast

Did you try a one day fast?
To really feel the benefits of a fast, you must actually do it yourself.
Why not try a one day fast this week?

Find out which one day fast is best for you.

Which Fast will help you best clean your body?

  • The water fast;
  • The one raw fruit/one raw vegetable fast;
  • A juice fast;
  • An herbal tea fast.

Fresh pressed juice Fast

  • Fresh raw fruit juice
  • Fresh raw vegetable juice
  • Fresh raw herbal juice

Juicing
Juicing freshly, organically grown, fruits and vegetables as well as herbs could be compared to a rich and concentrated nutrients blood transfusion.

In no time the nutrients enter the blood stream.
It is especially beneficial to people who have difficulties eating fresh vegetables.

It is very important to juice organically grown products which are richer in nutrients and contain no toxins, no chemical fertilizers, no pesticides or other poisons.
We want to benefit from the fast, not add more toxins to our body.

You will reap the most benefits from freshly squeezed juice.
There will be no nutrients loss if you drink the juice as soon as it is squeezed. (Nutrients loss occur when juice is stored, as well as when it is exposed to oxygen.)

Plants and vegetables are our best healing friends. Since the down of times they have been use for health, vitality and longevity.

Never add sugar or any sweetener to fresh juice.
This would undermine the goodness of the juice.

Drink the juice slowly.
Drink at least 4 glasses of juice and 4 glasses of water during a day fast.

Fresh Raw Fruit Juice
Freshly squeezed raw fruit are delicious and refreshing.
They may also have a high content of sugar. Better refrain from those rich in sugar if you want to lose weight.

Better use fruits that are high in beta-carotene such as: cantaloupe, mango and apricots.
Juice can be diluted: half water + half juice.

Some people find citrus fruits juice too acidic.

Juice for better bowel movement:
2 pitted dried prunes soaked in a glass of water.
You can blend the prunes and the water together.
Juice 2 apples and one pear together.
Add the juice to the prune juice, stir well and enjoy the drink.

Fresh Raw Vegetable Juice
My favorite health cocktail to help the body detoxification:
juice 4 carrots, 1 apple, 2 celery ribs, a cup wheatgrass or parsley together.
The carrots and the apple will sweeten this juice naturally.

My favorite summer drink:
refreshing cucumber juice

Fresh Raw Herbal Juice
Wheatgrass is very rich in nutrients, especially chlorophyll and antioxidants.
It is nature's gift to help detoxify the body.
If wheatgrass is not available, try parsley.

The juice of Wheatgrass and parsley are very healthy but not very palatable.
The best is to mix them with fresh carrot juice or fresh apple juice.

If you feel adventurous try to juice together wheatgrass, spinach and apples.

You will need a special juicer to juice herbs. Not all juicer can juice herbs.
Personally I use the green power juicer and I find it very efficient but a little difficult to clean. Definitely the best juicer I had to extract herbs' juice.

Enjoy juicing and enjoy a one day fast.
Let me know which one was more helpful.
Maybe you have a favorite cocktail you would like to share?
mailto:Isabelle@healthynutrimania.com?subject=My favorite cocktail

Isabelle Epstein, Dedicated to healthy nutrition and a healthy life style. If you would enjoy motivation and tips for a healthy weight management, sent directly to your inbox, sign up for Isabelle's free newsletter at: http://www.HealthyNutriMania.com

How to Lose Weight Fast at Home

It is astounding to me how some people can lose weight in their sleep, yet some people can run an iron man, yet never lose a pound!

Is this something we can change? Read on for some powerful tips.

Detox Your Body!

We are largely in contact with toxins every day, whether it be in the air you breathe, your food, or your homes! Your bodies even produce more toxins as your stress, anxiety, and fear levels increase. However, your bodies are naturally able to detoxify themselves using your kidney, liver, and skin, but these systems cannot always handle all the toxins you throw at them. And, when this happens, your bodies resort to storing these toxins in your joints and fat cells.

There are some common, obvious symptoms that your body might be holding on to too many toxins. These symptoms include: headaches, feeling off-balance, gastrointestinal problems, insomnia, depression, and most prominently, weight gain!

Detoxification is the most important step in the treatment of obesity and enabling yourself to lose weight quickly. These toxins are being stored in your fatty tissues and joints, and the greater your problem with obesity is, the more toxic your system is.

Following a good detoxification program can produce wonderful results. There are numerous great programs out there, including body wraps, juice diets, and more. And, in practicing one of these programs, you will become healthier, look and feel younger, and have more energy!

Get your Heart Rate Up!

Your heart is a muscle and just like all the rest, it needs it exercise. And, when your heart is being helped from some good exercise, it reciprocates by helping you to lose weight!

Many people will simply work out on a treadmill or home gym for a few minutes, and then wonder why they have a hard time with losing weight. If you know anything about the way your heart works, you will know that your heart rate needs to be within its target zone to be burning fat. And, by the time those 10-15 minutes are up on the old treadmill, you have just barely gotten your heart warmed up!

But, how do you know what your target heart rate is? You can dedicate a lot of time to figuring this out using elaborate formulas and tests, but there is an easier way. Its called a "talk test". Try having a normal conversation during your exercise activity. If you can speak clearly, without any difficulties, you are probably in the 50 to 80 percent target heart range. This is a fantastic fat burning zone, and will definitely help you to lose that weight.

If you are having problems speaking while exercising, you are probably exercising too vigorously. If that is the case, you should bring the intensity down a notch, and prolong your exercise. That will enable you to last longer and burn more calories!

Drink Water!!

You have been hearing your parents tell you this since you were a little kid. Drink water! It will do wonders for your looks, it will flush out impurities from your skin, and it will give you a clear, vibrant, glowing complexion. Even skin that begins to sag with aging can become taut and tight when the skin cells are properly hydrated.

When you are properly hydrated, your muscles can literally feel the difference. They will contract more easily, and your workouts will be drastically more effective. Consequently, you will be left with great muscle tone and you will be on your way to losing that weight!

So, is drinking 8 glasses of water a day too hard? Really? Its only 2 quarts of water. I know dozens of people who drink that much soda in one day. Make the effort to drink the water, and it will pay off in multiples.

When you are drinking the amount of water that your body desires, you will notice a decrease in appetite, and you will become a healthier and leaner new you!

If you are sick and tired of how you look and feel, and want some proven methods for weight loss, nutrition, and detoxification, visit: How to Lose Weight Fast at Home

Brandon Walsh is a renowned weight loss expert, and considered an expert author in the fields of nutrition and dieting.

How To Lose 60 Pounds in 3 Months

In order to lose 60 pounds in 3 months you will need to shock your body into losing a lot of weight fast. Just so you know, to lose 60 pounds in 3 months isn't the easiest thing in the world and will require you to commit to this process heart and soul. However, with the right will and determination, it can be done.

In order to lose 60 pounds in 3 months, I suggest that you begin by cleansing your body. What this does is get rid of a lot of undigested pounds which have accumulated inside your body and which are weighing it down and damaging your health. Each person carries around some undigested weight. By using a detox diet, you can quickly flush out of your system all those pounds, lose a lot of weight fast and be ready for the next step of the process. This detox phase takes 10 days tops and you will see a great reduction in your weight. I suggest using the Master Cleanse detox diet (I provide a link to a review of this diet at the end of this article so read the whole thing through).

After you finish with the detox diet, you should take a few days to a week off any dieting and eat regularly (but healthy). Then the next phase of your process to lose 60 lbs in 3 months will commence. In this phase you will choose one of 2 courses:

  1. Follow a Calorie Shifting diet (namely the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet)
  2. Follow a fitness oriented fat loss program (I suggest the Turbulence Training program)

Again, I provide a link to a review of all these 3 programs at the end of the article so you can read more about each of them.

You should follow either of these 2 programs for 2 months. These will provide a slower weight loss rate than the Master Cleanse, but they're more healthy to use for a long time straight. They should bring you closer to achieving your goal of losing 60 pounds in 3 months.

About 10 days before your 3 months are over, you should go on the Master Cleanse again to give your body the final push it needs to shed the last of those 60 pounds. If you do everything right, you have a good chance to lose 60 pounds in 3 months.

To read more about the Master Cleanse, Fat Loss 4 Idiots, and Turbulence Training, visit this webpage:

How to Lose 60 Pounds Fast. It's a review of ways to lose 10 pounds fast, but the same things apply to losing 60 pounds.

John Davenport lost over 30 pounds in his twenties after being overweight most of his life. To read more about fast weight loss, click here: Losing Weight Fast Without ever Gaining It Back.

Need to Lose Some Weight?

Losing weight does not have to be a difficult, overwhelming task and surely should not be a process that can be a risk to your health. Follow these simple guidelines to ensure your weight loss is safe and successful!

Enlist friends and family - Individuals who have the support and encouragement of friends and families are more likely to achieve their weight loss goals. They will also provide a level of accountability for you; if you make your goals known, you will be more likely to stick with them.

What are you drinking? - You may be surprised to find out just how many calories may be hiding in the sodas, energy drinks, juices, and sports drink you gulp down each day. Replacing just one those drinks with water can reduce your caloric intake by nearly 150 calories. Drinking more water is not only essential for a healthy diet, but can help curb hunger when you start to get cravings during the day.

Think baby steps - You should start with small and simple lifestyle and dietary changes; trying to implement big and drastic changes will never work. If you gradually introduce diet changes and exercise into your daily life, you will be more likely to stick to your goals, thus resulting in successful, lasting weight loss.

Energy supplement - Taking an energy supplement while putting into practice healthier eating and daily physical activity can really boost your energy level and metabolism. As a stipulation, you should always read the labels before you start taking any supplement and always take as directed and never more than instructed.

Listen to your stomach - An easy way to start losing the weight is to stop eating when you're full! Overeating due to over-sized portions is one of the biggest factors when it comes to being overweight. Eat slowly and savor your food; doing so will allow your stomach to register with your brain that you are full. Eating too fast will only lead to overeating and possibly feeling sick as a result.

Start moving - Try out different physical activities until you find one that your really enjoy. No one ever said that exercise had to be tedious or dreadful. Dancing, hiking, biking, even brisk walking are all great ways to get exercise. Don't get stuck in the mindset that you have to be on a treadmill or in the gym to get proper and regular exercise.

http://www.zantrex3.com

Exercise Benefits

I'm not going to state all of the obvious health benefits of what daily exercise can do for you. You already know that. It's been discussed billions of times throughout the internet day by day. Instead, I'll share with you two personal and social benefits of what daily exercise can do for you.

Confidence. People who are more active tend to have more confidence than people who aren't as active. People who work a 9-5 J.O.B. everyday and are too tired to exercise, people who sit on the couch all day, and people who are just plain anti-social and spend most of their lives in the house don't have as much confidence in themselves while in public or talking to other people because they are either used to being along all the time, or they don't exactly look as good as they wish they could. Or maybe it's both.

Not only can a simple change in your daily routine change all of this, but it can also give more meaning to your life by having goals you can set for yourself and accomplish everyday. For example: you might want to complete 100 straight hindu squats, or maybe your goal may be to run an entire mile. Life is much more exciting when you start setting and achieving your goals while getting fit at the same time.

Attracting the opposite sex. There is no doubt that most women are more attracted to men that have well-toned, cut bodies over couch potatoes (and the same goes to men for women). You have more of a chance of meeting your soul-mate when you start getting results from daily exercise.

There is the occasional miracle story of when the fat computer nerd ends up with the hot, sexy young lady. But the chances of that happening to you (if youre out of shape) is about one in a million.

Now if these two benefits don't inspire you to get fit, then I dont know what will! Use these two great benefits to inspire you to get in shape and lose weight today.

Ryan Dodson - Personal Fitness Instructor - If you want to experience these two powerful benefits that can easily turn your life around, visit Inhuman Stamina to develop maximum strength, endurance, flexibility, and, of course, stamina.

Life After Weight Loss Surgery - Don't Let Shame and Self-Blame Weigh You Down

A huge mistake that people make as they work to lose weight and/or maintain weight loss after weight loss surgery involves getting stuck in self-blame. Self-blame and self-criticism can seriously undermine weight loss efforts. Here are some of the reasons why they can create a trap that you want to avoid:

1. Self-blame breeds shame.

Shame is the most isolating emotion that there is. When we feel shame, we feel bad and we want to be invisible. We don't want anyone to see either our shame or ourselves and we start to feel incapable of connecting with others. We want to disappear. Solid support is one of the most important tools for success whenever we are making any major change and shame causes people to isolate, avoid others, and miss out on the support they can provide.

2. Self-blame and shame cause us to lose perspective.

When we blame ourselves and get lost in shame we also tend to lose perspective. If we believe that the problem is us then it becomes easier to believe that we are alone in our struggles and that no one else will understand. One of the biggest mistakes a weight loss surgery patient can make is assuming they are alone in struggling or having questions or difficulties after bariatric surgery. When we struggle alone and blame ourselves, a problem that was originally small can quickly become much larger.

I have worked with too many bariatric surgery patients who have avoided support groups because they are afraid of being judged or are embarrassed to admit they are struggling. Because they are stuck in shame and self-blame, these individuals miss out on learning that they are not alone. They miss out on learning about the strategies and resources that others have discovered or developed. Connecting with others is an incredibly powerful tool and shame can keep us from using it.

3. The heaviness of shame and the weight of self blame interfere with successful weight loss.

In fact, getting stuck in the self blame trap might be the biggest mistake that bariatric surgery patients can make. When people hit a rough patch with their eating or their weight loss surgery lifestyle and they are trapped in shame and self-blame, they get stuck. Instead of taking a step back, evaluating why the plan failed, and looking compassionately at what they need to tweak in order to be successful, people stuck in self-blame beat themselves up emotionally for their past failures and commit to being tougher or harder on themselves, or more rigid and strict the next go-round. This is a big mistake. When we stay stuck in self-blame and shame we limit our ability to be curious and to think creatively. We become less able to look at a situation objectively, identify what didn't work or how we got into the trap that we did. When we are stuck in shame and self-blame, our minds are less likely to work to create some new options, modify our plan for next time, or generate ideas about how we can be more successful. Self blame tends to leave us with only one option--"just try harder." Unfortunately that's not often a very helpful approach.

Learning how self-judgment and shame can get in your way isn't always enough to change it. Have you ever tried to stop being hard on yourself? It's really not so easy. It takes practice, persistence, and the right tools. So many weight loss programs don't address shame and self-blame at all, and even fewer provide the necessary tools and skills to help you move past it. Moving past self-blame and shame is crucial for creating enduring success after weight loss surgery and it is challenging work. But once you start to develop the right tools and you are able to step outside of that self-blame, it's absolutely amazing how much easier some of the other steps towards success can be.

Melissa McCreery, Ph.D. is a Psychologist and Life and Wellness Coach who helps her clients create and live the life they crave. She is also the creator of the Emotional Eating Toolbox (TM), Tools for Taking Control and Moving Beyond Dieting. Sign up for a free 5 part Self-care Package and learn more at: http://www.enduringchange.com

Copyright 2008 - Melissa McCreery, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, give author name credit and follow all of the EzineArticles terms of service for Publishers.

New Trend In Holiday Gift Giving...The Gift of Weight Loss

Turn on the news today and youll see hoards of people crowding shopping malls and electronic stores. They stand in line for hours to purchase a Christmas gift that will long be forgotten two months after it is received. What you wont see however is soon to be one of the biggest trends this holiday season. Diet plans like South Beach, Medifast or many others are anticipating that December will be the single largest month of the year.

Why this new shift toward pre-purchased diet plans as a gift?

The answer can be found in the growing number of Americans who are concerned about their health and weight. From the restaurants to the fast food outlets, consumers are demanding healthier food. With basic plastic surgery costing anywhere from $5,000 to $35,000, companies like Medifast.com provided a simple solution for individuals looking to begin their new year with an extreme weight loss makeover.

A promise so good...it can't be resisted.

One diet program promises to help you lose up to 20 pounds in one month without shopping, cooking or counting. These programs provide foods are nutritionally balanced, clinically proven, and delivered to your door. Compared to a $7,500 tummy tuck, these plans look very attractive to consumers as holiday gifts.

In a recent survey of married women, one of the top items on their wish for the New Year was that their husbands would eat healthier foods and work out with them. Trends indicate that not only are individuals purchasing diet plans for themselves but more and more couples are joining one another on a quest to loose weight. To these individuals, giving each other the gift of weight loss is truly priceless.

Brian Stephenson is the President of StephensonandCompany.com a product review company based in Houston, Texas. To read Brian's review of one of the above mentioned diet plans, visit http://www.StephensonandCompany.com/medifast

How To Lose Weight - Tips For Effective Weight Loss

Many of you who have attempted to lose weight, successfully or otherwise, desired only one thing - visible results fast. This is very attainable but in order to achieve your goal, you must be very focused both on your fat loss diet and weight loss exercise.

Here are some essential tips to lose weight fast, but remember, you have to be totally committed to your routine of burning away the fat and eat healthily. It's okay to cheat once in a while, but bottom-line is you are the one who wants to lose weight and only you yourself can do it. Other people can give you advice or tips, the rest is up to you.

    Diet is the key to any weight loss programs

1) Eat your breakfast: This is essentially the most important meal of the day. Start the day off with a good nutritious cereal breakfast. You may want to include some protein powder in your oats or cornflakes to supply your body the energy to run your day. One keynote here, never miss your breakfast no matter how time short you are.

2) Eat your meals: A lot of people have the misconception that you must starve to lose weight which of course is not true. In fact, it is important that you do not skip meals. However it is better your eat 5 to 6 small meals a day rather than 3 big ones. Big meals take longer to burn and tends to leave fat in your body making you fatter.

3) Increase your water intake: Water is vital in fat loss regimes. It helps to flush out radicals in your body,keeps your body fully hydrated and reduce your hunger. Drink at least 2 litres of this liquid fuel a day.

4) Eat only healthy snacks: Most of you cannot avoid snacking especially when watching TV or going to the movies. This is totally understandable. However, go for healthy snacks like nuts, dried fruits, fresh fruits.

    Exercise helps tone up your body and gives you that firmer younger look

1) Walk the dog: The simplest way to workout is to take your dog for a walk if you have got one. so both you and your pet get to exercise. It's a win-win activity!

2) Aerobic training: This is a very popular exercise among those who want to lose weight and those who just want to keep fit. Most experts recommend 3 to 5 times a week for a duration of 20 to 45 minutes depending on your stamina.

3) Skipping away the kilos: This is actually an excellent form of workout that requires minimal equipment. When skipping, keep your elbows tucked to your sides with the rope turning around smoothly in you wrists.

Do you want to know a little fat loss secret discovered by a lady doctor from Arizona, United States? This secret has taken the weight loss industry by storm. Take a sneak peek by Clicking Here

Weight Loss Tip #11: What's Stopping You From Weight Loss?

One of my favorite success quotes talks about having a single, overriding objective and making everything else in life bend towards helping you to attain that objective.

Well I've got a challenge for you.

I am literally daring you to make your weight loss goals the single, overriding objective to which you will make other things bend this month.

Am I asking you to put your weight loss absolutely first? Before Family? Before Work?

Certainly not!

Of course there will always be things in your life that will be more important to you than this.

However, I do believe that the list of things more important than your own weight loss and fitness is a short one. I also believe that even many things that are more important can be modified to help accommodate this part of your life.

There's also a point to be made that without your health, nothing else matters anyway.

I mean think about it. Obesity is either a root cause or an aid in almost every major deadly disease and condition. I think that calls for your fitness and weight loss program to be just a bit of a top priority.

Wouldn't you agree?

I thought so.

Now if you haven't been prioritizing your program I don't want you to go beating up on yourself. That's not what this is about.

Instead of dwelling on what you may not have done, put in some extra effort this month to find ways to make SURE that you are making the time and resources available to yourself that you need to stay in shape.

  1. Schedule Your Exercising, Keeping it Simple and Easy

    This sounds oh, so simple. But you wouldn't believe how many people I talk to who "try" to get a workout in "if they can get around to it", and never do.

    Look, the reality is that most busy people these days will not be able to get to the gym or even be able to workout at home every day. And the good news is that you don't have to.

    Get out your planner and really take a hard look at your schedule. If nothing else, you will need to find 3 to 5 days in a week that you can set aside at least 30 minutes for some cardio. Of course you will get better results with 5 days, but it is more important that you are doing something than doing a lot.

    Try to plan activities that are easily accessible and even fun if you can. A cardio funk class at a gym that's near by. Jogging while you walk the dog around the neighborhood. Sticking your favorite cardio DVD into the player and "working it out".

    Do whatever is easy, simple, and hopefully fun. You want to set yourself up for success, so don't try and complicate the issue.

  2. Plan Your Grocery Shopping for Weight Loss

    Create a "master list" of all of the healthy foods that you'll need to get through the week eating healthy. Go and get them all at once and them stock them at home.

    This way, you will always have healthy food options that will help you in your weight loss goals.

    You also won't be caught off guard with the "munchies" and nothing to snack on in the house but your children's (or significant other's!) junk food. You can also plan to take certain snacks to work with you that can help you stay away from the temptations of doughnut-and-pizza-peddling co-workers.

  3. Take Advantage of Weekend Time

    The fact of the matter is that for most people, the weekend is the only time when they have complete control over what they do during the day. Why not take advantage of this time to make sure you get in a little jog or some aerobics or even biking in the morning or afternoon when you are having some down time?

    Look at it this way: you'll be knocking out 2 days of workouts before the week even begins. Then, based on your personal program, you will only have to worry about doing it again 1,2, or 3 days.

    This will go a long way to take some pressure off of you so that you won't feel like you failed just because you got busy for a day or two and truly just could not get around to doing anything for your body.

    Using this tactics will go along way in making sure that you are able to stick with your program and not quit---even during times when your schedule is hectic and keeping up is rough.

  4. One Day at a Time

    Most people won't tell you this, but having the discipline to stay in shape---especially in the eating department---is something that usually is gradual and takes some time.

    And I know this from personal experience.

    It actually took me a year or two before I could really stick to a diet and exercise plan without fouling it all up. And to be honest, it is still a challenge even for me.

    Therefore, there is absolutely no reason why should feel defeated if you mess up on any given day. Just get back on the horse and commit to yourself that you'll get it the right the next; and then the next; and then the next. And when you slip up again. Get over it quickly and do better the next day.

I know this all sounds pretty simplistic. That's because it really is simple.

What makes it so challenging is that ugly four-syllabal word called C-O-N-S-I-S-T-E-N-C-Y. Its what separate people who achieve from those who don't in virtually any endeavor.

But the bottom line of it all is that if the days that you do the right things far out way the days you do the wrong things, you will be truly successful in the end.

And yes, it really is that simple.

To YourBestBody,

Lawrence Cole
Your Lifestyle and Fitness Coach

Read this Weight Loss Article at YourBestBodyNOW.com.

Lawrence Cole is a Lifestyle and Fitness Consultant based out of Los Angeles, CA. He has over 10 years of health and fitness experience and designing simple, effective nutritional strategies to help individuals achieve their personal best internal health and physical conditioning.

How Hoodia Gordonii Helps With Weight Loss

Hoodia Gordonii is an all natural appetite suppressant; it contains no Ephedra, stimulants, or Caffeine and has no known adverse side effects. When using Hoodia you have to remember that you are not going on a diet. Hoodia simply decreases your appetite, you will not feel hungry and you will feel healthy and energetic at the same time.

Hoodia is classed as a food; it is a herb not a medicine.

The only effect this plant has is that it causes your brain to believe that you are full.The only concern with Hoodia is if its misused by people with eating disorders for rapid weight lose. You should not use any Hoodia Gordonii products in childhood, pregnancy, or lactating mothers.

It should not be used by individuals with eating disorders, those who are underweight or within a normal weight range. The abuse of Hoodia can deprive the body of the necessary nutrients it may need.

Hoodia Gordonii is an all natural appetite suppressant; it contains no Ephedra, stimulants, or Caffeine and has no known adverse side effects. When using Hoodia you have to remember that you are not going on a diet. Hoodia simply decreases your appetite, you will not feel hungry and you will feel healthy and energetic at the same time.

Hoodia is classed as a food; it is a herb not a medicine.

The only effect this plant has is that it causes your brain to believe that you are full.The only concern with Hoodia is if its misused by people with eating disorders for rapid weight lose. You should not use any Hoodia Gordonii products in childhood, pregnancy, or lactating mothers.

It should not be used by individuals with eating disorders, those who are underweight or within a normal weight range. The abuse of Hoodia can deprive the body of the necessary nutrients it may need.

Discover How This Secret Exercise Can Keep You Younger

Exercises are generally grouped into three types depending on the overall effect they have on the human body: Flexibility exercises such as stretching improves the range of motion of muscles and joints.

Exercise can also increase energy and raise one's threshold for pain,especially if you pick the right ones. Exercise should be controlled by each body's inherent limitations, meaning only do what you can do, don't over do it or you might do more harm then good. Exercise is also known as physical activity and includes anything that gets you moving.

Exercise Physiology is the identification of physiological mechanisms underlying physical activity, the comprehensive delivery of treatment services concerned with the analysis, improvement, and maintenance of health and fitness, rehabilitation of heart disease and other chronic diseases and/or disabilities, and the professional guidance and counsel of athletes and others interested in athletics, sports training, and human adaptability to acute and chronic exercise.

Exercise

There is varying amounts of evidence as to whether vigorous exercise (more than 70% of VO2 Max) is more or less beneficial than moderate exercise (40 to 70% of VO2 Max). It is a common belief that exercise and training a particular body part will preferentially shed the fat on that part; for example, that doing sit-ups is the most direct way to reduce subcutaneous belly fat. Or if you use the Tibetan 5 Rites system, you'll have the fountain of youth. Such exercise might help reduce overall body fat and shrink the size of fat cells. Another element of increased fatty deposits is that of diet, as most trainees will not significantly reduce their diet in order to compensate for the lack of exercise/activity.

Fitness

You can always improve your level of fitness and this is made easier now with the Tibetan 5 Rites. If this is correct, then getting a regular so-called dose of exercise may be much more important than your level of physical fitness. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your Doctor before starting a fitness regimen. However, because the fitness industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, there are some manufactures that put out garbage instead of high quality products so that they can make a quick buck at your expense. With the Tibetan 5 Rites system, it won't cost you an arm and a leg, and you can do it at home.

Physical exercise is the performance of some activity to develop or maintain physical fitness and overall health. Physical exercise is important for maintaining physical fitness and can contribute positively to maintaining a healthy weight; building and maintaining healthy bone density, muscle strength, and joint mobility; promoting physiological well-being; reducing surgical risks; and strengthening the immune system. Strength training appears to have continuous energy-burning effects that persist for about 24 hours after the training, though they do not offer the same cardiovascular benefits of aerobic exercises. A doctor should always be consulted before any radical changes are made to a person's current exercise regimen.

At http://www.lencecchetto.com/fitness/ you can find some extra info and sign up for your FREE report on fitness. Discover how the Tibetan 5 Rites can boost your energy beyond your wildest belief. After a few months people will be amazed how young you look Click Here For The Secrets!

Calorie Shifting Meal Plan

There is a new diet regimen that is gaining popularity across the world known as the calorie shifting meal plan. As the name implies, it is a diet based on the theory that shifting your calories from meal to meal, from day to day, will trigger the appropriate metabolic response that will induce fat burning and thus rapid weight loss.

Calorie shifting differs from other diet regimens in that you are not restricting the quantity or the types of food that you eat. You can eat as much as you want from all four food groups while you are on this diet. The only caveat is that you must group your calories together in accordance with the pattern that is most conducive to fat loss.

You can lose as many as 9 pounds in 11 days without ever feeling hungry or deprived. In fact, you must eat 4 meals every day, and you can eat as much as you want until you are satisfied, but not until you are too full. (Stuffing yourself is counterproductive to the weight loss process.)

The rules of this diet are very simple and straight-forward, as outline below:

  1. Eat only until you are satisfied but not until you are too full.

  2. Leave a minimum gap of 2.5 to 3 hours between meals.

  3. Eat only the foods prescribed to you according to the calorie shifting meal plan at each meal.

  4. You must eat exactly 4 meals per day, no more and no less.

  5. You have a choice to eat any of the 4 meals in any order throughout the day.

  6. You must take a 3-day break from the diet on days 12 through 14 of your diet, before you may resume the diet again. This is to give your body a chance to rest from the rapid weight loss that you will be experiencing.

Here are some sample meal plans that you would be following. The diet plan lasts for 11 days but only 3 days are included here, just to give you an idea of how the plan is structured and to give you a sense of how satisfying and sustainable this diet truly is. Keep in mind that each of these four meals may be eaten in any order throughout the day, as long as you only eat that the designated foods at each of their respective meals.

Day 1:

Meal #1: Scrambled Eggs Meal

Meal #2: Sandwich (any type)

Meal #3: Flavored Oatmeal

Meal #4: Tuna Salad

Day 2:

Meal #1: Cottage Cheese

Meal #2: Scrambled Eggs [and] Mixed Vegetables

Meal #3: Chicken

Meal #4: Banana Milk Shake

Day 3:

Meal #1: Chicken

Meal #2: Fish Filet

Meal #3: Cottage Cheese

Meal #4: Fruit Salad

How would you like to be 9 pounds lighter 11 days from now? The Calorie Shifting Diet will get you there! Learn how at: http://www.CalorieShiftingDiet.info

Weight Loss Tips To Tackle Obesity And Overweight Problems

Obesity and weight related problems are commonly found throughout the world. Due to our current fast paced lifestyle people are finding it extremely difficult to manage their weight problems and obesity is on the increase all over the world. People who find it extremely difficult to implement exercise into their daily regimen are always on the lookout for weight loss tips.

Some of the most famous weight loss tips are as follows:

You really need to be careful about all that you eat. It is very important for people who are really keen to get rid of their excess fat that you have to have some sort of dietary control. This is most essential of all weight loss tips

Along with proper dietary control you also need to follow some sort of regular exercise regimen in order to overcome obesity and stay fit and healthy. You need to burn up all the energy that you are consuming so that you are no longer overweight

Obesity leads to a whole lot of health problems and illnesses. That is why it is essential you take the weight loss tips seriously in order to prevent from falling ill

You need to change your present lifestyle, which is leading to obesity and weight related problems. Try to cut down on your junk food expenditure and junk food intake. Dieting does not really help and all the effects from dieting are just temporary. By changing your dietary lifestyle you are brining about a permanent change to the physical conditions of your body.

You can join some support group so that you don't feel alone and left out in your struggles to cope with your weight and health problems. Even reaching out to your friends can prove really helpful, as they will help you in overcoming your personal dilemmas and agony.

Click here now for more information on Weight loss tips Visit http://www.chefsdiet.com

Weight Loss and Stress in Midlife Women

Weight gain is common in midlife women and isn't just the result of too many calories and too little exercise. Oh, if it were only that simple! There are many physical and emotional factors involved. Women gain weight for different reasons and what works to help one lose, might not do a thing for another. Maybe that's why "diets don't work". Weight loss plans need to be tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual. If you're saying, "No matter what I do, I can't lose weight", consider adding stress reduction to your weight loss program.

Stress and the adrenal glands play a major role in midlife weight gain. Briefly, the adrenal glands react to stress by releasing cortisol into the bloodstream. The kind of stress doesn't matter to the adrenals. It can be physical, emotional, environmental, bio-chemical or even imagined. Since midlife women experience stress in multiple aspects of life on a daily basis, cortisol remains elevated for sustained periods. It settles in the fat cells causing weight gain, typically around the middle of the body.

Elevated cortisol also effects thyroid function. And, it's no surprise that compromised thyroid function is associated with weight gain. High cortisol prohibits a normal response to the thyroid hormone signal which is sometimes called "thyroid resistance". This resistance impacts other hormone receptors like insulin, progesterone, estrogens and testosterone, requiring more hormones to create a normal effect. The connection between elevated cortisol and insulin resistance is yet another cause of weight gain. Stress clearly creates a vicious cycle!

To help balance cortisol levels and nurture your overworked adrenals, avoid stimulants, alcohol, refined sugars, carbohydrates, processed and fried foods. Eat smaller portions more frequently. Include lean, hormone free meats and dairy, vegetables, legumes, high-fiber grains, leafy greens and fresh fruit. Drink plenty of pure, fresh water every day to help flush toxins from the body. Utilize supplements and herbs to nurture the adrenal glands. And, take time each day to rest, restore, reevaluate and reinvent yourself for the next chapter of life.

While eating well and getting plenty of exercise are essential for good health, consider reducing stress and learning effective stress management techniques an important part of your weight loss program. Journaling, meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, self-hypnosis, guided imagery, breathing exercising and listening to soothing music are just some of the ways to support healthy weight loss through relaxation. It's also important to take time to address unresolved emotional stressors like conflicts at work and in relationships, feelings of guilt and unhealed wounds from the past.

For midlife women, losing those extra pounds means much more than looking better. Other benefits include more energy, better sleep and a reduced risk of hormone related conditions like elevated cholesterol, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Obesity in midlife is also associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease. Maintaining a healthy weight will add years to your life and enhance the quality of each and every day. You deserve it and you can do it!

The Detox Diet: Harmful or Helpful?

What, exactly, is a detox diet? As described by several sources, a detox diet is a nutritional regimen that involves changing bad eating and drinking habits in order to cleanse the body of toxins and other contaminants. A detox has become quite the thing to do these days, and many claim that completing a detox can improve overall health and digestion as well as to heighten resistance to illness and help in weight control. All of the above can be accomplished with good, nutritious eating habits and healthy living styles, but we seem to want to do everything the hard way; hence a detox diet becomes necessary to bring us back to the point where we should have been anyway.

A detox diet can be comprised of many different methodologies. Some people prefer to fast, and only drink water or juice for a certain period of time. Others prefer to increase the amount of fish they eat. Others restrict the amount of calories they consume while others resort to bottled methods like an herbal detox diet. Some even go on a lemonade diet that is more commonly known as the Master Cleanse detox diet.

It stands to reason that any detox diet must be carefully monitored to ensure proper ingestion of nutritious foods, and many merely suggest that a person add more fruits and vegetables to their diet. Of course, staying away from fast food and soda, cigarettes and alcohol is a given. A detox diet is all about changing eating habits and adopting healthy and nutritiously balanced diets and foregoing McDonald's and Taco Bell offerings. It has become a fad to call anything that offers such a drastic change in eating or drinking habits a detox diet.

Still, some argue that the body is already more than capable of ridding itself of toxic wastes and that a detox diet is not only unnecessary but can also be dangerous. Our bodies are meant to contain a certain amount of fats and sugars, and to try to rid the body of these items with a detox diet can cause medical problems such as anemia, low blood sugar and lethargy and weakness. The balance of electrolytes, fats, enzymes, proteins, and carbohydrates in the body are finely tuned and shouldn't be tampered with. A detox diet that allows only liquid is not to be considered a safe alternative to exercise and a normal, well balanced diet. Studies have shown that the lack of protein in most of the more common types of detox diet decreases muscle mass in individuals. With less muscle mass, the metabolism automatically slows down, which will threaten most well-intentioned weight loss diets regardless of what you do.

Call it what you will. While a detox diet can help people learn new and better eating habits, as with everything, a detox diet should be done using caution and good judgment. Perhaps we could avoid all this unnecessary detox diet stuff by just eating better and exercising more in the first place.

Are you ready for a detox diet? Discover more about the detox diet at http://DetoxRevealed.com.

Guide To Weight Loss - Three Things To Stay Away From When Losing Weight

Here are three things that you definitely need to avoid if you want to lose weight. Many people don't even know about what I'm going to reveal right now, and that's one of the reasons why they can't lose weight - because if you eat the foods below then you will definitely put on the pounds. So here's a list of foods you should avoid...

1. "Natural Flavors" and "Spices"

Any package that says "Natural" on the front or the back generally means that the product does not contain any added "artificial" (having no counterpart in nature) additives, but it does not necessarily mean pesticides or other chemicals were not used in processing. Your potato chips that say "natural" could be genetically altered, grown with pesticides, and cleaned with unfiltered water and still read "All Natural!"

What is scary is that natural flavors and spices are assumed to be OK. But what is not OK is that any substance derived from something natural, no matter how dangerous it is, can be classified as a "natural flavoring." What's worse is that if a poisonous chemical is used to derive that flavoring, it can still be called "natural". Many natural flavors are synthesized from Isoprene, which is a known carcinogen! Isoprene stays in the food... it doesn't just disappear!

Manufacturers also hide monosodium glutamate (MSG)-a flavoring which causes headaches and allergic reactions-in their "natural flavorings" or "spices" listings because it is derived from seaweed, a natural product. So clearly, being natural is not the same as being harmless.

2. Irradiated Foods

Food irradiation is done by zapping food with a dosage of radiation. The X-rays are used to kill insects and bacteria, prevent sprouting, and slow rotting. While the process does not make the food radioactive, the chemical structure of the food is altered and there are a number of animal studies that show negative health effects. Some researchers suspect that a regular diet of irradiated food may cause leukemia, other forms of cancer, and kidney disease.

The FDA says it's safe. When you hear that, I want you to think about other things that were apparently safe... such as cigarette smoking, pesticides, asbestos and CFCs. Each of these at one time was classified as safe. The FDA claims irradiation of food is safe and has already authorized the irradiation of fruits, vegetables, pork, chicken, herbs, spices, teas, and seeds. Spices are the most widely irradiated food in the United States. You can avoid irradiation by buying 100% organic spices and foods.

NOTE: Avoid the microwave as well. This type of irradiation affects the chemistry of foods by activating the water molecules inside. If cooking does some damage to enzymes and foods, then microwaving is the equivalent to a nuclear blast, leaving everything once living lifeless and wilted.

3. Chemicals

This is the catch-all... As a general rule, anything that's longer than 15 letters, you can't pronounce and is hyphenated is generally not good for you.

Kate Fletcher has taught hundreds of people how to lose weight. Visit her website right now at Fast Guide To Weight Loss for some great information on losing weight. Or, want to see the #1 weight loss course online? Visit the Burn The Fat Review section of Kate's website.

Medifast Weight Loss System - A Quick Overview

I've lost nearly 65 pounds on medifast and am still going strong. From the questions that I am often asked, I find that there are a lot of misconceptions about this diet plan. Here is a quick overview which will hopefully give you an accurate idea of what this system is all about:

Medifast is a meal replacement diet which means that you replace some of your daily meals with prepackaged options provided by the company. There are over 70 different meals from which to choose. There are some liquid choices, but the plan is definitely not a liquid only diet. Typical meals include shakes, bars, puddings, teas, lattes, cappuccinos, chilis, stews, crackers, eggs, and oatmeals etc.

In addition to eating five of these meals per day, you will provide your own "lean and green meal." This is usually your largest meal of the day and although you can have it at any time, most people prefer to eat this main meal at dinner time. The lean and green consists of lean protein and veggies or salads. It may sound difficult to eat six times per day, but it really isn't because the foods are pretty much grab and go and very convenient.

I find the taste of the foods to be pretty decent, but you can make them taste even better by adding sugar free syrups. You can add these to the shakes, puddings, lattes and oatmeals. I like adding either caramel or cherry flavored syrup but there are countless choices. You can also make muffins and cookies from the pudding and shake ingredients. I also take the liberty of adding fat free cheese and sour cream to the soups and stews.

The company states that the typical weight loss is 2-3 pounds per week. I have found that if I add a bit of exercise (power walking, roller blading, or gardening with a weight vest) I can get this even higher, usually as much as five pounds per week. This program works by putting your body in ketosis and tricking it into burning its own fat. Since exercise also burns fat, moving your body means doubling your efforts.

The cost is about $8 per day, but there are usually coupons available. For me personally, this has been the only plan that has been both effective and easy for me stick with. Eating the company's foods does take some getting used to initially, but adding the syrups and being motivated by the changes in your body can really help.

Lindsey Price is the author of the ebook "Getting The Most Out Of Medifast" which includes the latest coupons, recipies, and tips. To get a free copy (immediate download / no information required), click here.

You can also visit her diet review website at http://geniefrancisdietreview.blogspot.com/

Weight Loss Programs

Losing weight is arguably one of the hardest journeys in your life because of what is involved when starting a plan from the physical change through to the mental change. So when as humans we come across a problem that needs solving we obviously try and find a quick and easy solution to follow. This is where weight loss programs come into play and by selecting the right one to follow can effectively boost the results you achieve and lets face it make things a whole lot easier and methodical.

With the wealth of programs out there to follow there are so many different angles to pursue to try and find the right one for you that most importantly works. The fact is though a program that actually works and aims at long term weight loss can be hard to find. One that is easy to follow and one that offers results quick time is in some cases like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

There are 3 factors to remember when selecting the program for you which are diet, exercise and also motivation. Your program will act as a bible in the next few months on your journey towards weight loss success and to find one that not only covers the diet and exercise side of things but also the motivation side of things is most certainly a godsend.

The first factor being diet is important. It is all well and good having a program telling you what sort of foods to eat but what we need as humans is an easier solution, we need to be spoon fed! A weight loss program that offers recipes and a diet plan that instructs you what to eat and when to eat will not only be easier but obviously more successful. Research shows that when we have a plan to follow 80% more of us succeed in our endeavours and a diet plan within your program is essential. It is nearly equivalent to having a full time nutritionist at your side so you cannot fail to succeed with your diet and healthy eating.

The next factor is an in depth exercise plan! Not just a few exercises to do but a full written out minute by minute plan that not only tells you what exercises to do but how to do them properly and how long for. At the end of the day a personal trainer will get you into shape but at the same time can cost you an arm and a leg so finding a program that not only instructs on what exercises to do but how and for how long can be like having a virtual personal trainer working with you and this information can be truly vital.

Finally the secret weapon "Motivation". The misconception with weight loss programs is that a good diet plan and exercise plan is enough but the reality is that more people fail at trying to lose weight than succeed so the odds are certainly against. But if the secret weapon of motivation can be found in a program you are most certainly in possession of a killer strategy. Success stories are always good but to have a program that works with you in steps along the way and give you the motivational pushes as you go along on your journey can be the difference between succeeding and failing. So motivation is certainly the key to a good program.

If these 3 factors are followed within a program you are looking into then you could be on the way to possessing that bible and are most certainly on the way to a slimmer you! The major point is a program is there to help and assist you so find one that you get the most bang for your buck.

To find a program that fits the bill today visit http://www.weight-loss-made-easy.com and check out the "Fat Burning Furnace" which follows all 3 factors to a tee and has provided more results than arguably any other program on the market today.