Weight Loss: The Beginner's Guide to Losing Weight

So you've decided that you're going to do it.

You're sick and tired of being sick and tired and are once and for all hell bent on losing weight.

Well, let me be the first to warn you of a very grim fact:

Millions have tried before you and most of them have failed miserably at reaching their weight loss and diet goals.

Therefore, I've put together a little beginner's guide to help make sure that you are one of the few that actually ends up being successful at this.

1. Get an accurate picture of where you are now

Many people just go and hop on a diet or weight loss program without knowing exactly where they are from the start. This is dangerous because along the way there WILL be numerous times where you will be tempted to simply quit altogether. Without knowing where you started, you won't be able to accurately gauge your progress. Not being able too see that progress put you at an extremely high risk of quitting down the road when the going gets tough.

2. Set specific, realistic goals for your weight loss, and WRITE THEM DOWN.

This is one of the most ill-executed steps in the entire process of losing weight. Most people will passively quote some random amount of weight that they "hope" to lose.

"I need to lose 30 lbs." "I'm trying to get back down to a size X" "If I can just fit back into Y, I'll be fine"

That is the exact WRONG way to go about your weight loss. All above the above are hopes. Wishes. Desires. And none does a thinner body make.

What you need are detailed, definite goals that are written and time bound (e.g. "over the next 3 months") to hold yourself accountable to doing what you said you were going to do by the time you said you were going to do it.

3. Adopt a step-by-step course of action to get you there

In order for this to work there needs to be a concrete method to your weight loss madness. To this end, you need to chose a weight loss plan that will lead you step-by-step through what to eat (and what not to eat), how and when to exercise, and every other imaginable aspect of losing weight. The reason for this is that goals have a much better chance of becoming reality when they are being attained as a result of a plan or system of action.

4. Get started IMMEDIATELY

Most flunkies know how to study. Most broke people know how wealth is generated. Most overweight people how to lose weight. However, what separates all of these very knowledgeable, yet unsuccessful people from the results they desire is action. Don't let that be your fate.

Once you have written specific goals and chosen a plan of action, don't delay in getting right on track to weight loss. The cheesecake, burgers, chocolate, and pastries aren't going anywhere. You can snack on them moderately once you've achieved your goals. Don't get caught into the trap of holding off having Your Best Body any longer. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll be done.

5. Be Prepared for the emotional roller coaster

Nearly everyone who has tried to lose weight has had some level of success at one time or another. For those who have not been able to sustain desirable results, being knocked out by the emotional roller coaster is most likely to blame.

Look, losing weight is very simple, but not easy. If it were, there wouldn't be so many people trying to get it right. The #1 skill that you will need to develop in order to make it through is surviving the roller coaster of emotions. One day you'll feel as if you're getting great results. A week later, you may actually feel that you are moving backwards. Either way, just know that as long as you consistently follow the weight loss principles, you will ALWAYS move forward, even if it does not feel like it.

6. Don't stop until your goal is reached, no matter WHAT

So many times people come to a screeching halt in their efforts to lose weight and diet because they get discouraged a portion of the way through OR after they reach a certain benchmark they allow themselves to be satisfied and quit the program even though their goal has not been reached.

DON'T DO IT.

There was a specific reason that you set your initial goal. Do not sell yourself short by settling for anything less. Stick it out until the very end, and your sense of accomplishment will be irreplaceable.

7. Once you've reached your goal, never, EVER let yourself blow up again

This is the last and final barrier to ultimate success in your efforts to lose weight.

Make sure not to allow yourself to relapse while you are in maintenance mode. I recommend sticking to the same general principles that helped you lose the weight and then occasionally indulging in some of the foods that you love. This balance is the best way to keep the body that you've worked for and not feel over-restricted.

Make this the first and last time that you ever have to go through a weight loss program. Remember that if you can just get it right one good time, you can literally maintain it forever with little effort.

To YourBestBody,

Lawrence Cole Your Lifestyle and Fitness Coach YourBestBodyNOW.com

About The Author
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.

Mind Over Matter: Key Strategies for Weight Loss Success

Katie, a 33-year-old mother of two, has been on her share of diets over the years. From Weight Watchers to the Zone to Sugar Busters, she feels as if she has tried them all. While she has had moderate success in losing weight from time to time, she has never found a long-term weight loss solution. Her weight is a point of contention in her marriage; her husband-who also happens to be obese-wishes she were thin, but says he loves her anyway. The two have been separated a number of times, and even filed for divorce once. The stress has caused Katie to begin binge eating again.

There is hope for Katie and others like her who feel as if they're trapped on the diet carousel. The key to long-term weight loss success may not be the body, but the mind. Research indicates that those who have a positive outlook on life are more likely to lose weight-and stay thin. But how can you have a positive outlook when you've been burned so many times before? Is it possible to "will your way" to losing weight?

One technique that has been proven effective in sports training is something called visualization. For instance, a baseball player might visualize his bat connecting with a ball, leading to a homerun. A soccer player might visualize kicking the winning goal in a soccer match. And a golfer might visualize sinking the winning putt in the Masters Tournament.

The same technique can be used by dieters. Visualize yourself as thin. Picture yourself in that dress that is now two sizes too small. Imagine stepping onto the scale and being pleased with the result. Visualize yourself saying "no" to that piece of chocolate cake or that plate of Fettucini Alfredo. These mind exercises can help to spur you onto weight loss.

When people learn they are suffering from cancer, they are encouraged to imagine their cancer cells being destroyed by healthy cells. You can follow the same technique in order to lose weight. That means imagining your fat cells being destroyed by thin cells. Through such a method, you can "think your way" to a healthy weight.

In addition, it is critically important that you maintain a positive attitude. Be forgiving of yourself. If you veer off your diet plan, simply get back on course with your next meal. Don't spend precious time "beating yourself up" over your failures. Instead, celebrate your successes-in a non-fattening way. For instance, when you reach a milestone-say you've lost ten pounds-reward yourself with a trip to an art museum or to your favorite coffee shop (but skip the cream and sugar). Marking milestones will give you a sense of accomplishment, a sense that you are triumphing over food.

Another helpful technique can be prayer or meditation. Some support groups even offer Bible-based weight loss programs that use scripture verses to help inspire. Taking stock of your life and handing your weight loss problems over to a higher power can be cathartic and may give you a sense of peace about your weight difficulties. It has been said that a clear head leads to a healthy body. Try praying or meditating ten minutes at the start of your day. Chances are you will feel refreshed and ready to tackle the weight challenges that come your way.

Yet another technique you might consider is role-playing. Grab your spouse or a friend and ask him or her to act out a situation in which you might be tempted to overeat. You'll be forced to come up with strategies to fight temptation. This rehearsal could prove to be quite helpful when a real life diet dilemma comes your way. If role-playing works for job interviews, it should be beneficial for your weight as well.

Mind over matter is not just a clever saying. It can actually be the solution to your weight loss problems. By using your brain power, you can develop the techniques needed to make healthy food choices. When your mind and your body are both healthy, you have the best of both worlds.

About The Author

Nishanth Reddy is an Author and Publisher of various health related websites. For more articles on Weight Loss Diet Tips visit http://www.weightloss-diettips.com.

Taking The Guesswork Out of Weight Loss

Nine out of every 10 individuals who lose weight gain it back. Given this fact, it would seem that engaging in a weight loss program is a gamble in which the odds of winning are very slim to none. Before you become frustrated and give up, you should realize that one out of those very ten people did succeed. What that means is that it can be done. The trick is knowing how they did it.

Years ago I embarked on a journey to study how individuals who succeeded in losing weight for the long term did it. I then researched the science behind how the body regulated weight. I came to understand that most weight loss programs fail because the programs are designed to disrupt the bodys natural mechanisms. It is this disruption that creates the battle where the individual eventually gives up.

To lose weight safely and permanently, you have to understand a concept in body functioning called homeostasis. In simple words, homeostasis means balance. The body always tries to maintain a constant environment. Your weight, just like your blood pressure or body temperature, is kept at a constant level. This level is called your set point. If you changed your external environment, your body will adjust to keep the internal environment stable. That is why a person in Alaska in the middle of the winter has the same body temperature as when they go to Arizona in the middle of the summer.

How then can you change your weight? First by understanding that there are certain food elements that your body needs, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and vitamins and water. If you deprive your body of any of these, it will start fighting you. Second, that your weight is kept in balance mostly by the effects of two opposing hormones, glucagon, that causes fat breakdown and insulin that causes fat buildup. You lose weight safely and permanently by giving your body all the essential food nutrients (not by dieting) and by shifting the balance in favor of glucagon over insulin. You achieve this by adjusting the foods that affect the production of these hormones. This eliminates cravings and constant hunger.

Also when you decrease the amount of food you eat, as in dieting, your body also decreases the amount of calories it burns to try and maintain the balance. This is why you must increase your activity level to maintain your bodys rate of burning calories.

Most weight loss plans fail because they do not take the powerful effect of homeostasis into account when the program was designed. When you are told, for example to avoid carbohydrates or fats, your body, through homeostasis, will create cravings for those foods and thats what causes that uneasiness that lead the individual to eventually give up on the program.

The good news, again is that by shifting the balance in a gradual fashion without trying to completely disrupt it, you can obtain safe and permanent weight loss.

Dr. David Nganele is a noted medical education expert and his book "The New Set Point" explains why most weight loss plans fail and how you can fix yours. You can learn more from his web site at http://www.thenewsetpoint.com

5 Weight Loss Success Tips Revealed

If you consider yourself the heavyweight champion of your household, you are not alone. Millions of people from all over the world are struggling with the weight loss battle. With 30% of the American population considered obese, weight loss is one of the greatest challenges of modern day living.

People now have to focus on weight loss because of an abundance of food choices, the large variety of fatty and caloric foods in supermarkets, large portion sizes, advertising for caloric rich, nutrient poor foods and not exercising. Anyone of these can cause you to pack on the pounds, combine all five and you are in for a big weight loss challenge.

There are several positive, yet simple changes you can make that lead to successful weight loss.

1) Control portion sizes. Consult dietary guidelines to help you determine appropriate portion sizes. Many people on a weight loss program grossly underestimate the amount of food they consume each day.

2) Write it down. Write down everything that goes into your mouth. Weight loss success cannot be achieved without an understanding of the foods you eat. Ensure you accurately account for all food consumed.

3) Consider a weight loss supplement. Supplements can help you achieve your weight loss goalshowever; they are not the total solution. Supplements will not assist with sustainable weight loss unless you also practice healthy eating and exercise.

4) Exercise, even a littleeveryday. Without an exercise component, your weight loss will not be maintained. Dont invest a huge chunk of your day for exercise, instead, for long-term weight loss incorporate exercise in your everyday life. For example, park further from work and walk 10 minutes to the office. Always take the stairs, instead of the elevator. Aim to walk at least 10,000 steps everyday, and increase the number of steps gradually once you reach the 10,000 mark.

5) Choose foods with a high nutrient to calorie ratio. For successful weight loss, focus on eating foods that have ample nutrition, but not a lot of fat and calories, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

Remember that weight loss that is healthy and sustainable will take some time. Physicians recommend that a goal of around 2lbs per week is both reasonable and easier to maintain. One you reach your weight loss goal, you will have to continue the healthy eating and exercise habits you developed in order to keep your weight off for the long term. For more information on weight loss supplements and other related resources, visit www.DietWeightLossNews.org or if you are interested in finding more about the most powerful weight loss supplements, visit www.EphedraEnergy.com for public availability.

About the author:
Todd Brenner is currently the Executive Vice President of Fitness By Design. He serves on the board for A Healthier America and has 18 years of nutritional experience and natural healing. He holds a Masters in Business from University of Louisville.
Copyright 2005

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #38

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #38

What are your neon signs?

Often we find ourselves in the business of things hurrying to the next thing on our agenda. Thus, we send a message to our bodies that we are in the fight or flight mode. Cortisol, a hormone, is released during times of stress. When stimulated over time, cortisol can lead to cognitive impairments and increased risk for disease.

What does this mean to you?

If you are one of these people who continually gets lost in the doing, what are the results that you are getting? Is it bringing you joy or are you experiencing some maladies like anxiety, depression, intestinal problems, fatigue, physical pain, heart conditions? If it is bringing you the latter, then perhaps a dose of ME time is the proper prescription.

Years ago I was lost in the doing until I had my awakening. My doing got me so ill that I became bedridden and felt like I was just moments away from death. I was not paying attention to ME! I had a lot of huge neon signs (stomach aches, worry, sleeplessness, anxiety attacks, heart palpitations, relationship problems...just to name a few) but I kept doing so that I would be distracted from taking responsibility for my health and wealth--showing up for ME.

This illness was a gift because it allowed me to do self-introspection to determine where I needed to change my mind. Later on I attracted excess weight, another neon sign, and made additional changes. You know, I got to see Lance Armstrong at a conference recently, and he expressed looking at his cancer as a gift as well giving him an opportunity to see where he needed to make some changes in his life. Look at his results!

I can always feel my body speaking to me when I get off track in the doing rather than BEING. My neon signs will be blinking like crazy. I can recognize them easily now, and I say "thank you" to my body for being so patient with me. It's now so easy to shift my thinking, and I'm very grateful.

Remember, like Wayne Dyer says, we are spiritual BEINGS having a human experience. We are not spiritual DOINGS.

Right now, you have BEINGS all around you just waiting to help you live in that higher consciousness of peace, love and joy. All these energies of light surround you with their love. They are excited to be here with you right now.

Call upon God, your Angels, your Guides, your Masters. Did you know they hang out with you all day long just waiting to help. You have them at your disposal at all times.

Right now, take 1 minute and express love for yourself by BEING! Instead of do deep breathing, be deep breathing. Say I breathe in, I breathe out. Be aware of your breath and be grateful. Be aware of all the BEINGS of light that surround you.

If you have your neon signs that are blinking like crazy, stop and pay attention. There's something that you need to change. Unless, of course, you like neon signs constantly blinking in your presence.

We all need assistance in keeping us on track, and I can help you. My weight loss program has all the components that help you live in a state of BEING! I will help you shift your patterns of behavior from being busy to being peace.

Love and hugs,

Tami

*********************************************** Helping people fall in love...with themselves Tami Close Weight Loss Consultant 2916 N.W. Bucklin Hill Rd. #291 Silverdale, WA 98383 360-792-2209 http://www.tamiclose.com

About The Author

Tami Close helps people fall in love...with themselves. She is a weight loss consultant and uses an integrative method, including cleansing and nutritional products from Isagenix, in her weight balancing program. She is a #1 best selling co-author with Mark Victor Hansen, Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra, Wake Up...Live the Life You Love Finding Personal Freedom. http://www.tamiclose.com http://www.closekeptsecrets.com

The Subconscious Influence on Your Diet and Permanent Weight Loss

Copyright 2005 Kelly Burris

What determines human behavior and in particular your eating behavior? I have yet to come across a psychiatrist, psychologist or physician who can answer this question, yet this is the most fundamental question if you wish to initiate lasting permanent behavior change. If you can not answer this question, how could you possibly expect to help someone make a change in there diet or insure permanent weight loss? How can you move forward if you do not definitively know what is moving you forward. What determines human behavior and in particular your eating behavior is simply information. Can you do anything in your life without talking to yourself or seeing a picture of what you need to do? Of course not! It would be a little bit like trying to read from a blank page. No information = no action!

The next question is: What are the components of this information? The components of the information that determines your emotional state and behavior are words and pictures. The next logical question then is how do you Recognize, Access and Change the information that is driving a behavior that simply does not work? This is where over 20 years of research and development come in with a program process now known as Burris MIND/FITNESS. MIND/FITNESS answers the last question with great precision and accuracy by virtue of starting out with the first two questions. In the resolution of any problem it is always about the question. Never has this been more relevant. Imagine if for the last 60 years psychologists asked, How can I fix it? instead of Why is it broken?!

Why You Absolutely Must Take Control of Your Subconscious

To give you an idea of the power of the subconscious, you can speak at a rate of about two to three hundred words per minute. Your subconscious runs at a rate of about one thousand to twelve hundred words per minute which is about four times faster than you can speak. This is why you can talk on the phone and perform other tasks like typing on the computer or driving a car because the subconscious is already programmed to do the other tasks. You can look at the conscious mind and the subconscious mind like a tug of war with a vat of mud in the middle for whom ever loses. The conscious mind is one-person on one side against the subconscious, which are four people on the other side. If the conscious decides to move in a different direction like changing your diet, losing weight, increasing your fitness program, quitting smoking or any number of other things, it is usually a losing proposition because you are simply out numbered with information. This is why it is so difficult to attain spontaneous change. Burris MIND/FITNESS will to make sure you have the most people on your side in the tug of war.

Burris MIND/FITNESS is based on the reality that all behavior is emotionally driven or in other words your emotional state = your behavior. How you feel about things you do will always determine whether you move toward them or not. You will always move toward perceived pleasure and away from pain. The key component of any behavioral change program must include how to get control of your emotional state. So what is the biggest difference between MIND/FITNESS and any other behavioral change program? The question MIND/FITNESS asks is: How can I fix it? as opposed to Why is it broken?
Example: If you get a flat tire on your car, do you want to walk back down the road to find out why you got the flat or do you want to know how to fix it so that you can keep moving forward?
It is certainly not necessary to spend the last 40 years of your life analyzing the first 40 years of your life.

It is imperative that you understand how to take control of the subconscious because the mind is like a car without an off switch and an unknown driver, if you do not predetermine the destination. If you decide not drive it, it is going to drive itself or someone else may get in the seat and drive it for you. Someone else driving might be ok if you agree to where they are going but what if you do not like where they are going?

For the first eighteen years of your life someone else drove the car. This was usually with little or no consideration to the younger passengers. Almost every decision was made for you. You were told what to do, what to eat and learned how to react to any given situation. All of this information is stored in the subconscious and will arise randomly to determine your lifes path.

There are also a tremendous number of variables that can occur in your initial programming that may have little to do with your parents. The bottom line still remains. Do you, at some point, want to drive or do you want to continue letting someone or something else drive?


About the author:
Kelly Burris is the author of Reprogramming the Overweight Mind: 7 Steps to Taking Control of Your Subconscious. You can read the first two chapters, or become a Certified Burris MIND/FITNESS Consultant by going to http://www.KellyBurris.com

Choosing Weight Loss Supplements Wisely

It really chaps my hide whenever I see those commercials on TV with a woman MD-wanna-be hawking the latest diet pill. These "play-doctors" are usually wearing white lab coats, like they're on the way to perform surgery and just thought they'd take time out of their busy schedule to tell you about this "latest medical breakthrough".

Don't be fooled. The idea is to make it appear as if this woman (or man, I've seen them, too) is an actual doctor telling you about this latest prescription medicine to solve your weight problem. They even have the nerve to sell it to you in a bottle that looks just like one of the prescriptions you get from your local pharmacy.

With obesity and all its related health problems becoming more and more common in the general population, people are becoming desperate to try a "magic pill" that will help them lose weight. As a result, there is a lot of harm you can do to yourself if you don't choose your weight loss supplements wisely.

While many health and fitness experts will tell you flat out not to ever use any supplements...ever...research has shown that some can be used with success under the right conditions.

1.Are you under a doctor's care for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, depression or any other serious health problem? Taking any of these types of supplements can be very dangerous. Consult your doctor and get your other health problems under control before using any weight loss supplements.

2.Are doctors involved in the design and manufacture of the supplement? By that, I mean, do they put together the combinations and formulas for the supplements? If so, what are their credentials? If you see that a doctor (or group of doctors) has been involved in the design and production of an herbal remedy for a health problem, you have to understand that their professional reputation is on the line. Many of them have spent decades in medical schools and in clinical environments, practicing medicine. No one who has invested that much time and energy on their medical career is going to sacrifice their reputation for something they are not absolutely sure is going to work.

3.Read the label and research, research, research the ingredients. Make sure you know what you're taking and realize that the FDA guidelines for herbal supplements do not require standardized amounts. In some cases, you only need a trace amount of the herb in order to put the name on the label so look for the standardized claim on the bottle. That can also give you a clue as to whether the price is right on a certain herbal compound. If it's really cheap...or free... there's usually a reason why...most likely, it's because there's very little of the active ingredient in the pill.

4.Look for the word "chelated" and "amino-acid-bound" which means that the minerals are absorbed by your body better and more effectively than the simple forms manufactured by other vitamin-mineral products.

5.Realize that there is no such thing as a "magic weight loss pill". You must follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly in order for these herbs to work. Most good, quality weight loss supplements will enhance your weight loss efforts by increasing your metabolism and suppressing your appetite while you eat those good healthy veggies and take that 30 minute walk everyday.

The definition of "supplement" is "to increase, extend, or improve something by adding something to it." So, the best weight loss supplements are not meant to replace, but supplement, a healthy lifestyle.

About The Author
Eunice Coughlin is the founder of www.healthy-living-for-moms.com. She has successfully used weight loss supplements, along with a healthy diet and exercise program, to lose 30 pounds and keep it off since 2002.

Be a Loser: 50 Reasons to Get Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery is fast becoming a very popular way for obese and morbidly obese people to get and keep the weight off. America is the fattest it's ever been and they're even saying there is an "obesity epidemic". The term is even being used in the UK now. I even had gastric by pass surgery 2 years ago and it has changed my life only for the better. You can see my before and after photos at http://www.allymoll.com/wls.html
There are many reasons for people to consider getting weight loss surgery. For those of you who are still unsure, here are fifty ways your life will change for the better after surgery. If you're still unsure, feel free to contact me for a free consultation.

Weight loss surgery is fast becoming a very popular way for obese and morbidly obese people to get and keep the weight off. America is the fattest it's ever been and they're even saying there is an "obesity epidemic". The term is even being used in the UK now. I even had gastric by pass surgery 2 years ago and it has changed my life only for the better. You can see my before and after photos at http://www.allymoll.com/wls.html
There are many reasons for people to consider getting weight loss surgery. For those of you who are still unsure, here are fifty ways your life will change for the better after surgery. If you're still unsure, feel free to contact me for a free consultation.

1. You lose weight FAST!
2. You get to buy a whole new wardrobe....several times if you wish.
3. You will be able to see and touch your own feet.
4. You'll feel lighter.
5. It will be easier for you to exercise
6. You can go up a flight or two of stairs without completely running out of breath.
7. Your self-esteem will sky rocket.
8. People will hold doors open for you, look at you and actually say hi and smile.
9. You will get hit on!
10. You will be able to achieve all those positions you've always wanted to try during sex.
11. You'll clothes will start falling off of you.
12. You can buy jewelry in a "normal" store.
13. Your joint pain will lessen or disappear.
14. There is a possibility your diabetes will go away.
15. You'll just feel GOOD.
16. You'll get complimented a lot.
17. Your snoring will lessen or disappear.
18. You can comfortably wear jeans.
19. No more high blood pressure.
20. No more asking for a seatbelt extender on the airplane.
21. Your butt won't hurt as much after riding a bike.
22. You will feel very proud of yourself.
23. You'll see inches of fat melt right off of you.
24. Your energy will increase.
25. You'll be able to cross your legs.
26. You will finally weigh LESS then what it says on your driver's license.
27. You can finally buy that cute little sports car and now worry if you'll fit behind the steering wheel.
28. You'll actually be able to use those tiny bathrooms on airplanes and trains.
29. You can sell all your fat clothes on ebay and make some extra money.
30. You can do more housework! (Ok, this may not be a "pro" for everyone)
31. You'll literally lose weight overnight.
32. You'll live longer.
33. You'll be healthier.
35. You won't run away or throw your hands up every time someone wants to take your picture.
36. You'll start using the regular carts at the grocery store instead of the electric handicap ones.
37. You can get a short haircut without looking like a pinhead.
38. You won't feel hungry all the time.
39. You'll feel pretty/handsome again.
40. Your shoe size will drop.
41. You'll be able to ride all the roller coasters and never have to do the "walk of shame" when you discovered you couldn't fit into the seats anymore.
42. No more heartburn.
43. You can go to the gym and finally be one of those skinny perky people you use to envy.
44. No more starving yourself on crazy diets.
45. No more worrying if the chair you're sitting on will break.
46. You can go to the playground and swing on the swing set.
47. Your kids will be able to put their arms all the way around you when they hug you.
48. You'll save money by not eating as much and not going out to eat as often.
49. Learning how much certain people really care about you.
50. And lastly you will most likely meet a ton of wonderful weight loss surgery people who will become your good friends for life.

About The Author

Ally Moll is a life and creativity coach in South Central Wisconsin. She helps clients all over the country to choose or not choose to lose weight through weight loss surgery. She also assists people in getting in touch with their creatvity and creating careers they will really love. You can contact her through her website for a free consultation at http://www.allymoll.com

Weight Loss Are you Frustrated? Have low energy? Dont feel good about yourself?

Twenty years of health club consulting, 50,000 hours of paid personal training, and trainer to the stars has taught me one thing; weight loss is not about numbers, its about your approach. http://www.articlesfactory.com/myaccount/articles/add/www.resolutions.bz%20

Twenty years of health club consulting, 50,000 hours of paid personal training, and trainer to the stars has taught me one thing; weight loss is not about numbers, its about your approach. http://www.articlesfactory.com/myaccount/articles/add/www.resolutions.bz%20

#1: Determine HOW you are motivated and WHERE your desires come from. You may think you know but you dont. If you fall on a off the wagon you dont know how you are motivated. People are motivated two ways, fear, pleasure or both. Your desires to feel better look better and are in better shape come from two directions, inside or out. Most people who fall off their exercise and weight loss programs do so because you are motivated by the wrong one of the two. And your desires come from the wrong direction. Figure these out and you will have staying power.

#2: Figure out the true beliefs behind each unwanted behavior of not exercising and eating wrong. You have a false belief system in your head about food and exercise. Determine what it is and then you can change it. If you are not following through and sabotaging your programs, it is because of the illusion in your head.

#3: Develop a GREAT support system. Steps two and three are your key to your success in your weight loss. Encouragement backed up with accountability is the key.

#4: Concur your emotions behind your eating patterns. Pre plan your meals, have a good perspective toward food, figure out patterns, and watch your portions. That simple.

#5: Just move your butt. Weight loss is not complicated. Keep the big picture in mind. Stay constantly moving, and quit making dumb excuses.

There are no magic formulas to weight loss. Until America wakes up and understands that your health is not about the numbers on the exercise or medical charts, its about the approach, we will continue to be the fattest nation on earth.

About The Author
Greg Ryan is high profile fitness expert. Lose weight with out dieting that the doctors DONT want you to know. FREE MINI COURSE click here www.resolutions.bz

Why did I do that? How to deal with a lapse in your weight loss efforts

A bad day or even a bad week is not enough to "break your diet" unless you let it get you down. It's what you eat over the long run that counts.

It's eating more calories than you need day after day after day that makes you fat not a one-off over-indulgence.

But what can you do if you really did go mad last night? What can you do today to get back on track after you've come off the rails?

1. Whatever you do don't weigh yourself unless you love being miserable. Chances are you had a load of sugar and/or salt last night and you'll be retaining more water than a camel embarking on a trek across the Sahara. Consequently, you'll have gained more pounds than you possibly could from the extra calories you ate. So don't even think about stepping on the scales for 2 days.

2. Every day, but especially today you should aim for eating modest portions of healthy foods whenever you are hungry, stopping when you are satisfied rather than stuffed. More than ever today you need to feel in control. So no starvation rations or you'll only set yourself up for a hunger-induced "clear out the cupboard" binge later on.

3. Normally it's best not to skip breakfast but if you are still full from the previous day, it can wait. Just make sure you have a healthy snack ready for when hunger does strike.

4. Take time to enjoy your food today. Sometimes we hardly taste the food when we are eating too much, we eat it so quickly, trying to stop ourselves thinking too much as we shovel it in. Actually taste everything which passes your lips today and put yourself back in control.

5. Spend a few moments thinking about why you temporarily blew your weight loss plans. What thoughts were running through your head? What situation had you put yourself in? What can you learn from that? How will you deal with those thoughts, those situations next time because as sure as eggs are eggs they, or something similar, will happen again. Be prepared.

6. Stay positive. Relax a little. Tell yourself "Yes, I broke my diet but that's OK. I'm human. I'm not meant to be perfect. I'm going to treat myself well, eating healthily as much as I can. If I have the odd lapse it doesn't change my determination to keep going." Build yourself up. Give yourself a little (non-food) present. You deserve the best and you can do whatever you set your mind to.

The best way to get over a lapse is to treat it like the insignificant blip it is and just get right back on track!


About the author:
Janice Elizabeth is a weight loss coach and author of "The Diet Exit Plan". Request her FREE 15 page report "How to lose weight without dieting - 7 secrets the diet industry doesn't want you to know" at http://www.SimplySlimming.comTODAY!

Weight Loss equals behavior change - The Acceptance Factor

Getting to the ROOT of the matter: If the plants in your garden are not healthy looking, just trimming them back will not take care of the problem. What do the roots look like? I am no psychologist, but there is a very interesting twist you need to understand before you begin any weight loss or fitness program. To change unwanted behaviors, its important to acknowledge your thinking toward exercise and eating. A lot of people believe they know what that thinking is, but havent come to grips with their core beliefs. In other words, they have to get to the root of the matter.

The truth is more Americans are overweight and out-of-shape today than ever before. Why? In order to change your attitude toward exercise and food, you have to understand the WHYs of the behavior. You are going to have to dig deep, find the root of the problem, nurture and understand it.

From my e book FACE TO FACE => www.resolutions.bz

Your BELIEF system: The reason you have certain behaviors is based on the core beliefs of your value system. It is here--inside--where things need to be addressed. Beliefs form barriers that stop you from starting or following through on a regular exercise and eating program.

Most barriers fall into these categories of acceptance:

Accept:
Your Self-Limitations and Self-Expectations
Your CircumstancesPast and Present
Your True Reality of Life

Limitations: Some individuals have certain limitations. They may have physical setbacks, such as heart, joint, muscular or mental problems, i.e. depression.
Limitations also come from outside influences and responsibilities brought on by lifestyles, such as kids, work, and money. Acknowledging your limitations helps you develop strategies, thus empowering you instead of hindering your capabilities.

Expectations: There is nothing wrong with setting goals; however, setting expectations too high could frustrate you. Do not set of expectations so high that your obligations in life will not allow you to accomplish the goal!

Circumstances: We all know that life is not fair. Eating properly and exercising comes easier for some than for others. We can accept our circumstances without falling victim to them. There are plans that can be created in order to work around events in life.

Truth and reality of your life: A lot of times it is much easier to deny reality than to accept it. You can cloud the truth and say you believe this or that, but sooner or later in order for you to get in better shape you have to deal with the TRUTH, not the illusion!

Illusions can sink your dreams: Remember the story of the Titanic; the ship advertised unsinkable. It was the largest ship ever built and people rushed to take the maiden voyage. Much to everyones surprise, the Titanic did sink, but why did it sink? The captain of the Titanic saw the dangerous iceberg ahead and steered away thinking he could avoid it. What he didnt see was the enormous mass of ice under the surface.

In order to change attitudes toward exercise you have to check under the surface. It takes time, effort, and energy, and in some cases, outside professional assistance to get to the TRUTH of the matterto see what is below, admit it is there and bring it up to the surface. If you have a hard time following through on an eating plan, chances are barriers have formed, and stop you from smooth sailing. You are resisting exercise!

Changing your unwanted behaviors toward exercise and food is like looking at an iceberg. What is really happening is below the surface not above. I call this the iceberg effect.


About the author:
Greg Ryan is a high profile fitness expert and former employee of Kathy Smiths. Body building champion, public speaker and personal trainer to the stars. He is a best selling author of the Changing from the INSIDE OUT through real behavior change, smart eating and effective exercising. Start getting in better shape today!
For FREE MINI COURES click here www.resolutions.bz

What is the Best Exercise for Weight Loss?

It is a common misconception that aerobic exercise tones and firms muscles. Actually it accomplishes very little toning and firming. Resistance exercise (weight training) is where real toning and firming of muscles occurs.

Doing both aerobics and weight training is the optimal way to lose more fat and gain more muscle. If you are trying to lose weight, studies show that weight loss increases by 56 percent with aerobic and strength exercises combined.

Muscle may weigh more, but when you increase your muscle composition, the body is able to burn more fat, even when you are resting, because your metabolism is higher. A pound of muscle will use 350 to 500 calories per week to survive, while a pound of fat only needs about 14 calories per week. New studies have shown that building muscle helps your body fight disease better, too.

Strength training benefits everyone, no matter what age or sex, and is becoming recognized as an important component of fitness. Research is indicating that the muscle loss found in elderly people doesn?t come from age, but lack of activity. Even a young person who doesn?t get enough exercise can lose muscle mass and strength. Strength training, such as lifting weights or performing weight-resistance exercises, as little as twice a week can help maintain or increase muscle mass.

Strength training involving several sets of multiple repetitions using moderate weights will not result in huge muscles. Instead it builds bone mass and increases the metabolism, as well as toning and firming the muscles, giving a leaner look.

It is very important to do both aerobics and strength exercises. The aerobic exercises help your heart and lungs get stronger and help your body utilize oxygen more efficiently, which in turn helps with strength training and overall fitness. The strength exercise helps develop muscle, reduce body fat and maintain bone mass.

Aerobic Exercise is a type of exercise that elevates the heart rate and breathing for a continuous sustained period. This overloads the heart and lungs and causes them to work harder than at rest.

There are many options to choose from today. Bicycling, aerobic dance, swimming, walking, and stepping are all examples of aerobic exercise. Which ones to chose depends on your physical condition, your history, your interests and your goals. Many experts believe it is better to alternate between 2 or more types, to get a better workout.

There are two main types of aerobics- high impact and low impact. It is better to alternate between high impact aerobics (which are harder on the body and may cause more damage) and low impact aerobics, such as walking and swimming. This is called cross-training, and helps reduce the chance or injury and overuse of certain muscles.

You will want to perform aerobic exercises at least 20 minutes a day for at least 3 to 4 days a week. If you are trying to lose body fat, or your physical condition is very good, then you may want to work longer at it. Try exercising up to 40 to 60 minutes 5 to 6 days a week.

Remember there is no real need to go overboard. Moderate intensity is almost always better, and is more enjoyable. Low to moderate intensity is an especially good idea when starting out after a layoff or recovery from illness or injury, or if you are significantly overweight.

Warm-up and cool down is important to reduce discomfort and the chance of injury. Warm up by starting slow and gradually build up to your top speed. Then slow down again at the end of your workout.

The whole idea behind aerobic exercise is to get up and get moving! Find something you enjoy doing that keeps your heart rate elevated for a continuous time period and get moving to a healthier life.

About The Author

By Dianne Ronnow © 2006 Mohave Publishing. All rights reserved. From The Enzyme Health Diet Plan, a free ebook found at http://enzyme-health.com.

Dianne Ronnow?s best selling book, Coconut Oil Diet Secrets reveals how thousands of people are losing weight and getting healthier with coconut oil diets.

To find out what the secrets of coconut oil dieting are, check out the web site at http://Coconut-Oil-Diet.com and start losing weight today!

Weight Loss - Choosing A Diet That Works

Choosing a Diet That Works If you find yourself with a few added pounds, feeling sluggish or just wanting to be the best that you can be, then your diet has a lot to do with your optimal performance. There have been many studies on which diet works the best. Although there are plenty of choices such as the Atkins diet, South beach diet, Mediterranean diet, etc. Many health professionals are quick to note that not every diet is perfect for everyone.

Most health professionals agree that as long as you stay within a healthy range, then there are plenty of ways that your diet can help you take off the weight and make you look and feel great.

Most health professionals advise a person to eat a balance diet, which includes fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. Using these foods, dieters can come up with some very healthy choices to lose the pounds. Unfortunately, when people are on a diet they think of all the foods they can't have instead of the foods they can. There are dozens of fruits and vegetables that can fit into anyone's diet and plenty of lean meats that offer flavor and give you the protein that is needed daily. Just because you can't eat bacon or lots of butter on a diet, doesn't mean that it's the end of the world.

If you want to find a diet that will lose the pounds and keep it off, then don't think of it as a diet, think of it as a lifestyle. Choose a lifestyle with all the healthy foods that will help keep off the pounds and keep you looking and feeling great.

About The Author

Jay is the web owner of http://www.weight-loss.biz Weight Loss, that provides information on weight loss, diets, and excercise. You can also visit his website at: http://www.diet-pill.info Diet Pill Information or http://www.insurance-health.biz Health Insurance Information

Can Weight Loss Improve Your Health And Make You Feel Better?

by: Mike Yeager

Many people today are interested in weight loss and weight loss programs. Sedentary life styles and lack of exercise have contributed to a general trend toward carrying around a few extra pounds. Following a disciplined weight loss plan can prove very helpful and beneficial to people who dont really have any idea of how to create a weigh loss diet. There are many options available today to help you trim a few pounds and fit into the clothes you want.

Losing weight is not something one can do overnight. A carefully planned weight loss program requires common sense and certain guidelines. Unfortunately, there's a lot of misinformantion floating around and lots of desperate people are easily duped and ripped off. The leading experts now recommend that people who want to lose weight start increasing their physical activity. Just being more active in general (such as climbing the stairs instead of taking the elevator, moving around instead of sitting still, sitting up instead of lying down as well as showing some excitement and enthusiasm instead of boredom), are things that more effectively burns calories and reduces body fat.

A balanced lifestyle of good nutrition and regular exercise will help you achieve your weight loss goals. Some people seek Fast Weight Loss while others would like to gradually thin down for health reasons. Take advantage of all the information and help available today to help you achieve your weight loss goals.

About The Author

Mike Yeager
Publisher
http://www.a1-weight-loss-4u.com/
mjy610@hotmail.com

Staying Toned After Weight Loss

Following significant weight loss, it is vital to have an exercise routine to keep your muscles firm and help to tighten the skin. One of the biggest drawbacks to significant weight loss is the flabby skin that is visible that often can take months to disappear.

First the pectoral muscles

First of all, we recommend performing any exercise that works the pectoral muscles will help tone the chest, but be careful not to do exercises that work the breasts directly. Breasts are not muscle tissue, they are fatty tissue, and therefore do not respond to weightlifting or resistance exercise of any type. In cases where the breasts are small, toning the pectoral muscles will lift the chest and possibly the breasts along with it, but if there is a lot of breast tissue, the exercises will not lift it. This tissue may disappear over time, or it may not. Your only option would be surgery.

How much will my skin tighten?

How much your skin will tighten depends on your age, length of time the skin was stretched and how much it was stretched, how much weight you lost (and to some degree how fast you lost it), the amount of elastin in your skin, and genetics. Exercise can help as it will tighten the skin, plus it will tighten and tone muscles under the skin, which can have an affect on your appearance. We generally ask people to wait 8-12 months to see how much the skin tightens. If after this time the skin is unacceptably loose, then surgery may need to be considered to correct it. In some of these cases, when it is deemed a health risk, insurance may cover the surgery.

What about my stomach?

For the stomach, the bottom line to weight loss is to burn more calories than you consume. If you eat 2,000 calories in a day and only burn 1,500, you're going to gain weight. On the other hand, if you eat 1,500 and burn 2,000, you'll be in caloric deficit by 500 calories. Given that scenario, at the end of the week, that would be 3,500 calories, and 3,500 calories equals one pound.

Diet and exercise

The combination of modifying your diet and exercise is a good plan. Aerobic exercise will burn lots of calories and help you stay healthy and fit (independent of body weight), and resistance exercise will tone, strengthen, and increase your muscle mass. More muscle mass is important for weight control because it is the engine on your body that burns calories. Not only that, but when you lose weight, you can lose up to 25% of your weight from muscle, so you want to keep as much of it as you can.

You can lose weight without exercise, but...

It is important to note that you can lose weight without exercise by modifying your diet. People lose weight all the time without exercise by reducing caloric intake. In fact, in virtually all studies of weight loss, people who diet ALWAYS lose more weight than people who exercise. If you ask those same people to diet AND exercise, they lose a little more weight than the dieters alone, but not that much. Why is this? This is due to muscle weights more than fat. With more muscle mass, your body will turn to fat as its energy source and burn the fat for energy. As a pound of fat can be five times the size of a pound of muscle, you can keep the same weight, yet look trimmer and healthier, as lean muscle gives you a sleek, toned physique.

People who are most active are most successful

In virtually every study of weight maintenance, the people who are most active are most successful in maintaining weight loss. Most scientists agree that exercise is the single best predictor of weight maintenance success.

So the bottom line is to burn more calories than you consume, by either reducing your caloric intake, and then increasing your activity as you lose weight so by the time you get to your goal weight you can keep it off because you are active.

One final point: Aerobic and resistance exercise are also both very important for health. In fact, you can be healthy and fit if you exercise independent of body weight. In one very important study, overweight, fit people were healthier and lived longer than lean, unfit people. That's a very important point because weight loss can be slow, frustrating, and not everyone gets to an "ideal" weight. So keep up the exercise, watch your caloric intake, and results will follow.

About The Author

Michael Lewis has been collecting articles and information on Weight Loss, HGH and related health benefits. Michael is a staff writer for www.ageforce.com and several other websites. If you would like to know more about Weight Loss, HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and related health topics please visit us at www.AgeForce.com