5 Simple Steps to Start Your Weight Loss Program

Remember theres more to you than meets the eye. Youve got personality, brains, feelings in short, all those things that make you, YOU. So why diet? After all, youre more than just a body, and things that really matter cant be measured on a scale.

That said, there are some very good sound reasons for dieting. After all, dieting is not just for weight loss or weight gain. No, the true meaning of diet is in choosing foods and setting eating habits that will keep you healthy, strong, and feeling your best. It takes planning and dedication. It means setting goals and following through. But it doesnt have to be a chore. No, with the right tools it can even be fun especially when you start to see the results that youre looking for!

Before, choosing a diet, there are five extremely simple Steps, which if you really apply you will probably end up losing weight without even trying! Doesnt that sound interesting. Really No kidding try the following:

Step 1) Always sit down when you eat, preferable at a table. Dont eat while standing, walking, driving or talking on the phone.

Step 2) Dont read or watch television while you eat.

Step 3) Eat only when your stomach is empty. At least 3 to 4 hours from your last meal.

Step 4) Dont take a bite until youve already swallowed the previous bite. Obvious? Try observing people and youll see them stuffing their mouths, which are still full. They probably talk at the same time! So, bite, chew, swallow, bite, chew, swallow.

Step 5) Dont eat when youre not hungry. No, Im being serious and I know that this sounds stupid. For example when at home wait 5 minutes before taking second helpings. If you wait, youll probably find that youre no longer hungry, whereas if you dont wait you could probably eat thirds! Remember Wait five minutes before taking more.

A good diet doesnt end when you finally reach your target goal. Maintaining good nutrition, regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle is a continuing process. Only this will give you the energy to face the challenges of your busy day, boost your self-image, and make you look and feel better.

And theres no feeling like the satisfaction when you achieve your goals by sticking to a sensible, healthy, diet plan. Besides, where would we be without food? Changing your diet to prevent or reverse heart disease, reduce your blood pressure, or to get the better of your diabetes and, naturally to reach your desired weight, is not just a matter of cutting out butter and eggs and counting the amount of fat grams you eat each day. For instance, most Americans get close to 40% of their calories from fat! This is twice the recommended amount if you already suffer from heart disease.

There are many misconceptions and confusion concerning fat these days, some seem to make sense, others are just plain dumb! Remember, concerning fat, several things are now known for sure. It is known that most of us eat too much fat and that obesity is a major health concern, increasing the risk for heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, back pain and cancer. It is also known that saturated fat, more than anything else, is responsible for increasing our cholesterol levels.

I know its weird, but its been found, ironically, that when people focus exclusively on eliminating cholesterol from their daily diet they may unknowingly move on to a diet high in saturated fats! Some people decide to become vegetarian, leaving out meat and eggs, but the salad dressings, nuts and peanut butter, for instance, do more damage than a lean steak! Message: be careful what you eat, you may be surprised.

About the Author:
Nicholas webb is the owner of http://www.allabout-heart-disease.com A site that provides valuable information about heart disease and how you can get a hold on your life and live it to the full.

Weight Loss Diet Plans

There are untold numbers of men and women who constantly strive to achieve their weight loss goals. They are both successful and unsuccessful in their attempts. Successful in the sense that they manage to lose some weight, and sometimes, manage to achieve their target weight. The problem lies with the fact that most people gain most, if not all, of that weight back in the following months.

Let me tell you a simple truth. It does not have to be that way. On the contrary, it is possible to lose weight effortlessly and to keep it off forever. So, you may ask, what is the secret?

There is no secret. The truth is that dieting simply does not work. Not in the long term. Your goal is to achieve your target weight easily and safely. Just as important you want to keep from gaining the weight back without any effort on your part.

Let us face the facts. Fad diets that advertise fast weight loss results are flawed in their approach. It is unrealistic to expect that these diets will have any long term success.

There are three primary factors that determine a successful weight loss program. If you can understand this and incorporate this into your daily life their is no doubt that you will achieve the results that you desire.

Weight loss and maintaining that loss do not have to be a life long struggle. Consider the following three factors and how you can incorporate them into your life.

1/ You have to set your goals. This is absolutely the most important step. Your desire to succeed must be paramount. Also, this is everyone's biggest mistake. Believe it or not, setting your target weight is not your primary goal. The single, biggest, most important goal that you can establish is to transform your lifestyle.

I do not mean to be cruel here, but gaining weight and becoming fat does not happen in a vacuum. There are serious consequences to consuming foods on a daily basis that are outside the spectrum of good, healthy nutrition.

Do you eat to live or do you live to eat? If your answer is the latter you will encounter some serious difficulties when attempting to lose weight and keep it off.

The single most important factor in your weight loss program involves a radical lifestyle shift. This should be your primary goal.

To clarify what this means: You should eat mostly all natural foods. This includes grains, vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts and fruit. These are the foods that we are designed to eat naturally.

2/ Now that you have established your goal, do it. Clean out and restock your shelves. Stop eating at fast food places. Stop eating processed and enriched foods.

I know, I know, I know. This just is not practical. Stop reading now, right here, and go find a website or an article that reinforces either what you believe or what you want to do.

Unfortunately, the truth is the truth. Life is similar to a board game. This game has rules. We have as much freedom to do whatever we please as long as we comprehend and play by the rules.

We are designed to consume whole, natural foods. Once you are able to wrap your mind around this, the easier this will be.

What is interesting here is that once you alter your lifestyle, the weight will come off effortlessly. Some interesting by products of this effort include improved health, increased energy and clarity of mind.

3/ Just as we are designed to eat natural foods, we also are made to be active. It is extremely difficult to lose weight and to be healthy when sitting around on our butts all day.

If you are one of those that lead a sedentary lifestyle it will be necessary to incorporate some sort of exercise regimen into your daily routine. Exercising on a regular basis gets the improves our circulation, breaks up stagnation, increases our energy and peace of mind and helps us to lose weight.

That's it. Think about what I have said. Cruise the internet and see what others are saying. But I will tell you this. I believe that the truth of what I have said is self evident. If you get it, take action.

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/ where she provides additional advice, tips and hard to find information on Natural Food Fat Burners

Ways To Lose Weight Without Exercising

Many of us would love to find ways to lose weight without exercising and although this is possible there aren't many ways of doing this. One diet however that allows us to achieve this is a diet based around calorie shifting.

Calorie shifting is a relatively new idea but it certainly is very effective and many are losing weight using the method without doing any exercise at all. Here is a quick brief of how the diet works.

The majority of diets are based around a low calorie diet and the emission of a food group from our diet. Although these can provide results for a very short period they don't continue to work and usually end up with you weighing more than you did when you started.

The reason for this is that by combining low calorie intake and the loss of a food group your body senses it is been starved and slows down your metabolism, which is of course what helps us to burn calories. It also stops your metabolism from burning fat as it wants to store this as an energy reserve. Instead our body burns lean muscle which apart from being unhealthy will also increase your appetite.

An increase in your appetite will usually result in a failed diet. The problem with that is when you start to eat as you used to you will gain weight faster because your metabolism is still working at a slower rate.

Shifting calories instead allows us to eat each food type but rotates when we eat them. This confuses the body and fools it into believing you are not on a diet and so keeps the metabolism working at a higher rate.

This results in fast and safe weight loss, which isn't something you come across often. If your looking for ways to lose weight without exercising you will also be pleased to know that the diet only suggests a brisk walk each day but even without this the diet still works just as well.

To read more about ways to lose weight without exercising visit this webpage shifting calories.

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

3 Reasons to Use Bodyweight Exercises for Weight Loss

You don't need fancy cardio machines to help you lose weight. In fact, a good weight loss program can be done with bodyweight exercises only. You don't even need traditional "cardio" to do this...or an expensive gym membership.

Here are 3 reasons you can use bodyweight exercises to lose weight.

1) Bodyweight exercises are a total body interval cardio circuit workout.

You don't need any fancy machines for "cardio" when you have your own bodyweight to move around. For a great circuit, simply pick 3 lower body exercises and 3 upper body exercises that you can do with only your bodyweight.

Then alternate between upper and lower exercises, doing 10 reps per exercise, and don't take any rests between exercises. Rest 30 seconds at the end of the circuit and repeat up to 5 times. That will take you 20 minutes. See below for a great circuit.

2) Bodyweight exercises boost metabolism

Strength and interval training both boost metabolism more than slow cardio, so you burn more calories after exercise. And bodyweight training is the perfect "hybrid" of strength and interval exercise. So you'll benefit from calories burned during AND after exercise.

3) Bodyweight exercises build muscle

In addition to an increase in metabolism, muscle makes you look good. After all, who has better arms, Madonna or the skinny, starving young celebrities of today? Madonna of course, because she has built her arms in the gym and with bodyweight movements in yoga and other forms of exercise. Think of bodyweight training as positive bodysculpting, and avoid that negative, cardio "body breakdown" mentality that too many runners have.

After all, what's the main thing that runners and other cardio addicts neglect? Strength. And that's one of the reasons they end up in the physio and doctor offices so often.

Get started with your bodyweight workouts today.

For example, here's a great circuit:

- Prisoner Squat
- Pushup (or incline pushup for beginners)
- Split Squat
- Elevated Pushup (or kneeling elevated pushup for beginners)
- Step-up
- Mountain Climber

10 reps per exercise (10 reps per side for the split squats, elevated pushups, stepups, and mountain climbers).

Whew! Better than cardio!

You only need 20-30 minutes per session to sculpt your body with exercise that is much better than traditional, slow, boring cardio.

You have permission to publish this article in your web sites, ezines or electronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entirety including the resource box, all hyperlinks (HTML clickable) and references and copyright info.

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men's Health and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training for Fat Loss have helped thousands of men and women with weight loss and fat burning in less than 45 minutes three times per week. Turbulence Training for Fat Loss workouts help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment. Craig's bodyweight workouts for fat loss help you lose fat without any equipment at all.

Lipitrex Weight Loss Supplement Reviewed

Lipitrex is an all natural appetite suppressant, and fat burner, with no side affects, according to the manufacturer Progressive Health. This is definitely a plus, because side affects have always been a concern when taking weight loss pills. Problems like rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, and becoming dizzy have kept many people from trying these types of supplements.

One of the primary functions of Lipitrex is to raise your metabolism. Raising your metabolism is very important to losing weight. People with a fast metabolism tend to have more energy, and their system burns calories instead of storing them, even when they are resting. People with a slow metabolism store their calories in the form of excess weight.

Lipitrex raises your metabolism with an all natural ingredient called Citrus Aurantium Extract (bitter orange). This natural fruit has been extensively studied for its ability to provide increases in the body's metabolic rate, and its potential for increasing the rate at which fat is released from the body.

Another primary function of Lipitrex is to suppress the users appetite. One of the hardest parts of losing weight is resisting the constant nagging urge to eat. If you can remove that problem, a dieter has a much better chance for success.

Lipitrex takes care of this problem with an all natural ingredient called Pinno Thin. PinnoThin is a pine tree extract, which encourages secretion of hunger depressants, greatly reducing the constant urge to eat.

Another benefit of Lipitrex is to control your blood glucose. When you eat, everything eventually turns to sugar, or glucose, and enters the blood stream. Lipitrex has an all natural ingredient called Chromium which helps control the glucose level in your blood and also helps reduce fat in the body. Controlling your blood glucose or sugar, is very good for your health, and makes you feel better, and more energetic.

Some of the other all natural ingredients in Lipitrex are Vitamin B-5, which is a healthy supplement that helps the body burn carbohydrates and fat resources at optimum levels. Vitamin B-6 which helps in improving homocysteine levels in the body and helps in the assimilation of protein into the body.

Caffeine which is considered a good supplement, helps burn fatty acids and improves energy levels if taken in proper concentration levels, and Magnesium, an important mineral, which helps in energizing the body.

CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) is an amazing fat-reducing acid that works on fat deposits and targets regions that store large amounts of fat, such as the stomach area, and also helps in developing lean muscles.

Losing weight is not only good for your appearance, but is a major boost to your health. Everyday I read a new article about research linking another health problem to being over weight. Being overweight for too many years can cause damage that may become permanent.

Losing weight is never easy, and is usually something everyone dreads, but with a positive attitude, some health eating habits, a little mild exercise like walking, and a good weight loss supplement like Lipitrex to help you along, you can succeed.

Bio: Glenn Downer is a writer on weight loss supplements and runs an informational web site on the all natural supplement Lipitrex

For more information please see http://www.lipitrexreviews.com

Hey Fatty! Put Down That Donut!

I am sorry for my insult, but let me just get one thing straight. You are here reading this article, and you are concerned about your health and nutrition. I take off my hat to you already.

Most people don't even have the courage to look up, and research how to lose weight, or how to get rid of extra fat.

In fact you will probably read through half of this and say, wow this guy is an "asshole" Who makes fun of fat people to their face?

There is no reason for you to be fat. By being fat you are simply disrespecting yourself, and not being all you can be as a human. No I am not an army veteran, or anything like that. But come' ON! Its common sense.

The thing is, is that most people who are fat and overweight have other health issues, and most of them are mental.

- Low Self Esteem

- Low Self Confidence (everyday this gets lower and lower, the fatter you get)

- Depression

Look. I am not going to name the entire list, but being fat and overweight is just plain ignorance. You know that if you discipline yourself to eating healthier, and throwing in some exercise, you will probably feel a lot better.

You are probably saying well I have a life. "I work, I have kids, and I work...." Well we all work, and many of us have kids. Near the end of this article I have a few links to a site that is just for the busy working men and women of this world who just don't have the time to workout, or even eat healthy.

Please take this into consideration do you really like who you are? Do you really like who you have become? If you're happy that's really all that matters. However since you are reading this I am assuming something is missing from your life.

No one is perfect, however we can do our best to try and be perfect, as we want to be. This is what all of us should be doing as humans, but we don't. Deep down inside you know you can lose the weight if you actually put in some effort, and listened to advanced tips on how to do so.

Losing weight really isn't that hard. I am going to give you a few tips on how to do come about doing this.

- Instead of eating 3 large meals a day, eat 6-8 smaller meals. When you do this, your bodies' metabolism works at its peak throughout the entire day, causing yourself to burn more calories.

- Cut your calorie intake to 25% and just look at the difference of your body in the next month. Take what you are eating now, add up all the calories, and limit them to 75%. Remember in the end, it's all about the calories!

- Do more active things, walking, and running, playing tennis. Instead of watching TV,

Why not go outside... It's nice out? Take on a sport or something.

- Create hope. Hope is the one an only thing that we control. We can control ourselves if we really, really want to.

Good Luck! And Happy Summer!

The author is an expert EzineArticles writer. He has been writing for us for nearly 6 months, and has had thousands benefit from his tips on health, diet, and nutrition. A program that has worked very well with fat loss and diet is the Turbulence Training For Fat Loss Program. It has helped thousands with losing weight in less than 45 minutes/week. Turbulence Training is designed for the busy working men and women of this world who have a hard time fitting exercise, and good nutrition into their diet.

The Fast Weight Loss Scam

Yeah, we've all heard about how to achieve fast weight loss. "Exercise for as little as 8 minutes a day and lose 20 pounds in 4 weeks!". Claims like this have been around for many years. You buy this junky gizmo and get incredible results for only $19.95! Or, you buy this $2000 piece of cardio equipment and the weight will melt off! Let's be real here. Do you really think losing weight is this easy? If it were, everyone would be in great shape and the obesity epidemic would be nill. Sure, some of this stuff will work, but results will be limited.

The real question with popular home gym equipment is how well are they built. They certainly aren't as durable as the commercial equipment at your local gym. What a lot of these companies bank on is the fact that you'll use it for 8 weeks or less and then turn it into a coat hanger.

Sorry, I got a little off topic. Back to the nitty gritty. Fast weight loss does not come by a small level of commitment, taking a pill, or using only a specific piece of equipment. It's a factor of lots of hard work, discipline, a correct nutrition strategy, and possibly some form of supplementation.

There, I said it. No, I'm not going to tell you it's easy and will come with little time and effort. This seems to be the "American Way" with everything we do in life. Unfortunately, very few results will come by following any fast weight loss strategy. I've mentioned the following before, but feel they may need to be reviewed once more.

Fat Loss Program Needs

1. Weight Training - This is probably the most important area of concern besides nutrition. If you understand anything about the human body, you'll know that efficiency is of utmost importance. This is the "survival mechanism" and applies heavily to weight loss efforts.

For example, let's say you've started on a restricted calorie diet. This tells the body to use it's energy stores (fat) and minimize energy usage (muscle). Without weight training, the body will degrade muscle tissue because of it's high energy cost. In turn, this will slow the metabolism down and cause results to eventually plateau. Lost muscle mass, GASP!

2. Nutrition - Definitely, the most important aspect of a fat loss program. If you consume too much food, it's gonna take a whole lot of exercise to lose weight. I'm talking a 24/7 affair with small improvements made. So, it makes sense to reduce/control caloric intake.

This can be accomplished through popular nutrition strategies such as Adkins, The Zone, South Beach, Low Fat High Carb, etc. Understand, however, that fast weight loss will not and should not take place. The goal should be around 1-4 pounds per week depending upon body composition and body weight. Any more than that and chances are you're losing muscle and plenty of body water.

My personal belief is that quality of food needs to be addressed first. This means minimizing processed foods and returning to more natural sources. Following this, I've found that the overweight population doesn't do well with carbohydrates. This is especially true as the day wears on. Nutritionist's call this "nutrient timing".

The body is better able to utilize carbohydrates early on in the day when testosterone levels are highest. As the day progresses, levels diminish and carbohydrates are more easily stored as fat. In individuals with higher body fat, this window is even smaller. UGH!

3. ESD - This is also a very important area that needs to be addressed. For fat loss, energy must be consumed through activity. Unfortunately, in this technological age, this cannot be accomplished through ADL's or Activities of Daily Living. We work jobs where sitting dominates and automobiles provide any and all transportation. Many also rely on steady-state cardiovascular methods while I tend to believe that relying on higher intensity activities, such as sprinting and intervals, will produce faster results.

4. Supplementation - Supplements tend to be relied upon too heavily when embarking on such a goal. They are just what the name states, a supplement to your diet program. In other words, having a crappy diet with tons of supplements will get you nowhere!

Some supplements I recommend and have been found by research to help with the effort include: fish oil, post workout shakes, a multivitamin, and possibly a stimulant of some kind.

I hope you don't get drawn in by the fast weight loss gimmicks and realize it's going to take time and energy to get where you want to be. Go join a gym and get to work!

Paul Yost is the Owner/Operator of Paramount Training Systems, a personal training company based in Houston, TX. He also works as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in professional baseball. Find more about his services and information at: http://www.paramount-training.org

10 Common Mistakes You Should Know When Trying To Lose Weight

Losing weight is not always an easy task. In reality, it can prove to be a very hard challenge to most people. So, read these 10 tips to avoiding some mistakes that could make you lose control and start storing those stubborn fats again. These are the 10 common mistakes people do when trying to lose unwanted weight:

1. Never rush into the hardest weight loss program you can find.

Many people decide in a moment of desperation to follow a super-strict diet program and fail. Especially, if you never have any dieting experience and are not 100% sure you can stick with it. Choose other program that you feel most suitable for your current condition and make sure you can stick with the program.

2. It won't happen overnight!

This is a common mistake. You can not realistically expect things to happen overnight. When setting your goal, start with small; however be prepared to go far. If you ever heard someone saying that he/she lost pounds in short amount of time, don't make it your goal to match his/her performance. Every person achieved very different results.

3. Don't go exercising everyday.

Another common mistake is to exercise too often, as it will not help you at all. Your body needs time to rest and expand the muscle mass after each training session. Give your body a chance to re-group itself. A 2 days rest after 5 days training is great for your body

4. Cutting down too many calories is really a bad idea.

Everybody knows cutting down calories is one of the basic foundations of all diets. However, you have to be extremely careful about cutting down your calories intake. Cut too many of it and your body will start storing anything it possibly can. This is not a very good way to lose weight.

5. Never, ever skip meals.

This is the most common mistake people do. Some people think that skipping one or two meals could help them achieve their goal faster. They don't understand that diet is all about controlling the food that you want to eat and not starving yourself. If you skip meals, your body will reacted with lowering your metabolism rate and string more fats during this process.

6. You don't have to check your weight everyday.

Every people are eager to see some results of his or her efforts in the shape of lost pounds. However, you should not let this drive you to checking your weight everyday. The daily fluctuations of your weight will eventually have you depressed and soon you will find that you are ready to quit your diet program. This is very bad!

7. Never let emotions drive you.

Aside from the eagerness, there are other emotions that influence dieting. If you find yourself used to reaching out for ice cream or snacks when you are in the bad mood, than you should overcome these issues and never allow them to interfere with your goal.

8. Seek as much help as you can.

Not everyone was born with iron will and nerves of steel. Never hesitate to ask from your friends or from instructors and don't try to solve all the problems you might encounter by yourself.

9. You should eat your favorite foods.

This is also the common mistake people do when dieting. There is nothing wrong with eating your favorite foods. Diets are just food control methods, not jails! Is okay to eat foods you liked once in a while though it's considered forbidden. If such treats are not frequent, then they will make no difference in the long run.

10. Write everything and analyze it.

If you wish to know how much you eat, then write everything down and analyze the list for things that should not be there. Sometimes, your hunger will drive you to eat something that you should not eat. Just be honest with your self.

Losing weight will requires a lot of dedication and motivation on your end. However, if you follow this guide, I believe you will have a successful diet in no time.

There is a supplement that works really great by binding unwanted fat and carries on as waste. Combining your weight loss program with this supplement can be very powerful combination. Proactol is an organic fat binder, endorsed by doctors and medically approved as a supplement for the treatment of obesity and overweight. Visit http://www.squidoo.com/bestweightlosspills-proactolreview/ for more info.

Basal Metabolic Rate and How It Affects Weight Loss

Basal Metabolic Rate is not usually the first thing that comes to mind when you think about weight loss. We usually think about dieting and exercise programs. But, BMR is a large factor in how our bodies gain or lose weight.

Counting the calories consumed in foods or used in exercise needs to have some base line to measure against. Part of this measurement is based on the basal metabolic rate or BMR. The BMR is the base rate for the body's calorie consumption for the basic functions of the body like pumping blood, maintaining body temperature and repairing blood cells.

The food calories consumed and the exercise calories expended are both important to success in weight loss. The number of calories taken in less the number of calories used equals the calories that are left to be stored as fat in adipose tissues. That amount is approximately 70 calories per hour; a little more when we are awake and a little less when we are sleeping. Everyone has a slightly different BMR depending partially on their genetics and partially on their body types.

Other factors that affect the basal metabolic rate are your body temperature (for instance, if you have a fever) and some medications (such as antidepressants). A fever can cause weight loss and antidepressants can cause weight gain. Talk to your health care professional about how the medications you take can affect your body and whether you would need to take additional steps to prevent excessive weight gain.

Your body must have some fat in order to function. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are used for electrical functions by the heart, brain and muscles. They are also used by the body for regulating hormones.

BMR can also be changed when you are injured. This is a temporary change while your body is using essential fatty acids and proteins to rebuild damaged tissues. Some weight can be lost when recovering from an injury, depending on its severity. Of course, you wouldn't want to go out and break a leg just to lose a few pounds :)

Foods that are high in fat and refined sugars can reduce the basal metabolic rate because they are low in fiber and bulk. This slows down the activity in the intestines and causes the body to absorb more calories from them. Proper nutrition and getting enough vitamins and minerals can help regulate the BMR.

BMR is generally determined by family genetics. To prevent the poor BMR levels that are handed down from the generations before you, it is important to eat a proper diet and exercise according to your age and body's fitness level.

Taking the basal metabolic rate into account when you are planning to lose weight will help you on the road to success.

Jude Wright is the owner of "9 Weeks to Weight Loss" at 9WeekstoWeightLoss.com. Stop by and get your free report, "Losing Weight Without Starving Yourself."

Dieting 101 - Being Flexibile is Key

Lose the Rules: You Must be Flexible

Why is it that when you decide to get in better shape or lose a few pounds, life suddenly throws you a curve? Fact is there are constantly invitations to over indulge so you must decide in advance how you want to handle them.

1. Make a Plan
2. Implement Your Plan
3. Review Your Plan and Adjust if Necessary
4. Rinse, Repeat

Have a Planning Session First

You've decided to get back in shape; now you must have a planning session with yourself about what might change, how you might go about following through, and most importantly whether you believe you can and will follow through (are you serious or are you kidding yourself?).

To get a good plan, write it out. Include when, where, what time of day. Imagine yourself following through and see whether there are any obstacles? Will you get up earlier or sleep in? Will your partner complain you're never home? Will work interfere? Think it through. When you spot a potential obstacle you can find a way over, under or around it, or you can change your plan. Once you have a plan, implement it for one week, then at the end of the week, look back and decide whether you should alter your plan or follow through with it for another week. This way you are able to modify your plan as needed, but still have a plan.

Here's a Sample Plan: Watch What Happened:

My plan is a regular workout schedule (four days a week at home or at the gym), drinking less alcohol (special occasions and weekends instead of every night), and tightening up "weekend eating" from the current Thursday evening through Sunday to only Saturday and Sunday.

Reflection: What would this accomplish? I'd be eating a bit less (reining in the indulgence from three days a week to two), and exercising consistently (consistency is key), and drinking less alcohol saves a lot of calories (plus alcohol can cause more poor decisions, especially if inebriated).

Make your plan, then follow through and track what happens.

Here's how this plan worked in a typical first week:

Monday: All is well, worked out and ate as planned. Good day.

Tuesday: Worked out and ate as planned. Good day. So far this is easy.

Tuesday evening sister invites me over Thursday evening for home party, "I'll have something there to eat," she adds. I'm about to say, "That's okay, I won't want anything anyway," but thought better of it. (Telling someone you don't want what they're serving because you're trying to get healthy is a surefire way to be attacked with a full-frontal assault on why that is ridiculous and, "Just this once won't hurt." Who needs that? Stay quiet instead).

Wednesday: Ate fine and worked out according to plan. Very good, hump day and all. (Notice it has all been pretty easy up until now.

First obstacle: Wednesday evening another sister calls saying Friday night we're celebrating family birthdays at a Thai restaurant. I'm to bring blackberry cheesecake, mom is bringing blackberry pie.

Taking stock of the rest of this week and it's not pretty: Thursday evening workout won't happen because I need to be baking and said I'd go to my sister's (evening workouts are often waylaid); Friday evening eating is dicey due to birthday dinner at restaurant. To top it off Easter is Sunday so most of Saturday I'll be shopping and baking. I already decided to make a cake and scalloped potatoes. This is turning out to be a lousy week for my new getting in shape plan.

But, all is not lost. This is a typical week in a typical life. You must be flexible if you expect to lose weight and keep it off. You're always going to be confronted with the unexpected occasions, birthdays, parties, special events where they'll have all the yummy goodies you just can't resist. Keep reading to see what a successful dieter does next.

Thursday, ate well. Had dinner already so didn't snack at sister's Thursday event (she had chips and a vegi tray and I wasn't hungry so easy to pass up). Too busy with baking to exercise (I anticipated this so I'm not upset). Evening workouts are so often missed I'm already working on a new plan to fit in earlier workouts.

Friday: Ate great, dinner was wonderful. Had a "splurge" glass of wine with dinner at the restaurant (tasted pretty darn good too, but didn't leave me wanting another). Ate plenty but not over-stuffed; knowing we had desserts coming. Enjoyed a full piece of blackberry pie and some cheesecake and it was great. I'm fine and right on target.

Saturday: Ate well, did my exercise as planned. Shopped for groceries for Easter dinner and suddenly decided to make homemade peanut butter cup easter eggs; how's that for a healthy eating plan? Now I'm a candy maker! I enjoy candy, so sue me.

Easter Sunday: Big family dinner, potluck style. Nothing is better than good homemade food, especially when you're learning to eat better and make better choices. I ate what I wanted and felt great, satisfied, content. Did not overstuff, didn't feel the need to. You can take a bit small amount, eat it slowly, taste it, check out the texture, and really make an effort to enjoy the buffet style dinner. There's no need to stuff yourself. It's not the last time I'll ever eat. Easter eggs turned out great. I left plenty behind and took the rest to my office on Monday. I didn't actually eat but one of the homemade candies; they were good, but I didn't feel the need to eat more.

I love to bake for special events as I get to eat the goodies, but I ditch the leftovers. A piece or two of cake every so often is not a problem, but half a cake on the counter, or sweets and desserts every day for a week is a recipe for the beginning of poor eating habits.

Sunday evening (remember I had the big Easter dinner earlier) I started feeling somewhat hungry, but it was late, so I ate the leftover desserts I'd brought home for my dinner. This time it was "eat dessert first," as grandpa used to say. You make a choice, sometimes you'll overeat, and sometimes you won't and it's okay. The trick whether losing weight or maintaining weight loss is to change the equation from usually overeating and indulging and watching what I eat once in awhile, to eating well most of the time and indulging once in awhile.

Sunday Evening Reflection: Look Back at Week 1:

Lots of sweets, plenty to eat. I stuck to my overall plan for the week. I drank far less (from a couple glasses of wine a night down to just a couple for the entire week). I ate plenty of the good foods I wanted, but didn't feel the need to stuff myself, nor did I ever feel deprived. I didn't have the, "I better eat now because I'm starting a diet on Monday" mentality. Every meal stands alone, so if you overeat at lunch that doesn't mean the rest of the day is blown (why pre-blow it?).

Overall I exercised and ate according to plan Monday through Thursday then lots of unexpected events started to occur that could have been big roadblocks but weren't.

Week in Review: Did it Work? Does it Need to be Modified?

Was this week a success? You bet. Despite eating dinner out on Friday, having two desserts, and enjoying a potlock Easter dinner on Sunday. It's not any of these things individually but having them every day, or never exercising regularly. You don't have to be a fanatic, but with consistent effort and a good plan, you can and will win your weight loss race.

Kathryn Martyn Smith, Master NLP Practitioner, EFT counselor, Author, Speaker, Weight Loss Coach, and owner of OneMoreBite-WeightLoss.com brings a fresh approach to losing weight and gaining health. Her book "Changing Beliefs, Your First Step to Permanent Weight Loss" gives an introduction to EFT and NLP both simple methods you can learn and use to get past your obstacles and onto successful weight loss.

Learn the One More Bite approach with The Daily Bites: EFT for Weight Loss by Example. Get The Daily Bites http://www.onemorebite-weightloss.com/getnews.html and visit OneMoreBite-Weightloss.com

Weight Loss - In a Natural Way

There are many rapid weight loss programs which guarantee weight loss in a natural way.The weight loss program is no way natural if it promises you fast weight loss. Lets have a look in which way we should lose weight if we want to do it in a natural way. As gaining weight is a slow process so weight loss is also a gradual process.

Never opt for a crash diet weight loss program it is true that you will lose weight but you will gain all your weight back whenever you will take a break. Not all weight loss programs are suitable for an individual. It differs from person to person which weight loss program will suit him. If you want to lose weight in a natural way do not try to lose more than three pounds in a week. Always try to set realistic weight loss goals before you. Try to monitor your weight regularly even one pound is a great achievement.

For losing weight you need have lot of fruit and vegetables in your diet. Fruit and vegetables give you lots of vitamins and minerals which help in natural weight loss. Try to eat your vegetables raw it will preserve vitamins as cooking looses half the vitamins. Whenever you cook avoid frying and prefer boiling steaming and grilling.

The most important natural product which you need to drink for a natural weight loss program is water. Water helps in losing extra weight by flushing out toxins and by increasing tone and contraction of your muscles during exercise. Water should be your best friend if you want to lose weight.

Weight loss program should not be followed for a short period of time but it should be part of your life.Always try to find your weight loss partner he will motivate you in difficult times.

Jitesh Arora.Click here to know more about Weight Loss and Exercise.

Weight Loss Tips For Beginners - How To Eat To Lose Weight

Obviously you are a person who wants to lose weight and you are looking for information on how do you have to eat to lose weight. It is impossible to answer to this question, because there are simply to many ways how you can eat if you want to lose weight, but everything is based on the same thing. In this article I will discuss the main principles of eating if you want to lose weight.

Basically there's a big misunderstanding in todays society about weight loss. People think that if they want to lose weight, they will have do through the "hardcore way". Media is filled with images of size zero celebrities and a lot of people think that celebrities represent the real side of weight loss. Well, it is not how it is and if you want to lose weight you can easily do that without damaging your body.

Good diet is very important in weight loss and it seems that most of us think that if we will cut the calories - will lose weight... Well, calories are important, but there are a lot of other very important things you have to know before you start to lose weight. First of all I want to inform you, that if you want to lose weight, you should first of all reduce the calories intake at least by 900 calories per day. Lets say you were used to consume 3000 calories per day, so if you want to lose weight, you should consume about 2100 calories per day.

It is proven by scientists that a person can burn about 9000 calories per week and by doing so, it is possible to lose about one kilogram, but scientists don't recommend to do this, because the human body can't cope with big, radical changes in the diet. You should aim to lose about half of kilogram per week and by doing so, you won't harm your body. Enough sad about calories, now lets learn about other very important thing you have to know about weight loss diet.

A lot of people don't understand how they should actually eat if they want to lose weight and what foods are important. If you are losing weight, you have to make sure that you have got a lot of proteins in your diet. At least 1.5 grams per every kilogram of body mass. If you don't have enough proteins in your body, you will lose your muscle mass and trust me - no one wants to do that.

I don't want to say that things like carbs aren't important. I am not saying that, but I think and I know that calories and proteins are probably the most important things in weight loss diet.

Are you looking for more information on weight loss, especially if you just started to lose weight? Go to my web site and find out how I've lost 10 pounds in 7 seven days and how I can help YOU do the same. Sign up for free e-course at http://www.weightlossnewbies.com

The Number One Secret to Weight Loss

The diets on the market would not work if they didn't make you lose weight. The truth is, these diets must eventually be explained to everybody that the number one formula these diets must live by is eating less calories than you burn. If you don't follow this formula, then all these carbohydrate reducing, fat loss, low glycemic eating programs won't do anything towards you. This is why many experts are going back to the basic retreat of calories counting.

There is a science to this so called calorie counting algorithm, if you forgot what you learned back in high school, it wont take long to refresh your memory. This will also help you make better decisions about the foods you eat, and how to maximize your calorie resources.

First off what is a calorie?

A calorie is a measurement of certain potential energy in what we eat, we call this food. One calorie can raise the temperature of a single gram of water by one degree Celsius. In a way you can compare calories to gasoline. Gasoline is needed to fuel are cars, and make them "active". Calories fuel our body, and make us "active".

Now that we know what a calorie is, how exactly does are body convert these calories into energy?

The enzymes in are body located in the digestive system break down certain chemical bonds that store food molecules as one. The digestive system then discharges the energy in the bonds, which activates it for use.

What does you body do with the energy?

Like mentioned earlier as gas fuels a car, the calorie fuels everything in your body. It can range from breathing, meditating, growing nails, hair, or running a marathon. When you don't use the calories you consume however, these calories get transported to the liver. The liver restores your glycogen. This is your body's reserve fuel, and is easily accessible. When the liver is full of glycogen, it is then passed to the muscles, for temporary storage. This type of storage will help get you through your exercises. The liver and muscles together carry about 350 calories worth of energy. Think of these calorie storages as accounts, when you consume more, you can save your calories in here until they are converted to fat and spread out through the body.

How many calories do you have to lose in order to lose a full pound of body weight?

The answer is about 3500 calories; you can either eat fewer calories, and burn these off that way, or do some exercises for quicker results. Remember though even if your working out everyday, the calorie rule still applies. If you consume more calories then you burn off, you are going to gain weight. That's the science.

If you want to know how many calories you need to maintain your weight throughout the day, look for a calorie calculator somewhere on the internet; you can also take a BMI test to see what your body mass should be. It has to do a lot with your weight and height.

What is the best way to keep track of your calories?

All you need to do is get a journal, and write down what the calorie amount is for each serving. Write down everything you eat, and add up the calories. If you want to take it into the extreme, you can photograph your meals, and set up some sort of diary or blog about your eating habits. This technique may increase your motivation, and help you understand what you are doing right and wrong. It also gives you a great illustrative view of what your eating throughout the day.

Remember it's all about the calorie count. If you're a male your average calorie amount is about 2,500 calories. If you are a female then your average amount is about 2,000 calories. If you stay somewhere on the line of this calorie count then you will be in the average zone.

If you're interested in taking your fat loss efforts to a new level, for a limited time I am giving away free bodyweight fitness training e-report at one of my fitness websites. If your interested in this free report Click Here.

How to Maximize Your Glutes and Burn Fat

I have been in the fitness game for some time now. One question I get asked a lot is how to get a nice butt and lose fat. When I give the person the answer I usually get a shocked look. Most people believe you need to do a lot of cardio work and some light weights to achieve this. On the contrary, you need to perform the exact opposite. When we think of a group of people with nice glutes and low body fat, many of times we think of celebrities and elite athletes. If I were to say which group maintains the look the best, your answer better be athletes. Most celebrities go on and off of ridiculous diets and hunger strikes. They may look nice for a few movies, but for the most part of their lives they are either anorexic or holding excess loads of fat. Athletes like sprinters, volleyball players, soccer players and speed skaters have a great set of glutes and low bodyfat that last for much of their lives, even after their competitive years, with little maintenance. Now, these athletes, and many other athletes like them, will train with high intensity (more specifically heavier weight), great speed and power. Through their training they are able to gain low body fat and great glutes. The funny thing is that is not the objective of their training, just a great bonus.

So, to gain both of these goals at the same time we need to weight train with enough weight that our bodies grow stronger and gain muscle mass. Also, we will need to incorporate high intensity bouts of cardio energy system training. So, walking on a treadmill with cute little pink dumbbells aint gonna cut it. I already know plenty of people are turned off just from the idea of gaining muscle mass. Well, nice glutes are firm and hold a great deal of muscle. Trust me, making glutes smaller is just going to make you look pretty bad in any pants, shorts or bathing suit you wear. Another big bonus is muscle is thermogenic and metabolically driven by nature. Lay mans terms you burn optimal fat and keep it off. That is an incentive enough for anyone to get busy and weight train properly. What I am going to do is outline a sample program for fat loss and glute toning. Add this to your regiment and give it a try. If you are not on a regiment, you need to stop wasting time and get on one. The only way to see results with anything is through consistency, frequency, and variation. Before trying any program make sure you are assessed and know where you stand physically. In other words, you are going to be the one who makes your bed and the one who has to sleep in it. Enough of my ranting here is the program:

Day 1:
1. Box Squats (box should be a little below the knees 90 degree bend) 4x15
2. Depth Jumps (off of the same box) 4x10
3. DB Lateral Lunges 3x16
4. Farmers Walks 2x3laps
Use supersets on the first two exercises and rest for two minutes between sets. The weight needs to be heavy enough so you can just make it to the required reps.

Day 2:

Perform sprints in an open field or soft track
1. Mid Speed Sprint for 90seconds rest for 1 minute
2. Mid speed sprint for 30 seconds for five sets rest for 3 minutes and repeat

Day 3:
Rest

Day 4:
1. Jumping Squats 2x50
2. Walking (body weight) Back Lunges 2x20
3. Stiff Leg Deadlift 2x50
4. Jumping Mule Kicks 2x10
Superset exercises 1 and 2, then rest for 3 minutes. Superset exercises 3 and 4 and rest for 2 minutes.

Day 5:
Plyometric Drills and Sprints:
1. High Jumps 1x20
2. Speed Skater Lateral Jumps 1x20
3. High Skips (A-skip) 10x to High speed sprint 10sec. Repeat 10 times

This is just a sample of what a serious training regiment will look like. Remember the key here is to really give it your all and do not skip out on proper technique.

Good luck

Ty Ferrell is a NASM certified personal trainer and a constant student of the vast field of fitness. He is the founder of http://www.thefitnessroad.com and can be reached there.

Weight Loss Drugs? Get The Facts Here!

The idea behind the drugs is to quicken each person's metabolism enabling the weight to be lost much quicker. The problem arose when it was found that one of the side effects from this type of drug was the increased risk of heart valve disease and of course the drug was quickly withdrawn from use. Since then, newer drugs have been developed and doctors continue to prescribe them although they are still awaiting FDA certification.

These weight loss pills have become popular and you can almost guarantee that you will know of someone who has tried them with success. It is a tempting proposition, to lose weight while still maintaining the same diet; who would say no? As a consequence, drug companies spend millions of dollars in research on weight loss drugs while consumers spend even more buying the pills.

Weight control pills can be purchased either over-the-counter or prescribed by a doctor but even with the advances in medical technology they can still cause a lot of health related problems which can be unpleasant such as diarrhoea and vomiting. Surprisingly more dangerous side effects exist including stroke, heart attack, renal failure to name only a few, so these drugs are still far from safe to use.

Generally from the reports it would seem that the effectiveness of weight loss drugs is improved if they are combined with a regular exercise program and a low calorie diet. This means eating a good diet containing food from all the food groups and include vitamins and minerals. Fibre can be found in oats, rice, potatoes, cereals, vegetables and fruits.

At the end of the day, nothing beats a good full body workout!

Learn how to lose weight, sculpt muscle and attract the opposite sex for free!

http://www.gainbigmuscles.com

Would Smoking and Drinking Affect My Gym Training?

Dear dailymuscle,

I'm 21 years old and trying to quit doing the unhealthy things I do to my body and here's my problem. I started smoking and drinking a couple of months ago (vodka), and last night was one of the nights I went overboard and drank way too much. I hate the terrible, worthless feeling I get the next day as I don't feel like training at the gym today due to this feeling. I just feel like staying in bed all day..

I know this is a stupid question but would smoking and drinking affect my gym training (I know it affects cardio cause it screws up your lungs)?

~the thirsty trainer

Dear thirsty trainer,

Thanks for writing in.

Drinking and smoking while trying to achieve practically any fitness goal are the exact opposites and dont mix. Drinking can compromise your goals especially if fatloss is one of them. I've read that the liver can take days to get rid of the alcohol in ones body and so one of its main jobs of filtering fat comes to a standstill and it packs it away for processing later (which never comes of course).

Still not convinced? Okay try this - have a can of beer (or any other alcoholic beverage) just before your workout and let me know if you have a productive workout.

It's a matter of priorities, especially at your young age of which path you want to choose. Many people think that they can counteract their smoking and drinking habits by doing enough exercise, not realising that they are only fooling themselves of the harm they are doing to themselves.

There is research out there that says alcohol in moderation has benefits, but I would not recommend anyone that doesn't drink to start solely for these benefits. Hey, Schwarzenegger smokes cigars too, however, I believe that they are the exceptions. I'd rather stay away from it if I were you.

You know what the right decision is - otherwise you wouldnt be asking about it here ;)

Good luck!

Josh Stone, also known as DM, is the author behind the site http://www.dailymuscle.com which offers the author's personal views on real-life fitness, bodybuilding, sports nutrition, cardio, fat loss, training information, and on all things that surrounds fitness.

Best Weight Loss Pills

There is no great secret about how to lose weight. The two most important factors are changing your dietary habits and incorporating some sort of exercise regimen into your daily activities. However, more and more of us are looking for a natural, safe and effective method to kick start our diet program.

Large numbers of women, and some men, are showing an increased interest in using diet pills to assist them to lose weight. The problem with this is that modern, pharmacuetical diet pills produce many unpleasant, and sometimes serious side effects.

Recently, the market has introduced natural herbal diet supplements that consist entirely of herbs and are 100% natural. Some of these products are completely safe and very effective. If you are searching for an all natural way to lose unwanted weight, this is the way to proceed.

In their simplest form these weight loss methods have existed for generations. Modern science now make these very same herbs available in capsule form. The Chinese have used ingredients such as Lotus Leaf, Chinese Yam, Hawthorn Fruit, Bush Cherry Seed and Poria for safe and healthy weight loss for hundreds of years. What is even more interesting is that these herbal products can be used for substantial periods of time without any serious side effects.

The best weight loss pills are extremely effective. Within the first month one can expect to lose between 5 to 10 pounds. For many people this can be accomplished even without dieting. One can expect to see even better results by implementing healthy diet changes and a regular exercise routine.

Side effects with these products are relatively rare. When they do happen they are very mild. Some of the side effects associated with natural herbs are sweating, constipation or some problem with sleeping. The solution to these problems is to simply cut the recommended dosage in half.

Here are some things to consider when shopping for herbal dietary supplements:

1- Make certain that the ingredients are all natural.

2- Read the testimonials.

3- Make sure that the company providing the product has both a refund policy and contact information.

When you do start using these product, just like any pills, it is important that you do not exceed the recommended dosage. Also, even though these are just herbs, check with your doctor first if you have a medical condition or are under a physician's care.

At the moment there are two well know natural weight loss products available. Probably the most famous is Hoodia. Hoodia can be very useful if the product has not been adulterated.

The second famous product, endorsed by Oprah, is Chinese green tea. I am not exactly sure how this came about. The truth is that there is nothing in Chinese tea that is an effective weight loss agent.

A third product, though not as well known, is 999 Fitness Essence. For the longest time this product was available only through Chinese acupuncturists. Feedback shows that almost everyone who uses this product reports positive results.

Here is something that you may wish to consider. You can lose weight without dieting by using these herbal weight loss products. Think of how much better you can do if you actually improve your diet and exercise.

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/herbal_fat_burners.html where she provides additional advice, tips and hard to find information on Weight Loss

Be Slimmer Weight Loss - Exercises To Help Burn The Fat

You've been eating right and trying to walk or jog each day, but it's getting boring. We've all been here before. A secret to weight loss is diverse set of exercises so that:

a.) you won't get bored

b.) you will work different muscles.

The following are some great ideas to get you moving and motivated. If you really want to lose weight you need a cardio workout as these exercises have been systematically proven to lose pounds.

One of the simplest and healthiest weight loss exercises you can perform is walking. The best part is that it's free and you can do it practically anywhere no matter where you live, rural, suburban, or urban. Because of these reasons you will find walking is a great way to begin your workout.

Jogging and running are similar exercises that will show big results. The early mornings are the best time to do this and it can be very relaxing actually. Caution should be applied to this exercise though as it can be hard on the knees, if you are older or have had sports related injuries in the past, consult your physician. If not, try a 30-45 3-5 days a week, but always remember to take it easy

If you can afford one, treadmills are an excellent way to perform the previous exercises without having to leave your home. You can also make the workout more enjoyable and less boring by watching TV or reading the paper to make time go faster.

Cycling is a fun and efficient form of weight loss exercise and it's also inexpensive. You can ride your bike around the block or if you prefer purchase an exercise bike to save you time and bother.

Now's a great time to mention resistance training. After you've performed exercises like the one above for some time, you may begin to see a decrease in results as your body is in better shape and has adjusted to a more active lifestyle. Now for resistance training, all you really need to do is to add some light weights to your workout. What this does is add more resistance to the muscles forcing them to work a little harder.

If you have a pool or have access to one, definitely consider swimming. It's fun, not too strenuous, and shows great results. There are even water aerobics which are simple exercises you can perform in the water. They'll show better results as well because of, you guessed it, resistance training. The only drawback to swimming is it takes more effort to prepare for, and if you don't have a pool you'll have to drive to the one closest to you which can take a large part of your day.

These are just the tip of the iceberg, but are perhaps the best place to start your weight loss exercise regimen. Have fun, and remember no matter which exercises you choose, stay consistent and stay faithful to your workout plan.

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.

Hoodia Gordonii - What Components Are Effective In Promoting Weight Loss

In these times, when it comes to acquiring fast, reliable and safe weight loss, Hoodia Gordonii is considered the trend-setter in this field. This succulent cactus-like plant was originally used by the San Bushmen of Southern Africa to suppress appetite during hunting trips and times of food scarcity.

Since this plant grows in one of the harshest regions of the planet, the plant comes with an aura of mystery as well as carrying a ton of weight loss benefits. Although the extracts from this plant have been tested to effectively suppress appetites, it has been a challenge to make the supplement readily available to Western consumers.

P57: The Single Molecule Which Effectively Promotes Weight Loss

The entire cactus-like plant is not required for appetite suppression, but rather one single molecule, P57, creates the desired effect. This molecule is found in the flesh of the plant, and not within the roots, spines, or flowers. Unfortunately, the chemical is quite hard to isolate from the plant extract. It is also reported to be difficult to synthesize, and it is highly unlikely that a cheaper, synthetic product will be created in the coming years.

The High Demand Has Created Supply Concerns

Contrary to popular notions, the Hoodia plant is not endangered. There are several other succulents and cactus plants that look just like it, and in turn, are the ones on the verge of extinction. Unfortunately for the other species, the high demand for Hoodia causes them to be collected by mistake. As such, the plant is on the list of Endangered Species and is under protection by international health and plant trade regulations.

Does Hoodia Have Any Negative Long-Term Effects?

Today, there are many prescription weight-loss medications sold in the market, and some have been noted to cause damage to the liver or other organs. It is not yet clear how past laboratory trials have fared to that of trials run on animal subjects during the development phases of many other medications. After Pfizer aborted the project, Unilever Pharmaceuticals took up the cudgels for developing this dietary product, and they are still working on it.

While the supplement is only available on a limited basis at the moment, there is no question that it is a potent appetite suppressant. Obesity is a major issue in almost every nation, and as pharmaceutical manufacturers work to establish reputable supplies, it would only be a matter of time before reliable products become readily available.

Hoodia is but one of many species in the genus and it takes a trained botanist or a native plant collector to be able to distinguish the actual plant, or the flower, from the rest. Without seeing the actual flower, it would be difficult to set apart other species, as some devious collectors may get another variety, and market the supplement as the real thing.

An international regulatory group, CITES (Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species), establishes guidelines for the proper harvesting and trade of this plant, and collecting Hoodia in the wild is considered illegal without first acquiring a permit from CITES and the local governments in the areas where Hoodia is prevalent.

http://hoodiastore.org - Hoodia Store

Vanessa A. Doctor from Jump2Top - SEO Company

Are All Saturated Fats Unhealthy?

Nope! Surprisingly, there are healthy fatty foods that you can eat...

And I know all about the confusing information out there -- it just drives me nuts. Tons of people say no this, no that and the real truth of the matter is you don't know what their actual agenda is...

So today, I am going to ask you to open up your mind because some of what I say is going to be contrary to the politically correct media and nutritional advice that is being dispense...

And yeah, many of the advice is being dispensed by doctors, so-called health experts and the granddaddy of them all -- the mass media.

The way I figure it out is all the usual suspects above treat everyone like you and me like mushrooms. Shovel manure over us and keep us in the dark with confusing and conflicting information.

To start with, we absolutely NEED healthy fats in our daily diet! It is so vitally important to our overall health. Did you know that fats are critically needed for all the cell membranes in our body? However, if you eat the processed foods that contains chemically altered fats -- guess what? Your cells ain't gonna be happy...

It means your cellular functions won't work right. It means your body has to work harder to find the right fats to repair and maintain the cells. It means you have greater risk of degenerative diseases.

You need healthy fats for creating energy, for breaking down vitamins and minerals. And so on and on...

In short, FATS are absolutely, critically needed for a lots of important functions in your body -- and if you listen the one of the most dangerous advice you hear from all those so-called health experts listed above... about following a restricted fat diet or even a no-fat diet...

Don't do it! You are putting yourself in great danger! It is one of the most unbelievable piece of garbage information about health that I have ever heard!

And if you think about it, or even followed that advice for a period of time... did you lose your body fat? I'm guessing no.

And no wonder... fat is also critical to digesting your food intake. You NEED healthy fats to lose body fat, to become lean and healthy. To be disease-free.

So don't fall for that clap trap. It is utter nonsense and I think the whole reasoning behind that is the hysteria that if you have excess body fat, restricting your fat intake will force your body to use up the internal fat. That simply isn't true.

Let's use some hard, cold facts. There is a researcher by the name of Dr. Mary Enig who is a P.H.D., and one of the leading experts on fats -- she said that there is very little scientific evidence supporting the theory that high fat diets is bad for us.

Let's use a real world example. Hundreds of years ago... the Pacific Islanders had a typical diet of mostly coconuts. As you know, Coconuts is saturated fats. And in spite of getting 75% to 66% of their total daily calories in Coconuts, these Pacific Islanders enjoyed a very healthy life -- free from heart diseases and obesity.

But modern Pacific Islanders eat typical western diets that are unhealthy and many of them are obese or fat... but that is another story for another time.

My point is, even if you eat a diet that is mostly saturated fats -- you would be healthier than anyone who followed a no-fat diet.

Another example would be the traditional diets of Eskimos. Their diet has the same proportion of fat as the Pacific Islanders did because they ate whale blubber, seal fat, and cold water fish. And Eskimos were famous for health and longevity!

I can also point to tribes in Africa -- the Masai tribes and Samburu tribes -- they ate a diet of whole milk, blood and meet. These folks enjoyed low body fat.

And don't forget about the Mediterranean diets which is very high in fats from Olive oil?

And then you can compare all the groups mentioned above with the North Americans -- a lot of them eat unhealthy western diets with little or unhealthy fats.

And guess which group is overweight and obese?

I think it is pretty clear from the evidence I pointed out above that many of the so-called experts who promote no-fat or low -fat diets don't know what they are talking about...

In fact, they say if you repeat it often enough... it must be true.

But we aren't sheep and we are much smarter then them... So we are going to look at the list of healthy fat choices that you can incorporate into your diet:

Coconut fat. Although it is 92% saturated fats, it is one of the healthiest natural fats you can consume. It is also an excellent cooking oil because saturated fats are more stable and don't oxidize as easily as the unsaturated fats do. Which can create free-radicals which can damage your body. Good sources of coconut fat is coconut milk, coconut oil or fresh coconuts.

My favorite source of oil -- extra virgin olive oil! It contains 16% saturated oils and 71% unsaturated oils. Extra virgin olive oil is from the first pressing of the olives and has a higher percentage of free-radical fights -- antioxidants. Unlike a lot of the other cooking oils, industrial solvents weren't used to extract the extra virgin olive oils. So it is much healthier for us!

Chocolate! More specifically, bittersweet chocolate which contains over 70% cocoa fats. It has lots of antioxidants and the cocoa butter contains about 59% saturated fats. This is important -- even though some folks prefer milk chocolates -- that chocolate isn't as beneficial as the dark, bittersweet chocolates. Milk chocolate has more sugar and corn sweetener which isn't good for you.

Avocados! One of my most favorite ingredients for my scrambled eggs in the morning. Avocados on the other hand is mostly monosaturated fats but it still has 25% saturated fats. But you can use avocados in your sandwich and salads.

Fish with high fat contents. I try to stick with wild caught fish such as salmon, sardines, herring and trout. They tend to have healthier diets and are much healthier sources of fats for us. Wild caught fish is a great source of Omega 3 which is important for our diets. And I'll have to talk about that another time.

Nuts! I love 'em. I like to snack on mixed nuts and dried fruits. No peanuts though... Nuts are a great source of healthy fats plus minerals. Try to avoid any nuts that were roasted in oil. Use the ones that are either raw or dry roasted.

Seeds! Sunflower, pumpkin and flax seeds. All are good but flax seeds are famous for having a high ratio of omega 3. I like to sprinkle fresh ground flax seeds in my yogurt and fruit for a well-balanced meal. And for the guys -- big health tip -- eat a handful of pumpkins (or pepitas) seeds each day. It may be beneficial to keeping away a swollen prostate.

Of course I should list the fatty foods that you should absolutely stay away from. Don't touch these with a ten foot pole!

Hydrogenated oils. These are the trans fats that you have no business putting into your body. Look at your processed food labels. If this ingredient is listed -- I suggest you toss those in the trash and never buy them again!

Deep fried foods. Come on here! Sure it tastes good but it is really, really bad for you. In fact, I would say that french fries is probably one of the worst foods you can ever eat. It is pure glucose and contains trans fat oils. And all of that goes straight to your love handles. So just say no to fried foods.

Homogenized milk and butter. Raw milk fat is great for you but the pasteurizing process ruins it. And turns milk fat into something potentially dangerous for your body. Raw milk is hard to find so I would stick with skim milk and cultured organic butter.

Now you know enough to be dangerous... so go now and eat some healthy saturated fat...

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