Friday, August 13, 2010

Some Common Yet Effective Weight Loss Ideas

By Richard J McDonald

Are you serious about weight loss? It is never easy. You may be wondering about some of the so called miracle weight reduction programs. Do they work? What can you do to lose some pounds and keep them off?

Wouldn't it be wonderful to take a pill and wake up ten pound lighter. Maybe you can listen to a recording and never overeat again. To date, nothing like this has ever been reality. You need to do the work. However, there are some tips and tricks that may make it a little easier for you.

Hydration

It has been said many times. However, it cannot be stressed enough. You need plenty of water in order to keep the pounds off. You need water to properly metabolize the food that you eat. Not enough water, means a slower metabolism. Drink your water at regular intervals. Do not think that you can drink it all in just a few times. For example, you need eight glasses of water per day. This does not mean one glass in the morning and seven in the evening.

It does not work that way. Your body can only handle so much water at any given time. When you drink too much, it will eliminate it. Never drink very large amounts of water at one time. It can be very bad for you. Even though water intoxication is rare, it can happen. You can however, drink a glass of water with each meal. It will help to fill you up.

Weigh every week

Once a week is often enough to weigh yourself. Too soon can be frustrating. Not enough can be disastrous. If you wait a month or more to weigh, you may get a shock. This may depress you and make you want to quit. Get a good scale that is accurate. You do not have to spend a great deal of money. Some analog scales are accurate enough. Check your scales at your doctor's office.

Be forgiving

Understand that everyone is human. You are going to make mistakes and fall from your loft, every now and then. Do not become discouraged. Keep on trying. Remember to set attainable goals too. This can prevent the frustration of failure. Maybe you can lose ten pounds in three months and keep it off. It is a good place to start.

Conclusion

Are you finally serious about weight loss. You will not find any permanent fixes. There are no miracles. You must get in there and apply yourself. Keep track of your weight. Drink plenty of water. Accept your frailties and deal with them. Set easy goals. Turn your big goals into a series of small ones. You will struggle. However, you can make a difference.

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Monday, July 12, 2010

A Wealth Of Weight Loss Information

By Richard J McDonald

A hundred-million links are what you'll get searching "weight loss" on the internet! So how do you know fact from fiction? What works and what wastes time and money? Who is right?

You can't lose weight sitting around. There is no magic pill that causes fat to melt. There have been drugs that actually killed people who used them to shed pounds. Exercise and proper eating are two things that must be combined for success.

Like the disclaimers you see when buying those crazy fitness gizmos, you really must consult your family doctor before beginning any exercise program. It's possible that there is a health issue more serious than just bad eating or lack of exercise that has caused - or is associated with - your excess weight. If your just miserably fat - and the doc says "Go for it", you're good to go!

We've all heard about diets. This word should not be part of the vocabulary of any person wishing to maintain a fit body. To have continued success with keeping a healthy weight, proper eating habits must be continuous. Knowledge is power. What is good for you and what is not must be learned and understood. Eating well for the rest of your life will negate the thought of - or need for - dieting. It is not "healthy" to consider a diet. It is healthy to always eat well.

Proper nutrients and necessary energy will be had by eating the correct foods. This will enable you to have the required success of an exercise program. If funds allow - and you must start "NOW" you might consider a qualified fitness instructor. Finding truthful information - not hype - regarding things like what level to establish as a fat-burning heart rate; how long to maintain this level and how often will be invaluable for life-long success.

While you are shedding pounds of fat, you will want to tone your muscles as well. Firm muscles are healthy, look good and actually help to burn more fat. Light weight are the key - not heavy pounds that are pressed and lifted by bodybuilders. Several sets of more than a dozen repetitions each - for both your upper and lower body - will do wonders for your physique and success with eliminating fat.

There are many myths that are thought to be facts by many uneducated people. It is essential to know truth from fiction - about a great many things. Muscles will not turn to fat. The tissue that makes-up muscle and the tissue that makes-up fat are entirely different. It is like saying your ears can become eyes! As we age, our muscles may shrink - known as muscle atrophy. They will become less firm - but they will not turn into fat tissue.

Doing sit-ups will burn stomach fat. Not they won't! Fat is not shed from our bodies in areas we target with exercise. Our genetics dictate where and how fat is added and removed from our structure. Women will gain fat in different places than men. Call it awful irony, but fat usually leaves the body last, where it appears first. The butt, the gut and the thighs are some of the favorite places fat loves to lay!

It would be nice if there were a Bible on weight loss. There's likely been a book written with that exact title! But the fact is you must be investigative, you must want to lose weight. Like any other discipline, it requires personal input. As a starting point, a minimum of 30 minutes of working-out every single day should be a starting point as your fitness plan. Eating well immediately - small meals throughout the day - low fat, good food - whatever you can verify as factual information about eating - do it. An example of interesting information is that by eating celery or cucumbers, the body will burn more energy to digest these foods than it will take-in from the foods. These "negative calorie" foods are excellent snack items.

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