Saturday, December 3, 2011

Fast Weight Loss Tips and How To Stay Healthy

Fast weight loss tips are thick on the ground, and nowhere more so than on the Internet.

Fast weight loss is the eternal hot topic for millions of women worldwide, and there is no shortage of advice about how to achieve it.

Unfortunately, a great deal of advice on this subject is both dangerous and counter productive.

In fact, many popular fast weight loss diets are best described as 'crash diets', which will certainly enable you to lose weight fast, but are so restrictive and punishing, they are not sustainable, and the dieter will immediately re-gain their lost weight as soon as they go off their diet.

This cycle is absolutely*frustrating and demoralizing, and is as bad for your mind as it is for your body.

The reality is, the principles behind losing excess weight are actually very simple.

And if you are looking for a powerful and healthy way to achieve this, the weight loss diet you choose should embrace these principles.

1. Eat smaller portions of nutritious food regularly (e.g. 4 small meals per day).

This will ensure you will not feel feel hungry and lethargic most of the time. Feeling extremely hungry and lacking in energy are common when you follow most diets, because you are consuming fewer calories infrequently.

Ideally, you want to be eating smaller but more regular portions of healthy food to avoid hunger and tiredness.

This strategy also serves to boost your metabolism which is key to your success.

2. Drink a minimum of 10 standard glasses of water per day.

This is such a simple thing to do, but so often, it is underestimated as a weight loss strategy. Water is important because it regulates our temperature, cushions and protects our vital organs, aids digestion, transport nutrients to working muscles and organs, helps dispel waste and can help prevent us from over-eating. Obviously this is vital while you are trying to lose weight.

Every day, water is consumed or expelled from our bodies, which means that it needs to be continually replaced, but even more so when you are on working hard to lose weight.

When the temperature of our body rises, during exercise for example, we lose higher amounts of water through sweat. In one hour of intense exercise, our body can lose up to a litre or more of water. When we fail to replace lost water and our body can't cool itself properly, we enter a state of dehydration.

Sometimes we can mistake mild states of dehydration for hunger, which will easily derail our weight loss efforts.

When we don't drink enough fluids, our body gives us signals which resemble hunger pains. When this happens, many of us start eating unnecessary calories because we have misunderstood what our body is trying to tell us. Obviously, this is going to make the process of losing weight even more difficult.

By staying well-hydrated throughout the day, we minimize the chance of unnecessary eating and maximize our chances of achieving our goals.

3. Exercise for 30-45 minutes each day.

Just like staying properly hydrated, exercising daily is a powerful but simple strategy that most people underestimate.

The exercise you choose should ideally be something that you enjoy, and that you can fit in to your daily routine without too much drama.

So often, when people embark on a diet, they feel the need to punish themselves with starvation and torturous gym workouts. Neither of these things is healthy, enjoyable, or sustainable.

So find an exercise you love and commit to it. To be honest, a brisk 30 -45 minute walk each day is enjoyable, won't cost you a cent and is accessible to everyone. So give it a try.

4. Never eat until you are completely full, only ever eat until you are just satisfied (leave a little room for more).

This is a big one. Consistent over eating (i.e. eating until you are uncomfortably full) is one of the main reasons why people gain excess weight. Re-train yourself to eat slowly and enjoy your food. Make sure you don't eat in front of the TV or computer, but sit at the table, serve up small portions of food (on some weight loss diets, there is no specified portion size, so you can always go back for more if you are still genuinely hungry). Chew every mouthful 20 times, and savor your food.

5. Get 8 hours of sleep every night.

Researchers say that how much you sleep and quite possibility the quality of your sleep may silently orchestrate a symphony of hormonal activity tied to your appetite.

While doctors have long known that many hormones are affected by sleep, it wasn't until recently that appetite entered the picture. What brought it into focus was research on the hormones leptin and ghrelin.

First, doctors say that both can influence our appetite. And studies show that production of both may be influenced by how much or how little we sleep.

In fact, have you ever experienced a sleepless night followed by a day when no matter what you ate you never felt full or satisfied? If so, then you have experienced the workings of leptin and ghrelin.

This is why getting a good nights sleep is so critical to your success.

6. Allow yourself a couple of 'free days' every 10 or 11 days or so, wherd you can eat whatever you feel like whilst.

This way you do not need to feel that you are depriving yourself of your favorite foods all the time.

Look for a weight loss plan which factors in some free days for you to enjoy your favorite treats without guilt or resentment.

7. Be organized.

Plan your meals in advance, and be ready to pack lunches etc to take with you to work so that you are never caught short without something healthy and nutritious to eat.

This will help you to stay on track.

8. Rotate your calories (also known as 'calorie shifting') so that your metabolism is tricked into burning the calories you feed it faster and more effectively.

This is a strategy which ensures that you are still getting all of the nutrients you need, but your metabolism is cranked up a notch so that you can achieve your weight loss goals.

9. Whilst trying to lose weight, eat your food as plain as possible.

Avoid adding heavy sauces and dressings to everything you eat, and use herbs and spices to flavor fresh ingredients. Creamy sauces and dressings are usually loaded with empty calories that will stop you from achieving your weight loss goals.

10. This is the big one...be consistent.

Stick with it. And reward yourself when you reach your goals.

Most importantly, enjoy the healthy way your body will look and feel after you have achieved your goals.

There are many ways to achieve lose excess weight, but always look for the healthiest and most sustainable way.

Tanya Outridge is a self confessed 'serial dieter' with a passion for healthy weight loss, and a desire to help others who are stuck on the terrible 'diet roller coaster' to finally get off it, and take control of their health and weight for life.
You can learn more about Tanya's favorite and most successful fat loss techniques at http://www.FatLossForIdiotsx.com/

Cheap Bodybuilding Tips

Bodybuilding is not inexpensive. So if you want to build a brawny structure, you have to be financially prepared. Bodybuilding requires daily hard work. Apart from that, you also have to spend money on supplements, right food, and gym fees. But you can look for ways to save bucks. There are many ways to achieve muscular build without having to spend as much as most bodybuilders do.

Look for a gym that offers discount.

Not only should you find the right gym, but also find out one that charges reasonable fees. Some gyms allow new members to join at lower fees. However, it could take ages before you find a gym that offers cheap training. If you cannot wait to find the right gym, go to the next tip.

Look for free workout videos on YouTube.

This is absolutely free! There are a lot of professional bodybuilders that are offering basic bodybuilding training on YouTube. If you are a beginner, these free videos should be fine for you. There are workout routines that do not require expensive exercise equipment. Perhaps, you can check them before enrolling at a fitness center.

There are exercises that do not require equipment, like push-ups and curl-ups. There are videos that demonstrate proper execution of these exercises.
Improvise workout devices.

Before you consider buying expensive gym equipment, look around you and see what you can use. Anything can probably be used. You can come up with a bodybuilding device with sandbags or water containers.

Run, cycle, and swim.

Running, cycling, swimming, and other forms of strenuous physical exercise can be free. While these activities do not actually give you a super beefy look, they can help you burn lots of calories and keep you in shape even if you don't hit the gym.

Choose cheap bodybuilding foods.

Health buffs may recommend exorbitant recipes that add up to your household expenditure. Why don't you just stick to basic stuff that is just as healthful? Tuna, nuts, whey protein, pasta, eggs, and chicken legs are recommended. These are good protein sources. Just be careful with cooking. Use vegetable oil and go for healthy food preparation options.

Aside from protein-rich foods, you should also have fruit and vegetable servings. While you need higher amounts of protein when building muscle tissue, you should have a good supply of other nutrients and fiber too.

Find bodybuilding supplement coupons.

Check out coupons for bodybuilding supplements, such as True Nutrition discount codes. Popular supplements for bodybuilders are protein blends, creatine monohydrate, fish oil, and BCAAs. Buying these supplements add up to your overall expenditure at home, so finding discounts would be quite an advantage. Be reminded to consult a health expert or a professional bodybuilder before you try these supplements.

Be patient.

The reason why a lot of people are tempted to spend much is because they want to gain mass right away. Thus, they enroll in fitness courses and spend long hours working out. Worse, they go through radical ways to gain mass, like use of steroids, which pose high health risk.

For more information about True Nutrition and to get a True Nutrition discount code visit our website truenutritiondiscountcoupon.com

Tips For Choosing Kids Lunch Bags

Packing your child's lunch bag with healthy foods may be as important as exercise in this age of growing obesity and diabetes in children. I have discovered a number of excellent tips for making healthy lunches and snacks for children. The most important rule is to only use insulated lunch bags. You can pack a lot more fresh ingredients into your kid's lunch by choosing a insulated lunch box that also comes with a freezer pack.

Insulated Lunch Bags for Kids will Keep Food Fresh.
Before you decide on your choice of insulated lunch totes, let's look at good ways to make healthy lunches. First of all, you must be organized. It helps a great deal if you write out a menu or some recipes since you then know what you will have to buy. Spend some time making items for the school week ahead of time. Hard boil eggs, slice vegetables, make trail mix, and do other prep depending on your menu. Spend a little time prepping again midweek to insure freshness and to vary the choices. Kids get bored with the same diet all week.

Don't Send Too Much Food to School.
Another thing to consider, don't overestimate how much food your child will eat. School lunchroom workers say that kids throw away a great deal of the food sent with them. A sandwich with four ounces of protein plus several servings of fruit or vegetables are plenty for elementary school children. Avoid sugar treats and serve fruits with something fun like stickers or a cartoon. Kids should understand that dessert doesn't need to follow every meal.

Involve your Child in Making the Menu.
Get your kids involved in food choices. Take your child to the grocery store and see what kind of food they pick out. Kids are more likely to eat fruit and vegetables if they make the choice. Pack small containers of crackers, cheese, tuna salad, ham, etc. and let your kid make his own mini sandwiches. Include some containers of vegetables with dip.

Say No to Lead and BPA.
You must make sure your lunch tote or lunch box is lead free and water bottles are BPA free. Most manufacturers have been warned and made changes but still some lunch bags contain lead. If the lining of a lunch bag is PVC, there is a good chance that it does contain lead.

Some Kids Lunch Bags We Recommend.
You will like the convenience of the Cool Tote Lunch Sacks since they are easy to clean at the kitchen sink, fold for simple storage and come in a variety of colorful themes. Of course, if your child is a fan of cartoon character boxes you could choose Hello Kitty, Thomas the Tank or Sesame Street Elmo. These cartoon lunch boxes have plenty of room to hold containers and come with a water bottle. Also popular right now are lunch boxes that come with washable reusable containers. The Laptop Lunch System and a new arrival, the Easy Lunch Box both include these reusable containers. If you use a Cool Tote Lunch Sack or other lunch tote, use different sized reusable plastic containers similar to Tupperware to accomplish the same objective. The Built NY Tasty Lunch Tote is also a great item for kids.

Millie Clancy is the owner of Coollunchbags.com which has the best selection of insulated lunch bags on the web. We offer free freezer packs with all our lunch bags, and all are lead free. Check out the Easy Lunch Box. Packing lunches for kids couldn't be easier.

Nutritious and Healthy Home Cooking Tips

For people who have been watching their diet, healthy eating is not just picking the right kind of food but also cooking them in the right way. Yes, we tend to stay away from fast food and instead cooking at home by ourselves, therefore, in doing this, take time to read the following paragraph can help you get the most of your healthy food choice, especially for those who are counting all those calories to keep fit.

Add more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your recipes. Go for organic fruits and vegetables as much as possible, they are not just free from poisonous pesticide but also contain more antioxidants than the non-organically grown ones. Replace or get rid of those high-calories, high-fat ingredients, it is one of the healthy cooking tips you can never go wrong if you want to have healthy diet. In some recipes, you can actually choose to omit the optional ingredients that contribute to the higher calorie content of the food.

Choose cooking oil. Chinese cooks usually use peanut oil, which has a high smoke point and a pleasant nutty flavor, for both stir-frying and deep-frying. For a healthier version, try to use Canola oil and olive oil, which are high in healthy monounsaturated fat and low in unhealthy saturated fat, it is believed that monounsaturated fats help lower the bad cholesterol that can lead to heart disease or stroke. Asian sesame oil is unsuitable as stir-fry oil because of its strong flavor and unstableness when heated, and it is used primarily as a seasoning that is added to stir-fry at the end of cooking.

Choose a healthy method for preparation. Appropriate cooking method always helps to preserve nutrients of the food. Grilling, broiling+ steaming, and braising are good ways to do this.

Lower the salt in your food. Instead of relying on salt for extra flavor, increase the amount of herbs and spices in the dish. Spices such as curry powder, five-spice powder, and chili powder are salt-free while have loads of flavor. And if you are using canned vegetables that contain salt, remember to rinse them thoroughly under cold running water to remove some of the sodium before cooking.

Choose right kind of food and start with these practical and healthy cooking tips, you can absolutely make a big difference in your diet and your health.

Hao Luo is the author of Chinese Recipes, which is the only website offering detailed and specific Chinese food cooking pictures. If you interested in Chinese cooking, click here: Easy Chinese Recipes.

Simple Diets for Life Tips for Everyone

Like many people, you may well have tried just about every "bandwagon surefire weight loss" diet or drink that comes along, only to be dismayed when the weight you lost mysteriously reappeared. Most diets for life, fail because they're simply a temporary fix for long-term bad habits.

You can correct those bad habits pretty easily, if you're truly motivated, and follow healthy diets for life. Making healthier food choices, eating at regular times of day and staying hydrated are just a few of the weight loss tips you'll find included below.

• Don't skip breakfast! Start your day right by giving your body the fuel it needs to produce energy throughout the day, and you won't suffer that mid-morning crash or slump `nd automatically reach for a pastry or another high calorie, zero nutrition, fat creating food. Some excellent breakfast choices include oatmeal; eggs; fruits and whole grain breads, these should always be included in your diets for life.

• Take your time when eating, making sure you thoroughly chew your food, There are a number of good reasons to cultivate this habit. The stomach requires a minimum of 15 minutes to send the signal to the brain that it's full. Eating slowing aids your digestive system in doing its job more easily, without necessitating the creation of large amounts of acid and other enzymes break down larger food bits.

• Stay hydrated. Drinking ample amounts of good water daily is a key to good health and weight loss. Recent scientific research has proven what feels like a hunger pang or craving may be your body telling you it's dehydrated. So be sure to drink several bottles or glasses of good water daily, as part of your diets for life - particularly when you feel a craving. You may find that a lot of them simply disappear!

• Try eating six small meals throughout the day rather than three larger ones. Choose healthy foods - fruits and proteins are both good for promoting healthy weight loss.

• Make sure your meals are rich in green leafy vegetables, beans, dark yellow fruits and vegetables.

• Eat only when you're truly HUNGRY and not just bored or trying to satiate an emotional need, rather than a true physical one. Include iron-rich foods in your diet, as iron deficiency can lead to problems such as anemia.

• Become a Label Reader! Take responsibility for what you're putting into your body. In this age of so many convenient pre-cooked microwaveable meals, if the label has more unpronounceable chemicals and preservatives than it does true food substances, those are things your digestive system doesn't know how to break down or have use for, and should never be incorporated in your diets for life. Simple and natural is always the healthiest, smartest choice.

• Avoid sodium and salt. These are notorious for causing high blood pressure and water weight retention. So steering clear of sodas (even diet ones) and highly salted foods is a great idea.

Remember, these are habits to develop and put to use, not just a temporary quick fix fad diet. Change your lifestyle to change your health and your weight, think healthy diets for life - it works!

Anthony Purcell is a freelance writer and the author of How to Choose the Best Diet for Your Needs

Tips to Gain Weight Instantly

Gaining weight for those of you who are skinny is no easy task. You've heard your friends tell you to just eat more or become lazy to gain weight only to make you feel even more frustrated. Well, leave behind all your frustrations as I'm about to reveal to you the 5 Tips To Gain Weight Instantly.

Tip 1 - Planning. Planning is vital when it comes to gaining weight. You think you can eat whatever you see in your fridge? Think again. Eating whatever you feel like having from your fridge is a sure way of putting on fat. This is where planning comes in. By planning you list all the healthy foods required to bulk up with minimum fat gain.

Tip 2 - Eat every 3 hours. Eat every 3 hours to supply a steady flow of nutrients to your muscles. In fact you need to consume 3500 calories to build one pound of muscle, this does not take into account your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) which requires more than 50% of your daily caloric intake.

Tip 3 - Choose healthy high carb foods. Now many of your friends have you believing in order for you to gain weight you must eat junk food. Junk food while they are high in calories are nothing more than empty calories. They have loads of calories but with no nutritional value. Eating enough junk will eventually make you fat but with no increase in muscle size which you should be doing. Healthy high carb foods include brown rice, sweet potato, whole wheat pasta, wholegrain bread, oatmeal and bran. These should make up the bulk of your diet. A typical diet contains 2000 calories however to gain weight quickly you need anywhere between 2500-6000 calories per day.

Tip 4 - Choose healthy high protein foods. Now before you think it's all about meat, think again. There are plenty of other protein sources that don't have to be meat. Foods such as legumes, beans, nuts and tofu are recommended. Other sources of protein include fresh salmon, tinned tuna, chicken, beef, eggs and milk. If you want to reduce your cholesterol, then lower your intake of foods high in saturated fats such as steak and pork. The recommended dietary intake (RDI) of protein varies for each individual. People with more muscle mass need to eat more to repair their muscle tissue. The RDI is one gram per pound of lean body weight (body weight - fat weight). An example, a person's body weight is 140 pounds with 10% bodyfat. Lean body weight will be 140 - 14 = 126 pounds so therfore that person should consume 126 grams of protein per day.

Tip 5 - Choose healthy fats. One needs to consume healthy fats for hormone production, cardiovascular health and energy utilization. You should have an equal proportion of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and saturated fats for optimum health. Foods containing healthy fats include virgin olive oil and flaxseed oil. You can also include butter and ghee in your diet since they do NOT clog the arteries because they're composed of short and medium chain fatty acids.

In summary the 5 Tips To Gain Weight Instantly include planning, eating every 3 hours, choosing healthy high carb foods, choosing healthy high protein foods and choosing healthy fats.

John G Baines has been passionate about helping skinny guys and girls achieve their desired physiques since 2008 and has researched extensively in the health and fitness industry.

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