Showing posts with label lose weight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lose weight. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The BAsics Behind Weight Loss

So you want to lose weight? Well you are not the only one. Are you aware that the latest statistics show us that more than half the population of the United States are overweight and about Eighty percent of theses people are on a diet at any one time?

It would stand to reason that if diets worked and eighty percent of the overweight people in the USA are on a diet at any given time then percentage would begin to fall. However it does not! There are still fifty percent of Americans overweight and this percentage is rising every year.

Unfortunately the statistics also show us that the majority of people who actually do lose weight after following a diet regain all the weight in a very short time. These people do not get the basics correct before they start their weight loss plan. Therefore, if you plan to begin a weight lose diet you must ensure that you get the basics correct so you do not become just another statistic!

In this New Age of Information Technology there are all kinds of diets, pills. Potions and plans at your fingertips which you can easily access with the click of a mouse button. Due to the vast array of choices, combined with so many different opinions, it can become overwhelming and seem impossible to decide which one is the best for you. It is essential therefore that before you begin investigating methods for losing weight you take some initial steps. Here are a several valuable tips to begin with.

Start by consulting a professional who specializes in weight loss. This does not mean someone who runs weight-watchers or your next door neighbour who lost 20 lbs in 2 weeks! Begin your search for such a person by contacting your own doctor. Although your own doctor will probably not specialize in weight loss or nutition he or she is a highly trained professional who has a thorough working knowledge of the human body. In additional he/she will very likely be able to recommend a more specialised practitioner and give you contact information.

Next - watch your fat intake and the fat content of the foods you are buying. Many times people launch into a diet and watch every tiny calorie they consume but fail to read the fat content on the label of their food products. Calories do count but fat is a much more important consideration. Fat is a huge factor in weight gain and by eliminating as much of it from your diet you can lose weight without it overly adversely affecting the amount of food you eat. By reducing your fat intake you will see a dramatic effect on your overall weight-loss and on your health!

Try to keep a food diary outlining what you eat and how you feel about the food you eat. Health and nutritional professionals strongly advise this as a first and powerful step in your weight management. Keeping a diary of your food intake, your feelings around food and your exercise routines is a powerful way to analyse your eating habits. Being disciplined enough to keep a diary will allow you to see if there are any emotional reasons, like stress, loneliness or boredom for example, that are contributing to your eating patterns.

Research a few weight loss plans and pick one that you think you could stick with or perhaps even enjoy. Look into the history of the weight loss plan. Read other people’s comments about it to find out which one has the highest permanent positive gains. Look at what food is allowed on the diet and which foods are not. Does it incorporate some kind of fitness program? What amount of exercise is required? Will you have enough time and motivation to cook all those strange dishes?

There is absolutely no point launching in starting a diet or weight loss plan if you know you are going find it extremely difficult and get discourage at the very begining. Use your food diary to plan ahead. Once you have chosen your desired plan show it to your doctor or health care professional and make sure they approve of it! Many diets and weight loss plans can be very dangerous and health threatening. Make sure your plan is followed to the letter as you may be doing damage that you are unaware of if you do not. For example, a very low calorie diet that is within the recommended calorie-intake level, can cause long-lasting harmful effects to your body if you start skipping meals!

Once you begin make sure you write all your positive gains into your food diary. Do not berate yourself if you fall short on your goals. Be sure to give yourself the appropriate positive approval when you do succeed. Praise yourself for reaching each goal, even if you didn’t lose the weight you wanted congratulate yourself when you follow your plan – you are proving to yourself that you have the will-power to do it!

Don’t allow yourself to become too discouraged if you miss a target. You are still going in the right direction by staying focused and disciplined. Spoil yourself a little when you succeed. Buy yourself some new clothes for your new body and enjoy the fact that you have done your best. This is positive reinforcement and will help you to maintain your dietary plan and your weight in the long term.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

The Most Effective Weight Loss Tips

The most effective method for weight loss is reducing the number of calories you consume - through eating, while increasing the number of calories you burn - through physical activity. As an example, to lose one pound, you will need to undertake physical expenditure of approximately 3,500 calories. You can achieve this either by cutting back on what you eat, changing what you eat, or by increasing physical activity, or ideally, by doing a combination of all three.

Take this situation as an example. If you consume 500 extra calories per day for one week without changing your activity level, you will gain one pound in weight (7 days multiplied by 500 calories equals 3500 calories, or the number of calories resulting in a one-pound weight gain). Conversely, if you eat 500 fewer calories each day for a week or burn 500 calories per day through exercise for one week, then you will lose one pound over the course of that week.  Which would you choose?

Perhaps before you start thinking about losing weight you should take a moment to examine what you eat. Sometimes it is not just about reducing your calorie intake, but it is also about changing what you eat – decrease fatty foods and increase your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Examples of some high calorie popular foods and beverages include:

1 slice original-style crust pepperoni pizza – 230 calories
1 glass of dry white wine – 160 calories
1 can of cola – 150 calories
1 quarter-pound hamburger with cheese – 500 calories
1 jumbo banana nut muffin – 580 calories

Are any of these in your regular diet? If so, maybe it's time to make some changes!

When it comes to weight loss, crash diets are never a good idea. Most health and well being experts will agree that a safe, healthy rate of losing weight is usually around one to 1 ½ pounds per week. Anything more than this means that you are more likely to put your weight back on, down the track. By modifying your eating habits and adding in a little regular exercise, you will be embarking upon the most effective way to lose weight in the long term. It is also the ideal way to ensure that the weight stays off.

Starvation diets may result in rapid weight loss and give you immediate results, but this loss of weight is really hard to maintain over a long period of time. When food intake is severely restricted to something below 1200 calories per day, the body begins to think that it is poor nutrition, so it begins to shut down its metabolic rate. This can make it even more difficult to lose weight in the long run. Candidates who crash diet can also experience hunger pangs, bouts of hypoglycemia, headaches, and mood changes from overly stringent dieting which can all result in binge eating and weight gain.

Since a highly restrictive diet is almost impossible to maintain for a long time, people who attempt to starve themselves thin often start to gain weight again when they stop dieting. Hence, the reason for embarking on a gradual, long term program that increases physical fitness and well being, at the same time.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Weight Loss Secrets Revealed

When people lose weight, everyone wants to know their secret. Now, you too can have the secrets to safe, healthy weight loss without the hunger pains.

Here’s the scenario. You run into Megan. She’s an old college friend. You know the one. She was pudgy and wore loose shirts and blue jeans to camouflage the extra weight she often put on because of her fondness for Twinkies. You stop and do a double take. Is that really Megan? The face is basically the same, but the body definitely isn’t. Gone are the baggy clothes. She’s dressed in a form-fitting skirt and top that hug every curve. She looks fantastic. What’s your first question going to be?

“Megan, what are your weight loss secrets?”

It’s a question we ask of anyone who has undergone a total body transformation. We feel that little twinge of envy if we are wanting to lose weight to. There is nothing we’d rather know than weight loss secrets that could speed up the process, making it easier for us to lose weight and look and feel better about ourselves.

What if I told you that I could give you two weight loss secrets destined to change your life? If you’re a realist, you’d probably tell me that I was full of hot air. You may even tell me you’d heard plenty of weight loss secrets and none of them had done a thing to help you in your quest. I’m here to tell you today that I have two points to make that could jumpstart your weight loss.

Probably the most important of the weight loss secrets is something you probably already know but may have forgotten. It’s that to lose weight, you must cut calories. I know, this is common knowledge, but people seem to forget it sometimes. So many individuals worry about counting carbohydrates or fat grams, forgetting the whole scientific process behind losing weight. A calorie is a unit of the amount of energy in food. One calorie of grapefruit is burned off in the same way as one calorie of pizza. One of the best weight loss secrets is learning how to practice moderation. Overindulging means packing on more weight because your body takes in too many calories.

The second weight loss secret I want to disclose to you is the key to unlocking the first one. Sure, you know cutting calories is the most important of weight loss secrets, but the problem is that it’s hard to do. When you’re hungry, you want to eat! Sometimes, you don’t want to munch on a celery stick or an apple. You want something that leaves you satisfied. Now, you’re in luck. You don’t have to pop a diet pill to feel “full” and curb hunger pains. The new discovery of an African cactus-style plant has totally changed the way you have to view weight loss. Hoodia Gordonii is one of the newest weight loss secrets available to aid you on your quest for the perfect figure.

While many companies claim to have weight loss secrets guaranteed to help you lose weight, these ideas often pose health risks. Hoodia Gordonii is 100% safe. This vegetable actually tricks your brain into thinking you’ve already eaten. You feel satisfied, you’re not hungry, and you cut your calories easily as you watch the pounds melt away.

Combining Hoodia Gordonii with a low calorie diet will enable you to achieve the weight loss results you only dreamed of. Say goodbye to the extra weight and watch yourself evolve into the person you’ve always wanted to be!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

What Is Your Weight Loss Motivation Level?

Have you ever wondered why there are so many diets out there on the marketplace these days? With new diets popping up on the Internet and in health and wellness journals all of the time, the phrase ‘yo-yo dieting’ says it all. If the South Beach Diet doesn’t work, there is always the Beverly Hills Diet, or the Cabbage Soup Diet…or…the list seems endless! If you are a serial dieter then you literally have no end to the options you can pick and choose from.

What you really need to know though, is that it is not the diet that controls the weight loss, it is the person behind the diet. If you have not yet come to understand what, if any, importance food weighs in your life, and you are bouncing from one diet plan to the next diet pill, to the next gym membership then you need to realize that it isn’t the diet that is failing you, but rather it is you failing the diet.

So what are some of the key things you can do to stay on track for a healthy lifestyle that involves a long term weight loss plan? Try these options:

1. Don’t follow a diet plan, but instead count your calories - You can buy a calorie chart at any bookstore and keep track for yourself how many calories you are consuming daily.

2. Stay away from fatty fast foods - Fast food restaurants may be fast and easy, but they serve up high calorie food that isn’t nutritious in the long run.

3. Make water your best friend - Water is an essential part of life. Everyone needs water because it helps to lubricate our joints. There are minerals in water that our body needs and our metabolism needs water in order to help us break down the protein in our body to supply energy. A person needs to drink at least 2 liters of water daily!

4. Stay away from alcohol - Alcohol dehydrates you. If you want some proof, remember your last hangover? After you came away with the sluggish, headachy feeling, were you craving a big glass of water?

5. Don’t skip meals - People mistakenly believe that if they skip meals they will lose weight? Skipping meals will just make your hungrier in the long-run and you will eat MORE food.

6. Stay active - Discipline yourself to be physically active. Don’t overdo it (and check with your doctor first). Create a program that you can work with. Set realistic goals and look around your environment for ways that will increase your physical activity without interrupting your day. Take advantage of any stairs you might have at home or in the office. Don’t take the elevator or escalator, take the stairs!

7. Gather support - Talk to your family members and loved ones. Involve them in your new healthy lifestyle. Plan family outings where there is a good amount of walking. Plan vacations with activities in mind that will involve the entire family. The commitment to lose weight is within yourself.

Strengthen your resolve and keep your goals small and attainable.

Friday, June 1, 2012

What you need to know about Weight Loss

You may not realize it, but there is a certain psychology at work in successful weight loss.  It is no surprise, then, that the magazine Psychology Today has explored the issue in-depth.  In October of 2004, the magazine posted an article on its website detailing the experiences of Diane Berry, a nurse practitioner who studied women who had shed at least 15 pounds and had maintained their weight loss for an average of seven years. 

The women shared some important things in common.  For instance, they all achieved their weight loss through either Weight Watchers or TOPS, which meant that they had a firm support network as they tried to maintain their weight.  The group meetings were highly important, because they learned to recognize that they were certainly not alone in their struggles with weight.   The women were also quite unusual because up to 90 percent of individuals who have lost weight end up putting it back on within five years.  

Another common trait of these women is that they appeared to undergo a profound mood shift as they made the transition from fat to thin.  From all indications, they appeared to be depressed when they were heavy but, as they attempted to lose weight, their mood brightened. 

For these women, healthy eating became a habit—a habit they refused to break.  They themselves recognized the tremendous role that psychology plays in weight loss.  They refused to give in to negative feelings of frustration and denial and chose a positive path instead.  The women also made it a point to weigh themselves regularly so that they could chart their progress.

And they recognized that maintaining weight loss would be a lifetime struggle.  They knew that they could not attempt a weight loss program then put it back on the shelf.  They had to learn new eating patterns that they could continue week in and week out.  In some cases, they likened their struggle to that of an alcoholic.  In other words, they recognized the gravity of their problem and took steps to correct the situation. 

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of these women’s experiences was the fact that their weight loss actually came in spurts.  At times, they regained their weight, but they did not let that deter them from their final goal.  They simply viewed their setbacks as challenges that they needed to overcome.  This may be the key psychological trait that separates successful dieters from unsuccessful ones—perseverance.   In essence, these women were able to change their personalities in a positive way in order to achieve their long-term weight loss goals.

Another interesting aspect of this study was that it showed that the women who had undergone weight loss transformation were genuinely happy.  This shows the tremendous psychological impact that weight loss can have on an individual.  Once an individual is free from the burden of extra weight, he or she is better able to meet the challenges of life head-on.  The dieter benefits from positive reinforcement, as relatives, friends, and co-workers congratulate him or her for the weight loss.  In this way, losing weight can be quite a life-affirming experience and can lead to a more optimistic outlook on life.

It must be noted here that the psychology of weight loss is a complicated matter.  There is no single ingredient that can turn a fat person into a thin one.  However, recognizing that there is a psychological component to successful weight loss may, in fact, be half the battle.  Once an individual recognizes that he or she is engaged in a psychological fight, he or she is better able to do battle.  By retraining oneself to seek healthy approaches to diet, one can, in effect, mold oneself into a new individual—one that no longer lives to eat, but simply eats to live.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Weight Loss Motivation – How To Find It And Keep It!

Everyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows that the really big issue is motivation - where do we find it, how do we keep it going, and what do we do when it slips!

To be successful at losing weight you must find your own motivation. More importantly, you must keep motivated, even when times get tough! Read through the tips and tricks and other resources below to help you find and maintain your motivation.

* Set your goals and work out a realistic timescale for achieving them. Commit to them 100%.

* Put it in writing! Scribble down in as much detail as possible why you need to lose weight, how much you are going to lose, when and how. The more you commit to paper the better. Carry a notebook around with you and use it to record thoughts and ideas, recipes, quotes - whatever will inspire you and keep you going.

* Tell a friend or member of the family and ask them to help you stick with your plan.

* Remember that you are losing weight and improving your health "one day at a time". You can stick at anything for one day!

* Don't dwell on the junk that you are taking out of your diet. Instead, celebrate the healthy foods that you are putting in.

* Make bullet points of your main motivational issues and write them on a stack of cards. Display the cards where you will see them regularly - on your bathroom mirror, in your purse, in your car.

* Create a "mantra" to repeat to yourself when times get hard. For example, "Every day I am improving my health, my looks and my well-being. I am getting stronger in every way."

* Consider asking for sponsorship from friends and family for a good cause. Perhaps you can raise money for starving children while you get your own eating under control?

* Start a file or scrapbook of articles, recipes and any other interesting titbits you read.

* Start another file of fashion and wardrobe ideas. Plan what you will need to buy when you shrink a size or two!

* Buy a piggybank and fill it up with a particular sum for every pound you lose. You can use it towards your new outfits!

* Find someone to share the experience with, and laugh your way through the tough times.

* Learn from other successful slimmers. Read other people's stories, join a club, find a chat room, or start your own email group.

Check it out more here!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Weight Loss Tips and Diet Information

Even the most seasoned weight loss expert can use some weight loss tips every so often. Our eating habits are tied very closely with our behavior and using a behavioral approach to dieting can be beneficial to certain types of people who have bad eating habits that can be overcome with a little behavioral intervention.

Many times an individual eats without thinking. This means that the person’s habitual behavior has overrun his cognitive functioning. In a nutshell, we basically shove food into our mouths just because it is there. Among the many weight loss tips offered, thinking before snacking is the prime tip as far as the behavioral approach goes. When we act on impulse, we rarely make good choices.

The behaviorist will look at the problem in a number of ways. The best approach would be to get into the habit of slowing down a little bit. Some good weight loss tips include waiting ten minutes before grabbing that snack that is calling you from the pantry. You may discover that you are not really hungry. If you wait ten minutes the craving will most likely go away on its own.

You can also opt to go for a brisk walk when the urge to cheat on your diet arises. This is a great way to get much needed exercise along with self-control. You will be less likely to run to the pantry upon entering the home after a jaunt around the neighborhood. You will be more likely to go for a big glass of cold water instead.

Some people laugh at these two weight loss tips but they do work if you take a behavioral approach. You have to focus on your actions. The best way to look at it is making priorities. Do you want the chocolate cake or do you want to fit into those jeans tucked away in your closet? There are times that the chocolate cake will win but not often if you focus on your behavior.

Weight loss tips that involve a behavioral approach also include portions. We often need to train ourselves to understand how much is enough. Getting into the habit of buying single-sized servings or taking the time to measure will increase your chances of success.

You also may find that there are certain “triggers” that cause you to eat. This is a simple stimulus-response cycle that the behaviorists claim can be broken with a little effort. Weight loss tips in the trigger realm include avoiding the kitchen right after a stressful situation, eating only at the dinner table and keeping a diary of what happens right before you get a craving.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Which Weight Loss Program Is Right For You?

Your body weight is really controlled by the number of calories you eat and the number of calories you use each day through things like exercise and physical activity. This means that to lose weight, you actually need to take in fewer calories each day than you use so that there is deficit in calories consumed. There are two ways to do this - by becoming more physically active or by eating less each day. Following a weight loss program that helps you to become more physically active and also decrease the amount of calories that you eat, is the best way to achieve successful weight loss.

To lose weight and keep it off, you should be aware of the different types of programs that are available. You should also look at what makes up a good program. Knowing this information can help you select a weight loss program that will really work. The four types of weight loss programs include:

Do-It-Yourself Programs

1. Any effort to lose weight by yourself or with a support group either on or offline, fits in the "do-it-yourself" category. People using a do-it-yourself program rely on group support, and products such as diet books, for advice.

Non-Clinical Programs

2. These programs tend to be commercially operated, such as privately-owned, weight loss chains. They often use books and pamphlets that are prepared by healthcare providers but use counselors who are not usually trained healthcare providers. Some of these programs require participants to use the program's food or supplements.

Clinical Programs

3. This type of program is usually provided in a healthcare setting, such as a hospital, by licensed health professionals, including physicians, nurses, dietitians, and/or psychologists. In some clinical programs, a health professional works alone; in others, a group of health professionals works together to provide services to patients. These clinical programs offer services such as nutrition education, medical care, behavior change therapy, and physical activity. Clinical programs may also use other weight loss methods, such as very low calorie diets, weight loss drugs, and surgery, to treat severely overweight patients. All of these programs would be carefully supervised during implementation.

Surgery

4. Gastric bypass surgeries are combination procedures that use both restriction and malabsorption to achieve weight loss. Because it is a combination approach, it tends to be more successful for weight loss than purely restrictive surgeries. Gastric bypass surgery may be an option if you are significantly obese and have tried unsuccessfully to lose weight on diet and exercise programs and are unlikely to lose weight successfully with non-surgical methods.

If you are considering a weight-loss program and you have medical problems, or if you are severely overweight, then programs or surgery run or conducted by trained health professionals are probably your best option. These professionals are more likely to monitor you for possible side effects of weight loss and will help you to lose weight successfully and safely.

Whether you decide to use the do-it-yourself, non-clinical, or clinical approach, the program you opt for should help you lose weight and help you to keep it off by teaching you healthy eating and exercise habits that you will be able to use for years to come.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

5 Tips To Losing Weight While Keeping Your Sanity

Losing weight is the goal of many individuals worldwide however there is no simple way to drop the pounds like taking a pill or simply wishing them away. Unfortunately, losing weight takes determination and commitment to a healthy diet and exercise plan and even then it takes longer than we would like to drop those extra pounds. So, what can you do to lose weight and keep your sanity? The following five tips should help you out.

Tip #1 Lower Your Expectations
If you begin an exercise or diet plan, or both, and have heard you will lose incredible amounts of weight in no time at all and then it doesn’t happen then you feel let down and won’t have the same dedication to carry on and your diet fails miserably. However, if you are more realistic to begin with and realize that most people lose 1-2 pounds per week on a healthy exercise and diet plan then you will be better informed and can expect these types of results ahead of time rather than being disappointed.

Tip #2 Don’t Tell Everyone You are Dieting
When people first start diets they tell everyone they are dieting and their great weight loss plans. However, this can frequently work against you because people will talk and judge your weight loss progress and make you feel uncomfortable, especially if you eat something others don’t believe is part of your diet plan. This will give you a complex, so simply start your diet, inform close family and friends for support, and keep your dieting to yourself and you won’t go crazy.

Tip #3 Don’t Eliminate a Food Group
Many times when you eliminate a complete food group from your diet you feel as if you are really sacrificing too much and you will simply lose your sanity and your diet will fail. On the other hand, if you eat a well balanced diet and allow yourself little treats along the way you will lose weight and keep your sanity as well.

Tip #4 Household Support
When you start a diet you need to make sure the entire household will support you in your efforts. If you are not eating sugar yet your spouse continues to come home with cookies, ice cream, and doughnuts then you will have a hard time sticking to the diet and you won’t feel much support, either, which will drive you crazy. So, make sure your entire family is ready to support you and if they choose to eat unhealthy to do it away from the home.

Tip #5 Work Out
Losing weight takes a lot of time, which can really test your sanity. However, if you include a work out routine with your diet then you will see a much quicker weight loss, have more energy, sleep better, and simply feel better about yourself. This will help you keep your sanity and stay true to your weight loss plan.

When you follow these five tips you will be able to keep your sanity while staying on your diet and exercise plan better than if you give it a try all on your own.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

3 Choices To Help You Lose Weight

1.  The  Weight Loss Patch

Perhaps the most appealing benefit of using a patch is that it is so easy to use.   No pills to remember to take, no special diets, no required exercise routine.   Naturally, sticking to a healthy diet and exercise program is best for your overall health, but if that is difficult for you to adhere to all of the time, the patch may be a solution that works for you.

A weight loss patch that you place on your body will deliver the active ingredients by transdermal delivery, meaning  through the skin.  The patch ingredients will go directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system and liver. Simply apply the patch to a smooth area of your skin and change it every 3 days.   That is all of the maintenance that is required. 

A patch can even be used occasionally when you are traveling and know you will be eating out a lot, or for those times you are too busy to cook the proper foods.  A patch that suppresses your appetite will help you develop good eating habits that will help you maintain your ideal weight in the future  ~ no more yo-yo figures.

2.  Appetite Suppressant Pills

Curbing your appetite to stop the influx of calories in the first place seems to be the logical way to lose and maintain your weight.  However, we are so bombarded by confusing claims everywhere for appetite suppressant pills ~ in print, on the radio, on television, even on billboards when driving, that it is difficult to know which diet pill will really help take off those pounds ~ and keep them off.. 

Some diet pills will cause your heart to race, your hands to shake, or an overall "wired" feeling.  To avoid these problem, stay away from products that contain  Ephedra, Ma Huang, and Ephedrine.

One herbal diet pill that has gotten a lot of publicity lately is Hoodia Gordonii  The authentic plant comes from the Kalahari desert in  South Aftrica.  Respectable television shows like 60 Minutes, the Today Show, BBC, and even Oprah's "O" magazine have given it rave reviews for its fast acting appetite suppressing qualities.  While it can take one to two weeks to work fully, many users report a decline in their appetite with the first pill.

 In fact, Hoodia has had so many positive reports that there are now a lot of knock-off products being marketed to the uninformed ~ especially on the Internet.   The real Hoodia is very rare because it takes up to 7 years for the Hoodia  plant to mature to a point where it provides appetite suppressant qualities.  In addition, the African government is now limiting the amount of Hoodia it exports, meaning only a few suppliers have the real thing.  Because Hoodia is so rare, you can expect it to be a little more expensive than other diet pills.  

Another diet pill that helps shed pounds is Herbal Phentermine.  This is a non-prescription appetite  suppressant that is scientifically designed to produce similar effects of a popular Rx version of phentermine. 

The good news is that the Herbal version contains only natural ingredients so you don't have to be worried about side effects.   Plus, you can avoid the time, expense, and embarrassment of a doctor's visit. 

Herbal Phentermine will not only suppress your appetite, but it will also increase your metabolism so you burn more calories and have more energy. 

3). Carbohydrate Blockers

Perhaps you prefer not to have your appetite suppressed, but instead would like to eat all of the pasta, bread, rice, and potatoes you want.  If this sounds more like your style, then you might want to try a carbohydrate  blocker.

Scientists have discovered, and thoroughly tested a method to allow us to eat the foods we love and not gain weight.    We can now stop the normal conversion of starchy foods to sugar before it can pass through our digestive system and store as fat on our hips, thighs, buttocks and stomach.  Derived from white kidney beans, the resulting carb blockers, (starch neutralizers), are a completely natural product.  They work by neutralizing the Alpha amylase enzyme that digests starch.  

By neutralizing this digestive enzyme, the starch from our food does not get digested.  Instead, it remains intact and does not convert to sugar.  It simply passes through the body undigested and acts as a fiber  ~ which is a very good thing.   We get more fiber going through our intestines while avoiding the conversion to sugar and the resulting fat storage ~  a definite win-win situation.

Over the past several years, there have been many positive studies to determine the effectiveness of carb blockers and their ability to help lose weight.   One study was performed at the Northridge Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, over an eight week time period. 

It reported that participants saw an average weight loss of 200% more than those taking a placebo, and lost an average of 1.5 inches around their waists.  This was 43 % more than those taking  the placebo.  Plus they reported  having 13% more energy, even though it is not a stimulant. 

18 Ways To Lose Weight Without Going On A Diet

To lose one pound of body weight in a week, a person must consume about 500 fewer calories than he or she burns each day. Here are 18 ways to lose weight without going on a diet.

1. Instead of drinking orange juice at breakfast, eat a whole orange. You'll save about 45 calories.

2. Make your breakfast omelette with four egg whites plus 1/4 cup egg substitute. Replace regular bacon with Canadian bacon to save even more calories.

3. Switch from whole milk to nonfat or lowfat milk. Use sugar substitute instead of sugar in your morning coffee or latte.

4. At lunch, use mustard instead of mayonnaise on your sandwich to save 100 calories (per tablespoon) . Eliminate the cheese and save 100 more calories.

5. Instead of a Big Mac and large fries, go for a plain hamburger and a small french fry and save a whopping 590 calories!

6. Don't eat potato chips at snack time. Have an apple instead for less calories plus the added benefit of more fiber.

7. Substitute diet cola or iced tea for your usual soda. You'll save 150-200 calories per drink.

8. Eat every two to three hours with smaller portions. Don't skip breakfast! Eating small, frequent meals keeps blood glucose levels stable and minimizes the impulse to overeat.

9. Eat more healthy snacks like dried fruits and nuts, fresh fruits, cut up veggies or yogurt.

10. Substitute whole grain foods for white bread, rice and cereals. You will not only cut fat and calories, but whole grains have been proven to reduce the risk of colon cancer by increasing the fiber that your body needs.

11. Saute meat, chicken and vegetables in broth instead of butter. And speaking of butter: replace it with nonfat sour cream on baked potatoes.

12. Instead of Caesar salad, substitute a dinner sald with nonfat salad dressing.

13. Do you love pasta? Have spaghetti with marinara sauce instead of fettuccini with Alfredo sauce. You'll save at least 500 calories!

14. When you're going out with friends, watch your alcohol intake. Instead of using Coke or Seven-Up with your drinks, choose tonic water or seltzer.

15. Restaurants are notorious for their huge serving sizes. Eat only half of your dinner and save the rest for lunch tomorrow. Or simply share the meal with a friend.

16. Get moving. Walk to the store instead of driving. Walking is the best exercise you can do to lose weight.

17. Get more walking time by replacing coffee breaks with exercise breaks. Also use half of your lunch break to take a brisk walk with a co-worker.

18. Swim, swim, swim. By swimming for just an hour you can burn 500 calories. You'll also end up with a firmer, more toned body.

You don't have to go on a strict diet to lose weight. Change to more sensible eating habits and start moving your body by walking, swimming or bicycle riding. You'll be rewarded by good health and a fit body.