Diets, Exercise, Health and Weight Loss

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Square one. Stop thinking about diet, diets, dieting, on a diet, fad diet, latest diet, celebrity diet, diet pills, diet plans, diet programs...ad nauseum...literally!

A diet is simply what you eat! Your diet can consist of chocolate donuts or alfalfa sprouts, but most "Diets", with a capital "D" will not set you free. Instead, they lock you in a cage. Eat anything other than what they prescribe, and you are a failure...at least, so reads their literature.

Of course, what we eat and when we eat it can play a big part in weight loss or gain. Even where we eat can be important. Ever eat too much at Grandma's on Thanksgiving? I have. How about that cocktail party when you went wandering over to the snack trays...and drank one more drink because someone offered it to you? Okay, for me it would be sitting at the bar ordering one more beer (light, of course) because the game's not over yet. Oh yeah, pass the chips.

THE LOWDOWN ON WEIGHT LOSS.

Take in more calories than you use, you gain weight. Use more calories than you take in, you lose weight. Proven scientific fact. Although we are all different and our bodies shuffle calories and file them differently from our neighbors' bodies, we can all contribute to weight loss by taking in fewer calories or by burning more calories...or both.

You've figured out that using both techniques simultaneously is more effective than trying to accomplish successful weight loss with only one.

I'm assuming that the reasons you want to lose weight are quality of life and concern about your health. Being over fat can contribute to major and minor health problems. You honestly believe it would be great to lose weight, but you don't want to be miserable, and neither do the people around you.

By the way, I said "over fat", rather than overweight, because healthy people can weigh more than charts say they should weigh. Weight is not the problem. It's the fat that cripples and kills people, so I was just making a point. According to the charts, when he was in the best physical condition of his life, Arnold Schwarzenegger was "overweight", but I doubt he was "overfat".

YOU CAN CUT CALORIES BY DIETING. RIGHT?

Somewhere in a "diet", you begin to feel deprived, depressed, and desirous of dessert. You might even feel like you're being punished. Can't eat the things you like. Can only eat asparagus, or bean sprouts, or three from this column and two from that column...except on the third Tuesday when the moon is full. Is it any wonder you and any other living human might quit a diet simply because of this nonsense?

As if discomfort and stress were not enough, there are actually a couple of hidden reasons why diets don't work.

DIETING CAN MAKE YOU GAIN WEIGHT.

Most diets are structured on one principle...cut calories taken in. Most of us burn calories at a given rate based on our age, physical makeup, activity, and heredity. The rate at which we burn calories is called the "metabolic rate". Our own metabolic rate is unique, and is simply the measure of how fast we burn, or metabolize, calories. As we grow older, the metabolic rate slows down and eating the same number of calories as last year causes us to gain weight. As we age, we also become less active, and our body gradually changes its metabolic rate based on our activity levels as well.

When you cut calories drastically, as in most diets, your body responds by lowering your metabolic rate. It now takes fewer calories to maintain your weight. While eating less, you might even find yourself gaining weight.

What usually happens when someone tries an extreme diet? Well, eventually, they usually fall off the wagon and go back to their old eating habits...perhaps even bingeing a little....or a lot! If their body has learned to get by on fewer calories, what's going to happen to the calories that are now excess? They will be stored as more fat.

If calories are cut too drastically, the body may actually begin eating own tissue! It's going to go after muscle tissue. The problem is that muscle burns calories more effectively than other body components. When you lose muscle tissue, or muscle mass, you burn fewer calories. You are also probably not going to feel as well or as energetic, so you will become less active. So again, simply dieting might create a double whammy.

Okay, you've slowed down your metabolism and lost muscle mass. Now you're disillusioned and depressed because you're not losing like you thought you would. You have less energy and you're hungry all the time. You're fed up with eating the same old stuff, you're miserable, your family doesn't understand, there's nobody to talk to...! Oh! One little dish of ice cream won't hurt, will it?

YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ONE!

Next thing you know, you're in the gutter surrounded by burgers and fries and chocolate milk shakes.

Really, now you're depressed (which can contribute to weight gain) because you failed again. On top of everything else, you're gaining again. How did that happen?

Remember what we said earlier about your metabolism slowing down and the body depleting it's supply of muscle tissue? Well, with less muscle tissue you burn fewer calories, and, as you saw earlier, the body has slowed down its metabolic rate and doesn't need as many calories to survive.

IT'S A VICIOUS CYCLE, ISN'T IT? WHAT CAN YOU DO?

You could hire a dietician to help you plan meals. You can take prepared menus shopping to help you buy the specific ingredients needed for healthy, nourishing meals. You could take some courses and learn how to do all this yourself.

There's where the diet problem lies. To control calorie intake properly, somebody has to be in charge of the nutritional side of a planned weight loss program. You can take the responsibility yourself, but be prepared to spend a lot of time planning, preparing, and compensating.

There are organizations and companies who can provide the guidance, planning, and/or products to help. You might want to look at: NutriSystem, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, or TOPS International.

These can provide you with a broad range of delicious planned meal choices which can help you stay on target. Forget the word, "diet".

EXERCISE AND WEIGHT LOSS:

Remember that part about metabolism and muscle mass?

When you engage in physical activity; gardening, walking, weight lifting, swimming, biking or dance aerobics, for example, you burn more calories during the activity than during times at rest or doing other less strenuous activities.

This is good, but it gets better. If the activity is strenuous enough, your metabolic rate can remain elevated for some time after the activity has ended. Uh Oh! I said "strenuous", didn't I? Look, what is strenuous enough for you is what YOU can handle, not what some Olympic miler can do. Do what you can, and your body will figure it out. In fact, your body is going to get all upset and team up with your mind and convince you that this is JUST TOO HARD if you try to do too much at first. That's one of the reasons many well intentioned exercise programs don't last. The other main reason is that people expect too much in too short a time. It took years to get out of shape, you aren't going to reverse that in a week, a month or even two.

The degree to which the metabolism is raised, and the length of time it remains raised, will depend on various factors. Two key factors are the intensity and duration of the activity. The bottom line is that if you want to lose or control your weight, some sort of activity is important.

HERE'S THE SOLUTION:

Combine increased activity (exercise) with a controlled calorie intake, and you have the basic ingredients for healthy weight loss. Forget the pills and fad diets. Exercise and nutrition are broad areas, and there is no way I can go into all the possible variations on those themes here, so take responsibility for your own education.

The programs mentioned above, in addition to guidance on exercise and nutrition provide one other highly important ingredient for success....SUPPORT!

Some have counselors, meetings or online support. The key is that you can communicate with others who know what you are going through.

Remember, you are only human, so forgive yourself if you slip and fall. It's the getting up and moving forward again that's important.

The author's interest in fitness and health began in 1970 when he first read Dr. Kenneth Cooper's "Aerobics". Find health, fitness, and weight loss tips at http://nodiet4me.com . You can find additional articles on fitness, health, and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.blogspot.com .

Is there such thing as the "magic" weight loss pill?

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Is there such thing as the "magic" weight loss pill?

Modern medicine has given us a number of miracles in a bottle. We have pills for arthritis, pills for heartburn, pills for heart trouble. We have pills that will help us wake up in the morning, pills that will help us digest our afternoon meal, and pills that will enable us to sleep at night. We live in a pill-popping society.

Because of the number of medications available, we often turn to pills to cure what ails us--no matter what our trouble might be. Whether it's physical or emotional, we may believe that medication will take care of the problem. As a result, it's not surprising that a number of us also turn to diet pills in an effort to control our weight.

There are a number of advantages to using diet pills when trying to fight fat. To begin with, diet pills are quick-acting--we may see results after only a little bit of time has elapsed. As a result, we may gain confidence and lose even more weight as a result of our success with diet pills. Other people--friends, relatives, co-workers--may notice our weight loss and may compliment us as a result. Consequently, we may be motivated to work even harder at our weight loss.

Diet pills are also convenient. We can keep them in our medicine cabinet or kitchen cupboard. We can take a pill in the morning and not have to worry about our weight for the rest of the day. We don't have to do a great deal of research, as is required when we are trying to determine which diet to try. In addition, taking a diet pill is hardly as strenuous as running five miles or swimming ten laps.

Moreover, diet pills can help us to shift some of the responsibility for losing weight to another entity. No longer is it simply up to us to control our weight. We look to the pill to resolve our weight problem, once and for all. This can help to lower our anxiety, reducing our stress level.

But there are also serious disadvantages to using diet pills. For instance, there is the possibility that we will become addicted to the medication. This can take a toll on not only our physical health, but our emotional health as well. We may become too dependent on the pills, expecting them to solve our weight problems.

Diet pills also teach us nothing about good nutrition. You do not have to learn about proper diet if you are depending on a pill to take your excess weight away. As a result, an individual may never discover the importance of healthy eating, and his or her overall health could suffer as a result.

In addition, there is no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to weight loss. While you might lose weight for a time after taking diet pills, you could quickly regain the weight, once you go off the pills. As a result, diet pills fail to provide a life-long approach to healthy weight maintenance.

Given the pros and cons of diet pills, you might be wondering whether they would be right for you. Check with your family physician. He or she is in the best position to assess your overall health and determine whether diet pills would be appropriate in your particular case. Secondly, consider consulting with a nutritionist. He or she can help advise you about whether to take diet pills.

Diet pills are a huge industry within the U.S. So, there is a great deal of marketing, urging you to purchase these so-called wonder drugs. But, before you buy, you have to seriously consider whether these pills could jeopardize your health. While it may be important for you to lose weight, it is even more important for you to shield your body from harm.

Weight loss is not miraculous. It takes a great deal of dedication and perseverance. Therefore, it is unlikely that you will find the secret to weight loss in a bottle. By changing your diet and exercising, you might notice only incremental changes in your weight. However, over the long term, you might be better able to maintain healthy weight loss by sticking with the tried-and-true formula of diet and exercise.

Arnel Ricafranca is the President and Founder of Fitness VIP. He is the creator of "The Ultimate Weight Loss Success Strategies For Busy Men and Women Over 40." He is available for fitness seminars, personal training, and online personal training. Visit his website to claim your fitness gift ($50 real value) http://www.officialfitnessguide.com http://www.fitness-vip.com http://www.elitefitnessexperts.com

The Big Three in Weight Loss

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Many fad diets have come and gone over the years. Most are forgotten by all but those who might have lost weight, gained weight or been damaged by them. Some of these fad diets were so unhealthy that medical America issued warnings about just how dangerous they actually were.

Weight loss is a national obsession. If you ever watch television, listen to the radio, surf the internet, shop, or do just about anything then you already know this. The obsession with weight loss is characterized by the number of claims that, "this is the only diet you'll ever need!". In fact, as early as the seventies, there were diets claiming just that by recommending eliminating ALL carbohydrates from your diet and consuming only meat and proteins - or the reverse, eliminating all proteins entirely.

Today, the most popular fad diets include: the Atkins Diet, the South Beach diet, and the Zone diet. And, just like in the past, all three "fad diets" have come under fire for their contention that one can eat a healthy diet and lose weight without restricting the intake of protein and fat-rich foods like meats and cheese. This flies in the face of conventional medical advice to restrict fatty foods in the diet.

So do these "fad diets" really work? Can these "fad diets" be harmful to your health? Are they just short-term diets that will simply lead to putting the weight back on? Or, can these "fad diets" actually become the basis for lifelong weight loss plan?

The answers to these questions may surprise you....On the surface, each of the diets makes the claim that carbohydrates are bad, proteins are good, and you can eat all the protein you want and still lose weight.

How does that compare with USDA recommendations that contend a healthy diet is low in proteins and saturated fats, derives 50-60% of its calories from carbohydrates, and emphasizes whole grains and fresh vegetables as the main source of nutrition?

Let's take a closer look at a typical menu recommended on each of the above diets and see.

Typical Meal Using USDA Recommendations: 3 oz lean fish (brushed with olive oil and garlic and broiled) 2 cups of spinach salad with grapefruit 1 tablespoon olive oil vinaigrette dressing 1 oz slice whole grain/whole wheat bread Contains: approx 350 calories 20 g. carbs 15 g. protein 14 g. fat

Atkins Diet Menu: Spring Salad Green Goddess Dressing Maple-Mustard Glazed Baked Ham Baked Artichoke-Parsley Cheese Squares Roasted Asparagus Atkins Coconut Layer Cake Contains approx: 400 calories 18 g. protein 17 g. carbs 8 g. fat

South Beach Diet Menu: Poached salmon with Greek salad. Sugar-free jelly with low-fat topping? Contains: approx: 300 calories 17 g. protein 3 g. carbs 14 g. fat (olive oil in Greek dressing)

The Zone Diet Menu: Baked salmon with Fruit salsa (kiwi, blackberries, apple) Contains approx: 435 calories 17 g. protein 10 g. carbs 5 g. fat

Did you notice anything similar about all of these diets?

No matter how the ingredients are counted, the bottom line is the same. A healthy diet, and weight loss plan, includes a balance of proteins, carbohydrates and fats with an emphasis on complex carbohydrates and lean meats.

So pick the diet that seems to make the most sense to you - and make it part of your overall weight loss plan.

Adam Waxler publishes a series of weight loss information products including his new weight loss resource filled with with FREE weight loss articles and tips @ http://www.1-800-Weight-Loss.com

Weight Loss Surgery--The Benefits and Pitfalls You Should Be Aware of

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Being overweight is difficult, and that is not just because people look down on larger individuals. It is also difficult to find attractive clothes, make large purchases, enjoy good health, play sports, and do all of the things so many others can do easily and with little effort. Fortunately, for those individuals who are overweight and cannot seem to find a way to lose the weight through dieting or exercise, then weight loss surgery might be a viable option. There are a wide variety of weight loss surgery options available as well, so individuals interested in these procedures must do their research, talk to their doctors, and think long and hard about the best procedure for them. Of course, individuals should weigh the risks and benefits and make the wisest choice regarding going ahead with weight loss surgery in the light of these results.

The Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery

First of all, there are many benefits of weight loss surgery. The most basic of them being weight loss. Individuals who have any of the weight loss surgeries lose a significant amount of weight most of the time. Of course, there are some individuals who do not benefit from weight loss surgeries, but the majority of individuals do lose weight. When individuals lose weight there are many benefits including lower blood pressure, decreased risk for heart disease and diabetes, increased self esteem, self confidence and many other benefits as well. So, if you are considering any of the weight loss surgery options you now know the benefits that you will more than likely receive. However, weight loss surgery will not necessarily change the way others feel about you and this is not a good reason to go through with the surgery. Additionally, you should not rely on weight loss surgery to do all the work for you. Instead, you should go into the surgery with a plan for a healthy diet and exercise afterwards as well.

The Drawbacks of Weight Loss Surgery Any time you have surgery there are drawbacks and risks you should keep in mind. While many times the risks are not high, sometimes they are, and should be considered accordingly. Infection, internal bleeding, deep vein thrombosis, anesthesia complications, ulcers, pulmonary problems, removal of spleen, and other complications may arise during or after your weight loss surgery. There are other complications as well that might apply to your personal situation and only your doctor can inform you of these. There is a risk of the surgery not going as planned, not being successful, or even not being performed due to problems encountered at the start of surgery. Death is even a risk when weight loss surgery is performed, although it is a slim risk for most individuals. Obviously, all of these risks should be carefully considered before choosing to undergo weight loss surgery.

Types of Weight Loss Surgery

There are many types of weight loss surgery and the American Society of Bariatric Society notes two particular types of procedures that are used. One of these procedures is to decrease the amount of food an individual eats and the other type of procedure is to simply alter the way food is digested.

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty is a procedure that is also known as gastric bypass. Basically, gastric bypass surgery involves stapling the stomach smaller so that food enters slower and that the individual eats less. A gastric band is also used on the stomach's outlet to regulate the amount of food leaving the stomach.

Another type of bariatric surgery includes laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. This procedure uses a gastric band to partially close off the upper portion of the stomach. This allows the individual to feel full faster and eat less, thus losing weight. The gastric band is really helpful in this procedure.

Other types of malabsorptive procedures include the biliopancreatic diversion, extended gastric bypass, combined gastric bypass, as well as others. Each of these procedures have their own risks and benefits, some use gastric bands while others use a lap band, gastric band, or a mixture of procedures.

Deciding on the Procedure for You

Unless you are a doctor there is no way you can decide which procedure will be best for you. You might have a friend that was successful with one type of procedure and another who failed with a different one, however these success and failure rates with others are not necessarily the best information to base your decision on. You need to meet with your doctor, evaluate your health and past history as well as your expectations, and then your doctor will recommend the procedure that is best for you. Of course, you are welcome to get a second opinion or more if you want, but generally the surgeon knows what will be best for you. So, if you believe the benefits outweigh the risks go ahead and have gastric bypass or bariatric surgery and finally lose that weight. If the risks outweigh the benefits there are still many weight loss options out there you can try.

Sue Taylor is the webmaster of several weight loss surgery sites and has picked up a wealth of balanced information which anyone considering undertaking this type of surgery should be aware of. See http://www.lapbandnews.info and http://www.gastricbandsite.info for further information.

The Vegetarian Diet: A Weight Loss Solution?

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If you've been to any large banquets recently, you may have noticed people passing up the prime rib and baked chicken in order to feast on a vegetarian meal. Vegetarianism seems to be gaining in popularity each year, spurred on by health concerns, weight difficulties, and celebrity endorsements. You may find that a vegetarian diet is the key to weight loss in your particular case.

First of all, it is important to define the vegetarian diet. You may be surprised to learn that there are actually a variety of vegetarian diets in use today. In some cases, vegetarians eat only fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts. In other cases, they may also eat cheese and drink milk, while in still other cases, they may eat eggs.

One of the advantages to the vegetarian diet is that it tends to be low in fat and cholesterol. As a result, a vegetarian diet can help you avoid heart problems and even cancer. However, you may also find that you are missing some important vitamins and minerals on a strictly vegetarian diet.

It has been said that the key to a successful vegetarian diet is planning. You must decide what you will be eating for every meal in order to ensure that you receive the proper nutrients. Otherwise, you may end up starving your body of the nutrients you need in order to be healthy.

A major benefit of the vegetarian diet is that it tends to involve a healthy serving of fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains. However, getting enough protein can be a challenge. Therefore, you might consider adding soy to your diet, which is high in protein content. Another important consideration is iron. You'll need to make sure that you eat spinach and beans in order to guarantee that you receive enough iron, since you will not be consuming customary sources of iron such as liver and roast beef.

You may need to supplement your diet with vitamins in order to ensure that you receive the appropriate amount of B-12, Vitamin D, calcium, and zinc. Otherwise, you'll have to load up on cereals, soy milk, spinach, and broccoli. Also, eating a vegetarian diet does not mean you have a license to eat as many sugary foods as you want. You'll still have to restrict high-calorie foods.

Variety has been called the spice of life and it is also the key to an effective vegetarian diet. You'll need to eat an array of fruits and vegetables. Also, if you do use dairy, be sure that you choose non-fat or low-fat milk and cheese. Since eggs are rich in cholesterol, you should eat them only in moderation.

Studies have shown that vegetarians tend to consume fewer calories each day than meat-eaters. Also, the body mass index--a tool used to measure obesity--is generally lower for vegetarians than for the population at large. However, as a vegetarian, you will still need to pay attention to portion control and calorie counts. Therefore, while vegetarianism may not be a panacea for weight loss, it can certainly help in the battle against the bulge.

However, it should be noted here that some people mistakenly look upon vegetarianism as a quick fix. They figure that if they give up meat for a couple of weeks, they'll lose weight. Then, after their trial period is over, they go back to their old eating habits. This is a bad pattern because it encourages yo-yo dieting. If you decide to go on a vegetarian diet, it is very important that you stick with it. Otherwise, you may be greatly disappointed in your weight loss progress.

Vegetarianism is not for everyone. However, if you enjoy fruits and vegetables, are non-committal about meat, and are good at planning meals, you may want to go vegan. But if you do not fall into that category, another diet plan may be preferable. Which diet program you ultimately choose may depend greatly upon your personal preferences and what kind of diet regimen you are prepared to follow over the long run. The key to any successful diet is commitment; you must be determined to succeed.As a Teacher of Sport and Physical Education, Tony Robinson has a keen interest in Health and Weight Loss issues. For handy hints and tips for weight loss visit http://www.weight-loss-arena.com

Weight loss and sleep deprivation

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Does sleep deprivation really affect weight loss? Well, the answer is both yes and no. If we're tossing and turning all night, aren't we burning a few kilojoules? But it is not as easy as it sounds.

When we don't have enough sleep (sleep deprivation) , our energy is very low. This can trick the brain into thinking it requires more food to replenish our energy stores. This leads us to eat more. Not only that we tend to crave high energy (and calorie) foods such as ice cream, cakes, chocolates or sugar laden soft drinks.

Furthermore, the effects of sleep deprivation or insomnia in worse cases can lessen the body's ability to process glucose efficiently leading to an increased tendency to put on weight. Research shows that this could also lead to an increased risk of diabetes!

Science proves that lack of sleep produce higher levels of the hormone called stress hormone- cortisol and thereby lower the metabolic rate. This results in our burning less kilojoules. Exercising everyday can help increase metabolic rate. Regular exercising is hard to manage especially when we are tired or simply lazy. Few people are aware that regular exercise also acts as a great stress-buster. So if we're trying to lose weight or simply maintain our weight, the amount of sleep we get greatly matters.

Things NOT to do:
1. Don't nap for long periods during the day. This upsets your natural circadian rhythm and leads to insomnia.
2. Avoid 'snack-crave' or simply avoid mid-night snacks? The body simply can't digest these and they end up accumulating as fat! Our body likes playing games with us by sending these false signals of hunger. If the desire to eat late is so strong you must have lite yoghurt, herbal tea or any milky drink. No not milk. Milk is heavy. This would only result in insomnia instead of curing it. Don't take coffee and black tea as these contain stimulants.

Things you MUST do:
1. Exercise. A simple walk or light jogging would do. For this you don't need to join a gym. Gym helps you become regular for some time but then becomes monotonous and boring. We end up making excuses not to go and before we realize we are fatter than before. Try this- walk to the market yourself instead of asking for free home delivery. Take the stairs instead of the lift.
2. Shopping is also a good idea. Large shopping centres are wonderful walking tracks. Stay away from the occasional soft-drink though. Hence regular exercise increases the metabolic rate significantly and enables us to have better sleep at night. It is also proven to reduce stress which is the enemy of restful sleep. Do not over-exercise though. Our body needs time to repair torn tissues and exercising beyond our capacity would only end up making us tired instead of refreshed.
3. Try doing the house-hold chores yourself. Sweeping, dusting and making your bed early in the morning is a good way to begin your day. If you have a sleep problem, get help. There are web-sites and books that will increase your knowledge on safe and natural ways to get a good night's sleep.

Sleeping pills are not a good idea. They end up making you addicted and do not cure the problem from the root. Eat healthy foods, get rid of stress, exercise more and sleep your weight away!

Harison, an associated editor to Epharma.md, is a contributing author to the http://www.epharma.md for distinct article sites/journals. Please feel free to visit the website http://www.epharma.md for more information on pharmacy related issues. Or write to him AT harison.james@gmail.com. Any comments and /or suggestions will be highly appreciated. Please note that this article is not a substitute for medical advice.

8 Ways To Create Balance To Achieve Lasting Weight Loss

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Need to lose weight? Dreading the thought of another diet program? You don?t have to follow diets to lose weight. There are many people discovering this for themselves and they are the ones who are finding long term weight loss apposed to short term fixes. The key to weight loss is finding the right balance of what you eat, what you think, and what activity you do. It is not about following a perfect plan. It is impossible to be perfect every day! Finding the right balance helps you to decrease your calorie intake, increase your metabolism and keeps the self-sabotage at bay. Here are 8 steps to bring more balance into all corners of your life so you too can find weight loss success.

1. Eat more frequently during the day-
Skipping meals or waiting too long between meals can have a negative impact on your metabolism and results in overeating later in the day. It?s best to have 3 small meals and 1-2 snacks throughout the day. You will feel more satisfied and eat less. Plan to have a snack or meal every 4-5 hours.

2. Watch portion sizes-
Appropriate portion sizes are still quite misunderstood. Most Americans are eating 2-3 times the recommended portion sizes. Limit your grains, cereals, pastas, and rice to ? - 1 cup serving sizes. Keep meat, poultry and fish to 4-ounce portion sizes. Restaurants are notorious for giving extremely large servings of food. Keep this in mind when eating out. Eat half of the food on your plate or take the rest home for lunch the next day. Studies show that when people are given large portion sizes, they eat up to 56% more calories without realizing it. To add insult to injury, our portion sizes are larger than they have ever been. Start to become more aware of the portions you are served wherever you are.

3. Eat the right fats-
Yes some fat is important. Omega 3 fatty acids are an important strategy for weight loss success and yet most Americans are not eating enough of these healthy fats. Some reports show these fatty acids may be helpful in increasing your metabolism. They are also shown to be a wonderful mood supporter and people report significantly less food cravings and triggers to eat when they incorporate omega 3 fatty acids on a daily basis. This is especially important for any emotional eaters out there. Omega 3?s are found in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, cod; they are also found in canola oil, walnuts, and ground flax seeds.

4. Increase fruits and vegetables-
Fruits and vegetables are not only packed with important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, they are also loaded in fiber and low in calories. Include 5-8 fruits and vegetables every day. This is one of the most important diet changes you can make. When you fill your plate up with fruits and vegetables you eat less of the higher calorie foods. For example, let?s take a sample steak dinner.

Original meal:
8 ounce steak
Whole baked potato with fixings
? cup steamed broccoli

Meal Makeover:
4 ounce steak
? baked potato with fixings
? cup steamed broccoli
Side salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, and 1 tbsp light vinaigrette dressing

By changing the balance of this meal to include more vegetables while decreasing the steak and potato we saved approximately 350 calories. Saving 350 calories daily can result in almost a 1 pound weight loss per week. Small changes are the key.

5. Eat when you?re hungry, stop when you?re full-
Our bodies have an innate weight management mechanism. It performs this task by making you feel full when it is time to stop eating. Every time you eat past full you are taking in more calories than your body needs which will result in weight gain. Start to become more aware of your internal cues for hunger and satiety (fullness). You will be amazed how many times you wait too long to eat and how often you eat past full and enter into stuffed. It?s common for all of us to do this from time to time. However, it?s time to check in with yourself and see how often you are falling into these food patterns. Listen to your body, it will tell you when you are physically ready for food and when you are ready to stop.

6. Exercise regularly-
I know, this isn?t anything you haven?t heard before but it is a crucial part of weight management. It is important to engage in regular aerobic and weight bearing activity. The aerobic exercise helps you to burn the fat and weight bearing activity increases your metabolic rate. Muscle burns up to 90% more calories than fat. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories you will burn in a day. By adding three to five pounds of muscle you could actually burn 100 - 250 additional calories a day. This combination of aerobic and weight bearing activity is what really kicks weight loss into gear.

7. Limit sugar-
Sugar becomes a major issue for many people wanting to lose weight. Not only does it add calories, it also causes insulin spikes leading you to store more calories as fat, it stimulates your appetite, and is a major food trigger for emotional eaters. However, it doesn?t mean you need to go all or nothing. When people try to omit all sugar from their diet they can become obsessed about sugary foods and end up in a binge. Find the right balance for sugar. Avoid daily use of sugar and instead have some guiltless treats once in awhile. A little cake at a birthday party or some ice-cream with friends is a good way to incorporate sugar once in awhile to avoid the negative outcomes.

8. Pamper yourself regularly-
Who wants to argue with that?! The reality is many people eat for emotional reasons. Food makes us feel good on many levels. The problem occurs when eating becomes the only coping mechanism your subconscious knows of. This is why that pesky urge to emotionally eat is so strong. It is hard to reason your way out of it. For many people food is the only thing they know that makes them feel better. When you start to do other things that make you feel good on a regular basis such as taking a hot bath, going for a walk, having a hot cup of tea; then your subconscious starts to register these activities as coping mechanisms as well. Over time this will decrease the constant urge to use food. You can?t expect to have a bad day, go take a bath and not have an urge to eat. It is something you need to do regularly and something you truly enjoy so your subconscious starts to recognize it as a new choice.

Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She specializes in weight management and offers online programs to help people reach their weight loss and health goals. For more information or to sign up for a free newsletter visit http://www.reallivingnutrition.com.

Keep up your Weight Loss Motivation in December

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Don't let your weight loss efforts go off the boil in December. Keep up your motivation with these 10 tips and start January with a smile.

Wanting to lose weight in December is the pits, isn't it? While you may struggle the rest of the year with not eating too much and choosing healthy foods it's that bit more difficult when all around you are wolfing down goodies of every kind with seemingly total abandon.

Everyone you visit offers you tempting treats and no doubt you have more than enough food at home to sink a battleship for the visitors you get. And the food doesn't always stay "just for guests" once it calls your name from the cupboard.

But if you want to avoid regret with even more pounds to lose by January then you need to be stronger than ever.

1. Daily reminder

Every day remind yourself of your reasons for losing weight. Why do you you want this? Why is that important to you? Ask yourself whether any temporary pleasure from food is worth the regret you will feel at going backwards in your plan.

2. Set an intention

Before every meal set an intention that you will enjoy it and have what you want but that you will eat just enough to satisfy your hunger and no more.

3. Enjoy the special foods

Don't deny yourself your favourites but have just a little of those things which you know are full of calories. Enjoy a little as much as a lot by eating the food slowly and really tasting it.

4. Stock up

Treat yourself to some healthy foods that you might not normally buy, such as smoked lean meats and fish, exotic fruits and vegetables, caviar. Make food special without the calories so that you don't feel deprived at all.

5. Quality not quantity

Buy the very best of everything you can afford and savour it. If you're going to buy chocolate get a small box of handmade exquisite Belgian chocolates and not a multi-pack of cheap chocolate bars. That way you really feel you are celebrating in style but you won't go too overboard.

6. Make a Game of "No"

If you tend to eat just because food is offered without even thinking about it, now is a great time to practise saying "No thanks not just now" or even "Thanks - I'll take a piece for later" because food will be offered everywhere you go! Look at this like a game you are playing and keep your score. How many times can you say "no" in December?

7. Deal with lapses

If you over-indulge at any time, don't abandon all hope and give up until the party season is over. One meal won't do much damage - after all you have to eat an additional 3500 calories to gain a pound. It's when you do this day in day out for the whole period that you start piling on the pounds. So just get right back on track and start again at the very next meal - eat when you're hungry, stop when you're full.

8. Keep up your exercise

Even if you're too busy to go to the gym, do a little every day at home. Even 10 minutes walking or stair-stepping a day will help remind you that you are taking active steps towards your goal and will help you avoid thoughts of giving up for the month. If you can fit in several sessions through the day so much the better. When you keep as active as possible as you go about your day you will be gently reminding yourself that you care about your shape and your health and it will be easier to keep things in check.

9. Looking good

Wear your nicest clothes throughout the period. Make the effort with your hair, nails and makeup and show yourself that you deserve the very best. Instead of giving yourself food as a reward or when you you need cheering up, give yourself the best possible care and attention.

10. Gift of health

If you have a tradition of giving presents in December (or even if you don't) ask for or treat yourself to a few gifts that will help motivate you. An exercise video, a voucher for a personal trainer or a piece of home gym equipment ( such as a rebounder, step or balance ball) are great to help kick start a new exercise plan.

Janice Elizabeth is a weight loss coach and author of "The Diet Exit Plan", the system that promotes permanent healthy and AUTOMATIC weight loss through making small changes to your everyday habits. Visit http://www.SimplySlimming.com/Christmas today to get the Simply Slimming FREE ezine full of tips and recipes and a 24 page special report "How to have a Great Christmas without piling on the pounds".

Weight Loss Information: Coping With People at Home

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We've all been there before. We're going strong in our resolve to take care of ourselves, including eating what we want to prevent overeating out of feelings of deprivation. But then some 'well-meaning' friend or family member comments, "Are you sure you should eat that?" Immediately, all our feelings of self-doubt come rushing back to make us question whether we really can trust our bodies to guide us in what we need.

When we're at a supportive healthy weight program retreat like Green Mountain at Fox Run, feeling confident is much easier because everyone around us faces similar issues and understands the need to help each other believe in ourselves. But at home, such self confidence can be a foreign idea. In a society that's almost governed by diet books and the like, it seems easier to follow what someone else recommends as weight loss information rather than take the time to turn inwards and explore what we need to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Now is the time, however, to start educating those around us about a more effective type of weight loss information: personal support in reaching our health and healthy weight goals.

Get support by asking family and friends to:

-acknowledge our progress, instead of focusing on whether we've achieved, or when we'll achieve, our goals

-allow us to make our own choices, even if they go against what they think is best for us

-avoid discussion of our weight or health with others, especially at social gatherings; and

-help us be patient and realistic in making changes.

More than Weight Loss Information

But what about those who refuse to do any or all of the above? Because it's often fruitless to try to change someone who doesn't want to see another side of things, it can be helpful to consider how we can change our choices and reactions to make things work better for us. Following are ideas for changing the way we think about who we choose to spend time with, and how we choose to interact with them.

Gather around our families of choice. "We can't choose our families of birth, but we can choose to spend times that matter with people who matter," says Mimi Francis, MSN, behavioral health therapist at Green Mountain at Fox Run. Change traditions if need be. Rather than the usual holiday dinner with the extended family, take the kids on a long weekend to a dude ranch, or somewhere else we can have lots of fun without revisiting old hurts. Changing a tradition is hard the first time, but thereafter we've set the precedent, and we won't be expected to show up in the future.

Prepare to have a good time. Before social gatherings such as family holiday parties, we often revert to all-or-nothing thinking. We reason "It's either go and put up with the usual nonsense, or don't go at all." But what else could we do? How about setting ourselves up for better coping by spending valuable time nurturing ourselves -- a relaxing afternoon being pampered at a day spa before the big holiday bash, visualizing a successful event from our perspective? Can we choose a state of mind to help prevent us from being triggered by what someone says or does? For example, we might decide to truly believe "this is their stuff" and resolve not take their behaviors personally. We might also have a number of prepared responses for unsupportive comments we can almost predict we'll hear.

Put limits and boundaries around interactions with those we know are incapable of support. Many of us have family members who fit this description, but on special occasions like holidays, birthdays, etc., we can't not be there. So how can we manage what we know is a potential landmine for our self-esteem? "We could choose to visit but leave before mealtimes, thereby avoiding problematic attitudes about our eating," says Francis. "Or we might be even more effective in defusing the situation by refusing to respond to those attitudes if they do surface. Remember, fires go out when you don't feed them. There's a saying in Tai Chi that if you step out of the way of aggression, it goes past you and even throws the aggressor off balance."

Be mindful that substances we use to cope can backfire. In families with alcoholic tendencies, alcoholic beverages, often used to add 'life' to a party, can lead to incoherent conversations that can get ugly. Food works to calm us down, but then the angst about eating can begin, complicating things with feelings of doubt and worry. Put together a self-help toolbox of ways to cope without using such substances; try breathing, going outside for a break, picking your battles, even laughing!

Remember, attitude is everything. And who knows - you may become a role model for a new type of weight loss information - how to ensure special occasions don't set us up for emotional eating but stay happy like they're supposed to be!

For 35 years, Green Mountain at Fox Run has developed and refined a life-changing program exclusively for women seeking permanent strategies for healthy weight loss and health. Based on a combination of proven science and what works in the real world, our innovative non-diet lifestyle program offers an integrated curriculum of practical, liveable techniques that helps women take charge of their eating, their bodies and their health. Our approach is not focused on just losing weight but on how to keep it off for a lifetime. Our participants' long-term weight loss results are among the highest of any program, as documented in peer-reviewed scientific literature. Learn more about our Healthy Weight Loss Spa - Fitness and Weight Loss Retreat.

Alan H. Wayler, PhD is executive director of Green Mountain at Fox Run, a women's weight loss retreat and health spa since 1973. The program provides an integrative health lifestyle approach for achieving long-term weight and health management for women.