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8 Easiest Ways To Lose Weight

Do you love the character Garfield? Who doesn’t; the over-sized tabby is amongst the most popular comic characters of all times. Garfield’s obsessive craving for juicy lasagna may earn him brownie points (pun intended!), but in real life, it would ensure a trip to the dieticians’ clinic. His nonchalant attitude makes no difference to his weight troubles whatsoever, but would not have taken him far in the real world.

It goes without saying – in reality it is a tad difficult to feel great about being overweight. Weight loss or control is a commitment which you need to keep for a lifetime. You should have what it takes; to face the truth and introduce few lifestyle changes.

Actually, it is easier to take one baby step at a time, than pushing full steam into a weight loss program as per various researches conducted over the years.

Walking for Weight Loss

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A simple formula of burning more calories than your total intake works wonders than any fad diet. As per experts if your goal is to reduce 2 pounds a week, try to burn as many as 7000 calories. Why? Because 1 pound is the same as 3500 calories!

But how will you manage to achieve this goal? Follow a few easy (& obvious) guidelines to achieve your perfect weight (calculate your BMI first which is: BMI – [Weight in Pounds / (Height in inches x Height in inches)] x 703)

Simple Methods For Weight Loss

  1. Set Simple Achievable Goals – Lose weight gradually as research indicates that people who lose their weight in achievable parts (e.g. a pound per week) have a better chance of maintaining their optimal weight.
  2. Eat Small Portions – It is easy to stuff yourself with anything and everything resulting in weight gain. Stick to 5-6 small portion sized meals/snacks in a day so that your metabolism rate is maintained.
  3. Do Not Miss Breakfast – Breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it helps to provide necessary energy to launch your day. Eat foods that are high in fiber such as cereals to make you feel full for longer duration. Add some low fat milk or yoghurt and you are ready to go.
  4. Eat Foods From All Groups – Experts believe that it is better to add than to cut down. Hence increase your intake of high fiber foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables. This will automatically cut down the need for high calorie and high glycemic index foods. And since weight loss does not mean becoming unhealthy keep the nutritive value intact by eating food that offer benefits of proteins, carbohydrates with low glycemic index, vitamins, minerals, essential fats and amino acids.
  5. Drink Water Aplenty – Water carries nutrition in the body and removes toxins. By replacing sugar and calorie laden juices and carbonated drinks with water, you will notice a drastic fall in your weight. For instance you can cut down as many as 150 calories by drinking one less can of soda per day.
  6. Sufficient Snooze Time – Research indicates that people indulge in binge eating if they sleep less. So to aim for lesser calories increase your snooze time which ideally should be 7-8 hours for adults.
  7. Build Muscles With ExerciseExercising not only improves your metabolism but it also helps build muscle mass which again contributes to burning of comparatively more calories (as much as 35 – 50 calories for 1 pound of muscle). Opt for exercises which can be switched between high intensity and low intensity to avail optimal burnout. If you cannot exercise, take a walk down the block or climb stairs.
  8. Track Changes – Keep tabs on how much you lose so that you are motivated to continue with your program. Seek support from family and friends to keep your motivation levels soaring.

And once you have lost weight, wear outfits that garner compliments. This will serve as an impetus to maintain your optimal body weight!

The author has been writing articles on health issues such as yoga, growth hormones, essential oils, hair care and acne solution.

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Stop Weight Gain from Anti-Depressants

As many as 25 percent of people taking antidepressants report weight gain. The weight gain can lead to even greater depression. Some see an increase of only a few pounds, while others pack on 100 pounds or more. While most brands of antidepressants list weight gain as a side effect, not all depressants will make you put on weight because everyone’s bodies react differently to medicines.

Of the most popular antidepressants, Effexor and Serzone are the least likely to cause weight gain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can cause weight gain, particularly Paxil. In this same family, including Lexapro, Prozac and Celexa, the drug Zoloft is the least likely medicine to cause weight gain.

Why Do Antidepressants Cause Weight Gain?

The reason behind the weight gain may be attributed to a variety of factors. No one can pinpoint the exact cause. When an individual is depressed, he or she may be less physically active and eat more as a way to feel better. Chronic stress could also be a reason why individuals gain weight, since stress can lead to depression and obesity.

Add to these difficulties that some antidepressants cause food cravings, especially for carbohydrates, which can lead to a significant increase in weight. There may also be an interaction with other drugs that adversely affects a once-fast metabolism.

It’s important to take action quickly before the weight gain becomes overwhelming. If you notice a gain of a few pounds that last more than a week, assume it might be a side effect of the drug and talk about it with your doctor.

How to Lose the Weight

A regimen of diet and exercise alone is an excellent prescription for depression. It’s a wonder doctors don’t prescribe exercise before trying antidepressants. At the very least, they should prescribe it along with antidepressants, especially with those known to contribute to weight gain.

It’s likely that behavioral and group therapist school training will change and begin recommending that therapists tell patients to add diet and exercise to their depression treatment regimens. Many patients could get the same benefit for depression without having to secure a prescription from a doctor for medication. Except in extreme circumstances, it makes little sense to prescribe medication unless diet and exercise have already been tried.

While stopping or switching medicines might be one answer, if the medication is helping the depression, it’s best to try diet and exercise first. The key is to count calories both consumed and spent, then be sure to run a calorie deficit of between 500 at 1,000 calories per day. One pound of fat it equivalent to about 3,500 calories, so a program like this will create slow, steady and healthy weight loss. If you continue to struggle with your weight, don’t give up hope. Talk with your doctor about other strategies that might help you maintain a healthy weight despite antidepressant side effects.

TherapistSchools.com provides tips, advice and school information for students seeking training as behavioral and group therapists.

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Weight Loss Tips for All Body Types

Each and every day the thoughts of millions are focused on losing weight. While many are overweight themselves, others have a deep concern for a friend or loved one who struggles with weight control. Both of these types are interested in avoiding any medical problems that may arise from carrying around extra pounds.

When looking for weight loss tea to help control weight gain or loss we look to China. A favored brand is known as Wu Yi. This tea claims to increase energy levels and delivers an abundance of antioxidants to the drinker. A second choice is Tava tea. This tea helps the user to reduce cholesterol and to increase the burning of fat cells. Another energy booster is Wu long tea. Derived from the plant called camellia senesis, this tea helps to invigorate the metabolism of the body.

In addition to adding a healthy amount of tea to your diet, there are other weight loss tips that may be of help. First up is altering the lifestyle so that exercise can be incorporated into your daily routine without changing too much too fast. A brief walk is a great way to begin. Even parking further away from the stores that you drive to can help burn calories without intruding on your day. Another way is to lessen your intake of processed foods. Drinking a reasonable amount of milk can help the user to lessen their insulin levels while boosting metabolism. Switching from red meat to chicken, turkey or pork can also help to keep off the pounds. Sardines and Salmon are effective agents in lowering the levels of leptin in the body.

While there is no silver bullet when it comes to weight loss, a diet of whole foods, including whole grains, supplemented with tea drinking can help anyone to control and maintain an ideal weight.

  • Healthy Approaches to Losing Weight (johnisfit.com)
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Overcoming The Bad Habit Of Emotional Eating

Overcoming The Bad Habit Of Emotional Eating

Eating is one of our basic functions in order to survive. It can be bad for us though if we get overboard and gain much weight. One of the causes for this is emotional eating.

Emotional eating is an outcome of stress. It ends with the scale but begins largely on the mind. When we get stressed or feel down, our brain looks for a way to cope with it. Some people sleep, others tend to eat.

Food is the best solution for some people because it is almost guilt-free. Eating seems like a lesser evil compared to taking drugs or binge drinking. It is a coping mechanism that doesn’t judge people, hurt them or reject them. A scientific reason why food is preferable is because it makes feel better as some foods are endorphin-releasers.

Food is used to relieve stress. Stressors range from mundane things like overtime at work to more grave ones like death or physical abuse.

How do you know if you’re using food as a coping mechanism? One of the first sign is weight gain. If you have been experiencing weight gain due to stress, then you might want to examine other aspects of your life such as:

  • Have you been stressed lately at home or in the office?
  • Have you been in a traumatic experience the past year?

  • Are you finding difficulties in solving a problem?

If your answer is yes, then you might be an emotional eater. You tend to eat even if you’re not hungry. The term used to describe the food you eat when stressed is “comfort food.” These include:

  • Foods rich in fats like French fries and other fried foods
  • Foods rich in carbohydrates like pasta and mashed potatoes

  • Sweets like ice cream, cookies, cake and doughnuts

  • Emotional eating has a cure though. The first step is by identifying that you are an emotional eater. Feelings of helplessness that you can’t find a way out of the habit, and guilt that you might be doing something that is bad for you rule emotional eating.

    The second step is by seeking professional help. Stopping emotional eating depends much on controlling your behavior toward food and your emotions.

    Visualization, problem solving, meditation and relaxation techniques and family support are things a counselor will suggest to you. Visualization will help you look at food as something that you need to survive because of its nutritional value, not as a scapegoat from your problems.

    Notifying your family of your problems will be of great help to you as they will learn about your stressors. They can also help you monitor your eating habits, and help you make healthy choices.

    Proper diet, exercise routines, and yoga will also be suggested to you by a counselor as they increase the strength of your immune system, positive thinking and blood flow. Yoga enhances the mind and body connection so you won’t think of eating when you’re not even hungry..

    Looking for ways to face your problems and deal with them will push emotional eating out of the equation. You’ll feel good about it once you’ve overcome food dependence.

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    Staying Active During the Summer

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    Staying Active During the Summer

    A National Institute of Health (NIH) study found that its subjects tended to gain more weight during the holidays because they had less energy and activity levels. Increasing your activity during the cold winter months will go far in preventing that extra pound of weight gain.

    English: Side view of me at 160lbs to be used ...
    English: Side view of me at 160lbs to be used as the ‘before’ picture of weight gain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    Of course, this is also true during the summer, when there are fewer excuses to exercise. It is harder to get out of the house and exercise when the weather is bad. Good weather naturally motivates us to take long walks and bike rides, to go swimming, and to participate in sports.

    Make sure, though, that you drink plenty of water, since the heat tends to cause dehydration. Most experts recommend eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. It is important to get out there because the NIH researchers found that most people do not tend to lose that extra pound later on in the year.

    (c) 2009 WeightLossDietForum.com