Saturday, May 17, 2008

Fat Loss 4 Idiots - Avoid the Scam!

By now, you must have heard about the latest online diet called Fat Loss 4 Idiots. It's a very popular way to loose weight because you don't have to go to meetings, eat diet foods or take pills. Plus you can follow this guaranteed weight loss program right in the comfort and privacy of your home. The only person that will ever know that you're on a diet is you! And for some people, that can make or break their weight loss success.

I signed up for Fat loss 4 Idiots last year. I did loose 8 pounds in 11 days, but after that, I dropped the ball and couldn't make the commitment to keep on going. As part of my New Years Resolutions, I have started the diet again, and I fully expect to achieve the same results and more. I have promised to follow the 11 day plan over and over again until I hit my target weight.

So, the question is, is Fat Loss 4 Idiots a Scam? In my experience with the diet, the answer is definitely not! However, I have seen lots of buzz lately around the Internet with people attempting to share their menus from the Diet Generator with others who are not members. Of course this is obviously not fair to those of us that have paid to become members, but more importantly you are doing more damage than good to the person receiving the information. And Here are two Crucial Reasons Why...

First, The Fat Loss 4 Idiots way of eating is very personalized. It is totally tailor made to the individual. When someone signs up and initializes the Diet Generator for the first time They get to pick their favorite foods. This alone is essential for winning the dieting game. If a member gives their personalized 11 day Menu to someone else, then he or she might not like the foods that are on it. The probability of them sticking to the plan or enjoying the diet then becomes slim to none.

Second, don't let the user friendly Diet Generator fool you. It is a very sophisticated piece of software. If you have gone more than 1 round with the Fat Loss 4 Idiots Diet, then you will have noticed that even if you pick the same foods, your 11 day menu combinations are totally different. That is because the Fat Loss 4 Idiots Online Diet Generator uses food to stimulate the right hormones in your body to produce optimum weight loss. Therefore, the software must keep track of what combinations members have already eaten to assure the guaranteed results. That's why a New 11 Day Menu is generated every time.

The customer only pays once to sign up for the diet, but they can use the Online Generator as many times as they wish, until the weight loss goals are met. Do you see how someone could get sabotaged during their dieting plight if they were given the wrong information, the wrong combination of foods and the wrong sequence of meals? Members that do this are also jeopardizing the integrity of this incredible diet.

In the end, the Idiots Diet most definitely works, but the possibility of a Fat Loss 4 Idiots Scam does exist, so make sure that the information you get is directly from the website or customer service.

Find why diets don't work Fat Loss 4 Idiots Really Works Forget the Hype, you will get the truth here.

Lose 10 Pounds - 3 Stealth Tricks To Lose 10 Pounds Before The End Of July!

Is losing weight difficult?

It will depends on your determination. Do you really want it? Are you ready to do whatever it takes to lose those extra pounds?

It's funny, but losing weight is like going to school. You will learn how to burn the body fat, and then, you need to apply what you discovered.

There are no secrets. Most of the people who don't manage to lose weight don't follow the method they try until completion.

1. Motivation

You need to have a good reason to lose weight. Ask yourself: "Why I want to lose weight?".

Write this on a piece of paper and put it everywhere in your house. Put in near your computer at the office.

Add this as a sticky on your fridge, put it on the doors and everywhere you can. You need to see this goal several time a day.

In fact, you need to think about it.

2. Announce it to the world

I know it seems crazy, but telling your friends and family members that your goal is to lose 10 pounds by the month of July will help you to reach your goal faster.

Plus if you lose motivation, they will remind you. If you go watch a movie and start eating chips, they will tell you to stop.

This work very well, so make sure that you let your friends and family know what you are doing. This will be like a little mastermind. And who knows, maybe you will find someone who is dieting as well.

3. Fasting

Fasting three days every single month of the year will help you to lose weight. Plus all your body will benefit from fasting.

Finally! Discover a powerful weight loss system used by thousands of bodybuilders and people around the world to obtain low-low body fat level. Learn how you too can get rid of your stomach fat for good when you visit: http://www.positiveattitude4life.com

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Setting Small Goals on Your Weight Loss Journey

Weve all gone too bed one night and told ourselves Tomorrow, Im going to start eating healthy and exercising every day. Many of us have also done it: thrown out all our junk food, bought a gym membership, and taken other big steps. The problem is that most of us have reverted to our old lifestyles within a week. Rome wasnt built in a day and neither is a healthy body. The key to making permanent lifestyle changes is to make small, achievable goals and stick to them.

When most people decide to lose weight, they set goals like I will lose two pounds per week. But various factors that have nothing to do with your lifestyle changes may affect your weight. The best goals are ones that are under your control. Set goals related to how much you exercise or what you eat. If you make these goals small and reasonable, youll be more likely to accomplish them.

One of my best friends went on the raw food diet. He ate one cooked meal a day, and most of the food he ate was remarkably similar to what I feed my pet rabbit. The diet worked; he lost weight, but two months later he gained it all back when he started on the Coke and fast food diet. The moral of this story is: while big changes are good for you, you cant stick with them for the long term. Try setting goals like I will replace one fatty snack a day with a piece of fruit instead or I will walk for 10 minutes every day. Once you reach your goal, set a new one. This makes any diet easier to stick to.

While starting too fast with a diet can make it hard to stick to, starting too fast with an exercise program can be dangerous. Doing too much too soon can not only wear you out, it can cause permanent damage to your body. Remember to pick your exercise program and start small. If you decide to run, run until youre too tired. Then walk the rest of the time. You may only run 5 minutes the first day, but if you keep it up youll be running the entire way in no time.

No matter what you do to lose weight, try to incorporate small, reasonable changes. This will greatly increase your chances of success.

Weight Loss Resources - Some of the cool resources which can help you in your weight loss process

Exercise Diet Fitness - All information about Exercise, Fitness and Diet for FREE

Hoodia Gordonii - What Components Are Effective In Promoting Weight Loss

In these times, when it comes to acquiring fast, reliable and safe weight loss, Hoodia Gordonii is considered the trend-setter in this field. This succulent cactus-like plant was originally used by the San Bushmen of Southern Africa to suppress appetite during hunting trips and times of food scarcity.

Since this plant grows in one of the harshest regions of the planet, the plant comes with an aura of mystery as well as carrying a ton of weight loss benefits. Although the extracts from this plant have been tested to effectively suppress appetites, it has been a challenge to make the supplement readily available to Western consumers.

P57: The Single Molecule Which Effectively Promotes Weight Loss

The entire cactus-like plant is not required for appetite suppression, but rather one single molecule, P57, creates the desired effect. This molecule is found in the flesh of the plant, and not within the roots, spines, or flowers. Unfortunately, the chemical is quite hard to isolate from the plant extract. It is also reported to be difficult to synthesize, and it is highly unlikely that a cheaper, synthetic product will be created in the coming years.

The High Demand Has Created Supply Concerns

Contrary to popular notions, the Hoodia plant is not endangered. There are several other succulents and cactus plants that look just like it, and in turn, are the ones on the verge of extinction. Unfortunately for the other species, the high demand for Hoodia causes them to be collected by mistake. As such, the plant is on the list of Endangered Species and is under protection by international health and plant trade regulations.

Does Hoodia Have Any Negative Long-Term Effects?

Today, there are many prescription weight-loss medications sold in the market, and some have been noted to cause damage to the liver or other organs. It is not yet clear how past laboratory trials have fared to that of trials run on animal subjects during the development phases of many other medications. After Pfizer aborted the project, Unilever Pharmaceuticals took up the cudgels for developing this dietary product, and they are still working on it.

While the supplement is only available on a limited basis at the moment, there is no question that it is a potent appetite suppressant. Obesity is a major issue in almost every nation, and as pharmaceutical manufacturers work to establish reputable supplies, it would only be a matter of time before reliable products become readily available.

Hoodia is but one of many species in the genus and it takes a trained botanist or a native plant collector to be able to distinguish the actual plant, or the flower, from the rest. Without seeing the actual flower, it would be difficult to set apart other species, as some devious collectors may get another variety, and market the supplement as the real thing.

An international regulatory group, CITES (Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species), establishes guidelines for the proper harvesting and trade of this plant, and collecting Hoodia in the wild is considered illegal without first acquiring a permit from CITES and the local governments in the areas where Hoodia is prevalent.

http://hoodiastore.org - Hoodia Store

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Natural Weight Loss with Raw Foods

If you want natural weight loss and improve your health, then consider a raw food diet as an option. There are many benefits including a stronger immune system.

Many believe that a raw vegan diet is the natural diet for humans. It seems like people on raw food diets can eat almost as much as they want and still maintain a healthy weight.

Cavemen didn't eat cooked foods until after they learned how to use fire. Once they begin using fire they slowly incorporated cooked foods into their diet.

This appears to make sense. Raw foods contain all the natural enzymes that assist you to completely digest your food without putting excessive strain on your body. Cooked foods have most if not all of the enzymes destroyed. Even some raw food is processed to death making for a sad substitute for proper food.

We are all aware of the hormones, preservatives and other unhealthy additives that are in our foods today. This is a significant reason to try to eat organic foods as well.

People on raw food diets seem to be healthier, happier and hardly catch a cold. You do have to make sure you have enough vit-b12 though. Have this checked and take a supplement if necessary.

One healthy food that may be particularly good in helping with weight loss is parsnips. They are high in fiber which makes you feel fuller. Parsnips can lower cholesterol and keep your blood sugar even.

If you definitely want to lose weight and keep it off, then you need to follow a healthy lifestyle. This means a natural diet and exercise. Instead of taking the elevator, take the stairs. Only on those Geico comercials will you see a caveman taking an escalator instead of hoofing it.

Make sure you include healthy oils and fats that contains omega 3. Stay away from the unhealthy ones. Avocados also contain healthy oils.

Even if you can't cut out all cooked foods and meats, try to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Continue on this path and you will start to feel great and wonder why you haven't started this long ago.

After the cavemen discovered fire they had to chase their dinner. They even had to run from their so-called dinners at times. Before they ate meat they had to thoroughly search for other food. I suppose they exercised a bit more than we do today.

Walking, running, swimming and jogging are some of the ways to exercise more. Maybe those cavemen aren't receiving all the credit they deserve after all.

You can learn more about natural weight loss at http://www.1thinkhealthy.com/weight-loss.htm

Calcium - A Catalyst For Fast-Paced Weight Loss

Calcium is an important nutrient for proper growth and development of various systems of our body. It is essential for strong bones and teeth in growing children. However, calcium is also associated with weight loss.

A proper diet contains proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. A person eating three meals a day is healthier because minerals and vitamins in food help in absorption and breakdown of large proteins and fat molecules.

However, calcium, which is a catalyst for fast paced weight loss, helps in proper digestion. It has been found that individuals, who drink milk regularly and have calcium rich diet, are bound to have less body fat than those undergoing a healthy diet. Calcium also has the ability to lower the blood pressure and cholesterol levels in an individual.

Studies on rats and mice suggest that intake of calcium alters the metabolism of fat cells. Henceforth, it causes less fat to be stored and more to be released. Calcium certainly helps in controlling the body weight by increasing the amount of fat that is used as a fuel in our body. You will often observe that numerous doctors advised their patients, who wish to loss weight for incorporating calcium supplements in their diet. Again, calcium from dairy products provides you with excellent results.

Calcium burns fat naturally with the help of certain nutrients and elements that are active inside the body. It is also known to be an active element in the breakdown of fats. Henceforth, it is preferred by most over weight individuals.

Tom Chuong works as an Health Consultant for Clay Media Group, LLC. Currently, he's writing health articles on topics related to Hoodia Diet Pills, Hoodia, and Herbal Remedies. If you need an experienced SEO expert to work on your commercial website, please contact him.

Change Your Mind to Change Your Life - How to Harness Some of the Power of Your Brain to Lose Weight

Your subconscious mind has its own unique way of perceiving the world. What is really happening around you is less significant than your perception of what is happening. Your perception is your reality.

For example, if five people see a car accident, they will report five different versions of what happened. If they all take a polygraph test, they will all pass it. In their own minds they are telling the absolute truth. The truth is their perception of external events.

Here is another illustration of the subconscious' truth: Imagine that there is a 40 year old, 5'2" 200 pound woman who diets down to her ideal weight of 120 pounds. She looks great, feels great, and outwardly everything is as it should be. However, there is a major problem: The image in the mirror doesn't match the image in her mind. Almost invariably what must change is the image in the mirror. One day, for no apparent reason, she will eat when she's not hungry and think to herself, "Why am I doing this. I can't seem to stop myself." And she really can't. The answer to this dilemma is in the descriptions of the psychological concepts of "cognitive dissonance" and "cognitive consonance" .

The brain has two equally important paramount functions: Survival and maintenance of sanity. When your subconscious internal picture differs from your external picture, a discrepancy called "cognitive dissonance" occurs. It is the belief of your subconscious that this discrepancy could cause insanity. Your subconscious mind will solve your problems for you, whether or not you perceive a problem, the best way it knows how in the absence of instruction from you. The brain's most common solution is to change the image in the mirror (because remember, the image in your brain is "the truth"). Your subconscious will drive you to eat to restore and maintain your internal picture of yourself.

The way to get your subconscious mind on board to help you lose weight and keep it off is to immediately begin to change the picture you hold of yourself in your mind.

Put up pictures of yourself of your ideal weight in your environment: Your home, work place, car . . .wherever you spend time. If you don't have pictures of yourself looking good, just cut some from magazines and put those up.

Spend a few moments before you go to sleep each night imagining your ideal body and do the same first thing in the morning before you get up.

These easy exercises will help you eat less and move more in the process of changing your body to match the true picture of yourself that you hold in your mind.

Katie Evans is the founder and CEO of the Living Lite Weight Loss Program, which shows people HOW to create a healthier lifestyle. When you use hypnosis and the incredible power of your subconscious mind, you will never diet again, you will simply learn how to create a new relationship with food. For those who wish to make a living helping people heal their lives so they can lose weight and keep it off, there are now Living Lite Franchises available.This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to own her own business (we accept men franchisees, too!) and still have support and guidance in setting up the systems. Ms. Evans is a published author, lecturer and entrepreneur. She also teaches "The Mental Game of Golf" on cruise ships. You can reach Katie at: http://livinglitenow.com/tapes-cds.htm or http://www.hypnosisweightlossbusiness.com or http://www.livinglite.net

Weight Loss For Busy Parents - The EZLoser Way

Parenthood is an exciting time to play with your kids, take them places, and teach them all your knowledge, as long as you don't teach them to be overweight. It is also a difficult time to balance schedules, push your career forward and get a good night's sleep. We spend less time on ourselves which makes the weight creep up. Moms have a battle with weight gain soon after giving birth but Dads also feel the pressure to stay busy with work while still providing quality time with their families.

How did life get so complicated and why does it interfere with weight loss efforts? A short list would include:

Lack of time to exercise

Childcare issues interfering with exercise

Lack of financial resources to purchase gym memberships or home equipment

Resuming exercise after a long time off can be painful and discouraging

Time spent shuffling kids back and forth from school and activities

Less time to shop and prepare healthy meals while more time is spent in the drive thru

Kids are picky eaters and nutrition information is confusing

Work schedules are more demanding

Stress prevents weight loss due to hormonal and immune system disruptions

More errands, yard work, and fix it jobs

Lack of energy when all of the day's chores are finally finished

Busy parents often feel depressed when they think about their poor health yet feel guilty thinking they might neglect their children if they take time for themselves.

If these situations sound familiar, it is very common to feel overwhelmed enough to push weight loss goals on to the back burner. The usual grocery store gossip doesn't help either. How often do parents hear their peers tell them their age is a factor and it is so much harder to lose weight after children come along? Because parents want to be good examples for their children the internet becomes great problem solver.

Busy parents need a weight loss tool that is not complicated and takes very little time to organize. The internet can be a great help by immediately taking away some of the financial and time constraints listed above. Health education available online is a time saver compared to driving to classes or doctors' offices which takes time away from family. Anonymous support on internet discussion boards can prevent embarrassment for those who are shy about their weight loss struggles. Real people can share their real experiences a few minutes each day encouraging participants to stay focused.

The rewards will benefit the entire family giving children healthier, energized and enthusiastic parents. A few searches on the internet with the right keywords will guide busy parents to the type of website that meets their needs. The Numbers Don't Lie Diet is one program from a mother's point of view who experienced a weight problem when her first child was born.

With a common sense approach tracking progress on the internet puts weight loss success at your fingertips making any busy parent an EZLoser.

Dr. Lisa Ann Homic is a chiropractor, mental health counselor, and wellness coach in Auburn, NY. She wrote "The Numbers Don't Lie Diet" and "Happiness Doesn't Get Enough Attention: How Thought Sparks Ignite Your Life."

Visit http://www.ezloser.com

Cardio Increases Appetite

Does aerobic training burn fat? It should, but why are so many people still overweight, no matter how much long slow exercise they do? Cardio exercise is such a strange thing. In theory, it should work so perfectly well for all men and women, but as anyone who has tried it knows, the practicality of it just doesn't add up.

After all, some men and women do cardio 6 hours, 9 hours, or more per week, and still have belly fat to burn. On the other hand, it works just fine for others. And you know who it works best for? Young, fit males. The guys who don't need any help! Young guys can workout all day long, they have nothing else to do. The guys who have a fast metabolism, exercise a lot, and have plenty of muscle.

It works for them, but does it work for you? Probably not. British researchers wanted to get more insight into this paradox, and studied 35 overweight men and women, who weren't previously exercising.

(Reference: International Journal of Obesity 32: 177-184, 2008).

Subjects exercised 5 times per week for 12 weeks. That's a lot of exercise, but it helped the subjects lose an average of 8.You should lose a lot of weight with cardio - if it worked. So cardio will work for some people, however, in my experience, it works best in young men, who need the help the least!

Back to the study, the variance in fat loss between individuals was huge. Check this out...

The best subject lost a staggering 32.3 pounds in 12 weeks, while the worst subject actually GAINED 3.74 pounds. The scientists think they know where things went sour. They classified the subjects into 2 groups, called the "Compensators" and the "Non-compensators".

The Compensators were hungrier, and as a result consumed an extra 268 calories per day, all but wiping out their cardio efforts. Therefore, the Compensators lost the least amount of weight, and scientists believe that was due to the huge "compensatory" increase in appetite experienced by this group.

Does your appetite increase when you do slow cardio? Cardio might increase your appetite.

So if your cardio program is not working for you, check your appetite and calorie intake to see if you are "compensating" for your efforts. If you are, you might be better off using a program of high-intensity resistance and interval training (i.e. Turbulence Training) for your weight loss efforts.

Researchers have proven intervals burn fat. And increased catecholamines can reduce appetite, among other fat- burning benefits. In the real world, few people lose 33 pounds after 12 weeks of cardio. Heck, few even achieve an average weight loss of 8 pounds with aerobic exercise.

So again, check your appetite, and consider giving high-intensity exercise a go for your next workout program. Beat the curse of cardio with high-intensity fat burning workouts that don't use cardio.

Discover the cardio-free fat burning workouts and the bodyweight exercises that burn belly fat.

Lose Weight: Attack The Snacks

Did you know that when you are on a diet, if you eat something and no one sees you - it doesnt contain any calories! Of course that's not true...but it is how many of us think!

Do you eat when you are bored, upset or angry? Do you find that every day requires a chocolate bar to get you through the afternoon? If you are trying to lose weight, you may feel guilty about snacks. As a weight loss coach, I find some folk (particularly women) laugh nervously when I ask them what happens to their food consumption around 4pm. This often is the time of the day when the Snack Monster takes control of them! Some berate themselves for being weak, out of control and without discipline. They either eventually give up on their diet altogether or develop counter thoughts so they dont feel so bad. It didnt really matter - it is fat free. Or, if no one notices, the calories dont count.

The good news is that a healthy eating programme leading to weight does not have to be like this. You can lose weight without being hungry or guilty! Its possible to take control of the Snack Monster and healthy snacking can lead you to weight loss success, not failure. So instead of being full of regret about snacking, choose your snacks wisely and have more energy and vitality, without the guilt.

The keys to healthy snacking are to select foods that:
* Can satisfy your hunger,
* Supply your body with energy, and
* Provide important nutrients

Look for foods that contain the following:

* Whole grains. Whole-grain snacks are rich in complex carbohydrates and fibre, which give you immediate energy that has some staying power. Consider items such as low-fat whole-grain crackers and whole-grain crispbreads.

* Fruits and vegetables. Eating fruits and vegetables provides a feeling of fullness with no fat and only a small amount of calories. They also provide vitamins, minerals, fibre and other nutrients.

* Nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds are a good source of protein, which helps keep you feeling fuller longer. Nuts and seeds are high in calories, however, so don't eat them in large quantities.

* Low-fat dairy products. Cheese, yogurt and other dairy products are good sources of calcium, protein, and other nutrients. Be sure to choose low fat versions.

Prepare for your week and have a range of healthy snacks on hand at home or in the office and snack on healthy choices with peace of mind.

Kim Beardsmore is a weight loss consultant whose business operates across 60 countries. Tons of recipes, articles, resources, free newsletter and more to help you lose weight and keep it off forever. Estimate your healthy body weight or receive a free weight loss consultation at http://www.weight-loss-health.com.au

Weight Loss Products Treat The Whole Person

Okay, lets get the one, small bit of bad news out of the way first: There is no magic pill anywhere on the planet that will dissolve extra pounds and give you a healthy, toned body all by itself. Some effort on your part is required. Sorry.

We cant change our genetic structure if our ancestors are tall and thin, or short and compact, then were hard-wired for that kind of body shape, ourselves but we can change our diets and level of exercise to present ourselves to the world in the healthiest, most attractive light.

Take heart! The really good news is that the various health formulas found in many products give you a giant boost in your campaign to lose weight and get fit because they work with your body, in a totally natural way, to maximize even the smallest effort you make.

Quick, Healthy Meals - delicious protein shakes make it easy and quick to get the nutrition you need in a tasty shake. Different manufacturers have formulas that include a variety of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients to keep your body functioning at maximum efficiency, giving you stamina and energy to stay with your exercise program and other demands on your busy life. These shakes satisfy your hunger and help manage your weight.

Appetite Control Nothing destroys a diet like between-meal snacks. Its the one thing, above and beyond all other challenges, that spells DOOM to dieters.

Its the hardest subversive force to guard against, as well.

Who can blame us, after all? When we decide to go on a weight-loss diet, the first thing that happens is that our bodies rebel against the sudden reduction of fat- and sugar-intake by making us relentlessly crave the very things that will cause us to fail, keeping us overweight and unhealthy.

The powerful herbs available in well-designed snack bars deliver all-day snack control, while helping reduce carbohydrate absorption and maintain blood sugar levels at a steady, normal range.

Metabolism Boosters Metabolism is the rate at which your body uses energy. Using energy = burning calories, so you want your metabolism boosted to a higher, more effective rate. Some select supplements are designed to do just that with a powerful blend of green tea, yerba mat, cacao and 11 other herbs. This type of blend gives your energy level a great natural boost.

Antioxidant Boosters Antioxidants are substances that protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. While antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables, nuts, grains and some meats, poultry and fish, most people don't get nearly enough of them in their daily diet.

There are many quality products designed by experts with naturally occurring elements and herbs to make your weight loss program quick, easy and highly effective.

Plan your personal diet & health regimen today with Herbalife ShapeWorks, ShapeWorks Weight Loss QuickStart, and Herbalife Snack Defense Good nutrition is the real secret to an attractive and healthy body.

Weight Loss Habits, Follow Them and Smile

It is very obvious at this point that most people regard weight loss as something related to their personal suffering, it is as if every single weight loss program required your sacrifice in order to actually work. If you are thinking about issues like starvation, desertion, doubt and deprivation, then you know exactly what I'm talking about; but weight loss should not be that way for anyone.

If you go to a personal trainer in order to change your weight loss habits, then he will tell you a few basic things: no more eating, exercising every day, wake up at 6 am and go to bed at 10, change the way you walk, the way you talk, the way you think, and overall they want to change your very self. Now, do you really think that weight loss is all about being a whole different person? Well, it's not! Weight loss is a procedure that people follow in order to eliminate a few excessive pounds out of their bodies, however, by no means should you become another person, and you should not follow something that makes you feel uncomfortable.

In order to change your weight loss habits you will need to start on your head, get rid of that concept you may have about having to become another person in order to lose some weight, get rid of that idea that your brain holds so tightly about having to suffer in order to be a slender individual, and finally, get rid of your self image of being tortured just to follow your weight loss procedures.

The thing is that, weight loss can actually be a very rewarding process, not only in terms of the results it provides, but mostly in the procedure itself. Following a weight loss procedure can actually be very exciting, you can perform the activities that you enjoy the most, have fun while doing them and at the same time, lose a few extra pounds. You can also begin to enjoy the healthier foods that you ingest every day; once you get over the idea that junk food is the bomb, you will get to understand that there are plenty of different flavors out there just waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.

Always keep in mind that your weight loss habits should not make you feel depressed, but the complete opposite; your weight loss habits should be some of the things that provoke a smile to appear on your face.

This article can be freely published on a website as long as it's not modified in any way including the author bylines, plus the hyperlink must be made active just like below.

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Recent Research on Exercise and Cancer

Nausea, pain, fatigue...these are just a few of the results of undergoing chemotherapy. Those symptoms make it difficult to want to exercise, even if it is good for the patient. Also, when the treatment is over, patients usually do not know what, if any, exercise they should be doing.

One recent study shown introducing aerobic training, as simple as a basic walking program, one week prior to and continuing through eight weeks of chemotherapy improved five out of seven functional measures and decreased fatigue during and after performing activities of daily living.

Another recent study prescribed exercise programs (thirty minutes of ergometer daily, in an interval pattern) to hospitalized chemotherapy patients and compared the results to a control group. The exercise group showed reduced fatigue and had fewer complaints about pain than the control group. They also decreased their psychological stress over the course of the hospital stay.

Resistance exercise is also important for cancer patients. A 2007 study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology followed three groups throughout their chemotherapy: aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and control. Those engaging in aerobic exercise improved their self-esteem, aerobic fitness, and percent body fat. The resistance exercise group showed improvements in self-esteem, muscular strength, lean body mass, and chemotherapy completion rate. Both groups showed increased quality of life scores and decreased fatigue, depression, and anxiety.

Exercise is also important after the cancer has gone into remission. A 2005 study followed nearly three hundred women who had been previously diagnosed with breast cancer. Survivors who engaged in more than nine MET hours per week (three hours of walking 2-2.9 mph) reduced their risk of mortality by six percent. The greatest benefits from exercise while in remission occurred in women who performed the equivalent of walking three to five hours per week at an average pace (2-2.9 mph). There was no evidence of correlation between greater energy expenditure and increased benefit. The exercise benefits especially helped women who had had hormone-responsive tumors.

In another study, twenty-seven breast cancer survivors were placed on an eight-week full-body resistance and aerobic training program. The sum of their skinfolds, waist girth, and hip girth were significantly reduced posttraining. Their body weight did not change, but that was most likely due to an increase in lean tissue mass. Improvements were also made in upper body strength and endurance, lower body strength and endurance, VO2max, trunk flexibility, and flexibility of both the surgical and non-surgical shoulder joints (in lymphadenectomy patients). Both psychological and overall quality of life also improved.

This recent research shows that exercise is both safe and beneficial for those undergoing cancer treatments, and for those who have been through treatment in the past. In patients undergoing chemotherapy, exercise can reduce fatigue, improve function, increase fitness, and improve psychological stress. Breast cancer survivors can safely engage in full-body exercise, and physical activity after breast cancer reduces risk of death from the disease.

References:

"Effects of Aerobic and Resistance Exercise in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial." Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2007.

"Effects of Aerobic Training Prior to and During Chemotherapy in a Breast Cancer Patient: A Case Study." The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research," 2006.

"Effects of Physical Activity on the Fatigue and Psychologic Status of Cancer Patients During Chemotherapy." Cancer, 1999.

"Full Body Exercise Training Improves Fitness and Quality of Life in Survivors of Breast Cancer." The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2006.

"Physical Activity and Survival After Breast Cancer Diagnosis." Journal of the American Medical Association, 2005.

Dr. Heller is a chiropractor and certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), practicing in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. She has extensive experience teaching fitness classes, including aquatics, to all age groups and abilities. http://www.healthritellc.com http://www.unlockingthehealingcode.com

300 Workout for Women

Women need to strength train for fat loss. That's surprising. And women can also train hard. That's surprising to a lot of folks as well. Here are some cool workouts for women's weight loss.

Now just because the 300 workout was built for a guy's movie doesn't mean we can't modify a workout originally made to chisel male Greek Statue bodies into a workout that will turn the average gal into a fitness Goddess.

The original 300 workout is brutal, and there are two ways we can modify it. First, by using the same exercises and decreasing the reps. And second, by keeping the reps but reducing the intensity of the exercises.

Let's do option A first, doing a workout with mostly the same exercises but fewer reps. So this becomes a 125 rep workout. Its tough, and is really for advanced female fitness only. A more beginner exercise is below.

a) Pullups - 5 reps (if you can't do real pullups, use the assisted pullup machine or even pulldowns)

b) Deadlifts with 25lbs - 30 reps (in the original workouts, they used 135 pounds. We'll decrease the weight and use the EZ curl bar instead. Alternatively, you can do dumbbell squats with 15 pounds per hand).

c) Pushups - 20 reps (do a combination of regular and kneeling if necessary)

d) 12-inch Box jumps - 25 reps

e) Floor wipers - 20 reps (Use the EZ Curl Bar again, or a broomstick)

f) 1-arm Clean n Press with 10lbs Kettlebell - 20 reps total, not per arm

g) Pullups - 5 reps (same as above)

A woman with a moderate fitness level might try this 100 repetition workout (remember - minimize the rest between sets):

5 bodyweight rows

15 bodyweight squats

5 pushups

50 jumping jacks

10 mountain climbers

10 lunges

5 bodyweight rows

Those are some challenging workouts. Work with a trainer to come up with other ideas.

Just do this workout once as a test. You might try it every couple of months or so as a comparison, but don't train like this everyday.

And as always, train safe. If you aren't sure about the technique, your form, or don't feel comfortable with the workout, skip it!

You have permission to publish this article in your web sites, ezines or electronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entirety including the resource box, all hyperlinks (HTML clickable) and references and copyright info.

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men's Health and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training for Fat Loss have helped thousands of men and women with weight loss and fat burning in less than 45 minutes three times per week. Turbulence Training for Fat Loss workouts help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment. Craig's bodyweight workouts for fat loss help you lose fat without any equipment at all.

How To Lose 25 Pounds Fast

Let me start by saying that you can lose 25 pounds and even more just by following a healthy lifestyle, exercising more, and keeping a sensible diet. However, I would like to suggest a diet method which can help you to do it faster.

I'm referring to the Calorie Shifting method which has been steadily gaining popularity over the past few years. By using a Calorie Shifting method based diet (and there are currently 2 such diets on the market) you can avoid the biggest hurdle of most diets: the slowing metabolism.

Most diets are basically based on depriving your body of either calories or a specific food group like fat or carbs. Either of these things can lead to an initial weight loss, but can also slow your metabolism down considerably so that you'll see a gradual decline in your weight loss rate, and may even gain it all back when you quit dieting. This is vitally important since I'm sure you won't be satisfied with just losing 25 pounds, you'll want to avoid gaining them back ever again. This is done by constantly shifting your calories to produce a metabolic maintenance state. I know it sounds a bit scientific, but it just works.

The 2 Calorie shifting diets on the market today are called Fat Loss 4 Idiots and Yay Food. You can read a detailed comparison of the 2 on this webpage: Calorie Shifting Diet Review

Each of the 2 diets has its own pros and cons. Fat Loss 4 Idiots has the longer and more proven track record. It can help you to lose 25 lbs fast. However, Yay food can also provide you with the jump start and guidance that you need.

Can you lose 25 pounds in a month with either of these 2 diets? The answer is that it's different for each person. Some may lose 25 pounds in 6 weeks, some may lose 25 lbs in 2 months. A month seems to me to be a little unrealistic, but even if takes twice as long this is still a great weight loss rate.

I personally know of many people who used Fat Loss 4 Idiots with great success. I believe that it can also help you to lose 25 pounds fast.

To read how you can start to lose as much as 9 lbs. in 11 days and keep it off, visit this webpage:

How to lose 9 lbs. every 11 days with The Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet.

John Davenport lost over 30 pounds in his twenties after being overweight most of his life. To read more about fast weight loss, click here: How To Lose Weight Fast And Never Gain It Back

Information About Natural Weight Loss Pills

Everybody is looking for information about natural weight loss pills so after I did some research on natural weight loss pills I decided to write this article because it might help some people.

Most of the diet pill out there on the market right now are mostly NOT natural. And those that are don't work. You can drink all the green tea you want but if you have an eating disorder you won't loose any weight.

In my research I came across a lot of products that claim to be natural and claim to help you loose weight, but to be honest nothing seemed to work when I read "real testimonials". All of these products have testimonials but the people who created them could just as easily created testimonials too, you can see what I mean. So again I continued my research.

I came across a product called Hoodia or Hoodia Gordonii. This seemed like any other product out there but as I went deeper I found out that it's like some MIRACLE PILL. All that seemed funny to me too so I researched it even more, and surprisingly it seems to be working.

Hoodia is a plant that resembles a cactus but it's not a cactus at all, it's a succulent. Anyways this does not matter. This thing has been eaten by natives in South Africa, because they could hunt longer without needing to eat. HuH? I was just thinking the same thing. As I read more material about hoodia, I found out that it has an active ingredient called p57, this thing tricks your brain in telling your body that you are full. If you think you are full you won't feel the need to eat, if you won't feel the need to eat you WON'T eat this could result in a lower calorie intake and a loss in weight. Seems possibile but I was still a bit unsure about this.

I read real reviews and testimonials and apparently it WORKS! And it's being used by a lot of people all around the world. And the makers claimed it to no have any side effects, again this is sometime worth researching, so evidently I did that.

It turns out it has some glitches but not as severe as you would think. If you have some liver abnormalities then you best stay away because your body can't filter the substance and because you appetite will go away and you need those calories. Also if you are pregnant not eating could cause problems to you unborn baby, this is a common thing in every diet for pregnant women.

I want to add a few thing before you go and buy this. BEWARE! a lot of FAKE products out there that claim to give you pure 100% hoodia but they won't. These fake products can seriously harm your body because they have artificial ingredients.

I hope the information about natural weight loss pills I gave here will help you in making the right decision.

If you want to learn more about hoodia or you want to know where to buy the real thing please be sure to check my blog here: AllAboutHoodiaDietPill

How To Reduce Tummy Fat

Losing those last vanity pounds is always tough, especially when it's tummy fat. Starving yourself or eating less won't do the trick. It has to be a combination of portioned, nutritious meals along with daily exercise. Sticking to a diet and exercising can be difficult, but is necessary in order to shed those pounds!

You Have to Eat

The most frequent mistake people make when trying to reduce tummy fat is thinking that not eating will solve their problems. If you don't eat you won't have any energy to exercise and this will not lead to weight loss. It's important to get the idea of starving yourself out of your thoughts right now and commit to a healthy way of losing weight.

The body doesn't function without the proper nutrients it gets from your food. With insufficient food, your metabolism slows to balance for the lack of food. So fat will be burned, but much less than with a mixture of diet and exercise.

Smaller Portions & More Often

The trick to losing that fat is to decrease food portions, and get daily exercise. You can eat just about anything as long as it's nutritious and in good portion. Smaller meals still satisfy your hunger but keep your metabolism up so that your body can be a fat-burning machine. Eating right and exercising is the key to feeling and looking great.

Why is Tummy Fat So Hard to Lose?

Why does it seem more difficult to reduce tummy fat than anywhere else on your body? The stomach naturally has extra padding, so even if you're burning fat it's a little tougher to get rid of it in the tummy area. Not to mention when people exercise they aren't being as efficient as they could be. They stop between tummy exercises, which slows down the fat-burning process. That burning sensation is a good sign!

You should only stop mid-exercise when it is absolutely necessary. There are many different ways to tone your mid-section. If you're not feeling anything after several repetitions, you probably aren't doing the exercise correctly! Doing a search for tummy exercises will result in pages full of them, you can work out a schedule to change up your routine each day.

Today is the Day!

It's important to make a commitment to yourself that this time is going to be for real. Put down the bag of chips and pick up some carrots! Slowly incorporate healthy changes into your diet and build up your endurance by exercising for at least 15 minutes a day. If you keep up with a plan you'll be sure to see results!

The reason losing tummy fat is so difficult is because your fat cells are extremely bloated with toxins. This is your body's defense mechanism to keep your body healthy. But it makes it terribly hard to lose weight.

If you'd like an effective solution to shrink your waistline, check out: Lose Fat Fast. These body wraps will enable you to Lose Inches From Your Waistline and give you the jump start you need in detoxifying your fat cells and better metabolizing your food.

Brandon Walsh is considered an expert author in the fields of biblical nutrition, and pro-active healthy living.

Exercise to Lose Belly Fat - 2 Killer Tips For Fast Results

Have you been unsuccessfully trying to lose belly fat? If so, there is a good chance you might be making some basic mistakes.

In this article, we are going to go over the 2 essential areas that are crucial to have correct if you want to exercise to lose belly fat quickly and permanently.

1. Total body strength training workouts 2-3 times per week.

This can melt fat from your body by gaining muscle and increasing your metabolism!

The more muscle you work, the more calories you will burn. Remember that muscle is the main thing that will burn fat while exercise. Strength training will help you to lose belly fat because the more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn.

Don't make the mistake of doing the common "3 sets of 10" on a strength machine with a minute of rest between each set. It is a better idea to follow more of a "circuit training" structure. Here is an example:

Warm up: 5-10 minutes
1. Pushups - 10 reps
2. 1 arm DB row - 10 reps per arm
3. DB squats - 12 reps
4. Leg curls on stability ball - 10 to 12 reps
5. Side planks - 5-15 seconds per side
6. Hyperextensions - 12 reps
7. Standing DB overhead press - 10 reps
8. Ab crunches on stablity ball - 10 to 15 reps

Go from start to finish, and rest 30-45 seconds between each exercise. Try doing the entire rotation 2-3 times around. This should take no more than 20-30 minutes depending on how much rest time you need.

This workout is just an example to show you what a total body workout looks like. There are lots of different ways to structure a workout like this, but this serves our basic purpose.

With this type of total body workout, you will exercise to lose belly fat as well as gain strength. Whenever you doing total body workouts, you always want to wait a day before doing it again so your muscles can rest and recover.

2. Interval training cardio instead of long, boring, same speed workouts.

Interval training differs from regular "same speed" cardio routines because it is quicker and a lot more fun. It is a great way to exercise to lose belly fat because you alternate between high and low intensities throughout the whole workout. Here is an example:

First 5 minutes: warm-up

2 minutes: slow
30 sec - 1 minute: fast (almost as hard as you can)

-Repeat the "2 minute slow 1 minute fast" 3-6 times.
Last 5 minutes: cool-down

By doing this type of routine, you are making your fat loss workout time shorter and more effective. You will increase your metabolism and you will have a lot more fun burning fat! Do this right after your total body strength training workouts 2-3 times per week.

Be sure to keep your heart rate in mind. Because you are working very hard, you should check with a doctor and make sure this is a safe way for you to exercise to lose belly fat.

Now that you have a structure for how to exercise to lose belly fat. The effort to lose fat does not have to be frustrating and slow. If you exercise correctly and have the right diet, you should be able to lose 1-3 lbs of belly fat each week until you reach your goal!

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Reprinting is welcome as long as the content, links, and author bio and resource box are all included and remain unchanged.

If you are serious about wanting to reach your goals, go to Exercise to Lose Belly Fat for some killer information.

Tom Gifford is a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) through the American Council on Exercise and also holds a degree in Kinesiology (Exercise Science). Tom specializes in effective fat loss training for people who have tried all the fad diets and exercise gimmicks.

He is the founder of http://www.TheFatLossZone.com, which is a free newsletter about how to safely and effectively lose fat permanently.

How To Melt Belly Fat Away Forever

The best way to get rid of belly fat is not a pill, or some plan to restrictive to maintain. If you are looking for some pill or restrictive diet plan, you will not experience the forever part. Research has shown maintaining weight loss long term requires that you develop the proper diet and exercise habits.

Have you ever heard the saying, 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you have fed him for a life time.' Pills and restrictive diets are like giving you a fish. If you want to keep the fat off you must learn the habits it takes to do it.

Every person is different and will require a different combination of foods and exercise to achieve results. That being said there are some basic truths that will work for everyone.

The first is plain old calorie restriction. However do not exceed a restriction of 20% below your maintenance level. What is that level? That is the point at which you do not gain or lose weight. It is different for everyone. the American College of Sports

Medicine (ACSM) has suggested 1200 calories as the minimal daily calorie level for women and 1800 as the minimum for men.

Why do you not want to go below that for any length of time? Your body will go into starvation mode. That means your metabolism slows down, you feel tired and you burn muscle as well as fat. Some studies have shown that resting metabolism can become depressed by as much as 45%, during severe calorie restriction.

So now we know about the diet side, what about the exercise side? You can not spot remove fat from the body. I wish it were not so, but it is. The only way to lose the belly is to lose fat in general. Some people it will com off the stomach faster then others. If you need some reasons to exercise and not just diet:

1. Exercise - aerobic and weight training - raises your metabolic rate.

2. Exercise creates a caloric deficit without triggering the starvation response.

3. Exercise is good for your health. Dieting is harmful to your health.

4. Exercise, especially weight training, signals your body to keep your muscle and not burn it for energy. Dieting without exercise can result in up to 50% of the weight loss to come from lean body mass.

5. Exercise increases fat-burning enzymes and hormones.

6. Exercise increases the cells sensitivity to insulin so that carbohydrates are burned for energy and stored as glycogen rather then being stored as fat.

Exercise can be anything that gets you up off that couch and keeps you moving. DO NOT work your abs every day, though. They need time to recover just like any other muscle. For you in a hurray I would suggest high intensity interval training, known as HIIT for short. You use this with running, jogging, tread mill, any aerobic work out. An example routine I would be:

Level 3: 5 minutes (warm-up)

Level 4: 1 minute (rest interval)

Level 7: 1 minute (work interval)

Level 4: 1 minute (recovery interval)

Level 7: 1 minute (work interval)

Level 4: 1 minute (recovery interval)

Level 7: 1 minute (work interval

Level 4: 1 minute (recovery interval)

Level 7: 1 minute (work interval)

Level 4: 1 minute (recovery interval)

Level 7: 1 minute (work interval)

Level 4: 1 minute (recovery interval)

Level 7: 1 minute (work interval)

Level 3: 5 minutes (cool down)

Why HIIT? Your metabolic rate stays elevated longer after the workout is over than steady state cardio. Yep you keep burning at a high rate longer that with normal cardio and therefore burn more calories!

There you have it some basic truths that should help anyone melt away that belly fat away and keep it gone.

Alton Morris has struggled with weight problems his whole life. I have been actively researching an answer for several years now. Interested in reading more? Come to my web page Secrets of Permanent Weight Loss

Alkalizing For Vibrant Health & Energy

Alkalizing your body is the only way to combat various illnesses and slow down the aging process. If you are wondering what alkalizing your body means then the answer is simple as well as complicated. Complicated because it involves the maintaining of the body ph at 7.3 so that all the functions of the body can be carried out optimally. Simple because all one has to do is change their food intake to include over 80 % of alkalizing food and keep the acidifying food to a maximum of 20%.

Let us understand what alkalizing foods means. The various foods that we eat are burnt by the body to release energy. This burning s also referred to as digestion. This burning in the stomach leaves an ash. If the ash is alkaline the nature then the food that the ash is derived from is alkalizing food. One the other hand if the ash residue is acidic in its ph then the food was acidifying. Alkalizing food need not necessarily be alkaline in nature. Like lemon is an acidic food. But when eaten it has an alkalizing affect on the body. Similarly many other citrus fruits that have an acidic essence are alkalizing foods. So the nature of the food does not determine the affect it will have on our body. One must consume vegetables and fruits so as to alkalize the body.

There are several kinds of alkalizing foods. All vegetables fall into the alkalizing food category. Cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, asparagus and al such green vegetables are alkalizing. Tomatoes and potatoes are also alkalizing foods. All the fruits except for cranberries are alkalizing foods. Tofu, chicken breasts are a few forms of proteins that are alkalizing. Figs have a high alkalizing content in them and so does miso. Almonds are alkalizing nuts and can do wonders for your body. Needless to say one should avoid acidic foods like various meats. Oysters are highly acidic and should not be consumed often. Another seemingly harmless food is soda. Soda as acidic in nature as your cars battery and one needs 32 glasses of alkalizing water to balance out one glass of soda.

Alkalizing is the answer to regaining your health back and also giving your lifespan a boost. Save all those chemical treatments and simply alkalize your body for shinning hair and strong nails. After alkalizing your body you will find a glowing skin texture and feel good and energetic through the day. Alkalizing also repels various diseases and can also cure chronic diseases like arthritis. Many cancer patients alkalized their bodies along with their medications and treatments and found a huge change in their energy levels and also gave themselves the gift of life.

Alkalizing is the new lease of life. Get it today. Change your eating patterns and add alkalizing foods to your menu. Within days you will be able to see the difference in not only your energy levels but also your attitude towards life as a whole.

Discover How Alkalizing Works and Why An Alkalizing Diet Is Recommended, including Free Foods Chart: http://www.AcidAlkalineDiet.com/Health

Permanent Weight Loss - Seven Stepping Stones for a Successful Journey

I was overweight for most of my life from the age of 10. This baby never lost her baby fat. At the age of 47, I began my weight loss journey, in earnest, due to some health problems. I have lost over 100 pounds and kept it off for over five years.

For me, the process of losing weight has become a journey of body, mind and soul. Think of some trips you have taken in your life. Parts may have been difficult, parts were fun, and some parts were enlightening or educational. Some parts may have even been scary for you. Your own weight loss journey can be rocky, exhilarating and just plain hard work. But like most trips you've taken it is well worth it. This journey is one towards health and happiness. But like any journey, it is very personal and can be taken in many ways.

The following seven stepping-stones have helped me immensely on my personal journey, even today.

1. First and foremost, you must come to realize that this can not be just a temporary diet. In order to lose weight and keep it off you must make some permanent lifestyle changes. The journey must start in your head. You have to want it enough to do the work it will take. You have to really and truly believe that you can do it. Do you? What purpose is the weight serving for you? You need to do some soul searching and life inventory to see what is making you live the way you do now. However, don't wait until you get all the answers. Do something positive toward your goal while you search for answers to those deep questions.

OK, about this thing called motivation. What is it? Motivation is that burning desire inside you to accomplish something by doing whatever it takes to do so. It is a resolute, single-minded focus on doing something important to you. When I'm motivated, nothing can get in my way. When I'm not, anything can. Don't wait for motivation to appear miraculously. It may or may not come to you. But one thing I know, from experience, is that doing something, even something very small, that leads to success, breeds motivation. And that motivation cultivates success which in turn breeds continuing motivation.

There is nothing magic about losing weight. It's all about calories in and calories out. It's not rocket science. However, you have to let go of so much magical thinking that we develop over the years. "If I don't eat the whole candy bar, it won't count." "I am eating while I walk so I am burning these calories." "If I eat just handful more it won't matter," etc, etc, etc. Does this sound familiar? Many people tell me I am lucky to have lost my weight. Luck nothing to do with it. More magical thinking in action!.

This is a journey, not a race. Don't compare yourself to your 20-year-old co-worker who can drop pounds like water off a duck's back. Don't compare yourself to yourself. Don't berate yourself about all the times you tried before and didn't succeed, Take this new journey, willingly, joyfully, in your own way and in your own time and you will succeed.

You can't practice all the components of a healthy lifestyle only when it is convenient, when you are under no stress and when you have the time and energy to devote to it. You don't just pay your bills and go to work when you are happy and unstressed. You must also treat your health in that uncompromising way. Your life can't get in the way and you can't do this just when it is convenient, and easy. People who are healthy and balanced are able to cope with life stressors much better. Furthermore, you can't pick and choose components. You can't just eat well but not exercise. It won't work if you eat better but refuse to eat any vegetables. Your body is much like a machine and it needs all the right ingredients to make it work well. You don't decide to put only gas in your car and not brake fluid or oil. It all works together. Taking care of yourself, body, mind and soul has to be something that is done with balance. It all comes down to making a small series of good decisions about eating ,exercise and staying positive all day, every day, most of the time.

2. You must become your own parent or best friend. Talk to yourself like your own beloved child. The dialogue in your head should be loving, encouraging and respectful. Give yourself loving encouragement and rules. Make up affirmations and post them where you will see them all the time. I posted my goal weight everywhere in my house, especially where my trouble spots were, like the refrigerator. I told people it was a serial number for inventory purposes! When you have a negative thought, turn it around immediately. When I drop something and think to myself, "How stupid you are!" I turn it around and say, "No, you aren't stupid, just in too much of a hurry." Treat yourself with kindness and love always. Your self-esteem and self-love will grow as you do this. Your mind believes what you tell it. Developing your self-esteem takes time and practice. You must do things that make you feel loved, powerful, competent and strong.

Be realistic. You will falter and fall. We all do. You're not perfect, just human, like the rest of us. You may not be able to get as thin as you think you should. Be kind to yourself through this process. Give yourself non-food rewards such as a massage, a new haircut, a new CD or a smaller article of clothing. You must be your own cheerleader and your own motivator.

3. You have to be willing to get rid of excuses and be willing to work on change. No matter what life issues we have, we each have to approach this journey in a way that makes sense and feels like it will be successful for us. I did it whole hog. I just stopped eating 24/7. I began to change my eating and exercise habits, literally, over night. I have added things over time, like eating mostly, fresh fruits and vegetables, but for the most part, this total approach worked well for me. I also started to exercise every single day, no excuses, and no exceptions. Many people recommend "taking baby steps" in reference to making lifestyle changes. This can be the best approach for many. However, you must look at the term "baby steps." What does this really mean? Babies learn to walk with small, halting, steps while falling frequently but they keep on trying. They don't give up, ever. They progress steadily and soon they move from walking to running. And they never go back to baby steps again.

4. You must learn to eat differently. If you keep doing what you have been doing and it's not working, you have to make changes. It all comes down to habits. You break old habits by substituting new ones. You can get used to anything. I wouldn't eat cottage cheese or drink non-fat milk for many years. Then I began to add non-fat milk to my whole milk then to my 2% then my 1%. Whole milk, once my staple, tastes like heavy cream to me now! Try one new food a week or try new ways of cooking old foods. I still don't like liver but I will try a taste of it now and then just to see if it or I have changed! I grew up on vegetables boiled to death in vats of gray water. If we were lucky, the limp pile on my plate was topped with salt and butter. So I never really tasted vegetables in all their glory. Try to steam your veggies lightly, roast them or grill them. Try different spices on them. When you make salads you can make them interesting by adding a bit of cheese, nuts and croutons to them, but not too much! Homemade vegetable soups seem to appeal to most people and vegetables can be grated into meatloaf and pured into spaghetti sauce, as well.

When you want to eat, ask yourself "Is this stomach, mouth or heart hunger?" if it is true stomach hunger, I eat something healthy. If it is mouth hunger, I chew on some carrot or celery sticks or chewing gum. If it is heart hunger, I try to identify what I need, Sometimes I talk with a friend, sometimes, I take a walk or write. This is a good time to clean out a drawer or your desk. Sometimes when I realize that I am tired I take bubble bath and go to bed. You will learn to become responsible and mindful of your eating habits. What are your triggers for binges? Do you engage in mindless eating? When? Where? Why? Try to identify your triggers. One night I was working at my desk. I couldn't find my checkbook and I thought it might be in the daycare playroom. I went there and I found myself in the kitchen in front of the refrigerator with the door open. I knew my checkbook wasn't in there! I stopped myself then but wondered how many times I had mindlessly meandered to the refrigerator and didn't stop myself. I think binges are hard to control. When I have binged I try to stop myself before it gets too bad. I take my mind off my binging by quickly diverting my attention.

When I have a craving, sometimes, I tell myself, I can have what I want tomorrow. I make an elaborate plan in my head and by the next day I forget all about it. If I don't then I indulge in a limited portion of what I want. Another trick I've used comes from my child development background. It is accepted practice that when you have to say no to a child, you offer something positive in its place. Such as, "No you can't go outside now but when you finish your homework you can. Or, "No, you can't wear your swimsuit because it's raining but you can choose which coat you want to wear." When I want something now, I tell myself, "No you can't tilt back the refrigerator right now and inhale but you can have some fruit with yogurt and sprinkling of nuts on it." "No, you can't skip exercising but you can either do a workout tape or take a walk."

5. You have to move. Find something you like to do. Do something every day, no exceptions no excuses, no matter how little you can do at the beginning. You have to vary your workouts so that you don't get bored and your muscles will work less with each repetition. You need to challenge yourself more and more, little by little. I have as many excuses not to exercise as anyone. I still really don't enjoy it. But I do it, no questions asked. I pay my bills, I go to work, I exercise. Sometimes when I really don't want to start, I tell myself that I only have to do 10 minutes of my chosen activity, and then I can quit. The endorphins kick in and I always continue for at least half an hour, if not more. I don't give myself a choice now. I used to resist walking in my neighborhood because I felt there was no scenery to look at and the park was too far away. After making myself walk a few times, it was amazing how many pretty trees and gardens I had never noticed and the park suddenly was much closer than it had ever been!

6. Have fun on this journey. You have to make it enjoyable or you will give up. Make a scrapbook about this journey. Write about your success and failures. Take pictures of yourself regularly. Some people measure their waist with a string each week and keep the strings so they can see their progress. Give yourself silly rewards for each pound lost, a bottle of bubbles, a comic book, Make charts or calendars about eating and exercise. Give yourself stickers for each day you do well. Make a picture collage of things you want when you lose weight. Places you want to go, clothes you want. Watch funny movies; listen to music you love, read books you enjoy. Spend some time doing something you enjoy, every single day, even if it is just a few minutes. Take up a new hobby that will keep you busy. Write about funny things that happen on this journey. I have a couple of funny stories to share with you. My grandniece, who was about 4, at the time asked what my free weights were for. I told they were helping me to get big, strong muscles. I made a fist and showed her by bicep. She promptly pointed to the bat wings, under my arms and said, "I see your muscles right down there!" Another time, I told my sister that as I was losing weight there were dents all over my body where the fat was disappearing. I put my hands on my sides and said, "Like here. What is this?" Without missing a beat she said, she said, "That's your waist!" I had no ideas. I'd never had one!

7. Get support from those who understand and will help you to succeed. Keep it private unless people will be supportive. How many times have you tried? If they expect you to fail, once again, it may hinder your success. Join some kind of support group in person or online such as Weight Watchers or TOPS. You don't have to spend lots of money. Ask your family members, your co workers or neighbors if they want to join you on your journey.

Most importantly, believe in yourself and believe that you deserve this healthy, happy new life.

I have successfully maintained a weight loss of 110 pounds, for over 5 years. I am a successful writer, speaker and weight loss and wellness coach. I can help you because I've been where you are but, more importantly, I can help you find your way to health and happiness.

I have 100's of other tips on my web site http://www.thinlynn.com
Please contact me at thinlynn@thinlynn.com