Weight Loss - Are Quick Fix Diets Ever A Good Choice for Losing Weight?

There comes a time in almost everyone's life where they want to lose weight - and lose weight quickly. Perhaps you have a High school reunion coming up, and you want to look good, or maybe you're approaching your wedding day, and you realize you have more than a few pounds to lose. In this scenario, you may be tempted to try one of the many quick fix diets out there, thinking this can be an excellent way to help you reach your goals.

But at the same time, you've heard time and time again this approach is not recommended.

So what's the verdict? Are these quick fix diets ever a good choice? You might be surprised to know they can be useful. Let's look at a few instances where they may do you some good.

1. You Need A Jump-Start To Your Motivation. The first time a quick fix diet or eating plan may be beneficial is if you simply need a boost to reach your motivation levels. If you have felt your progress is slow and it's causing you to lose motivation, these quick fix approaches can help you drop a few pound quickly and get your excitement and motivational levels back up.

Now, the weight you lose is likely not all fat weight but, for some people, just seeing the number on the scale lowering is all they need to start feeling better about themselves and put forth the effort necessary to go forward and lose fat on a more reasonable diet plan.

If you need to use a quick fix diet for a few days as a boost to your motivation before you move back to a smarter, healthier long-term plan, this can be a good thing.

2. The Diet Provides Ample Protein. The second time a quick fix diet plan can be helpful is if the menu itself provides ample protein. Now, while most of these diet plans are set up terribly and will only hinder long-term results, this isn't always the case.

If the food you're looking at provides at least 0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight, it may not be the worst quick fix diet out there and could help you see the results you're going for. It's all about evaluating the diet plan and knowing what it will or won't do.

3. You're Preparing For A Big Event And Just Want To Slim Down. Finally, the last time you may want to turn to a quick fix diet plan is if you are preparing for a big event and want to slim down. If you aren't all concerned about whether you lose fat or muscle - you just want to be slimmer, the quick fix eating plan can help you get to your end goal. You just need to be psychologically prepared to face the fact the weight will likely come back on once you stop working with the eating plan.

In these instances, a quick fix diet plan may do some good. Just remember, shop around and don't rush on the first diet plan you find. Try and find one that produces fast results, but is still designed relatively well.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

Top 7 Principles for Losing Weight, Getting Fit and Changing Your Life

It's taken me 5 years to lose 30kg. It may not take that long for you, and it may be even slower for others. We are all different and we have different lifestyles and complex issues to navigate through. Over that long journey I've refined down what works to come up with this list of the top 7 principles for losing weight and getting fit, and I am absolutely convinced that these principles for losing weight can work for you too.

Top 7 Principles for Losing Weight and Getting Fit

1. Calories in, calories out.

It works because it teaches you some of the science behind food, and give you a framework for making sound nutritional choices. It kept me, and many others like me, accountable. It also helps to debunk the myth of "out-training a bad diet" by giving you a realistic measure of the 'value' of food, and how difficult it really is to burn off high calorie foods that are so easy to eat in large quantities.

2. A low carbohydrate, high protein, and high fat diet.

The low carb approach won't work for everyone, and it's important not to go overboard. When I say 'low carb', I mean that my body functions best when I eat approximately 25% of my daily intake in the form of low-GI (glycaemic index), 'whole' carbs, usually in the form of starchy or green vegetables. I feel lighter, leaner and more energetic. Experiment with your intake and see what works best for you. If you're going to go low carb, obviously the rest of your food will be split between the other two macronutrients - protein and fat. Don't be afraid of fat! Your body is an engine which just like a car engine needs oil to function smoothly. Good oil is good for you. Good fats help regulate your cholesterol and provide omega 3 fatty acids which are important for heart health. Protein is necessary for building and maintaining muscle. The combination of protein and fat seems to be a winner as far as helping me feel fuller, longer and more satisfied.

3. Drink LOTS of water.

This is a no-brainer. I like to imagine that my body is in constant recycle mode on days when I'm drinking a lot of water, flushing out toxins, keeping my skin well-hydrated, etc. I know the body is more complex than that, but I'm convinced now that most of us survive in a state of perpetual dehydration. Lots of water will help you feel more alert, and fills up some space in your tummy.

4. Strength training.

Strength training is an essential component of any fat loss mission. Creating lean muscle mass will help to strip the fat, it looks good, and it feels good. Strong muscles help create strong bones, and in my experience, an even stronger self esteem.

5. Enjoyable cardio exercise.

I say 'enjoyable', because this is critical. Nothing is more demoralising than spending an hour a day on a treadmill or a cross-trainer, stuck in what they call 'steady state' mode, where you slog it out without varying the intensity and expect to see results. You'll drop weight, provided your diet is on track, but it won't actually do much for your cardiovascular fitness or your body fat/muscle ratio. Cardio is important, and I know I really miss the endorphins when I avoid it, BUT what you should be aiming to avoid is exercise that is time consuming, boring, physically hard on your body, and inefficient. You want bang for your buck, which you're not going to find in steady state cardio land. That kind of exercise also stresses the body, releasing cortisol and other stress hormones like adrenaline and your body will then fight you to hang onto the fat like a kind of security blanket.

6. Set small, regular goals as well as longer term ones.

Staying motivated is really tricky and depending on where you start from, this is a loooooong journey. I've been going pretty solidly for 2 years now, and I don't feel like I'm 'done', not by a long shot. There's no such thing as 'done' because what we're doing is reprogramming and reconditioning ourselves for a healthier lifestyle to take us forward into the rest of our lives. But there will come a point, I hope, where I feel like I'm happy with my body and ready to just 'maintain' my weight and keep working on my fitness goals. Realistically, this will mean bouncing around a few kilos either side of my goal 'weight', and keeping an eye on how my clothes fit and what I see in the mirror.

So given that this is an iterative, and likely never ending process, it's important to have small, regular goals, that are varied and, most importantly I think, a mix of aesthetic and other goals. For example if your goal is just a particular weight each week or month, or a particular item of clothing you want to fit into, it's too easy to get fixated on this, and never be truly happy with how far you've come. My belief is that as much as possible we need to take this out of the realm of how we look (as a woman, I can confirm that that way lies almost constant insecurity), and focus on what our bodies can DO.

One of my goals is to do a real chin-up, which means lifting my own body weight. Currently I'm using the assisted chin up and pull up machine at my gym, and I have it set so that it takes 15kg off my weight. By the end of this month, I'd like to be able to do 5 chin-ups in a row, and minus 10kg off my body weight. At the same time I've got a blue singlet top in a size 6 that I REALLY like and which is still a bit snug. Another goal is to be comfortable wearing that. At the same time, I'm continuously plugging away at my goal to run 5km at a time without injuring myself!!

The idea behind this is that obviously having lots of different goals, set at different time scales, makes it more likely that each week you'll achieve one of them, and that should hopefully help to build self esteem and keep you encouraged and on track.

7. Believe it's possible and act as though it's already true.

This is a biggie, which is why I've left it until last! I used to have this thing I would say to myself, years back when I was deep in the throes of hating on my body and my life, that all I had to do was do it ONCE, and I've proven it to be true. I.e, if you go for a hike, you're a hiker, right? If you go to the gym only once, you are "someone who works out". If you want to be fit and healthy, how does a fit, healthy person behave? Do they routinely mistreat their bodies by over-eating or do they nurture them? Take it from me, there is no 'truth' that separates you from those people - nothing that can't be overcome. It's simply behaviour. And you can trust me that when you change your behaviour, your body will respond. Obviously you need to make allowances for hormones and genetics, but these provide a margin for error, not a total inhibitor. Make allowances for the impact of your hormones and genetics for the rate of progress, but don't use these as a reason not to try. And even if you never end up running a 5k, deadlifting your body weight, or sporting a 'bikini body', who cares? You'll be healthier for your efforts, and who knows what other life-changing benefits might follow!

Over the past 4-5 years I've lost almost 30% of my body weight, going from a miserable pre-diabetic size 18 to a fit, healthy size 8-10. I'm keen to share this ride with you - the highs and lows, the triumphs, what's worked for me and what hasn't. I want to state right up front that I am no expert - the content herein is the culmination of many years of self-exploration and learning. I will be sharing as much of these insights with you as I can.

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Long Term Weight Loss Tips

Long term weight loss tips for the beginner

Whenever someone decides that they want to start a weight loss regime, they are often drawn to the latest fad or gimmick. This is a shame because I have noticed from my experience as a fitness instructor that the good intentions are there but when these fads yield results they are not long term weight loss results.

Soon after the results are achieved, the weight that was lost is now back! This is always a hard pill to swallow and the dieter will have to start from square one again.

Because results were achieved by this fad or gimmicky diet before, this person will continue on this quick fix journey, bouncing from crash diet to crash diet but never get long term results.

I hate to see this happen!

If someone has the energy and patience to continue on this "yo yo" dieting path, why not put that energy into actually working towards long term success? It just takes a shift in mind-set.

I have put together some long term weight loss tips that you can use if you would like to look at a more sustainable approach to weight loss.

Long term weight loss tips #1: Don't go on a diet, educate yourself on the food that you eat...

My definition of "diet" is:

"The food that you eat on a daily basis. Everyone is on a diet of some kind"

If you eat fast food a lot, you are on a diet of fast food, if you eat only sugary snacks, you are on a sugar diet, if you eat vegetables, you are on a vegetarian diet. The list goes on.

My point is that if you would like a healthy diet that will help you lose the weight that you don't ever want to see again; you have to eat the right things to help you along. This may sound blindingly obvious but you would be surprised at how often this factor is overlooked!

I would always recommend that you search for the right balance of nutrition and calories. Start with the basics and then hone your knowledge; after all, you have the rest of your life to work on this. Just keep putting into practice the new knowledge that you pick up. Be in it for the long term!

Long term weight loss tips #2: You don't have to cut out your favourite foods!

When looking at weight loss for the long term, you may think that if you embark on this for the rest of your life, you will never get to eat your favourite foods again! This is a horrible thought!

It is also not true! From experience, the best way to do this is to have a "Cheat day". A cheat day will allow you to eat a meal that you really enjoy once per month or once per week. I actually do this myself.

I used to be a fan of a good old English fish and chip shop! This is probably one of the highest calorie meals that you can eat so it's not great for a dieter. I cut this out for a long time and now I will struggle to eat a full-sized portion even on a cheat day.

So if you organise a "Cheat day" you will look forward to this for the first few times around and your favourite food will taste all the better, but eventually, you may even wean yourself off this bad food completely! Either way you are a winning.

Long term weight loss tips #3: Eat at least 4 times per day

Yep! Eat more food to burn more fat! Here is the theory; if you eat regularly, you will stop your body going into "Fat storage mode". If don't eat for long periods of time, your body will decide that you are not going to be fed and try to conserve the calories that you have given it.

I always relate this to how laptops react to not being plugged into the mains when being worked on; they go into "power saving mode", the screen dims to save on battery power so it can last a bit longer. The laptop is not firing on all cylinders, similar to the human body.

By eating regularly does not mean snacking on donuts and cakes. You can snack between meals on carrot sticks, almonds, unflavored popcorn, salads, beef jerky, fresh fruit.

long term weight loss tips #4 Healthy substitutes for your favourite food

Everyone has a favourite food that is probably not really good for them? It is a great idea to find healthy alternatives to these foods.

Let's look at pizza as an example. Pizza can be very "calorific" and unhealthy. A good idea is to make your own, you will have control of what goes on this, you can, you can:

• limit the amount of cheese that you put on and use a "Low fat" alternative
• Add extra veggies to the topping
• Use a thin whole meal base or even make your own if you are particularly skilled in this area
• You can even use a flattened chicken breast as the base of the pizza, this can make it super healthy! As long as you have a bit of oregano and tomato puree, you will have a good pizza taste.

If you take note of " Long term weight loss tips #1 and you learn to be creative in the kitchen, you will find this enjoyable as well as great for your health and weight loss plans!

Long term weight loss tips #5: Prepare your food for the day

This is one of the most inconvenient parts of the whole weight loss and fitness game. Yes it will take a bit of extra time but the longer that you stick to it, the easier and quicker that it will become.

Remember that you are looking for Long term weight loss tips. If you rely on canteen food and convenience food outlets, you may come unstuck. This is why it is best to take your own pack lunch to work or school, you will have total control over your food intake this way.

If you do have a healthy option canteen that is reliable for you to visit at work, great! You can use this, but if it is hit and miss, it's best to sort yourself out.

Get yourself into a routine, prepare your food before you go to bed, ready for the following day, you will be surprised at how quickly you will get used to this if you just perceiver.

Long term weight loss tips #6: Don't over complicate things at the start

When it comes to diet, food, exercise and fitness, there is a whole bunch of information out there. It is so easy to be taken in by a different approach especially if you are new to this game.

The best advice that I think a newbie to weight loss should observe:

"Keep it simple, practice the basics, and perceiver. Be in it for the long term"

If you had not guessed already, I am a big fan of long term sustainable weight loss. If you are serious about your health and weight loss goals, I believe that this is the only approach that you should have.

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How to Lose 10 Pounds in One Month (or 30 Days)

It is absolutely possible to lose ten pounds over the next month. It will take dedication, determination and a positive mental attitude. The following are not only the six steps for losing weight in the next thirty days, but they are also necessary to laying down the foundation that will turn into lasting results.

Step One - Set a Goal and Move Immediately into Action

In this moment, take time to set your ten pound goal. Write it out on a piece of paper and date it for 30 days from now. Writing it out is important when starting out. Keep it in your pocket at all times and read it at every chance you get. The most important part of this task is that if you always read over your goal - you will always have it in mind. Your statement should look something like the following:

"I will lose 10 pounds by Dec.25/2013"

Step Two - Prepare and Execute a Diet Transformation

From a realistic point of view, we should understand that it is not so much a diet that we will be getting into as it will be an overall lifestyle change.

The reason is simple; if we change our diet for the next month and choose to go back to what we consumed prior to the change, our bodies will go back to the way it was.

A simple and yet very effective daily diet would be; assorted fruits for breakfast and assorted vegetables for both lunch and dinner. If you want that extra protein kick in animal form, keep it to a minimum and only allow three to four ounces of freshly cooked fish. You can also snack on nuts and fruit when feeling a bit hungry in between meal times. Limit the portions of each snack to a handful only.

Your new way of eating should not consist of processed foods (including fast food, preserved foods, and other man packaged products), sugar, saturated and Trans fats, and all cooking oil. Also eliminate soft drinks and concentrated fruit juices completely and drink only water.

Step Three - Get Physical Daily

Make time to go for a 45 to 60 minute walk daily without "days off" in between. You can also fit in a natural weight resistance program prior to walking to step it up a notch. The best combination of physical activity for weight loss is a cardiovascular routine (walking, brisk walking, jogging) and a weight resistance routine (push ups, chins, crunches).

There are also other ways you can keep physically active on a daily basis that requires no extra time out of your pocket. When you go for groceries or to the mall, you can park at the far end of parking lot and walk. You can put more effort in cleaning the house on a daily basis. You could also find yard work around the home is you have your own residence. There are so many ways to be naturally active. All we have to do is open our mind to the opportunities.

Step Four - Get Proper Rest

Sleep is a very important time for everyone. Sleep helps rejuvenate the soul, repairs damaged body tissue, and lowers stress levels. It's important to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Another source of rest can be doing something you enjoy doing. It could be a hobby like reading a good book or even meditation if you enjoy that. When we engage in something that is relaxing and joyful it also helps eliminate stress.

Step Five - Clean Your Insides

Okay, so it does not sound like an appetizing job, but this step is also important to help aid weight loss. By keeping your intestinal tract clean, it enables your body to extract the essential nutrients that you need. It will also help keep constipation out of the way!

To do this you can add fiber rich foods in your daily diet. Foods that are high in fiber and packed full of nutrients are; apples, oranges, berries, beans, dark leafy greens. Mother Nature provides the best variety of natural foods and we should absolutely accept them.

Step Six - Eliminate Bad Habits

If you smoke to the point where it's difficult to go for a walk, then it's time to cut back or quit. Smoking should not get in the way of your health. If you spot any other bad habit that you believe is getting in your way of a healthy success - eliminate it. You can do this by replacing the bad habit with a good habit.

We are all habitual beings and no one is an exception. We have the ability to choose and mold a new habit at any given time. When we create new habits by reinforcing the new habit over and over again - we can keep it for life. Once a new habit is fully formed it is set on autopilot, meaning we don't have to attend to that specific habit anymore and we can reap better results daily.

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The Science of Weight Loss

For every claim about dieting that is made, there is in fact a counterclaim; eat carbs, don't eat carbs; eat high fat, don't eat high fat; diets don't work; diet do work. Then if diets do work, which diet do you chose? You've got Nutri System, the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet, the Grapefruit Diet, plus many many more that will make your head spin. Where does it end?

Perhaps the answer to weight loss does not come from only dieting. Weight loss does not occur without chemical interactions and reactions inside of the body. To comprehend the process of weight loss one must understand the science behind it.

Get rid of the "JUST TELL ME WHAT TO DO FOR WEIGHT LOSS" mentality and learn about your body's chemistry. Weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint. Something like this takes time and energy and most importantly, effort. The science of losing weight includes the ability to burn fat, brain chemistry, and balancing hormones.

Burning Fat

The human body is constantly in motion, it has no off switch. Even when you are sleeping the body is still hard at work breathing and pumping blood throughout your body. We are metabolically active for 24 hours a day, we never come to a complete rest. With so much energy being used our bodies need to properly and consistently fuel up by breaking down energy.

Sugar is a source of fuel that we need to break down energy in a process called metabolic activity. To burn fat one would have to increase their resting metabolic rate, control carbohydrate absorption, and restore insulin sensitivity. To increase metabolic rates, foods such as brown seaweed are essential. Seaweed contains Fucoxanthin can speed up this process. Fucoxanthin is converted by developing fat cells into fuxoxanthinaol, which prevents fat cells from "growing" into mature fat cells. It also reduces the growth of new blood vessels in adipose tissue by blocking new fat cells. Fucoxanthin in addition to pomegranate seed oil can increase metabolic rate, induce fat burning, and block the development of new fat cells.

7 - keto - DHEA a steroid produced by the metabolism. can also increase metabolic rate. It drives liver cells to burn fatty acids for energy which causes a lowering of triglycerides in the liver. Many studies using the steroid have significant greater percentage of body fat loss (6.3lbs vs. 2.1lbs).

Carbohydrate absorption can be controlled with foods that contain fiber and magnesium like white kidney beans. It can also replace those caloric catastrophes like pasta, bagels, bread etc.

When it comes to restoring insulin sensitivity green tea, vanadyl, sulfate, fiber, magnesium, and omega-3 acids are best. Vanadyl Sulfate mimics the effect of insulin. In a study done on Type II Diabetic animals, it significantly reduced blood glucose levels and greatly increased uptake and the metabolizing of glucose in all types of muscles.

Brain Chemistry

Your brain chemistry has a lot to do with the way your hormones are balanced. Ever wondered why a person with a thinner frame gets full faster? Because they eat a moderate amount and feel full. They feel full at the right moment when their body no longer needs more calories resulting in not overeating; their brains persuade them not. Leptin and Serotonin are the primary hormones that determine this hunger.

Leptin is a hormone produced by the fat cells to keep lean body composition by two mechanisms. First it moderates appetite by binding to a specific area of the brain, the hypothalamus. Then it signals satiety and enhances the body's ability to access and utilizes the fat stored as energy. Being overweight leads to chronically elevated levels of leptin and prolonged exposure to leptin overload causes the target tissue to become resistant to the effect of leptin, losing the normal capacity to respond.

In order to combat leptin, Irvingia Gabonesis can come to the rescue. It's a tree that bears edible mango-like fruits that are especially valued for their fat and protein-rich nuts. Irvingia increases leptin sensitivity while decreasing CRP (C-reactive protein) as well as increasing insuling sensitivity, which induces a fat burning state.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter found primarily in the brain that controls mood and appetite. Serotonin is converted from tryptophan, which releases serotonin from brain neurons. It diminishes appetite for carbohydrates, which helps with loss of body weight. To increase serotonin you have to raise your tryptophan levels by decreasing cravings and binge eating (especially for carbohydrates). Some foods rich in tryptophan are egg whites, cod, or soybeans.

Balancing Hormones

Avoid stress at all cost. Stress is a main cause for weight gain. Stressing about work, school, bills or life affects your health greatly. Not only does it impact your health, but it can also be a huge determining factor on weight

The hormone that is released in response to stress is Cortisol. Its primary functions are to increase blood sugar, suppress the immune system, and aid in fat protein, and carbohydrate metabolism.

Cortisol is responsible for setting off all the physiological response associated with physical and emotional stress. Sometimes in times of stress, adrenaline can kick in, increasing your alertness and energy level as well as increasing your metabolism by helping fat cells to release energy.

Stress first occurs when fat is broken down to supply the body with a rapid source of energy. When the body gears up for battle, the pupils dilate, thinking improves, the lungs take in more oxygen, the appetite is suppressed, and digestive system shuts off temporarily. Carbohydrates and fats are burned for quick energy. When stress is over, Cortisol helps to bring the body back into balance. It increases appetite so we can replace the carbohydrates and fats we burned.

Today's fight or flight responses come from the stress we experience at work. A secondary effect of Cortisol takes place when there is an excess amount; it stimulates glucose levels. Excess glucose levels get converted into fat, ending up as stored fat. There are some treatment options to aid in Cortisol levels. Relaxing (meditation) for about 20 minutes a day is a great way to combat stress. You can decrease Cortisol with vitamin C, Relora, omega 3 fatty acids, holy basil and magnesium. So there is in fact a science to weight loss. A LOT of science. But at the same time food plays a big role in losing weight. It depends on the persons habits whether or not diets will or will not work. Burning fat, brain chemistry, and balancing hormones are crucial components in any weight loss plan. Remember losing weight is a marathon, NOT A SPRINT!

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3 Important Tips To Achieving Weight Loss Success

Losing weight is a journey that a lot of people oftentimes find too difficult. I've been into this journey and I have to say that every single sacrifice that I made was worth it. Most people would say that they want to lose weight but they don't do anything to achieve it. If you truly want to start losing those pounds away, then I suggest that you change. This change that you have to go through is not like any other changes that you made with your life. This kind of change is not like moving into a new apartment or deciding which car to buy. It's more than that! When I finally got the figure that I want, I looked back on how much of a journey it was. I cried looking at some of my old videos that I recorded 2 years ago. It reminded me of how much effort I gave just to get the dream figure that I want.

Here are some quick tips on how I was able to succeed in reaching my dream.

1. Your worst enemy is yourself

Through the entire course of your weight loss journey, you will meet a lot of obstacles but the worst obstacle that you have to face is yourself. If you'll let yourself get frustrated easily then you won't achieve anything. In my first week of trying to lose weight, I didn't see any result at all. Somehow, my weight loss journey got a little bit delayed because of this.

2. Have people who will support you

Make sure that you will inform your family and friends about your goal of losing weight. Once they know that you are trying to lose weight, they will keep on motivating you to keep on going especially during times when you feel like you're not achieving anything at all.

3. Make sure that you want it so bad

People want to lose weight, that's a fact. However, they don't want it bad enough to actually make some sacrifices. I wanted it so bad that I sacrificed a lot. Some of these sacrifices included not going to the bar with friends, missing out on a lot of football games on TV and even a few family celebrations. As the amount of sacrifices that you made piles up, it will give you enough reason not to turn back.

4. Make sure you do a lot of research

Having the right information is vital. As much as possible, try and find out what kind of exercises and diet plans that would help you achieve your dream figure faster. Also, try to find the right kind of weight loss supplements that are effective yet safe.

I hope that this little list of mine could help you achieve your aspiration and I hope you will have a fine weight loss journey. Always remember that the tougher it gets, the more fulfilling it becomes in the end.

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Fast Flat Belly Diet

The good news is that you can lose your belly fat fast in a healthy and safe way. It's not a secret diet. It is just about eating healthy foods and avoiding the foods that can generate and store fat in your body.

Stop Eating Anything White

No more white bread, white flour or white sugar. You have to cut these foods right out of your diet if you want to lose fat fast and in a healthy and balanced way. All of these white foods are processed so much in factories that most of the original flavours and nutrition are well and truly gone. The list if white foods to avoid include:

• Pasta
• Bread
• Crackers
• White potatoes
• White rice
• Pasteurized dairy products

Only Drink Water

Water should be your only choice of drink. It cleans the body, hydrates the skin and cells, and helps to remove waste out of your body. If you think that you'll have withdrawals from coffee, have just one cup in the morning. Water needs to be your main drink throughout the day, every single day. You must stop drinking all the sodas, flavoured water drinks, alcohol, and all pasteurized dairy. This is not a tough as it sounds, and remember your goal is to lose that belly fat. Just keep thinking how good you're going to look and feel.

Avoid Wheat.

Wheat has an incredible capacity to keep fat in the body. Wheat, even whole grain wheat, can make you feel bloated and more heavy than you need to be. No wheat means avoiding crackers, bread and cereals.

Look After Your Liver

It's important is to keep your liver clean and healthy. Your liver is the second largest organ in the body (your skin is number one). The reason it's so vital is that virtually everything we eat must pass through the liver. Your liver helps digest foods, make proteins and gets rid of bad foods. So you have to keep it in good working order! To get your liver clean and healthy add lemon to each glass of water you drink.

Eat Fat Burning Foods

There are, believe it or not, fat burning foods and you should be including them into your diet. Some foods take more calories to burn so eating more of them will help you to burn more fat. These include:

• Peppers - cayenne, jalapeno, and habanero
• Berries
• Organic Eggs
• Saturated Fats - olive and coconut oil

These are just a few fat burning foods, but by adding them into your diet while at the same time getting rid of wheat products, white products, and unneeded drinks, you will see that unwanted fat disappearing in no time.

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Healthy Foods to Help You Lose Weight

Losing weight could be traumatizing for people who keep on trying different ways on how to lose weight but still they could not get the results they ever wanted. But one thing that they might forget when doing this is to make some changes in their daily diet. This is the most effective way when losing weight in the most ideal manner. So, if you are one of them, then you should start eating these foods to help you lose weight.

1. Eat Plenty of Fruits
Maybe you should try being a "fruitarian." Fruits are totally healthy because they don't have those bad cholesterol that you usually consume everyday like when eating pizza, spaghetti, bacon, cheese, hamburgers and many other unhealthy foods that your taste bud loves. So, it's time to make a change. Once you're hungry, why not fill in your stomach with your favorite fruit or any fruit that you find tasty. Most of the time, you like eating sweet foods during snack time. So, try eating some fruits during this time so that your stomach will not get hungry. And during meals, try to eat some fruits before eating your entire meal. This way, you tend to eat less.

2. Try brown rice as your main source of carbohydrates.
Many are complaining about too many carbohydrates in their bodies. So, instead of eating lots of bread, pizza, pasta and other unhealthy foods with plenty of carbohydrates; why not stick to brown rice. You may not feel like eating to this at first; but with a conditioned mind you will be used to it. Brown rice is rich in fiber, thus you will have a better digestion. Another good thing about this kind of rice is that you will eat lesser in amount because you will not have too much appetite when eating. So, if you will be hungry after few hours; try eating some biscuits and drink plenty of water or fruit juice.

3. Eat more fish than meat.
When preparing food for your meal, try concentrating on making a dish from fish. You can make a research on how to cook it well to make it more delicious. You can cook it in different ways so that you will not find it boring to eat. Use your creativity too so that it will appear more delicious to your eyes. You can also add some healthy vegetables to make some variations in taste. Add some spices and flavors to make your dish perfect. Actually, fish is very healthy especially those with high levels of Omega 3 because there are healthy fats which are very good for your heart, eyes, brain and mood.
So if you are really sincere and very much determined in losing weight, then try eating these foods to help you lose weight. Just try to experiment it for a month then check the results. If you find things are working well, then why not make it a lifestyle to maintain a healthy and a nice looking body. Healthy foods are not only for losing weight, they are also important to make a longer and more meaningful life. So, there's no reason for you not to like them.

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Lose Weight Naturally And Keep Off The Weight You Lose

What do you believe is the biggest issue with the dominant part of weight loss plans available today? The response is truly straightforward and may surprise you.
Simply put, they don't work!

The number of overweight people in this world continues to rise year after year. In the meantime, the number of people abstaining from food at any one time also continues to rise. Perhaps we ought to be acknowledging how to lose weight naturally.

If any of the eating regimens out there were helpful, don't you suppose the number of overweight people, and the number of people consuming fewer calories, would start to decrease? Why do people continue to put on weight and, at the same time, continue to strike their heads against a veritable wall of pointless eating regimens? There is only one approach to weight loss, and that is to lose weight naturally. If you lose weight the right way, the pounds fall off effectively and they stay off!

Our metabolism influences our weight. Over a very long time, eras and eras, our bodies have adjusted to using the food we consume in the most effective way available. A high level of physical activity increases the level of the metabolism, and a low-level of physical action slows down the metabolism.

An active metabolism is like a hot oven. It can burn calories quite proficiently. Indeed, a high metabolic rate burns calories so effectively that an individual with a high metabolism can truly deplete more calories without putting on weight.

When you lose weight naturally, you work with your body's natural, hereditary rhythms. This implies that while you begin to burn fat, you as well naturally start to increase the level of your metabolic rate.

A natural system to lose weight blends an eating regimen of foods that gives an ideal balance between micro-nutrients and macro-nutrients. Micro-nutrients are things like vitamins and minerals. Macro-nutrients are things like sugars, protein and fat. (Yes, fat. Our body needs a certain amount of fat to continue working in top form.) And it's truly critical to get the right amount of the right sorts of fat in your eating regimen in a natural way. When our everyday eating regimen imitates the eating regimen we developed on, the outcome is productive, natural weight loss and weight support.

Great natural foods give the body what it needs. When the body has what it needs, it starts to run at its most elevated proficiency. It's this "metabolic tune-up" that takes the weight off and keeps it off forever. This at the close of the day is essentially what any dieter is searching for.

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Vital Ways to Lose Weight Fast

How to Lose Weight Fast
You're not alone in your quest to lose weight. Just about 50 percent of US citizens try to lose weight at the same time. Although there are actually several things that you can do to lose a few pounds, losing weight too fast can be harmful. Craze diets, fasting and diet pills might help you appear lighter on the scale, however these solutions can result in significant health issues.
On the other hand, in case you are typically in good health and you are serious about dropping a few pounds fast, there actually are several methods and guidelines you can choose to assist you in accomplishing your short term objectives.

Craze Diets
The point of many craze diets would be to encourage quick weight loss which you can observe practically in a single day. Craze diets are temporary options; should you stick to a craze diet for longer than a couple of days, you may cause significant harm to your body. It is best to seek advice from your physician prior to starting any type of diet program to ensure one's body can handle the extra stress and tension.
Weight Loss Spa Therapies

One more simple way to obtain rapid weight loss success is beauty solutions particularly created to assist you lose inches swiftly. By going to a day spa, club, or health and fitness facilities providing weight loss beauty solutions and treatments, you can choose several treatment options and health spa services which are intended to assist you slim down swiftly or to improve your physical appearance by minimizing bloating, tightening up your skin, or eliminating fluids. These methods only entail short-term weight reduction, however the benefits are instant and don't include diets or exercising.
Healthy Eating Patterns

Modify basic eating routines and life-style practices. Implementing several straightforward but important nutritional and attitudinal modifications could be adequate to boost fat loss for most people. Incorporating these suggestions using your temporary weight loss plan will improve your odds of achieving your weight loss objectives quicker and retaining those outcomes in the long run.
Workout More Often

Don't forget, it is possible to drop some weight both by reducing your caloric consumption or raising the amount of energy you burn up. Any weight loss program ought to involve the two, however if you wish to shed weight quickly, working out is vital. Tiny adjustments in your activity can increase within a day, and you can start seeing weight loss results within a week.

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Weight Loss: A Simple Way For You

Obesity or being overweight has become a major health challenge in the 21st century that must be dealt with with all the seriousness that it deserves. This is because being overweight can make a person more susceptible to heart problems, stroke, diabetes and various types of cancer.

Apart from the health effects of being overweight listed above, it can also affect the body image of an individual adversely thereby resulting in low self esteem and other emotional challenges. It is therefore necessary for a person who is overweight to undergo a weight loss program to burn the excess fat and calories in order to trim down reasonably.

The good news I have for you is that you don't have to starve in order to lose weight and to be in great shape. Most people associate weight loss with being hungry continually, hence they are scared to start a weight loss plan in the first place.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE HUNGRY TO LOSE WEIGHT!
I want to share with you a few tips to achieve a successful weight loss in order to reap all the benefits that keeping your body trim results in.

Firstly, I want to highlight the major cause of obesity and this is directly related to the food we take in daily and secondly how well or little exercise we engage in daily.

Before commencing on any weight loss plan you need to have the right mindset to achieve your goal. Having the right mindset will result in a personal motivation, dedication and commitment to overcome all the obstacles and frustrations that you might encounter along the way.

When you have the right mindset you will be better equipped and fully empowered to replace the old pattern of eating and habits that you had before. With a little effort and purpose of heart you can easily develop the right mindset for you to achieve your goal of losing weight.

TO DEVELOP THE RIGHT MINDSET FOR LOSING WEIGHT...

1. Write your goal down-to lose some weight.

2. Be specific about your goal-for example to lose 40kg or 50kgs...

3. Set an ACHIEVABLE deadline for yourself-for example to lose 40kgs in 30 days, 40 days or 60 days.

4. Focus and meditate on your goal daily-write it out, paste it on your door or dashboard etc.

5. Finally, be committed to your goal

5 TIPS TO LOSE WEIGHT SIMPLY AND EFFORTLESSLY...

1. Drink plenty of water: water is a good way to flush out toxin from the body and to feel healthier. This will discourage the tendency to eat more.

2. Start your day with a glass of clean water. As soon as you wake up, gulp down a cool glass of water. It is a great way to start your day, and with this habit in place you a lesser quantity of breakfast.

3. Stay away from sweetened bottle drinks like sodas, colas and all those fizzy drinks which are sweetened with sugar (mind you more sugar means more calories)

4. Include in your diet things or foods that contain more water like tomatoes and watermelons. These contain 90%-95% water hence there is nothing to lose in feasting on these foods.

5. Finally, increase your fiber intake daily. fiber is very important for the body so try to include a lot of fruits and vegetables in your diet. These foods help to cut down on body fat.

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Foods That Make You Lose Weight - Just Need These 9 Simple Foods

Most people wishing to lose weight try many weight loss programs and many of them do not work. There are however many natural foods that if taken will help you lose weight faster and in a healthy way. To save you time, I will share with you some of the best proven foods that should form your recipe in your weight loss plan. These foods reduce hunger, improve your metabolism, suppress your craving for starch and eventually make you lose weight.

1. Beans
Beans contain a digestive hormone called cholecystokinin which is among the best weight loss companion as it suppresses appetite naturally. Cholecystokinin helps to hold food in the stomach for longer. Beans have also been proven to keep blood sugar at the right levels in order to stave off hunger for longer. Beans have high amounts of fiber which lower cholesterol levels.

2. Eggs
Egg white is rich in protein and helps suppress hunger by making you feel full for long. Taking eggs helps you consume less. Eggs also prevent blood sugar spikes which increases craving for food.

3. Spinach
These tender and flavorful leafs are rich in iron, vitamin K and folic acid. Spinach also contains antioxidants that fight diseases i.e. vitamin c, beta-carotene and phytochemical lutein which keep the eyes safe from macular degeneration caused by aging.

4. Salad
Large calorie intake through meals can be reduced by starting with a big salad. A study has shown that eating large salad food intake largely salad also boosts vitamin C and, lycopene, folic acid and carotenoids which help to fight diseases.

5. Green tea Catechin antioxidant in green tea increases the rate of metabolism hence burning more fats. Research has proved that taking green tea significantly increases metabolism causing a drop in body mass index. Green tea also lowers a person's cholesterol level.

6. Almond butter and raw almonds Almond butter are rich in vitamin E which is an antioxidant. Almonds are good for the hair and the skin. It also has a lot of Vitamin B2 and magnesium which help to do away with stress and calm nerves. When you are stressed, you usually gain weight as a result of the release of cortisol in the body. Vitamin B2 in almonds increases your energy content.

7. Yogurt Yogurt is a good belly-flattening substance that is packaged with probiotics bacteria which is useful in reducing fats absorbed by your body. There are low fat versions of yogurt which have less sodium than the regular yogurt and have no preservatives or sweeteners.

8. Grapefruit Eating half a grapefruit or drinking a grapefruit juice before meals will help you drop several pounds in a short time. Grapefruit has phyrochemicals which reduce the amount of insulin in the body. This process causes the conversion of calories to energy instead of fats.

9. Hot red pepper A bowl of spicy pepper eaten on regular bases plays an important role to your weight loss. Capsaicin component in pepper is a magic appetite suppressor which helps you lose weight. Other weight loss foods include: High-fiber cereals, vinegar, pears, soup, lean beef and cauliflower.

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Does Hypnotherapy Really Work In Reducing Weight?

Losing weight is a long as well as challenging journey. It can become frustrating at times especially when low self-esteem, sadness and boredom settle in. A lot of factors contribute to not being able to lose weight. These are low support from the family, low confidence, lack of interest and inactiveness.

While the nutrition plans focus over what exactly your diet should be, they are not of much help. They are ineffective when it comes to retaining the interest of the individual. A relatively new concept of hypnotherapy has come up in the recent years. By using hypnosis, you can change the way you feel about your diet.

The hypnotherapy is effective in helping you stick to your dietary schedule and exercising regimen by generating positive thoughts over your weight loss plan. This ensures that you are able to lose weight happily.
However hard it may be to turn down your favourite dish for something healthier, hypnotherapy helps you combat your temptations by changing your thinking patterns and gain control over your cravings. This relives you of the unnecessary guilt and feelings of depression you get after you indulge in cravings and hunger pangs.

The hypnotherapy targets the unconscious mind through its powerful techniques of suggestion. A hypnotherapist will help you in developing a new and positive relationship with your weight loss schedule. The main objective is to help you develop confidence about your body, transform any negative thoughts about your eating habits and assist you in losing weight in a healthy and responsible manner without affecting your emotional well-being.

How does hypnotherapy really work?

Hypnotherapy is becoming well accepted and popular. However, a lot of people still have their doubts.
Practicing hypnosis will not:

• Make you out of control.
• Make you sleep during the sessions.
• Force you to do anything against your will.
• Erase any of your memories.
• Force you to reveal your secrets.

It is worthwhile to note that hypnotherapy is not an occult art. It does not exploit you and out power you. You will be in charge of your emotions and strength during the sessions.
The working of hypnotherapy

• The hypnotherapist you will work with is essentially your coach. He is responsible for guiding you into a deep state of relaxation.
• Once he achieves your body and mind in the relaxation mode, your unconscious mind can be accessed. This portion of the brain works continuously but we are not aware of its mechanisms which include instincts which are innate and survival characters.
• This step is followed by soothing scripts which aim to explore the person's reasons for overeating. It also suggests new techniques to think through visual aids. You have the authority to decline any suggestion which does not appeal you.

Over a period of time, the individual will be able to replace his negative thoughts and erratic eating habits with a positive schedule.

Will I benefit from hypnotherapy?

This is probably one of the most commonly asked doubts from the hypnotherapists. However, it is hard to find this out without trying personally. The experiences may vary from individual to individual but yes, it does create awareness about the good and bad diet and exercise.
Supported by Chambless and Hollen in 1998, hypnotherapy was stated as an effective technique for weight loss.

Hypnotherapy techniques for losing weight

Although every case bears different characteristics, yet, some common suggestions encountered during your therapy sessions are:

• The level of fitness the individual wants to achieve.
• Imagining your own self after achieving the results.
• Imagining your body to obtain the goals effortlessly.

Such visualisations and others as decided by your trainer will empower you to control your dietary choices. This will help in turn to pave way for a healthy diet and exercise regimen which in the long run will help you reduce weight.

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Can You Really Lose Weight With Raspberry Ketone Extract?

It has been suggested that Raspberry Ketone Extract can assist people in losing excess amounts of weight. While this has yet to be scientifically proven in humans, there are some people who want information that states if it can really work. In this article, information has been found to show that it has potential.

Raspberry Ketone Extract: What does it do?

Derived from raspberries, Raspberry Ketone properties are found in raspberries; a natural property, it has been found to be one of the most beneficial supplements to increase a body's strength to lose weight and gain energy. Due to its popularity to help someone lose weight, like anything else placed in a body, it is important to understand what it does.

Raspberry Ketones cause a chemical called norepinephrine to be released; known as a hormone that is found when a person is in distress. When this hormone is created, the heart rate begins to rise; requiring larger levels of oxygen to be carried throughout the body. As these actions take place, energy is instructed by the body to be created in order to sustain them. It is at this point that stored fat will begin to break down. It is during this break down, at a higher level than what is considered normal, that a decrease in the absorption of fat begins and thus weight loss is the successful result.

With this break down of stored fat, there are other benefits with this supplement. Raspberry Ketone Extract can:

• Strengthen Your Immune System
• Increase B and T Cells
• Reduce the Development or Complications of Type 2 Diabetes (Monitored by a Medical Professional)
• Lower Cholesterol
• Decrease Heart Diseases

With these benefits, not only will a significant amount of weight be lost but a boost to the metabolism and increase of energy will be found.

Can You Really Lose Weight with Raspberry Ketone Extract?

It has been proven to make a difference in overall health, but do not be misled; it is not a wonder drug that will magically take the weight off. You will have to make some life and dietary changes too.

The savory property found in red raspberries is what gives raspberry ketone extract its taste and "power". While there is not 100 percent proof that it works, studies conducted on mice to showed that weight gain was prevented. However this was found only when the mice were given a high-fat diet.

This was found because "the anti-obesity effects were due to stimulation of lipolysis (which is how the body breaks down fat in fat cells called adipocytes) in both regular fat tissue and brown fat tissue." With this finding, it was found to interrupt the release of pancreatic lipase. This is an enzyme found in the digestive track to break down that fats found in the wall of the small intestine; keep in mind, though, this research was conducted on mice. As humans, we have different physiology and have different reasons for eating; not to mention our taste buds for different types of food. Raspberry Ketone Extract can work for people who desire to do what they can naturally to lose weight.

Losing weight is not easy, with Raspberry Ketone Extract, there is no better way to know whether it works or not until you try it for yourself. There is not much you have to lose; except the weight you already want to lose overall.

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How to Choose a Good Diet Plan for Weight Loss?

The truth behind weight loss may not be always what you see at the face value.
First, you should realize that weight loss involves 100% dedication and a diligent adherence on your part towards the set diet plan. Make sure there is not even a slight deviation from your target.
Prepare a checklist to chalk out a good diet plan, which includes:
i. Your lifestyle
You may not be ready to remodel your lifestyle drastically. For example, if you practice just 2 meals/day and the schedule stresses on 4-5 times/day, then you may not feel comfortable with it.
ii. The level of exercises you undertake
In case you like to take up exercise sessions on your own, with no rigid conditions, whereas the proposal forces you to do exhaustive exercises at a stretch, then you should think twice before choosing it.
iii. Suitability to continue
It is not wise to stick to a diet plan just temporarily; you should feel good to follow it throughout your life.
iv. The ingredients
Sometimes, you may be required to replace the usual items with food that is prepared in a special manner or has some unusual ingredients. Check if you are comfortable with such a requirement.
v. The pace at which you aim to lose weight
Understand the difference between the actual loss of weight and the seemingly quicker loss of water, which may give a wrong impression. So, it is advised that you aim at reducing your weight in a slow and steady manner.
vi. The elimination of any kind of undesirable habit you possess
You may have to give up habits like spending the night time in a bar or being a couch potato to accommodate the new plan of diet.
vii. The possibility of including your all-time favorite items
Denial of your favorite foods can lead to an unstoppable urge to indulge in overeating binges, which is detrimental to your weight loss preparation.
viii. Your ability to adapt to changes that are recommended
Determine the nature of changes you will need to adapt to so that you can prepare your mind and body!
ix. The need to use any supplements or detox techniques
Most of the times, you don't need any kind of supplements as a perfectly followed schedule of food intake and exercises is self-sufficient in managing the pounds you gain and lose for a healthy body.
x. The nature of the plan
If you like flexibility, you should choose a plan that allows you to select your own menu that is by all means a healthy platter.

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3 Reasons to LOVE Your Workout: Confessions of a Fitness Addict

I sometimes get strange stares when I tell people I love to workout. But it's true! I look forward to that time of day when I can step away from everything else and just concentrate on my body. I have truly become an addict. I get cranky when I miss a workout and my day somehow feels incomplete. I absolutely love the feeling I get from working out.
You, too can love your workout. The longer you stick with it, the more engrained it will be in your habits and the more results you'll see. Even in 6 weeks, the results can be dramatic.
What are 3 things you can love about your workout?
1-Relieves stress
Exercise lowers cortisol, a stress hormone. You can take what could be a negative emotion like anger, frustration or anger and use it as fuel for your workout. You can successfully redirect that negative emotion into a positive outcome.
Exercise is also a great distraction to get your mind off problems and put you in a better state to be able to deal with them. If nothing else, it can get you out of the four walls you normally stare at, giving you a fresh perspective.
That deep breath and sense of calm you get while doing cardio is hard to replace with anything else. Everything feels clear - your lungs, your skin, your thoughts. It's a great time to think as you're pounding away the miles.
2-Feels great
Have you ever heard anyone say, "Man, I sure do regret that I worked out today." Probably not! But you most likely have heard someone talk about how proud she was that she DID workout today or three times this week.
It just plain feels good to workout. Exercise increases endorphins which are your body's "feel-good" chemicals. There is often a feeling of euphoria with working out; a "high." Who can't use some of that? There is a sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with it. It's what keeps people coming back time after time... and the fact that they like the way their clothes are fitting and the positive comments they are receiving from people who are noticing a change in them.
Besides, when else do you get to listen to obnoxiously loud music in the middle of the day? Playlists make great workout buddies. You can adjust your music to the type of activity you're doing, the speed at which you want to do it and your overall mood or the mood you want to have. Music is a great pick-me-up. At the end of a workout, not only will you feel good from the workout, but from the music as well.
3-See progress & succeed at something
When you work out consistently, you will see progress. You'll see progress towards your goals whether that be fat loss or muscle gain. You'll also notice that you can do things today that you couldn't do last month. You'll notice you can go longer, faster and at a higher resistance doing cardio and that it becomes easier. Maybe last week you couldn't walk on the treadmill and carry on a conversation without being winded but now you can talk with ease. Maybe you started out doing a chest press with 10 pounds and now you use 20. Progress means success. And we all like the feeling of success. If you succeed in one area, it gives you confidence to succeed in another.
Did anything of those sound familiar? You've probably heard or experienced some or all of these things already.
And here's a bonus reason to love your workout:
When you workout, it gives you added incentive to stay on your meal plan. If you go to the gym an hour a day, there are still twenty three hours in a day to screw up your results. Who wants to work that hard in the gym just to blow it with her diet? Working out regularly adds some incentive to eat right.

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How to Leverage a Weight Loss Program, 5 Ways to Turn Yourself Into a Ferocious Health Monster

The conversation at hand was of the topic 'vipasinna'. Where one basically sits in silence for 10 days to quieten the mind. Clearly the words came easily, giving myself the comfort of the idea that I would do it 'one day'. And for that moment, the idea of 'one day' sat well with me. It gave me the sense of gratification that I was going to take action on something at some stage. I felt committed without the commitment. I had happily tricked myself and it was like buying organic chocolate instead of a Mars Bar.


This conversation started to magnify what I was hearing in the gym too.

If only I could find the right weight loss program. I want to lose weight. I want to eat healthier. I want to stop drinking for a month. I want to exercise more. I should do this or I should do that. It's seems as human beings we easily should all over ourselves. A common theme I was beginning to hear more and more (including my own head).

With many great intentions for a healthier existence or improvement, it is certainly a human trait for a constant tug of war. But as long as we point ourselves in the right direction, even it's 3 steps forward and two back, we are still moving forward right? Which is better than standing on the spot.

SO ASK YOURSELF HONESTLY

Do you really want to lose weight? Those few extra kilos. Run a charity race? Improve your diet? Get lean this summer? Have that beach look? Run faster? Lift more? Live a healthier lifestyle? Create new habits? A life with more purpose? Be more grateful?

If you had the ultimate weight loss program, would you implement it correctly and follow it through? From my experience, it's not the weight loss program that's the problem, it is the person applying it.

All these wants can lead you to a healthier more vibrant self. If you answered yes to all of the above but are struggling to get there, then maybe it's time for a different approach and get some leverage - emotional leverage, which is working for me every time.

Be careful though, as I have seen this happen quite often - A person stops questioning things too much, they stop thinking, quieten the brain and just start doing the five things I have listed in this post, and before they know it, they've turned themselves into a ferocious health monster!

1. CREATE PAIN

Think about this for a moment. As human beings, we tend to move away from pain with more intention, than we do moving towards a more pleasurable experience that we want. We tend to tread water and stay in our comfort zone no mater how murky the water is, as apposed to swimming towards new waters that bring change, but along with change comes a sense of uncertainty. Usually we only start swimming when the pain becomes unbearable, or we do things without real purpose and intention behind it.

i.e. If I asked you to run 100m as fast as you can, the chances are you would do it, but not to your greatest ability. But if I pinned two dozen prime rare steak pieces all over you and let loose a ravenous pit-bull terrier that hadn't eaten for a week, do you think you would run faster? Of course!

But the pain we have is never short and sharp like the dog chasing, it's usually slow and gradual. A far off distant drum beat that's so faint you can hardly hear it. But the pain slowly builds like a pressure cooker and finally one day it explodes. That distant drum beat becomes so loud it feels like someone is beating it on your head and this jolts you into action!

I believe in each and every one of us, there is a tipping point that moves us to greater health (or anything for that matter). That tipping point usually comes from a painful experience. A 'that would be nice to have' turns into a 'must have' from one decision. The decision only takes a moment to make, but for some, a life time to get there.

Here is the most important point I am going to make - Why wait for the pain to arrive? Create the pain now.

Time and time again I see people who leave their health until it's a major threshold and that drum is beating so loud they finally want to create change. But by hitting the fast forward button and bringing the circumstances to the forefront, it's usually just a slap across the face as a posed to a sledge hammer.

So how do we create the pain?

First thing you must do is be brutally honest with yourself and not camouflage the truth. This is probably one of the toughest things you will have to do, but worth it. As humans we have a tendency to justify our actions daily. But ask yourself this: Would you rather be right or happy?

When I was sitting on the fence regarding the detox I underwent, I finally had some tests done to see where I was at. I knew they wouldn't be great, but as usual, the longer we leave it, the worse it gets. I also knew if I didn't like the results, it would be the kick-start I needed to get the detox under way, as it was quite a commitment.

So let's say it is weight loss you want to achieve and you know deep down there is a fair bit to shift. We all know the complications and connotations that being overweight can have on the body over time, and when that time comes how painful could that be?

So time for honesty. Take a full length photograph of yourself in your swimmers or underwear (only has to be for your eyes only), front, side and back. Remember, brutally honest right?

By doing this, it will give you a different perspective of yourself. There's no hiding now. I know by this point you may rather stick needles in your eyes, but what are the true consequences if you don't? Smaller pain now or bigger pain later? Which one do you want. The ostrich head burying approach will only work for so long before someone comes along and kicks you up the ass!

Parting with hard earned money is another great motivator. Not a member of a gym? You could pay for a membership for 3 months. If you are a member but you are not utilising the facilities well or just stuck in a rut, hire a personal trainer for 3 months. This money well spent will magnify the pain if you don't begin to follow through to an outcome deep down you truly want.

2. SET GOALS AND VISUALISE

Goal setting sounds as exciting as reading the NY Times financial review, but when implemented correctly, it has a very powerful effect on one's self. There are dozen of books written on this topic, so one I'm not going to go into to much detail with.

In the meantime, is there something you can commit to? A weight loss challenge? A fun run? Something with a timeframe. When I did my detox my Naturopath told me I needed to commit for 6 weeks. This instantly gave me a timeframe.

If you need to lose 10kg, how about 1kg a week for 10 weeks? That's realistic and achievable if you are committed.

Still not convinced? If you want to know what commitment is, you should know the story of my friend Kelli
who was diagnosed with a brain tumour and not given much hope. So the next time you catch yourself complaining about it all being to hard, you should put yourself in her shoes. You will soon find that your goal will probably feel very achievable and the excuses you make are futile.

So once you have made pain your friend, you must set an achievable goal with a timeframe.
But not only do you have to set a goal, you have to visualise yourself already achieving it. As you can imagine, there are going to be many hurdles and you will be tested every step of the way to achieving what you want. So when faced with these hurdles we can either look for obstacles or opportunities.

By continually visualising yourself already achieving what you want, you will be training the most powerful resource you have - your subconsciousness. This will then enable you to see opportunities arise when previously all you could see were obstacles.

To help this process, place your goals or images/pics somewhere you will see them constantly. Bedroom mirror, fridge, toilet door. I have even known someone to laminate their goals and hang it up in the shower! Just do whatever works for you, as long it keeps you on track and moving forward. But make sure you follow this process through!

Just remember, if you are sailing to Tasmania in a head on wind, you don't turn around and go back, you adjust your sails accordingly.

3. REFERENCE POINT

Once you know what you want to achieve, you have to create reference points along the way of your committed timeframe and record as much information as possible. If you don't do this, how do you know if you are making progress?

By now you should know what you want, but you also have to know where you have come from and also be able to track your progress along the way.

You could have a diary dedicated to your weight loss plan. You have probably jumped on the scales to see what your weight is. But this only tells a small part of the story. Break that weight down. Measure your body fat %. Calculate your muscle mass kg. Measure body girth circumferences. (If you not sure how to do all this, pop into your local gym for them to do it).

See how many push ups or sit ups you can do in a minute. Test yourself once a month.

You have taken a picture of yourself, why not take one once a month to compare any body changes. Nothing will give you more motivation than seeing your body shape changing in front of your very own eyes.

Keep a food diary. Write everything down that goes into your mouth. You could even keep a photo diary. Take pictures of the foods and drinks you have for a couple of weeks and track your progress. If you are not hitting your targets, you can look back at what you have been eating to see if you are sticking to the plan.

You have to make your goals measurable. The more data you collect the better and the more it will help you along the way.

4. PROXIMITY

By this point, if you have followed through with the first three principles wholeheartedly, right now you should be chomping at the bit with all the momentum you are gathering. But for this momentum to last and if you are to go the distance with any weight loss program, ignore this word at your peril: Proximity.

This one can be a slightly delicate topic, and for me, one that took a while in life before the penny really dropped. But once it did, it had a MASSIVE implication on my direction in certain aspects of my life and the environment I put myself in on a daily basis.

Simply put, the people and the environment you surround yourself with will have a major impact on whether you follow through until the end or not.

A fantastic form of leverage is to spend time with someone who has achieved what you want. Someone who will make you raise your standards. We generally shy away from people like this, but it's a must if you want to achieve a different result.

When I migrated to Australia five years ago, I was fearful of the ocean. Here I was living 500 meters from the beach and not even able to swim a lap of a pool, let alone get amongst the waves! But this was
something I wanted to overcome.

I started meeting a mate of mine for swimming, but he was not a very strong swimmer either. Before we knew it, we were talking each other out of it and coming up with great excuses. It all came down to FEAR.

As great as my mate is, he was unable to push me because he was suffering the same problem. Eventually I got so desperate and determined, I walked into the local surf lifesaving club and asked what it took to be one, at this point, this was WAY beyond my wildest thoughts, and the bottom line was, if I was willing to commit, they were willing to commit too. So I went for it.

The next thing I knew, I was surrounded by people who had been involved with beaches and surf rescue for most of their lives. Every time I wanted to back off or didn't have the belief I could get through my bronze medallion, there was someone there to tell me otherwise. Because of this I passed and it challenged me every step of the way, but it is still one of my greatest personal achievements to this day.

There's a saying in South America: "burn the ships", because that's what the settlers did when they arrived and there was no turning back. And to get what we want, I feel sometimes that's what we have to do in life to get there. So ask yourself... have you burnt the ships?

Be careful of who you surround yourself with and make no doubt about it.. Proximity is power.

5. THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE

The final piece of the puzzle is to go public. By this I don't mean walking down the high-street with a megaphone or telling your mates how you are to undergo a healthy lifestyle change at a party over some extravagant dessert your eating, but actually putting it out there to the world by any means possible that connects us in today's society.

Do you have a Facebook profile? You could tell your friends and family what your about to do and then 
update it every day. If you are shy, not to worry as most people won't actually give a shit, and the ones who do will support you and give encouragement. I think we can spend so much time thinking what others think, it holds us back. But if everyone is thinking what others think of them, then nobody is really thinking about you are they? Are we really that important to be consumed by other peoples thoughts?? Probably not. If they do judge you, it's only fleeting at best. So don't sweat it and just put it out there, because the world will keep turning whether you do or don't.

You could blog your progress. You can set up a simple blog within 15 minutes these days. When I was
about to do my detox, I decided to blog it. This made it VERY REAL. It was the final tipping point and it helped get me through. Not only did it get me through, I had a lot of fun doing it! People got very curious and what surprised me most, there was a lot of support and talk around the topic as others began to look at what they were doing daily too.

The bottom line is, if you are going to do something about it. TELL EVERYONE!

Final Thoughts

If you read this post to the end:

a. You've got to much time on your hands

or

b. You actually can relate to the points I have made and know that not only can they be applied to a weight loss program, but any parts of your life for that matter.

If you are struggling with your weight or health. My view is that it's 80% attitude and 20% applied knowledge. If you find yourself saying mmmmm that's an interesting post, but do nothing, you have simply learned and not applied that knowledge.

So when in doubt, just do SOMETHING. If you do this, the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place in ways you could have never imagined, and before you know it. You've turned yourself into ferocious health monster.

By Guy Lawrence of 180 Nutrition

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