Rapid Weight Loss

August 29th, 2009

Rapid weight loss seems to be the goal of many people who are contemplating starting a diet. We live in an age of instant results: we have a question, we Google it and receive an immediate answer. We want to communicate with a friend, we call them from our cell phone, wherever we are, and reach them instantly wherever they are. When beginning a diet, most people therefore expect to see instant results. And there are many companies out there waiting to take advantage of consumers, promising rapid weight loss results with little or no effort. In fact, did you know that Americans spend over $33 billion every year looking for that magic pill, drink, or formula?

Well, the million—or multi-billion—dollar question then becomes: “Do these rapid weight loss programs work?” I’ve compiled some research about various diets for you to draw your own conclusions.

First, we have the starvation diets. These come in many different forms, although the most popular one has dieters drinking nothing but water, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. The claim is that you will detoxify your body. This diet program does nothing to help you burn fat or build muscle. It is not healthy, and you would be hard pressed to find any medical expert who would recommend this diet.

The second most popular would be the diets that severely restrict the number of calories you intake every day. While this is proven to be safe, when medically supervised, it can be expensive to buy the types of foods this diet calls for.

The third most common solution is the magic pills and supplements. These claim that you can lose up to ten pounds in just a couple of weeks, and that you will have a new body before you know it. Some of these have been found to be very dangerous. In fact, Hydroxycut was just pulled from the market because it is so dangerous. The FDA does not regulate these, and they can be harmful.

The bottom line is, there is no substitute for physical exercise and a sensible, well-balanced diet.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Fat Loss 4 Idiots General Posts | No Comments »

Mayo Clinic Diet

August 24th, 2009

The Mayo Clinic diet has received a great amount of praise, and rightly so. However, there is a slight misconception about this program. While the name, the Mayo Clinic diet gives the impression that you are following a diet program, it is actually an eating program, designed to help you not only maintain a healthy weight, but also a healthy lifestyle. It is not your typical diet that puts major restrictions on what you can eat for a few days, causing you to lose water weight but not really helping you get healthier overall. According to the Mayo Clinic staff, this weight management program focuses not only on the right foods to eat to lose weight but also on your overall health.

So how do you begin to begin the Mayo Clinic diet? Well, there are four main parts to this program. The first is to follow the healthy weight pyramid that the Mayo Clinic has designed. You are instructed to eat until you feel satisfied; restricting your food intake until you feel extremely hungry tends to cause overeating or binging. By following the pyramid, you will be able to lose approximately 1-2 pounds a week, which is considered a safe amount.

The second aspect of this diet is to increase your physical activity. The reason for this is that you will burn calories while working out, resulting in fat loss. You will also be helping your body get in better shape, improving your health. If you are unused to any sort of physical activity, the program recommends starting out with just 10-15 minutes of exercise everyday, then slowly building up to a more strenuous and long lasting routine.

The third part of this diet includes setting goals. However, rather than just setting goals regarding the number of pounds, you are encouraged to set goals regarding the number of miles you walk or jog per week, the number of healthy foods you eat in a day, or other goals related to improving your overall health.

The fourth aspect of the diet is to get started on the management program and stay motivated. Motivation is very important when making such a big lifestyle change. To keep yourself motivated, you should emphasize the positive results that will come from losing weight, such as reducing many health risks and gaining more energy. You are also setting a good example for other family members. When you feel yourself lacking in motivation, it is also a good idea to reach out to others for support, whether it is a friend, family member, or co-worker.

The Mayo Clinic diet is a great lifestyle change for any person who really wants to lose weight and become healthier.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Fat Loss 4 Idiots General Posts | Comments Off

Low Fat Diets: Tips and Facts You Need to Know

August 19th, 2009

One of the most commonly made New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight and get in shape. Many people make that same resolution over and over again every year, vowing to do better this year than the year before. With so many different diet programs being sold on bookstore shelves, on the Internet, and even more magic tonics and pills being advertised, it’s hard to know what you can trust. There are low fat diets, low carb diets, diets where you hardly eat anything, and diets where you never have to give up your favorite foods. It really can be confusing. Since low fat diets are so popular, I thought I’d go over some tips about them, and what to look for in a legitimate low fat diet.

Low fat diets are actually recommended quite frequently by doctors, dieticians, and nutritionists for the health benefits. In fact, what some people may consider a low fat diet, may be just following the regular guidelines. Did you know that only 30% of your calories should come from fat? There are also a wide number of health disorders that can be avoided by limiting your fat intake, such as gallbladder disease, gastroparesis, fatty liver disorder, malabsorption of nutrients, and even diarrhea.

For those switching to a diet lower in fat, there are simple substitutions that you can make in your everyday meals. Buy skim milk instead of whole milk, eat whole grain breads instead of white bread or sweet rolls, and opt for fresh or steamed veggies instead of fried veggies or ones dipped in cheese or cream.

There are many low fat diets out there, but the one you choose should be reviewed by your doctor before you begin to make any major adjustments to your food intake. Going to extremes may cause more harm than good.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Fat Loss 4 Idiots General Posts | No Comments »

Low Carb Diets

August 19th, 2009

There are many diet programs out there on the market today. Some of them claim that you can lose 10 pounds in three days by eating next to nothing, or that you can eat a magic little pill and then eat whatever you want. How are you supposed to tell what diet plans are legitimate and which ones are scams? It’s hard, isn’t it?

Low carb diets seem to be all the rage these days, with the Atkins Diet and the South Beach Diet being at the top of the list. Both of these diets focus on eating little to no carbs, and foods that are high in protein. Both of these low carb diets have taken some flack for also being high in fat. For instance, bacon, eggs, sausage, and cottage cheese are on the list of foods that are okay to eat. However, there are also lots of high protein, low fat choices on the menu also. Chicken, fish, and salads are also on the list. The reasoning is that your body usually uses up carbs to produce the energy it needs for exercising and performing your daily actions. However, if you have drastically reduced your carb intake, then your body is forced to begin burning fat to find the energy it needs.

While low carb diets have gotten a bad reputation, there actually good points to this diet approach. Both the Atkins Diet and the South Beach Diet have undergone many reforms in the years since they originally came out. Nutrition has taken a higher priority and has a great amount of scientific validation. The plans have been improved to the point that you can actually maintain this lifestyle. However, you should talk with your doctor about starting any of the low carb diets before you make such a drastic adjustment to your food intake.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Fat Loss 4 Idiots General Posts | No Comments »

How to Lose Stomach Fat

August 13th, 2009

One of the most stubborn areas on the body to tone and tighten always seems to be the stomach area. How to lose stomach fat is one of the questions most commonly asked questions of physical trainers. Well, I’ve found some great tips for how to lose stomach fat. I’m not giving you a magical pill or prescribing a special diet that you can follow for just a few days. It will take some hard work and effort on your part. But, I guarantee that if you follow these tips, you’ll notice a difference in just a few short weeks.

Eat several times a day. Yes, you heard me right. If you want to really lose stomach fat, eat five or six small meals everyday instead of three large ones. First, you are less likely to overeat if you eat more often during the day. Second, your metabolism gets a boost every time you start eating.

Drink water. Water helps to flush out toxins in your body and keeps you hydrated. Water is also essential for your liver to be able to function properly. This is important because your liver plays a very important role in burning fat. Also, if you are drinking lots of water, you will be less likely to be drinking sodas or fruit juices, both of which are full of empty calories.

Eat the right foods. Did you know there are certain foods that are actually better than others for burning stomach fat? Focus on food that is low in carbs and high in protein. You should also avoid sugar and saturated fats. Vegetables, eggs, fish, whole grains, and fresh fruit are excellent choices. There are certain healthy fats that you can include in your diet, such as olive oil, nuts, and seeds.

Get some cardio. Yes, cardio is an excellent way to lose stomach fat. Running, swimming, dancing, cycling, tennis, and many more help to burn fat in lots of areas, including your stomach. Although crunches are a famous exercise for getting tummies in shape, you can’t rely on this alone. In order to lose fat, you need to burn calories, and cardio is one of the most effective ways of doing that.

These tips are guaranteed to help if you are wondering how to lose stomach fat.

Tags: ,
Posted in Fat Loss 4 Idiots General Posts | No Comments »

How to Get Rid of Back Fat

August 8th, 2009

So you’ve started dieting and exercising, but you’ve noticed that you have some stubborn spots on your body. Well, join the club. No, I don’t mean a health club, I mean that nearly everyone has stubborn parts on their body that just won’t seem to let go of fat and cellulite. One of the most common problems is how to get rid of back fat. I know, it sounds ridiculous to say, but that it’s so much easier to focus on squats for your legs, crunches for your abs, or bench presses for your arms. But how do you target the fat on your back?

Well, I’ve found some great tips to help you get rid of back fat that I think will really help.

Your first move, to help you feel a little more confident when you go out in public today, is to hide the fat. Yes, I know, this is not solving the problem in the slightest, but this is only a temporary measure until you follow the rest of the tips to reduce the fat back there. You can wear a loose-fitting shirt, and women can wear a sports bra over their regular bra. Having good posture will also help to slim out the appearance of your back.

Second, set a realistic goal. Losing about 1-2 pounds per week is a safe, healthy goal. This means eating and exercising in order to reach those goals. Keep track of the exercise you do, and you can even drag a friend of family member with you, because you probably know someone else who could stand to lose a little back fat too.

Third, focus on specific exercises. Yoga and Pilates are great for reducing back fat. They are designed to help reduce stress as tone your entire body, back and all. You can also do leg lefts, rear delt fly exercises, and back extensions. These are all designed to specifically target your back.

I am confident that these tips help you to get rid of back fat.

Tags: ,
Posted in Fat Loss 4 Idiots General Posts | No Comments »

Fat Burning Diets - Which programs work and foods that can help you burn fat!

August 7th, 2009

If you do a Google or Yahoo! search for diets, you will likely be overwhelmed at the vast number of diet plans out there. Go to a bookstore and you’ll find more diet plans. Some promise that you can lose up to 10 pounds in just a few days by drinking a special drink mixture or magic little pill. However, most of these diets really only cause your body to lose water weight, which will reappear in just a few days when you return to your normal eating habits. Since most of these diets are so extreme, you really can’t continue these eating habits, and when you go back to your regular routine that caused you to gain weight in the first place, well, you get the picture.

So what are some fat burning diets that actually help you lose fat and keep it off? There are several foods that you can begin incorporating into your diet, and several other foods that you can reduce or eliminate, that will help you lose fat quickly and keep it off for as long as you desire.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is amazing for those trying to lose weight because it helps your body release the fat that is in your body by breaking it down and enabling it to be burned. Look to grapefruit, tangerines, guava, limes, lemons, and oranges for the best sources of vitamin C.

Apples
Apples contain pectin, which stops the cells in your body from absorbing fat. It also helps your body absorb more water from your food, aiding in the releasing of fat.

Dairy
Dairy foods are rich in calcium, which is a power nutrient when trying to lose weight. These foods help your body break down fat and burn it significantly faster. In fact, the rate of weight and fat loss is doubled in a person who is eating sufficient amounts of dairy when compared to someone who isn’t eating enough. Look to low fat milk, cheese, and yogurt for the best results.

When researching fat burning diets, beware of diet plans that promise super fast weight loss with programs that you cannot keep up for more than a few days at a time. These diets will give you short-term results, but the weight will come back. These tips will enable you to keep the weight off if you add them to your regular diet.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Fat Loss 4 Idiots General Posts | No Comments »

Fast Weight Loss: Is it possible or just a dream?

August 3rd, 2009

Nearly everyone has been on a diet at one point in their life, and many people will end up going back on a diet a few months, or years later. There are so many different diet plans, so many different reasons to go on a diet, and the results are all varied. So what really is the best option if you want fast weight loss?

Well, many people will tell you that if your goal is fast weight loss, you may risk gaining that weight back just as quickly once you resume your normal eating and exercise routines. If you want to keep the weight off, you are going to have to realize that if you don’t alter your current lifestyle, you can’t expect to keep that model body you may be aiming for. However, there are some great tips out there for fast weight loss that you can incorporate into your daily life to stay fit, lean, and healthy.

Tip 1:

Fiber, Fiber, Fiber.

Most people aren’t eating enough fiber in their regular diets. However, weight loss experts have discovered that a regular intake of fiber can really help you lose weight. First, because it helps the food move all the way through your intestines, second because it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and third, because it helps you feel full. Where do you get fiber? Fruit, vegetables, seeds, whole grains, and nuts are excellent sources.

Tip 2:

Water, water, water.

Just like fiber, most people don’t drink enough water a day. Drink at least 9 or 10 glasses of water a day. It will help to flush toxins out of your body, help you lose weight, and keep you hydrated. Also, you will save hundreds of calories a day if you opt for a glass of water instead of juice or soda.

Tip 3:

Protein, protein, protein.

Protein is also often not eaten as often as it should be. When you are trying to lose weight, protein is a great food that will help you lose weight as it help you to maintain your energy levels, strengthen your muscles, and increase your body’s natural defenses against diseases.

Follow these three diet tips, and you’ll be on your way to seeing the weight drop off quickly.

Tags: ,
Posted in Fat Loss 4 Idiots General Posts | No Comments »

Dieting for Dummies

July 31st, 2009

On any given day, there are millions of people who, if asked, would tell you they are on a diet. But just because there are so many people on a diet does not mean they are on the same diet. There are probably as many different diet plans out there on the market as there are dieters. From diets who have you eat nothing except a special “miracle” drink for 48 hours, to diets that claim you can eat whatever you want and just eat a “magic” pill. Other diets dictate very specifically what you can and cannot eat, and when you can eat it. So how do you know which diet plan is the best one for you? Which ones actually work? Once you lose the weight, how do you keep it off? If you feel overwhelmed with all of the choices and different advice, then there is one book I would recommend. Dieting for Dummies.

Dieting for Dummies is a great book that covers nearly every aspect of dieting and how to change your lifestyle so that you can keep weight off long term. While some people may be turned off by the title, feeling that it is a little demeaning, you really should postpone those feelings for a few minutes, until you learn about all the great information you can find in here.

First, you will be introduced to the real reasons that you should be trying to lose weight, other than trying to fit into the clothes you like. The book describes all sorts of health risks that you are exposing your body to when you carry around excess weight. Then, the book gives you invaluable advice from the American Dietetic Association (ADA). You will learn how you can make smarter choices in the grocery store and prepare healthy menus, how to create a new and healthy attitude toward food, and how to add the appropriate exercise to your lifestyle.

Dieting for Dummies is a great resource for anyone who is looking to not only lose weight, but keep it off and become healthier overall.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Fat Loss 4 Idiots General Posts | No Comments »

Diet Tips

July 31st, 2009


There are many ways to lose weight.  Some people choose to join a gym or hire a personal trainer, some people choose to follow a strict diet plan, such as the Atkins or South Beach diets.  There are others who decide that they are capable of losing weight on their own, by making smarter choices regarding their food and increasing their physical activity.  Are you one of these people?  If so, I’ve complied a short list of diet tips that I think will help you in your efforts.  Now be aware, these tips will not necessarily work for those on strict, pre-determined diets.   These diet tips are designed for those who may have gotten some general books about dieting, and plan on using their own knowledge, along with a doctor’s recommendations, to reach and maintain a healthy weight. 

 

The diet tips are all recommended by the American Dietetic Association (ADA), so you can rely on these tips to give you sound, safe advice.

 

Tip 1:

Eat at least two servings of a fruit or vegetable at every meal.  Fruit and vegetables are loaded with nutrients that your body needs to become healthier.  Also, these foods are naturally low in fat and sugar, but high in fiber.  The fiber will help you feel full. 

 

Tip 2:

Never get super-sized food portions.  If you are realistic, you realize you may have trouble eliminating fast food immediately, but you can stop super-sizing your meals today. 

 

Tip 3:

Eat a big breakfast.  Now you may be thinking, “I thought I was supposed to reduce all my meals.”  Well, that’s sort of true.  By eating a big breakfast, you are much more likely to eat fewer calories during the rest of the day.  Now this doesn’t mean a huge breakfast of sausage, bacon, cinnamon rolls, and stuffed French toast.  Try a filling, but sensible breakfast with oatmeal or other high fiber cereal, fresh fruit, juice, and some whole-wheat toast.  You could even add an egg or two for protein. 

 

Tip 4:

Be aware of what you order when you eat out.  Did you know that the typical entrée at a restaurant has 1,000-2,000 calories?  There are two great tips for reducing the number of calories that you consume when eating out.  First, eat half the meal there, then take the rest home for a meal later on (or share with someone).  Second, if you are going to order a dessert, always share it with someone else at the table. 

 

 

If you follow these diet tips, along with a sensible physical exercise routine, you’ll be on your way to getting in much better shape and losing the extra weight.

Posted in Fat Loss 4 Idiots General Posts | No Comments »

« Older Entries