Last summer, A lady called me about her frustrating attempts at weight loss. She
said she had gone from diet to diet for over 25 years...only to end up fatter and
with a slower metabolism after each "diet".
We talked for a long time, but the gist of it was this; I told her to "dump the diets"
and start focusing on pursuing fitness and health. We talked about a few fruits
and vegetables she really liked. We talked about all the benefits we get from fruits
and vegetables and how we forget how good they really taste...because we're
bombarded with fat-laden foods day after day.
She mentioned that she reeeeeally liked tomatoes... which also happens to be a
favorite of mine. I mean I'm a tomato fanatic. I absolutely love them! I grow several
varieties in my backyard and several types of cherry tomatoes indoors when it's
too cold outside! So, we had quite a conversation about tomatoes. We talked
about her focusing her eating on some fruits and vegetables she really liked and
doing some creative things with tomatoes. I also told her to start walking EVERY
morning...even if it was only 10 or 15 minutes some mornings, but to try toget 30
to 45 minutes in every day. I also told her todo a basic weight training program at
home with dumbells.
Well, I hadn't heard from her in nine months and she called me last week. She's
lost 48 pounds in nine months. She said she focused on some fruits and
vegetables she likes, but went crazy with fresh tomatoes. She used over 10
healthy recipes that use lots of tomatoes...she even ate tomato hash browns
(without oil) and tomato sandwiches for breakfast sometimes! :) She was so
excited and said she has never felt so good in her life!
Now, I'm NOT suggesting that you only eat one or two foods, but I am suggesting
that you find the delicious fruits and vegetables that you like and a few that you
REALLY like... and focus on these wonderful foods that God has given us. These
are the REAL, naturally low fat foods that we should be eating! We've forgotten
how good so many fruits and veggies really taste...yes even without fat-laden
sauces, cheeses, butter, etc. I challenge you to re-discover the delicious fruits and
vegetables you really like.
Cook a huge pot of several veggies you like...they'll be available all week, without
alot of preparation time when your hungry. Maybe mix them with some brown rice
and squeeze some fresh lemon juice over them... there's nothing better! :)
You can do the same with fruits. Make a big fruit salad with three or four fruits you
enjoy. Keep it in the frig for quick access when you're hungry.
Here are some of my favorites (and some resources)...
1. Lemons are one of my favorites...you can do so much with them. My kids love
squeezing them for fresh juice that we use for a variety of things...salads,
vegetables, rice, to make salad dressings, lemon aid, etc.
>> FREEBIE: Sunkist publishes a fantastic free pamphlet called "150 Ways To
Use A Lemon" - you'll find some great ideas in here. Call 1-800-248-7875 Mon - Fri
8:30 - 5:00 PST. Press #2.
Grow your own lemons and other citrus indoors or out on true dwarf citrus trees.
Call Four Winds Growers for their catalog of dwarf citrus trees... 1-510-656-2591
2. Tomatoes are really high on my list...nutritious and great for salads,
sandwiches, vegetables, sauces, etc. I put tomatoes on practically everything! :)
Call these companies for their catalogs of 100's of varieties of tomato seeds you
can grow at home, some even indoors year-round...
Tomato Growers - 1-888-478-7333
Totally Tomatoes - 1-803-663-0016
3. Garlic is loaded with health benefits and can aid your weight loss efforts by
giving flavor to numerous foods! Call the Garlic Information Center for their
brochure... 1-800-330-5922.
Author and exercise Physiologist, Greg Landry
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Thursday, 16 February 2012
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Why People Fail At Losing Weight
What to know before Dieting
Why do so many people fail at losing weight? Is it because they are lazy? No. Is it because they are addicted to food? No. Is it because they aren’t good at exercising? No. Failure at weight loss stems from a few main factors:
Why do so many people fail at losing weight? Is it because they are lazy? No. Is it because they are addicted to food? No. Is it because they aren’t good at exercising? No. Failure at weight loss stems from a few main factors:
- People don't truly understand the risks of being overweight. Why do most want to lose weight? Most would say to look better. Looking better certainly is a benefit of losing weight, but this shouldn’t be the sole reason to lose weight. There is a 1000 pound gorilla in the room and it’s often ignored. Being overweight for a long period of time kills thousands of people each year. Thousands of studies have shown and proven without any doubt that losing body fat will improve and lengthen your life. Knowing the dangers of being overweight is a tremendous motivator to not only lose fat, but to keep it off.
- People don't commit to permanent lifestyle changes. So many people think of a "diet" as something temporary. When they are on a "diet" they restrict themselves so much that they are miserable. Sooner or later failure is inevitable because of the unreasonable demands of most "diets." Some of these diets force you to only eat certain foods (e.g., no carbs, special soups etc…) You, like myself, have probably tried them before. The key to losing weight long term is to make gradual lifestyle changes you can stick to forever.
- Most individuals are not provided the truthful facts of losing weight and becoming healthier. With the conflicting information in the media, and all of the different lose weight quick fad diets, it’s understandable why so many people really don’t know the truth about losing fat and keeping it off long term.
- Most people don't understand they are constantly either gaining fat, or losing fat. There is no in-between. Some people justify binging or giving up because they hit a small road-block. This isn’t an all or nothing game. For example, when I was overweight, if I ate an unhealthy lunch, I’d go ahead and eat an unhealthy dinner since I already "messed up" the day. Or I’d say, I’ll start eating healthy on Monday since I’ve already eaten poorly this weekend. Every person at times eats too much. The successful people will not let a road bump completely derail their entire lifestyle change. If you are not implementing positive lifestyle changes and losing weight, you are gaining weight. Again, there is no "in-between."
- Most people don't realize what they consume each day. So
many overweight people eat thousands of extra calories and fat without
realizing it. It’s tough to know if you are gaining weight or losing
weight each day unless you are keeping an eye on what you’re consuming.
This article was written by Mandy
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Unhealthy dieting
Dieting
Unhealthy dieting can result in numerous undesirable consequences. Going on an extremely low-calorie diet that is devoid of necessary nutrients can not only sabotage your dieting efforts in the long run, but it often results in unintended health consequences as well. Here are five consequences of unhealthy dieting.
1. Binge Eating
Unhealthy dieting can result in feelings of deprivation. If you cut your calories excessively, eliminate all of your favorite foods and eat very little food that delivers much needed nutrition, the consequence is often a need to make up for everything you missed out on.
Binge eating is sometimes the outcome of having gone too long without necessary nutrition and calories. If you consistently skip meals when on a diet, it is possible to feel deprived and eat many more calories late at night, especially if you’re unable to fall asleep from intense hunger.
2. Muscle Loss
Unhealthy dieting practices that don’t incorporate enough protein can lead to unwanted muscle loss. Your body needs protein to build and repair tissues, and carry out a large number of processes. When you don’t consume enough protein in your diet, your body will consume its own muscle mass.
3. Fatigue and Nausea
Some unhealthy dieting practices involve extreme calorie reduction. Juice fasts where you go for weeks without consuming solid foods often result in undesirable side effects. Fatigue, nausea, dizziness and headaches are common consequences of these unhealthy diets.
4. Eventual Weight Gain
The challenge with unhealthy diets is that they usually cannot be sustained in the long term. You may be able to survive on a short term basis on an extremely low-calorie diet, but eventually you will have to resume eating regular meals. When you go on an extreme diet, you don’t have the opportunity to gradually develop habits that will sustain you in the long haul.
It is much healthier and you will see greater results in the long term if you adjust your diet gradually. Instead of cutting thousands of calories on a daily basis, find ways to cut a few hundred calories each day. Combine that with daily exercise. When your body has energy, you can be more active and exercise will develop your muscles, which helps to burn off even more calories.
5. Challenge to Mental Health
Unhealthy dieting is challenging for your mental health. Many people feel grumpy and irritable when they are hungry. Not getting enough calories, not having enough energy to carry out daily tasks, feeling dizzy and nauseous can all combine to push some extreme dieters into feelings of deep sadness or even depression.
The best way to avoid the consequences of unhealthy dieting is to establish healthy eating patterns. Do this gradually. Identify aspects of your diet that you want to change and work on one component at a time. Reduce calories gradually. Exercise more. Address your emotional needs. Over time, you will see the pounds fall off and stay off in the long term.
Dieting
Unhealthy dieting can result in numerous undesirable consequences. Going on an extremely low-calorie diet that is devoid of necessary nutrients can not only sabotage your dieting efforts in the long run, but it often results in unintended health consequences as well. Here are five consequences of unhealthy dieting.
1. Binge Eating
Unhealthy dieting can result in feelings of deprivation. If you cut your calories excessively, eliminate all of your favorite foods and eat very little food that delivers much needed nutrition, the consequence is often a need to make up for everything you missed out on.
Binge eating is sometimes the outcome of having gone too long without necessary nutrition and calories. If you consistently skip meals when on a diet, it is possible to feel deprived and eat many more calories late at night, especially if you’re unable to fall asleep from intense hunger.
2. Muscle Loss
Unhealthy dieting practices that don’t incorporate enough protein can lead to unwanted muscle loss. Your body needs protein to build and repair tissues, and carry out a large number of processes. When you don’t consume enough protein in your diet, your body will consume its own muscle mass.
3. Fatigue and Nausea
Some unhealthy dieting practices involve extreme calorie reduction. Juice fasts where you go for weeks without consuming solid foods often result in undesirable side effects. Fatigue, nausea, dizziness and headaches are common consequences of these unhealthy diets.
4. Eventual Weight Gain
The challenge with unhealthy diets is that they usually cannot be sustained in the long term. You may be able to survive on a short term basis on an extremely low-calorie diet, but eventually you will have to resume eating regular meals. When you go on an extreme diet, you don’t have the opportunity to gradually develop habits that will sustain you in the long haul.
It is much healthier and you will see greater results in the long term if you adjust your diet gradually. Instead of cutting thousands of calories on a daily basis, find ways to cut a few hundred calories each day. Combine that with daily exercise. When your body has energy, you can be more active and exercise will develop your muscles, which helps to burn off even more calories.
5. Challenge to Mental Health
Unhealthy dieting is challenging for your mental health. Many people feel grumpy and irritable when they are hungry. Not getting enough calories, not having enough energy to carry out daily tasks, feeling dizzy and nauseous can all combine to push some extreme dieters into feelings of deep sadness or even depression.
The best way to avoid the consequences of unhealthy dieting is to establish healthy eating patterns. Do this gradually. Identify aspects of your diet that you want to change and work on one component at a time. Reduce calories gradually. Exercise more. Address your emotional needs. Over time, you will see the pounds fall off and stay off in the long term.
Dieting
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