Quick Weight Loss - Are These Weight Loss Programs Really Worth It?

With millions of Americans in a desperate quest to lose weight, the market has responded with a multitude of products and services, many promising miraculous weight loss and quick-fix remedies. Billions of dollars are spent on these over-the-counter weight loss products and services, many of which make false claims and are worthless to you. So why do we continue to waste our money on these programs? Are any of them really worth it?

Finding a healthy weight loss program that suits your lifestyle and budget, but most importantly one that effectively works, is all it should take to convince you that your money is well spent. The best way however, to determine if your program is worth the cost, is by examining its features.  

These days, there are more and more online weight loss programs available, which are designed for overweight and obese individuals with hectic schedules that may not allow them time to attend local program meetings. Many dieters seek out these organized programs, because they have tried numerous times to lose weight and failed, as a result of not having a support system in place. One of the most beneficial features of joining an organized group, is the support network. Those of you with a substantial weight loss goal, will find your challenge even greater, and it will be even more critical for you to surround yourself with positive people. An organized program can offer you this additional support and structure that is unobtainable on your own. Having someone hold you accountable, is going to be the key to your success.

In determining whether this weight loss program is not only perfect for your needs, but well worth the cost, you need to ensure that the features available will play a big part in your weight loss journey. Why pay for benefits that are worthless to you? Here are some important features that you will want and should have access to:

- Support network or online community: The online community is comprised of message boards and forums, and is a way for you to communicate with other weight loss program members, compare notes, goals and support each other through your weight loss journey.

- Healthy Eating Section: Almost all weight loss experts agree that the key to long-term weight management lies in permanent lifestyle changes that include a nutritious diet, one moderate in calories, and regular exercise. Changing bad eating habits and acquiring new healthy ones is the first step to successful weight loss, so it seems reasonable that a quality weight loss program would provide a "Healthy Eating" section; one that includes healthy alternatives to junk food, quick and healthy recipes, and where to buy healthy nutritious foods.

- Fitness Section: This may include an outline of exercises or workouts for all levels; beginners, intermediate and advanced, videos, photos or detailed directions as to the correct form, workout items to have on hand, and where to purchase these helpful fitness aids.

- Calorie Counter: This may be a chart that lists nutritional data and information, calorie counts, fat content, fiber content, protein content and much more. It may outline how many calories burned with various cardiovascular exercises or outdoor activity.

These are just a few of the many features that can help you determine whether a program is worth the cost to you. Now this doesn't mean that successful weight loss is impossible for you if you are not part of a program. On the contrary, with a combination of will power and self-motivation, you can achieve anything. The difference is, that when you are a part of a program and community of people like-minded, there is a peer support and peer pressure that can give you the motivating strength you need to overcome any and all obstacles.

So, are weight loss programs really worth it? A program that encourages a sensible nutritious diet, one that is flexible, promotes a lifestyle of exercise and a positive attitude, is a program that will be effective and one worth every penny.

What is an Effective Weight Loss Program?

Since there are many people who are interested in losing weight effectively and fast, there are many commercial weight loss programs available in the market. Many of them guarantee that their effective weight loss programs are medically proven and risk free. We may have to conduct our own research to find out the truth but obviously we don't have enough time and money for that. Therefore, we can do a smaller web based research to find out the most effective weight loss program.

When we want to reduce weight, we do something that makes us burn fat such as exercising, dieting etc. These are just random activities we do with the intension of losing weight. If we do these actions in an organized and consistent manner, then it can be called as an effective weight loss program. Coming up with your own weight loss program is not that hard but it needs to be scientific, organized, and consistent.

Since most of us lack scientific, organized and consistent approach towards losing weight, there are professionals who can do the job for us.

They have mastered the subject of losing weight and they come up with many effective weight loss programs. These programs vary from dieting and exercising to a combination of both. Many of these programs have gone through a cycle of thorough testing to confirm that there are no adverse effects to the body. But you need to remember that not all the effective weight loss programs are scientifically proven.

Therefore it is your responsibility to look for the facts when choosing the right weight loss program for you.

Usually a good weight loss program has few rules. The time frame is one of the most important aspects of such a program. This is because the progress of the program is measured in intervals and eventually by the end of the program period. Therefore, many weight loss programs promote how fast you can lose weight and this has become one of the deciding factors for the clients. Researchers have found that many of these programs offer short-term benefits and lesser long-term benefits. When it comes to dieting programs, researchers have found that almost all of the programs provide the same results in long-term.

Weight Loss Products - "The Quick Fix!"

Weight loss products has become a monstrous industry that, in the late eighties, centered its sights on the easily led and desparate solution seekers in the fitness world. Over the last 20 years there has been amazing advancements in nutrition science. Some good and some not so good. We live in a microwave minded society of "quick, instant, and easy". Our dietary lifestyles have seen the most dramatic changes with people being on the run with work and play like never before. One detriment is the long standing tradition of sitting down for several meals per day. We have transitioned to an eat on the run crowd and require convenience in everything in everything, including food. This led to poor food choices that has created a fat society. Now the weight loss products industry has come full circle. Eating healthy isn't always quick and easy. The mutli-billion dollar weight loss products industry would like you to think so but as you've been told before-you can't fool Mother Nature

If you're one of the millions in this country who are into weight loss products such as diet pills, appetite suppressants, body fat burners, metabolism boosters, fat binders, diuretics, diet drinks, energy drinks, etc... and are routinely feasting on fast foods, you may want to reconsider this lifestyle approach. Looking at what's happening in the body relevant to weight control, health and well being we'll start at the point of origin of the natural energy production at the cell level.

Food that is consumed is broken down into its nutrient base and those nutrients are utilized by the cells in producing energy for the body to run on. The challenge we face today is that there are high toxicity levels in most all the weight loss products and fast foods on the market. The damaging energy frequencies, preservatives,and chemicals create these toxins. These toxins create a toxic "bio-film" buildup on every cell wall. This plaque-like substance causes an inefficient nutrient absorption process that often results in the body activating the hunger mechanism causing you to consume even more food to get the necessary nutrients for cellular metabolism. Do you now understand why people are gaining weight like never before and can't ever seem to get rid of it? The hunger mechanism can't shut off.

The typical result of the continuous hunger response if being compelled to eat junk food. When we eat junk food the toxins continue to build up around the cells walls and may lead to a lymphatic water build up around the cells. As we continue to crave more food we are in a never ending cycle that the weight loss product and junk food industries bank on. In fact, to speed up that cycle, there are addictive components in many of those products. The prominence of chemicals, additives, and preservatives in weight loss products catalyzes the ongoing eating cycle. Pretty shrewd marketers, don't you think?

Let's not overlook another weight loss methodology-diet pills. I have never seen this approach work. In years past many new moms would seek the advice of her physician on how to lose the fat from pregnancy and were given prescription diet pills. These pills were mainly speed and elevated the metabolism via the adrenal glands. Not only are these pills dangerous, they are toxic. So you see that there are some viable solutions in the weight loss products industry but rarely ever when resorting to drugs or processed and chemicalized packaged foods.

So - what's the answer? The true weight loss products are natural foods and organic foods. There are no gimmicks here. Fat burning is a nutritional biochemical function that requires feeding the body the vital nutrients is needs on a consistent basis so as to allow the body to burn body fat as well as food fuel. A readily available and convenient solution can be found in a quality all natural botanical based supplement that delivers the proper energy producing compounds that cleanses the cell walls and provides the key components of metabolic functioning.

Look to the Chinese as an example of a healthy culture built consuming natural plant based compounds that avoids toxicity challenges and delivers vital nutrients. Their day-to-day diets include such things as garlic, ginger and organic green tea (known to clean cell walls). If you consider the fact that the Chinese are known to be a natural foods culture you will realize that the Chinese herbs are considered an important component of their diet. The information is easily available to you on the internet. When it comes to your health and well being, there is no such thing as: The Quick Fix!

Weight Loss Tips - Why You Should Be Eating Organic Foods

One thing people don't realize about weight loss is that you need good fats. These support cell membrane development, which supports flow of fluids, fats, nutrients and cells through your body. (Bad fats are the "frieds", margarine, and animal fats.) Take some Omega 3 Oils. Put them on your salad, take them in pills... whatever you like, just get them in your body and everything will start to flow better.

Eating the right foods is all about efficiency. Once your body is flowing then you eliminate things right away and the toxins will no longer set up shop in your organs, blood or bones. There's a bunch of talk about what omega-3 fats are better for different people. Go out and try them and see how they work for you. Don't get caught up in the hype. Take action. Get results.

Section #2: Organic Foods

Buy organic. I have a list of over 100 foods and the pesticides that are in them that will make you think differently about non-organic foods. The list was put out by the FDA. If this doesn't convince you, I don't know what will.

The main reason why people don't eat organic foods is because they think they are too expensive. So let's look into this a little...

Are organic foods really too expensive?

Yes, organics are a little more expensive. Think of this expense as an insurance premium. You most likely pay less for your medications and co-pays- if any-when you're 45 if you don't have any known health conditions caused by pesticides in your food. Stop making your food purchases based on price. You are making a huge mistake.

If I were selling two cars, one, that looks great with a great engine for $4000 and, the other, the same model that is in exactly the same shape, but without an engine, working radio and no transmission, for $3800, which one would you buy? You'd buy the one that works right? Of, course. There's no sense in buying the car that needs more components when there's one that already has them.

So wouldn't you do the same with your food? Chances are, if your're buying food based on the week's special, you're getting the car without the engine, radio and transmission. So you're paying pennies less, but you're getting robbed! Buying and eating a food without nutrients and filled with nutrient depleting pesticides will only make you eat more food.

The cost of your foods might actually be more, because you're craving more and never getting the nutrition you need. Also, if more people buy organics, the price WILL go down. It already has since the late 1990's. This is the simple economics of supply and demand.

How to Obtain Natural Weight Loss

More and more, we are becoming a world of overweight, and even obese, people. Every time the people in a country "make progress" and start to eat the diet of industrialized nations, they start having all kinds of diseases and weight problems. Apparently, there is something about our so-called modern civilized diet which causes this. This is why many people start looking for natural weight loss help.

Most of us are told to simply eat less and exercise more. True, in our modern society we are more likely to sit for hours on end in front of a computer or tv and not get the exercise that our ancestors did in hunting and foraging for their food. But if it was as simple as just eating less and exercising more, surely by now our society would be on its way to thinner people, not with increasing numbers of overweight people. Just think of the years of low fat foods and all the ads on tv and special exercise programs in our schools. Guess it's just not that simple.

So maybe we should look at what a more natural weight loss might be. Let's address our diet to start with.

The food we eat today is far from what our ancestors, who did not have the diseases and obesity problems we have today, ate. They ate lean, grass-fed meats that they hunted or trapped. OK, just to be a little more exact, not all the animals they ate eat grass. Deer, for instance, are browsers and more likely to be eating broad-leafed plants and leaves on trees just like goats will as well. Even wild cattle and bison ate a varied diet of what was growing and in season as they migrated along their migration routes. We just use the term grass-fed to indicate that they did not eat industrialized grains. The meat sources of our ancestors were browsers and grazers, not grain eaters. Our cattle being grain-fed is due to the cheap grain that was available mid-last century. Grain produced marbled meat which then became the standard, though it never had been before.

Our vegetables and fruits as well are not what our ancestors ate, even a hundred hears ago. Our soils have been depleted and our fruits and vegetables just don't have the nutritional content now that they used to have. This is why it is important to buy organic products. It takes three years of crops being grown using organic methods before they can actually be certified organic. The soil will recover some from organic practices in that time, but not totally. The soil, especially where there has been commercial crop production, just cannot recover in that little bit of time. This is why you will still need to consider some supplements to help you with your natural weight loss.

Further, even fish sources are not safe. A lot of salmon, considered one of the healthiest fish, is farm raised. They are fed grain as well and kept in quite polluted and crowded circumstances not eating the diet that made these fish so healthy at one point. Most likely you know of the pollution of our seas. That is why even wild caught fish may not be safe. The amount of mercury and PCBs in warm water fish definitely is cause for concern. You need to be careful to get wild caught salmon preferably from cold Pacific waters if you use this meat as part of your natural weight loss program.

Turning to exercise, it should be obvious by now, that after decades of aerobic exercise programs and exercising for long durations, that we have not become healthier. In fact, as stated above, our obesity rates are increasing and those exercisers now have to contend with bad knees and heart problems. It's doubtful we could lay all that onto TV watching and computer time (though we agree that this does have an impact - look at our kids). Perhaps it's time to look at the type of exercise.

For more natural weight loss, let's look quickly at what our ancestors did. They exercised by hunting and migrating or traveling around from wintering spots to summer locations, whichever gave them the most food and resources depending on the time of year. So yes, walking is a good exercise. Exercise in short bursts is good as well. But for the most part, our ancestors did what they had to do to get the job done (i.e., get a deer for dinner) and then they took it easy.

Our modern day equivalent of this would be walking, as stated above, and interval training. In this interval training, you do quick bursts of intensive exercise followed by periods of lesser exercise. And the overall time of the exercise does not go on for more than about 20 minutes at most. As your ability to exercise more intensely goes up, the time can actually become less. Add to this some body weight exercises or resistance training and you have an exercise program that will help you with your natural weight loss.

So if you are wanting some natural weight loss help, look to the type of food your are eating and the type of exercise you are doing, if any. Add in the proper supplements to support your efforts and your health in getting the proper nutrients.

Discover How a Quick Weight Loss Can Be a Healthy Weight Loss - Phase III

We left off with my last article of "Discover How a Quick Weight Loss Can Be a Healthy Weight Loss - Phase II". In review, you learned how to exercise regularly in order to ensure that your healthy weight loss is also a quick weight loss. Now, we are on to Phase III of your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss journey. What is the third and final fitness tuning path that I must pursue after you have adopted a complete and healthy diet and a regular workout routine? What is the last and final path towards your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss?

Phase III of your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss journey is your intake of fluids. Ok, stop the presses! You mean that what I drink actually matters when it comes to a healthy weight loss and quick weight loss? The answer is yes, big time! Everyone knows that you must hydrate yourself in order to survive. In fact, everyone knows that you can die of dehydration sooner than you can die of hunger. So, the fluids that you put into you body are extremely important when it comes to the success of your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss journey. In fact, fluid intake is critical upon the success or failure of your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss endeavor.

Water is the first key liquid in your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss journey's success. Water is extremely important when it comes to your body. First of all, you body is 80% water. Without a constant intake of water, your body would eventually start shutting down until you died. So, we take water pretty seriously when it comes to a healthy weight loss and quick weight loss. Water hydrates your body, is used to flush toxins from your system, and keeps your lungs moist during cardiovascular activity. It is recommended to take in 8 - 10 8oz. glasses of water per day, and I recommend that you start doing so. Your body must have plenty of water to do its part in achieving a healthy weight loss and quick weight loss. Take a large water bottle and a cup with you to work. When the water bottle is empty, then refill it. Having the water present will encourage you to drink it more often. Your body will thank you for it by flushing out the toxins from your system that can actually impede upon the success of your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss journey.

Coffee and soda must be eliminated from your diet to succeed in your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss journey. Soda should only be had occasionally as a reward for your hard work. For me, I have a soda when I have pizza, and that is about it. Your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss is dependent upon a minimum amount of caffeine intake, and increased water intake when drinking caffeine. Caffeine is a diuretic, and will actually pull the water from your body. This is extremely bad when it comes to your body operating at top efficiency while you're exercising. Believe me, you will feel the difference! I will treat myself to the occasional energy drink in replacement of my afternoon snack mentioned in Phase I. However, your journey towards a healthy weight loss and quick weight loss will be an unpleasant one with too much caffeine intake.

Green tea is the best and highest recommended caffeinated beverage that you can have for your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss journey. Most of them are even decaffeinated! I would recommend that you have 3 - 4 cups of hot green tea per day. Studies have shown an increase in energy levels and metabolisms for subjects who took in certain quantities of green tea on a daily basis, which also resulted in reduction of body fat content. The study showed that for positive results, 3 cups per day were necessary for a 156 lb. subject. (More information on the health benefits of green tea will be made available to members of my website listed below.) However, in relation to your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss journey, you have just found your replacement for coffee!

For those of you that want something more to drink during your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss journey... When it comes to fitness tuning, you want to choose wisely about what you put into your body, and not base your decision upon taste alone. Unfortunately, the majority of people base their beverage choices on taste and usually upon it being a sweet taste, which means too much sugar. However, there are a few key beverages that can give you some flavor variety, as well as give you a healthy weight loss and quick weight loss boost as well!

POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice - Packed with cancer fighting anti-oxidants, and was rated as the top source of anti-oxidants of all beverages on the market.

Vitamin A & D Organic Milk & Organic Soymilk with Calcium - Fatty acids, calcium, Vitamin A & D, as well as isoflavones and protein with the soymilk, give you more health benefits than you can shake a stick at.

Tropicana Essentials Fiber, Heart, & Antioxidant Advantage - Packed with Vitamin C, the Essentials line of Tropicana orange juice offers a wide variety of health benefits tailored for your specific needs.

Sobe No Fear (Sugar Free) - I have found this to be the best of the energy drinks on the market for me. I don't drink them every day, but they serve well on a jam-packed day of 10+ hours of work followed by time at the gym. (Remember: drink extra water when drinking caffeine!)

Gatorade Performance Series & Propel Fitness Water - Jam packed with electrolytes, I try to drink the Performance Series an hour before my workout, and follow my workout with a Propel Fitness Water.

Changing the quality of fluids taken into your body each day is the final path toward your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss journey. You now have at your disposal the three phases to your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss success. Ensure that you adhere to the promise that you have made to yourself, and ensure that you follow all three paths. Your success in your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss journey is dependent upon you and you alone. Further information will be distributed to members of my free membership site listed below. You will gain access to fitness tuning nutrition, dieting, and fitness information, including information relating to all three phases of your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss journey. So, embark on your journey and lead the way to your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss success!

Fitness and Wellness Principles - Part 1 - Weight Loss

The term "Wellness" is one of the most frequently used buzzwords in health and fitness these days. Wellness describes an overall health of the mind and body that result in an optimum sense of well-being (Dunn). Dr. Halbert Dunn first introduced the term in the 1950`s. In his book, High Level Wellness, Dr. Dunn defined the state of Wellness as "a method of functioning, which is oriented toward maximizing ones ability to function in their environment"; he summed this up by simply stating that it is the combination of things that give us a "zest for life". Over the past several years, with skyrocketing health care costs, and an aging population, the concept of wellness or holism is spreading throughout organizations nationwide.

Dr. Dunn's concept of Wellness is grounded in the belief that all individuals take responsibility for their own health and well-being by properly maintaining their personal fitness, body weight, stress level, and so on (Dunn). Although there are many dimensions of Wellness, the one that will be discussed in this article is Weight Management(body composition). In parts two and three, we will address physical fitness and stress management.
Weight Management

The negative health implication of leading a lifestyle that makes one become overweight has been well documented. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for many dieters to determine exactly what methodology to use with so much conflicting information and marketing hype controlling the weight loss dialog. Naturally, everyone is looking for the easy way out. Therefore, people have become "sitting ducks" for the fad diet and diet product industry. The need for honest, practical information regarding diet and exercise becomes painfully evident when analyzing the diet and weight loss industries track record. The industry is currently a multi-billion dollar business that influences the behaviors of consumers around the world (Yoke et al.). Yet, the industry as a whole has a five-year failure rate of approximately 95% (Yoke et al.). The bottom line is fad diets and weight loss gimmicks do not work over the long haul (Kosich). Although many of the commercial diet plans are effective at helping people lose weight during the first few weeks, research suggests that only about 3% of individuals who use fad diets, and/or weight loss supplements maintained their weight loss (Kosich). In fact, most of the participants actually weighed more than they did at the beginning of their program within twelve months of completing the program.

The fact is, there are no miracle pills, shakes, or diet plans that will make people magically lose weight. Weight loss is accomplished simply by consistently creating a moderate deficit between the calories consumed vs. the calories used by the body. In other words, eat slightly fewer calories than your body uses in a day. This requires a lifestyle change. Not a "quick fix" program (Clark). The word "diet" is something to avoid. A "diet" program is typically associated with something that is going to be temporary and will restrict certain types of foods. This type of plan almost always fails over the long run (Kosich). Establishing healthier nutritional habits are the product of making the commitment to change.

Improving you food choices and controlling portion sizes are the two fundamental changes that need to be addressed. No one eats a perfect diet 100% of the time. It isn't necessary, or desirable for you to expect that your daily meal plan will be perfect either. There should always be some flexibility to allow yourself to enjoy eating at restaurants or go to parties. With a bit of planning, it is possible to get a meal that can be both satisfying and nutritious.

Weight Loss Planning

1. Establish a realistic goal

2. Set a time frame for reaching the goal

3. Plan a sensible diet according to the Food Guide Pyramid or enlist the help of a Registered Dietician.

4. Learn to modify you food-buying habits and learn to cook and prepare healthier dishes.

5. Increase your physical activity

6. Learn to handle stress without using food as a reward

7. Avoid restrictive diets! Lowering your calories too far is not only unhealthy it is also counter productive. Ultra low calorie diets slow down your BMR (metabolic rate).

8. Change your attitudes about food. "Food is fuel" and its true purpose is to meet nutritional requirements of the body.
(Klein), (Clark)

Nutrient Fundamentals

There are six essential nutrients that support our body's energy needs and support the growth and repair of tissues: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Vitamins, Minerals, Water. (Clark)

Failing to meet the basic nutritional requirements will ultimately have a profound impact on ones physical and mental capabilities. Inadequate nutrition also increases our risk for a variety of illnesses. All living organisms need quality nutrition to grow and function properly (Beers, et al).

Carbohydrates are the body's primary source of energy. There are two main types of carbohydrates: Simple Sugars (Fruits, Juice, Sucrose, etc) and Complex Carbohydrates (yams, potatoes, bread, and pasta). Carbohydrates contain four calories per gram and should account for approximately 60% of your daily calories (Clark).

Protein is used by the body to promote the growth and repair of tissues. Low fat protein sources include grilled chicken, broiled white fish, egg whites, roasted turkey breast, and beans. Protein also has four calories per gram and should account for approximately 15% of your daily calories (Clark).

Fats are a necessary part of a healthy diet. Fats are responsible for energy production (especially long term energy), transportation of fat-soluble vitamins, insulation, and protection of the organs. Fats have nine calories per gram and it is recommended that 20 - 30% of your daily calories come from fats (Clark), (Beers, et al)

It is desirable to minimize fats that are high in cholesterol, such as whole eggs, bacon, and whole milk products. In addition, hydrogenated oils (Trans Fatty Acids) should be avoided (Klein). Trans Fatty Acids are found in many commercial peanut butters, baked goods, and margarine spreads.

Water does not contain any calories, but is possibly the most important nutrient in our diet. The body is composed of approximately 60% water (Baechle). A person can only survive for a short time without water. Water keeps us hydrated, cools the body, transports nutrients, and eliminates toxins (Beers, et al), (Yoke et al.). We get our supply of water from both liquids and many of the foods that we eat (primarily fruits and vegetables). The body does not store water; therefore, it needs to be replaced daily. It is recommended that a sedentary adult living in an average climate consume about 64 ounces of water each day. Obviously, if you are active and/or live in a warm climate, you will need to consume more. Furthermore, it is recommended that individuals participating in vigorous, long term exercise, such as marathon training, consume about 500ml of fluids every thirty minutes during their exercise period (Baechle).

Better Choices

In my book, the ideal first step toward making better choices would start with the following five dietary adjustments:

1. Avoid Fast Food.

2. Do Not Eat Vending Machine Food (Candy, Chips & Sodas).

3. Grill, Bake or Broil instead of frying.

4. Drink calorie free drinks instead of sodas and juices.

5. Avoid alcohol beverages.

If you can exercise these five points, you will be well on your way to making outstanding food choices. Instead of getting in to a great deal of technical information about food choices, I think it is more useful to focus on the basics. For example, here is the nutritional breakdown for a popular, large sized, fast food burger:

o 1060 Calorie

o 69 Grams of Fat

o 1540 mg. Sodium

o 27 Grams of Saturated Fat

Above statistics:(Johnson et al.)

1060 Calories is almost a whole days calories for many people! In addition, 1540 mg of sodium is approximately 65% of your daily sodium intake (Yoke et al.). Needless to say, it would be much better to make a chicken or turkey sandwich from fresh ingredients at home and pack it with you to work. That way, you can control how it is prepared and what type of condiments, salt, or oils that are added.

Sugar is the most over consumed nutrient in the American diet. Although the body does require small amounts of simple sugar for "quick" energy, it has developed a deserved reputation as one of the "bad for you" foods. This is due to the massive consumption of sodas, candies, desserts, and juice drinks, the average American gets far more sugar than they need (Klein). In fact, many people could reach their ideal weight simply by decreasing the amount of sodas that they consume. The average 20oz soda has a whopping 304 calories, in addition to varying amounts of caffeine (Johnson et al.).

Serving Size

Ones ability to successfully modify their past eating habits is the single greatest predictor of success in a weight loss/weight management program (Kosich). Among the most important changes that can be made is the proper control of your portion sizes. Since the 1950's the typical fast food meal has more than doubled in calories (Johnson et al.). This is mainly due to the larger portion sizes that are being served today. Unfortunately, this has led people to adopt the restaurant's examples of serving size at their dinner table at home. This combination is more than likely the most significant factor in the "obesity epidemic" that we are experiencing in our country. I find it humorous to see so many people in the media questioning the source of obesity, as though it is such a mystery. I don't think that it is difficult to see the pattern that has developed in our society. People have become progressively less active over the past 100 years, while continuing to increase the average daily calorie intake. That is definitely a formula for becoming overweight.

Below is a simple guideline for serving sizes:

Breads & Grains: 1 slice of bread, ½ bagel(about the size of a hockey puck), ½ cup of rice(about the size of a cupcake), ½ cup pasta

Fruits and Vegetables: ½ cup (about the size of a light bulb)

Meat, Poultry: 3 ounces (about the size of a deck of cards)

Dairy:1 oz. of cheese (about the size of 4 dice)

Fats,Oils, Sweets: Use Sparingly (One serving is about the size of the tip of your thumb)

NHLBI 2006 (Food Serving Size Card)

Another source of confusion regarding serving size is our current food labeling system. Food labels can be confusing and misleading. But, it is in your best interest to make sure that you understand how much is in a serving of the foods that you buy. Many products, especially snack foods, come in packages that appear to be a single serving. However, when you analyze the label, you may be surprised to find that some small bags of chips contain up to three servings. So make sure to read labels. Food labels contain so much information. How do we know what they really mean? Below are some common label terms. Keep in mind that all values given are "per serving".

Calorie Free: fewer than 5 calories

Low Calorie: 40 or fewer calories

Fat Free: less than ½ gram of fat/serving

Low Fat: 3 grams or less

Reduced Fat: at least 25% less fat than the regular item

Sodium Free: fewer than 5 mg of sodium

Low Sodium: fewer than 140 mg of sodium

High Fiber: 5 or more grams of fiber

NHLBI (Read the Food Label), (Klein)

Remember, safe and effective weight loss amounts to about ½ - 2 pounds per week for most individuals. If you are losing more than that, chances are you are also losing a significant amount of water and muscle as well (Kosich).

Using a scale as your primary measure of success can be very deceiving. This is especially true if you are including resistance exercise in your program, which will cause a gain in lean muscular weight. Exercise and Strength training will more than likely influence the number that you see on your scale. Perhaps the best measure of your success is the way you look in the mirror, or the way that your cloths fit (Kosich). As a rule of thumb, you should weigh on the scale no more than once per week. Your scale can't tell muscle mass from fat free mass and BMI charts are not very useful at determining changes in body composition. So, keep in mind that "inches lost" will usually exceed "pounds lost" (Kosich).

When you do check your weight every 1 -2 weeks make sure to weigh on the same scale, with the same amount of clothing, and at the same time of day. This will ensure a more accurate comparison. It may also be useful to keep a journal that contains more detailed information, such as how you feel, how your clothes are fitting, physical activity, and how you look.
As mentioned earlier, your ability to modify your past habits will be the greatest predictor of your potential for success in a weight loss program. Planning menus, shopping lists, and keeping a written record of your food intake are a few of the most valuable behavior changes that you can learn. Research has shown that people who keep written records of their diets are much more likely to continue to manage their diets successfully (Kosich).

Always remain mindful that the formula for weight loss is simple: All calories consumed in excess of the body's daily needs are stored as fat. Weight Loss is all about consistently creating a modest calorie deficit, where you burn more calories than you consume (Clark). The ultimate goal is FAT LOSS, not just weight loss. So take the steady, methodical approach instead of the diet fads and schemes and you will reap lifelong benefits.

Always consult your doctor before beginning any exercise or diet program. The information presented here is in no way intended to substitute for medical advice.

Weight Loss: Why Do 98% of People Fail on a Diet and How to Avoid this Easily

Everybody knows that 98% of dieters fail.
But do you know exactly why does this happen?

To understand this, let's probe a little deeper
into the working of your own body.

The fact is,Your own body holds the secret key to
weight loss.

Human body is a complex, self-sufficient machine
capable of managing it's affairs on it's own.

It has an independent defence and immune system ready
to attack any desease or external parasite in the
fraction of a second.

This clearly indicates that your own body can cure any
disease on its own if proper conditions are made
available for it's functioning.

Now, the question is, what are the conditions required
for the body to function properly and get rid of the
excess fat and lose weight.

To understand this, let us take a small example:

If your skin gets burnt accidentally, you apply
some ointment containing antibacterial/antiseptic properties.

What you are doing in effect is, you are creating a
bacteria free environment on the spot of the burn so that
the wound doesn't get aggravated.

The actual work of healing the wound is done by the
skin (read body) and not the ointment. By applying the
ointment, you created an ideal bacteria free
condition for the body to heal itself.
Same holds true in the case of the body fighting obesity.

Your body stores fat as reserve
(for times of starvation) and dissolves it on demand
by it's metabolic system.

The same way as it can cure any desease,
it also has an inborn ability for burning
up this excess fat lose weight automatically.

The body has many regulatory (hormone producing)
filtering (fat burning) and excretory organs which are
capable of keeping the body at an optimum weight level.

But the continuous overload of junk processed food and
toxins in your diet and daily living has damaged the
functioning of many of these organs, resulting in their
malfunction and consequent weight gain.

Faulty diet, polluted environment and stressful living
unknowingly introduce a lot of toxins into your system.
Definitely, these toxins will create problems in one way
or the other in your body, isn't it?

No doubt, a host of diseases like diabetes, cardio vascular
diseases, colon cancer, gallbladder disease etc. are
associated with obesity.

So, a good weight loss program must begin with detoxification.
Because, until and unless these toxins are removed from your
body, there won't be any significant loss of weight which
can be sustained over a long period of time.

Many diet programes have advocated different eating methods
and combination of foods. Some diets want you to rely on low
fat high carbohydrate, some on high protein low carb, whereas
some diets have food according to the blood type and still
others say different foods have different reaction with enzymes.

"But merely shifting to a different or healthier diet plan without
getting rid of the toxins in the body is just like putting a freshly
prepared cake in a bin, full of garbage. The cake also becomes
garbage in a short while."

This is the reason why 98% diets fail! Got it?

So, what is the permanent solution for this problem?

To get to the root..I have researched and
reviewed most of the diet programs out
there...studied those fat loss weight loss
supplements and come to a conclusion that to really
lose weight in a healthy manner, you need a weight
loss program having a comprehensive
approach and a proven track record.

And after running through all the research materials out
there...I stumbled across the 5000 year old Ayurveda
medicinal science.Only Ayurveda seemed to have an all
round holistic view so essential for weight loss.

In fact,I was pleasantly surprised to know that this is the
only science which has recognized obesity as a desease
thousands of years back and suggested a remedy for the same!

Ayurveda recommends the following 3 steps for effectively losing
weight and keeping it off forever.

1)Remove toxins

a)Through the breath

b)Through the excretory organs

c)Through the skin

2)Burn fat

Increase metabolism naturally with the help of natural herbs
recommended by Ayurveda.

3)Keep fat off forever

Optimize the functioning of various fat burning organs
like thyroid,lever etc with the help of specific breathing
techniques,postures and herbs.

You only need to follow these three simple steps for losing weight
easily and effectively.

Coffee for Weight Loss: A Lucrative Business Opportunity

Coffee for Weight Loss

Though there's much controversy among health and wellness experts as to whether or not coffee is good for your health, coffee is still the second most traded commodity in the world today. People around the world consume about 400 billion cups of coffee per year, and most coffee is consumed in the home. And now there's 100 percent organic coffee for weight loss (such as premium coffee by Boresha) that can contribute to a healthy diet and help coffee drinkers burn fat while drinking their favorite beverage.

For business opportunity seekers, coffee for weight loss sparks interest within two mainstream industries - coffee and health/wellness. When combining the most popular beverage in the world with one of the most popular conversational subjects (losing weight), the business aspect of fat-burning organic coffee can be tremendous.

What to Look for in Coffee Business Opportunities

Before diving in with both feet, make sure you're working with a legitimate distributor or manufacturer of weight loss coffee. Check out credentials and resources - don't accept someone's claim that it is a legitimate opportunity. Next, study every aspect of what's being offered, especially how much you'll be required to invest to get started as well as the amount of commissions you'll receive. Some coffee business opportunities might offer residual income for future purchases as well as for anyone that you refer to start a business of their own. This type of business model can be more lucrative because you can expect to earn from your efforts for years to come instead of always having to find new prospects.

If the coffee is being grown in other countries, make sure the company product is Fair Trade Certified. This guarantees that responsible methods have been used to grow and farm the coffee, with fair wages and treatment for all laborers involved. Also, look for 100 percent organic coffee with no harmful chemicals or additives. You can use this as a selling point and find a specific target market of coffee drinkers who love organically grown foods.

Healthy Choices

Not only can you earn while selling organically grown coffee to lose weight, but you can drink it yourself and enjoy the benefits. There's no better selling point than letting potential customers know that you've tried the coffee and it works. Take before/after photos to illustrate how much weight you've lost since you started drinking the coffee. Explain how easy it was...without other health risks that are usually associated with drinking coffee. Use the Web to present your testimonial to others. Share with family, friends and anyone you meet while shopping or attending special events. Point them to your website and allow the Web to do the selling for you.

Losing weight has never been more affordable and easier. Coffee for weight loss might be somewhat new to coffee lovers, but it certainly will not be just another passing fad. And remember, not just any coffee will help someone lose weight. It must be specially grown coffee such as Boresha coffee to promote weight loss. Once people realize they can lose weight while drinking delicious, organic coffee, you will have many loyal customers for life!

The Hidden Danger That So-Called "Healthy" Foods Infer on Weight Loss Plans

You may or may not be aware of the hidden dangers that can be found in a wide range of foods that are sold on a daily basis in a grocery store near you. This food would be considered "healthy" to the blind eye, however when it comes to weight loss plans, nothing could be further from the truth--or worse for your waistline!

Unfortunately, food is a moneymaking business and with the obesity rates still staggering food companies know that "healthy" sells, making their food more about packaging and less about ingredients than ever before. If you are truly interested in committing yourself to weight loss you must commit yourself to seeking out quality food in all circumstances.

Certain Foods that Can Impede Fat Loss Diets

Cracking the Code of the Egg: The almighty egg has always been at the center of the cholesterol debate. Are they healthy or are they not healthy? Should you eat the yolk, just the white, or the whole egg? While the egg may be at the center of some debate, the truth is that eggs are an excellent source of protein and Omega-3's. You just have be careful of the quality of the egg you choose to eat.

First, eat the whole egg- but make sure that it is organic. The organic craze is another mode by which the moneymaking side of the food industry can take advantage, but there are certain foods where going organic is the best way to go- and eggs top that list!

An organic egg is rich in omega-3 fats, which are extremely healthy and excellent for cognitive alertness. They can also help prevent heart disease. Beware, however, of conventional eggs since they contain Omega-6 fats.

Americans consume far too much Omega 6's, which can be found in corn, soy, canola, and safflower oils as well as inorganic eggs. Consuming too much Omega-6 fat can result in water retention, blood clots and increased blood clots.

If you are hoping to lose fat, you must get enough healthy fats in your body to keep you fuller longer and to give your body the fatty acids it needs to continue metabolizing at a consistent rate.

To Wheat or Not to Wheat

The low-carbohydrate diet took the nation by storm, however there is nothing healthy about cutting out fiber and energy sources from your body and replacing it with high-fat meat. The fundamentals of the low-carb diet had some truth-based reality, but the focus was on the carbohydrates alone- not the quality of the carbs.

You probably already know that you should avoid white, refined carbohydrates. White bread, rice, and the like are very high in sugar and low in fiber making them empty calories that can only add to your fat gain and delay your weight loss.

However, what may come as a surprise is that whole-wheat products are not much better for you. If white bread is considered a 1 on the scale of health, whole-wheat products ring in at a measly 3. Why?

Whole-wheat flour may not be bleached, but it certainly is refined. Processed foods can offer you no benefit and instead will be stored as fat. Organic multigrain or--the best--sprouted grain bread is best.

Simple Staples for a Fat Burning Diet

Here's a quick list of foods that will help you to burn fat and assist you in losing weight: Salmon, avocado, raw cheese and milk, raw nuts, grass fed meat, almond butter, organic eggs, roaming poultry, wild fish, and green leafy veggies.

Remember, whole organic food is best. Packaged foods are simply packaged to appear healthy, but are ultimately dangerous to your weight loss plans.

Green Tea - Neither a Weight Loss Diet Nor a Supplement But It Works Wonders to Keep You in Shape

green tea

While market is flooded with various weight loss supplements and diet plans, an effective and easy way to lose weight goes unnoticed by a good number of health conscious people. Green tea or its extract is often known for its medicinal properties that can cure many ailments. However few people are aware that Green or organic tea has weight loss abilities as well. In fact many brands have launched specially formulated teas which are meant for burning fat easily.
Fighting obesity requires not only will power but also a well planned dieting routine that can be followed without getting fed up very soon. The real problem with a majority of fat reduction systems is that they restrict your normal eating habits and recommend eating things that are either tasteless or very expensive. In either of these cases you feel like quitting the program as soon as possible. The net result of this approach is that you gain back your weight soon after quitting the program.
Green Tea - An effective and natural way to fight obesity
Unlike many other supplements and dieting program, it works somewhat slower but its effect lasts longer. In fact it is easier to maintain your weight and figure if you consume organic tea on regular basis. Many people switch to green tea once they lose a considerable amount of weight.
Green tea is made from the same leaves from which your regular black tea is made. The difference is in the duration of processing. It is less processed that regular tea therefore maximum possible medicinal properties are retained. The extract of this tea is available in concentrated form which is available under various brand names in the market.
The extract of green tea is often considered more beneficial for overall health than using it as a beverage. However it is easier to consume organic tea as a drink than consuming it in the form of pills. You cannot continue using weight loss pills for a long time but you can definitely switch to green tea forever.
When it comes to weight loss, nothing is more natural than enjoying your cup of organic tea and losing weight simultaneously. Rich in anti oxidants, it works wonders for your metabolism and reverses the aging process to a great extent. Many research findings suggest that it also slows down the growth of cancerous cells and prevents many other diseases. What's more, you never fed up with it because it is neither a diet plan nor a weight loss supplement.

However the real challenge is to get a good quality Green tea. If you just pick up any brand from the market, all you will lose is money and not your weight; therefore read a comparative study of a few reputed brands and order the best Green tea for weight loss.

Weight Loss Menu - Planning Your Own Weight Loss Menu

Weight Loss Menu

When planning your own weight loss menu, make sure you are consuming a balanced and complete diet. You have to set realistic and attainable weight loss diet goals. Make sure you research and plan your weight loss menu before you start. Keep it simple. Don't get too caught up on the specifics or your diet. Make sure that you count the calories of your food intake.

When you are planning your weight loss menu, you have to make sure you follow the recommended daily dishes and maintain the suggested calories needed in a day. You can also buy calorie-free beverages and add this to your daily menu. Try to avoid foods that are high in fat, calories and high in sugars. These types of food could very well ruin your diet.

When planning a weight loss menu you, include in your diet fresh fruits and vegetables. Plan ahead by packing foods the night before and writing down what ingredients you need for your menu. The most important thing to do before you start is to ask a nutritionist about the calorie intake that you should take in a day. You can also check the internet for free calorie counters.

Here are some suggested foods that you should include in your daily menu:

Fruits - Fruits are very healthy for our body. Fruits are high in water and vitamins. Regular consumption of fruits will not only help you lose weight but it can also lower the risk of getting cancer, it also helps reduce the chance of developing kidney stones and the effects of bone-loss. Fruits are low in calories which are great for those who are trying to lose weight.

Protein- Foods rich in protein is very important for a person trying to lose weight. For someone who is planning to lose weight, amino acids play an essential part in a diet. It provides enough nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Foods that are high in protein include: egg, tuna, white meat (chicken), milk peanuts and a lot more.

Organic Food- Organic foods usually contain only organic ingredients. It is free of pesticides and food additives. Chemicals are not used in organic farming, there is minimal soil, air and water pollution; thus ensuring a safe world for future generations to live in. Nowadays, a lot of people are convinced to buy organic food because of its health benefits. Not only can it help you lose weight but it also cleanses your body, making you healthier in the process.

These are just some simple things to consider when planning your own weight loss menu.

Green Tea - How Green Tea Works For Weight Loss

Green Tea

Green tea is known as more than just a beverage. Though there is no harm in using it in place of your regular tea, people often use it as a weight loss supplement. Chinese and other Asian people have used it for centuries as a herbal medicine. It is known to cure headache, depression, indigestion and many other common diseases.
However the most talked about property of green tea is its ability to help you lose weight. Any weight loss program focuses on increasing your calorie burning capacity or reducing your calorie intake. Consumption of Green tea helps you achieve both; therefore it works wonders for your weight loss.
How Green Tea works
• Herbal or organic teas intensify your fat oxidation and thermogenesis process which is a scientific term for body's ability to burn calories. It blocks the absorption of fat and regulates blood glucose levels.
• It increases your metabolism and helps you accelerate the fat burning process. While burning fat, green tea also ensures that you do not absorb and deposit more fat on your body. The net result is fat weight loss.
• It is known to suppress your appetite therefore you do not feel like eating junk food. As you cut down on your junk food intakes, you start losing weight anyway.
• One of the most important ingredients of any herbal tea is Polyphenols such as Catechin,Epicatechin gallate, Gallocatechin. These are natural anti oxidants that help you burn calories very fast.
How much organic tea should we drink?
Depending upon the ingredients, many manufacturers recommend 5 to 10 cups every day. However such high dosages are often counterproductive. Strong and effective blends do not require you to drink more than 2 or 3 drinks a day. Just do your research before spending your money on unknown brands.
Which is the best Organic tea for weight loss?
Though there are various blends available on the market, the latest green tea for weight loss that has created a sensation in the health market is Tava Tea. It contains a perfect blend of various teas which ensure fast weight loss. Unlike other organic and herbal teas, you can get the desired effect by consuming just one or two drinks a day.

You can discover for yourself why Tava Tea is the number One choice of weight loss tea and enjoy the rewarding benefits you can gain. It comes complete with a full risk free180 day money back guarantee so you can purchase this green tea with complete confidence. In addition, there are many special discounts available helping you to lose more weight more cost effectively.

Natural Weight Loss Pills Are Far Better Than Artificial Ones

Natural Weight Loss Pills

If you're thinking about fat reduction tablets the variety of choices accessible could be truly hard. It's important to recognize that even though you'll discover a bunch of businesses providing these items you'll discover still only just a few numerous kinds. Prior to, we consider the wellness benefits of natural weight loss pills, we really very first need to think about the large difference among natural and artificial fat reduction tablets.
Natural weight loss pills utilize organic extracts and no chemicals or preservatives in most cases. They're capsules formed of natural solutions in this sense. Artificial items, on the other hand, are produced by individuals in labs and are labeled as medicines. Even though natural weight loss pills are accessible from wellness food shops, the artificial variants are usually only accessible getting a prescription from your health care professional.
Some from the wellness benefits of natural weight loss pills would also apply to everything else that enables you to shed fat for instance getting a lot much more vitality, greater self-confidence and a lot less stress on your heart, we will now consider some from the benefits that natural dietary supplements have much more than their artificial alternatives.
Nature at its greatest
An extra superb wellness benefit of natural fat reduction tablets is that because organic dietary supplements are made totally from naturally occurring elements, they're in a position to benefit your body by delivering you with numerous extra nutrients too.
Secure for long term use
Even though the fat reduction tablets you're in a position to get on prescription may help you to shed fat much more than a short period of time, they're in a position to become particularly harmful ought to you take them for too long. The majority artificial dietary supplements are created for short-term therapy only, but getting a natural fat reduction pill you're in a position to securely take them for as long as you like with no difficulties at all.
The happiness aspect
Utilizing organic and natural bodyweight burning supplements as part your each day way of life can help you to obtain rid of your extra fat without producing substantial variations to your diet plan, and basically due to the fact they're the healthier choice, you might be capable of feel significantly far better about taking them at the same time. Of course, you might be capable of still enjoy your favorite treats occasionally, and not require to have worried about their calorie content, producing you happier overall.
The wellness positive aspects of organic and natural bodyweight burning supplements are countless. In comparison to the artificial products accessible on prescription, normal products are a guilt-free method to assist yourself shed fat without obtaining worries of doing harm to your body. You ought to surely keep an eye on bodyweight burning supplements evaluation on the internet prior to purchasing.

Should you wish to learn much more about natural weight loss pills

Discover Diet Pills That Work - Experience Guaranteed Weight Loss!

Diet Pill

How do you find diet pills that work among so many? It can be a difficult task. There's no official organ responsible for testing and approving online diet supplements. Therefore, the market is full of ineffective hype and harmful weight loss products. They make claims that cannot be met nor proved. Even when the ingredients are right, they're not pure or in proper amounts.
Why Natural Diet Pills? Natural weight loss pills are the most trusted ones. They are made of organic ingredients and many of them are safe. Herbal diet pills can support weight loss without harming your health. They're easy do digest and work kindly to your system. They can suppress appetite, burn fat, block fat and carbs, and give you more energy without side effects. They can provide safe and effective weight loss.
Diet pills that work like herbal diet supplements do not contain preservatives or extenders; which lower the ingredient's effectiveness and damage your system. Their absorption is easier causing no gas or stomach pains which are associated with many weight loss supplements or drugs. People with allergies and sensitive stomachs can take natural diet supplements with no adverse reactions.
Even Natural Diet Pills Can Be Dangerous. Not all natural diet products are reliable. Do not forget that nature also produces poison and venom. Even natural diet pills can be harmful when not chosen properly or in wrong dosages. Sometimes they work just like any other drug. Organic ingredients found in many diet supplements will cause side effects. Many energy boosters and natural stimulants can be treacherous.
Diet pills that work are clinically tested and endorsed by health experts in the weight loss industry. They have scientific basis to prove their effectiveness. They're known beyond the online community and made from pure organic sources. Their ingredients have been reported in the news, healthy related magazines, national and international articles' reports and newspapers.
High quality weight loss pills are approved by doctors, nutritionists and herbalists. They have real testimonies to prove their effectiveness and are safe to use. They do not display unproved and incredible claims about how fast you can lose weight. Safe and effective weight loss does not happen overnight. Avoid artificial medications and weight loss drugs altogether. Eating proper foods and exercise are essential to lose weight and keep it off.
Diet pills that work will provide a customer support and a money back guarantee of 3 months or more. They will display certificates of authenticity like Annex Certificate, COA, CITES and Medical Endorsements. They'll also motivate you to eat properly and be physically active. You do not want to be dependent on the diet pill to keep your weight off. Diet meal recipes and physical activities will help you maintain the weight off and improve your health.
Most fat burners, appetite suppressants, carb blockers, fat blockers and metabolism boosters contain bad ingredients that can cause serious side effects. They can harm you physically, emotionally, mentally and socially. You may end up losing weight in exchange for your health. Always seek your doctor or health expert to assist you and follow your progress. Make proper research on the ingredients and choose carefully your diet supplement. Synthetic tablet medication and drugs must be avoided all together.
We have considered all the above citations to choose diet pills that work. Our goal is to guide you through finding carefully chosen high quality weight loss supplements, made from natural resources and clinically proven to bring you the best results possible. Choose from the best and lose weight with confidence. The trim and attractive you are possible. Make the research and slim down the healthy way with high quality diet supplements.

We are a diet pill's website consulting which makes careful researches on the many options available. There you'll discover high quality safe and effective diet pills that will help you lose weight the healthy way. The slim, trim and attractive you are now possible. Leave your family and friends stunned when they see the new you.

What to Look For in the Best Weight Loss Programs?

Are you under the impression that the best weight loss programs restrict your intake so severely that you are hungry all the time? Nothing is further from the truth. If you are constantly hungry, not only are you, and everyone around you, miserable all the time, you are actually teaching your body to retain weight rather than lose it.

It doesn't seem logical, right? If you restrict your calories, you will surely lose weight. True, for a while. Your body is pretty smart, you see, and if you cut back too much, your body interprets this situation as dangerous.

Potentially a starvation scenario, and it turns down your metabolism or worse, starts harvesting muscle to substitute for missing nutrients. Granted, that is an extreme situation, but you would be hard pressed to find a doctor who hasn't seen it happen.

What You Should Look for in a Weight Loss Program

So, what are you to do? Look for weight loss programs that don't advocate eating pseudo foods, made of strange ingredients that have been packed in small boxes. Instead search for a program that encourages you to eat healthy, organic foods that are packed with nutrition, have no artificial ingredients and offer a sustainable plan for living.

Real Food, Real Results

Believe me I know how tempting it is to turn over your nutritional life to small, prepackaged meals. There is no thinking required, and the results, at least until you get bored, are often reasonable. The problem is that sooner or later you will have to give up those boxed foods and return to the real world.

If, however, you start out right from the beginning with real food, you are set to deal with any meal that comes your way. What should you be eating? How do these meals sound? A nice steak with a baked sweet potato, topped with butter, a side salad and some steamed broccoli? Oatmeal drizzled with a bit of honey, a poached egg, a couple of slices of bacon and some ripe cantaloupe? Maybe a perfectly seared piece of wild caught salmon nestled on a bed of organic greens, with an olive oil and lemon juice dressing?

I know I'm getting hungry just thinking about these kinds of meals. The way you feed your body is the way you experience life.

Avoid Non-Foods and Chemicals

Things like artificial sweeteners, chemical laden milk products and non-organic, processed ingredients have no value for a person who wants to eat properly. We have moved too far away from real food and the result is an obesity epidemic of incredible proportions. At this point, you are probably wondering what you should find to eat in the best weight loss programs.

Proteins should come from grass fed meats or wild caught fish, organic whole eggs and organically raised poultry. Avoid wheat as much as possible and have grains like brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, spelt, oatmeal, teff and other whole grains.

Pack a plethora of organic vegetables on your plate, in all the colors of the rainbow, and have some fruit as well. In fact, the simplest rule you can follow is to remove all white foods from your diet unless they are whole fruits and veggies.

Doesn't sound too bad, does it? Your body will quickly learn how to digest efficiently, boost your metabolic rate and burn off those unwanted pounds in a completely livable fashion. Now, doesn't that sound like one of the best weight loss programs around?

Raw Food Weight Loss Diets - 3 Tips to Get You Going

Raw Foods

The first mention of a raw food weight loss diet will leave many people cringing, looking disgusted or nauseated. But, have you ever heard the saying, "Don't knock it until you try it" or "Don't judge a book by its cover". The same thing applies to trying the raw food weight loss diet. If you are hesitant about giving this diet a try because of what you think it may mean, think again.

Beginning a Raw Food Weight Loss Diet

Before beginning a raw food diet, the important thing is to know where to begin. What to eat? What to buy? Starting 100% or working into it? These are just a few questions to consider before beginning this sort of dieting program. In this particular article three of the best tips in the business for making a smooth transition into a raw fruits and vegetables diet will be outlined.

Organic Foods

According to the Hartman Group, around 70% of Americans are occasionally purchasing organic foods and approximately a quarter of them are going organic on a weekly basis. Most people are going organic because raw or natural foods have proven to be the healthiest for us as human beings as well as being great for the environment. The only downside to organic foods is that they are a lot pricier than non-organic foods. But is it worth it? Yes, because the advantages outweighs the disadvantages immensely.

Juices

Juices, especially vegetable and fruit juices are ideal for jump starting any raw weight loss diet. Grapefruit juice in particular has been proven to boost your metabolism, especially when taken in the morning. On the hand, vegetable juices are known for boosting energy and strengthening immune systems. Juices in particular are full of healthy vitamins, enzymes, co-factors, alkaline, life force, organic minerals and many other healthy nutrients.

Healthier Foods

This is pretty self-explanatory; however, it seems to be the most difficult adjustment to make for many people especially in regards to a raw or whole food diet. Little do people know, a raw diet is arguably one of the healthiest diets a human being can incorporate into their lives? Eating healthier is no doubt the answer to healthy living; however, the important thing is consult a doctor or dietitian before making a decision with raw food weight loss diets.

Weight Loss in Cats

Weight loss in cats can be a normal process of restricting the calorie intake in an obese cat, or it can be the result of an underlying life threatening illness that has attacked your cat. If it is the result of a developing illness, some of the early warning signs that you will see will body and muscle mass deterioration.
But perhaps the quickest way to identify a potential illness is when you cats hair coat starts to erode in both shine and quality.
If your cat is not losing body fluids, they are not on a diet to reduce their weight, and than suddenly lose weight that exceeds over ten percent of their total size, something may be seriously wrong with them.
Weight loss in your cat is a condition that usually results in a negative caloric intake, but it can also be the result of malabsorptive, maldigestive or metabolic disorders. It may also be the result of a poor quality of the food that is provided.
If it is a malabsorptive disorder, the process of proper absorption of nutrients by the intestines may be the underlying cause, and if it is a maldigestive disorder it may be the result of an inadequate breakdown of food and the result is the food is not processed by your cat. A metabolic disorder could be the result of a critical organ that is failing.
Symptoms:
There are several different symptoms that you can watch for if your cat does start to loss weight that you have not initiated. The first obvious symptom is the loss of weight which is usually followed very quickly by a loss of both body condition and muscle mass. The loss of muscle mass in your cat is extremely dangerous as the muscles control the movements in every part of your cats body, including the internal organs.
The next set of symptoms to watch for will be diarrhea and vomiting which could be signs that food is not properly being processed by your cat. If this is the case, you will than see regurgitation as well as a difficulty in swallowing. Regurgitation on occasion is normal in cats, but if it is occurring at the same time as a weight loss, it may be especially dangerous.
The esophagus in your cat is a small hose like tubular structure that leads from the mouth to the stomach of your pet. From the mouth, it follows almost a straight path through the neck and the chest area. It than passes through the heart, followed by the diaphragm muscles and it is comprised of muscles that move in wave like motions. It is this muscle movement that allows the food to pass through your pets body. Once it losses muscle tone, it causes a chronic regurgitation in your cat.
However, the most chilling symptom associated with weight loss is the sudden development of a poor hair coat in both luster and quality. There are numerous reasons for hair coat problems in cats, but if is associated with a sudden loss of weight, it is almost always the sign of an organ malfunction, especially the kidneys.
Causes:
There are several potential causes of weight loss in cats and the first thing to do is examine their food and ask some basic questions. The first would be the quantity of food given and if it the right amount for your cats age and weight. The quality of the food may also be the cause. If you have food that has had a prolonged storage process, it can very easily lose most of its nutritional value and it is not supplying your cat with the needed nutrients.
However, the most common causes are some type of a disorder. Malabsorptive disorders can cause poor intestinal absorption in your cats system. The most common form is referred to as IBD, or Inflammatory bowel disease. This disease is thought to be an immune related condition and it causes microscopic accumulations of cells that become inflamed in the intestinal wall and cause diarrhea that result in a sudden weight loss.
Intestinal parasite infections attack young cats or cats that are kenneled and are associated with unsanitary conditions and can produce roundworms as well as hookworms. Fungal infections can also cause infections in the bowel and lead to a sudden weight loss in your pet.
Maldigestive disorders that result in the inadequate breakdown of food in your cats system and than cause the food not being processed properly include EPI and a lack of bile slats. EPI, also known as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is the result of your cats pancreas not producing enough enzymes to break down the food which results in the loss of nutrients.
Bile salts are critical to your cat as they enhance the digestion of fats by emulsifying them or properly dispersing them. This is usually caused by the development of a liver of gall bladder disease. Metabolic disorders include organ failures such as the liver and the kidney as well as sugar diabetes.
There are however, another set of conditions that can cause an excessive amount of nutrients to be lost by your cat even if they are eating properly. PLE or protein losing enteropathy is extremely dangerous to your cat and can cause a very rapid loss of weight.
This is a condition that results in a protein loss by the retention of fluid in your cat called edema, or by ascites, which is the retention of fluid in their abdomen. The proteins that your cat gets from their food are absorbed in their small bowel and as a result it affects the digestion and the absorption of proteins.
Summary:
Weight loss in cats can be a very dangerous situation, especially if it exceeds ten percent of the body weight. Once the underlying disease is found, supplementation with vitamins and minerals will be needed to bring the nourishment requirements back to normal levels. In some cases, you may also have to force feed your cat for a period of time.
Appetite stimulants may also have to be given once the underlying condition is diagnosed and corrected to get your cat to start eating again and gain the weight back.

I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a "mutt" that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field. He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds. After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend.

After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach.

Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats.

I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process.