High Cholesterol Factors

Four Main Factors Causing High Cholesterol

Besides diet, other causes of high cholesterol are lifestyle, gender and the heritage of the individual.

For some, even maintaining cholesterol at the right levels and being fit and thin will still not prevent the development of high levels of bad cholesterol. Due to heart risk factors besides diet, some people require a very aggressive approach which includes cholesterol lowing medication.

Lifestyle issues and high cholesterol:

•When we opt for convenience in eating over nutrition, we are setting ourselves up for problems. Eating fast foods and convenience foods results in eating too many fats and salts, which can raise our bad cholesterol levels. In addition, a more sedentary lifestyle also contributes to unhealthy levels of cholesterol. If you want to see a graphic representation of this, consider renting the documentary movie “Supersize Me.” This documentary details the attempts of one man to live on fast foods and little exercise alone. The results on his cholesterol and body health in just 30 days are truly frightening.

•A visit to a nutritionist or dietician can help us all better understand eating for the right reasons and for optimal health. It is never too late to start on this path.

•Regular exercise will effectively lower cholesterol and will maintain your body strength to function best. Just 20 minutes of aerobic exercise, including walking, each day will lower cholesterol. Exercise does not have to be a large time or money commitment. Simple activities that get you moving and that you enjoy enough to repeat are almost always adequate.

Diet:

•An important consideration in eating is choosing lower fat.

•Buy cooking oils that are unsaturated. Use low fat cooking sprays to replace heavy oils whenever possible. Reduce your overall use of oils even further by using cooking techniques that require little or no oil.

Age and Gender:

•Cholesterol levels increase with age. Women generally have a lower level than men from age 50 to 55. Once a woman starts menopause, the cholesterol level starts to increase.

• While there is not much that you can do about your age, you can make sure that age does not threaten your heart health by sticking to a healthy lifestyle and diet and by getting your cholesterol levels monitored.

Heritage:

•Genetics play a key role in a person's health and this includes the amount of cholesterol you might have.

•Find out if your family battles with high levels of cholesterol and then bring this to your doctor’s attention right away. If you have a family history of heart disease and high cholesterol levels, work harder and start earlier in adopting a healthy lifestyle and eating plan.

Author:
Jim has been interested in health factors for most of his life. Most of his knowledge is from investigating the many faucets for a healthy being. You can learn more of his research on low carb dieting by visiting:
http://www.low-carb-dieting-secrets.com

Speed Up Weight Loss

Speed Up Your Weight Loss With Herbs And Spices

I wonder how much it is generally known that the benefits of using herbs and spices can speed up your weight loss efforts, by quite a considerable amount actually.

We all know that herbs and spices are used with cooking to varying degrees, and of course the primary reason for doing so is to make food much more tasty and interesting.

I suspect however that you might be surprised at the considerable health benefits that can also be gained by using them. In saying this I am referring to those everyday items that can be found in most larders, and not necessarily those exotic and probably not so well known varieties.

I happened to discover the many benefits of herbs and spices and the fact that they can be most beneficial to a weight loss program, when I was doing extremely detailed research for my latest book. The results of that research were so extensive, that it could be the basis in itself for a complete publication, and much more detailed therefore, than I could possibly include in this short article.

However I have been able to include a fair amount of information below about various herbs and spices which are known to particularly help to speed up weight loss, and that is also in addition to their excellent overall health benefits by the way.

You should find that you will be able to purchase these herbs from any good Herbalist supplier.

Garcinia: (Garcinia cambogia) is a herb which is sold primarily for enhancing weight loss and boosting the amount of lean muscle. This is also known as hila or brindell berry.

One of the major benfits of Garcinia is that it acts as an appetite suppressant and stops the body from storing fat.

Pysillium: (Plantago spp.) This cheeky little herb has quite a few health benefits. Physillium is known to help lower cholesterol, and another major benefit is that it also helps to prevent constipation.

If you use it as part of your weight loss program, it can help you to eat less calories and yet still feel really full.

This is because of the amount of fiber that it contains.

I mentioned earlier that it does help in preventing constipation, but in order to achieve this you should make sure that you drink plenty of water.

Siberian Gingsing: (Eleutherococcus senticosus) If you are going to start regular exercise as part of your health and weight loss routine, which is normally to be highly recommended, then this is a really useful herb.

It can help your body adapt to the stress of unaccustomed changes, and it will help to make you feel
less tired even when you are doing simple exercises like walking for example.

So in turn therefore you are more likely to stick to your exercise routine.

Little Known Secrets In Your Larder

Cayenne: (also known as Capsicum, hot pepper, chilli pepper, tabasco pepper). The majority of us have cayenne in our larders, and it is very commonly used in many food dishes. Cayenne can be found in many forms such as ground spices, teas, and would you believe it, topical creams.

It is well known for its antitoxidant action, and greatly helps with osteoathritis and rhumatoid athritis, shingles, and diabetic neuropathy.

A note of caution however: Cayenne may act with anticoagulant drugs so be sure to consult with your doctor. Excessive use may also irritate the intestinal tract.

Manufactured topical capsacin creams can cause a burning sensation, so test first on a small area of the skin, remembering to wash hands thoroughly after applying the cream. This will avoid it spreading to the eyes nose or other sensitive areas.

Fennel: is native to the Mediterranean and is widely utilized throughout the world. You will find it in teas, capsules, tinctures and lozenges.

Fennel can be used to help with bloating, flatulence, mild digestive spasms, catarrh, and coughs. It also has antimicrobal, antispadmodic, and anti inflammatory properties.

A note of caution here: Fennel can sometimes cause rare allergic skin and respiratory tract reactions.
Fennel is also a potential source of synthetic oestrogens and should be avoided if you are pregnant.

Garlic: you can buy this fresh, or the one you will most probably have in your larder will be dried. The downside of garlic is the odour which it leaves on your breath, but chewing some parsley after eating will soon sort out that problem.

Garlic is also known to help stimulate the immune system, and to help in fighting cancer. Well documented health benefits include lowering cholesterol,fighting infections, and reducing blood pressure.

Again a note of caution: garlic may also interact with anticoaglant drugs, so do be sure to check with your doctor if in any doubt. Rare cases of allergic reactions are known, and some people might possibly experience heartburn or even flatulence.

These are just a few of the herbs you can use in cooking, but do remember that there are many many more, and the benefits in using them frequently can be quite remarkable.

You will realize of course that when using them as part of any dish to use them sparingly, as to add too much would just spoil the meal.

As with everything in life one should try and strike a balance, after all you know what they say "all things in moderation".

About The Author
Marie Gordon is Author and Publisher of "Your Fastest Way To Permanent Weight Loss" the complete solution to all your weight loss problems. You can find out more by visiting her website at http://www.howtoloseitfast.com

Omega 3 Fish Oil In The Diet And Weight Loss

When embarking on a diet, most people make the decision to cut out many foods that are considered unhealthy, such as refined carbohydrates, high calorie foods and fats. However, in order to eliminate excess body fat, you need to make sure you are eating enough of the right fats. While it's true that some fats are not good for you, others are absolutely essential for losing weight and maintaining a healthy diet. While the body can transform carbohydrates and proteins into saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, it cannot produce certain polyunsaturated fats. These fats that the body cannot produce are called essential fatty acids (EFAs), and they must be obtained from the food that we eat

EFAs actually help the body to dissolve fat. So to cut out foods high in them is like cutting out fat-burning agents!

What are Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)?

EFAs are classed into two groups: omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are needed by the body to keep the heart, eyes and brain healthy, and omega-6 fatty acids are needed to keep cells, skin, the blood and immune system healthy.

Essential Fatty Acids, otherwise known as Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids, are polyunsaturated fatty acids found in the oil from oily fish and vegetable sources such as flax seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, olive oil and canola oil.

Both types of EFAs are required for the production of the eicosanoids - hormones that are responsible for regulating the major body functions, including digestion, insulin production and the storage of fat.

How Omega-3 Fatty Acids Aids Weight Loss

It has now been proven scientifically that Omega-3 fatty acids help you lose weight. Studies at the University of South Australia have found that taking omega-3 fish oil combined with moderate aerobic exercise boosts weight loss.

Over a period of 12 weeks, researchers gave a group of obese adults daily doses of omega-3 fish oil and supervised moderate aerobic exercise three times a week. The researches compared the results of this group with other groups that were not given omega-3 fish oil and exercise three times a week.

The group that had the omega-3 fish oil lost significantly more weight, particularly around the abdominal region, than the people who had not been given the omega-3 fish oil and exercise.

They concluded that Omega-3 fatty acids in the fish oil activates the enzymes responsible for burning fat, and combined with exercise and increased oxygen intake, they increase the metabolic rate, which has an effect of burning more fat and losing weight.

Warning About Fish Oil

Many reports have indicated that commercial fish can be harmful to people's health, in particular the health of young children and women of childbearing age. This is because certain fish contain high levels of contaminants such as mercury and methyl mercury that can damage the nervous system of an unborn child or young child. These toxins can also be transferred into fish oil and fish oil capsules.

It is possible to get the same weight loss benefits from vegetable sources of omega-3 fatty acids, without the toxins. Eating a diet rich in olive oil, canola oil, and rapeseed oil, nuts, avocado and soy will give you the omega-3 fatty acids your body needs to he


About the Author
Shola Osho is author of Diet Cheats - how to lose weight, burn fat while eating all the foods you enjoy. You can find out more by visiting http://www.dietcheats.com

Choose Weight Loss Program

Do It Right The First Time….. Choosing The Best Weight Loss Program For You

How do you decide which system is the best weight loss program for you?

This is a question that has been asked thousands of times and the answer can be different every time. There are so many choices, so many avenues to explore, so many factors to consider. Let’s try to break this down into manageable components.

Use these steps when deciding on a weight loss plan of action:

Goals for your best weight loss program
One the most important things to do when searching for the best weight loss program for you is to decide on your goals. The more specific you are with your goals, the better your chances of weight loss success become.

Be sure to set specific, realistic expectations. Meaning, don’t expect to lose 100 pounds in thirty days. The average amount of weight loss using safe and healthy means is one to three pounds per week, sometimes maybe a little more. Don't get discouraged. As the months fly by, you'll definitley start to notice those pants getting looser!

When setting goals ask yourself these questions: How much weight do I want to lose? How much time am I giving myself to reach my ideal weight? (Remember be realistic!)

Lifestyle- finding the best weight loss program for your schedule

When choosing the best weight loss program for you, it’s very important to factor in the type of lifestyle you lead. This is a crucial step that many people miss.

Your lifestyle determines what type of weight loss program will work for you. If you work twelve hours a day or travel five days a week, a weight loss program that requires a lot of cooking won’t work for you so don’t even consider it.

Additionally...

You need to know your strengths and weaknesses. Are you an exercise buff who just happens to eat poorly? If so, you may need a food based weight loss program. On the other hand, are you a whiz in the kitchen but you hate working out?

Also...

What qualities in a weight loss program are necessities for you? Ask yourself these questions and be honest in your answers: How much time daily can I devote to exercise? Cooking? How many times a week must I be able to eat out?

What kinds of exercise am I willing to do? (ex. walking, jogging, weight training, swimming, pilates, yoga, aerobics, etc.) Do I need help with my eating habits? Fitness? Both? Must I have one-on-one attention?

Do I need a plan that requires no cooking? Do I need a plan with lots of structure or one with customization and flexibility?

Money for the best weight loss program

Another thing to factor in when choosing the best weight loss program for you is the amount of money you’re willing to spend. Most online membership-based weight loss programs will cost between $15.00 - $250.00 per month while non membership-based programs have a one-time fee of anywhere between $12.00 - $ 160.00

There are a couple of things you need to be aware of when deciding on your weight loss budget. As is true with just about everything in today’s society, you usually get what you pay for so when deciding on the right budget treat this like you would something that is very important to you.

If you’re willing to spend sixty bucks on that new hair cut and color or that great outfit, shouldn’t you be willing to spend that much on reaching your desired weight? Having said that, there are plenty of good weight loss programs to choose from at reasonable prices. The key point to remember here is that the more customization you require, the more the price of the weight loss program will rise.

For example...

You may be able to get a weight loss program for $19.95 but don’t expect it to be customized to fit your individual needs. Don’t expect a lot of intricate details in this program and definitely don’t expect ongoing personal support.

With that said...

If you’re focused on your weight loss goal, you have the necessary will power to stay on track, you can follow a pre-packaged plan, and all you need is a simple, effective weight loss plan of action, you may be able to succeed with a low cost weight loss program.

However, if you’re frustrated from past failures but determined to succeed, you might want to shell out a few extra bucks for customized, one-on-one support.

Safety

The next and most important issue you need to consider is the safety of the weight loss program you’re interested in. The first thing you should always do is discuss the weight loss program with your doctor.

The general rule of thumb I use when giving nutritional advice is if the program consists of losing weight solely through eating healthier and exercise, then it’s usually safe to try. I never recommend using supplements because many of them (even herbal ones) can be harmful but even if they’re not they are unnecessary.

You can lose weight safely, quickly, and effectively without them so why waste extra money buying supplements you really don’t need?

Having said that, it’s still your choice as to whether you want to try supplements or not. Just always get your doctor’s approval first and if a supplement makes you feel strange or causes any side effects stop taking it immediately. Now get going towards the best weight loss program!

Now it’s time to get started on your weight loss plan of action. Get a sheet of paper and jot down answers to all of the questions in each subtitle. Visit best-weight-loss-program-info.com , read our reviews, and determine if any of the programs have the qualities you need in order to have weight loss success. If not, move on to other programs but use the same checklist.

This weight loss plan of action should save you time and money and help you to find the best weight loss program for you the first time around.


Author Info:
Lisa J. Murray: Nutrition advisor, Lisa J. Murray, holds a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics as well as 10 years experience in the nutrition field. Aside from being an advocate of healthy weight loss, Ms. Murray hosts the site http://www.best-weight-loss-program-info.com as an unbiased information tool to help those seeking to lose weight find accurate information on the latest weight loss programs.

Rapid Weight Loss Tips, Techniques and Strategies

It seems everyone is looking for that magic bullet - rapid weight loss secret that will instantly shed excess weight and turn you into a supermodel.

The fact is, there are healthy, effective and simple techniques you can use to achieve weight loss - and keep it off over the long term.

Tip 1: Rapid weight loss requires a multi-faceted approach that combines diet, excercise, emotional support and in some cases, diet supplements.

Start by learning about and mapping out a low-carb diet you can live with. You can use the resources below to get more information on finding a low-carb diet you can live with. Develop an exercise program that results in at least 15 minutes of activity each day - walking, running, swimming are all good.

Tip 2: Set realistic goals. Rapid weight loss depends on your ability to focus on a disciplined mix of diet and exercise. By setting realistic goals, you will not become discouraged and lose your focus.

Tip 3: Listen to your body. Though there are many rapid weight loss plans out there, everyone's body and metabolism reacts differently to these programs. Some people can't progress on the diet as fast as others. So, substitute a more rigorous exercise program to compensate. Others are not able to exercise as rigorously - learn to listen to your body and adjust your diet plan accordingly.

Tip 4: Drink lots of water. Drink at least 6 - 8oz glasses of water each day. Weight loss depends on flusing your system out, and you must stay hydrated during that process.

Above all else, be consistent. Moderate dieting, exercise and supplementation applied in a consistent way, day after day will result in better weight loss than massive action followed by a return to old habits.

As you can see, a moderate diet plan and moderate exercise program combined with solid emotional support is the key to succeeding with rapid weight loss.

______________________
Struggling with your weight loss program, diet program or exercise plan? Need more informaion on what works, diet recipes, diet plans and diet information? We know how you feel, and finally you have a place to go to get answers - visit: http://www.rapid-weight-loss.com

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The Truth About Counting Calories And Weight Loss

Do calories matter or do you simply need to eat certain foods and that will guarantee you’ll lose weight? Should you count calories or can you just count “portions?” Is it necessary to keep a food diary? Is it unrealistic to count calories for the rest of your life or is that just part of the price you pay for a better body?

You’re about to learn the answers to these questions and discover a simple solution for keeping track of your food intake without having to crunch numbers every day or become a fanatic about your food.

In many popular diet books, “Calories don’t count” is a frequently repeated theme. Other popular programs, such as Bill Phillip's "Body For Life," allude to the importance of energy intake versus energy output, but recommend that you count “portions” rather than calories…

Phillips wrote,

"There aren't many people who can keep track of their calorie intake for an extended period of time. As an alternative, I recommend counting 'portions.' A portion of food is roughly equal to the size of your clenched fist or the palm of your hand. Each portion of protein or carbohydrate typically contains between 100 and 150 calories. For example, one chicken breast is approximately one portion of protein, and one medium-sized baked potato is approximately one portion of carbohydrate."

Phillips makes a good point that trying to count every single calorie - in the literal sense - can drive you crazy and is probably not realistic as a lifestyle for the long term. It's one thing to count portions instead of calories – that is at least acknowledging the importance of portion control. However, it's another altogether to deny that calories matter.

Yes, calories do count! Any diet program that tells you, "calories don't count" or you can "eat all you want and still lose weight" is a diet you should avoid. The truth is, that line is a bunch of baloney designed to make a diet sound easier to follow. Anything that sounds like work – such as counting calories, eating less or exercising, tends to scare away potential customers! But the law of calorie balance is an unbreakable law of physics: Energy in versus energy out dictates whether you will gain, lose or maintain your weight. Period.

I believe that it's very important to develop an understanding of and a respect for portion control and the law of calorie balance I also believe it's an important part of nutrition education to learn how many calories are in the foods you eat on a regular basis – including (and perhaps, especially) how many calories are in the foods you eat when you dine at restaurants.

The law of calorie balance says:

To maintain your weight, you must consume the same number of calories you burn. To gain weight, you must consume more calories than you burn. To lose weight, you must consume fewer calories than you burn.

If you only count portions or if you haven't the slightest clue how many calories you're eating, it's a lot more likely that you'll eat more than you realize. (Or you might take in fewer calories than you should, which triggers your body’s "starvation mode" and causes your metabolism to shut down).

So how do you balance practicality and realistic expectations with a nutrition program that gets results? Here's a solution that’s a happy medium between strict calorie counting and just guessing:

Create a menu using an EXCEL spreadsheet or your favorite nutrition software. Crunch all the numbers including calories, protein, carbs and fats. Once you have your daily menu, print it, stick it on your refrigerator (and/or in your daily planner) and you now have an eating "goal" for the day, including a caloric target.

That is my definition of "counting calories" -- creating a menu plan you can use as a daily guide, not necessarily writing down every morsel of food you eat for the rest of your life. If you’re really ambitious, keeping a nutrition journal for at least 4-12 weeks is a great idea and an incredible learning experience, but all you really need to get started on the road to a better body is one good menu on paper. If you get bored eating the same thing every day, you can create multiple menus, or just exchange foods using your one menu as a template.

Using this method, you really only need to count calories once when you create your menus. After you've got a knack for calories from this initial discipline of menu planning, then you can estimate portions in the future and get a pretty good (and more educated) ballpark figure.

So what’s the bottom line? Is it really necessary to count every calorie to lose weight? No. But it IS necessary to eat fewer calories then you burn. Whether you count calories and eat less than you burn, or you don’t count calories and eat less than you burn, the end result is the same – you lose weight. Which would you rather do: Take a wild guess, or increase your chance for success with some simple menu planning? I think the right choice is obvious.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the author:
Tom Venuto is a certified personal trainer, natural bodybuilder and author of the ##1 best selling diet e-book, "Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle. You can get info on Tom's e-book at: www.burnthefat.comTo get Tom's free monthly e-zine, visit www.fitren.com

8 Tips to Burn Fat Fast!

Are you looking for that “jump start” to rev your metabolism and get you bathing suit ready? The following eight tips will improve your workouts and ignite your metabolism. Try some or all of these tips, but beware, the result may be a number of admiring second glances and stares when you don that bikini or pair of trunks.

1. The majority of your workouts should be composed of free-weight or cable exercises.

Compared to machines, free-weight and cable movements often require more skill, create muscular balance, and have a greater metabolic cost. For example, it is more difficult to balance the weights, and to coordinate muscles when performing free-weight exercises. Although this may sound like a disadvantage, it is actually a benefit. By balancing and stabilizing free-weights or cables you are working more muscles through a greater range of motion resulting in more muscles developed and more calories burned.

2. Use mostly compound (multi-joint and multi-muscle) exercises.

When focusing on improving body composition, you can't worry about “detail” exercises, so you should use exercises that'll get you the biggest bang for your buck. Isolation exercises can be used at the end of a workout to work on a specific weakness, but only do the bare minimum.

Virtually every savvy fitness professional is privy to the fact that compound exercises recruit the most muscle groups for any given body part.

If you seek lean muscle and the increase in metabolism that comes with it, you must choose exercises that allow for the greatest load. One of the main reasons why squats are superior to leg extensions for quadriceps development relates to the fact that the load you can expose the quadriceps to is much greater with squats. That’s why presses and dips will give you great triceps development, while triceps kickbacks will do little for triceps development and even less for the metabolism.

A good rule of thumb is to use lifts that will allow you to use the most weight. These will have a systemic effect on your body that'll help maintain or increase your muscle mass, and in turn ignite your metabolism.

3. Super-set or group exercises.

Perform either non-competing muscle group training or antagonist training.
Non-competing muscle group training would involve doing a set of a lower body exercise, and following it up with an upper body exercise
Antagonist training is executed by alternating exercises that target opposing muscle groups (e.g. chest and back). The list of benefits includes: quicker recovery, greater strength levels and shorter workout times.

This design can be a huge advantage in your mission to burn fat. If you alternate exercises for opposing or non-competing muscle groups, you’ll be able to keep your heart rate elevated and burn calories like a blast furnace!

4. Keep rep ranges, in general, between 8 and 12.

Through research, it has been determined that the best range for hypertrophy (muscle gain) is roughly between 8-12 reps. Since the main focus of your resistance training efforts is to gain lean body mass and stimulate your metabolism, this rep range fills the bill perfectly.
“High reps for tone and fat loss” is the “big kahuna” of all training myths! Somehow the aerobics, yoga and Pilate’s community have convinced us that when we perform bodyweight exercises or light resistance training for high reps, our muscles magically take on a beautiful shape without growing or bulging. On the other hand, if you challenge yourself with moderately heavy weights, your body will take on a bulky, unflattering appearance. If you believe this, you probably still believe in the Tooth Fairy!

5. Rest only 30 to 60 seconds between sets.

When you keep the rest periods under one minute, it’s easier to stay focused on the task at hand and keeps your heart rate elevated. In addition, it forces your muscles to recover more quickly between sets, along with keeping your nervous system revved up.

If your first movement in an upper/lower body superset is squats, you might want to rest 60 seconds before attempting your second movement. However, if your first exercise is a fairly "easy" exercise, like lat pull downs, you might only wish to wait 30 seconds before doing the second part of the superset.

6. Every session should consist of approximately six to eight exercises.
Why? Because empirical evidence has shown that normal trainees can consistently maintain six to eight exercises per session without burning out.

It’s imperative to base your exercise selection around compound, multi-joint exercises. Seventy-five percent (75%) of your exercises for each session must be compound exercises. Six single-joint isolation exercises are not going do the trick. Sure, you can perform a few isolation exercises, but the majority of your exercise choices should be multi-joint.

7. Perform Total Body Workouts

First and foremost, you must drop the notion that a muscle group can only be trained once or twice a week. Fitness enthusiasts from the past didn't train that way and you shouldn't either. The more frequent muscle producing / fat burning sessions you can have, the better.

8. Cardio is not the cure-all for Obesity

Cardiovascular exercise aids in the creation of a caloric deficit, but the caloric expenditure during cardio is temporary. Strength training addresses the core of the problem by permanently increasing the rate at which the body burns calories by adding muscle. The best programs will include both strength training and cardiovascular training, but the core or the programs effectiveness is resistance training.




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About the author:

Pat Rigsby is a nationally renown fitness expert and co-owner of Fit Systems. For the latest tips on fitness and nutrition, you can subscribe to his popular newsletter at: http://fitsystemspersonaltraining.com/fitnews

How to Lose Weight without Dieting

7 Ways To Lose Weight Without Dieting

1. When you have finished your meal, say an affirmation out loud several times. Here’s some suggestions: “I’ve now finished eating till lunch/dinner/6.00 pm.” (whatever is suitable given the circumstances) or “I have eaten enough food to last me till ….” or “I’m full and do not need to eat till …” Experiment to find the format that's right for you, and then say it with conviction several times preferably out loud at the end of the meal.

2. If you comfort eat to suppress emotions and stay cheerful, take the Bach flower remedy Agrimony. These simple, safe remedies based on flowers have been in use for over fifty years. They're safe to take even if you're taking medication.

3. Put your fork or your sandwich down between mouthfuls. This way you are likely to eat less and enjoy your food more - your stomach has time to register that it's full, which it doesn't have if you gobble your food down.

4. If you crave chocolate, try taking a zinc supplement or eating foods that are rich in zinc (e.g. seeds, leafy green vegetables and seafood). This is a magical tip for lots of people who thought they would never master their desire to eat chocolate.

5. Sit at the table to eat, but clear the table of bills, things to do, etc. It doesn’t help you to control what you eat if you’re looking at unpaid bills.

6. Drink more water – we often misinterpret the body’s thirst request as a food request. When you feel hungry, drink some water and wait a while to see if you really are hungry.

7. Use a smaller plate, so that it looks as though you have more. We eat with our eyes as well as with our mouths and stomachs.




Author Info:
Jane Thurnell-Read: Jane Thurnell-Read researches and writes on health & happiness: unbiased information, working with you where you are now. No faddy diets, extreme recommendations, product hype. Just simple, easy to use information and ideas that you can apply immediately in your life. Her web site is http://www.healthandgoodness.com

Can Eating Certain Foods Help You to Lose Weight?

Experts have discovered that certain foods can actually help you to lose weight without the stress of dieting or exercise. The down side is that many of us have a tendency to dress these foods up with cheese, sour cream, butter or other calorie-laden flavor enhancers. This causes the weight loss effect to be lost. It may be difficult to not add extra calories to these foods but with a strong will power it can be done.

A negative calorie food can be defined as a food that results in a slimming effect for the body. In other words a carrot (without anything else) will cause your body to use an increased amount of energy when digesting it and other foods, this can lead to an overall reducing effect on the body. This is partly from the amount of energy it takes to digest the carrot or other "negative calorie food" and partly from the elevation in metabolism that these foods naturally create. The overall effect is a net loss of energy, which is measured in calories.

It should be understood that ‘negative calorie’ doesn’t mean that the food has zero calories in it, nor does it have an anti-calorie or a negative calorie.

Here is a partial list of negative calorie foods: apples, cranberries, grapefruit, lemon mango, oranges, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries, tangerines, asparagus, beets, cabbage (green), carrots, cauliflower, hot Chile peppers, cucumbers, endives, garden cress, garlic, green beans, lettuce, onion, papaya, radishes, spinach, turnips and zucchini. There are more and you can learn about them from a medical doctor’s very popular book.

In his book, Foods that Cause You to Lose Weight, Dr. Neal Barnard explains the effects these foods have on the body. A quote from Dr. Barnard’s book reveals some startling facts, "They found that those who ate foods that were very low in fat and high in carbohydrates, lost weight steadily, without limiting how much they ate. But those on high-fat diets could not effectively lose weight even if they ate skimpy portions." Dr. Barnard is referring to the published results of an experiment conducted at Cornell University and published in the May 1991 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

A book reviewer posted on a website how he lost 30 lbs. utilizing the information from Dr. Barnard’s book.

It is important to exercise caution when dieting because there are certain things that your body needs to remain healthy including proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are necessary for the body to function at its optimum level. You cannot remain optimally healthy by eating the negative calorie foods alone.

This article is for information purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, treat or prevent any health condition. Please consult a doctor before dieting.



About The Author
Dave Snape is a health, fitness and wellness enthusiast who maintains the http://tobeinformed.com website. Email list: subscribe@tobeinformed.com Dave also practices Falun Gong: falundafa.org.

Weight Loss: Customize, Personalize, Spice Up!

You know you have weighted, err, waited more than enough. So you decide to get yourself started on some weight loss programs and regimens. In all likelihood you would draft yourself with the ones that promise you sure-hit quick weight loss tips.

So you sweat and strain with your chosen weight loss program, perhaps ecstatically so at the start. Sure your body gets all aching with all your joints and knuckles cracking in epic proportions like ungreased door hinges of horror movies.

Looking at yourself in the mirror, you cringe at the sight of this blob staring back miserably at you still with the extra flabs flapping around somewhere there. You sigh in exasperation. Whatever happened to the weight loss program that promised to sculpt your body to whistle-bait shape? You scream in desperation. You know you have just been weigh-layed, err again, way-laid by some pseudo weight loss masters.

Truth is, we tend to pattern our weight loss mindset after the mentality of that of some backyard gym instructors. We torture ourselves with the age-old dictum “No pain, no gain.” Let’s face it, while it did miracles for Rocky, it sure did get him crippled (or, killed) in the final picture.

We are no Rocky. We are ordinary human beings with not-so-ordinary day-to-day affairs. Some are multi-tasked like the housewife who has to master doing diapers in one hand, pitching copies in the other, while applying tantric massage on her hubby with her feet. All throughout she is troubled between going for weight loss surgery and taking weight loss pills.

“No pain, no gain” is foolishly macho and downright false. Of course, there’s bound to be some discomfort when you’re just getting started with your own weight loss program, and later when you start to reach out for new weight loss goals.

But there’s an important difference between discomfort and pain. Learn it. Listen to your body say, “Moderation in all things.” Pain means injury. Pain makes you quit the weight loss program.

If you don’t like your chosen program of weight loss exercises, you won’t stick with it. It will become a chore, you’ll slack off and finally give up the entire weight loss program. Tailor your weight loss exercise to yourself, not to what others do or to some false image generated from within or without. Of course when you’re just getting started, weight loss may seem like a chore. But appearances are not always reality. Realize that your body and mind would always prefer being a couch potato, and will rebel at the thought of exertion in the weight loss program, so you’ve got to give any form of exercise a chance to grow on you before you start analyzing whether it’s for you or not! The key is to turn weight loss exercise into play, then you’ll succeed and persist. Lack of joy makes you quit.

So spice up your own program of weight loss exercises by customizing it according to your our own weight loss needs. Variety is still the spice of weight loss. You should’nt be satisfied just with pounding the pavement or sweating in a gym. Variety makes you learn how much you’re capable of. Play around, pick and choose, experiment with your own customized personal weight loss program.

Whatever weight loss exercises you choose from the following, try to get your heart rate up to about 70 percent of your safe maximum. You can do that by using this formula: 220 minus your age equals your Maximum Safe Heart Rate. Keep it at this rate for a solid half-hour. Don’t go over the 85 percent rate for more than a couple of minutes at a time. Of course, heart rate doesn’t figure into strength builders such as weigh lifting.

Note : The calories-burned figures that follow are for a 110-pounder. A 154-pounder should add on another 28 percent to that number, while a 198-pounder should add 55 percent.

Walking : Calories burned at 2 mph is 145 per hour; 3 mph is 235 per hour; at 5 mph is 435 per hour.

Jogging : Calories burned at 5mph is 530 per hour which is roughly about a 12-minute mile.

Jumping Rope : Calories burned is 600 calories per hour.

Swimming : At 30 yards per minute (about one lap of an Olympic-size pool), calories burned is 330 per hour.

Water-walking : Calories burned is 360 per hour in a fast game.

Bicycling : Calories burned at 10 mph is 390 per hour.

Aerobic Dancing : For low impact, calories burned is 240 per hour and for moderate impact, 350 per hour.

Square Dancing : Calories burned is 350 and up – way up! – per hour.

Table Tennis : Calories burned is 450 hour.

Rowing : Calories burned is 600 per hour.

Cross-country skiing : Calories burned at 10 mph is 600 per hour.

Weight Lifting : Calories burned is 250 per hour.

Martial Arts : Calories burned is 620 per hour.

You really won’t know what you like unless you try it. And if you haven’t tried it don’t knock it. Try mixing gardening with walking, housework with rowing, bicycling with weight lifting, dancing with martial arts, table-tennis with cross-country skiing, outdoors with indoors, team sports with solitary sports. Without variety, humans get bored and stale. They stop reaching. Boredom makes human beings quit.


Author Info:
Charlene J. Nuble: Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For updated links and information about weight loss, please go to: http://weight-loss.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/

How to Lose Weight with an Exercise Bike Program

Your pants are a bit tight, you can't seem to stop eating junk, and you're tired all of the time. It's time to get healthy and lose weight. Combined with a more sensible diet, an exercise bike can help you achieve the results you want.

Ugh, the Diet.

So many people go wrong here. Forget fad diets, forget starvation. Slow and steady wins the race. Try changing one thing about your diet. Limit yourself to one soda a day. Stop skipping meals. If you always clean your plate, start leaving one or two bites. A total change in diet is work. If you go for a radical change, you are setting yourself up for failure. You'll be surprised how well small changes work.

The Right Bike Determines Your Success

This is a critically important part. There are literally hundreds of exercise bikes available. You have to be honest with yourself to discover the one that will work best for you. If you talk yourself into some fantasy world where your exercise plan is going to work this time even though there's nothing different, you're going to be disappointed. If you think ahead, you will buy the right bike for your needs. You will end up with a successful long-term exercise routine.

Think back to your last exercise routine attempt. Why did you stop? Did you suffer an injury? Did you get bored? Was it just too hard to do every day? Was it hard to find the time? Answer these questions truthfully. If you don't figure out where you went wrong, you won't be able to come up with a solution.

Avoiding and Working Through Injuries

If an injury caused you to stop working out, how did you sustain your injury? Becoming physically fit is supposed to help you prevent injuries, not cause them. There is an exercise bike for someone who has been injured working out. It's called a recumbent exercise bike. It's the kind found in a lot of health clubs. It has a large, bucket seat, and you sit back and low to the ground. It is perfect for people beginning a new exercise routine. It's also very good for back problems as it forces you to keep good posture. It puts no pressure on your joints, and you can keep working out even if you have minor injuries.

Overcoming Boredom

Did you get bored the last time you tried to workout on a regular basis? If you did, you are likely to get bored again. With exercise bikes, the solution is usually a bike with several different levels and riding programs. You can get bikes with different difficulty levels. This means that when it becomes too easy for you to pedal, you simply move up to the next level instead of having to ride longer (which just isn't likely to happen for the person who is easily bored). You can also get different programs. Programs give you variety and goals. They make you pedal harder, simulate conquering hills, and even sprinting for short periods.

Riding programs might not be enough for you. You might need a bike that you can hook up to your television that simulates riding through different courses. You can take a leisurely ride through a park or compete with other computer riders on a difficult obstacle course. These bikes might cost more up front, but if you don't invest in a bike that will let you sustain your workout, you're wasting money on anything less.

The coolest thing for game addicts who get bored is an interactive bike that plugs into a Sony Playstation or Playstation 2. It makes over 50 games interactive. Whatever is happening on your bike happens on the screen in bike, car, and similar games. There are all types of similar bikes available.

If you plan on listening to music or watching TV while you cycle, be sure to pay attention to features that will make the exercise bike quieter. It's also a good idea to get a quieter bike if you live with other people. For all you know, your workout time is going to be 5AM or midnight. A quieter bike won't disturb other people in your home.

Don't Try to Be Lance Armstrong Yet…

People beginning exercise programs are sometimes too ambitious. It's good to be excited, but you have to remain realistic. If your last exercise program failed because it was just too much work, don't make the same mistake again. Fight the urge to overdo your first workouts. It is critical to your long-term success that you start out slow. If you go from no exercise at all to 5 to 10 minute exercise bike workouts with little resistance, you are much more likely to avoid injury, soreness, and most of all, early feelings of defeat. If you aim too high - expecting to go from a sedentary lifestyle to 45 minute workouts immediately, for example - you are setting yourself up for failure. When you don't reach your unattainable goal, it is more likely you'll quit altogether to alleviate the feeling of failure that much sooner.

The perfect bikes for people who get a bit over-excited are exercise bikes with built in riding programs. You simply start out at the lowest level, and the bike determines your workout. You program in a small goal (10 minutes, 50 calories, or .25 mile) and when you reach that goal, your workout is over.

Finding the Time

You do have time to burn fat and calories on an exercise bike. No matter how intense your schedule is, there are people busier than you who find time to make an exercise routine work. They are not better than you. They don't have more than 24 hours in a day. They simply figured out how to make it work. You can, too.

It can be as simple as the time of day you chose to workout in the past. There is scientific evidence that people who are "morning people" or "night owls" are physically different. Different people have energy at different times. Think about when you work best. If you wake up without an alarm clock ready to go, you should exercise first thing in the morning. If you are a night owl, you should consider working out at night. You might find that you are one of the people who tire yourself out enough with a night workout to sleep like a baby.

You Can Do This!

Losing weight is not a punishment. You are smart enough to know how to eat a little better and become more active. If you are honest with yourself, you will choose the proper bike. You want to look forward to the workout itself. Don't get caught up in which bike burns more calories. Find an exercise bike you will enjoy riding. Figure out the time of day that's best for you to exercise. Make it like getting dressed or bathing - it's just something you do every day. You don't have to train for the Tour de France. You just have to get on and do something every day. Ten minutes a day will yield results. Bookmark this article for future motivation, find your exercise bike, and get busy!

Michael Walker is a freelance author providing useful information about stationary exercise bikes, spin bikes and mini exercise bikes. His numerous articles offer comprehensive tips and solutions for the fitness enthusiast.

Getting Slim and Trim with Yoga

Yoga’s power to create a state of mental and physical well being may also be put to good use for taking off excess weight. Yoga promotes a healthy and balanced life style and when combined with a calorie burning program may show exceptional results. Practicing yoga will also increase your metabolism, increasing the calorie burning process, but you should not see it as an immediate results method. By following the rigors imposed by yoga you will gain a holistic, long term solution to balance your life style and keep off any excessive weight. In addition to loosing weight you will also experience an increased ability to concentrate and focus, higher resistance to stress factors and an all round healthier way of living.


Metabolism is regulated by the thyroid, a component of the endocrine system. It is responsible for the chemical processes in your body that transform food into energy. Yoga uses a series of twisting poses that stimulate the work flow of the internal organs, thus boosting metabolism to burn more calories and reduce your body weight. Improved local circulation is another direct effect of using yoga postures and this leads to a healthier, more energetic body. When the calorie intake is lower than the calorie output your body will start burning fat cells to acquire the necessary energy. A perfectly healthy and strong metabolism takes this process even further and you will see better results than traditional weight loss formulas.


Different back bends, combined with forward bends, are used to stimulate metabolism. Poses that affect the neck area, where the thyroid gland is situated, are especially useful is the weight problem is caused by a hormonal imbalance. These poses can be those of the camel, rabbit, plow, bridge and shoulder stand. Moving quickly between a series of poses can accelerate the process. For people who are significantly overweight some of the bends may prove to be a difficult task to accomplish. They should gradually increase the difficulty of the postures until they are confident enough to go to more complex exercises.


Muscles can be strengthened by using standing poses, such as the warrior. A higher endurance and increased caloric output will also result from using standing poses. Energize the body and increase your metabolism even more by using Kapalabhati and Ujjayi Pranayama.


A proper diet should also be followed to support the holistic weight loss system. Try to consume food rich in fiber, vegetables, whole grains and less high fat and processed food items. Balance is essential in all maters concerning your food and no excess should be made. Do not totally eliminate certain food items from your menu and remember that diversity is the key to an equilibrated and satisfactory diet.


A gradual approach is essential with all yoga practices. Results may not be spectacular and immediate, but this is one of the best long term weight loss methods available. In addition to weight loss you also benefit from an increased protection against adverse factors as well as a general feeling of well being and inner peace.


Gavin Dye is the author and webmaster at http://www.yoga-supplies-4u.com where you can find out more about the health benefits of Yoga, and information on how to start practising Yoga

Are You in the Right Frame of Mind for Weight Loss?

Weight Loss Program

Losing weight and keeping it off means developing a program that is easy to follow, enjoyable and adaptable to your lifestyle.
Before you pick a weight loss program, make sure you are ready to change your eating and exercise habits. Ask yourself the following questions about weight loss:
Are you willing to make regular physical activity a part of your routine?

* Are you committed to making small gradual changes in your eating plan?
* Do you have a realistic weight loss goal in mind?
* Can you control your food choices and meal preparation methods?
* Are you losing weight to improve your health and feel better?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, congratulations. You are ready to adopt a weight loss program that you can comfortably follow and maintain for a lifetime. Now, take the next step and contact a dietetics professional for expert help.

For more information, visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org

Whole Grains Prevent Weight Gain

Research from Harvard, recently published in the highly respected peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Nutrition, has now proven that women who eat the most whole grains lose more weight and maintain that weight loss better than women who eat the least amount of whole grains.
In a twelve year study of over 74,000 nurses, ages 38 to 63, the researchers discovered that women who ate the most whole grain foods weighed less than those who ate the least. The Harvard scientists concluded that the high whole grain group of women had a 49 percent lower risk of gaining weight. The women eating the most whole grains also had a much lower risk of heart disease and diabetes.

For many years now, nutritional research has recommended the consumption of nutritious whole grains because they're rich in vitamin E and other essential oils, B complex, protein, minerals and high quality fiber. But, this is the first time that whole grains have been proven to have such a major effect on both weight loss and optimal weight management.

Although some popular diets lump all carbohydrates together, this study proved there is a major distinction. As I've said before, "All carbohydrates are not created equal." In the Harvard study, women who ate large quantities of processed, refined grains tended to be obese, whereas women who ate the most whole grains weighed less than all the other women in the study and had less tendency to gain weight.

So, be sure to include 100% whole grain breads and cereals in your weight loss program. Read the labels. Look for the coarsest, least processed whole grains. Sprouted and stone ground are best. And make sure that high glycemic sweeteners are not high on the ingredient list. European style rye bread or hearty rye crackers are also good choices. The coarser the grain the better. The same goes for cereal. Old fashioned oatmeal should be your choice rather than oat flakes or "instant' hot cereals. Avoid 'puffed" cereals also, even though they might claim to be 100 % whole grain. My favorite breads are "Ezekiel" from Food for Life. They can usually be found refrigerated at most major health food stores.

This latest research shows that you can eat hearty whole grains, enjoy these low glycemic carbohydrates and stay trim and healthy. Because now we can say for a fact that whole grains help prevent weight gain.

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Moss Greene makes it easy for you to create buoyant, vibrant health. Learn the simple things that make a big difference in how you look and feel. To receive your free newsletter visit: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art3859.asp

Actions to Lower Your Fat

Here are some actions to get you started and keep you going. Try two or three actions now and try more later.

• Use reduced-fat or nonfat salad dressings.
• Use nonfat or lower fat spreads, such as jelly or jam, fruit spread, apple butter, nonfat or reduced-calorie mayonnaise, nonfat margarine, or mustard.
• Use high-fat foods only sometimes; choose more low-fat and nonfat foods.
• To top baked potatoes, use plain nonfat or low-fat yogurt, nonfat or reduced-fat sour cream, nonfat or low-fat cottage cheese, nonfat margarine, nonfat hard cheese, salsa or vinegar.
• Use a little lemon juice, dried herbs, thinly sliced green onions, or a little salsa as a nonfat topping for vegetables or salads.
• Use small amounts of high-fat toppings. For example, use only 1 tsp butter or mayonnaise; 1 tbsp sour cream; 1 tbsp regular salad dressing.
• Switch to 1 percent or skim milk and other nonfat or lower fat dairy products (low-fat or nonfat yogurt, nonfat or reduced-fat sour cream).
• Cut back on cheese by using small (1 oz) amounts on sandwiches and in cooking or use lower fat and fat-free cheeses (part-skim mozzarella, 1 percent cottage cheese, or nonfat hard cheese).
• Try small amounts of these low-fat treats: fig bars, vanilla wafers, ginger snaps, angel food cake, jelly beans,, gum drops, hard candy, puddings made with low-fat (1 percent) skim milk, nonfat frozen yogurt with a fruit topping, or fruit popsicles. Try pretzels or popcorn without butter or oil for an unsweetened treat
• Save french fries and other fried foods for special occasions; have a small serving; share with a friend.
• Save high-fat desserts (ice cream, pastries) for special occasions; have small amounts; share a serving with a friend.
• Choose small portions of lean meat, fish, and poultry; use low-fat cooking methods (baking, poaching, broiling); trim off all fat from meat and remove skin from poultry
• Choose lower fat luncheon meats, such as sliced turkey or chicken breast, lean ham, lean sliced beef

Diet Pills – A Risky Idea

I wish I had a nickel for every weight loss aid and pill on the market. You and I could both retire. Many of these have been associated with serious medical risks, including heart attack, heart abnormalities, tachycardia, stroke, seizures and death. That’s pretty scary!

Most diet pills are appetite suppressants of one kind or another, generally stimulants with effects similar to those of amphetamine. They’re okayed for treatment of obesity, where it's considered that the health risks associated with obesity outweigh the risks of the medication.

But is you have less than 30 pounds to lose, the risks are far less cut-and-dried. Over the counter medications and their risks are not as well-documented as the effects of prescription diet pills. Herbal preparation effects are documented even less, especially those whose makers don't officially make weight loss claims.

Here’s part of the problem. As long as they don't contain a 'new' ingredient, or one that has never been marketed for weight loss purposes, weight-loss aids are not subject to FDA review. Instead, the manufacturer is held responsible for the safety and effectiveness of their products. So a lot of times that means unregulated dosages, unhealthy additives and ineffective ingredients.

Hopefully, one day all over the counter medications and herbal preparations marketed as weight loss supplements will be labeled and tested by impartial researchers. Until then, there are some things that you can do to lessen diet pill risks.

Research thoroughly. There's a lot of information out there about drugs and herbs like ephedra, ephinedrine, phentermine and sibutramine. Know what you're taking and what the risks are so that you can watch for side effects.

Always talk to your doctor before you start taking any drug or herbal supplement. Yes, I know you’ve heard this a thousand times, but there are good reasons for the advice! Some products interact poorly with other medications, or have an adverse effect on chronic conditions.

Follow dosage instructions. Overdoses of stimulant medications, which are a component of most weight loss preparations, can be serious and severe.

Don't take any weight loss pill or supplement for more than a few weeks unless a doctor has prescribed it.

Ask your pharmacist when purchasing over the counter weight loss preparations to be sure that the ingredients don't interact with other medications you may be taking. Include both prescription and nonprescription medications in your questions.

There are much more healthy and effective ways to lose weight than taking pills. The potential of serious health problems remains. It's an awful lot of risk for a little weight loss.


For more information visit Health and Fitness Articles.
www.healthyarticles.com

Are Weight Loss Supplements Worth It?

What do you think of the hundreds of weight loss supplements out there on the shelves today? Are they worth the money? Will they actually help you lose weight? How do you know which ones are going to work for you? Is there any proof that these products work?

I've taken some time and researched some of the most popular product to try to find the answers for you. The truth is, most products won't help you lose anything but money. There are a few, however, with some research behind them that prove that they actually work.

What are these supplements that work? It seems that only four products hold the best promise for those of us who want to slim down. They are Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), Hydroxycitic Acid (HCA), phaseolomine, and possibly 5-HTP.

1. Conjugated Linoleic Acid, CLA, has a number of research studies behind it. It is a fatty acid that has been found to reduce cancer risks, body fat and to increase lean muscle tissue. The Journal of Nutrition reported a Scandanavian Research team found CLA to increase the lean body mass of humans and also to decrease the fat mass. Subjects also had lower blodd fat and cholestrol after taking CLA. CLA does occur naturally in meat and dairy products, but the levels are pretty low. Also, if you're following a healthy low-fat diet, you tend to not get as much meat and dairy, so supplementation may be the answer for getting a healthy dose of CLA.

2. Hydroxycitic Acid, HCA, is derived from a fruit, Garcinia cambogia or Malabar tamarind. It seems to work by inhibiting an enzyme that converts carbohydrates to fat. It also seems to suppress the appetite. Studies on humans have had mixed results with one study showing significant weight loss in participants. Another study using a high fiber diet, showed HCA had no effect on weight loss. Critics think the high fiber diet prevented absorbtion of the HCA. So, if you're on a high fiber diet, HCA may not be for you.

3.Phaseolomine is derived from the white kidney bean. It works by reducing your body's absorbtion of starchy carbohydrates. Since you absorb fewer calories, you lose weight. Seems like this supplement would be great to take if you knew you were going to indulge. Research has also shown that you burn more fat while taking phaseolomine. Subjects in one study lost 10% of their body fat in 30 days. Phaseolomine is typically found in carb blocker products.

4.5HTP works by increasing the level of Serotonin in the brain resulting in more stable emotions, better sleep and weight loss. I take 5HTP myself and have found it to be an excellent appetite suppresant as well as a mild mood booster. In one study where women were given either a placebo or 5HTP and a 1200 calorie diet, those who took the placebo lost 2.28 pounds and those who took 5HTP lost 10.34 pounds. This was accomplished in 6 weeks. Are there other supplements that work? There may be others that will stand the test of time and research, but for now these are the best non-prescription supplements I've found to enhance your weight loss efforts. Good luck losing the weight you want to lose!

Author:
Valerie de Armas is editor of Best Weight Loss Tips, a free twice monthly neswletter that encourages healthy weight loss. For weight loss tips, tools and resources, visit http://www.best-weightloss.com and subscribe

The Secret Key To Permanent Weight Loss!

by: Dr. Jeff Banas

With this key, I GUARANTEE YOU WILL LOSE ALL THE WEIGHT YOUR EVER WANTED TOO!

Imagine yourself at your ideal weight. After all those years of trying to lose weight, you finally did it! You lost the weight! How would losing the weight change your life? Imagine it?

How would you feel? Would you have more energy? Would you be healthier? Would you live longer? Would you act differently? How would it affect your job? Would you make more money? What would your family think? How would you look? What would your social life be like? Would you feel better about yourself? Would you be happier?

Bottom line, how would losing weight change your life?

Believe me you can do it if you use this secret key. The secret key for anyone wanting to lose weight is…Never Give Up, Never, Never Give Up, Never Ever Give Up, Never Give UP! That’s right, the secret key to losing weight is not a new fad diet, it’s not a new medication, it’s not a gimmick supplements, it is A STATE OF MIND!

Lets face it. You tried to lost weight in the past, and you failed. So what! The key is what do you do now. Do you give up, or do you start again. Anyone and everyone who has successfully lost weight and kept it off, had failed in the past. However, the reason they were finally able to lose the weight, was because they never gave up.

I know how hard and frustrating it can be, but never give up. If you have a bad day and eat a bunch fatting junk, so what, forget about it.

Forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you’re going to do now and do it. Just start a new day and never give up. If you tried to lose weight, and did not work, try something different.

“Have you ever considered the cost of quitting? For real eye opener…ask Thomas Edison...Steve Jobs…Michael Jordan…or Jim Carrey. Ask them how much it would have cost them if they had quit. What about you?”

JUST NEVER GIVE UP!

About The Author

Dr. Jeffrey Banas is a Chiropractic Sports Physician, practicing in Mesa; AZ. Dr. Banas personally lost 60 pounds in 2003 and now uses his experience to help others struggling with their weight problems. Dr. Banas can be reached at his office at 480-633-6837, or by visiting his web site at www.personal-weight-loss-help.com.

Using Weight Loss Supplements To Reach Your Weight Loss Goals

by: Bill Herren

Supplement is a word defined by Webster as such: Something added to complete a thing or to make up for a deficiency. Even so; some weight loss supplement companies market their products as magic pills and some consumers think of them as such.

I believe weight loss supplements can be beneficial if we learn to look past the hype and use them in addition to improved eating habits as well as increased physical activity.

Know what you want out of your weight loss supplement: Are you looking for decreased appetite, carb blocking ability or increased metabolism? What is the manufacturer promising? What are the active ingredients and what studies and dosages were done on them?

Look for reviews and testimonials: This is something I almost did not want to mention because reviews and testimonials can be very conflicting. Reading weight loss supplement reviews and testimonials is going to require you to think for yourself and determine if the review or testimonial makes a valid point or not. I recently read a review for a weight loss product that said something to this effect: “I did not like this product; I continued to eat the way I always do and actually gained weight on this product.” My interpretation of this is that the person probably did not carefully monitor what they were eating. They were gaining weight before “eating what they normally eat” and were expecting this pill to magically cause them to lose weight. On the other hand, a weight loss testimonial that says “I eat anything I want and am still losing weight!” is equally suspicious to me. Weight loss product testimonials and reviews can be helpful in your decision if you weed through the hype and incomplete information. Look for clues such as: Did this product decrease the customers’ appetite? Did the customer experience more energy? Was the reviewer jittery?

Is it too good to be true? We have a tendency to believe what we want to believe. But when it comes to weight loss supplements we have to be honest with our self. Are the claims exaggerated? Is the company telling us we do not need to change our lifestyle? Does it appear the company wants us to lead a healthy lifestyle or does the company want to sell millions of pills? Remember weight loss supplements are going to help you reach your goals, not carry you to the completion of your weight loss goals.

Best seller does not always mean the best product. I was a distributor for a branch of a very reputable supplement company and attended a convention they sponsored. The speaker was talking about making claims when trying to sell product and how they did not want us making any claims that have not been backed by science. Someone asked the question about other companies and why they could make outlandish weight loss claims and experience such great sales while we could only state scientific fact. The speaker acknowledge the fact that these companies would sell millions of dollars worth of product but they would not earn repeat customers and more than likely would not even exist in the long run. Ask yourself if the product you are interested in is a best seller because of hype or because the company is reputable and has a quality weight loss product.

Has the company been around for a while? While the fact that a company is new does not mean it is low quality, a company that has been around for years usually has happy customers.

Read the directions and warnings very carefully. I knew a lady that was taking a Chitosan product and getting sick. She asked me about it and I quickly asked her if she was allergic to shellfish-She was. Fortunately for her it was only a mild allergen and she did not suffer seriously. It was clearly stated on the label; “Do not take if you are allergic to shellfish.” Also don’t have the mentality that if one pill is good then two must be better. Natural weight loss products can be very powerful and should be treated with respect.

Take a break from time to time. Occasionally take a break from your weight loss supplement regimen especially if you are using a weight loss product that contains a stimulant such as caffeine or other powerful herbs. I even do this with my multi-vitamin. I just believe it is a good idea to give your body a break from time to time.

Conclusion: I believe weight loss supplements can help you reach your weight loss goals, I also believe you can reach your weight loss goals without weight loss supplements, however I have always been the type of person that wanted every edge I can get. So if you are like me, and you decide to use weight loss supplements, think of your weight loss goal as a three legged table. One leg represents healthy eating, one leg represents activity, and the other leg represents your weight loss supplementation. Remove any one leg and the table will fall. Rely on only one leg and you will not reach your weight loss goal. Shop carefully, have realistic expectations, follow safety guidelines and reach your weight loss goal!

I wish for you the best of health!

Bill Herren

About The Author

Bill Herren is the webmaster for weightloss-articles.com. Everything weight loss related! Weight loss success stories, product reviews, exercise articles, and diet articles. All Free!

Top 10 Diet Tips From Diet Winners

by: Kim Beardsmore

Use these tips to turbo charge your weight loss program.

Take it one pound at a time:

Don't get overwhelmed by how much weight you need to lose. Just take baby steps in the right direction and you'll be amazed at your progress when you look back. You didn't gain your weight overnight, so it will take time to lose it all.

Weekly weigh in:

Only measure your results and weigh yourself once a week to give your body time to make adjustments.

Share your journey:

Find a friend to lose weight with and become each other's coach. Check in several times a week to help each other stay on track.

The scale is not the final word:

Don't get discouraged when your progress seems to be slow according to your bathroom scale. Instead, measure your results with a tape measure-it will give you much more reliable and encouraging feedback.

Shop when you're full:

Only shop for food when you are not hungry to avoid buying foods you may regret later.

Set reachable goals:

If you know you need to get more exercise, begin with a manageable goal of, say, walking 10 minutes a day that you know you can achieve. Then build your self-esteem by achieving the small goals you set yourself.

Celebrate your success:

Each time you lose 5 pounds, acknowledge your achievement by giving yourself a little gift.

Out of sight, out of temptation:

Clear unhealthy foods from your refrigerator and shelves to keep temptation at bay. This also means clearing out the handbag, brief case and glove compartment in your car.

Add extra steps:

When you go about your daily routine add extra steps. Use the stairs instead of the elevator, part at the far end of the supermarket car park, and get rid of the TV remote control. Make little changes to add extra steps and these will quickly add up to support your goals.

Seek help if you need it:

If you need help to keep on track, then get it. If you have tried unsuccessfully over and over to lose weight, then you may need someone to help you. A weight loss coach can significantly increase the rate at which you lose weight and teach you how to stabilize at your goal weight.

© Copyright Kim Beardsmore

About The Author

Kim is successful a weight loss coach who will cut through the diet-hype, help you reach your goal weight and never 'diet' again. No public 'weigh-ins', meetings that cost you money or fads...simply results you'll love. You can receive a free, no obligation consultation. Visit today: http://tinyurl.com/4q4gk. Are you interested in a fantastic home business? Visit http://tinyurl.com/6ppwe.

Weight Loss: The Keys You Need to Lose Weight and Keep It Off

by: Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, Ph.D, ND, DACBN

D-I-E-T…many people could not think of a more horrible word. They associate it with hunger, frustration, and ultimately failure. This one single word has stopped many people dead in the tracks. It seems many people would prefer being overweight, rather than suffering the consequences of a diet.

But a healthy diet does not mean starvation. And a healthy diet is the only one you need to follow to lose weight and keep it off. Hunger is a natural signal from the body telling us to eat. Don’t ignore it. Go ahead and eat when you are hungry. If you want to lose weight you just need to be more selective about the foods you are choosing to satisfy your hunger. Here’s how to achieve weight loss and get healthy without ever being hungry.

Eat To Lose Weight

You should never have to be hungry in order to lose weight. On the contrary, when we are hungry we tend to panic into eating whatever is in sight to protect us from starvation. Eating regular meals that leave you full and satisfied will help you stick to a healthier meal plan and reach your weight loss goals. Eat five or six small meals spaced regularly throughout the day so that you will be better able to moderate portion sizes and remain in control of what you eat. Skipping meals will slow down your metabolism and cause you to overcompensate with a larger meal later in the day. Permanent weight loss does not involve starving or deprivation, rather it involves a healthy eating plan that keeps you in control of what you put in your mouth. The best diet for weight loss is in the book by Dr. Group “Weight Loss Secrets Revealed” available at www.weightlossobesity.com

Weight Loss Tip: Slow down. We all have so many things to accomplish each day. And this busy schedule makes us eat quicker to stay ahead. Eating slowly and chewing your food 25x before you swallow will allow you stomach to signal your brain that it is full, avoiding unnecessary calories.

Think About Food

Most people think that in order to achieve permanent weight loss they need to skip meals and get their minds off of food. This is not true! When you are hungry, and you haven’t thought about what healthy food you can eat to satisfy your tummy, you will more likely grab for whatever is fastest and easiest. Most often this involves junk-food snacks like chips or pretzels or fries and burger from the drive through.

Think about what you are going to eat each day and what healthy snacks and meals you need to have ready for when hunger strikes. If you are going out to eat, think about the menu options ahead of time so that you can order your favorite healthy selection without being tempted by the other unhealthy selections on the menu.

Weight Loss Tip: If you feel hunger coming on, don’t try to put it out of your mind. Rather, think about what healthy treat you are about to enjoy!

Make Exercise Fun!

If there is any one word that could inspire as much or more fear than the word “DIET” it is probably “EXERCISE.” But exercise does not and should not have to involve hours at the gym or arduous time spent in a mindless, painful routine. People who are successful at achieving weight loss, and making it permanent, have usually found a way to make exercise a fun part of their daily activities. If you want to achieve your weight loss goals, you need to incorporate exercise into your day. And don’t be discouraged if you don’t think exercise could be fun. It’s easy to make exercise so fun that you’ll look forward to doing it every day.

Weight Loss Tip: Exercise with a friend, listen to music you love, or enjoy the stress relieving qualities of fresh air on a brisk walk. Think about activities you enjoy and incorporate them into your exercise routine. There are even exercises you can do while watching TV!

Don’t Give Up Or Give In

The first thing you need to realize about losing weight is that there will be days when you simply do not want to do it. You will want to eat what you want and skip the exercise for the day. Stay committed to your goals through these tough times. Remind yourself of any small accomplishments you’ve made already and the weight loss goals you will eventually achieve. And don’t fall for the latest weight loss schemes. Weight loss takes time, but the goal is permanent. Short cuts will not get you and keep you where you want to be.

Weight Loss Tip: Look at these changes as a way to get and stay healthy while achieving permanent weight loss. Stay focused on your goals and keep a positive attitude about your progress.

Weight loss is not easy. But that doesn’t mean that it can’t be fun! Enjoy your life to the fullest by taking care of yourself, eating delicious wholesome foods and making exercise an enjoyable part of your day!

To order Slimirex visit http://www.slimirex.com.

To learn more about Dr. Group visit http://www.ghchealth.com.

About The Author
Dr. Group, the founder/CEO and clinical director for the Global Healing Center, heads a research and development team producing advanced, new, natural health protocols and products. To learn more visit http://www.ghchealth.com.