Ever felt that no matter what you do or what diet program you are on, the pounds just never seem to go down? Dieting for some of us..just doesn't seem to work!
Well, to lose weight you need to be focused and determined, but you also need to know the right information, the best tips and the all the little secrets that separate the successful weight loss diets from the unsuccessful ones.
To help you out, I have prepared an amazing list of 10 easy things you absolutely must know before dieting . .Trust me you will want to read this !
Tip 1 - Forget cheap scales
First of all buy a good quality scale. No, not all scales are the same. You see, if you are like me, one of the problems when starting a diet is that you keep checking your weight on the scale and after 2 weeks nothing has changed.
This can be really demoralizing because you are not seeing any immediate effects so you eventually stop the diet and convince yourself its hopeless.
On the other hand a high-quality digital scale that is accurate to 2 (two-hundredths of a pound) will make all the difference.
I bought one for $20, so its not like you have to make a huge investment.
Tip 2 - Weight yourself everyday
Most weight loss gurus will tell you not to be obsessed with results and to weight yourself only on a weekly basis. . For me nothing could be wronger!
I need to see results. If I am sacrificing myself on a diet I need to know that its doing something. I want to know if I lose 1 gram. .Thats just me but I am sure many of you reading this will relate to the need to set goals and verify them to keep motivation going!
The advantage is obvious: I can measure my weight daily and see very minute changes that let me know I am on the right path!
Tip 3 - Don't be shy about your diet
Tell all your friends, tell all your family. ..put it out there. Going public with your diet is the best way to go about it.
Nothing is worse than trying to keep it a secret and if you do so you will lose a crucial factor : accountability.
If you tell everyone you are on a diet you are know responsible for the results you achieve. You are announcing to the world that you are on a diet, you want to lose weight and that you are determined!
This is a powerful motivational boost not necessarily because you will receive support from your friends and family (in fact 90% of people tend to tell you that you don't need to diet no matter how overweight you maybe.. )but because if you are public about your diet you don't want to fail.
Tip 4 - Keep A "Fat Photo" Close
Believe me, this does help. If you put a non flattering photo of yourself, looking specially fat , on the fridge, wallet, cell phone wallpaper, etc.. you will have that constant reminder of why you need to diet.
Tip 5 - Take The Weekend Off
Again most diet gurus will not advice you to do so...For me this was not an option. To maintain a diet everyday of the week was making me feel depressed, unmotivated and tired. If you are feeling that as well then its only a matter of time before you quit and once again fail to lose desired weight.
Consider the weekend your reward for a successful 5 days of diet. This will keep you looking forward to the weekend and it will boost your confidence level as time goes by.
Just don't think that you can go on a 3 month diet where everyday is making you feel miserable. .it doesn't work.
Tip 6 - Keep enjoying those special days
Sometimes you just don't have the chance to eat healthy during a week day. Maybe there is a special event, a birthday party or you are celebrating something with friends and family.
Don't worry. Eat guilt free.
Simply "replace" that day with the next Saturday or Sunday. For example if that special event that prevented you from sticking to your diet was on a Tuesday, you can simply diet on Saturday instead.
Tip 7 - Diet Starts In The Little Changes
Most diet gurus will tell you to quit drinking beer or quit drinking sodas etc.. Instead of a complete rupture with my habits (I love coffee and beer ) I decided to keep my habits but change them slightly towards more healthier options.
For example I found a beer that only has about 50 calories per serving, so now I only drink that beer but I still maintain my social habits.
Regarding coffee you can start to drink only black coffee and eliminating sugar or cream.
There are also other little changes that can help you lose weight. These can be from walking to office once or twice a week, start taking the last car on the train platform or not to take the elevator during the week.
Why don't you wear a pedometer to keep track of how much you are walking everyday, set your goals and compete with yourself !
Tip 8 - Remind yourself that diet is only a small part of your life
If you live until you are 80 years old you and you start a diet for 4 months, the time you lived through the diet represents only 0.42% of your life.
Incredible or what ? If you diet for only 1% of your life you are ensuring so much health benefits and such a positive impact in your future self that, come to think about it, its nothing really.
If it helps you countdown the days left before your diet ends.
Tip 9 - Remind yourself that exercise is only a small part of your life
As with the tip above explains it helps to rationalize the time you are investing on your diet and exercising. For example, if you workout for 30 minutes you are only using 4% of your day (12 hour day ).
Tip 10 - Actually eat...more?
The last and probably most controversial tip on this list.
Yes, you can occasionally eat a little bit more and still lose weight. To achieve this you will have to take diet pills that can work as fat binders, such as Proactol Pills [http://www.diet-help-center.com/top-diet-pills.php].
How does Proactol [http://www.diet-help-center.com/top-diet-pills.php] work and how much weight you can lose ? Read more about the Proactol Diet [http://www.diet-help-center.com/top-diet-pills.php].
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harry_Garcia
Monday, 26 July 2010
Dieting and Healthy eating
Healthy Eating and Dieting are often confused as the same thing. They are not. Personally I am not in favor of so-called diets - I believe that following healthy eating guidelines allows your body to adjust to the best weight for you. However it is an undeniable fact that diets are a part of many people's day-to-day life. Regrettably some diets can be most unhealthy if you make poor choices simply in order to lose weight. It is essential that you learn the guidelines that mean your diet is healthy and good for you rather than unhealthy and unbalanced, and consequently not good for you. We are what we eat so the foods you choose should nourish your body and keep it healthy.
The first thing you need to know is what your body needs in order to function well, rather than what it craves - particularly if you have built up some bad eating habits. You need to have adequate amounts of all the food groups to maintain your health. Is the reason for your diet to lose weight or gain muscle? Do you want to change your body shape rather than your weight? These are all factors that you must bear in mind when choosing a diet regime.
Diets that limit you to a single food are quite simply not healthy. No individual food item can provide all of the nourishment our body needs. Diets that require you to remove a whole food group are also not healthy. It is perfectly acceptable to cut back on carbohydrates for example, but some are good for your body and you need them to stay healthy. Good diets will provide you with food choices from all the main groups so that your body continues to function properly. You need proteins, carbohydrates, sugars, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and even fats in moderation if you are to stay well.
An important ingredient of a healthy diet is your fluid intake. Any regime should include a minimum of 8 glasses of fluid every day whether it be water, juice or any other drink of your choice. Energy drinks and Smoothies can work well in a diet but they should not be your sole intake. It is all about balance and drinks will not contain all the food groups. In summer when it is hot you will need to drink more water and don't forget that Coffee and alcohol have a dehydrating effect so you must compensate for that as well.
Following healthy eating guidelines when dieting is all very well but you must have healthy amounts of exercise as well. Any diet that says you can lose weight without appropriate exercise should be regarded with suspicion. Even with a suitable physical regime, it is unhealthy to lose weight too quickly. Exercise should be a supplement and compliment to your diet. You should be eating enough calories to sustain the amount of exercise you are doing. High levels of exercise will require you to eat more food, and to eat more regularly than you might otherwise think. People often hit a 'wall' when dieting and find it difficult to shed the last few pounds, almost invariably this is because they are not eating enough rather than eating too much. Consequently their metabolic rate slows and they do not burn even the few calories that they take on board.
Following healthy eating guidelines, being moderate in the amount that you eat, drinking plenty and taking adequate exercise is the best diet regime you can follow. You may not lose massive amounts of weight overnight but your body will adjust gradually until it reaches the best weight, size and shape for you without putting your health at risk. Do remember at all times that if you are making major lifestyle changes in terms of diet and exercise you should consult your medical practitioner first.
Annie Horthorne grew up in the catering business and has always been an enthusiastic and highly regarded cook. She has a special interest in healthy eating and how to make it tasty and fun. Annie's delicious healthy eating recipes can be found at The Healthy Eating Guide
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Annie_Horthorne
The first thing you need to know is what your body needs in order to function well, rather than what it craves - particularly if you have built up some bad eating habits. You need to have adequate amounts of all the food groups to maintain your health. Is the reason for your diet to lose weight or gain muscle? Do you want to change your body shape rather than your weight? These are all factors that you must bear in mind when choosing a diet regime.
Diets that limit you to a single food are quite simply not healthy. No individual food item can provide all of the nourishment our body needs. Diets that require you to remove a whole food group are also not healthy. It is perfectly acceptable to cut back on carbohydrates for example, but some are good for your body and you need them to stay healthy. Good diets will provide you with food choices from all the main groups so that your body continues to function properly. You need proteins, carbohydrates, sugars, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and even fats in moderation if you are to stay well.
An important ingredient of a healthy diet is your fluid intake. Any regime should include a minimum of 8 glasses of fluid every day whether it be water, juice or any other drink of your choice. Energy drinks and Smoothies can work well in a diet but they should not be your sole intake. It is all about balance and drinks will not contain all the food groups. In summer when it is hot you will need to drink more water and don't forget that Coffee and alcohol have a dehydrating effect so you must compensate for that as well.
Following healthy eating guidelines when dieting is all very well but you must have healthy amounts of exercise as well. Any diet that says you can lose weight without appropriate exercise should be regarded with suspicion. Even with a suitable physical regime, it is unhealthy to lose weight too quickly. Exercise should be a supplement and compliment to your diet. You should be eating enough calories to sustain the amount of exercise you are doing. High levels of exercise will require you to eat more food, and to eat more regularly than you might otherwise think. People often hit a 'wall' when dieting and find it difficult to shed the last few pounds, almost invariably this is because they are not eating enough rather than eating too much. Consequently their metabolic rate slows and they do not burn even the few calories that they take on board.
Following healthy eating guidelines, being moderate in the amount that you eat, drinking plenty and taking adequate exercise is the best diet regime you can follow. You may not lose massive amounts of weight overnight but your body will adjust gradually until it reaches the best weight, size and shape for you without putting your health at risk. Do remember at all times that if you are making major lifestyle changes in terms of diet and exercise you should consult your medical practitioner first.
Annie Horthorne grew up in the catering business and has always been an enthusiastic and highly regarded cook. She has a special interest in healthy eating and how to make it tasty and fun. Annie's delicious healthy eating recipes can be found at The Healthy Eating Guide
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Annie_Horthorne
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