Tis the Season! Once again the biggest holiday is upon us and is it just me or does it seem like it creeped up on us very fast this year? I am sure others feel the same stress as I do making sure you do your very best to make it a successful and fun holiday. In doing this, and the hustle and bustle and stress that accompanies the holidays, we still must be mindful of sticking to our goals and making sure we do not derail our weight loss plan that we have worked so hard to get thus far.

I hear this all the time, "it only comes once a year!" That is correct but for those of us dedicated to losing weight and getting fit, we cant use this an excuse. Relatives, cocktail parties, the parade of chocolates and cookies seem to continue longer and into the New Year.

The trouble comes in our indulgence for a long period of time to these treats. If, however you are currently on the Visalus challenge, you will be ahead of the pack if you can stick to it as close as possible without sacrificing or being miserable. The season is for everyone to enjoy and just because your wanting to drop a few pounds doesn't mean you cant enjoy the holidays. For this reason I offer these tips and advice to make sure everyone enjoys a happy and healthy holiday season.

BE A LITTLE MORE REALISTIC

Lots of people will say that losing weight during the holidays is impossible but I beg to differ. To those with this mindset, I personally challenge you to join the Body By Vi 90 Day Challenge. Eat your treats in moderation and have your meal replacement shakes for other meals and you will still drop pounds. My advice is to set smaller goals during these times just because of the uncertainty of your day to day activities but stay on plan and you will lose some weight.

LETS BE PICKIER

All I mean here is before lining up to fill your plate, survey whats being offered and go for the foods or treats that are usually only offered around this time. This way you satisfy your holiday cravings. Skip things that you could possibly eat any other time of the year. I also like the idea of using a napkin instead of a plate for your hors d'oeuvres. You simply cant put as much on a napkin!

GET ACTIVE

Don't use the cold months as a reason to sit inside. Get out and stay active. If you live up north or in a location prone to snow, this shouldn't be hard. Snowboarding. skiing, ice skating or other winter sports is a great way to stay active. Hey, volunteer to shovel some snow if needed, this is a workout by itself. I unfortunately live in North Carolina where snow is a surprise so for people like myself, I say its the perfect time to hit the gym.

MODERATION - DRINKS HAVE CALORIES

So don't drink your empty calories. You worked hard to select better food, don't mess that up by downing all the drinks at your parties. Pace yourself and drink in moderation. Wine, beer, eggnog and the list goes on can pack unwanted calories. If you do like to have drinks then try to mix in a glass of water between your drinks or every couple drinks. The only exception to this is of course if your drinking your Visalus meal replacement shakes for weight loss. These are good calories so stay on track!

ONE PLATE - ONE SERVING

Avoid going back for seconds. Survey and look for healthy foods and snacks and only fix one plate. Even if it looks like a mound of food, its very likely you will still be consuming less with that one plate than if you went back for seconds!

ENJOY THE SEASON

Fact is, we are already under a little more stress this time of year so lets not add to it by beating yourself up if you cant make a healthy choice all of the time. Yet another reason to join my weight loss challenge. Its simple and easy to do and makes it easier for you to enjoy the holidays because you know you are getting proper nutrition and your metabolism is firing. Needless to say, you will be well ahead of target for the New Year. While everyone else is making the resolution to lose weight, you will already be losing weight!

Make sure you enjoy and relax during the holidays. Slowing down for a moment will be better for you than you think.

My main interest is on helping you achieve your weight loss and fitness goals and I always try to convey relevant and important information that someday may make a difference in ones life. For this reason, I offer all of my readers a Free eBook as a Thank You.

Please visit my blog to reserve your FREE copy of our "Insider Secrets to Training and Nutrition" eBook today and to learn more on the products, services and business opportunity I offer.

http://healthylifestyle-rfg.blogspot.com/

Thank You
Robert Grissom

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Many people would like to lose a few pounds and a good number have used a diet plan of some kind and most likely had some short term success. However, in most cases the weight comes back quite quickly. Below we provide a few tips that may be of use to anyone thinking of embarking on a new diet program:

Drink water - Diets that limit fluid intake are a mistake. The greater part of our bodies are water and this is essential to our general well being and also to support the metabolic processes that result in really losing weight. It is the wrong move to limit fluid intake when trying to lose weight even though this can produce temporary results. In point of fact it is best to drink lots of water particularly when you first experience hunger. Many people find that this kills the hunger and enables them to eat less. Additionally you should try drinking water fifteen minutes prior to a meal as this is likely to result in you eating less.

Eat frequently - When people plan to lose weight they sometimes reduce the amount of snacks and meals they consume. This is a mistake since it results in you feeling the need to eat bigger portions because you are hungry. It can in addition cause your metabolism to slow. What you really want to do is speed up your metabolism and the best way to achieve this is to eat smaller portions of food regularly throughout the day. At the same time you will in addition maintain your blood sugar level and you won't experience feeling hungry or being too full.

Restrict alcohol consumption - There are quite a few reasons for this. The most important is that it contains a lot of energy so just a few drinks will make losing weight difficult. Secondly the impact on the liver means that energy from food you consume at the same time as drinking is more liable to be saved as fat. Thirdly most people consume more food when they drink specifically it makes you yearn for the kind of sweet food types you should avoid. If you finish up with a hangover the next day this might additionally lead to you consuming the incorrect things. It is advisable to keep alcohol consumption to a minimum at the same time as trying to lose weight.

Eat healthy food - The ideal way to start is to dispose of all the junk food in your house to remove temptation. You don't want to begin your diet program by considering the type of food you will miss, rather you should look ahead to the new foods and tastes you will discover. There are plentiful things you can consume but your plan ought to be to begin with basic natural ingredients like fresh fruit and veggies, lean meat (in particular poultry and beef), oily fish and yogurt. If you are positive regarding the healthy foods which you will be eating and the fact that you need not be hungry, losing weight will be a lot easier.

Avoid Pills - You will find many fad diets that claim to help you reduce weight. These may be effective, for example, by assisting the body to use fat or by reducing you appetite. You may in addition see diets which limit the types of foods you can eat to the degree that supplements become essential. These will probably be effective when it comes to losing weight whilst on the diet plan but using extreme diets is likely to result in problems once you come off them. For example, many people who have used fat burning pills have put more weight on than they lost once they discontinue using them. Trying to modify your metabolism artificially is not of long term benefit. What you should do is eat healthy protein, fat and carbs all through the day. This will trigger your body into metabolizing the food into energy for the body to use.

Do not believe that all fat is bad - There is a perception that fat is bad and should certainly be steered clear of when losing weight but in fact some fat intake is necessary to our well being. Although we do need fat there are good and bad kinds of fat. The sort that should be steered clear of are trans-fatty acids which are processed fats sometimes shown by food labeling as hydrogenated oils, these do not have any nutritional benefit. On the other hand Omega-3 fats are good and are contained in food types like green vegetables, oily fish (like salmon) and some nuts. Beneficial fats are not stored as fat in the body and will actually help you to lose weight.

The above are just a few pointers that should be considered whilst trying to lose weight. To discover additional information concerning Healthy Weight Loss please visit our website HealthSolutionsInfo.com.

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Feeling guilty about food and then overeating is part of our culture. But, what if you could enjoy good food, celebrate life, and still lose weight? The answer is you can. How guilt-free weight loss can be achieved may surprise you.

Many diets eliminate whole categories of foods and put favorite foods on a "do not eat list". But is this realistic? The dismal statistics on the rates of weight regain after following most weight loss programs suggest that dieting doesn't work. It's time for a change in the weight loss paradigm because two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese. After all, almost anyone can lose weight temporarily by cutting calories and boosting physical activity. Keeping the weight off is the real challenge.

If you're planning to join a weight loss program, consider whether the program offers guilt-free strategies that you can easily follow for years rather than days or weeks. When choosing among several programs, you will want to assess whether programs feature wellness, self care, and weight loss strategies that will help enhance your life and achieve permanent weight management while still encouraging you to savor the foods you love.

What else is important in selecting a weight management program? When checking out programs, ask whether they use these 10 strategies. Will the program:
Focus on total calories you consume;Provide guidance and tools to monitor food and beverage intake and physical activity;Advise you about how to prepare, serve, and consume smaller portions of foods and beverages, especially those high in calories (whether at home or eating out);Advise you to eat a breakfast packed with nutrients instead of empty calories;Advise limiting inactive screen time;Include strategies for maintaining weight loss and offer at least one year of follow up;Advise you about how to gradually increase physical activity and build up to an hour a day of moderate level activity (or the equivalent) based on your ability;Give you behavior change strategies to avoid mindless and emotional eating;Encourage you to identify important internal motivators for losing weight; andProvide ways for you to reduce stress and fatigue and build the resilience needed for permanent weight management?

Notice that none of these strategies suggests rapid weight loss, guilt, or eliminating favorite foods. Instead what is called for is an end to temporary dieting. What works for permanent weight management is to make changes that are realistic and lasting. Most important, as someone who is managing your weight, you'll want to give yourself permission to take pleasure in what you eat.

Kay Loughrey is a nationally known nutrition expert and Registered Dietitian. She is also the creator of http://www.slimdownandwin.com/, a new model program for permanent weight management.

As a health communicator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Kay contributed to the launch of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 and was also involved in three national initiatives.

Kay is now training adults who are committed to shedding excess weight permanently. She offers weight loss strategies based on the latest science and research in positive psychology and her personal weight management discoveries.

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Discovering the concept of healthy eating for weight loss has many more bonuses. The main one is improvement in general health. You can't separate your overall health from your healthy weight. When you truly work at the heart of a problem, the whole becomes balanced.

Healthy eating is natural healing. Natural healing is about keeping your whole person in perfect balance. Keeping you well. And natural healing is not only supremely safe, it is also highly effective. The 'impossible' no-catch is that natural healing is inexpensive. So much so, you may even save on your current weekly expenditure.

Of course healthy eating is safe, otherwise it wouldn't be healthy. The problem arises when different, often conflicting, ideas of what is healthy confuse you. The best way to cut through that is to work out what is naturally healthy and what is fabricated 'healthy' for corporate greed. In other words, who benefits from your choice and by how much?

Healthy eating is effective because it is how your body evolved. If you eat a diet as close as is possible and practical to that of your ancestors, you can expect to enjoy the benefits they enjoyed - robust health, stamina, ability to cope well with the elements, natural weight and so forth.

Healthy eating is inexpensive, because many of the unhealthy foods that you need to let go, are the most expensive ones.

You don't need to change much to make a dramatic difference to your life.

The first step in your new healthy eating for weight loss programme is to want both - both weight loss and good health. There is a Chinese proverb that goes something like this "When you are sick of sickness, you are no longer sick". That's when you start to take action. Are you sick of sickness yet? Are you sick enough of being over weight, yet? Sick enough to take action?

The second step is to understand that you, and you alone, are responsible for this. You can be lured into empty promises that assure you of rapid weight loss, but if this ultimately makes you unhealthy, is it worth it? So you need to embrace both ideas. Look at diet plans that are, above all, healthy.

The third step is to start now. If not now, when?

Healthy eating for weight loss offers a permanent change in your life for the better. It's time to enjoy life, to have the weight and figure you have only dreamed about. It's time to take control of your own health.

Madeleine Innocent is a full time natural health consultant specialising in diet-for-health and homeopathy. She treats both people and animals within these two disciplines. She also coaches people both on- and off-line, on these subjects. For more information, visit: Healthy Eating For Weight Loss

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To lose weight and keep it off requires a plan of not just lifestyle changes, but strategically investigating the reasons why you may be overweight. We all have reasons we eat besides being hungry. For some, these reasons can get to the point of causing someone to be overweight. To lose weight and keep it off, one needs to investigate their eating patterns and areas where self discipline might be challenging, then find ways to redirect yourself.

Your Eating Patterns
So in developing a plan to lose weight and keep it off, first look at your eating patterns and whether you are eating for other reasons other than hunger. This may be:

Habit. You always eat at a certain time whether hungry or not. This is not always a bad thing though. This is a topic of another article. Maybe you just like food and have gotten into bad habits of eating too much or the wrong things consistently. Maybe you developed a habit of buying a latte on the way to work every day.
Boredom. If people are bored, eating just gives them something to do and its pleasurable.
Depression. When some people get down (or stressed), they eat "comfort" foods for the little bit of enjoyment they get out of it. If this is a daily thing, then it can lead to weight gain.
Convenience. Many eat the wrong things and gain weight because it is more convenient just to snack rather than cook a healthy meal. Grabbing a fast food meal on their way home from work is just more convenient and takes less energy after your day.
Influence. Some people will eat just because their spouse is eating. If the spouse's eating pattern is not healthy, than sometimes the wife or husband will just follow that pattern.
Enabler. Sometimes a spouse will finish part of their meal, be full, then push over the rest of their food to their spouse and encourage them to finish their plate. This is called "enabling."
Temptation. If we have access to food all the time or the wrong kinds of foods, this can be a strong temptation. It can take some discipline not to graze all day.
Physical. There are sometimes health problems that can be contributing to being overweight. Make sure to talk with your doctor about these concerns.
Psychological: There are people who carry deep emotional wounds from years past, often related to abuse. Sometimes people with these scars will actually self sabotage themselves for various reasons and being overweight is connected with that. This can be a complex thing. If you feel this could be a reason for you, please seek professional counseling to help heal any of these past hurts.

Your Solutions To Unhealthy Eating Patterns
To lose weight and keep it off, the reasons for being overweight need to be discovered and addressed. Use the list above to think about what it is for you. In going through the list, you may think of other things that might be contributing. If you know or even think something might be the reason, write it down. Then write down next to it a solution that may work for you. For some things, you might need to get a little creative. If possible, when you are developing these solutions, try to make it enjoyable also, so you will be more apt to stick to it. If one solution isn't effective, try another. For example, if you realize that you have the habit of watching TV in the evening before bed and you tend to eat the whole time.

Your solution might be not to deprive yourself of that pleasure, but just altering it. It could be not eating a dessert right after dinner, but saving the dessert until you are settled watching TV or possibly researching healthier snacks that are available that you would still enjoy and only being able to eat that when you are watching TV in the evening. (It is usually better not to eat within a couple hours of bedtime, so you may want to put a time cut off). Maybe your solution is you can only have one snack after dinner. Whatever the solution is for you, it should be something that is still enjoyable for you to increase the likelihood of success. When you have solved the reasons for being overweight, then your lifestyle changes and eating patterns will support you to lose weight and keep it off.

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The Fat Loss GPS

One of my favorite features with my IPhone is the Map.... You tell "Siri" where you want to go. Siri figures out where you are and then step by step, takes you to your destination. Be-a-u-tiful! This is how I want you to use your Fat Loss GPS! Figure out where you "Want to be", "where you are", and then get to your destination step by step!

Point A (Where you are right now*)
Point B (Where you want to be)
Step by step (the process)

*"Where you are" and "where you want to be" will depend on your goals... It could be a measurement, weight, dress or pant size, how you feel about yourself, quality of life, or an upcoming vacation photo.

As with any journey, you will have Obstacles, Set Backs, Delays, Road Blocks, and Challenge. If you have a delay or a road block, BIG DEAL! On your way to the family vacation in Disney World, you wouldn't stop at the first Road Detour and tell the family in the back seats, "Oh, well! Guess we're done. Think we'll just give up. Maybe next year we'll try again!" Heck no! You find a "work around" and you keep moving forward!

I've found most people FAIL at goal setting because they treat their goals as an afterthought. The average person spends more time planning their weekly grocery list than they do designing goals that impact the rest of their lives!

The Secret is to long Term and Short Term Goal Setting

People LOVE to set Long Term Goals...
1. I want to make $100,000 next year
2. I want to lose 40 lbs. next year
3. I want to be a size 8 next year

After they set these goals, they put them in a sock drawer and don't think about them until late December next year! If you have the same goals for this next year as you set last year for now, you MUST make a change!

Long Term and Short Term goals have different meanings. And you should have both!
"Losing 40 lbs." is a great long term goal, but it does nothing for you to take action on! "Losing 40 lbs." is in the future, but you are living in the NOW.

Here's a cool phrase for you to use this year...
"I am either living NOW HERE or I am living No Where!" (Amazing what a little space can do!)

Your Long Term Goal should be exciting! It should be stimulating and motivating. It's the picture of who you are to become! For example, how would the new you, 40 lbs. thinner, look and act like? Would they be more energetic? Eat cleaner? Have happy thoughts? Feel better and more confident? Not binge out 4-5x a week? Be embarrassed by someone looking in their shopping cart?

The Long Term Goal is your MOTIVATION! But you cannot wake up tomorrow and "will" the scale to be 5 lbs. less. But you can wake up tomorrow and start the day off with 15 minutes of Cardio. What you can do today and tomorrow are your Short Terms Goals! Short term goals are "actionable". Actionable items are things you can do! You can't "make $100,000", but you can sign up for a new course or hire a coach to help move towards the long term goal.

Short term goals are Specific, Actionable and always Top of Mind.

What I like to do is take the long term goal, break the goal into ½ way point, and then again in ½... this will give you the "Quarter". I would then have you create Short Term Actionable goals that are specific to you reaching each goal. Yes, you could just take the entire number and divide by 4 for "Quarters".

This is how it would look for losing 40 lbs. as your goal next year.

The Long Term Goal:
"I will lose 40 lbs. by December 2012. I have so much more energy and very confident in the way I look. It is easy for me to get up and exercise. In fact, I look forward to my work outs and eating clean foods! I love the compliments I get from friends, co-workers and strangers!"

-Remember the Long Term Goal should inspire and motivate you! Word your goal in a manner that would motivate you! If you were embarrassed because you were stretching and your belly "popped out", use that for motivation! Use any pain and pleasure cues that work to drive you towards achieving your goals.

Now to keep things realistic, break your goal down into "quarters" of the year. I.e., Quarter 1 is Jan, Feb, March. Quarter 2 is April, May, June, etc.

Break the 40 lbs. into half. (40/2 = 20) and then (40-20 = 20)
"By June 2012, I will be down 20 lbs."

Break the 20 lbs. into half to give you "quarter goals" (20/2 = 10)
"By March 2012, I will be down 10 lbs."

"By September 2012, I will be down 30 lbs."

Create a work sheet
1. At the top write, (Your Name) Vision for 2012
2. Write out the Long Term Goal very descriptively.
3. Write out the 1st Quarter Goal (Breaking down the Long Term Goal into Quarters)
4. Write out the 2nd Quarter Goal
5. Write out the 3rd Quarter Goal
6. Write out the Final 4th Quarter Goal
7. Now create Short Term Actionable Goals to reach your Long Term Goals.

Short Term Actionable Goals could include:
1. Attending Boot Camp 3x week
2. Cutting out processed or refined foods
3. Adding in 3 Cardio sessions each week

This is what I want you to do.
1. Create your worksheet (Take your time, add photos of you or a role model)
2. Create the Short Term Actionable Goals
3. Track and Monitor the Short Term Actions either with a calendar or a "check off" sheet
4. Notice if your actions are bringing you closer to your Long Term Goals
5. If they are not working, change your actions or be more consistent!
6. Read your goals DAILY!

PS Remember, I am here for you! It's one thing to have a plan, but following through and being consistent is where a good coach can help. With Canonsburg Boot Camp, I will sit down with you and help you design your own Fat Loss GPS. Call me at 724-949-0007 concerning your Road Map to Fitness Success in 2012!

JJ Robertson
Canonsburg Boot Camp
http://www.canonsburgbootcamp.com/

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As a nation, America is getting fatter every year, with one in three people suffering from obesity. "Suffering" being the operative word. Walking around with 50 or more pounds of more weight than you should be can cause shortness of breath, a feeling of very low energy or sluggishness, unhealthy but strong food cravings, bloating, constipation, and abdominal pains. Can prebiotic supplements help with weight loss?

One of the most highly recommended food nutrients for improving many of our modern digestive disorders, including excessive weight gain is dietary fiber. You've heard it before, but considering the modern-day diet, it's easy to see how difficult it is for most of us to relinquish the convenience and flavors that are the typical high process food diet, best exemplified by the American diet.

Dietary fiber

So many foods available to us contain good amounts of quality dietary fiber but unfortunately we don't get nearly enough from commercially processed and packaged foods or restaurant chains. These processed foods are high in calories but too low in nutrients. That's exactly where the problem lies.

Too many empty calories, making us fat and not supplying our body with the nutrients it needs to maintain good health. These processed foods slow down the body's metabolic rate, making it harder and harder to burn fat. Add a lack of physical exercise and a sedentary lifestyle and you get the present-day problem that is growing at an alarming rate, and never before experienced in our history; obesity.

Adding more fiber

Eliminate all the highly processed commercial foods you possibly can and add whole, unrefined foods to your diet. Examples include replacing white bread and rice with whole grain bread and brown rice. Fresh fruits and raw vegetables are a good source of fiber. Adding a quality and natural prebiotic supplement will increase your chances for success, especially if you can't get high enough amounts from natural, quality food sources.

The dietary fiber known as soluble fiber is the acting prebiotic substance in a prebiotic supplement or food. Soluble fiber takes in water and in doing so will create a sticky gel-like substance which prolongs the slow release of nutrients into the body.

This is a great example of a natural appetite suppressant in action, keeping you full and fulfilled longer, decreasing your appetite and helping to avoid eating more unneeded calories.

You need the right prebiotic supplements for weight loss - Learn the facts at http://www.natural-digestion.com/ - information based on independent, and thorough research on one of our most important subjects; digestive health.

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January is the time of year that we all make the same OLD New Year's resolution! It comes in many different forms from an ambiguous, "I want to lose weight" to a very specific "I want to fit in my jeans from High School." If diets were the solution then why does America have one of the highest obesity rates in the world? With all the technical advancements and scientific information available why can we not overcome the plague that obesity brings to our society?

In the Western culture we have created an unbalanced society which has lead to an unbalanced lifestyle. We feel the constant need, maybe even an obsession, to be in control of our life because we feel so out of control most of the time. Instead of being in control we need to find the balance and be in charge of our life. When we are in charge of our life we feel confident that we can handle what comes our way. We are able to look at the daily stresses and see them for what they really are and not feel so overwhelmed. It is the feeling of being out of control that leads us to the path of looking to food as an emotional comfort. We can be in charge of our life by focusing on the three "E's" to weight loss; Eat less, Exercise more and become Emotionally aware. Many believe that to achieve weight loss all you need to do is focus on Eating less and Exercising more. The third component of becoming Emotionally aware is the important link that is missing in many diets and weight loss programs. Many of us self-medicate our emotions with food. Food has become comfort for our emotions rather than fuel for our bodies. Identifying your emotional triggers is key to unlocking the solution for your weight loss.

Before you choose to eat ask yourself, "Am I Hungry?" If you realize that you are not hungry ask yourself, "Why do I want to eat?" Usually we want to eat because we need to fill an emotional void in our life. If we can address these issues and find real life solutions to replace food we can begin to create balance and harmony in our life.

This year see your OLD New Year's Resolution become a reality with learning how to listen to your body's wisdom, become in tune with your needs, desires and emotions. Begin a journey to self-discovery and enjoyment. Live a life free from diets, rules and regulations. Live the life you were meant to live.

Celeste Palacio, RN is a licensed Facilitator for "Am I Hungry?" workshops.
You'll learn mindful and intuitive eating techniques that empower you to use your natural ability to eat just the right amount of food while meeting your needs for nourishment and enjoyment. To find more information about how to eat mindfully go to http://www.hearttoheartnursing.com/

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Are none of the fad diets on the market working to help you lose belly fat? It can certainly grow frustrating. That is why it is necessary for you to take control of your own weight loss efforts. Rather than relying on the latest pill to help you shed pounds, create your own workout routine to burn hundreds of calories, such as swimming in a pool. The exercise is ideal for your muscles tone, your heart, your lungs and the size of your belly. If it has been a little while since you've spend any quality time in the water, you should simply find the right swimming class to get your mind and body up to speed. Taking advantage of a swimming instructor's advice is highly recommended before you start splashing away to quickly slim down.

Regardless which swimming style you choose to exercise with, you can burn well over 500 calories every hour. In other words, you can shed hundreds more calories by swimming than simply by walking on a treadmill. The aerobic exercise is comparable to jogging, with the added benefit of toning all of your muscles. Your joints get exercised too, thanks to their repetitive movements in the water. Meanwhile, various parts of your body, such as your hips and shoulders, gain flexibility. Match swimming with a healthy diet, and you should get lean and mean in no time.

As any swimming class will teach you, the most basic style in the water is the sidestroke. You just lay your body sideways with one arm extended straight out. Your other arm is facing your feet. Simply rotate your arms back and forth, while you kick forward with your legs and feet.

Another ideal swimming style for quickly burning calories is the front crawl, also known as the freestyle. You alternate your arms and kick your feet again, but this time you are facing down. Every few seconds, you rotate your head out of the water to breath. To perform the backstroke, simply alternate your body 180 degrees and perform the front crawl. It may not be as easy to perform, but you'll certainly get less water in your mouth and lungs.

When you want to try the breaststroke, place both palms on your chest, like you are saying a prayer in church. Then shoot your arms straight out with your palms facing the floor. Push them down and out into a circular motion, and repeat the action. Meanwhile, raise your knees towards your chest, and kick them out with plenty of force to swim forward and burn plenty of calories. With each thrust, your head will pop out over the water to catch a breath. As you can see, losing belly fat can be fun and easy once you find the right swimming class to show you the ropes of losing weight.

When I was a kid, I loved spending time in the water. Whether it was the ocean, a lake or even the community pool, I had a blast swimming for hours at a time. Now that I am middle-aged, I had forgotten how good taking a swim is for my body. In fact, when I recently asked my doctor how to lose weight fast, he suggested powerful HCG Injections, as well as enrolling in a swimming class to see quick weight loss

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Losing weight on a gluten-free diet is one of the positive side effects of having Celiac disease. There are some however that struggle with their weight even though they have become intolerant to Gluten. If you are gaining weight and eating foods which are free from wheat, then maybe you need something to give your body a fat burning boost.

I know quite well how becoming gluten intolerant can have an effect on your body. Having a close family member who became ill, and then diagnosed with Celiac disease I know what simple steps can be changed to turn things around. I know for some having that overnight change in diet means a quick and dramatic loss of weight.

What if you are gaining weight?

It's not common for people to pile on the pounds when changing their diet, but simple changes in the foods you eat can turn things around, and get your body on the right track. You can make simple changes, many of them you probably thought were not possible. Did you ever think that eating Gluten Free pizza was a good thing? OK, we are not talking about eating it everyday, but it is possible to eat these foods, stay healthy and lose weight.

Losing Weight On A Gluten Free Diet.

The close family member I mentioned earlier also had energy problems. Are you having low energy days, feeling like you have no fuel in your tank? A problem associated with this is eating Gluten, but what if you are not eating it? You may be falling into the trap of consuming foods which are tough to digest, and this could be using up some of your energy levels.

The last small piece of advice I'm going to give you is, not to stop eating your favourite foods. When a major change in your life such as this hits you, it can give some people low confidence levels, and having to stop eating the foods you love can be a really big blow for many. This is a really important, you must keep on eating those foods which have become a source of comfort and enjoyment.

Having to change to eating non Gluten foods can seem like a major change in your life, but in time you will find it's only a small change. You will find many substitutes which are now becoming more popular, as Celiac disease starts to become more common in younger people too.

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The Acai Berry has been touted as the weight loss Super-food of the twentieth century. The Question is whether such billing is fact or hype. A quick search on the Internet would give an idea of the magnitude of the Acai's popularity. It stands to reason that the individual, seeking to lose weight, can become overwhelmed by all the "hoopla." Yet a cool head and a little research may yield some very interesting results about this Brazilian berry.

So, exactly what is Acai Berry? This fruit of a Palm, native to the Brazilian Amazon, is more than 90% seed and about 5% edible flesh. The dark purple color is indicative of the fact that the Berry is rich in anthocyanins, a potent antioxidant. Other nutrients contained in the fruit are associated with its anti-aging, weight loss, and cancer-fighting properties. Researchers at Texas A&M University, in a 2004 report, found that the antioxidants found in acai berry are highly absorbable and therefore, beneficial for human consumption.

It should be noted, however, that none of these nutrient compounds have been found to directly contribute to weight loss, even though it was shown that acai does seem to aid the body's metabolic process. Of the many compounds found in the berry, more than 65 have yet to be studied scientifically. As yet none of acai's compounds have shown to be direct weight loss enhancers.

Elsewhere, more recent Research at the University of Florida (Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 2006) have found that the berry shows promise in the treatment of a range of diseases including cancer, leukemia and diabetes. Of course, there are other factors that affect the working of various nutrients in the body. These factors include absorption, assimilation and reaction with other substances in the body.

If you are seeking to lose weight the acai berry, as well as a number of other familiar fruits, should be a part of a healthy diet. However, do not follow the hype associated with the acai berry weight-loss diet. There is a lot more research to be done before the true benefits of acai, in weight-loss, are known. One factor hindering faster research, is the fact that the berry is highly perishable. This means that the berries must be processed immediately upon harvesting in order to preserve many of its nutritional compounds. It also means that much of the research work may need to be carried out on location, that is, closer to where the berries are harvested. A balanced and sensible nutritional approach is preferred here.

Since research is currently scant, it may be a wise course of action to consider using Acai in conjunction with other weight loss enhancers and not be taken in by all the advertising hype. As demand for this assumed super-food increases there may be attempts by some to dilute the contents of each pill in order to meet the rising demand. It must be remembered that it is the pulp of the berry that contain the nutrients and not the leaves, stems or roots. So products offering these leaves, stems or root extracts, must be rejected as worthless.

Already, there are the numerous complaints from users of acai weight loss products, that the results do not to match the claims. This may be an indication of one of two reasons. One reason is that the acai content of the particular product is woefully low. Check the label to determine the exact content of each capsule. The other reason may be an indicator that the berry itself may not boost any significant "lose-the-weight" nutrients. To date there is no known conclusive study supporting acai berry as a genuine weight loss super-food.

There are a great number of foods on the market, and acai berry could just be part of a well-balanced diet. This article proposes that lasting weight-loss is only effected with a balanced synergistic approach. An approach that incorporates both good nutrition and targeted physical exercise.

B. C. Williams is a Teacher and Internet Enthusiast who enjoys researching a variety of topics on the Internet.
Health and Healing through Natural methods are of particular interest to Mr. Williams.
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With Christmas and the New Years Eve only a few weeks away, this is the perfect time to lose those extra few pounds and look your best in the festive season.

Here are a few tips on how to get into that well desired Christmas party dress:

1. It's all about the carbs. Eat only low GL carbohydrates and protein - rich foods. This reduces hunger as well as our tendency to store fat. Try and select foods that have little effect on raising blood sugar levels, such as fresh vegetables, beans, lentils, whole grains and fish. Avoid refined foods, fruit juices and other sugary, sweet foods.

2. Good and bad fats ratio. Increase the amount of essential fats you eat, but keep down your saturated fat intake. Essential fats are mainly found in oily fish, flax seeds, nuts and seeds.

3. Try and resist the stimulants. Cut down on stimulants such as tea, coffee, chocolate, cigarettes and alcohol. These also disturb blood sugar balance which also affect both energy and weight control.

4. Aerobic exercise.Take aerobic exercise at least three times a week, running, swimming, brisk walking, low impact aerobics and so on.

5. Lose weight while you sleep. When you don't get enough sleep, it drives leptin levels down, which means you don't feel as satisfied after you eat. Lack of sleep also causes Ghrelin levels to rise, which means your appetite is stimulated, so you want more food.

6. Write everything down. Even (or especially) on bad/splurge days. It's only if you write things down that you know what you are doing.

7. Use probiotics to lose weight. Studies are showing that probiotics can actually help you lose weight. A recent study done at Stanford University has shown that the amount of good bacteria is higher in those who maintain a healthy weight and it's lower in those who are overweight. Researchers are suggesting that it's possible to increase your intake of healthy bacteria (probiotics) to lower your weight.

8. Drink water. Your body is estimated to be 60 to 70 percent water. Your blood, lungs, muscles and brain all consist mainly of water. Water is also required to regulate your body temperature during exercise. So as you might imagine it pretty important! It is also important for weight loss. Initial weight loss is often largely due to loss of water so you need to dink an adequate amount of water to avoid getting dehydrated. The process of burning calories during exercise creates toxins and water is essential in helping clear these.

9. Eat smaller portions. Eating smaller portions means that your body can burn more calories Training your body to eat smaller portions can be hard, especially if you are working a job that doesn't allow you to eat frequently. Sometimes carrying food on your person such as a small back of nuts or an organic

10. Eat more regularly. Eating 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day (grazing) may help to stabilise blood sugar levels which in turn means that you have more energy. Many people also find that hunger pains and appetite decreases because they are keeping their energy levels constant.

Chris Martin Sewell, Health Expert at Totally Nourish. Established since 2008, Totally Nourish is a leading UK online health store specialising in health supplements and vitamins, health foods, dietary supplements for the Low GL diet, skin care, beauty care and make up, patrick holford supplements and more. Fast dispatch and delivery available. Also available onsite is FREE confidential expert nutrition advice, health news and articles and also a low GL diet recipes section.

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Should drinking lots of coffee be part of a weight loss program? Is it good or bad for your diet to stop at Starbucks on your way home from the gym? Without scientific support, men and women in surveys claim that caffeine increases their metabolic rate and fights off hunger for short periods of time. While there are two sides to every argument, some specialists believe that coffee is good for weight loss.

Experts speculate that the caffeine found in coffee causes your body to produce energy from food that has been eaten, and can actually help with short-term physical activities, such as team sports. In fact, it allows people to exercise harder without growing achy. Fatigue is fought off, and you can grow more vigilant. Another theory claims that you urinate more from drinking caffeine, resulting in less body fat. To sum it up, many researchers believe that coffee can actually help you lose weight.

Before you go running to the grocery store to stock up on coffee beans, you should know the down-sides to drinking too much caffeine for quick weight loss. First of all, sipping java will not be an overnight remedy to get skinny. When it comes to weight loss of any kind, the drink will cause a slow and gradual difference on your scale, if any. At the same time, too much caffeine leads to insomnia, anxiety, upset stomachs and even high blood pressure. Meanwhile, many specialized flavors of coffee are rich in calories. In fact, many men and women believe that giving up coffee as part of a weight loss program has actually helped their weight loss efforts. They feel that the addictive stimulant alters their moods, as well as adds to the size of their bellies.

Coffee plays with the chemicals in your brain, causing you to feel more alert. Yet, it can also make you feel nervous, as your blood sugar levels will fluctuate. The drink rouses your adrenals, leading to release of sugars in your body. Getting quality sleep becomes difficult. Too often, this unwanted effect is enough to cause stress and anxiety. With you urinated so often, you are losing vital minerals, such as magnesium, potassium and sodium. Folks also tend to consume fattening snacks, such as doughnuts, when they take their little coffee breaks at work. Think about it, how often do you order a piece of fruit to go along with your coffee?

Many physicians refer to caffeine as an artificial stimulant. Rather than caffeine, your weight loss program should depend on smart foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to give your body energy and mental alertness. Instead of coffee, drink plenty of water every day. Not only will H2O fill up your belly and cause you to eat less, it will also clean unhealthy toxins out of your body. Experts recommend drinking 8 glasses a day. If water is simply too boring for your taste, try drinking green tea to assist with all of your weight loss efforts.

Ever since I was grad school, I cannot start my day without my morning cup of java. Now that I am in my 40s, I have grown concerned on whether or not coffee assists or causes harm to my weight loss program? Everybody seems to have their own opinion. I decided to ask my family doctor how to lose weight fast without giving up coffee. He claims that weight loss is easy with the right tricks, such as powerful HCG Injections. Then I can drink all of the coffee I want. Thanks Doc!

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Hey there, it's Axel here with a golden nugget of information for you. I hope most of you know what protein is and assume you know where you can find it. If not let me be quick; it is one of 3 major components most things edible (the other 2 being fats and carbohydrates).

You have probably heard the debates about who the real culprit is when it comes to weight gain, and I'll tell you who it's not: Protein. Of the 3 macro nutrients (protein/fats/carbs), carbs are the preferred source of fuel for your body, with fats put into storage for later use once the carbs are burnt. Our natural process for using fuel has been the same for 1000's of years. Once our body has digested the food, the carbohydrates are instantly turned into Glucose and are locked and loaded ready to be burnt, or converted into fat cells while watching TV.

After enough exercise, your body will run out of carbs to burn and will go into the fat supplies for fuel. Due to the large amounts of carbs in an average Australian diet, this can prove difficult to get to the fat supplies.

Eating less carbs and exercising more = A leaner you.

The difference between protein vs fats/carbohydrates, and what makes it so damn important is that it feeds your muscles rather than floating around waiting for you to be active. And unless you over indulge, they won't be sent to your fat stores around your hips and waist any time soon.

Protein is effective and important for every meal of the deal. Because of it's heaviness, it leaves you feeling full. A high protein meal reduces the amount of carbs and fats as a result. Don't be afraid of going for a steak, just make sure you get a salad on the side. You may still be getting a serving of fat, but with less carbs in your diet you are going to be tapping into your fat stores and burning them up sooner. Chicken is an even better, leaner option. And tastes delicious.

How much protein should I eat?

The inactive adults' recommendation is 1g of protein per kilogram of bodyweight. If you are reading this then hopefully you are already taking some form of action, in which case you need around 1.5g. To give you an idea, a small can of tuna is 15g of protein. A 300g steak is about 50g. If you weigh 70kg, then go ahead and eat 100g of protein a day.

Here's a list of protein rich foods:

1. eggs

2. legumes

3. nuts

4. meat

5. dairy

Limit your carbs to early meals, to give your body it's fuel for the day. Eat it with dinner, and you won't get a chance to burn it off before bed time.

Salads, Soups, Steaks. That's your new diet.

Eat your meat.

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Have you ever listened carefully to some of those commercials from the pharmaceutical drug companies advertising a product and what it can do for you, followed up by just as much time going down the list of it's known side effects and other warnings? It's almost unbelievable that after all that, people still go ahead and buy the drug.

It seems that most people in America would rather risk a potentially dangerous side effect instead of taking a little more time and effort in researching and implementing a natural treatment or cure for their problem or symptoms.

Neither the FDA, or the pharmaceutical drug industry want us in the general public to go out and find treatments and cures for our medical problems from a natural source, they wouldn't make billions a year in profits that way.

The weight loss industry is a perfect example of this. There are proven ways to burn fat and lose weight with natural food substances but the drug-made version seems more of a "magic pill", I mean, how could a simple natural substance compete with a man-made drug?

The reality is, science can't improve upon nature, and every drug has a negative adverse side effect that can create in your body, another problem that is un-related to the reason you took the drug in the first place.

You only need to read the factual information on the drug product's website or labeling to learn about the list of side effects each one has.

The problem with losing weight with drugs gets worse. Weight lose drugs only work when you are taking them, so when your supply runs out and you don't keep ordering them, that's it. But here's the problem, many of these drugs have a warning of possible addiction to pro-longed use. Of course, with pro-longed use of any drug, there are far more potential side effects than addiction.

So, what the pharmaceutical companies are telling us is that you can lose weight by taking these drugs only as long as you are taking them, but there are certain health risks involved if you take them for a long period of time.

If you decide to only take them for a short period, say one month to see if you can maybe lose 10 or 15 pounds, the weight you lost will always come back because you will still have a slow metabolism and the same, if not bigger food cravings for the junk food you were eating before.

Don't ruin your health with drugs, choose a safe and effective natural alternative and start burning calories that will stay off in the long run.

Get more natural and effective weight loss help at http://www.slimmerfaster.com/ with information based on independent, and thorough research on one of our most important subjects; safe and natural weight loss.

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The non-diet approach to weight loss can be very beneficial to those that have struggled with an unhealthy relationship with food. This is because it focuses on more than the weight loss aspect of dieting. A well-rounded program focuses on all aspects of dieting. It can help bring true happiness to your life. If you have used food as a source of comfort in the past, you can be free to live a life without an emotional reliance on food.

Physical

The non-diet approach to weight loss does focus on the physical aspect of losing weight. After all, that is one of the main goals. However, it is only a small part of this type of weight loss program. Many diets are designed to help you lose weight quickly. Unfortunately, after these diets there is a strong likelihood of gaining it back. The non-diet weight loss program teaches you to develop a relationship with your body. Allow your body to dictate what you eat and when. Diets that tell you to eat certain foods at certain times are very restricting. Your body will begin to fight back, and you can ultimately gain weight. The non-diet approach is a natural and healthy alternative.

Emotional

Your emotional eating stems from somewhere. That is why it is important to focus on the emotional aspect of your weight gain as well. By learning what caused your weight gain and overcoming it, you can eliminate overeating from your life. A licensed therapist can teach you to begin focusing on yourself. A support group is also helpful. The members of a weight loss support group are often the only ones that know what you have been through. They can be a great source of comfort during the tough times.

Mental

After years of dieting and binge eating, you may have developed myths about yourself and dieting. You must begin to take these myths and deconstruct them. By learning where they came from, you can easily dispel these myths. You can then begin to change those negative myths into positive truths. They should become your new life mantra. When you change your thinking, you can feel motivated to lose weight and live a life of happiness. Do not become bogged down by the negative.

Behavioral

The non-diet approach to weight loss also teaches you to focus on the behaviors you need to reach your goal weight. Look at the triggers and behaviors that occurred while you were binge eating. By knowing what triggers you, you can be better prepared to handle them. When these triggers occur, have a list of alternative behaviors to do in place of overeating. These activities should not focus on food, but rather on things that bring about the same type of happiness. This will reduce binge eating and lead to healthy weight loss.

Want to discover how to lose weight without starving yourself? Eat whatever you want and live the life that you deserve? Then go here for your FREE 7 days Course and discover the principles and techniques to eat what you love without guilt, to lose weight and to maintain that weight loss forever. http://winningovereating.com/Free-course/

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Weight loss needs to be all about healthy eating and should have nothing to do with counting calories. Restricting your calorie intake in an effort to lose weight is one of those myths based on a complete lack of understanding of the underlying problem.

This misunderstanding starts by judging people who are overweight or obese. The feeling is that these people simply eat too much. That they are greedy. While this may be the case in a very few individuals, it is NOT true in most people.

Let's examine the problems with a calorie controlled diet.

For a start, it can be complicated. While you are trying to juggle work, family demands, household chores, etc trying to remember which food contains what calories is likely to be low on your list of priorities.

Secondly, and more importantly, calories have nothing to do with healthy food. In a calorie controlled diet, you can end up eating very unhealthy foods, but remain within your target. This means your health will deteriorate over time. Not the best way to lose weight.

You are likely to be hungry all the time, on a calorie controlled diet. This, in itself, shows how unhealthy the diets really are. Your hunger may not just be because you are not eating enough food based on your activity, your body type, your metabolic rate and other important factors to consider, that rarely are considered.

Your hunger is much more likely to be because your body is not getting the quality nutrients from your food. If your body is nutrient deficient, you will be virtually hungry all the time. And unhealthy. This is the key to your excess weight. Few dieticians or weight loss programme creators understand this.

On the other hand, if you forget all about calories, even food portions, but instead use a programme which has its foundation in quality health improvement, then you can see permanent improvements.

Permanent weight loss can only come about when you look at the whole of you and what your body needs to function properly and to be healthy. Healthy eating for weight loss gives you proper nutrition, without limit, whenever you need it. The more you eat, the more weight drops off. The very opposite of what you have been led to believe.

Learn to recognise that both weight loss and good health is more about nutrition, about eating quality healthy foods, than it ever is about calories.

Madeleine Innocent is a full time natural health consultant specialising in diet-for-health and homeopathy. She treats both people and animals within these two disciplines. She also coaches people both on- and off-line, on these subjects. For more information, visit: Healthy Eating For Weight Loss

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Here we are again to talk to you about losing weight.

We have foods we call "comfort foods", such as starchy carbs which make us drowsy or relaxed, while foods that are high in protein, can make us mentally alert when we are feeling tired, like fish, poultry and dairy products.

If we are overweight and we want to lose those extra pounds, we must question ourselves and find where our weak points are. Very possibly our overweight is due to excessive negative carbs, low protein and little, if any physical activity!

If we are serious about losing that weight, then we must take charge of our life, (it depends on our actions) and we must ask our self: Where is it that we are tempted to overeat or eat the wrong things? Is it at the movies, where we can eat that popcorn loaded with "butter"? Those Nachos with cheese?

At home in front of our TV? Or perhaps it is at work, where every day someone brings dough-nuts or perhaps a cake for a Birthday? Maybe you buy yours snacks from that Vending Machine with all those goodies.

When you have identified your weak spots, avoid them by taking with you a healthy fruit snack instead, even a low fat pretzel will work. Watch those fruits that are high in sugar content. Try snacks with nuts that are low in fat and sodium.

Avoid those fast food places where the food is loaded with saturated fats, sugars and carbs, while at the same time being very low in fiber and I wonder if you really want to know about the use of cattle body parts to make those hamburger patties. I could tell you about them and gross you out, but take my word for it, avoid those fast food burgers like you would avoid the plague! And if you have children, please don't give it to them.
We as parents sometimes think that because our children are young, it's OK to feed them whatever garbage they ask for. That is where we are supposed to come in to teach them about eating healthy foods.

In my experience I have seen parents having to take their children for a Lab-work only to find out that all those French fries, fried ripe bananas and other fried foods their children are eating, have caused them to develop very high cholesterol. Remember, just because they are young doesn't mean they are immune to illness just as we are. Just because they are fat, does not mean they are healthy!

Let us set an example, pack up healthy lunches, not processed meats, such as ham, bologna etc. Processed foods are loaded with fats, sodium and nitrite to enhance color and extend the shelve life and that includes our beloved hot dogs.

Gladys Alvarez has done what thousands of interested people were hoping for; the legwork concerning weight loss and health issues. With many years experience in the medical field and through extensive research in nutrition, she has eliminated all the hype out of the Losing Weight programs that are in the market today, presenting you with only the very best. With many years experience as a Correspondent who has traveled worldwide, and experienced first hand the different styles of nutrition in diverse countries, Gladys encourages you to visit her website to receive your FREE videos at http://www.bestweightlossplanss.com/ TODAY!

Copyright (c) http://www.gladysalvarez.com/ All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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You can lose weight by eating chewy food. A Japanese study found women eating chewy or crunchy foods lost weight and they had slimmer waistlines than women who ate softer foods. It was not the chewing that got the results it was the fact they were eating food their bodies took longer to digest. Their bodies had to work harder to digest the chewy food, which used up calories in the process. This is not new but it is a slightly different approach. Mind you, you would still need to make sure the food was good food - not chewy toffees or candies.

Another important reason the women lost weight is because they did not want to eat as much. This type of food has more fibre, which is more satisfying because we feel fuller for longer. The longer the food takes to digest the longer it takes for the body to feel hungry again. Eating this food on a regular basis avoids the sudden spike in blood sugar, which leads to wanting more food a little later.

If you want to try this, here are some of the foods regarded as chewy or crunchy:

Meat is an obvious one. Make sure it is lean meat. Take the skin off turkey and chicken
Fruit like apples and pineapples are crunchy and chewy. Most fruit has plenty of fibre, which you could class as chewy
Nuts are crunchy of course but they are also very dense in calories so you would not go onto a nut diet. But a few every day is good as they contain essential fatty acids
Bread can be chewy, but it needs to be whole grain. Breakfast cereals like muesli, oats and bran need to be chewed and can be crunchy
Most vegetables are regarded as chewy but some are chewier than others - celery, raw carrots, cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Cooked pumpkins, carrots, parsnips and potatoes can be crunchy or at least chewy, if they are not overcooked
Pasta and some noodles could come under the chewy category because we do have to chew them. How chewy it is can depend on the cook of course

We can help our bodies lose weight by eating food that takes longer to digest. This speeds up the body's metabolism, which makes it work harder, which makes it use up energy. Using energy means using calories. That's why a balanced diet should contain protein, fruit, vegetables and whole grains, as they all take longer to digest. If we stayed away from the non-chewy food, we would not eat soft food such as cake, white bread or creamy desserts.

While the Japanese study is a new slant on an old truth, it can remind us not to feed our bodies too much of the easy food to digest, because it will have the opposite effect to the chewy and crunchy foods - it will put on weight.

Eating chewy foods is one of the ways to lose weight. You will find more ideas on how to lose weight when you visit http://www.squidoo.com/how-can-i-lose-weight-now William Burnell enjoys the benefits of following a healthy lifestyle and likes to help others to do the same.

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Hormones belong to the body's endocrine system. They are directly involved in weight loss efforts. Hormones are chemical messengers that are produced by glands such as the pancreas, adrenals, thyroid, and the pituitary. When hormones are released into the bloodstream they have the purpose of creating some type of effect in some area of the body. Basically, hormones tell the body what to do. The glands that produce these hormones regulate effects in designated areas of the body.

There are certain hormones that are responsible for the type of fat that is stored. These hormones also designate where on the body that fat is placed. The combination of these two things in large part leads to distortions in body shape. Hence, it also poses challenges in weight loss given the differences in the types of fat that is being stored along with the non even distribution of that stored fat throughout the body. This non even distribution of stored fat is also driven by the fact that fat in reality is stored energy. The body tends to place fat stores around vital organs to insure that these organs are always backed up by a ready reserve of energy so that they can always function.

Key to the discussion of weight loss are these hormones and glands that regulate metabolism. There are six fat burning hormones and three fat storing hormones which will be discussed in detail in coming posts. Weight management is governed by the actions and interactions of these 9 metabolic hormones.

Excessive body weight is a symptom of an unhealthy endocrine system. The problems can be with either the glands or the hormones, or it can be with both. When this system has problems our health and well-being is at risk.

The unhealthy state of our endocrine systems results from several different factors, the most prominent being the foods that we consume along with all of the environmental toxins / chemicals that we are exposed to particularly in the developed world.

There is evidence that the use of growth hormones to fatten poultry, cattle, and even farm raised fish that we eat are the source of developmental and other problems that affect our health and well-being. Added to this are the junk foods, fast foods, refined carbohydrates, and a preponderance of sugar that is hidden in many, many, of the foods that we buy and consume. Our bodies have been greatly compromised.........so has the body's ability to burn fat naturally as was intended.

Environmental toxins such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, plastics and solvents all play a role in keeping us in an unhealthy state. The endocrine system is very sensitive to these environmental chemicals that we are exposed to daily (endocrine disruptions).

Real, it ain't gonna come back weight loss cannot occur until we first take the steps to make our bodies healthy. When we reach a healthy / healthier state of being, weight loss will happen naturally as the result of eating the foods that encourage fat burning as opposed to fat storage. Eating the right foods will free us from obesity and the potential for developing the chronic and life threatening diseases that are a part of this vicious cycle!

Losing those stubborn pounds and then keeping them off permanently must focus on addressing the issue of excessive body weight at the source of the problem, an unhealthy compromised endocrine system.

We will continue this discussion about hormones and the critical role that they play in weight loss in coming posts.

Hi, my name is R. F. McCarthy healthy weight loss is the key to losing and maintaining your desired body weight long term. A healthy body weight is key to your overall health, well-being, and happiness.

A total knee replacement and a diagnosis of being a borderline diabetic caused me to make a more serious commitment related to long-term personal weight management. A life time of losing and then gaining back the weight that I lost has helped me to understand that the use of pills, potions, supplements, and fad diets does not provide for the long term maintenance of a healthy body weight. If you have been struggling with a weight issue and you are not happy with the results that you have thus far achieved click here to learn more about how to lose weight naturally and how to keep it off forever.

Wishing you All the Best in Health and Happiness

YOUR DREAMS ARE AS REAL AS YOU MAKE THEM... BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!

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