Weight Loss For Busy Parents

Parenthood is an exciting time to play with your kids, take them places, and teach them all your knowledge, as long as you don't teach them to be overweight. It is also a difficult time to balance schedules, push your career forward and get a good night's sleep. We spend less time on ourselves which makes the weight creep up. Moms have a battle with weight gain soon after giving birth but Dads also feel the pressure to stay busy with work while still providing quality time with their families.

How did life get so complicated and why does it interfere with weight loss efforts? A short list would include:

- Lack of time to exercise

- Childcare issues interfering with exercise

- Lack of financial resources to purchase gym memberships or home equipment

- Resuming exercise after a long time off can be painful and discouraging

- Time spent shuffling kids back and forth from school and activities

- Less time to shop and prepare healthy meals while more time is spent in the drive thru

- Kids are picky eaters and nutrition information is confusing

- Work schedules are more demanding

- Stress prevents weight loss due to hormonal and immune system disruptions

- More errands, yard work, and fix it jobs

- Lack of energy when all of the day's chores are finally finished

Busy parents often feel depressed when they think about their poor health yet feel guilty thinking they might neglect their children if they take time for themselves.

If these situations sound familiar, it is very common to feel overwhelmed enough to push weight loss goals on to the back burner. The usual grocery store gossip doesn't help either. How often do parents hear their peers tell them their age is a factor and it is so much harder to lose weight after children come along? Because parents want to be good examples for their children the internet becomes great problem solver.

Busy parents need a weight loss tool that is not complicated and takes very little time to organize. The internet can be a great help by immediately taking away some of the financial and time constraints listed above. Health education available online is a time saver compared to driving to classes or doctors' offices which takes time away from family. Anonymous support on internet discussion boards can prevent embarrassment for those who are shy about their weight loss struggles. Real people can share their real experiences a few minutes each day encouraging participants to stay focused.

The rewards will benefit the entire family giving children healthier, energized and enthusiastic parents. A few searches on the internet with the right keywords will guide busy parents to the type of website that meets their needs. The Numbers Don't Lie Diet is one program from a mother's point of view who experienced a weight problem when her first child was born.

With a common sense approach tracking progress on the internet puts weight loss success at your fingertips making any busy parent an EZLoser.

Dr. Lisa Ann Homic is a chiropractor, mental health counselor, and wellness coach in Auburn, NY. She wrote "The Numbers Don't Lie Diet" and "Happiness Doesn't Get Enough Attention: How Thought Sparks Ignite Your Life."

Visit http://www.ezloser.com

How Should You Go about Locating A Good Local Weight Loss Program Center?

If you are planning to shed some weight then you may well find it very helpful to join your local weight loss center where you will find not only information and advice about losing weight, but will also benefit from the assistance of others and of following a program with set goals for you to aim for. But exactly how should you go about locating a good local weight loss program center?

Before we answer this question it is important that you know precisely what you are looking for as not all weight loss programs are the same.

Some centers host regular meetings perhaps every week where members 'weigh in' to check their progress and discuss their diet plan for the following week. These meetings generally last about an hour or two and, although they give you access to advice and encouragement, you are largely left to fend for yourself between meetings.

Other centers operate seven days a week (frequently opening early and staying open until late evening) and not only give advice and information, but also give you access to an extensive range of fitness equipment and will also run various exercise classes.

Possibly the best place to start your search for a suitable local center is your local telephone directory. Start your search by looking for 'weight loss' or 'health and fitness' in the business or yellow pages section of the directory.

An alternative to using your local telephone directory is to use the online business directories and online telephone books. Just as your standard telephone directory, these online services will let you have the name, address and telephone number of your local weight loss centers, but have the benefit of also providing you with the website address of centers which also have an internet site. This will then let you find out much more about a center from the comfort of your own home and without having to call them or pop around to check them out.

As well as utilizing web-based telephone books and business directories you can also carry out a search with your preferred search engine. A basic search for phrases like 'weight loss centers' or 'weight loss programs' will bring up a list of not merely local centers but also national chains which can be helpful for determining such things as the size of the business. Generally, you can then find a local center through their main website. You can also refine your search results by adding your location and, for instance, searching for 'weight loss centers in Long Beach' or 'weight loss programs in Long Beach'.

A further very good way to find a suitable local center is by simply asking around. You can start with family members, work colleagues, friends, neighbors or your doctor. This will not only usually give you information about your local centers, but will also give you details of the personal experience of others in using such centers. Out of all the search methods this is clearly the best because you really cannot beat a personal recommendation when you are trying to find a good weight loss program.

You can learn more about Weight Loss Program Centers as well as get Free weight loss tips and much more information on dieting and losing weight at http://www.FatLoss4IdiotsReview.net

Why Weight Loss Is A Side Effect Of Cleansing

When you mention cleansing in a group of people, most people immediately think of colon cleansing - where you're in the bathroom all day. The cleansing I am talking about is actually body cleansing. It cleanses the organs, lymph system, and blood.

We are always cleaning or maintaining something in our homes, garages or offices. We wash our bodies, change the filters in our furnaces, cars and vacuum cleaners. If the toilet backs up or the sink clogs we take care of it right away. Imagine what it would be like if you didn't change your vacuum cleaner bag for 40 years. Pretty gross! The fact is, we have filters in our bodies that get clogged, but we never think to clean the inside of our bodies. Or, if you're like me, you didn't know there was a way to do it.

One reason that weight loss is a side effect of cleansing is that cleansing gets to the root of the problem. When the filters in our bodies are not working properly, they don't work at optimal capacity and start storing impurities. Fat cells collect around those impurities and hold on to them because there is no place for them to go. When the filters get cleaned out and the body does what it is designed to do, weight is released. The liver is your key fat burning organ. If it is not working properly then fat will be stored instead of burned.

Another reason that weight loss is a side effect of cleansing is that cleansing reduces cravings and helps you desire good foods. Cleansing floods your body with nutrients that it needs so it can be satisfied. The body can then even cleanse itself because it has the enzymes and minerals that it needs to do the job.

Want to know more about weight loss and cleansing? Get a free copy of the book "How to Lose Weight When Nothing Else has Worked" click http://www.hjresources.com/loseit - Heidi Johnson specializes in helping families find resources to simplify and improve their lives.

Why Don't Diets Bring Me Permanent Weight Loss?

"What is wrong with me? Why can't I lose weight permanently?"

If you've ever asked yourself this question, then you've probably also wondered:

"I have such ability to make other changes in my life, why do I struggle so much with this one?"

"I have a great tenacity to stick at other things in my life, how come I am so weak willed when it comes to losing weight?"

"How come other people lose weight but I still struggle?"

Well, after years of being in this same dilemma I figured out that it's NOT that we are weak willed, or lack the tenacity to lose weight permanently. The fact of the matter is, we have been using a mindset of thought processes and a range of habits that work against our motivation, rather than with it.

What you have probably not noticed is the 98% of people, like you, who put all the weight back on and more within 2-3 years! Like me you may well have believed the propaganda that you can be a perfect size 10 if only you try harder, which has meant you have spent years ignoring reality!

Motivation for change and lose weight permanently is NOT about working harder it is about working smarter. The key is NOT to keep repeating the same patterns of habits and thoughts that are working against you. It is also about being realistic regarding what you can change. Foremost it is about loving yourself now NOT at some distant time when you are a desired weight.

To effect any significant motivation and long-lasting change to your shape, size or weight you firstly need to accept 3 things...

1. The reality of 'What is'

2. That fear holds us back from achieving the changes we desire

3. Change is an ongoing process NOT A DESTINATION!

By the reality of 'What is', I mean accepting you body shape and the assets you were genetically born to with. That includes, for many people, accepting that the body changes shape with age. It is also about accepting that you are unique, beautiful and different. So comparing yourself to others is a complete waste of time and energy!

Accepting 'What is' and finding ways of learning to love all of you as you are now, is essential to sustained weight loss motivation. Of course that doesn't mean not having a clear vision or goal of the changes you want to create, just that they need to be realistic and achievable.

For some, but not all, there are fears holding you back! Lots of them that stop you achieving the permanent weight loss you so long for. The problem is that some fears are so well hidden that you probably do not even know they are there! In the book 'FAT, Exploding the Myths' by Lisa Colles, Dawn French describes her fear of "not knowing who she was or how to use her body" when she reduced in size to a 10-12 for her wedding day. Our fears come in all shapes and sizes and for some, acknowledging them is an essential part of the change process.

One of the biggest barriers to change, however, is seeing it as an enforced period of stress, struggle, scarcity or conflict that eventually has an end. Learning to love change in all its facets and seeing the learning in each day is so important. Accepting the joys of new experiences and being excited in the knowledge that it is not the destination that is important but the ongoing journey. These are the keys to weight loss success and sustained motivation.

Chrissie Webber is a published author, business coach and leadership trainer. As Managing Director of Life-Shapers Ltd she is developing her online weight-loss motivation company http://www.lifeshapers.co.uk into a franchise of Life Shapers Weight Management Coaches.

Her track record in the area of weight management is firstly a personal one. Following a lifetime of weight issues - at her heaviest, over 21 stone and a massive size 30 - she has personal experience of diets and their devastating effect on size and psyche.

With a background in nursing, psychology and business coaching, coupled with a lifetime of dieting, she developed and successfully used a series of models and tools that enhance weight loss motivation. Now over 5 dress sizes smaller and having sustained her weight loss for several years she has written a book about her motivational journey. Weight Loss, Life Gain - A Motivational Journey to Permanent Weight Loss was published in January 2008 by Accent Press.

Her Blog http://www.chrissiewebber.co.uk and free monthly eZine now offer support to others.

The One True Secret of Weight Loss

Are you ready for the one true secret of weight loss? You feel like you've tried all the diet products and every diet program to burn your body fat and yet still haven't cracked the weight control diet code. You've had it up to your top chin with fitness tips and exercise tips and all the health and fitness information that's been flung your way.

Do you want the good news or the bad news? Actually they are both the same and they are in fact, old news. So here is the news.

The news is that if you intend to lose fat and get fit, the secret of successful weight loss has 3 basic parts. You have to

1. Consume less calories and make better food choices

2. Exercise regularly, 6 days out of 7

3. Be patient. You know by now that there is no quick fix.

If you are not prepared to accept these facts, you are going to keep on dreaming, flinging time and money into frustrating sure-fail snake oil, smoke and distortion mirror strategies. I think life's too short to delude yourself and you deserve better.

Let's just do it. Let's burn your body fat and get fit, starting today. You might hate me now, but you'll thank me for it later.

In order to consume less calories and make better food choices, you just have to be informed. Get a decent pocket calorie counter that also tells you the basics about protein, carbs and fats as well as nutritional information on vitamins and minerals. It will set you back pennies and take probably about an hour to read, cover to cover. While you're at it, invest a piddling amount for a diet and exercise diary and write in it every day.

Just by buying these 2 cheap products, you will have increased the likelihood of losing weight and maintaining your goal weight by an exponential figure. You don't have to believe me, this is a fact from health and fitness research scientists the world over.

Get into an exercise routine. Set aside a time that you will find difficult to sabotage and fill it with walking, walking, walking (briskly, mind you - no waddling). Take 45 minutes to 1 hour and learn to enjoy your energetic walk. You will ache like mad for the first few weeks or even months, but that is just your muscles waking up in a bit of a state of pleased shock and surprise that you have actually found some use for them. You will get past the discomfort (pain, if you're a sook) and this habit will be the best fitness strategy you will ever invest in.

You cannot expect a magic fix for the fat you've spent months or even years accumulating. Once you can face this sour little snippet, you will start to lose weight. Yes, it will be slower than you want, but much faster than if you just loll about plumply wishing for it in a vague and negative kind of way.

After 6 weeks of decent diet and regular exercise, you will feel good every day. After 12 weeks, people around you will want to know your weight loss secret. After 6 months, you will never look back. You can thank me for it then.

Rosie Peters gives common sense advice, encouragement and tips for weight loss, sensible diet and lifelong fitness. Sometimes it's not what you want to hear, but what you need to know. Visit Rosie at weight-control-diet-advice.com.

Rosie's e-Book Weight Loss is Simple may be what you're after. Check it out & get a free copy of her popular e-Book Fat No More, while you're there.

Permanent Weight Loss - A Question of Re-Programming

This morning I received an email from my great friend Jen. In it was a question asked by the cybernetics engineer Norbert Weiner in response to a question, about how to determine the causes of schizophrenia, from his friend and epidemiologist, Gregory Bateson.

The email went on to adapt the question into one that I found most revealing. So I though you may like to ponder over it as I have done...

"If you were going to build a machine that produced a battle with weight, size, shape and food the way you do it, what would the machine need to do?"

Think about it and write down your own answers before you read what mine were. Don't forget, we are all uniquely different and your machine may be quite different from mine!

So my machine (as it used to be) was developed to run a programme that...

1. Constantly identified food as 'good' or 'bad' so I feared it and yet craved it.

2. Ran continuous movies about the 'bad' food and how much I loved to eat it.

3. Was based on a negative body image 'platform' (belief system) that considered my weight, size and shape was all wrong.

4. Contained a database of negative messages that I was not 'good enough' to be loved, and distributed them constantly.

5. Picked up all external messages that reinforced that I was not 'good enough' and added them to the database.

6. Easily stored negative and unhappy memories.

7. Made the storage of positive and joyous memories difficult and inaccessible for quick retrieval.

8. Easily triggered the rebellious 'child within me', giving permission for me to eat whatever and whenever I wanted.

9. Prevented me from connecting my mind to my body.

10. Triggered binge eating as a means of avoiding my emotions and the truth within them that was there for me to learn from.

This was obviously a virus-riddled programme and the awful thing was, I had created it for myself! So that was the key. If I had created it for myself I could definitely repair it. All I had to do was develop an anti-virus that created exactly the opposite thoughts, beliefs, feelings and behaviours from my list above.

No it is not a 'quick fix' but as we know they never work out well in the long run. It certainly has been life and weight changing though.

By answering the question yourself you will also have the basis from which to modify your present programme, rebuilding your machine without all its negative viruses.

Happy re-programming!

Chrissie Webber is a published author, business coach and leadership trainer. As Managing Director of Life-Shapers Ltd she is developing her online weight-loss motivation company http://www.lifeshapers.co.uk into a franchise of Life Shapers Weight Management Coaches.

Her track record in the area of weight management is firstly a personal one. Following a lifetime of weight issues - at her heaviest, over 21 stone and a massive size 30 - she has personal experience of diets and their devastating effect on size and psyche.

With a background in nursing, psychology and business coaching, coupled with a lifetime of dieting, she developed and successfully used a series of models and tools that enhance weight loss motivation. Now over 5 dress sizes smaller and having sustained her weight loss for several years she has written a book about her motivational journey. Weight Loss, Life Gain - A Motivational Journey to Permanent Weight Loss was published in January 2008 by Accent Press.

Her Blog http://www.chrissiewebber.co.uk and free monthly eZine now offer support to others.

Weight Loss Myths Exposed

As a weight loss coach I speak will people regularly about their view and beliefs surrounding food and nutrition. It probably wont come as a surprise to hear there is a great deal of confusion around nutrition. In fact, many people reading this article will have only a scant idea about the different food types and what our body actually needs to keep healthy.

One of the simplest systems Ive encountered is this. If the food tastes good, then it has to be bad for you! And then theres its counterpart, If the food tastes bad then it must be good for you. You may identify with these views, or some closely related version! Nutrition for some has been reduced to a concept of good and bad with little else.

Some common weight loss myths that people believe - which arent true!

Myth #1: Cutting down on portion size is the best way to lose weight. Not on its own. If you attempt to lose weight by just eating less, you are likely to gain the weight back. Lasting results will come from changing the types of foods you eat, not just the amounts.

Myth #2: Just cut out fat and youll lose weight. This approach to weight loss, popular in the 80s, simply doesnt work for most people. Even if a food is labeled fat-free, it can still be high in calories from sugar and hidden carbs. Effective weight loss comes from being mindful of your total calorie consumption as well as your fat intake.

Myth #3: Cutting calories causes your body to go into starvation mode and slows weight loss. This is untrue. Your bodys resting metabolic rate can vary by about 15%. Nevertheless, eating too few calories and an inadequate amount of protein can make you lose precious lean muscle mass, which will eventually slow metabolism, for the long term. Ideally, stick to the calorie and protein amounts that are right for your body with the Herbalife program.

Myth #4: High-protein diets cause ketosis, which reduces hunger. Ketosis occurs when fat, instead of carbohydrate, is used as an energy source during a high-protein diet. Ketone bodies are produced, which give your breath a bad fruity odor. Ketone bodies do not reduce appetite; but, eating sufficient protein for your body needs can help reduce hunger and support weight loss.

Myth #5: Exercise alone can help you lose weight. While exercise is an important component of a healthy weight-loss program, it is not a great way to lose weight on its own. Exercising for even an hour at a time burns only a moderate amount of calories. Combining exercise with calorie reduction and a healthy eating plan is the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off.

One of the most healthful and helpful steps you can take to improve your health and that of your familys is to learn about nutrition. The principles are easy to understand and armed with the correct information, its possible to make an improvement to your health.

Kim Beardsmore

Kim Beardsmore is a weight loss consultant whose business operates across 60 countries. Learn more about losing weight, great nutrition and how to look after your health. Estimate your healthy body weight, free ezine and more at http://weight-loss-health.com.au

Weight Loss Surgery - Should You Consider It?

Weight loss surgery is sometimes recommended when a person just can't seem to lose weight by diet and exercise. It is usually thought of as a last resort for morbidly obese people.

The reasons that a person may not be able to lose weight with diet and exercise are that they may lack willpower, they may a disease that prevents certain exercises or there may be genetic reasons.

There are many different names for the various procedures: adjustable gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, biliopancreatic diversion, vertical banded gastroplasty and more. They all fall under the term of bariatric surgery.

Fad diets can make the situation even worse. For those who have tried these diets, weight loss pills and nutritional supplements without success, weight loss surgery may be their only option. But, care must be taken before deciding if this is the right solution for you.

There are different surgical procedures that can be done. Each of these has its own side affects and risks. Many improvements have been made in surgical techniques that make the operations safer for the patient.

One of the first weight loss surgeries was gastric bypass surgery. Part of the stomach is removed and the rest of it is reconnected to the digestive system. This was the most dangerous type of surgery. Also, the patient must take nutritional supplements for the rest of her life to prevent the diseases caused by nutritional deficiencies.

Then, there is stomach stapling. The stomach size is reduced by clamping off parts of the stomach with surgical staples. This procedure can now usually be done by laparoscopy, which uses a small hole instead of a large incision. The purpose of this surgery is to make the patient feel full sooner so that he eats less.

If a person who has had this surgery tries to eat too much, he will become sick. Here again, the patient will have to take nutritional supplements to make up for the nutrition he would normally get from food.

The newest form of weight reduction surgery, generally called lap band surgery, involves inserting a band around the stomach. This type of surgery is preferred because there is no cutting into the stomach itself which can cause internal bleeding. It can also be adjusted to accommodate the patient's improved eating patterns. This surgery can be done as an outpatient instead of spending days or a week in the hospital.

All of these surgeries are very expensive, and insurance companies generally don't cover the costs unless a person's obesity is life threatening. Even then, it takes quite some time before the surgery is approved.

People who do have these operations typically experience a rapid weight loss. The quickness of the weight loss can cause other problems. Besides the problems of insufficient nutrition, there can be hormonal changes. There can also be the problem of excess skin where fat used to be. Getting rid of this skin means having even more surgeries, and more expense for the patient. These types are not normally covered by insurance companies.

A person should think long and hard about having weight loss surgery before jumping into it. Research all of the pros and cons and talk to a qualified physician. If at all possible, try diet, exercise and lifestyle changes before surgery.

Jude Wright is the owner of "9 Weeks to Weight Loss" at 9WeekstoWeightLoss.com. Stop by and get your free report, "Losing Weight Without Starving Yourself."

Weight Loss Tip #4 - Count the Once-in-a-While's

I was 25 pounds over my comfortable weight and had been trying to lose for many months. I was very conscious of what I was eating, but did not want to suffer on a restrictive diet. So, I was letting myself have special treats "once in a while". My attempts at losing weight just were not making the scale budge at all. What was the deal?

What I later realized was that the 'once-in-a-while's add up quickly! I knew that I rarely ate 'junk food' like candy bars or cakes, donuts or desserts. So I figured having them once in a while wouldn't do much harm. I had an almond joy one day in January because I knew it had been at least six months since I did anything like that. I had a piece of birthday cake at an office party later that week because I almost never ate cake at home. I had dessert out at a restaurant that Friday night because it was extremely rare that we would order anything after dinner. I had french fries on the side when we ate out on the weekend because I knew it was so seldom I ate them. But in doing so, I neglected to realize I had added another third of a pound to my body weight over just that week!

My warped sense of 'dieting' went on through the months; observing what I ate, observing the scale not budging. "I can drive through McDonald's today on my way to the library because I haven't eaten here in at least two weeks". "We can order chinese food tonight because it's been three weeks since we did that". "Ordering a pizza sounds convenient for dinner, and I know we haven't had pizza for almost two weeks". "Donuts? I almost never eat them--I'll just have a little treat today". Another pound not lost that week.

Think about how many times you are eating a food that you know is too high in calories to allow you to proceed with your weight loss regimen. Most of the clients I meet with have the same story as I did: Shaking their head, they tell me "I rarely eat fast food, pizza, desserts, cookies, chips--Maybe just once in a while". Chances are, you may be eating a "once-in-a-while" food once a month, and you may have 30 of these foods on your list. That means every day you are eating one of these foods you know are not a good idea to eat. Every day you are adding 300 or 400 calories to your dietary intake. That means if you stop having these calorie-dense foods, you can lose three or four pounds this month! Not by dieting, not by starving, not by adhering to a strict regimen. Just by thinking about these splurges and going one more day without them.

My suggestion is to have a 'once-in-a-while' day' once a week. Choose a day you'd like--let's say Sunday. Your plan is, Monday through Saturday you watch what you eat, make healthy choices, have plenty of fruits, vegetables, water, lean meats, low fat dairy products, whole grain breads and cereals, and very low calorie desserts like diet jello or a 100 calorie package of cookies if you get a sweet tooth. Sunday you can have your 'once-in-a-while' treat: order a pizza, go to a chinese restaurant (I did not say buffets, there!), enjoy a piece of homemade pie or cake at a family get together, go out for breakfast, or go to your favorite fast food place and enjoy one of their meals (not super-sized, of course). Choose ONE of these treats and relish the taste, knowing you were not ingesting all this fat and salt during the week, and knowing that truly having this food you like just once in a while is not unreasonable and will not make you fat.

Then go back to your well-balanced healthy eating habits on Monday, knowing you satisfied your craving and you can enjoy another treat next weekend. It's not about deprivation, it's about moderation!

Write to me and let me know how you're doing! Laurie Beebe is a registered dietitian certified in adult weight management. Laurie has transitioned into diet coaching which helps dramatically by allowing people to set their own goals and design their own action plans to start their path to success. Please visit Laurie's website, "Shaping Your Future" at http://www.mycoachlaurie.com for diet tips, links to great books and websites, to sign up for a free monthly newsletter, or for more information on coaching.

Walking Sense - Make the Most of Your Walking Workouts

It seems simple. You pull on a pair of tennis shoes and head outdoors. Everyone thinks they know what walking is and how to do it. Besides the amazing health benefits to walking, there can be more to walking besides putting one foot in front of the other. To make the most of your workout and reduce incidences of muscle and joint pain, consider these walking mistakes to avoid:

#1. Overstriding: Knowing the correct way to walking can improve your health and help you to walk faster and more smoothly. On the other hand, walking the wrong way will lead to wasted effort and even injury. As a walker, it's natural to try to walk faster and lengthen your stride with the forward foot. This method causes walkers to strike the ground hard with their feet, resulting in a clumsy gait, sore shins, and muscle fatigue.

The cure for overstriding comes as result of pushing with the back of the leg and foot. When walking fast, aim for shorter, quicker steps. Think of pushing off your foot with a rolling-through motion of your back foot and leg. The correct stride should be a lengthening of your stride, which will result in faster feet.

#2.Wrong Shoes: A good walking shoe is necessary to avoid injuries such as plantar fasciitis, muscle pulls and knee problems. Walking shoes should be lightweight with flexible soles that will allow you to easily roll through each step. Shoes should also be replaced every 500 miles (or every year), as the cushioning and support will degrade. Walking shoes should also be larger than your dress shoes if you walk more than 30 minutes or more for exercise. Athletic shoe store associates can help to size a right-fitting walking shoe for you.

#3. Flapping and Slapping Feet: It's a natural tendency to flatten your foot out prematurely while walking if you're not conscious of rolling through each step with your forward foot - from heel to toe. Heavy shoes or weak shins can contribute to the problem. Again, it's important to wear flexible shoes that bend at the ball of the feet and feature a low heel. To strengthen your shins, try toe raises by standing on a stair facing upstairs and let your heels hang over the edge. Dip the heels down and raise them up 10-20 times. Prior to your walking workout, warm up the heels by walking on them for 30 seconds.

#4. No Arms: Perhaps you've seen someone walking with their arms still at their sides, or even swinging them without bending. Besides looking strange, this method will lead to swelling in the hands. Normal walking motion requires the arms to move as a counterbalance to the legs. A walker adds power and speed when using the arms correctly. Make sure you bend your arms at a 90 degree angle and let them swing naturally back and forth, opposite the leg motion.

#5. Chicken Wing: This is Walking Workout 101, not the Chicken Dance. If you're swinging your arms from side to side, crossing the center of your body, you may be a Chicken Wing offender. Remember that your arms should swing back and forth and elbows should be close to your body. Hands should not cross the center line or come up past your breasts. A correct arm swing allows you to concentrate power from your rear leg rather than wasting motion in front of your body.

#6. Leaning: You find yourself leaning back or forward more than 5 degrees. Or perhaps you have a sway back. Maybe you thought leaning equals good form. Leaning forward or backward while walking can result in lower back pain and will inhibit your speed and technique.

The proper position for good walking is to stand up straight but relax the shoulders. Keep your chin up and parallel to the ground. Your stomach and behind should also be tucked in as you walk. To keep from swaying your back, make sure your stomach or backside are not pushed out forward or back. Stomach- and back-strengthening exercises are very beneficial for standing straighter.

Now available for home use to soothe the aches and pains associated with arthritis, psoriasis, tired joints and sore muscles from an active lifestyle. Thousands have benefited from the pain relieving power of these safe, natural, non-prescription treatments.

Burn Fat Fast - The Proven And Fastest Way to A Slimmer Figure

Many people are frustrated with their weight related problems and seek remedies to get out of it. However, there are certain factors that lead to the increase in weight, more than what is needed for the proper body-mass index to stay normal.

A person's weight is always ideally in proportion to the height of the body. However, if the weight of the body increases or decreases suddenly then it is a thing of serious concern. A sudden increase in the body weight can be because of many reasons like bad eating habits, hormonal changes, inappropriate physical exercises, etc. This in many cases leads to certain diseases that result in the abnormal functioning of the body which in turn leads to unexpected obesity.

In case you are suffering from the problem of obesity, you must consider to burn the fat fast, because obesity may lead to various other problems like heart blockages, clogging of the arteries by trans-fats, problems of bones and spinal cord and in some cases, it may lead to sudden paralysis or even a fatal heart attack. Therefore, you should keep a check on your weight. Even a seemingly fit person can do fat burn exercises to keep away from the multitude of problems associated with accumulation of the excess fat in the body.

You can burn fat fast with the innumerable methods that are available these days. There are numerous types of gears available for fat burning exercises, medications that reduce the problems of fat in the body and the diet charts that are prescribed by the doctors that help in burning fat and calorie.

The reduction of fat from the stomach seems to be the toughest one to deal with. The accumulated fat in the stomach area causes a lot of problem including gastric diseases. You can burn stomach fat through certain exercises and yoga, which are specially designed for the reduction of fat from the stomach area.

Some people eat fast foods, colas and sweets etc that are high in fat content and cause the accumulation of fat in the body. Nevertheless, there are people who eat too much oily food and avoid exercises of any kind. For these type of people, dietitians suggest a balanced diet chart which helps them to follow a balanced diet without the over consumption of any element.

The obese persons are offered a restricted food chart containing food items that burn fat fast. It includes the suggestion to include green vegetables and fresh fruits in large amount and reduction in the intake of fried and aerated drinks. If you are suffering from the problems of obesity, remember that any type of alcoholic drink also enhances the accumulation of fat in the body.

Thus, to lead a fat free lifestyle and have confidence in yourself, you must take good care of your body and keep it fit and healthy.

Wait! Did you know that many people have unhealthy and imbalanced diets that lead to excessive accumulation of body fat? A good eating plan and proper exercise methods can help you to burn fat fast Find out how you can easily do both today. http://www.FatBurn4Idiots.com

Hoodia 750

Hoodia Gordonii is a proven, natural weight loss aid that many people swear by for fast, safe weight loss. Hoodia pills come in many sizes and forms.

Some diet pills simply add Hoodia to their already jam-packed pills. Other sellers offer pure Hoodia in doses of 200, 400, 500, 750 mg and up.

So which dosage is right for you? How much should you take to get the weight loss results you want?

First of all, you have to make sure that the manufacturer you're buying from actually does put the stated amount of Hoodia in their pills. With the skyrocketing demand for this miracle appetite suppressant, there are several crooked companies that are using fake Hoodia, filler products or not putting the stated amount of Hoodia in their pills.

(A recent Truth Publishing report revealed that two thirds of all products on the US market contain no hoodia at all!)

So make sure you by from a trusted company that also displays their C.I.T.E.S. certificate and lab assays.

What dose of Hoodia should you take to see results?

After pouring over the research, articles and personal testimonies, I believe you need at least 750 mg of Hoodia 3 times a day to see appetite suppressant results.

This dosage guarantees you a higher possibility of successful results. Depending on your body size, composition, health, weight, etc, you may need a little more or less.

A good rule of thumb is to start slow and see how you feel. Some people start with 400 mg before meals three times per day. If they don't see results they increase it to 750 mg before meals three times per day. If they still don't see results they can then try 1000 mg before meals three times per day.

Also, remember to give yourself a couple of days to see results.

Why 750 mg?

Because that seems to be the dosage where most people have the most success. It's also the most popular dosage with buyers. However, again, start slow and give it a couple of days before making any changes.

Also, consult with your doctor before taking Hoodia or making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

With many people finding they get excellent appetite suppressing results taking at least 750 mg three times a day, many manufacturers are coming out with a 750 Hoodia pill.

In conclusion, make sure to listen to your body, consult your doctor and combine Hoodia with a sensible diet and exercise program for maximum weight loss results.

Vienna Miller is a contributing writer to Best Hoodia Reviews - offering an easy way to compare Hoodia pills, patches, liquids and free sample offers.

To compare Hoodia diet pills by capsule size check out the Hoodia Diet Pill Comparison Chart

Spot Reducing In Weight Loss Is A Myth

How many fad diets do you have to waste your hard earned cash on before you realize that spot reduction in weight loss is nothing more than a myth. This myth was developed by the diet industry to take money out of your pocket and waste it on a product that will not deliver any results in your weight loss quest? Yes!! You have been lied to!!

If you are only interested in losing a quick twenty pounds off your butt then I suggest you stop reading here because there really is no way to spot reduce. If you want to lose weight in a specific area you need to melt away the body fat in the way an unlit candle melts in the hot sun. If you want to really be serious about your weight loss then read on because the following information is extremely relevant.

To understand why you can not spot reduce let us look at some basic human anatomy. Let us look at how your muscle and your fat develops around your stomach area. If you have spent the last few years wondering where you placed that six pack your abdomen used to have fear not because it is still there. It is under the fat, it is just hiding from sight. In order to see those muscles you need to eliminate the fat deposits that are masking them. The only way to show off those muscles again would be to not only exercise them but eliminate the fat that is hiding them. You could do crunches from dawn till dark and you still will not be able to "spot reduce" your abdomen. It just simply does not work that way. If you want to spot reduce you are wasting your time and more than likely your money.

If your desire is to lose weight because you are unhappy with your butt or your belly or your whatever... that is great! You just need to realize that you have to tune up the entire body package and not focus on one area. The best way to do this is by eating a better diet and performing some form of exercise that will allow you to burn more calories than you consume in the course of the day. Only after you get your diet under control and your attention is focused on exercise will you be able to start targeting a specific area. The muscles you desire to spotlight can only then can be developed for public display after you have lost the weight that hides them from sight.

If you want to lose weight that is great, I wish you the best. I hope you can do it and do it well. My sincere desire is that you save your money and skip the fad diet and the miracle pills. There is no modern miracle pill that will melt away the pounds. If your desire is to lose weight then plan on doing it the only way possible. That way is to eat right and burn more calories. If you want to spend some money on weight loss solutions then get a treadmill or a weight set or just a good pair of walking shoes and then use them.

Weight loss miracle? No, it will be more like a weight loss journey. That journey can begin right here and right now! It is all up to the choices you make and those choices soon become your past and your past is what you must live with, when it comes to weight loss that is!

http://www.IChooseThin.com

Keith Quackenbush is a graduate of St. John's University and a former U.S. Marine Corps officer. He and his wife (Sue) have been seeking knowledge on weightloss and have realized there is no magic pill to lose weight. http://www.IChooseThin.com is the destination achieved from the inadequate weight loss websites that really did not help others lose weight. Let the weightloss journey begin.

The Real Weight Loss Myths Finally Revealed - Discover True Facts

There are several weight loss myths which people believe to be true without knowing what the true facts are. These can be absolutely deadly if you do something without knowing if it's right or wrong. Several people go with rumors and what other people tell them to do and often end up gaining weight instead of losing and also cause physical damage in the process. Therefore the best way to prevent yourself from these myths is to keep yourself informed as what you don't know now might hurt you later. Read on to discover some of the real weight loss myths and educate yourself before it's too late.

Nothing is permanent- Some people fell that if they lose weight quickly than that is going to be permanent and they would not gain it back again. This is completely wrong way of looking at it. Nothing is permanent when it comes to weight loss and the faster you lose it the faster you can gain it back as well. It is never a one time process but an ongoing process. Some people start get back on their lazy routine the moment they witness that they have lose adequate weight and end up gaining it back faster than they lost it. Remember stick to your exercise routines and keep track of what you eat as well in order to lose weight and maintain it as well.

Skipping meals- Most people think that by starving themselves they would be able to lose weight fast. Actually it goes the other way around. Your body tends to go into a mode where you start storing more calories as fat as you are skipping meals and starving yourself therefore you would not see much of a change as far as weight loss is concerned in this case.

The Real weight loss secret- Can you imagine yourself losing 9 lbs every 11 days from now? Yes you heard it right "9 lbs every 11days guaranteed". This is the single most effective way which helps you lose weight. It is truly an absolute breakthrough in the weight loss industry. If you don't know this than you are missing out on the best ever secret "Guaranteed" to help you lose weight right away. So are you ready to drop some pounds within the next 11 days? Read on to discover this rare secret right now visit- Earth shattering weight loss secret guaranteed to help you lose weight within 11 days.

New Year's Resolutions

It's that time of year again, when many people in the United States start making New Year's resolutions. Many times, these are related to weight and health or fitness. There is always a tendency to overeat and eat things that aren't necessarily good for you during the holidays.

What happens this year will be the same thing that invariably happens every year: lots of people will join gyms. Many will also start new diets. Unfortunately for most, by February, the new exercise routines and diets will already be history, and all of the old habits will have crept back into their lives.

The biggest problem is that the new routines are such a radical change from the old ones that each person has trouble keeping up. Change is better when it is gradual, or done in a way that doesn't interfere too much with the old routine. If you want the results, you have to make the changes.

There are lots of little ways to adjust your eating and exercise habits. Subtle ways of change that you barely notice, but add up to more fitness and pounds lost over time. In my new e-book, Simple Weight Loss (www.simpleweightlossbook.com) I discuss many easy to implement ways to lose weight and get fit, while barely noticing the changes to your lifestyle.

The biggest hurdle to overcome is your perception of yourself. You have probably gotten used to what you look like, and whether you like it or not, that's what you see in your mind. You have to visualize constantly what you will look like after the changes. Professional athletes have been using visualization for years to improve themselves. In a less-extreme way, you can do that for yourself. Once you have changes your view of what you should look like, then the weight loss and fitness goals will come much easier.

Michael Mallory is a photographer and fitness enthusiast located in Richmond Virginia. His work can be seen at http://www.malloryphoto.com His e-book can be found at http://www.simpleweightlossbook.com

5 Tips to Lose Weight the Fastest & Healthiest Way Possible

Fast, healthy weight loss is not only achievable, but it can also be long-term weight loss. Even though it took time to reach this uncomfortable weight gain, no one wants to workout and eat right and get their results slowly. Fast Weight Loss does not have to mean starving through the day, living on fluids and a single meal. Believe it or not there is a natural and healthy way to lose weight quickly and some what effortlessly.

There are 5 things that you can do to maximize your weight loss. These tips can help you lose weight quickly and in the healthiest way possible.

1) Drink Plenty of Water - I know, you heard this a thousand times. I did too, before I took it serious. Let's just remind ourselves of the benefits of drinking more water. The most important reason to drink plenty of water is because it keeps your body well hydrated. When your body is dehydrated it tends to hold onto excess water weight. the next major reason is that drinking water helps your body eliminate toxins built up in your system and encourage elimination both through the bowels and kidneys.

2) Add More Fiber - It's not necessary to take a fiber supplement in order to add more fiber to your diet. There are some great foods that have a high fiber content that should be a part of your daily diet. Some of them are: Apples (5g), bran cereals (8g), whole wheat bread (4g per slice), grapefruit (6g), 1 cup broccoli(6g). These are just a few choices. It's recommended that you get at least 25-30 grams of fiber a day, so if you have 2 apples, 1 bowel of bran cereal(raisin bran is good choice), 2 slices of whole wheat bread and 1 cup of broccoli, you've covered your daily requirement.

3) Eat 5-6 times a day waiting 3 hours before meals - You can turn your metabolism into a fuel burning furnace by eating frequently during the day. 5- 6 mini meals during the day will keep your metabolism high. This technique signals your metabolism and telling it that there is fuel constantly coming in ready to be burned (which is true). So your metabolism burns what comes in and some of the stored energy just to keep up and make room for the constant supply of food.

I remember when I learned this little trick, I was surprised to see just how fast I dropped pounds. It's nice to know that you are actually allowed to "eat" while losing weight.

4) Completely eliminate or at least drastically reduce the sugar - Sugar is one of the most over looked cause of weight gain. Don't be misled by the fact that it doesn't contain fat. Sugar can cause a huge spike in your insulin production which can shut down your fat burning capacity and keeps it low which will promote fat storage.

5) Supplements to add to your daily diet - Add Enzymes, a good Multi-vitamin, and Green Tea to your daily diet. Adding Enzymes to your diet can improve your digestion and make sure that you have maximum absorption of nutrients in your food.

Taking a good multivitamin will make sure you get all of the essential vitamins and minerals that help regulate and support the function of key organs such as liver, kidneys and heart.

Green Tea is a superior tea because it contains polyphenols which inhibits the growth of cancer cells. This tea also lowers cholesterol, gives you energy and helps suppress appetite. All without the usual side effects of other diet stimulants.

Applying the 5 tips can help kick your fat burning weight losing furnace into overdrive. Making you lose the weight a lot quicker and get lean a lot sooner.

Danielle Sims explored her library of alternative health, herbal books, and aromatherapy books and created a blueprint for making her own body wrap formulas at home. Now she offers this information in an e-book entitled Wrap Yourself Slim: Body Wrap Exposed. Monthly newsletter is also available at her web site. For more information go to Body Wraps Exposed

Weight Loss Mindset

It annoys you when you are looking in the mirror. Your jeans will not fit because that flubber just refuses to fit in. Your friends sometimes think you are pregnant. Your lady love does not like your beer belly. Yes! That darn belly fat. It seems not to go away. You cannot just push it away like the pleasures of eating. Ever imagined yourself with flat firm stomach? Ever thought of yourself having that oozing sex appeal that you every dreamed of?

Health specialists conclude that those people who have higher fat density in their stomach predisposes them to acquiring heart ailments in the future. Those with apple-like shaped bodies which have more fat deposition in their stomach are more at risk for a heart attack than those with pear-shaped bodies, with fat concentrations in the thigh and hip areas.

Losing that fat belly is a good step to a healthy you and a healthy future. The best way to get rid of that belly fat is to get rid of your pessimism towards weight loss. A change in perspective can mean a lot. It can even change your life.

Start the change within yourself. It is one of the best ways on how to loose that stubborn belly fat. Try a change in your lifestyle. If you are sedentary or a 'couch potato", it is time for a change in paradigm. Try sweating it out with some exercise you may be surprised at how good you will feel about yourself. Perhaps you have tried all sorts of weight loss remedy in the market. For sure you have tried using the diet pills, lose weight teas, lose weight drugs and read tons of lose weight guides but still all your efforts will be futile if you do not have a structure and system in place to keep you on track.

If you have not made a firm commitment on losing weight you will end up wasting your efforts. Consider this, it is time for you to stop counting on fast weight loss programs, guide books and supplements UNTIL you find the DISCIPLINE and CONVICTION that it is required for such programs to work.

Begin with a good attitude and a positive regard towards losing weight. Remember that all of those things you do to lose weight like controlling your diet, good nutrition and proper exercise are all in vain unless you see things in a different perspective. If you can do this then you are on the right track. Be positive and everything will follow.

W.Yates writes on various subjects of interest, from Internet marketing to fast weight loss methods.

Weight Loss Tip #3 - Eat Breakfast Every Day

Back in the caveman days, our metabolism adjusted based on whether or not we were getting enough food over a short period of time. If there was plenty to eat, our metabolism took advantage of that surplus and started to speed up, allowing us to do more work and expend more energy. If there wasn't a lot of food available and our daily intake was dwindling, our bodies adapted to that and slowed our metabolism.

It works the same way today--studies show repeatedly that not eating all morning long, and then having a big meal later, makes you gain weight; whereas dividing the exact same number of calories over five or six smaller meals during the day will result in weight loss. Eating breakfast starts your metabolism going because your body recognizes there is energy available to use.

Some people even get discouraged when they start eating breakfast because then they are hungry three hours later. "Before, I could go all day without eating" they complain, "and now I keep feeling like I have to eat something every three or four hours". Guess what? That's because your body is using what you fed it and ready for more energy to keep going. Let me ask you my favorite Dr. Phil question if you are not successful at weight loss and you do not eat breakfast ... "How's that working for you?"

Now, let's figure out why you don't eat breakfast and what you might try to get around your own personal challenge:

Excuse #1-- "I don't have time". Well, this just isn't a good excuse anymore with all the breakfast bars there are out there. You can keep a box of nutrigrain bars, special K bars, 'go-tarts' (a slightly smaller, lower calorie version of pop-tarts), or any of the other dozen varieties of compact ready-to-eat bars that contain less than 170 calories in your car and not even have to take the time to remember to grab something in the morning. Here are your new directions: (1) unwrap, (2) eat on the way to work.

For those of you with a little bit of time in the morning, but not enough to cook or to sit and eat something that requires using a spoon or fork, here are two more options: For a hot breakfast, toast an english muffin or small bagel (the kind with 100-150 calories-- not 400 calories) while you're getting your briefcase and coat ready to go. On your way out the door, grab a slice of cheese (low fat mozzarella is my favorite) and place it on one piece of the toast. Put the other piece of toast on top of this and wrap in a paper towel. When you get in the car and pull away from your house, you are ready to open the paper towel and enjoy a warm, melted cheese breakfast sandwich!

For a cold breakfast, slice and freeze fruit ahead of time. Bananas, berries, and peaches all work great. Throw a cup full in a blender or a magic bullet, pour lowfat or skim milk in to cover the fruit, put on lid, and blend for about 20 seconds until you have a smoothie. Pour in a cup and take with you... how easy is that? And very low fat with calcium and vitamins to boot.

Excuse #2--"I don't like breakfast foods". Guess what? You do not have to eat breakfast foods at breakfast. You can have a turkey sandwich or a cold chicken leg or a leftover bowl of chili. It's really only our country and our culture that chooses what our typical breakfast is. If you visit other places you may see them eating fish and yogurt for breakfast! So grab whatever you like and enjoy having a meal in the morning. If you're trying to lose weight you should definitely keep the meal under 500 calories with less than 30% of the calories coming from fat. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on what you like to eat first thing in the morning, as long as you enjoy it!

Excuse #3--I'm not hungry in the morning". This is totally understandable. Your body isn't used to eating something at this hour and you feel like you have no appetite at all. Some people even get nauseated at the thought of eating first thing in the morning. You might try eating something an hour or so after you get up, like just when you get to work (if you can change your schedule to get there 15 minutes ahead of time it won't interfere with your job). Or you might do well to start with liquids and light foods. Try a small glass of juice and five or six saltines. Maybe some dry cereal. Or a Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink. Anything you can sip or munch on slowly, whether it's at home, on the way to work, or in the office. Let your body ease into the idea of a new meal at a new time.

Excuse #4--"Then I get hungry at 10:30". See paragraph two. Have a snack. Don't worry that you are eating more. Have a 200 calorie breakfast and a 100 calorie snack (a few graham cracker squares and a piece of fruit, or a 100 calorie snack bag). See if you don't notice that you are much less hungry at lunch and at dinner and that you end up eating less food later in the day.

Try these tips, and then let me know, "how's that working for you?"

E-mail me problems you're having around breakfast and we'll work them out! Laurie Beebe, a registered dietitian certified in adult weight management, has transitioned into life coaching. Coaching helps dramatically by allowing people to set their own goals and design their own action plans to start their path to success. Please visit Laurie's website, "Shaping Your Future" at http://www.mycoachlaurie.com for diet tips, links to great books and websites, or to sign up for a free monthly newsletter!

5 Easy And Fast Weight Loss Tips

Are you looking for weight loss tips that will help you lose weight fast or weight loss tips that will keep the weight off for good? There's a big difference. It's tempting to opt for the former type of tip. Looking for shortcuts and quick results are just a part of human nature. The problem is that you'll be right back to square one when the weight comes back (and it will) when you lose weight quickly. Here are some weight loss tips that will help you do what is necessary to achieve permanent weight loss and look forward to a lifetime of being healthy.

Weight loss tip #1:

Keep a food and exercise journal for one week. Keep track of calories eaten per day and calories burned per day. Don't cheat! Put everything down. Being honest with yourself is a critical step towards weight loss. At the end of the week, you'll have a good idea of your average calories consumed and burned per day. Then, move on to the next one of these weight loss tips and determine what you should be consuming per day.

Weight loss tip #2:

Learn the basic formula for weight loss. Calories in must be less than calories out. We all have a certain amount of calories that for our height, weight, sex, age and activity level that will just maintain our current weight. These calories are spent on the daily requirements for our bodily activities like breathing and digestion as well as our normal task activities, whatever those may be. Figure this amount of calories using a calorie calculator. If you wish to lose weight you must do two things:

1. Lower this calorie intake.
2. Increase the amount of calories burned.

Weight loss tip #3:

A healthy, lasting weight loss occurs over time. One to two pounds per week is the recommendation to achieve this. A pound of fat equals roughly 3500 calories. Therefore, if your goal is to lose one pound per week, you must have a calorie deficit of 500 calories per day. If you are aiming for two pounds per week, then this deficit should be 1000 calories per day. If you determined that your calories per day to maintain your current weight are 2000 calories, then reduce your intake to 1750 per day and burn an additional 250 calories. This could be as simple as eating a half a sandwich for lunch instead of a whole sandwich and going for a brisk two mile walk. If you wish to achieve a two pound per week weight loss, don't lower your calories too drastically.

Weight loss tip #4:

Read food labels. Nobody wants to spend the rest of their lives counting the calories of everything they put in their mouths. In the beginning, understanding portion sizes and caloric amounts is crucial, but after awhile, you'll be able to ball park most of what you eat. You'll probably be surprised in the beginning as well. It hardly seems fair that a portion size of ice cream is a half a cup! As painful as it is, you need to know this so that when you think you're eating 350 calories of non-reduced fat ice cream, you'll understand that filling that cereal bowl with what you used to think was a portion is really more like 1000 calories. One slice of bread is a serving of bread and is usually around 100 calories. I started eating open-faced sandwiches when I figured that one out!

Weight loss tip #5:

Realize that what you are doing now is one of the most important things you could be doing for yourself! Healthy, lasting weight loss is a priceless reward for all your hard work. Patience is the key. Pay no attention to that co-worker that lost ten pounds last week on whatever fad diet she tried! In five to six weeks, I guarantee you, she'll have gained most of that back and you'll be reaping the rewards of your slow, steady weight loss. Not only that, but you'll have built up the tools and knowledge to keep the weight off for good!

From a sickly little girl to a healthy chef to the stars, Darlene Nicholson transformed herself into The "Kick in the Butt" Healthy Lifestyle Expert and creator of the popular DVD "The Healthy Grocery Store Tour". Visit her website http://www.lifechanginghealthysolutions.com or grab a copy of her free ebook "4 Steps to Permanent Weight Loss"...guaranteed to open your eyes to how easy weight loss can be with the right plan of attack. http://free-weightloss-book.com/

Metabolism Secrets You Can Use To Burn More Fat Now

"How do I increase my metabolism?" is a question I hear a lot from people looking to lose weight.

They want to know all about metabolism boosters, metabolism secrets and a diet to increase metabolism.

But does your metabolism really decrease as you age?

Is this lower metabolism something you'll just have to learn to live with?

The bad news is that you metabolism does decrease as you age. The good news is that it's completely preventable.

You see, starting around age 25 to 30, most people lose 5 to 10 pounds of lean muscle every decade.

And lean muscle is metabolically active.

So all you need to do to boost your metabolism or keep it from slowing down is to focus on a workout program that preserves the lean muscle you have or adds a few pounds of lean muscle to give your metabolism a boost.

Let's take a look at the four components of your metabolism.

• Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR)

  Your resting metabolic rate makes up most of your daily calorie expenditure and includes everything your body needs to do to survive, such as thinking, repairing tissue and anything else it needs to do.

• Thermogenesis - the thermic effect of eating.

  Your body burns calories when you chew, swallow and digest the food you eat.

• Lucky Thermogenesis - the calories you burn based on your genetic makeup.
• Physical Activity -

  these are the calories you burn from physical activity via exercise such as biking, playing tennis, weight training and cardio.

If you want to boost your metabolism you need to focus on these different aspects of metabolism.

Your resting metabolic rate can be increased by adding lean muscle.

Will 5 to 10 pounds of added muscle dramatically increase your resting metabolic rate?

No, but it will increase it and every little bit helps.

In addition, if you add 5 to 10 pounds of muscle, as opposed to lose that much each decade, the difference will be quite dramatic over time.

There's another huge positive metabolism boosting advantage to weight training or high intensity interval training and that's the post-workout metabolism increase.

After an intense weight training session (or high intensity interval training session), your metabolism will stay elevated for up to 39 hours AFTER the workout!

With an intense weight training session you also burn calories during the workout.

You can boost your thermogenesis in a couple of ways.

First, your body burns calories to digest your meals. This increases your metabolism.

Thus, by eating more often you elevate your metabolism more times during the day.

Consider eating 6 small meals a day instead of 2 or 3 big one's.

Another way to boost your metabolism is by increasing your protein intake.

Eating more protein to burn fat was confirmed in a study published in the American Journal of Physiology.

One group was fed a high protein diet (just over one gram per pound of bodyweight per day) while the second group consumed a protein diet near equal to that of the RDA.

The group eating the high protein diet burned more fat than the group consuming protein near equal to the RDA.

One reason for the ability of protein to burn fat could be an increased "thermic" effect.

The thermic effect of the RDA group was elevated 16% after eating.

However, in the high protein group the thermic effect increased 42% after eating, almost 3 times that of the RDA group.

This thermic effect of digesting your food peaks approximately one hour after eating.

Spreading your daily caloric intake over 6 meals a day, eating every 2 to 3 hours, helps to take advantage of the increased metabolic rate that accompanies eating.

In other words, the more often you eat, the higher your metabolic rate, i.e. the number of calories your body burns each day.

In addition, by adding more protein to each meal, you also increase your metabolism.

Your body requires more energy (i.e. calories) to process protein than it does carbohydrates.

Your lifestyle will determine how much exercise you need for the metabolism boost you need to start burning fat.

If you sit at a computer all day you're going to need more exercise than someone who does construction work all day.

That's just the way it is.

Here's a sample metabolism boosting exercise program.

Monday - High Intensity Interval Training

Tuesday - Weight Training Session

Wednesday - Active recovery cardio training

Thursday - Weight Training Session

Friday - High Intensity Interval Training

Saturday - Weight Training Session

Sunday - Rest or Active recovery cardio training

Learn more about high intensity interval training at my blog (listed below).

Active recovery cardio is low intensity longer duration cardio that you see most people do in the gym.

You can also do something simple like taking a long walk outside. This type of session should last 45 - 60 minutes.

Put all these pieces together into a cohesive plan and you'll attack a slowing metabolism from all different angles.

You'll not only prevent your metabolism from decreasing as you get older but you'll increase it, leading to greater fat loss, more muscle and a healthier, sexier, more energetic you.

Gregg Gillies is the founder of fitness tips His fitness articles have appeared in Ironman Magazine. He has written two books and is a regular contributor to Body Talk Magazine. Grab a copy of his free ebook Mass Building Tips! at http://www.massbuildingtips.com and check out his blog at http://tnafitness.com

SomerSize Me

Suzanne Somers is probably best known around the world for her role as Chrissy in the hit comedy Three's Company? Where she played ' the dumbest blonde in the world' is seems since that role Suzanne has proved that she is not so dumb after all.

She is probably nearly as well known for her Thigh Master device and its extremely well remembered TV advertisements. Recently, she has developed a new diet and nutrition plan, which she rather cleverly calls the Somersize diet.

Suzanne makes no secret that the basis of many of her ideas for Somersize come from combining the best parts from other diet plans. She has combined what she has learned from studying a vast amount of diet and nutrition literature into one useful diet plan.

SomerSize teaches people how to eat the correct combinations of foods to help kick start their body's metabolism, as a means of losing weight and gaining health. Most people's bodies in the modern world are only geared to dealing greasy foods that do little to help our natural metabolism to function.

Suzanne's extensive research has revealed what she considers to be one of the main culprits for our increased weight and reduced metabolism. She believes that simple white flour plays a huge part in our weight problems. The reason for this is that flour features extremely highly on what is known as the glycemic index.

The glycemic index indicates how much certain foods will increase the production of insulin within the body. Increased insulin production equals a rapid return to hunger after eating as a result we eat more often and eat more at each sitting.

Increased insulin also makes it far more difficult for the body to keep up its energy levels, making people lethargic and lowering metabolism and increasing weight.

Suzanne's earlier publication 'Get Skinny on Fabulous Food' was the basis for the SomerSize plan. The original book was not a diet plan as such, more a teaching tool for people to understand why they eat what they eat, and how to control it.

Somersize is a simple idea that divides foods into four separate groups. Proteins and fats are combined, as one group, because fat and protein when combined cause the bodies digestion of food to slow down greatly.

Another group is carbohydrates as Suzanne is concerned about products made from white flour. She considers that carbohydrates made from other grains are better suited for diet and increased metabolism.

The fruit group is included for its healthy supply of natural unrefined sugars, which Suzanne says are far healthier than sugars found in nearly every processed food.

The last group is vegetables, she encourages the eating of all kinds of vegetables, or a least the ones that are low in starch.

The SomerSize plan has a detailed list of foods that Suzanne considers should be eliminated while participating in her system. There is a lot a very useful, simple to follow information and guidelines for people that are looking for a viable diet that allows plenty of variety to avoid the dieter's worst enemy, food boredom.

Ageless-Diva provides a full range of official Suzanne Somers products, such as the FaceMaster, the ThighMaster, SomerSweet and Spray On MakeUp.