8 Easy Tips To Making Your Life Fat-Loss Friendly

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Fat traps are everywhere! This makes sticking to a food plan difficult. The key is learning to make your life fat-loss friendly.

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons that most people fail at any weight loss program or plan is a lack of will power. Now do not take that wrong because I mean this in the nicest way possible. It takes a lot of will power to pass up your favorite foods and snacks.

This is especially true when they are readily available, even as close as your own kitchen. So what can you do, how can you increase your will power, or more importantly, what can be done to make your home a more friendly place for anyone looking to lose the fat.

Actually there are several things that you need to know about. Check out the list below:

1) Snack promotion is everywhere
2) Buying in bulk can lead to overeating
3) Fat-free does not mean low calorie
4) Variety is not always a good thing
5) Junk food should be avoided - always
6) Free refills are not so free when they show up as fat
7) Calories on the weekends and holidays do count
8) Restaurants with great atmospheres can lead to overeating

From the gas stations to TV commercials you will see promotions for snack foods that are not conducive to fat loss. Tip; pay at the pump and keep a low-fat alternative snack available.

Although buying in bulk can save money it can also result in us eating more. We simply see that there is plenty available and we consume more. Tip; divide the bulk goods when you get home with them. Then hide whatever is not needed right away.

Food labels can be misleading. Be sure to read the complete label, low fat foods are sometimes very high in calorie content. And when you buy a package of cookies, candy bars or other food items that offer a variety you may be doing yourself more harm than good. It is human nature to want to sample each of the varieties.

Junk food is junk food, whether it is from a vending machine or from a candy jar on a desk of a co-worker. Avoid all junk food. Many restaurants now offer free refills on drinks. Although this is a nice gesture, those free refills can add lots of calories. Tip, drink water or unsweetened tea.

Calories count even if they are consumed during a holiday or a weekend. I am all for taking a break from a routine but use caution and do not go overboard. And when you eat out consider the atmosphere of the restaurant you choose. Those with relaxing and soothing atmospheres tend to entice us to hang around longer, which means we are more likely to eat dessert. Those same restaurants also have wonderful names for their foods which make them sound even better than what they are. Use caution.

By making a few small changes to your life you will decrease the temptations and make it more likely that you will succeed in your weight loss attempts. Planning is everything! That is one reason that a Food or Weight Loss Journal is so effective. By planning ahead and tracking what you do eat you can easily see where you need to make changes.

Make healthy choices and use a holistic approach to losing weight - not only will those pounds disappear but you will feel better too!

Keys To Developing a Weight Loss Plan That Works

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Important decisions deserve planning. For some reason many of us decide on a spur of the moment that we are going to begin a weight loss program. Although the decision is admirable planning is often key to the success of any plan or program.

When you make a decision to do something important it is usually done with a lot of thought and planning. This could be deciding to start a business, buying a car or a house, basically anything that is going to affect you in a big way. One decision that people make routinely is related to their weight. Many people are guilty of deciding to lose weight and not making the plans needed to accomplish the task.

To begin you should probably list the reasons that you have made this decision. You might come up with things like health and appearance to start but then you can break that down and be more specific. You could include the fact that you want to look good for a special occasion or event. Or even that you want to purchase a new wardrobe.

It is a great suggestion to visit your doctor before you begin any sort of weight management or fat loss plan or program. Find out first if there are any health related concerns.

I then suggest that you start a Weight Loss Journal. Begin your entries by listing your true reasons for wanting to lose weight. A hint here is that if you are not doing this for yourself you are more likely to be unsuccessful.

Then describe how you feel about your current body image and weight. After you have done that you may be feeling a little down but that is not the intention of this. You should next write a description of how you are going to feel when you have reached your goals.

And that takes us to the next step which is actually setting some goals. Remember to be realistic with your goals because if you set them at unachievable levels you will become disappointed and frustrated. This often leads to one simply giving up on a challenge that seems impossible to realize.

I would also encourage you to include a page in your journal that lists any temptations that you are aware and ways of dealing with those temptations and situations. An example might be eating out or attending parties. By deciding ahead of time how you can effectively deal with such a situation you will be more likely to do well when the time comes.

If you are a regular reader of this site you know that my major weakness is potato chips. I have to make certain that I avoid purchasing my favorite chips or my diet efforts are ruined! Believe me, if they are in the house I will eat them!


Your journal should also be used to document what you eat, when you eat it, and how much you eat. It is also a good idea to include your emotions before, during and after you eat. This helps you to determine which high-calorie foods are worth indulging in and which simply lead to guilt feelings. You will also learn if you eat more during times that you are happy, sad, or feeling stressed.

If you truly develop a journal using these suggestions you will find that it is a very helpful tool. You can also add a page to list your physical activity. This will help you to see if you are in fact leading a sedentary lifestyle or if you are getting the activity that you should. This simple tool will provide a way to track your success from the beginning to the end of your program.

You can check out the holistic approach to weight loss that is promoted in the sidebar for a complete toolkit that includes a Weight Loss Journal. This package is very inexpensive and it's a healthy approach to losing weight and keeping it off. Remember, like anything else that is important to you, this project deserves planning!

10 Basic Keys To Losing Weight

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Obesity is a growing problem, not only in the United States, but in many regions of the world. Perhaps part of the problem can be attributed to the fast-paced lifestyles we live or even perhaps to the stressful economic times that we live in.

It seems that the trend is even affecting our children. Obesity among children in the age range of 2 – 5 is on the rise. So obviously we need to consider ways of losing weight; ways that are effective and doable.

There are countless pills, gadgets, diets and fat loss programs available to choose from but in order to be a successful program it is important that some basic keys are addressed:

1) Drinking lots of water is always a good idea whether you are concerned with you weight or not but when attempting to lose weight the water helps to cleanse the body as well as giving you a feeling of fullness
2) Visit your doctor to find out if there are any medical issues you should be concerned with as you pursue your fat loss strategies
3) Use a journal to track your progress; this will prove to be helpful as you continue with your plan
4) Find a way to exercise on a regular basis; even if you cannot fit in a regular workout you can find ways to incorporate more activity into your life
5) Do what you can to keep a positive thought process and to minimize any negativity in your life; your mental state will have a direct impact on your success as there is a relationship between eating and how we feel emotionally
6) Keep your goals realistic; if you set yourself up for failure by setting unrealistic goals you are more likely to become frustrated and give up completely
7) Document each step of your plan; this will aid in determining what is working and what changes you might need to make, additionally you will be able to look back at how far you have come
8) Get plenty of rest; being rested will insure that your energy is what it should be and that will assist you in maintaining a high activity level
9) Find some support; it does not matter if this is a friend or a forum online but it is helpful if you have someone you can discuss matters with that understands how you are feeling
10) Do not think of yourself as being on a diet; rather than thinking of this as a diet you should be working on lifestyle changes that will lead to better health now and in the future.

For some great weight loss products check out the sidebar!!!!

In the end you will find that you are a slimmer and healthier person!

Lose The Fat: Get The Body You Want Fast

Dieting is not for most people; we love to eat. But by making the right food choices we can eat healthier and lose weight at the same time.

Many of us are on the road to toning up and losing weight. Essentially we are ridding our bodies of fat and getting in shape. The good news is that we do not have to change everything about our diets to get on the right track, as a matter of fact; a few simple changes can make a big difference. All we need to do is make some substitutions; we can swap healthy choices for those fattening things we are in the habit of eating.

I will provide some examples from each meal group so I will begin with breakfast. If you switch from a regular corn flake cereal to a bran flake cereal with raisins you will be getting about ¼ the fiber you need for the day. Eat regular oatmeal instead of instant. If instead of eating an apple-cinnamon instant oatmeal you eat regular oats with chopped apples and a dash of cinnamon you will get the same taste but you will not desire to eat as soon afterward. Your body is able to digest the instant oatmeal faster than the regular oatmeal so regular oatmeal makes you feel full longer.

When you choose a sandwich for lunch be sure that your mayonnaise is canola oil mayonnaise, and consider tuna. You will be getting a double dose of heart-healthy omega-3 fats. Another tip is adding avocado to your sandwiches. Avocado is rich in vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and cholesterol-lowering plant sterols.

Always opt for food cooked in canola oil as opposed to corn oil whenever possible. Canola oil provides more omega-3s than most cooking oils.

Choose cheese ravioli over meat lasagna because it has about half as much total fat.
Meatloaf made with ground turkey has less calories and less fat than meatloaf made with lean ground beef.

Please do not stop with this article. Do your research related to your favorite foods. I am sure you can find substitutions that you will be happy with. Go to Google and put in a search for low-fat alternative for whatever your food entry is. By simply making some wise choices and substitutions we can save calories and fat, thereby getting in shape faster.

I know that there are certain fruits and raw vegetables that I love - and if I have them readily available I am more likely to make healthy choices. I have been working on having veggie trays prepared and ready so they are a good choice for a quick snack - that is one way I am attempting to conquer my obsession with chips!

New Day - New Beginning!

Yesterday did not go exactly as it should have - I slipped again!

I knew I shouldn't do it but I decided I wanted something to eat...I thought for awhile about what that should be. I looked at the bowl of fruit on the counter and knew that I did not want fresh fruit. I thought about having a salad - even a deluxe salad but I decided that really was not what I wanted either.

The whole time my mind was on the bag of chips hiding in the cupboard. Okay - to make a long story short, I gave in, I grabbed the bag of chips and ate way too many.

I know that I shouldn't have them in the house - I KNOW THAT - but I really have trouble avoiding them in the grocery stores.

I know most everyone has a similar weakness - a sort of addiction to a particular food item. I also know that I TEACH others to never allow those foods in the home or if you do to limit the amount that you eat. I also teach that if you really feel a strong desire for such a food to go ahead and indulge.

So I indulged and now I feel guilty - but I have to admit that I am still thinking about how great those chips tasted!

Tomorrow I will not eat chips - tomorrow I will not eat chips - tomorrow I will not eat chips...........................................................................

Am I the only one that is obsessed with chips?

My Fat Trap - STRESS!

2009 started off with a bang for me - and it was not a good sort of bang! Really - you will think I am making this up but every word you are about to read is true!

Here's my story:

My mom died of ovarian cancer on Jan. 13th. Mom was buried on Jan. 17th. She had suffered with the disease for two years.

My husband's best friend of 30 years died on Jan. 18th. He was diagnosed with cancer on the same day that my mom died.

On Jan.19th my new grandson was born.

I happen to live in Louisville, KY and as you probably know, we were hit hard by the recent winter ice storm. My power was out for days - the power lines were pulled down from my home. That meant that after the utility company restored power to my area my home had to be disconnected in order that electricians could repair my lines.

During the mist of the ice storm my daughter's home caught on fire. So now my daughter and my two oldest grandchildren are living with me.

Well, I think that about covers my year so far! I am hoping that my family has received its share of bad luck for the next several years in this short period of time.

Anyway, you would think that with all that stress I would not think about food but guess what - I sometimes find food comforts me. You guessed it, over the past three weeks I have gained about 4 pounds.

Okay - I realize that 4 pounds is not a lot but I also know that I have to get back to paying more attention to what I eat, how much I eat, and when I eat. I am going to start today.

I will be posting about my progress. The first thing I need to do is get all of the chips out of my house - chips are my true weakness. I love salty foods and I love quick snacks - go figure!

I'm stopping for now but I will be updating the blog about my progress.

I hope you and yours are well!