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.

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

Diets Do Not Work: Learn How To Overcome The Top Three Reasons That Diets Fail

The typical dieter tries several diets before ever finding one that works for him or her. This does not mean that the diets tried are not workable, it simply means they were not a good match for that individual. Knowing what to look for in a weight management plan can help to ensure success with the program.

I want to start this article with some statistics, but I warn you, they are not encouraging. First let me say that it is estimated that at least half of the women in the United States are trying to lose weight. That is not just true for today but for any day of the week, month or year.

The fact that is really sad is that most will not find a plan that works for them and of those that do, 2/3 will regain any weight they lose within two to three years. I have listed the top three reasons that diets fail for you below:

1) Too restrictive
2) No support
3) Does not fit in with established lifestyle

The number one pitfall to most diets is the fact that they are too restrictive. After all, we want choices; we do not want to be limited to a particular food or have to follow a lot of rules. We just want to lose weight. The solution to this problem is learning more about proper food choices and eating right.

A second problem frequently noted is that many programs do not include any support. Although there are various options available to solve this dilemma one of the best is using online support. This type of network offers insight from individuals from various places and you are sure to find several someones that you connect with.

Problem number three is that the diet plans do not fit the lifestyle of the participant. Most if not all of us live very busy lives and we have little time to give to a new venture. We want and expect things to fit in with what we already do, how we already live. And if they do not then we give them up. Always research any new program thoroughly before signing on, find out what you are committing to.

By the way, a holistic approach to weight loss will always be one that can easily be incorporated into your preferred lifestyle. You will gradually make changes that will result not only in weight loss, but also in a fitter and healthier you - your lifestyle will become one that is geared toward promoting health in a non-intrusive manner. In the end you will lose weight, feel great, and it will show! Check out the complete holistic weight loss toolkit offered in the sidebar for only $11.

Lose Weight Without Exercising Or Dieting; Change Your Lifestyle Instead

This is a familiar story, this couple I know is in their late forties (well, that is what they told me to say, but they are in their fifties) and both are getting a little flabby. This is not surprising; they live a fairly inactive lifestyle. Form what I see they go to work, come home, have supper, spend a little time doing odd and end things around their home and then retire for the evening.

That does not sound very different from my own story as a matter of fact! This couple spent some time with my husband and I last weekend and they asked how we were staying in shape, they wanted to know what our secret is. First of all I was thrilled that anyone would say something like that and secondly I was happy to help a friend with something that they sincerely wanted to work on.

As I had said, this couple seemed to live their life much the same way that my husband I live ours; except for a few differences. I learned years ago that diets do not work for me, so therefore I learned all I could about nutrition and metabolism. Luckily you do not need to know much at all about either to know that metabolism and good nutrition are the keys to weight management.

I began explaining metabolism to our friends. Although both are well educated they said they had never really considered the impact of metabolism on weight loss before. They had mistakenly got caught up in the diet trends over the years and just never had much luck with any of them.

Then we talked about exercise. Although I am not athletic I do work out somewhat regularly at home; but I am not sure anyone else would consider what I do a workout. I simply run through some basic exercises about 3 or 4 times a week. My husband is very active on the job because he is in construction work. But we both know that we do not get enough structured physical activity so we have found ways to add activity to our life.

These are simple little techniques that anyone can do. I always park at the end of parking lots which forces me to walk a little farther. Instead of just letting my dogs outside in the fenced yard to do their business I take them for walks. My home is multi-level so I make it a point to travel from one level to another as many times as possible. At work I take the stairs instead of the elevator. But this one is the big one, this is the one that hurts the most so we do not stick with it, we change the TV channels by hand!

After our discussion our friends said they felt anxious to give this approach a try. They seemed to appreciate the fact that they had not been asked to start a drastic diet or to make any extreme changes to their schedules. I completely understood.
I also told about resources and books that I had read that might help them. My friends are well on their way to getting in shape,

Exercise To Lose Inches Without Working Out

The desire to lose weight is very common; most of us have at least some phases of our life in which we need to shed a few pounds. It seems that many weight management programs focus not only on changing the way a person eats but also on the addition of a regular workout.

The problem with this is that many people are not physically able to do most exercise routines that are recommended or they simply do not have the time available to add spending time at the gym a few days a week.

Gyms are often expensive and that alone can be a deterrent to anyone. Also there is the time factor involved. Not only do you need to spend the hour or so at the gym but you need to include the time required to travel to and from the gym as a part of that routine. This can add up to a lot of time!

My personal problem with gyms is the fact that the equipment there is shared and people that are working out are most likely sweating. Maybe I have some sort of phobia about that but I believe gyms are bacterial havens. I prefer to stay out of them.

So now you may be wondering what the typical person do to add physical activity into his or her life without exercising. After all, losing fat means losing inches and a quick way to lose fat is through exercise.

Consider adding simple ways to force yourself to be more active. To be most effective with this you will need to dissect your normal routines. Keep an activity journal for at least a few days that list everything you do during a 24 hour period.

Then come up with ways to make each action a little more physically demanding. For example, oftentimes I will open the back door to my home to let my dogs run free in the backyard. The purpose of this is for them to get some activity into their lives and so they will relieve themselves outdoors. If one time per day I actually put their leashes on and take them for a walk I will be adding that activity to my life while doing the basic thing that I was doing before.

Since I brought up walking I might as well mention that walking briskly rather than slowly is another simple way to increase your activity level. Another idea is that when you shop or go anywhere at all instead of driving around the parking lot looking for a spot close to the door simply park at the back or end of the parking area. This will force you to walk that distance and in most cases it really is not a long distance even from the farthest available spot to the door.

Another suggestion is giving up your remotes. This one is hard to do but even the few times that you get up to change a channel or turn on an electronic appliance you will be adding to your total activity for the day.

Review your activity journal and come up with creative ideas that are specific to you and that will meet your needs. This will help you to establish a healthier way of living that can not only help you to lose the fat but it will lead to a healthier you!

Easy Exercise & Surprising Bonuses

Soon millions of people will be making resolutions related to their lifestyle and eating habits. Most of us want to eat in a healthy manner and include exercise in our life but we often get bogged down with the details of how to do that. The good news is that there are lots of easy ways to add exercise to your life without making any drastic changes.

Begin with the simplest of things. Put your remotes away. I know, that can be difficult but come on, how hard is it to walk across the room to change the channel on the TV? Those few steps can add up to a lot over time and it may be the only exercise you get during the evening if you happen to watch a lot of TV.

Take a look at your kids or your pets. Wouldn't they love it if you spent some time outdoors with them? You could play games or even go for a walk. This creates a period of quality time for you and them while adding exercise to your life.

Consider your home and yard. Did you know that chores around the home can add lots of physical activity to your lifestyle? Additionally, you will have a tidy home environment to appreciate.

Well, that is just the tip of the iceberg so to speak - but the point is that you do not have to be a member at the local gym or even dedicate a specific time period each day to working out. If you want to get in shape one of the best things to do is find easy ways to incorporate physical activity into your daily routines. As you become more and more active you will find that you can add more activity. In fact, it is likely that you will decide you want to add a regular exercise regimen to your life - but start out slowly and work your way into it.

You will feel better and look great!