Weight Loss Tips - Can Herbal Tea Lead To Weight Loss

There a wide variety of herbal diet teas available to buy and many manufacturers claim that their teas cleanse the body and in turn shed unwanted pounds. Not all teas will have the desired effect and could contain harmful chemicals, however there are natural herbal teas that are scientifically proven to do just that.

A study undergone by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Urology concluded that some herbal teas, Green tea in example, are highly efficient at helping you achieve considerable weight loss. The strong antioxidant and caffeine content that is present in Green tea help to increase the body metabolic rate.

Health Benefits of Herbal Weight Loss teas

Green tea and other various herbal tea blends should be included in your diet if you would like to achieve substantial weight loss. Green tea is the most commonly used name for the Camellia sinensis plant of which all tea is derived from.

There are many different herbs that these teas consist of. These are either marketed as own solutions or as part of a combination with Green tea. some of the herbs you might find in herbal teas such as Garcinia Cambogia, Gugguk, Senna Leaves, Cinnamomum Tamala, Aniseed and Fennel have been analysed and seemingly increase the body metabolic rate to burn extra fat and calories.

Herbal teas have a wealth of health benefits as well as being delicious. Chamomile tea is renowned for being very soothing and helping to calm down an upset stomach. Rooibos tea acts as a brilliant antioxidant. Peppermint teas are very aromatic and rich in flavour. There is a very extensive range of herbal teas available in most supermarkets, groceries, tea and coffee shops and convenience stores. You will not find caffeine in many herbal teas although Green teas contain a degree of caffeine, they are healthy as well.

Of course, attaining great weight loss involves more than one factor. It is necessary to live an active lifestyle combined with a low fat diet if you want to attain considerable weight loss.

Research shows that if a person metabolic rate is increased, the fat burning process can be quickened. Metabolic rate can tell us a lot about why certain people eat more than others but do not seem to fain weight, while there are other individuals will gain weight no matter how much they eat.

Herbal teas are very useful in strengthening our nervous and immune system and giving us nourishment. In traditional Chinese medicine, every flavour of tea is associated with a certain organ system of the body. The sweet flavour that is found in the star anise seed is particularly soothing for the stomach and the bitterness of the dandelion plant effects the small intestines and heart which helps improve your digestion and results in a quicker fat metabolism.

Weight Loss Tea - Health Benefits for Green tea

Green tea has been relished by people in China and Japan for centuries; it has become more widely known and appreciated in the West over time.

A lot of people know that Green tea can be very beneficial to health but few understand the exact reasons why.

Green tea contains powerful antioxidants that help to prevent cancers. Evidence suggested that enjoying Green tea regularly as part of your everyday diet can help reduce the risks of colon, pancreas, rectum, stomach and bladder cancer by up to an impressive 60%. The main antioxidant that is found in Green tea; Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG as it is also referred to) has 100% more antioxidant power than vitamin C and up to 25% more effectual at protecting the cells from harmful influences. Additionally, not only does EGCG inhibit the growth of new cancer cells forming, it also helps to eradicate the existing cancer cells and leaving the healthy cells intact.

Green tea lowers the bad cholesterol (LDL) in our bodies and balances the level of good cholesterol (HDL). This explains why tea drinkers can eat a large amount of cholesterol and still have an equally balanced cholesterol count. It can help to stop blood clots from forming which would inevitably lead to thrombosis, this is of greater importance if you take into consideration that this is one of the main causes of heart attacks and strokes.

It reduces high blood pressure but suppressing angio-tension which causes the blood vessels to constrict which causes high blood pressure. Green tea effectively lowers blood sugar, (Polyphenols and polysaccharides being the main two antioxidants that are most effective at lowering blood sugar). It helps to prevent and alleviate symptoms of type-two diabetes.

Green tea protects the liver against harmful toxins, chemicals in cigarette smoke and alcohol to name examples.

It is ideal for maintaining good oral health as it suppresses the build up of plaque formation and destroys the bacteria that can cause bad breath.

Green Tea also aids the prevention of free radicals from ageing you prematurely and gives your immune system a boost due to the high concentration of polyphenols and flavonoids.

Green tea has been shown to possess antiviral and antibacterial properties. Studies conducted have shown Green tea halts the spread of disease and quickens ones recovery from cold and flu viruses. It also combats seven strains of food poisoning including botulism, staphylococcus and clostridium.

Green tea helps to stop dehydration by helping your body to maintain a healthy balance of fluid; it also relieves stress and fatigue which is often caused by dehydration. It also helps to stimulate the metabolism, give the calorie burning a boost and is commonly used as a key element in a healthy diet.

Black tea comes from the same plant as green tea but it will not give you the exact same benefits as during fermentation, a lot of its medical benefits are lost.

That said, tea in any form is still beneficial to health just that some are more so than others. The best way to preserve the nutrition of tea is to drink it freshly brewed, without sugar or milk and to let the tea brew about 4-5 before consuming it.

Green Tea: A Healthy Alternative To Caffeine

Caffeine is found occurring naturally and used as an additive to several of the foods we consume throughout the day, including coffee, tea, fizzy drinks and chocolate amongst other products. We often rely on such caffeine- laden products to give us boosts of energy when we are flagging. Many of us struggle to function and get through the day without it. Caffeine is very difficult to avoid completely as mentioned previously, it does naturally occur in many foods and drinks but when consumed to excess, do you ever stop and wonder whether all that caffeine might be detrimental to your health?

Medical research has recognised that very excessive caffeine consumption, or even moderate caffeine intake in children and some individuals who are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine, may cause caffeine intoxication. Caffeine intoxication symptoms consist of; restlessness, sleep disturbances irritability, nervousness, frequent urination and stomach upsets. And trying to go cold turkey can cause headaches, anxiety and even the shakes.

Studies also suggest that pregnant women, those suffering from high blood pressure, anyone with heart disease, those who have survived a stroke and the elderly should drink caffeine with extreme caution. People who suffer from anxiety disorders or who are caffeine sensitive are much more prone to side-effects. Of course, there are healthier alternatives to getting that much needed energy boost.

Green tea has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries to treat practically everything from headaches to depression. The ancient Chinese herb contains catechin polyphenols like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which are antioxidants that can protect the liver from toxins and aid in its normal function. These antioxidants mop up the harmful free radicals in the body and can help protect against heart ailments, strokes, arthritis, diabetes and degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Theanine, another ingredient in Green tea has a calming effect on the human body, and is known to relieve anxiety and partially neutralize the rise in blood pressure that can occur due to caffeine intake. It is also used to treat an array of skin conditions including acne and eczema.

Green tea does contain Caffeine as with any regular tea, however the amount is so inconsequential that it is unlikely to cause any major side effects and with the vast amount of benefits demonstrated by drinking a daily cuppa of Green tea we really can't think of any better reason to kick the habit and instead, make Green tea your drink of choice.

Weight Loss Tips - Are Exercise Videos A Good Solution For Fat Loss?

After setting the goal to work on losing any excess body fat you currently have, the next step is taking the time to assess the various ways that you can help move fat loss along.
What are the best workouts to be completing? And, how often should you be doing them?

These are just a few of the questions that might come up as you start preparing yourself to get started.  One type of workout that many people will think about doing is a video based workout.  Following along with an exercise video right in the comfort of your own home can seem like the perfect way to get in shape.

It’s fast, convenient, and doesn’t require any expensive workout equipment.  What more could you ask for?

But are these videos a really good solution for fat loss? Or are they just going to waste your time?

Let’s have a quick peak at what you should consider.

The Type Of Video You’re Using

The very first thing you need to take into account is the type of video you’re using.  The video variety will make a big difference in the amount of weight loss progress you see as different home workouts will burn different calories.

A yoga video for example would be perfect for someone who is looking to experience relaxation benefits and who wants to improve their flexibility.  In terms of calorie burn though, you could do better.

A fast paced kick-boxing style of workout on the other hand will have you rapidly burning up calories, thus seeing faster overall results as far as weight loss goes.

When trying to choose which video to use, look for one that’s going to get your heart rate up and keep it there while using all the main muscle groups in the body.

These are two elements that will qualify it to be a good calorie burning activity.


The Degree Of Weight Loss You Wish To Experience

The second thing that you need to think about is what overall rate of weight loss you want to experience.

The fastest rates of weight loss will be seen in those who follow a good diet plan and a proper strength training workout.

So if the video incorporates strength training into the mix, you can feel confident that it should help you move towards your end goal.

If the video doesn’t, then you’ll want to also take the time to perform some additional strength training on your own time.

This will help ensure that you’re getting the benefits of both worlds.  Be careful when selecting your video for strength training however as many of the ones out there promote using very light weights, which isn’t what you want to be doing.

Remember, the more you challenge your body, the faster you’re going to see progress.


Your Level Of Fitness Knowledge

Finally, the last thing that you need to take into account is the level of fitness knowledge you have.  If you’re performing an exercise video that calls for a number of advanced exercises that you’ve never done before, there’s a very good chance that you could begin using improper form.

This could then set you up for some serious injuries over the long term, so something that you definitely must work to avoid.

In that situation, an exercise video may not be the best option for weight loss and a session with a local personal trainer would be.

So there you have a few of the most important points to consider about weight loss videos.  When used properly in the right situation, they can help encourage weight loss, but when used improperly, they may not deliver the results you were hoping for.

Weight Loss Tips - Avoid These Foods That Will Increase Hunger

One of the biggest problems that most people encounter as they move about their fat loss diet is hunger.  You can be doing perfectly on your diet program and following it exactly as you should be but as soon as hunger creeps up, you immediately move off course.

Hunger is a very difficult thing to deal with for any individual on a weight loss diet but fortunately, if you take the time to learn the foods that tend to cause the greatest amount of hunger and then be sure to stay away from them, this doesn't have to be a problem for you.



Let's go over the top foods that cause hunger so you can see precisely what to avoid.


White Rice

The first food that could cause you to become very hungry shortly after eating it is white rice.  The reason why this food is very problematic is because after eating it, you're going to get a large blood sugar spike, which is then followed by a sharp decline as insulin is released and comes and sucks all that glucose out of the blood.

As your blood sugar levels crash, this sets of the hunger signal in the brain that's going to prompt you to consume more food.


Sugary Cereals

The second food that can cause a high amount of hunger for much the same reason as white rice would is sugary cereals.  Remember, always read the package label when purchasing any cereal that you plan to eat on your weight loss diet.

Very often you may think a cereal is a very healthy choice but upon further inspection you discover that it actually has a good amount of sugar listed on the label.

For complete hunger control from your morning meal, choose a cereal that contains no added sugar such as oatmeal or bran cereal.

These will be far superior for helping boost the process of weight loss.


Snack Bars

Snack bars are also another problematic food as far as hunger is concerned. The big issue here is that these will tend to be very low in total protein and often fat content, so there's nothing to balance out the carbohydrates that you eat with them.

This results in that blood sugar spike that we talked about previously and will cause you to quickly experience an energy low.

As your energy level comes crashing down, you'll want to reach for more food to help bring it back up. This cycle can cause you to take in very high amounts of calories daily, moving you further away from fat loss.


Candy

Finally, it should almost go without saying, but candy is one of the worst foods as far as hunger is concerned. While you may feel like this gives you a good energy burst and quickly fills you up, that's just the sugar high talking.

Candy made from pure sugar is even worse for you from a diet perspective than snack foods that contain fat, because at least with the addition of fat you won't see quite the shoot in blood sugar levels.

Avoid candy at all costs.

So there you have the main foods to note if you want to control your hunger levels and succeed at your fat loss diet. Taking a fat loss suppressant such as Phen 375 will also go a long way towards getting your hunger under control so that you aren't suffering from food cravings throughout the day.

Weight Loss Tips - 4 Steps To Making Weight Loss Permanent

So you’ve put in the time and effort and have had great results to show for it. You’ve lost the excess weight that you were carrying around and now are the proud new owner of the body of your dreams.
You’re excited, you’re feeling good, and you’re ready to face life in this brand new body.

But, amongst all this, you might also feel a slight twinge of anxiety with regards to whether or not you’re going to be able to maintain this new body for the time to come.

Who’s to say that that weight isn’t going to come rushing back just as soon as you stop going about your diet and being a little more lenient in what you eat?

Fortunately, if you have a plan of attack, succeeding at weight maintenance can be a lot easier than you think.  Here are some smart things that you need to know.

Be Accountable

The very first thing that you must do to succeed at weight maintenance is to stay accountable.  Now that you’ve reached your ideal weight, don’t think that this means you can eat what you want, when you want.

You still do need to be accountable. If you take a little too many ‘treats’ here and there, it’s going to add up.

If you notice that your weight is creeping up in a direction you don’t want it to go, immediately take action so you bring it back down lower again.

The sooner you can get it under control, the less work you’ll have to do moving forward.


Continue To Strength Train

Moving on, the second thing that you must keep doing is strength training.  Strength training is the absolute most effective form of workout that will help keep the weight off over time.

Why?

Not only will it help you maintain a higher metabolic rate 24/7, but it also makes it easier to add carbs back into your diet.

Unless you plan to eat a carb-free diet for the years to come, this is very important for success.


Adapt A Flexible Mindset

Moving along, the next must-do for success is to make sure that you adopt a flexible frame of mind.  Don’t see yourself as a success or failure.  Rather, view this as life.

If you eat something you shouldn’t, you treated yourself.  Get right back on with a healthy eating program.

Remember that all the good habits you developed should now become a permanent lifestyle for yourself.  They shouldn’t be something that feels like torture or that you can’t keep up for some time to come.

If you did use improper dieting methods, it’s time to learn some wise techniques that will encourage health, high energy, and that you can sustain for life.

When you do, it’ll be easier to adopt the flexible mindset because you’ll naturally enjoy living a smarter lifestyle.


Make Fitness Fun

Finally, last but not least, start making fitness fun.  If you’ve spent months in the gym and aren’t especially fond of gym workouts, start investigating some other options that you could do that you would derive more pleasure from.

Exercise to maintain your weight does not need to be more intense than exercise to lose weight, so relax a bit and do what you enjoy.

So there you have a few of the top secrets for successful weight maintenance. Stay on top of yourself and you’ll have no problem living in and enjoying your dream body.

Weight Loss Tips - How To Maintain A Healthy Relationship With Food While Dieting

If you’re on a fat loss diet plan, there may be a chance that you could come to ‘fear’ certain foods after so long.  You’ve been conditioned to know which foods are ‘good’ and which foods are ‘bad’ and do everything you can to stay away from the bad ones and only eat the good ones.

The big problem with this good and bad thinking however is that it forms a negative association in your mind regarding certain foods in the diet.  If you’re not careful, this could lead to eating disorders over time, which are very serious and could require extensive treatment to overcome.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the important things that you should remember that will help you maintain a more positive relationship with food while dieting.


Think In Terms Of Healthy Or Not Healthy

The very first thing that you should be doing to maintain a healthy relationship with food is think in terms of healthy or not healthy rather than good or bad.  This shifts the perspective and allows you to focus on the health benefits that certain foods provide, which is a much healthier association.

Try filling your diet with the most nutritious foods that you can, not because they are low in calories but because they will do the most for you from a nutritional point of view.


Plan For Cheat Meals

Next, another thing that you should be doing is planning some cheat meals into your program. Cheat meals are great because they give you psychological relief from strict diets and help you see that eating a food that’s ‘off’ your diet list won’t automatically make you gain all the fat you’ve lost right back.

This is key for maintaining that healthy relationship with food.  Cheat meals should be scheduled once every week or two for maximum benefits.  More frequently may not be a good idea as it could hinder progress, but making sure to get them in every so often is important.


Periodically Take Diet Breaks

Finally, the last thing to keep in mind is that you should periodically add some diet breaks as well.  This is key for helping you learn your new maintenance calorie intake so you don’t start thinking that you must maintain a very low calorie intake in order to succeed with keeping the weight off.

Often what occurs is that as you progress on the diet, your metabolism slows down so you start decreasing your calorie intake further to spark more fat loss, but over time, this leads to a very low calorie intake.

Before you know it you’re scared of eating more again for fear all the weight will come rushing back on.

Diet breaks will not only help to reset your metabolism but also teach you that you can eat more food and still maintain your body weight.

So there you have the most important things to note about maintaining a healthy relationship with food while dieting. For your psychological health, this is a must.

The Most Common Reasons People Gain Weight: Stop Making These Mistakes

If you’re interested in experiencing fast fat loss, it’s vital that you come to learn some of the biggest mistakes that many people make as they go about their plan and often completely steer them right off track.

It’s easy to overlook the smallest of things that could in fact be having a big impact on your overall progress, so by discovering what you must watch out for, you’re one step ahead of the game.

Let’s have a look at the most common mistakes that cause weight gain in others, so you can be sure they don’t hinder your results.


Neglecting To Plan

The first and most important reason why people gain weight is because they simply don’t have a plan in place.  It’s an absolute must that you know precisely what you will be eating at every point in the day if you want to see the greatest success with this goal.

If you can come up with a plan and follow it, you know precisely how many calories you are taking in and can adjust this based on your real world results.

If you have no plan then you’re leaving weight loss up to chance.  If you don’t plan for meals away from home and bring appropriate food items with you, you’re counting on the fact that you’ll be able to find something healthy while out and about.

More often than not this is not the case.

Plan to succeed and you will.


Neglecting To Account ALL Calories

The second big problem is neglecting to factor all calories.  You know how it goes, ‘Oh, but I was standing when I ate that, so it doesn’t count’.

Yes, it does.  If you want to succeed with weight loss, everything will count.  Beverages included. 

Don’t forget to tally up those 300-500 calorie smoothies or gourmet coffee that you down each day as well.

If you aren’t including these, you won’t see weight loss and will question why you aren’t moving forward. It’s due to the high intake of these beverages.


Neglecting To Factor In Individual Preferences

Another mistake to avoid is neglecting your individual preferences.  Try and avoid going on a diet that you hate. If you do this, you’re setting yourself up to fail from day one.

Yes, you will have to make some changes and may have to give up the junk food that you do enjoy, but if you can’t stand the thought of cutting out carbs or using a low fat diet plan, don’t.  There are plenty of diet approaches that can work well so you should easily be able to find one that you will enjoy.

Dieting really doesn’t have to be as torturous as so many people make it out to be if they just invest in some quality research finding the right plan for themselves.


Neglecting Physical Activity

Finally, last but not least, make sure that you don’t neglect physical activity.  It’s very important that you stay active all the time as this will help you maintain a higher metabolism and help to give you more freedom with your diet.

One mistake is thinking that only diet matters.  While it’s true that diet is the most important factor for losing weight, it’s the exercise that goes along with it that allows you to really change the way your body looks while you lose weight.

If you want a complete transformation, adding the workouts will be a must.
So there you have the top mistakes that some people make as they go about their weight loss journey.  Do you see yourself in any of these?

Weight Loss Control Tips - Making Smart Alcohol Choices

If you’re on a fat loss diet program, alcohol is something that you should be strictly limiting.  Not only is alcohol very calorie dense coming in at seven calories per gram, but it’s also going to put an immediate halt to all fat loss progress going on when you consume it.
Not to mention the fact that when you indulge in a few drinks your will power to stick with your diet will also go down, therefore it could cause you to start eating foods that you shouldn’t.

That said, not everyone can cut out drinking from time to time as it is something that’s heavily linked to normal socialization, so if you feel like drinking isn’t something that you can give the boot to, at the very least it’s helpful to know which drink choices you should be choosing.



Let’s have a look at the top considerations.

The Good

Straight Liquor With Seltzer Water

The very first choice that you should consider is one ounce of your favourite liquor with simple seltzer water or plain water.  This will contain only around 70 calories per drink, so is a much lighter option.
If you can alternate this with one glass of plain water, all the better.

White Wine

If wine is your thing, the good news is that this is also a relatively lower calorie choice as well.  Most wines range from 90-150 calories per glass depending on the variety, so if you keep your total number of glasses down, it doesn’t have to destroy your diet plan.

Like the above, it’s always a good idea to alternate one alcohol drink with one non.

Light Beer

Light beer is another choice that you may want to consider.  If you’re a big fan of beer but don’t like what it does to your weight, light beer is almost half the calories so will be much less devastating to your diet plan.

Light beer is also lower in total carbohydrates, so that’s definitely a plus as well.



The Bad


Creamy Liquors

Now we move on to the less than optimal choices.  Creamy liquors are one drink to beware of as they contain alcohol, fat, and sugar in one, so will really be a doozy as far as sticking with your diet is concerned.

Often these are mixed with milk as well, so while the milk is healthy, it will add extra calories.  Most creamy liquors will come in around 120 calories per ounce, so it will add up quickly.

Frozen Beverages

Frozen slushy beverages are also something to be very careful about. These can easily contain upwards of 400 calories once everything is added in and will do a real number on your waistline.

They contain far too much sugar as well, which will be very bad if you’re trying to prevent a hangover.  The combination of so much sugar plus alcohol entering the body is a sure-fire recipe for body fat gain.  The sugar will spike the insulin levels and since there is no carbohydrate oxidation taking place (as the body will be 100% focused on burning off the alcohol calories), this means that sugar will move right into body fat stores.

Cocktails

Finally, the last beverages to avoid are any fancy cocktail like drinks.  These also contain higher amounts of sugar and will often contain more than one different type of alcohol as well.

Most come in at around 300 calories or more, so will put a big dent in your diet if you have two or three that evening.

So be sure that you keep these points in mind if you do plan to drink on your diet.  Alcohol does tend to hinder your progress so you really must make a choice as to what is most important to you – weight loss success or indulging in your favourite drinks.

Weight Loss Tips - 5 Easy Exercises To Target The Tummy

If you're looking to start up a workout program to slim the tummy and get rid of your love handles, performing the right exercises will be key.  By fully challenging all the muscles surrounding the core region, you can see better fat burning benefits and really get that toned look that you're going for.

Unfortunately though, many women spend far too much time on exercises that won't deliver, which is why it's definitely worth your time and effort to learn those that will.  By including the following five exercises in your program more often, you will see much faster progress.


Let's have a look at the main ones to consider.

The Plank

The very first exercise to include is the plank.  The plank should always be a standby in your ab workout because not only is it going to work the abs, but it'll also work all the muscles lining the back as well.

To perform it simply place the forearms on the floor underneath the body with the legs stretched out behind you, balancing on your toes.  When in this position keep your body as flat as possible so you resemble that of a table top.

Hold this for 30-60 seconds, or until you can no longer maintain proper form.

Crunches On An Exercise Ball

Next up on our list of exercises to target your tummy are crunches on an exercise ball.  These are fantastic for calling the muscle fibers deep within the core into play.  Due to the reduced base of support underneath you, you're going to have to work that much harder to maintain balance.
Try and perform a set of 12 reps at a time before taking a rest and continuing on.

Lying Leg Raises

Third, leg raises are the next exercise to include.  These are fantastic for working the lower abdominal muscles, which tends to be problematic for most women. 

To perform them, lie flat on the ground and then slowly lift the legs up off the floor and bring them to ninety degrees.  Pause for a second and then lower so they're just about touching the floor again.

Don't let them come completely down however as this will really reduce the tension on the abs and the goal is to keep them in a constantly contracted state.

The Bicycle

The bicycle is another excellent tummy exercise that will firm those love handles quickly.  To perform this one lift the legs slightly above the ground while you bring one knee into the chest.  While doing so, simultaneously twist the body so the opposite side comes to meet that knee and then reverse directions for the next rep.

Perform ten reps for each side in a row and then relax again before doing a second set.

Accordion Sit-Ups

Finally, the last tummy toner you should be doing is the accordion sit-up.  These are very simple and straightforward.  First, get into a flat lying position on the floor. 

From there, bring the upper body up while you bring the knees up to meet it at the same time.  In essence, it should look like you're an accordion as you do this movement.

Pause at the top and then lower back down again.

So there you have the top tummy toners that will quickly firm up your stomach and help you see faster results. If you can combine all of these three times a week with a good appetite suppressant such as Phen375 to help you maintain your lower calorie diet, it won't be long before you have your own set of toned abs.

Weight Maintenance Tips: Succeed With Keeping Weight Off

One of the most important things that you must do after you’ve finished your fat loss plan is move into successful maintenance.  Really, a diet is not successful unless it allows you to keep the weight off that you’ve lost for good.  Otherwise, you just found a temporary fix to a long-term problem.

Many people do often struggle with maintenance which is why they find themselves back in the diet seat shortly after they come off their diet plan.

Fortunately, with a few key tricks you can succeed with maintaining your new body and enjoy all the hard work that you put in.



Let’s have a quick peak at some of the top maintenance tips to remember.

Keep A Tight Weight Range

The very first thing that successful maintainers do is set a narrow weight range that they will allow themselves to fluctuate between.  For instance, if your goal weight is 125 pounds, you might only let yourself get up to 128 before you start taking action.

Remember, it’s far easier to shed 3 pounds of weight gained with a few simple diet modifications than it is to shed 20 that you’ve let yourself gain back.

As soon as you see yourself creeping upwards, take action and tighten up your diet or a week.  It’ll be gone in no time.



Diet During The Week

The second thing that you might consider to help you with maintenance is to maintain a lower calorie intake during the week.  What this does is creates a mini-calorie deficit that you can then use during the weekend when you are more social and the chances of you consuming more calories are greater.

Since most people do struggle with the weekends a lot more than weekdays, this gives you some leeway for going out to social functions or just treating yourself to something that you desire.



Maintain Your Exercise Levels

Another key thing for successful maintenance is making sure that you maintain your exercise levels.  Exercise is one of the biggest factors that will predict long-term weight maintenance so stick with that workout program.

This will help you maintain a higher metabolic rate overall to prevent fat gain and also help you maintain lean muscle mass, which naturally burns more calories all day long.



Indulge Once Per Day

Finally, if you decide that you do need to treat yourself on any given day, make sure that you limit yourself to just one treat per day. If you let yourself get too out of control and are treating here and there all day long, it will add up to weight gain.

If you’re craving chocolate, have a small piece, enjoy it, and then put the box away.  A 100 calorie treat really won’t have much influence on your weight but six or seven of them will.  Remember that and you’ll keep yourself in check.

So there you have the top things to note for successful maintenance.  If you work hard at it and make sure you keep yourself accountable, you can maintain your new body for years to come.

Weight Loss Tips - Dieting Over 50: Is There A Difference?

If you’re someone who’s beyond the age of 50 who is looking to lose some body fat, you might start to wonder if there should be a difference in the approach you use versus the approach of someone who is younger.

After all, your body is different now than when you were in your twenties, so it only stands to reason that you may need to use a different type of diet.

So what differences should someone over 50 take note of? What alternations will best help you see success?

 

Let’s go over the main things that you should know so that you can get right on track to progress.


Alterations To Your Calorie Intake

The very first thing that you will likely want to do is use a slightly lower calorie intake at this point in your life.  Now, there is the common saying that the metabolism naturally slows with age.  While this is true, it’s not for the reason many people believe.

The primary reason why your metabolism will decrease as you get older is because you’re losing lean muscle tissue.  If you’re someone who has been active for the last 20 years, then you likely don’t need to use a reduced calorie intake as you will have more lean muscle tissue.

If you haven’t been exercising though, then a slightly lower calorie diet is in order.  Try starting at around 10 or 11 calories per pound of body weight.

At this point in your life you may not be quite as physically active overall either as you were when you were younger, so that will also factor into your total daily calorie burn.


Accounting For Nutritional Deficiencies

Another adjustment that you should make is accounting for nutritional deficiencies.  Those who are older will want to really make sure that they are taking in enough calcium, iron, and B vitamins.

This will help ensure that they maintain strong bones and high energy levels.  In addition to that, make sure that you’re taking in a very high quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables daily on whatever diet you choose as these will help to protect against some of the common diseases that can develop as the years go on.

Adding Extra Protein

Finally, the last thing that you should adjust on your diet protocol is your protein intake.  Many older individuals are not getting enough protein total, so it’s important that you bump up your intake.

Additionally, since you aren’t quite as active as you were when you were younger, having more protein in the diet will help to further safeguard against lean muscle tissue loss, so will help to keep your metabolism higher long term.

Remember to add plenty of low fat dairy sources of protein in particular such as Greek yogurt, skim milk, and low-fat cottage cheese as these are both high in protein and high in calcium, so will really help you along your way.

So there you have everything that you need to know about dieting past 50.  While the general approach should still be quite similar, making these few additional changes would be well worth your while.

Weight Loss Tips - Calorie Cutting Food Swaps

If you’re looking to succeed on your weight loss diet plan, it’s vital that you take a look at some of the simple ways that you can go about reducing your calorie intake so that you can make fast progress without feeling like you’re on a very strict diet.

If the truth is told, for many people there are some very small adjustments they could make to their normal diet intake that would have a huge impact on the fat loss results that they see.

By taking the time to learn what these adjustments are and then getting them in place, you can see for yourself just how powerful they can be.

Let’s give you a few quick calorie cutting food swaps to think about.

Swap: Granola For Oatmeal

The first great swap to make is to exchange out your usual bowl of granola in the morning for some oatmeal instead.  Oatmeal is very high in fiber and completely sugar free, which cannot be said for most granola cereals.

By choosing oatmeal instead, you can easily save yourself 200-300 calories in the process.


Swap: Beef For Fish

The next quick swap that you may want to consider is exchanging fish for beef. While beef definitely is a good protein source in your diet, fish would be a superior option.

Fish is lower in calories and completely fat free, so when you’re really trying to get the weight off quickly, it’ll help you get there faster.

Allow beef once per week to help keep your iron intake up, but then have fish or chicken the remaining nights instead.



Swap: Juice For Real Fruit

Another smart swap for faster weight loss is to exchange juice for real fruit.  Juice is very high in calories and will produce a rather rapid spike in blood glucose levels due to the lack of fiber it contains, while real fruit is the opposite.

Real fruit is going to be high in fiber and nutrients and will fill you up much more quickly and help to keep you satisfied.  Many people make the mistake of thinking that juice is a very healthy selection, but that’s not the case.


Swap: Pasta For Spaghetti Squash

Finally, the last swap that you should consider adding into your diet plan is spaghetti squash for pasta.  Pasta is another very high calorie food is and is very easy to overeat on.  If you want to maintain that reduced calorie intake for faster weight loss, then squash is the superior choice.

This vegetable can be eaten in much the same way as normal pasta would be, but will help shave off 200 calories or more from that meal.

So there you have just a few of the quick and easy swaps that you can start making today.  They won’t really change the overall meal that you’re having, just change the total calorie content and help you move closer to your end goal. Sometimes it’s the smallest changes that can make the biggest difference so always look for these first in your diet plan before making larger-scale changes.