Jump Starting Your Weight Loss When You Hit A Plateau
Jump starting your weight loss when you hit a plateau.
There are quite a few diets out there that claim to do just the trick when it comes to quick and easy weight loss. However, when it comes to your body, going the natural route is always far superior than questionable shakes and pills if you want to shed a few pounds fast. In fact, juicing is an interesting, unique and even clever way to shed unwanted pounds while still being able to enjoy a variety of delicious tastes.
If the idea of juicing conjures up images of hours and days of food deprived agony, relax. You don’t need thirty days to dedicate to juicing, and in fact might want to start with just two, and then move it up to five as your body acclimates. If you have never juice fasted before, it is best to start slow and then build up to longer fasts.
One of the great benefits of juicing is that it gives your digestion a rest, allowing your body to rid itself of unwanted toxic waste. By no longer filling it with sugary, processed and toxic foods but instead filling it with raw delicious fruits and vegetables, it can focus on healing instead of surviving. This, in turn, will help you to release weight, and you will start to feel lighter and cleaner.
When you begin your juicing program, start at a time when you have the least demanding schedule, perhaps on the weekend. This way, you have the time necessary to make the amount of juice you need, and you may also rest if you find yourself lacking in energy. If you are giving yourself a proper variety of fruit and vegetable juices, though, your energy level should not be an issue.
As you are juicing, you are flooding your body with the vitamins and nutrients it so desperately needs. While this is a good thing, watch out for juicing recipes that contain too much sugar. This will cause your blood sugar levels to spike and then you will have a crash to contend with. Instead of straight fruit and even fruit and carrots, look for recipes that are a nice blend of vegetables and fruits. For example, try pear, parsley and spinach. Or, maybe even carrots and spinach. Mix it up, and don’t let the juice be too heavy on either end of the fruit or vegetable spectrum.
If you follow juicing recipes correctly, you will be able to enjoy the full sensation of a meal and the same nutrient intake as well. Make sure that you follow recipes correctly and supplement where necessary, and you should not have any problems with maintaining sustained energy levels.
Adding herbs to your juices can boost your metabolism in subtle ways. Parsley and cilantro are known for their fat-burning potential. However, those new to juicing may want to hold off on cilantro and opt for parsley instead. Cilantro is not tolerated by everybody, so you will have to experiment and see if it is right for you.
Juicing strengthens your metabolism overall, with or without herbs. This is because sipping on proper juice combinations throughout the day provides you with moderated blood sugar levels. This prevents dangerous dips in blood sugar levels, and prevents overeating at mealtimes.
Juicing fruits and vegetables also provides other benefits. Your immune system will enjoy a boost from the added vitamins and minerals in your diet, and you may find you are susceptible to fewer colds than you once were.
Juicing can be a great way to jump-start a weight loss routine, particularly for short-term gains. It can also be an excellent supplementation to a diet that is balanced otherwise. Don’t let fear of hunger stop you from flooding your body with much-needed nutrients and giving your digestion a rest. Not only will you feel better after, but you will look superb.
Blogging And Journaling To Keep Your Weight Loss On Track
Blogging and journaling to keep your weight loss on track.
Losing weight is a long-term process that can seem never-ending. By journaling your weight loss experience, you can help break up the monotony of waiting for each pound to drop off. Keeping a good journal can also enhance your weight-loss program and make you more likely to succeed. Here are some tips to help you journal the right way.
To start your journaling process, you first need a journal. Fortunately it doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. In fact, you can find an inexpensive journal at any department store. All that you really need is an empty book full of lined paper just waiting to be written on. After choosing your journal, keep it with you at all times, and soon it will become more than an empty book; it will also be your weight loss friend.
To begin, you can use your journal to track your workout program. Start by writing down your beginning statistics: weight, measurements, and your short-term exercise goals. Keep a daily summary of your physical activity. Day by day, try to increase your exercise level and keep a written record of it.
Use a page each week for your personal goals. Whether it’s a weight loss goal, an exercise goal or both – keep track of those small victories and each time you meet one, give yourself a small reward. Rewards can be small, but they are a reminder that you are working toward a bigger goal: a healthier, physically fit you!
Keep a menu page to journal your food intake throughout the day. You can make a list of what you plan to eat and then write down what you actually did eat. By keeping track of your daily food intake, you will be able to see what you are consuming and notice the little things you may forget that can slow down your weight loss.
An important part of weight loss is keeping yourself motivated and not letting yourself get down when you have a bad day. Sometimes it helps to record your feelings and any events that have triggered temptation or caused you to backslide. Writing it down can somehow make you feel better and more able to resist the next time temptation shows its ugly face.
While we already mentioned making a note of your starting weight, you can also keep a weight record in your journal. Begin with your starting weight and then decide how often you will weigh yourself. It’s best not to weigh every day, as hormonal fluid retention or too much sodium can cause temporary fluctuations in weight, and this can cause you to feel like you aren’t losing. Weekly or bi-weekly weigh-ins are a good way to see your progress, so resist the temptation to jump on the scale every day.
Finally, your journal is a great place to record recipes and tips you learn throughout your weight loss journey. Check online, in magazines and ask other dieters for their weight loss tips, or even start a recipe exchange. By writing them down, you will always know where to find some quick advice or a new dish to try.
Journaling can be a real motivation when you keep it up and do it right. You can record your weight-loss journey and refer back to it if you find yourself slipping into old eating habits. Get your journal started today, and find other innovative ways to track your progress in writing. When you reach your goals you’ll be amazed at what you have done and have learned, and will have a treasure to share with others who may need some encouragement on their weight-loss journey
How To Eat Out And Stay On Track With Your Weight Loss Goals
How To Eat Out And Stay On Track With Your Weight Loss Goals
Eating out can really be a challenge when you are trying to shed some pounds. Fortunately though, it doesn’t have to be an exercise in sheer will if you make a few adjustments to your regular dining out routine. Following are some suggestions in order to minimize a complete set-back when eating out with your friends and family.
One of the first questions asked when you are met by your server at a restaurant is whether they might bring you a specialty drink, beer or wine. Are you someone who typically orders a specialty drink or alcoholic beverage when out with family and friends? If so, maintaining your weight loss routine can be really frustrating. Instead of suffering through the evening, try having a glass of light beer or some wine rather than of having a sugary frozen drink like a daiquiri. Frozen drinks contain a lot more sugars and calories, which aren’t good for you if you’re trying to lose a few pounds. Beer and wine, while still not the most ideal, are the best choice if you’re going to drink.
Next on the menu will be your starter. For your starter, have a broth based soup instead of a salad topped with a fatty dressing. While a salad might scream “WEIGHT LOSS” more than soup, most people will choose to pile it with a thick salad dressing, thus negating its weight loss benefits. For this reason soup is a great alternative. If you decide to opt for soup, try to get a soup that is less dense. The clearer your soup is in color, the less fat and calories it will usually have in it.
When it comes time for the main course, try ordering off of the kid’s menu. While this may seem silly, it will help you to ease your hunger without filling up too much. Save the big meals for home, where you can cook a more healthy choice for yourself. If eating off of the children’s menu is not possible, make sure to set aside some of your meal to take home for later.
Speaking of the principle course, one of the widespread pitfalls of going out is that you’re more tempted to want to give in to your former weaknesses in lieu of choosing another thing you consider bland and boring. Nonetheless, as an alternative of swinging too far on the side of deprivation, choose a lighter option of your former favorite food group. For example, in case you are a french fry lover, take into consideration a baked potato with a small amount of butter, instead. While a baked potato with butter is certainly not for each day, you can possibly still get your potato or starch craving met, however with much less empty calories than its fried counterpart. Mostly, look for ways to eat the same as you would while adhering to your weight loss routine at home, and be sure to keep your portions in check.
When having dessert there are many different types of frozen treats. Most of us head for the straight for the ice cream or a rich cheesecake, but something such as a sorbet will be a lot less damaging to your weight loss goals. If this is not available at the place where you are dining, use this as an excuse for an after dinner treat at your local ice cream parlor. There are many delicious options available there for dessert that won’t be a burden on your wallet or waist line.
If you’re going out for a night on the town, it might be a good idea to have some healthy snacks with you so that you can avoid wanting to eat out. Avoiding fast food is the number one priority you should have when wanting to lose weight, but if you must eat out, look into the healthier options on the menu. If you use the above tips every time you eat out, you’ll be able to stay on track with your weight loss plan.
While it can be challenging and will certainly take planning, this is a great personal development exercise to partake in.
Add a Little Spice to Rev up Your Weight Loss
Weight loss is not as simple as one, two, and three. It takes an abundance of knowledge and a tremendous amount of willpower. Because of this, one of the best things that you can do to get a jump start on your diet is to figure out exactly what foods will really give you that extra boost. Well, if you are one who likes a little zest with your meals, you are in luck because it has been said that adding a bit of spice to your meals will help your weight loss.
Although it is not 100% clear how these spice filled foods can boost your metabolism, there have been studies that show there is a main element in many of these different metabolism boosting spices. This element is called Capsaicin. It can actually create heat and raise the temperature of your body so that you burn more calories.
Before tipping the cayenne pepper shaker, though, you should be careful when adding these new spicy foods to your diet. With adding spicy items to your diet, it may increase stomach problems and acid reflux, so you should start with just a small amount. Once you understand how your body reacts to each food, you will have a better idea of what is most ideal for your meals.
When incorporating the element of spices to your weight loss plan, the best time to do this is around noon. If you add a little bit of cayenne pepper or anything hot to your lunch, it will help you stay alert and awake as well as help you with any grogginess that is normally felt after you eat. The added benefit of this is that this additional wakefulness will help you to keep moving around and in turn, burn more calories.
There are a few additional health benefits that come along with indulging in spicy foods. There have been studies suggesting that people that consume a large amount of these foods have a lower likelihood of brain and nervous system complications.
Spicy foods can also help with chronic migraines and have been linked to aiding in lowering depression. On the flip side, there have also been rumors that spicy foods can cause ulcers, however this is not the case. Ulcers may be irritated when you are digesting a large amount of these foods, but they are not the main cause.
Cayenne pepper is not the only spice to help rev things up; there are numerous dried spices that can be incorporated into meals to help aid weight loss. Included in these are black pepper, mustard seed and ginger. If you add any of these dry spices to your dishes, it will add a kick and also help you lose weight more quickly.
Although studies have not absolutely proven these theories, there is a definite connection between eating spicy foods and weight loss. When you know the identities of these spicy foods and exactly how they work to enhance your food and metabolism, you can make more informed decisions about when to add these foods to your meal plan for your weight loss goals.
5 Ways We Sabotage Our Weight Loss Efforts
When pursuing our weight loss goals it is important to understand the 5 ways we sabotage our weight loss efforts.
There are many factors that effect our ability to lose weight and keep it off. It is easy to sabotage our weight loss goals by not being attentive to the factors involved in achieving successful weight loss.
This article will expose five common ways that those who are trying to lose weight can sabotage themselves, without even realizing it.
Sabotage number one:
Not eliminating junk food from your pantry. Simple rule of thumb — if you buy it, you will eat it. If there is junk food, candy and sweets hiding in your house, no amount of willpower will be able to overcome this temptation every time. You are bound to eat a few bites here and there, or even just give in and eat the whole package. Throw these items out, or give them to someone else, but get them out of your house one way or another.
Sabotage number two:
Using food as a reward. If you have been letting yourself have an off-limit treat in response to attaining a goal you have set for yourself, then you are setting yourself up for failure later on. Chances are that once you reach your weight goal, you will reward yourself by eating whatever you want for a while, thus undoing all the progress you’ve made in self discipline. If you feel that you must reward yourself with food, perhaps choosing one “cheat” day each week is the best way to go. Other than that, consider those foods that will hinder your weight loss as “off limits”.
Sabotage number three:
Forcing yourself to eat leftovers. While it can be tempting to make yourself eat leftovers in order to avoid waste, if the leftovers are not something you really want or need, you can end up feeling deprived and unsatisfied. This in turn can lead to eating another meal that you don’t need just to feel satisfied. If it sounds good and will not hinder your weight loss, then go ahead and eat it. But if you are only eating food out of guilt or fear of being wasteful, simply find something else that will not only be more satisfying, but will also be more in line with the goals that you have set for yourself.
Sabotage number four:
Starving yourself. Don’t ever skip meals, even if you WAY overdid it on a previous meal. Your body needs a constant stream of calories to function properly. Skipping a meal can actually lower your metabolism and stunt your progress.
Sabotage number five:
Alcohol consumption. While the occasional glass of wine or beer may not be a diet wrecker, having something each night or engaging in a weekend of drinking will definitely put the brakes on your progress. Alcohol is high in calories and also lowers your metabolic rate. Try curbing this as much as possible in order to get the best weight loss results.
Eating right and getting exercise are both necessary to lose weight and keep it off for good. By following the tips in this article, you can eliminate those common mistakes that could ruin all of your hard work and determination.
Kettlebell Workouts- How To Buy The Right Size Kettlebell
If you are starting a new workout routine that includes kettlebells, or just modifying an old one, you need to be sure you are getting the right size of kettlebell for your workouts.
Kettlebells look small but they sure do pack a punch. Most Kettlebells are made of metal and some are now coated with plastic. Understanding what size Kettlebell to purchase is your first step towards strengthening and toning your body.
If your goal is to lose weight or to just become more active then beginning a Kettlebell training program is a fantastic start!
If you look back over the history of the Kettlebell you will see that Russian soldiers used them to condition and strengthen their bodies. They typically used heavy weights right from the beginning.
If you are not accustomed to being active and doing workouts with weight equipment then starting out with lighter weights is recommended.
If you have never done any form of resistance training then buy Kettlebells that are less than 10lbs.
Using a lighter weight will allow you to perfect your techniques for each move and this is very important. If you do not use the correct form then you won’t receive as many benefits from your workout and increase your risk of injury to ligaments and tendons.
If you regularly workout then you can begin your Kettlebell training program with a heavier weight.
Starting Kettlebell weight for anyone that works out regularly:
Women: 18 pounds
Men: 35 pounds
When you find that you are not tired after your workout then it is time to increase the weight of your Kettlebell. A good goal is for woman to end up using 35lb Kettlebells and men 44lb. Kettlebells are available in many different weights with some going up to the 80 pound + range.
A Kettlebell workout really delivers a huge punch for your effort. This is a great workout to do if you are rushed for time. For the average person a 20 minute workout can burn as many as 250 calories or more.
Working out using Kettlebells really encourages your body to produce more lean muscle mass. This is turn helps you to burn more calories faster which is why it is a great method for anyone wanting to lose weight.
Your entire core muscles will become stronger and this helps strengthen your back muscles. If you currently suffer with back pain you should notice a huge difference in a relatively short amount of time; however, use caution to not exacerbate your back problem when first starting out.
When first starting out with your new Kettlebells concentrate on learning the basic movements and exercises first. This also helps you avoid injuring yourself by over using your muscles too quickly. Once you are comfortable with the basic Kettlebell swings and moves you can progress up to the more advanced exercises.
When buying your Kettlebells you may wish to look for a set of Kettlebells of varying weights. This can often save you money and some sets of Kettlebells do come with instructions and examples of exercises that you can start with.
When starting a kettlebell workout routine for losing weight , gaining muscle or just achieving better fitness be sure to make proper nutrition a part of your optimal health plan.