Monday, July 12, 2010

Low Carb Diet Not Working. It is Time to Try Calorie Shifting.

Low carbohydrate diets are popular but they can leave you feeling exhausted because carbohydrates are the main source of energy used by your body. By going without carbohydrates you drain your energy and feel just plain awful. And if that were not bad enough being on a low carb diet for too long can result in a weight loss plateau. If you have had it with having to say no to all your favorite foods or worse yet your low carb diet has stopped working then it is time to look into calorie shifting.

What is calorie shifting?

In a simple explanation, it is a method of achieving rapid weight loss by varying the number of calories you feed your body throughout the day and throughout the week. By doing this your body is forced to stay on its toes so to speak and this helps you avoid hitting a weight loss plateau.

How is calorie shifting different from a low carb diet?

In these diet plans, you do not avoid an entire food group. Dieters who practice these plans understand that the body needs a variety of nutrients to stay healthy and to maintain a healthy weight. Carbohydrates are included in these calorie rotation diets, but it is still important to eat the right foods. In other words, do not look to these plans hoping that you can eat junk food all day long, this cannot work for anyone pursuing a healthy weight loss program -- but by eating carbs at the right time of day, you can actually accelerate your fat loss.

When do you eat carbohydrates on a calorie shifting diet?

To get the best results, you will want to follow a program, but to give you a general idea of how carbs are eaten on these plans, you must understand that carbohydrates are viewed by your body as energy foods. With this understanding, it makes sense that you would want to feed your body carbohydrates when it is in the most need of energy -- and this would mean the early part of the day. Carbohydrates eaten late in the day, say before bed have a higher risk of being converted to fat.

Also, on these plans, you will move through diet cycles and follow up these cycles with days off your diet in which you can satisfy your cravings for any carbohydrate you desire. This is perhaps one of the most loved features by dieters who use calorie shifting and it is not only fun, it is also vital to the success of the plan because these "off" days help boost your body's metabolic rate so you continue to burn fat fast.

If your low carbohydrate diet is making your life miserable and has stopped working, then it is time to give yourself the benefits found in a calorie shifting diet plan.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Archer

Does Dieting Make You Miserable You Will Love Calories Shifting

If even the thought of going on a diet makes you miserable and you feel that you will have to stop enjoying life, then think again. Calories shifting gives you the freedom to have regular high calorie days and your body will lose weight faster.

These diet plans accelerate weight loss by shifting when you eat and varying the number of calories you consume on different days. For instance, you follow a lower calorie diet for a few days and then follow that up with a few days of higher calorie intake. This alternating, called calories shifting, is what makes this diet easy to follow. The advantages are that you are keeping your metabolism high, which in turn leads to very fast fat loss and prevents you from feeling deprived, which is one of the main reasons diets fail.

The problems with traditional dieting that keep your calories at a low level for weeks at a time is that your body reacts to the lower calorie intake by slowing down your metabolism and when your metabolism goes down so does your ability to burn fat.

Calories shifting takes a different approach. First used by doctors trying to help patients lose weight quickly, before surgery. Because of the success these patients were having, this technique soon spread to the public and has been refined ever since.

Most people who have spent time on a diet know how hard it can be to stick to a low calorie plan day after day. It seems like you never get a break but with this shifting diet, you have scheduled "cheat days" built in; in fact, these higher calorie days are necessary to keep your metabolism functioning fully. Your metabolism is what determines the rate at which your body will burn fat and when you restrict your calories for too long your body slows down your metabolism in an attempt to save your body fat.

When you practice calories shifting, the shift between diet days and days off keeps your body confused so it does not adapt to your diet and slow your metabolism. This sets your body up for fast weight loss that does not stall or reach a plateau.

Another feature of these diets is eating until you feel satisfied and eating more frequently throughout the day. The purpose of this again is to keep your metabolism high so your body freely burns body fat.

Some people have the mindset that to lose weight they must go on a strict diet, avoid all their favorite foods and suffer but this can actually cause your body to hold on to fat. There is a better way to lose the weight and by learning how to eat the right foods in the right pattern you can lose weight fast and easy with calories shifting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Archer

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Diet For Teenagers - 8 Easy Ways to Shred the Pounds

Ideas that Work

There are many things your teen can do today to help them instantly lose weight. These are not miracle drugs or cures, but methods that utilize the body's natural systems to aid them in losing weight. Read on for ideas to help shed the pounds in no time and learn the importance for a diet for teenagers.

Stop Eating Salt

For every ounce of salt consumed the human body will retain a whole 6 pounds of water weight to dilute the substance and prevent it from causing damage to the body. The chances are your teen will get more than enough sodium in their diet from the foods that aren't even know to be salty, so cutting out all of the salty snacks and foods will make an instant difference in your teenager's weight.

Drink Water and Nothing Else

Cutting out beverages like sodas and coffee will do wonders for helping your teenager lose weight very quickly. Drinking adequate amounts of water may be challenging, but if your teenager is serious about losing weight this should be one of their most important concerns. It's recommended that most people drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day.

Eat Small Portions

Eating up to 6 times each day is good for weight loss, provided the portions are roughly 1/3 the size of an average portion. Even if your teenager eats less often, having them eat a half-sized portion can help them lose weight very quickly by cutting out the extra calories.

Eat Raw

Eating raw fruits and vegetables can support your teenager's weight loss because the body has to work a little harder to break down the raw materials for energy. Uncooked foods also tend to be more nutritious, and provide the nutrients a growing teenager needs in abundance. By eating raw foods your teenager will very likely be using more calories to digest each meal!

Perform Any Kind of Exercise

Anything from walking to lifting weights will help your teenager lose unhealthy weight. Even heavy lifting will support weight loss, and is actually better at burning excess fat. Girls need not fear that weight lifting will make them look bulky, it would take extreme efforts to look like a bodybuilder. Walking about 45 minutes each day before dinner can also be a great way to help your teenager lose weight, so be sure they're getting some exercise.

Switch Your Milk

If you're buying whole milk, try cutting back to one of the less fattening varieties: 2%, 1% or even fat free. Believe it or not a diet rich in dairy can be very good for weight loss.

Take a Multivitamin

Having a daily multivitamin can reduce appetites, and leave your teenager feeling more satisfied with each meal. This will also ensure that there aren't any nutritional deficiencies in their diet. Keep in mind that vitamins should never be used as a substitute for real food, however.

Send Them to Bed Early Tonight

Getting enough sleep will help regulate hormones that affect appetite. Too little sleep will raise your teen's appetite beyond normal levels. They should be getting between 6-8 hours tonight to ensure their appetite stays normal.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_B._Moore

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Diet For Teenagers - Realistic Ways to Lose Weight

Get Real

Most people inherently know the basics of losing weight. A healthy diet for teenagers isn't much different. You lose weight when you're taking in less calories and at the same time burning them off. You're already aware that this is accomplished through a healthy diet and exercise, but maybe you're not sure of how to go about helping your teen adopt these habits.

First, commit yourself to being realistic about your teenager's weight problem and don't accept any nonsense. Don't accept any fad diets and take an honest look at the problem. You don't want to simply help your teen lose weight, you want them to make healthy changes that last. Here you'll discover a few realistic teen weight loss ideas that will get them on the right track.

Hold Them Accountable

If your teenager wants to lose weight and has expressed a strong interest in it, hold them accountable for it. Remind them in a supportive way that they wanted to lose weight in the first place if they start working on it. You can make them accountable by sharing a calendar with their progress on it, or simply ask them every few days how things are going.

A parent can only do so much once the child has reached their teens. The responsibility for their bodies is now their own. You may want to remind them that no one is going to do it for them. The idea isn't to leave them on their own emotionally, but to place the burden of responsibility back on them to ensure they build healthy habits that will last them into adulthood. Too much coddling will have negative effects and likely lead to weight gain.

Eat Better

The most obvious ideas are sometimes thought to be too easy, but they just can't be ignored if you want your teen to lose weight. Eating better is partially your responsibility as a parent, because you decide what foods appear in your refrigerator and pantry.

Providing more fruits and vegetables in place of sugary and salty snacks is a necessity to helping your teen lose weight. Throw away the foods that have more than a few ingredients on the label, and get used to examining the sugar and sodium content of snacks.

Limiting white sugar, table salt, white flour, and white rice can also help cut weight gain immensely. Remember that when you're cutting unhealthy foods out you MUST replace them healthy alternatives. The better the alternatives taste, the easier it will be to keep your teen from craving the bad stuff.

Keep Exercises Simple

When first starting to exercise it's best to start slowly and not overdo it. If your teenager is highly motivated to lose weight they may think they can spend hours at the gym and speed things up.

It's much better to walk for 45 minutes a few times each week than it is to spend 2 hours at the gym one day of the week and get burned out. The idea is to make it a regular habit, and the weight loss will follow.

Walking may not be a very intense workout, but it is easy to do and does wonders for weight loss. As an extra motivation you can let them pick out a new pair of walking or running shoes to get them going.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_B._Moore

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Why I Am Not a Fan of Weight Watchers

A client asked me today if I was a fan of weight watchers, and to be quite honest, the answer is NO. The term doesn't sit well with me for many reasons. Think about it. WEIGHT. WATCHERS. People watching weight. Even better, people spending a billion dollars a year watching weight. What could you be spending your money on?

Season tickets. New clothes. Fabulous dinners. Surprise gifts. Charitable contributions. Growing as an individual. Education.

What would you be doing if you weren't watching the weight?

Laughing. Dancing. Reading. Resting. Writing. Gardening. Talking. Listening. Crying. Walking. Learning. Growing. Making Love. Singing. Cooking delicious foods. Living.

Here's my little secret to weight loss in a nutshell: focus less on your weight and more on creating your best life. Life isn't going to necessarily get better when you lose the weight if you didn't have a great time losing it. Life doesn't start once you hit your goal weight; it's happening right now.

Now, here's the only exception: if you absolutely love, love, love counting points and watching the scale, then I say, go for it, because that's the ultimate goal: to have joy and peace. However, if you feel like a prisoner of your weight and you're not really enjoying watching the number go up and down, why not try skipping the scale and going straight for the good stuff: a joyful life where food isn't the enemy that needs to be under constant guard.

Here's the irony: the weight usually disappears when you aren't watching because what you focus on grows.

What do you want to grow in your life? Your weight obsession? Your increased anxiety around food and your body?

I didn't think so.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tonya_Williams

Saturday, July 3, 2010

7 Dieting Tips to Get Thin For Summer

It is getting warm and we are wearing fewer clothes. Also, it's common that many of us gain a few pounds during the winter as we are often outdoors far less and far less active. Winter food also tends to be hearty and full of calories. Add all these and many of us are bigger than we want! Here are 7 tips to slim down for summer and the more revealing clothes most of us will naturally wear.

1) Get started today. Eat something healthy, do some exercise, or start a formal diet or exercise program immediately. Summer will be here before you know it.

2) Get rid off unhealthy food. Throw away junk food in your home and office. Remove temptations as much as possible.

3) If you are a snacker, and nothing is wrong with snacking, have healthy low calorie snacks around. For example I eat lots of apples and carrots, but if I don't have any I'll grab a bag of chips without even thinking about it.

4) You will need to exercise or at least be active to lose weight, and that's easy in the spring. I tend to garden in the spring and that burns calories. I'm also more likely to walk, I start riding my bike, and I might even go for the occasional run. Friends also try to get me to play pick up basketball and softball games. You may not feel like going to the gym with this warm weather, but being active is simple. And if it's cold and raining, the gym is always a decent option.

5) You will need to eat less and healthier, period. I find this easier in spring by having lots of the fresh fruits and veggies that are available. However you do it, you will need to cut down. See tip 6 too.

6) Spring and summer means grilling, and although I love steaks, hamburgers, and cheeseburgers, there are other delicious and healthy alternatives. Chicken, turkey burgers, and skewers of veggies are all things I've grilled in the last week, and even the children liked them. I can't wait to start grilling corn on the cob too.

7) You may not want to hear this, but a positive attitude works wonders. Think, "It is spring, I'll naturally and easily lose weight if I work at it," and that's likely to be true.

Spring is the easiest and perhaps the most important time of the year to slim down. Hopefully these 7 tips will motivate and help you!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harold_Baldwin

Friday, July 2, 2010

Here Are the Powerful Secrets to Make You Drop 5 Pounds in a Week Or Less! Keep Losing Every Week

Do you want to drop five pounds in a week or less? Do you want to eliminate that stubborn belly fat? Do you want a body that every one dreams of?

I understand the way you feel. Being overweight is never an advantage. And in my case it was quite worse: I weighed 250 pounds and had a huge 40 inch waistline.

This was extremely frustrating and depressing. Often, I'd be depressed and binge on ice creams and alcohol after I found out my new diet plan wasn't working out.

After failing a dozen times, I finally cracked the weight loss code. And I'm going to share the exact secrets that made me lose weight for you within a minute. Pay close attention and read every single word of this page without skipping any of it.

Here are the powerful secrets to make you drop five pounds in a week or less...

Dance Your Way To Weight Loss - Dancing is an extremely effective form of Cardio. You may join a dance class or do the dancing alone. Just dance to the music or order an instructional DVD.

If you have a partner, that'd be great. Make sure that you dance for twenty minutes every day. If you are in a relationship and the two of you dancing every day will increase your bond.

Hit The Stairs - Never take the elevator from now on. If you want to drop 5 pounds in a week and keep dropping until you have the body you dream of, consciously commit to using the stairs from now on.

Five minutes of stair climbing is equivalent to ten minutes of running on a treadmill. It burns a lot of fat and especially gets rid of the cellulite.

The Apple Diet - The apple diet is an extremely powerful diet. All you have to do is eat only apples for one day. You are not allowed to eat anything else. The only fluid you can drink is water.

Feel free to consume as many apples as you like. But only apples. Apples are effective at removing toxins and boosting your body's metabolism. If you want super fast results, I recommend you do it once every week.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Sewell