Lose Weight in 2 Days

Posts Tagged ‘Weight’

The food that you eat will contain a certain number of calories. You will need a certain amount of calories to maintain your bodyweight as it stands at the present time. This is called your maintenance level.

If the amount of calories that you consume goes over your maintenance level, then you will put on more weight. If the amount of calories that you consume goes under your maintenance level, then you will lose weight.

In theory it sounds a simple and straightforward method towards losing weight. However things are never as simple as they appear. Weight loss can be a bit more complex, if it wasn’t then nobody would be overweight.

The first thing that you have to know is that not all calories are created equal. A gram of protein and a gram of carbohydrates each contain 4 calories. A gram of fat on the other hand contains 9 calories. When you check on food labels as to the amount of fat that is contained, always remember the amount of calories which are coming from fat.

Another thing to keep in mind is that certain types of calories are more prone to be stored as fat than others. Especially calories that are consumed from foods that contain high levels of sugar. So it’s not just a question of how many calories you eat, but what types of calories you eat.

While it’s true that cutting back on calories will help you lose a certain amount of weight. What you need to consider is the quality of weight that you are losing and not just the quantity. Weight, just like calories comes in different forms. If you lost a limb in an accident, you will have lost some weight. However this would not be the type of weight you would be happy losing.

Much of the weight that people lose when they cut back drastically on calories comes from muscle. Muscle loss is something that you will want to avoid at all costs.

Let’s face it; you haven’t become overweight by carrying too much muscle on your body. It is the amount of fat that your body is carrying that has led to you becoming overweight. So it makes sense to focus on losing the fat and holding onto any muscle that you can.

Everyone has the same amount of muscles on their bodies. The only difference is the size of the muscles. The bigger the muscle the more calories your body will burn to keep that muscle. Don’t think for one minute that you will begin to look like some bodybuilder, because you won’t. Not unless you train your muscles for many years. However if you are trying to lose weight, you will reach your goal quicker if you do some form of resistance training (weight training).

Fat can be very stubborn to shift and nobody is more aware of that than you. The key to losing fat and holding onto muscle, apart from a healthy diet, is to have a good exercise programme. A good mix of cardiovascular and resistance training is the perfect cocktail. Cardiovascular training will help you burn fat and resistance training will help you to keep your muscle weight.

You may be under the impression that resistance training will consist of grunting and groaning with heavy weights in gym full of steroid injecting hulks. This is not the reality of the situation. All you need to do is to focus on what is going to be challenging for you. Don’t be concerned about how much weight you use; as long as it’s working your muscles and you are feeling it, then you are doing it right.

If you only do cardiovascular exercise you will lose some weight. However because you are losing muscle as well, it can leave your body looking loose and flabby. Using a weight training routine will result in your body becoming firmer and more toned, not to mention the benefits f becoming stronger.

As for your diet, it will not just be a question of what you eat but when you eat. This is a hugely important issue that is at times overlooked.

Your body is designed in such a way that it is only capable of using a certain amount of food at any given time. How much your body can use depends on the life you lead. If you are very active your body will be able to assimilate more food. If however you are not active your body will only use a certain amount of food and store the rest as fat.

The mistake many people make when they are trying to lose weight is that they often cut back on the amount of meals that they eat. Most people will often cut down to 1 or 2 meals a day and sometimes one of those meals will contain more calories than their bodies will be able to use. On top of this, leaving long gaps between meals slows down your metabolism resulting in fewer calories being burned.

Most people trying to lose weight unknowingly do everything that will prevent them from losing weight on a permanent basis. Because they will not get the results that they want by eating fewer meals less frequently, they give up trying to lose weight under the impression that they are not capable of doing so.

The secret is to eat small amounts of food more often. If your body is fed small amounts of food every 3 or 4 hours, your body will be able to use this food more effectively. Plus because you are getting a food intake on a regular basis, your metabolism will speed up knowing it is getting calories regularly and that it can afford to burn calories as it will be getting some more in a few hours.

Eating in this way not only speeds up your metabolism, it also allows your body to use the food that you eat in a way that it is happy with. Because you are eating smaller amounts there are no extra calories to be stored as fat.

Traditionally our last meal of the day also tends to be our biggest one. This can also be problematic when it comes to losing weight. Eating a large meal in the evening is counterproductive to weight loss, simply because you will be less active in the evening and will not burn off as many calories. So a fair amount of the food that you eat can be stored as fat.

If your biggest meal of the day was eaten in the morning or at lunch time, much of the calories would be used up through your daily activities. It can be difficult to change the eating habits of a lifetime, but if you are serious about losing weight then it has to be something that you must consider.

It is a fact that some people are more prone to putting on weight than others. Your genetics and body shape will play a role in how easy it is for you to gain or lose weight. Although this can be a setback you must remember that it is still only one part of the equation. There are many other things that will affect whether you lose weight, so do not focus just on the genetics that you have been given.

If you find it easy to put on weight you may have to work a little harder than some other people to keep it off. Don’t think that your genetics will be a huge obstacle in losing weight. If you want to do it bad enough then you will succeed in doing so. Besides think of how much prouder you will be when you do succeed, as you would have done it without certain advantages.

Some of the things you will need to think about are:

Watching what you eat Watching how much you eat Exercise on a regular basis Become more active in other areas of your life Be more determined Be more persistent Remember why you are doing it

Thousands of people lose weight successfully, if you really want to you can become one of them!

Somebody wrote to me recently and asked for my help. They said that they have recently started a new job with unsocial hours and can’t help eating junk food all the time. They also said that they find it hard to get motivated.

You’ll be pleased to know that there is something that can be done about this, so I’m going to tell you 8 easy to follow steps to take that will help you overcome this problem.

1. Stop buying it:

If you don’t buy junk food you can’t eat it! Look for healthier options and read of the rest of the steps.

2. Eat breakfast:

How many times have you heard that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I can still hear my mother’s voice! Well, it’s true! A bowl of porridge or cereal will fill you up for the morning. If you don’t have time in the morning then eat a banana and a pot of low-fat yoghurt. Oatmeal bars are also a great snack, full of fibre and healthy for you.

3. Keep healthy snacks at work:

Keep a supply of apples in your desk – they keep a long time. Bananas are a great snack as well as they are ready-wrapped and release energy slowly so you don’t feel hungry quickly after eating one.

4. Eat healthy alternatives:

Instead of a lunchtime burger or high-calorie, high-fat sandwich or roll try making a healthy lunch at home. Buy some brown, oatmeal burger buns and fill with freshly chopped lettuce, low-fat grated cheese, tomato, cucumber etc. Alternatively choose a baked potato with a healthy topping or filling.

5. Keep healthy food in the house:

If you don’t have any junk food in the house, you can only eat good stuff, right?

6. Plan your meals for the week:

Once you have planned your meals you can make a shopping list. Buy only the items on the list and don’t shop when you’re hungry. Cook enough for a few meals and freeze the rest for later in the work when you come home from work tired.

7. Keep active:

Deliberately make your body work harder to do simple, everyday things.  Use the stairs instead of the elevator. While sitting at work or home move your legs up and down as if walking or marching on the spot. Do sit ups, fidget or walk places quickly,

Walk to work and walk home from work. If it’s not feasible to do that then park the car further away from work, or get off the bus a stop earlier and walk the rest. Try going out for walks when you don’t work.

8. Drink plenty of water:

You can lose at least 7-10 extra pounds just by drinking enough water. It also boosts your metabolic rate. When your metabolic rate is raised you will burn fat and lose weight. Water detoxifies your body by flushing out all the toxins. As a result you will feel better and have healthier, clearer skin as an added bonus.

If you really want to lose weight then it is simply a matter of getting into the right frame of mind and deciding that it is something you will do. Don’t think – I will TRY to lose weight but decide I WILL lose weight!

You can if you want to!

Do you ever find when you go on a diet that you feel hungry all the time? Somehow you feel deprived. Well, here are some of my favourite tips to help you lose weight without following a diet or having to buy special foods. Best of all I’m not going to mention carrots as a snack. Eat them if you want but it’s not my idea of a snack.

Here goes – 10 useful tips to help you shed the pounds and lose weight without any real effort.

1. Always eat breakfast. This will kick-start your metabolism for the day. It’s been slow all night so you want to give it a boost. If you don’t have time in the mornings then something as simple as a banana and yoghurt will do the trick. A firm banana will provide a slow release of energy throughout the morning so you shouldn’t feel the need for a mid-morning snack.

2. Use a smaller plate than normal. When the plate is full you are still eating less food than you normally would. This will fool your brain into thinking you are eating a massive amount of food.

3. Eat a slighter smaller portion of meat or other protein and eat a lot more vegetables and salad.

4. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Try and drink a tumbler of water shortly before meals. This will make you feel fuller when you do eat.

5. Cut down as much as possible on all processed foods. They contain hidden sugars and high quantities of salt. Salt increases the amount of fluid retention. We want to get rid of that fluid.

6. Use fruits as snacks. A mixture of fresh fruit and dried fruit will give you different textures, still provide a sweet taste and are a lot healthier for you.

7. Get more active. The more you move the more calories you burn. Even if you have a problem with mobility and cannot walk you can still get more active. We all know that a brisk walk is good for us. Not everyone can do that though. Instead, when you are sitting down, tap your feet or march on the spot. Twist your upper body from side to side. Stretch your arms in the air, out in front of you or to the sides. Any movement at all is burning calories.

8. Eat smaller amounts little and often during the day. This will help your metabolism keep working. However, don’t eat ALL day long.

9. Have your last meal at least one hour before going to bed. Your organs slow down while you sleep; they need to rest as well. You want your food to have digested before bed time and not be sitting in your stomach all night.

10. Don’t weigh yourself every day and don’t get obsessed about food. All the above are simple tips that are easy to follow and don’t need any real effort. Isn’t that what we all want? – An easy way to lose weight and shed unwanted pounds.

Somebody wrote to me recently and asked for my help. They said that they have recently started a new job with unsocial hours and can’t help eating junk food all the time. They also said that they find it hard to get motivated.

You’ll be pleased to know that there is something that can be done about this, so I’m going to tell you 8 easy to follow steps to take that will help you overcome this problem.

1. Stop buying it:

If you don’t buy junk food you can’t eat it! Look for healthier options and read of the rest of the steps.

2. Eat breakfast:

How many times have you heard that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I can still hear my mother’s voice! Well, it’s true! A bowl of porridge or cereal will fill you up for the morning. If you don’t have time in the morning then eat a banana and a pot of low-fat yoghurt. Oatmeal bars are also a great snack, full of fibre and healthy for you.

3. Keep healthy snacks at work:

Keep a supply of apples in your desk – they keep a long time. Bananas are a great snack as well as they are ready-wrapped and release energy slowly so you don’t feel hungry quickly after eating one.

4. Eat healthy alternatives:

Instead of a lunchtime burger or high-calorie, high-fat sandwich or roll try making a healthy lunch at home. Buy some brown, oatmeal burger buns and fill with freshly chopped lettuce, low-fat grated cheese, tomato, cucumber etc. Alternatively choose a baked potato with a healthy topping or filling.

5. Keep healthy food in the house:

If you don’t have any junk food in the house, you can only eat good stuff, right?

6. Plan your meals for the week:

Once you have planned your meals you can make a shopping list. Buy only the items on the list and don’t shop when you’re hungry. Cook enough for a few meals and freeze the rest for later in the work when you come home from work tired.

7. Keep active:

Deliberately make your body work harder to do simple, everyday things.  Use the stairs instead of the elevator. While sitting at work or home move your legs up and down as if walking or marching on the spot. Do sit ups, fidget or walk places quickly,

Walk to work and walk home from work. If it’s not feasible to do that then park the car further away from work, or get off the bus a stop earlier and walk the rest. Try going out for walks when you don’t work.

8. Drink plenty of water:

You can lose at least 7-10 extra pounds just by drinking enough water. It also boosts your metabolic rate. When your metabolic rate is raised you will burn fat and lose weight. Water detoxifies your body by flushing out all the toxins. As a result you will feel better and have healthier, clearer skin as an added bonus.

If you really want to lose weight then it is simply a matter of getting into the right frame of mind and deciding that it is something you will do. Don’t think – I will TRY to lose weight but decide I WILL lose weight!

You can if you want to!

Are you looking for a fast way to lose weight? Don’t you hate the uncomfortable feeling of being overweight? Tired of seeing all the skinny people enjoying walking around in their silly little halter tops and bikinis with their skinny little thighs? Wouldn’t you like to feel good about yourself again and be able to join everyone else at the water parks during those hot summer months instead of making excuses why you don’t want to go? You’re not alone, don’t worry. The good news is it’s not that hard to achieve this goal and be able to lose 20 pounds and fit into those “skinny” jeans. And even if you have a goal of more than 20 pounds, that’s okay. I managed to do this.- Without much fuss at all.- No pain.- And no money spent for gym memberships either. I’m simply going to go through what worked for me but remember everyone is different so you may need to change things around to fit yourself and your lifestyle and schedule. I lost an easy 20 pounds with this method about 10 years ago and the good news is it stays off as long as you continue following the plan. What is my simple secret? I made a point to walk every day. Now, of course, there are going to be some days you simply can’t get this done. But by having the goal of walking every day, if you do miss a day here and there you really haven’t missed too much. If you make your goal to walk every other day or every 3 days, and then you miss a day, you might end up going a week without walking. So I would suggest that you start out with the intention of walking each and every day. How far to walk is up to you. I don’t necessarily have a goal as to how far but I go for how long. I usually walk for at least half an hour per day. The distance is about a mile and a half at the pace I walk. Even if you do nothing else but just walk every day you’ll lose weight. It may not come off as fast as you would like but as the old fable says, slow and steady wins the race. You don’t even have to change your eating habits. Of course you can, and that will speed things along, but you don’t have to.Now, if you are in a hurry, and chances are great that you probably are, you can increase the walking time or miles per day. For example, you could set a goal to walk 3 miles per day. If you stick to that goal you will lose weight, and at 3 miles per day you can do it pretty quickly. Adjusting your eating habits is not required but as I mentioned, it will help you to lose weight faster. Nothing drastic need be done unless you want to. Just cut back a little. The combination of your walking and cutting back your eating just a bit will work wonders. I know it sounds to simplistic to be true but it really works. Now, if you want to speed things up even a little more, you can add strength training to your regimen. I found that if I worked out with some strength training on my Total Gym at home, it really helped take the weight off fast. The reason for that is you are building muscle, which helps to speed fat loss. So if you have access to something like that to use, try adding in some muscle building exercises to help you reach your goal faster. That’s all there is to it, a very simple and fast way to lose weight. So if you have been wondering how to lose those extra 20 pounds (or even more), give this regimen a try. It’s simple but it works!