Review Of The Best Weight Loss Diets

Best Diet for Losing Belly Fat- Part One

2008-03-18T11:43:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! By now most of you should be well into a wieght loss program, or are about to start one. GOOD FOR YOU!!! If you are among the folks already on a program, are you starting to feel better (increased energy, sleeping better, better mood)? Are you finding it easy to stick to your plan? *Big Question*: Are you LOSING FAT/WEIGHT?

And to those of you who are still looking for the best diet for losing belly fat (or any fat) are you SURE you know what to look for in choosing the best diet for achieving your wieght loss goals? You'd be suprised at how many weight loss diets are around proclaiming to be the best.

Just yesterday, as i was at the grocery store a fittness magazine caught my eye with an article titled "LOSE BELLY FAT NOW! The Best Diet for Losing belly Fat!" It intriqued and hypnotized me, through all of its "lose belly fat effortlessly" and "drop 3 dress sizes in a month" phrased. Even though I am at my goal weight, I still had a burning desire to learn more.

As I read futher, it showed a sample diet that was focused around 2-3 diffrent types of foods-exluding 2 whole food groups altogether. It also included meal replacement bars and shakes throughout the day, touting them as "great sources of protein, vitamins and minerals".

At that moment, a light bulb switched on and my common sense kicked in. I said to myself, "Self, have'nt we been here before? Don't you remember spending $100's on shakes and protien bars that were full of chemicals and synthetic "nutrients", only to end up constipated and bloated from them with little wieght loss? Don't you remember eating apples at every meal and eating chicken and steaks exclusively? The wieght loss was temporary, the jitterness and mental fog were REAL? Remember hitting a pleateau in wieght loss that had you crying in the middle of the night? Remember- Okay, Okay, I REMEMBER!!! (looks around me ) I closed that magazine and went about my shopping.

Yes, I do remember all of the wrong ways I went about wieght loss, but I also remember the RIGHT ways which yeilded me the wieght loss I continue to enjoy and benefit from today. All it took was wholesome, healthy foods, nutritious teas, pure water and components of effective, intelligent nutrition techniques. One component to look for when considering a diet for losing belly fat (any fat) would be one that keeps your metabolism high.

Keep posted, part TWO is coming soon!

Your Fitness Future Foretold: 20 Predictions for the New Year

2008-01-14T10:12:00.000-08:00

By Tom Venuto

Happy New Year! In this article, I'm going to predict your future and forecast exactly what kind of results you're going to get in the next 12 months. Sylvia Browne, step aside... I'm pretty good at this.
Several years ago, a public relations firm in New York City asked me to write an article for one of their publications about fitness trends and predictions for the coming year.
It turned out that my "crystal ball" was pretty darn accurate. I nailed most of the predictions I made about aerobics classes, yoga, core training, "holistic" approaches, online personal training technology, the baby boomer market, increasing obesity and many other subjects.
I do confess, it wasn't that difficult, because instead of just guessing, I actually did some research on industry statistics and I also had some "inside insights" because I'd been a health club manager for so many years and was privy to fitness business trends.
This year, instead of making predictions for the whole fitness industry, what if I could take out my crystal ball again and predict with 99% precision exactly what kind of results you will achieve with your body by the end of the year?
Well, no problem, I can do that too!
I would claim that I have some kind of "gift" for this, but to be honest, you and I don't need to be psychic to make predictions like these.
There are two things you can always count on: (1) Nature's laws of cause and effect, and (2) human nature.
On that basis, here are my 20 fitness predictions for the new year:
I PREDICT that if you can reach into your pocket on any day this year and pull out a card or piece of paper with all your body and fitness goals written on it in vivid detail, the odds are 95 to 1 in favor of you achieving every one of those goals before the year is out.
I PREDICT that if you focus your thoughts on your goals and how you are going to achieve them, all day long, you will reach your goals so fast this year, it will make your head spin.
I PREDICT that if you focus your thoughts on health woes and body fat problems and if you think about what you don't want, all day long, your problems will get worse than ever this year.
I PREDICT that if you made a new year's resolution, but you didn't turn it into a specific, written goal with a deadline and a strong reason why you must achieve it, you will freely abandon it the moment the going gets tough.
I PREDICT that if you can tell me all the reasons why achieving your health and fitness goals are important to you, you will be motivated from within to stick with it when the going gets tough.
I PREDICT that at times, the going is going to get tough.
I PREDICT that if you can tell me today what is your life purpose and what is your lifelong vision for your body and your health, you will still be as motivated and driven at the end of the year as you were at the beginning.
I PREDICT that if you don't have long term goals and a "big picture" vision for your life that you will lose your New Year's enthusiasm and motivation in a matter of months or even weeks.
I PREDICT that the way you see yourself in your mind's eye today will be an exact reflection of what you see in the mirror at the end of the year.
I PREDICT that if you have a setback that seems to get in the way of you reaching your health and fitness goals and you tell yourself "this just is temporary; this too shall pass," then it will pass and it won't set you back.
I PREDICT that if you believe the way your body looks today is out of your control and you feel helpless or powerless to change, you won't even make much of an effort this year.
I PREDICT that if you accept complete responsibility for the way your body looks today and you believe that you have the power to change, that you will take action and keep taking action, even through the tough times.
I PREDICT that if you're unhappy with your physical condition and you say, "it's not my fault" or you blame it on genetics, hormones or age, then your body will look pretty much the same at the end of this year as it did on New Year's day.
I PREDICT that the more you have patience, a long term perspective and the ability to postpone immediate gratification, the more likely you are to be a success one year from now.
I PREDICT that the more you seek "miracle pills" or "quick fixes," the more likely you are to be a failure one year from now.
I PREDICT that you will be tempted by many quick fixes this year.
I PREDICT that if you hang out with losers and negative people this year, you will become just like them.
I PREDICT that if you hang out with winners and positive people this year, you will become just like them.
I PREDICT that you will run into more negative people and losers this year than positive people and winners.
I PREDICT that if you recruit just one friend or support partner that stands behind you and the lifestyle changes you want to make this year, you will double your chances for success. If you surround yourself with numerous support partners, you will become virtually unstoppable.
So how does your future look for the year ahead?
Based on my "predictions," if it doesn't look as bright as you'd like it to be, then don't worry, because a prediction is not predestination.
You can't do anything to change the past, but by changing your thoughts, attitudes and actions in the present moment, the future is yours to create.
Your friend and coach,
Tom Venuto
To see a complete fat burning system that takes you by the hand, step by step and shows you what to eat, how to exercise and how to stay motivated, all year long, visit: www.burnthefat.com

Top 50 Weight Loss Tips For The New Year-#3

2008-01-10T15:33:00.000-08:00

3) WALK! Nature's best exercise for weight loss- Contrary to popular belief, walking is one of the BEST exercise for weight loss. Whether you're a professional athlete or just beginning an exercise routine, walking is very beneficial for overall fitness and weight loss. Walking has been shown to reset your body's weight-set point, allowing you to be leaner and attain the size and weight mother nature intended for you to have. Walking is gentle on the joints, and allows you to release stress (very important in preventing stress-related overeating). Try making a plan to walk 30minutes a day, then increase it by 15 minutes each week until you are walking at least 1 hour a day. Impossible, you say, NO WAY!! Divide it up, 30 in the morning, 30 in the evening. It is best to walk outside, but if the weather is bad or safety is an issue, go to a local mall or even Department store (Walmart, etc.). If you have a couple of dollars to spare, go to a local YMCA, Girls & Boys Club, Community Recreation center, or even a local gym. Walking can DOUBLE your fat/weight loss and speed results. Don't let the older ladies at the mall reap all of the amazing benefits of one of the best exercises for weight loss!

Top 50 Weight Loss Tips for the New Year-#2

2008-01-08T08:44:00.000-08:00

2) Eat organic apples throughout the day- Apples are full of fiber, and we all know that fiber promotes weight loss. But did you know that apples have a cleansing effect on your colon and liver? Apples help remove toxic waste build-up from the walls of the colon and helps in cleansing the liver of fat and sediment build-up. A clogged liver can stall and/or hault fat loss. Try to eat the apple with the skin on, becuase the skin of the apple contain the most fiber. Apples also help keep your energy levels high; by regulating your blood sugar; thus avoiding a "crash" often experienced after eating a sugary meal.

Top 50 Weight Loss tips for The New Year-#1

2008-01-06T09:28:00.000-08:00

1) Drink a glass of water upon rising- After a long night rest, your body is likely to be dehydrated. Dehydration is often confused for hunger, and this could cause us to overeat at the breakfast table (i remeber days from my youth, where i would down 3 bowls of cereal and milk (around 7 cups of cereal, one cup was a single serving on the cereal box!). It is also the reason we have less energy throughout the day and can cause constipation. Drinking water when you first arise will kick start your metabolism and give you a great boost in energy. Try adding some lemon juice/lemon slices to your water throughout the day to add cleansing and detoxifying power to your water.

Foods That Promote Weight Loss--Part One

2008-01-01T23:57:00.000-08:00

Many people in America are overweight and looking for the next diet to lose fat. We spend billions of dollars a year on weight loss products, particularly fat--burning supplements and diet foods. The manufacturing companies of most diet foods claim to produce the best foods for weight loss. These products tout promises such as "xyz will burn fat fast, and allow you to lose 15 pounds in 15 days" , and "zyx will shed belly fat fast in as little as 10 days if eaten". Be careful, as most of these diet foods are loaded with sugar and preservatives, and lack far less nutrition than "real" food.

Upon learning this, many would ask, "Are there ANY foods that promote weight loss?" The answer to this question is YES! There are foods that SUPPORT fat and weight loss, but the way they support weight loss is very different from the current ideas we hold about fighting fat. While eating a reduced--calorie diet and exercising do lead to weight loss, there are more ways at cutting fat and losing weight than one would think. There are also many foods that support weight loss, some of them are in our grocery stores, backyard and even already in our pantries! One of these amazing, yet incredibly inexpensive foods are the lemon.

Lemons are one of the best foods for weight loss. Do they burn fat by themselves? Not necessarily. While lemons DO support weight loss, they do something else far greater than fat burning. Lemons are excellent at detoxifing our bodies. What does this mean in terms of weight loss? Lemons help eliminate waste matter from our bodies. It assists in removing toxins, chemicals, and fat from our systems, particularly our colon and bloodstream. Did you know that we can have up to 20lbs of stored waste at any given time in our bodies? NO amount of exercise can rid you of this type of extra weight; yet it is very visible. It shows up as stubborn belly fat and love handles. Following a short detox diet including lemon juice is an affective way to flush fat and toxins, jump starting weight loss.

Another great benefit of lemon juice is that it helps to stimulate and cleanse the liver. The typical American diet contains high amounts calories and trans fat. Paired with our habit of overeating, this puts stress on our liver. The liver is responsible for storing fat and processing nutrients from the foods we eat. When we gorge ourselves of fatty, sugary foods; over a period of years; we fill our liver to capacity. Our body has to find a place to store the excess fat, so it moves it to other areas for future use, or until our liver is capable of processing it. These areas include the stomach, thighs, arms legs, etc. Drinking lemon juice in water will help cleanse and detoxify the liver allowing it to process fat and nutrients faster, better and more easily.

All of these incredible health benefits make the lemon one of the best foods for weight loss and overall health. It is safe to use and won't affect your teeth. Try some freshly squeezed lemon juice in your water today!

How To Lose Excess Belly Fat

2007-12-30T11:01:00.001-08:00

It is that time of the year when the fog of the holiday season clears, leaving us face to face with its aftermath. We've indulged in rich cakes, turkey and dressing, succulent hams, holiday cookies and more than a few glasses of wine. As we return to our jobs, we can't seem to wonder why our pants fit so snugly. Nonetheless, we scan the Internet and review weight loss programs that promise to show us how to lose excess belly fat. After the 5th diet failure (and many late nights of chocolate chip cookies, potato chips and crying), many of us have found it impossible to lose our belly pooch. Why are most weight loss diets so ineffective, and how did we gain so much weight over the holidays? After all, a few holiday treats here and there can't possibly lead to weight gain, right?

WRONG! Most of the food eaten over the holiday season are loaded with simple carbohydrates (sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, processed sugar). Even diet foods and non-sweet food items such as gravy and lunch meats contain hidden sugar. Over indulging in simple carbohydrates will quickly lead to excess belly fat and weight gain. It elevates insulin levels, increases hunger, and leads to fat storage.

Many people seeking to lose weight include weight loss meal replacements into their regimen. Programs that use these bars and shakes claim to show you how to lose excess belly fat. Yes, they allow you to eat fewer calories and lose a small amount of weight. But they always leave you craving sweets and junk food. These meal replacement bars/shakes are often times loaded with sugar. They advertise that they are low fat, or high protein, but have to add large amounts of sugar just to allow the product not to taste like a piece of wood! A sudden surge of sugar can quickly cause an elevation in insulin levels. Insulin, a hormone, is responsible for regulating fat storage and allows us to convert glucose (sugar) into energy. When we overeat or eat large amounts of sugar, and don't use all of the energy from the meal, our body stores this energy as fat.

Sugary foods also increase your appetite. After we eat a large meal, especially sugar-laden ones, we feel a "burst of energy". This energy burst is often short-lived, causing us to soon feel lethargic, tired and listless. What do we do now? Well, we reach for the next sugary snack of course, because we want to experience that "burst of energy." And this cycle repeats itself over, and over, and over again. Instead of reaching for sugary snacks and diet products packed with sugar, try to eat whole foods; including fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and small portions of healthy fats. Eating combinations of these foods allow our insulin levels to stabilize, and keeps it this way. It also allows us to keep our energy levels high at all times. Example snack ideas include almonds, whole-wheat or rye bread with peanut butter, peaches and cottage cheese, and bite size apples. Weight loss programs that limit sugar to healthy levels and include all of the food groups in a reduced calorie diet will show you how to lose excess belly fat!
By D.Arrington

Lose Belly Fat Permanently

2007-12-24T20:58:00.000-08:00

Every year, Americans spend more than $40 billion dollars on weight loss products, yet over 66% of us remain overweight. There are tens of thousands of diets that claim to be the best program for losing belly fat, promising such things as "lose 30lbs in 2 weeks", and "get washboard abs in 30 days." As soon as these programs hit the stores we gobble them up. We also produce thousands of abdominal machines and exercise programs that declare to be the best exercise for abs. If this were so, why are the companies that produce these products constantly coming out with new gadgets, each time claiming to be "better than the rest"? Let's face it, we are the land of the big-- bellied people. Our conversations at work revolve around how many "points" we have left to eat that day, and of how our wives must have shrunk our pants yesterday while doing the laundry (come on!) Obviously, we are losing the battle of the bulge. But it doesn't have to be this way, there are safe and effective ways to lose weight and get rid of belly fat. There are important key aspects to a weight loss program that most diets fail to discuss. These aspects are maintaining a high, fat burning metabolism, getting the right amount of nutrition and combining the diet with safe, effective exercises. Most diets allow you to lose a quick 5lbs-10lbs. But when continued, your weight loss screatches to a hault. What happened? Most of the diets around today that produce quick weight loss resutls (low fat, low cal, restrictive diets) are very low in calories. Your body is smart, it is desigened to protect itself from dying. It will do anything it can to save its life; including holding on to calories and store fat. This causes a steep drop in your metabolism. These diets also cause your body to feed upon itself, allowing you to lose much needed muscle mass. We all know that muscle mass requires more calories than fat to survive. And with more muscle mass, you could eat larger amounts of food at the same time as losing/mantaining your weight than with extra fat. A diet that INCREASES your metabolism would accelerate your body's natural rate of calorie burning, allowing you to shed excess fat fast.
A diet that includes the right amount of nutrition is often rare to find nowadays. Some diets claim that restricting whole food groups; labeling them as "fat promoting" are the only way to lose weight and flatten your belly. You do manage to lose some weight at the begining of the diet, and even manage to lose a couple of inches. But when you continue to follow this diet, the weight comes back, and you find yourself feeling tired, confused, and achy. Some people have even experienced hair loss, flu--like symptoms, organ failure, and heart attacks. What is going wrong here? Anytime a major food group is eliminated, chances are you are also eliminating important nutrients. These nutrients are key to keeping your organ systems functioning properly. An example would be a diet with low levels of protein, magnesium, pottassuim and zinc. This could affect thyroid function, which is responsible for regulating the metabolism. Diets that restrict nutrients are NOT WORTH IT! You cannot get around eating a balanced diet. A diet that contains all of the needed nutrition and maintains a high fat-burning metabolism would be considered the best program for losing belly fat, and also total body weight.
Combining effective, safe ab exercises and the diet above are KEY to getting rid of belly fat fast. So if you are thinking about buying that new ab--chair--rocker thing, hoping it will shave 5 inches off your waist in a month, think again. Those machines DO NOT BURN FAT! They are even less effective than a couple of sit-ups done with poor form! Most ab machines actually do more harm than good, causing you to injur your back and knees. Some of the best exercises for abs include pilates and yoga. These exercises focus on your core muscles (abs), strengthening, toning and elongating them safley. Pilates and yoga also work the whole body to provide a strong support system for your abs. Other important exercises include whole-body areobics, which burns body fat. This allows you to lose fat off of your abs, revealing the six pack you've had all along!
By performing effective, safe ab exercises and eating a nutritious, metabolism-boosting diet, you WILL lose your belly fat fast!

written by D. Arrington

Why Bother With The Master Cleanse?

2007-12-23T11:07:00.000-08:00

There's a lot of buzz surrounding the Master Cleanse. Lately it seems like every Hollywood actress or actor who needs to get in shape is turning to this decades old health system that involves drinking a mixture of lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper.
With all the diets out there to choose from why would anyone bother with the Master Cleanse?
There's two main reasons people like the Master Cleanse. The first (and most obvious) is that it works. The results people are getting with the Master Cleanse border on miraculous, and they are backed by thousands of devoted users who are living testimonials to the effectiveness of the Master Cleanse.
The second reason people choose the Master Cleanse over other diets and wellness programs is that it's fast. The typical person only spends 10 days on the Master Cleanse, compared to other diets that can last months or even years you can see why they choose the Master Cleanse.
Another interesting thing about the Master Cleanse lasting just 10 days is that you only need a short term burst of will power to get through it. Having to sacrifice for months is what makes other diets so hard to stay on, but most people can will their way through 10 days.
What can you expect from 10 days on the Master Cleanse?
Even though most people are going on the Master Cleanse to lose weight quickly, there's many other health benefits to be gained by doing the Master Cleanse. Flushing out your system is what the Master Cleanse is really designed to do. Even back 60 years ago when the Master Cleanse was first invented people had health problems as a result of waste building up inside of them. Today with processed foods, pollution, and all around poor diets our bodies desperately need to be flushed out every once in a while.
When you flush out your body with the Master Cleanse the waste you eliminate will be abnormal. The smell, color, and texture of the waste that comes out of your body shocks some people, so you should be prepared.
If you want to try the Master Cleanse there's more you need to know then just drinking the lemonade mixture for 10 days. In fact most people who try the Master Cleanse without knowing all the steps fail. If you think the Master Cleanse is something you would like to try there's a good book at Mastercleansesecrets.com that you should read before starting the Master Cleanse because it covers the common problems people face, and how to avoid them.

GET RID OF YOUR BELLY FAT FAST

2007-12-17T18:46:00.001-08:00

1)EAT A HEALTHY DIET- Diets containing loads of sugar, trans fat and processed foods are detrimental in you quest for a flat midsection. They cause fatuige, an unhealthy increase in insulin levels (causing that infamous crash experienced after a sugary meal) and promote fat storage. Diets containing the proper amounts of lean protien, complex carbs and healthy fats create a sense of fullness. They allow you to eat more food (bulk) that have less calories, resulting in wieght loss! It also stabilizes blood sugar levels, giving you more energy throughout the day

.2)DO WHOLE BODY EXERCISES- Aerobics that use the whole body burn more calories than body-specific exercises. Examples are walking, dancing, using eliptical machines and swimming. These exercises also work and build all of the major muscle groups to support your abs, helping to create a balanced, symetrical body

.3) DO PILATES- Pilates strenghthen and tone the core (abs) and back muscles. This is very important, becuase having a strong back will support a strong, toned midsection and pull in your ab muscles, creating a leaner sillohuoette. Most traditinal floor exercies for the abs do not strengthen the back. Pilates also tones and sculpts the oblique muscles, creating that much desired "V" profile. Instead of adding bulk like traditinal ab exercises, pilates lengthens the ab muscles

.4)BE CONSISTANT!- It didn't take a day to achieve that "beer belly", and it's not giong to take a day to lose belly fat. But by applying these techniques, and bieng CONSISTENT, you will likley see results in as little as 3-4 weeks, and will be able to get rid of your belly fat fast.

By eating a healthy diet, doing whole body exercisesand pilates, and bieng consistant you WILL get rid of your belly fat fast and achieve flatter abs in no time!