Archive for December, 2009

People usually equate weight loss to having to give up on food in general.  Not only is this wrong, but it is an unsafe practice altogether.  There is no reason to starve yourself when you are trying to lose weight.  After all, you still need food as fuel for your body to function properly.  However, there are indeed some kinds of food that you will need less of, while there are some kinds of food that will actually aid on your fat loss plan.  Want to know what they are?

Spicy food: Good
For fat and weight loss, spicy food is ultimately a big help.  Spices such as cayenne pepper increase the metabolism rate of our body.  It also aids in burning off fat.  Lastly, spicy food has contents that suppress the appetite, making us eat let.

Organic food: Good
For efficient fat loss, organic food is recommended.  Organic food is easily digested by the body.  Furthermore, it makes you feel more energized, which in turn makes you more active.  Lastly, making a habit out of consuming organic food makes you more mindful of what you eat.  Your “eat right” mentality can only help you lose weight and help you keep it off.

Refined food: No-Good
White rice, white bread, white pasta and white refined sugar do not really have nutritional value.  Furthermore, they have contents that only encourage you to eat more.  Their calories are empty.  Stay away from these kinds of food.

Losing weight does not mean not having food.  You do have to be more conscious of what you eat though.

People usually equate fat loss with having to give up food.  That couldn’t be more false.  Giving up food is starvation, and you certainly don’t want to do that.  Starvation can only be done for quick fixes such as getting to a specific weight for a particular occasion like a wedding or summer on a beach.  Even during these circumstances, starving oneself is not recommended at all.

There are some kinds of food that have actually been found out to be helpful when losing weight.  One such food is virgin coconut oil.  Coconut oil that is 100% organic and unrefined has been proven by research to aid in fat loss.  Apples are also recommended to keep off weight.  They do not only keep the doctor away, they are also blood sugar stabilizers and appetite suppressants.

As for food to avoid, unfortunately fast food is a major no-no.  Preservatives, fats, and chemicals lurk in fast food, which could only ruin your weight loss goals.  Don’t saturate yourself with fried food from fast food, please.   If you have no choice but eat in a fast food, opt for their healthier fare such as salads (go slow on the dressing) and broiled burgers.

Weight loss, if done for permanent reasons like keeping off extra pounds, does not necessarily mean giving up on all food.  When related to food, weight loss should involve not giving them up but introducing your body to healthier food choices that will not only help you lose unnecessary pounds, but also make your body function properly

Common perception: fat loss is a struggle.  Common perception: weight loss is useless, because you’ll find yourself looking at the weighing scale wondering why the extra pounds have come back after toiling for a month or two.  Well, these perceptions can be true, but they can also be false. Fat loss and losing extra weight permanently does not have to be a struggle and it can be permanent.  It is possible to lose weight, keep it off and have fun in the whole process.

Permanent weight loss involves changes in every facet of your life.  Don’t panic and scramble into effecting these changes all at once though.  Small changes can be done in one aspect, say every other week.  So let’s say you need to implement changes in your diet, go to the gym, and go for an early morning jog every day.  You don’t have to do them all effective January 1.  Start with getting rid of junk food for week 1, then going to the gym on week 2, then having more fruits and veggies the next month.  That way, your efforts won’t feel like one huge struggle.  You’ll have sufficient time to mentally prepare for these changes.

As for any physical activity, don’t go to the gym and add weights in your bench press like there’s no tomorrow.  Start small, give yourself a week, and then push the limits a bit, when you find yourself getting more comfortable already.  An early morning jog doesn’t have to be for a full hour the first time you do it.  Start with a 15 minute walk.  As the weeks go by, add distance and time to your regimen.