Monday, December 20, 2010

Can Quick Weight Loss Really Work?

Quick weight loss is promised by diets all the time. "Lose 10 pounds over night," the ads will scream. Most people know in the back of their mind that quick weight loss is either not healthy or is a short term fix.

Most quick weight loss pounds are only water. Your body will flush water out of your system and the scale will show a quick weight loss of 3 to 10 pounds. The quick weight loss is however short lived. The second you drink any fluids your body will hold the water and your quick weight loss will disappear.

The short tem success of quick weight loss in a low carb diet is also this loss of water. Dieters are excited when they see the quick weight loss however this excitement is short lived. Once carbs are introduced back into their diet, boom, there goes the quick weight loss.

Instead of being suckered into all the quick weight loss claims, why don't your try these common sense weight loss tips to use when dining out to help you achieve long term success. You won't see a quick weight loss by following these tips but you will see some really great long term changes in your body.

1.) If you must have a dessert, split it with a friend.

2.) Start your meal with soup and a salad. If you fill up on healthy foods first, you may eat less of the high calorie entries.

3.) Immediately ask for a box to go and place half of your meal in it. Not only will you cut calories but you now have an entire additional meal for later.

4.) Ask for non-fat or low-fat dressing on the side when ordering your salad. You can then control the portion size. A high calorie dressing can add 200-400 additional calories to your health salad.

5.) At a fast food restaurant, always order the small size. Did you know a super size French fry at Mc Donald's is 29g grams of fat and 610 calories??

Once again, these simple restaurant tips will not result in quick weight loss but if you start using these and other weight loss tips every day, you will start seeing the long term success you truly deserve. Always think long term and don't be tricked by diets that promise "incredible quick weight loss"
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Diet Food Can Actually Taste Yummy!

One of the biggest reasons that people slip off their diets and eating plans is BOREDOM.

It's very easy to look at the foods allowed on your diet and see it as restrictive and mundane. Chicken four nights a week. Fish three times a week. Leafy greens till they’re coming out the wahzoo. Who wouldn't get bored?

Well, here’s the answer. Anyone with a good set of cookbooks and a healthy imagination can succeed here. Perk up your cabinet with spices and fill your refrigerator with fresh fruits and vegetables, then look for novel ways to combine them.

Here are a handful of tips for yummy, healthy eating

1. Spice it up!

Spices are one of the quickest ways out of the diet doldrums. Rosemary and fennel with chicken, mint rubbed into pork, pepper and lemon mint on fresh fish - the 'blander' the food, the higher the effect of the spices.

2. Dress it up.

Fruit vinaigrette dressings make wonderful marinades for meats and dressings for warm or cold vegetables. Try broccoli drizzled with raspberry vinaigrette or cabbage spiced up with apple vinegar and pepper. Don’t be afraid of the vinegar word. Even if you’re not a fan of one vinaigrette, you might find yourself practically addicted to another!

2. Herb-infused olive oils - tarragon, ginger, fennel and more.

Give them a try! Use a little to start off with, and see if you like the flavors. You’d be really surprised at how tasty foods can be with these oils!

4. Low sodium soy sauce is a great way to flavor up just about anything.

5. Fruit

Dark leafy greens like spinach were practically designed to be eaten with mandarin oranges, raspberries or chunks of pineapple. Mandarin oranges are the primary reason I even started eating salads. And loving them.

Still need some help? Here are a few cookbooks to help you fight those diet boredom blues!

The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook
Feta cheese makes any food tastier!

The South Beach Diet Cookbook
This book is packed with more than 200 recipes for delicious low-fat foods

American Heart Association Meals in Minutes
These recipes will have you leaving the fast food world far behind!

Joslin Diabetes Center's Vegetarian Diabetic Cookbook
Meatless and vegan recipes that are low fat, high fiber, and delicious! Just remember that low-fat doesn’t always mean healthy. Your body absolutely needs some intake of fat to function properly.

The Guilt-Free Gourmet
Famous cruise ship chef Sam Miles put together this wonderful cookbook from his six years traveling on ships as a cook.

Well, there you go! Now you don’t have to live with boring foods—even if you are eating healthy!
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Diet Pills – A Risky Idea

I wish I had a nickel for every weight loss aid and pill on the market. You and I could both retire. Many of these have been associated with serious medical risks, including heart attack, heart abnormalities, tachycardia, stroke, seizures and death. That’s pretty scary!

Most diet pills are appetite suppressants of one kind or another, generally stimulants with effects similar to those of amphetamine. They’re okayed for treatment of obesity, where it's considered that the health risks associated with obesity outweigh the risks of the medication.

But is you have less than 30 pounds to lose, the risks are far less cut-and-dried. Over the counter medications and their risks are not as well-documented as the effects of prescription diet pills. Herbal preparation effects are documented even less, especially those whose makers don't officially make weight loss claims.

Here’s part of the problem. As long as they don't contain a 'new' ingredient, or one that has never been marketed for weight loss purposes, weight-loss aids are not subject to FDA review. Instead, the manufacturer is held responsible for the safety and effectiveness of their products. So a lot of times that means unregulated dosages, unhealthy additives and ineffective ingredients.

Hopefully, one day all over the counter medications and herbal preparations marketed as weight loss supplements will be labeled and tested by impartial researchers. Until then, there are some things that you can do to lessen diet pill risks.

Research thoroughly. There's a lot of information out there about drugs and herbs like ephedra, ephinedrine, phentermine and sibutramine. Know what you're taking and what the risks are so that you can watch for side effects.

Always talk to your doctor before you start taking any drug or herbal supplement. Yes, I know you’ve heard this a thousand times, but there are good reasons for the advice! Some products interact poorly with other medications, or have an adverse effect on chronic conditions.

Follow dosage instructions. Overdoses of stimulant medications, which are a component of most weight loss preparations, can be serious and severe.

Don't take any weight loss pill or supplement for more than a few weeks unless a doctor has prescribed it.

Ask your pharmacist when purchasing over the counter weight loss preparations to be sure that the ingredients don't interact with other medications you may be taking. Include both prescription and nonprescription medications in your questions.

There are much more healthy and effective ways to lose weight than taking pills. The potential of serious health problems remains. It's an awful lot of risk for a little weight loss.
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Does a Cholesterol Diet sound confusing?

Does a Cholesterol Diet sound confusing?

At first it doesn’t seem quite right, doesn’t it? But is seems that what we have here is actually just a slight misnomer.

Makes you think that cholesterol diets advocates the eating of more cholesterol, but the opposite is actually the case. Cholesterol diets are intended to lower the cholesterol in the bloodstream. There are some cholesterol diets that lower the total cholesterol count, and other cholesterol diets that increase the so-called good cholesterol in the bloodstream so it can combat the bad cholesterol that is there. Cholesterol diets are occasionally supplemented by cholesterol-lowering drugs. Most of the people who take cholesterol-lowering drugs wish the drugs would supplant their need for cholesterol diets, but this is not usually the case.

Cholesterol diets usually restrict specific foods from the diet, or limit the ingestion of those foods. Foods that are usually limited or banned for people on cholesterol diets include dairy products, eggs, and, sadly, shellfish. It is sad to think that such delectable foods as crab, shrimp, and lobster are high in cholesterol, but these are cholesterol-rich foods that are generally forbidden to people who are on low cholesterol diets.

But what really is cholesterol and why do we need to go on a cholesterol diet? Cholesterol is a waxy fat that is present in all human beings. Two sources contribute to the amount of cholesterol in the human body. First, the liver manufactures about 80 percent of it. Second, people consume it by eating animal products such as meat, eggs and dairy products. Cholesterol is carried through the bloodstream by certain proteins (apolipoproteins). When these proteins wrap around cholesterol and other types of fats lipids to transport them through the bloodstream, the resulting “packages” are called lipoproteins. There are four different types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol through the bloodstream:

High-density lipoproteins (HDL), or “good” cholesterol.

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol.

Very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), or "very bad" cholesterol.

Chylomicrons, which carry only a small percentage of cholesterol. Chylomicrons are mostly rich in another type of fat (lipid) called triglycerides.

So why do we need to be wary of cholesterol?

To be more specific, what we need to avoid are LDL/VLDL. High levels of LDL/VLDL cholesterol have been associated with hardened arteries atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. In contrast, high levels of HDL cholesterol have been shown to reduce some of the harmful effects of LDL cholesterol. So if your physician decides that you are in need of a cholesterol diet, basically what you’re in for is this:

Since many foods high in total fat are also high in saturated fat, eating foods low in total fat will help you eat less saturated fat. When you do eat fat, you should substitute unsaturated monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat for saturated fat. Examples of foods high in monounsaturated fat are olive and canola oils, those high in polyunsaturated fat include safflower, sunflower, corn, and soybean oils.

Foods high in starch and fiber are excellent substitutes for foods high in saturated fat. Breads, cereals, pasta, grains, fruits, and vegetables - are low in saturated fat and cholesterol. They are also usually lower in calories than foods that are high in fat. Foods high in starch and fiber are also good sources of vitamins and minerals. Cholesterol diets are low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and high in fruits, vegetables, and grain products - like oat and barley bran and dry peas and beans. The antioxidant properties in certain (e.g. brightly colored) fruits and vegetables can reduce the effects of cholesterol. Point is, to damage artery walls, cholesterol must first be chemically changed through a process called oxidation. Antioxidants help prevent cholesterol from being chemically changed and help prevent cholesterol from moving out of the blood and into the lining of the blood vessels.

Dietary cholesterol also can raise your blood cholesterol level, although usually not as much as saturated fat. A cholesterol diet chooses foods low in dietary cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol is found only in foods that come from animals. Many of these foods also are high in saturated fat. Foods from plant sources do not have cholesterol but can contain saturated fat.

All in all, following a cholesterol diet will also help you to reduce calories, lose weight and reduce obesity. That doesn’t sound too bad, doesn’t it?
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Easy Weight Loss - Is there such a thing??

Easy Weight Loss - Is there such a thing??

Most diets promise easy weight loss. They tell you there will be no sweating, no exercise and no hard work. If there was such a product that delivered this easy weight loss then no one would be overweight and we know this isn’t true.

There is really no such thing as easy weight loss. At a minimum, you will have to make an effort and change what you have been doing that caused you to gain extra weight.

You will have to change your habits and your way of thinking about food and how you live your life. Once you do change your habits and it becomes a part of your everyday routine, then you will actually see easy weight loss.

Most diets don’t talk about emotional eating. You must try to figure out why you are eating. Are you sad or depressed? Angry or even bored? Before you see this “easy” weight loss, you must discover the true reasons your are overeating.
Discovering your reasons will be your first step in changing your habits.

If you find you are overeating every night because of boredom, you now know you need to find an activity for that time. Call a friend, read a book or better yet, go for a walk. This will not only keep you from overeating but the increased activity will lead to easy weight loss.

Did you know that people will think they are hungry when they are actually thirsty? Most Americans are dehydrated and the simple act of drinking water will help with your easy weight loss.

A change in some of your grocery store habits can lead to easy weight loss as well. Try this...shop around the outside of the store first before heading into the inner ones (which contain the higher calorie snacks, etc.).

Don’t eat in front of the TV! I will guarantee you easy weight loss if you can stop this bad habit! The boob tube can be hypnotic and you can eat an entire bag of chips without even realizing it.

Switch to diet pop or water. By cutting back on high calorie soda, you will see immediate easy weight loss.

Easy weight loss is a myth without putting in some effort. With a little hard work and determination, you will eventually see easy weight loss and reach your long term goals.
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Lose Weight, But Keep Your Health!

Everybody’s looking for the magic answer. If we could just rub the magic lamp and get those three wishes – one of them being that we lose weight without really trying! What would you give up to be skinny? Some crazy methods of weight loss just may cost you your health. Take a long hard look before embracing the weight loss ideas below. Do your research and be sure that you understand the risks.

Prescription Diet Pills

Nowadays, most doctors tend to discourage the use of these amphetamines. Some won’t even prescribe them at all. While they do suppress appetite, they don’t teach you squat about eating healthy. You end up keeping the same eating habits and voila! Instant weight gain when you’re done with the bottle!. They can also be habit forming. The side effects include high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia, sleeplessness, hallucinations and delusions.

Ephedra

This all natural Asian herb is found in many herbal remedies and weight loss powders. It has a powerful appetite suppressant effect, but has been implicated in over 70 deaths.


Laxatives

One of those popular home remedies, used for getting rid of the food you just ate! Regular use and abuse of laxatives can result in low potassium, arrhythmia and pancreatic damage. These issues are life-threatening, so don’t use laxatives as a weight loss method.

Artificial Sweeteners

The artificial sweetener aspartame has been implicated in multiple lawsuits alleging damages that include blindness, seizures and brain damage. Check out the book Excitotoxins for more info on the possible dangers of artificial sweeteners.

Smoking

Afraid you'll gain weight if you quit smoking? The National Institute of Diabetes says that you'd have to gain 100-150 pounds to match the health risks you invoke by smoking. Instead, set up healthy substitutions to help you deal with food cravings and put down the cigarettes.

Purging

Making yourself throw up to get rid of the previous meal can have very damaging effects on health. Depletion of nutrients like potassium and vitamins, damage to the esophagus from stomach acids, and esophageal rupture are all possible side effects.

Diuretics

Diuretics gets rid of fluids - including vital electrolytes. The depletion can lead to dehydration, and cause your body to start retaining water. This just leads to a vicious cycle. Repeated or prolonged use of diuretics can lead to kidney damage and serious electrolyte imbalances, which may result in kidney or heart failure.

Herbal Remedies

Just because something is “herbal” doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Many medications themselves are derived from herbs. Because of the lack of regulation, dosages of active ingredients can vary widely from one manufacturer to another. Here’s a list of some common ingredients found in herbal weight loss products, along with some cautions you should take.

Ephedra (ma huang, ephedrine, ephedra extract, epitonin, ephdra sinica and sida cordifolia) should not be taken by people with heart, thyroid or kidney disease, or with hypertension

Kava should be avoided by people with mood disorders who are taking mood altering medication, and people with Parkinson's disease.

Cascara and Senna should not be taken by people taking diuretics (both are often found in herbal weight loss teas)

Gingko biloba, licorice root, and dong quay should not be taken by people who are taking blood thinners or anti-coagulants.


Selenium and Capsaicin should not be taken by people with bowel or digestive disorders



While becoming fit and trim can improve your health, you don’t want to lose that health by choosing a method that’s dangerous. Be sure that whatever weight loss method you decide on won’t lead to other serious medical problems.
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Low Fat Foods That Will Help You Lose Weight

Everyday, before every meal, the same question...”What am I going to eat? Everyday we have the opportunity to make good choices that will help us lose weight. Here are some healthy food ideas that will help you and your family lose weight together.

Variety
Most experts agree that a diet that consists of a variety and not too much of one thing is the best way to lose weight. Stay away from foods that are high in calories and fat but remember to find that balance of favorite foods and foods that help you lose weight. I personally love bread and could eat it day and night but again, I know I shouldn’t if I want to lose weight. I try to find bread products that have less than 4 grams of fat per ounce and also have at least 2 grams of fiber per serving.

Low Fat Substitutes of Favorite Foods
Trying to keep the family happy and lose weight can be a challenge at the dinner table. Burgers and hot dogs may be tasty but are high in fat and calories. Try substituting with lean meats and grill or broil, letting fat drip away during the cooking process.

Don’t be afraid to try meatless alternatives that are high in soy protein and low in saturated fat. They not only taste great but are a healthy way for you to lose weight.

Like some cheese with that wine? Cheeses are great source of protein and calcium but can be high in fat. To lose weight, buy low fat versions of mozzarella, cheddar and ricotta which still cook well in meals. Fat free cottage cheese can be jazzed up with peaches or a favorite fruit on top. What about the wine, you say?? Take all alcohol in moderation if you want to lose weight. A five ounce glass of vino can add up to 103 calories so beware of the goblets.

Snacks can also add to your families total calories so here are some low calories choices to help you lose weight: obviously, fruits and vegetables top the list but try to look for cookies and crackers that have less than 3 grams of fat in a 100 calorie serving. Don’t think you’re going to lose weight on microwave popcorn unless you limit your serving size and only get the low or fat free versions. These and the other low fat choices will help you and your family lose weight and stay healthy together.
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Weight Loss FAQs

Weight Loss FAQs

If you’re wondering if you should start a diet, take a look at these frequently asked questions about losing weight.

1. How much should I weigh?
More important than how much you weigh is your body/mass index, which measures your height against your weight. Muscle weighs more than fat, so two people the exact same height can both weigh 150. One could look slim and trim, and the other person appear pudgy. The best bet is to check with your doctor on this one.

2. What's the best weight loss diet?
No magic answer on this one. Any diet that provides all the nutrition that you need for health, fewer calories than your body burns regularly wins the vote.

3. How can I keep off the weight?
First off, if you’ve lost weight gradually, chances are you’ve made some vital changes in your diet. Re-educating yourself about food is all part of the keeping it off game. The secret to keeping weight off is to balance your energy needs with your food intake.

4. How often should I weigh?
Once a week or less is plenty. Really a much more accurate measure of your loss is your clothing size. If your clothing is feeling looser, you're doing well 4. Does obesity cause diabetes?


5. How do I beat sugar cravings?
One of the best ways I’ve found to do this is to add more raw vegetables in my diet. Eating a salad a day helps keep my cravings under control. Watch out for 'hidden' sugars. like high fructose corn syrup and sucrose. These add lots of calories.

6. Do I really have to exercise?
You don’t have to exercise formally if you make an effort to get in at least 30 minutes of activity daily. You can get it walking, running, cleaning your house - anything active burns calories.

7. What's a calorie?
A calorie is a “measure of energy”. Foods are rated with calories based on the amount of energy they provide to your body when you eat them.

8.Does overeating cause diabetes?
Obesity increases the risks of many medical conditions, diabetes being one of them. People who are more than ten percent overweight seriously increase their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.


9. Can I lose weight without a major diet change?
If you only need to lose a small amount of weight and your diet is generally healthy, you can lose weight by increasing your activity level to burn more calories. If your diet is unhealthy, or if you're more than a few pounds overweight, you really need to learn a more healthy way of eating, so that you don’t put the weight back on when you go back to 'normal' eating.

10. Should I eat fish on my diet?
Fish is high protein, low saturated fat, and high in omega 3 fatty acids. Some doctors recommend eating as much as 10 servings of fish per week. Try to eat fish, as they’re less likely to be contaminated with mercury.
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The Advantages of a Custom Fitness Program

The Advantages of a Custom Fitness Program

So why should you decide to get a custom fitness program? Most people, instead of customizing a fitness plan for themselves, resort to following fitness programs found in books and magazines. There are a lot of reasons why you should have your fitness program customized and this article will try to explain its fundamental advantages

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #1: You are unique—just like everybody else. Have you ever heard of that rather paradoxical statement? Well, it’s true. You are unique and because of this, results will be best achieved if you follow a fitness program that is tailored to your needs.

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #2: In relation to the first advantage of the custom fitness program, having the custom fitness program tailored to your needs will definitely take into consideration your schedule. Some people have enough time for the suggested 3-4 workouts every week. Others, however, will have to work around their schedule. Custom fitness programs will help you fix this problem.

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #3: Some custom fitness programs have member support group that’ll help you with your goal of getting fit. People have found that having a support group provides motivation and accountability. After all, when you’re only accountable to yourself, you’ll probably put some of your goals off for as long as you can.

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #4: The great thing about these programs is that they can be made based on the available equipment you have at home. The beauty of these kinds of programs is the fact that the program adjusts to you and not the other way around. You do not have to spend so much on expensive gym equipment.

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #5: Everyone has certain body part that he would like to change. You probably want flatter abs, bigger biceps, or a tighter butt. You are given the frequency, duration, and the kind of equipment to use as well as the number of sets and repetitions to achieve your desired results. If you’d like to concentrate more on a body part, you can get the fitness program customized to target that area.

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #6: Custom fitness programs, because they can be tailored to your needs, are open to change. Should you decide to focus your attention on the small of your back instead of your abs, you can change your program to target that particular area.

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #7: If you’ve been trying to get on that exercise regimen for quite some time and still haven’t been able to do it because of your schedule, you probably need to change your custom fitness plan. People change and your needs change over time. If you’re having trouble exercising, because you’re taking care of a new baby or moving to a new home, custom fitness plans can be changed to fit your schedule.

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #8:Programs such as these also take into consideration your budget, your dietary preferences as well as the kind of lifestyle you lead. Are you the very active type or are you one that only gets moderate exercise? Do you have a lot of time to eat or are you always on the go? What are the types of food you eat? Are you fond of eating fastfood? These are some of the things the custom fitness program takes into consideration.
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Weight Loss Strategies

What’s your goal weight? For most, that goal will be their 'ideal weight', but for many, that 'ideal weight' may be exactly the wrong weight for them to be aiming for.

The 'set point' is the weight at which your body naturally feels most comfortable. If you've been overweight for a very long time, or if you've consistently lost and re-gained weight, your body may respond to your initial weight loss by lowering its metabolism because it believes that you are starving. This slowing leads to discouraging plateaus that often knock people off their diets entirely. This can lead to regaining all or part of the weight.

Many experts now recommend aiming for shorter-term attainable goals. Since the bulk of diet research shows that most dieters lose weight steadily for about 12 weeks, then hit a plateau, that's the number that they suggest you aim for. The strategy that many have found works best for them is one of alternating periods of weight loss and maintenance, each lasting 8-12 weeks. That way, when the plateau hits, you’re not knocked off balance mentally.

Choose a realistic amount of weight that you can lose in about three months. Figuring that the most reasonable and healthiest weight loss rate is 1-2 pounds per week, 30 pounds in three months is possible. Diet until you reach that goal, or for 12 weeks, whichever comes first, and then switch to a maintenance diet.

Now you're re-educating your body and letting it establish a new 'set point'. Once you've maintained your new weight for 8-12 weeks, set another weight loss goal, and move back into weight loss mode. By giving your body a break from 'starvation', you'll have overcome its resistance to losing more weight, and be back to dieting for 'the first two weeks' - the weeks that most people lose weight more rapidly. Pretty cool, huh?

You'll also be giving yourself a chance to 'practice' maintaining your new, healthier weight. Many people gain back their weight because they never re-educated their palate along the way. By practicing weight maintenance in stages, you'll be proving to yourself that you CAN do it.

This will work with any long-term weight loss diet. Regardless of the diet you choose, though, by alternating between weight loss phases and maintenance phases, you'll teach yourself and your body how to maintain a healthy weight. And that means you can get rid of your “fat” clothes once and for all!
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What’s Your Body Mass Index?

What's your Body Mass Index and why should you care about your BMI?

If you’re 40 or more pounds overweight, chances are you’re aware of your need to lose some extra pounds. But what about the borderline overweight? Does just an extra ten pounds really raise your risk of health complications? Are you just 'big-boned'? How do you decide if you really need to lose weight - and how much you need to lose?

Now the most commonly used measure is the Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI measures your weight relative to your height. It’s a fairly accurate representation of muscle-to-fat ratio, although there are some limitations.

1. Muscle is denser and weighs more than fat. So if you’re really athletic, it may overestimate your BMI.

2. It may underestimate the BMI of an elderly person, or someone with low muscle mass.

BMI calculators available online will allow you to check your own BMI. Here’s the table for determining risk factors associated with obesity:

Below 18.5 - Underweight
18.5 - 24.9 - Normal
25.0 - 29.9 - Overweight
30.0 and up - Obese

So, if your BMI is above 25.0, your doctor or other medical professional can advise you on the best weight loss plan for you. There are actually great benefits to losing even a moderate amount of weight. Benefits like:

* Lowering your risk of diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, a weight loss of as little as 10 pounds can decrease the chances of pre-diabetes developing into diabetes by 58%.
* Lowering your risk of heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, coronary problems are directly correlated to weight. By losing weight to bring your BMI to within normal ranges, you significantly lower your risk of developing heart problems.
* Reduce your risk of arthritis and pain from arthritis. Some forms of arthritis are related to weight. Losing weight substantially decreases the strain that additional weight places you your knees, hips, back and ankles.

Let’s look at three ways you can start losing weight today:

Move it.

If you do nothing different in your life but exercise for one half hour daily, you’ll lose 5-7% of your body weight per year.

Nix white breads and sugars.

Substitute yummy whole grains for refined flours and sugars, and you'll automatically reduce the number of calories that you consume daily.

Eat more fresh vegetables.

Fresh vegetables, especially raw, offer many of the vitamins and minerals that your body needs daily. They're high in nutrition, while low in calories. By increasing the amount of fresh vegetables that you eat, you'll cut calories and carbohydrates.

Then having your BMI calculated won’t be so scary!
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Saturday, December 18, 2010

Low Fat Foods That Will Help You Lose Weight

type='html'>Everyday, before every meal, the same question...”What am I going to eat? Everyday we have the opportunity to make good choices that will help us lose weight. Here are some healthy food ideas that will help you and your family lose weight together.

Variety
Most experts agree that a diet that consists of a variety and not too much of one thing is the best way to lose weight. Stay away from foods that are high in calories and fat but remember to find that balance of favorite foods and foods that help you lose weight. I personally love bread and could eat it day and night but again, I know I shouldn’t if I want to lose weight. I try to find bread products that have less than 4 grams of fat per ounce and also have at least 2 grams of fiber per serving.

Low Fat Substitutes of Favorite Foods
Trying to keep the family happy and lose weight can be a challenge at the dinner table. Burgers and hot dogs may be tasty but are high in fat and calories. Try substituting with lean meats and grill or broil, letting fat drip away during the cooking process.

Don’t be afraid to try meatless alternatives that are high in soy protein and low in saturated fat. They not only taste great but are a healthy way for you to lose weight.

Like some cheese with that wine? Cheeses are great source of protein and calcium but can be high in fat. To lose weight, buy low fat versions of mozzarella, cheddar and ricotta which still cook well in meals. Fat free cottage cheese can be jazzed up with peaches or a favorite fruit on top. What about the wine, you say?? Take all alcohol in moderation if you want to lose weight. A five ounce glass of vino can add up to 103 calories so beware of the goblets.

Snacks can also add to your families total calories so here are some low calories choices to help you lose weight: obviously, fruits and vegetables top the list but try to look for cookies and crackers that have less than 3 grams of fat in a 100 calorie serving. Don’t think you’re going to lose weight on microwave popcorn unless you limit your serving size and only get the low or fat free versions. These and the other low fat choices will help you and your family lose weight and stay healthy together.

Posted by Anna Dedrick

Diet Pills – A Risky Idea

type='html'>I wish I had a nickel for every weight loss aid and pill on the market. You and I could both retire. Many of these have been associated with serious medical risks, including heart attack, heart abnormalities, tachycardia, stroke, seizures and death. That’s pretty scary!

Most diet pills are appetite suppressants of one kind or another, generally stimulants with effects similar to those of amphetamine. They’re okayed for treatment of obesity, where it's considered that the health risks associated with obesity outweigh the risks of the medication.

But is you have less than 30 pounds to lose, the risks are far less cut-and-dried. Over the counter medications and their risks are not as well-documented as the effects of prescription diet pills. Herbal preparation effects are documented even less, especially those whose makers don't officially make weight loss claims.

Here’s part of the problem. As long as they don't contain a 'new' ingredient, or one that has never been marketed for weight loss purposes, weight-loss aids are not subject to FDA review. Instead, the manufacturer is held responsible for the safety and effectiveness of their products. So a lot of times that means unregulated dosages, unhealthy additives and ineffective ingredients.

Hopefully, one day all over the counter medications and herbal preparations marketed as weight loss supplements will be labeled and tested by impartial researchers. Until then, there are some things that you can do to lessen diet pill risks.

Research thoroughly. There's a lot of information out there about drugs and herbs like ephedra, ephinedrine, phentermine and sibutramine. Know what you're taking and what the risks are so that you can watch for side effects.

Always talk to your doctor before you start taking any drug or herbal supplement. Yes, I know you’ve heard this a thousand times, but there are good reasons for the advice! Some products interact poorly with other medications, or have an adverse effect on chronic conditions.

Follow dosage instructions. Overdoses of stimulant medications, which are a component of most weight loss preparations, can be serious and severe.

Don't take any weight loss pill or supplement for more than a few weeks unless a doctor has prescribed it.

Ask your pharmacist when purchasing over the counter weight loss preparations to be sure that the ingredients don't interact with other medications you may be taking. Include both prescription and nonprescription medications in your questions.

There are much more healthy and effective ways to lose weight than taking pills. The potential of serious health problems remains. It's an awful lot of risk for a little weight loss.

Posted by Jeff Dedrick
http://dietingsucks.blogspot.com/

Weight Loss Strategies

type='html'>What’s your goal weight? For most, that goal will be their 'ideal weight', but for many, that 'ideal weight' may be exactly the wrong weight for them to be aiming for.

The 'set point' is the weight at which your body naturally feels most comfortable. If you've been overweight for a very long time, or if you've consistently lost and re-gained weight, your body may respond to your initial weight loss by lowering its metabolism because it believes that you are starving. This slowing leads to discouraging plateaus that often knock people off their diets entirely. This can lead to regaining all or part of the weight.

Many experts now recommend aiming for shorter-term attainable goals. Since the bulk of diet research shows that most dieters lose weight steadily for about 12 weeks, then hit a plateau, that's the number that they suggest you aim for. The strategy that many have found works best for them is one of alternating periods of weight loss and maintenance, each lasting 8-12 weeks. That way, when the plateau hits, you’re not knocked off balance mentally.

Choose a realistic amount of weight that you can lose in about three months. Figuring that the most reasonable and healthiest weight loss rate is 1-2 pounds per week, 30 pounds in three months is possible. Diet until you reach that goal, or for 12 weeks, whichever comes first, and then switch to a maintenance diet.

Now you're re-educating your body and letting it establish a new 'set point'. Once you've maintained your new weight for 8-12 weeks, set another weight loss goal, and move back into weight loss mode. By giving your body a break from 'starvation', you'll have overcome its resistance to losing more weight, and be back to dieting for 'the first two weeks' - the weeks that most people lose weight more rapidly. Pretty cool, huh?

You'll also be giving yourself a chance to 'practice' maintaining your new, healthier weight. Many people gain back their weight because they never re-educated their palate along the way. By practicing weight maintenance in stages, you'll be proving to yourself that you CAN do it.

This will work with any long-term weight loss diet. Regardless of the diet you choose, though, by alternating between weight loss phases and maintenance phases, you'll teach yourself and your body how to maintain a healthy weight. And that means you can get rid of your “fat” clothes once and for all!

Posted by Anna Dedrick
Check out http://dietingsucks.blogspot.com/

Weight Loss FAQs

type='html'>Weight Loss FAQs

If you’re wondering if you should start a diet, take a look at these frequently asked questions about losing weight.

1. How much should I weigh?
More important than how much you weigh is your body/mass index, which measures your height against your weight. Muscle weighs more than fat, so two people the exact same height can both weigh 150. One could look slim and trim, and the other person appear pudgy. The best bet is to check with your doctor on this one.

2. What's the best weight loss diet?
No magic answer on this one. Any diet that provides all the nutrition that you need for health, fewer calories than your body burns regularly wins the vote.

3. How can I keep off the weight?
First off, if you’ve lost weight gradually, chances are you’ve made some vital changes in your diet. Re-educating yourself about food is all part of the keeping it off game. The secret to keeping weight off is to balance your energy needs with your food intake.

4. How often should I weigh?
Once a week or less is plenty. Really a much more accurate measure of your loss is your clothing size. If your clothing is feeling looser, you're doing well 4. Does obesity cause diabetes?


5. How do I beat sugar cravings?
One of the best ways I’ve found to do this is to add more raw vegetables in my diet. Eating a salad a day helps keep my cravings under control. Watch out for 'hidden' sugars. like high fructose corn syrup and sucrose. These add lots of calories.

6. Do I really have to exercise?
You don’t have to exercise formally if you make an effort to get in at least 30 minutes of activity daily. You can get it walking, running, cleaning your house - anything active burns calories.

7. What's a calorie?
A calorie is a “measure of energy”. Foods are rated with calories based on the amount of energy they provide to your body when you eat them.

8.Does overeating cause diabetes?
Obesity increases the risks of many medical conditions, diabetes being one of them. People who are more than ten percent overweight seriously increase their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.


9. Can I lose weight without a major diet change?
If you only need to lose a small amount of weight and your diet is generally healthy, you can lose weight by increasing your activity level to burn more calories. If your diet is unhealthy, or if you're more than a few pounds overweight, you really need to learn a more healthy way of eating, so that you don’t put the weight back on when you go back to 'normal' eating.

10. Should I eat fish on my diet?
Fish is high protein, low saturated fat, and high in omega 3 fatty acids. Some doctors recommend eating as much as 10 servings of fish per week. Try to eat fish, as they’re less likely to be contaminated with mercury.

Posted by Jeff Dedrick
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Easy Weight Loss - Is there such a thing??

type='html'>Easy Weight Loss - Is there such a thing??

Most diets promise easy weight loss. They tell you there will be no sweating, no exercise and no hard work. If there was such a product that delivered this easy weight loss then no one would be overweight and we know this isn’t true.

There is really no such thing as easy weight loss. At a minimum, you will have to make an effort and change what you have been doing that caused you to gain extra weight.

You will have to change your habits and your way of thinking about food and how you live your life. Once you do change your habits and it becomes a part of your everyday routine, then you will actually see easy weight loss.

Most diets don’t talk about emotional eating. You must try to figure out why you are eating. Are you sad or depressed? Angry or even bored? Before you see this “easy” weight loss, you must discover the true reasons your are overeating.
Discovering your reasons will be your first step in changing your habits.

If you find you are overeating every night because of boredom, you now know you need to find an activity for that time. Call a friend, read a book or better yet, go for a walk. This will not only keep you from overeating but the increased activity will lead to easy weight loss.

Did you know that people will think they are hungry when they are actually thirsty? Most Americans are dehydrated and the simple act of drinking water will help with your easy weight loss.

A change in some of your grocery store habits can lead to easy weight loss as well. Try this...shop around the outside of the store first before heading into the inner ones (which contain the higher calorie snacks, etc.).

Don’t eat in front of the TV! I will guarantee you easy weight loss if you can stop this bad habit! The boob tube can be hypnotic and you can eat an entire bag of chips without even realizing it.

Switch to diet pop or water. By cutting back on high calorie soda, you will see immediate easy weight loss.

Easy weight loss is a myth without putting in some effort. With a little hard work and determination, you will eventually see easy weight loss and reach your long term goals.

Posted By Anna Dedrick

Can Quick Weight Loss Really Work?

type='html'>Quick weight loss is promised by diets all the time. "Lose 10 pounds over night," the ads will scream. Most people know in the back of their mind that quick weight loss is either not healthy or is a short term fix.

Most quick weight loss pounds are only water. Your body will flush water out of your system and the scale will show a quick weight loss of 3 to 10 pounds. The quick weight loss is however short lived. The second you drink any fluids your body will hold the water and your quick weight loss will disappear.

The short tem success of quick weight loss in a low carb diet is also this loss of water. Dieters are excited when they see the quick weight loss however this excitement is short lived. Once carbs are introduced back into their diet, boom, there goes the quick weight loss.

Instead of being suckered into all the quick weight loss claims, why don't your try these common sense weight loss tips to use when dining out to help you achieve long term success. You won't see a quick weight loss by following these tips but you will see some really great long term changes in your body.

1.) If you must have a dessert, split it with a friend.

2.) Start your meal with soup and a salad. If you fill up on healthy foods first, you may eat less of the high calorie entries.

3.) Immediately ask for a box to go and place half of your meal in it. Not only will you cut calories but you now have an entire additional meal for later.

4.) Ask for non-fat or low-fat dressing on the side when ordering your salad. You can then control the portion size. A high calorie dressing can add 200-400 additional calories to your health salad.

5.) At a fast food restaurant, always order the small size. Did you know a super size French fry at Mc Donald's is 29g grams of fat and 610 calories??

Once again, these simple restaurant tips will not result in quick weight loss but if you start using these and other weight loss tips every day, you will start seeing the long term success you truly deserve. Always think long term and don't be tricked by diets that promise "incredible quick weight loss"

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Weight Loss

type='html'>Weight loss is everybody’s desire in the nation of the United States of America where one-third of the total population is suffering from the problem of obesity. To achieve the goal of required weight loss, a person needs to indulge into a proper set of healthy lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular exercising.

Changing the way of living is very important for an effective weight loss regime. Some people successfully reduce some pounds out of their body at once but gradually they regain the lost weight. Thus all you require to achieve permanent weight loss is a daily set of exercise and a well balanced diet.

Balanced diet means having food in a proportionate manner. It plays a vital role in your weight loss program. A balanced diet is a diet or food intake of all the useful nutrients in the body in the certain balanced form. Other minerals and vitamins are as important as proteins in your diet. The weight loss occurs due to the right combination of work out and the diet intake.

The body mechanism of human beings is complex one. To understand the basics of weight loss, you must understand the complete working of the human body. It is important for you to have knowledge about the fat burning system. The system that is used to burn fat, and is effective during weight loss is called metabolism.

When the fat level in the body increases, it raises the quantity of fluid called insulin. And when the insulin is more, your weight reduction becomes difficult. If you want to cut weight and maintain it over a longer period of time, your metabolism should be good. Weight loss is a result of extreme hard work and a strong self-discipline.

Posted by Jeff Dedrick
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Basic Strength Training

type='html'>Basic Strength Training

Want to improve your health, lose weight, and get your feel-good emotions pumped up? Then start basic strength training. Many people do not realize the benefits of a good basic strength training program. No matter who you are, you can live and feel better through basic strength training. Remember that stronger muscles and bones mean better health, lower cholesterol, more endurance, and of course, a more attractive physique.

Basic strength training also increases physical performance and decreases risk of injury. No matter what your physique currently is, it is important to get into a basic strength training program.

Basic strength training is also not just for the young. In fact, older people need it more, in order to slow the reduction in muscle strength that comes with aging due to decreased activity. Inactive adults are said to lose approximately 30 to 40 percent of their strength by age 65. Basic strength training can reduce this loss keeping us functioning better and longer. If you're over 50, strength training can be your new best friend.

The main goal of basic strength training is to build and maintain strength and power in the muscle to be able to perform activity. One should do basic strength training first before progressing to more advanced and more specific training.

There is a lot of strength training programs and theories, most of them designed for advanced exercisers. But do not worry, if you are just getting started, you can also do basic strength training. Anyone can do it, and you do not need state-of-the-art fitness equipments like skate machines, treadmills, step machines, and stationary cycles nor do you have to be an athlete to go into basic strength training. There is also no need to sign up in a gym. Basic strength training is also one of the fastest workouts. Three 20-minute sessions a week of basic strength training can do the job.

Basic strength training can be done at home, or at work, or practically anywhere. You can do a lot of basic strength training exercises and workouts to get you in shape and accommodate your busy schedule. Brisk walking for ten minutes would be a fun part of a basic strength training program. This will increase your blood circulation while you are enjoying the nice view outside
your house. Basic strength training can also include doing two sets of squats. This will help strengthen the legs and buttocks. To strengthen the arms, shoulders, and chest, you can do pushback. You can do it anywhere as long as there is a wall, making basic strength training accessible.

You can also do basic strength training for the calves and ankles by simply lifting the balls of your feet then lowering your ankles back to the floor afterwards. Knee extension is also a good part of basic strength training. It is also beneficial to people with arthritis. Basic strength training can also be done with just simple leg curls and doing hand grips.

In basic strength training, you can also make use of dumbbells and ankle weights, resistance bands or cords. You may also use a couple of soup cans, water or milk jugs – items you can already find in your house. Experts recommend that beginners start basic strength training 1-2 days a week and then slowly work up to 3 times a week, with 1 full day of rest between workouts to allow muscles to recover.

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The Advantages of a Custom Fitness Program

type='html'>The Advantages of a Custom Fitness Program

So why should you decide to get a custom fitness program? Most people, instead of customizing a fitness plan for themselves, resort to following fitness programs found in books and magazines. There are a lot of reasons why you should have your fitness program customized and this article will try to explain its fundamental advantages

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #1: You are unique—just like everybody else. Have you ever heard of that rather paradoxical statement? Well, it’s true. You are unique and because of this, results will be best achieved if you follow a fitness program that is tailored to your needs.

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #2: In relation to the first advantage of the custom fitness program, having the custom fitness program tailored to your needs will definitely take into consideration your schedule. Some people have enough time for the suggested 3-4 workouts every week. Others, however, will have to work around their schedule. Custom fitness programs will help you fix this problem.

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #3: Some custom fitness programs have member support group that’ll help you with your goal of getting fit. People have found that having a support group provides motivation and accountability. After all, when you’re only accountable to yourself, you’ll probably put some of your goals off for as long as you can.

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #4: The great thing about these programs is that they can be made based on the available equipment you have at home. The beauty of these kinds of programs is the fact that the program adjusts to you and not the other way around. You do not have to spend so much on expensive gym equipment.

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #5: Everyone has certain body part that he would like to change. You probably want flatter abs, bigger biceps, or a tighter butt. You are given the frequency, duration, and the kind of equipment to use as well as the number of sets and repetitions to achieve your desired results. If you’d like to concentrate more on a body part, you can get the fitness program customized to target that area.

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #6: Custom fitness programs, because they can be tailored to your needs, are open to change. Should you decide to focus your attention on the small of your back instead of your abs, you can change your program to target that particular area.

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #7: If you’ve been trying to get on that exercise regimen for quite some time and still haven’t been able to do it because of your schedule, you probably need to change your custom fitness plan. People change and your needs change over time. If you’re having trouble exercising, because you’re taking care of a new baby or moving to a new home, custom fitness plans can be changed to fit your schedule.

Custom Fitness Program Advantage #8:Programs such as these also take into consideration your budget, your dietary preferences as well as the kind of lifestyle you lead. Are you the very active type or are you one that only gets moderate exercise? Do you have a lot of time to eat or are you always on the go? What are the types of food you eat? Are you fond of eating fastfood? These are some of the things the custom fitness program takes into consideration.

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Does a Cholesterol Diet sound confusing?

type='html'>Does a Cholesterol Diet sound confusing?

At first it doesn’t seem quite right, doesn’t it? But is seems that what we have here is actually just a slight misnomer.

Makes you think that cholesterol diets advocates the eating of more cholesterol, but the opposite is actually the case. Cholesterol diets are intended to lower the cholesterol in the bloodstream. There are some cholesterol diets that lower the total cholesterol count, and other cholesterol diets that increase the so-called good cholesterol in the bloodstream so it can combat the bad cholesterol that is there. Cholesterol diets are occasionally supplemented by cholesterol-lowering drugs. Most of the people who take cholesterol-lowering drugs wish the drugs would supplant their need for cholesterol diets, but this is not usually the case.

Cholesterol diets usually restrict specific foods from the diet, or limit the ingestion of those foods. Foods that are usually limited or banned for people on cholesterol diets include dairy products, eggs, and, sadly, shellfish. It is sad to think that such delectable foods as crab, shrimp, and lobster are high in cholesterol, but these are cholesterol-rich foods that are generally forbidden to people who are on low cholesterol diets.

But what really is cholesterol and why do we need to go on a cholesterol diet? Cholesterol is a waxy fat that is present in all human beings. Two sources contribute to the amount of cholesterol in the human body. First, the liver manufactures about 80 percent of it. Second, people consume it by eating animal products such as meat, eggs and dairy products. Cholesterol is carried through the bloodstream by certain proteins (apolipoproteins). When these proteins wrap around cholesterol and other types of fats lipids to transport them through the bloodstream, the resulting “packages” are called lipoproteins. There are four different types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol through the bloodstream:

High-density lipoproteins (HDL), or “good” cholesterol.

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol.

Very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), or "very bad" cholesterol.

Chylomicrons, which carry only a small percentage of cholesterol. Chylomicrons are mostly rich in another type of fat (lipid) called triglycerides.

So why do we need to be wary of cholesterol?

To be more specific, what we need to avoid are LDL/VLDL. High levels of LDL/VLDL cholesterol have been associated with hardened arteries atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. In contrast, high levels of HDL cholesterol have been shown to reduce some of the harmful effects of LDL cholesterol. So if your physician decides that you are in need of a cholesterol diet, basically what you’re in for is this:

Since many foods high in total fat are also high in saturated fat, eating foods low in total fat will help you eat less saturated fat. When you do eat fat, you should substitute unsaturated monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat for saturated fat. Examples of foods high in monounsaturated fat are olive and canola oils, those high in polyunsaturated fat include safflower, sunflower, corn, and soybean oils.

Foods high in starch and fiber are excellent substitutes for foods high in saturated fat. Breads, cereals, pasta, grains, fruits, and vegetables - are low in saturated fat and cholesterol. They are also usually lower in calories than foods that are high in fat. Foods high in starch and fiber are also good sources of vitamins and minerals. Cholesterol diets are low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and high in fruits, vegetables, and grain products - like oat and barley bran and dry peas and beans. The antioxidant properties in certain (e.g. brightly colored) fruits and vegetables can reduce the effects of cholesterol. Point is, to damage artery walls, cholesterol must first be chemically changed through a process called oxidation. Antioxidants help prevent cholesterol from being chemically changed and help prevent cholesterol from moving out of the blood and into the lining of the blood vessels.

Dietary cholesterol also can raise your blood cholesterol level, although usually not as much as saturated fat. A cholesterol diet chooses foods low in dietary cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol is found only in foods that come from animals. Many of these foods also are high in saturated fat. Foods from plant sources do not have cholesterol but can contain saturated fat.

All in all, following a cholesterol diet will also help you to reduce calories, lose weight and reduce obesity. That doesn’t sound too bad, doesn’t it?



Weight Loss

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What’s Your Body Mass Index?

type='html'>What's your Body Mass Index and why should you care about your BMI?

If you’re 40 or more pounds overweight, chances are you’re aware of your need to lose some extra pounds. But what about the borderline overweight? Does just an extra ten pounds really raise your risk of health complications? Are you just 'big-boned'? How do you decide if you really need to lose weight - and how much you need to lose?

Now the most commonly used measure is the Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI measures your weight relative to your height. It’s a fairly accurate representation of muscle-to-fat ratio, although there are some limitations.

1. Muscle is denser and weighs more than fat. So if you’re really athletic, it may overestimate your BMI.

2. It may underestimate the BMI of an elderly person, or someone with low muscle mass.

BMI calculators available online will allow you to check your own BMI. Here’s the table for determining risk factors associated with obesity:

Below 18.5 - Underweight
18.5 - 24.9 - Normal
25.0 - 29.9 - Overweight
30.0 and up - Obese

So, if your BMI is above 25.0, your doctor or other medical professional can advise you on the best weight loss plan for you. There are actually great benefits to losing even a moderate amount of weight. Benefits like:

* Lowering your risk of diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, a weight loss of as little as 10 pounds can decrease the chances of pre-diabetes developing into diabetes by 58%.
* Lowering your risk of heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, coronary problems are directly correlated to weight. By losing weight to bring your BMI to within normal ranges, you significantly lower your risk of developing heart problems.
* Reduce your risk of arthritis and pain from arthritis. Some forms of arthritis are related to weight. Losing weight substantially decreases the strain that additional weight places you your knees, hips, back and ankles.

Let’s look at three ways you can start losing weight today:

Move it.

If you do nothing different in your life but exercise for one half hour daily, you’ll lose 5-7% of your body weight per year.

Nix white breads and sugars.

Substitute yummy whole grains for refined flours and sugars, and you'll automatically reduce the number of calories that you consume daily.

Eat more fresh vegetables.

Fresh vegetables, especially raw, offer many of the vitamins and minerals that your body needs daily. They're high in nutrition, while low in calories. By increasing the amount of fresh vegetables that you eat, you'll cut calories and carbohydrates.

Then having your BMI calculated won’t be so scary!

Posted by Anna Dedrick
Check out http://dietingsucks.blogspot.com/