Is it easy to lose weight? Yes. Losing weight is easy. I see it everyday. Patients of mine come into the office as happy as can be because they lost 15 pounds on the newest easy weight loss plan.

It’s easy but can you keep it off?

My patients may feel great but none of them keep the weight off. Just as quickly as they lost weight, my patients following easy weight loss plans, gain it back…fast!

Gaining weight, specifically re-gaining weight lost while dieting, should be the focus of weight loss programs. Other things, like easy weight loss, are distracting and costly for all of us. Every year thousands of obese and overweight people do not lose weight because of easy weight loss distractions.

Why are fast and easy diet plans so attractive? Well, what could be better than losing weight and looking good fast? How about lasting healthy weight loss?

Why do you think diet plans focus solely on losing weight and say very little about keeping it off? Because it’s easy to lose weight and it’s next to impossible to prevent weight re-gain.

Diet plans take the easy road and provide dieters a quick short lived solution.

From Atkins to the Zone, weight loss diets have perfected colorful ways to disguise one simple easy weight loss principle. All diets can lead to easy weight loss by following this one easy principle.

Low carbohydrate diets, low fat diets, negative calorie diets, low energy density diets–all apply this one principle. And this one principle leads to easy weight loss. Do you know what it is?

To experience easy weight loss…eat fewer calories.

Holding other things constant, like exercise, simply eat fewer calories and you will lose weight easily. Whether or not you keep the weight off depends on how easily you lost it.

The Easy Weight Loss Steps

1. Week One — Cut calories by 100

2. Week Two — Cut additional 150 calories (total=250)

3. Week Three — Cut another 150 calories (total=400)

4. Week Four — Final cut 100 calories (total=500)

First month weight loss total = 2-4 pounds
500 calories cut = 1-2 pounds/week of weight loss
End of second month weight loss total = 6-12 pounds

The chance of keeping the weight off = 5%

To accelerate weight loss and weight re-gain, just cut more calories…fast. Or you can hold off on the weight loss plan above and learn more about weight re-gain and how to prevent it. Stay tuned for Weight Re-gain Prevention.

Until then, healthy living!

Michael Smith, MD

Chief Medical Consultant

Diet Basics Website

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Smith,_MD

There are three key kinds of exercise: aerobic exercise, such as jogging; flexibility exercises, like yoga and other forms of stretching; and strength training, like weight lifting and resistance exercises.

Aerobic and strength training will help you burn the most calories. Because weight loss depends on either burning more calories or consuming less, it is best to focus on these at the outset to make sure your self motivation persists as you drop pounds.

Generally, 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week is suggested. Build the time and frequency as you advance.

But many people whose self-motivation has helped them to begin an exercise for weight loss program neglect the importance of strength training. Aerobic exercise burns more calories in the beginning, but weight lifting increases muscle mass, and muscle burns more calories than fat. A pound of muscle uses 35 calories per day to function at rest; a pound of fat uses only two calories for the same function.

The fitness consensus used to say that to “build” muscle, you should do fewer reps (3-5) at higher weights, and to simply “tone,” higher reps (12-15) at lower weights was the best way. But there’s no such thing as “toning.” Definition that happens with what is incorrectly called toning happens because you have lost the layer of fat covering muscle, making it more visible. The size of the muscle underneath depends on how vigorously you train.

You must “tear down” the muscle so it can rebuild itself afterward. In fact, you do not build muscle during workouts but you do in the days afterward when it’s “resting.” The broad guideline for strength training is beginning with three sets of 8-12 reps at a weight that leaves you nearly incapable of executing the entire set. Then, rest for 30-60 seconds before beginning your next set.

Don’t be disappointed if you are not able to complete all of the reps on every set. In fact, use that to gauge when to add weight. If you’re doing each set without any muscle strain, you will want to add weight.

Self-motivation helped you to begin, but most have problems keeping the pace. It helps to know that the source of our motivations is a belief. Think about it: If you did not believe the gnawing sensation in your stomach meant you were hungry, you wouldn’t feel motivated to eat.

Figuring out what ideas motivate you is important to losing weight, because when you feel powerfully motivated, you will exercise without fail. NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) is a form of self-hypnosis. And there are NLP techniques that can create exercise motivation because, over time, desire to exercise for weight loss alone likely will not be enough to keep you working out. Exercise hypnosis motivation therapy can help.

Your primary task is identifying the most important things in your life. We call these things your highly valued criteria. Highly valued criteria are generally intangibles: money wouldn’t be highly valued criteria, but the fun, freedom or security that money can provide would be.

Next, determine what you need to believe to feel highly motivated to exercise. It is necessary to remember that logic has nothing to do with belief. Things do not have to be logical to believe them. You may find you already have a belief that opposes this new idea. That’s okay.

While understanding what motivates us is important, hypnosis exercise motivation therapy can put these ideas to work by ensuring self motivation persists. Hypnosis for motivation does this by modifying the computer codes in your brain, so you accept thoughts that motivate you.

Belief systems are based in our unconscious mind, which is like a computer. Computers do not have any power to reason. The input controls the output. The techniques used in exercise hypnosis motivation therapy can make you believe nearly anything, as long as you’re willing to believe.

You start by creating a picture in your mind’s eye that illustrates something you already believe, like, “I love my children.” Then you learn to calibrate the elements or ‘Submodalities’ of that mental belief picture.

Next, you make a mental image that illustrates your motivational idea. Let’s say your motivational idea is, “If I exercise, then I’ll look great and my marriage will improve.” Then you learn how to alter the Submodalities of this mental image to match with the Submodalities in your calibrated belief picture. On the other hand, if a belief is holding you back, the same technique can change that belief to doubt.

Self-hypnosis for motivation that uses NLP can give you something of an internal personal motivator. Using a hypnosis for exercise motivation program ensures that the zeal you began with lasts until reaching your objective, and then helps you maintain that objective.

Alan B. Densky, CH has specialized in all aspects of weight loss hypnosis cd recordings, including hypnosis motivation CDs since 1978. Visit his Neuro-VISION self-hypnosis website to benefit from Free hypnosis newsletters, videos, and articles.

Certified Nutritionist
Certified Exercise Specialist
Author of The Diet Solution Program

Fat loss does not have to be difficult, especially if you have a few tricks up your sleeve.  By this I don’t mean I would ever want you to take a dangerous, radical approach to your fat loss but only one that would be healthy and prove great results at the same time.

I have had many clients, friends and family members ask me, “Isabel, is there a way I can drop my first few pounds of fat quickly and easily?” Yes, there is.  It will require a few dietary changes on your part, but the results are incredible.  I have had hundreds of people use these tips with great success, easily losing their first 10-15lbs of unwanted fat.

Here are my 3 Simple and Easy Fat Loss Rules:

1. Don’t eat anything that is white. Name every single food that is white and chances are you shouldn’t be eating it: bread, pasta, crackers, most cereals, flour based products, white potatoes, white rice, and pasteurized dairy and cheese are all no-no’s during this time.  (Healthy foods like cauliflower, chicken, turkey, fish, white pork are all exceptions to this rule).

2. Only drink water, NOTHING else! How about coffee? Just to keep any possible withdrawal headaches at bay, one small cup of organic black coffee. Can you add half and half?…Well is it white?  Drink a minimum of 1/2 of your bodyweight in ounces of water each day (ex. If you weigh 200 lbs, you need to drink 100 ounces) to really see the fat fall off.

3. Don’t eat anything with the word wheat in the ingredients list. What if it’s whole wheat? Look, if the word starts with W and ends in T and has the letters h e a in between, you can’t eat it.  This includes bread, pasta, crackers and cereal.  Many packaged snack foods also contain wheat so be sure to read the ingredients list carefully.

Are you up for this challenge?  Apply these easy fat loss rules to your own eating plan for the next 2 weeks and I know you will be seeing some amazing fat loss results in no time.

Get started on your own personal fat burning meal plans right away with The Diet Solution Program.

Many people these days are finding out the many health benefits of a vegetarian diet. Additionally, many physicians and nutritionalists are prescribing and endorsing plant-based meals in order to promote health, prevent and treat certain diseases, and even to reduce weight. There are many products now becoming available in shops and supermarkets that contain health enhancing plant extracts.These are mixed in yoghurts,spreads and cheeses, to specifically lower cholesterol levels, reduce blood pressure, enhance energy levels and boost immune systems. Who knows what other benefits are just around the corner in plant extracts.

Although vegetarianism may seem like a modern idea, in reality, its health benefits have been known for many years in cultures around the world. India and the far east make up the largest percentage of the world’s vegetarians, both for health and spiritual reasons. One group of people, the Hunza, who live near the Himalaya’s have a diet which is exclusively vegetarian. Members of their community reportedly often live to be over 100 years of age.

The American Dietetic Association say that the benefits of a vegetarian diet can include;

Lower cholesterol levels
Lower levels of saturated fats
Lower body fat
Reduced rates of heart disease
Lower blood pressure
Lower incidence of type-2 diabetes
Lower instances of certain cancers
Higher levels of important minerals and antioxidant vitamins

Obesity is one of the major health concerns in the western world. It can be addressed with a vegetarian diet, one that eliminates excess protein and animal fat consumption, and increases fiber in the form of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Those who consume a vegetarian diet tend to maintain a lower body mass index (BMI), which significantly aids in the treatment and management of other chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. A lower BMI is an aim of anyone looking to improve their general health, whether by diet, exercise, or preferably both.

One question often asked by those considering a vegetarian diet is; “Will I get enough protein? This is certainly a valid question, as protein is necessary for the building, maintenance and function of all body cells. In fact, a varied and well-balanced vegetarian diet actually provides all the protein the body needs, obtained by eating such things as whole grains, beans, nuts and soy products.
In fact, meat-based diets typically provide an excess of protein, which may actually be harmful. High protein levels can put more strain on the kidneys. A leading gerontological journal reports that too much protein can cause a person to lose about 30% of their kidney function by the time they reach old age. It can also cause systemic acidity, which the body attempts to counter by leeching calcium out of the bones, which can lead to osteoporosis.

Becoming a vegetarian does not mean you are limited to eating carrots, fruit and nuts. There are many types of vegetarians that eat meatless diets in a variety of combinations. Some of the more common types include;

Lacto vegetarians, who do not eat meat or eggs, but do eat dairy products such as milk and cheese.

Lacto-ovo vegetarians do not eat meat, but will eat dairy products and eggs.

Ovo vegetarians do not eat meat or dairy products, but will eat eggs.

Vegans do not eat meat, dairy products, eggs, or any animal products at all.

There are many medical and health organizations that promote, endorse, and support people on a path toward changing their dietary lifestyle to one that includes more plant-based foods. There is a lot of information on the internet, as well as through medical providers and vegetarian organizations. Numerous books and articles are easily found.

Many restaurants, grocery stores and supermarkets now provide meals and products to vegetarians, making it simpler to choose this healthy lifestyle.

Remember that at the end of the day it is your decision. If you want to simply keep eating a little meat, while exploring deeper into the vegetarian side, then do that. Don’t worry about the ‘purists’. There is no law to say you cannot eat a little meat, fish or chicken along the way – it’s your life and your choice. Once you start eating more vegetarian food though, many people find they start to lose their taste for meat. The main thing is to enjoy the food and feel healthier by doing so.

On a final note, consider using either all organic vegetables and fruit, or at least as much as you can source. Organic produce really makes a great deal of difference to the taste and texture, and you have the security of mind that what you are eating is free of pesticides and other chemicals. More information on this will be found in the next article, or on our web site.

Truth: Ten minutes of daily exercise is admirable because it’s far better than zero minutes of productive energy expenditure. However, exercise physiology and weight loss science point to 30 minutes per day, at least three times per week, as part of your best body fat improvement scenario.

Why Does 30 Minutes Prove So Beneficial? What’s The Other Part of An Effective Weight Loss Scenario?

Your body has only three possible energy systems. Two of them are oxygen-INDEPENDENT. Yet, in order to metabolize fat, your body demands that oxygen be present. Long-story-short: brief, especially “quick” exercise bouts look for quick energy sources. These reside in blood and in muscle. It takes more than a few minutes to significantly tap into your fat stores, and especially, to burn enough of it for a long enough time to lose some substantial body weight.

This is almost the exact opposite of muscle tissue, where you can see and feel virtually immediate results. Burning fat requires patience. You simply have to allow yourself TIME to let exercise effects occur

Intentional weight loss refers to the loss of total body mass in an effort to improve fitness and health, and to change appearance.

Therapeutic weight loss, in individuals who are overweight or obese, can decrease the likelihood of developing diseases such as diabetes,^[5] heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, osteoarthritis,^[6] and certain types of cancer.

Attention to diet in particular can be extremely beneficial in reducing the impact of diabetes and other health risks of an expanding waist.

Weight loss occurs when an individual is in a state of negative energy balance. When the body is consuming more energy (i.e. in work and heat) than it is gaining (i.e. from food or other nutritional supplements), it will use stored reserves from fat or muscle, gradually leading to weight loss.^{[citation needed]}

It is not uncommon for some people who are currently at their ideal body weight to seek additional weight loss in order to improve athletic performance, and/or meet required weight classification for participation in a sport. However, others may be driven by achieving a more attractive body image. Consequently, being underweight is associated with health risks such as difficulty fighting off infection, osteoporosis, decreased muscle strength, trouble regulating body temperature and even increased risk of death.^[7]

For true weight-loss success, health experts really stress the importance of changing your lifestyle for the long term and also exercising regularly. Do you need some creative ways to make fitness fun again and help you win the battle of the bulge once and for all?

* Take “healthy vacations” that means make fitness part of your travels. Head to a spa where, along with a little pampering, you can enjoy hiking, rock climbing, kickboxing, aqua aerobics and yoga.

* Walk or run for a good cause. Training for a 5000 meter charity walk, for example, may be all the motivation you need to get started on a regular fitness routine. Best of all, at the same time you’ll be helping your favorite charity accomplish its goals.

* Dance. Join a ballroom or hip-hop dancing class. It’s a great way to shed the pounds, learn how to dance, sweat and have fun.

* Strip the weight away. New DVDs featuring Carmen Electra help you spice up your regular workout routine and provide a fun new way to tone your body right in the comfort of your own living room.

“Carmen Electra’s Aerobic Striptease” and “Carmen Electra’s Aerobic Striptease – Fit to Strip” are fast becoming wildly popular. With the help of fitness experts, Electra teaches viewers how to trim down with high- and low-impact dance and fitness techniques.

* Do Pilates. Find out what makes Pilates the workout of choice for countless celebrities, and why your gym’s Pilates classes are always full. The “MTV: Pilates Mix” DVD, hosted by renowned Pilates and yoga instructor Kristin McGee, is perfect for those who want to add a more cutting-edge beat to their workout. The DVD features two half-hour workout sessions that focus on toning the arms, legs and abs, with a music mix that motivates you to get up and work out.