In the nearly eternal quest to lose weight, people seem willing to do just about anything. It has been that way ever since people felt societal pressure to lose weight, and is sure to continue for many years to come. They will submit themselves to food they don’t like, brutal exercise regimens, and the downright bizarre. But there’s one thing very few of them do, and it can greatly increase their odds of permanent weight loss. What is it? Documenting their progress with before and after photos.

Huh? Does that sound like a dumb idea to you? Don’t laugh. It can have a major psychological impact; before, during and after your weight loss. It has the same effect as writing down your goals. Just by doing this step, you will increase your odds of success.

Look at it this way, you will be working hard, eating right and exercising to lose weight. Before and after weight loss photos won’t make the weight come off, but they are another tool in your arsenal in the battle of the bulge.

If you have children, then you’ve heard comments from relatives who haven’t seen them for a while. They say, “oh, they’ve gotten so tall”, or something similar. That’s one of the reasons for doing before and after weight loss photos, it’s not always easy to see your own weight coming off because you see yourself every day. But when you can look back at the visual evidence, it’s a game changer. It’s motivational.

Here’s the best way to do it to maximize your results. Take a photo every so many days, but with no more than a week between. Try for the same pose, in the same clothes, in the same location in your house. This next part will be harder at first. Expose as much of your body as decency allows. If you’re a female a sports bra and shorts; if you’re a male then just a pair of shorts. You want to see the bigger picture (pardon the pun). And don’t forget to do one picture for each a front and side view.

Refer to the photos later to see how far you have come. Put them up in the trouble spots around your home. For example, on the door of your refrigerator to keep you from binging, or on your weight bench to encourage to do a few reps.

It’s up to you whether or not you will share them with anybody else. But there’s a good chance that your desire to share will increase with the number of pounds you lose. So, be sure to eat right, get moving and get healthy. And while your at it, go ahead and keep a visual record of your progress, you’ll be glad you did.

Tags: Arsenal, Battle Of The Bulge, Decency, Dumb Idea, Eating Habits, Eternal Quest, Exercise Regimens, Exercising To Lose Weight, food;, Huh, Laugh, Look At It This Way, Losing Weight, Odds, Pose, Psychological Impact, Pun, Relatives, Societal Pressure, Sports Bra, Trou, Visual Evidence, Weight Loss —

You know what isn’t fair? The fact that it’s so much more fun to gain weight than it is to diet and exercise. That has to be one of the real reasons why people don’t like to lose weight, right? I mean it only makes sense. If doing what it took to be at your ideal weight was more enjoyable than what it takes to gain weight, we hadn’t have a problem with obesity.

It doesn’t have to be that way anymore. Imagine if it wasn’t such a drag to get healthy, to lose weight, to eat right or to exercise. I’m sure you can see what a positive impact that could have on how much you weigh. Here are some ideas you can put to use to make it fun.

The very first thing you have to do is change your mindset. Don’t worry about what other people think about your jogging, or what your fat friends will say when you order grilled chicken for lunch. You know why you shouldn’t worry? Because it’s your body! Let them laugh. You can laugh with them or laugh back at them. Either way, you’ll get the last laugh and that’s the best kind.

Alright, let’s face it, you probably already like to eat, otherwise you wouldn’t have to be looking for ways to lose weight. This is just a guess, but what you probably don’t enjoy is eating more of the right foods and less of the not-so-good ones. You can give the good foods funny names, and vice-versa. You’re not eating broccoli, you’re eating “goody goody mini-greens”. And it’s no longer a doughnut, now that you call it a “sweetened lard bombs”. Go ahead, be creative.

Also, don’t deprive yourself. You can still eat all of the foods you enjoy, just not as much. If you try to cut them out all together, that wouldn’t be any fun at all. Instead you would be focusing on the deprivation and bury your head into a half-gallon of ice cream as soon as your willpower wavered. But when you eat a little of the things you like, there’s no need for willpower at all.

When it comes to exercising to lose weight the main key is to do something you enjoy doing. Just get moving. You don’t have to go for a three-mile jog or lift weights in the gym (unless you want to). Get out in the garden, go for a walk, toss the frisbee around, go swimming…any extra activity that appeals to you will burn off extra calories.

Finally, as you do these things more, it will get to be even more fun as you do them. And seeing the results is makes it even more worthwhile. So, don’t let others tell you that losing weight is hard. You know better, you now know just how fun it can be.

Tags: Bombs, Broccoli, Calories, Diet And Exercise, Diet Exercise, Doughnut, Eating Habits, Exercising To Lose Weight, Funny Names, Greens, Grilled Chicken, Guess, Healthy Diet, Ideal Weight, Lard, Last Laugh, Losing Weight, Lunch, Main Key, Mindset, obesity;, Ways To Lose Weight, Willpower —

How Do You Lose Belly Fat – Right Approach To A Flatter Stomach

Losing weight is one thing, but there is a more specific question that a lot of people have: How do you lose belly fat? all different kinds of secrets, hints, tips and techniques have been put forth; some by qualified medical professionals, and others by people who don’t have any real understanding of the issue. In other words, it can be difficult to learn what the truth is about losing belly fat. Not to worry, we will take a look at what’s true, and get you well on your way to a flatter tummy.

Let’s face it, a flat, firm stomach is consider as a sure sign of sex appeal. However, medical research has also shown that getting rid of abdominal fat is a strong indication of a longer, healthier life. See, even though you are probably well aware that carrying too much fat on your body isn’t good for you, where you carry it has an effect on your health. Those who have the most fat in their abdomen have increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and other conditions than those who have extra fat in their thighs, hips and buttock.

It’s not going to shock anybody to hear that the best way to lose belly fat is through eating right and regular exercise. Plus, there is an ever-increasing amount of data pointing out that the fastest way to get rid of the fat around your tummy is by combining aerobic exercise and weight training.

One particular study kept tracked of thirty overweight women for a period of six months. Each was assigned to one of the three following groups: aerobic exercise, combined exercise, or the control group. The first group did a sixty minute cardio workout for six days per week. The second group did cardio exercises three days a week and weight training three days a week (alternating days for each). The control group made no changes.

After the six month study period was over, the researchers had their results. The women in the aerobic exercise only group had lost 23 cm of subcutaneous fat in their abdomens; not bad. But the group that combined cardio and weight workouts lost close to 62 cm, nearly triple the amount of the aerobic only group! When it came to measuring visceral fat in the abdomen, there was a marked improvement as well. Where the aerobic group lost 82 cm, the combined lost 93 cm. As expected, the control group showed no statistical change.

What does this research mean for those that want to get rid of their belly fat? It means they need to get moving. But exercising harder is only part of the bigger picture. You also need to exercise smarter. In this case, that means alternating days of aerobic workouts with days where you focus on weight training. But the real key isn’t just the exercise, it’s burning more calories than you take in.

To lower your total amount of body fat, and thereby a flabby tummy, you need to right, too. The main thing you have to be able to do is maintain your muscle mass, this requires protein. Then 20% to 30% should come from predominantly healthy fats. Finally, the rest of your diet can be rounded out with carbohydrates. Again, remembering to eat fewer calories than you’re able to burn.

Tags: Abdomen, Aerobic Exercise, Atkins, Best Way To Lose Belly Fat, Calories, Cardio Exercises, Control Group, diabetes;, Different Kinds, Eating Habits, Fat Thighs, Getting Rid Of Abdominal Fat, Healthy Diet, heart disease;, Hips, Losing Weight, Medical Professionals, Medical Research, Overweight Women, Second Group, Sex Appeal, Six Days, Study Period, Weight Training, Workout —

There have always been new miracle diet supplements that seem to come into favor and disappear as quickly, usually under a cloud of suspicion that they have very bad side effects. Hoodia gordonii 500 is one of the newest in weight loss supplements to show up and so far, proves to be one of the most dependable and safe for achieving permanent weight loss.

Hoodia is only found in the deserts of South Africa and has been used for centuries by the San Bushmen who used it to suppress their appetite and thirst before they headed into the desert. The bushmen claim that the hoodia not only keeps their appetite and thirst in check but that it also gives them higher energy levels.

Hoodia is also called xhooba, khoba, ghaap, and hoodia cactus (though technically the plant is a succulent not a cactus). There are over 20 varieties of hoodia but the only one shown to help decrease appetite is hoodia gordonii. The supplements made from hoodia can vary greatly in their strength, they can start at 250 mg and go all the way up to 1,000 mg though 500 mg seems to be the popular choice since it isn’t too strong or too weak… it’s just right!

Hoodia has been featured on many news programs such as the BBC and 60 Minutes, it has been proven to be very effective for many people so it’s not a scam.

The compound in hoodia that is thought to be the ‘magic bullet’ of appetite suppressant is called P57 and is only found in the core of the plant, not in the skin or roots. For this reason it’s important to know what part of the plant the hoodia comes from when purchasing a supplement. The actual amount of P57 is considerably less in supplements that use the whole plant than in those that only use the core, therefore the price (and effectiveness) will also be less.

When purchasing hoodia look for a certification seal on the label stating that it is 100% pure hoodia. There are many unscrupulous vendors out there who will charge a premium for an inferior product, you have to do your homework. Check the label carefully before you buy.

Hoodia is renowned for it’s lack of serious side effects, though as always, the longer it’s in use the more things that may show up. Since it’s been used by the bushmen for centuries it would seem that it is safe, but remember the bushmen don’t have the same diet as we do and they don’t take it everyday or mix it with other supplements.

The one potential risk you do have to be on the lookout for is not eating or drinking enough to keep your body healthy and functioning properly. This appetite suppressant can also suppress your thirst so you have to remember to drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty.

If you feel like you could use a little help with your diet and exercise program, hoodia gordonii may be just the thing. When it comes to choosing the best dosage, many people opt to start in the middle, with hoodia gordonii 500 since they don’t want their appetite suppressant to be too powerful. Start there and see if it works best for you, and good luck with your diet program.

Tags: 60 Minutes, Appetite Suppressant, Bbc, Certification Seal, Decrease Appetite, Deserts, Diet Supplements, energy levels;, Healthy Diet, Higher Energy, higher energy levels, Hoodia Cactus, Hoodia Gordonii, Inferior Product, Losing Weight, Magic Bullet, Miracle Diet, pence, Pure Hoodia, San Bushmen, South Africa, Succulent, Thirst, Unscrupulous Vendors, Weight Loss Supplements —