Lately, the media has been abuzz with news about trans fats. In 2006, the US Government ruled that any product containing trans fat must be labeled as such. Since then, foods and restaurants have been scrambling to remove trans fats from their products. But what do you actually know about these harmful fats, and how they may be damaging your diet.

Trans fats are fats with an extra molecule added during a manufacturing process. You know saturated fat is bad – think of trans fats as super saturated fats. The chemical engineering process used to create trans fat makes the fat much more shelf stable. This makes trans fats an extremely convenient option for use in restaurants and snack foods, since they do not break down like traditional fat. However, this convenient fat becomes incredibly inconvenient when you take into account the damage it does to the human body. Trans fats are truly a dangerous food to be avoided whenever possible.

Trans fats act in a harmful way on your cholesterol levels. Trans fats raise your bad cholesterol. There are many types of foods that do this, such as eggs, breakfast meats, and fatty foods, so it may not seem like such a big deal. However, trans fats are worse for you than that plate of bacon, as they also lower your good cholesterol. This means that trans fats truly pack a double whammy they harm your body in two ways at the same time. Trans fat is an unnatural food that has an unnatural effect on your body.

Theres good news, however. Now, all foods that contain these harmful fats are required to state so on the label. This is leading to a fat revolution in America. Makers of snack foods and frozen dinners, as well as restaurant owners across the country, are revamping their recipes. This means that there are more healthy options available, and it is easier to spot foods that do contain these damaging fats.

Its easier than ever to remove trans fats from your diet. Take the time to read labels and information on restaurant menus. Look specifically to see how much trans fat your favorite foods contain. More and more foods are removing trans fat completely. If your favorite has not, it may be time to find a new favorite! Trans fats are dangerous, and need to be avoided at all costs cut them out of your diet today.

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, nor should it be interpreted or substituted as medical advice. Prior to making changes to your physical exercise routine and your diet, you should always consult your personal physician. Better safe than sorry.

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If you have been attempting to lose weight for a while, you know how difficult it can be to maintain motivation. Motivation is extremely important to continued consistent weight loss. Without keeping your weight loss motivation, it will almost be impossible to reach your fat loss goal; be it 10 pounds or a 100 pounds.

If your positive attitude has been lagging behind lately, try these motivational tips:

Use Inspirational Quotes – Find a moving quote or inspiring phrase. Choose something that inspires you and guides you towards healthy lifestyle choices. Print it up on nice paper and post it on your refrigerator. Be sure that it is something that will motivate you each time you reach for a snack. This will enable you to choose healthy options, and keep your weight loss goals at the front of your mind.

Keep a Journal – Keep a journal from the day you begin your weight loss program. This will help you to see progress each day. Write about your feelings towards weight loss, your motivational goals, and any setbacks or plateaus that you are experiencing. Once you reach your goal weight, you’ll be pleased to look back at how far you’ve come.

Plan for Busy Days – The first step off the weight loss wagon often occurs when life gets busy. Plan for distractions and busy days. Keep work out videos at home for those days when you just don’t make it to the gym.

Keep pre-prepared meals or frozen diet dinners handy for days when you don’t have time to cook. Remember, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail! Stay on track with preparation for days when life gets in the way.

Mix Up Your Weight Loss – Constantly doing the same exercises and eating the same food can get old. Take the time to develop several exercise routines to avoid boredom. Add a new vegetable, fruit, or salad dressing to your normal diet rut. These small changes can make a world of difference.

There is no doubt it can be difficult to maintain motivation throughout your weight loss program. Take the time to mix up routines and add inspiration to your daily life. Focus on your goals, and your reasons for wanting to lose weight in the first place.

Envision a slimmer, healthier you, and keep striving to reach your goal weight. If motivation becomes an issue, try some of the above tips to get you going again.
Here’s to a healthier you!

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, nor should it be interpreted or substituted as medical advice. Prior to making changes to your physical exercise routine and your diet, you should always consult your personal physician. Better safe than sorry.

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A while ago, the press covered a story on Subway weight loss. Basically a guy gone over 200 pounds by eating subway sandwiches. Like everything you read in the press, that wasnt actually the whole story.

Seemingly, Jared Fogel admitted that he got very little exercise prior to starting his subway diet but now walks a lot. The added exercise would have helped him in his weight loss goal and is an choice idea for everyone. But I do not believe that the subway diet is the way forward for most.

Why? Hardy simply because it doesnt make sense to concentrate your diet around one particular fast food establishment. While they certainly have healthy options, the leading product is bread. Bread should be a slab of a healthy eating plan but a small part.

When you are trying to lose weight you should aim to break your foodstuff down in to the following groups:

Fruit and Vegetables
Bread, cereals, potatoes etc
Dairy foods and milk
Fish, lean meat or alternatives
Sugar and fats

You should include all food groups in your new diet plan but the emphasis would be on eating more fruit and vegetables. Not only do they provide estimable nutrients and minerals but they also help to fill you up without consuming loads of calories.

The next most important group is the bread, cereals and potatoes category but this doesnt mean that you should eat loads of muckamuck, especially white bread. While we need starchy carbohydrates to keep healthy, clear bread actually provides very few nutrients and may contain a lot of sugar. Wholemeal bread and pasta contain dietary fiber to support our digestion systems, eliminating waste and helping us to lose weight. These foods also provide calcium, iron and B vitamins.

You may be surprised to find me recommending these foods on a weight loss plan but healthy eating incorporates unexpurgated pabulum groups. Fans of the subway weight loss diet will point over that carbohydrates are actually low in calories. This is true but they can cause problems for slimmers. Table in particular has been noted through causing a fall off the diet wagon as slimmers struggle to reduce portion sizes. While you should eat some carbohydrates, dont use that as an excuse to consume loads of butter, jelly or fatty toppings.

Dairy products are a great source of protein but if you are on a diet, you should opt for the low fat varieties. It is terrifically easy to consume a substantial number of calories snacking on full fat cheese.

Every meal should contain some protein, the main sources being from fish, lean meat or alternatives such as Tofu. Protein helps to keep sugar rushes under control and thus reduces cravings. Just remove all skin when cooking poultry and always bake or grill. Fried foods of all descriptions are promptly off the menu!

While the subway weight loss diet may be an option, I believe you will be more successful if you put a more traditional healthy eating regime in place.

24 Hour Fitness
http://www.www.24-hr-fitness.com

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