Weight Loss Per Week

Posts Tagged ‘Lose Weight’

Developing tummy fat has a way of motivating people — oftentimes our waistlines “develop” as we get older, much like our bodies grow and develop during puberty.  However, unlike adolescent and teenage growth spurts, gaining unhealthy weight and even becoming obese are not requirements of getting older, though these trends certainly fit the current norms.  When you’re ready to take on the challenge of getting into better shape, and burning off excess fat, using quick weight loss diets may come to mind. In these times, two questions oftentimes come to mind, “Do they work”, and “are they safe?” — these are the questions we seek to answer today.Quick weight loss diets – do they work?The short and long of this question is yes and no.  Fast weight loss diets can work, but when you are dealing with quick weight loss, the “instant” results that you see are not conducive to long-term gains, or rather losses in this case, in the grand scheme of things.  When you lose weight quickly, it is most often due to the loss of excess water in your system, not due to the burning of fat.  So, if your weight loss diet helps you to lose weight very fast, there’s a good chance that the results will be temporary, at least unless your diet program of choice has a way of combating the real problem — the accumulation of body fat.Quick weight loss diets – are the safe?The answer to this question depends on how you’re reaching your weight loss goals. If you’re trying to lose five to seven pounds for an event coming up in a week or so, the dangers of irreparable harm to an otherwise healthy individual are not all that likely. To lose this kind of weight in a week, chances are you are going to be removing some of the water buildup in your system, not burning off fat.  To lose five pounds this quickly through fat loss, as opposed to water weight loss, you would absolutely need to incorporate an extreme exercise routine into your daily regimen, unless you’re a 6′3″, 25 year old man weighing in at 400 pounds and want to take part in a starvation diet for six-to-seven days.  And at this size and weight — five pounds won’t make a lot of difference, anyway.To lose five pounds of fat in a week, while possible, a 200 pound man would have to play 20 hours of full-contact football, and a 135 pound woman would have to endure around 30 hours of vigorous bike riding or 10″-12″ step aerobics while keeping your caloric intake pretty close to your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate).   To sum things up, though, quick weight loss diets, if they help you to take off excess water, may be safe for generally healthy individuals, but in terms of fast fat burning — not only is it not safe, this option is not really feasible for individuals who currently maintain a less-than-active lifestyle.While your excess tummy fat may have, in fact, given you the motivation you need to get started with a weight loss diet or program, just know that not all quick weight loss diets produce long-term results, and unless there is a clear and concise plan laid out on how you can continue to lose weight — look into something else.

 I presume because you are reading this article, that you have managed after hard work and commitment to lose some weight, and you want to keep it that way and you don’t want to slip back and gain it back again.

 Congratulations! We both know how much willpower, work and commitment it takes to make it to this point, now the most important thing is to maintain that weight by using a combination of right diet and exercise and good mental attitude.

 Maintaining weight is very important because experience shows that most dieters regain a third of what they lost within the first year and two-thirds of it in the second year.  It’s important to understand what is needed here; it is really a matter of energy balance!  But know also that the hardest part is now over, because maintaining weight is actually easier, not harder, than losing it. 

 At this point it’s important that your lifestyle is balanced and you want to avoid all unnecessary stress that could cause old habits to surface again.  Success in gaining, losing, or maintaining weight is dependent upon a combination of factors; I always used to say that losing, gaining or maintaining weight is a result of the “freedom from the obsession and compulsion to eat,” not the other way around, but there is more to it.  You also need to establish some important new routines in your life, because the main thing is to keep exercising and burn calories each day.  This is your magic formula from now on:”best approach is to ensure that one’s physical activity level is high enough to balance the number of calories consumed”.

 You know those weight charts? I bet you do, where your weight ranges are shown in the chart and people of the same height may have equal amounts of body fat but different amounts of muscle and bone…  Don’t look at them too much now, go after your own gut feeling and your good friend; the mirror! There are also many weight loss groups and organizations if you feel you need support, remember that this is an intimate personal and difficult struggle, but it’s not one that anyone needs to go through alone.  In this modern world weight loss has become an essential objective for several people, but only a few are succeeding in their task.  You have gone through that already, but know that for many, weight gain or regain is embarrassing, and seeking help is delayed.  If you join a group and your situation is monitored weekly, the purpose of this assessment is to provide an evaluation and recommendations for maintaining a healthy weight based on your individual needs.

 We are all different, groups can be helpful but they are not for everyone.

 One of my students recently said; “I’ve struggled with weight issues for most of my life, and aside from the occasional slice of molten chocolate cake, I finally have it under control.  Now I basically follow a group point system and strive to keep my dry carb intake to a minimum”. 

 For her it’s ok to do it alone, but she is using a weight chart every week.

 Health

 I think everybody agrees nowadays that the key to losing weight is to burn more calories than are consumed, either by increasing physical activity or consuming fewer calories – or preferably both.  Health professionals judge a low-calorie sweetener to be of benefit for weight control. 

 What are the dangers at this point when you are in a situation where the main battle is won, but you look for safe and healthy ways to maintain your situation?

 Usually they are psychological issues. How balanced we are emotionally and how we can see ourselves in a new positive light. It’s very important to be aware of the potential purposes of anger, how anger impacts health, and learn assertive methods of dealing with anger.  Health and fitness experts all know this and the most recent research related to emotional and physical health has found that there are pitfalls and the old feelings might come back from time to time. Feelings of unworthiness fear of rejection, bad self image etc.

 These feelings can be triggers – for bad habits again – so it’s very important to stay alert, that is why I always recommend some kind of group or/and family and friend support.

 Now that you have come this far, make it even better! You probably see now that anything is possible, you only need a positive attitude and you are ready to recreate yourself.

 Visit also my blog where I give every week new tips and strategies for all kinds of weight loss situations.

 Good luck and stay fit!

What are the best weight loss goals? For a start having a weight loss goal is essential to losing weight. Having a target to reach is a great motivational tool for shedding your extra pounds.

When you step on the scales each day to see how much weight you are losing is great, but to keep weight dropping having a varied amount of ‘goals’ is the way forward to continued healthy weight loss.

There is no point setting yourself very unrealistic goals, or goals you just won’t bother trying to reach. For example by just saying you will get ‘more regular exercise’ is not really enough, you need to set a goal of ‘walk three miles a day’. But then again if your not fit enough this could be changed to ‘walk for 30 minutes a day’.

Try and set goals that are suited to your lifestyle and situation. Walking for 30 minutes each day just is not possible if you have a full time job, remember set goals that are realistic.

You can’t best success! A great way to keep motivated during your weight loss program is to measure yourself at the start of your dieting. Measure your bust, waist, hips and thighs note down the sizes. Every couple of weeks re-measure and note down the decrease in size, it is great to actually see how your body size is improving! Set a goal using this technique.

Always remember that dieting takes time and must be carried out in a healthy manner. If you lose 2 pounds in a week you many think this is nothing, but 2 pounds a week is a very good weight loss goal. This amount of weight loss is very healthy, any more and you could be harming your body or changing your lifestyle too much.

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There is no easy way to lose weight permanently and safely. Even liposuction carries some risks and may prove to be painful. Thus, if you are planning to shed some pounds, you might as well accept the fact that there will be obstacles along the way and it would never be a walk in the park.More often than not, permanent weight loss also requires a change of habits and lifestyle. Skipping meals for a few days may give you an instant 10-pound decrease in weight for a week or two, but this habit is not sustainable and you will surely begin to binge on food in a matter of time after starving yourself for weeks.If you really want to be healthy and keep the weight you lost, you need to follow the tips below to make your weight loss program work for you all the time:Do It EverydayIn order for a change or plan to become natural to you, it is important to perform it everyday. Consistency is the key in forming a habit. For example, if you want to make it a habit to go to the gym, you need to do it everyday, even when you don’t feel like it so that it will become part of your everyday life or your system. It may even be better if you stick to the same schedule or route. Furthermore, in order for something to become a habit, you have to perform that task for at least 30 days without fail.Constantly Remind YourselfAfter a few weeks of following your diet plan, you might start to forget some important details of your plan. It is easy to go back to your old ways once you begin to miss gym sessions or let one slice of decadent cake get the better of you. So what do you have to do in order to prevent such problems? You need to remind yourself constantly. You can do this by writing your to-do list the night before or sticking post-its to prominent places in your office or home to remind you of your weight loss plan or exercise schedule.Don’t Make Your Plan Too ComplicatedIt is important to note that the more complicated your weight loss program is, the harder it is for you to stick to it. Thus, if you are just starting out, make your plan simple and easy to follow. If you are the kind of person who is used to sitting in front of the television or computer all day long, do not attempt to do extreme exercise routines during the first few weeks of your fitness revolution. You might want to start with walking around the park or enrolling in a gym membership. Afterwards, when your body is used to stretching and exercise, you can begin to try extreme sports or rock climbing, if that would make you happy and healthy.Stay Away From TemptationsDuring the first few weeks of your new weight loss plan, you have to stay away from things that will tempt you and jeopardize your success. If you want to minimize your sugar intake, leaving chocolate bars or muffins inside your refrigerator or pantry will make it harder for you to kick the sugar fix. As much as possible, you need to empty your kitchen and food storage with the types of food that you want to avoid.In order to inspire you to become persistent with your weight loss program, it may also be a good idea to seek help from diet aids. Supplements, such as Zylorin, can help suppress your appetite and boost your metabolism which can be helpful in jumpstarting your weight loss. For more details about Zylorin, visit http://www.zylorin.com/.

Copyright (c) 2009 Stephen Smith

Losing weight is simple and easy to do. Virtually every diet and weight-loss program can help people shed the excess kilos in a short period of time. The problem is, losing weight and keeping it off long term is actually quite difficult.

The main reason why most diets or weight-loss programs don’t work is simply because they’re not sustainable. Starvation diets, low-carb diets, replacing food with shakes for main meals, the list goes on. None of these strategies offer long term, realistic and sustainable approaches to weight-loss.

Furthermore, the weight that is lost by using these approaches tends to be mainly water, stored carbohydrate and protein (lean body tissue) with some body fat. Our goal should be to maximise the amount of fat that is lost. In order to lose body fat instead of simply body weight, 3 criteria must be met:

1. A mild calorie (energy) deficit must be created.

2. The body must be encouraged to use stored fat as its primary fuel source.

3. Sufficient time must be allowed to pass in order to achieve substantial results.

Let’s look at each of these areas in detail:

1. A mild calorie (energy) deficit must be created. This means the body expends (burns up) more energy each day than is consumed, i.e. ‘energy out’ is greater than ‘energy in’. By creating a calorie (energy) deficit the body must then rely on existing fat stores in order to provide the additional calories it requires.

A mild calorie deficit can be achieved in two ways: eating less or boosting metabolism.

Eating less is the approach most diets use. Even though it is successful in the short term, the body soon adapts to it by slowing the metabolism and increasing appetite.

Boosting metabolism is a far more effective approach to losing weight and burning fat and it can be done through a variety of mechanisms. Increasing meal frequency (eating 5 meals a day instead of 3), eating foods that boost metabolism like chilli and curries, exercising and using supplements that boost metabolism like ‘thermogenics’ all assist fat burning in the body.

2. The body must be encouraged to use stored fat as its primary fuel source. This may be achieved by ensuring the level of insulin in the body is kept as low as possible. Insulin is a storage hormone, which means it increases the uptake of nutrients into cells. Whilst this may be beneficial from an anabolic (muscle building) perspective, insulin also promotes the storage of excess glucose as body fat. Worse still, it stops the mobilisation and utilisation of fat for fuel (fat burning).

There are many way to keep insulin low in the body. Eating small meals, controlling carbohydrate intake and using supplements like, glucose disposal agents (GDAs) all keep insulin low.

Eating large meals promotes greater insulin secretion by the pancreas. Therefore, small meals will keep this down.

Being aware of carbohydrate sources is also important because it is the macronutrient (carbohydrate, protein and fat) that has the greatest impact on insulin secretion. It is not necessary to follow a low carb diet in order to keep insulin low but by simply eating more low density carbs (broccoli, cauliflower, beans, peas, etc) and less high density carbs (bread, pasta, rice, cereals, etc) insulin will stay low.

GDAs assist the body in disposing glucose more effectively by increasing its uptake into the lean tissues of the body (muscles, organs, etc.).

3. Sufficient time must be allowed to pass in order to achieve substantial results. Since it takes time for the body to burn off body fat it is essential to allow sufficient time to pass rather than expecting dramatic results overnight!

If we estimate that a 300-calorie deficit won’t have a major negative impact on our metabolism and if we assume that all of those calories that the body needs are derived from fat stores (which doesn’t occur but for the sake of the argument we will assume that it does), then the body can only lose about 33 grams of fat a day! [1 gram of fat has 9 calories] That works out to be 231 grams of fat a week! This is a far cry from the several kilos of weight that may be lost in a week!

As a result of this, people must be realistic in their expectations. A good example of this is competitive bodybuilders who generally allow themselves 12-14 weeks to get ready for a show. These athletes are usually already lean by population standards but the 12-14-week period allows them to achieve extremely low levels of body fat without sacrificing their precious muscle tissue.

If you are serious about losing body fat, not just body weight, then allow yourself at least 12-14 weeks to achieve your physical goals.

Overall, these strategies are used by all successful weight-loss systems. They provide people with proven techniques and products that can help them lose weight and keep it off without having an impact on their lifestyle. Let’s face it, there’s nothing better than losing weight (which is mainly fat), getting in great shape and still being able to enjoy life!

The idea of a weight loss program is for you to develop a consistent approach to weight loss, as well as a healthy endurance when exercising. A weight loss program’s objective is to get rid of the excess fat in your body, while retaining the healthy and lean muscle tissues and body fluids.

Focus & Dedication
The weight loss program requires your focus and dedication. So you need to be physically and mentally prepared. It is highly advised that you visit your doctor for a check-up before embarking on any weight loss program.

It is important that when starting on any weight loss program, you should be positive enough to work for the results. Do not get impatient easily. Long-term weight loss effects are assured as long as one sticks to the weight loss plan at hand.

Stretch, stretch and stretch!
Before exercising and working out the muscles, a little stretching is needed to avoid any injury or soreness.

It is also not advisable for anyone to try too hard. Everything should be done in moderation. Find the level of exercise and training that suits you. It should be enough for you to be comfortable but not too convenient that it will not be much of a challenge.

The First Week
The first day of the weight loss program involves a long and steady walk in a little over twenty minutes. After the walk, follow it up with a good stretch. In less than an hour, you have taken that first step to a weight loss program that could work to your advantage.

By the second day, it is good to focus on an upper body workout. This maintains your strength to be able to go through the whole weight loss program for the week.

On the third day, go for a brisk walk or jog for ten minutes. For beginners, a lower body workout should be done in the evening.

On the fourth day, a good rest and good stretch is in order. This lag time should be used wisely though to sort out any negatives in your mindset.

The fifth day starts with a good 10-minute walk. Exercise the lower body in four sessions of workouts, follow this up with another 10-minute walk, and another four sessions of lower body workout.

The sixth day should be spent on a low impact exercise such as swimming. Always try something new if you get bored easily.

The last day of the week is a time to solicit the support of the people you care about. Spend time with them or get them to be with you in your long walk. Again, follow up your walk with a light upper body workout.

This is just the beginning. If by this first week you are able to stick to the weight loss program, you have a great chance to boost your weight loss and stay with the plan until you achieve the desired result.

Patience is a virtue. The same way it took your body time to gain all that weight, think about it as the time your body will have to exert just to get rid of it.

Are you looking to lose some weight? Weight loss can be a constant struggle. It is very common for people to fail. Even when people lose weight initially, many will gain the weight back. Some basic strategies, however, can help you lose weight and keep weight off successfully.

Make a Commitment

Weight loss is not easy. It takes time, effort and a lifelong commitment. Before deciding to lose weight, take time to make an accurate self-assessment. The worst thing you can do is to lose weight for the wrong reason. You should be losing weight for yourself, not someone else. In addition, losing weight can take a lot of physical and mental energy. Try to resolve any other issues in your life before losing weight.

Set Realistic Goals

Be realistic when setting your weight loss goals. Avoid scams that claim you can lose 20 pounds in a day. Rapid weight loss is usually from losing water weight or muscle tissue and cannot be maintained. It is more reasonable to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. To achieve this, you need to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more than you consume each day. Fundamentally, this is can be achieved by reducing your caloric intake and burning more calories.

However, do not set your goals based on your weight. Instead, make goals based on your eating or exercise habits. In addition, make sure your goals are realistic, specific, and measurable. For example, set a goal of walking for 30 minutes a day for four days a week.

Limit Your Calories

Limiting your caloric intake is critical to any weight loss strategy. Eliminating 250 calories a day from your diet can help you lose about half a pound a week. Try eating more plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, focusing on your fat intake can make it easier to limit your overall caloric intake.

Burn More Calories

Limiting your caloric intake is often not enough. You also need to burn more calories through exercise. For example, a 30-minute brisk walk four days a week can help you lose an additional half a pound a week, potentially doubling your rate of weight loss through diet alone. In addition, try integrating increased physical activity to your daily life. Instead of taking an elevator, take the stairs. Park on the far side of the parking lot.

Get Support

Successful weight loss certainly takes a great personal commitment. This doesn’t mean, however, that you need to do it alone. Get support from you partner, friends, and family. Ideally, surround yourself with people who are supportive and share your commitment to a healthier lifestyle. Find people who you are comfortable sharing your concerns with and who can exercise with you.

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Why slow weight loss is the “new” quick weight loss for women!

Losing weight is an ongoing struggle for many women.  But is quick weight loss for women the ultimate fix?

I personally have tried all the quick weight loss for wowmen diets there is out there. Yes some of them do work, but only for a short period of time.

Let’s look at these quick weight loss diets and understand why they work, but only for the short term.

How Do You Lose Weight Quickly?

In order to lose weight quickly you need to eat a much lower number of calories than you burn in a given day.

This means that you either have to calorie count or follow one of those “lose ten pounds in ten days” diets.

Many people say that in order to lose weight quickly you should only consume 800 calories a day. Wow – that’s not much food is it?

Yes you can keep this up for a short period of time and lose weight quickly, but as soon as you start eating properly again… yes you’ve guessed it – up goes your weight again.

Therefore you are back to square one. Six months later you have tried so many quick weight loss fixes and given up so you are still at your overweight state. Not exactly quick weight loss now is it!

I know this from first hand experience, time and time again. Before I know it a whole year has passed and I still have not lost any weight even though I have spent money on many quick weight loss fixes!

Why Losing Weight Slowly Is The Way To Go

Now that we’ve established that quick weight loss is not the best way to go, let’s look at why losing 1-2 lb a week is actually the “new” quick weight loss for women routine.

You see giving yourself enough calories to live off will give you a slow steady weight loss which is much more manageable to stick to and attain. After all you can eat a good amount of food plus have treats such as wine and the odd pizza slice etc.. This is just so much more natural making it much more achievable to stick to it and lose 1-2lb week.

You still have to watch what you eat and go down the healthy route with plenty of fruit, vegetables and fibre, but you can also fit in foods you like so you won’t cheat.

So in the same six months you are much more likely to be able to stick to the higher calorie diet with a slower weight loss and be able to reach your goal. As opposed to keep trying quick fix fads which are practically humanly impossible to stick to so you give up and you are back to square one.

I finally realised this a few months ago when I was still 21lbs overweight after being on a ‘diet’ for about two years! So I set a target of losing only 1lb a week. This was so easy to stick to by being able to have the odd glass of red wine and a few treats. I ate healthy most of the week and introduced some exercise in the form of swimming. I am now half way to losing my 21lb but if I had stuck to my quick weight loss diet fads, I would still be 21lb overweight!

I am a huge believer in having goals. While some people spend too much time setting goals and not enough time achieving them, most people do not put much thought into goal-setting. When it comes to weight loss, it is especially important to set realistic goals.
By realistic, I do not mean “I want to lose 30 pounds in 30 days.” Oh, I’ve seen those claims many times. I’ve seen the claims of marketers that say their products can do that for you. I’ve also seen the claims of people that have said they can accomplish that feat. Can you lose 30 pounds in 30 days? Sure, but it is not healthy at all and will almost certainly return at some point in the near future. A good portion of this extreme weight loss will be in the form of muscle and that will kill your metabolic rate. For more on this, check my article on “Weight Loss vs. Fat Loss”.
So, what is a realistic amount of fat one can lose in 30 days? I would say, stick to the mantra of 1-2 pounds per week. That would mean about 4-8 pounds per month. Now, that may not sound like much, but let’s put it into a bit of perspective. Say you were to only lose one pound of fat each week. After one year, that would be 52 pounds! What if you had started losing one pound per week a year ago? Now imagine yourself this time next year at 52 pounds lighter. You may not even need to lose that much weight.
The key to weight loss goals is patience, realism, and a constant effort toward achieving them. At two pounds of body fat per week, after 13 weeks (3 months), you will have lost 26 pounds of body fat. That is very significant. It requires a lot of effort over the course of three months, but it is definitely attainable. If you have a significant amount of weight to lose, this would be a good goal to start with. Close to 30 pounds in three months is much more realistic that 30 pounds in 30 days.
One note that I should make is concerning detoxification diets. I am actually a big proponent of the detoxification process as long as it is done properly. I will deal with this subject in a future article, but for now you should know that it involves eliminating certain foods from your diet (while sometimes adding certain natural supplements) in order to rid your body of toxins that have been stored over time. The detoxification process can lead to a large drop in excess water weight in a short period of time. This would mean that you may lose an additional 5-10 pounds of weight on top of the 1-2 pounds per week of body fat in the first 2-4 weeks. It is not an easy process, but it is definitely healthy and certainly worth the effort.
Other than that, I would recommend sticking to two pounds per week for a short-term aggressive approach and about 1.5 pounds per week for a longer-term goal. Remember that these pounds add up over time. Don’t check the scale every day as you will get discouraged quickly. Rather, stick to checking every two to four weeks. Also, take some measurement of your body and take note of how your clothes are fitting. Often, these are better indications of how your body is changing. Take pride in these accomplishments and don’t stress over the numbers.
Set goals. Make them aggressive but attainable. Set both short and long term goals and then go take action on them. Most importantly, be consistent because your efforts really will add up all the time. That will make you very happy in the end.