Low Carb Diets

Hypnosis, and the way our minds project our self image, is a very powerful way to lose weight.

Hypnosis itself is a very powerful technique.The latest research shows that it eases pain,

speeds healing, increases fertility, even fights cancer.

Most of us are not even aware of how powerfully the mind controls us. From it’s postion

of protecting us, it manipulates and causes behaviors, even the negative ones, with the overall result

of keeping us safe and alive. All of this, of course, happens without our conscious knowledge.

Hypnosis is a way of accessing the mind directly. It is a tool that allows us to change negative

behaviors “behind the scenes” so to speak, and, where it really matters - in our mind.

Most of us also know nothing about hypnosis, except that it’s a bad Vegas act. Most of us think it’s a magic trick.

Most hypnotists are practicing psychologists. They can help the patient put themselves into a deep state of relaxation. And this is the important point, no one does it to anyone. The patietn either allows themselves to be hypnotized or hypnotizes themselves.

Most patients state it is similar to the feeling you get right before you go to sleep. Deep, relaxing breathing techniques and quiet sense of fluidity simply instill relaxation a sense of peace and quiet.

A funny thing is happening to hypnosis, long a feature of vaudevillian routines: it’s becoming respectable, working its way into the nation’s premier research hospitals, medical journals, and doctors’ offices. An increasing number of physicians are using hypnosis to ease patients through childbirth, angioplasty, chemotherapy, breast biopsy—even full-on surgery.

Hypnosis is helping people get over fractures, burns, migraines, asthma, fibroids, peptic ulcers and skin disorders. The same techniques practiced by ancient Egyptians 2,000 years ago and “discovered” by Austrian physician Franz Anton Mesmer in the late 1700s are now scoring impressive results in medical experiments across the United States, Europe, and beyond. Mind, it seems, really can overcome matter.

If somebody told you there was a medication that could treat 100 different conditions, didn’t require a prescription, was free, and had no bad side effects, you wouldn’t believe them,” says Harvard Medical School psychologist Carol Ginandes, Ph.D. “I don’t want to sound like a snake oil salesman, because hypnosis is not a magic wand. But it should be made available as a supplementary treatment for all patients who could benefit. Right now.”

Over the past 5 years, online weight loss programs have become increasingly popular. One such Internet-only weight loss program claims to have over 1.2 million members in it’s database. We are seeing more and more companies creating an Internet presence to assist with weight loss.

Is it a money grab, or can an Internet-based program genuinely help you? How can sitting at the computer help you to lose weight? How can we trust the information being provided to us? Let’s try and answer some of those questions.

Money-making or Real Help?

A study conducted by the Brown Medical School provides some interesting results. They compared the results of 2 groups of overweight people over a period of 6 months. Both groups were trying to lose weight. One group was subscribed into a structured Web and email based program - whilst the other group was simply given a number of Internet links to weight loss information.

Participants who were given a structured behavioral treatment program with weekly contact and individualized feedback had better weight loss compared with those given links to educational Web sites. The study concluded that “the Internet and e-mail appear to be viable methods for delivery of structured behavioral weight loss programs.”

However a smaller study conducted later compared only a single online weight loss program with a group given only a weight loss manual. The results here were quite different, with the non-Internet group getting better results.

Losing Weight By sitting in Front of the Computer?

Our modern sedentary lifestyle is having a huge impact on health in the Western world. However, never before have we had so much information available at our fingertips. The on-line weight loss programs, are allowing people to have counseling, and weekly personalized support at a fraction of the normal cost.

There is no doubt that “bricks-and-mortar” weight loss centers, such as Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, and LA Weight Loss, are significantly more expensive than their on-line competitors.

The support available from on-line forums, message boards, email, and chat, is contributing to peoples weight loss efforts.

Weight Loss Information - Quackery or Quality?

There is one thing about the Internet - it allows anyone to take up a pen (or a keyboard) and start writing. Like most modern mediums, this is both good and bad. There is considerable ms-information out there, but it can allow you to make more informed decisions.

Previously our only source of information was from advertising, magazine articles, or from our local physicians. This information typically came from a single school of thought, or establishment. The Internet allows us to sift for real-world information, written by the very people that have suffered the conditions, and found an answer.

Without wishing to deride the medical establishment, it seems that many doctors are too quick to prescribe medication. We can’t help but feel cynical when we see the names of pharmaceutical companies written on pens and notepads in the doctors office!

We need to be more informed and weigh up our own decisions for what is best for our bodies.

Online Weight Loss - What To Expect

The two studies published in the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), tell us that, yes, on-line weight loss can and does work. It also tells us to be realistic about what to expect. The best person to help you succeed is you.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that the cost for these programs is very good compared with the amount of information that you receive.

If you are considering altering your diet, and beginning an exercise regime, it’s well worth having a look at some of the programs on-line to see if they will suit.

In our society of fast food and long hours spent at jobs, it is not difficult to add weight at all.

That is the easy part.

The hard part is how to shed those extra pounds.

With the right dieting and discipline, it can be done.

Here are a few smart dieting secrets to help you achieve an ideal weight.

Start your diet with a food diary, record everything you eat, what you were doing at the time and how you felt.

That helps you gain insight about yourself, your temptation, the emotional states that encourage you to snack.

Instead of eating the forbidden piece of candy, brush your teeth. If you’re about to cheat, allow yourself a treat, then eat only half a bite and throw the other half away.

When hunger hits, wait 10 minutes before eating and see if it passes. Set attainable goals. Don’t say, “I want to lose 50 pounds.” Say, “I want to lose 5 pounds a month.”

Get enough sleep but not too much. Try to avoid sugar. Highly sweetened foods tend to make you crave more.

Drink six to eight glasses of water a day. Water itself helps cut down on water retention because it acts as a diuretic.

Taken before meals, it dulls the appetite by giving you that “full feeling.”

Diet with a friend. There is strength in numbers.

Support groups are important, and caring people can help one another succeed. Start your own, even with just one other person.

Substitute activity for eating. When the cravings hit, go to the “Y” or health club if possible; or dust, or walk around the block.

This is especially helpful if you eat out of anger.

If the pie on the counter is just too great a temptation and you don’t want to throw it away, freeze it.

If you’re a late-night eater, have a carbohydrate, such as a slice of bread of a cracker, before bedtime to cut down on cravings.

Keep an orange slice or a glass of water by your bed to quiet the hunger pangs that wake you up.

If you use food as a reward, establish a new reward system. Buy yourself a non-edible reward.

Write down everything you eat - - everything - including what you taste when you cook. If you monitor what you eat, you can’t go off your diet.

Weigh yourself once a week at the same time. Your weight fluctuates constantly and you can weigh more at night than you did in the morning, a downer if you stuck to your diet all day.

Make dining an event. Eat from your own special plate, on your own special placemat. Borrow the Japanese art of food arranging to make your meal, no matter how meager, look lovely. Make eating some kind of a ceremony.

This will lessen the habit of automated eating.

This is a trick that helps chronic over-eaters and bingers pay attention to their food instead of consuming it unconsciously.

Don’t shop when you’re hungry. You’ll only buy more fattening food. Avoid finger foods that are easy to eat in large amounts.

Avoid consuming large quantities of fattening liquids, which are so easy to overdo. And this includes alcoholic beverages.

Keep plenty of crunchy foods like raw vegetables and air-popped fat-free popcorn on hand. They’re high in fiber, satisfying and filling.

Leave something on your plate, even if you are a charter member of the Clean The Plate Club.

It’s a good sign that you can stop eating when you want to, not just when your plate is empty.

Lose weight for yourself, not to please your husband, your parents or your friends.

Make the kitchen off-limits at any time other than mealtime. Always eat at the table, never in front of the TV set or with the radio on.

Concentrate on eating every mouthful slowly and savoring each morsel. Chew everything from 10 to 20 times and count!

Never skip meals (unless you’re not hungry)

May these dieting tips help you to achieve your ideal weight and maintain good health and happiness.

Warmly,

I-key Benney, CEO

No one has ever been lured into a relationship by a flabby pot belly. Nor has anyone extended their life with a big tummy. That belly fat doesn’t enhance the fit of your clothes. With all the tempting fast foods and a busy life, what are you to do? If you want to lose belly fat, you can. With a careful diet and consistent moderate exercise, you can lose belly fat, and keep it off!

The most common mistake people make when trying to lose belly fat is thinking that starving themselves will work. If you don’t eat but exercise strenuously, you’ll find yourself drained, hungry and still not losing weight. Another common strategy is to eat very little but fail to exercise. This approach won’t lose that belly fat either.

The body doesn’t operate that way. With inadequate food, your metabolism slows to compensate for the lack of food. So fat will be burned, but much less than with a combination of diet and exercise.

The secret to losing that fat is to reduce food portions, and get daily exercise. You can eat whatever you want, as long as it’s nutritious and portions are smaller. Smaller portions allow you all the tastes you already enjoy, but because you’re eating less, your body will be a fat burning machine without the awful side effects and dangers of starvation.

If you’re going to consume 1500 calories per day, then a half-hour of belly exercise will be enough to slowly burn weight. If you want to ramp it up, then increase the amount of exercise as you see fit (pun intended). But half an hour of belly exercises are usually hard enough for a person to do.

Why is this? Why does it seem harder to lose belly fat than anywhere else on your body? It’s not that you aren’t burning fat, it’s just that the stomach naturally has more padding. Also, when people try to lose belly fat, they usually aren’t making the most of their exercise program. They stop between sit-ups, which slows down the fat burning process. Instead, when you exercise, go all the way through the routine, stopping only when absolutely necessary. Another effective way to lose belly fat is to do twists. Standing with legs apart, twist the upper half of your body from side to side, with arms stretched out to the sides. Toe-touches are also a good exercise. These all promote a smaller waist and flatter tummy.

When you start your diet and exercise program, remember not to slack off. Missing “just” one day will lead to missing “just” two days, and soon you’re eating burger after burger while breaking that couch in a little more. After you lose fat, don’t stop your exercise program. Now you’re fit, so keep yourself that way!

Let me solve your workout problem.

I know that you are:

- Eating well - Exercising regularly - and TICKED OFF that you aren’t making progress.

I’ve answered dozens of emails and blog posts like that this week here and in my Men’s Health blog.

And here are the 3 mistakes that you are making:

1) Your perception of your nutrition “success” doesn’t match the reality of what, when, and how often you are eating. To learn the rules of fat loss, you need to read (scratch that, you need to STUDY), Dr. Chris Mohr’s Fat Loss Nutrition Guidelines.

2) There is no variety in your training.

3) You need to up the intensity of your training.

Let’s face it. Human beings like to stick to a routine. We don’t like change. We like our comfort zone - some more than others.

But if there is no change in your workout from month to month, then your body will not change either.

That is why I insist on changing your workouts every 4 weeks as you do in the strength and interval workouts.

You won’t succeed by doing the same thing over and over again. Would you get ahead at work by doing the same tasks you did as the first day on your job? No way. You have to take on more challenges.

With variety in your training, you will continue to apply “turbulence” to the muscle, and making your body use lots of energy (i.e. calories and fat) during the recovery period to repair the muscle and replenish the energy used. That will “jack up” your metabolism.

If your body is used to the training, the exercises, the sets, and the reps, it will give a “ho-hum” response and your metabolism will flatline.

And that’s why you need to raise the intensity of the workout as well.

Slow, boring cardio doesn’t jack up the metabolism like intervals.

And research has shown that 8 reps boost your post-workout metabolism more than 12 reps. So you have to safely add a little weight (try using 5% more weight with perfect form, of course), and decreasing the number of reps per set by 2. That’s a good place to start.

So if you’ve been doing a machine circuit, then stop, and give this sample free weight workout a try.

Warmup with a bodyweight circuit. 8 reps per exercise, go through it twice.

Sample bodyweight circuit:

i) Bodyweight squat ii) An easy pushup iii) A bodyweight row if possible, if not, do stick-ups

Then do 20 minutes of total body strength training done in supersets.

ie. 1a) DB Squat 1b) DB Press

Do each exercise with a weight that allows only 8 reps. Do not rest between the squat and press. Rest 1 minute after the press. Repeat the superset 2 more times.

Next superset:

2a) DB Split Squat 2b) DB Row

Same as above.

On to intervals:

5 minute warmup.

6 intervals of 60 seconds at a “harder than normal cardio pace” with 60-90 seconds recovery (at the easiest pace possible).

5 minute cooldown.

Stretch tight muscles only.

Done.

We don’t do slow cardio. It does nothing for the man or woman who is short on time.

And of course, always train safe and don’t do anything you are not comfortable doing…but if you are fit and healthy, you can increase the intensity, change the variables, and burst through your fat loss plateaus.

Lose a pound of fat… what does it take? Not eating for a day? Not eating for a week? Eating less? How much less?

Professionals say that it takes 3500 calories in order to loose One Pound of fat you stored in your body. That simply means that you have to reduce your calorie intake for 3500 cal per week, and here you are – one pound less.

Ok, it is not that simple.

In real life the process of loosing a pound is much complicated. Different individuals have different body types, metabolism rates, level of activities, etc. When you are putting yourself on a diet you loose not only fat but also a water and muscle. You do not want to loose muscle because every pound of muscle is burning approximately 60 calories per day, in fact, adding a pound of muscle would help you to burn part of that 3500 calories.

To sum up, 3500 is only rough approximation that one can use in order to keep his/her fat loss under control. Reducing calorie intake is definitely a good step towards loosing that “insulation” around you, but you also need to think about: cardio work - major factor in fat loss, power exercising - that helps you tone your body and get that lean muscle that in turn burns calories even when you sleep, and finally - EATING RIGHT AND HEALTHY FOOD.

If you have any additional questions or concern, please visit our fitness forum where you can ask questions and find appropriate answers almost on any fitness subject, including creatine monohydrate.

The acid alkaline diet for optimum health restore your health by creating balance in your diet!

The issue of acid-alkaline balance (or pH balance) is comparatively new.

This is an exciting fresh way to reduce your weight by improving the quality of your life. A new weight loss plan that displays how anybody can lose weight with this tested plan.

Are you thinking this is only some new crazy diet?

This unbelievable new diet plan is being used by celebrities and beautiful people all over! A new and enlightened approach to weight loss and dieting that in reality works.

An imbalance can affect our health, ranging from, chronic fatigue, small skin irritations, back pain, and depression to arthritis, ulcers, and osteoporosis.

Majority of people consume a copiousness amount of highly processed foods that acidify the body and, as a result, are troubled with several of these ailments. A simple change in your diet will restore your acid-alkaline balance which will result in an immense improvement in your health.

The speculation behind an alkaline diet is that since our body’s pH level is somewhat alkaline, usually ranging between 7.36 to 7.44, our diet should theorize this and also be somewhat alkaline.

However; our bodies are imbalanced because our diets are excessive in acidic foods such as sugar, caffeine, processed foods and animal proteins, and this will disrupt this balance.

If not helped it can deplete the body of alkaline minerals such as potassium, magnesium, sodium and calcium, this will make you very prone to chronic and degenerative diseases.

So if you want to sort out your body and you want to enjoy optimum health, you need balanced amounts of both alkaline substances and acids.

Here are some great guideline tips to get you started;

• Hydrate consistently. Drink as much water as you can, ideally at least 8 glasses a day.

• Avoid Coffee, tea, soda and other acidic drinks.

• Avoid Foods with preservatives, food colouring and additives. • Avoid all artificial sweeteners!

• Keep vegetables ready in your fridge to nibble on all through the day or take them to the office to snack on.

• Nuts and grains, also snack on these. You can have as many as you like because they are not acidic, as long as they aren’t salted or dry roasted of course!

So get to it, the weight loss begins here…

When I first heard about the Cabbage soup diet, I thought it was too good to be true. So how can a 7 day diet take as much as 14lbs off you? Cabbage is among several foods that have a negative calorie value. This means that they use up more calories in digesting than they actually give in energy value. Among these kinds of foods are Celery; Asparagus; Beet Root; Broccoli; Carrot and Cauliflower. So in theory the more you eat of it, the more weight you will lose.

The reason is very simple: Your body burns more calories digesting the ingredients, than their calorific content. This diet is fast, and fat-burning, and the secret is that you will burn more calories than you consume.

Fat Burning Cabbage/Vegetable Soup Recipe:

1 Small Head Green Cabbage 4-6 Spring Onions (chopped) or 2 large cooking onions 1-2 lbs Carrots 2 Large Green Peppers 1 Bunch Celery 2 Packet Vegetable Soup Mix (dry) 2 Large Cans Crushed or Diced Tomatoes

Cut vegetables into small to medium bite sized pieces, cover completely with water, boil fast for 10 minutes. Reduce to simmer and continue cooking until vegetables are tender, (about 30 minutes) season with salt, pepper, bouillon cubes, parsley, or hot sauce according to taste.

7 Day Meal Plan:

DAY 1: Any fruit EXCEPT banana today. Cantaloupe and watermelon are lower in calories than most fruits. Eat only soup and fruit today.

DAY 2: All vegetables. Eat until you are full with fresh, raw, or canned vegetables. Try to eat green leafy vegetables and stay away from dry beans, peas, or corn. Eat vegetables along with your soup at dinner time. Tonight reward yourself with a baked potato and butter! Do not eat any fruits today.

DAY 3: Eat all the soup, fruits, and vegetables you want. Do not have the baked potato today. If you have eaten as above for three days and not cheated, you should have lost 5-10 pounds.

DAY 4: Bananas and skimmed milk. Eat at least 3 bananas and drink as much skimmed milk as you can today. Bananas are high in calories and carbohydrates, as is the milk. You will need the potassium and carbohydrates today.

DAY 5: Skinless chicken (or lean beef) and tomatoes. You may have 10 to 20 ounces of chicken OR beef and as many as 6 fresh tomatoes (or canned) on this day. Eat the soup at least once this day.

DAY 6: Beef and vegetables, eat to your heart’s content today. You can even have 2 - 3 steaks if you wish with green leafy vegetables. No baked potato. Be sure to eat the soup at least once!

DAY 7: Brown Rice, Unsweetened fruit juices and vegetables. Again be sure to stuff yourself and eat your soup

The following are not allowed on this diet:

• Alcohol • Bread • Carbonated drinks including soft drinks

Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day, along with any combination of the following: black coffee, black tea, unsweetened fruit juices, cranberry juice, and skimmed milk.

You may eat a cup of bran or fibre cereal with skimmed milk if you suffer from constipation during this diet.

This is by no means a long term diet plan. However if you follow it for the whole 7 days you will notice a difference because the soup itself doesn’t contain any calories so the magic is you will be burning lots more calories than you are taking in. After following this diet for 7 days although I didn’t weigh myself, I did measure my body parts and I lost a total of 11 inches.

The best way to use the diet plan successfully, is to do a week of the cabbage soup, then eat healthily for a week, then do the soup again for another week. You can carry on doing a week on and a week off for as long as necessary.

Although lots of people fail simply because they can’t stomach the soup continually, I found that the best way to go about it is to do only enough soup for a couple of days at a time. This way, each time you make it you can vary the amounts of each ingredient so that it tastes slightly different each time and you won’t get sick of it.

There are forums available for more help and info and of course to support you on your road to success.

http://s12.invisionfree.com/Cabbage_soup_diet http://www.aboutcabbagesoupdiet.com/board/

I am more than aware that I have a need to lose weight. This need most would say is for health reasons but I would say that it would hugely help to increase my own self-confidence and self-esteem if I could attain a weight that I was happy with. I have to admit that this is not a new problem as I have been carrying additional pounds for most of the year. I am now however determined to start my weight loss plan so that I can lose enough weight to enable me to really enjoy my Christmas without feeling guilty about what I am eating.

I have around five weeks remaining in which to reach my ideal weight. I believe I have enough will power to succeed. In the back of my mind I am thinking about the pride that I will no doubt feel when I finally achieve my goal and also about being able to fully enjoy the huge Christmas meal that my wife always serves up. This is what should help me to beat off any of the demons in my head which will be attempting to convince and tempt me into eating all of those fatty foods which I will be trying to avoid.

I have a number of plans which I hope will enable me to lose this excess weight. There is a free gym at the company where I work which thus far I have only been in once and that was to have a look around. I am going to arrive at work an hour earlier each morning and do a light workout. If I have any energy left after work I will also spend another hour in the gym doing various exercises. This is a bold plan which may prove to be quite difficult to sustain as I am not exactly known for my sporting prowess in any shape or form. I am more widely recognised as a couch potato!

Exercise is paramount in most successful weight loss programs and this is why I am very determined to carry out my plan.

Food is the largest cause of my weight problems as I basically love all of the foods that the experts suggest that you should avoid. I know what I should and should not eat, it is now a case of being far more disciplined. This again will not be easy but the end results will be worth the sacrifice.

There is something in human nature that keeps us from accepting fact. We all know deep inside that there is no magic pill to make us beautiful, or slim, or fit. We know it, but we keep hoping. And we keep buying!

That fact is well known and even better understood by the huge $35 billion dollar diet and fitness industry. They know we want an easy way, and they are committed to selling it to us. There are absolutely hundreds of diet pills, programs, foods, and lotions advertised everyday. They all contain terms like, “Its Easy”, or “Fat just melts off”.

In reality if even one of these things worked our population wouldn’t have 60% of us overweight, and diabetes, hypertension, and chronic pain wouldn’t be ever increasing. We’d all look like the models on TV selling us the latest fad cure.

We all know we’re getting older, we all know we will eventually pass on, that’s life. However human nature allows us not to dwell on that fact, and live our lives.

That’s good news and bad news. None of us would be happy if we spent our lives thinking dark thoughts about our certain end. However because we are programmed not to think of getting older, we give it no thought at all.

What we should be thinking about isn’t the number of days but the quality of our days. We all have a finite period and there is nothing that can be done about that, but we can do a lot about how we live those days.

We can remain vital and healthy and active well into our eighties without “giving up all the good things in life”. Or we can begin to deteriorate in our forties and be frail, immobile and sick as time catches up with us. The sad part of that is we need to make the lifestyle changes now in order to insure our future. Here comes good old human nature again, telling us it won’t happen to us, or they’ll have a cure for whatever ails us “later in life”. The cruel irony of human nature is we are the biggest obstacle to taking better care of ourselves.

If you are waiting for drug, or diet or some other corporation to provide you with a healthy life, that dog won’t hunt. Just look at the huge tobacco companies that sold us cigarettes for years. They knew they were dangerous, they also knew they were profitable, and guess what won out?

Why do we believe the diet industry is any different? They constantly make new products to make fitness and quality of life “easy”. They know they aren’t permanent solutions, but hey they make money so what!

I keep seeing ads about how Oprah lost weight, or approves this product, or featured that product on her show. You know what? Oprah has a personal trainer, and a personal chef, she doesn’t use this stuff. She has made intelligent lifestyle changes. And that is the only path to fitness and quality of life.

The fact is most of us are confused and don’t know where to begin with fitness and weight loss. We get so much bad information we don’t know who or what to believe.

The only way to correct this is to take the time to learn what the body needs, and how to get it. There are huge sales dollars being bet everyday against us ever doing that.

Human nature is hiding the facts from us, and we’re OK with that now. He have got to take responsibility for our own life and wellbeing.

Where are you in this scenario?