Pointers to losing weight safely

September 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment

It is normal for people who want to lose weight to first of all think about reducing the amount of food they eat. This may be a solution, but not exactly the best there is. In fact, depending on the amount of food intake you reduce, it may even be harmful to your health. So how does one lose weight safely and effectively? Below are some pointers when trying to lose weight.


1. Beware of crash diets

Most people think that cutting down calories intake alone can shed off unwanted weight. Probably this is due to the advertising fad about low-calorie food products and beverages. Actually this could be dangerous because when they decrease their calorie intake way below the required levels, the body begins to digest the fats. Sounds good? Not actually. Burning fat requires a lot of energy. Since there is not much energy in the body to facilitate metabolism of fat, it will run at a very slow pace resulting to fatigue, illness and weak immune system.

Low-calorie diet is also compensated by burning muscle. So when people revert back to their old eating habits they usually end up gaining back some weight, if not all the weight they have shed off. They may end up having the same weight as before but more bulkier. One way to counter this is to eat small meals at more frequent intervals, so the body will not think that it is starved and will not store food as fat.

So keep in mind that you should lose excess body fats only.

2. Eat properly

Besides junking the crash diet option, you should also not forget to watch what you’re eating. Variety must always be considered so that you are able to gain the necessary nutrients. It is also healthier to eat food which are roasted, steamed or broiled rather than fried. Include lots of fiber in your diet. Drinking sufficient amount of water is also necessary.

3. Gain more lean muscle mass

Muscles burn calories when they work AND at rest. Unlike fats, muscles burn calories all-day round. In view of this, one can start weight loss by increasing muscle mass. The more muscles, the less fat will be left. This is attainable starting with working out with resistance exercises.

4. Engage in aerobics

Aerobics are not only good for the heart by increasing cardiovascular endurance, but also help in increasing lean muscle mass while simultaneously decreasing excess body fat. Aside from these, aerobics improves the metabolic process and increase its rate, even after a long while. Imagine your fat is burning efficiently while you are driving along the freeway or even watching television.

5. Extra “push”

Some people believe that smoking and caffeine can actually help in losing weight. This can perhaps be true; however, they do the body more harm than good because of their side-effects. For that extra “push”, one can try out taking food supplements.

Over-the-counter diet pills affect the amount of weight one loses as well as how long one keeps that amount of weight off. However, one must be wary of the side-effects of these diet pills. As such, one must follow closely the instructions provided in the packaging. It is also prudent to consult a doctor before trying out these weight loss pills, and also to find out which type would be best for you.

Losing weight does not have to mean sacrifice and suffering. It actually means opening up to a more full and healthy life. Yes, losing weight might entail a little adjustments plus the discomforts, but as the old saying goes, “no pain, no gain.” Besides fat, what have you got to lose anyway?

Posted by Valen | Filed Under Healthy weight loss tips 

The Way to Losing Weight…Naturally

September 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Most people know pretty well what is best for their body and health. Hence, losing weight the natural way should not be a problem at all…


Once we are overweight, we usually want to trim down for a whole lot of reasons, some related to health, others having to do with looks.

It is never too late to lose weight. But the fact is, it is a whole lot easier to prevent putting on pounds than to try losing them later on. And if there is one thing we all know, it is that weight gain is likely to happen if we do not take forward-looking steps to stop it.

Health experts say that most people who are into losing weight usually stray. They tend to go back to their old eating habits even after they learn to enjoy low-fat eating. They tend to return to a sedentary lifestyle even though they enjoy exercising.

Despite the momentum toward weight gain, you can stop it from happening, experts say. The nuts and bolts of eating right maintaining a healthy weight is not all that complicated. In fact, most people know pretty well what is best for their body and health. Hence, losing weight the natural way should not be a problem at all.

A reasonable approach for losing weight naturally is to stick to a diet that is high in complex carbohydrates, high in fiber, moderate in protein, and low in fat.

A complex carbohydrate is a baked potato. Fat is the sour cream and butter that you should not put on it.

Fiber is vegetables. Fat is the oil you should not fry them in.

Protein is a lean cut of meat. Fat is the gravy you should not pour over it.

Dietary fat promotes weight gain because it is a very rich source of calories. Also, when you consume excess calories from dietary fat, you store those calories as body fat more efficiently than excess calories from other sources.

On the other hand, it can also help you lose weight naturally if you do not fall into the so-called “fat-free” trap. Manufacturers keep coming out with low-fat or fat-free versions of their best-selling foods, but people keep getting fatter anyway. The term fat-free can be a trap if you start to believe that you can eat any amount of the foods that are advertised that way.

It is best to respond to hunger with healthful snacks. Health experts say it would be better to eat every three to four hours, consuming nutritious low-fat snack between lunch and dinner.

When you feel the urge for food coming on, snacking on something healthy such as a slice of whole-grain toasted bread is a better alternative. Never skip a meal and eat snacks instead because that is the worst thing you can do if you are trying to control your eating habits and weight.

Remember, if you want to lose weight naturally, you have to keep track of every food you eat and of every activity that you do. When you say natural weight loss means that you do not have to use some accessories or helpful aids just to lose weight.

Losing weight naturally is a process, not a fad. Certainly, it would take a lot of determination, self-control, and discipline to achieve your ideal weight.

Posted by Valen | Filed Under Natural weight loss