Weight Loss Programs

In order to lose weight effectively and maintain physical fitness, it is important to enroll in a weight loss program. These programs are vital for prevention of diseases like hypertension, diabetes 1 & 2, blocked blood vessels, stroke etc. Better still they are essential in managing stress leading to greater productivity at the work place. There are various types of weight loss programs which depend on how much weight needs to be lost, level of commitment needed from the individual, availability of finances and peer pressure and health related risks such as having undergone a surgery prior to taking part in weight loss programs. They are usually designed to meet each and every individual's needs.

To begin with, aerobic exercises involve working out the large muscles for a longer span of time. Although these exercises stimulate weight loss, they are also advantageous as they have a large number of cardiovascular benefits such proper blood circulation. The best of all is swimming but for those people who are budget conscious, there is the option of going to the gym for aerobic classes. Furthermore, cost free alternatives like jogging, walking or even cycling produce the same results as desired.

Secondly, individuals may undertake anaerobic exercises which are basically for building muscles. Lifting of heavy weights is the best mode of anaerobic exercises. It is mostly undertaken by athletes and boxers such as feather weights, middle weights and heavy weights. There are also those who engage in these exercises for the purposes of being employed as bouncers.

There are also those activities that one engages in and which do not take a long period of time. These ones require discipline and commitment since one may not have a support group to motivate him/her. The most common ones include taking the stairs instead of using the lift, taking a walk from home to the workplace and vice versa, taking a walk around the work place, sit-ups etc.

Above all, it is important to put into consideration certain factors so as to be able to make an informed decision on the best weight loss program to engage in. For example, having in mind how much weight one wants to lose in a given timeframe, possibility of joining a support group which will give the much needed motivation especially when the going gets tough, need to change diet from junk food to a healthy one, family commitments, financial commitments and the need to create time for such activities.

There are far too many online weight loss programs, but do you know which work? We review weight loss programs that have shown consistent results and our choice is Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle program. Visit our website to find out what it is all about.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ally_Skander

7 Weight Loss Myths Broken

With so much weight-loss information out there, it's hard to make sense of it all and distinguish fact from fiction. Here are a few common myths explained and clarified!
To loose weight I need to...

1. Cut the fat in my diet
Myth
Fat is essential to every diet and should consist of 15 to 30% of one's daily calorie intake. This being said, it is important to give your body the best fats (unsaturated fats: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated; including omega 3 and 6), limit the saturated fats (animal fat from meat and dairy) and avoid the trans-fats (in many baked pre-packaged goods). Fats are important for many functions in the human body, as every cell membrane in our body consist of them. They play an essential role in many bodily functions as well as being essential for absorbing lipid-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). The Mediterranean diet, world renowned for its health properties and healthy weight virtues is a perfect example of this. Fat consists of 25-35% of calorie intake, only 8% being saturated (dairy and meat), the rest coming from olive oil and other plant based sources.

2. Cut the carbohydrates
Myth
My defense of carbohydrates is continual! Why are they essential? Carbohydrates serve crucial functions in the human body. Among other things, they are your body's principal source of energy and the only source of energy for many important cells such as neurones and red blood cells. This being said, an over consumption of carbohydrates transforms itself into fat, which is why, on average, an adult's plate should consist of only 20% whole grains and or starchy vegetables, the rest being vegetables, fruits, protein and fat.
Most important of all is the type of carbohydrates you choose. The reasons this food group has a bad reputation is that chosen incorrectly they wreak havoc on your blood sugar and cause you to crave more food rather than fill you up and provide you with the nutrients and long-lasting energy you need.
Which ones are best? Choose complex carbohydrates like whole grains instead of 'white' or refined carbohydrates (white rice, white bread, white pasta... ).

3. Replace sugar with artificial sweeteners
Myth
You've heard that sugar makes you gain weight therefore you make sure to drink diet coke rather than the original, put sweetener in your coffee and feast on sugar-free cookies.
On top of the fact that there is not much research on the safety of artificial sweeteners, the consumption of aspartame and saccharine, like sugar, is very addictive, and they wreak havoc on our blood sugar, causing drops in energy that make us crave more food as a result. Ironically enough, diet drinks have also been linked to obesity and overeating.
There is a lot of research that links diet drinks to weight gain. The theory is that because the sugar-free drink contains no calories, its sweet taste sends a signal to the brain to expect food and calories, and because these are not arriving, the body starts craving food and more calories. Another explanation is that consuming high amounts of sugary substances dulls your taste buds and as a result, makes you crave more high calorie foods.
The ultimate solution to free yourself of this vicious cycle and loose weight, is to wean yourself off of sugar and sugar substitutes slowly. You can start the weaning process with Stevia, a safe and natural, no-calorie sweetener.

4. Eat less
Myth and reality
Reality: Portion control and snack control are two of the keys to maintaining a healthy body weight. The easiest way to control your portions this is to see your daily food consumption as a pie chart! On average, 60% of your plate should consist of vegetables and fruits; 20% from carbohydrates; and 20% from protein. This can be modified depending on your age, the season, your activity level and other factors.
Not making it to your next meal without a snack? Put an end to this snacking by:

• Increasing your consumption of satiable foods and decrease your refined carb consumption (white carbs). Satiable foods include those rich in fiber and healthy fats. Refined carbohydrates, including sweets will give you a quick burst of energy and then leave you tired and feeling hungry.
• Train your body not to eat outside of meals and put yourself on a fixed meal schedule. Notice that when you are jetlagged you are hungry at the times when you normally eat at home. This is because the body remembers that you usually eat at certain times at which point it prepares itself to digest. Getting yourself on a 3 meal a day with no snacks schedule should take about the same amount of time as getting over jetlag: a few days to a week. Most adults have a relatively sedentary lifestyle that does not require snacks if they've had decent satiable meals.

The myth part is that one should not starve him or herself. Consuming three meals per day and having only fruits or vegetables as occasional snacks, helps to avoid the feeling of being ravishingly hungry and making unsound food decisions while in a hypo-glycemic state. Meal skipping also slows your metabolism meaning that your body burns less energy throughout the day. Meal skipping also provides you with less energy to go for that jog or power walk which will burn calories and also increase your metabolism!

5. Do not eat 2 hours before going to bed or after 8 pm
Partly true
I am not big on rules, especially when they are aimed at everyone but let's see why this can partially hold true.
Our bodies have an energy stock to keep us going between meals called glycogen stock; it releases energy for 6-8 hours after your meal. Fasting for 12 hours between dinner and breakfast is an important weight loss tool for the simple reason that after the body has depleted its stock of glycogen it starts burning your stock of fat. If you are snacking in the evening, the body's glycogen stock is replenished and you are not giving a chance for your body to burn fat.
My revised version of this weight loss 'rule' which is also important for your health is to: fast for 12 hours between dinner and breakFAST.

6. Eat low calorie foods
Myth
Diet foods may cause overeating. Professor David Pierce explains that foods with low calorie content disrupt the body's ability to use taste to regulate caloric intake. (1)
In addition, diet foods contain more artificial flavors and products in order for the food's taste not to be compromised. Why is this bad? The health consequences of regular consumption of these products are uncertain and little long-term research has been done.

7. Drink a lot of water
Myth and reality
It is commonly recommended that people trying to loose weight increase their water consumption. This is mostly because thirst is often mistaken for hunger. Also, while you are drinking water you are not drinking calorie containing drinks such as juices, soft drinks, alcohol, etc. Water also helps your body eliminate toxins which are more present in your circulation when you start eating healthier. Removing these toxins contributes to your health. In terms of losing weight though, water does not contain any magical component which will help you achieve this.

References:
1. Smucker, Celeste M. 'Evidence shows diet soda is not a healthy weight loss product.' February 26, 2012 http://www.naturalnews.com/035070_diet_soda_weight_loss_aspartame.html#ixzz2CN7Qc2WS

For healthy recipes and health tips check out and for more information on choosing healthy fats go to: http://michellesavard.com/blog/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Savard