Thursday, May 15, 2008

Vitamins To Aid In Weight Loss!

We cannot pick out vitamins specifically for weight loss but we can certainly look at certain vitamins that may help you. For weight loss to take place we need a number of vitamins to act in synergy with each other for the effect of weight loss to take place.

Some of the vitamins to aid in weight loss are: The B Group of vitamins such as B2, B3, B6, Choline and Inositol ( part of the B-complex ) and finally Vitamin C. It is important to pick a vitamin that has the required dosage in the right amounts.

Do You Sweat More Because Of Lack Of Vitamins?

The main reason why some people sweat more than others is due to genetics. Genetics controls the activity of your sweat glands and this is why you will see some people sweat or literally drip with perspiration while others may seem they have not done anything after an hour of exercise.

Besides genetics the level of physical activity also plays an important part. A person who is less fit will not sweat as much as a person who exercises regularly. The body uses the process of sweating to reduce body heat. Similar to an animal which may hang its tongue out on a hot afternoon. Fitter people respond quicker to changes in temperatures than their less fit counter parts.

So do vitamins help you sweat more? The answer is they help you to maintain your body functions at the optimum levels. Remember that sweating is mainly genetic and depends on your level of fitness. Remember to take a lot of liquids as you will need to replace what you have lost in sweat.

Chart Of Vitamins In Fruit And Vegetables

There are a number of websites on the internet where you can access charts with details on vitamins. When you are looking at a certain vitamin to take it is prudent you look at five crucial factors: completeness, balance, potency, purity and safety. These five points are very important if you wish to get the most from your vitamin.

Vitamins and Nutrients Of Red Meat

Lean red meat is rich in nutrients that help with optimum health. Lean red meats contribute to the haem iron in our diet. This source of iron is higher than that of plants. Zinc and omega 3 is also present in lean meat. In fact the next biggest source of omega 3 besides fish is from lean meat. All the essential amino proteins come from red meat. Selenium, Vitamin D and the B-Complex group of vitamins are also present in red meat.

Claude Fullinfaw is a successful publisher of nutritional secrets at My-Healthy-Supplement.com where he provides more information on health and nurition for men, women and children and how you can benefits from his work at My Healthy Supplement

Medifast Weight Loss System - A Quick Overview

I've lost nearly 65 pounds on medifast and am still going strong. From the questions that I am often asked, I find that there are a lot of misconceptions about this diet plan. Here is a quick overview which will hopefully give you an accurate idea of what this system is all about:

Medifast is a meal replacement diet which means that you replace some of your daily meals with prepackaged options provided by the company. There are over 70 different meals from which to choose. There are some liquid choices, but the plan is definitely not a liquid only diet. Typical meals include shakes, bars, puddings, teas, lattes, cappuccinos, chilis, stews, crackers, eggs, and oatmeals etc.

In addition to eating five of these meals per day, you will provide your own "lean and green meal." This is usually your largest meal of the day and although you can have it at any time, most people prefer to eat this main meal at dinner time. The lean and green consists of lean protein and veggies or salads. It may sound difficult to eat six times per day, but it really isn't because the foods are pretty much grab and go and very convenient.

I find the taste of the foods to be pretty decent, but you can make them taste even better by adding sugar free syrups. You can add these to the shakes, puddings, lattes and oatmeals. I like adding either caramel or cherry flavored syrup but there are countless choices. You can also make muffins and cookies from the pudding and shake ingredients. I also take the liberty of adding fat free cheese and sour cream to the soups and stews.

The company states that the typical weight loss is 2-3 pounds per week. I have found that if I add a bit of exercise (power walking, roller blading, or gardening with a weight vest) I can get this even higher, usually as much as five pounds per week. This program works by putting your body in ketosis and tricking it into burning its own fat. Since exercise also burns fat, moving your body means doubling your efforts.

The cost is about $8 per day, but there are usually coupons available. For me personally, this has been the only plan that has been both effective and easy for me stick with. Eating the company's foods does take some getting used to initially, but adding the syrups and being motivated by the changes in your body can really help.

Lindsey Price is the author of the ebook "Getting The Most Out Of Medifast" which includes the latest coupons, recipies, and tips. To get a free copy (immediate download / no information required), click here.

You can also visit her diet review website at http://geniefrancisdietreview.blogspot.com/

Strict Weight Loss Plan

Statistically speaking, if you are on a strict weight loss plan, you are likely to fail to achieve your goal. Lack of motivation, difficulty of the diet plan, temptation to cheat, cravings that overwhelm your will power and undermine your discipline, and lack of availability of the right foods, are all contributing factors to derailing you from your weight loss efforts.

Although low-calorie diets, low-carbohydrate diets, and low-fat diets have all been proven to be effective means of achieving weight loss, each one of these are very easily sabotaged for one or more of the above reasons. There is one diet, however, that is completely idiot-proof and leave you less likely to succumb to sabotage. That diet is known as the calorie-shifting diet.

Unlike low-carb, low-calorie, and low-fat diets, where you must reduce your intake of carbs, calories, and fats, the calorie-shifting diet allows you to eat as much food as you like without counting. Not only that, but this diet also allows you to eat food from all four food groups. Above all, you are required to eat four full meals every day.

In doing so, you can expect to lose 9 pounds every 11 days on this diet plan. Most experts agree that rapid weight loss has the potential to be unsafe and ineffective. That is why the calorie-shifting diet requires you to take a 3-day "cheat" break every 12th through 14th days on this diet. During those 3 days, you are expected to eat "sensibly" but not follow the diet plan as prescribed. You can think of those 3 days as a good practice run for how you would eat if you had reached your goal weight and wanted to maintain it. Then, after your 3-day break, you are free to resume the diet again for another 11-day cycle if you wish to lose more weight.

There are numerous advantages to taking this 3-day break. Firstly, it is good for your motivation. Rather than sacrificing your eating habits for several months with no end in sight, you get to eat normally for 3 days, as a miniature reward. Secondly, your body does need time to recover from the rapid weight loss you will have experienced. These 3 days will bring your metabolism back in balance.

How does the calorie-shifting diet work? How is it possible for you to lose weight so rapidly while being allowed to eat as much as you want and eat from all four food groups? Essentially, this diet is based on the principle that you can manipulate your body's metabolism at will simply by shifting the types of calories you consume from meal to meal on a rotational basis, every day. What that means is that what you eat, when can directly trigger the appropriate metabolic response in your system that will induce fat burning. By withholding certain types of calories at certain times and reintroducing them at others, over the course of several days, you are consuming calories in a way that is conducive to weight loss as opposed to weight gain!

Here are some sample meal plans to give you an idea of how this diet works. The diet plan runs in 11-day cycles but only 3 days are included here, just to give you an idea of how the plan is structured and to give you a sense of how satisfying and sustainable this diet truly is. Keep in mind that each of these four meals may be eaten in any order throughout the day, as long as you only eat that the designated foods at each of their respective meals.

Day 1

Meal #1: Flavored Oatmeal

Meal #2: Tuna Salad

Meal #3: Scrambled Eggs Meal

Meal #4: Sandwich (any type)

Day 2:

Meal #1: Banana Milk Shake

Meal #2: Scrambled Eggs and Mixed Vegetables

Meal #3: Chicken

Meal #4: Cottage Cheese

Day 3:

Meal #1: Cottage Cheese

Meal #2: Chicken

Meal #3: Fruit Salad

Meal #4: Fish Filet

So what are you waiting for? Generate your personalized meal plan now at http://www.IdiotProofFatLoss.com and you will be 9 pounds lighter in a week and a half!

How To Lose 10 Pounds In 1 Week - Dieters Extreme!

If you are aiming at fast weight loss there is only one way to go. To get rid of excessive fat you will need to do 2 things. 1) You need to go on a proven fat burning diet and 2) Exercise in a way that improves the result of the diet.

Choosing diet isn't that hard. You should pursue a calorie shifting diet that will boost your metabolism into burning fat like never before. During the first cycle of dieting it is quite possible to lose 10 pounds in 7 days. The result of the diet comes from many factors and the more you initially weigh the more you will lose. This is because your insulin levels will stabilize and you will lose some water weight. Shifting calories according to a certain scheme will increase your metabolism and have it going at full speed ahead meaning that it will open up your fat cells and release a lot of the fat.

Choosing exercise program is a bit more difficult. You want to lose weight so if you do too much weight lifting you'll gain muscle and weight. On the contrary, if you do too little weight lifting you will lose muscle mass and we don't want that either.

I found that combining cardio-exercising and weight lifting was a great way. I have a free program over at my site. Look below for link. This program is built to burn fat and it burns fat all day and all night. The program should be done about 2-3 times per week. If money isn't an object you should try Turbulence Training as this is a full program.

Jennifer Olsen was a master of failing at different diets. She understood that there were more to losing weight then just going on a diet. Today she has lost nearly 50 pounds with the calorie-shifting diet and meanwhile she has finished reading 'Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle' and she is implementing what she learned into daily activities.

She made a mini-site that gives examples of diets, complete fast weight loss diets and reviews of books that helped her stop living the unhealthy life and turning around into a more healthy life-style. If you are interested in learning more please Click Here!

If you are interested in learning more about the calorie-shifting method, please please Click Here!

Nutrition Lies You Tell Yourself

I spent a lot of time this week designing personal nutrition programs and meeting with new clients. And everytime I do that, I have clients fill out an extensive feedback form, which includes a 3 day diet record.

Now one of the questions on the feedback form is, "Do you eat lots of fruits and vegetables?"

The most common reply: yes. And it's always a lie.

But the truth comes out pretty quickly.

When I take a look at their daily diet record, many of these clients aren't eating any vegetables at all. Not a single vegetable all day.

Listen, I guarantee you that not eating fibrous vegetables means that you are not going to reach your fat loss goals.

If you want to be lean, but don't think you need any vegetables at all to accomplish this goal, then I'd like to know what color the broccoli is in your world, because getting lean just isn't going to happen for you.

I'm serious.

You can bump up the lean protein and knock down your sugar intake, but if you aren't pumping up the greens in your diet, you're going to be frustrated with your fat loss.

Find out more about proper eating from female health and fitness expert, Rachel Cosgrove.

Craig Ballantyne: Do you have any super foods that you think absolutely must be in everyone's diet for health and wellness purposes?

Rachel Cosgrove:

Green vegetables are a super food. I usually try to get my clients to have some kind of vegetable at breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. They can throw some spinach in their eggs, have a salad at lunch and broccoli at dinner for example.

The other super food besides green vegetables is essential fats, whether it is from foods or in supplement form everyone should be getting their Omega 3 fats. Over and over again in the research Omega 3 fats prevent all types of diseases and are truly a super food. So eat fish and green vegetables!

CB: Where should someone start if they want to take their healthy eating to the next level? (i.e. beyond just eating regular supermarket chicken and vegetables). What are some tips to eating as healthy as possible?

RC:

Get out of your rut. Too many people get stuck in a rut of eating the same thing every day. You should rotate your foods. If you eat a food today, you shouldn't eat it again for four days. This is called a rotation diet and works great for your health and for decreasing inflammation. Basically if you have chicken today, don't eat it again for four days.

This is really hard to do and I dont usually give a true rotation diet to too many people but I do emphasis variety and trying to eat different foods throughout the week.

Basically each time you go to the grocery store try to buy something different, try buffalo or ostrich meat or a different type of fish. Grab a new vegetable you have never tried.

CB: What ratio of carbohydrates, fat and protein is best for fat loss or is this something that must be approached individually?

RC:

This is individual, depending on metabolism and activity level.

Following a Low Junk Diet cuts your carbohydrates back pretty low though so I suppose if I were to recommend anything, it would be lower carbohydrate where all the carbs are from fruits and vegetables.

I would never say no carbohydrates though. You have to be careful because if you cut back too much you'll be too tired to move and then you'll burn less calories and it'll back fire on you. I also like to cycle in a higher carbohydrate day once or twice a week.

CB: What are some common Western-diet foods that cause problems such as fat gain, inflammation, food allergies, etc.?

RC:

Fast food, processed junk, sodas- again, stick to whole, natural foods. Remember "Green Faces."

(The majority of people would do well sticking to whole, natural foods. We have a nutrition plan we start people on at our gym to eliminate the junk from their diets called "Green Faces" and it consists of eating foods that are green or that had a face. That's it, nothing else.)

Allergies are usually from bombarding your body with the same foods over and over again. Most common allergies are wheat, dairy and sugar. If you are having symptoms of allergies such as post nasal drip, fatigue, bloat, gas, excess mucus, etc. try eliminating wheat, dairy and sugar and see if your symptoms disappear. It is most likely one of these foods.

CB: What are the benefits of eating organic food? How does a customer know if the food is organic?

RC:

For myself and my clients I recommend eating organic when possible.

Organic food will have lower amounts of pesticide residue. Don't let this scare you though, eat more fruits and vegetables, organic or conventional, and you'll be healthier. Just be sure to wash your produce well before eating.

I have started to see more and more organic foods in the regular grocery store which makes it easier to get. It will say "Certified Organic" on it, meaning it was grown on an organic farm. I also love to visit the local Farmers Market every week, this is a great way to get a variety of really fresh vegetables, some organic.

CB: What are the best teas for us to be drinking? Where should we buy them (commercial grocery store, real Chinese health food stores, etc.)?

RC:

Green Tea has thermogenic, anti cancer and cardio-protective properties. What better way to start off your day! Skip the coffee and have green tea. You can find organic green tea at your regular grocery store.

CB: Thanks Rachel. It's easy to eat well for fat loss and health, you just have to plan ahead. So plan, shop, and prepare on the weekends so that you have great meals and snacks all week long.

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Maximum Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Men's Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines and all over the Internet, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. For more information on the Turbulence Training workouts that will help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment, visit http://www.TurbulenceTraining.com

Avoid Weight Loss Side Effects - Help Kids Lose Weight Naturally

Obesity threatens to kill younger and younger Americans everyday due to the health risks that result from being obese, most especially if you have been obese most of your life. Because of these major health concerns, parents have been paying hundreds of dollars on doctor consultation fees and prescription drugs to help kids lose weight.

Some of the multi billion fitness and health industries have been resting on the obesity fears of people and come up with a variety of ways to promote fitness like aerobics and exercise videos, costly exercise machines, food supplements and meal replacements, and of course, diet pills.

Although studies have showed that these methods of weight loss do work, it is however very difficult to use to help kids lose their weight. Why?

  1. Aerobic exercise videos and costly exercise machines - Kids would rather play PSP or surf online than follow some fitness instructor do some exercise workout or yoga.
  2. Food supplements and meal replacements - These types of foods do not satisfy kids' food cravings most especially if we're talking about kids who would rather stuff some fast food in their mouth instead of a boring and tasteless meal.
  3. Diet or slimming pills - I don't know of a parent who is ready to take the risk of getting their kids try out any diet pill inspite of the numerous controversies and health concerns associated with this method of losing weight.

When it comes to losing weight, nothing compares to doing it naturally and breaking up a sweat followed by a well-balanced diet. But I'm sure this would pose a greater challenge when it comes to kids trying to lose weight.

If you really want to help your kids to lose weight effectively but without the dangers of any side effect, choose a natural diet plan that has been proven to work for a lot of people and a weight loss program that your kids can stick to for the long term. This is the only way you will be able to really help them.

Naturally and safely lose 9 pounds every 11 days Stop starving or exercising yourself to death and forget about using diet programs that don't work.

Visit Fat Loss For Idiots now, browse around and find out how does Fat Loss For Idiots work to keep people fit and healthy irregardless of gene composition and age.

If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right - Mary Kay Ash

How To Lose 10 Pounds in 7 Days

In order to lose 10 pounds in 7 days you will have to do 2 main things: Improve on your nutrition and increase the amount of aerobic activity that you perform. It won't be easy but it is very possible if you keep focused and are willing to make the effort. At the end of the week it will be worth it.

Here are some tips on how to lose 10 lbs. in a week:

1. Cut down on your useless calories - sugary drinks, white bread, pastries, fast food, fried food and candies.

2. Instead of eating 3 large meals a day, eat 4-5 small meals. This helps your body to digest the food and turn it into energy instead of into fat. It will also help you feel energized through out the day and will curb your hunger.

3. Drink 8-10 glasses of water each day. I know not the easiest thing to remember so take a large bottle of water to work and make sure you finish it before you leave for home. Often when we feel hungry it's not for lack of food but for lack of liquids. Drinking water will help keep your hunger down. And the best thing is that water is zero calories.

4. In order to lose 10 pounds in 1 week you will have to burn a lot of calories through exercise. There simply isn't enough time to lose that much weight by diet alone. Choose a reliable fitness program that you can use. One such program is home based exercise program called Turbulence Training. The main advantage of this program is that it teaches you how to work out in the comfort of your own home.

Pleas keep in mind that losing 10 pounds in 7 isn't easy to do because it requires a major commitment on your part.

Personally, I don't recommend trying to lose 10 pounds in such a short time. It is much better to give yourself at least 2 weeks to lose 10 pounds. If you have that kind of time, I recommend using the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet. To read a review of this diet, click here: How To Lose 9 Pounds Every 11 Days With Fat Loss 4 Idiots

To read how you can lose as 10 pounds in a short time, visit this webpage:
How to lose 10 Pounds In 7 days.

John Davenport lost over 30 pounds in his twenties after being overweight most of his life. To read more fast weight loss, click here: How To Lose 10 Pounds Fast

Weight Loss Motivation - 3 Useful Tips

Lack of motivation is a major reason many people fail when it comes to losing weight. I myself know first hand. All the daily distractions in life can leave you distracted from what you truly want. This article will address 3-ways to stay motivated and give you better chances of succeeding.

Weight Loss Motivation Tip #1

The first step is convincing yourself this is something you must have. Write down the three main reason why you must lose weight. It could be anything such as health benefits, wanting more energy, wanting to increase your life span, etc. Re-sight these on a daily basis to keep you focused on why you must succeed.

It takes years to get out of shape, and even less to get in shape. The average life span for a human is around 70 years. Did you know it can take as little as 6 months to 1 year to get in shape for the average overweight person? Before you start any program, make sure you are willing to commit 6 months to 1 year at it. It will not happen overnight. Its going to take time and energy. Remember your why reasons to help keep you on track.

Weight Loss Motivation Tip #2

The next step is finding a program that works to follow. You should not just buy the first fad diets or exercising gimmick you see on the television. Most people know a handful of people who have tried some form of diet or exercise program that worked. Go to these people and find out exactly what they did. If you do not know anyone, you can find many forums and review sites on the Internet of real user that explain exactly what they have done. Visit some of these websites to for ideas.

Weight Loss Motivation Tip #3

The final step is having someone to motivate and consistently push you to keep going. This could be a spouse, friend, partner, or even someone on an Internet message board. You do not have to go it alone in fact, having someone to keep you motivated will increase your chances of success.

Everybody wants to get in shape and life healthy. In my opinion, everyone can. Using these weight loss motivation tips can drastically help increase your chances of weight loss success. Remember to identify your why reason, stick to a program that works, and find someone to keep you motivated.

This article is written by M. Martin. Find more tips, articles, and reviews for the top diet and exercise programs at Lose Pounds Fast a blog operated by M. Martin.

M. Martin lost 60 pounds following Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet program. A full review for this program can be found at Lose Pounds Fast

Are All Saturated Fats Unhealthy?

Nope! Surprisingly, there are healthy fatty foods that you can eat...

And I know all about the confusing information out there -- it just drives me nuts. Tons of people say no this, no that and the real truth of the matter is you don't know what their actual agenda is...

So today, I am going to ask you to open up your mind because some of what I say is going to be contrary to the politically correct media and nutritional advice that is being dispense...

And yeah, many of the advice is being dispensed by doctors, so-called health experts and the granddaddy of them all -- the mass media.

The way I figure it out is all the usual suspects above treat everyone like you and me like mushrooms. Shovel manure over us and keep us in the dark with confusing and conflicting information.

To start with, we absolutely NEED healthy fats in our daily diet! It is so vitally important to our overall health. Did you know that fats are critically needed for all the cell membranes in our body? However, if you eat the processed foods that contains chemically altered fats -- guess what? Your cells ain't gonna be happy...

It means your cellular functions won't work right. It means your body has to work harder to find the right fats to repair and maintain the cells. It means you have greater risk of degenerative diseases.

You need healthy fats for creating energy, for breaking down vitamins and minerals. And so on and on...

In short, FATS are absolutely, critically needed for a lots of important functions in your body -- and if you listen the one of the most dangerous advice you hear from all those so-called health experts listed above... about following a restricted fat diet or even a no-fat diet...

Don't do it! You are putting yourself in great danger! It is one of the most unbelievable piece of garbage information about health that I have ever heard!

And if you think about it, or even followed that advice for a period of time... did you lose your body fat? I'm guessing no.

And no wonder... fat is also critical to digesting your food intake. You NEED healthy fats to lose body fat, to become lean and healthy. To be disease-free.

So don't fall for that clap trap. It is utter nonsense and I think the whole reasoning behind that is the hysteria that if you have excess body fat, restricting your fat intake will force your body to use up the internal fat. That simply isn't true.

Let's use some hard, cold facts. There is a researcher by the name of Dr. Mary Enig who is a P.H.D., and one of the leading experts on fats -- she said that there is very little scientific evidence supporting the theory that high fat diets is bad for us.

Let's use a real world example. Hundreds of years ago... the Pacific Islanders had a typical diet of mostly coconuts. As you know, Coconuts is saturated fats. And in spite of getting 75% to 66% of their total daily calories in Coconuts, these Pacific Islanders enjoyed a very healthy life -- free from heart diseases and obesity.

But modern Pacific Islanders eat typical western diets that are unhealthy and many of them are obese or fat... but that is another story for another time.

My point is, even if you eat a diet that is mostly saturated fats -- you would be healthier than anyone who followed a no-fat diet.

Another example would be the traditional diets of Eskimos. Their diet has the same proportion of fat as the Pacific Islanders did because they ate whale blubber, seal fat, and cold water fish. And Eskimos were famous for health and longevity!

I can also point to tribes in Africa -- the Masai tribes and Samburu tribes -- they ate a diet of whole milk, blood and meet. These folks enjoyed low body fat.

And don't forget about the Mediterranean diets which is very high in fats from Olive oil?

And then you can compare all the groups mentioned above with the North Americans -- a lot of them eat unhealthy western diets with little or unhealthy fats.

And guess which group is overweight and obese?

I think it is pretty clear from the evidence I pointed out above that many of the so-called experts who promote no-fat or low -fat diets don't know what they are talking about...

In fact, they say if you repeat it often enough... it must be true.

But we aren't sheep and we are much smarter then them... So we are going to look at the list of healthy fat choices that you can incorporate into your diet:

Coconut fat. Although it is 92% saturated fats, it is one of the healthiest natural fats you can consume. It is also an excellent cooking oil because saturated fats are more stable and don't oxidize as easily as the unsaturated fats do. Which can create free-radicals which can damage your body. Good sources of coconut fat is coconut milk, coconut oil or fresh coconuts.

My favorite source of oil -- extra virgin olive oil! It contains 16% saturated oils and 71% unsaturated oils. Extra virgin olive oil is from the first pressing of the olives and has a higher percentage of free-radical fights -- antioxidants. Unlike a lot of the other cooking oils, industrial solvents weren't used to extract the extra virgin olive oils. So it is much healthier for us!

Chocolate! More specifically, bittersweet chocolate which contains over 70% cocoa fats. It has lots of antioxidants and the cocoa butter contains about 59% saturated fats. This is important -- even though some folks prefer milk chocolates -- that chocolate isn't as beneficial as the dark, bittersweet chocolates. Milk chocolate has more sugar and corn sweetener which isn't good for you.

Avocados! One of my most favorite ingredients for my scrambled eggs in the morning. Avocados on the other hand is mostly monosaturated fats but it still has 25% saturated fats. But you can use avocados in your sandwich and salads.

Fish with high fat contents. I try to stick with wild caught fish such as salmon, sardines, herring and trout. They tend to have healthier diets and are much healthier sources of fats for us. Wild caught fish is a great source of Omega 3 which is important for our diets. And I'll have to talk about that another time.

Nuts! I love 'em. I like to snack on mixed nuts and dried fruits. No peanuts though... Nuts are a great source of healthy fats plus minerals. Try to avoid any nuts that were roasted in oil. Use the ones that are either raw or dry roasted.

Seeds! Sunflower, pumpkin and flax seeds. All are good but flax seeds are famous for having a high ratio of omega 3. I like to sprinkle fresh ground flax seeds in my yogurt and fruit for a well-balanced meal. And for the guys -- big health tip -- eat a handful of pumpkins (or pepitas) seeds each day. It may be beneficial to keeping away a swollen prostate.

Of course I should list the fatty foods that you should absolutely stay away from. Don't touch these with a ten foot pole!

Hydrogenated oils. These are the trans fats that you have no business putting into your body. Look at your processed food labels. If this ingredient is listed -- I suggest you toss those in the trash and never buy them again!

Deep fried foods. Come on here! Sure it tastes good but it is really, really bad for you. In fact, I would say that french fries is probably one of the worst foods you can ever eat. It is pure glucose and contains trans fat oils. And all of that goes straight to your love handles. So just say no to fried foods.

Homogenized milk and butter. Raw milk fat is great for you but the pasteurizing process ruins it. And turns milk fat into something potentially dangerous for your body. Raw milk is hard to find so I would stick with skim milk and cultured organic butter.

Now you know enough to be dangerous... so go now and eat some healthy saturated fat...

If you are looking for an effective workout program no matter if you are a beginner or at an advanced fitness level... that is guaranteed to get you in the best shape of your life... then be sure to head over here to find out how you can transform your body into one that will be slim, toned and muscular here:

http://www.healthy-weight-loss-fitness-program.com

Turbulence Training Program

Lose Weight With Hoodia Supplements

Studies have shown that weight loss pills made from the Hoodia Gordinii plant can successfully suppress appetite. These pills are very popular nowadays and have been used by lots of people around the world with great success.

Hoodia suppresses the appetite by making the brain think you have already eaten. This way you will want to eat less, making you lose weight. The effect of this plant truly is remarkable. You will still feel hungry, especially when you have eaten very little, just a lot less. This is not a meal replacement product so you will still have to eat.

The Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert have been using the hoodia plant since ancient times. They use it to stop feeling hunger during their hunting trips. The Bushmen also use the plant as a treatment for various diseases including indigestion, tuberculosis and others.

Hoodia gordonii pills and extracts are a great alternative to prescribed weight loss medications. Hoodia does not have any known side effects and is purely natural. You can easily buy hoodia pills online and have them delivered straight to your door.

Unfortunately the popularity of hoodia supplements also come with its negative effects. Lots of fake hoodia products have appeared on the market. This is why you should only buy them at reputable sites or stores. Ask for proof that they are really selling true hoodia. It is very easy to get scammed.

While Hoodia products are very helpful they will not make you lose weight by themselves. If you want to truly be successful at weight loss you will have to combine the Hoodia supplement with a good diet and exercise program.

To find out how you can lose 10, 20 or even 30 pounds or more using hoodia visit http://www.eguidesonline.com/hoodia/

The Truth About Fat Loss

I went to go meet Bill Phillips - the creator of the Body for Life Transformation Challenge...

And I came back with a set of 100 guidelines for my business and your fat loss program.

Here's the story...

Last November, I traveled to Mesa, Arizona, to hear Bill Phillips speak at a seminar. But at the end of the conference, it wasn't Phillips who I remembered hearing, nor was it Richard Branson, who spoke to us via satellite...but it was a man named Dave Kekich.

Mr. Kekich has written something called, "The Kekich Credo's", a set of 100 success secrets, and I review one secret everyday.

In fact, each morning I have a routine. After walking the dog, eating breakfast, and completing one major task for the day, I then review one of the 100 Kekich Credo's and relate it to my business and to your fat loss goals.

Yesterday, after a 2-hour walk with the dog in the Toronto Beaches (yes, we have beaches in Canada!), it was...

Kekich Credo #4...

"Real regrets only come from not doing your best. All else is out of your control. You're measured by results only. Trade excuses and "trying" for results, and expect half-hearted results from half-hearted efforts. Do more than is expected of you. Life's easy when you live it the hard way...and hard if you try to live it the easy way."

**** And here's my interpretation of how this success secret applies to your fat loss program...

-> Who are the ones on the cardio confessional every Monday? The people who did not do their best on the weekend with their diet.

-> Most people fail to control themselves, and end up only with regrets. They trade minutes of pleasure (i.e. fast food) for days, weeks, months, and years of regret. Do not be like everyone else!

-> Focus on quality workouts, not quantity. Focus on planning ahead to overcome obstacles, rather than trying to "out-cardio" your bad diet. You'll never succeed that way.

-> Always hit a personal best in each workout. This guarantees progress for both fat burning and muscle building.

-> Fat loss is easy once you understand how hard it is...and it's hard if you think it is easy.

That's the Truth About Fat Loss.

If you accept that in order to lose fat, you must...

1) Plan and prepare your nutrition in advance. That means spending some time on the weekend, planning what you need, going to the grocery store, and coming back home and preparing that food into meals for the rest of the week.

Cook a lot of chicken at once. Cut up all of your vegetables. Wash all your fruit. Package up your nuts in snack sized containers.

Take the "boy scout" approach to your nutrition and always be prepared.

2) Follow a professionally designed, structured workout routine that is more intense than anything you'd put together for yourself

3) Get social support from others who have gone through the same trials and tribulations that you face

...then you will succeed.

Discover the shocking top 5 fat loss myths at Turbulence Training and uncover all of the Turbulence Training Transformations in the Fat Loss Forum. Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and fat loss expert who writes for Men's Health and Oxygen magazines. Ballantyne shows you how you never have to do slow boring cardio again!

Can I Exercise My Abs While Doing a Full Workout?

Why concentrate solely on your abs and thereby extend your workout time by more than it needs to be. We are all busy people, so fast but efficient is what we are all seeking when it comes to working out. What about some better options for high intensity, metabolism boosting workouts that work your entire body, while working the abs.

Here is an ab workout that doesn't include any direct ab exercises at all. It's in a tri-set format.

1. Dumbbell Rows: start in a pushup position with the hands on 2 dumbbells. You then row (lift) one dumbbell up while using the other arm to stabilise your. Return the dumbbell to the ground and alternate the rowing arm while stabilizing with the opposite arm. It is the stabilizing that creates incredible work for your entire midsection core area. Trust me... your abs will feel it!

2. Front Squats: put the barbell in front of your body on the front of your shoulders instead of resting on the upper back as in back squats. You stabilize the barbell on your shoulders by crossing your arms and pushing your fists into the bar against your shoulders while keeping your elbows out in front of the body. You might want to seek some assistance with your form from a professional trainer at your gym. Due to the barbell weight being shifted to the front of the body instead of the back, Front squats require extreme stabilization strength from the abs. Even though this is mostly a leg exercise, you'll feel this one in the abs big time!

3. Floor Climbers: Start in a pushup position and then shuffe your feet in and out so that your knees are moving in under your chest and then back out to starting position. You resemble climbing a mountain but you are flat on the floor. If that is too easy for you, shuffle your hands 8-10 inches forward and backward in addition to the leg movements. This really makes it a full body exercise and MUCH more difficult than standard mountain climbers.

Rest for about 30 seconds after each exercise. After each tri-set, rest for 1 to 2 minutes before repeating. Do 3 to 4 sets of each tri-set with 8 reps of each exercise.

Try it. You'll get the best ab workout you've ever had without actually doing any specific ab exercises and you'll cut time from your workout as you've actually exercised many different muscle groups at once.

If you want more information, have a look at http://www.bellyfatsecrets.com - heaps of tips and advice from experts in the field.

Sick of the gimmicks, fads and expensive exercise equipment? Check out the facts at Best Ab Exercises & Workouts for Abdominals

Greg Millican
http://www.bellylosssecret.com

Weight Lifting Machines for Weight Loss?

New resort style mega health clubs are popping up all over North America. These clubs are packed full of expensive fitness and weight machines that offer hundreds of different ways to workout. You could go to one of these clubs and find a different machine to work the muscles of your arms or legs every day for 3 weeks and never repeat what youve done. Now that sounds very interesting and enticing, but is all of this variety necessary? It certainly is expensive. But do any of these machines help us lose weight? What are they really designed for anyway?

Some of the newer weight lifting machines can cost upwards of $5000 per machine. Each of these machines target specific muscles without affecting any other muscles. This is a technique called muscle isolation. Bodybuilders began doing isolation style exercises to make specific muscles bigger without affecting the other muscles around them. They do this because in competitions they are judged on the specific way they look and how big each muscle is compared to other muscles.

The average gym going person is never, in a million years, going to be in a position where they actually need to make their shoulders slightly larger without affecting their arms or chest because someone might think they look out of balance. However, most of the new gyms have countless machines that are designed to be this specific. Now unless there is a new bodybuilding revolution sweeping across North America that I am not aware of, all of these new weight lifting machines seem to be some what unnecessary.

The truth is most of the people who have a gym membership are there for general fitness and weight loss. Both of which can be accomplished with little or no machine assistance at all. In fact, the more muscles you work in each exercise the more calories you are going to burn, and the more overall change you will make to your body. These new weight machines are designed for the exact opposite effect. They are designed to only work a few specific muscles.

Weight training machines are great for advanced lifters, athletes and bodybuilders who are interested in shaping and building specific muscles. Whole body exercises that involve working the most muscles with each exercise are the quickest and most effective path to weight loss and fitness.

John Barban is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a varsity strength and conditioning coach as well as a successful entrepreneur. John has trained with world class level powerlifting teams and athletes at the professional level. Most recently he has specialized in training female varsity athletes, specifically women's ice hockey players. John has his masters in nutritional science and human physiology from the University of Guelph, and further graduate work at the University of Florida where he taught principles of strength training and conditioning in the department of health and human performance. John also has extensive experience developing and formulating nutritional sports supplements.

John write for http://www.grrlathlete.com and http://www.womensworkout.blogspot.com

How Long Does It Take To Lose 20 Pounds

If you want to know how long will it take you to lose 20 pounds you need to ask yourself what you're willing to do in order to lose that much weight as fast as possible. This is very important because you can lose 20 pounds in as little as 2 weeks, though it's not the easiest thing in the world. If you go for 4 or 6 weeks, it's much easier. Keep reading to see how long it takes to lose 20 lbs. with several weight loss methods.

Lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks:

If you want to lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks, your best bet is to use a detox diet. This is a liquid diet which is based on fruit juice. A detox diet flushes your body of useless, undigested deposits of fat, and also induces weight loss because it's a low calorie diet. You can definitely lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks with that kind of diet. However, don't use this diet for over 2-3 weeks because it loses it's effectiveness. A juice detox diet isn't easy to stick to because we're used to eating solid food each day, but it can get you fast results. I recommend the Master Cleanser diet.

Lose 20 Pounds in 20 Days or 3 weeks

If you want to lose 20 pounds in 3 weeks, the best option is to pick a diet and fitness program which revolves around cardiovascular routines. Sticking to such a program for 45-60 minutes each day and eating a reduced carb diet can get you the results you want. It will take some determination for you to stick to such a regimen for 3 weeks, but you'll be much slimmer and fitter by the time you're done. I recommend a program called Turbulence Training because it's highly effective.

Lose 20 Pounds in 4 weeks or 1 Month

The minimum time frame which I mostly recommend in order to lose 20 pounds is 1 month, even though I've shown you how it can be done faster. In1 month you can lose 20 pounds by using a weight loss program which is based on Calorie Shifting. This is a weight loss method which allows you to lose weight fast by manipulating the types of calories that you eat thereby 'tricking' your metabolism to remain running high, so your body is like a fat burning furnace. A calorie shifting diet is easy to stick to because it's simple to use, you don't starve yourself, nor do you need to do hours of exercise. Losing 20 pounds in this way is recommended because it's the easiest way in which you can maintain your weight loss to the future. I recommend using the original Calorie Shifting diet: Fat Loss 4 Idiots.

As you can see the answer to the question of how long it will take you to lose 20 pounds is really up to you.

To read how you can start to lose as much as 9 lbs. in 11 days and keep it off, visit this webpage:
How to lose 9 lbs. every 11 days with The Calorie Shifting Diet

John Davenport lost over 30 pounds in his twenties after being overweight most of his life. To read more about how to lose 20 pounds fast, click here: How To Lose 20 Pounds In 4 Weeks Or Less. It's a review of ways to lose 10 pounds fast (including a detailed review of Turbulence Training and Master Cleanse). Just double the time frame for each weight loss method reviewed to see how long it will take to lose 20 pounds.

Do You Know What Is The Best Aerobic Exercise For Fat Loss?

Ok... It has been written so much lately and it starts to feel like beating a dead horse...

And I'm guilty of doing that too because I have written several articles about why aerobic or cardio exercises are not good for fat loss.

So... is there really a good way to use aerobic exercises for fat loss?

That is the million dollar question. I'm going to tell you about it today in this first part expose on interval aerobic training.

And you will walk away from this lesson knowing more than most folks do about using the aerobic exercises the right way for fat loss.

First of all, I believe interval aerobic training is superior to the constant, slow aerobic exercises that most people are doing now for several reasons.

First, you get a better workout in a shorter amount of time. That makes sense because interval cardio demands quick pace with slow resting paces in-between.

Secondly, interval training is less boring and more challenging which means you will more likely stick with the program rather than wimp out because quite frankly, I absolutely hate slow, plodding and boring exercises... don't you?

Third point would be that you can change the variety and speed of your program frequently so your body doesn't get used to workouts and you avoid that dreaded fat-loss plateau... you know when your attention span starts to wander and you find more interesting things to do instead of working out to burn off your fat... like watching TV or eating more junk foods...

The best part about interval aerobic training is that you will jump start your metabolism which will burn up the fat around your love handles!

And you don't even have to be an advanced fitness workout freak to use and enjoy the benefits of an interval workout.

In short, beginners are welcomed!

So, if you haven't done any workouts in a while... and you want to get started... interval workouts is a great way to get started. However, I have to caution you, if you are out of shape, you should consult with your family doctor before taking on a workout plan.

Because the most important thing is you want to get in the best shape of your life... but you shouldn't have to die for it. Now we got the safety message out of the way... let's move on...

If you are a beginner... I suggest baby steps. Start using your aerobic machine at a slow and comfortable pace for twenty minutes. But every once in a while, slightly increase your pace for thirty seconds to a minute. Doing this beginner program is interval aerobic training.

And don't get me wrong here... interval aerobic training doesn't mean super high intensity -- "bop 'til I drop" activity!

Because that would be no fun when your body feels like crap after working it out more than it has in a long time.

Moderate exercises is best when you are first starting. The key thing is to do it! And stick with it. And vary it. And use interval training to challenge your body in short bursts.

What interval aerobic training will do is similar to throwing gasoline on a fire. It will stoke your inner body metabolism into a roaring fire that consumes the layers of ugly fat.

And I should mention that research has given a lot of evidence that interval training is vastly superior to the "traditional" aerobic training. For instance, a study from the Laval University in 1994 did a comparison of these two type of aerobic trainings and concluded that the subjects that used interval training had far better results over a period of 12 weeks. They lost more fat. And that is exactly what we want for the hours and time we spend at the gym.

And the reason being for better results is because interval training causes more activity which puts more pressure on the muscles to perform which requires more energy to support the muscles which means more fat gets burned...

Whew! That's a mouthful huh?

To put this in the simplest terms possible -- interval training burns more calories!

There you go!

So quit worrying about using those calorie counters you see in the LED display on your aerobic machines. It is nonsense. And it doesn't accurately present what exactly is going on within your body and after you leave the gym.

You got that right... interval training revs up your metabolism such that it still burns calories and fat... even after you are back home and watching TV!

Ok. That's it for now. I will get the second part up soon.

If you are looking for an effective workout program no matter if you are a beginner or at an advanced fitness level... that is guaranteed to get you in the best shape of your life... then be sure to head over here to find out how you can transform your body into one that will be slim, toned and muscular here:

Turbulence Training Program

How To Do Pushups And Build Beautiful Arms

If you want sexy arms and defined triceps, you need to do pushups, not triceps pushdowns. This will help you get nice arms, and avoid batwings.

You want nice arms, master the pushup.

You want to pass your physical recruitment test for the police academy or military, master the pushup.

You want to push other athletes around on the court or field (within the rules, of course!), master the push-up.

You want to be mobile, athletic, lean, and sexy? Master the advanced pushup variations.

If you can't do a pushup, start with these 3 basic steps. If you can do a bunch and want to take it to the next level, see the 3 advanced steps below.

Beginner 3-step progression for push-ups.

i) Kneeling Pushups
Start with 1 set of 8 if you are a beginner. Add 2 reps each workout for the first week, so that you are at 1 set of 12 after 3 workouts.

In the next week, add 1 set each workout, so that you are at 3 sets of 12 by the end of the week. Then try for 3 sets of 15 the next workout.

The problem with kneeling pushups is that you can only get so strong. Eventually, you'll be able to do 15 kneeling pushups, but you still won't be able to do a full pushup...so onto the Incline Pushup.

ii) Incline Pushups on Smith Machine
Set the smith machine bar at chest height. Stand about 2-3 feet away from the bar. Lean forward and grab the bar with an overhand grip. Keep the balls of your feet on the ground and lower your chest to the bar.

Do 3 sets of 8 repetitions per workout.

Each workout, lower the bar one notch on the Smith Machine until you get to the lowest rung. You're almost at full pushups now!

iii) Push up Holds
But you still might not be able to do more than 1 or 2. So let's get stronger where we are weaker - at the bottom.

From the top of the pushup position, lower your body slowly (for 2 seconds) to the bottom position.

Hold this position for 5 seconds.

Then slowly lower your body all the way to the floor, drop to your knees and then get back up to the full pushup position.

Do 3 sets of 3 repetitions of the 5 second hold.

Add 1 repetition each workout until you are up to 3 sets of 6. By now, you should be able to crank out quite a few pushups.

Advanced Pushups

Here's a progression to build you up to the Spiderman Pushups...

i) Pushups with Your Feet on the Ball

ii) T-Pushups

iii) Spiderman Pushups

These are advanced pushups, and will require photos, video, or personal instruction.

You have permission to publish this article in your web sites, ezines or electronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entirety including the resource box, all hyperlinks (HTML clickable) and references and copyright info.

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men's Health and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training for Fat Loss have helped thousands of men and women with weight loss and fat burning in less than 45 minutes three times per week. Turbulence Training for Fat Loss workouts help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment. Craig's bodyweight workouts for fat loss help you lose fat without any equipment at all.

A Weight Loss Pill That Works

If you are currently in the market for a weight loss pill that works then you have probably seen the same names thrown around. This is especially true if you have been looking at the over the counter prescription weight loss pills. There are however all natural herbal supplements that will help you lose weight just as good and in most cases better.

The most popular all natural weight loss pill available right now is Proactol. Proactol has been backed by doctors and is even recommended as one of the "Top 5 Way to Lose Weight" by The Telegraph which is the most popular newspaper in Britain.

Utilizing the power of herbal medicine, Proactol is able to work in ways that traditional weight loss pills have failed. The first benefit of going all natural is that there are no side effects what so ever. Everything in an all natural pill is just that, all natural. No need to worry about the side effects that you hear come with the pills you see advertised and talked about on TV.

Proactol is able to work as both an appetite suppressant and fat binder. Utilizing these two important factors, you are guaranteed to lose weight. The appetite suppressant will "fool" your brain and stomach into thinking you are full. Because you don't crave food when you feel full, an appetite suppressant can make it easier for you to lose weight. Proactol is also able to bind to 28% of dietary fat which means that of all the fat that enters your body daily, 28% will never affect you!

I was looking for a weight loss pill that worked and found Proactol. It was the best purchase I made so give it a try and order Proactol today

Cookie Cutter Diet - Are They For You?

Have you tried every diet program and diet plan in magazines that are out there? I certainly have! Could your dream of weight loss and maintenance be a reality in your life? Yes! If you're willing to try something different than a one-size-fits-all diet, weight loss coaching is for you.

Diet programs work. I've lost hundreds of pounds many times by joining them only to regain plus a bonus few pounds to weigh more than I did when I joined. I'd try another diet program only to have the same results. I'd return to one of the other ones to give it a try again thinking it would possibly work. What was different? If you do the same thing over and over, you'll get the same results. For us, the results are that we lose, regain, gain a few extra pounds, feel guilt and badly about ourselves, and then repeat it all over again. If you want different results as in reaching your weight loss goals including living a healthier, happier life, weight loss coaching could be your answer.

Every single one of us are unique and different individuals. Why do we continue to go to one-size-fits-all or cookie cutter diet programs that treat us all the same. You have special needs, preferences, likes, and dislikes. Design a diet and exercise program that is customized for you and only you. You can be successful with weight loss coaching.

In a diet program, you are one of many customers. With weight loss coaching, you get individualized attention as a client. You are special to your weight loss coach and are appreciated for who you are and where you are in your life. With the proper one-on-one support, you can make changes in your diet and achieve your weight loss goals and life your best life.

A weight loss coach will assist you in creating a diet that includes your likes and life. For example, I had a client that wanted to improve the nutrition in her breakfast meal. If a diet program suggests you should eat a certain number of units or particular foods, what if it doesn't work for you? What happens if it doesn't fit into your schedule or lifestyle? With a weight loss coach, we could include nutritional choices that will accommodate your tight schedule of having to eat as you commute to work. Through coaching, we take your likes, your schedule, and your lifestyle to design a program just for you.

What makes weight loss coaching successful? You will design an individualized plan that considers your schedule and lifestyle. You will set goals and create strategies to reach them. You will be accountable to successfully achieve the items on your own personal agenda. You will receive the personal attention of your coach at sessions that are scheduled to work with your schedule.

Empower yourself to make changes in your diet and lifestyle to reach your weight loss goals through your own customized plan. You aren't one of the masses in a diet program. You are a special and unique person that has decided to try something different than a cookie cutter diet plan. Welcome to living your very own best life.

Cathy Wilson is a weight loss life coach. Cathy lost 147 pounds six years ago. Her passion is helping clients achieve their weight loss and life goals. Cathy works with clients to create a weight loss life plan that is customized to each client. Cathy is a member of the International Coaching Federation, International Association of Coaches, and Obesity Action Coalition. Visit Cathy's website: http://www.LoseWeightFindLife.com

Get Moving - The Benefits Will Last a Lifetime!

The benefits of physical activity are numerous and very well documented. Aside from substantially reducing the risk of dying of a heart attack, regular physical activity decreases the risk for stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain forms of cancer. Regular physical activity helps to build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints and reduces the risk of arthritis and osteoporosis. Regular physical activity helps reduce the symptoms of arthritis and degenerative joint disease and reduces the falls among older adults. Regular exercise has even been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. As overwhelming as these benefits are, the sad fact is that less than half American adults do not get enough physical activity to provide health benefits. Less than one third of adults in our country are physically active in their leisure time. The good news is, its never too late to reap the benefits of an active lifestyle.

Activities performed at a higher intensity or longer duration generally offer greater health benefits; this however, may not be a realistic goal or starting point for everyone. Healthy benefits can be gained from activity as simple as a brisk 30 minute walk five or more times a week. Life can be busy and hectic but with a little creativity and planning every body can make room for physical activity. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Replace that coffee or cigarette break with a fitness break by talking a brisk walk or doing some stretches at your desk. Play with the kids or the dog. Instead of driving around to find the closest parking spot, park farther away and enjoy the walk. Remember when it comes to physical activity every little bit helps.

To reap the full health benefit of physical activity an exercise plan should address the five components of physical fitness as outlined by the Centers of Disease control. These five components include cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition, and flexibility. In future columns we will more specifically address these individual components, as well other pertinent topics such as nutrition, weight management and injury prevention. Information that will help you stay Looking Better, Feeling Better, and Playing Better! But in the mean timeGet Moving!

Bill Scibetta, RN, NSCA-CPT

Bill is the founder and President of Precision Fitness Personal Training Centers in the Charlotte, NC area and co-author of the book "Play Better Longer!" Peak Performance and Injury Prevention for Golf. Bill is a licensed Registered Nurse as well as a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer. After spending years practicing in the specialty of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Bill has dedicated his career to helping individuals identify and overcome obstacles that stand in the way of optimal wellness and peak physical performance.

5 Fast Weight Loss After Pregnancy Tips and Tricks

For fast weight loss after pregnancy, tips and tricks that emphasize the importance of physical exercise as well as knowing as much as you can about nutrition are the best forms of defense for keeping those extra pounds at bay. Although the rich and famous make it look incredibly easy, you really don't need a host of personal trainers and state of the art equipment for losing weight after having a baby.

Combining smart, healthy eating, exercise, and the right mind set, it really is possible to regain your familiar figure. Here are five fast weight loss after pregnancy tips and tricks that any new mother can do to quickly get back in shape while enjoying motherhood.

1. Breastfeed: Not only will your baby benefit from being breastfed, but you will too as you'll be burning more calories than mothers who choose to bottle feed. New mothers do have to consume more calories, however, studies have shown that most women tend to burn those calories faster than if they were not breastfeeding their babies.

2. Realize the benefits of exercise: Join forces with friends, family, your co-workers, or other new moms to get together to regularly exercise. Bring the babies along for a walk in the park and make pushing the stroller a part of your workout.

Walking is something you can start doing within a week of giving birth, unlike some exercises. For at least six to eight weeks, avoid any exercises that are particularly exerting, such as running or jogging, until your body has had the chance to fully recover from the pregnancy.

3. Stay well rested: Besides giving you more energy and helping you to feel better in general, sufficient amounts of sleep helps your body to properly regulate hormones, which in turn, directly affect your appetite.

Finding enough time to sleep is one of the trickiest tasks for new moms, but if you sneak in an hour or so every time your baby naps, you should be able to compensate for the sleep you're sure to lose during the night.

4. Snack frequently: Snacking on healthy foods frequently helps rev up the metabolism, gives us more energy, which ultimately increases our productivity, generating more endorphins in the brain and helping us to just feel better in general.

Satisfy your brain's need to snack as well as satiating your hunger by nibbling on things such as raw vegetables, which are crunchy and great with a low-fat dip, or pretzels, an excellent low-fat snack food, and fruits that provide a solution for the sweet tooth.

5. Use a smaller plate: The old saying, "The eyes are often bigger than the stomach" holds true for many people, but using a smaller plate is one way of battling this phenomenon. Actual studies have been done on both men and women who were given different sized dinnerware to see how they may have influenced how much the participants ate. Sure enough, the bigger the plate, the more food that was consumed, and the worse the person felt physically after overeating.

Portion control must be a priority for effective weight loss, and using a smaller plate can be an incredibly easy alternative than measuring or weighing your foods.

Shedding pregnancy pounds doesn't have to be a challenge. Visit http://www.pregnancyweightloss.net and discover what other moms already know, you can easily lose your baby weight without unhealthy fad diets and starvation techniques.

Fat Burning Bodyweight Workouts

The body weight challenge exercises are something I came up back in the late summer 2007.

It's similar to the 300 Workout which was featured in Men's Health magazine. Now I didn't invent the 300 Workout, all I did was film the video, but it was a lot of fun and got a lot of feedback from people reading the magazine and I thought hey, maybe these guys are on to something, so I'll put together a body weight version and I did what is called a Bodyweight 500.

The workout is just a challenge, it's not something you're supposed to do everyday because there are other workouts that you do during the week and then you do a bodyweight challenge on the weekends or on the Friday, your final workout of the week.

So you might do a workout on Monday and Wednesday, and then in your first week of the program you'll do the Body Weight 100 and this is the program that's featured in that Belly Off Program that I mentioned at the start of the interview that guys are using to lose 20 pounds or 25 pounds of fat in 8 weeks.

They do two regular workouts and then they do they Body Weight Challenge and then the next week they do two regular fat loss workouts and then they do a harder Body Weight Challenge and so on and so on it goes until they've done either the 4 week version of it and an 8 week version of it and they work up to the 500 repetition challenge, so that's what I mean when I say Body Weight 100, in that workout there's 100 repetitions of body weight exercises.

Some are done for 10 repetitions, some are done for 15, you know, there's chin-ups, body weight squats, and some other exercises in there.

Eventually, like I said, working up to the Body Weight 500 Workout, which is generally done in about a half an hour to 40 minutes for guys that are a little bit more beginnerish and they get the workout done.

It's all body weight exercises like I said and it's a lot of fun, it's a good challenge and that's what some people need in their programs to keep the motivation up, is a challenge each week, especially those people that are competitive, a former athlete. They really like something that they can do that is going to challenge them week in and week out, so it's just not the regular routine they're going to the gym for.

They know they have a new challenge this week and they have to get the workout done in X amount of time sort of thing.

I did that initial Body Weight 500 and then I went and made an even harder workout called the Bodyweight 1000 and in that one, it's the same thing, Monday and Wednesday you do regular workouts and then on the Friday or on the weekend, you'll do a body weight challenge.

So it starts off the first week you do 250, in the second week you do 250 by 2, in the third week you do the 501, in the fourth week you do maybe 501 and the 250, in the fifth week you do the 750, and then finally at the end of week six, you do the Body Weight 1000 Challenge.

Now in this one, it's not really that much more difficult than the 500 because I added a lot of calisthenic-type exercises like jumping jacks just to get the repetition number up because you can't do 1000 push-ups in a workout. It's a whole bunch of exercises, there's probably 15 different exercises that makeup the challenges and you can do them, you know, a couple include the ball, a couple include nothing, and a couple include some type of pull-up bar.

Discover the shocking top 5 fat loss myths at Turbulence Training and uncover all of the Turbulence Training Transformations in the Fat Loss Forum. Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and fat loss expert who writes for Men's Health and Oxygen magazines. Ballantyne shows you how you never have to do slow boring cardio again!