Top 8 Reasons Why You're Not Losing Weight - Some Not Your Fault

The science of weight loss is supposed to be easy. Calories In (what you eat) vs Calories Burned (activity) is what works for most of us, as long as we stay committed. Lack of commitment is one of the major reasons why so many people struggle to lose weight regardless of eating plan and exercise routine. They don't stick with the time and effort needed because they want instant results and fast weight loss. IF THIS IS YOU ... jump back on the bandwagon and keep trying to lose weight. Slow and steady is not failure; health experts confirm that just 1 to 2 pounds a week is the goal.

On the other hand, if you've been failing to lose weight consistently or failing to lose weight at all, it feels like there's no reason to go on. You may have even experienced weight gain as your body adjusts or because of yo yo dieting. If this is you, here are the top 8 reasons why you're not losing weight (split into 2 categories) and suggestions for the problems.

Lack Of Healthy Lifestyle Changes

You might be tired of hearing these first 3 tips, but they REALLY are major reasons why you are not losing weight and won't keep the weight off long term.

#1 - Packaged Foods / Fast Foods / Chemical Foods

If you buy foods that say "low fat", "healthy", "made with real fruit", "all natural", "multigrain", "sugar free", "no sugar added", and so on, it is very likely that you are being tricked by the manufacturers because they replace what is supposedly removed with other unhealthy ingredients to balance the flavor and make us more addicted to the "bad foods". Sometimes you have to watch the "organic" labels to make sure the non-GMO and USDA Organic labels are there, too. The goal is to eat real whole foods that include fresh vegetables and fruits, lean meats and seafood, sprouted whole grains and nuts, as well as low sugar dairy products like yogurt and cheese.

#2 - Sugary Drinks

Many people count the calories in food, but forget to include calories from drinks. One small glass of juice or can of cola can contain as many calories as a packet of crisps, chips or small chocolate bar. Sugary drinks have been linked to obesity and other health problems, making them a self sabotaging choice for most people, particularly when trying to lose weight. Drinking more water, green tea and occasional black coffee can help. You can add stevia to tea and coffee for sweetness instead of sugar. A lot of people ask if they can add flavor drops to their water or drink crystal light because they hate to drink water. Again, drinking calories, as well as chemical foods, have their disadvantages to weight loss and health. It is better to drink lemon water or other infused water recipes. The rule of thumb with healthy lifestyle changes and weight loss is to avoid foods that come packaged and with added chemicals.

#3 - Self Control = Self Love

As mentioned above, it takes time and effort to lose weight. The commitment must be there in order to accomplish your weight loss goals. If you are not losing weight because of inconsistency and lack of self control, then maybe you should start with looking in the mirror and equating it with SELF LOVE. Examples of sticking to what you need to do to lose weight and need to make healthy lifestyle changes include Meal Planning, Portion Control / Calorie Counting, Exercise Schedule, Sleep Schedule, Stress Control and Personal Time for reflection, hygiene, doctor, dentist, not smoking, personal care ... Taking the time to care about yourself in all areas of life is part of the self control you need. This is self love and as long as you stick with it you can accomplish long term weight loss goals and live a genuinely healthy lifestyle.

Reasons That Are Not Your Fault ...

There are several reasons why you're struggling with weight loss and they may not all be your fault, though some are correctable.

#4 - Medical Conditions

Some medical conditions can make it difficult to lose weight and, in some cases, even cause weight gain. Hormone imbalances, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) are among the most common health problems leading to weight gain.

#5 - Medication

Medication is another common reason for difficulties when losing weight. Contraceptive pills, insulin, corticosteroids and several other medications can cause weight gain and fluid retention. Switching to a different treatment or making a few lifestyle modifications can help in most cases.

#6 - Weight Loss Plateau

Dieters often hit a plateau after the initial weight loss. This plateau is usually triggered when the body becomes used to a lower calorie intake and responds by conserving fat stores. To push through the plateau, try varying your calorie intake every day. If you are restricting the amount of food you eat, it's important to have a break and eat normal portions at least once a week. Come add me as a friend @ http://www.facebook.com/flwahm and then send me a message to join our group for support and tips on how to get through a weight loss plateau.

#7 - Insomnia and Poor Sleep

Studies have shown that lack of sleep, poor quality sleep and tension can all make it more difficult to lose weight. Learning to relax and getting a good night's sleep can make a big difference to weight loss efforts. Meditation, mindfulness, visualization and relaxation exercises can all aid restful sleep.

#8 - Muscle Building

When starting a new exercise routine for weight loss, many people concentrate on cardio workouts like walking, running, elliptical and aerobics - which is AWESOME - but, developing new muscle tissue is just as important, if not more, even if you may notice an initial increase in weight. The weight gain is only temporary and the extra muscle will help to burn fat more effectively. The goal is to build muscle and burn fat; both, not one or the other. You can find videos for weight training at your level or you can join a gym and use the circuit machines to build muscle, as well as enjoy classes and utilize the cardio exercise machines.

Not Losing Weight & Need Help?

Weight loss can stall for a variety of reasons and most people experience a temporary plateau after a few weeks of steady weight loss. If you are unable to lose weight, despite eating a healthy diet and taking regular exercise, ask your doctor for advice.

Check out the nutritional information for these weight loss supplements for when you have your appointment. If your doctor agrees, you can take Skinny Fiber or one of the other options, then they can help for vitamins, appetite control, inflammation, protein, etc.

Hope this post has helped you gain perspective on whether you have roadblocks to clear so that you can start losing weight and feeling your best again. Please let me know what you think in the comments section below!


Your Friend,

Lea

Continue Reading

Clean Eating – Is This Your Diet Plan For Weight Loss & Better Health

Clean Eating is a subject that comes up all of the time these days. Mix it with all of the information about how successful you could be on a low carb diet, low fat diet and counting calories, and it can be challenging to even think about another way of eating for weight loss … Yet, this is one to pay attention to if you want less chemicals, pesticides and hormones in your foods!

Are you are confused about what Clean Eating is in general and whether this type of diet plan can help with your weight loss goals? It’s actually a life change that can have HUGE rewards on how you look, feel and live. Clean eating focuses on the way foods are produced and processed, in order to achieve the most natural effects on your body. This article provides a closer look at how clean eating can help you become healthier, more energetic and lose the weight for good.

What Is Clean Eating?

Clean eating involves a few key concepts that make it the most desirable way of eating for individuals trying to lose weight, detoxify their systems or avoid food sensitivities. Most importantly, it is a way of life, opposed to just a diet plan, for people that want to eat and live as clean as possible without going vegetarian or vegan.

These concepts include:

1) Eliminating processed foods from your diet.

2) Eating organically grown fruits and vegetables; natural foods free of pesticides and chemicals.

3) Eating unrefined grains such as sprouted breads, quinoa, steel-cut oatmeal, brown rice and beans / legumes.

4) Buying organic, pastured or wild meats instead of grain-fed meat

5) Using hormone-free dairy products

6) Cooking foods in ways that introduce a minimal amount of other ingredients such as stir-frying, steaming or baking.

7) Using healthy oils, such as olive oil, grapeseed oil, walnut oil, coconut oil or sesame oil.

WHY EAT ORGANIC FOODS? ONE EXAMPLE WHY ...



WORRIED ABOUT THE COST OF CLEAN EATING?

If you are worried about being able to afford organic fruits and vegetables. Use this list courtesy of Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in ProduceTM from ewg.com as a guide for which are the most important to buy organic or not. Any fruits and vegetables at the top of the list are MORE TOXIC and you want to buy organic; any from the bottom of the list and up are LESS TOXIC;

DIRTY DOZEN + 4

1. Apples
2. Peaches
3. Nectarines
4. Strawberries
5. Grapes
6. Celery
7. Spinach
8. Sweet Bell Peppers
9. Cucumbers
10. Cherry Tomatoes
11. Snap Peas (imported)
12. Potatoes
13. Hot Peppers
14. Blueberries (USA)
15. Lettuce
16. Kale and Collard Greens

17. Cherries
18. Plums
19. Pears
20. Green beans
21. Raspberries
22. Winter squash
23. Tangerines
24. Blueberries (imported)
25. Carrots
26. Summer squash
27. Broccoli
28. Snap Peas (USA)
29. Green onions
30. Bananas
31. Oranges
32. Tomatoes
33. Watermelon
34. Honeydew melon
35. Mushrooms

CLEAN 15 

36. Sweet Potatoes ---
37. Cauliflower
38. Cantaloupe
39. Grapefruit
40. Eggplant
41. Kiwi
42. Papayas
43. Mangos
44. Asparagus
45. Onions
46. Sweet Peas (frozen)
47. Cabbage
48. Pineapples
49. Sweet Corn
50. Avocados

What Are The Benefits Of Clean Eating?

Clean eating can help you to:

· Reduce blood pressure

· Regulate blood sugar in Type-2 diabetes

· Reduce the risk for heart disease

· Reduce the risk of stroke

- Reduce body fat

· Improve digestive function

· Lose weight

Can I Eat Clean While Doing A Special Diet Plan?

YES, you can eat clean while doing Atkins or other low carb diets.

YES, you can eat clean while doing the Paleo Diet.

YES, you can eat clean on a diabetic or low cholesterol diet.

YES, you can eat clean as a vegetarian or vegan.

YOU CAN EAT CLEAN while doing most any diet that does not require you to buy and use their pre-packaged foods, shakes, etc. If you are vegan, do not include the dairy and meat, etc.

Just follow the guidelines and / or recipes for your diet plan by replacing the ingredients with organic, natural, unprocessed foods. Clean eating is kind of easy that way.

It is likely that you will feel so much better (less sluggish, reduce blood pressure, lower insulin levels) while making the changes because you are choosing REAL, CLEAN, HEALTHY foods and drinks. Not processed carbs and other foods that increase health risks!

How To Integrate Clean Eating Into Your Daily Life?

Because our culture relies a great deal of convenience foods (i.e. fast foods, quick boxed foods, frozen foods and eating away from home), clean eating requires a little more planning than what you might be used to.

It’s not too hard though does require you to decide in advance which foods for shopping, daily meals and snack attacks. Simple changes like carrying a lunch, instead of eating out on your lunch hour at work, will allow to maintain a clean diet, as well as save money. It is the same when you are home with the family or planning to spend time with friends. Cook a clean meal instead of going out to eat; they will appreciate a new style of eating while learning more about this new theory of nutrition. If you do eat out of the home, patronize a health food restaurant that uses organic ingredients that are cooked fresh. When in a restaurant, try to choose the simplest items on the menu, ones that are likely to have less or no processed ingredients, such as a stir fry dishes or grilled fish and steamed vegetables.

SOME FINAL NOTES:

Whether you choose clean eating for weight loss or management for a certain health condition, you may find that your health improves significantly with this type of diet plan, helping you to have better digestion, improved mood, increased energy and so much more. You will probably even feel healthier than you’ve ever felt before and never go back to unnatural eating.

Also, the theory is that one of the major advantages to clean eating is longevity! That eating healthy increases your potential for a longer life! I am not here to make claims to you, but I sure know that I get less gas when I eat organic eggs and feel so much better when OFF of processed foods. Maybe it will be this way for you, too, especially if you think that you are starting to experience allergic reactions to certain foods and / or gluten intolerance.

Lastly, if you find yourself OVEREATING while trying to make your healthy lifestyle changes and losing weight, you can take Skinny Fiber or Skinny Body Max with a clean eating diet plan. The ingredients are all natural; it helps with cleansing, appetite control, digestive enzymes and other healthy ingredients that help you better absorb the nutrients in the foods you eat, as well as block fats, increase metabolism and natural energy. Take it short or long term which working on your health and wellness.

I hope that you've found this information helpful. Please feel free to shoot me a message HERE with your experiences, ideas and questions ... You can connect with me at the links below for encouragement, weight loss tips and support:

Join our healthy lifestyle group!

Like my Facebook page!

Friend or Follow Me!


Here's to YOUR health and happiness!!!!


Your friend,

Lea

Continue Reading

12 Ways To Manage Stress For Weight Loss, Sleep & Health

Stress is the #1 enemy of millions of people today. This is due to our hectic lifestyles, as well as the demanding reoccurring responsibilities at work and home. The problem is that many of us don't realize how stressed we are in “normal” daily life. Unfortunately, increased health and wellness issues prove just how much stress affects us as a society. If you are struggling with obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, insomnia, depression or other chronic health issue, these are all directly related to stress. In addition to those specific health problems, stress can also create rifts in personal relationships, cause you to function poorly at your job and bring financial hardships at any point in time. Stress isn't something that you can’t simply ignore – it builds up and does not go away on its own.

Here are 12 ways to manage stress, so that you can start losing weight, sleep better and achieve a healthier way of life! Please SHARE this post to save and give friends!

Connection Between Stress, Sleep & Weight Loss

Sleep and stress go hand in hand for weight loss. If you struggle to get a full 7 to 8 hours of sleep, it is more than likely that stress is causing the sleep issues, and vice versa because lack of sleep causes stress on your body. Both sleep issues and stress affect hormones in your body (cortisol being a major one); both can cause chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and depression. The following suggestions can help you:

How to Manage Stress for Weight Loss & Sleep

Exercise Stress Away

Regular exercise has HUGE benefits for reducing stress that affects weight loss, sleep and health. Two of the most popular methods are meditation and yoga. These remedies not only address the mental and emotional symptoms of stress, but can also alleviate the physical manifestations of stress depending on the style of yoga and routines. If you want to completely manage stress, you can take a more aggressive physical stand against it by adding even more activity. Running, Swimming, Tennis, Biking, Basketball or other type of cardiovascular exercise will help ease stress and contribute to better sleep, too.

If you are already walking or doing lighter workouts, though are still experiencing sleep and stress issues, then you may need to increase how much you workout (exercise for an hour instead of 30 minutes) or how often you work out (increase to 5 days a week instead of just 3 days). You will most certainly see improvement for weight loss by exercising more. It also helps to switch up the types of exercise you’re doing (day one = walk or run, day 2 = yoga or weight training, day 3 = cycle or stair climb, etc.). That variety doesn't let the body get too comfortable with any certain form of exercise, thus keeping it a challenge and helping the body manage stress.

Drink More Water

You will notice that I constantly recommend drinking at least 1/2 your weight in ounces of water each day. It is more than a simple case of not feeling thirsty; water and stress go together just like sleep and stress are connected. This is because dehydration causes stress on the body. Water is essential for your brain and other organs to function properly. It can help maintain your heart rate, cortisol level and flushes harmful toxins from your body. Staying hydrated means that you should never feel thirsty and is essential for weight loss, stress reduction and good health in general.

Start Eating Healthier

Yes, food and stress are connected, too. A healthy diet is less stressful on the body. Some stress
relieving foods include vegetables, fruits, fish, soups, yogurt and herbal products. Some stress increasing foods include caffeinated coffee, tea, cocoa and energy drinks. Additionally, fast food, alcohol, soda / pop, sugar / foods with sugar, dairy, nuts and meats. I am not saying that you have to give up all of those foods, but if you may want to test certain ones through an elimination process if you are dealing with health complications due to stress. Food is another culprit for stress, weight gain and health issues.

Massage Stress Away

I know this may sound crazy, but body massage can also become an important part of distressing and weight loss. Stress causes the muscles in the body to tense up, slowing down blood circulation and leading the way to more serious health complications. You can avoid these problems by getting a massage once a week or once a month, depending on your budget and how much stress you are exposed to in your daily life. Certain massage also detoxes the body. Detoxing is directly related to relieving you of stress and toxins for weight loss, sleep, and mental health.

If your sleep problem does not improve with proper diet, water and exercise, then you should consult with your doctor for help. He or she may recommend something natural like melatonin, chamomile or other natural remedy. There are prescription sleep aids, too. If weight loss does not improve, try Skinny Fiber to increase your dietary fiber, stamina and enzymes.

Why You Are Stressed & How To Manage It

You're Relationship w/ God | Prayer & Meditation

Unnecessary distance from God can create a tremendous amount of stress in your life. You can avoid this through sincere prayer and taking time to study your bible daily. Most importantly the scriptures are filled with what to do and what not to do when stressed, anxious and unhappy. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:6-7 - All we have to do is come to Him. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 and so on. Read your bible and open your heart to the Lord; his lessons, love and comfort can help you conquer anything!

Your Clothes Don’t Fit Right

Wear properly fitting clothes. Did you know that many people are stressed out not because of their environment but because of their clothes? Stress can be the offshoot of wearing clothes or shoes that are too tight, thus constricting blood circulation.

Your Purse, Backpack or Case Is Too Heavy

Reduce the contents of your purse, backpack, computer or briefcase. Carrying heavy bags, especially when you have a long commute wherein you have to stand in the subway, for instance, can cause a lot of stress on your body. You'll be amazed at how much better you feel if you get rid of all the unnecessary items from your purse. Your shoulders and back muscles will thank you.

Smoking For Stress Adds More Stress On The Body

Quit smoking! Smoking is bad for the health and causes a multitude of illnesses and diseases. Stress is just one of the many nasty consequences you can avoid if you quit smoking as soon as possible.

Holding In What Bothers You

"Getting it off your chest" is an important quote to remember. Expressing your feelings and concerns is one of the best ways to manage stress. Holding in what bothers you can cause even more physical and mental stress. If you do not have someone that you feel comfortable sharing with or are at fear for stressing others out with your problems, then you can talk with your doctor, find an anonymous hotline, support group or a therapist. They can help you verbalize and release what is bothering you; plus, offer suggestions for how to manage stress better, too. Please do not forget that YOU CAN ALWAYS turn to God in prayer and the scriptures to help deal with stress.

Alone Time (Pray, Enjoy Nature, Read, Bathe, Nap, Movies, Etc.)

Constant interaction with other people can take a toll on you for sure. We all need a little alone time to think, pamper and rest. For some people, exercising or driving provides that time. Some people need different activities to fulfill that need for alone time and to manage stress. For example, leaving the kid(s) with your spouse or a sitter so that you can go to the park to pray, meditate, read, think, etc. Other examples include reading, going to the beach, fishing, playing golf, taking a bubble bath, going to the movies, napping, computer games, etc. There is nothing wrong with taking the time alone to do things that make you happy. It is also a way to manage stress overload.

Recognizing / Admitting What Stresses You & Dealing With It

This is probably the hardest of all. It is pinpointing what is stressing you and dealing with it. I know this seems impossible in some cases, but try to keep an open mind. If driving to and from work stresses you out to the point of physical or anxiety issues, then you either have to find a closer job, move closer to your job or work from home. If dealing with certain people is damaging to your health and wellness, then you need to deal with it. If you can't do it on your own, then relationship therapy can help if the other person is willing to do this with you. On the other hand, sometimes, certain relationships have to go. They are far more toxic than talking, exercise, food, drink or alone time can resolve for you. Whatever or whoever is contributing to making you sick, fat, stressed and / or unhappy ... You have to deal with it because you deserve a better quality of life.

De-Stress To Age Gradually, Sleep Better, Live Longer & Healthy

Some other affects of stress include aging more quickly, chronic muscle pains (back, neck, etc), GERD (gastrointestinal reflux disease), IBS (irritable bowl syndrome), asthma and DYING younger than you should --- STRESS CAN KILL YOU!

The consequences of stress are so vast that I have been motivated to share these 12 ways to manage stress for your weight loss, sleep and health. I hope that you will try your very best to put into action these simple but effective strategies and also realize that there are many other ways to deal with stress like counting, breathing techniques, music, crafts, taking vitamins and magnesium, etc. I have just shared those I know work from experiences.

Please make sure to click the share buttons to give this article to people you care about, so they can learn some other ways to manage their stress, too!

GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALWAYS!


Your Friend,

Lea
Join me at Facebook for encouragement, weight loss tips and support!

Continue Reading

6 Habits That Will Help You Lose Weight & Keep Pounds Off

Here's what you know about your weight gain, though maybe don't realize ...

Over the years you developed good and bad habits that are directly connected to your health. Good habits such as bathing, brushing your teeth and other hygiene rituals came with very little resistance as they were EXPECTATIONS of you throughout childhood. The same goes for UNDERSTANDING that vegetables, fruits and other healthy foods were what you should eat as part of a healthy diet, and so on for proper sleep, relationship and behavioral habits. The problem is that CHALLENGES in these areas were carried over to adulthood. NECESSARY expectations were not placed on every health habit as you were developing; maybe because you didn't care care for certain ones (like eating green vegetables or going outside to play) or you had certain issues that prohibited the development of various health habits. Another reason is that some of these healthy habits were not required of you because your mentor(s) did not find them as important (your mother or father did not like certain foods or drinks, therefore did not serve them) or because YOU CHOSE not to retain the instructed habits over time (distaste, rebellion, laziness, fear, etc.).

This contributes to why you have gained weight and / or become unhealthy!

You have to go back to basics in order to lose weight, strengthen your health and keep the pounds off for good. Yes, Skinny Body Max and Skinny Fiber does help with avoiding some of the annoying things about losing weight like toxins that cause resistance and having to to live off shakes or crash diets, but you still have to do your part. Here are some tips for re-establishing good habits that will help you lose weight and keep it off for good!

How To Lose Weight For Good

Drink Water First Thing In The Morning

You might wake up in the morning feeling hungry and wanting breakfast. This is normal since you haven't eaten anything all night, but before you make a big breakfast, make sure you drink a glass or two of water. Drinking water will re-hydrate and make you feel a little less hungry. You're not drinking water in order to skip breakfast, but to give your body what it really needs first. After you drink water you can enjoy a healthy breakfast.


Choosing The Right Diet, Best Foods, Shopping, Etc.

One part of committing to a healthy lifestyle is committing to a eating healthier. As much as I would want to suggest one way of eating over another (low carb, low fat, low calorie, vegan, etc), you have to choose which is best for you, BUT being consistent is the key. You can't switch back and forth; you need to commit to that particular healthy lifestyle change. Buying the right foods and portion control are two good food habits that relate to everyone regardless of the style of eating that works best for our bodies. Learning to eat for nutrition and fuel is one of the keys!

If watching calories and eating low-fat is a better eating habit for your weight loss, then choose low calorie / low fat versions of food when shopping. This does not include all of the packaged foods that say "Low Fat" on them because you want to keep the pre-packaged, processed foods, to a limit as much as you can. Eating a diet high in fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, lean meats, gluten free / sprouted gains are best for you. On the other hand, there are certain foods you just have to have as not to deny yourself too much and ruin your progress. These should be the "Low Fat" labeled foods you do buy; like low fat string cheese, keifer. certain frozen foods, etc. This is an easy change to make to your diet, but it's important to remember that when you do buy the low-fat versions of anything that you can't eat more than a portion. If you eat double because it's low-fat, you're really not saving yourself any fat and calories.

Same for if you eat low carb or even raw food vegan diets. TOO MUCH meat and cheese (low carb diet) or too many avocados, bananas and nuts (raw food) can hinder weight loss for sure! Portion control is one of the most important habits to help you lose weight and keep it off; calories involved included.


Calories & Portion Control The Easy Way

Portions, snacks and meals are always going to be a big part of your healthy lifestyle. If you want to continue to eat what you like while losing weight and keeping it off for good, then you better learn not only how to eat properly for your body, but also how to portion food, so that you don't continue to weigh, look and feel like you do right now. Believe it or not, this applies for both bad and healthy foods you eat, too!!! Sometimes, you are in situations where the healthiest options are not available, so knowing what is the right amount of "this" or "that" is really important for weight management.

SKINNY FIBER or SKINNY BODY MAX can help you with portion control by helping you to eat less. Food addiction, sensory dysfunction and emotional eating will require that you learn how to STOP eating when full, but these product can really help.

This starts with knowing how to eat for your body, but following specified portions on any packaged foods and also having a better understanding of calories as well as what is considered low fat for basic diets, points for Weight Watchers Diet, carbs for Atkins Diet, which foods don't fit for Paleo, Vegan or Vegetarian Diets, etc., it all goes together.

A general goal of how many calories you want to eat is how much you want to weigh!

Examples:

Want to weigh 130 pounds? Then eat 1300 calories a day. Want to weigh 130 pounds of muscle? Then exercise to build and burn fat, eat the proper diet for you, but make sure to retain at least 1300 calories regardless of all. Want to weight 150 pounds? Then eat 1500 calories a day. Want to be a slender 150 pounds? Exercise to burn the fat and work the muscles, eat lean amd green, ad make sure to retain the 1500 calories.

It sounds like a hassle and in the beginning might be, but once you see the results of portioning you will be happy you got started. Most people eat too much food. When you begin portioning, it will seem like very little food, but the truth is you will get used to it. The result of eating too much at meals is that your stomach stretches out. The good news is it can shrink back to normal size when you stop eating too much. You will begin to feel fuller when you're eating less.

Too much food is too much food regardless of what you eat, BUT too much of certain foods have far few repercussions than eating CRAP. So, what you eat makes all the difference. You can binge on fresh greens with a veggie based salad dressing in comparison to a salad smothered with vegetable oil dressing, croutons, etc.

What if you're eating Atkins or other low carb diet where calorie counting are not the norm!

Portion control is very important in these cases and it does not hurt to have a firm understanding of how many calories, too. Too many grams of carbs, too much meat and cheese, can make it harder to get into or maintain ketosis; also now or later can hider weight loss. Too much meat has it's issues just as too much carbs; keeping glucose in control is important.

So, how what is calories and portion control the easy way?

Food planing helps keep calories and portion control on track. Whether you keep a food scale, calorie charts, follow labels, use a mobile app or online tracking site, special containers that serve to measure food portions for you ... DO IT and continue to until the proper calories and portions become second nature ... Keep up all that you've learned. Make what you can ahead of time and do exactly what you have planned for food each day. In the event that you are traveling, out and about, or unable to follow as closely as when you are in the comfort of your home, apply what you have learned in the social settings and you will be fine; eating lean and green can also help you avoid any confusion.


Drinks & Hydration Needs

Be picky about what you drink ...

While drinking fruit juice might seem like a good idea, it's actually a poor choice. Even 100% fruit juices can contain a lot of sugar, so they aren't something you want to drink often. If you want a glass of orange juice in the morning, make sure you drink a proper size glass. If you drink too much, you'll get too much sugar. If you drink soda, it's important to stop. Your best choice is to drink mostly water as it has no calories and it good for you. If you're bored with just plain water, you can add lemon and lime slices. Green tea is also a great choice. If you're a coffee drinker, make sure that you don't drink too many a day and re-hydrate with water often because caffeine is dehydrating.

Get Moving, Exercise AND Stay Active In Life!

YES, you should exercise NOT MATTER WHAT; even if your diet plan does not require it for weight loss. Exercise is a lifetime responsibility to help your brain, muscles, limbs, etc. As the years progress, the older you get, the more you will wish that you would have done certain things and working out is included. In addition to exercise, staying active in general is key to all. You may have heard an older person say that he or she keeps moving no matter what. If you want to be able to do that later, be the one who runs the errands, does the grunt work, etc., as well as exercise regularly.

Most Important Habit For Weight Loss / Maintenance

It's important to establish healthy lifestyle habits to lose weight and keep it off for good. Everyone eats and drinks, so starting with what and how you eat and drink is the best place to begin. Yet, staying clear of fad diets, friends that sabotage weight loss, establishing and maintaining healthy habits takes self-motivation. The very last annd most important weight loss habit is to remain motivated, dedicated and positive. All is possible from within you. Finding that combined drive, retaining it and applying all of these tips provide you with the 6 habits that will help you lose weight and maintain weight loss.

Here are some resources for you:

1) Buy Skinny Fiber and Join The Weight Loss Challenge: START HERE

2) Add Me as a friend on Facebook, so we can work together: CLICK THE FRIEND BUTTON

3) Send me a message from my Facebook page, to let me know you're ready!


LOSE WEIGHT IN 2015 ad GET YOUR LIFE BACK! WILL YOU DO IT?


Warm Regards,

Lea
Join me at Facebook for encouragement, weight loss tips and support!

Continue Reading

2015 January Fitness Challenge - Easing Into Exercise & New Year

WOO HOO!!! It's time to pack up the festivities and get back to life as normal ... or better since it is a new year! It's time to start working on your New Year Resolution to get in shape and shed those holiday pounds ... It's time for our January Fitness Challenge - READY? Here are the details of the challenge; the exercises are the same as last year to help us easy back into exercise and exceed as we proceed through the year!

REMEMBER: Summer bodies are created in the winter, so NO EXCUSES!!!!

January Fitness Challenge - New Year / New You

Each day in January, I will post a new challenge to this blog and announce on my Facebook page, then link the fitness challenge to this blog post (scroll down this page to see), so you can find it when you want it. Make sure to save this page to your favorites / bookmarks to follow along with us live.

Each week in January, I will choose a participant at random for a special gift in appreciation of their doing the challenge with us, so make sure to LIKE and / or COMMENT each day after doing your fitness challenge. Your "Check In" will let me know that your serious about getting healthier, losing weight and / or getting in shape this 2015 New Year, as well as to add your name to the list for the current weeks gift giveaway!

TERMS / DETAILS:

What if you miss a day of the fitness challenge?
No worries! You can go back to do the workout(s) and "Check In" with COMMENT on the blog post with the challenge!!! The exercises are easy enough to double up when you need to. In fact, you can do one in the morning and one in the evening, or even do more than one rep of each if you are at a more advanced fitness level.

Can I share with my friends, family, followers or group?
Absolutley! You can use the SHARE buttons at the bottom of this post or copy / paste the blog link to your Facebook or Google+ page; if you would like to feature it on your blog, use this page to CONTACT ME for details!

What are the requirements?
This is not a contest or sweepstakes ... Just a simple giveaway from the kindness of my heart and to make this challenge more fun!!! I will dig into my "stash" of products based on the list I accumulate from the "Check Ins" each week, post the name and runner up --- You have until the end of the month to claim your gift!

I REALLY DO want you to be successful in your health goals this 2015 year. Whether your motivation is to weight loss, weight maintenance, to improve fitness, encourage friends and family to get healthier with you, deliverance from depression, to stay busy this month ... or to see if you can get the gift ... Whatever your motivation for doing the January Fitness Challenge is ok. ✿ All I ask of you is INTEGRITY ✿ Don't "Check In" on a challenge if you really haven't done it. Got it??? Also, this challenge is NOT for other Skinny Fiber Distributors unless you are a downline member of mine! ✿ Yes, please don't worry .... shipping is FREE! ✿

Exercise List For The Challenge

Day 1 - January 1st

Day 2 - January 2nd

Day 3 - January 3rd

Day 4 - January 4th

Day 5 - January 5th (Break Day - or - NOT!!!)

Day 6 - January 6th

Day 7 - January 7th

Day 8 - January 8th

(Gift Day is January 8th - CLICK HERE to see if it is you!)

Day 9 - January 9th

Day 10 - January 10th

Day 11 - January 11th

Day 12 - January 12th

Day 13 - January 13th

Day 14 - January 14th

Day 15 - January 15th

(Gift Day is January 15th - CLICK HERE to see if it is you!)

Day 16 - January 16th

Day 17 - January 17th

Day 18 - January 18th

Day 19 - January 19th

Day 20 - January 20th

Day 21 - January 21st

Day 22 - January 22nd

(Gift Day is January 22nd - CLICK HERE to see if it is you!)

Day 23 - January 23rd

Day 24 - January 24th

Day 25 - January 25th

Day 26 - January 26th

Day 27 - January 27th

Day 28 - January 28th

Day 29 - January 29th

(Gift Day is January 29th. CLICK HERE to see if it is you!)

Day 30 - January 30th

Day 31 - January 31st

Happy New Year ... May it be a happy, healthy and abundant one for you!

Don't forget to check out this Skinny Fiber Promo good this January for all new customers! You can get a free gift from the company in addition to free Skinny Fiber - double your potential to lose weight with both the weight loss and this fitness challenge together. Imagine how incredible you'll look and feel after doing the 90 day challenge!

Also, if you have been bouncing around the idea of becoming a distributor, NOW is the time for sure. Visit the Skinny Fiber Business page to learn more about this incredible opportunity for you! Our team is here to help you every step of the way. You just need to really want to do this business, have a computer and computer skills, and commit to doing this for at least 3 years!!!!

Here's to YOUR Success!!!!


Warm Regards,

Lea
Join me at Facebook for encouragement, weight loss tips and support!

Continue Reading

Blessed, Healthy & Happy Easter To You

(We do let the kids have candy on Easter, but fill the basket up mostly w/ toys, books, etc., and sunflower seeds for the older son)

Wishing You A Blessed, Healthy & Happy Easter Day

Easter Blessings to you from our family to yours. Although this special day is in honor of the most high, there are still lots of sweet treats in homes today and more than likely a big Easter Dinner planned. ENJOY!!! Don't be too tough on yourself today, but try to stay on track with the healthy food options and take your Skinny Fiber to help control how much you're eating. If you eat more sweets than normal or more food in general, just make sure to get right back to your healthy eating and weight loss goals tomorrow; don't let splurging carry over to tomorrow / next week! Just keep in mind that our goal is to make changes that you can live with forever. Watching what you eat and how much you eat are just as much the key to your healthy lifestyle changes as exercise, sleeping well, keeping stress to a minimum, etc.

I send you this reminder with your health and happiness in mind.

Happy Easter Blessings to you my friend!

Hugs,
Lea

Continue Reading

3 Ways To Make Zucchini Noodles | Low Carb Pasta w/ Vegetables

Are you trying to eat less carbs and incorporate more green vegetables into your diet? This is an awesome goal because your body craves fresh fruits and vegetables in comparison to the other types of foods you eat. In fact, fresh vegetables and fruits can actually help you eliminate the cravings for the bad foods. One way to make this goal a reality is to start making small changes at a time. Since starches are an addiction for most of us and especially pasta dishes, here is one way to eat less carbs while still enjoying the same types of delicious meals that you love.

Make Zucchini Noodles / Vegetable Pasta Ideas

Invest in a good spiralizer and start making noodles of vegetables. Zucchini noodles are the most popular pasta replacement, but you can also use other squashes, carrots, cucumbers, celery, cabbage, 0etc., depending on the dish you are planning to make. For example, you can make spaghetti squash noodles for red sauce recipes or use cucumbers in cold pasta salads; they actually make a delicious replacement for regular noodles. Since zucchini pasta is one of the most common for both cold and hot pasta recipes, here are the instructions for how to make your own zucchini noodles.

3 ways to make Zucchini Noodles for pasta dishes!

1) The first way to make zucchini noodles is as shown in the picture above. Just clean your zucchini, spiralize, set on paper towel + lightly press another paper towel one on top to absorb moisture. Saute the zucchini noodles in a little olive oil and al dente (more firm than you would normally cook your zucchini, so the texture is like noodles). Keep the skins on for even more nutrients.

2) The second way to make zucchini pasta is to preheat the oven to 200 degrees while spiralizing your zucchini to make noodles. Absorb the moisture with paper towel and then grab a cookie sheet (more then one if you are making a lot of noodles because they need to lay in a flat single layer). Line your cookie sheet with paper towel, lay the zucchini noddles on it, lightly salt and then bake the raw zucchini in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes. You are "sweating" them or "dehydrating" per say. Once they are dried out you will cook them like normal noodles in boiling water with salt for 10-15 minutes. Drain and serve as planned. Some people do this in a microwave, but I think the oven is a healthier option, so I did not include the microwave version as a 4th way to make zucchini noodles.

3) The third option is to spiralize the zucchini and absorb the moisture with paper towel (same as the other 2 ways to make zucchini noodles), but do not cook them at all. Eat them as raw noodles for pasta salad, raw food vegan sauces and dressings.


COMPARE SPIRALIZERS & BUY ONE TO USE

Pasta is not the worst starch for you, but fresh vegetable noodles are the best!
All three ways of making zucchini noodles are absolutely delicious and better for you then traditional noodles, but I want to point out one more thing that might make you feel better about noodles in general and in comparison to rice or potatoes ... Pasta is more slow burning. This means that they actually take longer to convert into starch / sugar in comparison to how rice and potatoes are used by your body. This should make you feel more comfortable when eating them especially if you choose whole grain or wheat noodles. On the other hand, in addition to making your own fresh vegetable noodles or zucchini noodles, there are AWESOME alternatives like low carb noodles, shirataki noodles, vegetable or quinoa pasta that can let you eat more freely. They are delicious pasta options, too!

Low Carb, Fresh Vegetable, Healthy Lifestyle Changes

The truth of the matter is that making your own vegetable pasta (like the zucchini noodles) helps you get more fresh green vegetables into your diet and nothing can replace the benefits of that. Small changes like this can make a world of difference to your health as well as positively influence healthy lifestyle changes for those you love. This is my goal as a Skinny Fiber distributor. By all means, please use the product to lose weight if you need it, but my mission is to also inspire you to make the long term healthy lifestyle changes, so that you can lose weight naturally, become your healthiest, as well as an example for others. This is how we are going to combat the obesity epidemic throughout the world one person at a time. This is accomplished by educating ourselves, making the changes and becoming healthier as a whole.

Here's to YOUR weight loss success!


Your Friend,
Lea

Continue Reading

How To Hydrate & Lose Weight When You Hate To Drink Water Daily

You're probably tired of hearing the same advice over and over again: "drink water to lose weight". This is frustrating as ever if you hate to drink water daily, though trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle. You are not the first to hate drinking water and this is why companies make vitamin waters, flavor drops and such. The problem is that most of those are just not healthy. Plus, NOTHING is as quenching nor as cleansing as a glass of water! Before you pick up that soda or vitamin drink today, remember this blog post and try to follow these suggestions. Those types of drinks contribute to dehydration which makes people feel hungry in between meals and also hard on your body organs. Here are tips on maintaining hydration for people that hate to drink water:


Eat Hydrating Foods

Make sure to eat plenty of hydrating foods like watermelon, mangoes, pairs, and apples. Vegetables are also great for hydration, especially peppers, squash, beans and leafy vegetables like spinach. However, you should avoid starches, like potatoes, pasta and white bread, because these foods can dry you out.


Drink Herbal Tea

Herbal tea is another great way to keep your fluid intake up. In addition, many varieties contain antioxidants which have been proven to prevent certain chronic diseases. Plus, they are a great way to stay warm.

Try to keep your intake strictly decaffeinated. Drinks like coffee and green and black teas contain caffeine which can interfere with sleep. People who are sleep-deprived often have a much more difficult time losing weight because sleep deprivation can reconfigure your hormones so that you pack on extra weight.


Try Drinking Water At Different Temperatures

Some people don’t like drinking cold water, but can stomach it at a more tepid temperature. If you want, you can try a cup of lukewarm water along with a cup of cold water to compare the taste. You may find that you can tolerate one temperature but not the other. In fact, it is recommended that we start the day with a cup of warm lemon water and drink room temperature water with meals (not cold which shocks the metabolism). Try! This tip may make the world of difference since you hate to drink water daily.


Try Natural Extracts and Flavorings

Sometimes, it’s just a question of improving the taste. Let’s be honest, water can be a bit bland. But you can always change up the flavor with a fun extract. For example, you can add a dash of lemon juice, a drop of orange zest, or mix up different fresh ingredients from a fat flush recipe. Just make sure that you don’t mix in any sugar or salt, as these items are what contribute to weight gain and can also make you feel lousy. The goal is to hydrate … Not the opposite!


Buy Bottled Water & Number Them Daily

Some of us are just so goal oriented that a simple change like drinking bottled water can increase the amount of water intake each day. Four 16 oz bottles of water makes the suggested 64 ounces of water each day. That's an awesome start and combined with hydrating foods can actually exceed that 64 ounces a day for those who need to drink 1/2 their body weight. Number the bottles daily (take a marker and write #1 on the first bottle, #2 on the second bottles and so on) and put them in the front of the fridge, on your desk or where you will grab them. You can even add the natural flavorings to break up the blandness. The point being that buying and numbering bottled H20 makes drinking water an effortless task throughout the day.

Keep Water To Drink Every Minute of The Day

Finally, it could be a question of simply keeping a glass of water or bottled water near you at all times (on your desk at work, in the car, while on the couch watching TV, etc). Glue water to the hip, per say, so that you can pick it up and sip mindlessly throughout the day. In this case, you won’t notice the taste so much and you won’t face the psychological burden of getting through an entire glass in a short amount of time.

Now that you know what to do to drink water daily when you hate it so much, you can really tackle your weight loss goals and enjoy your newly hydrated life! If you really want to get on track with your weight and have the ultimate motivation for drinking water, join us in the Skinny Fiber Weight Loss Challenge - Cut cravings, hunger and get healthier with us!

Hope this helps!


Best Wishes,
Lea

Continue Reading

12 Week Fitness Challenge | 2013 Holiday Season - Lose Weight

"If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got."

Lose Weight By 2013 Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, 2014 New year

With the 2013 holiday season right around the corner, now is the perfect time as any to GET FIT and LOSE WEIGHT and become more fit before the end of the year. We have 108 days until Thanksgiving & Hanukkah, 134 days until Xmas and 141 days until New Years Day. The goal is to NOT make another New Years Resolution to lose weight, go to the gym, get more fit!!! This has failed you each year and it just does not make sense to do it again! It is like the yo yo of disappointing yourself which is just as bad as the yo yo dieting you do each year.

Have a more rewarding New Years Resolution this year. For example:

* Help other people lose weight with what worked for me ...

* Make an extra $1000+ a month in my free time ...

* Volunteer with a local organization ...

* Run for more than 20 minutes each day ...

* Make more family time by committing to one activity a week ...

OK, you get the point by now, right?

The goal is for ANYTHING BUT WEIGHT LOSS as your 2014 New Years Resolution, ok???

You failed this weight loss goal every year but in the next 12 weeks you are going to do something about it. This year you are going to start the 2013 holiday season having lost weight and in better shape than you imagined last New Years Day!!! It will just take your commitment to do it and you have everyone at our Facebook page AND ME to support you!!!

How To Join The 12 Week Fitness Challenge

1) LIKE our Facebook page

2) Look for the current day's Fitness Challenge LIKE and / or COMMENT that you are participating.

3) Check in each day by clicking LIKE or COMMENT to do the challenge, get the additional healthy lifestyle tips that apply to the challenge (goals on each post) and all other page posts fitness challenge and healthy lifestyle related..

4) Commit to stick out the 12 weeks - INVITE friends so they can help keep you motivated!

5) Please SHARE the challenges and / or helpful posts to your wall.

Here's the "real deal" my friend ...

As the host of this fitness challenge, I can only motivate and provide you with the healthy lifestyle, weight loss and fitness information! Understand what I mean??? You live over there and I live over here, therefore I am not there to make you accountable --- YOU need to do that for you - OR - you need to INVITE YOUR FRIENDS to do this 12 week Fitness Challenge with you!!!

How To Invite Friends To The Fitness Challenge

Inviting friends to the Fitness Challenge is easy!

1) You can SEND THE LINK to this blog post by copy / paste
(or click the little email icon below).

2) You can click the REFER BUTTON at the top of our Facebook page!

3) You can click the SHARE link on the actually fitness challenge post.

If you are with me in this 12 week fitness challenge? Then make sure to follow the instructions on how to get started over at Facebook where I am hosting the challenge.

The sooner you get started ... The more YOU will benefit!!!

Additionally, if you are REALLY trying to lose weight and get in shape before the holidays, make sure to sign up for the Weight Loss Challenge, too. This way you will not feel deprived while making the clean eating changes you will start making and can track weight and measurements online, learn more, have fun and win prizes from the company (WOO HOO!!!)


Here's to getting our healthiest before 2014!!!

Your Friend,
Lea

Continue Reading

Best 4 Changes To Help With Natural Weight Loss

You can take Skinny Fiber or Skinny Body Max for the rest of your life and it can help you to maintain your weight (along with other things); just as we take omega-3, vitamin c, etc. On the other hand, you can take Skinny Body Max or Skinny Fiber to help with weight loss, and then stop taking it once you have accomplished your goals. The choice is yours ... the difference is whether you make the necessary healthy lifestyle changes.

So to recap: 1) You can make no changes and use the products for the rest of your life or 2) take Skinny Fiber or Skinny Body Max to lose weight while developing habits that contribute to long term health ... I suggest that you read the following to learn the best changes to make that help with long term natural weight loss!

Best 4 Changes To Help With Natural Weight Loss

The following are the best 4 changes that help with weight loss and developing a healthy lifestyle. The opposite of these four are the 4 major reasons why people gain and cannot lose weight in addition to some that are missing like STRESS, DISEASE / SICKNESS, HEREDITY, OVEREATING (including too much healthy foods too).

DRINKING WATER

It is recommended that we drink 1/2 our body weight in water. For the average who are a few pounds overweight then at least 64 ounces of water will do --- you can increase the water intake with tea, watermelon juice, infused waters, etc. if you do not drink enough water in respect to your body's needs, you will feel hungry no matter what. Dehydration makes us feel hungry and eat more.

* With Skinny Fiber at least 64 ounces a day is suggested.
   Go for water instead of food in between meals :) Give up the pop and sugar drinks.

EXERCISE / WORKING OUT

Exercise can range from aggressive house cleaning and gardening, to cycling, weight lifting or running. You have to determine what is best for you and without any extra stress to you. If you have been sedentary and would like to gradually start exercising, walking is always a wonderful start. You can walk inside or outside of the home; with or without any machines. Here is a video that I recommend: Leslie Sansone Walk At Home for getting started in a walking routine. Fitness centers and gyms have become much more affordable over the years. I recommend that you join a gym to help you start exercising regularly; they all give initial consultations that help you get started in what you need to do to shape up.

* What if you can't exercise at all because of health or physical limitations?

Then it is super important that you drink the proper amount of water, eat "clean", get 7 to 8 hours of good sleep time, reduce the stress factors in your life and take your Skinny Fiber or Skinny Body Max as recommended each day.

HEALTHY EATING

Eating healthy means something different to certain groups of people. Some think that eliminating pop, bad carbs / sugars, red meat, etc. is all this means, and this does hold true for the masses. Yet, there are some that believe that eliminating all meats and / or all dairy products contributes is really a healthy diet and clean eating; with the third group being those who chose organic / natural foods to assure that the quality of their food is that for optimal nutrition. It is best to consult with a doctor / nutritionist to determine which is the best overall diet for you.

* The goal is to learn to eat healthier for your body and to make these changes permanent, therefore if you are tempted to do Atkins, Juicing, Paleo, Low Fat, Low Carb or whatever, you have to have extreme commitment to the choice, so that you have the intended weight loss and health benefits, and continue with this way of eating for the rest of your life (hence the phrase "lifestyle change").

SLEEP

Getting the proper amount of sleep is extremely important for optimal health. You can actually gain weight / hinder your weight loss efforts by not getting enough sleep because your metabolism does not function correctly. If you are used to sleeping just 4 hours a night and change that to 7 hours a night, you could actually lose weight from the sleep increase.

There is a lot that goes into weight loss, nutrition and health, but these are the 4 basics that we should first consider when trying to lose weight / maintain weight and become our healthiest. If you are not hydrating the way your body needs, not eating healthy, not exercising and not sleeping the proper amount of time for your metabolism, then you are on a path that can lead to (if it has not already) to obesity, sickness / disease, depression and so on. So, why not make these 4 changes that can help with weight loss, health and happiness?

REMEMBER that no one is perfect and slip ups will happen while the healthy / good habits are developing, therefore it is to your benefit to start making gradual changes, develop a good support system and never give up (especially on these basics that could make a world of difference to your health and for your weight loss goals). Just do not give up!!!

Join our Healthy Lifestyle / Natural Weight Loss Group to learn more about health changes you can make, as well as organic / natural food changes, and for recipes, motivation and support. 


Here's to YOUR healthy lifestyle and weight loss success!


Your Friend,
Lea

Continue Reading

Top 5 Weight Loss Tips That Prevent Obesity

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going!" ~ Jim Ryun

This Jim Ryun quote applies so well to why we need to make healthy lifestyle changes instead of temporary solutions. Healthy lifestyle changes like eating foods that are good for your body, exercising, sleeping at least 7 to 8 hours a night, etc., can prevent obesity. These are oppose to temporary weight loss solutions that include crash dieting, starting an exercise routine than quitting, and so on that can cause obesity. When you spend years mixing the healthy lifestyle changes with temporary solutions, you place yourself at a greater risk for becoming obese.  Point blank! It is better to wait until your are truly motivated to lose weight and develop healthy habits than it is to start making changes and then quit; this is true no matter how many times you repeat the motivation pattern. Here are some weight loss tips that could last a lifetime, as well as prevent obesity from sneaking up on you later in life!

Weight Loss Tips That Prevent Obesity

Weight Loss Tip #1 - Motivation & Habit

Motivation is what gets you started in your weight loss. Developing certain habits is what helps you stay motivated to lose weight and accomplish your goals. One major problem is that most of us start our weight loss plans with extreme motivation that fades once we notice that we are not losing weight as quickly as we planned. Another problem is that just one day of giving into unhealthy eating can stop the motivation completely. If either of these problems have been interfering with your weight loss goals, here are two of the first habits to form when trying to lose weight and get healthier:

• Weight loss takes time. Keep this in mind when you are motivated to get started. You could even write this on a few sheets of paper and tape them to your refrigeration, bathroom mirror, car dashboard (your hand ... LOL). The key is to NOT stop trying to lose weight once you get started!
  
  
• The second key to losing weight, as well as preventing obesity, is to not start a yo yo dieting process. This is a little different than #1 because this step involves when you shift from eating healthy to bad foods. Do not let one bad snack ... meal ... day ... get you off track for good. 

Your first step to losing weight is to create the habit of staying motivated and not giving up!!! You accomplish this by making habit forming lifestyle changes a bit at a time!!!

Weight Loss Tip #2 - Moderation

You cannot crash diet and think you will succeed at being thin for life. It is counter productive to crash diet and then go back to eating your normal way; especially if you do this over and over again (yo yo diet). This bad habit can make you become obese faster than not dieting at all. It is also hard on your body to make such drastic changes over and over again. The goal is to change the way you eat - in general - and make healthy food changes that you can live with.

"Everything in moderation" is what comes to mind when emphasizing this weight loss tip. If you make the changes gradually, you will become healthier and lose weight over time ... opposed to going "cold turkey" and expecting that you are cured of bad eating and unhealthy food choices. For example:

• You could start by eliminating something that you know if horrible for you ... Sugar Drinks /  Soda  / Pop (even diet pop is bad for you). Drink water in place of the Fruit Drinks / Soda / Pop ... Even if you have to buy little bottles of water to replace the need of the portable drink in your hand. This will help reduce the bad carbohydrate (sugar) and chemicals that you are putting into your body each day (those that are being cleaned out when taking Skinny Fiber supplements).
  
  
• Another example of gradual change is to eliminate store bought juices (which normally contain high fructose corn syrup and chemicals) and start making your own juice when you have the taste for it. You can get a Black N Decker citrus fruit juicer for under $20; you can buy a fruit and vegetable juicer for $40 and up (maybe even find a better one at a thrift store or yard sale). Making your own juices will decrease the bad juices you are drinking, and create the habit of eating more fresh fruits and vegetables --- AWESOME for weight loss.
  
  
• Another major example, is to reduce the number of times you eat out or order delivery foods; this is until you quit eating it at all unless necessary. Fast foods are filled with fats, sugars, chemicals, bad carbs, etc. Your body does not need these types of foods and most people cannot burn fast foods enough to maintain / lose weight. Fast foods are self sabotaging and are a good habit to break ASAP, therefore by reducing your buying and eating fast foods, you are making the change towards a habit forming action. Buy a grill and make your own burgers; buy sweet potatoes and learn how to use them to make baked sweet potato fries; make smoothies in your blender instead of milk shakes and sundaes ... Reduce fast foods.

There are so many other small changes that you can make to stay on track and form lifelong habits that will benefit your health. The point is that by implemented these changes in moderation will keep you from yo yo dieting and gaining more weight. Some of us start losing weight immediately just by starting with these examples.

Additionally, you cannot bounce between diet types and think that you will become successful at losing weight and preventing obesity. For example, you can't do the Atkins diet and then switch to the 80-10-10 (raw food, low fat, high carb diet for a few weeks) to then turn around and do atkins for a few days and back to the raw foods ... Or starving yourself in between ... etc, etc, etc. This will make you blow up more and more each time. You have to learn how to eat correctly for you body. There is a process that you can use to determine whether one of these lifestyle changes are for you, though you cannot change the rules of them to accommodate how you feel like eating. They all take the same commitment as if you were eating a high carb low fat diet. * Diet being the food that we eat on a regular basis ("my diet consists of ..." and not a dieting ("I'm on the such n such diet). There is a huge difference!


Weight Loss Tip #3 - Portion Control & Food Combinations

Portion control is a HUGE problem for people trying to lose weight and prevent obesity. The way we combine foods can contribute to weight gain as well. For example, have you ever met a vegetarian or vegan this is chubby? This is because they are eating too much starchy and / or fatty foods. All are presumably healthy foods, but eating too many gourmet raw foods or vegetarian meals can make one gain weight. This is because they are combining the wrong good foods (maybe too many avocados, bananas, mangoes and / or nuts in addition to their salads and berries). The same goes for someone on the Atkins diet. If that person eats too many carbs with their proteins and fats, they will not accomplish induction goals and gain instead of lose weight. Last example applies to a standard diet of carbs, protein, fruits and vegetables; if you add too much fat and eat larger portions, then you will gain weight.

The key is to eat the right amount of the right foods for you body = Portions + Food Combinations. This can take some research, trial and error before getting it right. This is one of the reasons why Skinny Fiber is so helpful to people that are motivated to lose weight and adopt habits that will help keep the weight off. It helps control the portions, increase good water soluble fiber in your diet, detox the bad foods, aids in digestion and more.

Weight Loss Tip #4 - Motion

"A body in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted on by an outside force" ~ Isaac Newton

Ok, Isaac Newton's Law of Motion was more profound than what this weight loss tip states. Yet, it is relative and now that you have just read it, you will think it each time you are not moving enough in the day!!! Right??? The point being that you need to stay in motion and not let your MIND become an outside force that stops your habit of becoming more active. Exercise is necessary for your body and emotional health. If you apply what is stated above in weight loss tip #2 - moderation - you will improve your healthy considerably by just starting to get your body in motion a little more at a time. This can form the habit of exercising more and for the rest of your life. For example:

Walking, Gardening, Lawn Work, Vigorous Housework, Playing Wii Fit or Konect with your kids, Beginner's Yoga, Swimming, Biking ...

These are all examples of daily activities that you can introduce into your life again to become much more active. Pick one or mix them up ... set a time and work up how long you are active ... 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes ... Get the point? Do this until you are ready to jog / run, join a gym, start using the elliptical, etc. for longer periods of time. 

Do not sit for long periods of time unless you have to at work; if you have a sedentary job, then exercise in the morning, lunchtime and / or after work. You will also have to watch what you are snacking on while working. If you find it hard to become or remain active with the work you are doing, then maybe it is time to find a different job or start a business that supports your healthy lifestyle needs. "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten" ~Anthony Robbins, so if your work is making you unhealthy ... CHANGE THIS TOO!!!

Additionally, you cannot go from being active to just sitting around. The abrupt change from using your muscles, increasing flexibility, burning fat ... to becoming sedentary ... shocks your body. It begins to rebel once you stop taking care of your physical needs. Muscles get stuff and body gets flabby over time; weight gain can begin and your personality is affected as well. Exercising keeps our body functioning as it should and the serotonin released has many benefits with feeling good as a major advantage.

Start with a few minutes of exercise and increase as you go ... not only does exercise aid in burning calories, toning your body, feeling great and obesity prevention; your body will be less stiff, achy and hunched over when you get old.


Weight Loss Tip #5 - Support

- Find someone or a group to join for weight loss support.

- Tell on yourself when you lose motivation.

- Share what you are doing to lose weight.

- Share how you are developing healthy habits that stick.

and so on. It is statistically true that we are most successful at accomplishing weight loss goals when we do so as part of a group; accountability partners help, too.


These are my 5 weight loss tips  ...

I wrote this blog post for those of you that keep playing with your health. If this is YOU, then stop living your life as if you will always stay a teen or in your 20s, 30s, 40s ... These weight loss tips address some of the bad habits we have developed as a society. When motivation starts, though no good habits are created to keep us at an ideal weight and health, we begin to deteriorate.

If you are younger and reading this post, though are still less than 30 pounds overweight, please keep in mind that you can become obese over time (on the inside of your body) even though you do not see it externally for years to come.

Obesity can hit you hard after years of YO YO DIETING / YO YO FITNESS; this is part of why you see so many people become SO FAT, as well as SO SICK, so quickly.

We are in the age of OBESITY EPIDEMIC and it is very real in the United States and numerous other countries. Do something about your weight and health now before you are too old and / or too sick to handle the issues as easily. If you have a child or loved one dealing with these food and health issues, please help them implement these weight loss tips.

Need help controlling your appetite and losing weight? 
Join the Skinny Fiber 90 Day Challenge to get back on track ...

Join our Facebook Page to get Fitness Challenges and weight loss tips! 


Hugs & Blessings,
Lea

Continue Reading

Hungry For Change - Health Film Video - Free Viewings 3/21 - 3/31

10 Days Free - Watch This Life-Changing Health Documentary

This is a quick post to let you know that the popular Hungry For Change documentary - http://www.hungryforchange.tv - is featuring free viewings of their documentary from March 21st to March 31st and there is no obligation once registered to view the film.

This health video is about 1 1/2 hours long and features nuggets of truth and knowledge from industry experts such as:

- Dr Alejandro Junger (the author of Clean)

- Jason Vale (Master Juicer)

- Kris Carr (NY Times best-selling author and wellness coach)

- Dr Joseph Mercola (author of the No-Grain Diet)

- Dr Christiane Northrup (specialist in women's bodies and health)

- Jon Gabriel (Lose Weight Without Dieting)

- Evita Ramparte (European writer and health coach)

- Frank Ferrante ("May I Be Frank")

- David Wolfe (health authority, author, co-founder of TheBestDayEver.com magazine)

- Daniel Vitalis (health, nutrition, personal development)

- Mike Adams ("The Health Ranger", Renegade Water Secrets and founder of www.naturalnews.com)

- Joe Cross ("Fat Sick & Nearly Dead" and Juicing For Weight Loss expert)

These experts clarify misconceptions that food manufacturers don't want you to understand such as which chemicals are in foods, which foods are harmful, which affects on your health, why is high fructose corn syrup so bad, what are good fats, etc. Most importantly, how you can get more nutrition into your body through change that will improve your health (so not just weight loss or fad dieting, but doable life changes that will change your health completely).

It is well worth the few minutes of your life ... watch "Hungry for Change" with me!

Also, make sure to CHECK OUT the trailer for FRESH THE MOVIE because they offer a free viewing each year around summertime. Their's is a sustainable food movement that really did make incredible food changes in my life (learn about how your food is grown, chemicals fed into meats and added to other foods, and how you can make changes). I would LOVE for you to get the information, too. You can watch the clips from FRESH THE MOVIE here and go to their site to register for a notice for the next viewing.




To YOUR Health and Happiness,
Lea

Continue Reading

Low Carb or High Carb | Life Change or Fad Dieting?

Is Eating Low Carb Considered Fad Dieting?

Are you thinking about starting a diet or learning how to eat Atkins, Paleo, Low Fat, Low Carb, Vegan, Fruitarian, etc. Anyone of these diets can work if you stick to it, yet it's no fun taking on a change in diet that you know that you cannot stick with nor feels good for your body. This is especially true for those who have diabetes, hypertension or other health issues to consider when making food choices. If any of those ways of eating has made you healthier according to your doctor and suits you forever (real lifestyle change), then I am delighted for you. If you have not been successful with any type of fad diet, then here is some advice from a health professional that I met while networking online. It has stuck with me over the months and probably will forever ...

"You can lose weight by limiting your carbs (under 100 a day) and eating 5 small meals a day!  Focus on lean meats and low starch veggies."

How can you go wrong when it is stated as simply as that?

Limiting the carbohydrates might be confusing to some of us, so here is a guideline for what are white starches (carbohydrates to avoid because they are just not good for us - never):

white bread, white noodles, white rice, white flour, white sugar, etc. (other foods to avoid) and some would consider processed wheat as part of this list.

List of Low Starch Vegetables That Are Good For You

Here is a list of for all vegetables that are so low in starch that you almost consider them no starch vegetables. In fact, you can eat most as freely as you want especially anything green on this list rather freely depending on whether you are using butter or olive oil; salt is another seasoning to take into consideration (including season salt). Although our bodies need a certain amount of good fats these do increase calories; sodium is necessary for cellular function, though it depends on how active your body and too much is dangerous for your health.

Amaranth
Artichokes
Asparagus
Baby corn
Bamboo shoots
Beans
- Green Beans
- Wax Beans
- Italian Beans
Bean sprouts
Beets
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage: bok choy, Chinese, green
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chayote
Cucumber
Eggplant
Green Onions
Greens
- Collard Greens
- Kale Greens
- Leaf Lettuces
- Mustard Greens
- Swiss Chard
- Turnip Greens
Jicama
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Mung bean sprouts
Mushrooms
Okra
Onions
Peppers
Radishes
Rutabaga
Sauerkraut
Scallions
Spinach
Sprouts
Sugar Snap Peas
Summer Squash
Tomatoes
Turnips
Water Chestnuts
Zucchini

Now, if you are vegan, have no health issues that require watching sugars like Hypoglycemia, or are highly active, then medium to high carb vegetables like sweet potatoes, white potatoes, winter squash, carrots, etc. are high in potassium and vitamins; they are suggested as part of a high carb diet. This blog post is to highlight low carb / low starch food options that are natural (not processed) and can help you lose weight and keep it off when eat lean meats, low carbs and low sugar fruits as a part of a healthy lifestyle change ... NOT FAT DIET!

What do you think? Which way of eating had been better for your health, weight and lifestyle?

Have a great week!
Lea

Continue Reading