Month: December 2011

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Weight Loss Exercise

8 Simple Steps to Lose Weight

Everyone is looking for the Steps to lose weight. It is a well-known fact that diets are not effective for permanent weight loss. Fad diets may help you lose weight initially but when you reach your ideal weight and end your diet, the pounds you lost often come back with a vengeance. Losing weight takes discipline and hard work but it all boils down to how much you eat and how much you exercise.

There are simple steps you can take to lose weight. If you follow these steps to lose weight religiously, you’ll be able to achieve your goal and keep your body trim and toned.

Steps to Lose Weight

8 Simple Steps to Lose Weight

Steps to Lose Weight

1. Find time to exercise regularly – If you can, make it a point to workout every day. Walk, jog, bike or swim for at least 30 minutes a day. Get your heart rate going with cardio exercise and burn more calories. Strength training is also necessary to develop muscle mass and tone your body.

2. Be sure to eat a healthy breakfast – Never skip breakfast because it is the most important meal of the day. A good breakfast provides the nutrients and energy you need to get your work done all morning. It also jump starts your metabolism and helps you burn more calories throughout the day. Include protein and some amount of fat in your morning meal. You will feel full longer and avoid over-eating later in the day.

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3. Keep a record of everything you eat – A food journal helps you keep track of how much food you are actually eating. Studies show that people who record their caloric intake consume up to 15% less calories than people who don’t. At the very least, keeping track of your progress will help you stick to your weight loss program.

4. Plan your meals ahead of time – This simple step to lose weight can make or break your weight loss program. Having a meal plan ensures that you are able to consume only the amount of calories allotted for the day. If you have no idea what you’re going to eat for your next meal you’re likely to eat anything you can lay your hands on, and there’s no guarantee that it will be healthy and low-calorie.

5. Control food portions – Make sure you know how much is in one serving of a particular food. By controlling food portions, you will also control the number of calories you consume. This is a simple yet effective step to lose weight.

6. Cut out carbonated drinks and high-calorie beverages – Soft drinks contain a lot of sugar and can make you fat, so eliminate or reduce your intake of carbonated drinks. High-calorie beverages such as sweetened fruit juices, milkshakes, lattes and alcoholic drinks should also be avoided if you want to lose weight quickly.

7. Drink plenty of water – The body needs water for proper metabolism. Drink a glass of water before each meal to help you feel full more quickly and avoid eating too much.

8. Eat wholesome and natural foods – Choose foods that are fresh and as close to their natural state as possible. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, beans, nuts and seeds. Foods that are unprocessed contain more nutrients and fiber to fill you up without adding too many calories to your diet, thus helping you to lose weight.

Following these steps to lose weight will help you to lose weight consistently and easily.

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Weight Loss Exercise

A Simple Weight Loss Plan: Tips for Weight Loss



Weight loss plans are often complicated and expensive to follow. Some fad diets require you to eat only a few food items that are either hard to find or expensive to buy. With a situation like this, it’s difficult for most people to stick to their weight loss program. If you want a program that works, you must find a simple weight loss plan that needs little effort to follow. You will be more likely to stick with an easy-to-follow diet plan until you reach your weight loss goals.

A simple weight loss plan makes it easy to cut calories because all you have to do is follow a meal plan. There’s no need to count calories or worry that you may not be getting all the nutrients you need. When you have a low-calorie menu in place, it’s easy to follow your meal plan and be confident that you will be able to nourish your body while losing weight.

Tips for a Simple Weight Loss Plan

Before making a weight loss plan, you have to set your goals and decide how much weight you want to lose. Your goal should be realistic. Plan on losing only 1 to 2 pounds per week. This may seem frustrating if you have a lot of weight to lose, but this method will ensure that the weight you lose stays off in the long run.

1. One of the most important parts of a simple weight loss plan is a low-calorie diet menu. For safe and healthy weight loss, women should consume at least 1,200 calories per day while men should eat no less than 1,400 calories a day.

2. Never skip breakfast or any meal for that matter, or else you may overeat on your next meal. For a healthy low-calorie breakfast, have two slices of whole-wheat toast with two tablespoons of peanut butter and a banana.

3. Eat a low calorie lunch. You can have a salad of lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes with a light vinaigrette dressing, a cup of steamed veggies, black beans, and an ounce of cottage cheese. Have a fresh fruit for dessert.

4. Eat a low-calorie dinner as part of a simple weight loss plan. Try half a cup of brown rice, stir-fry vegetables and grilled fish.

5. Include two light snacks in your simple weight loss plan. You can have a small apple, a banana, grapes, or a handful of dry roasted nuts.

6. Drink plenty of water. Although water is an important part of a weight loss diet plan, most people do not drink enough. Drink at least 10 to 12 glasses of water every day. Water helps your body function properly and aids in weight loss.

7. Exercise. You should have at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. To ensure that you will stick to your exercise regimen, find an activity that you enjoy. You can walk on a treadmill, jog, bike, play sports, or join an aerobics class.

Do cardio workouts as well as strength training exercises.

  • A Simple Weight Loss Plan: Tips for Weight Loss


A Simple Weight Loss Plan: Tips for Weight Loss

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Foods to Include in a Simple Diet Plan for Weight Loss



If you want to lose weight, you need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. Making the right food choices is essential in any diet plan. A simple diet plan for weight loss should include wholesome, natural foods that will provide the nutrients your body needs and help boost your metabolism.

Best Food for Weight Loss

A diet plan for weight loss should be simple and easy to follow. Anything complicated that requires exotic, hard-to-find, or expensive foods is doomed to fail. Luckily, the best foods for weight loss are easily available and often affordable. The following foods can be included in a simple diet plan for weight loss:

1. Lean Proteins – The body needs protein to build and maintain muscle mass and boost metabolic functions. Proteins also help regulate the appetite. The best sources of protein are lean meats such as skinless chicken, fish, and pork with most of the fat trimmed off. Avoid fatty meats because they are high in saturated fats. Other excellent sources of lean protein are eggs, beans, nuts and seeds. Beans are high in protein and fiber but low in calories. Nuts such as almonds and walnuts provide healthy essential fats along with protein.

2. Fruits – The natural sugars in fruits help curb your craving for sweets and provide carbohydrates for energy. Fruits are also high in fiber which keeps you feeling full. Additionally, fruits are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Include fruits in a simple diet plant for weight loss. You can add fruits to your meals or for a healthy snack.

3. Vegetables – Like fruits, vegetables are low in calories but high in vitamins, minerals and fiber. A diet plan for weight loss should include plenty of vegetables especially leafy greens, bell peppers, onions and tomatoes. Go easy on starchy vegetables such as potatoes and corn but have your fill of spinach, kale, broccoli, and collard greens.

4. Whole Grains – The body also needs carbohydrates from grains and cereals. Whole grains provide carbohydrates for energy as well as fiber, vitamins and minerals. They are nutrient-rich and help maintain stable blood sugar levels. Avoid highly processed and refined carbohydrate sources such as white bread and candies.

5. Low-Fat Dairy Products – Dairy products are excellent sources of calcium, protein and fat. Choose low-fat dairy over the full-fat versions to help reduce the total calories consumed. Non-fat or low-fat milk, yogurt and cottage cheese can help you lose weight.

Simple Weight Loss Diet Plan

When you are trying to lose weight it’s important to eat the right amount of food often enough so you don’t get hunger pangs. Start your day with a healthy breakfast consisting of 2 eggs scrambled in a non-stick pan. You can add chopped onion and green pepper to your scrambled eggs. Have a piece of whole-wheat toast and a small cup of berries or melon.

For your morning snack, eat an apple or a handful of nuts. Lunch can be a fresh salad with light Italian dressing, and grilled skinless chicken breast.

Your afternoon snack can be a banana or an orange. For dinner, you can have grilled fish, steamed vegetables, a salad with tomatoes and lettuce, and vinaigrette dressing.

  • Foods to Include in a Simple Diet Plan for Weight Loss


Foods to Include in a Simple Diet Plan for Weight Loss