Secrets About Dieting Not Seen on Television

There are no secrets to dieting and losing weight. There is however, a way to lose weight and keep off unwanted pounds. Diets are seen in a negative light but they really are the best thing we can do for our bodies. A diet does not necessarily need to be a restrictive process in which a person deprives himself/herself of certain goodies the individual enjoys. And we've seen thousands of advertisements in nearly every form of media that promotes the perfect diet plan. I will offer you something you can stick with for the rest of your life.

In this hub, I will share with you how everyday activities will melt away the pounds as easily as they were gained. The key to it all is patience and determination. The weight you wish to lose today was not gained in a short period of time. It was over a long and slow process that weight gain made it self known to you. It will also take a slow and determined process to drop those unwanted pounds. So, if you are looking for a quick fix, this hub will not work for you. If you wish to loose the pounds and keep them off, this is the place you should be.

This Hub will approach the situation first from the foods consumed, an exercise regiment that works, and finally the psychological affects of losing and keeping off unwanted pounds.

Eat to Live and not Live to Eat

The expression, "eat to live, not live to eat ' is a very profound statement. Although the statement has been misused and quoted in the wrong text for sometime, the expression is a legitimate guide to controlling the foods that are put in the mouth.

Controlling the foods eaten helps a person to eat mindfully. For example, eatting out often is not as convenient as people want to think it is. When weight conscious people eat out in restaurants, they order a healthy meal. However by the time the cook finishes adding the garnishments, the food has lost most of its nutritional value.

The inconvenience comes from the restaurant kitchen. Piles of calories are added to the dish. The portion size is far more than a person would consume at home. The individual is at the mercy of the restaurant staff.

Restaurant meals are normally enjoyed in the company of one or more people. It is difficult to push the plate to the side when the mind and stomach say stop and you're having a great time. Often times the individual is not aware of how much they are eating when dining out. The amount eaten is far more than it would have been had the individual eaten at home or in an atmosphere which encourages mindful eating.

While we can not totally delete eating out, we can control where, when, how and what we eat in the meantime. Go to a restaurant that offers light healthy meals. These type restaurants are becoming more common each day. In these type eateries, an individual has a greater chance of receiving a healthy dish that was prepared for individuals who wish to eat nourishing and thoughtfully prepared entrees.

The time of day is not as important as the time an individual is accustomed to eating a meal. Remember the saying, don't shop for groceries on an empty stomach? The same applies to not going to a restaurant when you are very hungry. If you enter a restaurant with a huge appetite, expect to order a high calorie meal that is accompanied by lots of sweets and other foods that offer empty calories.

Instead, eat a light metabolism activating snack prior to leaving for the restaurant . Drink a glass of water. It will also mask the hunger pains. Additional foods that activate metabolism include....
green tea
apples, pears, blue berries, oranges,
hot peppers
citrus such as grapefruit, oranges,tangerines,limes, lemons,
non-fat dairy such as milk
low fat yogurt


By eating one of the above prior to entering the restaurant, the individual will exercise more self control when ordering from the menu.

An Exercise Regime that Works

One of the primary benefits of exercising is to burn more calories than are consumed. The individual gains a margin of error when a consistent exercise program is incorporated into their daily activities.

A person may consciously exercise and subconsciously exercise. A conscious and deliberate exercise program may include a minimum of 30 minutes of walking on a daily basis. The goal is to make at least 10,000 steps in a day or about 5 miles walking per day. Did you know a person weighing 180lbs who walks for 30minutes a day burns 327 calories? Double the walking time to 60minutes burns 655 calories. The message here is, the body that is in motion will automatically burn calories. Balance that with the amount eaten in a day could easily result in pounds lost in a reasonable amount of time.If you would like to calculate the steps taken in a day a pedometer.

If an individual think of the total steps taken to walk from one room of the house to another during the day and the frequency of those steps, at least 1 -2 miles are easily gained in the house. Then think of the errands performed. That includes walking to the car in pursuit of your destination and even walking in the neighborhood. You have another 2-3 miles in your pocket. Before long, the individual will have walked at least 5 miles by the end of the day. Once the individual becomes aware of how easy and quick it is to walk 5 miles in a day, the number of steps could easily be increased to meet personal goals.

There are many other exercise programs that are enjoyable to participate in. Dancing in the house for at least 30 minutes a day. This exercise not only burns calories, it makes the heart happy. Those around you will gladly join in the fun. Another painless way to enjoy yourself and burn calories is sit on an exercise ball instead of desk chair when working at home. The balance ball forces the body to burn calories while maintaining their balance and concentrating on the project at hand. And a person could walk up and down the stairs of their home several times during the day. The calories will burn quickly.

Psychological Weight Loss

What does psychological weight loss mean? Actually this is a very strong influence in a person's weight loss program. As most professionals know, if a person believes they will succeed at a project, half the battle is won. In other words, what a person believes is what a person receives.

With regards to weight loss, if you believe you can succeed at losing unwanted pounds, you will. Your mind will show you creative ways in which you may reduce food consumption. Acknowledging the ideas that come to mind will lead you down a path that is unique to your specific needs. You will know you are on the right track when the pounds start to gradually melt away. Staying on the course and not allowing yourself to make excuses for deviating from the goal will reap more success than ever imagined.