Have you hit a brick wall in your weight loss efforts?
Have you hit a weight loss plateau?
You are continuing with your program but the scale doesn’t seem to want to budge. It can strike a devastating blow to dieters who once saw great losses with their weight loss program.
The most important thing is not to lose heart. Plateaus occur in just about everyone’s weight-loss journey at one time or another. But, one key to overcoming them is to be prepared for when they come. Knowing what to do next can save you from throwing in the towel altogether.
Why Plateaus Occur
Think of your body as well-oiled a machine. You feed it and it uses that fuel to go about its daily processes. When given the right foods, it will burn fat stores for energy. More energy out and less food intake equals a lower body weight for you.
When you first begin an exercise or dieting program, there is a caloric deficit because you are changing something. Either there is a decrease in food intake or you have a greater calorie output through exercise. In response to exercise, the body burns more calories because you are doing something new with it. The muscles are confused and need to catch up. This is good.
Over time, however, the body can get used to the routine. If you are exercising, you may notice that you are no longer huffing and puffing when you perform a certain exercise. You are getting more fit. YOur body isn’t burning as many calories as it could be.
Jumping Off That Plateau
Now that you know how you came to encounter the plateau, it’s time to jump off of it. Here are some suggestions to do that.
* Change your fitness routine – Physical trainers recommend changing your fitness routine every four to six weeks. You don’t have to change your entire routine, just add to it. If you are doing only cardio workouts, add some weight training to break it up and confuse those muscles into burning more fat.
* Check your diet – As we get more confident in our eating habits, sometimes we relax them. The portion size may be creeping up or we are eating out more. Use a food diary to see what changes, if any, have occurred that could be adding more calories to your day.
* Go back to basics – Now might be the time to kickstart your weight loss efforts again with a more structured diet, especially if you’ve been getting relaxed about some of your food choices. We post coupon codes for our favorite diets here at BestSelfHelp, so it doesn’t cost much to get started:
Weight Watchers Coupons
Medifast Coupons
NutriSystem Coupons
Diet to Go Coupon
Plateaus don’t have to derail your weight-loss program. Learn to recognize them and fling yourself off that weight loss plateau as soon as you encounter it!
Posted 7 months ago at 1:29 pm. Add a comment
When it comes to losing weight, there are no easy answers. Some people may turn to diet pills to help them win the battle of the bulge. But, what is really in those pills that you are taking?
What are the side effects of those diet pills?
To really know the answer, you need to look carefully at the research – beyond the product packaging – and take the information seriously. Do some diligent research before you decide to take a diet pill. These side effects are potentially very serious, and this is your body – for life.
Advertising is everything these days. Companies use it on billboards, commercials, in magazines and the sometimes infamous infomercials to entice you to buy their product. This is seen to a great extent in the industry of health and fitness.
And advertising for diet pills is everywhere. They lay claims that they can do everything from helping you lose twenty pounds in a month to burning extra fat while you eat what you want. However, the commercials may not be what they seem. Some say that results are not typical and others claim that results are not even as good as they claim.
With all of that said, diet pill sales are still climbing each year. People want answers to their weight issues. But, before you reach for another pill, investigate the facts.
Diet Pill Facts
There are a few facts but most of them concern the downside of diet pills. Remember Fen-Phen? It was pulled off the market for causing problems with mitral heart valves and other conditions. The ingredients in these diet pills are not good for your body.
Some diet pills can become addictive. When you take them, you feel better and feel a withdrawal when you stop. Anything addictive is not necessarily good for the body.
Take Precautions
Read the labels. See exactly what they are placing in the diet pills. On most labels, companies are required to list their ingredients in relation to their presence in the finished product. This means that if hoodia is added to a diet pill and is near the bottom of the ingredient list, then the pill contains other substances in greater amount than this main ingredient.
Consult your doctor or a nutritionist. They have made it their business to study diet and nutrition. They may be able to give you a handle on which pills are not good and which ones are safe to use.
Most pills, whether diet or prescription, have side effects. Know them before you buy a diet pill. Common side effects are insomnia, headache, dry mouth and diarrhea. More serious side effects of some diet pills include heart palpitations, angina, dizziness and heart arrhythmias. If you feel any of these things, stop taking your pills immediately.
Since diet pills are not regulated, their ingredients are not subject to scrutiny. The side effects of these pills can range from mild to life threatening. Know what you are getting into before you use them.
Our recommendation is to use a diet program that helps you to naturally change your eating habits and to help you eat more healthfully. Our favorites? Weight Watchers and Medifast (for a meal replacement diet).
Other resources you might enjoy:
The Joy of Weight Loss: The Pill-Free, Great Food, and No-Diet Diet for Health and Well-Being
Price: $10.17
The Joy of Weight Loss is the dramatic story of how Norris Chumley turned his life around. It details how Chumley came to accept his conflict about food and body image and finally looked long and hard at his weight fluctuations and diet history. Chumley shares his experiences and secrets of success – of how he discovered joy and lasting happiness, with permanent freedom from obesity.
The Diet Pill Book: A Consumer’s Guide to Prescription and Over-The-Counter Weight-Loss Pills and Supplements
Price: $8.3
The only guide to provide the pros and cons of weight-loss supplements.
Never before has there been such a need for a thorough handbook on the benefits and dangers of weight-loss supplements. Americans are spending nearly $1 billion annually on diet pills, and they need to know whether these products are effective and safe. The Diet Pill Book gives them the tools to do just that. With entries for over 200 name-brand products, this book explains:
- Whether the ingredients promote weight loss and if so, how
- What dosage is sufficient to promote weight loss; what ingredients are simply fillers
- If there are reliable studies to support the manufacturer’s claims
- Whether the product appears to be safe or if it interacts poorly with other drugs or foods and has diet pill side effects.
Posted 7 months, 1 week ago at 2:11 pm. Add a comment
Medifast has just released two new coupon codes, good for the entire month. Enjoy!
Medifast Coupon 1
$50 off any purchase of $275 or more! Use
Coupon Code: JUL31H good until 7-31-11
Medifast Coupon 2
$25 off any purchase of $150 or more! Use
Coupon Code: JUL31H25 good until 7-31-11
Posted 7 months, 1 week ago at 10:39 am. Add a comment
Natural Cures for Aching Joints and Muscles
Are you experiencing pain in your joints and/or muscles? Before reaching for a bottle of pills, here are some natural ways to deal with your pain.
Natural Muscle Relief
Maybe you have just started working out again or have started a new job that is very physical. You may go home with sore, aching muscles. Those muscle aches can also be a result of the effects of aging.
Here are a few ways to get relief:
* Cold compress – Applying cold to a muscle numbs and dulls the pain. Nerve endings can’t send messages to the brain. It is a little startling at first but after about twenty minutes your muscle will calm down.
* Massage – It may be hard for you to knead your own muscles when they ache. Go to a professional massage therapist. Let your message therapist know where you are carrying your pain and they can recommend the proper massage technique. Sometimes the knot is deep in the muscle and requires special attention to get relief.
Here is a homeopathic cream for muscle relief and joint relief:
Life Extension Natural Relief 1222 OZ – 2 Cream – Muscle & Joint Health
Price: $28.0
Natural Relief 1222 OZ – 2 Cream
And a book for learning more:
Natural Solutions for Pain-Free Living: Lasting Relief for Flexible Joints, Strong Bones and Ache-Free Muscles
Price: $12.24
This book offers a sorely needed education for what ails many Americans-pain. After the pharmaceutical COX-2 controversy, many people are beginning to wake up and look for alternative treatments. Fortunately, these alternatives exist in natural medicines and supplements and this book offers an easy comprehension of them.
Natural Joint Relief
Each time you move there is a creaking sound. It is not the door but your joints. Here are some ways to stop the pain without medication.
* Non-weight bearing exercises – If the reason for your joint pain is weak muscles or ligaments surrounding the joint, some non weight bearing exercise may help. One exercise that is particularly good: swimming. The natural resistance of the water can help strengthen weaknesses without adding to your pain. Also, performing flexibility movements that target specific muscles and ligaments can stop the transfer of pain to the joints.
* Increase nutrition – Weaknesses can be due to a lack of nutrients in the diet. Increase levels of antioxidants and protein to nourish muscles and joints. Increasing omega-3 fatty acids can reduce incidents of inflammation in the body. Eating more cold water fish can also help.
* Acupuncture – This is an alternative therapy that can release pain in the joints by removing blockages that stop the flow of life-giving energy to the body. The procedure is virtually pain free and new sterile needles are used each time. Some clients feel less joint pain after only a few sessions.
Are you dealing with aching muscles or painful joints? Look for natural remedies to heal your pain.
Posted 7 months, 2 weeks ago at 11:34 am. Add a comment
Review: The Female Athlete’s Body Book
Review by: APCKelly
More and more women are enjoying and competing in all sorts of sport activities. With the increase in training comes the risk of injuries.
“The Female Athlete’s Body Book: How to Prevent and Treat Sports injuries in Women and Girls” comes to us from Dr Gloria Beim, a well-known orthopaedic surgeon, who specializes in sports injuries, such as shoulder surgery, knee surgery, arthroscopy and sports medicine. Dr. Beim runs her own practice, but is also the expert physician for the US Track Cycling Team. Her vast experience in the field of sports medicine, injury prevention and treatment is gathered in her book.
In her first chapter, she describes the issues, i.e. injury risks of popular sports. From basketball, volleyball, cycling, tennis, ice skating, scuba diving, golf, running to rock climbing. Each sport comes with injury risks and the author gives very detailed information on how to prevent these risks and what to do if injuries occur.
As this is a book for female athletes, she also explains about proper nutrition and training for women of all ages, i.e. from girls to older women. How to stay safe when you are pregnant, dealing with menstrual problems during exercise and other women-related sports topics you will find, no doubt, very informative.
Women’s bodies are different from men’s bodies, so when it comes to sport, this book gives the female-only view of the injury risks and prevention tips.
Overall, I think that this book is ideal for any female athlete who wants to be safe while enjoying sport at any age.
More information on this title, available today from Barnes & Noble:
The Female Athlete’s Body Book
Price: $9.98
The first authoritative guide for keeping female athletes healthy and injury freeWomen’s and girls’ participation in sports grows exponentially every year, and everyone knows that women’s bodies are constructed differently from men’s, yet there have been no books on sports injury and health specific to a female athlete’s needs. Until now. In The Female Athlete’s Body Book, Dr. Gloria Beim-orthopedic surgeon, physician in the Olympic Training Center Sports Medicine Program, and accomplished athlete-presents the first authoritative sourcebook for every female athlete who wants to get in the game and stay there.
She provides sound advice on an array of concerns including:
How to minimize injury while enhancing sports performance
Nutrition and training for top performance and lifelong health
The specific needs of younger, pregnant, and mature athletes
How to fight menstrual problems, bone loss, and eating disorders
What to do when an injury occurs
Posted 7 months, 2 weeks ago at 11:54 am. Add a comment
Do you want to be inspired to find LASTING HAPPINESS?
Volume 7 of Spiritual Cinema Circle brings you 4 touching films that address the how-to of happiness: discover your CALLING, follow your higher PURPOSE, and claim your true LOVE!
The feature film, Make Believe plus three short films, Dream the Life, Visiting Hours, and I Could Be Your Grandmother takes you on a journey to discover things are not always what they seem…And REAL HAPPINESS is definitely NOT an illusion..
This collection is available Exclusively from Spiritual Cinema Circle and new members who sign up before July 14th will receive the DVD for free (just pay S&H).
START MY FREE TRIAL
In this DVD of inspirational films, you¿ll find that things are not always what they seem – And REAL HAPPINESS is definitely NOT an illusion.
No one knows the secret to illusion better than. . . MAGICIANS!
Ever wonder how magicians achieve the impossible, or how much practice is needed to master amazing sleight-of-hand?
Make Believe takes you behind the scenes as you meet the most dedicated and talented young magicians in the world as they prepare for the ULTIMATE magic competition in Las Vegas.
Some of these teens have been practicing magic for 5 hours a day since they were 8 years old! Watch how this incredible dedication became a passion for them, and see how much FUN they have together as they discover the happiness of belonging to a world of INTRIGUE and WONDER.
Notably a New York Times Critics’ Pick, this film will ENCHANT you, warm your heart, and INSPIRE you with feats of the impossible!
(And you might even learn how a few of these tricks are done. Shhh. . .)
Learn more about this month’s selections here.
Posted 7 months, 3 weeks ago at 5:48 pm. Add a comment
Free Communication Weekend 6/17-6/19
On Friday (6/17/11), Saturday (6/18/11) and Sunday (6/19/11), ALL Chemistry.com users will be able to communicate for free. Hurry and sign up today!
Posted 7 months, 3 weeks ago at 8:53 am. Add a comment
Are you ready to get revved up for the summer? Here are some tips to keep your body going, even in the heat.
Ways to Stay Healthy in the Heat this Summer
* Drink plenty of water – Water is your friend. Staying hydrated can ward off a multitude of heat-related illnesses. Get in the habit of taking a water bottle with you wherever you go. Sometimes, thirst is mistaken for hunger. With water right at hand, you can quench that thirst and save a few calories in the process.
* Eat cold – Cooking in the kitchen warms up the entire house. Keep things cool with lighter fare. Sandwiches, cold salads and raw foods are quick, easy and portable. Use leftover dinner meats to make sandwiches. Portion foods and keep in containers for quick grabs when you are in a hurry. There is nothing cooler than a fresh fruit salad to whet the appetite on a hot day.
* Eat berries – Fruits of the berry variety are filled with antioxidants. Add a handful to cold cereal in the morning and to yogurt, smoothies and fresh salads. Berries boost your immunity, increase your daily water intake and contain lots of nutrients.
* Gnaw on veggies – Make raw veggies accessible throughout the day. Try veggies in a new way that will have your kids wanting more. Put them on the grill. Slide them on skewers with pieces of fruit. Apply a bit of olive oil and some tasty spices and grill them to perfection. Instead of canned, use fresh veggies. They contain more nutrients and have a unique taste that many people are missing.
* Make smoothies – They are not just for breakfast. Add a dollop of low fat whipped cream to turn an ordinary smoothie into a tasty dessert. Play around with different fruit and/or vegetable combinations until you have a few that you like. Instead of ice cream use sherbet, low fat frozen yogurt, plain yogurt or ice and a hint of fruit juice to sweeten and thicken your creation. Here are 7 Easy Fruit Smoothie Recipes.
* Eat bananas – We already mentioned fruit, but bananas have a special place in our hearts: They are full of potassium. Potassium is an important electrolyte in the body. For active children and adults, lack of potassium can lead to bouts of fatigue, cramping during physical activity and heartbeat irregularities. Bananas are portable and easy to incorporate in your daily routine to boost your metabolism.
Here are some some summer cookbooks for your lazy summer days.
The Absolutely Most Delicious Summer Recipes Cookbook
Price: $4.98
Madison Parker, NOOK Book (eBook), English-language edition, Pub by Artistry House Publishing
Summer in the Country: The freshest recipes from the country and easy-
Price: $9.98
Gooseberry Gooseberry Patch, NOOKbook (eBook), English-language edition, Pub by Gooseberry Patch
The Big Summer Cookbook: 300 fresh, flavorful recipes for those lazy,
Price: $18.29
Celebrate the season’s bounty with these luscious summer recipes! Summer is the most delicious season, when markets burst with the sweetest fruits, the juiciest vegetables, and the freshest, most aromatic herbs. It’s also the season when we gather in parks and backyards for picnics and barbecues, armed with ready supplies of meat for the grill, summery salads and sides, refreshing ice-cold drinks, and delicious desserts. In The Big Summer Cookbook, Jeff Cox shares 300 simple, versatile recipes that range from classic American summertime staples to creative takes on the season’s best produce. Whether you’re hosting a big outdoor party or an intimate dinner on the porch, serving brunch to summer house guests or packing lunch for the beach or lake, you’ll find plenty of great ideas for turning every summer meal into a feast for the soul and the senses. Breakfast and brunch: Lemon Pancakes, Easy Tomato Tarts, and Zucchini QuicheSummer sandwiches and breads: Fish Tacos, Lobster Rolls, and Italian HoagiesFresh, cool salads: Grilled Corn Salad, Watermelon-Mango Salad, and Cole SlawMust-Have main dishes: Blue Cheese and Bacon Burgers, Southern Fried Chicken, and Mango ShrimpFlavorful vegetables and sides: Grill-Roasted Corn on the Cob and Quick Skillet SquashDesserts: Peach Delight, Summer Stone Fruit Cobbler, and Blueberry-Yogurt PopsiclesPlus: frozen drinks, finger foods, dips, dressings, marinades, and much more!
Posted 7 months, 3 weeks ago at 11:25 am. Add a comment
