Don't be stupid

Now I know that New Years is just a few days away now. Like most people you might be making unrealistic resolutions that you cannot keep. For example losing 20 pounds a month in weight. That is not only unrealistic but can be dangerous. The most drastic weight loss I have ever gone through was losing 15 pounds in 3 days, that was because I had the flu and between not eating much and spending my time either puking or pooping it was not a very nice way to lose weight. In fact for the next week after that I was extremely weak. I had the advantage of being in my late teens at the time so my young strong body could handle it. Nowadays forget it, I would end up in ER.

You don't want to lose weight by unconventional means either. Don't be planning on that trip down to Mexico for liposuction from a back alley doctor. Those places are known for leaving the patient with more health problems then they arrived with. A friend of mine went down for dental implants Mexico and ended up with a bone infection.

Lose those excessive pounds the old fashioned way, by eating less and being more active. Don't eat more than your body can use in energy and maintaining bodily functions.

Have a great new year and don't make unrealistic plans that you know you can't keep.

Weight, diets, exercise and asthma

I suffer from asthma and I have always had to take precautions before working out. I often have had to use my inhaler before exercise to prevent an asthma attack. My asthma is not triggered by exercise but by indoor allergens. Dust is my enemy.

Some people with asthma have to go to the extremes of using allergy mattress covers, special indoor filter systems and in some cases diet precautions.

I am lucky that I have what the doctors call very mild asthma. I only need my inhalers when needed. I will not let my asthma stop me from taking care of the rest of my health.

Relaxing after a workout

We have a spa or should I say we use to have a working spa. The darn thing developed a leak and right now I am not able to use it after my strenuous workouts. I had just bought a new spa filter for it too. I don't know how it will take me to get around to having it fixed so I have devised other ways to relax after a workout.

Taking a shower should not only leave you clean and refreshed but if you use the right aromatic body washes can help your body and mind relax after a workout.

Going for a leisurely walk after working out helps your body unwind and cool down too.

What you need to avoid is just sitting down after a workout. Your body needs to cool down slowly and just sitting will often cause muscle cramps later in the day or at night.

Sleep and weight loss

Did you know that the quality of your sleep affects your weight? Lack of sleep not only causes you to have dark circles under eyes but weight gain too. If you have anyone in your family that suffers from sleep apnea then you know what I am talking about.

Constantly waking up during the night forces the body to dump sugar into the blood stream to get the body up. The sugar is coming from recently digested food. That sugar dump actually causes the body to gain weight by not releasing energy stored in the fat cells. The body is now constanly using recently digested food as an energy source and will leave stored fat alone. As long as there is food somewhere in the body, fat will not be reduced. The sugar dump can also lead to diabetes.

If you are overweight make sure that your sleep pattern is not the cause of your weight problem.

Being disabled and overweight

One of the major causes of being overweight in adults is being unable to exercise due to physical limitations. Another factor is depression. Often those 2 factors go hand in hand in the development of an overweight person.

When an adult becomes disabled they often go on social security disability. If their disability is not apparent to the average observer then they could be the victim of ridicule. That ridicule will often cause the disabled person to become depressed and that depression can lead to overeating, alcoholism or even drug addiction.

Contrary to popular belief, being on disability is not a free ride but only enough of an income to barely get by. Next time you see an overweight disabled person consider that over eating might be their "mental crutch" that they have had to lean on due to depression.

Shopping while fat

I have been overweight for the last 15 years. I sometimes get to the point that I really hate to look at myself in the mirror. It is at those times that I find great relief in going shopping. It is not that I substitute shopping for feeling guilty for being overweight, no it is that I go to Walmart and see huge obese women and say to myself I am not that fat after all.

To me shopping and looking at other people makes it a true reality check. I think I have been comparing myself to those skinny gals on TV and not to real life. Whether I am shopping for pond supplies at the local pet store or just cruising down the grocery aisle it puts my own life in a better perspective. Try it for yourself and see if you feel better about the way you look.

Advantages of losing weight

Did you know that besides the added benefits of better health there are other benefits to losing weight? Here are just a few:

• Lower life insurance rates
• Lower health insurance rates
• Lower cost of clothing (stores charge higher prices for larger sizes)
• Saving money on your food bill
• Your furniture will last longer
• Finding a job will be easier. Employers are not supposed to discriminate but they do according to what a person looks like.
  

I bet you can think of more than that small list. I did not include the social advantages like being asked out on more dates or invited to parties.

Losing weight allowed me to save money

I had no idea how much money was being spent on snack foods until we started to cut them out of our diet. Would you believe that it was an extra $40 a week just in junk food? I was totally shocked.

Hubby an I decided to put that extra money in a "rewards" savings account. The reward was to give us something for not eating junk food and losing weight. We were thinking about going on a vacation to somewhere exotic like the Bahamas, Morocco or punta cana dominican republic, just because they are not the normal places the general tourists go to. I actually like Greece but Hubby would like Japan so we are still discussing the plans.

You might try and reward yourself for losing weight like we are doing. Either a vacation or an item you have always wanted. Don't reward yourself by going out to dinner, we use to do that and it got us nowhere with our diets.

Modern technology can help you reach your diet goal

The best way to see if you are losing weight is to take photos or video of your progress. I have known people to keep pictures of themselves in tight fitting, unflattering clothes while very overweight and post those photos on their refrigerator. It acts as a visual deterrent.

One of the best inventions that has come out in the past 15 years was the invention of digital cameras and camcorders. If there was ever a way to see yourself as others see you, then those 2 tools will help you no end. Before the digital camera, people would be very embarrassed to take in photos of themselves showing their unflattering fat to be developed at the local photo finishing place.

Use your digital camera as a tool to help you lose weight. You might surprise yourself and find out it works.

Lose that belly fat

I don't think I know anyone that has a fat belly fetish. In fact most people I know will stare at obese people at Walmart even if they are overweight themselves. For those of us who are constantly battling the fat war, we want to know how to lose belly fat.

I remember when I was younger it was so easy to walk off those extra pounds. In high school I had one of those flatter than a table top tummy. I could do 90 sit-ups in under 60 seconds for those fitness tests each year. As I got older and had an office job those extra pounds started to gather at the waistline.

I found that in order to combat the bulging waistline I have to exercise more vigorously than I did when I was younger. As a person ages their metabolisum does slow down so in order to keep it elevated you should have a high percentage of your body be muscle rather than fat. Muscle will use far greater calories and carbs just at rest than fat does. The only way to get and keep muscle is with exercise.

Foods for dieters

There are some foods that you should be avoiding that are just common sense, like cookies, candy and other empty calorie laden foods. Other foods that are eaten in larger than normal portions act like a sleeping pill on your body. You get pretty sleepy after that Thanksgiving dinner don't you? Turkey is one of those foods that puts you to sleep, milk does it too.

If you wake up during the night and want to eat because you are hungry here's a tip that my dietitian told me: Eat a 1/4 cup of peanuts right before you go to bed. Your body will take all night to digest them, thus keeping you asleep. Peanuts are also full of protein and not "empty" calories so they are just fine for your diet.

Be good to your knees and feet

So you have decided to turn your garage into your workout area. Have you really thought about the cement garage flooring and how it might affect your joints? Do yourself a favor and pad the floor with rubber mats or workout flooring before you start working out. You can buy workout flooring sections at Home Depot. They make them for areas that people stand long hours on the job. Those same mats work out fine as cushions for workout areas.

If you decide not to have some sort of flooring over the cement floor you will be suffering from knee or back pain in about 2 weeks after you start working out in your garage.

Has the economy affected our eating habits?

With the rise of food costs and the high unemployment rate you would thank that food consumption would be down. Before you say yes or no, let's look at some facts. McDonald's is experiencing a boom in sales. They have opened up 100's of new locations since the recession began. The next report is that many more people than usual are suffering from depression as a result of job loss or just worrying about losing a job. A most of us know, people turn to comfort foods to battle depression.

Several people that I personally know are actually cutting back on other expenses in order to buy food. One even got rid of their pets, another decided not to pay for motorhome insurance on his RV because it will sit parked for the next 8 months.

The bottom line is that even when times are hard people will still eat and often overeat just to feel better about their lives.

My favorite diet foods

I love fruit and vegetables. I was not always like that. I remember hating peas when I was a kid, I still do as an adult. Salads were rare at my house when I was growing up. It was meat and potatoes with often a vegetable I was not fond of.

Fast forward to married life and learning about Chinese and Mexican food with salad bars thrown in for good measure. Of course my favorite diet is one that includes lots of seafood, salads and raw vegetables. Raw, uncooked vegetables was one item that I never had as a kid. I think celery was the only one I can remember.

When I was pregnant I had a craving for all kinds of fruit, yep healthy stuff! My only true weakness was ice cream, unfortunately it still is.

Think twice before you try intestinal medications

I think we can all agree that diarrhea is bad for your body. You can in fact die from it. So why do people insist on using diet products and diet supplements that are known to cause diarrhea? Because they are misinformed, that's why. Diarrhea is NOT a good way to lose weight. Once your body goes into diarrhea mode it often takes days for it to get back to normal and for some people it might not.

Diet products are not the only medical products that can cause diarrhea. One of the major ones on the market today, are colon cleansers. Those things are utterly useless. You can find all kinds of colon cleanse reviews online, most of them written by those very same companies that make the stuff.

The bottom line is, if it has diarrhea as a side effect then don't use it - period.

Creating a spreadsheet to track your diet

When my hubby was diagnosed as borderline diabetic he was so determined to change his diet and lose some weight he tracked his daily food intake on his laptop. He tracked everything from each calorie, carbohydrate, fat content and even the weights of the foods. This went on for a few months, he even had the information backed up on a Custom usb drive that he kept on his key chain.

He was so proud of the information he was keeping track of. Finally he was losing weight and after 9 weeks he got the hang of what to eat and what his limits were. He lost 60 pounds in one year and kept the weight off. He is no longer anywhere near diabetic.

Health knowledge

It is amazing how much a person can learn about how the human body works when one is trying to attain an ideal weight and fit body. You don't have to do an search for Online master degrees in the medical field to gain the knowledge you need to get healthier. Although there have been times when after an extensive medical physical I have thought that I could become an RN or at least a dietitian. Are online classes available in those fields or are they a hands on only type of training?

Well, getting back to reality for me and simply getting more exercise is on my agenda for the next few weeks. I have been noticing that I have been getting short on breath after just mild housework so I will have myself checked out for that.

Knowing when to take a break from exercise

You should be well aware that in order for your body to build muscle from your workouts you should NOT be exercising those same muscle groups within 24 hours. For example you can walk or run one day then the next day do an upper body workout. Your muscles need 48 hours to rest and build more muscle tissue. By letting each muscle group take a break from a workout you maximize the effects of those workouts.

By the same token if you don't give those muscle groups a 48 break you will end up with very thin and elongated muscles. That works out great if you are a long distance runner but not if you have a lot of fat to lose.

For your own peace of mind you should also take a mental break from working out. Take a nice long bath or soak in the hot tub for the time you would normally be working out that day. Light the scented candles in your fancy candle sconces and relax. Unwind and don't worry about your weight for one day a week.

Do weight loss products really work?

So you have gotten to the point of almost giving up on that healthy diet and exercise routine. You haven't lost an ounce in at least a month and you are at your wits end. Should you resort to find a weight loss product over the counter or should you consult your doctor first? Writing from experience I say get your doctor involved. I had to have blood tests run to see what was wrong with me - I couldn't lose weight at all for at least 2 years no matter what I did.

Your doctor can assess your body and tell what would be the best weight loss product for your body or even if you need such a product. My doctor found out that I had an under active thyroid that was slowing down my metabolism. Without my thyroid medication, my under active thyroid would also affect my internal organs. So by having my doctor check me out I avoided putting my general health in jeopardy.

Exercising outdoors

Winter will be upon us soon. Have you made plans as to where you will exercise? Will you be indoors or out? When I mean outdoor exercising I don't mean taking a walk to the nearest patio chairs and sitting down. You may laugh about that, but that is exactly what my dad use to do. He passed away from artery diseases about 9 years ago. Lack of exercise was one of the main contributions.

You must keep up being active all year long. It is good for your heart as well as your lungs and mental well being.

The down side to being overweight

We all know the health affects of being overweight.The increased risks for heart attacks and other health problems but it also affects our pocket book. Did you know that our insurance rates go up? Life insurance is a big one on that. Most insurance policies make you get a physical check-up as part of procedure to get a policy. It is almost a rarity to find life insurance no medical exam nowadays.

Also did you know that any medical information reported to an insurance company goes on your rate information? If you have ever seen the TV show Seinfeld then you might have seen the episode of Elane trying to find a doctor where she had not been "blacklisted" with. It maybe funny but some elements of that show were right on the money - insurance money that is.

Losing baby fat

Almost all of the moms I know have battled the baby fat syndrome. Losing those excess pounds after the baby was born is no easy feat. The human body goes into survival mode to produce milk for the newborn. The new mother's mind is geared to eat and eat more to produce that milk. It doesn't matter if the baby is bottle fed or not the body wants those extra calories.

The most experienced mother I can think of is Michelle Duggar, the mom who has given birth to 18 children and the 19th one is on it's way. She made a comment recently about how she was trying to lose weight between children and was having a hard time about it. She took a pregnancy test and found out she was pregnant yet again. Michelle is only 42 years old and I can think of better ways she can control her weight rather than being pregnant most of the time.

The Duggar family has stirred up a hornets nest on the internet with people both supporting her right to bear children and others who think she and her family are living off the American TV viewing public for their income. You can find out more about that gossip here.

Diet pills and all that jazz

We have become a take a pill for what ails you type of society. It is that type of mentality that has gotten us into the obesity problem we now have. People want to eat and eat, what they want, when they want it, without regards as to what overeating will do to their bodies. They think that taking a pill will stop any ill effects of overeating.

I can prove my point easily by pointing out how many internet searches there are done hourly on the internet for the "best weight loss pills", or "diet pill reviews". People, when will you learn to eat to fuel and maintain your body and not to over indulge your taste buds? Sure it tastes good, so just eat enough to taste it, not gorge yourself. A pill will not help you in the long run.

Diet tips

When I talk to people about diets, dieting and fads, people often ask me what is the best weight loss supplements I usually tell them, good wholesome food, but in small quantities. It is not the type of food but the amount. You can eat anything you want if you keep the portions small. If you want to lose weight just keep everything no bigger than taster size.

I am also asked what to eat or drink to keep the hunger pangs away. I tell them not to starve themselves. Eat small portions yes, but every 2 hours. The idea is to always keep something in your stomach so you won't go overboard eating at meals. Water will fill you up and in fact can help you feel full. Peanuts are also a good way to keep the hunger pangs away during the night. Just eat a 1/2 cup of peanuts before you go to bed so you won't want to get up and have that midnight snack.

A jogging buddy

One of the best ways to be motivated to exercise is to have a buddy. If you are lucky enough to have a pet dog, what a better way to exercise your dog and yourself at the same time? Both of you would benefit from the workout. I sometimes go jogging with my four legged home alarm systems from time to time. They enjoy the time I spend with them and I feel relaxed and rejuvenated after the jog.

Be good to your lungs

Of course you know better than to smoke if you are trying to get into shape. Your lungs will require more air as you workout and you need clean air for your body to not be stressed out. Keeping that in mind you will want to exercise in an area that is free of smoke, air pollution and dust. If you exercise outdoors, watch the local pollution reports for the air index. If you exercise indoors then you should have a dust free area which means you will either have to keep your workout area clean and keep an eye on your indoor air filters on your air conditioner or heater.

Take care of your lungs. If you start coughing during your workout it could be because of dust or that your heart is struggling. Slow down and stop if you have to. You need to eliminate the cause before you continue. The first thing will be to determine if it is dust or indoor air pollution. If that is not the case then a trip to the doctor is in order for a complete check-up.

Music helps you to move that bod

If you love listening to music while you workout then the invention of ipods was the key you were waiting for. No longer did you have to disturb others with music first thing in the morning or in the evening while you worked out. Now you had your own little world of music you could listen to.

On my iPod I set it up to listen to music to run to, dance to or cool out after a workout. I have the songs set up to last as long as my workout and I know when to change exercises to the tempo of the songs.

If you have an iPod or an MP3 player you can set it up to use it for your workouts.

Exercising in the heat

Heat waves should not stop you from working out but you do need to be careful. You can change your workout type to add swimming or some type of water sport. You can change the time you workout so you can exercise during the cooler hours of the morning. Don't let your ambition to lose weight be one of your hard drives in your life if it affects your overall health.

Drink plenty of water, not soda or energy drinks when you workout. Your body craves water and the sweet stuff, yes even the diet drinks are full of junk, is not good for thirsty body.

Exercise is very important when dieting

If you don't exercise when you are dieting you will end up with loose flabs of skin hanging off your body. Women will lose weight where men like to see it - in the boobs. If women don't exercise to tighten the muscles to pull in the skin they will end up at the plastic surgeons office. Men will have a flap of skin over hanging their belt. Both will need a nip and tuck.

Exercise is cheaper than plastic surgery. Exercise is also a great way to unwind from the day's events. Mental worries and stress are gone when you exercise. You could care less about the state of the economy, Outer Banks foreclosures and looking for a job while you exercise.

Another bonus is the fact that if you are looking for a new job, you will look physically better during the interview if you are on a good exercise routine.

Dumb me

I really wish that texting had not got so out of hand. It is almost like every small word is an anagram for a sentence or the shortened version of a longer word. I was reading an article the other day and came across the phrase "free seo tool" and thought it was something about diets. I had no clue what seo stood for. I now know what it means so you can call me dumb.

Kettlebells

Have you seen the newest exercise item called Kettlebells? It is a fancy hand weight dumbbell that is suppose to change the way you work out. Where have I heard that one before? Other than holding the weight a different way I see nothing unusual about it. What might make a difference in the exercise package they sell with the weights. A ton of DVD's and workbooks. Of course what I need is a personal trainer right beside me, telling me to get off my fat a$$ and workout more often.

To me workout DVD's are fun to watch but I seldom actualy exercise right along with them more than once or twice.

One of my most embarrassing moments

About 17 years ago I had one of my most embarrassing moments with my weight. I had, at least what I thought was, a fairly nice figure, that is until the day I was approached by a co-worker who told me that she and several others wanted to know when the "baby" was due. I was not pregnant!

It not only embarrassed me but the co-worker that asked me. I was not only embarrassed but also angry at the lack of tact that the women had. It almost got me to the point of printing out a sign for my office that said " there will not be any birth announcements this year".

If you know someone who is overweight do not mention anything about dress sizes, weight or pregnancies to them. They are well aware of how much they weigh and don't need to be reminded every hour.

Surgery for weight loss

Would you resort to surgery as a method of weight loss? Most people would say no, but there are some people where surgery is the only option left open to them. The lap band was recommended to a family member that cannot exercise because of lack of mobility. That person uses food as a comfort. Depression of his condition triggers him to eat more which in turn depresses him. It is a vicious cycle.

I would not recommend you go out and find a lap band doctor on your own. You need to go through your doctor for all the information and discuss the surgery with him/her. After all, lap band surgery is MAJOR surgery and not to be entered into lightly.

Is fasting a viable weight loss method?

Centuries ago. fasting was a normal event for devote religious people. It was traditional to fast (eating only bread and water or sometimes just water) for one day of the week. This was an action of mind over body.

Today fasting is fairly rare among most people in the USA. Does fasting have a place in the modern world as a weight control method? I think it does. For the one 24 hour period of nothing but water it would help shrink the stomach and help people feel more satisfied on less food.

Fasting might be a way to control your weight if you are willing to fast one day of the week each week. Of course you should try this only if you have no underlying medical problems like diabetes.

Keep your exercise equipment simple

One of the best ways to stop working out is to buy a complicated piece of exercise equipment that is either difficult to maintain, hard to move or has too many adjustments and plastic knobs on it. Keep your workout equipment simple. A jump rope, bicycle or just plain walking is better for you in the long run.

If you get to the point that working out is now a way of not losing weight but building muscle and trimming up then you can start to look at the types of workout equipment that is best suited for what body type you are aiming for.

A tool to help you lose weight

There are a few tricks that will help you stay on track with your diet and weight loss goals. One of them is creating a spreadsheet that will track your daily calories and the times you eat. Most computers and netbooks come preloaded with spreadsheet software so you just have to access it and use it.

My husband made a spreadsheet and tracked his daily intake of calories, carbs and total amounts each day. When he came to the point when he wasn't losing anymore weight he could show the spreadsheet to his dietitian and she could then see what was going on. She could then tell him how to adjust his diet to start losing weight again.

Exercise equipment

Finding the right exercise equipment is often dictated by our surroundings rather than our needs. If you live in a 5th floor apartment then lugging a bike up and down those floors might pose a problem. If you have a tendency to move every year then you might not want to invest in a heavy treadmill that only 2 guys that work for long distance moving companies might be interested in moving for you.

Instead look at more portable ways to exercise or join a gym. Of course exercise that does not require equipment is often the best and easiest way to go. Walking, jogging or swimming are just several options that require very little equipment.

Before you put it on or in your body...

...find out what that medication, pill, cream or supplement really does to you. Did you know that the FDA does not regulate supplements or lotions? Unless there is a medical claim for the product the FDA does not usually get involved. They do get involved after the fact of someone getting hurt or killed because of a product. Take for example the Hydroxycut recall that the FDA issued a few weeks ago. That product was reported to cause liver failure in people.

Do your self a favor and investigate any product that makes claims of weight loss or increasing your metabolism. Even if it is a famous product like Alli,Apidexin or even Slimfast. Check it out first. Find out what those ingredients really are. If they state "a secret formula" then stay away from that product. You have every right to know what you are ingesting or putting on your skin.

Stay away from pills

When us gals get together the conversion often wanders to diets and diet pills. To people that don't know me very well but remark on my fit look ask me what are my suggestions for the best diet pills. My stance on diet pills are - don't use them. You will only become dependent on the darn things when in fact you should be adapting your body to a healthy and balanced diet.

Simply cut back on the amounts of food you normally eat rather than cutting out the foods you love is the key to a successful diet. Pills just don't work. yes, they may work for a few weeks or even a few months but you will soon drop the pills and got back to your old overeating ways. You must change your diet permanently and pills don't do that.

How to be a knockout bride

Are you in shape for your wedding? Everyone will be looking at you. You WILL be the center of attention, whether you like it or not. I have found a video on how to get in shape - just for brides. Grab a water bottle and watch the video below. It is a step by step plan on how to get in the best shape you will ever be in for that special day.

Don't over do dieting

Dieting can get out of hand. Not enough calcium in your diet and you will have bone loss or dental problems. You have seen photos of people on meth. The drug causes people to crave the drug and not proper nutrition. Thus they not only get thin but their teeth fall out and their bones become fragile.

You diet should be balanced and not one sided. You don't want to look good only to have to deal with a cosmetic or Plano Dentist. Remember to take good care of your body while dieting.

Pick the right vacation to keep you away from food

You are thinking about what to do and where to go on vacation this year and want to stay on your diet and exercise program at the same time. Don't sabotage your life goals with taking the wrong type of vacation.

One type of vacation to stay far away from is cruises. Sure you get to visit lots of really nice places but most of the time you will be aboard ship and eating and eating. The cruise lines are noted for their fine, rich (as in high fat and calorie) lavish dishes. I don't want you to use your international travel insurance on a trip to ER for bloat or a heart attack.

Find a vacation experience that will take you away from restaurants and fine dining for most of the day. A vacation that puts emphasis on walking or bike riding as the form of getting around would be ideal. Visiting large cities and walking around in museums and other places of interest would work out just fine as long as you stay away from the local small restaurants along the way. Pack a few low calorie snacks to keep the hunger tiger off your back.

Letting working out slide

I have got to get back on track with working out. I have gained 4 pounds in the last week due to being week from a cold. Normally the cold or flu takes my excess pounds to and I end up just a bit thinner than before. About 10 years ago I had a nasty cold that would only allow me to eat liquids for 3 days. I just didn't want any solid food because my throat hurt and I couldn't smell anything. Coughing up phlegm all over the bathroom faucets was something that I will remember for a very long time. After the 3 days I was down by 15 pounds.

That is not the way to lose weight as I gained those pounds back in about a month.

Drink plenty of fluids

When you are on a diet, everyone tells you that you should drink plenty of water. I am one of those people that hates the taste of water. Even the bottled water has a nasty taste to me. The only water I have ever liked was ice cold spring water that was coming straight up out of the ground when we use to go camping when I was a kid.

Most of my family knows that I don't like the taste of water so when I got a gift of 2 personalized water bottles last Christmas from a cousin, my family just shook their heads. They knew that those bottles would end up in the kitchen cupboard forever.

I talked about my dislike for the taste of water to a nurse and she told me that she hates the taste of water too and all she drinks all day is diet soda. She said the body does not care what form the fluid comes in, just as long as there is plenty of it and that the body can use it.

Side effects of a balanced diet

Some of the wonderful things that happen to your body when you find a balanced and healthy diet is nice and shiny hair, a glowing skin and more energy. One of the most spoken about side effects of eating healthy is clear skin. Who would have thought that just eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruit would act as an acne treatment.

Along with a healthy diet make sure you get plenty of fresh air and sunshine. Pick a workout routine that gets you outside as much as possible.

Before and after photos

If you have ever lost even just one dress size you know the feeling of accomplishment. If you have lost more than 2 dress sizes and then found some old photos of yourself when you were heavier then you know you have come a long way.

Now if you are just starting out to lose weight and get into shape here is a tip to help you stay focused and lose even more weight:

• Take a "before" photo of yourself. One week later take another photo. Then 2 weeks later take another photo. After 4 weeks take your last photo. At no time should you look at the photos. Just keep them stored on your sd card in your digital camera. You should have 4 photos of yourself that span 7 weeks of your diet and exercise plan. On your 8th week you can then take a look at the photos. You will be shocked at the difference in your body. It will boost your will to keep on going with your plan to have a healthier and fit body.
  

Blame someone else for your weight problem

You are an adult and capable of making your own decisions in life, so why are we as a people always trying to blame someone else for our weight problem? I can understand someone having a parent that put soda into the baby bottle and teaching them unhealthy eating habits but as an adult you should know better by now. You are the only one responsible for your own body and how it functions.

Are we going to keep listen to the same lawyers that help people with law suits dealing with mesothelioma and turn around and sue McDonalds for being overweight? I think not.

You have to stand up for yourself and start making the right decisions and not excuses.

Lose weight and get in shape by jumping rope

I have a success story that I am always forgetting to tell you about. My own sister went from a size 18 to a size 8 in less than 6 weeks without dieting! How did she do it? By jumping rope.

Let me tell you a bit about her first. She was about 210 lbs when she started her weight loss goal. She is 5' 9" tall. That is about 50-60 lbs more than the recommended weight for her height. She was upset about how much she weighed and was not too fond of the idea of diets. She was also the type to come home from work and just sit. She was the not the active type.

I don't know where she got the idea of jumping rope to get fit but I do know that she hated the idea of jogging. She did not have the inclination to join a health club or get involved in any organized sport so jumping rope made sense.

She bought a nice top quality jumping rope from a sporting goods store. It was her only investment in her goal. The rope cost $9. She started jumping rope after work as a way to unwind from the stress of the day. She decided to jump 100 jumps each day no matter how long it took. At first the 100 jumps took 20 minutes or more since she was so out of shape. Soon she was able to jump 100 jumps in 15 minutes, then 10 minutes.

She did not notice any difference in her body until the 3rd week when her clothing were feeling looser. By the 4th week she was facing the delemia of not having clothes that fit her anymore. At 6 weeks she was a size 8 and she only found out that because she had to shop for new jeans to wear and they were a size 8.

After all of that she found out that the was weight kept off and she did not have to do the 100 jumps a day routine anymore. She just had to jump rope a few times a week. She kept off those extra pounds for years after the jumping rope routine.

I also tried the jumping rope thing but I failed to keep it up for the entire 6 weeks. My failing was that I was always getting interrupted during the time I set aside to jump rope. I was doing great for about 2 weeks and then the 3rd week was a disaster time wise. The 4th week came around and I just gave it up. If I had only kept it up I wonder what shape and size I would be in today?

Surgery to reduce your size

Losing weight is not that hard. It is simply a matter of putting less food into your body than you body is utilizing. Unfortunately some people want the results fast and that is when people resort to fad diets, pills and lap-band surgery.

Is surgery a realistic option? I have watched people keep the weight off with lap-band surgery and I have also seen them gain weight after a weight loss. You see the lap-band surgeon never explained to those patients that the stomach is very adaptable and will grow to accommodate more food over time. The same is true when patients have part of their stomach removed to make it smaller. If they don't learn to eat less then over time they will go back to where they started, obese again.

Spring is here and so is the rush to fit into that swimsuit

Summer is only a matter of weeks away and already the rush is on with ads on TV to lose weight to fit into that swimsuit. Don't be a slave to what the business community wants you to do. You will get in shape and look good on YOUR terms and not theirs. Get in shape and feel great about yourself just for yourself and not others. You are the only one that has to live in your body.

Are you an exercise junkie?

Maybe it is time that people started to get hooked on working out. People can get hooked on other non-healthy habits so why not get hooked on a good thing? Are you "hooked" on text messaging, buying shoes, watching too much TV or some other craze that seems to limit our desire for healthy habits. I won't even get into the fact of hopping into the car just to drive a few blocks to the fast food restaurant for lunch or promising yourself you will quit smoking.

If it was so easy to get hooked on the un-healthy habits why is it so hard to get hooked on to good healthy habits? For some people it is not hard at all. It is simply the mind set and attitude a person has or doesn't have.

I found another diet and exercise blog called Gym Junkie. It is full of muscle gaining secrets and weight loss diets and workout videos. This blog is written by Vic Maggery and you should read his story on the blog of how he got started in the world of working out. He became a martial arts trainer in 2002 and hasn't looked back since. He also reviews other people's workout books on his blog like the Turbulence training review. It is defiantly a blog worth taking a look at.

Put that remote control down and back away from the TV

A dietitian told me that many of her patients are gaining weight again. The cause is not watching regular TV shows but watching too much TV news. It seems that more and more people are being worried about the economy not because of it hitting them but because it is being reported too much on TV. Their worry is turning them to food for comfort.

Do yourself a favor and stop watching the news for a while. If you need to check on the weather go to a weather only website. Don't stress out about the economy. It is something you can't control so don't worry about it.

Potato chips and water weight gain

Salty snacks are not so much a calorie problem as much as they cause the body to retain fluid. Salt is present in most hydration sports drinks to help you retain fluid during extreme heat and exercise. If you have been eating potato chips or salted nuts then be aware that your weight will go up temporarily due to retained fluid in your body.

Salty snacks can be a good thing to have during the summer months when people are more active and sometimes forget to drink fluids. The retention of fluids will keep them from getting heat stroke.

I gained 3 pounds!!!

just look at this photo for inspiration to get in shape

I have been a bad girl. I pigged out for the last 2 days without exercising and now I have gained 2 pounds from it. Well, so much for food indulgence...now back to a normal diet and daily working out.

I have been losing muscle tone lately so I had better get back in the swing of things exercise wise. I'll go and put on an exercise DVD and workout now.

I love to swim

Swimming is one of my favorite pastimes. I will swim for exercise but I am limited to the summer months. We have an above the ground pool that is long enough for a few laps but the water is so cold. This year we are thinking about tearing down the pool because it is not used enough and almost everyone hates the cold water.

I have seen the new swim spas and I would love to have one of those. I actually wanted one so badly that I sat down and figured out how to save up for one. With the savings that I am seeing in not buying extra food for the whole family (we are all on diets), I am able to save at least several hundred dollars a month. What I plan on doing is setting up a savings account at the bank that will automatically take $50 a week out of the checking account and put it into the savings account. That will put $200 minimum a month into savings. I will also be selling a few items on eBay and that money too will be going toward the swim spa. The goal is to have enough money saved up by the end of September so the spa can be used during the fall and winter months. I don't plan on buying it on credit.

I bet you are wondering what one of those things would cost. We have a local spa dealer that sells them for around $5K to $7K. I have seen them priced as high as $28K but that was on the internet.

Diet advice from the Biggest Loser

Here is some diet advice from Bob Greene the coach on the TV show the Biggest Loser. He goes to a grocery store and picks out what to stay away from and advice on what to buy. He says "your diet can be made or broken in the grocery cart". He is so right on with that statement. Watch the video.

Are you an exercise equipment hoarder?

Exercise equipment is thrown at us at almost every TV commercial break - at least it seems that way at times. If we bought every device hawked on TV we would need another house just to keep them in. Now comes the question, if you have bought a few pieces of exercise equipment because of the "miracle" of the results they said you would, how often do you use it?

Do you remember about 15 years ago when the Health Rider was all the rage? I did not get one but my sister did. She ended up giving it to me and I used it for about a month until it started to hurt my back. It seems that the motion of the Health Rider induces back pain. That was something that I had not heard about until I started to talking to other people that also gave up on the Health Rider because of back pain. Now I was not overweight when I used the Health Rider. I was using it to get in tone. I returned to free weights after that and no more back pain either.

Relationships and diets

If you are not happy with the way you look does that affect your relationships with others? Yes it does. Self esteem or the lack of it will show towards your spouse and anyone you are with. I am sure that they get tired of constantly telling you that you look just fine when in their eyes you do.

You are not only having a battle with your own body but it is affecting your mind as well. If you think that you are too fat or that others will not find you pretty or handsome enough to date or be with then you should seek out some counseling.

Getting out again with your spouse or a date with a friend will not only boost your self esteem but motivate you to get more in shape and healthier. If you don't know where to start or don't know anyone there is a Dating Site Directory that lists dating sites by types of people.

Give it a try and go out and have a good time. Treat yourself to a large helping of motivation.

To weigh or not to weigh

I weigh myself every morning. I know there are some people that think that while you are watching what you eat you should stay away from the scale. I use to never weigh myself. One day I was at my sister's home and I got on her bathroom scale. I was shocked at what I saw. I was at least 30 pounds more than I thought I was. I never owned a scale up until then and I went right out and bought one. I have dropped 40 pounds since then (over 2 years ago) but now I do watch my weight daily.

The best diet pill

We are bombarded by advertising everyday on TV, the internet and in the grocery store by ads for diet pills, drinks and miracles to lose weight. So what is the best diet pill or drink that works? In actuality, none. You must learn not to put in your body more fuel (food) than your body can use or need. Once you learn how to read your body's fuel gauge you will have no problem with having a healthy weight.

What our biggest problem is, is the taste of food. It is the taste not the food that we enjoy so much. So treat your self to the taste of your food but limit the amounts. Savor each bite and make it last. You will find you can eat much less and forget any thoughts about diet pills.

Exercise is important during the winter months

As hard as it is, we have to keep active during the winter months. Our bodies will lapse back to our old out of shape mode if we don't keep active. On of the things you will notice is the fact that you will be constantly out of breath after an extended period of inactivity. Go for a walk everyday, even if it is in the snow, just bundle up. Keep your heart working and in shape during those long winter months.