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.