Winter Weight Loss
As our bodies move from Winter into Spring we can begin to really feel the need to "shed the winter weight". Whether we actually have weight to lose or not, this is an excellent time of year to give attention to our body’s need to feel lighter. Every body is different and, as I always say, therefore not one way of eating serves everyone, but here are three general steps to physically prepare the body to move into spring.
Weight Loss – Physical Preparation
1. Drink 8-10 glasses of water each day
For those of you who find this difficult because of a dislike for the taste or a schedule that doesn’t allow you to be going to the bathroom consistently just keep this in mind: your body wants to let go of any excess weight and toxins that it has been holding over the winter, but it needs help. Just like a plant needs water to grow, so do you. Once you get started, you will begin to crave water. This is how much your body actually needs it.
To start your day, drink a glass of water before you eat. This is probably the easiest glass you will drink all day. Have it right next to your bed if your need to and drink it first thing when you get up; it will help you to remember to drink water all day long. Hey, you could even drink two!
If you really have trouble with taste of water, try using a water purifying pitcher or filter. You can also add a slice of lemon or lime to your water (or even experiment with other fruit such as oranges, cucumbers – but no sugar or sweetener!)
2. Breakfast
Eat breakfast. Go to bed earlier so that you can get up 20 minutes earlier each morning – do it. Breakfast is important to your health and to weight control. According to Dr. Barbara Rolls a professor of nutrition at Penn State University, “Your metabolism slows while you sleep, and it doesn’t rev back up until you eat again.”
Think about easy, high quality choices for the start of your day. You can always keep a couple of hard-boiled eggs in the fridge, a non-sugar yogurt or some high-fiber, low starch fruit around. (If you plan to eat fruit at all during the day, breakfast is the perfect time to do it. It cleanses the body.)
3. Eat at least 3 meals and snacks each day
I know, we are all busy.
Just like eating breakfast will increase your metabolism, so will eating high quality food, more often. (This will also help you curb your simple-carb cravings by taking care to ensure that your snacks are planned and occur regularly throughout the day.)
It does take planning, time at the grocery store and time each morning to make some healthy food choices and prepare a few healthy snacks and meals, but your body will thank you for it.
Just as we must make physical preparations for weight loss, we must take care to mentally prepare as well. There cannot be success in weight management (or anything else for that matter) if the body is doing one thing, but the mind is thinking another.
Weight Loss – Mental Preparation
Are you taking care of yourself? What is self-care? Self-care is proper relaxation, body movement, maintaining a healthy diet, having fun doing activities you enjoy and spending time with people you love to be with. When you take good care of yourself you feel good, you look better, you enjoy life and are fully present to your whole day – everyday.
Self-care is different than being self-indulgent. It is about balance. Here are some mental preparation tips:
1. Plan something pleasurable for yourself every day (I don’t mean a chai latte). Make time for at least one relaxing activity. Set aside 15 – 20 minutes at the least to spend with yourself: read, mediate, take a walk in nature, get a massage or whatever pleases you.
2. Take time to cultivate relationships. Studies show that having friends and a social network helps reduce stress. Friends offer us opportunities to talk about our feelings and they provide us with feedback. At the same time, don’t get involved with trying to solve other peoples’ problems. Be supportive and listen, but don’t overburden yourself. You are you; they are them.
3. Unplug. Take a day with no radio, TV, cellphone, computer or other electronic equipment. This mental respite will soar your energy and as a result, bump that metabolism.
Heather Dominick is a Holistic Nutrition Counselor accredited by theAmerican Association of Drugless Practitioners and creator of The Energy Rich Lifestyle Program?. In addition to her nutrition services, Heather is a motivating and dynamic speaker, and Founder of Individual Health, based in NYC.
To receive bi-monthly Nutrition and Lifestyle Tips you can (a) subscribe to her free e-Newsletter at individual-health.net or (b)register for a free teleclass at http:individual-health.net/events
By: admin
About the Author:
Quick Weight Loss Secrets
The Secrets have been in our family recipes, some even date back as far as 3000 BC. For years our Ancient ancestors have been using natural herbs and spices to heal and cure, even to take the weight off. For example: The Ancient Mayans used cayenne pepper which has been studied to increase the rate of metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. Some Additional research also indicates that cayenne increases production of epinephrine and nor epinephrine which together decrease appetite.
The Chinese have used ginger root for years for all sorts of things like cleansing the colon, reduce spasms and cramps, stimulate water retention, earache, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, stimulate circulation, and of course to aid the metabolism. HCA (Hydroxycitric Acid), a natural appetite suppressant found in the rind of a small tropical fruit, Garcinia cambogia has been used as a condiment in Thai and Indian cuisine for years. Bromelain which is found in pineapple is very useful in helping with the digestion of fat producing enzymes that help curve the appetite that has been used by the Hawaiians and Tahitians for many generations for medicine purposes.
The powerful health and healing qualities of natural Apple Cider Vinegar have been known and used since 3,000 B.C… Cider vinegar is a powerful detoxifying and purifying agent. It breaks down fatty, mucous and phlegm deposits within the body. The List goes on.
Now just imagine what kind of results one could have if you combined all this past history into one capsule. Our ancestors have been using simple natural methods to cure all forms of ailments for years. To think how much time and money has been put into this industry to find the quickest easiest way to lose the fat, and all we had to do was unlock the secrets of the past.
I am not a Doctor or a Scientist or a Nutritionist or any thing close to all of these things. What I am tho is someone who loves his body and everything that goes in it. And believes that there is a cure for everything and it is just lying around. So let’s grab it and use it.
For more info on what I am talking about go to
By: admin
About the Author: