by Daniel Millions


There are lots of tips to help you lose weight, but there is only one true way. You need to use more energy than you get by the food and drink that you eat. That is you need to create an energy deficit so that your body has to look to its own stores of energy to make up the difference. By its own stores of energy we usually mean fat.

There are two main ways we can do this; the first way is to eat less. The second way is to burn more energy. Most diet programs take the approach of combining the two, but whatever diet program you want to follow there are a number of tips that can help you.

Drink more water: Everyone needs to drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water every day, which is 64 ounces. Your body is approximately 70% water and you lose a lot of it every day. You lose it in the obvious method (going to the toilet), through sweating, and every time you exhale. There are also less obvious ways your body uses water, for example a lot of fluids need to be made by your body, and of course there’s the lubrication in your mouth and eyes.

Your kidneys need plenty of water in order to easily flush out waste, including the by-products of using your fat for energy. You also need plenty of water to enable processes to use your fat. If you drink ice-cold water then there is an added benefit in that your body needs to heat up the water, and so uses energy!

Work out with weights: You don’t need to go to an expensive gym; you can buy weights to use at home. You don’t need to use them obsessively and become muscle-bound. We have already said that you need to exercise to help lose weight, but if you exercise with weights then you are tackling weight loss on two fronts. Building up your muscles will mean that your body will naturally use more energy every day by increasing your metabolism whether you are exercising or not. Of course during the workouts will also cause you to use more energy actually doing the work out. You will also be gaining in fitness at the same time as you are losing weight.

Read your labels: Many food products today try and lure you into a false sense of security by proclaiming their health benefits. On the front of the packaging there may be a large sticker proclaiming that an item is fat-free, however, if you examine the nutritional information you may easily find that the fat has been swapped for sugar. Another product may proclaim low carb; however, looking at that packaging you’ll find that the project has a lot of fat. What all of this means is that you need to read the labels so that you can choose foods that aren’t either sugar or fat dense.

Keep a journal: Keeping a written down record of everything you eat, drink and the exercise that do each day can be valuable in a number of ways. The act of keeping a journal knowing that you’re going to have to write down everything you eat and drink will help you avoid bad choices. You can also analyze your journal at the end of every week, spot weaknesses, and plan to make improvements. If you are seeing a dietitian then your journal will also be useful for them to look at and make suggestions about.

Don’t be too hard on yourself: Everyone has lapses; indeed it may even be an idea to have an easy day once a week. The trick is not to punish yourself of these lapses, as this can often lead to feeling even worse about yourself and ending up binge eating to cheer yourself up!

If you have a bad day then just chalk it up to experience and begin again tomorrow. It took your wild to gain this weight, so it will take your while to lose it again. One bad day is not a disaster, letting one bad day affect the rest of your diet is.

by Benedict Yossarian


The only way to really start losing weight is to move it. The human body was not designed to be sedentary. In fact, everything about us suggests some form of motion. Our arms are rotating with literal ball joints. Our pelvic area is also hinged properly to promote easy movement: forward, backward and sideways.

No magic here

According to Adrian Williams, a certified personal trainer from Greenbelt, Md:

“Everyone’s looking for that magic pill to help them find the fountain of youth. Exercise is definitely it.”

Exercise is just one vital component. To make it work on the long run, you have to follow a few simple routines to make your fitness goals more holistic in the long run.

Doctor, how am I?

When was the last time that you went out of your way to have a general checkup? Even if you feel as strong as an ox, there’s no telling how you really are unless a doctor looks you over.

Early detection of diseases such as various forms of cancer can be gained when you go to the doctor regularly. Early detection and preventive measures are better than actual treatment.

Also, consult with your physician first before embarking on a new diet trend or a new fitness program. Make sure that you hear first what your doctor has to say about your new program before you give it your all. Again, preventive measures are the best.

Hold that fat!

According to Lisa Taylor, owner of Taylor Made Fitness in San Diego:

“Diets that are high in fat, low-fiber, and are lacking real nutritional value. This type of diet promotes obesity, which can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Eat a wide variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables. Decrease your fat, alcohol and soft drink consumption.”

As you can see there’s a big difference between foods that make you feel full and foods that are actually nutritious. Fast food is often packed with fat and excess carbohydrates that make you feel full. But on the micronutrients side, its nothing.

Weight loss- a lifetime effort

Engaging in a new sport, such as badminton, squash tennis, running or swimming can add decades to your life. There is no easy way to lose weight. According to Taylor:

“There’s no quick fix. You didn’t gain the weight overnight, [so] you’re not going to lose it overnight.”

But the good news here is that you won’t have to spend the other half of your life miserable because of flab. After a month or two of regular exercising, you will feel different already. You will feel lighter and more alive.

In addition, the body will begin to detoxify itself since fat tissues are being sloughed off by regular exercise. Here’s something that many folks are not aware of: the body stores toxins in fat tissue.

When you burn away the fat tissue, the body has to dispose of the toxins immediately. The more fat you have, the more toxic chemicals you’re storing in your body. That’s why many people feel weak during fasting periods.