Lack of education among the masses is one of the leading causes behind so many weight loss failures. As a matter of fact, lack of education gives birth to several misconceptions and superstitions! One such misconception is regarding carbohydrates. People think that carbohydrates are all bad and that if one can reduce carbohydrate intake, or even better, totally avoid carbohydrates, then weight loss will become easy! However, that is completely wrong!
There are actually two types of carbohydrates available: the good and the bad. You should of course avoid the 'bad' carbohydrates but the 'good' ones will provide your body with the much needed nutrition and energy. In this article I will tell you what types of carbs you should consume and which ones you should avoid to ensure quick weight loss!
1. The Bad Carbohydrates: In case you don't know, processed foods contain a lot of carbs. However they are bad carbs. These foods do contain some nutrition in their natural state but as soon as they are processed through several food processing stages, much of their nutrition and value is lost! What is left are empty calories which only make you fat and nothing else.
Examples of such foods are chips, white bread, pasta, soft drinks, cakes, biscuits, candies, etc. These foods should be avoided at all costs, if you are serious about weight loss, that is!
These processed foods contain a lot of sugar and as you might be aware, sugar is rich in calorie content. The more sugar you consume, the fatter you become! These foods offer very little nutrition to your body and since they have very little fiber content, they are easily converted by your body into fat deposits.
Apart from weight gain, eating processed foods regularly can also result in diabetes, since your blood sugar levels increase so much that it becomes extremely difficult for insulin to control it!
2. The Good Carbohydrates: So what are good carbohydrates? Good carbohydrates can usually be found in natural foods, such as raw fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, wholemeal pasta, wholegrain wheat, etc. These foods contain carbs for sure but not the ones that would make you fat!
Unlike the fast carbs contained in the processed foods, these are slow carbs which take a long time to digest; therefore, you don't get fat! Plus they also contain a high amount of fiber. Fiber will keep you full for a long time! If there was ever a natural way to suppress your appetite, then this is it!
Remember that not all carbs are bad. Making the right decision regarding carb consumption can result in quick weight loss!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Are Carbohydrates All Bad? The Absolute Truth Revealed!
Labels:
carbohydrates,
carbs,
processed foods
Thursday, June 3, 2010
2 Things To Do If You Want To Lose Weight
If you are serious about weight loss, I mean, healthy and permanent weight loss, it is important for you to set realistic goals. Most people have no set goals in mind except that of losing weight and losing it quickly. The quicker they can lose weight, the better. They have no idea of how much time it takes to lose weight the healthy way.
A lot of people get attracted to fad diets and weight loss pills that promise things like 30 pounds in 30 days and while you may end up losing a few pounds, it’s not fat loss. With most of the fad diets, you will lose more water weight and muscles than fat. I am sure you will agree that this is an unhealthy way of losing weight! Moreover, such weight loss is not permanent. Once you stop the fad diet and continue to eat the way you did before the diet, sooner or later you will regain all your 'lost' pounds.
Another mistake is too many of us strive to look like our favorite movie star or athlete. We want to have the body they have. You have to keep in mind that these people train day in and day out and don’t have to go to a 9-5 job like most of us do, and they have the money to pay for an expensive trainer. Moreover, you don't need to be like them.
To become healthy, all you need is to lose enough weight so that you can reach your ideal weight goal. To do that, you won't need to use any fad diets or starve for weeks. All you need to do is to eat right and include the right amount of exercises with it; with this combo, you are sure to lose all those tenacious pounds!
And forget about the word 'dieting' and focus on eating healthy instead! For starters, you can replace fizzy drinks and soda with water; this way, you will be able to quench your thirst without adding any calories. Some people think that soft drinks that come with the 'low-calorie' tag are okay. However, this is wrong! Low-calorie soft drinks not only taste bad, but being deprived of fructose, they make you crave sugar.
You should also look at replacing white flour with whole grain wheat. Whole grain wheat contains little fat. Being rich in protein and fiber, it will help you with weight loss!
Speaking of exercise, weight training is one of the best exercises for quick weight loss. Contrary to what some women think, weight training with just the right amount of weights will help tone and shape your body and not take away the femininity of a woman or give them big gaudy looking muscles like a body builder. Let’s face it, a woman who is toned and in shape is very sexy!
There are many other benefits of exercises than just weight loss. Exercise will make you more energetic by burning your fat deposits and help you build strong lean muscle. Exercise also helps improve your immune system and stamina, not to mention you will also be able to sleep more soundly and wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to go.
A lot of people get attracted to fad diets and weight loss pills that promise things like 30 pounds in 30 days and while you may end up losing a few pounds, it’s not fat loss. With most of the fad diets, you will lose more water weight and muscles than fat. I am sure you will agree that this is an unhealthy way of losing weight! Moreover, such weight loss is not permanent. Once you stop the fad diet and continue to eat the way you did before the diet, sooner or later you will regain all your 'lost' pounds.
Another mistake is too many of us strive to look like our favorite movie star or athlete. We want to have the body they have. You have to keep in mind that these people train day in and day out and don’t have to go to a 9-5 job like most of us do, and they have the money to pay for an expensive trainer. Moreover, you don't need to be like them.
To become healthy, all you need is to lose enough weight so that you can reach your ideal weight goal. To do that, you won't need to use any fad diets or starve for weeks. All you need to do is to eat right and include the right amount of exercises with it; with this combo, you are sure to lose all those tenacious pounds!
And forget about the word 'dieting' and focus on eating healthy instead! For starters, you can replace fizzy drinks and soda with water; this way, you will be able to quench your thirst without adding any calories. Some people think that soft drinks that come with the 'low-calorie' tag are okay. However, this is wrong! Low-calorie soft drinks not only taste bad, but being deprived of fructose, they make you crave sugar.
You should also look at replacing white flour with whole grain wheat. Whole grain wheat contains little fat. Being rich in protein and fiber, it will help you with weight loss!
Speaking of exercise, weight training is one of the best exercises for quick weight loss. Contrary to what some women think, weight training with just the right amount of weights will help tone and shape your body and not take away the femininity of a woman or give them big gaudy looking muscles like a body builder. Let’s face it, a woman who is toned and in shape is very sexy!
There are many other benefits of exercises than just weight loss. Exercise will make you more energetic by burning your fat deposits and help you build strong lean muscle. Exercise also helps improve your immune system and stamina, not to mention you will also be able to sleep more soundly and wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to go.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Weight Loss Excuses-How to Get Rid of Them Once and For All!
We all have our excuses for not starting that new diet and finally getting ourselves into shape. We have many reasons for wanting to be slimmer - more energy, better health, looking better, more self esteem - but we can come up with even more excuses for not losing weight. Some of these excuses are:
1. I have Kids - It seems to me that having a family would be incentive to stay healthier and be more active. You have to cook for your kids, so feed them healthier foods. In America alone, 16% - 33% of children aged 6 - 19 are obese. Do you want YOUR kids to face the same problems you have when they are adults?
2. I have to cook "normal" meals for the rest of the family. Set an example with the healthier foods you eat. Maybe they will gradually switch.
3. I don't have time to shop. Where does all the junky food you prepare for other family members come from? Buy your stuff at the same time.
4. It costs more money. If you cut out the high calorie, high fat foods, with no nutritional value, and replace them with fresh, nutritious foods, you can actually save money.
5. I don't really eat that much. Keep a Daily Food Log for two weeks. You can find a free one online at http://www.vertex42.com/exceltemplates/food-log.html. You will be amazed at the patterns that emerge.
6. I don't have time to exercise. You probably just don't like to exercise. I don't, either. But I love to line dance. So that's how I exercise. Find something physical you love to do, and do it.
7. When I go to lunch with my friends, they eat great stuff and I feel deprived. Their waistlines and arteries will suffer, not yours. There's an old saying, "Nothing tastes as good as being slim feels." Put it on your refrigerator and in your wallet.
8. I eat when I'm depressed. If you want to be REALLY be depressed, look in your mirror. If you're depressed, get help. Eating something will just make you more depressed because you gave up your control over yourself.
To successfully lose weight, you have to be in control. The first time you say "NO" to that cookie will be hard, but you're sense of accomplishment, after the urge has passed, will make you feel a lot better about yourself than eating that cookie would have.
1. I have Kids - It seems to me that having a family would be incentive to stay healthier and be more active. You have to cook for your kids, so feed them healthier foods. In America alone, 16% - 33% of children aged 6 - 19 are obese. Do you want YOUR kids to face the same problems you have when they are adults?
2. I have to cook "normal" meals for the rest of the family. Set an example with the healthier foods you eat. Maybe they will gradually switch.
3. I don't have time to shop. Where does all the junky food you prepare for other family members come from? Buy your stuff at the same time.
4. It costs more money. If you cut out the high calorie, high fat foods, with no nutritional value, and replace them with fresh, nutritious foods, you can actually save money.
5. I don't really eat that much. Keep a Daily Food Log for two weeks. You can find a free one online at http://www.vertex42.com/exceltemplates/food-log.html. You will be amazed at the patterns that emerge.
6. I don't have time to exercise. You probably just don't like to exercise. I don't, either. But I love to line dance. So that's how I exercise. Find something physical you love to do, and do it.
7. When I go to lunch with my friends, they eat great stuff and I feel deprived. Their waistlines and arteries will suffer, not yours. There's an old saying, "Nothing tastes as good as being slim feels." Put it on your refrigerator and in your wallet.
8. I eat when I'm depressed. If you want to be REALLY be depressed, look in your mirror. If you're depressed, get help. Eating something will just make you more depressed because you gave up your control over yourself.
To successfully lose weight, you have to be in control. The first time you say "NO" to that cookie will be hard, but you're sense of accomplishment, after the urge has passed, will make you feel a lot better about yourself than eating that cookie would have.
