What foods should you keep in your diet - should you eat bread, should you ban cheese because of its fat content?
Getting back to weight-loss basics is simple; your weight is a balancing act, but the equation remains; if you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight.
Because 3,500 calories equals about 1 pound of fat, you need to burn 3,500 calories more than you take in to lose 1 pound. So if you cut 500 calories from your typical diet each day, you'd lose approximately 1 pound a week (500 calories x 7 days = 3,500 calories).
Cutting calories doesn't have to be difficult. In fact, it might be as simple as forgoing one extra item a day, swapping foods or trimming serving sizes. The number of calories you save is likely to translate into pounds lost.
So it really doesn't matter what diet you choose. You don't need to follow any diets at all: you just need to eat fewer calories than those you burn up. If you do that, you will experience weight loss.
I've been a yo-yo dieter for years, and it never worked. I was a weight loss expert - I know dozens of ways to lose weight fast. Keeping the weight off was the challenge. Fast weight loss programs taught me nothing about food - and I thought about food every second I was dieting.
Changing one habit at a time (smaller portions, daily exercise, and better food choices) is doable. You don't have to think about it. And you don't have to "diet". You'll lose weight the same way you put it on, and along the way, you'll have more energy, and you'll look great. Fast diets can leave you looking tired - because you are. Your face is pale, you're your skin looks faded.
8 Weight Loss Tips
The only way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories than the body uses. Anyone wanting weight loss, need to learn how to apply this concept, while keeping the energy level up. Before a diet is attempted, one should have a body fat analysis done to assess weight loss needs and set reasonable goals. Many believe they need to lose weight because of a number on a scale. However, chances are we may have a high proportion of muscle (which weighs more than fat) compared to fat, in which case weight loss may impair performance.
Follow these tips for healthy weight loss:,
1. A gradual weight loss of 1-2 pounds a week, allows for weight loss without irritability, fatigue, and weakness.
Creating a daily deficit of 500 calories is the most effective way to create long-term weight loss. This can be done by reducing daily your caloric intake by 500 calories, increasing physical activity by 500 calories, or by combining physical activity and caloric intake to create a 500-calorie deficit.
2. Choose a variety of foods from all of the food groups in the Food Guide Pyramid.
Don't cut calories too low. This can slow metabolism and make it difficult to consume the necessary nutrients for performance and health.
3. Don't skip meals.
Food intake at regular intervals, three or more times a day, is necessary to fuel the body. Also, waiting until you're "starved" to eat can lead to binge eating.
4. Eat smaller food portions.
Decreasing your portion sizes will help cut caloric intake.
5. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
In addition to water, plain ice tea and caffeine-free, artificially sweetened drinks can also help reduce daily caloric intake and help to keep you hydrated.
6. Eat slowly.
It takes time for the body to adjust to the food eaten and to send a satiety signal to the brain. Eating slowly helps prevent overeating by allowing time for this signal to take effect.
7. Calories from all the food and drink you swallow adds up.
Some foods provide more calories than others. Foods that are high in fat, generally are higher in calories. Choosing low-fat foods can aid in weight loss by reducing total calorie intake. Loading up on foods naturally high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, and limiting high fat items like cheese, butter, oil, whole milk, red meat, and sweets will aid in these recommendations. Although excess fat intake leads to weight gain, a certain amount of fat is necessary to maintain good health and performance.
8. Eat bigger meals earlier in the day, when activity is greatest and smaller meals in the evening.
Eat meals and snacks throughout the day to maintain blood glucose and energy levels. During the evening, activity is usually minimal. As a result, a large meal will more likely be stored as fat. A moderate-size evening meal will help maintain glycogen levels.
Weight loss should be done by reducing calories and increasing physical activity. Avoid fad and gimmick diets that promise quick or easy weight loss. In these cases its usually due to water and muscle loss. Fad and gimmick diets may give a quick fix, but they can have undesirable effects on performance and health.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Its Good Business
TIPS for Quick Weight Loss
Well, some of those handy weight loss tips might be a good idea.
First of all, there is a double bonus to be gained from throwing out the glossy magazines and switching off the television set. You have no excuse for sitting on your lazy behind and being brainwashed by all that stuff. So get up off that chair and MOVE!
Yes, the first of my unbelievably simple, yet powerfully effective quick weight loss tips is as common sense as they come. You probably thought I was going to come out with something radical or incredibly new. Nope. Simple is best every time. You are probably thinking that you could have figured that one out all by yourself without reading it here.
You are quite correct.
But would you have done it? Be brutally honest with yourself now. If you hadnt read it right here right now, would you have thought to switch off the television and get up and move your body? No way! The television has people locked into it like heroine addicts. Once it has you in its clutches, you will sit where you are and watch the whole episode of whatever because you want to see how it ends.
Yes you do!
Well, I can tell you right now that if you cant break out of that cycle, you are doomed to be overweight and thats no word of a lie. You have to be able to get back in control of your mind and switch the dang thing off. Walk away from it and go and do something that involves action, motion and exercise!
One of the main things about quick weight loss is that it is all up to you the individual to do it for yourself. You have to want it badly enough and then you have to make your mind up that you are going to do it for yourself. You cannot depend on anyone else, just you! You have to get creative and make some choices that benefit you. Be a little selfish! Use your imagination and find some ways of getting exercise that are going to be fun and enjoyable, because if you dont enjoy doing it, you wont do it!
Exercise doesnt have to mean going to a gym or playing a sport or doing anything that you dont like. It does mean finding something that you do enjoy doing that involves some exertion on your part. Something as simple as walking can be an enjoyable way to get plenty of exercise and start the process of improving your overall levels of health and fitness which will lead to weight loss.
Do you have a dog? Then take it out for lots of long walks (unless you live in a bad part of a city, then maybe walking through crime ridden streets is not such a great idea!). If you live near a park thats the perfect place to walk around and get your lungs full of something approaching fresh air! If you are in the country great, you are all set.
Do you like to swim? Well, theres another great way to get some exercise and have fun at the same time. Get together with friends and make a real party of it! This is my favorite exercise activity for quick weight loss.
Do you like to play some kind of team sport? Find out if there are any groups in your area of people in a similar situation to you so you dont end up joining a group of super-fit people and feel bad.
Always, always, always strive to better yourself. Aim for a target weight that you want to be and then keep your body moving until you achieve it. If you really really want it, you will get it!
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
Weight Loss - How much Weight can you Lose?
When you start your weight loss journey, it's all about losing weight.
If you're overweight, you want to lose weight. That's a given. But how much weight do you want to lose? If you set an unrealistic
weight goal, you're setting yourself up for failure.
How Much Should You Lose? You don't have to go to extremes. You don't have to take extreme diet pills and potions. It's okay to enjoy some of your favorite food or take a few days off from
exercise. You don't have to cut food groups out, exercise seven days a week, and torture yourself to see real results.
Look at weight loss as a permanent strategy. You will never be able to go back to the lifestyle you had which piled on the weight. You
need to develop healthy new habits of thinking and doing.
Unfortunately, the media and the weight loss industry mess with our minds. Most of us have no idea what our weight goal might
realistically be.
Think of yourself as a healthy, fit person, who loves to eat good nutritious food, and to exercise. Your weight loss battle is already won
in your mind.
Why not set mini targets? For example, if you have 50 pounds to lose to meet what you think might be your goal, aim for a ten pound weight
loss, and see how you feel.
Setting a mini target helps because it's achievable. If you change one habit - eating an apple and piece of cheese for a snack, rather
than a couple of donuts - you can achieve this goal very quickly.
However, as time goes on, and you get close to your goal weight, it's about keeping the weight off over time. You need time to stick to
your new way of eating and exercising.
As you progress with your weight loss effort, you'll gain energy and confidence. That might spur you into more weight loss, and you will then see yourself in a new
light and feeling great. Your life and health will change drastically for the better.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
How to Maintain Your Weight Loss Success
Losing weight can be a difficult task, and when you have reached your weight loss goal, how do you continue your success and keep those extra pounds off for good? Here are some good suggestions.
Eating Habits
The first thing you can do is to make sure that you maintain the diet lifestyle that you used previously to lose all that weight. Obviously in order to gain considerable success in your weight loss program, you have made certain changes in your food intake and eating habits. Now is the time to permanently instill those habits into your lifestyle. If you get back to your old eating habits, you will definitely pack on the extra pounds again, and this time, due to the metabolic and chemical changes that occurred in your body during the initial dieting, is will be harder to lose them the second time around.
Correct Mindset
You need to condition your thinking patterns into believing that you will keep that weight off after a successful weight loss goal has been achieved. Those thoughts will assist you to develop healthy eating habits that will help you maintain a trim and healthy body. Self affirmation; visualizations and reflection can help you to get into the right frame of mind to achieve this end. By adopting the right mindset, you can keep yourself from reaching out to grab the next mouthful of your favorite custard pudding at the next family gathering.
Exercise
This is a crucial step in any weight loss program. Without proper exercise, you can never achieve long term success in your efforts to lose weight. Select the right exercise that you can enjoy, have loads of fun doing it and get a great workout at the same time. There are plenty of exercises you can select from but do talk to your physician before starting any rigorous physical activity.
Support Group
Sometimes what you need is that extra measure of motivation to keep you going on your weight loss program. A public proclamation isn't always necessary, but putting your integrity and your pride at stake by sharing your weight loss goals with a few of your close friends or family members can go a long way to keep you focused on your weight loss program. Remember to choose wisely, and do not share them with those who have a negative attitude and who will most likely dampen your efforts to lose weight.
Losing weight can be an invigorating process, if you know the right way to do it and have fun in the process. Remember, you will always be drawn towards things that bring you pleasure, and if you want to make your success last, make the process fun and rewarding by take the necessary step to include these four tips we shared into your lifestyle.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
Some of the Biggest Lies about Weight Loss
There is plenty of inaccurate data going around the weight loss industry and many people who are getting on this platform and looking for ways to lose weight have fallen victim to such mistaken beliefs. Let us look at some of the most popular fallacy circulating on this industry.
Avoiding Carbohydrates
This is driven by a few famous high protein diets- and a whole lot of other popular diets that promotes a diet rich in protein and low in carbohydrates. While such diets can produce significant weight loss in a short amount of time, the results are hardly long lasting and as soon as you start eating normally again, the weight comes plummeting back, even more than before!
Genetics is the Biggest Factor
To a certain extent, genetics do play a role in determining your metabolic rate, but this doesn't mean that your fate is sealed if you have obese parents and grandparents.
The most important factor in determining your success in any weight loss program is the number of calories you eat and the amount of physical activity you get in a single day. Genetics do play a role in determining how much calories you will burn, as those with slower metabolic rates may burn calories much slower than those who are active and have higher metabolic rates. But there are always ways you can rev up a slow metabolism.
Fat is to be avoided
Some people believe that cutting down on fat is necessary during a weight loss program. But the key to effective fat control is cutting down on the dangerous fats and increasing your intake of the good fat. At all costs, do avoid trans fat and saturated fat and increase the intake of healthy fats such as polyunsaturated and Omega-3 that are abundant in foods like fish, olive oil, flax, and avocados.
Skipping meals can lower your metabolism and makes it more difficult to lose weight. Regular meals are important, and what you need to do is to consume more of the foods which are good for you, which means more salads, vegetables, nuts and fruits! Snack on a large slice of juicy watermelon instead of reaching out for the next scoop of your favorite chocolate ice-cream!
Avoid White Food
Contrary to popular beliefs, there are many white foods which may be good for you- pears, avocadoes, nuts-just to name a few and the key is that what counts is the nutrients contained on those foods, and not the color.
Grapefruit Miracle
This is one myth that has no basis in reality. There is a group of individuals who are promoting grapefruit as a way to lose fat. In fact there is one small isolated research that states that there is a magic fat-burning enzyme that can help you lose weight simply by consuming this fruit. However the validity of the claim is yet to be established. Grapefruits are rich in lycopene -a good source of ingredients that can help provide nutrient and care for the cellular health- prevents cancer and heart diseases.
So now you have some more knowledge to separate fact from fiction, the path to weight loss and a healthier lifestyle is wide open for you. Good luck in your weight loss goals!
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
Six Simple Tips to Boost Your Weight Loss Program
If you are starting a weight loss program or are planning to, it may be helpful for you to know that there are some simple steps you can take to make any weight loss program more effective. These six tips that have been successful by millions of participants in any weight loss program of their preference.
#1: Realistic Goals
The fastest way to lose motivation is to set unrealistic weight loss goals for yourself before you even start your weight loss program, ask yourself some simple questions-"What do you want to achieve from this program?" and "How much weight do you want to lose in a day, a week or a month". Remember that each small goal you achieve will propel you closer to your final destination. But if you set unrealistic goals, you will only end up in frustration and disappointment when they are not achieved, even when you are making significant progress in your goals.
# 2: Preparation is the Key
Now is the time to start a new lifestyle and start getting rid of your junk food, your pop in the refrigerator, those puddings and chocolates you stash in your drawer! Make a new list of the food you need and start stocking up on them in large quantities. Include vegetables, fruits, healthy snacks, mineral waters and vitamins and minerals supplements you may need.
# 3: Reward system
Give yourself a pat on the back and create a reward system for your weight loss program. For instance, you may want to get yourself a new pair shoes, a new CD or even a new handbag if you reach a certain point in shedding those pounds.
# 4: Healthy Breakfast
This is the most important meal that you should never miss. Skipping breakfast means that you are programming your brain to think that you hungry starved and deprived, this will only cause you to feel lethargic and when the pressure is too much, you may decide to embark on an eating binge. This is sheer suicide to your weight loss program!
# 5: Exercise
For long lasting effects and to boost the rate you loose weight, this is one important activity you must instill into your routine. No weight loss program can be successful without a good exercise program. Choose a good exercise program that lets you burn fat and gives a good cardiovascular exercise at the same time.
# 6: Sleep
Always get enough sleep. A normal adult would need an approximately 7-8 hours of undisturbed sleep a day to help to keep your bodily system working in perfect order.
By following these six simple tips, you can start seeing results in your efforts to lose weight. Be consistent and make them part of your lifestyle.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
Removing Temptation for Weight Loss Success
If you blow your diet because of junk food and snacking, you need to remove
the temptation from your home. The problem is ..the rest of the family may not agree.
Keeping baked goods, chips and other easy to eat, fattening snacks at
home in places where you frequently visit and have easy access will
sabotage your weight loss effort.
Remove the temptation if you have a problem snacking on pastries, chocolate or chips,
particularly late at night.
Lunch buffets and office party foods can be equally distracting while you're
conquering your diet. The first 3 to 4 weeks are vital to establishing
good eating habits and little things such as birthday cake at the office
or chocolate bars can destroy your motivation to lose weight.
Remember, weight loss is not an overnight process.
It takes weeks to create good eating and exercise habits and several more weeks to start
seeing results. There are a few tricks you can do to REMOVE temptation
so your efforts will pay off.
If family members don't normally eat junk food, Dont buy baked
goods, pastry, chips or other high calorie food. You can ALWAYS
treat yourself to something sweet and fatty once or twice a week, but
don't keep it around the house where it ca be easily eaten.
If family members are not willing to give up their junk food then put
all fatty snacks in a designated place where you hardly ever visit. The old
saying "Out of sight, out of mind" is very true when it comes to removing
tempting foods from your reach.
If family members eat all the goodies in a short time, Dont buy more.
Wait until the next scheduled time to go grocery shopping. This will train
family members not to over indulge in junk food because once eaten,
they'll have to wait until the next time you go grocery shopping.
Office parties and celebrations are notorious for getting people off
track from their diet. Usually, you'll know in advance of an upcoming
celebration of cake and ice cream. Remove yourself from the party area.
You can always take a short walk for 10 or 15 minutes.
Congratulate your birthday girl after all the goodies are gone. Explain
why you did not participate in the festivities. It could be that weight loss may be a goal of hers also. She will understand!
Not all fast food restaurants off limits. It all depends on what you choose.
Grilled chicken sandwiches, grilled chicken and rice bowl, sandwiches
with no cheese and small amount of mayonnaise, fat free or baked chips,
diet soda or water, salads with light dressing are available in most
restaurants.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
Setting up a Weight Loss Plan - Biking
You will want to keep a record of your daily diet and food intake, your weekly body measurements and weight, as well as your bicycling miles and time. Keep track of your food, vitamin, and supplement intake. Thousands of foods have already been analyzed by experts for number of calories, fat, carbohydrates, and protein. Many charts let you simply select the foods you ate from predetermined calculations, and the daily total is tallied for you. Make sure you don't exercise when you've just eaten, or when it's almost meal time. Both times will slow you down and rule out weight loss.
No matter how embarrassing it is, measure your arms, legs, chest, waist, neck, hips and thighs once a week. This keeps track of your weightloss and body measurements. Consider investing in an instrument that actually measures body fat, there are inexpensive pincer-type instruments that measure fat by pinching you, or buy a set of bathroom scales that cost more but calculate body fat quite painlessly.
Try to ride 4-6 days per week. When you plan out your weight loss plan, your short-term goals will change. You'll quickly develop stamina for longer distance. As your fat turns to muscle, your speed will increase. Make notes in your records for special circumstances. Did it get dark outside so you were forced to cut your ride short? Was it dangerously hot? The wind can be your friend or your enemy. Accept any length of time as a job well done and simply get the ride accomplished!
Finally, add an upper body workout three times per week to get. Just remember to get some workout time for your upper body to get the maximum benefits for building muscle mass and meeting weightloss goals.
Bicycle riding is a fun, inexpensive form of aerobic exercise-it's good for every part of you.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
The Sonoma Diet - A Mediterranean Weightloss Diet
The Sonoma Diet - A Mediterranean Weightloss Diet
Yet another diet book hit the shelves in late 2005. Entitled The Sonoma Diet, and written by Dr. Connie Guttersen, this new diet book looks like it will be an enormous success.
The Sonoma Diet is based on the popular Mediterranean Diet, which is itself a lifestyle diet based on the normal, every day diets of people living in countries around the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Diet has many attractions, as it is just a normal diet to those living in that region. People around the Mediterranean have lived naturally on their diet for centuries, and having visited the region, I can tell you that people eat very well there, and the food can be quite delicious.
So why do we need another book about the Mediterranean Diet? The Sonoma Diet has taken some of the basics of the Mediterranean Diet, added to them, and come up with a package that the average man or woman in the street will find easy, interesting and satisfying to follow, thus increasing their chances of achieving their weight loss targets.
Is the Sonoma Diet Here to Stay?
We do not know whether the Sonoma Diet will be forgotten after a year, and disappear like many new diets have in the past. However, there are a few good reasons the Sonoma Diet may well prove very popular for some time to come:
Pleasure and variety are not associated with the very restrictive diets, such as low carbohydrate diets, but are an essential to weight loss success. There is no need to get bored with a diet that is tasty, variable, and fun, so more people are likely to stick with it than with those diets that are restrictive and repetitive.
The Sonoma Diet brings together two far apart regions with a similar love of life: the Mediterranean and California. The Californian connection could well be attractive in the massive American weight loss and diet markets, and the Sonoma Diet may well become enduring amongst Americans, many of whom may not even know where the Mediterranean is.
The membership caters for supporting those who are on the Sonoma Diet, with advice and recipes, on a constantly updated basis. Such support can be the difference between success and failure for many people on a weight loss campaign. It is also a very well designed and attractive web site, which most users will find easy to navigate.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
Build a Healthier Approach to Food
We can lose body fat by making a few easy changes to your eating habits. It will help you lose body fat and it will not hurt a bit if you:
" Avoid yoyo dieting.
" A plateful of colors is a healthy meal; eat a wide variety of food from all food groups. Check that you eat from the following food groups every day - bread and cereals, vegetables, fruit, milk and dairy, and meat, fish or legumes.
" Healthier to have six small, frequent meals and snacks rather than three large meals a day.
" Reduce your intake of foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt. Make soft drinks, candies and snack foods an occasional 'extra'. Most adults should eat no more than one or two 'treats' a day. If you are overweight or inactive, you may need to limit treats to less than one a day.
" Try to balance an 'extra' food with extra exercise. The more energy you burn, the more treats you can afford to have. Remember, you should only add extra foods after you have covered your nutrient needs with choices from the healthier food groups.
" Cut down or eliminate eating saturated dietary fats and alcohol.
" Try to eat more fresh foods and less processed foods.
" Avoid using food for comfort, such as when you are upset, angry or stressed. Explore other healthy ways to cope with these feelings.
" Try to stop eating once you've had enough. If you continue to eat, particularly foods high in saturated fat, the extra kilojoules will be stored as fat.
Other suggestions for a more active lifestyle include:
" Play a sport that you enjoy.
" Walk instead of taking the car on short trips.
" Get off the train, bus or tram one stop early and walk the rest of the way.
" Play more outdoor games with your children.
" Walk the dog.
" Take stairs instead of lifts.
" Choose exercise activities that you think are fun, rather than those you think are 'good' for you.
Tip:
If you have been a chronic crash dieter for a number of years, you might need professional help to reintroduce you to a healthy way of eating. If you are overweight, over 40 years of age or haven't exercised regularly for a long time, check with your doctor before you start any exercise campaign. For inspiration on healthier cooking, have a look at the recipes section of the Better Health Channel. Live stress free and be happy.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
People with Orthopedic Problems- weight loss
Many orthopedic problems caused by accident or congenital malformation respond well to exercising in the water. By definition, an orthopedic problem impairs mobility in some part of the body. This means many forms of exercise are difficult or painful. While still wanting to achive weight loss, people with impairments move more easily in the water without pressure on joints, bones or nerves, and exercising afloat is especially useful.
If the orthopedic problem was caused by trauma it may be simply a matter of time until it heals and that time will be shortened by a good
exercise program. But not by an excessive or improperly designed exercise program, which can aggravate any injury. Consult a doctor or
physical therapist before you begin a weight loss program.
If the problem is structural it is not going to go away. But even impairment serious enough to confine a person to a wheelchair may not
inhibit exercise in deep water. A person who cannot do a strenuous land based workout can use floating workouts to restore aerobic
capacity, weightloss, gain muscle tone and the wonderful feeling of well-being that is a natural part of physical fitness and good
health.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
Will dieting eliminate fat?
Your body can't differentiate between intended calorie deprivation (as in a diet), and starvation. When you reduce your intake of calories substantially, your body shifts into a protective mode by slowing your metabolism. It holds onto fat (an important energy source) and burning muscle instead. Weightloss cannot take place at this point.
In the beginning of a diet you will lose weight by dramatically cutting calories. But it won't be fat loss; it will be water weight and lean muscle tissue - the opposite of what you want to get rid of.
Not only will harsh diets slow your metabolism down to a crawl, causing your initial weight loss to come to a gradual halt, they will also inevitably bring about a "rebound" effect. This rebound will make you even fatter than you were before starting the diet. When you rebound, not only do you generally put on more weight than you actually lost with the diet, your percentage of body fat commonly increases because your body used muscle tissue as an energy source while dieting. Thus the loss-gain situation that almost all dieters experience.
To permanently lose the fat stores in your body, you've got to burn more calories and increase your metabolic rate with a strict exercise routine and proper nutrient ratio intake. That's the rate at which your body burns fuel throughout the day - even when you're not exercising. That means eating the right stuff at regular intervals. Even if you don't exercise (but it is recommend you do), just eating 5-6 small, high quality meals each day will substantially increase your metabolism - and you'll burn more calories!
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
Weight loss and bicycling comfort
Sitting for long periods of time on a bicycle seat can cause discomfort, and even serious blood circulation problems in enthusiastic bicyclists. As with any weight loss program, comfort is a main component to sticking with the plan. At any bike shop, youll find a variety of bicycle seats made purposely for your comfort and health. The salespeople at our local bike shop suggested we try out new seats on our bikes for a few days. My husband found the split seat to be more comfortable for him, while I wanted to keep my old gel seat.
Think about your clothing...you dont have to have padded biker shorts and special clothing to start riding bikes. There are actually technically engineered fabrics intended to pull sweat away from your body in the summer and to keep you from getting cold in the winter. But it is fine just to wear layers of comfortable sports clothes.
Make sure your clothes arent so tight that you are uncomfortable trying to pedal. But they shouldnt be loose enough to become entwined in the bicycle chain, either! If you become overheated, strip off a layer. If you get cold, add a layer. Wear light or bright colors to allow drivers to see you easily. Try to make your weight loss attempts as agreeable as possible.
It helps to have a small cargo rack on the back of your bike. Mine looks like a little shelf over the back tire. It has two bungee cords to keep any goods firmly fastened to the bike. Ive used it to tote a small picnic cooler, a shopping bag or extra clothes.
A helmet is a must. Life is filled with hazard, and biking has its share. Be smart and wear a helmet. You can buy a cool rear-view mirror for your helmet. The mirror helps you see when its safe to turn and will let you observe traffic coming up from behind.
I recommend wearing sunglassesboth for the sun and for bugs! At certain times of the year, the air is thick with flying insects. Getting a tiny bug in your eye is a painful event. For contact wearers, carry a contact case and lens cleaner on bike rides for just that reason. Perhaps some day youll be glad you did!
I really get tired of hearing people say, No pain, no gain! But the old proverb is true when it comes to riding bikes to lose weight. By pushing your cycling distance or speed, you are sure to feel some pain in your leg muscles, your hands, wrists, and your derriere-- even some pain in your throat and lungs as your body tries to deliver your increased need for oxygen.
Tri Power Team
Weight Loss and your Wedding Plans
Weight Loss Tips for your Wedding
The guest list, the cake, the photographer, the reception - the stress of wedding planning can put a girl over the edge. It is improbable to think a girl can lose 50 pounds of weight in three months just to squeeze into the bridal gown of her dreams. While crash dieting and other abnormal eating options can achieve this goal, it will eventually take a hefty toll on the brides health not to mention that the weight will simply pile back on as soon as youve reached your goal. So what is a healthy weight loss goal? About 1 2 pounds per week is realistic. Slow weight loss will actually help you in the long run to keep the weight off. Frantically starting a weight loss program right before the wedding is probably not the best idea. Instead, try looking at the long-term picture. There are three major components in weight loss that will help any girl achieve success. If you believe that you are worth putting the effort into, you will succeed. Brides will use many excuses such as they are too busy, too tired, or their fiancé doesnt like rabbit food. The weight loss goal should not be simply to fit into the wedding dress or look good for the photographer. The goal should be to start your marriage off on a healthy foot, so that you and your new spouse can look forward to celebrating your 50th wedding anniversary without high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or other preventable health problems.
The second major component in weight loss is healthy eating. Absolutely not. Healthy eating is actually a two-part deal. Moderation means that you can eat steak or have a slice of cake some of the time as long as you also fit in your fruits, vegetables, and grains as well. While any girl would love to live on chocolate alone, it simply is not practical. In the beginning, try looking for fruits and vegetables that you enjoy eating. Instead of grabbing a bag of chips as a snack, try an apple or an orange. If you want chocolate, go for a Hershey Kiss or two instead of a king sized Snickers bar. The second part of healthy eating is portion control. Try measuring your cereal in the morning in a measuring cup to see exactly how much you are eating. Compare this to the food label on the cereal box. Try going with a 6 ounce steak instead of a 12 ounce steak and you will cut your calories and fat intake dramatically.
The third major component in weight loss is exercise. Before you run out and buy an expensive gym membership, spandex and runnung footgear, relax. Exercise can actually be as simple as walking during your lunch hour or riding your bike after work. You can also do small things like lifting hand weights (which can be purchased in any sporting goods section of a store for $5-10) for 20 minutes a day. Even small things like parking your car in the lot farthest from the grocery store or choosing the stairs instead of the elevator will help boost your weight loss.
The weight loss will come, even if it is slow, and usually will stay off. The result is a attractive bride who glows on her wedding day.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
Quick Weight Loss - Exercising as we Age
When we age it is often associated with stiffness, slowed metabolism, mental sluggishness and reduced strength and endurance. Research shows these are exactly the same symptoms that develop at any age from lack of physical activity. Olympic marathon runner and Sports Illustrated writer Kenny Moore says, "You don't stop exercising because you grow old, you grow old because you stop exercising."
Any exercise will add to the joy of life as it adds healthy years. Water workouts are especially valuable for the elderly who have been out of condition a long time and want to restore strength and flexibility without risk of injury. An orthopedic problem impairs mobility in some part of the body and means many forms of exercise for weightloss are difficult or painful. However people with impairments move more easily in the water without pressure on joints, bones or nerves.
Warm water, safe floating, being able to begin gradually and not having to be out on the streets are all attractive to many older adults. Besides, getting in a warm pool with a group of like-minded friends is fun at any age and the activity will promote quick weight loss.
This brings us to the social aspect of water training and weight loss. Can you think of any other form of exercise where you and an Olympic athlete can work out side by side, never getting in each other's way, each at your own level of output, each achieving exactly what you need while carrying on a conversation with your hair dry and glasses on?
Couples, business associates, parents and kids, old and young, fit and unfit can share time together while working toward conditioning goals. It is just so relaxing in that warm pool and the socializing bring comfort and happy times for all included as well. In the water, you can use water's resistance to increase stress on muscle and encourage muscle growth as well as provide cardiovascular training. Even an impairment serious enough to confine a person to a wheelchair may not inhibit exercise in deep water and will be very beneficial.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
Water Exercise and Weight Loss, Who says No Pain No Gain
Weightloss will help you feel confident about your appearance and enjoy a greater level of self-esteem. Reduce your risk of diabetes, heart problems, sleep apnea, infertility, asthma, arthritis and other conditions. Enjoy life again! Regular exercise is one of the key factors in any weight loss diet. Exercising in water can provide you with low impact movements that is both effective and enjoyable.
The downside to exercising when overweight is the fact that added weight makes movement difficult and often painful to the joints. For some the pain is unbearable. While in a pool of water you can walk, run, swim or do almost any movement you choose in the weighless environment of water with little or no pain. There is no impact on your joints or muscles so that extra weight you are carrying is not going to get in the way. While suspended with floaters in deep water you can get your heart rate up to a level where you can burn some calories and get that much needed increase in respiratory rate that promotes a healthy heart and circulatory system.
Lose weight in its simplest form means burning more calories during than you consume. Exercise not only increases the calorie burn rate for your day but the activity is beneficial in keeping your body healthy and in good working order. The old saying, "use it or lose it" comes into play. Our bodies have wonderous recuperative powers but we must use them for them to work.
Fat is lost equally in all areas of your body. Aerobic exercises are generally the best types of exercises for burning fat and water exercise provides a variety of ways you can exercise at both aerobic and anaerobic rates. Exercise at least 30 minutes per day. Physical exercise consumes energy and burns calories. This is very important to successful weight loss. Calorie restriction leads to weight loss and exercise helps maintain the weight loss. Exercise will help you get closer to your ideal weight. Water exercise is perfect for this.
The body chooses to burn fat when the body is at rest. Low- to moderate-intensity workouts are not only safer than high intensity, high impact exercise but an excellent method of achieving your goals. While it is true that cardiovascular workouts (i.e. swimming and aquajogging) provide the most efficient ways to burn calories, a person burns calories merely by existing. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories your body will burn naturally. This is because muscle is an active tissue. However, just because you develop more muscle mass doesn't mean that you should neglect your cardiovascular training.
In the water, you can use water's resistance to increase stress on muscle and encourage muscle growth as well as provide cardiovascular training. Your muscles that have been subjected to previous impact exercise activity and weight training exercises, will be thanking you for it. Plan for a balanced workout routine and for best
results, bring a swimming buddy and have some fun.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
Weight Loss
A Guide to Healthy Eating includes information about how much and what types of food you need to eat to maintain a healthy weight.
Exercise is very important to weight loss.
Exercise prevents muscle loss. So it is important to exercise when you are losing weight. Exercise will protect your muscles and keep your metabolic rate ticking over at a healthy level. The number of people who are overweight and obese is increasing every year. This is because we have become more sedentary (inactive). For most of us, physical activity is no longer a natural part of our lifestyle so it must be structured into our daily schedule.
Get moving it will give you energy.
Some people feel too busy or too tired to exercise regularly, but exercise will actually increase your energy levels and help you to feel less tired. Exercise does not have to be overly strenuous to do any good. Even moderate amounts of physical activity can speed up the metabolic rate and aid weight loss. The amount of energy you burn up depends on your age, your gender and your activity level. Young people burn more energy than older people. Men burn more energy than women. More physically active people burn more energy than your average couch potato!
Slow at first with exercise.
The best approach to increasing the level of physical activity in your life is to take it slowly. You can increase your activity levels by simply increasing movement throughout the day. The human body is designed for movement and any physical activity brings benefits. Moderate intensity exercise walking, gardening, cycling, and even mowing the lawn has been shown to help reduce body fat and promote weight loss.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Its Good Business
8 Quick Tips to Increase your Metabolism
Understanding eight easy, drug free diet tips to increase metabolism.
1. Eating more often, not less often is the way to lose weight.
2. To increase metabolism, always eat breakfast in the morning. Break-fast...that means break the fast. Don't skip breakfast. If you wait until mid morning or afternoon to eat, your metabolism will run slower. Think of breakfast as adding logs to the fire. Your metabolism is the fire and logs are the breakfast.
3. Increase metabolism by eating smaller meals through the day. Eat 4 to 6 six small meals, 2 to 3 hours apart.
4. Don not depend on herbal products to increase metabolism or energy level. Any metabolic increase will be minimum and herbs are not cheap. Instead, include more energy foods such as whole grains, beans, vegetables and fruits to your meals.
5. Park further away and walk. Use the stairs instead of the elevator when possible. Walk to the post office instead of getting into the car. Take your dog on a daily walk. Take your weight loss seriously.
6. Do more activities around the house to burn energy instead of wasting money on pills and potions that don't work.
7. Include a walking routine to increase metabolism at least three to four times a week. Walk 30 to 40 minutes each time. This is the best way to increase your metabolism.
8. Do not starve yourself when trying to lose weight. This will slow down your metabolism in a hurry. Avoid 5 to 6 hour gaps between meals without eating.
Be committed to eating smaller meals at regular intervals. Prepare food in advance and bring it with you. Never eat sporadically and plan each meal. The common mistake is to skip meals and eat too little during the day. This makes you vulnerable for eating junk food later in the day. Eating to lose weight takes planning.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team
Weight Loss - safely
Lose Weight the Safe and Healthy Way
If you do need to lose some weight, focus on doing it safely and permanently. Your weight gain did not happen in one week and neither will your weight loss. Weight loss should be part of a lifestyle change.
Make your health and not your appearance your first goal!
Increase your activity level. Get active; create an energy surge with at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day. Remember swimming and brisk walking counts.
Listen to your body and eat only when you are hungry - not for boredom, depression or entertainment.
Motivated to lose 1lb (0.5kg) per week is considered healthy weight loss. You want to lose fat weight, not muscle or water.
If you are counting calories - a minimum intake of 1200 calories per day for women and 1500 calories per day for men to ensure proper nutrition.
Focus on lower fat, higher fiber choices - vegetables, fruits & whole grain products are best!
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate - drink at least 9 cups of fluid (water is best) every single day.
Plan meals and snacks ahead - haphazard eating often becomes high-calorie eating. This often happens when we are short on time.
Try to stick to a schedule. Missed meals can lead to impulsive snacking and overeating and may even lower the rate at which your body burns energy.
Tri Power Team
Lose Weight Now
Everyone, has an opinion on how to lose weight. I must add that this is not really practical for most people, but you will most definitely lose
weight by doing a day or two of this.
Have you ever thought about this as a way to lose weight? Come on out to the farm and help pick up small hay bales. After a day of this you will have lost weight. I guarantee it! You will also lose a bit of skin on your hands, blisters are common until your skin hardens up .
Like the idea of working in a team environment? The team is important I feel for anyone wanting to lose weight. It does not have to be part of a hay baling team. You can join a team at the local gym or at a weight watchers group or at gut busters for men or create your own team of people who want to lose weight. Support each other, encourage each other, feel the pain of your team mates together and the joy as you lose weight together.
When you are trying to lose weight, you need to be practical and realistic. What you eat and drink are important too. You should try and eat less, possibly eat healthier not so many burgers, and you can replace a meal with a meal replacement drink. Some of the replacement drinks are excellent at
helping you to remain hydrated, giving you most of the essential vitamins and minerals; fiber; carbohydrates; proteins etc, and in helping you to lose weight because there is not so much fat in the drinks.
Go for the balanced approach to lose weight, join a team for support, eat less and healthier (replace the odd meal with a meal replacement drink) and exercise
more (just walk more) and you will find better health. To lose weight is a journey, for you it is just a part of life, so enjoy the journey.
Marg Roukens
202-657-5874
SKYPE: Skype Me
Tri Power Team