Reaching Your Weight Loss Goal Done Right

Losing weight always starts out as a good intention. Most times that’s where it stays. It is often a struggle since the outcome is unknown and finding a starting point is usually difficult. Knowing how and when to start can be the most difficult aspect of weight loss. Setting attainable weight loss goals will get you ready for success. Establishing where to set your goal may be a challenge if you aren’t sure how to arrive at it.

The next thing you need to do is make an honest self assessment of your current health situation. Of course scheduling a doctors appointment with your family physician would be a beneficial starting point. Purchase a reliable home scale which gives measurements in tenths of a pound and a journal to write down your weekly weigh in values. This will make it easier for you to track small changes in your weight. You will also want an accurate measurement of your height. Have a friend or loved one help take this measurement to insure you get the most accurate information.

Calculating your height and weight can give you an idea of what your ideal weight should be. Once you know this now it is time to set your initial goal. Iinitial because in order to be successful you will need to have a number of smaller goals that can be achieved in a set time frame. This can be done in a few different manners. Make your goals specific. Don’t say you ‘need to lose weight’ or I’m ‘going to lose weight’, say you will do it. For example: “I will lose 15 lbs and take a walk every evening.” This can be both a mental and physical encouragement to keep the motivation you need.

Write down your chosen goals. Create both short term and long term goals for losing weight. Keep a chart or journal to track progress and give yourself some encouragement as you reach your weight loss milestones. Give yourself emotional reasons for continuing to lose weight. What moves you to action? Imagine your feelings when you succeed. What will your reward for achievement be? Write it down and plan for it. Giving yourself something to reread when you get plagued with frustration can often be the motivator that will push you further.

When should you begin? How about right now! It’s decision time. You can continue to dream about a healthier life style, starting to lose weight and looking better, or you can do something about it today. You can stay stuck in your rut, or you can make a change. You can put off your happiness until another day, or you can begin doing positive things now, that you know you are capable of doing.

The choice is yours. It’s easy to fall into the trap of ‘someday.’ Someday I’ll lose those extra pounds, but right now I have so many other things to take care of. The truth is, you will always have things to take care of, people to see, and places to go. You have to make time for a better life for yourself because you are worth it. Getting to that mind set may take awhile, and the road travelled may be rough, but in the end reaching your weight loss will be done right.

Now that you know how to set up a specific, goal oriented, weight loss action plan, there is nothing stopping you!

Mediterranean Diet

In one word, confusing. That’s what diet plans are. Which is the best one, which will fit your lifestyle, and will it fail? These are all the questions we must ask ourselves when we approach weight loss. Most of us gravitate  toward  commercial diet plans  feeling that this is a better option because they are “recognized”. These plans do work since they focus on portion control, calorie intake and exercise, providing education along the way.While these programs prove successful, they become costly. Adopting the Mediterranean diet as a lifestyle is a cost effective, convenient improvement on dieting.

Pass on the Butter

The Mediterranean diet  is based on nurtion and exercise and emphazies  a few key components. Replacing butter with olive or canola oil when cooking gives the food that distinct mediterranean  flavour. If your not sure of how to substitute oils for butter there are plenty of cook books and online resources. It is important that this step is adhered to as it is adding healthy fats into your cooking.

Go Fish

Perhaps the biggest adjustment with this diet will be your grocery shopping. It is important to fully be open to all aspects of this way of eating. Cutting red meat down to a few times a month is an important step in this plan. Grocery shopping  for proteins should include picking up more fish, seafood and poultry to consume at least two times a week. Fresh or water-packed tuna, salmon, trout, mackerel and herring are healthy choices. Grilled fish tastes good and requires little cleanup. Avoid fried fish, unless it’s sauteed in a small amount of canola oil.

Spice It Up

When cooking instead of using salt and pepper, try using herbs and spices to give your food flavour. Besides adding a tasty new twist on your food, using herbs also provides health  promoting substances.

Go Nuts

Adding legumes to cook with provide you alternative sources of proteins.  Eating cashews,pistachios , walnuts and almonds as snacking foods is a great idea so keep them handy. Also choose natural peanut butter, rather than the kind with hydrogenated fat added.

Eat Your Veggies and Fruits — and Switch to Whole Grains.

An abundance and variety of plant foods should make up the majority of your meals. They should be minimally processed, and try to purchase them when they’re in season. Strive for seven to 10 servings a day of veggies and fruits. Switch to whole-grain bread and cereal, and begin to eat more whole-gain rice and pasta products. Keep baby carrots, apples and bananas on hand for quick, satisfying snacks. Fruit salads are a wonderful way to eat a variety of healthy fruit.

Raise a Glass to Healthy Eating.

Check with your doctor to enjoy this part of  your new lifestyle . Have a glass of wine at dinner. If you don’t drink alcohol, you don’t need to start . Drinking purple grape juice may be an alternative to wine.

This heart healthy lifestyle  great way to shed some weight and become conscious of what your eating. The Mediterranean Diet doesn’t exclude anything, not even fat.  It does however introduce the healthy fats that your body require in moderation. Consumption of the wise choices of food in rich combinations promotes a healthy lifestyle.

Safe Weight Loss

Losing weight should be a process that is healthy for your body and your mind. Achieving a balance is more difficult than you can expect. If you let one go, the other suffers. There is no sure fire way  to lose weight quickly and keep it off. Many rapid weight loss products are not safe for some people. The safest weight loss method has been around forever. Diet and Exercise.

Many people become overwhelmed with the task of loosing weight. They look for something quick that can solve the problem. The “quick fix”  diet plans are available in abundance which only lends to the confusion of the right path to choose. It is much easier to try something that offers a quick solution, than to give yourself a timeline and work towards it. While it might be easier to turn to a quick-fix, expect to regain any weight that you have lost. Most of these solutions really only release bloating and once your regular diet is introduced the weight returns . The tried and true.

Promote Healthy Eating

Calorie counting can scare most people, and actually discourages them from even starting it. If you approach weight loss in an achievable manner by taking your eating a day at time, you can become accustomed to the change. If your eating habits needed a drastic overhaul then it may take some getting used to. If you need to tweak your eating habits then the most important step for you to get used to is reading the labels. Know what your eating and what the suggested serving size is. Just because it says it’s “FAT FREE” , if you eat triple the suggested serving it no longer is a healthy choice.  When you begin to change what you eat, view it as a lifestyle change and NOT a diet. Assuming your dieting, gives the assumption you will cheat on your diet as well. Diets restrict food intake, which in all likelihood will have you cheating on them.

Approaching weight loss as a lifestyle change , you will control portions of what you eat, an make the choice to eat the  healthy alternative. Make this change easier on you  by grocery shopping a week at a time. When you do this, you are able to pack healthy snacks which is an integral part of weight loss. eating smart and eating often is the basic rule. Chop your veggies, wash your fruit, and have some small snack containers on hand. Day by day, prepare the next days food to give yourself a ready made convenient snack. This gives you the motivation to continue on your new eat healthy plan. It also lessen the temptation to stop a grab a quick “something” when hunger sets in.

Keep Moving

Exercise is a key component to safe weight loss. You can’t assume that eating some carrot sticks will shed those extra pounds. Keeping your heart rate up burns calories. Even thirty minutes a day can get your metabolism going and you can start burning up some extra calories. By lessening the calorie intake and increasing the calorie burn you have created the balance which the foundation of weight loss based upon.  There will be times that you must add or create a routine to assist you, but on the whole this is the formula that is the safest way to lose weight.

Diet Plans to Lose Weight Fast

When wanting to lose weight, many of us  want to do so fast. The idea of waiting months to see noticeable results can be painstaking. The option most people go to is  a diet plan to lose weight fast. What you may ask is the best way? Well that’s a question open to interpretation. Is there really a best way to lose weight fast? It could be a more accurate question to ask, what will work effectively? This will always be determined by your body. Some can follow a diet to the exact direction and still see no progress. Without the proper guidance of how your body works, and what different things you can try, you may be left in the dark.

To Cleanse or Not to Cleanse, That is The Question….

Many of us now have heard about using a “cleanse” to detox your body and purify it. This process will inevitably cause you to shed some pounds by the virtue of the process. It will ensure you loose some weight, but likely will only shed your water retention. Now the key with cleanses is how they are used. Most cleanses are in a tea form, but be careful. Reading ingredients is crucial. Most of these cleanses are designed to promote rapid bowel activity. The idea here is to “cleanse” the body, excreting all the bad toxins. This act alone cause weight loss.

If done in conjunction with a balanced eating plan, and exercise regime you can expect to see long term results. This should be a package deal. Many find that because a cleanse can provide fast weight loss, they will continue to cleanse versus change their eating habit. This can cause seriouslong term effects. denying your body entirely of any food and nourishment will cause your body to start storing any intake into fat, in preparation for what the body deems as starvation.

Shake It?

Diet plans that use meal replacement shakes have generally shown results. Using shakes to replace breakfast and lunch, with intermittent snacking during two breaks in the day can prepare your bodies metabolism to kick into high gear. Eating a well balance supper  ensures you body is receiving three meals including all the recommended daily intakes of vitamins and proteins. Depending on your past eating habits, changing this alone will induce weight loss.  Metabolism slows as we age, which is alone difficult enough to combat. Couple that will lack of balanced meals and there you have. A weight gain recipe.

If you introduce proper nourishment, keep your appetite in check by providing your body snacks in between  meals, you should never over eat. A meal replacement shake is chalked full of the protein and fiber to make you feel full, thus never over eating your calories.

One, Two, Three….

Counting your calories. If you factor in your current weight and calorie intake, you can plan a diet to loose weight fast by cutting calories. Drastic weight loss can be achieve but simply slashing your calorie intake. Let’s say approximately you consume 3500 calories a day. Dividing that in half would severely curb your eating. Trying to consume only 1500 calories per day would provide a noticeable weight loss in ten days time.

There are many diet plans which offer fast weight loss. While there is the want to see fast results, the more important want should be to loose weight in a healthy manner. Diet plans which offer fast weight loss may use unhealthy means by which to do so. Read labels always, know what your putting into your body.

Medical Weight Loss

The medical community world wide has describe obesity as an “epidemic”.  Medical organizations around the globe have come together with new procedures designed to promote drastic weight loss. With  new medical weight loss options, combating obesity has become almost a new cause.  These options range from the drastic, to the medically assisted.

Gastric bypass is the original weight loss surgery . This procedure consists of surgically divided the stomach into a small upper pouch and a lower remnant pouch. The intestines are re arranged to then stay connected to both pouches. Surgeons have discovered different ways to reconnect  the intestines , but the pouches have been severely reduced. The result is usually drastic weight loss and the stomach has literally  been cut in less than half.  It reduces the stomach capacity by well over 90 %. This surgery comes with risk as well as stomach staples. It is a major surgery with  a long road of behavioral and physical learning.

Lap Band surgery is a variation of gastric bypass.  It is a medical  prosthetic device in the shape of a ring. It is place around the stomach, dividing the stomach into an upper and lower portion.  The name comes from the surgical technique  used to insert the device. Unlike gastric bypass, there is no reattaching of intestines or stapling of abdominal walls. The out come is the same and the journey identical. After both of these surgeries , solid foods are prohibited approximately for a two week period. Any over eating will cause the band to stretch inducing vomiting which can cause damage to the abdominal wall. The idea behind these surgeries is to artificially shrink the abdominal wall, sending signals to the brain that stomach is full on only a thumb full of food. Dietary restrictions for some will be life long. This is a drastic solution for weight loss, however dependant on the individual and the weight needing to be lost it may be the only option.

Other forms of medical weight loss are available. Most commonly as prescriptions by your physician. Appetite suppressants are prescribed to control cravings and over eating. This pills are prescribed at the discretion of your doctor and usually requires a minimum of weight gain before your doctor will even consider it. This method does not always work for everyone and can become used as something of a crutch.

Medically loosing weight should be a supervised  progression. Many weight loss clinics advertise themselves as “Medical Weight Loss Clinics”. This is usually because the process of losing weight is accompanied by an acting practitioner who monitors blood sugars, metabolic rate, blood pressure and other health concerns that might present themselves.

Every medical weight loss options is not without it’s concerns. That being said, the decision on which you decide to approach your weight loss should be considered with your physician. Many contributing factors need to be considered and evaluated before you establish a method. Who better to discuss them with than you health care practitioner?  Information is the basis on which these decision should be made.

Weight Loss Recipes

Weight Loss Recipes

If you are on the hunt for many different weight loss recipes you are going to quickly discover that there are many different options available now compared to several years ago. Now instead of  having to search around massively to find the best of the best weight loss recipes, here at Rachael West Designs we are going to help you!

We know how hard it is to find weight loss recipes, and we want to make the process easier for you so you can focus more on your weight loss dieting adventure instead.

Check back regularly for the latest and greatest weight loss recipes we have for you!

Weight Loss Recipes

Cranberry Spiced Cider

With the winter months quickly catching up to us, it is time to start thinking of warm, delicious healthy drinks. Instead of loading up on high calorie drinks this holiday season, try out our Cranberry Spiced Cider. This recipe is easy to make and a sure hit at all your holiday parties! Put a little added holiday cheer into your drinks this year and stay wise with your calories easily now.

Staying healthy through the holidays has never been easier!

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Rapid Weight Loss

Today’s world has become one of instant gratification. In a society that produces “instant, real time, immediate” results at your finger tips, how else would we want to shed pounds?  This is no different when it comes to weight loss. Is this the right approach?  Will it even work? We explore these questions in more depth.

When is this an Option?

Reviewing your BMI will let you know if  this in fact is even need. Your body mass index can tell you if rapid weight loss is something needed to be considered. Very low calorie diets are considered when the BMI exceeds a normal range. See your health care practitioner to review if this is in fact an option for drastic weight loss.  Programs are available at medical weight loss clinics consisting of personalized programs. These ultra low calorie diets  can take several weeks  to lose weight but they must be supervised by a professional to complete the program over the course of twelve weeks.

Weight loss is a difficult process, and it can be rewarding for a dieter to see quick results. The unfortunate truth is rapid weight loss can cause sever health problems. Seeing quick results can be like forming an addiction. There are some products that provide rapid weight loss such as laxatives teas. These products are recommended for no longer than a ten day period. Due to result, it can become an addiction and therefor be done constantly. Exposing your body to chemicals, (even though herbal teas claim to be all natural) can have long term effects if you continue to use them long term. Eating fiber to promote healthy digestion is not the same as ingesting laxatives in any form that speeds up your bowel activity. Yes, initially you will rapidly loose weight, but this will leave long term  damage to the bowel.

Many rapid weight loss techniques are provided in many forms. Some of them a combination of foods and restrictions of food.  Fad diets are the most commonly used  because the ingredients are readily available and commonly known. Some fad diets though consist only of liquid. There are cleanses of teas, some of just lemonade, and others are concoction of different liquids depending on which you want to follow. All the ensure rapid weight loss. However depriving the body of any real noutrishion  will send the body into a near starvation mode.

For others the process of dieting is simply not enough, starvation is the nest step. Giving your body no fuel whatsoever will only drive your body into a fat storing mode. Thereby telling your body that the next time it receives nutrition, it must store it directly to fat to sustain the body organs.

This can be a dangerous way  lose weight. Becoming addictive to the instant gratification of a ten day rapid weight loss plan, will encourage the behaviour. Instead of waiting until you know you need to fit into that little black dress, start the process now so you will always be ready to wear it.

Best Way to Lose Weight Fast

Is there really a best way to lose to weight? Some say that your body is predispositioned to genetics and therefore cannot be trained to loose weight. Losing weight is always  up to the individual  who sets out on this journey. To say there is one best way to loose weight can certainly be subjective. There is  one method that always seems to work when applied. Diet and exercise.

Most of us look for a quick fix when it comes to weight loss. We try to ignore the proven method for any number of reasons. It could be because the process doesn’t show results immediately. It could also be the lack of will power to eat healthy. The thought of daily exercise may be daunting to some, or  not appealing at all. Whatever the reason, failure is almost absolute if these methods are not adhere to. It may take some motivation and some routine to kick off the begining  of your journey, but giving it your all will gaurentee your success.

What Doctors Prescribe

Proper eating and a healthy lifestyle have been prescribed by doctors for decades.  Most rapid weight loss plans may in fact initially work. Usually once regular food is reintroduced you can expect to regain your weight. The reason diet and exercise is dubbed the “best way to loose weight” is because it not only tackles the weight loss issue, it also aides in weight management. Any avid dieter can tell you that once a few pounds are shed unless a drastic effort is made to change all the bad eating habits, the weight will come back. Adopting diet and exercise as a way of life instead of  a short term idea will allow you to loose the weight and keep it off.

Exploration of the term diet and exercise should be something that occurs once you decide to lose weight.  Many adaptations of diets are available almost everywhere. Instead of dieting, try researching healthy eating. Introducing fresh produce, legumes and various sources of protein. This can empower you to choose the meals that you prefer, and incorporate the snacks that are convenient to your life style. Eating three meals and day with two snacks is the the recommended daily food intake. Ensuring your body is always fueled allows it to burns calories instead of storing fat.

How Physical Activity Helps

Not all of us are marathon runners. Nor do we apsire to be. That is not the suggestion when asked to include physical activity into your everyday life. Something as simple as walking for thirty minutes three times a day can do the trick. Whether you prefer the great outdoors or are comfortable on a treadmill, excerise is the key. Once you progess is your weight loss, you can then get then find the workouts which will tone your muscles and increase your weight loss. Each persons preference  will be different. It may be based on your location, your lifestyle or simply what you enjoy more. Exercise should be a welcome addition to your life leaving your feeling refreshed and energized.

Whichever recipes you choose for your healthy eating, whichever exercise you choose for you outlet, be sure you enjoy yourself. Keeping your spirits high will  increase your chances of sticking to your new plan!

Green Tea Weight Loss

There are many aides in weight loss today, in many forms.  Some have proven methods, some are mere speculation. Green Tea  has been a proved method of weight loss for many years. There is speculation surrounding the use of herbal teas to promote weight loss and yet  its validity remains in the market place.

Weight Loss & Green Tea – Does It Work?

There is a reason that Green Tea has been associated with weight loss is due the to effect known as thermogenesis – the process of heat production in organisms. A direct correlation  has grown from the idea that this process will speed up the burning of calories when an attempt at weight loss is in motion. When trying to loose weight , and individual must reduce the caloric intake lower than what they regularly would. The addition of green tea into the process of weight loss would help burn calories but not at the rate expected.

What Green Tea Does

Green tea contains powerful antioxidants called catechin polyphenols that are  directly responsible for many of the health benefits of green tea. Food (including sugar and fat) is synthesized into a substance called “triglyceride” in the liver and small intestine. It is then carried into the bloodstream to other tissues in the body.Triglyceride is used as source of energy for life support and physical activities, and is very necessary. The problem comes about when there are excess amounts of triglyceride, because then it’s turned into fat which subsequently causes obesity.

That’s where green tea comes in. It contains high amounts of polyphenols which activate the enzyme that is responsible for dissolving excess triglyceride. In the long run, this means that green tea effectively aids in burning fat. Now it will not provide weight loss on it’s own. This should not be to reason for adding into your diet, it should be for all the health boost it can afford you.

Everyone knows how important exercise is to losing weight. It burns calories, increases your energy, and builds muscle which in turn boosts your metabolism even higher. The catechin polyphenols in green tea appear to stimulate the use of fatty acids by liver and muscle cells. This subsequently reduces the rate that carbohydrates are used and allows for more endurance and longer exercise times.

With all these benefits how much should you be drinking? Suggested intake is around five cups a day.  If your serious about losing the weight, you should not expect green tea to do the work for you. It definitely should be a compliment to a sound exercise and nutrition regime for the slight metabolic boost it will give you.

Best Way to Lose Weight

So many of us try to lose weight. It becomes a constant struggle to find the best method. Quick fix remedies never work,gimmicks that offer to loose a substantial amount of weight  in  a short time are either unhealthy or simply not true. What is the best method? It is easy to get confused by all the media attention given to different forms of weight loss, making it virtually impossible to find a trusted method. The best method is the same method that is prescribed by doctors everywhere. Eat healthy and exercise.

Where Do I Start?

Eating healthy may be a bigger challenge for some than others. Not only at home, but more importantly eating out. For some, their lifestyle dictates the type of food they eat. Or people feel hampered by a “diet” and usually “fall off the wagon” because they are unable to cope with making healthy choices. If you term eating healthy as “dieting” you will never succeed. Choosing to eat healthy is a lifestyle not a diet. Calories out versus calories in. It is that simple. Knowing caloric intake may take some time to get used to. The key here is reading labels and serving portions. Knowing what your eating and how much it you should be eating is half the battle.

Snacking Smart

Eating often is a crucial component to weight loss. Starving yourself will get you no where. The body stores fat when food is not fueling the body on a regular basis. Maintaining a constant glucose level by eating every three hours will keep the body from entering into starvation mode, and continue to burn calories. Eating an apple ,or eating a handful of almonds provides the protein and natural sugars the body relies on . Eating often including snacks also prevents over eating because the body always feels satisfied.

Eat & Drink Plenty

Knowing what to eat can be a difficult road to navigate. Do the research on each food group and what it will provide your body . To contribute to your weight loss it is important to incorporate  plenty of fiber and grain into your food. While ensuring your eating the recommended daily dose of fruits and vegetables, eating plenty of fiber promotes proper digestion. Eating isn’t enough. Your body needs plenty of fluid. Water can hydrate your body, flushing out toxins and leaving you feeling great. Hydration also aides in weight loss as extreme thirst is often mistaken for hunger. Drinking ample amounts of fluid can replace the feeling of hunger leaving you feeling satisfied.

Keep Moving

Eating often and well isn’t enough. In order to loose weight you must have a caloric out put. Otherwise known as exercise. Even just thirty minutes a day can kick start your metabolism. Find the exercise that works for you, and keeps you motivated. Exercise is critical during weight loss to keep your body toned and feeling energized. It may be a tough start, but the end result will be worth it.

When adopting a new life style, often times there are set backs. These are normal occurrences and shouldn’t be viewed as failures. Don’t abandon all your hard work and intention. Start again the next day, tomorrow is just a day away.