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1000 Calorie Diet

October 4, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

All diets should never be entered into lightly. A thousand calorie diet certainly is no differently. A drastic diet designed to shed pounds with little or no exercise.  Due to it’s low calorie content this diet should be used for a short term use ( a two week period) or perhaps restart weight loss. During this time a multivitamin should be taken to keep the recommended nourishment as part of your daily eating.

What the 1000 Calorie Diet is About

The idea here is to intake less calories than you would regularly burn in a day. The average person burns  approximately twelve hundred  calories a day by doing nothing. When in-taking less than the calories your burning , shedding pounds shouldn’t be difficult. Will you  have energy for anything else though? A low  calorie diet such as this does come with it draw backs.  If you are at all  attached to your food, this may be a difficult diet for you to stick to. When eating your daily intake you need to measure your serving portions in ounces and grams.

Foods will be things such as vegetables, fruits, grains,legumes and meat. Meats need be to weight in one ounce portions and the rest in one cup serving portions. With the strict regime it is imperative it is adhere to.  Due to the nature of the diet it’s quite probable that you may become, bored, dis-heartened or just give up.

What Next?

Once you have completed the diet, if you don’t adjust your caloric intake downwards to support to your new weight, you will soon return to your pre-diet weight. This is typical pf any fad or crash diet. This diet method may be used to jump start weight gain or push through a weight plateau. Embarking on weight loss program should always be consulted by your doctor. A diet plan such as this is generally only used when an individual is severely obese or preparing for surgery.

Cutting back to one thousand calories a day is a pretty severe diet and should not be used for more than a week. Using this method to shed a few pounds in week will be tolerable but because the calorie intake is so low and your depriving your body of essential nutrients you body will be convinced its approaching famine. Having an unhealthy obsession with weight will cause thousand calorie diets to become addictive.

Side effects can creep up and become dangers when doing a diet such as this. Malnutrition, dehydration and fatigue  can become severe if this is an unsupervised venture. Be sure you get guidance from a health care practitioner  to alleviate any problems which may arise before setting out on a diet plan like this.

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Safe Weight Loss

October 4, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

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.

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Weight Loss Programs

October 1, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Weight Loss programs are offered like long distance plans, in abundance. Now you can choose the method in which you want to loose weight, what you are most comfortable with. Let’s explore the options of what’s out there.

Portion Control Programs

Most programs such as these offer assistance with how to eat sensibly. Labels inform of serving suggestions and calorie count , they also provide all the nutritional information required to maintain a healthy weight. The problem is, very few of us pay attention to these labels, let alone understand what we are reading. These programs are designed to educate portion control, calorie counting and physical activity all while providing emotional support. Many of these programs  have personalized plans to tailor each meal, every detail to the individual.  They include a one on one consultant for moral support throughout the length of your journey. Many of these programs  have a high success rate because the attention to detail for each individual.

Alternative Herbal Programs

Herbal  programs promote  the same ideals as portion control. The introduction of vitamins to nourish your body enhances your healthy eating choices . The key to these programs is the herbal combinations used to control appetite and suppress cravings. They also inhibit the body’s ability to store calories as fat, and they help maintain energy and vitality. Theses programs are designed specifically around the herbal supplements and still provide the same one on one coaching to ensure success.

Weight Loss programs are also available in the form prepared shakes as meal replacements. Sometimes during the process of weight loss, following calorie counting can be difficult. As weight loss is a mental process , starting off with the right program can set the tone. Meal replacement shakes give you the opportunity to not have to think about what to prepared. Programs such as Slim Fast provide the convenience of  meal ready shakes to replace break fast and lunch. Many people find that having the decision of what to eat taken away, can’t actually open the doors to weight loss.

Weight Loss programs can simplify the process  in which you need to approach this journey. Whether it’s having prepared meals, shakes or the education to calorie count it does make the difference. Not everyone will know what the right way to proceed is when they need to loose weight.  Some program choices will be based on preference, some will be on convenience, and others may just be about cost. Whichever factor may be driving  you, the most important one to note is the motivation.

Keeping yourself in the right frame of mind can do more than you think. Try looking at programs that help with weight loss motivation. This can be in the form of a personal coach, trainer or consultant. If this is not withing your comfort level, try joining an online chat group or even writing a blog about weight loss.  Having a outlet to deal with the questions, anxiety and frustration along the way is paramount to your success. Most weight loss programs are designed around this idea.  Don’t be afraid to shop around for a program that suits you , in all areas of your life. This after all is your journey, you should be able to choose how you achieve it.

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Medical Weight Loss

October 1, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

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.

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Weight Loss Recipes

October 1, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

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!

Get Weight Loss Recipe Now!
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Rapid Weight Loss

September 30, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

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.

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Green Tea Weight Loss

September 29, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

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.

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Weight Loss Motivation

September 28, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

If you said weight loss was just a physical process you would be wrong. It is both a mental and physical process for with you need to be prepared.  Just setting out to lose weight isn’t enough. Failure is sure to occur within only a couple of weeks if you do not have to motivation to keep you going. Try to look at things this way;

Why Did I Want to Do This?

Try to remember why you wanted to lose weight in the first place?  Keeping in touch with your original reasons for wanting to loose weight may keep your goal in focus. It’s important  that you keep the reason for your weight loss journey in the forefront of your mind. Whether it was to fit into that dress you had your eye on, or  just simply to like your reflection in the mirror. Whatever the reason  is, make sure you remind yourself of it when you start to get frustrated.

Have a Look!

For some of us, merely trying to remember why we wanted to lose weight in the first place isn’t enough. A visual aide to keep your goal in focus may provide a better motivation. Try a picture of your skinner self. Tape it to the fridge or bathroom mirror. Any place were you will see it most often. Having the constant reminder of why your doing this in view will keep your will power up and your motivation strong.

What’s For Sale?

How many times have you said to yourself, when I lose that weight I am going buy  myself  a new “_____”. Whatever fits into that blank space is whats going to keep you motivated. It could be something as simple as there new pair of designer jeans that you have been admiring.  These will be your reward for a job well done. Go one step further and buy those jeans in a smaller size, to ensure you keep your motivation!

Do the Write Thing

Why not journal the process of your weight loss. Weight loss is an emotional time and can be very difficult to discuss. Especially if those around you have not struggled with the process. Keeping track of your successes, (even the small ones) can allow you to look back and see just how far you have come. It will also remind you of how you felt in the earlier stages of weight loss, and hopefully deter you from return those early days. Writing things down makes a commitment that you need to stick to.

Motivation comes in many forms. Try changing your routine to accomplish small goals. Cut out your before dinner drink,  one day at a time. Try taking the stairs at work. Any number of things you do each day will build your motivation up, keeping you on track. Everyone’s personal success will be different, as will your motivation. The key is to keep happy, keep healthy and keep strong.

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Weight Loss Success Stories

September 28, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Losing weight can be a life long battle for most. It is something that plagues us every day, and every meal is a constant reminder. We don’t like how our clothes fit, we don’t like out image in the mirror , and we certainly don’t feel comfortable in our own skin. So when we set out  to lose weight, our end result should be  success.  We keep our eye on the goal the whole time, waiting to share our success stories.

In today’s world the media makes it almost impossible to not be in touch. With all the available technology, we have access to view the world. Reality television has become the newest fad. For those of us with weight loss insecurities, reality television brought us The Biggest Loser to help us through. A reality show based on weight loss success gives the ordinary person hope.  The Biggest Loser approaches weight loss on a “calorie in calorie out” principle. The success stories are almost  unbelievable. Some contestants have lost up to three hundred pounds. Each week contestants loose weight and are weighed. Success is praised weekly and shared with everyone.

Contestants like Koli lost 188 lbs. With a starting weights of 403 lbs this is a huge accomplishment!   Contestants like Heba who did not win the contest still won by losing 156 lbs. The show features all their success stories on line to view and read all about their transformation.

Success is a hard thing to achieve. Even celebrities struggle with weight loss, and do so publicly. Stars like Oprah, Kirsti Alley, and Drew Carey openly battle with weight loss.  Allot of success stories  consists of just cutting junk food out of their diet to loose anywhere between 20-50lbs. Another success story is a women lost 100 pounds just by using her treadmill everyday. Cutting sugar out of a diet has made success easy for many. Gastric bypass, and lap band surgery has given many the success of losing 50-100 lbs.

There are many forums to share your success. Starting a blog to document your success step by step can be very therapeutic for some. Chronicling  your journey through to your success can be a constant reminder of your feelings throughout this journey. This may a useful aid if you feel like every giving up or cheating , even just a little. A support group, even if it consists of a few friends, or family may help you achieve the level of success you need.  Sharing frustrations, getting pushed out of your comfort level both mentally and physically with friends to support you will help your success. Even if it’s only one person, that may be all you need. Where ever you get your inspiration from, don’t be afraid to share your success.

Success isn’t just for about a total weight loss, and is not measured in numbers. Success is achvieing the ability to feel healthy, energized and comfortable in your own skin.

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Ways to Lose Weight

September 27, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

So you need to lose the weight. Getting to that realization can be the most difficult part of the entire process. Accepting the fact you need too opens you to a wealth of information. A visit to your health care practitioner is the best option  to establish how much weight to loose. If a drastic weight loss is recommended it is best to be aided by your physician. Maintaining good health on your weight loss journey is essential.

Wait, Weight?

If you have been struggling to lose weight for some time you may try to achieve to quick weight loss. Don’t. Rapid weight loss sends your body into turmoil. Program weight loss allows the time and education for consistent weight loss and weight management.  Programs that encourage portion control and calorie counting allow the individual to learn how to eat. Most programs offer prepared meals to aide in this process. Consider this option if you are looking to reach a long term goal.  A daily exercise routine accompanies the programs to facilitate  the weight loss in conjunction with toning the muscles.

Catch Me If You Can !

Exercise is an age old remedy for weight gain. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine will shed pounds and tone muscle. Thirty minutes of daily exercise can initiate the body into a fat burn mode by increasing your heart rate. Choose exercise that suites your life style and is enjoyable for you. Choosing a plan that you have a hard time completing lessens the likelihood of success. Stick with something you know and like. A good starter exercise is walking. If this goes well for you, it may progress into running. If  not choose another form of cardiovascular exercise to get your heart rate going. Adopting this method for weight loss will also surprise you by supplying you a new found energy. Studies show individuals who lead an active lifestyle maintain a high energy level.

Shake it Baby Shake it!

We have all been privy to the commercial market of weight loss shakes. Do they really work? This is a debate for many. As we all know each persons body is different. So will it be the way the pounds are shed? Using this method to loose weight will depend on allot of factors. How much weight do you have to loose? What are your eating habits? These factors greatly contribute to the method for your weight loss.  Do you remember your mother always telling you that breakfast was the most important meal of the day?  Your mother was right. Your body needs fuel. Adopting the shake for breakfast  will provide your body with the long acting carbohydrates it needs to fuel it through. Make sure when selecting your shakes you don’t just purchase the first one you see that offers weight loss. Instead do the research on your vitamin intake. Then select a shake that is high in proteins. The proteins will help break down the fat in the carbohydrate naturally.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Fat Away

All the pills in the world won’t replace good old fashion healthy eating. Eat right, snack right. Eat smart and eat often. It is  just that simple.  Calorie control input and exercise output is the proven method of ways to lose weight. No gimmicks, no pills and certainly no cleansing tea’s. They all offer a rapid weight loss , which for the most part is fluid retention. Common sense should prevail here. Can tea change your metabolic rate? No. Can pills tone your muscles? No. The key to proven lasting weight loss is healthy eating. Know what your eating and when. Foods high in carbohydrates or trans fats should never be eaten late in the day as, you have no exercise to burn off those bad calories.  Stick to eating three times a day with three small healthy snacks. One apple  for a snack, a handful of unsalted almonds for instance.  These are just a few methods on ways to lose weight.

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