The Myth of Fast Weight Loss

You will be surprised to find out how many people are actually looking for a fast weight loss program. Why fast? Well, first of all, most of us are impatient. We live hectic lives. We want results now, we want to notice the change right away, and we don’t want to work hard to achieve those results.

Most people eat what they want all year round, prefer TV over exercising and dream about how next week (or month/year) they are going to start a healthy lifestyle. Suddenly one day they realize that it is just 2 weeks left before they have to go to a Christmas party or that summer is coming up and they want to look good in the new bikini. Usually around this time I get hundreds of emails - all of them pretty much the same “I have this event coming up in two weeks. I need to lose about 10-15 pounds. What is the fastest way to do it?”

Of course TV and Internet is full of commercials that promise you to lose 20 pounds in two weeks. They even show you tons of pictures of fit, smiling people with perfect bodies. Just pop a magic pill 3 times a day and you will turn into a supermodel right away. Sounds good, right?

I hate to disappoint you but this is just another scam created to get your money. There is no such thing as fast weight loss. I’m sure I’ll get some infuriated replies like “That can’t be true! My friend Maggie lost 16 pounds in two weeks doing Low carb diet!” Well you are in for another disappointment. Your friend didn’t lose any fat. She lost water and muscle.

Human body is a well coordinated working mechanism. It has no idea that you’ve decided to fit in a size 8 dress and doing some new fad diet. It thinks you are starving. It’s too concerned about survival to allow us losing weight fast. Instead your metabolism slows down to conserve the energy. As soon as you’ll start eating normal food you’ll gain all of your weight back and some extra pounds in addition to that.

To make it simple fast weight loss is always followed by fast weight gain. No exceptions. In addition to that when you lose weight too fast, your skin does not have enough time to shrink, it will become loose.

The right amount of weight that the average person can lose in one week by eating correctly and doing exercises is around 2-3 pounds. That is a healthy, safe, effective amount to lose. Only that way you can get long lasting results. I know it is not as fast as many people would like to lose weight, but think about it how long did it take you to gain weight? I bet you $1000 dollars you didn’t gain 20 pounds in two weeks. It is only logical, that your body will not allow you to lose 20 pounds in two weeks. Sorry!

I’m trying to save your money here, so repeat after me “There is no machine, no special diet, no special workout program, no special pill or special patch that will help me to lose weight fast and healthy at the same time”. Repeat it to yourself every time you have an urge to buy some “quick fix” no matter how appealing it sounds.

Remember people who have created these commercials are professionals who know what you would like to hear. Don’t let them fool you. Just try to eat right and work out. Be consistent. Make one little step at a time and you’ll be surprised how far you can actually go.

Copyright 2005 Arina Nikitina

Arina Nikitina is the owner of a Free-Weight-Loss-Zone.com website where you can find free weight loss guide, weight loss myths, and a collection of diet and fitnes articles. Visit:http://www.free-weight-loss-zone.com

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The Key To Fast Weight Loss

As human beings, we are creatures of habit. We tend to create routines that guarantee a series of small pleasures or comfort. Though routine can bring a sense of order to life in an increasingly chaotic world, it can be counterproductive when working out - following the same exercise regimen over and over not only gets boring, but can lead to exercise plateaus that can decrease your results.

Performing the same activity repeatedly at the same level makes the body more efficient, which eventually results in lower caloric expenditure from the activity. In fact, research shows that by sticking to just one activity, the number of calories burned by exercisers may decrease as much as 25 percent..

For instance, if you normally exercise for 45 minutes four days a week on a treadmill with the same intensity and time for each workout, over time you will not benefit as much as you did when you began. Your body will become accustomed to the routine, and it can become increasingly difficult for you to meet your fitness goals. The repetitiveness also can be boring - even with music, TV or a magazine for distraction, the exercise might become mundane, which also can decrease the likelihood you'll continue working out.

Fitness professionals agree the best solution to dodge exercise plateaus and workout boredom is cross training. Cross training simply means mixing together a variety of exercise activities into a varied regimen. Cross training works because of 'energy efficiency'. This means that your body becomes accustomed to a certain type of exercise after a period of time. If you mix it up, you are surprising your body, which responds by burning more calories in an effort to 'adjust' to the new exercise. For example, if you play tennis after a long time, you feel sore the next day, because it's something new for your body. As you play more often, it get's easier to adjust (time to try something new?)

Do you work out at a gym? Instead of 45 minutes on a treadmill each time, jump on a Lifecycle exercise bike for 30 minutes, then spend 15 minutes on a stairclimber. Swim one day and lift weights another. Health clubs with an extensive choice of group exercise classes make cross training a breeze; once a week try indoor cycling, step aerobics or kickboxing. Check out the newest classes emphasizing stretching and toning, such as Pilates or yoga.

Home exercisers also have options. Some treadmills can be raised for steep hill climbing one day, lowered for running flat the next. Or vary the intensity level - alternate going hard for five minutes and easy for five minutes. Premium equipment usually offers different exercise programs to help spice up your workout. Just try experimenting - even participating in a recreational volleyball or softball league can add to a well-rounded, varied workout regimen.

Clinical studies show most people plateau in their exercise programs somewhere between their sixth and eighth week. Exercisers should make sure they change their routines at least that often to maintain workout efficiency and prevent boredom. Ideally, having at least two different activities should be alternated daily or conducted within the same workout.

By taking the routine out of exercise, fitness fans can reap positive results and enjoyment from their workouts. The result - Feel better, look better - after all, variety is the spice of life.


Article Source: http://www.ApprovedArticles.com

For more information about these exercises and to get free full color exercise routines, diet plans and grocery lists, visit Best Weight Loss Programs and Toning For Women. You can train with Nitin at the Phone Fitness Trainer website

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Super Fast Weight Loss

As a personal trainer, my main goal is to help clients get results as fast as possible. Individuals drop out when they don't see results, or if they have to work way too hard for perceptible change.

It is the quality of exercise, and not the quantity (duration) that yields perceptible change. Today, our lives are more hectic than ever. Making time for exercise can be difficult, if not impossible. There is good news. A mere 15 to 20 minutes a day is enough for fitness gains, as long as you are regular. This means that you do not have to spend hours sweating for great results.

The following tips help you get the most value for your time and supercharge your weight loss efforts. These tips save time, but also require consistency. You will see results within a few weeks if you stick with these ideas.

1) Do exercises that use multiple muscles, called compound exercises. Consult your gym instructor/ look online for a suitable program. For example, a squat uses the front and back of your legs as well as your butt. After each squat, add an overhead shoulder press using a light dumbbell and you will hit even more muscles. 'Isolated' exercises such as biceps curls and triceps extensions are less effective.

2) Focus on large muscle groups. Working your biggest muscles burns tons of calories and will give your metabolism a good boost. These muscles are your butt, thighs, back and core that is, lower back, abdominal and oblique muscles.

3) Increase the intensity of the cardiovascular workout. This increases the calorie burning effect and cuts the time. If you walk, then jog. If you run, then try the occasional sprint. An incline on a treadmill works well too. Instead of doing forty minutes of walking, jogging or low impact aerobics go on a bike or treadmill at a high intensity for twenty minutes. If you have been working out regularly for at least a month, you could try doing intervals.

4) Try periodic boosts in intensity. Exercise at a level that to you is hard, or very hard for two minutes. Then, lower your effort - but keep moving! - For one minute. Repeat this cycle for twenty minutes.

5) Double up your exercises. Rather than resting between sets, use that time to work a different muscle group. For example, alternate one set of biceps curls with one set of triceps dips. Alternatively, do a set of seated leg extensions with a set of leg curls. These are super-sets and they nearly double the number of exercises you can do in a short time.

6) Combine strength and aerobic workouts - Circuit training. Doing this type of work out gives you calorie-burning benefits with strength gains. For example, do a strength exercise for one minute. Without taking any rest, move on to another. Every two or three exercises add one minute of jump roping or your aerobic activity of choice for one or two minutes.

7) Squeeze in short bursts of exercise during the day - Before your morning shower and breakfast, or during your lunch hour, squeeze in two sets of ten of the following bare-essential moves: crunches, pull-ups, push-ups, squats and lunges. These calisthenics target and tone most areas of the body but do not take more than a few minutes to do. Short bursts of exercise add up. If you can accumulate 30 minutes of physical activity in a day in short bursts, you will get the same benefits you would if you did it all in one session.

8) Mix it up! Variation is the key to long-term progress. Monotony in an exercise routine leads to boredom, which will eventually lead to no exercise. A change in the type of aerobics, or your specific weight training routine will avoid this problem and will give you greater fitness benefits. You will burn more calories and stimulate muscles in a new way, achieving more in less time.

Article Source: http://www.ApprovedArticles.com
For more information about these exercises and to get free full color exercise routines, diet plans and grocery lists, visit Best Weight Loss Programs and Toning For Women. You can train with Nitin at the Phone Fitness Trainer website

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Weight Loss Plans - What You Need To Know

There are so many weight loss plans out there today that it is very easy to become confused and frustrated. Many people will skip from one plan to the next and when they fail to lose the weight they will give up. But there is a weight loss plan available that will help you lose weight. But it takes some work. Read on to discover a sensible weight loss plan that should work for just about everyone.


The weight loss plan I am referring to is not so much as a plan but a lifestyle change. This is where a lot of people make their mistakes. They are trying to find the next "magic bullet" that will melt off the weight with little or no effort. It's not going to happen. To successfully lose weight and to keep it off you need to make a dedicated effort for a lifestyle change. So let's look at what I mean by a lifestyle change.


Think about what you eat on a daily basis. Do you eat out at least once a day? Do you snack on high calories foods in between meals? How much exercise do you get every day? If you are eating junk food and not exercising, then it is easy to see how you are packing on the pounds. But how do you make a change?


Changing your daily habits is not going to be easy. But if you are really serious about losing weight, it's important that you get yourself in the mindset that you will do whatever it takes to make this weight loss plan successful.


The first step is to start taking your lunch to work. Pack fruits or other healthy snacks to eat in between meals. This will not only save you calories but it will also save you money. It is important to eat about six small meals a day when you are trying to lose weight. Eating these small meals will ramp up your metabolism and help you burn more calories.


Another important factor to make your weight loss successful it to drink plenty of water. Try having a glass before you eat a meal and you will eat less. The water will make you feel full before you start to eat. Water will also help your body work more efficiently.


In addition to changing your eating habits, it's important to get some exercise each day. Even if you feel that you don't have time to exercise, there are things you can do to burn calories throughout the day. Whether you are shopping or going to work, make it a habit to park farther away from the entrance. Walk at a brisk pace wherever you go.


Stop taking the elevator and always take the stairs. Just making these few changes will help you burn more calories. Do some research on the Internet for other exercises that you can do at your desk or on your break and lunch hour.


As you can see, a weight loss plan is a great idea if you see it as a permanent lifestyle change. You have to be determined to exchange your poor eating habits for healthy ones. If you can do this you will lose the weight and most importantly you will keep it off.


You can find more on Weight Loss Plans as well as much more information on everything to do with weight loss at Weight Loss Review
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Quick Weight Loss Diet Plans - Dieting to Lose Weight Fast

by: Michael Lee

We’ve heard the claims before — quick weight loss diet plans promising fast results that are nothing short of unbelievable. Many people succumb into all sorts of quick weight loss diet plans, only to lose motivation and fail miserably halfway in following the plan. Thus, they may end up right where they started or even gain a pound or two afterwards. Read on to know how to pick the right weight loss diet plan, and how to stay on course.

The term ‘plan’ itself denotes preparing and goal setting. It involves a highly structured, well-organized schedule of meals and food combinations you must adhere to on a stringent basis; otherwise the quick weight loss diet plan falls apart. Diets, despite their variations, all have common ground upon which each of their systems is based.

Diet Plan # 1: Ditch the Junk Foods.

Junk food is the first to go. Think of the undertaking as a challenge to be met and overcome, rather than treating it like a prison sentence.

If you go on a diet halfheartedly, fretting over the things you will be forced to give up, you will only set yourself up for failure and disappointment. Instead, set a reasonable and attainable goal and timeframe, something you’re sure to achieve, and then reward yourself afterward.

Having a sense of accomplishment is a great way to stay motivated and determined to see this through. For this, the ideal diet would be a more flexible one, like the Mayo Clinic Plan, which puts more emphasis on eating healthy choices — like having your fill of unlimited fruits and veggies — than eliminating unhealthy ones. This plan lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and cuts down the risk for heart, disease, diabetes, and some forms of cancer.

Diet Plan # 2: Just Say No.

If you get sidetracked and find yourself indulging a wee bit more than usual (read: cheating), do not abandon your quick weight loss diet plan altogether, simply because you feel you are no longer consistent.

Just make up for your mistake by eating twice as healthily as before. Remove temptation from your life (and your pantry!). Do your grocery shopping on a full stomach so you do not feel compelled to grab every snack in sight. Stock up instead on healthier alternatives, like whole grain foods.

Know the difference between a craving and real, honest-to-goodness hunger. When you hear that jelly doughnut a-calling, imagine yourself eating some other kind of food, like chicken, for instance. If you’re really hungry, you’ll want to eat whatever food comes to your mind. If anything other than that jelly doughnut seems like a bad idea, then what you have is a craving that must be ignored.

Eat smaller portions more frequently, about every three hours, because when you allow yourself to get hungry, it will be that much difficult to suppress your appetite and you will have a tendency to overeat.

Diet Plan # 3: Take Your Pick.

If you prefer a more rigid and quicker weight loss diet plan, try the famous South Beach Diet. It has three phases, the first of which takes two weeks long and is the most restrictive. Its specific menus do away with most of the carbohydrates you know and love, like bread, pasta, sugar, and alcohol, making it a seemingly difficult diet to hurdle. The Atkins Plan, on the other hand, provides three meals and one snack a day. It focuses on eating lean meat and eggs, and like the South Beach Diet, targets carbohydrates first.

The ideal would be to shed one to two pounds a week. Anything more than that would be too risky as it isn’t just unwanted fat you may be losing, but all-important muscle tissue as well. This is why exercise and physical activity are just as essential to quick weight loss as eating right, because building muscle helps to burn all those calories away.

There are many other quick weight loss diet plans in existence, precisely because there is no single diet that will work for everyone. Whether low-fat, low-carb, protein-rich, all-vegetarian, or whatnot, it is still up to you to decide which plan you think will suit you best. And remember, when in doubt, always consult your physician first.

About The Author
Self-help expert Michael Lee has prepared a FREE extreme fat-burning course that reveals amazing secrets on quick weight loss and how to lose belly fat fast at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/fat-secret.htm

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