Wednesday, May 30, 2007

How To Lose Weight And Enjoy Life



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How To Lose Weight And Enjoy Life

Are you stuck in the mental and physical loop of being overweight whilst wanting to be slim? Do you find you're going round in circles and getting more upset, frustrated and helpless?

You're not alone

More people than ever are overweight. It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of the population are overweight or obese. There are more overweight children than ever before stacking up health andself esteem problems for themselves later on in their lives. Inthe UK it is the National Health System's (NHS), priority targetto tackle the growing prevalence of obesity in the population andmillions of pounds are being pumped into the effort.

If the NHS succeeded with its goal then we would all be slimmer and much more active. We wouldn't be putting life on hold whilst we want, wish and try to be slimmer and more active. We'd all been joying our lives feeling confident and happy and achieving much more.

Wishing and hoping doesn't make it come true

In short we need to learn the skill of turning wishing and wanting something to happen in to actively making it happen. Now that may seem an over-simplistic and obvious statement and yet as a principle it makes such a profound difference to whether you succeed or fail at the losing weight game.

When I work with my clients it is one of the first things we tackle. Together we find out what they truly want; what they've done so far to get that and what they can do from now on to get what they want. Once this is mapped out and some simple strategies put in place to achieve their desires my clients find it much easier to lose weight and live the life they want.

Want to know how you can do the same? Follow this Five step plan, developed from working with many clients to help them get unstuck and living the life they love.

1. Get clear about what you do want.

So often we get stuck thinking about what it is we don't want.For example 'I don't want to feel fat and frumpy: or: 'I don't want people to stare at me . etc, etc,. . .' Instead take a moment and use your imagination to dream what it would be like to be that slimmer you, doing what you'd be doing. Use all your senses to record what that would be like. That is, what you'd see, hear, smell and feel. Do this a few times until you get it just how you want it. If you start getting negative thoughts discipline yourself to let them go and get back on track to what you do want. This is important work. Now use a pen a paper and note down what it was like and what you enjoyed about it. Particularly what was so special to you about being that you.

2. Then work out a cunning Plan.

Now use your mind again to imagine what it was that you did toget yourself there. What sort of things would have had to happen for you to be that way? For example a client of mine said that she had felt particularly at ease with herself. So we looked atwhat would have had to have happened for her to feel that way.Her answer was that it meant she'd been taking care of herself and needs in ways that she used to but had stopped doing.

3. Creating a mission statement

Now take a leaf out of the corporate world and create your mission statement. Successful companies and people know what they want and use a mission statement to keep them on track. Using thework you've done above write a sentence or two to answer: Who amI and what do I want? Now keep this handy in your purse or wallet and refer to it regularly to remind you and help you stay on course.

4. Do what you like to get where you want to be

It's easy to think that we have to take care of everyone else and leave ourselves at the bottom of the list. However this is unwise as it can lead to a sense of resentment, frustration and burn out, which means everyone loses out. You need to look after your needs so that you can feel positive and able to cope with everyday demands.

With my clients a simple exercise I ask them to complete is to spontaneously list 50 things that they like having or doing. It has to be done quickly to avoid the temptation of editing or giving reasons why they can't be done. Then we look at a calendar or diary and commit them to real dates in the near future. This means there are positive things to look forward to as well as reinforcing all the things that make life worthwhile and enjoyable.

5. Your support team

This follows neatly in the steps of the above exercise. If you feel that it's you who does everything in your household or that you're overwhelmed at work then you are more than likely to be feeling resentful and frustrated. There's no reward in this scenario and everyone's a loser especially you. Break this cycle by asking for help. If it's your job that's the source of stress get out your job description and identify and agree with your boss what is essential to get done and what can be delegated or relegated. Then at home work with your partner and family on a similar basis and agree who can do what and based on each person's unique strengths and qualities. Doing this breaks the feelings of isolation and creates a healthier more real and useful perspective.

Finally - Now let your mind do the losing weight for you

Having done all that work you are now in the right place to start losing weight. To really accelerate the process it helps to learn the art of self-hypnosis. The hypnotic state of mind is highly focused and more open to suggestion.

Just by turning your attention to your breathing and deciding to relax can bring you to this magical state or mind where you can suggest to yourself how good healthy food is and how cloying and unsatisfying sweet or sugary food is. Doing this several times aday with different suggestions will make losing weight much easier. You will also enjoy a big bonus in that people around you will notice how much happier you are and that you're much more fun to be with!

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Liz Labrum Master Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming and hypnosis helps people who want to lose weight or break habits such as smoking. She also specialises in problems such as stress, fear and anxiety. Visit http://www.think-rightnow.com/ - use the free assessments and reports to help you start to understand how to solve your problems. ==============================================
Copyright © 2007 Liz Labrum
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Thursday, May 03, 2007

Can Green Tea And Caffeine Help You Maintain Weight Loss?

Weight loss and maintenance is no laughing matter. Today, 60% ofAmerican adults need to lose weight, and many of them feeldefeated by their struggles. In addition, for many people,keeping weight off after weight loss is even more difficult thanlosing it in the first place.

These difficulties are the reason that sales of diet aids are soconsistently high. People who are trying to lose weight areconstantly looking for any help they can find to increase theirweight loss and maintenance success.

If you need to lose weight, it's critical that you make changesto your diet and your physical activity level. The followingsuggestions can help you to begin shedding pounds withoutresorting to extreme dieting measures:

* Substitute fish and chicken for beef and pork most days of theweek.

* Eliminate white flour from your diet. Eat whole grains, suchas 100% whole wheat bread instead.

* Eliminate refined sugar from your diet. Use artificialsweeteners and natural sweeteners like honey instead.

* Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruits andvegetables will provide more anti-oxidants and fiber, along withfewer calories than processed vegetables, particularly those insauce.

* Increase your fiber intake - Extra fiber will help you feelfull longer, helping you to reduce the number of calories you'reeating without feeling deprived.

* Watch the fat- Reduce the saturated fat in your diet. Avoidany food with hydrogenated fats or trans fats. Get your fats fromolive oil, canola oil, fish and nuts.

* Get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days of the week.Walking is a great way to get in your exercise, and it'sconvenient because you can do it anywhere. You should also get instrength training 3 times a week for 30 minutes each session.Strength training will help you build muscle, which will help youburn more calories even when resting.

Making these changes should allow you to lose weight graduallywithout feeling hungry. Only when you make changes that you cansustain for the long term will you be able to take off the weightand keep it off.

However, while it's critical to understand that diet andexercise will always be the keys to maintaining a healthy weight,it's always nice to find little tricks that make losing weightand keeping it off just a bit easier.

One substance that does seem to hold promise in weight loss isgreen tea. Many studies have shown that the consumption of greentea along with a healthy diet can help you lose more weight thandieting alone.

It is believed that green tea's potent anti-oxidants combinedwith the caffeine in the tea help speed up the metabolism andburn fat. In addition, some studies have even shown that greentea can inhibit the absorption of dietary fat, meaning that lessof the fat you eat ends up as body fat.

However, one interesting study suggests that green tea'seffectiveness may be negated if you consume too much othercaffeine in your diet. A study conducted by Maastricht Universityin The Netherlands attempted to show how green tea would affectparticipants attempting to maintain a recent weight loss. Itshowed less promising results regarding the consumption of greentea, particularly when the participants were high consumers ofcaffeine overall.

In this study, 104 overweight and moderately obese men and womenwere put on a low calorie diet for 4 weeks. During the four weekperiod, the participants lost an average of 7.5% of their bodyweight. During the 13 week maintenance period, the participantswere fed either green tea or a placebo. The participants did notshow statistically different results between the group receivinggreen tea and the group receiving the placebo.

However, the study did show that participants who had overallhigh caffeine consumption regained more of the weight they lostthan those who had a lower overall caffeine consumption.* Whenyou consider these results compared with other studies whereadditional caffeine consumption was restricted, and a correlationbetween the use of green tea and weight loss was observed, itsuggests that excess caffeine use may negate green tea'spossible positive effects.

If you look at the entire body of research on green tea'sability to enhance weight loss, it seems very promising, in spiteof the results of this particular study. And, the good news is,that even if green tea doesn't help you lose weight, it's veryhealthy for you and has no side effects.

So, you have nothing to lose by trying green tea as a weight losssupplement. Green tea's anti-oxidants may hold significant powerin helping you avoid diseases like cancer, heart disease andAlzheimer's. In addition, regular consumption of green tea mayreduce the signs of aging and help you live a longer andhealthier life. And, in addition, you may find your weight lossefforts easier and more effective than ever.



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Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, (http://www.goldenmoontea.com/greentea) green tea (http://www.goldenmoontea.com/blacktea) and black tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com

For Reviews of Today’s Top Diets Visit:Diet Reviews

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How Does Green Tea Help Weight Loss?

For many people, finding a weight loss supplement that's safeand effective would be nothing short of a miracle. We all knowthat there are no magic bullets when it comes to weight loss; wehave to consume fewer calories in a day than our body uses inorder to lose weight. However, finding ways to burn fat fasterwould speed up the process and make it easier.

One product that seems to have much promise in helping people tolose weight is green tea. In some studies, green tea has beenshown to help regulate insulin and lower cholesterol andtriglycerides. In addition, it is believed that green tea speedsup the metabolism, so that we burn fat faster, and can even turnoff the receptors that make us want to eat.

In addition, green tea, unlike many other weight loss aids isvery healthy overall. Green tea is a potent source ofanti-oxidants, which help us stay healthy and disease free byfighting free radicals. Free radicals are oxygen containingmolecules that are a by-product of our digestive processes. Leftunchecked, they damage our cells and DNA, eventually leading todisease.

However, green tea and other foods with anti-oxidants keep freeradicals at bay, preventing aging and disease. For example, dietsrich in green tea and other anti-oxidants have been linked to areduction in the risk of heart disease and cancer. So, green teais a weight loss supplement that you can feel good about, becauseit can improve your overall health while it helps you shed thepounds.

Most of us are aware of the problems that many other weight losssupplements can cause. Ephedra, for example, has proven to be aneffective way to speed up the metabolism, but can have verydangerous side effects. In fact, it has even been linked to heartattacks and death in some users.

But, just how does green tea work? There are several componentsin green tea that seem to work together to provide the health andweight loss benefits that green tea's so famous for. Researchers have pinpointed three components in green tea thatseem to have an effect on weight loss.

Caffeine

Green tea has lower caffeine content than coffee or black tea,but it does contain caffeine. Interestingly enough, however,green tea's caffeine does not seem to have the negative sideeffects found in other products containing caffeine. Green teadoesn't cause jitters or speed up the heart rate the way thatother caffeinated beverages can. However, the caffeine in greentea does appear to speed up the metabolism.

Many of us take our caffeine intake for granted, but caffeine hasbeen shown to aid in weight loss. Many studies have shown thatpeople on a low calorie diet who consume caffeine daily lose moreweight overall than those who are on a low calorie diet alone.

Catechins

Catechins are the anti-oxidants in green tea. Catechins arepolyphenolic antioxidant plant metabolites, specificallyflavonoids called flavan-3-ols. They are found in many plants,including the cocoa plant and the coffee plant, but the bestsource of catechins is the Camellia sinensis (tea) plant.

The reason that green tea is considered a better source ofcatechins than black tea is because of the difference inprocessing. Black tea is fermented, which changes the catechins.Green tea, however, is unfermented, leaving the catechins intheir natural state.

Because tea catechins are some of the most powerful anti-oxidantsaround, they are some of the most effective at preventingdisease. This is why diets rich in tea are thought to preventmany diseases, including heart disease and cancer.

In terms of weight loss, catechins are believed to suppress lipid(fat) absorption from the diet. This is important because ithelps reduce cholesterol, but it is also thought to prevent theaccumulation of body fat.

Theanine

Theanine is the main amino acid in green tea. Theanine may beimportant to weight loss because of its ability to inducerelaxation and the release of dopamine. Dopamine is a chemicalproduced by the brain that helps in providing a feeling of wellbeing in the body.

Theanine also seems to minimize the effects of caffeine, which iswhy the caffeine in green tea doesn't seem to cause jitters andan increased heart rate the way that caffeine in other beveragescan. So, while theanine may not actively cause weight loss, itcan be effective in creating a feeling of calm in those whoingest it. This power may help those who overeat as a result ofstress to curb this tendency.

It is certain that more studies are needed on how green tea helpswith weight loss. One interesting study on the subject, by theShizuoka University in Japan, evaluated all three of these greentea components individually, as well as in combination, to tryand determine just what components are most important.

This study concluded that the most important component of greentea for weight loss is caffeine. Caffeine is responsible forspeeding up the metabolism and creating thermogenesis, whichburns fat. However, the study also showed that catechins do seemto have an anti-obesity effect on their own, helping the body toeliminate dietary fat rather than absorbing it.

In short, green tea seems to be the near perfect combination forhelping lose weight and improve health at the same time. Diet andexercise are still critical to taking off excess weight andkeeping it off for good, but it does appear that green tea can bean effective tool in fighting the battle of the bulge.

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Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Golden MoonTea Company. For more information about tea,(http://www.goldenmoontea.com/greentea) green tea (http://www.goldenmoontea.com/blacktea) and black tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com

For Reviews of Today’s Top Diets Visit:Diet Reviews

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Tea's Potential For Weight Loss

Losing weight is a topic on the mind of many. It's no secretthat long term weight loss and maintenance require long term lifechanges. In order to successfully lose weight and keep it off youmust consume fewer calories each day than your body uses. Thisallows your body to use stored fat as energy, rather than food.

So, eating less is just half the equation. Since you can onlyreduce your calorie intake by so much, it's critical to alsoincrease the amount of calories your body uses each day. This iswhy exercise is so important. Exercise burns calories whileyou're exercising, but also increases your metabolic rate forseveral hours after you finish.

Exercising by lifting weights can also help increase yourmetabolic rate in the long term. Because muscle requires morecalories to maintain, even when resting, building muscle is agreat way to help ensure that you burn more calories all thetime.

So, as you're attempting to lose weight, it's important to payattention to increasing your metabolism. Part of this equationincludes not decreasing your caloric intake too drastically. Whenyou significantly reduce the number of calories you'reconsuming, your body begins to go into starvation mode, actuallyconserving calories and fat. This can stall your weight lossprogress.

A better way to lose weight is to reduce your calorie intakesomewhat, but to put the bulk of your effort into increasing thenumber of calories you burn each day. Exercise is the mostimportant way to do this, but there is another way that you canincrease your metabolic rate that many people don't know about.

The secret is tea. Several studies have shown tea to have theability to aid in weight loss by raising your metabolic rate. Inaddition, tea seems to inhibit the absorption of the fat in yourdiet, which may help you lose weight, as well.

This ability to limit fat absorption may also be one of thereasons that tea consumption seems to lower cholesterol. Whentriglycerides (a form of fat) rise, cholesterol rises, too.

However, it is likely that the most important quality that teapossesses for aiding weight loss is its ability to impactmetabolism. It has long been believed by the Chinese that teahelps with weight control, but there has not been a great deal ofresearch on the subject.

However, with all the recent attention that tea has garnered forits ability to reduce aging and prevent disease, more research isbeing done on all of tea's potential.

For example, there have been many studies that suggest that tea,particularly green tea, can prevent heart disease and cancer. Teais a potent source of anti-oxidants, which scientists havediscovered are keys to health.

Anti-oxidants are important because they fight the free radicalscreated as a by-product of the digestive process. Free radicalsare oxygen containing molecules that damage cells and DNA if leftunchecked. However, a regular diet of anti-oxidants can stop thefree radicals from damaging our bodies.

Anti-oxidants are found in many plant sources, including fruitsand vegetables, but none are more potent than those in tea. Forthis reason, tea has gained a great deal of attention for being ahealthy beverage.

One study, conducted by the University of Tokushima in Japan,attempted to verify tea's effect on the body's energyexpenditure, or the number of calories burned. The study wasconducted on men, who did not consume any caffeine or flavonoids(the anti-oxidants in tea) for four days prior to beginning thestudy.

The study lasted for three days, during which the subjectsconsumed a typical American diet. Each subject was evaluatedprior to the study to get a measure of his normal daily energyexpenditure. The subjects were divided into four groups. Thegroups were given one of four regimens:

* Water* Full strength tea* Half strength tea* Water containing 270 mg of caffeine (approximately the sameamount found in the full strength tea)

The study found that, compared to the men who drank water, themen who drank full strength tea showed an energy expenditureincrease of 2.9%, and the men who drank caffeinated water had anincreased energy expenditure of 3.4%.

However, the men who drank full strength tea also had anincreased fat oxidation of 12% over the water drinkers. This fatoxidation increase was not shown in the men who drank caffeinatedwater.

So, this study suggests to us that caffeine does help speed upthe metabolism. However, it also tells us that it is not just thecaffeine alone that makes tea an effective weight loss aid. Othercomponents in tea, likely the anti-oxidants, are responsible fortea's ability to oxidize fat in a way that caffeine alonecannot.Tea is a healthy drink, and, worldwide, is the second mostconsumed beverage, after water. So, using tea as a weight lossaid is a safe way to help increase your chances of losing thoseexcess pounds. If tea isn't already part of your weight lossplan, why not add it today?

* http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/131/11/2848

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Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, (http://www.goldenmoontea.com/greentea)

For Reviews of Today’s Top Diets Visit:Diet Reviews

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Wu Long Teas And Weight Loss After The Holidays

For most people the holidays like Christmas, Chanukah and NewYears are special occasions that allow families to reunite andspend quality time together. Accompanying the festivities areoften parties and dinners that can result in weight gain. Manypeople often seek ways to reduce weight after the holidays areover.

This is not a time for panic: crash diets and extreme exerciseprograms almost always fail and should be avoided. Weight lossshould always be part of a sensible balanced program of exerciseand diet and most experts agree that moderation and consistencyare better than excess.

Strategies to Prevent Weight Gain

To help prevent weight gain it is important to assess yourbehavior and environment and adopt healthy habits

The amount and types of foods you eat, and your physical activityhabits are important factors in controlling weight. Theenvironment in which you live may also contribute to the adoptionof poor eating or exercise habits. This is especially true intoday's society, which is dominated by speed and convenience.

For example, escalators, elevators and remote-control appliancesmake us less physically active and walking is less frequent thanin prior years. Also, greater availability of foods that arehigh in calories, fat and added sugars, and larger portion sizespromote unhealthy eating behaviors.

In addition, reputable organizations, government agencies andindependent researchers agree on the importance of adoptinghealthy habits to prevent weight gain.

Effective weight management involves behavior modification whichis a lifelong commitment and includes at least two components:

Healthful eating in accordance with the Dietary Guidelines forAmericans, emphasizing a reduction in total calories, a loweredfat consumption, and an increase in vegetables, fruits and wholegrains, is an essential part of weight control.

Increased frequent and regular physical activity of at leastmoderate intensity is also required.

Health professionals also recommend a prescription for health andweight loss that includes:

* Moderate physical activity on most days of the week of atleast 30 minutes per day for adults and 60 minutes per day forchildren.

* Eating at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, andreasonable portion sizes at home, in schools, at worksites, andin communities.

* Drinking at least eight glasses of pure water.

In addition to exercise and a healthy diet, the use of Wu longtea (also spelled oolong tea or wu long tea) is growing inpopularity as a wholesome and flavorful way to limit weightgain.

Will drinking Wu long tea really help lose weight?

For many, Wu long tea is a helpful addition to a comprehensiveweight loss program. Wu long tea tastes good, contains healthbenefits that lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels and a cupof Wu long tea in the morning can serve as a reminder of ahealthy life style.

Wu Long tea has become a premium weight loss tea that many arediscovering for the first time. If you have never enjoyed thegreat taste and slimming health benefits it is known for, you aretruly missing an incredible opportunity. Originating in theFujian Province of China, Wu Long tea has gradually beenintroduced into Western culture. Of all the tea, Wu Longrepresents the Chinese culture best.

Those who enjoy the flavor and rich aroma unique to slimming WuLong tea truly understand the art of drinking it - slowly anddelicately. Using a tiny teapot and small teacup, they areinheriting a rich tradition, started by the Chinese generationsago. The health benefits of Wu long tea are many:

* Rich in Theaflavin, Tea Polysaccharides and Tea Catechin,antioxidants that assist in the reduction of plaque in thearteries, in lowering cholesterol and in producing slimmingeffects.

* Helps regulate blood sugar levels for diabetics.

* Burns 2.5 times more calories than Green Tea, ideal for weightloss.

* Promotes clear, youthful looking skin.

Scientific studies have established that tea is high inhealth-promoting polyphenols that protect us against cancer andother diseases. Wu long tea is particularly high in "polymerizedpolyphenols" which according to recent studies helps to increaseenergy expenditure.

One recent study found that energy expenditure increased by 10%for a period of 2 hours after drinking wu long tea. This wassignificantly higher than the energy expenditure observed afterdrinking other types of tea.

Another study found that wu long tea can suppress lipidmetabolism which has the effect of suppressing fatty accumulationand body weight increases. The study concludes that long-termconsumption of wu long tea is beneficial for the suppression ofdiet induced obesity.

Health-promoting compounds such as polyphenols and catechins arepresent in all types of tea, but hand picked wu long tea is thebest source because the pickers are selecting the best leavesfrom the tea plant. Machine harvesting is indiscriminate andshould be avoided - older leaves and twigs are harvested alongwith the newer leaves.

Wu long tea is not a miracle cure for weight problems. Weightloss involves following a sensible, healthy diet, and a change inlifestyle to include an adequate amount of exercise. Wu long teahowever, can give you the extra boost to help in your weight lossplans, but it must be used as part of an overall strategy toimprove your living habits.

Enjoy the holidays and the festivities involved, don't undertakecrash weight loss programs and adopt a healthy lifestyleincluding Wu long tea!



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Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Golden MoonTea Company. For more information about tea,(http://www.goldenmoontea.com/greentea) green tea (http://www.goldenmoontea.com/blacktea) and black tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com

For Reviews of Today’s Top Diets Visit:Diet Reviews

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