Weighing In

Have you noticed all the different diet books on the market these days? At times it can get confusing. One diet book may promote cutting out all carbohydrates, another cut out all fat. Still another may promote eating the healthy fats. Some promote cleansing followed by an all natural diet. Some promote the Mediterranean diet. What direction is a person to go in who seriously wants to lose weight? It is time to look at and find the healthy common sense approach to weight loss that will last. So let us consider the successful weight loss programs.

One of my favorites comes from Kat James, author of The Truth About Beauty. Kat grew up on processed foods and developed an eating disorder that lasted twelve years. A liver disorder nearly took her life. She was extremely overweight when she started her journey to natural weight loss. Through cleansing and eating whole natural foods she found an answer. In the process her liver disorder cleared up, and she overcame the eating disorder. Kat has a retreat near Ashville, North Carolina where one may go to learn the healthy lifestyle and like her, lose the weight permanently. In her book, The Truth About Beauty, Kat introduces the reader to a healthy lifestyle. Everything from the shampoo you use to the natural supplements you may need to take is discussed in her book. To learn more about programs she offers visit informedbeauty.com

Television’s toughest trainer Jillian Michaels works with The Biggest Loser NBC’s hit TV show. Over several seasons I have watched her transform obese people into people with a new lease on life. Jillian talks honest and tough with the participants to help them get to the root of “what is eating them.”

I am a big fan of Jillian. I work out to her CD’s and I am reading her newest book Master Your Metabolism. She offers sensible alternatives to junk food in her book and good down to earth advise. She also struggled with obesity in younger years. She states she is empathic with those trying to lose weight but not sympathetic. She states “I push people until they realize their potential.”

Jillian believes confronting internal demons is important for those with large amounts of weight to lose. Eating clean is important to those with ten to thirty pounds to lose. The intensity of the training should be increased as well. Weight loss is an energy equation. Diet should be organic if possible and balanced with protein, fat, and carbohydrates except for the evening meal. Leave the carbohydrates out of dinner if possible since the insulin from carbs may affect HGH release while you sleep. For more information on the programs she offers visit www.jillianmichaels.com

Jonny Bowden , PhD, CNS is a board certified nutritionist. Bowden’s expertise in weight loss, health, and diet is nationally recognized. Magazines such as Clean Eating, Better Nutrition, Forbes Online and AOL feature articles written by Bowden. He is the author of many books with his newest, The Most Effective Ways To Live Longer, being published in January 2010.

Jonny believes that weight loss is more than gritting your teeth and going on a diet. One must use a varied approach and consider the changes one must make with their relationship to food. These changes include finding a plan that suits your needs, culture, lifestyle, and metabolism. A raw food diet may work for some. South Beach may work for others. Dr. Bowden states there is an eating plan that works for each individual. He also states that some supplements are helpful once you have found the right eating program. Green tea, conjugated linolenic acid (CLA), and fibers may be helpful in cutting the appetite if taken before meals. Bowden believes “everything in moderation” does not work because people may have addictions to sugar, alcohol, etc. If you can give it up for one year, it gets easier.

Basically there are six steps a person must take to lose weight and live a healthier life.
1. Eat less food. Cut portions by a fourth or a third.

2. Exercise. Machine calorie counters are not always correct. When you exercise for a half hour at moderate to hard you will burn approximately three hundred calories. Exercise and diet work together.

3.Carbs and sugar must be cut back. These foods create cravings to eat more.

4. Exercise more intensely Speed up your aerobics with interval high speed . Walk for a few minutes, then race walk or run for 30 seconds, Keep alternating and see what happens.

5. Do the weights. Women will not get bulky just firm.

6. Set your sights on being healthy rather than the number on the scale.

More tips at Jonny Bowden at www.jonnybowden.com

There may be certain foods that will enhance weight loss. A recent article in Better Nutrition magazine lists the ten best foods for weight loss. These foods are beans, loaded with protein; sweet potatoes, rich in fiber and beta-carotene; grapefruit, insulin reducer and high in fiber; sardines, high in omega-3 acids and protein; spinach, a good source of magnesium; cayenne pepper, may help boost metabolism; eggs, another good source of protein and a complete food in itself; yogurt, rich in calcium; artichokes, a high fiber nutritious food; and ginger which not only aids in digestion but may boost your metabolism as well.

Sometimes it may seem you have tried everything to lose weight. The question is “How hard have you tried?” Sometimes we are not fully honest with ourselves. All of the experts I have mentioned above have one thing in common. "We are what we eat. We are the amount of exercise we devote our time to. We are as healthy as we choose to be."

Until next time I am wishing for you the best in health.

This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe or treat in any way. Until next time I am wishing for you - good health.

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Eva is a graduate of the American Institute of Holistic Theology and practices as a Doctor of Naturology. You may reach her at littleherbshoppe@hotmail.com

This information is not meant to diagnose, treat or prescribe in any way.