Very Fresh and Very Healthy Delight

Mango Yogurt Pudding

Ingredients:
400ml Low fat natural/mango flavoured yoghurt
500ml Hi-cal low fat milk
500g mango puree
90g castor sugar
200g cubed fresh mangoes (adjust amount according to your own preference)
100ml water
30g gelatin powder

Method:

1. Heat milk with sugar till sugar just dissolved. Remove from heat and leave to cool.

2. Stir mango puree and yogurt into cooled milk. Strain for a smoother texture.

3. Dissolve gelatin in 100ml hot water.

4. Stir cooled gelatin solution into mango yogurt mixture. Blend well.

5. Pour 1/2 mango yogurt mixture into jelly mould, chill for 20 minutes, top with cubed mangoes and pour in the remaining mango yogurt mixture.

6. Chill for 3 hours before serving.

Simple, Healthy Recipes for Weight Loss

One big issue I see with folks who are having trouble losing weight is not just a lack of motivation to but a tentativeness to get started now. Often I hear, "I don't have the time to cook." With this in mind, I've put together these simple, healthy recipes for weight loss that will have you on your way to dropping those pounds quickly.

1. Smoothies: A monkey can operate a blender. Get one. A blender not a monkey. Healthy smoothie recipes for weight loss are not hard to come by. Most people like to share their creations with the world. Here is a great one to try:

Mango-Peach Smoothie: Perfect for breakfast. Just add 1 sliced peach, 1 sliced mango, 1/2 cup of orange juice, and 1/2 cup of low fat vanilla soy milk.

Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie: This is a delicious snack. Add a spoonful of reduced fat peanut butter, 1/2 cup of yogurt, 1/2 cup skim milk.

And here's a little tip: A small portion of dark chocolate is a healthy way to make any smoothie tasty.

2. A grain, a green, and a bean: Here is another recipe we can borrow from the vegetarian weight loss diet plan. And its a balanced meal with great sources of protein and fiber. All three are really quick to heat and serve.

Simply pick a grain. I like to use rice, cous cous, millet, or quinoa.

Then pick a green. My favorites are turnips, collards, spinach, or kale.

And finally, choose a bean. There lots of them but I tend to stay with chickpeas, white beans, or lima beans.

3. Soup: Add your favorite vegetables, beans, and/or meats to vegetable stock or low fat and low sodium chicken stock and you've got yourself a delicious meal that can cook while you enjoy your Sunday afternoon. These are really easy to make in a crock pot. It's not always easy to be a meal planner for weight loss. But with soup you can usually make a lot of it at once and eat the rest for leftovers during the week. You can't go wrong with this vegetable soup. Here's one that I like. Just add all of the following ingredients into a pot and simmer for an hour:

1 teaspoon of olive oil

3 chopped zucchinis

1 diced onion

1 can of navy beans (rinse)

1 diced potato

1 lox low fat and low sodium vegetable broth

1 bag fresh spinach

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6944608

One of My Favorite - Healthy Salads This Summer

Ingredients

Mixed salad leaves
Young beetroot leaves
Plum tomatoes
Cucumber
Few basil leaves
Emmental cheese
Small bag of red radishes (about 10 of them)
1 cup cooked buckwheat groats (served while warm)
1 tablespoon olive/ groundnut oil
2-4 tablespoons of soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper


P.S. The picture that I have chosen has a naan bread which was served for my dear hubby but it is actually very filling without any additional pastries or bread. :)
Bon Appétit

10 Painless Ways to Lose Weight

1. Add, Don't Subtract

Forget diet denial: Try adding foods to your diet instead of subtracting them.
Add in healthy goodies you really love, like deep-red cherries, juicy grapes, or crunchy snow peas. Slip those favorite fruits into your bag lunch and breakfast cereal; add the veggies into soups, stews, and sauces.

"Adding in really works, taking away never does," says registered dietitian David Grotto, RD, LDN, author of 101 Optimal Life Foods, but do remember to keep an eye on overall calories. And don't forget to add in something physical, too, whether it's doing a few dance moves before dinner, shooting hoops, or taking a quick stroll.

2. Forget About Working Out

If the word "exercise" inspires you to creative avoidance, then avoid it. Maybe the trick to enjoying a workout may be to never call it working out.

"There's some truth to that," Grotto tells WebMD, and once you start your not-calling-it-exercise plan, Grotto says you'll discover "the way good health feels knocks down the roadblocks that were preventing you from exercising in the first place."

So burn calories and invigorate muscles by beachcombing, riding bikes, grass skiing, making snow angels, hiking, washing the car, playing Frisbee, chasing the dog around the yard, or even enjoying great sex. After all, a rose by any other name ...

3. Go Walking

Walking when the weather's nice is a super-easy way to keep fit, says Diane Virginias, a certified nursing assistant from New York. "I enjoy the seasons," she says, adding that even when she's short on time she'll go out for a few minutes. "Even a five minute walk is a five minute walk."

No sidewalks in your neighborhood? Try these tips for slipping in more steps:

• Trade your power mower for a push version.
• Park your car at the back of the lot.
• Get out of the office building and enjoy walking meetings.
• Sweep the drive or rake the leaves instead of using a leaf-blower.
• Get off the bus a few stops earlier.
• Hike the mall, being sure to hit all the levels.
• Take the stairs every chance you get.
• Sign up for charity walks.
• Crank the music and get your heart rate up the next time you mop or vacuum.

It all adds up. If you walk twice a day for 10 minutes and try a few of these tips, you may find yourself with a low-impact, 30-minute workout easily tucked under your belt.

4. Lighten the Foods You Already Love

One of the easiest ways to cut back without feeling denied is to switch to lower-calorie versions of the foods you crave. A pizza tastes just as good with reduced-fat cheese, and when you garnish low-fat ice cream with your favorite toppers, who notices those missing calories?

And while you're trimming fat calories, keep an eye on boosting fiber, suggests registered dietitian Elaine Magee, RD, MPH, author of Tell Me What to Eat If I Suffer From Heart Disease and Food Synergy.

Fiber helps you feel satisfied longer, so while you lighten family favorites, you can easily amp up the fiber by adding a cup of whole wheat flour to your pizza dough, or toss a handful of red bell peppers on the pie.

Don't forget to lighten the drinks going with that meal. Try switching from high-calorie favorites to diet soda or light beer, or maybe add a spritz of seltzer to your wine.

Hate low-cal drinks? Mix your preferred drinks with a splash of the low-cal option, then increase the ratio as your taste buds adjust. And don't forget to keep pouring that ultimate beverage, says Magee: water!

5. Because Hydration Helps -- Really!

Down some water before a meal and you won't feel so famished, says David Anthony, an information technology consultant from Atlanta. "Drinking a glass of water before a meal helps me watch what I eat. … I don't just hog everything, since I'm not so hungry."

Magee, who also writes the "Healthy Recipe Doctor" blog for WebMD, adds that for the compulsive snacker it's a great idea to keep no-calorie beverages at hand "as a way to keep your mouth busy and less likely to snack on junk food."

Going to a party? Grab a low-cal drink in one hand and keep it there. Not only does it make it harder to graze the buffet, but you'll also be less tempted to sip endless cocktails, too.

Finally, keeping your body refreshed with plenty of water may also help your workout, says Anthony. Staying hydrated means "I can exercise more, and longer, than if I don't drink water."

6. Share and Share Alike

With the massive meals served at so many American restaurants, it's easy to go Dutch -- with the dinner plate.

"When we go out, I often share a meal with my wife," Anthony tells WebMD. "We've been known to split a dessert, even a pint of beer. That way, we don't feel stuffed, and we save some money."

You can share more than just a meal out. Why not double up on a bicycle built for two? Go halves on the cost of a personal trainer? Maybe split a gym membership?

"When you're trying to eat better or get more exercise, you can be more successful if you do it with a partner or group," says Grotto. "The community, the partnership, whether online or in person, it really helps."

Twice the motivation, without twice the effort -- a steal of a deal.

7. Tune In, Tone Up

The American Heart Association knows what we love: television. And they also know we need to get more exercise. So why not combine the two, they ask?

Try dancing to the music when you tune into your favorite music show, or practice some stress-relieving cardio boxing when your least favorite reality contestant is on camera.

During commercials pedal your stationery bike, walk the treadmill, or slip in a little strength training doing bicep curls with cans of your favorite fizzy beverage as weights. Or get inspired to really focus: Put in a high-energy exercise DVD and get motivated by the pros onscreen.

It doesn't matter exactly what you do, so long as you're up and active. Aim for at least 15 minutes, says the AHA. But who knows? If you get really engrossed, you just might outlast the last survivor.

8. Size Matters

Eating less without feeling denied is as close as your dinnerware.

That's because while a small portion served on a large plate can leave you craving more, a smaller plate gives the visual signal that you already have more.

"People go by physical cues," when they eat, Grotto tells WebMD. We know we've had enough because we see the bottom of our bowl or plate. "A smaller plate full of food just feels more satisfying than a large plate with that same amount of food on it."

And don't forget smaller bowls, cups, and spoons. For example, try savoring a bowl of ice cream with a baby spoon. Not only does the pleasure last longer, but your body has time to register the food you've eaten.

9. Get Involved, or at Least Get to the Table

When your weight loss efforts lead to boredom or too much self-focus, get occupied with something else. "I eat more if I'm bored," says Virginias, "especially if I'm eating in front of the TV."

So take a break from the siren-call of the tube, and get occupied with things that have nothing to do with food.

For some, that might mean becoming involved with local politics, discovering yoga, or enjoying painting. Or maybe you want to help a child with a science project, repaint the bedroom, or take a class. The key: Have a life outside of weight loss.

Already busy enough? Then at least eat your meals at the table. "The TV is distracting, and I'm just not conscious of eating," Virginias tells WebMD. "Once I'm at the table, with a place setting, I'm much more aware of what I'm eating."

10. Lose It Today, Keep It Off Tomorrow

Finally, be patient. While cultivating that virtue isn't exactly painless, it may help to know that keeping weight off generally gets easier over time.

That's the result of a study published in Obesity Research, where researchers found that for people who had lost at least 30 pounds -- and kept it off for at least two years -- maintaining that weight loss required less effort as time went on.

So if you crave the results reported by successful "losers" like these -- improved self-confidence, a boost in mood, and better health -- cultivate patience. You may find your way to sweet (and nearly painless) weight loss success.

11. Bonus Tips

If 10 tips for painless weight loss (or maintenance) aren't enough, how about trying some of these ideas from WebMD's weight loss community members?

• Eat at the same times every day (including snacks). Sure you can't do this all the time, but some people find that knowing when to expect their next meal or snack makes them a lot less likely to graze. Our body appreciates rhythms, from seasons to tides, so why not give it what it craves? 

• Make only one meal. Instead of making something high-cal for the family and low-cal for yourself, get everyone on the same healthy-eating page. Weight loss and maintenance is easier when everyone's eating the same thing -- and you're not tempted to taste someone else's calorie-dense food. 

• Remember that little things add up. So keep eating a little fruit here, some veggies there, continue grabbing 10 minute walks between meetings. Weight loss is a journey guided by your unique needs, so hook into what works for you -- and do it!

What Is A Well Balanced Meal?

A well balanced meal should contain all the macronutrients required for optimum health and to maintain the cells, tissues and functions of the body.   These nutrients include protein, carbohydrate and a regulated amount of healthy unsaturated fat.  Ideally a well balanced meal should also include a variety of vitamins and minerals.

THE IMPORTANCE OF EATING A WELL-BALANCED MEAL

It is important to eat well balanced meals most of the time to ensure that your overall diet is also balanced, and that you are getting all the vitamins and minerals required for a healthy body.  Eating healthy, balanced meals will also provide you with plenty of long lasting energy and keep you full for longer.  Obviously it is not always possible to eat a completely nutritionally balanced plate of food at every meal, but if you aim for a balanced the majority of the time, you will end up with a nutritionally complete diet overall.

Try to ensure that each meal contains at least a protein source, carbohydrates and fruit and vegetables.  It is not necessary, and in fact would be almost impossible, to consume every nutrient in every meal, so try to look at your diet as a whole over a more long term time frame, and keep your diet varied.  Try new foods and look for new recipes and interesting ways of changing your diet.

The USRDA recommend that a balanced meal should be made up of half fruit and vegetables, a quarter with protein and the remaining quarter carbohydrates.  A serve of low fat dairy is also recommended.  It is also suggested that sodium intake should be reduced, less than 10% of fat intake should be from saturated sources and solid fats should be limited as should refined grains and alcohol.

PROTEIN

Protein is essential in the body, not only to keep us full longer, but also to provide essential amino acids that are used in the body to regenerate protein in the body.  Most Americans eat too much protein, so try to ensure that the protein portion of your meal only occupies about a quarter of your plate at most.  A serve of meat for example should be about the size and thickness of a pack of playing cards.

There are two main sources of protein.  The first is high quality or complete protein, such as meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs, and cheese.  These contain all the essential amino acids.  The second class are the incomplete proteins, which provide adequate amounts of amino acids, but not all of them.  These include beans and other legumes, rice, tofu and other vegetarian protein sources.  Due to their incomplete nature, to obtain all the necessary amino acids from non animal sources, it is important to eat a combination of these foods together.  For example, beans and rice will provide all amino acids when eaten together, as each is rich in different acids.

It is also important to choose low fat sources of protein.  Choose lean cuts of meat and remove any visible fat and chicken skin.  Cook using low fat methods such as grilling or baking, or fry in a small amount of olive or vegetable oil.

CARBOHYDRATES

Carbohydrates provide us with the energy our body needs, in addition to important B group vitamins and fibre.  Diets that eliminate or drastically reduce carbohydrates may leave you lacking in energy. Rice, pasta, bread, and potatoes are all excellent sources of carbohydrate.  Try to choose wholegrain or brown varieties for increased fibre and longer lasting energy and try to avoid refined carbohydrates sources such as cakes.    Low GI carbs such as sweet potatoes are a good alternative to potatoes to keep blood sugar levels more level.

FATS

Although fats are often portrayed as a food to avoid, we do in fact need some fat in our diet.  Choose unsaturated fats such as olive oil, vegetables oils and margarines for cooking, or include some healthy fat foods such as avocados and nuts in your diet.  These healthy fats help to prevent the build up of cholesterol in the blood and also contribute valuable fat soluble vitamins.

In order to maintain a healthy weight however, we do need to watch our fat intake.  Try to cook with minimal added fat, switch to low fat dairy products and stay away from high fat products such as cakes and fried food, particularly if you are watching your weight.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS

Vitamins and minerals play a vital part in the healthy function of our bodies.  Different types of foods provide different vitamins, which is why it is essential to eat a variety of different foods.  Fruit and vegetables are packed full of vitamins and minerals, and in addition to being low in calories and fat and high in fibre, this makes them a very important part of a healthy diet.

Try to fill half your plate with vegetables at a meal.  If this is difficult, eat slightly less vegetables and have a piece of fruit for dessert.  Eating more high fibre vegetables is a great way to fill up without loading your body with unwanted calories.  It is important to remember however that potatoes, whilst technically vegetables, are really part of the carbohydrate group and should not be part of your vegetable intake for the day.

WHAT DOES A HEALTHY MEAL LOOK LIKE?

Here are some balanced meal ideas to help you get started.

Balanced Breakfast Ideas:

• Wholegrain breakfast cereal with low fat milk, fresh fruit and low fat yogurt
• Wholegrain toast with scrambled eggs, low fat cheese, baked beans and fresh fruit salad.
• Porridge oats made with low fat milk topped with bananas, sultanas and a small handful unsalted nuts
• Fruit smoothie with low fat milk, with peanut butter on wholegrain toast.
• See also The importance of breakfast for weight loss

Lunch Ideas

• Wholegrain bread sandwich with a low fat filling such as turkey or tuna, with fresh fruit, green salad and low fat yoghurt.
• Veggie burger (with beans or tofu) on wholegrain bread, with roasted vegetables (minimal oil) and fresh fruit.
• Wholegrain pita pockets stuffed with tuna or hummus, salad and low fat cheese served with pumpkin soup made with low fat milk.
• See also Diet Friendly Frozen meals

Balanced Dinner Ideas

• Oven baked fish with roasted vegetables and potatoes, low fat yogurt garlic sauce and fresh fruit.
• Bean and vegetable stew with brown rice and low fat frozen yogurt
• Whole wheat pasta with tomato based sauce, tuna and roasted vegetables, topped with parmesan cheese, with fresh fruit and low fat dairy dessert.

Author: Naomi Tupper

10 Ways To Get Back On Your Weight Loss Goals

Sticking to a weight loss regime can be a hard job especially if it involves losing the weight in long period of time. The first few weeks it is easy to keep motivated especially if you can see the pounds falling off. As time progress, weight loss can slow down, maybe hit a plateau, hit a few parties, or simply lose interest and perspective.

Before you know it all the good work seems to disappear and the pounds slip back on. So what can you do to get back on track? Read our tips on how to get back on your weight loss goals and avoid more disappointment.

Short term mishaps:

1# PUT IT BEHIND YOU.

Did you find yourself in a binge week or two? Well it happens especially if circumstances are full of temptations. The trick here is not to give up and not to panic. If you keep dithering about that meal last night, or the party last week and how much you eaten or drank, then you will be spending your energy on things you cannot change. The result will most likely be to feel bad and comfort eat. Then you will definitely be putting the pounds back on.

Put it behind you and get back on track. It is unlikely that one day’s overeating will tip the scales, but if you give up now it will be even harder to start again. Go back to your plans, re-evaluate and continue with your goals. See also: How to stop binge eating at night.

2# DON’T BE HARD ON YOURSELF.

If you slipped out of your goals and had a bit more than you should don’t go back thinking that you have to make up for it. What happened happened and treat it as a little mishap. It is common for people to say I had that chocolate at dinner so I will skip supper, or I had a bit extra last night I will eat less today. Cycling calories through the days can have a benefit, but torturing or starving yourself to make up for calories will only feel hard and you are likely to give up altogether. Just go back to eating healthy and it will all follow its course.

3# RE-EVALUATE YOUR REGIME

Do you find yourself slipping up all the time and it is hard to stay on your weight loss goals? Well it could be as simple as the regime you are following is not ‘good’ for you. There are hundreds of weight loss regimes, diets, and methods to choose from. You can also read our most popular diets reviewto help you with your decision. Maybe the regime you are following has worked for thousands of people or it was great 2 years ago when you did it but this time it may not be what you need.

Go back to the beginning and think what makes you slip up, what is hard about it and why it doesn’t work. Re-evaluating a weight loss regime applies to both short term and long term goals. It could be that you hit a plateau, or you feel bored after dieting for a year. Even if a regime worked for a period of time it may be good to re-evaluate and see what you could change, add, remove adapt. Make you weight loss follow you and not always the other way around.

Slowdowns and plateaus:

4# MOTIVATE YOURSELF.

Plateaus happen to more or less everybody. Your body keeps adjusting to losing weight and it can slow down in the speed it loses weight. This tends to be the time when people lose motivation and start feeling frustrated. First be realistic about it and be patient. Maybe you haven’t lost much the last weeks but keep in mind that it can happen. It is important to keep your motivation going. Do re-evaluate your regime first (see above).

One way to start in motivating yourself is by thinking how much you have achieved so far and concentrate on the positive. Remind yourself why you wanted to lose the weight in the first place. Make a motivation list with all the goals and things you want to gain by losing weight. Is it to look good on your wedding, or for health reasons, to fit in an outfit or to feel better about yourself? Whatever the reason is what made you start in the first place. For more motivation tips also read our ‘I want to lose weight but have no motivation’ article.

5# BEAT THE BOREDOM.

Boredom is another major factor why people give up weight loss dieting. Following a specific diet for a couple of weeks can be easy, but following the same all diet for months can be like a prison sentence and no surprise people want to just escape from it. Firstly is best to opt for weight loss regimes which promote a healthy balance diet rather than restrictive diets. The first ones tend to allow more freedom in choosing menus and the foods you can eat and so it is harder to feel bored. An example is Mediterranean style diets which tend to include foods from all categories and have a vast amount of recipes and menus. See also: The real benefits of the Mediterranean diet.

Another option is to change the regime you follow. I have already mentioned above about re-evaluating your regime and whether it works for you. Look around as well and find a regime which works for you.

6# GET PHYSICALLY ACTIVE

If you have hit the dreaded plateau point and you are not sure how to get going again try being more physically active. Plateaus and slowdown can generate a lot of frustration and you can easily give up on your goals. Physical activity whether is structured exercise or just going for a walk can increase the amount of calories you burn and kick start the weight loss again.

Chose something fun which you will enjoy and you are likely to stick to it. Going to the gym is not to everybody’s liking (including me) or budget. However, there are so many fun activities and options to choose from. Look at a local club or gym to see what other activities they offer. Some ideas are: start a class like dancing or Pilates, start swimming possibly as a family activity, join a sport or see if there are running groups in your area.

As a start think what do you like and what suits you. Then search to see what’s available and go for it. Once you start seeing the results and feeling the benefits you will not want to stop.

Starting again:

7# THINK POSITIVE

It is time to stop being negative about yourself and start loving what you see in the mirror every day. Maybe you have a few or a lot of extra pounds and it could be that you are fed up with the way you look. However, if you are always negative about your weight you will only make yourself feel bad and struggle through ‘must do’ weight loss diets.

Change that attitude towards to a more positive and loving way, your body is something precious and it does deserve the best you can give to it. Losing the extra weight is not about punishing yourself for all the takeaways and binges of the last years but more like looking after ‘you’.

8# TAKE ACTION

It is all good and well to say you need to lose the weight but it won’t come off by talking. Take action. Set a day and start. Planning is a very helpful tool for achieving your goals and it can be your starting point. Set a day for planning, a day for choosing your regime, a day for getting all ready (shopping, clearing cupboards etc) and a day for starting. Why not read our 20 rapid weight loss tips for extra ideas.

If you leave it to an abstract ‘I am going to start’ it may never happen or there may 100s of excuses why it should be tomorrow. Set clear days and stick to them.

9# GET SUPPORT

For a lot of people finding the motivation and going the mile alone can be difficult. Having someone to do it together can provide the drive and the motivation to start again and stick to a weight loss regime. Studies also support that the most successful ‘dieters’ are those who have support.

Support can come from a lot of different sources and in many ways. Weight loss clubs could be one of them. Moreover, support could come from family, in terms of help or an ear to listen to you. A very close friend of mine wanted to lose weight but could never stick to it or stay away from temptations until her husband decide to be her weight loss ‘coach’. He supported by eating healthy and even went as far as preparing meals and packed lunches for work. It is needless to say that the result was success.

10# FIND YOU NEMESIS AND PREPARE FOR IT.

People often have a reason why they slip off their goals or why they find it hard to get back on. This reason can be different for each one and could range from not being able to resist a chocolate to I haven’t got time to cook. That reason is your little nemesis which makes your life hard. Make a list of all the things you may think will be affecting you or do affect you in reaching those weight loss goals. Are you too busy, don’t like weight loss diets, or are there too many biscuit tins in work? Whatever it is work it out and work a plan for it.

There are ways to work around busy lifestyles when ‘dieting’, or opt for weight loss regimes which are flexible and suit your taste and lifestyle rather than strict weight loss plans, or little tricks you can do to cut down on the biscuits and sweets (see also how to control your desire for food). Losing weight can be as flexible as you want to make it.

However, don’t forget to be realistic in what you expect from your weight loss regime. If you want to follow a relatively low calorie diet, and lose a lot of weight fast, but without giving up sweets or chips it may not be possible.

Is Your Current Thinking Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Success?

With as many as two thirds of us overweight to one degree or another we try different diets and exercise programs without much success. In fact, 95 percent of all diet plans fail to get the people that embark on them any significant weight loss for the long-term.

Many of these people start these programs and very often get some results in the short term.

Unfortunately, however most of these same people end up just a few days/weeks later falling off the weight loss wagon because they are not prepared mentally for the changes they need to make to their lifestyle to maintain their new found weight loss.

To succeed in anything, your head has to be in good shape. You need to believe - and keep on believing - that the changes you need to make are worthwhile. Even the very best diet or exercise program will fail if you haven't fully accepted the life and body changes you need to make to become a slim person.

What happens is without some new inner mind programming nothing has changed on the inside so what happens is that any junk thinking you may be harbouring will derail you time and time again no matter how many diet plans you begin. Mainstream weight loss systems do not take this into account and they can only give you results while you are on the program. But they don't tell you HOW to slick to the program long term and your inner programming is in charge of this.

If you want to succeed at weight loss, you need to cut the "mental fat", and that will lead to cutting the "waistline fat". To do that you need to get to know YOU on a deeper level and look at the patterns and habits in your life that you are dragging around with you that get in the way of your own success.

What is your junk thinking doing to your good intentions?

We can easily build up this 'junk thinking' with misinformation and inherited wisdom about nutrition, dieting and what proper exercise REALLY means. We get all this stuff spinning around in our head mixed together with some plain old self-delusion and 'bingo' we have a recipe for getting and staying stuck in an overweight, unhealthy and unhappy body. That slim, fit, healthy body that we really want remains frustratingly out of reach.

But we can change the way we think so we can 'get out of our own way' and achieve the weight loss success that would be life-changing for us. First, we need to identify the thoughts, feelings, emotions and self-beliefs that are causing the roadblock and change them so they no longer sabotage us at every turn. Then we need to replace them with ones that will serve us better. Only then will you be programmed for getting that new slim body and the good health that goes along with it... permanently...

Once you have dropped new thoughts and ideas into your head you will be amazed at how quickly they take root and little by little you begin to make better food choices, eat less overall and even enjoy exercise.

Losing weight will then happen on autopilot, you will not even need a diet plan. You already know what foods to eat and what foods to avoid and it is simply a matter of allowing that to happen but without the self-sabotage that you normally experience.

Imagine how good it will feel to reclaim that slim trim body? Well, you can have this simply by overwriting old negative mind programming and installing new programming into your subconscious mind that will lead you to the body of your dreams. Sounds easy doesn't it? Well it is, and it works like a treat, and once you get started you will be so grateful to have its power working for you to achieve what you desire.

The idea that your subconscious mind may be actively blocking your conscious efforts to lose weight can be hard to swallow at first. So in addition to revealing my top 4 secrets to effective weight loss, I have included in my free report "Visualization Secrets For Weight Loss Success" a section on how mastering your subconscious mind through visualization can make all the difference to your level of weight loss success.

You can download that report here: http://weightlossmotivationbible.com/freereport


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_Hansen


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Fitness for Health and Wellbeing

When you think of fitness, you may be thinking of well-toned bodies, rock-hard abs and generally, just a fit and outstanding physique. What if I told you that in order to be truly fit and feel great you don’t need to be a body builder?

Fitness is more than exercise. If you think exercise and weight control are all there is to fitness, you may be surprised! Fitness is a lifelong pursuit, not a short term goal. "Physical fitness is defined as "a set of attributes that people have or achieve that relates to the ability to perform physical activity" (USDHHS, 1996).

In fact, physical fitness is made up of five main components: cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition and flexibility.

An interesting quote I came across is this: "The biggest obstacle people face in achieving physical and financial fitness is developing consistent and long-term healthy habits." This came from Countrywide Bank Managing Director, Pierre Habis. Interestingly, it points up the fact that anything worth achieving should become a mindset based on a long term goal. Add anything that is worth while achieving to your regular life routine.

In general, physical fitness is the ability to do daily activities without feeling overly tired. Physical fitness is especially beneficial in preventing coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease, enhancing muscle quality, preventing muscular deterioration and reducing depression.

You see, true fitness is everything from proper sleep to proper nutrition, from stress reduction to weight reduction, and from flexibility to balance to relaxation. Being physically well toned and muscular does not mean you’re healthy.

Diet and exercise work together for your body's best interest. That’s becausenutrition and physical activity go together like bread and butter for our bodies. Dieting alone is not going to be able to give you all of these health benefits. You need to have the physical part as well. Exercise will aid in digestion, provide strength and endurance, and does wonders for the heart.

On the flip side, it is important to be aware of the fact that a bad diet can affect your fitness training, even if you follow the best type of exercise plan available! In order to stay as healthy as possible, you need to combine a healthy diet with a lot of exercise!

The average person needs at least twenty minutes of exercise three times a week. This is not hard for most people to attain – even if you’re not used to any kind of fitness training. It will help to strengthen your cardiovascular health and your overall fitness. Regardless of what sort of physical activity you choose, you should burn about 3500 calories per week. You will soon start feeling the benefits!

When you start any type fitness plan it is recommended that you talk to your doctor about it first. He may work out a specific exercise plan with you that is best suited for your particular physical needs. Be sure to discuss with your doctor any special health concerns like blood pressure, hypertension and any special diet needs that you may have.

It just cannot be stressed enough how the combination of a healthy diet and exercise plan will do wonders for your overall well being. It will make you feel good mentally, emotionally, as well as physically!

Did you know that you can use diet to control high blood pressure? Studies have shown that exercise has a role in keeping blood pressure from increasing. Yes; hypertension can be controlled by physical activity, a low fat diet, and reducing your salt intake, weight, and alcohol consumption!

There is also increasing evidence that weight bearing exercises, like walking, dancing, running, and sports are all excellent for good bone health.

To balance your overall health, you need to have a healthy diet that provides ample calcium, vitamins and minerals along with the adequate amount of exercise to keep your body working great for the rest of your life.