Common Mistakes When Choosing a Diet

As the New Year approaches, you have decided to go on a diet and get your weight down to a healthy level. So that you will be ready for the New Year you want to take the time choose a diet plan. But which one should you choose? Which one will really work this time?

As the New Year approaches, you have decided to go on a diet and get your weight down to a healthy level. So that you will be ready for the New Year you want to take the time choose a diet plan. But which one should you choose? Which one will really work this time? You don't want to make a bad choice and end up just wasting money and time. Here are some common mistakes folks make when choosing a diet and hopefully you will take heed and avoid them so as to choose the right plan and minimize the time on the diet. Never choose a diet that makes some incredible claim of unrealistic weight loss. These companies will boast all sorts of results with little proof other than a before and after picture of a person. Always remember that you can only safely lose one or two pounds a week.

And along the lines of unrealistic, never choose a diet that claims you can lose weight but not change you eating habits or give up fatty foods. This is absurd. Think about it. Your overweight condition is more than likely a result of your eating and exercise habits with the exception of pregnancy. You are going to have to do something different because obviously what you have been doing does not work. So promises of results with no effort are ridiculous.

It is recommended also to stay away from diets that cut out an entire classification of foods such as no carbohydrates or no fat whatsoever. Always remember the word balance. Your body needs the whole entire range of food groups each day. When you cut out an entire food group you will quickly crave it and end up falling off the diet anyways. Plus, if you have some other health condition you could put yourself in serious danger. For example, people with gout should stay away from the high protein diets because the high protein only aggravates the condition.

Any diet that shoots down proven medical research should be avoided. If most doctors agree on a certain topic then you had better take it serious. For example, if most doctors believe that a starvation crash diet is bad then you should maybe research a little further and see why they are saying it.

This is probably the biggest mistake people make: They choose a diet that includes no exercise. It will not work no matter what the promoter of the diet says. You have to combine diet with exercise in order to increase your metabolism and burn calories. There is absolutely no getting around it.

Any diet plan that requires a significant cash layout on your part should be suspect. These are diets that want you to attend their meetings and seminars for an annual membership fees. They are also diets that require you to buy only their meals that are so much more expensive than going to the store, buying the ingredients, and cooking your own.

There is one rule in life that if you follow it will keep you from making poor choices with diets or anything for that matter. The rule is that if it is too good to be true then it is probably not true. Some diet that says you will loose 40 pounds in two weeks is too good to be true. And of course, their advice or plan will not be free. It will require you to spend something to find out it was too good to be true.

About the Author:
Terence
For more resources how to lose weight fast and keep it off visit: http://www.loseweightfastnaturally.com/
Submitted on 2006-11-08
Article Source: http://www.articlesarea.com/

Weight Loss Knowledge is Power

When dieting, weight loss comes with many obstacles. The first and foremost is exercise. Many of us with office jobs are rushing out the door in the morning, then eating a big lunch with a client or coworker, then stumbling back home that night. Unfortunately, that does not leave a lot of room for exercise.

Knowing how to balance you life and weight loss goals is very important. You must know what meals to eat, what meals to avoid, which ingredients to avoid, and how to exercise. The easiest way to learn such important information is to simply find an online weight loss resource that provides such information. Fortunately, I have outlined some basics for you.

Part of the reason you are feeling tired and unwilling to exercise is because you are too uptight. You wake up, you sit in your car, you sit in your office, and the only exercise you get is when you get a drink, snack, or brake. Make a point to stretch three times a day. Stretching helps you get more oxygen to the brain and blood flowing through the rest of your body. It doesn’t take a lot of time and you can do it in your office of cubicle.

When you stretch frequently and your body has a little more oxygen and blood running through it, you will go from feeling tired to a little restless. This is a good thing. Do your last stretch about 30 minutes before you leave the office. Then, on your drive home, stop by a park and (keep sneakers in your car for this occasion) walk for about 20-30 minutes. Once this makes its way into your routine, you will find that it fits perfectly in your schedule.

Once you are home and ready to cook, know what you are cooking. Find an ingredient glossary to assist you in making the right choice. Or, a simpler way is to find healthy recipes and stick with those during and after your weight loss efforts. You should try to avoid packaged foods and microwave dinners as they generally include preservatives that are not just unhealthy but assist your body in storing fat.

About the Author:
Harry Lancaster, is the founder of the Weight Loss Guide (www.guaranteed-weight-loss.net) which is a resource full of exercising tips, weight loss oriented and healthy recipes, and articles on various weight loss remedies such as hoodia.
Article Source: ArticleToGo.com

The Truth About Low Carb Diets

Low carb diets are very effective in achieving weight loss when followed. But the key word there is that they should be followed. However, there are controversies about their “healthiness”. Definitely, people get into these diets to lose weight. But what every person getting into this is not only the aspect of losing weight but also as always, keeping the weight off. But it goes beyond that. It also involves being and staying healthy and functional in whatever we do everyday. A slim person is definitely not attractive if he or she is weak from lack of nutrients and energy due to these low carb diets.

The body uses up carbohydrates first as a source of energy. If there are more carbohydrates taken in, the body stores the surplus as fat. If there are fewer carbohydrates taken it, the body is forced to use the stored fat for its energy requirement. The principle of these low carb diets is to take in food low in carbohydrates so that the body is forced to use its stored fat.

By drastically reducing carbohydrates to a small fraction of a person’s diet, the body goes into “ketosis”. The body burns its own fat to convert into energy A person in ketosis is getting energy from ketones. Ketones are little carbon fragments that are created by the breakdown of stored fat. One feels less hungry when his or her body is in ketosis. The end result is that he or she is likely to eat less even if allowed to do so. In effect, the body is transformed from a carbohydrate-burning machine into a fat-burning one, thus making fat the primary energy source. This brings us to the most fundamental fact of dieting: the less fat you have, the lighter you weigh. The end result is the desired weight loss.

There are diets like Atkins that seem to be a dream come true. It stems from its design that a person could eat as much as he or she wants from a wide variety of food that other diets steer away from. Steaks, meat, crab, eggs, all types of protein based food are allowed since the body will burn carbohydrates first and not protein or fats. Basically, it follows the same low carb principle of reducing carbohydrate intake and forcing the body to use fat towards weight loss.

But experts are concerned about the long term safety of the diet. By contemporary medical standards, the risk of heart diseases, stroke, cancer, liver and kidney problems are very extremely high. These risks have been pointed out repeated by a number of health researches on high fat diets.

Other low carb diets are cleansing in nature such as the detox diet. It helps in the health reassessment of one’s lifestyle, eating patterns and focus on foods. Here, one becomes more aware of one’s food intake. However, there are individuals, such as diabetics, people with low blood sugar or eating disorders have to stay clear of it. They will find themselves more in trouble than they are already.

Low carb diets serve their purpose. But there is no substitute for the traditional, proven healthy lifestyle of a balance diet of the basic food groups in the nutritionists’ pyramid order combined with the proper exercise. However, should a person still go through with these diets for whatever reason, he or she should be equipped with knowledge of not only the benefits but most especially the risks. Everyone wants that slim, healthy look. But everyone should also go for health in a sustainable manner.

About the Author:
Tom Takihi is the proud owner of the Discover Network. For more information on this topic, please visit the dedicated portal: www.DiscoverWeightLoss.info
Article Source: http://www.articlesnetwork.com/

Starting A Diet The Right Way

If you’re just starting out on a diet for the first time, there are certain things you should know in order to ensure that you not only get the best results from your diet but also that you maintain your health during the process.

One of the first things you should do, ideally before you even start on a diet, is to see your family physician. This is especially true if you have not had a check-up within the last year or if you experience any type of health condition such as diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure/cholesterol. Taking the time to discuss your diet plans with your physician can help you to ensure that you stay healthy while dieting.

You should also make a point to determine your exact goals when embarking on a weight loss program. Ask yourself how much weight you want to lose and whether the time frame you have set for yourself is realistic. Remember that your diet plans won’t be very beneficial if you find that you are not able to stick with them because your goals are unrealistic. It is far better to plan to lose a smaller amount of weight within a reasonable amount of time.

In order for your diet plans to be effective, you will need to face the reality that some changes will need to be made within your life. Facing these facts upfront can help your diet be more successful and help you to feel better about yourself during the process. Make plans now to engage in a regular fitness routine at least two to three times per week and switch from high calorie foods to healthier, lower calorie low fat foods. Portion control is a great way to knock off a few pounds, but if you want to make changes that will last a lifetime; plan to change the way you eat as well as how much you eat.

Take the time to study the many different types of available and choose one that you will be able to stick with for longer than a week. Ideally, the best weight loss programs involve eating habits that you can stick with for life. Steer away from fad diets or diets that will be impossible to live with, as constant diet changes and yo-yo dieting can do far more damage than good.

Many people find that the success level of their diet directly correlates to the amount of support present within their lives. When you begin your diet, sit down with your friends and family members and explain your plans and goals to them. Explain how they can help you to reach your goals. Consider asking a friend or co-worker to serve as a weight loss buddy who can help you to stick to your goals, even when the going gets tough. This will be especially important when you run into situations in which you might be tempted to give into emotional eating, one of the number one reasons why people binge on their diets.

By taking a sensible approach to your diet plans, you can be sure to reach your weight loss goals safely and successfully.

About the Author:
Joey Dweck is the Founder & CEO of WeightLossBuddy.com a website committed to 24/7 support, expert advice, and helping people find a buddy(s) who will support their effort to lose weight, and live a healthier lifestyle. And it's all Free. Sign up for the Free 4-Part E-Course “Losing For Good” www.weightlossbuddy.com
Article Source: http://www.freearticlesdirectory.com

20 Dieting Success Tips

SUCCESS TIPS

Dieting is not easy. If it were, we would probably all be thin. Since we are not, here are some tips that successful people use to lose weight so that others can benefit, too.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 1: DRINK 8-10 GLASSES OF WATER EACH DAY
Okay, for many people this is a big problem. Water doesn’t taste all that great generally because water doesn’t really “taste” like anything. Drinking water 8 to 10 times each day gets easier the more you actually do it. It is simply a matter of conditioning your taste buds, and yourself, so that it becomes easier to do. Once you get started, you will begin to crave water. More on water
To begin with, you should drink a glass of water in the morning first thing, before you eat. This is probably the easiest glass you will drink all day and it will help you remember to drink water all day long. Better yet, why not drink two glasses?

If you really cannot bear the taste of water, try using a water purifying pitcher or filter. You can also add a few drops of lemon or lime to your water – but no sugar or sweetener! Ice also helps.

Check out flavored waters on the market, too. Just keep an eye out for additives. World of Water,.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 2: EAT BREAKFAST

Do not skip breakfast. If you need to go to bed a little earlier so that you can get up 20 minutes earlier each morning – do it! Breakfast is so important to your good health and to weight control. According to Dr. Barbara Rolls a professor of nutrition at Penn State University, "Your metabolism slows while you sleep, and it doesn't rev back up until you eat again."

Eating breakfast is not only good for overall weight loss, it will help you stay on track with your diet the rest of the day. You are more likely to binge on something sweet and in the “bread” group if you skip breakfast.

You can always keep a couple of hard-boiled eggs in the fridge or some high-fiber, low starch fruit around. If you plan to eat fruit at all during the day, breakfast is the perfect time to do it.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 3: EAT AT LEAST 3 MEALS AND 2 SNACKS EACH DAY

This can be one of the hardest adjustments to make. After all, you are busy! You already have a “full-plate”. When do you have time to worry about filling your plate with more frequent meals?

Just like eating breakfast will increase your metabolism, so will eating more often. This will also help you curb your bad-carb intake by making sure that your snacks are planned and occur regularly throughout the day.

Really, it will just take a minimal investment of planning time at the grocery store and at home each morning before you head out for the day to make some healthy food choices and prepare a few healthy snacks and meals. For suggestions, just see the handy list of snacks and appetizers listed later. Kick-start Your Metabolism

SUCCESS TIP NO. 4: AVOID WHITE FOODS

This is one easy way to remember what not to eat. If it is made from sugar, flour, potatoes, rice or corn - just say no. Remembering this rule of thumb will make it easier to recognize those rice cakes as an unhealthy high-carb snack.

Always look for colorful fruits and veggies to substitute for the white ones. Buy broccoli, lettuce, bell peppers, green beans and peas, brown rice in moderation, leafy greens like kale and spinach, apples, melons, oranges and grapes.

These foods are not only colorful they are also high in fiber, nutrients and important antioxidants. Eating colorful fruits and vegetables will give your diet variety as well as give you added health benefits.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 5: EAT YOUR VEGGIES

It is so easy to use a low-carb diet as an excuse for poor nutrition. Resist this temptation. If the only vegetable you have eaten in the last 5 years has been the potato, now is a good time to begin experimenting with other vegetables. This is important for your overall health and to avoid some nasty side effects of not getting enough fiber in your diet.

If you try hard enough, you will find vegetables that you enjoy eating. Experiment with grilling veggies and cooking with real butter to add flavor. You can also search for new recipes on the Internet or in cookbooks.

Remember, if you are only eating 40 grams of carb a day or less, two cups of plain salad greens contain only about 5 grams of carbohydrate. You have no excuse not to eat your veggies.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 6: PREPARE YOUR OWN FOOD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

While more and more restaurants are offering low-carb friendly menu items, many of them are still not ideal low-carb fare. There are many recipes for quick and easy meals that you can prepare yourself at home. Try to do this as often as possible.

If you cook your own foods, you know exactly what the contents are and you will be able to better control for hidden sugar and otherwise processed foods.

Another benefit is the cost savings over the long run. Even if you must go to the grocery store more often, you will save a significant amount per meal as opposed to eating at restaurants and fast food establishments.

It will also be easier to maintain your diet with your own favorite fresh food selections on hand. Preparing healthy foods for kids

SUCCESS TIP NO. 7: INVEST IN A GOOD SET OF FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS

Having food storage containers of various sizes on hand will make it so much easier for you to plan your meals and snacks. When you buy nuts, fruits and vegetables in bulk you can simply prepare, separate and store them for easy use later.

For instance, you can pre-slice your apples and snack on them over several days. Simply cut them, rinse them in pineapple or lemon juice and store. This will make a quick and easy snack for later.

Fix your lunch and take it with you to work. Better yet, fix your lunch and 2 snacks for work.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 8: EAT SOME PROTIEN AT EACH MEAL & AS A SNACK

In addition to everything that’s been discussed before, eating protein helps you burn more calories. Jeff Hample, Ph.D., R.D., a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association says that, "Protein is made up mainly of amino acids, which are harder for your body to breakdown, so you burn more calories getting rid of them.”

Just think – eating a protein rich snack can help you lose weight. How about a few slices of turkey or ham or some string cheese?

Eating protein will also help you feel full so that you are less likely to crave unhealthy snacks. Protein Shakes??

SUCCESS TIP NO. 9: DRINK A GLASS OF WATER AFTER EACH SNACK

This will help you get in your 8 to 10 glasses of water each day but it can also have other benefits. Ever feel hungry after eating a handful or standard serving of nuts? Try drinking water afterwards. The water will help you feel full and prevent overindulgence.

Drinking water after a snack will also help remove the aftertaste from your mouth and can help curb your desire for more.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 10: EAT SLOWLY & ENJOY YOUR FOOD

You will feel full and more satisfied if you take the time to savor your food and chew it slower. Don’t get in the habit of eating while standing or eating quickly. Sit down and chew.

Eating slower will help you enjoy your food more, pay attention to what it is you are actually eating and get a better sense of when you are actually full.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 11: EAT YOUR LARGER MEALS EARLY AND SMALLER MEALS LATER

You will feel better and lose weight quicker if you eat a large breakfast and eat a smaller dinner. You may also want to eat the majority of your carbs earlier in the day, saving a salad and lean meat protein for dinner.

Eating larger meals during the part of the day when you are most active will help you to feel satisfied throughout the day and curb cravings for unhealthy snacks.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 12: CONSIDER EATING SALMON OR MACKREL FOR BREAKFAST

Yes this may seem odd, but it is one way to work in Omega-3 fatty acids that are good for you and add some variety to your daily diet. After a few months you may tire of eating eggs and bacon for breakfast. Substituting fish will give you the protein and healthy fish oils you need.

You can try canned salmon or mackerel in croquettes for a healthier sausage substitute. Or you could simply eat cold leftover salmon the next morning with dill sauce.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 13: USE LETTUCE LEAVES INSTEAD OF BREAD

This tip can seem a bit odd at first but if you try it you will probably grow to love it. Instead of eating breads and buns with your sandwiches and hamburgers, why not try leaves of lettuce?

You can make a double cheeseburger with onions, pickles and tomato wrapped in a whole lettuce leaf. Or you can make tasty wrap sandwiches with lettuce instead of tortilla and bread.

This will help increase your good carb and fiber intake while giving you more variety in your diet.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 14: EAT A FRUIT DESSERT

Okay, we all want a little dessert sometime, but how do you have your dessert and your low-carb diet too? Why not try cheese with fruit slices or berries? Better yet, why not try cream with berries? You could even try sweet pineapples or strawberries with cottage cheese?

Berries are sweet and high in fiber and nutrients and dairy products are high in protein. If your low-carb plan will allow it, this is a sweet and tasty alternative to more sugary desserts.

An added benefit is that the protein in the dairy products and the fiber in the fresh fruit will make these desserts more filling.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 15: GET YOUR FRUIT FRESH NOT SQUEEZED

Fruit juice can be very tempting as a replacement for soda, but just how healthy is fruit juice? If you read the labels you will soon realize that in many of the commercial juices available at your local grocery store there is very little actual fruit juice.

What you will find is lots of sugar water and other ingredients. Why not skip the juice altogether and eat a fresh piece of fruit? Not only does fresh fruit contain less sugar than juice, fresh fruit has fiber that is good for you and will help you feel fuller longer.

GO EASY ON THE MEAL REPLACEMENTS

New meal replacement shakes and bars go on the market almost every day. These shakes and bars may claim to be healthy, but almost all of them, even the Zone Perfect bars, contain hydrogenated oil and sweeteners.

So be careful. The bars especially may be only slightly healthier than a Snickers candy bar. Occasionally, they may not be that bad for you but as a rule you probably don’t want to indulge in a meal replacement shake or bar every day.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 17: IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT PROBABLY IS

Low carb doughnuts and muffins? You can find these prepackaged low-carb labeled goods at your neighborhood grocery store and at many low-carb lifestyle specialty shops. That does not mean that you should make a habit out of eating them.

While low-carb pastries may be tempting remember that they still contain all of the usual carbohydrate suspects: sugar or a sugar substitute and flour.

They may be healthier than your typical muffin as an occasional treat, but remember to stick with the basics for continued low-carb success.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 18: AT THE GROCERY STORE – SHOP THE OUTER AISLES

It will be easier to stick with your low-carb lifestyle if you learn the one common thread in all grocery store designs: the healthy foods are on the perimeter aisles. Think about it, when you go into the grocery all of the healthy stuff, fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products are arranged around the stores walls. You only rarely need to enter the center aisle areas in those few stores that stock butter and cheese in the center near the frozen foods. For the most part all of the foods that you need for your low carb diet can be found on the perimeter of the grocery store.

Train yourself to start on one end of the outer aisle and work your way around. It will be much easier to avoid carb cravings and fill your basket with healthy items if you do so. Shopping for one

SUCCESS TIP NO. 19: INVEST IN GOOD COOKBOOKS

Can’t figure out what to eat? Need some variety in your diet? Turn to a cookbook. Granted, not all recipes in a cookbook are low-carb fare, but you will be surprised at the number of low-carb and low-carb friendly recipes you can find in your standard Betty Crocker Cookbook.

Cookbooks are great reference tools that often contain handy tips on purchasing cuts of meat and preparing meats, fruits and vegetables in new and exciting ways.

Plus, new low-carb cookbooks are hitting the shelves all the time. So be sure to take advantage of these resources to try something new, different and delicious. 1000 Atkins Friendly Recipes

SUCCESS TIP NO. 20: TAKE A GOOD MULTIVITAMIN

We can’t all do it right all of the time. Even the most conscientious food combiner may miss some healthy vitamins, minerals and trace elements in their diets. To help make sure you get everything that you need, consider taking a good multivitamin.

Check with your doctor first for recommendations and you should be tested for anemia to see if you need a vitamin with iron. However, the longer you eat low-carb and the more red meat you eat, the less anemia will be a problem and you should be able to take vitamins with less iron.Pharmanex (Vitamins and minerals)

Your success is totally up to you. Assuming that you are an otherwise healthy individual, your body will do its part. Just remember to adhere to the low-carb diet plan that is right for you and add some variety to your meals to help you stay faithful to your health and weight loss goals.
Murray.

About the Author:
Murray Middlemost is a 17 year Health and Fitness Professional. As owner of Phoenix Fitness and YOU it's about time! 30 minute fitness solution, he has helped thousands of people achieve their health and fitness goals. If you too would like to benefit from Murray's knowledge and experience you can visit http://www.phoenixfitness.ca or http://www.phoenixonlinept.com
Added: Sun Mar 27 2005
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

5 Warning Signs Your Diet Isn't Working

Let me ask you a simple question: do you feel you're getting the best results from your current food program? After all, we all want the same things: increased energy, a fit and sexy body, to live longer and healthier, avoid and heal health challenges, and a sound nutritional approach.

Sometimes it happens that you may be doing well for a while with your diet, but imperceptibly you move away from the results you're looking for, and sooner or later you realize, “this diet isn't working for me anymore!”

To prevent that from happening, here are some warning signs to watch out for and what to do about them.

1. Cravings

It's perfectly normal to experience cravings for cooked and processed foods when you transition to a mostly raw or all raw diet. The problem occurs when these cravings persist and don't go away.

In my experience, there are two causes for cravings: nutritional and emotional. I will review nutritional causes now, as emotional causes are complex and beyond the scope of this article.

Nutritional causes are fairly simple: if you're not eating enough calories from fruits and vegetables, you *are* going to crave cooked and processed foods.

The trick is to be able to consume enough fruits to get your calories, without consuming more fat than you need to (and at the same time consuming enough greens for minerals).

Eating too much fat will also cause cravings, while a nutritionally-sound low-fat approach is the best remedy against cravings.

Keeping in mind that the average active woman needs 1800 to 2500 calories per day, and the average active man 2500 to 3000, a short visit to www.fitday.com should let you know if you're consuming enough calories from fruits and vegetables.

2. No Energy to Exercise

If you have no energy to exercise, or are not making progress in your fitness program, it's probably because you're not consuming enough calories and/or you are consuming too much fat. It's often a sign that your diet is not working.

An energy deficit will be obvious when you follow a fitness program. If you're barely consuming enough fruits and vegetables to meet your dietary needs, you can't expect to have extra energy to exercise.

Also, an excess of fat in the diet can cause a “run-down” feeling which may prevent you from experiencing the energy to exercise.

We often tend to “under-estimate” the amount of fruits and vegetables we should eat, and “over-estimate” the amount of fat that it's okay to eat.

By checking out that your daily consumption of fruits and vegetables is adequate to meet your energy needs (at www.fitday.com, for example), you can also verify that your fat consumption by calories is less than 10-15%.

3. Waking up in the morning tired

Waking up in the morning still tired is also a sign that your diet may not be balanced. This is often caused by eating excessive quantities of fat, especially coming from nuts and seeds, and/or eating late at night. My suggestion would be to try eating only fruits and vegetables, without fat of any kind, for about 3-4 days, and avoid eating later than 7 p.m., and see how you feel.

Chances are that you'll start waking up in the morning much more refreshed and energetic!

When that happens, just make sure that when you reintroduce fats into your diet it's in small amounts (I've provided guidelines in my book "The Raw Secrets").

4. Inability to maintain weight

Two things can happen here. Either you haven't been able to *release* the weight you were carrying around in excess, or you're getting thinner than you'd like to be.

In the first case, if you're still struggling to reach your ideal weight, even though you've transitioned to a raw food diet, you may simply have the wrong nutritional and lifestyle approach. My suggestion would be to join us for our next Body Enlightenment System.

If you're getting thinner than you'd like to, you should also review the articles on weight (click here). Know that the best thing you can do is to combine strength training (basically lifting weights or high-resistance bodyweight exercises) and *eat big*!

If you wish to gain significant muscle mass, you can, even on a raw food diet. But you'll need a good training program and to consume sufficient calories from fruits and vegetables. For a woman, that means at least 2500 calories per day on average, and for a man at least 3000.

5. You're confused

Another sign that you may be heading towards a diet “disaster” is having the feeling of confusion and doubt. Eventually, that feeling may intensify and lead you to either give up entirely or try other programs that won't work.

The solution to this is to gain sufficient knowledge to avoid this confusion, go to the root of emotional issues behind food, and join a group for coaching and community that can provide you with constant support and inspiration to continue on the path of radiant health.

Your next step? To take what you've just learned and put it to the test right away!

About the Author:
“Frederic Patenaude, is the author of the book "The Raw Secrets". Sign up for his weekly "Raw Vegan Tips,” and as a bonus, get your free "raw recipe of the week". Visit http://www.rawvegan.com while this bonus is still offered."
This article was posted on November 23, 2006
Article Source: articlecity

5 Acne Prevention Diet Tips

Are you looking for acne prevention diet? What you eat greatly affects the condition of your skin. And this relation is much more complicated that avoiding oily foods. Discover what foods can truly help you cure acne and what products you shouldn't eat because they can actually make your acne worse.

Are you looking for acne prevention diet? What you eat greatly affects the condition of your skin. And this relation is much more complicated that avoiding oily foods. Discover what foods can truly help you cure acne and what products you shouldn't eat because they can actually make your acne worse.

If anybody tells you that a special acne diet alone can cure your acne, be cautious. Most people need a combination of right diet and another acne treatment like an acne cream. One thing the right acne prevention diet can do is to supply your body and immune system with nutrients to fight acne. There are also foods that can make your acne worse, so naturally you want to avoid these.

1. Milk is not your friend

Milk is good for babies and young children, but not so good for teenagers. Especially if you have acne. And, surprisingly, it is not the fat in milk that makes it a problem. Milk contains certain hormones that can cause acne breakouts. That doesn't mean that you should not drink milk all together, of course. Coffee with cream or milk, or a bowl of cereal every now and then wouldn't do your skin any harm. But don't drink more than a glass of milk a day.

2. Reduce sugar intake for effective acne diet

This is not 100 percent scientifically proved, but many doctors suggest that excessive sugar can make acne worse. Chocolates, sweets and soft drinks are loaded with sugar. Try to cut down on them, if not illuminate completely.

3. Fish oil helps to stop acne

Eat more fish. Not only it is generally good for your health, but Omega 3 fats found in fish are essential for healthy skin and acne prevention. Best sources of Omega 3 are salmon, cod and tuna. Alternatively, you can take fish fat as a supplement.

4. Vitamins are important to prevent acne

Some vitamins are essential for acne diet. Most important are Vitamin B5 and Vitamin A. In high doses Vitamin A gives great results to cure acne. But it can be toxic, so you shouldn't take it without consulting your doctor. Vitamin E is also essential for good healthy skin. You can get an acne vitamin complex. A good multivitamin pill a day would also do the trick. And, of course, eating fresh fruit and veggies can help with vitamin intake, but you already knew that, right?

5. Zink can prevent acne

Eat eggs, whole grains and mushrooms - they are a good source of Zink. Zink can help reduce acne. The reason it can help is because is busts your immune system, helping your body cure acne naturally.

Try to follow these tips for at least two weeks and you should see that your blemishes reduce. If you have an acne prone skin, it pays off to keep acne diet even when you don't have a breakout.

Follow these diet suggestions to keep acne under control. You can't really cure acne with diet, so don't wait for a miracle. But in combination with other acne treatments acne cure diet definitely can help.

About the Author:
Find information about effective acne diet and natural acne treatments at Guide to Acne Treatments published by Tatyana Turner
Submitted on 2006-11-10
Article Source:

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Why Diets DON'T Work

One of the biggest scams ever successfully pulled on the American public is - somewhat appropriately - a 4-letter word. That word is, of course, Diet. By now you have seen advertisements for more diets than you can easily remember, and have also most likely seen an article or television show debunking some of those diets. Unfortunately, the art of shooting holes through the credibility of a diet plan is normally done by ANOTHER diet company, solely for the purpose of getting you to use their product instead. Well, this article has nothing to sell, nor really anything to gain, save the knowledge that hopefully the reader - that's you - will put down the Diet Madness Menu, and get a real world point of view on why diets don't work, and what you can do about it.

Eating, the Lost Art

If you are considering a diet, or have in the past, your primary motivation was most likely to lose weight. What if I was to tell you that in order to lose weight, you actually need to eat MORE than you have in the past? You would probably shake your head at that crazy idea, and think that it was some new fad that could in no way assist you in your weight loss goals. Of course, the fact that every diet you've ever heard of was at one point "some new fad" would probably never even cross your mind. Nonetheless, the fact remains that most people do need to eat more than they presently are in order to lose weight, but the trick comes in eating the right kinds of foods, in the right ratios of nutrients, and at the right times of day. Sound tricky? Perhaps, but I assure you, it is really quite simple. However, the purpose of this article is not to inform you of the benefits of eating, but merely to let you know that eating is indeed a very effective way to lose excess bodyweight, and to explain how diets keep that from happening.

Stating the Obvious

Although most people do not think of the "latest diet" in these terms, hopefully the following question will make you consider what is pretty obvious if you stop to think about it. If the new "Last Diet You'll Ever Need" was really that good at making you melt away pounds while sitting on the couch munching "Carbo Craze Chips" or was even remotely effective at burning off your spare tire while inhaling the sweet scents of "Aerospace's Aromatic Air Baubles", then why isn't everyone already thin??

Seriously - think about it. Every time you hear about the latest diet or the most up to date exercise device that only takes 20 minutes per day, they always say that you will never need another system! The advertised system - no matter how logical or even outlandish as it may seem - is always touted at being better than ever, and the last system you will ever need. Well, if that were true, don't you think that the manufacturer of that system would not only become wealthier than anyone in history, but would also become famous as the person who FINALLY solved the obesity problem in our world? Don't you think that person could also afford to advertise their product during prime time on TV, instead of late at night? Don't you think that system would become known throughout the world - throughout history itself - as a turning point in human development?

So, I'll ask you the same question again: If the solution is already out there, why do we need to keep coming up with new solutions?? The answer is, of course, very simple - these systems don't work, and the human populace is simply looking for a non-existent quick fix to getting rid of too many late night excursions to the local burger joint, or to the fact they should have taken stock in beer while they were in college. Then what does work? Human physiology.

Metabolism

Metabolism is defined as the rate at which your body processes food. In other words, how fast your body burns calories. The faster your metabolism, the more food you can eat without gaining weight. How do you control your metabolism? By eating a nutrient-dense meal every 3 to 3 ½ hours. This practice "stokes your internal furnace", for lack of a better analogy. Think of your body as an old-style locomotive that had coal shoveled into the combustion chamber one shovel at a time. If you didn't shovel in coal fast enough, the locomotive would slow down, and your body is no different. If you don't eat often enough, your metabolism slows down and you don't burn through calories very quickly. In addition, not only does your rate of calorie consumption go down, but your body starts storing almost everything that you do eat as bodyfat! So, in essence, every time you starve yourself in your honest effort to "stick to your diet", you are actually slowing down your metabolism as well as making your body more efficient at building padding for you to sit on at baseball games.

Muscle

"I don't care" you say. You believe that in order to lose weight you need to starve. Okay, that's wrong, but I'll explain why that thinking is flawed. Your body needs energy so you can live through any given day. The amount of energy that you need is determined by your Basal Metabolic Rate, and by your activity level for that day. For most people, this amounts to between 1,500 and 2,500 calories per day. Well, if your calorie-restricted diet doesn't allow you that many calories, your body will find a way to survive anyway. It does this by breaking down your muscle tissue and using it for energy. "So what?" you say. You don't care, as long as the scale says you are losing weight, right?

What if I told you that the ONLY place on your body that you can burn bodyfat for fuel is your muscles? What if I told you that the more muscle tissue you lose on a calorie-restricted diet, the fewer calories you can eat after the muscle loss? What if I told you that after losing 20 lbs on a calorie-restricted diet, your total bodyfat level will have dropped very little, if at all? What if I told you that by using muscle mass for energy, you have literally crippled your body's ability to burn bodyfat in the future, and that by the laws of Nature (which we can't change, by the way), you will absolutely put the weight back on, and probably gain more weight than you ever had before?

If I told you all of that, would you still want to burn muscle tissue for energy while starving yourself to stick to your diet, paying $8 a bag for Carbo Chips, and $20 a session for Aromatic Air Baubles?

On the other hand, perhaps the laws of Nature don't apply to you. In that case, be sure to tune in tonight - I believe the "Lose Weight While You Eat Butter Fried Bacon" diet is going to be featured on a new infomercial. It is, after all, The Last Diet You Will Ever Need!

About the author:
Aaron M. Potts is the owner and creator of Fitness Destinations, a content-filled health and fitness website for consumers as well as professionals in the fitness industry. Aaron's experience in the health and fitness industry includes one on one personal training in many different environments, maintenance of several health-related websites, and authoring of many fitness-related products for consumers and fitness professionals. http://www.fitnessdestinations.com
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