Just Relax–You’ll Lose More Weight Than You Think

It’s true. Stress causes weight gain. So what if we do the opposite of stressing and just relax–will our body do the opposite and lose weight? Yes!!! Now I am not talking about just sitting on the couch and doing nothing…being lazy is different than relaxing. But it is important to take at least a few minutes each day to clear your head and forget about all that is weighing you down (no pun intended).

As a matter of fact, Yoga is one of the best exercises you can do to get your body in shape. Not only will it tone your muscles and help you drop the extra pounds, but the meditating that is involved will really help you relax–which in turn helps you lose weight. It’s a cycle–but a good one. The great thing about yoga is that you really can do it without any equipment. There are yoga accessories, like the one pictured above, that are available for purchase, but if you are just doing yoga in your own house it is easy to find substitutions for these accessories.

February 4, 2010 Posted in: Exercise, Tips to Lose Weight No Comments

Good Eats to Lose Weight

So here are a few foods you can eat to help you lose weight–and they taste yummy too. For those who like to cook with ground beef (me of course, because I can make cheap meals to feed my family of 5) can use lean ground turkey instead to cut calories in half and still make some of your favorite meals. This one will really win my kids over because I don’t have to make them eat “healthy food”. I can just sneak it in and they will never know the difference.

You can also find good foods to eat for snacks. One is the Yoplait Smoothie that has only 220 calories, which is the right amount of calories you should be eating for a snack. Just add milk, blend and drink away. This can really help you if you feel like you need to be drinking something with flavor. Instead of soda or juice, drink one of these to curb that sweet craving and help yourself lose weight in the meantime.

Another great snack are almonds. I know that I can eat almonds by the handfuls so it is good to hear they can work as a weight loss “helper”. Almonds are a nutrient dense food that will help you feel full longer. A handful is enough for a good snack, and you can eat 50 to take the place of a meal. So don’t be afraid to be a little “nutty”.

February 3, 2010 Posted in: Foods For Weight Loss, Tips to Lose Weight 6 Comments

Earn Free Stuff

Want to learn how to earn free stuff. It is as easy as doing simple searches on the internet–really, that’s it. All you have to do is register with Swagbucks and use the Swagbucks toolbar (search results powered by Google and Ask) to search for things on the internet. It is easy to win a couple Swagbucks a day just by typing what you are looking for. I use it anytime I need to pull up a webpage–even if I already know the URL. It really is that easy.

Swagbucks also comes out with Swagcodes that you can type in to earn extra Swagbucks. And don’t forget about Mega Swagbuck Fridays where Swagbucks gives out, what they say is too many Swagbucks, just for searching on the web.

Now you are probably wondering why this is being talked about on a weight loss site. Well, even people (especially people) who are trying to lose weight and stay healthy need to get things free once and awhile. Paying for fees at the gym, healthy food, weight loss/gain equipment or supplements all add up really quickly. So by searching with Swagbucks you can earn giftcards for amazon.com, paypal, iTunes, etc. All things we can all use to help with our weight loss goals.

So, to get started, click here or one of the many other links in this post and register with Swagbucks to start earning prizes today! Once registered, be sure to download the Swagbucks toolbar so you remember to use Swagbucks for all your searching.

Good luck!

February 1, 2010 Posted in: Affordable Weight Loss, Tips to Lose Weight No Comments

Don’t Give Up on Your Goals–You Have Too Much to Lose

It’s been a month since the beginning of the year and that means many people have been working hard on their New Year’s resolution to lose those extra pounds. If you’re like most who make this resolution, then when looking at your results so far, you’re wondering if those early hours in the gym are worth it, or if passing on those potato chips is even working off your waistline. Some may think that giving up is a better option because it’s too hard and the results aren’t good enough. If it is the latter, then this article will help you stick with your goals and accomplish your desired weight loss.

So many of us start a new year thinking that this year will be different than last year and that now is the time to do what we’ve tried to do so many times before. Why do we think this year is different? Why do we think things will be different and this time it will work?

If no answers come to mind, then here are two answers that might apply:

There is more to live for than the habits we can’t break. Most of us with this goal are concerned with our health and want to get control before our health gets too bad and we can’t do what we’ve always enjoyed. But it is those habits we love that are so hard to get rid of. And breaking them isn’t an easy task. We’ve got to find something that we equally enjoy to replace them with. For example, if you are constantly on the road traveling and find that a bag of chips and a soda is what you grab for the trip then that’s a habit that has to be broken in order to lose weight. Try preparing for the trip ahead of time by packing good healthy snacks and a low calorie, low sugar drink (like water). Don’t get caught without something to eat. This will only cause quick trips into the gas station where it is really hard to find something healthy. Its little steps like this that will help you on your way to accomplishing your weight loss goals.

There are several diets out there that don’t require us to give up everything we love to eat. Diets out there range from cutting out all carbs to cutting out all sweets to eating lots of proteins. That’s a pretty wide range. Most of these diets don’t seem to last long and any weight lost always seems to come back when that food is introduced back into our diets. Instead of trying those diets that haven’t worked in the past try eating the things you love to eat, but eat less and less. The most important thing with food and getting healthy is making sure that food doesn’t control our lives. That’s why we look this way in the first place. Take small steps. Don’t make drastic changes or commitments in the beginning. Start with something small like portion control and then add calorie counting, for example. By making a lot of changes all at once will only set yourself up for failure. Conquer the small goals first and then add on.

Don’t give up on your weight loss goals just yet—you have too much to lose. Try these simple solutions and feel better about your goals—and your accomplishments.

January 28, 2010 Posted in: Basics to Losing Weight, Tips to Lose Weight 12 Comments

Biggest Loser Week #4

Another week of the Biggest Loser and what did we learn from it? Here is what I got from the show last night.

“Trainer Tip” #1

Need something sweet? Instead of grabbing something loaded with sugar get and apple instead.

Cover it in water and heat in the microwave for 3 minutes. When it’s done sprinkle some cinnamon on it to curb that sugar craving. It’s a great snack for only 60 calories. This is great in the afternoon when you are just searching the cupboards for something for your sweet tooth.

“Trainer Tip” #2

Another unofficial trainer tip, but when it comes out of a trainers mouth it is pretty much a fact. The show always promotes Subway but for good reasons. There are so many perks to eating there. It’s good, for one, and you can always find something healthy. Bob suggests to get something in your system before going to the gym. You need to “get the fuel you need to fuel your workout.” At Subway, you can ask to get double meat put on your sandwich for double the protein.

Check out another book by the Biggest Loser called The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps: 100 Easy Changes to Start Living a Healthier Lifestyle (Paperback).

January 27, 2010 Posted in: Basics to Losing Weight, Tips to Lose Weight No Comments

Posture Pays

Do you sneak a glance at your reflection as you pass by a window and when you see yourself you straighten up? Do you feel like you have been working on losing weight and you aren’t getting any compliments on your trimmer figure? Don’t inhibit your weight loss goals by slouching. For one, you will lose more weight when you see and feel results. It is just part of human nature that when others notice, we get more motivated to continue and lose more weight. So when you slouch, you round your back, which makes your neck and chest seem fatter, and you push out your tummy. Not only is this unattractive but you are letting some of your muscles go instead of keeping them engaged. Instead, push your shoulders back as far as they can go, push your chest out, and try and keep the top of your head tall. You should feel your mid section muscles tighten. If you feel this, you are not only strengthening those muscles but also you look like you have confidence. This will really help in your goals to lose weight. When others start dishing out compliments on your new self, you will feel like you are getting somewhere and that your daily routine isn’t for nothing. Try it and see results!

January 26, 2010 Posted in: Tips to Lose Weight No Comments

Start Chewing

If you are feeling hungry between meals, instead of snacking, try brushing your teeth or pulling out a piece of gum to chew. Everyone has experienced the taste of food right after brushing. Not that pleasant. So by chewing a piece of mint gum or getting in a quick brush will help you fight the temptation to snack. Chewing fruity flavored gum (sugar free that is) will also curb the snack cravings because of the sweetness of the flavor. Chewing gum also burns calories. Who would have ever thought you could lose weight by chewing your favorite piece of bubble gum. Extra, Orbit, and Trident are all sugar free brands. Start chewing!

January 23, 2010 Posted in: Tips to Lose Weight No Comments