Fat-Burning Mummy

How To Lose Weight And Avoid Yo-Yo Dieting

2012-02-16T08:01:00.000Z

by guest author Natalie Myhalntska

Having a large experience in strict diets, sport and different weight loss techniques I discovered the effective formula which helps lose weight and keep the achieved result for a long period of time.
This formula contains the following principles:
1. Don't become addicted to strict diets. Try to vary food in your daily ration and make it more balanced. Though strict diet may guarantee a quick weight loss, such food limitations are usually a short-term solution only. In most cases these restrictions lead to vitamin deficiency, fatigue and loss of muscle. Less muscle and muscle tone means a slower metabolism and consequently fewer calories burned 24 hours-a-day. Moreover, strict diet doesn't teach you how to acquire health habits and improve your lifestyle. It works like self-delusion: you rely on the quickly achieved result and return to the former lifestyle. Ultimately after going off an extreme diet you gain the weight lost back within a year or less.
In order to avoid Yo Yo Dieting i strongly recommend to refuse from all those radical diets and create your own plan of healthy lifestyle which can be observed during a long-time period and which makes you lose weight gradually. The more slowly you lose weight the higher probability you will not gain it back.
2. A high consumption of virgin oil, vegetables and fruits, fish, milk and cheese, nuts etc. not only enriches your daily ration with all indispensable vitamins and elements but also helps reduce weight and prevent many diseases.
Habitants of Mediterranean countries are guided by the principle to consume the mentioned products everyday. People bound to Mediterranean Diet have a 70% more of expectancy of life and a 80% of better quality of life, supposing they do not smoke. Mediterranean Diet prevents stroke, heart attack, metabolic syndrome, lung diseases, Parkinson, Alzheimer and helps keep the bone mass in elderly people.
3. Eat frequently but reduce portion sizes. Mini meals make your blood sugar stay at normal level and it guarantees that you will never get too hungry and lose control of your portion intake. I advice you to eat salad before lunch or dinner and it will help curb appetite and give you a sense of satiety sooner.
4. Consume dairy products
Milk is a good source of protein, zinc, B vitamins and calcium. The recent studies show that calcium is not only a bone-building element but it also helps lose weight. Due to the research those who consumed 3 servings of low-fat dairy products a day lost more than 10% of their body weight. Those who took calcium supplements or those who had little calcium in their diet lost only 6% of their body weight.
5. Take enough sleep. If you don't get enough hours of sleep your metabolism will not function properly and it may cause hormone imbalance. Hormone ghrelin increases hunger, and when you are sleep-deprived, you have more ghrelin. Leptin decreases hunger, but when you are sleep-deprived, you have less leptin. Consequently you eat more plus your metabolism slows and you gain more weight.
6. Learn to manage stress. When you are under stress your body produces adrenalin and cortisol - 2 stress hormones which may affect your weight. Cortisol causes elevated blood sugar levels, which also trigger the release of insulin, causing the body to store fat, instead of burning protein. Adrenalin also increases sugar levels in the blood and it leads to glucose/insulin imbalance which strengthen your appetite.
7. Combine cardio and strength training. Cardio exercises boost metabolism, elevate serotonin levels in the brain and make your body burn calories faster. Strength training can help enhance your muscle mass and develop strong bones. As you gain muscle, your body gains a bigger "engine" to burn calories more efficiently.
8. Increase quality protein intake which helps improve muscle function and prevent muscle loss during weight loss. Proteins also lower blood levels of triglycerides which helps leptin get into your brain easier and therefore you feel full on fewer calories.
9. Drink an adequate amount of water. The process of burning calories requires sufficient supply of water otherwise dehydration will slow down the fat-burning process. If you drink water before every meal you will feel full sooner and therefore u become satisfied with less amount of calories.
10. Always remind yourself: "I can. I'm strong". Weight loss programme requires constant efforts and determination therefore any obstacle or failure shouldn't discourage or distract you from your main goal - to get perfect and seductive body.

http://magazine-mn.com/ Magazine MN (beauty, health, business, career, success, leadership, marketing)

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

Whitney Houston Dies - The Passing of a legend

2012-02-12T18:14:00.000Z

I couldn't let the day pass without mentioning Whitney Houston, regardless of the main content of my blog.
I was shocked, like many others when I heard of the death of Whitney Houston. I, and many of her fans I'm sure, were happy to see her two years ago as she made her steps towards her career comeback. I had bought her last album and absolutely loved playing track seven, I Didn't Know My Own Strength - a track that you just knew she sang from her heart and soul. A track that I'm sure a lot of listeners could relate to.

She was The Voice. Her music and voice will always be remembered. I'll always remember being in High School and dancing around the room to her first track, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and watching the colourful video that accompanied the track.

My condolences go out to her daughter, Bobbi Christina and all her family.

Part 2: Have You Got the Motivation to Exercise?

2012-02-12T16:45:00.000Z

Need the motivation to exercise? Take a look at these articles.

31 Ways to Motivate Yourself to exercise

Motivation to exercise tips

The Secrets of Exercise Motivation

Part 1: Motivation & A New Year

2012-02-12T11:15:00.001Z

I hope everyone has enjoyed the start of the New Year. Are you sticking to your resolutions?
If one of your resolutions was to exercise more, how have you been at sticking to this? With this cold weather I know how difficult it can be to motivate yourself to exercise. I should know!The early morning workouts I did last year have so far become non-existent.

Not exercising enough has likely been the contributing factor to why I haven't been blogging over the last two months. Or maybe not blogging has contributed to my not exercising enough! Recording my fat-burning journey and mentioning exercise and nutrition on this blog has been very helpful to my trim-down goal. It seems that keeping a record or a journal of your exercise/weight loss goal can keep you on the right path.

I have been doing a few minutes of stretching in the morning, plus there's all the walking I do each day when taking my DDs to and from school. But its time to get back on that path and do more. Just writing this has now spurred me on to exercise.
Are you keeping a record or journal of your exercise/weight loss goal?

A Diabetic Christmas Dinner

2011-12-23T16:52:00.001Z

Are you diabetic or having diabetic guests over for Christmas Dinner? Have a look at these diabetic recipes and tips.

Diabetic Christmas Food

Diabetic Christmas Recipes

Diabetic Christmas Recipes

Diabetic Christmas Dinner Recipes

Diabetic Christmas Recipes A very good site packed full of information for diabetic people.

Enjoy your Christmas!

I've recently written posts on A vegetarian Christmas Dinner and A Healthy Christmas Dinner,

A Healthy Christmas Dinner

2011-12-23T15:35:00.001Z

You want to enjoy your Christmas meal but you don't want to spoil your weight loss goal that you have stuck to for the past few days/weeks/months. Have a look at these dishes and recipes and add them to your Christmas. Click on the titles.

Stuffed Cranberry Roast Turkey

Healthy Christmas and Recipes

Healthy Christmas Recipes

Healthy Christmas Recipes & Tips

Healthy Christmas Dinner Menu

Healthy Christmas Recipes

How to cut 500kcal from your Christmas Dinner

Enjoy your Christmas Dinner!

Ginger Cake

Make Your Own Salad Dressings

2011-12-23T09:52:00.000Z

OK, so you want to eat more healthily so you start eating salads with or in place of your usual meals. The only problem is, you're adding salad dressings that are packed with calories, fat and salt. Use these tips to make yor own salad dressings. Click here

Get Kelly Rowlands Sexy Abs

2011-12-22T03:44:00.000Z

Surely you've seen Kelly Rowlands abs on the X Factor or in her music videos! Well if you want a stomach like hers then check out this video. Click here
.

My Christmas weakness!

2011-12-22T03:20:00.000Z

My Christmas weakness has got to be mince pies. I love 'em. Especially with Ambrosia custard. This Christmas weakness usually begins late October when my main supermarket starts stocking them. I mus say though, I have consumed less this year than last year and with a few days to go before Christmas, the cupboard has been bare of mince pies for at least a week now. I am eating them in moderation, while still thinking of the calories...do they do low-calorie mince pies? With all the walking that I do, I know I am burning off some of those consumed calories. I'm sure I'll have a couple on Christmas Day, while watching Downton Abbey but then that's it...Christmas will be over. And it will be back to my Fighting Fit Fighting Fat Workout DVD.

What's your Christmas food or drink weakness?

A Vegetarian Christmas Dinner

2011-12-22T03:02:00.003Z

Are you preparing a Christmas meal for a vegetarian? Well hold off on preparing a nut roast or pasta and sauce dish! There are more exciting dishes to prepare that a vegetarian would appreciate you for preparing. Check out these websites for ideas and recipes of Christmas dishes, that include appetisers, soups, main meals, side dishes and desserts. Click on the headings.

The Veggie Table

BBC Good Food

Vegetarian Christmas Recipes

Vegetarian Christmas Recipes 2

The Twelve Days of Christmas - The Vegetarian Society

Vegetarian & Vegan Christmas Recipes

Channel 4 Christmas Vegetarian Recipes

Chef In You Vegetarian Christmas Recipes

Jamie Oliver Vegetarian Recipes

Vegan Christmas Recipes

Enjoy!

Polenta & Goat's Cheese Stack

British Women are the 'Fattest in Europe'

2011-11-26T10:05:00.000Z

The European Commission has released figures that reveal British women to be the 'fattest in Europe'. Read the rest of the article here.

Help! This Biscuit Lover wants to Lose Weight!

2011-11-26T08:52:00.001Z

Do you like a biscuit...or two with your cup of tea (or coffee)? I sure do. But it's always a naughty but nice feeling when I bite into one.
I came across an article that gives you the worst biscuits to eat if you're trying to trim your weight, number 20 being the worst.

20. Tesco All Butter Shortbread Fingers - the worst for saturated fat.
19. Fox's Crunch Creams - one of the worst for saturated fat plus there's a heaped teaspoon of sugar in each biscuit.
18. Cadbury Crunchie Bisuit - The worst for sugar content; one of the highest bisuits for fat content.
17. Jammy Dodgers - has more than a heaped sugar in each; there's no real raspberry in the centre.
16. Fox's Viennese - Contains the highest fat content in a chocolate biscuit; contains hydrogenated vegetable oil - not good!
15. McVitie's Milk Chocolate Digestive - Contains twice as much sugar as a plain digestive.
14. Cadbury Chocolate Rich Tea - Contains twice the amount of sugar AND twice the number of calories as a McVities plain Rich Tea.
13. McVities Chocolate Hobnobs - Compared to plain hobnobs they have seven times the amount of saturated fat AND nearly twice the amount of sugar.
12. Tesco Value Bourbon Creams - The cream centre has almost 10% of your daily intake of saturated fat.
11. Crawfords Custard Creams - Contains more fat, more saturated fats and more sugar than Asda's smartprice brand.
10. Asda Smartprice Custard Creams - Contains less calories and sugar but has a high saturated fat content (as with all creamy centre biscuits).
9. Fox's Crinkles Coconut - High in sugar and saturated fats.
8. Maryland Chocolate Chip Cookies - Only 57 calories per cookie, but eating two or three is equivalent in saturated fat content as eating a two-fingered Kit Kat!
7. McVitie's Jaffa Cakes - Only 46 calories per biscuit AND contains 1g of fat, BUT is high in sugar.
6. Tesco Value Ginger Nuts - Only 46 calories and 2g of fat per biscuit; is a healthy biscuit to choose - contains approx. one-tenth of your iron daily allowance.
5. McVitie's Ginger Nuts - Contains slightly less fat than a Tesco Value Ginger Nut.
4. Fox's Malted Milk - 43 calories and 1.9g of fat; high malt and milk content; low sugar and saturated fat content.
3. McVitie's Digestive - A great source of fibre because of the wholewheat content. This brand contains a lower saturated fat content than other digestive brands.
2. McVitie's Oaty HobNobs - 67 calories and 1.3 g of fat; very good for fibre - three biscuits gives you 10% of your daily allowance; gives a steady release of energy; high sugar content.

The Best Biscuit

1. McVitie's Rich Tea - Only 38 calories; only 1.3g of fat; They're made with vegetable oil so are very low in saturated fat.

Fat-Burning Special Offers

2011-11-06T12:53:00.000Z

LA Fitness
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Offer expires Tues 15th November 2011. One voucher per person

Weight Watchers
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A Little Bit Makes A Lot of Difference!

2011-11-06T11:33:00.000Z

You keep telling yourself that you must exercise. You keep beating up on yourself when you haven't exercised. You keep telling yourself that you haven't got the time to exercise. Perhaps it's time to stop calling it 'exercise'.
The word sounds like such a chore...and who likes doing chores. It's something you do because you have to, not because you enjoy it. You want to get it out of the way, and subconsciously you're clock-watching, waiting for it to be over.
If you're trying to lose weight, don't exercise...do fat-burning (activities). This is what I've been doing for the last four weeks. As much as I love doing Tae Bo and Harvey's Fighting Fit Fighting Fat DVDs, I want to keep myself physically active, as much as possible, each day.
It doesn't have to be something requiring you to change into workout gear. There are lots of fat-burning activities you can do per day/per week, that will contribute to you trimming down your weight. Recently, I've done the following:

Putting on a children's CD and dancing around the living room with my two young DDs
Putting on my salsa/merengue CDs and doing salsa dancing/zumba-like fitness, while cooking, cleaning, tidying up.
Brushing up, instead of vacuuming. I've found brushing a carpet requires more energy than vacuuming. I've incorporated waist twists for even more fat-burn.
My own armlifts - no, not using weights...but my three year old daughter! This started by chance, when I lifted my daughter into the air and put her back down...and she wanted me to do it again...and again...and again...and again...It's now a regular in our household. I'm not complaining!
Lifting up both my DDs on either side of me and being a human see-saw! This they enjoy!
Being a lover of Strictly Come Dancing, who would love to learn the 'old fashioned' dances, I like to pick up either of my daughters, and dance the foxtrot..or the tango...and the waltz, and waltz around the room. They love it! My DDs sure aren't light (at 3 and 5), so I'm certainly developing some muscles in my arms when I lift them!
Occasionally walking back from school after taking first my eldest, then my youngest(in the afternoon). 'Power walking' to school to pick them up. It's about a twenty-five minute walk to school, but I often get there in fifteen minutes!Yee har!
Walking up and down the stairs at home, as much as possible per day.

I've been noticing the difference too - I'm looking a little trimmer, and have had a few comments from people too, so I guess I must be doing something right. I've also been changing how I eat...but I'll leave that for another blog post.
A little bit really does make a difference, and it hasn't felt like a chore at all.

The Early Bird Again!

2011-10-08T00:31:00.000+01:00

After falling asleep as soon as I put my DDs to bed last night, I woke up alert enough to do an early morning workout (5.50am exactly). I ignored the fact that it was still dark outside and slipped my workout DVD into the player.
This morning, it was the turn of a TAE-BO workout. I poured a large glass of water and got to 'work'. I started with the Basic workout but then fast forward to the Advanced workout. That was more like it. I worked up a sweat and enjoyed all the punches and kick exercises. It felt good. Maybe I had some aggression to get out...
If you're looking for a different type of workout from what you're used to seeing, then as well as checking out Harvey's Fighting Fat, Fighting Fit as I previously posted about, then you should check out and try Tae Bo. Ideal for men and women, so get your partner to do a workout with you. I used to love doing Tae Bo many years ago, before my DDs arrived, but like so many other things, Tae Bo and exercising got put on the back burner. But I'm back now and raring to go. Click on the picture for more details about Tae Bo.

Free Gym Offers

2011-10-06T05:57:00.000+01:00

LA Fitness

Get a 5 day FREE gym pass at LA Fitness.

Offer expires Sun 23rd October

One voucher per person.

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Fitness First

Get a 5 day FREE gym pass at Fitness First.

Offer expires Mon 31st October.

One voucher per person.

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Keep checking back for more fat burning offers

Tell Me Your Fat-Burning Plans and Goals

2011-10-06T05:23:00.001+01:00

What are your fat-burning plans and goals?

I aim to exercise at least three times a week (more is a bonus), and cut down on unhealthy eating. My goal is to drop two dress sizes.

Let us know your plans and goals. Seeing it written down, may help spur you on.

When did you realise...?

2011-10-02T01:53:00.001+01:00

When did you realise you were larger than you thought?
I realised when I couldn't button my shirts/blouses all the way. I had thought it was because I had become big 'up top' after having my last child. Until, I noticed, last winter, that I couldn't button up any of my winter coats and jackets at all.

When did you realise? Please leave your comments

Jennifer Hudson - "I didn't Know I was a Plus-Size"

2011-10-02T01:34:00.000+01:00

Jennifer Hudson now

Jennifer Hudson, winner of a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Dreamgirls, and American Idol 'reject' has had an amazing body transformation. She lost an incredible amount of weight, thanks to a fat-burning regime, and is doing well at maintaining her weight loss. You go girl!
In an article, she is quoted as not knowing that she was a plus-size. Read more here.

Jennifer Hudson then

Potatoes in the Modern Diet

2011-10-02T00:58:00.000+01:00

Potatoes that are french fried, baked or otherwise can add pounds to your waistline. This was written in an article recently. This confirms my previous post. To read more of this article from the Los Angeles Times click here

Vanity Weight Loss

2011-10-02T00:42:00.000+01:00

A term I've just coined for one of the reasons why people want to lose weight. According to an article I've just come across, there's nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight for vanity reasons. Read more of this article from the Los Angeles Times here

What's Your Weight Loss Plan

2011-10-01T18:40:00.005+01:00

Have you devised a weight loss plan? What is your weight loss goal? If you haven't, or you want to assess your current plan and goal here are a few points to consider. Something that I will be doing.

What should your long-term goal be? And what short-term goals should you set to help you get there? You have a better chance of attaining your goals if you make sure that the weight loss plans that you will use are sensible and reasonable right at the beginning.
Here are some guidelines from the experts in choosing weight loss plans and goals.

1. Be Realistic
Most people’s long-term weight loss plans are more ambitious than they have to be.
For example, if you weigh 170 pounds and your long-term plan is to weigh 120, even if you have not weighed 120 since you were 16 and now you are 45, that is not a realistic weight loss goal.
Your body mass index or BMI is a good indicator of whether or not you need to shed of pounds. The ideal BMI range, according to the national Institutes of Health, is between 19 and 24.9. If your BMI is between 25 and 29.9, you are considered overweight. Any number above 30 is in the obesity range.
From this point of view, you will need a sensible weight loss plan that will correspond to the required BMI based on your height, because this is the primary factor that will affect your BMI.

2. Set Apropriate Objectives
Using a weight loss plan just for vanity’s sake is psychologically less helpful than losing weight to improve health.
You have made a big step forward if you decide to undergo a weight loss plan that includes exercise and eating right so that you will feel better and have more energy to do something positive in your life.

3. Focus on Doing, not Losing
Rather than saying that you are going to lose a pound this week, say how much you are going to exercise this week. This would definitely make up a sensible weight loss plan.
Keep in mind that your weight within a span of a week is not completely in your control, but your behaviour is.

4. Build Bit by Bit
Short-term weight loss plans should not be “pie-in-the-sky.” This means that when you have never exercised at all, your best weight loss plan for this week should be based on finding three different one-mile routes that you can walk next week, for example.

5. Keep up the Self-Encouragement
An all-or-nothing attitude only sets you up to fail. Learn to evaluate your efforts fairly and objectively. If you fall short of some goals, just look ahead to next week. You do not need to have a perfect record.
After all, self-encouragement should definitely be a part of your weight loss plans. Otherwise, you will just fail in the end.

Challenge

Buy This Allposters.com

6. Use Measurable Measures
Saying that you are going to be more positive this week or that you are going to really get serious this week is not a goal that you can measure and should not be a part of your weight loss plan.
This is another reason why you should incorporate exercise on your weight loss plan and focus on it. You should be able to count up the minutes of exercise in order to be successful in your plan.

Er...and where have you been??

2011-10-01T17:30:00.000+01:00

It seems I've been rather quiet on the blog for the past month. That's a reflection of my past month's fitness routine...or lack of! After going to two parties within a week of each other, at the start of the month and trying not to eat much food, and not succeeding, everything went to pot, including any push to get myself out of bed early to exercise. Since the parties I do though continue to eat less carbs, though I would like to eat less, especially bread. I've cut down my consumption of sweets, and can even now walk past Marks and Spencer without popping in to buy their large packet of Percy Pigs.Percy Pigs...Mmm they're so yummy. I'm just imagining myself opening a packet of Percy Pigs and smelling inside the gorgeous-smelling packet...Snap out of it!

Oh well, it's good to dream!

I will attempt before the end of the night to do some form of exercise, if only for ten minutes.

The Weight Loss & Keep Fit Store

2011-09-03T03:11:00.000+01:00

Looking to lose weight and keep fit?

Here's a store that specialises in Fitness DVDs, Weight Loss and Fitness Equipment.

There's a huge array of these products, so there will be something to cater to everyone's fitness needs. There are even Pregnancy workout DVDs!

Take a look at The Weight Loss & Keep Fit Store. Click here

5 Women's Amazing Transformations

2011-09-03T02:44:00.000+01:00

I came across this inspiring article on the Oprah website about 5 women who have lost a substantial amount of weight and look great for it. The article also highlights clothes to wear in your 'new' slimdown size. To read their stories and find out how they achieved and maintain the weight loss click here

Yee Har!

2011-09-03T02:07:00.000+01:00

Yee Har! I finally did an early morning workout. It was a long time coming, but I finally got there...and it feels so good!

I'm not a morning personat all. It always takes me a few hours after waking up to become fully communicative and fully active! I kid you not. But after doing my workout, I am raring to go and full of energy. Looks like I'll have to do this exercise thing more often if it has this positive effect on me.

You must check out the Fighting Fit, Fighting Fat Workout DVD by Celebrity Fit Club's Harvey. If you don't like or are bored with regular workout DVDs then you should try this. As Harvey used to be an Army Sergent this is a military like fitness DVD. There are three levels of circuits to complete, so it's ideal for beginners to more advanced. His military voice and commands (not in a scary tone) gives you the push to carry on. I would definitely recommend this DVD to anyone who wants to keep fit and/or lose weight.

For more on Fighting Fit, Fighting Fat at click on the picture below:

The Early Bird

2011-09-02T06:15:00.001+01:00

I've been meaning for weeks to get up early and exercise, but for one reason or another it just hasn't happened. Either my youngest DD has woken up at around 4.30am, and in trying to get her back to sleep, I have then overslept past the time that I had wanted to get up and do a workout. Or, in setting my alarm very early, I have then in my sleep haze, switched off the alarm when I should have pressed the snooze button.

So here I am, it's 6.13am and I'm off (before my DD's wake up), to do a workout with Celebrity Fit Club's Harvey's, Fighting Fit, Fighting Fat DVD

What, No Rice or Potatoes!!

2011-08-28T23:01:00.001+01:00

I came across a diet plan the other day, which didn't include any rice, potatoes or any other carbohydrates with lunch and dinner. While my lunch did contain rice, my dinner consisted of fish with salad - no potatoes or rice as I would have eaten.
While I know it's not something I could or would want to stick to everyday, I will test it out 3/4 times a week.
I want to research more into a low-carb diet and Dr Atkins. That's my homework for this week.
Has anyone tried a low-carb diet? Did you lose any/much weight? Would love to hear from you.

Do I need a Diet AND Fitness Routine?

2011-08-28T22:24:00.000+01:00

Dieting and Fitness

When it comes to living a long and healthy life, there are two necessary ingredients: diet and fitness. While some believe that they are one thing all together, nothing could be further from the truth. It is quite possible to have a perfectly healthy diet with terrible fitness habits. It is equally possible to be very physically fit with less than savory eating habits.

There's a clever little line in the Jimmy Buffet song "Fruitcakes" when his 'lady' is lamenting:
"I treat my body like a temple
You treat yours like a tent"

I can't help but think of this line whenever I think about all the people around the world who are going on these garbage in, garbage out diet plans hoping to achieve the weight loss success of those who are endorsing these products.

To be completely honest, it is possible to shed pounds through diet alone. It is difficult but possible. It is also possible to be physically fit and have a few extra pounds hanging around. To a large degree we are what we eat. If we consume a high fat low substance diet our bodies are going to lack the fuel required to burn the fat. At the same time if we aren't providing our bodies with the tools it needs to build muscle it doesn't matter how many weights we lift.

When it comes to diet and fitness, the best results are achieved when they work together rather than separately. Use your fitness routine to burn excess calories and use your diet in order to properly provide your body the nutrients and fuel it needs to build muscle. I've heard many times in my life that a pound of muscle weighs less than a pound of fat. While this is not true at all, a pound is a pound regardless; a pound of muscle occupies less space on the body than a pound of fat. Pound for pound, I would much rather mine be composed of muscle than fat. Dieting alone does not build muscle and that is something you will do well to remember in your efforts.

You should also realize that as you are building muscle you may be shedding inches while not showing a great deal of progress on the scale. It is very important that you keep this in mind throughout the weight loss process. Do not measure your progress by the scales alone or you will achieve misleading results. The problem is that far too many people do just this and get frustrated and give up when they are actually making progress. Do not allow yourself to be a victim of the scales. Look in the mirror, try on your tight pants, and measure your waistline. Measure your success by how you feel after climbing a flight of stairs not by how many pounds fell of the scale this week.

By incorporating fitness into your diet routine you are also enabling your body to burn off any extra calories you may have consumed during the day. This means that if you want to have a small 'cheat' during your day, you can make up for it by burning a few more calories than normal in the evening. This isn't something that should happen often but an occasional occurrence isn't going to make or break your diet.

You should also look at dieting and fitness as a ball and glove type of relationship. While you can play ball without the glove, it seems to work so much better if you have both. Diet and fitness when combined can create fantastic weight loss results for those who take them both seriously. The thing to remember is that neither works as well alone and neither will work unless you are willing to do the work. You must make this a priority in your life in order to achieve the best.

Why I Need To Exercise

2011-08-28T22:02:00.000+01:00

I want to exercise and keep fit not just to trim down. I know that the times I have done a workout (at the gym or a keep-fit DVD), I have felt on a 'natural high'. I felt good for it, my lungs felt clear, and I felt raring to go, for the rest of the day ahead.

Below, you'll find several good
reasons why you should start exercising now.

1. Contributes to fat lossIt is well proven from scientific research all over
the world that physical exercise contributes to
weight loss. If you burn more calories than you
consume through nutrition, you'll lose weight. When
you exercise, you burn more calories than when you
don't. It's really simple - the more you exercise,
the more weight or fat you'll lose.

2. Prevent disease
The chances of developing several various diseases
has been proven to decrease when exercising. These
diseases include heart disease, cancer, diabetes,
and the stroke.

Around 4 out of 5 deaths caused by heart disease
and cancer, are linked to factors that include stress
and lack of exercise. We all know that diabetes
increases the chance for heart attacks and strokes.
What this shows, is that many of the risk factors
and diseases caused by not exercising are working
in conjunction to damage your health. To prevent
this from happening, start exercising.

3. Improving diseaseMany severe and minor diseases can be improved or
even healed through regular exercise. These even
include the diseases listed above. By following
a regular plan, you can also decrease HDL
cholesterol levels, decrease triglyceride levels,
and decrease your blood pressure as well.

Exercising on a regular basis will also reduce
the risk of prostate cancer for men, breast and
uterine cancer for women, and much more. All of
this is scientifically proven, which is why you
should start exercising today.

4. Enhance your state of mindEveryone knows from the many scientific studies
that regular exercising will lead to an increased
release of endorphins in the body. These chemicals
will fight depression and make you feel happy. The
body releases these endorphins only 12 minutes
into the workout.

There is another chemical known as serotonin that
is increased during and after a workout. The
increased levels of serotonin in the central nervous
system is associated with feelings of well being
and decreased mental depression. The chemical
can also help you sleep better at night.

5. Enhance your wellnessWhen you are in great shape and well fit, you'll
have more energy and you'll notice that your overall
mood is improved. You will have experienced that
you can stretch beyond your own limits and you
know that you can do more than you thought possible.

6. PersistenceExercising regularly will give you more energy,
which can help you be more productive at home and
at work. Exercising can help give your new goals
a sense of purpose and give you something to focus
on and aim for. This can help you increase your
persistence and prevent you from going off track
while you aim for your goal.

7. Social capabilitiesAfter a workout on a regular basis you can boost
your self esteem. This can help you look better
and you'll be more comfortable as well. Exercise
will also help you to become more active and meet
new people, which will prevent you from feeling
isolated and unsupported. Exercise will also
increase your interests in sex, and can help you
to improve your marriage or your partner
relationship.

After knowing all of these tips and reasons to
exercise, you shouldn't hesitate to get out there
and exercise. You can exercise at home or go out

and join a gym. There are several different
ways that you can exercise, all you have to do
is select a few that you like. Take a little bit
of time out of your day and start exercising -
you'll feel better than ever before and your body
will thank you.

Welcome

2011-08-27T18:52:00.000+01:00

After giving birth to my second (and last) child, my weight has not been as it was a) before having children b) nor is it near the weight I want it to be. I last gave birth three years and four months ago.
It's been a long time since I've fitted into a size 10 (my goodness, I don't even know what decade I last fitted into a size 10). I day I might just be able to!
But realistically, my goal is to drop two dress sizes, and look toned in the process.
How am I going to achieve this?
Answer: an adjustment to my current eating habits and an increased active lifestyle. I say increased active lifestyle, because I do quite a bit of walking, particularly during term time when I speed walk to school to pick up my daughter, and walk back. But I want to do more. I just need to give myself that push to get going.
By writing this blog, I believe it will give me the encouragement to maintain my fat-burning goal. I hope by reading this blog, you will also feel motivated and encouraged to take steps to achieve your fat-burning / weight loss goals.
Please leave comments when you can, and feel free to also inform the other readers of your fat-burning journey.
I'm ready for a new me, are you ready for a new you?
If so, let's start on our journey together.
Tracey xxx