Lose Weight

Losing weight doesn’t have to be boring when you focus on bright, colourful meals. What does this mean? Simply by making sure your plate reflects a range of colours, you’ll naturally create more balanced and healthful menus. Not everyone has the rime or the patience to count calories, but assessing the colours on your plate is something anyone can do - and it only takes an instant!

Why Colour Is Important

Many fatty and caloric foods, such as dairy products and startchy carbs, are beige or brown. When there are too many of these drab colours on your plate, weight gain is almost certain.

That’s because these beige foods often are high in calories and can leave you feeling hungry later. A cup of beige or brown beans can be over 200 calories….but a cup of red or green vegetables is under a hundred! Add fresh greens, deep purple-reds and bright yellow-orange to a meal, and water the nutrient content go up, while calories go down! Plus, you’ll get more enjoyment from eating when there’s a variety of colours and flavours on your plate.

Although these ideas may sound whimsical, they’re grounded in scientific fact. Dr David Heber, renowned nutritional expert from UCLA’s Centre for Human Nutrition established the role of colour in his book, “What Color is Your Diet?” So, next time you visit the refrigerator, think colourfully. And remember to mix, not match!

Kim Beardsmore M.B.A. (H.R.M.), B.Sc. (Biochemistry) is an independent Herbalife distributor, weight loss coach and creator of the online weight loss & fitness magazine Weight Loss Health. For a free weight loss consultation, newsletter and resources to help you lose weight and keep it off forever, visit http://weight-loss-health.com.au Online Herbalife store at http://weightlosshealth.herbalcoach.com Herbalife home business opportunity http://free2liv.com

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We’ve all seen the folks that are able to eat anything they want and not gain a pound, and despite our protests we do feel a tinge of jealousy. Blame it on the metabolism, they always say . . . but how is it that some metabolisms race like they’re winning the Kentucky Derby while others refuse to get out of the easy chair regardless of our efforts to boost them? If you are privileged enough to be blessed with a metabolism that works at snail speed, a few tips might give it the little kick it needs.

Resting metabolic rate, also basal metabolic rate, is the number of calories you would burn in a day without any activity at all and accounts for about two-thirds of energy expended every day. Boosting this rate will help to improve how quickly you burn calories and lose weight.

1) Eat more frequently

Ensures that your metabolism doesn’t slow down between meals to conserve energy

2) Consume more protein

Helps you to use more energy while resting. Protein increases your resting metabolic rate by as much as 2 to 3 times. It also helps to stabilizie the insulin secreted into your bloodstream, a process that has an effect on metabolism. Requires 25% more energy to digest. Jeff Hampl, PhD, RD, and
spokesman for the American Dietetic Association: “Protein is made up mainly of amino acids, which are harder for your body to break down [than fat and carbs], so you burn more calories getting rid of them.”

3) Hot peppers

Hot peppers temporarily increase your metabolic rate and also help you to feel more full so you eat less. They are thought to raise metabolism by up to 50% for three hours after eating, because they increase the heart rate.

4) Strength training

Every pound of muscle gained, extra 35-50 calories burned a day. Muscle burns more calories at rest than fat or bone.

5) Avoid dieting

Dieting forces the body into starvation mode which slows down the metabolism to conserve energy and calories.

6) Supplement with a good multi-vitamin

Metabolism is made up of many chemical reactions that are made more efficient with proper nutrient intake.

7) Eat breakfast

It’s very important to eat a solid breakfast each morning to get your metabolism started after the night-long fast–otherwise, it will stay slow all
day.

Get those ZZZs

Sleep deprivation slows down your metabolism because your body tries to conserve your energy

9) Turn down the thermostat

Research shows that being cold can increase your metabolism by up to 20%

10) Drink water

All body processes need it to function properly, including metabolism

11) Evening walk

Metabolism naturally slows down at night…walking increases it and may keep it up for two to three hours

12) Fidget

Every little bit of movement helps! If you are stuck at a desk all day, fidgeting helps to burn more calories than merely sitting.

13) Incorporate cardio

An intense cardio workout will elevate your metabolic rate for several hours after you finish.

Brianna Stanley owns and operates a successful alternative health company. To find out more about her products and how she can help you, or to sign up for a free health secrets newsletter, visit http://www.thepainfreepage.com

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Did you know that when you are on a diet, if you eat something and no one sees you - it doesn’t contain any calories! Of course that’s not true…but it is how many of us think!

Do you eat when you are bored, upset or angry? Do you find that every day requires a chocolate bar to get you through the afternoon? If you are trying to lose weight, you may feel guilty about snacks. As a weight loss coach, I find some folk (particularly women) laugh nervously when I ask them what happens to their food consumption around 4pm. This often is the time of the day when the “Snack Monster” takes control of them! Some berate themselves for being weak, out of control and without discipline. They either eventually give up on their diet altogether or develop counter thoughts so they don’t feel so bad. “It didn’t really matter - it is fat free”. Or, “if no one notices, the calories don’t count”.

The good news is that a healthy eating programme leading to weight does not have to be like this. You can lose weight without being hungry or guilty! It’s possible to take control of the “Snack Monster” and healthy snacking can lead you to weight loss success, not failure. So instead of being full of regret about snacking, choose your snacks wisely and have more energy and vitality, without the guilt.

The keys to healthy snacking are to select foods that:
* Can satisfy your hunger,
* Supply your body with energy, and
* Provide important nutrients

Look for foods that contain the following:

* Whole grains. Whole-grain snacks are rich in complex carbohydrates and fibre, which give you immediate energy that has some staying power. Consider items such as low-fat whole-grain crackers and whole-grain crispbreads.

* Fruits and vegetables. Eating fruits and vegetables provides a feeling of fullness with no fat and only a small amount of calories. They also provide vitamins, minerals, fibre and other nutrients.

* Nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds are a good source of protein, which helps keep you feeling fuller longer. Nuts and seeds are high in calories, however, so don’t eat them in large quantities.

* Low-fat dairy products. Cheese, yogurt and other dairy products are good sources of calcium, protein, and other nutrients. Be sure to choose low fat versions.

Prepare for your week and have a range of healthy snacks on hand at home or in the office and snack on healthy choices with peace of mind.

Kim Beardsmore is a weight loss consultant whose business operates across 60 countries. Tons of recipes, articles, resources, free newsletter and more to help you lose weight and keep it off forever. Estimate your healthy body weight or receive a free weight loss consultation at http://www.weight-loss-health.com.au

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