Healthy Body

As most of us search for the perfect diet, you may be surprised to learn that bee pollen and weight loss have been linked.

Research has found that bee pollen increases the metabolism, thereby speeding up the rate at which calories are burned. In fact, it is thought that pollen from the honeybee is even more potent as a weight loss alternative. The pollen itself is low in calories, and it contains a substance called lecithin which allows fat to dissolve more readily in the body. In addition, the effect bee pollen has on cholesterol is positive, and can decrease cardiovascular disease as a result.

Another reason why bee pollen is so effective in losing weight is that it suppresses the appetite. Once you have a regular meal, you feel sated and do not require a second portion or snacks later on.

Here is another amazing fact. The amino acid in bee pollen can also increase weight. Hold on, this is not a contradiction. Simply put, there is an amino acid within the bee pollen called phenylalanine. Now what this does is signal to the body whether or not it is being deprived of food or needs food to survive. Amazing, isn’t it?

Bee pollen is also known as an energizer and has a domino effect on the body. The more energized you are, the more you will engage in physical activity, which will result in the loss of more weight.

Experts also note that the reason why some cannot lose weight, or gain weight for that matter, is due to a “chemical imbalance within the body‘s metabolism”. When bee pollen is introduced, therefore, there is a stabilizing effect which can bring the body back into balance and can attribute to either weight loss or weight gain.

Bee pollen is available in capsule form and can be taken in conjunction with a weight loss program. However, it should be stressed again to consult with your doctor before beginning any weight loss program, as well as ascertain if you are allergic to the pollen itself.

Now a word about phenylalanine that should be addressed: This chemical is found in decongestants and appetite suppressants. This should not be taken as a supplement since it can cause severe side effects.

In addition, pregnant women, children, and nursing mothers should not use bee pollen as there is not sufficient data to explain how it would affect this group. Consult with your physician before deciding on any course of dietary supplementation.

Most people get out less in the winter than they do in the warmer months. It’s just easier to sit in front of the television with a cup of hot tea than it is to bundle up and brave the cold. Besides it’s too cold to participate in the activities we do in the summer.

However, the inactivity that many people experience in the winter can be detrimental to their health. No matter how healthy one’s diet is one needs exercise as well. That’s why winter is the perfect time to join a gym.

Joining a gym gives you access to numerous exercise options. You might not be able to go on a nature hike or whitewater rafting but there are plenty of options available to you at the gym. There are all sorts of equipment, classes and even indoor pools.

Working Out To Stay Well

Working out burns fat and keeps our hearts healthy. It reduces our risk for many diseases and ailments. It increases our metabolism. Did you know that studies suggest that exercise benefits our immune systems?

Regular moderate exercise can help us ward off colds and the flu.  A study of 50 women showed that those who walked briskly 5 days a week had half as many colds as those who did not exercise at all. They also had healthier immune systems with more virus- and bacteria- killing cells.

Choosing a Gym To Join

Finding a gym that you like and is convenient for you is crucial. If you join a gym and find out later that it isn’t what you wanted, you probably won’t be able to get a refund. It’s important to check out a number of gyms before deciding on one.

Location is important but it’s not everything. If there is a gym that you can stop by on your way home from work without going out of the way, by all means check it out. If it has a friendly environment and equipment and facilities that you will use, go ahead and sign up. If not, keep looking.

Some gyms offer free trial memberships. This is a great way to try them out before paying membership fees. Make sure you check out all they have to offer before deciding. It’s great if they have good equipment but if you’re looking for a fun aerobics class you’ll need to see what they have to offer in that department as well.

Even when it is freezing outside, you can stay fit by joining a gym. If you can get a friend to join with you it will be easier for you both to say motivated. Then you can spend the winter staying in shape instead of putting yourself in a position to work twice as hard in the spring.

With the brand new fall season shortly underway, most people are gearing up to watch their favorite shows. Not only does this signal the start of winter but is a particular time when there is the potential for weight gain.

Let’s face it; the football season has just commenced and along with favorite shows yet to come, most fans will be sitting in front of the TV with a myriad of snacks. Add to this inclement weather, lack of exercise and the need to hibernate adds a new set of eating routines that are unlike any other season. Thus, weight gain is imminent.

One could suggest it is the natural order of things; that is, to spend more time at home sitting in front of a roaring fireplace nestled in that favorite chair and watching that favorite show while consuming those favorite comfort foods.

Winter is also a time when the flu may restrict movements. The time to feed the cold, not starve the fever. Whatever the case may be, it is common for most individuals to take advantage of the winter months to enjoy heavy and high fat foods. The cycle of dieting during the rest of the year seems to wane during the winter months.

In order to maintain a healthy diet year round, and while admittedly it is hard to do especially with the holidays approaching, it is necessary to exercise as often as possible in order to avoid the inevitable weight gain that is more likely to occur during the winter months.

While there will be the occasional snacking during Sunday night football, combined with more heavier foods that are meant to warm and comfort, it will also take a great amount of effort to exercise and pay attention to how much of these high fat foods are ingested.

If you are already on a diet regimen, whether it’s counting calories or consuming prepared foods, no doubt you will want to eat snacks and other foods that are not on the diet menu. If this is the case, retain the portion control that you have utilized from the outset and exercise a bit more often to compensate for the extra calories.

Prepare homemade vegetable soups, which are not only hearty, but healthy as well. Freeze several containers to last a few weeks at a time. Winter is a problem for just about everyone when it comes to weight gain. However, the more active we stay the more likely we will emerge healthier in the spring.

Let’s face it — too many Americans are overweight. There are basically three reasons why —

(1) Diet
(2) Lifestyle
(3) Genetic factors

Right along with quitting smoking, weight loss is a primary factor in determining the quality and duration of our lives. About the only people who are benefiting from the fact that we’re overweight are the owners of companies that develop weight loss products. If you look at those three items I listed above, you can see that spending a fortune on these products may not benefit you at all, unless you do some things on your own.

If you want to save some money, try these tips to help you lose weight naturally.

1. Write Down Your Weight Loss Goal

Start with the end in mind and write down the weight you would like to achieve at the end of a specified date. Make it specific — for example: If you now weigh 185, say, “I want to weigh 160 pounds by July 30, 2007″. Now, work backwards and break that final goal into shorter-term mini goals. For example, by March 15, 2007 I will weigh 180 or 175.

2. Affirmation

Write down your weight goals and say them out loud every morning and every evening before you go to bed. Paste them up on your bathroom mirror. Be sure that you also visualize yourself in your perfectly-sized cloths.

3. Measure Your Progress And Celebrate Your Success

Keep track of your progress at least once each week. When you meet your mini goals, celebrate your success and give yourself a reward. Don’t make the reward something fattening, though.

4. Get physically active — exercise every day.

For weight loss, it’s good to get at least 30 minutes a day of aerobic exercise. Walking is the best. Mix in some strength exercises as well.

5. Eat right and drink plenty of water.

Stay away from fatty or fried foods. Stay away from the fast-food places. Learn to read labels and avoid as much sugar as possible. Eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies. Don’t skip meals — starving yourself will never help you to lose weight. Drink eight ounces of fresh water every day.

6. Get Support

Find others who are motivated to do lose weight. Check out the internet forums on weight loss to find lots of like-minded buddies. Talk to your friends and family about your goals and successes.

7. Stay Motivated

Don’t let all the commercials on TV and in magazines distract you from your goals. The pressures put on you in our society to gain weight are enormous. Just remember that they are out to get your money — they’re not interested in helping you to stay healthy. This goal of losing weight is well worth the time and effort you’ll put into it. Stay focused and stay motivated. You will feel so much better for it.

The key to successful, natural weight loss is about 80% mental work — that is staying focused and having good talks with yourself — and the other 20% is knowing how to make it happen.

Have a healthy day.

Shanti,

Ron
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Ron Rink (See my profile on the “Contributors” page — the link is in the upper right hand corner) writes regularly in his “Nutrition and Weight Loss” blog at: http://www.wecould2.com. Be sure to stop by, check it out, and leave a comment.
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Losing weight can be a lifelong struggle for many people. They are always trying the latest diet and get discouraged when it doesn’t work for them. People are always giving advice, but it can sound condescending or seem like nagging.

The truth is losing weight is hard work and the more you have to lose the harder it is. But that doesn’t mean it’s not achievable. There are many, many people who have achieved weight loss and are living happier and healthier lives.

One of the biggest struggles of weight loss is staying motivated. Most of us start out with great enthusiasm and usually have great results the first week or even two but once the weight loss slows down that’s when our willpower has to work overtime to keep us from reverting back to bad habits.

Here are a few tips to help you stay motivated during your weight loss:

Picture It – Visualization has been used for years by many and it works. Take five minutes out of your day to visualize the pounds melting off, but don’t stop there. Imagine what your life would be like if you were thinner. Would you have more confidence, would you buy new clothes, start dating again, what would you do? Visualize it and stay motivated.

Journal It – Start a journal at the beginning of your weight loss journey, write how you’re feeling, what your goals are and what a difference it would make to your life. Then take a picture and stick it to that page. Depending on how much weight you’d like to lose you can update the journal weekly or monthly (as difficult as it may be, you should probably do it weekly). Take the time to take a new picture every week and stick it in a new page along with a few notes, if you hit a plateau, look back through your journal and see just how far you’ve come.

Reward It – Set small goals throughout your weight loss and rewards to go with it. For example five pounds can be a nice body lotion, twenty pounds can be a fab new outfit. Make the rewards whatever you want but try to stay away from food rewards, as this is not constructive to your weight loss.

Instead do have little treats here and there throughout your weight loss phase (don’t deny yourself completely) and see these treats as everyday part of life not something to use as a reward, just make sure you eat them in moderation.

Buddy Up – Find a good friend who also has the goal of losing weight. Keep each other accountable. Encourage each other and cheer each other on for every little goal met. Positive peer pressure is a good thing.

Flaunt It – Why not? You’ve worked hard; share your thoughts with friends and family members. Let them know how proud of yourself you are and bathe in their compliments. You’re taking steps to change your life and doing something that’s not easy at the best of times, so be proud of yourself and share it with others.

Once you start losing a little weight, you’ll be amazed at how motivated you are to reaching that end goal. But, don’t rely on the scales all the time. Don’t weigh yourself every day. Are those favorite old jeans fitting now? Do you need to have your nicer clothes altered to fit the new you? Great! Then you’re reaching your goals, a little at a time.

Everyone looks forward to starting over in the New Year, and making the decision to get healthier is a good one. However, most people go about it the wrong way. They fail to plan how they are going to do it. Or they try to do everything at once. It’s a process, and needs to be taken step by step.

When most people decide to lose weight, they set goals like, “I will lose two pounds per week”. But various factors that have nothing to do with your lifestyle changes may affect your weight. The best goals are ones that are under your control. Set goals related to how much you exercise or what you eat. If you make these goals small and reasonable, you’ll be more likely to accomplish them.

One of my best friends went on the raw food diet. He ate one cooked meal a day, and most of the food he ate was remarkably similar to what I feed my pet rabbit. The diet worked; he lost weight, but two months later he gained it all back when he started on the Coke and fast food diet. The moral of this story is: while big changes are good for you, you can’t stick with them for the long term. Try setting goals like “I will replace one fatty snack a day with a piece of fruit instead” or “I will walk for ten minutes every day”. Once you reach your goal, set a new one. This makes any diet easier to stick to.

It’s best to only change one thing at a time, or at the most two. Such as, change one food habit and add one exercise option. Look at all the various types of exercise and try to find one you will enjoy, not whatever the latest fad is. If you enjoy the exercise, you’ll be more likely to stick to it.

While starting too fast with a diet can make it hard to stick to, starting too fast with an exercise program can be dangerous. Doing too much too soon can not only wear you out, it can cause permanent damage to your body. Remember to pick your exercise program and start small. If you decide to run, run until you’re too tired. Then walk the rest of the time. You may only run five minutes the first day, but if you keep it up you’ll be running the entire way in no time.

The first best step for you to do is consult your doctor and have them help you design a suitable diet and exercise program, that takes all your possible health needs into consideration. Set obtainable goals, and focus more on being healthier first, and the rest will fall into place. Don’t worry so much about what the scale says, notice more of how your clothes fit you.