How To Win The Weight Loss Battle

** This post contains affiliate links. I will be compensated when you click and make a purchase. 



Are you sick and tired of your yo-yo diet? Have you tried every known diet to man? Have you been exercising and yet, there seems to be nothing that can budge your weight loss regime? Well, you are not alone in this health dilemma. I have been battling the bulges for some time now. I must have tried every fad diet available to mankind, drank more weight loss products I could buy in the market, exercised like crazy, and all of those did not make me loss the weight I have intended to do.

Losing weight is just no sweating it all out or eating healthily or cutting back on portions. You have to equip yourself with these weapons in order to battle your very own demon when trying to lose weight.

Fix your mind set

This is one of the toughest hurdle I have to face when the motivation or will power to commit to a healthy lifestyle is almost non-existent.

The mind is a powerful organ in our body and it can control many things. You have to change your mind set about viewing your body, tasting food, buying food, eating out, and sweating it.  The old adage "no pain, no gain" is a perfect mantra to tell yourself to commit.

Chose what you eat

I love eating and I guess, a lot of people do. I have a good relationship with food but lately, I have been braking up with most of them, ie. the chips, sodas, sweet treats, and processed foods. Yes, I have to break up with them even if sometimes I want to give in. There are plenty of healthy snacks you can binge on like cut carrots, cucumber slices, fresh fruits, dried fruits, low fat yoghurt or healthy mix of nuts.

Do not compromise on the quality and type of food you will put in your mouth. Commit to eat healthy by clearing your cupboard of junk food. It's okay to treat yourself once in a while with a slice of cake but try not to until you have mastered the art of saying "no."

Sweat it out

I really hate exercising  because I don't like my own sweat. I am just fussy but my fussiness won't make me healthy. So, I have to embrace the sweat of my labour!

You can never be too busy to find time to commit to an exercise routine that you are comfortable with. I allocate at least half an hour each day to just walk on my treadmill. It may not be much compared to those who go to the gym and really, really sweat it out. But the point is, take baby steps in fighting your own laziness. Do not justify in your head whether you are tired or not, sleepy or not, not in the mood or not. Just do it. It's only half an hour, at least 5 days in a week. Start little but go steady.

Write it down

Write how you feel about the whole ordeal. Keep a journal of what you eat so you can track your progress. Write your body measurement at the start of your goal then compare later on when you are progressing.

Keeping a journal of your weight loss goal keeps you in tract and is a constant reminder of your journey to a healthier life.

Have a support system

It's always nice to find someone who can back you up when you're not feeling it. My hubby is my biggest challenger and motivator right now.  He's been jogging for almost 3 months straight and he is committed. Unlike me, I am still far behind. But he challenges me so I am up to that.

Find a buddy you can exercise with or share your new habit of eating clean food that are good for your weight loss and over all well being.

Tap your energy for the day

If you're usually awake before the sun even rises then you're a morning person. Some people are nocturnal. Tap into your energy for the day and try to utilize that energy productively by engaging on activities that will help burn calories like cleaning the room, dancing, walking your dog, using the treadmill.

Some people are more productive during the later part of the day so an afternoon run or exercise to use the remaining energy they have is good to incorporate exercise in the day-to-day activity.



Losing weight is never easy. Let's get very real on that one. But it's not impossible. Just be focused, steadfast with your determination, and challenge yourself to do something that is not very comfortable. It may be hard initially but you'll see the results later on. You're not alone in your weight loss battle. There are many out there who are struggling so hard to lose the weight, just like me. Keep trusting yourself that you will reach your final weight goal. And when you do, we are all going to cheer!

Share your successful weight loss stories here if you have. Leave a comment if you want to. I will be happy to read your story.

Burn Calories While Using Trampoline

**This post contains affiliate links. I will get compensated when you click and make a purchase. Thank you.


Engaging in any activity that will increase your cardio rate and burn calories is considered exercise. Even sweeping the floors, doing laundry and those household chores that you do can be considered as a work out. However, if you are the hyper type and would love to jump around because of your endless energy, why now consider jumping on a trampoline and burn calories while having fun and be like a kid all over again?

Jumping in a trampoline is a good way to burn fats. Continuous jumping in a trampoline can burn around 60 plus calories for a 170 pound person for 15 minutes. You can compute the number of calories burned using the calorie calculator from sparkpeople.com

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/calories_burned.asp

(screen grabbed from sparkpeople.com)

So, if your trampoline is gathering dust in your backyard or has been left for a while unused; now is the right time to get going and start jumping like crazy!

And if you need to update parts for your trampoline, Click Here to visit TrampolinePartsandSupply.com.

Free Shipping AND 5% Coupon Trampolines & Swing Sets - TrampolinePartsandSupply.com Code: 1138668738

FitTea Review

Losing weight is my primary goal this year. I am still in the yo-yo stage and I seriously want to get out of it because it is unhealthy and it is a bad cycle I have to break. So far, I have started cleaning my food intake. Although the process is a laborious one,  I have to work hard on my focus, and determination to really achieve my goal.

My recent vacation proved how much physically unfit I have been. The longs walks I have been doing when I was younger and still slimmer proved to be more of a daunting task. I realised that I cannot fulfil my dreams if I am not physically fit. I have to do something about it.

One way of achieving my weight loss goal is to purge all the unhealthy vices I have accumulated in the past such as:

Bad Eating
binging
snacking on processed foods
eating at fast foods and restaurants
skipping meals
drinking soda like it is water
not eating enough vegetables and fruits


Sedentary lifestyle
sitting in front of the computer for a long period of time
not exercising
taking shortcuts like driving to the nearby grocery, not using the stairs, parking near the entrance, etc.
not walking my dog regularly
will watch the TV rather than exercise
sleeps longer


No will power
no interest in keeping up with my goals
easily swayed to give-up when the weight doesn't fall off
not really focused
gets very impatient


Having analysed all my weaknesses from attaining my goals only show that I am a "big" work in progress and pun intended there, unless I do something about it. I do not want to end up sick, and unhealthy. And it is not yet too late.

Once I have realised what's keeping me from attaining my goals, it has become clear to me that I will have to help myself first and the rest will fall into place and with that, I have to clean myself IN and OUT. One way of doing that is taking FitTea and I am glad I did.

Before I tried FitTea, I had to research on FitTea results and FitTea reviews so I can decide if I will be able to stick to my plans. Upon tasting the product and feeling some good effects, I have been convinced to finish the whole pack and see more positive results.

FitTea is an all-natural tea made of organic green tea, oolong wu yi, organic rooibus, ginger, pomegranate, guarana, birch, stevia, corn and honey powder. Most of these ingredients are known for their detoxing properties which help in cleaning your digestive track, providing more energy to sustain your workouts, promotes fat-burning action, and improve immune system too. You may wonder what the role of "birch" in weight loss and why is a weight loss component derived from a known tree. Birch is used to help dispel water retention from the body. It is also used to treat arthritis, heart problems, achy joints and a good irrigation therapy to flush out the urinary tract. Other ingredients like the organic rooibus has properties that is good for the heart and full of antioxidants to give your immunisation a good boost. The other ingredient like oolong is also known as a good diuretic just like the birch.

What I like:
It tastes good and I did not have to use sugar or honey to sweeten because it already contains stevia, a natural plant-based sweetener and honey powder which already provides the nice and not-so-sweet taste to the drink.

It does not have that bitter tea taste.

It smells good. I feel like I am drinking flower juices.

I am more energised.

I do not have stomach cramps unlike the other detox tea I have tried previously.

It clears my digestion.

I do no't feel bloated.

It has helped suppress my appetite which helps curb my vicious chips snacking and soda drinking sessions.


What I don't like:
Nothing. So far, I like the effects and will continue to complete the 28-day detox by taking the rest of the supply regularly.


My recommendation:
Yes, I do recommend this product for the reason that it is helping me suppress my appetite, giving me renewed energy to go start with my exercise and ease the bloating. I have yet to see the weight loss part later because I have just started with the detox few days ago.

FitTea can help if you will just eat healthily and start engaging in activities that will help build and sustain stamina and burn calories to encourage weight loss. I can already imagine the FitTea makers saying this: "Give us a few weeks and we'll give you a new waistline." Not bad! And I am hoping to see better results in the coming days.

So, if you are packing on the pounds rather than losing them or you are on your way to giving yourself a healthy lifestyle with a sound body and mind, give FitTea a try and see the results yourself.

GloryFeel Colon Cleanse Review #gloryfeelColon

** I have received this product for free for testing purposes. My finding is completely mine and may vary from yours.

GloryFeel is a no-nonsense kind of colon cleanse capsule that sure packs the punch. And why is that? It's very effective. Let me tell you why...

I didn't feel much change on the first day I have taken this. However, during the 2nd day and onwards, that was when I was feeling my stomach "churning" a bit. The instruction indicated to take 2 capsules with 8 ounces of water at bedtime. I only took 1 capsule because I wasn't sure how it would "work" my stomach the next day as I am a full time employee as well. The 2nd day onwards were very challenging. I am thankful I have an access to a very clean toilet at work because I just couldn't stop "it." I had to go several times a day even with very little food I was eating.

It didn't hurt my stomach unlike the other probiotic capsules I have taken before but it was difficult to control the movement. I really had to go when I feel it. I see an improvement in my movement and it happens as soon as I wake up and do my business.

I started having breakouts on my face few days after I took this capsule. Not much ahs changed on my diet but I was having breakouts. I have done detox before and having skin breakouts is one of the signs that the detox is working. And this worked fast.

I don't feel bloated.

It doesn't have any after taste. It's actually bland.

As for weight loss, I am not into any weight loss program right now. I didn't my weight before I have started with the Colon Cleanse so I could not provide much on that aspect. All I can say is that my pants are getting loose because I am not bloated.

If there is anything I didn't like in this product is the feeling of having to really go right away because I couldn't control it much longer. And when I do, I could hear my stomach growl really loud. It was weird but this product is so effective. That, I can vouch for you. And I am still giving this my highest recommendation even if I had inconveniences while taking it because that means, it's really working.

It didn't have any funny smell like other capsules.

Why is it important to do a colon cleanse:

- Keeping the intestinal track free from, toxins and wastes
- Ensuring healthy bowel movement on a regular basis
- Ensuring better nutrient absorption by keeping the colon clean.
- Promoting a high energy level.
- Elimination of bloating.
- Losing extra weight.

Will I recommend it?

Definitely! The side effects may cause inconvenience to most who will take this colon cleanse but they are part of the cleansing process.

Gloryfeel Colon Cleanse contains herbs, fibres, natural laxatives like aloe vera, cascara sagrada and senna. It is Made in the USA.

The plastic bottle contains 30 capsules. You have to carefully read the instructions if you haven't done detoxing before.

This product is available at Amazon.

3 Simple Activities To Burn Calories For The Busy People

Ir's already 2015 and have you started with your New Year's Resolution? Is being fit, healthy and active for 2015 a part of that. If so, it is time we drop the "I'm too busy, I have no time to exercise" line and get on with the business.

Exercise does not have to be strenuous that you really have to sweat it out or pump up iron to build lean muscles and burn off some fats. Exercise also includes simple activities that you already do in a day to day basis. Here are some ways to exercise when you are too pressed for time. You can squeeze in these simple activities and routine even during office hours to ensure that you get to move around during the day.


Keep walking

Bring a cart to the market and walk when buying your grocery. Park somewhere far (but still safe and within visibility) so you can walk to the entrance. Take the stairs rather than the lift. Go for a morning walk with your dog. Walk in the park for at least 20 mins. or so and that should get your heart rate moving. Just keep walking and find every opportunity you can to walk rather than ride the transport or drive around in your car.


Clean the house

Who says cleaning does not burn calories? Cleaning exerts effort and a lot of movement so you get to not only burn calories but also flex your muscles.


Engage in short intervals of intense cardio workout in your routine

If you can only spare at least 30 mins. each day for your exercise then make it more effective by including short bursts of intense workout like sprinting while doing your normal treadmill routine.

Review - Supreme Garcinia Cambogia from Wellness Bioscience

I received the bottle of Supreme Garcinia Cambogia from Wellness Bioscience last week and have since been taking the dietary supplement. I have initially heard of this supplement from Dr. Oz while watching one of his segments about fighting belly fat. I got so interested and checked out the internet about what Garcinia Cambogia really is and what benefit one can get by ingesting it.

What is Garcinia Cambogia? It is a fruit that looks like a small pumpkin and is native to Indonesia but widely used in India and other Southeast Asian countries. It is known to curb appetite, inhibit fat formation, boost metabolism and increase serotonin levels.

I am thankful that I got the chance to try and review the Supreme Garcinia Cambogia from Wellness Bioscience because now I can see and feel the effects. It is still quite early to leave a definitive recommendation and result but there is certainly one noticeable aspect in my pre-Garcinia Cambogia days that I can share - my appetite.

I am not a binge eater but let's just say that I enjoy food and I have a good relationship with it. Top it with a sedentary lifestyle then I became a round and puny being. After a week of drinking Supreme Garcinia Cambogia (twice a day, morning and pre-supper at least 30 minutes before meals), I noticed that I don't feel as hungry as I was before.

I am really looking forward to see the other results as I continue to take this supplement.

The Supreme Garcinia Cambogia is made of 100% Garcinia Cambogia extract, no fillers nor artificial ingredients. 1 bottle contains 180 capsules/tablets.

The only concern I found on the product is not the product itself but the packaging. I received the bottle with a tight seal of protection outside. When I removed it and opened the cap, there was no seal nor cotton fibre to keep the capsules dry. Although I can tell that the bottle was not tampered in any way, it could be the norm of the manufacturer. So, I am not blaming anyone for it. It's my concern and finding that I wanted to highlight.

My recommendation:

Yes. I have always wanted to try this ever since I watch Dr. Oz and have read so many good reviews about the product. And now that I am actually experiencing first hand the effects of suppressed appetite, I am looking forward to see the weight loss effect to come soon if I also couple it with proper eating habits and regular exercise.


You can purchase this product from Amazon.

To know more about this product, please visit Wellness Bioscience.




I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Review - Ozeri 4x3 Motion Digital Pedometer

I used to jog and brisk-walk at the park before. However, times have been rough and the weather is not cooperative so it is hard to stay track on my walking exercise.

I bought a treadmill at home to use for this very reason – lose weight and keep track of my healthy lifestyle goal. I use a small pedometer which I bought for around $40 but it only lasted for a year because the clip kept getting loose and it kept falling too. So, I have been in search of a new pedometer to track my walking performance.

I thank Ozeri for sending me this nice  4x³  Motion Digital Pedometer. It came very timely because I started using my treadmill again. It will be very handy to help me track my progress.



What I like:

• It is very lightweight. My former pedometer is a bit heavy compared to this one which only weighs 28 grams (with the lanyard attached)

• I like the rectangular shape compared to my round pedometer.

• The screen is also rectangular and has a split-screen display for multi-data views. The multi-view keeps me on track without having to look at a separate watch or calendar when taking notes of the stats.

• It comes with a small hole where you can loop the lanyard so you can wear it on your neck or just keep it in your pocket if you wish.

• The mode and setting buttons are in front. No need for me to grope on the side to set the time and date or scroll through my reading.

• It records STEPS, DISTANCE, CALORIES BURNED and TIME.

• It has built-in clock, calendar and timer.

• It can count upto 1 million steps.

• It can record data for 7 days.

• It uses the new 3D Tri-Axis Sensor that can read in any position. 

• It has auto-sleep. It switches off after few minutes when not in motion which helps save battery life.

• It’s not bulky. It has a very sleek design.

• It can be reset if you need to start a new tracking of your data.

What I don't like:
Nothing. This is a great pedometer to use.


Price: $18.95 at Amazon


Specifications:

Uses Lithium CR 2032 battery

Plastic casing

Backlight for night reading of stats
1 in. x 3 in. x 0.75 in. in size

Packaging:
Packed in a transparent plastic box with paper cardboard to hold the manual, lanyard and small screw driver and soft shell plastic to hold the digital pedometer.


My recommendation:

I highly recommend this pedometer. It is the perfect type for me. I like how easy it is to use and it’s not heavy that I could feel it weighing me down when worn. Other pedometers I have tried in the past are a bit bulky and heavy that it became cumbersome to use them. It is value for your money.


You can purchase this Ozeri 4x³ Motion Digital Pedometer at Amazon.

To know more about their products, you may visit their FB page here: www.facebook.com/OzeriProducts



Disclaimer:
I received this product complimentary from Ozeri for evaluation purposes. My feedback is based on my findings and experience with the use of the product. All opinions expressed herein are 100% mine and may vary from yours. I only review products/services that I like and feel will be beneficial to my readers.

Review - Advanced Probiotic Supplement

I sometimes have a difficulty to "move" regularly because I don't drink as much water as I should to help flush the contents of my stomach after days of eating unhealthy food. I have been thinking of detoxing or at least, removing unhealthy food in my daily meals. It is a hard feat but my health is my utmost concern.


What is Probiotics? 

Probiotics are organisms that help improve our health. Our bodies are already teeming with organisms but Probiotics (for example, yeast) aid in keeping our digestive tract healthy and improve our immune system.

Advanced Probiotic supplement is a good help to get me started in my conversion to a healthy lifestyle. I have derailed my goal to achieve a healthy lifestyle and fulfill my weight loss through proper eating and exercises because I am not as fit as everyone else. This supplement, for one, is helping me improve my immune system so I don't fall sick too easily when I exert too much effort on workouts. Aside from that, I am glad that it helped me "move" regularly which wasn't the case before.

The Advanced Probiotic Supplement comes in 2-step twist cap which is great so it keeps the moisture at bay and safe even when there are children around; so they don't easily open it. The bottle contains 60 white capsules which can be taken daily (twice) with meal as a dietary supplement.  However, before taking any medication or supplement, please always consult your physician.

The supplements contain probiotic bacteria (such as: Bacillus Subtillus, L. Rhamnosus, L. Casei, B. Longum, L. Acidophilus, L. Plantarum, B. Breve), vegetable cellulose and maltodextrin.

This supplement is Made in USA and is manufactured and packaged in a facility which may also process milk, soy, wheat, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and crustacean shellfish.  So, please check if you have any allergies on any of those mentioned above.

You can purchase the Advanced Probiotic Supplement from Amazon.

This supplement is a product of Number One Nutrition. To know more about the company and their products, please visit their website.




I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Smoothie For Breakfast

Well, it's been a while since I prepared myself and my daughter a healthier drink to have for breakfast. I decided to cleanse for a while in time for my weight loss goal regimen.

I started yesterday with a glass of banana strawberry plus honey smoothie. I added low fat yoghurt and half the small packet of frozen strawberries with cuts of fresh strawberries too just to make the smoothie a bit thick in consistency.

It was refreshing and we felt full even way past lunch time.

To get my super easy to prepare smoothie, head on to my other blog here: Home Is Where The Heart Is

Feel free to add some variations just refrain from using sugar and full cream style yoghurt or else, you'll just defeat the purpose of trying to cut down on calories. As for my daughter, she's not having this every day and she's not trying to lose weight like I do. It's just a more healthy option to have in the morning rather than a cup of coffee with sugar in it.

Review - Weight Gurus Smartphone Connected Bathroom Digital Scale

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I am in my quest to stick to a healthy eating habits, regular exercise routine and a lifestyle change to accommodate more activities in my day-to-day tasks. I work 8.5 hours a day for 5 days in a week and by the time I get home, I am tired. So, I practically have little energy left to exercise and follow through.

I am glad I received the Weight Gurus Smartphone Connected Bathroom Digital Scale because I can keep a tab on my progress without me feeling aimless in my weight loss goal.

The Weight Gurus Bathroom scale is very high-tech and I am so impressed. There are many great features about this product and here they are:

Auto Step-on (turns on automatically when weighing) and Auto Off
Auto calibration
Auto user detect (important for multi-user homes - e.g. husband/wife)
It can support up to 8 users
Non-slip, scratch resistant feet
4 ultra-precision weighing sensors
400 lb capacity. +/- .1 lb resolution
Durable tempered glass construction
Large weighing platform (150 sq inches)
Extra Large, Backlit LCD (4.3")
You choice of metric conversion - Kg / Lbs
Works on 4 AAA batteries and upon purchase, batteries are included.

Aside from those features, it uses weightless technology where it is designed to encourage weight loss.
The FREE Weight Gurus App tracks progress which encourages you to reach your goal. The Weightless feature lets you manage your weight by how much you've lost instead of how much you weigh. With Weightless you decide how to view your weight - by the number (e.g. 173.4lbs) or weightlessly by weight change (e.g. -12lbs).

And here is another super fabulous feature - you can sync the result from the weighing scale to your smartphone (iPhone or Android devices are acceptable). This way, you can view, track and chart your progress. Smartphones are not required at all when you purchase the scale and use it. It is just a helpful additional for your to track your progress).

The product has a 5 years warranty.

Price: It is sold for $39.99 but you can get it off $10 less using this code upon checkout: GETGURUS

To order this product, please check from Amazon.

My recommendation:
Definitely! I am glad to have this product for my family to use. It gives an added motivation on my part to see better results and progress so I work double time in achieving my weight loss goals. Aside from the features I have mentioned, I like the fact that it's a smart scale where it can sync with my Android phone and capture the weight from the big LED light using the scanning technology of smartphones which is already integrated in the Weight Gurus app when you download it.

Don't think twice. This is a worthy product to purchase.

Know more about the product by visiting their site and other social media platforms:
Website: becomegurus.com
Facebook: facebook.com/becomegurus
Twitter: @becomegurus


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Begin Your Journey to Weight Loss By Checking Your Metabolism First

Losing weight is not an easy feat. In fact, it is not very easy, many fail this endeavour. But for those who succeeded in their journey to weight loss, they were equipped with the right determination, focus, mindset and tools to embark on the journey.

I have friends who have successfully reached their healthy weight goal by sweating out - meaning, they exercised regularly and fixed their eating habits. However, before they went ahead the goal to losing weight, they had to check one thing - their metabolism.

Metabolism plays an integral role in our weight loss goals because it is the hormonal and enzymatic reaction our body makes when we cut back on food, what we eat and how our body transforms and utilizes them.

Before you embark on your weight loss regimen, make sure you are aware of your metabolic rate. You can check  it out here: METABOLISM CALCULATOR

Once you have established that, ease on your food intake. Reduce the amount of calories you are taking but do it gradually and not instantly. If you drastically cut back on food, your body will go into panic-mode and instead of burning those fats, it will store them for heat.

Add protein to your meal but use the lean one like turkey, chicken breast, salmon (also rich in omega-3) and have 5 smaller meals each day.

Drink iced cold water, coffee or tea at least 3 times a day because your body will have to work extra to warm up again.

Lastly and this is the most important part, indulge in regular exercise between 30-45 minutes each day. It may be a brisk-walking, using the stairs, cleaning the house, and walking the dog.  Any short bursts of exercise like sitting up and down your chair for few minutes without the help of your arms can pump up those blood to your heart and also help tone your quads.

Infused Water For Fat-Burning, Metabolism Boosters

Photo credit: yahoo images

I tried drinking infused water for a month before the holiday came. I must say, during the first few days, I find the infused water (with cucumber, lemon and  mint leaves) a bit odd until I got used to the taste. I miss it now so I will go back to drinking infused water again.

It is known that cucumber and lemon are great way to boost metabolism and blast those fats. It doesn't happen overnight.  While I was drinking infused water, I did notice a positive change in my physique. I was more energetic, had good sleep and my waist size went down a notch. Again, that was before I enjoyed the holiday celebration.

Cucumber and lemon are two of the metabolism boosting food around. Cucumbers are high in Vitamin C and A. It is a natural diuretics so you flush out excess water and toxins.

Lemon is another food rich in Vitamin C and great in burning fats as it assist in the cellular level. Vitamin C helps in transporting the fatty acids in the system by using up those energy to burn fats.

Next time you are tempted to drink soda or processed fruit juices, consider this option - infused water.

How To Stay On Track With Your Diet and Weight Loss Goals

New Year is upon us and that goes for a lot who have made resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle, lose the unhealthy weight and be slim and trim.

I may not have any New Year's resolution this year but I do have a goal I want to achieve and that is to be back on track on healthy eating and regular exercising just like how I was few years ago before I fell from the healthy wagon.

This 2014, let us strive to achieve our goal to a healthier body, soul and mind. Here are simple tips that can keep our weight loss goal in check and our diet on track.

1. Have a food journal
It helps to keep tabs of what you eat day in and day out. That way, you get to have a clearer picture of what bad foods you have eaten that can derail you from achieving your healthy diet. Seeing what works best and now can stir you away from cheating on your healthy diet.

2. Place a picture of a "slimmer" you and make it your inspiration
I have a picture of myself on my healthy weight few years ago tucked in my wallet so wherever I go and when I am tempted to eat something really bad, I pull the picture out and stare closely for several minutes. It might be an odd practice for some but it works like a charm to me. I have that picture as a reminder of the reason why I am doing all these. If I cheat myself now, I am just prolonging my agony and the more I am fooling myself.

3. Change your perspective about those yummy, sinfully bad foods/treats

Photo credit: beachbody.com

Yes, that cupcake over there in the counter that has a dollop of marshmallow icing in your favorite color at that can be tempting and such an eye-pleaser. Do remember that, while it may taste very, very nice, the amount of calories you will ingest eating that delectable treat can be equivalent to a run on the treadmill for an hour. 1 cupcake - that's all it takes to ruin all your diet. You can stay away from those yummy treats for the interim because you haven't achieved your goal yet. But once you have, it is not bad to treat yourself to a yummy dessert but only when you know when to treat it as a delicacy and nothing more.

4. Stay away from fast foods
One of the culprits why we get off the healthy wagon is our inability to prepare our own food due to time constraints. Please, let's not make that an excuse this 2014. It is so 2013! Yes, you can make time and you have to. If you want to be healthy then stay away from processed foods that are brimming with sodium and bad fats. Wake up a bit earlier than usual so you can prepare your meal. A little sacrifice will go a long way in your weight loss goal.

5. Have enough R and R
Rest and relaxation are two of the reasons why healthy people stay slim and trim. These people know when to get out of stress that produces cortisol which makes your body store more fat. Learn to meditate and filter the outside noise. Practice Tai Chi or go to a spa for a retreat. Just keep those nerves calm.

There are still plenty of ways to keep our goals in weight loss and proper dieting. It takes determination and the belief in one's self to achieve all these goals for worthy reasons. Your health and you are worthy reasons enough to take living a healthier life seriously. We only live once then live it healthily.

Save Big on Nutrisystem This Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time for celebration and merriment. Naturally, food is an important part of the celebrations and most people end up putting on a few extra pounds before the year ends. While there is no reason for you not to celebrate, you should still be careful about the weight gain. Following a weight loss program is one way to keep your weight in check while ensuring that you don’t miss out on the fun and excitement of the season. One of the leading weight loss programs you can try is Nutrisystem.

Nutrisystem has been around since forever. People started following the program before weight loss became the ‘in’ thing. Having been in business for over 40 years, Nutrisystem has its fair share of supporters as well as critics. A common criticism of the program has been its price. Most people aren’t able to afford Nutrisystem to lose weight. However, there is a way you can follow Nutrisystem without breaking the bank: promo codes. You can look for discounts online and save big bucks on Nutrisystem.

Among the best websites for finding Nutrisystem deals and discounts are www.WeightLossTriumph.com  and Weight Loss Diet Help. Both websites have a variety of coupons, vouchers and promo codes you can redeem and save money on Nutrisystem products. You can choose any deal you like. This way, you can follow the weight loss program for an affordable price. If you don't find a deal of your liking, you can look up further coupons and vouchers on Deal Catcher.

How to Make a  Nutrisystem-Friendly Turkey Burger

(photo by Meagan)

Christmas is turkey time. If your diet plan forbids you from enjoying the traditional turkey dinner on the day, you can make up for it by having a Turkey Burger. Now, you may wonder that how can you eat something that is not on your diet plan. Well, the fact is that this recipe has been created keeping in mind the dietary requirements of people following the Nutrisystem program.


Ingredients

• 4 extra lean Turkey Burgers
• 4 whole grain Burger Buns
• 1 medium Onion
• ¼ ground Cumin
• ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1 medium julienned Red Bell Pepper
• 1 medium quartered Apple (peeled)
• Lettuce and Tomatoes, to taste
• 1 tablespoon Apple Sauce

Instructions

• Place your grill over high heat. Apply pan spray on the onion, apples and peppers and put them on the grill. Cook until they are slightly charred.
• Put the grilled items in a bowl. Let them cool before mincing.
• Mix black pepper, cumin and apple sauced with the minced ingredients. Toss the ingredients to ensure they are mixed properly.
• Put the burgers on the grill and cook until the meat is tender.
• Place the burgers in the buns. You may heat the buns slightly if you want.
• Add tomato slices or lettuce to the burgers if you like.

This is the recipe for a Turkey Burger that does not conflict with your dietary requirements under Nutrisystem. Enjoy it with ketchup or any fat-free and sugar-free sauces you like. So, no need to feel bad about not eating Turkey during the holiday season. So, make following the Nutrisystem diet plan fun and exciting by saving big and devouring Turkey burgers.

What The Snack Girl Says About Weight Watchers

Lisa, the Snack Girl, writes about healthy eating, particularly in the area of healthy recipes, simple snacks and products that she believes have helped her win the battle against her insatiable love for delicious but unhealthy foods such as donuts, when consumed in large quantities.

Anyone considering joining Weight Watchers so that they too can find out if it works for them may want to visit Weightlosstriumph.com where they will be able to get a discount coupon of their choice to defray the cost.

Recently, Lisa decided to sign up for a free subscription to Weight Watchers. You can read about her story, but the following are some of her thoughts about this weight loss program.

Lisa with her husband and two boys

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Emphasized

Lisa was especially impressed by the fact that Weight Watchers emphasizes the use of fresh fruits and vegetables in the diet. You can eat as much of these as you like, because for the most part they are not counted on the PointsPlus calorie calculator. This is great news for those who fear going on any diet plan will leave them feeling hungry all the time. By filling up on fruits and vegetables, there is no room for hunger pains.

Although Lisa was encouraged by the amount of information and resources offered by Weight Watchers, she would have liked to have found a little more support from the “program leader” assigned to her efforts. When she did ask questions, the answers were short and to the point rather than offering her someone with which to relate. In her opinion, unless the individual has a support system of their own, such as a friend who is also following the weight loss program with them, they may be setting themselves up for failure.

Actual Weight Loss Through Valuable Insight

According to Lisa, the best part of the Weight Watchers PointsPlus program is that it actually helped her lose weight, four pounds.

Like others who have decided to join Weight Watchers, Lisa believes that she gained a lot of valuable insight into weight loss that she may never have learned anywhere else. For one, she learned the beer is loaded with calories and that if she wanted to reduce the size of her waistline she would need to cut back on her consumption of this beverage.

Something else she learned was that she needed to stop eating as many snacks. However, when those snacks are fruits and vegetables, like grapes, apples, celery, tomatoes, and broccoli, she is able to eat as much as she likes. The only thing is that you should keep track of any dressings, dips or sauces used with them. This is all just common sense, but Weight Watchers helps you understand how to eat healthier as you watch the pounds disappear.

Lisa was not Keen on Journaling

Although Lisa was able to learn a lot from her experience with the WW PointsPlus program, she quit because she is not all that interested in keeping a journal. Of course, she admits that this in not the program’s fault, but rather her own.

Don’t Skimp on the Strength Training

Photo credit: yahoo images

You've finally gotten to the point where you’re ready to get in shape. You've been saying it for years, even making it your New Year’s Resolution every year for the past decade, but now you're finally ready. You can no longer blame your pregnancies for that extra “baby weight” you're carrying around, since your youngest child is now in elementary school. You can feel age starting to creep in, and you don't enjoy feeling absolutely pooped at the end of the day. The answer to your dilemma is all about diet and exercise. But not just any exercise, you should be focusing on strength-training exercises. Whether that means doing Pilates, using a muscle roller, or lifting weights at the gym, it is up to you.

For most women, strength training is often overlooked. More women tend to focus on cardiovascular activities, since it’s the exercise that garners the most attention. But strength training is actually extremely beneficial for both losing weight and keeping it off. Cardio workouts are great for fat burning and cardiovascular health, but they don't help raise your basal metabolic rate the way building muscle does.

When you strength train, you’re actually ripping tiny tears in your muscle fibers. That’s why you might be sore after exerting yourself more than you're used to. Your muscles get stronger because the muscle fiber heals by reinforcing the area, making it stronger than before.

Strength training won’t turn you into Arnold Schwarzenegger, either. Women’s muscles don’t have the natural inclination to increase in bulk the way men’s do. Your muscles will become firm and toned, though, which will make you look like you've lost weight.

The biggest benefit though is the boost your metabolic rate gets as a result of your muscles growing stronger. Your basal metabolic rate is the energy your body would need, even if you were just lying in bed all day. Strength training builds your muscle cells, which in turn increases your metabolism. You get the benefits of the workout all day, not just when you’re doing the workout.

An important focus of weight-training is having proper technique. If you're doing crunches or core workouts, you can increase the effectiveness by using equipment like a muscle roller or a Pilates machine. When you’re able to focus on multiple muscle groups with one exercise, your workout will be much more efficient. And that means spending less time in the gym and more time enjoying life.