4 Very Persuasive Reasons to Opt for Push-Ups over the Bench Press

When it comes to the debate of bodyweight versus lifting weights, the arena is full and the sides are clearly drawn.

The fact is, where you'll take your stand in the debate will be decided by so many circumstances that no one gets to their stance in the exact same way. However, there are four very clear reasons you should consider making the change from the bench press to the push-up - or, at the very least, to consider getting the best out of both.

Reason #1

When doing push-ups and other bodyweight exercises, the amount of weight and resistance you're working with is in direct proportion to your body's inherent capabilities. Performing push-ups will be the equivalent of "lifting" roughly 60% of your body's weight.

If you weigh in at 185 pounds, that's roughly equal to 110 pounds. If you weigh 220, it's closer to 135 pounds.

Reason #2

Push-ups can be better for your health than bench pressing - especially if you've led a more sedentary life until now. Push-ups are a safer option because your shoulder joints won't have to support excessive weight, or risk winding up in an unnatural or compromised position.

Unlike bench pressing, which really zero's in on specific areas while neglecting the overall body, push-ups work a wider variety of your muscle groups, offering fuller, more wide-spread results. Hey, back in the day, when bench presses first entered the scene, serious athletes snubbed them as "a lazy man's machine."

Reason #3

Push-ups offer yet another reason to make the switch: they demand (and develop) greater stability PLUS better overall body control. This translates into improved balance and an optimized range of motion. Both of which will make a significant impact on your overall presence and persona, and perhaps more importantly - your quality of life!

Examined individually, these benefits are fairly impressive. However, when you add them all together, the results are simply spectacular.

Check this out..... With pushups....

Your body won't be stressed out from aggressive, excessive weight lifting. You'll always be working with roughly 60% of your body's weight.

Switching from strictly bench pressing to performing push-ups is better on your shoulder joints, which are often deteriorated and compromised in the course of rigorous weight lifting.

You'll also be enjoying an exercise that works a much wider majority of your body's muscles. Not only will your arms look fantastic, you'll see real results in your back, abs, and butt as well.

PLUS you wind up with improved balance, movement and control.

But, there's another benefit that you might have missed...

Reason #4

Once you've started maximizing the power of push-ups, there's a whole world of fitness possibilities that open up. It's called "bodyweight exercises" or "bodyweight training", and push-ups are just one of a multitude of your options.

Know what's even better?

Just like push-ups, other bodyweight exercises don't require expensive gym memberships, bulky equipment, massive amounts of your time, or any of the other obstacles that turn what should be a simple work-out into a Herculean effort.

Quit complicating things! Don't let "public opinion" make things harder than they have to be.

Get back to the basics and regain control of not only your workout, but the rest of your life as well!

Rhadi Ferguson is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Rhadi Ferguson trains World Class Athletes and in an Expert in Bodyweight Training. Ferguson is also a 2004 Olympian in Judo and a 4-Time National Judo Champion. If you desire to learn more information about bodyweight exercise and bodyweight training you may visit his websites at http://www.TheBodyWeightWorkout.com and http://www.TheBackyardWorkout.net for the best in bodyweight training and bodyweight exercise.

Walking Gear - Shoes and Clothing

Walking Shoes

Shoes are the most important piece of equipment for a walker. Walking shoes can make the difference between having a fun, relaxing walk or an uncomfortable, painful walk. Find walking shoes with the following characteristics:

• Shoes that provide support and comfort to all parts of your foot.
• Shoes that have enough toe room so you can wiggle your toes.
• Shoes that offer firm support at the heel.
• Shoes that have a flexible cushioned sole to assist with your walking gait and shock absorption.
• Shoes made of breathable material, or fabric that allows perspiration to dissipate.
• Shoes should be lightweight.

There are many shoes at various prices ranges designed for walking. A running shoe or a tennis shoe is fine for a walking program as long as the shoe is comfortable and has the characteristics aforementioned.

Walking Equipment

It is best to wear loose fitting clothes, such as shorts made of natural material with a tee shirt, or a warm-up suit. Avoid rubberized clothing. Following are clothing guidelines to follow for your walking program:

• Dress warmly in cold weather - Wear layers to trap the heat, yet allow you to remove layers if it gets warmer. As a guideline, wear one less layer than you would if you were outside in the cold weather and not walking. Remember to wear a hat since approximately 30 percent of your body heat is lost through your head.
• Dress less in warm weather - In warm weather, less is more. Wear light clothing. Wear a hat to block the sun.
• Dress for rain or snow - A water and windproof jacket makes a great addition to your walking wardrobe for rain or snow.

Walking Gear

Although there is no need to spend a lot of money on walking gear, there are items that will make your program easier, safer and more fun, such as a pedometer and reflective products and lights.

• Pedometer - A pedometer is a great way to enhance your program. It allows you to track the number of steps taken, how far you've walked, and how long you've been walking for. A pedometer also allows you to track your progress against the goals you have set for yourself.
• Reflective products and lights - Reflective products are a must-have if you walk in the morning, early evening or at night. Consider purchasing a reflective vest and reflective bands. A flashlight or strobe light will also help you be seen at night.

Make your walking program a success with comfortable walking shoes and clothing, a pedometer for tracking your progress, and reflective products for safety.

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At MyGuidesUSA.com (http://www.myguidesusa.com), you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life's major events. Whether you're planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you'll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.

Find tips and resources on exercise and fitness programs, exercising with health conditions, children's fitness, and more at http://fitnessandexercise.myguidesusa.com

Another Scam or Not - The Hoodia Gordonii Side Effects

Okay before we get started I would really appreciate it if all of the people who have no business loosing weight please leave. I mean seriously. I get the most ridiculous emails at times from people who could hide behind me when I am standing sideways. This is for people like me. I am a mother of 6 and I actually need to eat in order to live. No, I am not talking about the 1 carrot stick a day meal plan, I am talking about real food. So if this isn't you get going.

On to our topic. I was so excited when I heard about the newest miracle in weight lose. I told my husband as soon as he got home and I had even found a few places to purchase it from. Then the worst thing happened. First, always make sure you know your husbands mood before you spring any money item on him. Second, make sure you always get rid of failed products before you ask him about a new one. That's right, not only did he say no. He actually pointed out various failed products.

I did the usual. I told him this time was different. I told him, I saw it on the news. I told him lots of sites were caring it. I told him I could find it on sale. It didn't work. He said no. The days went by and he still said no. Well it was time to change tactics. You ladies no what I am talking about. Find the problem and get around it. So I kept asking but now I was listened to why. This is what I heard. He was worried last time I jumped on a diet product. He felt this was just another scam. He loved me.

So I decided to take action. I found out that although Hoodia is still being researched it is a relatively safe product. It has been being studied for quite sometime and no side effects have been found to date. Although there is one thing to be careful about. Most of the Hoodia products currently on the market won't do a thing for you though. You see, they don't have enough Hoodia in them. The percentage of Hoodia is so low you think it would be illegal for them to put Hoodia on the bottle.

My best advice get informed. Find out not only what needs to be in the product but also how much. As much as 80% of the current products on the market are junk so please be like me and do your research. Hoodia can and will work but only if you are getting a high quality product, with a good source of Hoodia. This also helps with skeptical husbands. Good luck in your weight battle. I myself will battle on.

Janet Moore
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Best Cardio Machines For Your Butt

Many women today are working to improve their overall health and appearance, while focusing on increasing some of their best assets. Right now, the rump is getting a lot of attention and I've got a list of the best machines that will help you improve your, ahem, best assets.

The Treadmill - It doesn't matter if your are jogging or walking this machine will get your on your way to a curvy and firm behind. If you choose to job make sure that your heels are hitting the ground first. If you choose to walk, increase the incline so it simulates walking up a big hill. The treadmill is the most effective machine for working out your glutes, even more than the stair master.

The Elliptical - This machine is great for a cardio workout! Did you know that this machine will activate about 32 percent of your glute muscles? Its true, stick your butt out a little while on this machine and push down with your heel as much as possible. You will defiantly feel the burn!

Spinning - Using an upright stationary bike while sitting farther back on the seat and pushing the pedals down forcefully will get your butt in gear in no time! If you are spinning, stand up and stick your butt out while leaning forward. This method only activates 6 percent of your glute muscles, but is a great workout overall.

Take the stairs - A stair stepping machine is a great tool for increasing the strength in your legs and bringing your butt up to new heights! This machine will activate about 24 percent of your glute muscles, all you have to lean forward slightly at the waste and take longer steps, try taking two at a time if you can manage it. And let go on the rails!

What are you waiting for? Go get your rump shaking!

Check out The Fat Loss 4 Idiots Diet - The best diet for getting your rump in shape much faster. Remember it doesn't matter how much you exercise if you aren't eating the right things!

I also recommend Turbulence Training & WorkoutPass for exercise you can do at home without cardio equipment.

How To Get A Completely Flat Stomach

The trick to getting a completely flat stomach is not more exercise, a healthier diet, or a magic pill. We've all tried that. It never works. Here is the key to beat that stubborn belly fat.

Rid Your Stomach of Waste

The reason getting a completely flat stomach is so difficult is because your the fat cells in your stomach are extremely bloated with toxins. Your stomach is constantly working damage control by capturing the toxins floating around your body and storing them. This damage control is important, but it also makes it terribly hard to lose weight.

So are you wondering how to get rid of these toxins? I bet you are. It's quite simple. Find a good body wrap to detoxify your fat cells and incite lymphatic drainage. The body wrap will enable these toxins to be released from your fat cells, into your capillaries, and you will lose inches from your stomach immediately. And best yet, your body will now be in it's optimal state to start burning fat and help you to finally get that completely flat stomach.

Increase Your Fat Intake

Yes. You heard me right. I want you to increase your fat intake. But, doesn't mean that you should go out and order a pig for dinner, either. There is such a thing as good fat, and its quite well known by those who keep up to speed with the latest in good nutrition.

Good fats lower the bad (LDL) cholesterol in your system and raising the good (HDL) cholesterol. These good fats are also known as monounsaturated fats. Bad fats on the other hand, are saturated and trans fats, which you most likely hear to cut out of your diet, and still should.

You can determine exactly how much fat you're getting in any meal by just looking at the nutritional facts on the side of the packaging. If you see a high number under trans or a zero for monounsaturated fats, than this isn't the meal for you.

If you haven't heard yet, recent studies have now shown eating just one serving of these good fats in every meal can help you to target and destroy fat in your stomach area! So, just increase your intake of foods with a high content of these good fats such as olives, avocados, and nuts, and you'll have a completely flat stomach in no time!

To detoxify your stomach properly and get a completely flat stomach in one hour, visit: Lose Inches Fast.

Brandon Walsh is considered an expert author in the fields of biblical nutrition, weight loss, and healthy living. He is dedicated to educating future generations on how to live longer, healthier lives.

Healthy Eating Plans Can Help You Lose Weight

Healthy eating plans 1) Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products 2) Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts. 3) Are low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.

Tips for Healthy Eating Plans include eating breakfast every day. People who eat breakfast are less likely to overeat later in the day. Breakfast also gives you energy and helps you get your day off to a healthy start. Choose whole grains more often. Try whole-wheat breads and pastas, oatmeal, brown rice, or bulgur. Select a mix of colorful vegetables each day. Vegetables of different colors provide different nutrients. Choose dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, collards, and mustard greens, and reds and oranges such as carrots, sweet potatoes, red peppers, and tomatoes.

Healthy eating plans include choosing fresh, canned, or frozen fruit more often than fruit juice. Fruit juice has little or no fiber, and the calories may be high. Fresh, canned, or frozen fruit is often better for you. If you eat canned fruit, opt for fruit packed in water rather than syrup. Use fats and oils sparingly. Olive, canola, and peanut oils, avocados, nuts and nut butters, olives, and fish provide heart-healthy fat as well as vitamins and minerals. Eat sweets sparingly. Limit foods and beverages that are high in added sugars. Eat three meals every day. If you skip meals or replace a meal with a snack, you might overeat later on. Have low-fat, low-sugar snacks on hand.

Healthy eating plans can be easy to follow whether you are at home, at work, or on the go, healthy snacks may help to combat hunger and prevent overeating.

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7 Myths of Low Carb Diets

If you have heard the myths about low carb diets then this article will actually help you to learn the real facts about low carb diets.

Here are the most common 7 myths about this type of foods,

1. Low carb means zero carb

The myth among people is that the low carb diet means that in your diet the carb level should be near zero.

However, the fact is you should have at least 45% to 65% carbohydrate depending upon individual. Not even a single expert advocates this.

2. Low carb diets do not let you to eat vegetables and fruits

The myth is that vegetables and fruits contains mainly carbohydrate, so you should not eat vegetables & fruits if you wish to take low carb foods.

However, that fact is people who follow a low carb way of eating almost always eat more vegetables and fruits than normal population. Non-starchy vegetables are actually comes at the bottom of the low carb pyramids.

3. Low carb diets have less fiber

The myth is that a low carb diet must be low in fiber.

The fact is that this type of diets are high in fiber. In fact it lessens the effect of other carbohydrates.

4. People who are eating low carb diets are inviting heart disease

However the fact is these types of foods decline the risks of heart diseases. Even these foods with lots of animal fat and protein do not raise the risk of disease.

5. Low carb diets will damage your kidneys

This is absolutely a pure myth. The fact is these type of foods actually recommended in case of a kidney problem. As these diets do have less protein which is good for people who are suffering with kidney problems.

6. Low carb diets will tend to reduce your bone's calcium

The fact is, these types of foods actually protects our bones for calcium as these diets have less protein thus less chances of having calcium in your urine.

7. Atkins died with his own diet plan

The fact is he died because of a head injuries resulting from a fall.

Wishing you success in your life.

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Tensing Exercises for Minor Muscles

There are many deep-seated minor muscles that are not called into activity by special exercises. By this inactivity, the capillaries and the microscopic veins that should nourish them may become clogged thus losing their elasticity and efficiency. The larger arteries, veins and muscles will deteriorate under like conditions. It is therefore necessary to bring this dormant machinery into action.

To do this, lie on your side and fold your arms across your chest. Grasp your elbows with your hands, throw your head well back, and stretch your body to its full length. In this position, exert at first, only half of the strength of your folded arms (the pressure coming upon the elbows, over which your hands are clasped). As you do this, stretch and tense your entire body until it becomes rigid.

Hold this position for two to three seconds, as the effect is as though you were lifting a heavy weight. Relax for a few seconds; then repeat the exercise. Three or four alternate movements of tensing and relaxing are enough. This exercise will set the blood tingling in every vein and, most probably, will be followed at first by perspiration.

Begin the exercise cautiously. Exert only half your force in the pressure of the folded arms, and gradually increase, as your strength increases. Begin with not more than three or four movements. Increase slowly until you have reached ten, which will be sufficient.

Lying on your side, as in the preceding exercise, clasp one hand only around the ankle of the upper leg. In this position, pull with your full strength, holding the strain for a few seconds; then relax.

Begin with ten alternate relaxing and tensing movements and increase to twenty-five as your physical condition improves.

You will find the tension of the shoulder muscles in this effort different from the preceding exercise, the strain being across the shoulders as well as downward. This, like that of the pulling exercise, is perfectly safe. The muscles specially brought into action are those that make up the neck yoke and those immediately around the shoulder sockets. It is designed to strengthen and generally develop the muscles of the back.

___________________________________

This article is an excerpt from the e-book, The Man Who Grew Younger: Secrets to Fitness & Health for the Middle-aged and Beyond. Visit the e-book's website to find unique natural fitness and health tips, all proven highly effective. Numerous other excellent fitness e-books are also available at http://www.fitness.e-mart4all.com

Low Carb Diet Tips: How to Fight Intestinal Problems Easily - Part I

Diseases such as constipation and diarrhea are not uncommon. They happen to everybody, especially when you go for a major change of diet, such as switching from a high carb to a low carb diet. Diarrhea happens mostly to low carbers because when you are on a low carb diet, your body produces fewer carbohydrates and more ketones. Low carbers also suffer from constipation. However, it should be noted that constipation doesn't stem directly from a low carb diet regimen. In fact, constipation is caused when your body receives less than the required amount of carbohydrates. Foods such as legumes, pulses and whole grains contain a lot of fiber but unfortunately, these foods are strictly prohibited during the early periods of the low carb program. In this article I will tell you how to fight back constipation and diarrhea and regain your normal health.

How to Fight Constipation:

Let me tell you one thing upfront: if your previous diet was full of sugar and starchy foods, it would take sometime before you can adjust yourself to a low carb diet. However, constipation is not directly associated with low carb diet. In fact, it is a different kind of a problem, and can be caused by a combination of problems. Most commonly, constipation is caused because of fiber deficiency. To give your body the required amount of fiber, you need to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Also drink lots of water every day. And never ever buy over-the-counter pills, especially pain-killers, codeine and other opiates, as well as antidepressants, iron pills and diuretics. These drugs have certain ingredients in them which cause constipation.

If you want to cure constipation permanently, laxatives won't help either. It is OK to use laxatives for a short time, but for long term I would use a stool softener such as Docusate, which are non-addictive and easily absorbed in the body.

Another way to cure constipation is to eat fiber supplements such as sugar-free Metamucil, or plain psyllium husks, which will force the bowel to move forward. Note however that you should eat this fiber supplement only with water; otherwise it will have negative effects on your body.

Another way to cure constipation is to do exercises regularly. Because when you do exercises, your whole body starts moving, and consequently, your bowel too starts moving! You can also practice yoga as it has been found to be helpful for constipation patients.

In the second part of this article, I will tell you how to cure diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome (ibs), as well as how to find good low carb food products. To access the second part, simply click on the link in my resource box below.

Eating low carb foods can benefit your health in more ways than you can imagine! To learn more about low carb diet, read her full article Low Carb Diet Tips: How to Fight Intestinal Problems Easily: Part II by going to:
http://lowcarbdiettips.info/low-carb-diet-tips-2.php
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How To Do Pushups And Build Beautiful Arms

If you want sexy arms and defined triceps, you need to do pushups, not triceps pushdowns. This will help you get nice arms, and avoid batwings.

You want nice arms, master the pushup.

You want to pass your physical recruitment test for the police academy or military, master the pushup.

You want to push other athletes around on the court or field (within the rules, of course!), master the push-up.

You want to be mobile, athletic, lean, and sexy? Master the advanced pushup variations.

If you can't do a pushup, start with these 3 basic steps. If you can do a bunch and want to take it to the next level, see the 3 advanced steps below.

Beginner 3-step progression for push-ups.

i) Kneeling Pushups
Start with 1 set of 8 if you are a beginner. Add 2 reps each workout for the first week, so that you are at 1 set of 12 after 3 workouts.

In the next week, add 1 set each workout, so that you are at 3 sets of 12 by the end of the week. Then try for 3 sets of 15 the next workout.

The problem with kneeling pushups is that you can only get so strong. Eventually, you'll be able to do 15 kneeling pushups, but you still won't be able to do a full pushup...so onto the Incline Pushup.

ii) Incline Pushups on Smith Machine
Set the smith machine bar at chest height. Stand about 2-3 feet away from the bar. Lean forward and grab the bar with an overhand grip. Keep the balls of your feet on the ground and lower your chest to the bar.

Do 3 sets of 8 repetitions per workout.

Each workout, lower the bar one notch on the Smith Machine until you get to the lowest rung. You're almost at full pushups now!

iii) Push up Holds
But you still might not be able to do more than 1 or 2. So let's get stronger where we are weaker - at the bottom.

From the top of the pushup position, lower your body slowly (for 2 seconds) to the bottom position.

Hold this position for 5 seconds.

Then slowly lower your body all the way to the floor, drop to your knees and then get back up to the full pushup position.

Do 3 sets of 3 repetitions of the 5 second hold.

Add 1 repetition each workout until you are up to 3 sets of 6. By now, you should be able to crank out quite a few pushups.

Advanced Pushups

Here's a progression to build you up to the Spiderman Pushups...

i) Pushups with Your Feet on the Ball

ii) T-Pushups

iii) Spiderman Pushups

These are advanced pushups, and will require photos, video, or personal instruction.

You have permission to publish this article in your web sites, ezines or electronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entirety including the resource box, all hyperlinks (HTML clickable) and references and copyright info.

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men's Health and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training for Fat Loss have helped thousands of men and women with weight loss and fat burning in less than 45 minutes three times per week. Turbulence Training for Fat Loss workouts help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment. Craig's bodyweight workouts for fat loss help you lose fat without any equipment at all.

Are You Quitting A Weight Loss Regime Again?

Have you ever taken up a challenge with someone to show that you are able to lose weight, but failed miserably in the end?

If you happened to answer yes to either of the question, most probably losing weight isn't as important to you than how you thought it would.

You see, people always have the wrong mindset even if their intention to lose weight is good. Some people wants to look fabulous, some just want to show that they could. But good intention isn't the key to successful weight loss.

The key to successful weight loss is by admitting that it is a serious problem in your life, and that it may hinder your ability to lead a normal or better life ever again.

Some people think that the first step to lose weight, is to surfing the net and find some great workout and diet plan to follow.

To tell you the truth, those are the least important part of success weight loss.

In order to begin your regime at the right note, first you have to understand that weight problem is a very serious problem. And you have to tell yourself that you have the ability to correct this problem.

I don't care if you are a CEO of some big firm, or a ice-cream parlour girl. In both cases, the situation is equally problematic.

You must be saying :"Yeah, right. How can some one as high achieving as a CEO can have any grave problems?"

I tell you, problem is a state of mind.

If you are able to bring yourself to understand that losing weight is The problem, everything will come naturally.

When you are able to get through the stage of denial, you have cleared the first stage. Now I am sure you have cleared the second stage of self motivation, which is to read up on articles and maybe participate in special interest group discussions to verbalise your goals and mindset.

People often after a motivation talk or reading a motivation book, say that those information are just useless and are not effective to change your life. If you think it that way, then you have missed out step three. Step three by the way, is somewhat like coming out of self denial. Although self denial is about getting out of the gut, zealous living is about living your life with vigour and no regret.

Everytime if someone asked you how's your weight loss regime, instead of faking up a phantom workout session, you are able to list out step by step what you have accomplished for your goal. That is zealous living with no regret.

Maybe you don't ever need to visit another weight loss site ever again.

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Faster Weight Loss

Losing weight has to be one of the most difficult challenges that Americans face. There is a reason that the weight loss industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. People want to lose weight, and they want to lose it fast. For some people, weight loss is a health issue. Perhaps you suffer from diabetes or have some heart problems and have been advised to lose weight. Many others however are succumbing to the Hollywood myth that thin is in, and they will do anything to lose their unwanted pounds.

The least expensive tool you can use when you are trying to lose weight is also going to be your most effective. What is that? It is goal setting. Goal setting is something you do not have to pay for, but can be your biggest ally. The reason for this is that with goal setting, you are controlling everything that happens on your weight loss journey. The more control you have, the more successful and long-term your weight loss goal will be.

When trying to lose weight, you need to control every aspect of your life. In fact, you need to goal set every aspect of your life. Start off with your goal weight. Use a small amount of pounds to lose so that you have an easy attainable figure. Once you have reached that goal, you will experience success and be motivated to push yourself further. You will already know how great it is to lose weight, and want to continue to do so. You then need to make goals for every other area - what snack you will have today, what meal you will have today, what drinks you will have today, what junk foods you will cut out, and what exercise you will do TODAY.

The weight loss journey is a daily journey. Give yourself overall big picture goals, but do not forget the daily ones. Write them down every day and stick to them. Make them small and attainable so you don't go to bed defeated. Success one day will ensure success the next.

FREE weight loss articles, exercise tips and weight loss tools to help you lose weight.

Fightfat.info offers you the latest information on weight loss, articles, and reviews about the numerous weight loss products that are on the market.

Starting A Weight Loss Program

The problem with starting a weight loss program is that many people do so without really thinking things through. Then they wake up one day and realize that there are a number of items that they needed for their particular program that they don't have and they have to scramble like mad to get them. Even worse, sometimes they'll start a weight loss program and half way through it, realize that it's the wrong program for them for a variety of reasons. This article will hopefully prepare you for starting a weight loss routine in a proper manner so that you're not scrambling for things down the road. Hopefully, after reading this, you won't have that problem.

The first thing you need to understand when starting a weight loss program is that not all weight loss programs are the same. There are many different methods for losing weight. There's diet, exercise, drugs or any combination of these things. Each routine or method that you choose is going to have different requirements.

For example, let's say you decide that you're going to get this new at home yoga program. Well, before you send away for that package, make sure that you have the proper items needed to carry it out. For one thing, most of these programs now come on DVD. Well, guess what? If you don't have a DVD player you better either plan to go out and get one or choose another option.

What about weight loss programs that require specific diets? Are you sure you don't have any food allergies or intolerance? If not, you better get those things tested. The last thing you want to do is start on a diet and find out that the food you're required to eat doesn't sit well with your digestive system.

What about if you decided that you wanted to take diet pills? It would probably be a good idea to check with your doctor first to find out what the potential dangers of diet pills are, and believe me, the dangers are quite real. You doctor might determine that diet pills are not the best course of action for you. For that matter, you shouldn't go on any diet plan without first checking with your physician first. As much as I'm not the biggest fan of the medical profession with the way they give our prescriptions like candy, there are times when it's a good idea to talk to a doctor.

You also want to make sure that you're physically capable of handling the diet plan that you've chosen, especially if you decide to go the exercise route. If you've been sitting behind a desk for the last 25 years and haven't exercised since you graduated high school, you might want to take it slow when it comes to hitting that treadmill. You've probably got muscles that haven't been used in years.

The bottom line is this. You can't just jump into a diet program, no matter what kind it is. You need to make sure that you're fully prepared for whatever plan it is that you choose and that your body has a better than even chance of surviving the routine.

In other words, use your head before you start using the other parts of your body.

To YOUR Health,

Steve Wagner

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The Best and Cheapest Exercise Program on the Market - Bar None!

Katy and I wandered through the Op Shop always on the look out for a surprise.

We both enjoy old books and so it was with joy when Katy picked up a 1960s edition of an old elementary school book on physical education.

It seems only yesterday the 60s have come and gone and it is perhaps with the passing of time that there has been a downward slide in the quality of structure and function within our society especially with our children.

Obesity, with its associated symptoms is fast becoming the norm perhaps the word fast with its tendencies toward the over-eating of food-less foods is a major cause.

The increase in chemicals in our food industry is also a major causative factor - are you aware that the FDA allows over 5,000 chemicals to be added to the foods we purchase and ingest?

Then there is the old law that if one puts in more than is eliminated, there will be a build up of poor quality tissues ergo an abnormal increase in weight gain.

And this brings us back to exercise.

When asked for my opinion regarding the best form of exercise I immediately picture a park full of children.

The children are:

- Running, jumping and hopping

- rolling

- climbing

- swinging

- twisting, flexing, stretching, bending and torquing.

In other words, they are putting their bodies through a full range of movements movements that are designed by the structure of the mechanism.

A couple of addendums to this line of thinking are:

1. We very rarely see children in our practise that need an exercise program put into place.

2. If we are seriously looking for an exercise program for ourselves, we could do no better than to become more child-like.

All the best in working on all angles of structure in order to improve function.

Kevin Hinton is a renowned Natural Health Educator & Advocator who has assisted a broad range of people to reinvigorate their lives through common-sense Natural Health practices. He is a trusted advisor to many in the corporate world in Australia and North America who recognize the life-improving value of Natural Health habits. His experience in the field reveals that adopting practical Natural Health habits usually helps drive success in other areas of life.

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Atkins Pre Maintenance Phase

After experiencing the Induction and OWL phases of the Atkins diet, your next step is to enter the pre-maintenance phase. This phase will set you up for a lifetime of healthy and balanced eating and living. You should begin this phase as you come within 5 to 10 pounds of your target weight goal. Your weight loss will be slowed down even further but it is for a purpose. You want to learn the practices and habits that will determine your long-term success.

In the OWL phase, you will be adding carbohydrate grams to your daily count in the increment of 5 grams per week. During pre-maintenance you will increase that to 10 grams per week. As long as you are continuing to shed weight (no matter how slowly it is coming off) you will continue to add grams. Ideally, toward the end of the pre-maintenance phase you will be losing less than one pound per week.

According to the Atkins book, you should continue this phase until you get to your goal weight and can maintain it for a month. This process may take anywhere from 1 to 3 months. Your goal is to reach a state called "carbohydrate equilibrium." This is your ideal carbohydrate intake and it will cause you to maintain your weight perfectly.

During pre-maintenance you'll get to try a wider variety of foods. Make sure to introduce new foods slowly and increase your carbohydrate intake at a measured pace. Don't add 20 or 30 carb grams a week. Measuring out the increases in increments of 10 will give you a better idea of your personal carbohydrate count. Knowing this number will help set you up for long term weight management.

Make sure to check with a carbohydrate counter resource book or a trusted website before you add a new food to your diet. Some examples of 10 carbohydrate gram foods include 1/3 of a cup of legumes, an apple, cup of potatoes and cup of plain oatmeal. These foods can be included on a daily basis, and then increased the next week.

Pre-maintenance is not a perfect process. It takes a delicate balance of carbohydrate counting and exercise to slow weight loss yet still move it forward. You'll need to pay even closer attention than you have before to make sure that your carb gram increase is not resulting in an increase in weight. There is a fine line between gaining, maintaining and losing, and during pre-maintenance you are trying to find out just exactly where that line is.

If you aren't able to add carbohydrates without stalling your weight loss, you may have a high metabolic resistance. You will benefit from increasing your exercise regimen to get your metabolism burning at a higher level. For you, the pre-maintenance phase will resemble OWL more closely.

Some people do a variation on pre-maintenance that allows them to have a treat once a week. Instead of adding 10 grams per day, they allow themselves a 20 to 30-carbohydrate gram treat a few times a week. Examples of the treat could be a piece of a fruit or a serving of sweet potatoes. A glass of white wine or beer also qualifies for this treat. This is a fun way to reward yourself and still be on the plan.

Yet another way to do pre-maintenance is to average out your carbohydrate intake for the week. Since life is sometimes unpredictable, it can be helpful to have a bit of flexibility in your eating plan. For example, if your current carbohydrate level is at 70 grams, you can limit yourself to 50 grams one day. Then the next day, you can splurge a bit on a meal and have 90 grams for that day. However, only follow this method if it doesn't create carbohydrate cravings. Sometimes excess carb grams on one day can make you crave them even more the next day.

The pre-maintenance phase will give you the tools for long-term success. By learning to slowly increase your carbohydrate grams, you'll have a better hold on the amount of carbohydrates that is right for you.

Roger Mitchell has spent lots of years writing informative articles on atkins diet like atkins diet basics Other related subjects can also be found at http://www.HealthyCafe.org/sitemap/index.html

This content may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Do Low Carbohydrate Diets Works For Everyone

Unless you are a hermit and living without the news, you must have heard of low carb diets like Atkins diet or South Beach dieting plans. The underlying principle is that it is the excess carbohydrates and not the fats that cause weight gain.

Low carbohydrate diets advocates that we restrict the carbohydrate intake to as little as 20 grams a day or less if better depending on the program. However the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the academies of Science recommended that the daily allowance of carbohydrates for young adults should not fall below the minimum of 100 grams.

As early as 2004, both the Atkins Nutritionals and Dr. Barry Sears, creator of "The Zone", stated that they do not recommended their products for these people and only market their dieting programs to older adults only. Dr. Arthur Agatston, the author of the South Beach Diet does recommend his plan for young adults, but they have to omit the first phase of his two weeks introductory program.

Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades, creator of Protein Power, says that their programs can be used on these young people so long as they start in phase two. SugarBusters, which is less restrictive in terms of carbohydrate allowances, has a separate plan for these young people.

The carbohydrates that you consume in food are the main source for cellular energy and central nervous systems functioning. Carbohydrates convert to glucose and the pranceas pumps out insulin that unlocks cells and allows the glucose energy inside. Low carb advocates says that consuming too much carbohydrate overload this finely balanced system and triggers the release of too much insulin which eventually will be stored as fats. Too much circulating insulin is also associated with insulin resistance and raises heart diseases risk.

Many low carbohydrate diets replace sugar and starches with protein rich food such as red meat and eggs. Critics of carbohydrate reduction say that the high levels of artery clogging fats and cholesterols from such foods are a one way ticket to heart diseases.

However some studies have found that after six to twelve months, many people on a reduced carbohydrate diet have actually improved their blood cholesterol level. But there are no studies longer than a year that measure the impact of these low carbohydrate and high protein diets on the cardiovascular system. Until now, we still do not have enough evidence and the jury is still out.

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How To Have An Effective Weight Loss?

Tip#1: Making a commitment

Long term weight loss takes time and effort. It requires a long term commitment. Make sure that you are ready to make permanent changes. No one else can make you lose weight. External pressures are usually from people closest to you and it may make matters worse. You must undertake diet and control your eating habits. It takes a lot of mental and physical energy to change your habits. So make sure you are not distracted by other major life issues, such as marital or financial problems.

Tip#2: Get support from people close to you

You must take responsibility for your own behaviour because only you can help yourself in losing weight. You can seek support when needed from your partner, family and friends. Pick people who you know want only the best for you and who will encourage you. Ideally, find people who will listen to your concerns and feelings and spend time exercising with you.

Tip#3: Set goals

Set a realistic goal to lose weight. You must exercise regularly, change your habits, go on a healthy diet

Tip#4: Eat healthy food

Avoid junk food and eat plant-based food such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. In your own special recipe, you can use various foods like celery. It is actually proven that celery has negative calories, and that it takes more calories to eat a piece of celery than what you started with. Why is this so? Well, celery is low in cellulose, a substance which contains a lot of carbohydrates, but are packaged in a form which we cannot digest, hence we do not take in their calories.

Now you have read on how to have an effective weight loss, I hope you will succeed in losing weight.

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Calorie Shifting Diets

Calorie shifting is quite a new way of dieting that has come from out of nowhere to be one of the fastest growing methods around. Countless users have made so many wonderful remarks about it on various forums that it seems almost too good to be true. Is that the case though or is it really a great way of dieting.

The majority of diets available today are based on the idea of eliminating food groups and seriously lowering the amount of calories that you consume each day. The calorie shifting diet however instead focuses on the idea of rotating the groups of food you eat each day.

The reason it works is because by shifting the foods you eat your body fails to recognize that you are on a diet. This keeps your metabolism working at a good rate. Other diets fail for the good reason that they fail to stop your body from sensing you are on a diet, which in turn slows down your metabolism and starts to store your fat instead of burning it.

Benefits include the fact that for every 11 days that you are on the diet program you then receive 3 full days to eat whatever you fancy eating. This provides fantastic motivation as you know the foods you love are never far away in the cycle. Being given 4 full meals a day also helps to stop cravings for food as you are never left feeling like you are being starved as is the case with many low calorie diets.

Using a calorie shifting diet helped me to achieve what I had failed to with other diets but it has also proved successful for so many others. If you are looking for a weight loss program that works continuously and brings good results then you will find it hard pressed to find one better.

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Laxatives For Weight Loss

The dangers of obesity have induced various different kinds of weight loss products to be introduced in the market, some of which are extremely beneficial causing efficient weight loss. But most of these products are useless and instead of causing weight loss, they cause immense harm to the body.

Various other products are still undergoing research in order to determine whether they are actually helpful in causing weight loss. Laxatives have also been considered by many as being an efficient means of losing weight. In this case it is necessary for one to realize the way laxatives function in order to cause effective weight loss. The main purpose of the laxatives is to cause swift movement of the waste products from the bowel. The food contents are accumulated in the large intestine where it is usually absorbed. Here it is to be kept in mind that food particles are not absorbed in the small intestine.

In cases when laxatives are consumed, the absorption of food in the large intestine is terminated. Therefore the consumption of laxatives greatly regulates the absorption of fats within the body. Such factors lead to grease diarrhea which in their turn are conducive to cause weight loss. However, one must remember that while the taking of considerable quantities of laxatives can facilitate weight loss, it can also cause certain damaging effects to certain organs of the body. For example, it can cause weakening of the bones of the body resulting in a disease known as osteomalacia and can permanently harm the GI tract.

Moreover, it is necessary to keep in mind here that weight loss can have negative effects in the form of bulimia or anorexia and in various cases it has been noticed that those victims of these diseases have adopted the consumption of laxatives to ensure rapid weight loss. Usage of laxatives is considered detrimental to the health of pregnant women. Therefore it is always advised that the use of laxatives must always be regulated accordingly by a medical practitioner. Also, one must conform to it and not indulge in taking more than the selected dosage assigned for a particular person.

Slim tea and dieter's tea are some of the prominent laxative products that are used by individuals. These products enable the removal of toxins and ensure swift bowel movement thus not allowing the absorption of the food products and therefore being able to control the calorie intake. Slimming tea is made up of herbal products which can be quiet beneficial.

Many obese people take diet pills for fast weight loss without the exercise.

How Fast Do You Want To Lose Weight? - Awesome Weight Loss Tips You Can Use Today

A better question, how fast can you lose weight? Before dieting or starting to lose weight you should always consult a physician to ensure your health and safety. After that is done, you can be on your way to losing weight. The following article will give you some nice tips on how to lose weight fast.

Weight loss is a normal thing that many people want to do to make themselves feel better, get healthy, and several other reasons. What many people don't know is what steps to take to lose weight. It is not like you can wake up one morning and decide that you are going to lose 5 pounds this week. You need a plan. Here are some great tips for losing weight fast.

How fast can you lose weight using the following methods?

1. Start drinking more water than usual.

2. This one is good. Increase your metabolism. How? Instead of eating three large meals per day, eat 4 or 5 smaller meals.

3. Run, Walk, or Swim. Do this 3 times per week for about 30 minutes.

There you have it. A simple process to help you lose weight. So the answer to the question, how fast can you lose weight? It all depends on your personal motivation, situation, free time, and many other factors. The only way you are going to succeed is if you are motivated. It is a slower process than some things but it works and if you stick to it you will see results.

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The Master Cleanse - Jumpstart Your Way To a Healthy Lifestyle

If you're looking to jump start your weight loss program, then I have a plan for you. The Master Cleanse is one of the hottest detoxification program on the market today! This is due to the fact that many Hollywood stars have used this diet to cleanse the body and drop weight quickly for upcoming movies roles. Beyonce Knowles is an example of one star that used this detoxifying weight loss program to drop 20 lbs. quickly for her role in "Dream Girls". Although weight loss is an added benefit; it is not the main goal of this cleansing program. The main goal is to remove years of built up toxins, wastes, mucus and plaque inside your body. This will make you feel healthier, have better skin, look younger looking and be more energized.

The Master Cleanse program was created by Stanley Burroughs who was an early advocate of natural health, and believed in the body's natural ability to heal itself. The results people have experienced by going on this diet have been nothing short of amazing. Chronic health problems people have suffered with for years have vanished in as little as 10 days on this amazing diet. Flushing out your system is what this cleansing program is really designed to do. Even back 60 years ago when the system was first invented people had health problems as a result of waste building up inside of them. Today with processed foods, pollution, and all around poor diets our bodies desperately need to be flushed out every once in a while.

Detoxification is great to jump start your body for a life style change of healthy eating habits and exercise. What happens when the 10 days are up? You will see a permanent shift in your attitudes and beliefs about what you put in your body. Detoxification will also help you to shatter the uncontrollable urges to eat unhealthy foods and replace it with cravings for healthy foods. The most dramatic change that you will go through is that once your body is returned to a healthy state, it naturally wants to stay that way. You will no longer need "will power" to stay away from the bad things because you will not have the desire to put them into your body. This change is so powerful, just thinking of the unhealthy food you used to put in your body can cause your stomach to turn. Anyone who has craved sugar all of there life knows how difficult it can be to be around it. After finishing a detoxification program, you will know the incredible feeling of being able to be around sweets and not be tempted by them.

I will not kid you; this is one of the hardest programs that I have ever tried in my life. Most people fail after the third day because they find it difficult not to eat solid food. They are tired, cranky and irritable and give up at that point. But after the 3rd day, it gets a little easier; you body will adjust to the cleanse. Imagine the excitement you will feel waking up and seeing your belt one notch tighter then it was the day before and feeling light and energized all day.

It is really amazing to see what the Master Cleanse can do for a determined person with a strong desire to make a change in their life. The best part about this plan is it only takes 10 days. That means in less then a week and a half you could be slimmer, healthier, and enjoy more energy all by following this simple system.

There's much more to learn about succeeding using the Master Cleanse system. If you are serious about trying the Master Cleanse and want to be one of the people who do make it through the whole 10 days, the Master Cleanse Secrets book at is the most complete guide available for helping you get through the Master Cleanse. Click the link below to learn how to survive the Master Cleanse system.

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Radical Weight Loss Ever Discovered

Now-a-days, the major anxiety that remains in our society is overweight. A vast number of people are trying a variety of diet strategy and exercise routines in order to reduce those unwanted pounds. With the constant increase in weight loss ideas, it is difficult to differentiate which ones are secure and which ones should be avoided.

In most of us the digestive system is infested with parasites and plaque. These pests and their byproducts keep us from properly digesting what we eat, and they make us fat. Now you are going to get a revolutionary and amazing natural remedies, that you can eliminate the infestation and restore your digestion to normal. And that brings permanent fat loss, the result of proper digestion.

It's absolutely true and proved.

These natural treatments are based on plant extracts and herbs in specific combinations. A lady doctor has proven them to be effective in overweight people. This natural treatment is so powerful that able to reverse diabetes, rid illness altogether in people suffering from cancer, as well as eliminate an entire spectrum of serious and otherwise life-threatening diseases.

It's right time to discovered how calories, carbohydrates, and such have far less to do with the real reason you're and can't seem ...

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There is a dynamic technique of losing weight without having to exercise or diet. There are many disgusting plaque and dreadful little critters living in your guts. You can get rid of this plaque and enable you to lose between 25 pounds - 100 pounds depending on how much weight you require losing.

This wonderful fat loss secret has absolutely nothing to do with:

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Thirteen Easy Steps To Healthy Weight Loss

1. Calories are far more important then fats when it comes to affecting your weight, as long as you're eating healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats instead of saturated and trans fat. A good rule to follow is to keep the amount of saturated fat you eat per day is less than 20 grams.
2. The human metabolism is to slow to be eating three big meals a day. In a perfect world six small meals a day is much healthier. Eating six meals a day will keep your metabolism active and also help keep your insulin levels stable.
3. PROTEIN!!! Protein supports, builds, and rebuilds muscle. The more muscle you have the faster your metabolism will be. (It takes fifty calories a day just to support one pound of muscle!). Lean meat, fish, and poultry are all very good sources of protein. Also it is important to spread your protein intake evenly throughout your day. By doing this you will enable your body to rebuild muscle all day long.
4. Controlling food portions. Low energy-density foods such as vegetables and fruits are less likely to be overeaten. Also they're full of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals which are critical to a healthy metabolism.
5. Don't cut any one food group. You should be consuming carbohydrates, protein, and fat at every meal.
6. Watch out drinks such as soda and fruit juices. They have tons of calories which can add up quickly. Plus they aren't even that
7. WATER!!! And lots of it! Water helps you stay hydrated which will allow for more intense activity. It also helps your body flush metabolic waste.
8. Eat your complex grains early in the day and then stick with the water rich carbohydrates such as fruit in the evening. This has to do with the way insulin is secreted into the bloodstream.
9. Sleep! 7-8 hours a night, More or less than that can have negative effects on your health.
10. Eat your meals slower; well chewed food is easier on your metabolism.
11. Eat some fish. Fish such as salmon is rich in Omega-3s, these Fatty Acids are essential. They'll keep your heart healthy, as well as the bad fat out. Fatty fish such as salmon, halibut and shellfish help reduce the size of fat cells which in turn helps out with fat loss.
12. Avoid hydrogenated fats (Trans fat), and High Fructose Corn Syrup. They send signals to the brain telling you that you are not full even when you've already eaten. Ever wonder why it's hard to drink 3 big glasses of water, but easy to down a 2 liter bottle of soda. It's the Syrup.
13. Exercise.

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Effect of Mediterranean Diet on Various Diseases

Mediterranean diets have an effect on various diseases. Their effects are as follows:

Hypertension
A direct relationship between dietary fat intake and hypertension has not been proved but evidence indicates that the balance offered by the Mediterranean diet (low SFAs, high MUFAs, carbohydrate, fiber, vitamin and mineral content) has a favorable effect on blood pressure.

Diabetes
The Mediterranean diet contains a lot of vegetables and cereals, and meets the demands of an adequate diabetic diet. Carbohydrates are usually taken as fiber-rich foods and fats as MUFAs not SFAs; the total fat content being variable depending on individual needs for weight loss.

Obesity
The fiber-rich carbohydrates of the Mediterranean diet help protect against and reduce obesity. The reduction in animal fats also offers the opportunity for achieving a more sensible balance of energy intake.

Thrombosis
A low-fat diet or a vegetable fat diet is preferable to a high SFA diet for protection against thrombosis, therefore the Mediterranean diet is recommended for the prevention of thrombosis.

Lipid levels
There is a direct correlation between plasma cholesterol levels and CHD. Lowering cholesterol levels reduces the risk of heart attacks. A 1 per cent reduction in cholesterol produces a 2-3 per cent reduction in CHD risk.

There are two types of cholesterol - LDL and HDL. High levels of the latter reduce the CHD risk, while high levels of LDL cholesterol increase the risk. High levels of triglyceride fats, especially with high levels of LDL and low levels of HDL also increase the risk of CHD.

Three saturated fatty acids (SFA) - lauric, myristic and palmitic acids - comprise 60-70 per cent of all SFA. Replacing SFA in the diet with monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) or polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) helps to maintain a good energy balance.

The primary dietary PUFA is linoleic acid contained in vegetable oils, such as sunflower oil. This markedly lowers cholesterol when substituted for SFA. Alpha-linoleic acid (in soybean and rapeseed oils), and eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (in oily fish such as herring and mackerel) lower triglyceride levels with little effect on cholesterol levels.

The major dietary MUFA is oleic acid, the predominant fat in olive oil. MUFAs and PUFAs both significantly reduce LDL when substituted for SFA. A high MUFA intake does not significantly alter HDL levels. LDL cholesterol in people on high MUFA diets is more resistant to oxidation, a process which causes free radical production detrimental to cells.

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The Liver - An Important Key To Natural Weight Loss

You may be aware that the liver is an important organ in keeping you healthy, but many people fail to recognize the importance of the liver in weight loss. While the liver is needed to detoxify various chemicals such as alcohol and drugs, it also has critical functions in the production and/or activation of many hormones - including all of the hormones involved in your ability to burn fat. Natural weight loss is dramatically impaired if the liver is not working efficiently.

Due to chronic abuse of the liver through things like heavy alcohol use, using medications and drugs, and bad eating habits, especially an overconsumption of fats and heavy animal-based proteins, the liver can become overloaded and irritation can result. This results in an inflammatory response in the abominal cavity, which results in an accumulation of fluid (called ascites). As the retained fluids collect in the stomach area, the stomach will often begin to protrude outward, producing the appearance that is sometimes called a "beer belly". In women, the problem can get bad enough that the protruding belly makes them look pregnant when they are not. For people with this water weight deposition, weight loss can be frustrating because exercise will not "burn it off" - because it's not fat. Since natural weight loss approaches fail to get results in these situations, some people resort to diet drugs, which may work at first, but ultimately harm the liver even more and create even more abdominal water retention.

With liver-related water retention, many diet programs and weight loss aids also actually make things worse. Diets that are high in protein and fat, such as Atkin's, further overload the liver and create even more water retention. Some weight loss aids contain drugs or chemicals that the liver must process, and again, create even more liver irritation and subsequent water retention.

In addition to the water retention issue, good liver function is necessary for the proper production and/or activation of the hormones that stimulate fat burning. For instance, the liver is needed to convert the inactive form of thyroid hormone (T4) to the active form (T3). When the liver is overworked and cannot do the hormone conversions efficiently, the body cannot burn fat efficiently, no matter how much exercise you may do or what other natural weight loss steps you take.

The liver also produces a fat-burning hormone of its own, called insulin-like growth factor (IGF). IGF controls blood sugar during the relatively long-period that you go without eating during sleep. As your blood sugar level falls while you are sleeping, the liver produces IGF to burn fat reserves to mobilize stored energy. Again, if liver function is not as good as it should be, this hormone is not produced efficiently and you don't burn as much fat. The other thing that occurs is that your blood sugar will go lower than it should and you wake up in the morning feeling very fatigued and irritable.

At this point you may be wondering what steps you need to take to help improve liver function to help alleviate abdominal water retention and to help better activate your fat burning hormones to stimulate natural weight loss? To begin with, it is important to reduce the detoxification load on the liver. This means cutting back on alcohol and any unnecessary drugs and medications. If possible, I recommend avoiding alcohol and non-essential medications entirely for at least a few weeks to give the liver an opportunity to recover.

The next step is to clean up you diet to make things as easy as possible on the liver. Probably the simplest and most effective approach is to eat pretty much a vegetarian diet for 14 to 21 days, sticking to mostly fresh vegetables and fresh fruit and using beans, seeds, nuts, and nut and seed butters as your main protein sources. If you can't do that, it is advisable to at least cut out fried and greasy foods and high-fat meats for a while. The better your diet, the faster you'll lose the retained water in the abdomen and the faster you'll make real progress on losing weight.

There are various "liver de-tox" products on the market that contain some combination of herbs and/or nutrients that are reputed to be beneficial for the liver. These can be useful in more extreme cases or for those who simply aren't willing to take the dietary and other lifestyle measures just described. In my opinion, changing the diet and implementing the other natural weight loss lifestyle factors is a much more effective way to go, but using a liver detoxification product is probably better than doing nothing. Because some of these products contain herbs that can interact with certain prescription medications, it is strongly recommended that you consult with a physician or a pharmacist before using any of these products if you are on prescription drugs.

In addition to weight loss, as liver function improves, your skin usually becomes clearer and your mood and energy level will typically improve, especially in the morning. People with chronic headaches often notice that the headaches become less frequent and may go away altogether. In addition, pains in the right shoulder and shoulder blade area can be referred from the liver and some people experience relief of these pains as the health of the liver improves.

It should be noted that as the liver recovers and the body stops retaining water in the abdomen, you will typically lose weight very rapidly (it could be 5 pounds or more per day!) and you will need to urinate frequently (that's how the body gets rid of the excess water). Once the extra water is gone, the weight loss will slow down. If you continue on a natural weight loss program, a reasonable expectation after you have lost the water weight is about 1 to 2 pounds per week.

To learn more, visit Dr. Best's website on natural weight loss.