How to Lose Weight Properly

Fad diets are all the rage. From Slim Fast and Weight Watchers to Atkins and South Beach, each diet uses its own special set of standards to promote weight loss. While some of these diets are successful, they typically are only in the short term. For example, the Atkins diet involves the elimination or severe moderation of carbohydrates, which in term is said to promote faster weight loss. While you may lose weight quickly, once you go off the diet you tend to gain it back fairly quickly.

This in turn is the fundamental flaw in most diets. Dieting itself is a great way to lose weight in the short term, but to keep it off and maintain a healthy weight involves a complete lifestyle change, not just a quick fix to a bad diet. This involves getting regular exercise, approximately thirty minutes a day, five days a week, and consuming a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and proteins.

In the end, losing weight properly really isn’t a difficult task, and in the end the results far outweigh those found through fad diets. The first thing you need to know is how weight is actually lost and gained. The average calorie intake is approximately 2,000 calories. Eating this many calories per day with very little to no exercise will keep your weight consistent. If you were to eat 500 calories more per day, you would gain one pound a week, as one pound is approximately 3,500 calories. Conversely, by eliminating that many calories a day from your diet, you will lose one pound a week. It’s all really fairly simple, and there a number of easy, healthy ways to accomplish this weight loss.

One of the cornerstones of losing weight is to not eat three meals a day but instead focus on five or six small meals spread evenly throughout the day and night. This allows you to prevent yourself from overeating, particularly at dinner, and allows you to focus on healthier choices. For example, mid-day snacks can include healthy treats such as a handful of mixed nuts or trail mix, or something simple such as an apple or banana. These will keep you full until proper “meal times,” wherein you can indulge in a healthy salad or sandwich. Of course, these are just examples, as the options are limitless. Just because you’re trying to lose weight doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taste.

By counting calories, focusing on healthy choices and getting plenty of regular exercise, losing weight doesn’t have to be a huge change. If it helps, starting gradually, such as by eliminated or cutting back severely on one problem item, such as sodas, can help you get accustomed to a new, healthier lifestyle. Eventually the weight will start to come off, and in the end you’ll feel a heck of a lot better.

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Simple Calorie Cutting Tips for a Busy Lifestyle

Let’s face it: not everyone has the time to follow a healthy lifestyle. Long work days, a family, and the lure of a quick meal make eating healthy and getting regular exercise extremely difficult. As a result, people get comfortable with their lifestyles and simply accept what doesn’t have to be the inevitable. There are a number of simple steps that can be taken throughout the day to help promote a healthy lifestyle, and best of all, the age old excuse of “I just don’t have the time” does not work.

One of the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle is getting adequate amounts of exercise. Due to the hectic lifestyle of many individuals, finding time to squeeze in a trip to the gym or walk around the block is difficult. This is especially troublesome for those who are particularly sedentary in their professional lives, such as computer programmers, bank tellers and the like. If this is a concern for you, there are a number of things you can do to squeeze in some light to moderate exercise throughout the day. For example, taking the steps instead of the elevator or, if you live close enough, walking to work. If you’re allowed fifteen minute breaks or smoke breaks, utilize them not to smoke but to take a leisurely stroll around the office or around the block. Finally, if you have a long lunch break (an hour or more), spend that time at the gym as opposed to a restaurant or the break room.

Another major cause of unnecessary weight gain or a major factor in the prevention in weight loss is empty calories. Long days often require excess consumption of sodas, coffee and other sugary energy drinks. Eliminating all of these (save for a cup or two of coffee in the morning) can eliminate several hundreds of calories a day. Even diet sodas or calorie-free drinks can contribute, as all of that extra sugar can make losing weight far more difficult. Instead, simply consume water throughout the day. Not only will help you feel fuller and thus prevent you from overeating, but it will make you feel better in the long run and contribute to an overall healthier you.

Another major factor to an unhealthy lifestyle is the tendency to make unhealthy food choices. Whether at work or on the go, the lure of fast food or huge portions at gourmet restaurants to entertain a client are major problems in the fight against obesity. Thankfully, there are simple and easy ways to combat this. The first step is to bring your lunch to work with you. Not only will it help you save money, but you’re more likely to make healthier food choices. If you find yourself in a situation where you have to go out to eat, a quick jaunt to the supermarket for some low-fat soup or fruit can help put the kibosh on any cravings you might have. If you end up at a restaurant to entertain a client, simply order low-fat fare, skip the alcohol, and immediately ask for a doggie bag to take home half the meal.

In the end, just because you lead a busy lifestyle does not mean you have to sacrifice your health. If you’re having trouble following these simple tips to help you get into shape, consult with your physician or a dietitian, who can offer you more advice on how to become a healthier individual, both inside and out.

More great diet tips can be found here!

The Many ways to Cook a Turkey

Having a turkey for thanksgiving is essential, this is why the famous Thanksgiving Day holiday has been coined “Turkey Day” by so many people. Everyone has their own style to creating their perfect Thanksgiving dinner, from the stuffing, to the place settings, to the pies, and of course the famous turkey, but who knew that there were so many ways to cook a turkey. In fact there are literally hundreds o ways to cook a turkey and each year new recipes and techniques are created. Well, if you are looking to change up your Turkey Day routine or are merely curious about all of the interesting ways a turkey can be made, check this out some of these popular ways to cook a turkey.

In the southern United States, in areas such as New Orleans, it is popular to deep fry your turkey. If you are trying to avoid a dry turkey, man is this for you! This method is best for small turkeys within the range of 8 to 10 pounds stuffed with different vegetables and sprinkled with seasonings. And cooking it is exactly how it sounds; you lower the entire bird into a huge vat of hot oil and fry until crispy and golden brown. Many people consider this preparation of a turkey to be extremely unsafe considering the huge vat of oil, but the upside to this form of turkey preparation is that it takes a fraction of the time as compared to putting the bird in the oven.

Barbequed turkey is also a fun way to spice up your Thanksgiving. It is also one of the easiest and most flavorful ways to cook a turkey because the excess juices run off and the flavor is sealed in resulting in a turkey with a crisp outside and juicy inside. To make the easiest, yet still delicious barbequed turkey you only need a few ingredients, olive oil, Worcestershire, and garlic pepper. This cooking method requires approximately 25 to 30 minutes of cooking time per pound so make sure your tank has plenty of gas in it. A couple of side notes for this cooking method is you can use some mesquite chips to give the turkey a little extra flavor but make sure you don’t stuff the turkey otherwise the inside temperature will not get hot enough to kill bacteria.

If you are a fan of stuffing in your turkey, braising is also a delicious way to prepare your turkey. In this method you simple place your defrosted turkey, stuff it with your favorite vegetables or stuffing and place it in a pan with a small amount of water or stock in a 325 to 350 degree oven. Cook the turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 or higher, making sure to check the temperature in the thickest part of the breast. After the turkey is finished you can pour out all of the flavorful liquid left over in the pan and use it as a side dish of dressing. This method leaves your turkey lightly browned and moist inside.

If you are satisfied with the way your turkey comes out every year, there is no reason to change it, but I guarantee that if you try one of these ways to prepare a turkey you won’t regret it either! Who knows, many you will fall in love and the way you prepare your turkey will be forever changed.

For more great Thanksgiving health tips, go here!