Friday, February 18, 2022

28 Days To Shrink Your Stomach



Have you strayed from your weight loss goals this year but still want to get in shape? Give the 28-Day Shrink Your Stomach Challenge a try! This weight loss program is designed to decrease your bloat, burn fat, and shrink your stomach in just one month. Plus, the diet is flexible — you can start it whenever you want to! Print out the chart to put on your refrigerator so you can start weight loss the right way, with healthy balanced meals and an exercise routine. If the Plank Challenge is too difficult for you, there are other exercise routines you can do. Just go to the “doctoroz.com” website and look for this “Shrink Your Stomach” plan.

The facts are that you have to shrink your stomach if you want to lose weight. To lose weight you cut the calories by eating better, fresh food that has fewer calories and increases your activity to burn more than you eat. If you do both those things every day you will lose fat and the extra fat will disappear.

What some people starting weight loss for the first time, don’t understand is that just eating less of the same foods you’re eating now isn’t going to take the fat off. If you eat high-quality foods you can eat the same amount and consume fewer calories, that’s the secret to good health. You can’t lose weight or fat by starving yourself. That only works for temporary weight loss. In a month the weight will come back.

If you’re overeating or bingeing, this is normally caused by too much stress, and the stress isn’t going to disappear because you want to lose weight. So you can force yourself to cut back on food and you can lose a few pounds for a few weeks but the stress is probably still there and you will start bingeing again.

I had a similar problem, but shrinking my stomach and changing jobs did the trick for me and I started to lose the extra fat. Today my meal portions are half the size and I feel full. I found the “5 small meals a day plan”. Each meal is about 250 or 300 calories and I was eating every three hours. Get ideas for small meals on the internet. I googled 300 The food cravings disappeared and I stopped being hungry. The 5 meals a day plan works well with the “28 days to shrink your stomach” plan.

This is a sure-fire way to start losing. Stick with this for 28 days and I know you’ll be happy with the results. I stayed on the 5 small meals a day plan and never looked back. It is a great way to control your blood sugar.

I write about losing weight, how to lose weight, what foods to eat when you’re trying to lose weight, and exercise that will help you lose weight.Look for my podcasts on anchor.fm, or the podcast app on your cell phone. Search “howbaddoyouwanttoloseweight”.

If you really want to lose your body fat then look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You’ll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books.

There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $3.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans, or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, B&N.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com, just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page.



Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Why A Dramatic Cut In Calories Will Harm Your Body

In our fast-paced society, the Very-Low-Calorie Diet (VLCD) is quickly becoming the chosen fad or method of weight loss. It even comes with a guarantee of shedding those unwanted pounds yesterday.

Extreme measures of weight loss may be warranted and prescribed during a medical crisis. This would be understandable. However, applying drastic weight loss methods for the everyday person may not be safe or healthy.

Many very-low-calorie diets (VLCDs) are now being covered by insurance plans. This has made it even more appealing for people to sign on the dotted line. Not usually understood is only part of the VLCD program may be covered by insurance. The diet shakes are the largest part of the VLCD and a costly pay-out-of-pocket product.

Be cautious about any diet making unrealistic weight loss claims. Extreme weight loss programs may severely restrict food intake and recommend drinking shakes in lieu of eating. Studies on very-low-calorie diets (VLCDs) do show rapid weight loss but not without adverse health risks. According to other research, once the VLCD plan is completed, the weight is gained back plus more. These starvation-type diets are very risky and should only be tried with a doctor’s supervision. You have to take supplements and your doctor will know what you need.

The human body requires nutrients from lean proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Proper portions of these macronutrients are essential for good health. Individual calorie requirements will differ per person based on overall lifestyle and activity levels. This is where your doctor comes in. He’ll know how much to cut your calories.

Personally, I think these diets should be avoided. I always recommend going vegetarian for a couple of weeks. During that time buy some protein powder at the grocery store to supplement your required amount. Get plant protein while going vegetarian and in the 3rd week or 4th week eat some seafood and chicken breasts. After one week of eating some meat or seafood (about 4 oz. a day), go back to the vegetarian diet for a couple more weeks. While on the vegetarian diet, be careful of dairy. Dairy is high in animal fat and can add body fat. I stick to “plain Greek yogurt”, that’s my only dairy. You can add fresh fruit like berries. On a mostly vegetarian diet, you don’t have to count calories. Just avoid bingeing. I eat small quantities about 5 times a day and I don’t add sugar and an only very little salt (sea salt). One more thing, don’t drink calories except for your protein shakes, don’t drink anything with calories.

A sedentary person would require much less caloric intake compared to a marathon runner for example. Regardless of lifestyle, the human body needs calories from the major food groups to function at optimum levels and to be healthy. Very-low-calorie diets (VLCDs) can restrict essential nutrients and place a person at risk for adverse effects and health issues.

Energy needs for a body at rest (Basal Metabolic Rate) remain fairly consistent and responsible for seventy percent of calories burned each day. To calculate your basal metabolic rate, multiply ten calories for each pound of body weight for a woman and eleven calories for a man.

A 130lb woman would burn 1300 calories at rest per day. More energy is required for digestion and absorption (thermogenesis) ranging from one to eight hundred additional calories per day. Physical activity calories also offer the largest variable per person demanding even more caloric intake. Don’t over-estimate your activity. One hour of heart-pumping exercise will only burn about 300 calories, even if you’re experienced at a strenuous workout.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, a woman should consume no less than 1200 calories per day and a man no less than 1800 calories. Also indicated extreme caloric restrictions signal the body to conserve calories and significantly reduce our metabolic rate. Very-low-calorie diets (VLCDs) allow for consumption of only 500-800 calories per day and place the body into self-starvation.

Very-low-calorie diets (VLCDs) require a person to be under the care of a physician due to possible health risks.

Some adverse effects may include fatigue, dizziness, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, and increased overall cholesterol. Research has indicated more serious health effects may include gallstone development.

Very-low-calorie diets(VLCDs) promise rapid weight loss but not a lifestyle of keeping it off. Studies show weight loss with VLCDs is commonly regained once the program is completed. Participants are not learning how to eat healthily or exercise consistently.

The safest way to lose weight is by implementing healthy methods. Nutrition and fitness education are important. Learn how to buy and prepare healthy foods and include a regular exercise program. It will be proper nutrition and exercise knowledge allowing lifelong sustainable weight loss.

Instead of overspending on packaged shakes for a temporary fix, a better investment plan would be to locate a qualified personal trainer and/or certified nutritionist. They will be able to offer substantially more quality education for a lifetime of good health.

Look for my podcasts on anchor.fm, or the podcast app on your cell phone. Search “howbaddoyouwanttoloseweight”.

If you really want to lose your body fat then look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You’ll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books.

There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $3.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans, or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, B&N.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com, just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page.



Friday, February 11, 2022

What's The Best Time Of The Day To Exercise?

Is there a best time of day to exercise? Two of the top reasons people give for not exercising regularly include lack of results and lack of time. So, for many people, the best time to exercise is the time that is most convenient and the time that fits into a busy schedule.

Research on exercise and time of day is growing, but still limited and not without controversy. In general, if you can find a time for exercise that you can stick with consistently, you will be much more likely to train regularly and get better results. But if you are exercising to help you lose weight, what works for me, is to exercise in the morning before I eat. The science behind that is that it takes 10 to 12 hours after you stop eating for your body to use up the food that you ate the day before. 

Circadian Rhythms and Exercise

The human sleep and wake cycle follows a daily routine called circadian rhythms. It’s this cycle that regulates our body temperature, blood pressure, alertness, and metabolism, among other physiological functions. In general, these rhythms conform to our 24-hour day and may be reset based on environmental cues. The time of day that we typically exercise is one of these cues. Research by the University of North Texas in Denton found that although circadian rhythms are inborn we can reset them based upon our behaviors. For example, using an alarm clock, establishing meal times, and even when we work out are all cues to help rest our rhythms. They found that people who consistently exercise in the morning “teach” their body to be most ready for exercise at that time of day. When they switched to evening exercise, they didn’t feel as strong.

Also See: Does Jet Lag Decrease Athletic Performance?

The ability to adjust your rhythms is important for athletes training for a specific event. The message is to train at the same time of day that the event will occur. Research supports this advice. Studies show that your ability to maintain exercise intensity will adapt to your training time. Therefore, if you do your marathon training in the morning, you may perform better on race day (marathons typically start in the morning).

But if you train in the evening, a morning race day may leave you feeling weaker and slower.

Individual Differences and Exercise Timing

Some people are just naturally morning people. They have no trouble exercising first thing in the morning. Others don’t get moving so quickly and are more likely to feel like exercising later in the day. If you have such an obvious preference it’s pretty easy to decide what sort of exercise schedule you might stick with. The interesting thing is that research shows that no matter when you think you are better able to exercise, almost all of us are, in fact, physically stronger and have more endurance in the late afternoon.

Scheduling Exercise

Not everyone can choose to exercise when they feel like it. Work and family commitments often take priority and we end up squeezing in some exercise. If you find that the only time you have to exercise is when you least feel like it, don’t despair. As we learned earlier, you can change your rhythms and your body can adapt to a new exercise time.

However, it may take about a month to reset your internal exercise clock. (get tips on adjusting your circadian rhythms during air travel).

Research and the Best Time to Exercise

While there is specific research being conducted on this topic, unfortunately, the answer to the question, “What is the best time for exercise?” varies based on the specific question you ask, your training goals, and your exercise adherence. Here are some of the latest specific research findings:

Late Afternoon is Best for Exercising
Research shows that the optimal time to exercise is when our body temperature is at its highest, which, for most people is 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (body temperature is at its lowest just before waking).
Strength is Greater in the Afternoon
Dr. Hill reported that strength output is 5% higher at around mid-day; anaerobic performance, such as sprinting, improves by 5% in the late afternoon. Endurance is Greater in the Afternoon
Aerobic capacity (endurance) is approximately 4percent higher in the afternoon.
Injuries Are Less Likely in the Afternoon
Afternoon exercise is the best if you want to avoid injuries for many reasons. We are most alert; our body temperature is the highest so our muscles are warm and flexible; our muscle strength is at its greatest. These three factors make it less likely that we will get injured.
Morning Exercisers Are More Consistent
Even though afternoon exercise might be optimal from a physiological standpoint, research also shows that morning exercisers are more likely to stick to it than late-day athletes.
Evening Exercise and Sleep
Most research supports the idea that exercise can improve sleep quality. But does exercising too late in the evening keep you up? Studies have shown improvements in sleep from both morning and afternoon exercise, so it’s not yet clear if evening exercise keeps you up. One study even showed that vigorous exercise half an hour before bedtime did not affect sleep.
One thing that is agreed upon is that sleep deprivation can hinder sports performance.

The Bottom Line
The good news is that you get to decide the best time for you to exercise based upon your personal goals, schedule, and lifestyle. Ideally, you will pick a time that you are able to stick with consistently and make part of your daily or weekly schedule. If you are training for a competition, it’s wise to modify your training to accommodate the event start time, and it’s always wise to warm up before any workout.

Look for my podcasts on anchor.fm, or the podcast app on your cell phone. Search “howbaddoyouwanttoloseweight”.

If you really want to lose your body fat then look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You’ll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books.

There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $3.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans, or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, B&N.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com, just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page.

Friday, February 4, 2022

Why Are You Gaining Weight?

I believe you have to understand why you have a weight problem if you're going to fix it. In the U.S. we’ve been very fortunate. The U.S. has prospered like nowhere else on Earth. Sometimes that’s a good thing and sometimes things just progress too fast. When the economy grows too fast this puts a lot of stress on those people who have trouble keeping up with others.

I guess I’m one of those who never had to struggle. Some people complain today about how they don’t have the things they want, but if you go back to the big depression when there were no jobs and there was little or no welfare programs and people were living on $20 a week in cold-water flats, well for most of us our lives are better today.

So when I say that overall the American people have done pretty well, I guess what I mean is that there’s not a lot of people skipping meals anymore. On a whole, our standard of living is much better. But today’s lifestyle is much more stressful than 40 years ago, before computers, cell phones, and the internet. The pressure to keep our jobs, make enough money to survive in today’s fast-paced economy, adds a lot of stress to working people.

The population is overworked, stressed out, and looking to somehow make their lives a little easier. So we try to spoil ourselves whenever possible. If you think about it a minute, this is the reason for more than one of our problems today. Somehow people need to return to eating the way we did in the ’50s. The way they still eat in other parts of the world where cancer and other health problems are not so commonplace.

Supermarkets are a great convenience but we’re eating fresh food that ripens in trucks during shipping. Fruits and vegetables should stay on the vine or on the tree until ripe. But growers can’t get it to the market fast enough, so it’s picked weeks early and ripens in transit. Picking early causes a loss of nutrition. Your paying for something you're not getting.

Shopping for food grown locally is the only way to get real fresh food. In outdoor markets, the grower is selling you the products he grows. Now I know that limits you, all you are able to buy is what's grown in your area, but that’s the way it use to be. Even frozen vegetables are grown by the large growers that only produce for the mass markets. And yes they do freeze the fruit or vegetable at the time they're picked so they're as ripe as possible, but those large growers use chemicals to grow their products, and there lies the problem.  Organic is better if you buy supermarket food but is it ripe? Did it stay on the plant or tree long enough to get the nutrition you paying for? Who knows. I prefer to get the product from the farmer, if the farmer says it’s organic it probably is. One big step forward for the consumer is that you can buy organic fruits and vegetables frozen. It keeps the price down by eliminating spoilage. 

Part of eating small portions or eating less to lose weight is getting the most nutrition you can out of what you eat. I believe that if you get enough nutrition from your food you won’t have cravings between meals. Because of today’s lifestyle, the food we buy, and the way we eat; we are causing our own health problems.

Gym memberships and exercise equipment, diet pills, or low-cal foods won’t make you healthy. Good health starts with eating healthy food with lots of nutrition and over time your body will burn off your body fat and being more active and sitting less will strengthen your bones and muscles. Your body will take care of itself if it gets the nutrition it needs.

Look for my podcasts on anchor.fm, or the podcast app on your cell phone. Search “howbaddoyouwanttoloseweight”.

If you really want to lose your body fat then look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You’ll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books.

There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $3.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans, or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, B&N.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com, just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page.



Saturday, January 29, 2022

How Much Sitting Do You Do?

This is a great post you should read. Some of us still shake our heads and wonder why they can’t lose weight, but if you read this it will spell out the problem that most of us have with our weight.

What’s the Worst Time of Day for Sitting Too Much?

By Wendy Bumgardner

Prolonged sitting is a risk factor for heart disease, even if you exercise, according to studies. Now that so many people are wearing activity trackers, Fitbit looked at anonymous aggregated data from over a million users to see who sits the most and when. It is enlightening.

The Worst Times of Day for Being Sedentary

Fitbit’s data showed three times of day were the most likely to find you sitting or slumped at your desk.

Afternoon from 2 pm – 3 pm
After-coffee/before lunch – prime work/meeting time of 10:30 – 11 am
After work and after dinner, specifically from 7:30-8:30 pm.
10 Tips to Stop Sitting Still: If you know when you are the most likely to be inactive, you can literally take these steps.

If you know when you are the most likely to be inactive, you can literally take these steps.

Work and Sit More, Retire and Sit Less

The stereotype is that you retire to your armchair, but Baby Boomers never did like to be conventional. Total sedentary time decreases after age 55 and right around retirement age from ages 58-66, people sit less.

This reflects on what happens when you enter the workforce. The Fitbit data found that people from age 20 to 25 had their total sitting time go up an hour. Sitting time continues to increase by 30 minutes from age 24 to 30 and up another 30 minutes between the ages of 30 and 55. That’s a total of two more hours of sitting compared with their school-age years. This is concerning because one study found that for each hour of sitting, heart disease risks rise 14%

30 Easy Ways to Walk 2000 More Steps per Day: Use these hacks to ensure you are getting up and moving around for 250 steps each hour of the workday.
Which Countries Sit the Most?

Oddly enough, it is in Spain that people are the least inactive during the workday, even though many still observe siesta in the afternoon. They are inactive for only 5 hours, 2 minutes before 6 pm, which is 45 minutes less than the average for the USA and China. It could be that a siesta break from sedentary work is what keeps them moving. Combined with a tradition of going for an evening walk, paseo, it could be that Spain is ahead of the game for reducing sedentary time.

Hours of Inactive Time Before 6 pm by Country – Fitbit Data

US: 5:47
China: 5:45
New Zealand: 5:35
UK: 5:29
Canada: 5:25
India: 5:23
France: 5:15
Italy: 5:12
Australia: 5:10
Spain: 5:02

Figure out what time of day is bad for you and do something about it. When you add the time you spend in bed to the time your sitting, most overweight adults are on their feet fewer hours than the hours sitting or lying down. As a matter of fact, some adults are only on their feet about 4 hours a day. I put this in bold for a good reason. Even a one-hour workout can’t erase the damage we do with that much sitting. 

So what’s the answer? Work from a standup desk with a stool so you can stand or sit. This isn’t a new idea, many people work this way today. Our grandparents worked this way. Many blue-collar workers work this way now. Anything that will cut down the number of hours we sit. The desk that we sit at has been the biggest contributor to our health problems. This type of inactivity combined with a bad diet has ruined the health of millions of Americans.

Look for my podcasts on anchor.fm, or the podcast app on your cell phone. Search “howbaddoyouwanttoloseweight”.

If you really want to lose your body fat then look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You’ll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books.

There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $3.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans, or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, B&N.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com, just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page.



Sunday, January 23, 2022

I Read Those fitness Websites But Nothing Works For Me

I’m sure you have read a few yourself. The ones that advocate exercises that most of us can’t do, but they're great if you want to lose inches or lose weight. No wonder most people give up trying. Last month and I think I wrote about it, less than 3% of  American adults are physically fit. We already know that 66% of adults are overweight which means another 30% of adults may not be overweight but they’re seriously out-of-shape.

Now you can understand why Americans on average pay about 17% of their income for healthcare, whereas in other developed countries the average citizen pays about 9% of their income for healthcare. If we had the best healthcare system in the world you could justify the extra cost, but we don’t. We rank number 37 in developed countries according to the World Health Assoc.

So why is this important to you? The number of physically fit people in our country is steadily dropping generation by generation. Americans need to realize what they are doing to themselves. Americans have a strange attitude toward themselves and it’s not just about fitness. We tend to put things off. We have a “why do I have to do it today?” attitude with most everything and that’s one reason we are so rushed. We are in a hurry to do everything. We think that we can do everything at the last minute, not realizing that we are putting extra stress on ourselves.

This is one reason why we fall for all those quick weight loss methods. We want to be able to use the quick and easy method and we think that if we just keep looking we’ll find one.  Well, good luck with that. The methods for getting rich and the methods for losing weight aren’t much different and as we all know there’s too quick a way to get rich.

Anytime your body loses weight quickly your body goes into starvation mode and starts to hoard calories, and the fat starts to return. The bad part is when you lose weight quickly you're losing mostly muscle weight and only about 30 fat. But when you gain the weight back, it comes back all fat. So now you’ve increased your percentage of body fat you decrease your percentage of muscle mass. So what is the difference you might ask? It’s your muscle mass that has to burn fat to maintain its size and strength. So every time you lose muscle you're losing your ability to burn fat.

Overweight people constantly complain to me in emails that they eat like a bird and can’t lose weight. If you are already overweight and out of shape you have your work cut out for you. I’ll write more about this in my next post and give you tips that I used to lose my fat. Before you can get into shape you have to lose that fat. Losing body fat is all about the food you eat. The quantity is not that important. Some foods and drinks will help you burn more calories and some things you eat will only cause you to gain weight. Stop eating the wrong foods and your burn will burn off the excess fat.

Look for my podcasts on anchor.fm, or the podcast app on your cell phone. Search “howbaddoyouwanttoloseweight”.

If you really want to lose your body fat then look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You’ll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books.

There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $3.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans, or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, B&N.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com, just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page.



Thursday, January 20, 2022

Understanding Weight Plateaus

Don’t quick trying because you stopped loss weight. It normal, the body will get used to your routine and you stop burning those extra calories. When this happens and you can’t find a good reason, change your routine. Don’t cut back on food, that doesn’t work. Change the food you eat and up the amount of activity.

A weight loss plateaus is a pause your body will take after losing several pounds and all this is normal, the body wants time to adjust. This is a must read for those who are trying to lose more than 20 pounds. You want to understand that your body really doesn’t like to see you lose weight. The body always worries that you’re going to starve. You have to trick your body into losing weight and not going into starvation mode over the weight loss. Don’t get frustrated over plateaus, they’re normal and this article tells you how to deal with them.

If you’ve spent any time and effort losing weight, you may have noticed how hard it is. It seems like, just when you start to see progress, your body just stops responding to what you’re doing.

If you’ve experienced that, you’re not alone. The thing is, as hard as you work at losing weight, the human body works even harder to keep energy intake and output in balance. In other words, your body doesn’t like to lose weight.

And, even more frustrating is the fact that very efforts you make to burn more calories may eventually slow it down. Here are some of the mistakes we make that may contribute to weight loss plateaus.

Problem 1. Reducing your calories too much

Fact: It takes calories to burn calories. When you decrease your food intake, your body simply lowers its metabolic rate in response. This still allows the body to function properly but, because there aren’t any extra calories around to fuel all the other things you’re doing, your body may move into starvation mode, holding onto extra fat as fuel. Simply eat better foods. Some foods will help you burn fat and some foods will add fat.

Solution:
Keep your calories slightly below your maintenance calories so that your energy and metabolism remain high. A deficit greater than 500-700 calories makes it much more difficult to maintain your lean body mass. One basic formula to calculate your daily calorie needs:

Men
kg (body weight) x 24 = kcal/day
Women kg (body weight) x 23 = kcal/day

note: kg = pounds divided by 2.2 (i.e.: 180 lbs / 2.2 = 81.8 kg)

You can also use Nutrition Expert Shereen’s excellent calorie calculators to get a rough estimate of how many calories you need each day. More about calories and weight loss. More Ways to Break the Plateau!

More Ways to Break the Plateau!

Problem 2. Loss of lean body mass
Fact: Muscle burns fat and losing muscle means burning fewer calories. Lean body mass uses five times the calories as fat mass so, if you lose it, your metabolism drops and your weight loss stops.
Solution:
Make sure your exercise program is combined with a fully nourished body. You can accomplish this with a diet that creates a safe calorie deficit along with some type of multivitamin to help with any nutrient deficiencies.

Problem 3. Weight loss
What? But you thought that’s what you wanted! However, what you may have forgotten is that when you weigh less, it takes less calories to move your body. A loss of any amount of weight will lead to a reduced energy requirement.

Solution:
Make sure you start (or continue) a weight training program to help increase lean body mass, which can help compensate for the loss of calories.

Problem 4. The ‘Adaptation’ Phase Ends
When you start a new exercise program, your body responds because it is required to make numerous changes to adjust to different workloads. So, your muscles are rebuilding themselves and this consumes all kinds of calories. But, at some point your body will stop adapting to the new workload and, as a result, you burn less calories for the same activities.

Solution:
Don’t let your body get used to the exercise. Maintain your body’s adaptation period by changing the intensity, duration, frequency and/or the mode of exercise and include interval training if necessary.

Problem 5: Exercise Efficiency
The more you do something, the better you get at it. As your body becomes better at performing your exercises, it can actually use fewer calories during the exercise. Think of it this way: trained athletes often use fewer calories than untrained athletes with similar body types and workouts.

So, if this describes where you are, consider yourself a trained athlete and read on!

Solution:
The solution to this is the same as for Problem 4; don’t get used to the exercise. Concentrate on more dramatic changes such as trying brand new activities. For example, if you use the treadmill for two weeks, switch to something different like the rowing machine or the bike. Don’t forget to make changes in your weight training routine as well!

Problem 6: Over-training
Just like not eating enough can lower the amount calories you burn, so can over-training. When you exercise too much, there is a point of diminishing returns when an increase in exercise energy expenditure is negated by an equal decrease in non-exercise energy expenditure. In other words, when you increase your exercise intensity, your body responds by decreasing the amount of calories you burn during the rest of your day.

Solution:
Take time to recover. If you reach exercise burnout, this is a great time to take a break for a few days, or try something gentle like yoga or a stretching routine.

After you’ve rested, get back to exercise but lighten up your original routine and increase your intensity only as necessary.

7. Enhanced Physical Condition
As you get into better shape, your body is more efficient and it costs fewer calories to operate. Improved health means a lower resting metabolic rate and fewer calories are burned during normal daily activities. Part of this is because your cardio-pulmonary system is more efficient now and you have a lower resting heart rate.

Solution:
Congratulations! You’re officially in shape and healthy. Focus on that and feel good about yourself. Concentrate on changing your routine as described in Solution 5.

Losing body fat should be your goal. Read up on weight loss and losing body fat. It doesn’t cost money to lose body fat. The internet is full of free information. But the quickest way and cheapest way is to buy an ebook online and get everything you need in one short read. 

Look for my podcasts on anchor.fm, or the podcast app on your cell phone. Search “howbaddoyouwanttoloseweight”.

If you really want to lose your body fat then look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You’ll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books.

There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $3.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans, or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, B&N.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com, just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page.