Natural Ways to Lose Weight

Cooking Methods and Weight Loss

2012-01-06T14:48:00.000-08:00

The way you cook your food determines how much nutrient it retains and also your weight loss success.

Always choose food which is:

Raw when possible (Fruits and Vegetables)
Steamed
Grilled
Broiled

Avoid food that is:

Fried
Sauteed

Water Therapy for weight loss

2012-01-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

Water therapy has been used from ancient times to cleanse our body of all toxic waste and lose the excess weight.

The process of doing this is to consume 4-6 glasses of water the first thing in the morning as soon as you get up bed before doing anything else. Yes, this is done even before brushing your teeth. So make sure to clean your teeth thoroughly before you go to bed the previous night. Make sure to start slow. You might not be able to start with 1.5 litres of water the first day. Drink as much as you can comfortably. Then slowly increase it every day. It is important not to eat or drink anything within an hour doing this water therapy.

This will help cleanse your body, help get rid of the excess weight and also give you a glowing skin and more energy to face the day.

Make sure to consult with your doctor before you start this water treatment.

Keep up your Weight Loss Resolution

2012-01-03T10:36:00.000-08:00

Many of you are committed to losing weight this New Year and determined to keep it off.

Here are some of the tips to help you to naturally lose weight and maintain your ideal weight.

Visualize yourself fit and healthy. Having an image in your mind on what you want to look like and feel like after you reach your ideal weight will provide you the motivation to not only get started on your weight loss journey, but also to keep it up.
Set Goals. Set a goal weight you want to reach within a certain period of time. Start with your dream weight goal. Then break it down into smaller goals to achieve say each week. This helps you to have the bigger picture in mind,but at the same time have small measurable goals throughout your journey and celebrate small victories.
Eat what you enjoy. It is very important to come up with a meal plan that you will enjoy so that you not only will lose weight but will continue to maintain your weight loss. Come up with a daily calorie budget that you want to stay within. Make sure you plan each meal to include a healthy lean protein, good fat in moderation, fruits and vegetable and a whole grain carbohydrate. You will be amazed at how good some of the healthy foods taste. Try some new health food each week or month. Add a new vegetable or fruit. There are so many amazing foods in nature that are so delicious and at the same time so good for you. Enjoy them. But make sure you log all the food you eat and stay within your daily allowance.
Enjoy your exercise. Exercise can easily become a chore for some and your mind keeps working on new ways/reasons on how to avoid it. But if your exercise involves an activity which you enjoy and do it with your loved ones you will look forward to doing it everyday. So make sure you pick something you enjoy, but keep challenging yourself.
Celebrate Success. The biggest motivation to keep up your weight loss goal is to reward yourself for every milestone you achieve in your journey. Remember to not reward yourself with food but with something small your enjoy and cherish and which pushes you to stay motivated in your journey.

Lose weight naturally with Kale

2012-01-02T10:54:00.000-08:00

Kale is one of nature's wonders which is packed with all the goodness you will need to stay healthy and at the same time lose weight in a natural and healthy way.

Kale is very high in fiber. This helps you to feel full for a longer amount of time.

Kale is rich in beta-carotene, calcium, iron and is also a good source of Vitamin C, folic acid, manganese, potassium and Vitamin B6.

Kale has a low calorie density for all the abundance of nutrients it provides. One cup of cooked kale contains about 36 calories. So this is definitely one of the foods you want to add to your meal plans to stay fit and reach your ideal weight.

Top vegetables for Weight Loss

2012-01-01T11:57:00.000-08:00

Vegetables are packed with nutrients and have a low calorie density. Adding more vegetables to your daily diet is the easiest way to lose weight.

Here are some of the Top vegetables for Weight Loss:

Kale
Broccoli
Asparagus
Spinach
Collard greens
Peppers
Mushroom
Cucumber
Tomato
Onion
Garlic
Ginger

Top Fruits for Weight Loss

2012-01-01T11:49:00.000-08:00

Fruit is one of nature's wonders. So delicious and so nutritious and at the same time can also help you lose weight.

Here are some of the Top fruits for Weight Loss:

Grapefruit
Apples
Lemons
Lime
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Oranges
Pears
Pineapple
Papaya
Peaches
Grapes
Strawberries
Raspberries
Blackberries

Lose Weight with Ginger

2011-08-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

Ginger is a very good digestive aid. It boots metabolism, reduces cholesterol levels and aids weight loss.

Ginger is a good source of potassium, magnesium and copper.

Ginger is an aromatic and hot spice with a strong flavor and can be made as a tea, added to stir fries and lots of dishes to give it an Asian flavor.

In herbal medicine ginger is commonly used to soothe the digestive tract and reduce intestinal gas and inflammation.

Quinoa for Weight Loss

2011-08-10T11:17:00.000-07:00

Quinoa is an amino acid rich seed which is an excellent diet friendly and hunger fighting protein. It helps to fill you up with very few calories and stay full for a long time. This is considered as a complete protein source as it contains all the nine essential amino acids our body needs.

Quinoa is also a good source of dietary fiber and rich in magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorous and promotes cardiovascular health, reduces hypertension and helps maintain blood glucose levels.

Quinoa is gluten free and is considered to be easily digestible and relatively allergy free.

Quinoa is a complete food as it contains carbohydrate, soluble and insoluble fiber, wide array of vitamins and minerals, amino acids, sugar, sodium, fatty acids and more. The carbohydrates in Quinoa release very slowly into your blood steam and provides a steady supply of energy and keeps you full, healthy and satiated.

So start adding Quinoa to your daily diet and start losing weight!

Lose weight with Apples

2011-08-09T08:15:00.001-07:00

Apples are a high fiber low calorie food which is excellent for weight loss. They are loaded with anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals. Because of the high fiber it helps fill you up, controls the appetite and hence help with weight loss. Research shows that adding 3 apples a day shows significant results. Adding an apple 15 minutes before each meal helps reduce the calorie intake by around 15% during the meal.

Apples are also low in sodium and helps reduce water retention in our body.

Apples contain pectin which is known to help keep the blood cholesterol levels in check.

The phytonutrients found in apples can also help regulate the blood sugar levels. The polyphenols found in apples helps slow down the digestion of carbohydrates, reduces glucose absorption and stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin.

So have an apple a day or 3 apples a day and keep the doctor away!

Weight Loss with Pears

2011-08-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

Recent studies have soon the link between Pears and maintaining a healthy weight. Pears are loaded with fiber and helps you feel fuller and prevents you from over eating.

Eat Pears as a mid-morning snack to help you from over eating at lunch and have it as an afternoon snack to cut down on your dinner. Feeling fuller makes you eat lesser calories and hence lead to rapid weight loss.

The dietary fiber in one Pear can range from 15-25% of our daily requirement depending the size of the Pear. Pears are also an excellent source of Vitamin C and helps boost the immune system, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

So enjoy Pears everyday and Lose weight fast!

Sleep Well to Lose Weight

2011-08-05T12:53:00.000-07:00

There are so many researches showing the link between sleep and weight. Both quantity and the quality of your sleep (how much your sleep and how well you sleep) are found to have an influence on the hormones in our body particularly the hormone which controls out appetite. Not getting adequate sleep leads to this hormonal imbalance and over eating leading to weight gain.

So make sure you get 7-9 hours of quality sleep everyday. This helps restore your body's normal balance, stabilizes the metabolism and eventually leads to weight loss.

Cinnamon and Weight Loss

2011-08-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

Cinnamon is a super spice that has been found to promote health especially with its ability to control blood glucose levels. It also has effects on triglyceride and cholesterol levels. It is one of the best natural ways to burn your extra fat.

Taking one half teaspoon of ground Cinnamon daily will greatly aid your weight loss.

Here are some suggestions on how you can add Cinnamon to your diet:

Add half teaspoon to your morning smoothie
Sprinkle on top of your Oatmeal with some apples and raisins.
Sprinkle it on your nuts
Make a toast with Cinnamon and honey sprinkled on top
Sprinkle some Cinnamon and nuts on top of your yogurt

Enjoy your Cinnamon and enjoy your natural weight loss!

Weight Loss with Horse Gram

2011-08-02T12:18:00.000-07:00

Horse Gram is a lentil (dal) commonly used in Asian cooking especially Indian cooking.It has excellent fat burning properties and helps to shed your pounds rapidly. It is an excellent food to reduce bad cholesterol.

Boil horse gram until tender and add it to your daily diet. Please note that it takes longer to cook than other dals. Soaking for a while and cooking in a pressure cooker helps to cook it faster.

Powder and add it to soups to get all the nutritional benefits and burn fat.

Soak the horse gram dal for 8-10 hours and sprout the seeds to increase the nutritional value.

Herbs that aid weight Loss

2011-08-02T12:04:00.000-07:00

Cinnamon
Cayenne
Dandelion Root
Cardamom
Fennel Seeds
Flax Seeds
Green Tea
Parsley
Turmeric
Red Pepper

Juices for Weight Loss

2009-08-20T10:55:00.000-07:00

Fresh fruits and vegetables are key for maintaining a healthy weight. Juice fasting is believed to get rid of the stubborn fat. But keep in mind there is never a fast cure for your weight problem. A healthy and balanced diet and exercise is always key. It is generally recommended to do juice fasting for a day or two once every few months to get rid of all the toxins in the body and lose weight. This also gives all your digestive organs a much need rest as juices are generally easier to digest. Also juicing generally helps your body absorb all the vital nutrients easily.

Here are some of the juices that help with weight loss naturally:

Lemon juice with honey added to warm water first thing in the morning
Carrot juice helps maintain blood sugar levels and controls the hunger pranks.
Parsley juice also helps curb appetite.
Cabbage juice is excellent of getting rid of excess body fat.
Asparagus is a natural diuretic and helps you lose the water weight.
Celery and cucumber juice also acts as diuretics and aid weight loss.
Juice of lettuce, tomato and celery
Juice of grapefruit, orange and lemon
Juice of lemon and pineapple.
Cranberry Juice.

Home Remedies for Weight Loss

2009-08-18T21:29:00.001-07:00

Drink a glass of hot water with lime and honey first thing in a morning to shed the excess fat and lose weight.
Eating horse gram dal (lentil found in most Indian Grocery Stores) regularly helps to keep your weight in check and burn fat.
Drinking barley water helps you lose the water weight.
Cabbage salad and cabbage soups help you lose weight.
Eating garlic regularly helps you burn fat and lose weight
Drinking ginger tea regularly helps you maintain a healthy weight
Green tea is an excellent fat burner and helps you with weight loss.
Eating mint helps with weight loss.
Chewing on curry leaves helps you lose weight
Drinking Dandelion Tea helps you lose water weight.
Low fat yogurt helps with lose weight
Turmeric is an excellent home remedy for obesity. Add it to you diet regularly.
Eating tomato in empty stomach is believed to help with weight loss.
Drink lots of water and keep hydrated to maintain a healthy weight

Foods that help boost Metabolism

2009-08-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

There are so many things that can spruce up a slowing metabolism. One of the simplest ways to to add some herbs to your diet. Here are a few of the herbs that are believed to boost metabolism. But be sure to use all these herbs in small quantities and not overdose on any of these.

Ginger is a herb which is warms the body. It is an excellent digestive aid and helps boost the metabolism.
Green Tea is high in poly-phenols and is an excellent anti-oxidant. It also boosts the metabolism and helps to burn fat.
Cayenne Pepper also increases the heat in the body. Red chillies contain a substance called capsaicin that might lead to improvement in metabolism.
Cinnamon boosts our bodies ability to metabolize sugar and also helps boost metabolism

Best Snacks for Weight Loss

2009-08-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

Popcorn: Popcorn is very high in fiber and a very good snack which keeps you full and curbs appetite. Eat with no or little added salt and few drop of olive oil instead of butter.
Nonfat or Low fat Yogurt: Yogurt is rich in protein and calcium and has tons of good bacteria.
Frozen Grapes: For those of you with a sweet tooth, the best alternative is to snack on some frozen grapes.
Vegetables: Try crunchy vegetables like carrots, celery.
Almonds
Apples

Drink Tea, Lose weight

2009-08-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

Green Tea and several herb teas have proven to increase metabolism and in turn aid weight loss. So adding a few cups of tea to your daily diet along with good nutrition and exercise routine will help lose those extra pounds.

Here are some of the teas which can help with your weight loss goal:

Green Tea: Drinking green tea results in thermogenesis and fat oxidation.Drinking green tea regularly increases your metabolism and helps burn fat naturally.
Fennel Seeds Tea: Fennel seeds aid digestion and reduces bloating. It also help stimulate metabolism and aid fat burn. Fennel seeds also acts as a mild diuretic to flush excess water and toxins from the body.
Dandelion Tea: Dandelion helps detoxify the organs in the body and acts as a tonic for liver, urinary tract and kidney. It keeps the bowels healthy and thus aid in maintaining a naturally healthy weight.
Ginger Tea: Ginger helps increase metabolism and aids digestion and weight loss.
Lemon Tea: Lemon tea helps burn excess fat and helps in weight loss.

Easiest way to Lose Weight

2009-08-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more simple or easy to do to help with your weight loss than drinking water. The minimum requirement if 64 ounces a day.

Water flushes your body of toxins. It fills you up and lessens the appetite. Make sure to always have plenty of water at hand where ever you are - office, home, car. Freeze a few bottles every night during the summer days and put it in your car in the morning, so that you always have cool water with you when you are out.

If you are more active your daily requirement will be little higher.So make sure the 64 ounces is apart from the water you drink during your workout. Water also improves muscle tone and improves your workout. Hydration helps muscles contract more easily and improves the effectiveness of your workout.

Water also does wonders to your skin. It flushes out the impurities in your skin, giving you a clear and hydrated complexion.

Foods that help burn belly fat

2009-05-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

The key to burning the fat accumulated around your belly is good nutrition, portion control, 30 minutes of cardio a day, strength training 2-3 times a day to tone the muscles around your belly.

Here is a list of super foods that help speed up and burn your belly fat along the process:

Olive Oil
Ground Flax seeds
Oatmeal
Almonds
Avocados
Berries
Beans and Legumes
Whole Grains
Green Vegetables

Simple ways to add fiber

2009-05-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

Adding enough fiber to your diet is key to a healthy weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight. It keeps you full and satisfied for a longer time and helps keep a clean digestive system. Be sure to consume adequate water when you are consuming fibrous food.

Replace white rice with brown rice
Replace refined flour with whole grain
Add 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day
Snack on popcorn. Avoid salt and butter on it.
Add a few spoons of wheat bran to recipes requiring flour.
Start the day with Oatmeal for breakfast
Add 2-3 spoons of ground flax seeds to your breakfast
Add beans and lentils to soups and salads
Eat fruits and vegetables with skin on as far as possible. Be sure to clean them thoroughly first.
Ramp up on prunes and red raspberries which are loaded with fiber.
Snack on low fat yogurt topped with bran or ground flax seeds and berries.
Try some new whole grains like quinoa, amaranth, bulgur, or wheatberries
Add purred vegetables to your pasta sauces

Don't forget to up your water intake as you add more fiber to your diet. More fiber requires more water.

Foods that help burn fat

2009-05-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

The best way to burn excess fat is regular exercise and having a balanced diet. However there are some foods that studies have shown to help you with the process of fat burning. Here are some of those foods:

Calcium
Some recent studies have shown that the calcium in dairy products like milk and yogurt act as fat burners and help with weight loss. Be sure to add low fat or reduced fat versions of milk and yogurt as part of your daily calorie intake to boost weight loss.

Green Tea
Recent studies have shown that Green tea increases fat oxidation and boosts metabolism and hence helps burn fat. Since it increases the oxidation of fat it is believed that drinking green tea an hour before a work out may help in increasing the expenditure of fat during the work out.

Vitamin C
Studies also have shown that foods rich in vitamin C like lemons, limes, oranges, grape fruit have fat burning properties. These acidic fruits help to dilute fat cells and help in releasing them from your body. Be sure to get your daily dose of Vitamin C by consuming one of these fruits with your breakfast.

Red Chilies
Red Chilies contain a substance called which helps increase our metabolism and fat burning process.

Apples
Apples contain a substance called pectin which help in restricting our body cells from absorbing fat. Be sure to have an apple a day and keep the doctor away.

Ginger
Ginger helps to raise body heat and burn fat.

Horse Gram
Horse gram is an excellent legume for burning body fat.

Cabbage
Cabbage contains a substance called tartaric acid which inhibits the conversion of sugar and carbohydrates into fat. Cabbage also helps in flushing fat from our body.

Apricots
Apricots are high in beta carotene which helps in flushing fat from our body.

Cantaloupes
Cantaloupes are high in beta carotene and helps to flush fat from our body.

Beet Roots
Beets help in the purification of blood and wash fat from our body.

Asparagus
Asparagus has a naturally fluid flushing substance and helps in the break down of fat cells.

Olive Oil
Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat. It is one of the good fats that helps you burn fat. Adding olive oil to your caloric intake will help with fat burning. Be sure to watch your calories though.

Berries
Berries have a substance that helps body to release fat cells.

Flax seeds
Flax seed helps body cells respond more effectively to the fat burning hormones. Be sure to eat ground flax seeds to maximize benefits.

Simple Tips and Tricks to lose weight

2009-05-21T10:06:00.001-07:00

Eat a high fiber, whole grain breakfast. Add some lean protein to it like egg whites. This will give your day a wonderful start and will help you feel less hungry through out the day.
Always have good snacks around you like carrots, apples and other fruits, nuts like almonds and walnuts. Remove all the bad ones containing refined carbs, sugars and the ones with transfats. As soon as you feel tempted for a snack try drinking some water and/or reach for a good snack. But watch your portion with nuts.
Move more. Be it walking, chores around the house, climbing stairs, running after children or anything else. Get up off the couch and move more.

Natural Ways to lose weight

2009-05-20T14:24:00.000-07:00

Drink lot of water
Adequate water in take is key to keeping your metabolism up and flush out all unwanted toxins from your body. So the first and foremost thing to watch for when you are planning to lose weigh is to watch your water intake. Aim for a minimum of 8-10 glasses of water a day. This is apart from the water you take in when exercising.

Portion Control
Listen to your body and eat for health. Stop using food as an emotional satisfier. Avoid mindless eating and be conscious of what you are eating. Stop eating as soon as you feel full.

Be active
Exercise regularly. Aim for a minimum of 30 minutes for brisk cardio activity a day. Choose a routine you enjoy and stick to it. Make sure the activity gets you to sweat and feel energised. This helps your metabolism high and burn fat.

Sleep Well
One of the key factors for a healthy weight is adequately resting your body. Aim for as close to 8 hours of sleep as possible. This helps the body relax and revitalised.

Eat lots of Fruits and Vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables are high in fiber and essential nutrients. The fibers help us to feel full longer. They are generally easy to digest and helps to have a clean colon. Fruits and vegetables also help the body heal and become healthy. This is very essential to maintain a healthy natural weight.

Curb your refined Carbs
The main culprit for unhealthy weight gain is refined carbs like white flour and white sugar. Refined sugars have absolutely no nutritional value for your body. They instead rob your body of vital nutrients. They are just empty calories and one of the main reasons which stop you from losing weight. Watching your sugar intake or totally avoiding it will work wonders for you in reaching your healthy weight. Carbohydrate is very essential for a healthy balance in your diet. But be sure to know the difference between good carbs and bad carbs. Choose your carbs wisely for a healthy and satisfying diet. Substitute your white rice with brown rice. Choose whole grain instead of refined flour. Choose good carbs and watch the portion size of those good carbs too.

Cleanse
There is some much hype around cleansing and detox systems lately. Even though some of the ones in the market sound really dangerous in the long run the whole idea behind cleansing your body of toxins once in a while is not a bad idea and it may even help you shed a few unwanted pounds. But the purpose of the cleanse should be only cleanse and not a fast way to lose pounds because those pounds mostly come back when you go back to your daily routine. The best cleanse if for a day or 2 once or twice a year on raw fruits and vegetables and lots of water.