Secrets for Losing Weight Fast

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of eating breakfast. People who take time for a morning meal consume fewer calories over the course of the day, have a stronger desire to exercise, and are less likely to be overweight or obese.

People who skip breakfast are more likely to snack on junk food throughout the day, and overindugle on fatty meals for lunch and dinner. If you are thinking about devising a healthy weight loss plan of action, think breakfast!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You have probably heard this many times, and it’s true. Even the name says it all. It is meant to break the fast you give your body from not eating since you put your head down on the pillow the night before. How you eat when you wake up in the morning dictates how your day will go. If you are trying to implement a healthy weight loss program, eating a healthy breakfast makes the difference between success and failure.

Just because breakfast is the most important meal of the day doesn’t grant you permission to go into a feeding frenzy. That’s exactly what Americas most popular breakfast restaurants are setting you up for, so make a conscious effort not to buy into it. They peddle fatty scrambled eggs, sugary muffins and donuts, and pancakes covered with enough syrup and whip cream to launch your blood sugar level up into outer space.

Foods loaded with unhealthy fats, added sugars, and refined carbohydrates are not how you want to start your day, especially when you are trying to have a healthy weight loss. They zap your energy levels so you will feel lathargic, and tell your body to store fat instead of burning it. To help you avoid these morning mishaps, fill your cupboards with the following foods to ensure a successful and healthy weight loss.

Healthy Weight Loss Breakfast Food #1: Soy-Protein Shake
This is how I lost 70 pounds 15 years ago and have kept it off ever since. Imagine getting 2,000 calories worth of nutrition for about 180 calories without the fat and sugar. It’s the closest thing you can get to diet magic, and it’s the best way to begin every day. What happens when your body gets the right nutrition? It begins to heal itself in ways you never thought possible. Nothing on any restuarant breakfast menu is going to offer good health like that.
 
Healthy Weight Loss Breakfast Food #2: Green Tea
Making sure you are well hydrated is an important part of breakfast, so why not give your body the best liquid possible? Unplug your coffee maker and find a different route to work that doesn’t pass by a Starbucks. One cup of green tea every morning will give you enough energy to last an entire day, and you will not get the jitters like you might from coffee. Want to know the best part about green tea? It helps your body actually speed up your metabolism! Try finding that weight loss benefit in a fatty, over-priced latte.

Healthy Weight Loss Breakfast Food #3: Oatmeal
Remember when you were a kid and your mother made you eat oatmeal instead of your favorite cereal? That’s because it was healthy…and it still is, no matter how you prepare it. OK, so you can’t dump tons of sugar on it and make it taste like Apple Jacks, that’s a given. But you can sweeten it with fresh fruit or cranberries and raisins to enhance the taste. Just because you are older now and can make your own decisions doesn’t mean your mother wasn’t right.

Healthy Weight Loss Breakfast Food #4: Scrambled Eggs With Vegetables & Steak
So you say you want to splurge sometimes and eat a real American breakfast like the kind you get at a truck stop? I hear you loud and clear. There’s nothing wrong with wanting that…if you want to gain weight. How do you do it while sticking to your healthy weight loss plan? Be creative. Make yourself an egg beater omelet with fresh vegetables and lean meat. Just because a truck stop wants to serve you certain food in a greasy way doesn’t mean you can’t eat te same thing in a healthy way.

Healthy Weight Loss Breakfast Food #5: Fresh Fruit With Granola
Remember that recent high-protein low-carbohydrate diet fad that came and went faster than you could say Atkins? No one is on it anymore, and no one is thinner or healther because of it. Don’t ever let anyone convince you that something like a fresh apple is bad for you. Your body needs carbohydrates and there are few healthier sources than fruit and granola. It makes a great substitute for high sugar cereals. If you can sprinkle some protein powder on top of it, it’s an even better way to start your day.

So there you have it…5 of the best breakfasts you can eat for losing weight in a healthy, natural way. It’s not easy to change your taste pallete, but try these suggestions little by little as replacement for the high fat, high sugar choices that made you gain weight. Living a healthy lifestyle is essential for healthy weight loss, and choosing to eat smart for breakfast is the first step in the right direction.

William Winch
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/the-top-5-breakfast-foods-for-healthy-weight-loss-573101.html

If you’re a parent and conscious about your weight, the worse thing in the world is when your own kids think you’re fat. When my kids called me fat I was hurt. However, I knew that it was true. I also wondered what type of example I am setting for them.

While it’s polite to say that there is nothing wrong with being overweight and “accept who you are”, I find there is some lack of accountability with that approach. Especially since there are many health risks associated with being overweight.

Also, how can being overweight not take a poke at your self confidence? If being overweight is discouraging, the good news is we have control to drop the weight and get in shape.

First thing we have to do is put aside all the mental stuff as to why we can’t lose weight. Let go of the excuses and make the decision to break the cycle. There are many options available for people who want to lose weight and get in shape. However, the best option is to start working out. Here are some tips to help you out.

Recognize is there is a lot of information out there to help you lose weight and get in shape. Sometimes there is too much information. You need to know the right information. While everyone has their own custom plan with a tag line included, we run into information overload and wind up going in many different directions.

One thing to do is prioritize the information you want to read and also make the decision if it fits into your current plan. Remember, when you prioritize the information you are not dismissing it right away. However, you may find it useful for future workouts.

Keep in mind that its common knowledge that the way you lose weight and get in shape is to eat right and exercise. You might think that it’s impossible, since there are those who have been doing a lot of exercises and dieting for many years and yet they don’t get results. However, the secret is that we need to actually work at it.

You don’t have to work hard at it to the point where it’s not enjoyable. However, you just need to know you have to put in some hard work at some point in the day to get somewhere.

These are just some suggestions to help you sift through all the information and achieve the ultimate weight loss that you want to accomplish. So if you’re planning to lose weight, start by giving yourself permission to work hard at it. Keep it simple, know you have to work hard and find the right foods to eat. You’ll be successful.

John Purfield
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/lose-weight-let-go-of-the-excuses-and-get-the-right-information-to-get-started-90207.html

Recently, I had eaten the wrong kind of food for my body. As a result, I had indigestion. The physical discomfort due to indigestion caused me insomnia. After struggling for a very long time, I finally fell asleep around 4am. I woke up at around 8am the next morning. I was feeling both physically and mentally tired.

Due to tiredness, I could not concentrate on whatever I was trying to achieve for the day. This made me realized that I needed the right kind of foods and drinks for my body so that I will have ample energy to pursue financial freedom as defined by the Rich Dad’s series by Robert Kiyosaki.

What are kind of food or drink is considered right for my body? Basically a right kind of foods should satisfy the list of conditions listed below:

Firstly, the food or drink should be healthy for my body. The body needs a lot of food with a lot of fibers to enhance digestion. Thus, it is important to take a lot of vegetables and fruits since they contain a lot of fibers.

Taking too much meat will harm the body in the long term because there is lack of fibers. The problems will usually appear as irritable bowels, piles and so on. Thus, there is a need to strike a balance between eating vegetables, fruits and meats. When I have balance meals, then I will be healthy and thus save on unnecessary medical cost. In other words, I will have more money, time and energy to create wealth.

Secondly, the food or drink should not be allergic to my body. If I eat seafood and end up with rashes, then that mean I should avoid seafood altogether. Rashes cause me to feel discomfort and thus rob me of the energy to create wealth. Similarly, if I drink alcoholic drink and end up with rashes, then I should avoid alcoholic drink too. When I end up with rashes, I will need to consult doctor to cure the rashes. I will end up losing money, time and energy in order to recover.

Thirdly, the food or drink should not excite or drug my body. Most food or drink do not excite or drug my body. An example of a food that excites the body will be superb hot spicy food like tom yam soup. It is very nice to eat if you like hot and spicy food. But after finishing it, my mouth may feel so spicy and hot that I become too restless and preoccupied with the after effects for the rest of the day.

A good example of a drink that drugs the body will be alcoholic drink. Excessive alcoholic drinks cause the physical body and the brain to be drugged. That is why there is a lot of car accident due to drunk drivers. They cannot judge or function properly. Accidents caused loss of life as well as financial loss. If the driver is not properly insured, he may end up with a lot of debts paying for medical fees, compensating the injured parties and so on.

Next, the food or drink should not be addictive in nature. Water is not addictive in nature but it is essential for my body since a large percentage of my body is made up of water. Coffee is a good example of an addictive drink. It contains a substance known caffeine that will cause addiction. It is like a very minute drug but the way that it works is the same as any addictive drug.

If you have been drinking coffee regularly, you will notice that you are very tired if you do not drink coffee for the day. This is the reaction of the body when it fails to consume caffeine. It not much different from a drug addict who fails to consume drug and feel the withdrawal symptoms.

Please note that if I like the food or drink, it may not necessary mean that my body is addicted to that food or drink. When I like a particular food or drink, I can stop them without any physical discomfort to my body. Though I may suffer from mental unhappiness because I cannot eat my favorite food or take my favorite drink, I do not suffer physically. When I am addicted to a food or drink, my body will suffer physically if I stop taking them. These physical discomforts will cause mental sufferings that will ultimately force me to crave for the addictive food or drink.

As you can see, the wrong kind of food will cause lose of money, time and energy either directly or indirectly. In conclusion, I feel that I should take care of my body by watching what I eat so that I will have more money, time and energy to work on my investments in assets that will generate passive income. Based on my understanding of the Rich Dad’s series by Robert Kiyosaki.

* DISCLAIMER *

The author, publisher and distributors particularly disclaim any liability, loss, or risk taken by individuals who directly or indirectly act on the information contained herein. All readers must accept full responsibility for their use of this material.

Max Ng
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/right-kinds-of-food-122125.html

It seems that everyday, we see an ad or read yet another article telling us about a new diet that is the “best weight loss diet”. With all the conflicting advice, how do you decide which one is the right one for you? That decision needs to be based on your weight loss goal, your individual food tastes and your lifestyle. Many diets fail because these factors are not considered.

Your weight loss goal may only be to lose 5 pounds so that your jeans won’t be quite so tight. You may want to lose that quickly and will only need to be on a diet program for as little as two to three weeks. If that is the case, then the “lose weight fast” plans may be a viable option for you. Most of those plans such as meal replacement with shakes, allow you to lose weight quickly. However, they are not usually very healthy and are not a good option for someone needing to lose more weight and be on a more long term weight loss plan. Long term use of such plans can be damaging to your health.

Your individual tastes in food also need to be considered when choosing a diet plan. For example, if you have a strong taste for salty, starchy foods, which are usually carbohydrates, the Atkins diet would probably be very difficult for you to maintain. You would do much better with a plan that allows more carbohydrates. Look closely at the foods allowed on the diet you are considering and seriously consider if you think you will be able to stick with it. While you are not going to find a healthy diet that lets you eat cookies or ice cream everyday, you probably will not stick to one that consists only of foods that you dislike.

Finally, your lifestyle needs to be considered. If you are tied to a desk all day with very little flexibility in your routine, trying a diet plan that requires that you eat prepared food six times a day probably is not a good choice. Likewise, diets which require exotic foods or unusual food combinations will be difficult for someone who has a family of finicky children to cook for and keep happy.

You should never decide to follow a certain diet just because it is the latest craze or it worked for someone else you know. Stop and think about whether it is the right diet for your individual needs. The “best weight loss diet” is the one that best fits each individual dieter.

Beth Campbell
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/choosing-the-right-diet-for-you-137593.html

1. Fried Foods That Are Frightening

Deep fried foods are nutritionally bad for you. But the only thing you are going to create is havoc with your weight loss diet.

2. Steakhouse Stories That Scare

Your local neighborhood restaurant or steakhouse may be a Nutritional Nightmare.

Fried onions that are considered a Starter Dish are so full of Calories, Fat, and Saturated Fat and with a high Salt content. For the sake of your health, be sure you know your onions.

3. Manufacturers Mislead Many

Foods that are often labeled as healthy are just the opposite. Don’t believe the adverts, read the labels carefully then decide for yourself if it’s right for you.

4. Burgers That Are Bigger and Biggest

Burgers are getting bigger and bigger. If you really do want a burger, try ordering a plain burger. It could be served with a sauce, but it should be on the side not on top.
That will save you eating more Calories than you need.

5. Awful Appetizers

How about a Fundido as a snack before the main meal?

A Fundido is made up of a combination of cheese, pepperoni, bacon and sausage served with bread sticks. If you are on a weight loss diet, a Fundido is a nutritional no-no.

6. Cakes and Cookies That Are Calorie Clogged

You are tempted to have a square of Starbucks Old Fashioned Crumb Cake but that little square has 670 Calories in it. Nice for a treat once a year, but for the rest of the year … DON’T.

7. Diet Drinks That Deceive

High Calorie drinks are so deceptive. To avoid piling on the Calories, order a small size cup of coffee with low fat milk and sweeteners.

8. High Calorie Horrors

When you are out shopping at the Mall you may be tempted by the delicious aromas of coffees, spicy pies and the mouth watering smell of freshly made doughnuts. But giving in to temptation could mean you may consume a day’s worth of Calories in one delicious but none essential piece of confectionery.

9. Diet Disasters When Dining Out

Two decades ago, dining out was already beginning to be a disaster for the person who was on a weight loss diet. The menu offered high Calorie foods. Things haven’t improved over the years; in fact they have become worse. In order to keep to your diet change into a fluffy bunny rabbit and talk yourself into eating and enjoying salads.

10. Super Sized Servings That Sabotage Your Diet

Have you noticed how it’s not just fast food meals that have got bigger? So have bagels, pasta servings, salads and sandwiches. If you go out to a restaurant for a meal, most of the meals on the menu are going to be around 1000 Calories.

If you want to keep to your weight loss diet, learn what foods are best for you and avoid the ones that sabotage it.

Jed Baguio
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/10-foods-you-should-avoid-at-all-cost-when-doing-weight-loss-126530.html

Dr.Arthur Agatston, a cardiologist and an associate professor of medicine at the University of Miami Medical School, created South Beach Diet. It was charted mainly to work with your body safely and efficiently. This system helps you to rely on right carbohydrates and fats. Thus the consumption of bad carbohydrates and fats are completely avoided. Following this diet, one could reduce his/her weight up to 8 to 13 pounds in mere 2 weeks.

The South Beach Diet consists of 3 phases:

Phase 1

The duration of first phase lasts for fourteen days. In this phase, the south beach diet recipes include normal meals consisting of chicken, fish, beef, shellfish, turkey, eggs, lots of vegetables, nuts, cheese, and garden salads using original olive oil for salad dressing. That is, every day for two weeks the dieter consumes 3 well-balanced meals. Besides this, the dieter can also have snacks between his/her breakfast and lunch. During this phase the dieter is recommended to take lots of drinking water.

However, there are several things the dieter has to avoid during the first phase of the South Beach Diet. The south beach diet recipes which are avoided in phase 1 include rice, bread, baked foods, pasta, fruits, ice cream, cookies, sugar, and cake. There is nothing to worry about eliminating all these foods as all these foods will be included into your diet in the second phase. Even though you will find it difficult to adjust o the diet, on seeing the results, you will be extremely happy that you won’t give up.

Phase 2

Phase 2 is quite different from that of Phase 1. The dieter needs to continue with the second phase until he/she has lost the desired weight. Hence, the duration of this phase will vary from one individual to the other. The length of this phase purely depends upon the individual, how he/she follow the diet program, and how his/her body reacts to the program.

It is to be noted that, by the time you start the second phase, you would have already reduced the weight by 8 to 13 pounds, provided you have strictly followed the South Beach Diet program.

One of the main advantages of South Beach Diet program is that, by following this diet program, you are not limiting your daily food; instead you are consuming foods that deposits less fat in your body. In Phase 2 some of foods you have avoided during Phase 1 will be added back. Though the weight loss during Phase 2 will not be dramatic, it will be constant. Generally, the weight loss in this phase will be around 1 to 2 pounds.

Phase 3

Phase 3 starts when you have reduced your weight to the desired level. By the time you have reached Phase 3, the diet will be similar like your normal eating habit and you can follow that for the rest of your life. In between, if you feel your weight is increasing, you only need to modify the food and the amounts slightly.

Besides reducing the body weight and reducing fats, the South Beach Diet helps to improve one’s cardiovascular system. This helps one to reduce the risk of heart attack to a great extend.

Keep in mind that the end result of South Beach Diet program purely depends on how well an individual follows the diet recommendations. Hence make sure that you follow it correctly.

Oliver Turner
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/south-beach-diet-how-to-do-it-the-right-way-87674.html

Research has shown that inflammation in our bodies can raise our risk for heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases. Inflammation can make us miserable during allergy season too. Luckily, anti-inflammatory diets have been shown to help in certain situations. Read on to find out if this type of diet is right for you.

Research has clearly demonstrated that an imbalance in omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids not only causes inflammatory conditions, but promotes heart disease; all types of cancer; pain; neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s; and most other degenerative diseases as well. In order to combat any of the aforementioned problems, one has to look to inflammatory foods as a preventative measure.

Loading up on junk foods and fast foods which by now you know contain dangerous trans fat; tend to make you feel worse. They often contain ingredients that can irritate inflammation. These “bad” foods also contain excess sugar. Evidence suggests that excessive amounts of sugars and refined starchy carbohydrates like white flour can also aggravate inflammation.

While whole fruits and vegetables are important for their vitamins, minerals, and natural antioxidants, some vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant may actually make inflammation worse. Drinking at least eight glasses of water a day can prevent dehydration, which can increase inflammation symptoms. A diet filled with steamed vegetables; nuts; beans of every variety; grains; fish and fish oils; chicken; turkey; fruit; and herbal teas will prevent the inflammation in your system from wreaking havoc in your body.

High-intensity training is an anti-inflammatory booster. In a recent study involving a group following a program of high-intensity intermittent-training lost nine times more fat than those following a normal endurance training program. It would therefore seem sensible to assume that this group should have burned more fat; but over the course of the study it was actually the interval training group that burned the most fat.

The researchers discovered that interval training increases the bodies resting metabolic rate, and thus your body continues to burn fat after you stop exercising. This means that on an interval training program you can burn fat even while you are sleeping or watching television.

Before you begin the training, you need to warm your body up, and prepare it for exercise. Warming up is very important as it helps prevent injuries. Start by jogging at a slow pace for five minutes. Perform some stretches for five minutes, paying particular attention to your calves, hamstrings, ankles and buttocks. Slow jog for another five minutes.

To begin the interval training, try and run at 80% of your maximum capacity. This does not need to be an exact pace, but run at sprint speed while focusing on the fact you can run a little faster, if necessary. Keep breathing at a regular pace when running. Sprint at your 80% pace for 30 breaths or 120 paces. Jog at a slow to medium pace until you have recovered your breath, which should be after about three minutes. Repeat the sprint and jog cycle three times; then warm down by jogging in place for three minutes, and stretch your muscles again for five to ten minutes.

As with any diet or exercise program, consult your physician first. Make certain that you get any questions you have answered. You may just discover that anti-inflammatory diets can be right for you if you follow the previous guidelines.

James Allen
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/antiinflammatory-diets-are-they-right-for-you-89340.html

I am here to encourage you to start exercising to lower your body fat levels. When approaching your goals for a better you, every game plan needs to start with determining where you are, and where you want to end up.

The diet plan you choose should be one that you can stick to for the rest of your life, and it should be healthy for your body. If like to eat rice, pasta or bread than trying a diet that limits or removes carbohydrates will not be practical for you. By eating chicken, meats or high protein meals a low carb diet might be right for you.

A balanced diet replaces all the fuel used in the workouts. The best way is to get daily exercise and eat a balanced diet. When dieting it is obvious to eat foods that do not have a lot of fat or calories, try not to eat foods in excess. The secret to burning body fat to get to your ideal weight is you must eat and exercise right or it simply won’t happen.

Gaining weight or having body fat that is high is brought on by the following feelings, laziness, pride and denial. Any weight loss program is often accompanied by diet and exercise.

To loose weight there are no secrets, no magical pills, no magical weight loss programs it is purely done by eating right and exercising. The exercise the experts are keeping a Secret. Let’s look at one way of curbing both reasons for not following through on an exercise program and how to keep your body fat levels low.

Cardiovascular training is when you exercise your heart at a certain level of effort. Try to change your exercise routing every 10-12 weeks, the reason for this is because your body adapts to the same routine. When we talk about exercise to loose weight most people think of running, aerobics and sometimes kickboxing, usually it is an exercise that will get you heart rate up for about 35-45 minutes. It’s true, that one hour of aerobic exercise probably burns more calories than one hour of weight training. To loose weight and build a healthy routine you need to start and maintain an exercise program, having the discipline to do this everyday is the magic that everyone is talking about, once you get into a habit it will jump start you and make it easier to loose weight and reach your goal.

As we go through our daily lives you find yourself gaining weight, this is mostly caused by influences from advertising and labels on food misleading you that these types of food are fat free or low in fat. Many times these foods are the same or worse.

Many people are pushing the hoodia patch, they report it will suppress your appetite and that it works better and faster than taking the hoodia pills, or liquid. Hoodia has been become very popular and many media sources are publicizing it on networks like BBC, Today Show, Good Morning America and many others.

What is comes down to it, if you want to loose weight and feel better, eat better and exercise, it is really will power. If you really want it to happen you will find a way.

David Fishman
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/eat-right-and-loose-the-extra-weight-128144.html

Okay, I admit it. I am fascinated, overly curious, not quite obsessed with the idea of “you are what you eat.” If you could see me, you’d say I need to lose more than a few pounds and certainly don’t seem to practice what fascinates me so. I know in my gut (literally), that my consumption of overly processed foods, restaurant lunches, sweets and chips are slowly but surely going to cause me major harm and very probably chop a few years off my life. To my credit, I am getting up early every morning and exercising in an effort to, freif not lose weight, at least stave off the diabetes that runs in my family. So, if my family needs to eat better, what about my pets?

Hopefully, you’ve all read my article on the horrible things that are found in commercial, pet foods. If not, check it out at the link below. When I found out what was in the kibble we were feeding both our dog and cat, I researched the alternatives and came up with a great all natural dry pet food. I’ve been extremely happy with the results of the switch with Annie, our cat, but for some reason, Dax just doesn’t go for it. In fact, he really isn’t crazy about dry food in general. He will eat it when he gets hungry, but let’s just say he doesn’t seem to enjoy his food. I’ve tried several brands and nothing flips his bippy. On the other hand, he jumps for joy when I give him a scrambled egg or chicken scraps. And salmon! Katy, bar the door!

So here we are. While I’m trying to convince myself to feed my human family better, maybe Dax would be better off, too, with a more natural diet of fresh foods. I’m not committing to anything at this point, but I’m willing to do some research and see how convincing it is. Want to go along?

You know, when I think back to visits at my grandparents’ farm, I never saw my grandmother feed their dog anything but table scraps. I don’t think I ever saw a bag of dog food at their house. Now, today, table scraps would mean pizza, French fries and other bad examples of human “food.” But not back then. My grandparents raised grass fed beef, which they slaughtered and ate. My grandmother had a huge garden and Papa had acres of corn. They grew what they ate and the scraps that Beau got were good, healthy, all-natural and pesticide free.

So, the first question that comes to mind is that of total nutrients. I know the premium dry foods I have been buying assure me that they are formulated to supply all the nutrients Dax needs. So how can I provide everything my dog needs in a homemade diet? Well, let’s see what the experts have to say. They tell me to aim for variety to ensure a balance of nutrients.

They tell me that my dog and cat are natural carnivores and that meat and other protein sources should be high on the list of ingredients in this new way of eating. They also tell me to feed the meat raw. Okay, now wait a minute. That just grosses me out. What about e-coli and salmonella and all those other nasties found in raw meat? Well, it seems that your dog’s stomach has a much higher acid content than your’s and can handle raw meat just fine. In fact, raw meat is much higher in nutrients that cooked meat.

Interchange lean meats such as turkey, liver, mackerel, chicken, tuna, heart, lean hamburger, duck, rabbit or fish. Try ground meats for convenience and ease of eating.

Meat alone should not be the only source of protein for our critters. There are lots of other ways to beef up the protein intake. Eggs are an excellent, low-cost source of low-fat protein. Again, experts recommend feeding them raw. Try cottage cheese, too. Whole grains are another cost-effective source of high quality protein as well as carbohydrates and an array of vitamins and minerals. Grains, however, should definitely be cooked before feeding to aid in digestion. The most cost effective sources of good grains are oatmeal, cornmeal, millet and bulgur (whatever that is).

The list goes on. Beans and other legumes such as split peas and lentils are great sources of protein. Cook them just like you would for your family. These are good to cook in larger quantities and freeze in meal portions.

Okay, we’ve got protein covered. What’s next? Vegetables. Veggies are vital for adding vitamins, minerals and roughage. Some can be fed raw, such as grated carrots, squashes, lettuce and other greens, and grated beets. Others like corn, peas, green beans, and broccoli need to be cooked. Please! No canned vegetables! Our focus here is on fresh foods. If the vegetables are not organically grown, be sure to wash them thoroughly, even use a little soap and then rinse thoroughly.

Now that the basics are taken care of, the next thing the experts say we need to consider is supplements. Evidently, both cats and dogs, but especially dogs, have a high calcium requirement. Calcium can be added to a fresh food diet in several ways. A common source of calcium is bones. This is where experts take very different paths. Some advocate feeding your dog raw bones. Others are opposed based on the fact that cow bones can contain high levels of lead or can splinter. Those that oppose raw bones recommend the use of bone meal. Now, let me stop and stress right here that they are not referring to the bone meal found at your local garden center. It’s toxic to animals. The bone meal recommended for feeding is that found in health food stores recommended for human consumption or some say, better yet, a bone meal made especially for animals. I’m thinking a large pet store might be a good source or maybe a good feed store.

A great source of natural calcium can be found in something we all through in the trash: egg shells. Who knew? In his book, Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats, Dr. Richard Pitcairn recommends washing eggshells right after cracking and letting them dry. Bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes and then crush into a fine powder. This can then be sprinkled on your pet’s food. If you prefer, you can even crush calcium tablets into a powder. Don’t give them to your pet whole.

Other recommended supplements include nutritional or brewer’s yeast for its B-vitamins, iron and other nutrients; oils such as fish oil and cod liver oil for Omega-3 and Omega-6 benefits; Vitamin E is a natural anti-oxidant and can be found in wheat germ or just puncture and squeeze a capsule over your pet’s food.

So, the last question that comes to mind is this: I’ve always heard that a dog needs dry, crunchy food to help keep his teeth clean. This is still true with a fresh food diet. A good, all natural, crunchy dog biscuit, fed once or twice a day will help exercise gums and clean teeth.

This is a very brief overture to the world of fresh food feeding for pets. I know I don’t feel guilty anymore for feeding Dax meat scraps and eggs. If you want to know more, please check my website often. I will be posting more in-depth articles on this topic. In the meantime, happy eating!

Sherry Massey
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/feeding-your-pet-fresh-foods-99305.html

The basic principle of The Negative Calorie Diet involves eating various fruits and vegetables that have a negative calorie effect. There is no such thing as a negative calorie food. There are however, foods that use more calories to digest than they contain. You can eat an abundance of these negative calorie foods so you don’t feel hungry while you’re on the diet.

Here are the Pro’s of The Negative Calorie Diet:

1. Excellent for quick weight loss and subsequent weight maintenance

2. Can be followed in combination with other dietary programs

3. Practical, maintainable and easy to follow with little effort as the foods can be consumed in their raw natural state

4. Does not involve fasting, only consuming healthy foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber

5. Allows generous portions of low calorie foods

6. Promises greatly improved body metabolism

7. Includes an amazingly easy to follow exercise plan and many delicious recipes

Here are the Con’s of The Negative Calorie Diet:

1. If you really dislike fruits and vegetables, this diet is not for you

2. Food preparation may be somewhat time-consuming

3. A sudden reduction of calorie intake may cause problems such as tiredness and weakness

4. May only be good for short-term weight loss

5. Excludes certain nutrients, vitamins, and minerals which are necessary for good health

6. Omits foods containing reliable amounts of proteins and fats

7. Very few proofs or scientific studies have been documented confirming the theory that certain foods require more calories to digest than they contain

Conclusion:

The benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. Not only do you lose weight fast, but the diet cleanses your entire system and increases your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. –- This is a good thing!

Is The Negative Calorie Diet for you?

The answer is yes! — If you want to drop those extra pounds before summer, and love fruits and vegetables, look no further than The Negative Calorie Diet.

Find out if the Negative Calorie Diet is for you at

www.AntiAgeCenter.com

Sue Brubaker
http://www.articlesbase.com/weight-loss-articles/the-negative-calorie-diet-is-it-right-for-you-126705.html