4 Key Weight Loss Tips To Help You Slim Down Quickly

The worst part about weight is probably the fact that it is much easier to put on than it is to take off. This is especially true for persons with slow metabolisms. If they do nothing but sit and eat, in no time the pounds will stack on and on and before they know it, they are 50 pounds heavier than they were three months ago.

When that happens, people will experiment with all kinds of methods to lose those extra pounds. Whether it is through products or treatments, most people try almost anything. There are those who even go for the weight loss programs which are designed so that people are able to slim down fast.

EXERCISE

Many people tend to rely on effective slimming treatments to help them lose weight. However, while counting on that method will guarantee you results, what you should really be doing to maintain your weight after you have lost those extra pounds is to exercise.

But proper exercise does not mean that you should simply do 30 push-ups or sit-ups and call it day, you will have to do even more than just that.

Your exercise should include weight training which tones the body, burns a ton of calories and boosts metabolism. Also, you should know that weight training also increases one’s strength and endurance, so you are not just losing weight. Exercise should also include interval training. It includes a mix of high-intensity and low-intensity exercises at certain intervals to increase the number of calories burnt and to keep the heart rate elevated.

Balance training and flexibility should also be included in the exercise routine to increase the body’s range of motion while being stable and balanced. This greatly reduces the risk of injury during exercise and can also be beneficial during daily life.

DIET

Although exercise is one of the best ways to lose weight, exercise alone will not cut it when it comes to weight loss. Anybody out there will definitely tell you this as after all, what you ate contributed significantly to your weight now.

Eliminating bad fats and sugars that enter the body is one way to slim down fast. Instead, these should be replaced with a healthy and balanced diet, inclusive of foods from all the food groups. Your food should also be properly proportioned and you will need to monitor your calories to keep track of weight loss or gain in order to achieve your goal.

REST

While it is critical to exercise regularly and keep your diet in check, losing weight does not mean you have to be in the gym every day of the week at every waking moment.

Rest is vital in the weight loss process as this is the key aspect that will give you the energy to burn calories and go hard in the gym when necessary.

You should be getting up earlier and going to bed earlier in order to maintain a healthy sleep pattern. Being sleep deprived is a culprit which contributes to weight loss as it leads to sluggishness and a decreased metabolic rate.

MOTIVATION

Exercise, diet and rest are indispensable to weight loss, but if motivation is absent, the whole plan will fall apart. So ask yourself the reason for losing weight as that will be the ultimate motivation that will drive you to lose weight effectively.

Goals should also be set to keep you on track and motivate you to lose weight in a short period of time. Or better yet, get some friends around to help motivate you. Having active friends can be a great help as they can share their tips and tricks and most importantly, push you to lose those pounds. Supportive people will ensure that you do not fall back into the habits which contributed to your weight gain and will also help to keep you motivated.

When it comes to slimming down fast, all you need to do is exercise, diet, rest and keep yourself motivated. It is that simple.

Just be consistent during the weight loss process and you will be surprised by how fast the weight disappears.

How Traditional Chinese Medicine Can Aid In Weight Loss

Traditional Chinese medicine might just be the secret to losing weight.

Utilizing a combination of herbs, proper diet, exercise, acupuncture, and meditation, following a TCM weight loss program is an effective and healthy way to cut weight and keep it off.

Below, are some tips followed in traditional medicine that can aid in weight loss.

1. Fill your diet with qi-filled food

The basic concept of “qi”, pronounced as chee, is that it’s the energy found in the human body and is essentially responsible for your well-being. If you have a lot of qi and it’s flowing freely throughout your body, then you’ll be healthier and it’s a lot easier for you to lose weight.

Examples of qi-filled food are vegetables and whole foods. Basically, any food that’s not packed, processed, refined, or artificial, is full of qi and is good for you.

2. Avoid foods that take away qi

Just like how there’s food that’s full of qi, there are also foods that also take qi away.

Anything that’s full of sugar or has too much caffeine is not good for your qi, and therefore, bad for your body and your weight. Also, avoid eating cold or raw food. This is because cold or raw food takes too much qi to process and digest, slowing down your body’s metabolism and making it harder for you to burn fats and lose weight.

3. Eat slowly

Or, more precisely, like a turtle.

In TCM, it’s important to practice mindful eating. This means taking your time when you eat and focusing on whatever it is that you’re eating. By allowing yourself to be fully immersed in the moment, you’ll be able to fully enjoy the experience of eating. More importantly, you’ll feel a lot more satisfied despite eating a lot less as well, which means, you’re less likely to overeat.

This goes in line with what many fitness coaches will tell you, and in TCM, it’s believing that mindful eating is a way to conserve the necessary qi so your body can function properly and normally.

4. Go to bed early

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the body undergoes its natural detox process at around 11 PM at night. If you’re still awake by then, you’re hampering the body’s detox process.

So tuck yourself in early and get enough rest as well to start off the day.

5. Don’t forget to exercise

Traditional Chinese medicine doesn’t necessarily require you to go to the gym. Instead, what it requires you to do is to exercise. Any kind of exercise is okay, as long as it gets your body moving and sweat going.

Whether it’s walking, running, yoga, gardening, and so on, what’s important is that it involves movement of the body, and that you do it every day.

6. Give acupuncture and herbs a try

Another key component in traditional Chinese medicine that supposedly helps in weight loss is acupuncture, as well as the use of herbs.

Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine that, if utilized properly, can help minimize overeating and even eliminate any food cravings. Meanwhile, if you supplement your diet with the right herbs, you’ll be able to lose weight and keep it off.

Basically, the most important thing in traditional Chinese medicine is that you listen closely to your body and that you make sure that your qi is always at optimal levels. Once you get this right, losing weight can be done easily.

The Benefits Of Having An Active Lifestyle

Living an active lifestyle is good for you in more ways than you can ever imagine.

Already considered one of the secrets to a long and healthy life, more and more researchers are starting to find out the benefits of having an active lifestyle, and it’s highly likely that we’ll find out even more in the future.

Whether you’re someone who is in good shape or are sick with a particular illness, you will get to receive plenty of benefits when you an active lifestyle.

1.    Stress relief

Stress is normal, but too much stress building up is bad for your physical and mental health.

You can prevent all of that stress from boiling up inside you by dedicating some time off of your day to release some of that stress by “getting your sweat on”, or to put it simply, get out there and engage in some sort of physical activity.

2.    Improved self-confidence

While a healthy body image goes a long way towards your self-confidence, regardless of what your actual body looks like, it’s no secret that people who are fit or, at the very least active, have the most confidence in themselves.

It doesn’t really matter what your goal is. You can want to just stay fit, or you might just be looking for an effective slimming treatment to lose a couple of pounds. Either way, your self-confidence will benefit a lot every time you take the time to exercise and workout.

3.    Reduced risk for illnesses

Over the years, the chances of being diagnosed with some kind of disease can potentially increase.

From cardiovascular diseases to Type 2 diabetes, and even certain forms of cancer, regular exercise and an active lifestyle can help you live for a long time with minimal risks for all sorts of ailments and illnesses.

4.    Slow down cognitive decline

Cognitive decline is natural as we age. Just how much our brain’s function and abilities declines is a matter of genetics and how healthy we are.

Sure, an active lifestyle doesn’t exactly prevent you from mental health issues such as Alzheimer’s. But despite that fact, it’s been shown that those who exercise regularly are able to maintain optimal cognitive function for longer.

5.    Better mental health

Not only does regular exercise help slow down your brain’s inevitable decline, but it’s also a great way to keep your mental health in check.

When you exercise, your body releases chemicals referred to as the “happy hormones”, or otherwise known as endorphins. Among many other functions, these hormones help trigger a positive feeling in your brain. Many researchers have described the effect of endorphins as similar to that of the opiate, morphine.

So, basically, exercising regularly can help minimize your risk of depression, especially as you age, while also helping you have a more positive outlook in life and sleep better at night.

6.    Weight Loss

All of these benefits, and yet, we still didn’t even talk about weight loss.

As you can see, weight loss is more of a side effect of physical activity than anything else. But, of course, it’s a very important effect, one that could very well be the reason why you’re looking for reasons to be physically active.

By putting your time into physical activities, you are allowing yourself to enjoy many benefits such as the ones listed above. So, take action and do some of your favourite activities to keep yourself fit.

The Health Risks Of Being Excessively Overweight

Being overweight or obese is not healthy. It doesn’t take a doctor to tell you that. But, to frame how unhealthy being obese is, it’s better to list down many of the health risks of weighing so much more than the average person.

Below, you’ll find the health risks of excess amounts of body fat and weight.

1.    Difficulty Breathing

A bigger body is harder to move around and it will take its toll on your lungs. Not to mention, your excess mass can prevent your lungs from fully expanding. This can make it hard for your body to get enough oxygen in to function properly.

As a result of your excess weight, you’ll find doing simple activities like walking up and down stairs difficult. This is especially true for people who have asthma and COPD.

2.    Higher Risk of Fatty Liver Disease

Fat build-up in the liver can cause scar tissues that can shut down your liver completely if not managed. What’s worse is that symptoms of fatty liver disease may not appear until the damage is irreversible and life-threatening.

While doctors have yet to pinpoint the exact cause of fatty liver disease, they have identified obesity as one of the biggest risk factors.

3.    High Cholesterol Levels

Although genetics play a key role in your cholesterol levels, just how much you weigh and your physical activity levels both are major factors as well. And, because people who are obese are more likely to eat unhealthy foods that can increase their “bad” cholesterol or LDL cholesterol levels, obesity also puts you at risk for high cholesterol.

To help curb this, you can try losing weight and switching to a healthier diet. Focusing on eating more whole grains, such as oats, fruits and vegetables, can all help keep both your cholesterol and weight down.

4.    Sleep Apnea

Having a chubby neck also puts you at risk of sleep apnea, which is a condition characterised by pausing in breathing while asleep and can severely impede your quality of life.

Sleep apnea is no small joke. If chronic, it can lead to fatigue, mood problems, memory loss, and even heart complications.

5.    Pregnancy Complications

Overweight or obese moms face a significantly higher risk of their baby being born premature, stillborn, or have problems with the brain or the spinal cord. Also, obese moms-to-be are more likely to give birth via C-section and are at risk of having high blood pressure, which can be harmful both to the mother and to the baby.

In addition to what’s already mentioned, being obese or overweight also puts you at risk for cancer, dying early, osteoarthritis, gallstones, and so much more.

So, if you have ever needed any reason to take up that offer to go through slimming treatment and start being more physically active, you need only look at this list.

Remember, we only have one body and one life. Letting ourselves suffer from a malady of illnesses just because don’t like to exercise or don’t want to give up our unhealthy lifestyles is definitely not a good way to live it.