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Practical Tips for Healthy Weight Loss

Becoming a slimmer you does not happen overnight, nor does it happen by accident. Healthy weight loss can be achieved, but most people find success when they follow a few key ideas and stick to a plan. While following these tips and ideas do not guarantee success, they certainly do help.

When trying to slim down, the first thing you should do is set realistic goals. Try to think long-term and look at the big picture. If you have a lot of weight to lose, try working towards one small goal at a time (20 pounds or fewer) so that you see quicker success and stay motivated. As you reach each goal, reward yourself and then set a new goal for the next phase of your weight loss. Keep your rewards non-food related so that you do not sabotage yourself and experience a set-back.

Next, you should set yourself up for success. Rid your home and workplace (as much as you are able) of foods that are not part of your healthier lifestyle. Resist having an “emergency stash” of comfort foods available. Also, consider purchasing a new outfit as a motivating tool. Purchase it one or two sizes smaller so that you can see definitive progress being made once it fits. Additionally, purchase adequate workout clothes so that you are properly prepared to exercise and propel your weight loss to a higher level.

One of the best tips for healthy weight loss is to surround yourself with supportive friends and family. Consider asking one or two of these supporters to hold you accountable for sticking with your new lifestyle. Having support when you are having a bad day or a particular craving can make all the difference between staying strong or giving in. Friends and family that know you are trying to slim down can really be the best motivation and source of encouragement that all dieters need.

Keeping track of your progress is the final tip that can help you on your weight loss journey. Some people find success by keeping a journal of the food they eat and the exercise they accomplish. Others find it helpful to use online food tracking programs that count calories and provide a place to record exercise you have accomplished.

Slimming down can be a long, emotional weight-loss journey. It is during these times that you will need to rely on the goals you have set, the support you have around you and your records of success (smaller clothes, better outlook) to encourage you to keep going. You will probably find that at the end of your journey you are a different person, not only on the outside, but from within as well.

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Best Drinks that can Lose Weight

Many people wish to lose weight very fast. They try out many ways for losing weight. The most crucial components of weight loss are moderate exercises and balanced and healthy diet. Many weight loss drinks are available in the market and this will surely help in losing weight. Given below are the drinks which help in quick weight loss.
Water – Everyone is aware that there are many beneficial drinks that help in losing weight. Ice cold water is very advantageous as compared to warm water. The body can work more efficiently when it is warmed up. More calories are burned. The health will surely be improved by drinking cold or warm water. One can also achieve the goals very easily.

Vegetable juice – Vegetables are full of minerals and vitamins. A healthy and a balanced diet can be maintained by vegetable juices. These can boost the nutrition. One should avoid bottled juices as they contain sugar and chemicals mixed in it. One can purchase juicers and make juices on own at home. Some of the best juices are cucumber juice, tomato juice, beet juice, cabbage juice, spinach juice and celery juice. The flavor of bitter or flavorless vegetables can be improved by adding orange or apple juice to it. The taste can be greatly improved.

Protein shakes – Protein shakes are one of the most beneficial weight loss drinks. They are very helpful and they make sure that one receives enough proteins. Proteins are very crucial in diet. They help people to stay full throughout the day. Protein shakes with high calories and lots of sugar should be avoided. People should look for low calories and high fibers.

Green tea – Green tea has helped a lot of people with physical ailments. It helps in losing weight to a great extent. The metabolic rate is speeds up and more fats are burned. Approximately 3 cups of green tea should be added in daily meals. One can get a very healthy dose of antioxidants and increase the metabolism. One can also choose the option of Decaf green tea.

Apple Cider Vinegar – This is a drink which is very beneficial for weight loss. Apple cider vinegar should be diluted in water as it is very strong. One or two teaspoons of this should be diluted in about 8 ounces of water. It should be taken thrice a day. The physician should be consulted if one is on a medication.

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What is Dukan Diet and its side-effects?

This article gives pertinent information about Dukan Diet and its side-effects

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Pierre Dukan, a French doctor and nutritionist, challenged with the case of obesity started to look for alternative ways in curing the illness. After 20 years of thorough research he published in the year 2000, a book called, “Je ne sais pas maigrir” or translated as, “I don’t know how to get slimmer.” It gained the best-seller in France after a year it has been published.
It was made a hit in UK when Kate Middleton, now the duchess of Cambridge, tried the Dukan Diet before her marriage to the beloved Prince William, she reportedly claimed a loss of two dress sizes. It also allegedly claimed to help five million French. The book is also gaining fame in the US in the year 2011 when actress/singer, Jennifer Lopez, lost pounds after her pregnancy by following this diet.
Dukan Diet: What is it? How does this work?
Dukan Diet is similar to the famous Atkins diet. Atkins and Dukan are much alike in terms of non-intake of carbs initially and do not require portion control or counting calorie consumptions. In Atkins, it requires net carbohydrate intakes and unlike Dukan, it suggests a daily intake of oats, increase water consumption and 20 minutes of everyday brisk walking. Dukan Diet adopts four phases namely: Attack, Cruise, Consolidation and Stabilization.
Four Phases of the Dukan Diet
Attack: In this starter phase, the dieter is only allowed take protein rich foods that are exquisitely low in fat. Dr. Dukan provided 72-item list of foods to be eaten, it excludes pork, lamb, poultry products and cheeses. Food should always be cooked but without adding any fat to it, it best to cook in grilling or roasting. It also requires you to eat 1 ½ tbsp. oat bran & 1.5 liters of water per day. This phase should be followed around 2-7 days or more. Results from this initial phase within 5 days may result in 4-7 lbs. loss. This phase promotes quick loss of weight since it is strictly based on a protein-only diet.
Cruise: Cruise, the second to the fourth phase of the Dukan diet scheme. During this phase dieters who were only allowed to eat protein-only foods can now alternate a 28-items of non-starchy vegetables. They may take attack phase diet for today and take non-starchy veggie diet for tomorrow, and so this phase must go on by alternating these two types of diet each day. This phase may last long enough as much as you want by reaching your desired weight and assuring 2 pounds per week loss.
Consolidation: As one achieves the desired weight, one has to go the next phase called Consolidation, this is the maintenance phase of this diet scheme where you have to prevent putting back excess pounds. The plan in this phase is less strict compared to the first two phases. During this phase you are permitted to eat protein-only and veggie diet along with a piece of low-sugar fruit, 2 slices of whole grain bread and a portion of hard cheese. In this phase you are allowed to have 1-2 serving of starchy foods and one celebration meal per week. The phase of consolidation does not expect to loss off pounds but rather it is steadily the maintenance process.
Stabilization: Stabilization is the final phase and a life-long phase of the diet scheme. In here maintenance of the life-changing diet may be a challenging and tempting. During this portion of the scheme, one is already permitted to allow any food intake that a person wants and by also sticking to the diet rule in the consolidation phase. As Pierre Dukan suggest, that staying on the phase 1 rule once a week and eat whatever you like for the rest of the week lowers the chances of regaining weight.
Pros and Cons of Dukan Diet
Pros: The fast results of this diet scheme is beneficially rewarding and motivating. It allows you to have protein and veggie meal plan diets and does not require you to count off your calorie intakes.
Cons: It is highly restrictive and can exclude healthy foods. Dieters can experience side-effects such as symptoms of headaches, nausea, lethargy, irritable and loss of concentration. Dieters may acquire halitosis (bad breath), metallic tasting mouth and strong smell in their urines. For those people who have problems with their kidneys and liver are not advised to follow this diet plan. It is not also recommended for pregnant and nursing mothers.

Views and Opinions by Health Experts on the Dukan Diet
There are lots of critics in this diet plan. Due to the restrictive type scheme of this diet, some fruits, grains and nuts which are healthy and have high amounts of vitamins and minerals that are vital to the nutrition of the body are eliminated. Keri Gans of American Dietetic Association, said that the lost amount of multivitamins that should be acquired from those restricted foods are not compensated in the Dukan diet. Experts have also criticized that experiencing such side-effects may not be healthy at all.

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