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Shedding excess body fat is a goal millions of individuals around the world strive for every day. While it can be simple for some, it is often more difficult for others due to the fact that no two people’s bodies are the same. Nonetheless, even those who can’t lose the pounds as quickly as they’d like can do things to get them on the right track.

Weight loss can be both simple and difficult, largely due to the fact that what works for one person won’t necessarily be as effective for another.

Just as no two individuals’ bodies are the same, their minds, personalities and lives aren’t either. Because of this, certain people may be more adept at and willing to do certain things and may be more hesitant and unable to do others, and vice versa. This creates a need for each person looking to start a weight loss program to determine how to best approach it themselves.

Even if weight loss isn’t something every person can achieve in the same way, there are certainly various approaches that every person can take to get them started on the path towards slimming down. None of these aspects of a healthy lifestyle are secrets, so from there, whether that person wants to take on the challenges and maintain the willpower necessary to see results is up to them

As everyone knows, our body mass is largely determined by what we eat as well as by what we don’t eat. Whether you need to lose 20 pounds or 200 pounds, the best way to start becoming leaner is to eat better. Contrary to popular belief, shedding pounds doesn’t necessarily involve eating less. Now dropping from 2,500 calories a day to 1,500 is certainly helpful, but so is trading a snack loaded with saturated fat for one just as hearty that is fat-free.

At the same time, exercise is as helpful as a proper diet can be when it comes to shedding those pounds. Staying active through running, walking, playing sports or any other activity burns calories for every second you do it. Of course, combining exercise with a better diet is the most effective vehicle for weight loss, and depending on your motivation level you can make things happen quickly or use the two to balance each other out by, say, having that candy bar you wanted for dessert because you ran an extra half mile after work.

Another common trick that goes hand-in-hand with both of these approaches and is also important for anyone looking to trim down is drinking lots of water. For one, water fills you up and can help you from getting hungry and overeating. More importantly though, a good portion of your body mass at any point in time is water, and the more you drink the more you expel to slim down.

In comparing the two weight loss operations, both have pros and cons. Ultimately, it’s a personal decision of which bariatric surgery is best for you.

Gastric Sleeve Surgery

This procedure, also known as a sleeve gastrectomy, removes about 80% of your stomach. The remaining stomach tissue forms a sleeve that is sealed using surgical staples. The remaining stomach is much smaller than its original size, permanently limiting the amount of food you can eat at one time.

Lap Band Surgery

Also referred to as adjustable gastric banding, an access port is implanted just below the skin near the stomach. An adjustable band is wrapped around the stomach and attached to the access port with tubing. The band is filled with saline solution. As the band expands, it creates two stomachs, a smaller pouch on top, and a larger pouch on the bottom to limit food intake, since the smaller pouch is the “first” stomach food reaches.

Advantages of the Gastric Band

No stapling and no cutting.

It can be adjusted.

Shorter hospitalization.

Can be removed or reversed.

Advantages of the Sleeve Gastrectomy

Minimally invasive.

No intestinal bypass.

No foreign objects implanted in the body.

The gastric sleeve is the most modern weight loss surgery procedure. It works by reducing food absorption and curbing regular hunger signals. It is a single surgery with no regular adjustments. Since the stomach functions exactly as before the sleeve gastrectomy, you can eat the foods you enjoy, just less of them. Removal of the larger part of the stomach eliminates the hormones that trigger hunger.

Similarities

Both are restrictive types of weight loss surgery.

Both procedures can be done laproscopically.

The intestines are not affected or altered.

Neither procedure requires large incisions.

Differences

A gastric band can be removed; the sleeve gastrectomy is irreversible.

A Lap Band involves a foreign object being placed in your body; a gastric sleeve does not.

Lap band surgery patients are typically discharged the next day, whereas gastric sleeve patients usually stay in the hospital for two-three days. Lap band patients can normally return to regular activities fairly soon. Gastric sleeve patients generally experience swelling and discomfort for weeks, resulting in slower recovery. Gastric band surgery patients can drink a greater variety of liquids after the surgery. After a few weeks, it is okay to eat three regular sized (but healthy) meals a day after lap band surgery. The gastric sleeve, on the other hand, requires post-op patients to eat five to six small meals in a day.

Comparing sleeve gastrectomy and gastric band surgery definitely helps in your decision making process. Both are effective ways to treat obesity. The best way to decide is to attend a weight loss seminar and speak with a bariatric surgeon about your condition. Ask all the questions you have and don’t hold back out of embarrassment or shame. Your doctor can give you information that is relevant to your situation. Analyze everything and make the choice that is best for you.

At times individuals may question what is an ideal way to reduce excess pounds. Advertisements are everywhere for Curves, Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig. Nonetheless, those diet programs can be expensive. Another alternative is making use of an online based weight loss plan. Employing an online weight loss diet plan will be a magnificent strategy dieters can save money as well as get rid of unwanted pounds.

Concerning a lot of individuals, the basic pleasure like going for walks is very hard. One reason is they have excess pounds. Therefore, losing extra fat is significant to participate in daily routines again. Making use of web based dieting systems will help.

A big dilemma is there consist of a number of diet systems to select from. Therefore, in what way does an individual select what weight loss system to follow? Whenever deciding on a diet program, pick one containing certain qualities. Amongst these characteristics include quality info, testimonials and user friendly.

A great internet based dieting system provides helpful information. For example, an effective web based diet program ought to suggest dining on food items from all food groups. One might want to avoid any dieting plan which suggests omitting food groups like protein, fats or carbs. The body requires those things the same as it must have minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. A quality online dieting plan furnishes favorite recipes so nourishing food products from the different food groups are consumed. Consequently, that weight loss system could be used permanently.

In addition, a great online diet plan supplies continuous inspiration. Having inspiration is possibly a person’s number one obstacle while trying to eliminate extra weight. Losing inspiration is pretty simple. As a result, getting an internet based weight loss plan that frequently furnishes inspiration will be incredibly beneficial.

Be sure this web based dieting program is easy to use. Whenever information is present but cannot access it, then that information will be worthless. A great internet based diet system usually provides information through downloadable files and videos. As soon as programs are transferred, this information is available at all times.

Do not base a decision to purchase any online weight loss diet system without going over endorsements. Using a quality weight loss plan which has helped a lot of other individuals generally provides better outcomes. Allocate a little free time reading through what other people are saying. This information is valuable when deciding on an online diet program.

A number of well-known dieting systems like Jenny Craig, Curves and Weight Watchers exist. After awhile, those dieting systems become pricey. Thus, look into a quality online weight loss diet system to save money as well as remove unwanted body weight.

We all need motivation to make changes in our lives. But some motivations can have short-term effects whilst other motivations can have long-lasting, life changing effects. This article takes a very quick look at how we can cut to the core of making the long-lasting, life changing decisions easier.

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Why do you want to lose weight? Do you want to make someone else happy? Your kids, your husband? The only way to lose weight in the long-term is to lose weight for you.

While some or most of this article might sound like pointless new-age psycho-babble, at its core are valid, solid ways of changing your life. Do not give in, it may well be a life changing experience.

Whilst these are all valid reasons for losing weight they may actually be the reasons why so many people fail to lose weight or lose weight but then put it all back on with a little extra just for desert. In order to understand long term weight loss we need to look at the nitty-gritty at how the mind works and how we become, and remain motivated, to do something.

When we want to change something about ourselves we need to look deep. Not just “Because the doc said I need to lose a few pounds” deep or “I want to look nice when I lie by the pool” deep. We need to look at where we are now, where we want to be and the difference between the two. That is where the deepness lies.

Ok, let’s take any weight measurements out of the equation and look at body size and shape. We might imagine ourselves to look a long way from the way we want to look. But how does that make us feel? Pretty miserable right. But that’s where your change begins – connect with the feelings caused by the difference between the two you’s. The discrepancy between the you now and the person you want to be is the reality and sometimes the reality hurts! The difference between where we are and where we need to get to needs to be bridged.

You need to imagine what it would feel like to be the person you want to be. Stop for a second and think about it. Close your eyes. Really think about it. Think about the person you want to change for. Because this is only a short article I will give you the answer you need to come up with.

The only person you want to change for is you. There are just so many reasons you could have come up with for changing. Kids, husbands, wives, parents, friends, pets, teams – the list is endless.

The only person you need to change for is you. If this sounds too selfish and self-centred for you then I’m sorry. However, the chance of you changing long-term for anybody other than yourself are minimal. If you think about it another way, what would make the person you are changing for happy? Would they be happier to see YOU happy or would they be happier watching you trying to make THEM happy? So if we want to change we have to look at ourselves and see ourselves as we really are. We need to look to the person we want to be. From then on the person you want to be is going to be the person you are.

If you want to lose weight you need to do it for yourself, no-one else. Not only do you get to be the person you want to be but everybody else gets the benefit of basking in the glow of your happiness and success.

Are you interested in formulating an exercise plan that will assist you to remain trim and help you to get thin? Studies regularly show that there are two basic types of exercise that are both extremely efficient and successful. Of course, it stands to reason that you must be motivated in the first place, and that is why therapeutic hypnosis can help solve your problems.

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If you’re like most people, you are interested in creating an exercise system that will assist you to remain healthy and slim. It may shock you to find out that research studies usually demonstrate that only two core kinds of exercise are useful — which suggests that you can’t just choose any type of exercise to become trim.

Due to the fact that so many people have trouble with the motivation to exercise, performing the most efficient kinds of exercise is imperative, since the less time you spend exercising – and the less time you waste on low efficiency exercise – the more likely it is that you will persist in your exercise routine and therefore achieve your personal weight and strength target.

Our first type of exercise which has been regularly proven to aid people to lose weight and get trim is progressive resistance. In brief, progressive resistance is one type of strength training. It functions by progressively ramping up the pounds lifted, the number of sets, and number of repetitions performed. As a result, your muscles are never strained or subjected to damage – instead, they slowly and steadily strengthen without any setbacks.

Our second type of exercise that has been scientifically studied is cardiovascular training. This is any type of exercise that gets the heart rate up to 60 – 85 percent of its maximum rate. Some kinds of cardio training may involve jogging, jumping rope, aerobics, or treadmill, among other types of exercise, but it is your choice.

Although progressive resistance and cardio training by themselves have been found to be very efficient forms of exercise, scientists now know that performing both of these types of exercise is the best bet for success. If you combine both progressive resistance and cardio training, you will increase the strength of your muscle groups and increase overall endurance. According to a recent scientific study, exercisers who used both cardio and progressive resistance during a two month time period lost 45 percent more weight than exercisers who did cardio training or progressive resistance alone.

Just as important as the type of exercise you perform is, the way in which you exercise is also important. It probably will be unsurprising that being consistent is the name of the game. Exercising inconsistently may strain your muscles and will probably not aid you to build strength and endurance. In addition, it is unlikely to improve your whole-body health. According to most scientists, the best regime is to exercise for forty minutes to an hour three to five times per week.

Unfortunately, it turns out that for a significantly sized subset of the population, getting sufficient exercise is not as easy as attending the health club a few times every week or listening to what scientists claim. For this group of people, the motivation to exercise is the primary issue – this group of people simply doesn’t have the motivation to go to the gym. Actually, they might resist any and all exercise, to the point of severe anxiety.

Nobody knows what percentage of the population suffers from problems with the motivation to exercise, but scientists say that up to 20 to 40 percent of people claim that they “hate” or “dread” exercise. An even larger percentage of people might have more mild problems with the motivation to exercise, finding that even though it is simple enough to commit themselves to an exercise regime for a week or two, motivation eventually degrades, leaving them where they were initially – unhealthy and heavy.

If you are one of these people who struggles with the motivation to exercise, the good news is that there are some easy strategies to deal with the struggle. In a recent research study, volunteers who needed to start an exercise program were provided with a brief learning program that aided them to decide on the right kinds of exercise, were provided with a therapist who specialized in exercise motivation, and were given a brief course in hypnosis. After six months, they were asked to evaluate their progress. It turns out that over 85 percent of the participants had adhered to an exercise program throughout the whole six months. Even better, they generally lost an average of fifteen more pounds than the control group.

If you have an interest in this study, it might make sense to look into locating a motivational therapist, habit control therapist, or therapist who deals with hypnotherapy. These therapists are provided with special training in helping people to transcend anxieties, build the motivation to exercise, and reinforce the creation of good habits. One more choice for exercise motivation is self-hypnosis – which is a simple and inexpensive process that often helps people take control of their own inborn abilities to be motivated.

Hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis are risk-free ways of increasing motivation that have been proven to provide success in the case of exercise motivation. Hypnosis works by using hypnotic relaxation to enhance the powers of the unconscious mind to influence the modification of behavior and habit development. Hypnotherapy is a good choice for the exercise adverse because it can help increase the drive to get trim and lose weight easily and effectively.

Are you tired of the yo yo effect? These simple 5 steps can help you KEEP the weight off once you do lose it

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Why do some dieters suffer the endless frustration of losing and then gaining weight again and again, while others lose weight and keep it off forever?

And we know you don’t want to be the latter group?

Here are 5 very simple tips successful dieters implement – and you can easily adapt these good habits yourself.

1.) You know that old conventional wisdom that goes “The scale doesn’t matter when you’re dieting”? For a long time experts scorned the idea of frequent weigh ins, pointing out that the scale can be inaccurate because of fluctuations caused by water weight. Remember, muscle weighs more than fat. So if you’re exercising you may be gaining muscle and that will throw the scale off.

However, it turns out that weighing yourself every day is actually an excellent motivator for dieters. A study in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that dieters who weighed themselves every day lost the most weight, and kept it off more successfully, compared to a group of dieters who did not weigh themselves regularly.

2.) Keep a log of everything you eat. When you log everything you eat you will feel MUCH more guilty when you cheat because you have to see it and read it.

3.) Do at least 1 15 minute activity everyday. ANYTHING. Walk your dog, go jogging, do tae bo. Most of us work at desks and sit at home all day – then do it at least three times a week. You will lose weight quicker and this is one of the big contributors of keeping the weight off.

4.) Plan ahead. If you are going out to dinner with friends or to a holiday office party or even to the movies, what are you going to do when hunger pangs hit? Eat something before you go and decide BEFORE you get to the party or movies.

5.) Schedule the occasional indulgence. Most weight loss experts suggest and encourage a cheating day. When you get to eat some pizza, brownie or some ice cream at some time in the week your chances of ditching your plan is much less likely. This can also be a day when you throw in some more activity.

For those of you out there who believe that you can only lose weight through fasting, you cannot be more wrong! Facts have shown that it is not how much you eat but actually what you eat that results in weight gain in most people. If you decide to eat correctly, you will surely be eating your way to weight loss naturally.

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In the developed world today, a whole lot of people seem to be struggling with a particular challenge common to them all and that is the issue of how to lose weight so as to live a healthier life. In the same vein, a good number of the people concerned tend to believe that the only way to lose that excess fat is by starving themselves or fasting. Nothing can be further than the truth in this case. It has been proven by the experts that one can achieve weight loss naturally through correct dieting.

In order to lose weight naturally, the main thing one has to keep in mind and practice is to eat wisely, take enough water and do some regular exercise. This combination of actions will surely help you get rid of that unwanted fat as well as give you a fitter and sexier physique.

It is pertinent at this stage to note that when I talk of losing weight naturally through correct dieting, I am not talking about some very strict diet but simple ones that can be found in some cook books such as the Metabolic Cooking. I am also not talking about a particular diet for the whole day but an intelligent mix of recommended diets that will end up giving you a healthier body through weight loss.

I suppose that at this stage some of you out will want to know exactly how to eat wise and reap the benefits of losing weight naturally in the shortest possible time. It is not rocket science but simply doing what is right as already suggested. For an example, the diet experts claim that our ability to shed fats is eighty percent correct dieting and twenty percent how much exercise we give to our body. This also means that you need to steer clear of that attractive and sweet junk foodstuff you have been destroying your system with only to go back to the gym to try to burn the fat you got from wrong dieting practice.

Another important aspect of correct dieting is the issue of the water intake level. It is a fact that taking a good amount of water on a daily basis helps in ensuring a clean body system. As a matter of fact, the experts have made it abundantly clear that in order to keep our body system in a clean condition we need to take as much as sixty ounces of water daily. This is much better than the sugary drinks that many people use to replace water in their diet. It is recommended by medical experts that every adult should drink at least eight glasses of water in order to enjoy a healthier life devoid of obesity.

In summary therefore, anyone who wishes to enjoy the benefits weight loss simply needs to combine a correct diet with a good water intake and do some exercise. That also means such a person needs to as well avoid taking junk food and replace that with the consumption of lots of fruit and vegetables. When fruits are added to your meals, it is easier for you to ward off the cravings for sweet since you are ingesting natural sugar instead of the artificial one. You are advised to take fruits such as oranges and or apples in between your meals as a means of eating your way to weight loss and good health.

You can begin to lose weight by reducing your stress level. Here’s how!

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There may be many reasons why you engage in the behavior of overeating. Overeating helps some people gain a sense of control over their lives. Other people overeat when they are stressed or upset. Think about the times that you have had a binge eating session? What was the motivation behind it? Do you turn to food when you are upset or have a stressful day? Do you find a sense of comfort in the food that you eat? If stress is a major factor in your eating habits, finding ways to help reduce stress can help you lose weight.

1. Find a Support System

Having people that you can rely on is a great way to start reducing stress. Call on your friends or family when you are in a stressful situation. They can be a great source of advice or just a shoulder to cry on. Sometimes going out with work friends after a long stressful day can work wonders to melt the stress that you feel. We all need to rely on our friends and family at some point. Being able to talk about your stress is a health alternative to overeating.

2. Post Positive Mantras

Think about the negative comments you make about yourself when you are feeling stressed. Most people struggle with negative self-talk at sometime in their lives. Begin to challenge your old ways of thinking. Replace those old thoughts with positive thoughts that will help you push through stressful times. If a long stressful day at work leaves you thinking that you are “no good at my job”, change your thoughts. Think about how hard you worked today. You put in your all and achieved a goal you had set. Whatever your new thoughts are going to be, post them around your house. This will help you stay focused on them even when you are headed for a stress out moment. Thinking positively can help curb overeating.

3. Find Time to Relax

It is important that you take a few minutes everyday for relaxtion. There are many different things you can do in order to relax. If you had a busy day at work and spent the evening running errands, take a long soak in a tub. If you find yourself working late one night, close your office door and read a chapter in a book. On the weekends, go for a walk around a nature trail. The activity can last five minutes or five hours; the important thing is to take some time to relax.

4. Meditate or Journal

Another great way to reduce stress is to be alone with your thoughts. This can help you sort out what is going on in your life in a healthy way. One way to do this is to meditate. Another way is to write in a journal. Writing in a journal is a great way to begin organizing your thoughts about the stresses in your life. Dealing with your stress in this productive way makes it less likely that you will overeat.

5. Listen to Your Body

Stop beating yourself up for overeating. Move forward into a new way of thinking about eating and food. By listening to your body, you will learn when your body is telling you it is full or hungry. Know the signals that your body gives off in order to begin recognizing the difference between hunger and emotional eating. You can pull through this struggle and be on your way towards a natural weight loss.