When you just cannot lose any more weight? What next?

As you move through your weight-loss program, there’s a good chance that you will find yourself at a sticking point, where it just seems that no matter what you do, you just cannot lose any more weight. Typically, this happens when you’re battling with those last 5 or 10 pounds; in some cases, you may just decide to live with that extra weight. 
Don’t be so quick to give up this time. When you arm yourself with a few last strategies you can bypass this hurdle with success. If you implement two or three of the following quick changes, you should be able to drop 5 pounds in about two and a half to three weeks' time, which is a safe rate that will ensure it is fat loss and not lean muscle loss.
Here are 5 quick changes to drop 5 pounds.
1- Implement extreme carb cyclingYou may already be on a diet that does make use of higher-carbohydrate days along with lower-carbohydrate days, but typical approaches tend to be quite moderate. When trying to strip off those last 5 pounds, you’re going to have to kick it up a notch and really go to the extremes.
Try making your low-carbohydrate days very low-carb, where you’re focused on strictly eating protein and fibrous vegetables. This will create a very high caloric deficit, thereby accelerating fat loss. Then, place your high-carbohydrate days on your training days and bring the calorie balance up to maintenance value -- or even slightly above -- by adding a very large amount of carbs.
Since carbohydrates are the macronutrient that most influences the metabolic rate, this drastic zigzag approach keeps the metabolism firing while you enjoy a faster rate of total fat loss.
2- Take one week off trainingIn some instances, the reason you’ve hit a wall with weight loss is because the body hasn’t received enough rest. When you’re verging on overtraining, it’s quite common for the body to actually retain water, making it harder to lean down.
Take one week off training while eating closer to a maintenance diet. This will help to reset the metabolism and water balance. Many people are very surprised at the impact taking one week off can make.
3- Shift the rep ranges of your exercisesPlateaus are quite common when you’ve been performing the same workout for a lengthy period of time and can keep you from dropping those last 5 pounds of fat. A simple way to crank up the calorie burn of your workout is to increase the reps to 10 for one single week while decreasing the rest period to only 1 minute between sets.
Note that you’re not aiming to make this a circuit training workout, but simply quickening the pace of the workout to add intensity. The nature of this protocol (10 reps with 1-minute rest periods), compared with a typical strength program of 5 reps and 3-minute rest periods, tends to produce a greater release of growth hormone in the body, which is beneficial for promoting lean muscle mass development.
We have 2 more quick changes to help you drop those 5 pounds next...

4- Increase protein intakeThe fourth way to lose those last 5 pounds is to increase the protein content of your diet. It’s important to remember that the leaner you get and the lower you take your total calorie intake, the more protein you will need. This helps to prevent lean muscle mass loss and ensures recovery.
An added benefit of bringing your protein intake higher is that it will increase the metabolic rate. Over the course of a week or two, this could mean the difference between staying at a standstill or losing another half to one pound.
Great sources of protein to include regularly are chicken, lean beef, egg whites, white fish, and low-fat cottage cheese.

5- Combine sprint training with steady-state cardioFinally, consider altering the method of cardio you’re doing so that you start with 5 to 8 interval sprints of 30 seconds in length interspersed with 90-second rest periods. Then, proceed to finish the cardio session off with another 15 minutes of moderate paced cardio.
This gives you the best of both worlds, as you’ll get the metabolic spark that interval training offers along with the benefit of moderate cardio that strictly uses fatty acids for fuel.
it’s not too late
Don’t give up too quickly. Start making a few adjustments to your training and diet program and keep monitoring how it’s influencing your progress. In time, you’ll be able to see what works so you can reach your end goal.

By Askmen Contributor(Fitness Specialist http://www.askmen.com/)

7 Days Diet To Lose Weight And Gain Wellness

How You Can Use The GM Diet To Lose Weight And Gain Wellness

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The GM Diet: (Commonly Known as General Motors Diet for Weight Loss)
A diet and health program was developed for employees and dependents of General Motors, Inc., in conjunction with a grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, intended for their exclusive use.
It was field tested at the Johns Hopkins Research Centre and approved for distribution by the Board of Directors, General Motors Corp. at a general meeting on August 15, 1985. It is generally believed that General Motors Corp. endorses this program and makes it available to all employees and families.
This program is available at all General Motors Food Service Facilities to facilitate a wellness and fitness program for everyone.
This program is designed for a target weight loss of 10-17 lbs(4.5 Kg – 7 Kg) per week. Most followers of different weight loss regimes claim that it improves emotional clarity and attitude because of its systematic cleaning effects.
The effectiveness of this seven day plan is that the food eaten burn more calories than they give to the body in caloric value. The plan can be used without any fear of complications. It is designed to flush the system and give the dieter a feeling of well being. After seven days dieters will begin to feel lighter which will give the feeling of lightness, energy and an improved disposition.
The GM Diet
During the first seven days you must abstain from all alcohol and drink 10 glasses of water each day.

Day OneAll fruits except bananas. Your first day will consist of all the fruits you want. It is strongly suggested that you consume lots of melons the first day. Especially watermelon and a loupe. If you limit your fruit consumption to melons, your chances of losing three lbs. on first day are very good.

Day TwoAll vegetables. You are encouraged to eat until you are stuffed with all the raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. There is no limit on the amount or type. For your complex carbohydrate, you will start day two with a large baked potato for breakfast. You may top the potato with one pat of butter.

Day ThreeA mixture of fruits and vegetables of your choice. Any amount, any quantity. No bananas yet. No potatoes today.

Day FourBananas and milk. Today you will eat as many as eight bananas and drink three glasses of milk.

Day FiveToday is feast day. You will eat beef/(lean meat) and tomatoes. Eat two 10 oz. portions of lean beef. Hamburger is OK. Combine this with six whole tomatoes. On day five you must increase your water intake by one quart. This is to cleanse your system of the uric acid you will be producing.

Day SixBeef/(lean meat) and vegetables. Today you may eat an unlimited amount of beef and vegetables. Eat to your hearts content.

Day SevenToday your food intake will consist of brown rice, fruit juices and all the vegetables you care to consume.

**********************************

Normally, the recommendations also include a recipe for GM’s so-called Wonder Soup:

G.M.’S Wonder SoupThe following soup is intended as a supplement to your diet. It can be eaten any time of the day in virtually unlimited quantities. You are encouraged to consume large quantities of this soup.
28 oz, Water, 6 Large Onions, 2 Green Peppers, Whole Tomatoes (fresh or canned), 1 Head Cabbage, 1 Bunch Celery, 4 Envelopes Lipton Onion Soup Mix, Herbs and Flavoring as desired.
This soup is a supplement while on the program and it should be a pleasure to eat. However, since not everyone likes cabbage, green peppers, celery etc. the recipe is flexible.
People may substitute vegetables according to taste. Asparagus, Peas, Corn, Turnips, Green beans, Cauliflower, etc. can be added though the suggestion is to stay away from beans (lima, pinto, kidney, etc.) because they tend to be high in calories even though they are very good for nutrition.
Beverages that can be consumed while on the program : Water (flavored with lemon/lime if desired). Club Soda is OK. Black Coffee. No cream or cream substitute. No sugar or sweetness. Black Tea = Herb or Leaf. Absolutely nothing else except the fruit juices which are part of day seven. No fruit juices before day seven.

Indian Version of Diet – Vegetarian Substitute to beef could be Cottage Cheese or Red Kidney Beans or Low Fat Paneer or Spinach or Sprouts bean or Soy bean or tofu ~ bean curd or pulses or 1 Cup Rice – Not sure which one will work as a good Substitute. It’s up to you to choose one.

 == How and Why It Works? ==
Here’s How it Works
Day One: Prepare the system for the upcoming program. The only source of nutrition is fresh or canned fruits. Fruits are nature’s perfect food. They provide everything needed to sustain life with total balance and variety.
Day Two: Start with a fix of complex carbohydrates coupled with an oil dose. This is taken in the morning for energy and balance. The rest of day two consists of vegetables which are virtually calorie free and provide essential nutrients and fiber.
Day Three: Eliminate the potato because your carbohydrates now come from the fruits. The system is now prepared to start burning excess pounds. Dieters will still have cravings which should start to diminish by day four.
Day Four: Start with bananas, milk and soup to make up for the potassium you have lost and the sodium that dieters have missed the past three days. There is a definite loss of desire for sweets.
Day Five: The beef is for iron and proteins(Substitute to beef Cottage Cheese or Red Kidney Beans or Low Fat Paneer or Spinach or Sprouts bean or Soy bean or tofu), the tomatoes are for digestion and fiber. Lots and lots of water purifies the system. The RDA allowance calls for the equivalent of five “quarter ponders”. There is no need to eat all this beef but must eat the six tomatoes.
Day Six: Iron and proteins from beef, Vitamins and fiber from vegetables. By now the system is in a total weight loss inclination.
Day Seven: System under control and at least 7 – 8 pounds lighter from all the rinsing and flushing….
By keeping fit and gaining wellness, you can further excel beyond excellence!

7 KEYS TO ULTRAMETABOLISM - Dr Mark Hyman, M.D

Dr. Hyman's UltraMetabolism isn't a diet, it's a way of life.
If you want to lose weight and reduce factors that lead to certain diseases.

UltraMetabolism Diet's seven keys to weight loss: 1. Controlling appetite and metabolism
2. Reducing stress
3. Managing inflammation
4. Preventing cellular "rust"
5. Turbo charging your metabolism
6. Ensuring optimal thyroid function
7. Detoxifying your liver.

Here read more
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/17/earlyshow/leisure/books/main1503620.shtml

This is about the same book
http://www.thatsfit.com/2009/12/01/ultrametabolism-diet/

6 Meals Diet Plan - Indian Meal Plan

About- 6 Meals a day Diet plan (Indian Meal Plan):It works. I can say with confidence because me and my husband followed it and got results.

Especially my husband he lost 44lbs (20kgs). He had to reduce weight immediately as he was detected with very high Cholesterol. Doctor gave him 6months to lose weight. And he did following 6 Meals Diet Plan.

We've many diet plans on net but very few are for Indian meal. And we know Indian meals are very yummy but at the same times it's loaded with calories, fats, sugar, carbs and saturated fats.

So here is a meal plan which works. Go ahead and try it.

Rule: Drink 8 oz water before every meal.  Exercise/ Walk 5 times a week for 40min. 

Morning Breakfast (7am-8:00am)  :

Whole wheat Bread slice 2 toasted  and tea/milk.  OR 

Oat meal bowl ½ cup oatmeal boil with 1cup skimmed milk. Add some cut fruits e.g. apple or banana or grapes or strawberries.  OR

 2-3 Idlies with sambhar and very little chutney. It’s good to avoid coconut chutney. Instead try cilantro or mint or onion or tomato or cabbage chutney. OR

1 Boiled egg with Toasted Bread and tea.

Snack Time (9:30am - 10:30am):  

1 Orange OR

1 Cup yogurt/dahi with little cut fruits OR

Sliced carrots 1 Cup OR

Cucumber slices 1 Cup OR

1 Apple OR

2 Cups Water Mellon OR

Hand full Almonds (6-8 in count) OR

Walnut (6-8 Half in counts). OR

Combination of Almonds and Walnut

Lunch Time (12:00- 1:30pm):

2Phulka/Roti (without oil & ghee) , ½ Cup Vegetables curry, 1 Cup Dal, 1 Bowl Salad. OR

1 Cup Cooked Rice (without starch(Maad in Hindi) i.e drain starch from rice when it's cooked half way) with  ½ Cup Vegetables curry, 1 Cup Dal, 1 Bowl Salad.

OR Chicken (try to make curries with 2teaspoon oil) Curry in 1Cup with 2 Phulka/Roti (without oil & ghee)  , 1 bowl salad.

Snack Time (3:30am - 4:30am):

1 Orange  OR

1 Cup yogurt with little cut fruits OR

Sliced carrots 1 Cup OR

Cucumber slices 1 Cup OR

1 Apple OR

2 Cups Water Mellon OR

Hand full Almonds (6-8 in count) OR

Walnut(6-8 Half in counts)

Combination of Almonds and Walnut

Dinner (7:00pm – 8:00pm): 1 Phulka/Roti (without oil & ghee), ½ Cup Vegetables curry, 1 Cup Dal, 1 Bowl Salad. OR

Rice (without starch) 1 Cup with, 1 Cup Dal, 1 Bowl Salad. OR

1Cup Chicken Curry (try to make curries with 2teaspoon oil only) with 1 Phulka/Roti (without oil & ghee),  1 bowl salad, ½ cup boiled rice(without starch).

Snack (10:30pm):

1 Glass butter milk OR

lime juice with salt and warm water OR

Water Mellon OR

Any seasonal fruit.

Important Tips:

·  Always try to keep Diet food Indian so you don’t have to compromise in flavor.

• Cook rice in vessel and not pressure cooker so it’s easy to throw rice starch.
• Add soy powder or palak or maythi or ½ cup moong dal in wheat flour while making dough so as to reduce carb intake.
• Add cut vegetables in  Rice to reduce carb intake.
• Plan your meal and snack previous night to avoid hassle or slippage next day.
• Keep oil in small bowl/kattori and put 1/2teaspoon measure oil spoon from measuring set or use tiny flat steel spoon.
• Use water to cook curries instead of oil. Mix garam masala in water add to curries and pressure cook. It’ll come out good.
• Use cooker to speed up cooking process and  use non-stick pan to use less oil.

Quick Tips to Loss 5lbs (2.3kgs) in two weeks:

·   Check weight every week to keep track of weight loss.

• Avoid emotional/pampered eating.  Avoid processed food e.g. Cookies, crackers, Diet Bars, Juices, Diet Cookies, Cakes, Bread.
• Try to eat food in original form. E.g eat fruit instead fruit juice.
• Avoid oily and sweet food.
• Be happy it helps.

Article By: Reena Sharma

20 Minute Home Work Out By: Diana Statham

If you are busy, not able to get up early morning or have no time for gym just follow this 20 minute home work out to stay healthy and fit.

1) Jog : in one place for 3 minutes

2) Jumping jacks: 25 repeats
When landing, bend your knees slightly to reduce the impact on knee joints.

3) Crunches : 15 repeats
Lie flat on your back with your knees bent. Place your hands behind your head with elbows pointing outwards. Support your neck with your hands. Keep your neck in a straight line with your spine. Flex your waist to raise the upper torso from the mat. Lower yourself until the back of your shoulders touches the mat.
Muscle worked: rectus abdominis

4) Hip Bridges : 10 repeats
Lie on your back. With your hands at a 90 degree angle to the floor, lift your body off the floor to form a straight line, a sort of a bridge, from the shoulders to the knee. The position should resemble a table. Your hands and legs as the legs of the table and your upper body to your knees as the surface. Hold this position for two seconds. Squeeze your gluteus (butt muscles) and then lower yourself.
Muscle worked: Lower back, hamstrings and gluteus.

5) Step - up's : 1 minute
You will need a stepper for this.
Muscle worked: hamstrings, gluteus, quards.

6) Reverse crunches: 15 repeats
Lie on your back with your hands on your sides. Keep you knees bent. Bring your knees towards your head, till your hips come slightly off the floor. Hold this position for a second, and then lower your knees.
Muscle worked: lower abs and obliques.

7) Mountain climbers : 1 minute
Get your hands and knees and raise your knees like a starting block sprinter. Run in that position, supporting your upper body with the palms of your hands. Keep your back straight.
Muscle worked: triceps, deltoid muscle, gluteus, quards, hamstrings, calves.

8) Push - ups : 15 repeats
Muscle worked: triceps, deltoids, pectorals.

9) Squat thrusts: 1 minute
Stand straight. Now, drop to a crouch position. Immediately thrust your legs out straight behind on your toes, in push up position, now jump to pull legs back to the chest, in crouching position , then stand up straight,
Muscle worked: arms, legs, chest, and lower back.

Cool down by walking around, till your heart rate starts getting back to normal, stretch.

A minutes rest is needed in between exercise. Proper form is important. Do not hold breath. Sip water during the workout. This workout targets the whole body, improves cardiovascular efficiency and tones and strengthens the body.

Author Bio
Diana for http://www.health-care-information.org Offers information on various health topics such as diseases, injuries, and medical tests.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com

Tools for Healthy Living Has Moved to WordPress

Please come see my blog at it's new location on Wordpress:

http://tools4healthyliving.wordpress.com/

My apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Blessings & Success,

Jennifer Rundall

www.ThinspirationCoaching.com

How Do I Insure I Stay Motivated, Have a Positive Mindset to Reach My Weight Loss Goal?

I connect with many people via Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn & Tagged (social networks on the web) and I have been asked this very question more than once.  I have put together a list of steps I believe will be of help to answer this question.

Step 1:
Make a list of all the reasons why you want to lose the weight and also a separate list of all the benefits (phyiscal, emotional and spiritual) you will recieve once you reach your goal.  When you write the benefit list lets say for example one of the benefits you will receive will be being healthy, or being fit, or having a thin body. Take those statements and write your list like this:  "I am in the process of becoming HEALTHY",  "I am in the process of becoming more FIT", I am in the process of designing a THIN body" This way you are writing a statement that is believable for you that you are IN THE PROCESS towards that benefit.  Be sure to write them down and post them on your fridge or mirror and also keep a copy of the list with you at all times (place it in your purse or wallet).  You want to insure you are reviewing these lists DAILY and saying them out loud to yourself.  This helps reinforce the reasons why you are on your journey and to help you imagine all the benefits you will receive once you do reach your goal.

Step 2: Have faith and belief in yourself.  Having faith in you is a decision.  Many of us battle with this, we don't believe we can lose the weight, curb the cravings or make it past the fridge alive!  But faith is the foundation of behavior and it is a decision you can make.

Believieng in yourself or rather making the decision to believe in yourself can be one of the simplest things you do and be one of the most helpful in overcoming your cravings and losing weight.  This mindset will bring about the results you want & will lay the foundation for positive outcomes.

What ever you do, don't wait until all the doubt, unbelief and unanswered questions have been taken care of before you decide to put your trust in yourself.  Face it with confidence that YOU CAN DO IT! :)

Step 3:
Stick with it, even if you slip up here and there.  We are human we make mistakes and it is OK! :)
A craving creates tunnel vision in the mindset of a craving all that matters in the world at that very moment.  You need to step back and ask yourself, am I hungry, do I need this or do I simply want it?  An important part of sticking to your nutritional food plan is to allow for failure or slip-ups.  Failures are building blocks for success. 

Step 4:
Renew with a daily decision that you will not give up NO MATTER WHAT!
When you wake up in the morning and lift your head off the pillow, grab that piece of paper and read through your lists of the reasons why you want to lose weight and imagine all the incredible benefits you will recieve once you reach your goal. Read through your decision and believe in them. Reaffirm that you will be successful today and towards reaching your goal.  Be positive about the decision you have made for yourself and the future NEW YOU & Don't EVER GIVE UP!!!  :)

To Your Weight Loss Success!

Jennifer Rundall
www.ThinspirationCoaching.com

Causes of Stress

By: Trevor Dumbleton

In order to eliminate or at least control stress, it is vital to know and understand the causes of stress. Of course, there are many causes of stress and they are as varied as the people who suffer from stress, but there are a few places to look first.

And by learning about these causes of stress, you can figure out where stress is entering your life. One of the most common, and most complained about, causes of stress is work.

However, it is not only the day-to-day tasks and routine pressures of work that can lead to stress. In fact, the mere concern about keeping a job can be a source of stress. Unfortunately, the combined stress of both work itself and the possibility of losing it creates a sort of double-stress in which people feel they have to work even harder in order to keep their jobs, making the stress that much worse. As well, for those who have not entered the working world yet, school can be a great source of stress.

The constant pressure of schoolwork, friends, teachers, tests, quizzes, papers, and everything else can be enough to make anyone feel like they are in trapped in a vice. In addition, the deadlines are all immoveable, so students are constantly under time pressure. And, to make matters worse, there are often several deadlines overlapping each other, intensifying the demands on time. Then, once final exams arrive, there is a lot to re-learn and students need to spend so much time studying that they can barely sleep.

Needless to say, losing sleep does not help people who are under stress. Thus, students need to manage stress just as much as people who work. Another cause of stress is simple family life. Unfortunately, though we hope that our home lives can be sources of relief from daily stress, they can often be sources of stress all their own. For childen as well as parents and spouses, the home can often be its own source of pressure. For parents, stress can often come from simply worrying about their children. After all, seeing a child grow up, make mistakes, go through school, go to college, play sports, and often learn things to hard way is enough to make a parent tear their hair out.

Thus, despite the joy that children can bring, they can also be causes of stress and worry. Unfortunately, parents can be causes of stress also. Though they often have their childrens' best interests in mind, they can also put a lot of pressure onto their children, causing them to worry not only about school or life, but also how their parents will react when they hear about some new event, success, or error. It is as though there is no place to turn when things go wrong, creating extra stress. No, it is not easy being a parent, but it isn't always easy being a child or a teenager either, since parents can often be causes of stress as much as sources of comfort from it. On top of that, spouses can also be causes on stress.

Let's face it, husbands and wives often have expectations of their significant others and it is not always easy to live up to those expectations. As well, spouses often spend a lot of time avoiding certain arguments simply because they are trying to avoid stress. However, leaving tension in the air while not resolving it can be a cause of stress.

Money is also a major cause of stress, simply for the fact that there never seems to be enough of it. Thus, as the money keeps going out but it never seems to come in enough, stress just keeps mounting. Unfortunately, spouses, children and sometimes parents can often remind us of our shortfalls and they will often increase the stress. Of course, that is to say nothing of the continual reminders from the mortgage or rent, car payments, credit cards and other bills.

And, furthermore, it is rather difficult to be philosophical about money stress since attempting to put things into perspective only recalls thoughts about the money that always seems to be missing.

Thus, money stress just keeps piling up higher and higher and there never seems to be a way out. Though this is only a partial list of all the possible causes of stress, these are some of the most common sources.

However, no matter where the problem is arising, stress will not make them better. Rather, stress will only make it harder for people to think about their problems and try to solve them. Thus, in order to solve the problems that lead to stress, the best place to start is by managing the stress, then working to solve the problems with a clear and uncluttered mind.

Author Bio

LowerYourStress.com: for everything to do with stress. Get a free ebook to help with your stress levels: www.loweryourstress.com/stress-book.html

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content

How to Set Your New Year’s Resolution in Motion and Make it Stick

Many of us begin a new year by setting a New Year resolution to lose weight.  However for many of us a weight loss resolution is not something that is new to us; we have attempted it several times and failed.  Failed due to not enough support, lack of accountability or our goals not clearly defined with action steps to insure success. 

When you decide you want to reach a goal there are certain steps that you should follow.  These steps are your action plan and key to weight loss success.

The first step is that you need to define clearly what your goal is.  Example: “I want to lose 55 pounds by September 30, 2010”.

The second step is then writing out different steps you will take to insure you meet your goal:  

Example :

• I will work out 4 x’s per week (30 minutes minimum at a high intensity)
• I will only weigh myself weekly
• I will write down everything I eat in my journal
• Insure I am eating the proper nutrition daily (water, fruits, vegtables, etc)
• Hire a weight loss coach to hold me accountable
• Hire a personal trainer once per week to get pointers and suggestions with my exercise
• Find a workout buddy
• Tell my closest friends/family about your New Year's resolution for support and encouragement

Also by writing your goal down with the specific steps it can enhance the effect and momentum of your goal and overall success.

Thirdly, post your goals somewhere prominent within your home, bathroom mirror, refrigerator, next to your computer monitor in your office/study.  This way you are continuously reading your goals daily over and over and you won’t forget the New Year resolution you set for yourself.

Last but not least….TAKE ACTION by incorporating these steps into your every day life and you will see steady changes within your body and mind.

To Your Weight Loss Success!!