By Stefan Aschan
“Does losing weight mean as well, just pulling the stomach in to make it disappear?” Many of us can’t even look in the mirror without thinking how much weight we’ve gained over the last months. Some fat over here and same fat over there. Voila, and our expensive wardrobe does not fit anymore.
We have two choices: Replace the $50.000- plus wardrobe or get back on a regiment that takes off the weight in the region that we are trying to make leaner, smaller and more attractive. For gentlemen, it is the all admired six-pack abdominals, and for the ladies, the all wished for thin arms, hips and legs. Now you are standing in front of the mirror and thinking what your decision will be. What are you going to do? Hopefully, the second. Still there are issues that you need to know about.
Myths that you need to be aware off
Myth # 1: It takes only two weeks to get back to the stage where you were before.
Sorry, it will take sometimes double as long to lose the weight than to gain it. A healthy weight loss is not more than between 1 to 2 pounds per week. Anything more than this will be gained back over time and have a likely negative effect on your cardio vascular system. In short, a yo yo effect in dieting creates additional stress on your heart.
Myth # 2: I can eat whatever I want, as long I eat small portions
Our body needs nutrients to function and 100% processed foods do not give you those nutrients. You need to know what foods you need to increase and what foods that you need to stay away from. Too little food overall puts your body into a starvation mode. Yes, you will be losing weight, but will get insane at the same time. Ever notice the mood swings of dieters? Manage to find a way to eat so that you feel satisfied, but start to listen to your body to know when enough is enough.
Myth # 3: I can just focus on nutrition and not on exercise
Great, and what is happening then? Summer is around and you will put on the bathing suite. Yes, you might have lost a few pounds over here or over there. Yet, you have not shaped your body. In short, you have not developed your body into a lean looking appearance so that you feel comfortable walking by the pool or by the beach in your bikini, bathing trunk or bathing suite. Exercise, needs to be a part of it.
You know what you have done the last couple of weeks. Yes, we won’t go into what you should have avoided the last couple of weeks, [or I should have avoided J?] but rather, what can you do right now to reverse the bloating and the sluggishness in your body.
Solutions to implement
Solution 1# Increase your dead processed foods with living foods
No, I don’t mean live fish or snails. Rather, I refer to greens, such as mesculin salad, or peppers such as green, yellow, or orange, or nuts such as almonds, sunflower or cashews. You must understand that cooked food, such as stuffing, cookies, or fried potatoes do not have the necessary enzymes that our metabolism requires in order to work efficiently. First, start increasing quality food and second perhaps with a supplement program.
Solution 2# Increase your protein with less saturated fats
All right, enough with the steak. Steak has about 30% to 40% fats. Chicken 4% to 5% and with the skin about 11 %. Fish, varies. But you cover your omega 3’s as well. Replace your inefficient protein with protein that has the most benefit to your weight loss. Increase your fish intake. We know, you know and I know, omega 3’s and 6’s not just help our memory, but our skin, hair, nails and mood swings as well.
Solution # 3 Yes bread – no bread, yes rice – no rice, or yes pasta – no pasta?
What is right and what is wrong? Very simply, it needs to be non-processed and as close as possible to the earth. Remember, by eating foods that are as close as possible to the earth, you will receive all the nutrients and fiber that aid in any kind of weight loss program. Hence, yes to bread if it is whole grain bread. Yes to rice if it is brown rice, Yes to pasta if it is whole-wheat pasta. Still, don’t get over board. The amount is important as well.
Those are just a few solutions that you can implement. There are many more that I would like to educate you about but space doesn’t permit it, which is actually just fine, because the right information needs to come at the right time and in a quantity that you can absorb and implement. Think about it! Did you ever receive the right advice at the wrong time? We’ve all been in those shoes.
Yet in short, it is you who need to make your body your business. If not you, who else will be take care of your appearance??? Be in control and set out to accomplish the goals that you have given yourself. And remember, you have the right to take care off yourself.
Stefan Aschan, leading expert on lifestyle, health and fitness solutions and owner of www.strength123.com, providing nutrition, exercise and lifestyle programs. Register now for your Nutritional Platinum Mental Detox program and receive 200, – off. Visit www.mentaldetox.strength123.com.
His programs have been featured in Fitness, Shape, More, Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, First Woman, in the New York Times, the NY Sun, and on CW11 – The Morning News Show. Currently he is a contributor for ABCnews.com and monthly articles to “Affluent Magazine”.