Fasting for Weight Loss, a Good or a Bad Thing?

Fasting has been practiced many years for various reasons, mostly for religious causes and others for weight loss issues. You will find many articles and sites promising you that fasting is something beneficial to your body when it comes to weight loss and it's true. Fasting makes you lose weight within a short amount of time but the consequences of fasting can be harmful and in some cases devastating if it is practiced for too long.

You've probably heard of cases where people shed 30 pound of fat within a month or so. But what happens next? After a certain period of time they gain back all the weight and all the fat they had lost. Things get even worse than before they had started fasting. Your cravings increase because you've restricted your body from so many essential nutrients. Therefore, you will eventually eat more and you will gain back all the weight you had lost.

What Does Fasting Consist of?
The typical weight loss plan consists of drinking only water, juice and in some cases consuming laxatives which is really not a good idea if it's combined with fasting. By fasting you're already restricting your body from all the nutrients and energy your body needs and the purging will just make you weak. Although, some plans do allow to consume some solid foods but with very few calories.

Are all Fasts dangerous?
Not all fasts are dangerous. If you're a healthy adult and practice religious fasting for a day or so, there is very little chance that it can be dangerous and a risk for your health. Religious fasting will not promote weight loss since it's done for a very little time. If you're a pregnant woman, a child, an older person, or someone with some type of disease or condition, it is not recommended to practice these kind of fasts. Keep in mind that if a fast is instructed by a physician, it is perfectly safe to follow the fast as long as you're being supervised and follow the instructions.

The real danger of fasting comes when you fast for more than 3 days. The dangers of fasting are many and they range from health problems to a wide variety of illnesses.
Some of these include:

• weakness
• renal failure
• electrolyte imbalances
• hair thinning
• anorexia nervosa
• cardiac arrhythmias

...among many others.
You also burn calories more slowly when you're fasting since fasting slow the metabolism. If you want to lose weight the thing that you DO NOT want to do is slow your metabolism. Your metabolism plays the key role in your weight and fat loss process. The initial weight lost on a fast is just pure body fluid and not fat.

Don't get fooled. If you really want to lose weight fast and quickly there are other much effective ways of losing weight.

For easy and effective tips on how to lose weight lose weight, click here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_E_Haro

Can Rapid Weight Loss Cause Back Pain?

It is well-established that being overweight or obese increases one's chance of experiencing lower back pain. With that in mind, it makes sense to view weight loss as a back pain treatment. Rapid weight loss, however, can cause back pain in a number of ways.

Malnutrition
Rapid weight loss diets often revolve around the principle of ketosis, where the body burns its fat due to a decrease in the supply of sugars it receives to burn. Low-carbohydrate diets fall into this category. When cutting out grains and fruits, you will miss out on some of the nutrients you usually receive. The whole body is affected by malnutrition; muscles will not be able to function properly and may spasm or weaken, causing them to become easily strained.

If your diet restricts certain food groups, you should be taking supplements to ensure your body is getting the nutrients it needs. Look for diets like Ideal Protein that take measures to compensate for nutrient loss.

Dehydration
Low-carbohydrate diets like Atkins and Zone are diuretic diets; they increase water loss to drop weight quickly. If uninformed or uninstructed, it is easy to become dehydrated while following one of these diets.
The body is made up of about 70% water. Spinal discs rely on water to maintain height and their ability to absorb shock. Dehydration reduces the fluids available to spinal discs, which could lead to speedy disc degeneration, bulging or herniation. Muscles also need fluids in order to receive and absorb electrolytes. When dehydrated, muscles begin to cramp.
If you want to follow a low-carb diet, make sure your plan involves instructions on water intake.

Loss Of Muscle Tone
Some people pursuing rapid weight loss plans with low-caloric intake are instructed to avoid strenuous activities such as exercise for a while, since the body is adjusting to less fuel. Being sedentary can cause rapid loss of muscle tone. The muscles of the lower back and abdomen are meant to work together to support the upper body and the spine's alignment. As these muscles soften, posture may suffer. Various muscles throughout the back, neck and shoulders become sore and strained due to bad posture.

Over-Exercising
Some people's weight loss plans involve high-intensity, regular exercise to help burn fat. If you're taking in less calories and burning more of them, you may be putting your health at risk.
Your body needs calories for energy and repair. If you're working your muscles extra hard and giving them less fuel to work with, you're more susceptible to strains. Also, not resting long enough for muscles to heal is a cause of back pain among dieters. Intense workouts should not be done on a daily basis.

Gallstones
Though an exact reason for this is not know, diets that are very low in fat and/or calories can disrupt the functioning of the gallbladder. This organ assists the liver in the digestion of fats. It is thought that a limited supply of fat prevents the gallbladder from contracting and releasing its bile regularly, which could lead to the development of stones as substances in the bile stagnate and harden.
Gallstones and bile retention cause the gallbladder to inflame. Since it is located in close approximation to the muscles of the lower back and abdomen on the right side, inflammation of the organ can cause radiating pain in the back and stomach.

Warning: If Weight Loss is Unexplained
If you are losing weight without dieting and have back pain, this could be a sign of a serious medical condition. Cancerous spinal tumors can cause weight loss, changes in appetite, fatigue, back pain, vomiting, fever and/or neurological problems. If you are losing weight unexpectedly, seek medical attention.

For some people, losing weight quickly is a necessity. For others, it is a choice. Achieving a healthy weight is a goal that should be pursued for the good of your back and for your quality and length of life. Be wary of crash diets. Seek out plans that pay attention to nutritional requirements and hydration. If you experience back pain on a rapid weight loss diet, it could be a sign that your body is either not getting what it needs or that you are working out too hard.

Don't let back pain get in the way of your weight loss goal. Picking the right diet will ensure you are quickly and safely losing weight. If possible, consult with a trusted health professional about your dieting plan.

Safe choices for pain management solutions exist. Educate yourself in alternative solutions for back pain management. Please ask questions, give comments or stories related to this article submission regarding back pain management.

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7 Homemade Detox Drinks for Weight Loss

These homemade detox drinks for weight loss are a natural way to melt the fat fast. Detoxification removes toxins and helps you reach your weight loss goals in a relatively short period of time. So naturally it's a good idea to detox your body on a regular basis.

It's important to note, if you plan on drinking only detoxification drinks for more than a few days, make sure your current health status allows you to change from your normal diet to a detox diet. Before doing any kind of long-term or drastic detox you should consult with a doctor.
With that said, here are 7 homemade detox drinks to help you lose weight:

1. Tea: Tea is a natural detox drink that expels toxins from your system. Dandelion tea, green tea, peppermint tea, and ginger tea are especially effective in supporting weight loss. Drink 3-5 cups of tea daily to support your weight loss efforts.
2. Cranberry Juice: Cranberry juice enhances the body's metabolism, which is essential to converting fats into energy instead of excess weight. Along with eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, drinking cranberry juice is a very effective way to lose weight. Plus, this detox drink also helps clear nicotine and alcohol from your system in just about four days. Drink at least 32 ounces of 100% natural organic cranberry juice every day.
3. Cabbage Juice: Cabbage is very effective for detoxifying your liver. And because your liver is responsible for the detoxification of your body, it is an essential part of your detox and weight loss plan. If you have a juicer, juice up some cabbage, carrots and pears for a deliciously refreshing detox drink.
4. Cabbage Broth: For a satisfying hot drink, simmer a head of cabbage along with carrots, onions and a pinch of salt, then strain and drink. You can also add other vegetables to pack more nutrients into this hot detox drink, which is very effective for detoxifying your liver.
5. Cucumber and Lemon: This might seem like a surprising combination, but the effects of these two ingredients was tested by professional nutritionists and found to be a very effective detox and weight loss drink. All you have to do is use a blender to mix 1 cucumber sliced into tiny pieces and the juice half a lemon. Drink at least 2 times per day. This detox drink boosts your metabolism, which is essential for losing weight quickly, and you'll notice how it loads you with energy.
6. Master Cleanse Lemonade: This is probably the most popular detox drink for weight loss in the industry. It was made famous by celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Beyoncé Knowles because it is an extremely effective detox drink for weight loss and for improving your skin complexion. This is a perfect homemade detox drink to lose weight fast. Mix lemon juice, organic maple syrup and a dash of cayenne pepper into a 10 oz. glass of water. Sip on this drink all day for best results.
7. Salt Water Cleanse: At the start of your detox, you might want to do a salt water detox to cleanse your digestive system and prepare your body for weight loss. Do this on a day when you have plenty of time to stay home near the bathroom as it will run through your body very quickly. Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of natural sea salt into one quart of lukewarm water. Do not use table salt; it will not have the same effect. Stir or shake until the salt is dissolved. Drink and then relax. Most people report a bowel movement within 30 minutes to two hours and several more may follow. Once you have cleansed your system, restore it by eating yogurt to replenish the beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract, drink juice, and eat fresh, soft-cooked and steamed fruits and vegetables.

In addition to these detox drinks, make sure to eat lots of veggies, fruits and whole grain foods that fill you up and give you the best chance for quickly losing weight.

My name is Beth Winter and I am on a mission to help people just like you get healthy and find relief. When my daughter was diagnosed with fatty liver, we were scared. After hundreds of hours of research, we know what works!

Next, get the recipe and more information about the popular Master Cleanse homemade detox drink for weight loss here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Winter

Weight Loss in Women Over 50 - Secret Weight Loss Diets For 50 Plus Women! No Workout, No Surgery!

Women over 50 should undergo Acai berry diet and colon cleansing for shedding the extra pounds. They gain weight due to menopause, aging and stress. The rate of metabolism also slows down due to aging. Weight loss in older women will differ from younger women. Older women should avoid surgeries and extreme low calorie diets. This type of weight loss methods can be extremely dangerous for their body.

In fact, they should try normal methods and opt for Acai berry diet to burn fats. During this nutrition plan drinking lots of water is extremely beneficial for maintaining the body temperature, which generally goes up due to lots of fat burning. It is always advisable to drink at least 10-12 glasses of water daily. Older women shouldn't do strenuous exercises for burning fat while they can easily carry out brisk walking in their neighborhood park.

Weight Loss In Women over 50 - Secret Weight Loss Diets For 50 Plus Women
* Acai berry diet is considered to be the most effective nutrition plan for older women. Acai berries can encourage metabolism and stimulate lots of fat burning. The mood enhancing property of this nutrition is an added feature, which can keep you motivated throughout the whole dieting session.

* This diet plan emphasizes on fat loss unlike other nutrition plans, which mostly focuses on water loss. Weight loss through this method is permanent and natural. This nutrition plan also suppresses your hunger with ease.

* Colon cleansing diet is the second most beneficial diet plan for discarding fats. Older women should under go colon cleansing for removing harmful toxins from their body. Body detoxification through this method keeps your colon healthy and disease free. This process rejuvenates your whole body.

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Weight Loss in Women Over 40

Weight loss for women over 40 is a different story than when they were 20 and needs to be dealt with as such. Middle-aged women are not just dealing with slower metabolisms, they are often dealing with hormonal imbalances which have side effects such as poor thyroid function, bloating, fluid retention and weight gain. Furthermore, by the time women get to their forties, many are chronically sleep deprived which is another factor that affects weight gain and loss. Most of them are also shopping and cooking for family members who can often effectively metabolize foods that they cannot.
 
Diets or dieting for women over 40 do not achieve the best weight loss results. The best approach to losing weight for middle-aged women is to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Give your body what it needs to function optimally and avoid foods that are nutritionally deficient as well as loaded with chemicals that overburden the liver. Given the eating, sleeping and exercise habits of modern women this change can be quite radical. It means avoiding packaged, processed foods that are high in sugars, fats, and chemicals and low in fiber and nutrients. This includes so-called diet products including diet sodas. Artificial sweeteners are much worse than natural sugars and can in fact be addictive.

A healthy diet for women over 40 will differ slightly to a good diet for a younger person. As we age, the body becomes less efficient in processing carbohydrates. Therefore, in order to lose body fat middle-aged women need to eat fewer carbohydrates. A diet that is high in protein, fruits and vegetables with plenty of pure water is the key to regaining health and fitness. It is also important to eat breakfast to kick start the metabolism for the day.

A number of smaller meals throughout the day are better for weight loss than three big meals. This is because larger meals release a lot of insulin into the blood which can interfere with metabolism. You will burn more fat with lower blood insulin levels. Some women may think that cutting their food right back will mean even lower insulin levels, lower calories and greater weight loss. However, if you cut back on your food intake too much you will lower your metabolic rate substantially and retain body fat. They key to losing weight is to eat only life giving, nutritious foods that your body can easily metabolize.

However, eating healthily is only the first step towards weight loss for women over 40. It is necessary to engage in regular aerobic exercise and strength training in order to increase their metabolic rate, burn fat and build lean muscle which uses more energy than fat.

Sleep is also important. Women who do not get eight hours of regular sleep a night are more likely to be overweight than those who do. If you make these lifestyle changes, yet you are finding losing weight is still difficult, you may be dealing with a hormonal imbalance. Estrogen dominance can cause weight gain which is difficult to shift. If this is the case, a natural low-dose progesterone cream may be helpful in restoring balance.

Weight loss for women over 40 does not have to be complicated. If you adopt a healthy lifestyle, you will be able to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight easily.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sasha_Jade

Role Of Diet Pills in Weight Loss

The important aspect of weight loss is diet, exercise and diet pills. All the three work in synergistic to achieve desired results.

Our Body used sugar and carbohydrates from food as an instant source to get energy. The excess energy is stored as fat. This fat causes weight gain. In order to achieve weight loss, we must shed away this excess fat. The stored fat is used by the body when its energy requirements are not met by the sources of energy from the food. The process of utilizing the stored fat is called Thermogenesis.

Thermogenesis can be achieved in two ways:
1. Decreasing the sugar and carbohydrate content of food. It can be achieved by diet control. You should select your diet in such a way that it should contain essential nutrients like proteins, vitamins and minerals and should be less in sugar and carbohydrates. Also should be taken in appropriate quantity. There are many weight loss ingredients available which act as appetite suppressant and sugar blockers. Appetite suppressant make you feel fuller for longer time and reduces food intake. The ingredients used as appetite suppressant are mostly dietary fibers and some cactus plants like Hoodia and Caraluma Fimbriatae. There are some ingredients like Gymnema which reduces the sugar craving and may also be helpful.

2. Increase the energy consumption or metabolic rate of your body. So that the energy form the food is not sufficient to meet your body's energy requirements and hence it uses the stored fat. This can be achieved by following a regular exercise plan and by consuming pills which contains ingredients which enhances the metabolism. Some of the ingredients which enhances the metabolism are Garcinia Cambogia, L- Carnitine, Green tea and Raspberry Ketones.

There are some power antioxidants like Maqui Berry, Goji Berry and Acai Berry which helps in cleansing the body and increasing metabolism.

An effective diet pill will be one which would increase metabolism, reduces appetite and has antioxidants. Diets pills are easily available at Health stores and online marketing companies in the form of capsules and tablets. For people who do not want to swallow capsules and tablets, diet tea and slimming patches are also available. Slimming patches are easy to apply water proof patch which contains all the essential ingredients for weight loss.

Another important point in selecting weight loss products is that the ingredients and the product should be clinically proven to show the results for weight.

In nutshell diet, exercise and weight loss pills work in synergistic to achieve desired result.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeegar_N_Shah

Weight Loss Tips

We live in a nation of growing obesity. Statistics indicate that obesity has doubled since 1980. A 2008 report showed that 1.5 billion adults were clinically obese and over 45 million children were obese. There are complications connected to being obese. Approximately 3 million people die yearly from disease brought on or made worse from obesity. These diseases include diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

Practice Prevention: There are many things you can do to control your weight and prevent obesity. It is fundamentally a shift in how you think. You must realize that you have a great deal of power over your own health. Consider the fact that you in part, can control how you age and how you can maintain good health throughout your lifetime. Of course disease can occur to any of us. However you can greatly reduce your risks with a healthy lifestyle.

Physical Activity: Exercise is a very important part of any healthy lifestyle. Exercise will strengthen your body and you will begin to build muscle. Your metabolism will increase because muscle has a higher metabolic rate than fat. So add some strength training routines to your exercise program. You can incorporate 2-3 strength training routines weekly. Only 15-20 sessions can have a huge impact on your physical strength and health. You will begin burning fat and therefore lose weight.

Good Fats versus Bad Fats: There are healthy fats to add to your diet. These include omega fatty acids such as those found in fresh fish. Salmon is has one of the highest levels of good omega fatty acids. 2-3 servings weekly could be very healthy and helpful to your weight loss. Research has shown that monounsatured fats are very effective for weight loss. A good food to add to your diet is avocados. Although not the lowest in calories, avocadoes are extremely nutritious and high in monosaturated fats. Try adding some avocado to a salad or make a guacamole dip to eat with veggie sticks such as celery and carrots. Other healthy food choices for good fats include grass fed beef and extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil has numerous health benefits. It has been shown to increase the fat burning response in the body as well as lower inflammation levels.

Sugar: Sugar is something you definitely want to eliminate from your diet, particularly if you are trying to lose weight. When you consume too much sugar, this signals your body to use insulin to begin burning it off. As a result, your insulin will spike. Whatever isn't used will be converted by your body into fat. Try to limit your sugar intake to no more than 10 percent of your daily calorie intake. So for example if you consume 1500 calories daily, sugar should comprise only 150 of those calories. Always be on the lookout for hidden sources of sugar such as those found in soda and juices.

A Healthy Breakfast: When you are sleeping your metabolism goes into more of a resting state. This is referred to as "catabolism". In order to turn it on as efficiently as possible, you need to eat a good breakfast. Having a protein with breakfast is helpful along with whole grains. A good breakfast choice might be a veggie omelet with whole wheat bread. Or some oatmeal topped with fresh fruit and a protein bar. And remember to start the day with drinking some fresh pure water to hydrate your body.

Eating Styles: Eating smaller "mini meals" is a very effective way to help you lose weight. Eating your meals at consistent times is helpful. Eating every three hours during the day is a good way to keep your body consistently fueled with energy. This will also keep you from overeating. Many people overeat because they starve themselves all day and then they binge on a huge dinner. The whole key to keeping weight off is to keep your metabolic rate as high as you can. Skipping meals actually lowers your metabolism.

Reward System: Everyone once in a while you really need to just reward yourself. If you are too regimented in your eating habits and never allow yourself a little indulgence now and then, one of two things will happen. Either you will end up binging or you will quit and begin to go back to your old habits. It is well known that when you are too restrictive in your diet you will usually binge within a month and potentially gain even more weight.

Supportive Relationships: Being with like minded people who take care of themselves will really help you. If you are with peers who are overweight and have no motivation to get in shape you will probably do the same. We tend to mirror those we associate with. So if this is your situation, why not look to broaden your horizons and meet new and interesting people. You could join a gym, or a local meet up group that does walking, hiking, swimming, dance, etc. This will change your outlook on yourself. Before you know it, you will incorporate new and healthy habits into your own life and be on your way to successful weight loss.

Eliminate Junk Foods: Go through your kitchen and eliminate all of the unhealthy junk foods and processed foods you have around. You will benefit yourself and your family by doing so. If you have easy access to junk foods, the odds are you will eat it. Anytime you feel rushed or upset about something you will reach out to these types of foods. Focus instead on filling your pantry with healthy, wholesome foods. Keep snacks such as fresh fruit and no sugar yogurts in your home.

Water: Water is very important to your good health. You need to stay hydrated. If it is hard for you to drink water, add fresh lemon or lime. Try drinking 4 to 6 glasses per day of water. Drinking water is helpful to weight loss because it keeps you feeling full. An easy way to get your water intake is to bring a few bottles with you to work to have readily available to you. This will lessen the temptation to consume soda or fruit juices that are high in calories and filled with sugar. Remember, whenever beginning any dietary or lifestyle changes, always consult with a medical professional, particularly if you are taking prescription drugs or suffer from any disease or ailment.

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Why Is Green Coffee Bean Extract Considered A Natural Weight Loss Supplement?

Weight loss is not just about looking great. More importantly, it is about staying healthy. The two most common ways of losing weight naturally are maintaining a low-fat diet and regular exercise. Needless to say, these are the ideal ways of losing weight. However, they take a lot of time and effort, sometimes leaving people frustrated. What they should know is that there are other ways to lose weight naturally without going on a strict diet and undergoing a strenuous exercise. One of these is taking a natural weight loss supplement such as green coffee bean extract.

What makes green coffee bean extract a natural weight loss supplement? Green coffee bean extract speeds up metabolism or how the body burns fat. Thus, when people take the supplement, their bodies just naturally burn fat faster. And, the natural compound responsible for this is chlorogenic acid. With the help of the compound, their bodies still burn fat even when they are just sitting down and not doing anything.

Moreover, the supplement naturally suppresses appetite, and it does this without leaving the body weak as it energizes the body at the same time. This means that people who take the supplement get to lose weight without compromising their daily activities. Of course, while the supplement helps people burn fat even when they do not do regular exercise, combining it with regular exercise maximizes its weight loss effect.

Green coffee bean extract usually comes in capsule form, making it readily available for everybody and making it easy to take. This gives people a natural and healthy option in their efforts to lose weight.

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Weight Loss Smoothie Fast: A Guide for Beginners

A smoothie fast is both a convenient way to eat healthy and an efficient method to supply your body with essential vitamins, minerals and other much-needed nutrients. It also offers a variety of health benefits like weight loss, detox and energy boost - no wonder why thousands of people are crazy about green smoothies. So think about this: if you already started with going raw for a weight loss diet consuming just fresh fruits and vegetables, just throw the produce into a good blender and you've got yourself a delicious, healthy glass of smoothie. Easy, right?
Here are a few beginner tips for going through your first smoothie fast:

Preparation
Whether you're going through a smoothie fast for weight loss or for detox, one important thing to remember is to ease into it. Your body needs to prepare and adjust to a new diet before it can respond to it. Start by drinking a glass or two of green smoothies per day along with your regular meals. Then lessen your intake of solid foods by replacing one meal a day with smoothies until you can replace all three meals with just smoothies.

Duration
There isn't actually a number of days set in stone for beginners, but most smoothie fast first-timers go for 3 days. The first 72 hours will help you get a grasp of the diet and find out how it affects your body so you can better prepare and adjust for your next one. According to online dietician and nutrition consultant Priya Kathpal, anyone who is trying to lose weight and has no serious medical conditions can follow the diet, provided they do it with caution.
Some people do a smoothie fast between 3 days to 1 week, 4 times a year (per season) for maintenance. Others do longer smoothie fasts. You can do longer than 3 days once you and your body have adjusted to the all-liquid diet to avoid heath problems. It is also highly important that you seek the advice of your doctor before going through a smoothie fast.

Fruits and Vegetables
As much as possible, use organic fruits and vegetables to get the most out of them. Produce that have been grown traditionally have more toxins in them because of pesticide use. Start with simple, basic recipes with produce that are easily available on the market.
So the next time you go the grocery store or market, head straight to the fruits and vegetable section and start making green smoothies for a healthier body.

Donna H. is a lover of anything healthy - from juicing, to smoothies to detox diets. She has more than a decade of experience with different healthy diets and along with research and advice from professional nutritionists and dietitians; she is sharing her knowledge with other health nuts around the globe. Her latest book, Fat Burning Smoothies is now available on Amazon.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donna_H.

Weight Loss Smoothie Fast: A Guide for Beginners

A smoothie fast is both a convenient way to eat healthy and an efficient method to supply your body with essential vitamins, minerals and other much-needed nutrients. It also offers a variety of health benefits like weight loss, detox and energy boost - no wonder why thousands of people are crazy about green smoothies. So think about this: if you already started with going raw for a weight loss diet consuming just fresh fruits and vegetables, just throw the produce into a good blender and you've got yourself a delicious, healthy glass of smoothie. Easy, right?
Here are a few beginner tips for going through your first smoothie fast:

Preparation
Whether you're going through a smoothie fast for weight loss or for detox, one important thing to remember is to ease into it. Your body needs to prepare and adjust to a new diet before it can respond to it. Start by drinking a glass or two of green smoothies per day along with your regular meals. Then lessen your intake of solid foods by replacing one meal a day with smoothies until you can replace all three meals with just smoothies.

Duration
There isn't actually a number of days set in stone for beginners, but most smoothie fast first-timers go for 3 days. The first 72 hours will help you get a grasp of the diet and find out how it affects your body so you can better prepare and adjust for your next one. According to online dietician and nutrition consultant Priya Kathpal, anyone who is trying to lose weight and has no serious medical conditions can follow the diet, provided they do it with caution.
Some people do a smoothie fast between 3 days to 1 week, 4 times a year (per season) for maintenance. Others do longer smoothie fasts. You can do longer than 3 days once you and your body have adjusted to the all-liquid diet to avoid heath problems. It is also highly important that you seek the advice of your doctor before going through a smoothie fast.

Fruits and Vegetables
As much as possible, use organic fruits and vegetables to get the most out of them. Produce that have been grown traditionally have more toxins in them because of pesticide use. Start with simple, basic recipes with produce that are easily available on the market.
So the next time you go the grocery store or market, head straight to the fruits and vegetable section and start making green smoothies for a healthier body.

Donna H. is a lover of anything healthy - from juicing, to smoothies to detox diets. She has more than a decade of experience with different healthy diets and along with research and advice from professional nutritionists and dietitians; she is sharing her knowledge with other health nuts around the globe. Her latest book, Fat Burning Smoothies is now available on Amazon.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donna_H.

Weight Loss Smoothie Fast: A Guide for Beginners

A smoothie fast is both a convenient way to eat healthy and an efficient method to supply your body with essential vitamins, minerals and other much-needed nutrients. It also offers a variety of health benefits like weight loss, detox and energy boost - no wonder why thousands of people are crazy about green smoothies. So think about this: if you already started with going raw for a weight loss diet consuming just fresh fruits and vegetables, just throw the produce into a good blender and you've got yourself a delicious, healthy glass of smoothie. Easy, right?
Here are a few beginner tips for going through your first smoothie fast:

Preparation
Whether you're going through a smoothie fast for weight loss or for detox, one important thing to remember is to ease into it. Your body needs to prepare and adjust to a new diet before it can respond to it. Start by drinking a glass or two of green smoothies per day along with your regular meals. Then lessen your intake of solid foods by replacing one meal a day with smoothies until you can replace all three meals with just smoothies.

Duration
There isn't actually a number of days set in stone for beginners, but most smoothie fast first-timers go for 3 days. The first 72 hours will help you get a grasp of the diet and find out how it affects your body so you can better prepare and adjust for your next one. According to online dietician and nutrition consultant Priya Kathpal, anyone who is trying to lose weight and has no serious medical conditions can follow the diet, provided they do it with caution.
Some people do a smoothie fast between 3 days to 1 week, 4 times a year (per season) for maintenance. Others do longer smoothie fasts. You can do longer than 3 days once you and your body have adjusted to the all-liquid diet to avoid heath problems. It is also highly important that you seek the advice of your doctor before going through a smoothie fast.

Fruits and Vegetables
As much as possible, use organic fruits and vegetables to get the most out of them. Produce that have been grown traditionally have more toxins in them because of pesticide use. Start with simple, basic recipes with produce that are easily available on the market.
So the next time you go the grocery store or market, head straight to the fruits and vegetable section and start making green smoothies for a healthier body.

Donna H. is a lover of anything healthy - from juicing, to smoothies to detox diets. She has more than a decade of experience with different healthy diets and along with research and advice from professional nutritionists and dietitians; she is sharing her knowledge with other health nuts around the globe. Her latest book, Fat Burning Smoothies is now available on Amazon.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donna_H.

Weight Loss Smoothies

Being on a weight loss program has its ups and downs. One of those downs is eating the same foods over and over again. Sure, you may see results, but if you get bored with what you're doing, then the chances are better than average that you will stop dieting and go back to eating whatever you want. Before you give up, though, you may want to try some smoothies for weight loss. These will add variety to your diet, taste delicious, and will help you as you try to lose weight.

Smoothies and shakes are an ideal diet treat in the summer months because fresh produce is so plentiful and so are the weight loss smoothie recipes. However, with all of the frozen fruit available, you can enjoy tasty shakes and smoothies throughout the entire year. Frozen fruit tastes just about as good as fresh; add in some low fat yogurt, and the shake will have an even better taste and be more enjoyable.

Make sure you only drink healthy smoothies for weight loss and pay attention to the sugar content in the drink. One of the diet shake recipes that I like uses mandarin oranges, mango and ice. Then I add a scoop of protein powder and low fat yogurt. This makes a refreshing beverage that not only tastes good, but it will also fill your belly and help you lose weight at the same time. And for those times I just want to mix up something fast and go, I use the Acai Berry Smoothie Mix.

From time to time, when I want to mix things up, I will replace the yogurt with banana (sometimes I use both). Adding fruit juices is another way to give fresh flavor to your smoothies and weight loss drinks. For example, cranberry juice has positive health benefits for your kidneys. Add some cranberry juice, apple juice, blueberries, strawberries and banana together, then blend it until smooth. This makes an excellent breakfast drink and is a great way to start your day.

If you love the taste of chocolate, but can't eat it because it's too high in fat, then there is good news! You can add cocoa powder to your diet shake recipes. One good one is to mix cocoa powder, banana, low fat yogurt, honey and ice together. Now you can satisfy your chocolate craving without having to feel guilty about it. Of course you shouldn't drink a smoothie like this every day, but it makes for a nice change of pace that will help you stick to whatever diet plan you may be on. And there are plenty of weight loss shakes recipes and juicing recipes for weight loss for you to check out online.

While diet shake recipes and smoothies can be good for you. They are not the full solution to losing weight. If you are serious about shedding those excess pounds, then you need to do so from several different angles. You need to decrease your overall caloric intake. There are several ways to do this, but how you do it is less important than the fact that you're doing it. You also have to work on burning more calories. Again, doing it is what counts. You don't have to spend countless hours at the gym doing boring exercises. Just get moving and you will not only lose weight, but reduce body fat and even hit that stubborn belly fat.

Finally, feel free to experiment with diet shake recipes of your own. If you stick with low calorie foods, then the resulting shakes and smoothies should taste great and help you lose weight.

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Easy Weight Loss Diet Technique

If I tell you I know an easy weight loss diet program, would you laugh at my face? I'm guessing, most probably. It's a mystery why people see diet as a four letter word, and associate it with things grim, bloody and morbid. I exaggerate; make that torturous, hard and impossible. But,I disagree.

The reason why you don't see weight loss as being easy in the first place is because it takes away one of your most favourite past time a.k.a. eating, replacing it with your most hated one a.k.a. exercising. Need I say more?

More or less, the reason why you're being pessimistic in the first place is because you lack the drive and motivation to lose that extra weight. If you lack the inspiration to get off that couch by your own will, then losing weight will most definitely seem like an insurmountable obstacle for you.

Lest you change your outlook in life and actually start wanting to shed off those pounds, losing weight will never be easy. When you get motivated or inspired, weight loss can be an easy quest, highly attainable really.

How to get motivated in the first place? Well, you can try asking yourself why you want to get rid of fat in your body. Health? Beauty? Challenge? Ding! Ding! Ding! Those are probably the most common answers overweight people get. Once you have your hands on your answer - your purpose, I'm pretty sure you can ensure things no matter what. Just hold on tight to that motivation and you'll actually find out that losing weight is actually easy, especially if you put your heart and mind into it.

Eat less and exercise more. Seriously, that has to be the juiciest gist of this ancient weight loss story. A mix of good workout program and a healthy balanced diet is the easiest diet plan. It can be a new and big change for someone who's been a couch potato munching on potato chips for years. Get rid of all junks and processed foods from your kitchen, instead stock up on healthier foods rich in vitamins and minerals. I know the carrots and celery stalks can be like eating crayon when compared to that big mac. Stick to the program, the sooner your taste buds adapt the better for your body.

Here are some more guidelines to losing weight in an easy manner:
1. Never skip meals
The person who started the starvation needs to be shot in the head - twice! Why is it that many people associate dieting with skipping meals or starving themselves? Don't they realize that not only it is unhealthy, but it also doesn't help in getting rid of unwanted calories? When you skip a meal, your metabolism rate slows down, hence your body stores what little energy is left. To put it simply, it stops burning fat. Well, since now you know, it's best to avoid skipping meals from here on, okay.

2. Break even your meals to 5-6 portions
Breakfast, lunch and dinner - three meals. Do you see anything wrong with A lot won't but a few would point out that lunch is like ages ago from breakfast. "I'm hungry at 10:00 AM; do I hold it in and wait for lunch?" No, you don't have to; actually, help yourself to some snacks. It'll be good for you, so long as you watch the amount and munch on the healthy. See, that's the problem with three meals a day, people get too hungry, and when dinner arrives, they'll end up devouring a huge portion. By consuming large amount of calories in a single meal while your body has not time to burn fats at all, you will most likely end up becoming overweight. It is highly recommended by health nutritionist to split your meals into five or six portions, with four hours interval to lessen your calorie intake. This will not only help curb your hunger, but aids in keeping your blood sugar level.

3. Avoid soft drinks
What's wrong with water? Why does it have to be a soft drink? Especially during hot days, it becomes too tempting to indulge yourself with soft drinks. Keep in mind, that once they pass through your tonsils, it's just sugar loaded with calories heading straight to your thighs and belly. Quench your thirst with water. Not only is it calorie-less, but also helps boost your metabolism as well while flushing away-unwanted toxins out of your body.

4. Eat water-rich foods
As mentioned above, what better way to quench your thirst than by chugging on water? Choosing to eat water-rich food is a good move towards weight loss. Not only do they help get rid of toxins, but can also be a good solution for hunger. Some examples of water-rich foods are tomatoes and cucumbers. It's best to add them in your daily portions as they can be of good help to your calorie intake. Other great alternatives include salads and soups.

5. Cereals for breakfast
Who doesn't eat cereal? Or rather, who hasn't eaten cereal? Cereal is a primary breakfast meal that most people cannot live without. Not only does it has less fat, but contains a good amount of calcium, protein and fiber. It's practically the simplest weight loss diet type, one you can easily make yourself.

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