How to (not) lose 10 pounds in 10 days.

Losing weight is never easy. If you go to the internet and try to look for weight loss programs or diets you will be astounded by how much material is actually out there. I guess you'd have to ask yourself if it really works and those testimonials can come in handy. Well, the whole objective of losing weight, at least for most people, is to lose as much as possible in as little time as possible. The whole notion of an exercise program is simply to adjust the body's ability to take up food and burn it for energy. Our Metabolic Rate is entirely dependent on how much ( or how little ) activity we do. Exercising enables us to burn our body's fuel reserves because it allows our body to metabolize these fuels faster. As we exercise our body uses up these metabolic fuels and gives off heat. We perspire in order to help our body cool down from heat produced by metabolism.

How much fat can we actually burn? Well, our body has its own preference on which fuel to utilize first. Carbohydrates get used up first but so does protein when carbohydrates start to dwindle. Our body will use protein over fat because our metabolic pathways are not always 2 way streets. By that I mean we can't always convert a fuel source to another without having to convert it to something else first. We do burn the fat, mind you, but not in the way we thought we are going to burn it.

You also have to remember that we are made of 70% water. If we were going to lose 10 pounds in 10 days, it is very possible but at the cost of depriving ourselves of adequate hydration (water). It's not only unsafe but can be life-threatening as well. Dehydration can kill,folks. Remember that we can survive a month without food but we can't survive a week without water. So can we lose 10 pounds in 10 days? No, not safely. The best way to lose weight as I have alluded to in one of my previous posts is to slowly train our minds in registering stimuli from our favorite foods. We need to be more conscious of What we eat as well as HOW MUCH we eat. We also need to be aware of how our body adjusts to the type of exercises we do as well as their intensity. Remember that there is no specific exercise program for anyone. Your instructor may tailor a program for you in terms of what your goals are but the truth is there is no better teacher than your own body. Take things in moderation. Don't starve yourself just because you felt guilty. The hunger pang will be so much more that you'd end up eating more and more.

Here's a tip for you; before you try to lose weight cleanse your body first. Water cleansing is effective but can only clean you so far. Cleansing tea is also an alternative, if you can stand the taste. The purpose of cleansing is to prime our bodies to the changes in our eating habits that we will be implementing. Removal of wastes and toxins can also improve our absorption of nutrients. Here's another tip; fiber adds bulk and, therefore, satiety. It also helps in "sponging up" some of the fats in our diets before they get absorbed. So use more of fiber and be intimate with your favorite chair once again.

Consult your physician before attempting to undergo any exercise program. Learn the nutritional value of the foods you eat. Learn to eat to sustain your body of what it needs. Natural foods are best. Until our next post,folks. Do take care and thank you for your time.

Warm, Positive Flows

If you ask almost just about anyone what they really want out of life they can tell you many versions of actually just one goal; security. They wanted security the most because to them this is much more tangible and more real than pursuing other ideals. Of course when we hear of security there again is that word we subconsciously affix called "financial". In other words, to make the longest story short it's all about acquisition of money. The funny thing about money is it too has its own cycle. It seems like there isn't really enough money and there's no such thing as too much money. The truth about money is the more you hold on to it, the more it escapes your grasp. Let me repeat that: The more you hold on to money, the more you will be in need of it because the less you have of it. I know this is hard to believe but if you aren't selfish with money, the more of it will be yours.

If you were given a choice between happiness and money which will you choose? No, money CANNOT buy you happiness, at least not the type of happiness we speak of here. When we speak of happiness we mean contentment beyond any reasonable doubt. It means arriving at a state of inner harmony and you KNOW you connect with all aspects which comprise your life and everything just makes sense to you. It's that inner smile to weather away any storm. The happiness brought about by materialism (money) is fleeting. True happiness is deeper. When you work towards achieving it you will FEEL and KNOW that you are in familiar ground. You are bathing in warm, positive flows.

I guess the question really is how does one arrive at this ideal. How do we work towards true happiness in life? When do we really feel complete or contented? Working towards warmer, positive flows of energy in your life involves a revamp of your outlook. It involves having to give up a lot of things and it involves some changes( which may or may not be drastic). An open mind is always the best way to start. Options and choices won't be too one-sided in this case and you will have a wider, broader perspective.

The next ideal to attain is Love. When I say love I mean being able to love more and under this notion lives sharing, kindness, and understanding. When we have no reservations of any kind in loving it becomes easy, free of tensions and conditions. In loving we learn that we are not that different from one another. In loving we remove boundaries which hamper our personal growth.

Lastly, it is important to have the right mindset. Our previous posts regarding personal change alludes to this concept. Know what matters the most and hold on to these. Don't let yourself be lost in a materialistic world full of hollow feelings. Stay real and be real. Until our next post...take care of yourselves and each other. Thank you for your time.