3 Habits That Make it Difficult to Lose Weight

Are you struggling to see the results you were looking for with your weight loss plan? If so, you need to consider a few of the habits you currently have that could be making it very challenging to see the weight loss results you were desiring. Some people develop negative habits without even realizing these practices are influencing their results.

So, are you curious to see if you have a few of them? Here are the main ones you need to know about...

1. Negative Self-Talk. The first bad habit you need to get yourself out of is negative self-talk. Take a few moments to pay attention to what you are saying to yourself day after day...

• are you beating yourself up?
• are you analyzing every mistake you make?
• are you making hurtful comments to your friends about how you look?

Any negativity is only going to bring you down. Start replacing any negative talk about yourself with positive statements and watch what that does to your mind frame.
2. Mindless Eating. Do you often eat in front of the computer? Do you sit down to dinner in front of the TV? If so, this could be contributing to weight gain.
Distracted eating is one of the worst habits you can get into. It's mostly taking the focus off the type of food you are eating and putting it onto an outside source. The result is you finish eating your meal or snack and don't get the psychological satiety the meal or snack should have provided. Not paying attention to the food you have chosen to eat could, in turn, lead to ongoing cravings, causing you to eat more than you should.
In some severe cases, an individual may not even realize they are eating until they are finished their plate of food - or have eaten their way through the box of cookies!
Be present when you eat. Pay attention to each bite and taste the food. You'll be a lot more satisfied because of this action.
3. Lack Of A Clear Vision. Finally, make sure you have a clear vision. Are you just going about your weight loss plan aimlessly? Do you know what it is you are looking to achieve?
If you don't have a firm picture of what you want to achieve planted in your brain, think about it until you do. When you have the vision, it will give you laser-sharp focus that will make it much easier to stay motivated.

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4 Amazing Ways to use Apple in Your Weight Loss Plan

Apples are a fantastic fruit that is a must-have in just about every weight loss plan. At around 80 to 100 calories per apple depending on its size, it's an easy add no matter if your goal is weight loss, weight maintenance or lean muscle mass gain.

 Even better, apples are also loaded with dietary fiber that can help you lower your overall hunger level while also increasing your blood sugar control. Apples are one fruit often highly recommended to those with or looking to prevent Type 2 diabetes as they are an excellent way to help stabilize blood sugar levels between or at meals.
If you typically only eat your apples as-is, you're missing out. They are a great addition to your eating plan in many different ways. By getting creative, you can find the means to eat them no matter what meal of the day it happens to be.
Here are a few quick methods...

1. Prepare Baked Apple Pie. Okay, so you can't have the full on apple-pie if you are hoping to watch your weight. Not to stress, though - you can have something just about as good.
Just slice up your apple and then bake it with a little cinnamon and stevia (along with some unsweetened applesauce if you like), and then when it comes out, top it with a few toasted oats and slivered almonds or walnut pieces.
Serve with low sugar Greek yogurt and it'll feel like you're indulging in dessert.

2. Perfect Pairings. While an apple can be an okay snack, the only issue is it's almost entirely all carbohydrates. Ideally, for food to be balanced, you want it to contain healthy fats as well as protein. The best way to do that? Pair the apple with cheese or nut butter. Both are excellent ways to round out this snack and will give you the nutrition you need.
Plus, they both taste good with apples of just about any variety.

3. Dress Up Your Salad. Another way to serve an apple is to slice one up and place it on your spinach salad. Apples taste great paired with red onions and a few cranberries along with almonds and spinach. Add a chicken breast and you'll have a fast and healthy lunch in seconds.

4. Blended Into A Smoothie. Finally, don't think you can't serve apples in a smoothie. Most people tend to rely more on fruits like berries or bananas for their smoothies, but you can just as easily add an apple.
Just be sure to core it and slice it into small pieces before pureeing in the blender. There you have a few great tips to get more apples into your day. As the saying goes, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away!"

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7 Easy Steps to Permanent Weight Loss

#1 Set realistic goals and feel motivated.
Somebody rightly said "Plans are nothing; planning is everything." So first of all decide that you are going to achieve your health goals whatever it takes. Decide the exact amount of fat or weight that you wish to lose. For example "I want to lose 10 pounds in the next 30 days". Write down your goal on a piece of paper or your health tracking application. Just thinking about it does not work. When we start, we think of unrealistic goals because we can think we can achieve them or we want to do it as soon as possible. But the end result is we either stop continuing or give up. So set realistic goals like 1-2 pounds per week. Daily motivation is very important, I say daily because it will give you new energy and excitement to continue for longer.

#2 Build a support system.
"You can't do it all yourself. Don't be afraid to rely on others to help you accomplish your goals." What I mean by building a support system is that you need the resources to achieve your goals. Achieving health goals is like others goals of life, they need your hard work, dedication, persistence and motivation. So if you are not reading daily, then start reading for 10-15 minutes about being healthy. Read blogs, magazines etc. Make a group of people who also want to be healthy.

#3 Choose an exercise plan and commit to it.
Follow your dreams, work hard, practice and persevere. Make sure you eat a variety of foods, exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Start exercising for 3-4 times a week. Building an exercise habit is crucial. You will start feeling more active and strong. Persistence is the key to permanent results. Here is a simple exercise routine you can start with:
10-15 minutes of running
10 push ups; 2-5 sets
Bent knee push ups
Jump rope (60 seconds); 2-5 sets
2-5 pull ups; 2-5 sets

#4 Build healthy eating habits.
"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."
Habit #1 Drink more water.
Habit #2 Eat more vegetables and fruits.
Habit #3 Avoid sweeteners.
Habit #4 Avoid junk food.
Habit #5 Exercise regularly.
Habit #6 Track your progress.
Habit #7 Track your calorie intake.

#5 Get acquainted about nutrition and monitor your water intake.
Our food contains carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fats, fiber and other nutrients. Low carbohydrates and high protein based foods will give better and faster results but we have to understand how much of these nutrients are required based on our body type. Drink more water. 20 kilograms of our body weight requires one liter of water.

#6 Know about various body fats.
"One day I may be meeting you and hearing how you've changed your life by saying, 'Farewell to Fat'." Measure the below mentioned body parameters, which will help you in tracking your progress. Weight, Height, Body Mass Index, Body Overall Fat, Visceral Fat, Body Age, Daily Calories Required, Muscle strength, etc. Check these parameters on a daily or a weekly basis to know how far you have come.

#7 Track your progress.
"If you can measure it, you can't achieve it." Track your progress daily or weekly. Hard work fetches results.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9267906

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8 Simple Ways to Quickly Lose some Pounds

How to lose fat fast? There are many answers to that question. But all of them will take some time and effort. Because you've built up those fat stores over months or even years, it won't disappear magically overnight. By following a diet and working out regularly, you can enjoy quick weight loss.

1. Change Your Lifestyle
Small changes can make a big difference. This is not an all or none shift. You can start by modifying one or two things, including them in your daily routine, and later adding on more tweaks.

2. Eat Out Less
Eating in restaurants will certainly help you put on weight. Fast food is bound to lead to fat deposits on your belly and thighs. This is because you eat food that's rich in carbs and fat. By cutting down to eating out only once a week and cooking the remaining meals at home, you'll lose weight.

3. Reduce Salt
When you consume more salty food, your body retains water and that adds to your weight. Salty snacks like peanuts, crisps and candy bars are best avoided. Limit the addition of extra salt to food. This by itself will help you lose weight.

4. Have a Healthy Breakfast
Your first meal of the day sets the tone and reduces sugar craving by mid-morning. Just eating a balanced breakfast will help you lose weight because your overall calorie intake over the day will decrease. A breakfast bar gives you 300 calories and keeps you satisfied for much of the day.

5. Exercise Often
It isn't necessary to go to the gym for a complete workout daily. If you prefer it, you can exercise in short, intense bursts right at home. Crunches and jumping jacks are good exercises to lose weight fast.

6. Stop Eating Snacks
Unhealthy snacks in the fridge or cupboard are a constant source of temptation. Get rid of the high carb foods and snacks. Don't buy any more. Replace them with healthy alternatives like nuts, grains, fruit and vegetables. Eating healthier food will make you slim and fit.

7. Walk Daily
Instead of chatting with friends in a coffee shop, take them along with you on a walk. Conduct meetings while strolling in the park. Move around the office to discuss things with colleagues. As you get work done, you'll also move around and get more exercise.

8. Reduce Portions
Turn down offers to supersize your orders. Ask for healthy toppings on a pizza. Cut down on desserts. Stick to your total calorie intake targets. By being disciplined about how much you eat, you'll soon be able to lose weight.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9387269

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