Introduce Yoga To Your Weight Loss Journey

Many people today are trying all sorts of things in their pursuit of a more healthy, permanent weight loss goal, or change for a healthier lifestyle.  Unfortunately, many seem to fall all to often for fad diets, diet pills, or celebrity diets, just to name a few .

While someone might temporarily lose a few pounds with a "diet", diets are not successful when it comes to permanent weight loss and healthy weight loss. To achieve long lasting results, require more than a diet, it requires you changing , or switching to a long lasting healthier lifestyle. In other ways, its a way of living.

Now, as my mother use to tell me, I have good news, and bad news......

The good news is that there is a known and proven way to achieve significant, healthy, permanent weight loss, and even more good news is that, although some modification to what you presently like to eat will be necessary, extremely drastic changes are seldom required.

Of course you might have to learn to substitute something you don't like that much right now for something you do like, but, in time, you can get accustomed to this, and even learn to like the new flavors and foods.  I know.  I've been there.

The bad news is that, along with modifications to your eating habits, you are going to have to become more active.  Dare I say it....?

You will have to exercise!

The benefits of exercise is an article in itself, and I have written elsewhere about how exercise can take many forms, so there is no need to lock yourself into an unpleasant or painful exercise regimen.  What I really want to do here is give a small pitch for the practice of yoga as my exercise program of choice.  Remember, however, my exercise program of choice might not be yours.  As much as I like yoga, you will have to decide if yoga is right for you.

Before I speak specifically about yoga, let's just list some of the known benefits of regular exercise in general.

Exercise...

>Reduces the risk or affects of many illnesses and conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis to name a few.  Some studies even show possible reductions in the risk for some cancers.

>Elevates mood and reduces depression.

>Helps maintain healthy bones, muscles, joints, and nervous system.

>Delays affects of aging, making seniors more mobile and self sufficient and less likely to fall prey to injury or illness.

>Reduces risk of premature death (sounds like a big one to me).

>Helps maintain a healthy weight.

Okay, since any good exercise program can provide these benefits, what does yoga have to offer that makes it special?

In addition to providing the basic benefits of exercise in general, yoga does have a few specific things going for it.

Despite the apparently agonizing contortions seen in every yoga book, the benefit is in the attempt to achieve the position.  The models in the books arrived at their present level of ability over time, and many a skilled practitioner of yoga today began in the same shape you're in right now.  It is okay to modify a position or to come out of it a little early if your body is not ready yet.  The regular practice of your best version of the movement or position (asana), combined with yoga breathing techniques (easily learned) will produce progress over time.

No personal trainer or special equipment is needed, nor is it necessary to go to the gym or even out in public at all.  You can do yoga naked if you don't have a pair of gym shorts, and a carpet is just as good as a yoga mat...at least at first.  Yoga is actually so simple that it can be learned from a book, although it certainly wouldn't hurt to get guidance or training from a certified instructor.

Yoga is relaxing and relieves stress.  Not only is this of great personal value in today's world, but if any part of your weight loss problem is stress related, and I can almost guarantee some relationship, the stress relief offered by yoga can ease that portion of your weight loss journey.

In addition to being good for your health for several reasons, simply learning yoga breathing and practicing it regularly can help you burn fat.

As you begin to progress in your ability to better perform yoga poses (asanas) you will notice a sense of control, of mastery of life and self, which will become more evident.  This new inner strength will aid you in facing difficulties, including temptations concerning eating and your new eating behaviors.  You will also find yourself more forgiving, not only of others, but of yourself as well, and when you slide a little, you will be better able to shrug it off and get back on your path to success.

With more progress in your yoga practice, you will begin to experience new feelings of health, strength, and well-being.  These feelings will in turn motivate you to take even more control of your life so that you can continue your progress with no desire or temptation to return to the way things used to be.

Nothing is perfect for everyone, but, as you can see, the practice of yoga does have some benefits to offer which may make it valuable in the pursuit of healthy, permanent weight loss, and a healthier lifestyle.

Back To School 24 Day Weight Loss Challenge And Cleanse

The idea of the Back To School 24 Day Weight Loss Challenge And Cleanse is for you to develop a consistent approach to weight loss as well, and more importantly assist in you in your lifestyle change.  The weight loss challenge objective is to get rid of the excesses in your body, the excess fat, and other stuff we have taken into our system over the summer months.  Not the healthy and lean muscle tissues and body fluids.

After all the summer fun, vacationing, celebrating, and at times eating anything and everything we wanted, its time to get back to business.

The challenge requires your focus and dedication, so therefore you need to be prepared in both mind and and body.  It is advised that you first visit your doctor for a check-up before embarking on any weight loss program, or diet.

It is important that when starting the challenge, that you remain positive, and dedicated enough to work for the desired results.

Often times we become impatient, but long term effects can be accomplished depending on you, your diet, as well as a number of other factors, such as current health.

If you have been inactive for some time, be sure to stretch and stretch some more before starting any activity.  Before actually doing any exercise and working out those muscles, a little stretching is needed in order to avoid any injury or soreness in your body.

Everything should be done in moderation.  Find the level of exercise and training that suits you.  It should be enough for you to be comfortable, but not too convenient that it will not be much of a challenge.

To assist you with your cleanse, you can find everything you need for  the challenge below.

Now that you have joined, here are a few tips to assist you along the way.

The first week

The first week of the cleanse take long and steady walks for a little over twenty to thirty minutes. After the walk, follow it up with a good stretch.  This takes so little of your time for the first week.
In less than two and a half hours you have taken that first step to a healthier lifestyle that could work to your advantage.

By the second week, it is good to focus on strengthening your upper body.  This maintains your strength to be able to go through the whole cleanse, and conditioning you will be doing, throughout the challenge.  During the third week,  start walking briskly or jog for 15 - 20 minutes.

The fourth week should be spent on a low impact exercise such as swimming.  To avoid boredom, do not be afraid to try something new.  The last day of the fourth week is a time to solicit the support of the people you care about.  Spend time with them or get them to be with you in your long walks. Remember, follow up your walks, and low impact exercises with a light upper body workout.

This is just the start of your life changes, and the greater good to come because of those changes.  If by this first week you are able to stick to the  24-Day Challenge, you have a greater chance to further boost your weight loss with the steps Ive provided above and stay with the program until you achieve your desired result.

Try as much as possible to be unlike the people who give up easily just because they could not see the result they want at the time they wanted!   Patience is a virtue.  The same way it took your body time to gain all that weight, it will need time to exert itself to get rid of it. Stick to the weight loss program and you will lose weight. Just as I did, and continue to do.

The ideal of the Back To School 24 Day Weight Loss Challenge And Cleanse is to help .you develop a consistent approach to weight loss as well as assist you in becoming a healthier you.

Written by,

Dwight Obey, Independent AdvoCare Distributor

I Don't Eat Meat, So How Do I Get Enough Protein?

The picture above is just one of the many of foods that contain a lot of protein.  You can easily find other foods high in protein just by reading the nutrition facts on the label.  There are many breakfast cereals that contain a lot of protein.  Also, oatmeal is usually fairly high in protein.

Or, if you choose not to eat cereal, you can have yogurt or granola.  Greek yogurt is thicker and contains a greater amount of protein than regular yogurt.  Or, you can even make a smoothie with juice or milk, fruit and protein powder.

For your lunch and dinner entrees, instead of eating meat, consider having some baked or sautéed tofu.  You can mix it with vegetables, or even bake it with breadcrumbs like you would with meat.  There are so many meat substitutes available, too.  There are all different kinds of burgers, veggie dogs, veggie bacon, and even chicken less chicken nuggets.

So, if you still enjoy meat, but are just trying to cut down on the amount of meat you eat, it is very likely that you will be able to find a meatless version of it.  Many of these products are made out of soy and are processed, so if you want to eat more whole foods and avoid processed foods, there are still many different options.

You can have beans as your entrée, and if you eat it with rice, it will form a complete protein.  Or, you can enjoy a dish that consists of a high protein grain.  Quinoa can be made into many different recipes; it can even be made into a burger.  Even whole wheat pasta is very high in protein.

Nuts or seeds make a great snack and will also add some protein to your diet.  You can even get protein from your beverages.  Milk contains adequate protein.  Kefir is like a yogurt smoothie and is very high in protein.