Lose Weight

Does a person need to starve themselves to offset the extra calories consumed during the holidays? Absolutely NOT! This triggers the starvation mode of the body and actually causes one to add weight. If the body does not receive a certain number of calories it will store fat to protect itself. It will think it needs to use the fat for energy in the future. Here are tried and true rules to follow:

1. Losing more than 2 pounds of fat is rare. Normally muscle will be lost as well and that hurts weight loss efforts.

2.Reducing the daily calories for the day by more than 500 will also trigger the starvation mode.

3. Diet is just a part of the routine. Exercise is needed to increase the metabolism and quicken the weight loss process.

Strength training with weights and heart healthy cardio training are best bets fro weight loss.

4. Spot reduction is a myth. Certain areas of the body show weight loss quicker and gives us the illusion of spot reduction. Train the whole body and the weigth will come off.

5. Food choices are more important than calorie counting. The body will treat 100 calories of broccoli differently than 100 calories of donuts. A cleaner diet of more vegetables and lean meats while eliminating fried and fast foods is a sure way to your goals.

6. Water is VERY important. So many of us are perpetually dehydrated with our coffee and tea consumption and we need water to allow the body to work properly and keep the metabolism working.

1 oz. of water per pound of bodyweight is a great goal but you may need some time to acclimate to that amount. These six rules will do you well in your weight loss aspirations!