The Skinny Trap - Why We Are Obsessed With Losing Belly Fat

Each year over 10 million people in the UK and 40 million people in the USA begin a new diet; within five and a half weeks 50 per cent have given up, having wasted collectively, on average, £335 million (on products, gym memberships etc.) in the process.Of those who succeed in losing weight in the short term, 95 per cent have put all the weight back on within a year.It is estimated that over 80 per cent of adults have been on a diet at one time or another.Approximately 55 per cent adults have bought products to help them lose weight - from pills to patches, miracle cures and detoxes (excluding books and videos).Eighty per cent of women and 45 per cent of men are unhappy with their appearance.In the UK and USA combined, approximately 12 million people suffer from eating disorders, such as anorexia.Twenty-six per cent of ten-year-old girls feel they aren't thin enough.It's been estimated that on average, women in the UK and USA spend ten years of their lives trying to be slimmer than they are, but end up fatter.

Most of us want to be thin, even if we pretend otherwise. Ask most women in their forties to sixties, and you'll find that they've spent most of their adult years fretting about whether they were thin enough.

But this is not a recent phenomenon. Many people cite the growth of the food industry after the Second World War as the beginnings of obesity and the need to diet. But read this:

'A new craze in women's fashion [has] burst upon the community. They call it "slimming". Many who practise it succeed in resembling famine victims - those who could become the most like living skeletons being the envy of their sisters.'

This was written about women - in one of the earliest diet books published in the UK-in 1926. While in 1929, a well-known theatrical impresario in London said of chorus girls: 'Many of them ruin their digestions by crazy dieting to keep slim.'

Research today, however, shows that men are almost as obsessed. The number of males on diets and/or getting body reshaping and retouching is rising steeply (for example, there has been an increase of over 50 per cent year on year in Botox for men and 200 per cent in two years for some types of cosmetic surgery), while the latest figures show that 25 per cent of people with eating disorders are now male.

And, horrifyingly, our children - even pre-school-aged children - are showing signs of being similarly body conscious. It doesn't help that dolls like Barbie and Bratz and cartoon females (such as Princess Tiana in The Princess and the Frog, whose waist is half the width of her head) are all size zero, without a doubt. And the Government's anti-obesity campaign, which includes allowing education authorities to weigh pupils and send warning letters to parents if a child is overweight, may actually be compounding this increasing childhood obsession with not being fat.

Losing weight is important if we are over weight - but not to the extent that it makes us look and feel unhealthy. Michelle teaches people how to get rid of belly fat the healthy way, so that it stays off for good, and doesn't cost you your health in achieving your weight loss goals.

A simple way to get started is to include some foods that burn fat into your diet. These work by balancing your hormones, which makes your weight loss journey a whole lot easier.

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The 'Skinny' on Losing Belly Fat

Whether you walk on the beach with your shirt off or you're just looking to shed a few pounds, maintaining a balanced nutrition regimen is essential for losing belly fat.

This may be common knowledge to the average person, yet obesity is still an enormous (no pun intended) problem in the U.S.

What you put into your body is one of, if not, the most crucial factors in losing (and gaining) weight in the abdominal region.

You can work out three hours a day, seven days a week, and still not get rid of that beer gut if you don't fuel your body properly.

If you want those "Hollywood" abs, then your nutrition plan should be taken just as seriously as your fitness program.

However, as simple as this sounds, eating for losing belly fat requires discipline... a discipline that pays off in the long run.

Some of the pay offs of losing belly fat include:

· Overall health

· Extended life

· Self confidence

· Being appealing to the opposite sex

· Being less prone to the health risks of obesity

· Being in good shape to handle life's physical challenges

· And more

Some of the common health risks of being overweight include:

· Diabetes

· Heart disease

· High blood pressure

· Osteoarthritis

· And certain cancers

This doesn't mean going on crash diets or developing eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia. It simply means consuming less daily calories than you burn.

While developing a new habit may seem difficult at first, don't worry. It's normal. It typically takes 21-straight days to build a new habit. After that, your road to losing belly fat and general health is endless.

If you need to lose weight and you're on a budget, that's not a problem. In fact, produce, some chicken, and some fish can be bought at the grocery store relatively cheap.

Always on the go? No worries. A lot of fast food restaurants have gotten on the health boat and have menus specifically for the health conscious.

When in doubt, shop the perimeter of the grocery store and avoid going down the aisles as much as possible. However, a lot of soups offer low-sodium brands.

Oh, and DRINK WATER! That can't be emphasized enough. Generally, 64 ounces of water is the rule. But when you're exercising and you want to get rid of fluid weight, you should aim to drink about an ounce of water per pound of body weight a day. Now I see your eyes getting big. Trust me, it can be done! Drink at least eight to 12 ounces of water upon waking up. At least 12 ounces of water during or after every meal. About 12 ounces before bed. The rest is actually easy. Who says you have to drink water by itself? How about filling your half of your glass with your favorite juice and the other half water? You'll find that this adds up.

Of course if you're serious about getting in gear and want to make a big difference fast, most local and commercial fitness centers have personal trainers, whose day-to-day job is helping people accomplish their goals...

But the first step to a new you begins with you putting your foot forward.

Jake Chappelle has been in the fitness industry for 10 years and is dedicated to helping people achieving their health and fitness goals.

If you're ready to take action to a new healthier you, or simply want more information on losing belly fat, go to http://www.jsquaredenterprises.com/losing-belly-fat

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Weight Loss - The Real Skinny

What is the "real skinny" about weight loss? What is the real solution?

Part of the solution is the mind set. In today's society, people look for a quick fix. Anything you need is available for a price, so people are not prevention minded. If they gain a few pounds, no problem, just buy some new clothes. It is only after a few cycles of gaining weight and buying clothes, or maybe a visit to the doctor, when people are face-to-face with the fact they have a weight problem and have to begin to think about losing weight. Preventing the problem in the first place is not foremost in the minds of many who are overweight.

The fact is, once the pounds are packed on, it is time to do something. People start thinking, what can I do to lose weight? This presents its own set of challenges. People get used to running on sugar or carbohydrate highs, so when they begin to withdraw the goodies, their body screams, "I crave that candy bar," or "I crave that cookie," or "I crave that doughnut with sugar icing." And so the battle against the bulge begins.

It can be tough. A person can get hungry. A person can get irritable. A person can get headaches. A person can get crazy cravings. Energy levels can go down. It becomes hard to stay motivated to lose weight when a person is fighting all these obstacles. A person can get really irritable, frustrated, and discouraged with the struggle.

That is when people may begin to look for help to make the journey easier. They may join support groups for weight loss. They may start eating specified, pre-packaged meals designed to help people become "slim and trim". They look at shakes and supplements that promise to reduce hunger, reduce cravings, and increase energy levels. The search is good because during the process of searching for answers people begin to think about what they eat and they learn begin to learn and think about the true nutritional needs of their bodies.

As they begin to look at supplements and shakes and prepackaged dinners, if they are astute they may begin to realize that all shakes, supplements, and nutritional options are not the same. Certain ingredients are not as healthy as others. There are definitely differences from product to product.

A good product is formulated with the advice of nutrition experts. It is designed to increase energy, curb appetite, control cravings, increase a positive mood, increase metabolism, lose weight, lose inches, and feel incredible. That is the ultimate supplement, and when a person finds it, their weight loss program is given a gigantic boost towards success. It can become a real solution, and that's the "real skinny" on weight loss.

Cheryl Jones is a purveyor of useful information, products and work-at-home models that work. She has found valuable solutions to problems for which the average person is desperately seeking for answers. Visit one of her sites at http://xbodyhealth.com/ or contact her for more information about other products and information she offers.

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Drink Water to Lose Weight - The Easiest Way to Become Skinny

If getting skinny is your goal then you should drink water and lots of it.

Drinking water everyday does a body good. There is no questioning that fact.

Your body is made of about 60% water. When you sweat you lose water and it needs to be replaced.

Drink water to lose weight not sodas. I know I just stepped on a few toes with that one but be honest with yourself. Drinking sodas on a daily basis is not good at all for your long-term health. They contain way too much sugar for kids and adults. Soda consumption is a big part of the obesity epidemic facing the world today.

It is okay to cheat on your diet from time to time but you need to have healthy daily habits. Drinking a bunch of sodas everyday will not help you at all attempting to become skinny.

So how much water should I drink?

The recommended daily amount of water for years has been 6-8, 8 ounce glasses of water. This number has been popular for years. A better way to put it would be to say, "drink at least 8, 8 ounce glasses of water."

Men should consume 3 liters of water a day which is about 13 glasses. Women should drink 2.2 liters of water a day, about 9 glasses a day. 8, 8 ounce glasses of water equals 1.9 liters. So if you are already drinking 8, 8 ounce glasses of water a day you are doing good, give yourself a pat on the back and continue to be a good example to your friends and family.

Most Important Times to Drink Water

After waking up - Drinking a tall glass of water right after you wake up is a great way to start your day. If you sleep 8 hours, your body has not had any water for at least 8 hours, maybe more.

After working out - Your body loses plenty of fluids during exercise. One great way to combat the loss of fluids is to replenish with a large glass of water. You don't want to go hours without drinking any water after working out. Not good!

The great bonus about drinking water is that it contains no calories. Can you say the same about sodas? Absolutely not!

Liquid calories are not taken into consideration by many which can lead to consuming too many calories.

Remember to drink water to lose weight. You can't go wrong drinking your fair share of water. Next time you get a craving for a soda say no, instead pour yourself some high quality H20 like the water boy would say. Drink your daily amount of water and you will be well on your way to become skinny.

Bottom Line? You need to drink water to achieve your weight loss goals.

And now I'd like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to the 7 day eCourse Love Your Body Love Your Life when you visit http://fitnessandnutritionsolutions.com/loveyourbody

Brought to you by Matthew Beavers - The Fitness and Nutrition Guy

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Common Pitfalls On The Path To Getting Skinny

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Lack Of Information
My first hurdle in losing weight was finding the right information. I didn't realize that eating more protein would help raise my metabolism, or that cutting fatty foods would greatly decrease my overall calorie intake. Since I didn't have Internet as a teenager I had to seek out information in magazines and books, then experiment to find out what information was correct. Good information is critical in staying skinny, and fortunately most of us have access to great information. You just have to do the research to find it, and experiment a bit to figure out what techniques work for you.

Lack Of Healthy Foods
At age sixteen I very rarely went to the grocery store. The house was stocked with doughnuts, cookies and the like. Dinner was served almost every night, and these meals were not exactly beneficial to my goals. I realized that if I wanted to get skinny I had to take charge of my food environment and have a supply of healthy food on hand. I took the initiative to start going to the store regularly and buying the foods I needed for my diet. This was a big step for me, because being surrounded by junk food and very little healthy food is detrimental to anyone's weight loss program, no matter how motivated they are. It's essential to have the good foods on hand, and if there are foods you know you'll binge on, just don't buy them. You won't eat what you don't have.

Dieting Too Hard
At one time, I figured if I starved myself for a few weeks I'd get skinny and then could go back to eating doughnuts and drinking soda. This example may sound pretty stupid, but a lot of people actually fall into the same trap. They go on a "diet", which to them means pain and suffering. Then they give up after a short time without reaching to their goals. Instead of torturing yourself with a short term "diet" it's much more effective to pick something you can stick to permanently. This strategy is how I finally went from 220 to 155 pounds in about a year. I picked a nutrition and exercise plan that was not torture, and that I knew I could do for a very long time.

Lack Of Motivation
Before I ever tried to lose weight, I had a list of excuses for why I didn't need to. "I know being fat increases my risk for heart disease and diabetes, but I'm young I don't have to worry about stuff like that now." Or "I'm not fat, it's all muscle." I find that people often are in denial of how serious their problem is, and that's because they know fixing the problem will take a lot of work. Measure the circumference of your stomach, have someone take pictures of you in your swimsuit, get your cholesterol levels checked, check your BMI, whatever it takes to face the truth. This is an ongoing process for sure. Over the years I have received thousands of wake-up calls to remind me to stay on track. And it works. The worst thing you can do is live in denial and never even make the effort to better yourself.

For more articles about getting and staying skinny please click this link to visit my blog

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