How to Lose Post Baby Weight - The Last 10 Pounds

Have you had some success with losing some of your post pregnancy weight, but you are struggling like crazy with the last 10 pounds (give or take) of it? Those last few pounds can sure be stubborn, can't they? In this article, we will go over some ways on how to lose post baby weight when you've got only those last few rebellious pounds to lose.
 
1. Tracking. Many people dislike writing down what they are eating/drinking on a daily basis but this has actually been known to help many with their weight loss goals. Some people may not realize just how much they are consuming until they see it written down right in front of them. This can help you decide if you need to tweak anything in your healthy eating plan in order for you to achieve your weight loss. Don't forget, drinks such as soda, alcohol and juice, all contain calories, so don't forget to add these in your food journal. You may need to cut drinks such as these out of your diet, or at least cut down on them, as they all contain sugar which will stick to you like glue. Water and tea (especially green tea) are better alternatives.

2. Weekends/Special Occasions. When it comes to how to lose post baby weight, you will need to be careful of cheating on your healthy diet. It's totally fine to cheat the odd time... the operative words being "odd time" (wink, wink). It is common for the weekend to come and for many people to take a "break" from their healthy eating. Also, you may have occasions going on such as birthdays, family get-togethers, movie outings, etc. that may sway you to cheat on your nutritious eating. This could be another reason why your weight loss efforts have hit a plateau, so you may need to bump up your will power over the weekends (and/or at special occasions).

3. Portions. Are you eating the right portions of foods? This can be a very important factor in a weight loss plateau. If you are eating too much, you will have problems losing weight, but if you are eating too little, your body will go into starvation mode and store everything you put into it, which will result in little to no weight loss as well. It is best to always eat until you are just full, not stuffed. If you are wondering what portions of foods you should be eating, a good rule of thumb at, let's say dinner, is to have half your plate full of vegetables or salad, a quarter of your plate with a starch and a quarter with a protein. Also, it is best to eat 3 meals a day with 2 healthy snacks in between.

4. Workouts. Losing the last 10 pounds can depend largely on your exercise routine. When we think about how to lose post baby weight, we tend to groan at the fact that we have to exercise. New moms barely have the energy to keep up with their little one(s), nevermind having the energy to workout. So, what I'm about to say may "hurt" a bit. You may need to workout a little more. If you think you workout enough every week, on a regular basis, then it may just be that you have to challenge your body more. It could also be that you aren't doing both cardio and strength training. Combining the two could really help you in weight and fat loss. If you are doing strength training (which is recommended to be done 2-3 times a week, leaving a day in between), are you working out with the right amount of weight? If you don't feel your muscles getting fatigued by the weights you are lifting, you will need to start using heavier weights in order to benefit from it.

5. Eating Less? Are you still eating the same amount of food as you were when you weighed more? If so, this could be the reason for a plateau. The more weight you lose, the less food (calories) your body needs. So, if you have dropped in weight already, you may need to adjust the amount of daily calories you're taking in. This can be very beneficial in losing the last 10 pounds.

6. Food. Your struggle with how to lose post baby weight may be because you are eating the wrong foods. Are you eating refined or whole grains? Switching to whole grain foods is beneficial for weight loss because of the fiber content, which will not only keep you regular, but keep you feeling full for longer periods of time. Are you eating a lot of foods high in sugar, sodium or saturated fats? These will all contribute to difficulties in weight loss. Are you a latte drinker? Those, for example, are loaded with sugar. Even the sugar you add to your morning coffee counts... it all adds up, especially if you are drinking coffee every day, and many of us drink more than one cup of it. Yikes! Also, beware of frozen meals (yes, even the "diet" type ones), as they are usually loaded with sodium.

7. Realistic. We all have a weight loss goal we want to get to, but just make sure that your goal is realistic. Your body may get to the weight that it's meant to and basically tell you "No, that's it, I'm done". It may be helpful for you to find out your BMI (Body Mass Index) to see what weight your body should be at.

Basically, what we discussed here is that to lose the last 10 pounds, you probably just need to step things up a little bit. When trying to figure out how to lose post baby weight, you may need to try different things and see what works for you, whether you think it may be portion control, the types of foods you're eating, etc. Also, be patient with yourself, it may take some time for the weight to come off. Even if it comes off slowly, that's a great thing, because it's still coming off which is the main thing.

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Are You Ready to Make a New Year's Resolution to Lose Weight in 2013?

As the end of the year rapidly approaches, it's time to start giving thought to what type of New Year's resolution you want to plan for yourself.

For those who make this an annual tradition, New Year's resolutions provide people the opportunity to strive towards a goal to achieve that year.

Anyone who has lacked the motivation to get started losing weight, wondering when would be the best time to start developing a more healthy life, this may be the perfect opportunity to kick-start those efforts into gear.

Personally, about six months ago I started a weight loss commitment with an overall goal to lose sixty pounds. I am currently twenty pounds lighter, and with the New Year quickly approaching, this has given me and idea. An opportunity to focus on certain aspects of the weight loss process that I want to improve through the use of a New Year's Resolution.

For instance, at the start of this weight loss journey, I had a difficult time controlling what I ate. For me, this was the greatest obstacle I had to overcome. Stopping the bad eating habits that contributed to my enormous weight gain over the past ten years.

When initially starting out, on numerous occasions I fell back into the habit of eating fast food, snacking a bit too much while at home, and basically not sticking with my plan I started out with. This was a difficult habit to break but by consistently reminding myself of my overall goal I was able to control those urges and now they hardly ever pop up anymore.

Now in December, through perseverance and dedication to make my goal become a reality, I've got a much better handle controlling the choices of food that I make.

Having a weekly menu of meals has helped immensely and has actually inspired me to want to cook meals that will be healthy for my body. Therefore the need or desire for me to ever have go out to get a McDonald's or Burger King meal has completely ceased especially when most combo meals are 1,500+ calories. In all honesty, I don't think I've eaten fast food for over a month which is by far a record for me.
With the New Year's resolution coming up soon, there are certain aspects I want to focus on to improve my success with weight loss. One is to exercise more frequently by having a schedule that I will stick with. I realize that if I combine a regular exercise schedule and continue with my healthy eating habits, I will lose weight at a more rapid pace.

Therefore as this New Year approaches, start thinking about possible resolutions you want to establish for yourself. What are the goals you would like to accomplish in 2013? Is this the year you declare that you are going to tackle the weight issue?

One fact about New Year's resolutions is that they are more likely to be achieved when the individual is firmly committed to making it come true. If you are determined to be successful with your New Year's resolution, and plan out a strategy to help keep you focused, then you will make it happen.

Gregory L. Gomez, M. Ed, has been teaching 5th grade in the LAUSD for 12 years and has recently embarked on a journey to lose weight, eat healthier, and finally get in shape! Follow his progress on http://HealthyChoicesInLife.com as he strives to lose 60 pounds through dedicated exercise and eating healthy. From healthy eating guides to a step-by-step manual to help tackle the process of losing weight, readers will find the latest information to combat the rising obesity epidemic and start getting into shape at http://healthychoicesinlife.com/how-to-reduce-weight-today.

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The Best Way to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

Wouldn't you love to survive the holidays without gaining weight? Even better than that, what if you could be done, once and for all with the fear of holiday weight gain?

If you had complete confidence that no matter what time of year it was that you were keeping your dream body without any struggle, what would that be like for you?

Or maybe you aren't even in your dream body yet and you are struggling just to get there. You certainly don't want to add even more weight gain over the holidays to take you further from your dream. What if you could avoid holiday weight gain and even lose weight during the holiday season?

Even better that you could do it without deprivation! (What would that feel like?)

If you want to avoid holiday weight gain the best way to do so is to become a New YOU on the inside who naturally and effortlessly lives a fit and healthy lifestyle, no matter what time of the year it is.
This would be a person who fully enjoys each holiday, partaking of the holiday fare without fear. Without fear because this type of person doesn't see the holidays or any other occasion as a "free pass" to over-indulge. It simply doesn't even cross their mind!

Instead this is a person who lives in balance in mind, body, and spirit. A person who naturally and effortlessly maintains the body of their dreams and loves what they see in the mirror, no matter what day of the year it is!
Now of course there is no diet trick or simple band-aid to be laid on top of the symptoms of overweight, overeating, and weight gain during the holidays since the reason you are struggling now is due to the underlying problem that has not yet been solved. What is exciting though, is that it is possible to change the YOU that you are on the inside so that you become a match to the body and the lifestyle you want on the outside - the lifestyle that would support the fit healthy sexy body of your dreams!

The key to becoming the New YOU is a weight loss mindset. A weight loss mindset allows you to sail through the holidays without struggle, deprivation, or willpower while avoiding holiday weight gain.
A weight loss mindset is what is missing in you right now if you are struggling with food and your weight; not only during the holidays but also at any time of year!

How would you go about becoming this new and different YOU who survives the holidays without gaining weight? The truth is that there is a long and lengthy way, and there is a quick and easy way. The former is the "I'll figure it out on my own" and the latter is "Give me the steps to do that have already worked for others!".
That's pretty simple, yet true. Either way though, once you get a weight loss mindset you will not only avoid holiday weight gain, you will also live throughout the year without struggle with food and your weight. Transform your mind and your body will follow with ease. It's your mindset that makes weight loss easy (or hard!) for you and it's the only thing that has been standing in your way all these years.

JoLynn Braley The F.A.T. Release Coach mentors high-achieving women (and a few cool men!) to permanent weight loss through her step-by-step proven System to a weight loss mindset, The Inner Self Diet™. Even after struggling for most of your life with food and your weight, once you have a weight loss mindset you'll finally make weight loss easy for yourself!

Grab JoLynn's FREE Five-Day E-course to discover whether your mindset is "Fit or F.A.T." and learn even more about what's REALLY been stopping you from losing weight for good!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JoLynn_Braley

54 Ways To Lose Weight

Try to add as many of these tips to your daily routine, and you will surely be well on the way to a slimmer, healthier you. We don’t get fat “overnight” – so you should expect it to take a certain amount of time to lose that weight again, but don’t give up! Persistence, Determination and Grit - They should be your watchwords. These tips work – if you stick to your plan!


1.    Eliminate one tablespoon of fat a day and you will lose 10 pounds in a year.
2.    Avoid strange fad diets—if you can’t eat that way for the rest of your life, don’t waste your time or your health.
3.    Limit alcohol consumption - each serving contains 100 to 150 calories.
4.    Eat fruit at least twice a day.
5.    Keep a food diary about your food choices, indicating how hungry you are each time you eat. Pay particular attention to your level of hunger when you snack.
6.    Perform aerobic exercise a minimum of 30 minutes three times a week. Log this on your food diary. Aerobic means any exercise that increases your breathing and heart rate. Walking is fine! Do only what you can to begin with. If you have other health problems, consult your doctor before embarking on any strong physical exercise.
7.    Gradually increase the length and frequency of your workouts.
8.    Weigh yourself no more than twice a week. And do it in the morning after going to the bathroom – it’s the most accurate reading.
9.    Give yourself a non-food reward for every 5 pounds lost.
10.    Slow down your eating speed—make meals last at least 20 minutes. Try eating with the other hand or taking a sip of water between bites.
11.    Use smaller plates.
12.    Bring your lunch to work at least three times a week.
13.    Start to strength train twice a week as your fitness improves. Building muscle increases your metabolism and forces your body to use fat, not muscle, when you’re cutting back on calories. Cut down on carbohydrates and stick to lean white meat and fish, and you will notice vast improvements here.
14.    Stop eating while watching television.
15.    Have someone else put away leftovers.
16.    Buy a good low-fat, low-calorie cookbook or magazine subscription.
17.    Try two new reduced-calorie recipes a month.
18.    IMPORTANT - Eat breakfast daily. This suppresses the appetite for most of the day and provides fuel for the brain while at work or looking after the kids! You will feel better and have more energy all day if you eat a low fat cereal in the morning.
19.    Don’t read while eating.
20.    Have a sweet treat once a week.
21.    Keep healthful snacks at home and at work.
22.    Limit your cheese consumption to reduce fat and saturated fat—use cheese and lunchmeat with less than 5 grams of fat per ounce.
23.    Add calorie counting or fat-gram counting to your food diary for a few weeks if your weight loss is slowing down. Maybe you’re missing something.
24.    Substitute herbs and spices for salt.
25.    Shop for food when you are not hungry, and use a shopping list.
26.    Replace ground beef with ground turkey or soy crumbles in dishes such as spaghetti. Don’t skip the protein in your meals; find a leaner substitute.
27.    Eat three vegetables a day.
28.    Always eat sitting down.
29.    Request that your family and friends respect your efforts to lose weight and get fit—beware of loving “sabotage.”
30.    Take a walk when you’re stressed or angry.
31.    Eat two dairy products a day—be aware of your calcium intake. Select low-fat or nonfat dairy products to reduce fat calories.
32.    Order dressings and sauces on the side and apply them with a fork.
33.    Increase your fiber intake—chose whole-grain breads, cereals and pasta products, legumes, and raw fruits and vegetables.
34.    Add slow-down food to your meals—crunchy vegetables, a large glass of water, hot soup or beverages, or fresh fruit to fill you up.
35.    Cook with chicken broth, nonstick cooking spray, wine or water.
36.    Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.
37.    Shrink portion sizes of meats and starches, and pile on the vegetables.
38.    Ask how the food is prepared when ordering in a restaurant.
39.    Choose low-fat frozen yogurt or frozen juice bars instead of ice cream. Be careful of the portion size - these foods still have calories!
40.    Select clear broth- or tomato-based soups over white soups.
41.    Keep the junk foods out of sight in your home and workplace.
42.    Take walking shoes or a jump rope with you when you travel to keep up with your exercise.
43.    If you’re getting off track, try to pre-plan your food intake for the next three days by writing it down.
44.    Buy frozen diet dinners with 10 grams of fat or less and 800 milligrams of sodium or less.
45.    Avoid batter coating or breading.
46.    Use two egg whites in baking instead of one whole egg.
47.    Stretch during television commercials—arm circles, leg lifts, head tilts, etc.
48.    Eliminate the butter on your rolls or popcorn.
49.    Learn to say “no” gracefully when a friend or relative offers you a second helping.
50.    Choose pizza with vegetable toppings rather than high-fat meats, such as sausage and pepperoni.
51.    Ask for less cheese. Have you ever tried tomato pie?
52.    Choose cooking techniques that keep fat to a minimum, such as baking, grilling, broiling, roasting or steaming.
53.    Add more low-fat soy products to your diet for the soy protein and health benefits.
54.    Forgive yourself when you slip—and make the next food choice a healthy one.