Weight Loss and Mental Attitude

If we talk about diets, in these days we have at our disposal a wealth of content and information about low-calorie foods, lifestyle, nutrition methods, fitness, and natural products. But for some reason we tend to forget that our mind is the cause of all the circumstances of our lives, and our body is often a mirror of our thoughts and mental attitudes.

When we are overweight we tend to blame external factors such as glandular imbalances, inheritance, a demanding work schedule, lack of time to exercise, and much more. The list is really endless, because when we do not take care of our weaknesses, we tend to be very efficient inventing excuses.

There are out there unscrupulous people writing about that we do not have to put willpower to lose weight and maintain it, but they are simply cheating naïve persons. For anything that we want to achieve in our life we have to pay the price. It has been rightly said that there is no way to get something for nothing and this applies to maintain our ideal weight.

There are three things that can help you to achieve the right mental attitude and lose weight.

The first is the large amount of information available to all people who sincerely want to lose weight. In magazines, TV, Radio, and Internet, every week we can read articles from people who specialize in nutrition, recommending the most appropriate food to lose weight in a natural way. Take note that by simply taking foods free of fat and cholesterol, this inevitably will help you to lose weight. Also we may find recommendations about physical exercise, and we have on the internet free fitness videos.

The second thing is to learn about how to achieve self-discipline. All successful people in any activity have based their careers on a strong will and a right mental attitude to achieve specific objectives. The good news is that there are a lot of free online methods that can help you to develop this willpower. If you make a search on the internet, you will find many free online books of classical authors that have helped many people.

The third is to choose an alternative activity such as yoga, meditation, or tai chi. All these disciplines have demonstrated over many centuries to be very effective to rearrange the subconscious mind and achieve positive levels of mental calm. This is very important to control cravings, or the temptation to eat foods that often we don't need.

Again it is not possible to get something for nothing, and like everything in life you have to use your inner strength. If you take advantage of the above methods you will control your weight more easily.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6830604

Weight Loss - The Food Additive Connection?

T

his year will be different. You have decided that weight loss can and will happen this time. You are following the eating instructions right to the tee. But, do you ever feel it's an uphill battle?

Well, you're probably right. The food you eat can and will affect the success you experience. And I don't just mean carbs. Would you be surprised to learn that food additives actually contribute to not only weight gain, but to how you look and feel.

Well...It's true, Let's take a look at just some of the 2000 plus approved food additives. Hydrogenated vegetable oils and trans fats have been making news lately. Manufacturers are promoting 0 trans fat for some of their products. But, is this good enough?

Man created these oils. They are not beneficial to you. They raise your bad cholesterol. Hydrogenated oils don't have the essential fatty acids your body needs for all body functions. Not only don't you get nutrients from them, they actually block your absorption of nutrients. Your body needs the nutrients in fat. So, what is the body's response?

Eat. That's right. These fake oils make you keep eating because the body is hungry for the nutrients.

Try this...Remove hydrogenated vegetable oils from your diet and see how you feel and respond. If you want chips, go for organic. This is because removing trans fat is still leaving hydrogenated oil.

Moving on...We have monosodium glutamate or msg. Called a flavor enhancer. This chemical can cause an addictive effect making you crave foods that contain it. Other adverse effects complained of are headaches, migraines, flushing, pain and nausea. The FDA requires that this ingredient be identified on the label. And to top off it's effects...Scientists use msg to make lab rats fat so they can study obesity and obesity products. You see, these creatures aren't naturally fat.

Next there's aspartame. This has become the sweetener of choice for many people watching their weight. This chemical additive is responsible for 92 various complaints to the FDA. Among them is slow steady weight gain. Weight gain, the unexpected result of a low calorie sweetener. Another culprit to weight gain is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Not to be confused with the pure corn syrup you find on store shelves. No, HFCS is man made. The food industry's answer to the high sugar prices in the 1970's. Since then, it has made its way into most everything. Even pasta sauce. Would you even think of sweetening your pasta sauce? I wouldn't. This additive will cause weight gain and cravings. Kind of sheds some light on society's weight problem, don't you think?

So, what are you to do...First, continue with your diet changes. You are on the right track and the next actions will give you a boost. Second, eliminate foods with hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, msg, and aspartame. Next, reduce processed foods in your diet by increasing fresh fruits and vegetables.

You may choose to use organic products instead of conventional processed foods. This is a good move. However, processed organic foods are still processed. Your body will thrive on wholesome foods. And your rewards last a lifetime. http://ezinearticles.com/?Weight-Loss---The-Food-Additive-Connection?&id=964415