3 Blunders To Avoid on Your Weight Loss Journey

There are times on your weight loss journey when progress can come to a halt. Days or weeks can go by without you seeing movement on the scale, and it can get downright frustrating. After working with thousands of clients, I’ve noticed certain patterns that can cause this weight loss stoppage. Here are 3 of those patterns.

1) Eating more than you think you are.

Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Zone Delivery Service, and other diet systems have one undeniable benefit to them – they define for the average person how large an actual “serving” is. Most of us underestimate the volume of food we eat (and consequently, underestimate the number of calories we consume in a day).

By fixing in your head what a serving size or “portion” of food looks like, we can better estimate (and consequently, evaluate and calibrate) the amount of food we eat at each meal. Keep in mind, when it comes to weight loss, you need to take in less calories than you burn each day.

Two good rules of thumb:

A portion of meat (3 oz.) is the size of a deck of cards.
A portion of carbohydrates (1 cup) is the size of a tennis ball.

Please remember to fill up on non-starchy vegetables – they are full of nutrients, have very little impact on blood sugar, and contain little in the way of calories.

2) Not eating frequently enough.

It is a social custom to eat “three square meals” a day. While this may do for social purposes, for weight loss, you will want to aim for more frequent feedings. It is recommended that you consume a minimum of 5-6 small meals each day. By doing so, your body gets the signal that food is abundant, and there is no need to conserve energy.

Additionally, frequent feedings maximize your metabolism, as your body is constantly busy, burning calories by digesting your meals. By not letting too much time pass between meals, you stabilize blood sugar levels since they never really get the chance to drop. By keeping your blood sugar stable, your hunger levels are minimized, decreasing the chances that you will be tempted to overeat at your next meal.

3) Choosing to drink your calories instead of eating them.

This is a very common problem among those attempting weight loss, due to the abundance of “healthy” diet smoothies, protein concoctions, and weight loss shakes. There are 2 factors to keep in mind when relying on these liquid meal replacements.

First, many of the liquid diet shakes on the market and all fruit smoothies have an abundance of sugar in them. This causes an immediate surge in energy followed by a huge crash due to the release of insulin to control the blood sugar rise. This dramatic shift in blood hormone levels (particularly insulin levels) is something you want to avoid, both for health reasons and for weight loss.

Secondly, most weight loss shakes are devoid of fiber. Fiber is one of your most precious allies when you are dieting. It helps you feel full and blunts the rise in insulin levels when all that sugar hits your bloodstream. While fruit smoothies do contain some of the fiber from the pulp of the fruit, a better strategy would be to eat the actual fruits contained in the smoothie.

Lastly, the amount of calories that can be concentrated into a shake or smoothie is far greater than the equivalent volume of actual food. A 16 oz fruit smoothie may contain as many as 600 calories, and will not fill you up all that much! On the other hand, eating 600 calories of fruit will prove to be much more than the typical person can manage in a single sitting (at least, I personally don’t know anyone that can eat more than 2 pounds of bananas at a single sitting!).

Think about it- when making major dietary changes, you want to get the most out of your calories. Wouldn’t you rather fill up, rather than drink something and be hungry again soon after?

Health Free Tips.com contains the latest information about weight loss plans. We provide tips on how to lose weight fast with diet plans, healthy diet plans, weight loss programs to easy diet.

Colon Cleanse - Can it Really Help?

If you're thinking of trying a colon cleanse, you probably have many questions (and doubts) floating around in your head. Why should I do a colon cleanse? Does a colon cleanse really work? Is it safe? What side effects will I experience? There really is no simple answer to these questions because, quite frankly, the experts in the field disagree somewhat on the benefits of colon cleansing. My advice would be to arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible - then the decision is a personal one.

Quite simply, a colon cleanse is a process which destroys and then flushes toxins and impurities from the colon and digestive system. It's actually been around for more than 60 years, and colon cleansing is probably more popular today than ever since it has become the weight loss program of choice for many of the celebrities.

Experts believe that a large percentage of the population suffers from a condition known as auto-intoxication, which is defined as "self poisoning from the absorption of waste products of metabolism, decomposed intestinal matter or other toxins produced within the body." Bottom line, there's a good chance you have a build-up of deadly fecal matter and undigested food trapped inside your body, and the long-term effects of these toxins can include such things as gradual weight gain, gas and bloating, constipation, fatigue, protruding gut, infections, insomnia, and the list goes on and on. As time progresses, this fecal matter can become extremely harmful bacteria that can cause all kinds of conditions to develop, even cancer. Some people actually have four to five undigested meals in their intestines right now. Makes sense to me that that can't be a good thing.

If you're like me, one of the main reasons you're considering a colon cleanse is to help you lose weight. Will it actually help you lose weight? Again, experts disagree, but the bottom line is some people are seeing a drop in weight of up to 20 pounds with just one cleanse. Personally, I didn't see that much of a drop - mine was more in the range of six to eight pounds, which I was thrilled with because it took me within five pounds of my goal weight. The last five pounds fell off within a couple of weeks. I had hit a brick wall in my weight loss program and it was like the colon cleanse gave my body a jump-start and the weight finally started to fall off again.

So where do you start? The first step is to choose the colon cleanse that is right for you -- and there are tons of different methods to pick from -- some very expensive, some will cost you peanuts. I opted for a method which was all natural. The natural treatments are usually gentler -- you won't be using harsh chemicals or laxatives. An all-natural colon cleanse will also be a much cheaper method to use.

But don't kid yourself - colon cleansing isn't a picnic in the park. It's best to let your family and friends know ahead of time so they can be supportive. The toughest thing for me were the hunger cravings that you normally have in the initial stages. I remember sitting on the couch and smelling a pizza that my husband had stuck in the microwave. I seriously wanted to bury his body in the back yard. I guess one look at my face told the story, because he headed outside to finish his pizza.

Staying motivated and sticking with it while you're performing a colon cleanse can be very challenging, but is it worth it? Without hesitation, speaking from my own experience, I will say absolutely, I am a firm believer in the benefits you can receive from a colon cleanse. Along with the weight drop that resulted, it has totally cured a severe constipation problem that I've been battling for years. It wasn't uncommon for me to go two to three days without a bowel movement, with the resulting bloating and gas in between. I've heard reports of those who go from severe constipation to having two to three bowel movements a day after cleansing their system. While I haven't been quite that lucky, I'm having at least one bowel movement a day since performing this cleanse, and the bloating and gas have all but disappeared.

As I stated, the system that I opted for was a natural method, partly because it cost the least and partly because I'm kind of a "natural" freak anyway. The typical person will spend ten days on this cleanse, the first two to three days being the toughest from my personal experience. This may sound a little silly, but one of the reasons I picked this particular colon cleanse is because it's the system of choice being used by celebrities to help keep them looking their best for the cameras. What occurred to me is they could probably afford the most expensive colon cleanse on the market, but instead this is the one they chose. Made sense to me to follow their lead.

If you're at all curious about this ten-day system, click on the following link, where I will share with you my experience with this particular colon cleanse and where you can find detailed instructions, including the recipe for this cleanse, along with tips that will help you perform the cleanse with as little discomfort as possible. Good luck!

http://mastercleanseinfo.com

bowtrol colon cleanse

colon cleansing and weight loss

Online Dating Tips For Women - What is the Best Online Dating Site?

So, what is the best online dating site? Due to the high popularity of online dating, an abundance of online dating sites have popped up on the net. There are sites that include every imaginable genre which offer free as well as paid membership. In addition, online dating site technology has advanced to a point where it is common to find such options as chat, instant messaging and extensive profile matching systems.

The categories of online dating sites have expanded to the extent that just about every theme under the sun is available. Online dating site categories include such varieties as Christian dating, lesbian dating, gay dating, sports enthusiasts, non-religious dating, interracial dating, Hispanic dating and so on.

With so many choices, themes and categories in today's online dating world, how should one proceed? Well, the answer is simple. Find the site that best blends with your wishes, desires, needs and interests. When beginning your search for an online dating site, here are some of the finer points you should take into consideration.

The first point to consider is the cost of membership. Ask yourself how much you can afford to spend each month to maintain a membership with an online dating site. There are several free dating sites available, however, these are not generally recommended. If your budget is tight, this option may work well for you, but proceed with caution.

Next, take a look at the features and benefits that your potential online dating site offers. Do you feel that features such as live chat and instant messaging are tools to increase your chances of finding a potential partner or are you confident that by communicating by regular email is sufficient.

Does the online dating site offer special benefits such as supervised outside events. Many of the upscale sites include special events such as speed dating, members only parties and social mixers.

Perhaps the most important point, does the online dating site provide adequate levels of safety and privacy to protect its members? The better dating sites take safety precautions such as doing a background check, an age check and a marital status check. In addition, such sites strive to protect your privacy by allowing members to place limits or filters on the viewing of their personal profiles.

All in all, online dating can be a fun, interesting & exciting way to meet a potential romantic partner. The points above are a basic guideline to begin your search for finding the perfect online dating site for you. Include these points, in addition to your own, and you will be off to an excellent start in the online dating world. Good Luck!

Visit Zebra Avenue for more great information about a wide variety of topics.

Read more about online dating here.
Visit here for more online dating tips.

Easy and Healthy Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast can often be the hardest meal of the day to eat healthy for. Most people are hurrying to rush off to work or school and don’t want to take the time to prepare a good meal. It’s been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so don’t scrimp on it by grabbing sugary cereals or other convenience foods for breakfast. Here are some easy and healthy breakfast ideas that can be made in just a few minutes:

- Whole wheat toast with almond butter, peanut butter, or some all fruit spread. Serve it with a side of fresh fruit.

- Fruit smoothies. If you have a magic bullet type blender, they are super quick and easy to make. Just throw some frozen fruit, a banana, and some yogurt into a the blender. Make it extra healthy by adding some flax oil or ground flax seed.

- Whole wheat pancakes. Make up a big batch of them once a week and then freeze them. They reheat nicely in the microwave. If you have an electric griddle, it doesn’t take long to make them at all. I usually add ground flax seed to my pancake batter to make them even more nutritious. Serve with some fresh fruit.

These are just a few ideas but there are a lot of options for healthy breakfasts. If you want to eat cereal, opt for low sugar options such as Cheerios and use skim milk.

Another tip, cut up any fruit you want to eat with breakfast the night before. This will save precious time in the morning, especially if you are always running late. Bananas are always great to have on hand for breakfast too. Not only are they quick and easy to eat, they are great brain food!

Starting the day with a healthy breakfast can be the key to having a productive, energy filled day and with a just a little planning before hand, it can be easy to prepare.

Rebecca Johnson is a work at home mom of two who enjoys writing on a variety of topics including everything from what is the best steam mop to buy to what the top toddler toys are.

Download Online Videos

Who has not heard of YouTub, Break, or CollegeHumor.com? sites are popular for their videos . When I see a great video, a quesion always pops up in my mind of how they do that, and I'm amazed.
I have very little knowledge about making a video or download youtube videos like the talented people on that site. This is always something I would like to learn some days. Some videos on YouTube are just way over my head, and amazing. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.
My simple conquered was when I upload a short video of the Swans Bathing to my blog by using the available tool in Blogger! Now, if someone asks me how to convert and download a video, I will have no answer and will have to do a research for the information needed.
I believe the easiest way to convert/upload/download a video is to find the right software for it. For now, I am just happy using that simple icon to upload my homemade video.
I found this short video of JoJo teaching Roco how to ride the bike without training wheels, and I just click on the Video icon and transfer it to blogger. I don't know how to edit or make it better yet.

Auto Insurance Black Box Technology Meets Your Darkest Fears

Back in the days before computers, auto insurance was personal and subjective. The insurance agent actually talked to the man he knew in the main office, called in a few favors, and got their best customers the best rates. Male drivers under 25 were charged a lot. Young females, being perceived as less risk, were charged much less.

Now, in the computer age, auto insurance companies have large databases of accident and claims records. By number-crunching these records they can tell what type of person is more likely to be a good driver and what type of person is more likely to be an accident risk. This ‘Black Box’ technology gives them insights into the background and behavior of the people who they think should pay more for their auto insurance. For example, people who carry minimum limits of liability are actually a greater risk than those who carry at least 50/100 ($50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident). And statistics have shown that those with bad credit scores are more likely to be involved in accidents.

In Texas, the minimum liability limit on auto insurance is 20/40. Yep. $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident. Not much is it? And if that weren't bad enough, the minimum property damage is $15,000. Guess who makes up the difference if you're in an accident that's your fault?

In most states, auto insurance is regulated by the state. But that is only the beginning. The state uses tables of 'loss ratios', exposure, and other conjuring words, to justify what the auto insurance companies want you to pay. Every once in a while, just to throw you off, they will even announce a state-wide REDUCTION in auto rates. When they do, hold onto your wallet!

After the state sets the base rate, the individual companies negotiate with them to adjust their particular rates, claiming either a better or worse loss ratio than average. So, after the elections are over, the legislature allows exceptions, amendments, and endorsements to jack them back up to something the auto insurance companies can make a ton of money from.

And there’s more. Most states allow individual companies to set their own rules to determine who gets charged what. So, one auto insurance company rates a particular driver one way, while another company rates the same driver differently. Each company sets those underwriting rules.

So how are auto insurance rates determined? First, the state usually gets involved. Then companies toss the dice between staying competitive and making as much profit as they can for their stockholders. And finally, now that the 'Black Box' is here, auto insurance companies are taking a closer look at every driver. Career, credit score, past record, even the city you live in helps 'drive' the rates. They have even found that those who select low limits of liability are greater risks than those who select higher limits. So, by raising your liability limits, you may actually lower your auto insurance rate.

For some, the new 'Black Box' technology reduces rates by as much as 20% over those companies not using it. The bad news is, since credit scoring does play a part in ALL auto insurance rating, the worse your credit score, the higher your auto insurance will go. No more 'discounts', no more 'loyal customer' credits, and the like. You will be rated right down to your underwear, placed in a group of drivers almost identical to you, and charged accordingly.

Michigan Auto Insurance
Michigan Auto Insurance Quote