Optimal Health

True Natural Health

Dieting and Weight Loss

Weight Loss Programs

Weight loss programs have risen up from everywhere in the past few years. Some are gimmicks while others show "proven" results. Many promise extraordinary weight loss through pills or crash diets.

Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers and LA Weight Loss have the largest group of followers. The weight loss plans offered by the big 3 seem to have some substance. They all give you a weight loss product that doesn't promise fast weight loss or weight loss pills or supplements.

The South Beach Diet and Atkins Diet are based around low carb diets, but both have been under the microscope lately with controversial findings. As a word of caution, if a diet/weight program sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Consult your doctor or physician before you start any weight loss program or diet.

Jenny Craig

Jenny Craig has one of the most recognized names in weight loss diets over the last decade. They have proven results with their unique weight loss diet and counseling services that help keep dieters on track.

Jenny Craig offers a proven, comprehensive program that, through sound nutrition and simple activity, helps clients achieve the balance necessary for optimal weight loss and personal well-being.

You are assigned a trained weight loss consultant to help you plan nutritionally balanced diet menus. The diet foods are purchased from Jenny Craig. There are Jenny Craig locations throughout the country. All menu plans that are nutritionally balanced according to the recommendations of the USDA Food Guide Pyramid and U.S. Dietary Guidelines.

Clients can choose from more than 70 food products. Price can go as high as $400/month (you need to buy food from them).

The Jenny Craig Story: How One Woman Changes Millions of Lives

For more information, Click Here.

Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers runs the most popular weight loss program in the world, with a proven track record of helping dieters to lose weight. Their network of weight loss meetings caters for over 20 million people per week.

The Weight Watchers program is based on calorie-reduction, using the Weight Watchers points system. No foods are forbidden, although you are restricted to a certain number of daily 'points'. The Weight Watchers program does not offer fast weight loss. It provides slow steady weight loss of about 2 pounds a week, which is the accepted maximum. It is nutritionally sound with varied menus.

The Weight Watchers Points System allows a set number of points (equivalent to food calories) per day, depending on your weight and weight loss target. Weight Watchers Online program starts at $44 for a standard monthly plan.

Weight Watcher's New Complete Cookbook

For more information, Click Here.

LA Weight Loss

The LA Weight Loss program is a center-based program, offering personal counseling, exercise and a diet/behaviour modification program personalized for each individual. A weight loss counselor helps you with diet-motivation and other dieting problems.

The weight loss program emphasizes safe, healthy weight loss leading to lifelong weight management. And there is no strenuous exercise required to lose weight.

Rates can go as high as $800/month depending on your plan.

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Weight Loss Tips

To make a delicious low fat mayonnaise simply combine one teaspoon Dijon mustard or one teaspoon satay sauce with low fat yoghurt.
Avoid skipping meals. Eating increases your matabolism, thus skipping meals can 'trick' your body into slowing down its metabolism in an attempt to conserve calories during a period it perceives as a situation where limited fuel is available.
Stuffing vegetables such as capsicum and zucchini with tasty fillings of mince chicken, meat or tuna are easy to do and very healthy and low fat.
Pita bread roll ups or wraps with salad fillings, are great for picnics, school lunches or to take to work.
Exerise, exercise, exercise! Exercise increases your metabolism and burning off excess fat. When is the best time to exercise? Our metabolism slows down about 8 hours after we wake up, so 30 minutes of exercise in the evening, before dinner will increase your metabolism for about two to three more hours just when it was starting to slow down. This produces a significant increase in fat burned off, even after the exercise is over.
Adding alfalfa or mung beans to your salad brings in extra iron.
Good cooking and healthy eating begins with learning about nutrition and how to prepare healthy recipes.
Plan the week's family menus in advance and just purchase those ingredients at a once weekly shopping trip.
Be positive! The more you feel good about yourself the easier and faster it is to lose weight.
Learn how to make over family favourite recipes by cutting out fats, salt and sugar. Substitute non fat yoghurt for cream, stir fry minus oil and use herbs and spices instead of salt for flavour.
Please consult your doctor before beginning an exercise or weight loss program.
Eat slowly and chew each bite completely to decrease your appetite
Eat three small meals and two snacks daily instead of two or three huge meals.
It's a myth that you need oil to stir fry! Use chicken stock instead and cut down on hidden fat.
There is more fat in a plate of toasted muesli than a plate of bacon and eggs! Purchase non-toasted muesli instead.
Avoid removing the skins of fruits and vegetables - most of the nutrients are concentrated just under the skin.
Hot water with a squeeze of lemon before breakfast get the metabolism going for the day, helps prevent constipation and is excellent for the skin.
The best source of vegetable protein is from soya beans or tofu. All legumes provide some protein, so include lentils, lima beans etc into casseroles and soups.
Find a weight loss "buddy," club, or support group. This will help you stay with your weight loss program.
Though difficult, try not eating 3 hours or more before bed time.
Cut up a whole watermelon and leave it in the fridge to snack on over a few days. it is sweet, juicy, yummy and filling. Having it handy so that it is just as easy to eat as a biscuit or whatever makes the world of difference.
Eating at night time is a downfall too. Have those 97%fat free rice crackers and/or fruit or air popped popcorn. It cannot be said too many times - drinking water makes all the difference.
Make pasta your fast food choice - you can prepare a pasta meal and salad in 10-12 minutes.
Chilli helps to speed up metabolism - even the milder varieties.
Omelettes can be made just using egg whites! A dramatic reduction in fat.
Limit salt in cooking. Other names for salt include baking soda, baking powder, MSG and soya sauce.
For low fat gravy, drop ice cubes into the baking tray. Fat will stick to the ice cubes and can then be removed.
Chew sugarless gum. It speeds up the digestive system, burning more calories, and sometimes kills a craving.
Drinking hot water as appose to cold water can increase the speed of your metabolism and burn more calories.
Make casseroles the day before use. Refrigerate and skim fat from the top before re heating.
Always eat before you go food shopping and always prepare a shopping list. Only purchase food which relates to your weekly menu plan and don't be tempted to buy goodies.