Beat the Carb Cravings - How to Kill Carb Cravings

Anyone who’s been on a low carb diet will tell you that the first week is the hardest. Some report actual physical symptoms of carb withdrawal, like irritability, headaches, and lack of energy. Others say it’s the emotional struggle to stay away from rice, bread, pasta, potatoes the staples that they’ve grown used to serving with every meal.

These carb cravings can easily tempt you into giving up on your diet altogether. Don’t. You have so much to gain (or in this case, lose): think 10 pounds in the first two weeks, as some diets claim, and a visible reduction of tummy handles. (Hey, you’ll be able to fit in a smaller size of jeans!) So how do you survive the battle against bread? Here are some tips:

Indulge in the right food

For some people, at some times, a low-carb diet may really be the answer, at least in the beginning. The reason low-carb diets work is that your body normally uses carbs as a first fuel. When you give your body no carbs (the "induction" phase of most low-carb diets), your body needs to use something for fuel, and so turns to burning your own fat. These diets have proven very successful for many people, but should be undertaken with care as people do need some carbs in their diet. Most low-carb diets nowadays move from an induction phase into a much healthier maintenance phase, where "smart carbs" (high-fiber, lower-calorie choices) are reintroduced.

One of the advantages of low carb diets is that you don’t starve yourself. You can eat very well, just stay away from certain types of food. How does help beat the carb cravings? If you’re not ravenous, you’re less likely to raid the fridge in a mad fit of hunger. You can also replace a high-carb snack (like a chocolate bar) with an equally tasty bag of peanuts, and not feel deprived.

Veteran low carb dieters actually advise keeping stashes of low-carb diets in their desk drawers, or by the television the places where most people get the desire to munch on something. Keep the portions small, just enough to make you feel that you’ve had a treat, without actually turning into a binge. You’ll need a lot of small plastic bags, or tiny plastic containers. Another tip: prepare

Reducing the carbohydrates in your diet will go a long way toward helping lose weight. Remember that the key is to reduce carbs, not get rid of them completely. They are still an essential source of energy that will help you keep up your exercise regimen, but eating too much of carb-heavy foods like pasta will only deter your weight loss efforts.

the individual servings beforehand, preferably after eating a meal so you’re not tempted to put more than you should.

Keep yourself busy

A low carb diet is a very healthy and safe diet that you can choose to optimize weight loss. In this diet, you will reduce the foods that are very high in carbs such as pasta. Substitute fruits and vegetables as alterative foods to consume when beginning this diet program.

Most of us eat not out of hunger but habit. You’re bored, stressed, or you’re killing time before you take on the next item on your to-do list. Avoid temptation by keeping your mind on something you enjoy. Some dieters carry a book around, others start a hobby like scrapbooking which will let them pass long hours without even thinking about food. For those who work at the office, and need something to keep them away from the vendo machine, bookmark a website that you can browse until the snack attack passes.

Look for other forms of recreation

Pasta is one of the worst things that you can eat during the day for a diet, given its high fat and carb content. If you really love pasta, you can try eating whole wheat pasta, which is much better for you in your quest to lose weight and tastes great too.

It’s become customary to make meals the center of any recreational activity: eating chips while watching a movie, going out to dinner with friends. While you’re still getting used to the low-carb regimen, pass up the invitation to have drinks after work and invite everyone to watch a play, hit the badminton courts, or attend a museum opening.

Get a diet buddy

Everyone gets a different result from a different diet. By eating a diet that is low carb, many people experience results within seven days. The most important thing, though, is for you to pick a diet that suits you.

Dieting becomes more fun when you have a diet partner to give encouragement, praise you for every lost pound, and even help you scout for the low-carb friendly restaurants in your area. Don’t know anyone? Go online and join a dieter’s forum. Exchange recipes, share thoughts, and hey, even make new friends. You’ll still feel the carb cravings, but somehow, saying no is a little easier.

Carbohydrates And Losing Weight - How to Eat Carbs and Lose Weight

In simple terms, carbohydrates are broken down by various enzymes into simple sugars then glucose so they can be absorbed into the blood. Digestive enzymes are like biological scissors - they chop long starch molecules into simpler ones.

According to experts, if we cannot burn all the fat we consume, the remainder is stored as fat tissue. This fat-burning ability is determined by the amount of insulin in our bloodstream. [Note: a major factor in insulin release is the glycemic index (GI) value of the carb-foods or meal consumed.] When insulin levels are low, we burn mainly fat. When they are high, we burn mainly carbs. But a problem arises when insulin levels remain constantly high, as in the case of individuals suffering from insulin insensitivity. In such cases, the constant need to burn carbs reduces our fat-burning ability. Result? More fat is stored as fatty (adipose) tissue.

A good way to lose weight is to cut out all of the soda you drink. Soda is loaded with sugar and carbohydrates and most of us aren't very cognizant about how much we actually drink. Cut out all of the empty calories you take in from soda and start drinking water, a healthier alternative.

Generally speaking, the speed of digestion is determined by the chemical nature of the carb itself, and thus how "resistant" it is to the activity of the enzymes. A simple sugar is usually much less resistant than a starch, and is digested or metabilized much faster. Things that slow down digestion include: the presence of acid (from gastric juices or the food itself), and the presence of soluble fiber.

A good way to lose weight is simply to eat healthier. Eating more vegetables, quality carbohydrates, healthy fats, and lean meats will get you well on your way to being more lean and healthy. Avoid red meat and various junk foods such as chips, cookies, cake, and candy.

High Insulin Levels May Increase Risk of Obesity

Although it takes a certain amount of self-control and discipline to lose weight, giving up on tasty food is not required any more. Years ago, a lot of weight loss foods did not taste that good. Today, modern sweeteners and preservatives allow you to enjoy diet food that tastes just like its high-fat, carbo-loaded conventional equivalent. Choose this option, and you can keep eating foods you enjoy.

This is why experts are linking high insulin levels, together with a reduced ability to burn fat, with obesity. And as you can see, high insulin levels are typically determined by the type of carbs we eat. High GI foods or meals trigger higher levels of insulin than intermediate or low GI foods. This is why the Glycemic Index is considered to be so important in assessing carb eating habits.

To help you lose weight, plan on eating a large, healthy breakfast each morning. Try to make sure that the food you choose is full of carbohydrates and protein. This strategy will help you avoid overeating at lunch time or craving snacks between the two meals. Egg whites are a good choice to help you achieve the results you want.

As we have seen, the human body is fuelled by glucose. Therefore all foods must be converted into glucose before they can be used as fuel. Carbohydrates are more easily converted into glucose than protein or fat, and are considered to be the body's "preferred" source of energy, and the brain's essential source of energy.

The key to weight loss is taking everything in moderation. The goal is to stop excessive overindulgence. A small amount of saturated fat and carbohydrates is acceptable. Do not try to completely remove enjoyable foods from the diet. Instead, choose smaller portions and moderate the intake of unhealthy items that are not beneficial.

Simple carbs (excepting fruit sugar) are more easily converted into glucose because their molecular structure breaks down faster in the stomach and small intestine. Therefore these carbs raise glucose levels in the bloodstream quite rapidly (less than 30 minutes). This explains why diabetics, who occasionally suffer from an excessively low blood-glucose level, can quickly restore their balance by eating simple carb-foods, like sweets.

Ways to Lose Weight - 7 Calorie Burning Tips

Sedentary people burn about one-third less calories per day.  By simply taking every opportunity to move can make quite a dramatic difference to the amount of calories you burn in one day. Small movements will add up over time to lots of calories.  The trick is to keep moving throughout your day. Write the word ‘move’ on post-it notes and put them in places you’ll notice them when you’re sitting still. Then, take every opportunity to move – here’s some ideas for burning extra calories:

Tap your feet

Swing your legs

Stand up and stretch

Count your calories, daily. Look for ways to cut bad foods out of your diet. Substitute fattening foods for things that have low calories and less fat.

Move your head from side to side

Change position

Wriggle and fidget

An apple can be a great tool to keep the doctor away, but it can also be a great aid in weight loss. Having an apple before a meal or as a snack can satisfy a craving for something sweet or crunchy while barely adding any calories. Apples are naturally rich in vitamins which will help you stay healthy while losing weight and pack a good punch of fiber which not only makes you feel full but also aids in healthy digestion.

Pace up and down

Use the restroom upstairs

Park in the furthest corner of the parking lot

A great tip weight loss tip is to eat "heavy" foods. What makes you feel full is not really the calories in your food but the weight of what you eat. If you consume heavier-weight foods like oranges, watermelon, grapefruit and broccoli, you will fill up faster and end up eating less calories overall.

Stand up when you’re on the phone and step from side to side

Clench and release your muscles

2) Eat Little and Often

When trying to lose weight, using transportation other than automobiles can help. Physical transportation, like running or bicycling, can help you burn calories while you get from point a to point b. Calories are stored by the body as they build up. By burning calories through exercise, though, this storage is prevented.

Evidence suggests that eating small meals every 2-4 hours will keep your metabolism burning faster than larger, less frequent meals. When you eat small amounts often your body is constantly working to digest and absorb food which requires energy. 

3) Eat Fat

If you want feel good and keep the fat off you need to first put it in.  Fat not only tastes good our bodies need it to work efficiently.  By consuming several servings of ‘healthy’ fats every day you will actually increase your calorie burning potential.  Try incorporating fats like Flaxseed oil, hempseed oil, olive oil, avocados, salmon, albacore tuna, nuts and seeds into your diet daily.

A great way to help you lose weight is to use the more rigorous cardio equipment at your gym. There is a lot of different equipment but they're not all equal in terms of how many calories they burn. Machines like the stair master and elliptical burn a lot of calories.

4) Drink Cold Water

Evidence shows that your body might expend more calories trying to raise cold water to the temperature of your body then hot beverages. And overall being well hydrated will help your body’s metabolic processes burn quicker.

5) Exercise With Weights

Eating breakfast is essential if you want to lose weight and stay trim. Such an idea seems like common sense, yet a lot of people skip breakfast to skip calories. You won't take in as many calories, but you may end up craving food at lunch. It might also cause you to reach for unhealthy snacks between meals.

Training with weights boosts your metabolism in a number of ways. By lifting weights you will build muscle tissue. And muscle tissue is metabolically active, so it requires calories even when at rest and so it helps to increase fat-burning enzymes in your body.

6) Spice up

When you are watching what you eat, don't forget to also watch what you drink. Research the calories of your favorite beverages so that you can fit them into your diet comfortably. Also, switch to "light" versions of your drinks of choice to 'shave excess calories off' your daily intake.

Eating hot spices might speed up your metabolism.  Just half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day can help boost metabolism and keep blood sugar levels in check. Can’t stand the thought of cinnamon in your morning cup of coffee? Spice up with cayenne, crushed red pepper or wasabi.

7) Eat More Protein

Protein requires a more complex chemical breakdown by your body in order to be digested and used as fuel. For example, 100 calories of protein may take up to 30 calories to process.   Protein also takes longer to digest and helps to stabilize blood sugar for longer periods of time  and this can help you to not overeat later in the day.  Eat a portion of protein at every meal and as part of your snacks and you will increase the total number of calories you burn each day.

What is in a Weight Loss Diet Pill?

With all the strenuous activities and sweat-generating regimens that most weight loss programs have, more and more people are enticed to opt for a better alternative, without the trouble of exerting too much effort.

With the advent of diet pills that promote weight loss, people go mad over the appealing advertisements of most manufacturers claiming  that their product can easily “melt away” those fats and cellulites.

With these pills dominating the market today, who needs to tone those abs and biceps and do some dieting if there is an easier way to lose weight?

With an estimated 60% of the American population that are now considered as obese, these “wonder” drugs are definitely reaping millions of dollars in the United States alone.

Do not take a "magic pill" to help you lose weight. Falling victim to these weight loss scams will do nothing but discourage you. If you read the fine print on these pills, it will tell you to eat healthy and exercise, and this alone will help you lose weight without taking these potentially harmful drugs.

Now, the questions are: is there any truth regarding the manufacturers’ claims that these diet pills can ultimately promote weight loss? Are they really effective in helping people lose weight? And if that is the case, do these pills also help those people maintain their ideal weight and curb any fat accumulation in the body?

In reality, there are diet pills that can really make a person shed off those extra pounds. These diet pills contain certain substances that were already clinically and scientifically proven to be very effective.

These diet pills are effective in increasing the metabolism of the body, thereby, initiating weight loss. Plus, these diet pills contain certain substances that suppress one’s appetite.

If you want to incorporate diet pills into your weight-loss routine exercise extreme caution. Research the pills you look at carefully. While some pills can provide effective assistance with your weight-loss, almost all of them have side effects. Some side-effects can be seriously harmful. Remember not to take manufacturers' claims at face value; use a third-party source to research pills.

However, with so many diet pills saturating the market today, trying to find the best and most effective diet pill can be very tedious. Chances are, you may end up choosing the wrong diet pill when your energy to find diet pills wanes down.

Actually, there are only five factors to consider when choosing diet pills that are effective at the same time safe to use. Here is a list of the factors that you need to consider in order to come up with a diet pill that is right and appropriate.

1. The metabolism-boosting ability

If you are desperately in need of losing extra weight, make sure you keep in mind that there is no easy way to lose weight. There are no magical pills or special machines that are going to make you lose a hundred pounds in a month. Weight loss is a gradual process.

In choosing diet pills that will effectively promote weight loss, it is best to look for pills that have the ingredients that will enhance your body’s metabolism, or the ability of the body to burn excess fats.

Choose those diet pills that contain alpha lipoic acid, green tea extracts, and “L-Canitine” because these ingredients had been clinically proven to be effective in promoting weight loss through increased metabolic rate.

2. The appetite suppressants

Do not try diet fads, like weight-loss pills or extreme diet plans. Many of these methods might be harmful to your overall health in the long run. In addition, the pounds lost tend to be temporary. Most people cannot stick to a rigid diet and will, most likely, gain back more than the weight they lost.

Find diet pills that effectively suppress your appetite. It does not necessarily mean that you will skip meals but you will not just feel hungry every now and then. This is because obesity usually happens to people who are fond of in-between meals, which actually initiates excessive calorie intake.

3. The calorie stopper

Because obesity is usually due to excess intake of calories in the body, which is more than the recommended amount, it is best to choose diet pills that have the special ingredients that will curb the entry of calories into the body.

weight loss is a fairly simple matter as long as you have hard work and dedication. In order to lose weight, one must find a healthy diet that works for them, along with a rigorous workout schedule to achieve their optimal weight. Diet pills are also useful when paired with diet and exercise.

These substances are known as “phaseolus vulgaris.” This is known to create an enzyme that will efficiently control any excess calories in the body. The enzyme responsible for this wonderful job is known as “alpha-amylase.”

4. The metabolic enhancers

It is best to choose diet pills that have the so-called “lipotropic elements” that are effective in eliminating fats from the body. It functions like a sweeper that effectively sweeps excess fats outside the body.

Before you attempt to take any weight-loss pills or supplements, you should always read the ingredients list and check them online to see if they're dangerous or not. A product that says it boosts your metabolism might sound good, but this product might also be dangerous if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure.

These lipotropic elements are found in vitamin C, chitosan, alpha lipoic acid, and green tea extracts.

5. The water-retention breaker

Effective diet pills are those that contain diuretics. These are elements that avert the retention of water in the body during the weight loss regimen.

The quick-fix potions and pills that promise instant weight loss are generally worth avoiding. Despite losing the weight quick, you could still gain it back if you cease taking the supplements.

All of these factors are, indeed, clinically proven and effective in losing weight. Though, it must be kept in mind that diet pills alone are not sufficient to provide optimum weight loss. Hence, it is still important to do some exercises.

Therefore, with exercise and the right diet pills, you are definitely on your way to a healthier, slimmer you.

Simple Weight Loss Tips

Sometimes weight loss can be a whole lot easier than most people believe. Rather than trying to maintain a strict diet regime, the person trying to lose weight should just make small adjustments to their lifestyle rather than a dramatic change that will ultimately result in failure.

The simple process of drinking an additional glass of water each day, or a short walk around the block once or twice a week will ease the body into the changes that are required for weight loss.

One of the best tips for losing weight is to be consistent. Everyone wants to see immediate results and it can be really disheartening when you feel like you're making no progress. It's absolutely essential to stay patient and consistent because your workout program will produce results in time.

Another wise move is to stay away from the bathroom scales for a week or two, so the weight loss process doesn't become an all-encompassing ordeal that needs to be measured every day of the week.

One of the handiest tips gained from many decades of dieting is to drink an entire glass of tomato or V-8 juice with 2 heaping tablespoons of bran stirred into it. You can also use psyllium seed husks. The reason for this is to give your stomach something to satisfy the need for bulk right away in the morning, and because it's low-calorie and high fiber, that breakfast drink will get things moving later in the day without adding much to your daily caloric intake.

By leaving the weigh-in times a little longer apart there is more chance that they will show a reduction in weight, whereas daily weigh-ins can fluctuate depending on the time of day and various other factors.

A great way to help you lose weight is to join an e-mailing list of websites and individuals that work to promote health and fitness. By joining an e-mail list like this, you can stay current on all of the latest fitness news and you can also gain tips.

Even a small reduction in food intake can have a dramatic effect on bodyweight over a period of time. Alternatively, a change from one food to another can also have a huge effect on weight loss. A simple example of this would be to substitute a food high in carbohydrates with an equal quantity of food that is lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein. This change alone will help to reduce body fat and it will also help to eliminate hunger pangs.

A way to really motivate you to lose weight is to join an online weight loss group or forum. You can make friends online that will help motivate you to stay on target! You can also learn a lot about other people's experiences in weight loss and possible tips to stay on track.

Now consider the effect that a few extra glasses of water each day will have when combined with a walk around the block a couple of times a week and a change in foods from high carbohydrates to high protein. When you combine all three changes they can have a really dramatic effect on fat reduction over a period of time with little or no stress and emotional strain on the person losing the weight.

When getting advice from anyone on the topic of weight loss and exercise, you should take a good look at them. If they are overweight, then maybe you should consider getting advice from someone else. You should consult someone you know has experience in losing weight to get the best tips.

People who follow this method of weight loss are more likely to maintain such a program for a lot longer, and it is this constant change that ensures success, unlike the fad diets that people try off and on throughout their life.

Water: Your Best Weight Loss Friend

Water is one of the key components to a healthy diet and a long-term weight loss undertaking. It not only nourishes your body by keeping your cells hydrated, but it fills your stomach so that you are less hungry. Here are some quick tips for consuming a weight-loss-friendly amount of water without feeling like you are a human water drain.

8 Glasses a Day

Just about everyone has heard that it is important to consume at least 8 glasses of water a day as part of a well-balanced diet. The 8 glasses of water will help to hydrate your body and leave your skin feeling moist and supple. What’s more: it is important to understand exactly what those 8 glasses of water are doing to your body.

A good way to lose weight is to cut out all of the soda you drink. Soda is loaded with sugar and carbohydrates and most of us aren't very cognizant about how much we actually drink. Cut out all of the empty calories you take in from soda and start drinking water, a healthier alternative.

As the water enters into your system, it hydrates your cells. Not only will you feel more energized, but it will help to keep your cells strong against illness, headaches and fatigue. Imagine that the body’s cells are a plant. Without water, the plant will wilt and be less strong against daily elements. However, with the proper amount of water and care, the plant will be strong and healthy.

Water relieves the body of harmful toxins, such as those that are caused by illness and stress. By infusing hydration into your system, your body pumps out unwanted chemicals that will slow you down and make your body function less healthily. 8 glasses of water is the minimum if you wish to retain a properly functioning machine.

It is pretty well known that drinking plenty of water is a good way to help with weight loss. Are you aware that cold water will give your metabolism even more of a boost? When a person drinks very cold water the body has to work harder to bring its temperature back up, which speeds up the metabolism.

Fruit

Many people get their water from fruits, such as apples, watermelons and berries. One piece of fruit, depending on the size, can count for as much as half of a glass of water. The added benefit of fruit is that in addition to helping to hydrate you, fruit can add healthy amounts of vitamins and minerals to your core diet.

Fruit also fills the stomach and energizes you. Because fruit contains very few calories, it is a good food to fill up on. However, fruit does contain fructose, which is a type of sugar. Fructose will spike the level of sugar in your blood stream, which will give you energy. Yet, if that energy is not consumed readily, the fructose will turn to fat (if only a small amount of it.)

Dehydrators

Make sure you are getting enough water to help contribute to a healthy diet. Experts recommend at least eight glasses every day to stay well hydrated. You will want to consume more when it is hot. Drinking lots of water keeps your digestive system running smoothly and helps you avoid overeating.

There are beverages and activities that dehydrate your body quickly so that your essential amount of water intake needs to be increased. Beverages that deplete water from your body include sodas, coffee, tea and alcohol.

In order to ensure that you stay properly hydrated, drink one glass of water for every glass of soda or other dehydrating beverage. Also, for every half-hour of sweat-inducing exercise, you should drink at least one cup of water. If you are exercising in a particularly humid environment, you may have to drink more water in order to avoid headaches, illness and overall dehydration.

Have soup for supper when you are working at losing weight. Since this is the last meal of the day, it is important to keep the calories lower because your activity level is reduced at night. Soup has such a high content of water that it fills you up with fewer calories than other foods. Just be careful to avoid creamy soups or ones with high sodium content.

Water truly can aid your weight-loss process if you are diligent about consuming generous portions of it. Many people find that carrying a water bottle with them everywhere they go is the best way to remain tempted to treat your body right.